Does your faith need strengthening? Are you confused and wondering if Jesus Christ is really "The Way, the Truth, and the Life?" "Fight for Your Faith" is a blog filled with interesting and thought provoking articles to help you find the answers you are seeking. Jesus said, "Seek and ye shall find." In Jeremiah we read, "Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall seek for Me with all your heart." These articles and videos will help you in your search for the Truth.

Thursday, September 28, 2017

The Beautiful Side of Evil - Johanna Michaelsen

Dennis Edwards: Have you ever been attacked spiritually by evil forces? Have you ever felt evil forces surround you, engulf you, sadden you, frighten you? In The Beautiful Side of Evil Johanna Michaelsen shares her personal story with the dark-side. It's a compelling story and worth a read and could be especially helpful to open the eyes of those doubtful that such powers exist. God's word tells us, "that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."[1] Paul also warns that in the last days "evil men shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."[2] Jesus when answering his disciples concerning the end times and His return warned three times that deception would be rampant. He said, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."[3] "And many false prophets would arise and deceive many."[4] "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."[5] Johanna believes deception is not isolated to her unusual experience but is alive and well in many aspects of our lives.

Listen to her speak here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU9A0ddzkeo
Watch her speak here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsev0CrPwqU

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

The 30 Day Praise Challenge by Becky Harling




A Review of Becky Harling’s Book by Dennis Edwards -- 

I have just began reading a beautiful book called The 30 Day Praise Challenge. When Becky Harling found out she had cancer she called her close friend and mentor asking for prayer and counsel. To her surprise her mentor suggested she start a 30 day praise challenge. She followed the advice and not only did God heal her, but her whole attitude towards life changed. Now she’s a sought after speaker and has written several books on her experience of praise. I suggest you buy her book at Amazon and follow her suggestions. But to capture interest a bit more, I will give you an outline of how it works.

We all know that praise is important and some believe it is the most important spiritual weapon at a Christian’s disposal. During The 30 Day Praise Challenge Becky asks you to spend twenty minutes a day for 30 consecutive days in praise and in prayer to God. Each day of the month has a short devotional reading followed by some inspirational music from You-Tube. Music has always been known to be an avenue for us to enter into God’s presence with thanksgiving. In the Psalms, which were actually songs of worship, we read, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.”[1] It even says that God inhabits the praises of his people.[2]


In Kings we read where Elisha was asked to get a message from the Lord concerning a military situation. He didn't know what to do, but the Lord could show him. He called for a musician to play. When the musician played, the spirit of the Lord came upon Elisha and he received the heavenly message necessary to win the battle.[3] Even so today, we should use the modern technologies available and listen to beautiful songs of praise to help us get into God's spirit. We could find songs from older groups like the Bill Gaither Band or more modern groups like Hillsong and use them as praise primers helping us in our worship times. Paul and Silas when they were thrown into jail may have sunk down into despair, but they did not stay there. In Acts we read, “They sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”[4]Paul tells us, “Rejoice evermore and in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”[5] Jesus even sang a hymn with his disciples before they departed for that fateful Mount of Olives.[6]


After listening and meditating on the songs for the day, Becky gives us a praise prayer to pray. The follow up questions for our personal journal help us to pray, consolidate our goals and jot down the messages we receive from the Lord. I’m only on day two and I am already sold on The 30 Day Praise Challenge. If you haven’t yet done your own challenge, I challenge you to. It will help you to build some good devotional habits and will renew your relationship with the Lord.

Whether you a passing through a difficult emotional period in your life, or have financial insecurities, or problems at home with your children or mate, or perhaps health problems, The 30 Day Praise Challenge may be just what you need to lift you up, out and over the problem that keeps pulling you down. Take the challenge. You will not be disappointed. God has power and strength, wisdom and love that He wants to transmit to you, but you need to wait on Him, or in other words, spend time with Him to receive it.[7] Take The 30 Day Praise Challenge and renew your relationship with the Creator of the universe and rejoice!

Becky says, “Praise changed me from being fearful, frantic, and insecure; to being a calm person filled with passion and purpose. Praise restores our faith, fills us with joy, calms our fears, and inspires us to love and obey God. If you long for those changes in your life, I invite you to take the praise challenge.” [8]

Here is the link to the song of praise she suggests:The 30 Day Praise Challenge Songs


Footnotes:


[1] Psalm 100:4
[2] Psalm 22:3
[3] 2Kings 3:15,16
[4] Acts 16:25
[5] 1Thessalonians 5:16,18
[6] Matthew 26:30
[7]Isaiah 40:28-31  
[8] Harling, Becky; The 30 Day Praise Challenge, David Cook Publishing Co., Colorado, USA, pg.      18,19.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

In the Beginning Was Information by Dr. Werner Gitt

https://answersingenesis.org/answers/books/in-beginning-was-information/

Between the covers of this excellent book may well be the most devastating scientific argument against the idea that life could form by natural processes. The book can be read, downloaded or bought at the above site.

