Oo La La

Anonymous asked: how many followers do u have

Whoooo is this? hahah creepy anonymous..

Why not?  Reality isn’t a breeze, it’s hard and sometimes the best way to deal with things is as if its all a part of one big beautiful cinematic experience.   And in a way, isn’t that how people behave in a social settings every day?  We fake it till we make it in politics, business, advertising..etc.   What’s the harm in enduring hardships and perfecting your ability to form the right responses, reactions, and emotional expressions while you’re suffering?  

I see none.

I don’t go to a conservatory anymore, so being excessive and expressive seems to attract more attention then usual.  I’m also surrounded by people who are sincerely well-educated, cultural, confident, and eager to be successful in a seemingly harsh world.  I admire their wisdom and appreciation for the world and all it has to offer, however; I miss the understanding and familiarity of those who share a similar passion for music and theatre.   To be a member of the Secret Club of Performing Arts- oh, yes!!!- one must live the life of a performer, and to those who never have, it becomes nearly impossible to explain the personal, mental, and emotional strength one must have in order to endure and KEEP GOING.

I remember a specific conversation I had with a graduate student from SMU who was seemingly troubled about “the purpose of theatre” “what constitutes getting a major in performing”.   The conversation was not quick, it was heated and passionate (mostly on my end.  Because..  Hello.  I’m starring in my own show and how dare you.))

I defended my love for the arts, but really, how do you defend something you love to a person who doesn’t believing in majoring in something you love to do or study?

My problem is, I’m obsessed with learning.  I really am.  It’s in every fiber of my being.  I am one big fat huge nerd.  And there is too much to discover in this world, I simply can’t ignore it.   I love it ALL.   So how does one figure out what to study?!   I narrow it down to three things;

1. Philosophy

2. Culture- and all that they entail (language, religion, politics)

3. Performing Arts

Well, fortunately I found a place where all of these are possible.  I was lucky that things worked out, considering all the circumstances and hardships that were thrown at me this summer.  ALAS.  I made it alive, and when I graduate I still plan on pursuing my passion for theatre-armed with the wisdom and understanding I have of the rest of the world.   It’s not the conventional path, but it’s my path. 

There is always an open door somewhere.  Sometimes you just have to shrink down like Alice to find one that fits the key in your pocket.

Hello all who care,

Welcome to my blog :).  

I realize I have about five entries, but it is mainly because I am so unbelievably busy that I never have time to keep you amused with all the mishaps of my life.

This was an OCU show I was in during second semester of last year.  It was called “Normal” a musical directed by one of my best friends, Robert Postotnik, an extremely talented young man with the ability/potentional to change the world using his artistic vision and fantastic flare for design.  

I have to say that it was a blessing being a part of that cast and playing a role that would challenge me and break me.  Robert insisted the show be portrayed as real as possible.  He challenged me to become a real person on stage, instead of… well, pretending to be a real person on stage, which was what I am most comfortable with.    The show itself carries an important message about eating disorders and its devastating effects on the average American family.

 ”A musical of hope and survival”.  

I played the mother!! :D 

Anyways, great experience.  :)  I miss my OCU family.  And they are all going places, fast.

Another show I was able to participate in at OCU last year was “Bat Boy”.  I’m not going to write too much about “Bat  Boy”.  I couldn’t explain the feelings and the experience of my first real college musical to people who don’t study theatre or have never been cast in a show.  All I can tell you, is that I was proud of myself and proud of every single cast and crew member.  I don’t know how well the show did, or if i portrayed my part well enough, I don’t know.   And I don’t care.  It doesn’t matter.  I’ve never felt so connected to people at OCU, never learned as much as I had, and never been so unbelievably terrified.

I feel sincerely ill today so I apologize for writing like a fourth grader.  My headache is massive and my stomach is in a lot of pain.  

“Do Babies Burn in Hell?” (Continued Article)

(This is an article my Grandpa wrote about what is presently being taught about Hell and the “unsaved” compared to what the Bible actually tells us. The Introduction to this article is in the previous note…..)


“This study will answer these questions from the Bible”

1) What happens at death?
2) Do the saved go to heaven at death?
3) Do the unsaved go to hell at death?
4) Is any human now in heaven?
5) Do we have an immortal soul?
6) Is God working out a plan of salvation for all?


Section I. Ultimately, how may people does God WANT to save?

