10/31/09
Is hell missing from your Bible?
Author David Daniels tells about the sneaky ways that "hell" is removed from popular Bibles. From "Look What's Missing" by David W. Daniels. Book available at www.chick.com or www.amazon.com.
Other Examples Of Missing Scripture From Certain Translators
video, called "This Bible's no good. I want my money back!"
video called "Did Jesus lie?"
Texas Beer Joint Sues A Church
Well, I would think it
perfectly clear - the church is
guilty!! Simply because they started petitions and
prayed over it. Pretty neat - the judge's comment.
Think this one over!!!
TEXAS BEER JOINT SUES A CHURCH.....
In a small Texas town, (Mt. Vernon) Drummond's bar
began construction on a
new building to increase their business.
The local Baptist Church
started a campaign to
block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers.
Work progressed right up till the week before opening
when lightning struck
the bar and it burned to the ground.
The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after
that, until the bar
owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was
ultimately
responsible for the demise of his building - either
through direct or indirect
actions or means.
The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any
connection to the
building's demise in its reply to the court.
As the case made its way into court, the judge looked
over the paperwork. At
the hearing he commented, "I don't know how
I'm going to decide this, but as
it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner who
believes in the power
of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does
not."
perfectly clear - the church is
guilty!! Simply because they started petitions and
prayed over it. Pretty neat - the judge's comment.
Think this one over!!!
TEXAS BEER JOINT SUES A CHURCH.....
In a small Texas town, (Mt. Vernon) Drummond's bar
began construction on a
new building to increase their business.
The local Baptist Church
started a campaign to
block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers.
Work progressed right up till the week before opening
when lightning struck
the bar and it burned to the ground.
The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after
that, until the bar
owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was
ultimately
responsible for the demise of his building - either
through direct or indirect
actions or means.
The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any
connection to the
building's demise in its reply to the court.
As the case made its way into court, the judge looked
over the paperwork. At
the hearing he commented, "I don't know how
I'm going to decide this, but as
it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner who
believes in the power
of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does
not."
Leadership
By Charles F. Stanley
The ability to help others move toward an agreed-upon vision.
"He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.' They immediately left their nets and followed Him." - Matthew 4:19-20
Christ as Leader
Three general categories describe the leadership style of Christ. First, He was a leader with a clear mission. Jesus’ primary motivation and purpose were glorification of His heavenly Father. Second, Jesus was a leader with consistent character. He lived what He taught and believed. Third, He was a leader with a capable team. He knew with committed, gifted individuals around Him, He would reach the world.
A clear mission serves as a compass to point you in the right direction. A mission is what you are to do as you fulfill God’s purpose for your life. A mission focuses you on what’s important. It’s not uncommon for the driving force of families or ministries to be crises or instant gratification rather than their mission. Your mission keeps you on course.
A mission serves as a filter for new ideas. You reject an idea that does not line up with your purpose. It may very well fit in another arena, but for your purpose it is unnecessary.
A mission also serves as an evaluation tool. Ministries, families, or individuals have a tendency to drift from the original purpose. A mission statement properly placed within a system can sound the alarm once a ministry, family, or individual begins to change in an unhealthy manner. Conversely, the mission statement should stimulate change when an organization or individual becomes stagnant.
A mission should reflect priorities. When you look over your life, will you be able to say, “I poured my life into what really mattered”? Through the dynamic of a clear mission, you will use the talents God has given you to their maximum potential. Not only will you “spend” your life, but you will “invest” your life in what really matters.
A clear mission statement serves as a powerful tool to keep you focused on God’s best. An unclear mission is just as powerful in allowing you to settle for good things but miss out on what really matters. Jesus had an uncanny ability of staying focused. He was mission driven and used interruptions as opportunities to apply His purpose.
Jesus understood why He was here. He knew where He was going and how He was to arrive at His destination. Jesus stated His purpose at twelve years of age. He explained to His parents, “Did you not know I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). The business of His Father most concerned Jesus. In a phrase, the mission of Jesus was to glorify God.
Jesus described this mission in another fashion when He explained to His disciples, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Jesus’ whole being was bent toward doing the will of God. With all of His heart He wanted to please His heavenly Father. That is why when the temptation to quit was overwhelming and when Christ was at the point of physical exhaustion in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to His heavenly Father, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39).
Out of Jesus’ glorification of God flowed many other purposes, but those purposes were determined by His primary mission of glorifying the One who sent Him: His heavenly Father. This brings us to the next logical questions: What was His Father’s business, and how did Christ carry out His Father’s will?
Jesus made clear His mission when He prayed, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4). Knowing He was about to die, Jesus evaluated His life and, with humility and quiet confidence, stated He had accomplished His purpose in life: the glorification of His heavenly Father.
Joseph H. Thayer defines glorification in this context, “To make renowned, render illustrious, i.e. to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged.” Jesus revealed God in His life, and He was about to enter into the last stage of His glorification mission—the revelation of Christ in His death and resurrection. Jesus accomplished His life mission by glorifying His Father; however, His death and resurrection missions were accomplished by the Father glorifying His Son!
Jesus’ personal rejection and suffering did not distract Him. Instead they drove Him to remain focused on His purpose. In the darkest hours He more fully revealed the nature of His heavenly Father. On another occasion He could have let the people make Him king, but He retreated to be with His heavenly Father to refocus on His mission (John 6:15).
Though His life was a portrait of God, He did not let the love of this life delay the culmination of His Father’s plan. Jesus could have confined Himself to the synagogue to a lifetime of insightfully and accurately expounding Scripture, but He knew God’s glorification was not limited to a building. He could have spent a lifetime in the humanitarian work of feeding and healing the people, but He knew God’s revelation was not limited to the physical needs of people.
Jesus could have spent all His time with unbelievers, but He chose to use some of His time to build a team of believers. The point is that Christ experienced all of life and ultimately death. As He experienced life and death, He revealed His heavenly Father, so with our finite minds we can develop our understanding of who God is and what He has done for us. The leadership style of Jesus has at its heart an uncompromisingly clear mission. Not only did He have a clear mission, but He also lived what He taught with consistent character.
Leading with Character
Mission is what we do; character is how and why we do it. Mission is action and getting things done; character is the motivation behind the work. Character validates our mission. Character gives credibility to our purpose. Without character, our mission becomes a catchy cliché that fails to affect our lives and the lives of others.
Character proves to others the seriousness of my commitment. Character expresses interest in the well-being of another’s relationships as well as in getting the job done.
Character comes from within. Honesty, hard work, sensitivity, and courage flow from the life of Christ within the believer. The fruit of the Spirit is just that: the fruition of God’s Holy Spirit working in the life of a believer. You can get things done. You can accomplish much, but without love, it is useless in this life and in the life to come.
There is a temptation to compromise character just to get the job done. But for the sake of God’s kingdom and for the good of the individual and those around him, character and competence serve together. Flowing from character are trust and respect, two vital traits of an effective leader.
Character is what is within an individual. People see what’s on the outside. God sees what’s on the inside. A look into the life and teachings of Christ indicates that character seems to revolve around the heart. If your heart is right, your character is right. Your heart is your innermost being where motivation and desires reside. Jesus modeled a consistent character. Through His character, He proved Himself to be the Son of God. His character validated His mission and ministry. The key to Christ’s character was purity of heart.
Walter Bauer defines heart in Matthew 15:8, Matthew 18 and Mark 7:6 as “the seat of the inner life in contrast to the mouth or lips, which either give expression to the inner life or deny it.” Wesley Penschbachen’s Analytical Greek Lexicon defines heart in Matthew 6:21; Matthew 22:37 as “the seat of feeling, impulse, affection and desire.”
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must consider character essential. The Holy Spirit is in the character-building business. He will lead and teach us to be more like Christ. In the long run, character will prove to be the great balancer. Character will help us give proper attention to the roles we are to fulfill. Consistent character earns the respect and trust of others. It’s through their respect and trust that we can be effective leaders.
Leading a Team
Christ wisely surrounded Himself with twelve men with great potential. His team certainly had not arrived. They were rough, though ready to meet the challenge with enthusiasm. They were not perfect, but they were open to growing and learning God’s ways. They were from diverse backgrounds. The diversity was an asset rather than a liability. They built on the strengths of one another and valued the uniqueness of their perspectives. Let’s examine this team, looking at Christ’s method of recruiting, training, and relationship building.
Jesus sought His heavenly Father’s wisdom before choosing His team. Jesus prayed all night, and at daybreak He called His disciples together and chose twelve as apostles (Luke 6:12-13). Seeking God’s wisdom was Jesus’ number one priority.
Jesus drafted men whom He had observed. He watched how they related to other people and saw the potential they could offer. Jesus also recruited people from various backgrounds. Included on the team of apostles were fishermen, a doctor, and a government official. None had formal theological training, though they would learn much from Jesus. They all seemed to exhibit an entrepreneurial spirit. They were adventurous and ready for change. They showed remarkable faith in leaving their jobs and following Him. They were trusting Christ for their needs to be met.
Jesus knew He needed apostles who represented all types of people. The majority of people were down-to-earth folks; thus, He had an equal representation from the apostles. They represented a diversity of backgrounds, expecting a life of faith as they abruptly left their occupations and, in some cases, families. Christ’s followers were loyal and teachable. Recruitment was just the beginning. Training was also a vital part of Christ’s teamwork philosophy.
Prior to commissioning the twelve apostles, Jesus was teaching, preaching, and healing. Jesus was a powerful teacher. He knew that what His followers could see and understand, they would retain. Jesus took everyday experiences and illustrated truth to the disciples. He taught about God’s provision by pointing to the birds and the lilies. The birds were fed and the lilies grew not because of their efforts but because of God’s faithfulness.
Consistently, the disciples heard this clear teaching. Over a span of three years, the words of Christ were recorded and discussed. His teaching helped them to begin a systematic way of belief. It all made sense. Loving God and loving people became the theme of the disciples’ lives. The strongest teaching tool reached beyond Christ’s words to His life.
The actions of Jesus were the greatest education for the disciples. Some of the most effective sermons Jesus preached occurred through His healing touch. His compassion for people who were sick was sincere and real. His disciples saw Him mingle among people with leprosy and other serious illnesses. He went to places that most people viewed with contempt. The disciples watched Christ. Many times they were astonished at His humility and servant spirit.
Jesus humbled Himself by washing the disciples’ feet (John 13). He took on the role of a servant as an example to the disciples. He left for them an example of what a disciple of Christ looked like. As Jesus washed their feet, there was misunderstanding, almost mutiny, but as they saw the sincerity and true servanthood of what Jesus was doing, they in turn were humbled and recognized their need for His cleansing. Jesus was an effective educator. He taught His followers by word and deed.
Leader of Relationships
Jesus knew the value of relationships. He modeled a dynamic, loving relationship with His heavenly Father. Out of that relationship flowed a tender love with those around Him. Out of the twelve apostles, He developed an intimate relationship with Peter, James, and John.
During crucial and pivotal experiences, Jesus involved Peter, James, and John. He included them at His encounter with God on the mountain of His transfiguration (Matt. 17). His ministry was not isolated from sharing His feelings with friends. He confided in them in the Garden of Gethsemane: “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me” (Matt. 26:38). Jesus needed the prayer and support of friends. Jesus showed His greatest love for His friends by dying for them (John 15:13).
They saw Him grieving at the tomb of His friend Lazarus. They witnessed His anger toward the hypocrisy of those using the temple for financial gain. Jesus fulfilled His roles in an honorable manner. His family relationships were important as well. He looked at John while He was dying on the cross and asked him to take care of His mother.
Jesus knew strong, healthy relationships would weather persecutions and trials. Because of His three-year investment in relationships and the proof of His authenticity on the cross, His investment is still paying dividends. Recruitment, training, and relationship building were important to Jesus. You can apply these principles more specifically to growing and building your team.
Application
Integrity and maturity are two character traits vital to the heart of a leader. Without them a leader has no credibility. No credibility means the leader forfeits the right to lead. The lifestyle of Jesus exemplifies these two areas.
Maturity understands that some people respond better to a direct, candid approach while others need more understanding and explanation. Maturity understands what motivates an individual and then leads him or her by that motivation. If recognition is important, the mature leader delivers sincere compliments both privately and publicly. If status and position are important to others, the wise leader at the proper time will promote and place them in areas of their expertise.
Courage and sensitivity mean the leader is interested not just in the destination but in the quality of the journey as well. The mature leader balances sensitivity with accountability. He knows when to give a little and when to stand firm.
Jesus balanced courage and sensitivity. He could be candid, as He was with Peter before washing the disciples’ feet (John 13). Peter refused to let Christ wash his feet. Jesus told him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Later He showed consideration by offering an explanation for His unusual actions. He said, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:15-17).
Jesus was wise to confront when He needed confrontation and to give a sensitive explanation when more compassion was required. Christ was consistent in His character; therefore, He earned the right to lead. People respected His ability to live what He believed. Integrity and maturity are important traits in character.
A clear mission, consistent character, and capable team are all essential for us to be the leaders of God’s people. The example of Jesus gives us a pattern to follow. May all of us follow Him so we can lead others for His glory!
Adapted from “Charles Stanley’s Handbook for Christian Living” (2008).
http://www.intouch.org/site/c.cnKBIPNuEoG/b.5564119/k.6CD2/GOING_DEEPER_Leadership.htm
© 2009 In Touch Ministries® All Rights Reserved.
The ability to help others move toward an agreed-upon vision.
"He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.' They immediately left their nets and followed Him." - Matthew 4:19-20
Christ as Leader
Three general categories describe the leadership style of Christ. First, He was a leader with a clear mission. Jesus’ primary motivation and purpose were glorification of His heavenly Father. Second, Jesus was a leader with consistent character. He lived what He taught and believed. Third, He was a leader with a capable team. He knew with committed, gifted individuals around Him, He would reach the world.
A clear mission serves as a compass to point you in the right direction. A mission is what you are to do as you fulfill God’s purpose for your life. A mission focuses you on what’s important. It’s not uncommon for the driving force of families or ministries to be crises or instant gratification rather than their mission. Your mission keeps you on course.
A mission serves as a filter for new ideas. You reject an idea that does not line up with your purpose. It may very well fit in another arena, but for your purpose it is unnecessary.
A mission also serves as an evaluation tool. Ministries, families, or individuals have a tendency to drift from the original purpose. A mission statement properly placed within a system can sound the alarm once a ministry, family, or individual begins to change in an unhealthy manner. Conversely, the mission statement should stimulate change when an organization or individual becomes stagnant.
A mission should reflect priorities. When you look over your life, will you be able to say, “I poured my life into what really mattered”? Through the dynamic of a clear mission, you will use the talents God has given you to their maximum potential. Not only will you “spend” your life, but you will “invest” your life in what really matters.
A clear mission statement serves as a powerful tool to keep you focused on God’s best. An unclear mission is just as powerful in allowing you to settle for good things but miss out on what really matters. Jesus had an uncanny ability of staying focused. He was mission driven and used interruptions as opportunities to apply His purpose.
Jesus understood why He was here. He knew where He was going and how He was to arrive at His destination. Jesus stated His purpose at twelve years of age. He explained to His parents, “Did you not know I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). The business of His Father most concerned Jesus. In a phrase, the mission of Jesus was to glorify God.
Jesus described this mission in another fashion when He explained to His disciples, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Jesus’ whole being was bent toward doing the will of God. With all of His heart He wanted to please His heavenly Father. That is why when the temptation to quit was overwhelming and when Christ was at the point of physical exhaustion in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to His heavenly Father, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39).
Out of Jesus’ glorification of God flowed many other purposes, but those purposes were determined by His primary mission of glorifying the One who sent Him: His heavenly Father. This brings us to the next logical questions: What was His Father’s business, and how did Christ carry out His Father’s will?
Jesus made clear His mission when He prayed, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4). Knowing He was about to die, Jesus evaluated His life and, with humility and quiet confidence, stated He had accomplished His purpose in life: the glorification of His heavenly Father.
Joseph H. Thayer defines glorification in this context, “To make renowned, render illustrious, i.e. to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged.” Jesus revealed God in His life, and He was about to enter into the last stage of His glorification mission—the revelation of Christ in His death and resurrection. Jesus accomplished His life mission by glorifying His Father; however, His death and resurrection missions were accomplished by the Father glorifying His Son!
Jesus’ personal rejection and suffering did not distract Him. Instead they drove Him to remain focused on His purpose. In the darkest hours He more fully revealed the nature of His heavenly Father. On another occasion He could have let the people make Him king, but He retreated to be with His heavenly Father to refocus on His mission (John 6:15).