The science of information is herein explained in detail, with many striking examples to clarify fundamental questions, such as: What are the laws of information? How did language develop? Is artificial intelligence possible?

Because information is required for all life processes, it can be stated unequivocally that information is an essential characteristic of all life. All efforts to explain life processes in terms of physics and chemistry only will always be unsuccessful. This is the fundamental problem confronting present-day biology, which is based on evolution.
. . . The purpose of this book is to formulate the concept of information as widely and as deeply as necessary. The reader will eventually be able to answer general questions about the origin of life as far as it is scientifically possible. If we can successfully formulate natural laws for information, then we will have found a new key for evaluating evolutionary ideas. In addition, it will become possible to develop an alternative model which refutes the doctrine of evolution.


—Dr. Werner Gitt, from the preface

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Book Review: Alien Intrusion: UFOs and the Evolution Connection by Gary Bates

Yaasha Moriah

When my father’s 4th grade science project on aliens received the equivalent of an eye roll and a sigh, my father was perplexed. His research included well-documented phenomena by many authorities. Why did so many people discount the evidence?

Almost half a century later, I viewed the subject with the same skepticism as my father’s teachers. Aliens? More like the hallucinations of a drug-induced high or wishful thinking, or the easy answer for people (like Richard Dawkins in Ben Stein’s documentary “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed”) who would rather believe in an alien designer than a divine one.

Alien Intrusion: UFOs and the Evolution Connection by Gary Bates changed my viewpoint—but not in the way that you may think. Yes, I now no longer place alien phenomena in the same category as insanity, but the category I do place it under may be surprising (explanations to follow).

As Mr. Bates points out, with the advent of space exploration and the explosive popularity of science fiction books and films, the idea of extraterrestrial life is no longer greeted with as much skepticism as before. Writers like H.G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke have contributed to the alien culture, as well as films or TV shows like Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Trek, and more. Roswell and Project Blue Book, both involving the U.S. military, remain mysteriously connected to aliens. Well-known public figures such as President Jimmy Carter, astronaut Gordon Cooper, and Marine Corps Major Donald Keyhoe famously acknowledged their own UFO sightings. NASA even has an Origins Program which actively seeks for extraterrestrial life (hence the excitement over evidence of water on Mars).

In order to answer the questions arising from the popularity of aliens, the author then backs up far into distant history. How did this all start? Where and how did life—whether terrestrial or extraterrestrial—have its origin? Given the size of the universe, is it even possible for aliens to visit Earth from, say, another galaxy? Here is where the hard-core scientist will rub his hands with glee, for the discussion gets technical, but no less interesting. The topic turns to the Big Bang theory, wormholes, “folding space,” the redshift of light from distant galaxies, background microwave radiation, gravitational forces, and more. I can’t reproduce the entirety of Mr. Bates’ extensively researched discussion, but I can say this: Had I been a proponent of macroevolution when I started, there was no chance that I could have remained so after the presentation of the evidence. The origin of life in the universe simply cannot be explained by modern science without the presence of a designer. Don’t believe me? Read the book.

Laying aside the whole origins question, what if alien life did somehow arise? Could they have seeded life on earth? Could they have introduced genetic mutations to boost the evolution of mankind? Enter another in-depth scientific discussion, this time on macroevolution and genetics. Again, had I been a staunch evolutionist at the start of my venture into Alien Intrusion, and retained even a smideon of evolutionary belief up until this part, the evidence of biology would have fully convinced me. A quote from Richard Lewontin, world-famous evolutionist and genetics professor, adds the nail to the coffin: “We take the side of [evolutionary] science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs…in spite of the tolerance of the scientific community for unsubstatniated just-so stories, because we have a prior commitment to materialism [the belief that matter is all there is]… Moreover, that materialism is absolute for we cannot allow a Divine foot in the door” (p. 141).

From here, Mr. Bates gets back to the UFOs. What sightings can be explained by natural phenomena? What hoaxes have muddied the waters? And, when all explanations have been made, how many stories can’t be proven to be hoaxes or misinterpretations? Mr. Bates discusses the truths and the myths behind the Lubbock lights of Texas (August 1951), the Mexico City mass UFO sighting (January 1993), the Roswell incident (June 1947), Area 51/Hangar 18, the secret KGB papers, and more. Does history point to extraterrestrial visitors (the Mayan carving from Palenque, Mexico, or the Nazca lines of Peru)? What about crop circles? What is the evidence, both in the past and in the present, for alien visitors to Earth?

