FREE BIBLE TRACTS (LEAFLETS) FROM OUR CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP AT CHRISTIANWITNESSES.COM (Part of a helpful arrangement for Christian fellowship not an organization with a hierarchy of officials) Make and distribute all the copies you want.  For example go to the top left side of your computer screen, click EDIT the use the cut, copy and paste features to put a copy of any or all the items onto a word processor, then print out copies. Currently there are about thirty leaflets on this page, and more will be added soon.

WHAT WOULD CHRIST SAY TO YOU? Many years have passed since I last saw my mother alive, and yet I often hear her and my dad who had died a decade before her. Often when I am perplexed about something I think of them and within my mind I can hear them speaking.  Moma’s voice was soft, dad’s was deep and well-measured.  I was with them so long and heard them so often that I just know what they would tell me if still here alive. That’s how it is with Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  If we read the Bible often then what he said for our benefits also grows to be a part of us.  He’s family.  We come to know what Christ would say to us personally about doing this or that. He spoke and keeps speaking to people even after some 2,000 years via the Bible.  The Bible is said to be a lot like Holy Spirit made tangible.  When you read and study the Bible, you gain more Holy Spirit.  The Bible is our perfect Teacher. (2 Timothy 3:16) So the purpose for this tract or leaflet you are reading is to encourage you to also make Christ part of your lives.  In this way you will have the best of all examples to help guide you through life. And, you know, we really do need that.  Yes, we need a perfect friend (Proverbs 18:24), for the world about us has so much imperfection, so much crime, violence, disease, dangers in general.  Christ, we can and do trust.  It’s natural for Christ knows his sheep and they in turn know the voice of their master, the great shepherd. (John 10) christianwitnesses.com

NOAH'S FLOOD Geologists William Ryan and Walter Pitman have a theory about 7,500 years ago when the Ice Age ended and glaciers melted.  They believe a wall of salty seawater suddenly thundered through what is now the Bosphorus Strait at 200 times the force of Niagara Falls from the Mediterranean into what is now the Black Sea but was then a freshwater lake.  Daily it lifted the water about six inches (15 centimeters) and flooded coastal farms.  Possibly this event also helped form the basis for the story of Noah's Flood. The Bible itself says the Flood covered the entire "earth" or, in Hebrew "erets," and the word erets can mean either the whole planet or a very large land area.  But in any case it was not just another large yearly flood.  In 1999 and 2000, Robert Ballard who had previous discovered the ship Titanic found clear evidence that the Black Sea had been a freshwater lake.  They also found the remains at its bottom of a home site and a ship, supportive of the geologists' theory. This is not to say one way or another that the catastrophic Black Sea flood was or wasn't Noah's Flood.  It is to say, though, that this is interesting and worth watching in the future too. christianwitnesses.com

THE COAL-MINER'S WIFE One hot summer night in 1905 a coal-miner's wife suddenly had to get help for her husband whom she had just put to bed in great pain.  He had been injured near their house when a wagon slid off a steep hillside killing the horses pulling it. The woman, Grace,  ran as fast as possible through a steady drenching rain for a doctor's home five miles away though the land still had wolves and cut-throats roamed about. Once she stumbled and lay praying, feeling exhausted and all alone. Suddenly a friendly bark sounded and her pet dog, Yeller, was there licking her face.  She hadn't been alone after all. Within a couple minutes she made it to the bright light of the home where the doctor was and he came at once to save her husband's life. Bad situations occur, making us feel alone or indeed totally isolated.  But this reminds us that even if we find ourselves in similar situations, there is still hope and sometimes friends, even unseen ones, who can show up to offer comfort.  Maybe we just need to call out or wait a little longer.  Minutes can help.  See?   Please think about it.  Light always overcomes darkness though it may take a while.  And a good shepherd does look for the lost sheep.  (Lu 15:4)    christianwitnesses.com

HOW ARCHAEOLOGY IS ANSWERING BIBLE CRITICS BIBLE DETRACTORS ANSWERED: In Biblical Archaeology Review Hershel Shanks has defended the Bible as opposed to Herzog who attacked it.  This summarizes some points made by Shanks over Herzog and other critics.  For example, to start, critics claim no proof shows Israelites were in Egypt or that 2 million wandered the desert before entering Canaan despite Exodus 12:37, but they do admit many Egyptians note the custom of nomadic shepherds to enter Egypt during periods of drought and hunger, camping at the edges of the Nile Delta.  Also the Egyptians say these shepherds settled in exact area the Bible says the Israelites settled. An Austrian archaeologist found a 4-room house commonly associated with Israelites in Goshen in the Nile Delta where the Bible says Israelites settled. An English Egyptologist noted the price Joseph's brothers sold him at was the price at the time when the sale is believed to have occurred.  It was not the much higher price for a slave critics allege was used at the time the story was written.  Critics admit in the mid-second millennium Hyksos foreigners ruled Egypt.  In telling of ancestors most people say they were of royalty or gods so the Bible saying Joseph’s descendants were slaves rings true. Israelite settlement of Canaan is accepted as in Iron Age I, (1200-1000 BC) when "hundreds of small settlements were established in the area of the central hill region of the Land of Israel" but critics say settlements in Ancient Israel developed from many groups. The Bible itself says not only 12 tribes exited Egypt with Moses but a vast mixed throng of peoples with them. Some tribes like Asher and Dan were associated with ships (Judges 5:17), Ezekiel 16:3 says "By origin and birth you are from the land of the Canaanites—your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite."  Shechemites were circumcised then accepted into Israel. (Ge 34) Gideonites were also of the Canaanites.  Uriah was a Hittite of high rank in Israel. Critics say archaeology does not show a sudden conquest of Canaan by Israelites. Although Joshua says some cities were attacked and taken suddenly Judges shows the conquest was in general continual, supportive of the archaeology. Excavations at Jericho and Ai do not show cities there when it is believed the Bible indicates Joshua conquered them, but on the other hand Hebrew University archaeologist Amnon Ben-Tor notes that Hazor was likely destroyed and burnt by Israelites just as Joshua 11:1-11 says. Archaeology supports the Bible as to the time of year when the walls fell although the date has so far not agreed with when Israelites are supposed to have appeared. Critics deny the United Kingdom under David and Solomon existed or that those kings existed.  A huge stele excavated by Avraham Biran at Tel Dan mentions the House (Dynasty) of David. Critics say ancient Israel more than one god till late in its history. The Bible says though some Israelites reverted to worshipping other gods the one Almighty God was Yahweh. Critics say thousands of clay figurines found, especially in Jerusalem, prove Israelite were polytheists but as said some revert to worshipping many gods, and such figurines were sometimes not used for worship but as items of tangible proof their possessors were rightful heirs of family properties. christianwitnesses.com

