Recommended by Anne Rice: The Gospels for All Christians...
As other reviews here make clear, this is a powerful book that demands a rethinking of the assumptions of some earlier scholars that the gospels were written for isolated communities. Bauckham's work calls these theories into question, and demonstrates that such theories are almost entirely speculative and do not rest on any kind of real proof. Unfortunately much of this earlier speculative scholarship has led mainstream readers to believe that the gospels are not reliable accounts of the life of Jesus and that they were indeed fakes. Bauckham urges a much more responsible approach to Gospel scholarship. Highly recommended, along with Bauckham's many other books.
Who Is Anne Rice?
Biography
One of America's most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are rich tapestries of history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that examine and extend our physical world beyond the limits we perceive.
Anne lives and works in California. Anne's life experiences and intellectual inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her work.
Anne Rice Fact File:
UPDATED MAY 11, 2008
1. Born Howard Allen O’Brien on October 4, 1941, Anne chose the name “Anne” when she entered the first grade at St. Alphonsus Grammar School. She attended Catholic schools until 1958 when her family moved from New Orleans to Richardson, Texas.
2. After graduating from Richardson High School, in 1959, Anne attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas and later North Texas State College.
3. After a year’s stay in San Francisco, during which she worked as an insurance claims examiner, Anne returned to Denton, Texas to marry Stan Rice, her childhood sweetheart.
4. Stan and Anne lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1962 to 1988, experiencing the birth of Hippie Revolution first hand as they lived in the soon to be fabled Haight Ashbury. Both attended and graduated from San Francisco State University.
5. Stan Rice became a professor at San Francisco State shortly after receiving his M.A. there. He published many books of poetry, and later, after the couple’s return to New Orleans in 1989, painted over three hundred paintings in the attic of their Garden District home (see below.)
6. In 1972, Stan and Anne lost their daughter, Michele, to adult leukemia just before her fifth birthday.
7. Christopher Rice, born to them in 1978, seemed a gift from God in that both of his parents stopped their heavy drinking when faced with another chance at parenthood.
8. Anne wrote Interview with the Vampire while the couple still lived in Berkeley, California, just before Christopher’s birth, and has written over 28 novels.
9. Christopher Rice, who attended school in San Francisco, and later in New Orleans, has published four novels, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. Christopher attended Brown University for one year, and also attended New York University, before writing the first of his novels, A Density of Souls, which brought him national recognition. Please see the link to Christopher’s website.
10. In New Orleans in 1989, Stan and Anne bought the Garden District Greek Revival house that would become the setting for five or six of Anne’s novels. This house would also house Stan’s attic painting studio. It was here that Christopher wrote his first novel. This home was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Anne, who had passed the beautiful house frequently in her early years, going to and from her parish church of St. Alphonsus from her home on St. Charles Avenue. During the 1990’s, Anne owned many buildings in New Orleans, including St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage, her childhood home on St. Charles Avenue, and other restoration projects. The family enjoyed apartments in Florida and New York, and traveled frequently to Europe. Anne and Stan also traveled to Israel. Anne made a second visit in 2005. The 1990’s also saw Anne’s first novel, Interview with the Vampire made into a motion picture, starring Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Cruise. Anne’s screenplay was the basis for the adaptation, directed by Neil Jordan. Years later, Anne’s novel, The Feast of All Saints, about the free people of color of Lousiana, would be made into a Showtime mini-series, scripted by John Wilder. Please see the page devoted to the book and the series on this site. A Broadway musical, Lestat, was also developed in 2004 by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Linda Woolverton and Rob Roth. Though the play closed, there are rumors of a New Orleans revival.
11. Anne returned to the Catholic Church in 1998, and in 2002 consecrated her writing entirely to Christ, vowing to write for Him or about Him. She remains passionately loyal to the readers of her earlier works. Please see the Essay on this site devoted to that subject.
12. Stan Rice died in 2002 within four and a half months of being diagnosed with brain cancer. His many beautiful paintings will soon find a permanent home in a southern museum. Eventually, his collected poems will be published. His extensive diaries are now being edited. They include many observations about his poetry and his painting. Please see the link to the Stan Rice website.
13. In 2005, after completing Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt, Anne left Louisiana and her beloved city of New Orleans to live in California. Within months of her departure, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.
14. Christ the Lord, the Road to Cana, was published in 2008. A spiritual memoir by Anne entitled Called Out of Darkness will be published in the fall of 2008 as well.
15. Anne now lives and works in the California desert, a few hours drive from her son, Christopher, who lives and works in West Hollywood.
Who Is Anne Rice?
Biography
One of America's most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are rich tapestries of history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that examine and extend our physical world beyond the limits we perceive.
Anne lives and works in California. Anne's life experiences and intellectual inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her work.
Anne Rice Fact File:
UPDATED MAY 11, 2008
1. Born Howard Allen O’Brien on October 4, 1941, Anne chose the name “Anne” when she entered the first grade at St. Alphonsus Grammar School. She attended Catholic schools until 1958 when her family moved from New Orleans to Richardson, Texas.
2. After graduating from Richardson High School, in 1959, Anne attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas and later North Texas State College.
3. After a year’s stay in San Francisco, during which she worked as an insurance claims examiner, Anne returned to Denton, Texas to marry Stan Rice, her childhood sweetheart.
4. Stan and Anne lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1962 to 1988, experiencing the birth of Hippie Revolution first hand as they lived in the soon to be fabled Haight Ashbury. Both attended and graduated from San Francisco State University.
5. Stan Rice became a professor at San Francisco State shortly after receiving his M.A. there. He published many books of poetry, and later, after the couple’s return to New Orleans in 1989, painted over three hundred paintings in the attic of their Garden District home (see below.)
6. In 1972, Stan and Anne lost their daughter, Michele, to adult leukemia just before her fifth birthday.
7. Christopher Rice, born to them in 1978, seemed a gift from God in that both of his parents stopped their heavy drinking when faced with another chance at parenthood.