A good starting place is to first establish what God wants the outcome to be. I Tim 2:3-4 says, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God and our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come into the knowledge of the truth.” II Pet 3:9 reinforces that, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance.”

But, wait a second, obviously God is not saving all NOW. Certainly, the majority of the six billion humans living today are not Christians. And looking back at human history, billions and billions have died without becoming Christians. 

That means one of two things:
1. He is an ineffective God. (If so, why follow Him?)
2. He is not trying to save all now.

My contention is God is following the second alternative. Notice in the last scripture quoted the words “not slack” and “longsuffering” that indicate a Period of Time is involved. In other words, God has a plan that is being worked out. We will see that plan develop through this study.



Section II. The Resurrection Chapter

Many are familiar with I Cor 15, known as the “resurrection chapter”. Notice versus 51-52. “Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be CHANGED. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the DEAD Shall Be RAISED incorruptible, and shall be changed.” 
But who are in that resurrection? Is it all of mankind? 
No!
Rev 20:6 says only those saved thus far are in it. Notice, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the FIRST resurrection, on such the second death has no power; and they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

That verse has caused many to wonder about traditional teaching. IF the dead go to heaven at death, and are living there in eternal bliss, why bring them BACK to be resurrected? If they are already living a new life, what are they resurrected FROM? And WHY?

Because there is a First Resurrection, it follows there must be at least a second one. We will get back to the resurrection(s). But part of the answer is found in section III.



Section III. The dead are SLEEPING in their graves and know nothing.

Eccl 9:5-10 teaches, “For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward… Also their hatred, and their envy, is now perished: neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun… Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work; nor knowledge; nor wisdom; in the GRAVE, where you are going.”
The state of the dead is called “sleep” in many places, such as I Chron 15:6 and 18, and again in I Thes 4:13 and 15, as well as 2Pet 3:4.

Those sleeping in their graves are waiting::
In Job 14:14, Job asked this question, “If a man dies shall he live again?” The answer is given in verse 14, is that Job is waiting for his change. The implication being that Job will be in his grave, awaiting a change. Verse 15 goes on, “You shall call, and I will anwer you. You will have a desire to the work of Your hands.” So God is not finished with Job, He will call Job from his grave and complete the work He wants to do in him (and by extension, all of us). That completed work is to change us to mortal beings that live forever and to place us in His family as His children.

But, doesn’t traditional Christianity teach that the saved go to heaven when they die? Yes, they teach it, but is it correct? 
Notice Acts 2:29 where Paul stated, “Men and brethren, let me speak freely unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us UNTO THIS DAY.” (David is still in his grave).
Paul emphasized that in verse 34, “For David is NOT ascended into the heavens…”

As a side note, not only has no human (other than Christ) ascended to heaven, but earth is where we will live for all eternity. In fact, at the end of His plan, God the father will himself move to the new earth. That is a seperate study in itself that may interest you. For more on those subjects, let me know and I will provide additional material for you to study.



Section IV. The Spirit in Man

From earliest times, pagans have taught that man has an immortal soul that never dies. Unfortunately, that teaching has been continued by Christians.

Yes, the Bible says there is a spirit, or soul, in man. But at death that spirit RETURNS to God who gave it. Notice Eccl 12:7, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the SPIRIT shall RETURN unto God who gave it.” 

Now note this; that spirit or soul is NOT immortal. Notice I Tim 6:15, “Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; Who ONLY has immortality.”
Immortality, or eternal life, can come only from God.
Notice John :15-16, “That whoever believes in Him should not PERISH but have eternal life.” likewise John 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish…” Likewise John 17:2, “As You have given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.”

Matt 10:28 certainly says there is no immortal soul naturally in man. Notice, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him Which is able to DESTROY BOTH soul and body in hell.” (As mentioned, that hell is a consuming fire, but not an eternal one.)


Christians in the Age of Computers

I remark often about the advantage we have over humans who lived in the past. Why? Because in the age of computers, we can understand much better what God does. For example, we can see the programming he has put in insects, birds, and animals. In the case under discussion, we can easily liken our physical bodies to hardware, the computer itself, and our spirit to software. Our spirit, our software, contains all our memories and the substance of who we are. Our hardware body dies and decays, but our software spirit- who we really are- returns to God to be held safe until He puts it into our new spiritual body. In other words, our software is turned off, ceases to operate, at death. It is turned back on, resurrected, when it is put in our new spiritual body. 