Though His life was a portrait of God, He did not let the love of this life delay the culmination of His Father’s plan. Jesus could have confined Himself to the synagogue to a lifetime of insightfully and accurately expounding Scripture, but He knew God’s glorification was not limited to a building. He could have spent a lifetime in the humanitarian work of feeding and healing the people, but He knew God’s revelation was not limited to the physical needs of people.
Jesus could have spent all His time with unbelievers, but He chose to use some of His time to build a team of believers. The point is that Christ experienced all of life and ultimately death. As He experienced life and death, He revealed His heavenly Father, so with our finite minds we can develop our understanding of who God is and what He has done for us. The leadership style of Jesus has at its heart an uncompromisingly clear mission. Not only did He have a clear mission, but He also lived what He taught with consistent character.
Leading with Character
Mission is what we do; character is how and why we do it. Mission is action and getting things done; character is the motivation behind the work. Character validates our mission. Character gives credibility to our purpose. Without character, our mission becomes a catchy cliché that fails to affect our lives and the lives of others.
Character proves to others the seriousness of my commitment. Character expresses interest in the well-being of another’s relationships as well as in getting the job done.
Character comes from within. Honesty, hard work, sensitivity, and courage flow from the life of Christ within the believer. The fruit of the Spirit is just that: the fruition of God’s Holy Spirit working in the life of a believer. You can get things done. You can accomplish much, but without love, it is useless in this life and in the life to come.
There is a temptation to compromise character just to get the job done. But for the sake of God’s kingdom and for the good of the individual and those around him, character and competence serve together. Flowing from character are trust and respect, two vital traits of an effective leader.
Character is what is within an individual. People see what’s on the outside. God sees what’s on the inside. A look into the life and teachings of Christ indicates that character seems to revolve around the heart. If your heart is right, your character is right. Your heart is your innermost being where motivation and desires reside. Jesus modeled a consistent character. Through His character, He proved Himself to be the Son of God. His character validated His mission and ministry. The key to Christ’s character was purity of heart.
Walter Bauer defines heart in Matthew 15:8, Matthew 18 and Mark 7:6 as “the seat of the inner life in contrast to the mouth or lips, which either give expression to the inner life or deny it.” Wesley Penschbachen’s Analytical Greek Lexicon defines heart in Matthew 6:21; Matthew 22:37 as “the seat of feeling, impulse, affection and desire.”
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must consider character essential. The Holy Spirit is in the character-building business. He will lead and teach us to be more like Christ. In the long run, character will prove to be the great balancer. Character will help us give proper attention to the roles we are to fulfill. Consistent character earns the respect and trust of others. It’s through their respect and trust that we can be effective leaders.
Leading a Team
Christ wisely surrounded Himself with twelve men with great potential. His team certainly had not arrived. They were rough, though ready to meet the challenge with enthusiasm. They were not perfect, but they were open to growing and learning God’s ways. They were from diverse backgrounds. The diversity was an asset rather than a liability. They built on the strengths of one another and valued the uniqueness of their perspectives. Let’s examine this team, looking at Christ’s method of recruiting, training, and relationship building.
Jesus sought His heavenly Father’s wisdom before choosing His team. Jesus prayed all night, and at daybreak He called His disciples together and chose twelve as apostles (Luke 6:12-13). Seeking God’s wisdom was Jesus’ number one priority.
Jesus drafted men whom He had observed. He watched how they related to other people and saw the potential they could offer. Jesus also recruited people from various backgrounds. Included on the team of apostles were fishermen, a doctor, and a government official. None had formal theological training, though they would learn much from Jesus. They all seemed to exhibit an entrepreneurial spirit. They were adventurous and ready for change. They showed remarkable faith in leaving their jobs and following Him. They were trusting Christ for their needs to be met.
Jesus knew He needed apostles who represented all types of people. The majority of people were down-to-earth folks; thus, He had an equal representation from the apostles. They represented a diversity of backgrounds, expecting a life of faith as they abruptly left their occupations and, in some cases, families. Christ’s followers were loyal and teachable. Recruitment was just the beginning. Training was also a vital part of Christ’s teamwork philosophy.
Prior to commissioning the twelve apostles, Jesus was teaching, preaching, and healing. Jesus was a powerful teacher. He knew that what His followers could see and understand, they would retain. Jesus took everyday experiences and illustrated truth to the disciples. He taught about God’s provision by pointing to the birds and the lilies. The birds were fed and the lilies grew not because of their efforts but because of God’s faithfulness.
Consistently, the disciples heard this clear teaching. Over a span of three years, the words of Christ were recorded and discussed. His teaching helped them to begin a systematic way of belief. It all made sense. Loving God and loving people became the theme of the disciples’ lives. The strongest teaching tool reached beyond Christ’s words to His life.
The actions of Jesus were the greatest education for the disciples. Some of the most effective sermons Jesus preached occurred through His healing touch. His compassion for people who were sick was sincere and real. His disciples saw Him mingle among people with leprosy and other serious illnesses. He went to places that most people viewed with contempt. The disciples watched Christ. Many times they were astonished at His humility and servant spirit.
Jesus humbled Himself by washing the disciples’ feet (John 13). He took on the role of a servant as an example to the disciples. He left for them an example of what a disciple of Christ looked like. As Jesus washed their feet, there was misunderstanding, almost mutiny, but as they saw the sincerity and true servanthood of what Jesus was doing, they in turn were humbled and recognized their need for His cleansing. Jesus was an effective educator. He taught His followers by word and deed.
Leader of Relationships
Jesus knew the value of relationships. He modeled a dynamic, loving relationship with His heavenly Father. Out of that relationship flowed a tender love with those around Him. Out of the twelve apostles, He developed an intimate relationship with Peter, James, and John.
During crucial and pivotal experiences, Jesus involved Peter, James, and John. He included them at His encounter with God on the mountain of His transfiguration (Matt. 17). His ministry was not isolated from sharing His feelings with friends. He confided in them in the Garden of Gethsemane: “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me” (Matt. 26:38). Jesus needed the prayer and support of friends. Jesus showed His greatest love for His friends by dying for them (John 15:13).
They saw Him grieving at the tomb of His friend Lazarus. They witnessed His anger toward the hypocrisy of those using the temple for financial gain. Jesus fulfilled His roles in an honorable manner. His family relationships were important as well. He looked at John while He was dying on the cross and asked him to take care of His mother.
Jesus knew strong, healthy relationships would weather persecutions and trials. Because of His three-year investment in relationships and the proof of His authenticity on the cross, His investment is still paying dividends. Recruitment, training, and relationship building were important to Jesus. You can apply these principles more specifically to growing and building your team.
Application
Integrity and maturity are two character traits vital to the heart of a leader. Without them a leader has no credibility. No credibility means the leader forfeits the right to lead. The lifestyle of Jesus exemplifies these two areas.
Maturity understands that some people respond better to a direct, candid approach while others need more understanding and explanation. Maturity understands what motivates an individual and then leads him or her by that motivation. If recognition is important, the mature leader delivers sincere compliments both privately and publicly. If status and position are important to others, the wise leader at the proper time will promote and place them in areas of their expertise.
Courage and sensitivity mean the leader is interested not just in the destination but in the quality of the journey as well. The mature leader balances sensitivity with accountability. He knows when to give a little and when to stand firm.
Jesus balanced courage and sensitivity. He could be candid, as He was with Peter before washing the disciples’ feet (John 13). Peter refused to let Christ wash his feet. Jesus told him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Later He showed consideration by offering an explanation for His unusual actions. He said, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:15-17).
Jesus was wise to confront when He needed confrontation and to give a sensitive explanation when more compassion was required. Christ was consistent in His character; therefore, He earned the right to lead. People respected His ability to live what He believed. Integrity and maturity are important traits in character.
A clear mission, consistent character, and capable team are all essential for us to be the leaders of God’s people. The example of Jesus gives us a pattern to follow. May all of us follow Him so we can lead others for His glory!
Adapted from “Charles Stanley’s Handbook for Christian Living” (2008).
http://www.intouch.org/site/c.cnKBIPNuEoG/b.5564119/k.6CD2/GOING_DEEPER_Leadership.htm
© 2009 In Touch Ministries® All Rights Reserved.
Freedom Through Forgiveness
By Charles F. Stanley
Freedom from hurt and anger comes only through complete forgiveness.
Others can harm you, but an unforgiving heart only hurts yourself.
Forgiveness is much more than saying a prayer or waiting for time to heal wounds. It's a process that involves understanding God's mercy toward His children.
Do you have an emotional wound that has never healed? Maybe someone wronged you or a loved one years ago, and the injury remains. From time to time, similar situations bring the painful emotions right back to the surface. Close friends and family members may have lost patience with your inability to move on. You, too, wonder how much longer the suffering will last. My friend, freedom from hurt and anger comes only through complete forgiveness. But perhaps you have resisted taking that action because of some common misunderstandings about what forgiveness means.
Clearing up some confusion.
One of the stumbling blocks to actually forgiving others is the wrong information that has entered into our theology. The first concept we need to clear up is this: Is justifying, understanding, or explaining away someone’s behavior the same as forgiving him? Perhaps you can understand that your “brother” was under a lot of stress when he raised his voice to you in front of your customers, but is that the same as forgiving him? Certainly not.
Another mistaken idea is that time heals all wounds. This is one of the most misused and damaging clichés I’ve heard. How could the passage of time or the process of forgetting lead to forgiveness? If it were the healing factor, those who endured hurt as children would no longer suffer as the decades passed. Yet we know that many adults still struggle with emotional scars received during childhood.
Here is another misunderstanding: Forgiving others means denying that we have been hurt or pretending that the offense was no big deal. This form of denial works against the healing process. It ignores the real physical, mental, or emotional pain that others have caused us.
Another misconception is that to forgive others, we must go to them personally and confess our forgiveness. Pardoning in person usually causes more problems than it solves. I rarely counsel someone to express forgiveness this way unless the other party has requested it. God forgave us long before we ever asked for it. He pardons us for sins we will never confess (1 John 1:9). In the same way, we are free to forgive others without explaining that we have done so.
I say rarely because there are occasions when confession of this type is appropriate. Keep in mind that telling others you have forgiven them and actually forgiving them are usually two separate actions. Forgiving others should begin at the time we are offended, whereas actually confessing that action may take place later. In other words, we can extend mercy without waiting for someone to ask for it.
We should confess our forgiveness if one of two situations occurs. First, we should do so if the other party requests it. This helps clear his or her conscience and offers the assurance that we do not hold a grudge.
Second, we should confess forgiveness if we feel the Lord would have us confront others about their sin. The affront may have been directed against us personally or against someone we love. In the course of conversation, we may need to assure them that we’ve forgiven them and are coming more for their sake than ours. But remember, our purpose should never be to force someone to ask for forgiveness—when we confront others about their sin, the issue must first be settled in our own hearts.
Forgiveness is much more than just saying some words in a prayer or putting time between us and the event. It is a process that involves understanding the mercy God has shown and recognizing how that applies to those who have hurt us. (For more on this topic, please see the article “Forgiving Others.”)
We will know we have forgiven when . . .
Several things occur once the forgiveness process is complete. First, our negative feelings will disappear. We will not feel the same way when we run into these people on the street or in the office. Harsh feelings will be replaced by feelings of concern, pity, or empathy, but not resentment.
Second, we will find it much easier to accept the people who have hurt us without feeling the need to change them. We will be willing to take them just the way they are. Once the blinders of resentment have been removed from our eyes, we will have a new appreciation for their situation and motivation.
Third, our concern about the needs of other individuals will outweigh our concerns about what they did to us. Instead of concentrating only on ourselves, we will be able to see our offenders as people with legitimate needs of their own.
You can experience liberty from old wounds that now hold you in bondage. When the Holy Spirit reminds you of those who need your forgiveness, don’t ignore His still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12 KJV). Find the courage and strength to face the past, and willingly release others from the emotional debts you might feel they owe you. Only then will you know genuine freedom from bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness.
Adapted from “The Gift of Forgiveness” (1991).
© 2009 In Touch Ministries® All Rights Reserved.
http://www.intouch.org/site/c.cnKBIPNuEoG/b.5182941/k.FD6C/Genuine_Forgiveness.htm
Bible Study: How To Handle Anger Pt. 4 "Freedom Through Forgiveness"
Sermon: Letting Go Of Anger Pt. 4 "Anger and Forgiveness"
Freedom from hurt and anger comes only through complete forgiveness.
Others can harm you, but an unforgiving heart only hurts yourself.
Forgiveness is much more than saying a prayer or waiting for time to heal wounds. It's a process that involves understanding God's mercy toward His children.
Do you have an emotional wound that has never healed? Maybe someone wronged you or a loved one years ago, and the injury remains. From time to time, similar situations bring the painful emotions right back to the surface. Close friends and family members may have lost patience with your inability to move on. You, too, wonder how much longer the suffering will last. My friend, freedom from hurt and anger comes only through complete forgiveness. But perhaps you have resisted taking that action because of some common misunderstandings about what forgiveness means.
Clearing up some confusion.
One of the stumbling blocks to actually forgiving others is the wrong information that has entered into our theology. The first concept we need to clear up is this: Is justifying, understanding, or explaining away someone’s behavior the same as forgiving him? Perhaps you can understand that your “brother” was under a lot of stress when he raised his voice to you in front of your customers, but is that the same as forgiving him? Certainly not.
Another mistaken idea is that time heals all wounds. This is one of the most misused and damaging clichés I’ve heard. How could the passage of time or the process of forgetting lead to forgiveness? If it were the healing factor, those who endured hurt as children would no longer suffer as the decades passed. Yet we know that many adults still struggle with emotional scars received during childhood.
Here is another misunderstanding: Forgiving others means denying that we have been hurt or pretending that the offense was no big deal. This form of denial works against the healing process. It ignores the real physical, mental, or emotional pain that others have caused us.
Another misconception is that to forgive others, we must go to them personally and confess our forgiveness. Pardoning in person usually causes more problems than it solves. I rarely counsel someone to express forgiveness this way unless the other party has requested it. God forgave us long before we ever asked for it. He pardons us for sins we will never confess (1 John 1:9). In the same way, we are free to forgive others without explaining that we have done so.
I say rarely because there are occasions when confession of this type is appropriate. Keep in mind that telling others you have forgiven them and actually forgiving them are usually two separate actions. Forgiving others should begin at the time we are offended, whereas actually confessing that action may take place later. In other words, we can extend mercy without waiting for someone to ask for it.
We should confess our forgiveness if one of two situations occurs. First, we should do so if the other party requests it. This helps clear his or her conscience and offers the assurance that we do not hold a grudge.
Second, we should confess forgiveness if we feel the Lord would have us confront others about their sin. The affront may have been directed against us personally or against someone we love. In the course of conversation, we may need to assure them that we’ve forgiven them and are coming more for their sake than ours. But remember, our purpose should never be to force someone to ask for forgiveness—when we confront others about their sin, the issue must first be settled in our own hearts.
Forgiveness is much more than just saying some words in a prayer or putting time between us and the event. It is a process that involves understanding the mercy God has shown and recognizing how that applies to those who have hurt us. (For more on this topic, please see the article “Forgiving Others.”)
We will know we have forgiven when . . .
Several things occur once the forgiveness process is complete. First, our negative feelings will disappear. We will not feel the same way when we run into these people on the street or in the office. Harsh feelings will be replaced by feelings of concern, pity, or empathy, but not resentment.
Second, we will find it much easier to accept the people who have hurt us without feeling the need to change them. We will be willing to take them just the way they are. Once the blinders of resentment have been removed from our eyes, we will have a new appreciation for their situation and motivation.
Third, our concern about the needs of other individuals will outweigh our concerns about what they did to us. Instead of concentrating only on ourselves, we will be able to see our offenders as people with legitimate needs of their own.
You can experience liberty from old wounds that now hold you in bondage. When the Holy Spirit reminds you of those who need your forgiveness, don’t ignore His still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12 KJV). Find the courage and strength to face the past, and willingly release others from the emotional debts you might feel they owe you. Only then will you know genuine freedom from bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness.
Adapted from “The Gift of Forgiveness” (1991).
