All posts filed under: z278

Meet Methuselah, a Date Palm, grown from a 2,000-year-old seed

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According to the Biblical record, Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah, was the oldest person recorded in the Bible living to the age of 969 years. And appropriately, this was the name that a scientist gave a Judean Date Palm that was successfully grown from a seed estimated to be 2000 years old. Archaeologists discovered several seeds, dated to the time of Jesus, at the ancient site of Masada, a Jewish mountainous fortress, that was besieged by the Romans during the Jewish rebellion of 73 AD to 74 AD, resulting in nearly 960 Jews inside the fortress committing suicide. It took a while for Dr. Elaine Solowey, who works for the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies at the Kibbutz Ketura in Israel, to convince the archaeologists to part with one of their seeds. They described her plans to try to sprout it as mad. But finally they gave her a single seed, and Solowey sprouted it in 2005 resulting in Methuselah, a male Date Palm. She has since planted six other seeds that also successfully grew. …

Islamophobia: What is the lesson for us?

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What do you think when you hear the word “Islamophobia?” This is a new word, and it refers to prejudice and dislike of Muslims. Recently, in Canada, the government held a summit on the topic of Islamophobia. I should give a disclaimer here. The conference was about the religion of Islam, and I am a Christian. I remember a song when I was younger, with these words: “Jesus is the answer, for the world today. Above him there’s no other, Jesus is the way.” That is a good description of what I believe. I will give a link to that song, below. The old saying is ‘If you don’t play the game, you can’t make the rules.’ That applies to me. Imagine if I gave advice about what Jewish people should have done to resist their persecutors. That would be offensive. I am an outsider looking on from a distance. So, what can we say about Islamophobia? The conference came and went quickly, and most people missed the information. There was also a conference just …

The Importance of Finding Your Calling

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By Dr. Michael L. Brown Can you imagine walking everywhere standing on your hands? Or writing a book using your toes? Or typing out text messages with your forehead? The fact is that our body was designed by God with great beauty and precision, with each part of the body having an important and unique role. It’s exactly the same with the Body of Christ. Every believer has an important and unique role. And that means if you are a believer, you have a calling and a mission. Not only so, but rightly understood, every believer has an indispensable role, since the Body can only function at its full capacity if every member of the Body is functioning properly. Do you see yourself in this way – as someone called and graced by God – or do you consider yourself of no spiritual or practical value? “After all,” you might think to yourself, “I’m just a businessman.” Or, “I’m just a home-schooling mom.” Or, “I’m just a young person in college. What can I do?” …

Speaking dangerously: ‘I am for Christ’

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The phrase ‘I am for Christ’ is quickly becoming one of the more dangerous phrases a person can utter, no mater where you live. According to an article on Morning Star News, uttering that phrase nearly cost Abudlawali Kijwalo, 39, his life. Kijwalo lives in Uganda and was born into a Muslim family that was noted for is dedication to Islam by making annual pilgrimages to Mecca. But Kijwalo had decided to convert to Christianity and was starting to listen to Gospel music. This angered the family and particularly his brother, Murishid, who repeatedly told Kijwalo to telling people he now believed in Jesus. It took a violent turn, when Kijwalo and his brother were looking after the family’s cattle that were grazing in a nearby pasture. Murishid approached his brother and asked, “Are you still a Muslim, or you are now a Christian.” Kijwalo simply replied: “I am for Christ.” As soon as he uttered those words, his brother pulled out a machete from beneath his robe and forcibly struck Kijwalo in the head, …