The Return (Book Review)

By Benjamin H. Liles

          Before I start talking about Suzanne Woods Fisher's book The Return, book three in her Amish Beginnings Series, I have to say this: of all the books I enjoy reading I absolutely love books based on history. It doesn't matter if the history is here in the States, or the Holy Land, Britain (where my parent's families descend from), or elsewhere. I simply love history. With that said let me tell you about this book, The Return, by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

About Cults and Religions

By Benjamin H. Liles

           I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. ~ Galatians 1:6-10, New American Standard, what is in bold is the point here

The Things We Look At

By Benjamin H. Liles

          No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lamp stand, so that those who enter may see the light. The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays. ~ Luke 11:33-36, New American Standard

Music: A Matter of the Heart

By Benjamin H. Liles

          I sometimes think it's a great idea to revisit certain things. Today after doing a little digging to see how scriptural an item was I felt it was a matter of the heart to talk about music. Music affects us whether we believe it or not. And when I say this next part, I also believe music has a huge part to play about what thoughts, imaginations, musings, and ideas come from our hearts as well. We're told in scripture to "Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life" (Proverbs 4:23, Holman Christian Standard).

What Faith Is

By Benjamin H. Liles

          Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ~ Hebrews 11:1, NKJV

Beloved Hope (Book Review)

By Benjamin H. Liles

          Hope Flanagan survived the massacre the Cayuse Indians initiated at Whitman Mission. She endured a great deal at the hands of the Cayuse and is unsure how life will work out on her behalf. Safe in Oregon City her heart and soul are slowly healing after the aftermath. Will she have to testify as to what the Cayuse did and result in her undoing?

God's Judgment on His Possession (Ezekiel 7)

By Benjamin H. Liles

          For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ~ Hebrews 12:3-8, New King James

God's Will

By Tanya Liles

          Are you tired of negativity? When it raises its ugly head, do you want to just run and hide? Rebuke the person? Block them all together from your life? Once upon a time, I was that negative person. Many people refused to be around me, I had an opinion about everyone’s choices, gave bad advice when it was unneeded, judged or became angry without a cause towards someone. Have you ever done this? The answer is yes. We've ALL been there.

Fellowship with Each Other

By Benjamin H. Liles

         But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ~ 1 John 1:7, NKJV

Israel Restored: Vision of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37)

By Benjamin H. Liles

        Before I start on this article, in posting scripture verses I intend to use as well as to how it pertains to Israel, it also speaks to the nature of man overall. It means the prophecies concerning Israel aren't just partially fulfilled, but that God intends on blessing Israel further. Israel has her King. She may not realize who it truly is as He's been there once before; He both walked throughout the land of Judea but also in Samaria. He was born in Bethlehem, of a virgin woman, from the house of both David of the tribe of Judah and of Levi. He is our High Priest. He took our sins and bore them. As it is said in scripture, "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted" (Isaiah 53:4, New American Standard).

Abiding in God

By Benjamin H. Liles

          I have obeyed [kept] my Father’s commands, and I remain [abide] in his love. In the same way, if you obey [keep] my commands, you will remain [abide] in my love. ~ John 15:10, Expanded

Giving Lip Service

By Tanya G. Liles

Are we playing Lip Service to God, as well as others?

Recently a good friend of mine called me and we talked for it seemed like hours. We got caught up on each others lives, as well as talking about God. We encouraged each other, and talked about sensitive things that Christians and Church Leaders refuse to talk about. At the end of our conversation, we both felt a peace. A great conversation with a good friend ALWAYS lifts the Spirit.

Being Disciplined

By Tanya G. Liles

          Hey guys, I'm sure you wondered why I re-post what my wife has written. I like having guest writers. It's a great way for those who are unknown to get their work out, which God anoints for His glory and purpose. We all have a call on our hearts and lives. When we allow ourselves to get out of the way we can do great and wonderful things in Him and His name. Therefore, it is my pleasure and honor to share what God puts on my wife's heart to you.

                                                                                                                 ~ Benjamin H. Liles

The God who gives Peace

By Benjamin H. Liles

          God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 

Darkness and Light

By Benjamin H. Liles

          Instead of starting the way I always have I wanted to share my heart. I know, right? As if I don't already do that. But I want to be frank, open, and truly candid here. I sometimes question whether or not I am truly saved. I don't want this to be the reason you question your salvation, but this is me being honest with all of you. You all read these articles. You see me put up my life, sort of. There is a version of the truth in what I post up. But there comes a time where the utmost honesty, actually being truly vulnerable has to take precedence.

Have We Forgotten Our First Love?

By Tanya G. Liles

          Over the years with my walk with God, I have seen much confusion in the Churches. And as of late, God has been removing the veil from my eyes to show me even more of His ways. Don't be surprised when I say this, but I won't step my foot in a Church anymore. Why? The Church is asleep, they are simply put "playing Church."

Cast off From God (Ezekiel 6 Study)

By Benjamin H. Liles

          The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, turn your face toward the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them. You are to say: Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! This is what the Lord God says to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. Your altars will be desolated and your incense altars smashed. I will throw down your slain in front of your idols. I will lay the corpses of

Israel's Captivity (Ezekiel 5): Pestilence, Famine, and War

By Benjamin H. Liles

          Thus says the Lord God: ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her. She has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are all around her; for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statutes.’

Moral Absolutes

By Benjamin H. Liles

          Today, I want to depart a little from our going forward on Ezekiel. today I want to focus on God's laws and why they are there; what the intent is, and how do we "work" toward God. We all follow certain laws and rules as it pertains to daily living. Here they are as follows:

          1) You shall not murder; Jesus Christ, when talking about this topic equated hating another person as murder. How do we as society validate that murder is wrong? What usually happens? You end up in court, await trial, usually get convicted for causing harm, damage, or any of the like resulting in someone's death. This is murder. There is another form of murder as well...

Israel's Captivity (Ezekiel 4); Israel's Continuing Trouble

By Benjamin H. Liles

          [The LORD to Ezekiel]: "Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year.