Unicorns and Athiests?

I ran across this article on

http://townhall.com/columnists/DineshDSouza/2007/12/09/why_atheists_are_so_angry

by Dinesh D'Sousa. I will quote a little of his line of thought that made me stop and think. I never just thought of it in this angle, but I really like his perspective and I think he has a point. That said I would also encourage Christians to reach out to Atheists. A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. Everyone his the freedom to believe what he wants, it is just that as Christians we fear the eternal consequences of wrong choices. I do not promote the persecution of anyone that does not believe like I do, but it does seem the left-minded are pushing a pretty hard agenda against Christian living as I know it.

Why then are so many atheists so angry?

One reason I think is that they are God-haters. Atheists often like to portray themselves as "unbelievers" but this is not strictly accurate. If they were mere unbelievers they would simply live their lives as if God did not exist. I don't believe in unicorns, but then I haven't written any books called The End of Unicorns, Unicorns are Not Great, or The Unicorn Delusion. Clearly the atheists go beyond disbelief; they are on the warpath against God. And you can hear their bitterness not only in their book titles but also in their mean-spirited invective.

(Quoted from above mentioned article.)

Christians Ruffle Feathers at Dearborn Muslim Celebration?

This is an interesting website that a brother shared with me the other day. Apparently four people were arrested for sharing their faith with Muslims during a Muslim festival. I have not taken sufficient time to go over the details and reflect on them much, though I did find the Mission website fairly interesting. Check it out the story in Michigan and see this website.

http://www.mnnonline.org/article/14386

Are Christians going to be targeted for persecution in America? Some say it is already here.

If You Have.....

Sharing on Op-Noah

I know there are a number that read Op-Noah, but few contribute with comments or any feed back. I would like to see more people submit some inspirations. Let me know from time to time what is hitting the mark. I want to do something positive to the community at large and hopefully as a Christian I along with you can point souls to the Cross. I would like to hear from you some ideas for Op-Noah. I would like to hear of some more inspiring websites or blogs that you as readers know about.

My e-mail is jonluketws@gmail.com

send me an e-mail from time to time. I do not care about what the right or left hand doeth, but it is nice to get feedback from time to time to know somebody is out there. Thanks.

The Good Person Test--Are You Ready To Face Eternity?

These are some interesting websites about preparing for eternal consequences. I was impressed with their straight forward no nonsense Bible based approach.

Are you a good person? Take the "Good Person Test". I liked this site because it stays based on the Word vs. what you find on other sites.

http://www.eternalhell.net/goodpersontestdoit.htm

The good person test reminded me of this site, which is very interesting and challenging for Christians to be a living part of the Great Commission. A brother in California told me about meeting these men in person and gave me their website.

http://www.wayofthemaster.com/watchwitnessing.shtml

Thinking of Prayer......

I asked a brother if I could post his article here. I think there is some prayer for thought to be found herein. Thanks.

What about more of a freedom to have prayers openly and unashamedly?
Do we pray silently at a resturant? Why? If we can talk out loud then
why not be able to have a prayer outloud?

My wife and I were at another family's place and had an evening of
round the table spiritual discussion. We had talked with concern and
in depth about a sister who was leaving the church and was making some
very poor choices in life. Then the thought was lifted out by the
other wife... "Could we spend a little time in prayer for her?" And as
we looked at each other and it felt right... she volunteered to start
and so she prayed a simple prayer for the dear departing sister. She
never ended the prayer with Amen.... we all stayed bowed around the
table until another one prayed. He prayed for the sister of concern
but then branched off into praying for himself and others he could
think of. Again he left it open without saying AMEN. We all stayed
bowed in prayer until we had all impromptu had prayed, for ourselves,
for each other, for our children, for other friends we each knew of in
trouble. The last one ended it with Amen. It was a beautiful time
where the Spirit of God was close and our hearts and emotions were
touched. The setting was very conducive towards fervency and faith.
Sometimes its nice to gather the families together in the evening
after visitation, but this time the children just continued playing
and it was "adult time". The children came and went in the room, they
were observing though, and it felt so natural and open.

I wish we had more of that when there is need.

I have also been to some very warm prayer times (prayer meetings?)
where a group of brethren have gotten together after work in another
brothers shop, and the one who called the gathering confessed his
struggles and even failings in some area, and we all took turns
praying. Praying especially for the situation that called us together,
but also for ourselves as we also shared our burdens with each
other.

