Streams Ministries October 2011 e-Letter
by John Paul Jackson
Several years ago, when Streams Ministries was still located in New Hampshire, I started hearing footsteps. Some of the time, it would be my editor coming into my office to tell me I had a phone call or something else, but at other times, no one would be there. I would hear someone enter, but the office would be empty.
Well, this is strange, I would think.
The Busy Body of Christ
All of us have experienced different seasons of busyness in life. I don’t mean periods of time when we are swamped for a week or two; I mean entire months and years of busyness, when we don’t have time for God because we are trying to do things for Him. In this story, I was in one of those seasons. I had not slowed down in a long time.
One day, I was in the office by myself. I heard someone come into the room and assumed that my staff had returned. I was on a roll, so I kept working, figuring they would tell me what they needed.
But no one said anything. The steps stopped right behind my chair, and the next thing I knew, I felt arms around me. The physical presence was so real that at first, I thought I was being hugged. But when I looked down, nothing was there.
I began to weep, overwhelmed by incredible love and compassion. Conviction dropped over me like a blanket. In a moment, I knew the Lord was showing me that I had gotten too busy for Him. I wasn’t giving Him time to touch me.
No Substitutions
We can have phenomenal experiences in God: visitations, translations, transportations, trances, dreams, visions, etc. We can learn to recognize His voice and have angels bring us messages of profound revelation. We can have extreme prophetic gifting and direct the courses of nations. But none of these things can act as a substitute for Him. Doing what God has called you to do is an excellent thing—but not when it takes His place.
Obviously, walking in our calling is very important, but we can’t ever forget why we are walking in our calling—why we wanted to take this road in the first place. Our focus can easily shift from God Himself to being busy with what He has given us to do.
Practice the Presence
Around the time of our move to New Hampshire, it seemed like everyone wanted a piece of my attention. I felt constantly pulled on. I love people and I want to help them, but that day in my office, I felt the Lord was letting me know, “John Paul Jackson, you’ve gotten so busy working for Me that you don’t have room for Me to touch you. You don’t make time for Me to touch you, like you used to.”
It may seem like an oxymoron, but sometimes we are so busy going after Him that we fail to wait for Him. As Isaiah 30:18 declares, God moves and acts on the behalf of those who wait for Him. They give Him time, and He responds.
No matter what happens in our relationship with God, what level of gifting we have, where we feel God has placed us in His body, the influence we may or may not have—we need to keep our gaze on the more important thing: God Himself.
Throughout our lives, there will be times when God calls us to hard work and other times when God calls us to rest; in both seasons, He is here. Where are you? Learn to hear His voice. Seek Him out. Let Him touch you. Practice the presence of God and grant Him the desire of His heart.
http://www.streamsministries.com/index.php?page=eletter#.Tr0nVvKwW3c
© 2011 Streams Ministries International
http://www.streamsministries.com
11/11/11
11/6/11
Don't Worry, God Will Provide, Trust in God, Go with God
Mark 5:36 "Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, 'Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.'" (AMP).
Mark 5:36 "Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, 'Don't listen to them; just trust Me.'" (MSG)
Luke 8:50 "But when Jesus heard this, He told the synagogue leader, 'Stop being afraid! Just believe, and she will get well.'" (ISV)
Luke 8:50 "And Jesus hearing this word, answered the father of the maid: 'Fear not; believe only, and she shall be safe.'" (DRB)
Psalm 55:22 "Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken." (NLV)
1 Peter 5:7 "Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you." (GNT)
Jeremiah 17:7-8 "“But those who trust in the LORD will be blessed. They know that the LORD will do what He says. They will be strong like trees planted near a stream that send out roots to the water. They have nothing to fear when the days get hot. Their leaves are always green. They never worry, even in a year that has no rain. They always produce fruit." (ERV)
Psalm 91:11 "For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go." (NLT)
Hebrews 1:14 "What are all the angels? They are spirits sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation." (GW)
Matthew 6:33: "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." (NLT)
Matthew 6:25-34 (MSG):
25-26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
27-29"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Proverbs 3 (ERV):
The Blessing of Wisdom 1 My son, don’t forget my teaching. Remember what I tell you to do. 2 What I teach will give you a good, long life, and all will go well for you.
3 Don’t ever let love and loyalty leave you. Tie them around your neck, and write them on your heart. 4 Then God will be pleased and think well of you and so will everyone else.
5 Trust the LORD completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 7 Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the LORD and stay away from evil. 8 If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and the first part of your harvest. 10 Then your barns will be full of grain, and your barrels will be overflowing with wine.
11 My son, don’t reject the LORD’S discipline, and don’t be angry when he corrects you. 12 The LORD corrects the one he loves, just as a father corrects a child he cares about.
13 Those who find wisdom are fortunate; they will be blessed when they gain understanding. 14 Profit that comes from wisdom is better than silver and even the finest gold. 15 Wisdom is worth more than fine jewels. Nothing you desire has more value.
16 With her right hand, Wisdom offers long life—with the other hand, riches and honor. 17 Wisdom will lead you to a life of joy and peace. 18 Wisdom is like a life-giving tree to those who hold on to her; she is a blessing to those who keep her close.
19 With wisdom and understanding, the LORD created the earth and sky. 20 With his knowledge, he made the oceans and the clouds that produce rain.
21 My son, don’t ever let wisdom out of your sight. Hold on to wisdom and careful planning. 22 They will bring you a long life filled with honor. 23 As you go through life, you will always be safe and never fall. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. When you rest, your sleep will be peaceful. 25 You have no reason to fear a sudden disaster or the destruction that comes to the wicked. 26 You can trust the LORD to protect you. He will not let you fall into harm.
27 Do everything you possibly can for those who need help. 28 If your neighbor needs something you have, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow.” Give it to him immediately.
29 Don’t make plans to harm your neighbor, who lives near you and trusts you. [a]
30 Don’t take people to court without good reason, especially when they have done nothing to harm you.
31 Don’t envy those who are violent. Never choose to be like them. 32 Such crooked people are disgusting to the LORD. But he is a friend to those who are good and honest.
33 The LORD curses a wicked family, but he blesses the homes of those who live right.
34 He will humiliate those who make fun of others, but he is kind to those who are humble.
35 The way the wise live will bring them honor, but the way fools live will bring them shame.
http://www.biblegateway.com
Mark 5:36 "Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, 'Don't listen to them; just trust Me.'" (MSG)
Luke 8:50 "But when Jesus heard this, He told the synagogue leader, 'Stop being afraid! Just believe, and she will get well.'" (ISV)
Luke 8:50 "And Jesus hearing this word, answered the father of the maid: 'Fear not; believe only, and she shall be safe.'" (DRB)
Psalm 55:22 "Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken." (NLV)
1 Peter 5:7 "Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you." (GNT)
Jeremiah 17:7-8 "“But those who trust in the LORD will be blessed. They know that the LORD will do what He says. They will be strong like trees planted near a stream that send out roots to the water. They have nothing to fear when the days get hot. Their leaves are always green. They never worry, even in a year that has no rain. They always produce fruit." (ERV)
Psalm 91:11 "For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go." (NLT)
Hebrews 1:14 "What are all the angels? They are spirits sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation." (GW)
Matthew 6:33: "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." (NLT)
Matthew 6:25-34 (MSG):
25-26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
27-29"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Proverbs 3 (ERV):
The Blessing of Wisdom 1 My son, don’t forget my teaching. Remember what I tell you to do. 2 What I teach will give you a good, long life, and all will go well for you.
3 Don’t ever let love and loyalty leave you. Tie them around your neck, and write them on your heart. 4 Then God will be pleased and think well of you and so will everyone else.
5 Trust the LORD completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 7 Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the LORD and stay away from evil. 8 If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and the first part of your harvest. 10 Then your barns will be full of grain, and your barrels will be overflowing with wine.
11 My son, don’t reject the LORD’S discipline, and don’t be angry when he corrects you. 12 The LORD corrects the one he loves, just as a father corrects a child he cares about.
