The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION ( GW ); being entitled: PRAY THE SCRIPTURES BIBLE.  Exodus 21:20, 21 read as follows:

"20 'Whenever an owner hits his male or female slave with a stick so that the slave dies from the beating, the owner must be punished.  21 But if the slave gets up in a day or two, the owner must not be punished.  The slave is his property.'"

 Under the law of Moses, a slaveholder was allowed to beat his slave, but he was to be punished if his slave died from the beating.  Moreover, the slave was the slaveholder's property.  How does this observation apply to us, as Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example )?

     To begin with, the work relationship is described in terms of masters and slaves ( see Colossians 3:22-4:1, for example ).  Our boss is the master, and we are the slaves.  We obey our earthly masters "with proper respect" ( see Ephesians 6:5 ), and we do not "argue with them" ( see Titus 2:9 ), for example.

     Furthermore, 1 Peter 2:18-20 read as follows:  "18 Slaves, place yourselves under the authority of your owners and show them complete respect.  Obey not only those owners who are good and kind, but also those who are unfair.  19 God is pleased if a person is aware of him while enduring the pains of unjust suffering.  20 What credit do you deserve if you endure a beating for doing something wrong?  But if you endure suffering for doing something good, God is pleased with you."  The heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ) is pleased with us if we endure suffering, in the master-slave relationship, for doing good.  We must always strive to please Him ( see John 8:28, 29 and 1 Corinthians 11:1, for example ).

     Finally, the heavenly Father has commanded ( see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, Ecclesiastes 12:13, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ) that masters are to treat their slaves with respect, and are not to threaten them ( see Ephesians 6:9, for example ).  As Christians, we are Christ's slaves ( see 1 Corinthians 7:18-24 ( especially verse 22, for example ), for example ): we are His property ( see Leviticus 25:35-55 ( especially verses 44 and 45, for example ) and Romans 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), for example ).  We become His slaves when we are baptized, by immersion in water, in His name, for the remission of our past sins ( see Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39 ( KJV, for example ), for example ); 20:25-31 ( especially verse 28, for example ), Romans 3:22-26 ( especially verse 25, for example ); 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 ( especially verse 20, for example ), and Colossians 1:19-23 ( especially verse 20, for example ), for example ).  Jesus does not treat us harshly ( see Matthew 11:25-30 ( especially verse 30, for example ), for example ).  Please read the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Luke 8:19-21 ( especially verse 21, for example ); 11:27-32 ( especially verse 28, for example ), and Revelation 1:3, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  If there were to be a complete condemnation of the concept of slavery here in America, then everyone would need to stay home and stop going to work ( bartending, gambling, and prostitution, for example, are not examples of honorable work - see Proverbs 20:1, 1 Timothy 6:9, 10, Hebrews 13:4, and 1 Peter 4:1-6 ( especially verse 3, for example ), for example ), for example: America would become one big welfare state.  Clearly, the concept of slavery is taught in the Holy Bible ( as demonstrated above ).  Additionally, there is no such thing as a denominational slave of Christ ( see Ephesians 4:5, for example ).

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ( ESV ).  Philippians 1:1 reads as follows:

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons."

There is a footnote associated with the word "servants," above, which is "Or slaves; Greek bondservants."  [  See The HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION, CROSSWAY BIBLES, WHEATON, ILLINOIS, The Personal Size Reference Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), Copyright 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, All rights reserved, p. 1279.  ]

     Moreover, all disciples of Jesus are slaves ( see Matthew 25:1-30 ( especially verse 14, for example ), for example ): He is the Master ( see Matthew 23:1-8 ( especially verse 8, for example ), for example; KJV, for example ).  Thus, all Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ) are slaves of Christ ( see 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 ( especially verse 22, for example ) and 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 ( especially verse 21, for example ), for example ).  Here, in America, there seems to be an aversion to the concept of slavery, in general.

