400 "Framework" Books to Liberian Pastors

Liberia on African west coast

This morning we loaded 400 copies of Framework for Christian Faith into a van which would deliver them for transportation to Liberia. Later this summer the books will be distributed to Pastors in need of them in Liberia. We also included 80 extra copies of Framework to be delivered to Redeemed Life Church in Minneapolis. And, for good measure, we include about 60 copies of Jerusalem: History, Archaeology and Apologetic Proof of Scripture and 48 copies of Hope for America's Last Generation.

Paul Canfield, who has worked with missions and as a missionary for many years, began attending the Generation Word Bible School where the Framework book is used as a textbook. Pastor Canfield distributed some copies of the book to some pastors that he meets with in Minneapolis.

Paul Canfield

The Framework book was well received and used as a study tool and as a guide for local Bible studies. One of the pastors, Rev. Alexander Collins, Redeemed Life Church says, "Our Bible study has increased tremendously since we started using the book." Today we included 80 extra copies of Framework to be given to him and his Bible study in Minneapolis.


One of the pastors that Pastor Canfield had spoken with was Pastor Charles Goah who had come from Liberia to the United States about twenty years ago.

Pastor Charles Goah, Liberian Ministers Association

Pastor Goah is the leader of Liberian Ministers Association. He is planning a ministry trip later this year to help serve the Liberian people and assist the Liberian pastors in preparing to teach the Word of God to this country torn by civil war. Pastor Goah said today that, "One hundred and fifty years of national development was lost in the civil war. All the electrical and water systems were destroyed and the country is having to start over." (The Liberian Civil Wars occurred between 1989-1996 and 1999-2003).


Pastor Goah and many others realize the importance of building a nation and a society on the God's Truth. We have received emails in the past from Liberia asking for books and cd's for pastors to use and share with their Liberian brothers. One email specifically said that with out the Word of God the Liberian people would never be able to rebuild their country and would instead always return to war. We have received and sent material also to Liberian refuge camps in Ghana.

Loading the books in the van was Charles who
came along from Minneapolis with Pastor Charles Goah.

Today was a rewarding day that brought a moment of fulfillment as we loaded over 500 copies of Generation Word books into a van that will take the books to a location where they will be placed in a overseas shipping crate and taken to Liberia. Once they arrive Pastor Goah and his ministry team will distribute the books to pastors who realize the value of the Word of God in the hearts of people.



Pastor Canfield said that one of the things that impressed him the first time he met with the Liberian church in Minneapolis is their intense prayers for the nation of the United States. Pastor Canfield said, "When I thanked them for praying for our country the Liberians replied, 'We came here from the civil war with nothing but the clothes on our back and this great country welcomed us. Now America is in trouble and we want to help.' "

Galyn Wiemers and Charles loading Framework books

Galyn Wiemers, Charles, Pastor Charles Goah, Pastor Paul Canfield

Charles, Pastor Paul Cranfield, Pastor Charles Goah and Galyn Wiemers
wait in the Wiemers' living room for the rain to slow down before loading the books.

Galyn Wiemers
Generation Word
http://www.generationword.com

thronos

 Last night during class the question was asked concerning the Greek word, or words, used for "throne" in Revelation 4:2-5. The vision begins with John viewing God seated on his "throne" (NIV). But, it is soon revealed that God's throne is surrounded by 24 other "thrones" (NIV) or "seats" (KJ) for 24 elders. The question was asked, "Is this the same Greek word for God's "throne" and the elders "thrones?" Here is the NIV and KJ text:

NIV: At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne (thronos) in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne (thronou)were twenty-four other thrones (thronous), and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

KJ: And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne (thronos) was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne (thronou) were four and twenty seats (thronous): and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

The Greek text for both the NIV and the KJ translation uses the word "thronos." ('thronos' is the nominative singular, 'thronous' is the accusative plural of 'thronos' and 'thronou' is genitive singular of the same word 'thronos').

