You Are The Only One Who Can Limit God

By Bishop Gaspar Anastasi

You are the only one who can limit God

Too many Christians are looking for God to do miracles in their lives, yet they have not made a full commitment to Him.
In other words, they want the blessings without the Blessor. And that won’t work.

You see, God wants complete access and freedom to live in us and manifest Himself through us. Many of us just want a quick fix for a certain trial we’re going through, when what we need is a complete overhaul. We need a new lifestyle that will enable us to steer clear of those perils and problems in the first place. But many of us don't want Jesus Christ at the helm. We don’t want Him directing our lives and calling the shots because we have no intention of stopping the sin we’re living in.

Fortunately for us, God doesn’t work that way. I say “fortunately” because if God did work that way, no one would give themselves over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God blesses those whom He possesses.

Either Jesus Christ is Lord over all your life or He isn’t Lord at all. God won’t settle for anything less. He doesn’t want just part of you. He wants all of you. That’s what He means when He says, “I am a jealous God.” He won’t share you with anything or anyone, especially satan.

Many Christians don’t even realize that they are living in sin. They’ve gotten so used to complaining about their hard times and blaming others (including God) for their problems, that they can’t see that their own disobedience is to blame.

If your life is not reflecting the light of Jesus, and if God’s blessings aren’t flowing to you on a regular basis, examine yourself. See if Jesus really is Lord in your actions and in your relationships. He may not be. Before you point fingers at other people, realize that you are the only one who can limit God in your circumstances.

If you refuse to look at life through His eyes and rebel against His will (which is what you’re doing when you sin), you tie His hands and prevent Him from moving on your behalf the way He wants.Want to see miracles in your life? Want to see prosperity like you never imagined?

Want to have peace reign in your home instead of strife? Line your life up with God’s Word. How do I do that? you ask.Give Jesus first place in everything you do. Open up the Bible and spend time with Him when you get up in the morning. Before you spend time with the television or radio. Come before Him in honesty and simplicity.

There’s no use trying to hide your sins from Him. God already knows what you did. Ask His forgiveness and move on.Give over control to Jesus Christ. Only then will you begin to see growth and change in your life. If you have a problem, only the Master Mechanic knows how to fix it. But He can do only as much as you allow Him to.

Listen To Sermons

Let Us Give Free Copies of the Holy Bible To Everyone Who Does Not Have One

In the Almighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Saviour and Messiah, I invite you to join me and my brethren to spread the Word of God all over the world to reach the unreached.

As they say that charity begins at home, we are starting next year 2007 in Nigeria and we need as many copies of the Holy Bible as possible in English, Hausa, Arabic, Yoruba and the Igbo languages and distribute them free to those who are willing to accept the awesome gift of the Word of God.

We need up to 10 million copies of the Holy Bible for Nigeria.

You can donate copies of the Holy Bible for this divine mission of the Great Commission of our Messiah Jesus Christ.

Just send them!

God bless you as you do so.

See Even The Dog Believes In God And Prays

See how the innocent dog joins the innocent child to pray.
How about you?

1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
~ Psalm 14:1-7 (Holy Bible, King James Version)

Dear Pastors in Nigeria

Dear Pastors,
I greet you by the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord and Messiah.

I have joined the Deeper Christian Life Bible Church, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Assemblies of God and others to testify of the good news of the gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ since 1988 to date, both in Lagos and on Bonny Island, Rivers State. I was baptized in the Deeper Life on December 1, 1990 when I was living in Lagos where I became the house fellowship captain and visitations team leader. I preached the good news on public transport buses, on the streets and in homes for over 11 years and I enjoyed doing so to the glory of the Almighty Jehovah God.

I believe we are all educated and enlightened enough to understand what I am going to address in few words.

Please, do you know about Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria?
Please, do surveys of all the churches in each of these countries and do a survey of the number of churches in Nigeria.
Then, analyze the GDP and GNP of each of them and compare them to Nigeria.
Analyze the living standards in each of them and compare them to Nigeria.
Analyze also the level of corrupt practices in each of them and compare them to Nigeria.
What are their resources and compare them to Nigeria.

We preach and preach and preach in a million and one churches in every nook and cranny of Nigeria as the so called Christian churches are competing more for the Guinness Book of Records than for the Kingdom of God on which of them has the biggest church building or largest congregation as if the population of church goers is the indicator of true Christians.

We also preach our own theology more than we preach the truth of Jesus Christ.

One church preaches that you cannot receive Holy Ghost Baptism except you have been first baptized by immersion in water as if the church does not know about Cornelius And His Household?
PETER COMMANDS THEM TO BE BAPTIZED...
1. How could anyone forbid water to those who had received the
Spirit just as the apostles did? - Ac 10:47; cf. 11:17-18
2. So Cornelius and his household were commanded to be baptized
in the name of the Lord - Ac 10:48
http://www.bible.ca/eo/ba/ba_06.htm

Were they baptized by immersion in the swimming pool of Cornelius or by sprinkling water on their bowed heads?

We see all the social and economic inadequacies, inefficiencies and failures in Nigeria as spiritual problems caused by both visible and invisible evil demons and spirits instead of saying the truth that our corrupt government has failed to utilize our vast resources for the common benefits of all Nigerians, to create good jobs for the millions of school leavers and graduates who are now applicants and millions of them have been forced to do odd jobs instead of practicing what they studied in schools. And instead of asking them their academic or technical qualifications, many fake pastors or ministers lie to them that household wickedness, marine spirits and other generational curses are holding them in bondage from getting their dream jobs, dream wives and even visas to flee Nigeria.

To get a good job in Nigeria, you need to fast and pray and if you get it, it is a miracle!
To get a good spouse in Nigeria, you need to fast and pray and if you get one, it is a miracle.
To get a good accommodation in Nigeria, you need to fast and pray and if you get it, it is a miracle.
To even pass your examinations in Nigeria and gain admission into primary school, secondary school or post-secondary institution, you need to fast and pray and if you get it, it is a miracle.
Lest I forget to get a Visa to flee or travel out of Nigeria, you need to fast and pray and if you get it, it is a miracle.

Pastors and ministers even prescribe the dosage of fasting and prayers depending on what they assume is the gravity of your sickness, disease or problem.

These erroneous and ambiguous sermons have only led millions of the ignorant masses astray and worsened the social, economic and academic state of Nigeria to make Nigeria become one of the poorest countries in the world.