     Leviticus 25:35-46 read as follows:  "35 If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.  36 Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you.  37 You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.  38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.  39 If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave: 40 he shall be with you as a hired servant and as a sojourner.  He shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee.  41 Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and go back to his own clan and return to the possession of his fathers.  42 For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves.  43 You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.  44 As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you.  45 You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property.  46 You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever.  You may make slaves of them, but over your brothers the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another ruthlessly."

Under the law of Moses, slavery was allowed, but not with ruthless rule ( we would probably classify slavery here in America's past as ruthless rule ).  How does this concept of slavery apply to Christians?

     Jesus purchased the church of God with His own blood ( see Acts 20:17-38 ( especially verse 28 ( KJV, for example ), for example ), for example ).  In the context of verses forty-four and forty-five ( above ), this means that He purchased all Christians ( members of the New Testament church, the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:18, Acts 2:38, 41, and 47 ( KJV, for example ), Romans 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 12:1-8 ( especially verses 4 and 5, for example ); 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 16:16, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 ( especially verses 12-14, for example ), Galatians 3:26, 27, and Ephesians 1:15-23 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ): we belong to Christ ( see Matthew 1:16, for example ), we are His property.  However, He does not rule ruthlessly over us, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light ( see Matthew 11:30, and please read verses twenty-five through thirty to get the immediate context ).

     There must not be a wholesale condemnation of the concept of slavery because, in doing so, one contradicts what the Holy Bible teaches and shows oneself to be a false teacher.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

     

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the TODAY'S ENGLISH VERSION ( TEV ); being entitled: GOOD NEWS BIBLE.  Colossians 4:5, 6 read as follows:

"5 Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have.  6 Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone."

Paul ( see Colossians 1:1; 4:18, for example ), writing this to "God's people in Colossae" ( 1:2 ), was instructing ( see 2 Timothy 3:16, for example ) them with regard to the type of language that is proper for Christians ( see Acts 11:26 and Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ), which is a product of wisdom.

     Please click on the link below to read today's bulletin regarding some examples of language that is to be avoided:

<http://1drv.ms/1K9Hyho>.

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  You will need to click the back arrow ( on your web browser ) to exit the bulletin back to this weblog.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the NEW AMERICAN BIBLE REVISED EDITION ( NABRE ); being entitled: THE NEW CATHOLIC ANSWER BIBLE.  Hebrews 4:12 reads as follows:

"12 Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart."

What are the reflections and thoughts of the heart regarding the subject of baptism?

     If one enters into the act of baptism, and is raised from this watery grave ( see Acts 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39 ( KJV, for example ), for example ) and Colossians 2:9-12 ( especially verse 12, for example ), for example ) saying that he or she is a Baptist, this means that such an one's reflections and thoughts of the heart were with regard to John Smyth, for example, rather than Jesus Christ ( see Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:1-10 ( especially verse 10, for example ), for example ), and that that individual intended, prior to the act of baptism, to call himself or herself a Baptist.  If that be the case, then Galatians 3:26 would read as follows:  "For through faith you are all children of God in John Smyth, for example."  However, it is impossible for one to be a child of God in John Smyth, for example, since neither he ( nor any other human being ) was ( or is ) the Son of God ( see Matthew 16:13-16 ( especially verse 16, for example ), for example ).

     Moreover, when considering the example of a Baptist baptism, verse twenty-seven would read as follows:  "For all of you who were baptized into John Smyth, for example, have clothed yourselves with John Smyth, for example."  Thus, a Baptist baptism would result in one being clothed with John Smyth, for example, and not with Christ: that one would not be a Christian.  Additionally, when one is baptized into John Smyth, for example, then that would imply that John Smyth, for example, was crucified on the cross of Calvary for the sins of all men, and that his blood would somehow wash away our sins.  We see the absurdity of a Baptist baptism, for example.

