A Message of Truth

A Message of Truth

Loving the truth of God is our protection against the deceptive attacks of the enemy. By knowing the truth, we can recognize the lies of "worldly wisdom," and continue along God's path without painful detours into the weeds. But we must be willing to faithfully apply the truth in all areas of our life and share the truth with others at every opportunity.

Prior to the final invasion of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, God spoke through Jeremiah to warn the people of their coming destruction and their need to repent. Needless to say, this was not a popular message and Jeremiah was not a welcomed prophet. But there were other self-proclaimed prophets who provided a much more comfortable message. These prophets made people feel good by telling them what they wanted to hear - telling them they could continue down their same path without fear. But God warned about falling into their seductive trap of false security.

Jeremiah 23:16-17
"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise Me, 'The Lord says: You will have peace.' And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, 'No harm will come to you.'"

The ministry of encouragement is a vital part of our Christian walk. We all face valleys and need encouragers to provide a lift. And since we know there are many others who are walking through valleys today, we should encourage in every way possible; "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today!" (Hebrews 3:13).

However, in our zeal to encourage and build up, we must never compromise by presenting a message which falls short of the absolute truth. We must never present an "all is well" message if all is not well. When God's children wander from His path and plant themselves amongst the weeds, there must be someone willing to "gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance" (2 Timothy 2:25).

Our task as an encourager is not always to make others comfortable or to deliver a pleasing message; we are not called to tell people "what their itching ears want to hear" (2 Timothy 4:3). Rather, our task is to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). We never help when we make someone comfortable with sin.

The absolute best encouragement we can give is to help someone have a right relationship with their Heavenly Father through a surrendered faith in Jesus Christ. God's truth can and will set us free (John 8:32)! Let's encourage in every way possible; but let's make certain we always encourage with a message of truth!

Steve Troxel

The Scary Picture of the Real You

The Scary Picture of the Real You

It really wasn't fair. But some friends of mine in youth ministry used to carry out these dreaded Saturday morning raids on teenagers from the local high school. By the way, those raids got those kids to an event that they eventually ended up enjoying, but they didn't enjoy how it started. A few leaders would show up early on Saturday morning at the house of one of their student leaders. When a parent came to the door, they would tell them what church group they were from and asked the parents' permission to "kidnap" their son or daughter to a "come as you are" breakfast they were having for student leaders. Most of the parents actually went along with it with a bit of amusement. The invaders went to the door of that teenager's room and gave them one minute to throw something on before they came in for them. Sixty seconds later, people of the same sex went in to that room and snapped a picture of the Saturday morning self back in the days with Polaroid cameras, before digital. Well those pictures were of course posted at the breakfast to the horror of those kids, especially the girls. No makeup, bad hair, your real skin, they didn't seem to be too excited about everyone seeing what they were really like.

There's the dressed up, fixed up version of ourselves that everyone sees. And then there's the not-so-beautiful picture of what we really look like. A lot of us struggle with that one. One of the writers of the Bible, actually a man named Paul sure did. But as you hear his description of the gap between the person he wants to be and the person he is, he seems to speak for all of us.

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Romans 7:18, "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing." There's the picture of how I want to look and then this candid picture of what we are. There's this dark side, I guess. It may be anger, selfishness, or a bitterness, or prejudice that's in there. The ugly picture may be something sexual, or an addiction, a past that continues to haunt our present - a dark secret. God calls it by that one ultimately ugly word - sin: rebellion against our Creator's ways, and against our Creator.

And these sentences from the Bible capture how powerless we are to change the picture. The Bible goes on, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" He's sick of being this person he hates. One mother I know, who has been agonizing over her teenage daughter, recently confronted her with the ugly things that she knew her daughter had been doing. The daughter said, "Mother, I'm not like that!" And she sure didn't want to be like that, but she was like that! We're all caught in between the person we want to be and the person we really are.

But then comes the hope, "Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" There is hope of changing the picture, but only one. We don't need a religion, we don't need a self-improvement program, we need a Savior. We need a rescuer who will do for us what a lifeguard does for a drowning person, deliver us from the thing that we cannot deliver ourselves from.

That is what the cross of Jesus Christ is all about. God's one and only Son loving you enough to absorb all the guilt and all the hell of all your sin, so you can finally go free, if you grab the lifeguard with all the faith you've got.

Maybe you've never made this awesome Savior, your Savior and you're ready to be rescued. I hope you are. Would you tell Him that right now? He's alive; He came back from the dead. He's walked out of His grave. He's where you are now waiting for you to put all your trust in Him. There's some help for you; some great information to help you at this important moment if you'll go to our website. And I would invite you to go there as so many others have. It's www.yoursforlife.net.

The Bible promises that, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone; a new life has begun." That miracle for you may be one prayer away.

Ron Hutchcraft

Satan Is Out to Deceive You

Satan Is Out to Deceive You

There can be many types of problems within a family. In fact, examples of possible family problems that can arise would almost be too numerous to list. But the Word addresses them all. Whatever the problem, whatever the need, no matter how great the stress or distress, God has the solution in His Word. His Word is complete. All we as Christians have to do is believe what God's Word says and act on it in faith.

For example, if you have a child who has turned away from a godly life, then believe God's Word where it says in Proverbs 11:21, "The children of the righteous will be delivered." Take that scripture, read it, meditate on it, and act on it in faith without fear. It is true; the children of the righteous will be delivered.

From the beginning, Satan has deceived mankind. Second Corinthians 11:3 says that in the Garden of Eden, Eve was deceived by the serpent because of Satan’s craftiness. In other words, he was cunning, deceptive and he was a liar.

Jesus said in John 8:44 that Satan is a liar and that there is no truth in him. Today, Satan has not changed and his methods are still the same. When we take the scriptures and stand on them in faith, Satan immediately tries to twist and distort the Word in such a way that it will become ineffective in our lives.

When we say, "The Word says the children of the righteous will be delivered, and I believe it and stand on it in faith," Satan immediately says, "That's right. The Word is true. The children of the righteous will be delivered. But you're not righteous. Remember when you...." And so Satan sows his lie. What he says sounds logical, but it is still a lie.

The truth is, we who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior are righteous. We are not righteous because of anything we have done but because of what He has done. The blood of Jesus removes our sins and we are clean. It's grace. It's unmerited favor. It's a gift of God.

Galatians 2:21 says, “If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” We cannot do anything to become righteous other than just simply accept Jesus into our hearts. Works will never be good enough.

If Satan can get us to believe we are not righteous, then when we take the Word that says "The children of the righteous will be delivered," we will not believe it applies to us. Without belief there is no faith. Without faith we will not expect results, and we will get what we expect. Nothing! We must believe the truth and act in faith. Then we will be delivered.

Proverbs 20:7 says that the children of the righteous will be blessed. So, not only will our children be delivered, but they will be blessed.

As Christian parents, we must believe what God’s Word says about our children. So, when Satan whispers into your thought realm and says your children will be destroyed, don’t repeat his words. Remember, he’s a liar. You must do as Jesus did when Satan spoke to him. Say, “It is written. The children of the righteous will be delivered.”

