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Note: This is adapted from my May 8, 2021 article, to remind us of the Purpose of Pascha (Easter).
Click the pic! Yeshua, the Messiah, known to the Greek-speaking Jews in the Dispersion as "Yesous, the Khristos – the Annointed One," whose followers saw him executed, dying on a Roman cross, suddenly came back to life and appeared several times to his eleven Apostles and many of his other disciples. Click on this photo to read about all of these appearances.
Scroll down a little further in the above photo's link, where you'll see "Yeshua Appears to All the Apostles in Galilee" and issues the Great Commission as follows: "16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Yeshua had sent them. 17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted. 18 Yeshua came to them and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything that I commanded you to do. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen" (Matthew 28:16-20).
On May 6, 2021 at 10 a.m., a Thursday morning our time, which was 8 p.m. their time, I had the privilege of speaking on this Scripture passage to some evangelists and their house churches in Bangladesh. I'd like to share with you what I said: first of all, in v. 17 it states that still "some doubted." When people are presented with information – an event or an idea – that is entirely beyond anything they have experienced in their lives, they often simply can't comprehend it or believe it. Someone is standing here who was dead, many of these people saw him die, but here he is! Unbelievable! And so it is today, when people hear about the Virgin Birth of Yeshua, his miracles, his death and resurrection, they doubt it because it's entirely outside of their experience. I have had similar reactions from people who have never been outside the state where they were born when I tell them about our living in Russia for 17 years.
Then in v. 18, Yeshua says – "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth." Older translations use the word "power" but the Greek word "exousia" is better translated as "authority" or the right to do something. In the first days of Holy Week, Yeshua was debating with the Pharisees, Saducees, and Scribes about his authority. They asked – "By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?" (Mark 11:28). Then he told them three parables, all dealing with the question of his authority versus theirs. His authority was his own, from God, and legitimate, theirs was an assumed authority and was being used in an illegitimate way, only to continue their hold on power.
When you see the word "Therefore" in v. 19, you should ask yourself what's it there for: it is there to connect the previous verse about Yeshua's authority with v. 19! He is saying in effect: "I have God-given authority and I am giving you, my Apostles, this same authority to go forth and make disciples of all nations." In some older translations, it states – "teach all nations" but it is more than just teaching the doctrines of Yeshua and the historical facts about him. Making disciples of all nations is training believers to do the things that Yeshua did: he and his disciples baptized people in the name of the holy Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, they healed them, they fed the hungry, cleansed the lepers, they even cast out demons and raised the dead.
Verse 20 is very important to read carefully and understand, because many preachers don't explain it correctly: they say it means to teach people the parables that Yeshua taught, tell about his death on the cross and his resurrection, and tell people to believe these things. But that's just the start, just the basic truths. This verse in older translations states – "teach them to observe all that I commanded you" but the word "observe" can easily be misunderstood to mean "watch" or be a spectator. Too many church-goers view church as a spectator sport: they sit in their pews and watch a performance by the choir and the preacher. Wrong! The Greek word for "observe" actually means to "obey" or to "fulfill a command." What did Yeshua command his disciples to do? In Matthew ch. 10 and in Luke ch. 10 and ch. 11, he sent out his Apostles, commanding them to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, care for the needy, and cast out demons. The demons of today are the false ideologies of atheism, materialism, and secular humanism that hold captive literally billions of people, saying that Yeshua was just a prophet or a moral teacher, he didn't really do anything miraculous and he didn't rise from the dead, or that you can believe whatever you want – all religions are OK – but just keep it to yourself.
So in Matthew 28:18-20 we have authority in the Great Commission, and we have a continuation of Yeshua sending out his Apostles, in Acts 1:8 – "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth." Here the Greek word for "power" is "dunamis" and we get "dynamite" from this word. It means the strength or the ability to do something. In Matthew 28, Yeshua gave his Apostles authority or the right, and here in Acts 1, he promises to give them power or strength and ability to preach the Good News, heal the sick, care for the poor, and drive out evil powers.
The Apostle Peter writes about this: "God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you - not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:20-21). The Ark is a symbol or a type of the Church, the Bride of Christ. The eight souls – Noah and his family – were the only ones saved from the flood. So to believe in Christ and be baptized is to be in the Body of Christ, the Church. There is no salvation outside of the Church, the Body of Christ. The Apostle Peter is teaching us that the flood was a symbol of baptism. The ark is the symbol, baptism is the reality: baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit saves us, it's not simply like taking a bath to wash away the filth of the flesh, but it cleanses our conscience, our hearts' desires. We are resurrected with Christ in baptism into a new, spiritual life.
Get the full article on our ARC-News blog.
A Personal Note: Thank you to all who have been praying for my wife Cheryl: she's still healing from her spinal fusion surgery on Dec. 10 last year. I notice small improvement every day – considering that the healing can take around half a year, that's 182.5 days, so the amount of healing each day is barely noticable, it would average 0.55% each day. But that's progress!
