All of the music recordings on this site are recordings of independent origin (ROIOs) Music that has NOT been officially released. This website follows the safe harbor provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA"). If you are an artist or a legal representative of an artist and you do not want your ROIO shared on my site for free among your fans (and creating new fans and a stronger fan base), just tell me in the comment area and I will remove them.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Toby Mac, World Pulse 8-14-2010

 
This is a pretty good recording of Toby Mac doing his thing. Thanks to Ken B over at the Christian Concert Archive! Here is a little sample. This is a different mix of Boomin than anything I have heard, it's pretty cool.
 
Toby Mac
World Pulse Festival 2010
South Bend IN
August 14, 2010
 
Webstream --> Wav-->FLAC
 
01. Intro Music
02. Let's get this party started
03. Tonight
04. I'm for you
05. Showstopper
06. No Ordinary Love
07. Talk 08. Loose My Soul
09. Made to Love
10. Irene
11.Bounce with Me
12. Boomin'
13. Makin' Noise
14. Love in the House/WhoopsiDaisy
15. Pants on the Ground
16. Gone
17. In the Light
18. Get Back Up
19. Diverse City
20. City on Our Knees
21. Jesus Freak
 
Flac

Friday, December 21, 2012

Christmas

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
But you Bethlehem. Through you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The one to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God is with us). (Isaiah 7:14)
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The Virgin’s name was Mary (Luke 1:26-27)
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. (Luke1:30-31)
The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you: Therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son Of God. (Luke 1:35)
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, laying in a manger. (Luke 2:11)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Acoustic Christmas, 12-04-90

This one is a live radio broadcast from Nashville, TN. I think it is a NPR broadcast. How can you go wrong with Emmylou Harris, Chet Atkins, Sam Bush, and Mark O'Conner?

Nashville Acoustic Christmas
RCA Studio B
Nashville, Tenn
December 4, 1990
FM Radio Broadcast

Emmylou Harris
Maura O'Connell
Steve Wariner
Mike Reid
Chet Atkins
Sam Bush
Mark O'Conner
Dave Francis


Disc One
01 Noah Adams Introduction
02 On Christmas Morning (Steve Wariner)
03 Away In Manger (Chet Atkins)
04 Angel Eyes (Emmylou Harris)
05 Go Tell It On The Mountain (Mike Reid)
06 River (Maura O'Connell)
07 Hark, the Herald Angels Sing/The First Noel/Oh Come All Ye Faithful (Steve Wariner)
08 East Tennessee Christmas (Chet Atkins)
09 ? (Emmylou Harris)
10 Only One Night A Year (Mike Reid)
11 Helpless Heart (Maura O'Connell)
12 Our Savior Is Born (Steve Wariner)
13 ? (Chet Atkins)
14 Christmas Time's A-Coming (Emmylou Harris)
15 Intermission

Disc Two:
16 Noah Adams Introduction
17 ? (Mike Reid)
18 The Darkest Midnight (Maura O'Connell)
19 Hometown Indiana (Steve Wariner)
20 White Christmas (Chet Atkins)
21 Golden Cradle (Emmylou Harris)
22 Walk On Faith (Mike Reid)
23 When We Run (Maura O'Connell)
24 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Steve Wariner)
25 Jingle Bells (Chet Atkins)
26 Silent Night (Emmylou Harris)
27 Turning For Home (Mike Reid)
28 Crazy Dreams (Maura O'Connell)
29 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Steve Wariner) > Outro by Noah Adams

Mp3/320k
Download Links
http://www.mediafire.com/?h9acfh33v6sppvy
http://www.mediafire.com/?2ixgbs64cs8cz15

Monday, December 17, 2012

Casting Crowns, Creation East, 7-01-2005

Casting Crowns
Creation East Festival
Mt. Union, PA - The Agape Farm
7/1/2005
 
CM Radio Webcast ->PC ->WAV ->FLAC
 
1. Intro
2. If We Are the Body
3. Song Intro
4. Praise you with this Dance
5. Prayer
6. Who am I
7. Lifesong Intro
8. Lifesong
9. Does Anybody Hear Her Intro
10.Does Anybody Hear Her
11.Drum Solo
12.Band Intro
13.Talk
14.Voice of Truth
15.Song Intro
16.Praise You In this Storm
17.Prayer
18.Glory
19.Song Intro
20.What If His People Prayed
 
FLAC files:
Mp3/320k
 
Thanks to the people at Christian Concert Archive!!!
Especially Ken B who shared this!

But Christmas Is The Wrong Day, Or Is It?


But Christmas Is The Wrong Day, Or Is It?
We Celebrate Christmas on December 25th but is it the right day? We think of Christmas as the birth of Jesus but what day would be His birthday? Well I am here to tell you that it is very unlikely that December 25th was the birthday of Jesus. So, let us look at the Bible for clues as to when Jesus would really have been born, and maybe discover a unique way to view and think about Christmas.

The first clue is the shepherds were living out in the fields watching their sheep by night (Luke 2:8) Shepherds from that area did not watch their flocks out in the fields by night in the winter. In winter they would bring the sheep into the low lands and the cities and towns because it got so cold. So we know that it was most likely not winter or December 25th.
The second clue is the birth of John the Baptist. John’s father was a priest named Zacharias who was old and married to an older woman named Elizabeth. They were unable to have children and an angel came to Zacharias and told him his wife would conceive. Zacharias was in the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5) serving in the temple when the angel came. The Priests of the division of Abijah were the ones who served in the eighth cycle and would be serving in the temple during June. So if his wife conceives in June, then John the Baptist was born around nine months later in March.
March is the time of the Passover when the Israelites would commemorate and celebrate the way they were delivered from Egypt. In this celebration they are looking for the Messiah who will come now to deliver them. So during this time the Jewish people would (and still do) put out an extra chair and table setting at the Seder or meal because they are waiting for Elijah. They know from a prophecy in Malachi that before the Messiah will come Elijah must appear. So they put out this chair and after dinner the children go out the door and look for Elijah. Jesus said that Elijah had come in spirit in the form of John the Baptist. So it is not a stretch to believe that John the Baptist in the spirit of Elijah came when they were waiting for the appearance of Elijah. I say this because in Colossians 2:17 it says the festivals are a shadow of things to come, and as I will show you God has actually fulfilled them on the exact day they take place.
In Luke 1 Mary is told by an angel that she will conceive through a miracle, and to go see her cousin Elizabeth who was six month pregnant (also a miracle) with John the Baptist. So six months after John was born Jesus was born. So if John was born in March during the Passover Jesus would have been born in September. Colossians 2:17 says the seven feasts are all about things to come and Jesus Christ. What do I mean? When the people were slaying a lamb in the temple on Passover Jesus the Lamb of God was being slain. When the people were celebrating the Passover they would do what is called Yahats. They take three pieces of matzah (unleavened bread) and the middle matzah of the three ceremonial pieces is broken and wrapped up and is put aside or hidden for the afikoman where the children are then sent to search for it. The kids are promised a reward to whoever finds it. While this was going on Jesus the middle part of the trinity whose body was broken was wrapped in grave clothes and hidden in a tomb. And dare I say there is a reward now for any one of His children who find Him. Then three days later on First Fruits Jesus was the first to rise up from the dead, the first to be born again (the first fruit). 50 days latter Pentecost is a feast about when they received the law and disobeyed and 3000 died. The fulfillment was when the Holy Spirit came and 3000 were saved on that day. The bible says the law brings forth death but the spirit brings life. All of these important events of Jesus happened on feast days to fulfill the prophetic meaning of them. Therefore it should not be surprising that Jesus was born on a feast day. So what feast is in September? Tabernacles
Tabernacles celebrate how God was with the Israelites in the desert 1500 years before Jesus came. Remember how God gave them bread (manna)? Well while they were remembering this God was giving us the real bread of life. The one who is the bread of life was birthed in Bethlehem (house of bread) only five miles from Jerusalem. In the time of Jesus four huge menorahs were being burned during this festival they were stories tall. The historian Josephus said you could see this light from a hundred miles away. At that same time there was this bright light at the temple in Jerusalem, the light that was come to earth was being born. John 1:4 said of His coming “In Him was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it”. During the feast or festival of Tabernacles they had come into Jerusalem and camped in small tents (Tabernacles) and they were celebrating how God was with them in the desert. While they did this, just five miles away Jesus called Immanuel or “God is with us” was being born in a manger. In John 1:14 says “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” the word used in Greek for dwelt is skeeno meaning to tent or encamp or dwell as God did in the tabernacle.