8. Anne wrote Interview with the Vampire while the couple still lived in Berkeley, California, just before Christopher’s birth, and has written over 28 novels.
9. Christopher Rice, who attended school in San Francisco, and later in New Orleans, has published four novels, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. Christopher attended Brown University for one year, and also attended New York University, before writing the first of his novels, A Density of Souls, which brought him national recognition. Please see the link to Christopher’s website.
10. In New Orleans in 1989, Stan and Anne bought the Garden District Greek Revival house that would become the setting for five or six of Anne’s novels. This house would also house Stan’s attic painting studio. It was here that Christopher wrote his first novel. This home was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Anne, who had passed the beautiful house frequently in her early years, going to and from her parish church of St. Alphonsus from her home on St. Charles Avenue. During the 1990’s, Anne owned many buildings in New Orleans, including St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage, her childhood home on St. Charles Avenue, and other restoration projects. The family enjoyed apartments in Florida and New York, and traveled frequently to Europe. Anne and Stan also traveled to Israel. Anne made a second visit in 2005. The 1990’s also saw Anne’s first novel, Interview with the Vampire made into a motion picture, starring Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Cruise. Anne’s screenplay was the basis for the adaptation, directed by Neil Jordan. Years later, Anne’s novel, The Feast of All Saints, about the free people of color of Lousiana, would be made into a Showtime mini-series, scripted by John Wilder. Please see the page devoted to the book and the series on this site. A Broadway musical, Lestat, was also developed in 2004 by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Linda Woolverton and Rob Roth. Though the play closed, there are rumors of a New Orleans revival.
11. Anne returned to the Catholic Church in 1998, and in 2002 consecrated her writing entirely to Christ, vowing to write for Him or about Him. She remains passionately loyal to the readers of her earlier works. Please see the Essay on this site devoted to that subject.
12. Stan Rice died in 2002 within four and a half months of being diagnosed with brain cancer. His many beautiful paintings will soon find a permanent home in a southern museum. Eventually, his collected poems will be published. His extensive diaries are now being edited. They include many observations about his poetry and his painting. Please see the link to the Stan Rice website.
13. In 2005, after completing Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt, Anne left Louisiana and her beloved city of New Orleans to live in California. Within months of her departure, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.
14. Christ the Lord, the Road to Cana, was published in 2008. A spiritual memoir by Anne entitled Called Out of Darkness will be published in the fall of 2008 as well.
15. Anne now lives and works in the California desert, a few hours drive from her son, Christopher, who lives and works in West Hollywood.
Recommended by Anne Rice: Dare We Hope 'That ALl Men Be Saved?
Are our beliefs about Hell changing? I would say that they are. Many Christians today, I think, are deeply uneasy with the notion of a place of eternal damnation and unremitting punishment. Their faith in God is strong. But they have real questions as to whether any soul can really merit everlasting torment. ---- And non Christians report that the concept of Hell is something that stands between them and embracing faith. ----- This does not mean people don't want to face the consequences of sin, I don't think. It means that they have trouble grasping the finality of damnation and the everlasting punishment for sins committed by flawed human beings. -----Whatever the case, many are troubled by the concept of Hell, but they long to be faithful to their God, to the Scriptures, and to their churches. Does that mean they have to believe more people go to Hell than to Heaven? Does that mean that they have to believe people are burning in Hell now and will be for all eternity? This book by a brilliant theologian explores the possibility that we might indeed hope that all humans can be saved. Balthasar examines Scripture, Christian tradition and the writings of the saints on this subject. And he quotes much very impressive material. Whatever one concludes, after reading this book, one has to be aware of the complexity of the questions surrounding Hell, and God's justice and mercy.
Who Is Anne Rice?
Biography
One of America's most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are rich tapestries of history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that examine and extend our physical world beyond the limits we perceive.
Anne lives and works in California. Anne's life experiences and intellectual inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her work.
Anne Rice Fact File:
UPDATED MAY 11, 2008
1. Born Howard Allen O’Brien on October 4, 1941, Anne chose the name “Anne” when she entered the first grade at St. Alphonsus Grammar School. She attended Catholic schools until 1958 when her family moved from New Orleans to Richardson, Texas.
2. After graduating from Richardson High School, in 1959, Anne attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas and later North Texas State College.
3. After a year’s stay in San Francisco, during which she worked as an insurance claims examiner, Anne returned to Denton, Texas to marry Stan Rice, her childhood sweetheart.
4. Stan and Anne lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1962 to 1988, experiencing the birth of Hippie Revolution first hand as they lived in the soon to be fabled Haight Ashbury. Both attended and graduated from San Francisco State University.
5. Stan Rice became a professor at San Francisco State shortly after receiving his M.A. there. He published many books of poetry, and later, after the couple’s return to New Orleans in 1989, painted over three hundred paintings in the attic of their Garden District home (see below.)
6. In 1972, Stan and Anne lost their daughter, Michele, to adult leukemia just before her fifth birthday.
7. Christopher Rice, born to them in 1978, seemed a gift from God in that both of his parents stopped their heavy drinking when faced with another chance at parenthood.
8. Anne wrote Interview with the Vampire while the couple still lived in Berkeley, California, just before Christopher’s birth, and has written over 28 novels.
9. Christopher Rice, who attended school in San Francisco, and later in New Orleans, has published four novels, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. Christopher attended Brown University for one year, and also attended New York University, before writing the first of his novels, A Density of Souls, which brought him national recognition. Please see the link to Christopher’s website.