Mar. 20, 2025:
(click the pics!) Simon at Vision Complex in Tanzania writes: Here's Margret, one of the teachers at Vision Complex, with her class. The kids lack tables and enough chairs: as you see, some of the kids are sitting on a mat. To outfit this class, we need 15 tables and 15 more chairs which will cost $300 to make their learning be successful.
Here is the teacher Mercy with the kids in her class. The challenges in this class are desks, chairs and books: notice that there are 3 kids per desk, some kids without a desk, and a few kids sitting at the teacher's desk. For this classroom we need 6 more desks, 10 more chairs, books, pencils, all sorts of papers for writing and drawing, together with crayons, which will cost $250.
This is our dining hall, but the challenges in this dining hall are lack of tables for eating and enough chairs: as you can see some kids on chairs with food and others are sitting on the floor while eating. To outfit this dining hall, we need 17 tables and 14 chairs which will cost $350. Please go to https://Agape-Restoration-Society.org/donate.htm and designate for "Vision Complex: classrooms and dining hall" – thanks in advance!
Here's our next free online course: (click →) Course 500, "Vocational Rehabilitation" - deadline to enroll: 13 Apr. 2025 (← click). So enroll today, before you forget! br>
SYNOPSIS: Planned Parenthood receives substantial taxpayer funding despite alleged scandals, criminal activity, and deception, according to Live Action News. Undercover investigations by the Center for Medical Progress revealed Planned Parenthood's involvement in the harvesting of fetal body parts for profit.
Planned Parenthood has been criticized for misleading statements about fetal development, including denying the presence of a heartbeat and describing early-stage fetuses as "undeveloped blobs of tissue." Live Action News cites instances where Planned Parenthood staff members allegedly discussed the profitability of harvesting fetal organs and tissues, using terms like "five-star" kidneys. Holly O’Donnell, a former Stem Express procurement technician, recounted her disturbing experience of procuring body parts from Planned Parenthood facilities, causing her emotional distress. See also: How David Daleiden Uncovered Planned Parenthood's Baby Body Parts Scandal on YouTube.
Pray against Planned "Barrenhood's" barbaric actions of harvesting and selling the living, warm, fresh organs of murdered unborn human babies, many of whom are ready to be born: some are actually born, then murdered.
SYNOPSIS: China is facing a rapidly declining population, with births falling and deaths rising, prompting government intervention to address the demographic crisis. China's government is considering making having three children mandatory, a drastic measure in response to the steep population decline, as well as introducing various incentives to encourage marriages and births.
Some companies, like Shandong Shuntian Chemical Group, have taken extreme measures to push for employee marriage and childbearing, leading to public backlash and subsequent reversal of these policies. Economist Jesús Fernández-Villaverde predicts a faster-than-expected global population decline, contrasting with UN projections, and suggests state intervention in family matters as a possible response. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is increasingly prioritizing population growth, demonstrating a pro-natalist stance through policy initiatives like financial incentives for childbearing and urging party members to take a leading role.
Praise the Lord that China has realized the foolishness of their former "One Child Policy" for each family. And thank God for Mercator's many years of service, now closing down for lack of finances and growth.
SYNOPSIS: Planned Parenthood's top executives, including Alexis McGill Johnson, are earning salaries significantly exceeding industry averages, with some reaching nearly $1 million annually, according to a new report by American Life League's STOPP International. The report reveals that Planned Parenthood affiliates' CEOs earn an average of over $352,661, substantially higher than the national average of approximately $117,000 for nonprofit CEOs.
Planned Parenthood received nearly $700 million in federal funding in 2025, highlighting concerns about the organization's financial health and its use of taxpayer money. A substantial portion of Planned Parenthood's revenue (34%) comes from federal funding, a figure criticized in the report for potentially enabling lavish salaries for executives. The report criticizes the organization's claims of financial hardship while simultaneously pointing out large executive salaries and significant federal funding. American Life League's report suggests a potential misuse of taxpayer money and calls for government oversight of Planned Parenthood's funding.
Pray that enough of the U.S. public will find out about these executives' obscene salaries paid for this grisly business of killing unborn babies, so that We the People will vote to defund Planned "Barrenhood."
SYNOPSIS: The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) is not being asked to betray its faith, only to sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC-MP), which is involved in the war against Ukraine, according to Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (SEFC). Ukrainian law prohibits the activities of Russian religious organizations within Ukraine as foreign entities.
It does not automatically ban the UOC. Viktor Yelensky explained that a 2023 government order and scientific examination determined the UOC's affiliation with the ROC-MP. This involved experts, including representatives of the church. The SEFC will now look for signs of affiliation. If an organization is affiliated with the ROC-MP, the SEFC may issue an order to withdraw from those affiliations. Legal action is a last resort. The UOC's leadership, including Metropolitan Filaret (Zverev), remains affiliated with the ROC-MP, according to reports. Religious expertise, as stated by the SEFC and outlined by the law, is a necessary process in determining affiliation with foreign religious organizations.