Remember, God does not lie. What He says He will do, He will do. What he says will happen, will happen. If His Word says the children of the righteous will be delivered and blessed, then they will. God is not a liar.

Dr. Larry Ollison

Are you ready for Marriage?

Are you ready for Marriage?

So you want to tie the knot -- great! Before you start scanning dating profiles, make sure you’ve done the proper “housecleaning.”

It’s ironic that in our culture we prepare for everything but marriage. We go away to college and study for four years to prepare for our chosen career. A new driver in my state must have a learner’s permit for six months before obtaining a driver’s license. Stage actors rehearse for months before the opening night. First-time parents have nine months to prepare for the big debut in their own lives, often going to parenting and birthing classes well in advance. Yet somehow we expect that everything will just fall into place where love and marriage are concerned.

Dr. Cara Whedbee, a psychologist I interviewed for my book: “Where Have All the Good Men Gone?” has counseled many single people who come to her asking, “Why can’t I find a mate?” (You can reach her at www.thepointsys.com). She told me one of the biggest mistakes people make is rushing into relationships without making themselves ready, or what I like to call “housecleaning.” Even Esther, the beautiful Jewess of biblical history who won the favor of a king and became queen of Persia, had to undergo twelve months of “beauty preparations” before she was presented to King Xerxes -- or, symbolically, made ready for marriage. If we as singles take seriously the idea of entering marriage someday, whether for the first time or in a remarriage, we must also take seriously the process that will make us worthy lifelong companions.

Never Marrieds: Don’t Be a Jerry Maguire

When I asked Dr. Whedbee what is the most important advice she would give to singles wanting to prepare themselves for marriage, she reminded me that her answer would differ for never-married singles versus divorced singles wanting to marry again. “For someone who has never been married, you need to figure out who you are first and what you want,” she said. “You do this so that when you finally get married it’s because you’re a whole person -- you’re bringing two whole people together. You have to complete yourself; you can’t be a Jerry Maguire, saying ‘You complete me.’ Know who you are. Know what you like and don’t like, what you need in a mate and what you definitely could do without. Know where you want to be in five years and how much older a potential mate you are willing to look at, because love can come from anywhere. Maybe you need to move, maybe you’ve exhausted all the possibilities in your community and are ready to move somewhere else. Mature, whole people know who they are and what their purpose is in life.”

This “knowing” may take time. Ask God to give you spiritual insight into the areas of your life that you’ve been blinded to up till now. Consider asking a trustworthy friend what are your best -- and worst -- traits. With their input, take an honest self-assessment. Are you a little too selfish? Too demanding? Do you still expect everyone to please you, or have you matured to the point where pleasing others brings you joy? “If you know who you are and the person you’re dating does not, then you’re not on the same spiritual level and they’ll know it right off the bat,” says Whedbee. “If you do know all this and are still having issues, you’re probably finding men (or women) who don’t know who they are yet.”

Divorced: Getting Over the Blame Game

For those who have lived through a divorce, Whedbee’s advice takes a different -- and perhaps more painful -- tack: one of asking ourselves the big question, “What went wrong?” Once we’ve honestly asked ourselves that question, we must be willing to take ownership for our part in the failed marriage. “Even if you think it was all his fault, or all her fault, it still takes two to get married and it takes two to make a divorce,” says Whedbee. “It could be that you picked a wrong guy or it could be that you choose cheaters. You need to figure out what caused the disconnect, what happened there. Then you need time to heal.”

She recommends talking with a good Christian counselor who can help you untangle your knotted romantic past, point out destructive patterns in your life that you need to eradicate, and teach you coping skills. “I always tell people they need to develop that muscle, figure out what went wrong the first time, and fix that before you start looking for somebody else.”

Most often it’s wise to wait and be single for a while before leaping back into the dating fray. The passage of a year or two will give you time to work through the issues cited above, and you’ll be in a better position to look for love again. Go easy at first, and get to know other singles as friends before leaping into love. Even if someone sweeps you off your feet, a good friendship foundation will put solid footing under your relationship.

For those divorced men and women who are also parents, Whedbee cautions against dragging your kids into the picture too soon: “Once you feel ready to start looking around, you have to be really careful involving the people you date in your kids’ lives. Kids are a lot more aware than their parents think they are. Be open with them so you’re not sneaking around or lying to them. Until you’re really comfortable with a guy or girl and think they have potential, don’t introduce them to your kids. That’s the hardest part about dating again after you’ve been married.”

Preach It!

What can we do as Christians to promote marriage in an anti-marriage society? No. 1, we have to be preaching it, says Whedbee. We need to talk about why the Bible says to leave your father and mother and cleave to your mate, why the Bible calls marriage sacred and a union between one man and one woman. “Whenever my husband and I had issues we had to solve them ourselves,” she says. “That’s the only way to cleave. The problem is that many people never really leave [their parents], and so how then can they cleave?”

We cannot shy away from the difficult topics -- adultery, premarital sex, living together out of wedlock -- just because our society says these are part of the new “norm.” People are hungry for something different because what our society has offered them doesn’t work. “They’re hungry, so preach it,” says Whedbee. “Talk about it with other singles.”

If you’re in a position of leadership within a singles ministry, make sure it’s a place where men and women both can feel comfortable -- not a meat market. Girls shouldn’t feel like they’re being ogled or that guys are hitting on them the first time they walk through the door. Help people to be who God called them to be.

Finally, bring the fun back to church. “Today people would rather go to a bar to seek excitement than go to church,” says Whedbee. “The fun place to be should be your church. Sponsor creative social functions like road trips and citywide dances. I’ve seen it work, with a lot of [single] friends getting together from it. If that’s your focus -- to get together as friends and just have fun -- then if something happens it’s icing on the cake.”

In the Fullness of Time…

One of my favorite lines from a movie comes from Romancing the Stone, starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. In it, protagonist Joan Wilder, a romance novelist, talks to her literary agent on the phone about finishing her latest book. The emotion of the story has brought her to tears. Hearing her sobbing through the line, the agent teases her, calling Joan a hopeless romantic. “No,” she counters, “hopeful. I’m a hopeful romantic.”

The first time I heard that line it sank deep into my spirit, and somehow it has stayed with me across the years. It’s like seeing the glass half-empty or half-full. Which one are you? A hopeless romantic, frustrated by years of singleness stretching across the canvas of your life, or a hopeful romantic, living your life to the fullest, yet seasoning every day with a dose of expectation?

In the past year or two God has brought one special phrase from Scripture into sharp focus in my life, again and again. The phrase I’m talking about is that innocuous passage we read in the more narrative parts of the Bible: “In the fullness of time…” I am not a patient person. It’s something I’ve struggled with my whole life. But one thing God keeps doing to nudge me closer to patient is remind me of His always-just-in-time calendar of events. I look back over the course of my life and marvel at how often something I prayed for, yearned for, waited for, cried for finally came to fruition -- but not a moment too soon. Why did You take so long, God! We lament, railing against the heavens like Scarlett O’Hara in the radish garden. But if we’re honest we’ll probably see that God’s actions in our lives, and the lives of those we love, occurred just in the nick of time. Just at the right time. In the fullness of time.

