Christian Persecution in INDIA AGAIN!!!!

INDIA
Continued Violence against Christians in India - VOM Sources

Andra Pradesh: Pastor Goda Israel was missing after attending a prayer meeting on February 17, 2007. His family and church members reported his disappearance to the police, but they did not take any action. After three days, Pastor Israel's body was found in a Canal. Pastor Israel was a pastor for more than two churches. Pray God comforts his family, church members and also that the truth will be investigated and reported regarding his death.

Karnataka: There has been more violence against Christians in Karnataka. Police recently harassed believers demanding to know the location of the leader of a prayer ministry. The police alleged he was a terrorist from Sri Lanka. Police officers severely beat three Christians when they could not tell the Christian leader's location. Police gave them a strict warning and wanted them to turn the pastor in. Pray God will heal the injured believers as they receive treatment in a hospital. Ask for withdrawal of the accusation that the pastor is a terrorist and for God to open a way for this Christian leader to work peacefully in this area.

Orissa: Christians continue to face persecution in Eastern India. On February 22, 2007, radical Hindu forces demolished a church which was under construction in the Niladeri Bihar slum. Christians living in the slum are being intimidated and threatened by the radicals. Pray for protection and boldness as Christians in India face uncertain times.

Chhattisgarh: It has been brought to our attention that in last week's prayer update on India, only 30-35 Hindu extremists attacked a pastor's conference in Raipur, Chhattisgarh on February 2, 2007. The conference was attended by 80 delegates including four foreigners. The attackers stole two laptops, four mobile phones, three digital cameras and 15000-16000 rupees (about $350 US dollars). Thank you for your continued prayers for Indian Christians.

1 Peter 5:10-11
10 But may[a] the God of all grace, who called us[b] to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 6:19-20
19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Every month The Voice of the Martyrs reports on what is really happening around the world where our brothers and sisters are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Now you can receive a free subscription to The Voice of the Martyrs award winning monthly newsletter. You will be inspired, you will learn to pray and even discover practical ways to get involved.

Sign up today.


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Christian Wisdom PART 1

If you stop believing what your professor told you had to be true and if you start thinking for yourself you may come to some conclusions you hadn't expected. You may find the Bible makes more sense than you thought or were told to think. Allow yourself to be ruined, ruined with regard to what you always thought could be true. Can you believe what you don't understand? You and I believe everyday what we don't understand unless it comes to the issue of salvation.
- - - Dr. Woodrow Kroll

There is simply no historic foundation for the position that the Framers intended to build the 'wall of separation' that was constitutionalized in Everson. The 'wall of separation between church and state' is a metaphor based on bad history, a metaphor which has proved useless as a guide to judging. It should be frankly and explicitly abandoned.
- - - Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, William Rehnquist

In 1796 the US Supreme Court issued this ruling, "By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion, and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed on equal footing." Some 57 years later, after Congress was petitioned to separate Christian principles from government, in 1853 the House Judiciary Committee issued their formal report, including these words: "In this age there is no substitute for Christianity. This was the religion of the founders of the republic, and they expected it to be the religion of their dependents. The great vital, conservative elements in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
- - - Dr. Gerald Beavan


"It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord."
-- President Abraham Lincoln

Trust in yourself and you are doomed to disappointment;trust in money and you may have it taken from you; but trust in God, and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity.
- D.L. Moody

Faith and love are apt to be spasmodic in the best of minds. Men and women live on the brink of mysteries and harmonies into which they never enter and with their hand on the doorlatch they die outside.
-GK Chesterton

*******

I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [Jesus Christ]: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God."

That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

You must make your choice. Either this Man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse .... You can shut Him up for fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to.
-- From Case for Christianity, by C.S. Lewis

"Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3)."
- - - The Laws and Statutes of Harvard College in 1643

"All scholars shall live religious, godly, and blameless lives according to the rules of God's Word, diligently reading the Holy Scriptures, the fountain of light and truth; and constantly attend upon all the duties of religion, both in public and secret."
- - - Two central requirements in Yale College 1745 charter

************

"I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book."
-- President Abraham Lincoln

"For we must consider that we shall be as a City upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout the world."
--John Winthrop, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1630

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
- President George Washington