© 2009 In Touch Ministries® All Rights Reserved.
http://www.intouch.org/site/c.cnKBIPNuEoG/b.5182941/k.FD6C/Genuine_Forgiveness.htm
Bible Study: How To Handle Anger Pt. 4 "Freedom Through Forgiveness"
Sermon: Letting Go Of Anger Pt. 4 "Anger and Forgiveness"
What should Christians think about the paranormal?
by Answers In Genesis, article "demons unleashed" link
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Haunted houses, ghosts, demons—our Western culture can’t seem to get enough of the spirit world. The latest Gallup poll indicates that 42% of Americans believe in demon possession, 37% believe in haunted houses, and 32% believe in ghosts. (Not just Americans are enthralled—40% of the British believe in haunted houses, too.) Though interest in the paranormal is widespread, the majority of people are skeptical. They discount all spirit activity, going so far as to deny the existence of Satan and demons. Atheists stated this view succinctly in a sign they planted next to a manger scene last Christmas at the capitol building in Olympia, Washington: “There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world.” What is the Christian position?
Continue reading the article on the website:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v4/n3/demons-leash
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Haunted houses, ghosts, demons—our Western culture can’t seem to get enough of the spirit world. The latest Gallup poll indicates that 42% of Americans believe in demon possession, 37% believe in haunted houses, and 32% believe in ghosts. (Not just Americans are enthralled—40% of the British believe in haunted houses, too.) Though interest in the paranormal is widespread, the majority of people are skeptical. They discount all spirit activity, going so far as to deny the existence of Satan and demons. Atheists stated this view succinctly in a sign they planted next to a manger scene last Christmas at the capitol building in Olympia, Washington: “There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world.” What is the Christian position?
Continue reading the article on the website:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v4/n3/demons-leash
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
the truth about halloween
A Mild Experiment
In the days of my law practice, I would come home each night after work, and if I didn’t have some social event or another to attend, I would fix dinner and plop down in front of the television for a couple hours of cheap entertainment. Those days, I was watching a lot of crime shows, and I saw my fill of murder and mayhem just before heading off for a night of peaceful rest.
What I began to notice, however, was a bit unsettling. Each morning after an evening filled with televised violence, I would wake up with this vague sense of… depression.
Look, it was clear to everyone involved, including me, that these were just dramatic characterizations I was seeing on television, and I don’t have a problem distinguishing fantasy from reality, at least most of the time. And I’m not really prone to being depressed; in fact, I like to think that I’m a pretty happy and fun-loving guy. So it really made me think about the impact that entertainment and media has on my life. On one hand, it saturates our environment; on the other, it was my choice to turn on the television.
“‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is constructive,” the Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10. I was talking this concept over with several people on my leadership team, and we found ourselves wondering: How would we be different if we used this as our standard for the entertainment and media we consume? If we consciously decided to only to take in that which is beneficial and constructive, would we be better artists?
It is a question worth asking ourselves. How we each answer could define how dedicated we are to our respective crafts. Now I should mention that not only am I not the arbiter of what is and isn’t beneficial and constructive for people in terms of entertainment, I also wouldn’t want that position. And quite frankly, I still like watching crime shows on television.
But if the old adage “garbage in, garbage out” is correct, isn’t the opposite also true? If we consciously decide to consume that which is beneficial and constructive – the true, the beautiful, the admirable, and all the other attributes found in Philippians 4 – doesn’t that mean that the art we create will more likely be true, beautiful, and admirable?
It is not that we can’t explore the darkness and its nature, but if darkness is all we explore, we will be forever blind. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. And our art, to a large extent, comes from whom we are, or at least it does when it’s effective art. Which means that our art will be a product of what we do with the ideas we take in from the entertainment and media around us.
So my leadership team is going to do a mild experiment – and you’re welcome to join us if you’d like – to test this concept. For the next month, we’re going to see what happens when we limit our entertainment to that which is beneficial and constructive. I anticipate that we will be better artists on the other side.
All my best,
Shun Lee
Director
Hollywood Connect
© 2009 All rights reserved.
www.hollywoodconnect.com
What I began to notice, however, was a bit unsettling. Each morning after an evening filled with televised violence, I would wake up with this vague sense of… depression.
Look, it was clear to everyone involved, including me, that these were just dramatic characterizations I was seeing on television, and I don’t have a problem distinguishing fantasy from reality, at least most of the time. And I’m not really prone to being depressed; in fact, I like to think that I’m a pretty happy and fun-loving guy. So it really made me think about the impact that entertainment and media has on my life. On one hand, it saturates our environment; on the other, it was my choice to turn on the television.
“‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is constructive,” the Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10. I was talking this concept over with several people on my leadership team, and we found ourselves wondering: How would we be different if we used this as our standard for the entertainment and media we consume? If we consciously decided to only to take in that which is beneficial and constructive, would we be better artists?
It is a question worth asking ourselves. How we each answer could define how dedicated we are to our respective crafts. Now I should mention that not only am I not the arbiter of what is and isn’t beneficial and constructive for people in terms of entertainment, I also wouldn’t want that position. And quite frankly, I still like watching crime shows on television.
But if the old adage “garbage in, garbage out” is correct, isn’t the opposite also true? If we consciously decide to consume that which is beneficial and constructive – the true, the beautiful, the admirable, and all the other attributes found in Philippians 4 – doesn’t that mean that the art we create will more likely be true, beautiful, and admirable?
It is not that we can’t explore the darkness and its nature, but if darkness is all we explore, we will be forever blind. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. And our art, to a large extent, comes from whom we are, or at least it does when it’s effective art. Which means that our art will be a product of what we do with the ideas we take in from the entertainment and media around us.
So my leadership team is going to do a mild experiment – and you’re welcome to join us if you’d like – to test this concept. For the next month, we’re going to see what happens when we limit our entertainment to that which is beneficial and constructive. I anticipate that we will be better artists on the other side.
All my best,
Shun Lee
Director
Hollywood Connect
© 2009 All rights reserved.
www.hollywoodconnect.com
10/30/09
"Tommy Boy" Direct TV Commercial
Spade Regrets Doing DIRECTV Ad With Farley
Oct. 29, 2009, 11:15 AM EST
By Wrap Staff
If he had to do it again, David Spade wouldn't agree to hawking DIRECTV alongside a scene with his late friend Chris Farley from "Tommy Boy."
"I wouldn't want anyone to get a whiff that I'm trying to get something off Chris," he told People magazine.
The 30-second commercial, which played during the World Series, has been chided by some critics as being tasteless. In it, Farley does his famous "Fat Boy in a Little Coat" routine from the 1995 movie while Spade, inserted into the scene by technology, promotes the satellite service.
In the ad, Spade says, "Great, I'm here with tons of fun, when I could be at home with my DIRECTV ... But no, I'm stuck with either cable or that (pointing to Farley). It never gets old."
Defamer tagged the ad "bad advertising," calling Spade and the holders of Farley's estate "sleazebags."
Entertainment Weekly wrote that they "can't decide if this is a sweet homage to a sexy moment or semi-disrespectful exploitation of the dead."
Asked Film Junk: "When it comes to advertising, are there any lines that shouldn't be crossed, or are there things that shouldn't be done in order to sell a product?"
Spade expressed "slight shock" that anyone would find the ad offensive.
"These commercials are cool," he told People. "They're well done. They're clever. And that they would include "Tommy Boy" in that company, I thought was very flattering."
"Oh, my God if [Farley] was here, I guarantee he'd be stoked that this little movie is included," he said. "The movie is important to me, and I would hate to offend [anyone] because that's one of my favorite things I've ever done. So I would apologize to someone who took it that way."
The commercial series also included scenes from "Back to the Future" and "Aliens."
Probably the only reason why someone would be offended is because Chris Farley is dead. I mean, if he was alive would anyone really be offended? I don't think so. I didn't know the guy, but it's hard to believe that Farley would be offended by the commercial if he were alive today. I grew up watching Chris Farley and "Tommy Boy," and from a fan perspective I am not offended. I know that entertainment these days often goes beyond the boundaries of tasteful entertainment, but I personally do not think this should be included in that. Now, depending on your type of humor you might not see what's so funny about the ad, but I personally think the commercial is well done and funny.
http://tv.msn.com/the-wrap/spade-regrets-farley-ad/story/?GT1=28103&vv=650
VOM–USA Prayer Update for October 30, 2009
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
“Prayer is the coupling of primary and secondary causes. It is the splicing of our limp wire to the lightning bolt of heaven.” John Piper
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:11-13
PAKISTAN — Imprisoned Believers Appears in Court — VOM Sources
2 Timothy 3:10-12
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
On Oct. 14, Asia Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih, her daughters and VOM contacts met her for 15 minutes before her court appearance. “Asia is in strong faith. Her eyes were hopeful. Praise God,” VOM contacts said. Asia told VOM contacts she prays everyday at 3 a.m. “I thank God that the jail administration has good behavior with me,” she said. “I don’t have trouble from them, but I miss my daughters and family. Please arrange my soon release from this jail.” Asia’s daughters were visibly upset when they met her. “The little daughter was continuously asking her mother ‘Mama when are you coming back home?’” VOM contacts said. Isha, the eldest daughter, cried and hugged her mother and would not let her go. Isha pointed to the veil on her mother’s face and said, “I want to see your face, remove this cover.” It was a sad scene. The court rescheduled another hearing for Oct. 27. On Oct. 17, Sandul and Gulsher Masir had a court hearing, but again the investigating officer did not appear. Another hearing was scheduled for October 26. Continue praying for these believers. Call on the Pakistani government to insure that the rights of Christians like Asia, Sandul and Gulsher are protected.
UKRAINE — Church Bombed in Ukraine — VOM Canada
Psalm 140:12-13
I know that the LORD will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.
On Oct. 14, a homemade bomb was thrown into the Calvary Chapel church building in Kaharlyk, Ukraine. The building is also the residence of Pastor Wayne Zschech and his family. At 7 a.m., Pastor Zschech's wife awoke to the smell of smoke. Fire officials were called to the scene the blaze which caused minor damage to the building. The six people asleep in the church at the time of the attack escaped without injury. The assailants spray painted "Out with Sects" and "OYH," an abbreviated name for a Ukrainian Nationalist movement, on the church wall. Pastor Zschech later said, "We pray that the Lord would call people to salvation and that he would build up his body. We rejoice in being chosen worthy to suffer for the sake of our Lord and His Gospel. We do also pray for safety but hold this prayer out with open hands." Thank God no one was hurt in this attack. Pray that the perpetrators of this attack will be brought to justice and come to faith in Christ.
CHINA — Update: Chinese Pastor Released — China Aid Association
Matthew 5:11-16
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Praise God! On Oct. 12, Pastor Hua Huiqi, was released from prison, according to China Aid Association. Pastor Hua was arrested by Chinese officials on Sept. 17 and thankfully, he was not physically mistreated during his detention. Upon his release, however, officials reportedly threatened to harm his 13-year-old daughter if he "caused any trouble." Pastor Hua, who is recovering at home, has urged the international community to continue praying for his ailing Christian mother, Shuang Shuying, who has also faced imprisonment. He has also requested prayer for his dying brother, Hua Huilin. Thank God for this family’s faithfulness and ask God to heal those that are sick. Pray the Holy Spirit will encourage and minister to them.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Prayer is the coupling of primary and secondary causes. It is the splicing of our limp wire to the lightning bolt of heaven.” John Piper
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:11-13
PAKISTAN — Imprisoned Believers Appears in Court — VOM Sources
2 Timothy 3:10-12
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
On Oct. 14, Asia Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih, her daughters and VOM contacts met her for 15 minutes before her court appearance. “Asia is in strong faith. Her eyes were hopeful. Praise God,” VOM contacts said. Asia told VOM contacts she prays everyday at 3 a.m. “I thank God that the jail administration has good behavior with me,” she said. “I don’t have trouble from them, but I miss my daughters and family. Please arrange my soon release from this jail.” Asia’s daughters were visibly upset when they met her. “The little daughter was continuously asking her mother ‘Mama when are you coming back home?’” VOM contacts said. Isha, the eldest daughter, cried and hugged her mother and would not let her go. Isha pointed to the veil on her mother’s face and said, “I want to see your face, remove this cover.” It was a sad scene. The court rescheduled another hearing for Oct. 27. On Oct. 17, Sandul and Gulsher Masir had a court hearing, but again the investigating officer did not appear. Another hearing was scheduled for October 26. Continue praying for these believers. Call on the Pakistani government to insure that the rights of Christians like Asia, Sandul and Gulsher are protected.
UKRAINE — Church Bombed in Ukraine — VOM Canada
Psalm 140:12-13
I know that the LORD will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.
On Oct. 14, a homemade bomb was thrown into the Calvary Chapel church building in Kaharlyk, Ukraine. The building is also the residence of Pastor Wayne Zschech and his family. At 7 a.m., Pastor Zschech's wife awoke to the smell of smoke. Fire officials were called to the scene the blaze which caused minor damage to the building. The six people asleep in the church at the time of the attack escaped without injury. The assailants spray painted "Out with Sects" and "OYH," an abbreviated name for a Ukrainian Nationalist movement, on the church wall. Pastor Zschech later said, "We pray that the Lord would call people to salvation and that he would build up his body. We rejoice in being chosen worthy to suffer for the sake of our Lord and His Gospel. We do also pray for safety but hold this prayer out with open hands." Thank God no one was hurt in this attack. Pray that the perpetrators of this attack will be brought to justice and come to faith in Christ.
CHINA — Update: Chinese Pastor Released — China Aid Association
Matthew 5:11-16
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Praise God! On Oct. 12, Pastor Hua Huiqi, was released from prison, according to China Aid Association. Pastor Hua was arrested by Chinese officials on Sept. 17 and thankfully, he was not physically mistreated during his detention. Upon his release, however, officials reportedly threatened to harm his 13-year-old daughter if he "caused any trouble." Pastor Hua, who is recovering at home, has urged the international community to continue praying for his ailing Christian mother, Shuang Shuying, who has also faced imprisonment. He has also requested prayer for his dying brother, Hua Huilin. Thank God for this family’s faithfulness and ask God to heal those that are sick. Pray the Holy Spirit will encourage and minister to them.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Make halloween a soul winning event.
Instead of actually participating in halloween's ungodliness or instead of turning off the lights in order to avoid it completely, try spreading the Gospel instead and taking advantage of the opportunity that there will be door-to-door, trick-or-treating kids. I no longer participate in normal halloween activities since I've become a Christian, but I do take advantage of the easy opportunity to reach out to those kids that come knocking on my door. I buy Gospel tracts specially designed for kids and some of them have more of a halloween theme to them (I buy them off www.chick.com and www.atstracts.org). Then, I pass them out. After a while, I go around the neighborhood and put them on peoples front porches or somewhere they will notice later on, and try to pass them out to a few people as well. By that time, the younger kids are gone for the most part and it's really just the teenagers that are roaming about. I've never had a complaint about them, only a couple of adults that weren't interested. But, the kids accept them and never look down on it. Some of them look excited when they see what I have to give them (one boy said "I love these!"). I give them something different. They can get candy anywhere else, but at my house they get a kid-themed Gospel tract. Most of the ones I give out are in comic-book style only with a story that leads up to the Gospel message. I also hope that their parents will read it and it will give them something to think about. I pray before and after the event that God will use it to bless those kids and hopefully their families as well.
Here are some tips about using Gospel tracts on halloween (from www.chick.com):
1. Let Trick-or-Treaters pick from a tray stocked with different Chick tracts. (my note: or just hand them out like candy which is what I do)
2. Pass out Chick tracts at Haunted Houses.
3. Put a Chick tract under windshield wipers at adult Halloween parties.
4. Leave tracts in the candy section of stores.
5. Set up a table and give Trick-or-Treaters Chick tracts as they pass by your church.
6. Go house to house saying, "Trick or Tract," then hand the person a Chick tract.
7. Share Halloween tracts at school.
8. Leave Chick tracts at Costume shops.
9. Hit the streets, shouting, "Free comic books!" You'll be swarmed with requests.
10. Won't be home? Leave a box of Chick tracts at your front door with instructions.
11. Give some of your tracts to your Christian friends to get them involved.
12. Organize a church-wide Chick tract distribution project.
13. Hand out tracts at places where they sell Halloween pumpkins.
Buy Chick Tracts here.
Buy ATS Tracts here.