The phrase reminds me of a woman carrying a child. Happy to be pregnant, she grows weary by degrees as the months of pregnancy draw on, but always before her is the expectation of her baby -- the culmination of her hopes in the fullness of time. In a similar way, God places just the right person in our lives at just the right time. Maybe your life is not ready for a spouse at the moment. Perhaps you have quite a bit of “housecleaning” to do before He can bring a special man or woman into your life. Start praying and moving in that direction.

On the other hand, remember that a single day can change the entire course of your life. You may wake up tomorrow and see a face you’ve never seen before -- and in that face you might meet a person who changes your life forever. You may be closer to that “fullness of time” than you think!




A.J. Kiesling

Take your Life off Hold

Take your Life off Hold

“I’m bored!” Well, whose fault is that? The only people interested in entertaining you are those who get paid for it; otherwise, you are pretty much on your own.

Life is a party you create; don’t wait to be invited to one. I’m sure if we were on an episode of Family Feud with the question things singles are guilty of, we would hear the host happily quip, “Survey says … They put their lives on hold!”

Even I have to put up a guilty finger on this one. Thank heaven this season of my life is over and I finally got a clue. The only thing that should be reserved for marriage is sex (but we’ll talk about that later). Otherwise, it’s time to let the games begin. Stop waiting for someone else to make your life happen. There is an endless world of possibilities for pleasure and fulfilling living at your fingertips. Fortunately, as a single person all your resources are yours to invest into living the life you want without having to check with anyone else. This makes for options and opportunities that are sure to be the envy of your married friends. There is no time like the present to enjoy what you might not be able to do tomorrow because of different priorities.

What does a no-holds-barred life look like? It’s downright exciting. I repeatedly tell people I meet to finish this statement: “I’ve always wanted to _______________.” Well, what’s stopping you? Certainly your excuse should not be “Because I have no man.” Until that blessed addition to your life shows up to claim you, your life should be full of fulfilling activities and amazing experiences that broaden you intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually as a person. In other words, get a life. Get one that will make you interesting and intriguing to others. A well-lived life full of passion and interests is like a magnet. It will draw other exciting people to you. So go ahead and mix it up.

First, break out of your regular routine. In order to have new experiences, you have to do new things. If your weekly routine is work, church, and back home, there is a lot of room for improvement. Select activities that interest you or pull you out of your comfort zone and stretch you. Remember, if you choose things that really interest you, chances are there will be other people there with the same interests, which make for fertile ground to meet your ideal mate. According to Dr. Neil Clark Warren, founder of eHarmony.com, the more things two people have in common, the greater their chances are of having a lasting relationship.

“Well, what kinds of things do you suggest, Michelle?” I suggest you experiment with anything that makes you curious; involves self-improvement; or adds to your skill sets, community involvement, or charitable ventures. Get active in areas you are concerned about. Check out an area which addresses what you feel you are lacking in your life. For instance, if the alarm on your biological clock is on full tilt sound off, why not consider mentoring children? Get involved with children’s church or a youth program. Stop insisting on one way to have personal fulfillment and broaden your scope.

Take a class in an area of interest. From fun to educational, it’s a great way to stretch beyond your present boundaries, increase your knowledge, and meet interesting people. Let me interject here that you might need to think outside of your religious box. A lot of us have a very unhealthy opinion of what holiness looks like, and holiness often ends up looking boring. I do not believe Jesus was boring by any stretch of the imagination. He was very social and always up for attending a good dinner, banquet, wedding, or celebration. His circle of friends and associates was an eclectic mix -- from the very wealthy to the socially unacceptable. The Pharisees were appalled by the company He kept and the places He went. They accused Him of drinking and eating too much, but He had an interesting life, to say the least. The most unlikely people embraced Him and His teaching because of His friendly influence. Remember, your life has to look attractive in order for others to want to join you. You, like Jesus, will have to think outside of the religious box in order to have a life filled with excitement and fulfillment.

That being said, check your motives for why you do what you do and go where you go. Is it because you think you will meet the mate of your dreams or is it because you are truly interested in what that class or activity has to offer you personally? It should be all about you first. The motive should not be meeting someone. Trust me. Ruth was not thinking about meeting Boaz or any other man when she went gleaning. Her total focus was eating and surviving, and she still got a rich man out of the deal! (Ruth 2-4). Meeting someone should be the by-product of what you do, not the primary goal. In the meantime, get ready to expand your personal breadth as a person.

What other dreams do you have? What are some things you want to acquire? Don’t wait for a man to come and buy you jewelry and trinkets; set a standard for them to follow. Acquire a nice piece that signals you are a woman of quality. I don’t know about you, but holding out for my knight in shining armor to show up, marry me, and buy a house is way past due. As the birthdays started adding up, I took the plunge and bought a home. I was cautioned against it by a well-meaning friend, who suggested that I should wait to purchase a home because buying one said I had “settled in” and given up the notion of ever being married. This simply was not the case. I felt it was wisdom for me to purchase a piece of property. Married or not, to give away money (and that is what you are doing when you are renting) was not being a good steward of what God had blessed me with. The more practical outlook is that I now would have something to bring to my marriage whenever it comes to fruition. Real estate is one of the best investments you can make for a guaranteed increase in return. When my husband shows up, we will buy another house and have equity toward our future. Begin to think of ways you can add to your financial collateral on your own. It certainly sweetens your position as a newlywed. Every girl should have a dowry of sorts to share at will or simply to maximize her own security.

What about trips to exotic places? Why wait to have a romance in order to go? Perhaps romance is waiting for you there. Are you getting this? This is about making your life happen. When that man comes into your life, he should have to interrupt some things. The opposite of that situation is that you will completely overwhelm him by being too available and desperate for his attention to fill the gaps in your life. What a turnoff! Have you ever had a man who liked you way more than you liked him? You couldn’t get rid of him. He wanted all your time. What was your response? You were just not that into him, right? As a matter of fact, you ran from him as though he were the plague. He was too needy, not intriguing enough, and perhaps even a little bit scary. Well, consider that in reverse. Are you grasping why your life has to happen first before you meet a man?






Michelle McKinney Hammond

Wedding Modesty: Has it gone out of Style?

Wedding Modesty: Has it gone out of Style?

A few years ago, CJ and I had the privilege of going to The Bible Church of Little Rock where CJ spoke on the topic of modesty. At the conclusion of my husband’s sermon, the church’s worship pastor, Todd Murray, presented an additional appeal in his closing remarks. He urged all girls to consider modesty even when shopping for formal attire and wedding dresses. His words were laden with care and compassion, yet they carried an appropriate soberness. We felt Todd’s exhortation was too important to be heard only by the girls of his church, so we asked if we could post his words here. He graciously agreed. Let’s listen in and be challenged by one pastor’s heart and plea to the women of his church:

Ladies, please don’t forget to apply these principles of modesty to formal events and weddings. In recent years, I have become increasingly grieved by the immodest dresses of both brides and bridesmaids at the weddings that I officiate. I have observed a number of young ladies in our fellowship who have dressed modestly all their lives appearing on their wedding day in extremely provocative dresses, exposing more of themselves than on any other day of their lives.

