My new bloggy.

Until then,

~Paul

Rapid Stitch and Ink. I work in Silk Screening. We put designs onto the T-Shirts, and we do it well. Alongside this I am coming up with designs of my own, so I can begin selling my own shirts and put together a store of sorts. We also do Embroidery, and I am plotting much I can do with these skills. Also, if you have a design of your own you want done, email me at paul.bishop300@gmail.com  an I will get you pricings and such.

So far, I’m ok. I’m consistantly exhausted because of my new schedule with work. I can’t even stay awake to enjoy a movie with my friends.. oh well. That will hopefully change with time, as I get used to all of this.

That’s all for now,

Your favorite Designer(i hope),

Paul.

~Nibenon~

My lifes been chaotic recently, I want to crawl back to my shell an hide so badly, because Allyson’s parents have decided on no more contact till further notice. I didnt do anything as far as I know, so I’m simply going to wait. I go to their church alot, so they said maybe I could see her there, an in about three weeks or less they should have made their decisions an resolved stuff. I’m sorta surviving, but it’s not good. Recent song list being: The Last Night, Those Nights, Don’t Say Goodbye, Cry out to Jesus, an Dead Inside. All by Skillet except for Cry out to Jesus which is by Third Day. Then there is World so Cold by 3DG.

Life is bad, but hopefully won’t get worse.  My shell is so appealing right now, but if I crawl into it I will end up hurting myself and others.. Farewell, for now, readers. I don’t know when I will post again, it comes and goes.

*Nibenon*

Hey Paul.

I read your blogs and I do agree with you! I would like to add a few minor things if I may.

This in no way is me saying your wrong so please take it as just helpful. I am sure you have thought of these things so I am simply saying them because they were missing from your blog itself.

1. Yes you are right the Holy Spirit still does reside in us and as such it still does give us gifts. Some are gifted much different gifts from others. Just because you have one gift and I have another does not make your gift any less a blessing from God.

1 Corinthians 12
1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

1 Corinthians 1:7
7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

As this shows yes gifts were still going out to the body of Christ even after Paul was writing his letters. This was not a random and unusual phenomenon from the Apostles of the first century. It was still an issue so much so that Paul felt obligated to write these instructions to them. Keeping in mind that this letter was written to the “Gentile” believers in Corinth not to the Apostles in Israel.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts….

What are these greater gifts we should be eagerly desiring? Why would Paul instruct the believers in Corinth to desire greater gifts if the gifts were “sealed up” with the last Apostle. I will take this one step farther, I have heard others say God does not heal us still through others, but I would contend that God was talking to Paul about this still, and that Paul was still talking to the believers about these kind of events. This idea of no more gift of healing seems to be reading in to the text due to our lack of personal experiences. I would wager this misunderstanding is based on the idea in America that it is unscientific to believe that these gifts could actually be true in a real way. I don’t begin to claim to understand HOW through a gift of the spirit God can heal people but he did in the first century and Paul said this is a gift of the spirit that God would give just as he determines. I have heard of plenty of miraculous stories from people serving God over seas and they are all amazing stories, some call them lies others question the reality of them, but once again I believe this is based on a misconception of God‘s ability to act in our world. We would call them miraculous but to God it was just the outward expression of his love for us.

I also note that due to the sin of “materialism” and “self gratification” and the continued propagation of the lie that miraculous healings like those in biblical times and stories from over seas do not occur, has lead to a people with so little faith that these kind of events do occur in our society very frequently.

Although I work in healthcare I see the issue of people relying on the Doctor rather then relying on God. Understanding that most of the people Jesus healed he did so because they believed he could heal them. It was not because they had to believe but rather about having the faith in God that he will act in very real ways in our world today, trusting Jesus to take care of their “needs“. The poor overseas are so dependant on God to sustain them that the believers overseas do not rely on the government to save them, they do not look to the police, the do not look to the military, they do not look to their own money, they do not look to their own life, skills, or that of other mortal men and women. Rather they look to the one who made them. They put that trust in God that he is in control of their life. Not just in control but FULLY in control, that what ever will come they will rely on the Lord. Do we see this same in America? Don’t get me wrong some do, and I would wager if miracles did in fact occur every day we would no longer call them miracles, they would then be common place. Although I do believe God does things every day to fulfill the prayers of his believers and to fulfill his will in this world, I do not believe that there is someone walking around “hitting” people to cast out some “demon” of cancer. This is showmanship healing and this is one of the major reasons that the people of the world think this is a scam of scripture. This person has already earned his reward for he is doing it in the site of men so he might be lifted up. I am not saying that medicine does not have its place, God can use those servants of his to heal men and women, God has blessed our generation and country with advances that previous societies were unaware of. Doctors are ok to talk to, but I would also contend we should be bringing it all to God too. Lay it at his feet! (I could elaborate more on this but I am now ranting and getting off your subject)

God really did have a lot to say about this subject of Gifts of the Spirit yet as you rightly point out we are quick to discount them.

