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Articles on various Christian Subjects

Experiencing God’s Love

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

By: Larry Shawn Cagle
December 20, 2014

This is about an amazing experience I had that occurred quite suddenly and was completely unexpected. When this happened, I was not praying or meditating. I was not reading the Bible or other theological styled book.  I was not in some deep contemplation about God and the universe. I was not reasoning or pondering man’s existence.  I was simply considering the accuracy of a Cable program that my wife and I had just finished viewing.

My unbelievable experience happened in the Fall of 2004.  My wife and I had just finished watching a cable program on the original History Channel concerning people who “claim” to see Saints, Angles, Spirits or the Virgin Mary on a somewhat frequent basis.  Overall, the program was at best, fair to very poor in quality.  Plus, the individuals who were highlighted seemed to be somewhat out of touch with reality.  I do not think I could believe these people because they seemed to be scripted and somewhat shallow.  After the show ended, I decided to surf the internet for awhile.  I went to our spare bedroom, the one that we used as our computer room and sat down and powered on the system.  As it was slowly booting up, I started thinking about the program we had just watched and the topic that was covered. It occurred to me, how would these people or anybody really know if what they saw was real or just hallucinations or fabrications?  Also, I considered what the images they claimed to have seen could of actually been.  Were these images truly holy and from God or possibly Satanic. How would they know that they were not being deceived by Satan or his demons? The Bible states that demons can take on many forms including heavenly spirits (1 John 4:1, 2 Corinthians 11:14).  In addition, I wondered if they were only seeking their 15 minutes of fame.  How could anyone truly know and be sure that the images they experienced, like the one’s we just saw on the History Channel, were real, imagined, holy or demonic??

As I was sitting there reflecting on the questions I had just asked myself while waiting for the system to fully boot up, I suddenly and unexpectedly had an experience that is still hard for me to fully explain. This experience forever change my life and my perception of life, God and His love.  What I experienced, for that magnificent moment, was God’s presence and His love.

I will try to explain how powerful and suprising experiencing God’s presence was, but unfortunately, I know that will not be possible.  I know all my words will fall short of expressing the unimaginable magnitude of what happened.  However, I will do my best to explain what I felt and discovered by my Godly experience.

When I first felt God’s presence, I noticed that everything I was either stressed or distressed about, including all I was worrying and concerned about was gone, vanished, did not exist anymore.  All those negitive feelings I had from my entire life vanished from my conscience. It was as though they never existed or they were never experienced. I then noticed that beside all the negitive feelings, thoughts, memories, etc. in my life disappearing, everything that I cared about, all the positive things in my life, had also disappeared, vanished.  They were all gone to as through they never existed.  I realized I no longer had any feelings about both the good and the bad in my life.  All the things I loved in this world no longer mattered or meant anything to me. My family, my wife, our pets, everything and anything of this world that I loved or had ever loved or cared about, along with all the things hated, was no longer part of my existence.  All my experiences and anything that was part of me and my life, including everything that was not part of my life, was gone and had no meaning to me.  I was now completely seperated from this world and no longer part of the world.  Everything that was part of this world no longer had any meaning to me.  The good and the bad of life was no longer relevant and I was no longer connected in anyway, shape, or form to this world.  I was physically here but that was the extent of my connection to this world. I was no longer emotionally, mentally, or even spiritually connected to this world.  As I stated before, I was actually seperated from everything that existed in this world and it no longer meant anything because of God’s presence.  His presence had completely seperated me from this world and anything that related to this world.  I was totally and absolutely free from this world. Beyond any doubt, this was the most intense, strange and unbelievable surprise (gift or blessing) I had ever experienced in my life.  At least until what happened next.