So the feasts all tie together and maybe Jesus was born in September during Tabernacles. But why is Christmas in December. Around the year 320 AD emperor Constantine became a Christian. The problem was most of the people were not Christian. At that time in the Roman Empire the biggest celebration of the people was called Saturnalia it was to celebrate the winter was half over. They put up evergreen trees a tradition they got from the Babylonians. Jeremiah chapter 10:1-4. Do not learn the way of the heathen, for one cuts a tree out of the forest. . . they decorate it with silver and gold. This came from a Pagan practice of worshiping false gods, and so does the Yule log, poinsettias, and holly. So if Jeremiah says don’t do it why do we? Well Emperor Constantine decided he could not change all the traditions because they were so ingrained, so instead he just redeemed it, He called it Christ’s Mass. He decided we will just say the symbols represent other things, and transform this pagan celebration into one about Jesus. So can God take something that is of pagan gods and make it something of value? Well of course, because God can take me and transform me so why not this stuff too? And the truth is He has done just that.
But it’s on the wrong day for Jesus Christ’s birth so what would be the point? Well if Christ was born on tabernacles which make sense then go back nine months and when would Jesus have been conceived? Well around December 25th. So on the darkest day of the year the light of the world came into the world, and ever since darkness has been pushed back or flees at it's presence. The first Hanukkah was started in 164 BC when the Maccabeean brothers took back the temple from an evil occupation (Seleucid Empire) that had defiled it. So once they took back the temple the menorah was lit but they did not have any more oil. In the menorah was only a one day supply of oil. But it would take eight days to make a new batch of the holy oil. The oil lasted eight days (a miracle). So why is Christmas on December 25th? The reason is because a Roman Emperor decided to make it corespond with a Pagan celibration of the winter solstice. Is there however a significance when it comes to Jesus Christ? I think so. The first Hanukkah was on 25th of Chislue. So on that day they lit the menorah and the temple had light and was restored and cleaned. The temple represents the body and oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. So I believe there is a good chance that Jesus was conceived on that day to fulfill that festival day, and received a body (temple) and was conceived by the Holy Spirit (a miracle) at this same time. And the light of the world was concieved.

So what does that have to do with us today? Well many of us are in a dark place in our lives. There is an area of our life that is dark and depressing, maybe something we are ashamed of. Maybe our body is defiled or occupied by something evil. Its dark and we know we should be joyful but we can’t get out of this dark place. There is no life in us you might say. We have a mess that needs cleaning in our life just like that temple that was a mess. No man can help us and this problem is too big too great it is beyond what a man can do. And you might say if I could just get out of this dark place maybe God could use me. But God loves to move into the darkest day to the places that are dark and closed up where no one has been (virgin territory). This secretive and closed off place in our lives.
So what happened to Mary in her dark and secret place where there was no life when God intervened? Mary said when told the news that she could be used by God “How can this be I don’t know a man” She thought nothing could be birthed in her dark and secret place without a man. But she then said “Be it unto me according to your will”. And something came to life in her. And that is all it takes for God to use us and birth something special in our lives out of the dark places of our lives. That’s all it takes for God to transform the darkness of our lives to light is simply to say “Be it according to your will”. You see Christmas is as much about conception as it is about birth.

Revelations 3:20 Jesus was talking to the church of Laodicea and He said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.” So if you want the light to come into your dark problem this Christmas open the door. Christmas is not just about what God did 200 years ago but what God wants to do today. He wants to birth something in you this Christmas season in your darkness and your problems. He wants to transform the dark to light. He wants to redeem what was lost.
Isaiah 9:2 says this of the coming Christ, “The people have walked in darkness have seen the light. Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. And Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. . . . And His name shall be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace”. So if you are in darkness and there has never been a darker day, and it is the middle of the winter so to speak, God wants to say this to you.
Isaiah 60:1-3 “Arise shine for thy light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness of the people. But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” So this Christmas remember that it is not the wrong day after all, in fact it all happened at just the right time. And this Christmas think of this conception of this light to the world and see what God can birth in you this Christmas out of your darkness.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Kutless, Washington, D.C. 6-04-2005

Kutless
XM Live Performance Studio
Washington, D.C.
6-04-2005
XM Satellite Radio Broadcast
 
Tracklist:
01. Intro
02. Now What You See
03. Treason
04. Troubled Heart
05. In Me Intro
06. In Me
07. Sea Of Faces Intro
08. Sea Of Faces
09. Strong Tower Intro
10. Strong Tower
11. Better Is One Day
12. Run Intro
13. Run
14. It's Like Me
15. Let You In
16. Pride Away
17. Your Touch
 
Notes: broadcasted on XM 31 "The Torch" in July.
 
FLAC files
 
Mp3/320k
 
I got this show over at The Christian Concert Archive

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Birthday Party

The Birthday Party
There was a celebrity and he was world famous and he threw a birthday party. He sent out and invitation to every person that he knew. His birthday was significant because everyone knew the year he was born, and everyone knew it was his birthday.
When people came to the birthday celebration the celebrity gave the most fantastic gifts that the world had ever seen, gifts that he purchased at great expense. Strangely, very few of the guests brought gifts for the birthday boy. Instead they gave abundant amounts of gifts to each other, and expected the other guests to give them gifts in return. Many of the guests even denounced the significance of the celebrity’s birthday in the celebration. The guests partied and ate food and had a good time and then all went home. When the party was over the celebrity found that many of his gifts that he intended for his guests were left behind and unopened.
This is a strange story of a strange birthday party to be sure, a party where the person whose birthday it is gives the gifts. A party where the one that is to be celebrated appears to be forgotten by the guests as they all give gifts to each other. Well this is the story of Christmas.
Christmas is the birthday party of the most well known celebrity of all time. And everyone knows the year He was born. Time has been split in two by the event of His birth (BC and AD). Many of us today have a day where we have a big party to mark his birth and we give each other gifts but few of us give Jesus anything of much of value. Some of us even question the significance of His birth at all in relation to the Christmas celebration. A recent poll done in England showed that 49 percent of people polled said that Jesus has no significance at all when it comes to the Christmas celebration. At the same time Jesus has invited all of mankind to come to His party, and has offered a gift that He purchased at great expense, and it cannot be returned to the store for a refund. But many of us have left it at the party unopened in an insulting refusal of His kindness and generosity. The gift is eternal life, companionship with the creator of heaven and earth, and forgiveness of all the mistakes we have ever made. Jesus said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life”. It says whoever, and that means that everyone is invited to take this gift. The price that was paid for the gift was this. An eternal being of unimaginable stature, Jesus, came to earth and humbled Himself by becoming a human baby (completely dependent on his mother). Not born in a mansion or a castle or a five star resort or the finest hospital, but born in a place fit only for animals. Not born to a princess or a king but to an unassuming young girl with a carpenter for a husband. Born into the stigma of being conceived out of wedlock in a culture that frowned on it. And He lived a meek life as a carpenter’s son to then die a humiliating and painful death to buy this gift of everlasting life for all of us.
So what gifts should we bring to the party this year so that we don’t appear to be ungrateful guests at His birthday celebration? Nothing that we bring can come close to the gift he has already bought and paid for in our behalf. But on his wish list are two very simple things. The first one is that he wants us to just receive His gracious gift and wear it. Unlike the ugly tie, or the sweater that you sometimes get a Christmas that you never wear, Jesus has given you a gift that fits and should be worn with pride. The second thing that Jesus desires is to be available. Jesus just wants us to make ourselves available to be used by Him to birth something of value, just as Mary was available to be used by God to birth something of great value. All you have to do is say here I am Lord use me.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Newsboys Live, Atlanta, GA. 2008

