Turn or Burn

Turn or Burn

"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare unto you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." I John 1:5-7

I have a great fear that we have given people the wrong message concerning salvation. We have propounded the idea that you are able to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and go on living a godless lifestyle. That is totally wrong. I find none of that thinking in Scripture. In fact it is just the opposite. This passage is just one of many that indicate our walk must match our talk.

Jesus consistently told those who had been set free from sin and disease to turn away from it and begin to walk a different walk. Now if Jesus said that to people in His day, it still applies today. It seems that somewhere along the line, we have adopted the notion that we can live like the devil and still be a child of the King. BEEP! WRONG!!

It is inventory time. We need to answer a set of questions that may well determine our eternal destiny. That means we cannot take them lightly. Ready?

1. Can you recall when you prayed to ask the Lord to forgive your sins and come into your life?

2. Were you sincere in praying that prayer?

3. Do you have the assurance that Christ is your Savior and Lord at this very moment?

4. In what manner has your way of life changed since you received Christ into your life? Have you turned away from the sins of your past?

5. Are you disciplining yourself daily to read God's Word?

6. Do you have a meaningful prayer time each day? (Not just before meals or "Now I lay me down to sleep")

7. Do other people know you are a Christian by your spiritual walk with the Lord?

8. When you sin, does your conscience convict you and lead you to confess the sin?

9. If you were to appear before God right now, would He be pleased with the way you are living?

These are just a few questions that will hopefully reveal what your walk is like. It may be a wakeup call to reestablish your relationship with God. It is so easy to get caught up with the things of the world and ignore the Lord who has promised us eternal life. We never know when something very sudden and unexpected could end our life on this earth. The few questions above will be nothing compared to the questions we will give about every deed done in the flesh. Are you ready? I urge you to do it now while there is still time.

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

Now I See

Now I See

I was blind but now I see! John 9:25

Due to complications of an illness, without warning I'd been struck blind. As I lay awake in the lonely darkness, I prayed harder than I'd ever prayed before. I was living a nightmare. I felt alone and afraid.

The searing pain stabbed at my eyes as if fire were consuming them. But it wasn't pain that caused my sleeplessness. It was the terrifying darkness and the agonizing over the "what if's."

What if I would never regain my sight? What if I would never enjoy reading a book, driving my car, watching a sunset, or gazing into the eyes of my beautiful grandbaby?

During the long, sleepless nights, I cried in despair, questioning God.

Because of the torturous pain, I'd become very protective of my eyes and skittish about anything coming near them. I trembled with fear at the thought of the doctor examining them; so when the surgeon announced that he must cut my cornea, lift it, and clean under it, my reaction was, "I'd rather have my legs amputated!"

Christians in my church, across the country, and even around the globe were praying for me. I too prayed fervently. I begged God, not only for healing of my eyes, but for strength to endure whatever happened. I learned that courage truly is fear that has said its prayers.

While lying awake each night, I listened to an all-night radio station play gentle music as a man read soothing Bible passages.

The Scriptures and serene music comforted and calmed me. Like a fountain of fresh water, God's Word rinsed away my anxieties, replacing them with peace. I remembered the words of Jesus: "My peace I give to you . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27) At last, I was able to give up fear and say, "Do whatever you want, God."

I determined to believe in His goodness and love, no matter what happened. I knew He wouldn't forsake me and He wanted only what was best, so why should I fear? If He chose not to restore my sight, I would trust that He had a reason. No matter what, with His help, I could go on with my life and use it for Him.

The surgery went well; in time my eyes healed and the darkness became brighter. It was a long road to recovery, but I defied all odds. Eventually, my doctor confided that he hadn't believed I would ever see again. "Your healing is a miracle," he said; but I already knew that.

Actually, God gave me two miracles. He restored my sight when it was hopeless. And, like a plant bursting forth from a dead seed, hope and trust had blossomed from my fear. Perhaps that was an even greater miracle.

Marsha Jordan

Something is missing

Something is missing

You walk into a church and most people don't have a bible and there are no bibles in the pews. You listen to preachers speak and there is little, if any Scripture taught.

You ask pastors and parishioners alike and more often than not they have never read the Scriptures through even once from cover to cover. I'm not just speaking of new Christians who haven't had the opportunity, I mean lifers, people who have been in church their entire life.

There is something very seriously wrong with that picture. Most of us, myself included could use at least a little more time in the scriptures on a daily basis. For the majority of people it will be a brand new experience. For some it will be a daily tune up.

The lack of biblical teaching in congregational settings is even more serious. Our reading of the Scriptures goes back into Jewish history. At the meetings in synagogues the Law and the Prophets were read in depth and with reverence.

The early Christian church continued the practice and added what would come to be called the "New Testament" as it became available. Reading God's word was a central focus of gathering together and worshipping. The singing of the Psalms was also encouraged.