A CHILD’S PRAYER “Dear Father in heaven.  Forgive my sins.  I try to forgive others and I love you so much.  I want to talk to you about my family tonight.    Aunt Mabel won’t speak to us because Daddy and Mommy don’t want to go back to her church.    I know You know everything but I just want to talk about it.  My cousin Minnie died last year.  Daddy and Mommy say Auntie’s church told her to have Minnie die instead of get the help she needed.   So I understand why they don’t want to go back to that church.  But Aunt Mabel is so sweet.  I pray she will understand she did something wrong.  I sure wouldn’t want to die like Minnie.    I loved Minnie and she was so so little.  My dolly is bigger than she was.  I miss her but know she’ll be resurrected.   God, I know you can do anything You want.  I just need to pray and pray.  So I do!   Through Jesus I pray.  Good night, God, my Father in heaven.”

ARBOR (TREE) DAY After becoming an elected official, journalist J Sterling Morgan he began Arbor Day to encourage tree planting in the USA state of Nebraska which had relatively few trees.  Arbor is from Latin, and means Tree. The first unofficial Arbor (Tree) day was April 10, 1872 when some 1 million trees were planted. It was made an official holiday in Nebraska and observed April 8, 1874. Other states began observing the day usually the last Friday in April.   Some USA presidents have proclaimed national Arbor Days, and many other nations now also observe it, often calling it Arbor Day or Tree Day.  There never were any pagan origins to the date and there is absolutely no reason why Christians cannot observe the day in good conscience. christianwitnesses.com

CHRISTIAN WAR ON CRIME James says that to be approved by God we must not have "friendship with the world" by which he means not the world in the sense suffering humanity in general, including victims of crime, but rather that we must not be friends of the world in the sense of wicked violent people. Now surely complaining, even preaching about crime does only limited good compared to carefully but surely fighting it! And so why not consider practical methods for doing so. You might try and do some things like these: get yourself, family or friends to meet and do some of the following regularly: after an in-the-home Bible reading go pick up area street or roadside trash; erase or paint over grafitti; drive seniors to shop so they can avoid thugs; work with a PTA to get children safely escorted to and from schools, or to get "safe houses" set up for them to go to if bothered; strategically post or distribute the police department's phone number about the neighborhood; report suspicious activities to police; discreetly camcord high crime areas and post that it's being done; support and work with the police. (Ro 13:1) We can post or leave about leaflets with scriptures teaching honest work, supporting one's family, faithfulness, other virtues working against criminal sexual conduct; read in the papers, call the library reference people or city hall to find out whom to present with a petition that calls for curfew enforcement; surf the net to find other useful ideas. christianwitnesses.com

THE LOST LITTLE GIRL A little girl was lost from her parents deep inside a vast forest.  Night came and the winter wind was biting. She asked God what to do and in her mind's eye came the picture of a squirrel which had lost its leafy tree house.  What would a squirrel do if there were no other tree homes to enter?   She made a pile of leafs, burrowed beneath them, prayed more to her heavenly Father, and soon fell asleep. Yes, she survived to rejoice along with her human parents who found her the next morning. Those who are adults also sometimes feel as if lost in the deep forest of life.  When that happens we can ask questions such as, in this situation, what would not just a squirrel but the very best role model ever do for me?  Yes, what would Jesus Christ advise that I do? And then, yes, an answer will come, at least provided we have thoughtfully read the Bible about Christ’s life and sayings.  Of course, we may not like the answer, but indeed there is an answer, and often more than one.  christianwitnesses.com

WHY MOST CHRISTIANS DO CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS AND ITS BIBLICAL BASIS Luke 2:6 says that angels celebrated Christ's day of birth, many who read first Job 1:3 and then Job 3:1, 3 believe it is clear the banquet days Job's children celebrated were birthdays, and Jude 12 says the earliest Christians enjoyed balanced merriment at "love feasts." Those against birthdays ignore the preceding positive verses and say that in the Bible the only birthdays that are mentioned are in negative contexts, namely at the birthday of King Herod when he had John the Baptizer's head chopped off, and when an ancient Egyptian was slain. They are also wrong to say "mature" Christians don't celebrate birthdays. In fact most Christians view a birthday as a time for honoring the One who caused such happiness, the Creator of Life Himself, and it is also a way of showing the person who receives a birthday that they are loved, not "worshipped" as those against birthdays have sometimes said. The detractors also claim that cakes, candles and making a wish are ungodly. Although non-Christian groups do also use cakes, candles and make wishes, the majority of Christians, being for birthdays, note that the parallel use of those do not make the usages wrong any more than it is wrong for a Christian to use a hammer since non-Christians also use hammers or a pagan may have made the first hammer. How something is used is more important than that it is used. For example, if a person used a hammer as an idol, say, with the head of a god and with praying to it, then how it was being used would not be Christian, but if a person uses a hammer to simply build a house for a homeless family, then how it is used is Christian. Consider too that Galatians 5:22 says that one of the fruits of God's Holy Spirit is "joy," and so there is every reason to ignore misinformation about birthdays and continue in joyful celebration. Christian parents should definitely feel free to keep the eyes of their children lit up with happiness whenever their days of birth come. LEARN MORE http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Birthdays http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Happy_Birthday_ to_You http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Birthday_ cake christianwitnesses.com

PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP At Matthew 18:10-14 Christ says "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones.  For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.   In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." christianwitnesses.com

FOOD AND BIBLE HEALTH TIPS  From reading the Bible it's clear that we're to treat the body like a marvelous temple, moderately exercise, especially guard the heart, avoid anger, dangerous sex etc but can enjoy events like weddings, birthdays like Job's children had (Job 1 & 3), Christian parties (love feasts), singing at get-togethers etc. We learn wholesome foods help more than rich ones (Da 12:1), but to avoid fat and the over-eating of meat although a little bit of meat was eaten as shown by the fact that Christ himself ate some fish. The first foods that God gave humanity were seed-bearing vegetations (cereals, etc) and fruits (Ge 1:29). In Genesis, Jehovah ordered that blood not be eaten and although Acts 15:19-20 etc re-confirmed what He said. 1 Samuel 14:32-35 clearly says that Jehovah forgave an entire army of men who ate unbled meat in order not to die from starvation. They only had to build an altar to Him to show repentance. Therefore, we do best to not eat blood puddings for example but in an emergency situation such as a modern auto accident, this does not forbid the use of blood as in transfusions. Read Matthew 12 carefully if still in doubt that He puts principles such as love and mercy above rules or laws, even His own, in order to preserve life. The Bible mentions foods such as honey, dates, figs, apples, grapes, leeks, onions, olives, stuffed cucumbers, beans, lentil stew, flourporridge, beef, bread, fish, quail, partridge, pigeons, locusts fried without limbs and heads, eggs, wheat, barley, millet, spelt, dill, cumin, coriander, mint, salt, garlic, rue, mustard leaves, wine vinegar, wheat beer, a little wine, water, milk, cheese, a pomegranate fruit drink, a little wine, sweet cakes, fig cakes, almonds, pistachios. This doesn't mean, of course, that anyone today has to eat just those foods. In fact, the Bible counsels allowing each person his own convictions on matters which it does not directly address. christianwitnesses.com

WHAT AGNES DID Short and frail, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born n 1910 in Europe.  By 1928 she had joined the Sisters of Loreto, a Catholic order of nuns.  Before that date she had never thought of becoming a nun even though she admired missionary work.    She was sent to India where she taught history and geography for 15 years to wealthy girls.  Then one day in 1948 before a Calcutta hospital, she helped a poor woman until the woman died.  It seemed a shame to her that the poorest of the poor should have to die in the street as if trash or garbage. Now inspired to action, Agnes began helping the poorest people of India by founding the Missionaries of Charity and helping it grow earthwide to over 517 missions.  In 1952 she began the Nirmal Hriday Home for the Dying.  She felt called by Christ to help poor and unwanted people in the slums to die in peace with dignity regardless of if from old age, TB, AIDS, leprosy or starvation.  Seeing Christ in all persons, she wrote "By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun.  As to my calling, I belong to the world.  As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus." In 1979 she won the Nobel Peace Prize.  Agnes herself suffered from heart problems and malaria.  In 1997 Agnes finally died in India at age 87, loved  by many many people of all nations, races, castes and religions and also known by many no longer as Agnes but “Mother Teresa.” She once wrote “People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.  Love them anyway.   If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives.  Do good anyway.  If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies.  Succeed anyway.  The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.  ""Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable.  Be honest and transparent anyway.  What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.  Build anyway.  People who really want help may attack you if you help them.   Help them anyway.   Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt.  Give the world your best anyway.” christianwitnesses.com