 
Newsboys
Front Row Live
Atlanta GA
2008
Broadcast
 
01 Wherever We Go
02 Something Beautiful
03 Blessed be The Name
04 Do Not Fear Rap
05 He Reigns
06 Stay Strong
07 Shine
08 Breakfast
09 Your Love Is Better
10 The Mission
11 I Am Free
 
Total Time 43:07
Mp3/320k

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Amy Grant, Houston TX 2008


Amy Grant
Houston TX
November 2008
[Web Rip from FOA web site + Remastered FLAC]
 
Track List:
01 Father's Eyes
02 Love of Another Kind
03 Wait for the Healing
04 Shadows
05 1974
06 Everywhere You Go
07 Saved By Love
08 What About The Love
09 Alright
10 El Shaddai
11 Sing Your Praise To The Lord
12 All I Ever Have To Be
13 [Amy introduces the band]
14 Always (Chris Easton)
15 Lead Me On
16 Find A Way
17 Wise Up
18 Angels Watching Over Me
19 Fight
20 Stay For A While
 
Amy Grant – LMO Houston TX November 2008 – Web Rip from FOA web site
from the 20th Anniversary Lead Me On tour.

Costumes

Costumes or Are You Wearing a Disguise?

This is the time of year when people dress up in costumes and act like they are some one else. That’s OK if we only do it once a year.

I’m going to tell you about a different type of disguise.

In 1Kings, 14. There is a King of Israel named Jeroboam. Jeroboam was in rebellion against Judah. So he did some really bad things (he followed false gods and made idols). This brought him big trouble with God and as a result his son Abijah, became sick.
He decided to send his wife to get help from a prophet named Ahija. Now Ahija was living in Shiloh and Jeroboam didn’t want people to know he needed help so he sent his wife in disguise to seek the counsel of a prophet of God.
The prophet she went to vist was names Ahija and was blind. When Jeroboam’s wife arrived at his home he heard the sound of her footsteps and knew it was her. He said “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another person?
Sometimes we pretend to be someone we are not. Sometimes we don’t want to let people see the real us.

The thing about disguises is that people will still recognize us by our walk. The blind man just heard her footsteps and knew it was her.

People will know what type of people we are by our walk. No matter what type of disguise we wear. No matter how much we try to cover up our faults.

Even some one who is blind to Jesus can tell if we are walking with God. Just like the blind man knew. If someone is blind to Jesus we can’t share the gospel with him if we are not ourselves.

Even a blind man knows when the sun is shining because he can feel it.
A person who is blind to who Jesus is can tell by our walk if the Son is shining in us because he can feel God’s love in us.

We need to not try to be self righteous and cover up who we really are. We need to realize that our sin is no different then anyone else. We are all dirty from sin. We as Christians just have found the place to get a bath.

SO LET’S TAKE OFF THE COSTUMES AND BE OURSELVES.
We as Christians are to help others find covering for sin. When we are busy covering up our own faults we can’t help others.

In Genesis 3:7 after Adam and Eve sinned they knew they were naked and wanted to cover themselves. God helped them find covering. When we sin the first thing we want to do is find covering too. We find in Genesis 9 Noah sinned and became uncovered. Noah’s son Ham saw him uncovered and went out and told others about it. Shem and Japheth found Noah uncovered and took a garment went in backwards so they would not see Noah and covered their father. Ham was cursed for what he did and Shem and Japheth were blessed.

When we find some one who is uncovered because of sin in their life we should make sure we don’t point it out to others. The correct thing to do is to find covering for the person. God has given us covering just like he gave Adam and Eve covering. Just like with Adam and Eve the covering God came up with is much better than anything we can come up with on our own (sewing fig leafs together). God gave His son Jesus. Only with the blood of Jesus do we find sufficient covering for sin. His blood doesn’t just cover up our sin it cleans us of it. Our job is to share this with others. Just like Ham and Japheth we also will be blessed when we bless others.

Jesus showed us how to do it in John 13. When He was cleaning the feet of the Apostles Jesus first took off his clothes. He showed them that He was a human too. That He was like them and then He humbly served them. When we minister to others we are most effective when we share in a humble way and serve others. Good results happen when we show others the truth about ourselves that we are imperfect and no better than anyone else. We have the best chance of them listening and receiving what we have found to cover ourselves and them when they know we are just like them (sinners).

So don’t wear a disguise or a Costume it will only limit what you can do for others. If you do people won’t want what you have. They don’t want some cheap costume to cover up their problems. They want the clothes fit for a wedding that only Jesus can give us.


Other thoughts about Jeroboam’s mistakes:
Jeroboam only sought out Gods help when he was in trouble.

Jeroboam did not go himself he sent someone else. He did not want to have to change to get what God has to offer. A change in you will be required.

He sent her with 10 loaves and some honey. Ten is the number of the law. We cannot come to God and get forgiveness just by trying to do something good to sweeten the deal (following the law).

Jeroboam doesn’t ask for prayer he just asked what will happen.

This is a method to get bad results. Jeroboam’s son Abijah dies and His family line comes to an end.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Throwing Stones

I have found one of the biggest road blocks to people getting to know Jesus and follow His teachings is Christians. They are supposed to lead others to Jesus but instead they chase people away by misrepresenting the grace and love of God. It was one of the things that for years kept me from becoming a Christian myself.
In the time of Jesus if you were condemned to death by the Jewish community and Levitical Law the form of carrying out the death sentence was public stoning. What I have come to find is that many of the physical things and events of the bible represent spiritual truths and lessons for us today. And public stoning for us represents us publicly condemning or judging another. And that's what many Christians that I have encountered do. They judge or condemn others thinking that pointing out others faults will somehow make them see they need Jesus. Problem is it doesn't work.
What does it say in 1 John 4:7, 8 about those who follow Jesus? They should walk in Love
1John 2:6, He who says he abides in Him ought himself also walk just as He walked. The He is Jesus so we should look at Jesus as our model. So if we want to be Contagious Christians we should look at what Jesus said and did as a model for how we love.
When Jesus encounters people who are living a sinful lifestyle how does He go about dealing with their immorality?

