Book----Through The Eye of A Needle: The Doctrine of Nonaccumulation

I had some company this weekend and this book came up in the conversation. It has been making its rounds in congregations around the conference. It is to challenge us in these times. This is a Anabaptist scriptual Bible study and not some new fangled ideas. It is a challenge to seriously look into the Words of Christ on these matters and return to the faith of our Church Fathers. (Those generations that carried the Gospel message through the ages to our day). A very good counterbalance to our modern material oriented lifestyle and culture. Just be sure to read the whole book through to give it fair trial. Peter Waldo and the Waldensians would find adjustment to our literature just as challenging. I think the printed book has more word illustrations then the online version. 
It explores those Bible verses and questions on the material world that we like to avoid. Enjoy.


Read or Review the book online
http://www.elcristianismoprimitivo.com/througheyeofneedle.pdf


Buy the Book ---$5.95
http://www.scrollpublishing.com/store/more-Eye-of-Needle.html



Beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the
abundance of things which he possesseth.  (Lk. 12:15)


They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare . . . but thou,
O man of God, flee these things.  (1 Tim. 6:9, 11)

One of the Angels Over Waslala book's Pastors Faces Prison Sentance

Tim Miller a pastor from Tennessee that is featured along side the Pablo Yoder family in the Angels Over Waslala books is facing some charges in a Lesbian custody legal battle. What an unexpected twist! Our prayers should be with this situation and for him and his family's behalf and of course the others involved that good can come out of all this. If you have read the books about the missionary work of the Beachy Amish in Nicaragua, where they had faced death and threats so many times-- you just know God has a way through all this too. 

news sites

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/AP-Enterprise-A-fight-over-a-girl-and-God-s-law-1441575.php

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1379815/Tennessee-pastor-Timothy-Miller-arrested-helping-Lisa-Miller-flee-Mexico-ex-lovers-child.html

At least One Blog that has a Few Links to the story and a picture of the Miller family

http://www.eaf.net/mvp/2011/the-tim-miller-family/

http://www.eaf.net/mvp/2011/timo-miller-update/

http://newsdeskinternational.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/lisa-miller-the-saga-continues/

Bruchko by Bruce Olson

I appreciated this missionary book of experiences-- to read it is to ask yourself-- how far am I willing to share the gospel. Am I willing to reach that threshold that could include death if it is the Lord's will?  At least that is the questions it asked me.

The book is about a nineteen year old fellow from Minnesota/St.Paul who sets out for South America to be a missionary to the primitive Indians in the sixties. His father is a banker of Norwegian and Lutheran background who is rather hard to live with. His family is rather alarmed and displeased when the bookish Bruce has a born again experience and starts to go to another church that acknowledges the New Birth experience. They for sure believe he is throwing his life away when he leaves for the Venezuela jungle. He expected to help the Christian mission already established but receives a cold shoulder because he was not in their program. From there he just allows God to take the initiative and guide him to where he needs to go. According to that direction it doesn't just lead to any Indian tribe but rather leads to the most feared and bloody tribe-- the Molitiones.  I forgot to list how many times he nearly succumbs to disease or nearly gets killed by hostile natives. (Having lived in Belize near the Peten jungles I respect anyone  who is just able to put up with the bugs, diseases, and danger that jungle living entails let alone hostile cornered natives.) Except for a few trips to Bogata and frontier towns he is fairly submerged into the Indian culture and living for the first six years. His natural bent is language study and he with the help of his Indian "pact" brother translate the book of Mark and I believe by now he has probably overseen a good share of the Bible translated. In the end he planted the seed and communicated the gospel to the Indians and showed compassion by helping them with their physical medical needs but  they, the Indians, were the ones that watered and harvested believers in the end. If you read the book it is clear that even if you walk the paths of God, it doesn't mean you are not going to have bear a cross. There are many sad happenings along with the victories in this book. One of the purposes of the book is also to show the dangers of survival that the Indians face as settlers encroach upon the land.
 My particular edition starts out with the author's kidnapping a couple years ago by Colombian Communists.