     However, as Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), we know that Christ died on the cross of Calvary ( see Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33 ( KJV, for example ), for example ), for example ) for the sins of all men, and that only His blood washes away our sins ( see Revelation 1:5 ( KJV, for example ) and cf. Genesis 4:1-10 and Hebrews 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 12:14-29 ( especially verse 24, for example ), for example ): the blood of no human being can do that, which means that a Baptist baptism, for example, would result in one still being in his or her sins.  That one would not be saved ( see Acts 2:41, 47; 22:16, for example ).  It is clear that denominational baptisms cannot save anyone.

     Galatians 3:26, 27 actually read as follows:  "26 For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.  27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  Please read the previous weblog posting ( the Thursday, June 18, 2015 entry ) to find additional facts regarding why denominational baptisms cannot save anyone.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the NEW AMERICAN BIBLE REVISED EDITION ( NABRE ); being entitled: THE NEW CATHOLIC ANSWER BIBLE.  Luke 23:26-49 read as follows:

"26 As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.  27 A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him.  28 Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, 29 for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, '"Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed."'  30 At that time people will say to the mountains, '"Fall upon us!"' and to the hills, '"Cover us!"'  31 for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?'  32 Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.  33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.  34 [Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.']  They divided his garments by casting lots.  35 The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, 'He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.'  36 Even the soldiers jeered at him.  As they approached to offer him wine 37 they called out, 'If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.'  38 Above him there was an inscription that read, 'This is the King of the Jews.'  39 Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, 'Are you not the Messiah?  Save yourself and us.'  40 The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, 'Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?  41 And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.'  42 Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'  43 He replied to him, 'Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'  44 It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon 45 because of an eclipse of the sun.  Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.  46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit'; and when he had said this he breathed his last.  47 The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, 'This man was innocent beyond doubt.'  48 When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; 49 but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events."

The apostle Paul ( see Romans 1:1 ) wrote the following in ( 6:3, 4 ):  "3 Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  4 We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life."

     Paul ( see Galatians 1:1 ) wrote the following in ( 2:19, 20 ):  "19 For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God.  I have been crucified with Christ; 20 yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me."  If you, the reader, will notice, when one is baptized into Christ Jesus' death, he or she has been figuratively crucified with Him, being "buried with him" ( as we read in verse four, above ): the sacred text of the Catholic Bible teaches that baptism is by immersion in water ( see also Acts 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ), for example ).  In Acts 2:38, we see that when one is baptized, he or she does so in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his or her sins.

     In verse thirty-three ( above ), pictured for us there is the scene of two criminals being crucified with Jesus.  However, to only one of the criminals did Jesus say that he would be with Him in Paradise ( as we read in verse forty-three ).  An implication, here, is that it is possible for one to be crucified with Christ through baptism, and still not be saved ( cf. Mark 16:16, for example ): the criminal who reviled Jesus was not with Him in Paradise.  In verses thirty-nine through forty-two, the reality is revealed to us concerning the fact that it matters to Jesus what our attitude is toward Him ( see John 14:15, for example ), and what we believe about Him ( see John 8:24, for example ), especially at the point of baptism.

     As a case in point, Paul ( see 2 Corinthians 1:1; 10:1; 13:10, for example ) wrote the following in ( 4:13 ): "13 Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed, therefore I spoke,' we too believe and therefore speak."  Thus, we speak based on what we believe.  With this observation in mind, if one is raised from the watery grave of baptism saying that he or she is a Baptist, for example, then that one is not saved: such a statement indicates the belief that baptism and salvation are in the name of John Smyth, for example, rather than in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean ( see Acts 4:5-12 ( especially verses 10-12, for example ), for example ).  Clearly, denominational baptisms will not save anyone.

