iVote Billboards | A Project of the American Family Assoication

iVote Billboards | A Project of the American Family Assoication
Here is your chance to openly display your dissatisfaction with Congress and let others know that you will "Remember in November" and are no longer going to sit by and do nothing.

In November, we will have the opportunity to let Washington experience firsthand the will of the American electorate. Thirty-six seats will be determined in the U.S. Senate in the November election. Representatives only serve two-year terms, so all 435 seats in the House are up for grabs.

Americans are outraged by the abuse of power in Washington. We must keep the momentum going by letting others know there is something they can do about the mess in Washington. In strong solidarity, we will remind elected officials that their power is derived from the governed! That's us. WE THE PEOPLE!

http://action.afa.net/ivote/

The 'Love and Respect' Principle (Spouses)

by Focus on the Family

Maybe you've heard that a woman needs to be loved by her husband and a man needs to be respected by his wife. However, if you're like the average man or woman, you're thinking, "Sure, that all sounds great, but what does it mean?"

Men often define love differently than their wives, while women often don't know how to define respect. If both you and your spouse have these needs, but don't know what they are, how can you satisfy each other? Without a definition, it's like trying to throw a dart at a board but you don't know where to aim.

That's why we're here to help. Once you and your spouse understand what it means to love and respect, relational landmines can be avoided. The result can be greater love, deeper intimacy and movement toward the kind of marriage that God desires for you.

Basics of Love and Respect
Women need to feel loved, and men need to feel respected.
by Focus on the Family

Kelly wondered if her husband, Steve, would remember their 10th anniversary. Some years he had forgotten. But, this year, he remembered. He had found just the right card, and he was sure it would be a great anniversary. When he handed her the card, she beamed from ear to ear. But when she read it, her countenance turned sour and dark.

"It's not bad . . . for a birthday card," she scowled.

Steve stiffened at her anger. He meant well. What was written on the outside was great, but he had failed to read the inside. "Hey, an honest mistake. Give me a break."

"An honest mistake? You just don't care. You are so unloving!"

Now he was miffed. "Hey, give me a break."

"You buy me a birthday card on our 10th anniversary, and you expect me not to be upset? I'd rather you hadn't bought me any card at all!"

Feeling disrespected, he coldly said, "Fine. I'm going to the office."
Love and respect

This conflict isn't unique. Kelly felt unloved, and Steve felt disrespected, even contemptible in his wife's eyes. When Decision Analysts, Inc., did a national survey on male-female relationships, one question for men read:

"Even the best relationships sometimes have conflicts on day-to-day issues. In the middle of a conflict with my wife, I am more likely to be feeling:

A. That my wife doesn't respect me right now.
B. That my wife doesn't love me right now.

Not surprisingly, 81.5 percent of men chose "A."

The survey only substantiated what I had already discovered in my years of working with married couples: Women need to feel loved, and men need to feel respected. This may explain why Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:33 that a husband must love his wife and a wife must respect her husband. Both commands are unconditional. The hard part is that respect comes more easily to men, and love comes easier to women.

You're Stepping on My Air Hose!
When the husband sees the spirit of his wife deflate, he should realize he’s stepping on her air hose and get off it.
by Focus on the Family

Loving

Colossians 3:19 commands a husband to agape-love his wife (love unconditionally). Obviously, she needs to feel loved.

Imagine that the wife has an air hose that goes to a love tank. She needs love like she needs air to breathe. When her husband stands on her air hose — buying a birthday card for their anniversary — she'll react negatively!

When the husband sees the spirit of his wife deflate, he should realize he's stepping on her air hose and get off it. Though she may react in a disrespectful way, she is crying out, "I feel unloved by you right now. I can't believe you're doing this to me." If, in response, the husband heads to the "office," she'll feel even more unloved.
Respecting

Likewise, the husband needs respect, just as he needs air to breathe (1 Peter 3: 1-2). He, too, has an air hose to a tank labeled "respect," and as long as the air (respect) is coming through, he is just fine. But he deflates when his wife steps on his air hose by saying things like, "You don't care! You are so unloving!" If she shows disrespect in an attempt to motivate him to be more loving, it hinders the relationship. A destructive cycle of feeling unloved and disrespected easily starts.

Husbands and wives must learn how to recognize when they are stepping on each other's hoses and respond appropriately. (See Love and Respect for practical tips.) When a wife is careful to show respect — in obedience to God — her husband will stay connected and teachable. When a husband shows his wife love, her spirit will be reaffirmed. Then both will have the air they need to breathe.

The Crazy Cycle
Dr. Emerson Eggerichs describes the crazy cycle and how it affects marriages.
by Focus on the Family

What is the Crazy Cycle?

Craziness is when we keep doing the same thing — again and again — with the same ill effect. Marital craziness is when we do the same thing — over and over — with the same negative results. I call it the Crazy Cycle. When hurt and frustrated, we continue reacting in negative ways to motivate our spouse to be positive. Can you believe it? That's like flipping broken light switches for 30 minutes.

All who are married go through this cycle. The topics change, and the intensity varies, but the crazy cycle continues. One day the argument may be about a diet book, the next day the argument may be about child-rearing methods. Next month, it's about a marriage book and then about the lack of money.

This happens among good willed people. Sadly, some think they have a horrible marriage because of this craziness. Truth is, they are inches away from making an adjustment that can set them in a whole new and positive course.

Stopping the Crazy Cycle

The key is to see underneath this "craziness," to the heart of a spouse.

Based on Ephesians 5:33, I discovered why a husband and wife react the way they do. We read, "each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband" (NIV).

Because a wife needs love, a husband would be wise to assume his wife's negative reaction is rooted in her feeling unloved. On the other hand, because a husband needs respect, a wife would be prudent to assume her husband's negative reaction is rooted in his feeling disrespected.

Is it time for you to apply God’s truth? It takes work, but it works. It may not be fair, but God’s truth is revealed to people in unfair situations. A respectful or loving demeanor prevents a wife or husband from repeatedly flipping broken light switches.

Decision Time
Are you ready to transform your marriage by putting the principles of love and respect into practice?
by Focus on the Family

As any married couple eventually discovers, romantic feelings don't exist everyday. It takes effort to keep a marriage strong, to keep minor disagreements from becoming major ones, to favor sweet words and tender glances over harsh comments and contemptuous glares.

"In Ephesians 5:33," Eggerichs says "God invites every married couple to make a conscious decision about how they appear to the other. A wife can feel unloved, but appear disrespectful; a husband can feel disrespected but appear unloving. This is why things get crazy! Our negative appearances work against us. God's Word protects us from that mistake."

He continues, "Really, all you have to do is learn this crazy cycle, and when you see the spirit of your spouse deflate, trust . . . that you've said something that appears unloving or disrespectful. Then go back and say, 'Did I come across as unloving/disrespectful? I'm sorry, will you forgive me?' That works almost every time."