10. In New Orleans in 1989, Stan and Anne bought the Garden District Greek Revival house that would become the setting for five or six of Anne’s novels. This house would also house Stan’s attic painting studio. It was here that Christopher wrote his first novel. This home was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Anne, who had passed the beautiful house frequently in her early years, going to and from her parish church of St. Alphonsus from her home on St. Charles Avenue. During the 1990’s, Anne owned many buildings in New Orleans, including St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage, her childhood home on St. Charles Avenue, and other restoration projects. The family enjoyed apartments in Florida and New York, and traveled frequently to Europe. Anne and Stan also traveled to Israel. Anne made a second visit in 2005. The 1990’s also saw Anne’s first novel, Interview with the Vampire made into a motion picture, starring Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Cruise. Anne’s screenplay was the basis for the adaptation, directed by Neil Jordan. Years later, Anne’s novel, The Feast of All Saints, about the free people of color of Lousiana, would be made into a Showtime mini-series, scripted by John Wilder. Please see the page devoted to the book and the series on this site. A Broadway musical, Lestat, was also developed in 2004 by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Linda Woolverton and Rob Roth. Though the play closed, there are rumors of a New Orleans revival.
11. Anne returned to the Catholic Church in 1998, and in 2002 consecrated her writing entirely to Christ, vowing to write for Him or about Him. She remains passionately loyal to the readers of her earlier works. Please see the Essay on this site devoted to that subject.
12. Stan Rice died in 2002 within four and a half months of being diagnosed with brain cancer. His many beautiful paintings will soon find a permanent home in a southern museum. Eventually, his collected poems will be published. His extensive diaries are now being edited. They include many observations about his poetry and his painting. Please see the link to the Stan Rice website.
13. In 2005, after completing Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt, Anne left Louisiana and her beloved city of New Orleans to live in California. Within months of her departure, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.
14. Christ the Lord, the Road to Cana, was published in 2008. A spiritual memoir by Anne entitled Called Out of Darkness will be published in the fall of 2008 as well.
15. Anne now lives and works in the California desert, a few hours drive from her son, Christopher, who lives and works in West Hollywood.
Who Is Anne Rice?
Biography
One of America's most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are rich tapestries of history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that examine and extend our physical world beyond the limits we perceive.
Anne lives and works in California. Anne's life experiences and intellectual inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her work.
Anne Rice Fact File:
UPDATED MAY 11, 2008
1. Born Howard Allen O’Brien on October 4, 1941, Anne chose the name “Anne” when she entered the first grade at St. Alphonsus Grammar School. She attended Catholic schools until 1958 when her family moved from New Orleans to Richardson, Texas.
2. After graduating from Richardson High School, in 1959, Anne attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas and later North Texas State College.
3. After a year’s stay in San Francisco, during which she worked as an insurance claims examiner, Anne returned to Denton, Texas to marry Stan Rice, her childhood sweetheart.
4. Stan and Anne lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1962 to 1988, experiencing the birth of Hippie Revolution first hand as they lived in the soon to be fabled Haight Ashbury. Both attended and graduated from San Francisco State University.
5. Stan Rice became a professor at San Francisco State shortly after receiving his M.A. there. He published many books of poetry, and later, after the couple’s return to New Orleans in 1989, painted over three hundred paintings in the attic of their Garden District home (see below.)
6. In 1972, Stan and Anne lost their daughter, Michele, to adult leukemia just before her fifth birthday.
7. Christopher Rice, born to them in 1978, seemed a gift from God in that both of his parents stopped their heavy drinking when faced with another chance at parenthood.
8. Anne wrote Interview with the Vampire while the couple still lived in Berkeley, California, just before Christopher’s birth, and has written over 28 novels.
9. Christopher Rice, who attended school in San Francisco, and later in New Orleans, has published four novels, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. Christopher attended Brown University for one year, and also attended New York University, before writing the first of his novels, A Density of Souls, which brought him national recognition. Please see the link to Christopher’s website.
10. In New Orleans in 1989, Stan and Anne bought the Garden District Greek Revival house that would become the setting for five or six of Anne’s novels. This house would also house Stan’s attic painting studio. It was here that Christopher wrote his first novel. This home was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Anne, who had passed the beautiful house frequently in her early years, going to and from her parish church of St. Alphonsus from her home on St. Charles Avenue. During the 1990’s, Anne owned many buildings in New Orleans, including St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage, her childhood home on St. Charles Avenue, and other restoration projects. The family enjoyed apartments in Florida and New York, and traveled frequently to Europe. Anne and Stan also traveled to Israel. Anne made a second visit in 2005. The 1990’s also saw Anne’s first novel, Interview with the Vampire made into a motion picture, starring Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Cruise. Anne’s screenplay was the basis for the adaptation, directed by Neil Jordan. Years later, Anne’s novel, The Feast of All Saints, about the free people of color of Lousiana, would be made into a Showtime mini-series, scripted by John Wilder. Please see the page devoted to the book and the series on this site. A Broadway musical, Lestat, was also developed in 2004 by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Linda Woolverton and Rob Roth. Though the play closed, there are rumors of a New Orleans revival.
11. Anne returned to the Catholic Church in 1998, and in 2002 consecrated her writing entirely to Christ, vowing to write for Him or about Him. She remains passionately loyal to the readers of her earlier works. Please see the Essay on this site devoted to that subject.
12. Stan Rice died in 2002 within four and a half months of being diagnosed with brain cancer. His many beautiful paintings will soon find a permanent home in a southern museum. Eventually, his collected poems will be published. His extensive diaries are now being edited. They include many observations about his poetry and his painting. Please see the link to the Stan Rice website.
13. In 2005, after completing Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt, Anne left Louisiana and her beloved city of New Orleans to live in California. Within months of her departure, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.
14. Christ the Lord, the Road to Cana, was published in 2008. A spiritual memoir by Anne entitled Called Out of Darkness will be published in the fall of 2008 as well.
15. Anne now lives and works in the California desert, a few hours drive from her son, Christopher, who lives and works in West Hollywood.
Recommended by Anne Rice: The Devil
Russell has been writing brilliant and very readable books on the problem of evil for quite some time. Many reviews here go into depth about his theological or philosophical points. I'm signing on only to recommend him to mainstream readers who might welcome a profound yet highly accessible scholar writing about evil in a responsible and compelling fashion. I also recommend Russell's Paradise Mislaid. This is a first rate thinker who is discussing complex metaphysical problems in deeply felt and provocative books.
Who Is Anne Rice?
Biography
One of America's most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are rich tapestries of history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that examine and extend our physical world beyond the limits we perceive.