GOD'S LOVE VERSUS ARMAGEDDON FEARS Many people wonder even intensely worry about Armageddon.  At Matthew 24 Christ gave signs to mark when he returned or was present for full Kingdom power on Earth, namely: notable wars, diseases, famines, earthquakes.   Some like the Watchtower Society over Jehovah’s Witnesses, have said 1914,  etc marked his return and within a generation of “70 or 80” years "Armageddon" destruction would follow ending human civilization as we know it or the lives of almost all people on earth.  The 9-11 terror destruction in New York, AIDS; prophecies or predictions by ancient Mayas, Nostradamus, Newton, the Bahai’s and the Watchtower Society over Jehovah’s Witnesses; the H1N1 Swine Flu, tsunamis in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, hurricanes in the Caribbean and the U.S. Gulf have also made people wonder, worry or fear.  Was 1914 a year marking the end of or the soon to come end of human civilization in line with Armageddon?  Consider: WARFARE: 40 million people died during 1850-64 in China, World War I slew 10-12 million, but World War II killed 54 million people, and Communist China 1925-76 had up to 100 million deaths.  DISEASE killed 95 million Amerindians during 1500-1800, 100 million Mediterraneans died during 542-565 A.D.  Spanish influenza killed only 20 million worldwide 1918-19, AIDS has so far killed more than 20 million from 1985 onwards.  DROUGHT: In 1876-79 China had 9-13 million deaths. Thanks to international humanitarian efforts, nothing around 1914 or since has approached that figure.  EARTHQUAKES did not increase in number or intensity during 1900-99 but yearly our ability to detect them has improved.   Probably the worst known was a quake in 1201 which slew 1.1 million around the Mediterranean. So the worst wars, diseases, droughts and earthquakes do not match the date of 1914.  There have been incorrect predictions with many other dates for Christ’s return and Armageddon throughout history.  This includes numerous mispredictions by the  Watchtower Society and JWs, dates including 1874, 1925, 1975. (much published on the internet) etc. At Matthew 24:21 Christ said his return would also bring great tribulation or persecution such as had not been since the world began. At Matthew 23:34-36 he explained that persons in his own generation would see this start.  From then until now we find a continuous persecution of Christians in land after land, among which the Islamic-dominated nation of Sudan, Africa, is a recent example.  This period of persecution or "Great Tribulation" is great not only because of the deaths of some but also because of its length, having lasted some 2,000 years now.  It did not begin in 1914 or at any other fairly recent date but all the way back to the slaying of Christ, Stephen and other early slain Christians. Note that Christ also said “a wicked generation keeps seeking a sign but it only gets Jonah’s sign”.  Jonah was inside a whale three days and Christ was in death three days before the Father resurrected him; so his resurrection is the only sign needed.  Christ added that “NOBODY” can know the hour or day of the end of the "aion" (a Greek word meaning age or time period) instead of "world" as some have mistranslated it. (Matthew 24:36)  In fact God has said in the Bible that men making false statements like the predictions of dates for the end of earth or civilization as we know it are presumptuous men and we are not to fear them. (Deuteronomy 18:22) So, if Armageddon predictions have ever scared you, it should now be a lot easier to put those worries aside.  Science and the Bible do agree that eventually our planet will not exist but the Bible also adds that there will come to be a new heaven and earth and some scientists also believe that after our planet and universe have ended a new heavens or universe and a new earth will come.     If you want to focus on having picnics with your family, enjoying hiking, having an actual fun vacation, those are fine in the eyes of God.  His Way is love.  Galatians 5:22 speaks of fruits of the Holy Spirit being love, joy, etc, all positive things.   Caution and concern are natural, but too much negativity can only bring an increase in mental depression down upon oneself and others. Too many people for way too many years have wasted too much of their lives and the lives of others in needless fear.  God’s will is that people live normal, balanced, enjoyable lives.  Please don’t let Armageddon fears rule your lives, but rather let God’s Love rule.   Feel free to make and share copies of this. christianwitnesses.com

WILLIAM CAREY, FOUNDER OF MODERN MISSIONARY WORK William Carey was born into poverty in England,  became a Baptist preacher who believed in sending missionaries to India although others didn’t.  It  cost a lot but he published a book on the topic in 1792 and gave a talk including Isaiah 54:2-3 to his peers on this. His persistence worked and  he and John Thomas were sent.   His wife Dorothy refused to go with their children but he persisted so she did. They lived in Malda seven years where he worked in an indigo factory and persisted in learning native languages although unable to convert any natives.  Dorothy’s mental and physical health fell after their son Peter died in 1794, but they persisted.   Carey moved them to Serampore near Calcutta to help newly arrived missionaries, persisting the next 34 years.  There 10 missionaries and 9 children happily kept things in common largely due to Carey’s kind demeanor and ability to see good more than imperfections. The group set up schools, printed and Carey persisted in translating Bible books into Bengali, Sanskrit and other languages.   Self-educated, his spelling was bad so he often re-wrote entire works and was even made Professor of Oriental Languages at Ft William College in Calcutta.  He used the income to help his peers who in a year had a first convert.  He urged training  natives to preach to others so by 1818 there were 600 converts and thousands attending. In 1807 Dorothy died and despite objections from peers, he married bright Lady Charlotte Rumohr of Danish royalty who brought him great happiness.  In 1812 much material he had translated burnt in a fire, but he persisted and re-did it.  In 1819 Carey founded Serampore College for native church planters and evangelists.   After Charlotte died he married younger Grace Hughes who cared for him during his frequent sicknesses.  Missionaries came who opposed communal living so in 1826 Carey’s group seceded till the Baptist Committee in England refused to  finance Carey’s group, so they swallow their pride and re-affiliated.  At death in 1834 his ministerial and educational efforts had decreased the natives’ burning of widows alive and killing infants, also inspired similar missions to many other lands.  Carey said his secret to success was not wealth, power or money but what anyone can have if they just will....  yes, it was..... plain old persistence! christianwitnesses.com

THE LITTLE CHILDREN Matthew 19: 13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them.   But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.   14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."   15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. So, Christ made time for everyone including the little children.  Do we also? christianwitnesses.com

