Because there's more to life than one's self, status or material things.
(for those dealing with real-life issues and who enjoy participating in stimulating discussions on issues and ideas, crave the thrill of geographic, mental and spiritual exploration and discovery and value local and global community, belonging and old and new friendships)
Ingredients in our personal care products, cosmetics, foods, water, indoor air and building materials are also dangerous to our health. How to be a safe shopper.
Sold, recycled, donated and discarded computers, PDAs and cell phones can contain recoverable private data even after a delete, format or reset. How to securely erase your data.
Are popularity, accomplishment, recognition, respect, wealth, power, fame, even religion not cutting it? Have you tried all the world’s got to offer and in doing so come up empty and unsatisfied? Feel like there's nowhere to turn? How to make your life explode with relevance.
Was Jesus just a man who married Mary Magdalene? Has the church been hiding information from us for years about Jesus? Don't decide too quickly. Examine the evidence first.
Think conclusive cases can't be made for the Bible and Jesus' claim to be the God/Man Messiah? You'd be surprised. The overwhelming mountain of factual, historical evidence is too compelling, too convincing to be ignored.
''We are living in very interesting times. Too many people are confused about what the Bible says about the future, and a lot of that has to do with confusion about Israel.'' Learn more.
If an angel or a loved one who has died appears or speaks to you, don't automatically assume it's a good angel or your loved one. Here's why.
Don't automatically assume the growing fascination with Harry Potter, witches, wicca and the occult is harmless either. Explore these controversial topics.
Don't automatically assume that New Age / New Spirituality concepts and the alternative / holistic therapies and media influenced by them are harmless. Learn more.
Does God really exist? If so...
Why does He allow so much suffering in this world?
Where does evil come from?
Do Satan and demons really exist?
Did the circle of life always exist? Or were we meant to live forever?
Is heaven inside us? Here on earth? Or is it a real place?
Do we go immediately to heaven, purgatory or hell when we die?
Does a loving God make people suffer in hell for eternity?
Does God want us to be afraid of Him? Or to love Him?
Were the 10 commandments really done away with?
Or does God still want us to keep them? If so...why?
Can we ourselves keep them?
Is obedience supposed to be unpleasant? Or a delight?
Did we evolve? Or were we created?
If created, what does that mean for you?
What is truth?
Who is Jesus?
Does it matter?
''Ask earnestly and it will be given to you.
Seek earnestly and you will find.
Knock earnestly and the door will be opened for you.''
''Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe.''
''You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.''
If you're looking for something better, I invite you to check out the following sites with an open mind and a searching heart, and see if you don't indeed find what you're looking for. What have you got to lose?
I sincerely hope you find the information on the following sites helpful. If in reading through these sites you find lasting peace and happiness, please sign my guestbook and share your story of how the information has helped you, and of what God has done for you.
Most of the links below are hidden from sighted visitors and keyword searches with Javascript. If you prefer viewing them without having to click on the category links to show them, or want to do a keyword search, or print this page, either disable Javascript in your browser, or view this links page without Javascript.
To watch or listen to the following audio and video programs, you'll need one of these media players: skip
Your Minis (a free, personalized, web-based dashboard of minis or widgets, inluding an RSS news viewer - requires Flash Player)
Goowy (a free web-based desktop environment that includes an RSS news viewer and a podcast player - requires Flash Player)
BlogLines (a free web-based service that allows you to collect, organize and play podcasts and read other RSS news)
To make your time visiting these web sites more efficient and enjoyable, use a Mozilla-based browser. For one, it's fast and stable, and for another, it has a tab feature that lets you load as many web pages as you want in the background, while reading another web page. If you have a slow connection, the tab feature will save you a lot of time.
A third reason to use a Mozilla-based browser is that you can increase the size of the text on a web page when you can't do it in the Internet Explorer browser (most web pages with small text are like that now). To make the text bigger, press the Ctrl and Plus/Equals keys at the same time.