Since many in the days of the early church had no access to a private copy of the Scripture, the meeting was the only place they could hear them. Ironically now that the scriptures are readily available to most people, we neither read them at home nor in our meetings.

There is something powerful about hearing the Scriptures proclaimed out loud. That is even truer when we can follow along in our own Bibles.

We're called to the public reading of the Scriptures.

1 Timothy 4:13 NIV
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

We're called to the Psalms.

Ephesians 5:18-20 NIV
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:16 NIV
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Those verses don't mean we only do the Psalms. They do make a point though that the Scriptures should be part of our worship time together.

We can't afford the luxury though of waiting to hear the whole Bible in church. There are sixty-six books in the Bible (more if you are of the Roman Catholic or Orthodox faiths). That means if the preacher read an entire book of the Bible every Sunday it would take more than a year to read the Scriptures through. Not too many congregations would sit through a reading of Jeremiah, or the Psalms in a single setting. Some congregations would have a hard time sitting through 3 John at a go.

By one count there are 1189 chapters in the Bible. That means it would take almost 23 years of Sundays if the preacher did a chapter a week. Exposition of a chapter a week is a long sermon and perhaps not realistic, but if we assumed that a preacher could do it, how many of us can claim to have attended the same church for 23 years and never missed a Sunday? I'm certain there are some but only a relative few.

So what if the preacher read a verse a week? That sounds more manageable. The count I mentioned earlier says there are 31,103 verses in the Bible. That would be 598 years if a single verse was done every week. None of us will live that long.

To get to know God's Word more fully, we need to read and preach it more from the pulpit, but we also need to take ownership and begin to read it ourselves. There are many Bible reading plans that will easily take you from cover to cover in the Scriptures in about 15 minutes a day for a year. That means if the preacher did a chapter a week and you did your daily reading you would have read/heard the Scriptures 24 times in the time it takes to rush through them once from the pulpit. How much better would you know your Bible if that were the case?

It doesn't take much to read your Bible. It is God's special revelation to you. It was written in three languages over 1500 years by 40 people inspired by God. It has been preserved by the blood of countless martyrs. Don't you think you should devote a little time to it yourself?

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed,
Pastor Kevin Corbin

The Gift of Beauty

The Gift of Beauty

Have you ever heard this one? Pretty is as pretty does, or beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes to the bone? Well, we all have, and it used to make me want to scream! When you are a young girl, and all the world is judging you by the way you look, you tend to hide a bit from the scrutiny.

I thought that was grossly unfair, for all this talk of beauty within, I just wanted it without.

Looking in the mirror, I would judge every flaw and try to cover all the imperfections. The day I found makeup, was a pivotal day for me.

And so became my obsession with the canvas of my face. I did have an artistic bent, and this was my way of expressing myself. On to the day with Cover Girl! The irony of that name fully noticed by me.

Never would I leave the house without my "face" on. I envied Jane Jetson for her space age, go through the machine, daily routine. So quickly was she ready to make an appearance. I would agonize for an hour or so. Checking mirrors and downtown plate glass windows, to make sure I was presentable. Nothing out of place to make me stand out and reap a rejection. What was going on in my head that made me so acutely aware of me? Conscious of myself, self consciousness, shyness. All terms that speak of the outward residing so completely on the inside. How many years did it take for you to be comfortable in your own skin? The freedom I imagined it to bring was heady.

In my 20's I met an older woman who became a "mother" to me. She was such a beauty! Even with all the lines of life and the crinkles around her eyes. I loved that dear woman. She had this youthful giggle and always a smile playing at the edge of her lips. She had lived and suffered and loved and now became my mentor. When I confided my obsession with having to look perfect all the time, including the hating of my picture taken, or a glance of my reflection, which always made me think, is that really me? She responded with this.

"Sandy, when you look in the mirror, from now on, I want you to say out loud to yourself, 'Thank you God, for the gift of beauty'".

Oooookay I said, thinking to myself, where did she come up with this stuff? But, wonder of wonders I listened to her. She always gave such good advice, and she had a good track record with me, so why not? Even though I felt so foolish talking to myself in the mirror!

Over the course of time, a transformation occurred. It was so slight, it was not noticed till the work was done. One day while getting ready, I just looked at myself and thought, you know, I accept you! I cannot pick you apart anymore! My skin became my home, not just a house. It was the nicest feeling I have ever had. To be comfortable with me.

A wonderful freedom came to me that day, one I have had to keep up with, since I am a "home" owner now. The within became the without and it was good! As I became less aware of my imperfections, less conscious of myself, I became more fully me. Now those phrases I always heard and hated became the truth. I believe I was lit from within during this transformation time. People even came up to me and said, "There's something different about you". Now there was the proof of the pudding!

I like the me I am now, granted, I have my days. But I accept who God made me to be. In loving myself, I can truly and openly love others in my life better. This was no selfish act, it was the most loving thing I could do. God doesn't make junk.

Thank you "mom" for helping me to look like my Father!