WHY EVERY JEHOVAH'S WITNESS NEEDS TO LOOK AT  1 SAMUEL 14:31-35 Under Mosaic Law then existing in ancient Israel at the time of King Saul, the normal penalty if a person ate blood or animal fat was death.  However 1 Samuel 14:32-35 shows that even under Mosaic Law, Saul's entire army of men ate unbled men to stay alive due to being exhausted and famished; yet they were forgiven by God.  Saul had his men make an altar which likely was not a small wooden altar but a large pile of heaped up large rocks or boulders to show remorse that they had had to break Mosaic Law to stay alive, and no scripture shows God punishing or slaying any of the men, so they were clearly forgiven.    If the men had not eaten the unbled meat of the livestock then they would have died, in other words committed suicide, and such self-taking of life was also forbidden under Mosaic Law; so their acting in the more logical and to God, more merciful way, was okay. Very, very few Christians wantonly eat blood puddings etc, but most do take blood transfusions as it is merciful and Biblically permitted as seen here.  Instead of noting this section of scriptures, Watchtower's heads ignore it; and meanwhile JWs, at times including children, bleed to death. Why not mail or email a copy of this to active JWs so they can find out about this grievous sin against Jehovah's Holy Spirit. 31 That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted. 32 They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood. 33 Then someone said to Saul, "Look, the men are sinning against the LORD by eating meat that has blood in it."        "You have broken faith," he said. "Roll a large stone over here at once." 34 Then he said, "Go out among the men and tell them, 'Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with blood still in it.' "       So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had done this.

EARTH, WHY AND HOW TO NOT RUIN IT! (Re 11:18) Besides hurricanes, quakes and tsunamis and hurricanes, another concern has been when the ozone hole over Antartica has expanded to cover cities as distant as Punta Arenas in Argentina, caused people to tan in just 7 minutes, endangered ocean plankton and threaten tourism.   Also alarming is that an estimated 26% percent of earth's coral reefs, vital for many sea creatures, are dead and all are threatened as the oceans warm up. Some 40% of the ice sheets had melted up to 2000 and continue to melt as also had 40% of the polar ice.    In 1900 rain forests covered 12% of earth but  now they cover 5% or less.  Plants that could provide cures for on-rushing diseases are being wiped out! Ice in mountains that long supplied major cities is also vanishing. The rosy periwinkle used for leukemia is being destroyed. And the list continues. James 4:4 says to not be friends of the world of wickedness which would include those deliberately trying to ruin our planet, and whom God Himself will instead bring to ruin.  Our planet deserves much greater respect. (Read 2Pe 3:1-13, Ec 1:4, Re 11:18, 21:1)  and we  need to battle against the abuses and the abusers. How?  We, our family or friends can beautify our own properties, landscape for neighbors or community, pick up road litter, paint over graffitti, report polluters and illegal dumpers.    We can surf the internet for others who are also concerned, methods and information, lobby to peacefully help save the life-giving vanishing rain-forests and coral reefs, do any hunting and harvesting of food in balanced ways instead of wantonly killing for so-called sport.    We can insist on the humane treatment of animals used in any actually necessary medical experiments, push to preserve and maintain more of God's natural temples of beauty. christianwitnesses.com

ARE YOU AFRAID OF DEATH? To be truthful about it, every second that we live we are dying.  The process begins right after birth and for most people it seems to accelerate around age 52 or so.  Memory starts to become more difficult, eye sight starts to fade more, and so forth. So, we are all already dying.  Anyone who tells you “many now living will never die” is sadly and definitely preaching a message contrary to that of the Good News preached by the apostle Paul in the Bible.  (Read 1Corinthians 15:22, Romans 6:23) Paul wrote that we all sin so we will all die.  In the Garden of Eden the serpent lied to Adam and Eve that they would live forever. No, the real, genuine Good News is that because of what Christ did, namely, give up his life as a perfect human for a ransoming sacrifice, he bought us all the opportunity to be resurrected then enjoy many blessings in God’s coming kingdom on earth. (John 3:16) We need to become born again into Christ, that is become sincere Christians, then try hard to go through the rest of our lives doing as much like Christ as possible.  (John 1:12,13; 3:1-7) No, we won’t do so perfectly, but whenever knocked down by various weaknesses we need to pick ourselves up and run on ahead, keeping our eyes on the prize. (Phillipians 3:14) Why not start now?  Go to God in prayer.  Admit that you are an imperfect person in need of forgiveness for sins.  Ask for Holy Spirit to help you.  Get baptized and begin the race of the upwards calling. christianwitnesses.com

THE VERY FIRST SANTA CLAUS It is history not fiction although it may sound like it, that about 200 AD Christians who had prayed in a little church at seaside Myra, Turkey for their next bishop, selected a newcomer off a ship who was named Nicholas, then gave him a long red robe and cane or miter indicating that he was their choice.   Nicholas was concerned that poor girls at Myra did not have enough money to pay as a dowry to marry, so were often sold into slavery or prostitution.    Since his wealthy family sometimes sent gold to him, he began to quietly at night go to their homes.  He dropped bags of gold through windows to by the chimneys where the girls dried clothing so in the mornings they found it for their dowries.  People did not know who the gift-giver was until Nicholas was dying.  Then somebody told people they had seen him.   More Christians in France and elsewhere in Europe felt  inspired to give gifts.   "St. Nicholas" became Sinter Klass in Dutch and that became Santa Claus in English.  One reason Christmas is in December may be that Nicholas was born then, plus some believe Christ was actually born about October 1, which would mean Mary conceived 9 months previously about or on December 25. So when someone, such as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, claims Santa came from legends of wizards, goblins or an Oriental god who came down chimneys, either tell them the real Truth of the matter or you can give to them a copy of this leaflet (tract).   christianwitnesses.com

