We invite your comments... input, testimonies or anything else you want to share.  Below you can read some of the letters we've recently received.  Please send your comments to:

media@maranathachapel.org

We will post some of them here. Please let us know if you would prefer to sign your name or remain anonymous.  We reserve the right to edit letters for length.

Response to Star of Bethlehem

Absolutely fascinating!  I also enjoyed the note on blood moons.  It explains some of the symbols in Revelation. It is difficult to read the signs in the heavens without a guide to help understand the meaning. Please post more like this!
Thanks,
Tim

So Jesus's birthday was on 9/11?  Interesting...I wonder if it was a conscious decision on the part of the terrorists in 2001.

Pastor Ray,

It's really neat how the details of God design are revealing to validate why we should take the word literary. From another source the "long day of Joshua"  has a similar celestial  effect due Mars and Earth, where there is a resonance which cause the Earths orbit to slow, extending the day.

The simulation tools of NASA were used to show the close passing of Mars and Earth.

I really like what you're doing to point out these types of details to us.

Rick

Response to Blood Mooms—Signs of the Times

Hi Pastor Ray,
 
A very insightful and interesting article!  The historical events that took place in Isreal's past in relation to these events is astonishing.   I recently purchased the "Feasts & Holidays of the Bible" study guide and did not know why I was being moved to purchase this at that time.  I simply followed was I was being moved to do,  study the Jewish Holidays and calendar as I was reading the Bible.
 
With President Bush pushing so hard for peace agreements and an Independent state for the Palestinians before he leaves office and all these "peace talks" with Isreal I believe there are so many signs of the times right in front of us!  While these countries attempt to establish peace treaties, the Russians and Iranians and so many other countries surrounding Isreal still secretly prepare for war with Isreal. It's the great "set up" with the anitchrist soon to appear to bring "peace" to that area. 
 
I spoke briefly with you regarding the lamb sacrifices after church this Sunday. Isreal only awaits for land to rebuild their temple as it is predicted will happen. The website to the Temple Institute ( http://www.templeinstitute.org/main.htm ) shows that the Jewish religious leaders are already prepared and only await the rebuilding of the Temple.
 
The apostacy, the European Union, false christs and false prophets, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes in various places, pestilences, famines, what more do we need to occur for Christians to see our Lords soon return for His children?  I praise our Loving God for His tender mercy and grace to us and pray we will not be caught unaware of His soon return.
 
May we continue to recognize all the blessings our dear Lord pours down upon us daily,
 
Ted

Response to Comments on the Pope

(see original article here )

GOD BLESS YOU RAY BENTLEY:

I appreciate your thoughts on Pope John Paul

I grew up Catholic...I have had the privelege of attending your services a few times over the past few years and have enjoyed what you have had to say.

I tend to be very anti Catholic in nature because I see the mass as so stuck in ritual and so lacking in teaching.  But I know that a lot of good does come from theCatholic church.

Thanks again for reminding me that we ALL can serve GOD regardless of denomination, as long as we listen to the truth of HIS word and open our hearts to ask how He wants us to SERVE HIM.

God bless

Jim Heid

Dear Pastor Ray,

I am touched that you would take the time to share your heart and thoughts on current events. It really means a great deal to me to know what you are thinking and praying about and studying, not to mention that you take the time to share it with us.

The Pope John Paul piece was excellent. You took a stand regarding Mary's deity but you also encouraged us to focus on the Cross which is the true dividing line. Thank you for that.

God's richest blessings!
B. Paddock

Dear Pastor Ray,
Thank you for your thoughts on John Paul.
Recently...my son and I attended a Catholic men's retreat with 18 men from St. James Parish at the San Luis Rey mission in Oceanside. This was an opportunity to share with other men who also think of themselves as "Christian" some of the lessons that life has taught us. I would return to the Catholic church, if I knew that God had a purpose for my doing so. The devout spirituality and emotional commitment of many Catholics is a cherished recollection of my own childhood, and it still exists today. These are still our brothers and sisters in Christ, and many of them feel much the same about "us." I'm quite sure we'll be sharing some pews in eternity, even if today those pews are in different buildings. The true Church, or ecclesia, is by the definition from both sides of the aisle those who are called in Christ for God's purpose.

Two mighty things have changed in the Catholic Church which differ from the teachings of my youth. The retreatmaster, a Catholic priest and college professor from upstate New York, charged us all that without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the mass and sacraments will not be enough for salvation.  He also advised the men that in addition to daily prayer, meditation, and examination of conscience -- staples of the private Catholic spiritual diet -- men need to read and study their Bible daily.

As the media surrounding the Pope's funeral reflected for us, there are still essential doctrinal differences between Christians inside and outside the Catholic church, us as many Christians and Jews have different beliefs and conceptions regarding what we believe to be the coming of the same Messiah. From house to house we look at our neighbors and see fences. Fortunately our Father's view of things is not horizontal.

 After 32 years in the Catholic fold and 27 more a step outside of it, my final answer is this: there is no sin but that which is common to both sides of the aisle. We are not to judge, though by their works I've known all of them. We need to pray for all those who profess the name of Jesus Christ and are still contending to fight the good fight on a dail basis against a common spritual enemy.