What I then noticed or felt next was the most pure, the most precious, perfect and complete, intense and fulfilling love that could ever be imagined. This love literally penetrated every part of my body, every cell and every atom.  It penetrated the essence of my being. I felt God’s love down to my very soul.  It was so intense and fulfilling I realized that this love could and would give me absolutely and unequivocally everything I would ever need, want or desire.  I relealized I would not required food to live as this love could give me the all the nutrition I needed. I realized I would no longer require air to breathe as this love could supply the very air I needed to live. This love gave me absolutely everything I could ever need or want. Plus, I discovered there was nothing else outside of this warm, exquisite, wonderful, beautiful, magnificent, precious, perfect and Divine Godly love.  All my perceptions, all my senses, everything was consumed by this love. There are really no word I have or words I know of that can fully express God’s love. The Bible states that you can have anything you desire in Heaven. If Heaven gives you everything you need, want or desire, I know that God’s love is all I would ever want.  So for that brief period I think I was expecting a small part of Heaven.  Even after +12 years, I cannot image anything greater than that warm embrace of God’s love that I briefly had.

I do not know how long this experience lasted as time seemed to have stopped. Or at least, my perception of time. I think it only lasted for a few seconds to maybe a minute or two.  I am not sure because I was disconnected from this world briefly. I do not think anyone here on earth could handled a love that powerful and intense for any longer period of time. I believe if it lasted for any great length of time I would of quit existing as the person I was. If I had continued to experience God’s love, I would not had left that chair or room. I would of sat there until the end of time.  The love from God gave me everything I needed or would ever need and nothing else mattered to me.

One of the lasting effect of God’s love is related death and dying.  I had very little concern about death and dying once I became a Christian and understood God’s word.  Since I have experienced God’s love I know no longer have any fear or reservations concerning death and dying.  I can say with a doubt that I look forward to my death because I know what is waiting for me once I am in Heaven.

I apologize for the parts were I rambled attempting to explain how I felt and how God’s love felt.  No matter how many times I have attempted to tell my experience, my words always fall short of the actual experience I experienced.

I hope I was able to give you an inkling of the overwhelming magnitude and the sheer intensity of the pure, perfect and divine love from God that I experienced.  I still wonder why God allowed me to experience His presence and His love.  I do not know if it was an answer to what I was thinking or some other reason. Maybe there will be a time when it is fully clear to me why God touched my life is this way!!

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A Dream About My Father

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

This is a true experience I had several months after my father passed away in 2010. I thought I should share it with others as it has had a profound affect on my faith.

Since my father passed away on August 20, 2010, I had been concerned about how he had truly believed because he had stopped going to church.  Also,  after several conversation I had with him about religion and faith, it left me worried about his “faith” and his relationship with the Lord. In addition, I felt I had missed opportunities to talk with him about faith. God resolved this conflict by giving me a chance to find out for myself in a dream!!

My “dream” started like this:
I had been on the road traveling so I stopped at a gas station.  The look of this gas station was old, well used and possibly built in the late 1950s.  Strangely I noticed it was a “Texaco” gas station.  I went inside looking for the restrooms.  I saw there was a women’s restroom on the right and a men’s restroom directly in front of me.  As I was moving towards the men’s restroom, the sign on the men’s restroom door suddenly changed from “Men’s” and read, “Ivan Cagle”, my father’s name.  Then, just as suddenly as the sign changed, I felt a presence behind me.  I turned around cautiously and there, right behind me, was my father.  I also noticed right behind him there was a bright white light that slowly faded away.  My father did not look like he did recently before he had passed, but rather when he was younger, around fourty. I even noticed that he had a mustache once again.  I ran to him and gave him a big hug.  Then, as I was standing in front of him and before I could utter a word he said to me, “God said I could come and tell you that I am alright and everything is OK!”.  Again, before I could get a word out my father said to me “God says I have to go now”.  He then slowly stepped back a few feet and stopped.  The bright white light that had faded and disappeared behind him previously reappeared and completely enveloped him and just as suddenly as he appeared, he and the light were gone. I suddenly awoke clearly remembering everything that had happened. I was somewhat shocked, confused and amazed. However, there was an unbelievable peace that I was now feeling. It took me well over 2 hours to fall back asleep.

Ever since I had that dream, I have had no more thoughts or concerns about my father and where he is residing thanks to God. I am secure in knowing without a doubt that my father is with God in Heaven!!