UNIVERSE OR MULTIVERSE Scientists including Stephen Hawking in 2001 noted that laws thought to govern the universe, including the theory of relativity may only work for our universe, but not in other universes now also thought to possibly exist.  For example Einstein believed light always went 186,000 miles a second but now some say it may have moved much faster even in our own early universe. Notable also, is that our universe only exists because of a fine balance between several crucial factors. The rate at which nuclear fusion releases energy in stars such as the sun by squashing hydrogen atoms into helium and then other elements is exactly 0.7%, and, if this figure had been just a fraction different, carbon and other elements essential to life could never have formed.  Too, the distribution of matter and radiation is just right for life in our universe. At least in theory, the big bang could have produced a universe where all matter clumped into a few black holes, or another universe where it spread out evenly into nothing but a thin vapor. Hawking, Sir Martin Rees, Neil Turok and others have examined the idea that our universe is just one of an infinite number of universes, that is a multiverse, with different laws of nature operating in each of the universes.  Some universes would be matter clumped into a few huge black holes while others would be only a thin uniform freezing gas. Hawking and the others increasingly disagree about how this "multiverse" could work.  Hawking has dismissed the idea of an eternal series of big bangs because if extended into the infinite past it could never have had a beginning any more than a completely final end. http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/ (London Sunday Times Sep 9, 2001)  Many verses also speak of a new heaven and new earth although also Ecclesiastes 1:4 says earth remains forever.  Some Christians and other people may view this as supportive of an eternal series of big bang explosions followed by the creations of starry heavens and earth or earth-like planets.  In any case it is interesting and we know for such that God says that at least for this universe there was a beginning when He created the heavens and the Earth. (Ge 1:1) christianwitnesses.com

EYE OF A NEEDLE Matthew 19: 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."   25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"   26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." christianwitnesses.com

WHY "MARRY ONLY IN THE LORD" MEANS YOU SHOULD BUT NOT ALWAYS MUST Paul said a widow could marry someone "only in the Lord" (1Cor 7:39) which some think means you MUST not marry a person of different beliefs while others say it means usually we SHOULD but there are exceptions. God did not oppose Joseph's marrying Asenath (Ge 41:45), daughter of Potphera the priest of On or Beth Shemesh (House of the Sun), Egypt, (Jer. 43:13) so-called because of sun worship.  Asenath bore Mannaseh and Ephraim (Ge 41:50-52, 46:20) who founded Israelite tribes. Moses married Zipporah who bore Gershom and Eliezer (Ex 2:16-12, 18:2-4). Her father was Jethro also called Reul, an Arabic priest in Midian. Jehtro was not originally a worshipper of the true God because after Moses returned over the Red Sea only then did he say Moses' God was greater than all other gods. (Ex 18:10) Esther's marriage to King Ahasuerus of Persia was approved of by God who guided her to save the Jews from genocide. Some may say Moses and Joseph's wives likely converted to being worshippers of their husbands' God, but this cannot be argued with Esther. In ancient Israel God said to not marry members of seven idol-worshipping nations, at least on their entering the Promised Land, so as not to be turned to worshipping false gods. (Deu 7:1-3) Those nations no longer exist and besides at Deuteronomy 21:19-14 God says an Israelite could marry a captured foreigner after letting her mourn a month for her lost parents. Isaac and Rebecca's being bothered by Esau's Hittite wives is assumed to mean it was due to their being Hittite non-worshippers but we can as easily assume it was simply because they were annoying. Paul said there is only "one faith," meaning the general Christian faith, not some branch such as at Jerusalem or Corinth. Today its branches still form but one faith. In fact at 1 Timothy 4:1-5 Paul calls it anti-God to tell persons they MUST not be marrying, and this would apply with inter-church marriages today. Though usually best for a Christian to marry another Christian, Solomon said there is a time and a place for everything. The Bible allows reasonable exceptions. Christians naturally consider much about potential mates, but the choice stays theirs, not pressuring busybodies standing between them and God. christianwitnesses.com

YOUR LIGHT The eye is the lamp of the body.   If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Mat 6:22-23) It is said that our eyes are a reflection of our soul or the mind.  So, then, how are your inner eyes doing? christianwitnesses.com

BRENDAN’S CHRISTIAN MISSION TO NORTH AMERICA As Ireland became Christianized, those native Irish who sailed out to minister and convert still others included Brendan of Ardfert and Clonfert.  He was born in 484 near what is now Tralee, baptized by Erc, educated and ordained in 512 by Ita.   History says in 512-530 Brendan built monastic cells by Brandon Hill from which he had gone 7 years together with 18-150 other monks on a voyage to the west or southwestwards which may mean the southeastern USA.  The Latin Navigatio Sancti Brendani  (St. Brendan’s Navigations) of the 10th or 11th century details his travels.  Heading west or southwest Brendan found other monks on an island then sailed on perhaps with some of them via Greenland and icebergs.  St Aengus the Culdee near the end of the 8th century mentioned 60 men who went with Brendan to find “the Land of Promise."  Brendan returned, founded the See of Ardfert, a monastery at Coney Island, Clare County in 550, went on to Wales and then Iona.  After 3 years in Britain, he returned to Dysart or Kilkenny County, Killiney (Tubberboe), and Brandon Hill. He founded the Sees of Ardfert and  Annaghdown, set up churches in the counties of Galway and Mayo.  In 557 he founded Clonfert and after dying at Annaghdown in 577 was buried at Clonfert.   Later the Vikings found an area south of Vinland and Chesapeake Bay called "Hvitramamaland" “Land of the White Men” or Greater Ireland, and Shawnee noted Florida had been inhabited by whites with iron implements.  The story of Brendan’s trip details animals and plants of North America.  In 1976 Tim Severin used 6th Century sailing and technology to duplicate the trip in a small leather boat, and in 1982 experts translated ancient Irish rock writings at two separate sites in the 1960s in West Virginia.  Written in the Ogham alphabet of 6th Century Ireland  they tell of Christmas, one writing including the expressing “Glad tidings” in Algonquian, a Native American language family.  So it appears that at least 1000 years before missionary John Elliot, the Irish Christian Brendan and other Irish missionaries witnessed to Algonquian-speaking Native Americans about the Good News of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God that will bring blessings on earth for all men. (Matthew 28:19) christianwitnesses.com