A pastor says sexual immorality causes poverty and millions of pious Nigerians who are even Christians live in abject poverty.
Then, when they complain to their pastors, the fake pastors will now claim to discern the generational curses or household wickedness to blame for their poverty. And will not interview the poverty-stricken members of their church to know their real economic, social, academic and technical causes of their poverty. Instead they lie to them to hope for miracles of dream jobs or windfalls to make them rich overnight.

Churches have become fund raising centres or NGOs competing for the best tactics to extort money from both members of their congregation and invited guests including pagans, crooks, rogues and Moslems.

More millions have been spent on competitions to build the best magnificent church buildings than on evangelism or on the economic empowerment of the economic handicapped poor and needy among us.

Most churches hate to see beggars and paupers coming to their church on Sunday.
The more posh cars and jeeps they see parking in front of their churches the more elated they are and they praise and shout more "Hallelujahs!", because the sight of these posh cars and jeeps is the evidence of the miracles of prosperity God is doing for their churches. And they fail to see the corrupt government officials, shylock landlords, wicked employers who pay their poor employees meagre wages and come to bribe their pastors with fat offerings and tithes and ask for dedications for their new cars and jeeps bought by cheating and exploiting the poor and needy ones they employ and by fraudulent means. And the churches expected to alleviate the suffering of the common man will give him excuses and lies on how the sin in his life is the cause of his poverty.

Even if he repents, they will say repentance is not enough, that he must undergo 7 to 70 days fasting and praying for deliverance before he can be saved from his perpetual poverty.
I wonder when Jesus Christ gave such excuses?

Let us all stop deceiving ourselves and Nigerians and tell the ignorant masses the truth as Jesus Christ preached and practiced by his exemplary life and not competing for who is going to be the pastor of the most magnificent church building, largest congregation of owner of jeeps in Nigeria or Africa.

It is even easier to see God than to see many of the celebrated General Overseers of the churches in Nigeria. You have to book an appointment weeks in advance. And I don't know how many poor members of their congregations the GOs have been humble enough to visit and spend some time to know how they are faring?

We must realize that the social, political, economic, academic and other similar woes plaguing Nigeria today are not caused by evil spirits, carry-over generational curses, marine spirits and demons but by the hypocrisy, kleptocracy, cheating, greediness, wickedness, bribery and corruption of most Nigerians in both the private and public sectors.

If you are threatening the poor masses with your competitive doctrines and continue to keep them in ignorance of the truth, remember the sermons of Jesus Christ on the generation of vipers, "Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Mark I 1: 17).

Matthew 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins

1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The Parable of the Talents
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

The Sheep and the Goats
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Footnotes:
Matthew 25:15 A talent was worth more than a thousand dollars.

Isaiah 58

True Fasting
1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.
3 'Why have we fasted,' they say,
'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 58:8 Or your righteous One

Salt and Light

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16 (New International Version)

May God help us all.

Yours faithfully,
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima.
August 2006.

President on the National Day of Prayer

Remarks by the President on the National Day of Prayer

WASHINGTON, May 4 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following text is of remarks
by President Bush on the National Day of Prayer:

East Room

9:44 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT:

Welcome to the White House. I am really glad you're here.

Thanks for coming. And I'm honored to join you for the National Day of Prayer.On this special day, we give thanks for the many ways that America has been blessed, and we acknowledge the Almighty, who is the source of these blessings.

I appreciate the Chairman of the National Day of Prayer, Shirley Dobson. I notice you brought your old husband with you, too. (Laughter.) Thank you for organizing this event here at the White House and around the nation.

Mrs. Bright, it's good to see you. Thank you, welcome. I'm glad you're back again. Dr. Blackaby, thank you very much, sir, for being the Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. And we welcome Marilynn, as well.

I want to thank the members of the Cabinet who are here. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to be here to join.

I'm glad to see my friend, Archbishop Demetrios. How are you, sir? Thanks for coming. I appreciate the military chaplains who are here. Thanks for administering to the needs and souls of the men and women who wear the uniform. Yours is an important job, and I'm grateful, as your Commander-in-Chief, for what you do.

I want to thank Rabbi Ciment, Father Connor, and Jay Dennis for joining us. Thank you for your prayers and your strong statements.

I thank Rebecca St. James for your beautiful music. We're proud you're here. I want to thank those who accompanied you. About the coat -- (laughter) -- your answer is, it's the voice that matters. (Laughter.) And the spirit behind the voice.

And Gail, thank you for coming, as well. We're proud you're here. Thanks for sharing with us.

America is a nation of prayer. It's impossible to tell the story of our nation without telling the story of people who pray. The first pilgrims came to this land with a yearning for freedom. They stepped boldly onto the shores of a new world, and many of them fell to their knees to give thanks.

At decisive moments in our history and in quiet times around family tables, we are a people humbled and strengthened and blessed by prayer. During the darkest days of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress and George Washington -- I call him the first George W. -- (laughter and applause) -- urged citizens to pray and to give thanks and to ask for God's protection.

More than two centuries since our first National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, we continue to ask for God's guidance in our own lives and in the life our nation. Each year, thousands of citizens write letters and send cards to the White House that mention their prayers for this nation and this office.

In my travels across the great land, a comment that I hear often from our fellow citizens is, "Mr. President, I pray for you and your family." It's amazing how many times a total stranger walks up and says that to me. You'd think they'd say, "How about the bridge?" Or, "How about filling the potholes?" (Laughter.) No, they say, "I've come to tell you I pray for you, Mr. President."

And the only thing I know to do is to look at them in the eye and say, that is the greatest gift that a fellow citizen can do for those of us who have been entrusted to lead our country. And for that -- (applause.) And so I thank thanks -- I say thanks to the millions of Americans who pray each day for our nation, our troops, and our elected leaders.

Prayer is a gift from Almighty God that transforms us, whether we bow our heads in solitude, or offer swift and silent prayers in times of trial. Prayer humbles us by reminding us of our place in creation. Prayer strengthens us by reminding us that God loves and cares for each and every soul in His creation. And prayer blesses us by reminding us that there is a divine plan that stands above all human plans.

In the stillness and peace of prayer we surrender our will to God's will, and we learn to serve His eternal purposes. By opening ourselves to God's priorities, our hearts are stirred and we are inspired to action -- to feed the hungry, to reach out to the poor, to bring aid to a widow or to an orphan or to the less fortunate.