The word 'thronos' means "a throne, a seat of authority." This vision refers obviously to God being seated at the head of all power and authority, but what does it mean that the 'elders' (presbuterous) are also sitting on 24 'thronos?' These elders are men in resurrected bodies wearing their crowns (stephanos) of victory and reward seated in a place of authority to rule with God. This is what Jesus promised and scripture supports in these places:

Rev. 2:26 - "To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations - 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' - just as I have received authority from my Father.

Rev. 3:21 - "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."

Rev. 5:10 - "You have made them to be a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Matt. 19:28 - "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Luke 22:30 - "And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 - "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world...Do you not know that we will judge angels?"

2 Tim. 2:12 - "If we endure we will also reign with him."

Why did the translators of the KJ Bible translate the same Greek word used in the same sentence two different ways? It may have something to do with their lack of eschatological insight and their inability to understand why these "elders" were also on thrones of authority. To the average reader of the English King James this verse becomes completely misdirected when the "elders" are portrayed as merely in a position around the thrown of God to worship. Indeed, they do worship, but these same elders are seated in positions of universal authority directly under the Lord and King, Jesus.

Galyn Wiemers
Generation Word
http://www.generationword.com

"epiphaneia" is a compound word made up of "epi" and "phaino."

"phaino" is translated "to manifest" or "to show."


It is also translated "to shine" in reference to the sun, moon and lamps in Rev. 1:16; 21:23; John 5:35 and 2 Peter 1:19.

The root word "phaino" is used in Colossians 3:4 two times,

"When Christ , who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

"epiphaneia" means "manifestation" or "glorious appearance." It was used to speak of a glorious manifestation of a Greek god that appeared with striking splendor with the intention of bringing helpful intervention.

"epiphaneia" is used to denote the sudden and unexpected appearance of an enemy who is bringing the battle to their opponents. It also is used of a god bringing helpful intervention during the battle. "epiphaneia" began to be used more generally to refer to divine assistance. Josephus used the word as a synonym for the Greek word "parousia"

In the New Testament "epiphaneia" is used most often for the future appearing of Jesus.

"Then the lawless one will be revealed (apokalupto), whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with thebreath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming." 2 Thessalonians 2:8

"I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time." 1 Timothy 6:14

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: PREACH the WORD! 2 Timothy 4:1, 8

"We wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great Godand Savior, Jesus Christ." Titus 2:1

Galyn Wiemers
Generation Word
http://www.generationword.com

The Greek Word "embateuo" means "to enter"

 "embateuon" is the present active participle of "embateuo" found in Colossians 2:18. It means "entering" but its translation is disputed since Paul does not use it with an object in this sentence. Paul writes to the Colossians:

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you fro the prize. Such a person goes into great detail  ("embateuon") about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions." - Colossians 2:18

This verse is addressing the false philosophy/religion that had caused the Colossians to stumble in their Christian doctrine and their Christian walk. Paul uses pronouns like "anyone," "he," "his" and "him" in this verse to identify what seems to be a local shaman who must have served as a spiritual guide in the syncretism (mixed religious ideas) in Colossians. The people had become Christian, but continued to follow this man because of his "entering" or "embateuo." What did he enter into? Again, there is no object in Paul's sentence. There is simply a mention of his "entering" and having seen things? This word ("embateuo") has recently been found in a temple to Apollo 30 miles north of Ephesus in Greek inscriptions. The Greek inscriptions list the names of official delegates that had come to Apollo's temple to receive oracles. These visitors who wanted to receive an oracle had gone through two stages in the ritual. The first stage was the initiation where they were given the mysteries of the cult. The second stage was simply called "embateuo" or "the entering." This "embateuo" referred to the delegate entering the inner sanctuary for consultation with the the god or demon. The individual that was distracting the Colossian's spiritual growth appears to have "entered" into some temple, some heavenly sphere or some spiritual vision that was believed by the people to give that person some insight or wisdom from this superspiritual experience (or, experiences).


