[Caveat: I PRAY GOD WILL LET ME SHARE THESE VERSES WITH AT LEAST ONE LOST PERSON AT THE TABLE MINISTRY IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY THIS SAT. (Click HERE for verses on man's depravity apart from God's grace and verses teaching how to be saved through Jesus.)]
I am excited about working with Curt and Janie, the leaders of our Rio Grande Valley table outreach, this weekend. I will not be taking my computer, because there will be no time for blog posts. I am leaving tomorrow and will be back to Atlanta Monday night. I will be staying with Curt and Janie in their home, so my focus will be on working with them and praying with them in the JOY of getting to know them better! (After all, this will be my first time meeting these missionaries in person, and we have been working together and in communcation by phone and email for over a year!)
Today has been an exceptionally hectic day, as I have been preparing to leave tomorrow. I was really looking forward to compiling a new ministry update with links to photos and summaries in all of our outreach locations. Well, it is about 8:00 P.M. now, and I am just sitting down to begin this. I am really tired, so this update will have to wait until I get back next week.
Tonight I am working on web site updates with our new web designer. We are working on an online "Store". This is long overdue. Plus, I am sending him some new songs to add to the Media page. (We are changing "Listening Library" to another title link for online free music and videos). Last, but not least, I am sending the web designer links to build the "LTW to the Rio Grande Valley" page tonight. [We have yet to add Israel, Pickering (UK), the Philippines, and the Rio Grande Valley to our web site...]
I also still have packing to do. I had planned on doing so much more today, but some unexpected errands had to be run before leaving tomorrow.
Thank you for your prayers. We are all rejoicing in God's faithfulness and all He is doing through this ministry. A new video on all of our active outreach locations will soon be posted on YouTube.
Curt and Janie and I will be working together at the outreach table, sharing the Gospel with people all day on Saturday. Sunday, I am speaking in their church and showing a video on all of our LTW outreach locations. Sunday afternoon I will be meeting with the board of directors who work with Curt and Janie in missions. I look forward to taking out my Bible and sharing with the lost how to be saved based on Scripture and sharing these verses with Christians, too. As the old hymn sings "I love to tell the story, for those who know it best, seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest..."
Because of Jesus and His love,
Dwayna
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Update from Tel Aviv and Haifa
Dear praying friends!
We thank you all who are praying for Tanya. Several days ago she did receive a positive answer from the social services! It is a real miracle, since before our intervention in Tanya’s affairs the social services were resolute to take her kids from her and deport her from the country. This course of events, after everything Tanya has already gone through, would be disastrous for her. Now, praise God, the social services agree to leave Tanya’s kids with her, so several days ago she left the shelter and moved to Haifa. We rented a tiny apartment for the family and are going to support them financially until Tanya finds a job and starts earning a living (it would not be easy for her to do, however, since she will be able to find a serious job only after she gets all the necessary documents and permissions). Please pray for Tanya. Pray also for Ruslan, a young leader from Haifa who is helping her. He is in charge of a small Bible study group, has a wife and 4 little kids and holds a regular job. He says that now he has 3 more children to look after :), since Tanya is still quite helpless and dependent.
Meanwhile the Bible studies with Tanya’s friends from the shelter continue. Seven women are attending them at present. We see how God is working in these women’s lives. Even after a relatively short period of time there are changes in their attitude between themselves, to one another, and to the world around them. They have become less depressed. One woman told us her insomnia was gone! She does not suffer from nightmares anymore. Another lady was happy to share with us she had received an amazingly quick answer to her prayer.
Please keep praying for these women. Their past is full of traumatic memories, and for many of them the present does not bring much joy either. Many have different legal problems. For example, one woman does not have any legal rights for her 4-year-old twins, since when they were born her husband did not register them in her name. Now she cannot take her kids and leave the country with them. Other women, by contrast, would be happy to stay in Israel (since their kids were born here and since they have nothing left in their motherland) but are unable to get Israeli citizenship.
We are grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to help these women in different practical ways, but we are not a social service. Our mission is to share God’s gift of love and salvation with them. Without the Gospel all our social help would be in vain, since only God can truly change bitter hearts and restore broken lives. Please keep praying!
Thank you for your partnership and faithful support and may God bless you abundantly,
Dov and Olga Bikas
dovbikas@gmail.com
Tel. +972-54-4997336
P.O.Box 1181
Arad 89110
Israel
We thank you all who are praying for Tanya. Several days ago she did receive a positive answer from the social services! It is a real miracle, since before our intervention in Tanya’s affairs the social services were resolute to take her kids from her and deport her from the country. This course of events, after everything Tanya has already gone through, would be disastrous for her. Now, praise God, the social services agree to leave Tanya’s kids with her, so several days ago she left the shelter and moved to Haifa. We rented a tiny apartment for the family and are going to support them financially until Tanya finds a job and starts earning a living (it would not be easy for her to do, however, since she will be able to find a serious job only after she gets all the necessary documents and permissions). Please pray for Tanya. Pray also for Ruslan, a young leader from Haifa who is helping her. He is in charge of a small Bible study group, has a wife and 4 little kids and holds a regular job. He says that now he has 3 more children to look after :), since Tanya is still quite helpless and dependent.