Eggerichs has seen firsthand how marriages are transformed when husbands and wives put this fundamental concept into practice. To that end, he and his wife started the Love and Respect Marriage Conference, and the testimonials from those who have attended have been very encouraging.

At the conference, they illustrate in detail how to spell "love" to a wife and "respect" to a husband.

The conferences promote the same message as the Eggerichs' book: When unconditional respect and love are demonstrated through tone, facial expression and word choice, the spirit of our spouse re-opens.

"We're going to have conflicts over bedtime-type issues. We're going to get upset," Eggerichs says. "By dealing with marital conflict God's way, we can stop the crazy cycle before it starts. If things get out of control, we can halt the craziness. God's Word works."

Lost Boy: The Greg Laurie Story (Trailer)

Greg Laurie had everything going against him in life. Born out of wedlock, Greg spent his childhood living with his aunts, grandparents and two stints in military school when not living with his seven-time divorced alcoholic mother. Searching for meaning and purpose in his life, Greg immersed himself in partying and later drug experimentation all which only added to his meaningless existence. At the age of 17, unexpectedly, Greg Laurie became a Christian. In his autobiography Lost Boy, Greg Laurie speaks candidly about his struggles, challenges and how his life was radically transformed, how he is now dedicated to reaching others like him, who are searching for meaning and purpose in life. In the early 70's, Greg Laurie started one of the largest churches in America today, Harvest Christian Fellowship. He travels the world, having spoken to over 4 million people in his large scale events, Harvest Crusades. Greg Laurie's legacy has been seasoned with trials and questions, but if God can take a confused, lost boy from a severely dysfunctional family and raise him to be one of the nation's leading evangelists and pastors, what can God do with you?

http://www.harvest.org/

Starting Over, God's Way

By Charles F. Stanley
Bible Study: A New Beginning
Sermon: When Plans Turn To Ashes

Have you ever looked at your circumstances and thought, I would love to have a chance to do that again? Or If I could just change that, I would. I need a fresh start. That is what grace is all about.

John chapter 8 tells the story of a woman caught in adultery. The Jewish law declared that marital unfaithfulness was punishable by stoning. Religious leaders brought the woman to Jesus to see if He would follow the law of Moses and condemn her to death. But to their surprise, Jesus did not accuse her. After writing on the ground, Christ said, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (v. 7). The group slowly dispersed, the oldest ones leaving first.

After everybody left, Jesus looked at the woman lying at His feet. She knew He was a man of God. How exposed and embarrassed she must have felt—that is, until Jesus revealed His word of forgiveness and hope to her heart: “I do not condemn you . . . Go. From now on sin no more” (v. 11). He forgave the woman and set her free.

Perhaps there’s something you would like to erase from the past. Just the thought of it brings feelings of condemnation and sorrow. Jesus gave the woman caught in adultery a second chance, and that’s what He will give you. If there is sin in your distant or recent history, know that when you ask God for forgiveness, it is done. He will never bring the matter up again.

In fact, the only cure for sin of any kind is God’s grace applied to our lives. This changes the stumbling sinner into a person living victoriously for Jesus Christ. His death on the cross was sufficient payment for all your sins. Only almighty God can love you so much.
Second chances encourage us not to give up, even when the whispers of the world suggest the opposite. I don’t mean we get another chance after death to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior. But in this lifetime, He lavishes His forgiving love upon us after we have thoroughly blown it. We are never outside of God’s grace.

For instance, many people hear the gospel several times before they receive the Lord. He doesn’t give up wooing them to Himself. He is the God of the second chance—and often a thousand chances. Sometimes a person rejects the gospel for years, until one day, because the Father bestowed grace on the individual, he or she finally becomes His child.

If we received what we deserve for our sin, we’d all be condemned. There would be no second chances. We should want what we don’t deserve, and that is grace.

The Bible teaches that salvation is not based upon our works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” In other words, salvation is a gift we receive by faith.

Even the ability to believe comes from God. So salvation is grace from start to finish—not something that we work up or work on. Good deeds don’t merit being saved. Otherwise, we could boast, “I did this” or “I did that.” Only the heavenly Father can rightfully boast, “I did this: I provided all that these sinners need through My Son.”

God loved you before you knew Christ. He cared so much that He sent His Son to earth to give you new life: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were God’s supreme brush stroke of grace across the canvas of creation. Christ is the embodiment of all hope. If you have received Him as your Savior, His life is within you, and His grace is sufficient to remove every hint of sin’s stain. Let Him give you a second chance.

Adapted from Charles F. Stanley’s “Handbook for Christian Living” (1996) and “Enter His Gates” (1998).

A Survey I Took About Prayer (In Touch Ministries)

Thank you for taking the time to complete this simple ten-question survey. Your responses will help In Touch understand how to minister to you and others more effectively in the future.

1. Do you believe God answers prayers? Why or Why not?
Yes, because it has happened to me, and because the Bible talks about prayer; that it's something good that we should do, even Jesus prayed to the Father. It is communication with God and it is part of our relationship with Him.

2. What motivates you to pray?
Because I know that it's important. The Bible says we should do so and because I know that it works. It's part of our relationship with God, communicating with Him. I know that sometimes all I can do is pray if I can't do much else. God is the #1 that I turn to.

3. What keeps you from praying?
Getting caught up in other things, feeling busy or tired.

4. When do you pray?
Different times throughout the day, short prayers. I pray the most when I'm alone by myself, could be any time of the day, but it's usually at night before I go to bed.

5. Do you think prayer influences God?
Yes. I believe that God is going to end up doing whatever He wants to do and that everything is according to His will, but I believe there are times when He allows us to influence what He wants to do. I think it's part of the relationship factor.

6. Do you ever pray with others?
Yes, sometimes. The Bible says that "where two or three are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them" and that "if two of you on earth should agree on anything it will be given to you by my Father in Heaven." So, although I believe that prayer on your own is powerful enough, it always helps and is encouraging to have more than one, as the Bible also says "two are better than one."

7. What do you pray about the most?
I pray the most about blessings, protection, help, forgiveness of sins and salvation for those who aren't saved.

8. How has God answered a particular prayer?
I usually receive what I ask for. But, sometimes God answers me through a sort of sign, could be anything, but it's just His way of letting me know or confirming something.

9. Can anyone pray?
Yes, of course.

10. Why pray?
Kind of goes back to the first question. I pray because it's communicating with God, it's part of having a real relationship with Him. It never fails to comfort me and it makes me feel better when I do. I pray because the Bible says we should and because it's good. Even Jesus prayed to the Father, and Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and our best example of how to live our lives and worship God. And because prayer works. It also encourages people and can be used as a testimony for others. There are many good reasons to pray.