And what about “close encounters of the fourth kind,” better known as alien abductions? Why do so many abductees have strange sexual encounters with their abductors? Is there really an alien “breeding program”? The experiences of Barney and Betty Hill, Travis Walton, Whitley Striber, and others are explored, as well as the concepts summed up in the study of CAS, Classic Abduction Syndrome. The occult connection to abduction and the New Age-type messages of the “space brothers” are examined extensively.

At this point, the book takes a startling twist: “Far from the abductee population including all those with religious beliefs, there is one group of people that, by and large, is noticably absent. They are Christians. Here we have to be careful about the definition of what constitutes a Christian. Many people in the world claim to be a Christian; that is, they have Christian ideals or morality, and may even regard themselves as good people. Some in this group still regularly claim abduction. But I am talking about those who are known as ‘born again,’ Bible-believing Christians—those who are often (these days unflatteringly) described as ‘Christian fundamentalists.’ It is as if ETs tend to avoid this select group of people. This reality has been largely ignored by many UFO researchers. But one group gets credit for discovering this startling fact” (p. 256). Thereafter follows the results of in-depth research done by Joe Jordan and Wes Clark of CE-4, an alien abduction research group, which uncovered one startling fact: Not only are born-again believers absent from the ranks of the abducted, but they also are able to instantly halt any abductions by shouting one name: Jesus.

Mr. Bates then explains the evidence that alien encounters are really encounters with spiritual forces who come with an agenda for the human race and with a message that distorts the Bible’s message. As far-fetched as this may sound, his arguments are disturbingly thought-provoking. The reader learns why a surprising number of abduction experiences involve both implicit and explicit references to the Bible, Jesus, and God, and why so many abductees become fascinated with reinterpreting the Bible to mesh with their alien experiences. From the practice of “channeling” an alien’s voice and message through an abductee’s body, to the self-indulgent orgies of the Raelians, Mr. Bates shows that the time has come for mass deception—the satanic gospel according to ET. It is true: We are not alone. Demons are real, and they are actively involved in deceiving us. As Mr. Bates says, Look to the sky; change is coming.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

From Jesus With Love Books


by Dennis Edwards -

I wanted to take time to introduce the From Jesus with Love books. I can’t recommend these books highly enough. From Jesus with Love books are like that morning cup of coffee or that loving sex first thing in the morning with your mate. It lifts you up for the whole day or at least gets your day started on a high and in the right direction.

We all seek for spiritually uplifting material or we should do. Having a good reading or viewing diet will help in those moments of crisis or stress that we all experience. Not developing good reading or viewing or listening habits can lead to disaster and leave us without solutions or strength or the will to go on when we hit the hard walls of life. From Jesus with Love books are just the thing you need if you want to develop a more positive reading agenda.

Recently, I went to visit a dear man and his wife who are going through some very difficult times. His company went bankrupt and he lost all his properties and savings. He was suicidal and spent time in a psychiatric hospital. When we sat down after the usual formalities, I suggested we read from the From Jesus with Love for Troubled Times. The Lord let me to start off with the following selection which left this man in tears. He commented, “It sounds like it was written for me.” I responded, “It was, it’s From Jesus with Love!” Here’s the selection that we read.

Seasons of Life

          “When you hit bottom, when dreams give way to disappointment, when all you've worked so hard for goes to pieces, when life no longer holds any purpose or promise, you are tempted to despair and wonder if there is any reason to go one living. In extreme situations you may even be tempted to end it all yourself, right now.”

          “That’s when you must remember that you were created for a purpose, and that purpose isn't a single, one-time thing; it’s multifaceted and complex. As long as you live, there will be something more you can accomplish—something you are meant to accomplish—and there is always more to get out of life. The end of one dream doesn't mean the end of all dreams. Just as the seasons come and go in their cycle, periods of success and setback, fulfillment or disappointment, and emotional highs and lows come and go. You may be in the depths of despair now, but that won’t last forever.”

         “Soon you will find hope and a reason to go on—and the sooner you ask Me to show you what I have for you next, the sooner you will find new inspiration and purpose. The best may be just around the corner, but you’ll never know if you stop here. Take My hand and let Me lead you into a new season of fruitfulness and fulfillment.”

          That is one of the 68 pages of encouraging words from the book From Jesus with Love for Troubled Times. It will lift your spirit and give you new meaning and purpose in living. From Jesus with Love is a great gift book, great devotional, great for people needing encouragement. Please order one today for yourself or a loved one. You won’t be disappointed. Click on Link to see books available.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Peace the World Cannot Give


AUGUST 3, 2012 4:00 A.M
Healing through a look at stories of heroic virtue.