Meanwhile the Bible studies with Tanya’s friends from the shelter continue. Seven women are attending them at present. We see how God is working in these women’s lives. Even after a relatively short period of time there are changes in their attitude between themselves, to one another, and to the world around them. They have become less depressed. One woman told us her insomnia was gone! She does not suffer from nightmares anymore. Another lady was happy to share with us she had received an amazingly quick answer to her prayer.
Please keep praying for these women. Their past is full of traumatic memories, and for many of them the present does not bring much joy either. Many have different legal problems. For example, one woman does not have any legal rights for her 4-year-old twins, since when they were born her husband did not register them in her name. Now she cannot take her kids and leave the country with them. Other women, by contrast, would be happy to stay in Israel (since their kids were born here and since they have nothing left in their motherland) but are unable to get Israeli citizenship.
We are grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to help these women in different practical ways, but we are not a social service. Our mission is to share God’s gift of love and salvation with them. Without the Gospel all our social help would be in vain, since only God can truly change bitter hearts and restore broken lives. Please keep praying!
Thank you for your partnership and faithful support and may God bless you abundantly,
Dov and Olga Bikas
dovbikas@gmail.com
Tel. +972-54-4997336
P.O.Box 1181
Arad 89110
Israel
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
New Article on the Way Against Calling God "Mother"
I have enjoyed working on a book review tonight of the pagan book God Calling, which led me to this page of verses against calling God "mother"!
Materials for New Table Outreach in Virginia
Well, it is all coming together for our new, exciting outreach in Virginia. We are going to literally feed the poor hot, free food PLUS offer them materials to point them to Jesus as Savior. Here are the needs in the line of resources, which I will be working on getting together when I return from the Rio Grande Valley next week. The note below is from Jonna, the ministry leader:
Dear Dwayna,
Here are the booklet needs that I see in the area at this point, in order of prevalence.
Gospel Messages (Simple format or Question/Answer)
Discernment Topics:
1. Freemasonry
2. Occult/Witchcraft/Pagan
3. New Age
4. Yoga/Martial Arts/Eastern Religion
5. JWs
6. Mormons
Jonna
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
LTW Update: NYC--First Day in New Location at Madison Square Garden
New location for table outreach: Madison Square Garden
...Right in front of the post office God gave us a space...
Suzy and Heidi at the LTW Table Outreach of Apologetics and Evangelism
(now at Madison Square Garden)
...Pastor Matt donated a ton of tracts from First Baptist... (Answers in Genesis, Psalms and others in different languages...) and is going to mail his children's books to you; I told him I'd give him my address if that is ok with you so he can mail some to me as well for the table ministry here (and you wouldn't have to turn around and ship some back up here).
Anyway, before this we were going to set up right out in front of Penn Station/Madison Square Garden, but one of the workers came by and said we couldn't because it is private property. So we were wondering then where we could go...and saw that across the street was the NYC Post Office headquarters; and well, being that is the government, we thought maybe we should just bring everything back to the office and then walk around to scout out places and hand out tracts while doing so. However, we saw there was some decent space in front of the P.O. with pretty good pedestrian traffic and decided to plant the table right out in front! The Lord blessed us there, and He brought out the sun too, so we weren't so cold. ;)
As soon as we set the table, Shannon (Pastor Matt's assistant) from First Baptist NYC walks up! So I talked with her for a few minutes...
Anyway, it turned out to be a busy day at the book table, praise God, and were out for about 2 hours. A lot of people came up and took books, bibles, CD's, tracts and a copy of your worship CD :). The new Brian Flynn books are almost gone (but maybe 3)-- a few young people took them, as well as a couple of adults-- and Warren Smith's The Light That Was Dark. I'm sorry I cannot remember all the conversations; some were Catholics, Buddhists, atheists, Jewish.... And Heidi and Suzi graced us all with singing hymns and songs of worship. I didn't join in except under my breath, because I would have kept the people away. :-) They both have *beautiful* voices. So I look forward to when you can come up and join us, Dwayna! Even to just hear your singing and most of all, singing with them. ;)
Here are some pictures attached. God is good, Dwayna! He always provides. As much as we liked it up at [79th and Broadway], perhaps He also wants us to get out more into the city, too. There is certainly more of a mix of people down by the Herald Square/ Madison Square Garden area. I pray that He continues to bless this ministry-- in all locations!
We are thinking that when winter sets in, we'll take the table down into the 42nd St subway tunnels. Tons of traffic down there. :)
In His Faithfulness,
Christine
Evangelism Table in NYC Last Sun.
From Heidi, who is a blessed addition to our outreach team in NYC:
Hello, Dwayna, Shalom and blessings to you!!!
I wanted to provide a brief synopsis of our experience [Sunday] with the Witnessing and Outreach Table Ministry.
As you know, I believe the Lord is working all the time and in different ways and in different people, and His ways are above our ways and His thoughts above ours. Since the time you and I spoke, I have followed your ministry occasionally and have always had a place in my heart for what you are doing, and your burden for the lost and your interest in apologetics and discernment. As you may recall, I was an avid disciple of the Way of the Master ministry and the methodology they employ in presenting the Gospel using the 10 Commandments as a self-test on morality, in essence, a groundbase for all people, to serve both as a tutor as well as a mirror where no man is innocent of breaking God's law. I also appreciated how they explain how to engage people in discussion of spiritual things by first engaging them in physical things. While these are just two ways for one to open up conversation with people in different periods of their life, of course, it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who draws people to the Lord and Who leads them into all truth, and it is He who puts the words in our mouths to speak what needs to be heard.