I assume the best about what is going on in the hearts of these young women. I don’t think that they went to the wedding dress shop determined to be provocative. No doubt, they just wanted a dress that would be elegant on this day that they have dreamed of all their lives. When a bride and mother set out on their expedition to find a wedding dress, they are, quite naturally, thinking like… women! Unfortunately, there is no one in the shop who is thinking like a man! I’d like to make a radical proposal, girls. Why not take your father with you to the wedding boutique? If that thought is just too much for you (or your Dad!) at least consider taking the dress out on approval and allowing your dad to see it before you make your final purchase.

Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself when shopping for a wedding or bridesmaid’s dress:

1. Does this dress reflect the fact that a wedding ceremony is a holy service of worship and not a fashion show?

2. Can I picture myself standing in this dress, for an extended period of time, just a few feet from my pastor as he opens the Word of God and leads me in my solemn vows?

Pastor Todd Murray isn’t the only one concerned about immodesty at weddings. I know the pastors of my church share this concern as well.

Having three married daughters, I know the challenges involved in finding modest wedding attire. However, with a lot of time and effort, it can be done! As Todd mentioned, the dad’s role is crucial in this process. CJ helped our girls by providing guidelines for appropriate bridal wear and giving final approval to their choices. Quite simply, the standard of modesty and self-control didn’t change. Here are some criteria CJ gave to the girls:

1. Find a wedding dress with a neckline that completely conceals any cleavage.
2. Avoid dresses without sufficient covering in the back.
3. Strapless gowns or dresses with only spaghetti straps are revealing and thus do not serve the men in attendance at your wedding.
4. A modest gown should not be excessively tight and draw unnecessary attention to your figure.

We hope these specifics assist you in evaluating modest bridal and evening attire. However, please be on guard against the temptation to be self-righteous toward those who choose differently. If you think a bride is dressed immodestly, her wedding day is not the appropriate occasion to comment on her dress! Simply rejoice with her in the goodness of God displayed in her marriage.

And if you are preparing to get married, we hope these thoughts serve you in your effort to plan a ceremony that brings glory to God. May He give you much joy on that special day!

Carolyn Mahaney

True Christianity

True Christianity

1
True Christianity has always taught the inspiration, sufficiency, and supremacy of Holy Scripture. It has told men that "God's written Word" is the only trustworthy rule of faith and practice in religion; that God requires nothing to be believed that is not in this Word; and that nothing is right which contradicts it. It has never allowed reason, or the voice of the Church, to be placed above, or on a level with Scripture. It has steadily maintained that, however imperfectly we may understand it, the Old Book is meant to be the only standard of life and doctrine.

2
True Christianity has always taught fully the sinfulness, guilt and corruption of human nature. It has told men that they are born in sin, deserve God's wrath and condemnation, and are naturally inclined to do evil. It has never allowed that men and women are only weak and pitiable creatures, who can become good when they please, and make their own peace with God. On the contrary, it has steadily declared man's danger and vileness, and his pressing need of a Divine forgiveness and atonement for his sins, a new birth or conversion, and an entire change of heart.

3
True Christianity has always set before men, the Lord Jesus Christ as the chief object of faith and hope in religion -- as the Divine Mediator between God and men, the only source of peace of conscience, and the root of all spiritual life. The main things it has ever insisted on about Christ, are -- the atonement for sin He made by His death, His sacrifice on the cross, the complete redemption from guilt and condemnation by His blood, His victory over the grave by His resurrection, His active life of intercession at God's right hand, and the absolute necessity of simple faith in Him. In short, it has made Christ the Alpha and the Omega in Christian theology.

4
True Christianity has always honored the Person of God the Holy Spirit, and magnified His work. It has never taught that all professing Christians have the grace of the Spirit in their hearts, as a matter of course -- because they are baptized, or because they belong to a Church. It has steadily maintained that the fruits of the Spirit are the only evidence of having the Spirit, and that those fruits must be seen! It has always taught, that we must be born of the Spirit, led by the Spirit, sanctified by the Spirit, and feel the operations of the Spirit -- and that a close walk with God in the path of His commandments, a life of holiness, love, self-denial, purity, and zeal to do good -- are the only satisfactory marks of the Holy Spirit.

Such is true Christianity. Well would it have been for the world, if there had been more of it during the last nineteen centuries! Too often, and in too many parts of Christendom, there has been so little of it -- that Christ's religion has seemed extinct, and has fallen into utter contempt!

This is the Christianity which, in the days of the Apostles, "turned the world upside down!" It was this which emptied the idol temples of their worshipers, rooted out the Greek and Roman philosophers, and obliged even heathen writers to confess that the followers of the "new superstition," as they called it, were people who loved one another, and lived very pure and holy lives!

Let it never be forgotten, that its leading principles are those which are least likely to please the natural man. On the contrary, they are precisely those which are calculated to be unpopular and to give offense. Proud man does not like to be told that he is a weak, guilty sinner -- that he cannot save his own soul, and must trust in the work of another -- that he must be converted and have a new heart -- that he must live a holy, self-denying life, and come out from the world.

Yet, this is the Christianity which is doing well at this day, wherever real good is done. The only religious teaching which can show solid, positive results -- is that which gives prominence to the doctrines which I have endeavored to describe. Wherever they are rightly taught, Christianity can point to fruits which are an unanswerable proof of its Divine origin. There are myriads of professing Christians who have no life or reality in their religion -- and are only nominal members of Christ's Church. Except for going to church on Sundays, they give no evidence of true Christianity. If you mark their daily life -- they seem neither to think, nor feel, nor care for their souls, or God, or eternity. Men and women who crowd churches on Sundays -- and then live worldly selfish lives all the week -- are the best and most efficient allies of the devil.

True faith is not a mere "mental assent" to certain theological propositions -- but a living, burning, active principle -- which works by love, purifies the heart, overcomes the world, and brings forth much fruit of holiness and good works. Let us live as if we really believed every jot and title of Scripture -- and as if a dying, risen, interceding, and coming Christ, were continually before our eyes!

J. C. Ryle

Look at the Birds

Look at the Birds

“Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.” Even though you are receiving this message, Renee and I are actually on a week long get-a-way. We just aren’t getting away from God, the Word, or from writing to you!

We are in Northern Minnesota for a week of alone time together. As I look back over our lives, we have tried seriously hard to live our lives so that we would not look back with regrets. I think both of us feel we have very few. To the contrary, we have made some good choices that we feel God was leading us in, that have turned out to be absolutely right. One of those was, the prioritizing of “alone time” for her and I, and for her and I and the kids.