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12, 13

Sandy Cates

Will it make a Difference? Nairobi Here I come!

Will it make a Difference? Nairobi Here I come!

1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Does a simple smile really impact someone who is feeling down? Does it really make a difference when you encourage someone who is depressed?

While in the air en route to Kenya, some of the mission team members began to wonder if spending big bucks for plane tickets to go and build a kitchen and a cistern for a desperate orphanage was really the right way to spend their money. Wouldn't it have been better spent by hiring local contractors to do the building? Would flying all this way really make a difference?

But once they met the local people of Nairobi, all of these doubts were erased. They were greeted with cheers and hugs. They were considered heroes of the faith!

The local people of Nairobi were astonished at how hard every member of the mission team worked. Most of what they know about North Americans comes from movies, and these don't always depict a very nice picture!

Most of the locals believed that North Americans are spoiled brats with lots of stress who work very little for lots of money. Though some of this may be quite true, the mission team revealed to them not only that they were not afraid of work, but also that they cared enough for the people in Kenya to take time off their busy schedule and fly half-way around the world to be with them. As a result, the team established many life-long friendships.

The people in the streets of Nairobi were also delighted to talk with members of the team. They seemed eager to share what they were going through, and they demanded to have their picture taken.

To all these people, that expensive trip to Kenya sure made a difference!

There was one person that the team met who was touched more than anyone by their visit. He was from the slums of Nairobi, and he had always dreamed of leaving the slums to earn an education. He had worked hard and had made it to his final year of university, but then the money ran out. It seemed that there was no way he could finish school. He was desperate, and he confided in the Lord. While in prayer, he received a phone call announcing that he had been chosen by our local church for a special scholarship, one that would permit him to finish his final year of university.

When this young man realized that the mission team had been sent from this same church, he became so emotional that he had to leave the room for several minutes. "It can't be!" He repeated over and over again. "You are really here! You really do care! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

This young man is now working on his Masters degree, and he is currently working as an associate pastor for a large church in the Nairobi slums. His personal goal in life? To bring hope into the lives of those in the slums.

We may not always realize it, but the tiniest action on our part can have huge repercussions in the lives of the people around us. We WILL impact those we interact with, either for the good, or for evil. We can either be a blessing or a curse. It's our choice!

"Should I fly to Iraq or would it be better that I just send them money?"

That my friend is for you to decide.

Rob Chaffart

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

[A message every adult should read, because children are watching and doing as you do, not as you say.]

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favourite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

I AM SENDING THIS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS AND THINK NO ONE EVER SEES.

LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT!

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend) influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?

Just by sending this to someone else, you will probably make them at least think about their influence on others.

'Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles.'

A former child,
Helen Keller

[Shared by Bro. Dinesh Pandian]

The Seeds

The Seeds

A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.

Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story.

She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said The CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!" All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives,

"Behold your next Chief Executive!

His name is Jim!"

Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO the others said?

Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today.

But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.

When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.

If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment.

If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective.

If you plant hard work, you will reap success.

If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.

If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest.

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

[Shared by Bro. Dinesh Pandian]

A Belief That Saves

A Belief That Saves

The Bible says that not all who do great things for God will enter Heaven, but "only he who does the will of My Father" (Matthew 7:21). The Father's will is "that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life" (John 6:40). We are given the gift of eternal life because of our belief in Jesus, not because of ANYTHING we do; "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).

Salvation can never be earned, it is a gift to those who believe. However, we must understand what it means to believe and what changes will occur when we believe. "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder" (James 2:19). A saving belief is much more than just acknowledging God's existence or even the existence of His Son - even the demons believe this!

Belief in Jesus in never simply an intellectual understanding. Belief implies a humble surrender. We will never "look to the Son" unless we first recognize our eternally lost condition due to sin; and we will never truly "believe in Him" for salvation until we accept our complete inability to save ourselves. A drowning man will never reach up for help until he first understands and accepts his need to be rescued.

To be rescued, we must believe so completely that we abandon all other "rescuers" and cling to the only One who can truly save; "any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33). Giving up everything cannot save us, but true belief gives up all other sources of hope. It also reveals the trivial nature of our worldly attachments and creates an understanding that everything belongs to Him. We see our life as lived for Him and desire to do ALL for His glory.

James 2:14, 17
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ... In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Belief must produce a change in our life or we know it is not a true belief - it is nothing more than dead intellectual understanding! At the moment we truly believe, we are "marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13), and we become "a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Belief creates change through the work of the Holy Spirit!!

If we lack the evidence of a changed life, we must not focus on creating the change. This type of change becomes self-righteous "filthy rags." Rather, we must return to the cross and place ALL our trust in Jesus, believing He has paid the penalty for our sin and has granted us passage through the narrow gate to eternal life. As we completely turn over control to our Heavenly Father, fruit and good deeds will abound. Our life will be forever changed, but only when we begin with a belief that saves.