As such, having this knowledge and experience and then adding onto it all of our (Christine, Suzi and I) concern regarding the apostasy and lack of discernment not only in the world, but in the church at large, we set off in conquest of the world with the preaching of the Gospel in the Great Commission.
Christine and I first attended services at my church, Heritage Baptist Church, Pastor Matthew Recker presiding, where we were blessed to hear a very good sermon on the need for prayer and praying in the right spirit. The need for confession of sins. The need to pray for the church and for God to have His way. The healing of our country and its people and for more people to be saved, among many other things he discussed. We were studying from the book of Exodus and the Israelites' situation at the Marah waters, the bitterness they experienced and God's deliverance and how sometimes our walks can experience Marah moments. With that we were encouraged and Christine and I set off to meet up with Suzy at First Baptist to relocate all the witnessing materials to my Pastor's church offices down on 36th Street and 8th Ave. It seemed that some adversarial forces were trying to prevent Christine and I from getting to the Church sooner than we had hoped, yet arrive we did.
Once there, Pastor Matt and his assistant helped us move the materials out of the church and I was told by Suzi that they had provided a whole slew of tracts. How gracious of them...
Pastor Matt and his assistant hailed a taxi for us after a while of trying, as [Sunday] the city was not great for commuting purposes because of the NYC Marathon. I kept thinking of Paul and his epistle describing our walk as a race that we must run with endurance and finish to perhaps receive a crown. Just as I thought we may not get a cab, I called my Pastor but he didn't answer his cell phone. Right after I hung up, voila, the cab became available.
We loaded our gear into the trunk and back seat of the cab and off we went to the church offices, deciding whether to drop some stuff off and decide on a location to set up. Our driver was a foreigner who, at first, I suspect, Suzi may have thought was Muslim, but when I looked at his name, I told her I thought he may be Indian Hindu. So she started to pesent the Gospel to him and mentioned Caryl Matrisciana to him and her experience coming out of Eastern Religion and yoga, and Suzi managed to give him a small booklet which I believe was the Gospel of John. She then prayed for him and his family's salvation and also prayed for us and our ministry.
We arrived at the church offices and then decided to just take all our stuff down to Penn Station a few blocks away. Once at Penn Station, we tried to set up, but were told by a cleaning guy that it was Penn Sta. property, so then we moved across the street in front of the big post office and set up there. We prayed for the Lord to direct us. We then definitively set up on the sidewalk in front of the Post Office and were there from about 2ish until almost 430 p.m. At first, the weather appeared ominous, but then the sun finally came out, and while it was chilly, it was bearable and the day turned out to be just right.
We handed out alot of materials, Bibles, cds, tracts, teaching cds, apologetics books, and Suzi engaged a few passers-by with the gospel - some were rabbit trailers - and Suzi and I sang a few songs.... A few people whom Suzi and Christine knew managed to walk by, and we were encouraged by them, including a Catholic who took one of the tracts regarding Scripture vs. Tradition (Catholicism).
I was able to speak Spanish and some French to some who came to the table curiously and didn't understand what was going on.... and, using these languages I managed to explain to them that the materials on the table were free and that they talked about God, Jesus and other topics and questions people have regarding life and death and God.
It was a good time, we were blessed, the Lord kept us safe and with no interruptions, and we were free to speak and sing....
Afterwards, we closed up and took all the materials back to the church offices and gave thanks to the Lord for a good day and that He would bless all the seeds we tried to plant.
Thanks again for allowing me to be able to be a help for the girls and we look forward to many more opportunities to go out and preach the Gospel to all creatures.
God Bless and Shalom Aleichem!!!
Heidi
Hello, Dwayna, Shalom and blessings to you!!!
I wanted to provide a brief synopsis of our experience [Sunday] with the Witnessing and Outreach Table Ministry.
As you know, I believe the Lord is working all the time and in different ways and in different people, and His ways are above our ways and His thoughts above ours. Since the time you and I spoke, I have followed your ministry occasionally and have always had a place in my heart for what you are doing, and your burden for the lost and your interest in apologetics and discernment. As you may recall, I was an avid disciple of the Way of the Master ministry and the methodology they employ in presenting the Gospel using the 10 Commandments as a self-test on morality, in essence, a groundbase for all people, to serve both as a tutor as well as a mirror where no man is innocent of breaking God's law. I also appreciated how they explain how to engage people in discussion of spiritual things by first engaging them in physical things. While these are just two ways for one to open up conversation with people in different periods of their life, of course, it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who draws people to the Lord and Who leads them into all truth, and it is He who puts the words in our mouths to speak what needs to be heard.
As such, having this knowledge and experience and then adding onto it all of our (Christine, Suzi and I) concern regarding the apostasy and lack of discernment not only in the world, but in the church at large, we set off in conquest of the world with the preaching of the Gospel in the Great Commission.
