Benn's Blog

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

2010-01-04T00:29:00.001+05:30

William MacDonald

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)

One of the most deep-seated frailties of fallen humanity is the persistent tendency to judge according to appearance. We judge a person according to his looks. We judge a used car by its body. We judge a book by its cover. No matter how often we are disappointed and disillusioned, we stubbornly refuse to learn that “all is not gold that glitters.”

In his book Hide or Seek, Dr. James Dobson says that physical beauty is the most highly valued personal attribute in our culture. We have made it what he calls “the gold coin of human worth.” Thus a beautiful child is more favored by adults than a plain one. Teachers tend to give better grades to attractive children. Pretty children get less discipline than others. Homely children are more subject to blame for misdemeanors.

Samuel would have chosen the tall, good-looking Eliab to be king (1 Sam. 16:7), but the Lord corrected him, “Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

The greatest case of misjudgment in history occurred when the Lord Jesus visited our planet. Apparently He was not prepossessing as far as physical appearance was concerned. He had no form or comeliness, and when men saw Him, no beauty that they should desire Him (Isa. 53:2). They could see no beauty in the only truly beautiful Person who ever lived!

Yet He Himself never fell into this terrible trap of judging according to looks, for before His advent, it was prophesied of Him, “He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears” (Isa. 11:3). To Him it was not the face but the character that counted. Not the cover but the contents. Not the physical but the spiritual.

Going Without Jesus

2009-10-27T14:53:00.001+05:30

"...they were unaware of it." Luke 2:43

Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Jesus was 12 years old. They were evidently very distracted by the excitement and business of the Feast. In fact, Mary and Joseph began their return trip to Nazareth only to realize well into the trip that Jesus was not with them. It would be three days before they would be reunited with their 12-year-old son. It caused quite a scare in Mary and Joseph, and they reprimanded Jesus for "wandering" off.

As a parent, I find this story truly amazing. How can parents of the Son of God not know their son is not in their presence? Yet this story illustrates how each of us can become so busy that we continue to operate not realizing that Jesus is no longer with us. Obviously, there was very little fellowship taking place between Jesus and His parents during the trip.

Are you experiencing daily, even moment-by-moment, fellowship with Jesus? If not, you will wake up one day and realize Jesus is not with you in your endeavors. It may, like Mary and Joseph, create a certain fear in you that you may have lost a very important relationship. Doing business without Jesus' presence leaves us powerless and prone to live in fear. Jesus said He would never leave or forsake His children. However, we can walk away from His fellowship by refusing to be with Him. Do not let this happen to you. He longs to have daily fellowship with you because He loves you.
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[Courtesy: Os Hillman]

Material abundance vs. Gospel of the Kingdom of God

2009-10-15T12:37:00.000+05:30

"We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance." Psalm 66:12b

It is nice to hear that God desires to bring us into abundance. In fact, many a preacher has promoted the goodness of the Lord and His ability to prosper His children. Alas, my experience is that this gospel of material abundance has little to do with the gospel of the Kingdom as our Lord works in the realm of the sanctified soul. The passage above tells us that God does in fact bring us into places of abundance. However, upon further study of the entire passage, we learn the route to this abundance.

For you, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance (Psalm 66:10-12). God's economy of abundance often has little to do with material blessing. In God's economy, abundance is often measured in wisdom and knowledge of Himself. It is then that we are truly blessed. Wisdom cannot be gained through intellectual pursuits. Wisdom comes only through experience. Real wisdom comes from the kinds of experiences that come only through the deepest tests. Lessons of refinement, including prison accompanied by burdens, lead us through the fire and water. This is the territory that must be traveled to reach that place of abundance. It would seem strange that a loving God would use such means with His children. What we often fail to realize is that God's measuring stick is the character and likeness of Jesus Christ Himself in each of us. This cannot be gained through a life of ease and pleasure. Ease and pleasure fail to refine.

Is God using your workplace to refine you today? Has He placed you in a prison or laid burdens on your back? Take heart if this is the place you find yourself, and realize that if you are faithful through the tests, you will enter a place of abundance that few will ever attain. The darkest hour is just before daybreak.
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[Courtesy: TGIF]

The story written by a doctor...

2009-10-06T22:32:00.000+05:30

Jiju (George Mathew) forwarded me the following mail which I thought would like to share with you.

"Isaiah 65:24

This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa ...

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).

We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying

over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about

keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen". I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.

By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.

Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting.

Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the ... could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!"

Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!

Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."

"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24). This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.

Let's continue praying for one another: Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength as they learn submission to Your leading. Where there is spiritual

stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over my friend's life.

Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in Jesus' name.

My "outward man" and "inward man"

2009-09-25T15:58:00.002+05:30

"Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16)

The old house is breaking down; with some of us the roof is thatched now with white hair, and we are reminded that day by day we shall soon move out unless Christ Himself returns. But we are not disheartened, we are not discouraged, for "though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." My hope is brighter now than it ever was; my joy in Christ is greater than it has ever been; the world means less to me today than it has ever meant, and the applause of men means less. But the approval of the Lord means more than it has ever meant.

Doctrine and Living

2009-08-30T10:26:00.001+05:30

As Christians, it is very important for us to take heed that both Doctrine and Living should go side by side. We cannot separate one from the other. See what William Macdonald has to say on this:

"I often think of this when I read books on systematic theology. In these books the authors seek to gather together all that the Bible teaches on the doctrines of the faith, whether of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, angels, man, sin, redemption, etc. While this has definite value, it can be very cold when isolated from godly living. A person can be intellectually proficient in the great doctrines and yet be sadly deficient as to his Christian character. If we study the Bible as God has given it to us, we never get a dichotomy between doctrine and duty. The two are always beautifully balanced and woven together."

What Suffering Means

2009-08-11T03:24:00.002+05:30

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"Do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or ashamed of me his prisoner... That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed." 2 Timothy 1:8,12(NIV)

Why does Paul tell Timothy not to be ashamed? Why would suffering make Paul ashamed? We have a hard time separating suffering and shame. Suffering raises two questions that lead to shame if we don't know how to answer them.

Does suffering mean God has failed?

Paul spends his life serving the Lord and ends up chained in a prison in Rome. Imagine Timothy trying to share the gospel with an unbeliever in Ephesus. "How can you believe in a God of love who allows his own apostle to languish in jail?"