On this day, we also remember that we are a people united by our love for freedom, even when we differ in our personal beliefs. In America, we are free to profess any faith we choose, or no faith at all. What brings us together is our shared desire to answer the call to serve something greater than ourselves.

Over the past five years, I have watched the American people answer this call. Some serve their fellow man on distant shores, placing themselves in harm's way so that others might live in freedom. Others serve in our nation's armies of compassion, bringing comfort and kindness to suffering communities at home and abroad. In millions of acts of service, the American people have shown the good heart of our nation.

From our nation's prayerful beginnings, America has grown and prospered. Through prayer, we humbly recognize our continued dependence on divine providence.

I want to thank you all for keeping prayer a part of our national life. May God bless each one of you, and may God continue to bless our nation.

And now it is my honor to welcome Reverend Jay Dennis. (Applause.)

END 9:52 A.M. EDT
Washington Post Headline
Fired Officer Believed CIA Lied to Congress
BACK FROM IRAQ

Executed For Taking Bibles Into Saudi Arabia

By J. Grant Swank, Jr.
MichNews.com
Apr 11, 2006

The Koran was placed for the first time in the White House library. It was a winter banquet prepared by host and hostess US President and Mrs. George W. Bush. Muslims from throughout the nation were invited—both males and females. The two genders ate in separate rooms with Mrs. Bush with the women and Mr. Bush with the men.

As the Koran was lifted high with honor that evening, it took its place in the Pennsylvania Avenue residence of the most powerful ruler on Earth.

Now when it comes to the Christians’ holy book, the Bible, it is shredded at Saudi Arabian airports. An attendant will not ask questions but will take the book to the nearby shredder as the tourist watches God’s Word destroyed.

If a quantity of Bibles is taken into the country—and found—the carrier will get several dozen whiplashes. If the confiscator concludes that the punishment should be more severe, the tourist could be executed for carrying divine revelation into Saudi Arabia.

Muslims in free countries demand—and I mean demand—all freedoms. They will not tolerate any discrimination whatsoever. Such web sites as the Council on American-Islamic Affairs (CAIR) instruct readers what authority to contact if there is any sign of alleged discrimination or so-called mistreatment of an Islamic in the United States.

Yet the American traveler to the Muslim country may be shot throw if he has a quantity of Bibles in his belongings. Executed or whip lashed. Consider the cost.

With that, it is ridiculous that free countries bow and scrape before Muslims’ demands. For instance, in Germany Muslims have demanded and got pork removed from soup kitchens for the poor. The officialdom is afraid of what Muslims will do if pork remains in the soup. Imagine the weak-kneed authorities throughout Germany in condescending to such rude demands from the Allah-worshipers.

So it is that Europe that will succumb to the Devil. And then the European Union will wonder how it came about that it was sucked under—and quickly.

As far I am concerned, Muslims should be ousted from free countries and sent to their own habitats. No Muslim should be admitted to a free country. They are all suspect because of the spread of this devilish cult around the globe. Islam breeds destruction, despair and death. Christianity provides life, light and love in Jesus. Consider the difference. The two cannot integrate under the title of "multiculturalism."

Everywhere the Muslims go they spread venom.

When Mr. Bush’s surveillance program was put into affect, Muslims immediately demanded meetings with top government officials in Washington DC. They got the red carpet treatment. You, the usual American citizen, try to get an appointment at one of those offices and see if you can get through. The Muslims do get through and they do sit in those chairs in the rooms of the highest echelons. This has to stop if democracies hope to survive the devil’s strangle hold.

Why was the Catholic priest shot in the back while kneeling in his Turk chapel? Because he was praying to another deity than Allah. So a Muslim murdered him while praying alone in his sanctuary. That was just days ago.

The pope then asks Muslims for tolerance just as they expect tolerance in non-Muslims countries. Does not the pope know Islam?

There is no tolerance in Islam—none. It is Islam world rule or nothing. There is absolutely no margin for tolerance in the Koran. Instead, that unholy publication describes specifically how to gouge out the infidel eyes, lop off their ears, tongues, fingers and toes. No tolerance.

Contrast Islam with the gospel of Jesus. He offers forgiveness for repented sins, mercy and grace upon the contrite soul, the hope of heavenly bliss, the indwelling of His Holy Spirit in comfort and wisdom, and the joy of living by faith. There is nothing parallel to that in Islam. Nothing.

In Saudi Arabia the haters of the Bible are called "religious police." They are members of the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. That is how the devil reverses legitimate terms and definitions—good is bad and bad is good. Islamic vice is virtue. Islamic vice is virtue.

Because of the shiria, the hellish "law and justice" system of Islam, there are no criminals within Islam. Muslims can slit a woman’s throat in "honor killing." But that is not a crime; it is a pious act. And so forth with other atrocious deeds in Allah’s name.

That makes the Muslims worldwide the criminal-free community and the most spiritual lot on the globe. Whatever crime they commit is not a crime but a religious duty. Consequently, when Saddam Hussein stood in his court this week to ask "Where’s the crime?" he was sincere. He has not committed one crime in his life. He has only followed the Koran and thereby is an Islamic saint.

At Guantanamo Bay Muslims complained about their Koran being mistreated. The US responded with all sorts of protocol detail in how non-Muslim personnel were to hold, handle, place and transfer the Koran. Reading the detail was a joke, but not to those personnel who had to walk the razor’s edge.

Not only the Bible, but any Christian symbol is repulsive to Muslims. That’s why they burn churches. Churches this week have been burnt to the ground throughout Pakistan. Try to build a church in Turkey. It will take a decade or more to get the blueprints approved. Once it’s constructed, the church could burn in the night. Who will have lit the match?

Yasser Arafat was known for murdering Christian believers and then leveling their sanctuaries or using the church buildings for his militia.

FOOTNOTE:

Read PASTOR BEATEN IN INDIA

Copyright © 2006 by J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Web: http://www.truthinconviction.us

Email: joseph_swank@yahoo.com

Dialoguing Da Vinci Code

By Paul Proctor

Apparently, the new feature film starring Tom Hanks, called The Da Vinci
Code, will start rolling in theaters on May 19th. Articles written by alarmed
Christians, challenging its heretical content, are already appearing on various
news and opinion sites across the Net; and I suspect will dramatically increase
in number over the next several weeks. It is, of course, a highly controversial film based on a best-selling book by Dan Brown that is sure to whet the appetites of conspiracy buffs worldwide, not to mention, fuel the already present doubts and misconceptions of those who do not know or believe the Word of God.