If we look at the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 He does not dwell on the fact she lives an immoral life. He does not judge or condemn. Jesus said in John 12:47, “I came not to judge the world but to save the world.” And in Luke 6:37 Jesus said, “Judge not and ye shall not be judged, condemn not and ye shall not be condemned.”
Jesus takes it a step further when He encounters the woman caught in the act of adultery in John 8. Not only does He not speak condemnation but He defends her against those who do. He stops them from throwing stones.
The story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:20 can show us what the Fathers heart is like. When the son who went astray came back we see the father running out to meet him. Why would he run and not wait? I believe Deuteronomy 21:18-21 gives us a clue. It says if a man has a stubborn and rebellious son the men of the city shall stone him to death. So I feel he ran to protect the son from the stones.

So are we going to be stone throwers or stone shields to those who we encounter?

Jesus gave nothing but grace to the sinners who lived immoral lives. The only ones he gave out judgment and condemned were the religious ones who lacked humility and pointed out other faults. Jesus said “I will make you fishers of men”. We are just here to catch the fish not clean the fish.
In the end we all sin and the penalty for all sin is the same. No one is better or less of a sinner in Gods eyes. Jesus took off His clothes to wash the feet of the apostles. We are not to cover up our faults when helping others. Jesus showed us how to do it in John 13. When He was cleaning the feet of the Apostles Jesus first took off his clothes. He showed them that He was a human too. That He was like them and then humbly served them. When we minister to others we are most effective when we share in a humble way and serve others. Good results happen when we show others the truth about ourselves that we are imperfect too. We have the best chance of them listening and receiving what we have found to cover them when they know we are just like them (sinners).
One more thing: Our walk will make more impact than our talk. Matthew 25:35-36 shows us we are to feed the hungry, put clothes on the naked, give a drink to the thirsty, take in the homeless, visit the sick and imprisoned.
People won’t want what you share until they know you care.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Delirious? Creation Fest 6-28-2002



Here is one I have been looking for for a while. Chris at the Latin American Delirious? fan site was nice enough to share it with us. he let me make some artwork for it before he posted it. Thanks Chris!
So here is the show. 

Delirious?
Creation Fest 2002
Agape Farm
Mount Union, PA
6-28-2002

01 Bliss
02 Deeper
03 Sanctify
04 My Glorious
05 We'll see Your Glory Here
06 Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble
07 Everything
08 Touch
09 I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever
10 History Maker
11 Investigate

Total Time 57:07
Mp3/192k

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Why Is There Suffering?

When sharing about my belief in God I had people ask questions that I was unable to answer. Maybe you have questions about faith that give you doubt.
One of these tough questions to understand is; why does God allow suffering? We as believers are often asked by skeptics, “why are there tragedies, war, and suffering?” Skeptical people will say, either God is all loving but not all powerful, or God is all powerful but not all loving. They say this because they feel if God was all powerful he would stop suffering, and if God is all powerful he must not be all loving because he allows suffering. What skeptics are saying is they believe God is to blame.
Is it God’s wishes that cause suffering? I don’t think so. God created a perfect world for us to live in. That is His desire. I believe because of sin (our own failing)the world is not perfect. It is imperfect because of the sin in it.

If this is the reason then why is there sin, and why does God allow it?

God gave us free will because he wanted us to love him out of our own choice. He gave us choice because love cannot be forced or programmed. God created a perfect world, (Genesis 1:1, 10, 25, and 31). Man then chose to sin, and be disobedient to God, (Genesis 3:1-19). This sin causes the world to be the way it is.

So when God lets something bad happen is it God’s judgment against us?

I have heard some people say 9-11 was God’s judgment, or that hurricane Katrina was God’s judgment. I don’t think it was.

Jesus said this in Luke 13:4. “Those eighteen on who the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think they were the worse sinners than all the other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?” Were the people who died in the twin towers the worst sinners in New York? Were the people who died in hurricane Katrina the worst sinners in New Orleans? The truth is bad things happen to relatively good people and bad things happen to bad people. Because of sin in the world bad things happen to all of us.
In Matthew 7:24-27 it says that one man built his house on the rock and one man built his house on the sand. When the rains came the one on the rock did not fall. The one on the sand fell. Notice that the rains will come to both types of people. Bad stuff is going to happen.
The good news is that if you build your house on a foundation of rock that is Jesus Christ you will be able to get through the tough times.

Suffering comes in three types.
Corrective suffering, constructive suffering, suffering that glorifies God

First: Corrective suffering. God sometimes uses suffering to bring us closer to him. In Luke 15 the prodigal son came back to his father when the suffering he was subjected to got bad enough. Suffering can bring us back to the Father our God. And when this happens he will come running to you with open arms to welcome you home. Suffering can be like an amplifier of God’s voice. God whispers to us in good time but it seems like he shouts to us when we are in pain. In Hebrews 12 it says God’s children will be disciplined (this is how he corrects us). We are to be happy because this is a reminder that we truly are his children.

Second. Constructive suffering. Sometimes God will allow suffering to prepare us to do his work. The suffering can help harden or shape us to be used or useful to do his work. This is like when fire is used to harden steel. It is often the people who go through the great trials and tough times that are the ones who have the most powerful testimony for God.

Third. Suffering used to glorify God. Sometimes God will take away suffering and glorify himself in the process. An example of this is when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus said in John 11:4, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it”.
When we pray to God to stop suffering, sometimes He says yes and sometimes He says no. Paul asked God three times but God did not take away his suffering. God said to him in 2Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”.
In John 9:3 Jesus gave a blind man sight because, “But that the works of God may be done in him”. John 9:6, 7. “He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and he said to him “Go wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is translated sent)”. Once he was healed he didn’t know who Jesus was but he became a great witness to God’s glory! And then he became a faithful believer in Jesus.

Maybe there has been some type of tragedy or suffering in your life. Maybe God is trying to draw you nearer or get your attention. Maybe he is trying to open your eyes to who Jesus is. Call out to God and let him help you through it. He is the God of comfort and will be waiting with open arms for you. Be just like the blind man and say “once I was blind but now I can see”. God will use these things for good if you let him. Romans 8:28. In all things God works for the good of those who love him. He can make you a better person through it. He only wants the best for you.
Jeremiah 29:11. For the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The future He has in mind and has promised to those who follow Jesus is to live with them forever in love and in a perfect world.

There is a fourth type of suffering and that is pointless suffering. If you don’t let God have a part in your life then suffering can not be used by God for your good. Don’t let the suffering in life be pointless to you.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Mike Farris "I'm On My Way" assorted live tracks!

