by Donalyn Bowen

Let’s flip on the History Channel.
There’s a 4th of July special on tonight.

As you all know, Christopher Columbus discovered the New World in 1492, but did you know that in his journal he wrote, “It was the Lord who put into my mind the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit.” Columbus, whose first name means Christ bearer also felt that the Lord spoke to him through Isaiah 49:1,6 and gave him a mandate to spread the Gospel.

Isaiah 49:1,6 Listen to Me, O islands, And pay attention, you peoples from afar.
The LORD called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me…
I will also make You a light of the nations o that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

Thus started the settlement of the New World. Although many of the Europeans came for gold, still others came as missionaries whose sole purpose was the spread of the Gospel and to claim the New World for Jesus Christ. As the years went by, settlers came to what is now the United States to form new communities and thus, self governance.

“We, . . . Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do . . . solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick . . . “—Mayflower Compact (1620) Continue Reading…

by Donalyn Bowen

Welcome back for our viewing of past Survivor episodes.

[Oops,] it’s a commercial, let’s channel surf. [Stop.]

This looks interesting. It’s the Travel Channel chronicling a trip by Larry Harp.

I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I’m talking about my annual “Guilt Trip.”

I got tickets to fly there on Wish I Had airlines. It was an extremely short flight. I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of what might have been. No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town.As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year’s most important event, the Annual Pity Party. I wasn’t going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens would be there. Continue Reading…

by Donalyn Bowen

Although you may not realize it, you are a contestant. You must outwit, outplay, and outlast in order to succeed and win. Great benefit can be gained in becoming a student of the game. Many others have been in the game in previous seasons. We will examine their strategies , both good and bad, so as to gain the upper hand and be victorious in SURVIVOR ZOE.

Let’s take a look at one of the early episodes from SURVIVOR GALILEE. (Luke 4:1-13)
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone. [Deut. 8:3] The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. [Deut. 6:13]
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. [Ps 91:11,12] Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test. [Deut. 6:16] When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

In this passage, the devil, who is a member of “Darkness Tribe”, attempts to get Jesus to join his alliance. What does he offer to Jesus and why? Does he have the right to make these offers? Why? Continue Reading…