Section V. Resurrection explained.

The resurrection described in I Cor 15 is actually only ONE of two (some say three) resurrections. When you understand both, then you will be able to see the plan of God, and most important- That We willl ALL have a CHANCE!

The 1 Cor resurrection taking place at Christ’s return, is the FIRST resurrection. It deals only with those humans who have accepted Christ during their lifetime and have salvation. Verse 53 explains what happens, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,” Death is swallowed up in victory”. Notice these mortals have not previously been made immortal, they are not living in heaven, their change comes ONLY at Christ’s return and is described in those verses.

Before we leave 1 Cor 15, verse 23 is very instructive, “But every man in his own order; Christ the first fruits; afterwards they that are Christ’s, at His coming.” So there is a resurrection order, all are not resurrected at the same time. Christ first, then those that are his at his coming. But what about everybody else? Let’s see. 


The Second Resurrection

Rev 20:4 explains that those resurrected at Christ’s return will, “live and reign with Christ a thousand years.” Part of verse 5 is a parenthetical explanation, which we will get to. The last part of verse 5 and 6s explains more about those changed at Christ’s return. “This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection; on such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ; and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” But what is the SECOND death? Traditional Christianity does not explain it. We will get to it shortly.

After the thousand years, God will then deal with the vast numbers of the unsaved. The parenthetical part of verse 5 explains, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” 
So there you have it. 
At the end of the thousand years, the rest of the dead- ALL who never had a chance- will be raised from the dead. They will live out a new physical life, one in which the whole world, living under Christ’s government, Will Know God.

How will that work? 
In Luke 10:12-14 Christ told his disciples what would happen to some people they preached to, that rejected them, “But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon At The JUDGEment, than for you.”


When resurrected at their first chance, many will quickly accept God

What Christ was pointing out was that on the one hand were cities that had the preaching and miracles of Christ and His disciples, yet they REJECTED them. On the other hand, Christ listed pagan cities whose people lived and died never knowing Christ, yet in the day of judgement, after their resurrection, those people will quickly accept salvation in stark contrast to the rejection by people in cities that were preached to by Christ and His disciples. 

Luke 11:29 follows that same theme, “The queen of the south shall rise up in the JUDGEMENT with them of this generation, and condemn them…” Condemn them, how? By accepting her day of salvation quicker than the men of this generation did.

Notice in both quotes of “judgement”, the examples were people who never yet had a chance. He is evident if they were resurrected to an IMMEDIATE judgement, nothing would have changed, they would still be lost. So for them “judgement” is a period o time that will live out and in which they will make their decision. (Some think Isa 54:20 means the period of time will be one hundred years.)

In that judgement of time, living under Christ’s divine rule, the vast majority will accept Him and gain their salvation. But some will STILL choose death, to reject Christ and salvation.



Section VI. Some will Choose to Reject their Chance.

Continuing on in Rev 2:7 we read about those people, “And after the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.” (He will be bound for those thousand years Rev 20:2) “And shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four quarters of the earth…to gather them together to battle… And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camps of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven, and DEVOURED them.”

Rev. 20:11-13 tells us more. “And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face on earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the DEAD, small and out of those tings which were writted in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged ever man according to their works.”


A Second Death Awaits those who Refuse to Repent and be Saved

Logically, if it as really all over for the unsaved when thy died the first time there would be no need for a SECOND death. The fact there is one is in itself very instructive. 

The fate of the wicked, those who reject their chance is summarized in Rev 20:14-15. “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the SECOND death. And whosever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”. Did you notice SECOND death? To have a second death, there has to be a FIRST death. That is the one that happens to all men. A second death supports the teaching that the unsaved are resurrected to have their FIRST chance. If they refuse it, for them there is only a SECOND death.

Several scriptures mention this second death. Rev 2:11 “He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.” Rev 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection; on such the SECOND death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” And Rev 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers and wordmongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all LIARS, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone; which is the SECOND death.



Section VII. A God of Free Choice

At this point, it may be food to emphasize that the real God is not a dictator. He does not force salvation or His way of life on anyone. Several times God says, “Choose life, not death”. His way is ALWAYS a matter of liberty, of Free Choice.