As far as my opinion of the book it is mainly favorable. I was amazed with how the way was prepared to reach those primitive people and the provisions God chose to reach them. How knowledgeable they were of God despite all their complex belief system. I appreciated the parts of the book that stress the need to show a deep interest and compassion to the people. Study their language and culture to see where God has already touched them with understanding. Then find a way where the Gospel can be theirs personally to share to their own people. These people where a very individualistic tribe that became more caring for one another as the Spirit touched their lives. Read it for yourself---I am getting too long winded.

The things I did not like as well is the glorification of the man and his accomplishments you see in the Bruce Olsen website and the repeated fact that he was a personal friend to so many Colombian presidents and spoke to the UN, etc.. (Not to say at all that is negative in itself) He probably has little to do with it personally--maybe the publisher, etc----I don't know. I would say in the book he down plays his role because it is clear he would be dead ten times over or else he wanted to walk away if God was not there. Finally he wrote the book to raise awareness and money to the plight of the Indians.

   Another thing I would be tended to question ----- the fact that you are left to believe that the Christians would bare arms to defend their land and life which seems counter to Christ's teachings of what we call nonresistance. There is not much of that but those were the points I possibly wondered about. Just read the book and let me know what you think. My wife is reading Peace Child by Don Richardson, so maybe when she is done that will be my next read. To me reading is like going to school and learning from the experience of others...So Long......

Eternity in their Hearts by Don Richardson

I have not even finished the book, but wanted to post on what I have read already. I guess I have always wondered and have been fascinated how all cultures spin off of a common origin. At one time Noah then Babel and then as men spread across the earth the traditions become faint but yet there is certain indicators that point back to God, Creation and the Flood. I have even wondered about all the blood sacrifice in pagan cultures, etc, that recognize a need for atonement that can not be fulfilled by man.
I finally came across this book by the author of Peace Child which is found in our church bookstores. The book Eternity in their Hearts starts out with history of why the Altar to the Unknown God was in Athens in Apostle Paul's day. He shows how Paul used it to advantage to show the people what they had been looking for has been there and neglected. He talks of the Canaan prophet Melchizedek had already known the God of Abram before they met.
Then he brings out the story of King Pachacuti of the Incas that recognized that sun worship was inadequent and that their traditions pointed to a Creator that created all things. He wrote hymns on the matter and informed the nobility about the Truth, but made one mistake --- they did not share it to the common people, because it would upset their rule based on their temples. It also talks about other Indian tribes of the Americas. It also tells of cultures in Asia and Africa, China, India, Burma that also have ancient traditions that point to the Bible. In some cases their cultures been waiting for centuries to be freed from idolatry and be reconciled with their Creator. It is hard for me to bring it all to Words in such a short time period, accurately with all the distractions needing my attention, but read the book if this subject interests you. 

Compassionate Touch by Doug Wead

I really like this book. It is a number of stories from the streets of Calcutta, India. Set in the Seventies following the ministries and humanitarian work of Mark Buntain. I wanted to give a little review of the book but I have already borrowed out my copy and plan to keep it borrowed out. It is a very touching book and I hope it inspires others and myself to like service. It has a story of a crippled boy that crawls the streets around like a spider--ignored by the world. A story about a leper doomed to die a horrible death as one of the living dead. A prostitute who has to decide whether to join Christ or provide her family with a meager living. A ex-soldier who is totally rejected by his own family lays down to die only to wake up cleaned and washed and a new lease on life that leads him to become an accountant. A drug dealer who seeks out the ultimate high. The story of a Russian  circus motor cycle dare devil who lives a life of squalor and becomes accussed of murder. Read the book and see how Christ reaches down into each of these lives and shows hope where other see despair. Of course life has choices that can bring disappointments.

A FREE Gospel Tract and Literature Resource: Gospel Tract and Bible Society

I have been noticing that Operation Noah's Ark Audience has increasingly turned international. I have also been disappointed that I have not been able to post as many Gospel articles as I would have liked. It is my sincere desire that the light could shine in every corner even on the Internet, and if we all do our little part God only knows the souls we may point to him. Of course we do not treat Gospel outreach as a score board. We all know we all stand in need of a Physician. Especially one for the soul. We all need a Savior to save us from ourselves and damnation of those that sin against God willfully. God help us all because none can stand justified before God without the blood of Jesus. 