13 Those who find wisdom are fortunate; they will be blessed when they gain understanding. 14 Profit that comes from wisdom is better than silver and even the finest gold. 15 Wisdom is worth more than fine jewels. Nothing you desire has more value.
16 With her right hand, Wisdom offers long life—with the other hand, riches and honor. 17 Wisdom will lead you to a life of joy and peace. 18 Wisdom is like a life-giving tree to those who hold on to her; she is a blessing to those who keep her close.
19 With wisdom and understanding, the LORD created the earth and sky. 20 With his knowledge, he made the oceans and the clouds that produce rain.
21 My son, don’t ever let wisdom out of your sight. Hold on to wisdom and careful planning. 22 They will bring you a long life filled with honor. 23 As you go through life, you will always be safe and never fall. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. When you rest, your sleep will be peaceful. 25 You have no reason to fear a sudden disaster or the destruction that comes to the wicked. 26 You can trust the LORD to protect you. He will not let you fall into harm.
27 Do everything you possibly can for those who need help. 28 If your neighbor needs something you have, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow.” Give it to him immediately.
29 Don’t make plans to harm your neighbor, who lives near you and trusts you. [a]
30 Don’t take people to court without good reason, especially when they have done nothing to harm you.
31 Don’t envy those who are violent. Never choose to be like them. 32 Such crooked people are disgusting to the LORD. But he is a friend to those who are good and honest.
33 The LORD curses a wicked family, but he blesses the homes of those who live right.
34 He will humiliate those who make fun of others, but he is kind to those who are humble.
35 The way the wise live will bring them honor, but the way fools live will bring them shame.
http://www.biblegateway.com
11/5/11
Answers in Genesis: Did Abram Really Lie?
by Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell
November 4, 2011
Q: Did Abram really lie?
A: Genesis states that Sarai really was Abram’s half-sister, making Abram’s claim—“She’s my sister”—technically true. But does Scripture offer any examples in which telling only part of the truth is the right thing to do? Proverbs 12:22–23 offers some insight: Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness. Clearly, the Lord condemns lying and praises those who deal truthfully. And just as clearly, the Lord calls the person who keeps some knowledge to himself wise. God seems to agree that it can be foolish to tell everything you know. In the case of Abram and Pharaoh, by concealing information that would have been customarily provided, Abram implied that he was not married to Sarai. He used the literal truth to imply an untruth. This action is analogous to our concept of sins of commission and sins of omission. Abram’s sin was one of omission—not technically a lie, but it amounted to the same thing.
Continue reading to consider this important moral question in the light of Scripture—as well as the question, “Can a prophet of God lie?”
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/11/04/feedback-did-abraham-really-lie#
© Copyright 2011 Answers in Genesis
http://www.answersingenesis.org
November 4, 2011
Q: Did Abram really lie?
A: Genesis states that Sarai really was Abram’s half-sister, making Abram’s claim—“She’s my sister”—technically true. But does Scripture offer any examples in which telling only part of the truth is the right thing to do? Proverbs 12:22–23 offers some insight: Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness. Clearly, the Lord condemns lying and praises those who deal truthfully. And just as clearly, the Lord calls the person who keeps some knowledge to himself wise. God seems to agree that it can be foolish to tell everything you know. In the case of Abram and Pharaoh, by concealing information that would have been customarily provided, Abram implied that he was not married to Sarai. He used the literal truth to imply an untruth. This action is analogous to our concept of sins of commission and sins of omission. Abram’s sin was one of omission—not technically a lie, but it amounted to the same thing.
Continue reading to consider this important moral question in the light of Scripture—as well as the question, “Can a prophet of God lie?”
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/11/04/feedback-did-abraham-really-lie#
© Copyright 2011 Answers in Genesis
http://www.answersingenesis.org
Hal Lindsey Report (11-04-11): Prophecy of the Popes, Setting the Stage, a New World Order, Connecting the Dots, "Moderates" Win, Libya "Liberated"? and Moving into Position
via Hal Lindsey Media Ministries e-Newsletter
This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'
Almost 900 years ago, Pope Innocent II summoned the Bishop of Armagh, in what is now Northern Ireland, to come to Rome. While there, this Bishop purportedly experienced a vision in which he saw the popes from that time until the end of the Roman Catholic church. He recorded his impression of each of the remaining 112 popes in a series of cryptic phrases.
Today, Saint Malachy's vision is called "The Prophecy of the Popes." Written in 1139, it was rediscovered in the Vatican's archives in 1590.
I do not believe Saint Malachy's predictions rise to the level of the Bible's prophecies in either their detail or accuracy. However, his predictions have been remarkable in their own way and bear relevance to the times in which we live.
You see, Saint Malachy's prophecy seems to predict that the current pope, Benedict XVI, will be the next to last pope of the Roman church. After him will come a pope called Petrus Romanus, or Peter the Roman. Malachy appears to indicate that he will be the one who cooperates with the Antichrist, then will be turned upon and destroyed by the leader of the confederacy that rises out of the old Roman Empire.
When you consider the fact that Benedict XVI is 85 years old, the world might not have to wait very long to learn if Saint Malachy's final prediction comes true.
And if that's not interesting enough, stir this into the mix. The European Union is virtually teetering on the edge of collapse. I'm sure you've been hearing all the talk about Greece in the news. As I write this, the G20 is meeting to discuss how to rescue Greece from total bankruptcy. Germany is leading the effort to bail out the Greeks because if they fall chances are several other EU nations will follow in short order.
It's gotten so dodgy that some European leaders have turned to China for help.
Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve System, recently told CNBC that the European Union is too big (27 members) to succeed. He noted that the divide, both culturally and economically, between the northern and southern countries of the EU is just too great. He thinks that the only way divergent nations can successfully lump their currencies together is if they are culturally close, like Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria. Otherwise, he said, it just can't work.
Wow, that means the northern nations of the EU should not be tied, currency-wise, to the southern nations of the EU. That could cause a problem since, essentially, it's the northern nations that are having to bail out the southern members. And the citizens of those northern nations are none too happy about that.
Bottom line, of course, is that if the EU can't make it work (and the futility of previous bailouts of several of the EU nations seems to indicate it will not), then there is every chance that the European Union may collapse. Or, it may turn to someone who has the ideas and the leadership to make it work. Or, at least, make a revised form of it work.
Now, consider, too, the fact that the Vatican just recently published a report by the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace. It calls for the establishment of a "global authority" and a "central world bank" to rule over the world's diverse financial institutions. Although this body does not speak directly for Pope Benedict, it carries his authority because the report quotes him extensively.
In fact, in 2009 Pope Benedict issued an encyclical called "Caritas in Veritate." In it, the Pope denounced the capitalist mentality as responsible for the global financial meltdown. He also stated that the world's nations need to transfer part of their powers to a world authority. Then he argued that "there is an urgent need for a true world political authority."
To recap: We have an ancient prophecy -- issued by a Catholic Bishop -- that predicts Pope Benedict XVI will be the next to last pope. It also indicates that the pontiff which follows him will cooperate with the Antichrist, which, in turn will result in "the city of seven hills" being destroyed.
Then, we have the current Pope and leadership of the Roman Catholic church advocating for a global authority to rule over the world's financial institutions. Further, the Pope suggests that there needs to be a single world political authority.
At precisely the same time, the vaunted European Union -- which essentially springs from the residue of the old Roman Empire -- is facing the possibility of imminent collapse. If that were to happen, it would result in either it disappearing from the pages of history or finding new leadership, retooling itself, and rising again to take charge of the chaos enveloping the world in the wake of its first failure.
Now, how can anyone look at this convergence of remarkable circumstances and say that Bible prophecy is just so much hooey? Only a spiritually blind and deaf person could conceivably argue that these are not exciting times in which to live. Especially if you're a believer!