11. Gender
Female.

12. Age
26

13. Geographic Location
Texas

14. How did you hear about this survey?
Email.

Thank you again for your participation in this survey and your partnership in leading people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. If you have anything further to share with us, please feel free to send an e-mail to askdrstanley@intouch.org or contactcenter@intouch.org.

Survey URL: http://msg2svc.net/Jsp/Sv1.jsp?p=intouch&s=1&i=120&u=0&v=n

"the best thing you can do when you get embarrassed is to just laugh at yourself, it will get you through some really tough times" ~Joey on "Full House"

"People have their lists of what they want in their partner, and three-quarters of them are superficial. If life doesn't give you what you want, it'll present you with what you need and you don't realize it. That need is far greater and more profound than the little list thing." ~Sandra Bullock

Hollywood Prayer Network Newsletter (May)

Dear HPN members!

It’s May! April showers bring May flowers, but in Hollywood it also brings Upfronts, announcing the new Fall TV series, the Cannes Film Festival and a list of new summer films. It also brings broken hearts and hurting people who need prayer. So, let’s take a walk in the beautiful weather and pray for the people in Hollywood!

SUMMARY:

• The National Day of Prayer Hollywood event held at Bel Air Presbyterian Church was AWESOME!
• Let’s continue to pray for Sandra Bullock as she finalizes her divorce and her adoption of baby Louis
• Keep praying for recent and continuing industry professionals who can’t get work
• HPN is still in need of intercessors to join our “I to I” prayer team and pray for industry professionals
• Pray for the release of the 2010 summer blockbusters that began last week with “Iron Man 2”
• All of the network and cable “Upfronts” are happening May 17 – 20th
• The annual Cannes Film Festival (Festival De Cannes) opened on May 12th and goes through May 23rd
• Pray for the writers and producers who are creating the content of films, TV shows, songs & video games
• Pray for the wet, hurting and homeless now in Nashville after the terrible flooding and storms
• Pray for Elton John, the world-renowned music icon who has lived a life of fame, riches, addiction, & pain
• Pray for Geert Heetebrij, ('93 LAFSC grad) who needs God’s provision for a grad screenwriting program
• Pray for HPN’s Thai LCD, Manop Moonsri and his upcoming "You Are Not Alone Concert 2010"
• Pray about taking a life-changing short-term missions trip to Kenya with other industry professionals
• Don’t forget about the weekly prayer events and other upcoming gatherings in our community
• Let us know if you have a prayer group that is open for others in Hollywood to join

PRAISES:

• The National Day of Prayer Hollywood event held at Bel Air Presbyterian Church was AWESOME! After 18 years of gathering industry professionals to pray on the NDOP in various sound stages, and churches, this year at Bel Air Pres. was the largest (over 500 people attended) and so exciting. We spent the evening with industry ministries and local churches, with prayer leaders, pastors and entertainment professionals, all praising God, worshiping and praying together in an evening that eternally impacted our industry, our city, our state and our nation. Next year, you must come and join this incredible celebration of God through prayer and praise! And thanks to the whole planning team and Bel Air Pres. Leadership for making it happen.

UPDATES:

• Let’s continue to pray for Sandra Bullock as she finalizes her divorce to Jesse James and finalizes her adoption of her new 4-month-old baby boy named Louis Bardo Bullock. Sandra, who adopted Louis with Jesse back in January, has decided to keep Louis and raise him as a single parent. Let’s pray that the Lord honors her decision by supplying all she needs to raise Louis as a young man who comes to know Jesus. And we have to keep praying for Sandra’s own heart and journey with God, during this time of huge transition. “I'm sad and I'm scared," Bullock says of the divorce.

• Let’s continue to pray for the people who are trying to break in to the entertainment industry and those professionals who haven’t been able to work. The most needed prayers are those asking the Lord to give each person a confirmation of whether they should continue to persevere or whether He has plans for them elsewhere. It’s such a hard thing to know God’s direction when we’re passionate about our dreams and yet not able to make a living. A common question amongst artists and creative professionals is – am I doing the right thing? Please join all of us in this difficult and heart felt prayer.

• HPN is still in need of intercessors to join our “I to I” prayer team so that you can be blessed as you uphold a professional in need of prayer. We have media professionals waiting for a prayer partner. Might that person be you? Or do you know a prayer group who would be willing to pray for their own “media missionary?” Please let us know. Just email Caren@hpnemail.org

REQUESTS:

• The release of the 2010 summer blockbusters began last week with “Iron Man 2.” Remember to pray for the films’ stars, writers, directors, producers, distributors and studios as you enthusiastically support the summer box office. Don’t just enjoy the films, but pray for the filmmakers!

• All of the network and cable UPFRONTS are happening May 17 - 20 as the networks announce and present their new and returning shows for the 2010-2011 TV season “upfront” to advertisers and agencies. The major networks presenting shows are ABC, CBS, NBC, The CW, TNT, BS, MTV & ESPN. Let’s pray that the advertisers will respond with wisdom and moral integrity as they look at the choice of shows to invest in for this season.

• The annual Cannes Film Festival (Festival De Cannes) opened on May 12th and goes through May 23rd. It is the largest international film festival in the world, premiering and screening major feature films of the upcoming year to the film buyers, distributors and filmmakers. Pray that the Christians there will be shining lights and sources of hope to the many buyers, sellers, presenters and audience, that God's hand will lovingly touch each person there, and that miracles will happen at this most powerful gathering of global filmmakers. For more info on the Festival, click on: http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/about.html

• Please pray for the writers and producers who are creating the content of films, TV shows, songs and video games, to feel a moral responsibility for their work. Whether they know God personally or not, let’s lift them up and ask the Holy Spirit to open their eyes to truth, to guide their ideas, and to help them tap in to the Lord’s creative juices.

• Pray for the wet, hurting and homeless in Nashville after the terrible flooding and storms. Our extended family in the music community in Nashville has asked for our prayers as they drain water out of their damaged homes and help one another find new furniture or places to live. If anyone wants to take a short term mission trip to Nashille, our dear friends at Artists in Christian Testimony, Intl., are doing everything they can to help the local artists. Click here to find out the needs and even how you can help: http://www.actinternational.org/

• Let’s pray for Elton John, the world-renown music icon who has lived a life of fame, riches, addiction, bulimia, gay relationships, bankruptcy and heartbreak. He needs to find the Lord in these later years of his life in order to find peace, and our prayers can make a difference. We often forget that wonderful performers who recorded songs that defined great eras in our lives, and gave us joyful memories, are hurting, broken and lost. Let’s give something back to Elton by praying for God’s miraculous touch on his heart and life.

REQUEST FROM AN HPN MEMBER:

• Let’s pray for Geert Heetebrij, who was a '93 graduate of the LAFSC. He was just accepted into the MFA Screenwriting program at Pepperdine, starting this Fall, and has asked the Hollywood Prayer Network to please pray for God's financial provision so that he can attend Pepperdine's grad program. Will you pray for Geert and the many other Christian film students who have great opportunities for a fine education in film and television, but are struggling to pay the tuition needed to complete their schooling.

