Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart...
Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.
This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage him, but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a "walk-in." Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games.
This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in a game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful team mate back so soon.
"Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said. "You can go in."
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown.
The fans broke loose. His team mates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you never heard. Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that this young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?"
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?"
The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!" (From Leow Wee Kang, Singapore)
After the church service, a little boy told the pastor: "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money." "Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?" "Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."
My wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to our six-year-old
daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" I wouldn't
know what to say," she replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say,"
my wife said. Our daughter bowed her head and said: "Dear Lord, why on
earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"
(Douglas V. Taylor, The Good Clean Funnies List, Internet)
Years ago there lived in the United States two brothers. Physically, they were identical twins, but morally and spiritually they were poles apart. One was a Christian, the other a renegade. The Christian brother was constantly witnessing to his twin, and begging him to give his heart to Christ. It was all to no avail. Instead of renouncing sin and turning to the Saviour, the latter went from bad to worse.
One night, in a drunken brawl, he brutally murdered a man. His clothes were all bespattered with blood, as he fled from the scene and sought refuge in his own home, the police hot on his trail. As soon as his brother saw him, he sensed what had happened. "Here", he said, "get out of those clothes of yours, and into these clothes of mine!" The brothers exchanged clothing, and when the police came and found the innocent brother in the blood-stained garments, they at once concluded that he had committed the crime.
At the trial his brother was present, and sought to put in a plea on his behalf, but the court refused to accept it. The guiltless brother was condemned to die. Just before going to the electric chair, he sent a note to his twin, stating that the envelope containing it was not to be opened until the announcement of his execution had been made. The note read: "I died your death: now you live my life".
Jesus died in your place. Let us live a resurrected life through His enabling. (Selected)
Dr Ivan Panin spent 50 years researching the Bible. His Bible investigation and analysis showed that: The each of the number of words in the vocabulary, that begin with a vowel, that begin with a consonant, that begin with each letter of the language's alphabet, that occur more than once, that occur only once, that occur in only one form, that occur in more than one form, that are nouns, and that are not nouns will all divide evenly by SEVEN.
The number of words that are found in only one book of the Bible will divide
evenly by SEVEN.
The total numeric value of all the words, and the numeric value of the
various forms in which the words occur, will divide evenly by SEVEN.
The number of letters in the vocabulary, that are vowels, and that are
consonants, will divide evenly by SEVEN.
The number of names will divide evely by SEVEN: proper names, male proper
names, and female proper names.
The number of promises found in the Bible will divide evenly by SEVEN.
The number of dispensation periods is SEVEN.
The number of generations from Abraham to Jesus Christ will divide evenly
by SEVEN.
The Book of Revelation outlines seven judgments and seven plagues
that will be made on the Earth and its Peoples.
(From Tony & Gake Seah, Singapore)
If you are doing it because no one else will, it's a job. If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a ministry. If you are doing it just well enough to get by, it's a job. If you are doing it to the best of your ability, it's a ministry. If you will do it only so long as it doesn't interfere with other activities, it's a job. If you are committed to staying with it, even when it means letting go of other things, it's a ministry. If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it was a job. If you stay with it even when no one seems to notice, it's a ministry. If you do it because someone else said it needs to be done, it's a job. If you do it because you are convinced it needs to be done, it's a ministry. It is hard to get excited about a job. It is almost impossible not to get excited about a ministry. People may say, "Well done", when you do your job. The Lord will say, "Well done," when you complete your ministry. An average church is filled with people doing jobs. A great church is filled with people involved in ministry. -Author Unknown (From Darlene, Alaska)
Egypt:
Young Muslims are raping Christian girls, and then forcing them to marry
them or else go to prison. To escape a charge of seduction a girl has to produce
5 eye witnesses. (Charles, Yolla, Tas)
Japan:
The latest craze in Japan - which is mostly Buddhist and Shinto - is the
church wedding. One entrepreneur, Masatoshi Kurosaki, paid $620,000 for everything
in the St, Mary's Church in Bristol, England, and had it all shipped to Tokyo.
He has the innards of 16 other Anglican churches besides. Using real pastors,
he holds Christian wedding services in the rebuilt chapels for increasing numbers
of Japanese, who make no profession of faith but who love the church atmosphere.
Said one pastor, "Mr. Kurosaki's services provide you with a captive audience
of 80 people every hour." (Pulse)
India:
Hindu fanatics are attacking Christians in Osuissa, beating them up and
burning their buildings. When the police are approached they say they can do
nothing. (Charles, Yolla, Tas)
Australia:
I have received disturbing information from a number of sources about satanists
infiltrating churches, participating in worship and even ministry, and seducing
the pastors' children, destroying ministries. (Editor)
One of Melbourne's leading Uniting Church ministers collapsed and died at a service marking the beginning of the Masonic year yesterday. The Rev. Kevin Green, retiring superintendent of Melbourne's Wesley Mission, had just welcomed 350 Freemasons to Melbourne City's Wesley Uniting Church. (Herald Sun, 16/3/98)
The "Sexuality Discrimination Bill" set to be introduced into the Australian Parliament threatens to pave the way for same sex marriages, and may severely curtail the freedom to express religious and Biblical truths in regard to family and sexuality. (Focus on the Family Australia National Newspaper)
South Africa:
The South African Government is advocating that schools teach Mult-Religious
Education (MRE). MRE views all religions as equally valid, and moral values
are relative. The letterhead of the newly formed National Association for Multireligious
Education (NAME) depicts symbols representing African religion, Bahai, Buddhist,
Christian, Hindu, Islam, and Jewish. The government is determined to indoctrinate
children with an anti-God humanistic religion. (Signposts, 4/98)
The ANC government has simply reversed so-called apartheid, now calling it affirmative action. In real terms, affirmative action is affecting each and every white person in this country. All government and semi-government departments are now under obligation to provide employment to non-whites only. The government is legislating that at least 30% of all employees in all firms must be non-white. (Wilhelm, South Africa)
China:
"'The good news is that I planted five churches in five days,"
said the elderly evangelist from Shanghai. But he added, "The bad news
is that each church is led by a person who received only two hours worth of
Bible training." (Open Doors Prayer Alert Newsletter, 3/98)
Nigeria:
Despite its own problems, the church in Nigeria is an aggressively praying
church, and this has been the key factor behind the success of mission and evangelistic
works in that country. (Br Sunday, Nigeria)
Souls are being won to Christ and Christians are being strengthened. We are carrying the Gospel of Christ to areas where Jesus has not been known. By God's grace we started charity missions; we care for persecuted Christians and their families. (John, Lagos, Nigeria)
Saint David's Anglican Church, with property facing a busy six-lane in Sydney, had problems making its presence known until rector Richard James came up with an idea. If drivers can pick up fast food for their bodies, why not a drive-through with food for the soul? Thousands of commuters pass the little church in suburban Forestville each day. They often must slow down because of congestion. A sermon cassette tape to listen to on the way to work could relieve frustration and boredom, James figured. Results have exceeded expectations. James and church members distributed hundreds of tapes to motorists who pulled into the church's circular driveway from 7 to 9 a.m. for three days in November and December. The congregation, with about 150 regular attendees, supports the drive-through days enthusiastically. On distribution days, a team of about two dozen helpers gathers at 6:30 a.m. to pray and organise signs to let motorists know the drive-through is open. Topics tackle real-life issues. James called the first series 'Sex, Lies, and God.' The second series, 'The Meaning of Life,' came from the Book of Ecclesiastes. The next drive-through is planned for Easter. (Christianity Today, 2/3/98)
The debate on Nudity in Noosa is hotting up even more. This week the local paper had three letters to the editor supporting my stand. (At last!) I have written to our mayor, the police sergeant, state and federal MPs, the surf life saving club and the manager of the national park. In this town we now have witch craft shops, porn shops and prostitution. Once we were a sleepy little fishing village, now we are an international tourism hot spot. It's time to make a stand for the Lord, when a man is arrested for preaching the gospel in the streets, yet a tarot card reader is allowed to do reading on the foot path of our main street. It would be great if we could get other Christians around the country to start writing to politicians and community leaders. (Leith, Noosa, Qld)
Very recent news from an unnamed country in Africa: Each day more news has come in of wholesale slaughter in the countryside. Near one city the county chief and the 15 village chiefs were assembled and all were killed. Vehicles have been commandeered. The driver of a vehicle belonging to a Christian organisation told of being forced to drive troops for hours, from village to village, witnessing at times the execution of virtually the whole male population. He was told not to talk - on pain of death. Pray for his protection. Pray that God would stop the hands of those, on any side, who would kill - senselessly - unarmed and innocent people. Please pray that we would have the wisdom to speak out appropriately. There was an attack on people coming out of church in a village just outside of town. Two of the young fellows were wearing boy-scout type uniforms, and were immediately shot to death as rebels. At least 5 area pastors have been shot to death, as well as the director of the [Christian school]. Are church leaders being deliberately targeted? We fear so. Pray for wisdom for us as guests in this land. Pray that full-scale civil war does not erupt, with the devastation that entails. Pray for those grieving, and struggling to forgive. (Speed the Need)
In 1998, the World Council of Churches will celebrate its 50th anniversary, and according to its literature, it is making radical changes to its organisational structure, including a new ecumenical forum that will include the Roman Catholic Church and the evangelical movement. (Towards 2000)
"Building on 100 years of interfaith effort", the "United Religions
Organisation" plans to create a "New Covenant for the planet",
to dictate "the responsibilities , rather than the rights of planetary
citizenship". They say, "Together we can change the world". The
UR "is meant to be for religions what the UN is for nations".
(Despatch Magazine)
John Paul II repeatedly tells his weekly audience of visiting Christians at the Vatican, that "Christian unity will not become a reality unless all churches accept the authority Christ entrusted to St Peter and his successors." He told 523 charismatic delegates of their 4th International Conference in Rome that "Full ecumenacy means total unity with the Roman Catholic Church or Unity under the Papacy; the leadership and authority of the pope in the absolute sense. All the way and with all the family of nations. (Towards 2000)
Frank Wolf and 26 other Congressmen recently introduced HR 2431, setting up an "Office of Religious Persecution Monitoring" (ORPM). The new national ORPM "Director", appointed by the US President, will operate under the administration and watchful eye of the United Nations. Once the ORPM is set up, the UN will control all religious belief, practice, and worship on the face of the planet. This draconian bill - deceptively called the "Freedom from Religious Persecution Act" - will move to outlaw Biblical Christianity. It will:
The sound of Martha's voice on the other end of the telephone always brought a smile to Brother Jim's face. She was not only one of the oldest members of the congregation, but one of the most faithful. Aunt Martie, as all of the children called her, just seemed to ooze faith, hope, and love wherever she went. This time, however, there seemed to be an unusual tone to her words.
