From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Jan 3 20:32:57 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 20:32:57 -0800 Subject: Anniversary & DVD Special Services Message-ID: <625d7240801032032n72b8c29fi3337508121fbca1c@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **January 3, 2008*** * * *Dear Friends ?* * * Marie and I have promised to let you know when we received definite information concerning the DVD package that John Roddam interviewed us for in December. It is in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the February 11th Visitation by God in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, in which we both took part. We are impressed with the quality of this package filmed by Stuart Spani of North Vancouver BC. Today we received details on how you can look at a sample of this, and procure a copy at a pre-celebration price. Following is the full letter we received today. -- Jim and Marie Watt *February 11th, 2008** - 60th Anniversary of the Latter Rain Revival Commemoration - DVD's and Special Services!!* *2 messages* * * *John Roddam john_roddam at hotmail.com Thu. **Jan 3, 2008**at **12:54 PM*** * * Dear Friends in Christ. Happy New Year! May you find the year 2008 to be a season of unprecedented favor and blessing! I am writing to tell you about a special anniversary celebration ? * * *February 11th, 2008 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Latter Rain Revival that was sparked in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, **Canada**. This movement quickly circled the globe and its influence is ongoing in several streams of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement.* * * We are planning a celebration of this anniversary at St. Luke's, Seattle ? Sunday February 10th (7 PM) ? Celebration Service with Jim & Marie Watt 24 Hour Prayer Vigil (7 PM Sunday to 7 PM Monday) in St. Luke's Original Chapel (where the Charismatic Renewal was brokered with Fr. Dennis Bennett) Monday February 11th (7 PM) ? Celebration Service with Jim & Marie Watt Seven elders gave oversight to the first Camp Meetings in July 1948 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Jim Watt is the last living elder from that original group! To commemorate this historic event, I had the privilege of interviewing Jim and Marie Watt for two days in their home in Federal Way, WA. These interviews have been edited onto three DVD's ? a total of 5 hours! The themes include (30 min. video segments each) ? A Chronology of the Latter Rain Revival Positive Impact of the Latter Rain Revival Negatives of the Latter Rain Revival 9 Renewal Streams that Emerged from the Latter Rain Revival The Presbytery ? Its function and practical issues The Five-Fold Ministry (Ephesians 4:11 ff.) Jim Watt's Reflections on the Latter Rain Revival & Testimony Marie Watt's Reflections on the July and Fall '48 Vancouver, BC Meetings Added Footage ? Jim and Marie's Ministry Biography Two Are Better Than One Ministry *It was a great privilege to interview these dear saints. Their insights were profound! The DVD's are on sale through Norlynn Audio Visual Services, **Vancouver**, **BC** ? go to: www.reason-for-hope.com ? for $30.00 (UDA or CAN) plus $5.00 shipping and handling fees. However, you may receive a discount as "my friend" by inserting the code "JR01". With this discount code, you may purchase a DVD set for $25.00 (USD or CAN) INCLUDING S & H. There are also discounts available for larger orders ? please see the website!* * * This is a Pre-Publication, Pre-60th Anniversary special. Plans are set to add a study guide on the website to assist those who want to use the DVD's for small group discussion. You will also find a growing number of endorsements online as well, recommending this resource as a blessing to the Body of Christ. Check it out and please share this information with your email contacts. Thank you! God Bless! ? John+ Iesus, tanto nomini nullum par elogium! *Jesus, for so great a name, no praise is adequate!* *The Rev'd. Dr. John Roddam,* *St.** Luke's Episcopal Church,* *5710 ? **22nd Avenue Northwest**,* *Seattle**, **WA** **98107**.* *(206) 784-3119 (Office)* *(206) 784-1029 (Fax)* *Home Address: **724 N. 182nd Street**,* *Shoreline**, **WA** **98133**.* *(206) 546-9812 (Residence)* *(206) 356-3890 (John's cell)* *E-Mail: john_roddam at hotmail.com (Personal Account)* * john at stlukesseattle.org (Parish Account)* *Web Page: http://www.stlukesseattle.org * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Jan 6 18:52:09 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2008 18:52:09 -0800 Subject: Oprah and Friends Message-ID: <625d7240801061852m2a418b9dg5d4457d60d3f1051@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* Web: *www.2rbetter.org* ? January 6, 2008 * * *"Oprah and Friends" to teach course on New Age Christ* *By Warren Smith* *November 2007* *See also Reinventing Jesus Christ: The New Gospel* ** * ------------------------------ * *O*prah Winfrey will be letting out all the stops on her XM Satellite Radio program this coming year. Beginning January 1, 2008, "Oprah & Friends" will offer a year-long course on the New Age teachings of *A Course in Miracles*. 1 A lesson a day throughout the year will completely cover the 365 lessons from the*Course in Miracles *"Workbook." For example, Lesson #29 asks you to go through your day affirming that *"God is in everything I see."*2 Lesson #61 tells each person to repeat the affirmation *"I am the light of the world."*3 Lesson #70 teaches the student to say and believe *"My salvation comes from me."*4 By the end of the year, "Oprah & Friends" listeners will have completed all of the lessons laid out in the *Course in Miracles* Workbook. Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset?a New Age worldview that includes the belief that there is no sin, no evil, no devil, and that God is "in" everyone and everything. *A Course in Miracles* teaches its students to *rethink* everything they believe about God and life. The *Course *Workbook bluntly states:*"This is a course in mind training"* 5 and is dedicated to *"thought reversal."*6 Teaching *A Course in Miracles* will be Oprah's longtime friend and special XM Satellite Radio reporter Marianne Williamson?who also happens to be one of today's premier New Age leaders. She and *Conversations with God *author Neale Donald Walsch co-founded the American Renaissance Alliance in 1997, that later became the Global Renaissance Alliance of New Age leaders, that changed its name again in 2005 to the Peace Alliance. This Peace Alliance seeks to usher in an era of global peace founded on the principles of a New Age/New Spirituality that they are now referring to as a "civil rights movement for the soul."7They all agree that the principles of this New Age/New Spirituality are clearly articulated in *A Course in Miracles*?which is fast becoming the New Age Bible. So what is *A Course in Miracles* and what does it teach? *A Course in Miracles* is allegedly "new revelation" from "Jesus" to help humanity work through these troubled times. This "Jesus"?who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's Jesus Christ?began delivering his channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology by the name of Helen Schucman. One day Schucman heard an "inner voice" stating, "This is a course in miracles. Please take notes."8 For seven years she diligently took spiritual dictation from this inner voice that described himself as "Jesus." *A Course in Miracles* was quietly published in 1975 by the Foundation for Inner Peace. For many years "the Course" was an underground cult classic for New Age seekers who studied "the Course" individually, with friends, or in small study groups. As a former New Age follower and devoted student of* A Course in Miracles*, I eventually discovered that the *Course in Miracles* was?in reality?the truth of the Bible turned upside down. Not having a true understanding of the Bible at the time of my involvement, I was led to believe that *A Course in Miracles*was "a gift from God" to help everyone understand the "real" meaning of the Bible and to help bring peace to the world. Little did I know that the New Age "Christ" and the New Age teachings of *A Course in Miracles* were everything the real Jesus Christ warned us to watch out for. In Matthew 24 Jesus warned about false teachers, false teachings and the false "Christs" who would pretend to be Him. When I left the New Age "Christ" to follow the Bible's Jesus Christ, I had come to understand that the "Jesus" of *A Course in Miracles* was a false "Christ," and that his *Course in Miracles* was dangerously deceptive. Here are some quotes from the "Jesus" of *A Course in Miracles*: ? "There is *no sin*. . . " 9 ? A "slain Christ has *no meaning*."10 ? "The journey to the cross should be the last '*useless*journey."11 ? "Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.'"12 ? "The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of *all the gods to which you pray*."13 ? "*God is in everything* I see."14 ? "The recognition of *God is* the recognition of *yourself*."15 ? "The oneness of the Creator and the creation is your wholeness, your sanity and your limitless power."16 ? "The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation."17 Most Christians recognize that these teachings are the *opposite of what the Bible teaches*. In the Bible, Jesus Christ's atoning death on the cross of Calvary was hardly a "useless journey." His triumph on the cross provides salvation to all those who confess their sin, accept Him and follow Him as their Lord and Saviour. His victory on the cross rings throughout the New Testament. It has been gloriously sung about in beloved hymns through the ages and is at the heart of our Christian testimony. I found the Jesus of the Bible to be wholly believable as He taught God's truth and warned about the spiritual deception that would come in His name. The "Jesus" of *A Course in Miracles* reveals himself to be an *imposter*when he blasphemes the true Jesus Christ by saying that a "slain Christ has no meaning" and that we are all "God" and that we are all "Christ." It was by reading the Bible's true teachings of Jesus Christ that I came to understand how deceived I had been by A Course in Miracles and my other New Age teachings. I was introduced to *A Course in Miracles* by Dr. Gerald Jampolsky's book *Love is Letting Go of Fear*. Jampolsky declared in his easy-to-read book how the teachings of* A Course in Miracles* had changed his life. As an ambassador for *A Course in Miracles* over the years, Jampolsky has been featured not only in New Age circles but at least twice on Robert Schuller's Hour of Power. While Schuller introduced Jampolsky and his "fabulous"18 Course in Miracles-based books to his worldwide television audience, it was Marianne Williamson's appearance on a 1992 Oprah Winfrey Show that really shook the rafters. On that program, Oprah enthusiastically endorsed Williamson's book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book about A Course in Miracles was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience. Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book about A Course in Miracles to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Ironically, all of this was happening after I had left the Course and the New Age. In fact, I was doing the final editing on my book The Light That Was Dark that warned about the dangers of the New Age?and in particular A Course in Miracles. After being introduced to the world on Oprah, Marianne Williamson has continued to grow in popularity and, as previously mentioned, has become one of today's foremost New Age leaders. Williamson credits Winfrey for bringing her book about *A Course in Miracles* before the world: "For that, my deepest thanks to Oprah Winfrey. Her enthusiasm and generosity have given the book, and me, an audience we would never otherwise have had." 19 In her 2004 book, *The Gift of Change,* Williamson wrote: "Twenty years ago, I saw the guidance of the Course as key to changing one's personal life; today, I see its guidance as key to changing the world. More than anything else, I see how deeply the two are connected." 20 Thus the New Age teachings of *A Course in Miracles* are about to be taught by Marianne Williamson to millions of listeners on Oprah's XM Satellite Radio program. Listeners are encouraged to buy *A Course in Miracles* for the year-long course. An audio version of *A Course in Miracles* recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas is also available on compact disc. Popular author Wayne Dyer told his PBS television audience that the "brilliant writing" of A Course in Miracles would produce more peace in the world.21Williamson's New Age colleague, Neale Donald Walsch, said his "God" stated that "*the era of the Single Saviour is over*" 22 and that he ("God") was responsible for authoring the teachings of A Course in Miracles. 23 Meanwhile, Gerald Jampolsky's Course in Miracles-based book, * Forgiveness*, continues to be sold in Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral bookstore as Schuller prepares to host a January 17-19, 2008, "Rethink Conference" at his Crystal Cathedral.24 At this critical time in the history of the world, the New Gospel/New Spirituality is coming right at the world and the church with its New Age teachings and its New Age Peace Plan. But this New Age Peace Plan has at its deceptive core the bottom-line teaching from A Course in Miracles that "we are all one" because God is "in" everyone and everything. But the Bible is clear that we are not God (Ezekiel 28:2; Hosea 11:9). And per Galatians 3:26-28, our only oneness is in Jesus Christ?not in ourselves as "God" and "Christ." What Oprah and Marianne Williamson and the world will learn one day is that humanity's only real and lasting peace is with the true Jesus Christ who is described and quoted in the Holy Bible (Romans 5:1). Oprah Winfrey's misplaced faith in Marianne Williamson and the New Age teachings of *A Course in Miracles* is a sure sign of the times. But an even surer sign of the times is that most Christians are not taking heed to what is happening in the world and in the church. We are not contending for the faith as the Bible admonishes us to do (Jude 3). It is time for all of our Purpose-Driven and Emerging church pastors to address the real issue of the day. *Our true Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is being reinvented, redefined, and blasphemed right in front of our eyes and hardly anyone seems to notice or care*. If we want the world to know who Jesus Christ is, we need to also warn them about who He is not. There is a false New Age "Christ" making huge inroads into the world and into the church. The Apostle Paul said that "it is a shame" we have to even talk about these things, but talk about them we must (Ephesians 5:12-16). If people want to follow Oprah Winfrey and the New Age "Christ" of *A Course in Miracles* they certainly have that right. But let them be warned that the New Age "Christ" they are following is not the same Jesus Christ who is so clearly and authoritatively presented in the pages of the Bible. ------------------------------ Warren Smith is a former New Age follower who at one time was deeply involved in the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles. He is the author of The Light That Was Dark: From the New Age to Amazing Grace and Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose-Driven Church. His book Reinventing Jesus Christ: The New Gospel is available free online at www.reinventingjesuschrist.com *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Jan 11 18:40:25 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:40:25 -0800 Subject: Notes -- Ephesians 4-6 Message-ID: <625d7240801111840j1942827cs1bc54008e050b476@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *TEL: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **January 11, 2008*** * * *"NOTES" ? Ephesians 4 ? 6* * * *Friends ?* * * This mailing completes the Notes on Ephesians 4-6. They are based on and arise out of God's Interlinear Numeric Greek New Testament discovered by Ivan Panin. >From time to time we will supply along with these notes an outline of this text ? book by book, arranged in such a manner that they can be prayed through on a weekly basis, following the points of the Lord's Prayer. Larry Lee commenced this innovation some years ago based on the major compound Jehovah Names. Back in 1967 we commenced producing Greek Word Studies based on 7 major references from complete Greek Word Studies. We will do this for the 8 words of Romans 9:4-5: adoption, glory, covenants, Torah, worship, promises, Fathers and Christ. These blessings were given initially to Israel, but through the "Gospel Mystery" revealed by the apostle Paul, we learn that through the "One New Man," we who are non-Jews equally share in these 8 blessings. There are 14 natural groupings of such Word Studies in the New Testament, each group identified with one of the 12 sons of Jacob (Genesis 49) and in Numbers 2, Ephraim and Manasseh are added. A Prayer Request for God's Timing: Though I am equipped by God to prepare these various studies ? yet I am not gifted computer-wise to post them on our Website. In God's Perfect Timing, pray that these Books, Outlines, Word Studies and Articles may begin to appear there. Thank you for your interest and prayers. As you know, the Rev. Dr. John Roddam, Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Seattle, is convening meetings Sunday February 10th and Monday the 11th at 7:00 PM. to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Holy Spirit Visitation at North Battleford, Saskatchewan in 1948. In May of this year Israel celebrates its 60thAnniversary of Restoration in the land God gave her through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 4000 years ago. Marie and I celebrate our 60th Wedding Anniversary this year. John Roddam has led in producing a package of 3 DVD's in ten 30 minute segments to document what happened starting February 11th 1948 in Northern Canada. A special Pre-Anniversary price of $25.00 including S/H will be available. Following February 11th it will be $30.00 + S/H. John interviewed Marie and me for this. I am the last of the 7 living elders who took part in the July 1948 Camp Meeting in North Battleford, and then in Edmonton in October 1948 when the Heavenly Choir was restored. Marie was with me at the Summer Camp Meeting, and then in the Vancouver BC 6 week conference, and didn't miss a meeting. She came to the Lord at this time, and we were married December 27th. *The DVD's are on sale through Norlynn Audio Visual Services, **Vancouver**, **BC** ? go to: www.reason-for-hope.com ? for$30.00 (UDA or CAN) PLUS $5.00 shipping and handling fees. However, you may purchase a DVD set for $25.00 (USD or CAN) INCLUDING S & H. There are also discounts available for larger orders ? please see the website!* * * This is a Pre-Publication, Pre-60th Anniversary special. Plans are set to add a study guide on the website to assist those who want to use the DVD's for small group discussion. Jim Watt *Ephesians 4:1-16 * * * *NOTE:* This is probably the key passage used by George Hawtin for the 1948 Visitation. Again and again he would turn to it, and especially deal with verses 11 & 12, and then on to verse 16. However, it is rich in other aspects also. For instance, consider the word "Unity ? heNOt*e*-ta" in verses 3 & 13. These are the only two occurrences this word is used in the entire New Testament. In its first appearance, the apostle Paul exhorts the Ephesians believers to diligently pursue "unity in the Spirit" in the context of the previous 2 verses. But in 4:13 he shows that "UNITY of the faith" is the goal of God for all of us. This is based upon knowledge of the "Finished Work" of Christ on our behalf, as applied to us by the 5-fold ministries of 4:11-12. One could say that the 5-fold ministry supplies a spiritual chiropractic adjustment to the members of Christ's body! See how the 33 adjusted vertebrae supply a protected channel for the spinal cord. So we as individual members of the church must protect the corporate unity of the faith. This is represented by God's Word in each believer. UNITY is the key prayer desire of Jesus in John 17. In the 1948 North Battleford, Saskatchewan Camp Meeting, John 17:22-23 was featured on a banner! But note further the word "perfecting ? ka-tar-tisMON" in 4:12. Without the function of ALL FIVE of these ministries, God's purposes on our behalf fall short! This is why Daniel Juster exhorts the church through his covenant friendship with Mike Bickle, that we should pray diligently for the Messianic Jewish Movement -- that the important ministry of apostles and prophets be added to that of evangelists, shepherds and teachers. "Ka-tarTIz *o"* is used but 17 times in the New Testament, but is so important to understand, and to seek God's blessing on our behalf for ALL of its multi-faceted favor. Then consider the 7 unities of 4:4-6: One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father. To understand and walk in THIS unity of the Spirit, is to be candidates of approval from both our God and Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet we must draw attention to 4:7. Here Paul points out that just as HE received grace from God as recorded in 3:7 ? so WE ? through the SAME GIFT ? "d*o*-reA" ? function in God's grace in the same measure as did the apostle Paul. By all means do a word study through Strong's Concordance on these 11 references to "Gift ? d*o*-reA!" These few thoughts do not even begin to exhaust the riches in this passage of 16 verses. George Hawtin indeed had opened to him by God many of its riches. Did he later like Solomon depart from the protective Plumbline of the full protection of the Word of God? Yes ? but just as God because of Covenant did not withdraw the fullness of His blessing from David when he fell ? So because of the Davidic and New Covenant, God continued to honor George Hawtin in spite of his lapse. Through the teaching of UNITY, the Presbytery and the 5-fold ministries of this passage, Hawtin set forth a wonderful "baby!" Don't throw this baby out with the bath-water! And remember ? February 11, 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of this wonderful Visitation. *Ephesians 4:17-5:14* * * *NOTE:* There are some that think when we are born again, that our spirit is made sinlessly perfect. Not so! The Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:1 makes this abundantly clear. For here He says ? "Having therefore these :promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and SPIRIT, perfecting holiness in fear of God." This is a subtle point, and one in which the enemy of our soul seeks to work his deception. Paul again warns in 1 Timothy 4:1-5 concerning deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons in the last days. Top teachers in our land have fallen for these deceptions. Take NOTHING for granted. Prove ALL things. Hold fast to that which is GOOD, and accords with Scripture. Oprah Winfrey is promoting the teaching of Marianne Williamson and her book, "A Return to Love:" Reflections on the "Principles of A Course on Miracles." Portions will appear each day of this year on the Internet. It is false "New Age" teaching It is backed by dollars, but none-the-less FALSE! There are many gullible new believers, plus those who are searching for truth, who will fall for this flesh-pleasing but heretical teaching. It is ANOTHER Christ they present ? not the one of the Gospels! See this analogy ? Just as we change clothes for our body ? so we should change clothes for our soul and spirit. If you have started on this path of deception ? PUT OFF these false clothes and put on the PURE CLOTHES of Christ that accord with the Word of God! There are MANY false teachers, prophets and apostles out there. They are on the Net, television, radio, literature. Be not na?ve ? but WISE in the ways of God. The devil is REAL! Satan is out there as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The enemy poses as an "angel of light!" But it is a FALSE personification. Take note who Oprah is taking under her wings to sponsor as President in the light of the above. We need the expulsive power of a new affection! Let Jesus Christ as presented clearly in the Bible be the One we love with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. THIS will honor our Heavenly Father. This will ensure our walk as children of the Light ? and also ensure that we are not of those who are children of darkness and deception. Let us make sure that we are clothed in white ? well-pleasing to God and in accord with the Ephesian passage above. * * * * * * *Ephesians 5:15-6:9* * * *NOTE:* In 1946-48 I was attending St. Andrew's College of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, one of the 9 United Church of Canada Seminaries at that time. I found out they were using me as a "decoy duck" to have young men enroll as candidates for the ministry, and I had what I had in spite of my denomination. I was awaiting them to put me out for my conservative, spirit-filled stance, and overlooked completely their wisdom. Immediately upon learning this, I resigned four positions: President of the Student Body at St. Andrews; candidate for the ministry; Bible Study Convener for the youth of Saskatchewan; and member of Third Avenue United Church of Saskatoon. One other straw in the wind that helped in this decision: the President of our Seminary in Homiletics class assigned a sermon outline for each member. I chose the above passage of Ephesians 5:15 -6:9, and used as my main points the 4 divisions in "The Walk" that Paul sets forth: One, 5:15-21: The Spirit-filled Christian Walk; Two: 5:22-33 ? The Marriage Walk of Wives and Husbands; Three: 6:1-4 ? The Believer's Walk for Children and Parents; and Four: 6:5-9 ? The Walk for Employees and Employers. Our President's comment: "True to the passage, Jim ? but SURELY you wouldn't preach it!" I assured him I would! "To the Torah (Word of Teaching) and its testimony: if they speak not according to THIS word (entire Bible) ? it is because there is NO LIGHT in them." Isaiah 8:20 It takes courage, boldness and complete dedication to declare such truths as this, even in our evangelical churches of today. Let's join together, like Oswald Chambers ? and determine to let our light shine in accordance with the FULL COUNSEL of the Word of God as exemplified in this Ephesians passage. This is what Paul did for the Ephesians according to Acts 20. * * *Ephesians 6:10-24* * * *NOTE:* This closing passage of Ephesians has been used by young and old alike. Some parents often use it as part of their morning devotions, and have their children go through a "show and tell" as they put on their armor. I shared in devotions with a family on one occasion in Northern Alberta who practiced this, and afterwards one little boy looked accusingly at me and said, "You didn't put on your armor!" One of the most helpful books on this, "The Shield of God's Protection" was recently written by Mike Servello. He talks about God's 7-fold Shield and His 7-fold Hedge, and how the 7-fold Armor of God is an important part of this strategy. And note ? the armor is not in the Greek text pointing to an individual usage (though the application for this is legitimate) ? but is for God's CORPORATE soldier! Do a "Google Search" for Mike's book, and by all means avail yourself of this valuable and practical help. My wife Marie has encouraged scores of people to do so, and resultant testimonies have been most gratifying. And because the book of Ephesians has been set forth by the Holy Spirit through Paul as the highest revelation of Church Truth ? we should not think that this armor is just for some. The most mature of saints need to avail themselves of it also! And Intercessory Prayer Groups should put on this armor by faith in a corporate sense. * * * * *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * * * * * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jan 15 22:26:32 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:26:32 -0800 Subject: An Afternoon Nap Message-ID: <625d7240801152226i48a213a5ve3473f3d79dce365@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4256 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **January 15, 2008*** * * *"AN AFTERNOON NAP IMPROVES YOUR MEMORY SAYS ISRAELI RESEARCHERS"* * * *Good news for all those sloths out there. According to researchers at the * *University** of **Haifa**, a 90-minute siesta helps speed up the process of long-term memory consolidation.* * * *In a recent study, Prof. Avi Karni and Dr. Maria Korman of the Center for Brain and Behavior Research at the University of Haifa found that an afternoon nap changes the course of consolidation of the brain. "We still don't know the exact mechanism of the memory process that occurs during sleep, but the results of this research suggest the possibility that it is possible to speed up memory consolidation, and in the future, we may be able to do it artificially, said Karni.* * * *Long-term memory is defined as a permanent memory that does not disappear, or that disappears after many years. Long-term memory is divided into two types ? memories of "what" (for example: what happened yesterday or what one remembers from an article one read yesterday) and memories of "How to" (for example: how to read Hebrew, how to drive, play basketball or play the piano).* * * *In the study, published in the scientific journal Nature Neuroscience, the researchers worked with two groups of participants. Group members practiced a repeated motor activity which consisted of bringing the thumb and a finger together in a specific sequence. The research examined the "how" aspect of memory in the participants' ability to perform the task quickly and in the correct sequence.* * * *One of the groups was allowed to nap for an hour and a half after learning the task while the other groups stayed awake. The researchers, who worked in cooperation with the Sleep Laboratory at the Sheba Medical Center and researchers from the Department of Psychology at the University of Montreal, found that the group that slept in the afternoon showed a distinct improvement in their task performance by that evening, as opposed to the group that stayed awake, which didn't exhibit any improvement.* * * *Following an entire night's sleep, both groups exhibited the same skill level.* * * *"This part of the research showed that a daytime nap speeds up performance improvement in the brain. After a night's sleep the two groups were at the same level, but the group that slept in the afternoon improved much faster that the group that stayed awake," stressed Prof. Karni.* * * *There's more to this story, but according to the ISRAELI 21c sources "if you need to memorize something quickly or you've got lots of different activities to learn how to do at one go, better find some time for an afternoon snooze!"* * * * * *NOTE:* Many of you are aware of the scientific and medical break-throughs that come out of Israel. Those who wish to eliminate her from the face of the earth, are really seeking to kill the goose that lays the Golden Eggs! ? To count up all the blessings that have come to the nations of the world from this little nation ? would be in a sense to "boggle" our minds. Recently Israel developed "Neuro ? PS" ? a medical supplement that enhances the memory in older people. It tends to increase the memory up to 30-35%. It apparently hinders the nerve dendrons in the brain from drying and splintering. As a result, messages can continue to be transmitted in the memory area. I have been taking this memory help for a year, and can definitely testify to improvement here. But now this week something new has come out of Israel as put forth. My wife Marie read the above article which appeared in the January 11, 2008 "Bridges for Peace ? Israel Current News Update." Her comment ? Very Interesting! Many Americans feel they fall short in maintaining a good heath outlook if they take an afternoon nap. But many outstanding leaders in our land regularly take an afternoon nap, and no doubt profit from this habit. Former President John F. Kennedy consistently had his afternoon nap while in the White House. His memory was absolutely remarkable, and no doubt was enhanced by this wise habit. In hot countries like Mexico, an afternoon "Siesta" is part of the culture. Wise people indeed! So ? dear friends ? Marie felt this could be not only a challenge but also a blessing to you our readers! "Puritan's Pride" in New York State is one among a number who cater to those interested in "Neuro - PS." Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jan 22 20:06:12 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:06:12 -0800 Subject: Greek Word Studies + Bible Book Outlines Message-ID: <625d7240801222006l75472932x8f03353e72c72ba@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4256 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **January 22, 2008*** * * *"GREEK WORD STUDIES + BIBLE BOOK OUTLINES"* * * On March 18, 1967 on a Saturday morning, I was doing last minute preparations for the next day's sermon. When suddenly, with no warning, in one split second, God by His Spirit showed me how to prepare Greek Word Studies in a new format. I had been studying Ivan Panin's Greek and English Numeric NT's since 1945. Then quite by accident (or providential?) I discovered John Stegenga's "Greek English Analytical Concordance of the Greek English NT." I had been using Englishman's Greek Concordance through the recommendation of a friend. It took me two hours to write down the wisdom of the Spirit how to coordinate these 3 sources, and produce a new presentation of Greek Word Studies. The enclosed copy of "Adoption," is a sample of over 4000 MS pages of every major word in the Greek NT. We will be making these available from time to time along with portions of the Outlined Interlinear Numeric Greek NT using Ivan Panin's texts. Then in the Fall of 1984 on the way to Cranbrook, BC the Spirit showed me how to outline the Bible books in a new format. This format allows readers to pray through the Bible using the Lord's Prayer outline as developed by Larry Lea. In this mailing you will find the outline of the book of Romans, and also of Romans 9-11 according to this format. The sentence, sub-paragraph, paragraph and chapter equivalents are from God's numeric structure as discovered by Ivan Panin. The Greek text is also according to God's Numeric Phenomenon. As Panin discovered, he took the 7 major Greek NT manuscripts plus some 3000 fragments, and applied Numerics to the 3000 alternate readings as appearing in the Westcott and Hort Greek NT. He was thus able to come up with his Greek text with no alternate readings ? same as the original. From this he made his English translation at the time of the beginning of the last century. I prepared in 1984 52 weekly outlines covering the entire Bible, and then broke these down into 366 daily readings, one for each day of the year. These are based on Panin's texts. You have before you a sample of each of these. As the Lord enables, I aim to complete these two series, plus the Outlined Interlinear Numeric Greek NT, plus the Greek Word Studies for the 14 major groupings of Greek words in the NT such as the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, the Gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit and more. I will appreciate your prayers for health and strength to complete these enjoyable, blessed ? but taxing tasks. Your friend ? Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * *S #5206 -- huio-theSIa (5) ? ADOPTION ? SONSHIP* *From S #5207 ? huiOS (381) ? A SON* *From S #5087 ? TIthe-mi (192) ? TO PLACE, PUT ASIDE, MAKE* * * *One. ROM **8:15** (12-17) THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION "For you received not a spirit of bondage again unto fear; but you received a spirit of ADOPTION (huio-theSIa), whereby we cry, Abba, :Father." * * * *Two. ROM **8:23** (18-25). OUR ADOPTION: REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY. "And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, WE ourselves also groan within ourselves, awaiting our ADOPTION, the redemption of our :body."* * * *Three. ROM 9:4 (1-13). THE ADOPTION: FIRST OF EIGHT COVENANT BLESSINGS.** "who are Israelites; whose is the ADOPTION, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the worship, and the promises; **5 **whose are the fathers, and of whom is the Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed unto the ages. Amen."* * * *Four. GAL 4:4-5 (**3:23**-4:7) GOD'S SON: GIVES "ADOPTION OF SONS" BY REDEMPTION. "**But when the fullness of the time came, :God sent forth his :Son, born of woman, born under law, **5 **that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive the ADOPTION of sons.* * * *Five. EPH 1:4-5 (3-14) OUR ADOPTION: GOD'S FOREORDAINED PLAN! "Even as he chose us in him before the world's foundation, that we be holy and without blemish before him in love **5 **having foreordained us unto ADOPTION as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his :will,"** * * * *NOTE: *Adoption (huio-theSIa) appears but 5 times in the Greek NT. It is a combination of 2 words ? "huiOS" (381x), a son; and TIth*e*mi ? to place, put aside, make. Adoption then is the placing or establishing of a SON. Bible Adoption is NOT the same as our Western understanding of adoption. In Bible times a Jewish father would normally place his eldest son under his servants to learn all aspects of his business. When they later came to him and said, "Sir ? your son has passed all tests, and is now read for 'Adoption.' You can have a special coming out party for him, and then place him beside yourself in your company, which will then be 'Father and Son.' We will then take our place under his direction, just as we have been under yours. THIS is what our Heavenly Father wants to do with us. We are His sons and daughters through the New Birth! But God wants us to receive "Adoption" unto "Sonship." His servants are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers of Ephesians 4:11-12. We are to accept our place under them. They then ADJUST (ka-tar-TIz*o*) us. They give us a spiritual chiropractic treatment to adjust us as the 33 vertebrae of the human body need adjustment to protect the spinal cord. Adjustment unto ADOPTION and SONSHIP is the will of God for us as outlined in the above 5 references! It is the FIRST of the 8 blessings for Israel, that according to the MYSTERY of the Gospel taught by Paul, we as Gentiles share with Israel in the "One New Man." The other 7 blessings in Romans 9:4-5 are equally important for us from God's point of view. Jim Watt *T2601R ? ROMANS: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH* * * * One. JUN 26. 1:1-17. INTRODUCTION TO JUSTIFICATION. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is God's power unto salvation to every :believer; to Jew first, also to Greek. **17 **For herein is being revealed God's righteousness from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous man shall live by faith" (**1:16**-17 NNT). *Father, we glory in the Living Gospel: Jesus! In Him righteousness is realized! *Hallowed be Your Name.* * * * Two. JUN 27. **1:18 ? 4:25**. LAW SHUTS US UP TO JUSTIFICATION. "For we reckon a man is justified by faith apart from works of law" (**3:28**). *Father, You have purposed and ordained that only through the faith of Jesus shall any man be justified. There is salvation in no other name! We therefore justify You, Father, and declare ?* Your :kingdom come!* * Three. JUN 28. 5. ATONEMENT AND GRACE: BASIS OF JUSTIFICATION. "For if, by the trespass of the one, :death reigned through the one; much rather shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of :righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ" (** 5:17**). *In Messiah you have given us so much, Father! The reign of death, You have overturned! Abundance of grace You have given! Reigning in Righteousness, You have made a reality! Father, You have purposed and ordained that only through the faith of Jesus shall any man be justified. There is salvation in no other name! We therefore justify You, Father, and declare, *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* * * * Four. JUN 29. 6-8. HOLY SPIRIT: PROMISE OF JUSTIFICATION. "And if Christ is in you, the body is indeed dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness" (**8:10**). *Father, we begin dimly to perceive Your great wisdom, plan and purpose in the Gospel. It is Your promise, O Father, of the Holy Spirit through Messiah, that is the empowerment of justification. And, *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* * * *Five. JUN 30. 9-11. RELATIONSHIP OF **ISRAEL** AND GENTILES TO JUSTIFICATION. "Who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the worship, and the promises; **5** whose are the fathers, and of whom is the Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed unto the ages. Amen" (9:4-5). *Father, we bless you that in the "One New Man," we as Gentiles share with Israel these 8 marvelous blessings that they through the Covenants inherit! No wonder we both can pray, *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* * * *Six. JUL 1. 12:1-16:23. PRACTICAL OUTWORKINGS OF JUSTIFICATION. "If possible, as much as in you is, be at peace with all men" (**12:18**). *Father, we thank You for the wisdom of the Spirit through Paul. We thank You that he understood the frailty of the flesh. We thank You, Father, that this truth is one of the practical outworkings of justification. As we understand, believe and pray, *O bring us not into temptation.* * * *Seven. JUL 2. 16:25-27. GLORY TO GOD FOR JUSTIFICATION. "Now to the one able to establish you according to my :gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to revelation of the mystery kept silent through the times of ages, **26** but now is manifested, and through the prophetic scriptures, according to commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith: **27** to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom the glory unto the ages. Amen." *Now ? add a blessing: *But deliver us from the evil *one. *T2606R ? ROM 9-11 ? RELATIONSHIP OF ISRAEL & **GENTILES** TO JUSTIFICATION* * * * * * One. 9:1-13. **ISRAEL**: BY THE PRINCIPLE OF REMNANT. "For I could wish that I myself were anathema from the Christ for my :brothers' sake, my :kinsmen according to the flesh: **4a** who are Israelites" (9:3-4a); *Father, we sense the travail of Paul's soul (GAL 4:19) for his nation. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper who love you (PSA 122.6). We join Paul in praying for a nation to be born in a day. *Hallowed be Your Name.* * * * Two. 9:14-29. **ISRAEL**: PICTURE OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY. "So then it is :not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that has mercy" (**9:16**). *Lord, let us not forget that we were dead in trespasses and sins, and You spoke a word of mercy, 'Let him live!' and then the gift of repentance and faith and life entered into us! We owe all to you. All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me. Lord: the Father gave us, and we have come, and You have received us. *Your :kingdom come!* * * * Three. **9:30**-33. **ISRAEL**: FAILED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM FAITH. "What shall we say then? That the nations, who followed not after righteousness, apprehended righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith" (**9:30**): *Jesus, You are the Good News of the Kingdom, and we have not stumbled at You. The Father granted us the gift of repentance and faith. O let Israel's eyes be opened, and be grafted back into the Root. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* * * * Four. 10:1-15. **ISRAEL**: SHOWN **TRUE WAY** OF FAITH! "Because if you shall confess the word with your :mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in your :heart that :God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved" (10:9): *We return thanks unto You, Father, and praise Your holy Name; for through this word we entered Your Kingdom. We submitted unto Your righteousness, the righteousness of God in Messiah by faith. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* * * * Five. **10:16 - 11:12**. **ISRAEL**'S REMNANT: HAS FAITH IN RHEMA-WORD. "Now if their :trespass is riches of a world, and their :loss riches of nations, how much more their :fullness" (**11:12**)? *Lord, we see resurrection life in fullness in the church coming from the fullness of Israel. O may we see anti-Semitism and blinding in the church to these truths as deception from the enemy, and ungratefulness on our part. Lord, open our eyes. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* * * * Six. **11:13**-24. **ISRAEL**: TEMPORARILY CUT OFF FOR GENTILES. "For if the casting away of them is a reconciling of a world, what is their receiving but life from the dead" (**11:15**)? *Reconciliation ? through Yeshua our peace offering! Reconciliation ? made possible by the temporary cutting off of Israel! Restoration of Israel: life from among the dead for all of us! *O bring us not into temptation.* * * * Seven. **11:25**-36. **ISRAEL**: TO BE RESTORED WITH GENTILES. "As to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as to the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake. **29 **For the gifts and the calling of :God are not repented of" (**11:28**-29). *Israel is still beloved for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob's sake. Father, do we share this truth? Do we perceive this revelation? Does the spirit of Nazism still pollute our souls? Lord, we reject satan's lies. We choose to pray the prayers of Paul. *But deliver us from the evil *one. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Jan 25 20:16:00 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:16:00 -0800 Subject: Book Outline + Word Studies Message-ID: <625d7240801252016h338e4a19t47536d2908350ef6@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **January 25, 2008*** * * * * * * *"EPHESIAN BOOK OUTLINES + WORD STUDIES"* * * The book of Romans introduces Paul's 7 key churches to the Feast of Passover. Here Justification by Faith is laid out. Here Martin Luther received his clarion call: "*The Just* shall live by Faith." This truth is repeated in Galatians and Hebrews, but all 3 quotations have variant emphases. It ushers believers into the Outer Court of the Tabernacle and Temple. But EPHESIANS is the FULCRUM teaching of Paul's 7 churches. It emphasizes life in the Holy Place of Tabernacle and Temple. It swims in the Feast of Pentecost. It is the only one of Paul's 14 epistles with 3 separate groupings of words: the 7 UNITIES of the Spirit; the 5 Ascension Offices; and the 7 pieces of armor for God's Corporate Soldier. In this study we will consider the 'Apostle' and 'Prophet' of EPH 4:11-12. 1 & 2 Thessalonians consider the Feast of Tabernacles through the Second Coming of Christ. It prepares us for "Bridal Love Realized" in the Holy of Holies. The past 60 years have had an emphasis by the Holy Spirit upon 'Apostles' and 'Prophets.' The Azusa Street Revival of 1906 emphasized the "Gifts of the Spirit" through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. But the 1948 Northern Canada Visitation placed an emphasis on these 2 offices, plus the Presbytery Concept. Since The Protestant Reformation, there have been steady stages of restoration back to the life of the early church. The last Visitation prior to the return of Christ will bring to maturity and unity all past restoration revivals. There are many facets to all of this. All is contained in the New Testament epistles and outlined in the Book of Acts. City churches operating with all of the above will more than satisfy our longing hearts for God Himself in His Triune entity, and in His workings in our midst. Jesus in the Spirit is the will of the Father for us at this stage. H.A. Baker, George Muller, Rees Howells and Oswald Chambers are but 4 of many pointing us in the right direction. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * *T3601R ? EPHESIANS ? THE CHURCH: GOD'S MASTER-PIECE * * * * * * * *One. 1:1-14. NINE BLESSINGS IN MESSIAH. "Blessed the God and Father of our :Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ" (1:3 NNT): *Father, we see Jesus at Your right hand in heaven, full of grace and truth ? our Advocate, our Intercessor and our Great High Priest. He is our Head on Your behalf. *Hallowed be Your Name.* * * *Two. 1:15-2:10. VISION MOTIVATES. "For by :grace have you been saved through faith; and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; **9** not of works, that no one should glory" (2:8-9). *Let us never forget this truth, Father! Let us always remember that we can add nothing to the finished work of Messiah on Calvary. *Your :kingdom come!* * * *Three. **2:11**-3:21. REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY: THE CHURCH. Jesus Christ "in whom every building, fitly framed together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; **22** in whom you also are built together into a habitation of :God in Spirit" (**2:21**-22). *Father, we would progress from being Your individual buildings and become Your corporate inner temple, a fit habitation for you: for You are worthy, O God! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* * * *Four. 4:1-16. CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT: EQUIPPING. "And HE gave some as apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; **12** for the perfecting of the saints, unto a wok of ministry, unto a building of the body of the Christ" (4:11-12). *We have given lip service to this truth, but have not pressed in to ask for its fulfillment in its maturity. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* * * *Five. **4:17 ? 5:14**. SANCTIFICATION: INEVITABLE COROLLARY. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful :works of :darkness, but rather even reprove them; **12** for the things done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of" (**5:11**-12). *Father, give us a pure mind like that of Messiah. We put ourselves in the way of mind renewal. We want to love righteousness and hate iniquity. *And forgive us our :debts as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* * * *Six. **5:15** ? 6:9. LOVE RELATIONSHIPS. "Thus ought the husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. Who loves his own :wife loves himself: **29** for no one ever hated his own :flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Christ also the church" (**5:28**-29). *O God our Father, forgive us as husbands for giving lip service and mental assent to this principle of Kingdom truth, but failing so often to practice in from our hearts. *O bring us not into temptation.* * * *Seven. 6:10-24. MYSTERY OF EVIL. "For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of the :darkness, against the spirituals of the wickedness in the heavenlies" (**6:12**). *Again, open our spiritual eyes to see this principle and reality. Help us not to move carnally against satan, but according to the principle of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 in a *corporate *sense. * But deliver us from the evil *one. *T3605R ? EPH 4:1-16 ? CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT: EQUIPPING* * * * * * * *One. 4:1-3. UNITY OF SPIRIT: BASIS FOR EQUIPPING. "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith you were called, **2** with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; **3** giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of :peace." (NNT) *Father, we see one body, with each of us as members in particular! We discern Your body in one another. We cannot make it apart from You in us *corporately*! *Hallowed be Your Name.* * * *Two. 4:4-6. SEVEN UNITIES: ESSENTIAL FOR EQUIPPIG. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your :calling; * *5** one Lord, one faith, one baptism, **6** one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all." *We bless You Father, for these seven Unities! We embrace them, and corporately commit ourselves to them. They are the common denominator. We commit ourselves to them. *Your :kingdom* *come!*** * * *Three. 4:7. GRACE FROM HOLY SPIRIT: POWER FOR EQUIPPING. "But to each of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift (do-reA) of the Christ." *Father, we bless you for the 'd*o*-reA,' God's artesian well, the gift of the Holy Spirit. We thank You that You meet all our spiritual needs. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* * * *Four. 4:8. MESSIAH'S ASCENSION GIFTS: PROVISION FOR EQUIPPING. "Wherefore he says, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts to :men." *Without the foundation-ascension offices operating in Your Church, none of us will develop, as we ought. Unless we as Your corporate Body accept them without respect of persons, we will lose out. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* * * *Five. 4:9. MESSIAH'S INCARNATION: ATONEMENT FOR EQUIPPING. "(Now the He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?" * Lord* *Jesus, for us and the departed dead, You ministered and gave forth the Evangel! Father, we trust You and Your Son in all Your purposes. Where we do not understand, we still trust. *And forgive us our :debts as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* * * *Six. 4:10. MESSIAH'S ASCENSION: AUTHORITY FOR EQUIPPING. "Who descended is the same that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill :all things.)" *O the glory of Your workings in Your Son, our Lord Jesus, Father! You are omnipotent! There is *nothing* too hard for you! You are Almighty! * O bring us not into temptation.* * * *Seven. 4:11-16. MESSIAH'S OFFICE GIFTS: TOOLS FOR EQUIPPING. "And HE gave (Aorist) some as apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; **12** for the perfecting of the saints, unto a work of ministry, unto a building of the body of the Christ" (4:11-12). *Father, we bless You for the gracious office gifts flowing from Your Son through the Holy Spirit. We submit to these equipping ministries. We magnify You! *But deliver us from the evil *one. * "APOSTLE" ? aPOsto-los ? 81x ? Strong #652 -- from #649 ? aPO + STELlo-mai * "The Word Study Concordance" ? George V. Wigram & Ralph D. Winter, 1978 *One. Luke **6:13** (12-19) APOSTLES: JESUS CHOSE 12 FROM AMONG MANY DISCIPLES. "And when it was day, he called his :disciples; and chose from them twelve, whom he also named APOSTLES." *Derek Prince made a point of this verse. Following a complete night of prayer, the Father showed Jesus the specific 12 disciples to choose from among thousands ? to be APOSTLES. These had to be with Jesus from the beginning as witnesses. 12 others are mentioned in the NT as apostles, but in a somewhat different category. * * *Two. ROM 1:1 (1-7) APOSTLE: PAUL **CHOSEN** OVER AND ABOVE THE 12. "Paul, bondman of Jesus Christ, a called APOSTLE, separated unto God's gospel." *Note: Paul* *places himself as a BONDMAN of Jesus Christ in prior importance to that of the apostle. Ponder this.** * * *Three. 1 COR **12:28** (12-31) APOSTLES: SET BY GOD FOR AS LONG AS THE CHURCH. "And :God has SET (Aorist) some in the church, first APOSTLES, second prophets, third teachers, then powers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues." *The Aorist tense has the sense that God intends apostles to function as long as the church functions. * * *Four. EPH **2:20** (11-22) APOSTLES: WITH PROPHETS & JESUS ? THE CHURCH'S FOUNDATION. God's household, "being built upon the foundation of the APOSTLES and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being chief corner stone." *Note: The church is not founded on the 5-fold ministries ? Apostles and Prophets take precedence over the last three as the foundation. But Jesus in turn takes precedence over them. * * *Five. EPH 4:11-13a (1-16) APOSTLES: GIVEN BY CHRIST TO EQUIP THE CHURCH. "And HE GAVE (Aorist) some as APOSTLES; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; **12** for the perfecting of the saints, unto a work of ministry, unto a building of the body of the Christ: **13** till we :all attain unto the UNITY of the faith." *Jesus * gave* (Aorist) the 5-fold ministries to function as long as there is a church. Maturity in the church is dependent upon the efficient functioning of these 5. Note that in 1 COR 12:28, teachers are set in a separate class from shepherds. * * *Six. HEB 3:1-2a (1-6) APOSTLE: IN JESUS ? TO BE CONSIDERED! "Whence, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the APOSTLE and High Priest of our :confession, Jesus; **2** who was faithful to him that appointed him." *The Holy Spirit is the One here exhorting us to consider Jesus in His high Apostolic calling. He is the Pattern for all other apostles. * * *Seven. REV 2:2 (1-7) APOSTLES: TO BE DISCERNED IF FALSE. "I know your :works, and your :toil and :patience, and that you cannot bear evil men, and did try them that call themselves APOSTLES, and they are not, and did find them false." *The last reference we have chosen for this word, concerns FALSE apostles. May we be like the Ephesian church, and well able to discern the false from the true. * * * * * * *"PROPHET"** ? proPHEtes ? 148x ? Strong #4396 ? from #4253 ? pro + pheMI (to say) 58x* *Strong #4398 PROPHETESS ? proPHEtis ? 2x* Note: In the Greek NT there are 5 words all meaning "to say or speak". The root word is eRE*o** (4076 refs. with all cognates); EIp*o* 22x; LEg*o*1341x (LOgos from this) RE*o* 27x (R*E*ma comes from it) ? John Stegenga *One. Acts **3:22** (11-26) PROPHET: JESUS ? FORETOLD TO MOSES & ISRAEL. "A PROPHET shall the Lord God raise up unto you from your :brothers, like unto me; to him shall you hearken in all things whatever he shall speak unto you." (NNT). *Jesus is an EXTRAORDINARY prophet. There is none like Him ? never has been ? and never will be. His words and His alone are Spirit and they are Life. ONLY as we daily find in Him and drink of His Spirit do we have what the Father has designed for us. J. Hudson Taylor found that John 15:1-16 expressed this most clearly. * * *Two. Acts 13:1 (1-3) PROPHETS: PART OF MISSIONARY-SENDING TEAM. "Now in the church that was at **Antioch** were PROPHETS and teachers, both :Barnabas and Symeon :called **Niger**, and Lucius of **Cyrene**, and Manaen foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul." *This is a most significant portion of Scripture. Here we see a functioning of prophets in the Presbytery concept. * * *Three. 1 COR **12:28** (12-31) PROPHETS: SET TO FUNCTION IN THE CHURCH. "And :God has SET (Aorist) some in the church, first apostles, second PROPHETS, third teachers, then powers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues." *We cannot emphasize this verse too much. This with Ephesians 4:11 were majored on in 1948 by George Hawtin. The fullness of understanding here has not yet been realized. * * *Four. 1 COR **14:37** (37-40) PROPHET: KEY CONDITION FOR FUNCTIONING. "If any thinks himself to be a PROPHET, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of what things I write you, that it is the Lord's commandment." *Prophets must saturate themselves in the full counsel of God. They need to be aware of apostolic teaching and understanding as it proceeds from one like Paul. This makes a team such as Paul and Silas ? after Barnabas went another way. * * *Five. EPH **2:20** (11-22) PROPHETS: **KEY** **FOUNDATION** **FOR** ** CHURCH**. God's household, "being built upon the foundation of the apostles and PROPHETS, Christ Jesus himself being chief corner stone." *Here again we see the two-fold foundation for the church from the human viewpoint. From God's vantage point however, it is JESUS who has center stage as the Chief Corner Stone. * * *Six. EPH **4:11** (1-16) PROPHETS: GIVEN TO EQUIP THE CHURCH. "And HE (Christ) gave (Aorist) some as apostles; and some, PROPHETS; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers." *The 1948 Northern Canada Visitation majored on this portion of Scripture through George Hawtin. Can we do less? Should we?