Mike Farris and The Roseland Rhythm Revue with The McCrary Sisters doing their thing. Praising God in a soulful style right out of Mississippi or New Orleans. This is a great set of tracks that shows off what they are all about. It has been playing non stop at my house!!!
Mike Farris and The Roseland Rhythm Revue
With The McCrary Sisters

"I'm On My Way"
Variouns live cuts

01 Troubles of the world, Saxon Pub, 10-06-2010
02 Sit Down Servant - Saxon Pub, Austin TX
03 Precious Lord _ Take My Hand, Saxon Pub
04 Oh Mary Don't You Weep, Saxon Pub
05 Can't no grave hold my body down - Gaztea Live
06 Good News - Gaztea Live
07 Take Me (I'll Take You There), Front Row Live 2007
08 I'm Gonna Get There, Front Row Live 2007
09 The Lonely Road, Front Row Live 2007
10 Lay My Burden Down, unknown
11 Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down, unkonwn
12 I'm Gonna Get There, fog version
13 Trouble Of The World, Lake Forest Church Oct '09

Total Time 76:51
In Lossless / FLAC

Mp3/320k for your I-pod

The Delirious? Zone

A place that is dedicated to celebrating the music of Delirious? It's under construction. . . kind of a work in progress
http://delirious-zone.blogspot.com

Monday, July 2, 2012

Delirious? Creation East 6-26-2004

If you know me you know Delirious? is my long time favorite Christian rock/worship band. And I love the live recordings. So this offering is one that I just recieved from Ken B over at Christian Concert Archive. It came from a web broadcast. I have never seen this recording anywhere else before on the web. NICE!!!!! It sounds prety good and has some great special moments of worship (and a few little flaws too). I'm very excited to offer this to those who love Delirious? like I do it is a special treat. I added the artwork that doubles as jewel case covers and can be used on printable CDs too! 


Delirious?
Creation East
Agape Farm
Mount Union PA
6-26-2004
Webcast -> PC -> Wav ->FLAC

Setlist:
01. Intro / Grace Like a River
02. Rain Down
03. Mountains Tremble (partial)
04. History Maker
05. Every Little Thing
06. I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
07. Inside Outside
08. Majesty
09. Majesty extended
10. God In Heaven

Water To Wine or Do What Ever He Tells You

One of the first miracles that we see Jesus do in the gospel of John (John 2:1-10) is changing water to wine at a wedding. If we look closely to the details it will reveal more to us about the character of Jesus that we should try to reflect, what His intentions are, and how to follow Him.

The first thing we notice is the location. It happens at a wedding, a happy event. This shows us that God cares about and can improve on our happy times, and wants them to be even better. He doesn’t just help us in our tough times.

The Second thing we see is that He tells his mother “My hour has not yet come”. This tells us that God has a time for things and they may not be when we want it.



The Third thing we see is His mother tells the servants “Whatever He says to you, do it.” We notice from this that when we are obedient to God’s will good things happen. This is great advice. Whatever Jesus says, do it!

The Fourth thing we see is there are six water pots of stone containing water. These were used for a Jewish purification ritual. What does this represent to us? The number six is used in the bible to represent man. They are stone and not clay. Stone is harder than clay. The water represents the laws and rituals the Jewish people had developed. The water pots represented men that had become hardened by following the laws and rituals.

The Fifth thing we see is Jesus says to the servants “Fill the water pots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. This tells us that the pots were not full and Jesus filled them. This represents Jesus has come to fulfill the law, represented by the water pots, and replace it with his blood represented by the wine. The water purification rituals of the Jews were used to make them”clean”. These purification laws and sacrifices could never completely “clean” us of our sin, but Jesus can. Nothing that we can do (no amount of scrubbing and cleansing or sacrifices) can take away our sins. Only the blood of Jesus can clean us so we can stand before God
The Sixth thing revealed to us is that the water was transformed to wine. Jesus is in the business of transformation. He takes stony hearts filled with legalistic law and fills them with the blood of salvation. He takes sadness and fills us with joy. Wine represents joy as in Psalm 104:15. He changes us. He took Saul a persecutor of Christians and turned him into Paul the apostle. He took Peter with a hot temper and transformed him into an apostle with love for others. He took Mary a demon possessed harlot and turned her into a saint. He will change anyone who chooses to follow Him. He has and is still changing me and He will do the same you.

The Seventh thing we see is Jesus tells the servants to “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. This shows us true faith and obedience by the servants. They didn’t taste it first. They just believed Jesus and did what they were told. They took water from a cleaning jar not drinking water and served it to the master in front of everyone and expected good results. Notice also that Jesus did this work through others. Gods work is done through people who are willing and obedient. In Luke 5:4-6 Jesus tells Simon Peter a professional fisherman how to fish. Simon Peter had caught nothing after fishing all night. He said “nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.” The results were so many fish that it took two boats to carry them. This tells us that in spite of what worldly knowledge we have “nevertheless” we should follow His instructions

The Eighth thing we see is the master tasted the water turned to wine and did not know where it came from, but the servants knew. This tells us if you are a servant who follows God’s will you will be given inside information that others may not know.
We find in John 15:15 with Jesus his servants are considered His friends, and He shares knowledge of the Father with his friends.

The Ninth thing revealed to us is from this statement spoken by the master of the feast. “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!’ This shows us that with Jesus it is always getting better and He saves the best for last. While with the things of the world it is not that way. With sin it tastes good at first but then is bitter at the end. Life without Jesus is best when you are young and then gets tough as you go along; middle age is a battle and the end without Jesus, well its hell.

Life with Jesus the end is the best. The Bible tells us how the story ends. Jesus will return and we will be in heaven with Him forever. The sequel to the wedding where he changes water into wine is still to come. Jesus will come for his bride, the church body. And the wine of joy will run freely at the wedding that is to come.

Jesus thank you for showing us what you intend to do. We want you to come into our lives and transform us. Lord we ask you to soften our hardened hearts and fill us with the wine of joy. Lord, clean us of our sin so we are presentable to be in God’s presence. We want to follow you with faith and obedience. Lord thank you for showing us that joyful times and good things will happen when we follow the advice “Whatever Jesus says, do it

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Mike Farris, Azkena Rock Festival, 2009

Mike Farris is a super gifted Gospel singer and musician. If don't know of him you have been missing out. So here is a little video as a tease. And then there is a whole show of him with his band The Roseland Rhythm Revue and his great backup vocalists the McCrary Sisters. First the video!

Now the whole show!

Mike Farris & The Roseland Rhythm Revue
and The McCrary Sisters
Azkena Rock Festival
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
2009
01 - Precious Lord Take My Hand
02 - Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down
03 - Oh Mary Don't You Weep
04 - Trouble of the World
05 - Sit Down Servant
06 - Selah! Selah
07 - Take Me (I'll Take You There)
08 - I'm Gonna Get There

Total time 54:00
Mp3/320k

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Newsboys, Flevo, 2007

This one is a very nice recording of Newsboys during the Go Tour. Peter Furler does his usual great testifying.

  He says "Do you not know or have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God and the creator of the earth.  He does not grow tired or weary and His understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases power to the weak.  Even youth grow tired and weary and young people stumble and fall, but those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles and they will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not be faint, so do not fear I am with you says the Lord.  Do not be dismayed for I am you God and I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you in my righteous right hand.  All who rage against you will surely be shamed and disgraced.  Those who appose you will be as nothing and perish.  Though you search for your enemies you will not find them.  All who wage war against you will be as nothing at all, for I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you tonight. . do not fear."   

Newsboys
Flevo Festival
Netherlands
2007

01 Shine
02 Wherever We Go
03 The Mission
04 Something Beautiful
05 Blessed Be The Name
06 Peter Furler (Do Not Fear)
07 In Wonder
08 Peter Furler (God Loves You)
09 It Is You
10 He Reigns
11 Breakfast
12 Your Love Is Better
13 Drum Solo
14 I Am Free

Download Link

Monday, June 11, 2012

Delirious? Acoustic, live and studio


This has mostly acoustic tracks of Delirious? played live and in the studio over the course of their career. Some are even recent solo tracks by Stu G after the band called it quits.

