Bible Q&A with Wes White - Who Should We Judge?
Here’s a question: “Doesn’t the Bible say to cry aloud and spare not and show my people their sins? For that reason, shouldn’t I clearly and loudly tell people I know (like friends and neighbors) when they’re sinning?”
Let’s read Isaiah 58:1. It says:
Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression. And to the house of Jacob their sins.
This is clearly a command in the Bible.
Thy Kingdom Come
Those of us who kept the Feast of Tabernacles are returning or have returned this week. I love the Feast of Tabernacles. It is always sad, though, when it is over. It is such a blessing to be able to partake of God’s Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. It is a joy to be around His people for eight days, to hear good inspiring messages, and make friends. It gives us a tiny glimpse of what we all hope for and yearn for, the Kingdom of God. I know that the Kingdom of God will be much more enjoyable, but I am grateful to be able to at least get a small glimpse of the Kingdom when I am at the Feast.
Modern Miracles
It’s the Sabbath in the Feast of Tabernacles 2015. As I sit here on the beautiful emerald coast, I am amazed at seeing a modern-day miracle. With this particular miracle, I can’t help but think of 1 Corinthians 12:10, where Paul is describing spiritual gifts: “to another the working of miracles…”
I was watching some of the effects of a powerful storm that hit the East Coast of the US. What a disaster! This is no doubt hurricane season. As of Thursday, there is another hurricane following, and this one is a category 3. It is headed for Cuba and Jamaica. So I keep watch on this storm by using the modern-day storm trackers.
Why Do You Keep These Days?
I don’t know how many times over the years I have been asked, when I had to take off from school or work for God’s Holy Days, if I was Jewish. It never offended me at all. I have family members that are Jewish, but I just found it interesting this misconception of God’s Holy Days as being only Jewish Holy Days. I know it is at the fault of some Bible translators and scholars who have called God’s appointed times (moedims) “Jewish” Holy Days, or the Feasts “of the Jews.” Yet, is it true that God’s Feasts are only meant for the tribe of Judah?
Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God is Humanity's Solution
Believe it or not, there are Holy Days described in the Bible that, if understood, would enable mankind to understand what God is actually doing on Earth—how He’s going to accomplish His salvific plan of converting humanity from mortal to immortal and provide entrance into His Kingdom on Earth.
Specifically described by the latter half of the Holy Days, the sequence is made clear as to what and how God is going to keep man from self-destructing.
Reaching Your Potential (Part 3)
We must remember what and who we are fighting. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). The enemy is in control of this earthly realm and he manipulates our thoughts and our actions. Quit giving in to propaganda, such that the media, movies, and music provide us. We must set ourselves apart and remember that we are on the side of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We must challenge ourselves every day to overcome this world and to control our fleshly desires. Am I saying to not enjoy life? No. I am
Mercy that Never Fails
Atonement is nearly upon us. The first thing that probably pops into our heads is the fact that it is a day of fasting. Last year, I wrote about how fasting allows us to focus more on God and our Messiah rather than food and drink, thus having a day where we are “at-one” with God. This is the only day in ancient Israel that the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. We now have the ultimate High Priest always in the Holy of Holies, and He allows us to have access to our Father through Him.
Well, this year I wanted to focus on something different. I wanted to look at a deeper fast other than abstaining from food and drink.
Bible Q&A with Wes White - Is the Bible Anti Women?
We have a question from someone who asks, “Was the apostle Paul anti-woman?”
In short, the answer is that Paul absolutely was not anti-woman. Let’s look at what the Bible tells us about Paul. When we look at the writings of Paul, the first thing we find is that women labored side by side with Paul.
Philippians 4:3 tells us.
“And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with my other fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.”
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
The Feast of Trumpets is right around the corner to mark the beginning of God’s fall Holy Days, and the end of His Holy Day calendar. I know that sometimes it is really hard to wonder if the fulfillment of the fall Holy Days is ever going to happen, but we must accept that God’s time is much slower to us than our time. One day to Him is like a thousand years. We may think He is taking His time, but to Him it is going by really fast.
We also have to understand that God doesn’t wish any to perish (2 Pet 3:9). We may think that He needs to speed things up, but may be saying not yet because He wants more to come to Him and be saved.
Bible Q&A with Wes White - Does the Bible Condone Rape?
Now, before we answer this, we’ve got to stress that rape is a horrible, heinous crime and sometimes people seem to minimize its damage. Even some Christians.