Here are some tips about using Gospel tracts on halloween (from www.chick.com):
1. Let Trick-or-Treaters pick from a tray stocked with different Chick tracts. (my note: or just hand them out like candy which is what I do)
2. Pass out Chick tracts at Haunted Houses.
3. Put a Chick tract under windshield wipers at adult Halloween parties.
4. Leave tracts in the candy section of stores.
5. Set up a table and give Trick-or-Treaters Chick tracts as they pass by your church.
6. Go house to house saying, "Trick or Tract," then hand the person a Chick tract.
7. Share Halloween tracts at school.
8. Leave Chick tracts at Costume shops.
9. Hit the streets, shouting, "Free comic books!" You'll be swarmed with requests.
10. Won't be home? Leave a box of Chick tracts at your front door with instructions.
11. Give some of your tracts to your Christian friends to get them involved.
12. Organize a church-wide Chick tract distribution project.
13. Hand out tracts at places where they sell Halloween pumpkins.
Buy Chick Tracts here.
Buy ATS Tracts here.
10/29/09
Think about this for a minute...
If I happened to show up on your door step
crying,
Would You Care?
If I called you and asked you to pick me up
because something happened,
Would you come?
If I had one day left to live my Life;
Would you be part of that Last Day?
If I needed a shoulder to cry on,
Would you give me Yours?
Do You know what the relationship is between
your two eyes? They blink together, they
move together, they cry together,
they see things together and they
sleep together,
BUT THEY NEVER SEE EACH OTHER....
that's what friendship is.
If I happened to show up on your door step
crying,
Would You Care?
If I called you and asked you to pick me up
because something happened,
Would you come?
If I had one day left to live my Life;
Would you be part of that Last Day?
If I needed a shoulder to cry on,
Would you give me Yours?
Do You know what the relationship is between
your two eyes? They blink together, they
move together, they cry together,
they see things together and they
sleep together,
BUT THEY NEVER SEE EACH OTHER....
that's what friendship is.
My personal thoughts on health care reform...
The govt. cannot adequately handle health care and the result is and will be unsatisfactory. That is not their job. Nor can there be corruption with the insurance companies because that doesn't work either, of course. I say NO government-run health care, but NO corruption with insurance companies either. There needs to be a solution that is good and works for everyone. But, everyone knows this. It's always like this. So, what will make it change for real?
10/28/09
Worker: I was fired for wearing ‘God’ button
Quote from Pledge of Allegiance; Home Depot says he violated dress code
Another video here
Article here
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Another video here
Article here
First Battle of the 2009 Christmas Culture War is here
From AFA (American Family Association), October 27 2009:
Michigan's Macomb County Road Commission orders removal of privately maintained Nativity scene at crossroads of city...
Ask the Macomb County Road Commission to rescind their order removing a privately maintained Nativity scene set at the crossroads of the city. The Christmas culture wars for 2009 have begun and ground zero is the Detroit suburb of Warren, which for 63 years has hosted a privately maintained Nativity scene set at the crossroads of the city.
Join AFA's Merry Christmas campaign! The Nativity display had been maintained by Warren city resident John Satawa and his family for most of the municipality's history until the Macomb County Road Commission this year ordered the display removed because they say it "clearly displays a religious message" in violation of the "separation of church and state."
The Road Commission informed Satawa of its decision upon receiving a letter in December 2008 from the Freedom from Religion Foundation, which purported to act on behalf of a complainant in the city of 134,000 residents, saying the display violated the Constitution. (See letter here)
The Thomas Moore Law Center has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Stawa against the Road Commission. Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center, said that militant atheists attempt to do through the courts what the Taliban by force had done to Afghanistan: remove all the symbols of the country's national heritage.
The Nativity dates from 1945, just five years after the incorporation of the Village of Warren, which then boasted 582 inhabitants.
Click HERE to Take Action on this issue.
Listen all you God-haters: It is not illegal to set up Nativity scenes and tell other people Merry Christmas if you want to. This a nation that was founded on Biblical principles and "separation of church and state" does not mean getting rid of Nativity scenes and Merry Christmases. If you think that then you really have no clue what "separation of church and state" means. So, get over it!
Michigan's Macomb County Road Commission orders removal of privately maintained Nativity scene at crossroads of city...
Ask the Macomb County Road Commission to rescind their order removing a privately maintained Nativity scene set at the crossroads of the city. The Christmas culture wars for 2009 have begun and ground zero is the Detroit suburb of Warren, which for 63 years has hosted a privately maintained Nativity scene set at the crossroads of the city.
Join AFA's Merry Christmas campaign! The Nativity display had been maintained by Warren city resident John Satawa and his family for most of the municipality's history until the Macomb County Road Commission this year ordered the display removed because they say it "clearly displays a religious message" in violation of the "separation of church and state."
The Road Commission informed Satawa of its decision upon receiving a letter in December 2008 from the Freedom from Religion Foundation, which purported to act on behalf of a complainant in the city of 134,000 residents, saying the display violated the Constitution. (See letter here)
The Thomas Moore Law Center has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Stawa against the Road Commission. Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center, said that militant atheists attempt to do through the courts what the Taliban by force had done to Afghanistan: remove all the symbols of the country's national heritage.
The Nativity dates from 1945, just five years after the incorporation of the Village of Warren, which then boasted 582 inhabitants.
Click HERE to Take Action on this issue.
Listen all you God-haters: It is not illegal to set up Nativity scenes and tell other people Merry Christmas if you want to. This a nation that was founded on Biblical principles and "separation of church and state" does not mean getting rid of Nativity scenes and Merry Christmases. If you think that then you really have no clue what "separation of church and state" means. So, get over it!
10/27/09
Hulk Hogan - Why I Almost Killed Myself
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Hulk Hogan burst onto the professional wrestling scene in the late ’70s and has gone on to become one of the best known names in entertainment and a world wrestling champion many times over. From the outside, his story was one of a charmed life — he was at the top of his career, had a wonderful and loving family with a wife and two children. Of course he had his ups and downs — including hints of steroid abuse and a falling-out with WWE and Vince McMahon — but it’s been the last two years that have tested Hogan more than any others in his lifetime. In this excerpt from his book, “My Life Outside the Ring,” the wrestling star writes about the events — his son's car accident, his wife’s filing for divorce and more — that led him to put a gun to his head and almost pull the trigger.
Let's pray for Hulk and his family.
Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33482304/ns/today-today_books/?GT1=43001
Video: Hulk Hogan on life after wrestling (Today Show): http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/33492065#33492065
America, Canada, all of Europe ..... needs a President like this...
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia Law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.
Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.
Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take it or leave it. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.
"This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!
"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right-wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation. This is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.
"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.
"This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE. We will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our way of life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.
"If you aren't happy here, then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."
Maybe if we circulate this, American citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths.
God's Ways Are Diverse
"We fall into grievous error when we entertain this kind of idea! God's ways are diverse -- from the beginning to the end, God the Father, God the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ act sovereignly and do not choose to follow one particular mode of action in every case." ~Charles Spurgeon
A sure way to lose your trust in God is to assume that He always acts in a certain way in every case. This is not true. God is a judge and often deals justly with humanity (think of the worldwide flood), but has also swallowed up justice by His mercy as a wonderful Savior (think of the fact that we are guilty criminals who have been saved by the cross). God is also both a King and a humble servant (Jesus, the King of Kings, came not to be served, but to serve) and sovereignly chooses when to demonstrate each of His individual attributes. The key to understanding God's mysterious ways is to trust His character. His actions are always right because His wisdom is perfect, His love is pure, and His power is unstoppable. ~Kirk Cameron
A sure way to lose your trust in God is to assume that He always acts in a certain way in every case. This is not true. God is a judge and often deals justly with humanity (think of the worldwide flood), but has also swallowed up justice by His mercy as a wonderful Savior (think of the fact that we are guilty criminals who have been saved by the cross). God is also both a King and a humble servant (Jesus, the King of Kings, came not to be served, but to serve) and sovereignly chooses when to demonstrate each of His individual attributes. The key to understanding God's mysterious ways is to trust His character. His actions are always right because His wisdom is perfect, His love is pure, and His power is unstoppable. ~Kirk Cameron
10/26/09
Let This Cup Pass...
Let This Cup Pass. . . .
By Greg Laurie|Christian Post Contributor
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
- Matthew 26:39
Even Jesus, when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, recoiled from what was ahead. He prayed, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me." Jesus, who was sinless and perfect and holy, was looking into the abyss of all the wicked things of this world and knew He would have to bear all that sin upon himself.
Sometimes it is possible for that so-called cup to pass. Sometimes God will answer our prayer in the affirmative and get us out of the situation we are in, like the disciples who cried out for help on the storm-tossed Sea of Galilee, and Jesus calmed the storm. Or like the sick who were healed or the dead who were raised by Jesus.
When a crisis hits and we cry out to God, He often will change our circumstances. I have seen people in the most dire of circumstances have their situation turned around by the power of God. And I think we always should pray for this.
But there are also times when God says, "No, you have to go through it." We might answer, "Never, Lord." But ultimately we will have to say, "Yes, Lord."
I have seen God work through the greatest tragedy of my life. And to be honest, if I could change my circumstances, I would change them and have my son Christopher back with us. But I don't have that option.
So if we believe in the providence of God, then we know that He is in control of all things. We also know that He allows things for purposes that we will not necessarily understand. So our attitude needs to be, "Lord, I don't like it. I don't understand it. I don't want it. But I will say, 'Yes, Lord.'"
Copyright © 2009 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000 Used with Permission
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091025/let-this-cup-pass/index.html
By Greg Laurie|Christian Post Contributor
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
- Matthew 26:39
Even Jesus, when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, recoiled from what was ahead. He prayed, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me." Jesus, who was sinless and perfect and holy, was looking into the abyss of all the wicked things of this world and knew He would have to bear all that sin upon himself.
Sometimes it is possible for that so-called cup to pass. Sometimes God will answer our prayer in the affirmative and get us out of the situation we are in, like the disciples who cried out for help on the storm-tossed Sea of Galilee, and Jesus calmed the storm. Or like the sick who were healed or the dead who were raised by Jesus.
When a crisis hits and we cry out to God, He often will change our circumstances. I have seen people in the most dire of circumstances have their situation turned around by the power of God. And I think we always should pray for this.
But there are also times when God says, "No, you have to go through it." We might answer, "Never, Lord." But ultimately we will have to say, "Yes, Lord."
I have seen God work through the greatest tragedy of my life. And to be honest, if I could change my circumstances, I would change them and have my son Christopher back with us. But I don't have that option.
So if we believe in the providence of God, then we know that He is in control of all things. We also know that He allows things for purposes that we will not necessarily understand. So our attitude needs to be, "Lord, I don't like it. I don't understand it. I don't want it. But I will say, 'Yes, Lord.'"
Copyright © 2009 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000 Used with Permission
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091025/let-this-cup-pass/index.html
Why Was Zedekiah Roasted in the Fire
by John Piper
The horrors of physical suffering correspond to the horrors of moral and spiritual outrage. Sometimes this means that people’s suffering is directly correlated with their immorality and belittling of God. This will be the case, for example, with the eternal suffering of hell. It will correspond in perfectly just measure with the outrage of an individual’s sin.
But often the correlation is indirect. Everyone suffers physically because of the outrage of Adam’s sin, and because of God’s subjecting all of creation to futility (Romans 8:20). But these sufferings do not all correspond to an individual’s particular sins. All physical suffering corresponds to moral and spiritual outrage, but not all suffering corresponds directly to individual sins.
What is stunning and essential to see is that physical horrors correspond to spiritual horrors. God knows that we do not feel horrible about the spiritual horror of our sin. We take it lightly. But we get very angry and very agitated and very indignant about the horrors of our physical suffering. So God correlates the two in order to make plain to us how horrible sin is. Belittling God feels like a light thing to us. Being burned feels huge.
So hell will be physical, not just spiritual, even though the greatest outrages of life are not physical. The greatest outrages of life are spiritual—the demeaning of God by unbelief and indifference and rebellion is the greatest outrage in the universe. It may produce the holocaust or it may produce self-exalting philanthropy. But the magnitude of the moral horror in both cases is mainly Godward. Belittling God’s infinite worth is the ultimate outrage.
Here is a picture of what I mean.
God says to the exiles in Babylon concerning the false prophets, Ahab and Zedekiah:
Because of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” because they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them. (Jeremiah 29:22-23).
I am shocked by the term “roasted.” Why such a description? It actually happened, that’s why. Nebuchadnezzar roasted them. And why did it happen? Why such an outrageous physical horror and why such an outrageous physical word used to describe it?
Because speaking false things about God and committing adultery does not feel outrageous to us. But roasting someone in the fire does. So God correlates the two so we would learn what is really outrageous in the world. Demeaning God and breaking covenants.
The physical suffering of this age is God’s warning: This is how horrible and outrageous sin is. Flee it while there is time. Turn to Christ for forgiveness.
The physical suffering of eternity is God’s judgment: This is how horrible and outrageous sin was. Now there is no fleeing. It is too late.
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2065_why_was_zedekiah_roasted_in_the_fire/
The horrors of physical suffering correspond to the horrors of moral and spiritual outrage. Sometimes this means that people’s suffering is directly correlated with their immorality and belittling of God. This will be the case, for example, with the eternal suffering of hell. It will correspond in perfectly just measure with the outrage of an individual’s sin.
But often the correlation is indirect. Everyone suffers physically because of the outrage of Adam’s sin, and because of God’s subjecting all of creation to futility (Romans 8:20). But these sufferings do not all correspond to an individual’s particular sins. All physical suffering corresponds to moral and spiritual outrage, but not all suffering corresponds directly to individual sins.
What is stunning and essential to see is that physical horrors correspond to spiritual horrors. God knows that we do not feel horrible about the spiritual horror of our sin. We take it lightly. But we get very angry and very agitated and very indignant about the horrors of our physical suffering. So God correlates the two in order to make plain to us how horrible sin is. Belittling God feels like a light thing to us. Being burned feels huge.
So hell will be physical, not just spiritual, even though the greatest outrages of life are not physical. The greatest outrages of life are spiritual—the demeaning of God by unbelief and indifference and rebellion is the greatest outrage in the universe. It may produce the holocaust or it may produce self-exalting philanthropy. But the magnitude of the moral horror in both cases is mainly Godward. Belittling God’s infinite worth is the ultimate outrage.
Here is a picture of what I mean.
God says to the exiles in Babylon concerning the false prophets, Ahab and Zedekiah:
Because of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” because they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them. (Jeremiah 29:22-23).
I am shocked by the term “roasted.” Why such a description? It actually happened, that’s why. Nebuchadnezzar roasted them. And why did it happen? Why such an outrageous physical horror and why such an outrageous physical word used to describe it?
Because speaking false things about God and committing adultery does not feel outrageous to us. But roasting someone in the fire does. So God correlates the two so we would learn what is really outrageous in the world. Demeaning God and breaking covenants.
The physical suffering of this age is God’s warning: This is how horrible and outrageous sin is. Flee it while there is time. Turn to Christ for forgiveness.
The physical suffering of eternity is God’s judgment: This is how horrible and outrageous sin was. Now there is no fleeing. It is too late.
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2065_why_was_zedekiah_roasted_in_the_fire/
The Worst Comment of All Time
By James MacDonald
http://blog.harvestbiblefellowship.org
I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Several thousand people have now left comments at this new blog, and I am blown away and edified by the diversity of opinion. Recently I posted a video blog trying to get pastors to think more carefully about how they use key words/concepts in their preaching. The idea was to set up the significance of a word before you use it, rather than after. Pretty simple really, but at times I have found it helpful. Anyway, I get this comment that . . . Ok, this is the absolute WORST comment I have ever gotten on my blog. So completely out of touch with scripture and culture. First the quote and then some comments.
“Astounding. I already feel a swelling confidence that I can give better speeches. It’s a shame that giving speeches has to be the poorest method ever devised for declaring the gospel of the kingdom to a dying world.”
This guy is sorely in need of a biblical education. Sadly he is not alone in his sentiments. Many people today believe that preaching is humanly ‘devised,’ ineffective, and passé.
1) Preaching the gospel is not a method; it is a mandate (2 Timothy 4:2).
2) Preaching the gospel is not humanly devised, but God ordained (Mark 3:14, Acts 10:42).
3) Preaching does seem like a foolish idea, always has been and always will be, but God has chosen it so that the glory would be his not ours. “…my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Cor 2:4-5).”
4) Preaching is not limited to pulpit expression, but is to be the method of individual interaction regarding the good news. “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).
5) Preaching the gospel has been incredibly effective in our church with more than 10,000 baptisms in 21 years in our churches and church plants. This includes not just suburban broken, but urban poor and those in prison, and many countries of the third world. How is that watered down, hyper-relational, culturally confused, “I like Jesus and you should too” approach going?