Corinthians 14:1-19
Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
6Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
13For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Hebrews 2:3-4
3how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Just to wrap up on this part of your blog I will say yes, dreams and prophesy are both still very much still alive. As one that has been gifted in spiritual discernment I have to say it is still imperative that you test all spirits all revelations to scripture as you rightly pointed out God is not changing he is the same yesterday and today. This being the case he will never tell you something that is a direct contradiction to any other Truth he has taught about. You might very well find yourself blessed in many ways but just as we are called to even test the teaching from the teachers, such as your preacher we are to test ALL these things to what we have already received. I would even recommend that you test everything I tell you, I am not infallible although I work really hard to understand the things I am talking about before I speak because I do not wish to be found in error or teaching a doctrine that is opposed to God’s teaching. This is one of the major reasons I did not send this earlier

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

1 Thessalonians 5:21
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

Revelation 2:2
2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

As for your other subject it was a bit vague but I do agree we have a free will. Although I have been praying about this and seeking scripture and I have found several incidents in scripture that lend themselves to God being in control of events. I am not saying God is moving us like Puppets but I am aware that God can control us if we submit to his guidance. Here are a few scriptures about this.

Mark 13:11
11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps the mystery of God in this is that we will be given the words and it will be up to us to speak them.

The story of Jonah seems to me to be a great story of free will and of God’s sovereignty to act in the world to make his will done. Jonah made the choice to run from God even after he had God’s will reveled to him. God acted in a very physical way and altered the events in Jonah’s life to put him back on course to fulfill God’s will. Because Jonah was a man of God he was sensitive to this and bowed down recognizing the salvation of God in the fish and went back out to fulfill God’s will in Nineveh. Even the post script to this story as God made the vine grow up and give Jonah shade but made it wilt the next day and Jonah was angry about it’s death. God told Jonah that he had not tended the vine nor made it grow so he could not be mad when it wilted.

This story is very insightful as it shows we do have a free will but our free will, will never make God’s end result change. God has the foreknowledge of what will happen in the end. That is why he called himself the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the Olif and the Tav. God was and is and is to come. He is eternally existent! This is not to say I understand how much God has done to see his will resolved but scripture is packed full of such events.

I do see plenty of scriptures proving God has given us choice! I simply now realize even with our choice our choices are not going to change God’s plans. God will see to it that his plans are fulfilled. Now we are in the greatest of the time travel mysteries. If I do something different will I change time? Every time travel book, movie or story shares this ethical question. I would wager to say no, the way things work out are already written in God’s book and any alteration that we perceive as human changes are simply already conclusions to God.

Am I saying we have no free will? Nope I am simply pointing to the fact that God in his all powerful being is fully aware what choice you will make. He knows when you are going to do right, he will even give you strength to do what is right. Yet he is also fully aware of every bad decision we will make and so this means God is aware intimately of every thing about you, including the number of hairs on your head at this very moment.

Many times in the history of man has God “interfered”! It was God who destroyed the lands of Sodom and Gomorrah, and it was God saved Noah and his family from the flood waters, and it was God who preserved the Hebrews in Egypt, and it was God who did many wonders in Egypt and ultimately rescued his people. It was God who once again sustained those in the desert; it was God, who placed a King for Israel, It was God who gave Israel over to Babylon and God who gave Babylon over to the Meads and the Persians. It was God who allowed for Israel to rebuild the wall even under great distress, it was God who came in person walking among us who went to a Cross freely to show us real love, and to redeem us. It was God who spoke  to his persecutor and turned him to one of the greatest evangelists in the history of the world. It was God who revealed himself to John and told John exactly what will happen. I could have gone on forever and you  know this. I could have continued on past scripture into the world today but we all accept that God is in control and he will do as he pleases to see his will done. God has foreknowledge of every event and of every action long before we did. God knew long ago that I would be typing this up about his foreknowledge of me writing about his foreknowledge. (Brief moment of pause for this amazing thought) Almost enough to give me a headache!

So I would say yes God does act in our world and I would furthermore point out that he does act in our world through his faithful, hands and feet. If we will simply heed the call of God we will go where he wants us to go unlike Jonah, we will have a desire and a love for the people of Nineveh, wishing to bless them with the same blessing of the Spirit that we have experienced. Can God still act in our world in ways similar to the fish? Yes I believe he has that much power he is capable of doing all these things.

