I’m not a big fan of hackers. However, one recent hack-job has given us an insider’s view of how science is done and how a scientific consensus is achieved and maintained. It has also proved that God can bring good out of evil.
As a consequence of the hack-job, the email exchanges of several British and American scientists in the forefront of climate-change research have been made public. Regarding this revealing exchange, John Tierney writes,
“When a journal publishes a skeptic’s paper, the scientists e-mail one another to ignore it. They focus instead on retaliation against the journal and the editor…These researchers, some of the most prominent climate experts in Britain and America, seem so focused on winning the public relations war that they exaggerate their certitude.”
“Contempt for critics is evident over and over again in the hacked e-mail messages, as if the scientists were a priesthood protecting the temple from barbarians” (Science Times (NYT) Dec. 1 2009, 1-2).
It’s this kind of group-think, exaggeration and dirty tactics that makes me wonder about how extensive this kind of problem is in the halls of academia. Last year, the documentary, Expelled, revealed that several academicians have been fired, denied tenure or simply harassed because of their sympathies for “intelligent design” (ID). In such a repressive climate, I think we have to be somewhat skeptical regarding the resulting scientific “consensus.”
Meanwhile, evolutionists promote the establishment position, that we, the public, can trust the findings of science because all of their findings and publications are carefully scrutinized by their peers. However, if their peers are no more than “a priesthood protecting the temple from barbarians,” we might have to question whether the foxes have been left in charge of the chicken coop.
Last month I heard David Berlinski, an agnostic who respects ID, relate a story about a publisher who apologized to a scientist because he had been forbidden to publish any paper sympathetic to ID. Berlinski suggested that this type of thing wasn’t unusual.
This raises the question, “What kind of trust should we place in the evol.-establishment?” However, according to the militant evolutionist, Richard Dawkins,
“It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in the findings of Science that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I’d rather not consider that).”
Ironically, it has taken a criminal-hacker to demonstrate that our trust is more “safely” placed elsewhere.
Daniel Mann
www.MannsWord.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Lots of Work Today
I have not stopped. I boxed up about 7 packages of materials for the Rio Grande Valley and NYC, plus smaller packages to ministry prayer partners. I feel like a "mail girl" in the mail room a lot of the time, due to our expansion.
Plus, God has given us an excellent bookkeeper, and we are working on getting caught up for end of the year receipts.
I called CBH Ministries and ordered more tracts for teens for our Rio Grande Valley location and our other ministry locations of apologetics. (The ordered totaled around 100.00).
Also, I am staying in touch with some other ministries with more orders for resources this week.
Our web site goals this week are getting an online "store" up and running. I am sending the web designer ALL of the information for Israel locations to be posted on the LTW web site this week.
Last, but not least, I am going to be speaking with someone about helping me create a new web site for the lost, which will be posted on all of our witnessing materials at our tables, so lost people can have follow-up and learn how to be saved through Jesus. I have been wanting to write the content for this for well over a year. There is no time, so I am going to be speaking with someone who can hopefully help me write it.
Plus, God has given us an excellent bookkeeper, and we are working on getting caught up for end of the year receipts.
I called CBH Ministries and ordered more tracts for teens for our Rio Grande Valley location and our other ministry locations of apologetics. (The ordered totaled around 100.00).
Also, I am staying in touch with some other ministries with more orders for resources this week.
Our web site goals this week are getting an online "store" up and running. I am sending the web designer ALL of the information for Israel locations to be posted on the LTW web site this week.
Last, but not least, I am going to be speaking with someone about helping me create a new web site for the lost, which will be posted on all of our witnessing materials at our tables, so lost people can have follow-up and learn how to be saved through Jesus. I have been wanting to write the content for this for well over a year. There is no time, so I am going to be speaking with someone who can hopefully help me write it.
Testimony from James Hartline
"...Did I make the right decision to renounce homosexuality after spending thirty years in that sin? I know I did. While the Center for Disease Control reports that men who engage in homosexuality will die 20 years earlier than their heterosexual counterparts, the average life expectancy of a homosexual male with AIDS is reduced to 39 years. After suffering with AIDS for 12 years, I am about to celebrate my 52nd birthday. If I had continued to engage in homosexuality I would surely be dead by now -- and burning in hell. Following Jesus Christ is not just an eternal matter. It is also a matter of better health and longevity. I know. I am living proof. You can watch my life story on this 700 Club video. I don't know how long I have left on this earth, but I am determined to run my race until I leave."
"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." I Corinthians 9:24
Guarding My Heart
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Trusting God for our Unmet Needs
From anonymous author, LTW research team:
I am feeling somewhat better because I am genuinely trying to trust God and praying that God would remind me of all the things I already know but so easily forget. I have a handy Bible application in my phone that I can tag things in Scripture, and this morning I was looking through the God's provision tags... I came across a tag I had made for Jer. 44:15-19
My note that I wrote in my phone and included w/the tag comes back to haunt me:
Another passage that really struck me was in Ps. 145:
I am feeling somewhat better because I am genuinely trying to trust God and praying that God would remind me of all the things I already know but so easily forget. I have a handy Bible application in my phone that I can tag things in Scripture, and this morning I was looking through the God's provision tags... I came across a tag I had made for Jer. 44:15-19
"15 Then all the men who were aware that their wives were burning sacrifices to other gods, along with all the women who were standing by, as a large assembly, including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying, 16 "As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you! 17 "But rather we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, by burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem ; for then we had plenty of food and we're well off and saw no misfortune. 18 "But since we stopped burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have met our end by the sword and by famine." 19 "And," said the women, "when we were burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and were pouring out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?"
My note that I wrote in my phone and included w/the tag comes back to haunt me:
"Where they go wrong is in the area of their perceived needs. They have a need which they perceive God is not meeting. They put their hope and trust in an idol rather than waiting on God in faith, thus insulting and besmirching God's character by believing that 1) He won't provide, 2) He can't provide, 3) He is ineffectual, powerless (i.e., even if He wanted to provide the good, He is unable to do so), and/or He doesn't know what He's doing, and 4) He will actively withhold the good. God makes no allowance to recreate who He is, we must by faith accept and receive him for who He is which knowledge can only be found in His Word. If we play God, 'divining' what we think we need and is best, (which by the way, is why God equates "rebellion as the sin of divination" in 1 Sam.) then we will reap bad seed, injure ourselves and suffer loss."
Another passage that really struck me was in Ps. 145:
12 When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, 13 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 14 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, 15 saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!" 16 When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, 17 he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18 His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; 19 until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him. "
Once again, God himself causes calamity -- He summoned the famine and broke the supply of bread --- ("I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things." Is 45:7) I had to ask myself the question, not only about this, but over and over, "do I believe God?" It is hard to know my own heart, but as much as in my ability to say so, I say yes.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Manhattan Declaration (by Mike Gendron)
From http://www.pro-gospel.org:
A coalition of 150 Catholic, Orthodox and evangelical leaders, united "as Christians", are calling for everyone to take a stand against abortion, same-sex marriage and anything that betrays their religious beliefs. On November 20th, a 4,700-word document called the Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience was released. The document was drafted by Chuck Colson and Princeton University professor Robert P. George, a Roman Catholic. This is clearly another attempt to bring ecumenical unity to all of professing Christianity and blur the lines that separate apostates from true Christians.
