Life is not fair

Reading Ecclesiastes is a huge reminder that "Life is NOT fair". God's chosen people were forced into slavery by evil which God allowed. There's a right time and way for everything. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Life leads to death that life, while it lasts, will soon be over. There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth. A right time for birth and another for death. A right time to plant and another to reap. A right time to get sick and another to heal. A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to lament and another to cheer. A right time to make love and another to abstain. A right time to embrace and another to part, A right time to search and another to count your losses. A right time to hold on and another to let go. A right time to rip out and another to mend. A right time to shut up and another to speak up. A right time to love and another to hate. Posts in this thread appear to be that people are corrupting their thoughts with their wishful images of God. Little by little every unscriptural methods will appear to grieve the Spirit and stifle the life of Christians. A Christian may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant at the same time. God is good is not the same as God is GREAT. God is an awesome God but at the same time, He has a plan. God is never in a hurry and God will do whatever He decides to do simply because He is GOD. The paths God are true and right, and the wise people live by walking in them. The wise should boast alone because they truly know God and understand that God is the Lord who is Just and Righteous, whose Love is unfailing, and that God delight in these things. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. *Romans 15:13 Overflowing hope is the gift of the God of hope by the power of the Spirit. It is that hope that carries us through the difficult experiences of life. In the time of death Paul was very brave because he had firm confidence in the final outcome. "For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake," he said, but his heart remained cheerful knowing that "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:11,17). Faith is confidence in the character of God, and hope is the sweet anticipation of desirable things promised but not yet realized. Hope is a gift from the heavenly Father "who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope" (2 Thessalonians 2:16). The Christian's hope is sound because it is founded upon the character of God and the redeeming work of His Son Jesus Christ. For this reason Peter could call it "a living hope" (1 Peter 1:3). It is living because it rests on reality and not on fancy. It is not wishful dreaming but vital expectation with Jesus Christ behind it. Faith in Christ, in His Character and His will is the key to complete faith.

Time-line History (will be updated as data is received)

CHURCH HISTORY DATES EVENT (Note: Christian Calendar off 4-6 years) APPROXIMATE DATE Jesus’ birth AD 1 Jesus began public ministry AD 30 Jesus discipled his followers AD 30-33 Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension AD 33 Pentecost AD 33 Church gathered daily on Solomon’s Porch, streets, market place & house to house AD 33 Church gathered as the Body with Christ as the Head AD 33 Priesthood of all believers ministering in spiritual gifts AD 33 Plurality of servant leadership by example AD 33 Disciples scattered abroad by persecution AD 38 Conversion of Saul of Tarsus AD 38 Paul’s missionary journeys begin AD 46 Council of Jerusalem: Salvation through grace(Acts 15:11) AD 50 Paul’s death AD 68 Jerusalem temple destroyed By Titus AD 70 John the apostle’s death AD 100 Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, wrote his seven epistles(Not included in Cannon) AD 107 Clement of Rome: Elders/pastors/bishops different function AD 117 Clement of Rome: Clergy/Laity distinguished AD 117 Clement of Rome: One-man pastor leadership AD 117 First mention of infant baptism AD 215 Construction of first known church building under Emperor Serverus AD 235 Earliest mention of “clergy” being salaried AD 245 Earliest beginnings of monasticism by Anthony AD 270 Prayers for the dead AD 300 Making the sign of the cross AD 300 Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity AD 312 Council of Milan: ministers