Steve Troxel

The Music That's Always There

The Music That's Always There

We were in our seats waiting for the curtain to open on this great, family-oriented stage show. I knew it must be show time, the lights went down, and unobtrusively the live band quietly filed into the orchestra pit. Most people were focused on the stage, but I was fascinated by something I saw going on with the band. One woman in the band had the arm of a fellow band member in her arm. She was obviously leading him to his position at the keyboard. I realized with amazement that the keyboardist was blind. He put on his big headphones and, as the curtain opened, he started playing with all his heart. It was awesome.

I tell you, it was really inspiring. That musician cannot see, but he can still hear the music! He can still play the music! I hope you can, too, no matter what limitations you're facing right now.

Look at the model Paul and Silas gave us in our word for today from the Word of God in Acts 16, beginning with verse 25. The preceding verses tell us that these two missionaries have been attacked by a crowd, and they were incited by false accusers. The Bible uses these words to describe what Paul and Silas had to go through: they were "stripped," "beaten," "severely flogged," and "thrown into prison." Then the Bible says they were put "in the inner cell" and their feet were "fastened in the stocks."

That's enough to beat the song out of anybody. But according to our word for today, "about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and other prisoners were listening to them." The Bible goes on to report that when an earthquake shook that prison, the jailer himself came running to Paul and Silas for help. He and his whole family came to Christ that night!

There's something very compelling about someone who refuses to be taken down by the worst of circumstances, who can still hear God's "music," who can still play God's "music" no matter what. Now, that "music" is a positive attitude; that quality of "un-sinkability" the Bible calls joy. The "music" is conversation that keeps finding things to thank and praise God for instead of things to complain about.

Maybe you're in a season right now when you've been sidelined. You feel set aside, held back or restricted. You're in a situation or maybe you have a condition that's making you very aware that you are really limited. Not all prisons have physical walls. It's easy to get frustrated, self-pitying, negative or bitter. But you can choose, as Paul did, to continue instead to enjoy your Lord; to still make His music for others. In fact, people will listen to what you have to say about Jesus because of what you're going through.

Centuries ago, the poet Richard Lovelace wisely observed, "Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage." He went on to say, "If I have freedom in my love, and in my soul am free, angels alone, that soar above, enjoy such liberty." Your soul can be free, no matter how imprisoned the rest of you may be.

Paul later said, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8). Yes, he had a lot to handle, but that didn't stop him from hearing God's music - from playing God's music. No matter how blinding, how deafening, how paralyzing your situation, the music of God is always there for those who choose to hear it.

Ron Hutchcraft

Be Ye Holy

Be Ye Holy

"But as he which called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16

It's amazing how the world's standards change over a period of time. Our moral standards erode with the attitudes and pressure forced upon us by man, who has no regard for what is right or wrong, but is governed by pride, greed, power, position, influence, and money. Today we are constantly being challenged by the liberal influences to radically change our values in morals, family, priorities, pleasure, and most every phase of life, as we know it. Many commonly accepted national, community, and family standards are changing or being disregarded. It seems the question is no longer, "Is it right?" but "Is it legal?" or "Can I do it without getting caught or placing myself in jeopardy?" All of these breaks down to one question: What is our point of reference? In other words, what is the basis for determining right or wrong?

Do we as individuals determine what is right or wrong? We hear people say, "What may be right or wrong for you may not be true for me." Does right or wrong depend upon people or circumstances, our background or our culture? Basically, what is challenging us in these issues comes from man's rejection of God and His Word, and results from bending the "standards" to conform to a liberal, excessive, immoral lifestyle. The basis of this thinking is, "There are no moral absolutes. There are no right or wrong standards that should govern our lives." We see this on every hand today, which is basically why we are seeing such a horrible breakdown in every moral issue in individuals, families, and our nation.

Look at the warning given in Isaiah 5:20: "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." Let me ask you, do you see any of this happening today? Yes, everywhere! So, what is the challenge to every Christian who holds the Scriptures sacred and seeks to make God's Word the standard by which they live? It is to establish in our lives the stable, unwavering foundation upon which all truth stands. His truth should govern and rule our lives, regardless of people or circumstances. HIS TRUTH NEVER CHANGES. IT IS THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER! Our faith either stands or falls from the foundation upon which we have placed it.

Moral behavior is not relative, situational, or confined to a period of time in human history. People may reject God's moral standards, but that does not change them! The world today refuses to accept the fact that GOD is the ONE who has a binding authority on their lives! People think it is ridiculous that God's Word contains absolute standards for human behavior. But the day is coming when those who reject and refuse the truth will suffer inevitable consequences. Why is man so obstinate and self-possessed? Satan has blinded his eyes to the truth. He is determined not to yield the control of his life unto God. Paul says of these people, "Thinking themselves to be wise, they have become fools." "There is a way that seems right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Joshua said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Ed Powell

[Shared by Bro. Dinesh Pandian]

I Have Sinned Against the Lord

I Have Sinned Against the Lord

"And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, the LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shall not die." 2 Samuel 12:13

One of the astounding demonstrations of the "truth of the Bible" is its unhesitating revelation and denunciation of sin in the lives of God's chosen servants. It conceals nothing. On the contrary, it pulls aside the veil and exposes sin in all its shame and guilt. It condones nothing. Instead, it utters the terrible wrath of God against the guilty one. The Bible is God's standard of truth and does not vary.

