070511

(Elizabeth Elliott) Heaven is not here, it's there.If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather tahn the next. We would succomb to the temptation to complacently settle for visible things. God is forever lifting us up and away from this world, wooing us to Himself amd His still invisible kingdom where we will certainly find what we so keenly long for

(James Dobson) Unfortunately . there are a few highly visible Christian ministers who confuse people by teaching them there is no need for perseverance or self-control. It is a dangerous misrepresentation of Scripture with far-reaching implications for the uninitiated. It's not that God can't heal the blind-or any other disease or deformity. He can and He does. But, to my knowledge, He never performs these miraacles in masses. There is often a disturbing hysteria or a circus atmosphere in the healing srervices. Such mass-produced  "miracles" affront the sovereignty of God and make a sham of His holy worship. The teaching of universal health and prosperity establishes a  level of expectations which will eventually wound and weaken unstable Christians. What are they to believe when they discover " life as it is" turns out to be different than " life as it is supposed to be ? " Thee disappointments serve to isolate that individual from God at precisely the moment when his/her spiritual need is the greatest. I believe it is a ploy of Satan to undermine  the faith of the vulnerable. And it begins with a theological distortion that promises a stress-free life and a God who always does what He is told