Love Blooms Where April Lilies Grow

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An unusual love story amidst an impending nuclear threat in East Asia.

The Roman Governor of Judaea

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Book III of "In The Shadow Of The Roman Empire" explores the story of the Roman Governor of Judaea's struggle between political survival and deliverance of justice for the innocent.

Book I : In The Shadow Of The Roman Empire
Book II : Farewell Darkness!

Farewell Darkness!

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Book II of "In The Shadow Of The Roman Empire" explores the story behind the villain captured by Marcus Aurelius.


Book I : In The Shadow Of The Roman Empire
Book III : The Roman Governor of Judaea

In The Shadow Of The Roman Empire

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Smashwords

Marcus Aurelius is a newly promoted Roman military officer who finds himself surrounded by unusual circumstances in a strange new land. What revelations await him?

Book II : Farewell Darkness!

Book III : The Roman Governor of Judaea 

Psalm 33:18-22

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy;

To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.

Did Jesus ever say He is God?

Some religious groups who claim to know the Bible say that Jesus was only a great prophet, and was not God. If that were the case, why are the terms he, him, my, myself, capitalized into He, Him, My, Myself whenever Jesus is speaking or referred to in the middle of a sentence, a privilege in the Bible only for God. Prophets like Moses for example were great Bible prophets and yet they do not enjoy the capitalization privilege in the Bible.

Take a look at some verses from Exodus chapter 3:

1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.

Now, contrast this with a Bible passage where Jesus is speaking, say in John chapter 8:

19 So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”

Now, some people might say that this is merely a matter of formatting that differs in each Bible version. Let us then look at some verses where Jesus Himself implied that He was God.

Let us look at John chapter 8 once again.

54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; 55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

In this passage, Jesus says that before Abraham was born, I am. Jesus is saying that He existed before Abraham. People who deny Jesus as God will logically question His age. Only God is Eternal, He is the Alpha and the Omega, He has no beginning and no end. Jesus is therefore God since He says He existed before Abraham.

This was also the reason why the Jews wanted to stone Jesus. They understood that right there and then, Jesus was claiming to be God, which according to Jewish law, was blasphemy.

This can be found in Leviticus chapter 24:

16 Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

So either the Jews were right or Jesus was right. Either Jesus was only a mere man as the Jews claim, or Jesus is indeed God.

Let's look at another verse from John chapter 8.

51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”

Can any mere man guarantee exemption from death or eternal life? And why does Jesus say My word, instead of God's word or My Father's word. Surely, a mere man's word is not equal with God, who alone can promise eternal life.

The Bible is filled with many more verses that prove the Jesus Christ is God. And if you are searching for answers, pray to Him for guidance as you read the Bible, that He may reveal the truth to you.

My friend, if you do not believe that Jesus is God, I hope that you seek Him with all your heart that He may reveal the truth to you. Only He can convince you. May the Lord bless you.

Thornbush vs Cypress; Nettle vs Myrtle

Isaiah 55:13 contrasts the life of a man before and after seeking the Lord, forsaking his old ways and thoughts, and returning to the Lord. It uses the Thornbush as an example of what a man's life would be before, and a Cyprus for what a man's life would be after.

A quick look at these two plants can immediately give us an idea on why these two contrast.

Example of a Thornbush:

Example of a Cyprus:

The Thornbush is prickly and dissuades people from even approaching it. It is a low-growth type of plant. Compare these qualities with a Cypress which is they kind of tree we usually use during Christmas. It is easy to touch and draws people in. It can also grow very tall, and thus very prominent.

The images of a Nettle and a Myrtle plant will not immediately tell us how the two are different. But the Nettle probably refers to the stinging kind, which can cause allergic reactions when touched. The Myrtle on the other hand is considered as an aromatic plant; It has a soothing fragrance and is sometimes used in essential oils.

The Lord Jesus can do the same thing in our lives if we forsake our wicked ways and thoughts and return to Him. The Bible says that all men have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. But its verses also urges us to seek the Lord while He may be found and He will have compassion and will abundantly pardon.

Have you committed your life to Jesus Christ? I urge you my friend to do so. Experience God's love and forgiveness. Receive Him into your heart and life as your personal Savior and Lord. Do it while there is still time, while you still have years ahead of you. For a life lived with the Lord will be more blessed than a life lived apart from Him. And a person who commits his life to the Lord awaits an eternal dwelling in Heaven, while those who refuse the Lord are doomed to eternal punishment.