REQUEST FROM THAILAND LOCAL CHAPTER:

• Manop Moonsri, our Thailand LCD, has asked that we pray with him for his work with the "You Are Not Alone Concert 2010" on June 6th at the Khonhkan Hall Central Plaza in Khonkhan. May the Lord use Manop’s love for the Lord to touch the lives of all the participants and attendees at this concert.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Would you like to go to Africa? Our own HPN Board member and friend, Doug Millham, has a unique ministry of combining his service to the Hollywood artistic community with running an orphanage for children with AIDS in Kenya. Doug has invited any industry professional to join his Discover the World Short-Term Mission trip to Kenya. It is our prayer that members of our community would experience another side of the world, in order to bring back a deeper wisdom, a richer relationship with the Lord and a new perspective on life through spending time in Africa. Would you pray about being a part of their exciting Vacation Bible School and Work Project trip from July 31 – August 13th? With more than 500 children now being helped in 6 projects across Kenya, the need to love and care for them is greater than ever. For more information click on: www.discovertheworld.org or email Dougdtw@aol.com.

• Don’t forget about the weekly prayer events in our community where we would LOVE to have any of you just show up to pray and to get prayed for:
Wednesdays at noon in the Wiley Chapel of Hollywood Presbyterian Church. Email Serdman@fpch.org for more info.
Every 2nd & 4th Thursday nights at 7:00pm at the Wiley Chapel of Hollywood Presbyterian Church. Email Caren@hpnemail.org for more info.

• For all the other on-going and one time events, conferences, gatherings, Bible Studies and screenings, please click on http://www.hollywoodconnect.com/connection-central and http://www.hollywoodconnect.com/view/OngoingEvents.

• If you have any industry prayer groups that are open for others to join, PLEASE let us know and we’ll post them for our whole Christian entertainment community to be aware of. We would love to have every Christian in Hollywood connected to a prayer group. Just email me at Karen@hpnemail.org.

Thank you so much for your prayers this month. You are a part of something so much bigger than what any of us can do on our own. So, be encouraged and know that we are so grateful for you!

Warmly,
Karen and Caren

TIP OF THE MONTH:
Real artists can get some real answers to tough spiritual questions on Joel Pelsue’s video blog: http://www.a-e-m.org/html/real_answers_for_real_artists.html

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"Film is a disease. When it infects your bloodstream, it takes over as the number one hormone; it bosses the enz Iago to your psyche. As with heroin, the antidote to film is more film." -Frank Capra

VERSE OF THE MONTH:
“So I ask you to make full use of the gift that God gave you when I placed my hands on you.” II Timothy 1:6

http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/

Praise Report

I have a praise report that I wanted to say. My brother has had a lot of work that needed to be done on his teeth, for a long time. He gets a lot of pain from it, about every six months. Well, he doesn't have insurance and he couldn't afford to get the work done at the dentist (it would cost over $10,000). He went there about a year ago, took x-rays and was given a prescription for the pain and infection. About six months later the pain came back. He was able to get more pain pills then it went away again. Then six months after that it came back yet again. He tried to get more pain pills, but they wouldn't give it him because it had been over a year since he last had his teeth checked. So, he had to make another appointment for the dentist. I think the dentist's office got to the point where they realized that my brother, our family does not have the money to get those teeth worked on. It's just too much. So they took more x-rays, for free this time, and referred him to a ministry in the city that does dental work for free on fridays. It was like a miracle that there is such a ministry as this. So, my brother had to wait another week to be able to do it. It's all first come, first serve. He had to get there early, it opens at 7:30AM. He got there at around 7AM and there was already 6 people ahead of him. Thankfully, he was able to get in. They took more x-rays I think and they pulled one of his teeth that was the big one that was causing a lot of pain. My brother told me that everyone there was super nice and great to him. They said that my brother was a good patient. He has to go back in a couple of weeks. He still has a lot more work to be done. But, I just wanted to give a shout out to this ministry, that there is such a thing as this that does real good work for people that are in dire need of it, who are poor or just don't have a way to get the dental work done. But, I don't think this ministry only does dental work. My Dad told me that there was other stuff there like a place for someone to come in and do their laundry. So, this is obviously a ministry that is trying to provide real tangible help to the needy. I praise God for this ministry and for those of us who really try to help out. The ministry is called Timon's Ministry.

http://www.timonsministries.org/

Vanity

I had a dream and thought about vanity and this video afterwards...

I had a dream last night and I think it was about vanity. I don't know if it was a God-given dream or what, and I don't take dreams too seriously, but I definitely felt like there was something good that I got out of it.
I don't remember every detail or even the order of the scenes, but I'll try to remember the best I can. The dream starts off in a sort of restaurant, diner type of place. I am talking to a couple of women, one of them older and the other younger. The older woman talks about a certain cream that you can put on your face that wipes away the vanity. I think that's definitely different. I decide to try some of that. I take the bottle and think to myself that it will make me look better. It is a dark colored cream, a sort of brownish color. I put it on and it feels like putting lotion on, but after a while it feels like it's stretching my face, a tightness I guess. Then, I start to see the effects of it on my face. My heart begins to sink as I see what it's done to my face. Some of my skin has disappeared off of my face to make it look closer to the skeleton, tho not completely. It's still mostly skin and flesh. Where I would have spots (breakouts) is the worse and also my nose looks like the skeleton version with just a thin layer of skin. I immediately try to cover this up with make-up. It feels like I spend about an hour doing this. Finally, the younger woman comes into the restroom and starts talking to me. Eventually, we are outside and she tells me that I'm not beautiful and a couple of other things (this scene might have happened first, but I don't remember). I feel really bad about what she said. Then, I turn around and think to myself, "God calls me beautiful" and I told her that I don't believe what she said, and that I am beautiful. I wasn't necessarily thinking about looks when I said that, but the acceptance of myself as being beautiful as God calls me beautiful. Then, later on I am in a dining hall with the young woman. There are round tables that have white table clothes. There is a group of young people in there. We are all eating dinner. Even though I feel stuffed, I still have a couple pieces of bread from the pasta meal. Most everyone is done eating and they just start to leave. I decide to finish eating those last pieces. I feel like a blob doing that, but oh well. Then, after almost everyone is gone and I'm finished eating, we are given an entirely new dish by one of the servers and it's looks like a sort of healthy casserole of some type. It looks green. Now realizing that we have this new meal that is better than the first, the young woman says something about how we all should have waited and then we would have all had this, but most everyone missed out. She said "tisk tisk." So, I felt like I had done something good by staying there for so long afterwards. That's pretty much all that I remember from the dream.
When I woke up from the dream, I felt like maybe the dream is about vanity. Physical looks are vain because they don't last. Outward beauty doesn't last. Youth doesn't last. The only thing that can last is our character, what's in our heart. Instead of focusing so much on our outward looks, we should focus more on our characteristics. I think the turning point in the dream for me is when I realized how vain my face is and that it's my characteristics that truly make me who I am: my strength, positivity, friendliness, faith, frugality and patience. It's not really my outward beauty that makes me beautiful, but my inward beauty, the very fact that God calls me beautiful is the only true reason that I'm beautiful. It doesn't matter what I say or anyone else says, but what God says. He's the one that really counts in all of this. And I'm also thinking of a few Bible quotes (1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 31:30 & Isaiah 53:2): "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" & "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" & (a prophecy referring to how most people would look at Jesus when He was on earth) "There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him" (and this is Jesus we're talking about, the King of Kings, the most perfect beautiful human being ever; but apparently on the outside he wasn't so impressive to most people of the time).