Anne lives and works in California. Anne's life experiences and intellectual inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her work.
Anne Rice Fact File:
UPDATED MAY 11, 2008
1. Born Howard Allen O’Brien on October 4, 1941, Anne chose the name “Anne” when she entered the first grade at St. Alphonsus Grammar School. She attended Catholic schools until 1958 when her family moved from New Orleans to Richardson, Texas.
2. After graduating from Richardson High School, in 1959, Anne attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas and later North Texas State College.
3. After a year’s stay in San Francisco, during which she worked as an insurance claims examiner, Anne returned to Denton, Texas to marry Stan Rice, her childhood sweetheart.
4. Stan and Anne lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1962 to 1988, experiencing the birth of Hippie Revolution first hand as they lived in the soon to be fabled Haight Ashbury. Both attended and graduated from San Francisco State University.
5. Stan Rice became a professor at San Francisco State shortly after receiving his M.A. there. He published many books of poetry, and later, after the couple’s return to New Orleans in 1989, painted over three hundred paintings in the attic of their Garden District home (see below.)
6. In 1972, Stan and Anne lost their daughter, Michele, to adult leukemia just before her fifth birthday.
7. Christopher Rice, born to them in 1978, seemed a gift from God in that both of his parents stopped their heavy drinking when faced with another chance at parenthood.
8. Anne wrote Interview with the Vampire while the couple still lived in Berkeley, California, just before Christopher’s birth, and has written over 28 novels.
9. Christopher Rice, who attended school in San Francisco, and later in New Orleans, has published four novels, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. Christopher attended Brown University for one year, and also attended New York University, before writing the first of his novels, A Density of Souls, which brought him national recognition. Please see the link to Christopher’s website.
10. In New Orleans in 1989, Stan and Anne bought the Garden District Greek Revival house that would become the setting for five or six of Anne’s novels. This house would also house Stan’s attic painting studio. It was here that Christopher wrote his first novel. This home was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Anne, who had passed the beautiful house frequently in her early years, going to and from her parish church of St. Alphonsus from her home on St. Charles Avenue. During the 1990’s, Anne owned many buildings in New Orleans, including St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage, her childhood home on St. Charles Avenue, and other restoration projects. The family enjoyed apartments in Florida and New York, and traveled frequently to Europe. Anne and Stan also traveled to Israel. Anne made a second visit in 2005. The 1990’s also saw Anne’s first novel, Interview with the Vampire made into a motion picture, starring Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Cruise. Anne’s screenplay was the basis for the adaptation, directed by Neil Jordan. Years later, Anne’s novel, The Feast of All Saints, about the free people of color of Lousiana, would be made into a Showtime mini-series, scripted by John Wilder. Please see the page devoted to the book and the series on this site. A Broadway musical, Lestat, was also developed in 2004 by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Linda Woolverton and Rob Roth. Though the play closed, there are rumors of a New Orleans revival.
11. Anne returned to the Catholic Church in 1998, and in 2002 consecrated her writing entirely to Christ, vowing to write for Him or about Him. She remains passionately loyal to the readers of her earlier works. Please see the Essay on this site devoted to that subject.
12. Stan Rice died in 2002 within four and a half months of being diagnosed with brain cancer. His many beautiful paintings will soon find a permanent home in a southern museum. Eventually, his collected poems will be published. His extensive diaries are now being edited. They include many observations about his poetry and his painting. Please see the link to the Stan Rice website.
13. In 2005, after completing Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt, Anne left Louisiana and her beloved city of New Orleans to live in California. Within months of her departure, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.
14. Christ the Lord, the Road to Cana, was published in 2008. A spiritual memoir by Anne entitled Called Out of Darkness will be published in the fall of 2008 as well.
15. Anne now lives and works in the California desert, a few hours drive from her son, Christopher, who lives and works in West Hollywood.
Who Is Anne Rice?
Biography
One of America's most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are rich tapestries of history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that examine and extend our physical world beyond the limits we perceive.
Anne lives and works in California. Anne's life experiences and intellectual inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her work.
Anne Rice Fact File:
UPDATED MAY 11, 2008
1. Born Howard Allen O’Brien on October 4, 1941, Anne chose the name “Anne” when she entered the first grade at St. Alphonsus Grammar School. She attended Catholic schools until 1958 when her family moved from New Orleans to Richardson, Texas.
2. After graduating from Richardson High School, in 1959, Anne attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas and later North Texas State College.
3. After a year’s stay in San Francisco, during which she worked as an insurance claims examiner, Anne returned to Denton, Texas to marry Stan Rice, her childhood sweetheart.
4. Stan and Anne lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1962 to 1988, experiencing the birth of Hippie Revolution first hand as they lived in the soon to be fabled Haight Ashbury. Both attended and graduated from San Francisco State University.
5. Stan Rice became a professor at San Francisco State shortly after receiving his M.A. there. He published many books of poetry, and later, after the couple’s return to New Orleans in 1989, painted over three hundred paintings in the attic of their Garden District home (see below.)
6. In 1972, Stan and Anne lost their daughter, Michele, to adult leukemia just before her fifth birthday.
7. Christopher Rice, born to them in 1978, seemed a gift from God in that both of his parents stopped their heavy drinking when faced with another chance at parenthood.
8. Anne wrote Interview with the Vampire while the couple still lived in Berkeley, California, just before Christopher’s birth, and has written over 28 novels.
9. Christopher Rice, who attended school in San Francisco, and later in New Orleans, has published four novels, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. Christopher attended Brown University for one year, and also attended New York University, before writing the first of his novels, A Density of Souls, which brought him national recognition. Please see the link to Christopher’s website.