In my estimation, it's not really a quest for truth that will draw the mainstream to this movie but rather the marketing of excitement, adventure, crisis and rebellion, resulting in a greatly intensified polarity and outrage between Christians and the world, until a call for peace and unity goes out from the pulpits of America and a synthesized solution is offered by trained "Christian" facilitators waiting in the wings to help dispel our divisive differences and unite the "brotherhood of man."

Their solution?

Dialogue!

What I believe we are witnessing is the beginning of rather a large-scale exercise in the Hegelian Dialectic, orchestrated by the-powers-that-be to ignite hostilities between the religious and the secular for purposes of uniting them on the common ground of a convoluted Christ through Diaprax. Already Sony
Pictures has established a website they call "The Da Vinci Dialogue," where, according to Laurie Goodstein of The New York Times, they "will post essays by about 45 Christian writers, scholars and leaders of evangelical organizations who will pick apart the book's theological and historical claims about Christianity," many of whom come from the very heart of the church growth movement, meaning they are well versed in the dialectic process.

One such writer is the president of Fuller Theological Seminary, the birthplace of the CGM:

"Dr. Mouw, who contributed an essay on, 'Why Christians Ought to See the Movie,' said: 'It's going to be water cooler conversation, so Christians need to
take a deep breath, buy the book and shell out the money for the movie. Then we
need to educate Christians about what all this means. We need to help them
answer someone who says, So how do you know Jesus didn't get married?'" - Laurie
Goodstein.

See how the dialectic works? Hypothetical questions like the one Dr. Mouw
posed, shrewdly steer Christians away from faithfully proclaiming a positive to
instead, foolishly trying to prove a negative, something that is extremely
difficult, if not impossible to do; thereby abandoning the presentation of the
Gospel and the call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ in order to
participate in conjecture and controversy that only results in diversion and
confusion.

It seems it's not enough anymore to merely proclaim the Word of God to the
lost as Jesus commanded. According to Dr. Mouw we must reward the writers,
producers, publishers and promoters for their blasphemous books and movies with
our purpose driven patronage so we can artfully engage the damned in dialogue
and field their foolish and distracting questions.

"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and
strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain." - Titus 3:9

Christians are called to proclaim God's Word, not indulge the abstract and
obstinate. When we set aside the power and simplicity of the scriptures to try
and artificially accomplish from without what only the Holy Spirit can do from
within, we become sidelined by our own self-confidence, yielding nothing of
eternal value and bringing no glory to God.

"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh
flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." - Jeremiah 17:5

Just for the record, I do not believe The Da Vinci Code is going to convert
Christians into occultists anymore than The Passion of The Christ converted
occultists into Christians. Movies do not have the capability of regenerating or
degenerating hearts; they can only accentuate or aggravate what is already
there. The power that transforms the lost from death to life comes from the
Spirit-filled preaching of God's Word, not from the theater.

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it
pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." - 1st
Corinthians 1:21

Like modern day church growth dramas and productions, motion pictures just
manipulate feelings and emotions through a perceived reality using actors and
scripts that stir the passions and tickle the ears of willing participants until
the credits roll and moviegoers are forced to return to the real world in the
same spiritual condition they arrived in at the ticket counter. Does this make
it OK to watch films about a fabricated Jesus? Absolutely not! Only the
faithless and undiscerning are enchanted by lies.

The danger that The Da Vinci Code presents is the same danger Eve faced in
the Garden of Eden. Like the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil, it is not
the presence of this movie that is a threat; but rather our disobedient
dialoging with devils ABOUT IT; taking our hearts, minds and attention away from
God's Word and redirecting our focus toward doubts, desires and delusions until
they become stronger within us than our fear of the Lord.

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them." - Ephesians 5:11

The Bible does not encourage us to dialogue with devils; we are instead
commanded to resist. That is accomplished by proclaiming the Word of God in the
face of evil like Jesus did Satan in the wilderness, not by conversing with
those who hate God's Word to try and build a relationship FIRST in hopes of
persuading them into cooperating LATER. If you do not resist evil, it will not
flee from you; it will only befriend you and distract you by your own
willingness to engage in faithless chitchat.

"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and
vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some
professing have erred concerning the faith." - 1st Timothy 6:20-21

While I share the indignation of my brethren over this made-for-profit
monstrosity that peddles yet another flesh-friendly Jesus for the Antichrist, I
have to ask: Why is the church so indignant over Hollywood's heresy and yet so
passive about its own? Why is it acceptable for church growth leaders to twist
and theorize their way around the eternal truths of scripture for the sake of a
better attendance and offering and not acceptable for Tom Hanks and Ron Howard?
I don't know about you, but I'd say The Da Vinci Code is looking more and more
like poetic justice for the postmodern church; returning to it a generous
portion of the same dialectic poison it's been serving seekers for years.

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall
he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting." - Galatians 6:7-8

The Da Vinci Code's blasphemy is nothing new. It's just another highly
promoted, celebrity-enhanced, big budget effort to discredit Jesus Christ and
His Word. There can be no one-world religion until this happens. THAT is the
agenda.

Even so, I believe the half-truths and heart-felt heresies being sold to
seekers at church today are far more dangerous than the boldface lies blaring
away down at the Bijou because they come camouflaged as "Christian" and are
therefore more believable to the biblically ignorant and spiritually blind,
particularity in a church setting where gullible participants go along to get
along for the love and acceptance of a compromised collective.

So, with that in mind, if you're heart is set on seeing The Da Vinci Code,
just put your money away and be patient. I'm sure it will end up on the big
screen down at your friendly neighborhood mega church. I have no doubt that many
of them will start using it to draw crowds for more dialogue.

Sin, you see, has become an evangelical tool for the postmodern church.

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness." - 2nd Thessalonians 2:12

Cuban Pastor Imprisoned on Emigration Charges
Chinese Church Leaders May Face Death Sentences
Over 36 Arrested as Public Security Bureau Closes Christian School

Parents at your church need help
Their children are not getting Bible education in school.
- Help parents make up.
- Work only 2 hrs. Wed. 7 to 9 PM.
Lead children 11 up traveling through the Bible with Jesus.

Rescue Hero

Rescue Hero

By Kirk Cameron

Before Katrina, I was walking toward my lunch table in a New Orleans seafood
restaurant. The ocean breeze was refreshing, the smell of good food was
everywhere, and the sky was beautifully painted with colored clouds and light.
But something else arrested my full attention and stopped me in my tracks.
Behind a glass wall, were thousands of poor little crawfish trapped on a
conveyor belt, struggling in vain to regain their footing on the slippery
surface and make their escape.