Peter L. Berger, the twentieth-century sociologist, said that, “Strong eruptions of religious faith have always been marked by the appearance of people with firm, unapologetic, often uncompromising convictions—that is, by types that are the very opposite from those presently engaged in the various ‘relevance’ operations. Put simply: ages of faith are not marked by ‘dialogue’ but by proclamation.”
Yep, worst comment ever. Congratulations.
©2009 Harvest Bible Fellowship.
http://blog.harvestbiblefellowship.org/?p=3209
http://blog.harvestbiblefellowship.org
I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Several thousand people have now left comments at this new blog, and I am blown away and edified by the diversity of opinion. Recently I posted a video blog trying to get pastors to think more carefully about how they use key words/concepts in their preaching. The idea was to set up the significance of a word before you use it, rather than after. Pretty simple really, but at times I have found it helpful. Anyway, I get this comment that . . . Ok, this is the absolute WORST comment I have ever gotten on my blog. So completely out of touch with scripture and culture. First the quote and then some comments.
“Astounding. I already feel a swelling confidence that I can give better speeches. It’s a shame that giving speeches has to be the poorest method ever devised for declaring the gospel of the kingdom to a dying world.”
This guy is sorely in need of a biblical education. Sadly he is not alone in his sentiments. Many people today believe that preaching is humanly ‘devised,’ ineffective, and passé.
1) Preaching the gospel is not a method; it is a mandate (2 Timothy 4:2).
2) Preaching the gospel is not humanly devised, but God ordained (Mark 3:14, Acts 10:42).
3) Preaching does seem like a foolish idea, always has been and always will be, but God has chosen it so that the glory would be his not ours. “…my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Cor 2:4-5).”
4) Preaching is not limited to pulpit expression, but is to be the method of individual interaction regarding the good news. “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).
5) Preaching the gospel has been incredibly effective in our church with more than 10,000 baptisms in 21 years in our churches and church plants. This includes not just suburban broken, but urban poor and those in prison, and many countries of the third world. How is that watered down, hyper-relational, culturally confused, “I like Jesus and you should too” approach going?
Peter L. Berger, the twentieth-century sociologist, said that, “Strong eruptions of religious faith have always been marked by the appearance of people with firm, unapologetic, often uncompromising convictions—that is, by types that are the very opposite from those presently engaged in the various ‘relevance’ operations. Put simply: ages of faith are not marked by ‘dialogue’ but by proclamation.”
Yep, worst comment ever. Congratulations.
©2009 Harvest Bible Fellowship.
http://blog.harvestbiblefellowship.org/?p=3209
Deity and The Fall of satan
by John Paul Jackson
“And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Luke 10:18
You are almost ready to a glimpse of Eternity, which you will encounter in the Next Room of Mystery. I do have add that one is never fully ready for that moment. However, you have gained important understanding of the Divine through these the last four Golden Pillars. The Pillars of Immutability, Omnipresence, Omniscience, and Omnipotence are being embedded in your spirit even as you have been reading these posts. That understanding is revealed by and can only be revealed the Holy Spirit of God and in doing so it fills you with a powerful faith.
THESE ATTRIBUTES ARE THERE FOR YOU
That faith is not only in who God is, but it is a level of faith that opens the door to a mature realization of the benefit that that knowledge is and will become to you in the future. His power, His presence, and His knowledge are available to you. The added wonder that these attributes are unchanging and they are there for you, they never diminish or fade, increase or decrease and that means you can have a consistent confidence of spiritual invincibility, in fact you do - if you keep looking toward to Jesus - it’s called everlasting life. No matter what the evil one throws at you, you have the power to overcome and conquer it.
ASCRIBING DIETY TO SATAN
Sometimes, unwittingly, you may give Satan too much authority and in “backdoor” kind of way, actually ascribe deity to him. You may, in fear, run from him; you may tremble at the thought of his presence; you may feel every problem you experience is Satan attacking you. In fact you may feel so strongly about this that you inadvertently give Satan far more credit than he deserves and you seem to expose God is powerless to defend you or at least uncaring in His seeming lack in defending you.
Few realize they do this and fewer still actually pause or stop to ask the deeper question, “Why is God allowing this?” God could stop it, but He’s not - so what is so important to God that He allows these things to happen?
It is very important to your faith and where God want to take you from this point on that you think through this for a moment. Jesus’ account of seeing Satan fall from Heaven (Luke 10:18) is not just a statement to fill space in the Bible. The grasp of this statement is vitally important to actually living a quality of life that is so consumed with the attributes of the Deity of God that there is absolutely no twinge of Deity ascribed to the evil one. This distinction must be clear and permanently etched in your heart and mind.
FOUR QUESTIONS
Before you enter the next Room of Mystery you must be able to answer the following four questions: “Is Satan Omniscient?” Is Satan Omnipotent?” Is Satan Omnipresent?” Is Satan Immutable?” Before you nonchalantly say a hardy NO! You must also be able to answer “Why?’ Remember, the distinction must be clear and permanently etched in the very fabric of who you are before you pass the Veil just on the other side of these Golden Pillars. I’ll give you a hint as to the answer to each.
* IS SATAN OMNISCIENT?
Is Satan Omniscient? No, because if he was all knowing he would know the future and in so knowing he would have known that if he tried to overthrow God he would lose. And Jesus said He saw Satan fall from Heaven, which means he lost the battle with God. So you know he is not Omniscient.
* IS SATAN OMNIPOTENT?
Is Satan Omnipotent? No, because if he was all powerful there would be no power great enough to kick him out of Heaven. Thus the one who kicked him out would by definition be greater. That “One” is God and inherent in that fact is that reality that Satan is not Omnipotent.
* IS SATAN OMNIPRESENT?
Is Satan Omnipresent? No, because to be Omnipresent is to be everywhere. How can you get kicked out of some place if you are always there? By definition, to be kicked out of some place means you are no longer there and in so knowing we logically conclude Satan is not Omnipresent.
* IS SATAN IMMUTABLE?
Is Satan Immutable? No, because of the above points of truth. In each case Satan changed and therefore it is impossible for him to be Immutable.
Only God has all the attributes of Deity and He is on your side. You have a purpose for which He created you. Satan is trying to stop that purpose. God has already overcome Him - and He will help you do what He created you to do … if you will allow Him greater access to you.
© 2009 Streams Ministries International
http://www.streamsministries.com/blog/2009/10/21/deity-and-the-fall-of-satan/
“And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Luke 10:18
You are almost ready to a glimpse of Eternity, which you will encounter in the Next Room of Mystery. I do have add that one is never fully ready for that moment. However, you have gained important understanding of the Divine through these the last four Golden Pillars. The Pillars of Immutability, Omnipresence, Omniscience, and Omnipotence are being embedded in your spirit even as you have been reading these posts. That understanding is revealed by and can only be revealed the Holy Spirit of God and in doing so it fills you with a powerful faith.
THESE ATTRIBUTES ARE THERE FOR YOU
That faith is not only in who God is, but it is a level of faith that opens the door to a mature realization of the benefit that that knowledge is and will become to you in the future. His power, His presence, and His knowledge are available to you. The added wonder that these attributes are unchanging and they are there for you, they never diminish or fade, increase or decrease and that means you can have a consistent confidence of spiritual invincibility, in fact you do - if you keep looking toward to Jesus - it’s called everlasting life. No matter what the evil one throws at you, you have the power to overcome and conquer it.
ASCRIBING DIETY TO SATAN
Sometimes, unwittingly, you may give Satan too much authority and in “backdoor” kind of way, actually ascribe deity to him. You may, in fear, run from him; you may tremble at the thought of his presence; you may feel every problem you experience is Satan attacking you. In fact you may feel so strongly about this that you inadvertently give Satan far more credit than he deserves and you seem to expose God is powerless to defend you or at least uncaring in His seeming lack in defending you.
Few realize they do this and fewer still actually pause or stop to ask the deeper question, “Why is God allowing this?” God could stop it, but He’s not - so what is so important to God that He allows these things to happen?
It is very important to your faith and where God want to take you from this point on that you think through this for a moment. Jesus’ account of seeing Satan fall from Heaven (Luke 10:18) is not just a statement to fill space in the Bible. The grasp of this statement is vitally important to actually living a quality of life that is so consumed with the attributes of the Deity of God that there is absolutely no twinge of Deity ascribed to the evil one. This distinction must be clear and permanently etched in your heart and mind.
FOUR QUESTIONS
Before you enter the next Room of Mystery you must be able to answer the following four questions: “Is Satan Omniscient?” Is Satan Omnipotent?” Is Satan Omnipresent?” Is Satan Immutable?” Before you nonchalantly say a hardy NO! You must also be able to answer “Why?’ Remember, the distinction must be clear and permanently etched in the very fabric of who you are before you pass the Veil just on the other side of these Golden Pillars. I’ll give you a hint as to the answer to each.
* IS SATAN OMNISCIENT?
Is Satan Omniscient? No, because if he was all knowing he would know the future and in so knowing he would have known that if he tried to overthrow God he would lose. And Jesus said He saw Satan fall from Heaven, which means he lost the battle with God. So you know he is not Omniscient.
* IS SATAN OMNIPOTENT?
Is Satan Omnipotent? No, because if he was all powerful there would be no power great enough to kick him out of Heaven. Thus the one who kicked him out would by definition be greater. That “One” is God and inherent in that fact is that reality that Satan is not Omnipotent.
* IS SATAN OMNIPRESENT?
Is Satan Omnipresent? No, because to be Omnipresent is to be everywhere. How can you get kicked out of some place if you are always there? By definition, to be kicked out of some place means you are no longer there and in so knowing we logically conclude Satan is not Omnipresent.
* IS SATAN IMMUTABLE?
Is Satan Immutable? No, because of the above points of truth. In each case Satan changed and therefore it is impossible for him to be Immutable.
Only God has all the attributes of Deity and He is on your side. You have a purpose for which He created you. Satan is trying to stop that purpose. God has already overcome Him - and He will help you do what He created you to do … if you will allow Him greater access to you.
© 2009 Streams Ministries International
http://www.streamsministries.com/blog/2009/10/21/deity-and-the-fall-of-satan/
Declaring the Names of God
by John Paul Jackson
Every time a word is spoken, that word becomes established in the Earth. We may not remember it; we may forget it the moment it leaves our lips, but it hasn’t disappeared.
In part, this is why we pray. This is why we bless our enemies and not curse them, because if we return their evil actions with evil, it perpetuates evil, but if we return their actions with goodness, it stops evil and starts the flow of God in our lives. The eternality of words is one reason we avoid careless speaking (Matthew 12:36), and perhaps it is also one reason the Bible declares the names of God, His nature and His character over and over again. The Hebrews believe that once a word is spoken, it never stops speaking.
It is good to remind ourselves of the nature and character of God. It is good to speak His names into the atmosphere surrounding us. It is good to declare His glory and His favor and His blessing into our bodies, our families and the environments we find ourselves in, because once a word is spoken, it never stops speaking.
The Psalmist understood that there is no place where God is not (Psalm 139:7–12). There is only a difference in the measure of His presence. God Himself determines that measure, which is in accordance with His self-existent ways. Why is this important to us? Because God is always here. He is watching us, aiding us, protecting us and preparing us to be a habitation of the Most High. We are never, ever forgotten, and we are never, ever alone.
As I have written in an e-letter before, I pray declarative prayers often. Something happens when we declare who God is in our lives, in our circumstances, in the hard things and in the easy things. Something changes. Something shifts and adjusts and realigns with the Father’s purposes for us; this is why He created us. He wants us to succeed and achieve those purposes. When we recite His attributes back to Him, we synergize with His Kingdom — and with the results of that Kingdom, which far surpass the effort it may have taken us to pause a moment and speak His names. In this place of remembrance, we grow and find new life.
You are my Protector.
You are my Strength.
You are my Shield.
You are my Covering.
You are the One who keeps me from falling.
You are my Director.
You are my Way.
You are the One who keeps me upright.
You are my Choice and my Decision.
You are my Hiding Place.
You are the One I trust.
You are the One I love.
You are the One who treasures me, even when I see nothing good within me.
You are the Creator.
You are Wisdom when life is confusing.
You are God, who speaks to me.
You are my Healer.
You are my Helper.
You are the One who completely forgives me.
You are the One who never forgets a promise.
You are Gracious.
You are Patience.
You are my Comforter.
You are ever faithful.
You are the One who brings me peace.
You are my Father.
You are my every breath.
You are the Answer to every question I have.
Nothing is too hard for You. Even when fear surrounds me, and worry tries to steal my heart, Father, you are the One I choose. You are the One I will trust. My life is in Your hands, and it will be to me according to Your word and not to the word of the enemy. There will be no fault or shortage in the promises You have made me, because You are the One who made them. I will take You at Your word, and I will remember who You are.
When life is difficult, declare His nature and His names. When you find yourself wrapped up in negative circumstances, call to mind who He is and how safe you are with Him, and experience again the hope found in His presence.
Then I called upon the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
— Psalm 116:4–5
© 2009 Streams Ministries International
http://www.streamsministries.com
Every time a word is spoken, that word becomes established in the Earth. We may not remember it; we may forget it the moment it leaves our lips, but it hasn’t disappeared.
In part, this is why we pray. This is why we bless our enemies and not curse them, because if we return their evil actions with evil, it perpetuates evil, but if we return their actions with goodness, it stops evil and starts the flow of God in our lives. The eternality of words is one reason we avoid careless speaking (Matthew 12:36), and perhaps it is also one reason the Bible declares the names of God, His nature and His character over and over again. The Hebrews believe that once a word is spoken, it never stops speaking.
It is good to remind ourselves of the nature and character of God. It is good to speak His names into the atmosphere surrounding us. It is good to declare His glory and His favor and His blessing into our bodies, our families and the environments we find ourselves in, because once a word is spoken, it never stops speaking.
The Psalmist understood that there is no place where God is not (Psalm 139:7–12). There is only a difference in the measure of His presence. God Himself determines that measure, which is in accordance with His self-existent ways. Why is this important to us? Because God is always here. He is watching us, aiding us, protecting us and preparing us to be a habitation of the Most High. We are never, ever forgotten, and we are never, ever alone.
As I have written in an e-letter before, I pray declarative prayers often. Something happens when we declare who God is in our lives, in our circumstances, in the hard things and in the easy things. Something changes. Something shifts and adjusts and realigns with the Father’s purposes for us; this is why He created us. He wants us to succeed and achieve those purposes. When we recite His attributes back to Him, we synergize with His Kingdom — and with the results of that Kingdom, which far surpass the effort it may have taken us to pause a moment and speak His names. In this place of remembrance, we grow and find new life.
You are my Protector.
You are my Strength.
You are my Shield.
You are my Covering.
You are the One who keeps me from falling.
You are my Director.
You are my Way.
You are the One who keeps me upright.
You are my Choice and my Decision.
You are my Hiding Place.
You are the One I trust.
You are the One I love.
You are the One who treasures me, even when I see nothing good within me.
You are the Creator.
You are Wisdom when life is confusing.
You are God, who speaks to me.
You are my Healer.
You are my Helper.
You are the One who completely forgives me.
You are the One who never forgets a promise.
You are Gracious.
You are Patience.
You are my Comforter.
You are ever faithful.
You are the One who brings me peace.
You are my Father.
You are my every breath.
You are the Answer to every question I have.
Nothing is too hard for You. Even when fear surrounds me, and worry tries to steal my heart, Father, you are the One I choose. You are the One I will trust. My life is in Your hands, and it will be to me according to Your word and not to the word of the enemy. There will be no fault or shortage in the promises You have made me, because You are the One who made them. I will take You at Your word, and I will remember who You are.
When life is difficult, declare His nature and His names. When you find yourself wrapped up in negative circumstances, call to mind who He is and how safe you are with Him, and experience again the hope found in His presence.
Then I called upon the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
— Psalm 116:4–5
© 2009 Streams Ministries International
http://www.streamsministries.com
10/24/09
The Origin Of The Human Races
By: Answers In Genesis (www.aig.org)
A human race is defined as a group of people with certain common inherited features that distinguish them from other groups of people. All men of whatever race are currently classified by the anthropologist or biologist as belonging to the one species, Homo sapiens. This is another way of saying that the differences between human races are not great, even though they may appear so, i.e. black vs white skin. All races of mankind in the world can interbreed because they have so much in common.