To Keep it Simple :


If any readers here need good solid Gospel literature read, Bible study or for pass out on the street:


1. Is sound doctrinally
2. Is FREE
3. Teaches Jesus Christ, Repentance, Humility, Nonresistance (Matt. 5-7), Heaven and Hell
4. Covers all manner of doctrine found in the Bible like
   a. Women's headcovering
   b. Modesty
   c. Men wearing the Beard
   d. Proper Practise of Holy Kiss, etc.
5. Uses KJV
6. Comes in many languages


CONTACT: 

Gospel Tract and Bible Society

An agency of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, that publishes and distributes tracts in 59 languages in 149 countries.

U.S. office: PO Box 700, Moundridge, Kansas 67107.

Ph. 620-345-2533; Fax 2528

Contact Gospel Tract (USA)

Box 180, RR 1, Ste. Anne, Manitoba R5H 1R1.

Ph. 204-355-4975; Fax 4107

Contact Gospel Tract (Canada)

Gospel Tract and Bible Society Regional Offices

To contact regional offices in Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Russia, or Romania use the following form:

Contact Gospel Tract (USA)

Gospel Tract is a branch  of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. That website and samples of literature can be found on http://churchofgodinchristmennonite.net/

Hell's Best Kept Secret--by Ray Comfort : Must Read In My Opinion

"But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient." 1Tim 1:8-9

This book teaches you how to use the law "lawfully" to win souls to Christ. It shows how Jesus approached sinners with the law and how important it is that the condemnation of sin is felt by the lost. It shows down to earth examples how we all fall short of the Ten Commandements and are doomed to die if it were not for the blood of Jesus. It bashes the all "Grace Gospel", "let's not talk about judgement" approaches. It shows how and why Evangelists from a 100 years ago were more successful in bringing fruit unto repentance. It helps you understand why the "Hell fire" is not to be shied away from if you truly love and want to save souls.

As the man that writes the book is a street preacher he tells how to ignore hecklers, what to expect and look for in witnessing and preaching on the street. The book is full of scripture references and quotes from old time evangelists on nearly every page. I don't know how we send out missionaries and tract workers without making this a standard reading. I think somebody on the board needs to proofread it so it doesn't seem like a coup and then I think people should send it to all the missions. If you are in prison ministry I think it is definitely worth your time. I would quote you some references, but I already borrowed out my book as soon as I finished. There are souls to save and why waste time!

The problem is we have no one really to tell us what is a effective way to witness. We get confused by whether we should talk more about the blessings of being a Christian or whether to talk about fleeing the wrath to come.

The book compares this to telling a man in a airliner to put on a parachute to enjoy his ride better. If that is his motivation somewhere down the line he is going to get uncomfortable and tear it off in disgust. The other passengers were snickering at him, and he did not feel any more comfortable. In fact Jesus tells us to expect hardship, cross bearing and persecution for his name sake. So it is erroneous to promise people an easier more comfortable life. Jesus came to take the burden of sin away and if you do not feel that burden, that person cannot value the reason why Jesus had to come to save.

Now he compares this with a man that gets a parachute and is told that the plane is indeed going to go down and he needs to wear this parachute to ensure that his life is saved. That man will value his parachute. Even if he feels discomfort or is ridiculed he will grasp hold of the parachute. So is it for those that are saved what shall seperate us from the Love of God?

I recommend this book as an effort to shake the reader into effective action in committing yourself into the work of the Great Commission. It is not a work, but a fruit of those that really have something to share. If a man died to save your life from a horrible death, would you not remember and reverence him to those you know all the days of your life. How much important to if that somebody saved you from eternal death and is there to benefit others. Help us Lord to do our part.

As far as the author, Ray Comfort, I haven't read his other books. I for some reason start getting a slightly cautious when people start writing books and go big time with TV shows,etc and then it starts looking really commercial. When the names and pictures of the author start to get bigger than the titles. I am glad for their success if they can hold onto what they started with. Maybe it is that verse about standing in the street corner to be seen and praised of men, that makes me cautious. Perhaps they can reach more people that way?