But to be honest here... These types of prayer meetings are happening
all over, yet there seems to be a bit of a sensitive thing here where
I have felt from some a certain air of cautiousness to support this
type of thing. What are your thoughts on why that would be?

We read of all night prayer meetings in the early church (Acts 12) and
also when our Anabaptists were persecuted in the middle ages, if our
times are more dangerous and decietful now, then maybe we need that
kind of prayer diligence today too? I know of foreign mission fields
where there have been hours long prayers for each other for
deliverances etc that have had a good work. Do we have less need, or
just less humilty?

Harry Potter?

I publish this only because I have felt the same way about these books and hopefully it can shed light to others about the dangers of these last times. If you ever have comments or suggestions let me know. As for the author of this article I do not agree totally with some of his other writings.

Harry Potter?
What Does God Have To Say?

I am writing this urgent message because I was once a witch. I lived by the
stars as an astrologer and numerologist casting horoscopes and spells. I
lived in the mysterious and shadowy realm of the occult. By means of spells
and magic, I was able to invoke the powers of the "controlling unknown" and
fly upon the night winds transcending the astral plane. Halloween was my
favorite time of the year and I was intrigued and absorbed in the realm of
Wiccan witchcraft. All of this was happening in the decade of the 1960’s
when witchcraft was just starting to come out of the broom closet.

It was during that decade of the 1960’s, in the year 1966, that a woman
named J.K. Rowling was born. This is the woman who has captivated the world
in this year of 2000 with four books known as the "Harry Potter Series."
These books are orientational and instructional manuals of witchcraft woven
into the format of entertainment. These four books by J.K. Rowling teach
witchcraft! I know this because I was once very much a part of that world.

Witchcraft was very different in the 1960’s. There were a lot fewer witches,
and the craft was far more secretive. At the end of that spiritually
troubled decade, I was miraculously saved by the power of Jesus Christ and
His saving blood. I was also delivered from every evil spirit that lived in
me and was set free. However, as I began to attend fundamental Christian
churches, I realized that even there witchcraft had left its mark. Pagan
holidays and sabats were celebrated as "Christian holidays."

As time went on, I watched the so-called "Christian" churches compromising
and unifying. I also watched with amazement as teachings from Eastern
religions and "New Age" doctrine began to captivate congregations. It was a
satanic set-up, and I saw it coming. Illuministic conspirators were bringing
forth a one-world religion with a cleverly concealed element of occultism
interwoven in its teachings.

In order to succeed in bringing witchcraft to the world and thus complete
satanic control, an entire generation would have to be induced and taught to
think like witches, talk like witches, dress like witches, and act like
witches. The occult songs of the 1960’s launched the Luciferian project of
capturing the minds of an entire generation. In the song "Sound Of Silence"
by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, we were told of seeds that were left while
an entire generation was sleeping, and that the "vision that was planted in
my brain still remains."

Now it is the year 2000. All of the foundations for occultism and witchcraft
are in place. The Illuminists have to move quickly, because time is running
out.

It was the Communist revolutionary Lenin who said, "Give me one generation
of youth, and I will transform the entire world." Now an entire generation
of youth has been given to a woman named J.K. Rowling and her four books on
witchcraft, known as the Harry Potter Series.

As a former witch, I can speak with authority when I say that I have
examined the works of Rowling and that the Harry Potter books are training
manuals for the occult. Untold millions of young people are being taught to
think, speak, dress and act like witches by filling their heads with the
contents of these books. Children are obsessed with the Harry Potter books
that they have left television and video games to read these witchcraft
manuals.

The first book of the series, entitled "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s
Stone", finds the orphan, Harry Potter, embarking into a new realm when he
is taken to "Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." At this occult
school, Harry Potter learns how to obtain and use witchcraft equipment.
Harry also learns a new vocabulary, including words such as "Azkaban",
"Circe", "Draco", "Erised", "Hermes", and "Slytherin"; all of which are
names of real devils or demons. These are not characters of fiction!

How serious is this? By reading these materials, many millions of young
people are learning how to work with demon spirits. They are getting to know
them by name. Vast numbers of children professing to be Christians are also
filling their hearts and minds, while willingly ignorant parents look the
other way.

