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The Power of a Lie

The Power of a Lie

Today the jury began deliberations to determine the fate of 53-year-old John White.  John White admits to shooting Daniel Cicciaro, a 17 year-old neighbor and friend of his son, Aaron.

 How could such a tragedy happen? A lie was told. A lie was believed, and pain, suffering and death followed.

Here’s what happened: Michael Longo, a friend of John White’s son, Aaron, logged onto Aaron White’s My Space account and sent a message threatening to rape a teenage girl who was a close friend of Daniel Cicciaro. Michael Longo said, under testimony, that he did this as a practical joke. But Daniel Cicciaro believed the threat to be real, so he gathered three other friends to deal with the situation. He called Aaron White repeatedly one evening, threatening him and calling him racist names. He said they were coming over to kill him. Aaron woke his father, and as the four men approached the house, Aaron and John, carrying guns, went out on the porch where they argued with the four men culminating in John White shooting Daniel Cicciaro in the face.  

Daniel Cicciaro believed he was protecting his close friend from being raped. John White believed he was protecting his son from being killed. And now Daniel is dead and John’s future is in the hands of a jury. Why? Why did this tragedy happen? A lie was told, a lie was believed, and no one stopped to implement God’s methods. No one acted in love, no one sought the truth, no one was willing to sacrifice self for the other, but instead each chose to follow the methods of the world – the method of power to crush the other and protect self-interest. 

This sad story reveals all too clearly the war raging on this planet between God’s methods of love and Satan’s methods of survival-of-the-fittest. But this heartbreaking story does even more, it reveals how and why the entire problem of sin and suffering got started in the first place. It shows the power of a lie believed.

God created everything in the universe to operate on love, unmitigated giving, beneficence and regard for others more than oneself. God created all beings to be in unity and harmony. But this unity, harmony and love was broken. How? A lie was told. A lie was believed and pain, suffering and death followed.

Imagine you are married and someone tells you a lie that your spouse is having an affair. If you believe the lie, will something in you change? Will the circle of love and trust get broken? Will the broken love and trust lead to a change in behavior?

This is what happened in Eden. Satan told lies about God. Adam and Eve believed those lies and the circle of love and trust was broken.  Broken love and trust result in fear and selfishness (also known as survival-of-the-fittest).  Fear and selfishness result in acts of sin (destructive behaviors).  Acts of sin result in damage to mind, character and body – a terminal condition.

Daniel Cicciaro believed a lie that Aaron White was going to rape his friend. This lie broke the circle of love and trust shared by these neighbors and friends. Once the circle of love and trust was broken, fear and selfishness arose. Daniel, because he believed the lie, no longer trusted Aaron and, in fact, was now afraid of Aaron, afraid he would rape his friend. His fear and selfishness led him to seek to destroy Aaron – a destructive act, which resulted in pain, suffering and death.

Adam and Eve believed lies about God. The circle of love and trust was broken and, in fear, they ran and hid from God. As they no longer trusted God to look out for their welfare, they became self-focused, self-promoting, and selfish and ate the fruit seeking to become like God (an act of sin). Their condition was now terminal and without divine intervention the human race would die.

But God did not leave us to die in our terminal state but sent His Son to heal the damage, to reveal the truth, to win us back to love and trust and restore His character, His methods, His principles of love in us again. Because of Jesus Christ, we can have the lies purged and experience a new motive, a new principle, a new heart attitude of love for others, real freedom from fear and selfishness. We can live new lives in which we love others more than ourselves!

This healing starts with the truth about God, as revealed in Christ, which wins us back to trust. And in trust we open the heart to receive God’s regenerating love and then become channels of His love to others. We give ourselves in love to uplift and benefit others. How different would things be for the White and Cicciarro families if they would have sought the truth rather than believing the lie, if they would have loved others first.

May we always pursue the truth, the truth about God, experience His love and become a conduit of goodness, beneficence and love!

Merry Christmas

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Testimony 10

I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

Testimony 70

I have been watching you for many years and have learned to love God with all my heart. I was raised by a loving Christian mother that had been lied to about who God really was, so our religious upbringing was hell fire and damnation. As soon as I was old enough and moved out, I not only left the church, I ran as fast as I could to get away from it. Sad to say, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I learned and understand who my Father really is and how much He loves me. I understand God’s Design Laws (which make sense) and when I’m teaching my church Bible study class, I’m able to really put to use the things I’ve been learning and Holy Spirit is leading. Thank you for introducing me to my Father of true, pure love. Everyday with Him is new and exciting. One thing that breaks my heart is that I didn’t know Him sooner. God Bless you and your ministry!

Judy Phelps, Reno, NV, USA

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We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

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I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

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I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

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Ok, so last night I listened to “The Law of Liberty” and “How to Achieve Victory: Freedom, Truth and Spirtual Warfare.” These are both MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES so far! The logic is just soooooo beautiful. I had to re-listen to them a couple of times. I just want to EXPLODE! (<< we assume with joy and happiness)

N. B., Canada

 

Testimony 73

I have been truly blessed by your blogs and other resources. They have helped me to see things in a much brighter light and to reason things out better. Thank you so much for your ministry. Whenever I have the opportunity I pass along your material to my friends.

R. Noseworthy, Newfoundland, Canada

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 20

I just wanted to personally thank you for your teachings and insight into scripture. I came across your website via my cousin who suggested I look into “Healing the Mind” information. My youngest daughter has been struggling over the last couple of years and it all came to a head this spring. When I started listening to the “Healing the Mind” lectures my own life began to be transformed. I began sharing with all my daughters the concepts you laid out so clearly. I ordered your book and soaked it up. I just want to say “Thank You!” My walk with the Lord has been refreshed and renewed. Your obedience to the Lord is a blessing to so many.

R. K., Anderson, SC, USA

 

Testimony 11

I would love to have a copy of “Healing the Mind” DVDs to have in my therapy office. I enjoy having clients check out materials to enhance their therapy experience. I have sat under Dr. Jennings’ teaching at an American Association of Christian Counselors convention and respect his work greatly.

K.B., LA, USA

 

Testimony 47

I can’t even begin to thank you and your ministry enough for introducing me to the Truth about a loving and merciful God! I have my daughter and her in-laws to thank for sharing with me “The God-Shaped Brain” as well as your website. I listen to the Bible study class lessons on my daily walk. May God continue to bless your thirst-quenching ministry!

Liz H., Port Angeles, WA, USA

 

 

Testimony 49

I came into the church at 21, but that is as far as it went. I was so confused about what love is. I couldn’t find it in the bible, because I am not a person that can read between the lines. I have no logic. I have read many, many books; trying to figure out the crux of the matter. They were helpful, but something was still missing. I have become very frustrated to the point of crying out to God, “Where can I go?”  I needed some basics.

I found two books, written by Timothy Jennings, MD, to be very helpful. God showed me that I had lived my whole life in fear. I didn’t even see it. Now, I do. God is so good.  I discovered the “The Remedy”  Dr. Jennings new book, “The God-Shaped Heart!” Oh, I was so excited, I purchased them right away.

I can get rid of most of my books, because “The Remedy” brings the Love of God out so clearly, even I can’t miss it. Now, I want to sit and read my Bible. Wow, what a revelation! It is just simply Awesome! I am so grateful to Jehovah Almighty for hearing my prayer for more understanding! I am so encouraged!

Jackie S.