But Europe's not the only place in the world witnessing major movement among end-times players. In the last 10 months, the "Arab Spring" has resulted in a geopolitical shift that has brought the Bible's prophecies concerning the "King of the South" into sharp relief -- no -- into concrete reality. The nations that span northern Africa and extend down the Arabian peninsula are now formally Islamic states or soon will be. They all lie to the 'south' of Israel and, I believe, form the entity that the prophets called the "King of the South" -- referring to one of the four spheres of power that will be involved in the war of Armageddon.
Once again, these remarkable events prove the veracity of God's Word. And that Word also says that before things get too nasty, Jesus Christ will return to receive all true believers unto Himself. And when He calls us up to join Him in the air, He'll be removing from this earth the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit. And, friends, that's when -- literally -- all hell will break loose upon this world. You do not want to be here when that happens.
Don't wait. If you've never believed and accepted the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ; if you've never received the pardon that He died to purchase for you, do it right now. Accept His free gift of pardon and welcome Him into your life. Trust me. You will never regret it.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: This week only, "The Hal Lindsey Report" will not be seen on TBN. It's Fall Praise-A-Thon time! However, this week's Report can still be seen on Daystar, Inspiration, CPM Network, the CET stations (KHCE, KETH, KITU, KLUJ, WJEB, and WTCE) various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Please check your local listings.
God Bless,
Hal Lindsey
mail: HLMM, P.O. Box 470470, Tulsa, OK 74147
email: comments@hallindsey.com
web: http://www.hallindsey.com
'In God We Trust' Recently Re-Affirmed By House Overwhemingly
I just saw this article on the Internet from the LA Times about how the House of Representatives recently voted overwhemingly to reaffirm the phrase "In God We Trust" that is seen on U.S. monetary. Well, this guy (who normally writes for a magazine called Skeptic, but guest wrote for the LA Times) wrote this ridiculous article about how supposedly dumb of them that was. This guy doesn't know jack squat. I can't believe that most of the comments on there are anti-God. I can't imagine seeing things like that plastered all over my local news. Yeah, maybe some, but not most. It was so annoying to me that I joined the website to comment on there and told him:
I really wanted to tell him how much of an idiot he's acting like, but I wanted to be respectful. There are a lot of people who read newspaper comments and the L.A. Times is the 4th biggest newspaper in the U.S. with over a million subscribers.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-shermer-god-20111104,0,877363.story
If you think that the reason why America is free and has had so much to be thankful for doesn't have anything to do with God, you are sorely mistaken sir. There is absolutely nothing immoral or unreasonable or harmful about using the phrase "In God We Trust" on America's monetary. There is a reason why the House voted overwhelmingly to reaffirm the phrase.
I really wanted to tell him how much of an idiot he's acting like, but I wanted to be respectful. There are a lot of people who read newspaper comments and the L.A. Times is the 4th biggest newspaper in the U.S. with over a million subscribers.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-shermer-god-20111104,0,877363.story
11/4/11
New Chick Tract about Thanksgiving
There's a new Chick tract relating to Thanksgiving called "The Missing Day."
Go here to read it: http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1025/1025_01.asp
Go here to read it: http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1025/1025_01.asp
Benjamin Netanyahu Interview about Peace Process (09-25-2011)
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discusses the peace process on NBC's Meet the Press, September 25, 2011.
It's like get real people. The "Palestinians" don't care about peace. They are preached at week after week in their mosques to hate the Jewish people and to not recognize the Jewish State of Israel. They don't really want peace. If they really wanted peace then it would have happened already. This has been going on for decades, but in reality there is a much deeper spiritual reality to all of this. How much land do they want Israel to give away before there is peace? Until there is nothing left. That is the reality. Wake up people! Get some common sense! Look, I love all people and respect everyone's right to their own beliefs, but Israel is always being demoralized by those who don't know better for no good reason. God bless Israel.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44651801/ns/meet_the_press-transcripts/t/meet-press-transcript-september/#.TrSozPKwVic
Under Persecution - PrisonerAlert: Behnam Irani
Arrested: May 2011
Behnam Irani, a 41-year-old pastor from Kraj, Iran, was convicted of crimes against national security in January 2011 and sentenced to one year in prison. After voluntarily surrendering to authorities on May 31 to begin his sentence, he learned that he would be forced to serve five years in connection with a previous conviction.
Officers from the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security (MOIS) raided Irani’s house church on April 14, 2010, and assaulted him before taking him into custody. Although he was released on bail two months after his arrest, he later received the one-year prison sentence.
When Irani voluntarily began serving his sentence in May 2011, he was prepared to spend one year in prison. But he received a letter in October stating that he must now serve five years from his previous sentence.
Irani was first arrested in December 2006 and tried for crimes against national security. He was released in January 2007 but was soon re-arrested, tried and sentenced to five years in prison. Irani was never called to serve the sentence that is now being held against him.
Irani became a pastor in 2002, 10 years after becoming a Christian. Please pray for his wife and two children as they wait for him to return home.
You may also write a letter of encouragement to Pastor Irani to let him know you are praying for him. Please do not speak negatively of the Iranian government in your letter or mention the name of the organization that provided this information.
http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_218_profile.html
http://www.prisoneralert.com
© 2011 The Voice of the Martyrs
Courageous Box Office Statistics
The new Courageous movie was released in the U.S. and Canada, and apparently Argentina recently. This movie is made by the same people that also made the great recent Christian films Fireproof and Facing the Giants. Here are some U.S. box office stats (according to Wikipedia):
http://www.courageousthemovie.com/
Courageous was released on September 30, 2011 to 1,161 theaters,[9] grossing $3.1 million on its opening day and debuting in fourth place with an actual gross of $9,063,147 for the opening weekend,[17] the best opening of all new movies released that weekend.[17] It sold over $2 million in pre-sale tickets,[18] the most of the weekend on Fandango, beating out The Lion King 3D, Moneyball, Dolphin Tale and Drive.[19] After its opening weekend, Entertainment Weekly wrote, "...Courageous is the real success story of the weekend...Courageous earned a strong $8.8 million, outdoing the $6.8 million opening of Sherwood’s 2008 picture Fireproof, which became the highest-grossing independent film that year with $33.5 million total. Shown in 1,161 theaters (yet, notably, just one theater in Manhattan), Courageous earned the best per theater average of any wide release with a robust $7,580."[1] Courageous beat out all three Hollywood movies which opened on the same weekend: 50/50, What's Your Number?, and Dream House, which were produced with budgets of $8 million, $20 million, and $50 million, respectively.[1] According to Box Office Mojo, its opening weekend ranks fifth all-time among Christian movies, behind The Passion of the Christ and the three Chronicles of Narnia films.[20] As of November 1, 2011, the film has grossed $28,054,825, over 14 times its budget.[2]
http://www.courageousthemovie.com/
What does the Bible say about depression? How can a Christian overcome depression?
by Got Questions Ministries
http://www.gotquestions.org
Question: "What does the Bible say about depression? How can a Christian overcome depression?"
Answer: Depression is a widespread condition, affecting millions of people, Christians and non-Christians alike. Those suffering from depression can experience intense feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, fatigue, and a variety of other symptoms. They may begin to feel useless and even suicidal, losing interest in things and people that they once enjoyed. Depression is often triggered by life circumstances, such as a loss of job, death of a loved one, divorce, or psychological problems such as abuse or low self-esteem.
The Bible tells us to be filled with joy and praise (Philippians 4:4; Romans 15:11), so God apparently intends for us all to live joyful lives. This is not easy for someone suffering from situational depression, but it can be remedied through God's gifts of prayer, Bible study and application, support groups, fellowship among believers, confession, forgiveness, and counseling. We must make the conscious effort to not be absorbed in ourselves, but to turn our efforts outward. Feelings of depression can often be solved when those suffering with depression move the focus from themselves to Christ and others.
Clinical depression is a physical condition that must be diagnosed by a physician. It may not be caused by unfortunate life circumstances, nor can the symptoms be alleviated by one's own will. Contrary to what some in the Christian community believe, clinical depression is not always caused by sin. Depression can sometimes be caused by a physical disorder that needs to be treated with medication and/or counseling. Of course, God is able to cure any disease or disorder. However, in some cases, seeing a doctor for depression is no different than seeing a doctor for an injury.