The titles of the books should be warning enough to make us realize how
satanic and anti-christ these books are. The afore mentioned title of the
first book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone", was a real give away.
The second book was called "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", while
the third book was entitled "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."

Sadly enough, this blatant witchcraft has been endorsed by well-known and
respected "Christian" leaders, such as Dr. James Dobson and Chuck Colson,
who have proven themselves to be modern day Judas Iscariots. Nothing could
be more obvious than that Harry Potter books are pure witchcraft and of the
devil. The "Christian" leaders, however, defend them by saying that good
magic always wins and overcomes evil magic.

This is the oldest con game ever hatched out of hell. As a real witch, I
learned about the two sides of "the force." Apparently, so do many
"Christian" leaders. When real witches have sabats and esbats and meet as a
coven, they greet each other by saying "Blessed be", and when they part,
they say "The Force be with you." Both sides of this "Force" are Satan. It
is not a good side of the force that overcomes the bad side of the force,
but rather it’s the blood of Jesus Christ that destroys both supposed sides
of the satanic "Force."

High level witches believe that there are seven satanic princes and that the
seventh, which is assigned to Christians, has no name. In coven meetings, he
is called "the nameless one." In the Harry Potter books, there is a
character called "Voldemort." The pronunciation guide says of this being "He
who must not be named."

On July 8 at midnight, bookstores everywhere were stormed by millions of
children to obtain the latest and fourth book of the series known as "Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire." These books were taken into homes everywhere
with a real evil spirit following each copy to curse those homes. July 8th
was also the 18th day (three sixes in numerology) from the witches’ sabat of
midsummer. July 8th was also the 13th day from the signing of the United
Religions Charter in San Francisco. Now we have learned that the public
school system is planning to use the magic of Harry Potter in the classrooms
making the public schools centers of witchcraft training.

What does God have to say about such books as the Harry Potter series? In
the Bible in the book of Acts, we read the following in the 19th chapter,
verses 18 – 20: "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed
their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books
together and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them,
and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the Word of
God and prevailed."

As parents, we will answer to God if we allow our children to read
witchcraft books. The Word of God will prevail mightily in your life only if
such things of Satan are destroyed. This tract has been prayed over, and I
hope it has helped you. If we may be of further assistance, please contact
us.

Pastor David J. Meyer

Only One Life

by Charles Thomas Studd

Missionary to China, India, and Africa

Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart,

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,

And stand before His Judgment seat;

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,

When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have it’s way,

Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep,

Faithful and true what e’er the strife,

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,

And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone,

Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, “twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill,

Living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call,

I know I’ll say ‘twas worth it all”,

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

- Miracles and Missions

(Reprinted in Hallejujah! - The Official Gazette of The Bible Holiness Movement)

Pray in the Old Time Way When the Fire of God Came Down....

Here is some quotes a brother put together on prayer. Thank-You for that inspiration!

...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James

5:16)

The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to
see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of
weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing
challenge, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and
mighty things which thou knowest not!"
J. Hudson Taylor

The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest
contribution to world evangelization in history.
Andrew Murray

Prayer is not a preparation for the battle; it is the battle!
Leonard Ravenhill

The battle of prayer is against two things in the earthlies: wandering
thoughts, and lack of intimacy with God's character as revealed in His word.
Neither can be cured at once, but they can be cured by discipline.
Oswald Chambers

You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you can never do more
than pray until you have prayed.
A. J. Gordon

Where there is much prayer, there will be much of the Spirit; where there is
much of the Spirit, there will be ever-increasing prayer.
Andrew Murray

In prayer, it is better to have heart without words, than words without
heart. Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin entice a man to cease
from prayer. The spirit of prayer is more precious than treasures of gold
and silver. Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to
God, and a scourge for Satan.
John Bunyan

History is silent about revivals that did not begin with prayer.
Edwin Orr

To arouse one man or woman to the tremendous power of prayer for others, is
worth more than the combined activity of a score of average Christians.
A. J. Gordon

A great many people do not pray because they do not feel any sense of need.
The sign that the Holy Spirit is in us is that we realize that we are empty,
not that we are full. We have a sense of absolute need. We come across
people who try us, circumstances that are difficult, conditions that are
perplexing, and all these things awaken a dumb sense of need, which is a
sign that the Holy Spirit is there. If we are ever free from the sense of
need, it is not because the Holy Spirit has satisfied us, but because we
have been satisfied with as much as we have. 'A man's reach should exceed
his grasp.' A sense of need is one of the greatest benedictions because it
keeps our life rightly related to Jesus Christ.
Oswald Chambers

