Why Did God Send Jesus to Earth?

God sent Jesus to teach people the truth. Notice Jesus' words to Pilate: "...My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source." Therefore Pilate said to him: "Well, then, are you a king?"  Jesus answered: "You yourself are saying that I am a king. For this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is on the side of truth listens to my voice." -John 18:36, 37

Jesus taught about God's Kingdom, a government in heaven that will bring peace to all the earth.  "Then he went around throughout the whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity among the people." -Matthew 4:32

Jesus provided the hope of everlasting life.  "Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty at all, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life." - John 4:14

Jesus taught people about finding real happiness.  "Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of heaven belongs to them." -Matthew 5:3 (Compare: Matthew 6:19-21)

Jesus also taught by example.  "In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely. He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth. When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously. He himself bore our sins in his own body upon the stake in order that we might be done with sins and live to righteousness. And "by his stripes you were healed." -1 Peter 2:21-24

Jesus taught his followers self-sacrificing love. "This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has love greater than this, that some one should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends." -John 15: 12, 13 (Compare: Philippians 2:5-8)

No one could give us a finer example of love than Jesus.

May we all continue to learn more about Jesus, with the intention of following in his footsteps to the very best of our ability. Always praying to our Heavenly Father, Jehovah for his holy spirit to help us in this endeavor, as we live through these "last days."

Why So Many Violent Crimes?

 All crimes are evil.  Mindless, purposeless crimes are harder to understand.There are certain senseless acts of violence that have caused public revulsion. Columbine High School, most recently Sandy Hook Elementary School, have caused great sorrow across the land. After the attack of 9/11, Psycologist Gerard Bailes stated: "It (senseless violence) turns the world into a totally alien, dangerous place in which we cannot predict what is going to happen."

"Why?"

There is no one factor that can explain why a person would walk up to total strangers and kill them. Many experts believe there are a host of factors and circumstances that are catalysts inclining people to commit irrational violent acts.  A report published by the FBI Academy goes as far as to say:

"Homicide is not the act of a sane, sober, individual."

For some reason the thinking of those committing senseless crimes is not normal.
Something has affected their reasoning to the point that they will do the unthinkable.
What are some contributing factors experts feel move people to do such horrible acts of violence?

1. Breakdown of Family
2. Hate Groups, extremists
3. Dangerous Cults
4. Mass Media, violence in entertainment and exposure to actual violence
5. Abuse of Drugs
6. Easy Access to Destructive Weapons
7. Peoples' Inability to Cope
8. Certain Conditions of Mental Illness.

Does the Bible give us insight as to the reason why people act in such extreme ways?
Turn to 2 Timothy 3:3, 4 for an accurate description of attitudes we commonly see.
These scriptures state that people would have, "no natural affection" they would be "without self-control, fierce, with out love of goodness" 
Jesus was quoted as saying: "The love of the greater number would cool off." (Matthew 24:12)

Yes, the Bible says, "In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here" -2 Timothy 3:1

Do you see evidence that we are living at the end of the present system of things?
Conditions, along with people's attitudes are on the downhill slide. Can we expect an immediate solution? Again, God's word tells us:
"Wicked men and imposters will advance from bad to worse" -2 Tim. 3:13

Is there a realistic solution to this problem of senseless violence?
Yes, but more is needed than what imperfect mankind is capable of doing.
Real change of mind and heart is needed! How?





For a comforting answer to these questions please go to:

www.wol.jw.org

Click on "Publications" at the top of screen.
Choose: Awake - 2003- July 8 -A Realistic Solution-Is it Possible?

May the information found there comfort you as it has comforted me!

A Doodle here and a Doodle there

 Sometimes I just like to doodle 

Other times I like to color or paint

Paper Dolls are alot of fun

Tamarins, Monkies from Panama

 This is an Emperor Tamarin

Does he remind you of anyone?

 What do you think of this golden lion Tamarin?

And this is the cotton head Tamarin. 

All these monkees are very small, under a pound. 

Their tails are longer than their bodies. 

They live in central and south American tropical rain forests.

Such interesting creatures and sooo cute.