There are some things that those who suffer from depression can do to alleviate their anxiety. They should make sure that they are staying in the Word, even when they do not feel like it. Emotions can lead us astray, but God's Word stands firm and unchanging. We must maintain strong faith in God and hold even more tightly to Him when we undergo trials and temptations. The Bible tells us that God will never allow temptations into our lives that are too much for us to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). Although being depressed is not a sin, one is still accountable for the response to the affliction, including getting the professional help that is needed. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His name” (Hebrews 13:15).
Recommended Resource: How to Win Over Depression by Tim Lahaye.
http://www.gotquestions.org/depression-Christian.html
Article Also Available in These Languages: Chinese, Indonesia, Hebrew, Arabic, Español, Português, Polski, Korean, Russian, Thai, Nederlands, Hrvatski, Français, Italiano, Srpski, Română, Greek, Bulgarian, Japanese, Melayu, Slovenčina, Sinhala, Trad-Chinese, Farsi, Ukrainian, Magyar, Suomi, Deutsch, Mongolian, Cesky, Afrikaans, Türkçe, Norsk
Other Got Questions Articles on or Relating to Depression: http://www.gotquestions.org/search.php?zoom_sort=0&zoom_query=depression&search.x=0&search.y=0
© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
www.gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered
http://www.gotquestions.org
Question: "What does the Bible say about depression? How can a Christian overcome depression?"
Answer: Depression is a widespread condition, affecting millions of people, Christians and non-Christians alike. Those suffering from depression can experience intense feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, fatigue, and a variety of other symptoms. They may begin to feel useless and even suicidal, losing interest in things and people that they once enjoyed. Depression is often triggered by life circumstances, such as a loss of job, death of a loved one, divorce, or psychological problems such as abuse or low self-esteem.
The Bible tells us to be filled with joy and praise (Philippians 4:4; Romans 15:11), so God apparently intends for us all to live joyful lives. This is not easy for someone suffering from situational depression, but it can be remedied through God's gifts of prayer, Bible study and application, support groups, fellowship among believers, confession, forgiveness, and counseling. We must make the conscious effort to not be absorbed in ourselves, but to turn our efforts outward. Feelings of depression can often be solved when those suffering with depression move the focus from themselves to Christ and others.
Clinical depression is a physical condition that must be diagnosed by a physician. It may not be caused by unfortunate life circumstances, nor can the symptoms be alleviated by one's own will. Contrary to what some in the Christian community believe, clinical depression is not always caused by sin. Depression can sometimes be caused by a physical disorder that needs to be treated with medication and/or counseling. Of course, God is able to cure any disease or disorder. However, in some cases, seeing a doctor for depression is no different than seeing a doctor for an injury.
There are some things that those who suffer from depression can do to alleviate their anxiety. They should make sure that they are staying in the Word, even when they do not feel like it. Emotions can lead us astray, but God's Word stands firm and unchanging. We must maintain strong faith in God and hold even more tightly to Him when we undergo trials and temptations. The Bible tells us that God will never allow temptations into our lives that are too much for us to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). Although being depressed is not a sin, one is still accountable for the response to the affliction, including getting the professional help that is needed. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His name” (Hebrews 13:15).
Recommended Resource: How to Win Over Depression by Tim Lahaye.
http://www.gotquestions.org/depression-Christian.html
Article Also Available in These Languages: Chinese, Indonesia, Hebrew, Arabic, Español, Português, Polski, Korean, Russian, Thai, Nederlands, Hrvatski, Français, Italiano, Srpski, Română, Greek, Bulgarian, Japanese, Melayu, Slovenčina, Sinhala, Trad-Chinese, Farsi, Ukrainian, Magyar, Suomi, Deutsch, Mongolian, Cesky, Afrikaans, Türkçe, Norsk
Other Got Questions Articles on or Relating to Depression: http://www.gotquestions.org/search.php?zoom_sort=0&zoom_query=depression&search.x=0&search.y=0
© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
www.gotquestions.org - Bible Questions Answered
A Love Language Minute: The Depressed Spouse
by Dr. Gary Chapman
via e-Newsletter
John is a successful business man, but his wife is suffering from depression. "She spends most mornings in bed, and in the afternoons she just sits around the house," he said. "She seems to have no ambition. Every night, I have to bring food home for dinner. Many nights she doesn't eat with us. She has lost forty pounds over the last year. To be truthful, life is pretty miserable at our house. I feel sorry for the kids, although they get more attention than I do. But I know they must wonder what is wrong with their mother."
John just described some of the classic characteristics of depression. Unfortunately, depression does not go away simply with the passing of time. John's wife needs medical and psychological help, and without it things will get even worse. Many Christians don't understand depression. They think it is a spiritual problem. While it may have a spiritual dimension, it is often rooted in physical, and emotional imbalance.
Identifying the Problem
What do you do when your spouse is depressed? First, you must get information. It is helpful to think of three categories of depression. First, depression may be the by-product of a physical illness. When we are physically sick, our minds and emotions move into a depressed state. We temporarily check out. It's nature's way of protecting you from constant anxiety about your physical condition.
The second kind of depression is called situational depression or reactive depression. It is a depression that grows out of a particularly painful situation in life. Many of these experiences involve a sense of loss: the loss of a job, the loss of a child to college, or loss of a friendship.
The third category is depression rooted in some biochemical disorder. It is a physical disease, and must be treated with medication. Visit the library or search the web and learn about depression. It's the first step in helping your spouse.
Finding the Solution
The healthiest road of treatment involves an honest and in-depth evaluation of three elements: physical, psychological, and spiritual. Seriously depressed persons will seldom take initiative to help themselves. As a caring spouse you must insist that they get help. Depression is not an incurable disease. Even those who have been depressed for months or sometimes years can find relief with the proper treatment.
Long term depression can be devastating to a marriage. If your spouse has been depressed for more than a few weeks, I urge you to take action.
GET SOCIAL: Share your questions, thoughts insights, or comments by joining the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/5lovelanguages
http://www.5lovelanguages.com/
via e-Newsletter
John is a successful business man, but his wife is suffering from depression. "She spends most mornings in bed, and in the afternoons she just sits around the house," he said. "She seems to have no ambition. Every night, I have to bring food home for dinner. Many nights she doesn't eat with us. She has lost forty pounds over the last year. To be truthful, life is pretty miserable at our house. I feel sorry for the kids, although they get more attention than I do. But I know they must wonder what is wrong with their mother."
John just described some of the classic characteristics of depression. Unfortunately, depression does not go away simply with the passing of time. John's wife needs medical and psychological help, and without it things will get even worse. Many Christians don't understand depression. They think it is a spiritual problem. While it may have a spiritual dimension, it is often rooted in physical, and emotional imbalance.
Identifying the Problem
What do you do when your spouse is depressed? First, you must get information. It is helpful to think of three categories of depression. First, depression may be the by-product of a physical illness. When we are physically sick, our minds and emotions move into a depressed state. We temporarily check out. It's nature's way of protecting you from constant anxiety about your physical condition.
The second kind of depression is called situational depression or reactive depression. It is a depression that grows out of a particularly painful situation in life. Many of these experiences involve a sense of loss: the loss of a job, the loss of a child to college, or loss of a friendship.
The third category is depression rooted in some biochemical disorder. It is a physical disease, and must be treated with medication. Visit the library or search the web and learn about depression. It's the first step in helping your spouse.
Finding the Solution
The healthiest road of treatment involves an honest and in-depth evaluation of three elements: physical, psychological, and spiritual. Seriously depressed persons will seldom take initiative to help themselves. As a caring spouse you must insist that they get help. Depression is not an incurable disease. Even those who have been depressed for months or sometimes years can find relief with the proper treatment.
Long term depression can be devastating to a marriage. If your spouse has been depressed for more than a few weeks, I urge you to take action.