Many of the signers of the Evangelicals and Catholics Together Accord have given their name to this accord as well. Purposefully, the Gospel is never defined or explained in the Manhattan Declaration. This is because of the contradictory and opposing views on the issue of justification and salvation that are held by the signatories. The implication throughout the document is that Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant Evangelicals share a common faith. This blatantly ignores the fact that there can be never be unity between true Christianity and apostate Christianity, between believers and unbelievers or between light and darkness (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
Whereas it is good to unite as co-belligerents with a united voice to fight moral and political issues, any accord that attempts to overlook, dismiss, nullify or compromise the Gospel is antithetical to the command for all Christians to earnestly contend for the faith. We can never deny the profound importance of protecting the life of every baby and the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. We must earnestly contend against those who seek to destroy both. However, we must remember that this is a spiritual battle which can only be won through fervent prayer and the proclamation of the one and only true Gospel, a Gospel that is denied by every Catholic priest when he offers the Eucharistic Christ upon his altar for the forgiveness of sins. Charles Spurgeon said "To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus".
(Note: Roman Catholic leaders already disobey civil and criminal laws by hiding pedophile priests. Their leadership is not subject to prosecution under the sovereign immunity laws of our nation because the Vatican is a recognized nation-state.)
Since we have been sanctified by the truth, let us remain separate for God's glory and purpose. Let us pray, proclaim and contend earnestly for the faith.
Forever in Christ,
Mike Gendron
Many of the signers of the Evangelicals and Catholics Together Accord have given their name to this accord as well. Purposefully, the Gospel is never defined or explained in the Manhattan Declaration. This is because of the contradictory and opposing views on the issue of justification and salvation that are held by the signatories. The implication throughout the document is that Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant Evangelicals share a common faith. This blatantly ignores the fact that there can be never be unity between true Christianity and apostate Christianity, between believers and unbelievers or between light and darkness (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
Whereas it is good to unite as co-belligerents with a united voice to fight moral and political issues, any accord that attempts to overlook, dismiss, nullify or compromise the Gospel is antithetical to the command for all Christians to earnestly contend for the faith. We can never deny the profound importance of protecting the life of every baby and the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. We must earnestly contend against those who seek to destroy both. However, we must remember that this is a spiritual battle which can only be won through fervent prayer and the proclamation of the one and only true Gospel, a Gospel that is denied by every Catholic priest when he offers the Eucharistic Christ upon his altar for the forgiveness of sins. Charles Spurgeon said "To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus".
(Note: Roman Catholic leaders already disobey civil and criminal laws by hiding pedophile priests. Their leadership is not subject to prosecution under the sovereign immunity laws of our nation because the Vatican is a recognized nation-state.)
Since we have been sanctified by the truth, let us remain separate for God's glory and purpose. Let us pray, proclaim and contend earnestly for the faith.
Forever in Christ,
Mike Gendron
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Joined First Baptist Atlanta Today
Well, I have a new church home. I sang in the church when I was a child, traveling as a soloist in revival meetings. It was like coming home again today when I joined.
The sermon by Dr. Stanley was on how God promises to meet our needs when we obey Him. It was taken from Philippians 4:19. The Sunday School class was on the 23rd Psalm, and I could not help but cry tears of thanksgiving for a Shepherd like Jesus.
The sermon by Dr. Stanley was on how God promises to meet our needs when we obey Him. It was taken from Philippians 4:19. The Sunday School class was on the 23rd Psalm, and I could not help but cry tears of thanksgiving for a Shepherd like Jesus.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving at Nursing Homes
I had a wonderful Thanksgiving today singing at nursing homes and visiting people and praying with them. God truly filled up my hungry heart and gave me a great Thanksgiving! I love how God encourages me when I take time to encourage others in Jesus and how He fills up my heart with joy when I praise Him in song.
LTW Update: Venice Beach This Saturday
We got a spot to set up this Saturday, and the team will be setting up in spot I-63. Come and see us on the boardwalk at Venice Beach if anyone is in Southern California.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
LTW Update: NYC
Suzi, Heidi and Christine
Update from Heidi (and the team) on table outreach last Sunday:
We had another glorious Sunday as we were blessed with nice, but slightly chilly, weather. We set up at our usual location in front of the Post Office at 32nd Street and 8th Avenue.
Several people came by the table, including the veteran and the young muslim man whom we had witnessed to the previous Sunday. Incredibly, right before the Muslim man stopped by, an Indian Christian man approached our table and as we were speaking with him, the Indian Muslim man approached and both were able to engage with each other. We suggested that the Muslim man might want to attend church with the Christian man, but apparently, he was not able to at that point. Another lady gave us a small donation, which we informed that we would return to the ministry for the purchase of supplies.
The liberal Christian whom Suzi had engaged last Sunday stopped by again, and this time we advised him that in order to be a Christian and call himself as such, he had to believe in the doctrine of the Apostles as well as believe that the Bible is the literal and infallible Word of God. We encouraged him to approach the Lord with an open heart toward understanding the Scriptures with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Hopefully, he took our advice.
We were out at our location from about 3:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Once again, all the Bibles were gone within the first hour and many other materials were given out. We saw some familiar faces as well.
We continue to give thanks and praise to Jesus for the many opportunities He is giving us!! Pastor Matthew Recker advised us that he ordered a combination of 230 pamphlets from Answers in Genesis and that someone sent him English-Hebrew bibles for our table. We are in continual prayer that more sponsors will provide resources as the Lord leads.
Additionally, we were able to give out our contact e-mail for follow-up questions...Next on our agenda is to make some ministry cards with our contact information.
If the weather falls below 55 degrees in December, we anticipate setting up the table ministry somewhere in the subway passageways beneath 42nd Street - Times Square.
Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!!
Shalom!!!
Heidi
We had another glorious Sunday as we were blessed with nice, but slightly chilly, weather. We set up at our usual location in front of the Post Office at 32nd Street and 8th Avenue.
Several people came by the table, including the veteran and the young muslim man whom we had witnessed to the previous Sunday. Incredibly, right before the Muslim man stopped by, an Indian Christian man approached our table and as we were speaking with him, the Indian Muslim man approached and both were able to engage with each other. We suggested that the Muslim man might want to attend church with the Christian man, but apparently, he was not able to at that point. Another lady gave us a small donation, which we informed that we would return to the ministry for the purchase of supplies.
The liberal Christian whom Suzi had engaged last Sunday stopped by again, and this time we advised him that in order to be a Christian and call himself as such, he had to believe in the doctrine of the Apostles as well as believe that the Bible is the literal and infallible Word of God. We encouraged him to approach the Lord with an open heart toward understanding the Scriptures with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Hopefully, he took our advice.
We were out at our location from about 3:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Once again, all the Bibles were gone within the first hour and many other materials were given out. We saw some familiar faces as well.
We continue to give thanks and praise to Jesus for the many opportunities He is giving us!! Pastor Matthew Recker advised us that he ordered a combination of 230 pamphlets from Answers in Genesis and that someone sent him English-Hebrew bibles for our table. We are in continual prayer that more sponsors will provide resources as the Lord leads.
Additionally, we were able to give out our contact e-mail for follow-up questions...Next on our agenda is to make some ministry cards with our contact information.
If the weather falls below 55 degrees in December, we anticipate setting up the table ministry somewhere in the subway passageways beneath 42nd Street - Times Square.
Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!!
Shalom!!!
Heidi
What Is a Different Spirit?
I love this Christian forum! Check it out HERE as they discuss the meaning of a "different spirit" from God's Spirit, examining warnings from the Bible of people teaching "another Jesus" and "another gospel" coming in "another spirit."
Prayer Requests from Dov and Olga in Tel Aviv
NEWS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND PRAYER REQUESTS
We keep holding weekly Bible studies for drug addicts (up to 15 people attend) and a weekly Bible study for prostitutes (3 women attend). We can no longer evangelize inside brothels, since Alla has left our team and now we have to find other women for this ministry. (Please pray!)