Delirious?
"Acoustic Then and Now"
Live and Studio cuts

01 Deeper (acoustic 1999, X-FM)
02 Metamorphis (acoustic 1999, X-FM)
03 RainDown (SWR3 acoustic session)
04 InsideOutside (SWR3 acoustic Session)
05 Majesty (New Song Cafe)
06 Rain Down (New Song cafe)
07 King Of Fools (acoustic 2009)
08 Beggar's Prayer (studio acoustic by Stu g)
09 Kingdom Of Comfort (studio acoustic by Stu g)
10 Meet With Me (studio acoustic by Stu G)
11 Rollercoaster (studio acoustic by Stu g)
12 Metamorphis (reflections from G-rap)
13 O Come O Come Emmanuel (studio by Stu g)
14 It's OK (acoustic live 1999)

Total Time 49:30

Download Mp3/320k

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Fortune teller Part Two

Way back near the start of this blog in early July I posted one called the Fortune Teller and it went something like this. . . . . . . .People came from all around. They had heard of the special talent or gift that she had. The rumors were she could gaze into the future and tell you of things that were yet to come. "I heard she told Betty that there was romance in her future and now she has a new boy friend", one lady said. Another story had her predicting correctly someone’s good health, and yet for another financial successes that latter came to pass. Soon everyone wanted to have their fortune read.
If you could make accurate predictions of the future it would get people’s attention for sure.  If I had that proverbial crystal ball and could for tell events in your life and then they happened. And then I could repeat this twice, and then a third time, and even a fourth, would you start paying attention to what I had to say?  What if I told you there was a book that has told the future and it has come to pass and it has done it over and over with amazing accuracy, would you be interested?
Well there is. . . . . . . . That book is the Bible. Unique among all books ever written, the Bible accurately foretells specific events-in detail-many years, sometimes centuries, before they occur. Approximately 2500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible, about 2000 of which already have been fulfilled to the letter—no errors. (The remaining 500 or so reach into the future and may be seen unfolding as days go by.) Since the probability for any one of these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance averages less than one in ten (figured very conservatively) and since the prophecies are for the most part independent of one another, the odds for all these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance without error is less than one in 10 to the 2000 power (that is 1 with 2000 zeros written after it)! I can't even wrap my brain around that number. A 1 with 6 zeros is a million or the odds being one in a million. But were talking something far beyond that.

So in Fortune teller part one I gave you just a few of the many prophecies of the bible. Here in fortune teller two are just a few more examples of the Bible’s Prophecy that I did not include before.

Jesus prophesied that the Jews would be exiled
Found in the bible passage: Luke 21:24
Time written: During the first century AD
In Luke 21:24, Jesus said that Jerusalem would be trampled upon by foreigners and
that the people of Israel would be forced into exile.
Luke 21:24:
They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled
About 40 years after Jesus spoke those word, it began to find fulfillment. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in the year 70, and again in the year 135.
During the first destruction, Josephus, an historian who lived during the first century, claimed 1.1 million Jews died and hundreds of thousands were forced out of the country and into exile and slavery.
During the second destruction, Cassius Dio, an historian who lived during the second century, claimed that 580,000 Jews were killed, 50 fortified towns and 985 villages were destroyed. The exiled Jews were taken to countries throughout the Roman Empire and eventually scattered and re-scattered throughout the world.

Jesus explained why Jerusalem would be destroyed
Found in the bible passage: Luke 19:41-44
Time written: During the first century AD
In Luke 19:41-44, Jesus prophesies that Jerusalem would be destroyed because of the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.
Luke 19:41-44:
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.
Although a few Jewish people did accept Jesus as the Messiah, most of the people rejected him. In fact, the rejection was strong enough that Jesus was executed a short time after speaking the words. The Romans when they burned and destroyed the temple then took the stones apart to get the melted gold that was between the cracks.

Zion would be "plowed like a field"
Found in the bible passage: Micah 3:11-12
Time written: Sometime between 750-686 BC
In Micah 3:11-12, the prophet Micah said that Jerusalem would be destroyed and
that "Zion" - a central part of Jerusalem - would be "plowed like a field."
Micah 3:11-12:
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us." Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets
Micah's prophecy is believed to have been delivered in about 730 BC (about 2700 years ago). Since that time, Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonians and by the Romans in 70 AD. The Romans destroyed it again in 135 AD to crush a Jewish rebellion for independence. According to a text in the GemaraGemara said that Turnus Rufus, a Roman officer, plowed the area of the Temple. This prophecy was fulfilled in literal detail. Incidentally, there was a Roman coin minted during that era that shows an image of a man using a plow. The coin was intended to commemorate the founding of the pagan Roman city
called Aelia Capitolina on the site of Jerusalem. The Romans sometimes minted coins showing the plowing motif as a symbol of the establishment of a new Roman city. The Jews fast (go without food) on the 9th day of the Jewish month of Ab (sometimes spelled Av) in remembrance of five historic events that are recorded as occurring on that date. One of those events is the plowing of all or part of Jerusalem by the Romans.

The Bible foreshadowed Rome's destruction of Israel
Found in the bible passage: Deuteronomy 28:49-52
Time written: As early as 1400 BC
Deuteronomy 28:49-52:
The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not
understand, a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young. They will devour the young of your livestock and the crops of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine or oil, nor any calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks until you are ruined. They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down. They will besiege all the cities throughout the land the LORD your God is giving you
The Bible has several prophecies foretelling the destruction of the land of Israel, and it has been destroyed many times, but the one in the book of Deuteronomy that coincides with the manner in which the Roman army conquered Israel during the first and second centuries:
The Romans oppressively ruled over the land of Israel for a century before the Jews waged two wars for independence, the first beginning in 67 AD and the second beginning in about 132 AD. Both wars resulted in great destruction to the land and people of Israel. The ancient historian Dio Cassius claimed that the Roman army had razed to the ground 985 villages throughout Israel. If the figure is to believed, then it might be including settlements, along with cities and towns, throughout the land. The writings of Cassius, along with those from Josephus, another first-century historian, indicate that the Roman army's destruction of Israel was very complete. The prophecy also speaks of an eagle in reference to the army that would swoop down upon Israel and reduce it to a state of desolation. As we learn from historians, including Tacitus who lived during the first century, the Romans marched with standards - long poles adorned with the eagle figurines - held high above their heads, as though the eagles were in flight. Another feature of the prophecy is that it speaks of armies being gathered from the ends of the earth. The Romans had armies scattered throughout parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. To quell the Jewish uprising, some troops had to be called in from as far away as the British Isles.

Israel would become a wasteland
Found in the bible passage: Deuteronomy 29:23
Time written: As early as 1400 BC
Deuteronomy 29:23:
The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce anger.
This prophecy certainly was fulfilled. The land that was once “the promised land” that produced great bounty has been described many times since the times of Jesus as having been a sparsely populated wasteland, as recently as the late 1800s. American writer Mark Twain wrote this, in 1867, about the land of Israel, which at the time was called Palestine: "Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes… the spell of a curse that has withered its fields and fettered its energies… Palestine is desolate and unlovely… It is a hopeless, dreary, heartbroken land." - from Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad.

Isaiah said Israel's fruit would fill the world
Bible passage: Isaiah 27:6
Written: perhaps between 701-681 BC
Fulfilled: late 1900s
Isaiah 27:6
In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.
In Isaiah 27:6, the prophet said Israel would one day blossom and fill the world with fruit. Well it became a barren waste land but since Israel was re born in the 1940s This prophecy has been at least partially fulfilled so far, literally and spiritually. Today, the land of Israel, which had been barren for centuries, tiny Israel is one of the leading producers of agricultural products, exporting food to many countries through out the world. This prophecy also has been fulfilled spiritually with the worldwide spread of Christianity, which began with Jesus in Israel.