Continued reading the article on the website:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/cm/v3/n3/origin-of-human-races
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
A human race is defined as a group of people with certain common inherited features that distinguish them from other groups of people. All men of whatever race are currently classified by the anthropologist or biologist as belonging to the one species, Homo sapiens. This is another way of saying that the differences between human races are not great, even though they may appear so, i.e. black vs white skin. All races of mankind in the world can interbreed because they have so much in common.
Continued reading the article on the website:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/cm/v3/n3/origin-of-human-races
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
Is Israel being "shafted" to stand alone?
by Perry Stone Jr.
Recently, an opinion poll was conducted among Jewish citizens, living in Israel. The question was asked of the Israeli's, if Israel were to go to war with Iran, did they believe that the present American administration would stand behind them. To the shock of the pollsters, only 4% of those questioned, believed the administration would stand behind Israel. Since the reformation of Israel as a nation, this is the lowest confidence number in an American administration, on record.
The modern nation of Israel is actually in a unique and rather precarious situation. For example, the Ultra-Orthodox Jews living in Israel do not believe the modern nation of Israel is recognized in the eyes of God. It is the common belief among most Ultra Orthodox groups in Jerusalem, that only the Jewish Messiah has the legal, political and spiritual authority to recognize the existence of Israel. In their view, the Messiah is a future man that will defeat Israel's enemies, raise the dead and rule from Jerusalem. His assignment also includes liberating the Temple Mount and rebuilding the Third Temple.
There are also hundreds of thousands, even millions of Muslims living in and around Israel. While moderate Muslims in Israel (called Israeli Arabs) and many Muslims on Jordan are friendly toward their Jewish half brothers, there are other fanatics who call for the destruction of Israel and the removal of Jews from, "Palestinian Lands." This belief that is propagated in much of the West Bank, and especially in Gaza, make it difficult for Israel to negotiate a peaceful solution to co-exist with Muslims living among them. In fact, in some areas called the "Palestinian territories," if an Arab Christian or Muslim has Jewish friends or makes contact with Jews, they can be accused of being a collaborator and reporting information to Israeli authorities. This accusation usually climaxes in the death of the accused.
Then there is the international community. The entire world revolved around "black gold," the oil from the Middle East used to run the engines of world economies. The majority of oil producing nations is also Muslims nations, most of whom believe the Jews have no legal or spiritual rights to the land they now possess, and have been at times (remember the oil embargo) willing to use oil as an economic weapon against nations that would militarily defend Israel. The U.S. involvement in protecting Saudi Arabia in the first Gulf War did help the Arabs to understand how vulnerable their oil wells were in the event of a major war involving missiles.
Now there is the United States. From the time of President Harry Truman, until the conclusion of the Presidency of George Bush in 2008, the Israeli leaders knew that despite political opposition, they could depend upon the United States to be a supporter, a spiritual friend, and to defend the Jewish state if they were attacked by an enemy, or if they found the need to pre-empt a strike against a dangerous foe in the region. Israel found the need to take out an Iraqi nuclear reactor under Saddam Hussein and also to bomb a facility being built in Syria, which was being constructed for nuclear purposes.
With the new administration, the Israeli leadership has begun to receive various signals that they will not be as friendly toward the Jewish state, as previous administrations. For example, according to Israel sources, they were told by individuals high in the administration, "We are going to change the world so don't get in our way." It was reported they were also instructed not to construct any more apartments in the "occupied territories," and not to buy property, purchase buildings or lands in east Jerusalem, which has been designated as part of the occupied lands. But it doesn't end there. They have been discouraged from planning an attack against the Iranian nuclear facilities, and perhaps the most insulting moment came months ago when a photo was released from the White House showing the president speaking to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with the soles of his feet facing the photographer. To expose the bottom of your shoes or feet in the Arab world, is the highest insult and the worse thing a person can do in public. I was told that when the picture made news in Israel, many Muslims were laughing and saying, "The president is insulting Netanyahu!"
At this present time, it appears that the entire world has turned against Israel. The real root of this conflict is Jerusalem, as this city, sacred to three religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam, will be a "cup of trembling to all nations round about it" (Zech 12:2). In the future God will gather all nations against Jerusalem in a battle of all battles (Zech. 14:2). Presently, the conflict over Jerusalem is a religious and not a political one. Since the third holiest site in Islam is the Dome of the Rock and El Aqusa, the Muslims want the entire area liberated from the Jews and Christians. The larger and more influential the Islamic religion becomes in Europe, the more decisions will be made against Israel and pressure will be put upon the Israelis to give up more land and make more concessions for "peace," that is more an optical illusion than a dream that will come true.
In the future war of Gog and Magog, the Lord will glorify His name and receive all of the credit for Israel's victory of the numerous nations (all Islamic by the way), that will be crushed by not only the Israeli forces but through several supernatural interventions. (Ezekiel 38:18; 23). I am not and have never been concerned about the Jewish state's ability to defend itself from an enemies attack. If Israel were to unleash their capabilities, few nations on earth could withstand their advanced technology. However, I am concerned for those nations, such as the United States, whose present leadership apparently knows little or nothing about Biblical prophecy and the covenant God made with Israel, and the blessings provided to those who bless His people (Gen. 12:3). Only time will reveal how the new administration will treat Israel. The Israelis are very concerned that with the president's Islamic roots, he will lean more toward defending Muslims, for the sake of being popular and attempting to make America a more global community. Only time will tell how Israel will react and America will respond.
©2008 - 2009 Perry Stone Ministries
www.voe.org
Recently, an opinion poll was conducted among Jewish citizens, living in Israel. The question was asked of the Israeli's, if Israel were to go to war with Iran, did they believe that the present American administration would stand behind them. To the shock of the pollsters, only 4% of those questioned, believed the administration would stand behind Israel. Since the reformation of Israel as a nation, this is the lowest confidence number in an American administration, on record.
The modern nation of Israel is actually in a unique and rather precarious situation. For example, the Ultra-Orthodox Jews living in Israel do not believe the modern nation of Israel is recognized in the eyes of God. It is the common belief among most Ultra Orthodox groups in Jerusalem, that only the Jewish Messiah has the legal, political and spiritual authority to recognize the existence of Israel. In their view, the Messiah is a future man that will defeat Israel's enemies, raise the dead and rule from Jerusalem. His assignment also includes liberating the Temple Mount and rebuilding the Third Temple.
There are also hundreds of thousands, even millions of Muslims living in and around Israel. While moderate Muslims in Israel (called Israeli Arabs) and many Muslims on Jordan are friendly toward their Jewish half brothers, there are other fanatics who call for the destruction of Israel and the removal of Jews from, "Palestinian Lands." This belief that is propagated in much of the West Bank, and especially in Gaza, make it difficult for Israel to negotiate a peaceful solution to co-exist with Muslims living among them. In fact, in some areas called the "Palestinian territories," if an Arab Christian or Muslim has Jewish friends or makes contact with Jews, they can be accused of being a collaborator and reporting information to Israeli authorities. This accusation usually climaxes in the death of the accused.
Then there is the international community. The entire world revolved around "black gold," the oil from the Middle East used to run the engines of world economies. The majority of oil producing nations is also Muslims nations, most of whom believe the Jews have no legal or spiritual rights to the land they now possess, and have been at times (remember the oil embargo) willing to use oil as an economic weapon against nations that would militarily defend Israel. The U.S. involvement in protecting Saudi Arabia in the first Gulf War did help the Arabs to understand how vulnerable their oil wells were in the event of a major war involving missiles.
Now there is the United States. From the time of President Harry Truman, until the conclusion of the Presidency of George Bush in 2008, the Israeli leaders knew that despite political opposition, they could depend upon the United States to be a supporter, a spiritual friend, and to defend the Jewish state if they were attacked by an enemy, or if they found the need to pre-empt a strike against a dangerous foe in the region. Israel found the need to take out an Iraqi nuclear reactor under Saddam Hussein and also to bomb a facility being built in Syria, which was being constructed for nuclear purposes.
With the new administration, the Israeli leadership has begun to receive various signals that they will not be as friendly toward the Jewish state, as previous administrations. For example, according to Israel sources, they were told by individuals high in the administration, "We are going to change the world so don't get in our way." It was reported they were also instructed not to construct any more apartments in the "occupied territories," and not to buy property, purchase buildings or lands in east Jerusalem, which has been designated as part of the occupied lands. But it doesn't end there. They have been discouraged from planning an attack against the Iranian nuclear facilities, and perhaps the most insulting moment came months ago when a photo was released from the White House showing the president speaking to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with the soles of his feet facing the photographer. To expose the bottom of your shoes or feet in the Arab world, is the highest insult and the worse thing a person can do in public. I was told that when the picture made news in Israel, many Muslims were laughing and saying, "The president is insulting Netanyahu!"
At this present time, it appears that the entire world has turned against Israel. The real root of this conflict is Jerusalem, as this city, sacred to three religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam, will be a "cup of trembling to all nations round about it" (Zech 12:2). In the future God will gather all nations against Jerusalem in a battle of all battles (Zech. 14:2). Presently, the conflict over Jerusalem is a religious and not a political one. Since the third holiest site in Islam is the Dome of the Rock and El Aqusa, the Muslims want the entire area liberated from the Jews and Christians. The larger and more influential the Islamic religion becomes in Europe, the more decisions will be made against Israel and pressure will be put upon the Israelis to give up more land and make more concessions for "peace," that is more an optical illusion than a dream that will come true.
In the future war of Gog and Magog, the Lord will glorify His name and receive all of the credit for Israel's victory of the numerous nations (all Islamic by the way), that will be crushed by not only the Israeli forces but through several supernatural interventions. (Ezekiel 38:18; 23). I am not and have never been concerned about the Jewish state's ability to defend itself from an enemies attack. If Israel were to unleash their capabilities, few nations on earth could withstand their advanced technology. However, I am concerned for those nations, such as the United States, whose present leadership apparently knows little or nothing about Biblical prophecy and the covenant God made with Israel, and the blessings provided to those who bless His people (Gen. 12:3). Only time will reveal how the new administration will treat Israel. The Israelis are very concerned that with the president's Islamic roots, he will lean more toward defending Muslims, for the sake of being popular and attempting to make America a more global community. Only time will tell how Israel will react and America will respond.
©2008 - 2009 Perry Stone Ministries
www.voe.org
The Last Ember Entertains and Educates
IFCJ: The Last Ember Entertains and Educates
The Last Ember Entertains and Educates
October 21, 2009
Dear Friend of Israel,
In the recently released novel, The Last Ember, lawyer and classics scholar Jonathan Marcus is sent to Rome by his law firm to defend a client accused of stealing an ancient stone map. At first, Marcus—who worked similar cases in the past—thinks it's just another client, but, soon, a secret message carved into the map sends him on a search for one of the most prized objects of antiquity: the great golden Menorah or lampstead (Exodus 25:31) that stood in the Holy Temple, and which was carried off by the Romans after they destroyed the Second Temple.
Marcus' hunt ultimately leads him to the old city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, where the two Holy Temples stood, which Jewish tradition identifies as the holiest spot on earth and which is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Here, Marcus uncovers a sinister plot by the Muslim authority that oversees the Mount: The overseers are trying to destroy Jewish and Christian holy relics buried in the centuries of rubble and dirt beneath the Mount's surface—erasing evidence of a Jewish and Christian presence on the site and thereby re-writing history.
Levin's story, though fiction, is inspired by real events. Using both his background as a classics scholar and his experiences as a clerk for Israel's Supreme Court, Levin is drawing on allegations that the Islamic Waqf—the land trust that has overseen the Temple Mount for hundreds of years—is actively destroying Jewish and Christian antiquities underneath the Mount. The Israeli Supreme Court—not known for its nationalism—has declared that the Waqf violated laws on 35 separate occasions by removing more than 20,000 tons of soil and unceremoniously dumping them in the adjacent Kidron Valley. These acts aren't secrets: A resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007 condemned the Waqf digging and deplored the destruction of antiquities.
One doesn't need a PhD in archaeology to realize that the Temple Mount likely holds remains that would be of enormous significance, historically and religiously. And yet the Waqf excavated (apparently to allow it to build underground mosques) with massive construction equipment—the sort that would crush stone and ceramics—without so much as allowing archaeologists a peek beforehand. Nor did they allow in anyone from the Israeli Antiquities Authority, the governmental agency that has to okay every single construction project in the country to check that the land being plowed or excavated doesn't hold any items of archaeological significance.
More than one observer—including the archaeologists and historians who formed the "Academic Committee to Prevent the Destruction of Temple Mount Antiquities," which has worked to bring attention to the issue—has posited that the Waqf's disregard for the historical record underneath the Mount's surface is intentional—and maybe even as sinister as Levin's engaging plot.
For years, Palestinian and Waqf leaders have been openly dismissing Jewish and Christian claims to the Temple Mount, going so far as to assert that the Temples never existed at all—obliterating thousands of years of Jewish and Christian history in the Holy Land.
There wasn't "a single stone proving that the Temple of Solomon was there, because historically the Temple was not in Palestine," PLO Leader Yasser Arafat told a London newspaper in 2004, acceding that the archeological record only shows evidence of a "shrine of the Roman Herod."
Arafat was arguing that talk about ancient Temples was just a way for Israelis to tighten their grip on the ancient city, and he charged that archaeologists were falsifying the historical record to bolster Jewish claims to Israel: "They are now trying to put in place a number of stones so that they can say 'We were here.' This is nonsense. I challenge them to bring a single stone from the Temple of Solomon."
Thanks to the Waqf's digging, it's possible that archaeological evidence of the first Temple cannot, in fact, be found—because it's been destroyed.
Without archaeological proof, many believe, the Biblical record means nothing. Already, mainstream media outlets refer to the Temple Mount by its Arabic name, Haram al-Sharif, and make passing reference to the Jewish "belief" that the Temples once stood on it. What was once sacrosanct knowledge in the West is now considered merely a matter of one religion's faith.
The academic discipline of archeology has become explosively politicized.
Israeli archaeologists seek to dig for truth, to examine what the Holy Land's earth has to tell us today. The Waqf has sought—openly and with pathetically few challenges—to make that truth-seeking impossible.
Thus, The Last Ember, which is a first-rate thriller, also carries a deeper message: Ancient artifacts are more than just "rocks." They tell us where our nations and faiths came from, and have a critical bearing on our understanding of history and of truth.
If you're looking for a novel that educates as well as entertains, look no further than The Last Ember. Pick up a copy today, and prepare to be taken on a memorable ride, full of suspense and intrigue, through biblical and ancient history.
This history has an important bearing on what is happening in the present day; sometimes, to understand our present and future, we must look backwards. In this case, we must look to the ground beneath us, trusting that "Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven." (Psalm 85:11)
With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President
© 2009 International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
www.ifcj.org
The Last Ember Entertains and Educates
October 21, 2009
Dear Friend of Israel,
In the recently released novel, The Last Ember, lawyer and classics scholar Jonathan Marcus is sent to Rome by his law firm to defend a client accused of stealing an ancient stone map. At first, Marcus—who worked similar cases in the past—thinks it's just another client, but, soon, a secret message carved into the map sends him on a search for one of the most prized objects of antiquity: the great golden Menorah or lampstead (Exodus 25:31) that stood in the Holy Temple, and which was carried off by the Romans after they destroyed the Second Temple.
Marcus' hunt ultimately leads him to the old city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, where the two Holy Temples stood, which Jewish tradition identifies as the holiest spot on earth and which is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Here, Marcus uncovers a sinister plot by the Muslim authority that oversees the Mount: The overseers are trying to destroy Jewish and Christian holy relics buried in the centuries of rubble and dirt beneath the Mount's surface—erasing evidence of a Jewish and Christian presence on the site and thereby re-writing history.
Levin's story, though fiction, is inspired by real events. Using both his background as a classics scholar and his experiences as a clerk for Israel's Supreme Court, Levin is drawing on allegations that the Islamic Waqf—the land trust that has overseen the Temple Mount for hundreds of years—is actively destroying Jewish and Christian antiquities underneath the Mount. The Israeli Supreme Court—not known for its nationalism—has declared that the Waqf violated laws on 35 separate occasions by removing more than 20,000 tons of soil and unceremoniously dumping them in the adjacent Kidron Valley. These acts aren't secrets: A resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007 condemned the Waqf digging and deplored the destruction of antiquities.