VOM–USA Prayer Update for May 14, 2010

The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
“Those who have left the deepest impression on this sin cursed earth have been men and women of prayer. You will find that prayer has been the mighty power that has moved not only God, but man.” D L Moody
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:18

IRAN — Christian Released on Bail — Farsi Christian News Network

Psalm 91:1–5
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

On April 24, Vahik Abrahamian, an Armenian Christian, was temporarily released from Evin prison after 53 days in solitary confinement, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). Abrahamian and his wife were arrested by undercover officers while returning home from visiting a friend. His wife was released immediately, but Abrahamian was searched and detained. While in prison, he was denied access to a lawyer and was not allowed to speak with his family. Abrahamian finally gained temporary release from prison after paying bail. “The arrest of this Christian man, who is a dual citizen of Iran and the Netherlands, caused great shock and concern among his friends and acquaintances,” FCNN reported. “He had voluntarily returned to Iran to serve his people as a social worker and to demonstrate the love of God to them.” Pray for him and other believers who face persecution in Iran. Pray that Abrahamian’s case will be dismissed, and ask God to move on behalf of Christians in prison who are awaiting court dates in cities like Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Qom, Rasht and Tabriz.

IRAQ — Bomb Attack Targets Christian Students — Compass Direct News

Revelation 2:10
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

On May 2, a bomb attack near Mosul killed one person and injured nearly 160, including at least 50 Christian students, according to Compass Direct News. The attack targeted three buses that transport Christian students from villages east of Mosul to their classes at the University of Mosul. The buses were traveling their daily route, escorted by two military vehicles, when a roadside bomb followed by a car bomb exploded as the buses cleared a checkpoint east of Mosul. The owner of a nearby auto repair shop, Radeef Hashim Mahrook, was killed in a secondary blast as he tried to help the students. More than 1,000 students have dropped out of classes for the rest of the semester as a result of the attack. Pray that God will comfort those mourning the loss of Radeef. Ask God to heal the bodies of the injured students, and pray that this experience will lead them into a closer relationship with Christ. Pray for an end to these attacks against the Christian community in Iraq.

CHINA — Update: Chinese Pastor Released — China Aid Association

1 Peter 5:8–10
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Pastor Dou Shaowen was released from prison on April 17, nearly two months before the end of his one-year sentence, according to China Aid Association. Government officials had abolished his house church in Zhengzhou city, Henan province, in December 2008, but Pastor Dou continued to organize religious activities. He was arrested on June 14, 2009, and sentenced to one year of re-education through labor. Pastor Dou reportedly lost 38 pounds while in the re-education camp, where he was forced to work 18 hours a day and sleep in a room with more than 70 other prisoners. Praise God that Pastor Dou has been released early from prison. Pray that God will heal Pastor Dou’s body and that Pastor Dou will remain steadfast in the faith.

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.

When Praying For Loved One

via CBN

Some of our greatest worries and our deepest hurts in life center on those we love and care about the most. Sometimes we get so involved that we actually block our own ability to receive the peace and comfort Jesus has for us. But we must focus on Jesus and allow our minds to dwell on His Word.

The Bible teaches us to cast our cares upon the Lord, to come to Jesus when we are burdened (Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 55:22). When you pray about those you love, then you allow God to work in their lives. And when you release your concerns for others to Jesus, you receive His peace for your own heart and mind.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34 that we are not to worry about anything. The Father knows all of our needs before we even pray about them. He knows and cares about every concern you have. Yet, Jesus continues on in Matthew 7:7-12 to teach us that indeed we must ask. It is God's will for His children to learn to persevere in faith, in righteousness, and in prayer. The one who perseveres builds his spiritual maturity, and spiritual maturity is necessary in order to live a victorious life for Jesus.

Continue to pray for your loved ones with great hope in your heart. You can have this hope because of Jesus. He is even now sitting at the right hand of God and is interceding for you. Don't worry about what you should pray or how you should pray, just begin to pray and let the Spirit of God guide you. If you would like someone to pray with you or for you personally, call our 24-hour prayer line at 1-800-759-0700. A prayer partner is waiting to pray with you.


Yours in Christ,
Pat Robertson

The Christian Broadcasting Network
Website - www.cbn.com

Building a Pure Marriage

by Robin Weidner
for other articles on the series: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/sex_and_intimacy/building_a_pure_marriage.aspx

"He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." – Psalm 18:19, All references NIV unless otherwise specified.

Almost every week, I receive an e-mail from a woman from somewhere across the country whose marriage has been shaken to the very core by impurity. With a note of desperation, she expresses her anguish, fear and anger. Each of these women explain their mate's plunge into impurity – everything from addiction to pornography to being arrested for voyeurism.

Why do they contact me for help with such heart-rending struggles? Not because I'm a professional counselor (which I'm not). Rather, because I'm a fellow struggler who, through many tears, much prayer and abundant mercy from God, has found a good and spacious place.

There have been moments where I didn't think my husband Dave and I would make it. Although he had fought impurity since he was 12, his battle with sexual addiction took him places I never dreamed could be part of a Christian marriage. And as the firstborn daughter of an alcoholic, I was well versed in codependency. Eventually, the near break-up of our marriage thrust us both into recovery, including extensive counseling.

Yet, priceless gifts have resulted from our battles. Sexual addiction drove me to the depths of insecurity, but also into the arms of my God – culminating in my first book. I've traveled extensively, speaking and hearing women's stories. Eventually, Dave and I decided to come forward with our battles, and we started doing purity seminars.

The journey has been one that I would have never chosen for myself, but nonetheless a testimony to the redemptive power of God.
Why These Lessons?

"Honor marriage and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband…." — Hebrews 13:4, The Message

For Dave and me, the sacredness of intimacy is without a doubt our greatest treasure – one that we've fought for and continue to fight for daily. In this series of articles, you'll find some of the lessons we've learned, including:

* Understanding the unique gifts that each of us bring to intimacy
* Unveiling the counterfeits that Satan and our society propose
* Setting boundaries that protect our marriages from Satan's interference
* Finding healing and hope after heartache

Here's the great news! God has a beautiful plan for every married couple, even those of us who have suffered losses. Ready to get started? Let's take a walk together all the way back to the Garden of Eden.