Throughout God's Word, the light of truth flashes upon the lives of many of God's servants and reveals the faults, the follies, the sins, and the inexcusable evil that befell them. You might say, "Why did God reveal the sinful failures of these men through whom He did such mighty things?" I think God wants to indelibly inscribe upon our hearts that the sinful nature that dwells in all of us is capable of bringing us down, just as it did these mighty men. His admonition to us is, "Take heed, lest ye also fall."

Look at the progressive steps in David's fearful fall. First, He exercised "fleshly ease" and slothfulness. Instead of leading his men into battle, he remained in Jerusalem. Second, he was drawn away by his lusts and was enticed by the sight of a beautiful woman, Bathsheba. Third, "When lust had conceived, it brought forth sin"...it was premeditated adultery. Fourth, "Sin, when it is finished, brought forth death"...the murder of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah. Yielding to our sinful nature, being enticed by our lust, and opening our lives to Satan's insidious invasion, is always a disastrous path!

God had a way to reach the heart of David. He unfolded a parable through the prophet Nathan. After hearing the parable, David was greatly angered against the rich man in the parable, who took such selfish advantage of the poor man. And Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man."

Notice the immediate conviction brought upon David. Known as the "Sweet Singer of Israel," who had enjoyed long and close communion with God, he still had the sinful flesh within. Because he failed to overcome his lust, he flung away the joys of divine fellowship, ruined his soul's prosperity, and brought down upon himself a storm of calamities that forever reminded him of his fearful fall. What an awful price sin demands!

How easy it is for us to criticize and condemn those who fall prey to the enemy of our souls, not realizing that the "same awful woes of the inner man" lurk to bring us down, just as they do in those whom we condemn. We are quick to point our finger at David for his sin, as awful as it was. But how many of us find ourselves broken before God, repenting with contrition of heart as David?

Nathan said immediately after David's confession, "The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shall not die." David's confession and repentance were genuine and sincere, and his forgiveness was immediate, but the scars of his fall left their marks upon him for the rest of his life! Many of us bear the scars of sin from our past, but how blessed it is now to bear the fruit of the Spirit that has been made possible by His redeeming grace through Jesus Christ our Lord! Fallen but forgiven by His matchless grace and loving heart!

Ed Powell

The True Sabbath Rest

The True Sabbath Rest

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work (Genesis 2:2).

We must recognize that the weekly Sabbath is not the real Sabbath. It is a picture or a reminder of the real Sabbath. The true Sabbath is a rest; the Jewish Sabbath is a shadow, a picture of that rest. All the Old Testament shadows pointed to Christ. When the work of Jesus Christ was finished, the shadows were no longer needed.

Some years ago when I was serving in the military in Hawaii, I found myself engaged to a lovely girl who lived in Montana and whom I hadn't seen for three or four years. We were writing back and forth in those lonely days, and she sent me her picture. It was all I had to remind me of her, and it served moderately well for that purpose. But one wonderful day she arrived in Hawaii, and I saw her face to face. When the real thing came, there was no longer any need for the picture.

This is what happened with these Old Testament shadows, including the Sabbath. When the Lord came and His work was ended, the picture was no longer needed. The weekly Sabbath ended at the cross. In the letter to the Colossians, Paul confirms it to us. He says, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ" (Colossians 2:16-17).

The shadow-Sabbath ended at the cross. The next day was the day of resurrection, the day when the Lord Jesus came from the tomb. That was the beginning of a new day -- the Lord's Day. Christians immediately began to observe the Lord's Day on the first day of the week. They ceased observing the Sabbath because it was ended by the fulfillment of its reality in the cross, and they began to observe the first day of the week.

Though this shadow-Sabbath ended at the cross, the true Sabbath, the rest of God, continues today. That Sabbath is defined for us in Hebrews 4, "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God [it is available to us now]; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:9-10)

That is what the true Sabbath is: to cease from your own efforts and your own works. "Well," you say, "if I did that I would be nothing but a blob." But the implication is that you cease from your own efforts and depend on the work of Another. This is why Paul cries, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). This was also the secret of the life of Jesus, as we have seen. He Himself said, "It is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work" (John 14:10). This is the secret of the Christian who learns "it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2:13). So the secret of true Christian life is to cease from dependence on one's own activity and to rest in dependence upon the activity of another who dwells within. That is fulfilling the Sabbath.

Lord, teach me to enter into Your true Sabbath rest by ceasing my efforts to please You and serve You in my own strength.