We no longer have Bible studies in Bat-Yam, but the groups in Ashkelon and Ashdod remain active. Recently we have started another Bible study -- for women who are victims of human trafficking, as it is written in the article in the beginning of this newsletter.
We want to see all these activities grow and develop and ask you to pray about that. As our ministry expands, however, our expenses grow as well, so please pray for us that we would find more support for our outreach. There is a serious need for opening new rehab centers. We want to do more, but our finances are limited.
The Negev and Family
Our Negev congregations keep growing, little by little. Please pray for further development; we need more musicians to lead the worship, more Sunday school teachers, and leaders in general.
Please pray for our family. Yossi is becoming weaker and weaker (he can hardly use his hands now,) and his emotional state is not good either. Pray also for me -- there is much work to be done, more then usual, and I need God's strength and support very much.
"The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes..."(more news, interesting events and specific prayer requests)
We praise God for softening the hearts of the people from social services towards Tanya. 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 in the beginning of November 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).
We are grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to help this family in different practical ways, but we are not a social service. Our mission is to share God's gift of love and salvation with people. 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!
Pray also for Ruslan, a young leader from Haifa who is helping Tanya's family. 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 got 3 more children to look after :), since Tanya is still quite helpless and dependent.
Meanwhile the Bible studies with Tanya's friends 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 to 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.
We are grateful to all of you for your prayers and support and wish you a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!
Yours in His love,
Dov and Olga Bikas
P.O.Box 1181
Arad 89110
We keep holding weekly Bible studies for drug addicts (up to 15 people attend) and a weekly Bible study for prostitutes (3 women attend). We can no longer evangelize inside brothels, since Alla has left our team and now we have to find other women for this ministry. (Please pray!)
We no longer have Bible studies in Bat-Yam, but the groups in Ashkelon and Ashdod remain active. Recently we have started another Bible study -- for women who are victims of human trafficking, as it is written in the article in the beginning of this newsletter.
We want to see all these activities grow and develop and ask you to pray about that. As our ministry expands, however, our expenses grow as well, so please pray for us that we would find more support for our outreach. There is a serious need for opening new rehab centers. We want to do more, but our finances are limited.
The Negev and Family
Our Negev congregations keep growing, little by little. Please pray for further development; we need more musicians to lead the worship, more Sunday school teachers, and leaders in general.
Please pray for our family. Yossi is becoming weaker and weaker (he can hardly use his hands now,) and his emotional state is not good either. Pray also for me -- there is much work to be done, more then usual, and I need God's strength and support very much.
"The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes..."(more news, interesting events and specific prayer requests)
We praise God for softening the hearts of the people from social services towards Tanya. 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 in the beginning of November 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).
We are grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to help this family in different practical ways, but we are not a social service. Our mission is to share God's gift of love and salvation with people. 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!
Pray also for Ruslan, a young leader from Haifa who is helping Tanya's family. 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 got 3 more children to look after :), since Tanya is still quite helpless and dependent.
Meanwhile the Bible studies with Tanya's friends 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 to 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.
We are grateful to all of you for your prayers and support and wish you a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!
Yours in His love,
Dov and Olga Bikas
P.O.Box 1181
Arad 89110
Casting Bread Upon the Waters (Update from Tel Aviv)
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me" (Matthew 25:35-36).
As I keep serving the Lord, I see more and more evidence of how simple acts of kindness, even a glass of water, can open a person's heart to the Gospel, and in this article I would like to give you several illustrations from our ministry to strengthen this point.
I will start from the times of the big immigration from Russia that took place about 20 years ago. We, local believers, started helping the new immigrants overcome the difficulties of adaptation to the new language and society. The fruits of this work were amazing. The new immigrants were asking questions about our faith and then started attending our services. I remember that one Shabbat about 60 non-believers came, and many of them accepted the Lord after that and remained in the congregation.
The next example is about a former addict from Bethel recovering center who told us that on the very day he was planning to find a suitable roof to jump from, a woman who was just passing by came up to him and offered him some food. This simple act of kindness saved his life: he gave up his suicidal idea, because he saw that someone still cared for him. The same day he met our team evangelizing in the streets, came to our Bible study and then went to Bethel recovering center. Today he is a believer who has not touched drugs for a year and a half already and who praises His Lord and Savior.
The next illustration is an event that happened just several days ago. We were distributing New Testaments among prostitutes when we met two young women. One of them took the book, but her friend refused point blank and even cursed us. A bit later, however, the second prostitute suddenly recognized me: she recalled that one day many years ago I helped her when she was robbed. As a result, she did take the New Testament and said she was going to read it.
As I keep serving the Lord, I see more and more evidence of how simple acts of kindness, even a glass of water, can open a person's heart to the Gospel, and in this article I would like to give you several illustrations from our ministry to strengthen this point.
I will start from the times of the big immigration from Russia that took place about 20 years ago. We, local believers, started helping the new immigrants overcome the difficulties of adaptation to the new language and society. The fruits of this work were amazing. The new immigrants were asking questions about our faith and then started attending our services. I remember that one Shabbat about 60 non-believers came, and many of them accepted the Lord after that and remained in the congregation.
The next example is about a former addict from Bethel recovering center who told us that on the very day he was planning to find a suitable roof to jump from, a woman who was just passing by came up to him and offered him some food. This simple act of kindness saved his life: he gave up his suicidal idea, because he saw that someone still cared for him. The same day he met our team evangelizing in the streets, came to our Bible study and then went to Bethel recovering center. Today he is a believer who has not touched drugs for a year and a half already and who praises His Lord and Savior.
The next illustration is an event that happened just several days ago. We were distributing New Testaments among prostitutes when we met two young women. One of them took the book, but her friend refused point blank and even cursed us. A bit later, however, the second prostitute suddenly recognized me: she recalled that one day many years ago I helped her when she was robbed. As a result, she did take the New Testament and said she was going to read it.
And finally, I will tell you about Tanya, a victim of human trafficking, who contacted us asking for help about two months ago. When she was 21 she was promised a decent job in Israel and arrived in the country, but her life turned into a nightmare when she discovered the "job" was prostitution and the living conditions were that of a slave... Today Tanya is 31, she has got 2 small children from a "well-wisher" who was helping her at first but then abandoned her. Our hearts went out to Tanya when we heard her story and we started helping her return to normal life. Soon after that she introduced us to several friends of hers who were victims of sexual slavery too. Several weeks passed and we decided to start weekly Bible studies for Tanya and her friends, who gladly accepted this offer. It is amazing to see how eager these women are to learn more about God and get to know Him better -- and some of them have already invited the Lord into their lives! Now we are very grateful to God that He did not let us ignore Tanya's call for help two months ago (even though she was a total stranger to us at that time), since otherwise we would not have met these women and would not have had the privilege of sharing Jesus with them.
Unmasking 'Spiritual Formation'
"More Proof - The East is Seducing the West"
By Jan Markell
http://www.olivetreeviews.org/
RADIO: Catch last weekend's (November 14) archived program with a Bethel University professor. This is a spirited debate concerning a potential "common ground" Christianity could have with Buddhism.
On Saturday I had a spirited on-air discussion with a Bethel University professor who acted as spokesman for the college regarding its recent interfaith symposium. As I wrote last week, Buddhism was featured and there was a suggestion that there just might be "common ground" with Buddhism and Christianity when it comes to "meditation." Hear the program at this link.