Christine and I first attended services at my church, Heritage Baptist Church, Pastor Matthew Recker presiding, where we were blessed to hear a very good sermon on the need for prayer and praying in the right spirit. The need for confession of sins. The need to pray for the church and for God to have His way. The healing of our country and its people and for more people to be saved, among many other things he discussed. We were studying from the book of Exodus and the Israelites' situation at the Marah waters, the bitterness they experienced and God's deliverance and how sometimes our walks can experience Marah moments. With that we were encouraged and Christine and I set off to meet up with Suzy at First Baptist to relocate all the witnessing materials to my Pastor's church offices down on 36th Street and 8th Ave. It seemed that some adversarial forces were trying to prevent Christine and I from getting to the Church sooner than we had hoped, yet arrive we did.
Once there, Pastor Matt and his assistant helped us move the materials out of the church and I was told by Suzi that they had provided a whole slew of tracts. How gracious of them...
Pastor Matt and his assistant hailed a taxi for us after a while of trying, as [Sunday] the city was not great for commuting purposes because of the NYC Marathon. I kept thinking of Paul and his epistle describing our walk as a race that we must run with endurance and finish to perhaps receive a crown. Just as I thought we may not get a cab, I called my Pastor but he didn't answer his cell phone. Right after I hung up, voila, the cab became available.
We loaded our gear into the trunk and back seat of the cab and off we went to the church offices, deciding whether to drop some stuff off and decide on a location to set up. Our driver was a foreigner who, at first, I suspect, Suzi may have thought was Muslim, but when I looked at his name, I told her I thought he may be Indian Hindu. So she started to pesent the Gospel to him and mentioned Caryl Matrisciana to him and her experience coming out of Eastern Religion and yoga, and Suzi managed to give him a small booklet which I believe was the Gospel of John. She then prayed for him and his family's salvation and also prayed for us and our ministry.
We arrived at the church offices and then decided to just take all our stuff down to Penn Station a few blocks away. Once at Penn Station, we tried to set up, but were told by a cleaning guy that it was Penn Sta. property, so then we moved across the street in front of the big post office and set up there. We prayed for the Lord to direct us. We then definitively set up on the sidewalk in front of the Post Office and were there from about 2ish until almost 430 p.m. At first, the weather appeared ominous, but then the sun finally came out, and while it was chilly, it was bearable and the day turned out to be just right.
We handed out alot of materials, Bibles, cds, tracts, teaching cds, apologetics books, and Suzi engaged a few passers-by with the gospel - some were rabbit trailers - and Suzi and I sang a few songs.... A few people whom Suzi and Christine knew managed to walk by, and we were encouraged by them, including a Catholic who took one of the tracts regarding Scripture vs. Tradition (Catholicism).
I was able to speak Spanish and some French to some who came to the table curiously and didn't understand what was going on.... and, using these languages I managed to explain to them that the materials on the table were free and that they talked about God, Jesus and other topics and questions people have regarding life and death and God.
It was a good time, we were blessed, the Lord kept us safe and with no interruptions, and we were free to speak and sing....
Afterwards, we closed up and took all the materials back to the church offices and gave thanks to the Lord for a good day and that He would bless all the seeds we tried to plant.
Thanks again for allowing me to be able to be a help for the girls and we look forward to many more opportunities to go out and preach the Gospel to all creatures.
God Bless and Shalom Aleichem!!!
Heidi
Comment on Redeemer Pres. NYC (See Post Below)
Its all part of that philosophy of men called "12 steps to improvement or success over _______________". Everytime I heard Redeemer mentioned, it was always people saying the main reason they go there is because the "sermons are so intellectual". That is fascinating considering that not even the word "Gospel" was mentioned or the love of truth and doctrine. It doesn't help that their eschatological view of prophecy and its importance is not relevant to them as they feel Israel no longer has a purpose in God's plan because, in essence, the Church has replaced Israel a/k/a "replacement theology" or "reconstructionism", and therefore the Church is now spiritual Israel and is the recipient of all the promises made by God to that nation. Funny, because when you take that view, you would also have to be the recipient of all the curses promised to those who disobeyed the Law and commandments and statutes. It is a totally skewed interpretation of the scriptures, futhermore, it is "another gospel" which uses christianese, but denies the Power.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Church "DNA"?
Check out this link about Redeemer Presbyterian NYC, whose "life formation" includes "DNA"! [HERE ]
Where is the assessment of “the potential of the city” and “the priority of the city” taught as an important assessment according to the Bible? This really is a hoot, the way the sobering, serious, precious Gospel is marketed. It is as if people are fine without a Savior, and Jesus will just make them better. No depravity of people. The “Renewal” category is also funny. Redeemer has “DNA”, according to the last sentence of the last, long paragraph. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Did I miss something? Did the Apostle Paul teach about the church's 'DNA'? Oh yeah, that's right; sometimes I forget--it's postmodern terminolgy that has nothing to do with the Bible!! (Read another article on "church DNA" HERE ).
Table Ministry Update from Jerusalem
SATURDAY – OCTOBER 31, 2009 REPORT
To our dear Brothers & Sisters in Jesus:
During the month of October, the Jerusalem Table Ministry carried out successful, evangelistic outreaches in sharing with people about the life and love of Jesus. I recall one person shouting at me with the Bible in my face, because I told him that Jesus is the Lord. Another woman I talked to is in Jerusalem from Kuwait. She told me she watched the Jesus film I gave her. Later, in her sleep, she saw Jesus in a dream dying on the cross. But she said she did not understand her dream. I talked further with her and then afterwards, I prayed with her.