The world's view is that if God is loving and He is powerful, then He must be able and willing to deliver us from all suffering. So, why is Paul in prison? "My tears have been my food day and night,while men say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?'"(Psalm 42:3)

The first instinct of the unbeliever looking at suffering is to conclude that God has failed. You can see why Timothy might have been ashamed. Evangelism would be easier if God didn't let all these disasters happen.

Does suffering mean that we have failed?

The believer has a different question. In the story of Job, when Job suffered greatly, his friends came to comfort him. The friends were believers. They were quite sure that God had not failed, and so in their minds that only left one alternative and that was that Job had failed. There must be some sin for which Job was being disciplined.

We find the same assumption about suffering in the Gospels:

"As he went along, he [Jesus] saw a man blind from birth.His disciples asked him [notice this is a question coming from the believers],'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?'"John 9:1-2 (NIV)

Jesus' disciples hold a deep conviction that all suffering is a direct consequence of sin. If this man had become blind at age 20, instead of at birth, they would assume it was the result of some sin in his life. Now they are wondering, "Where is the sin?" Was it a past sin of the parents that brought this consequence on him? Or was it the man's own future that God already knew about before the man was born?

We are deeply convinced that suffering and shame belong together. That's why among Christians our deepest question is often, "Does this mean that God is judging me for something I have done?" Pain is a platformWhen suffering comes, the first instinct of the unbeliever is to think that God has failed.

The first instinct of the believer is to think that we have failed. Either way the assumption is that suffering and shame belong together: "'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus. 'But this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'"

John 9:3 (NIV) This is the biblical view of suffering. Far from being evidence of shame, the pain in this man's life is a platform on which God's glory will be revealed. When you experience pain, it's good to pray that God's work will be displayed in your life.
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[Courtesy: Colin Smith]
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"Never mind. The Lord got a dozen oysters tonight."

2009-08-07T02:07:00.001+05:30

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"That the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:1-7)

In the days of John Wesley, lay preachers with limited education would sometimes conduct the church services. One man used Luke 19:21 as his text: "Lord, I feared Thee, because Thou art an austere man." Not knowing the word austere, he thought the text spoke of "an oyster man."
He explained how a diver must grope in dark, freezing water to retrieve oysters. In his attempt, he cuts his hands on the sharp edges of the shells. After he obtains an oyster, he rises to the surface, clutching it "in his torn and bleeding hands." The preacher added, "Christ descended from the glory of heaven into . . . sinful human society, in order to retrieve humans and bring them back up with Him to the glory of heaven. His torn and bleeding hands are a sign of the value He has placed on the object of His quest."

Afterward, 12 men received Christ. Later that night someone came to Wesley to complain about unschooled preachers who were too ignorant even to know the meaning of the texts they were preaching on. The Oxford-educated Wesley simply said, "Never mind. The Lord got a dozen oysters tonight."

Our best may not always measure up to the standards of others. But God takes our inadequacies and humble efforts and uses them for His glory. (CINDY HESS KASPER)

The Master can use what you have to offer,
Though you may consider it small;
His work here on earth is done through His children,
So give Him your best, give your all.
(HESS)

Do what you can where you are with what you have.
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Homosexuality

2009-07-29T01:54:00.004+05:30

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Religious leaders disapprove of the Delhi High Court judgement on homosexuality

New Delhi: Certain religious leaders strongly disapproved of the Delhi High Court judgement which legalised gay sex among consenting adults.

"This is absolutely wrong to legalise homosexuality. We will not accept any such law," Jama Masjid Imam Ahmed Bukhari said.

He also critcised the government for trying to amend the Indian Penal Code to scrap section 377 that criminalises homosexuality.

"If the government makes such attempt to scrap the Section 377, we will oppose it strongly," Bukhari said.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli said homosexuality is not allowed by any religion.

"It is against all religions. It is against the culture of Indian society. We feel there is no need to legalise homosexuality. This practice is unnatural. It should continue as a criminal act," he said.

Father Dominic Immanuel said that churches have no objection to decriminalisation of homosexuality but it should not be legalised.

"We have no objection to decriminalisation of homosexuality because we do not consider these people as criminals on par with other criminals," Immanuel said.

However, churches do not approve of homosexual relations as ethical and moral right of the people, he said.

"It is against nature.Our position is that homosexuality should not be legalised," he said, adding that such practices will increase paedophilia and HIV/AIDS.

The court said Section 377 of the IPC as far as it criminalises gay sex among consenting adults is violation of fundamental rights.

But what the Bible Says About... Homosexuality

Homosexuality continues to make headlines on a daily basis. There is a major movement today to promote homosexuality as a valid lifestyle choice, and it has even become a “hot potato” subject in politics and in schools today. It is likely that you probably know at least one person that struggles with homosexuality, and as a Christian you need to know what the Bible says about the lifestyle choice.

There is no simple answer to this, because not all Christian denominations agree. There are several verses throughout the Bible that have been interpreted to mean that homosexuality is a sin. Still many verses have been interpreted to describe behavior at pagan temples. Thus, much of what you think of homosexuality is how you interpret scripture.

Leviticus 18:22 – “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” (NIV)
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (NIV)

Is it a “Choice?”

Gay rights activists have spent many years trying to tell people that homosexuals are born that way. The three main studies that activists use to claim the biological nature of homosexuality have serious methodological flaws, but the media has latched onto the simplified results.

If people were born to be homosexual would God have considered it a sin? In Leviticus, many interpret the scripture to mean God called for homosexuals to be killed for their sins. A loving God would not create homosexuals only to have them killed for a behavior He created. In Genesis, Eve was created to be a companion for Adam and many interpret from those verses that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

Genesis 2:24 – “For this reason a man will leave his father and other and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (NIV)

Leviticus 20:13 – “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” (NIV)
Still, even if someone believes homosexuality is something a person is born with, most Christians adhere to the concept that pre-marital sex is a sin. Simply, whether it is a homosexual or heterosexual relationship, the ideal is that Christian teens should be waiting until marriage to have sex.

Romans 1:24-25 – “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.” (NIV)

What About My Homosexual Friends?

Many homosexuals are angry or fearful of Christians, because they have been persecuted over the years, and that is a valid concern. Even if you believe that your homosexual friends have sinned, it does not mean you should suddenly give up on them. There is a common saying in the church of “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” We are all sinners in one way or another.