An NRO Interview




Dawn Eden, author of My Peace I Give You


Dawn Eden has a new book about a difficult topic: sexual abuse. It’s called My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints. She writes as one who suffered from abuse as a child and converted to Catholicism as an adult. But what she presents, despite the title and what it might imply — something quite parochial — this is a book that tells the stories of heroic lives and the wisdom of their lived experience of faith. The book can serve as an inspiration for anyone, but it is a powerful aid for those who are suffering. Some of the men and women she covers are well known — such as Augustine ofConfessions fame — but others, including St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese-born slave, are less famous than they ought to be. Eden talks about the book with National Review Online’s Kathryn Jean Lopez.

LOPEZ: Did you find that writing this book was an obligation for you?

EDEN: Yes. I had the idea for it in December 2010, when, while looking at books at a friend’s house, I happened upon the story of Blessed Laura Vicuña in Ann Ball’s Modern Saints. I was stunned to discover that there was a young girl who had been declared Blessed by the Church — just one miracle away from canonization — who had been sexually abused, over a period of years, by her mother’s live-in lover, Manuel Mora. More than that, her mother even in some sense cooperated in the abuse, as she once tried to get Laura to dance with Mora at a party — fearful of what he would do if he were refused.


I had heard of other modern-day martyrs of chastity like Laura Vicuña, but they came from good Christian families. Laura’s story struck me because she knew what it was like to be without human consolation. More than that, she forgave on a level that was beyond anything I had seen in other saints’ stories. As she lay dying following a beating from Mora, she didn’t just forgive her abuser; she offered her life as a sacrifice for the conversion of her mother. Here was a saint who had emotionally suffered what I had suffered, and had the heroic virtues I so badly needed.



Then I thought about all the other people who had suffered childhood sexual abuse, and realized how much it might help them to know that they too had a kindred spirit in Blessed Laura.

LOPEZ: Why share about your own life?

EDEN: In proposing My Peace I Give You to my publisher, it was my intention to keep any revelations of my own life at a bare minimum. All I was going to say was that I was writing as a survivor of abuse; other than that, the book would just be stories of saints. The publisher insisted I put my own story into the book.

Although I make a point of not being graphic, just the same, it was not easy sharing about my own experience. But I’m glad I did, because victims are encouraged when they see other victims come forward.

I have come to believe that people who have suffered trauma as a result of the abuses that are widespread in secular society — the sins committed against the family and against the dignity of the human person — are going to be vital members of the next generation of Christian witnesses. Their witness will be particularly powerful because, having experienced their own Passion, they have risen to new life through faith in Christ.

LOPEZ: People other than abused children need the healing of “sexual wounds.” Is this a book for a lot of different kinds of sexual wounds? Some self-inflicted? Some cultural?

EDEN: I believe that the greatest wound caused by childhood sexual abuse is the wound to the child’s identity. John Paul II in his Letter to Families talked about how children need to develop their identity in an environment of truth and love. You can’t do that if you are subjected to lies and what John Paul called “the opposite of love,” which is “use” — that is, being treated as an object.

Being abused caused me to develop an identity that was founded not on truth but rather on the lies of my abusers — the utilitarian lies that made me believe I had no value beyond my usefulness to others. So, as a teenager and young adult, acting out of the lies I had absorbed, I compounded my pain by using people and letting them use me.

I tell readers in My Peace I Give You that they are not responsible for the abuse they suffered in childhood. We have that truth from the mouth of Christ when he casts woe upon those who would tempt little ones, and it has been affirmed again and again by the Church. But healing means more than recovering from the sins that were committed against us. It also means seeking and accepting God’s forgiveness for those sins we ourselves committed. I address both those issues in My Peace I Give You. For that reason, I believe its message helpful for anyone who is recovering from any kind of trauma or pain, particularly those in twelve-step programs, which likewise distinguish between healing from harm caused by others and ending harmful behavior.

LOPEZ: And it’s really a book for people who have no such memories — who have not been hurt in such a way — as well, don’t you think?

EDEN: I’m glad you picked that up, as I hoped in writing the book that readers would find it inspiring regardless of what experiences they brought into it. When I read Pope Benedict’s encyclical Spe Salvi — “Saved in Hope” — where he uses the story of St. Josephine Bakhita’s conversion to show what it means to have a real encounter with God for the first time, I felt it was a call to likewise use the power of storytelling to help people encounter God in their own lives. So that’s what I seek to do in weaving my own story with those of saints whose lives speak to me.

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