There are many people who show and express interest in the gospel of Jesus. At the same time, there are many others who do not want Him.
A Moslem urged me to believe in Muhammad before I die so that I could go to Heaven. I answered him by telling him about the love of Jesus for him. He is strongly attached to Islam and refused to accept my witness.
Some people also laugh at me for what I am doing and saying. We can thank God for the little bit of pain we have in this life. Jesus told us to rejoice when people say bad things against us!
It is special to me that most of the people who come to the Table Ministry are serious. More come in this manner than the number of those who reject the Word or refuse to receive my witness.
We need your prayers for all the people that I meet in the street and in the various ministries. Pray for both those who agree with the Truth and for those who refuse it.
Our Lord spoke to me with encouragement from the Bible in 1 Samuel 8:7. " . . . (the people) have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, so that I should not be a King over them!"). God assured me that He is with us in this ministry.
I am so thankful to the Lord for this month, because He has given us the opportunity to speak with more than 6000 persons. God receives the glory by His Holy Spirit working through me. I never imagined that I would be able to speak with so many people.
I am excited about a special opportunity I have to work with a large family of 26 persons. The father's brother committed a murder. A planned revenge has caused the family to flee their home. I have had some heart-felt and fruitful discussions with the head of this family. We plan to begin a Bible study with them. It would be wonderful to see this family place their trust in the Lord.
Please pray for all those who have received a witness about Jesus through the Jerusalem Table Ministry.
Please pray for volunteers to help in the ministry.
Please pray for the finances needed for this ministry to reach more people with the most appropriate materials.
I pray for you to know our Lord's special blessing!
Your brother in Christ,
Rami Mishriky
P. O. Box 14244
Jaffa Gate – Jerusalem
To our dear Brothers & Sisters in Jesus:
During the month of October, the Jerusalem Table Ministry carried out successful, evangelistic outreaches in sharing with people about the life and love of Jesus. I recall one person shouting at me with the Bible in my face, because I told him that Jesus is the Lord. Another woman I talked to is in Jerusalem from Kuwait. She told me she watched the Jesus film I gave her. Later, in her sleep, she saw Jesus in a dream dying on the cross. But she said she did not understand her dream. I talked further with her and then afterwards, I prayed with her.
There are many people who show and express interest in the gospel of Jesus. At the same time, there are many others who do not want Him.
A Moslem urged me to believe in Muhammad before I die so that I could go to Heaven. I answered him by telling him about the love of Jesus for him. He is strongly attached to Islam and refused to accept my witness.
Some people also laugh at me for what I am doing and saying. We can thank God for the little bit of pain we have in this life. Jesus told us to rejoice when people say bad things against us!
It is special to me that most of the people who come to the Table Ministry are serious. More come in this manner than the number of those who reject the Word or refuse to receive my witness.
We need your prayers for all the people that I meet in the street and in the various ministries. Pray for both those who agree with the Truth and for those who refuse it.
Our Lord spoke to me with encouragement from the Bible in 1 Samuel 8:7. " . . . (the people) have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, so that I should not be a King over them!"). God assured me that He is with us in this ministry.
I am so thankful to the Lord for this month, because He has given us the opportunity to speak with more than 6000 persons. God receives the glory by His Holy Spirit working through me. I never imagined that I would be able to speak with so many people.
I am excited about a special opportunity I have to work with a large family of 26 persons. The father's brother committed a murder. A planned revenge has caused the family to flee their home. I have had some heart-felt and fruitful discussions with the head of this family. We plan to begin a Bible study with them. It would be wonderful to see this family place their trust in the Lord.
Please pray for all those who have received a witness about Jesus through the Jerusalem Table Ministry.
Please pray for volunteers to help in the ministry.
Please pray for the finances needed for this ministry to reach more people with the most appropriate materials.
I pray for you to know our Lord's special blessing!
Your brother in Christ,
Rami Mishriky
P. O. Box 14244
Jaffa Gate – Jerusalem
“No Sweat” (by Jackie Alnor)
Do the recent deaths at a Sedona, Arizona New Age spiritual retreat have a lesson for anyone on a Christian journey today? It may seem far-fetched to think that “Christians” could learn anything from a group of ‘stupid people’ following a charismatic cult leader into an unventilated sweat lodge with 65 other ‘stupid people,’ yet this could be a wake-up call for some emergents...
To read entire Reflection go to link here .
To read entire Reflection go to link here .
Starting a New Outreach in Virginia
We are seriously praying about expanding to Virginia, to reach the poor with free food and free Bibles and resources about how to be saved through Jesus. The location will be the Glade Spring, Virginia area led by Jonna Sutherland. Please pray for her as she is taking the steps necessary to get this new outreach going! Here is an update from her:
http://livinglamb.com/food_outreach
(We use tracts written by Jonna to expose dangers of the oxymoron of "Christian yoga" in all of our ministry locations. She is a great apologist with a heart of love and humility for the lost. I am so thankful to be her friend and fellow servant in this new ministry location!)