JLT

The Voice of Christian's Fellowship

The Nigerian Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Church Christian Paper. I once thought you about had to have connections with somebody in Nigeria to get this newsletter, magazine what ever you want to call it. I would borrow them whenever I could get my hands on them. Now I found out you can get a subscription from Gospel Publishers for $20 for one year! Thats right so phone now.........620-354-2532 and get your subscription today.

They are really inspirational articles written by the members of our Church in Nigeria. There is one catch..So far the Fellowship's editors have been sending the newsletters by visitors back to the USA. Meaning sometimes you will get two at a time as they come a little irratic. I say let us support our Nigerian brethren and see what they have to say. Thank-You

Recommended Reading List on Haiti

These are books that have impressed me the most and I have them in my collection. The Mountains Beyond Mountains book is an awesome read in my opinion. It was read in short order and borrowed out. A Crime So Monstrous is very powerful as it pulls away the veil to what is happening behind the scenes and leaves you thankful for our country and makes you want to reach out to all the oppressed. Yet I caution that its content is not for the squemish. Black Majesty is a good book to start learning about Haitian history. It will make you interested to learn more. Restavec is a story about Haiti that will frustrate you about human nature. Get these books for cheap on Amazon,etc.

Recommended Reading on Haiti

Black Majesty
- A book about the life of King Henri Christophe. The slave that became a king. A romantically written book about an interesting man in interesting times. He built San Souci and the Citadel in Northern Haiti. They were built on a scale that is hard to imagine in the Caribbean, never mind Haiti. A great book for those that want to read a story or for those that want to get interested in Haiti history. It is a good history primer. It was my first book on Haiti and really captured your imagination. The book makes him a hero- You will find many that considered him a tyrant. You’ll have to come to your own conclusion. It is an older book.

Any book on Toussaint L’Ouverture would be good for those interested in a good picture in how Haiti came into being.

Beyond Mountains More Mountains by Tracy Kidder
It’s a story about Dr. Paul Farmer. A big time Harvard doctor that fell in love with Haiti and threw all his resources into the Third World to make a difference one person at a time. He walks miles into the mountains to make sure all his patients get the proper care and today he is chief advisor on Haiti to the U.N. as of last year. A book that makes you want to help others.

A Brief History of the Caribbean by Jan Rogozinski
Is the best book on the Caribbean in my opinion. I must have read it three or more times through. If you are interested in the history of the Caribbean and what really happened it will tell you. However it is not a storybook. It does have dates and facts and figures enough to convince you that the man knows what he is talking about. It tells the big picture of what went on and all the history you need to know about each island. Haiti is well covered.

Restavec From Haitian Slave Child to Middle-Class American by Jean-Robert Cadet
Life of a child slave in Haiti and the United States. There is child slavery in Haiti, because there is a lot of orphans and street children. Famalies even give up their children in hopes they will have a better life in town and go to school. This is a moving auto biography of one of these that actually escaped.

A Crime So Monstrous by E. Ben Skinner
To prove his point that in 5 hours he could purchase a child slave in Haiti from New York City, he booked a flight to Port-au-Prince got a table at a hotel and found out from the waiter all he wanted to know and was set up with a dealer. Skinner worked with the US government to combat slavery around the world. There is more slaves in the world than any other time in history. A real eye opener in a realm of suffering that you hardly knew existed. To think that God sees this everyday…….surely the end is not far off. You see another perspective to how children have suffered in Haiti and the Third World at large.

Written in Blood by Heinel, Heinel, and Heinel
A good book to impress you friends that you like to read, but mainly it keeps your bookshelf anchored down. Big book on the history of Haiti, but very dryly written. I read it to fill in the cracks that other books left out.