A Wife of Noble Character (A Proverbs 31 Woman)

from Proverbs 31:10-31

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Beyond Belief

Thursday E-mail - May 13, 2010
via Hollywood Connect http://hollywoodconnect.com/

A couple weeks ago, I went on a personal retreat in Palm Springs. I have some good friends who donated their timeshare condo for me to use, which, of course, made them even better friends. I say that tongue-in-cheek, of course. After all, I was in the middle of the desert by myself, and real friends don’t do that to friends, right? I’m kidding. In all fairness, they did offer to come along, but sensing that God had a few things to say to me, I went out alone into the wilderness to pray and listen.

Wandering in the desert for a few days got me thinking about the Israelites, who ended up wandering in the desert for a few years. I know there are a lot of creative artists in the entertainment industry and elsewhere who sometimes get the feeling that they’ve been wandering in a desert for days, weeks, or even years at a time. I’ve been there too.

There are many reasons why a person might end up in the desert, so if you find yourself there, I’ll leave it to God to reveal why that may be. After all, some desert times are God-ordained. Jesus, Paul, David, and other great heroes spent a lot of their formative years out in the wilderness.

Other desert times are not part of God’s preferred agenda, however. The Israelites spent a good, long time wandering in the desert, not so much because of their complaining – which some people mistakenly think was the catalyst – but because of their unbelief. (Heb. 3:19).

Why, after all of Egypt, must there be a desert? The desert is less a punishment, and more a refinement. The fire and the heat give rise to hidden unrighteousness so we can deal with it. In Israel’s case, the desert showed the unbelief that apparently came pretty naturally to them at the time.

Unbelief prevents you from entering into God’s promises for you. In Israel’s case, it kept them from entering the Promised Land. It wasn’t that the Israelites didn’t believe in God or the spiritual world. They did. What they didn’t believe in was God’s character. Their unbelief was directed towards His ability and desire to fulfill His promises. They allowed their immediate circumstances and abilities to dictate their belief, rather than God’s character and the relationship He promised to them.

Oh, there were a couple guys who didn’t fall into that sin of unbelief (and yeah, I’m sorry to say, it is sin). Joshua and Caleb were the only two among all the Israelites who were allowed to enter into God’s promises because they believed that His character, favor, and ability trumped everything else. That was belief in God.

In your artistic life, you may have encountered setbacks and difficult circumstances. As a result, you may have let unbelief to creep into your thinking, maybe without even realizing it. I know, I know – some truly rotten things may have happened to you. But a reason for sin is not the same as an excuse for sin. No, I get it – you still believe in God’s existence. But do you still believe in His character?

Belief is not a tool; it is a position. It is positioning yourself to receive from the Father whatever He wants to give. It is a choice to agree that He exists and to agree with what He says is true about His character and what your relationship is with Him. It is not a tool to get what you want, but a position you place yourself in to receive what He gives. It is openness; it is receptivity.

Belief is a muscle. It becomes stronger, with more stamina, each time you choose to use it. Failure to use it, however, leads to atrophy. So if you find yourself wandering in the desert, check your belief levels. Move beyond belief in your surroundings and your own abilities to belief in the character of God.

All my best,

Shun Lee
Director
Hollywood Connect

© 2010. All rights reserved.
You should also follow us on: Twitter: @Shun_Lee @HwoodConnect
Facebook: Hollywood Connect

Marriage

from Daystar

MARRIAGE is as ESSENTIAL to the preservation of a healthy society as BREAD is the essential “staff of life”. NEITHER is an “INSTANT” production. No one lives unto himself or herself. If personal happiness and fulfillment in life are to be enjoyed, there must be submission to the kneading and heat (trials: finances, in-laws, etc.) proving patience and faith – giving of oneself without reservation.

Each step is essential in the making of a marriage – that “two might become one”, and the children partake of the life-sustaining goodness of a “happy marriage”, instead of having life-long scars from a broken home. If a breach has been made, then start mending where you can. You cannot change the heart of another; only God can. Thus, stop all blame of others, excusing of self and self-pity; be sure your heart, attitudes and actions are pleasing to God.

Gen. 1:27 God created MAN in His own image, in the image of God created He him: MALE and FEMALE created He them.

Gen. 2:18 And the Lord said. It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him an HELP MEET for him.

Gen. 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall CLEAVE unto his wife and they shall be one flesh.

It is man’s part to cleave unto (stick to, be united to, remain faithful to) his wife. God planned that they should love, compliment and help Him as well as each other – a triangle, as it were, between heaven and earth. The closer their fellowship to Him, the closer the relationship to each other.

God made Eve from a rib out of Adam’s side to walk beside him as a helper, and He gave “them dominion over all the works of His hands”. It was only a part of the curse, after the eating of the forbidden fruit, that Eve was to subject to Adam.

1 Cor. 11:9-12 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man (the woman is the glory of man). Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman: but all things of God.

Through the ages, God has used both men and women in special ways. He has used women as prophetesses: even as a judge over all Israel. He used a woman to save the Jews from extinction. He brought forth the Savior of the world through a woman, and the first person to see the risen Lord was a woman.

As all organizations have to have a head, a presiding officer, so God has appointed the man to be the head of the house.

A wise ruler realizes he is not an authority on every subject and thus delegates responsibilities to knowledgeable people under him who do not run to him for every decision, but use their education, experience and common sense to accomplish the job for the best of the organization and for his approval.

Eph. 5:23-33,21 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it… That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones…Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband Submitting yourselves ONE ANOTHER in the FEAR OF THE LORD.

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and being HEIRS TOGETHER of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Who can say which is more important – the positive or negative in electricity? Nothing electrical works without both in equal amount. Which is more important, water or air? The man dying in a desert would say water; the drowning person would say air; yet it takes both to sustain life. God has formed both sexes with strong points as well as weak so that each will have a need for a dependency on the other.

1 Cor. 7:3,4 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence; and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

The man is neither superior or always right, nor a dictator, making all the decisions. (Who is more obnoxious that ANYONE who “runs everything” or is “always right?)

Even to Abraham, God said:

Gen 21:12 In all that Sarah hath said unto thee, harken unto her voice.

Marriage usually unites two individuals who consider each other intelligent and attractive. Taking the vows should not change “lovers” into “competitors”, for love is like a crown, that when worn by even a poor man, makes him feel like a king on a throne. The fair lady won should be a queen to reign WITH HIM over his household.

Mat. 18:19 I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven….How should one chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight. (Deut. 32:30)

Satan fears this strong unity and power of a loving, cooperative, Christian marriage, and he fights it from all sides. Both husband and wife should realize they are a TEAM: each encouraging and helping the other, both maintaining team loyalty and standing united against the wiles of the devil who is now breaking up more than one out of every three marriages.