When we would read about Jesus taking time to get away and be with His Father to seek Him and pray, we knew it was the source of everything that was right in His life. Early in our marriage things were shaky. We were young and immature and created our own problems – learning far too many things the hard way. But occasionally we’d do something that was very right. Making the choice to imitate Jesus and make times to get away and be alone with God and each other was one of those choices. Our lives were always so busy ministering to others, we knew we needed to create pockets of “alone time” with each other and God. When we had children, it became “alone times with each other” and “alone times with the children.”

It wasn’t like we had a lot of money and took big vacations. To the contrary, we would scrape and save and look for bargains in hotels or resorts, and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But, we’d learn to plan away times. We’d simply put them before the Lord in prayer to supernaturally provide and then trust that He would lead us into special get-a-ways that we could some how afford to do.

We’d purpose to make them times where we put God first each day. We’d expand our Bible time to talk, share, laugh, pray, and just appreciate the Lord’s goodness in our lives. From there, we would ask God to bless and direct our steps into great and special fun plans that didn’t cost money but that some how we would see His hand upon.

One time we were standing along the North Shore looking out on Lake Superior. Our car was parked across the street in a little off road parking lot. We had all the kids with us who were young at the time. We loved to go on short hikes they could handle especially looking for waterfalls. As we came back to our car, an elderly gentleman that we had bumped into and met the day before must have spotted us. He put a note on our windshield. He told us exactly where to go for a special hike ending up by waterfalls. We followed his directions and had a spectacular hike. We knew that was a gift from the Lord. We’d see rainbows, a moose, skip rocks – so many wonderful things that made us appreciate God’s splendor. Those quiet times alone with God and each other and with the children strengthened us in our marriage and as a family in ways that would be difficult to describe.

This week we are up by a lake on a get-a-way at a beautiful resort called Sugar Lake Lodge in Grand Rapids, Mn - again the hand of God because it was given to us as a gift. Yesterday morning I was up early and walked down to the lake standing on a dock with a cup of coffee. The air was crisp and cool. The sky was as blue as the sky can get. The lake looked like a mirror. There were two beautiful loons close to me hunting their breakfast. There was an eagle perched on a boat canopy a short distance away. The morning moon was hanging on one side of the sky with the sunrise on the other. The beauty of God’s artistry was overwhelming.

It was at this moment that I again began to sing to Him in praise and then tell Him how thankful I was for all these kinds of moments He provided for Renee and I over the years. Throughout all the years, we just purposed to get away and spend time together and with the Lord to be strengthened in our love for each other. God always made a way for special opportunities to walk them out. As I was standing on that dock, I began to think about “how we could do this again in the future.” You know how men are – always trying to figure out the path ahead. At that moment, I heard that still small voice – like a whisper - as clear as if it were audible - “Just trust me like you always have.” “We have tried to always trust God but we are like anyone else. We’d just like to arrange and do things ourselves in our own strength. Those times never seem as good. What God provides always seems so much better. Why do we fight that? Why do we fight trusting God? It is such a great adventure when we do. He does love us!

As today’s verse says, “Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.”

Pastor Tim Burt
Fresh Manna
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com

God’s Vision for us!

God’s Vision for us!

Genesis 13:14-18
“And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had parted from him, ‘Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.' So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord."

In the next few days, I would like to direct our attention to three aspects of vision. Not the vision that we are able to correct with glasses, but the type that is spiritual in nature. I have mentioned before that in my messages on Sundays, I try to focus on the kids. It serves to remind me of the importance of keeping things simple. That is my calling, my desire, and my prayer.

The three aspects of vision are: God’s vision for us; the death of the vision; and God’s provision of a new vision. Let’s consider the first for today – GOD’S VISION FOR US. In Proverbs 29:18, we are reminded that people perish without a vision. We only have to look around us to see that this is so true. We can pick up a newspaper, listen to the radio or watch the television programming and see that we live in a world without vision. Oh, yes, people can see, but they all too often lack a vision of real purpose.

Let me share two quick illustrations that I will use in all three aspects of vision. The first is given here in Genesis 13, where Abram (later to be called Abraham by God), was given a vision of great promise. God promised him modern day Israel as an eternal possession. It was given by God. The Arabs can protest, but they had better realize that the One who gave the deed to the land was the creator and owner of the universe -- that includes the land of promise.

Not only did God give Abram a vision of the land, He also gave him a vision of heritage. His offspring would be so numerous that they were likened to the dust of the earth. God told him that if people could count the dust, they could count his seed.

Some might be tempted to jump to the conclusion that this speaks only of the Jews. If we look in Galatians 3:29, we will see that all of us who are in Christ Jesus (born again), are Abraham's seed. Just think, God was talking about you and me!

This then, is the vision that was given to Abraham. Can you just imagine the excitement that he must have felt after this vision? This man with no children and no property was given the title deed to a vision of greatness. Wow! His smile must have spread from ear to ear!

Let's leave Abram with his smile, and fast forward more than 400 years, to the time of Moses. In the book of Exodus, we are told of how the people of Abraham's vision were living in slavery. We read of the miraculous way Moses was discovered in the bulrushes of the Nile by Pharaoh's daughter. She took him as her own, even though he was one of the despised Hebrews.

When Moses grew into adulthood, he determined to make things easier for his people. It didn't work, and he was forced to flee for his life. He went to Moab where he stayed for 40 years before he received his "vision." This time it was given from a burning bush in Exodus 3-4.

God gave Moses a wonderful vision. The vision was one of a nation of slaves being set free. No, it was more than being simply set free. They would suddenly find favor in the eyes of the Egyptians who would give them great wealth as they left.

That is a mighty vision! It is a vision without human precedent -- it was and is beyond human understanding. Did I say that? That was not me, so I want to think about it. If there is something that we have never encountered before, or read about before, or heard about before, it is beyond our level of understanding. That is the time to trust God, not doubt!

To sum it up, we have two men who had received great and wonderful promises. The same God had opened their eyes to see what was going to happen in their lifetime. They only had to keep their eyes on the One who had given the vision. Oops! That's where the problem always starts for all of us. We will look at that tomorrow.

Pastor Cecil Thompson

Primer

Primer

Isaiah 40:31
“They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” KJV

One of the most important attributes any Christian can possess is a teachable spirit. A spirit that is in tune with what God is saying in private and through others. The eagle is one of God’s ways of communicating good Christian values to us.

Following is a recap of each Christian value the eagle teaches us.

1. Ancient Raptor --- Satan distorts what God created for good. Isaiah 40:31

2. Watchful --- Be watchful and diligent protecting loved ones. Deut 32:11

3. Vision --- Remain focused no matter what the obstacles. Joel 2:28

4. Manna --- Find fresh Manna, your spiritual life depends on it. Revelation 2:17b

5. Soaring --- Soar over storms and use adversity to your advantage. Acts 2:2

6. Trust --- God trusts us and expects us to pick trusting people. Ezekiel 17:7

7. Preparation --- Father and Mother prepare the future in harmony. Luke 1:17b

8. Training --- Train, remove and release children for Christian life. Proverbs 22:6

9. Shedding --- Shed old habits and ideas that hold us back with God. John 3:7

10. Primer --- A teachable spirit is necessary for God to work in us. Isaiah 40:31

Father, thank you for creating the eagle and giving us the Bible to learn your ways. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

Pastor Bill

Thorns!