The following ''skip'' links are for the benefit of visitors using a screen reader so they don't have to hear the whole list of links in a category before hearing the next category.
I try to keep the links updated, but some of the web sites' managers keep moving their web pages around every few weeks or months, so you may get an error page when you click on some of these links. If you come across any broken links, please let me know, and I''ll fix them as soon as I can.
You may want to save this web page to your computer so you can check out some of these links later on, and because it'll save you some time. (I have so many links on this page now that it takes 7 or more seconds to download every time you view it on my web site with a 56K or slower connection.) But since I'll be updating the broken links, be sure to resave this web page every once in a while.
To save this page to your computer:
Click on the File button in the top left corner of your browser.
The gospel, or good news, of God's character and gift of salvation is so good it's incredibly good news! Unfortunately, it continues to be misunderstood by many, robbing it of its power to change lives forever. Learn what makes the gospel such incredibly good news.
Is there compelling evidence that suggests a loving, merciful, just and involved creator and sustainer God exists? That the whole Bible is reliable and relevant today?
That Jesus existed and was our divine / human savior from hopelessness, misery, addiction, broken marriages and dysfunction and ultimately also selfishness, corruption, greed, violence, disaster, disease and death? Examine the evidence.
It's true we're saved, not by our beliefs about Bible topics or doctrines, but by Jesus' grace through the faith He gives us to believe in Him.
Does this mean it's not important what we believe about what the Bible says? That we can just ''get saved'' and go on with our busy lives? No. In fact, we need to study the Bible daily, with determination, patience and perseverance...
...to learn and understand both its surface truths and its deeper, hidden truths about God and His ways (2 Timothy 2:15, Acts 17:11), to change our character into a Christlike one (2 Timothy 3:17), and to be ready for Satan's powerful deceptions in the momentous last days ahead, before Jesus' soon coming (John 16:4).
So it simply means we need to make sure we have the right perspective, focus and motive when studying what the Bible says. We need to study it, not to support our own preconceived ideas, opinions or traditions, or our teachers', preachers' or commentators' interpretations, but to learn God's truths for ourselves.
So please keep the things listed in this category in mind, including the quotes below, when studying the Bible.
I strongly encourage you to attend or buy the research-based, Bible-supported recovery program by internationally respected counselors Ron and Nancy Rockey called ''Binding the Wounds'' or the one called ''The Journey'' to educate yourself about what behaviors constitute abuse, and if traumatized, knowingly or unknowingly abused by dysfunctional parents, teachers, ministers / clergy, friends, co-workers, strangers, etc., or burdened with genes tainted by your ancestors' dysfunctional behavior, negative emotions and stress (aren't we all?)...
...deal with the damage to your mind and character caused by these things and get freed from those thoughts, feelings and behaviors which have kept you bound in fear, anger, sadness, or feelings of worthlessness. If you're teachable, you're fixable! Learn more.
If you don't deal with the damage caused by abuse, trauma, or tainted genes, your dysfunctional and destructive thoughts, feelings and behaviors will get in the way and you won't be able, as fully, to uncover and understand the Bible's truths, and your prayers for revelation and study of the Bible won't bring the peace, happiness and complete healing you seek.
(learn more about false assumptions about God and Christianity, and why they make us so miserable and unhappy - includes information about the book)
Pray like you've never prayed before and ask God to help you understand what the Bible says, instead of trying to understand it on your own, or your preconceived ideas, opinions and assumptions will get in the way.
Carefully and prayerfully compare scripture with scripture, the Old Testament with the New, and especially Daniel with Revelation, to help you understand its truths and be ready for the momentous last days before Jesus' soon coming.
Keep the following quotes in mind.
''Our salvation depends on a knowledge of the truth contained in the Scriptures. It is God's will that we should possess this. Search, O search the precious Bible with hungry hearts. Explore God's word as the miner explores the earth to find veins of gold. Never give up the search until you have ascertained your relation to God and His will in regard to you.''