Larry Shawn Cagle
11/2010

How To Be Saved

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

I have to admit, one of the most difficult subjects that many individuals deal with when considering faith and Christianity, is what it takes to be “Saved”. “Saved” means to have the Holy Spirit (from God) come into your heart and be part of your life so after death you can enter Heaven and spend an eternity with God and Jesus because all of your sins have been forgiven. Too many Christians and others usualy argue and disagree exactly what is required for a person to be saved. There is a simple solution to answer what it takes that is often ignored for personal, secular, ideological or other reasons. If you want the truth, all you must do is read God’s word. There you can find all the answers to Life, Living and being Christian.

The Bible states:
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Romans 10:9‭-‬10 ESV

Now you know what it takes to become Saved. Please remember that becoming Saved is just the first step to becoming a True Christian. Now you must walk the path that God has planned just for you and stay in His guiding light as He will never leave you or forsake you!!

Written by: Larry Shawn Cagle
05/11/2017

Original Sin Is The First Sin & Not An Inherited Sin

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

By Larry Shawn Cagle

Recently, I had a discussing with my wife who, just as me, had grown up being taught that the sin of Adam & Eve that forced their departure from the Garden of Eden, was passed down to everyone who was born after they left the Garden. That this sin is called Original sin and we are all born with this sin and therefore stained, held responsible, for their sin. The problem, as I explained to my wife, is that concept is not accurate. What the Bible says is Adam & Eve will suffer because of their sin and instead of being cared for by God, they are on our own and will have to work to survive. I discovered the true meaning of Original sin and what it is to us after first reading then extensivly researching the Bible.

The correct meaning of Original Sin is that it was the “first” sin of mankind. However, there are many churchs, denominations, preachers, ministers, priests and other individuals who believe and teach that Original Sin is a sin passed down from Adam & Eve to everyone. That everyone is born with original sin and we have to either confess or we have to be baptisted to have this sin forgiven and removed. The problem with that belief is that concept of original sin is not Biblical accurate and therefore not true. If it was true we had a sin as soon as we saw life, that would mean we were held accountable and could suffer for actions of another that resulted in sin. There is not a single verse in the entire Bible that states we are responsible for another’s sin. In addition, there is not a single verse that says since Adam and Eve sinned, all future generations have that same sin and they can be held accoutable. However, the Bible has multiple verses stating we can only be held accoutable for our own actions and not the actions of others. Also, these verses clearly state that God will hold no one responsible for the sins committed by another and suffer the second death. By searching the Bible you can find multiple instances where God states only the person sinning is held accoutable.

So if anyone tells you that you are born with Original sin or the sin of Adam & Eve, you will now know these statements are not Biblically sound and simply false. Below you will find a few of the verses that support this position.

“To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.”
Genesis 3:16‭-‬19‭, ‬23 ESV

“Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”
Ezekiel 18:19‭-‬20 ESV

“Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.”
Deuteranomy 24:16 ESV

“But he did not put their children to death, according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not die because of their children, nor children die because of their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin.”
2 Chronicles 25:4 ESV

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God . Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.”
Ezekiel 18:30 ESV

2016

Jesus Died For All The Sins of All Mankind

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

When Jesus states that no one comes to the Father except through Him, it has a dual meaning. First, is if you know of God, Jesus and God’s word but refuse to accept them as the truth, then you are not saved.  Second, it is only by Jesus’s death & resurrection that makes all of mankind available to be justified before God.  Therefore, no one comes to God the Father except through Jesus Christ!!