Answered Prayer for our Boulder Outreach Location
We have a new co-leader, Patty, for the Boulder outreach. I just got off the phone with her. The team is planning on moving all our supplies and resources for the ministry to a central location, at Patty's church in Boulder. This will be much closer to Pearl Street. The camera will be utilized more with Patty as co-leader, and she has agreed to give us written updates. We hope to stay in touch with prayer partners more regularly about when the team sets up the table outreach to better convey how God is at work through our ministry on Pearl Street. Jonathan has done a great job but is so busy with seminary classes, writing tracts for Buddhists, and working full time he has not been able to keep up with the updates and photos of people taking materials at our table. Working with Patty is an answer to prayer.
God bless Jonathan, Carrie, Patty and the team in Boulder!
God bless Jonathan, Carrie, Patty and the team in Boulder!
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Goals
I am preparing for my trip to the Rio Grande Valley this week, and I have been working today in the storage unit after church. I will be bringing some materials with me.
Plus, I am shipping out about 6 packages tomorrow by mail to various people to give them more information about this ministry.
A new ministry video is being created by Designs by Dianne. Dianne is a prayer partner and friend of this ministry. She is very talented and offered to work on a video to a song I have written called "Still" for free. She wrote about it on her blog here: http://blog-ability.blogspot.com/. She is a professional artist, and I wanted to recommend her work to anyone in need of a slide presentation, video program or web site.
I am working on putting a few more photos together for her to include in the "Still" video, and the edited version will be posted soon on YouTube. Plus, I am adding information on YouTube tonight about all of the photos included in the song.
Goals tomorrow: a ministry update and taking photos of "Little Five Points", a place where we can set up a new outreach here in Atlanta.
Plus, I am shipping out about 6 packages tomorrow by mail to various people to give them more information about this ministry.
A new ministry video is being created by Designs by Dianne. Dianne is a prayer partner and friend of this ministry. She is very talented and offered to work on a video to a song I have written called "Still" for free. She wrote about it on her blog here: http://blog-ability.blogspot.com/. She is a professional artist, and I wanted to recommend her work to anyone in need of a slide presentation, video program or web site.
I am working on putting a few more photos together for her to include in the "Still" video, and the edited version will be posted soon on YouTube. Plus, I am adding information on YouTube tonight about all of the photos included in the song.
Goals tomorrow: a ministry update and taking photos of "Little Five Points", a place where we can set up a new outreach here in Atlanta.
"Still"
Here is a new song I have written in praise of God's faithfulness with photos taken in Israel, Egypt, and Mexico. I thank God that His love is "still" the same no matter what for His own, and He is always worthy of my praise. More photos are being added, so this is a work in progress.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nurYKTc-uU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nurYKTc-uU
Friday, October 30, 2009
"Shattering the power of the 'holy people'"
From a LTW prayer partner and dear friend who helps me with research:
Deuteronomy 32:36 "For the Lord will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their strength is gone, and there is none remaining, bond or free."
Daniel 12:7 "I heard the man dressed in linen. who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed."
Well, I always thought Why would the holy people be shattered? You would think it would be the wicked power that is crushed. But not so, as Matthew Henry states "God's time to help and relieve His people is when their affairs are brought to the last extremity; in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen that Isaac is saved just when he lies ready to be sacrificed, cf. Gen. 22.14. Now the event answered the prediction; Josephus says that Antiochus surprised Jerusalem and held it three years and six months, and was then cast out of the country by the Maccabees. Christ's public ministry continued three years and a half, during which time he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, and lived in poverty and disgrace; and then, when at his death, his enemies triumphed over him, he obtained the most glorious victory and said, It is finished." pg.1137...Henry goes on to say "When we take a view of the affairs of this world, and of the church of God in it, we see things move as if they would end in the utter ruin of God's kingdom among men. When we see vice and impiety, the decay of religion, the sufferings of the righteous, and the triumphs of the ungodly, we may well ask, My Lord, what will the outcome of all this be?.........As long as the world stands, there will still be in it a mixture of good and bad, v. 10 Bad men will do bad things; and a bad tree will never bear good fruit Luke 6.4. Wicked practices are the natural products of wicked principles and dispositions. We are told, before, that the wicked will continue to be wicked.......Yet, bad as the world is, God will secure to himself a remnant of good people in it. There shall be many, to whom the providences and ordinances of God shall be a savour of life to life. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, by their troubles. The word of God shall do them good. When none of the wicked will understand, but stumble at the word, the wise will understand."pg.1137
Daniel 12:7 "I heard the man dressed in linen. who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed."