''Christ declared, 'Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.' John 14:13, 14''
''Men of piety and talent catch views of eternal realities, but often they fail of understanding, because the things that are seen eclipse the glory of the unseen. He who would seek successfully for the hidden treasure must rise to higher pursuits than the things of this world. His affections and all His capabilities must be consecrated to the search.''
''Disobedience has closed the door to a vast amount of knowledge that might have been gained from the Scriptures. Understanding means obedience to God's commandments. The Scriptures are not to be adapted to meet the prejudice and jealousy of men. They can be understood only by those who are humbly seeking for a knowledge of the truth that they may obey it.''
''Do you ask, What shall I do to be saved? You must lay your preconceived opinions, your hereditary and cultivated ideas, at the door of investigation. If you search the Scriptures to vindicate your own opinions, you will never reach the truth. Search in order to learn what God says.''
''If conviction comes as you search, if you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the truth, do not misinterpret the truth in order to suit your own belief, but accept the light given. Open mind and heart that you may behold wondrous things out of God's word.'' - Christ's Object Lessons
''God can teach you more in one moment by His Holy Spirit than you could learn from the great men of earth.''
''When the books of Daniel and Revelation are better understood, believers will have an entirely different religious experience. They will be given such glimpses of the open gates of heaven that heart and mind will be impressed with the character that all must develop in order to realize the blessedness which is to be the reward of the pure in heart[: eternal life with God].'' - Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
''Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.'' - Revelation 1:3 skip
Before studying the Bible, make a conscious decision to not use only your reason to reveal its truths. Then ask God to reveal them to you through His Holy Spirit, in combination with your reason. (John 16:13, Psalm 119:18)
"Upon the threshold of investigation of the word of God, inquirers after truth should lay aside all prejudice, and hold in abeyance all preconceived opinion, and open the ear to hear the voice of God from His messenger."
"Make up your mind that your former theories must change if they are not in harmony with the doctrines of the Bible. You are called upon to put forth diligent effort to discover what is truth."
"The word of God is to be our guide, not the opinions or ideas of men. Let those who would be truly sanctified search the word of God with patience, with prayer, and with humble contrition of soul. Let them remember that Jesus prayed, 'Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.' "
Before watching and listening to the videos in this section, I encourage you to read and take to heart the Things You Need to Know Before Studying the Bible and the following three quotes, especially the one below from the Bible Echo that describes THE most important thing we can do in these last days of Earth's history.
''The shortness of time is frequently urged as an incentive for seeking righteousness and making Christ our friend. This should not be the great motive with us; for it savours of selfishness. Is it necessary that the terrors of the day of God should be held before us, that we may be compelled to right action through fear? It ought not to be so. Jesus is attractive. He is full of love, mercy, and compassion. He proposes to be our friend, to walk with us through all the rough pathways of life.'' - Bible Echo, June 25, 1894 par. 7).
''Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.'' - Jesus, John 14:1-4
''We are living in very interesting times. Too many people are confused about what the Bible says about the future, and a lot of that has to do with confusion about Israel.'' - Pastor Doug Batchelor
Dear reader, I invite you to carefully and prayerfully study what the Bible says about the following controversial topics you've learned on your own or been taught, the misunderstanding of which Satan will be using in the last days to create deceptions so powerful...
...that even some of those who are sure their beliefs are biblical will be deceived and lose out on eternal life with God (Matthew 24:23-27):
The 10 Commandments, the Sabbath, the soul and death, getting a second chance, securing eternal life, and Jesus' second coming.
I encourage you to consider whether your beliefs about these topics really are biblical and will protect you from Satan's powerful end-time deceptions...
...or are actually the traditions of misguided men and will cause you to be deceived and to lose out on eternal life.
Your eternal destiny is at stake, so you need to make sure you get these beliefs right.