GET SOCIAL: Share your questions, thoughts insights, or comments by joining the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/5lovelanguages
http://www.5lovelanguages.com/
Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update for week of Nov. 4, 2011
The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95:1–2
North Korea—Millions Listen to Illegal Christian Radio—VOM Contacts
1 Kings 19:13
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Experts on North Korea say that up to 20 percent of the North Korean population listens to illegal foreign radio broadcasts, and an estimated 2 million regularly listen to VOM-sponsored Christian programs, according to VOM’s partners working in North Korea. Radio broadcasting is one of the most effective ways not only to bring the gospel and the voice of true freedom to the people of North Korea but also to communicate with and influence North Koreans. This month on the “Freedom in Christ” program, our partners are sharing stories from the Gospel of Luke as well as eight plays from the “Hardship of Christ.” A special speaker also shared a message of encouragement with North Korean listeners and promised to continue praying for them. “We intentionally focus on broadcasting the biblical gospel through testimonies of believers, leadership training, and equipping resources for this support of the North Korean church,” wrote our partner. The foreign radio broadcasts are understandably hated by the North Korean government. Please pray that the government’s attempts to jam the broadcasts will be futile and that North Koreans who tune in will be sensitive to the truth of the gospel.
Iraq—Christians Murdered in Kirkuk—Release International
Psalm 61:1–3
Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
Two Christians have been murdered recently in Kirkuk, and Iraqi Christians have asked officials to improve security in the area. Thirty-year-old restaurant worker Bassam Isho was shot to death on Sunday, Oct. 2. And one day earlier, the body of 60-year-old Hanna Polos Emmanuel was found by the side of a road on the outskirts of the city. Middle East Concern reports that local Christians interpret the attacks as a deliberate effort to destabilize their community. “The attacks on Christians continue, and the world remains totally silent,” an anonymous Christian told AsiaNews. “It’s as if we’ve been swallowed up by the night.” Tensions in the region have increased as religious and ethnic minorities, especially Christians, have increasingly become targets of kidnapping and extortion. Three Assyrian Christians and a Turkman Muslim were kidnapped as they returned from a hunting trip on Sept. 21. They were released after their ransom was paid. Please pray that authorities will take decisive action to improve security in the area.
Belarus—Pastor Fined for Worshiping in House—Forum 18
Acts 5:42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Belarusian pastor Aleksei Abramovich was fined an amount equal to several weeks’ wages in September for leading unregistered religious worship. Churches in Belarus are required to register with the state, but Abramovich belongs to a church that refuses to register on principle. “We don’t interfere with state policy,” Abramovich wrote in a letter to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. “Our worship meetings are purely religious. It’s not a crime if believers worship in my house.” Authorities say the church, in Zhodino, near Belarus’s capital city of Minsk, broke the law. Meanwhile, several independent Protestant churches have given up on trying to gain state registration after their attempts repeatedly failed. Please pray that God will give churches in Belarus the strength needed to overcome these difficulties.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is on November 13, 2011. Will you pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Visit http://www.persecution.com/idop to learn more.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95:1–2
North Korea—Millions Listen to Illegal Christian Radio—VOM Contacts
1 Kings 19:13
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Experts on North Korea say that up to 20 percent of the North Korean population listens to illegal foreign radio broadcasts, and an estimated 2 million regularly listen to VOM-sponsored Christian programs, according to VOM’s partners working in North Korea. Radio broadcasting is one of the most effective ways not only to bring the gospel and the voice of true freedom to the people of North Korea but also to communicate with and influence North Koreans. This month on the “Freedom in Christ” program, our partners are sharing stories from the Gospel of Luke as well as eight plays from the “Hardship of Christ.” A special speaker also shared a message of encouragement with North Korean listeners and promised to continue praying for them. “We intentionally focus on broadcasting the biblical gospel through testimonies of believers, leadership training, and equipping resources for this support of the North Korean church,” wrote our partner. The foreign radio broadcasts are understandably hated by the North Korean government. Please pray that the government’s attempts to jam the broadcasts will be futile and that North Koreans who tune in will be sensitive to the truth of the gospel.
Iraq—Christians Murdered in Kirkuk—Release International
Psalm 61:1–3
Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
Two Christians have been murdered recently in Kirkuk, and Iraqi Christians have asked officials to improve security in the area. Thirty-year-old restaurant worker Bassam Isho was shot to death on Sunday, Oct. 2. And one day earlier, the body of 60-year-old Hanna Polos Emmanuel was found by the side of a road on the outskirts of the city. Middle East Concern reports that local Christians interpret the attacks as a deliberate effort to destabilize their community. “The attacks on Christians continue, and the world remains totally silent,” an anonymous Christian told AsiaNews. “It’s as if we’ve been swallowed up by the night.” Tensions in the region have increased as religious and ethnic minorities, especially Christians, have increasingly become targets of kidnapping and extortion. Three Assyrian Christians and a Turkman Muslim were kidnapped as they returned from a hunting trip on Sept. 21. They were released after their ransom was paid. Please pray that authorities will take decisive action to improve security in the area.
Belarus—Pastor Fined for Worshiping in House—Forum 18
Acts 5:42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Belarusian pastor Aleksei Abramovich was fined an amount equal to several weeks’ wages in September for leading unregistered religious worship. Churches in Belarus are required to register with the state, but Abramovich belongs to a church that refuses to register on principle. “We don’t interfere with state policy,” Abramovich wrote in a letter to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. “Our worship meetings are purely religious. It’s not a crime if believers worship in my house.” Authorities say the church, in Zhodino, near Belarus’s capital city of Minsk, broke the law. Meanwhile, several independent Protestant churches have given up on trying to gain state registration after their attempts repeatedly failed. Please pray that God will give churches in Belarus the strength needed to overcome these difficulties.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is on November 13, 2011. Will you pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Visit http://www.persecution.com/idop to learn more.
Add the PrisonerAlert.com application on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/prisoneralert/
Download the iOS application on the iTunes Store by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8
Download the Android application on the Android Marketplace by visiting https://market.android.com/details?id=com.persecution.prayercalendar
Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Cussing Christians?
Thanks and credit to these videos made by YouTube user aflame4God.
http://www.youtube.com/user/aflame4God
Part 1 "Profanity/Cursing"
The tongue reveals the heart. If the heart is right with God, the speech will be right and not profane. Any speech inconsistent with godliness is worthless. Practical godliness will reveal itself in our speech. This will exclude all profanity, cussing, and crude language. When we talk about the serious holy things of God in a flippant way and use foul language on YouTube, Facebook, or at home, how can we expect anyone to respect us and take our faith in Christ seriously? Profanity is poison coming out of our mouth and it effects others. It is never pleasant, but is degrading. The danger of crude profane speech is ignored, denied, and even laughed at. The pollution of profanity fills the air like cigarette smoke. Profanity is a sin that must be confessed and repented of.
THIS VIDEO IS FOR "PROFESSING CHRISTIANS". JUST BECAUSE SAY WE ARE A CHRISTIAN DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE. WHAT WE DO AND SAY TELLS OTHERS WHAT IS IN OUR HEART. ON YOUTUBE WE'RE TO SET AN EXAMPLE TO ALL PEOPLE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_MxWj7Wzxw
Part 2 "Corrupt/Filthy Communication"
Two New Testament commandments clearly tell us as Christians, that we should refrain from and not use profane foul, corrupt filthy communication. We must obey these commands with the enablement of the Holy Spirit. We have no excuse to use any language that dishonors Jesus Christ, out Lord and Savior! Evil speaking and foul language must be confessed as sin, forsaken and replaced with words that please the Lord. Can we have a "clean conscience" and at the same time disobey these commandments? The answer is no! Profanity brings reproach to the very One who died for your sins on the cross! We are called not to "blend in" with the world but as new creatures in Christ we are the temples of the Holy Spirit. We have been redeemed and we now belong to God. We must be different in desires, thoughts, and conduct. We are pilgrims, and our citizenship is in Heaven. Curse words in our sinful culture must not be a part of our lives. We follow Jesus Christ who is pure and holy and who is not profane!