"Preacher, could you stop by this afternoon? I need to talk with you."
"Of course, I'll be there around three. Is that OK?"
It didn't take long for Jim to discover the reason for what he had only sensed in her voice before. As they sat facing each other in the quiet of her small living room, Martha shared the news that her doctor had just discovered a previously undetected tumour.
"He says I probably have six months to live". Martha's words were naturally serious, yet there was a definite calm about her. "I'm so sorry to .." but before Jim could finish, Martha interrupted. "Don't be. The Lord has been good. I have lived a long life. I'm ready to go. You know that."
"I know," Jim whispered with a reassuring nod.
"But I do want to talk with you about my funeral. I have been thinking about it, and there are things that I know I want."
The two talked quietly for a long time. They talked about Martha's favourite hymns, the passages of Scripture that had meant so much to her through the years, and the many memories they shared from the five years Jim had been with Central Church. When it seemed that they had covered just about everything, Aunt Martie paused, looked up at Jim with a twinkle in her eye, and then added, "One more thing, preacher. When they bury me, I want my old Bible in one hand and a fork in the other".
"A fork?" Jim was sure he had heard everything, but this caught him by surprise. "Why do you want to be buried with a fork?" "I have been thinking about all of the church dinners and banquets that I attended through the years," she explained, "I couldn't begin to count them all. But one thing sticks in my mind, "At those really nice get-togethers, when the meal was almost finished, a server or maybe the hostess would come by to collect the dirty dishes. I can hear the words now. Sometimes, at the best ones, somebody would lean over my shoulder and whisper, 'You can keep your fork.' And do you know what that meant? Dessert was coming! "It didn't mean a cup of Jell-O or pudding or even a dish of ice cream. You don't need a fork for that. It meant the good stuff, like chocolate cake or cherry pie! When they told me I could keep my fork, I knew the best was yet to come! "That's exactly what I want people to talk about at my funeral. Oh, they can talk about all the good times we had together. That would be nice.
"But when they walk by my casket and look at my pretty blue dress, I want them to turn to one another and say, 'Why the fork'? That's what I want you to say, I want you to tell them, that I kept my fork because the best is yet to come!" (Alisa Boggs, Internet)
The hardest ones to preach to are some so-called Christians which have little Bible knowledge... they preach we should love one another and compromise with other churches which don't preach the true Gospel. The Scriptures tell us to be separate (Anna, Peak Hill, NSW)
Soul winning is our task. Heaven is our goal. (Cletus Ekeh, Nigeria)
If, as evolution teaches, man is just another animal, and he legislates to have same sex marriages, something that other animals would not do, then why should he not make it legal to marry his dog, sheep or cow? (Anonymous Reader)
Still fighting the fight... which I believe is mainly concentrated with our own. Look around you brother and see how many Christians want the title of "Christian" but do not want to bear the scars of our precious Saviour and also want to hang onto that old world and its lusts. How many choose to do it the same way as the world so as to be accepted by them and not rejected should they preach the truth as God's Word is. (Mark, Stanwell, Qld)
Denominationalism in any form with its false and divisive teachings is dishonouring to God. The original old-time-on-fire church used ‘Amen’ not ‘Hallelujah’ as a spoken exclamation in the public gatherings of the church (1 Cor. 14:16). Old Testament saints were taught to say continually ‘The Lord be magnified’ (Ps. 35:27; 40:16). May I encourage your readers to go all the way back to the Bible church, even if that means setting up a church in their own home where baptised believers can gather to break bread and be edified each Lord’s day (Ac. 20:7). (Doug, Goonellabah, NSW)
Someone told me, "If you ever find a 'perfect church', don't join it, you would ruin it." I say, "If there is no perfect church, start one!" Apostasy is not an acceptable alternative. It will not be long now, the Lord Jesus will soon come back for His Bride. (Joseph, Rockingham, WA)
I am Elvis Malimba, aged 27 years, a Zambian condemned prisoner on death row. When I was a pupil in my eleventh grade, I was arrested and charged for the offence of murder. I was convicted and sentenced to death 10/7/95. A former Papist, I was converted to faith in Christ in 1995 whilst on death row - here in prison. My conversion came through hearing of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by correspondence.
We are now a church of 35 Christians who meet every day in the morning and afternoon for prayer meetings, and we observe the Lord's Day, when we have a full sermon. I am one of four members who shares the Bread of Life, God's word to the flock. We are known here as the Bible Christian Church. Believing the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, we seek to be governed by it in all we do. We long to share the Good News that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners". We look to the Holy Spirit to work in sinners' hearts. We have nothing to do with ecumenicals, but we endeavour to preach the Gospel of our Holy Lord and King. Our vision is for the glory of God through out the prison, to see the church revived in the return to the Old paths. There is great hunger for the Word of God here - we are undergoing a spiritual famine!
Here in the prison we are undergoing untold misery. We are not given soap, toothpastes... Food is very scarce, some days we sleep with our stomachs empty. It's also very cold - we spend long days and nights sleeping on the floor, our prison uniforms and blankets in rags and tatters. Toilets here in the prison are very very bad. The whole prison is a disease factory. My family is homeless, poor, and very miserable - there is no social welfare here. Condemned persons stay on death row here for on average of 10 to 20 years, before they pay for what they did. (Elvis Chileshe Malimba, Maximum Security Prison, Condemned Section, PO Box 80915, Kabwe, Zambia, Central Africa; Send donations to: L. Carter, Box 28, Meeniyan, Vic 3956)
There is a legend that is worth telling because it contains an important truth: The devil held a passing out parade at the evil spiritual academy one year. During the day he questioned three of his evil spirits. To the first he said, "When you get out into the world what are you going to say to the people?" "Oh," the evil spirit replied, "I shall tell them that there is no God." "That's no use," said the devil, "Creation tells people that there is a God. Not many will believe you." Then he said to the second evil spirit, "And what are you going to tell people?" "I shall say that there is not going to be a judgement" was the reply. "That's not much use," answered the devil, "Conscience tells them about judgement. Not many will believe you."
Turning to the third evil spirit, he asked, "What about you?" "I shall tell people that there is a God and a judgement to come," answered the third evil spirit, "But I shall add that there is no hurry."
"Excellent!" said the devil. "Many will believe that!"
The devil does try to persuade people that there is no hurry about putting things right and turning to God, whereas the truth is that time is running out fast, and the time to respond to God's voice is now. (Ron Clarke, Derwent Valley, Tas)
There's a new funny and entertaining American cartoon program, called "South Park". One episode featured a gay cartoon character teaching a youngster about "gayism" and extolling its humanitarian virtues, while they take care of all the little lost animal pets. Everyone was born with gayism in them until "the oppressors" - the Christians, Republicans, Conservatives and Nazis came along. Then a cartoon character shoots the oppressors. (Donna, USA)
In each episode a child named Kenny is killed and a recurring line is "Oh my God! Kenny's been killed." Sometimes Kenny is shot. The episode I saw, Kenny was decapitated in a school football game. The show promotes foul language (many swear words from the children), acceptance of homosexuality, and is openly blasphemous toward the Lord Jesus. This show about foul-mouthed third-graders has won legions of fans. In February it was cable TV's top-rated program, seen by an average of 5.5 million viewers. (Leonard Davis, USA)
Ed: This American garbage is already on Australian TV. Sadly, youngsters from our local Christian school enjoy watching it.
Aged 31, I am the youngest in a family of three children. In my younger days I was very active and took part in many sports. I faired quite well in my academic work at Anderson Junior College. The National University of Singapore had reserved a place for me. At the age of 17, in 1985, I undertook my National Service Basic Military Training. In 1987, whilst at officer training in Brunei, I had heatstroke. The doctor tried to resuscitate me with a lousy respirator, scarring my windpipe. I had to have a trachy - I now have to breath through a hole at my neck instead of through my nose, and I have lost the ability to speak. My father has to do the dressing for me everyday. I am confined to a wheelchair with my motor ability affected. In 1989 I attended a crusade in Singapore. I felt the presence of Jesus Christ. After that crusade I decided to became a Christian. I feel that the Lord has allowed me to be in this present situation for His purpose. It is well with my soul and I will praise Him. I live in a three room flat with my father, mother, uncle and eldest brother. In 1996 I was blessed with a computer from a former classmate and now I can communicate.
The second coming of Jesus Christ will be soon because of what is recorded in the Bible, where more than 80% of its prophecies have come true. We are living in the End Time. My prayer needs are that our Lord will: (1) Strengthen my back muscle and stop my leg from trembling, (2) Enable me to speak, (3) Enable me to write, (4) Enable my right hand to function properly, (5) To recover completely, (6) To be a light and servant to God. (Bro Leow Wee Kang, Singapore)
No one called the Pastor this week to ask how he was doing. No one called the Pastor to tell him about the people they were witnessing to. No one called the Pastor to tell him about who they had invited to church. No one called the Pastor and told him about the people they were burdened for. No one called to tell the Pastor what a good job he was doing. No one called to tell him they were praying for him. But everyone wondered why he seemed so tired. Why he seem depressed. You know he has stopped doing his job. He hasn't called me in weeks. He hasn't visited me in weeks. I bet he hasn't prayed for me, or been concerned about my burdens. You know the church is not growing. After he was gone they said, You Know - he was the best preacher we ever had. (Danial R. Baker)
When the public schools of New Orleans were integrated under court order in 1960, four six-year-old black girls were selected to break the immoral barrier that had been built over generations to keep white and black children apart. Three were assigned to one school, and Ruby Bridges was sent alone to Frantz Elementary School. How was a little girl supposed to deal with such tension?
She was escorted to and from school each day by federal marshals for her protection. She had to run the gauntlet of taunts, curses, and threats from adults as she arrived and left each day. White parents took their children out of Frantz, and Ruby was the only child in Miss Hurley's first-grade class.
Dr. Robert Coles is a child psychiatrist who studied Ruby's experience. He visited with Ruby and her family twice every week. He interviewed Miss Hurley about her pupil. To his amazement, Ruby was sleeping soundly every night, eating well, and playing with neighbourhood children as before. "You know, I don't understand this child," said her teacher. "She seems so happy. She comes here so cheerfully."
One morning Miss Hurley was watching Ruby walk toward the school. Suddenly the little girl stopped right in the middle of the screaming, jeering crowd. Facing all those angry people, her lips started moving. Miss Hurley thought she was talking to them. She wondered what Ruby might be saying to people who seemed ready to kill her. The marshals tried to move her into the building. But she wouldn't budge until she finished what she was saying.
Miss Hurley asked her later what had happened, and Ruby explained. "I wasn't talking to those people," she said. I was praying. I was praying for them." You see, every morning Ruby had stopped a few blocks from her school to pray for the people who hated her. That morning she had forgotten until she was already on the sidewalk in the middle of the angry adults.