* * * * *Seven. **REV 2:20** (18-29) PROPHETESS: JEZEBEL ? A FALSE ONE. "But I have against you, that you suffer the woman Jezebel, who calls herself prophetess; and she teaches and seduces my :bondmen to commit fornication, and to eat idol sacrifices."* Just as Jesus warned of false apostles in one of the 7 churches of Revelation ? NOW He warns of this false prophetess in anther of these 7 churches. How could a city church such as Thyatira fall into such delusion? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Feb 1 20:43:01 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 20:43:01 -0800 Subject: Spiritual Equations Message-ID: <625d7240802012043y3b72f3d6p3de08097a55ff8a4@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4256 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com * *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **January 31, 2008*** * * *"SPIRITUAL EQUATIONS"* * * Albert Einstein (1879-1955) in 1905 had outstanding equations in Physics ? all initially worked out in his head, and then neatly written down. His outstanding break-throughs were worked out before he was 40. E=Mc2 is the one for which he is most famous. He was a loner with an intense bond to humanity, a rebel who was suffused with reverence. And then it was that an imaginative, impertinent patent clerk became the mind reader of the Creator of the cosmos, the locksmith of the mysteries of the atom and the universe. He had an instinct for unification based on realism, so that for him the laws of physics had to explain everything in nature coherently and consistently. One needs to be a non-conformist to tradition ? to be successful in this area. Einstein believed in a God who reveals himself in the harmony of all that exists. He did not believe that God played dice with the quantum theory. Now ? why should I be interested in the above? I have just completed reading a biography on Einstein by Walter Isaacson published by Simon and Schuster in 2007. Einstein felt that "Field Equations" could link all knowledge in the universe: the electro-magnetic field, gravity, the metric field, etc. However, he died at 75 without achieving this goal. As I pondered the life and accomplishments of this extraordinary man, it seemed that God intimated to me ? "The assignments I have given you can be looked at in "Equation Form", and then linked together in a Unified Field. I couldn't give this to Einstein, because he followed the ways of Spinoza, and shut himself off from intimacy with me. Though you are far from matching his IQ ? yet because you have desired intimacy with me ? I can share secrets with you through the Spirit that I was unable to give this great physicist." In 1944 God sent a Russian Jew to me to open me up to the works of the great Ivan Panin. Like Einstein he made advances in Philosophy and Mathematics at a young age. As a Professor in Mathematics, he had Einstein as a student at Harvard for a time. Einstein had majored in Physics, but neglected in a measure the field of Mathematics. Later on he realized the seriousness of his neglect, but had to rely on Math majors to realize much of his ambition in Physics. When I realized the significance of Panin in the field of Bible Numerics, I felt sorry for him ? that for conscience sake he refused the offer of Jehovah's Witnesses to form for him an Interlinear Greek New Testament using his Greek and English Numeric texts. I commenced in the mid and late 40's to work on this, and corresponding Greek Word Studies. Then in 1967 I heard the Spirit on behalf of God saying, "Get My New Testament done!" So I have a heavenly mandate on behalf of Panin, and one on behalf of the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles from the 1948 Latter Rain Visitation. And I believe that in the Wisdom of God, these two streams are one. To illustrate this, here then are three equations; one for Panin ? one for the 12 Embryonics; and one for uniting these two. H.A. Baker, author of "Visions Beyond the Veil" was very interested in the '48 Visitation. This book was published by the Assemblies of God in the early part of the last century, as well as the Numeric Phenomenon as uncovered by Dr. Ivan Panin. This was at a time not too far removed from their formation as a fellowship. H.A. Baker's son James was a teacher at their Bible College in those days. *EQUATION A ? Panin's Outlined Interlinear Numeric Greek New Testament* 44.3+45.4+46-48+48.3+67.1+67.2+84.4=2007.1+2008+2008.1 44.3 ? Victoria BC ? Dr. Jewel from Calgary ? 2 pamphlets on Panin + promise of Greek 45.4 ? Panin's Numeric Gr. NT ? Introduction revealed Sentence and paragraph structure of NT 46-48 ? St. Andrews College, Saskatoon ? twice every lecture in OT by Robert Schnell ? "Where does THAT put the inspiration of your Bible?" ? Panin's Bible Numerics adequately answered! 48.3 ? Canora, Saskatchewan ? d*o*-reA ? Greek Word studies opened through Panin. 67.1 ? John Stegenga, Panin, Englishman's Gr. Concordance ? basis for Greek Word Studies ? How to frame them in 7 point outlines. Lennie Borozinski's illustrations 67.2 ? Outlined Interlinear Numeric Gr. NT ? "Get My NT done!" 84.4 ? Cranbrook BC ? Bible Book outlines using Larry Lea + Panin's Outlines & Chronology = 2007.1 ? Revised Interlinear ? Keelan's help with format. + 2008 ? Hope for Revised Website and posting of these equations. + 2008.1 ? Greek Word Studies + Book Outlines + Panin's Interlinear *EQUATION B ?The Twelve 1948 Embryonics* 33.2+33/37+42.4+44.2a+44.2b+45.3+48.2+48.3a+48.3b+48.4+49a+49b+49.4+63a+63b+64.3+ 67.2+68.3+68.4+71.1+73a+73b+84.4+92.3+2004.1 = 2007.4 33.2 ? Murrayville BC ? Sunnybrook Farm ? The Heavens and Psalm 19 33-37 ? Canadian Boy Puzzle Corner of United Church of Canada Lily Series ? 48 monthly issues ? from G.R. Gordon, step-grandfather "Intra Muros" ? Rebecca Springer ? also from G.R. Gordon 42.4 ? Psalm 107:22-23 ? UBC W. Point Gray Vancouver ? "Join Navy" ? 1stWord from God 44.2a ? Vern McMahon ? Tell him ? "No more Communism ? Because of Covenant with Me." 44.2b ? WHY God? ? "Because I am raising up apostles and prophets to restore My Church, and if you are faithful, you may have part in it." 45.3 ? Write George R. Hawtin, BBI, Saskatoon, and apply as a student 48.2 ? Ern Hawtin ? April, Princess Elizabeth H.S. auditorium, Saskatoon 48.3a ? June 30 ? Marry Marie Gaudet 48.3b ? July North Battleford Camp Meeting ? Presbytery + 5-fold Ministries. 48.4 ? Edmonton in October ? Heavenly Choir 49a ? August ? Find Seminary in Chicago 49b ? Chicago ? NBTS ? Harry Conn ? Roland Alan, Home Meetings and Missions. 49.4 ? A.W. Slemming ? England ? "These Are the Garments" ? 12 Tribes of Israel 63a ? The 12 Temperaments linked with the 12 Tribes 63b ? "The Glorious Church" ? Watchman Nee ? The City Church 64.3 ? Nicholas Bhengu, Africa ? Seattle Visitation through our church, Broadway Tabernacle. 67.2 ? God's Purpose for Our Marriage ? Spiritual Star Wars (Interlinear Gr. NT + City Church + 70 Canadian Cities) 68.3 ? FGBMF ? Fred Dorflein ? Weekly Prayer for Revival ? 12 out of 200 68.4 ? Bee ? Presbytery sidetracked 71.1 ? Dennis Bennett & Bob Mumford ? 30 Apostolic Teachers in Covenant ? Seattle I 84.4 ? Cranbrook, BC ? 52 Bible Book Outlines based on the Lord's Prayer 92.3 ? "Bring the 12 '48 Embryonics to Maturity ? Parameters of Safety for last Revival 2004.1 ? Regina Saskatchewan ? Femi Ogunrinde ? Digging out the '48 N. Battleford wells. = 2007.4 ? DVD package documenting the '48 Visitation through John Roddam and Stuart Spani *EQUATION C ? FIELD EQUATION* *Equation A + Equation B = Unified Field* * * * * *NOTE:* Should you "Surf the Net" and seek out information on James A. Watt and the 1948 "Latter Rain" Visitation ? you will find one good positive word -- + a number of somewhat negative outlooks. It would be helpful to bear in mind the following points. One. Those with negative viewpoints weren't there. Two. Their interpretation of such items as Apostles and Prophets miss the main thrust of those days. Three. Often there is a tendency to throw the baby out with the bathwater ? a tragedy! God told Jeremiah that "If he would take the precious from the vile ? he should be as God's mouth!" In other words ? there is good in every revival. Don't swallow it all. Be discriminating ? but by ALL MEANS ? DON'T THROW OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATHWATER! Four. Movements after 40 years existence according to many historians, need a new Visitation to recapture the original Anointing. We are leaky vessels according to Jeremiah, and need constant refillings. One can only fairly evaluate up-to-date outpourings, if one is walking in up-to-date experiences! Only in intimacy with the Holy Spirit in a John 15:1-16 context, can one fairly make appraisals of others! "Dry" leaders and movements are going to miss God's full Vantage Point when evaluating Revivals. Five. Should you "Google" the net under "James A. Watt" and "1948 Latter Rain Revival," there are some that need to be read with the above points in view. They offer many facts that are relevant and true, but many of the conclusions lack true objectivity. Note that the DVD package *"The Fire Continues ? Sixty Years Later"* *"Jim and Marie Watt on the '48 Revival" ? set of three DVDs* *Norlynn Audio Visual Services* * www.reason-for-hope.com* * sales at reason-for-hope.com* contain insights from my wife Marie and myself ? both participants at that time. We note areas of departure ? that I believe will offer you a more objective and accurate appraisal. * * Note: The Rev. Dr. John Roddam is Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Seattle, seat of Father Dennis Bennett's 1960 word on the Charismatic Revival, one that had some of its roots in the 1948 Visitation. Father John has asked Marie and myself to take part in services celebrating the 60thAnniversary of February 11 th at St. Luke's, Sunday February 10 and Monday February 11 at 7:00 PM. For those of you in the area, we would love to see you at that time. It will be different, and it will be special. The DVD package will be available then too. Your friends ? Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * * * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Feb 4 16:38:09 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 16:38:09 -0800 Subject: Reply to "Spiritual Equations" Message-ID: <625d7240802041638l755678fev36705c03703b3c3@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **February 4, 2008*** * * *REPLY TO "SPIRITUAL EQUATIONS"* * * Following are 3 replies: *Thanks for this, Brother Jim.* *I have received a copy of the DVD and hope to view it very soon.* *As for the "equations" below,* *I must say that I am at a loss in deciphering them.* *(They don't "add" up from my accounting.)* *Can you give any further insight on the math involved?* * * *I am always fascinated with your messages * *and feel very honored to know you.* *Your upcoming meeting sounds fantastic.* *Wish I could be there.* *May you be blessed with good health and opportunity* *to open the eyes and understanding of others* *with the truths of God. Shalom.* * * *I am really enjoying these Bible studies.* *"Thanks so much" for your diligence* *to provide this ministry to the Body of Christ.* * * Here's another Spiritual Equation, just to add to the former mix! *Hitler + Holocaust = 1947 UN Vote for **Israel** as a Nation!* (The concluding Note will explain) Note the Title ? "*SPIRITUAL" *Equations. These are not ordinary math equations. One must almost use the heart to "feel" his way into understanding ? rather than using the head to reason into it. Under Equation One, there are several Historical Events that provide the basis for what follows the "=" sign. The result is the "Outlined Interlinear Numerical NT + Book Outlines and Greek Word Studies. Under the second equation, there are again an increased number of Historical Events that also provide the basis for what follows the "=" sign ? namely the 12 Embryonic 1948 Revival principles coming to Maturity The third equation takes the conclusion of the first two and indicates the result as a *Unified Field *? the joining of these two streams of endeavor. Of course ? this does not fit equations of Math and Physics ? but looking at it from a "Spiritual" viewpoint, it tends to explain the way God has led me the past 74 years. *NOTE:* See Herman Wouk's "The Will to Live On," 2000 AD. for an explanation on Israel's Equation ? because of Hitler and the Holocaust. ("The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" by this same author may help you to focus more clearly upon him.) *The Moon Module ? *p. 24 of the above. Two psychic forces have been infusing American Jewry with amazing vitality since the Second World War, the energy of guilt and the energy of pride. Both are waning, and neither is likely to fuel this great diaspora far beyond the year 2000. Such is my view, and that is all I mean by the stock phrase "running on empty." The guilt is about the Holocaust. The pride is about Israel. If not for those two nearly simultaneous hammer strokes of history, which rang alarms and struck sparks in our souls, I believe we might even now be withering below the survival margin, for all to see. Except in enclaves of the observant, the religion which has preserved our folk down the ages is undeniably at an ebb. From Bible days onward Jewry has experienced lapses and revivals of faith, but this decline among America's Jews is steep, and the bottom is as yet not discernible. Nor is that hard to understand. Among immigrants like my mother and father, early in the century, there was a byword, *"When you get halfway across the Atlantic, throw overboard your prayer shawl and phylacteries." *One couldn't observe the religion in the *Goldena Medina* and make a living, it was said; and anyway, here was the chance to shrug off the musty ways of the shtetl and its Torah ? from which, as Ben-Gurion rightly put it, they were fleeing ? and to start life in a pristine new identity as AMERICANS. I am a product of a household that resisted this byword, yet I well know how it almost entirely overwhelmed the old Yiddishkeit. Hitler's leap to power was an electric shock to the drifters, as well as to the more established and assimilated Jews of earlier migrations. When twelve years later the truth emerged of his vast secret slaughter of the six million behind the smoke of war, not only was American Jewry stunned, the whole world was. *That was the decisive reason for the United Nations vote in 1947, which enabled **Israel** to run up its flag,* for since then such votes have tended to go lopsidedly against Israel. But this miraculous rebirth of the ancient nation in the Holy Land did not at first greatly stir the American Jewish heart. To most, Zionism had always been a dreamy notion, to some even odious, raising the old specter of dual loyalty; and Palestinewas no place to visit, let alone to live. The Palestine wrested by the British from the Turks, during the First World War, was still the sad disease-ridden Ottoman province of ancient ruins, described by Mark Twain in *Innocents Abroad. *The scattered settlements of *halutzim, *pioneers from eastern Europe, plus the old very small religious enclaves, were a mere marginal fragment of world Jewry. For wartime reasons of state, the British in 1917 issued the famous Balfour Declaration, the enabling document of Zionism: *His Majesty's Government view with favour* *the establishment in **Palestine** of a national home for the Jewish people,* *and will use the best endeavours to facilitate the achievements of this object, * *it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice* *the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in ** Palestine**,* *or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.* * * So modern Jewish history takes a sharp turn. In my chapter on Zionism I discuss with some care this momentous, complicated, and decidedly equivocal single sentence. At the time, the American Jewish reaction, by and large, was a shrug. Only with the Six-Day War in 1967, fifty years after the Balfour Declaration, did there come the abrupt mass turn to Zionism. At that time the threat to Israel by Egypt and Syria, acting together and heavily armed by Russia with tanks, artillery, and combat aircraft, wore the aspect of a second Holocaust; and the surprise triumph of Israel's armed forces against such odds created a mighty awakening in American Jewry. The sudden outpouring of support ? financial, political, emotional ? was unparalleled, unforeseen, and fantastic. An odd analogy comes to my mind, the Apollo lunar landing module. The spidery little machine, when it soared off the airless moon with the astronauts, was powered by two chemicals which flowed together at liftoff; once combined, they shot the module skyward to the command vehicle in a burst of terrific propulsion. So, in those historic six days, guilt about the Holocaust and pride in the new Jewish military prowess flowed together, as it were; and the ensuing explosive synergy of ethnic force has been carrying our community ever since toward the twenty-first century. Israelhas had its subsequent ups and downs in peace and war, and in its approval rating among journalists, politicians, and academics, but the American Jews have remained, as one Israeli general has put it, Israel's strategic depth. Still, I do not forget another thing Ben-Gurion said to me: "Nothing is permanent in history." *PS. DON'T FORGET (those of you in the Seattle-Tacoma Metroplex) the 60thFebruary 11, 1948 Anniversary this coming Sunday February 10 th and Monday the 11th, 7:00 PM. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church of **Seattle **, convened by Rector the Rev. Dr. John Roddam, who will be interviewing Marie and myself, and opening the meetings up for questions from the audience. The DVD's are **ten thirty** minute windows documenting this time, and also interviewed by Father John. Darrell Dahlman will lead us in worship!* * * *The special DVD's documenting the 1948 meetings will be available at a special price. They are also available through "Norlynn Audio Visual Services," www.reason-for-hope.com ? sales at reason-for-hope.com ? under the title: "The Fire Continues ? Sixty Years Later."* *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * * * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Feb 6 13:08:22 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 13:08:22 -0800 Subject: James Book Outline Message-ID: <625d7240802061308x23cefe33wfd4626eb3fc1865f@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874-4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **February 4, 2008*** * * *"JAMES BOOK OUTLINES + WORD STUDIES"* *The Compelling Majesty of His Power ? An Illustration* * * *"The love of Christ compels us ?" (2 Corinthians **5:14**) ? Oswald Chambers* *(My Utmost for His Highest, February 4) --- *Paul said that he was overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by "the love of Christ." Very few of us really know what it means to be held in the grip of the love of God. We tend so often to be controlled simply by our own experience. The one thing that gripped and held Paul, to the exclusion of everything else, was the love of God. The love of Christ compels us ?" When you hear that coming from the life of a man or woman it is unmistakable. You will know that the Spirit of God is completely unhindered in that person's life. When we are born again by the Spirit of God, our testimony is based solely on what God has done for us, and rightly so. But that will change and be removed forever once you "receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you?" (Acts 1:8). Only then will you begin to realize what Jesus meant when He went on to say, "? you shall be *witnesses to Me?" *Not witness to what* *Jesus can do ? that is basic and understood ? but "witnesses to Me?" We will accept everything that happens as if it were happening to Him, whether we receive praise or blame, persecution or reward. No one is able to take this stand for Jesus Christ who is not totally compelled by the majesty of His power. It is the only thing that matters, and yet it is strange that it's the last thing we as Christian workers realize. Paul said that he was gripped by the love of God and that is why he acted as he did. People could perceive him as mad or sane ? he did not care. There was only one thing he lived for ? to persuade people of the coming judgment of God and to tell them of "the love of Christ." This total surrender to "the love of Christ" is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God's holiness and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness. *NOTE:* James 1:18 tells us that God has designed that WE should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. Jesus is His firstfruits ? and it is the hope, design and plan of God that we should enter into His kind of ministry. Isn't that what Chambers is saying also? Our love for Christ is the only thing that will bear the kind of FRUIT that James is talking about here. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * *T1901R ? JAMES: PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY* * * * * * * *One. 1:1-18. WISDOM: PATH TO PERFECTION. "With intent he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we be a kind of firstfruits of his :creatures" (**1:18**). *Father, You have made Jesus Your true firstfruits, the beginning of Your New Creation. And You have begotten us in Him, so that as members of His body, we too have a firstfruits ministry. *Hallowed be Your Name!* * * *Two. **1:19**-27. WISDOM: HIGHWAY TO HOLINESS. "Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their :affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (**1:27**). *Wisdom with You, Father, is the practical outworking of one after Your own heart. It is a life of good works flowing out of faith and love: a life with you in Messiah as our holiness shining through! *Your :kingdom come!* * * *Three. 2. WISDOM IN THE CHURCH. "So speak, and so do, as those to be judged by a law of liberty. **13 For the judgment is without mercy to him that has shown no mercy: mercy glories against judgment" (**2:12**-13). *Righteous judgment without respect of persons, flowing forth from a life of faith: THIS is the life that pleases You, Father. We accept Your wisdom in this. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* * * *Four. 3. WISDOM IN THE TONGUE. "And the tongue is a fire: the world of :iniquity among our :members in the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the path of :nature, and is set on fire by :geenna" (3:6). *Father, here You clearly show us the terrible seriousness of the uncontrolled tongue. How we so often sin against You and our fellow man by this unbridled tongue. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *Five. 4:1-12. WISDOM IN SPIRITUAL WAFARE. "Be subject therefore to :God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. **8a Draw nigh to :God, and he will draw nigh to you" (4:7-8a).* Here Father, by Your Sprit, You have given us three simple principles whereby we can succeed in spiritual warfare: submission to You; resisting the devil; drawing near to You. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* * * *Six. **4:13**-5:6. WISDOM IN PLANNING AND RICHES. "To him therefore that knows to do good, and does not, to him it is sin" (**4:17**). *Do we believe this? Does the sin of omission come against us, Father? Help us to search our hearts. Convict us by Your Spirit. Make us like Nathaniel, a man without guile; like David, a man after Your own heart. *O bring us not into temptation.* * * *Seven. 5:7-20 WISDOM THROUH PATIENT EXPECTATION. "Take, brothers, for an example of :suffering and of :patience, the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord" (**5:10**). *This is not the spirit of the world, but it is the spirit of Your true servants, Father! You would work this same spirit in us! You would conform many sons and daughters in the image of Jesus, bringing them into Glory! *But deliver us from the evil *one. *T1905R ? James 3 ? WISDOM IN THE TONGUE* * * *One. 3:1-2a. TEACHERS: STAND IN GREATER JEOPARDY. "Be not many teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive greater condemnation. * *2 For in many things we all stumble." *Why do so many of us lust after leadership and teaching positions, Father? Don't we realize the solemn and sober responsibility entailed? Only if we would sin against You by refusing, should we become teachers. *Hallowed be Your Name.*** * * *Two. 3:2b-6. THE TONGUE: GOVERNOR OF THE BODY. "If any stumbles not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole :body also" (3:2b). *Help us, Father, to see our tongue as YOU see it: controlled under and in You in Christ, then we become MATURE! O may we not miss this significant insight! *Your :kingdom come!* * * *Three. 3:7-8. THE TONGUE: UNTAMEABLE. "For every kind of beasts and birds, of things creeping, and in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by human nature: **8* *but the tongue can no man tame: a restless evil, full of deadly poison." *Press this deeper upon our hearts, Father. Do not let us off, nor let us miss the seriousness of this truth. Help us fulfill this proper response with gladness. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* * * *Four. 3:9-12. THE TONGUE: ITS INCONSISTENCY. "Out of the same mouth comes forth blessings and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be thus" (**3:10**). *We curse our fellow man who is made in Your image, Father. We cannot love You, our unseen God, if we hate our seen brother (1 John 4:20). *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* * * *Five. 3:13. WISDOM: ITS PROOF IN GOOD WORKS. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good :conduct his :works in meekness of wisdom." *Good words equal good works; for where good words out of a faithful heart flow forth, then will also flow forth good works: it is as certain as morning follows evening. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors* * * *Six. 3:14-16. WISDOM FROM BENEATH. "But if you have bitter jealousy and faction in your :heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. **15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonish. **16 For where jealousy is and faction, there is confusion and every vile deed."* Words and works flow forth from the heart: their nature is determined by the state of the heart. An evil heart consistently produces the above, and the above always reflects an evil heart! *O bring us not into temptation.* * * *Seven. 3:17-18. WISDOM FROM ABOVE. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. **18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace." * This is the heart, faith and works we desire, Father. *But deliver us from the evil * one. *S #53 hagNOS (8) ? PURE, CHASTE* *From S #40 HAgi-os (229) HOLY ? HOLY SPIRIT* *The first of 8 descriptions from James 3:17-18 ? WISDOM FROM ABOVE* * * *One. 1 Peter 3:1-2 (1-6) EFFECT OF CHASTENESS OF WIVES ON HUSBANDS "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own :husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they be gained without the word by the behavior of their wives; **2beholding your CHASTE :behavior coupled with fear."* * * *Two. 1 John 3:2b-3 (1-3) THE PURITY OF JESUS PURIFIES US "We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And every one that has this :hope on him PURIFIES himself, even as HE is PURE."* * * *Three. 2 COR 7:11 (5-12) PROOF OF PURITY THROUGH DILIGENCE "For lo, this self-same thing, that you were made sorry according to God, what diligence it worked in you, yes clearing, yes indignation, yes fear, yes longing, yes zeal, yes avenging! In everything you approved yourselves to be PURE in the matter."* * * *Four. 2 COR 11:2 (1-6) PAUL'S GOAL: US -- A PURE VIRGIN FOR CHRIST "For I am zealous over you with a zeal of God; for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you a PURE virgin to the Christ."* * * *Five. Philippians 4:8 (8-9) PURITY: ONE OF EIGHT THINGS TO TAKE ACCOUNT. "For the rest, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever are honorable, whatever are PURE, whatever are lovely, whatever are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if any praise, take account thereof."* * * *Six. 1 TIM **5:22** (17-25) PURITY: GOAL FOR A YOUNG LEADER "Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be partaker of others' sins: keep yourself PURE." * * * *Seven. Titus 2:4-5 (1-10) CHASTITY: AGED WOMEN TO TEACH TO YOUNGER "That they may train the young to be husband-lovers, child-lovers, **5ober-minded, CHASTE, home-workers, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of :God be not blasphemed:" * * * *NOTE**: *As one can see from the above ? Purity and Chastity are quite synonymous for moral or sexual purity. But it seems to cover the total person also ? body, soul and spirit. H.A. Baker in both "Visions Beyond the Veil" as well as in his autobiography "Under His Wings," recounts with great awe and thanksgiving the changed lives among the Ka Dos and other native tribes in S.W. China. Scarcely a male could be found that did not confess adultery and fornication prior to conversion and the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. But once both men and women entered into these experiences by the 1000's ? a moral purity along with fervent love for one another became the consistent rule. It is not enough to enter into moral purity. God wants us through the Holy Spirit Anointing to also experience a Christ-like spirit expressed in fervent love for the brethren. Such is the proof of Wisdom from Above. Such brings our actions to correspond with our Words. Our tongues will be in harmony with our living. Is this not a good start to express the Wisdom from Above? But there are yet 7 other expressions! * * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Feb 7 20:27:36 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 20:27:36 -0800 Subject: Spiritual Dejection Message-ID: <625d7240802072027v75b18839m1a3dcef1b1173a07@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **February 7, 2008*** * * *"SPIRITUAL DEJECTION"* *(From "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers)* * * *"We were hoping that is was He who was going to redeem **Israel**. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened" (Luke 24:21).* * * Every fact that the disciples stated was right, but the conclusions they drew from these facts were wrong. Anything that has even a hint of dejection spiritually is always wrong. If I am depressed or burdened, I am to blame, not God or anyone else. Dejection stems from one of two sources ? I have either satisfied a lust or I have not had it satisfied. In either case, dejection is the result. *Lust* means "I must have it at once." Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer. What have I been hoping or trusting God would do? Is today "the third day" and He has still not done what I expected? Am I therefore justified in being dejected and in blaming God? Whenever we insist that God should give us an answer to prayer we are off track. The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of God, not of the answer. It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected, because dejection is a sign of sickness. This is also true spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame for it. We look for visions from heaven and for earth-shaking events to see God's power. Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us. If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ. *NOTE ONE:* ALL experience times of dejection, discouragement and depression. BUT ? no matter WHAT our temperament, God has given to each of us the capability of arising out of it. See David in Psalm 43:5 ? "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall YET praise him, *who is* the HEALTH of my countenance, and my God!" And then in Psalm 103:1-4 ? "BLESS the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, *bless* his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good * things*; *so that* your youth is renewed like the eagle's." In SW China in the 1920's, Kunming and Yunnanfu, 40-80 orphans and beggars ALL came through terrible and horrible conditions ? and made it over the top. In the 1990's ? 1000's of orphans in Mozambique have also made it and are making it over the top through Rolland & Heidi Baker. Rolland is grandson to H.A. Baker of the Heavenly Visitation in the 20's above in China. He and his wife are seeing extraordinary answers to prayer: the sick healed, needs met, the dead raised, over 5000 churches raised up. These results came out of the deepest poverty of any nation on earth. They also experienced a devastating flood beyond imagination. But ? did they succumb to these difficulties and discouragements? No ? 1000 times No! Do a Google search for Rolland and Heidi Baker and their "Iris Ministries" ? and you will find that ANY troubles and problems we may experience ? are NOTHING compared with the above two situations. Oswald Chambers said there is NO EXCUSE that is able to cause us to succumb ? "IF" ? and remember "IF" we take our soul by the scruff of its neck and tell it ? "Soul ? BUCK UP! ? GOD is on your side, and this is ALWAYS a majority. If I refuse to give in or give up ? By my God I SHALL do valiantly. I will look back on these difficult times ? and see how God brought me through! *NOTE TWO:* "Spiritual Equations." I received another response to the recent mailing of the above subject, and am still laughing over it. Here 'tis! *Phew!* *I thought maybe I needed to back for a quadratic equation refresher course. * *Talk about multiple variables, Jim ?you take the cake!* *Maybe instead I should sit in a redwood tree and ponder awhile?* * * *Always enjoy your latest thoughts, Jim,* *although this one still has me stumped.* *Best to you and Marie, * *from **California*** * * In the summer of 1944 I met a scientist in a situation in which he was unable to make a decision. I had been witnessing to him concerning the tremendous gift of the reality of knowing Him ? just as He had ushered me into that Spring. He acknowledged that he too wanted such an experience, and had been seeking God. But he found himself as it were on the top of a Mt. Everest. The hand of God was above him, and God was inviting him to take a Leap of Faith ? leave the Everest peak ? and by faith leap into the hand of God. He feared to do so ? but he also feared that if he did not ? he would fall to destruction. I couldn't persuade him to join me, and I did not meet up with him again to find out his final decision. Marie and I have persuaded thousands through our 60 years of marriage and ministry together to join us in the hand of God. The spiritual equation is *. * * * To see both sides of a Spiritual Equation and how they balance ? takes insight, the Word of Knowledge and Revelation. Head knowledge and science doesn't cut the mustard. Leave the Math, Physics and Quantum Physics ? and take the Leap of Faith. God has a goal through us. We must SEE it ? and then ? see the steps He walks us through to reach this goal of His through us. This applies to each individual ? if we would ? or can ? see it. This CAN'T be figured out mentally, but it is parallel ? just on a higher level. I call it ? "God's KINDOM Equations." ? Jim * * * * * * * * *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Feb 22 21:45:13 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:45:13 -0800 Subject: Proclamations Message-ID: <625d7240802222145v61a25ae9s510e571c34533453@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **February 22, 2008*** * * *"PROCLAMATION BY THE REV'D ELVIN GLADNEY"* *Over Seattle and Cascadia Region* *At the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Latter Rain Revival* *Monday February 11th, 2008 at St. Luke's, Seattle* I was born and raised here in Seattle. I've been watching a lot of changes in Seattle. I've always had a heart for the city. When you've been born and raised here and with a lot of new people, it has not been quite the same. Jim (Watt) was asked a question about the barriers and the blocks to the City Church (and it's something that Jim & Marie have talked to me about)... something we've prayed about? wondered about? speculated? but tonight, if you'd stand with me? Seattle has a destiny. God chose that destiny? Seattle didn't! Many five-fold leaders have come from other regions to speak to the destiny of Seattle? but it's different when people that are here speak it? It's OK for others to come in and say what they're going to say but they don't live here and eat here? sleep here? work here? go through the day to day things? whereas most of us here I believe are? But for those of you here tonight, if we will collectively unify corporately and make some declarations, I think things will happen? One of the first things I want to declare ? you see there has to be and there has begun already ? a fundamental shift in the foundation of churches. This is a very difficult task because what it means is that there has to be (according to Jim Watt, my papa, I call him) a willingness of the agendas of man to be laid down for the agenda of God. So Lord, we declare tonight over Seattle and the Pacific North West and the Cascadia Region (including Spokane, Vancouver, BC, Portland, Seattle/Tacoma, and Victoria, BC) that You are raising and have raised up a people who will embrace Your agenda and release their agenda to You. And Lord, we believe tonight as we declare this thing? we're going to pray (like the man said) there's a great mountain that needs to be conquered in Seattle. And so, Lord, like Caleb said, "Give me this mountain!" Where the giants live? Lord, there are giant circumstances in the way of a city church but we're going to declare tonight -- Lord, give us this mountain? our heritage and our destiny? our inheritance. The revival is tied to occupying the mountain? So Lord, tonight we declare over this place that the mountain shall be ours! Because it is not a work of man but a work of the living God? We make that declaration tonight! Lord, we also declare and we thank You even now that this very night has been a key to a transformation of the people who have been here. Lord, there were people who were here last night and people who are here tonight not just by circumstance but by divine appointment. Therefore, Lord, all of us are going to be catalysts? as intercessors? as prayer warriors?and as prophetic ministers to pray in what Your agenda is? until there is revelation, through worship, in every church that would bring Your Church together. So Lord, tonight we also declare a fundamental shift in worship all over the Cascadia Region. Angels would begin to fill every worship house. Your Spirit would fall on every worship leader. And the Holy Spirit would take full control. And where man's plans have come to plan an event, they will be released to the plans of Heaven. Lord, we declare that tonight? that You would take over the meeting? You would take over Sunday morning? You would take over Sunday night? and that people would be enveloped with Your presence as the worship goes forth? And Lord, we also declare (as Marie also said it) revelation would come as the angels and the Holy Spirit descend on houses of worship all over this city? all over the North West? revelation would come (just like it did on Jim).You spoke those words to him? 64 years ago! Before it ever started to come to pass and You told him he would be part of something? Lord, You said to Seattle, "You're going to be part of something!" As a matter of fact, it was prophesied that the revival coming out of Seattle would get the world's attention? and that we would be a prototype city for all the other port cities around the nation? Lord, we also declare this thing to be true! We're going to take the prophetic words and we're going to declare them and we're going to pray them until they begin to come to pass! And so Lord, develop Your prototype! Use us, Lord! Start in us tonight! Transform us tonight! Give us revelation tonight! Let us be houses of worship? every one of us ? individually! Set us free! And Lord, in every church that's represented here? we would go and we would be a catalyst in that church for change and reformation. We declare that tonight! Wherever we go? whatever body we belong to... as we worship You? You will honor it, Lord, and begin to come into that house? and You will bring revelation and understanding? and people will begin to move towards Your will, Your purposes, and Your agenda? and we thank You this very night for the shift? the shift? the shift? not only in the Heavens but in the natural? that we are about to see! And Lord, we declare Seattle a Jesus-City! We declare Seattle a Kingdom City! We declare Seattle will have a city presbytery. You have spoken it, Lord, and it shall come to pass! In Yeshua's Name. In the Name of Jesus! Amen. *NOTE:* I have come to know Elvin Gladney in the last 20 years, and have recognized him as an apostolic prophet ? or a prophetic apostle. The word of the Lord is with him. I believe that he has been strategically placed in Seattle for this very special Last Days' time. Marie and I were slated to be in Minnesota at a special 60th Celebration of the 1948 February 11th Outpouring. Because of failure to obtain a suitable meeting place, this convention was cancelled. Father John Roddam of St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Seattle immediately picked up the slack, and reconvened this celebration in their church. Last December he took leadership with Stuart Spani of North Vancouver, BC in producing ten 30 minute teaching sessions with Marie and me to document some of the high points of 1948 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. You can obtain this package of 3 DVD's by turning to *Norlynn Audio Visual Services, **1858 Beaulynn Place**, **N. Vancouver**, **BC** **V7J 2T1*** *www.reason-for-hope.com ? *Click on Biography, and "The Fire Continues ? Sixty Year Later" ? Jim and Marie Watt on the '48 Revival. At the close of the two day celebration of the above anniversary, Father John felt led to have Elvin Gladney come forward. Elders present formed a Presbytery and ministered to Elvin with the laying on of hands and prophecy. Then Brother John asked him to prophetically make proclamations over Seattle and the Pacific North West. As he promised, he has now sent out a copy of these prophetic proclamations, which in a sense continue to bring to maturity what God embryonically initiated in a 12-fold manner 60 years ago. I do appreciate this fruit of Father John's ministry, and sense that many of you our readers would appreciate the revelation and insight of these proclamations. Your friends ? Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Feb 29 18:50:56 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:50:56 -0800 Subject: Interlinear Numeric Greek NT Message-ID: <625d7240802291850s1d57e4c2u3bb8358b6cbaf049@mail.gmail.com> * * *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98023-5640*** *Web: www.2rbetter1.org ? Fax: 253.474.0189* *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com * *December 8, 2005* ** *** Jim & Marie Watt February 29, 2008 Re December 18, 2005 article on Panin and Interlinear Greek NT. The Interlinear Numeric Outlined NT is progressing fairly well. ? 25 chapters are completed ? but LOTS to go. (235 chapters to be exact). ? It goes faster with each chapter ? but a GOOD 3 years to finish ? and we both turn 85 this summer! Some of you are aware of the connections between the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles of 1948 in Northern Canada ? the Latter Rain Visitation. Through Father John Roddam of St. Luke's ? Marie and I were recorded in December in ten 30 minute programs to document the highlights of this time. Many are ordering and giving us good reports ? NOT for our sakes ? but because of the report on the significance of what GOD did 60 years ago! Should you wish to order ? go to www.reason-for-hope.com and click on "Biography." The 12 tribes of Israel; the 12 separate Temperaments associated with each of the tribes; the 12 natural Greek Word Study Outlines in the Interlinear Greek NT by Panin ? and the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles of '48 are like 2 streams coming together to form a mighty concourse to prepare the way for the Return of our Lord! I was recently explaining this to our son-in-law, and he suggested it would be helpful to set forth the principles of the Numeric Phenomenon discovered and worked out by Ivan Panin. Within a week one of our readers made the same suggestion, and I sent her an article I had written 3 years ago as an introduction to what you are receiving in small sections. Because many of you have become subscribers within the last two years and do not have this introduction ? I have updated it somewhat and am resending it. Trust it proves helpful ? and answers some of your unspoken questions. Your friend ? Jim Watt * * * *"NOTES ON NUMERIC INTERLINEAR GREEK NT by Ivan Panin"* * * *One. *This is not a typical Interlinear Greek New Testament. First of all, the format is chosen so that main and supporting clauses can be immediately seen in a poetic type of format rather than all running together as in prose. Peter Marshall, former Chaplain of the US Senate, wrote all his sermons this way, and Winston Churchill wrote his speeches in a similar manner. *Two. *The English translation is not consistently under the Greek words in the usual strict manner. This is done so that those interested primarily in the translation, may read it with more ease. *Three. *The Greek text has been transliterated into English letters so that any layman can pronounce the Greek words with an approximate correct pronunciation. The transliteration follows the Berlitz method of learning new languages. The accented syllable is capitalized. In the case of more than one connecting syllable, a hyphen is used to keep each word a unit. *Four. *For those not too familiar with Greek, but desire to know what is the key Greek Word that the English translates, the Strong's Concordance Number beside each significant Greek word will make this clear. *Five. *In Greek there are two forms for the letter "e" and "o". So that you may differentiate between the two, the long "e" and "o" are underlined. *Six. *English "help" words in the translation that do not appear in the original are in "Italics." The Authorized King James version and most other translations follow this same format. * * *Seven. *The "iota subscript" is a vestigial form standing for the letter "iota" in ancient Greek. It helps to identify the Dative Cases as one of its purposes. It is appreciated by advanced students. However, my computer does not include this "subscript", and because the majority of readers who will use this Interlinear New Testament would not make use of it, it has been omitted. Scholars can easily verify each occurrence. *Eight. *The Definite Article "the" in Greek is of great importance. Latin does not have this part of speech. The King James Authorized Version is declared to be a translation directly from the Greek, but the definite Greek article is not correctly used. It seems apparent that the translators of the 611 AD version relied far more heavily on the Latin Vulgate than the Greek originals. Panin has been very careful to give this Greek part of speech its proper place. When it does not make sense to use it in his translation, he puts it in as a "colon" in front of the noun or verb form it modifies. Those who understand the importance of this part of speech, will appreciate being made aware of its presence. *Nine. *Punctuation in the Greek differs in some points from English. Because the Greek has been in our case transliterated into English letters, I have taken the liberty to change into the Greek text, the English "colon," "semi-colon," and "question." *Ten. *There is a "rough breathing," and a "smooth breathing" in Greek. The former has an apostrophe facing the word starting with a vowel. It has been transliterated with an "h" in the transliteration. The "smooth breathing" is not pronounced, and is traditionally not transliterated. *Eleven. *But MOST of all, and ABOVE all, the two texts employed are that of Ivan Panin's Numeric Greek and English New Testaments. There is absolutely no deviation from Dr. Panin's Greek text. However a very few minor changes have been made in his English translation. "Ye" has been replaced with "you;" "whilom" has been replaced with "former," because of its archaic nature. You can trust that except for such very minor changes, you are reading exactly as Panin himself made his translation, even to the punctuation. He was a master of English, and though nearly 100 years have passed since he made his translation, we could not feel justified in making any other changes. If you purchase his translation, you can check how faithfully we have adhered to his own text. The Jehovah's Witnesses offered to make an Interlinear Greek New Testament from his two texts. He regretfully turned their offer down, because he saw them as a "cult." So his two texts have lain dormant since 1942, with his vision unfulfilled. Another has made an Interlinear Greek New Testament for his two texts, but has changed not only his translation, but even in places changed the Greek Text. I for one cannot recommend its purchase. *Twelve. *Dr. Panin discovered through Numerics that God has established even the correct sentence structure, sub-paragraphs, paragraphs and chapter equivalents. This text has been formatted, assigned sentence topics, with summaries for each sub-paragraph, paragraph and chapter equivalent. Needless to say, these titles and summaries are not inspired. For this reason we leave a space above each. You the reader are invited to substitute your own in case you feel you can improve on ours. I purchased all of Panin's 20 or so books, booklets and pamphlets in 1945. It was because of the above contextual discovery that I have personally spent over 40,000 hours in preparing to post this Interlinear New Testament on our Website, book by book as they are completed. The order of the books is according to a natural combination of Greek words. For example, the 5-fold Ministries of Ephesians 4:11 is the basis for one of the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles restored to the church in the 1948 Visitation at North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. We will therefore post Greek Word studies on these 5 ministries at the same time Ephesians is posted. At the same time we will post the first chapter of the book on these 12 Embryonic Revival Principles. Following this we will post 1 Timothy with its corresponding Greek Word for "Presbytery," and its related synonyms such as "elder." Acts 13:1-3 and Acts 15 will share as the basis for understanding what God restored on February 11, 1948 in Northern Canada in what has been dubbed "The New Order of Latter Rain" by some. It is interesting to note that the word "Christian" was given to early believers by their enemies. P.S. For those of you who are interested, you can check out my article entitled "Reaching Unbelievers through Bible Numerics" and published by "The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada." Click on the following URL to get on their Website: *http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=4553&srcid=1979 *You will find 5 links in this article which have helped many others who have clicked on them. Jim Watt** -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Mar 4 18:49:31 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 18:49:31 -0800 Subject: Nigeria Hacker Message-ID: <625d7240803041849h629c98d7j7f5472612aa5cec@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4256 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **March 4, 2008*** * * *"**NIGERIA** HACKER"* * * *NIGERIA** HACKER CAUSES WORRY TO NOXON WOMAN, FAMILY* *Editor's note: Each week, the Missoulian provides readers with a sampling of news gleaned from weekly newspapers around western **Montana**. (**January 8, 2008**)* * * Mickie Dobson of Noxon was wrestling with her computer, trying to access her e-mails through her Yahoo account, when the phone calls started coming in. My sister in Wyoming called and asked if I was all right," Dobson told reporter Simons of the Sanders County Ledger. "My brother from Californiacalled and asked what kind of crazy thing had I gotten myself into. I thought they were kidding. I'm here in Noxon in my pajamas trying to send e-mails, and I'm fine." The reason Dobson couldn't access her Yahoo account was that someone in Nigeria had. They hacked into her account, changed her "password", got into her address book and fired off a flurry of e-mails to Dobson's family and friends. The messages, allegedly from Dobson, were a plea for financial help. "I am sorry I didn't inform you about my traveling to Africa for a program called Empowering Youth to Fight Racism, HIV/AIDS, Poverty and Lack of Education," the missives began. The e-mails said Dobson had forgotten the bag with all her money, credit cards, return airline ticket and passport in a taxi, and now she owed a hotel $1,000 and needed another $1,500 to return home. "I am in a terrible and tight situation here. I don't even have money to feed myself for a day, which means I have been starving," read the e-mails, which asked people to wire her money in Africa. You couldn't blame the people who got them from thinking they could be true, the Ledger reported. Dobson is vice president of Community Services Fellowship Inc., a charitable organization that includes the food bank for the west end of Sanders County, so she is involved in helping the less fortunate. And she had traveled to Africa before, spending a summer there a decade earlier on a photography tour. Not only that, the e-mails were signed the way she often signs ones she's actually written: "Thanx, Mickie." As soon as the calls started coming in, Dobson contacted the Sanders County Sheriff's Department, the FBI, Yahoo ? and the people in her address book. Only one friend was victimized, wiring $100 along with an apology for not being able to help more because of a recent job layoff. "If I had not been at home to discover this fraudulent attempt to get money using my name, this crook may have done a lot of damage to my family and friends," Dobson told the Ledger. "The e-mails began at 8:36 a.m.and it took me until 5 p.m. to get a new password. In that period of time, this person could have bilked my friends out of a lot of money." *NOTE:* If you've read the above, you will no doubt remember receiving an almost identical note supposedly from me. I too had been in Africa on two occasions, speaking both times in Cairo, and traveling up the Nile by plane to Luxor and Karnak. When I couldn't get on my computer at that time to send and receive e-mails, I contacted my Web-master who fortunately had a copy of my email addresses. We worked out a new "password" composed of a series of numbers and letters that made sense to me, but would be almost impossible to "hack". He sent out a letter in my name alerting my readers to the falsity and fraud of the plea to save me from starving, paying $1000 Hotel bill and $1500 to fly home ? seeing I had lost all my money, credit cards etc. I have had a score to 50 pleas from Nigeria to help someone over there to inherit $10 million, and a cut of a million or so to me for my kindness. I have deleted all of them! But when a friend of mine in Montana sent me the above Newspaper report of the unfortunate lady in Noxon ? then it occurred to me that a letter from me to encourage you to update your "password" to prevent hackers cutting you out by changing it ? might be appreciated. It is now about 8 months that I have been free from hackers. Such are absolutely without a good conscience. It might be good to pray that a more successful policing of the Internet take place. Countries like the Philippines, governments, our Pentagon ? have all successfully been hacked. God has alerted us that the end of this age will have a new type of danger and lawlessness. Paul warned Timothy of this 2000 years ago. Often it is teen-agers who do this just for kicks. But more often those criminally-inclined are doing it for money. So ? just a word to the wise ? Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Mar 16 17:42:38 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:42:38 -0800 Subject: Oswald Chambers Message-ID: <625d7240803161742w502ea716wff480cb65d7cce82@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **March 16, 2008*** * * *"GOD'S TOTAL SURRENDER TO US" ? Oswald Chambers* *(From "My Utmost for His Highest")* * * *"For God so loved the world that He gave ? "* * * Salvation does not mean merely deliverance from sin or the experience of personal holiness. The salvation which comes from God means being completely delivered from myself, and being placed into perfect union with Him. When I think of my salvation experience, I think of being delivered from sin and gaining personal holiness. But salvation is so much more! It means that the Spirit of God has brought me into intimate contact with the true Person of God Himself. And as I am caught up into total surrender to God, I become thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself. To say that we are called to preach holiness or sanctification is to miss the main point. We are called to proclaim Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). The fact that He saves from sin and makes us holy is actually part of the effect of His wonderful and total surrender to us. If we are truly surrendered, we will never be aware of our own efforts to remain surrendered. Our entire life will be consumed with the One to whom we surrender. Beware of talking about surrender if you know nothing about it. In fact, you will never know anything about it until you understand that John 3:16 means that God completely and absolutely gave Himself to us. In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us ? totally, unconditionally, and without reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him. *NOTE:* I noted the above reading March 12, 2007, and put beside it N.B. (Note Well!) ? and "USE"! Now a year later I reread this daily reading, and decided it was the right time to share it with you. But while I tarried because of other responsibilities, then the reading of today came up. It also grabbed me, so I am adding it also for you. *"THE MASTER WILL JUDGE"* * * *"We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ ?"* * * Paul says that we must all, preachers and other people alike, "appear before the judgment seat of Christ." But if you will learn here and now to live under the scrutiny of Christ's pure light, your final judgment will bring you only delight in seeing the work God has done in you. Live constantly reminding yourself of the judgment seat of Christ, and walk in the knowledge of the holiness He has given you. Tolerating a wrong attitude toward another person causes you to follow the spirit of the devil, no matter how saintly you are. One carnal judgment of another person only serves the purposes of hell in you. Bring it immediately into the light and confess, "Oh, Lord, I have been guilty there." If you don't, your heart will become hardened through and through. One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it. It is not only God who punishes for sin, but acceptance of it. It is not only God who punishes for sin, but sin establishes itself in the sinner and takes its toll. No struggling or praying will enable you to stop doing certain things, and the penalty of sin is that you gradually get used to it, until you finally come to the place where you no longer even realize that it is sin. No power, except the power that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit, can change or prevent the inherent consequences of sin. "If we walk in the light *as He is in the light ?" *(1 John 1:7). For many of us, walking in the light means walking according to the standard we have set up for another person. The deadliest attitude of the Pharisees that we exhibit today is not hypocrisy but that which comes from unconsciously living a lie. *NOTE:* A few years back I purchased "The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers" in one volume. With this purchase came a CD containing the same. One could download this unto a computer hard-drive, plus as a bonus, "Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God" ? The Life Story of the Author of "My Utmost for His Highest" by David McCasland. As a second bonus, there is a "1994 Interview with Kathleen Chambers," daughter of Oswald and Biddy. One can put all of OC's 50 or so books on the computer screen, and zoom in to magnify the text up to 400 xs ? sit back in an easy chair, and read without strain. I can't tell you how pleased I am with this. My grandson Keelan did the steps above for me so that I can have this unusual profit and enjoyment for the future. Your friend ? Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Apr 1 20:19:04 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 19:19:04 -0800 Subject: Ideological Unacceptability Message-ID: <625d7240804012019l7c0bf3c9jef40fe958866881@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4256 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com * *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **April 1, 2008*** * * *"THE LEFT'S IDEOLOGICAL UNACCEPTABILITY"* *(From "Real Change" by Newt Gingrich)* * * It is hard for our elites to understand how distant they are from the average American in values. In the university faculty lounges, the Hollywood cocktail parties, the left-wing activist groups, and the newsrooms and editorial boards of most of the elite media there is such a unanimity of belief that it is impossible for them to realize that they collectively form a left-wing enclave in a hugely center-right nation. In early 2007, I created a nonpartisan organization called American Solutions in order to break partisan gridlock and create commonsense solutions. At American Solutions, we decided to listen carefully to the American people about their values and their understanding of what would work and what they favored. In the summer of 2007, we analyzed a series of six national surveys (The full results are available at * www.americansolutions.com ).* * * To understand the gap between the Left and the American people, consider the following: *85% believe it is very important for a group or organization in this country to pursue the goal of helping defend **America** and its allies.* * 75% believe it is very important for a group or organization in the country to pursue the goal of defeating **America**'s enemies.* * 93% believe al Qaeda poses a serious threat.* * 85% believe **Iran** poses a serious threat.* * 79% would support the death penalty for someone caught and convicted of carrying out a terrorist attack in the **United States**.* * 83% support the establishment of clear laws making it a crime to advocate acts of terrorism or violent conduct or the killing of innocent people in the **United States**.* * 77% support the closing down of terrorist Web sites at home and abroad using the techniques of computer warfare.* * 65% favor abolishing the death tax.* * 48% favor abolishing the capital gains tax (41% oppose; this is included because no one on the left could imagine that without any argument being made and any campaign being waged there are already enough investors in the United States to have a plurality favoring abolishing the capital gains tax).* * 70% favor a tax incentive for companies headquartered in the **United States**.* * 61% favor the option of a single income tax rate of 17%.* * 74% favor the single rate of 17 percent for corporations.* * 68% see a direct link to making American corporations more competitive in the **United States** so they will not move jobs overseas.* * 54% believe the wealthiest should pay the same proportion of their income as everyone else, while only 43% believe they should pay more. This undermines one of the Left's happiest battle cries of "tax the rich."* * * The Left is distant from the average American on national security and economics, but the gap becomes cataclysmic when the topic turns to culture and religion. *89% believe religion and morality are important to them and their families.* * 79% believe religion and morality are important to the country. * * 87% approve of the reference to "the Creator" in the Declaration of **Independence**; 6% strongly disapprove.* * 78% approve of the Ten Commandments appearing in courthouses across **America**; 12% strongly disapprove.* * 81% appose removing crosses and other such monuments from public parks and other public property; 8 percent strongly approve.* * 94% approve of a moment of silence allowing children to pray to themselves if they want to in public schools; 3% strongly disapprove.* * 90% approve of a Christmas tree or menorah being placed on public property during the holiday season; 5% strongly disapprove.* * * This is not just a matter of cultural values. The average American absolutely believes that these values make a difference in the defining who we are and the freedoms we enjoy. *84% agree that references to God in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Declaration of **Independence** are important because they make clear that certain rights can't be taken away by the government; only 9% strongly disagree.* * 93% believe that it is still important to acknowledge that our rights come from our Creator today; only 3% disagree.* * * We have a choice between two hypothetical candidates, one who believes that most of the problems our country faces are because America is no longer as religious and moral as it once was, and a second candidate who believes that religion and morality have little to do with America's problems and that our problems are a result of changes in the economy, war, public education, and other issues; the American people choose the candidate of religion and morality *by* *65% to 30%.* This choice is rooted in a deeper understanding of how relevant our Founding Fathers and their values are to twenty-first-century America. To reinforce this belief in traditional American beliefs, values, and history, consider the results of a choice between a candidate who believes that statements regarding religion and morality made by the Founding Fathers don't have much to do with America today, and a candidate who believes that statements regarding religion and morality made by the Founding Fathers are just as important today as they were two hundred years ago. The American people favor a candidate who respects the lessons of the Founding Fathers *by 86% to 12% over the secular candidate.* * * Given a choice between a candidate who believes the best way to protect religious freedom is to protect all religious references and symbols, including those on public buildings, lands, and documents, and a candidate who believes the best way to ensure religious freedom is to remove all religious reference and symbols, Americans *by 81% to 14% *pick the candidate who would protect religious symbols. I strongly agree with those who believe America's roots are to be found in the endowment of our Creator. I wrote *Rediscovering God in America* (also now available as a *DVD* walking tour of Washington that my wife, Callista, and I co-host) to prove that from the Declaration of Independence ("we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights") to the Constitution (signed in "the Year of our Lord") to the great leaders of America, most Americans are right and those who insist on anti-religious bigotry are simply wrong. Yet if a massive majority (averaging between 80 and 90% support on question after question after question) recognizes the important role of religion and morality in our public life, then why does this majority keep losing to an anti-religious Left with a hard core of only 3 to 9%? The answer is found in the deliberate strategy of the Left in using the law and the courts to impose on America what they could never win in elections, which I address in more detail in Chapter Thirteen. *NOTE**: *Well, there you have it! The above is from Chapter Three, "An Unreformed Left" pp. 37-42. It is taken from Newt Gingrich's latest book published this year entitled, *"REAL CHANGE" ? From the World that Fails to the World that Works.* * * Both Marie and I are fed up in our country with "The Tyranny of the Minority" ? the 3 to 9% who use the deliberate strategy of the law and the courts to impose on America what they *could never win *in elections. Every thinking, concerned and responsible person in America should purchase or check out from the Library and read Newt Gingrich's latest book. It has the savor of Reality. It has the savor of Hope. It has the savor of practical solutions to turn our country around and rescue it from the bigoted tyranny of the hard-core 3-9%. Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Apr 5 18:16:09 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 17:16:09 -0800 Subject: Lincoln's Stepmother Message-ID: <625d7240804051816q6fedf275h1bb8a04c502d3b52@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES * *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4256 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org -- **April 5, 2008*** * * *"HE LOVED ME TRULY" ? **Lincoln**'s Step-mother.* *By Bernadine Bailey & Dorothy Walworth* *The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (February 1945 issue)* * * THE BRIDE rode with her husband on the high front seat of the jolting wagon. She was 31 years old, and, in 1819, that was middle-aged, for most pioneer women died early. It was a December day, cold for Kentucky, and they were headed north toward forest country. "I reckon it'll be fine weather," she said, for she was the sort to make the best of things. Yesterday Tom had arrived on horseback, all the way from his Indiana farm, at her house in Elizabethtown. He had come straight to the point: "Miss Sally, I have no wife and you no husband. I came a-purpose to marry you. I knowed you from a girl and you knowed me from a boy. I've no time to lose. If you're willin', let it be done straight off." That morning they had been married at the Methodist parsonage. The preacher wrote down that she, Sarah Bush Johnston, had been three years a widow and Tom's wife had died last winter. The horses and wagon Tom had borrowed waited outside. The wagon was piled high with her household goods, so that there was scarcely room for her three children. Tom had two children of his own; he hadn't told them he was bringing back a new mother. There was a shadow in her blue-gray eyes when she thought about that. Maybe they'd feel she didn't belong. A raft ferried the wagon across the half-frozen Ohio River. The air sharpened; the wheels sank to their hubs in snow. After five days they came to a log cabin in a small clearing on Little Pigeon River. It had no windows, and the door was only a deerskin-covered opening. A stick chimney plastered with clay ran up the outside. Tom hallooed and a little boy ran out of the door. He was thin as a scarecrow, and wore a ragged shirt and tattered deerskin pants. But it was the look in his eyes that went to Sarah's heart, although it was a look she couldn't put a name to. She got down from the wagon, opened her arms and folded him close. "I reckon we'll be good friends," she said. "Howdy, Abe Lincoln." She had never been in the wilderness before; she had known small-town comfort. This was a one-room cabin, with no real floor, only packed dirt. The bedstead was a makeshift of boards laid on sticks against the wall, with a mattress of loose cornhusks. The bedcovers were skins and cast-off clothing. Ten-year-old Abe and his 12-year-old sister had always slept on piles of leaves up in the loft, to which they climbed by pegs fastened to the wall. The furniture was some three-legged stools and a table axed smooth on top, bark side under. Dennis Hanks, an 18-year-old cousin of Tom's first wife, Nancy Hanks, was living with the family and had been trying to cook with the help of a Dutch oven, one battered pot, and a couple of iron spoons. Although she must have expected a place far better than this, all Sarah said was, "Tom, fetch me a load of firewood. I aim to heat some water." This new stepmother with the rosy face and the bright curly hair wasted no time. As soon as the water steamed, she brought out of her own belongings a gourd full of homemade soap. Then, in front of the hot fire, she scrubbed Abe and his sister and combed their matted hair with her own clean shell comb. When the wagon was unpacked, little Abe, who had not said a word, ran his bony fingers over such wonderful things as a walnut bureau, a clothes chest, a loom and real chairs. And that night, when he went to bed in the loft, he did not find the leaves; she had thrown them outdoors. He had a feather mattress and a feather pillow, and enough blankets so he was warm all night. In a couple of weeks, a body wouldn't have known the place. Sarah had what folks called "faculty"; she worked hard and she could make other people work, too. Even Tom, who meant well but was likely to let things slide. She never said he must do thus and so; she was too wise and too gentle. But somehow Tom found himself making a real door for the cabin and cutting a window, like she wanted. He put down a floor, chinked up the cracks between the logs, white-washed the inside walls. Abe couldn't get over how sightly it was. And she wove Abe shirts out of homespun cloth, coloring them with dye she steeped out of roots and barks. She made him deerskin breeches that really fitted, and moccasins, and a coonskin cap. She had a mirror and she rubbed it bright and held it up so's he could see himself ? it was the first time he had ever seen himself ? and he said, "Land o'Goshen, is that *me*?" Sometimes, in the early mornings, when Sarah laid a new fire in the ashes, she got to thinking it was queer how things come about. When Tom Lincoln had courted her, 14 years ago, she had turned him down for Daniel Johnston. Tom had been 12 years married to Nancy Hanks, who died so sudden from the "Milk sick." And now, after all these years, Tom and she were together again, with his children and her children to feed and do for. The cabin was 18 feet square and there were eight people under its flimsy roof. Sarah was taking what was left of two households, along with the orphan boy, Dennis Hanks. Somehow she must make them into a family of folks who loved each other; she wanted them to feel like they had always been together. There was plenty of chance for trouble, what with the two sets of young'uns who had never laid eyes on each other till now, and all the stories Abe and his sister had heard folks tell about stepmothers. Those first weeks, Sarah felt mighty anxious. Especially about Abe, though he did what she said and never answered her back. Once she saw him looking at her real serious when she was putting some johnnycake into the oven. "All my life I'm goin' to like johnnycake best," he said suddenly, and then scooted through the door. You couldn't figure Abe out. As Dennis said, "There's somethin' peculiarsome about Abe." Maybe, if it hadn't been for her, he wouldn't have lived to be a man. He had always grown so fast and never had enough to eat. But now, when he had eaten enough johnnycake and meat and potatoes that were cooked through and not just burned on top, he stopped looking so pinched and putty-color. And he wasn't so quiet any more. Now he had some flesh on his bones, he wasn't solemn. Why, he was fuller of fun than anybody. He learned to tell yarns, like his father, but he tried them out on Sarah first, and she laughed in the right places. She stood up for him, too, when he'd laugh out loud, all of a sudden, at things nobody else could understand, and Tom thought he was being sassy. "Abe's got a right to his own jokes," Sarah said. Sometimes Sarah thought, all to herself, that she loved Abe more than her own children. But she didn't really. It was just that she knew, deep down in her heart where she told nobody but God, that Abe was somebody special, who didn't belong to her but was hers to keep for a while. When Abe was little, Tom hadn't minded his walking nine miles to the "blab school" where the scholars learned their letters by saying them over and over out loud. But now Abe was older and stronger, Tom didn't see why he shouldn't stay home and chop down trees and cradle wheat or hire out to the neighbors for husking corn at 30 cents a day. Of course, he felt kind of proud when the neighbors came to have Abe write their letters with the pen he had made out of a buzzard's quill and the brier-root ink. But Abe was "reachin' too fur" when he kept reading books instead of clearing swamps; Tom told Abe you didn't need to know so almighty much to get along. If Sarah hadn't taken Abe's part against his father, Abe wouldn't have got as much schooling as he did, though goodness knows it wasn't much. He learned, as the folks said, "by littles." But through the years she held out against Tom, no matter if Tom said she was plumb crazy. Abe would rather read than eat. He'd read in the morning, soon's it was light enough to see; he'd read in the evening when the chores were done; he'd read when he plowed, while the horse was resting at the end of the row. He walked 17 miles to borrow books from Lawyer Pitcher at Rockport. *Aesop's Fables. Robinson Crusoe. Pilgrim's Progress. Shakespeare. The Statutes of ** Indiana**.* When his borrowed Weeks' *Life of Washington* got rained on, he worked three full days to pay for it. Once he gave a man 50 cents for an old barrel and found Blackstone's *Commentaries* at the bottom of it, and you'd think he'd found a gold mine. He began reading late at night by the fire, and when Tom complained, Sarah said, "Leave the boy be." She always let him read until he quit of his own accord, and if he fell asleep there on the floor she would get a quilt and wrap it gently around him. He did his ciphering on a board, and when the board got too black, he'd plane it off and start again. If he read something he liked a lot, he'd write it down. He was always writing, and was most always out of paper. He'd put charcoal marks on a board, for a sign of what he wanted to write, and when he got paper he'd copy it all down. And he'd read it out loud to Sarah by the fire, after Tom and the rest had gone to bed. "Did I make it plain?" he always asked her. It made her real proud when he asked her about his writing, and she answered him as well as anybody could who didn't know how to read or write. They told each other things they told nobody else. He had dark spells when nobody but her could make him hear. Spells when he thought it was no use to hope and to plan. Abe needed a lot of encouraging. In 1830, Tom decided to look for better farm land in Illinois, and the family moved to Coles County on Goose Nest Prairie. There Abe helped his father build the two-room cabin where Sarah and Tom were to spend the rest of their lives. The place was hardly built when the day came that Sarah had foreseen, the day when Abe would leave home. He was a man grown, 22 years old, and he had a chance to clerk in Denton Offut's store over in New Salem. There was nothing more she could do for Abe; for the last time she had braved out Tom so's Abe could learn; for the last time she had kept the cabin quiet so's Abe could do his reading. At first he came back often, and, later on, after he got to be a lawyer, he visited Goose Nest Prairie twice a year. Every time Sarah saw him, it seemed like his mind was bigger. Other folks' minds got to a place and then stopped, but Abe's kept on growing. He told her about his law cases, and, as time went on, he told her about his going to the state legislature and his marrying Mary Todd. After Tom died, in 1851, Abe saw to it that she didn't want for anything. When she heard Abe was going to Charleston for his fourth debate with Stephen A. Douglas, she went there, too, without saying a word to Abe. It would be enough ? it had always been enough ? just to watch him. She was one of the crowd on the street as the parade went by. There was a big float drawn by a yoke of oxen, carrying three men splitting rails, and a big sign, "Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, the Ox Driver, the Giant Killer." Was that her Abe? And now here he came, riding in a shiny black carriage, and tipping his tall black hat right and left. Was that her Abe? She tried to make herself small, but he saw her and made the carriage stop. Then, right in front of everybody, he got out of the carriage and came over and put his arms around her and kissed her. Yes, that was her Abe. She wasn't the crying kind, but she cried when he was elected President. Alone, where nobody could see her. In the winter of 1861, before he went to Washington, he crossed the state to see her, coming by train and carriage in the mud and slush to say good-bye. He brought her a present, a length of black alpaca for a dress; it was too beautiful to put scissors into; after Abe went she'd just take it out and feel of it once in a while. Abe looked tired, and he had a lot on his mind, but they had a fine talk. Even when they were silent, they still said things to each other, and he still set store by what she thought. When he kissed her good-bye, he said he'd see her soon, but she knew somehow that she would not see him again. Four years later, they came and told her he was dead. The newspapers wrote the longest pieces about his real mother, and that was like it should be, but some folks came and asked her what sort of boy Abe had been. And she wanted to tell them, but it was hard to find the words. "Abe was a good boy," she said. "He never gave me a cross word or look. His mind and mine, what little I had, seemed to run together." And then she added, "He loved me truly, I think." Often, during the four years that remained to her, she would sit of an evening and think of Abe. Being a mother, she did not think about him as President, as the man about whom they sang, "We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand strong." She remembered him as a little boy. She was baking johnnycake for him; she was weaving him a shirt; she was covering him with a blanket when he had fallen asleep over his books, trying to keep him safe from the cold. *Sarah Bush **Lincoln** was buried beside her husband in **Shiloh** ** Cemetery**. Her death, on **December 10, 1869**, passed unnoticed by the nation. For many years she was not even mentioned by historians and biographers. Not until 1924 were the graves of Thomas and Sarah Bush ** Lincoln** marked with a suitable stone. More recently, their Goose Nest Prairie home site has been made into a state park, with a reproduction of the two-room cabin which Abraham Lincoln helped to build. And only in the last few years have Americans come to know that, when Abraham Lincoln said, "All that I am I owe to my angel mother," he was speaking of his stepmother. * * * *NOTE:** *So how does the above touch you? It shows a side of Lincoln that is most real, and that meant much to him ? to the depths of his being. I trust it touched you as deeply as it touched me. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * * * * * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Apr 7 17:33:07 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 17:33:07 -0700 Subject: Student Open Letter Message-ID: <625d7240804071733w2f52d938pbac67322b64dda7@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? April 2008.04.05 * * * *"AN OPEN LETTER TO **AMERICA**'S STUDENTS"* By Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of Columbia University >From The Reader's Digest Assoc., Inc. (October 1948 issue) *General Dwight D. Eisenhower here writes to young Americans. It will pay all Americans to "listen in."* * * I receive many letters from young people. Mostly they ask a question that could be put like this: Shall I keep on with school? Or shall I plunge right off into "life"? I try to answer these letters according to the circumstances of each case. But I sometimes feel that I would like to try to write a general answer to the whole general problem of "school" versus "life" in the minds of my correspondents. I think I would say: DEAR Jack ? or Margaret: You say you wonder if it is worth while for you to go on with high school. You particularly wonder if it is worth while to enter and finish college. The tedium of study, nose buried in books, seems a waste of time compared with a job and the stimulus of productive work. You say you hate to bother me with this "trifling" problem of yours. It is not a trifling problem at all. Your decision will affect your whole life; similar decisions by millions of other young Americans will affect the total life of our country. And I know how deeply it must worry you. It worried me and a lot of my schoolmates when I was your age. In a small Kansas town 40 years ago, a reasonably strong case could be put up in favor of leaving school early. Outside those few who could afford to pick a profession, most of us knew our lives would be spent on the farm, or in one of the local stores, or at the creamery or elevator. We could be good farmers, good storekeepers, good mill hands, without much book learning. The quickest road to practical knowledge was to *do*. That was the way we might have argued; and we would have been right if there were no more to successful living than plowing a straight furrow, wrapping a neat package, keeping a machine well oiled. Fortunately, we came of stock that set the school on the same plane as the home and church. The value of education, above and beyond the immediate return in dollars and cents, had been bred into us. Our families stinted themselves to keep us in school a while longer; and most of us worked, and worked hard, to prolong that while. Today the business of living is far more complex than it was in my boyhood. No one of us can hope to comprehend all its complexity in a lifetime of study. But each day profitably spent in school will help you understand better your personal relationship to country and world. If your generation fails to understand that the human individual is still the center of the universe and is still the sole reason for the existence of all man-made institutions, then complexity will become chaos. Consequently, I feel firmly that you should continue your schooling ? if you can ? right to the end of high school and right to the end of college. You say you are "not too good at books." But from books ? under the guidance of your teachers ? you can get a grasp on the thing that you most ought to understand before you go to work. It is expressed in a moving letter I got the other day from a young girl halfway through high school. She said that in her studies she seemed to be a failure all along the line, always trailing everyone else. But then she ended by saying: "I still think I could learn to be a good American." That's the vital point. School, of course, should train you in the two great basic tools of the mind: the use of words and the use of numbers. And school can properly give you a start toward the special skills you may need in the trade or business or profession you may plan to enter. But remember: As soon as you enter it, you will be strongly tempted to fall into the rut and routine of it. You will be strongly tempted to become just a part of an occupation which is just one part of America. In school ? from books ? from teachers ? from fellow students ? you can get a view of the whole of America, how it started, how it grew, what it is, what it means. Each day will add breadth to your view and a sharper comprehension of your own role as an American. I feel sure I am right when I tell you: *To develop fully your own character you must know your country's character.* A plant partakes of the character of the soil in which it grows. You are a plant that is *conscious*, that *thinks*. You must study your soil ? which is your country ? in order that you may be able to draw its strength up into your own strength. It will pay you to do so. You will understand your own problems better and solve them more easily, if you have studied America's problems and done something toward their solution. Never forget that *self-interest and patriotism go together.* You have to look out for yourself, and you have to look out for your country. Self-interest and patriotism, rightly considered, are not contradictory ideas. They are partners. The very earth of our country is gradually getting lost to us. One third of the fertile top layer of our soil has already been washed away into rivers and the sea. This must be stopped, or some day our country will be too barren to yield us a living. That is one national problem crying for solution; it affects you directly and decisively. In our cities there are millions of people who have little between them and hunger except a daily job, which they may lose. They demand more "security." If they feel too insecure, their discontent might some day undermine *your*security, no matter how personally successful you might be in your own working life. That's another problem ? and there are innumerable others ? whose solution requires the thought and good will of every American. I cannot put it to you too strongly ? or too often ? that it is to your *practical advantage *to learn America's character and problems, in the broadest possible way, and to help to bring those problems to their solutions. It is dangerous to assume that our country's welfare belongs alone to the mysterious mechanism called "the government." Every time we allow or force the government, because of our own individual or local failures, to take over a question that properly belongs to us, by that much we surrender our individual responsibility, and with it a comparable amount of individual freedom. But the very core of what we mean by Americanism is individual liberty founded on individual responsibility, equality before the law, and a system of private enterprise that aims to reward according to merit. These things are basic ? your years in school will help you to apply these truths to the business of living in a free democracy. Yours is a country of free men and women, where personal liberty is cherished as a fundamental right. But the price of its continued possession is untiring alertness. Liberty is easily lost. Witness the history of the past 20 years. Even the natural enthusiasm of warm youthful hearts for a leader can be a menace to liberty. It was movements of misguided young people, under the influence of older and more cynical minds, that provided the physical force to make Mussolini the tyrant of Italy and Hitler the tyrant of Germany. Mussolini's street song was "Giovinezza*" *? "Youth." Hitler based his power most firmly on the *Hitler Jugen* ? the Hitler Youth. Never let yourself be persuaded that any one Great Man, any one leader, is necessary to the salvation of America. When America consists of one *leader*and 143,000,000 *followers*, it will no longer be America. Truly American leadership is not of any one man. It is of multitudes of men ? and women. Our last war was not won by one man or a few men. It was won by hundreds of thousands and millions of men and women of all ranks. Audacity, initiative, the will to try greatly and stubbornly characterized them. Great numbers of them, if for only few minutes in some desperate crisis of battle, were leaders. You will find it so in the fields of peace. America at work is not just a few "Great Men" at the head of government. of corporations, or of labor unions. It is millions and millions of men and women who on farms and in factories and in stores and offices and homes are leading this country ? and the world ? toward better and better ways of doing and of making things. America exceeds all other lands ? by far ? in the number of its leaders. Any needless concentration of power is a menace to freedom. We have the world's best machines, because we ourselves are not machines; because we have embraced the liberty of thinking for ourselves, of imagining for ourselves, and of acting for ourselves out of our own energies and inspirations. Our true strength is not in our machines, splendid as they are, but in the inquisitive, inventive, indomitable souls of our people. To be that kind of soul is open to every American boy and girl; *and it is the one kind of career that **America** cannot live without.* To be a good American?worthy of the heritage that is yours, eager to pass it on enhanced and enriched ? is a lifetime career, stimulating, sometimes exhausting, always satisfying to those who do their best. Start on it now; take part in America's affairs while you are still a student. There are responsibilities about your home, in your neighborhood, that you can assume. There are activities about your school, on your campus, that will be more productive of good by your contribution. Don't think that you are too young. "Let no man despise thy youth," Paul the Apostle said to Timothy. These words apply to you as an American. Loyalty to principle, readiness to give of one's talents to the common good, acceptance of responsibility -- these are the measure of a good American, not his age in years. Alexander Hamilton ? General Washington's aide in war, President Washington's Secretary of the Treasury in peace ? was speaking before applauding crowds of his fellow New Yorkers on the political problems of the American Revolution when he was only 17 years old and still a student in King's College, now Columbia University. The same stuff of which Hamiltonwas made is in you and all American youth today. But above all, while you are still at school, try to learn the "why" of your country. We Americans know "how" to produce things faster and better ? on the whole ? than any other people. But what will it profit us to produce * things* unless we know what we are producing them *for*, unless we know what purpose animates America? To assure each citizen his inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was the "why" behind the establishment of this Republic and is today the "why" for its continued existence. What that means to you personally, what you must do toward its fulfillment, cannot be answered completely in a letter. But I repeat that the answer can be found in your school, if you seek it deliberately and conscientiously. You need neither genius nor vast learning for its comprehension. To be a good American is the most important job that will ever confront you. But essentially it is nothing more than being a good member of your community, helping those who need your help, striving for a sympathetic understanding of those who oppose you, doing each new day's job a little better than the previous day's, placing the common good before personal profit. The American Republic was born to assure you the dignity and rights of a human individual. If the dignity and rights of your fellow men guide your daily conduct of life, you will be a good American. * * * * *NOTE:* At least 5 years ago I started to write this up, but didn't finish at that time. But NOW ? after mailing the article on "Abe Lincoln's Stepmother" ? it seemed the right time to link with it this article also. HOWEVER, as you no doubt noted, it was written 60 years ago. America has vastly changed. Youth, we need you with High School and College completion more than ever. Our nation has DRASTICALLY slipped in the last 60 years. No longer is schooling linked with a strong home and church. But though the times are desperate, you as youth with the challenge of "Ike," can make a difference. We can return to the better standards of the past. On April 1st I mailed out an article entitled "The Left's Ideological Unacceptability" by Newt Gingrich, taken from his latest book of this year entitled "REAL CHANGE." THIS will in the hands of youth and the rest of us from all political persuasions -- or none ? help give direction how to preserve our nation of "America." Different? Yes. Possible? ? also Yes! For you, young men and women ? it is a time of both crisis and challenge. Your schooling is more than ever important. Let home and church join this same standard. The principles and goals set forth by Dwight Eisenhower are still today valid, relevant and compelling. The choice is yours. I believe a sufficient contingent of you will hear, respond and triumph. For God and country! Youth, Arise! *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Apr 10 15:43:37 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:43:37 -0700 Subject: Spiritual Star Wars Message-ID: <625d7240804101543s4a9b75b7o41d664a2767221b4@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4256 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **April 9, 2008*** * * *"SPIRITUAL STAR WARS"* * * *In 1967 my wife Marie asked me, "What was the wisdom and the purpose of God in leading us to marry?* * * *When Rachel strongly besought her husband Jacob for children, he angrily put her off.* * * *But when Rebecca talked to her husband Isaac about their childless estate, he sought the Lord for an answer on her behalf. God answered, and soon she was with child. But NOT just with child! Twins were in her womb, and before birth they were fighting one another. God showed her that they represented two nations: **Edom** and **Israel** ? and that they would perpetually be at war.* * * *So I besought the Lord on behalf of Marie, and right away God gave me two night visions.* * * *In the first, we were in an observatory. Marie was at my right hand, and a member of our **Seattle** church was at my left. The officer in charge was attired in a Lab smock worn by many scientists. He addressed us and said, "Because you have been instrumental in preparing two of the seven parts for this piece of equipment, you have the privilege to be here at its assemblage, and then to see what it is designed to accomplish."* * * *He then pulled a lever, and an object floated out above the center of the observatory floor, and then hung suspended there without support. Immediately the thought occurred to me ? "How can this take place?" I found an angel behind us, and he responded, "Antigravity." The next day I phoned our fellow church member at my left, and he queried me, "Aren't you aware of our nation's work in the field of antigravity?" I assured him I was not ? so he went on to explain to me that our scientists had perfected the ability to suspend an object of up to four tons above the floor in like manner.* * * *The object our Observatory Director had suspended, I estimated to weight between 4 to 600 pounds. It was covered with complicated dials, of which I had no idea of their significance.* * * *He then said to me, "This represents the Greek Word Studies and Interlinear Greek New Testament based on Ivan Panin's work. You have received the assignment to perfect that which he commenced.* * * *He then pulled a second lever, and a pedestal or stand came out and attached itself underneath, to give support to the first object. He then followed up with an explanation: "This represents the **City** **Church**concept that you have been studying and praying over with the help of other fellow servants like Roland Allen (Missionary Methods: **St. Paul**'s or Ours?" plus "The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church and the Causes which Hinder It.") and Watchman Nee ("The Glorious Church"). The perfection and full functioning of both of these in unity and harmony will be an important part of the foundation for the final assemblage of this instrument.* * * *He then pulled five more levers in succession, which in turn brought forth components that locked into the first two. He said nothing about these, for we had part only in the first two. The finished assemblage looked much like a telescope to me. Next he invited, "Now come over here, and observe through the eye piece the capability of this instrument."* * * *I walked over with strong interest, and as I took a reclining position under the eye piece, the Observatory top opened up, and even the floor tilted.* * * *As I looked, I saw the heavens in a manner I had never imagined ? in glory and majesty. Then I noted in one area a dark spot. Suddenly a blinding flash emerged from what I had taken to be a telescope, and immediately the dark place disappeared. I understood in the Spirit that the disappeared darkness high in the heavens represented principalities and powers, and that God designed this organic instrument to first remove Satanic hindrances in the heavens, and then lead His angels and saints to secure cities, areas, regions and nations for Him.* * * *What I did not understand, was the nature of the instrument that accomplished this. Yet I did realize that the vision was an answer to my prayer that night. Marie at my right hand signified to me that through her gifts and intercession, the first two components would come to completion. We would be a team to bring to success the assignment.* * * *Immediately following the first vision, a second came up. Again Marie and I were together, she at my right hand. Another of the members of our **Seattle ** church was behind us, one of a group of 70 elders. Behind the 70 were 490 men, dressed in part uniform and part civilian clothes.* * * *Three generals were in front of us. One of them about six feet tall and maybe about 180 pounds approached us. I noted that he was the same man as the Observatory Director in the first vision.* * * *He then addressed us: "Your first assignment has been satisfactorily accomplished. We are sorry in a way that this relationship is finished, but we believe you will find the next assignment equally challenging.* * * *"What your group of 70 teams of 8 each have done has proven to be effective ? and will now be taken by them throughout our battalions you see to your left as far as eye can see. They will then also be equipped to see the removal of principalities and powers as demonstrated in the first vision."* * * *The day was now warming up, and our men's clothing was not suitable for this. Marie then asked the general: "If this part of the new assignment is complete, could the men be dismissed to go and change into lighter 'rig of the day'?"* * * *"Permission granted," he replied, and our men promptly ran off to barracks to change.* * * *Then I thought: Though Marie and I were in both visions, yet she was the only one that spoke, And then too ? it was I that received the assignments to work on the Greek Word Studies and the Interlinear Greek New Testament ? it seems odd then that she spoke and not I.* * * *Then I was given to understand from the Lord that this was entirely appropriate according to my prayer of the preceding night on Marie's behalf. Because we are a team in God's sight and according to His pre-ordained purpose and plan ? therefore my main work in the above two assignments was production and completion, while Marie's was prayer, intercession, developing relationships and working the process along in a practical manner. Of course I was satisfied.* * * *17 years later I was asked to speak to a group of 70 leaders or so in the BC Lower Mainland. My assigned subject was concerning corporate prayer initiated and directed by the Holy Spirit in the line of Rees Howells, Intercessor. At the conclusion of the teaching, the leader of the meeting said, "Let's accept Jim's challenge, and constitute ourselves a unified team of 70, and ask the Lord by His Spirit to direct us in the prayers that interest Him.* * * *As we moved in this direction, the Spirit indeed took over, and suddenly there was a blinding flash, and a great dark spot in the heavens disappeared ? and all this without the instrument of the first vision of 17 years ago being present.* * * *After the meeting I requested the Lord ? "I MUST know what these two experiences mean, and what really took place both years ago and tonight."* * * *I returned to **Camrose**, **Alberta** following this meeting, and the next morning the Spirit said, "Why don't you go downstairs and check out the National Geographics." I obeyed and found in the 1983 April edition almost one third of the entire publication devoted to "The Automated Laser Telescope." What I had seen in vision 17 years ago, was reproduced before my eyes. I exclaimed, "So it WASN'T a telescope only ? it was linked with laser capabilities." "Yes," the Lord said, "and the second vision is the key to make the first vision practical. The 70 teams of 8 individuals each are to be looked upon as compact organic automated laser telescopes. You read in Deuteronomy 32:30 that one enemy can drive 1000 to flight, and two ? 10,000. How much MORE My people! You have seen in Zechariah 12:8 that in the last days the FEEBLE among you shall be as David ? 10,000. But they of the house of David shall be as GOD ? as the angel of the LORD before them ? one MILLION. Two will be 10 million. Two couples 100 million; 4 couples ? one Billion!* * * *"When a team of 8 learn to move under Me in THIS dimension: cities, areas, regions and nations will fall from the power of Satan's principalities and powers, and soon the Kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdoms of our God and of His Christ! Call this, 'SPIRITUAL STAR WARS!'"* * * *"O, I couldn't do that Lord," I said ? "I would become the laughingstock of many." "Do it," he said. And I did, and sure enough numbers laughed and mocked at it.* * * *But at the beginning of 2008 ? I heard the Spirit witnessing to me ? "From your point of view it is long since 1967 and 1984. But time in My sight is short. Prepare now to see "Spiritual Star Wars" activated. Prepare to see cities, areas, regions and nations fall to your God. The end draws nigh. The return of the Son of God is at the door. Believe ? Move ? Activate. You will NOT be disappointed at the very soon coming results."* * * * * *NOTE**: In 1949 Marie and I while attending Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in **Chicago** were introduced to Roland Allen by a Tooling Chief Engineer, Harry Conn. Following is a brief write-up from Wikipedia on Allen: * * * *Roland Allen (December 29, 1868 ? June 9, 1947) was born in **Bristol**, ** England**. Allen was the son of an Anglican priest but was orphaned early in life. He trained for ministry at **Oxford** and became a priest in 1893. Allen spent two periods in **Northern China** working for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The first from l895 to 1900 ended due to the Boxer Rebellion, during which Allen was forced to flee to the British Legation in **Beijing**. He was chaplain to community throughout much of the siege. After a period back in **England**, he returned to **North China** in 1902, but was forced home due to illness. These 'early experiences led him to a radical reassessment of his own vocation and the theology and missionary methods of the Western churches'.* * * *Allen became an early advocate of establishing Churches which from the beginning would be self-supporting, self-propagating, and self-governing, adapted to local conditions and not merely imitations of Western Christianity. There views were confirmed by a trip to **India** in 1910 and by later research in **Canada** and **East Africa**. It is with this background that Allen wrote his book Missionary Methods which was first published in 1912. * * * *Allen's approach to **Mission** strategy for indigenous Churches is based on the study of **Saint Paul**'s missionary methods as he is convinced that in them can be found the solution to most of the difficulties of the day. He believed it was the recognition of the church as a local entity and trust in the Holy Spirit's indwelling within the converts and churches which was the mark of Paul's success. In contrast was Allen's belief that the people of his day were unable to entrust their converts to the Holy Spirit and instead relied in His work through them.* * * *His views became increasingly influential, though Allen himself became disillusioned with the established churches. He spent the last years of his life in **Kenya**.* * * * * * * * * * * *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * * * * * * * * * * * * * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Apr 16 23:04:04 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:04:04 -0700 Subject: Lincoln Goes to Gettysburg Message-ID: <625d7240804162304r265f80dbk7a360cdbc76b0db3@mail.gmail.com> * "TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES Jim & Marie Watt PO Box 25116 ? Federal Way WA 98093-2116 Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com Web: www.2rbetter.org ? April 16, 2008 "LINCOLN GOES TO GETTYSBURG" (From: Carl Sandburg, Reader's Digest, 1936) When Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania set aside November 19, 1863, for the dedication of a National Soldiers' Cemetery at Gettysburg, the only invitation President Lincoln received to attend the ceremonies was a printed circular. The duties of orator of the day had fallen on Edward Everett. An eminent figure, perhaps the foremost of all American classical orators, he had been Governor of Massachusetts, Ambassador to Great Britain and President of Harvard. There were four published volumes of his orations. His lecture on Washington, delivered 122 times in three years, had in 1859 brought a fund of $58,000, which he gave for the purchase of Mount Vernon as a permanent shrine. Serene, suave, handsomely venerable in his 69th year, Everett was a natural choice of the Pennsylvania commissioners, who gave him two months to prepare his address. The decision to invite Lincoln to speak was an afterthought. As one of the commissioners later wrote: "The question was raised as to his ability to speak upon such a solemn occasion; the invitation was not settled upon until about two weeks before the exercises were held." In these dark days Lincoln was far from popular in many quarters. Some newspapers claimed that the President was going to make a stump speech over the graves of the Gettysburg dead as a political show. Thaddeus Stevens, Republican floor leader in the House, believed in '63 that Lincoln was a "dead card" in the political deck. He favored Chase for the next President, and hearing that Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward were going to Gettysburg, he commented: "The dead going to bury the dead." On the day before the ceremony a special train decorated with red-white-and-blue bunting stood ready to take the presidential party to Gettysburg. When his escort remarked that they had no time to lose, Lincolnsaid he felt like an Illinois man who was going to be hanged, and as the man passed along the road on the way to the gallows, the crowds kept pushing into the way and blocking passage. The condemned man at last called out: "Boys, you needn't be in such a hurry; there won't be any fun till I get there." Reaching Gettysburg, Lincoln was driven to a private residence on the public square. The sleepy little country town was overflowing. Private homes were filled with notables and nondescripts. Hundreds slept on the floors of hotels. Bands blared till late in the night. When serenaders called on the President for a speech, he responded: "In my position it is sometimes important that I should not say foolish things." (A voice: "If you can help it.") "It very often happens that the only way to help it is to say nothing at all. Believing that is my present condition this evening, I must beg of you to excuse me from addressing you further." The crown didn't feel it was much of a speech. They went next door with the band and blared for Seward. Beset with problems attendant on the conduct of the war, Lincoln had little time to prepare his address. About ten o'clock that night before the ceremony he sat down in his room to do more work on it. It was midnight or later when he went to sleep. At least 15,000 people were on Cemetery Hill for the exercises next day when the procession from Gettysburg arrived afoot and horseback. The President's horse seemed small for him. One of the commissioners, riding just behind the President, noted that he sat erect and looked majestic to begin with, and then got to thinking so his body leaned forward, his arms hung limp and his head bent far down. The parade had begun to move at eleven, and in 15 minutes it was over. But the orator of the day had not arrived. Bands played till noon. Mr. Everett arrived. On the platform sat state governors, Army officers, foreign ministers, Members of Congress, the President and his party. When Edward Everett was introduced, he bowed low to Lincoln, then stood in silence before a crowd that stretched to limits that would test his voice. Around were the wheat fields, the meadows, the peach orchards, and beyond, the contemplative blue ridge of a low mountain range. He had taken note of these in his prepared and rehearsed address. "Overlooking these broad fields now reposing from the labors of the waning year, the mighty Alleghenies dimly towering before us, the graves of our brethren beneath our feet, it is with hesitation that I raise my poor voice to break the eloquent silence of God and Nature." He proceeded: "It was appointed by law in Athens --" and gave an extended sketch of the manner in which the Greeks cared for their dead who fell in battle. He gave an outline of how the war began, traversed decisive features of the three days' battles at Gettysburg, denounced the doctrine of state sovereignty, drew parallels from European history, and came to his peroration quoting Pericles on dead patriots: "The whole earth is the sepulcher of illustrious men." He spoke for an hour and 57 minutes. It was the effort of his life, and embodied the perfections of the school of oratory in which he had spent his career. When the time came for Lincoln to speak he put on his steel-bowed glasses, rose, and holding in one hand the two sheets of paper at which he occasionally glanced, he delivered in his high-pitched and clear-carrying voice. A photographer bustled about with his equipment, but before he had his head under the hood for an exposure, the President said "by the people and for the people," and the nick of time was past for a photograph. The ten sentences were spoken in five minutes, and the applause was merely formal ? a tribute to the occasion, to the high office, by persons who had sat as an audience for three hours. That evening Lincoln took the train back to Washington. He was weary, talked little, stretched out on the seats and had a wet towel laid across his forehead. He felt that about all he had given the audience was ordinary garden-variety dedicatory remarks. "That speech," he said, "was a flat failure, and the people are disappointed." Much of the newspaper reaction was more condemnatory. The Patriot and Unionof nearby Harrisburg took its fling: "The President acted without sense and without constraint in a panorama that was gotten up more for the benefit of his party than for the honor of the dead?. We pass over the silly remarks of the President: for the credit of the nation we are willing that the veil of oblivion shall be dropped over them and that they shall no more be repeated or thought of." And the Chicago Times fumed: "The cheek of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat and dish-watery utterance of the man who has to be pointed out to intelligent foreigners as the President of the United States." Wrote the correspondent of the London Times, "Anything more dull and commonplace it would not be easy to produce." A reporter for the Chicago Tribune, however, telegraphed a prophetic sentence: "The dedicatory remarks of President Lincoln will live among the annals of man." The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin said thousands who would not read the elaborate oration of Mr. Everett would read the President's few words, "and not many will do it without a moistening of the eye and a swelling of the heart." And a writer in Harper's Weekly: "The oration by Mr. Everett was smooth and cold ? The few words of the President were from the heart to the heart. They cannot be read, even, without kindling emotion. 'The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.' It was as simple and felicitous and earnest a word as was ever spoken." Everett's opinion of the speech, written in a note to Lincoln the next day, was more than mere courtesy. "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes." Lincoln's reply: "In our respective parts you could not have been excused to make a short address, nor I a long one. I am pleased to know that, in your judgment, the little I did say was not entirely a failure." NOTE: "He Loved Me Truly" were the words of Lincoln's Step-mother on behalf of her Step-son at the time of his assassination. In mid-war he was asked to give his famous 5 minute Gettysburg address of 10 sentences. Here is an account of that day, and the context for one of the most unusual and famous speeches of all of history. Jim Watt TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web: http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Apr 21 20:05:10 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:05:10 -0700 Subject: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed Message-ID: <625d7240804212005q2d9e08e5n73219716f8c236b2@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4256 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **April 21, 2008*** * * *"EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED"* *(By Dr. Rex M. Rogers, Consultant ? **Cornerstone** **University**)* * * Say "Ben Stein," and the word, "comedian," is more likely to come to mind than "intellectual." And Ben is certainly funny. But he's more than that and proves it in his feature film, *Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.* This film asks the weighty question, "If we expel freedom in science, where will it end?" To find the answer, Stein travels to twelve countries on four continents, interviewing an impressive list of scholars in the sciences, theology, and philosophy. He asks them why "Big Science" makes no use of the hypothesis of God and why Intelligent Design (I.D.) discussions are suppressed. The answers he records are breathtaking in their political correctness, disdain for religion and religious people ("idiots," one scholar said), cavalier attitude toward debate, and fear of free speech. *Expelled* is not an advocacy flick for Intelligent Design. Rather, Stein probes why a scientific elite is systematically betraying one of America's founding principles: the freedom to create, explore, fail, overcome, inquire, debate. I.D. is simply the study of patterns in nature best explained by intelligence. It is not necessarily Christian or religious. Yet in its zeal for Darwin's theory of evolution, the scientific community stifles serious consideration of Intelligent Design. I.D. is called propaganda, a racket, stupid, an excuse to introduce creationism into the classroom, and, my favorite ? boring. But what could be more intellectually engaging than to allow evidence, rather than the courts, to decide the merits of I.D., evolution, or any other theory of origins? No matter. In the scientific community today, power trumps freedom in the name of truth. The intellectual supremacy that rules science is on full display in * Expelled.