Evangelism and the dead being raised!

Ive been trying to uphold my decision to have 5 evangelistic conversations each day and Ive been going a bit up and down. First day was 5, then 4, then 0 (bad day) then 6... We'll see how I go today! As for conversions only the one on Sunday but praise God for that one hey? He called me and told me he now has more friends at school!

A couple of points. 1) If I arent getting many saved after 15 conversations then by you having less conversations how much more time will it take? 2) I have been planting alot of seeds, its good to remember that not all evangelism is about the conversion point... 3) Having to talk to 5 people has pushed me just out of my comfort zone, Ive had to go to the shops real late at night so I can find people to talk to. 4) "More friends at school" because God has done a work in his life! Praise God!
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Check out this article. Its about people being raised from the dead in India! A reporter saw it all happen and is shocked! So are the hindu villages who are now saying that Jesus is the TRUE GOD! How cool is that?

Some who read this will say "but they're in India, theres not enough proof." But I say to them there was plenty of proof on that night, western journalist, massive crowd, mum, the hindus who have now converted must have seen some proof, and the hindus who are still trying to work out what happend and are coming to see the man who was raised from the dead, and the description of one of the dead people. So, either this is a massive hoax or it happend.

If you dont believe this one happend then I say to you you need faith. Infact, if anyone does not believe in God raising from the dead even in todays world I say "get some faith." Thats all there is to it. The scripture says He does, Scripture says we are commanded to. Theres nothing more to it other than faith! You say why doesnt it happen? I say it does happen and it happens with faith! God, help our faith be stronger!

I read in the Year Book (1993 i think...) that Bangladesh had had some terrible floods. All the halls got flooded and they had nearly no where to go for their weekend meetings... Nearly nowhere. They hooked up a bunch of boats together and held meetings from the boats! No corps missed their meeting because they had them in boats! Love it!
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Theres a movie coming out soon (already out in the states) that is sure to rattle a few cages. "EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED" Is Ben Steins journey of finding out that evolution is a load of rubbish and that if you disagree with it you get expelled... Heres a trailor, and make sure you check out the website: http://www.getexpelled.com


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Yesterday we talked about praying for the lost... Heres the first one explained a bit:

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

2 corinthians 4:3-4


Unbelievers need revelation not just information. They dont see the same Jesus as we do. Information is head stuff, revelation affects the head but starts in the heart. People need to repent, metanoia- which doesnt mean turn around, it means to have a change of mind.


The word blinded (tuphloo) means to dull the intellect. The word tupho means smoke., where we get the idea of a smoke screen. The word comes from the word tuphoo which is used for being high minded, proud, and so tie all the words together and we get a puffed up type of image.


The problem people have with accepting Christ is that they have to humble themselves and let Christ be there boss. If youre proud this wont happen!


Therefore we need to do some Spiritual warfare praying asking God to break down these barriers... Now, Im not doing justice to Sheets work but im trying to give you something to look at, but for a more complete look buy his book!lol

Here are some things to pray for when trying to lead some one to Christ... All are Biblical and from "Intercessory Prayer"... I'll show you all of them now but talk about each of them in the coming days because they can get get pretty theological...

• That God would lift the veil (2 Corinthians 10:4)
• For the Holy Spirit to hover over and protect them
• For Godly people to come into their pathway each day
• To cast down anything that would exalt itself against the knowledge of God
• To take down all known strongholds (thought patterns, religions, opinions etc)
• To bind satan from taking them captive
• That the armor of God would be placed on them

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The Kingdom of heaven is like... There was a ship with a captain. Hes crew loved the captain heaps and heaps. They adored him. They sung his praises, in fact they would often get together and talk about how great their captain was. One day the captain saw a ship sinking, he yelled out to his crew, "Quick, let down the lifeboats, lets go and save them!" But the crew were too happy talking to each other about the captain and how good he was, and they never let down the lifeboats, and the other ship sunk and the people died.
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The Kingdom of heaven is like... A policeman was having a hard time at work. It was quiet at the station but there was lots of people breaking the law. He thought to himself, what can I do to make things better? So he started meeting with other policemen. He got a Policeman from America to come out and speak at the police station. But still no criminals came in. He thought, it must be because the place isnt clean enough! So he cleaned the bars of the jail and mopped the floor! But still no one came in! The second policeman however, went out into the dark alley ways, into the clubs and pubs, bikie bars and brothels. He even went over seas to find the worst. Which of these two policemen is the wisest?
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"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Luke 19:10

Hoping to get more regular with blog...