Bible Prophecies Fulfilled by Babylon
The Bible prophecies below are a selection from the Bible that involve the Babylonian Empire, which had rose to power for a second time about 2600 years ago.

Babylon would rule Judah for 70 years
Bible passage: Jeremiah 25:11-12
Written: Sometime between 626-586 BC
Jeremiah 25:11-12:
This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. "But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt," declares the LORD, "and will make it desolate forever
Both parts of this prophecy were fulfilled. In 609 BC, which is about 2600
years ago, Babylon captured the last Assyrian king and took over the holdings of the Assyrian empire, to which the land of Israel previously had been subjugated. Babylon later asserted its domination by taking many Jews as captives to Babylon, and by destroying Jerusalem and the Temple. The domination ended in 539 BC, when Cyrus, a leader of Persians and Medes, conquered Babylon and brought an end to its empire. Cyrus later offered the captive Jews the freedom to return to their homeland. The prophecy also was fulfilled in another way too: The Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem's Temple in 586 BC, and the Jews rebuilt it and consecrated it 70 years later, in 516 BC. Having the Temple again showed, in a very important way, that the effects of Babylonian domination truly had come to an end.

Babylon's gates would open for Cyrus
Bible passage: Isaiah 45:1
Written: Between 701-681 BC
Isaiah 45:1:
"This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut"
In Isaiah 45:1, the prophet said God would open the gates of Babylon for Cyrus and his attacking army. Despite Babylon's remarkable defenses, which included moats, and walls that were more than 70-feet thick and 300-feet high, and 250 watchtowers, Cyrus was able to enter the city and conquer it. Cyrus and his troops diverted the flow of the Euphrates River into a large lake basin. Cyrus then was able to march his army across the riverbed and into the city.

Babylon's kingdom would be overthrown, permanently
Bible passage: Isaiah 13:19
Written: Between 701-681 BC
Isaiah 13:19:
Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians' pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Isaiah is saying Babylon would be overthrown, permanently.
History confirms that when Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, close to 150 years after Isaiah, it never again rose to power as an empire. Before the time of Cyrus, however, Babylon had been defeated by the Assyrian Empire but was able to recover and later conquer the Assyrian Empire. However, like Isaiah said 2700 years ago, the Babylonian Empire never recovered from Cyrus' conquest.

Babylon would be reduced to swampland
Bible passage: Isaiah 14:23
Written: Between 701-681 BC
Isaiah 14:23:
"I will turn her into a place for owls and into swampland; I will sweep her with the broom of destruction," declares the Lord Almighty.
In this prophecy just like the previous Isaiah said that Babylon, which had been a world power at two different times in history, would be brought to a humble and final end. But this time being more specific he claims it would be reduced to swampland. After Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, the kingdom never again rose to power. The buildings of Babylon fell into a gradual state of ruin during the next several centuries. Archaeologists excavated Babylon during the 1800s. Some parts of the city could not be dug up because they were n swamp land and under a water table that had risen over the years

Bible Prophecies Fulfilled by Tyre
These Bible prophecies involve Tyre, a Phoenician city that often had had great animosity with the people of Israel.

Tyre's fortresses would fail
Bible passage: Amos 1:9-10
Written: About 750 BC
Amos 1:9-10:
This is what the Lord says: "For three sins of Tyre, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood, I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre that will consume her fortresses."
Amos the prophet said that God would cause Tyre's protective fortresses
to fail, as punishment for the way that Tyre treated Israel. That prophecy was fulfilled in 586-573 BC more than 160 years after Amos, when Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar attacked the mainland of Tyre, and in 333-332 BC when Alexander the Great conquered the island of Tyre. Alexander's army built a land bridge from the mainland to the island so that they could use a battering ram to break through the island's fortress.

Tyre would be attacked by many nations
Bible passage: Ezekiel 26:3
Written: Between 587-586 BC
Ezekiel 26:3:
Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, O Tyre, and I will
bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves
Ezekiel said that Tyre, the Phoenician's most powerful city, would be attacked by many nations, because of its treatment of Israel. At about
the time that Ezekiel delivered this prophecy, Babylon had begun a 13-year attack on Tyre's mainland. Later, in about 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquered the island of Tyre and brought a final end to the Phoenician Empire. Tyre later became ruled by the Romans, the Crusaders and the Muslims, who destroyed the city, again, in 1291. And most recently the destruction of Tyre by Israel in retaliation for continued rocket attacks.

Tyre's stones, timber and soil would be cast into the sea
Bible passage: Ezekiel 26:12
Written: Between 587-586 BC
Ezekiel 26:12:
They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea
Ezekiel being more specific here said that Tyre's stones, timber and soil would be thrown into the sea. That probably would have been a fitting description of how Alexander the Great built a land bridge from the mainland to the island of Tyre when he attacked in 333-332 BC. It is believed that he took the rubble from Tyre's mainland ruins and tossed it - stones, timber and soil - into the sea, to build the land
bridge (which is still there today).

Tyre would lose its power over the sea
Bible passage: Zechariah 9:3-4
Written: Between 520 and 518 BC
Zechariah 9:3-4:
Tyre has built herself a stronghold; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.
Zechariah said that the Phoenician city of Tyre would lose its status as a powerful nation and naval sea power on the Mediterranean Sea. Today there is a city called
Tyre that is either on, or near, the original Phoenician site. But this Tyre is a small and poor city in modern-day Lebanon. It is certainly not the powerful nation that it was in the days of Zechariah, and certainly not a major naval power to contend with.

Tyre would never again be found
Bible passage: Ezekiel 26:21
Written: Between 587-586 BC
Ezekiel 26:21:
I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign Lord.
In this on Ezekiel said that the Phoenician city of Tyre would be brought to an end and would never again be found. When Alexander the Great destroyed the city in 332 BC, he brought an end to the Phoenician Empire. The Empire was never revived or "found" again. As for the city itself, it has been torn down and built upon by a succession of world powers. Today, finding artifacts from the original Phoenician Tyre is difficult. According to the Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition: "The principal ruins of the city today are those of buildings erected by the Crusaders. There are some Greco-Roman remains, but any left by the Phoenicians lie underneath the present town."

Tyre would never be rebuilt
Bible passage: Ezekiel 26:14
Written: Between 587-586 BC
Ezekiel 26:14:
I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt, for I the Lord have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.
The City of Tyre
Here Ezekiel is more specific saying the Phoenician city of Tyre would be destroyed and never be rebuilt. This was fulfilled when Alexander the Great conquered Tyre in 332 BC more than 250 years after Ezekiel. Alexander's conquest brought an end to the Phoenician Empire. The empire never
recovered from the attack. And so, it could never rebuild Tyre. Other nations and empires have built cities near the original Phoenician site.
Secular history records that "Alexander the Great" laid siege to the island fortress of Tyre in 332 BC. His army destroyed the remains of mainland Tyre and threw them into the Mediterranean Sea. As Alexander's army constructed a causeway to the island, they scraped even the dust from the mainland city, leaving only bare rock. Historian Phillip Myers in his history textbook, General History for Colleges and High Schools, writes, "Alexander the Great reduced Tyre to ruins in 332 BC. Tyre recovered in a measure from this blow, but never regained the place she had previously held in the world. The larger part of the site of the once great city is now as bare as the top of a rock -- a place where the fishermen that still frequent the spot spread their nets to dry."
Bible Prophecies Fulfilled The City of Samaria

The prophets Hosea (748 - 690 BC) and Micah (738 - 690 BC) each predicted the destruction of Samaria, the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Not only did these prophets predict violence and destruction, but they declared that this great city would become "as a heap in the field," with its stones poured down into the valley, and vineyards planted in place of its great walls, with even the foundations being removed.