Let the fires go out in the boiler room of the church and the place will
still look smart and clean, but it will be cold. The Prayer Room is the
boiler room for its spiritual life.
Leonard Ravenhill

Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together.
Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring
of each other's hearts in prayer.
Charles Finney

There is nothing that makes us love a man as much as praying for him.
William Law

"...True prayer is measured by weight, not by length. A single groan before
God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great
length."
C. H. Spurgeon

We cannot ask in behalf of Christ what Christ would not ask Himself if He
were praying.
A.B. Simpson

Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise
our persons; but they are helpless against our prayers.
J. Sidlow Baxter

Notice, we never pray for folks we gossip about, and we never gossip about
the folk for whom we pray! For prayer is a great deterrent.
Leonard Ravenhill

The missionary church is a praying church. The history of missions is a
history of prayer. Everything vital to the success of the world's
evangelization hinges on prayer. Are thousands of missionaries and tens of
thousands of native workers needed? 'Pray ye therefore the Lord of the
harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest.'
John R. Mott

Give yourself to it, [the call to prayer] yield to it; and you will find not
only that you have not been wasting time with respect to the matter with
which you are dealing but that actually it has helped you greatly in that
respect. You will experience an ease and a facility in understanding what
you were reading, in thinking, in ordering matter for a sermon, in writing,
in everything which is quite astonishing. Such a call to prayer must never
be regarded as a distraction; always respond to it immediately, and thank
God if it happens to you frequently.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

O God, forgive the poverty and the pettiness of our prayers . Listen not to
our words but to the yearnings of our hearts. Hear beneath our petitions the
crying of our need.

Peter Marshall

Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His
glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of
His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect
great things!
Andrew Murray

How God Can Change You- from a story called "God Will Use You Mightily" from VOM

This morning I was wondering if I would have an inspiration for devotions. I read my Bible while rocking the baby about the David growing old while fighting the sons of Goliath. It was inspiring but then by hap chance I picked up a VOM magazine and read about Abdulmasi, a man that converted from being a Muslim extremist turned Christian. He was Nigerian and had once been a persecutor of Christians in his country. He had a rough calloused up bringing that allowed him to commit crimes such as bombing churches, taking place in planning riots, and finally infiltrating churches. He was apparently known as "Mr. Insecticide" for his role in exterminating Christians. Eventually he noticed that after bombing a Church the people were still gathering in the ruins and worshipping God. He decided the next step would be to infilterate Churches from the inside. He posed himself as a Muslim interested in Christ and realized he was in for more then he bargained for. He led two lives in two religions and found himself in inner conflict. Finally he went to a church rally and heard a sermon about Elijah challenging the people and Baal's prophets. The preacher emphatically called on the audience to quit trying to live a double life and "If God is God worship God". That was too much for Abdulmasi. He had thought he had been found out and came forward after the service and confessed his true motive in coming to church for six years. In this he received a break through. God reached down and made him a new man.

It was also impressive that from that point on he commented, " The minute my heart changed, something happened, the persecution started that very day." Right from then on attempts were made on his life and later his family. This all started in the 70's. They killed his son attending univercity for being his "father's son" in 2007. Abdulmasi says, "It was VERY difficult, but there is no sacrifice that is too big for God." Today he continues his ministry, "I discovered that love is the ultimate...you have to love them, not with a human type of love, but the love you yourself have experienced through Christ."

I got this story and summarized it from Voice of the Martyrs, June 2010 issue. This story inspired me to love more with "Christ's love" and be willing that persecution will come when you choose to really serve God. In any case let us redeem the times, because the days are evil........

The Right to Be an Obama Basher?

