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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!

Do Mormon Men Make Controlling Husbands? Questioning The Beliefs Of Latter Day Saints

This is a question that has come up during discussions about the disappearance of 28 year old wife and mother of 2 and resident of Utah, Susan Powell. Joshua Powell's behavior and the barely believable statements he has made to the authorities have caused many to cast suspicion on him. Some have even made mention of the fact that the family is Mormon and that, according to those who know Mormon families, Mormon men make controlling husbands. Should such accusations even be considered by authorities and entertained by people who are following the case? Who are the people who are saying such things? Are they ex-Mormons themselves? Are they Christian or Catholic? Although followers of Mormonism accept being called Mormons by people of other faiths, I understand that most prefer to be known as Latter Day Saints (LDS), so that's the term I'll use for the rest of this article.

I make absolutely no attempt to defend the beliefs of the Latter Day Saints; I don't hold them. Nevertheless, I agree with others who believe that making the blanket statement that, "Mormon men make controlling husbands", is really of no help to anyone who would like to see Susan found alive. Why? First, we're talking about an area encompassing Salt Lake City, Utah where the majority of the people identify with the church of Latter Day Saints. It's only logical to believe that most, if not all all of the team of authorities are Latter Day Saints themselves. Is the question of whether "Mormon men make controlling husbands" really going to be considered during their investigation? Hardly not.

There are men and women who make controlling husbands and wives and who may identify themselves as believers in any religion. Unfortunately, some well meaning Christians, Catholics, and people of other faiths have taken the unfortunate disappearance of Susan Powell to reveal what they view as error in the church of Latter Day Saints. Is this an effective method of evangelism? It really isn't because the statement that, "Mormon men make controlling husbands" could easily be altered. Simply remove "Mormon" and replace it with "Christian" or the name of any other denomination and people would hasten to point out what they view as religious error.

While on the subject, why are there Christians and Catholics who teach that the church of Latter Day Saints follows a false Jesus? Understandably, this can be confusing for some who visited one of the LDS web sites and read a statement of faith which sounds Christian. What could the problem be? This article isn't meant to be a Bible study so I won't go into detail. But, one of main reasons for rejecting the belief system is the fact that the "other testament of Jesus Christ" also known as the book of Mormon, along with other writings, are accepted by Latter Day Saints as divinely inspired scripture. It has been pointed out that biblical scriptures such as Deuteronomy 4:2 transmit God's warning to man not to add to, take away from, or change His holy word. However, the church of Latter Day Saints remind that the New Testament was "added" to the Old Testament word of God to form one book and that God didn't cease to divinely inspire His word with the completion of the book of Revelation (the last book of the New Testament).

The church of Latter Day Saints also reminds that our English Bible was taken from the Masoretic Hebrew texts which apparently differ from other versions of the books of Exodus, Samuel and a larger version of Isaiah found among the Dead Sea scrolls. They attribute the different versions to a period of apostasy when men began to change the word of God in writing and translation so that we can't be sure the English Bible says the same as the original oracles of God given to Israel.

It's very sad to think that an almighty God can't protect His word any better than that. If such were the case, who would entrust his soul to Him? Anyway, the Jewish historian Josephus declares that there are only 22 books that the Jews recognize as being inspired by God (the Masoretic texts in Hebrew). In the Hebrew texts, some of the books such as the "minor" prophets were counted as 1 book (but as 2 in our Bible). The ancient text equals the 39 books of the Old Testament. Why is this significant? Why care what the Jews recognize as being God inspired? The apostle Paul answered this question when he wrote, "What advantage then hath the Jew?...Much every way. Chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles (words) of God (Romans 3:1,2).

Messianic Jews (believers in Jesus as Israel's Messiah and the Savior for the rest of the world), also recognize the entire New Testament as divinely inspired by God. Christian believers recognize the Jewish roots of our faith and we accept God's election of Israel to indicate to the rest of the nations the words they know they received from the Lord. The fact that they disobeyed God on multiple occasions doesn't diminish their election as keepers of His oracles because, "...The gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (KJV Romans 11:29).

Remember the Samaritan woman at the well who conversed with Jesus and made statements that hinted that the Samaritans have their own dealings with God and their own beliefs and ways about worship and salvation. She told Christ, "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship" (St. John 4:19). Jesus who was a Jew Himself (St. John 4:7-9) answered, "Ye worship ye know not what. We (my people) know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews" (St. John 4:22).

Israel was charged with keeping the oracles of God. Those who don't believe in Jesus haven't indicated any other "God inspired" scripture to be added to the Old Testament. Likewise, those who DO believe in Jesus haven't indicated any other "God inspired" scripture to be added to the Old or New Testaments.

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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