So I do agree with you that we have a free will, and its that free will that makes us want to do the good works God has called us to do, when we have a relationship with Jesus.

Are we puppets? No we are willing servants! It is our place to do what the master has ordered us to do. This in turn means we are following his lead, rather then being manipulated by him.

Joshua 22:5
5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

1 Samuel 1:11
11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

Mark 9:35
35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

So we are his savants, just as he came to be our servant. He did not come to rule the world but rather to serve us, and through his death he did just that. God really is in control, He really does know how everything will end up, and he has given us the free will to make the choice do I go where God tells me? Or do I go where I want to go?

Your whole family is in my prayers.

Joel, your song.. “Goodnight, Mama.”  It will bring tears to even the stone cold people, because God won’t allow something so beautifully written to go without notice. To my readers who arent with The Rebelution, I will now post the lyrics for you, as well as the circumstances. Mrs. Harris died of cancer on July 4th, 2010.  This song was written on July 3rd.

Walking through your door, sitting on your bed
Talking about everything together
We’ll talk into the night, till everything seems clear again
And there’s only one thing left to say…

Goodnight, mama, I’m so glad that you’re here to talk to
Sleep well, I’ll see you soon
Thank you, Jesus, for a mother who pours herself out
Always something else to do

Walking through you door, bringing you your food
Talking about how you slept last night
We only have a little while, till you need to rest again
And there’s only one thing left to say…

Goodnight, mama, I’m so glad that I got to see you
Sleep well, I’ll be back soon
Thank you, Jesus, for a mother who poured her life out
Please fill her anew

Walking through your door, to see you one more time
Thinking about all the times we’ve shared
Not much longer now, because He’s calling you home
And there’s only one thing left to say…

Goodbye, mama, I’m so glad that I got to know you
Farewell, I’ll see you soon
Take her, Jesus, to a place with no pain or sickness
To heaven with you

By Joel Harris

Lord, please, be with the Harris family as they go through this time of sorrow. Show them your strength, with thy best name of Comforter. You have shown them how you desired to heal her, now show them you can heal them also. They need a tower an shelter, a person to lean on.  Wrap your arms around them, an don’t let go. You’ve shown You will do this for me, and now I beg of you to do it for them. Bring them through this, in Jesus name, Amen.

*Nibenon*

*Nibenon*

Chapter 1
Taunts of a Murderer
Raped, tortured, abused..
‘Would killers and monsters like this never stop being creative,’ she thought as she read through the file on the latest murder. The poor girl had suffered through having limbs partially cut off and then stitched back on. Presumably this cut down on her resistance if she didn’t want to stop them from healing. Raped for the sheer pleasure of feeling in control, abused because the man was bored. The forensics scientist was jerked from the files by her cell phone. She listened for a moment. The chorus to Whispers in the Dark. She knew the song was true, but felt very alone as she pressed the talk button. “Hello, this is Olivia….oh? What is it?…Alright then. Thanks!” She hung up the phone. Now they were getting somewhere.’ Positive ID on the girl: Rita White, 15 years old. At the scene of this murder, and the other 3 before it, the murderer taunted them by writing two words in the victims blood. All 4 so far had the same words. “Lazy fools.” What could it mean? Olivia went back in the notes of the similiar cases. All were done the same way. They were searching as hard as they could, but every time he struck, there was the same taunt. “Lazy fools.”

What could else could they do? There was nothing they could think of.  They were working as hard as they could. There must be something they were missing.  Olivia thought back to all that the team had done. They had done everything they should, and had gone above the call of their job at the anger roused by the killers creativity.  She sat back, thinking. Then her counterpart on the Feds side, Lucien Stein, had an idea. He knocked on the door and walked right in without waiting for her to answer. Looking down at the desk as he pulled up a chair he read the name plate. “Olivia.. You seriously need to get a new plate for your desk. It doesn’t even remotely resemble your name anymore. Obvm Stnn? That’s seriously what it looks like..”  Olivia glanced up at the name plate, then looked back at Lucien, “Now you are just jealous cause I actually have one. You can’t sit behind a desk long enough to need one. Beside that, I cant afford one and you know it.”

Pretending to be hurt Lucien gives his best puppy dog eyes an then snaps back to seriousness, “Well, in that case I’ll pay for it for you. In other matters..” his voice trails off as he gathers his thoughts. “I was wondering if you had blood left over from any of the past murders. You’re team has done all the samples and tests, I thought perhaps we could change the test up a little bit.” Olivia is shocked, but she knows that her older brother never makes a useless suggestion so nods for him to continue, “Perhaps we could find DNA mixed in with her own that doesnt match?” He asks, an waits for her reply.