In this day an age we all know elected leaders cannot please everyone. In fact if we seen everything what is said and done behind the political scene who knows what we would want to believe. We do know that this country still upholds good solid values that we can work with. We need less Rush Limbaughs in the churches and more prayer warriors that pray for whoever is in. If you think only the so called good candidates deserve prayer, you are wrong---all of them need it. In election time, I pray God's will be done and afterwards I pray for whoever is in despite the party. I seen the good and bad in both Bush and Clinton. If you go to C. America, you will hear people against Reagan for supplying guerrillas with arms that killed family members. Here you will hear conservatives extol his virtue. If those weapons in Nicaragua, Iraqi, or Afaganistan killed your family members, you would view things differently--politically. I am not here to pass judgement on actions taken. I am only here to suggest that the most effective bashing that can be done these days--is our knees hitting ground for prayer. If all Christians would pray as they should there would be more victory and a chance for real revival. The Christians power and faith is his connection with God. This connection is revealed in our prayer life. Our prayers need to be full of thanksgiving and also need to reach outward. Jesus Christ is on call 24/7 making intercession for us and answering prayer. Is he wondering at when we will mature out our selfish prayer lifes and reach out for the sake of the kingdom? Maybe I'm only speaking to myself. When we speak out as Christians it needs to be calling sin sin. That is what needs to happen. However it does no good to open your door, yell at the world, go back inside to your wife and say, "It's hopeless, nothing helps." We need to pray to that Someone that can make a difference and is waiting to hear our call so he can win our battles for us. So if we have suspicions that our leaders are failing us and becoming ungodly in their actions, remember they are reflecting the people. We need to pray that they can have vision and we need to pray that God can open their eyes to what needs to be done. That way when we come back inside we can look at our wife and say, "Let's pray."

In inspiration to serve our country I know prayer is a tribute that needs to be given. Romans 13:1-9

Winton's Out Reach to Homeless

Some young couples from Winton have been giving a couple evenings a month of their time to bring food for the homeless in their local town of Merced. (pop. around 70,000). They also have devotions with them after the meal for all those interested. Some of the participants of these services have showed continued interest in coming to visit our congregation in Winton. The latest development is also to shift the meal from the beginning to the end of the month to feed more people. The couples split the expenses out of their own pocket. Some ladies gather the night before and prepare the food at Church. This is only to inspire others to maybe doing something similar in your own communities.

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? James 2:16

Let's pray that these outreaches can bear more good fruit to our fellow men around us suppling for their spiritual and physical needs.

Escaping the Gaping Mouth of Hell: Call to Repentance

We serve a merciful God- but to have mercy there has to be judgment or sentence we had to escape. I have been impressed this past Father’s Day with the thought that was uplifted in a CE Program on the “Faith of Our Fathers.” The question is are we continuing in that Faith. The next morning I opened my eyes to Isaiah and starting to read at random until the last chapter. At first I felt like the Ethiopian and became somewhat discouraged at what I could understand, then I read of “ But to this man I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isa.66:2 After this it talks of how men though they appear they just slay an ox it is as if they slew a man, and when they burned incense it was as if they blessed an idol, because “When I called, none did answer; when I spake they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” Is. 66:4 The Lord then declares how he will recompense His enemies, before he opens up another beautiful promise of his kingdom of Zion. She will travail and bring a man child and bring forth her children and rejoice with her and she shall comfort us. The promise is to spread abroad to the Gentiles, “Like a flowing stream”. This sign will be spread to “isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.” 66:19 The promises continued and I felt so thankful to be a part of this heritage and be a part of this seed. Along with this thankfulness a soberness descended of the great responsibility it is to be a part of this “New heaven and Earth”. Right beside these promises, God also promises to consume His enemies. It promises to the men that have transgressed and rejected his plan: their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be abhorring unto all flesh. Then the book of Isaiah’s closes and Jeremiahs opens. In my early youth searching for the Lord these books helped me make judgments on sin in my life and many verses are marked for my reminders, that God is not mocked whatsoever a man soweth this shall he also reap Gal.6:7. Jeremiah calls out for repentance to those that hold a form of righteousness, but really are backsliders, unrepentant, are hearers but not doers and yet when in the time of their trouble they will say, arise and save us. Jer. 2:27.

Down this line of thought I have been reflecting on our Savior. His love. His life. His suffering. His sacrifice. His Grace. He offers to take our burdens and relieve us of our cares if we but follow him. His blood is there to cover our sins. He is their to make intercession for us and hear our prayers. He gave us His Word to follow and understand His will. He gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us through the manifold decisions we face everyday. Such service, such blessings, so many promises as Isaiah said would be poured out like a “flowing stream” to all flesh. To really accept this mighty benefit comes at no small cost-We must give up ourselves and allow Him to use us as it pleases him. Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. Rom 12:1. Which is your reasonable service. In the light of the promises of God that we read about and witness from day to day we can only accept that to be a living sacrifice is only to be reasonable. We deserve way less even death if it were not for Jesus Christ.