Here is what she prayed twice a day, before and after school. "Please, God, try to forgive those people. Because even if they say those bad things, they don't know what they're doing. So you could forgive them, just like you did those folks a long time ago when they said terrible things about you." Think you have some tough situations to face this week? Have to deal with some unpleasant people? Have to confront people who are unkind or unfair? I recommend you try Ruby's method and remember that Jesus said of little children, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." --Author and Source Unknown (The Timothy Report)
Many years ago a man over sixty years of age was offered nearly $200,000 for a restaurant-motel service station business that he'd spent his life building. He wasn't ready to retire, so he turned the offer down. Two years later, at the age of sixty-five, this gentleman was flat broke, with no income other than a small Social Security cheque each month. The state had built a new highway which bypassed his business, and he lost it.
Most people would have been crushed by such a blow, but he refused to give up. He took stock of his life and abilities and realised there was one thing he knew how to do--fry chicken. Maybe he could sell that knowledge to others. He kissed his wife goodbye, and in a battered old car, with a pressure cooker and a can of specially-prepared flour, set out to sell his idea to other restaurants. It was tough going, and he often slept in his car because he didn't have enough money for a motel room.
A few years later he had built a nationwide franchised restaurant chain called Kentucky Fried Chicken. The man was Colonel Sanders. (The Timothy Report, 26/1/98)
After my sixth child, my husband travelled to USA. A little while after his trip, my husband was writing and phoning, but suddenly he stopped contacting me. I began to experience hardship. Days turned into years. Six long years, yet I didn't receive any message from my husband, nor information about him. My life was shattered. I was poisoned. My own children lost hope of living, because they went hungry. There was no money. My husband and I had given our lives to Christ before he travelled. Doubts filled my mind, but I held onto my faith, and prayer that my husband would one day contact us. I wasn't sure if he was alive. My mother helped my children and myself. She advised me to remarry and forget my husband. A friend visited America, and contacted him. I was confused. I held on to life trusting that God will make a new way for me where I can't find a way. I prayed very hard... A friend rushed in to say my husband had telephoned. When I heard his voice, I wept. It was like it was happening in another world. My husband speaking to me after six years. He didn't stop speaking to me. He told me he had sent some boxes and some money, and that I should start processing my papers and those of my children. Now my visa and children are ready, we will leave soon for the USA to join my husband. Praise the Lord. (By Patience Anyanwu, Nigeria)
His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kinda esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it.
One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realises there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behaviour at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!)
By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the minister realises that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-grey hair, a three-piece suit, and a pocket watch. A godly man-very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves, You can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?
It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The people are thinking, The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do. And now they see this elderly man drop his can on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget." (The Gims Newsletter)
He was driving home one evening, on a two lane country road. Work, in this small mid-western community, was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac. But he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed, he'd been unemployed, and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home. It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfil. But he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country. He could go down this road blind, and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He'd better get a move on. You know, he almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.
Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill that only fear can put in you.
He said, "I'm here to help you m'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm. By the way, my name is Joe."
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk. She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped.
Joe never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, and Joe added...and think of me". He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor, it didn't ring much. Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe.
After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes, when she read what the lady wrote. It said, "You don't owe me a thing, I've been there too. Someone once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here's what you do. Don't let the chain of love end with you."
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's gonna be alright, I love you Joe." (The Gims Newsletter)
Galatians 6:1 is so rarely practiced. Who IS spiritual? Who, if he (or she, for that matter) finds his brother CAUGHT in a trespass, will actually take the time to GO to him and RESTORE such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to himself, lest he too be tempted. "Trespass" means stepping aside. Have you ever gone down a path you thought was the right one? And later found out that you were going the wrong direction? Ever gotten directions mixed up and landed up in the wrong place? I have. I am terrible with directions. The point is, it is possible for ANY of us to take a wrong turn. We as a body are not to shoot at people who are taking wrong turns, but to help them. Who is doing that?
Massive upheaval and division is often caused because people do not handle error correctly. The name of our adversary is Accuser, or "Scandalon" - the word from which we derive our word scandal. We have seen men abuse their spiritual position to abuse women, take people's money, divide marriages, and so on and so on. Nothing new under the sun. Many of the denominations either shoot the sinning pastor, or try to ignore what he did, and sweep it under the rug. We've seen more of the latter. Because the church has, as a whole, not learned how to deal with sin Biblically, yet.
There will always be error. There will always be excess. I have seen lots of abuses and phoniness and junk. But I am not going to junk God's Word - any part of it - because someone else misuses it. Wherever mankind is there are abuses. In and out of the church. If something is erroneous, teach what is TRUE to people, against what is ERROR, rather than slicing someone, or a church. It must hurt the heart of God that His family is cutting at each other instead of spending our time preaching the Good News and winning souls.
Some people think that we are "evolving" - even some Christians have this view and don't even realise they think this way. Some think that we are "better" now than back in Paul's day. Look at Corinth. Look at Galatia. Abuses and power struggles and people who were trying to be better than others. People who were saying they were Christians but living hypocritical lives.
I see so little to none of the confrontation and restoration in love. Restoration means work. And sometimes it means, if the person won't repent, disfellowshipping them. The fact is, many of us are just weak kneed, more afraid about what others think of us than about doing what is right and scriptural. If there is a damaging teaching that is going on, then I need to disciple believers to study the Word for themselves and to strain out the errors from what is pure and true.
There is so little time left - the night comes when no man or woman can work. I have enough things in my own life that God is dealing with, without throwing stones somewhere else. I, for instance, have not achieved full maturity, according to Eph. 3 - the depth, height, width and breadth of God's love. I have a long way to go. And there are people whom I am discipling who are hungry for the truth. It is my responsibility to help them learn to read the Word for themselves, encourage them to study, give them chunks of Scripture to look up for themselves. People get into error because they have not learned how to study the Word for themselves and mine out the truth. Or, they are intellectual seekers (the Pharisees were called EXPERTS), and have not absorbed themselves in knowing God. (Karen, USA)
JOHN BUNYAN'S NAME is familiar to most Christians. Some months ago I came across one of his short books, 'The Acceptable Sacrifice'. It was originally a sermon based on Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise". It was his last book.
My heart was deeply moved by this book. Not only is the content impressive, weighty and convincing, but Bunyan's grasp and use of Scripture is amazing. The book is absolutely compelling, simply because of his knowledge of the Word of God. This was no contemporary sermon consisting of a joke, three points and a poem; this is a cobalt bomb in hardcover and the reader stands at ground zero.
My heart began shouting questions at my mind. "How did he write such a sermon? Where did he get such substance, such wisdom, such power? What did he use for study aids to be able to compile such a masterpiece?" In the midst of these questions I realised Bunyan had almost none of the resources we use every day. Strong's Concordance was 200 years m the future, Cruden's a hundred. Thayer's, Gesenius, Robertson, Wuest were all unknown. Bunyan's biographers mention Luther's commentary on Galatians, Foxes Book of Martyrs, and an anonymous concordance. We suppose that Bunyan, the prolific writer, would be a voracious reader. But there is the one resource book, his chief study aid he mentions again and again. Hear him: "As I was sitting by the fire...suddenly...this word sounded in my heart, 'I must go to Jesus'. I said, 'Wife, is there ever such a scripture, I must go to Jesus?' Thus unexpectedly questioned, she cannot tell."
"Therefore," says Bunyan, "I sat musing to see if I could remember such a place. I had not sat above two or three minutes but it came bolting in upon me, 'You are come to Mt Zion...and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament...' Heb 12:22-24." This, then, was Bunyan's chief resource, his chief study aid, the Holy Scriptures themselves, taught him by the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
He thoroughly knew the Scriptures. He memorised long passages. He meditated much upon the Word. He looked and longed and lingered until the Holy Spirit brought to mind the needed truth for each crisis. He knew by daily experience the truth of John 14:26, "But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost...He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance..."
Bunyan used this resource when discouraged. He used it when he prepared sermons. He used it when he stood before magistrates, accused of preaching without a license. He used it when in jail when he began writing Pilgrim's Progress. He used it when he preached from his cell window. He used it when he pointed the lost to Christ. This is Bunyan's secret: the Spirit and the Word - the sufficiency of Scripture! The Comforter, who is our tutor, was Bunyan's best study aid. His utter dependence upon the Word of God and its Author is what gave his life and literature their impact.
What a contrast he makes with the modern minister! Somewhere between the TV sports show, the trip to the airport, and the golf game, he must prepare his message. No problem! Just light up the new IBM (lnspired Business Machines?), and open up the Super Sermon Maker Program. Memorisation, meditation and midnights are displaced by gigabytes, nanoseconds and mousey sermons. No blood, sweat, no tears, no Bible, no prayer, no blessing, no people, too bad, so sad! ("No message tonight, folks. The computer is down.") Study aids? Sure, but use sparingly, remembering that no man's thoughts, programs, floppies, or CD ROMS can ever compare with the Word and the Spirit.
Bunyan's computer is still available, but it's expensive. It will cost the user time. Time in the Word. Time waiting on God for truth.
Is the price too high? Not if your sermons are to be still a blessing after 300 years.
(Buddy Smith, Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Malanda, Qld)
I would really like to share something extra good with all your readers. It is my second most favourite book. We all have Bibles of course, and this is the incomparable Word of God, and most precious of all. However, there is another book which has had a profound effect on my life in drawing me closer to our wonderful Saviour, Lord and Master, and so transforming my attitudes and relationships in a very real way.
If someone out there is wanting to be a disciple of Jesus, to surrender completely to the Holy Spirit and so grow in grace, walking in the light, loving God supremely in close union with Him above all others, then this book of daily readings I wholeheartedly recommend. It is a real uplift to feed on each morning as you eat breakfast, every day of the year.
The dear, saintly Scotsman who wrote it, Oswald Chambers, son of a Baptist minister, lived at the turn of the century (died in 1917). His God-given insight into the relationship between God and man has produced the acme of devotionals! It's name, "My Utmost for His Highest". I have given away 24 copies to relations and friends. It makes an excellent gift. (Roger, Mt Claremont, WA)
"We have behind us three and a half billion years of evolution... Our adventure has taken us outside the world where we began, to look down on it from space - and see life - the life of Gaia, the living planet ... This adventure has shown that our planet may even, be alive, a self sustaining entity, Gaia... This instinct was born out when thescientist James Lovelock, believing that life on other planets could be detected by its impact on atmospheric chemistry... The 'regulator' he proposed was life as a whole self-regulating organism. He named this entity Gaia, after the ancient Greek goddess of the Earth. The science of Gaia is new... As we discovered and named the other planets, each after a classical god, we still left our own with no deity. Only since space travel showed us the bleakness of Mars or Venus and the unique life on Earth, have we begun to rename our planet Gaia...