Romans 4:16‭-‬17‭, ‬24‭-‬25 ESV
“That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”


Romans 5:1‭-‬2 ESV

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”


John 14:6 ESV

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”


Written By Larry Shawn Cagle 

Why We Suffer

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

Have you ever wondered why you suffer so much as a Christian?  I had wondered why, for some time, until I had completely read the Bible.  I originally thought that becoming a Christian meant that there would be less pain and suffering for the rest of my life.  I thought that way because of false teachings of various minister I had listened to previously.  These ministers were preaching what is known as a “prosperity” gospel.  This “gospel” states that when you give yourself to Christ, everything will be better until you go to heaven. You will have less suffering and every thing in your life will be better. The problem with that statement is it is not biblical.  The Bible never states while living on earth and following Jesus Christ means you will have less trouble.  However, the Bible does actually state that you will have more suffering as a Christian and it is not until you reach Heaven, will there be no more pain and suffering.  However, God’s word does say how you should handle any pain or suffering while here on earth and that is what is important.  In truth, how you react to anything is the only thing you can control, that is with God’s help. You can either let pain and suffering overtake you and control you or you can give it to God and rely on Him to handle your suffering.  It is only then, with God handling your suffering, you will experience less suffering.  That is why Paul states in the Bible why we suffer. It is so we can rely on God and the power of God.

One thing you must remember is that Satan is always going to work his hardest on Christians, especially new Christians, to try to shake their faith.  So instead of letting Satan win, you should give it to God. I will admit one of the hardest aspects I have with being a Christian is rejoicing in my pain and suffering.  This is because I always looked at pain and suffering as something bad or negative.  I never considered pain and suffering as an opportunity to rely on God and God’s power. To be able to experience God’s power through pain and suffering. So when you suffer, you should be glad, because the power of God is in you and He will handle your suffering. Remember that with God and Jesus Christ, all things are possible!!

2 Corinthians 1:8‭-‬9 ESV
“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”

2 Corinthians 12:9‭-‬10 ESV
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Romans 5:3‭-‬5 ESV
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

1 Peter 3:14‭, ‬17 ESV
“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

Written By: Larry Shawn Cagle

Perishable to Imperishable, Mortal to Immortal, All Are Changed

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

We are all mortal when we are in the flesh.  It is not until Jesus’s final return that ALL are changed and made immortal.  The Natural body is first and changed to a Spiritual body. Flesh and blood or a Natural body/Living body cannot inherit the kingdom of Heaven.  Only a Spiritual body can inherit or enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Here on earth, man is flesh (natural) and only after Jesus comes will man become spiritual and immortal. Upon Jesus second coming all who are saved, living or dead, are changed from mortal to immortal.  According to God’s word there are only two types of bodies. There are heavenly bodies, which are also called Spiritual, and earthly bodies, also called flesh.  Each type of bodies is an unique kind.

While man is flesh/natural/earthly, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, will exist only in those who are saved.  Those who do not have the Spirit of God but the Spirit of the world, is just flesh, natural or earthly. These individuals cannot recognize things from God. Those who are saved and have the Holy Spirit are the only ones who can discern Godly things, Spiritual things from God.

Remember, everyone who has lived or is living when the Final Judgement begins, will be changed from mortal to immortal, perishable to imperishable.  This will happen regardless of your final destination.  Whether it is Heaven or Hell, eternal perfection in love or eternal destruction in pain!!

1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 40, 42-42, 44, 46-47, 50-51, 53 ESV
“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”

1 Corinthians 2:12-15 ESV
“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.  The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ESV
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

Written By Larry Shawn Cagle 

False Spirits Are In The World

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

Did you know there are false prophets, ministers, pastors, teachers, deacons, friends, etc. that are in the world today?  Did you know as each day goes by, more of these evil creatures are added to their numbers?  There are many false spirits in and all over the world. These false spirits are also increasing in numbers, as the end times draw nearer and the Final Judgment draws closer.

How do you discover these ungodly, unrighteous demonic beings? As the Bible states, the only way to know if spirits are from God is to test them.  The test for true or false spirits is very simple. All you need is to have the suspected individual, who may have or be a false spirit, confess the truth, “Jesus has come in the flesh“.  If the Spirit is able to confess this fact, then the Spirit is from God.  If the spirit does not confess that Jesus has come in the flesh, they are not from God but from the unholy lord of this earth, Satan. That is all that it takes and it is really easy and simple.