There are also those that believe homosexuals, even those that struggle with their sexual orientation, can be forgiven. The only unforgivable sin, according to the Bible, is to not believe in Jesus as God’s one and only son (John 3:18). Therefore, your homosexual friends can use your guidance and love rather than your judgement

However, it is important for you to understand that the answer to homosexuality is not to convert your friend to heterosexuality, but to guide your friends toward God. Many people think that dating or marriage is the answer to all the homosexual’s problems, but the opposite of homosexuality is not heterosexuality, it is holiness. It is not about creating an attraction to members of the opposite sex, but forming a relationship with God. He will take care of the rest. Plus, there are churches out there that will welcome your friend with open arms. It's about showing God's love.

If your friend does not necessarily turn to God right away, be patient and be an example of Christ. Remember that you are there to plant the seeds. It is God who will make those seeds grow.

John 3:18 – “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only son.” (NIV)

1 Corinthians 3:6 – “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” (NIV)

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And god is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV)
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"All famous men in one map"

2009-07-26T01:12:00.005+05:30

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Johnson has sent me an interesting photograph "All famous men in one map". I was able to identify many (Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, George Bush, Albert Einstein, Putin, Josef Stalin, Mao, Yasser Arafat, Lenin, etc.). How many you are able to do? Please try.

Love - Ben
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MsP Team's visit to North India

2009-07-26T01:01:00.000+05:30

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MsP Team's visit to North India
Ben

Dear Prayer Partners

In answer to our prayer of more than a year, four of us of the MsP Team (George Mathew, Jacob John, Biju Samuel and John Benjamin) along with certain members of our families have had a fruitful visit to the mission fields in North India from 23 June to 5 July 2009. God has intervened, first of all, by having enabled the four of us to get annual leave simultaneously sanctioned by our employers during this year which, we had thought, was not possible until two months ago.

We travelled by train from Cochin (Kerala) to Chitharanjan (Bengal) where we were met by Santhosh Thomas and his team from the Bengal Bible Training Institute (BBTI), Jamtara. During our 3-days of stay in Jamtara, despite the scorching heat wave, we were able to visit several villages such as Madhupur, Deogarh, Kano, Banke, Rajbandh and Dunga and met many evangelists along with the believers.

From Jamtara two jeeps were arranged for our onward travel by road. Apart from the nine of us from Kerala, there were five others including Santhosh Thomas (BBTI), two Bible School students (Dumbola and Ranjit) and two jeep drivers joined the Team. Jeby K. Simon (Evangelist from Katihar in Bihar) joined the team later on the way at Malda in West Bengal. The journey to Chamurchi (via. Siliguri) was hazardous and tiresome which took almost 20 hours of driving from Jamtara. Chamurchi and Jaigaon are located at the Northern tip of India bordering the Himalayan country of Bhutan. From Jaigaon, we travelled to Darjeeling, Samukhtala, Kooch Behar, Falakata, Krishnanagar, Barasat and Kolkata. We were able to visit during this trip, 34 evangelists (at their mission fields), a majority of whom were natives (belonging to the locality). Meetings were also arranged in many villages where we also met hundreds of believers. On our return, we also had the opportunity of meeting C.P. Mathew, one of our pioneer missionaries in the State of Orissa, briefly at Bhubaneswar Railway Station. God willing, we will be sharing with our Prayer Partners detailed report of our visit to each mission field in the coming weeks.

The visit was an eye-opener for us inasmuch as we were able to see a great need for the North Indian work. “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” [Mathew 9:37,38]. This need can only be met by "burdened" brethren along with suitably equipped native evangelists raised from the respective areas.

We request all God's people to pray for the people of North India and for God to raise resources and suitable men to carry out this great task. We also take this opportunity to thank each one of you for your prayer and support for the native missionaries in North India.

With warm Christian regards
for the MsP Team
Ben

[In case you are interested to more about the visit, please email me at ben@bengrace.net]
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Need video clips for your ministry presentations?

2009-05-11T00:59:00.003+05:30

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Are you looking for short video clips for your ministry or presentatins? http://www.wingclips.com/ is a very good place to look around for free video clips. I was able to download a number of such video clips from this site.

Happy downloading!

Benn

If you know the Lord, you can experience peace today.

2009-05-06T02:12:00.000+05:30

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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. --Isaiah 9:6

If you know the Lord, you can experience peace today.

No matter what you may be dealing with--whether it's a stressful family situation, work issues, or poor health--you can find what the Bible calls "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding..."

Jesus is the source of peace, in fact, He is called the Prince of Peace! You need to run to Him in your time of crisis. Then you will find the peace you desperately need.

In John 14:27, Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

You have a choice in times of trouble to try to carry your burden alone, or to run to the Prince of Peace and allow Him to help you. And today, I want to encourage you to run to Jesus to let Him help you... no matter what you're doing through!

IN TIMES OF ANXIETY OR TROUBLE,YOU CAN FIND SUPERNATURAL PEACE IN JESUS CHRIST.
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Courtesy: Jack Graham

"Behold My servant, whom I uphold." (Isaiah 42:1)

2009-03-15T02:32:00.000+05:30

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In a world rife with sound bytes and instant images, we need to teach ourselves to behold, to meditate, to appreciate. The wonders of our Saviour are not discerned in a moment, nor appreciated with a glance. Worship of God does not pour out of a packet marked "just add water." Worship is a precious gift - made valuable by the time invested in its creation. Worship bathes the object of its focus in absolute love and appreciation. Motivation must be strong to engender such emotion. Does he motivate us so? He can, if we take the time to behold and meditate on Him. The Father holds Him up to us and commands us to behold. Do we? (S. McEachern)

An Interview with Rick Warren (author of "Purpose driven Life")

2009-02-18T01:58:00.003+05:30

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You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of SaddlebackChurch in California

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life?

And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.
I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.

We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems:

If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her- It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people...

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit.. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?

Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.
That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
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"Going to do"

2009-01-28T02:07:00.000+05:30

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He that is always "going to do" a great many things, very likely ends in doing nothing. One resolution put into practice is worth any amount of good intentions. The commendation in Matthew 25:21 does not run, "Well intended", or "well planned", but "well done, good and faithful servant".

Satan’s kingdom will never be much shaken by the mere drawing of plans as to what we are "going to do". If the path is clear - if the light of God is shining on our way - then "whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might" (Ecc.9:10). While others may be planning, and perhaps dreaming, let us be doing. There can be no objection to planning for our work, and considering well what we are about to do for God. But let us attend to present duty. Let the work of the Lord for this day be done. Let us lay hold of the passing opportunity and utilise it for God.

Being thus faithful in that which is little, our God may commit to us that which is great. Being diligent stewards in the few things, the Master may make us "ruler over many things".
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- Abridged. "Believers Treasury"

The Potter's Wheel

2009-01-28T02:01:00.003+05:30

The Potter's Wheel

By R.S.B.

