Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 514

Zoom into Israel – Cool site!

Since we are now here with our group, I thought you might like to take a virtual tour of Jerusalem's Old City. I run around the walls of the city almost every day.

This is a wonderful website where you can click on various "pinpoints" and see the sites in Jerusalem. This is a great source to learn to learn about the many sites available for viewing in the Holy City.

We visit many of these sites during our pilgrimages. Click here to begin the discovery.

Join us in February, April or May as we visit most of these places. Check out our Pilgrimage website at www.SteveGoes.com.

"When will the next Footprints of God DVD come out?"

I get this question every day. We have finished 7 out of the projected 10. You can see and purchase our finished documentaries here. They make great Christmas presents, by the way.

We are currently working on budgets and hoping to get the funding from Ignatius Press to begin the next one in 2012. Still working, praying, waiting, hoping . . .

The next one will be entitled ABRAHAM, FATHER OF FAITH AND WORKS. It will be shot in Iraq, Turkey and Israel.

If you know anyone that wants to make a sizeable donation to help this along, let me know.

How Many Biblical Sites can you Visit in One Run?

Just uploaded a Running trip to EveryTrail. Click the link below to check it out


2010-10-23 Sabbath Run thru Biblical Sites
How many biblical sites can you fit into one run? What is it like to run through hell and back?
Today I tried to hit as many Bible places and interesting sites as I could around Jerusalem. I have over 70 pictures and three videos attached. Boy, did I earn my lunch! Enjoy!

Pilgrimage Day 1: Arrival and Mass at St. Peter's

All the pilgrims arrived safely. Great group. Half are at Ron Beach and half are at Scots Hotel. Mass at St. Peter's on the shore of Galilee. All is well and everything is going great.

Tomorrow the Mount of Transfiguration, Cana for renewal of wedding vows and Mass at the Grotto of Annunciation in Nazareth.

Eternal Security: Is Baptist Pastor Charles Stanley Right?

[image error]ETERNAL SECURITY

(Once Saved-Always Saved):

Analyzing a Sermon by Baptist Pastor,

Charles Stanley

By Steve Ray

Hello Protestant Friend:

Even though I have watched his show off and on over the months, I had no intention of watching Charles Stanley on television last night. It was just that I was tired after getting home and was getting some iced tea to drink and flipped on the TV and—there he was as big as life. His Bible was dramatically floating up and down with pages flapping as he paced in front of the audience.

I understand, as I learned the same speaking style as a Bible teacher. It is something pastors learn in Bible school. Delivery is crucial. His style or manner is similar to Kenneth Copeland's but not quite as dramatic and certainly without Copeland's arrogance. He caught my interest tonight because his topic was judgment for the sinner and Eternal Security for the believer………

For the rest of the story, click here.

For other stories and articles, click here.

Mary, Part II

I will be on radio again today to talk about Mary at www.relevantradio.com. It will be at 5 PM Eastern time.

This time we will talk about the last half of Mary's life including Cana, Calvary, Pentecost and her Assumption and Queenship.

(Picture: Statue in Nazareth of the pregnant Mary of Nazareth.)

Cana was a great sorrow for Mary as she gave her Son away. At Calvary she participated in the redemption by giving her Son up for crucifixion and untying the knot of sin that was tied by Eve.

At Pentecost she was there for the "second birth" of her Son as the Mystical Body of Christ — the Church. And then she was Assumed into heaven body and soul.

But, where do you find THAT in the Bible? We will explain. But first, where do you find in the Bible that you have to find everything in the Bible?

For more on the Assumption, click here.

I Like Camels

Camels are curious creatures. Someone said that a camel looks like a horse put together by a committee. Having ridden my fair share of camels, I have grown to really like them. Anyway . . .

. . . what do you see in this picture? Camels, right? Look again — closely!

The camels are actually the white objects that you see. You are actually looking down straight onto the backs of the camels. So what do you is the shadow caused by the setting sun.

(Click on image for larger picture.)

Join us in Egypt this February 7-15 and ride camels to your hearts content! Visit our pilgrimage site at www.SteveGoes.com or call Suzanne at 800-727-1999, extension 121.

Steve Discusses Virgin Mary on Relevant Radio

"The Blessed Virgin Mary – Real Girl and Woman of Mystery."

I will join Drew Mariani on Relevant Radio at 1 PM Eastern time (in about 1 hour) to discuss Mary LIVE from Jerusalem.

You can listen on-line at www.RelevantRadio.com.

Solution for Airports

Here's a solution to all the controversy over "full-body scanners" at the airports…

Have a booth that everyone steps into individually that will not X-ray you,

but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you.

It would be a "win-win" for everyone, and there would be none of this nonsense about racial profiling and this would also eliminate a long and expensive trial.

Justice would be quick and swift.  Case closed!

I can see it now:  you're in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion…

Shortly thereafter, an announcement comes over the PA system,

"Attention standby passengers, we now have a seat available on flight number 602…"

Is there Evidence for Jesus outside the Bible?

Some people think Jesus is a mythical figure like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. Others think Jesus might be historical but only mentioned in the Bible is the only source of information on the existence of Jesus. They question whether Jesus really existed as a real historical figure. Is the Bible the only source that confirms the historical existence of Jesus?

Jesus was a historical person. He really lived in space and time. The Bible is a very reputable source of information about the historical Jesus who walked the paths of Israel. But even though the Bible is certainly adequate to affirm the existence of Jesus, there ARE other sources that confirm his historical existence.

Below are a list of books and websites that address this issue head-on. There is evidence of Jesus' existence outside the Bible and these are books I have in my library that provide the evidence. No one has to doubt his historical existence, that is for sure. If you know of any other sources, please let me know in the Comments below.

Books about the Historical Evidence for Jesus

The Evidence for Jesus by R. T. France

The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ by Gary Habermas

Ancient Evidence for the Life of Jesus: Historical Records of His Death and Resurrection by Gary Habermas

Jesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence by Robert Van Voorst

The Evidence for Jesus by James Dunn

Internet Sources

Wikipedia has a pretty helpful source under the title Historicity of Jesus. It deals with early Christian sources outside the Bible but I would especially point out the subsection on Greco-Roman sources which provides a number of good quotations.

New Testament Documents: Are they Reliable? by F. F. Bruce. The complete book is on-line.

The above are mostly Protestant books though they are very good. If anyone knows other books or a good Catholic source, let me know. Good websites would be especially welcome.