     To be sure, Paul ( see Ephesians 1:1 ) affirmed the following in ( 4:5 ):  "5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism."  Therefore, there is only one baptism, in the name of Jesus Christ, by immersion in water, for the remission of one's past sins ( see Romans 3:21-31 ( especially verse 25, for example ), for example; KJV, for example ), and not many different denominational versions of it.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  There is a footnote associated with verse thirty-four ( above ), which reads as follows:  "[Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.']: this portion of Luke 23:34 does not occur in the oldest papyrus manuscript of Luke and in other early Greek manuscripts and ancient versions of wide geographical distribution."  [  See THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE REVISED EDITION, FIRESIDE CATHOLIC PUBLISHING, WICHITA, KANSAS, COPYRIGHT, 2011, 2006, 1987, 1981, BY DEVORE & SONS, INC., WICHITA, KANSAS  67201, p. 139 NT.  ]  This explains the use of square brackets in the sacred text above.  The use of this portion of text is not questioned in the KING JAMES VERSION ( KJV ) of the Holy Bible, for example.  Finally, in Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians ( see Acts 11:26 ), not Catholics: this is what the sacred text of the Catholic Bible teaches.  There is no such thing as a denominational Christian.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ( ESV ).  Mark 15:21-41 read as follows:

"21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.  22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull).  23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.  24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.  25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him.  26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, 'The King of the Jews.'  27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.  29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, 'Aha!  You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down form the cross!'  31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself.  32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.'  Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.  33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'  35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, 'Behold, he is calling Elijah.'  36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.'  37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.  38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!'  40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.  41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem."

If you, the reader, will notice, Jesus ( see verse fifteen ) was crucified "the third hour" ( as we read in verse twenty-five, above ), and He died on the ninth hour ( see verses thirty-four through thirty-seven, above ), which was a period of six hours.

     Jesus spent six hours suffering, and then dying, on the cross of Calvary ( see Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33 ( KJV, for example ), for example ), for example ) for the sins of all men ( see Romans 6:1-14 ( especially verse 10, for example ), for example ): this is where the concept of being longsuffering is defined.  See also Galatians 5:22 ( KJV, for example ), for example.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  A footnote following verse twenty-seven reads as follows:  "Some manuscripts insert verse 28: And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'He was numbered with the transgressors'."  [  See The HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION, CROSSWAY BIBLES, WHEATON, ILLINOIS, The Personal Size Reference Bible, English Standard Version ( ESV ), Copyright 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, All rights reserved, p. 1119.  ]  This explains why verse twenty-eight is omitted from the sacred text of the above-given passage from the Holy Bible.  This verse is included in the KING JAMES VERSION ( KJV ) of the Holy Bible, for example.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the MODERN ENGLISH VERSION ( MEV ).  Lamentations 3:40-45 read as follows:

"40 Let us search and try our ways, and return to the LORD!  41 Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven: 42 We have transgressed and rebelled; You have not pardoned.  43 You have covered Yourself with anger and pursued us; You have killed and not pitied.  44 You have covered Yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer should pass through.  45 You have made us filthy refuse in the midst of the peoples."

If you, the reader, will notice, an implication associated with verse forty-four is that prayers pass through from our minds to the heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ).

     This observation serves as the basis for the concept from which wireless communication technology is derived.  In the context of science and technology, this passage from the Holy Bible is a reference to the fields of computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering, for example.  True, honest science is based on what the Holy Bible teaches.

     Moreover, Solomon ( see Ecclesiastes 1:1 ) wrote the following in (1:9):  "9 What has been is the same as what will be, and what has been done is the same as what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun."  The concept, on which wireless communication technology is based, is not new.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  If I remember correctly, the late Albert Einstein once said that religion without science is blind.  He was wrong.  Science, without the Holy Bible, has no meaning in this life ( see 1 Corinthians 10:31, for example ).  All one needs to do is observe this physical universe in which we live, which will prove to us that the heavenly Father, for example, exists ( see John 10:25-30 ( especially verse 30, for example ), Romans 1:18-25 ( especially verses 18-20 ( KJV, for example ), for example ), and 1 John 5:7, for example ).

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ( ESV ).  Genesis 27:18-25 read as follows:

"18 So he went in to his father and said, 'My father.'  And he said, 'Here I am.  Who are you, my son?'  19 Jacob said to his father, 'I am Esau your firstborn.  I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.'  20 But Isaac said to his son, 'How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?'  He answered, 'Because the LORD your God granted me success.'  21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, 'Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.'  22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, 'The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.'  23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands.  So he blessed him.  24 He said, 'Are you really my son Esau?'  He answered, 'I am.'  25 Then he said, 'Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son's game and bless you.'  So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank."