Yesterday was a BIG day!

1) Started talking to one of the young guys whose been coming to church. He followed us into the prayer room and listened to us pray. I tried to get him involved by teaching him how to pray. I soon found out he didn't know Jesus or what being saved meant.

I asked him, have you ever lied? He replied yes. Which makes you a? Liar he replied... I went through a few questions like that and then said at judgment day will God find you guilty or nor guilty? He knew he was guilty and the Holy Spirit came with so much conviction, he was almost in tears. Then I had the privlege of leading him to Christ! I know this is just the beginning of his walk with God but he came and asked for a bible at the end of the meeting. God, please continue to teach, encourage and challenge him!


2) A few weeks ago someone prophesied that leaders would start popping up and coming to me to help with the youth. Yesterday in the car on the way to church I told God, "I have faith, help my unbelief." And I found 2 potential leaders at church! Hallelujah! Please pray that we will obey God when taking/knocking back leaders!

3) I have committed myself to having no less than 5 evangelistic conversations each day. I realize I wont always get this many and that I have some more growing to do to make this a habit, but please pray as I really want to make this a big part of my life!

4) Dutch Sheets book "Intercessory Prayer" is amazing! I'll blog on that tomorrow God willing...

5) Lets GO FOR SOULS! (website should be up in a month or so...)

MCG, New converts and over enthusiasm

I took a couple of youth to the cricket yesterday. I had promised them we'd go and it was Australia's last game at the MCG this year. To make it even more special it was Adam Gilchrist's last game at the MCG!

The boys loved it. They especially loved how we could sit in the front row and sledge the players, how you could yell out whatever you thought of the game and no one would care, and if they did you just yell a bit louder! The boys were also trying to get autographs, and when we left one even said he was going to hold on to his ticket to show everyone he'd been to the cricket at the MCG. It was a great day and one they wont forget soon...

As I sat there often they would say or do something and Id think to myself, "Didn't you know that?" Or "Settle down a bit, that happens all the time." But then I realized this is a new experience for them and I need to settle down and let them experience it for the first time.

New Christians are just like the boys. They get saved and see all the great things God is doing. Often they are the best evangelists as they tell the world what they really think. They get excited about miracles and what God is saying, they get excited about what is out there! This new experience is the best thing to ever happen to their lives!

In the story I am like alot of the older Christians. Getting grumpy for new people being too loud, or getting too excited. i had lost the wonder of the cricket at the MCG. I had been there so many times, it'd just worn off.... And so often people lose the wonder of God, a result of being brought up in a church...

How can this happen? For me, I lost my first love for the cricket at the MCG. For the church we have lost our first love of Jesus. We need to regather ourselves and start loving God more. Reading our Bibles, praying for hours on end. Everyday. More prayer meetings, more worship, more sacrifice, and if we do this then it wont matter what program we run, the Spirit of God will be moving and we will see revival.

Yesterday I allowed myself to go back to the wonder of the MCG and we had a great time. One of the best times for the boys. What would have happened if I didn't get into it and stifled their enthusiasm? This happens in the church, people get disillusioned and leave unsatisfied, searching elsewhere for an authentic Spirituality...

Do you have the spirit of a new boy at the MCG or the hack who thinks they know everything too well but have forgotten the wonder of the MCG?

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love."
Revelation 2:4

I love this band... Thousand Foot Krutch



Move and show me what you can do
When you step into the circle and shake like we do
And move when you just can't take it
And move if you just feel like breaking it

Lets go win the world for Jesus

FULL ON TO FOLLOW JESUS

I read this thismorning and it encouraged me heaps! How full on does it sound to be a follower of Jesus? This goes out to all of you who are in difficult times because of Jesus...

Matthew 10:16-42

16I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

17"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub,[c] how much more the members of his household!

26"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny[d]? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - 36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[e]

37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

40"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Read Simons blog of a cool salvation!!! And Read Steve Courts about Korea!!!
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Heres a gem of a principle from the Bible on dealing with people you think are doing the wrong thing... Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV)

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

How much better would the church be if we actually lived by that? How much better is that than people going behind your back to other people and talking about how bad you are?