10. In New Orleans in 1989, Stan and Anne bought the Garden District Greek Revival house that would become the setting for five or six of Anne’s novels. This house would also house Stan’s attic painting studio. It was here that Christopher wrote his first novel. This home was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Anne, who had passed the beautiful house frequently in her early years, going to and from her parish church of St. Alphonsus from her home on St. Charles Avenue. During the 1990’s, Anne owned many buildings in New Orleans, including St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage, her childhood home on St. Charles Avenue, and other restoration projects. The family enjoyed apartments in Florida and New York, and traveled frequently to Europe. Anne and Stan also traveled to Israel. Anne made a second visit in 2005. The 1990’s also saw Anne’s first novel, Interview with the Vampire made into a motion picture, starring Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Cruise. Anne’s screenplay was the basis for the adaptation, directed by Neil Jordan. Years later, Anne’s novel, The Feast of All Saints, about the free people of color of Lousiana, would be made into a Showtime mini-series, scripted by John Wilder. Please see the page devoted to the book and the series on this site. A Broadway musical, Lestat, was also developed in 2004 by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Linda Woolverton and Rob Roth. Though the play closed, there are rumors of a New Orleans revival.
11. Anne returned to the Catholic Church in 1998, and in 2002 consecrated her writing entirely to Christ, vowing to write for Him or about Him. She remains passionately loyal to the readers of her earlier works. Please see the Essay on this site devoted to that subject.
12. Stan Rice died in 2002 within four and a half months of being diagnosed with brain cancer. His many beautiful paintings will soon find a permanent home in a southern museum. Eventually, his collected poems will be published. His extensive diaries are now being edited. They include many observations about his poetry and his painting. Please see the link to the Stan Rice website.
13. In 2005, after completing Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt, Anne left Louisiana and her beloved city of New Orleans to live in California. Within months of her departure, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.
14. Christ the Lord, the Road to Cana, was published in 2008. A spiritual memoir by Anne entitled Called Out of Darkness will be published in the fall of 2008 as well.
15. Anne now lives and works in the California desert, a few hours drive from her son, Christopher, who lives and works in West Hollywood.
Recommended by Anne Rice: Angels and Demons
The market is flooded with books on angels, many whimsical and speculative, others recounting meetings between angels and humans, and some even claiming to tell you how to talk to your angel. We have angel dictionaries and angel encyclopedia, books filled with great paintings, and others with personal angel art. This book is for those who want to ponder what Scripture tells us about angels, and what the great theologian, Thomas Aquinas, had to say about God's messengers as well. For those of us interested in the real root of the fascination, this is a treasure trove. Anyone can dream dreams of angels; anyone can make up stories about them. Anyone can draw his or her ideal winged guardian. But pondering the actual biblical passages that involve angels can be very surprising and inspiring, as this is where the real beginning of our understanding of angels resides. Like all Peter Kreeft's many books, this one is very readable. It's clear, concise, and will lead inevitably to the Bible itself. After all, that is where we first meet our angels, in the pages of the Old and New Testaments; and it may surprise readers to discover how much the Bible actually tells us about these mysterious and powerful creatures. I should add here that I find Thomas Aquinas endlessly fascinating, but difficult. And after reading Peter Kreeft's book, it was much easier for me to approach The Summa Theologica for the many intricate passages on angels bad and good. Peter Kreeft is a great teacher. This book captivates and instructs.
Who Is Anne Rice?
Biography
One of America's most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are rich tapestries of history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that examine and extend our physical world beyond the limits we perceive.
Anne lives and works in California. Anne's life experiences and intellectual inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her work.
Anne Rice Fact File:
UPDATED MAY 11, 2008
1. Born Howard Allen O’Brien on October 4, 1941, Anne chose the name “Anne” when she entered the first grade at St. Alphonsus Grammar School. She attended Catholic schools until 1958 when her family moved from New Orleans to Richardson, Texas.
2. After graduating from Richardson High School, in 1959, Anne attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas and later North Texas State College.
3. After a year’s stay in San Francisco, during which she worked as an insurance claims examiner, Anne returned to Denton, Texas to marry Stan Rice, her childhood sweetheart.
4. Stan and Anne lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1962 to 1988, experiencing the birth of Hippie Revolution first hand as they lived in the soon to be fabled Haight Ashbury. Both attended and graduated from San Francisco State University.
5. Stan Rice became a professor at San Francisco State shortly after receiving his M.A. there. He published many books of poetry, and later, after the couple’s return to New Orleans in 1989, painted over three hundred paintings in the attic of their Garden District home (see below.)
6. In 1972, Stan and Anne lost their daughter, Michele, to adult leukemia just before her fifth birthday.
7. Christopher Rice, born to them in 1978, seemed a gift from God in that both of his parents stopped their heavy drinking when faced with another chance at parenthood.
8. Anne wrote Interview with the Vampire while the couple still lived in Berkeley, California, just before Christopher’s birth, and has written over 28 novels.
9. Christopher Rice, who attended school in San Francisco, and later in New Orleans, has published four novels, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. Christopher attended Brown University for one year, and also attended New York University, before writing the first of his novels, A Density of Souls, which brought him national recognition. Please see the link to Christopher’s website.
10. In New Orleans in 1989, Stan and Anne bought the Garden District Greek Revival house that would become the setting for five or six of Anne’s novels. This house would also house Stan’s attic painting studio. It was here that Christopher wrote his first novel. This home was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Anne, who had passed the beautiful house frequently in her early years, going to and from her parish church of St. Alphonsus from her home on St. Charles Avenue. During the 1990’s, Anne owned many buildings in New Orleans, including St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage, her childhood home on St. Charles Avenue, and other restoration projects. The family enjoyed apartments in Florida and New York, and traveled frequently to Europe. Anne and Stan also traveled to Israel. Anne made a second visit in 2005. The 1990’s also saw Anne’s first novel, Interview with the Vampire made into a motion picture, starring Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Cruise. Anne’s screenplay was the basis for the adaptation, directed by Neil Jordan. Years later, Anne’s novel, The Feast of All Saints, about the free people of color of Lousiana, would be made into a Showtime mini-series, scripted by John Wilder. Please see the page devoted to the book and the series on this site. A Broadway musical, Lestat, was also developed in 2004 by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Linda Woolverton and Rob Roth. Though the play closed, there are rumors of a New Orleans revival.