Thorns!

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Since September 15, 2000, I have sent out 2088 issues of the daily messages. As the subscriber list has grown, it has expanded from our local area to cover the entire globe. As I pray each day for God’s direction as to what to share, I pray that the words will touch a heart that is need at the time they read it.

Yesterday I wrote about the turmoil I had experienced several years ago. I had no idea that so many of you have had, or are right now, experiencing conflicts. Many of you have responded that you also are dealing with this issue. It is true for people of all ages and in all parts of the world. Please be assured that God is in control of your life!

It occurs to me that it is possible to rush to help when we see our loved ones experiencing some these problems in their life. Some refer to it as taking up another's offense. I feel that it is well and good that we consider this vital concept.

It is a natural reaction to rush to the aid of those of our loved ones and friends who are the targets of false accusations. In some instances we are able to give them comfort and assurance. The problem is that we sometimes fail to pray and seek God's purpose in the matter. God may be allowing these individuals to endure hardship in order to bring about His glory in the midst of their pain. I know that flies in the face of some of those who want every discomfort and pain removed immediately.

I have kept this comment from a dear friend from college days, Roy Croskrey. His words are brief but explode with spiritual impact: "When you cease to bleed, you cease to bless!" Wow! It gives new meaning to the ordeals we encounter in life.

In our Scripture for today, Paul shares that he was given a thorn in the flesh. I have heard some who have tried to guess what that thorn was. If it was important we would have been told. By his not naming the thorn we are better able to relate to the thorn that we may have in our own life. I guess you might say; "The type of thorn does not matter -- any old thorn will do! The important thing is not the thorn but the Christ who uses the thorn.”

This is why it is so essential that we spend much time in prayer, asking God how we should pray. We are too guilty of telling God what to do, instead of listening for His voice. Once Paul learned the secret of the thorn, he could see that the Lord's strength and power was made perfect in his weakness.

We may strive to be perfect and have it all put together, but remember the secret of the thorn. It is in our weakness that the Lord's strength is demonstrated. Paul was so excited about this discovery that he began to delight in his weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties. Why? Because it was then that Christ could be seen more clearly. It is not a call to a persecution complex. It is presenting of our body to the Lord as a living sacrifice: Holy and acceptable unto Him as our normal act of worship.

Pastor Cecil Thompson

Why do we run from the Father?

Why do we run from the Father?

He escaped from the shopping cart like a racehorse bolting out of a starting gate. Running wildly through the dairy aisle, he'd passed the yogurt and cheese before I caught up to him. "Stop!", I yelled frantically as I reached out to grab his shirt. But I missed, he picked up speed, and he rounded the bend near the margarine case to go running off toward the salad bar.

"Wow -- he's fast!" the florist remarked as she watched my 2-year-old son Justin race past.

Tell me about it, I thought. It seems like I'm always chasing him. He ran away from me in just about every public place I took him that had enough space for him to run: stores, parks, restaurants, and even our church (where he was almost "baptized" when he ran into the gate on the side of the baptismal pool, toppled it over, and fell toward the water until I caught him in mid-air by the seat of his pants). He escaped from every way I tried to rein him in: strollers, carts, holding my hand. Why couldn't he just stay close to me? Why couldn't he understand how much better that was for him?

As children of the ultimate Parent -- God -- we run away a lot, too. But God is a Father who cares. No matter how many times we run or how far we go, He's right there chasing us. As Psalm 139:5 and 7-10 declares about God, "I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too -- your reassuring presence, coming and going. Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? To be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there! If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, You'd find me in a minute -- you're already there waiting!" (The Message). Jesus' parables of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son also show God's passionate pursuit of His children. He'll stop at nothing to catch us.

So why do we run away from our heavenly Father? It's not that different from why my son runs away from me:

We think something else seems more exciting. When Justin saw a big truck pull up outside a restaurant, holding my hand seemed boring in comparison. He ran away from me and nearly got out the restaurant's front door, drawn by the allure of the powerful vehicle. Lot of things can attract our attention more than God does: a job, a romantic relationship, a hobby, and even watching TV. We may think we'll be more fulfilled running after these things than we will be spending time with God. But when we devote more time and energy to something else than we do to God, we actually end up less fulfilled than ever.

We're afraid of what He may ask us to do. Justin will sometimes run away from me when he sees me bringing his coat to him. He knows that means I'm about to ask him to leave the house with me to go somewhere. If he doesn't want to stop playing right then, he'll try to flee -- even without knowing where I want him to go. When I chase him and finally get him into the car, he usually ends up having much more fun on our outing than he'd thought he would. It's the same with us and God. We avoid praying about certain people or situations because we fear God may tell us to do something about them that we don't like. We don't serve others in the ways God leads us to, because we're afraid that saying "yes" to God will mess up our lives. We run away in an attempt to control our lives, to set our own agendas. But we miss out on crucial opportunities to grow when we run away from what God wants to ask us. We'll never discover all the great things He has planned for us unless we stay close enough to listen to Him.

We think we'll experience more freedom on our own. Like Justin, we often yell "Out!" when our heavenly Father puts us in a place we don't want to be. I gave into my son's cries to get out of the stroller at a clothing store, only to have him run after his big sister while she was heading for the ladies' dressing room. His few moments of freedom -- spent opening doors that revealed several shrieking women in various stages of undress -- led only to more confinement when I scooped him up and returned him to the stroller. Staying in an uncomfortable situation feels constricting, and we're tempted to think we'll fare better if we take matters into our own hands rather than wait for God's direction. But it's only by trusting God that we'll experience the true freedom that makes a great life possible for us -- a life that isn't limited by our sin.

We don't believe He'll really love us as we are. The guilt Justin felt after throwing his toys -- something I'd just told him not to do -- caused him to run away from me at home. He knew I would reprimand him when I caught him at the end of our hallway. But he may not have expected the hug I gave him along with the reprimand. Too often, we let our guilt and shame over our sins propel us farther away from God. If we would run closer to Him, instead, we would discover His unconditional love and the grace He offers us to grow.

We want others to think we're independent. Nobody really wants to be a "Mama's boy." It seems so much cooler to try to make other people think we can handle everything on our own. That's why Justin ran away from me when I tried to help him climb a piece of playground equipment he was struggling to climb by himself. Other kids were watching, and he didn't want them to see that he needed help. Once they left, however, he returned to me and asked for the help he'd needed in the first place. It's so much better to stop running and admit how much we need God than it is to live in our own strength just to try to impress others. Ultimately, God's opinion is the only one that matters and His power working through us can accomplish far more than we ever could on our own.

After a while, all our running can exhaust us or hurt us. While we may not end up in the emergency room -- like Justin did after smacking his forehead into the side of our bed -- we'll definitely suffer in some way whenever we run from God, simply because we're headed in the wrong direction.