Ask the Lord to stop Russsia's spiritual domination of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine by Moscow pulling the strings of the puppet Ukrainian Orthodox Church and end their war in Ukraine.
SYNOPSIS: The University of Texas at Arlington is launching the Arlington Study of Healthy Aging (ASHA), a four-year study to investigate how lifestyle, diet, and social connections impact aging. The study, involving 600 volunteers aged 50-80, will utilize advanced imaging, genetics, and neuroscience to analyze health decline in Tarrant County residents. Researchers will conduct comprehensive assessments, including full-body MRIs, blood vessel function tests, memory tests, and physical performance evaluations.
Dr. Michael Nelson, lead investigator, emphasizes a holistic approach, focusing on the entire body rather than isolated systems. The study aims to help individuals and healthcare practitioners better prevent age-related disease and promote healthier aging, utilizing cross-disciplinary collaboration among faculty and staff. Data analysis will leverage the university's advanced gene sequencer and generate valuable insights for future researchers.
Thank God for new understanding about the process of ageing, so that we will be better able to care for the growing number of elderly people in the world.
SYNOPSIS: This peer-reviewed study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, explores how top-down interpretation - our prior experiences, expectations, and biases - affects body ownership in virtual reality. Conducted by researchers at Hiroshima University, the study used a full-body illusion (FBI) in VR to test whether imagining a virtual body in pain would disrupt the sense of ownership. Findings indicate that participants with higher depersonalization tendencies struggled more with feeling connected to the virtual body, especially when instructed to perceive it as experiencing pain.
This research offers valuable insights into conditions like depersonalization-derealization disorder, affecting body perception. A study from Hiroshima University found that when people were told to imagine their virtual bodies in pain, their brains resisted the illusion of ownership. Their findings could provide insights into why some people may struggle with feeling connected to their own bodies, particularly in contexts involving depersonalization or negative physical states. The sense of body ownership - the feeling that our body belongs to us - is crucial in distinguishing ourselves from objects and responding to threats.
Praise the Lord for new research about how people respond to seeing images of or just imagining people suffering from pain, and depersonalizing themselves from negative physical states. This explains why people ignore those who are in pain.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Perhaps you've read this before and are wondering, "Why am I seeing this again?" But millions of other Christians haven't seen it! So please use the "share" buttons above to share it with your social media friends. Thanks!!
(Click the pic!) Why are U.S. middle-class incomes falling? Why do the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? Simple! Because the poor get tricked into giving their money to the rich! How? Through long-term and usurious interest rates. Actually, one reason why the middle class is shrinking is because twice as many people – the smarter ones – are moving up into the upper-class than the foolish ones who are moving down into poverty: see the article "Yes, the US middle class is shrinking, but it's because Americans are moving up." How can you become one of these smarter people?
In Proverbs 22:7 we read - "The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is a slave to the lender." And verse 22 states - "Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court." By taking out long-term or high-interest loans, you are in effect selling yourself into slavery to the lenders: they own you. They rule over you. To them, the Golden Rule is "He who has the gold makes the rules."
The rich know how to exploit the desires of the poor to have things they can't actually afford at present: sell to them on high-interest credit! In fact, it's gotten to the point these days that they will even "pay you" to borrow money from them: they will offer a 2% or 3% or even 5% discount off the purchase price if you put it on a credit card, taking out a loan. Why? Because every dollar of a loan creates "fiat money" out of thin air and the lenders more than make up that discount by getting some of the newly-created "fiat money" and from the high interest rates they charge.
The rich understand what most poor people don't: get our PDF "The Magic of Compound Interest". When signing a 30-year mortgage at a so-called "6% compound interest rate," most people don't realize that in the first year their effective interest is 500%, and in the first six years their effective interest is 400% and you've only paid off 10% of the loan. That means in the first six years of that 30-year loan, you've maybe paid for the front door and porch: the bankers and investors get most of your money up front.... [read more...]
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If just 5% of the people who see this would give $5 per month (just 17¢ per day!) – coffee with your favorite friend at your favorite coffee shop – we could cover our operating expenses and do much more in spreading the word, supporting orphans, and providing accessible housing for the disabled. My wife and I left our careers over 30 years ago to serve in Russia as missionaries: we're now "semi-retired" – we've put on a new set of semi tires and keep on trucking! We live on our retirement income and volunteer our time: we receive no financial support from Agape Restoration Society. Our websites and ministry are funded by us and just a few friends. ...thanks!
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Please remember to pray for Christians in Secularized Countries, and for...
Your fellow-servants,
Bob & Cheryl
p.s. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. – George Washington