As an aside, it is interesting that traditional Christianity quotes often Rom 6:23, “Fo the wages of sin is DEATH, but…” They ignore the very plain word “death”, and substitute instead something like this, “For the wages of sin is to be tormented for all eternity in a perpetual hell fire.” That mischaracterization, all by itself, has caused many to turn away from Christianity. 



Section VIII. The Unsaved are NOT Going to Tormented Forever in a Hellfire.

The word “hell” in the Bible comes from three different words. Sometimes it means the GRAVE. Sometimes it means the prison Satan and his demons are going to be put in. Sometimes it mean FIRE, a burning up. That fire is a consuming one, it destroys completely anything or person put in it. The end result is EXTINCTION, but the fire itself does not burn for all eternity. For more study material on the subject, just ask.

That extinction, not torment for all eternity, is their final outcome is spelled out in these two scriptures. Mat 4:1-3, “For, behold the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be STUBBLE; and the day that comes shall burn them up, say the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root or branch… And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ASHES under the SOLES of your feet in the day that shall do this, says the Lord of hosts.”
II Pet 3:10 adds this, :But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; the which the heavens shall pass away with a grat noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent hear, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”




Section IX. To Summarize.

We have covered a lot of information which we can summarize as follows:

1) God wants to save ALL of his human creatures.
2) The first resurrection is of the relatively few who accepted Christ during this age.
3) The dead are ALSEEP and know nothing.
4) There is a spirit in man that returns to God at death.
5 There will be a SECOND resurrection for those who never had a chance in this life.
6) The relatively few who at their chance reject God, will be extinguished in a consuming fire.
7) That is called the SECOND death, which indicates they were resurrected from their first one.
8) The real God is not a dictator, but gives every man liberty, a free CHOICE.
9) God’s Holy Days show and act out His overall plan to give all a chance.”

Do Babies Burn in Hell?

This is an article written by my Grandpa, Frazier Spencer, that I want to share with whoever is interested. 
Just a side not::: he has terminal cancer and I know he would appreciate any encouraging responses from these articles if you are interested::: his email address is frazfay@.attcom

“Traditional teachings about an eternal hellfire as the only way for salvation has caused much damage and turned many away from Christianity. Some examples illustrate why I say that.
The prominent evolutionist, Charles Darwin, wrote in his autobiography that he could not believe in a God that would condemn all disbelievers to eternal punishment because included would be his father, brother and almost all of his best friends. 

My dad, although he did not attend church, was an exemplarity husband and father. Nevertheless as good Lutherans, the whole family worried about my dad. Why? He had never been baptized. We knew what the Bible taught in Mark 16:16, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that does not believe shall be damned.” When he was about forty years old, he was finally baptized and we could all breathe sighs of relief.

But did all that worry about my dad really make sense? Let’s say my dad’s baptism was scheduled for May 15th he died on May 14th, Was he really lost forever? Did it really make sense that prior to the magic day of the 15th he was doomed to burn in hell forever, but after that date he was destined to go to heaven forever? Does a fair and just God have rules that are so nonsensical and so patently unfair? More important, is such a God one we want to follow?

Would a loving God really burn babies in hell for all eternity if they had died before being baptized? I thought so then, but I came to see that belief was WRONG.

Today’s Situation
At this very minute, as you read this, there are sincere and dedicated Christian missionaries braving incredible hardships as they struggle to carry the name “Jesus” to remote parts of the world. Their motivation is found in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Millions of people living today have never even HEARD the name of “Jesus”. Are they really going to burn in hell for all eternity? What about the BILLIONS of people who have lived and died over the centuries without being baptized or hearing the name “Jesus”. What about your own relatives who lived good lives, yet they were not churchgoers? Traditional Christianity says they are lost, but is that right? Does it make sense to you that they burn for all eternity?

I spent months intensively studying the traditional teachings and the Bible. I came to see the following:

1) A fair and loving God is going to give everyone that has ever lived a chance for salvation.

2) The minority of humans that decide to reject God will not burn in hell for all eternity. (Such torment would be cruel sadism, as well as punishment far out of proportion to the offense).

3) Those who reject God and His government means they refuse to live without hurting others. They will simply be extinguished, they will cease to exist.

4) Since they refuse to live peacefully with their fellow man, that is the kindest thing to do for them.”


www.creationcorner.info <—- Grandpa’s web site.