A vessel unto honour, sanctified, and
meet for the Master’s use. 2Timothy 2:21.

He shapeth at the potter’s wheel

The vessel He hath planned,

Our little mould of human clay

Is in His mighty hand:

We dare not tell Him what to do,

Nor should we doubt His skill,

But wholly yield ourselves to Him

To work his perfect will.

He riseth from the potter’s wheel,

His workmanship complete,

And lifteth in His skilful hands

The vessel, trim and neat:

With admiration and delight

He setteth it aside,

Meet only for the Master’s use,

In honour to abide.

‘Tis thus that God doth work in us

That perfect work begun,

And will perform it till we bear

The likeness of His Son:

When in the glory of His house

Each vessel will display

The wonders of His matchless grace

For ever and for aye.

Little Things

2009-01-28T02:00:00.002+05:30

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The saddest failures in Christian consistency may often be traced back to what seemed to be a very small issue. There are things that we call "little sins", but the phrase is misleading.

Sin is sin whether men call it great or small. The so-called "little" ones are often the most mischievous because they can be easily left to do their evil work unchecked. They are, in fact, the "little foxes that spoil the vines" (S. of S.2:15). If the "little foxes" are to be cast out of the vineyard, we must take heed to the thoughts, the tongue and the hands. The heart must be cleansed and kept by the Lord.

We must be specially watchful against the beginnings of evil. - Selected.

Saved today, and lost tomorrow? (Part 4)

2009-01-27T01:59:00.000+05:30

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By Charles E. Wigg

They hear His voice: When the Gospel is preached, most react either violently or with scoffing or with cold indifference. If it is preached in the open air, they would shout obscenities or interject in some way. Why do they do this? It is because they know that what is being said is true, and it troubles their conscience. Yet, they will not listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd. There is a very great attempt to get rid of anything that would remotely remind any of the voice of the Good Shepherd from the parliaments of (the so-called) ‘Christian Nations’. The excuse offered is that Church and State must be kept separate. But sometimes, even when the voice of the Good Shepherd is heard; there are those that do respond. They hear His voice.

This makes it abundantly clear, that to become one of Christ’s Sheep, a personal response is required. There are many who rely on the fact that their father, or their grandfather were ‘Christians’, so they must be ‘Christians’ as well. But we know those that are genuine “Christians”, are so because they hear, and respond to the voice of the Good Shepherd. When once a person hears the voice of the Good Shepherd calling them to repentance, to turn away from sin, and to turn to Him, they become eager to hear that voice continually. It is normal for such to read the Bible each day, and through that they hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, speaking to them, teaching them, calling them to Himself, and calling them away from things that would be harmful for them. It is normal for such “Sheep”, to be found with His flock, and sheltered and protected in His fold. Once He calls them by name, and they respond, He does not leave them to wander alone, or to get lost.

They follow Him: Once a person realizes that they are truly one of His “Sheep”, their strongest desire is to “Follow Him”. They desire to keep near to Him who is their “Good Shepherd’. They realize that to be near to Him, is a place of safety, because as they walk close to Him, they will be kept from eating things that would be poisonous to them. They also find pleasure in the company of other members of His Flock. That means that they will attend meetings where the presence of the Good Shepherd is known.

I have heard many people object to the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer by saying. “If once saved, I am always saved, then I can do as I like, it does not matter what I do, I can’t be lost”. My answer to such people is this. That once a person is truly saved they no longer desire to do “What they like”, (meaning that such can practice sin, and ‘get away with it’). Christ’s “Sheep”, have a great longing to please the Shepherd who has laid down His life for them. This is their consuming desire, and the fact that they follow Him, is a proof that they are indeed one of His “Sheep”.
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The word "Evangelist" and the Scriptures

2009-01-25T16:47:00.001+05:30

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The word evangelist is used only three times in Scripture. Therefore, relatively little can be concluded about this person’s role. Philip, who planted churches, is called an evangelist (Acts 21:8), and Timothy was instructed to do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5). Some have the gift of evangelism and are given to the church (v. 11).

The root meaning of evangelist is “to bring good tidings” or “to bring the gospel message.” Illustration: In the New Testament, the evangelist appears to have gone to unbelieving people, attempting to win them to Christ. Some people view the evangelist as a particularly effective soul-winner. Application: Soul-winning is the responsibility of all Christians regardless of their spiritual gifts, offices, or ministries (First Reference, Acts 21:8; Primary Reference, Eph. 4:11; cf. Eph. 2:20.)
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[Courtesy: Nelson Electronic Library]

Barak Hussein Obama as the President of the US

2009-01-22T01:36:00.002+05:30

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With Barak Hussein Obama having taken oath to the office of the President of the oldest and the most powerful democracy, the United States of America, we see the fulfillment of the dream of one of its great civil rights advocates, Martin Luther King Jr.,

I have a dream…

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

Here is something I was able to glean from an Afro-American who narrates the kind of life and struggles he had to go through that nation:

“I am a 69 years old African/Native American raised in Mississippi, a product of segregation. I thank God for my mother who taught me to love everybody. Her job was washing and ironing for “white” people, who delivered their clothes to the house and they were nice people.

I remember when Emmet Till was killed and when Dr. King began the campaign for justice, at the time I was 16. It changed the course of my life, you see I had planned to go to Meharry Medical School, in Nashville, but my mother knew I’d be a part of this campaign for justice and being so young and away from home, she feared for my life. So I was sent “up north” to stay with my aunt. I said all this to say, my mom was right, because when Dr. King came to Detroit, I marched with him and I was also in Washington DC when he made this speech.

My friend and I shed tears on Monday the 19th remembering because she lived in Memphis and was there when Dr. King was killed. The Dream is fulfilling, as I watch TV and see blacks and whites and children enjoying each others’ company on the Mall in Washington waiting for the Inauguration of President Elect Obama who is a man that has shown remarkable character, the words of the song come to mind,

“We shall overcome;
We will walk hand in hand;
We shall live in peace;
We are not afraid,
God will see us through,
Oh deep in my heart,
I do believe, we shall overcome some day–Someday is TODAY!

God bless us one and all for we are Americans.”

The above gives us a picture of the kind of racial prejudices prevalent in the USA until a few years ago. President Obama has ascended to the Presidency overcoming such discriminations and prejudices.

