I believe, it’s because we’re still trying to do it the way “we think is best,” instead of how God told us to do it!

Maybe we need to take a new look at what Jesus said…

But we’re always in a battle.

What’s the purpose of the battle? Your soul, your peace, your joy… or your LIFE!

Let me show you what it is and you’ll see the “secret is simple.”

The same reason the people 2000 years ago did.

This may be one of the most important podcasts I’ve ever done!

But, what’s even better than good news? Great news!

How do we get that great news? By Faith.

What’s faith, really? It’s not what most people think and not what many Christians think either.

Because too many people in the church think of giving the “same way” the world thinks about it!

There’s no shortage of ignorance in the church, but there’s no excuse to be ignorant. We have a map. We have a completed instruction guide with the details mapped out and understandable.

Why then is giving and tithing so offensive to so many people? They don’t understand from the bad teaching they’ve received. They don’t see it as God sees it. Now you will…

But as Christians, we’ve been notified by God’s word that we are even bigger winners than anything the world could ever know or understand.

But if you’re a Christian… do you really understand? Most don’t.

If you’re a Christian, do you have the same attitude about your body? You better not!

Well, He did… except “Religion.”

Do you know how many times the word “religion” is mentioned in the Bible?

In the Old Testament: Never

In the New Testament: Only eight times. (And usually in a negative way.)

Psychizophrenia is a psychotic problem that prohibits the normal functioning of a brain either by causing delusions, hallucinations, affected speech and thinking or loss of emotions and expressions and a shattered indecisive personality unable to make goals or targets.

That may be a little extreme in describing the “Schizophrenic Christian,” but unless they change their concept and mindset image of who God REALLY is, they will be “deluded, affected in their thinking and emotions, and will have an indecisive personality.”

Two examples of “Schizophrenic Christianity” are the topic of this lesson.

I knew there was a reason I took psychology in school!

Why is this happening to me? Why is this happening to my child?

Why didn’t I get the job instead of this guy? And the list goes on…

Why do Christians suffer? (Except when then bring it on themselves through bad choices?)

Let’s find out…

The number is “666.” The “number or his name” will be worn by every man and woman during this part of the great tribulation. (Except for those who refuse to take it.) Without it, you won’t be able to buy your food, clothing or pay bills. (Your children will starve without baby milk, food and shelter.) You won’t be able to sell your car, home or anything else you need for income. Revelation 13:16-17, “He required everyone–great and small, rich and poor, slave and free–to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name”

If you’re reading and listening too this now, (September 2009), there is still time for you to refuse the “mark” of the beast. If you’re reading this during the time you’re required to take this mark, that means you’re in the great tribulation period and must NOT take the mark.

It probably means you know scripture and understand that if you take this “mark,” you will be eternally separated from God, heaven and those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior.You will probably be killed for your faith in Christ and your refusal to take the “mark” of the beast.

Revelation 14:9, “Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or the hand must drink the wine of God’s wrath. It is poured out undiluted into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb.”

“Let this encourage God’s holy people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying his commands and trusting in Jesus.”

Is he like this dear lady wrote, “I do love God, but I have learned through the years, he can also be cruel. Floods, fires, and wiping out innocent children.”"If God takes my child, I will have a very hard time believing in a merciful forgiving God who would allow children to die so horribly while he watches.”

What do you think about God?

Several years ago, there was a comedian whose famous line was, “The devil made me do it!”

Flip Wilson didn’t know there’s more truth to that classic line than he realized.

Spiritual truths are not as obvious to us because they are much deeper and more powerful than what we see with our natural eyes in this world. Yet, they are very real.

Sin is the ONLY thing that will seperate a good person from God, for eternity. It’s the “unholy” part of the curse on man, since Adam and Eve, and it can only be broken when Jesus’ gift of salvation has finally been received.

Her daughters husband had been killed in a car crash. Only in his 30’s, two children, a wife and many loving family members all devastated.

Was he ready to face eternity? Sadly, we’re not sure… There’s no way to know because up to the last week of his life here on earth, my sister could not say with certainty. And it is with “certainty,” that we must all be sure.

Do you know what the “biggest” tragedy is?

But all we really are saying is that “we like the way they perform” or the talent they have for doing something well…

We can’t really “love” anyone… we don’t really know.

That’s especially true of saying “we love God.”

What about when the circumstances of our lives take a direction we despise? What about when the wheels are coming off our cart? And as we say, “That really sucks!”

But, the time finally has come for the devil and his angels (1/3 of the angelic host) to be “cast out” of heaven and never again allowed back in to that glorious position. The problem though, is that, they are on the earth to create great sorrow.

God’s time for the end has come. He waits no longer.

These are a few of the elements of this real life drama that serves to teach us about real life!

We all suffer for one of two reasons: Doing wrong or doing right.

The choice belongs to us!