History tells us that Sargon took Samaria by the sword in 722 BC. Later, Alexander took the city violently in 331 BC, as did Hyrcanus in 120 BC. What's remarkable is not the violent demise of Samaria and its people, but rather, some of the historic specifics of what then happened to that once great city.

Reactions upon visiting the ancient spot have been recorded for centuries. In 1697, Henry Maundrell declared: "This great city is now wholly converted into gardens, and all the tokens that remain to testify that there has ever been such a place, are only on the north side…" Floyd Hamilton continues: "To-day the top of the hill where Samaria stood is a cultivated field with the foundations of the columns marking the place where the palaces and mansions stood. At the foot of the hill, in the valley, lie the foundation stones of the city…" 11 Finally, from Van de Velde:
Her foundations discovered, her streets ploughed up, and covered with corn fields and olive gardens… Samaria has been destroyed, but her rubbish has been thrown down into the valley; her foundation stones, those grayish ancient quadrangular stones of the time of Omri and Ahab, are discovered, and lie scattered about on the slope of the hill. 12

Egypt would never again rule over nations
Bible passage: Ezekiel 29:15
Written: Between 593-571 BC
Ezekiel 29:15:
… I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations
Here Ezekiel says that Egypt would recover from a desolation (perhaps Babylon's attack about 2600 years ago), but that it would never again rule over other nations. Up until the time of Ezekiel, Egypt had been a world power for centuries, dominating many nations, including Israel. But for most of the past 2500 years, Egypt has been controlled by foreign powers, including the Romans, Ottomans and Europeans. Today, Egypt is an independent nation again. In 1948, 1967 and 1973, Egypt tried to dominate Israel but was unsuccessful each time, despite the fact that Egypt is 10 times larger than Israel. Egypt today, in many respects, is an impressive nation. But since the time of Ezekiel, it has never ruled over other nations as it once did.

So now here are a few of the prophecies that have played out in more modern times.

Israel would be re-established as a united nation
Bible passage: Ezekiel 37:21-22
Written: between 593-571 BC
Fulfilled: 1948
Ezekiel 37:21-22
and say to them, `This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.
Here Ezekiel is saying that God would one day bring the people of Israel back to Israel, as a united nation after being spread out into many places. This might have been a shock for Ezekiel. He lived about 2600 years ago. At that time, the people of Israel had already divided themselves into two separate kingdoms. And, both kingdoms had been conquered by foreign invaders, who forced many of the people, including Ezekiel, into exile. Latter the Jewish people would be further scattered through out the world when the Romans destroyed their nation in the first century. But, when Jews reclaimed sovereignty in 1948, they did so as a united people, creating one nation - Israel after being away for thousands of years.

Isaiah spoke of a Israel being reborn in one day
Bible passage: Isaiah 66:7-8
Written: perhaps between 701-681 BC
Fulfilled: 1948
Isaiah 66:7-8
"Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children."
Isaiah speaks of a country being born in one day. This accurately describes what happened on May 14, 1948 - when the Jews declared independence for Israel as a united and sovereign nation for the first time in 2900 years.
During that same day, the United States issued a statement recognizing Israel's sovereignty. And, only hours beforehand, a United Nations mandate expired, ending British control of the land. During a 24-hour span of time, foreign control of the land of Israel had formally ceased, and Israel had declared its independence, and its independence was acknowledged by other nations. Modern Israel was literally was born in a single day.
Isaiah said the birth would take place before there would be labor pains. And that too is precisely what happened. A movement called Zionism began in the 1800s to encourage Jews worldwide to move to Israel, which at that time was called Palestine. Within hours of the declaration of independence in 1948, Israel was attacked by the surrounding countries of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

When reading Isaiah 66:7-8, keep in mind that Israel's status as a sovereign nation was established and reaffirmed during the course of a single day, and that it was born of a movement called Zionism, and that its declaration of independence was not the result of a war but rather the cause of one.


Ezekiel predicted when Israel would be re-established
Bible passage: Ezekiel 4:3-6
Written: between 593-571 BC
Fulfilled: 1948
Ezekiel 4:3-6
... Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel. "Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel. "After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.
Here Ezekiel the prophet said the Jews, who had lost control of their homeland, would be punished for 430 years. This prophecy, according to Bible scholar Grant Jeffrey, pinpointed the 1948 rebirth of Israel. Here's a summary of Jeffrey's theory on how that could be:

1. Ezekiel said the Jews were to be punished for 430 years because they had turned away from God. As part of the punishment, the Jews lost control of their homeland to Babylon. Many Jews were taken as captives to Babylon.

2. Babylon was later conquered by Cyrus in 539 BC. Cyrus allowed the Jews to leave Babylon and to return to their homeland. But, only a small number returned. The return had taken place sometime around 536 BC, about 70 years after Judah lost independence to Babylon.

3. Because most of the exiles chose to stay in pagan Babylon rather than return to the Holy Land, the remaining 360 years of their punishment was multiplied by 7. The reason is explained in Bible's book of Leviticus. (Leviticus 26:18, 26:21, 26:24 and 26:28). In Leviticus, it says that if the people did not repent while being punished, the punishment would be multiplied by 7. And, by staying in pagan Babylon, most exiles were refusing to repent.

4. So, if you take the remaining 360 years of punishment and multiply by 7, you get 2,520 years. But, Jeffrey says those years are based on an ancient 360-day lunar calendar. If those years are adjusted to the modern solar calendar, the result is 2,484 years.

5. And, there were exactly 2,484 years from 536 BC to 1948, which is the year that Israel regained independence.
(In this Bible passage, Ezekiel is asked by God to symbolically act out the 430 years of punishment)

Well that is a long, long, long post. But that is just a few of the hundreds and hundreds of these I could have posted, to go along with the ones I already did in Fortune Teller One   http://arizjones.blogspot.com/2010/07/fortune-teller.html  , and in the page on Prophecies that Jesus fullfilled   http://arizjones.blogspot.com/p/messianic-prophecies-fulfilled-in-one.html   . So think about the odds of this simple book being able to make all these claims and then have them happen. This is to get you to think about the claims it is making about what is still to come. The Bible says that at the end times Israel will become a stumbling block for all nations and that Israel's neighbors will all join together in war against it. Looks possible doesn't it. And after that the removal of the followers of Christ and the Tribulation and and then the return of Jesus with all the saints with Him. Are you ready? Only those prepared will be removed from these difficult times to come.

 I'm no prophet, but I do think there will be some who will question this post.  And that is what is expected as a follower of Christ.  The Bible tells me that it will appear to be foolishness to those who don't believe.  It was foolishness to me before I came to having faith in Jesus and the Bible as God's word.  But I urge those who doubt to really honestly investigate with an open mind.  The odds of just six of the hundreds of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled coming true has been calculated by a professor at Cal Tech who teaches probability to be conservatively estimated at 1 in 10 to the 27th power.  That is a 10 with twenty seven zeros.  And that is just six.