* It's a supremacy based upon a worldview, a philosophic paradigm rejecting the idea of God, or even the idea of "an Intelligence," while embracing the "staggeringly improbable" idea that life began by chance. In this view, human beings, along with the rest of the universe, were not created by the Sovereign Creator of the Bible's book of Genesis, nor by some kind of Intellect. Life began when, by chance, crystals, or particles or an explosion generated a molecular cell. Life (you and me) just happened. Thereafter, Darwin's evolutionary processes took over and the cell became an organism became a fish became a monkey became a cave man became our Great, Great Grandpa. Some anti-theists waffle a bit, suggesting the cell was initiated by a visitor from another galaxy ? a brainy being of some kind ? but they're uncertain about what or who. Though there's not a shred of evidence for this fantasy, anti-theists still smugly maintain the alien space traveler wasn't God. And they conveniently avoid explaining the origin of that alien species. Proponents of Darwinism-sans-deity claim their pseudo-religion grants us freedom from primitive superstition. But it's a faux freedom that enslaves human beings to meaninglessness. No deity? Then no objective standard for determining right from wrong. No morality. No accountability. No responsibility. No life after death. No certainty, just chance, just chaos. Most devastating of all: No hope. You see, suppression of freedom to debate all ideas in the scientific classroom is about more that Evolution vs. Intelligent Design. It's about more than academic freedom. It's about scientists teaching a philosophy that devalues human life (what Pope John Paul II called a "culture of death") and ? literally ? makes anything acceptable. Eugenics, euthanasia, ethnic cleansing, genocide. Why not? If life begins in the Great Lottery in the Sky why should we believe it ends any differently? And if life begins and ends meaninglessly, then what happens in the middle doesn't matter either. Scientists who suppress freedom inexorably create an Orwellian world where only two choices are left to us: "Nihilism" ? pointless, violent fear and loathing, or "Hedonism" ? pointless, immoral, pleasure-seeking. Is it any wonder that so much of cinema today is about one or both? Ben Stein's *Expelled *does freedom proud. And in doing so he serves up truth and hope. (Dr. Rex M. Rogers ? Consultant to and former president of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dr. Rex M. Rogers is the author of a nationally syndicated newspaper column and the author and voice of the daily radio program called "Making a Difference.") * * *NOTE:* Our daughter Anna and her husband Garl brought us to see "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" by Dr. Ben Stein last Saturday in Mt. Vernon. Their pastor highly recommended this film. We returned home on Sunday, and I looked in Google for a good write-up on it. Some 500 were present, and as a guess I found 80-90 % extremely negative towards it. I was not surprised. When I was a boy of seven in grade two (1930), our teacher showed us a slide of the "Missing Link" from which she said, "We are descended!" When I attended the University of Saskatchewan 1946-48, our biology professor, Dr. Ralston, firmly let us know in his class that "Evolution" by Darwin was the only logical, sensible and scientific explanation to creation. About that time I stopped in at a restaurant in Saskatoon for breakfast. When I raised my head following asking a blessing on God for His provision of food, a Royal Canadian Mountain Police officer sitting beside me said, "The day will soon come when all people like you will be in jail where you belong." I replied ? "I suppose you do not know who I am. I am the Student Body President of St. Andrew's College, Seminary of the United Church of Canada. I would like your name and number so I can report you for such discourtesy." Of course he abjectly apologized and asked if I would just forget his error. The President of the University of Saskatchewan listened briefly at the door to Dr. Bob Finley, guest speaker for the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. His response was a grunt of disgust, and a mutter that soon such heresy would no longer be allowed in Canada. My daughter Anna has lent me a number of courses from "The Teaching Company." One was on "The Human Body," presented by a very eminent physician, surgeon and professor. He did an excellent job, but spoiled it by presenting Evolution not as a Theory ? which it is ? but as "Fact," which cannot be discussed in the light of his view. The article above ? for me ? but cements the conclusion that Ben Stein was entirely correct in the need to challenge the somewhat bigoted scientific community in this area. Dr. Ivan Panin from Russia was an eminent Philosopher, Mathematician and master of English. Following his conversion to Evangelical Christianity, he spent 100,000 hours in demonstrating an unanswerable mathematical proof through Bible Numerics of the divine inspiration of our 66 books of the Bible. Jesus Christ, Lord and Creator of the Universe ? will one day judge all human beings for the deeds we have done in our bodies. It will be interesting to hear our devoted evolutionists seek to justify turning the youth of our land to such amazing theories of creation! It certainly takes more faith to accept the amazing theories descending from Darwin, when the explanation of God in Genesis covers the answer so much more acceptably. In conclusion, not only attend the showing of Ben Stein's "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," ? but by all means bring your children, grandchildren and friends. This is a breath of fresh air after the amazing theories our students are subjected to in the classroom not only of higher learning ? but right down to kindergarten. Your friends ? Jim & Marie Watt. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Apr 24 19:57:16 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:57:16 -0700 Subject: Praise for the China Study Message-ID: <625d7240804241957g5591f137mcb6ed1ea51f9e96@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **April 24, 2008*** * * *"THE **CHINA** STUDY"** ? 2005 -- T. Colin Campbell PhD* *The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted* *and the Startling Implications for Diet, * *Weight Loss and Long-term Health* ISBN 1-932100-38-5 ? BenBella Books, Dallas, Texas To order call (800)-888-4741 ? *www.ipgbook.com * * * *PRAISE FOR THE **CHINA** STUDY* * * "The study can be considered the Grand Prix of Epidemiology." New York Times "Everyone in the field of nutrition science stands on the shoulders of T. Colin Campbell, who is one of the giants in the field. This is one of the most important books about nutrition ever written ? reading it may save your life." Dean Ornish, M.D., Founder and President, Preventive Medicine Research Institute Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco Author, *Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease* and *Love & Survival* "Written with candor, courage and clarity, and with intellectual honesty and profound insight, this compelling book is destined to be one of the most important books of the decade. If implemented, *The China Study* would usher in a new era of contagious health." Hans Diehl, DrHSc, MPH, FACN Lifestyle Medicine Institute Best-selling Author and Founder of CHIP "Colin Campbell's *The China Study* is an important and readable book. With his son Tom, he discusses studies of the relationship between diet and disease. His conclusions about the harmful consequences of animal proteins are startling. Equally surprising has been his difficulty in bringing the results to the public. It is a story which needs to be heard." Robert C. Richardson, Ph.D., Nobel Laureate, E.R. Newman Professor of Physics and Vice Provost (Research), Cornell University "*The China Study* is the most convincing evidence yet on preventing heart disease, cancer and other Western diseases by dietary means. It is the book of choice both for economically developed countries and for countries undergoing rapid economical transition and lifestyle change." Junshi Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Research Professor Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention "*The China Study* is extraordinarily helpful, superbly written and profoundly important. Dr. Campbell's work is revolutionary in its implications and spectacular in its clarity. I learned an immense amount from this brave and wise book. If you want to eat bacon and eggs for breakfast and then take cholesterol-lowering medication, that's your right. But if you want to truly take charge of your health, read *The China Study*and do it soon! If you heed the counsel of this outstanding guide, your body will thank you every day for the rest of your life." John Robbins, author *Diet for a New **America** *and *The Food Revolution* * * "*The China Study* is a well-documented analysis of the fallacies of the modern diet, lifestyle and medicine and the quick-fix approach that often fails. The lessons from China provide compelling rationale for a plant-based diet to promote health and reduce the risk of the diseases of affluence." Sushma Palmer, Ph.D., Former Executive Director Food and Nutrition Board, U.S. National Academy of Sciences "All concerned with the obesity epidemic, their own health and the staggering environmental and social impacts of the Western diet will find wise and practical solutions in Campbell's *The China Study.*" Robert Goodland, Lead Advisor on the Environment The World Bank Group (1978-2001) "*The China Study* is the account of a ground-breaking research study that provides the answers long sought by physicians, scientists and health-conscious readers. Based on painstaking investigations over many years, it unearths surprising answers to the most important nutritional questions of our time: What really causes cancer? How can we extend our lives? What will turn around the obesity epidemic? *The China Study *quickly and easily dispenses with fad diets, relying on solid and convincing evidence. Clearly and beautifully written by one of the world's most respected nutrition authorities, *The China Study* represents a major turning point in our understanding of health." Neal Barnard, M.D., President Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine "*The China Study *is a rare treat. Finally, a world-renowned nutritional scholar has explained the truth about diet and health in a way that everyone can easily understand ? a startling truth that everyone needs to know. In this superb volume, Dr. Campbell has distilled, with his son Tom, for us the wisdom of his brilliant career. If you feel any confusion about how to find the healthiest path for yourself and your family, you will find precious answers in *The China Study*. Don't miss it." Douglas J. Lisle, Ph.D., and Alan Goldhamer, D.C. Authors of *The Pleasure Trap: Mastering the Hidden Force* *That Undermines Health and Happiness* * * "So many diet and health books contain conflicting advice, but most have one thing in common ? an agenda to sell something. Dr. Campbell and his son Tom's only agenda is truth. As a distinguished professor at Cornell University, Dr. Campbell is the Einstein of nutrition. *The China Study* is based on hardcore scientific research, not the rank speculation of a Zone, Atkins, SugarBusters or any other current fad. Dr. Campbell lays out his lifetime of research in an accessible, entertaining way. Read this book and you will know why." Jeff Nelson, President, VegSource.com "Colin Campbell's book *The China Study* is a moving and insightful history of the struggle ? still ongoing ? to understand and explain the vital connection between our health and what we eat. Dr. Campbell knows this subject from the inside: he has pioneered the investigation of the diet-cancer link since the days of the seminal China Study, the NAS report, *Diet, Nutrition and Cancer,* and AICR's expert panel report, *Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective*. Today, AICR advocates a *predominantly plant-based diet* for lower cancer risk because of the great work Dr. Campbell and just a few other visionaries began twenty-five years ago." Marilyn Gentry, President American Institute for Cancer Research "*The China Study* gives critical, life-saving nutritional information for every health-seeker in America. But it is much more: Dr. Campbell's expose of the research and medical establishment makes this book a fascinating read and one that could change the future for all of us. Every health care provider and researcher in the world must read it." Joel Fuhrman, M.D., Author *Eat To Live* * * "If you're looking to enhance your health, performance and your success read *The China Study *immediately. Finally, scientifically valid guidance on how much protein we need and where we should get it. The impact of these findings is enormous." John Allen Mollenhauer, Founder, My Trainer.com *NOTE:* Dr. T. Colin Campbell of *The China Study* recommended above, is not at all averse to giving a good word for others in the same field. Following is a write-up on Dr. John McDougall, containing his words of commendation: *NATIONS BESTSELLER: THE McDOUGALL PROGRAM* * * *"DR. JOHN McDOUGALL IS A TRUE PIONEER IN USING* *LOW-FAT VEGETARIAN DIETS TO TREAT AND HELP* *PREVENT A VARIETY OF DISEASES."* *Dr. Dean Ornish, Author of Dr. Dean Ornish's Program* *For Reversing Heart Disease* * * In this ground-breaking book, Dr. John McDougall, bestselling author and creator of the nationally renowned diet and exercise program at the St. Helena Hospital in Deer Park, California, introduces his remarkable twelve-day plan. Building on the idea that the traditional meat-rich American diet is hazardous to our health, Dr. McDougall has developed a medically sound, low-fat, starch-based diet that not only facilitates weight loss but also reverses serious illness, without drugs, and provides a broad range of dramatic and lasting health benefits. Step-by-step, he takes you through his revolutionary new program, providing Over 130 easy-to-prepare recipes Delicious day-by-day menus Suggestions for healthful dining out PLUS a comprehensive listing of health problems from arthritis to ulcer disease, comparing the traditional, often drastic medical approach and *The McDougall Program's* nutritionally based Alternative. "THIS BOOK IS NOT JUST ANOTHER DIET BOOK. IT IS, PERHAPS, THE BEST PRACTICAL GUIDE TO NUTRITIONAL WELL-BEING EVER WRITTEN." T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., director of the China Health Project, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University "IT'S A WONDERFUL BOOK!" William C. Roberts, M.D., editor in chief of the American Journal of Cardiology * * * * "The McDougall Program" was printed in 1991 by Plume, a division of Penguin Books of USA. ISBN 0-452-266394 (pbk) This book outlines "12 Days to Dynamic Health" It is the revolutionary health and diet program that can help you: Lose weight and feel great Reduce cholesterol Lower blood pressure Decrease or eliminate your need for medication Avoid costly and unnecessary surgery (With recipes by Mary McDougall) John A. McDougall, M.D. Author of *THE McDOUGALL PLAN* My daughter has lent me the above two books. In the last month I have started the transition into the truths set forth by the above two authors. Already, to my surprise and pleasure, I am experiencing definite health improvement and renewed energy. I need not say that you can add my name to the illustrious list of those recommending Dr. T. Colin Campbell's *The China Study ? *and his recommendation of John McDougall's *The McDougall Program.* * * Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Apr 27 19:53:14 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:53:14 -0700 Subject: Back to Jerusalem Message-ID: <625d7240804271953k65167d72i3f06b60492797456@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98093-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4256 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org ? **April 27, 2008*** * * *"BACK TO **JERUSALEM**"** ? "The Heavenly Man"* *(Christian Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway)* * * Although China is a long, long way from Jerusalem, it's one of history's remarkable facts that the Holy Land has been connected to China by road for more than two millennia. Some old accounts even suggest the gospel may have first entered China down this road just a few decades after Jesus' death and resurrection. Seven centuries ago the famous explorer Marco Polo came to China along the same highway. This key trading route allowed herbs and spices, treasures, new religions, and invading armies to flow in and out of China. At the other end, Jerusalem acted as a hub from where products dispersed into Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The European aristocracy was amazed when they first imported a most remarkable creature from China ? the silkworm. It lent its name to this rugged route ? popularly known as the Silk Road. Today, the nations along the ancient Silk Road are the most unevangelized in the whole world. The three biggest religious strongholds that have refused to yield to the advance of the gospel ? Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism ? have their heart here. More than 90% of the remaining unreached people groups in the world live along the Silk Road and in the nations surrounding China. Two billion of the earth's inhabitants live and die in this area, completely oblivious to the Good News that Jesus died for their sins and is the only way to heaven. In the 1920s God first led a group called the "Jesus Family" to take the gospel on foot all the way from China to Jerusalem. They called the initiative "Back to Jerusalem". Other Chinese church groups received similar visions to start missionary movements that would impact many nations in Asiaand the Middle East. Founded in 1921 in Shandong Province by a Christian named Jing Dianying, the Jesus Family believed members should sell all their possessions and distribute their wealth among the other family members. The five-word slogan of the Jesus Family encapsulated their commitment to Christ and their pattern of frugal living: "Sacrifice, abandonment, poverty, suffering, death." They targeted towns and villages, preaching the gospel as they walked from one place to another. Their example of communal living and the Jesus Family's deep Christian love amazed many onlookers. It attracted those searching for answers to life as well as those who were homeless, destitute and despised. Many blind people and beggars joined the Jesus Family and found eternal life in Christ. As they continued to grow, the Jesus Family suffered terrible hardships. Often when this mobile community entered a new town the entire population came out to beat, scorn and humiliate them. The opposition didn't deter them, however, and when they preached the gospel there always seemed to be a few people who were willing to forsake all that they had to follow Jesus. By the late 1940's there were some 20,000 Chinese believers enlisted in more than 100 different Jesus Family groups throughout China. Several groups believed God had called them to take the gospel back to Jerusalem on foot, preaching and establishing the kingdom of God in all the territories along the way. After thousands of miles and many years of travel, a band of faithful preachers reached the border town of Kashgar in the Xinjiang Region of north-west China. * * * In the autumn of 1995 I was speaking at a house church gathering in central China. The Lord had given me a deep desire to be part of his plan to send many Chinese Christians as missionaries into Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim lands. I encouraged the believers to seek God for a worldwide vision. I challenged them not only to continue in their present ministries, but to expand their horizons to include the unreached nations surrounding China. With tears in my eyes I sang a song I had learned from an old book about the Back to Jerusalem Movement: *Lift up your eyes toward the West* *There are no labourers for the great harvest* *My Lord's heart is grieving every day* *He asks, "Who will go forth for me?"* * * *With eyes filled with tears* *And blood splattered across our chests* *We lift up the banner of Christ* *And will rescue the perishing sheep!* * * *In these last days the battle is drawing near* *And the trumpet is sounding aloud* *Let's quickly put on the full armour of God* *And break through Satan's snares!* * * *Death is knocking at the door of many* *And the world is overcome with sin* *We must faithfully work as we march onward* *Fighting even unto death!* * * *With hope and faith we will march on* *Dedicating our family and all that we have* *As we take up our heavy crosses* *We march on toward **Jerusalem**!* * * While I was singing, I noticed an old man in the congregation who was visibly moved. He was weeping and could hardly contain himself. I had no idea who he was, and thought my preaching must have been really powerful to cause such a response! The old brother, crowned with white hair and a white beard, slowly walked to the front of the room and asked to speak. A respectful hush fell over the audience. He said, "I am Simon Zhao, a servant of the Lord. Forty eight years ago my co-workers were martyred for the name of Jesus." He continued, "I was one of the leaders of the Back to Jerusalem Band. We marched across China on foot, proclaiming the gospel in every town and village we passed through. "Finally in 1950, after many years of hardship, we reached the border town of Kashgar in Xinjiang Province. We stopped for a while and applied for visas to enter the Soviet Union. We were nervous and excited at the same time at what lay ahead! "Before we ever had a chance to leave China, the Communist armies under Chairman Mao took control of Xinjiang. They immediately sealed the borders and implemented their strong-armed style of rule. "All the leaders of our movement were arrested. Five of us were sentenced to forty-five years in prison with hard labour. All the other leaders died in prison long ago. I'm the only one who survived. . . . For the sake of the vision to take the gospel back to Jerusalem, I spent 31 years in prison for the Lord." We were all stunned. We sat there with our mouths wide open and tears running down our cheeks, dripping onto the floor. I asked Simon Zhao, the man of God, "Uncle, will you please tell us more?" He continued, "When the Lord called us to this vision, I'd been married just four months. My beautiful bride had just found out she was pregnant! We were both arrested and imprisoned. Life in the prison was difficult and my wife suffered a miscarriage." He wiped away his tears before continuing, "At that time the Communists killed many missionaries and their Chinese converts. In the early months of my imprisonment in1950 I saw my beloved wife twice from afar, through the iron bars on my window. Then I never saw her again. By the time I was released many years later my precious bride was already long dead." We all wept loudly. We felt that we were standing on holy ground in the presence of the Lord. I asked Uncle Simon, "When you were released from prison, did you still have this Back to Jerusalem vision in your heart?" He responded to my question by singing for us, *How many years have bitter winds blown?* *How many times have the storm clouds gathered?* *Through the icy rain we couldn't see God's altar* *The altar of God where he accepts our sacrifices.* * * *God's leaders are crying with broken hearts* *Jehovah's sheep are scattered far and wide* *Tears of sadness well up in the chilly wind* *Where have you gone, Good Shepherd?* *Where have you gone, soldiers of God?* *Where have you gone?* *Oh, where have you gone?* * * After Uncle Zhao rested for a while, I asked him again, "Uncle, do you still have this vision in your heart?" He continued to sing, *Jerusalem** is in my dreams* *Jerusalem** is in my tears* *I looked for you and found you in the fire of the altar* *I looked for you and found you in Jesus' nail-scarred hands.* * * *We wandered through the valley of tears* *We wandered towards our heavenly home* *After walking through the valley of death for forty years* *My tears dried up.* * * *Jesus came to destroy the chains of death* *He came to open the path to glory!* *The early missionaries shed their blood and tears for us* *Let's hurry to fulfil the promise of God!* * * He spoke in a faltering voice, "Every evening for decades in the labour camp I faced toward the west, in the direction of Jerusalem, and cried out to the Lord, 'Oh God, I'll never be able to reach Jerusalem on foot. Our vision has perished. Heavenly Father, I pray you will raise up a new generation of Christians in China who are willing to lay down their lives to take the gospel all the way back to where it started in Jerusalem.'" I held his hand and assured him, "The vision God gave you has not died! We will carry on the vision!" We brought comfort to the heart of Uncle Zhao. He stood up, blessed us with his holy hands, and encouraged us from Luke 24:46-48, *This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."* * * He exhorted us, "You must recognize the way of the cross is the call to shed blood. You must take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Muslim countries, then all the way back to Jerusalem. Turn your eyes to the west!" That meeting was a pivotal point in my life. I felt as if God passed a flaming baton from this dear old man of God to the house churches, giving us the responsibility to complete the vision. The Lord had already placed the Back to Jerusalem vision in my heart, but after meeting Simon Zhao it became the primary focus of my life. I came to understand clearly that the destiny for the house churches of China is to pull down the world's last remaining spiritual giants: the house of Buddha, the house of Mohammed, and the house of Hinduism, and to proclaim the glorious gospel to all nations before the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! You need to understand that when we speak about "Back to Jerusalem" we're not saying that Jerusalem is the main goal. We are not planning to rush there for a big conference! Jerusalem was the starting point for the gospel two thousand years ago, and we believe it will circle the whole world and return to its starting point. Our aim is not merely to evangelize the city of Jerusalem, but the thousands of unreached people groups, town and villages located between China and Jerusalem. The vision for Back to Jerusalem is now the primary goal of all the house church leaders in the Sinim Fellowship. This is not one project we have among many. This is the main thrust and focus of all our activities. We talk about it over breakfast, lunch and dinner. We pray unceasingly, asking God to raise up labourers and remove all obstacles. We dream about it in our sleep. A few years ago the Sinim leaders prayed about their involvement in the Back to Jerusalem mission. We then came together and each house church network revealed the number of missionaries they were committed to train and send overseas. When we added the number of workers together it totaled 100,000. That means we intend to send 100,000 missionaries outside China in the coming years! A closer examination of history reveals there were actually three main "silk roads" leaving China. The one starting in Xian and heading through Central Asia and the heart of the Islamic world is the best known one. The second major trading route went through Tibet, across the Himalayas to Bhutan and Nepal, then towards Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, connecting up with the main highway to Jerusalem. The third Silk Road went through south-west China, where the majority of unreached minority groups live today. It headed south into Vietnam and then westward into countries like Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and India. This route went deep into the heart of today's Buddhist and Hindu worlds. After we considered these facts the church leaders decided God was calling us to follow these three main directions with the gospel. The Holy Spirit had already called certain networks to focus on specific areas. For example, one network had many missionary families already working in Tibetan areas. It was natural for them to lead the thrust into the Tibetan Buddhist world. Another network for years had the burden to reach the minority groups in south-west China. Most of these tribes spill across borders into countries like Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). That network assumed the responsibility of taking the gospel "back to Jerusalem" via the southern route. We are not ignorant of the fact that these nations don't welcome the gospel! We're well aware that countries like Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia will not take kindly to preachers in their land! We also understand that in order to send missionaries they will need to be equipped, trained with language and cultural skills, and supported so they can fight for the Lord with maximum effectiveness. Today there are hundreds of Christians inside China learning foreign languages such as Arabic and English, in preparation for missionary service outside China. We have also come to understand that the past thirty years of suffering, persecution and torture for the house churches in China were all part of God's training for us. The Lord has perfectly fitted us to go as missionaries to the Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu worlds. Once I spoke in the West and a Christian told me, "I've been praying for years that the Communist government in China will collapse, so Christians can live in freedom." This is not what we pray! We never pray against our government or call down curses on them. Instead, we have learned that God is in control of both our own lives and the government we live under. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, *"The government will be on his shoulders." Isaiah 9:6.* * * God has used China's government for his own purposes, moulding and shaping his children as he sees fit. Instead of focusing our prayers against any political system, we pray that regardless of what happens to us, we will be pleasing to God. Don't pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn't pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power. This is true freedom! There is little that any of the Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu countries can do to us that we haven't already experienced in China. The worst they can do is kill us, but all that means is that we will be promoted into the glorious presence of our Lord for all eternity! The Back to Jerusalem missionary movement is not an army with guns or human weapons. It isn't a group of well-dressed, slick professionals. It's an army of broken-hearted Chinese men and women whom God has cleansed with a mighty fire, and who have already been through years of hardship and deprivation for the sake of the gospel. In worldly terms they have nothing and appear unimpressive, but in the spiritual realm they are mighty warriors for Jesus Christ! We thank God that he c*hose "the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things ? and the things that are not ? to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." * *1* *Corinthians 1:27-29.* God is calling thousands of house church warriors to write their testimonies with their own blood. We will walk across the borders of China, carrying the Word of God into the Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu worlds. Thousands will be willing to die for the Lord. They will see multitudes of souls saved, as well as awaken many sleeping churches in the West. Hundreds of Western missionaries spilled their blood on Chinese soil in the past. Their example has inspired us to be willing also to die for the Lord wherever he leads us with his message. Many of our missionaries will be captured, tortured, and martyred for the sake of the gospel, but that will not stop us. God has not only refined *us* in the fire of affliction for the past thirty years, he has also refined our methods. For example, we're totally committed to planting groups of local believers who meet in homes. We have no desire to build a single church building anywhere! This allows the gospel to spread rapidly, is harder for the authorities to detect, and allows us to channel all our resources directly into gospel ministry. Some people have challenged the fact that we are sending missionaries outside China. They say we should stay in China and win our own country before we go out. To this illogical argument I respond with a simple question, "Then why does your country send missionaries? Is everyone in your country saved?" If we stay in one place and refuse to advance until we've completely finished the job there, we'll never be able to impact the world with the gospel. Surely God's way is for us to be winning our home at the same time as we're sending new workers to the ends of the earth! Believe me, our vision to reach the world does not mean we'll stop or slow down our efforts to reach all of China with the gospel! The two will take place hind-in-hand. In fact, I believe the best way for the Chinese church to remain strong is to keep it motivated to reach out to the nations of the world. When believers focus on serving the Lord and reaching the lost, God blesses them and the church remains sharp. When we become self-centered and critical of each other, Satan has won already and the church will become a blunt, useless instrument. We knew from the beginning that there is a high price to pay for this. Back to Jerusalem mission. I'm not just talking about money! I'm talking about the many Chinese who will be martyred and suffer as this vision unfolds. Many will go on one-way tickets, realizing they'll never return to China to see their loved ones again. We also realize Back to Jerusalem will cost a lot of money, but even though our churches are so poor, we have already collected tens of thousands of dollars to support our missionaries. Like the Macedonian church, many Chinese believers have given literally all they own, *"Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability." 2 Cor. 8:2-3.* * * The Chinese church is willing to pay the price. Since my escape from China in 1997, I've been responsible for the training and implementation of the Back to Jerusalem missionaries. When the first batch of thirty-nine missionaries left China in March 2000, thirty-six of them were arrested. They didn't lose their vision however. They went back home, prayed, and found another way to get across the border. Little more than a year later, the number of Chinese house church missionaries outside China already exceeded four hundred, serving in more than ten countries. The floodgates are beginning to open. Each Back to Jerusalem missionary receives training in several main subjects. These include: One. How to suffer and die for the Lord. We examine what the Bible says about suffering, and look at how the Lord's people have laid down their lives for the advance of the gospel throughout history. Two. How to witness for the Lord. We teach how to witness for the Lord under any circumstance, on trains or buses, or even in the back of a police van on our way to the execution ground. Three. How to escape for the Lord. We know that sometimes it is the Lord who sends us to prison to witness for him, but we also believe the devil sometimes wants us to go to prison to stop the ministry God has called us to do. We teach the missionaries special skills such as how to free themselves from handcuffs, and how to jump from second-storey windows without injuring themselves. This is not a "normal" seminary or Bible College! If you ever visit one of the places where we are training our Back to Jerusalem missionaries, you will see how serious we are to fulfil our destiny in God. You may see people with their hands handcuffed behind their backs, leaping from second-storey windows! Nothing less is required if we are to break down the walls that separate Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists from knowing the sweet presence of Jesus. * * * When the elders of the Sinim Fellowship heard how God had miraculously allowed me to escape from China, they appointed me as their "Authorized Representative", to speak for the house churches around the world. The elders of the Sinim Fellowship drafted the following letter for me: *To Brother Yun, our holy brother who is a close comrade of Christ the Lord and who is filled with the Spirit of the Power of God:* * You are the "chariots and horsemen of **Israel**" of God! You carry the victorious message of the expansion of the **kingdom** of **Christ ** in you!* * Dear Brother, you are sent by God from the Sinim Elders' Committee of the Chinese house churches as our authorized representative overseas!* * God has shown you, according to his guidance and Lordship, that life is the foundation, building up the church is the centre, and the training of workers is the point of breakthrough ? the strategic place from where expansion can be carried out in all directions, radiating to every nation and people in the world, so that the ground that the sole of your foot walks on will become your inheritance!* * March forward towards the Muslims, the Hindus and the Buddhists in Europe, America, Africa, **Australasia** and **Asia**!* * We pray the Lord will give you wisdom and power from above, so that your message is filled with heavenly authority. Like the fire Samson tied to the foxes' tails, it will burn wherever you go.* * May you accomplish the holy mission God has given you, to take the gospel back to Jerusalem, until the last holy disciple is added to the church and the bride is prepared to welcome the return of our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ, so that the kingdoms of the world become the possession of our King! Our holy goal is that he will be King forever and ever.* * We are ready to work hard with servants of the Lord all over the world, who are members of his body, serving one another with the spiritual gifts we have received, so that the holy mission of God can be fulfilled!* * Dear Brother Yun, this is the conviction of all the servants of God in the Sinim Elders' Fellowship. May the Lord strengthen the task entrusted to you, lead you, and open the way ahead. We and all our co-workers are your solid shields. May the will of the Lord be done quickly, on earth as in heaven. Amen!* * Your co-workers in Christ and Elders of the Sinim Fellowship* * * * * *NOTE**:* Following are a few words written by Paul Hattaway in his Introduction to this book: There are lessons and experiences from Yun's life that can greatly encourage Christians around the world as they seek to follow the Lord Jesus. Brother Yun's testimony is one that reflects the faithfulness and goodness of God in his life. His is a story of how God took a young, half-starved boy from a poor village in Henan Province, China, and used him to shake the world. Instead of focusing on the many miracles or experiences of suffering he has gone through, he prefers to focus on the character and beauty of Jesus Christ. He wishes the whole world to know Jesus as he does, not as an historical, distant figure, but as an ever-present, love-filled, all-powerful Almighty God. In researching this book I interviewed dozens of Christians in China who were eyewitnesses of, and completely verified, the events contained in the pages that follow. Interspersed throughout the book are short contributions from Deling (Yun's wife) and a few Chinese house church leaders. These insights will help the reader gain a different perspective ? and a more complete picture ? of some of the key incidents in Yun's life. Most of Deling's reflections were made while her husband was imprisoned for the sake of the gospel. It has been said, "It is not great men who change the world, but weak men in the hands of a great God." Those who know Brother Yun can vouch that he is a humble servant of God who does not want any part of his life to bring glory to himself or man. Brother Yun desires that his story would focus all attention and glory on the only true Heavenly Man ? the Lord Jesus Christ. ? Paul Hattaway The book "The Heavenly Man" with Paul Hattaway was first published in 2002 ? USA: ISBN 0 8254 6207 X It is distributed in USA by Kregel Publications, PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids Michigan 49501. The above quotations are made to support this book's distribution. *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat May 3 21:20:44 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 21:20:44 -0700 Subject: Patience for Vision Message-ID: <625d7240805032120g24cd0a0dp9a69cdf307553e46@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: 2rbetter.org -- May 3, 2008* ** *"THE PATIENCE TO WAIT FOR THE VISION"* *(From "My Utmost for His Highest" ? Oswald Chambers)* * * *"Though it tarries, wait for it ? "? Habakkuk 2:3)* * * Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of patience because it gives us God's true and proper inspiration. Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God." ? he endured as seeing Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue ? he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it. Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God. He may give you a time spiritually, with no word from Himself at all, just as His Son experienced during His time of temptation in the wilderness. When God does that, simply endure, and the power to endure will be there because you see God. "Though it tarries, wait for it ?" The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. The psalmist said, "What shall I render to the Lord?? I will take up the cup of salvation ?" (Psalm 116:12-13). We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, "Now I've got it! Now I am completely sanctified. Now I can endure." Instantly we are on the road to ruin. Our reach must exceed our grasp. Paul said, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on ?" (Philippians 3:12). If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing. But if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation. *NOTE**: *This week's reading from the "Through the Bible in a Year" (TBIY), is an accompaniment to this week's Torah Reading, contained in the book of Habakkuk, and quoted by Chambers. It is a book filled with the theme of "Patience." Jesus manifested this virtue to the fullest. 2 Peter 1:5-7 tells us about 7 virtues to build upon Faith's Foundation, including Patience. It is composed of two Greek words (HUpo, under; and MEn* o*, abide), with the meaning of "*to abide* *under authority*!" He who by the grace and Spirit of God lives in this position is blessed indeed. As we together learn to plumb the depths of this virtue, we see the blessing of "Team Spirit." *None* of us exists and lives to himself. We are part of Christ's spiritual body. God does what He does through us not as an individual, but as part of Christ's corporate body, as part of a Team. Benjamin is the tribe of Israelthat especially shows forth this truth. We must ensure that our foundations are properly laid (Hebrews 6:1-2), and then go on to *perfection*. That perfection is learning to move in full harmony and appreciation for our fellow Team Members. Joseph wanted Benjamin to come down with his 10 half brothers on their second trip. And when Benjamin sinned in the book of Judges and was reduced to but 600 men, the other 11 tribes mourned. They did *not* rejoice at the judgment of God. They contrived to get 600 wives for Benjamin's 600 men, so that the tribe could be re-established. They knew that the corporate nation of Israel could only successfully function ? when all 12 tribes were making their unique contribution! Just think of the poverty of the Church had not the 11 tribes understood and done this. Paul, a Benjamite, wrote 14 of the letters of the New Testament! This depended upon mercy shown in the book of Judges. What you receive from me is because of "Team Spirit." I only obey God by writing and preparing what He gives me ? HIS gift to me. But without team members helping with the Printing, Website and Email expertise ? this would not take place! In 1995 Larry Van Schoiack said to me, "Jim, it's not good for you to use an electronic typewriter to prepare your articles and work. You need a 'Word Processing' computer for this. In 1996 he gave me my first computer, with lessons how to use it. Then in 1998 Richard Long from Ontario, Canada challenged me to write up a teaching on each of the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles that came together in the 1948 Visitation in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. It took me two years to pick up on this, but in January 2000 I started with Reuben and "Our Jewish Roots." He then asked me, "Would it be okay if I abridged these 12 articles and sent them out to some 1000 Canadian leaders associated with "Watchmen for the Nations?" I told him it would be. But he added a note to the abridged articles: "I have left out perhaps the best parts of Jim's articles because of lack of space. But I am sure if you asked him, he would be glad to send you the unabridged articles." The response swamped me! My oldest son Jim, Jr. recognized my problem and said, "Dad ? what you need is a Website, so that those interested in unabridged copies can come and print them up without contacting you." And he added ? "I'll be happy to set up a Website for you," which he did in February of 2000. Then last year my grandson Keelan said, "Grandpa ? you need an Archive section on an updated Website, taking advantage of the latest computer technology. You need a simple 'Easy Friendly' homepage with a Top Bar, and a simple way to access your materials on a side-bar." This is nearly ready to be released. It will coordinate in a simple fashion the 12 Embryonic Revival Truths, The Interlinear Greek New Testament in progress, Outlines to this, and also relevant Greek Word Studies, as well as an Archive section. This is far beyond anything I could have envisaged, and hopefully will meet a need for those that have not had the opportunity to attend Bible Collegeor Seminary. So of course I recognize that without the above team ? (and many more unmentioned -- I alone could do little to help you. However ? there are some negative aspects to Computers, Emails and Networks etc. Spam and Hackers are out there in this jungle. Over abundance of emails and pornographic advertising abound. Even sincere but perhaps misguided believers send out emails that are questionable. In the last 12 years since Larry Van Schoiack helped me send and receive Emails, I have had to refuse cooperation for some requests ? scores and even 100's of times. One particular type of this nature may help you to understand why I don't feel comfortable to cooperate with a certain type. It entails a message of challenge along a certain line. Then comes a request: Please send this to a dozen (or some other specific number) of your friends in the next 5 minutes, with me the sender as number two on this list. Please don't break this chain. There is blessing in obedience, (and an unspoken problem for refusal). Here's why I have not once cooperated in this type of request in the last 12 years. First, Jesus never puts this kind of pressure or request on His disciples. Rather He says, *IF* any man would follow me ? then here are the conditions ? but it is *optional* ? no pressure ? no coercion Salvation is *all* of grace ? but discipleship is conditional ? with *no*pressure to seek conformity. When the rich young ruler couldn't receive Jesus' conditions* *and sorrowfully departed ? Jesus *did not* pressure him to reconsider or do anything about it. *This* is the way of our God. Pressure to act or conform through these Email requests ? to me ? are *not* in the Spirit of Jesus. I leave it entirely up to you what you do about such requests ? but I feel it only right to let you know my thinking, and why I consistently refuse to follow through on such requests. Your friend ? Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue May 6 19:02:27 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 19:02:27 -0700 Subject: Word Study: New Birth Message-ID: <625d7240805061902o15cad027u21c01bd9bda59c58@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4256 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org -- May 6, 2008* ** *`1 John, Beget, geNAo from Gino-mai*, 96x (970), Strong # 1080* * * *One. John 3:7 (3:1-15) NECESSITY OF NEW BIRTH FROM ABOVE. "Marvel not that I said to you, You must be born from above." * The Physician of souls gave this mandate, laying great stress upon this one thing needful. Christ sets forth His atonement as the basis for the new birth, and man's reason alone cannot comprehend this. *Two. 1 John **2:29** (**2:18**-29) MARK OF NEW BIRTH: DOER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. "If you know that he is righteous, know that every one that does :righteousness is begotten of him." *The doer of righteousness is synonymous with the abider in Christ, and to practice religion in trying times, is good evidence of this birth. He is then renewed by the Spirit of Christ, after the image of Christ. We resemble God through the new birth by working righteousness. *Three. 3:9 (3:1-12) MARK OF NEW BIRTH: SIN NOT PRACTISED. "Every one born of :God does no sin, because his seed abides in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God. *The Spirit of God restores holy rightness of nature, and makes renewing grace an abiding principle. A true believer cannot continue in the course and practice of sin, for a new bias of heart disposes him to loathe and hate sin. This new disposition breaks the force and fullness of sinful acts, and the regenerate person is happily disabled for sin! God's seed, the doctrine of the Gospel, abides and operates in the believer constantly, so that he does not sin habitually, for the moral qualities of the Father through new birth preclude habitual sin. *Four. 4:7 (4:7-21) MARK OF NEW BIRTH: LOVE OF BROTHERS. "Beloved, let us love one another: for :love is of God; and every one that loves is begottenof :God, and knows :God." *The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love, and fulfills faith and obedience. This love comes down from heaven, and the knowledge of God dwells not in the soul devoid of love. Love of brothers derives its origin from God; and this love, not knowledge, is the indispensable mark of the new birth. *Five. 5:1 (5:1-12) MARK OF NEW BIRTH: BELIEF IN JESUS AS CHRIST. "Every one that believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of :God: and every one that loves the Begetter loves the one begotten of him." *If Jesus is our Christ, we abide in His fellowship and doctrine, for it is God that made Jesus both Lord and Christ. This faith is not speculative, but completely yields to Christ's will. And sonship is through God's *begetting*, and is superior to physical descent through Abraham. Christ with His anointing is the proof that He is Son of God! *Six. 5:4 (5:1-12) MARK OF NEW BIRTH: OVERCOMING THE WORLD. "And his :commandments are not grievous, because whatever is begotten of :God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that has overcome the world, our :faith." *It is the New Birth that makes possible the keeping of Christ's commands. We are born for God, and for another world: therefore we have the power to overcome this one! In and by faith we cleave to Christ in opposition to the world, for Faith in Christ is the basis of our strength to overcome the world. *Seven. **5:18** (**5:18**-21) MARK OF NEW BIRTH: KEEPING ONESELF FROM SATAN! "We know that every one :begotten of :God sins not; but who was begotten of :God keeps himself, and the evil one touches him not." *So we keep ourselves by the power of the new birth, which fortifies us against Satan's destructive attempts. It puts us on God's side in opposition to the world. The sins of the new born are of infirmity, ignorance, or surprise: not of premeditation or self-will. The devil has the greatest malice towards mankind, and is indefatigable in his endeavors to ruin as many of us as possible. *NOTE:* Many years ago C.T. Studd, missionary to Africa and Founder of WEC (Worldwide Evangelization Crusade) and CLC (Christian Literature Crusade), hit upon the first 5 "begotten" passages in 1 John. He called them, "The 5 Smooth Stones of David." He believed that as one of David's 5 stones slew Goliath, so one of the 5 spiritual *begotten* stones could drive off and defeat Satan. Actually there are 6 "Begotten" verses in 1 John, and the last one is especially linked with David as a Shepherd-boy! The magnificent truths contained in this letter of John the apostle and beloved disciple of Jesus, are intimately linked with Jesus Himself. I like to link these truths with Jesus as the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah." Judahwas not only the tribe of "Praise," prefiguring Jesus, but he was also the tribe of "the Lion." Matthew is the Gospel showing forth Jesus as the Lion-King! How the Jewish leaders hated it when Pilate had inscribed on Jesus' Cross, "Jesus ? King of the Jews." But to this end was He born as Son of Man, and Son of God. And not only is He King of the Jews, but Lord of the Church and of all Creation. For by Him all things were made! We must not be trapped like the Galatians and slip back into the legalism of the Old Testament. All of this contains types and shadows, pre-figuring Jesus. One young man preached his first sermon, and went fishing for compliments. An older minister was reluctant to respond, for he couldn't find much good to say about it. But the young man was so sure of the marvelously good sermon that he had just preached, that he pressed in. Reluctantly the older preacher responded, "Well, son, you didn't mention Jesus in your sermon." Replied the confident youth, "But, sir, Jesus wasn't in my text." "Young man," retorted his senior, "until you realize that every Bible verse points to and has a relationship to Jesus ? you will fail as a preacher!" And until we realize that the entire Old Testament points to Jesus and majors on Him! ? we will miss the heart of the Gospel! Jesus *is* the New Covenant. It is embodied in *Him*! The Old The Day of Atonement under the Feast of Tabernacles only covers Testament merely *covered* SIN.* *Jesus is the Lamb of God who *takes away* the sin of the world. Jesus, who tabernacled among us 2000 years ago, took them like the Scape-goat of the Day of Atonement, and removed them as far as the East is from the West, and buried them in the deepest sea. The New Birth in the Holy Spirit is the fruit of Jesus' Atoning death. He came to die that we might live! Beware of losing intimacy with Jesus! Don't get bogged down in the trap of Galatianism. Hear the words of Paul the apostle ? *"O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified? **2** This only would I learn from you, Received you the Spirit from works of law, or from hearing of faith? ** 3** Are you so foolish? Having begun in Spirit, are you now perfected in flesh?" Galatians 3:1-3 (3:1-6).* * * Strong words! Yet many in Messianic Jewish Congregations have fallen into this trap. And many in the church have also fallen into a form of legalism. And the majority in Israel have yet to recognize that God's Messiah came to them 2000 years ago. May then these 5 smooth stones of C.T. Studd come alive to us today, and propel us along the way of victory and overcoming life that God has designed for us! * * *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat May 17 10:15:48 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 10:15:48 -0700 Subject: Under Your Wings Message-ID: <625d7240805171015u4f321a0aq2e7150020837dd57@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98097-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4256 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* ** *"UNDER YOUR WINGS"** ? 2008.05.16* * * This is a testimony to the Faithfulness of God to Himself and His Promises ? and to the love of God. This morning I either awoke very early, or was dreaming. These are the words I heard myself singing: *I am Thine, O Lord, And I heard Thy voice* *And it told Thy love to me ?* *But I long to rise In the arms of faith* *And be closer drawn to Thee.* * * *Draw me nearer, Nearer Blessed Lord,* *To the Cross where Thou didst die.* *Draw me nearer, Nearer Blessed Lord --* *To Thyself ? The Crucified.* * * God has used both secular and spiritual means to answer this prayer of my heart, and to train me for His purposes. Following are a few highlights setting this forth. In 1927 my step-grandfather, G.R. Gordon visited us in Dallas, Texas where my father was constructing a steam-electrical power house. Later in that year we moved to his home in Vancouver BC at 1109 Barclay St. During the 1929 depression in 1933, he made available to us as a family a farm (one of some 50 properties he owned) in Murrayville, Langley BC. Each month of the 4 years we were there he visited us, and each visit left a 32 page gospel story called the Lily Series. I read all 48 of them, and resolved that when I grew up I would go to England and find the relationship with God described in the 48 stories I had read. I knew of no one at the time in Canada who had such an experience. He also left a book with us entitled "Intra Muros" (Within the Walls) by Agnes Reuter Springer ? a remarkable story by an Episcopalian lady of a 3 week visit to heaven when she was very ill in Canada. This too made a decided impact upon me. I attended a full 4 years of Elementary School at Murrayville, and our principal, Mrs. Mary Ann Bilton of Yorkshire, England, drilled into us Latin proverbs during my time in grade 7 and 8. "Mens sana en corpore sano" ? A sound mind in a sound body. They go together. And "Tempus fugit, et numquam recipit" ? Time flies ? and never returns. God used her to make an impact upon me. When we arrived on the farm in 1933, I would at night stare into the heavens ? and marvel at the story they told of God and creation. I used to wonder ? "What if there were *nothing* in this universe? What could it possibly be like?" The thought made me want to know the God of creation. In 1937 the Great Depression started to lighten in our part of Canada, and my father received a position as Chief Engineer of Bloedel Stewart and Welch in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. We ended up living next door to Bill Wiles, the Math and Science teacher at the Alberni District High School. He would come over and play table tennis with my younger brother George and me, and we became very good ping pong players! Then Mr. Wiles took 10 of the boys, and worked with them as a basketball coach. He carefully trained them in many plays, and had them practice them again and again, until they became a formidable team. They took the Vancouver Island championship, and then to our surprise the Vancouver mainland and BC one too. The ten went on to take Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitobaprovincial championships, and became the top High School team for all of Western Canada. The ADHS "Termites" were famous across Canada, and their coach Bill Wiles made a decided impression upon me. At that same time I played in the High School band to encourage the Termites on to their home victories. A former Salvation Army bandmaster heard me play, and thought I had potential for more that that as a band trombonist. So he offered me free lessons to prepare for the Vancouver Music Festival for solo instruments. We picked out "The Lost Chord" ? and by the time we were finished, it was no longer lost! I came out first in the Province of BCfor the trombone, coming ahead of the leading trombonist of the world famous "Kitsilano Boys Band." Always I had a desire to be one of the "Kitsies." Then in 1942-43 I attended my second year of University at UBC (Universityof British Columbia.) Again I played in the UBC Varsity band for special events, led by Arthur Delamont, bandmaster of the Kitsilano Boys Band. They were due to go on tour, and were short 3 players. Three of us in the UBC Varsity band agreed to go on tour with them at the end of the school year ? so my heart's desire from farming days was fulfilled! While attending UBC in the fall of 1942, God spoke to me for the first time in my life, though I did not yet know Him. I was reading Psalm 107:23-24 when suddenly the Spirit of God spoke inaudibly to my spirit, "If you join the Navy ? I'll reveal Myself to you!" I couldn't tell anyone of this voice ? because Essondale was the place they put people at that time who heard voices! I couldn't tell my father why I couldn't let him get me a commission in the airforce, and why I had to join the Navy. Again ? God was faithful! 