So 4 easy steps:
A) Approach them on your own (then if they dont repent)
B) Then with a couple of people (then if they dont repent)
C) Get the church on it (then if they dont repent)
D) Try and get this person saved

The church in general has not been good at getting 'Christians' to repent. So often people get caught up in 'being saved' that they forget that we still need to live in continual obedient faith in Christ. Are you a Christian who still sins? Then you need to repent.

Sorry to everyone I have spoken of behind your back. Of course if I realise Ive done this I'll talk to you about it. If I dont get in touch with you I probably dont know Ive done something, so approach me as the passage says and restore me!

How good are Kingdom values...
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Our Corps is now going Fair Trade! I was able to talk about it at Corps Leadership Meeing and get to do a quick talk in church about it. We're not going to buy coffee stained by the blood of innocent people anymore, and we're going to strongly encourage all the corps folk to only buy Fair Trade coffee and chocolate from now on!

Governing principles

Why are we offended and opposed to a teaching that says our unbelief kept us from recieving something when so often the Bible says that if we believe and do not waver we will recieve?
Matt 17:20, 21:21, Mark 11:22-24, Jam 1:6-7?

Why are we offended when it is implied that our inability to persevere created lack when the bible says that we "through faith and patience inherit promises?"
Hebrews 6:12

Why are we confused or angry when it is suggested that our not doing something caused failure when the Bible says if were "willing and obedient" we'll eat the good of the land?
Isaiah 1:19

As many as 80% of people who consider themselves born again dont tithe, thereby opening themselves to a curse. Yet they are offended when someone implies that their lack of provision might be their own fault!
Mal 3:8-12

We dont forgive but have th gall to think and believe God will hear and answer our prayers!
Mark 11:25-26

Often we eat poorly and dont exercise and abuse our bodies in other ways. Then we blame our sickness on Gods will!

We dont properly train our children, yet we're offended with the suggestion that their rebellion might be our own fault.
Deut 6:7, Prov 22:6

We dont abode in Christ and His word. Still we blame it on 'God's will' when we ask "ask what we will" and it isn't done.
John 15:7

We know faith comes from hearing and meditating on Gods word (Romans 10:17) and most of us do very little of that. But let someone imply that we didn't receive a promise because of unbelief and we're irate!

The scripture teaches us that "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high" receives the protective promises of the rest of Psalm 91... that i have an armor I must wear and carry, including the shield of faith, to ward off satans fiery darts, (eph 6:13-18)... that satan goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and that i am to resist him, (1 peter 5:8, jam 4:7)... and yet, let someone suggest that my lack of protection from some destructive thing happening could be my own fault and I'm offended. How about you?

Thats taken from Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets...

He also goes on to talk about how not everything is our own fault and that some stuff is Gods will. And he ends with this, "Lets realize that the love of God is unconditional, but His favor and blessing is not."

what do you think about that?

pray, fast, preach

Ive been reading some stuff on revival this week. check out this great quote in the light of 24/7 prayers 7th anniversary...

"As the praying power spread and increased, the work soon took on a very powerful character, so much so that the word of the Lord would cut the strongest men down and render them entirely helpless." - Charles Finney, Holy Spirit Revivals, p158.

All year I have been challenged by God to pray more. I have been challenged that the work we do is not of us, well, not suppose to be of us, but of God! We can work hard and do great things but it will account for nothing if God is not in it.

"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10

I read those quotes and think about how our preaching is often without an results, how it can take years for people to get saved and I ask how come the word of God is not always as powerful as the first quote?

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" Hebrews 4

If thats true, why dont I see it happen? Finney was talking about the most resistant people there and the word of God would cut them just as the Bible says. God says He wants everyone to be saved, to repent and to come to a knowledge of the truth!

And so, I finish by saying that we need to pray. We need to be joining Gods mission and not just making up our own and asking God to bless it. We need to talk to and listen to God, we need to be filled with power and authority, we need to know what to do and how. And we need to preach the gospel.

Pray, fast and preach the gospel and lets see revival break out and the return of Christ!

Check out www.catchthefire.com.au

there are two articles worth looking at.