Well, I always thought Why would the holy people be shattered? You would think it would be the wicked power that is crushed. But not so, as Matthew Henry states "God's time to help and relieve His people is when their affairs are brought to the last extremity; in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen that Isaac is saved just when he lies ready to be sacrificed, cf. Gen. 22.14. Now the event answered the prediction; Josephus says that Antiochus surprised Jerusalem and held it three years and six months, and was then cast out of the country by the Maccabees. Christ's public ministry continued three years and a half, during which time he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, and lived in poverty and disgrace; and then, when at his death, his enemies triumphed over him, he obtained the most glorious victory and said, It is finished." pg.1137...Henry goes on to say "When we take a view of the affairs of this world, and of the church of God in it, we see things move as if they would end in the utter ruin of God's kingdom among men. When we see vice and impiety, the decay of religion, the sufferings of the righteous, and the triumphs of the ungodly, we may well ask, My Lord, what will the outcome of all this be?.........As long as the world stands, there will still be in it a mixture of good and bad, v. 10 Bad men will do bad things; and a bad tree will never bear good fruit Luke 6.4. Wicked practices are the natural products of wicked principles and dispositions. We are told, before, that the wicked will continue to be wicked.......Yet, bad as the world is, God will secure to himself a remnant of good people in it. There shall be many, to whom the providences and ordinances of God shall be a savour of life to life. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, by their troubles. The word of God shall do them good. When none of the wicked will understand, but stumble at the word, the wise will understand."pg.1137
Thursday, October 29, 2009
'The Message' is a New Age Bible
Do you get The Message? If "the message" is from Eugene Peterson it is not biblical!
Here is a new article by Chuck T. warning of this new age Bible. (The article also references the Living Bible.)
Here is a new article by Chuck T. warning of this new age Bible. (The article also references the Living Bible.)
Testimony of Former Homosexual and Prisoner, James Hartline
Free From The Shackles of Homosexuality:
How I Was Changed Into Another Man
"Afterward you will come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is; and it shall be as soon as you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre before them, and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man. It shall be when these signs come to you, do for yourself what the occasion requires, for God is with you."1 Samuel 10:5-7
I was formed in the darkness. I was born in the darkness. I was shackled at birth and sentenced to a very deadly outcome. From the womb I came into a world where I was beaten everyday for fourteen years. From the maelstrom of the madness of abusive parents, I was carted away by juvenile authorities and placed in a state children's home for my own protection. My path was chosen for me by those who shuffle children around like gamblers shuffle cards at a casino poker table.
Homosexuality, drugs, stealing, and depression became the constants in my life. Where is the justice in a world where the only place to put a hopeless teenager is simply to put that teenager away...away.....away? And away I went. I would eventually spend nineteen years in state prison for stealing to support my wasted life. Suicide attempts and mental self-destruction would become a regular part of my incarcerations. My mother's hatred over her unwanted pregnancy had culminated in the early fulfillment of my pointless existence upon the earth.
For two decades of my adult life I was chained in despair, a phantom life that was plundered by the devil, but preserved by God for something profound, something churning in the mystery of God's mind, something that would shake the very construct of hell's plans.
I was released from prison in 1997. That year, I would be infected with the AIDS virus. All that Satan could muster in his demonic arsenal was unleashed upon me that year. What was it about me that would cause the enemy of all mankind to pursue my death with such fury, such pent up rage, such vile hatred? I had no formal education. I barely had a high school diploma. I had no money, no reputation, no standing in society. I was the mud on the bottom of the government's boot, an ex-con with a burned out mind and a deadly disease in my body.
There was only one answer to this perplexing question. The winds of God's plan had unfolded in my jail cell in 1985. Despite the darkness that had held me captive, a vision of my future was granted me in that jail cell. In that vision, God placed armor upon me and branded these words upon my soul: "I Am preparing you to do battle for Me in the last days."
Despite many more attempts by the devil to exterminate me after that one heaven sent experience, the Lord preserved me until a day in 1998 when the prophetic power of God came upon me and changed me into another man.
How do I write the words that I write? I have had no formal lessons in literary prowess. How do I speak the way that I speak? I have been granted no education in speaking, nor any speaking tips from toastmasters. Where has my knowledge of God and the revelations from His word been generated from? I have no certificates from theological schools or Biblical promotions from megachurch classrooms.
It is simply the Hand of God which plucked me from the grip of a satanic plot to destroy the prophetic assignment that God Almighty has appointed for me. It has always been this way with God. He chooses the foolish things to confound the wise. God appoints the weakest and least qualified men and women to perform His most difficult works upon the earth. For in our weaknesses He makes us strong. When we are uneducated and impoverished, the Master of Heaven and Earth qualifies us and empowers us.
I have seen in visions and dreams the great troubles that are coming upon the earth. There are great tribulations which are coming soon to devastate humanity. However, I have already faced death. I do not fear death. I have been trained for battle in the cesspools of sin and the dungeons of devils. For those who think that they cannot overcome the oppressions of life and the misfortunes of missed opportunities, look to my example. Know that your feelings of being inadequate for the tumultuous times we live in are overcome by the power of the living God. Be convinced that your concerns with qualifications for the effective ministries of the Lord are resolved by the calling of God that was placed upon you in your mother's womb. I have gone from imprisonment, mental illness, AIDS and homosexuality to having my life story told all over the world on the 700 Club.
How I Was Changed Into Another Man
"Afterward you will come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is; and it shall be as soon as you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre before them, and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man. It shall be when these signs come to you, do for yourself what the occasion requires, for God is with you."1 Samuel 10:5-7
I was formed in the darkness. I was born in the darkness. I was shackled at birth and sentenced to a very deadly outcome. From the womb I came into a world where I was beaten everyday for fourteen years. From the maelstrom of the madness of abusive parents, I was carted away by juvenile authorities and placed in a state children's home for my own protection. My path was chosen for me by those who shuffle children around like gamblers shuffle cards at a casino poker table.