Galyn Wiemers
Generation Word
http://www.generationword.com

The Greek Word "apantesis" means "to meet"

apantesis is translated "to meet" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 where Paul writes:

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

apantesis is a technical term in the ancient Greek that was used to describe a delegation of citizens from a city leaving their city in order to meet an arriving dignitary, ambassador or important government official in order to show their visitor honor and respect by ceremonially escorting them the rest of the way into their city. This was the custom of the Greek world that Paul was writing to.This word apantesis is also used in Matthew 25:6 when the wise virgins went "to meet" the bridegroom and Acts 28:15 when the Christian citizens of Rome "met" Paul south of the city to escort him into Rome.

Galyn Wiemers
Generation Word
http://www.generationword.com

The Greek Word "Harpadzo" means "Rapture"

RAPTURE  - “harpagesometha” in First Thessalonians 4:17 is the future indicative passive of  “harpadzo” and means “to snatch up, to seize, to carry off by force, to rapture. The word often denotes the emotion of a sudden swoop, and usually that of a force which cannot be resisted.” An example of this Greek word’s use is seen in Acts 8:39 when the Holy Spirit physically took ("harpasen" the aorist indicative active of “harpadzo”) Philip away from the Ethiopian to be found later in the town of Azotus...There will be a rapture, but we will not be counting down when it happens!


Galyn Wiemers
Generation Word
http://www.generationword.com

Mother's Day Special: My Wife and Our Six Sons in the News

My wife Toni and our six sons are featured on this news video clip from KCCI channel 8 Des Moines for Mother's Day 2011:

http://www.kcci.com/video/27820952/detail.html

Galyn Wiemers
Generation Word
http://www.generationword.com

Truth (From the "Defending the Faith" Series)

What makes me worthy to identify the Truth and expose the lie?

It is not my own righteousness, but the simple fact that the Truth exists. This portion of the debate is not about my character, but about the existence of Truth. My character (at this point of the argument) has nothing to do with identifying Truth.

Both, those who say there IS a standard of Truth and righteousness and those who say there IS NO standard of Truth and righteousness, find themselves sinning and doing wrong. The difference is that the first group has a standard to compare themselves to, but the second group really can not say they are sinners. They can not even say the first group is wrong since in their own philosophy they claim there are no standards. Thus, only the first group (those who hold to an absolute standard of Truth and righteousness) are logical.

Watch Video HERE (RealPlayer)

Christians, Get Focused! Spare the Drama!

As the northern kingdom of Israel stumbled through their 210 year history which ultimately ended in the Assyrian dispersion in 721 BC, their kings were continually recorded as never having repented of the sin of Jeroboam, the very first king of Israel in the north. This sin included Jeroboam's re-writing Israel's history, introducing new gods and establishing a new philosophy to live by. With out the road map of history Israel could never return to where they had derailed from God's plan. Thus, they could never really identify their sin and repent. History, that is correctly recorded and taught, is the truth that is necessary for a nation to judge itself by. Incorrect history is not truth. Re-written history is a lie and will lead to wrong conclusions.

Some modern errors in the church need to be identified with a little more precision. I am thinking about churches and Christians, including my church and myself, who are quick to point out the sin of homosexuality, the blaspheme of public schools as they forbid prayer while claiming to be non-religious and the failure of our government to honor the constitution while American citizen's race into social error, ignorant of American history and world history. But, these are not the heaviest pivotal points for our society!

How can churches blame homosexuality when adultery and divorce are what actually destroy marriage, families and children? How can churches accuse public schools of not praying when we do not hear prayers of repentance and intercession from the church itself? How can the church accuse politicians of forsaking the Constitution and bemoan the ignorance of public knowledge of our history when the vast majority of churches have forsaken the Scripture and the average Christian's knowledge of the Bible is so pathetic that they would fail an entrance exam into a fifth grade Sunday school class, let alone a college entrance exam.

We, the church, have "redefined" marriage and are destroying children, the next generation!
We, the church, are the one's who refuse to pray, even when we are allowed to pray!
We, the church, are forsaking the Bible and are ignorant of its contents.

Indeed, homosexuality is a sin against God, against man and against natural law. Public schools do oppress Christianity, our Constitution is forsaken and the public is ignorant. But, don't you think it is time for the church to take the beam out of its own eye before they attempt to surgically eradicate evil in human society?