So why not turn around and run the other way -- into the arms of your heavenly Father, who's been chasing you all along? Often, when I catch Justin, he'll give me a big smile and say, "You got me!" No matter how hard he runs away, he actually wants to be caught. He knows that it's lonely and scary to keep running for too long. The next time you're running away from God, stop long enough to ask yourself why. What do you really want? Is anything worth more than your heavenly Father's love?

It can be good to be caught!

Whitney Von Lake Hopler

Calling the Unworthy

Calling the Unworthy

Isaiah 6:8 - Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (NIV)

There's a beautiful song based upon this Bible verse which is called "Here I am, Lord." I love singing it in church. The first time that I heard it was in Scotland when a choir member at the Maybole Church sang it as a solo. Both the words and the tune captivated me, and I consider it to be a high spiritual occasion each time I sing or hear this song.

The lyrics of the song are beautiful, but the Bible verse is even more wonderful. It's all about being chosen by God for a sacred mission. In the midst of his unworthiness, the prophet Isaiah is called by God to go to his people with messages and prophecies from heaven. He is given the responsibility of declaring God's words and thoughts to his own generation. It is an awesome task and whilst Isaiah does not feel worthy, holy, or clean enough to undertake such a sacred task, God purifies and prepares him for the mission.

There are days when I feel so unworthy and unholy to serve the Lord. I remember my background and past sins, which cause me to shudder at times. I often wonder why the Lord has chosen me to do what I do, but then I remember that without His mercy and grace, I could not do anything of what He wants.

Perhaps some of us are experiencing a call to some ministry or mission, program or project for the Lord, but we feel unprepared, unacceptable, and unclean. Let us all take heart, because most of God's leaders in the Bible had a shady past and things that made them ashamed. God does not choose perfect people, because there are none to be found, anywhere. He calls us, not because of who we are, but because of what He can make us become. All we have to do is this: when He calls us to ministry, we each answer, "Here I am."

Lord God, You have a purpose for each of our lives. You call us to be ministers of Your Word and missionaries of Your gospel. Open our hearts and minds to Your calling, and enable to accept Your ways. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart

A Role Model of Faith

A Role Model of Faith

Num. 14:24 NIV “But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”

If you are anything like me, you probably have many characters from the Bible that you admire that have helped you in your faith. I know I do. Each of them have helped me know and understand the Lord as well as help strengthen my relationship and faith with Him in different ways. One of those is Caleb. In today's verse, God said that Caleb had a “different spirit.” He had said that to Moses at a time when He was chastising His people for casting aside their trust and faith in Him. What would become their destiny would not become Caleb's! They would become a people that would never enter into the promise land or experience the manifestation of God's promises in their lives. Why? Because despite how powerfully God would show them and demonstrate His presence and provision in their lives, they would not put faith in Him. They were rejecting His love.

God didn’t chastise Caleb. He praised him! He proclaimed to Moses that Caleb had a “different spirit.” Why did God say that about Caleb? He said it because Caleb is a role model of a believer. Caleb was a BELIEVER. We say you are a believer when you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. You are but that was not to be the end of what a “believer” meant. As “believers,” God desires us to let that belief permeate every fiber of our being so that we would come to a place of pressure, we would absolutely trust God because of having great faith in Him. We all come to places of pressure, but not absolute trust. Why is that? Because people don’t always take the time to get to know God well enough to trust Him. That becomes our dilemma, not God's. He has said to us, “Those that seek me will find Me.” The burden to seek God is upon us. When we do, He is desirous to reveal Himself and His love to those that will seek them with all their heart. Once you really know God you will find out that you have also experienced God. You will have felt and seen His presence manifest in your life in numerous ways. It helps you to really move over to a place of trust and your faith becomes active and powerful - like Caleb’s.

That is what made Caleb different. He wasn’t a complex person. To the contrary, I believe that he was a simple person. Faith in God simplifies things! He heard from God. He saw God work in his life, he had God's promise and he based his entire life upon what God said and promised. He held nothing back. God said they would have this Promised Land. God said Caleb would be one of those that entered into the land of promise that would effect and bless all of his future generations. For Caleb that settled it. He didn't spend a lot of mental anguish wondering, “will God do this or won't he?” Instead he spent all his time believing and preparing himself and those in his sphere of influence that they were going to enter into the promise of God.

How do I know that? In Deut. 1:35 & 36 we hear Moses speaking God's words: "Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your forefathers, except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly."

Caleb is such a wonderful role model to me. He did enter into the land of promise when the rest of his generation (except for Joshua) did not. He did so because of his faith and trust in God. To generate good feelings and praise toward God is a good thing. It honors Him and it makes us feel good in praising Him. But I don’t think there is anything more honoring to God than trusting and believing in His love and promises to us – whether in times of pressure or not! Our tenacious faith and trust is the Caleb kind of evidence that love Him. It honors God! May you have a “different spirit” like Caleb!

Pastor Tim Burt
Fresh Manna
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com

Christianity and Fun

Christianity and Fun

A great misconception today is that being a Christian is no fun at all. Many people don’t want to get involved with religion especially while they’re still at their prime because they want to experience everything. Obviously, the world has a different concept of fun compared to Christians.

But will it ever be possible for Christianity and fun to go together?





DIFFERENT KINDS OF FUN FOR DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE

From the categories below, choose one that best describes you (add a category if the need arises):

• "Kikays" / Fashionistas
• “Sporty” / Athletes
• “Brainy” / Intellectuals
• “Artsy” / Artistic
• “Goody-goody” / Nice

According to the category you belong to, complete either of the following equations:

FUN = _______________

_______________ + _______________ = FUN

Below are some examples of activities that young people enjoy nowadays. Think and find what makes it good or bad:
PARTIES / FASHION / MUSIC / CONCERTS / BANDS / ARTISTS / MOVIES / BOOKS / FELLOWSHIP / REUNIONS / GET-TOGETHERS

Answer these questions to yourself:

• What constitutes “fun” for you today?
• Define a “fun activity” for you.
• How do you have fun?
• Do you have a different set of “fun activities” with your Christian and non-Christian friends?

Romans 12: 1-2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brother, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

• Christians should segregate themselves from ungodly pleasures.
• God created us for His glory. We were created to worship Him and to glorify Him. But that doesn’t mean that we’re robots who can’t enjoy life.
• We have fun being Christians because we’re doing what we were made to do – LOVE GOD.
• When you think about it, our fun (as Christians) is the great kind of fun, because it is the “God-approved” kind.

How do we have fun as Christians??? (Take time to answer)

The fun does not stop there. It’s not fun when our loved ones will spend eternity separated from God. It’s not fun when we become selfish of God’s love and keep the Good News to ourselves.

The saying “The more the merrier” is also true with Christianity. The more people we lead to Christ, the more we have fun – we feel fulfilled, we are one with the angels in rejoicing for that single soul who is restored to God. It is fun when:

• We spend time alone with God.
• We spend time together worshiping God.
• We help lead others to Christ.
• We help those who need our help.

Christianity is not about rules and “thou shalt nots.” Christianity is about a loving relationship with God. It is about choosing not to do something that will not please God, out of love for Him. So it’s actually very cool being a Christian.