If you want to make sure your beliefs really are biblical and will keep you from being deceived and from losing out on eternal life with God, I encourage you to do one of the following:
The text on these pages is small, and the ability to adjust the size of the text in the Internet Explorer browser has been disabled. If you're unable to read the text, view them in a Mozilla-based browser (I use Firefox). Press the Ctrl and Plus/Equals keys at the same time to make the text bigger.
Or take one of the Bible courses on my Christian Links page, with an open mind and a searching heart. I truly believe that when you get to heaven you'll be very glad you did.
Here are some books that have had a powerful, wonderful impact on the lives of many, including myself, for the better. Why not see if they have the same impact on your life?
(Audio versions are available, as are e-book versions for Palm Pilot, other PDAs and e-Book readers. To download a PDF book, right-click on the PDF link and select ''Save Target As'' or ''Save Link As.'')
Request Free Literature (includes The Passion of Love - the final chapters of The Desire of Ages, Steps to Christ and The Great Controversy - only for residents of the United States and Canada)
The Great Controversy (from the fall of Jerusulem to the new Earth - my fourth favorite and the most important book you can read in today's world): skip
Cheri Peters' Story: Saved to Serve with Any Player (once homeless and on drugs, now author of Miracle From The Streets and God is Crazy About You!, host of TV show Celebrating Life in Recovery and founder of True Step, a ministry for addiction recovery)
I Found My Beloved: David Asscherick's Story (once an extreme sports enthusiast, skateboarder and punk rocker - now a pastor, evangelist and the director of a school of evangelism)
Before watching and listening to the videos in this section, I encourage you to read and take to heart the Things You Need to Know Before Studying the Bible and the following three quotes, especially the one below from the Bible Echo that describes THE most important thing we can do in these last days of Earth's history.
''The shortness of time is frequently urged as an incentive for seeking righteousness and making Christ our friend. This should not be the great motive with us; for it savours of selfishness. Is it necessary that the terrors of the day of God should be held before us, that we may be compelled to right action through fear? It ought not to be so. Jesus is attractive. He is full of love, mercy, and compassion. He proposes to be our friend, to walk with us through all the rough pathways of life.'' - Bible Echo, June 25, 1894 par. 7).
''Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.'' - Jesus, John 14:1-4
''We are living in very interesting times. Too many people are confused about what the Bible says about the future, and a lot of that has to do with confusion about Israel.'' - Pastor Doug Batchelor skip
From Atheist to Believer: Lee Strobel's Story with QuickTime or a Windows Media Player (former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune and best-selling author of award-winning books The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith and The Case for a Creator plus The Case for the Real Jesus, The Case for Christianity, and God's Outrageous Claims)
Out of A Double Life: Ken Cooper's Story with Flash Player (author of Held Hostage, was a prominent fund raiser and respected public relations official for a Christian college, but his alter ego turned him into Florida’s notorious Gentleman Bank Robber)
Treasures: Harmony Dust's Story with Flash Player (formerly in the adult entertainment industry, author of Scars and Stilettos, a graduate with a master’s degree in social work, runs Treasures, a ministry to others in the industry)
Before watching and listening to the videos in this section, I encourage you to read and take to heart the Things You Need to Know Before Studying the Bible and the following three quotes, especially the one below from the Bible Echo that describes THE most important thing we can do in these last days of Earth's history.
''The shortness of time is frequently urged as an incentive for seeking righteousness and making Christ our friend. This should not be the great motive with us; for it savours of selfishness. Is it necessary that the terrors of the day of God should be held before us, that we may be compelled to right action through fear? It ought not to be so. Jesus is attractive. He is full of love, mercy, and compassion. He proposes to be our friend, to walk with us through all the rough pathways of life.'' - Bible Echo, June 25, 1894 par. 7).
''Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.'' - Jesus, John 14:1-4
''We are living in very interesting times. Too many people are confused about what the Bible says about the future, and a lot of that has to do with confusion about Israel.'' - Pastor Doug Batchelor skip
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