However it is only the meek, contrite, hearts that will fit through the “strait gate”. It is not to the strong, the willful, knowledgeable or to the willfully ignorant. It is for the humble. The ones that fear God. We live in an enlightened age, but I fear too many times we appear before God as naked creatures. We have allowed ourselves to sleep in many areas in our lives. We got the knowledge of centuries behind us but we can’t meet the simple requirement of the truly contrite heart. Jesus had no place to lay His head, and yet when we go to worship him we desire a soft place to sit and a temperature to suit are fancy. We do not like noise of children to distract us--we like carpets to walk on. We like the speakers voice to be moderated to a volume which we can control. Sometimes I wonder if we should not be more uncomfortable while listening to the Word of God. The shifting of our flesh on hard benches to remind of us of the way of the flesh. The stifling heat and sweat to remind us of the fate of the earth. The unpleasant noises to remind us of how the devil’s distractions. The hard surface under our feet to remind us that the way is not going to be easy. To come from such a setting you realize these people gathered for a purpose and not creature comforts. I am talking Spiritual and not purely focusing on temporal comfort. Yet perhaps fashion would de dampened a little if you knew you were going to sweat in it.

I am speaking to my self as well as to whoever may read this article. Do I only call out to God when I am at wits end? Is my faith mainly for those occasions when I have run out of options? Do we really desire the Lord? Do I really love my neighbor as myself? Would I be living my life complacently if I really believed in the weakness of my flesh and my neighbor’s and our chances if we do not fully trust in the Lord to guide us through these perilous times?

We can comfort our selves in the direction we receive from our ministers, brethren, and heritage, but that does not allow us to escape the reality that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. The Lord says “to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

Since we see we see through a glass darkly it does not seem open to me to point at things. It only seems God wants to show us all His goodness and glory to us that are of His people and warn us of His coming judgment. He is a righteous judge that will judge the conditions of the heart.

Why would I need to repent as a Christian? 1. How attached am I to this world? 2. Do I really believe in the judgments of God? 3. If I do what am I doing about it? 4. Am I concerned about the souls of man? 5. What is my prayers directed at? Are they to relieve the needs I see around me are they thankful to the goodness of God?

What need I do? Pray, Pray, Pray. Pray for vision, Pray for Repentance, and Pray for Revival.

This is my inspiration for Today

Quote

A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God.

Leonard Ravenhill

Keeping Priorities

James A. Garfield was President of the United States of America, taking office March 4, 1881. On his first Sunday in Washington after his inauguration, a member of cabinet insisted that a meeting must be called to discuss a matter that threatened a national crisis. The President refused on the grounds of another appointment. The cabinet member reiterated that the national matter was of grave importance and suggested that President Garfield break his engagement, but President Garfield refused to do so. Then the cabinet member remarked, "I would be interested to know with whom you have an engagement so important it cannot be broken." President Garfield replied: "I will be as frank as you are. My engagement is with the Lord, to meet Him as His house at His table at 10:00 tomorrow morning, and I shall be there.

Adult and Youth Sunday School Lessons

March, April, May 2010 (page. 59)

Can the Internet Ruin Our Brains?

A brother e-mailed this to me this morning. It is something I have wondered about in my own case and it makes it more interesting that perhaps there are some side effects that indeed can be harmful to "Googlers". Draw your own conclusions.

Interesting article...

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/06/03/internet-ruining-minds-carr-shallows/

Internet and Telephone Poem

The Internet we'd all agree, is better left alone,
But shouldn't we we be wary of the humble Telephone?

To sin upon the Internet, my fingers move a mouse,
To sin upon the Telephone, I open up my mouth!

My fingers could, upon the Net, find sordid trash to view,
My mouth upon the Telephone could sordid gossip spew.

My fingers on the Internet can fill my mind with dirt;
My mouth upon the Telephone can others greatly hurt.

My fingers can, upon the Net, strip others bare to shame,
My mouth upon the phone can strip my neighbor of their name.

The Internet, with all its smut, has nasty things to tell,
But oh, the tongue upon the phone-is flamed by fire and hell.