"In March 1988 the prestigious Chapman Conference took as its theme the Gaia Hypothesis, 15 years after British scientist James Lovelock first proposed the revolutionary principle that the earth was alive... the conference drew together leading physicists, biologists and climatologists to consider the evidence for Gaia, and the implications for the future of science. The event marked the coming of age of the Gaia principle as a respectable subject within the scientific establishment... The qualities we shall demand of future scientists are very different from the mechanistic. 'power over nature' ethics of the past. The emergence of Gaia marks just such a change; its acceptance into the official science agenda is a sign of great hope... Scientists seeking to detect life on other planets first discovered the phenomenon of the Earth's self-sustaining biosphere, and named it Gaia. Within Gaia every organism is linked..." ("The Gaia Peace Atlas Survival into the Third Millenium", with foreword by Javier Perez de Cuellar, former Gen Secretary of the UN)
Comment: The 'new' science of Gala is circa 4000 years 'new'; only an elementary knowledge of occult ideas is needed to understand the Gaia principle and what is behind its evolution. An extrapolation of the Gaia hypothesis will lead to an easy acceptance of various New Age beliefs including, Mother Earth, pantheism (All is God because all is one), monads, nature worship, interdependence, yin and yang, feminism etc.
The Gaia hypothesis is not only consistent with, but is complementary to, another 'new science', that being the science of CHAOS which has as its basic major tenet the 'sensitive dependence on initial conditions', or 'the butterfly effect', ie the notion that a butterfly stirring the air in Peking today can cause storm systems in Canberra next month. In other words, everything is dependent on something else for its existence. Interdependence is the name of the game.
The Gaia Peace Atlas has another ace up its sleeve; the implanting of fear in order to condition the reader into accepting the proposition put forward by the 'think tank'.... "Humanity stands at the edge of an abyss. Unless we make the right choices, individually and as a global community, we shall go over that edge - irrevocably. There is not much time for us to choose... Change takes time, and peace has to grow from within. Yet nuclear war approaches faster and faster, and the environmental crisis is already upon us. Change, when it reaches the halfway point in permeating society, can be suddenly upon us in earnest... The world is in a catastrophe prone condition... Ecological destruction is accelerating. Alarming changes in the world's climate are predicted for the 21st century... Politicians seem incapable of finding solutions... If we are to avoid catastrophe, it will be because we have a strong vision of the future."
"...But we need a new vision, a new courage, and a stronger political will and determination. We need a new global ethic... Our report is not a prophecy of doom, but a positive vision of the future... Favoured solutions to global problems will depend on one's vision of the future... Nevertheless, there is hope. Human instincts for survival are strong, and we can learn. Millions of People are now actively seeking an end to fear and a new World order, at peace with Gaia and ourselves... Societies are dynamic. They either develop or decay. This is not only a matter of economics; it involves changing value systems and moral norms ...The pace of change is accelerating. So much change takes place during a lifetime that we become confused, disorientated, and generation gaps grow... Education will teach people what real security is... People will no longer judge affairs in terms of what is good for national security, but what is best for the human family, for regional and world security. Global loyalty replaces national loyalty. The international economic order is likely to become less chaotic. The world debt crisis will be at least partly resolved... While such changes are occurring the education system will be preparing citizen's minds for the 21st century. The world a hundred years from now will be different from that today, as today's world is from the 19th century. People's thinking will be equally changed..." (From "Global Checkmate", available from Brian Garling; Box 727 Parkes, NSW 2870)
These must be days of strenuous, ceaseless, persevering, and, if God bless us, successful toil. We shall labour till we are worn out and laid to rest. Vincent, the nonconformist minister, in his small volume on the great plague and fire in London, entitled "God's Terrible Voice in the City", gives a description of the manner in which the faithful ministers who remained amid the danger discharged their solemn duties to the dying inhabitants, and of the manner in which the terror-stricken multitudes hung with breathless eagerness upon their lips, to drink in salvation ere the dreaded pestilence had swept them away to the tomb. Churches were flung open, but the pulpits were silent, for there was none to occupy them; the hirelings had fled...
Preaching to Plague Victims
Then did God's faithful band of persecuted ones come forth from their hiding places to fill the forsaken pulpits. Then did they stand up in the midst of the dying and the dead, to proclaim eternal life to men who were expecting death before the morrow. They preached in season and out of season. Weekday or Sunday was the same to them. The hour might be canonical or uncanonical, it mattered not; they did not stand upon nice points of ecclesiastical regularity or irregularity; they lifted their voices like trumpets, and spared not. Every sermon might be their last. Graves were lying open around them; life seemed now not merely a handbreadth but a hairbreadth; death was nearer now than ever; eternity stood out in all its vast reality; souls were felt to be precious; opportunities were no longer to be trifled away; every hour possessed a value beyond the wealth of kingdoms; the world was now a passing, vanishing shadow, and man's days on earth had been cut down from threescore years and ten into the twinkling of an eye!
Oh, how they preached! No polished periods, no learned arguments, no laboured paragraphs, chilled their appeals or rendered their discourses unintelligible. No fear of man, no love of popular applause, no overscrupulous dread of strong expressions, no fear of excitement or enthusiasm, prevented them from pouring out the whole fervour of their hearts, that yearned with tenderness unutterable over dying souls.
"Old Time," says Vincent, "seemed to stand at the head of the pulpit with his great scythe, saying with a hoarse voice, 'Work while it is called to-day: at night I will mow thee down.'" (Words to Winners of Souls by Horatius Bonar; submitted by David Shulz)
An ancient legend from Europe tells the story of a mountain nobleman who built a chapel for his impoverished townspeople. It was to be a fine structure and when it was completed, the people marvelled at its beauty ... except for one point.
The chapel had no lamps - there was no lights to see by. When the people inquired of their kindly benefactor, he smiled and gave each family a lamp. "You will be the lights of the church. Whenever you come, the pew in which you sit will be lit!"
What a wonderful truism this is for each of us. Jesus said that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Whenever we gather for worship or for fellowship, the Light of Jesus shines out from each of us. (Bev, Loxton, quoted in The Lantern)
One morning last year I woke up at 2 am and started to pray for someone I knew who lived down the coast. I prayed for them and then went off to sleep again. About 3 months later I found out that at that time that God had woken me up to pray for that person they were in a car smash, and rolled it over a few times and wrecked it. The people in the car got out without a scratch. God is good.
There was a chap here I know and he claimed he was an atheist. I prayed and continued to pray for the family (4 kids). One day I prayed for his kids to know about Jesus. I drove up to his place and he was in the shed, and just as I pulled in a woman walked down the street and came to the gate and asked him if he would like his kids to go to Sunday school. He looked at me and I said "they're OK to go to", so he called the kids out and the kids agreed to go once. They liked it, and are still going after a few months. They used to be little terrors (I mean terrors!) but are now about a thousand times better, and he himself is better and easier to talk to. Yesterday he was here and listened to some beautiful hymns I had on the tape recorder. I might be broke but not broken - and can still pray for people. (Kevin, Mt Isa, Qld)
In the latter part of 1997, after X-rays and CT scans, I was diagnosed as having a life-threatening neck condition. I was warned by the medical profession to be extremely careful how I moved my head, as any sharp or quick movement could kill me. Any manipulation of my neck could kill me. I experienced terrible headaches daily, stiffness, and nausea. I received prayer for my condition as soon as it was diagnosed, and regularly afterwards. I experienced less symptoms, until finally I had no symptoms. My physiotherapist said it had to be God who had healed me, as no treatment he'd given me or could ever give me would ever be able to heal me - or even relieve the symptoms to that extent. I have not had any symptoms since. Glory to God. (Leone, WA)
Some Christians are predicting that Indonesia will become a militant Islamic state, and will invade Australia. (Sources in Victoria).
There are now 30,000 Indonesian troops, fully armed and equipped, all wearing blue UN berets, in and around Darwin. Most of our small arms ammo (223 & 308) has been given to the Indonesians. Our Army has insufficient ammunition for target practice. Ration cards are being printed for all Australians. A network of colour-coded concentration camps is being developed in remote areas; blue for "re-education", red for "liquidation". All communication devices (phone, fax, email) can be monitored anywhere, and any one of 300 words automatically trigger recording and tracking devices. Tim Fischer, deputy Prime Minister stated that by the year 2000 there will not be a single gun left in Australia. All major licensed firearms dealers are being bought by the government. Authorities are demanding eradication of asbestos roofing, which is impervious to airborne infra red scanning. Perhaps this is why lead paint has been eradicated. Regular black helicopter flights (no identification marks) are occurring over populated areas in grid search patterns. (Allen Woodham, Mt Gambier; from sources regarded as extremely reliable)
The title of the Pope is Pontifex Maximus, the title held by the powerful ancient Roman Emperors. In historical times the Pontifex Maximus was in charge of consecration of temples to the gods, the worship of dead people, and the choosing of the vestal virgins for the service of the goddess Vesta. (Encyclopaedia Brittanica)
The Pope is also called the Vicar of Christ (Vicarius Christos). Vicarius = substitute (Oxford Dictionary). Anti = opposite, substitute (Strong's Concordance). So then, the Latin Vicarius Christos can be transliterated as the Greek, Antichristos (Anti Christ). (Martin, Oyster Bay, NSW)
In Acts 17:11 we are told that the Christians of Berea were more noble than those of Thessalonica, and searched the Scriptures daily to see (or test) if what Paul was teaching lined up in accordance with the Word of God. They did not randomly accept what was being taught, but were faithful to the Lord's Word. Those who profess Christianity are told in Eph. 5:6, Let no man deceive you with vain words... We are also instructed from the Word of the Lord that He did not approve of His house being turned into a house of merchandise (Mt. 21:12). The Bible admonishes us to expose error (Isa. 8:20, Rev. 2:2, 14-15). False teachers are to be tried by the Word of God and exposed. The Lord expects us to be watchmen (Ezek. 33:3). Sadly, I think that Jesus would not be welcome if He came unto so many churches of our present generation. He would certainly be branded as unloving, and intolerant (Mt. 23:33-38). I trust that you will continue to keep the people informed, regardless of the attacks of those who refuse to heed the warning of our Lord, "My people perish for a lack of knowledge". Those who do not discern the times we are living in will be accountable before the Lord Himself. For all those who would live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Paul speaks of those who are enemies of the cross. He was speaking of those who were religious. May He keep you and yours in His uncompromising Truth, when at last we hear the trumpet call of His return. (Alice, Ferntree Gully, Vic)
Examine everything carefully (1 Th. 5:21-22). The Christian life is precise, disciplined thinking. We do not live a do as you like, do as you please, do what ever feels good existence. The Word of God sets fixed demands. There are no changing doctrines or changing values. Morals do not change, ethics do not change. Today churches are voting in new theology, new morals, new ethical standards, and changing the traditions that Christianity was built on. In a true Christian church none of these things change. Today Christianity is in a severe state of confusion. It is not sure what it is supposed to believe or think. The church today is under attack from all quarters. Evil confounds and confuses it. Taking a stand against the evil that threatens the church is not popular. It is frowned upon. (Neil, Jurien Bay, WA)
Today's music is not suitable for worship services. It's rock and roll, and is repeated and repeated. It's wrong. You have to criticise today - sermons, hymns, ecumenism, freemasonry. (Joseph, Rockingham, WA)
Isn't the Word of God Sufficient? The evil one is making great inroads into the churches, but more particularly into those churches that once proclaimed the Word and Witness, but now have "sided" with the world and introduced heavy music and worldly activities to attract the youth! (Ron, Toormina, NSW)
