Days of our lives!

I graduated from the school of leadership of my local church about two years ago and one of the courses I found more fascinating was history of the church. In this class we studied the different periods of time of the church according to the biggests events affecting the church at the time (For example, the Persecuted Church, the Imperial Church and the Medieval Church, which was also subdivided in other topicis such as the Crusades and the Reform). Surprisingly, the purest of all the churches was the one that was persecuted starting from the times of the disciples. The people who were saying they were belivers at this time were immediately labled, rejected, discriminated, persecuted, and in some cases, made martyrs through barbarian tortures. Hence anyone who really wanted to confess Jesus' name, would REALLY have to give his life for His name; as expected, only a few really wanted to take this cross. When Christians gained the freedom to express their religion in the imperial times, everything changed, and many were deceived by comfort, selfindulgence and carelessness for the spiritual things. They forgot what was really important and gave themselves in to the fear of rejection by allowing pagan traditions to the church.(Does it sound familiar?). Up to this point in the class I was in awe of all the things the Bride of Christ had gone through throughout the years. However, there was only one period of time that we didn't study: It was the modern church, and I assume it was because we are making it as we speak. The question then is: what would be the name of the church we are part of according to what the church is doing??

First lets start by mentioning a couple of things that are particular about this times:
Recently one of the elders of my church received a letter from the superintendent of his building telling him that because of  "fire departments reasons" he could no longer hold in his apartment more than a couple of peole at the same time. This apartment is very special because it holds meeting almost every day with over fifteen peole that gather to pray and study the word every day and had never had any complaints from any neighbor. They are now holding their meetings at another place, but are wondering why is it that this letter was sent to them and not to other tenants who hold meetings of their different religions as well.
In recent news, preachers in the streets have been arrested because of "disorderly conduct", "anoyance", unlawful use of public space,  excess amount of people in one space (3!!!), or even  on the basis of a law "restricting the size of signs carried on public sidewalks to the width of a person's body". This is without mentioning the amount of college students who are deprived of their right to share their faith in their campuses.
In academic or professional settings it is a challenge to give an opinion on the latest news. Why? because we don't agree with what is happening, and if we don't, we find ourselves going against the flow. But wait, isn't it what we are suppose to be doing according to Paul when he firmly tells us to"be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."? Romans 12:2
See, reading in the word we find that in these times all we as believers are going to face are trials and persecution. A lot of people think that it is not happening, but believe me, it is knocking on our doors.
Recently I took a botany course at City College of New York where I learned about a very interested plant. It's commonly known as the "resurection plant" because of its ability to endure intense droughts in a dormant stage and then come back to life at the moment it comes in contact with water. I think the modern church can be named the "Dormant Church": although it seems dead or silenced, it's essence it's still there. The problem with the church, as well as with the plant, is that it is undervalued by the world because of its dead appearance.What are the chances that the church of Chirst is getting to this point of comfortableness and "death"? Very high.  A healthy plant will always be undergoing metabolic activities such as growth and reproduction but in a dormant stage, everything will stop. And it would stop because of a lack of water. This is exactly what is happening to us! We lack the Spirit and the understanding He gives us of the times. Besides we have forgotten that we have access to water in order to live again. The word says: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)Jhon: 7: 38-39. See!!! It is the same Spirit, it's the same Lord, It's the same God!


I believe it is time for the church to speak and to start making a difference in the way people see the truths we hold. We know there are a lot of social things that are wrong, but still we don't have the courage to stand up and say something.What this persecution is bringing is a fear that is taking us to a silent state. On the contrary, it should encourage us to live our lives completely for our savior; if we have to give everything that we are for our savior, so be it. I encourage you to PLEASE not be silent. Read the word, pray, fast and do what the Spirit is telling this generation to do. Let us pass to history as a generation who was not silent but who revived and spoke against anything that was contrary to the knowledge of Christ.  Maybe after all, we are like that dormant plant that need just a little bit of water to revive, just a little bit more of His Spirit..What are you waiting for... Start yearning and crying out for this church, for your church.

^"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17

What are your thoughts?
How do you think this church will pass to history?
Feel free to share your comments...
Below there are some links about recent persecution and the latest news on politics.

http://www.officialstreetpreachers.com/Persecution/PERSECUTION%20IN%20AMERICA.pdf
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/tag/street-preaching#tab-section

Science for kids

I am part of a program designed to encourage college students in science majors to also do studies in education. The program was created as a response to the lack of science teachers in city schools. It wasn't until I became part of the program that i realized that not all of the science teachers in public schools are exactly "science" teachers; most of them are good-hearted teachers who hold a degree in education, but don't have any science experience! In fact, some of them don't even know what they teach. In the first day of the mandatory workshop of the program we were told of how in a research made by the directors, most of our "science" teachers don't even know how the scientific method works, which is the base for all scientific research. They only limit themselves to follow the curriculum given by the Department of Education.

The problem with this is that the new generation is getting second hand information; In most of the cases, not even true information. I'm not saying that having teachers with science degrees is any better, but at least, a person with this kind of knowledge could get closer to the truth, or confuse this generation a little bit more! For example, as part of the program, I was required to shadow a biology-graduated teacher for about 5 hours. The topic: evolution. When the teacher was asked if there was life in other planets, the techer accurately described the uniqueness of the earth in the solar system and the minuscule possibility there was, but she gave them hope by saying that, "although is statistically impossible, we are on it". The fact of giving only facts according to what they believe, creates a conflict for our kids. The information they don't have is that  most of the greatest discoveries in science have been made by God fearing people who have found God and His creation in science, and who understand that nothing created had been possible if there wasn't a creator involved.. Francis Bacon said:

“A little science estranges a man from God. A lot of science brings him back.”

 I want to encourage you to make a difference by learning more about current science for the sake of your own generation and the one your kids are going to live in. Our public schools are teching our kids that God isn't real, and that everything they see is part of a massive accident. Don't pray for your kids' lack of faith. Believe me, they have an even greater faith by believing in evolution, something that has NOT been proved, and that brings a lot more social problems than what we can imagine. Pray so that God can reveal himself to them the same way He did to Daniel and Paul, who were both educated people in their own time. When that happens, they  are going to use all their knowledge to glorify God.

"Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him." Daniel 2:20-22