Remember, as we draw nearer to the end, everying not of God is working harder to steal your salvation.  All the ungodly and unrighteous beings only purpose is to Decieve, Lie and Divide.  To seperate you from God your Father and Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior.  They want to make sure, even though they already know they cannot win, that they can sow a single seed of doubt that may actually keep someone from accepting God’s free Gift of Grace.  God’s Grace is the only way you can become righteous before God and be allowed into Heaven for an eternity!!

1 John 4:1 ESV
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.“

1 John 4:2-3 ESV
“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God….”

1 John 4:3 ESV
“…This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”

Written By Larry Shawn Cagle

Is There An End To The World?

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

Concerning the end of the world, there appears to be a strong belief by many Christians that our current world will never end.  That on or after Judgement Day, God will remake the earth to make it new again.  They believe that the current earth will always exist. That God will basically remake or renew the surface of our planet. However, this is inaccurate due to errors in translation of several popular Bibles, such as the KJV which was translated in 1614(1).   If you read current Biblical translations from the oldest original texts that are available, you can easily see these errors.  Select modern translations are more accurate due to being translated using recently discovered ancient Biblical texts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

The most commonly quoted scripture from these Bibles supporting this contention that this world will never end is Ephesians 3:21, 2 Peter 3:10 and Revelation 20:11.  However, the more accurate translations states the heavens and the earth will pass away and be replaced.  That on Judgement Day, God will burn with fire everything that currently exists and replace both the heavens and the earth with new heavens and earth. This belief is supported by many other Biblical scripture in the New and Old Testament.  Some of these other passages are Hebrews 1:10-12, Matthew 24:35, Revelation 21:1, 2 Peter 3:7 and Isaiah 34:4

It should be noted that some individuals also believe that the fire mentioned in the Bible in relation to these verses is nuclear fire. However, there appear to be two problems with that assumption.  First, nuclear explosion leaves scorched earth and not a new earth and secondly, any nuclear explosion can not go into the heavens.  It is confined or limited to this earth!!  Therefore a nuclear explosion could not make both the earth and heavens pass away.  Only God can do that and then replace them with a new earth and new heavens as the Bible states.

Another thought to consider is why would God give those individuals who are saved NEW immortal non-perishable (incorruptible) bodies, but not a new earth and heavens? Especially when considering this verse in Revelation.

Revelation 21:5 ESV
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

One of the strongest verses saying there will be an end to the heavens and the earth was spoken by Jesus.

Luke 21:33 ESV
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Jesus states that heaven and earth will pass away.  What else do you need as proof that the world we are currently living on will no longer exists at some point and then be replaced by a new world?  I think it can easily be seen in these verses presented that this world will end!!

Below are some more current Biblical verses that support this position. (emphasis mine) 

Ephesians 3:21 KJV(1)
“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:21 AEB(2)
“may He be glorified by the called ones and by the Anointed Jesus into all generations through ages of ages… may it be so!”

Ephesians 3:21 ESV
“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

2 Peter 3:10-13 AEB(2)
“However, the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief! But then the skies will become extremely hot, their basic parts will melt, and they will pass away with a hissing noise. And thereafter, the land and everything that’s being done on it will be exposed!  So, since all these things are about to be released; what sort of people should you be when it comes to holy conduct and godliness?  Why, we’re awaiting and anticipating the appearance of the Day of the Lord, during which the skies will burn and dissolve and their basic parts will melt due to the intense heat!  For, we’re awaiting the new skies and land that He has promised, in which righteousness will dwell! “

2 Peter 3:10-13 ESV(3)
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.“

Revelation 20:11 AEB(2)
” Then I saw someone sitting on a huge white throne; and before him the earth and the sky just vanished and couldn’t be found.”

Revelation 20:11 ESV(3)
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence the earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.“

Hebrews 1:10-12 AEB(2)
“And, ‘In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth, and [you] made the heavens with your hands.  But they’ll pass away while you still remain; for like clothes, they will grow old.”

1 Corinthians 7:31 ESV(3)
“… For the present form of this world is passing away.”

Hebrews 1:10-12 ESV(3)
“And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;  they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment”

Matthew 24:35 AEB(2)
“Though the skies and the lands may all pass away, my words will not pass away!”

Matthew 24:35 ESV(3)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”.”