9 months after I joined up he revealed Himself to me just as He promised. Then in 1945 World War II was over. Sailors could get out a year early if they had a job or a school to go to. I had neither. In desperation I fasted and prayed all one night in the ship's laundry in August of 1945. At 5 AM, God gave me a vision of a bicycle with a bent frame that I had sold in 1941 without telling the buyer of this. I asked God ? "Why are you showing this to me?" "Because you won't get out of the Navy till you make this right." "But I wasn't a Christian at the time," I protested. My protest did no good. So I started to bargain with God. "I'll give him back the $20.00 I got from him in 1941." No answer. I had read the Bible through in 6 weeks as soon as I was converted, to see what I had got myself into. I remembered reading that if you were late with your tithe; you had to add 20% to the principal. So I said ? "I'll give him $24.00!" Immediately I heard from God ? "Write George R. Hawtin, Bethel Bible Institute, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and ask to enroll as a student. No address! Nonetheless, I shortly received application forms for a new student. I filled them out and returned them. Shortly I received confirmation of my acceptance. I brought it to my Captain, and requested my discharge. "Where do you want to be discharged, son?" he asked. "Esquimalt outside of Victoria," I replied. Soon I was on a train from Halifax to Victoria. On the way I had the privilege of leading a discharged Airman to the Lord. On the Sunday I was home in Port Alberni with my parents, my home pastor asked me to preach. Guess who was sitting in the 3rd row in the aisle seat? The man I repaid the money to for the bike with the bent frame! How I thanked God for requiring me to make that wrong right! Later when my father was on his death bed with cancer ? this same man visited him every night for a month, and led him to the Lord. He later said to me ? "Jim ? if ever a man died right with God ? your father was that man!" Thank God! I arrived at BBI in Saskatoon in October 1945, two hours before registration closed, and saved a $5.00 late registration fee! A Scotsman's bargain! Then on February 11, 1948 God visited the former BBI, now the Sharon Schools of North Battleford, about 90 miles NW of Saskatoon. I was a student minister and couldn't look into this; but in April Ern Hawtin came down to the Princess Elizabeth High School Auditorium in Saskatoon to give a report. That very afternoon service I entered into the fullness of what took place February11th. Then in July they held a Summer Camp Meeting, and George Hawtin asked if I would serve as one of the 7 elders to lead the meetings. What a privilege! The presence of the Lord was so real you could cut it with a knife! 12 Embryonic Revival Principles came together at that time. The last of the 12 came in Edmonton in October ? "The Heavenly Choir!" In 1944 someone lent me "40 Years of Signs and Wonders in the Life of Mrs. Maria Woodworth-Etter." I was struck with the extraordinary account of "The Heavenly Choir." The Holy Spirit whispered to me, "In the not too distant future, you will see this restored." I shared this with Ern Hawtin in October of 1945. He asked when I thought this would happen. I told him, all I know was what the Holy Spirit told me ? "In the not too distant future!" In Edmonton October 1948 Ern Hawtin asked me if I would be willing to speak on "The Heavenly Choir" if his brother George agreed. He did. So I used Psalm 22 and Hebrews where it recounts Jesus worshipping the Father in the congregation of His saints ? His spiritual body; plus many other relevant scriptures. When I went to sit down, I found Ern holding me to the pulpit ? and urging me to believe God and launch out for this restoration. We sang the old chorus "Hallelujah" twice, and then I urged the congregation to launch out and let the Holy Spirit take over. Within 5 minutes I heard worship such as I never heard before in all my life. It was Indian summer, and the windows of the church were open. Six blocks away 2 businessmen heard this, and were so intrigued that they followed their ears, and both were saved! In June of that same year I made an offer to the Lord. I was preparing to go to North Africa to a Muslim country, and was learning Arabic. I felt it would be too dangerous to marry and bring a wife there. So I offered myself to the Lord with the "Gift of Singleness." He thanked me, but asked, "If I could link you with one where together the two of you would count more for Me in My Kingdom than either of you would alone, would you do it?" I answered Him that of course I would ? but there was only one girl that would qualify, and she was Catholic and lived a life-style much livelier than mine ? so I was safe! 3 days later I got an 8 page letter from Marie Gaudet telling me how she was reading the Bible 8 and 12 hours a day without stopping! My heart stopped! I invited her to the July Camp Meeting in North Battleford. Following that she attended the Hawtin meetings in Vancouver for 6 weeks without missing a meeting. During that time God gave her the Birth from Above, and baptized her in the Spirit. That December 27th we were married in Port Alberni, and had our first date on our honeymoon! In April 1949 God led us to the United States, and in September to the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago. The following year He visited College and Seminary Campuses across the US with Revival, the second for me. It powerfully transformed our Seminary. 100 churches were revived and 1000 souls saved in 2 months through the student pastors involved. Then in 1967 in answer to a request of Marie ? I sought the Lord for clearer insights concerning His thinking on behalf of our united lives. That very night He gave me two visions. The first was concerning an automated laser telescope, that in the Spirit could remove principalities and powers from over cities, areas, regions and nations. The second had to do with 70 teams of 8 who would be the organic laser telescope of vision number one. He used Zechariah 12:8 to illustrate the effectiveness of this. In Deuteronomy 32:30 one enemy of the Lord can drive 1000 to flight, but two, 10,000. How much more God's servants walking with Him? But Zechariah says that in the last days, God will ensure that "the feeble" will be like David (10,000!), and they of the house of David like God (one million!). Two would be 10 million; two couples, 100 million; four couples, one billion! These 70 teams of 8 each could remove principalities and powers over cities, areas, regions and nations, and as David mopped up the Philistines after God's angels first moved in ? so these teams could move in and mop up for God ? cities, areas (Cascadia, the Pacific NW) regions and nations. To help me understand the significance of this, God challenged me to ask Him for a Destiny Dream. I responded positively, in 1985. That very night, God had a medical doctor from Spain appear to me in Washington D.C. He informed me that my prayer request had been received by God that night, and that he had been sent to give me the answer. "Cervantes" ? in one word ? has all you need for your destiny dream. I found there is only one "Miguel Cervantes" in the Encyclopedia, the author of Don Quixote. He with his servant Sancho Panza did not team up too well. Quixote was so heavenly-minded that he was little earthly good, and he wasn't properly teamed up with his practical servant, to get the help from him that he needed. God politely informed that I was a bit too much like Don Quixote. But there was a practical side of me that he would help me to bring into balance. He would give 2 or 3 dreams a week to check me up on my progress (which He did). However ? even when I achieved this balance ? it would be insufficient ? I would still be too much like Quixote. But Marie was very practical like Sancho Panza ? and when we learned together how to move as one ? *Then* the full purpose of our marriage would come together. When we returned from our 3rd trip to Israel in 1992, God gave me another vision in July. George R. Hawtin appeared to me (though he was now with the Lord). He was helping get ready for a conference of 6000, and because deacons were short, was helping out. He said to us ? "I am too old to lead in another Visitation. You and Marie were both with us from the beginning ? You know the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles that came together at that time. I pass the torch to you! Take it, and bring the 12 Embryonics to maturity ? *they* shall be parameters of safety for the last great revival before God's Son returns!" Well ? I awoke with trepidation. In 1998 Richard Long from Torontochallenged me to write up the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles. He in turn sent them across Canada. The response for the full articles that he abbreviated led my son Jim Jr. to make a Website for me. But things in the computer field quickly become dated, and my grandson Keelan said, "Grandpa, you need a place on your Website for 'Archives' containing your key articles. But really you need a new updated Website with the latest Computer Technology." He is about finished with this project, and will be releasing it to you in the not too distant future. He has a "User Friendly" Homepage with a Top Bar bringing together the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles ? the 12 Interlinear Greek Numeric Outlined New Testament portions that correspond, the Outlines to those New Testament books, plus the corresponding Greek Word Studies that bring it all together. Now let us look at this again. February 11, 2008 was the 60th Anniversary for the North Battleford Visitation. Friends in Minnesota hoped to have a celebration to commemorate this event, but meeting facilities failed to materialize. So ? the Rev. Dr. John Roddam of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Seattle said ? "Let's do it here." That previous Fall he arranged for ten 30 minute segments to be filmed in our home, in which he chaired Marie and myself to bring out the high points of the 1948 Visitation. This 3 DVD presentation is available by going to *www.reason-for-hope.com *. It was an overview of that that John again chaired February 11th and 12th in the church of which he is Rector. All of the above I believe has been orchestrated by God. It is not that Marie and I are so special ? but that God being God ? He can choose whom He will for whatever assignment He is interested in. But prior to regular assignments, "Intimacy with Himself" is His Prime Assignment. It is our * being* more than our *doing* that interests Him! Look at the Title again ? "Under Your Wings." This is the way I see His dealings with Marie and myself in "Two Are Better than One" Ministries. So 2008 is not only the 60th Anniversary of the Latter Rain Visitation of 1948, but May 14th was the 60th Anniversary of Israel becoming a nation again after nearly 2000 years ? and the 60th Anniversary for Marie and myself obeying God in marriage. So do we see God's hand shaping our lives in these and many other events? Yes ? both spiritual and secular. Your friends ? Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri May 23 21:55:08 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 21:55:08 -0700 Subject: Healing of the Land Message-ID: <625d7240805232155x4ab7214bs1c9adeaa0a1446cd@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4256 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* ** *"HEALING OF THE LAND" ? 2008.05.23* * * Take note of Daniel Kikawa's latest book on Hawaii ? "God of Light, God of Darkness." It is published by "Aloha Ke Akua" Ministries, PO Box 492325, Kea'au, Hawai'i 96749 (a 2008 publication). *www.alohakeakua.org *? (Online orders received). ISBN: 978-0-964395-1-2 Perhaps some of you are aware that I met Daniel in Honolulu in 1987 at a church that a friend of mine was pastoring. There I told the story how God healed the land of Northern Alberta at that time. Farmers were going bankrupt from excessive rain springtime and harvest for 10 years. A farmer of several sections of land in Wetaskiwin saw me traveling back and forth between Camrose and other parts of the Province. He and his wife prepared for me a prophet's chamber like the great woman of Shunem did for Elisha. On July 1st of 1987, I was chicken-sitting 1500 for the wife, who was attending a Mennonite family reunion in Saskatchewan. As I was doing this chore, I felt led to ask God ? that what He did for Elisha maybe 2700 years ago, if for my sake as His servant, He would not save the farm of my hosts and friends. He assured me that He would, and instructed me to gather a meeting the first Wednesday of August. There I would learn why there was judgment on the land. One cabinet-maker who attended from among some 8 different groups said that 10 years ago, there was a fight between white men of Wetaskiwin and First Nations People of Hobbema, the largest Indian Reservation of Canada, containing 5 separate nations or tribes. During the fight, an Indian was thrown out of an upper hotel window, landed on his head and was killed. The Indians understood that such things could happen when men were drinking, but felt that justice should still be done. Upon making this request they were told, "The only good Indian is a dead Indian ? you should thank us!" Neither God nor they felt that this was a right answer. God immediately sent this 10-year judgment upon the land. When I learned of the true cause of this severe problem, I immediately contacted 3 of my white friends, who all agreed to petition the leaders of the Hobbema Reservation to apologize and ask forgiveness on behalf of our white brothers ? for what happened 10 years previously. I had a close friend who had attended the Sharon Orphanage and Schools of North Battleford, at the time of the '48 Visitation. He had gained favor with the Indians as a New and Used Car and Truck dealer, by making good deals with them, and never cheating them once. As an acknowledgement, they made him an Honorary Chieftain, and gave him a full Indian Head-dress of Eagle feathers reaching to the ground. They then said ? "Whenever you have a petition or a desire ? come to our business meeting and present it, and if it is within our power, we will grant your request. So I contacted Nick, told him of the revelation of the judgment we had discovered, and asked if he would present our petition to appear before the leaders of all 5 nations and tribes to apologize on behalf of our white brothers of 10 years ago, and ask forgiveness. Nick did so. After waiting many hours in their normal protracted meetings, they finally turned to him and said, "Alright, great white brother, what is your petition, and what is your request? If it is within our power, we will grant it." He then presented the request I had asked of him on behalf of my other three white brothers. In disbelief they responded, "Say that again!" He did so, and the leaders of these 5 nations again consulted together. Then they turned to him and said, "You are a man of integrity. If you say these 4 men upon appearing before us would make this apology and ask forgiveness on behalf of their white brothers of ten years ago, your word is as good as their appearance. It is as good as done. Tell them to meet the first Wednesday of September and petition God to lift His judgment. We will agree with them on the Reservation. It will be done! However, if sometime in the future we so desire, we would like to have Jim Watt come before us concerning this. Any white man smart enough to marry a wife with Indian blood in her, is a smart man." They have never acted upon this option, though recently I have discovered that through a "Moser" on my mother's side, a marriage took place in the past with one of the Micmac tribe of the Maritimes ? so that I too with my wife have a portion of Indian blood. But ? from the first Wednesday of September 1987 to approximately December 11th ? for the first time in 10 years ? all farmers ? believers and unbelievers ? were able to fully harvest their crops, prepare the soil for spring seeding, and make fence and other repairs! The weather forecasters and meteorologists across Canada were amazed at this ten year reversal, and could come up with no viable explanation. I asked my Wetaskiwin farmer friend if he had let them know. "Of course not," he retorted." You should be aware that whenever we would tell of answered prayer they would say ? 'O there you Christians go again ? always trying to get in on the act!'" But if Canadian authorities are none the wiser, a Japanese believer in Hawaii picked up on it ? and this book listed above as a sequel to his "Perpetuated in Righteousness," ? finishes the story by recounting one of the most remarkable sequence of historical events I have ever read in "The Healing of the Land." What happened in Hawaii in 6 of their islands in 1998, truly causes all other examples of healing of the land to be somewhat pale in comparison. Daniel had me write a brief note of commendation for his first volume, and now has sent the second to my wife Marie and myself with the note that "This book is a part of your many fruits of your spiritual children." It really was God in Alberta that set up that illustration of "The Healing of the Land." What Daniel and many others have recently done for Hawaii as recounted in "God of Light, God of Darkness" ? needs to be read by all national groups who sense a problem of judgment on the land because of sin. Perhaps in no case will it be as great as recounted in the State of Hawaii ? but nonetheless ? that can be a strategic spring-board to launch "healing of the land" in many other venues. I heartily recommend that if you have an interest in this subject, that you will consider the purchase of this book. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri May 30 23:21:18 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 23:21:18 -0700 Subject: Stanley Frodsham Message-ID: <625d7240805302321q1f2afbccjf1f78c37283787bd@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org -- May 30, 2008* ** *"THE 1965 PROPHECY by **Stanley** Frodsham"* * * The following was sent by Andrew Strom of New Zealand. It is very strong, but true, I believe. We need to be prepared for what is ahead. (We published this not too long ago ? but due to recent events I think we should take another look. The prophetic word was spoken by Stanley Frodsham who was a personal friend of Smith Wigglesworth. It was given in Chicago in 1965 ? five years before he died. N.K.) *Great Judgments* "With great judgments will I plead with the population of this country. Great darkness is coming upon the countries that have heard My gospel but no longer walk in it. My wrath shall come upon them. The darkness shall be so great and the anguish so sore that men shall cry out for death and shall not find it. There shall be a lingering death, famine and great catastrophes. My wrath shall be manifested against all ungodliness. It shall come with great intensity. You have known my love but have not experienced My wrath or My severity. My judgments are literal and not a thing to be passed over lightly. Realize the severity of My judgments and My intense anger against the sin in My Household. My judgments shall begin in My House, for I will cleanse My House that it be not a partaker of My wrath against the iniquities of the cities. Before I visit the nations in judgment I will begin at My House. When I do cause My wrath to come upon the cities of the world My people shall be separate. I desire a people without spot or wrinkle and such will be preserved by Me in the time of My wrath, which shall be coming upon all iniquity and unrighteousness. I am going to prepare you for the coming days by a hard path that will cause many to cry out continually unto me. For when the going is easy men do not seek Me, but rejoice in a temporary blessing. And when that blessing is removed they so often turn this way and that way but do not come to Me. I am showing you these things in order that you may seek Me continually and with great diligence. As you seek Me I will open up truths to you that you have not seen before, and these very truths will be such that will enable you to stand in these last days. As you are persecuted, reviled and rejected by your brethren, then you will turn unto Me with all your heart and seek Me for that spiritual life that you need. So that when the tribulation comes you will have that which will enable you to stand. For many will be tossed to and fro; men's hearts shall fail them because of trouble on every hand. These days shall be very terrible ? the likes of which have never been seen before. *Coming Glory and Deceiving Spirits* When I visit My people in mighty revival power, it is to prepare them for the darkness ahead. With the Glory shall come great darkness, for the Glory is to prepare My people for the darkness. I will enable My people to go through the darkness because of the visitation of My Spirit. Take heed to yourselves lest you be puffed up and think that you have arrived. Many shall be puffed up as in the olden days, for then, many received My message but they did not continue in it. Did I anoint Jehu? Yet the things that I desired were not accomplished in his life. Listen to the messengers, but do not hold men's persons in admiration or adulation. For many whom I shall anoint mightily with signs and miracles shall become lifted up and shall fall by the wayside. I do not this willingly for I have made provision that they might stand. I call many into this ministry and equip them, but remember that many shall fall. They shall be like bright lights and the people shall delight in them. But they shall be taken over by deceiving spirits and shall lead many of My people astray. Hearken diligently concerning these things, for in the last days shall come seducing spirits. They shall turn many of My anointed ones away; many shall fall through diverse lusts and because of 'sin abounding'. But if you will seek Me diligently I will put My Spirit within you so that when one shall turn to the right hand or to the left hand you shall not turn with them, but instead you will keep your eyes fixed wholly on your Lord. The coming days are going to be most dangerous, difficult and dark -- for there shall be a mighty outpouring of My Spirit in judgment upon many cities and many shall be destroyed. My people must be diligently warned concerning the days ahead. Many shall turn after seducing spirits and already many are seducing My people. It is those who 'Do Righteousness' that are righteous. Many cover their sins by great theological words. But I warn you of seducing spirits who instruct My people in an evil way. Many of these I will anoint that they in turn may purify and sift My people, for I will have a holy people. When I come I shall not find faith upon the earth but in a few, for when the time of testing comes many will depart from their Lord. Many shall come with seducing spirits and hold out lustful enticements. You will find that after I have visited My people again the way will become more and more narrow, and fewer shall walk therein. Be not deceived; the ways of righteousness are My ways. For though Satan come as an angel of light hearken not to him; for those who perform miracles and speak not righteousness are not of Me. I warn you with great intensity that I am going to judge My House and have a church without spot or wrinkle when I come. I desire to open your eyes and give you spiritual understanding, that you may not be deceived but may walk with uprightness of heart before Me, loving righteousness and hating every evil way. Look unto Me, and I will make you to perceive with the eyes of the Spirit the things that lurk in darkness, that are not visible to the human eye. Let Me lead you in this way, that you may perceive the powers of darkness and battle against them. It is not a battle against flesh and blood, for if you battle in that way you accomplish nothing. But if you let Me take over and battle against the powers of darkness then they are defeated, and then liberation is brought to My people. *The Ways of Deceivers* I warn you to search the Scriptures diligently concerning these last days. For the things that are written shall indeed be made manifest. There shall come deceivers among My people in increasing numbers, who shall speak forth the truth and shall gain the favor of the people. For the people shall examine the Scriptures and say, "What these men say is true." Then when they have gained the hearts of the people, then and then only shall they bring out their wrong doctrines. Therefore I say that you should not give your hearts to men, nor hold people's persons in admiration or adulation. For by these very persons Satan shall gain entry into My people. Watch for seducers! Do you think a seducer will brandish a heresy and flaunt it before the people? He will speak words of righteousness and truth and will appear as a minister of light, declaring the Word. The people's hearts shall be won. Then when the hearts are won, they will bring out their doctrines and the people shall be deceived. The people shall say "Did he not speak thus and thus? And did we not examine it from the Word? Therefore he is a minister of righteousness. This that he has now spoken we do not see in the Word but it must be right, for the other things he spoke were true." Be not deceived. For the deceiver will first work to gain the hearts of many, and then shall bring forth his insidious doctrines. You can not discern those who are of Me and those who are not of Me when they start to preach. But seek Me constantly, and when these doctrines are brought out you shall have a witness in your heart that these are not of Me. Fear not, for I have warned you. It is possible that the very elect may be deceived. But it is not possible if you walk in holiness and uprightness before the Lord; for then your eyes shall be open and the Lord will protect you. If you will constantly look unto the Lord you will know when the doctrine changes, and will not be brought into it. If your heart is right I will keep you. If you will look constantly to Me, I will uphold you. The minister of righteousness shall be on this wise ? his life shall agree with the word, and his lips shall give forth that which is wholly true. There will be no mixture. When the mixture appears then you will know he is not a minister of righteousness. The deceivers speak first the truth and then the error, to cover their own sins which they love. Therefore I exhort and command you to study the Scriptures relative to seducing spirits, for this is one of the great dangers of these last days. I desire you to be firmly established in My word and not in the personalities of men, that you will not be moved as so many shall be moved. I would keep you in the paths of righteousness. Take heed to yourselves and follow not the seducing spirits that are already manifesting themselves. Diligently inquire of Me when you hear something that you have not seen in the word, and do not hold people's persons in admiration, for it is by this very method that Satan will hold many of My people. *The Way of Triumph* I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly, that you may triumph where I triumphed. On the cross I triumphed over all the powers of Satan and I have called you to walk in the same path. It is when your life is on the cross that you shall know the victory that I have experienced. As you are on the cross, seated in Me, then you shall know the power of the resurrection. When I come in My Glory, the principalities and powers in the heavenly places shall be utterly broken. Fear not, for I have given you the power whereby you may tread down the powers of darkness, and come forth victorious through every trial. As you are on the cross then you are victorious. It was on the cross that I triumphed over all the powers of the enemy. My life shall flow through you as you enter into these precious truths. Look unto Me and appropriate My life. As your eyes and desires are toward Me and you know what it is to be crucified with Me, then you shall live and your anointing shall increase. It was not in My life as I walked upon the earth, but rather it was in My life as I hung upon the cross that I openly spoiled principalities and powers. I am showing you truth that shall cause you to overcome, to have power over the wicked one. This is the truth that will liberate you and those around you. You shall know also the fellowship of My sufferings. There is no other way whereby you may partake of this heavenly glory and to reign with Me. My word says that if we suffer with Him we shall reign with Him. I desire to make these truths real within you. As you keep them before you, you will in turn liberate many who are in bondage. You will have revelation of those who are in darkness and will have the keys to liberate the captives. Many seek to liberate, but do not have the keys. Upon the cross continually you will know the power of My resurrection. If you will indeed judge yourself you shall not be judged. As you seek My face and desire to be cleansed by Me in all truth and sincerity of heart, I will judge you in the secret place, and the things that are in the secret place of your heart shall not be made manifest to others. I will do it in the secret place and no man will know it. The shame that will be seen on many faces shall not be seen on your face. Therefore in mercy and love I am instructing you, in order that you may partake of My Glory. As you are willing to walk with Me and rejoice in your sufferings, you shall in turn partake of My Glory. Look unto Me, for you have need of power to overcome the wicked one and the bondages in other's lives. I said that if a man will judge himself he shall not be judged. It is not My good pleasure that the shame of My people be seen by all. How can I judge the world if I judge not first My own house? Hearken unto these things that I am telling you, for if you will not hearken unto Me your shame shall be evident to all. *God's Part and Our Part* I would have you consider My life on earth ? the anointing upon Me was great and yet the temptations were great on every side; they came in one form and then in another, offering Me first the glory of the kingdoms of the earth and then in the form of reviling and persecution. There will be great glory given to My people but also the temptations will be intensified on every side. Think not that with the glory there shall be no temptations or persecutions. The glory to My church shall be great and so also the temptations from the enemy to turn My people from My paths. I warn you again that when the glory shall be manifested the temptations shall be great, until very few that started shall finish the course. First of all they shall be offered great worldly possessions and then will come great revilings and unbelief. Consider your Lord, that as He walked, so it shall be for you. There shall be need of great intensity of purpose. At times it will seem that everyone is rising up against you, trying to turn you from the course that I have set for you. It is written of Me that I set my face as flint to go in the direction that My Father had prescribed for Me. If you will finish the course the Lord has laid down for you, you too will have to set your face as a flint. With great determination you must walk in the course laid down for you. Many of your loved ones and those who follow with you will seek to persuade you and try to turn you from the course. With many words that seem right in the natural they will speak to you. Did not Christ rebuke Peter who would turn Him from the course God had prescribed? Understand these two things and meditate upon them solemnly ? the persecution and the darkness shall be as great as the glory, in order to try to turn the elect and the anointed ones from the path the Lord has laid down for them. Many shall start, but few shall be able to finish because of the greatness of grace that shall be needed to be able to endure unto the end. The temptation and the persecution of your Lord was continuous. He was tempted by Satan in many forms throughout His entire life and even to the cross where the ungodly cried out "If thou be the Christ come down from the cross." Think not that there will be a time of no persecution, for it shall be from the time of your anointing until the end. Difficulties and great persecution will go on to the end. The Lord must prepare you to be an overcomer in all things, that you may be able to finish the course. The persecution shall increase even as the anointing shall increase. In paths of judgment and righteousness shall the Lord God lead His people and bring them into that place which He has chosen for them. The Lord has chosen a place for His people, a place of righteousness and holiness where He shall encamp around them. All who will be led of the Lord will be brought into this holy place. For the Lord delights to dwell in His people and to manifest Himself through His people. The holiness of the Lord will be manifested through His people. Let the Lord lead you and He will lead you in the difficult places. He led His people of old through a place where no man dwelt, where no man passed through; in a place of great danger and in the shadow of death. The Lord will indeed lead His people again through such places, and at the same time will bring them out into a place of great glory. Understand that the way toward the glory is fraught with great danger and many shall fall to the right or the left; many shall camp on lesser ground. But the Lord has a place of holiness and no unclean thing shall dwell among His people. Put your trust in Him and He will bring you into a place of holiness. He desires to bring His people into a great glory ? the likes of which has never been seen; for this is what the Lord will do for those who put their trust in Him. It is a place of darkness and great danger and it will separate His people into the place where He would have them walk. He will protect them from the voices that would turn them from His path. He will bring them through the dark places and treacherous paths and lead them out into the light of His glory. He will rejoice greatly over His beloved and cause them to be filled with joy unspeakable. He seeks to lead His people into a new place of grace and glory where He will indeed encamp among them. Put your trust in Him and He will surely bring you into this new place. Fear not the days to come, but fear this only ? that you shall walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord. In this time I am ordering and setting up My church and it shall indeed be pure, without spot or wrinkle. I will do a work in My beloved that has not been seen since the foundation of the world. I have shown you these things that you may seek the Lord diligently with all your heart, and that you may be a preserver of His people. Run not to this one or that one; for the Lord has so ordained that salvation is in Him and in Him alone. You shall not turn to this shepherd or to that one, for there shall be a great scattering upon the earth. Therefore look unto Him, for He will indeed make these things clear to you. You shall not look here or there, for His Wells shall increase your strength and your faith as He prepares you for the times that are coming. The truths that I have revealed to you must become a part of you ? not just an experience, but a part of your very nature. Is it not written that I demand truth in the inward parts? It is the truth of the Lord expressed in your very being that shall hold you. Many shall experience the truth, but the truth must become a part of you, your very life. As men and women look upon you, they will hear not only the voice, but see the expression of the truth. Many shall be overcome because they are not constant in My ways and because they have not permitted the truths to become a part of them. I am showing you these things that you may be prepared, and having done all, to stand. (Yes! -- You have permission to post this email to friends or to other groups. Andrew Strom, New Zealand) *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.no-ip.org* * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.no-ip.org/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Jun 29 15:18:51 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:18:51 -0700 Subject: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Message-ID: <625d7240806291518q2f309b90y2a5e7a1ffad3acbc@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES Jim & Marie Watt PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116 Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com Web: www.2rbetter.org -- June 29, 2008 * *"LINCOLN'S SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS"* Abraham Lincoln -- March 4, 1865 (From "Intercessors for America", July/August 2008 - Vol. 35, 7/8) *Various church and civic leaders speaking at the May 1, 2008 National Day of Prayer observances in Washington, DC referenced Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. The issues which Lincoln addressed are all pertinent today; injustice and prolonged war, racial discord and political division, economic upheaval, Christians praying "against" each other, the divine attributes and judgments of God, and "binding up the nation's wounds." We felt prompted to include Lincoln's historic speech for summer reflection and prayer. -- * *Gary Bergel* Fellow-Countrymen .... On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, urgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war -- seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came. One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result lest fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. *NOTE:* Gary Bergel has rightly discerned both the relevancy and the unusual importance of this address. God raised up Abraham Lincoln for a time in the history of our nation that cannot but cause Americans to ponder and marvel at His wisdom and timing on our behalf. I was born in of American parents in Arkansas, one of the states of our nation that made their decision one way concerning this problem. Now my wife Marie and I reside in the state of Washington, as Americans holding dual citizenship with Canada. Canada and the United States hold in common the longest undefended border between any two nations in the world. Canadians watch with great interest American elections, as well as their economic and political decisions. I remember as a boy of 13 running to a neighboring farm in Langley, BC to learn the latest election results south of the border in 1936. We did not have a radio in those post-depression years. Former Prime Minster Pierre Elliott Trudeau of Canada once said, "Canada's role with its neighbor to the south, is much like a mouse sleeping with an elephant. If the mouse twitches in its sleep, it is of little import. But if the elephant twitches in his sleep, it can be catastrophic!" There have been many prophecies regarding the high purposes of God for these two nations. According to some American prophecies, we learn that the War of Independence for the USA in 1776 was permitted by God. He had designed a leading role for America for the end times. But he also had a role for Canada. He cautioned America to aid 40,000 United Empire Loyalists to emigrate to Canada at that time so they could remain under the British flag. Just as people formerly fled from Britain and Europe to find residence in a nation that would grant them freedom in their choice of religion, so Americans should in turn help any of their people to do likewise concerning Canada. God intimated that just as He would use America in their independence -- so He had reserved Canada for the last days to spear-head world evangelism and missions. Pastor David Yonggi Cho of Seoul, South Korea strongly confirmed this in 1975, 1979 and 1984 in Kelowna, BC; Toronto, Ontario and Halifax, Nova2skagitattic.com Scotia. So now, looking back on the American Civil War presided over by Abraham Lincoln as President, we indeed have much to ponder and meditate upon. And how would God have us apply the lessons we glean? Certainly Prayer and Fasting -- the twin challenges of "Intercessors for America" for the past 35 years, can be strengthened in this application. And certainly thanksgiving can be offered up to God for placing Abraham Lincoln as "Commander-in-Chief" of our nation back in 1860-65. Thank God for this unusual man of God placed in this critical position at that specific time. Should we not then pray then in the present critical time for our nation, that God would again unusually intervene to place a man of God as commander-in-chief of our nation this year? Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web:** http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jul 1 18:42:59 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 18:42:59 -0700 Subject: William Branham Message-ID: <625d7240807011842rd64daeem6413564b2b7977c1@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 - Federal Way WA 98097-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org * * * *WILLIAM BRANHAM" -- 2008.07.01* I have received a request for information concerning my "take" on William Branham. This is but one of many requests that have come my way over the years. Because this subject is so relevant to the times in which we live, I am quoting this latest request, with my response to it. As I trusted that my answer here would be helpful, so I trust that many of you will also find it helpful. Your friend, Jim Watt Dear Jim & Marie -- I will be revealing my ignorance with this question -- but with you I'm safe! Tell me who William Branham is? What do I need to know about his Christian leadership? All I knew about him was that his name was familiar -- it rang a bell, but that was all. Looking forward to hearing from you. A big hug in Jesus to both of you -- a friend. Before I start to say a few personal words on William Branham, may I first recommend that you do a "Google" Search on him. There you will find at the top of a very long list, one by "Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." It is quite a long article, and under it are several others well worth while looking at. Under "References," # 31 "New Wine Interviews Ern Baxter," New Wine Magazine Dec. 1978. At the bottom of this interview, is a note by Terry Virgo of England, a close friend of Baxter, "Ern Baxter Correcting the Balance." It has to do with Virgo's interest in the Ministry of Men & Women in the last days. Virgo and Baxter were quite similar in opinions at this point, as well as Derek Prince. It points up the breadth of Ern Baxter's theological interests -- and insofar as he was Branham's Manager and Teacher from 1947 to 1953, it has indirect Christian importance. I met Baxter in 1944, and became very close to him in Edmonton, Alberta in October 1948. In 1962 I became his Associate Pastor at Surrey Christian Centre, BC for 3 years. During that time he resigned as Senior Pastor and joined with the 4 New Wine Ministries of Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Simpson, Prince, Mumford and Basham. It was during this time that the Interview took place between them and Baxter concerning his insights on Branham. He had previously shared this and much more with me while I was his associate. In 1949 he introduced Marie and me to Branham, and we attended 50 of the Branham meetings while Baxter was his Teacher and Manager. I agree with the general insights expressed by Baxter in this interview. Branham had a true Gift of Healing, but was a *terrible* teacher. I walked out on two of his meetings while he was teaching. Gordon Lindsey prior to Baxter, tried to get Branham not to teach, but was unable to do so. I believe it was for this reason that God took him home in 1965, before he could do more harm with his teaching. Look at Samson: "A Saved man in the hands of Sin!" Branham was a Gifted man who could not restrain himself from unscriptural teaching. God told Jeremiah, "If you take the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth," Jeremiah 15:19. It is our responsibility not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. By all means rid yourself of Branham's teaching, but do retain him as God's gift to the Church through his Gift of Healing. Trust this helps, especially the "Wikipedia" article. Your friends -- Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unscribe at skagitattic.com* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Jul 2 21:11:45 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 21:11:45 -0700 Subject: Todd Bentley Message-ID: <625d7240807022111w74b4ccf2p26e2f57a78bba17d@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org * *TODD BENTLEY & LAKELAND, FLORIDA -- 2008.07.02* Friends -- Yesterday I mailed a response to an inquirer concerning William Branham. God mightily used him in the healing ministry. As long as he stuck to this calling, God used him. When he slipped out of it into a "teaching" ministry, things went awry. Some have asked further response from me concerning him. Please look at my suggestion that is on Wikipedia. There Ern Baxter gives a full report on his 6 years with Brother Branham, and answers your questions more adequately than I could. Following my report on Branham, a number of you have asked if I might give a report on Todd Bentley and the Lakeland, Florida meetings. I have friends on both sides of the camp, as well as some like myself somewhat in the middle. I am enclosing a very positive evaluation by a pastor from Redding, California, who I esteem very highly, and of course take his input very seriously. As he notes, all revivals in history have their pros and cons. Wesley was so disturbed with wildfire in the 1738 Methodist Revival that went on for the next 50 years, that he complained to God about this. God's response was: "If I can put up with some wildfire -- shouldn't you be able to do so also?" Both Wesley and Finney gave very strong exemplary leadership in their respective revivals. But both experienced a great deal of wildfire in their meetings at the same time. I have been led of the Spirit to make a personal commitment to pray daily for Todd Bentley. I continue to hold God's word to Jeremiah concerning all ministries, including my own: "Therefore thus says Jehovah, If you return, then will I bring you again, that you may stand before me; and if you *take forth the precious from the vile,* you shall be as my mouth" (Jeremiah 15:19a, ASV 1901). Following is the very loving, wise and discerning evaluation by a friend of Todd Bentley: Church history is loaded with successes and failures. For some reason this is especially true with the activity of revival. In time, all revivalists become heroes of the Church. But they are not always valued in their day by their peers. My grandfather once told me, "Not everyone liked Wigglesworth." We love Wigglesworth today, but mostly because he is dead. We encounter his offensive ways in books, not in the same meeting we're attending. And when the Church becomes exposed to someone who is different, or even ministers differently, the insecure tend to criticize and reject him. Many of us have determined to change this bad habit. Some of the members of the Revival Alliance went to Lakeland, Florida, to commission revivalist Todd Bentley and welcome him into our network of networks. We refuse to leave our friend alone to face the opposition and criticism that has been leveled at him these past few months. John Arnott, Che Ahn, and I were involved in the commissioning. Peter Wagner helped to spearhead the event. Peter's involvement was significant because he witnessed the difficulties that John Wimber went through when he helped to initiate a great move of God in the early 80's. Peter then watched John Arnott go through the same opposition some years later. He didn't want to see that same course of action affect another great move of God, or another great man of God. I rarely make my letters and e-mails known publicly. Actually, this is the only time I remember doing so. But because of the effect sharing has had on our church, it was recommended I pass this on to you. I was asked: "How in God's name can you endorse Todd Bentley?" This is my response: Have you spent time with Todd? Do you know him? Have you watched him with his wife? Or have you seen how he treats his kids? Have you spent any time with his staff? Have you been to his ministry? Has he been to yours? Have you laid hands on him and prayed? Has he laid hands on you and prayed? Have you grieved over tragedy together? Have you celebrated victory together? Has he sought your counsel? Has he traveled a great distance just to meet with you privately for advice? Have you ever received his counsel? Have you been in the room when God has shown up on him and used him in stunning miracles? Have you seen him operate in the word of knowledge or the prophetic? Have you met with his council of elders? Have you personally benefited from his gift? Has he benefited from your gift and ministry? Has he ever honored you for who you are in God? Has he partnered with you as a friend? Have you sacrificed for his welfare, or that of his family? Have you sought God with him? Have you ever worshiped the Lord with him? I didn't think so. I have. And I'll continue to support those who I have walked with in life and ministry. He's my friend. More importantly, God calls him friend. And if you and I were ever friends on that level, and people hated you and turned against you, and started web pages to tear down your ministry, and criticized you to your friends, and wrote against you in Christian magazines, and criticized you on the radio and wrote e-mails to other conference speakers and authors, I'd still be your friend. By the way - rcriticism in the form of a question is not a question. But to respond to your statement, "How in God's name can you endorse Todd Bentley?" It's easy. I do it in God's name. Todd is a good friend, but more importantly, he is a friend of God. I've met very few people in my life who are hungrier for God and will take extended periods of time just to seek Him. God has entrusted him with an extraordinary outpouring for a reason - He can trust him to do whatever He says, regardless of the opinions of others. He is bold - amazingly bold. The miracles are legitimate and increasing. The Church of America has asked for a great revival. God wonderfully placed this move in a package that few would have expected, just to see if we're as hungry as we say we are. Thanks for your loving support of this ministry! Much love, Bill Johnson Bill Johnson Ministries * * Subject: July 2008 E-Newsletter *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com* *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Mon Jul 7 17:11:08 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 17:11:08 -0700 Subject: For Better Health with Long Years Message-ID: <625d7240807071711w652028bal1d6ae31c9ab5b55a@mail.gmail.com> *"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO** BOX **25116 ? Federal Way** **WA** **98097-2116*** *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* * * *2008.07.07 - "FOR BETTER HEALTH WITH LONG YEARS"* * * I have a 9-fold regimen for good health. Two of these activities have to do with exercise. I have been sharing with others through the years the blessing these have been to me, especially these latter two. Recently a friend of mine returned after a number of years from Hawaii, and remembered hearing from me some 10 years ago or so of these, and asked if I might write up for her the details how to make use of them. Because it takes a bit of time to do so, I felt that it is no more effort on a computer to do this for 900 than for one ? so ? here goes! Many years ago Dr. Norman Vincent Peale ? famous for his book "The Power of Positive Thinking," was lecturing in Switzerland. Two psychyatrists were so helped by his lectures, that they felt inclined to return a blessing to him. So they asked him, "Do you know how to walk?" "I think so," he replied. "But we mean, do you know how to walk *scientifically*?" "Tell me," he responded. Following is approximately what they told him. When you walk, try for several miles a day. Whether you are walking up or down hill, do not change your pace. If you share your walk with another, stop when either wants to talk. Continue on with the above pace without further talking. As you walk ? breathe in through your nose as your left foot strikes the ground twice. Then breathe out through your mouth as your left foot again strikes the ground twice. This will increase your blood circulation, your lymphatic system will be activated, and you will strengthen your lungs. Dr. Peale followed this routine daily up to his 95th year ? enjoyed extraordinarily good health, and had such a clear mind that he finished writing his last book the year of his death! I have been following the above routine, and this morning experienced more ease in walking briskly up steep hills, and more sense of strength in my lungs than in many a year. I passed my 85th birthday July 5th of this year. *Number Two.* Some twenty years ago or so I was purchasing some Vitamin Supplements at a Health Store in Puyallup. One of the owners asked me, "Do you know how to use a "Rebounder" (mini-trampoline) scientifically?" "Tell me," I invited him. "Well," he said, "when you use the Rebounder, *don't* try like young folk to see how high you can bounce! Instead, don't let the soles of your feet leave the matting. Only rise and lower with your heels! Also, use weights in both hands, starting with 3 #, up to 5 #, or even up to 10 #." (I am sticking with the 3 #!) Following is the routine I use myself for the past 20 years or so: I breathe in through my nose, 3 x while I do 3 bounces, at the same time lifting my arms with the 3 # weights in upward position 3 x. Next I breathe out through my nose 3 x, while extending my arms sideways with the weights, 3 x. I then repeat the upward 3 x routine, but then change to stretching my arms forward the next three times. I do this double routine 5 times with my left eye closed, so I can strengthen my right eye, which has been weak for 81 years. Next I repeat the above with both eyes open 5 more double times. This wonderfully strengthens your eyes. Just last month I went to my optometrist after a 4 year break, and he said. "Your eyes at your age are so good, that I am not prescribing any change this time in your lenses for your glasses. You do have incipient cataracts, but they are so under control, that they will actually be a help to you! Good news, and a saving of money! Next with the weights in your arms extended sideways, I move them backwards in a circular motion, breathing in 3 x. I repeat this 3 more times breathing out, both times breathing through my nose. I do this routine, again bouncing only with my heels, retaining the soles of my feet on the matting. I do this double exercise 11 times. Then I repeat the above 11 more times, but now making a circular motion forward. All the above only takes about 6 minutes, and it not only causes better blood circulation, but it also causes the lymphatic system to be optimally activated. The lymph system has no heart to move it. Only exercise does this. Out of the 22 major sports of America (walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming etc.,) "Cross Country Skiing" does more for the body than any of the other 21 sports. But "*Rebounding*" is one percent even better for the body than Cross-Country Skiing! ? And you can do it indoors good weather or bad! The lymphatic system brings food to the trillions of cells in the human body, and removes wastes. If the lymph is not activated by exercise (think of couch-potatoes!) your body becomes like sludge, and your brain gets headaches and feels lousy ? and no pep physically. There are a number of books on "The Miracle of Rebounding," which you can locate by a "Google" search. I broke my back severely on a motor-cycle accident in 1947. I crushed 2 thoracic vertebrae which then fused with the 3rd and 6th. I fractured the two lower cervical vertebrae, and severely injured 2 of the lumbar ones. Dr. Portnuff of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, said it was a miracle that I did not sever my spinal cord, for not knowing my back was broken, I rode another 100 miles in great pain. I was in a cast for 6 months. 10 years later I started to experience severe pain and stiffness in my total back area. By the late '40's, I despaired of being able to continue adequately in life. God then led me into a number of stretching exercises which I continue to do to this day. My daughter said, "Dad, if you don't keep up these, plus the others you do, you'll become like a board." She got my attention! I can honestly say, because of the severe back injury I received when 23, God has used it to keep me in better health at my age, than I would have been apart from the back injury. I frankly would not be wisely looking after my body the way I do, had I not been severely injured! Because of the exercise systems, I have a clear mind to do the extremely difficult preparation for Panin's Interlinear Greek New Testament (approximately.2000 pages). I am now using the Berlitz method of Hebrew phonetic pronunciation for tourists, and will soon start putting on our Website Psalm 91, in the same Interlinear format I am using for the Greek New Testament. I hope to complete the entire NT within 3 years, plus much more, and put all of this on a revised Website now being prepared by one of our 6 grandsons. "Mens sana en corpore sano!" A sound *mind* in a sound *body*! You don't have to be a wreck like I was up to 47 ? You can voluntarily learn "Scientific Walking" and the scientific use of the Rebounder ? and be like Norman Vincent Peale and me ? writing books joyfully right up to your golden, diamond and platinum years. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * * * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * * * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/ * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Jul 10 18:58:38 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:58:38 -0700 Subject: Locks Versus Keys Message-ID: <625d7240807101858l3b2b2e1cm9e5e6ebbddd99afc@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 ? Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: **jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: **www.2rbetter.org** * *2008.07.10 - "LOCKS VERSUS KEYS" - Job 42:1-6* *(From: "Baffled to Fight Better" - Oswald Chambers)* Everything a man takes to be the key to a problem is apt to turn out another lock. For instance, the theory of evolution was supposed to be the key to the problem of the universe, but instead it has turned out a lock. Again, the atomic theory was thought to be the key; then it was discovered that the atom itself was composed of electrons, and each electron was found to be a universe of its own, and that theory too becomes a lock and not a key. Everything that man attempts as a simplification of life, other than a personal relationship to God, turns out to be a lock, and we should be alert to recognize when a thing turns from a key to a lock. The creed Job held, which pretended to be a key to the character of God, turned out to be a lock, and Job is realizing that the only key to life is not a statement of faith in God, nor an intellectual conception of God, but a personal relationship to Him. God Himself is the key to the riddle of the universe, and the basis of things is to be found only in Him. If a man leaves out God and takes any scientific explanation as the key, he only succeeds in finding another lock. *(1) THE REHABILITATION OF FAITH IN GOD --* * As the Source and Support of all Existence.