Heb. 3:13 Exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Most marriage difficulties stem from disobedience to the command.

II Cor. 6:14 BE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?

The great number of divorces granted on the grounds of “incompatibility” attest to the folly of selecting a mate without seeking God’s choice for the individual. He alone knows everyone’s inherited traits, talents, temperament, etc., and the combinations that would work together the most successfully for each individuals’s happiness and the furtherance of His kingdom on this earth and for eternity.

Ps. 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.

1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.

Submission does not mean to be a slave to, or an employee of, but to submit to the divine order in love, and only when that love is returned as Christ loves his church. Thus, a man who loves his wife in this manner would never ever think of placing her in a position that would compromise any of God’s laws, but put her in freedom as set forth in Proverbs 31:10-31: Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night…She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her…Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Each person has the opportunity to choose a partner; thus each should be happy. Constant encouragement and belief in the man help him battle the business world. Constant tenderness and praise for the wife keeps the never-ending housework from becoming drudgery.

Pro. 5:18-22 Rejoice with the wife of thy youth…and be thou ravished always with her love… Why wilt thou be ravished with a strange woman?…For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

Pro. 16:7 When a man’s (woman’s) ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Ps. 37:4, 5 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him and he shall bring it to pass (Read all of Psa. 37).

Rom. 12: 12, 14, 17, 18, 21 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not. Recompence to no man evil for evil…If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men…Avenge not yourselves, for vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord…Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.

Prov. 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strife; but love covereth all sins…Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind;…(Read 1 Cor. 13:1-7)

DIVORCE, although extremely serious, is not the unpardonable sin. Like all others committed while one was “dead in trespasses and sin”, it leaves deep scars, but it can be forgiven when sincerely repented of and forgiveness sought and accepted. It is NOT the end of living. GOD HAS NOT DIED, nor has HE LOST HIS POWER. He specialized in making a way where there was no way, bringing victory out of defeat.

ISA. 61:3 To give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED.

God has the answer to every problem. The FIRST requisite is for the individual to be committed to Him. The SECOND is to commit the problem to Him, leave it with Him, praising and thanking Him for the solution, and then “waiting patiently” for Him. God is never in a hurry (He has to wait on the breaking down of human resistance), but when he moves, it is for the good of His Child and for His glory. (Abraham waited years for the fulfillment to God’s promise, and God “counted his believing for righteousness”).

AFTER a person has laid the foundation of accepting Jesus, (1 Cor. 3:11) “let every man take heed how he buildeth there on.”

DIVORCE is NOT ONE of the BUILDING BLOCKS, and God’s word has very DEFINITE instructions concerning it. Mat. 19:6-9; Mark 10:11, 12; 1 Cor. 7:10-17, 39.

THIS LIFE is short at its longest, and God’s grace is sufficient to endure all things. The companionship and approval of Christ in this life and the next are worth any sacrifice or denying of one’s self NOW.

Phil. 4:13 I can do ALL THINGS THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth me.

Col. 2:9, 10 For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.

LOVE is like a delicate PLANT that must be cultivated and sheltered to keep it blooming.

LOVE is like a precious GEM that must be guarded that it not be stolen or lost.

LOVE is like a FIRE that must be constantly fed that it does not die.

A COVENANT is an agreement between two or more parties, either verbal or in writing; usually a token is given or exchanged.

The FIRST COVENANT between GOD and MAN was in the Garden of Eden. The shedding of BLOOD (the death) of an animal would be accepted by God as a substitute covering for sin.

With Abraham and his descendants God made a covenant to give them the land of Canaan (present-day Israel) as an everlasting possession, and He would be their God. The token was circumcision, BLOOD shed on man’s part (Ge. 17:7 , 8, 11).

When Moses led the Children of Israel (Abraham’s descendants) out of Egypt to the Promised Land, God made a convenant, again, with blood of an animal and the giving of the law, His Ten Commandments, as the tokens. This covenant they broke (Heb. 8:9). Fifteen hundred years later God made a NEW COVENANT of an eternal inheritance not only with Jews, but with all mankind, and the token was the BLOOD OF HIS OWN SON (Heb: 9:14, 15).

Amazingly, the VERY FIRST COVENANT God established was between man and woman, that of MARRIAGE, which was also sealed by the shedding of BLOOD on the wedding night. This was a lifelong commitment of FIDELITY by BOTH PARTIES. Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has tempted men and women to break God’s covenants.

The JEWS broke His commandments and for 2700 years became wanderers suffering as no other people. In these end days, Satan is waging a full-scale war. Because of suggestive television, pornography, child molestation, incest, homosexuality, etc., virginity of both parties is a rarity so that a TRUE MARRIAGE COVENANT can be established. He has made “illicit sex”, “affairs” and “divorce” so common place that FEW marriages can survive his onslaught. God is a God of love, but also of WRATH, and He is now letting the world reap the CONSEQUENCES of breaking this FIRST of all blood covenants: divorce, abortion (murder), violence, venereal diseases, and AIDS, against which MAN is HELPLESS, and that not only THREATENS everyone’s lifestyle, but our very EXISTENCE!

Children and young people should be taught the fear of the Lord, and as soon as possible to enter into the blood covenant of salvation and to keep themselves PURE to enter into the SACRED MARRIAGE COVENANT at the PROPER TIME and receive GOD’S blessing and protection. YOUNG PEOPLE, don’t let Satan TRAP YOU. Learn to say “NO”.

Two people being in agreement with each other is powerful. There is power in unity. Whatever two agree on will come to pass (Matthew 18:19). The following confession of faith is based on the Word of God. Pray this prayer daily, and expect to receive whatsoever you agree upon. Love never fails!

Prayer For a Marriage of Love, Harmony and Tranquility

Father, in the name of Jesus, we pray that we may stand firm in united spirit and purpose, to live in agreement, harmony and peace. We confess that our marriage grows stronger each day in the bond of unity because it is founded on Your Word and rooted and grounded in love. We pray that we will esteem each other more highly than we do ourselves, respecting, reverencing, honoring and preferring each other above all others.

Father, give us the power of patient endurance and steadfastness to conduct ourselves honorably, not in quarreling or jealousy. May our love endure long and be patient and kind…that our love would never be envious, nor displayed haughtily. Our love will not be conceited, arrogant, rude or unmannerly. God’s love in us does not insist on its own way or own rights, for we are not self seeking; we are not fretful or resentful; we take no account or pay no attention to a suffered wrong. Help us to rejoice when right and truth prevail.

Our love shall bear up under anything and everything that comes and is ever ready to believe the best of every person. Our hope is unshakeable under all circumstances and will endure everything without weakening. We believe that Love is enfolding and knitting us together in truth, making us perfect for every good work to do Your will, working in us that which is well pleasing in Your sight.