Know the promises (Jn. 14:3, Ac. 1:11-12, Zech. 14:3-5, 1 Th. 4:16-17),
be eagerly expectant (Titus 2:11-13, Heb. 9:28),
understand the times and seasons (1 Th. 5"1-6, Mk. 13:2, Mt. 24:4),
recognise the times (Mt. 16:2-3, Lk. 17:26-30, Mt. 24:7-51),
note the signs (Dan. 12:4, Lk. 21:24, 1 T. 4:1-2, 2 T. 3:1-5, 8-9, 2 Th. 2:3),
and cultivate holiness and right relationships (Heb. 12:14, 2 P. 3:10-12, 14,
1 Jn. 3:2-3).
(Ivan Bell, Mitcham, Vic)
What is the pet sin of Christians? Gambling? Liquor, white collar crime, sexual immorality? No. It is the use of television. What began as a scientific breakthrough in the late 40's with the promise of much good for mankind, has now been used of Satan as an insidious purveyor of filth, obscenity, perversion, violence, and liberal ideology. The proliferation of television sets in America has become widespread. Now one could pass by even the poorest of welfare recipients any night of the week, and see the flickering of the TV through the window. He would be undoubtedly watching his favourite filth in living colour in the same way as the wealthy. One may do without a telephone or an automobile, but to be without a television would be unthinkable! Many homes have several sets to have more convenient access to their favourite sin.
TIME AS A MEASURE
How can it be called a favourite or pet sin? The average television watcher
now sits entranced for 7.2 hours per day enjoying his lust, violence. or perversion
of all that is right and decent. If one's favourite activity would be measured
by what he does voluntarily, by choice, and by length of time involved; watching
television is the clear winner.
DISTINCTIVES OF CHRISTIANS
Bible Christianity has distinctives. Bible Christians are commanded by Scripture
to not love the world, or the things in the world (1 Jn 2:15), to be uncontaminated
by the world around us (2 Pet 3:14),to live holy lives (1 Pet 1:15). to abstain
from fleshly lusts (1 Pet 2:11), to abstain from even the appearance of evil
(1 Thess 5:22). Believers are to jealously guard their thought life to ensure
it is approved of God (Phil 4:8), bringing captive every thought into obedience
to Christ (2 Cor 10:5).
DISTINCTIVES OF TELEVISION
Television also has distinctives. and they are vigorously contrary to the
above. Producers and sponsors attempt to outdo competitors' shows with profanity,
blasphemy, obscenity, violence, loose, lowlife living, nudity, perversion and
so on This should not be surprising. As a group, the moguls of the television
industry are among the most unbelieving, unchurched, blasphemous, anti-God infidels.
You and I both know that their life-style and ideas will creep into and become
a part of their TV productions. Our Saviour has said whatever is in our heart
will come out in our lifestyle (Matt 7:15-20) These actors, producers, directors
and sponsors are regularly spewing out filthy productions that are wholly consistent
with their evil hearts. To put it another way, we will not get clean, decent,
moral, character-building television programming from bad people.
CHRISTIANS DO THIS?
Christians do not indulge in Hollywood cesspool movies, rock music, drag
parties, wife-swapping, sodomite steam baths, mixed swimming, nude shows, prostitutes,
etc. They shun these wicked pleasures of the word, nor would they allow their
children to participate in this wickedness. Yet in the privacy of Christian
homes all of the above evil practices are on TV in full colour, extolled; held
up as proper and acceptable behaviour and encouraged. Bible Christianity on
the other hand is mocked, scorned and made an object of derision. Even the so-called
good shows attack Bible values. The news programming has a palpable leftist,
liberal slant to the point one could wonder if Moscow sometimes prepares the
newscasts. The time-wasting sports keep countless Christians out of church on
the Lord's Day and many others from Bible reading, family altar and prayer.
One looks in vain to discover redeeming features of this medium of mass media
that has become so wicked that it is so thoroughly enjoyed by the world and
now has become the pet sin of Christians.
LET US FACE FACTS
Honestly now, after having watched your favourite TV show, did you rise,
stretch and remark this has made me a better Christian or I am closer to God
after having watched that. Have you noticed your children developing more of
an interest in the Bible, witnessing and standing alone for Christ after the
steady diet of television you have permitted them to watch? What would Christ
say if He were to watch TV over your shoulder as you enjoy your favourite broadcasts?
What's your son thinking as he watches naked [or half-naked] women? What are
you thinking? What Bible values and moral character are being taught and reinforced
in your family as you watch? Has it stimulated you to join those who go calling
at your church? Honest answers to these questions ought to convince you of the
utter failure on your part of controlling and censoring your pet sin!
Television is a modern-day river of filth with several tributaries (channels). I look after a home for troubled teen-aged girls. These girls tell me they have formed their values, made life decisions and goals based on this river of filth. Ever wonder about its lasting effects? Our girls do not have access to TV; yet a year later they discuss shows they have seen, as if they saw them yesterday! We would not fill our stomachs from a sewer, yet we are filling our mind, heart and soul from one, and giving our children a hearty appetite for more.
WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY?
Dad, all of the terrible moral and spiritual devastation from TV occurring
in your life and in your family is your fault! You see, you are God s prophet,
priest, and king in your home. He will hold you responsible as the head of the
family. You are the protector of your family against evil influences; and how
in God's name, and based on the Bible, can you say you are protecting them from
evil influences when you allow the TV sewer to freely run in your home? Some
men say, if I get rid of my set, there would be World War III with my wife,
I know. Since you have allowed this evil in your home, she is probably hooked
on the soaps and other choice tidbits of moral sewage. You will also face a
battle with the kids, since they are similarly hooked on the violence-filled,
immoral cartoons. This is not to mention your friends and relatives who would
believe you to be a weirdo, a kook, and who believe that you would be depriving
your family. Why, in order for you to get rid of your set, you would have to
be a man!
If you keep the TV sewer in your home, do not expect a pleasant time at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). Tolerating this sin and even enjoying it calls into serious question your faithfulness to Christ and your stewardship to Him.
SOURCE OF CONFUSION
You are introducing confusion in the hearts and minds of your children by
having TV in your home. TV does not agree with the authority and truth to which
a child ought to be exposed in a Bible believing home. In fact, the basic message
of TV is hostile to the truths conveyed by faithful Bible preachers, Sunday
School teachers, Christian Day School teachers, and which ought to be conveyed
by believing parents.
Every teaching model (TV characters are strong, polished and compelling models) your child has, ought to be in basic moral agreement on values. To have the home, school and church proclaiming one set of values to the child while your TV set vigorously and effectively teaches another is to cause confusion of the first order. This is not only unwise, it is foolhardy. Ask yourself, do your children emulate and venerate the stars on TV, or their preacher and Sunday School teacher? Are they accepting and learning the barnyard morality of TV or the morality of Scripture? Are they praising a long-haired sports hero who desecrates the Lord's Day every Sunday he plays, or are they avidly sharing the details of a 19th century missionary about whom they have just read? Who is winning the battle for your child's heart? Why should you even allow this battle for their soul and confusion in their minds by using a TV set?
WHAT INFLUENCES?
A parent must never allow influences in the life of his child that do not
reinforce and strengthen his Bible-based convictions. In fact, to allow such
influences in his own. If you are one of the many carnal believers using a TV
set in your home, I must warn you about the consequences of your sin. God has
told us whatever we sow, we will reap (Galatians 6:7-8). A crop takes time to
grow, but reaping time (judgment) will always come. You will pay for your sin
in your own life and the life of your children and grandchildren. This is not
to mention what you will face at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10).
PhD. IN FILTH
A PhD. candidate may concentrate 2,000 hours to earn his doctorate in a
particular field of study. Count up your family's average viewing time to see
how long it took you to obtain your PhD. in filth. I daresay, many carnal Christians
have earned several doctorates in filth!
THE FACTS OF THE MATTER
Anyone owning and watching TV is not seriously interested in personal revival.
Such an individual, though he be called a Christian, is not actively seeking
holiness of life. The facts are, he is a dirty compromiser like Lot: wanting
to be called a Pilgrim, trying to act like one, yet pitching his tent toward
Sodom, and then actually moving into town. He has a pet sin and is not willing
to give it up!
Remember this, my friend, your controversy is not with me, it is with a Holy
God. A thrice-Holy God still calls sin, SIN! While you (through your pet sin
of TV), are saying in effect a little bit of sin is OK. We expect the unbelieving
world to sit enthralled at the fleshpots of the TV sewer, but for Christians
it is especially wicked and evil. It is not helping you to grow in grace and
if you are honest, you will admit it. I pray some Christians who read this will
be willing to give up their pet sin. What will you do?
(Ronald E. Williams, Pastor, Believers Baptist Church, 508 School St..
Winona Lake, IN 46590)
Tom Gray laid down on a bar-room floor
Having drank so much he could drink no more
So he fell asleep with a troubled brain
To dream that he'd rode on a hell-bound train.
The engine with blood was red and damp
And brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp,
While an imp for fuel was shovelling bones,
And the furnace rang with a thousand groans,
The boiler was filled with lager beer
And the devil himself was the engineer.
The passengers made such a motley crew,
Church member, atheist, Gentile and Jew,
Rich men in broadcloth, beggars in rags,
Handsome young ladies, withered old hags,
Yellow and black men, red, brown, and white,
All chained together - a horrible sight!
As the train dashed on at an awful pace,
A hot wind scorched them on hand and face,
Wilder and wilder the country grew,
As faster and faster the engine flew,
Hotter and hotter the air became,
'Til the clothes were scorched from each quivering flame.
And then in the distance, there rose up a yell,
"Ha, ha," croaked the devil, "We're nearing Hell!",
And then the passengers shrieked with pain,
And begged that the devil stop the train,
But he only laughed and campered with glee,
And sang and joked at their agony.