The potential "common ground" regarding meditation would be an eastern-style mystical meditation. I saw once again how the East has been seducing the West for nearly 50 years. When I came home from the radio studio I had more e-mails that brought the total to about 15 in two weeks on the issue of "spiritual formation." It is hitting Christian universities and churches like Hurricane Katrina. Bad metaphor, you say. Not really. It is causing real destruction. And since spiritual formation, too, deals heavily with the mystical, I thought I would take time to give a brief overview of this topic. I know many of you feel nothing unsound as this could walk in the door of your church, but don't be so sure! Roger Oakland explains, "As the Word of God becomes less and less important, the rise in mystical experiences escalates, and these experiences are presented to convince the unsuspecting that Christianity is about feeling, touching, smelling, and seeing God. The postmodern mindset is the perfect environment for fostering spiritual formation.
"This term suggests that there are various ways and means to get closer to God and emulate Him. Thus, the idea is given that if you do certain practices, you can be more like Jesus. Proponents of spiritual formation erroneously teach that anyone can practice these mystical rituals and find God within. Some even say that having a relationship with Jesus Christ is not a prerequisite." Oakland continues, "The spiritual formation movement is widely promoted at colleges and seminaries as the latest and the greatest way to become a spiritual leader. It teaches people that this is how they can become more intimate with God and hear His voice. Even Christian leaders with long-standing reputations of teaching God's Word seem to be succumbing. In so doing, many Christian leaders are frivolously playing with fire, and the result will be thousands, probably millions, getting burned." The proponents of the spiritual formation would tell you the Christian life is always a process of spiritual formation. We are always in transition, becoming more and more spiritual. But they seem to suggest that it would be helpful if we had some gimmicks to help us speed this up. In 2008, Christianity Today online gave the term of spiritual formation credibility by interviewing the man most prominent in this movement, Richard Foster. They said to Foster, "Evangelicals have been reading your book, A Celebration of Discipline, for 30 years. What is the discipline you think we need to be exploring more at this point?" Foster then promoted "solitude." But over time we have learned that once again those in this movement are borrowing from Hinduism, Buddhism, and Catholic mystics to perfect a practice for the 21st century. Promoters of Emergent conversation say we are on the verge of an era that promises renewed spiritual awareness. "Spiritual disciplines" are being touted as the avenue to a spiritual reformation that will take Christianity to a new and higher level of spirituality, drawing all participants closer to God. The problem is that the means to attain this are not godly! Pastor Bob DeWaay writes in his Critical Issues Commentary, "I met a lady who attends a Christian college. As part of her study program, she was required to take a course on spiritual formation. Spiritual formation in her class also concerned the study of Roman Catholic mystics and the search for techniques to help those who implement them feel closer to God. This study also explored 'spiritual disciplines' which promised to make those who practiced them more Christlike. After she finished the class, she shared her text books with me." He continues, "To hear evangelicals like Dallas Willard and Richard Foster tell us that we need practices that were never spelled out in the Bible to become more like Christ or to get closer to God is astonishing. What is more astonishing is that evangelical colleges, seminaries, and church denominations are requiring their students and members to study practices that are relics of Medieval Rome, not found in the Bible, and closely akin to the practices of many pagan societies." So while the term spiritual formation sounds like a good concept as we all want to grow spiritually, it comes with questionable baggage that is, once again, mystical and hardly sound. Ask questions of your church leadership or college staff. Challenge the issue by pointing out that much of this foundation has been laid by mystics and Catholicism - and throw in some Buddhism and Hinduism as well. You will then conclude that when the term spiritual formation comes up as it does more and more frequently, it should have a "buyer-beware" label on it. If you see your church bulletin announcing its arrival, don't just sit there - do something. Confront your leadership! Such things as the Bethel University symposium on "meditation" and the spiritual formation movement are driven by what is known as "contemplative prayer."
Contemplative (mystical spirituality) is the heartbeat of the spiritual formation movement. It is more likely to derail you spiritually than draw you closer to God. Don't believe them when promoters of spiritual formation tell you that this will take you to a higher level of Christianity and to a new level of spirituality. New spiritual programs aren't necessary; rather, hearts yearning to grow in the knowledge of the Lord simply from reading the Bible. We cannot get any "closer to God" than Jesus Christ indwelling us through His Holy Spirit! So, Isaiah had it right when he wrote, "For you have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east, and they are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they strike bargains with the children of foreigners" (Isaiah 2:5, 6).
Spiritual formation is just another "tickle the ears" effort drawing on experience rather than the Bible.
To help you better understand the dangers of this kind of prayer and the spiritual formation movement, check out the two items: Roger Oakland's book Faith Undone and Ray Yungen's DVD, The Face of Mystical Spirituality. Also visit the "Spiritual Deception" category at my Web site.
Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell
Olive Tree Ministries, Inc.
Box 1452
Maple Grove, MN 55311
763-493-3010 or 763-210-8291
By Jan Markell
http://www.olivetreeviews.org/
RADIO: Catch last weekend's (November 14) archived program with a Bethel University professor. This is a spirited debate concerning a potential "common ground" Christianity could have with Buddhism.
On Saturday I had a spirited on-air discussion with a Bethel University professor who acted as spokesman for the college regarding its recent interfaith symposium. As I wrote last week, Buddhism was featured and there was a suggestion that there just might be "common ground" with Buddhism and Christianity when it comes to "meditation." Hear the program at this link.
The potential "common ground" regarding meditation would be an eastern-style mystical meditation. I saw once again how the East has been seducing the West for nearly 50 years. When I came home from the radio studio I had more e-mails that brought the total to about 15 in two weeks on the issue of "spiritual formation." It is hitting Christian universities and churches like Hurricane Katrina. Bad metaphor, you say. Not really. It is causing real destruction. And since spiritual formation, too, deals heavily with the mystical, I thought I would take time to give a brief overview of this topic. I know many of you feel nothing unsound as this could walk in the door of your church, but don't be so sure! Roger Oakland explains, "As the Word of God becomes less and less important, the rise in mystical experiences escalates, and these experiences are presented to convince the unsuspecting that Christianity is about feeling, touching, smelling, and seeing God. The postmodern mindset is the perfect environment for fostering spiritual formation.