I wish and pray that President Obama, as the first Afro-American President, would be able to walk the talk and re-write the history of that nation and that the US would continue to be a strong nation that stnad for the values its founding fathers once cherished. God bless us. [Ben]
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"Mom, where did I come from ?"

2009-01-18T15:54:00.001+05:30

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A little boy had to write a report for school. So, he went to his mother and asked, "Mom, where did I come from ?"

Surprised at hearing such a question from her child, the mother discreetly answered, "Um, the stork brought you."

"And where did YOU come from ?" the boy continued.

"Well, the stork brought me, just like he brought you. Now go to your room, no more questions please."

But the boy persisted. "What about grandma ? Where did grandma come from?"

"Look, the stork brought grandma, the stork brought me, the stork brought you ! Now, go to your room. I don't want to talk about this any more!"

So, the little boy went to his room and began writing his report: "Our family hasn't had a normal birth in three generations..."

Where to take it from here...

Do you ever wonder how you got here ? The world sometimes gives you answers that are about as stupid as "the stork brought you". Don't believe it. You did not get here by accident. You are not just a highly developed monkey. The Bible tells that you were "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalms 139:14).

Reducing the mysteries of the universe to something that we can measure is like parents telling small children all tales, so they will stop asking questions. Don't let all tales invented in the name of science rob you of your faith. No one knows exactly how God did it, but we know that God created everything, including you and me - and He knows each of us by name. Not only that, He loves and desires a personal relationship with each person He has created. He wants to have a personal relationship with You.

Thank you for your valuable time. May God bless you.
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(c) Wayne Rice

A Quality Christian

2009-01-14T01:23:00.002+05:30

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Jesus talks of hypocrisy right from His message from the mount in Mathew Ch. 5. Hypocrisy shows up in every realm of life. The hardest part to spot one is not in others, but in oneself. One way to find the percentage of adulteration of hypocrisy in our lives is to study and examine it based on spiritual principles and instructions given by Jesus in Mathew 5,6 and 7.

In Matthew Ch.6, Jesus is telling of three areas where we are tempted to do things that are many times for self-glory rather than His. Jesus gives a warning (Mathew 6:1), before he tells of giving, prayer and fasting. The word “take heed” means the motives behind what is done. We may outwardly do well towards others and even be a help to others but the thing that drives us may be wicked and sinful. God has higher standards for us, who are the citizen of heaven.
Jesus gives a warning about charitable deeds that are done for self-praise; to impress others and ourselves, and think that we are adding merit to our deeds. The greatest hindrance in right motives is the desire to please ourselves rather than the Lord. Selfishness can lead to do great exploits in the name of Christ when we really do so for ourselves. It can show up by going to the mission field and receiving the accolades of men for such sacrifice, when the real reason is to make a name for one's self. It may be being busy in the things of God, to have a good name in church. It might be giving great amounts of money, to get noticed in public.

We must strive not to get the praise of men, rather grow in maturity in likeness of our Master Jesus Christ. If we are looking for applause from men, we will receive nothing from the Lord.
Let us remove all acts of self-glory and give God the glory due to His name.

Dear Lord, Please forgive our desire to get recognition and appreciation from men. Amen
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Discipleship Training -Courtesy: http://wallbuilders4christ.wordpress.com

"God to give up His Son for me"

2009-01-09T15:02:00.002+05:30

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The following story is an ideal illustration while delivering a message on John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." God gave His only begotten Son is what it matters. With this background, let us look at the story:

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening. In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service.

With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.

"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the pacific coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.

The aged minister continued with his story, "grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would throw the other end of the life line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was not.

The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. "as the father yelled out, "I love you, son!" he threw out the life line to his son's friend.

By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister's mouth.

"The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend.

How great is the love of God that he should do the same for us. Our heavenly father sacrificed His only begotten son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line he is throwing out to you in this service."

With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the appeal.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely stated one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, he once again looked up at the boys and said, "it sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I’m standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up his Son for me.

You see --- I was that father and your pastor is my son's friend."

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(Author unknown)

"What was your favorite ....when you were growing up?"

2009-01-09T00:01:00.001+05:30

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"Hey Dad," one of my kids asked the other day, "What was your favorite fast food when you were growing up?"

"We didn't have fast food when I was growing up," I informed him. "All the food was slow."

"C'mon, seriously. Where did you eat?"

"It was a place called 'at home,'" I explained.

"Grandma cooked every day and when Grandpa got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did like it."

By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn't tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table. But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I figured his system could have handled it:

Some parents NEVER owned their own house, wore Levis, set foot on a golf course, traveled out of the country or had a credit card. In their later years they had something called a revolving charge card. The card was good only at Sears AND Roebuck.

My parents never drove me to soccer practice. This was mostly because we never had heard of soccer. I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow). We didn't have a television in our house until I was 11, but my grandparents had one before that. It was, of course, black and white, but they bought a piece of colored plastic to cover the screen. The top third was blue, like the sky, and the bottom third was green, like grass. The middle third was red. It was perfect for programs that had scenes of fire trucks riding across someone's lawn on a sunny day. Some people had a lens taped to the front of the TV to make the picture look larger.

I was 13 before I tasted my first pizza, it was called "pizza pie." When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that, too. It's still the best pizza I ever had.

We didn't have a car until I was 15. Before that, the only car in our family was my grandfather's Ford. He called it a "machine."

I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone in the house was in the living room and it was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn't know weren't already using the line.

Pizzas were not delivered to our home. But milk was.

All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers. I delivered a newspaper, six days a week. It cost 7 cents a paper, of which I got to keep 2 cents.... I had to get up at 4 AM every morning. On Saturday, I had to collect the 42 cents from my customers. My favorite customers were the ones who gave me 50 cents and told me to keep the change. My least favorite customers were the ones who seemed to never be home on collection day.

Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies. Touching someone else's tongue with yours was called French kissing and they didn't do that in movies. I don't know what they did in French movies. French movies were dirty and we weren't allowed to see them.

If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren. Just don't blame me if they bust a gut laughing.

Growing up isn't what it used to be, is it?
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Courtesy: Teddy's Humor [Aloha]

Another year is dawning

2009-01-03T02:08:00.002+05:30

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At the commencement of the year 1874, Frances Havergal composed the following hymn as a New Year’s greeting card:

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.
Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.
Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee.

May this also be our wish for the New Year. [Ben]

New Year 2009

2009-01-02T03:05:00.000+05:30

New Year Rhymes

2009-01-01T04:30:00.001+05:30

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What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That's not been said a thousand times?
The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.

We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.
We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.