My faithful friends, you have done my work,
And the devil can never a payday shirk,
You have bullied the weak, you have robbed the poor,
And the starving brother turned from your door;
You have justice scorned, and corruption sown,
And trampled the laws of nature down.
You have paid full fare, so I'll carry you through,
For it's only right that you get your due.
Why the labourer always expects his hire,
So I'll land you safe in the Lake of Fire;
Where your flesh shall roast in the flames that roar,
And my imps torment you more and more.
Then Tom awoke with an agonised cry,
His clothes wet with sweat and his hair standing high,
And he prayed as he never had prayed before,
To be freed from drink and the devil's power,
And his prayers and cries were not made in vain,
For he never more rode on that hellbound train.
(Selected)
I notice a lot of people mentioning handing out tracts. Please don't get me wrong, but whatever happened to reaching people, by the Bible alone, and talking to people. I used to do street witness and find people are very hostile and antagonistic towards it. I don't think people have true respect for someone handing out tracts and forcing them to listen to preaching. Whatever happened to being a true living witness of God's love... Most people I know have become Christians not by street witness or tracts, but by openly speaking with someone, or seeing how someone's life had been turned around by the love of Jesus. Jesus spent time with people, He didn't shove a tract in their hand and walk on. (Peggy, Annerley, Qld)
My idea for outreach is to do produce a basic single leaf, double-sided tract, including a contact phone number or address, providing guidance to inquirers. Next, establish what day of the weeks have the least junk mail delivered for best effect, and ensure area is not overlapped. Then, deliver tracts efficiently. This is a very effective and low cost methos. Time for Christians is fast running out. We ought to attempt to reach as many as possible. (Nat, Childers, Qld)
I am in my twentieth year as a street preacher and open-air evangelist. During this time I have possibly experienced every kind and type of human (and spiritual) encounter that can happen... with no regrets. The Lord has always been faithful. It is far better to do something for Christ and fail, than to do nothing, and play the coward. I believe that God will always forgive the failure but not the coward. I hope one day to acquire a small campervan to extend my "field of area". Some towns have never had a street preacher - this is sad. I would like to see a street preacher in every town, faithfully standing in public, with a Bible in hand, proclaiming the Word of God, and honouring our Lord Jesus Christ, as we should and must (Mark 16:15). (Alan, Shepparton, Vic)
A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale." Signs like that have a way of attracting small children and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign. "How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked. The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50." The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?" The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?"
The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.
The little boy became excited. "That is the little puppy that I want to buy."
The store owner replied, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him to you." The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."
The store owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies."
To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!" (From Brian Bond)
Ralph was driving home one evening when he suddenly realises that it's his daughter's birthday and he hasn't bought her a present. He drives to the mall, runs to the toy store and says to the shop assistant, "How much is that Barbie in the window?"
In a condescending manner, she says "Which Barbie?" She continues, "We have Barbie Goes to the Gym for $19.95, Barbie Goes to the Ball for $19.95, Barbie Goes Shopping for $19.95, Barbie Goes to the Beach for $19.95, Barbie Goes Nightclubbing for $19.95, and Divorced Barbie for $265.00".
Ralph asks, "Why is the Divorced Barbie $265.00 when all the others are only $19.95?"
"That's obvious" the sales lady says. "Divorced Barbie comes with Ken's house, Ken's car, Ken's boat, Ken's furniture." (Submitted by Karol)
"Where two or three are gathered TOGETHER in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20). These words have comforted, strengthened and encouraged many souls throughout the ages. TOGETHER we can go on. Let us Christians who have this glorious hope give thought to the following things we are to do together and take heart. Agree together, assemble together, called together, come together, comforted together, gathered together, glorified together, heirs together, helpers together, in pain together, joined together, labourers together, planted together, pray together, praise together, quickened together, rise up together, run together, strive together, work together! (Val Stares, Above Rubies, 1/98)
As a teenager I can remember going to church camp and having my heart strings tugged as we sang the old songs of the faith. As men of God fearlessly preached the Old Black Book, I turned from my sin, established solid convictions, and devoted my life to clean and holy living. I thank God for some old men who were not afraid to preach the truth to a Hell bent teenager who "didn't want to hear it."
I fear that we are not giving today's teenagers the same opportunity to hear the truth and make lasting decisions for Christ that we had. Modern youth ministry is nothing more than worldly entertainment. The same type of worldly entertainment that was preached against a generation ago. Now instead of singing "What can wash away my sin? - Nothing but the blood of Jesus" we bring in some long haired, homosexual looking rock and roll singers and call it a Christian concert. Instead of singing spiritual songs around the campfire at our church camps we have worldly styled concerts. Instead of preachers we have "speakers", and instead of Bible doctrine we have pop psychology. The kids are taken to amusement parks, water parks, zoos, beaches, and other such things. When they are too tired to do anything but sleep they are brought to the big auditorium where they will sing shallow, meaningless songs and be given a 10-minute pep talk. There is no preaching against sin, no encouragement to holy living, no emphasis on doctrine, and no separation from the world.
If the King James Bible was the Word of God a generation ago then it is still the Word of God today! If TV and Hollywood movies and rock music, and rap music, and country music, and all other types of worldly amusements were sin a generation ago then they are sin today! If it was sin a generation ago, if it was modernism a generation ago, if it was worldliness a generation ago, then it is still wicked today!
I am saved today because a preacher took the Bible, preached against my sin, and fearlessly proclaimed the Gospel (Rom. 10:14, 1 Cor. 1:21). We need to get rid of the "youth speakers" and bring back the preachers. I thank God that as a teenager I went to a youth camp where an old-fashioned preacher was not afraid to preach against my sin. If our teenagers are going to live clean lives then we must preach against their sin (Isa. 58:1).
I discovered the great doctrines of the Bible as a teenager. I decided that I was going to believe every word of the Old Black Book when I was fifteen. I stopped attending movies and burned my rock music at age thirteen. I decided to only date modest and godly girls and to marry a godly wife when I was sixteen. I abstained from sexual impurity and kept myself for my wife because of preachers who were not afraid to preach I Cor. 7:1-3. I surrendered to preach the gospel as a teenager, and I have done so ever since. I walk with God today because when I was a teenager there were some preachers and some youth camps that were willing to risk offending me in order to tell me how to live a life that would please God. If our teenagers are going to make these decisions then they will make them the same way, as a result of Bible preaching and the example of older Christians who walk what they talk.
We owe it to our teenagers to preach against sin. We owe it to our teenagers to draw a line between worldliness and godliness. We owe it to our teenagers to preach, "Thus saith the Lord." If we do not show our kids the horror of Hell, they will burn there forever and ever and ever and ever and ever! If we do not show our teenagers how to live holy they will live in sin. If our children are to be saved, if our society is to survive, we must give our teenagers the same opportunities we had when we were their age.
The Bible says that Christians are supposed to be different (Deut. 14:2, 26:18, Ti. 2:14, 1 P. 2:9). We should look different, talk different, act different, and live different. We should enjoy different things, laugh at different jokes, listen to different music, and so on. It is time to stop imitating the world and live as new creatures in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). Let's have our teenagers dress different from the world. Instead of allowing our teenage girls to dress like the trampy girls in the world with miniskirts, tight jeans and cut off tops, lets adorn them in modest apparel (1 T. 2:9). Instead of having worldly music with "Christian" words, let's have Christian music with Christian words.
The Bible says "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Th. 5:22). I have heard many so called "Christian" rock, rap, and country songs that sounded just like the music they play in bars and nightclubs. If it looks like a rat, smells like a rat, or sounds like a rat: IT IS A RAT! I have never known of anyone who mistook "Amazing Grace" for a worldly song.
If we are going to teach our young people to be clean and chaste then we should also teach them dress in such a way that others will not lust after them. If we are going to tell them that "Cop Killer" is wrong then we should not allow DC Talk and other such worldly trash in our youth activities. We must draw a line! Black must be black and white must be white! There can be no grey! (2 Cor. 6:14 - 7:1; Rom 12:1-2). We will not win the world by imitating them. We will win the world by preaching against sin and lifting up Jesus Christ (Jn. 12:32). Like John the Baptist, we must insist that our teenagers "bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance" (Mt. 3: 8).
If we want our teenagers to turn out right we must change the way we do youth ministry. We must change back to the old way (Jer. 6:16). We must decide that we will teach our teenagers the same old-fashioned standards of holy living that we were taught. We must refuse to compromise, change, or waiver. We must decide to do right even if it means leaving a fellowship, association, or denomination. We must decide to do right at any cost.
Pastors and youth workers must not be afraid to preach the whole counsel of God to our teenagers (Acts 20:27). They may not want to hear it, neither did I and neither did you; but they need to hear it or they will never live for God. We need to stop trying to give them what they want and start giving them what they need.
I am not against taking teenagers to an amusement park. I am not against pizza, Pepsi, or volleyball. I am against youth programs that are all pizza and Pepsi with no preaching. Let us take our teenagers to amusement parks, feed them pizza, take them to ball games, love them, and show them how to have good clean wholesome fun. We should have youth activities that are fun. We should also have activities that teach our teens how to be saved, how to live separated from the world in a way that pleases God, how to share the Gospel with their friends and school mates and lead them to Christ, and how to pray and read the Bible. Let's teach them the great doctrines of God's Word so they will be prepared to stand in this evil world.
When we have youth conference let's have good old-fashioned singing and preaching like we used to have. Let us have preachers who are men of God with a message from God. Then let us conclude with a public invitation so our teenagers have an opportunity to do something with what they have heard. And let our camps be a place where our teens can escape the pressure of the world and find God. Let us show our young people their sin. Let them know that it breaks the heart of God and will only lead to a life of heartache and misery. Show them that sin is only pleasurable for a season (Heb. 11:25) and that "the way of transgressors is hard" (Prov. 13:15). Give them an opportunity to "taste and see that the LORD is good" (Ps. 34:8).
Open up the Old Black Book, "CRY ALOUD AND SPARE NOT" (Isa. 58:1)! Our children's future depends on it. (Dr Ed De Vries, USA)
Many people of our church are very much into Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), so that they can reach the younger people and blah, blah, blah, blah...... Personally I think that it is sick. If Lucifer was the music leader of Heaven (Ez. 28:13), then why don't we think that he will use his talents on earth to turn people away from God? CCM is nothing new. Moses dealt with it when he came down from the mount and the people made the golden calf. Moses said that he heard the sound of music, a good Old Testament Christian Rock concert (Ex. 32:18).
I was backslidden for a few years after my salvation, and got into some heavy Satanism. This music if very dangerous and deadly!!! I am very mad about all the blasphemy that is going around today about the Saviour of my soul. There are many services that I have to walk out on the singing because of the rock and roll or jazz or blues beats that are being played.