If you, the reader, will notice, the phrase "'The voice is Jacob's voice, . . . .'," in verse twenty-two ( above ), is the basis for the concept from which voice-recognition technology is derived.  In the context of science and technology, this passage from the Holy Bible serves as a reference to the fields of computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering, for example.  True, honest science is based on what the Holy Bible teaches.

     Moreover, Solomon ( see Ecclesiastes 1:1 ) wrote the following in ( 1:9 ):  "9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun."  The concept, on which voice-recognition technology is based, is not new.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the MODERN ENGLISH VERSION ( MEV ).  Genesis 9:8-17 read as follows:

"8 Again God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, 9 'As for Me, I establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, every beast of the earth.  11 I establish My covenant with you.  Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood.  Never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.'  12 Then God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations.  13 I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.  14 When I bring a cloud over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the cloud; 15 then I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.  16 The rainbow will appear in the cloud, and I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.'  17 So God said to Noah, 'This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.'"

If you, the reader, will notice, the phrase "I have set My rainbow in the cloud," in verse thirteen ( above ), is the basis for the concept from which cloud technology is derived.  In the context of science and technology, this passage in the Holy Bible serves as a reference to the fields of computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering, for example.  True, honest science is based on what the Holy Bible teaches.

     Moreover, Solomon ( see Ecclesiastes 1:1 ) wrote the following in ( 1:9 ):  "9 What has been is the same as what will be, and what has been done is the same as what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun."  The concept, on which cloud technology is based, is not new.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ( ESV ).  Romans 3:23-25 read as follows:

"23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.  This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins."

In the above-given passage from the Holy Bible, we see that God's grace is a gift to be received by faith.

     In verse twenty-four, the apostle Paul ( 1:1 ) wrote that we are justified by the heavenly Father's ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ) grace.  It was through His grace that He sent His only Son ( Jesus Christ - see Matthew 1:16; 16:13-16 ( especially verse 16, for example ), for example ) into the world to die for the sins of all men ( see John 3:16, 17, Romans 4:16-25 ( especially verse 25, for example ); 5:6-8; 6:5-11 ( especially verse 10, for example ); 8:31, 32, and 1 Peter 3:18-22 ( especially verse 21, for example ), for example ).  It is this gift that is to be received by faith, which leads to obedience ( see Mark 16:16 and Ephesians 2:8, 9 ( especially verse 8, for example ), for example ), which requires the act of baptism by immersion in water, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of one's past sins.  Since we come in contact with the blood of Christ through baptism, and we are justified by His blood ( see Romans 5:9 ), baptism also results in one's justification: this is how we are justified by the heavenly Father's grace.

     Please click on the link below to read today's bulletin regarding the subject of baptism:

<http://1drv.ms/1JJne4x>.

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  You will need to click on the back arrow ( on your web browser ) to exit the bulletin back to this weblog.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the King James Version ( KJV ).  Genesis 1:26, 27 read as follows:

"26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Moreover, Genesis 2:4-25 read as follows:

"4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5 and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.  6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.  7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.  9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.  11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12 and the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.  13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.  14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria.  And the fourth river is Euphrates.  15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.  16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.  18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.  19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.  20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.  21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.  24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.  25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."

     If you, the reader, will notice, the sacred text of the second passage from the Holy Bible, above, does not specify that Adam had great strength, yet he is still called a man ( see verse seven, for example ).  The heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ) considered him to be a man before He created Eve ( see Genesis 3:20, for example ).  A man is an adult human being of the male gender, who is created in His image ( as we read, above, in the first passage from the Holy Bible ).