Greg Mack

Loving the Unlovely

(see original article here )

Dear Pastor Ray,

Recently I have read your piece "loving the unlovely" where you spoke about the "punk" kids. I am a 23 year old mother, nurse, Christian and punk-rocker. There is absolutely nothing wrong with dressing a certain way. I think it is fabulous when people judge me b/c of my appearance b/c the best feeling is letting them know how wrong they have perceived me, all b/c of the clothes I choose to wear. I have skulls on my Vans shoes, I wear studded belts, I have piercings in places most people turn their nose up to and I wear shirts with bands like Rancid on them. But I am also a fabulous Mom, an aggressive leader in my field of nursing and a full believer in God. I have attended Maranatha for going on 10 years now, since I was in 5th grade and there is no way I will change who and what I am just b/c other Christians think that I should not dress a certain way. In your article you spoke of the kids misbehaving and I absolutely agree that that was inappropriate, specially for being in a church. But my point is my husband and I are all those things: pierced, tattooed, crazy clothes, crazy hair styles and we have been since we were young kids; that is just who we are. That style is just what we are attracted to but that does not mean we should be judged for it. We are also good & loving people, awesome parents and Christians. So I say to all those that listen, listen with your heart first judge with your mind last.

Ms. Aaron P

PS what is "unlovely" to some is beauty to others. :)

(read original article here)

Pastor Ray,
The Bible doesn't condone slavery but there are people who arm themselves with scripture out of context to empower themselves. This, perhaps, is what your friend, the teacher, was referring to. The Bible works better (on God's behalf) if we get out of the way. I think the whole slavery issue in this country is tragic. But we no longer have slavery and haven't for quite some time. So it's sad that someone would say the Bible condones entrapment of that sort. I like what you said about "whom the son sets free is free indeed." Perhaps the person/ student who thinks the Lord is a slave driver should rethink that idea. If we happen to be slaves, the Bible teaches us to find a niche. Joseph did.
Thanks for your comments - feel free to post my responses.
In Jesus, Allie

Pastor Ray,

First of all I want to thank you for faithfully preaching the word, I love it!! I wanted to add a few comments to the slavery topic. Its one I think about from time to time, because I am African American and my husband is white. By the way we love Maranathat and have been there for 2.5 years, and
are very thankful to be in the body at MNC.  I know that Jesus is Lord and I know that the Bible doesn't endorse slavery.
I sometimes have compared the difference in my husbands family and my own.  In looking at my husband's grandparents and ancestors, I can see where their lives were lived fairly well and most were pretty well educated; not that they didn't have some hard times and struggles they did. His grand parents
(on both sides) had college degrees, were college professors, worked hard and did what we would call "well". In looking at my own grandparents and ancestors, past slavery isn't that far back, most were poor, uneducated, and hard times and struggles were part of their daily lives. My grandparents cleaned houses, sold insurance, etc. and no one had a college degree.

Our families didn't exactly give us standing ovations when we told them we were not marrying within our race because both were looking at us through their past - and what they had lived through. We're glad we didn't listen to them! My husband is from the midwest where there is much more prejudice than California and cultures don't mix as much or as well as we do in the west. The separation by color is still much more present there - a hard place to visit at times.

I say this to say, I believe that the results of slavery still affect our
nation today, I believe that some of the decline in the African American Family has to do with the effects of slavery and I also believe the overall decline in American pulling away from Godly principals has hurt all of us (all Americans) as well.  We know that Jesus is the answer and we know that HE IS ENOUGH, there are a lot of people out there speaking un-truths, thank you for your boldness in speaking biblical truth to the issue of slavery. I appreciate it and you,

For His Glory,
Di Ault

Thank you, Pastor Ray for your article "Does the Bible condone slavery". I appreciate your clarity on the issue and have filed the article for future reference. The world needs to know that God indeed is a JUST and compassionate God, and NOT a respecter of persons.

Thanks again!

Merrill Nanigian

Much to my delight I received your current news letter today. I am very happy to see you address this point of slavery. I am Caucasian and have two life time best friends who are Black and the way you put the out come of slavery: "its legacy is fear and bitterness" is so accurate.  It breaks my heart every time I am reminded that people still see "Color" as a dividing line on all sides not just one or the other. Suspicion of all races is still commonplace, sadly. I am pleased that you are shedding
Biblical light on this still misguided concept. It takes a great deal of courage to take on this subject and I heartily thank you!

Pastor Dorsey,
I just read the wonderful and caring writing that you did for Mother's Day, about Mothers. It was truly very honoring to all Mothers and especially kind and thoughtful to remember those precious ones who find themselves in very difficult situations as the unwed Mother's you mentioned.
Thankyou for writing such a true picture of Motherhood. The Lord gave me a wonderful person just as you described, to be my Mother, and the dearest friend I have ever had in all of my life. I treasured my own years as a Mother to my two sons, and the last seven of those were as a single Mother.
I am Troy Dewey's Mother........
Sincerely, Judith Lovold

This is wonderful, so many times lately I watch the political events in our great country unfold, and feel that I should do more than I do now to help preserve our Christian Legacy. I have not found a resource that really addressed the issue's and my concerns as a believer, and I am very pleased to find that within our Calvary Chapel churches. I look forward to being a regular visitor and participant in this endeavor. May God Bless this and all your ministries.

Jeff Class