Ray Stedman

Why Bother?

Why Bother?

I got up and started to make the bed. I looked at the sheets and blankets and thought "Why bother? I'm just going to get into it later anyway." Then I remembered how much better it feels to crawl into a freshly made bed than one that is all dishevelled and unmade. It's worth the bother.

I looked at mount laundry (my pet name for our laundry basket) and thought of the unending cycle of taking clothes to the laundry room, sorting them, washing them, drying them, folding them and taking them back upstairs. I thought, "Why bother? They are just going to get dirty again anyway." Then I remembered the times of having to reuse a towel too often or wearing a sweaty shirt for the third day. It's worth the bother.

I told Kathy that I love her. For a moment beforehand I thought "Why bother? She already knows." Of course she knows but it's still nice to hear the words from someone who loves you.

There are lots of things in life that we could ask, "Why bother?" about. There is usually an excellent reason to be bothered with them.

I walked around with unconfessed sin in my heart and thought "Why bother to take it to God? I'm just going to have to go to Him again later with more sins." Then I remembered how close to Him I felt when I had a clean heart and the marvellous sense of freedom that it brought.

That close relationship with God is a rare and precious commodity. It has value beyond measure and relatively few people ever find it.

Most statistics I have seen show that perhaps 1 in 10 people are true "born again" Christians. Many of that small number are strained in their relationship with God for various reasons. If we're very generous and assume that 1 in 2 born again Christians (and I suspect the real number is probably closer to 1 in 10) is walking closely with God that bring us down to only one out of every twenty people knows that freedom.

The relationship with Jesus is the most valuable thing there is. Jesus understood that and communicated it through some of His parables.

Matthew 13:44-46 NIV
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

Why bother to open your heart to Christ? The freedom is worth it.

Why bother loving others? Jesus told us that is how the world would know we belong to Him.

Why bother to share the gospel when it seems like people don't want to hear? Jesus is worthy of our efforts.

Why bother to make disciples? Jesus told us to.

Until next time, take the opportunity to "bother" and be blessed for your efforts.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed,
Kevin Corbin

Faith vs Sincerity

Faith vs Sincerity

"Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth this man stands here before you whole. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:10, 12 (NKJV)

One of my favorite illustrations about "misguided faith" comes from an advertising piece put out by a business firm. On it was glued a small seed with the claim that if you have as much faith in our business as you do in this mustard seed, you will be guaranteed great results.

Some months later a customer wrote back to the company saying, "You will be interested to know that I planted your mustard seed and it is now grown into a healthy plant bearing great tomatoes!"

I wonder how many times I've been hoodwinked by a less than honest sales person or manipulated by false advertising. Guess most of us have been at one time or another.

Of much greater significance is how many of us are deceived by the promoters of false religions.

Too many believe if they live a good life that will get them into heaven. Others, like I used to believe, believe that if they do enough good things to outnumber the bad things they've done, that will get them into God's heaven. Others believe that as all roads lead to Rome so all religions lead to God. Not so. Such beliefs, no matter how sincere, couldn't be farther from the truth.

The religious Pharisees of Christ's day were zealots in their sincerity but were wrong -- totally wrong -- in that they missed the very Messiah (Savior) for whom they were looking because he didn't come in the way or did what they expected him to do.

There are many religions today, too, that have very sincere zealots and religious people who are equally as wrong even though they sincerely believe that they have THE truth!

Jesus made it clear -- very clear -- that he was the only way to God. "I am the way, the truth, and the life," Jesus stated emphatically. "No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 (NKJV)

And God's Word, the Bible, affirms: "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

And that name is Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God. Only in him can forgiveness of sins, salvation, and the gift of eternal life be found. Furthermore, had there been other ways to God, why on earth would Jesus have come to earth to suffer an incredibly excruciating death on the cross to pay the penalty of all your sins and mine?

The question we all need to ask ourselves, "Have I trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior? To help you do this read the article, "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for Jesus and that my trust is only in him for my eternal salvation and a home in heaven to be with you forever. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

ACTS International

Eternal Blessings

Eternal Blessings

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 21).

This beautiful text contains the last of over 40 New Testament occurrences of the phrase "eternal life," or "everlasting life" (same Greek words). We receive God's promise of life everlasting, of course, only through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ for "he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36).

This is not just eternal existence, however. The Scriptures give many wonderful promises of eternal blessings as well. We shall have an eternal home, "an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (II Corinthians 5:1).

We are also joint heirs with Christ, "that by means of death . . . they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15).

God will wipe away all tears, for our heavenly Father "hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace" (II Thessalonians 2:16).

There will even be unending glory for every believer, for He "hath called us unto His eternal glory" (I Peter 5:10).

Therefore, as Paul says, "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Corinthians 4:17).