Thank you, Father, for giving us one heart and one way that we may fear You forever, for our good, and for the good of our children after us. Amen

Movie: The End Of The Spear

When five young missionaries are speared to death by the Waodani in 1956, a series of events unfold to change the lives of not only the slain missionaries' families, but also Mincayani and his people.

Our Words, Our Actions

When I hear someone say, "Hell yes," I say "Heaven yes." If I hear someone take God's name in vain, I say a blessing to His name. People's words and actions are very important. Sometimes we don't realize how important everything we do is. If all it takes is one sin to separate us from God, then we should be very careful to not want to sin. Of course, we still sin at times and it can be hard. God forgives us always through Jesus. But, it is still something we should be careful and think about our choices, the tons of choices we make every day and how is God seeing me? I don't want to do anything wrong, it hurts me and I feel bad about it. Thank God for Jesus.

Question: "What does the Bible say about karma?"

Answer: Karma is a theological concept found in the Buddhist and Hindu religions. It is the idea that how you live your life will determine the quality of life you will have after reincarnation. If you are unselfish, kind, and holy during this lifetime, you will be rewarded by being reincarnated (reborn into a new earthly body) into a pleasant life. However, if you live a life of selfishness and evil, you will be reincarnated into a less-than-pleasant lifestyle. In other words, you reap in the next life what you sow in this one. Karma is based on the theological belief in reincarnation. The Bible rejects the idea of reincarnation; therefore, it does not support the idea of karma.

Hebrews 9:27 states, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” This Bible verse makes clear two important points which, for Christians, negate the possibility of reincarnation and karma. First, it states that we are “destined to die once,” meaning that humans are only born once and only die once. There is no endless cycle of life and death and rebirth, an idea inherent in the reincarnation theory. Second, it states that after death we face judgment, meaning that there is no second chance, like there is in reincarnation and karma, to live a better life. You get one shot at life and living it according to God’s plan, and that is it.

The Bible talks a lot about reaping and sowing. Job 4:8 says, “As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.” Psalm 126:5 says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” Luke 12:24 says, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” In each of these instances, as well as all the other references to reaping and sowing, the act of receiving the rewards of your actions takes place in this life, not in some future life. It is a present-day activity, and the references make it clear that the fruit you reap will be commensurate with the actions you have performed. In addition, the sowing you perform in this life will affect your reward or punishment in the afterlife.

This afterlife is not a rebirth or a reincarnation into another body here on earth. It is either eternal suffering in hell (Matthew 25:46) or eternal life in heaven with Jesus, who died so that we might live eternally with Him. This should be the focus of our life on earth. The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:8-9, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Finally, we must always remember that it was Jesus whose death on the cross resulted in the reaping of eternal life for us, and that it is faith in Jesus that gives us this eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Therefore, we see that the concept of reincarnation and karma is incompatible with what the Bible teaches about life, death, and the sowing and reaping of eternal life.

Recommended Resource: Jesus Among Other gods by Ravi Zacharias.

http://www.gotquestions.org/karma.html

The Daily Word

"As we follow Christ, we cannot hear one message or read the Bible once in a while and then think that's enough to stay encouraged. We need to fill our hearts daily with the instruction, correction and hope found only in God's Word."
This is true. Even if you don't read the Bible everyday (I currently don't, but I get at least a Bible quote in everyday); just getting some of the word in through maybe reading a quote, or an article or through spending time in prayer to God, meditation of something you've learnt from the Bible or your Christian walk. There is always a need to get a daily nourishment with God. If you don't, then day by day you will start to slack off and it will hurt. I know from experience that if you go by without something then it just feels like something very important is missing; and what really could be more important than putting God in our lives day-to-day when He is our Lord and Savior? We literally need Him.

New Abortion Laws Slowing Baby Killers

New Abortion Laws Slowing Baby Killers
by Chick Publications www.chick.com

Those fighting for the lives of our unborn children are developing new strategies. A new law in Oklahoma has the abortionists running for their lawyers. Modern technology has opened a window in the womb so we can watch the little person suck his thumb and cringe from danger.

The law requires that every woman who requests an abortion be offered a view of her baby on an ultrasound screen and be given a detailed description of it. Abortion clinics are reporting that mothers dissolved into tears during the ultrasound. Others refused to look at the baby on the screen.

Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the sin of killing babies, pro-aborts have pounded the propaganda drum not to worry about the “fetus,” that was “just a blob of tissue!” And, why allow the inconvenience of a pregnancy, and the 20-year project of raising a child, disrupt your life. After all, sex is for recreation and should be available to everyone without consequences, right?

Some of abortion clinic staffers are having second thoughts. Abby Johnson, director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, quit her job after watching an unborn baby “crumple” as it was being vacuumed out of the womb. She had joined Planned Parenthood to help mothers in trouble but became disillusioned with the organization’s emphasis on profit rather than helping people to plan their “parenthood.”

The new ultrasound machines also delivered images of babies scrambling to escape the cutting and vacuuming instruments used during an abortion. The child was obviously feeling pain during the procedure. Based on these images, laws have been passed limiting abortion after a certain stage of growth.

Another procedure is called “partial birth abortion.” Here the baby is delivered all but the head. Then the back of the skull is punctured and the brain sucked out with a vacuum. Because the baby was not fully delivered, it was not legally a live birth. When graphic descriptions of this procedure were made public, laws against it were much easier to pass.

As usual, the pro-aborts are claiming that the Oklahoma law is unfair to victims of incest and rape. They are quick to use this to justify all abortions. However, reliable studies indicate that less than one percent of all abortions are requested because of these two factors. Most of the abortions are for convenience.

All of these strategies are taking their toll. Abortions are down 25 percent in the U.S. from 20 years ago. However, the President was right on one thing, we need to reduce the need. Unplanned pregnancies are the problem. Abortion is just one of the “solutions.” Making abortion illegal will not address the root problem. The real solution is to change the hearts of the ones who generate the “unplanned” pregnancies.

Bible believers have the only answer: hearts changed by the Holy Spirit and sheltered by the safety of obedience to God’s laws. All Chick tracts and literature focus on the need for the redemption and regeneration of the human heart. This is central to the solution to abortion and all other problems caused by sinful behavior.

Besides the general salvation tracts such as This Was Your Life, Love Story, and Somebody Goofed, we have tried to target the horrors of abortion with Who Murdered Clarice? and the risks of the party scene with Party Girl. The “unintended consequences” of sex outside of marriage is illustrated by the story of David and Bathsheba in The Royal Affair.

These tracts seeded into a community will cause people to stop and think about God’s remedy for unplanned pregnancies. Beside saving a soul, you might also save a few babies in the process.

Tract: Who murdered Clarice?


http://www.chick.com
http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1009/1009_01.asp