BROTHER DAVID ZEISBERGER David Zeisberger was born in Moravia, now the eastern part of the Czech Republic, in 1721 and joined the Church of the Unity of the Brethren or Moravian Church.  Inspired by Christ and the apostles, he bravely left Europe for North America in the 1740s and by the 1760s had gone to live among Native Americans of the Delaware nation in Pennsylvania.  By stressing the practicality of Christianity he won many converts. In 1772 he moved with Delaware into Ohio after Whites greedy for land pushed them west.  There he helped to successfully establish a village called Schoenbrunn where Delaware who became Christians received Christians names used by Whites and lived as the Whites.  He later helped them build Gnadenhutten and Lichtenau, much supported by chief Netawatwees who however died in 1776.  The Christian Delawares, had to worry about attacks from non-Christian Delaware and the warring Whites, and in 1776 Hurons removed them from Schoenbrunn.  In 1781 the British arrested David Zeisberger and an assistant until convinced they actually were pacifist neutrals.  When about 140 Christian Delaware returned for corn around Schoenbrunn they were massacred by Whites who also burnt their villages.  David Zeisberger led them north to Canada where they built Fairfield.  After invading American Whites burnt them out during the War of 1812, they moved to near Oxford in Ontario province.  Today 11,000 live in Oklahoma. David went on to spearhead more villages for Christian Native Americans in northern Ohio and Michigan before dying in 1808.  His efforts not only brought many Delaware to Christianity but also many of the Munsee and Mahican peoples.  Other Moravian missionaries converted many of the Cherokee nation to Christianity.  In 1808 Brother David Zeisberger gave up his fleshly body which was buried at Goshen, Ohio, far, far away from his land of birth in Europe, but many Native Americans will tell you that his spirit went on to be near and dear to our Father in heaven. christianwitnesses.com

WHY MOST BUT NOT ALL CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN Given some of the costumes and a lot of "it's pagan and darkness" articles about it, it's not surprising some Christians choose not to celebrate Halloween.   Originally Christian parents had their kids dress up as saints who, of course, had been tortured and slain for loyalty to the Christian faith, so that, of course, the costumes often were and still are sometimes quite scary-looking. The idea was to encourage the kids to be faithful as the saints were, which sounds positive and pro-Christian. The word Halloween comes from Hallow which means Holy) and e'ven, which means evening or eve.  Although most Christians let their kids have fun on the day, some who otherwise don't care for Halloween now substitute some other party with or without costumes etc.  Such parties are sometimes called Fun Night, Hallelujah Night, Costume Party Evening or go by some other name.  In any event Christian parents have arranged them as a safe, fun substitute for the kids, the chief rationale being that Joy is also a fruitage of God's Spirit, second mentioned in the list at Galatians 5:22 only after Love, and the two fruits are closely linked. Going back to the costumes, those opposed to Halloween over the wearing of costumes point out they are no longer tied to saintly living but sometimes include masks etc mimicking the devil, demons etc.   They are also naturally concerned that kids may get hurt from needles etc put into trick-or-treat candies, or even tempted to do un-Christian pranks that hurt other people such as put boards with nails on them on roads.   Those for Halloween accompany or watch over and see that their kids do not engage in such misdoings or get harmed, for example, by checking candies and fruits to see that there are no needles in those. Although Paul said to let none be judging us over holidays or Sabbaths one way or another, (Colossians 2:16), others in good conscience note that light has no fellowship with the dark. (2 Cor 6:14)  The majority who do favor Halloween counter that they understand this but that the day replaced the pagan Samhain, so that this is actually a matter of light having replaced darkness, even as where many other holidays have attacked and replaced paganisms. For example, those not celebrating Halloween may otherwise have no problem with things of non-Christian origin that Christians commonly use such as wedding rings, names of days and months, and Christian names in the Bible such Apollos and Jason, which also all came from pagans.   Romans chapter 14 says allow freedom of conscience, and many scriptures say to not be highly judgmental. So all in all, it's important to keep good balance and to remember that overall the Bible says that the strongest bond for Christians is not by absolute sameness of beliefs on every imaginable thing or doctrine but rather it is by the "greatest" bond, which is LOVE. (1 Cor 13:13)   Although knowing this information will not change the view of all readers, it can definitely help each of us to better understand the other's position about Halloween, to help us continue with greater respect of one another and therefore enjoy more Christian love and unity. christianwitnesses.com