These eternal blessings are all ours through Jesus Christ, for He is "the author of eternal salvation" and has "obtained eternal redemption for us," all accomplished through His own shed "blood of the everlasting covenant" (Hebrews 5:9; 9:12; 13:20).

We shall, in fact, reign as kings, with Him, in "the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:11), where we "shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 22:5). Best of all, however, we shall be with our Saviour throughout the endless ages to come.

Henry Morris

What we may be

What we may be

"We know what we are, but not what we may be," said Shakespeare. Tutors in life have a great impact on what we'll become, and teachers take many forms. Media, text books, experts, parents, pop stars, Hollywood -- all shapers and molders. Not all information received is helpful. Destructive models abound, but there is one trustworthy teacher who can lead each person to a higher standard.

Not too long ago, a Muslim clerk asked me if I wanted to buy a lottery ticket. When I responded that I don't gamble my dollars in the Texas lottery, he asked me if I was a Christian. He told me Allah didn't like gambling either.

Then he said to me, "This Jesus of yours, I admire him." Many non-Christians admire Jesus, his justice, his connection with the common man and his hands-on-compassion, and he is recognized as someone to emulate.

What if each person who thinks highly of Jesus decided to become a student and imitate the ways Jesus loved his neighbors. Throughout his ministry, he conversed, helped, and touched those who are often shunned -- those with too many problems.

We sometimes avoid communicating with folks who are drowning in difficulties. It's easier to not let them into our lives than to embrace them and their plethora of setbacks.

But those with seemingly unsolvable problems, Jesus readily drew into his life. He ate with the hated tax collectors and allowed a prostitute to wash his feet with her tears. He chose Judas, taught and loved him even knowing that he would betray him.

Jesus spoke about his life mission in simple statements: he came to seek and save the lost, and he came to do the will and goodness of God. Good teachers and role models -- there's always room for more. Far too many lemons are getting into the limelight with lewd lyrics and gyrations that would make Elvis roll over in his grave.

The Lord spoke these words to and through Jeremiah, "If you extract the precious from the worthless, you will be my spokesman" (Jeremiah 15:19). The world needs extractors, workers who are taught by the Master to esteem the precious and recognize the empty activities of life.

Shakespeare said we don't know "what we may be." Jesus said if you follow me, you'll be my hands in this world. He encourages sorting, sorting through the world's junkyard and mining the worthwhile. If you are sick of ungodly role models, follow Jesus, become more like him. Read his story. Live out his character. Purpose what you "may be." He will even come along side of your everyday life and help you mine the world for human treasures.

Cathy Messecar
www.christianbook.com

Faith... Father... First!

Faith... Father... First!

"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

What happens when you worry?
You bring tomorrow's difficulty into today.

God didn't give you grace for tomorrow's difficulties.
He only gives you grace for today.

When you reach into tomorrow's troubles --
you overload today's circuit.

Worry doesn't take the sorrow out of tomorrow.
It takes the strength out of today.

When you meet tomorrow --
you're out of breath because you're already overloaded from today.

Worry, therefore, does not make you ready for the future.
It really makes you unready.

Yesterday is just a canceled cheque.
Tomorrow is a promissory note.
Today has all the cash you can handle.
Spend it wisely.

Worry will eat your breakfast!
It'll eat your lunch and dinner, too!!!

Confess your worries as sin because they are.
Put your concerns at the throne of Almighty God.

"O you of little faith! Do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own". Matthew 6:30-33

The Keys to overcome worry are three fold:
Faith... Father... First!

Trust God to:
provide, preserve and protect!

Amen!

My Manna

Lord, I've Got Nothing!

Lord, I've Got Nothing!

Lord, I've got nothing!

My mind is jumbled with thoughts that range from excitement, hope, and anticipation, to confusion, discouragement, and frustration. I am amazed at the way things have happened in the past, and I wonder what sort of things will happen in the future. I dwell on the mistakes I have made, and I marvel the mistakes You have helped me avoid.

Lord, I've got nothing!

I read Your word and I understand that You direct my path and that Your Word lights the path that I walk. Yet, there are times when I am afraid to take another step. I read of how You have delivered Your servants from all types of disaster and calamity, and I realize that I have often been a recipient of that deliverance. I read of how You hear me when I have no words and answer me before I speak.

Lord, I've got nothing!

I look ahead of me to the tasks on my calendar for the week and wonder how I will ever get it all done. I don't have the energy. I don't have the desire. I don't have the motivation. Then, I look back and see all the things that You enabled me to do last week when I had just as little energy, desire and motivation.

Lord, I've got nothing!

People ask me questions for which I have no answers. People come to me for advice as I go to others for advice. People look to me for wisdom and knowledge as I come to you for wisdom and knowledge.

Lord, I've got nothing!

I am tired. I am weak. I am worn. I am a struggler. I am a sinner. I am a child. I am a human. I have questions. I have fears. I have temptations. I have pride. I am self-conscious. I am selfish. At times I am a mess.