"This term suggests that there are various ways and means to get closer to God and emulate Him. Thus, the idea is given that if you do certain practices, you can be more like Jesus. Proponents of spiritual formation erroneously teach that anyone can practice these mystical rituals and find God within. Some even say that having a relationship with Jesus Christ is not a prerequisite." Oakland continues, "The spiritual formation movement is widely promoted at colleges and seminaries as the latest and the greatest way to become a spiritual leader. It teaches people that this is how they can become more intimate with God and hear His voice. Even Christian leaders with long-standing reputations of teaching God's Word seem to be succumbing. In so doing, many Christian leaders are frivolously playing with fire, and the result will be thousands, probably millions, getting burned." The proponents of the spiritual formation would tell you the Christian life is always a process of spiritual formation. We are always in transition, becoming more and more spiritual. But they seem to suggest that it would be helpful if we had some gimmicks to help us speed this up. In 2008, Christianity Today online gave the term of spiritual formation credibility by interviewing the man most prominent in this movement, Richard Foster. They said to Foster, "Evangelicals have been reading your book, A Celebration of Discipline, for 30 years. What is the discipline you think we need to be exploring more at this point?" Foster then promoted "solitude." But over time we have learned that once again those in this movement are borrowing from Hinduism, Buddhism, and Catholic mystics to perfect a practice for the 21st century. Promoters of Emergent conversation say we are on the verge of an era that promises renewed spiritual awareness. "Spiritual disciplines" are being touted as the avenue to a spiritual reformation that will take Christianity to a new and higher level of spirituality, drawing all participants closer to God. The problem is that the means to attain this are not godly! Pastor Bob DeWaay writes in his Critical Issues Commentary, "I met a lady who attends a Christian college. As part of her study program, she was required to take a course on spiritual formation. Spiritual formation in her class also concerned the study of Roman Catholic mystics and the search for techniques to help those who implement them feel closer to God. This study also explored 'spiritual disciplines' which promised to make those who practiced them more Christlike. After she finished the class, she shared her text books with me." He continues, "To hear evangelicals like Dallas Willard and Richard Foster tell us that we need practices that were never spelled out in the Bible to become more like Christ or to get closer to God is astonishing. What is more astonishing is that evangelical colleges, seminaries, and church denominations are requiring their students and members to study practices that are relics of Medieval Rome, not found in the Bible, and closely akin to the practices of many pagan societies." So while the term spiritual formation sounds like a good concept as we all want to grow spiritually, it comes with questionable baggage that is, once again, mystical and hardly sound. Ask questions of your church leadership or college staff. Challenge the issue by pointing out that much of this foundation has been laid by mystics and Catholicism - and throw in some Buddhism and Hinduism as well. You will then conclude that when the term spiritual formation comes up as it does more and more frequently, it should have a "buyer-beware" label on it. If you see your church bulletin announcing its arrival, don't just sit there - do something. Confront your leadership! Such things as the Bethel University symposium on "meditation" and the spiritual formation movement are driven by what is known as "contemplative prayer."
Contemplative (mystical spirituality) is the heartbeat of the spiritual formation movement. It is more likely to derail you spiritually than draw you closer to God. Don't believe them when promoters of spiritual formation tell you that this will take you to a higher level of Christianity and to a new level of spirituality. New spiritual programs aren't necessary; rather, hearts yearning to grow in the knowledge of the Lord simply from reading the Bible. We cannot get any "closer to God" than Jesus Christ indwelling us through His Holy Spirit! So, Isaiah had it right when he wrote, "For you have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east, and they are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they strike bargains with the children of foreigners" (Isaiah 2:5, 6).
Spiritual formation is just another "tickle the ears" effort drawing on experience rather than the Bible.
To help you better understand the dangers of this kind of prayer and the spiritual formation movement, check out the two items: Roger Oakland's book Faith Undone and Ray Yungen's DVD, The Face of Mystical Spirituality. Also visit the "Spiritual Deception" category at my Web site.
Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell
Olive Tree Ministries, Inc.
Box 1452
Maple Grove, MN 55311
763-493-3010 or 763-210-8291
Meditation--Buddhist and Christian: Is There Common Ground?
From CrossTalk with Ingrid Schlueter
Recently, Bethel University in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota area held an interreligious symposium that was titled: Meditation-Buddhist and Christian: Is There Common Ground?
Pastor Bob DeWaay of Twin City Fellowship appeared on Crosstalk to discuss this symposium, a gathering that sought to explore how much common ground there is in both Christian and Buddhist meditation.
Just how dangerous is the belief that Christians can gain insight into themselves by practicing Buddhist approaches to meditation? Pastor DeWaay presents the Bible truths that speak directly to this issue on this edition of Crosstalk. To listen to this interview, click one of these links: (mp3), (Windows media). You may also order the tape by clicking here.
Related Information:
Bethel University (MN) Throws Students to Interspiritual Wolves Richard Foster's Contemplative Prayer or Terror?
----------------------------------------
A Commentary by Jan Markell
Olive Tree Ministries
"When Students Are Left for the Wolves"
I wasn't prepared for what I was about to hear the evening of November 3. My alma mater, Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, sponsored an Interreligious Symposium promoting some kind of "common ground" between Buddhism and Christianity. One would think if a Christian had an ounce of discernment, they would deduce that Christianity has nothing to do with Buddhism and such unions are playing with fire. But a panel concluded that there was "common ground" when it came to "meditation." Granted, this kind of meditation could put one in a dangerous altered state of consciousness, but maybe that's ok as long as we can find a bit of unity here! Some would call this common bond of meditation "contemplative prayer." About 200 students and a few adults were crammed into the symposium auditorium. Attendance by the students was mandatory. The three main presenters were Buddhist monk Witiyala Seewalie from Sri Lanka, Bethel professor Paul Reasoner who is a part of the "Christian Zen" movement, and Ted Meissner, an active Buddhist layman and meditator in Zen, although he grew up in a Christian home.
Please click here to read this entire article.
Recently, Bethel University in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota area held an interreligious symposium that was titled: Meditation-Buddhist and Christian: Is There Common Ground?
Pastor Bob DeWaay of Twin City Fellowship appeared on Crosstalk to discuss this symposium, a gathering that sought to explore how much common ground there is in both Christian and Buddhist meditation.
Just how dangerous is the belief that Christians can gain insight into themselves by practicing Buddhist approaches to meditation? Pastor DeWaay presents the Bible truths that speak directly to this issue on this edition of Crosstalk. To listen to this interview, click one of these links: (mp3), (Windows media). You may also order the tape by clicking here.
Related Information:
Bethel University (MN) Throws Students to Interspiritual Wolves Richard Foster's Contemplative Prayer or Terror?
----------------------------------------
A Commentary by Jan Markell
Olive Tree Ministries
"When Students Are Left for the Wolves"
I wasn't prepared for what I was about to hear the evening of November 3. My alma mater, Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, sponsored an Interreligious Symposium promoting some kind of "common ground" between Buddhism and Christianity. One would think if a Christian had an ounce of discernment, they would deduce that Christianity has nothing to do with Buddhism and such unions are playing with fire. But a panel concluded that there was "common ground" when it came to "meditation." Granted, this kind of meditation could put one in a dangerous altered state of consciousness, but maybe that's ok as long as we can find a bit of unity here! Some would call this common bond of meditation "contemplative prayer." About 200 students and a few adults were crammed into the symposium auditorium. Attendance by the students was mandatory. The three main presenters were Buddhist monk Witiyala Seewalie from Sri Lanka, Bethel professor Paul Reasoner who is a part of the "Christian Zen" movement, and Ted Meissner, an active Buddhist layman and meditator in Zen, although he grew up in a Christian home.
Please click here to read this entire article.
Responding to an Antheist (by Daniel Mann)
Surrounded by His Glory
Below is my response to an atheist’s blog:
We are surrounded by examples of intelligent design in whichever direction we look. I will not torment you with the many examples of the fine-tuning of the universe, of which I’m sure you are already painfully aware and which drive you to postulate highly imaginative solutions such as an infinite number of universes in order to account for it. Nor will I tell you about the wonderful associations I find between my conscience and the salutary direction its promptings lead me to take, lest you ascribe it once again to natural selection.
Nor will I mention the informational DNA system and the inability of evolution to even whisper a theory regarding its origin. Nor will I be so cruel as to challenge you about the origin of life and the cell, when I know it will only promote feverish, ill-conceived theories. Nor will I even suggest you consider consciousness and freewill, lest this forces you to resort to the ultimate faith-answer: “Naturalism might not have an explanation now, but this doesn’t mean that we won’t have one later!”
Nor will I be so indelicate as to raise the matter of the elegance of our equations which express the operations of the physical laws. (Indeed, there isn’t a law, formula, or equation that doesn’t carry His fingerprints!) For instance, my gullible unscientific mind was so impressed by the beautiful and simple formula for gravity: Gravitational Attraction = 1/ (distance separation between two bodies)². Why must it be exactly squared? Why couldn’t it have been 1.999 or 2.0001 instead? Why soooo elegant? Can you answer this? Does natural selection have anything to say about this? Can it explain why these laws are unchanging in the midst of a changing, expanding universe? Can it explain from where our tools of reason of and logic came or how they correspond so wonderfully and unchangeably to the challenges of life? Could all of this originated from an explosion, the big bang?