ANSWERING SINCERE QUESTIONS ABOUT  GOD AND THE BIBLE "If God exists why does God permit evils, and even if God does exist and is good then He must be too weak to do punish wrongdoers and help the good people!" is a common charge counterbalanced by "Although God is all-powerful and good, if He forced all humans to only be good and caused only good things to always happen, that would make Him a dictator not allowing free-will, causing humans to be no more than robots.   His plan is that after allowing things to mostly freely happen, He will then bring the wrongdoers to justice, reward those who are good, bring back to life the innocents who suffered to heal them and more than fairly reward them so that all will see His perfect justice, love and fairness."  "Why can't we see God if He exists?" is a another common question by many sincere and curious people.  One answer as to why we can't see the energy source for this universe is because to see the source of all the fiery, radiation-filled stars would blind us, could give us radiation poisoning and cause us to die.    So not being able to directly see God is kind and merciful.  We can however see God's existence through the things He has created, like the stars, vast oceans, lovely flowers.  We also can't see the wind or gravity, but we can see what those invisible things do.  Likewise, although, we can't see God directly, we can see what God has done and is doing. Too, the source of all space, energy and matter has provided us with our planet, Earth, tasty food, water, life, and intelligence.  Since a good father is a good provider it really is not illogical to call such a Source our Father. The word God can be used as an abbreviation for "the source of this universe that provides for us in a fatherly manner." Early Earth may have had an atmosphere screening out much of the radiation which now ages humans, and there may have been plants, even a Tree of Life providing antioxidant richer fruits etc for prolonging life. The creative Days could have been billions of years as Hebrew yohm (day) like in English can mean a long time as in "in Rome's day."  Eve made from a rib is no stranger than cloning creatures from individual cells.  We now "resurrect" movie stars via TV, so why is it an impossible idea that the Source of all the universe and living creatures in it can cause resurrection?  Why call it impossible that God could float an axe on water, since even we humans can float  million ton sea-going vessels in water and space vessels in the nothingness of space.  Why make fun of the idea that Christ could walk on water when insects can do so and via devices modern humans may do so, too? Some say the sun could not have "stood still" for Joshua, yet clouds with ice have sometimes reflected light from vast miles over the horizon.  Some say that if Bible censuses of the same tribe differ that proves the whole Bible is false, but they don't note that verses can vary due to children or elderly people being listed in one census but not listed in other censuses that are just for able-bodied men.  A verse may say a certain city was destroyed in one chapter but in another chapter say it was still existing, yet there could have easily been two cities with the same name. One verse says Christ baptized while another says disciples did.  Does this mean the Bible contradicts itself and so is telling lies?  Actually, even today we may say a man built a skyscraper when not himself directly but workers acting on his behalf did the building.  Is God cruel because humans die?  Does God make us die?  In fact, God wanted humans to live forever and warned the very first humans how to avoid death, but they themselves ignored the warning, causing themselves and all humans since to die.  True, God has permitted slaves but He gave laws that they were to not be mistreated but regarded as servants with legal rights and protections.   Slave overseers and owners didn't want slaves to read the Bible.  For example Deuteronomy 23:15 says "Don't return a runaway slave to his master; he's come to you for refuge.  Let him live wherever he wishes within the protective gates of your city. Don't take advantage of him." Some see the idea of a snake talking in the Garden of Eden as impossible although readily admit the earth is filled with amazing creatures including extremophiles that live in water 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit.  No can say for sure what creatures lived on earth in the past, perhaps even intelligent serpents or serpent-like creatures.  Also, if God exists as the Good Spirit, then a Bad Spirit called Satan can also exist and be powerful enough to at least make a snake seem to talk. Skeptics ask why would a loving God punish Adam and Eve so severely with death, but they forget that God didn't want them to die, told them which tree to not eat, and they themselves chose to sentence themselves and their descendants to death.  Skeptics can just as easily blame the actual sources of death such as accidents, wars of nationalism etc. Christ pointed out that God permitted men to divorce women not because God wanted divorces for He doesn't and opposes divorces.  However, God also knew that if He did not allow divorces, it would lead to far more cruelty.  Those who believe in a source for all that exists do believe in God although that is not in the sense of a personally caring God.  Possibly by reading this thoughtfully, some of those will now understand why so many do believe in God in not only a personal way but also in a more objective, logical way.  Understanding the views of others helps us all. christianwitnesses.com

HOW CHRISTIANS CAN HELP DEFEND OUR PLANET EARTH Some current concerns over Climate Change include hurricanes, quakes and tsunamis, expansion of the ozone hole over Antarctica.  The enlarged ozone has sometimes reached Punta Arenas in Argentina, caused people to tan in just 7 minutes, endangered ocean plankton and threatened tourism.   Some places having worse summer heat and worse winter snows or blizzards. An estimated 26% percent of earth's coral reefs, vital for many sea creatures, are dead and all are threatened as the oceans warm up. Some 40% of the ice sheets had melted up to 2000 and continue to melt as also had 40% of the polar ice.  Rising salty ocean water can ruin fresh drinking water, ruin soil for crop production thus causing starvation.   Concern about having enough drinking and crop-growing water may also trigger some very large-scale wars in the future. In 1900 rain forests covered 12% of earth but now they cover 5% or less.  Plants that could provide cures for on-rushing diseases are being wiped out! Ice in mountains that long supplied major cities is also vanishing. The rosy periwinkle used for leukemia is being destroyed. And the list continues. James 4:4 says to not be friends of the world of wickedness which would include those deliberately trying to ruin our planet, and whom God Himself will instead bring to ruin.  Our planet deserves much greater respect. (Read 2Pe 3:1-13, Ec 1:4, Re 11:18, 21:1), and we need to battle against the abuses and the abusers. How?  We, our family and friends can beautify our own properties, plant some trees, offer to landscape some for senior neighbors, pick up road litter, paint over graffitti, report polluters and illegal dumpers.  We can also help the equally threatened animals of the Earth.  Making and distributing copies of this leaflet can also help by educating people. We can also surf the internet for others who are also concerned, to find additional methods and information, lobby to peacefully help save the life-giving vanishing rain-forests and coral reefs, do any hunting and harvesting of food in balanced ways instead of wantonly killing for so-called sport.  We can insist on the humane treatment of animals used in any actually necessary medical experiments, and push to preserve more of God's natural temples of beauty. christianwitnesses.com

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOURSELF? (Please read thoughtfully) Matthew 20:12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"    14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.    16 "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.       "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"  17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. christianwitnesses.com