11. Anne returned to the Catholic Church in 1998, and in 2002 consecrated her writing entirely to Christ, vowing to write for Him or about Him. She remains passionately loyal to the readers of her earlier works. Please see the Essay on this site devoted to that subject.
12. Stan Rice died in 2002 within four and a half months of being diagnosed with brain cancer. His many beautiful paintings will soon find a permanent home in a southern museum. Eventually, his collected poems will be published. His extensive diaries are now being edited. They include many observations about his poetry and his painting. Please see the link to the Stan Rice website.
13. In 2005, after completing Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt, Anne left Louisiana and her beloved city of New Orleans to live in California. Within months of her departure, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.
14. Christ the Lord, the Road to Cana, was published in 2008. A spiritual memoir by Anne entitled Called Out of Darkness will be published in the fall of 2008 as well.
15. Anne now lives and works in the California desert, a few hours drive from her son, Christopher, who lives and works in West Hollywood.
Who Is Anne Rice?
Biography
One of America's most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are rich tapestries of history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that examine and extend our physical world beyond the limits we perceive.
Anne lives and works in California. Anne's life experiences and intellectual inquisitiveness provide her with constant inspiration for her work.
Anne Rice Fact File:
UPDATED MAY 11, 2008
1. Born Howard Allen O’Brien on October 4, 1941, Anne chose the name “Anne” when she entered the first grade at St. Alphonsus Grammar School. She attended Catholic schools until 1958 when her family moved from New Orleans to Richardson, Texas.
2. After graduating from Richardson High School, in 1959, Anne attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas and later North Texas State College.
3. After a year’s stay in San Francisco, during which she worked as an insurance claims examiner, Anne returned to Denton, Texas to marry Stan Rice, her childhood sweetheart.
4. Stan and Anne lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1962 to 1988, experiencing the birth of Hippie Revolution first hand as they lived in the soon to be fabled Haight Ashbury. Both attended and graduated from San Francisco State University.
5. Stan Rice became a professor at San Francisco State shortly after receiving his M.A. there. He published many books of poetry, and later, after the couple’s return to New Orleans in 1989, painted over three hundred paintings in the attic of their Garden District home (see below.)
6. In 1972, Stan and Anne lost their daughter, Michele, to adult leukemia just before her fifth birthday.
7. Christopher Rice, born to them in 1978, seemed a gift from God in that both of his parents stopped their heavy drinking when faced with another chance at parenthood.
8. Anne wrote Interview with the Vampire while the couple still lived in Berkeley, California, just before Christopher’s birth, and has written over 28 novels.
9. Christopher Rice, who attended school in San Francisco, and later in New Orleans, has published four novels, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. Christopher attended Brown University for one year, and also attended New York University, before writing the first of his novels, A Density of Souls, which brought him national recognition. Please see the link to Christopher’s website.
10. In New Orleans in 1989, Stan and Anne bought the Garden District Greek Revival house that would become the setting for five or six of Anne’s novels. This house would also house Stan’s attic painting studio. It was here that Christopher wrote his first novel. This home was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Anne, who had passed the beautiful house frequently in her early years, going to and from her parish church of St. Alphonsus from her home on St. Charles Avenue. During the 1990’s, Anne owned many buildings in New Orleans, including St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage, her childhood home on St. Charles Avenue, and other restoration projects. The family enjoyed apartments in Florida and New York, and traveled frequently to Europe. Anne and Stan also traveled to Israel. Anne made a second visit in 2005. The 1990’s also saw Anne’s first novel, Interview with the Vampire made into a motion picture, starring Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Cruise. Anne’s screenplay was the basis for the adaptation, directed by Neil Jordan. Years later, Anne’s novel, The Feast of All Saints, about the free people of color of Lousiana, would be made into a Showtime mini-series, scripted by John Wilder. Please see the page devoted to the book and the series on this site. A Broadway musical, Lestat, was also developed in 2004 by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Linda Woolverton and Rob Roth. Though the play closed, there are rumors of a New Orleans revival.
11. Anne returned to the Catholic Church in 1998, and in 2002 consecrated her writing entirely to Christ, vowing to write for Him or about Him. She remains passionately loyal to the readers of her earlier works. Please see the Essay on this site devoted to that subject.
12. Stan Rice died in 2002 within four and a half months of being diagnosed with brain cancer. His many beautiful paintings will soon find a permanent home in a southern museum. Eventually, his collected poems will be published. His extensive diaries are now being edited. They include many observations about his poetry and his painting. Please see the link to the Stan Rice website.
13. In 2005, after completing Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt, Anne left Louisiana and her beloved city of New Orleans to live in California. Within months of her departure, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.
14. Christ the Lord, the Road to Cana, was published in 2008. A spiritual memoir by Anne entitled Called Out of Darkness will be published in the fall of 2008 as well.
15. Anne now lives and works in the California desert, a few hours drive from her son, Christopher, who lives and works in West Hollywood.
Unmerited Favor by Joseph Prince
This book is about:
1. Encouraging you to not focus on what you are doing, but to focus on beholdinh Jesus;
2. Telling you that it aint over! God is saying this to you:"Don't give up just yet. It aint over!;
3. Building upon the existing teachings on favor and giving believers a firm foundation on why they have the right to God's unmerited favor in their lives today;
4. Letting you know that you have an abundance of Jesus' unmerited favor in your life!;
5. Letting yo in on your supernatural advantage for a successful life!
1. Encouraging you to not focus on what you are doing, but to focus on beholdinh Jesus;
2. Telling you that it aint over! God is saying this to you:"Don't give up just yet. It aint over!;
3. Building upon the existing teachings on favor and giving believers a firm foundation on why they have the right to God's unmerited favor in their lives today;
4. Letting you know that you have an abundance of Jesus' unmerited favor in your life!;
5. Letting yo in on your supernatural advantage for a successful life!
Let's Talk About Jesus!
Face Book is one of the most popular social media websites in the world. Hundreds of thousands of new subscribers are getting onto this platform every single day. Rubbish!