The ones that reached the end of the belt dropped helplessly into a pot of
boiling water, to be cooked and eaten by large, ravenous creatures (my lunch
mates) waiting to crack open their bodies and eat their flesh. My only
consolation was to know that death would come quickly to these little creatures
and end their unimaginable pain. I couldn't help but feel sick. I wanted to run
into the kitchen, break open the bags of imprisoned shellfish and yell, "Run!
Run for your lives!" I really did want to save them all. But I didn't. I
listened to the voice of reason and just stood there in horror, watching those
poor little animals head toward their doom.

I was stopped from being a shellfish rescue hero primarily because of my own
pride. I thought, "It would be ridiculous to try and save them. People would
think I've gone insane. Besides, nobody else is trying to save them. I can't
just run in there and release thousands of crustaceans. I'd be arrested. It
would hit the morning papers: Man Releases Crawfish--the Ultimate Shellfish Act.
Instead, I sat down at my table (along with my other heartless friends), ignored
the tiny cries emanating from the kitchen, and pretended to enjoy the view over
the Louisiana bay.

As Christians, we know what is waiting for each and every unsaved person.
"For it is appointed unto men once to die, and after that, the Judgment"
(Hebrews 9:27). All of humanity is on the conveyor belt of Time. Every moment
moves them closer to the edge of eternity. We see men and women struggle in vain
to find their footing in this world through self-help, worldly religion, and
good works. They are blind, disoriented, and have no idea what awaits them
below. The pit of Hell eagerly anticipates their arrival. Demons salivate to
break their bodies and devour their souls. The tiny creatures' feeble efforts to
save themselves are obviously futile and many professing Christians stand
motionless behind the glass wall of indifference and watch.

Do you ever feel a pain in your heart to try and save one of those little
ones? The Bible says they are "held captive by the Devil to do his will" and
that Jesus came to "seek and save the lost" and "set the captives free". Could
you ever see yourself as a Christian rescue hero, intentionally entering
someone's life to show them the way of escape and how to live forever? Do you
regularly share the gospel with sinners, throwing caution to the wind for their
sakes and for Jesus' sake, or do you listen to the voice of "reason," who says,
"It would be ridiculous for you to try to save people now. Who do you think you
are? You've got no training. You've been a Christian for many years and never
shown any real concern; people would think you've gone insane. Your friends and
family will think you've lost your mind! Besides, nobody else seems to being
trying to save them. Why should you try and be a hero?"

You have two choices. You can stay seated in the pews week after week (along
with your other heartless friends), ignore the cries of humanity coming from the
office, your community and home, and try to enjoy the view of Heaven on Sundays.
Or, you could begin to throw caution to the wind, stop caring what other people
think of you, let love swallow your fears, and run to a lost and dying world
with the message that can save them. Join the Apostle John and "save [them] with
fear, pulling them from the fire, hating even the garments spotted by the flesh"
(Jude 1:23). How do you do that? Do what Jesus did. Learn how to use the Moral
Law to bring the knowledge of sin and make grace amazing to a sinner. Go on. Be
a hero. Perhaps then, one day you will have the privilege of looking into the
tear filled eyes of one you led to the Savior, and hear the grateful words
whispered, "Thank you."

----
Kirk is best known as the lovable teen heartthrob Mike Seaver, of the award
winning series "Growing Pains". He entertained audiences worldwide as the charming troublemaker. He is also known to every Christian as "Buck Williams" from "Left Behind: The Movie" based on the NY Times runaway best selling novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.

For Evangelism Resources, please visit The Way of the Master

Hindu Militants Attack Indian Pastor

Hindu Militants Attack Indian Pastor
While Police Turn a Blind Eye

ON DECEMBER 3, members of the militant Hindu organization Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked a pastor in Hyderabad, India.

While Pastor Yesupadam was conducting a prayer service in the village of
Ashaiah Nagar, someone called for him to come out. Thinking they were calling
him outside to pray for them, he approached seven men who began to beat him.

The Hindu militants then took him to the police station where approximately
twenty other RSS members were waiting. Handing Yesupadam over to the police,
the RSS accused him of converting Hindus to Christianity. The police
sub-inspector said that Christians had become a serious headache.

Mocking Yesupadam, the police officer said, "Did your mother conceive you
through an English man or Telugu man? Are you a Telugu man? Are you an Indian?
If you desire to live, stop preaching about Jesus Christ. You know people are
killing pastors in the city but still you do not learn anything."

In the presence of the police, the RSS members attempted to apply a tilak, a
mark of Hindu devotion, on Yesupadam's forehead. When he refused, they
threatened to kill him and harm his family. The police did nothing in response
to these threats. When other Christians arrived to help him, they were refused
entry into the police station and were threatened with death if they did not
stop praying.

Pastor Yesupadam was eventually released but the threats continued. Services
were cancelled on December 4 because of the threats.

Pray that Pastor Yesupadam will continue to be filled with boldness as he
proclaims the good news of freedom in Christ. Pray that his courage will
influence his persecutors toward a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Fear Not

Today's Scriptures:



Fear Not!

The waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm."

Proverbs 1:32,33 NIV

__________________

All your children shall be taught by the LORD,
And great shall be the peace of your children.

In righteousness you shall be established;
You shall be far from oppression,
for you shall not fear;
And from terror,for it shall not come near you.

Isaiah 54:13,14 NKJV

__________________

The LORD is thy keeper:
the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:
he shall preserve thy soul.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and
thy coming in from this time
forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121:5-8 KJV

__________________

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again,
but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry
out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that
we are children of God.

Romans 8:14-16 NASB

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

Read the Bible in One Year:



November 15: James 3, Jeremiah 25-26, Psalm 131

Today's Meditation:



Be Doers of the Word

This you know, my beloved brethren But everyone must be quick to hear,
slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve
the righteousness of God.

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of
wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to
save your souls.

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who
delude themselves.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man
who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at
himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of
person he was.

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and
abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual
doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:19-25 NASB

Translations:

CEV - Contemporary English Version
ESV - English Standard Version
KJV - King James Version
MSG - The Message
NASB - New American Standard Bible
NIV - New International Version
NKJV - New King James Version
NLT - New Living Translation
RSV - Revised Standard Version

Send feedback about this Ezine to: bibleverses.editor@arcamax.com

All Good Gifts Come From Him

All good gifts come from Him

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming
down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or
shifting shadow.