Two New Testament Commandments
#1 Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
#2 Col. 3:8 "But now ye also put off all these; anger,wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, out of your mouth."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXiJosWb9ug
Part 3 "Coarse Joking/Foolish Talking"
There's a lot of compromise when it comes to our language. "Coarse jesting, crude jokes, vulgar slang", are sins according to God!! They should have no place in our lives at all. Evil speaking and foul language must be confessed, repented of, and put off if we say we follow Jesus. We must be committed to honor our Lord with our attitudes and words. We are responsible for what we say and how we choose to say it. How can we claim to have a clean renewed heart and yet use unclean filthy language? Christians have no reason to cuss or to use rude jokes!! Our speech is to be sound, pure and clean. Cussing and coarse jokes make us look unintelligent and crude!! It is a bad witness for Jesus. Some say, "Oh, he says he' s a Christian. But listen to his foul language and dirty jokes! I wonder if he talks like that at church." Are your casual conversations laced with lewd slang that is improper for a true child of God? The media is a slimy pit of obscene, vulgar material and we must avoid it, resist it, and denounce it as children of Light. Television is the chief influence in the daily lives of many professed Christians. Many of these crude programs will kill your zeal for God. These ungodly shows vomit filth and corrupt your minds and will contaminate your heart and speech. Don't think no one notices your foul language. Everyone notices it and it tells them what's in your heart. The talk of pagans is copied by those who profess Christ. Something is not right! People of base desires, usually cultivate a base crude kind of speech and lewd humor. As Christians we strive to be clean in heart and speech. We renounce all ungodly words that offend Jesus and others!!OUR SPEECH SHOULD BE FREE FROM EVERY TRACE OF FILTHINESS, FOOLISH TALKING AND COARSE JESTING! That kind of language is common in the world and should be uncommon among Christians. Thank you for watching this. Your comments are welcome. Please share with friends. God bless you. FEEL FREE TO PUT ON FACEBOOK,BLOG,YOUTUBE,MYSPACE-THIS COULD CHANGE A LIFE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SidvTYm8n3c
Part 4 "Perverse Lips/Froward Mouth"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpD-wyuiE0g
The Bible clearly commands us to get rid of all'perverse speech.'[Prov4:24].This includes all ungodly words,profanity,lewd slang and cussing which is unclean and impure communication!! Eph.4:29 calls it,'corrupt communication'.Col.3:8 calls it , 'filthy communication." Eph .5:4 calls it,"'obscene,foolish language and dirty jokes."God is HOLY and when you cuss you cuss in His holy Presence!! 1 Peter2:1 commands us to 'get rid of ALL evil speaking." 1Peter 3:10 says if you 'love life and want to see good days you MUST refrain your tongue from speaking evil."This includes profanity,swearing,gossip,lying,backbiting,lewd slang and taking Gods name in vain!!! Decent moral people 50 years ago seemed to have had more integrity and manners and control over their words than many 'Christians' in 2010!! This is a tragedy !!
LEONARD RAVENHILL-' THE TONGUE HAS DONE MORE DAMAGE THAN ANY OTHER PART OF THE HUMAN BODY.THE HUMAN HEART CAN BE A SNAKE PIT,A DUNGEON OF DEVILRY,A FOXHOLE OF FILTH,A PIT OF PERVERSITY.THE FILTH THAT COMES FROM A FILTHY HEART COMES THROUGH THE LIPS!!THE TONGUE IS A INDEX OF THE HEART.SURELY ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS ABOUT 'TRANSFORMING GRACE' IS THAT MAN LOSES HIS FILTHY LANGAUGE,LYING TONGUE AND UNHOLY ANGER WHEN HE GETS SAVED!!
PROFANE: "Not sacred or holy, unclean, impure, polluted, unholy, irreverent, and defiling."
VULGAR: Coarse language that is crude, indecent, and obscene."
Would you cuss and curse in front of someone you deeply respect for their Christian faith? Or course not. Why would someone then cuss and curse in the presence of King Jesus?
TESTIMONIES:
1. John Bunyan, author of "Pilgrim's Progress".
Before he was born again, he constantly used profanity. He stopped when he was converted! "In his early days, when cursing and swearing more than his friends, his conscience bothered him, often being afflicted even when asleep, with dire apprehensions. He was still then in his teens."
2. John Newton, writer of the famous hymn, "Amazing Grace". Newton had a reputation for profanity, coarseness, and debauchery, which even shocked many a sailor. God's amazing grace took a rude profane slave trader and transformed him into a child of God.
3. Brother David (aflame4God) "When I was a very wicked drug user, I constantly used the worst forms of profanity, and obscene language. When God saved me in 1975, and the Holy Spirit came to live inside of me, I was set free from using such wicked words. As a new Christian in 1975 if I did cuss, which was rare after my conversion, I would feel very guilty and convicted by the Holy Spirit. My clean conscience would rebuke me and I would repent. I am still free 35 years later.AMAZING GRACE INDEED!!
4.My Grandfather-" Was a very hard working farmer who grew up in the depression and passed away in the year 2,000.He was a man of honesty and integrity and loved the farm.I spent 2 summers working for him in between breaks from Bible College,that was 1978 and 1980! Not once did I hear him curse or use lewd slang when expensive farm equipment broke down like a tractor,bailor or combine or when it would rain on freshly cut hay which would reduce it value.He accepted the fact that things will go wrong and he just keep his emotions and tongue in check.Never once heard him use profanity.He was a decent man and highly respected in his community.When he had a severe stroke in 1995 he never murmured or became bitter.He remained solid and stable in his integrity and always use proper english."
We have lost all sense of civility, politeness, decency, and purity in our manners and conversations. The world we live in is very lewd and very crude. As pilgrims on the narrow road we will not lower our standards. It's the highway of holiness!
Think before you speak! It is easy to blurt out a swear word or bark out a tactless, crude remark before you will consider the impact it will have on others. Thank God for the Christian YouTube channels that do not allow profanity on their channels, do not use it in their videos, and do not use it in making comments.
Some will say, "Brother David, you are so legalistic!" Well, I think, since the Bible says so much about our "words", it would not be legalistic to think seriously about "the kind of words we use". BEING OBEDIENT, CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS IS NOT LEGALISM, IT'S PLEASING GOD.
Please consider sharing this video with your friends or putting it on your facebook. All four parts would make a good playlist on your channel and can benefit many other believers.
Thanks for watching!
-Brother David
http://www.youtube.com/user/aflame4God
http://www.youtube.com/user/aflame4God
Part 1 "Profanity/Cursing"
The tongue reveals the heart. If the heart is right with God, the speech will be right and not profane. Any speech inconsistent with godliness is worthless. Practical godliness will reveal itself in our speech. This will exclude all profanity, cussing, and crude language. When we talk about the serious holy things of God in a flippant way and use foul language on YouTube, Facebook, or at home, how can we expect anyone to respect us and take our faith in Christ seriously? Profanity is poison coming out of our mouth and it effects others. It is never pleasant, but is degrading. The danger of crude profane speech is ignored, denied, and even laughed at. The pollution of profanity fills the air like cigarette smoke. Profanity is a sin that must be confessed and repented of.
THIS VIDEO IS FOR "PROFESSING CHRISTIANS". JUST BECAUSE SAY WE ARE A CHRISTIAN DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE. WHAT WE DO AND SAY TELLS OTHERS WHAT IS IN OUR HEART. ON YOUTUBE WE'RE TO SET AN EXAMPLE TO ALL PEOPLE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_MxWj7Wzxw
Part 2 "Corrupt/Filthy Communication"
Two New Testament commandments clearly tell us as Christians, that we should refrain from and not use profane foul, corrupt filthy communication. We must obey these commands with the enablement of the Holy Spirit. We have no excuse to use any language that dishonors Jesus Christ, out Lord and Savior! Evil speaking and foul language must be confessed as sin, forsaken and replaced with words that please the Lord. Can we have a "clean conscience" and at the same time disobey these commandments? The answer is no! Profanity brings reproach to the very One who died for your sins on the cross! We are called not to "blend in" with the world but as new creatures in Christ we are the temples of the Holy Spirit. We have been redeemed and we now belong to God. We must be different in desires, thoughts, and conduct. We are pilgrims, and our citizenship is in Heaven. Curse words in our sinful culture must not be a part of our lives. We follow Jesus Christ who is pure and holy and who is not profane!