A church member's daughter, about 13 years old, was dancing on the pulpit like a stripper while someone was practicing a song for the following Sunday. My wife said, would you look at your daughter. The mother answered with a giggle, "Well David danced before the Lord." Christians are always praying that the lost receive sight, and that the scales be pulled away, but when it happens some people spend the rest of their Christian lives trying to put those scales back on. That is why we have Bible perversions and CCM and other junk. Christians are blinded by Satan AGAIN! (Keith Dauch, Italy)
Awesome.
Beautiful.
Captivating.
Divine.
Excellent.
Fantastic.
Glorious.
Holy.
Incredible.
Joy.
King of Kings.
Lord of Lords.
Magnificent.
Near to all who call on Him.
Omnipotent.
Perfect.
Quick to respond.
Regal.
Sensational.
Terrific.
Unique.
Victorious.
Wonderful.
Xtraordinary.
Yahweh.
Zealous.
(Dennis Sumpter, Tas)
Jean Thompson stood in front of her fifth-grade class on the very first day of school in the fall and told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her pupils and said that she loved them all the same, that she would treat them all alike. And that was impossible because there in front of her, slumped in his seat on the third row, was a little black boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were unkempt and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy was unpleasant.
It got to the point during the first few months that she would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then marking the "F" at the top of the paper biggest of all. Because Teddy was a sullen little boy, no one else seemed to enjoy him, either. At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's records and put Teddy's off until last. [This was just before the Christmas holidays]. When she opened his file, she was in for a surprise. His first-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright, inquisitive child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around." His second-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy continues to work hard but his mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class. He is tardy and could become a problem."
By now Mrs. Thompson realised the problem but it was all she could do, with the school Christmas play and all, until the day before the holidays began and she was suddenly forced to focus on Teddy Stoddard. Her children brought her presents, all in beautiful ribbon and bright paper, except for Teddy's, which was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper of a scissored grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of cologne. She stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume behind the other wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed behind just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and speaking. Instead, she began to teach children.
Jean Thompson paid particular attention to one they all called "Teddy." As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. On days there would be an important test, Mrs. Thompson would remember that cologne. By the end of the year he had become one of the smartest children in the class and...well, he had also become the "pet" of the teacher who had once vowed to love all of her children exactly the same.
A year later she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that of all the teachers he'd had in elementary school, she was his favourite. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still his favourite teacher of all time.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would graduate from college with the highest of honours. He assured Mrs. Thompson she was still his favourite teacher.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still his favourite teacher but that now his name was a little longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that Spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering...well, if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the pew usually reserved for the mother of the groom. She agreed, and guess what, she wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And I bet on that special day, Jean Thompson smelled just like... well, just like the way Teddy remembered his mother smelling on their last Christmas together.
THE MORAL:
You never can tell what type of impact you may make on another's life by your
actions or lack of action. Consider this fact in your venture through life.
– Author Unknown.
Submitted by Dottie Francis (Encounter Weekly)
(Jn 1:35-42)
Realise their vital need to be born again (Jn. 3:3, 7, 36), and the shortness
of time. (Jas. 4:14, Prov 27:1).
Commit yourself whole-heartedly to the task, using every opportunity (Col 3:23, Lk. 11:5-8), and enlisting others, to visit, or pray (Jas. 4:2). Live a life consistent with your faith; with right heart, walk, and attitude.
An 11 year old lad in Effingham IL, one Sunday got a burden for his parents. During the invitation he cried and told the Lord he would give anything, even his life if his parents would only come once to hear his preacher tell of God's wonderful plan of salvation. That day he asked several to pray with him that something would cause his parents to come to church. The next day (Monday) he drowned. Both parents accepted Christ at the funeral. (Submitted by Pastor Jim Preston)
The first time I heard rumours of concentration camps, I was shocked and repulsed at the mere idea, and dismissed it as far-fetched. Well, friends, I WAS WRONG.
Photos and evidence on the Web proves there are indeed such camps set up and they certainly do appear to be ready for use. There are pictures of pre-constructed prison cells on the back of a truck in transit. Maps show where known camps are located across the US. A US Army official document details the plan for US CIVILIAN LABOR CAMPS. The text details U.S. Concentration Camps/Detainment Centres:
"There are over 100 primary and secondary concentration camps across the US. Each houses about 20,000 prisoners. Currently the largest of these facilities is the just outside of Fairbanks, Alaska. The Alaskan facility is a gigantic mental health facility and can hold approximately 2 million people. The majority of these facilities have no prisoners but are currently staffed by military personal. The camps all have railroad facilities, as well as roads, coming and going out of them, to get there. Also quite a few are closed down military bases and are adjacent to airport facilities." This threat is REAL and NOT JUST THE FIGMENT OF SOMEONE'S IMAGINATION!
(B. Kromer, "The Perilous Times", )
The devil once said to his demons below"Make haste with my work - it's
proceeding too slow!"
The holiness people all stand in my way -
they do not believe in the show or the play.
They teach that the carnival, circus and dance,
and drinking and smoking, and things that entrance,
like races and theatre are plainly quite wrong
that such things do not to true Christians belong.
They're quick to condemn all the things that I do
to cause my disciples to be not a few.
They claim they're my weapons with poisonous stings;
That Christian folk live on much godlier things.
Now their theology, while perfectly true,
is blocking the work I am trying to do,
so I have been busy and thought out a plan
to change the ideals of this holiness clan:
So what can be better than objects to view?
I know it will work and convince not a few.
The home is the place for this sinful device,and the people, deceived, will
think it quite nice.
The world will possess it - most Christians can't tell
that the thing I've conceived was plotted in Hell.
We'll show them some pictures and give them the news,
and while they're still looking we'll advertise booze.
At the soul-damning fashions they will all look
until they forget what God says in His Book.
At first they'll be shocked, then get caught in the craze,
and thus become hardened, continue to gaze.
We'll give them some gospel that isn't too strong,
and a few sacred songs to string them along.
The latest of fashions their vision will blur,
while some of the shows evil passions will stir.And murder, and love-making
scenes they'll behold,
until in their souls they'll be bitterly cold.
They will defend it with "Where then is the harm?"
while things that are holy will lose their sweet charm.
The compromise preachers, who don't take their stand
will embrace this new thing and think it is grand;
Their joy in their Saviour for them will be lost
as they look at the screen, not counting the cost.
Now it will not take long, my demons, to tell
that this thing I've conceived will populate Hell.
The home will be damned in short order, I say,
When this "vision" comes in, that's going to stay.
"Get busy, my demons, and put this thing out!"
We'll see if the church can continue to shout.
The holiness people who stand in our waywill soon hush their cry 'gainst the
show and the play.
We'll fill the whole world with this thing I've conceivedfor through Television
they'11 all be deceived
And little by little I'll set up my throne -as "Prince of the air",
Place the world in their home;They'll look at the pictures, the dance and play,
though they would not go - not for us they would say.
But I'll win through deception- this cannot fail,
and less and less preachers against it will rail.
Soon I'll rule the whole world while viewers behold
the face of the "Beast" to whom they've been sold.
(Submitted by Les Carter)
There is no teaching in the New Testament, since the time of the bringing in of the New Covenant, that the Mosaic system of tithing applied any longer to the disciples of Christ. Paul encourages both the Churches of Galatia and Corinth to set aside a sum of money for collections, but he does not encourage, advise, or commend anyone to tithe in the New Testament. God's Word does encourage us to give and be led of the Spirit (Lk. 6:38). (Graeme Clarke, Mudgeeraba, Qld)
In the 13 months that we have been regularly attending the Church we have NEVER been given a message on tithes and offerings and the collection plate/bag has NEVER been passed around the congregation! There is a small box affixed to the rear wall and we all give as the Spirit moves on our hearts. Yet this Church would be the MOST giving and loving Church we have ever seen. How many churches would be prepared to exercise this kind of faith and COMPLETELY trust the Lord for their provision? (Ron, Coffs Harbour, NSW)
He walked the long road to His death,
Pain etched on His faceHis body bleeding, scarred and sore,
His heart so full with grace.
Some stared, some pushed, some yelled at Him
Some hated and some loved,
But on He walked, along the road
Obeying from above.
Already He was whipped and beaten
His head hurt from the thorns,
But no one showed Him any mercy,
They mocked and spat and scorned.
And when He reached the sacred place,
the place he was to die,They mercilessly nailed Him to a cross
and He hung there, crucified.'King of the Jews' they head His cross,To mock
Him while He died,
Yet He did not flinch or curse them back,
As they yelled their horrid cries.
Many stood to watch Him there,
Some laughed up at His face
While others wept so bitterly,
And some stood, still amazed.
But He hung there, so painfully,
Until, at last, He died
And people saw that He indeed,
Was the Son of God.
So they buried Him and sealed His grave
While mourners wept in vain
But on the third day, He arose
And back to life He came.
Some doubted Him in unbelief,
But He showed to them, the scars,
His hands, His feet, His spear-pierced side,
once clean, but now were marred.And still, today, they doubt Him now,And wish
not to know that road,That Jesus walked, in pain, for them,
carrying on His back, our load.And so they go on, bearing the life
Of guilt, of sin and of shame,
When already the price has been paid for them,
They need only call on His name.
Take the step and walk the road.
That Jesus walked alone,
And know that He has paid the debt,
And He will lead you on.
(Melanie Woodsbey, Bundaberg, Qld)
I believe God can and does heal today. He has healed me of asthma. I had it, sometimes severely, for 5 years. God is sovereign - it is up to Him to the choose if/when/how of healing. He may heal by direct intervention, or He may heal through the gifts He has given medical science. Just as a matter of interest - the reason the healing of my asthma sticks so much in my mind is that in less than a month after I used the nebuliser for the last time, my husband dropped dead. When I was getting ready to visit the Funeral Director's, as a precautionary move I took my puffers with me, thinking that "If asthma is associated with stress, I'll need them "O ye of little faith"! I didn't, I haven't! To God be the glory!!!
I am extremely concerned about such things as The Toronto Blessing, and Brownsville. I certainly don't believe that those activities are from the Holy Spirit. I believe that a lot of division in the overall Body of Christ is sadly caused by an old, old, problem - "same vocabulary, different dictionary".
When the Catholic church talks of Christian unity, they mean all Christians being united under the Pope. Is that what Christ wants? When I speak of confession, I am talking about going to the Lord Himself and acknowledging my sin, and seeking His direct forgiveness. When the Catholics used to talk about Confession, (it is now called 'The Sacrament of Reconciliation'), they meant that they have confessed their sins to their priest in a ritualistic way, and received a list of penances to carry out. eg. 6 Hail Mary's and 5 'Our Father's. Participation in this ritual was compulsory if they wished to take part in the Mass the following day.