Homosexuality, drugs, stealing, and depression became the constants in my life. Where is the justice in a world where the only place to put a hopeless teenager is simply to put that teenager away...away.....away? And away I went. I would eventually spend nineteen years in state prison for stealing to support my wasted life. Suicide attempts and mental self-destruction would become a regular part of my incarcerations. My mother's hatred over her unwanted pregnancy had culminated in the early fulfillment of my pointless existence upon the earth.
For two decades of my adult life I was chained in despair, a phantom life that was plundered by the devil, but preserved by God for something profound, something churning in the mystery of God's mind, something that would shake the very construct of hell's plans.
I was released from prison in 1997. That year, I would be infected with the AIDS virus. All that Satan could muster in his demonic arsenal was unleashed upon me that year. What was it about me that would cause the enemy of all mankind to pursue my death with such fury, such pent up rage, such vile hatred? I had no formal education. I barely had a high school diploma. I had no money, no reputation, no standing in society. I was the mud on the bottom of the government's boot, an ex-con with a burned out mind and a deadly disease in my body.
There was only one answer to this perplexing question. The winds of God's plan had unfolded in my jail cell in 1985. Despite the darkness that had held me captive, a vision of my future was granted me in that jail cell. In that vision, God placed armor upon me and branded these words upon my soul: "I Am preparing you to do battle for Me in the last days."
Despite many more attempts by the devil to exterminate me after that one heaven sent experience, the Lord preserved me until a day in 1998 when the prophetic power of God came upon me and changed me into another man.
How do I write the words that I write? I have had no formal lessons in literary prowess. How do I speak the way that I speak? I have been granted no education in speaking, nor any speaking tips from toastmasters. Where has my knowledge of God and the revelations from His word been generated from? I have no certificates from theological schools or Biblical promotions from megachurch classrooms.
It is simply the Hand of God which plucked me from the grip of a satanic plot to destroy the prophetic assignment that God Almighty has appointed for me. It has always been this way with God. He chooses the foolish things to confound the wise. God appoints the weakest and least qualified men and women to perform His most difficult works upon the earth. For in our weaknesses He makes us strong. When we are uneducated and impoverished, the Master of Heaven and Earth qualifies us and empowers us.
I have seen in visions and dreams the great troubles that are coming upon the earth. There are great tribulations which are coming soon to devastate humanity. However, I have already faced death. I do not fear death. I have been trained for battle in the cesspools of sin and the dungeons of devils. For those who think that they cannot overcome the oppressions of life and the misfortunes of missed opportunities, look to my example. Know that your feelings of being inadequate for the tumultuous times we live in are overcome by the power of the living God. Be convinced that your concerns with qualifications for the effective ministries of the Lord are resolved by the calling of God that was placed upon you in your mother's womb. I have gone from imprisonment, mental illness, AIDS and homosexuality to having my life story told all over the world on the 700 Club.
I have been unshackled from my past because the power of God has changed me into another man. That same power will unshackle you as well.
Update: GET READY TO RUMBLE ON FRIDAY - October 30th as KFAX AM1100 and ISSUES AFTER DARK presents James Hartline 2.0: "CONFRONTING THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA, Pt. 2 - A View From The Inside." This is an encore show regarding the ministry and life of James Hartline. James is a pioneer in exposing the homosexual agenda and the underground existence of "Bath Houses" posing publicly as gyms. James will speak on the agenda of the Homosexual towards the youth - especially young Black males. Also, he will share his life experiences that have caused him to currently face death everyday as he lives with the HIV/AIDS virus. Hosted by the devil-busting dynamic duo of Dion Evans & Antoine Miller, ISSUES AFTER DARK is the San Francisco Bay Area's most important and controversial LIVE Christian Talk Radio Program. You can listen LIVE throughout America via the KFAX website stream on Friday, October 30th from 9:30pm - 11:30pm as Evans & Miller bring former homosexual James Hartline's testimony and Christian activism LIVE into the heart of San Francisco's homosexual community.
Update: GET READY TO RUMBLE ON FRIDAY - October 30th as KFAX AM1100 and ISSUES AFTER DARK presents James Hartline 2.0: "CONFRONTING THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA, Pt. 2 - A View From The Inside." This is an encore show regarding the ministry and life of James Hartline. James is a pioneer in exposing the homosexual agenda and the underground existence of "Bath Houses" posing publicly as gyms. James will speak on the agenda of the Homosexual towards the youth - especially young Black males. Also, he will share his life experiences that have caused him to currently face death everyday as he lives with the HIV/AIDS virus. Hosted by the devil-busting dynamic duo of Dion Evans & Antoine Miller, ISSUES AFTER DARK is the San Francisco Bay Area's most important and controversial LIVE Christian Talk Radio Program. You can listen LIVE throughout America via the KFAX website stream on Friday, October 30th from 9:30pm - 11:30pm as Evans & Miller bring former homosexual James Hartline's testimony and Christian activism LIVE into the heart of San Francisco's homosexual community.
Do We Really Have to "Practice the Presence" of God?
Here is a new article exposing the dangers of contemplative prayer by Charisse Graves.
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