(Author Unknown)

More Weeping Between the Porch and the Altar

Let the priest weep between the altar and the door posts. I walked round the front of the podium one day, in a distinguished, wonderful college, fourteen hundred students listening. I just walked round and said to the professors, “Gentlemen you are teaching young men to be preachers. In one sense, they are going to guide the church in the future days. Tell me this, do you have for them a course on weeping? And if they graduate, do you have a course on howling?”

An old professor came and sat at the back in one of my meetings. He believed in old blood and fire, hell-fire preaching and holy living and a church being something which God deposited in the world just to show people how He can redeem us and get a bride for Himself. And you know, all the other professors in that university say, “That old man is senile.”

I like an old statement that was made I think by Montgomery, “All earthly things with earth will fade away, but prayer grasps eternity.” And if we’re going to see as God sees… Praying, just recently, the Lord seemed to say this to me, “If you claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit the things that grieve the Spirit will grieve you.” Who does the Lord cast His burdens on? Does He roll them away into the oblivion? No, no, no. He says, “My yoke is easy, My burden is light.”

We don’t want people to think we’re depressed. I mean, everything is depressing outside, why cover it over? We are heading for judgment faster than you could ever think unless there is a divine intervention. And the key, again, is the priests weeping. The priests howling.

We sure need

a heaven born,

earth shaking,

hell-terrifying revival.

And it only comes through brokeness, it comes through honesty.

Leonard Ravenhill

Weeping Between the Porch and the Altar

LET IT SLEEP!

One day Napoleon ran his index finger round a great country, he was talking to his generals and he said, “There lies a sleeping giant, LET IT SLEEP!! Because,” he said, “if that country ever wakes up and harnesses it’s man power to it’s mineral power it will shake the world.”...

See the devil standing there, he isn’t running his finger round a map, he is running his finger round the church of Jesus Christ and he says, “There is the church of Jesus Christ asleep, LET IT SLEEP!!” “Because if it ever rediscovers the power of the Holy Ghost, if it ever rediscovers the resurrection power of Jesus, it will shake the world.”

Leonard Ravenhill

Weeping Between the Porch and the Altar

Assurance of Salvation

This sermon was reprinted in September 2010 edition of the African “The Voice of Christians Fellowship“. One of my Canadian ‘African’ brothers emailed this to me recently. Inspiring.

Assurance of Salvation

By Min. Reuben Koehn (1907 – 1995)

Assurance, as being considered here, is to confirm and give confidence to being saved. This is generally thought of as an experience during conversion. Some experiences are related to the physical while others are related to the spiritual. Many Christians are relying on experiences and confirmation and guidance; they are praying for experiences to edify and encourage them in their Christian life.

Spiritual experiences are really not a source of life, they are believed by many to be a proof that they are in favor of God. They believe that if experiences are not made occasionally, it is a sign of a lukewarm or even cold condition.

That many are experience-minded is seen in many Christian writings, as well as public testimonies. The Church paper seems to bring them out more than daily conversation. It is also standard that converts, or those asking for baptism and church membership, tell a conversion experience.

It seems like a growing number of young converts are troubled because they do not have the experience they believe it will take to assure their salvation. Has the church raised an image that is not required by scripture?

The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3: 1-21) deals directly with becoming a Christian-being born again of water and Spirit. The new birth is not a product of man, but it is an act of God upon the heart, a work that gives one a change of attitude, affection, and desire. The change is a complete one, not saying, however, that he will never sin again. The new birth is not dependent upon joining a church or upon the observation of ceremonies. Neither is one justified by an experience, but one is justified on faith in Christ’s accomplished work on the cross. When one completely surrenders to God and entirely trusts in Jesus as Savior, the Holy Ghost gives him a new nature. This new nature is necessary; for the old nature is enmity against God.

It is through the Holy Spirit that man becomes convinced of his sins. It is through the Holy Spirit that such a one is directed to Christ as the One who will forgive. And it is through the Holy Spirit that man becomes aware of sins forgiven and of being a child of God. This awareness is an assurance of peace and, in turn, produces joy in the heart.