Two New Testament Commandments
#1 Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
#2 Col. 3:8 "But now ye also put off all these; anger,wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, out of your mouth."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXiJosWb9ug
Part 3 "Coarse Joking/Foolish Talking"
There's a lot of compromise when it comes to our language. "Coarse jesting, crude jokes, vulgar slang", are sins according to God!! They should have no place in our lives at all. Evil speaking and foul language must be confessed, repented of, and put off if we say we follow Jesus. We must be committed to honor our Lord with our attitudes and words. We are responsible for what we say and how we choose to say it. How can we claim to have a clean renewed heart and yet use unclean filthy language? Christians have no reason to cuss or to use rude jokes!! Our speech is to be sound, pure and clean. Cussing and coarse jokes make us look unintelligent and crude!! It is a bad witness for Jesus. Some say, "Oh, he says he' s a Christian. But listen to his foul language and dirty jokes! I wonder if he talks like that at church." Are your casual conversations laced with lewd slang that is improper for a true child of God? The media is a slimy pit of obscene, vulgar material and we must avoid it, resist it, and denounce it as children of Light. Television is the chief influence in the daily lives of many professed Christians. Many of these crude programs will kill your zeal for God. These ungodly shows vomit filth and corrupt your minds and will contaminate your heart and speech. Don't think no one notices your foul language. Everyone notices it and it tells them what's in your heart. The talk of pagans is copied by those who profess Christ. Something is not right! People of base desires, usually cultivate a base crude kind of speech and lewd humor. As Christians we strive to be clean in heart and speech. We renounce all ungodly words that offend Jesus and others!!OUR SPEECH SHOULD BE FREE FROM EVERY TRACE OF FILTHINESS, FOOLISH TALKING AND COARSE JESTING! That kind of language is common in the world and should be uncommon among Christians. Thank you for watching this. Your comments are welcome. Please share with friends. God bless you. FEEL FREE TO PUT ON FACEBOOK,BLOG,YOUTUBE,MYSPACE-THIS COULD CHANGE A LIFE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SidvTYm8n3c
Part 4 "Perverse Lips/Froward Mouth"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpD-wyuiE0g
The Bible clearly commands us to get rid of all'perverse speech.'[Prov4:24].This includes all ungodly words,profanity,lewd slang and cussing which is unclean and impure communication!! Eph.4:29 calls it,'corrupt communication'.Col.3:8 calls it , 'filthy communication." Eph .5:4 calls it,"'obscene,foolish language and dirty jokes."God is HOLY and when you cuss you cuss in His holy Presence!! 1 Peter2:1 commands us to 'get rid of ALL evil speaking." 1Peter 3:10 says if you 'love life and want to see good days you MUST refrain your tongue from speaking evil."This includes profanity,swearing,gossip,lying,backbiting,lewd slang and taking Gods name in vain!!! Decent moral people 50 years ago seemed to have had more integrity and manners and control over their words than many 'Christians' in 2010!! This is a tragedy !!
LEONARD RAVENHILL-' THE TONGUE HAS DONE MORE DAMAGE THAN ANY OTHER PART OF THE HUMAN BODY.THE HUMAN HEART CAN BE A SNAKE PIT,A DUNGEON OF DEVILRY,A FOXHOLE OF FILTH,A PIT OF PERVERSITY.THE FILTH THAT COMES FROM A FILTHY HEART COMES THROUGH THE LIPS!!THE TONGUE IS A INDEX OF THE HEART.SURELY ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS ABOUT 'TRANSFORMING GRACE' IS THAT MAN LOSES HIS FILTHY LANGAUGE,LYING TONGUE AND UNHOLY ANGER WHEN HE GETS SAVED!!
PROFANE: "Not sacred or holy, unclean, impure, polluted, unholy, irreverent, and defiling."
VULGAR: Coarse language that is crude, indecent, and obscene."
Would you cuss and curse in front of someone you deeply respect for their Christian faith? Or course not. Why would someone then cuss and curse in the presence of King Jesus?
TESTIMONIES:
1. John Bunyan, author of "Pilgrim's Progress".
Before he was born again, he constantly used profanity. He stopped when he was converted! "In his early days, when cursing and swearing more than his friends, his conscience bothered him, often being afflicted even when asleep, with dire apprehensions. He was still then in his teens."
2. John Newton, writer of the famous hymn, "Amazing Grace". Newton had a reputation for profanity, coarseness, and debauchery, which even shocked many a sailor. God's amazing grace took a rude profane slave trader and transformed him into a child of God.
3. Brother David (aflame4God) "When I was a very wicked drug user, I constantly used the worst forms of profanity, and obscene language. When God saved me in 1975, and the Holy Spirit came to live inside of me, I was set free from using such wicked words. As a new Christian in 1975 if I did cuss, which was rare after my conversion, I would feel very guilty and convicted by the Holy Spirit. My clean conscience would rebuke me and I would repent. I am still free 35 years later.AMAZING GRACE INDEED!!
4.My Grandfather-" Was a very hard working farmer who grew up in the depression and passed away in the year 2,000.He was a man of honesty and integrity and loved the farm.I spent 2 summers working for him in between breaks from Bible College,that was 1978 and 1980! Not once did I hear him curse or use lewd slang when expensive farm equipment broke down like a tractor,bailor or combine or when it would rain on freshly cut hay which would reduce it value.He accepted the fact that things will go wrong and he just keep his emotions and tongue in check.Never once heard him use profanity.He was a decent man and highly respected in his community.When he had a severe stroke in 1995 he never murmured or became bitter.He remained solid and stable in his integrity and always use proper english."
We have lost all sense of civility, politeness, decency, and purity in our manners and conversations. The world we live in is very lewd and very crude. As pilgrims on the narrow road we will not lower our standards. It's the highway of holiness!
Think before you speak! It is easy to blurt out a swear word or bark out a tactless, crude remark before you will consider the impact it will have on others. Thank God for the Christian YouTube channels that do not allow profanity on their channels, do not use it in their videos, and do not use it in making comments.
Some will say, "Brother David, you are so legalistic!" Well, I think, since the Bible says so much about our "words", it would not be legalistic to think seriously about "the kind of words we use". BEING OBEDIENT, CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS IS NOT LEGALISM, IT'S PLEASING GOD.
Please consider sharing this video with your friends or putting it on your facebook. All four parts would make a good playlist on your channel and can benefit many other believers.
Thanks for watching!
-Brother David
http://www.youtube.com/user/aflame4God
11/3/11
Bitterness Kills
by Dr. Don Colbert
Corrie ten Boom survived the Nazi concentration camps during World War II. She often talked about the hate she harbored for years toward the German guards who abused her during that horrible ordeal. She also talked about the healing she experienced when she was finally able to forgive them. She often stated, regarding survivors of the Holocaust, it was those who were able to forgive who were best able to rebuild their lives. In my book Deadly Emotions, I wrote a chapter on the damaging effects of resentment and bitterness. Along with worry, fear, anger and depression, resentment and bitterness can take a massive toll on your health.
All of us feel victimized at times. It may be the result of someone intentionally hurting us or a random accident. It may be a major life changing event such as losing your job, being robbed or having a heart attack. Or it may be something less traumatic such as someone criticizing you behind your back or missing a promotion. It may be a general sense of how unfair life is or something far more personal involving family or friends. We may even feel bitterness toward God.