And E = MC²? Again the elegance! But also the incredible coordination and harmony among energy and matter! Light, energy and mass all intimately related! And then there is the chemical periodic table which reflects so poignantly the order we find among the elements. Can you account for this elegant design? Even musical notes are related so precisely and mathematically. Not only that, but our ears and tastes also resonate to their precise relationships.
Have you considered the perfect size relationship between our moon and sun and their relative distances from the earth, enabling us to see perfect eclipses of the sun? Have you considered the fortuitous properties of water causing it to expand at 33 degrees so that ice doesn’t sink and kill our aquatic life?
However, I’m not doing justice to ID by merely pointing to particular instances of intelligent design. Rather, it seems that everything reflects harmony and beauty. The very fact that we can so meaningfully and constructively contemplate these lofty issues with a grey sponge we call “brain,” also points us to the bewildering correspondence between our minds and the world. And now we are being told that even “chaotic” arrangements evince their own fractal designs. It leads us to wonder whether everything is the product of intelligent design. Indeed, “The earth is filled with His glory!”
This brings us back to the question of natural selection, which can’t even begin to explain the phenomena of design outside of biology. If it fails to enlighten us regarding life, DNA, freewill, consciousness, fine-tuning, and the origin and the perpetuation of the laws of nature, perhaps science is best advised to look for another mechanism that can parsimoniously explain ALL, even biological diversity!
Below is my response to an atheist’s blog:
We are surrounded by examples of intelligent design in whichever direction we look. I will not torment you with the many examples of the fine-tuning of the universe, of which I’m sure you are already painfully aware and which drive you to postulate highly imaginative solutions such as an infinite number of universes in order to account for it. Nor will I tell you about the wonderful associations I find between my conscience and the salutary direction its promptings lead me to take, lest you ascribe it once again to natural selection.
Nor will I mention the informational DNA system and the inability of evolution to even whisper a theory regarding its origin. Nor will I be so cruel as to challenge you about the origin of life and the cell, when I know it will only promote feverish, ill-conceived theories. Nor will I even suggest you consider consciousness and freewill, lest this forces you to resort to the ultimate faith-answer: “Naturalism might not have an explanation now, but this doesn’t mean that we won’t have one later!”
Nor will I be so indelicate as to raise the matter of the elegance of our equations which express the operations of the physical laws. (Indeed, there isn’t a law, formula, or equation that doesn’t carry His fingerprints!) For instance, my gullible unscientific mind was so impressed by the beautiful and simple formula for gravity: Gravitational Attraction = 1/ (distance separation between two bodies)². Why must it be exactly squared? Why couldn’t it have been 1.999 or 2.0001 instead? Why soooo elegant? Can you answer this? Does natural selection have anything to say about this? Can it explain why these laws are unchanging in the midst of a changing, expanding universe? Can it explain from where our tools of reason of and logic came or how they correspond so wonderfully and unchangeably to the challenges of life? Could all of this originated from an explosion, the big bang?
And E = MC²? Again the elegance! But also the incredible coordination and harmony among energy and matter! Light, energy and mass all intimately related! And then there is the chemical periodic table which reflects so poignantly the order we find among the elements. Can you account for this elegant design? Even musical notes are related so precisely and mathematically. Not only that, but our ears and tastes also resonate to their precise relationships.
Have you considered the perfect size relationship between our moon and sun and their relative distances from the earth, enabling us to see perfect eclipses of the sun? Have you considered the fortuitous properties of water causing it to expand at 33 degrees so that ice doesn’t sink and kill our aquatic life?
However, I’m not doing justice to ID by merely pointing to particular instances of intelligent design. Rather, it seems that everything reflects harmony and beauty. The very fact that we can so meaningfully and constructively contemplate these lofty issues with a grey sponge we call “brain,” also points us to the bewildering correspondence between our minds and the world. And now we are being told that even “chaotic” arrangements evince their own fractal designs. It leads us to wonder whether everything is the product of intelligent design. Indeed, “The earth is filled with His glory!”
This brings us back to the question of natural selection, which can’t even begin to explain the phenomena of design outside of biology. If it fails to enlighten us regarding life, DNA, freewill, consciousness, fine-tuning, and the origin and the perpetuation of the laws of nature, perhaps science is best advised to look for another mechanism that can parsimoniously explain ALL, even biological diversity!
Every Christian Called to Be A Missionary
This article reminds us that we are all called to be missionaries as Christians.
More Needs for VA
We are praying for God to provide financial means for our new outreach to the poor in VA.
King James Bibles and devotionals (we can get them for .99 each!) and a gas grill to feed the poor hot food (for about 400.00 including shipping.)
King James Bibles and devotionals (we can get them for .99 each!) and a gas grill to feed the poor hot food (for about 400.00 including shipping.)
Living My LIFE in Thanksgiving (With a God-Given Heart for Obedience)
This is one of my favorite devotional books. I am reminded today through this reading that no one can save but Jesus; He saved me because of no merit of my own, and I want to live for Him in sincere thanksgiving without taking advantage of such grace toward me. He fights my battles for me! What a faithful Shepherd. He even gets the credit for my obedience, because He has given me a heart to obey Him, choosing a life close to Him over the fleeting pleasures of sin. (Bold emphasis mine...)
From Look Unto Me (Spurgeon, Reimann) November 25
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. (Luke 4:18)
From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:
No one but Jesus can give true liberty to prisoners, for real freedom comes only from Him. It is a freedom righteously bestowed, for the Son who is "heir of all things" (Heb. 1:2) has a right to make men free. Saints then should honor the justice of God that secures their salvation.
It is a freedom that has been dearly purchased. Christ speaks freedom by His power, but He bought it at the great cost of His blood. He makes me free, but it is through His own chains. I go free, because He bore my burden; I have freedom because He suffered in my place.
Though dearly purchased, it is freedom freely given. Jesus asks nothing of me as preparation for this liberty. He finds me sitting in "sackcloth and ashes" (Est. 4:3) and invites me to clothe myself instead in His beautiful garment of freedom. He saves me precisely as I am, all without my help or merit.
When Jesus sets me free the freedom is also eternally done, for no chain can ever shackle me again. Once the Master says to me, "Prisoner, I have freed you," it is done forever. Satan may plot to enslave me but "if God is for [me], who can be against [me]?" (Rom. 8:31)-"Whom shall I fear?" (Ps. 27:1). The world with its temptations may seek to ensnare me, but "greater is he" (1 John 4:4 KJV) who is for me than all those combined who are against me. The scheming of my own deceitful heart may harass and annoy me but "he who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion" (Phil. 1:6). The foes of God and the enemies of man may gather their considerable armies together, coming against me with all their powerful fury, but if the Lord acquits, "who is he that condemns?" (Rom. 8:34). Even an eagle that soars to his aerie high atop a rocky cliff, and that then outsoars the clouds, is not more free than a soul whom Christ has freed.
Thus, since I am no longer under the law and am freed from its curse may my freedom be practically exhibited in serving God with gratitude and joy.
"O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains" (Ps. 116:16). "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Acts 9:6 NKJV).