James 1:17 NASB

__________________
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be
opened.

If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a
stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of
a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those
who ask Him!"

Luke 11:9-13 NKJV

__________________
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have
fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not
practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his
Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:5-7 ESV

__________________
Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

Read the Bible in One Year:

November 7: 2 Timothy 3, Jeremiah 9-10, Psalm 123

Today's Meditation:

Be Exalted, O God!

My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.

Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 57:7-11 NIV

Translations:

CEV - Contemporary English Version
ESV - English Standard Version
KJV - King James Version
MSG - The Message
NASB - New American Standard Bible
NIV - New International Version
NKJV - New King James Version
NLT - New Living Translation
RSV - Revised Standard Version

Send feedback about this Ezine to: bibleverses.editor@arcamax.com

Witnessing - Stay at It!

Today's Scriptures:

Witnessing - Stay at It!
__________________

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who
belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:9,10 NIV
__________________

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified,
that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

John 15:7,8 KJV
__________________

Those who sow in tears
shall reap with joyful shouting.
He who goes to and fro weeping,
carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again
with a shout of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 126:5,6 NASB

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20
__________________
Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

Read the Bible in One Year:

October 14: Revelation 14, Esther 5:1-6:13, Psalm 106:24-48

Today's Meditation:

Faith & Patience

Dear friends, even though we are talking like this, we really don't
believe that it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant
for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not
unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how
you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you
still do. Our great desire is that you will keep right on loving
others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you
hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and
indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are
going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and patience.

Gods Promises Bring Hope

For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no
one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

Hebrews 6:9-15 The NLT

Translations:

CEV - Contemporary English Version
ESV - English Standard Version
KJV - King James Version
MSG - The Message
NASB - New American Standard Bible
NIV - New International Version
NKJV - New King James Version
NLT - New Living Translation
RSV - Revised Standard Version

Send feedback about this Ezine to: bibleverses.editor@arcamax.com

Have You Any Rags?

I just found one of the greatest illustrations of our Lord and Messiah Jesus Christ from the Heart To Heart Blog on BlogExplosion and it is an awesome message worth sharing with anyone you love.

Have you any rags?

I saw a strange sight. I stumbled upon a story most strange, like nothing my life, my street sense; my sly tongue had ever prepared me for. Hush, child. Hush, now, and I will tell it to you.

Even before the dawn one Friday morning I noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking the alleys of our City. He was pulling an old cart filled with clothes both bright and new, and he was calling in a clear, tenor voice: "Rags!" Ah, the air was foul and the first light filthy to be crossed by such sweet music.

"Rags! New rags for old! I take your tired rags! Rags!"

"Now, this is a wonder," I thought to myself, for the man stood six-feet-four, and his arms were like tree limbs, hard and muscular, and his eyes flashed intelligence. Could he find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the inner city?

I followed him. My curiosity drove me. And I wasn't disappointed.

Soon the Ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. She was sobbing into a handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. Her knees and elbows made a sad X. Her shoulders shook. Her heart was breaking. The Ragman stopped his cart. Quietly, he walked to the woman, stepping round tin cans, dead toys, and Pampers.

"Give me your rag," he said so gently, "and I'll give you another."

He slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. She looked up, and he laid across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. She blinked from the gift to the giver.

Then, as he began to pull his cart again, the Ragman did a strange thing: he put her stained handkerchief to his own face; and then HE began to weep, to sob as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking. Yet she was left without a tear.

"This IS a wonder," I breathed to myself, and I followed the sobbing Ragman like a child who cannot turn away from mystery.

"Rags! Rags! New rags for old!"

In a little while, when the sky showed grey behind the rooftops and I could see the shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the Ragman came upon a girl whose head was wrapped in a bandage, whose eyes were empty. Blood soaked her bandage. A single line of blood ran down her cheek.

Now the tall Ragman looked upon this child with pity, and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet from his cart.

"Give me your rag," he said, tracing his own line on her cheek, "and I'll give you mine."

The child could only gaze at him while he loosened the bandage, removed it, and tied it to his own head. The bonnet he set on hers. And I gasped at what I saw: for with the bandage went the wound! Against his brow it ran a darker, more substantial blood – his own!

"Rags! Rags! I take old rags!" cried the sobbing, bleeding, strong, intelligent Ragman.

The sun hurt both the sky, now, and my eyes; the Ragman seemed more and more to hurry.

"Are you going to work?" he asked a man who leaned against a telephone pole. The man shook his head.

The Ragman pressed him: "Do you have a job?"

"Are you crazy?" sneered the other. He pulled away from the pole, revealing the right sleeve of his jacket - flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. He had no arm.

"So," said the Ragman. "Give me your jacket, and I'll give you mine."

Such quiet authority in his voice!

The one-armed man took off his jacket. So did the Ragman - and I trembled t what I saw: for the Ragman's arm stayed in its sleeve, and when the other put it on he had two good arms, thick as tree limbs; but the Ragman had only one.

"Go to work," he said.

After that he found a drunk, lying unconscious beneath an army blanket, and old man, hunched, wizened, and sick. He took that blanket and wrapped it round himself, but for the drunk he left new clothes.

And now I had to run to keep up with the Ragman. Though he was weeping uncontrollably, and bleeding freely at the forehead, pulling his cart with one arm, stumbling for drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old, old, and sick, yet he went with terrible speed. On spider's legs he skittered through the alleys of the City, this mile and the next, until he came to its limits, and then he rushed beyond.

I wept to see the change in this man. I hurt to see his sorrow. And yet I needed to see where he was going in such haste, perhaps to know what drove him so.

The little old Ragman - he came to a landfill. He came to the garbage pits. And then I wanted to help him in what he did, but I hung back, hiding. He climbed a hill. With tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill. Then he sighed. He lay down. He pillowed his head on a handkerchief and a jacket. He covered his bones with an army blanket. And he died.

Oh, how I cried to witness that death! I slumped in a junked car and wailed and mourned as one who has no hope - because I had come to love the Ragman. Every other face had faded in the wonder of this man, and I cherished him; but he died. I sobbed myself to sleep.

I did not know - how could I know? - that I slept through Friday night and Saturday and its night, too.

But then, on Sunday morning, I was wakened by a violence.