licensed by the State AD 313 Council of Milan: ministers became full-time & salaried AD 313 Council of Milan: edict concerning construction of church buildings AD 313 (Period of Dark Ages in history) AD 313-1525 Use of wax candles AD 320 Constantine declared Sunday a civil holiday(Holy Day) AD 321 Church buildings built throughout the Roman world AD 324 Temple/Synagogue style worship AD 324 Pews & theater seating arrangement AD 324 Chanters, choirs & hymn books AD 324 Altars Erected AD 324 Baptisteries placed in buildings AD 324 Council of Nicene: First Church Creed established AD 325 Council of Nicene: bishop supremacy AD 325 Veneration of angels, dead saints and use of images AD 375 Christianity becomes the State Religion under Emperor Theodosius AD 378 Mass as a daily celebration AD 394 Council of Carthage: canonization of Scripture AD 397 Latin Vulgate Bible by Jerome AD 405 Edict of Innocent I: Compulsory infant baptism AD 407 Council of Ephesus: exaltation of Mary as the mother of God AD 431 Leo the Great pronounced himself as Bishop of Rome AD 452 Ministers established common dress code AD 500 Extreme Unction AD 526 First monastic order begun by Benedict of Nursia AD 529 Christian calendar established by Dionysius Exiguus AD 550 (Mohammed begins Religion of Islam)AD 570 Gregory became the head of the Church of Rome AD 590 Doctrine of Purgatory by Gregory I AD 593 Latin used in prayer and worship by Gregory I AD 600 Mass as known today established by Pope Gregory AD 604 Boniface III bishop of Rome adopted the title Pope AD 607 Temporal power of popes by Pepin, King of the Franks AD 750 Organs first put into church buildings AD 609 Kissing the pope’s feet begins with Pope Constantine AD 709 Worship of the cross, images and relics AD 786 Use of holy water with salt blessed by priests AD 850 Worship of Joseph as a saint AD 890 Canonization of dead saints AD 993 College of Cardinals established AD 927 Baptism of bells by Pope John XIII AD 965 Canonization of dead saints by Pope John XV AD 995 Fasting on Fridays and during Lent AD 998 Mass as a sacrifice begins AD 1050 Final division of East/West Church AD 1054 Celibacy of priesthood by Pope Gregory VII(Hildebrand)AD 1079 Rosary and praying with beads by Peter the Hermit AD 1090 Sale of Indulgences AD 1190 Christian and Muslim Crusades AD 1100-1400 Church buildings add towers and steeples AD 1100 Sale of indulgences AD 1190 Transubstantiation of wafer and wine by Pope Innocent III AD 1215 Confession of sins to a priest by Pope Innocent III in Lateran Council AD 1215 Adoration of the wafer(Host) by Pope Honorius III AD 1220 Bible declared too holy & forbidden to be read by laymen by Council of Valencia AD 1229 Scapular first used(special cloth around neck on front & back) AD 1251 Wycliffe(1330-1384)translates Bible into English AD 1380 John Huss(1374-1415)reformation influence AD 1398 Communion cup forbidden lay people by Council of Constance AD 1414 Doctrine of purgatory decreed by Council of Florence AD 1439 Dogma of seven sacraments affirmed AD 1439 Fall of the Roman Empire AD 1453 Gutenberg prints first Bible AD 1453 Columbus discovers America AD 1492 Reformation: Martin Luther (1483-1546) 95 Thesis at Wittenberg AD 1517 Reformation of Theology AD 1517 Tyndal’s English translation AD 1520 Zwingli, Calvin, Knox influence in Reformation AD 1522 Anabaptists influence AD 1525 Beginning of Separation of Church & State AD 1525 Pulpit stands, other pulpit furnishings and elevated platforms AD 1540 Council of Trent: Tradition and Scripture of equal authority AD 1545 Apocryphal books added to the Bible by Council of Trent AD 1546 Official Catholic Creed imposed by Pope Pius IV AD 1560 King James translation of the Bible AD 1611 John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress published AD 1678 Huguenots Influence AD 1698 Isaac Watt’s Hymns and Spiritual Songs published AD 1707 Moravian Brethren missionary movement`AD 1727 Jonathan Edward and the Great Awakening in America colonies AD 1735 John Wesley’s conversion and brother Charles’ influence AD 1738 Sunday Schools established in England and later in United States AD 1738 United States declares Independence from England AD 1776 William Carey’s missionary to India AD 1793 Restoration Movement begun by Campbell brothers AD 1811 Foreign Missionary Boards in United States with Judson