My sins are more than the hairs of my head, but where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more

For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me (Psalm 40:12 KJV). Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20 KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:7). The wonderful grace of Jesus is sufficient for me, even though my sins are more than the hairs of my head. He has ordered my path. Even the very hairs of my head are all numbered.

Famine in the Promised Land

When famine hits the Promised Land, we start to wonder if we had followed the will of God wrongly and our faith is sorely tested. And the many ways that God may ask us to response makes discerning God's will even more difficult.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8) and when he arrived at Shechem, at the oak of Moreh, when the Canaanites were still in the land, the LORD appeared to Abram and told him that this was the land He promised (Genesis 12:6-7).
Then famine came upon the land, "That fruitful land was turned into barrenness, not only to punish the iniquity of the Canaanites who dwelt therein, but to exercise the faith of Abram who sojourned therein; and a very sore trial it was (Matthew Henry)."
The famine was grievous and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there (Genesis 12:10). The Bible did not record of any instructions from God. Probably, Abraham used his discretion.
Famine hits the Promised Land again in the time of Isaac, but this time, the LORD appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you" (Genesis 26:2).
Famine hits the Promised Land again in the time of Jacob and this time the Lord said to Jacob, "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation." (Genesis 46:3).

Men Who Claimed To Be Somebody

Many men claim to be somebody. Some claimed to be gods, like Alexander, some claim to be buddha, like Siddhārtha Gautama and of course we have Jesus, who claimed to be God (Son of God).
Whoever who claim to be somebody other than mere human, we can ask them two questions and we can prove if they are men or not.
1. Are you born of a father and a mother?
2. Did you die?
If the answer is "Yes" to both questions, then he is a man, like you and me.

In the case of Jesus, the answer to question 1 is "No", because He was born of a virgin. The answer to question 2 is "Yes", but He was resurrected again.

To quote Peter Larson: "Despite our efforts to keep Him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked ‘No Entrance’ and left through a door marked ‘No Exit.’"

And you can read about the test for gods in the world who seek to be worshiped here.

How Do I Know The Bible Is True?

How Do I Know The Bible Is True?

Approach 1: (The intrinsic properties of the Bible)
1. The verifiability of the Bible, e.g. The resurrection of Christ is verifiable;
2. The unity of the Bible (The Bible is a collection of 66 books which were written over 1500 years);
3. The consistency of the Bible (Many books and authors, one message);
4. The integrity of the Bible (Historical, Scientific, Prophetic Accuracy);
5. The antiquity of the Bible (Textual Preservation).

Approach 2: (External and internal proof)
Internal proof
1. Contains verifiable historical and geographical facts;
2. Contains prophecies of future events - Messianic Prophecies, Fulfilled Prophecies dealing with nations;
3. Consistent message and unity.
External proof
1. Scientific evidence;
2. Textual evidence;
3. Historical and archaelogical evidence.

Approach 3 (Compare to other religions):
1. Buddhism - cannot be audited, not verifiable
2. Islam - failed audit; not logical, therefore not true

Approach 4 (Impact on the world)
1. The world - politics, economics
2. The 7-day week, the calendar
3. Social Impact
4. Personal Impact

Approach 5: (The 2 witnesses - The Bible, Israel)
1. Cannot be duplicated / falsified;
2. Cannot be humanly produced.

Approach 6: (Message of salvation)
1. Unique;
2. Verifiable;
3. Legal;
4. Guaranteed.

Quoted from Got Our Tract - Good Messengers Ministries
QUOTE
Salvation
The salvation of man as presented in the Bible differs vastly from the cruel and inhumane views of the world’s religions. Hindus, for example, often involve themselves in agonizing acts to merit God’s favor. Buddhists follow an eightfold discipline of self denial. Muslims engage in a strict regimen of fasting and prayer to earn God’s approval. The Bible, however, offers man salvation in the God-man, Jesus Christ. It is not a salvation by works, but by grace through faith.
Truth
While other religious books are filled with unconfirmed claims and philosophies, the Bible supports its claims with historical and geographical facts. This is why the first-century Christians gave so much emphasis to the good news of the resurrected Christ. Their message was to be accepted not merely on the authority of their words but on verifiable evidence.
UNQUOTE

Musical Instruments are Invented by Descendants of Cain

Musical instrument and music are used in the worship of God. But the Bible tells us that musical instruments are invented by Jubal, a descendant of Cain (Genesis 4:21).

House on the Rock

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27 KJV)

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15 KJV)

Those who heed Christ’s message built their houses on the rock. But what do they build their houses with? Some build with gold, silver and precious stones. Others build with wood, hay and stubble. When the floods come, their house stayed. But when fire comes, those houses built with wood, hay and stubble are burnt.

Conservative religious values versus secular values

In an article by Kishore Mahbubani, "The virtues of secularism" which appeared in The Straits Times Page A22, 20 May 2009, he argues that "Logic travels well across culture and languages."

"Imagine that there is a religious organisation in Singapore which believes that it is immoral for teenage girls to be forced to expose their arms, legs and faces when they go to school. They say: 'There's a line that God has drawn for us, and we don't want our nation crossing that line.' Hence, since the teachers of Singapore are enforcing the rule, this religious organisation marshals its members, takes over the Singapore Teachers' Union and uses it to advocate the argument that female teenagers should be 'free' to choose whatever dress they want to wear to school. They argue that it is wrong to impose the corrupt Western school uniforms on young women of their religion.

Please note that the above is not a hypothetical example. This argument over school uniforms has been played out in France. Should we allow this to happen in Singapore too?"