     Moreover, the apostle Paul ( see 1 Timothy 1:1 ) wrote the following concerning Jesus ( see Matthew 1:16, for example ) in 2:5: "5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."  The phrase "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," in this verse five, has a cross-reference to Hebrews 9:15 ( please read verses twelve through twenty-eight to get the immediate context ), which reads as follows:  "15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."  Implied, in these two latter passages from the Holy Bible, is the fact that manliness was epitomized at the cross of Calvary ( see Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33, for example ), for example ).  Jesus never lashed out at His murderers ( see Matthew 5:44, for example ), He did not use profanity ( see Ephesians 4:29, for example ), He did not have an outburst of wrath ( see Galatians 5:20; NKJV ), nor did He have a temper tantrum ( see 1 Corinthians 6:7, for example ), for example.  See also Hebrews 4:15, for example.

     He endured hostility from sinners against Himself ( see Hebrews 12:3, please read verses one through four to get the immediate context ): Jesus' willingness to endure such hostility is equated with manliness. This observation, as applied to human males, implies that the one who endures such hostility is not a sinner: he is a child of God ( see Matthew 26:36-46 ( especially verse 45, for example ), John 8:30-32 ( especially verse 31, for example ), Acts 2:38, 41, and 47; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ); 11:19-30 ( especially verse 26, for example ), Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), 1 Corinthians 11:1, and Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ).  Do not let the world dictate that manliness is determined merely by great physical strength or by being married, for example.  The Holy Bible does not restrict manliness to these two concepts alone.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  In the future, there will be an entry to this weblog regarding womanliness.

     

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the MODERN ENGLISH VERSION ( MEV ).  Matthew 18:15-20 read as follows:

"15 'Now if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  16 But if he does not listen, then take with you one or two others, that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  18 'Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  19 'Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.  20 For where two or three are assembled in My name, there I am in their midst.'"

The word "bind," in verse eighteen ( above ), is synonymous with the word "teach," for example.  Therefore, Jesus ( see verse two ) taught the disciples ( see verse one ) that the authority for whatever they taught on earth was derived from heaven, it was derived from the heavenly Father.  By comparison, the word "loose" means that whatever was not authorized by the heavenly Father was not taught by the disciples.

     Jesus said in John 7:16, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me."  See also John 3:16, 17, for example.  Thus, an implication associated with verse eighteen is that the teaching of the disciples was the same as the teaching of Jesus.  This concept is also taught in 2 Peter 3:2, for example ( cf. Matthew 10:1-4 ( especially verses 1 and 2, for example ), for example ).

     Jesus made the statement in verse eighteen in the context of a brother dealing with another who sins against him; this being in a local congregation of the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:17, 18 ( especially verse 18, for example ), Romans 16:16, and Ephesians 1:15-23 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ): the phrase "two or three," in verse twenty, refers to the entire assembly of a local congregation.  Verse fifteen ( above ) has a cross-reference to 1 Corinthians 9:19-21.  Paul ( see 1 Corinthians 1:1; 16:21, for example ) wrote, here, of winning others in the sense of saving them ( please read verses nineteen through twenty-three to get the immediate context ).  The phrase "you have gained your brother," in verse fifteen, means winning your brother back to a relationship of walking in love ( see Ephesians 5:2, for example ).  The consequence of not walking in love is the destruction of a brother ( see Romans 14:13-15 ( especially verse 15, for example ), for example ).  Jesus' teaching of gaining a brother is echoed by the apostle Paul, for example, in his teaching ( though the passage in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 refers to saving brothers and sisters who are not Christians ( see Acts 2:38, 41, and 47; 11:19-30 ( especially verse 26, for example ), and Galatians 3:26, 27, for example, and cf. Acts 17:16-34 ( especially verse 29, for example ), for example )).  Jesus ( see John 13:31 ) said in John 13:35, "35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

     Moreover, Jesus teaches, in verses nineteen and twenty ( above ), that in order for the public prayers of a local congregation to be heard and answered by the heavenly Father, there must first be unity among them: this is indicated by the phrase "if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask," in verse nineteen.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.