sailing to India AD 1812 Crusade evangelism in England & US with Finney, Moody, Sankey, Crosby AD 1830 Beginning of altar calls and walking the aisle AD 1830 Rise in false religions & cults: i.e., Mormonism AD 1830 Dispensational Scripture interpretation by Plymouth Brethren,Darby AD 1830 Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary by Pope Pius IX AD 1854 Hudson Taylor begins missionary work in China AD 1854 Spurgeon becomes pastor in London AD 1854 David Livingston publishes “Missionary Travels” about African missions AD 1857 Syllabus of Errors asserted pope’s temporal authority over all civil rulers AD 1864 William Booth founds the Salvation Army AD 1865 Papal Infallibility in matters of faith and morals by Pope Pius IX AD 1870 Immaculate Conception of Mary: Pope Pius IX AD 1870 Rise in false religions & cults: i.e., Jehovah’s Witnesses AD 1872 Student Volunteer Movement of young people involved in missions AD 1886 Gideon International organized AD 1899 Beginning of airplane flight with Kitty Hawk invented by Wright Brothers AD 1903 Pentecostal movement begins with Asuza Street revival AD 1906 World War I begins AD 1914 First Christian radio broadcast AD 1921 World-wide Economic Depression w/Stock Market Crash AD 1929 Wycliffe Bible translators aspire to bring Bible to every language group AD 1934 Age, sex, grade grouping & separation of families in churches in United States AD 1935 World War II begins in Europe in 1939 w/USA joining in 1941 AD 1939-1941 United Nations founded AD 1945 Israel formed as a nation AD 1948 World Council of Churches is formed AD 1948 Billy Graham nation-wide evangelism crusades begin in California AD 1949 Para-church in US: i.e., Youth for Christ, Navigators, Campus Crusade AD 1944-1951 Assumption of the Virgin Mary(bodily ascension) by Pope Pius XII AD 1950 Cold War begins with the Soviet Union in 1950(Ends in 1992)AD 1950 Full Gospel movement begins in United States AD 1951 Lay Renewal movement begins AD 1952 Para-church in US: i.e., Teen Challenge, Youth with a Mission AD 1958-1960 Increase in church building construction in United States AD 1960 Charismatic movement grows in United States AD 1960 Feminist movement increases in the United States AD 1960 Home Churches in China and England AD 1960 Reformation of Ecclesiology AD 1960s Second Vatican Council promotes new attitudes and practices AD 1962 Space travel with John Glenn orbiting the earth AD 1962 Mary proclaimed as Mother of God by Pope Paul VI AD 1965 Mass media growth around the world: i.e., Trinity Broadcasting Network AD 1973 Biblical house churches in United States AD 1970s Rise in Para-church groups: i.e., Christ for the Nations & Mercy Ships AD 1970-1978 Rise in cults: i.e. Jim Jones AD 1979 Increase in Open Churches, Churches without Walls, Relational Churches AD 1985 Surge in construction of mega-church buildings in United States AD 1990 Men’s organizations begin: i.e., Promise Keepers, Prison Ministries spread in US AD 1990 Renewed emphasis of Ephesians 4 equipping gifted leadership AD 1990 Spontaneous increase in biblical house churches throughout USA AD 1990s Cold War ended with collapse of the Soviet Union AD 1992 Believers in third world countries experience great persecution and more believers are martyred in the 20th Century than all previous centuries combined AD 2000 Muslim extremists attack United States and US declares War on terrorism AD 2001 Information Age with volume of knowledge doubling every three years AD 2002 Heinous crimes against humanity increase AD 2002 Population of the world increases to six + billion AD 2002 Diseases, pestilence, famine & earthquakes continue to increase AD 2002 Christianity increases in Asia, Africa, S.A & decreases in Europe, US AD 2002 Biblical house churches increase throughout the world, i.e. China with 100 million + believers AD 2002 Unprecedented growth of Christianity in the world: Christianity is growing three times faster than the world’s population with 180,000 converts per day(i.e. Latin America- 35,000, China-30,000 and Africa 20,000) at 6.9 growth; Muslims 2.7; Hindus 2.2; Buddhists 1.7. According to the latest statistics of Christians in the world today: Latin America-480 million; Africa-360 million (42% of population);Asia-313 million and Europe & North America-200 million for a total of over 1.35 billion believers. AD 2002