There are so many women out there who have been sexually abused who suffer emotional damage-- long after the actual crime was committed against them. And sometimes people say ridiculous things to a rape victim about how she should get over it or she needs to forgive or she needs to quit thinking about it.
Bible Q & A with Wes White - Are We living in the End Times?
Let’s not mince words. Let’s cut to the chase. Yes! We are living in the end times!
Now, before you get too excited, I want to give you a warning. If some minister ever tells you that we are living in the end times, you should challenge him. You need to ask him for specifics. You should ask him things like this:
Turned Upside Down
Have you ever had a life moment where everything changed in a blink of an eye? Like someone just flipped a switch in your life, and it wasn’t in a good way. I have had those moments in life where you wish it was all a bad dream, and you could wake up and everything would be back to the way it was. I know some people that had these life-altering moments this week. It is as if your life just got flipped upside down, and it takes everything inside you to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
These times are moments that really test our faith. Will we allow the trial to make us bitter towards God?
Firsts
You know we have a lot of “firsts” in our lives. The day we are born is the first day separate from our mother’s womb. We have first days of school and first days of work. First days have to happen every time we do something new, and sometimes those first days can bring a flood of anxiety.
This week was the first day for my kids to go to public school. I am a homeschooling mom that decided to do something different this year. After much thought and prayer, my family and I decided to give public school a chance. I am for a good education. I have friends that homeschool, friends that send their kids to private school, and friends that send their kids to public school.
Is the Dollar at Risk?
Many are concerned a “storm” is coming! Off in the distance, what sounds like thunder can be heard, or maybe it’s the “hoof-beats” of approaching “horses”––but some are predicting the conditions of a “perfect storm” might be developing that could lead to an economic collapse of global proportions before the year of 2015 ends––should we be concerned?
Can this be true?
People in the financial community as well as some voices from religious circles are heralding there are “buds on the fig tree” that warn of major calamities coming our way, here in North America, and throughout the rest of the world.
Walk in Another’s Shoes
“You never really know a man until you understand things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1960).
We have all argued with someone. Maybe you had an argument yesterday or last week. The fact is, humans argue. Do you ever think that the person you are arguing with is just not hearing you? Do you find yourself thinking one or all of the following?
Reaching Your Potential (Part 2)
One of my coaches once taught me something that has been engraved in me ever since: Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. So practice making your practice perfect. In other words, challenge the way you think, the way you behave, and everything around you. Act 17:11 states, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” When you change the way you think, you will change the way you view things, but we must be open to new interpretations. First Corinthians 13:12 reminds us, “For now we see through a glass, darkly.”
Love Waxed Cold
Most days I wake up and wonder how we got to such a state! Before I can open up the latest issue of the Wall Street Journal, I can see images of a world with so much pain and a lack of love for thy neighbor, images of the latest bombing victims, mass shooting, etc., on the front page. “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). It’s become so common place that many of us are shocked when we turn on the news and we don’t hear about the latest mass shooting, mass bombing, murder, robbery, etc. How do we maintain our empathy and love for one another?
Reaching Your Potential (Part 1)
My biggest fear is to not reach my full potential according to God’s Word and His will. I believe full-heartedly that God’s will for each of us is to obey His commandments. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thy self” (Luke 10:27). I believe that there is a difference between knowing God and doing God’s will. My dad taught me that the difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people do what unsuccessful people do not want to do.
Go the Extra Mile
Do you ever have that moment where someone asks you for a favor, and you really don’t want to do it? Maybe you are tired, maybe you are just not in the mood, but there really isn’t anything pressing that would stop you from helping. The only thing keeping you from helping the person is, you just don’t want to.
When I find myself in these situations, I ask myself, “What would the Messiah do?” I know that my attitude isn’t right, and I can go straight to Scripture and listen to His exact answer.
Fight Fire With Fire, You’ll Get Burned
Have you ever been around an angry person, someone that reacts to situations in a volatile way or harshly? Dealing with difficult people is hard. People can be downright mean. It may be tempting to desire retaliation. But, we are called to a higher purpose. We are to return cursing with blessings (Luke 6:28), hate with love (Luke 6:27), a harsh word with gentleness (Prov 15:1). We are to fight fire with water.
When we react to fire with fire, we can set the whole situation ablaze, making it far worse than it was in the beginning. Fighting rage with rage only creates more rage. There is no room for peace. Our society seems to be full of people who just want to keep the rage going.