Light - pure, hard, demanding light - slammed against my sour face, and I blinked, and I looked, and I saw the last and the first wonder of all. There was the Ragman, folding the blanket most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive! And, besides that, healthy! There was no sign of sorrow nor of age, and all the rags that he had gathered shined for cleanliness.

Well, then I lowered my head and trembling for all that I had seen, I myself walked up to the Ragman. I told him my name with shame, for I was a sorry figure next to him. Then I took off all my clothes in that place, and I said to him with dear yearning in my voice: "Dress me."

He dressed me. My Lord, he put new rags on me, and I am a wonder beside him. The Ragman, the Ragman, the Christ!
posted by Himself | 10:09 PM
1 Comments:
Orikinla Osinachi said...
The last blog to visit of 92 blogs today and the only one that made my day so complete and I thank God for keeping awake till 11.45 pm in Nigeria to read this awesome illustration of the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53) by whose bleeding stripes we are healed. Our Lord and Messiah Jesus Christ.

With your kind permission, I blogging this message right away on my Christian gospel blog
The Rhema
12:47 AM

Remember The Gospel!

Today's Scriptures:

Remember the gospel!

I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NIV

__________________

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

"Death is swallowed up in victory."

"O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:53-58 ESV
__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

Read the Bible in One Year:

September 30: Jude, Ezra 9-10, Psalm 95

Today's Meditation:

Chosen, called, strengthened, encouraged!

As for us, we always thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters
loved by the Lord. We are thankful that God chose you to be among the
first to experience salvation, a salvation that came through the
Spirit who makes you holy and by your belief in the truth. He called
you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm
and keep a strong grip on everything we taught you both in person and
by letter.

May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in his
special favor gave us everlasting comfort and good hope, comfort your
hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 NLT

Translations:

CEV - Contemporary English Version
ESV - English Standard Version
KJV - King James Version
MSG - The Message
NASB - New American Standard Bible
NIV - New International Version
NKJV - New King James Version
NLT - New Living Translation
RSV - Revised Standard Version

Send feedback about this Ezine to: bibleverses.editor@arcamax.com

REPARATIVE RELATIONSHIP

REPARATIVE RELATIONSHIP

By Pastor Bimbo Odukoya

Peju is the first of three (3) girls born to Mr. & Mrs. Abolarin. As far back as she could remember Peju’s mother had always been responsible for the upkeep of the entire family even though both parents lived together. Her father had a job but he never provided for any of the family’s needs.

Mr. Abolarin was a heavy drinker and would come home repeatedly late at night drunk, only to collapse into bed in deep sleep. In this state, he was constantly irritable. The only time Peju, her siblings and mother ever saw him was on Saturdays and even then, he would go out all-day to return very late at night. On one of such days, he slept and never woke up. He died at 46. Bola was just 14 at the time of her father’s death. Peju and her family missed him only for a while.

A year later Peju met Tunji. They soon became intimate friends. All Peju wanted was to have a close relationship with a member of the opposite sex. She sought succour to help overcome all the emotional setbacks she suffered growing-up. She wanted a father figure desperately. Peju and Tunji remained friends for about a year until he had to leave for America for further studies.

Eventually Peju also gained admission into the University and everything changed. She moved into the university hostel and soon began to make new friends. She met Mike. Mike was very nice to Peju and she felt, ‘Yes! This is the type of friendship I have always desired.’ They became very close and to Peju’s greatest joy, Mike asked her out and they began a relationship.

One day, Peju met Mike in her friend’s hostel room. They were in a very compromising position. Peju was devastated. Mike lied that nothing had happened. He however pointed out that the reason he had been tempted was because Peju had persistently disallowed questionable physical advances between them. Eventually, Peju bowed to Mike’s pressure and they began to indulge themselves in petting, which finally resulted in sexual immorality.

She initially felt very guilty about it but rationalized that since they were both in love with each other it was alright. Having satisfied his selfish desires, Mike called off the relationship. Peju became inconsolable. She felt used and had no one to turn to.

She got involved in several other relationships (some with married men), which all began and ended the same way as that with Mike.

Peju was trying to fill a void in her life; a strong desire for a father figure, which she had lacked in her developing years and so she turned to men in an attempt to fill this void. She would do anything and go to any length to maintain these relationships, which ultimately always involved her indulging in sex with them. But the emptiness remained.

PASTOR BIMBO’S COMMENTS
Proverbs 24:6 says, “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety”.

My heart goes out to Peju, who is obviously trying to fill a void in her life, a strong desire for a father figure. This, she was denied of in her formative years and so turned to men to satisfy this desire.

It is clear from our story that Peju’s father before his avoidable death did not fulfill his mandate of fatherhood. She apparently suffered from lack necessary parental support. She needed the input of a father in her life, which she never got. So she turned to the opposite sex for succour.

All Peju thought she needed was to have a close relationship with the opposite sex, but she was actually longing for succour from a father figure to help overcome all the developmental setbacks she suffered growing up; she wanted a father desperately.

The tragedy of Peju’s situation was that she knew what she wanted but she did not know how to get it. She became a cheap victim of sexual exploitation in the hands of both single and married men. Since that is the wrong solution to her problem her emptiness only remained and increased. She only reaped the fruit of frustration in saddening abundance.

So many young women have found themselves in this situation because they have confused a reparative relationship with a romantic relationship.
It is therefore essential as a single to distinguish between a reparative relationship and a romantic relationship. On no account must the two be confused as they serve different functions. A reparative relationship cannot be a romantic one. A reparative relationship is one that would develop in you what you did not get from your childhood and family life. It is actually designed to repair developmental injuries. In order words, a young girl, who grew up without her father for one reason or the other, God brings a father figure into her life, who becomes a father and repairs the damage and hurt she has suffered. Such a person becomes the father she never had and therefore provides the psychological, social and mental need which only a father figure can provide.

A romantic relationship on the other hand calls for responsibility. Any individual who desires it must be mature spiritually, socially, mentally, financially, empowered to contribute positively to the partner’s life. A person in Peju’s shoe can’t get into a romantic relationship because she needs to be repaired first.

She still needs to be invested in because she’s a needy person who is lacking something she should have had in her childhood. Developmental repair isn’t an adult need, it’s an unresolved childhood need.