One doesn't need a PhD in archaeology to realize that the Temple Mount likely holds remains that would be of enormous significance, historically and religiously. And yet the Waqf excavated (apparently to allow it to build underground mosques) with massive construction equipment—the sort that would crush stone and ceramics—without so much as allowing archaeologists a peek beforehand. Nor did they allow in anyone from the Israeli Antiquities Authority, the governmental agency that has to okay every single construction project in the country to check that the land being plowed or excavated doesn't hold any items of archaeological significance.
More than one observer—including the archaeologists and historians who formed the "Academic Committee to Prevent the Destruction of Temple Mount Antiquities," which has worked to bring attention to the issue—has posited that the Waqf's disregard for the historical record underneath the Mount's surface is intentional—and maybe even as sinister as Levin's engaging plot.
For years, Palestinian and Waqf leaders have been openly dismissing Jewish and Christian claims to the Temple Mount, going so far as to assert that the Temples never existed at all—obliterating thousands of years of Jewish and Christian history in the Holy Land.
There wasn't "a single stone proving that the Temple of Solomon was there, because historically the Temple was not in Palestine," PLO Leader Yasser Arafat told a London newspaper in 2004, acceding that the archeological record only shows evidence of a "shrine of the Roman Herod."
Arafat was arguing that talk about ancient Temples was just a way for Israelis to tighten their grip on the ancient city, and he charged that archaeologists were falsifying the historical record to bolster Jewish claims to Israel: "They are now trying to put in place a number of stones so that they can say 'We were here.' This is nonsense. I challenge them to bring a single stone from the Temple of Solomon."
Thanks to the Waqf's digging, it's possible that archaeological evidence of the first Temple cannot, in fact, be found—because it's been destroyed.
Without archaeological proof, many believe, the Biblical record means nothing. Already, mainstream media outlets refer to the Temple Mount by its Arabic name, Haram al-Sharif, and make passing reference to the Jewish "belief" that the Temples once stood on it. What was once sacrosanct knowledge in the West is now considered merely a matter of one religion's faith.
The academic discipline of archeology has become explosively politicized.
Israeli archaeologists seek to dig for truth, to examine what the Holy Land's earth has to tell us today. The Waqf has sought—openly and with pathetically few challenges—to make that truth-seeking impossible.
Thus, The Last Ember, which is a first-rate thriller, also carries a deeper message: Ancient artifacts are more than just "rocks." They tell us where our nations and faiths came from, and have a critical bearing on our understanding of history and of truth.
If you're looking for a novel that educates as well as entertains, look no further than The Last Ember. Pick up a copy today, and prepare to be taken on a memorable ride, full of suspense and intrigue, through biblical and ancient history.
This history has an important bearing on what is happening in the present day; sometimes, to understand our present and future, we must look backwards. In this case, we must look to the ground beneath us, trusting that "Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven." (Psalm 85:11)
With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President
© 2009 International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
www.ifcj.org
Identity
The witness of persecuted Christians has a unique power to reach a new generation of lives and communities that would otherwise never be open to the gospel -but they cannot do it alone. www.opendoorsusa.org
Jewish Hollywood
How Jewish is Hollywood?
by Joel Stein, LA Times
A poll finds more Americans disagree with the statement that 'Jews
control Hollywood.' But here's one Jew who doesn't.
I have never been so upset by a poll in my life. Only 22% of Americans
now believe "the movie and television industries are pretty much run
by Jews," down from nearly 50% in 1964. The Anti-Defamation League,
which released the poll results last month, sees in these numbers a
victory against stereotyping. Actually, it just shows how dumb America
has gotten. Jews totally run Hollywood.
How deeply Jewish is Hollywood? When the studio chiefs took out a
full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times a few weeks ago to demand that
the Screen Actors Guild settle its contract, the open letter was
signed by: News Corp. President Peter Chernin (Jewish), Paramount
Pictures Chairman Brad Grey (Jewish), Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger (Jewish), Sony Pictures Chairman Michael Lynton (surprise, Dutch Jew), Warner Bros. Chairman Barry Meyer (Jewish), CBS Corp.
Chief Executive Leslie Moonves (so Jewish his great uncle was the
first prime minister of Israel), MGM Chairman Harry Sloan (Jewish) and
NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker (mega-Jewish). If either of
the Weinstein brothers had signed, this group would have not only the
power to shut down all film production but to form a minyan with
enough Fiji water on hand to fill a mikvah.
The person they were yelling at in that ad was SAG President Alan
Rosenberg (take a guess). The scathing rebuttal to the ad was written
by entertainment super-agent Ari Emanuel (Jew with Israeli parents) on
the Huffington Post, which is owned by Arianna Huffington (not Jewish
and has never worked in Hollywood.)
The Jews are so dominant, I had to scour the trades to come up with
six Gentiles in high positions at entertainment companies. When I
called them to talk about their incredible advancement, five of them
refused to talk to me, apparently out of fear of insulting Jews. The
sixth, AMC President Charlie Collier, turned out to be Jewish.
As a proud Jew, I want America to know about our accomplishment. Yes,
we control Hollywood. Without us, you'd be flipping between "The 700
Club" and "Davey and Goliath" on TV all day.
So I've taken it upon myself to re-convince America that Jews run
Hollywood by launching a public relations campaign, because that's
what we do best. I'm weighing several slogans, including: "Hollywood:
More Jewish than ever!"; "Hollywood: From the people who brought you
the Bible"; and "Hollywood: If you enjoy TV and movies, then you
probably like Jews after all."
I called ADL Chairman Abe Foxman, who was in Santiago, Chile, where,
he told me to my dismay, he was not hunting Nazis. He dismissed my
whole proposition, saying that the number of people who think Jews run
Hollywood is still too high. The ADL poll, he pointed out, showed that
59% of Americans think Hollywood execs "do not share the religious and
moral values of most Americans," and 43% think the entertainment
industry is waging an organized campaign to "weaken the influence of
religious values in this country."
That's a sinister canard, Foxman said. "It means they think Jews
meet at Canter's Deli on Friday mornings to decide what's best for the
Jews." Foxman's argument made me rethink: I have to eat at Canter's
more often.
"That's a very dangerous phrase, 'Jews control Hollywood.' What is
true is that there are a lot of Jews in Hollywood," he said. Instead
of "control," Foxman would prefer people say that many executives in
the industry "happen to be Jewish," as in "all eight major film
studios are run by men who happen to be Jewish."
But Foxman said he is proud of the accomplishments of American Jews.
"I think Jews are disproportionately represented in the creative
industry. They're disproportionate as lawyers and probably medicine
here as well," he said. He argues that this does not mean that Jews
make pro-Jewish movies any more than they do pro-Jewish surgery.
Though other countries, I've noticed, aren't so big on circumcision.
I appreciate Foxman's concerns. And maybe my life spent in a New
Jersey-New York/Bay Area-L.A. pro-Semitic cocoon has left me naive.
But I don't care if Americans think we're running the news media,
Hollywood, Wall Street or the government. I just care that we get to
keep running them.
LAtimes.com
jstein@latimescolumnists.com
by Joel Stein, LA Times
A poll finds more Americans disagree with the statement that 'Jews
control Hollywood.' But here's one Jew who doesn't.
I have never been so upset by a poll in my life. Only 22% of Americans
now believe "the movie and television industries are pretty much run
by Jews," down from nearly 50% in 1964. The Anti-Defamation League,
which released the poll results last month, sees in these numbers a
victory against stereotyping. Actually, it just shows how dumb America
has gotten. Jews totally run Hollywood.
How deeply Jewish is Hollywood? When the studio chiefs took out a
full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times a few weeks ago to demand that
the Screen Actors Guild settle its contract, the open letter was
signed by: News Corp. President Peter Chernin (Jewish), Paramount
Pictures Chairman Brad Grey (Jewish), Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger (Jewish), Sony Pictures Chairman Michael Lynton (surprise, Dutch Jew), Warner Bros. Chairman Barry Meyer (Jewish), CBS Corp.
Chief Executive Leslie Moonves (so Jewish his great uncle was the
first prime minister of Israel), MGM Chairman Harry Sloan (Jewish) and
NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker (mega-Jewish). If either of
the Weinstein brothers had signed, this group would have not only the
power to shut down all film production but to form a minyan with
enough Fiji water on hand to fill a mikvah.
The person they were yelling at in that ad was SAG President Alan
Rosenberg (take a guess). The scathing rebuttal to the ad was written
by entertainment super-agent Ari Emanuel (Jew with Israeli parents) on
the Huffington Post, which is owned by Arianna Huffington (not Jewish
and has never worked in Hollywood.)
The Jews are so dominant, I had to scour the trades to come up with
six Gentiles in high positions at entertainment companies. When I
called them to talk about their incredible advancement, five of them
refused to talk to me, apparently out of fear of insulting Jews. The
sixth, AMC President Charlie Collier, turned out to be Jewish.
As a proud Jew, I want America to know about our accomplishment. Yes,
we control Hollywood. Without us, you'd be flipping between "The 700
Club" and "Davey and Goliath" on TV all day.
So I've taken it upon myself to re-convince America that Jews run
Hollywood by launching a public relations campaign, because that's
what we do best. I'm weighing several slogans, including: "Hollywood:
More Jewish than ever!"; "Hollywood: From the people who brought you
the Bible"; and "Hollywood: If you enjoy TV and movies, then you
probably like Jews after all."
I called ADL Chairman Abe Foxman, who was in Santiago, Chile, where,
he told me to my dismay, he was not hunting Nazis. He dismissed my
whole proposition, saying that the number of people who think Jews run
Hollywood is still too high. The ADL poll, he pointed out, showed that
59% of Americans think Hollywood execs "do not share the religious and
moral values of most Americans," and 43% think the entertainment
industry is waging an organized campaign to "weaken the influence of
religious values in this country."
That's a sinister canard, Foxman said. "It means they think Jews
meet at Canter's Deli on Friday mornings to decide what's best for the
Jews." Foxman's argument made me rethink: I have to eat at Canter's
more often.
"That's a very dangerous phrase, 'Jews control Hollywood.' What is
true is that there are a lot of Jews in Hollywood," he said. Instead
of "control," Foxman would prefer people say that many executives in
the industry "happen to be Jewish," as in "all eight major film
studios are run by men who happen to be Jewish."
But Foxman said he is proud of the accomplishments of American Jews.
"I think Jews are disproportionately represented in the creative
industry. They're disproportionate as lawyers and probably medicine
here as well," he said. He argues that this does not mean that Jews
make pro-Jewish movies any more than they do pro-Jewish surgery.
Though other countries, I've noticed, aren't so big on circumcision.
I appreciate Foxman's concerns. And maybe my life spent in a New
Jersey-New York/Bay Area-L.A. pro-Semitic cocoon has left me naive.
But I don't care if Americans think we're running the news media,
Hollywood, Wall Street or the government. I just care that we get to
keep running them.
LAtimes.com
jstein@latimescolumnists.com
Hollywood Prayer Network - October 2009 Newsletter
"The Hollywood Prayer Network is a non-denominational Christian prayer ministry for the purpose of praying for the people, the projects and the powerful influence of the Entertainment Industry. HPN believes that by mobilizing global prayer we can be a part of God's miraculous work of changing the spiritual climate of Hollywood, from the inside out. Will you join us in praying for Hollywood?"
October 2009 Newsletter
Dear HPN members,
It’s October already – the leaves are changing, orange lights and decorations are starting to appear in LA and we have lots to pray for. Let’s respond to this Halloween month with prayers specifically for the Christians and for others in Hollywood who don’t yet know him.
SUMMARY:
• Pray for Soap Opera actress Patricia Mauceri
• Keep praying for the Hollywood Thurs. prayer to grow
• Please pray for Carl Swenson
• Seven ways to pray for Christians in Hollywood
• Pray for the staff of the 168 Hour Film Festival
• We need to pray for David Letterman
• Pray for Alec Baldwin and for his heart to melt
• Pray for HPN LCD, Hector & The Aslan Centre in Madrid
• Pray with us on Nov. 6th for a 16-hour day of prayer
PRAISES:
• Christian Soap Opera actress Patricia Mauceri, who's been playing Carlotta Vega for two years on One Life to Live, just lost her job because she wouldn’t compromise her beliefs. Pray for Patricia as she deals with the fallout on graciously standing up for her faith to TV Producers. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/07/10/2009-07-10_soap_star_.html
UPDATES:
• The Hollywood Thursday night prayer times are continuing to grow. We believe they are making an eternal difference. Would you pray with us, wherever you may be on Thursday nights from 7-8pm PST.
• Please keep praying for our dear friend and co-laborer in Hollywood, Carl Swenson. He is a cancer survivor who just got hit with a serious new growth of cancer. Would you join us in asking the Lord to prepare Carl and all of his friends and loved ones to embrace His PERFECT PLAN for Carl and that the Lord is tangibly present in Carl's life right now.
REQUESTS:
• During October let's lift up the personal and spiritual needs of our Christian industry professionals:
- Pray for the Christian marriages in Hollywood - that couples will weather their storms and stay committed through thick and through thin, never taking their eyes off of Jesus.
- Pray that the work of Christian artists and business people here overflows with creativity, integrity and represents the highest quality. We want to be the BEST in our business, in all areas, and we want to be the most imaginative, the most honest, and the best people to work with and for.
- Ask the Lord to nudge the Christians to get committed to a local church, small group and/or Bible study that will help them to grow in their own personal faith.
- Ask the Lord to put a hunger for His Word in the hearts of Christians in Hollywood. We want the Holy Spirit to draw Christian professionals to the Bible, to Bible studies, and to memorizing His Word.
- Pray that the Holy Spirit makes Christians hungry to pray together. We ask that God will start more weekly and daily prayer groups across our industry, with different believers who want to pray, to intercede for others, and to be prayed for.
- Pray that the Lord not let any Christians in Hollywood live a mediocre life, that no one will compromise in their faith, their work or their personal lives, and that no one will settle for just surviving, but that we will all fight to live full and abundant lives with Jesus!
- Pray that the Christians will have a passion to share their faith with the people around them who don’t yet know Jesus by serving, loving and encouraging others around with the Love of Christ.
• Pray for the staff of the 168 Hour Film Festival as they reach their deadline for their new “Write of Passage Screenwriting Competition.” May they have the wisdom to choose the most qualified writers who are both professionally and spiritually mature and solid. For more info: http://store.168project.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=1HPAF&Category_Code=WOP
• Let’s pray for David Letterman as he goes through this dark time of the soul. As he publically admitted that he has cheated on his new wife and taken advantage of his staff members, we need to pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to David and that he will lean on God to get him through this time. Oh, how beautiful it would be to see the Lord turn this in to good for David, his wife and all those people close to him. With God, nothing is impossible.
• Pray for Alec Baldwin. He was nominated for the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in the 2003 film, The Cooler. Currently, he appears as Jack Donaghy on the NBC sitcom, 30 Rock, the sitcom that won the most Emmys at last month’s ceremony, including one for Alec. Alec is divorced from Kim Basinger and is the eldest of the Baldwin brothers. His brother, Stephen, is a born-again Christian and is the closest believer in Alec’s life. There may be others. As we pray for Alec, also pray for Stephen, that God will use him in Alec's life to speak to him about the life-changing love and truth of the gospel.
REQUESTS FROM HPN’s LOCAL CHAPTER IN MADRID:
• From Madrid Spain: We’re right in the midst of classes and activities at the Aslan Centre. People are beginning to come back after the holidays, especially those encouraged by other friends who’ve told them about “the wonderful things that happen here”. Our summer Art campers are grateful and surprised by what they have experienced. We deeply believe people are being touched by God’s presence and know that He’s got great and new things in store for us this coming year.
On the other hand, we’re going through one of the most difficult times in years, both as a family and as a ministry. We’ve fallen 3 months behind in our rent payments at the school. The landlord said this week, now we’re in danger, which means the Aslan Centre may close if we don’t pay in the next few weeks. We’re convinced God is with us in the midst of this situation and we’re trusting and believing He is going to intervene in supernatural ways as He’s done before. Will you pray with us?! Thank you so much. Blessings and keep up the good work. Hector
Check out: www.aslanperformingartscentre.org
UPCOMING EVENTS:
• On Friday, Nov. 6th HPN and Hollywood Presbyterian Church are partnering to have a 16 hour “Day of Prayer to Unite Hollywood”. It will be in an interactive room of prayer, with music, drawing, worshiping, writing and other creative ways to pray together as a community. Please join us, wherever you are. Check out: http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/content/hollywood-prayer-united
• Continue to pray for all the ministries in Hollywood. And to find out what other events are happening this month, click on: http://www.hollywoodconnect.com/current-events
Thanks so much for praying with us this month. Keep lifting up our Christian community, asking the Lord for a miraculous impact on our extended community.