* "*Then Job answered the Lord, and said, I know that You can do everything, and that no thought can be withheld from You." (Job 42:1-2)* To rehabilitate means to reinstate, to restore to former rank. The problem all through the Book of Job is that the teaching of the creed and Job's implicit faith in God do not agree, and it looks as if he is a fool to hang in to his belief in God. That is what will happen as the result of this war (World War I) -- many a man's faith in God will be rehabilitated. The basis of things must always be found in a personal relationship to a personal God, never in thinking or feeling. Job says, 'I cannot find any rest in your reasonings or in my own, and I refuse to blink the facts in order to make a rational statement'. Job had perfect confidence in the character of God though he did not understand the way He was taking. "*Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." *We sometimes wrongly illustrate faith in God by the faith of a business man in a cheque. Faith commercially is based on calculation, but religious faith cannot be illustrated by the kind of faith we exhibit in life. Faith in God is a terrific venture in the dark; I have to believe that God is good in spite of all that contradicts it in my experience. It is not easy to say that God is love when everything that happens actually gives the lie to it. Everyone's soul represents some kind of battlefield. The point for each one is whether we will hang in, as Job did, and say 'Though things look black, I will trust in God'. "Then Job *answered* the Lord...." This does not mean that Job saw the Lord standing before him as a man; but that he had a trained ear as the result of his faith in God. The basis of a man's faith in God is that God is the Source and Support of all existence, not that He *is* all existence. Job recognizes this, and maintains that in the end everything will be explained and made clear. Have I this kind of faith -- not faith in principle, but faith *in God,* that He is just and true and right? Many of us have no faith in God at all, but only faith in what He has done for us, and when these things are not apparent we lose our faith and say, 'Why should this happen to me? Why should there be a war? Why should I be wounded and sick? Why should my "cobber" be killed? I am going to chuck up my faith in God'. *(2) THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUTH IN LIFE AND PERSONALITY --* * As the source and Support of all Real Experience.* "*Who is he that hides counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me which I knew not." (Job 42:3)* * *There is a great difference between Christian experience and Christian faith. The danger of experience is that our faith is made to rest in it, instead of seeing that our experience is simply a doorway to God Himself. The reason many of us refuse to think and discover the basis of true religion is because evangelical Christianity has been stated in such a flimsy way. We get the Truth through life and personality, not by logic or scientific statements. *"Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me which I knew not." *In refusing to stand by what was not true, Job uttered bigger things than he understood at the time. That is the way God uses men when they are rightly related to Him; He conveys His real presence as a sacrament through their commonplace lives. Our Lord Himself becomes real in the same way that life and personality are real. Intellect asks, 'What is truth?', as if truth were something that could be stated in words. *"I am the Truth", *said Jesus. The only way we get at Truth is by life and personality. When a man is up against things it is no use for him to try and work it out logically, but let him obey, and instantly he will see his way through. Truth is moral, not intellectual. We perceive Truth by doing the right thing, not by thinking it out. *'If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine ...'* Men have tried to get at the truth of Christianity head-first, which is like saying you must think how you will live before you are born. We instantly see the absurdity of that, and yet we expect to reason out the Christian life before we have been born into the realm of Jesus Christ. *"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." * If ever we are to see the domain where Jesus lives and enter into it, we must be born again, become regenerated by receiving the Holy Spirit; then we shall find that Truth is not in a creed or a logical statement, but in Life and Personality. This is what Job is realizing. *(3) THE RELIGIOUS BASIS OF SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY --* *As the Source and Support of all Abiding Exposition.* "*Hear, I beseech You, and I will speak: I will demand of You, and You declare unto me." (Job 42:4)* We have not to bring God into our system of philosophy but to found our philosophy on God. The source and support of all abiding exposition is a man's personal relationship to God. If we base our philosophy on reason, we shall produce a false philosophy; but if we base it on faith in God, we can begin to expound life rightly. Actual conditions come into account, but underneath lies the Redemption. Sin is not man's problem, but God's. God has taken the problem of sin into His own hands and solved it, and the proof that He has is the Cross of Calvary. The Cross is the Cross of God. On the ground of the Redemption I can *'wash my robes, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb'. *Pseudo-evangelism has twisted the revelation and made it mean -- 'Now that God has saved me, I do not need to do anything'. The New Testament revelation is that now I am saved by God's grace, I must work on that basis and keep myself clean. It does not matter what a man's heredity is, or what tendencies there are in him, on the basis of the Redemption he can become all that God's Book indicates he should be. The essential truth of Christianity in thinking is that I can *'wash my robes, and make them clean in the blood of the Lamb'. *That is the exposition of the Redemption in actual experience. Are we thinking along this line, or on the pagan line which makes out that the basis of things is rational, and leaves out God, and Jesus Christ, and the Redemption altogether? *(4) REPENTANCE AND THE DAWN OF GOD'S HUMANITY --* * As the Source and Support of a 'Second Chance'.* "*I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:5-6)* * *Because a man has altered his life it does not necessarily mean that he has repented. A man may have lived a bad life and suddenly stop being bad, not because he has repented, but because he is like an exhausted volcano. The fact that he has become good is no sign of his having become a Christian. The bedrock of Christianity is repentance. The apostle Paul never forgot what he had been; when he speaks of *'forgetting those things which are behind',* he is referring to what he has attained to; the Holy Spirit never allowed him to forget what he had been (*see* 1 Corinthians 15:9, Ephesians 3:8, 1 Timothy 1:13-15). Repentance means that I estimate exactly what I am in God's sight and I am sorry for it, and on the basis of the Redemption I become the opposite. The only repentant man is the holy man, i.e., the one who becomes the opposite of what he was because something has entered into him. Any man who knows himself knows that he cannot be holy, therefore if he does become holy, it is because God has 'shipped' something into him; he is now 'presented with Divinity', and can begin to bring forth *'fruits meet for repentance'.* A man may know the plan of salvation, and preach like an archangel, and yet not be a Christian (cf. Matthew 7:21-22) The test of Christianity is that a man lives better than he preaches. The reality of the heredity of Jesus Christ comes into us through regeneration, and if ever we are to exhibit a family likeness to Him it must be because we have entered into repentance and have received something from God. If the disposition of meanness and lust and spite shows itself through my bodily life, when the disposition of Jesus Christ is there, it will show through my bodily life too, and no one need ever be afraid that he will be credited with the holiness he exhibits. *"Now my eye sees You," said Job*, *"wherefore I abhor myself" *("I loathe my words", R.V. marg.) *"and repent in dust and ashes." *When I enthrone Jesus Christ I say the thing that is violently opposed to the old rule. I deny my old ways as entirely as Peter denied his Lord. Jesus Christ's claim is that He can put a new disposition, His own disposition, Holy Spirit, into any man, and it will be manifested in all that he does. But the disposition of the Son of God can only enter my life by the way of repentance. *NOTE;* This is perhaps one of the clearest expositions and explanations of the true nature of Regeneration, the New Birth, and their basis in repentance -- that I have come across. Oswald Chamber's notes on the Book of Job were prepared for British Armed Forces especially from Australia and New Zealand stationed in Zei*toun*, Egypt, just before going into battle in Gal*li*poli. These boys *knew* that perhaps only 40% or less would return. It was a trying time, and Chambers as their YMCA Chaplain wanted to leave them with words that would help them prepare most likely for death. In the face of death -- nice words and pretty sermons would have been completely out of order. So from the depths of his own vital relationship with God, Jesus Christ and the Redemption -- he spoke and wrote words appropriate to the desperate needs of these young soldiers. These notes are from the last chapter from his book on Job, "Baffled to Fight Better!" What an appropriate title! It exactly describes what Job went through in the preceding 41 chapters. Does this apply to you and me also -- though we are not facing almost certain death such as these soldiers? I read the above words perhaps 3 decades ago, and applied them to my own life. I trust that many of you will reread the Book of Job as I have just done -- and then take very special note of the Chaplain's words to desperate soldiers, and apply them to your life also. What Chambers thought of the church in his day and the wishy-washy Gospel that came forth from it, might well apply to our 21stCentury Church also. Don't settle for a watered-down, pablum-oriented Gospel. Settle for a manly, Truth-oriented, Realistic Gospel that can take you out of the doldrums of mediocrity, and catapult you into the Glorious Possibility of a life hid with God in Christ! Your friend -- Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: **jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** **http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/ ** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Jul 18 12:26:56 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:26:56 -0700 Subject: French Jews Message-ID: <625d7240807181226g4f830d15t1da3210a3c527ab9@mail.gmail.com> *2008.07.12 - "FRENCH JEWS"* (My wife Marie is French Canadian -- but felt this article should go out.) I received this post from a friend in New York. One of his friends is living in France and posted this to him with the request that Andy distribute it to his American friends. Andy prefaces with: "Once again, the real news in France is conveniently not being reported as it should. To give you an idea of what's going on in France where there are now between 5 and 6 million Muslims and about 600,000 Jews, here is an E-mail that came from a Jew living in France." Please read! "Will the world say nothing - again - as it did in Hitler's time? He writes, '*I am a Jew* - therefore I am forwarding this to everyone on all my e-mail lists. I will not sit back and do nothing.' Nowhere have the flames of Antisemitism burned more furiously than in France: In Lyon, a car was rammed into a synagogue and set on fire. In Montpelier, the Jewish religious center was firebombed; so were synagogues in Strasbourg and Marseilles; so was a Jewish school in Creteil - all recently. A Jewish sports club in Toulouse was attacked with Molotov cocktails, and on the statue of Alfred Dreyfus in Paris, the words 'Dirty Jew' were painted. In Bondy, 15 men beat up members of a Jewish football team with sticks and metal bars. The bus that takes Jewish children to school in Aubervilliers has been attacked three times in the last 14 months. "According to the Police, metropolitan Paris has seen 10 to 12 anti-Jewish incidents *per day* in the past 30 days. Walls in Jewish neighborhoods have been defaced with slogans proclaiming 'Jews to the gas chambers' and 'Death to the Jews.' A gunman opened fire on a kosher butcher's shop (and, of course, the butcher) in Toulouse, France; a Jewish couple in their 20's were beaten up by five men in Villeurbanne, France. The woman was pregnant; a Jewish school was broken into and vandalized in Sarcelles, France. This was just in the past week. "So I call on you, whether you are a fellow Jew, a friend, or merely a person with the capacity and desire to distinguish decency from depravity; to do at least these three simple things: "First, care enough to stay informed. Don't ever let yourself become deluded into thinking that this is not your fight. I remind you of what Pastor Neimoller said in World War II: *'First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.'* "Second, boycott France and French products. Only the Arab countries are more toxically antisemitic and, unlike them, France exports more than just oil and hatred. So boycott their wines and their perfumes. Boycott their clothes and their foodstuffs. Boycott their movies. Definitely boycott their shores. If we are resolved, we can exert amazing pressure and, whatever else we may know about the French, we most certainly know that they are like a cobweb in a hurricane in the face of well-directed pressure. "Third, send this along to your family, your friends, and your co-workers. Think of all of the people of good conscience that you know and let them know that you and the people that you care about need their help. "The number one bestselling book in France is ... 'September 11: The Frightening Fraud,' which argues that no plane ever hit the Pentagon. "Please Pass This On. Let's not let history repeat itself. Thank-you for your time and consideration." Brenda H. Mitchell, Executive Assistant to the Rabbis *bmitchell at templesinaiatlanta.org* Temple Sinai 5645 Dupree Drive, Atlanta, GA 30327 *NOTE:* It is not just the Muslims who are mistreating and persecuting Jews -- it is French anti-antisemitism also. It showed itself strongly against Major Alfred Dreyfus in the 1890's -- and so distressed and discouraged an Austrian Journalist -- Theodore Herzl -- a Jew -- that he concluded no place in the world including Europe was safe for Jews. They needed their own homeland once again that God promised them in the days of Abraham and gave them in the days of Joshua. Herzl founded Zionism for this purpose in 1897. The newly founded United Nations in 1947, with the help and urging of President Truman, gained a 2/3 voting majority in 1947, 50 years to the year after Herzl founded Zionism! The only votes against it were the 13 Arab nation-members of the UN. Arafat the Terrorist, laid a web of deceit and lies concerning the ancient land of Israel and its Temple. Jerusalem is not even mentioned in the Koran. Israel voted itself a nation 60 years ago in 1948 on the basis of the UN mandate, (the one and only positive mandate on behalf of this reformed nation after 1900 years) and has experienced 6 wars since then by those who refuse to acknowledge the UN ruling of 1947. France is not happy with its powerful 6 million antisemitic Muslims, who desire to have France, all of Europe and eventually the world under Sharia law. But being an ancient antisemitic nation itself, it takes the easy way out like Pastor Niemoller, and does nothing. We in America let Israel down during the days of Hitler's Holocaust and Final Solution (See our dealing with the desperate passengers of the St. Louis during World War II), but redeemed ourselves somewhat under Truman. How do we see what is happening in France today? More relevant still -- How do we see our stance in our own nation today? American non-Muslims attending certain schools in our land today, if they do not in Arabic say the 5-fold daily Muslim Proclamation, are punished! We already have, like Canada, permitted Sharia law to be practiced in certain areas. Come -- where will it all end for us? Your friends -- Jim & Marie Watt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pbyars at sympatico.ca Sun Jul 20 14:19:41 2008 From: pbyars at sympatico.ca (Peg Byars) Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:19:41 -0400 Subject: FW: French Jews Message-ID: Dear Return Family & Friends: Pray that the Jewish people of France will respond to God's call to make Eretz Israel their home. Pray for President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillion to open the door for French Aliyah and to provide protection for those Jews still in the country. There is a constant stream of almost 3,000 Jews a year coming on aliyah from France. Read more here: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/896725.html Let us contend in intercession for these Jews from the west - only in Israel will they be in obedience to their God. Shalom, Peg From: jmbetter-bounces at skagitattic.com [mailto:jmbetter-bounces at skagitattic.com] On Behalf Of Jim Watt Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 3:27 PM To: jmbetter at skagitattic.com Subject: French Jews 2008.07.12 - "FRENCH JEWS" (My wife Marie is French Canadian and felt this article should go out.) I received this post from a friend in New York. One of his friends is living in France and posted this to him with the request that Andy distribute it to his American friends. Andy prefaces with: "Once again, the real news in France is conveniently not being reported as it should. To give you an idea of what's going on in France where there are now between 5 and 6 million Muslims and about 600,000 Jews, here is an E-mail that came from a Jew living in France." Please read! "Will the world say nothing - again - as it did in Hitler's time? He writes, 'I am a Jew - therefore I am forwarding this to everyone on all my e-mail lists. I will not sit back and do nothing.' Nowhere have the flames of Antisemitism burned more furiously than in France: In Lyon, a car was rammed into a synagogue and set on fire. In Montpelier, the Jewish religious center was firebombed; so were synagogues in Strasbourg and Marseilles; so was a Jewish school in Creteil - all recently. A Jewish sports club in Toulouse was attacked with Molotov cocktails, and on the statue of Alfred Dreyfus in Paris, the words 'Dirty Jew' were painted. In Bondy, 15 men beat up members of a Jewish football team with sticks and metal bars. The bus that takes Jewish children to school in Aubervilliers has been attacked three times in the last 14 months. "According to the Police, metropolitan Paris has seen 10 to 12 anti-Jewish incidents per day in the past 30 days. Walls in Jewish neighborhoods have been defaced with slogans proclaiming 'Jews to the gas chambers' and 'Death to the Jews.' A gunman opened fire on a kosher butcher's shop (and, of course, the butcher) in Toulouse, France; a Jewish couple in their 20's were beaten up by five men in Villeurbanne, France. The woman was pregnant; a Jewish school was broken into and vandalized in Sarcelles, France. This was just in the past week. "So I call on you, whether you are a fellow Jew, a friend, or merely a person with the capacity and desire to distinguish decency from depravity; to do at least these three simple things: "First, care enough to stay informed. Don't ever let yourself become deluded into thinking that this is not your fight. I remind you of what Pastor Neimoller said in World War II: 'First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.' "Second, boycott France and French products. Only the Arab countries are more toxically antisemitic and, unlike them, France exports more than just oil and hatred. So boycott their wines and their perfumes. Boycott their clothes and their foodstuffs. Boycott their movies. Definitely boycott their shores. If we are resolved, we can exert amazing pressure and, whatever else we may know about the French, we most certainly know that they are like a cobweb in a hurricane in the face of well-directed pressure. (NOTE from Peg: My sense is that a boycott would only be effective if the government of France knew why products from France were being boycotted. Therefore, communication with the French Prime Minister and his government would be timely. http://www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/en/acteurs/gouvernement/ "Third, send this along to your family, your friends, and your co-workers. Think of all of the people of good conscience that you know and let them know that you and the people that you care about need their help. "The number one bestselling book in France is ... 'September 11: The Frightening Fraud,' which argues that no plane ever hit the Pentagon. "Please Pass This On. Let's not let history repeat itself. Thank-you for your time and consideration." Brenda H. Mitchell, Executive Assistant to the Rabbis bmitchell at templesinaiatlanta.org Temple Sinai 5645 Dupree Drive, Atlanta, GA 30327 NOTE: It is not just the Muslims who are mistreating and persecuting Jews -- it is French anti-antisemitism also. It showed itself strongly against Major Alfred Dreyfus in the 1890's -- and so distressed and discouraged an Austrian Journalist -- Theodore Herzl -- a Jew -- that he concluded no place in the world including Europe was safe for Jews. They needed their own homeland once again that God promised them in the days of Abraham and gave them in the days of Joshua. Herzl founded Zionism for this purpose in 1897. The newly founded United Nations in 1947, with the help and urging of President Truman, gained a 2/3 voting majority in 1947, 50 years to the year after Herzl founded Zionism! The only votes against it were the 13 Arab nation-members of the UN. Arafat the Terrorist, laid a web of deceit and lies concerning the ancient land of Israel and its Temple. Jerusalem is not even mentioned in the Koran. Israel voted itself a nation 60 years ago in 1948 on the basis of the UN mandate, (the one and only positive mandate on behalf of this reformed nation after 1900 years) and has experienced 6 wars since then by those who refuse to acknowledge the UN ruling of 1947. France is not happy with its powerful 6 million antisemitic Muslims, who desire to have France, all of Europe and eventually the world under Sharia law. But being an ancient antisemitic nation itself, it takes the easy way out like Pastor Niemoller, and does nothing. We in America let Israel down during the days of Hitler's Holocaust and Final Solution (See our dealing with the desperate passengers of the St. Louis during World War II), but redeemed ourselves somewhat under Truman. How do we see what is happening in France today? More relevant still -- How do we see our stance in our own nation today? American non-Muslims attending certain schools in our land today, if they do not in Arabic say the 5-fold daily Muslim Proclamation, are punished! We already have, like Canada, permitted Sharia law to be practiced in certain areas. Come -- where will it all end for us? Your friends -- Jim & Marie Watt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jul 22 14:42:26 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:42:26 -0700 Subject: Wesley's Covenant Prayer Message-ID: <625d7240807221442j76de6e58v261c48a448109e04@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *2008.07.22 - WESLEY'S COVENANT PRAYER* *(Excerpts from Wikipedia)* *(Please note end of this article on "French Jews")* *Wesley's Covenant Prayer *or *A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition*is a prayer adapted by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, for use in services for the Renewal of the believer's Covenant with God. In his *Short history of the people called Methodists* (1781), Wesley describes the first covenant service; a similar account is to be found in his *Journal* of the time. Wesley says that the first service was held on Monday 11 August 1755, at the French church at Spitalfields in London, with 1800 people present. He reports that he "recited the tenor of the covenant proposed, in the words of that blessed man, Richard Alleine". Service using the Covenant prayer have been included in Most Methodist books of liturgy since, though none was included in the *Sunday Service of the Methodists in North America* book that Wesley published in 1784 for the use of his followers in America. Perhaps for this reason, while the Covenant service has been an invariable part of the liturgy of the British Methodist Church and its daughter churches in the Commonwealth, its use is less widespread in American Methodist denominations. The covenant prayer and service are recognized as one of the most distinctive contributions of Methodism to the liturgy of the church in general, and they are also used from time to time by other denominations. Although Wesley's early covenant services were not held at any particular time of year, in British Methodism the custom soon developed in holding Covenant services near the beginning of the New Year, nowadays usually on the first or second Sunday of the year. This was perhaps under the influence of a different Methodist tradition, the holding of "Watchnight" services on New Year's eve, in competition with the rowdy secular celebrations of the new year. The form of the covenant prayer and service have been simplified since Wesley's time, but important elements of them are still retained from Wesley's *Directions*. They include many of the words both of the bidding that traditionally precedes the prayer, and the prayer itself. The bidding traditionally includes phrasing such as: ... Christ has many services to be done. Some are easy, others are difficult. Some bring honor, others bring reproach. Some are suitable to our natural inclinations and temporal interests, others are contrary to both... Yet the power to do all these things is given to us in Christ, who strengthens us. *THE PRAYER* *I am no longer my own, but Yours.* *Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will.* *Put me to doing, put me to suffering.* *Let me be employed for You or laid aside for You,* *exalted for You or brought low for You.* *Let me be full, let me be empty.* *Let me have all things, let me have nothing.* *I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal.* *And now, O glorious and blessed God:* *Father, Son and Holy Spirit,* *You are mine, and I am Yours.* *So be it.* *And the covenant which I have made on earth,* *let it be ratified in heaven.* *Amen.* (as used in the Book of Offices of the British Methodist Church, 1936). *NOTE ONE.* In 1947 a copy of "Wesley's Doctrinal Standards" by Burwash was deleted from the Library of St. Andrew's United Church of Canada Seminary in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I had the good fortune to procure this copy among many others that were discarded. It contained 52 Sermons. 49 of them by John Wesley. They were used to instruct future ministers, Sunday School teachers, Class Meeting leaders among others. Those seeking ordination had to memorize all 52 sermons, and be ready before an examining committee to preach any one of these 52. Many Bible quotations appear in each sermon -- so one can surmise how well prepared for ordination each candidate became! These 52 sermons were arranged by John Wesley under 10 Heads -- and contained the basis of his Theological position. 13 of the 52 sermons were on the Sermon on the Mount. This was a wise choice over and above the 10 commandments, for it includes inward heart religion as well as outward moral and ethical standards. My step-grandfather had a great influence on my life, especially the 4 years we spent on his farm during Depression Times of 1933-1937. He was a faithful leader in a large Methodist Church in Vancouver, BC. In 1925 it united with a large Presbyterian Church on Burrard Street to form St. Andrew's Wesley United Church of Canada. It was here in 1942 that I received a call to the ministry while yet an unbeliever. The Class Meetings of Methodism formed by Charles and John Wesley had a singular effect on 70,000 of their members. Some 8 rules were weekly reviewed under a leader of some 8 members in England,Wales, Scotland and Ireland. These received regular visits by an overseer, often by John Wesley himself, who rode horseback over 50,000 miles to do so along with Chapels and outdoor preaching as inaugurated by George Whitefield, a staunch Calvinist. An English Sociologist (an unbeliever) at the time of the close of the 18thCentury, wrote a book stating that except for the Wesleyan Methodist Class Meetings, the French Revolution of 1789 would have leaped the English Channel and brought its horrendous Guillotine to Great Britain. "The Cure of Evil Speaking" I believe is the 49th sermon of "Wesley's Doctrinal Standards", and in my estimation is one of the most valuable and needed words still for today. Wesley's mother Susannah had a most valuable input into her 19 children of whom but 10 survived childhood. John was the 15th, Charles the 17th, and an older brother Samuel the only surviving boys of the 10. She spent an hour each day with one of her children, and went over carefully with each one, very fine moral standards, and led them to confess their lapses, and stood with them in achieving victory. John later on asked her to send him the various rules she shared with each of his brothers and sisters. *NOTE TWO.* I recently sent out a mailing entitled "French Jews." The one mailing it to me, mentioned that "Snopes" had been checked, but nothing showed up of a suspicious nature. I unfortunately accepted this word without doing a further check myself. Then a friend of mine from Ontario sent out my mailing to a selected few, and without realizing, sent it to me to my mailing address instead of my regular Email address *(jmbetter at gmail.com). *Through a glitch on my part, it unfortunately got mailed out a second time to my mailing, but in her name, Peg Byars. We both have received a number of replies that the article "French Jews" *is * noted in "Snopes" as a "Hoax" or "Fake Message." I am including a *URL *sent by a friend that will enable each of you who wish, to check out the "Snopes" finding. Peg has trusted that I would soon follow up the above two fraudulent mailings so that you as readers could be protected from furthering this mailing. Sorry. I apologize and ask your forgiveness for not taking the additional precaution that I usually follow, and for trusting a friend who missed obtaining the real warning of "Snopes". Your friend -- Jim Watt Jim, A friend sent this to me in response to my forwarding on your email. I thought you would want it. Blessing, Laurie Original content is Copyright by the author 2006. Posted at ZioNation-Zionism and Israel Web Log, http://www.zionism-israel.com/log/archives/00000267.html where your intelligent and below. (You might want to let the people know who forwarded it to you). (The above note I cut and pasted. J.) *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Jul 23 21:00:45 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:00:45 -0700 Subject: Leaving -- to Enter Message-ID: <625d7240807232100l314b71f7sfb3574cfd427806c@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *2008.07.09 - "LEAVING -- TO ENTER"* Repentance literally means to "change your mind." It means to leave a previous position to take up a new. It means in the Gospel, to leave "faith in dead works" and to take up "faith in God", Jesus, and full submission like Rees Howells to the Holy Spirit." In April 1948 I entered into the North Battleford outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I did so chiefly because of what I believed in Jesus' prayer in John 17 -- "That they may be one, Father, as we are one. You in me and I in you - that they may be one with us." This text was on a platform banner at the July 1948 Camp Meeting there. I sensed early in 1949 that an extreme position concerning the "Manifestation of the Sons of God" was beginning to take place. Post-resurrection truths were being placed this side of the resurrection. I went to one of the leaders, and expressed my concern. When no changes or adjustments took place, my wife Marie and I withdrew from this movement, and by September of that year enrolled in Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago, where I completed my seminary education with an M. Div. degree. In 1995 Marie and I were part of the "Watchmen of the Nations" of Canada, three of the original father-mother couples. Again, an inability to discern between legitimate practices of culture, and those not birthed by God in the beginning -- concerned us, so that in a few years we again withdrew. Now a prophetic move has arisen in the last 2-3 decades that has had within itself a mixture. We have watched it with concern, and tried to be like God told Jeremiah -- to take the precious from the vile, and not throw the baby out with the bath water. Recently in our endeavor to be true to this goal, I have quoted Bill Johnson in his joining with two others to give legitimacy to the Lakeland Florida Revival with Todd Bentley. I mentioned that I was somewhat in the middle, and had not embraced this revival in the same way as the others. I have read both "pro" and "con" on this Visitation. The position of Andrew Strom has struck a cord that is quite close to the position held by both Marie and myself. For the third time I feel that we must again in a spirit of repentance, "change our mind" about the past 3 months, and like Brother Strom, come out, that we may in turn go into what we deem a more Scriptural position on the prophetic. As many of you know, God has kept me very close to His word through His Commission to me to prepare Ivan Panin's Interlinear Outlined Greek New Testament. I am also starting to do selected portions of the Hebrew Old Testament on the same format. On this basis I find it exceeding difficult to justify in a Scriptural sense much of the doctrine and behavior at Lakeland. I am friends with many of the prophetic leaders that have entered more completely than us into the Move. So I confess that it is with regret as deep as our past departures -- that we make this decision. So it is quite close to the position taken by Andrew Strom that we clarify our position and make this decision. Count on our continued prayers for those we leave. Just as God led me to pray for Todd Bentley daily three months ago, most all of the other leaders involved are also on my daily prayer list, and will continue there. It is chiefly for our friends who look to us as an example and somewhat as a plumbline identified with both the Word and the Spirit in balance -- that we feel God leading us to make this break and declare clearly our reasons for doing so. Your friends -- Jim & Marie Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Jul 29 14:10:20 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:10:20 -0700 Subject: The Bermuda Triangle Message-ID: <625d7240807291410n7cf9a3c6n3f6ebea6f178c573@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *2008.07.29 - THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE* Read 2 Samuel 21:1-14. King David well understood conditions and principles that strongly pertained to the "Healing of the Land." Three years of famine -- sent by God, not the devil -- got the full attention of David. He no doubt sought counsel of God through Urim & Thummim for an explanation. God needed David's obedience to undo the sin of his predecessor, King Saul. Saul in his zeal had broken the covenant made by Joshua with the Gibeonites centuries earlier. Early in his rulership, Saul in his zeal overlooked the importance of covenant, and broke this one by killing Gibeonites in spite of Joshua's oath of protection through covenant. David may or may not have been aware at the beginning, of the breach of covenant with the Gibeonites on the part of Saul. But in the light of 3 years of famine, his research turned up this breach. Immediately he sought out the Gibeonites and asked, "What can I do for you, that you might forgive this breach, so that God can once again bring favor upon the land?" The Gibeonites answered David that they held nothing against him personally, but that if he provided 7 sons of Saul for them to execute -- then he would be free from their enmity towards Saul, and God would be free to once again bless the land. David immediately complied with their request. The closing word to this account was: *"And **after that** God was entreated for the land" *(2 Samuel 21:14b). May the lessons from this account sink deeply into our ears and heart. Consider the judgment on *our land* because of abortions, crime, drugs, injustice, godlessness -- through judges, people, "women's lib" movements, etc. They hold God's teaching on this subject lightly -- *God does not!* Our land *desperately* needs to have wrongs made right, just as Northern Alberta in 1987 required repentance, apology and request for forgiveness from the First Nations People of Hobbema following the death of one of their men in Wetaskiwin a decade earlier. *AND WHAT OF THE BERMUDA TRIANGEL?* Dr. Kenneth McAll in his book "Healing the Family Tree" recounts an experience of his wife and himself, that etched itself indelibly upon his memory. They were traveling together by ship to the West Indies, where he as a psychiatrist and expert in the "Healing of the land," was journeying to fulfill a speaking conference. The captain informed the passengers: "We have a choice facing us. To get to our destination in the West Indies, we can save 2 days by going through the Bermuda Triangle -- or we can go around it. If there is even one passenger who feels skittish concerning the first option -- we will take the extra 2 days by going around." Unanimously the passengers replied, "Captain, if you feel okay about going through the Triangle, we trust you and your judgment, and will go along with you." However, part way through the Bermuda Triangle, the ship's boiler blew up, and could easily have sent them all down to Davy Jones' Locker. But the boiler had repair possibilities, and the crew set to it. As they did, Mrs. McAll asked her husband, "Why are the workmen singing those dirges?" He responded, "I'll go and see." When he inquired of the crew, they replied: "O -- you've heard it too!" The crew was not singing dirges, yet all distinctly heard something. They completed the repairs, and the ship made its destination. Following the conference the McAlls returned to England. But Dr. McAll couldn't get the above event out of his mind. So he visited London and did research concerning the Bermuda Triangle. He discovered it was on the direct route from Africa to America for the slave ships of some time ago. These were sailing ships in those days, and depended on good winds -- but became becalmed for days in the Sargasso Sea, adjacent to the Bermuda Triangle. Many of the slaves aboard died there, and their bodies thrown overboard for generations during that period of time -- to the tune of 2 million souls! It was those abused souls by their own people, Moslem traders and white slavers -- to whom they were crying out and overheard by the McAlls! Dr. McAll immediately arranged for 12 intercessory prayer groups to meet throughout England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The groups would write out the sins of those involved in the slave-trade including Great Britain. William Wilberforce was eventually a great voice in ending Britain's participation in the slave trade, even before our nation of America. These 12 intercessory groups placed the listing of the sins of their people (much like Daniel did in Daniel chapter 9) upon the communion table. At the time of the Eucharist (Dr. McAll was Anglican), they like Daniel confessed the sins of their people and asked forgiveness on behalf of the land and the Bermuda Triangle -- on the basis of the Atoning, Finished work of Christ at Calvary. Suddenly all 12 home meetings contacted Dr. McAll at approximately the same time. God had spoken to all 12 and proclaimed forgiveness of the Slavers, and healing of the Bermuda Triangle. Up to that time -- 100's of ships had disappeared without trace or explanation. Many planes suffered the same fate. But from the date the 12 Intercessory prayer groups heard from God, not another ship or plane disappeared in the region of the Bermuda Triangle. Billy Graham wrote a 4-5 page account of this in one of his books on Prayer. In conclusion -- putting these two events alongside of the 1987 "healing of the land" of Northern Alberta; and we have proof that *wrongs can* affect the land. God's judgment may fall on land where transgression has been committed. A Daniel 9 approach can work miracles. In Daniel's case it brought restoration of Israel to their land after 70 years of captivity. The above 3 cases are also quite spectacular. Daniel Kikawa of Hawaii has written two books on revival in the land of his adoption. By all means purchase his latest book, *"God of Light, God of Darkness,"* 2008, available through *.* Daniel records the healing of the land of Hawaii in 100 locations in 6 of the islands where human sacrifice and idolatry took place. Invaders 800 years ago perpetrated this. The land was healed 10 years ago through much the same type of action as that taken by Dr. McAll for the Bermuda Triangle. Your friend -- Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Jul 31 10:50:44 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:50:44 -0700 Subject: Challenges & Problems of Immigration Message-ID: <625d7240807311050v258b782dw25a6a41ea274d152@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *2008.07.30 - CHALLENGES & PROBLEMS OF IMMIGRATION* *I am American born (in Arkansas) of Canadian parents. Until age 21 I had the privilege of choosing which nation I would join as a citizen. By taking an oath of allegiance to join the Canadian Navy in 1943, I made that choice, and for the next 6 years was Canadian only.* *When we applied for American landed immigrancy, Mr. Riddler, the American consul in Regina, Saskatchewan gave me pleasant news: The US Congress passed an "Oath of Repatriation" provision. Any American born citizen who took an oath of Allegiance in Canada to join their armed forces prior to his 21stbirthday, could avail himself of this provision. I did, and in 5 minutes + $50.00, I was again an American, but no longer a Canadian.* *Marie and I in 1949 made preparation to leave Canada and enter the United States as "landed immigrants." We went through all the requirements of having our fingerprints checked in 5 different places to ensure that we had no criminal record, and all the various documents of birth certificates and marriage licenses etc. required we provided. We also had to have a U.S. citizen guarantee us financially so we wouldn't be a burden upon this country. All this took some 3 months.* *We did all this, and in April of that year became landed immigrants, and in September entered Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago to aim for an M. Div. (Master of Divinity Degree). * *Now today our government cooperates with business in allowing millions of illegal immigrants into our country. There are no fingerprint checks, and many of these are prior criminals. No doubt their government is glad to get rid of them.* *To us it does not seem fair that we had to enter this country legally with the above requirements; but today our nation (government, congress, executive branch and courts) have let the bars down.* *Now read the following, and see what you think.* *It is not that we are anti-Mexican -- it is simply that our nation cannot continue to exist in this manner. Our legal citizens have a right to expect better, while the powers that be refuse to do what is right, legal and just. In the past citizens used the voting booth to right wrongs.* *JUST ONE STATE* *This is only one State ....... If this doesn't open your eyes nothing will!* *From the L. A. Times* *1. 40% of all workers in the L.A. County (L.A. County has 10.2 million people) are working for cash and not paying taxes. This is because they are predominantly illegal immigrants working without a green card.* *2. 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.* *3. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens. * *4. Over 2 / 3 of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal, whose births are paid for by taxpayers.* *5. Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.* *6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages. * *7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.* *8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.* *9. 21 radio stations in L. A. are Spanish speaking.* *10. In L.A. County 5.1 million people speak English, 3.9 million speak Spanish. (There are 10.2 million people in L.A. County.)* *(All 10 of the above are from the Los Angeles Times)* *Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare. Over 70% of the United States annual population growth (and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York) results from immigration. 29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.* *We are a bunch of fools for letting this continue!* *How can you help??** You will know intuitively what you can and should do. * *California is only one State.* *If this doesn't open your eyes, nothing will! * *And you wonder why Nancy Pelosi wants them to become voters?* *CORRECTED INFORMATION FOR RESENDING* Robert Ricciardelli has asked me to resend his updated website information www.vision2advance.com . The injesus.com will not be able to find him. Here is his personal email: Robert.ricciardelli at gmail.com . He adds this note: "If you would like to send the information below, it is very hard for anyone to refute. You have made the right stance and it was done in love. Those that go to my website know that I am a "unity" person, and not like others that sometimes feel it is their calling to expose. This is not my calling except for now - as the Lord called me to this assignment and opened the door to bring me close to it. "I have worked to try and help the Lakeland folk, and the truth is, they are reporting things that are not happening. They say they have raised 34 from the dead and we cannot get one testimony from Lakeland. This is just one issue of many, and is causing a real schism in the Charismatic church? Praying for all involved. Not sure if you have seen the below? Ignore some of the dialogue printed on some of the videos. We are not heresy hunters, but would like to challenge for plumb line truth and integrity, since this is broadcast to the nations in representation of all of us? "Here is a link to a small radio show I did, and it went out everywhere unexpectedly,,,, It is the July 14thshow *http://www.thewalkshow.com/* "Please listen to this for at least the first 3 minutes; after that , you will want to hear all 10 minutes. Todd confesses he was possessed by demons and had violent rage. Seems like he opened doors to let more in. Maybe these same demons spoke to him to make him think they were coming out. Regardless, it seems there are more to come out? Most discerning people think so. This is scary; he beat his mom and has violent rage in his own confession. We are seeing this continue in Lakeland. When will the scales come off of the eyes of those who are part of this deception? *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtSK9TyduR4&NR=1 * "A*nd below is one of the violent moments of Lakeland. This man did not get healed, but was assaulted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUTCWLoD4-4*. *I will be interviewing him soon. Todd should have been arrested for assault; the man was in pain for several days because of the blow, and in Jesus name!This was not God; it was of the devil and a criminal act.* "A*nd then here is Todd bragging of the violence. http://www.brianjones.com/2008/05/jackie-chaning-people-for-jesus.htmlDisregard the commentary, none is needed. Oh Lord we ask you to set Todd free and to protect the innocent, while lifting the deception of those who cannot see this." * *1) Violence Preached http://youtube.com/watch?v=_K8XjObzfXM * *2) Impartation anointing; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTsYSR9kEeg* *3) Interview on spirituality; http://youtube.com/watch?v=WR_EHWbc9c0&feature=related* *4) He preaches something new (spiritually) not Jesus. http://youtube.com/watch?v=lKA_X1zxOQc* *Advancing His Kingdom, Robert Ricciardelli - Visionary Advancement Strategies* *In Essentials, UNITY - In Non-essentials, FREEDOM - In All Things, LOVE* *PS. A friend of mine (Jim Watt) wrote a comment on my mailing "Leaving -- to Enter." In it he challenged one man who was visited by angels, "Did you test the spirits of these angels?" The response was, "I did not have to, because these were real manifestations." This answer did not satisfy my friend. He goes on to say:* *We do not need any other voices in our lives other than the Holy Spirit. It is people who cannot hear the voice of the Holy Spirit any longer that seem to have these visitations that are nothing but counterfeits in the spiritual realm. It is my 35 years of full time ministry that has caused me to understand that angels usually only appear in behalf of the saints when they are in positions that they cannot help themselves, and either need a word or guidance in dire circumstances. Prophecy that is based on information given by "angels" is not to be trusted. The words must be tested, and the messenger must also be tested. "Is Jesus Christ the Son of God?" (And did He come in the flesh?)* *Yes, there are many spiritual manifestations in Lakeland. Which god is doing this? Which spirit is doing this?* *Maybe you could make more clear the reasons that you are breaking away? This is important for people to understand where you are coming from.* *Thank you for your sensitiveness and obedience to the Holy Spirit. Stay true to the one and only Faith in God. May He strengthen both you and Marie in your inner man. -- A Friend.* *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Aug 7 16:37:19 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 16:37:19 -0700 Subject: Shield Message-ID: <625d7240808071637o4af4d168qbc13f7f7209816c1@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *SHIELD, tzinnah, 22x, Strong's #6793 (from #6791)* *magan, 63x, Strong's #4043 (from #1598) - like scaly hide of crocodile* *(CORRECTIVE NOTE: *On July 21st I inadvertently mailed out an article entitled "French Jews." The sender to me had checked with "Snopes" and came up clear, so I felt free to mail it. However, also inadvertently, the sender to me missed the true "Snopes" warning, and I then received a number of corrections. On July 22nd I also sent out a correction as a note under an article entitled "Wesley's Covenant Prayer." I fear few noticed my correction note. To remedy this, I am cutting and pasting the above note referred to, and remailing it. Thanks for your attention.) *1. GEN 15:1 (1-21, ASV '01, #4043) JEHOVAH: ABRAHAM'S SHIELD. "After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward." *This is the first reference to *shield* in the Bible. Teachers of pedagogy tell us that the law of first reference is significant - it tends to establish the basic definition of a word. Abram (soon to be renamed Abraham) has been seeking God concerning an heir. God is here encouraging His servant. *2. 2 SAM 22:3 (1-51, #4043) GOD: DAVID'S SHIELD. "God, my rock, in him will I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My savior, you save me from violence." *David is called "the sweet Psalmist!" See the amazing number of points of character that David gives God in one verse! Mogen David has been popularized as the *Shield* of David. David was a man of war, and well knew how God defended him! *3. PSA 5:12 (1-12, #6793) JEHOVAH: COMPASSES THE RIGHTEOUS AS A SHIELD. "For you will bless the righteous; O Jehovah, you will compass him with favor as with a shield." *Here David clearly understands how God is a * shield* to all righteous believers. Let not a mere professing believer seek to claim this! *This* is a promise for *possessors*. O God - lift all professors to a true believing status! *4. PSA 84:11 (1-12, #4043) JEHOVAH ELOHIM: A SUN AND SHIELD. "For Jehovah is a sun and shield: Jehovah will give grace and glory; No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." *Note how David places God as both a sun and *shield*! In David's thinking, there is a protective relationship between the two! David also knew the heart desire of God to meet all of our true needs. *5. PSA 91:4 (1-16, #6793) JEHOVAH'S TRUTH: A SHIELD AND BUCKLER. "He will cover you with his pinions, And under his wings shall you take refuge: his truth is a shield and buckler." *This Psalm in the eyes of Michael Servello is the basis to understand God as a *Shield*. He sees God as a 7-fold * Shield*. "The *Shield* of God's Protection is his book on this theme, and has brought much blessing to many a heart. *6. PSA 119:114 (1-176, #4043) JEHOVAH: THE BELIEVER'S HIDING PLACE AND SHIELD.* "*You are my hiding-place and my **shield: I hope in your word." *Psalm 119 greatly exalts and glorifies the Word of God. God, His Word and His Name are One! See John 1:1 where Jesus is equated with the Living Word, the *Lo*gos. David Livingstone and others have memorized this Psalm, and have found God to be indeed a hiding place and *Shield*! *7. PRV 30:5 (1-33, #4043) GOD: A SHIELD FOR THOSE SEEKING REFUGE. "Every word of God is tried: He is a shield unto them that take refuge in him." *There is another verse in Proverbs that strongly relates to this text: "The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe" (18:10). See the relationship here of God as a *shield* through His Word! *NOTE:* "*SHIELD*" is the first 7-point Hebrew Word Study I am sending out. It will appear in our soon-coming update Website, under "Hebrew," in connection with the Hebrew Interlinear Outline on Psalm 91. These 7 references have been selected from 85 occurrences of the two Hebrew words listed at the top of this study. Strong's concordance will immediately show the other 78 references. I have discovered over the years, that whatever 7 relevant references are chosen - and no matter who makes the selection - the definition of the word comes out substantially the same. May this Hebrew word study prove a blessing to each one of us. -- Jim Watt *NOTE TWO.* I recently sent out a mailing entitled "French Jews." The one mailing it to me, mentioned that "Snopes" had been checked, but nothing showed up of a suspicious nature. I unfortunately accepted this word without doing a further check myself. Then a friend of mine from Ontario sent out my mailing to a selected few, and without realizing, sent it to me to my mailing address instead of my regular Email address *(**jmbetter at gmail.com* *). *Through a glitch on my part, it unfortunately got mailed out a second time to my mailing, but in her name, Peg Byars. We both have received a number of replies that the article "French Jews" *is * noted in "Snopes" as a "Hoax" or "Fake Message." I am including a *URL *sent by a friend that will enable each of you who wish, to check out the "Snopes" finding. Peg has trusted that I would soon follow up the above two fraudulent mailings so that you as readers could be protected from furthering this mailing. Sorry. I apologize and ask your forgiveness for not taking the additional precaution that I usually follow, and for trusting a friend who missed obtaining the real warning of "Snopes". Your friend -- Jim Watt Jim, A friend sent this to me in response to my forwarding on your email. I thought you would want it. Blessing, Laurie Original content is Copyright by the author 2006. Posted at ZioNation-Zionism and Israel Web Log, http://www.zionism-israel.com/log/archives/00000267.html where your intelligent and below. (You might want to let the people know who forwarded it to you). (The above note I cut and pasted. J.) *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Aug 9 15:20:58 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 15:20:58 -0700 Subject: Hedge Message-ID: <625d7240808091520i7b1ddd85s7a4016cf105c40a5@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org - 2008.08.09 * *HEDGE**, such*, 3x, Strong's #7753* *gadar*, 10x, Strong's #1443* *1. Job 1:10 (1:1-12, ASV '01, #7753) GOD'S HEDGE FOR JOB. "Have you not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has, on every side? you have blessed the work of his hands, and his cattle is increased in the land." *How would you like to have God and Satan discussing you behind your back, as they did for Job? But note this *hedge* that Satan perceived God had placed around His servant Job and all his goods! Know that the God who is no respecter of persons is pleased to put a *hedge* around you and me! *2. ISA 5:5 (5:1-30, #4881 from #7753*) GOD REMOVES ISRAEL'S HEDGE. "And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge of it, and it shall be eaten up; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trodden down." *Be not deceived - God is not mocked. Whatever we a people sow - we shall surely reap. God's Vineyard Israel forsook His righteous ways, and He removed their *hedge*. If we become inconsistent in our lives, individually or corporately - this judgment on Israel we will share also! Paul tells us that all happening to Israel in the Old Testament is a "type" for us to apply! *3. HOS 2:6 (2:1-23, #7753) GOD HEDGES IN SINNERS FROM HIS WAYS. "Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, that she shall not find her paths." *Here is another way that God works a *hedge*. Here he applies it inversely! It serves like the Cherubim of the Garden of Eden to keep us out of God's blessings - even as they kept Adam and Eve from eating the fruit from the Tree of Life. *This*is the goodness of God, if we can receive it! *4. EZE 13:5 (13:1-16, KJV, #1447) HEDGES FOR GOD'S PEOPLE: RESPONSIBILITY OF PROPHETS. "You have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedgefor the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of Jehovah." *Here is another thought on *hedges*. God counts on prophets to build up * hedges* so His ;people can stand in the day of battle. Here prophets stand for any of God's leaders, ministers or pastors. They are expected of God to serve His people, not themselves. *5. EZE 22:30 (22:23-31, KJV, #1447) GOD'S SEARCH: FOR HEDGE-BUILDERS. "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." *This verse has been quoted again and again by intercessors. They understand the seriousness and importance of prayer. Rees Howells well understood this. Intercessors like Abraham can change wicked situations and rescue righteous Lot from his evil environment. *6. PSA 89:40 (89:38-52, #1447) HEDGES BROKEN DOWN: PENALTY FOR FORSAKING GOD'S WORD. "You have broken down all his hedges; You have brought his strongholds to ruin." *Once again, God sets before us the penalty for corporate sin - using Israel as a "type" of warning on our behalf. You say, "But that is Old Testament!" Yes, but read the Book of Revelation, and understand well that the God of the Old Testament is truly the God of the New Testament also. And - the Father has put all Judgment in the hands of His Son Jesus, who is soon to return as *Judge*! *7. ECCL 10:8 (10:1-20, KJV, #1447) SERPENT'S BITE: PENALTY FOR BREAKING A HEDGE. "He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks a hedge, a serpent shall bite him." *Solomon is a master of creating the aphorism, a maxim, a proverb! Ivan Panin has a collection of 32 sections of aphorisms, much longer than the book of Proverbs. But here Solomon wisely warns us not to break down a *hedge*, lest a serpent bites us! *NOTE**: *Ultimately, *God* is the one who builds for us a *Hedge*! But, a *hedge* is the reward for a man like Job - one who possesses from his heart a meaningful Relationship with God. Such a one has with desire made God his 7-fold Shield: the Shield of the Blood of Jesus at the Brazen Altar; the Shield of God our Father - a Relationship at the Mercy Seat; the Shield of the angels of God under the Holy Spirit at the Menorah; the Shield of the Full Armor of God at the Table of His Presence; the Shield of the spirit of Faith at the Ark of the Covenant; the Shield of Integrity and Righteousness at the Laver; the Shield of Intercession at the Altar of Incense. See Mike Servello's "The Shield of God's Protection." But when God is forsaken as our shield, both individually and corporately; then God in His mercy removes our *hedge* of protection to bring us to our senses. Every true child of His, He chastens or disciplines, that through suffering we might come to likeness with Jesus. God's goal is to bring *many * sons into glory - into Jesus' likeness. And Jesus as Son of Man learned obedience through the things He suffered. So we as His brothers and sisters will find like-results under like-conditions. And note, it wasn't in Job's case that the hedge was removed! It was to make a good man better. (Here is the 7-fold hedge that God gave Job: a Mental Hedge; an Emotional Hedge; a Physical Hedge; a Spiritual Hedge; a Moral Hedge; a Financial Hedge; a Leadership Hedge.) Deep lessons abide in the Book of Job and Psalm 91. Clear understanding of the Relationship of God our Shield with His *Hedge* of Protection on our behalf - prove a basis for His blessing. So - blessings from God upon each of us as we together pursue the path set before us by His Son! Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Aug 13 16:42:27 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:42:27 -0700 Subject: 2 John 1-13 Message-ID: <625d7240808131642q7ed6a35cq4b32161ae6b822f7@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* * 2 JOHN 1-13* *SUMMARY: OBEDIENCE TO TRUTH BRINGS REWARDS* *1. 1:1-3 LOVE'S LOYALTY TO TRUTH* Ho presBUte-ros [4245] ek-lekT*E* [1588] KuRIa [2959] kai tois TEKnois auT*E *S, *The elder to elect Kyria and her :children,* hous eG*O* a-gaP*O* en a-l*e*THEIa [225]; *whom I love in truth;* kai ouk eG*O* MOnos, alLA kai PANtes hoi eg-n*o*KOtes t*e*n aL*E*thei-an; *and not I only, but also all that know the truth;* diA t*e*n aL*E*thei-an t*e*n MEnou-san en h*e*MIN*,* *2 for the truth's sake which abides in us,* kai meth' h*e*M*O*N EStai eis ton ai*O*na [165]: *and shall be with us unto the age:* EStai meth' h*e*M*O*N CHAris [5485], Ele-os [1656], eiR*E*n*e* [1515], paRA TheOU paTROS, *3 Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father,* kai paRA I*e*SOU ChrisTOU tou huiOU tou paTROS, en a-l*e*THEIa kai aGAp*e*. *and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.* *2. 1:4-11 NATURE AND DEFENCE OF TRUTH* *a. 1:4 SOURCE OF APOSTOLIC JOY: DISCIPLES WALKING IN TRUTH* E-CHAr*e*n LIan [3029] HOti HEUr*e*-ka *I rejoice greatly that I have found* ek t*o*n TEKn*o*n sou pe-ri-paTOUNtas en a-l*e*THEIa, *certain **of your :children walking in **the truth,* kaTH*O*S en-toL*E*N [1785] eLAbo-men paRA tou paTROS. *even as we received commandment from the Father.* *b. 1:5 COMMANDMENT OF CHRIST: LOVE ALL SINCERE DISCIPLES* kai nun e-r*o*T*O* se, KuRIa, *And now I request you, Kyria,* ouch h*o*s en-toL*E*N GRAph*o*n soi kaiN*E*N [2537], *not as though I wrote to you a new commandment,* alLA h*e*n EIcha-men ap' arCH*E*S [746], *but which we had from the beginning,* Hina a-gaP*O*men alL*E*lous. *that we love one another.* *c. 1:6a EXPRESSION OF LOVE: OBEYING CHRIST'S COMMANDMENTS* kai HAUt*e* esTIN h*e* aGAp*e*, Hina pe-ri-paT*O*men kaTA tas en-toLAS auTOU. *And this is :love, that we should walk after his :commandments.* *d. 1:6b LOVE: THE GREAT COMMANDMENT OF GOD* HAUt*e* h*e* en-toL*E* es-tin, kaTH*O*S *e*KOUsa-te ap' arCH*E*S, *This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning,* HIna en auT*E* pe-ri-paT*E*te. *that you should walk in it.* *e. 1:7a JOY FROM DISCIPLES: WHEN THEY TURN FROM ERROR* HOti polLOI PLAnoi [4108] eX*E*Lthan eis ton KOSmon: *For many deceivers are gone forth into the world:* hoi m*e* ho-mo-loGOUNtes [3670] I*e*SOUN ChrisTON erCHOme-non en sarKI [4561]. *they that confess not Jesus Christ coming in the flesh.* *f. 1:7b FOREWARNED AGAINST FALSE TEACHERS IS FOREARMED* HOU-TOS es-tin ho PLAnos kai ho anTIchris-tos [500]. *This is the deceiver and the antichrist.* *g. 1:8 REWARD OF THE SOUL-WINNER: WHEN CONVERTS PERSEVERE* BLEpe-te he-auTOUS, *Look to yourselves,* HIna m*e* a-poLEs*e*-te [622] ha *e*r-gaSAme-tha [2038], *that you lose not what things we have wrought,* alLA misTHON [3408] PL*E*r*e* a-poLAb*e*-te. *but that you receive a full reward.* *h. 1:9 TO REJECT GOD'S WORD - IS TO REJECT GOD* pas ho proAg*o*n kai m*e* MEn*o*n en t*e* di-daCH*E* [1322] tou ChrisTOU, *Whoever goes onward and abides not in the teaching of the Christ,* TheON ouk Echei: *has not :God:* ho MEn*o*n en t*e* di-daCH*E*, *who abides in the teaching,* HOUtos kai ton paTEra kai ton huiON Echei. *the same has both the Father and the Son.* *i. 1:10-11 RULE OF HOSPITALITY: NOT TO BE SHARED WITH THE FALSE* ei tis ERche-tai pros huMAS, kai TAUt*e*n t*e*n di-daCH*E*N ou PHErei, *If any comes unto you, and brings not this :teaching,* m*e* lamBAne-te auTON eis oiKIan, kai CHAIrein [5463] auT*O* m*e* LEge-te: *receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting:* ho LEg*o*n gar auT*O* CHAIrein koi-n*o*NEI [2841] tois ERgois tois po-n*e* ROIS. *11 for who gives him greeting partakes in his :evil :works.* *3. 1:12-13 FELLOWSHIP OF TRUTH* *a. 1:12 JOY: THE FRUIT OF DETECTING DECEIVERS* PolLA Ech*o*n huMIN GRAphein, *Having many things to write to you,* ouk *e*-bouL*E*th*e*n diA CHARtou kai MEla-nos: alLA elPIz*o* geNESthai pros HUmas, *I would not with paper and ink: but hope to come unto you,* kai STOma [4750] pros STOma laL*E*sai, HIna h*e* chaRA huM*O*N pe-pl*e*-r*o* MEn*e* [4137] '*e*. *and speak face to face, that your :joy be made full.* *b. 1:13 SALUTATIONS FROM RELATIVES* AsPAzeTAI [782] se ta TEKna t*e*s a-delPH*E*S sou t*e*s ek-lekT*E*S [1588] . *The children of your :elect :sister salute you.* *NOTE:* It appears that John is pretty strict about having fellowship with those who depart from truth. We know that this has happened often in the past 2000 years. In 1951 at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago, we had a guest speaker, Dr. Nels Ferre. He had a position with the American Baptist Convention, and had departed into a very liberal, modernistic position. Our Seminary under Dr. Charles W. Koller of Waco Texas, was at the time the most conservative of all our denominational seminaries. One of our doctoral students, Dr. William Niger Kerr, shared with a number of us his view-point on our speaker of the morning. "That man would never put his knees under our meal time table in our home," he clearly stated. Some of the listeners took exception to his strong position, and sought to argue with him. "No," he replied, "If we are disciples of Jesus and stand with Him as seeing Him and His Word as one -- then according to 2 John, we have no choice -- we must refuse hospitality to those who have by an act of self-will departed from the Truth, and Jesus as the Truth." I have been unable to forget the above clear and forthright statement of conviction. Later one of my best friends departed from the clear mandate of Scripture, and took up with the extreme liberal and modernistic view held by the the majority of the United Church of Canada, my former denomination. As I out of conviction resigned 4 positions with this denomination and departed from it -- I felt I had to clearly confront my former friend who departed from the Plumbline of the Word of God -- and reason with him concerning his decision of compromise toward God and His Word. I have not heard from him since. Jesus did not seek to reason with people who couldn't meet His standards of discipleship. He sorrowfully let them go! Remember the rich young ruler! So let us remember 2 John 10 & 11. John was called the Beloved disciple, and the apostle of love. Yet he was the one, who led by the Holy Spirit wrote these words. And let us also remember that according to Bible Numerics as discovered by Dr. Ivan Panin, all 66 books of our Bible are signally set forth as *God's word to man*, *not* merely man's word to man! See 1 Corinthians 14:37 for Paul's confirmation to this, and Peter's double confirmation in 2 Peter 1:21. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Aug 15 16:35:16 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:35:16 -0700 Subject: The Evidence of the New Birth Message-ID: <625d7240808151635r2f17de81h75f0be0cbc15ff17@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *2008.08.15 - The Evidence of the New Birth * *(From "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers)* "*You must be born again" (John 3:7).* The answer to Nicodemus' question, "How can a man be born when he is old? is: Only when he is willing to die to every thing in his life, including his rights, his virtues, and his religion, and become willing to receive into himself a new life that he has never before experienced (3:4). This new life exhibits itself in our conscious repentance and through our unconscious holiness. "But as many as received Him ..." (John 1:12). Is my knowledge of Jesus the result of my own internal spiritual perception, or is it only what I have learned through listening to others? Is there something in my life that unites me with the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior? My spiritual history must have as it underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus. "...unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Am I seeking only for the evidence of God's kingdom, or am I actually recognizing His absolute sovereign control? The new birth gives me a new power of vision by which I begin to discern God's control. His sovereignty was there all the time, but with God being true to His nature, I could not see it until I received His very nature myself. "Whoever has been born of God does not sin ..." (1 John 3d:9). Am I seeking to stop sinning or have I actually stopped? To be born of God means that I have His supernatural power to stop sinning. The Bible never asks, "Should a Christian sin?" The Bible emphatically states that *a Christian must not sin.* The work of the new birth is being effective in us when we do not commit sin. It is not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have actually stopped sinning. Yet 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we *cannot*sin - it simply means that if we will obey the life of God in us, that we *do not have to sin.* *NOTE:* Here is the nature of the New Birth - from a new perspective or vantage point. For 5 years until 1915 Oswald Chambers taught a group of missionaries, missionaries in preparation, and serious students of the Bible at the "Bible Training College" in London. It had a most important effect, though small in numbers. Chambers at the same time lectured on weekends throughout England and Scotland, and during the week at nights, many extra students attended. Those during the day were boarding students. The lectures during these 5 years served as the basis for the majority of his 50 books, all but three of which his wife Biddy published post-posthumously. Again and again, challenges such as appear in the above selection made by his wife Biddy following his premature death at 43 in 1917, caused students to vigorously contend with Chambers. He was delighted to receive such challenges. Sometimes when his answers were not received he would reply, "Let it simmer - it will become clear after a while! Now 100 years later approximately - the c hallenges of OC in his over 50 published books continue to intrigue 21st Century readers. Should you like his students of 100 years ago desire to know more about this outstanding man - by all means purchase his 3rd biography, "Oswald Chambers, Abandoned to God" - The Life Story of the Author of My Utmost For His Highest by David McCasland. Or, if you purchase the Collected Writings of Oswald Chambers, edited by the same author, his biography is contained in a free DVD which is part of the package. Blessings on us all as we let the challenges of such men as Oswald Chambers sink deep into our hearts. And we need to remember - that it is not only Oswald we are listening to, but the Lord Himself through His Spirit. For the "Personal, Passionate Devotion" of Chambers to Jesus enabled His Lord to speak through him. Though it is not on the same level of importance as the 33 writers of the 66 Bible books - yet it is definitely on the next concentric circle after the Canon of Scripture - as contained in Important Writers on the things of God. Your friend - Jim Watt PS. On my last mailing I spoke on the Divine Inspiration of the whole Bible, 66 books. This actually means that God so inspired the 33 + writers of the Bible, that what *He* wanted written and recorded, indeed took place, whether He was speaking, men like Job's 3 friends, or Satan to Eve in the Garden of Eden. God oversaw that the recording was according to His design, apart from any speaker. However, in the 21 New Testament Epistles, the 4 Gospels, the Book of Acts and the Book of Revelation -- the words especially in the 21 epistles are the words of God, *not* the words of man. So many people today tend to say - even Evangelical believers - "O - that's just what Paul or Peter or John thought and said!" *Not so!* Paul categorically corrects this most erroneous view by giving 1 Corinthians 14:37, and Pater states the equivalent for *all * Bible writers in 2 Peter 1:21. I believe few readers would have misunderstood the intent of this in the previous mailing. It was especially to correct those who fail to understand that the epistles are God's word to man, *not* man's word to man. JW *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Aug 23 12:57:56 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:57:56 -0700 Subject: Spiritual Chiropractic Adjustment Message-ID: <625d7240808231257t134a77fjd7bb17eea20dc5cb@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *EPH 4:12 - SPIRITUAL CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT* *ka-tarTIzo (13x), total cognates (15x), to restore, unite, Strong's # 2675* *GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRIES* *1. MT 4:21 (18-22, NNT by I. Panin) MENDING NETS: A FORM OF ADJUSTMENT. "And going on thence, he saw two other brothers, James the son of :Zebedee, and John his :brother, in the boat with Zebedee their :father, mending their :nets; and he called them." *Fish to be caught require *mended* nets. The church to become fishers of men, requires to be *mended* or *spiritually adjusted* by the 5-fold ministries to effectively catch souls for God. *2. MT 21:16 (12-16) PERFECTING PRAISE: AGAIN, ADJUSTMENT. "And the chief priests said to him, Do you hear what these are saying? And :Jesus says to them, Yes: did you never read [that] Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have perfected praise?" *Isn't it amazing that God uses babes and children to *perfect* praise?? At the time the sperm unites with the egg at conception, some have observed as it were a flash of light. Husband and wife God uses to produce body and soul in the babe - but *He* adds the spirit at the moment of conception - and it seems that our little ones have a sense of the unseen world superior to us adults for the first years of their life. They easily see angels and have visions. See "Visions Beyond the Veil" by H.A. Baker. *3. LK 6:40 (39-49) PERFECT ADJUSTMENT: MAKES DISCIPLES LIKE THEIR TEACHER. "A disciple is not above the teacher: but every one perfected shall be as his :teacher." *He that lives *godly* in Christ Jesus *shall* suffer persecution! If we rise to let the life of Jesus manifest through us by His Spirit and His Word, then in the *perfected* state, we too will be treated like Jesus. See the last two Beatitudes. *4. 1 PET 5:10 (6-11) PERFECT ADJUSTMENT: FOLLOWS SUFFERING. "And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal :glory in Christ after you have suffered a little, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you."*Notice that suffering is a necessary prelude to maturity and *perfection*. See the book of Job: "Baffled to Fight Better!" Here God sets forth his righteous man who hates evil and desires to do good - but * perfects* him and makes him a better man through suffering. *5. ROM 9:22 (19-29) FITTED UNTO DESTRUCTION: THE CONTRAST! "What if :God, willing to show :wrath, and to make his :power known, bore with much long-suffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction." *Those who choose other than God, are then *fitted* for destruction, just as saints who have chosen life, are *fitted* by God's 5-fold for life! *6. 1 COR 1:10 (10-17) CORPORATE PERFECTION: GOD'S GOAL THROUGH THE 5-FOLD. "Now I beseech you, brothers, through the name of our :Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same, and no divisions be among you: but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment." *We have to *choose*for God's appointed *adjusters* to fit us corporately for this same mind and same judgment. We can't do it ourselves, but we can choose to let our Lord through His chosen appointees do His work! *7. 2 COR 13:9 (1-10) PERFECT ADJUSTMENT: PAUL'S PRAYER. "For we rejoice, when we be weak, and you be strong: this we also pray for, even your :perfecting." *Paul in his weakness, tribulations, persecutions and suffering looks at his converts, and desires for his spiritual children maturity and *perfection!* *8. 2 COR 13:11 (11-13) BE PERFECTED: A COMMAND (by submitting to the Lord's 5-fold). "For the rest, brothers, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; be at peace: and the God of :love and peace shall be with you." **Perfection* is not an option for the saint - it is a * command!* Again, we cannot do this for ourselves. It would be like trying to lift ourselves up by our bootstraps. It takes another to lift us into this state. And the Lord chooses to use the 5-fold to do so. And they are not sinlessly perfect! Some say they will submit to the Lord, but not to pastors or men. Careful! If we want the Lord's best, *this* is the Lord's appointed way! We can miss God if we refuse His appointed way! *9. GAL 6:1 (5:25-6:6) RESTORE THOSE OVERTAKEN IN A TRESPASS! "Brothers, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, you the spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself, lest you also be tempted." **Restoration!* This is again God's appointed way when we fall. We must humble ourselves and permit our fellow man to lift us back where we once were. Humbling? Perhaps. But those who do the restoration must seek the spirit in the above verse if they would be successful in this needful duty. *10. EPH 4:12 (1-16) ADJUSTMENT UNTO PERFECTION: RESPONSIBILITY OF THE 5-FOLD. "The 5-fold is given for the perfecting of the saints, unto a work of ministry, unto a building of the body of the Christ." *This is the key verse for this whole study. Let us observe well God's plan and program. He has designed to mature His church through *His* choice of the 5-fold ministries. We *cannot* take the prerogative upon ourselves! Nor can we deceive ourselves by thinking we are His choice. We need the confirmation for this calling through the Eldership or Presbytery. Man seals God's calling through the "Laying on of Hands" and prophecy. *11. 1 THESS 3:10 (1-10) PAUL'S DESIRE: TO PERFECTLY ADJUST MISSING DIMENSIONS. "Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your :face, and may perfect what are lacking in your :faith." * Paul's chief ministry is prayer and intercession on a constant basis on behalf of the saints. Paul could see what was lacking in these converts, and knew that through God's gifting and calling to him as an apostle, that God through him could meet any need of these saints. *12. HEB 10:5 (1-18) MESSIAH'S PREPARED BODY: THE WORK OF GOD! "Wherefore when he comes into the world, he says, Sacrifice and offering you would not, But a body did you prepare for me." *See God's wonderful work on behalf of His only begotten Son. Jesus had a Pre-incarnate existence from the beginning with God! Before Abraham was, *He was!* God is *One* - but He is * One* in the Triunity of the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, just as we who are made in the image of God are one: spirit, soul and body. Jesus who was very God of very God, became through the body His Father *prepared* for Him, very man of very man. A mystery? Indeed - and *much* for us to meditate upon! *13. HEB 11:3 (3-12) FRAMING OF WORLD: GOD'S MASTER PARABLE. "By faith we understand that the ages have been framed by God's word, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which appear." *God used Jesus as the Pre-incarnate Son, as the Living Word, to create all things. See the book of Colossians. According to Romans 1, the universe was designed by God as a lesser gospel to lead us to the light of the *greater* Gospel: Jesus! He used this in the beginning to draw me to Himself as a new teen-ager. *14. HEB 13:21 (20-21) PERFECTING OF GOD'S WILL IN US: MESSIAH'S HIGH CALLING. "Now our God perfect you in every good to do his :will, to do in us what is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom the glory unto the ages of the ages. Amen." *This is one of the great Benedictory prayers of the Bible. Here is the will of God! He wants us *perfected* into the image of His Son Jesus, so that He through the Spirit and the Word can live His life out through us. He first wants incarnation in us, and then growth, maturity and *perfection* to do His will. Are we ready? Are we willing? *NOTE:** *God does not plan for all of the 5-fold to be resident and operate in any one local church. He has designed that they all *should* be resident and operate in each city church, and should move from local church to local church within the city. This insight finds strong confirmation in the following analysis of *Church* - ek-kl*e*SIa. It appears 114x in the Greek NT. *Once* in Acts 7 it refers to Israel as the church in the wilderness. 3x in the book of Acts it refers to the secular church of Ephesus. 14x it refers to a local church within the city church, such as the church in the home of Aquila and Priscilla. 15x it refers to the Universal Church of OT and NT saints. *But* - 81x - it refers to the *City Church*composed of many local churches, such as 14 of these references in Revelation 2-3. Much frustration and damage has taken place because of the lack of understanding in this since the Reformation days of Martin Luther. However, in the last decades men like John Dawson have seen this truth, and clear perspective is beginning to return to the church. *This* will enable the 5-fold ministry to once again function as God has planned it from the beginning. Remember how in the beginning the apostles went forth two by two from local church in the home to local church in the home - in the context of the city church. In 1948 God visited North Battleford, Saskatchewan with a number of Restoration Revival Principles, and brought together 12 of these in an Embryonic state. George R. Hawtin taught on the nature of the 5-fold, majoring on the office of the apostle. He pointed out repeatedly that God sees the office of the apostle and prophet functioning together in the foundation for His church. The Aorist tense of the Greek in Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Corinthians 12:28 conclusively settles that in God's thinking, these 2 offices should continue to function with the other 3 - throughout the entire church age. The importance of this teaching can be fully realized as we consider Galatians 6:1, and the spirit in which spiritual leaders should restore fellow leaders who have fallen. The last century on right into this 21stCentury, we have witnessed the tragedy of fallen leaders, even to this year in Lakeland, Florida. Leaders who are and young and inexperienced need to be supported in prayer, intercession and counsel, for they become targets of the enemy. And when one falls, Paul in Galatians gives exceedingly wise counsel concerning their restoration. Just this day (August 22, 2008) a very wise and humble article has come from Dutch Sheets emphasizing the true role of the church in such matters. Thank God for his honesty, humility and obedience in bringing forth this confession of repentance - much as Daniel did in Daniel 9. *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Aug 24 14:23:44 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:23:44 -0700 Subject: 3 John + Last 7 Points on Health Message-ID: <625d7240808241423u29b87ba7x763c6e2707e5a68f@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* * 3 JOHN 1:1-14* *SUMMARY: DUTY TO TRUTH PRODUCES FAITHFUL FELLOW-HELPERS* *A. 1:1 TRUTH: THE SOURCE AND NATURE OF LOVE* Ho presBUte-ros [4245] GAI*o* t*o* a-ga-p*e*T*O*, *The elder to Gaius the beloved,* hon eG*O* a-gaP*O* en a-l*e*THEIa. *whom I love in truth.* *B. 1:2-8 TRUTH: THE JOY AND FAITHFULNESS OF BELIEVERS* *1. 1:2-4 PRAYER AND REJOICING IN TRUTH* *a. 1:2 PRAYER: FOR PROSPERITY IN SPIRITUAL CONCERNS* A-ga-p*e*TE, peRI PANt*o*n EUchoMAI [2172] se eu-oDOUSthai [2137] *Beloved, I pray that in all things you prosper* kai hu-giAInein [5198], kaTH*O*S eu-oDOU-TAI sou h*e* psuCH*E* [5590]. *and be in health, even as your :soul prospers.* *b. 1:3 JOY: THE RESULT OF HEARING AND PERSEVERANCE* eCHAr*e*n gar LIan er-choMEn*o*n a-delPH*O*N kai mar-tuROUNt*o*n [3140] *For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and witnessed* sou t*e* a-l*e*THEIa, kaTH*O*S su en a-l*e*THEIa pe-ri-paTEIS. *to your :truth, even as YOU walk in the truth.* *c. 1:4 SOURCE OF GREATEST JOY: CONVERTS WALKING IN TRUTH* mei-zoTEran TOUt*o*n ouk Ech*o* CHArin, *No greater grace have I than these things,* HIna aKOU*o* ta eMA TEKna en t*e* a-l*e*THEIa pe-ri-paTOUNta. *to hear of my :children walking in the truth.* *2. 1:5-8 FAITHFULNESS IN TRUTH* *a. 1:5-7 CAUSE FOR PRAISE: ASSISTANCE TO GOSPEL WORKERS* A-ga-p*e*TE, pisTON poiEIS ho eAN erGAs*e* *Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you do* eis tous a-delPHOUS kai TOUto XEnous [3581]; *toward the brethren and strangers withal;* hoi e-marTUr*e*SAN sou t*e* aGAp*e* eN*O*pi-on ek-kl*e*SIas [1577]: *6 who witnessed to your :love before the church:* hous kaL*O*S poi*E*seis proPEMpsas *whom you will do well to set forward on their journey* aXI*o*s tou TheOU: *worthily of :God:* huPER gar tou oNOma-tos eX*E*Lthan, *7 for they went forth for the Name's sake,* m*e*DEN lamBAnon-tes aPO t*o*n eth-niK*O*N. *taking nothing of the Gentiles.* *b. 1:8 REASON FOR ASSISTANCE: TO BE A FELLOW-LABORER* h*e*MEIS oun oPHEIlo-men hu-po-lamBAnein [5274] tous toiOUtous, *WE therefore ought to welcome :such,* HIna su-nerGOI [4904] giN*O*me-tha t*e* a-l*e*THEIa. *that we may become fellow-workers for the truth.* *C. 1:9-10 TRUTH: THE TRIUMPH OVER PRIDE* *a. 1:9 REASON FOR NOT WRITING MORE: DIOTREPHES* EgraPSA ti t*e* ek-kl*e*SIa: all' ho phi-lo-pr*o*TEU*o*n [5383] auT*O*N, *I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes,* Di-oTREph*e*s, ouk e-piDEche-tai h*e*MAS. *who loves pre-eminence among them, receives us not.* *b. 1:10 CAUSE FOR THREATENING DIOTREPHES* diA TOUto, eAN ELth*o*, *Therefore, if I come,* hu-poMN*E*s*o* [5279] auTOU ta ERga ha poiEI, *I will bring to remembrance his :works which he does,* LOgois po-neROIS phlu-aR*O*N [5396] h*e*MAS: *prating against us with wicked words:* kai m*e* arKOUme-nos [714] ePI TOUtois, *and not content therewith,* OUte auTOS e-piDEche-tai tous a-delPHOUS, kai tous bou-loMEnous [1014] *neither himself receives the brethren, and them that would* k*o*LUei [2967] kai ek t*e*s ek-kl*e*SIas ekBALlei [1544]. *he forbids and casts out of the church.* *D. 1:11-12 DIOTREPHES VERSUS DEMETRIUS* *a. 1:11a DIOTREPHES AND DEMETRIUS' EXAMPLE CONTRASTED* A-ga-p*e*TE, m*e* miMOU to kaKON, alLA to a-gaTHON. *Beloved, imitate not :evil, but :good.* *b. 1:11b PROOF OF NEW BIRTH: OUR TREATMENT OF BRETHREN* ho a-ga-tho-poi*O*N [15] ek tou TheOU es-tin; *The doer of good is of :God;* ho ka-ko-poi*O*N [2554] ouch he*O*ra-ken ton TheON. *the doer of evil has not seen :God.* *c. 1:12 THREE-FOLD PRAISE OF DEMETRIUS* D*e*-m*e*TRI*o* me-marTUr*e*-tai huPO PANt*o*n, kai huPO auT*E*S t*e*s a-l*e *THEIas: *Demetrius has the witness of all, and of the truth itself:* kai, h*e*MEIS de mar-tuROUmen; *yes, WE also bear witness;* kai OIdas HOti h*e* mar-tuRIa h*e*M*O*N a-l*e*TH*E*S es-tin. *and you know that our :witness is true.* *E. 1:13-14 CONCLUDING REMARKS* *a. 1:13-14a TWO-FOLD REASON FOR NOT WRITING MORE* PolLA EIchon GRApsai soi, *I had many things to write you,* all' ou THEl*o* diA MEla-nos [3188] kai kaLAmou [2563] soi GRAphein: *but I am unwilling to write you with ink and pen:* elPIz*o* de euTHE*o*s se iDEIN, *14a but I hope shortly to see you,* kai STOma pros STOma laL*E*so-men. *and we shall speak face to face.* *b. 1:14b APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION* EiR*E*n*e* soi. *Peace to you.* *c. 1:14c SALUTATIONS FROM FRIENDS* as-PAzon-tai [782] se hoi PHIloi [5384]. *The friends salute you.* *d. 1:14d GIVE GREETINGS* asPAzou tous PHIlous kat' Ono-ma. *Salute the friends by name.* NOTE: Verse two of this book reads, *"Beloved, I pray that in all **things* * you **prosper** [2137] and **be in health* *[5198], even as your :soul prospers" (Panin's Numeric NT). *This verse has been quoted extensively by those in the "Word of Faith" movement, among others. Does this verse have an appropriate application? Does it touch on our needs? And does it relate to health of our body? Consider first what "Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible" has to say on this subject. Under #2137, eu-oDO*o* - we find the following meanings: *to help *on the road; fig. *to succeed* in business affairs:- to prosper (3x), have a prosperous journey (1x). (1) "to have a prosperous journey" Romans 1:10; and (2) "to prosper," 1 Corinthians 16:2; 3 John 2. Under #5198 (12x) hu-giAIn*o* from #5199, hu-gi*E*S (14x); *to have sound health*, i.e. *be well* (in body). #5198, "to be healthy, sound in health" (Eng., "hygiene," etc.) translated "safe and sound" in Luke 15:27. Hu-gi*E*S is used (1) especially in the Gospels of making sick folk "whole", Mt 12:13; 15:31; Mk 3:5; 5:34; Lk 6:10; Jn 5:4, 6, 9, 11, 14, 15; 7:23; (2) also Acts 4:10 It is applied metaphorically to sound speech and doctrine. I believe from this that we can safely conclude that the apostle John, Jesus' Beloved disciple, meant here in his third epistle what he and Peter practiced together when they were sent forth by Jesus and healed the sick, cast our demons and raised the dead. Yes, we can take this verse and not be in error when we desire for ourselves the promises that these two words set forth. However, there *are* conditions if we as believers and disciples will see these promises come to pass in our lives. John is not giving us a "carte blanche" promise apart from conditions on *our* part. *1. Intimacy with Jesus.* Both John and Peter walked this walk. It wasn't just talk. Oswald Chambers expressed the attitude of a true disciple as one having "Personal, Passionate Devotion to Jesus!" Read his "My Utmost for His Highest," and you will find that this is the first condition that opens us up to having our needs met, and a healthy body. Jesus' 12 disciples had all this happen in their 3 years with Him, and on up to their martyrdom. Serious? Of course! Many 21st Century believers feel that they just have to claim God's promises - apart from His conditions of discipleship. How foolish and frustrating. This first condition causes our *spirit* to be alive in God at all times. Does it make us sinlessly perfect? No - that will not happen till the Second Coming of Jesus and the resurrection of our bodies. But it *does* mean that we don't have to walk longer in sin as we choose to maintain an abiding walk in our One Triune God! *2. A Renewed Mind.* The Holy Spirit through Paul in Romans 12:1-2 sets forth the next step for us following conversion. Through meditating upon the Word *daily*, our minds are renewed. Only through daily reading, meditating on, praying over and acting upon God's Word - will our minds be renewed and bring us where Jesus can live His resurrected life through us by the Holy Spirit according to Galatians 2:20. Let us not make the mistake of underestimating the importance of a renewed mind to receive the full benefits of 3 John 2! God wants to bring us as many sons and daughters into *Glory*! Conversion is merely the door that enables us to enter this rewarding pathway. Our mind at conversion is carnal! It still thinks like an unconverted person! When we present our body, soul and spirit to God at that time, and commence the pathway of walking with Jesus in His Word - *then* our minds begin to be renewed, and we commence to think God's thoughts after Him! See Archive 2001.06.23, "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body," on our Website. *3. Proper Diet. *The next points - all relate to the care of our body. The Western Cultures of Canada, the US and Mexico as a whole do not understand the wise Bible counsel in this regard. God in the book of Leviticus gave sound guidance in choice of foods. This list is *not* capricious. God is not here being "mean" in giving us this list. There are wise reasons behind all of these choices. There is *no* junk food on His list. MacDonald's and other fast food outlets do not share so well here. For those of us who choose to heed the counsels of God in this regard, we will do well; and the desire of John in 3 John 2 will more easily become a reality. Why should God answer prayer on behalf of our health, when we undercut His wisdom by failing to walk in the diet rules of discipleship? Obesity in our 3 Western nations, both with young and old, is noticed with deep concern by other nations of the world. One man from Germany was returning home after a trip to the US. A reporter asked him, "What most impressed you on your first trip to America?" "The number of *sick* and obese people, was his reply! Those of us who are professing believers can choose to become possessing disciples, by walking in the wisdom of God. When I was a boy of 10 on a farm in Langley, outside of Vancouver BC, I came to know a Frenchman by the name of Philemon. He was retired and ate only 2 meals a day. He didn't need more, though I was shocked at this at the time. He was not obese, and lived a healthy life. Some time ago I sent out a mailing entitled, Praise for "The China Study," April 24, 2008, featuring T. Colin Campbell and Dr. John McDougall. It portrays a fairly strict regimen of diet, but those who have chosen to walk this way have no regrets, and avoid the serious pit falls of our Western Hemisphere. See also "Bananas," Archives 2007.10.01, and the wise counsel in this article. *4. Helpful Vitamin Supplements*. Israel constantly comes up with new insights in this are as well as in Science. Recently they developed "Neuro PS" - a capsule that renews the nerve and brain cells. These are elongated cells, and connect with one another through dendrites. As we age, these terminals become dry and brittle, and fail to pass messages along. We call these times "Senior Moments." Neuro PS moistens these cells and restores connections again up to 30-35%. "Bridges for Peace" in Israel a few years back, wrote one of their weekly divisions on this break-through. I have followed up on it, and believe it has indeed had a restorative effect to my memory. It is not full restoration, but it is most helpful. Up to 85% of users claim benefits. If interested, see *> *or *Puritan's Pride, 1-800-645-1030.* I have also found KLVB-6 (Kelp, lecithin, apple cider vinegar and B-6) to be helpful. *5. Better Health with Long Years.* In 2008.07.07 I sent out a mailing under this title. It is the first 2 of a 9-fold regimen for Good Health. You can find it under "Archives" on our mailing - and soon on our new Website also under Archives **. The above 2 articles relate to "Scientific Walking" as given to Dr. Norman Vincent Peale by 2 Swiss Psychiatrists, and the scientific use of the Rebounder (Mini Trampoline). *6. Mentholatum.* This is a mild relaxant for sore and stiff joints and muscles, which I obtain from"Bartel Drugs." I use it on joints of neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists and fingers, knees, thighs, ankles, and especially back and hips. Many of my friends have needed hip and knee replacements. I feel no need of this at 85, and think that the above is a help. *7. Stretching exercises.* I have been doing this daily since 1971, especially for the points above. God at that time seemed to say: "Walk softly with me, and I will guide you in this area." And He did - effectively! *8. Sleep.* E. Stanley Jones - famous for "Christian Ashrams", had quite a strict habit of retiring each evening at 10 PM and rising at 6 AM. He would tell his evening guests, "Don't feel it necessary to leave just because I am retiring - but would the last one to leave kindly see that all lights are turned off, and the door is locked! He enjoyed good health up to his mid 80's, and continued to write, travel and s;peak beyond that time. His 8 hours of sleep a night no doubt had a good effect. I seek to follow his example. *9. Kombucha.* Some 10 years ago or so a friend of mine introduced me to Kombucha. There is an article on this on our Website under Archives, dated 2003.10.03. It is sometimes known as Manchurian Mushroom Tea. Health is not dependent upon any one practice, but upon a "package." This one of nine regimens on my part has been a distinctive help. *10. Heated Apple Juice with Green Tea.* This I have found not only to be beneficial, but also enjoyable. I use it several times a day. *CONCLUSION*: After I mailed out my use of the Rebounder and "Scientific Walking" several asked if I would mail out my other 7 practices for my personal health regimen. Undoubted there are others that by experience have developed better and more helpful methods than mine - but for better or worse, the above is what I have come up with. I spend an hour or so each morning in prayer over the Bible. I use an Interlinear Hebrew and Greek Bible, which I personally find enjoyable and challenging. I kneel at the Rebounder following its use, and find the kneeling helps my knees as well as my spirit and mind. God used George Muller to challenge me this way. For the last 10 years of his life, Mr. Muller knelt and read the Bible aloud 5 times a year. I have *not* reached this standard, but I do read the Bible completely through on my knees each year, and Psalms and Proverbs twice. Most of it I read aloud, some even in the Hebrew and Greek. I let the Word lead me in prayer. I also have a daily prayer list of well over 100 people, that I pray over, spending special time for those the Holy Spirit indicates. I believe God wants us to be "Living Epistles," plumb lines to show forth worship in the balance of Spirit and Truth. This balance is often missing in professing believers. We need *both*; lest we fall into one ditch or the other. It is extremely difficult to maintain daily, vital devotions for our Quiet Time with the Lord. Alan Redpath confessed that it was the most difficult challenge in his life. Satan will do anything to keep the believer from maintaining this vital, active and balanced habit. Oswald Chambers agreed with Alan Redpath, and I do too. Good physical health for the body, and a renewed mind are indispensable also. Let us be examples in the above, and we will find that God will preserve us from becomeing casualties to sin like so many in our day. Your friend - Jim Watt PS. I can take very little credit for the above. In 1947 I broke my back in a motor-cycle accident, and was in a caste for 6 months. Within 10 years I started to develop painful arthritis in my back and neck. God led me how to develop the above exercises and diet as His response. I seriously doubt if I would have the unusual health I enjoy today, had God not put me in the position of "do" or "die". So I find myself thanking Him for permitting me to have the accident of 61 years ago. It forces me to exercise my will to walk wisely: body, soul and spirit. My daughter said to me one day - "Dad, if you don't do those stretching exercises every day, you'll end up like a board!" It got my attention. I have no choice. God in His wisdom and mercy has put me in a position where I *must* seek Him for His wise guidance in all of the above matters. JW. *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Aug 26 14:17:13 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:17:13 -0700 Subject: Evangelists Message-ID: <625d7240808261417g1ea1d8b4v1d53fbec88a72dfe@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *EPH 4:11 - EVANGELISTS, eu-ag-ge-lisTES, 3x, Strong #2099* *From #2097 eu-ag-geLIzo, 55x, to announce good news, esp. the Gospel* *See ev-agGEli-on, 77x, #2098, especially the good message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God* *1. Acts 21:8 (1-14, #2099, I. Panin's NNT) PHILIP: FIRST MENTION OF EVANGELIST, ONE PROMOTED FROM A DEACON. "And on the morrow we departed, andcame unto Caesarea: and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him." *Both Philip and Stephen were lifted from the rank of deacon into the third of the 5-fold ministries. No man chooses such a place for himself - neither do men set a fellow-man into this position without receiving the Lord's mandate for this decision. *2. EPH 4:11 (1-16, #2099) EVANGELISTS: A GIFT OF CHRIST TO THE CHURCH. "And HE gave some as apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some shepherds and teachers." *Jesus *gave* these 5-fold ministries to the church. This act along with "set" in 1 COR 12:28 are in the "Aorist tense" in the Greek. We in English do not have this remarkable tense - that may appear in the past, present or future. In the above 2 cases they are both in the past aorist tense. This is a tense complete in itself, rounded off, but with continuing consequences. Application? God intends that as long as the church remains in this world, these 5 ministries, including apostles and prophets, should continue to function. *3. 2 TIM 4:5 (1-5, #2099) PAUL'S COMMISSION TO TIMOTHY AS AN EVANGELIST. "But be you sober in all things, suffer hardship, do an evangelist's work, fulfill your :ministry." *Paul took Timothy as a young man to groom him as an apostolic pastor of a city church, and as a future replacement to Paul himself. But in a secondary calling, Timothy is to function as an * evangelist* also. He was a timid young man, and needed this exhortation. *4. Acts 15:7 (6-21, #2098) PETER; FIRST TO BE COMMISSIONED TO PREACH GOSPEL TO GENTILES. "And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, YOU know that a good while ago :God made choice among you, that by my :mouth the nations should hear the word of the gospel, and believe." *Though Jesus later raised up Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles - yet in the beginning He chose Peter, the apostle to the Jewish circumcision, to first give the *gospel* to the Gentiles. God is God! In His hidden wisdom and Sovereign choice, He as our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, has the prerogative to do with each of us as He will. *5. Acts 20:24 (17-38, #2098) THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GRACE OF GOD: IS HIS KINGDOM! "But I hold :life of no account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my :course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of :God." *God's grace comes to mankind through the preaching of the *Gospel* of the kingdom. As Moses peculiarly was chosen of God as the apostle to Israel, so Paul in the New Testament is His choice as apostle to the Gentiles. By preaching the *Gospel * of the Kingdom to them, he was like Timothy also - doing the work of an * evangelist*. *6. MAT 4:23 (18-25, #2098) A KEY PART OF JESUS' MINISTRY: PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM. "And he went about in all :Galilee, teaching in their :synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every infirmity among the people." *Jesus in perfect measure exemplified all of the 5-fold ministries - functioning in perfect balance. He as it were divides Himself for His Body - us - dividing to each that ministry that is according to *His* will. In this verse we see Jesus the * Evangelist* operating. *7. MAT 9:35 (9:35-10:15, #2098) JESUS: COMMISSIONS 12 APOSTLES WITH GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM. "And :Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their :synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every infirmity." *In a more specific manner Jesus again demonstrates the office of the *Evangelist* before His 12 chosen disciples to soon become apostles. He then commissions them and sends them forth to do the same working of miracles that accompanied the preaching of the *Gospel* of the Kingdom by Jesus. *8. MAT 24:14 (1-31, #2098) A GOSPEL MANDATE OF UNUSUAL SIGNIFICANCE. "And this :gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a witness unto all the nations; and then shall the end come." *This is one of the most significant and illuminating mandates for apostles and disciples in the entire New Testament. Let us ponder it carefully. Notice the word *then*. The end is dependent upon the fulfillment of this mandate. *NOTE:* Someone in the past came up with the following analogy for the 5-fold. He took the "hand" with the 5 fingers, and gave the Apostle as the thumb, that had ready and easy access to the other 4 fingers. Next he saw the pointing second finger as the Prophet. This is quite an accurate description of what a prophet does! The middle finger is the longest, and represents the Evangelist. This ministry tends to go to "The Regions Beyond," further than the other ministries tend to go. The fourth finger is the Pastor, closely associated with the fifth finger, the Teacher. There has been some controversy over whether there is a 5-fold or 4-fold ministry delineated in Ephesians 4:11, because the latter two are separated by an "and," not a comma. However, in 1 Corinthians 12:28, the Teacher is given a prominent third position next to the Apostle and Prophet, without a mention of the pastor. This would seem to set forth a distinctive position for the Teacher. Some have noted that in Isaiah 9:6-7, Jesus is given in His Pre-incarnate state, 4 double names: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. They have linked these with Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist and Pastor-teacher, these 4. I tend to side with 1 Corinthians 12:28 to settle this problem, and therefore stick with the 5-fold. *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Wed Aug 27 15:07:16 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:07:16 -0700 Subject: Ephesians Outline & Overview Message-ID: <625d7240808271507nf9faf95o5eb51eba3a449d90@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *August 27, 2008 * * * *EPHESIANS - OUTLINE OVERVIEW - T3601R* *THE CHURCH: GOD'S MASTER-PIECE * *1. 1:3 (1:1-14, I. Panin's NNT) NINE BLESSINGS IN MESSIAH. "Blessed the God and Father of our :Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ." *Father, we see Jesus at Your right hand in heaven, full of grace and truth: our Advocate, our Intercessor and our Great High Priest. He is our Head on Your behalf. *Hallowed be your :name* *2. 2:8-9 (1:15-2:10) VISION MOTIVATES. "For by :grace have you been saved through faith; and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, that no one should glory." *Let us never forget this truth, Father! Let us always remember that we can add nothing to the finished work of Messiah on Calvary. We evermore submit to Your way of salvation! *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 2:21-22 (2:11-3:21) REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY: THE CHURCH. "Christ Jesus himself being chief corner stone: in whom every building, fitly framed together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together into a habitation of :God in Spirit." *Father, we would progress from being Your individual buildings and become Your corporate inner temple, a fit habitation for You: for You are worthy, O God. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* * * *4. 4:11-12 (4:1-16) CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTING: EQUIPPING. "And HE gave some as apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto a work of ministry, unto a building of the body of the Christ." *We have given lip service to this truth, but have not pressed in to ask for its fulfillment in its maturity. Forgive us Father, for failing to do what Daniel did in Ezekiel 36:37a, "*Thus says the Lord Jehovah: For this, moreover, will I be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them." * *Our :daily** **:bread Give us this day.* * * *5. 5:11-12 (4:17-5:14) SANCTIFICATION: INEVITABLE COROLLARY. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful :works of :darkness, but rather even reprove them; 12 for the things done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of." *Father, give us a pure mind like that of * *Messiah. We put ourselves in the way of mind renewal. We want like Job to love righteousness and hate iniquity. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors. * * * *6. 5:28-30 (5:15-6:9) LOVE RELATIONSHIPS. "Thus ought the husbands also to love their wives as their own bodies. Who loves his own :wife loves himself: 29 for no one ever hated his own :flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Christ also the church; 30 because we are members of his :body." * O God our Father, forgive us as husbands for giving lip service and mental assent to this principle of Kingdom truth, but failing so often to practice it from our hearts.* **And bring us not into temptation.* * * *7. 6:12 (6:10-24) MYSTERY OF EVIL. "For our :wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this :darkness, against the spirituals of the wickedness in the heavenlies." *Again, open our spiritual eyes to see this principle in reality. Help us not to move carnally against satan, but according to the principle of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 in a *corporate* sense. *But deliver us from the evil *one. *NOTE:* In the Fall of 1945 I purchased all the works available on Ivan Panin and his Numeric discoveries, some 20 books and pamphlets at that time. When I read the Introduction to his Greek Numeric New Testament, and that he had discovered that even the sentences, sub-paragraphs, paragraphs and sections were established by Bible Numerics, I was fascinated. I love to outline, and it occurred to me that if I summarized the sentences according to this structure, and gathered the summaries up into paragraphs, etc. - that I would be able to visualize the 27 New Testament books from God's perspective. I thought to myself - "What book should I first experiment with? Ephesians being one of my favorite New Testament books - why not try it?" It took me about a week to come down to normal living again following its completion, and following the revelation that came to me on the accomplished outlining and summarizing of this book! I was hooked. For the last 63 years I have spent well over 40,000 hours outlining, summarizing, working on an Interlinear Outlined NT based on Panin's Numeric Greek and English NT texts, plus the major Greek words of the NT. I have some 44 chapters of the Interlinear NT complete, and hope to finish the entire 27 books within the next 3 years. My third grandson is about ready to release a new Website containing these 44 chapters, plus 4 other related subjects, including 51 other outlines of the entire Bible according to the above format. As I have recently turned 85, your prayers and faith will be much appreciated for the grace and strength to complete what I believe is a commission from God. Your friend - Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Aug 28 19:19:13 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:19:13 -0700 Subject: Ephesians 4:1-16 - Outline Message-ID: <625d7240808281919t5bfc5809tcf3c9cbbb367590a@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *EPHESIANS 4:1-16 - CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT: EQUIPPING** - T3606R* *1. 4:1-3 (Panin's NNT) UNITY OF SPIRIT: BASIS FOR EQUIPPING. "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of :peace." *Father, we see one body, with each of us as members in particular! We discern Your body in one another. We cannot make it apart from You in us *corporately!** Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 4:4-6 SEVEN UNITIES: ESSENTIAL FOR EQUIPPING. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your :calling: 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all." *We bless you Father for these seven Unities! We embrace them and corporately commit ourselves to them. They are the common denominator. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 4:7 GRACE FROM HOLY SPIRIT: POWER FOR EQUIPPING. "But to each of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of the Christ." *Father, we bless You for the 'd*o*reA,' God's artesian well, the *gift* of the Holy Spirit. We thank You that through this, not only our spiritual needs, but also our natural needs are met. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 4:8 MESSIAH'S ASCENSION-GIFTS: PROVISION FOR EQUIPPING. "Wherefore He says, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts to :men." *Without the foundation-ascension offices operating in the Church, none of us will develop as we ought. Unless we as Your corporate Body accept them without respect of persons, we will lose all. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 4:9 MESSIAH'S INCARNATION: BASIS FOR ATONEMENT FOR EQUIPPING. "(Now the He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?" *Lord Jesus, for us and the departed dead, You ministered and gave forth the Evangel! Father, we trust You and Your Son in all Your purposes. Where we do not understand, we still trust. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 4:10 MESSIAH'S ASCENSION: AUTHORITY FOR EQUIPPING. "Who descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill :all things.)" *O the glory of Your workings in Your Son, our Lord Jesus, Father! You are omnipotent! There is *nothing* too hard for You! You are Almighty! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 4:11-12 (11-16) MESSIAH'S OFFICE GIFTS: TOOLS FOR EQUIPPING. "And HE gave some as apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto a work of ministry, unto a building of the body of the Christ." *Father, we bless You for the gracious office gifts flowing from Your Son. We submit to these equipping ministries, and magnify You! *But deliver us from the evil *one. *NOTE:* A text without a context - is a *pretext!* We should never seek to interpret and understand a verse of Scripture except *first* we have made a careful study of the context. This is the reason I felt God directing me to accept His commission to make an Interlinear Outlined Numeric Greek New Testament on his two NT texts. The Jehovah Witnesses offered to do this for him after the pattern of their Emphatic Diaglott. :Panin, however had to refuse their most welcome offer, because they were a Cult. Panin died in October, 1942, without realizing the fulfillment of his dream and desire. Now - he being dead - yet speaks! God understood the desire of his heart. He well realized the 50 years and 100,000 hours of labor Panin put into this project. It is for this reason I had a desire to bring Panin's work to fulfillment. It was for this same reason I have withstood at least 4 others who offered to help, but who so undercut the vision of Panin, that I have felt obligated to warn against them. Like Sanballat, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, who discovered the purpose of Nehemiah to rebuild the broken down wall of Jerusalem - they too first offered to help but were rejected. Then they sought to intimidate the Jewish workers, but were thwarted by the wisdom of Nehemiah. One without invitation sought to make an Interlinear Greek NT based on Panin - but *COMPLETELY* eliminated Panin's English text, and substituted his own, even to the point of using "washings" instead of "baptism!" Beware of such - for who needs enemies when they have such so-called friends? Back to contexts! To understand the full meaning of the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11-12 - it is essential to see them in the context of Ephesians 4:1-16, and then in the context of the entire book of Ephesians. Ephesians was the first first 6 chapters I completed of the 260 chapters of the Interlinear Outlined Numeric Greek NT. The format is along the line of Winston Churchill's speeches - and Peter Marshall's sermons. The Greek Word Studies accompanying Ephesians 4:11-12 will aid in understanding God's clear definitions. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at sk agitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Aug 31 14:13:30 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:13:30 -0700 Subject: Ephesians 4:11 - Teacher Message-ID: <625d7240808311413m7245a61fub0a2ef56c3682d84@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org** - 2008.08.31* * TEACHER** - diDASka-los, 58x, (from #1321, to teach, 97x) from Strong # 1320* *This word means a teacher and in the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man. (1) one who is fitted to teach, or thinks himself so, Heb 5:12; Rom 2:20; (5) of those who in the religious assemblies of the Christians, undertook the work of teaching, with the special assistance of the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11; Acts 13:1; (6) of false teachers among Christians, 2 Ti 4:3. * *1. John 3:1-2 (1-15) TEACHER FROM GOD: HOW NICODEMUS RECOGNIZED JESUS. "Now there was a man of the Pharisees, Nicodemus his name, a ruler of the Jews: 2 the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbei, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these :signs which you do, except :God be with him." *Jesus is the *Master-Teacher!* He is the *teacher* sent from and approved by God, and in 3 times God vocally confirmed from Heaven His approval! He demonstrated the true role of a * teacher* in front of His 12 disciples whom *He* chose to be apostles. (They did not make this choice themselves, nor did any other.) Jesus acknowledged that they called Him *Teacher*. He approved of this. It was Jesus' signs and wonders that confirmed to Nicodemus that He was sent from God as *Teacher*. *2. Acts 13:1 (1-3) **TEACHERS**: SHARED WITH PROPHETS IN PRESBYTERY. "Now in the church that was at Antioch were prophets and **teachers**, both :Barnabas and Symeon :called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul."* It was not too long - just following their first missionary journey - that Paul and Barnabas (in that order) returned as *apostles*. They formerly moved as Prophetic-*teachers*, just as Evangelists Stephen and Philip formerly functioned as deacons. It is good to ponder on the above. *3. 2 Peter 2:1 (1-22) FALSE TEACHERS: PETER WARNED AGAINST. "But false prophets arose also among the people, as among you also shall be false teachers, who shall privately bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." *Notice that *many* shall follow their lascivious ways! Do we not see a similar deception even in our day? Ministers with lives not cleansed from evil and sin and lasciviousness - their spirit will contaminate and corrupt their hearers. And do not allow such to lay hands upon you, for there is an impartation more than possible from such. And - lay hands in approval and ordination suddenly upon no man - lest you also be partaker of his sins. *4. 1 COR 12:28 (12-31) TEACHERS: SET BE GOD IN THE CHURCH. "And God has set some in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then powers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues." *We need to well understand the significance of what God has done here. There is a fuller explanation of this in the *Note* below. *5. EPH 4:11 (1-16) TEACHERS: A GIFT OF CHRIST TO THE CHURCH. "And HE gave some as apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers." *This is quite parallel to the reference above. Yet it has differences we need to note. It is *Christ* here doing the *giving*, and it places the 5-fold offices in a unique position *above* the fuller list in 1 Cor 12:28. It is these 5 *alone* who perform the "spiritual chiropractic adjustment" on the body of Christ - not the fuller list in 1 Cor 12. Here we find the "Presbytery" or Eldership that functions in a many-faceted manner. *6. HEB 5:12 (5:11-6:8) TEACHERS: MUST BE QUALIFIED. "For when by reason ofthe time you ought to be teachers, you have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of :God; and become such as need milk, not solid food." *The *teachers* in these Messianic Jewish Congregation addressed in the book of Hebrews, had backslidden from their original sharpness. They had lost the "fire" of their first love. They were no longer capable of functioning capably in the *teacher* role. They needed a "repeat" course on NT Foundations, the milk of the word, the *beginning* of the oracles of God. The last point of the 6 foundations of Heb 6:1-2 is "being borne unto * perfection!"