In the same way that parents don’t date children or children don’t date parents; dating (romantic Relationship) is not what she needs. She needs a father child relationship. (A Reparative Relationship)

Peju therefore doesn’t need a boyfriend or a dating partner, she needs a mentor. Her focus at this stage should not be dating but mentoring. Mentors are people willing to be transparent and willing to share the secrets of their successes. Mentors do not take advantage of sensitivities. Once a mentor takes his eyes off nurturing you and begins to take advantage of you emotionally or physically, he ceases to be a mentor. When choosing a mentor, seek someone who leads by example, someone in whose life you can testify to tested and exceptional qualities. You should look for someone who not only has knowledge, but wisdom, the application of knowledge. Look for someone who has the fear of God, and by that I mean someone who is more concerned about pleasing God than pleasing you. Therefore, he will give Godly counsel. Your search should be for someone who models a level of Christianity you are yet to achieve.

Once a possible mentor (a father figure) is found, approach him sincerely and honestly and ask him if he would be your mentor and have enough time to devote to the relationship.

A mentor must have a good prayer life because he needs to pray for God to give him genuine compassion and right counselling at the right time for the dependant.

In situations where the man is married, be sure to involve the wife. Again, keep the boundaries clear. One way to do this is with an older couple that understands their role as mentors and models in your life. If the wife is part of the relationship as well as the husband, then there’s built-in safety. I know a single lady who had a very close relationship with a couple who basically adopted her as part of the family. They are still her adopted parents and mentors She is eternally grateful to them for their role in her life. Where a man is the mentor to a female romantic feeling might rear its head. They often do because of the natural emotional attachment that follows an intimate relationship between two members of the opposite sex. Therefore the boundaries for the relationship must remain clear. So, make sure you’re in a setting with built-in structures so this kind of relationship doesn’t turn romantic.

Peju ’s need for a relationship with the opposite sex is real and valid. But it must be fulfilled in non-romantic ways. If with single men. Peju must insist on a platonic kind of relationship. If with married men, she must make sure there are the protective boundaries of a restorative relationship or the built-in safety of becoming good friends with the wife as well. If you stick to these principles, chances are that you can find some deep healing in a mentor/ dependant relationship.

In cultivating any relationship, your priority focus must be that such a relationship must be God-centered. A relationship that does not have God as its foundation would ultimately fizzle out in frustration.

The very first place to start is to give your life to Jesus Christ. If there is anyone you need at this time, its Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has proven His steadfast love and friendship for us by laying down His life. For you to fully experience and enjoy the beauty of true and sincere love, you need to make a commitment to Jesus Christ today. Please pray this prayer if you would like to give your life to Him:

Dear Jesus, I repent and confess all my sins today. I believe that you are the Son of God and that you died and rose again. I invite you into my life to be my lord and personal saviour, wash me in your blood and baptize me with your spirit. Amen.
And for those of you having challenges relating to the issues raised in this article please pray this prayer: -

Dear Jesus, I thank you for your word, which is able to save. I have received your word and I ask for the grace to break up the romantic relationship I am in now and to stop sexual sin which I don’t need and will only frustrate me the more. I ask that you will send a God fearing mentor to me and that you will fill me with love and peace. Thank you Jesus. Amen.

Did you really read this article? If you did and it pulled a string within you, you might want to talk to me about your challenges or make further enquiries about the ministry and teaching tapes.

FELLOW PASSERBY

Fellow Passerby, kindly permit me to share a few thoughts, which I believe will do you a lot of good.

In today’s world, information has become the zing thing. Information is being transmitted across the web as never before on almost every subject, anybody who wanted can avail himself or herself of whatever knowledge on earth.

With this trend, you might think that most literate men and nations are up to date on the vital aspects of life. But, sad to say; Man has made progress, researches, investigations into things deep and profound, especially when it comes to the mundane, the life here and now, but most so called educated men and women are totally naïve, ignorant and illiterate when it comes to the eternal, the life hereafter.

My fellow passerby, are you that ignorant? I don’t believe that you who always try to get the latest appliance or gadget to make life easy will be bereft of the knowledge of God!

Many seek to get the best in life, but it is a pity that the One Who is the Source of life is neither sought for nor recognized. You may or may not believe it. But, the truth is that life cannot exist without a Creator!

God, the Being who inspired the writing of the Bible, creates you. His Holy Book.

From the blessed writ, you will discover that you will be accountable to Him one day, whether you accept it or not. The good things of life, you have had are to show you how good He is, and to give you a reason to appreciate and serve Him. (Romans 2:4.)

Not acknowledging the Creator-God who sent His Son Jesus Christ to die and resurrect for man’s salvation from sin is the worst kind of ignorance.

Lack of this knowledge has made the world a place of evil, sin, immoral pleasure, violence, cheating and all kinds of vice. The true knowledge stems from the fear of God and that is wisdom. Herein wisdom: that God so rich in mercy sent His Son Jesus Christ to die and become a sacrifice for our sin. He also rose from the dead and is man’s escape route from spiritual destruction. This is the true knowledge that sets free.

Knowledge is said to be power, but it has been further observed that knowledge alone is not power, but knowledge applied is power. Medicine or drug, no matter how potent in curing a particular ailment, but if not taken in the prescribed way will not be useful. Therefore, just knowing or acknowledging mentally that God exists is not enough.

There is need for you to know Him by asking Jesus Christ to come into your life as Saviour and Lord. This will enable you to share in the privilege of becoming His child. God’s word says, “As many that received Him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God.” (JOHN 1:12.)

Acknowledge Jesus Christ today and be totally free from spiritual darkness and ignorance. Please, eschew any bias in this regard, because your spiritual condition is at stake and the only way of freedom is Jesus Christ (JOHN 14:6, ACTS 4:12.)
Being hardened to this truth will attract eternal punishment in Hell Fire. Therefore, avail yourself of this knowledge today, by giving your life to Jesus Christ. And you will never regret it forever.

Here is a simple way you can do this.
1. Believe that Jesus Christ died to set you free from your sin.
2. Be sorry for your sins and ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and repent from them.
3. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your life as your Lord and Saviour.
4. Decide to live for Him.

God bless you.

For further spiritual help, please contact.
The Pastor-in-Charge
Assemblies of God Church
Plot 471-473, Zone 3, Finima.
P.O.Box 268, Bonny Island,
Rivers State.
Tel: 08035519071
E-mail: likpoko@yahoo.com




Today's Scriptures:



That I May Know Him!

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to
pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of
His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk
worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good
work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all
might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and
longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified
us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into
the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for
Him.

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is
the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:9-18

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

Read the Bible in One Year:



September 18: John 18:38b-19:16, 2 Chronicles 29, Psalm 85

Today's Meditation:



Hold out the Word of Life

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.