Regardless of who or what hurts us, it’s normal to feel resentment and bitterness. It’s normal to be angry and even desire some type of vindication. But when does it become a health issue? Part of the answer has to do with how long we maintain the negative emotional state. A few minutes or even a few days of bitterness and resentment are probably insignificant to most people, but months and years of bitterness and resentment are a different story. There are numerous studies linking long term resentment and bitterness to multiple diseases of both the mind and the body. A burst of chemicals being released during short periods of pain, frustration and disappointment may actually benefit us in some ways; but lower amounts of these same chemicals being released steadily over months and years negative emotion can lead to cancer, heart disease and mental illness in most people if not managed appropriately.
How can you protect your health when faced with unfair and undeserved suffering and mistreatment? First, remain optimistic and hopeful. This is where your faith in a loving Creator becomes so important. As the Psalmist says, “Weeping may remain for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Remember, everything comes to pass, nothing comes to stay. Even in the face of death, there is hope in Him who conquered death. Those who remain hopeful and optimistic during challenging and painful times live longer and healthier than those who surrender to pessimism and despair.
Secondly, and just as importantly, learn to forgive. The most often quoted prayer in scripture contains the words, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” Learning to forgive is a key to good health. The act of forgiveness not only stops the onslaught of harmful chemicals described above, it also releases health promoting chemicals.
For most people forgiveness happens over time and with some degree of effort. It may be cultivated with the help of a counselor or a close friend. Regardless of how difficult it may be to finally forgive the persons or institutions that hurt you, the benefits are worth it. Like Corrie ten Boom, there are numerous other stories of individuals being physically and emotionally healed after learning to forgive. Body, mind and spirit are all connected. Let the spiritual energies released through hope and forgiveness keep your mind and body happy and healthy.
Tramp For The Lord, with Jamie Buckingham (1974)
Psalm 30:5, New International Version of the Bible.
Luke 11:4, New International Version of the Bible.
© 2006-2011 Dr. Don Colbert, MD PA
https://secure.drcolbert.com/index.php
https://secure.drcolbert.com/articles.php?art_id=155
Corrie ten Boom survived the Nazi concentration camps during World War II. She often talked about the hate she harbored for years toward the German guards who abused her during that horrible ordeal. She also talked about the healing she experienced when she was finally able to forgive them. She often stated, regarding survivors of the Holocaust, it was those who were able to forgive who were best able to rebuild their lives. In my book Deadly Emotions, I wrote a chapter on the damaging effects of resentment and bitterness. Along with worry, fear, anger and depression, resentment and bitterness can take a massive toll on your health.
All of us feel victimized at times. It may be the result of someone intentionally hurting us or a random accident. It may be a major life changing event such as losing your job, being robbed or having a heart attack. Or it may be something less traumatic such as someone criticizing you behind your back or missing a promotion. It may be a general sense of how unfair life is or something far more personal involving family or friends. We may even feel bitterness toward God.
Regardless of who or what hurts us, it’s normal to feel resentment and bitterness. It’s normal to be angry and even desire some type of vindication. But when does it become a health issue? Part of the answer has to do with how long we maintain the negative emotional state. A few minutes or even a few days of bitterness and resentment are probably insignificant to most people, but months and years of bitterness and resentment are a different story. There are numerous studies linking long term resentment and bitterness to multiple diseases of both the mind and the body. A burst of chemicals being released during short periods of pain, frustration and disappointment may actually benefit us in some ways; but lower amounts of these same chemicals being released steadily over months and years negative emotion can lead to cancer, heart disease and mental illness in most people if not managed appropriately.
How can you protect your health when faced with unfair and undeserved suffering and mistreatment? First, remain optimistic and hopeful. This is where your faith in a loving Creator becomes so important. As the Psalmist says, “Weeping may remain for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Remember, everything comes to pass, nothing comes to stay. Even in the face of death, there is hope in Him who conquered death. Those who remain hopeful and optimistic during challenging and painful times live longer and healthier than those who surrender to pessimism and despair.
Secondly, and just as importantly, learn to forgive. The most often quoted prayer in scripture contains the words, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” Learning to forgive is a key to good health. The act of forgiveness not only stops the onslaught of harmful chemicals described above, it also releases health promoting chemicals.
For most people forgiveness happens over time and with some degree of effort. It may be cultivated with the help of a counselor or a close friend. Regardless of how difficult it may be to finally forgive the persons or institutions that hurt you, the benefits are worth it. Like Corrie ten Boom, there are numerous other stories of individuals being physically and emotionally healed after learning to forgive. Body, mind and spirit are all connected. Let the spiritual energies released through hope and forgiveness keep your mind and body happy and healthy.
Tramp For The Lord, with Jamie Buckingham (1974)
Psalm 30:5, New International Version of the Bible.
Luke 11:4, New International Version of the Bible.
© 2006-2011 Dr. Don Colbert, MD PA
https://secure.drcolbert.com/index.php
https://secure.drcolbert.com/articles.php?art_id=155
Jack Van Impe Presents (11-05-2011) #1144
Headlines: US warns of imminent terror threat in Kenya...McCain raises prospect of military option in Syria...Syrians rally, saying Assad is next to die...
Product Offer of the Week: DVD "chrislam: one world religion emerging"
www.jvim.com
Thanks to CallOutToJesus on YouTube for uploading the video.
11/2/11
Secular Humanist Organizations
This is really sad (and I mean that sincerely, not in a haughty way) that there is actually an organization like this with such a well-designed website that contains such an elaborate display of anti-God and (to be honest, ironically) anti-human propaganda. This is the result of people hating God and hating themselves, and attempting to proselytize to others their beliefs and restrict freedom. Their eyes are blind to truth and their hearts are of stone, in desperate need of God's loving grace and truth to be set right with God and truly liberated. Oh, if only they would accept the love and wonders of God! They have closed their hearts and minds. Please, let's pray for them.
Jesus came and died for us: "...to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." (Isaiah 42:7 NIV).
The British Humanist Association
Jesus came and died for us: "...to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." (Isaiah 42:7 NIV).
The British Humanist Association
11/1/11
Update: halloween 2011
My experience for halloween 2011: I passed out Gospel tracts to the trick-or-treaters. At first it didn't seem like I was going to get very many. The thought even crossed my mind that I might not get a single trick-or-treater. But, low-and-behold, suddenly soon after 7PM they started coming en masse. The last trick-or-treater was shortly after 8PM. I tried to tally up the numbers, but it was hard to keep track with the rush. I think we got around 60 (! :)), which is really good for my neighborhood. Normally I get only in the 20's, possibly 30's. One year I only got maybe 18 when halloween landed on friday night, probably because of the high school football game (seriously!) which is only a mile down the road from me. Anyway, this year I actually ran out of candy because I wasn't anticipating that many trick-or-treaters. But, it was all good because that only happened toward the end and I still had lots of Gospel tracts (although I ran out of the 'little kid' ones so I used some other ones). Again, I didn't anticipate that many trick-or-treaters, but God really heard the prayers blessed me. I really wanted to do this for His glory and to help others. Of course, I am blessed because of it as well, but my main focus was on God's glory and helping others. Thank you all! God bless. Praise the Lord!!! :) Also, the kids seemed to like the Gospel tracts. I heard one kid say "cool," another kid say something like "It's a candy pack!" and I think I also heard a "Wow." I was so focused on hurrying up to snap up the appropriate-aged Gospel tract to the groups of children that I don't recall every expression that the kids made. I just remember the kids generally liking the Gospel tracts. I think they went away really happy from coming to my house. To be honest, it was probably the best treat of the night for them. I mean, of course it was in the sense that it had the Gospel tract in it, but from a different vantage point it's like they got this really cool Gospel tract that is purposely made to be neat for kids and they got a couple pieces of good candy with it all in one little baggie just for them. I mean, to me that is a great treat. If I was a kid and I was trick-or-treating then I would probably think it was the best house of the night. Obviously, kids think back to what their favorite house of the night was. The only reason why I'm speaking this way is because everything good that happened is because of God. It's all thanks to God and it was all for HIM. Thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit!.
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