* Don't repeat over and over again courses on Foundation Truths! - Go *on* to perfection! *7. 1 TIM 1:7 (3-11) TEACHERS OF LAW: OFTEN A FLESHLY OR CARNAL GOAL. "Some having swerved have turned aside unto vain talking; desiring to be teachers of law, though understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm." *There are *many* in the office of *teacher* - indeed in *all* of the 5-fold ministries - who are neither qualified for this office, not called to it! Only the Lord Jesus can call us to these offices, and it then must be confirmed by other mature members of the 5-fold ministries. *No man* can take this honor unto himself. The average person called to this office seeks to get out of the call - just the opposite to the above. *NOTE**: * In the late 60's and 70's of the last century, there were many special *teachers* in the land. Some designated these as Apostolic *teachers *. In 1971 and 1972 through Father Dennis Bennett of St. Luke's of Seattle and Bob Mumford, a gathering of 30 of these *teachers* met on these two successive years in Seattle. Some factiously called these meetings "Seattle I" and "Seattle II" after Vatican I and Vatican II. For one week of each of these years, 30 plus 8 local pastors met morning and afternoon each day in closed session to discuss at least four subjects causing controversy between these 30 and their larger group of 50 *teachers*. Dennis Bennett chaired these closed sessions both years. Then at night these 30 *teachers* visited in succession 5 different churches in the SeaTac Metroplex, divided into 5 groups of 5-6. Those who attended one of these venues would in 5 nights hear all 30 of these "name" * teachers* from various denominations. It was like a panorama of "Who's Who!" Through Derek Prince, these 30 *teachers* plus the 8 local pastor-*teachers *, signed a covenant that no longer would they speak against an absent brother either publicly or privately, without first contacting either this * teacher* first - or the leadership of the local church that gave him covering. This was much in line with the standards set for the 70,000 attending Wesley's "Class Meetings" of some 250 years ago. These pledges were kept on a high standard until the "Discipleship-Shepherding" controversy broke out, at which time the heatedness caused these fine standards to go by the board. So in this decade or so of the *Teachers* in the last century, we saw God bringing to the forefront the restoration of understanding of this office that Christ gave to the church in the beginning. This decade was soon followed by one of the "Prophets," and currently we are witnessing an emphasis on "Apostles." The "Healing" decade that preceded these three, restored an understanding of the "Evangelist," and how his ministry in the beginning was enhanced by the strong accompaniment of "signs and wonders," just as Jesus and his early apostles also experienced. Some say, "But all that ceased with the early church!" We can challenge such statements by asking, "And where in the Bible does it so state?" It doesn't. This conclusion is but man's theological premise, not based on the Word of God. Greek is often called the "language of the Aorist." It is worth repeating that "gave" in Eph 4:11 and "set" in 1 Cor 12:28 are in the Aorist tense. It is unique to Greek, and forthrightly asserts that these two verbs in the "Aorist" incontrovertibly set forth the offices and ministries of these two verses as being God's will to continue throughout the entire church age. Back to "*Teacher*." Consider again the 7 references above. Take a Strong's Concordance and look through the entire list of references to this from which these 7 have been selected. Jesus as the *Master-Teacher* lends great dignity to this office, as did also his 12 chosen apostolic-*Teachers*. We need a yet clearer content for *teachers* for these last days. We need the clarity, boldness and fruitfulness of a Paul's *teaching* once again. It was a a combination of thorough understanding of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, *plus* the balance of a most unusual revelation of the Spirit by the Lord Jesus in his 3 years in the desert following his conversion. This our *teachers* of today also need to understand and walk in. Then the sheep of today will not be gullible with *false teachers* and a mixture of signs and wonders, with *lying signs and wonders*. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at sk agitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Tue Sep 2 18:13:16 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 18:13:16 -0700 Subject: Romans - Outline Overview Message-ID: <625d7240809021813p25114e4ctb73efdc5269afb90@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *2008.09.02* *ROMANS - OVERVIEW - T2601R* *1. 1:16-17 (1:1-17, Panin's NNT) INTRODUCTION TO JUSTIFICATION. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is God's power unto salvation to every :believer: to Jew first, also to Greek. 17 For herein is being revealed God's righteousness from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous man shall live by faith." *Father, we glory in the Living Gospel: Jesus! In Him righteousness is *realized*! *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 3:28 (1:18-4:25) LAW SHUTS UP TO JUSTIFICATION. "For we reckon a man is justified by faith apart from works of law." *Father, You have purposed and ordained that *only* through the faith of Jesus shall any man be justified. There is salvation in *no other name!* We therefore *justify* You, Father, by believing this, and declare faith in Him and His Finished Work, as the * only* way. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 5:17 (5:1-21) ATONEMENT AND GRACE: BASIS OF JUSTIFICATION. "For if, by the trespass of the one, :death reigned through the one; much rather shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of :righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ." *In Messiah You have given us so much, Father! The reign of death, You have *overturned*! *Abundance* of grace, You have *given*. *Reigning in righteousness*, You have made a * reality*! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 8:10 (6-8) HOLY SPIRIT: PROMISE OF JUSTIFICATION. "And if Christ is in you, the body is indeed dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness." *Father, we begin dimly to perceive Your great wisdom, plan and purpose in the Gospel. It contains Your promise of the Holy Spirit through Messiah: that is, the empowerment of justification. *Our :daily :bread Give us this day.* *5. 11:25 (9-11) RELATIONSHIP OF ISRAEL AND GENTILES TO JUSTIFICATION. "For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this :mystery, lest you be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part has befallen :Israel, till what time the fullness of the nations be come in: 26 and so all Israel shall be saved!" *Father, through this we perceive the *depth* of the riches of Your wisdom and knowledge: temporary excising of Israel, that we Gentiles might come in: then - *One New Man in Messiah*! *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 12:18 (12:1-16:23) PRACTICAL OUTWORKING OF JUSTIFICATION. "If possible, as much as in you is, be at peace with all men." *Father, we thank You for the wisdom of the Spirit through Paul. We thank You that he understood the frailty of the flesh. We thank You Father, that this truth is one of the practical outworkings of justification. *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 16:25, 27 (16:25-27) GLORY TO GOD FOR JUSTIFICATION. "Now to the one able to establish you according to my :gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to revelation of the mystery kept silent through the times of ages ... 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom the glory unto the ages. Amen." *Father, we *glorify* You for Your [plan of salvation through *justification by grace through faith*! Your wisdom, love and grace humble our hearts. *But deliver us from the evil *one. *NOTE*: Romans is the gospel to the Gentiles, as Hebrews is gospel to the Jews. Both letters contain the "Foundation Truths" laid in Hebrews 6:1-2. The whole epistle of the Romans is truly an exposition of these 6 truths. Many preachers have made this their chief expository book. Some have even preached through it up to 5 times. Ern Baxter is but one of dozens and scores of these. I served under him as his associate for 3 years from 1973 to 1976, and count it as a high privilege indeed. He was a prince of preachers, a golden-tongued Chrysostom. He had preached through the entire Bible in an expository manner. He had a personal library of 17,000 volumes, and his working library was 1500 volumes. These latter he had mastered. He taught himself Greek, and his various commentaries gave him a working knowledge of Hebrew also. He had over 40 commentaries on the book of Romans alone. I met him in 1944 briefly, but in October 1948 in Edmonton, Alberta at a Latter Rain Conference, we became close friends. As a result of that friendship I led with the help of an associate in providing for him a word study on every major word of the Greek New Testament, some 4000 MS pages. He literally carried a suitcase of these manuscripts around the world with him. Bryn Jones of England carried this suitcase up to his hotel room for him on one occasion and asked,"What on earth do you have in this suitcase? Gold?" "I'll show you when we get up to my room," he replied. We all need to have this love for the Word of God. Anything we can do to gain a more accurate understanding of theBible - all the better! After all, Jesus and His Word are one (John 1:1)! Ivan Panin mastered both Greek and Hebrew in a 4 year period of time, so earnest was he in obtaining an objective and accurate understanding of God's Word. At one time, every young man preparing for the Presbyterian ministry was required to obtain a working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Romans was "the book of W.J. Ern Baxter. All his studies were like the beam of a magnifying glass - they tended to focus down especially upon this book. Donald Gray Barnhouse was minister for the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, who also majored on Romans. This book is indeed a key that will open a clear understanding to the rest of the Bible. To lack a clear understanding of "Justification by Faith" is to miss God's key to His Word. Martin Luther was transformed by this truth, and the "Reformation" starting in 1517 had its roots in this revelation. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at sk agitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Sep 6 12:07:07 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 12:07:07 -0700 Subject: Romans 9-11 Message-ID: <625d7240809061207h22984232rf001477560507a32@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *2008.09.06 * *ROMANS - 9-11 - T2606R* *1. 9:3-4a (9:1-13) ISRAEL: BY THE PRINCIPLE OF REMNANT. "For I could wish that I myself were anathema from the Christ for my :brethren's sake, my :kinsmen according to the flesh: 4a who are Israelites." * Father, we sense the travail of Paul's soul (Gal 4:19) for his nation. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper who love you (Psa 122:6). We join Paul in praying for a nation to be born in a day. *Hallowed be your :name.* *2. 9:16 (9:14-29) ISRAEL: PICTURE OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY. "So then it is :not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that has mercy." *Lord, let us not forget that we were dead in trespasses and sins, and You spoke a word of mercy, 'Let him live!' and then the gift of repentance and faith and life entered into us! We owe all to You. All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me. Lord: the Father gave us, and we have come, and You have received us. *Your :kingdom come.* *3. 9:30 (9:30-33) ISRAEL: FAILED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM FAITH. "What shall we say then? That the nations, who followed not after righteousness, apprehended righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith." *Jesus, You are the Good News of the Kingdom, and we have not stumbled at You. The Father granted us the gift of repentance and faith. O let Israel's eyes be opened, and be grafted back into the Root. *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.* *4. 10:9 (10:1-15) ISRAEL: SHOWN TRUE WAY OF FAITH. "Because if you shall confess the word with your :mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in your :heart that :God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." *We return thanks unto You, Father, and praise Your holy Name; for through this word we entered Your Kingdom. We submitted unto Your righteousness, the righteousness of God in Messiah by faith. *Our :daily bread Give us this day.* *5. 11:12 (10:16-11:12) ISRAEL'S REMNANT: HAS FAITH IN RHEMA-WORD. "Now if their trespasses is riches of a world, and their :loss riches of nations, how much more their :fullness?" *Lord, we see resurrection-life in fullness in the church coming from the fullness of Israel. O may we see antisemitism and blinding in the church to these truths - as deception from the enemy, and ungratefulness on our part. *And forgive us our :debts, as we also have forgiven our :debtors.* *6. 11:15 (11:13-24) ISRAEL: TEMPORARILY CUT OFF FOR GENTILES. "For if the casting away of them is a reconciling of a world, what is their receiving but life from the dead?" **Reconciliation* - through Jesus our peace offering! *Reconciliation* - made possible by the temporary cutting off of Israel. *Restoration of Israel* - life from among the dead for all of us! *And bring us not into temptation.* *7. 11:28-29 (11:25-26) ISRAEL: TO BE RESTORED WITH GENTILES. "As to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as to the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake. 29 For the gifts and the calling of :God are not repented of." *Israel is still beloved for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob's sake. Father, do we share this truth? Do we perceive the revelation? Does the spirit of Nazism still pollute our souls? Lord, we *reject* satan's lies. We choose to pray the prayers of Paul. *But deliver us from the evil * one. *NOTE:* Some have thought these 3 chapters to be a parenthesis. *Not so!*These 3 chapters are the very *heart* of the teaching on "Justification by Faith. Except God had in His Wisdom and Foreknowledge temporarily taken Israel out of His chose position for her, we Gentiles would not have been grafted into their Roots. But He * did* take this drastic action, and whether we are aware of it or not - our blessing as Gentiles in the Church is based on the temporary exclusion of Israel from their favored position. And if we as Gentiles see and are aware of God's great blessing toward us at the temporary expense of Israel, then what can we do to show our thanksgiving both to God and to them? According to Paul in Romans 11, in humility we can pray that the fullness of the Gentiles might soon take place, and that then in mercy God can return to His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For when He grafts Israel back into their Roots, and a nation is born again in a day - *then* blessings to Gentiles and Jews together in the One New Man will increase beyond all human conception. Derek Prince most clearly saw this whole unfolding panorama. Let us read again these 3 chapters. We should especially meditate upon Romans chapter 11. In 1991 in Yelm, Washington, I heard an Egyptian newly arrived in Canada for his life's safety as a witness to Jesus. He had many relatives lose their lives through the various wars in the past between Israel and their Arab neighbors, especially Egypt. God asked him, "Would you be willing to seek to win Jews to Me and pray for the spiritual Restoration of Israel?" "Of course not," he replied, "in the light of what they have done against me!" But God persisted - "Yet because you are Mine, and you can see My promises in Romans 11 on their behalf - would you not reconsider your reply?" My friend did reconsider his reply, and that night in Yelm brought one of the most powerful challenges for Christians on the basis of Romans 11, that I have ever heard. Years later as the head of a Missionary Movement in Canada, he was responsible in setting up a meeting between survivors of the St. Louis, with Canadians who represented the rejection of over 900 of their relatives during World War II. Over 600 of them went to Hitler's gas chambers because the United States and Canada turned this ship away. I will never forget the challenge of Romans 11 by this young Egyptian. All Gentiles need to share his deep vision and commitment to bring God's will to pass. Jim Watt PS. See Isaiah 19 for a most unusual prophecy concerning Egypt, Israel and modern Iraq! The city Heliopolis mentioned in this passage, happens to be the birth place of the young Egyptian mentioned above. J.W. *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at sk agitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sun Sep 7 13:43:34 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 13:43:34 -0700 Subject: Political Insights Message-ID: <625d7240809071343ia52d95fxfa267454346de69b@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *2008.09.07 * *2008.09.06 - Obama* *My friend "N" sent this to me a couple of days ago. In the light of such challenges, Senator Lieberman brought to the Republican Convention this week on the behalf of John McCain a word that seems to follow up on this.* *Like Lieberman, Marie and I are American first, and Republican second. We tend to vote for the Person, not the Party, and have voted Democrat a number of times in the past when we felt their candidate could serve our country more effectively than the one representing our own party. We remember the words of George Washington - that the greatest danger in the future for our nation - would be the polarization of the parties. We see too much of this today.* *After all - human beings are human beings! What we do in politics in divisiveness, we also do in the church. 2000 years ago the apostle Paul had to strongly exhort the members of the City Church of Corinth. They were becoming class, partisan and personality committed. Different groups claimed to be of Paul, Apollos, Peter and Christ. Paul's retort was - "Is Christ divided? Wasn't it Christ, not Paul, who was given and died for us?"* *Just as Americans should not allow that overall unity to be disrupted by partisanship - so Paul exhorted Christians not to be divided by movements, denomination or personalities. All gifted leaders are given by God for allof us. Luther is ours! and Calvin, Knox, Madame Guyon, Fenelon, Molinos, John of the Cross, Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Finney and Moody! All are ours, as well as the movements and denominations for whom they stand. Let us preserve the undergirding unity of both our nation and our church. One Calvinist on one occasion asked George Whitefield when in America - "Do you think John Wesley (an Arminian) will make heaven?" The Calvinist Whitefield replied, "My dear sir, when we get to heaven, John Wesley will be so close to the throne of God, that we will be scarcely able to see him!"* *That's** the spirit we need to have both in politics and in the church. ** That's the spirit John McCain has consistently modeled throughout his life.* *And when a Democrat comes to the Republican National Convention and pleads with his fellow-Democrats and Independents to vote for John McCain for the good of our country - then we ought to take note!* *Both he and John McCain gave a good word for Senator Obama. They said that he is a good speaker and no doubt sincere, and that perhaps in a few years he would gain the experience to be a true presidential contender.* *Consider then the articles released by "Investors Business Daily."* (The following information about Obama has come across my desk - it is worth reading - N.) *Here's a run down on the socialist agenda of the Democrat party's nominee for President from "Investors Business Daily."* During his NAACP speech earlier this month, Sen. Obama repeated the term at least four times: "I've been working my entire adult life to help build an America where economic justice is being served," he said at the group's 99thannual convention in Cincinnati. And as president, "We'll ensure that economic justice is served," he asserted. "That's what this election is about." Obama never spelled out the meaning of the term, but he didn't have to. His audience knew what he meant, judging from its thumping approval. It's the rest of the public that remains in the dark, which is why we're launching this special educational series. "Economic justice" simply means punishing the successful and redistributing their wealth by government fiat. It's a euphemism for socialism. In the past, such rhetoric was just that - rhetoric. But Obama's positioning himself with alarming stealth to put that rhetoric into action on a scale not seen since the birth of the welfare state. In his latest memoir he shares that he'd like to "recast" the welfare net that FDR and LBJ cast while rolling back what he derisively calls the "winner-take-all" market economy that Ronald Reagan reignited (with record gains in living standards for all). Obama also talks about "restoring fairness to the economy," code for soaking mom-and-pop business filing individual tax returns. It's clear from a close reading of his two books that he's a firm believer in class envy. He assumes the economy is a fixed pie, whereby the successful only get rich at the expense of the poor. Following this discredited Marxist model, he believes government must step in and redistribute pieces of the pie. That requires massive transfers of wealth through government taxing and spending, a return to the entitlement days of old. Of course, Obama is too smart to try to smuggle such hoary collectivist garbage through the front door. He's disguising the wealth transfers as "investments" - "to make America more competitive," he says, or "that give us a fighting chance," whatever that means. Among his proposed "investments": * "Universal," guaranteed" health care. * "Free" college tuition. * "Universal national service" (a la Havana). * "Universal 401 (k)s" (in which the government would match contributions made by "low- and moderate-income families"). * "Free" job training (even for criminals). * "Wage insurance" (to supplement dislocated union workers' old income levels). * "Free": child care and "universal" preschool. * More subsidized public housing. * A fatter earned income tax credit for "working poor." * And even a Global Poverty Act that amounts to a Marshall Plan for the Third World, first and foremost Africa. His new New Deal also guarantees a "living wage," with a $10 minimum wage indexed to inflation; and "fair trade" and "fair labor practices," with breaks for "patriot employers" who kowtow to unions, and sticks for "nonpatriot" companies that don't. That's just for starters - first-term stuff. Obama doesn't stop with socialized health care. He wants to socialize your entire human resources department - from payrolls to pensions. His social-microengineering even extends to mandating all employers provide seven paid sick days per year to salary and hourly workers alike. You can see why Obama was ranked, hands-down, the most liberal member of the Senate by the National Journal. Some, including colleague and presidential challenger John McCain, think he's the most liberal member in Congress. But could he really be "more left," as McCain recently remarked, than self-described socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (for whom Obama has openly campaigned, even making a special trip to Vermont to rally voters)? Obama's voting record, going back to his days in the Illinois statehouse, says yes. His career path - and those who guided it - leads to the same unsettling conclusion. The seeds of his far-left ideology were planted in his formative years as a teenager in Hawaii - and they were far more radical than any biography or profile in the media has portrayed. A careful reading of Obama's first memoir, "Dreams From My Father," reveals that his childhood mentor up to age 18 - a man he cryptically refers to as "Frank" - was none other that the late communist Frank Marshall Davis, who fled Chicago after the FBI and Congress opened investigations into his "subversive," "un-American activities." As Obama was preparing to head off to college, he sat at Davis' feet in his Waikiki bungalow for nightly bull sessions. Davis plied his impressionable guest with liberal doses of whiskey and advice, including: Never trust the white establishment. "They'll train you so good," he said, "you'll start believing what they tell you about equal opportunity and the American way and all that sh**. After college, where he palled around with Marxist professors and took in socialist conferences "for inspiration," Obama followed in Davis' footsteps, becoming a "community organizer" in Chicago. His boss there was Gerald Kellman, whose identity Obama also tries to hide in his book. Turns out Kellman's a disciple of the late Saul "The Red" Alinsky, a hard-boiled Chicago socialist who wrote the "Rules for Radicals" and agitated for social revolution in America. The Chicago-based Woods Fund provided Kellman with his original $25,000 to hire Obama. In turn, Obama would later serve on the Woods board with terrorist Bill Ayers of the Weather Underground. Ayers was one of Obama's early political supporters. After three years agitating with marginal success for more welfare programs in South Side Chicago, Obama decided he would need to study law to "bring about real change" - on a large scale. While at Harvard Law School, he still found time to hone his organizing skills. For example, he spent eight days in Los Angeles taking a national training course taught by Alinsky's Industrial Areas Foundation. With his newly minted Law degree, he returned to Chicago to reapply - as well as teach - Alinsky's "agitation" tactics. (A video-streamed bio on Obama's Web site includes a photo of him teaching in a University of Chicago classroom. If you freeze the frame and look closely at the blackboard Obama is writing on, you can make out the words "Power Analysis" and "Relationships Built on Self Interest" - terms right out of Alinsky's rule book.) Amid all this, Obama reunited with his late father's communist tribe in Kenya, the Luo, during trips to Africa. As a Nairobi bureaucrat, Barack Hussein Obama Sr., a Harvard-educated economist, grew to challenge the ruling pro-Western government for not being socialist enough. In an eight-page scholarly paper published in 1965, he argued for eliminating private farming and nationalizing businesses "owned by Asians and Europeans." His ideas for communist-style expropriation didn't stop there. He also proposed massive taxes on the rich to "redistribute our economic gains to the benefit of all." "Theoretically, there is nothing that can stop the government from taxing 100% of income so long as the people get benefits from the government commensurate with their income which is taxed," Obama Sr. wrote. "I do not see why the government cannot tax those who have more and siphon some of these revenues into savings which can be utilized in investment for future development." Taxes and "investment" ... the fruit truly does not fall far from the vine. (Voters might also be interested to know that Obama, the supposed straight shooter, does not once mention his father's communist leanings in an entire book dedicated to his memory.) In Kenya's recent civil unrest, Obama privately phoned the leader of the opposition Luo tribe, Raila Odinga, to voice his support. Odinga is so committed to communism he named his oldest son after Fidel Castro. With his African identity sewn up, Obama returned to Chicago and fell under the spell of an Afrocentric pastor. It was a natural attraction. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright preaches a Marxist version of Christianity called "black liberation theology" and has supported the communists in Cuba, Nicaragua and elsewhere. Obama joined Wright's militant church, pledging allegiance to a system of "black values" that demonizes white "middle classness" and other mainstream pursuits. (Obama in his first book, published in 1995, calls such values "sensible. There's no mention of them in his new book.) With the large church behind him, Obama decided to run for political office, where he could organize for "change" more effectively. "As an elected official," he said, "I could bring church and community leaders together easier than I could as a community organizer or lawyer." He could also exercise real, top-down power, the kind that grass-roots activists lack. Alinsky would be proud. Throughout his career, Obama has worked closely with a network of stone-cold socialists and full-blown communists striving for "economic justice." He's been traveling in an orbit of collectivism that runs from Nairobi to Honolulu, and on through Chicago to Washington. Yet a recent AP poll found that only 6% of Americans would describe Obama as liberal," let alone socialist. Public opinion polls usually reflect media opinion, and the media by and large have portrayed Obama as a moderate "outsider" (the No. 1 term survey respondents associate his with) who will bring a "breath of fresh air" to Washington. The few who have drilled down on his radical roots have tended to downplay or pooh-pooh them. Even skeptics have failed to connect the dots for fear of being called the dreaded "r" word. But too much is at stake in this election to continue mincing words. Both a historic banking crisis and 1970s-style stagflation loom over the economy. Democrats, who already control Congress, now threaten to filibuster-proof the Senate in what could be a watershed election for them - at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. A perfect storm of statism is forming, and our economic freedoms are at serious risk. Those who care less about looking politically correct than preserving the free-market individualism that's made this country great have to start calling things by their proper name to avert long-term disaster. *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at sk agitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Thu Sep 11 11:28:50 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:28:50 -0700 Subject: 2 Peter 3:1-18 Message-ID: <625d7240809111128n511c5c1ev6f58433c040a7c6b@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *2008.09.10 * * 2 PETER 3:1-18 - NEGLECT OF VIRTUE: BRINGS JUDGMENT, THOUGH DELAYED* *1. 3:1-7 THE CERTAINTY AND NATURE OF DIVINE JUDGMENT* *a. 3:1-4 TO BE FOREWARNED OF SCOFFERS IS TO BE FOREARMED* TAUt*e*n *E*d*e*, a-ga-p*e*TOI, deuTEran huMIN GRAph*o* e-pis-toL*E*N [1992] ; *This is now, beloved, a second letter that I write to you;* en hais di-eGEIr*o* [1326] huM*O*N en hu-poMN*E*sei [5280] t*e*n ei-li-kriN* E* [1506] diAnoi-an [1271]; *in these I stir up your sincere mind by reminder;* mn*e*sTH*E*nai [3415] t*o*n pro-ei-r*e*MEn*o*n [4280] 'r*e*MAt*o*n huPO t*o*n haGI*o*n pro-ph*e*T*O*N, *2 that you should remember the words spoken before by the holy prophets,* kai t*e*s t*o*n a-poSTOl*o*n huM*O*N en-toL*E*S [1785] tou KuRIou kai s*o*T* E*ros [4990]: *and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles:* TOUto PR*O*ton giN*O*skon-tes, *3 knowing this first,* HOti eLEUson-tai ep' esCHAt*o*n [2078] t*o*n h*e*-meR*O*N en em-paig-moN*E* [1703] emPAIKtai [1704], *that in the last of the days mockers shall come with mockery,* kaTA tas iDIas e-pi-thuMIas [1939] auT*O*N po-euOme-noi, *walking after their own :lusts,* kai LEgon-tes, Pou es-tin h*e* e-pag-geLIa [1860] t*e*s pa-rouSIas [3952]auTOU? *4 and saying, Where is the promise of his presence?* aph' h*e*s gar hoi paTEres e-koiM*E*th*e*san [2837], *for, since the fathers fell asleep,* PANta HOUt*o*s di-aMEnei [1265] ap' arCH*E*S KTIse-*o*s [2937]. *all things continue thus from beginning of creation.* *b. 3:5-7 FIRE VERSUS WATER: AGENT OF COMING DESTRUCTION* lanTHAnei [2990] gar auTOUS TOUto THElon-tas, HOti ou-raNOI *E*san EKpa-lai [1597], *For this they wilfully forget, that heavens were from of old,* kai g*e* ex HUda-tos kai di' HUda-tos su-neST*O*sa [4921], *and an earth compacted out of water and through water,* t*o* tou TheOU LOg*o*; *by the word of :God;* di' h*o*n ho TOte KOSmos, HUda-ti ka-ta-klusTHEIS [2626], aP*O*le-to [622]: *6 by which means the then world, overflowed with water, perished:* hoi de nun ou-raNOI, kai h*e* g*e*, *7 but the present heavens, and the earth,* t*o* auT*O* LOg*o* te-th*e*-sau-risMEnoi [2343] eiSIN puRI [4442], *by the same word have been stored up for fire,* t*e*ROUme-noi [5083] eis h*e*MEran KRIse-*o*s *being reserved against a day of judgment* kai a-p*o*LEIas [684] t*o*n a-seB*O*N [765] anTHR*O*p*o*n. *and destruction of the ungodly men.* *2. 3:8-13 GOAL OF DELAYED JUDGMENT: CONVERSION AND HOLINESS* *a. 3:8 JUDGMENT DELAYED WILL STILL BE FULFILLED* Hen de TOUto m*e* lan-thaNEt*o* [2990] huMAS, a-ga-p*e*TOI, *But forget not this one thing, beloved,* HOti MIa h*e*MEra paRA KuRI*o* h*o*s CHIli-a Et*e* [2094] , *that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,* kai CHIli-a Et*e* h*o*s h*e*MEra MIa. *and a thousand years as one day.* *b. 3:9 REASON FOR DELAY: MORE OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT* ou braDUnei [1019] KUri-os t*e*s a-pag-geLIas, *The** Lord is not slack concerning the promise,* h*o*s ti-nes bra-duT*E*ta [1022] h*e*GOUNtai [2233]; alLA ma-kro-thuMEI [3114] eis huMAS, *as some count slackness; but is longsuffering toward you,* m*e* bouLOmeNOS [1014] ti-nas a-poLESthai [622], *not intending that any perish,* alLA PANtas eis meTAnoi-an [3341] ch*o*R*E*sai [5562]. *but that all come to repentance.* *c. 3:10 SUDDENNESS AND INEXPRESSIBLE FIERY TERROR OF HIS COMING* H*E*xei de h*e*MEra KuRIou h*o*s KLEPt*e*s [2812]; *But the Lord's day will come as a thief;* en h*e* hoi ou-raNOI 'roi-z*e*DON [4500] pa-reLEUson-tai [3928], *in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,* stoiCHEIa [4747] de kauSOUme-na [2741] luTH*E*se-tai [3089], *and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat,* kai g*e* kai ta en auT*E* ERga eu-reTH*E*se-tai [2618]. *and the earth and the works therein shall be disclosed.* *d. 3:11-12 VIRTUE: LOGICAL RESULT OF COMING JUDGMENT* TOUt*o*n HOUt*o*s PANt*o*n lu-oMEn*o*n, *Since these things are thus all to be dissolved,* po-taPOUS [4217] dei huPARchein huMAS *what manner of persons ought you to be* in haGIais a-na-stroPHAIS [391] kai eu-seBEIais [2150], *in all holy living and godliness,* pros-doK*O*Ntas [4328] kai SPEUdon-tas [4692] t*e*n pa-rouSIan t*e*s tou TheOU h*e*MEras, *12 looking for and hastening the presence of the day of :God,* di' h*e*n ou-raNOI puROUme-noi [4448] luTH*E*son-tai [3089], *by reason of which heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,* kai stoiCHEIa [4747] kauSOUme-na [2741] T*E*ke-tai [5080]? *and elements shall melt with fervent heat?* *e. 5:13 BLESSING WILL FOLLOW DESTRUCTION* kaiNOUS de ou-raNOUS kai g*e*n kaiN*E*N, *But, according to his :promise,* kaTA to ePANgel-ma auTOU, pros-doK*O*men [4328], *we look for new heavens and a new earth,* en hois di-kai-oSUn*e* ka-toiKEI. *wherein dwells righteousness.* *3. 3:14-18 VIRTUE: A REASONABLE GOAL IN LIGHT OF SURE JUDGMENT* *a. 3:14 A SPOTLESS LIFE: A REASONABLE GOAL* Di' ho, a-ga-p*e*TOI, TAUta pros-doK*O*Ntes [4328], *Wherefore, beloved, since you look for these,* spouDAsa-te [4704], ASpi-loi [784] kai aM*O*m*e*-toi [298] auT*O*, *give diligence to be found in peace,* heu-reTH*E*nai en eiR*E*n*e*. *spotless and blameless before him.* *b. 3:15-16 DELAYED JUDGMENT: A SIGN OF GOD'S MERCY* kai t*e*n tou KuRIou h*e*M*O*N ma-kro-thuMIan [3115] s*o*-t*e*RIan [4991] h* e*GEISthe; *And account that the longsuffering of our :Lord is salvation;* kaTH*O*S kai ho a-ga-p*e*TOS h*e*M*O*N a-delPHOS PAUlos, *even as our beloved :brother Paul also,* kaTA t*e*n doTHEIsan auT*O* soPHIan [4678], Egra-psen huMIN; *according to the wisdom given him, wrote you;* h*o*s kai en PAsais e-pis-toLAIS, *16 as also in all his letters, * laL*O*N en auTAIS peRI TOUt*o*n; *speaking in them of these things;* en hais EStin dusNO*e*TA [1425] ti-na, *wherein are some hard to be understood,* ha hoi a-maTHEIS [261] kai aST*E*rik-toi [793] streBLOUsin [4761], *which the unlearned and unstedfast wrest,* h*o*s kai tas loiPAS graPHAS, pros t*e*n iDIan auT*O*N aP*O*lei-an. *as also the other scriptures, unto their own :destruction.* *c. 3:17 BEWARE OF GOSPEL SEDUCERS!* HuMEIS oun, a-ga-p*e*TOI, pro-giN*O*skon-tes [4267], phuLASses-the [5442]HIna m *e*, *YOU therefore, beloved, knowing beforehand, beware lest,* t*e* t*o*n aTHESm*o*n [113] PLAn*e* [4106] su-na-pachTHENtes [4879], *carried away with the error of the wicked,* ekPEs*e*-te [1601] tou iDIou st*e*-rigMOU [4740]. *you fall from your own :stedfastness.* *d. 3:18a ANTIDOTE: GROW IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS* auXAne-te [837]4 de en CHAri-ti kai GN*O*sei *But grow in grace and knowledge* tou KuRIou h*e*M*O*N kai s*o*T*E*ros 'I*e*SOU ChrisTOU. *of our :Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.* *e. 3:18b BENEDICTION* auT*O* h*e* DOxa kai nun kai eis h*e*MEran ai*O*nos. *To him the glory both now and unto the day of the age.* *NOTE**: *It is so important that we see "time" from God's perspective. Those in the apostles' day made serious errors in judgment and interpretation, because they failed to grasp His concept of time. Imagine, a day with Him is as 1000 years, and 1000 years as a day! To understand this is to put an entirely new concept in our thinking. Impatience then flies out the window. Then too, Peter acknowledges that his friend Paul is not the easiest teacher to understand. So many facile students feel they understand him, and miss his point completely. Peter claims that many destroy themselves by failing to understand the apostle Paul. You will find that by studying Paul in the context of Ivan Panin's Numeric Outlined Interlinear Greek New Testament - there is less likelihood of making shipwreck over the more difficult concepts of Paul. Chapter 3 of 2 Peter continues to enlarge upon chapter 2. Delay in God's timing is often because of His mercy and grace - seeking to give extra time for wise decisions. But finally, the day of grace ends, just as in the days of Noah. That is soon to take place for our generation also. Note how many big words Peter uses in the Greek. To take time to check some of these out through Strong's Concordance will be a great help. From this epistle of Peter, we can see how unwise it is to take God's grace for granted. God's desire is that each one of us understands that salvation through conversion is but the open door. It is then our privilege and responsibility to choose the way of Virtue - and to let Christ through the Holy Spirit live out the fullness of His holy life through us. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com* *TO UNSUBSCRIBE -- Please Email: jmbetter-unsubscribe at sk agitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES -- Web: http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Sep 19 18:05:08 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:05:08 -0700 Subject: For Better Health with Long Years Message-ID: <625d7240809191805h30d48cai363cabf00464e4ca@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO BOX 25116 ? Federal Way WA 98097-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 ? Email: **jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: **www.2rbetter.org* *2008.07.07 - "FOR BETTER HEALTH WITH LONG YEARS"* *(2008.09.19 - A friend of mine in Minnesota pointed out that my original instructions for the use of the "rebounder" were not clear. So this portion on the rebounder has been rewritten. I trust that it will be clearer now. My friend was right - the original instruction were not only not clear, but they were wrong also!) * I have a 9-fold regimen for good health. Two of these activities have to do with exercises. I have been sharing with others through the years. . Recently a friend of mine returned after a number of years from Hawaii, and remembered hearing from me some 10 years ago or so of these, and asked if I might write up for her the details how to make use of them. Because it takes a bit of time to do so, I felt that it is no more effort on a computer to do this for 900 than for one ? so ? here goes! Many years ago Dr. Norman Vincent Peale ? famous for his book "The Power of Positive Thinking," was lecturing in Switzerland. Two psychiatrists were so helped by his lectures, that they felt inclined to return a blessing to him. So they asked him, would you be open to our returned blessing? He assured them that he was. So they next asked, "Do you know how to walk?" "I think so," he replied. "But we mean, do you know how to walk *scientifically*?" "Tell me," he responded. Following is approximately what they told him. When you walk, try for at least a mile a day. Whether you are walking up or down hill, do not change your pace. If you share your walk with another, stop when either wants to talk. Continue on with the above pace without further talking. As you walk ? breathe in through your nose as your left foot strikes the ground twice. Then breathe out through your mouth as your left foot again strikes the ground twice. This will increase your blood circulation, your lymphatic system will be activated, and you will strengthen your lungs. Dr. Peale followed this routine daily up to his 95th year ? enjoyed extraordinarily good health, and had such a clear mind that he finished writing his last book the year of his death! I have been following the above routine, and this morning experienced more ease in walking briskly up steep hills, and more sense of strength in my lungs than in many a year. I passed my 85th birthday July 5th of this year. *Number Two.* Some twenty years ago or so I was purchasing some Vitamin Supplements at a Health Store in Puyallup, Washington.. One of the owners asked me, "Do you know how to use a "Rebounder" (mini-trampoline) scientifically?" "Tell me," I invited him. "Well," he said, "when you use the Rebounder, *don't* try like young folk to see how high you can bounce! Instead, don't let the soles of your feet leave the matting. Only rise and lower with your heels! Also, use weights in both hands, starting with 3 #, up to 5 #, or even up to 10 #." (I am sticking with the 3 #!) Following is the routine I have used myself for the past 20 years or so: 1. I breathe in to the count of 2, while lifting my weighted arms straight up and then back to my shoulders, twice. 2. Then I breathe out to the count of 2, while stretching my arms straight forward twice, bringing my weighted hands back to my shoulders each time. 3. Next I repeat 1, but for 4. I breathe out to the count of 2, but stretching my arms sideways this time, out and in to the shoulders to that same count. I do the above 4-fold routine 5 times with my left eye closed, to strengthen the muscles of my right eye, which happens to be weak for the past 81 years. Next I repeat the above with both eyes open 5 more double times.. . Then, with my weighted hands extended fully sideways, I rotate them backwards in a circular motion, breathing in to the count of two, and then while continuing the circular motion, I breathe out to the same count. I do this routine again bouncing only with my heels, while retaining the soles of my feet on the matting. I do this double exercise 11 times. I then repeat the above routine 11 more times, but now moving my weighted arms forward in a circular motion. For me, I like to keep my Hebrew alphabet up to date, so I repeat the first 11 letters of the alphabet for the backward circular motion, and the last 11 letters to the 11 forward circular motion. This also wonderfully strengthens your eyes. Just last month I went to my optometrist after a 4-year break, and he said, "Your eyes at your age are so good, that I am not prescribing any change this time in your lenses for your glasses. You do have incipient cataracts, but they are so under control, that they will actually be a help to you! Good news, and a saving of money!! All the above only takes about 6 minutes, and it not only causes better blood circulation, but it also causes the lymphatic system to be optimally activated. The lymph system has no heart to move it - only exercise does this. Out of the 22 major sports of America (walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming etc.), "Cross Country Skiing" does more for the body than any of the other 21 sports. But "*Rebounding*" is one percent even better for the body than Cross-Country Skiing! ? And you can do it indoors good weather or bad! The lymphatic system brings food to the trillions of cells in the human body, and removes wastes. If the lymph is not activated by exercise (think of couch-potatoes!) your body becomes like sludge, and your brain gets headaches and feels bad ? and no pep physically. There are a number of books on "The Miracle of Rebounding," which you can locate by a "Google" search. I broke my back severely on a motor-cycle accident in 1947. I crushed 2 thoracic vertebrae which then fused with the 3rd and 6th. I fractured the two lower cervical vertebrae, and severely injured 2 of the lumbar ones. Dr. Portnuff of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, said it was a miracle that I did not sever my spinal cord; for not knowing my back was broken, I rode another 100 miles in great pain. I was in a cast for 6 months. 10 years later I started to experience severe pain and stiffness in my total back area. By the late '40's, I despaired of being able to continue adequately in life. God then led me into a number of stretching exercises which I continue to do to this day. My daughter said, "Dad, if you don't keep up these, plus the others you do, you'll become like a board." She got my attention! I can honestly say, because of the severe back injury I received when 23, God has used it to keep me in better health at my age, than I would have been apart from the back injury. I frankly would not be wisely looking after my body the way I do, had I not been severely injured! Because of the exercise systems, I have a clear mind to do the extremely difficult preparation for Panin's Interlinear Greek New Testament (approximately.2000 pages). I am now using the Berlitz method of Hebrew phonetic pronunciation for tourists, and will soon start putting on our Website Psalm 91, in the same Interlinear format I am using for the Greek New Testament. I hope to complete the entire NT within 3 years, plus much more, and put all of this on a revised Website now being prepared by one of our 6 grandsons. "Mens sana en corpore sano!" A sound *mind* in a sound *body*! You don't have to be a wreck like I was up to 47 ? You can voluntarily learn "Scientific Walking" and the scientific use of the "Rebounder" ? and be like Norman Vincent Peale and me ? writing books joyfully right up to your golden, diamond and platinum years. Jim Watt *TO SUBSCRIBE ? Please Email: **jmbetter-subscribe at skagitattic.com * *TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Please email: **jmbetter-unsubscribe at skagitattic.com * *FOR ARCHIVE ARTICLES ? Web:** **http://skagitattic.com/pipermail/jmbetter/ ** * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Sat Sep 20 13:11:11 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:11:11 -0700 Subject: Revival Recapitulation Message-ID: <625d7240809201311ud3c179fl81178978aabee5ba@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *534 SW 326 ST - Federal Way WA 98023-5640* *Tel: 253.874.4265 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org - 2008.09.20* *REVIVAL RECAPITULATION* *Friends - in the BC Lower Mainland and Northern Washington area -* *Saturday September 27 through Monday September 29 - I will be speaking for 4 services.* *New Hope Christian Centre Park Tower* *2825 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford, BC* *Phone: 604-852-8076* *Email: nhcc at telus.net* *Web: www.newhopecentre.org* *Pastor David Rathnam has asked me to speak on the "Five Essential Gifts" (the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11[1-16] ), which I will do Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Sunday night, "Two are Better than One" Ministries as related to "Prayer Multiplication" (or Spiritual Star Wars). Monday night we will be holding a "Presbytery" Meeting, and two other pastors will be joining me for this.* *As most of you know, I am the last living elder of the 7 that led the 1948 Summer Camp Meeting at North Battleford.* *The Rev. Dr. John Roddam, Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Seattle, conducted a 5 hour, 10 segment DVD Talk Show, interviewing Marie and myself last year on 10 chief aspects relating to that time. It was filmed by Stuart Spani of N. Vancouver, who will also be present at these meetings with copies of this 3 DVD series. (It was because of this series that Pastor David Rathnam and his church set up these meetings.) John Roddam adds this note: "It was a great privilege to interview these dear saints. Their insights were profound. The DVD's are on sale through Norlynn Audio Visual Services, Vancouver, BC - go to: www.reason-for-hope.com - for $30.00 (USA or CAN) plus $5.00 shipping and handling. There are also discounts available for larger orders - please see the website!"* *Ephesians 4:11 (1-16) on these 5 Ministries given by Jesus, with the "Presbytery" Concept, are really 2 sides of the same coin, and will be demonstrated in part on Monday night. Stuart Spani is filming these 4 meetings also.* *My grandson Keelan Long is driving me to Abbotsford, and as my Web-master will be releasing for the first time a new Website majoring on the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles that came together in 1948, including the two I will teach on at these meetings.* *Dr. David Yonggi Cho of Seoul S. Korea has prophesied on at least 3 occasions starting in 1975 concerning God's plan for Canada. It concerns the time preceding the return of our Lord.* *Canada has been designated as a critical nation for God's purposes in these last days. The Kitsilano Boys Band under Mr. Arthur Delamont from 1928 to 1982, were important ambassadors for Canada, winning over 200 world prizes during the years of his leadership. I toured with them on Vancouver Island in 1943, and served under his leadership for the UBC Band 1942-1943.* *So - those of you in driving distance for these meetings - I believe we will together taste of the spirit God has for Canada just prior to the return of His Son and our King!* *Jim Watt* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jmbetter at gmail.com Fri Sep 26 13:44:32 2008 From: jmbetter at gmail.com (Jim Watt) Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:44:32 -0700 Subject: Five Essential Gifts Message-ID: <625d7240809261344x6060ec5fh5af8c45697c27a99@mail.gmail.com> "*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES* *Jim & Marie Watt* *PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116* *Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com* *Web: www.2rbetter.org* *FIVE ESSENTIAL GIFTS [5-FOLD OF EPHESIANS 4:11 (1-16)]* *THEIR RELATION SHIP TO THE PRESBYTERY (ELDERSHIP)* Pastor David Yonggi Cho of Seoul, S. Korea, gave unusual prophecies for Canada starting in 1975. Certain prophets among the New England prophets in the time of 1776, also gave an unusual word for God's purposes for Canada in the end-times. *1. George R. Hawtin,* soon after the February 1948 Visitation in North Battleford, Saskatchewan majoring on the restored "Presbytery" concept, began to teach on the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11, which really was the basis for the Presbytery. *2. The original purpose of the restored Presbytery* according to God's original prophetic word was to: - Indicate the gifting and position of each member in the body of Christ, with anointing to function. - It would find restoration through prophecy and the laying on of hands: 1 Timothy 1:18 (l:18-20; 4:14 (4:11-16); Deut. 34:9 (34:9-12) - for Joshua; Genesis 48 8-12 for Ephraim & Manasseh; Hebrews 6:1-3 (5:11-6-8) - the 4thof the 7 Foundation Truths. - Milford Kirkpatrick was selected by the Lord on February 11th, 1948, to receive the first example of what God had in mind. Besides having an apostolic indication that indeed brought him to 20 nations later on, God indicated by the Spirit that he would have a confirming gift of laying on of hands for healing. Brother Hawtin immediately invited some 20 forward with physical needs, to have Brother Kirkpatrick minister to them. God unusually confirmed the gift so indicated. - Mrs. Rasmussen, wife of a Canadian leader of those days, asked me in 1962, Do you remember in October 1948 in Edmonton giving a prophecy over me? I answered, No Ma'am. Well here is what the Lord gave you to say over me - Martha Martha, you have been busy over many things, but Mary has chosen the better part. However, I will now put into you the spirit of a Mary, and you will find that you too will be able to sit at My feet and learn of Me. Yet you shall retain the spirit of a Martha, and in balance you will serve Me in a way both pleasing to me, and satisfying to you. She then said, Do you know what nick-name my friends used to give me? *Martha!* That was the type of ministry that took place back in 1948. Strong lives were taken apart, and put together again, but with a new heavenly touch and a new fruitfulness in line with their Risen Lord. Another evangelist in those days with a fruitful ministry of 1000's present, presented himself for Presbytery ministry. Following that impartation, he went to South America, and had from 50,000 to 100,000 in his meetings, with extreme fruitfulness that went along with it. In April of 1948 I attended a meeting in the Queen Elizabeth High School auditorium in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Ern Hawtin was speaking and giving a report on what God had started in February. Never had I heard prophecies like those that preceded his message in the worship time. And those giving them were students that I knew from 1945-1946 when I attended Bethel Bible Institute in Saskatoon. This school in 1947 moved up to North Battleford, and became the Sharon Schools. I thought, "Where have I been all of my life? What is God doing that has so transformed these former fellow students of mine? And besides that, at that time they were not specially spiritual in their attitudes. Following Ern Hawtin's report and message, he told us that he felt permission from the Lord to minister prophetically over a few, and called me out first. There was up to 1000 present, and I was sitting on his right, in the second row, on the end seat. When he ministered over me first prophetically and then with the laying on of hands, he confirmed things that only I and the Lord knew. I had shared with none the things I was hearing. Then when he prayed over me with the laying on of hands, an anointing came upon me prophetically, that hasn't left me to this day. *3. The Nature of the 5-fold.* - Acts 13:3 (1-3) - revealed how certain prophets and teachers in the city church of Antioch met, and the Holy Spirit unexpectedly used them to commission 2 of their number for the first missionary trip, Barnabas and Saul. They returned from this first trip as apostles, with Paul now #1. - Acts 15:1-35. At the request of the church of Antioch through their representatives, Paul and Barnabas, the apostles and elders of the church of Jerusalem met to consider the problem, of certain of their members confusing the work of the church of Antioch in their missionary endeavors. It was a Judaizing controversy, in which the Jerusalem members were saying that Gentiles could not be Christians till they were first converted to Judaism and were circumcised. Paul in Galatians carefully and logically showed the absolute wrongness of this attitude. James the half-brother of Jesus, was apostolic pastor of the church of Jerusalem, but not one of the 12. He summed up the meeting in Acts 15:13-29, and wonderfully confirmed the wishes of Paul and Barnabas and the city church of Antioch. Notice carefully the protocol between city churches in those days, and how serious problems were wisely solved. - 1 Peter 5:1 (5:1-5) - Here Peter, though an apostle - even one of the original 12 - (though 12 additional ones are named in the New Testament) - yet here he rates himself as a fellow-elder with the other resident elders. This is a significant insight. - Now see Ruth 4:1-6 (3:1-4-17) - What we see here taking place as an Eldership or Presbytery sitting in the gate of a city or large village, represents the place where *all* problems are solved - and where they wait on God for Him, and His directions for the good of the city. *This* is what was taking place at Antioch (Acts 13:1-3) and Jerusalem (Acts 15) - as a carry-over from Old Testament times. - The Sanhedrin was a gathering of 70 elders for the welfare of the nation of Israel, though over time it could become corrupt, as it did in the time of Jesus' crucifixion. - The Eldership is a term synonymous with Presbytery (a word based on the word "elder". - All of the 5-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11 are elders. - The 5-fold Eldership or Presbytery is *not* for a local church alone - but for the City church, sitting in the Gate of the City. - Their function was not just for the modern sense of Presbytery as indicated by prophecy and laying on of hands on February 11, 1948, but for all other functions of Eldership as indicated in Scripture, Old Testament as well as New. *However*, the restoration of the function of Presbytery or Eldership in 1948 *is* legitimate, and a very important function, which will be demonstrated Monday night. This function can be both corporate and individual. On Monday we will, following a teaching session conducted by both Pastor Kirk Duncan and myself - first move in the corporate dimension, and then as time permits, with individuals. Now note: *Ephesians 4:12* *- *The 5-fold-ministries of 4:11 are* "for the perfecting of the saints, unto a work of ministry, unto a building of the body of the Christ." *- * *and a specific function for Presbytery as it relates to coordinating the various members of Christ's spiritual body. The Greek word is *ka-tarTIz**o*: perfecting, maturing, *equipping*. In a sense the 5 lumbar vertebrae of the human spinal column represent the strengthening effect of the 5-fold ministries! It takes all 5 - sitting in the gate of the city. They did this *freely* for all the local churches of that city. Each city church had its own unique Presbytery. In 1992 I had a vision, in which God had George R. Hawtin appear to Marie and myself, though he was then with the Lord. He said, "I am too old to lead in another visitation. You and Marie were with us in the beginning. You are aware of all the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles that came together by God in 1948. I pass the torch on to you. Take it, and bring to maturity the 12 Embryonic Revival Principles of that day. They shall be parameters of safety to safeguard the last day revival preceding the return of the Lord. In a sense, the united working of the Presbytery and the 5-fold ministry is the very heart of that move. What Pastor Rathnam has asked me to do in the convention, is nothing more than the fulfillment of the mandate I received from God through Brother Hawtin in July, 1992. On Saturday 27th at 7:00 PM, Sunday morning the 28th at 10:30 AM and briefly Monday night at 7:00 PM,I will be teaching and preaching on portions of the above concerning the relationship between the 5-fold Offices of Ephesians 4:11 and the Presbytery concept, as they came together in 1948 at North Battleford. As the last living elder of the 1948 Summer Camp Meeting, and as one commissioned by G