Warmly,
Karen, Caren and Gloria
http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/new/welcome
October 2009 Newsletter
Dear HPN members,
It’s October already – the leaves are changing, orange lights and decorations are starting to appear in LA and we have lots to pray for. Let’s respond to this Halloween month with prayers specifically for the Christians and for others in Hollywood who don’t yet know him.
SUMMARY:
• Pray for Soap Opera actress Patricia Mauceri
• Keep praying for the Hollywood Thurs. prayer to grow
• Please pray for Carl Swenson
• Seven ways to pray for Christians in Hollywood
• Pray for the staff of the 168 Hour Film Festival
• We need to pray for David Letterman
• Pray for Alec Baldwin and for his heart to melt
• Pray for HPN LCD, Hector & The Aslan Centre in Madrid
• Pray with us on Nov. 6th for a 16-hour day of prayer
PRAISES:
• Christian Soap Opera actress Patricia Mauceri, who's been playing Carlotta Vega for two years on One Life to Live, just lost her job because she wouldn’t compromise her beliefs. Pray for Patricia as she deals with the fallout on graciously standing up for her faith to TV Producers. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/07/10/2009-07-10_soap_star_.html
UPDATES:
• The Hollywood Thursday night prayer times are continuing to grow. We believe they are making an eternal difference. Would you pray with us, wherever you may be on Thursday nights from 7-8pm PST.
• Please keep praying for our dear friend and co-laborer in Hollywood, Carl Swenson. He is a cancer survivor who just got hit with a serious new growth of cancer. Would you join us in asking the Lord to prepare Carl and all of his friends and loved ones to embrace His PERFECT PLAN for Carl and that the Lord is tangibly present in Carl's life right now.
REQUESTS:
• During October let's lift up the personal and spiritual needs of our Christian industry professionals:
- Pray for the Christian marriages in Hollywood - that couples will weather their storms and stay committed through thick and through thin, never taking their eyes off of Jesus.
- Pray that the work of Christian artists and business people here overflows with creativity, integrity and represents the highest quality. We want to be the BEST in our business, in all areas, and we want to be the most imaginative, the most honest, and the best people to work with and for.
- Ask the Lord to nudge the Christians to get committed to a local church, small group and/or Bible study that will help them to grow in their own personal faith.
- Ask the Lord to put a hunger for His Word in the hearts of Christians in Hollywood. We want the Holy Spirit to draw Christian professionals to the Bible, to Bible studies, and to memorizing His Word.
- Pray that the Holy Spirit makes Christians hungry to pray together. We ask that God will start more weekly and daily prayer groups across our industry, with different believers who want to pray, to intercede for others, and to be prayed for.
- Pray that the Lord not let any Christians in Hollywood live a mediocre life, that no one will compromise in their faith, their work or their personal lives, and that no one will settle for just surviving, but that we will all fight to live full and abundant lives with Jesus!
- Pray that the Christians will have a passion to share their faith with the people around them who don’t yet know Jesus by serving, loving and encouraging others around with the Love of Christ.
• Pray for the staff of the 168 Hour Film Festival as they reach their deadline for their new “Write of Passage Screenwriting Competition.” May they have the wisdom to choose the most qualified writers who are both professionally and spiritually mature and solid. For more info: http://store.168project.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=1HPAF&Category_Code=WOP
• Let’s pray for David Letterman as he goes through this dark time of the soul. As he publically admitted that he has cheated on his new wife and taken advantage of his staff members, we need to pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to David and that he will lean on God to get him through this time. Oh, how beautiful it would be to see the Lord turn this in to good for David, his wife and all those people close to him. With God, nothing is impossible.
• Pray for Alec Baldwin. He was nominated for the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in the 2003 film, The Cooler. Currently, he appears as Jack Donaghy on the NBC sitcom, 30 Rock, the sitcom that won the most Emmys at last month’s ceremony, including one for Alec. Alec is divorced from Kim Basinger and is the eldest of the Baldwin brothers. His brother, Stephen, is a born-again Christian and is the closest believer in Alec’s life. There may be others. As we pray for Alec, also pray for Stephen, that God will use him in Alec's life to speak to him about the life-changing love and truth of the gospel.
REQUESTS FROM HPN’s LOCAL CHAPTER IN MADRID:
• From Madrid Spain: We’re right in the midst of classes and activities at the Aslan Centre. People are beginning to come back after the holidays, especially those encouraged by other friends who’ve told them about “the wonderful things that happen here”. Our summer Art campers are grateful and surprised by what they have experienced. We deeply believe people are being touched by God’s presence and know that He’s got great and new things in store for us this coming year.
On the other hand, we’re going through one of the most difficult times in years, both as a family and as a ministry. We’ve fallen 3 months behind in our rent payments at the school. The landlord said this week, now we’re in danger, which means the Aslan Centre may close if we don’t pay in the next few weeks. We’re convinced God is with us in the midst of this situation and we’re trusting and believing He is going to intervene in supernatural ways as He’s done before. Will you pray with us?! Thank you so much. Blessings and keep up the good work. Hector
Check out: www.aslanperformingartscentre.org
UPCOMING EVENTS:
• On Friday, Nov. 6th HPN and Hollywood Presbyterian Church are partnering to have a 16 hour “Day of Prayer to Unite Hollywood”. It will be in an interactive room of prayer, with music, drawing, worshiping, writing and other creative ways to pray together as a community. Please join us, wherever you are. Check out: http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/content/hollywood-prayer-united
• Continue to pray for all the ministries in Hollywood. And to find out what other events are happening this month, click on: http://www.hollywoodconnect.com/current-events
Thanks so much for praying with us this month. Keep lifting up our Christian community, asking the Lord for a miraculous impact on our extended community.
Warmly,
Karen, Caren and Gloria
http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/new/welcome
VOM–USA Prayer Update for October 23, 2009
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
“Prayer is the coupling of primary and secondary causes. It is the splicing of our limp wire to the lightning bolt of heaven.” John Piper
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:11-13
RUSSIA — Pastors Fined for Worship — Forum 18 News
Romans 8:34-36
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Recently, two Baptist pastors in Russia's Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad were fined 2,200 rubles (US $75) after their church members "sang psalms and spoke about Christ" on the street, according to Forum 18 News Service. Kaliningrad police told Forum 18 News that the pastors did not get permission in advance to sing, as required by law. Asked why permission is necessary, a police official replied, "That's the law in Russia!" Aleksandr Legotin, one of the two Baptist pastors, insisted that the Baptists held a religious service and not a demonstration, so the legal requirement to notify the authorities in advance should not have applied. "We follow the law very carefully," he told Forum 18 News. "And under the Universal Declaration [of Human Rights], we have the right to freedom of conscience. The law should be … protecting us from such arbitrariness." At last report, the pastors had not decided whether they would appeal the fine. The Voice of the Martyrs encourages you to pray for believers in Kaliningrad and other countries in Europe where their freedom to worship freely is coming under attack. Ask God to encourage and protect them.
PHILIPPINES — Elderly Priest Kidnapped in the Philippines — VOM Canada
Psalm 91:1-6
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a] And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
On Oct. 10, Father Michael Sinnott, a 79-year-old priest from Ireland, was abducted by six armed men while he was conducting prayers at his home in the city of Pagadian, near Zamboanga (Mindanao), Philippines, according to VOM Canada. No one has taken responsibility, but the Islamic extremist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front is suspected in the kidnapping. Father Sinnott is known to have health problems, which increases concern about his well-being. According to reports, Filipino military informants spotted the religious leader and his captors on Oct. 12 in Lanao del Sur province, about 70 kilometers from where he was abducted, and again in another location the following day. Father Sinnott has been serving in the Philippines for the past 40 years. Pray that Father Sinnott's captors will release him unharmed, and pray for his health during this time of trial.
IRAN — UPDATE: Further Charges Brought Against Iranian Prisoners — VOM Contacts
Romans 8:34–36
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
On Oct. 7, Maryam and Marzieh were unexpectedly taken back to court, where they faced charges of anti-state activity, propagation of Christianity and apostasy. The judge acquitted them of the charge of anti-state activity, and the other charges will be considered by a general court. Continue to pray for Maryam and Marzieh, who remain in prison awaiting their next hearing. Pray for their health, as they have been denied proper medical treatment.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
October 16 Prayer Update
VOM-USA Prayer Update for October 16, 2009
On Tue. Oct 13 2009 at 08:59 AM Moderator wrote:
PAKISTAN UPDATE—Sandul Bibi and Gulsher Masih Appear in Court—VOM Contacts
On Oct. 7, Sandul Bibi and her father, Gulsher Masih, appeared in court in Faisalabad, Pakistan, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The investigating officer in their case, Anayat Ullah Rahmani, did not appear in court. As a result, the judge set another court date for Oct. 17. Sandul and Gulsher have been in prison for more than six months on false blasphemy charges. Pray that Gulsher and Sandul will be released from prison. Praise God for their faithfulness and witness in prison, and ask God to strengthen their family.
2 Timothy 3:10–12
SOMALIA—Christian Leader Killed—Compass Direct News
On Sept. 28, an Islamic extremist shot and killed Mariam Muhina Hussein, an underground church leader, after discovering six Bibles in her possession, according to Compass Direct News.
The day before the shooting, a leader of the Islamic extremist group al Shabaab reportedly sent his wife to visit Hussein's home in Marerey village. She pretended she was interested in learning about Christianity. During the visit, Hussein read passages of the Bible and told the woman that she could visit regularly to discuss God's Word, according to Compass. The following day, the al Shabaab leader, identified as Sheikh Arbow, went to Hussein’s house with several other men and requested a Bible. When Hussein gave one to him, he revealed that he was looking for "Christians who have defiled the Islamic religion" and ordered her to show him the other Bibles that she owned. When she handed them over, Arbow shot her three times, killing her instantly. In recent weeks, several Christians in Somalia have been killed because of their faith in Christ. The Voice of the Martyrs rejoices in the life of Mariam Muhina Hussein. Praise God for her faithfulness. VOM encourages you to pray that those who mourn for her will draw near to Christ for comfort. Pray that God will grant Somali Christians encouragement and strength as they face trials for their Christian witness. Also pray that God will draw persecutors into fellowship with him.
Matthew 5:43–48
INDIA—Pastor Attacked—VOM Contacts
On Oct. 4, Pastor Prakash was attacked by 25 Bajrang Dal extremists while he was ministering in Kaiwara village, Bangalore Rural District, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The extremists assaulted the pastor and accused him of cheating people. After the attack, the pastor was questioned and held on complaints of “illegal activity.” Fortunately, other believers provided evidence that the pastor had not broken any laws but had visited their homes for prayer. At last report he was still in custody. Pastor Prakash has been in ministry for more than 10 years and pastors a church of 80 members. Recently, he had expanded his ministry to Kaiwara village, where 15 believers had been meeting for prayer on Sundays evenings. The Voice of the Martyrs actively supports persecuted believers by providing legal assistance to Christians like Pastor Prakash who have been arrested for their faith. VOM encourages you to pray for Pastor Prakash’s immediate release. Pray for the safety of his family and other believers in the area.
Revelation 2:10
“Prayer is the coupling of primary and secondary causes. It is the splicing of our limp wire to the lightning bolt of heaven.” John Piper
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:11-13
RUSSIA — Pastors Fined for Worship — Forum 18 News
Romans 8:34-36
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Recently, two Baptist pastors in Russia's Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad were fined 2,200 rubles (US $75) after their church members "sang psalms and spoke about Christ" on the street, according to Forum 18 News Service. Kaliningrad police told Forum 18 News that the pastors did not get permission in advance to sing, as required by law. Asked why permission is necessary, a police official replied, "That's the law in Russia!" Aleksandr Legotin, one of the two Baptist pastors, insisted that the Baptists held a religious service and not a demonstration, so the legal requirement to notify the authorities in advance should not have applied. "We follow the law very carefully," he told Forum 18 News. "And under the Universal Declaration [of Human Rights], we have the right to freedom of conscience. The law should be … protecting us from such arbitrariness." At last report, the pastors had not decided whether they would appeal the fine. The Voice of the Martyrs encourages you to pray for believers in Kaliningrad and other countries in Europe where their freedom to worship freely is coming under attack. Ask God to encourage and protect them.
PHILIPPINES — Elderly Priest Kidnapped in the Philippines — VOM Canada
Psalm 91:1-6
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a] And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
On Oct. 10, Father Michael Sinnott, a 79-year-old priest from Ireland, was abducted by six armed men while he was conducting prayers at his home in the city of Pagadian, near Zamboanga (Mindanao), Philippines, according to VOM Canada. No one has taken responsibility, but the Islamic extremist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front is suspected in the kidnapping. Father Sinnott is known to have health problems, which increases concern about his well-being. According to reports, Filipino military informants spotted the religious leader and his captors on Oct. 12 in Lanao del Sur province, about 70 kilometers from where he was abducted, and again in another location the following day. Father Sinnott has been serving in the Philippines for the past 40 years. Pray that Father Sinnott's captors will release him unharmed, and pray for his health during this time of trial.
IRAN — UPDATE: Further Charges Brought Against Iranian Prisoners — VOM Contacts
Romans 8:34–36
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
On Oct. 7, Maryam and Marzieh were unexpectedly taken back to court, where they faced charges of anti-state activity, propagation of Christianity and apostasy. The judge acquitted them of the charge of anti-state activity, and the other charges will be considered by a general court. Continue to pray for Maryam and Marzieh, who remain in prison awaiting their next hearing. Pray for their health, as they have been denied proper medical treatment.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
October 16 Prayer Update
VOM-USA Prayer Update for October 16, 2009
On Tue. Oct 13 2009 at 08:59 AM Moderator wrote:
PAKISTAN UPDATE—Sandul Bibi and Gulsher Masih Appear in Court—VOM Contacts
On Oct. 7, Sandul Bibi and her father, Gulsher Masih, appeared in court in Faisalabad, Pakistan, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The investigating officer in their case, Anayat Ullah Rahmani, did not appear in court. As a result, the judge set another court date for Oct. 17. Sandul and Gulsher have been in prison for more than six months on false blasphemy charges. Pray that Gulsher and Sandul will be released from prison. Praise God for their faithfulness and witness in prison, and ask God to strengthen their family.
2 Timothy 3:10–12
SOMALIA—Christian Leader Killed—Compass Direct News
On Sept. 28, an Islamic extremist shot and killed Mariam Muhina Hussein, an underground church leader, after discovering six Bibles in her possession, according to Compass Direct News.
The day before the shooting, a leader of the Islamic extremist group al Shabaab reportedly sent his wife to visit Hussein's home in Marerey village. She pretended she was interested in learning about Christianity. During the visit, Hussein read passages of the Bible and told the woman that she could visit regularly to discuss God's Word, according to Compass. The following day, the al Shabaab leader, identified as Sheikh Arbow, went to Hussein’s house with several other men and requested a Bible. When Hussein gave one to him, he revealed that he was looking for "Christians who have defiled the Islamic religion" and ordered her to show him the other Bibles that she owned. When she handed them over, Arbow shot her three times, killing her instantly. In recent weeks, several Christians in Somalia have been killed because of their faith in Christ. The Voice of the Martyrs rejoices in the life of Mariam Muhina Hussein. Praise God for her faithfulness. VOM encourages you to pray that those who mourn for her will draw near to Christ for comfort. Pray that God will grant Somali Christians encouragement and strength as they face trials for their Christian witness. Also pray that God will draw persecutors into fellowship with him.
Matthew 5:43–48
INDIA—Pastor Attacked—VOM Contacts
On Oct. 4, Pastor Prakash was attacked by 25 Bajrang Dal extremists while he was ministering in Kaiwara village, Bangalore Rural District, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The extremists assaulted the pastor and accused him of cheating people. After the attack, the pastor was questioned and held on complaints of “illegal activity.” Fortunately, other believers provided evidence that the pastor had not broken any laws but had visited their homes for prayer. At last report he was still in custody. Pastor Prakash has been in ministry for more than 10 years and pastors a church of 80 members. Recently, he had expanded his ministry to Kaiwara village, where 15 believers had been meeting for prayer on Sundays evenings. The Voice of the Martyrs actively supports persecuted believers by providing legal assistance to Christians like Pastor Prakash who have been arrested for their faith. VOM encourages you to pray for Pastor Prakash’s immediate release. Pray for the safety of his family and other believers in the area.
Revelation 2:10
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