From the pen of Jim Reimann:
Spurgeon says today that we as saints "should honor the justice of God." The way we do that is by walking in the freedom Christ purchased for us, not allowing ourselves to live like slaves again. We "used to be slaves to sin" (Rom. 6:17) and were condemned by the law "that stood opposed to us" (Col. 2:14), but Paul says now that we are believers, "Sin shall not be your master" (Rom. 6:14). And he gives this warning: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Gal. 5:1). Previously he had said, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). Jesus took our sin debt that "stood opposed to us," stamped it PAID IN FULL, and redeemed us by "nailing it to the cross" (Col. 2:14) with His own body. Thus, let us follow his advice:
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love" (Gal. 5:13).
From Look Unto Me (Spurgeon, Reimann) November 25
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. (Luke 4:18)
From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:
No one but Jesus can give true liberty to prisoners, for real freedom comes only from Him. It is a freedom righteously bestowed, for the Son who is "heir of all things" (Heb. 1:2) has a right to make men free. Saints then should honor the justice of God that secures their salvation.
It is a freedom that has been dearly purchased. Christ speaks freedom by His power, but He bought it at the great cost of His blood. He makes me free, but it is through His own chains. I go free, because He bore my burden; I have freedom because He suffered in my place.
Though dearly purchased, it is freedom freely given. Jesus asks nothing of me as preparation for this liberty. He finds me sitting in "sackcloth and ashes" (Est. 4:3) and invites me to clothe myself instead in His beautiful garment of freedom. He saves me precisely as I am, all without my help or merit.
When Jesus sets me free the freedom is also eternally done, for no chain can ever shackle me again. Once the Master says to me, "Prisoner, I have freed you," it is done forever. Satan may plot to enslave me but "if God is for [me], who can be against [me]?" (Rom. 8:31)-"Whom shall I fear?" (Ps. 27:1). The world with its temptations may seek to ensnare me, but "greater is he" (1 John 4:4 KJV) who is for me than all those combined who are against me. The scheming of my own deceitful heart may harass and annoy me but "he who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion" (Phil. 1:6). The foes of God and the enemies of man may gather their considerable armies together, coming against me with all their powerful fury, but if the Lord acquits, "who is he that condemns?" (Rom. 8:34). Even an eagle that soars to his aerie high atop a rocky cliff, and that then outsoars the clouds, is not more free than a soul whom Christ has freed.
Thus, since I am no longer under the law and am freed from its curse may my freedom be practically exhibited in serving God with gratitude and joy.
"O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains" (Ps. 116:16). "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Acts 9:6 NKJV).
From the pen of Jim Reimann:
Spurgeon says today that we as saints "should honor the justice of God." The way we do that is by walking in the freedom Christ purchased for us, not allowing ourselves to live like slaves again. We "used to be slaves to sin" (Rom. 6:17) and were condemned by the law "that stood opposed to us" (Col. 2:14), but Paul says now that we are believers, "Sin shall not be your master" (Rom. 6:14). And he gives this warning: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Gal. 5:1). Previously he had said, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). Jesus took our sin debt that "stood opposed to us," stamped it PAID IN FULL, and redeemed us by "nailing it to the cross" (Col. 2:14) with His own body. Thus, let us follow his advice:
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love" (Gal. 5:13).
Shipping More Materials for Rio Grande Valley Outreach
Here is a list of materials I recently shipped to Curt and Janie for our partnership in the table outreach of apologetics and evangelism in Harlingen, TX. More materials for kids and more books by Bob DeWaay will be shipped out after Thanksgiving.
(8) - CD's - "How Can I know the Bible is the Word of God?" - Pastor Hollie Miller
(10) - Booklets - "Where is God When Things Go Wrong?" - John Blanchard
(6) - Booklets - "Is Anybody Out There?" (new) - John Blanchard
(10) - Book - "The Light That Was Dark" - Warren Smith
(2) - Book - "A Time of Departing" - Ray Yungen
(46) RBC - "Where Do We Go From Here?" - Mark De Haan
(3) - Booklets - "Evolution-Fact or Fiction - John Blanchard
(1) - Book - "Redefining Christianity" - Bob DeWaay
(1) - Book - "Church on the Rise" - Larry DeBruyn
(2) - Booklet - "A Defense of Calvinism - Spurgeon
(2) - Book - " Embracing the Darkness - Mann (for people struggling with depression)
Monday, November 23, 2009
LTW Update: Chilhowie, Virginia
We are praying for God to provide these needs. This update is from Jonna, ministry leader for our outreach to the poor in Virginia.
Thank you so much for sending the "Pure Gold" booklets (very nice!), kid's devotionals, and sermons on CDs. These are great items for the booth.
Based upon the response we received on Saturday morning to our first Bibles-and-food street outreach, the larger print KJV Bibles and children's beginner Bibles are the most needed materials. People were so thankful for these items, Dwayna.
We also handed out a selection of bookmarks and postcards with encouraging scriptures on them. Those are a simple and cost-effective way to spread the Word of God and to encourage people to seek the Lord. We offered some inexpensive plush animals with "Jesus Loves You" messages on them for the little ones.
One lady came by and requested materials for inmates at a local jail. Since we have a Spanish-speaking population here, we handed-out Bibles and bookmarks in Spanish that were appreciated and well-received.
Our menu included Vienna sausages, crackers, apple sauce, snack cakes, and cold drinks for those in need who came by the booth; and we also delivered bags of food to a homeless couple stranded in a van. I hope that we can expand our menu and serve hot food within the next few months.
We also were able to provide a can of propane to a man who fell and broke his back recently and had a critical need.
We are hoping to have the opportunity to set up a booth on the street during a local Christmas parade, which usually draws a quite a large crowd.
I praise the Lord for sending the people He wanted us to serve and for His provision.Here are our basic needs for the outreach at this point:
1. Large print New Testaments or Bibles, KJV:http://www.thekjvstore.com/product_detail.php?sid=149269d1b70593a8fd413e767f9cd738&mcid=1&pgid=142
2. Inexpensive children's beginner Bible books (such as these, for example):http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=711142&item_code=WW&netp_id=417979&event=ESRCN&view=detailshttp://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=711134&item_code=WW&netp_id=417978&event=ESRCN&view=detailshttp://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=711401&event=WL&item_code=WW#CURR
3. Large print Spanish New Testaments or Bibles (maybe around 10 or so, such as these):http://www.thekjvstore.com/product_detail.php?sid=149269d1b70593a8fd413e767f9cd738&mcid=2&pgid=160
4. Any items with Scripture messages (such as bookmarks, postcards, cards, booklets, calendars, etc.) in English or Spanish.We would greatly appreciate any materials that you could send, and thank you so much for your support.
May God bless you!
In Jesus,
Jonna
Thank you so much for sending the "Pure Gold" booklets (very nice!), kid's devotionals, and sermons on CDs. These are great items for the booth.
Based upon the response we received on Saturday morning to our first Bibles-and-food street outreach, the larger print KJV Bibles and children's beginner Bibles are the most needed materials. People were so thankful for these items, Dwayna.
We also handed out a selection of bookmarks and postcards with encouraging scriptures on them. Those are a simple and cost-effective way to spread the Word of God and to encourage people to seek the Lord. We offered some inexpensive plush animals with "Jesus Loves You" messages on them for the little ones.
One lady came by and requested materials for inmates at a local jail. Since we have a Spanish-speaking population here, we handed-out Bibles and bookmarks in Spanish that were appreciated and well-received.
Our menu included Vienna sausages, crackers, apple sauce, snack cakes, and cold drinks for those in need who came by the booth; and we also delivered bags of food to a homeless couple stranded in a van. I hope that we can expand our menu and serve hot food within the next few months.
We also were able to provide a can of propane to a man who fell and broke his back recently and had a critical need.