Didn't Hitler speak of bringing 'liberation' to some parts of Europe? Speaking just about present-day Christianity, the topic of baptism can often cause heated discussion (sprinkling or immersion?), or as can the discussion as to whether the prophetic gift exists today (are we referring to forth-telling, ie. proclaiming God's judgement on our current way of life, eg. Sydney's homosexual Gay Mardi Gras - or are we referring to fore-telling, ie. predicting the future?)
Every believer is given a spiritual gift at the time of their conversion, and the purpose of this gift is to edify the body of Christ. Teaching on this is sadly lacking. (Helen, Blacktown, NSW)
One of the great tragedies of Christianity, is that God's spiritual gifts are not taught in the churches. I grieve over this. (Alan, Shepparton, Vic)
Contrast... church buildings for large, impersonal, non-participatory gatherings in place of intimate full-participatory home gatherings. The selection of only the most gifted to be the regular speakers in order to best impress the guests. A platform on which to put the speaker so he can be seen by all the people. A classification of Christians into two groups - clergy and laity. Special clothing to differentiate the "minister" from the rest of the crowd. A performance-based service that fosters spectatorism. An organisational structure that requires larger and larger amounts of time, money, and effort to maintain it. The creation of preaching into an art form to be critiqued by the listener, and then judged on the basis of delivery style, personality, charisma, and content.
Institutionalisation of the Church, Intellectualisation of the Bible, Credalisation of our doctrines, Culturalisation of our approach, Rationalisation of the supernatural, Compartmentalisation of God's activity, and Minimisation of holiness and obedience.
James Rutz, in his book "The Open Church" says that the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ lost three essential ingredients as a result of the Constantinian era and the Reformation -
(1) Open Worship, where everyone participated in all aspects of worship rather than selective participation by only the best or the assigned while all others look on as spectators.
(2) Open Sharing, where everyone has the opportunity to share with others what God had been showing him about the Christian experience.
(3) Open Ministry, where everyone is recognised as a qualified minister who can serve, encourage, build up, pray for, and otherwise minister life to others, instead of leaving the ministry up to the "real" minister, the pastor.
A church can have all the man-made trappings and appearances of spirituality and vitality, and still be as dead as death itself. On the other hand, a church can have the most basic of things, and yet be filled with life. Somehow, in some way, we must break free from the chains of institutionalism. We must put programs, structures, systems, buildings, and things in their proper place - and rediscover the fact that the Church and the Gospel it preaches are issues of Life and Relationships. Life generates relationships, and relationships produce life. Any church that tries to function on a level below that of Life and Relationships is, in my opinion, stuck in the muck and mire of immobile institutionalism. (Bob Tolliver, Norbourne, MO, USA Life Unlimited Ministries lifeunlimited@juno.com)
America has now shifted from a print-oriented culture to an image-oriented one. We have lost the ability to rationalise, preferring rather to be entertained. With television, substance gives way to sound and sights, facts are replaced by feelings, issues are replaced by images, and reason is replaced by emotion. At the new and more hip sanctuary, jeans, shorts and T-shirts do fine in services with names like: "Saturday Night Alive". Drama, dance, video clips, rock 'n' roll, TV talk show formats and eating during the service are part of the worship experience. (Christian View of the News, 3/98)
"Gospel Rock"... This modern rubbish is a far cry from David's harp of solemn sound. It is never right to do evil that good may come. Using the world's standards is like serving flour from a chimney sweep's sack. It cannot help bring contamination. Love not the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him. There is nothing new in the New Age, it is simply a return to old paganism. Folk often express sorrow for me, because I do not have a TV, whereas I feel sorry for them because they do. I do not need to watch the TV. I see its teaching where ever I look- it is any thing but holy and undefiled.
The cliché, "doctrine divides, Christ unites" is a flawed statement. If we all come to the truth we shall find that we are united. It is impossible to separate Christ from His truth (Jn. 14:6, 1Co. 1:10). Just in case I sound like a self-righteous old humbug, let me say that I am only a poor sinner saved by Grace. I have no righteousness of my own. He is my righteousness. I am reckoned righteous for Christ's sake (Gal. 2:20). (Les, Meeniyan, Vic)
Our minister had to pull out of the Minister's Fraternal a few years back. Darkness and light can't mix. Just recently he took a funeral here. A couple of days later he received a cheque for $100, being fee for funeral. After making enquiries he found the ministers of the surrounding district have got together and want $100 before doing a funeral. Brian (our minister) sent it back to the people with a covering letter, to say he does not charge to do God's service to anyone. If they wish to give a small donation to God's work that is OK, but he won't be charging a fee. Also he wrote to the ministers and told them, but like Jeremiah's time they didn't want to hear. (Eric, Wondai, Qld)
Our society has rejected truth for the gods of pleasure. Australians think only of the pleasures of this world with their self-indulgence in comfort, sport, sex, drink and whatever else pleases the flesh. Our young people have largely lost their way, having no guidance or direction. We have an epidemic of suicide. Sport has replaced the God of Heaven as the religion of the people. I have walked into churches across Australia, at times, to be confronted with discussions raging over the qualities of yesterday's football games while people prepare themselves to come before a Holy God of righteousness. Our churches are mainly empty and those that are viable are largely running entertainment programs that cater to and stimulate the emotions and daily senses of people rather than challenge or teach spiritual reality. Rock music, sensationalism and human works have replaced respect, integrity and regard for the Word of God. Sideshows and circuses have replaced righteousness and holiness. (Allen, Mt Gambier, SA)
In 1800 BC we were told that light travels (Job 38:16), the stars produce sound waves (Job 38:7), some stars are "bound" in clusters (Job 38:31), the moon has no light of its own (Job 25:5), and electricity can be used for communication (Job 38:35).
As early as 1500 BC it was recorded that the sun was not the only source of light (Gen 1:3, 10:25, Deut. 32:8) and the stars cannot be counted by man (Gen. 15:5, 22:17, Jer. 33:22).
Obviously the Bible was written by Someone far superior to modern man. God's Word is very "up-to-date", very "scientific", and very reliable. (James Melton, Sharon, TN, USA)
The only provision for divorce is for "fornication" (Mt. 5:31 KJV). Fornication is "sexual intercourse between two single people". A married couple cannot commit fornication, but adultery. Unlike modern engagement, betrothal at the time of Jesus meant a contract. The couple remained single until marriage. If either had sexual relations, it was fornication. The offending person could be legally divorced (Lk 1:34). When marriage vows are exchanged, God effectively makes the two "one flesh" (Mt. 19:5; Gen. 2:24); they are no longer two but one. To become free from the law of marriage, the spouse must be dead (Rom. 7:2,3). (Nat Polito, Childers, Qld)
1. Tracts can get inside homes and stay there. You can't.
2. Tracts never lose their temper or get involved in arguments.
3. Tracts never flinch or show cowardice.
4. Tracts can stick to the point without compromising.
5. Tracts never get discouraged.
6. Tracts are willing to travel anywhere.
7. Tracts can work twenty-four hours per day.
8. Tracts are inexpensive.
9. Tracts can be read many times over.
10. Tracts contain scripture, which God can use and bless (Isa. 55:10-11). (Australian
Bible Ministries)
The NIV, NASB, the Message, Good News and other bibles refer to Lucifer as the "morning star" in Isa. 14:12. Lucifer was never the morning star and never will be. Jesus is the "morning star" (Rev 22:16, Rev 2:28. I Peter 1:19) and Lucifer is the "son of the morning". (Isaiah 14:12 KJV).
In Matt 17:21. 2 Cor 6:5.2 Cor 11:27, Mark 9:29, I Cor 7:5. Acts 10:30, the NIV, NASB and others have eliminated "fasting". The word "hell", referred to 31 times in the KJV, has also been changed to "grave" or "depths". This is a way of watering down a place of torment. fire and agony into something very different. (Graeme Clark)
God's men are men of books. During his imprisonment Paul requested books (2 T. 4:13). Paul was inspired by the Almighty to write most of the New Testament, but he wanted books. He had been caught up into heaven... yet he wanted books. The mighty Spurgeon often told his students, "sell your shirt and buy books".
If Paul would sacrifice to buy and study books, if the prince of preachers would "sell his shirt" to buy books, if all of the great preachers of history were men of books, it only makes sense that we need to turn off the TV, turn off the radio, do without our amusements and read books. "Study to show thyself approved" (2 T. 2:15). You need books more than you need a Big Mac. Read your Bible. Read classic works of theology. Read the books of great soul-winners and missionaries of the past and present. Read whenever a spare moment arises. (Ed Devries, USA)
We do not have a happy report to give. We've not been able to find a suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect still. We do appreciate all the suggestions from the church members, and we've followed up each one with interviews or calling at least three references. The following is our confidential report on the present candidates.
Adam: Good man but problems with his wife. Also one reference told of how his wife and he enjoy nude walking in the woods.
Noah: Former pastorate of 120 years with no converts. Prone to unrealistic building projects.
Abraham: Though the references reported wife-swapping, the facts seem to show he never slept with another man's wife, but did offer to share his own wife with another man.
Joseph: A big thinker, but a braggart, believes in dream-interpreting, and has a prison record.
Moses: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator, even stuttering at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge.
David: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbour's wife.
Solomon: Great preacher but our parsonage would never hold all those wives.
Elijah: Prone to depression -- collapses under pressure.
Elisha: Reported to have lived with a single widow while at his former church.
Hosea: A tender and loving pastor but our people could never handle his wife's occupation.
Deborah: Female.
Jeremiah: Emotionally unstable, alarmist, negative, always lamenting things, and reported to have taken a long trip to bury his underwear on the bank of foreign river.
Isaiah: On the fringe? Claims to have seen angels in church. Has trouble with his language.
Jonah: Refused God's call into ministry until he was forced to obey by getting swallowed up by a great fish. He told us the fish later spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.
Amos: Too backward and unpolished. With some seminary training he might have promise, but has a hang-up against wealthy people -- might fit in better in a poor congregation.
John: Says he is a Baptist, but definitely doesn't dress like one. Has slept in the outdoors for months on end, has a weird diet, and provokes denominational leaders.
Peter: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper -- even has been known to curse. Had a big run-in with Paul in Antioch. Aggressive, but a loose cannon.
Paul: Powerful CEO type leaders and fascinating preacher. However, short on tact, unforgiving with younger ministers, harsh and has been known to preach all night.
Timothy: Too young.
Jesus: Has had popular times, but once when his church grew to 5000 he managed to offend them all and this church dwindled down to twelve people. Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he's single.
Judas: His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good
connections. Knows how to handle money. We're inviting him to preach this Sunday.
Possibilities here.
(The Good, Clean Funnies List http://www.angelfire.com/al/GCFL)
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