We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our prides, we sheet our dead.
We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that's the burden of a year.
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Ella Wheeler Wilcox

"Teach us to number our days aright"

2008-12-31T03:10:00.004+05:30

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Ps 90:12

As we approach the fag end of the current year, how fruitful it could be if we would pray with Moses this prayer.

Psalm 90 happens to be the oldest Psalm because it was written by Moses more than 1450 years Before Christ. Moses having now become a mature man looks back and see how fragile and short man's life on this earth.

Numbering our days: What does it mean to "number our days"? It means to recognize that life is very short. Moses is confessing that life is too short, they are numbered. Every man is destined to die after the appointed number of days to live in this world. There is an end to everything and nothing is permanent. The Word of God employs many illustrations to bring home to our hearts the brevity of life. Man's life is like "grass" (Ps 90:5-6), leaf (Isa 64:6), mist (Jas 4:14), handbreadth (Ps 39:5), etc. Everything has a numbered life validity - expiration.

God to teach us: Numbering our days can only be taught by God. How many people around us are numbering their days? Not many, most of them are busy in thinking about everything else (e.g. distance from earth to moon, sun, the number of light years it take to reach light from the nearest star, etc.). They have no time to think of their own short life. How does God teach us to number our days? God teaches us through His Word and through our own experiences of life and bereavement. God has given us the grace to be taught how short our lives are.

What is this "Wisdom"? The wisdom is to see the preciousness of time. Time is the most valuable thing all of us have. We have to utilize our precious time to "lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20). How can we do that? By glorifying Him while we yet have breath.

How many of us are able to number our days wisely? Think for a moment. A number of my friends and acquaintances who witnessed the onset of 2008 are no longer living to see the end of the year. If we have failed to number our days, God is willing to teach us. Do we desire to have a heart of wisdom to number our days aright? God bless us.

I wish you all a Happy and Christ-centred New Year. (Ben)

"Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:11)

2008-12-28T01:44:00.002+05:30

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When you are down to nothing.... God is up to something!

“…O LORD…I flee unto thee to hide me.” Psalm 143:9

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Faith looks away from circumstances to the God of circumstances.

“…in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” Psalm 143:9 And there you will find perfect peace

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3

Then, stand and watch what the Lord is going to do!

“…Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you…” Exodus 14:13
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[Courtesy: N. Herbert]

What Happened to Conscience?

2008-12-19T02:23:00.001+05:30

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The early morning crash of a Brink's armored truck on a Miami highway in January held up a mirror to our nation's cultural decline. While the driver and a fellow Brink's officer lay bruised and bleeding, a festive atmosphere broke loose outside the truck as thousands of dollars blew n the breeze.

Motorists stopped in rush hour traffic, then scooped up cash before resuming their commutes to the office. Thousands of crisp bills and shiny coins rained down an overpass onto a Miami neighborhood. Below, mothers with babies grabbed coins and piled them into strollers. An elderly woman filled a box. A young school girl dumped her book bag and loaded it with coins and bills.
Onlookers and participants had plenty of justifications and rationalizations.

"Which is more moral,? asked one resident of the impoverished neighborhood, 'to return the money and leave your children improvised-or maybe send them to college and enrich the family for generations"'

"We deserve a little something,? said another. "The Lord was willing for it to happen here,? one man commented. 'there's a lot of poverty. It was a miracle.'

Police estimated that more than 100 people helped themselves to money during the melee. Middle class on their way to work made off with thousands.

Was this a shocking event? It shouldn't have been. What happened in Miami was born out of a cultural drift that has left us unsure of absolute right and wrong or at least unwilling to live by such a code. We reward rule-breakers and ridicule those who extol morality. Life's ultimate reward is money and having it is the end to our worries.

Ralph Reed said that the 1996 presidential election was about the character of the American people. Maybe the Miami incident says more about that character than we care to consider. There were some heroes on that day in Miami. Several people came forward and turned money over to authorities.

"I have children, and I needed to set a good example,? said Faye McFadden, a mother who earns $5.00 an hour at a department store. "It was important for me to do what I felt was right.' Herbert Tarvin, 11, came forward after his teacher at St. Francis Xavier Elementary School lectured students about making the right decision. He went to police with 85 cents.

"I knew it was wrong for me to keep anything,? Herbert told a television reporter, "and I knew if I kept it I would have been stealing.'

Manny Rodriguez, a firefighter who recovered a bag containing $330,000 in cash, summed things up pretty well.

"People were almost killed in that truck and people are calling it a blessing from God. That wasn't a blessing; it was a test. The rich, the poor, the middle class-everybody should have a conscience.?

Source unknown

Conscience and Service (Worship)

2008-12-17T09:34:00.003+05:30

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"I thank God, whom I serve (worship) with a pure conscience... (2 Tim 1:3)

Maintaining a pure conscience is of paramount importance in our service or worship to God. God, who searches hearts and intents, is not interested in "rituals" without active involvement of our heart and mind. If we remove "conscience" from service or worship to God, what is left is "rituals" as we find in the so-called professing christendom. How can we have a pure conscience? We will look at that aspect tomorrow (God willing). [Benn]

Satan trembles when the weakest sinner is on his knees!

2008-12-16T22:00:00.002+05:30

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Samuel Chadwick has said that one of Satan's greatest aim is to destroy our prayer lives. Satan is not afraid of prayerless study, prayerless work or prayerless religion. As some one has said that he trembles when he sees the weakest sinner on the knees.

In our churches the meeting that is in trouble is our prayer meetings. In our Christian work, prayer meetings are neglected. Satan brings many distractions, more office work to keep us away from the prayer meetings. The reason the Korean churches have grown is because of prayer. The meet at odd times for prayer. How many of us can meet in the lunch time for 15minutes? How many can sacrifice certain things to meet for prayer? That is what the believers of the Korean church did. That is why they are on the increase.

The early church "joined together constantly in prayer" (Acts 1:14). The lack and neglect of prayer is Satan's ploy to keep us from drawing closer to God. We must bring Christ back into our lives and our programs.

We have many books and many messages on prayer. Do we need to hear more on prayer? It is time to make our prayer life alive and bring back life to our prayer meetings.

As I write this article, I have a responsibility into look into my prayer life and surrender my life to Him.

Moncy

"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord"

2008-12-14T00:46:00.004+05:30

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Wickedness was so high in Noah's times that God had to pronounce judgement upon the whole world. Despite the gloomy picture Gen 6:5-7 paints before us, we find a ray of silver line in verse 8: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." What was the implications of the grace that Noah found in God's sight - great deliverance for him and family from the flood that drowned ALL of the living except those with Noah.

