Yet personally untested, there are two sites that you MAY want to pursue.
1) Christian Manuscript Submission
2) Writers Edge Manuscript Service

We met on the flight to Midland this past week. I have just returned to California and had a chance to scan your website…in a word…AWESOME! I’ll stay in touch. Thank you. Andy

I think that we have a natural desire to live longer and better. I disapprove of the ravages of old age, and concur with the preservation of youthful vigour. To some extent we can accomplish these goals with changes in lifestyle and attitude. By all means, each person should make a conscious effort to lead a long and fulfilled life. In so doing, we express our appreciation for this magnificent gift.

But eventually, despite our best efforts, these mortal bodies tend to run down. In the end, as the old joke runs, you’re going to be dead a long, long time. I am aware of no mortal who has managed to forestall these eventualities indefinitely through thought or healing techniques. But we do know of a rare few who have actually returned to life from death. These resurrections universally appear to be the consequence of Divine intervention in the affairs of men. In other words, we must receive the gift of eternal life through the One who gave us this precious gift to begin with.

I encourage people to live the best, healthiest, longest, most meaningful lives that they can. But we should also have a plan for what comes after. We owe it to ourselves to investigate all possible avenues. And only One who has overcome death can provide insights into this ultimate victory.

Best Wishes,

John

These questions certainly make people uncomfortable. But we are better off facing the hard questions, don’t you think?

An eternal God may be difficult for us to understand (Romans 11:33), but a righteous God will make it possible for us to find Him.

One of the things that struck me the most in my research was the series of unique historical ‘coincidences’ that occurred to verify the Gospel accounts. For instance:

Can you name a capital crime for which simple repentance grants forgiveness under the law?
In other words, can you imagine a crime punishable by death, for which the perpetrator may gain complete forgiveness simply by promising to discontinue future participation in that crime? Envision this: the murderer stands before his judge, guilty as charged, and pleads, “but I won’t do it again. I promise!” Instead of laughing him out of court, the judge says, “Well, as long as you won’t do it again…you’re free to go. All charges are dropped. But don’t do it again or you’ll be in real trouble!” Not likely to happen, is it?

I only know of two cases in all of recorded history where a legal system adopted this peculiar policy. And both involved the earliest Christians!

In Roman occupied Judea, from the crucifixion until the Jewish revolt (33?-66 AD), Christians were executed by the Jewish leadership for practicing a false religion – unless they recanted, and turned back to the true (Jewish) faith.

From 64 AD until the edit of Milan (312 AD), Christianity was punishable by death under Roman law – but once again records indicate that they were routinely forgiven if they turned away from their Christian faith.

The point is this: I used to wonder, “If Jesus truly loved His disciples, and the Bible teaches Divine protection for those consecrated to Christ – If He loved these men as brothers, laying down His life for them (and us, of course) – THEN WHY WERE JESUS’ DISCIPLES ALL (with the exception of John) MARTYRED FOR THEIR FAITH? Why didn’t He save them?”

But as I researched this topic, over a period of years, the answer became obvious! How can we ever be certain whether testimony is true? How can we tell whether to believe a man’s word?

The answer: Anything a man will die for, he truly believes! He could still be mistaken, but we know he is sincere. So, why did Jesus’ disciples have to die? They died for US! So that we could be certain they were testifying the TRUTH! Do you remember when Jesus said His disciples would indeed drink from the same cup as Jesus? Just as Jesus died for us, to save mankind with a perfect sacrifice; his disciples died for us, to prove the truth of their testimony. All they had to do was to recant to walk away free men. Just say it wasn’t so. That Jesus never rose. That it was all made up for some ulterior motive. But they would not deny their testimony. And they proved their sincerity with their lives.

But to prove this required the hand of God – to assure that the peculiar policy described above was followed by both the Jewish and Roman legal systems. Both governments hostile to the infant faith, and both unwittingly abetting the spread of Christianity by allowing its adherents to demonstrate their sincerity.

Anyway, I hope this made some sense. It was kind of ‘off the cuff’, and I’ve been up since 4:30 this morning.

Best Wishes,

John

Reading the above was very refreshing, and I can tell your interest/desire isn’t feigned. That, I think, is what captured my attention when I stumbled upon your webpage. What challenges me is the fact that many of the people I know seem to act as though they are not interested. I guess if you try to avoid the questions surrounding a Creator, His Will, our purpose, Sin/morality, Divine Forgiveness, and eternal life, it’s possible. But, I feel like most folks avoid the questions because they know they won’t like the answer(s).

That issue occupies my thoughts quite a bit. It influences my prayers and my efforts to share God with others.

How have you dealt with this reality, or, how have you experienced it?

blessings,
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