The first one is about chariot wheels been found in the Red Sea!

The second is about how liberal Christianity intensifies the threat of radical Islam. Its based on some talks by Mr. Sookhdeo to Focus on the family in the USA. Its an interesting read.

Sookhdeo is considered one of the leading experts on Christianity- Islam dialogue. Hes a great man and taught my mum and dad about Islam while we were in London on our way to Bangladesh. It was at one of his training schools that I got saved when I was 7 years old!

Anywho, have fun reading!

are we in exile?

God miraculously brought the Israelites out of Egypt. There were wonders galore, everyone knew that their God was powerful! YHWH was the best, the one and only God.

So God delivered them and gave them the law. If you want to be my peoples you gotta follow the law. So God gave them the 10 Commandments and a whole bunch of laws.

But then they all went crazy and started worshipping the wrong things and didn’t realy rely on God, they doubted Him after everything He had done. So God made them walk around for yonks in the desert until they all died and only their kids were alive! Then they entered the promised land!

Can we relate that to us today? The Salvation Army has had a great past, God has worked amazing things. He still does! But generally in Western culture there is no revival, infact we are more accustomed to people leaving than new people coming…

They were given the law,just like we were given our handbook of doctrine with our soldiers orders and regulations. But now many soldiers don’t even know there is such a thing let alone read it and obey it! We have all sorts of people all over the place in all positions who don’t even agree with half our doctrines…

Then they walked around for ages and ages… Until they all died so the new guys went into the promised land. I wonder if the younguns were waiting for them all to doe so they could get in there… Is that the same today? The youth of today want revival and want it now, yet there seems to be some blocks in the way. Could it be some of the ideas of form rather than essence?

Do you think we are in exile?

Giving up stuff

On the way to work I sometimes listen to Hughsey and Kate on the radio. Hughsey is always giving things up, so far hes given up drugs, alcohol, meat, porn, other women (newly married), and today he had another announcement...

He was addicted to something else.

Drum roll.... Running. I thought running? Thats not that bad is it? I wish I was addicted to running, I might get a bit more fit! But He said, "Its taking over my life, Im addicted!" Wow. This made me think...

What is in control in my life. Heres a quick list...

1) Food. I always obey my tummy. Whenever Im hungry I eat! My belly is my god sometimes... Whenever God has asked me to fast, I dont!

2) TV. Whenever I want to relax I turn on the TV. I can sit there for hours, even if theres nothing good on! Going to bed I normally put it on, watch Sports tonight then go to sleep... Im not resting in the Lord, but rather I am escaping reality and numbing myself.

I admire Hughsey for seeing what he is getting addicted to and getting rid of it. Im going to do the same.

This is so familiar to what Paul says in Romans, "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

Can you honestly say that you are a slave to righteousness? Have a think. If youre not kill the sinful masters you have...

How bad do you want it?

Revival. The return of Jesus. Heaven.

How bad do you want it?

I was praying last night with some friends and they had some really prophetic stuff for me which is great. Its funny how God can use people to get His message across. Especially when its stuff they had no idea about! Anyways, I have direction after last night, I was thinking of revival, of BIG things of the return of Christ and I heard God saying to me, "How bad do you want it?"

What am I willing to do? What am I willing not to do? Where will I put my money, time and energy? What am I willing to sacrifice? Am I willing to be persecuted? Am I willing to die?

How strong will be my fight? How aggressive? How extreme?

Will my actions match my thoughts, ideas and beliefs?

I challenge everyone reading this too, how bad do you want revival?
How will you fight?

Pray For Souls

Aeroplane story

I went to Perth for a holiday not too long ago. I flew there. And as all good evangelists do, they always tell a plane story... Heres my one...

I sat down and said hello to the guy sitting next to me. After a little while I asked him where he was from. He was from India which gave me a great opportunity to talk about the cricket and the holidays Ive had in India. I then asked him if he was religious to which he replied he was hindu but sometimes went to church. I asked him if he thought he would go to heaven. He said he doesnt know, its up to God to decide.

So I asked him if I could ask a few questions to see if he would go to heaven. "Have you ever told a lie?" He said yes. "What does that make you?" He said a liar. "Have you ever stolen?" He said yes. What does that make you? A thief he replied. I continued, "Jesus said if we look lustfuly at a woman we have already committed adultry in our heart. Have you ever done that?" Of course he replied.