Walt Brown's Hydroplate Theory Is The Best Out There

Hey if you want to stretch what you think you know about Noah's flood, check out the Hydroplate theory. Of course, it is not being paraded around the science community, because it makes more sense than the millions of years, blah, blah, blah. Just imagine ten miles below the crust is a resevoir band of water under amazing amount of under ten miles of rock kind of pressure. This band is reinforced by pillars of rock that keep the earth from spinning like a gyro. They have actually dug that deep and found evidence of that water and those supporting pillars well. Well when the fountains of the deep were opened that underground ocean split the earth at the seams. Look at the fissures and under water fault lines and mountain ranges. As they shot out the water the ground depressed all around them. The present day plates that shift are moving on the residue water deep under the ground. There is no other way to explain how such masses can move as the do. Other points to ponder is the craters on the moon facing the earth. There is not so many on the other side. Comets ice particles have revealed that they have originated from earth and contain plant material. It sounds wild because nobody till now was able to dig so deep and have the tech knowledge to reesearch these findings. Plus it blows holes in the millions of years theory. Okay just read the In the Beginning by Walt Brown or better yet phone Stewart Loomis and ask for a Flood Creation Talk. The book by Brown is a text book for Creationists. A perfect gift for that die hard scientist that you know that wants only the hard facts. Brown has tried to open up his material to debate with the rest of the science community since the eighties, but nobody is willing for the challenge. Even Wikipedia tries to skirt the issue, and yet it makes common sense on a lot of points. It is too big a picture to place here so let this do.

Christmas Book List

I have been secretively hoarding my winter reading supply. I have just dipped into the Heavenly Man about Brother Yun from the Chinese House Churches. It is in our Church libraries, but I would advise dropping by Amazon and getting a cheaper used copy. It will stretch your Faith. I begun reading the book as a skeptic, but you realize these people were under a lot of constant stress and God gave them the grace to do some amazing things. The main character prayed for the impossible- He prayed for a Bible around sixteen years of age. He got one and then preceded to memorize the whole book of Matthew and the Book of Acts. His first sermon was reciting the whole book of Matthew. By the time his teen years were through he had led over two thousand to Christ. I guess you'll have to read it if you want to know more...
Since I was reading about China, I got a couple Watchman Nee books about the Holy Spirit. I advise that there is some deep trues presented from one that suffered tremendous tests, but I also keep in mind that he was influenced by Darby and other doctrines that I would use caution to discern. He is like a Chinese Andrew Murray.
The other Chinese book was about finding Genesis in the ancient Chinese writtings by C.H. Chang. I will post later after I have had a chance to read it.
In the Beginning by Walt Brown is a Sumner Loomis classic for those interested in the "real flood theory" It will blow your mind. Stewart Loomis bases his Creation talks on this book or rather he borrows heavily for material and graphics. Worth a look. It is a text book that is updated nearly every year and breaks down some heavy stuff for all to understand. It's not very expensive to get the seventh edition. Got to run.

More Books....

I guess it is no surprise to those that know me, but I love to read. I did not learn to read till I was in Grade three. At that time I was transfered from Public French immersion school to Mennonite private school. I have always liked those books best that really teach me something. Sometimes fiction foots the bill, but usually it is nonfiction. If it doesn't edify and help build good character what good is it? Of course I have thos unwind times were I just want to relax read. However it is here are a list of books that I recommend to those that are interested in learning about others that you would like to reach out to.

Run Baby Run by Nicky Cruz of course is a Christian classic. About a Dominican street tough who knows little about love works himself up in a New York City gang. One day is confronted by a hillbilly preacher and then things start to happen. Its a read at least twice in your life book. The Cross and the Switchblade by the preacher Wilkerson is also a good companion read. Nicky Cruz is still preaching in the big cities across the Americas and Europe.

Across Mountains More Mountains by Tracy Kidder is a fair read about a Harvard doctor who uses his resourses and influence to help improvished Haitian peasants. He is all about helping the little man. He is not a religious man though the book challenges our selfishness at the expense of others.

Black Like Me by Griffin is a book to understand the Black problem in America. A white man dyes his skin black and goes under cover realizing that there is another side to America. I can relate with his book. It will help you see the other side.

These books are just a quick list that needs editing. I feel every book you read you need to be careful what spirit it is feeding and what is the authors agenda. The next person breezes through it and it is done and over. I will let you be the judge. I just liked these books because they opened my eyes to the cry that is out there and how we can reach out.