The Bible is the Number 1 Best seller of all publications in the world. Rubbish!
Where am I coming from?
Face Book has become so popular because there is something attractive about it. Its influence has spread over to the business communities in that whatever is said on Face Book can make or break a company.
By the same token, the Bible has been the top selling publication for ages because there is something powerful about it. It has tremendous impact on lives! It shall prosper and heal you!
To those who are not on Face Book, it is but rubbish. Similarly, to those who are not into Jesus, the Bible is trash.
I will have you know this day that the Holy Bible is all about the person of Jesus! From the first page to the last!
Millions upon millions of lives have been positively impacted by Jesus since time immemorial. Multitudes have been prospered and healed in churches: the body of Jesus Christ. Why then are miracles confined to churches? You got it right! It is because the goodness and loveliness of Jesus are talked about only in churches!
Incidentally, churches are but assemblies of people talking about Jesus! A church is not confined to some buildings. A group of friends or family members gathered together to talk about Jesus is a church!
The Bibles says that when you talk about Jesus, signs and wonders shall follow. In short, miracles happen whenever you talk about the person of Jesus!
Why then are miracles not prevalent in our times? Yes, you got it right again! It is because we do not talk about Jesus and Jesus crucified.
The early churches in the Book of Acts were super powerful!
Handkerchiefs of the prophets healed the sick! The dead were raised! What was the attitude of Apostle Paul, our grace minister? It was this: "I resolved to know nothing else except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2)
I declare this day forward that I resolved to know nothing else except Jesus Christ and Him crucified!
The Book of Acts also recorded that the Apostles have been warned not to speak anymore in that name (Acts 4:17).
What was the Apostle Peter's response? It was this: " And now, Lord, behold their threatening: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy child Jesus." (Acts 4:29-30).
This day, I ask of the same!
Terror struck the hearts of the Pharisees when the wonderful name of Jesus was preached. What was in that name? It is this: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth." (Philippians 2:9-10)
Sicknesses and diseases must go in Jesus' name! Poverty and lack must vanish in the name of Jesus! All imperfections must bow to that wonderful name of Jesus!
At this point, I would have you know that sicknesses and diseases and disasters NEVER came from God. Mankind has been deceived to believe this lie! It is not the Father's will that any should perish.
From then till now, Satan has been working hard to tarnish the good reputation of our loving Abba Father. Satan has been using the aged tactics of fear to stop the talk about Jesus: Fear of ridicule and shame, mockery and rejection.
Why is Satan trying so hard to stop us from talking about Jesus? It is because he wants to hide a secret.
What secret? It is this. More than two thousand years ago, Satan suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Jesus! Satan was disarmed! Satan was stripped of all his powers! Satan lost his dominion over mankind! (Colossians 2:15).
When Jesus was crucified, Satan imagined that he has won the ultimate battle against God. Satan imagined that he would have eternal dominion over the world and mankind. Satan thought his deep desire to become God has come to fruition.
What Satan least expected was these. When Jesus was crucified on the Cross, all of God's judgment against our sins for all of eternity has been poured on the body of Jesus! Today, our sins and lawless deeds, God remembers no more (Hebrews 10:17). And as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from Him (Psalms 103:12).
When Jesus was flogged and his flesh torn apart beyond human recognition, every stroke He bore took away all our diseases and infirmities. And by his stripes, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5)
In the three days when Jesus died, he went to the depth of hell. He sank to the lowest depths of Hades: in the lowest pit, the pit of dense darkness. His soul has arrived at Sheol, the kingdom of death and He became a man without God. He was wasted (Psalms 88).
The whole hosts of hell were upon Him and He was going through agonies beyond human imagination and then suddenly, He was justified and made alive! He hurled back the hosts of darkness and He put them to naught; He paralyzed their death dealing power. (Hebrews 2:14)
Jesus became the master of all hell. "He disarmed the principalities and the powers; He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:15).
If you have watched the Move "The Passion of Christ", you may recall the scenes when Jesus was flogged, spit at, punched and eventually nailed on the Cross.
I believe these scenes somewhat depict a sense of the untold agonizing sufferings that Jesus took on our behalf when He was three days and three nights in the pit!
The only difference is this. Picture it in your mind with me.
While Jesus was undergoing all that agonizing pain (and I can imagine Satan laughing his heart out), He suddenly broke free, flung every host of darkness that were all over Him, bashed them up and then held Satan up by his neck before slamming him to the ground and trampling him under His feet!
Satan was shivering and trembling in utter shock, absorbing that truth of his humiliating defeat!
And this is what I call :He who laughs first, laughs last!"
It was as if our Lord Jesus sang this song: "Caught you by surprise. You didn't realize that your life has changed forever!"
Satan's life has been changed to eternal damnation.
Our lives have been changed to eternal blessedness. Not only in heaven but RIGHT NOW!
And when God raised Jesus from the dead that was our ultimate victory! That victory was ours!
Jesus has come to do for us what we can never do! Jesus has defeated Satan and became the absolute master of satanic forces! He has done it for us, as us!
Now, you can see why Satan is so afraid of you talking about Jesus!
Satan does not want you to know that YOU are his MASTER!
Satan is our defeated foe who tries to deceive us into believing that he still has dominion over us! To the extent he manages to stop us from talking and knowing Jesus, to that extent he wields dominion over us.
Satan can only succeed insofar as we allow him to.
Satan will use all sorts of contradictory circumstances in an attempt to deceive us into submission to his pseudo powers.
But NOW I KNOW! I stand on God's Word! I stand on the eternal truth of Jesus' victory; MY VICTORY!
Isn't Jesus Good News? With all these in mind, why should I be ashamed to talk about Jesus, the good news, the Gospel?! "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power unto salvation."
It is not just salvation to enter heaven. It is salvation from sicknesses, diseases, infirmities, pains, poverty; in short LACK!
All that is history!
NOW, I have abundant life for "Jesus has come that I may have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
What stands between LACK and ABUNDANCE is this: YOUR acceptance of what Jesus has done for YOU!