We are hoping to have the opportunity to set up a booth on the street during a local Christmas parade, which usually draws a quite a large crowd.
I praise the Lord for sending the people He wanted us to serve and for His provision.Here are our basic needs for the outreach at this point:
1. Large print New Testaments or Bibles, KJV:http://www.thekjvstore.com/product_detail.php?sid=149269d1b70593a8fd413e767f9cd738&mcid=1&pgid=142
2. Inexpensive children's beginner Bible books (such as these, for example):http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=711142&item_code=WW&netp_id=417979&event=ESRCN&view=detailshttp://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=711134&item_code=WW&netp_id=417978&event=ESRCN&view=detailshttp://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=711401&event=WL&item_code=WW#CURR
3. Large print Spanish New Testaments or Bibles (maybe around 10 or so, such as these):http://www.thekjvstore.com/product_detail.php?sid=149269d1b70593a8fd413e767f9cd738&mcid=2&pgid=160
4. Any items with Scripture messages (such as bookmarks, postcards, cards, booklets, calendars, etc.) in English or Spanish.We would greatly appreciate any materials that you could send, and thank you so much for your support.
May God bless you!
In Jesus,
Jonna
Emergent Church and Socialism
Emerging Trouble
The pastors and authors of one of America's fastest growing spiritual movements, the Emergent Church, sing the praises of socialism. As I'll explain in more detail later, the Emergent Church champions the neo-Marxist call for a utopian society through spiritual evolution where good and evil merge to form a "better" third option. This idea derives from the belief system of philosophers such as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and finds its contemporary manifestation in the "Third Way" movement of Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. In the Third Way, capitalism, socialism, and communism merge to form a misanthropic combination of the three. This blending is now represented in the terms "the New World Order" and "the new enlightenment."
Click here to read this complete article:
http://www.worldviewtimes.com/article.php/articleid-5597/Brannon-Howse/Brannon-Howse
The pastors and authors of one of America's fastest growing spiritual movements, the Emergent Church, sing the praises of socialism. As I'll explain in more detail later, the Emergent Church champions the neo-Marxist call for a utopian society through spiritual evolution where good and evil merge to form a "better" third option. This idea derives from the belief system of philosophers such as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and finds its contemporary manifestation in the "Third Way" movement of Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. In the Third Way, capitalism, socialism, and communism merge to form a misanthropic combination of the three. This blending is now represented in the terms "the New World Order" and "the new enlightenment."
Click here to read this complete article:
http://www.worldviewtimes.com/article.php/articleid-5597/Brannon-Howse/Brannon-Howse
Science and Christianity (by Daniel Mann)
One Darwinist railed at me, “Christianity has nothing to do with science. In fact, it has inhibited research!” Here’s how I responded:
The historical testimony in favor of the Christian role in the development of science is overwhelming. British scientist Robert Clark sums it up this way:
“However we may interpret the fact, scientific development has only occurred in Christian culture. The ancients had brains as good as ours. In all civilizations—Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, India, Rome, Persia, China and so on—science developed to a certain point and then stopped. It is easy to argue speculatively that, perhaps, science might have been able to develop in the absence of Christianity, but in fact, it never did. And no wonder. For the non-Christian world believed that there was something ethically wrong about science. In Greece, this conviction was enshrined in the legend of Prometheus, the fire-bearer and prototype scientist who stole fire from heaven, thus incurring the wrath of the gods.” (Christian Belief and Science, quoted by Henry F. Schaefer, 14)
Even the arch-enemy of religion, Richard Dawkins, has acknowledged that “science grew out of a religious tradition.”
There are several aspects of Christianity that I think have made it amenable to the progress in science:
The assurance of our relationship in the Lord gives us courage to ask questions and to receive answers. I never had the wherewithal to examine the world because I had been too involved in myself and my own insecurities before Christ had established me.
Some faith systems are fearful of antagonizing the gods by examining too closely. However, the Biblical faith is about seeking truth and wisdom and understanding the ways of God.
Some faith systems just believe that the gods did it. This belief also stifles inquiry. However, the Bible makes it clear that God largely rules through the laws He has established (Jeremiah 33:25). Therefore, it is possible to discover those laws.
Order is only possible given an omnipotent monotheistic God. Polytheistic systems can’t account for orderliness, but rather the competition among the gods.
The Biblical faith encourages us to use our minds (Matthew 22:37).
The Biblical faith regards the creation as “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Therefore, it’s something worth examining. For some religions, the created order is always in flux and not worth examining, but rather transcending as quickly as possible.
http://www.mannsword.blogspot.com
The historical testimony in favor of the Christian role in the development of science is overwhelming. British scientist Robert Clark sums it up this way:
“However we may interpret the fact, scientific development has only occurred in Christian culture. The ancients had brains as good as ours. In all civilizations—Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, India, Rome, Persia, China and so on—science developed to a certain point and then stopped. It is easy to argue speculatively that, perhaps, science might have been able to develop in the absence of Christianity, but in fact, it never did. And no wonder. For the non-Christian world believed that there was something ethically wrong about science. In Greece, this conviction was enshrined in the legend of Prometheus, the fire-bearer and prototype scientist who stole fire from heaven, thus incurring the wrath of the gods.” (Christian Belief and Science, quoted by Henry F. Schaefer, 14)
Even the arch-enemy of religion, Richard Dawkins, has acknowledged that “science grew out of a religious tradition.”
There are several aspects of Christianity that I think have made it amenable to the progress in science:
The assurance of our relationship in the Lord gives us courage to ask questions and to receive answers. I never had the wherewithal to examine the world because I had been too involved in myself and my own insecurities before Christ had established me.
Some faith systems are fearful of antagonizing the gods by examining too closely. However, the Biblical faith is about seeking truth and wisdom and understanding the ways of God.
Some faith systems just believe that the gods did it. This belief also stifles inquiry. However, the Bible makes it clear that God largely rules through the laws He has established (Jeremiah 33:25). Therefore, it is possible to discover those laws.
Order is only possible given an omnipotent monotheistic God. Polytheistic systems can’t account for orderliness, but rather the competition among the gods.
The Biblical faith encourages us to use our minds (Matthew 22:37).
The Biblical faith regards the creation as “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Therefore, it’s something worth examining. For some religions, the created order is always in flux and not worth examining, but rather transcending as quickly as possible.
http://www.mannsword.blogspot.com
LTW Update: NYC
From Christine, leader of NYC outreach; we are now working with Daniel Mann in apologetics and evangelism in NYC.
"...the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18
"3 people we spoke with last week came back again this week; a veteran, a Muslim and the liberal Christan. Also spoke with quite a few more people in the little time we were out there. But again, God is good, because I was speaking to the Muslim for the most part, and the Islam class taught by Daniel that I attended last Thurs. helped me a lot. I was praying while speaking with him, and I am more prepared in that I now have a better idea of what the Muslims believe and what they believe about the Bible and Jesus. So thank you for the intro to Daniel, Dwayna..."
"...the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18
Work Today: Israel
I am working today on the "Israel" location for the web site (http://www.lightingthewayworldwide.org ) for details on our partnerships with table ministries there.
I am going to complete "Jerusalem" and "Tel Aviv" for the web site to be updated to this new location, sending off my compiled links and texts to the web site designer. This will take many hours as I have to look back through links from 2008-2009 to explain to web site visitors what we do in Israel.
I am going to complete "Jerusalem" and "Tel Aviv" for the web site to be updated to this new location, sending off my compiled links and texts to the web site designer. This will take many hours as I have to look back through links from 2008-2009 to explain to web site visitors what we do in Israel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