So I said, "By your own admission you told me you are a lying adulterous thief at heart. You have broken Gods law. Those are just 3 of the 10 commandments. When judgment day comes how will God find you? Guilty or not guilty?" He said, "guilty." "And where do you think guilty people go?" Hell he sighed.

I was then able to tell him the way of Salvation! Hallelujah! I will talk more about that in the next post. He still has some things to work out but he promised me he would speak about them to his christian friend. Please pray for him and his salvation.

What have I learnt from that? I have learnt that by listening, taking an interest in someone, and then asking simple questions they will often admit they are guilty and destined for hell. This is great as we get to tell them the good news of Jesus Christ!

Go for souls!

GO FOR SOULS

"Go For Souls" is going to BIG this year. We're looking at going to a few new locations throughout Australia. Have a mission trip to a country town or two, launch a website with resources etc, launch our "Pray for Souls" network, and get alot of people saved. Heck, we might even write a book...

Heres how you can help:

• financial donations
• graphic design stuff for posters
• be a prayer warrior
• have your corps hold a Go For Souls
• Form a regular "Pray For Souls" prayer meeting
• Let us come to your country corps for a mission trip
• Help build a cool website
• Help find some great evangelists to speak and teach
• Anything else you can think of
  

That should get you going for now. Spread the word. We want to have some dates locked in very soon...

It is time for you to act, O LORD;
your law is being broken.
Psalm 119:126

Heres one thing that bugs me. The lack of urgency in the church to get everyone saved. Ive heard so many people palm it off in different ways. "I'm not an evangelists." "I dont know what to say." "Someone else is better than me." Some people even go down the lines of this heresy, "It's not really our job..."

People, it is our job. It is our duty. We have been told to do it! We have been told disciples do this! It is our privilege. It is a natural consequence of the love of God in our hearts. We are told "that God wants everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth!" We need to act.

There is sin galore in our world. There is pain and suffering galore in our world! No one can doubt this. Peoples lives are broken every day. People sin without caring, degrading our holy God and His creation.

"God, its time for you to act! Your law is being broken!"

And the answer comes back, "What are YOU going to do about it?"

The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows,
turned back on the day of battle;

they did not keep God's covenant
and refused to live by his law.

They forgot what he had done,
the wonders he had shown them.

He did miracles in the sight of their fathers
in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.

Psalm 78:9-12

Isn't it sad how history repeats itself.

God we repent of turning our backs in battle, not keeping our covenant or living by your word, we repent of forgetting your great works, the wonders you have shown us, the miracles you have done all over the world!

Can we see the answer to our fall in these verses? What would happen if we got back into the war, if we kept our covenant, walked in the ways of God, remembered what God can do, remembered the wonders and miracles God can do. What would happen? What would your life look like? What would the world look like if all the Christians in the world were to do this?

"IM BACK"

At the beginning of every year I ask God what the year is to be about. What does He want me to focus on, often in general terms. One year it was to be more consistent with my walk with God, and it happened, the next year it was to go harder than I had before and that worked, and this year Gods saying something along the lines of "Go nuts!"

You see my journey has been from getting to know what I believe and why. And I had all sorts of struggles with universities, corps and people with that one, mostly with people who have completely different views that what I perceive the Bible to say.

Once my beliefs started coming through it was time for me to start living out my beliefs. Do I believe God heals people? Yes, so I better pray for the sick. Do I believe there are demons in some people? Yes, so I better pray for deliverance. Do I believe in holiness? Yes, so I better pray for perfect love to fill my heart and to crucify my sinful nature. Do I believe that Jesus is the only way to God? Yes, so I better start evangelizing the world before they all go to hell without ever knowing Jesus and the perfect peace and wholeness of life that He offers. And as I lived more according to my beliefs, we saw great miracles all throughout the year! Just read some blogs from last year...

This year I am feeling called to stepping out of my comfort zone and going a little over the top. Meaning, more time spent in prayer, more time spent in Bible, more time spent evangelizing, more time spent loving people. I want to live my life aiming for revival.

Does your life match what you believe? Does it match what the Bible says will happen? If not, lets make this the year we start living our lives in a Biblical way.