Review the recorded conversions of the New Testament and see how few refer to the type of experience some are seeking today. Paul’s conversion was dramatic, but what particular part of it would one take as evidence that he was now a Christian? There is no personal statement or testimony of sins forgiven, of peace in his heart, or of joy in his life. However, no one doubts this conversion. The account in Acts 16:25-24 is also a thrilling one, where in a very pronounced way the jailor and his house were saved and baptized in a course of hours. But again, there is no recorded testimony of sins forgiven and peace. They believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

While Paul was preaching outside the city of Thyatira, a woman named Lydia believed the gospel. She and her household were baptized. All this is recorded without comments about an experience. She believed what Paul preached. Think of the three thousand at Pentecost as giving testimony through an experience of conversion! Those who gladly received the Word were baptized in the name of the Lord.

Sometimes today the convert is pressed for an experience: “Do you have a day, a spot, an occasion where you believe the Lord forgave you and accepted you as His child, where peace and joy came into your heart?” Yes, some are definite on when and where, but not everyone is. Because some can and others cannot, it frustrates those who cannot. They believe to have made necessary corrections; they have prayed for forgiveness, promising to love and serve God all their days, but they have no particular assurance of being born again. They hear and read experiences of some others and have come to accept experiences as a norm, and when it doesn’t come, they are perplexed.

The conviction of being a sinner creates a burden in the heart. The burden is because of sin on the heart. This causes condemnation and a fear of being lost and separated from God in eternity. Moved by this fear and unrest, a sinner seeks forgiveness through Christ. He approaches Jesus repenting, asking forgiveness, and pledging himself to the Lord completely. Upon this, forgiveness is received, the burden is lifted, and condemnation is gone. Along with this, the attitude, affections, and desires are changed. There is a mind to deny self, the world, and all evil. For this change, there is only one explanation: old things are gone, and new things have come forth, proving that a new creature in Christ Jesus is born. This is salvation and the proof of it.

The most important point is not a pointed experience but a change in ones attitude, affection, and desires. The details may not be clear, but “one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25)

Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ, believing His promise that whosoever will come to Him, He will in no wise cast away but honor his request to forgive and receive him as His child. When this promise is truly accepted in the heart without a reserve, then comes a feeling of peace with God, and joy springs forth as a result. Peace and joy are not the source of salvation but are the fruits of it by faith.

The change of attitude, affections, and desires is in itself an experience that man alone does not develop. This is the grace of God bestowed only upon His children. To ask and see an assurance when the requirements are met is casting a shadow upon faith in the promises of God.

Reprinted from “Messenger of Truth”, Vol. 73, No.23

Fighting Cancer?

Here is something my sister sent me. I wonder if she was referring me to the diet which complements the Old Testament Jewish Diet. She is Adventist. Point 15 was impressive to me.

Johns Hopkins Update - Very Good Article
AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY
IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY ('TRY', BEING THE KEY WORD) TO ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .


Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins :
1. Every person has cancer cells in the body . These cancer
cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have
multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients
that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after
treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the
cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable
size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a
person's lifetime.
3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer
cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and
forming tumors.
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has
nutritional deficiencies . These could be due to genetic,
but also to environmental, food and lifestyle factors .
5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing
diet to eat more adequately and healthy, 4-5 times/day
and by including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing
cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells
in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can
cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
7.. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars
and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often
reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of
chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor
destruction.
9. When the body has too much toxic burden from
chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either
compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb
to various kinds of infections and complications.
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to
mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.
Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other
sites.
11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer
cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.
*CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
a. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made
with Aspartame and it is harmful . A better natural substitute
would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small
amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in
color Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt .
b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the
gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus . By cutting
off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer
cells are being starved.
c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based
diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little other meat,
like chicken. Meat also contains livestock
antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all
harmful, especially to people with cancer.
d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole
grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into
an alkaline environment . About 20% can be from cooked
food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live
enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to
cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance
growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building
healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most
vegetables including be an sprouts) and eat some raw
vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at
temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C)..
e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate , which have high
caffeine Green tea is a better alternative e and has cancer
fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or
filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap
water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.
12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of
digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the
intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic
buildup.
13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By
refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes
to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the
body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
14. Some supplements build up the immune system
(IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals,
EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy
cancer cells.. Other supplements like vitamin E are known
to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's
normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or
unneeded cells.
15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit .
A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior
be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put
the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to
have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy
life.
16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated
environment. Exercising daily , and deep breathing help to
get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen
therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer
cells.
1. No plastic containers in micro .
2. No water bottles in freezer .
3. No plastic wrap in microwave ..
Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer.Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.
Please share this with your whole email list.........................
Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran , is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.