Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
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La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.
Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.
Manna Minutes en español:
Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:
Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!
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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6
Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.
Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6
Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!
Whoso Findeth a Wife Findeth a Good Thing: Misuse of Proverbs 18:22
Proverbs 18:22 says: Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing. Many Christians are using this scripture to support teaching single Christian women that they should not actively look for a husband. These ladies are reminded that the scripture does NOT say that whoso findeth a husband findeth a good thing. Therefore, they should simply pray, but should not actively seek a husband. What is more is that the Christian woman is told to "hide herself in the Lord", who will send her a husband in his own time. One Christian leader, while preaching on the subject, even emphasized that his wife, "played hard to get". Teachings and comments like these not only translate into telling single Christian women that they are wrong to put forth effort to find a husband; they also suggest that single ladies should play "hard to get". Is this really what the Bible tells single Christian women to do? No, it is not!
Whoso Findeth a Wife Findeth a Good Thing
Many say that single Christian women are wrong to actively look for a husband simply because Proverbs 18:22 says: Whoso findeth a WIFE findeth a good thing. In other words, simply because the scripture does NOT say, "Whoso findeth a HUSBAND, findeth a good thing", women are taught that they should not look for a husband. If we apply this same logic to other proverbs, we quickly see how ludicrous it is.
Proverbs 18:24 says, "...there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Are we to teach that only men can be friends that stick closer than a brother simply because the scripture does not say, "closer than a sister"? In other words, are we to teach that females cannot be friends who stick closer than a sister simply because the scripture specified "brother"? And, what about Proverbs 1:10? It says, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." Are we to believe that parents should teach only their sons to not run with a sinful crowd simply because the scripture does not read, "my daughter, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not"? Of course we know that females can be friends that stick closer than a sister, and that parents should warn their daughters as well as their sons not to consent to sinful things that others might suggest to them. Why then would we apply such an ilogical interpretation to Proverbs 18:22 simply because it says: Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing? Interpretation of the scriptures that is not inspired by the Spirit of God will always be unmasked when we attempt to apply it across the board. On the other hand, the application of true God-inspired interpretation works for all scripture from Genesis to Revelation.
Ruth and Boaz
We know that Ruth was a follower of the God of Israel because she fully accepted him as her God (Ruth 1:16). She was, therefore, the equivalent of a Christian woman. Naomi was her mother in law with whom she remained even after the death of her husband, Naomi's son. As a widow, a man named Boaz showed interest in her. Did Ruth ignore that interest? Did Ruth "play hard to get?" The Bible says that Naomi instructed Ruth to let Boaz know that she was interested in him too. We read, "Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. Wash thyself therefore, and annoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it shall be, when he lieth down that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down, and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do" (Ruth 3:1-5).
Later we read, "So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife..." (Ruth 4:13). It cannot be made any clear that Ruth's actions showed her acceptance of the interest that Boaz had shown in her. And, while some will argue that there is a spiritual meaning behind Ruth and Boaz, we cannot ignore the actions that were done in the natural. This is not a parable. Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz were real people who truly behaved exactly as it is recorded in the scriptures. The erroneous teaching that Christian women should not actively seek a husband based on "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing" is in sharp disagreement with the true story of Ruth and Boaz.
Also, let us remember that Christ is the husband of the church. He lets us know that he wants to be our husband by knocking on the door (the heart). We had better respond if we want to be his wife. This spiritual truth is shadowed in earthly marriage.
Faith Without Works Is Dead
Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you". Are we going to say that this applies only to male servants of God? Such a silly interpretation of the scripture is not even taught in the church. If every believer is told, "Seek, and ye shall FIND", that includes women seeking good gifts from God (Matthew 7:7-11). If a wife is a good thing, why would a godly husband not be a good thing? And, if EVERY servant is told to seek and he or she will FIND, then there is absolutely no biblical support for teaching single Christian women from actively SEEKING a godly husband.
Throughout the Bible we plainly see female servants asking, seeking, and knocking. And, we see that they received good gifts. Doors were opened to them. They FOUND what they SOUGHT. Christian leaders from the pulpit often remind single Christian ladies not to attend Christian events with the thought, "Perhaps I'll meet my future husband there". The ladies are reminded that whoso findeth a WIFE findeth a good thing. This ridiculous interpretation has caused much harm that is not pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.
What did the woman with the issue of blood think when she heard that Jesus would be pass by her way? We read, "When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole" (Mark 5:25-34). This woman was desperately looking for something. And, when she heard of Jesus, it produced a thought in her that he was her answer. She did not just sit there. That thought moved her to action, to do the works of faith. Jesus told her that her faith had made her whole (Mark 5:34), which is why some teach that single Christian ladies only need have faith for God to send them a husband. But, the woman pressed her way through the crowd. Again, she did not just sit there. She fought for what she wanted. She did what every believer is taught to do, which is to remember that "...Faith, if it hath not works is DEAD, being alone" (James 2:17).
There are many people in the church, including leaders, whose intentions are not pure when it comes to certain aspects of life. The problem of singleness in the church, which has now become an epidemic, is one of those areas. Some quote, "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing" (Proverbs 18:22) out of ignorance to discourage single Christian ladies from looking for a husband. Others use that scripture to support their own ungodly agenda. Single Christian ladies, wake up! Open your eyes. Read your Bible for yourself and learn what God is telling you in this extremely important area of life as well as any other. Because, ultimately you are the one who will continue to suffer if you continue to listen to people who do not have your best interest at heart.
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
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