If Noah was alone in his generation to find grace in the eyes of the Lord, millenia later in our generation, there are innumerable which include you and me, who found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God's love cannot be comprehended by a mortal man, but it pleased Him to reveal to us and to overwhelm us with His love poured out on us through His Son, Lord Jesus Christ. [Ben]

"Bush talks of belief in God..."

2008-12-09T17:03:00.000+05:30

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President George W. Bush said his belief that God created the world is not incompatible with scientific proof of evolution.

In an interview with ABC television's "Nightline" on Monday, the president also said he probably is not a literalist when reading the Bible although an individual can learn a great deal from it, including the New Testament teaching that God sent His only Son.

Asked about creation and evolution, Bush said, "I think you can have both. I think evolution can _ you're getting me way out of my lane here. I'm just a simple president. But it's, I think that God created the earth, created the world; I think the creation of the world is so mysterious it requires something as large as an almighty and I don't think it's incompatible with the scientific proof that there is evolution."

He added, "I happen to believe that evolution doesn't fully explain the mystery of life."

Interviewer Cynthia McFadden asked Bush if the Bible was literally true.

"You know. Probably not. ... No, I'm not a literalist, but I think you can learn a lot from it, but I do think that the New Testament for example is ... has got ... You know, the important lesson is 'God sent a son,"' Bush said.

"It is hard for me to justify or prove the mystery of the Almighty in my life," he said. " All I can just tell you is that I got back into religion and I quit drinking shortly thereafter and I asked for help. ... I was a one-step program guy."

The president also said that he prays to the same God as those with different religious beliefs.

"I do believe there is an almighty that is broad and big enough and loving enough that can encompass a lot of people," Bush said.

When asked whether he thought he would have become president had it not been for his faith, Bush said: "I don't know; it's hard to tell. I do know that I would have been _ I'm pretty confident I would have been a pretty selfish person."

Bush said he is often asked whether he thinks he was chosen by God to be president.

"I just, I can't go there," he said. "I'm not that confident in knowing, you know, the Almighty, to be able to say, Yeah, God wanted me of all the other people."

He also said the decision to go to war in Iraq was not connected to his religious believes.

"I did it based upon the need to protect the American people from harm," Bush said.

"You can't look at the decision to go into Iraq apart from, you know, what happened on Sept. 11. It was not a religious decision," he said. "I don't view this as a war of religion. I view this as a war of good, decent people of all faiths against people who murder innocent people to achieve a political objective."

He said he felt like God was with him as he made big decisions, but that the decisions were his.

"George W. Bush has to make these decisions."
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[Courtesy: Jerusalem Post]

"Should we plan"

2008-12-09T12:55:00.000+05:30

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Here is an excerpt from this month's UPLOOK magazine (c)*:

"In every area of life, most people think it is advisable to have a plan: plan your work and then work your plan, they say. Homemakers should plan their grocery shopping with a list and not buy on impulse. Business people live or die by their planning. The wise man said, "The plans for the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty" (Prov 21:5).

God Himself plans, and His plans are always ideal: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and hope." Jer 29:11.

Of course, as believers, we don't want plans that diverge from the plans of God; we want always to work in co-operation with Him. Solomon writes: "commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." Prov 16:3. And again, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Prov 16:9.

One of the remarkable things about the Lord's giving the Great Commission was the absence of any stated plan. The Lord told them (and us) what to do but not how to do it. The first century Church had certain principles given to them in the New Testament as it was written, but no specific plan of attack. Of course, they also had the directive influence of the Holy Spirit.

It was soon evident, however, that the Christians developed plans for the work that lay ahead, plans that were open to the frequent and welcome adjustments by the Spirit of God. In the earliest days, one of their chief opponents, the leading Pharisee, Gamaliel, observed, "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this understanding is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!". So they took his advice." Acts 5:38-40, RSV.

Clearly the Apostles made plans. When they entered a city, they looked for the best opportunities. They began in the synagogues or found places "where prayer was customarily made." (Acts 16:13). Why? They saw the advantage, if possible, in seeing early converts from those who were monotheists, convinced already of the ideas of God, sin, sacrifice, judgement, holiness and forgiveness.

If that proved fruitless, they often went to other places of public discourse-the universities (schools of the philosophers), pagan worship sites (Areopagus), or market places. Interestingly, we never see them trying to draw their own crowd to a building - something we are finding increasingly difficult. The early witnesses seemed to employ ways to use the crowds that the world had already gathered...."
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*(c) "UPLOOK magazine by permission"

Faith, Hope and Love

2008-12-01T01:21:00.000+05:30

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"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)

As great as faith and hope are now, there is coming a time when we will actually possess that which to us is now delayed certainty. We will no longer require faith or hope when all this comes to fruition - is an actuality. And when in possession of that which we now enjoy by faith, love will still be there; for we will dwell in the Father's house, in the reality of love, for "God is love." Love will always abide; therefore it is greater than faith and hope. (Selected)

"Thankful that I am a Bible-teacher today..."

2008-11-30T00:10:00.000+05:30

(Jiju forwarded me this testimony which served as an eye-opener to me. It has been my deep desire to spend quality time with God's Word, but somehow I could not find myself to be faithful. I am now convinced that I cannot postpone it any longer. Thanks, Jiju - Ben)

"Today I am thankful that I am a Bible-teacher and not a musician

In early 1961, when working at the Naval Base at Bombay, I saw anaccordion in a shop-window of a music shop. I thought of buying it tolearn how to play it. I knew however, that as a child of God I shouldseek God's will in all matters – both great and small. So I prayed andsought God's will. But I did not know how to find God's will in suchmatters. So I asked God for a sign. I told Him that if the price ofthe accordion was within a certain amount, then I would assume that itwas His will for me to buy it. If it cost more than that amount, thenI would assume that God did not want me to buy it. Since I was veryeager to buy the accordion, I eagerly hoped that it would cost lessthan the figure I had quoted to the Lord.

But the lowest price the shop was willing to sell it for, was slightlyabove the amount I had quoted to God. I began to think of a number offactors. First of all, I did have enough money with me to buy it.Secondly, the government had banned the import of accordions and sothis was probably the last accordion available in any shop in Bombay.Thirdly, I wanted to learn the instrument only for use in Christian meetings.