Revelation 21:1 AEB(2)
“Then I saw a new sky and new lands, because the previous sky and lands had disappeared, as had the sea.”

Revelation 21:1 ESV(3)
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”

2 Peter 3:7 AEB(2)
“So it’s by this same word that what’s in store for the skies and the land is the fire that [will come to them] in the Judgment Day, when those godless men will be destroyed.”

2 Peter 3:7 ESV(3)
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”

Isaiah 34:4 AEB(2)
“Then the powers of the heavens will melt; 
The sky will be wrapped like a scroll, 
And all the stars will then fall, 
Like the leaves of a grapevine or fig tree.”

Isaiah 34:4 ESV(3)
“All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.”

References
(1) The KJV was translated first in 1611 from several other translations including the Textus Receptus and Jerome’s Latin Vulgate.  There are four versions of the KJV with over 100,000 differences between each version and translations for the KJV were combined from over 50 different translators.

(2) From the American English Bible Translation (Current ongoing translation from original texts into American English & most accurate translation)

(3) From the English Standard Version Bible Translation (Modern translation)

By Larry Shawn Cagle

Make No Plans For The Future

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

The Bible covers everything that you need to know in and about life. There is not a subject that is not covered, including the proper way to look at life and the future.

Based on the verses below, it is easy to see that God wants us to live for today and not be concerned or worry about the future.  This includes everything that concerns your life here on earth, including saving money.  If you have truly submitted and given your life to Jesus, God is now responsible for you.  If we have faith, He will provide you with everything you need for the day. This ‘everything’ is all He sees you need and NOT what you think or believe you need.  God wants to care for you and He wants you to trust Him in everything.  All you have to do is have the faith and give God the opportunity to do as He has promised.  Remember that God also promises to never leave you or forsake you.  Once you have given yourself completely to God, He will never leave you, forget you or decide not to keep any of His promises.  The only way God will not care for you is if you turn your back on God and reject Him outright!!

Mathew 6:31-34 ESV
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’or ‘What shall we drink?’or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. â€œTherefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Romans 13:14 AEB
“Rather, we should put on the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, and not plan ahead [to satisfy] the cravings of the flesh.”

Hebrew 13:5
“… and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Written By Larry Shawn Cagle

Did God Create Evil and Satan?

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

Unfortunately, there are some individuals who believe that God created evil and Satan.  This belief or concept is inaccurate and completely untrue. God is all good and does not do anything evil. God cannot lie or even deceive. So how did evil come about and how was Satan created? Simply, evil was created by Lucifer.

When Lucifer, also known as the ‘dawn of light’, used his free will and chose to oppose God and reject God’s authority, evil was born. Lucifer’s rebellion against God created what we know today as evil.  In addition, Lucifer became Satan when he was cast out of Heaven by God to the earth along with one third of the angels that chose Lucifer over God. As you can see, evil was the result of Lucifer’s free will and rejecting God’s authority. It is easy to understand now that it was not God that created evil or created Satan.  Satan created himself and evil. Now, when you see evil here on earth, you know it is Satan!!

Written By Larry Shawn Cagle

The Works of The Flesh & The Fruit of The Spirit

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

Have you ever wondered what exactly were works of the Flesh and works of the Spirit?  I did one day and as with everything else in life, I found the answers in the Bible.  As most Christians already know, works of the Flesh are part of this world and the works of the Spirit are of God. Below are the pertinent verses from Galatians in the New Testament. Remember, we should all strive to avoid all things of the Flesh and try to live everyday in the Spirit!!

Galatians 5:19-23, 25-26 ESV

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Written By Larry Shawn Cagle

Proof Of God?

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

One difficulty, or more accurately one complaint, for those who do not believe in God, is there is no proof of God’s existence.  Most of these individuals state they want proof of God before they will believe in Him. I cannot count the number of times that during a discussion relating to Christianity, the Bible, Jesus, etc., the remark about having to have proof, I have heard from non-believers. I constantly hear from those who do not believe in God that as soon as they have proof, they will believe. I find this statement or concept so amazingly ironic because if you have proof, there is no need for faith. Proof is defined as “evidence or argument establishing or helping to establish a fact or the truth of a statement” and faith is defined as “complete trust or confidence in someone or something“. When I point this out to non-believers about proof and faith being basically opposites, they simply say they do not care or try to divert my point elsewhere. Often they just restate that they need proof before they will believe.