I cry out to You, Lord, and I confess that I have nothing! As my cries grow silent I hear You say:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28-39, NIV)

"You can do all things through me for I will give you strength." (Philippians 4:13)

Lord, I have nothing! But, when I stop, listen, and hear Your voice I realize I have You, and You know me, and You have me. That's all I need.

Tom Norvell

Teflon Love

Teflon Love

OK, I'm not much of a cook, but when my wife's really busy and under the weather, we get to eat my cooking for dinner. Which means a very limited menu which will, invariably, include the grilled cheese option. Now, as I prepare this gourmet specialty, I reach for my trusty skillet - the one that's coated with Teflon. You don't have to be a headliner on the Food Channel to know that life is much easier when you have a pan that things don't stick to; they sort of just slide right off.

Most churches, most families, most workplaces could use some Teflon, don't you think? I'm talking people who don't let things stick to them; they just let them slide right off. I hope you are one or that you want to become one!

The Apostle Peter is talking about that kind of relationships in our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Peter 4:8. He simply says, "Above all..." Now, what follows is going to be his most important point. "...love each other deeply." Why? He says, "Because love covers a multitude of sins." He was talking to people who were undergoing a lot of pressure, a lot of pain for their commitment to Jesus Christ. The last thing they needed was grief from each other! So he recommends sort of a Teflon approach to relationships: love people enough that your love will enable you to overlook their wrongdoings.

Overlooking love - that's Teflon love! "Un-love" keeps score all the time; it marks down every time it gets offended or wounded, it harbors, and it never forgets an offense. If you're that kind of person in your relationships, then when someone crosses you, you don't let it go, you let it grow.

But Jesus-style love has no scorecard. If you love as He's told us to, then you simply refuse to store the negatives from other people or about other people. You're Teflon, and the negatives don't stick to you. They slide off.

Could it be that you've been allowing hard feelings toward someone you know to start growing in you? Is there some resentment, some anger, some bitterness that you've allowed to stick to your soul toward someone in your family; maybe even your mate or your child or your parent? Or maybe it's hard feelings toward someone at church, or where you work, in a ministry you're involved with. The Bible calls it a "root of bitterness" and says what will happen if you allow it to grow in you much longer. "It will cause trouble and defile many" (Hebrews 12:15).

If there's any unforgiveness in your heart, hear your Lord's word, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another." You may say, "Yeah, but what about the way they treated me?" God shoots down all our "yeah buts" with His next sentence, "Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13). You don't treat people as they've treated you; you treat them as Jesus has treated you!

So ask your Lord for a dose of His love that will cover rather than harbor the wrongs against you. Love enough to cover not just a few of them, but a multitude of sins. Things don't stick to someone who has God's Teflon love. They slide off!

Ron Hutchcraft

Called unto Holiness

Called unto Holiness

"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." 1 Thessalonians 4:7

What is holiness of life? Immediately, many think of some pious individual, separated into an isolated lifestyle that knows nothing of the reality of life. That is not what Paul is talking about here. Holiness is conformity to the mind and will of God, which is applicable to both our heart and our walk, integrated into every phase of our life. Why is this so difficult? He who made us, knows best how we should live, what would be best for our good, and glorifying to Him. That's true, but we have such a struggle, a constant battle. We always want to raise the ugly head of SELF and seek after the ways of the flesh. WHY?

When Adam sinned, he received a sinful nature that was at enmity with God. A nature that puts self first and everything else, including God, wherever it may fall. We have inherited that sinful nature. However, when we received Christ as Savior, we became a new creation with a spiritual nature born of God, and when surrendered to Him, is glorifying to God. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who reveals to us God's Word, opens our minds to understand what it says, leads us in the paths of life, instructs us in the way we should live, and enlightens us to His will.

He seeks to bring us into a holy life, a life characterized by righteousness, not ours, but HIS. Paul said, "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Philippians 3:9). To this end, Jesus lived and died "that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). We are to turn from the natural pull of our sinful nature and surrender to the claims of our new spiritual nature given to us by God at conversion.

God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we might be holy. Paul says, "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?... Being made free from sin, and become the servants of God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life" (Romans 6:16, 22).

A life characterized by His righteousness is to have HIS LIFE LIVED THROUGH US. It is when the totality of our life, our will, our desires, our hope, the very essence of our life is in His sovereign control. What others see is not our life but HIS. The striving to be holy becomes a yielding to His holiness. The only thing in our life that will last in eternity will be what HE DOES THROUGH US.

To be holy is to completely surrender our will to His Will, our way to His Way, and our life to His lordship. Could there be a more blessed life than to be under His care and loving control? Could there be any greater joy than to be led by His Spirit and motivated by His love? As the Holy Spirit begins to open our lives and hearts to a new and living relationship with Christ, only then will we start becoming like Him, being conformed to the image of HIS SON. He has called us to holiness.

Ed Powell

[Shared by Bro. Dinesh Pandian]