God says: "I lay before you life and death, therefore choose well and choose LIFE". The very moment YOU receive Jesus as your personal Savior and believe that He died for your sins and three days later was resurrected; the eternal abundant life NOW and for ETERNITY is YOURS!
For everyone who is in Christ is a new creation; old things have passed away and behold, ALL things have become NEW!
What's your pick?
Let's talk about Jesus!
Shocking Revelation!!!
Shocking Revelation!
The 6 days of creation as mentioned in Genesis 1 of the Holy Bible was actually re-constructive creation!
Earth experienced a catastrophe before God reconstructed it!
The word "was" in Genesis 1:2 means "become" in Hebrew. This implies that earth has changed from one state to another. Although the former state of the earth was not clearly mentioned in the Bible, what it has become was vividly described: formless, dark and void. So what happened!
The Creation of the Universe
(Source: http://www.biblicalresearch.info/page56.html )
Genesis 1:1-2:3 set forth the account of the beginning of the universe, the disaster which overtook the primitive earth and the reconstruction as well as the repairing of this damage, together with the beginning of the present human race. These scriptures give us, in panoramic form, a clear-cut definite idea of the past and points to things future from the standpoint of "the days of reconstruction."
In the first verse, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," we see that portion of eternity which antedated time and the creation of the material universe. However in the second verse we see that a cataclysmic [tragic] catastrophe wrecked the earth and reduced it to a chaotic condition.
Genesis 1:2 Hebrew Study Bible (Apostolic / Interlinear)
וְהָאָ֗רֶץ[earth] הָיְתָ֥ה[was=become] תֹ֙הוּ֙ ]formless]וָבֹ֔הוּ[emptiness]וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ[dark]עַל־[above] פְּנֵ֣י[face] תְהֹ֑ום[deep] וְר֣וּחַ[Spirit]אֱלֹהִ֔ים[God] מְרַחֶ֖פֶת[move] עַל־[above] פְּנֵ֥י[face] הַמָּֽיִם׃ [waters]
Genesis 1:2 KJV
And the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Nothing however is said with reference to the damage wrought throughout the rest of the material universe. Notheless there are little hints here and there in later passages of the Scripture that may shed some light .
There were six days of reconstruction , during which God was engaged in repairing, to a certain extent, the damage that had been wrought. Under His moral government, it was impossible for Him to restore the primitive, sinless order. He therefore repaired the wreckage that was necessary in order that He might create man in His own image, to whom He would give authority and dominion over the entire earth and all of its denizens. Unfortunately man later forfeited his right and authority to dominion over the world. Knowing God as we do, we may be certain that He would not be thwarted in His plans and purposes by any of the devices of Satan and of his wicked purposes.
In keeping with this general thought, we see that Psalm 8 takes up this very idea and shows that God will restore to man his forfeited authority and that He will do that by paying man a special visit.
Psalm 8 looks out, therefore, into the future, is quoted in Hebrews Chapter 2 and is applied to the great Kingdom Age of the future.
Psalm 8 (Amplified Bible)
1O LORD, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory on [or above] the heavens.
2Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have established strength because of Your foes, that You might silence the enemy and the avenger.(A)
3When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established,
4What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?
5Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet:(B)
7All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field,
8The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9O Lord, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth!
Hebrews Chapter 2 (Amplified Bible)
1SINCE ALL this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away.
2For if the message given through angels [the Law spoken by them to Moses] was authentic and proved sure, and every violation and disobedience received an appropriate (just and adequate) penalty,
3How shall we escape [appropriate retribution] if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation [as is now offered to us, letting it drift past us forever]? For it was declared at first by the Lord [Himself], and it was confirmed to us and proved to be real and genuine by those who personally heard [Him speak].
4[Besides this evidence] it was also established and plainly endorsed by God, Who showed His approval of it by signs and wonders and various miraculous manifestations of [His] power and by imparting the gifts of the Holy Spirit [to the believers] according to His own will.
5For it was not to angels that God subjected the habitable world of the future, of which we are speaking.
6It has been solemnly and earnestly said in a certain place, What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You graciously and helpfully care for and visit and look after him?
7For some little time You have ranked him lower than and inferior to the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of Your hands,(A)
8For You have put everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to man, He left nothing outside [of man's] control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him [man].
9But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person.
10For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering.
11For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren;
12For He says, I will declare Your [the Father's] name to My brethren; in the midst of the [worshiping] congregation I will sing hymns of praise to You.(B)
13And again He says, My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me.(C)
14Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death--that is, the devil--
15And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives.
16For, as we all know, He [Christ] did not take hold of angels [[a]the fallen angels, to give them a helping and delivering hand], but He did take hold of [[b]the fallen] descendants of Abraham [to reach out to them a helping and delivering hand].(D)
17So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people's sins.
18For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] [c]to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].
Thus when we grip all of these facts, we can see that eternity past and time--the period during which the present material universe is in existence--are presented in Genesis 1:1-2:3, together with Psalm 8 and Hebrews Chapter 2, which are the outgrowth of the Genesis original. Thus these passages give us in general the outline of the developments of the Almighty's plans from eternity in the past out to the end of the Millennial Age. Everything else that is mentioned in the Scriptures fits into this general picture. Without this plan of the ages, one is unable to locate and to pigeonhole, figuratively speaking, events that are referred to in the subsequent writings of the Scriptures.
In view of the facts just mentioned, one can see that it is of the utmost importance that we study carefully and microscopically:
1. the first account of the creation of the heavens and the earth,
2. of the primitive disaster which wrecked the earth,
3. of God's repairing the damage wrought, and
4. His creating man upon it.
Man, as we shall see, is an immortal spirit, who lives on after his earthly life has passed. He is destined to live somewhere throughout all eternity. Thus there is laid in this first portion of the Scriptures the fundamental outline of eternity past, of time, and of eternity throughout the ages of the ages which follow the great Millennial Era.
"The Father and His Family" by Dr E W Kenyon offers more details on the Redemption Plan.