Faith is what God wants from us.  God’s design for our salvation is based on having faith of His existence, faith in His Son Jesus and His works, death and resurrection. Without faith you will suffer the second death and miss out on God’s free gift of Grace.  You cannot have salvation without faith in Jesus’s death for the sins of all mankind and His resurrection three days later by God His Father.

The truth is Christians have proof of God’s existence and all that He has done because of their personal relationships with Jesus Christ. In addition, there is still proof of God all around us everyday if you look closely and carefully.  God can be seen in His creations and God’s effect on everything surrounding us constantly.  This concept is similar to how scientists are able to see black holes simply by their effect on the stars and planets surrounding them.  Plus, you can find God in certain people by watching their actions of kindness, charity and selflessness towards others.

As far as I am concerned, I can see God all around me each and everyday.  Especially, when I look in the eyes of my wife 😇 and see the love and compassion she has for others, including myself!!

Written By: Larry Shawn Cagle

All Is From God and So Much More

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

Most people who are Christians know that God created the Universe, Earth, man and woman.  However, there are a couple of specifics that are not mention by many ministers, preachers or Biblical teachers that to me are very important and relative to understanding God’s love for us.

First, everything in the beginning was created by God and the Word.  As the Bible states, God Spoke and the Word created.  The Word, of course, is Jesus Christ. This we also learn in the Bible as the verses below illustrate.  The Second, and most interesting in my opinion, is that God created man personally.  With His own hands God formed the shape of man from the dust (of earth) and then breathed life into that dust.  This created man as the the dust came to life.  I personally believe that this is where our immortal soul came from, the breath of God.  Since Eve was created from one of Adam’s rib, she not only received life because of God and through Adam, but also her soul.  In addition, since we are all descended from Adam and Eve, we have a soul that is given to us from God’s first creating Adam.  Please note that there are no verses in the Bible that mentions where or soul comes from or how we received our soul. However, this concept to me stands to reason since our life is from God and so is our soul.

God loves us so much that we are the one thing He actually physically did Himself when He created all things.  While God spoke and then Jesus created everything else, God created us personally.  This idea, to me at least, helps me understand and comprehend how much we mean and are loved by God.  He gave us His one and only Son to die for all our sins so we could be righteous before God and be with Him in Heaven eternally.  Also, to have this free gift of Grace, we do not have to do anything but believe.  Finally, when we ask for forgiveness we are always forgiven and our sins are then forgotten by God regardless of how many times we have sinned before.  Plus, God never stops loving us and will never leave us or forsake us, ever.  God is truly the perfect Father!!

John 1:1-3, 14 ESV*
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Hebrews 1:2-3 ESV*
“but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. …”

Genesis 2:7 ESV*
“then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

Ephesians 4:4-7 ESV*
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift”

Psalm 103:10-14 ESV
“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.  For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”

Hebrews 13:5 ESV*
“… for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””

*ESV – English Standard Version Bible

Written By: Larry Shawn Cagle

Why Church? Must We Go To Church If We Are Christians?

~ Shawn ~ Leave a comment

Do we need to go to church?  Does the Bible instruct us to go to church and what to do at church?  The answer is YES to both questions.  In Acts, we are told to attend church to study God’s word, for fellowship, the breaking of bread and to pray.  It is only by attending church that we can truely see God at work.  We gain wisdom about God’s word and celebrate our fellowship in Christ with others.  We know from the Bible when two or more are gathered in Jesus name, He is present among those individuals.  This is the way we can have true fellowship, when we are all together with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, offering thanksgiving and praying!!

Supportive Biblical Passages/Verses

Acts 2:42, 44-44, 46 ESV
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,”

Written By: Larry Shawn Cagle