But all these factors were overruled by the fact that I had asked Godfor a sign and the sign was not fulfilled. So I decided not to buy theaccordion – and walked out of the shop. I was disappointed that Icould not get the accordion but happy that I had obeyed the Lord.

A few days later, I was witnessing about Christ to one of mynon-Christian colleagues. He asked me a question from the Bible forwhich I did not know the answer. I was ashamed that as a Christian, I did not know the answer to something from the Bible. I went back to my room and decided to study the Word thoroughly, so that thereafter, I would know the answer to every question for which there was an answer in the Bible.

From the time I received assurance of my salvation in 1959, I hadfound a desire within me to read God's Word daily. First of all, I haddecided to read through the whole Bible quickly - and had done so inabout 6 months. I understood very little of what I read - but my faithwas strengthened by whatever I read. But I was not a deep student ofthe Word.

But now, the study of God's Word became my passion. I began to spendhours with the Bible, day and night, in my spare time. I saved somemoney and bought a Young's Concordance and used it to study theoccurrence of different words in the Bible. Very soon I, who knewalmost nothing of the Bible, began to understand deep truths from the Scriptures.

Then I realized why God had not wanted me to buy the accordion. If I had bought it, I would have spent many hours learning to play it more and more perfectly. And as all musicians know very well, there is noend to being perfect in playing any instrument. That is an endlesspursuit. I would have become a slave to the accordion.

Interestingly enough, six years later, I was able to buy an accordionfrom someone who sold his instrument to me. But by then I had becomeso deeply devoted to the Word that the accordion could not master me.It was my slave. I never became an expert musician, because God hadsomething better for me, which I never knew in 1961. Today, howthankful I am, that I am a Bible-teacher and not a musician and that Ispent my life studying the Bible and not music. There are many goodChristian musicians but not many anointed Bible-teachers. [by Zac Poonan]"

"God is on the Throne"

2008-11-29T23:58:00.000+05:30

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Our Lord is on the throne of heaven. His throne is established from everlasting. In heaven four and twenty elders fall down before Him who sit on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. The one who is on the throne is all powerful. By the word of His power He created the heaven and the earth and raised Lazarus from the dead. The Throne speaks of Authority.

Our God has authority over the heaven and earth, He removes and establishes the kings of the earth and He has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand. The throne is an expression of His glory. “The one who is sitting on the throne was like a jasper stone and sardius in appearance and there was rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance” Rev 4:3.

Dear Lord “we fall at thy feet and worship You” Amen
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[Courtesy: Wallbuilders for Christ -Discipleship Training]

"What shall we have?"

2008-11-26T18:56:00.000+05:30

"Then Peter answered and said to Him, 'See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?'” Mathew 19:27

Peter was not alone, but many Christians still ask the same question: "What shall we have for following Lord Jesus?" If, for Peter and his companions, it was the promise of sitting on the thrones and judging Israel; to us, it is "Life" that is promised in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 1:1). No man can describe the meaning or fathom the depth, height and width of the word "Life". Everything God has in store since eternity past for man is "crammed" into that four-letter micro-chip word, "Life" (in Christ Jesus). When did God promise this life to us? Was it only an after-thought of God post-creation of man?

Promise of "Life" was not an after-thought of God, but a pre-conceived and pre-drawn action plan before the world began (2 Tim 1:9). That Life which was promised since the beginning has now made known and real to us through the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What a wonderful promise!

Prayer: Lord, what did You find in me to merit your consideration of me for "life' in Jesus Christ even before the world began? I bless You, O Lord and with 'all that is within me', I bless Your Holy name. Amen

God's WILL for me

2008-11-26T12:22:00.000+05:30

"Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus... (2 Tim 1:1 {Amplified Bible})

God's will for "Saul of Tarsus" (once the cruellest persecutor of God's people) was to be a Special Messenger (Apostle) of Christ Jesus. Do you know wht is God's WILL for you? Have you ever cared to take an inventory of what God has endowed you with? God never fails to equip us with special abilities so that we could perform according to God's WILL. This is further explained in Vs. 6 of the same chapter, which is an exhortation of Paul to Timothy: "... I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers, fan the flame and keep burning) the [gracious] GIFT OF GOD (the inner fire) that is in you..."

Every child of God is endowed with a number of Spiritual (gracious) Gifts. Knowing our Spiritual Gifts and thereby knowing the will of God is essential for every child of God. Paul's words in 1 Cor 12:1 is again emphatic: "Now about the spiritual gifts (the special endowments of supernatural energy), brethren, I do not want you to be misinformed." (Amplified Biblie)

Prayer: Lord, help me to know and rekindle my GIFTS so that I could fulfil Your will for me. Amen.

"The Brethren Tag"

2008-11-22T00:32:00.000+05:30

In my school days, the school authorities used to take "census" of students' religious leanings and backgrounds. A majority of the so-called "Christian" students in my class belonged to the main groups, the Catholics and the Orthodox. As a non-denominational Christian, I used to be the loner in the class and, in my sheer ignorance then, I considered and chose to identify myself as a "Brethren" in a denominational connotation. I have come across with many from the so-called brethren assembly backgrounds consider, and freely use, the term brethren with a denominational connotation.

An article by John Scarsbrook entitled, "Fellowship in the local church" comes to my mind in this connectin:

"There are those who would readily claim association with ‘the Brethren’ or ‘the Brethren Church’, as compared with the Baptist, Methodist or Pentecostal Church. Such thinking only serves to add a denominational tag, which finds no authority in Scripture. Praise God! We are brethren and sisters, linked together in Christ by salvation, with many other brethren who own a variety of denominational names. Yet we cannot condone nor support the position they adopt nor, in some cases, the practices they allow. assembly, 1 Cor. 3. 16, 17. In both the Lord should have full authority.

Every time we pray, speak or act in His name, we are acknowledging submission to His authority. The whole concept of a local church or assembly is in essence based upon New Testament teaching."

Prayer: Lord, help me always to identify with You, who redeemed my life from destruction. Amen.

"Living" Christianity

2008-11-21T19:15:00.000+05:30

What should be Christianity's best argument? Vernon Grounds in Our Daily Bread wrote: "Your life can be your own best argument - your best defense of your faith in Jesus Christ - to anyone who asks why you believe [in Jesus Christ]". So, put your faith into practice. Let people see the difference Jesus makes.

The practical aspect of Christianity is as equally important as the doctrinal. Somehow, over the years, we have neglected this vital aspect of our faith. It is my desire to share a few of such thoughts which could help us to focus our faith more on the practical side and live as good witnesses of our Lord and Saviour.