We get to enjoy God’s presence in our lives. We have this ever-present joy in our hearts just knowing that we have Jesus living in us. Sadly, many young people nowadays don’t equate fun with Christianity. They cast stereotypes to Christians – boring, “holier than thou”, goody-goody – implying that once you’re a Christian, you’re doomed to have a boring, if not non-existent, social life. But isn’t that just the opposite? Because God created everything for His glory – so living a life that is glorifying to God is what we’re really here for.

Zarah Lim

Webprint: Monic

kAdhalikkalAmA? [May I “love”?]

kAdhalikkalAmA? [May I “love”?]

Note: The word “love” here doesn’t mean either Godly love or parental love or friendly love or brotherly love or any love of this kind. I hope you understand what I mean.

Q: Can a person who has received Jesus Christ love? Is it not possible to break the caste issues through love marriages? The practice of divorce can even be demolished!

A: Well. A Tamil writer said, “In olden times people behaved as if there is no love; but today people do things as if there is nothing other than love.” Another man said, “Before it is love at the first sight; but today it is love every sight.” “One who has fallen in love keeps a thorn right in his rib-side”, said a scholar.

Whatever may be, it is wise to be miles away from matters like “love”. You may ask why? Here are some reasons:

1
Most of the love-s do not end up in marriage. Even cases ended in marriage undergo often bombardments and collisions. It is thinkable that even England’s royal family suffer because of this issue.

2
The minds of those who are in love are always occupied by several thoughts. So they themselves find it difficult to focus on their studies or profession or spiritual duties. Is it not an indirect idol worship to replace Jesus (who is with you right from your mother’s womb) with some one else (who came just yesterday) in your mind? Rom. 8:5 says, “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”

3
Love will make you to play as an actor / actress who is never real. Do you think that you can remain worthy to receive God’s blessings by cheating your elders with lame reasons, pouring out lies generously to your parents, and living as a hypocrite just to cover your “love”? Rom. 12:1 says, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Also David says in Ps. 39:6, “Every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain.” So don’t run after it; but run away from it. It is better to enter heaven alone than to live with your boyfriend / girlfriend / lover in eternal fire.

4
If a person who has received Jesus Christ “love”, he will surely bring ill-name to his witness. Exchange of letters, secret meets, wrong looks, unwanted smiles will cause you a bad name. The Bible says God should be glorified in each and every deeds of a believer. Cross check whether your deeds bring glory to His name or whether they grieve Him. Such issues like “love” is not just a hindrance for you to glorify Him but also brings His name in vain, accordingly you are acting against the third commandment.

Rom. 2:24
The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.
Rom. 14:16
Do not let your good be spoken of as evil.
1 Cor. 6:20
You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Cor. 10:31
Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

5
According to the Indian constitution, the age criterion for marriage is 18 for girls and 21 for boys. So “love” in the age of schooling should be a crime. A teenager falling in “love” is more similar to a blind unknowing the path falling in a deep pit. Also it is similar to an elephant sprinkling dust on its own head. Think! Prov. 22:3 says, “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself.”

6
Marriage is not just related to a man and a woman; but God is also involved with it. This fact should be clearly understood. That too, in the life of a believer God’s plans are manifested through marriage. But many fall into love or they forget God’s will for their life and are inclined to their desires / plans and other factors like beauty, emotions, situations, short cut, and other expectations like dowry, family status, education and so on.

Don’t be in a hurry and miss the greater blessings and plans that God has for your life. Remember God is more concerned about your future than you. Don’t forget it!

7
The world is getting worse more and more because of two reasons: love and violence. But you are selected by Jesus for a special purpose and you are given an important calling. The gist of today’s cinemas and stories are just “love” and “violence”. Let these not be in the center of your life. The extent you are displeased with violence, so be displeased with “love”. Perhaps if you are caught in such traps, abandon such relationships making no compromise. Commit yourself whole unto the Lord and start living a new, holy, joyful life with Him alone. Acts 2:40 says, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”

8
Teenage is an age which longs for the real love. In this age if someone corrects their mistakes, they begin to hate them. If somebody exalts the teenagers, they will become madly close with those who exalts. So in this age, most of the innocent girls fall into the trap of young boys and go astray.

The Bible speaks in Gen. 34:1-26 about a girl called Dinah who went astray because of disobedience.

It is not those who correct us are bad people or those who exalt us are good. It is better to be aware. The prudent considers well his steps. (Prov. 14:15)

9
A man said, “’Love’ is a satanic trap to defeat a believer”. Fell in a look, blossomed in smiles, exchanged memorable gifts, communicated through letters and through Hi-Fi techniques, then get into wrong relationships, losing their identity, if failed -- suicides, sorrowed face, unshaved cheek, untrimmed beard -- many times, spiritual backslide, shame in family, pain for parents – are these really necessary?

Our God is not a God encouraging problems; but a God of peace. 1 Cor. 14:33 says, “God is not the author of confusion but of peace.”

10
I have heard people saying, “Through ‘love’ it is possible to root out dowry system and caste differences, and have better understanding with each other.” This is more analogous to a person who wants to rescue himself from the water, to be consumed in fire. Solomon says, “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears.” Prov. 26:17

For believers, falling in love is similar to plucking the ears of the dog. If bitten, the scar would remain the entire remaining life.


Are you asking whether you can love? Don’t you want to be in peace???

Make known God the weakness of your heart. HE will help you to be out of such tragedies.

1 John 5:18 says, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”

Source: A book, “vAlibaththin kELvigaL” written by Evg. J.J. Gurusingh

Thanks Judith Sharon for your valuable help.
Translation, Compilation & Web print: Me
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One day (12th standard I guess) when I was traveling in bus, I happened to meet one of my elder brothers named Mohan (not my own, but from Church). He was working as an LIC agent. He started the chat inquiring about my spiritual life. We had a good talk and finally he explained the cunning plots of the devil.

He plainly asked me, “Will you steal?” I said, “No”.

Then, he asked, “Will you murder?” I just laughed, “How will I do that anna?”

He further continued to ask such future tense questions relating to most of the commandments and laws, and I was giving a positive answer as you would also hopefully give.

Then he shot another question, “If you see a cute girl, would you like to love her?” I was shocked with that unexpected question and I couldn’t give an immediate answer. There he got into me. He continued explaining. This is how the devil enters into most of the Christian youth, even more committed youth.

He said, “As Christians you would pass all the tests such as stealing, murdering, adultery etc. First the devil tests with all the above listed tests. Once you fail him in all these, finally he brings the test called ‘love’. If you win this test, he will keep on tempting with such stuff. But once if you fail this test, you would voluntarily invite all the previous tests / sins and will be ensnared by him”.

This made me to think and helped me to run away when I was tempted. But I should admit that I was tempted. But by His love and grace, I was able to resist myself from the temptation, and run away from it.

Yes brothers and sisters, guard yourselves. Be holy and pure in His sight.

The pleasures of this world are momentary. We would be missing the great blessing promised for us if we go behind this world and its customs.

May God be with us!

Monic