"The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it."
- Napoleon

"That Book accounts for the supremacy of England."
- Queen Victoria

"If there is anything in my thought or style to commend , the credit is due my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures. If we abide by the principals taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity."
- Daniel Webster (Founding Father)

"The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed."
- Patrick Henry (original member of the Continental Congress)

"The Bible is the anchor of our liberties."
- President U.S. Grant

"It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principals of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom."
- Horace Greeley (Editor)

"That Book is the rock on which our Republic rests."
- President Andrew Jackson

"In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength."
- -Gen. Robert E. Lee

"Bible reading is an education in itself."
- Lord Tennyson (Poet)

"So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society. I have formany years made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year."
- President John Quincy Adams

"The existence of the Bible, as a Book for the people, is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced. Every attempt to belittle it is a crime against humanity."
- -Immanuel Kant (Philosopher)

"The New Testament is the very best Book that ever or ever will be known in the world."
- -Charles Dickens (Author)

"All human discoveries seem to be made only for the purpose of confirming more and more strongly the truths contained in the Sacred Scriptures."
- Sir William Herschel (Astronomer)

"There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history."
- Sir Isaac Newton (Scientist)

"Let mental culture go on advancing, let the natural sciences progress in even greater extent and depth, and the human mind widen itself as much as it desires; beyond the elevation and moral culture of Christianity, as it shines forth in the Gospels, it will not go."
- Goethe (Author)

"I have known ninety-five of the world's great men in my time, and of these eight-seven were followers of the Bible. The Bible is stamped with a Specialty of Origin, and an immeasurable distance separates it from all competitors."
- W.E. Gladstone (Prime Minister)

"Whatever merit there is in anything that I have written is simply due to the fact that when I was a chile my mother daily read me a part of the Bible and daily made me learn a part of it by heart."
- John Ruskin (art critic and social commentator)

"The Bible has been the Magna Charta of the poor and oppressed. The human race is not in a position to dispense with it."
- Thomas Huxley (Author & Scientist)

"The whole hope of human progress is suspended on the ever growing influence of the Bible."
- -W.H. Seward (Secretary of State)

"America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness, which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scriptures. Part of the destiny of Americans lies in their daily perusal of this great book of revelations. That if they would see America free and pure they will make their own spirits free and pure by this baptism of the Holy Spirit."
--President Woodrow Wilson

For Christians, the life and death of Jesus are the ultimate expressions of love, and the supreme demonstrations of God's mercy, faithfulness, and redemption. Since Christ's miraculous Resurrection on Easter, more than 2,000 years ago, Christians have expressed joy and gratitude for this wondrous sacrifice and for God's promise of freedom for the oppressed, healing for the brokenhearted, and salvation.
--President George W. Bush

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."
--Patrick Henry (original member of the Continental Congress)

******

Four important things to KNOW:

1) For ALL (Americans, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhist, Asians, Presbyterians, Europeans, Baptist, Brazilians, Mormons, Methodist, French, etc.) have sinned & fall short of the glory of God.

2) For the wages of above (see #1) are DEATH (Hell, eternal separation from God, & damnation) but the Gift (free & at no charge to you) of God (Creator, Jehovah, & Trinity) is Eternal Life (Heaven) through (in union with) Jesus Christ (God, Lord, 2nd Person of The Trinity, Messiah, Prince of Peace & Savior of the World).

3) For God so greatly loved & dearly prized the world (Americans, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhist, Asians, Presbyterians, Europeans, Baptist, Brazilians, Mormons, Methodist, French, etc.) that He even gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, that whosoever (anyone, anywhere, anytime - while still living) believes (trust in, relies on, clings to, depends completely on) Him shall have eternal (everlasting) life (heaven).

4) Jesus said: "I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, & THE LIFE. No one (male/female - American, Muslim, Jew, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, Asian, Presbyterian, European, Baptist, Brazilian, Mormons, Methodist, French, etc. ) comes (arrives) to the Father (with GOD in Heaven) EXCEPT BY (through) ME (no other name).

This wonderful loving GOD gives you the choice - - -
(Rev. 3:20)

Jesus said, "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction (Hell, damnation, eternal punishment), and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life (Heaven, eternal happiness, forever with God), and only a few find it.
--Matthew 7:13-14

THANK YOU PROFESSOR HOWDY FOR THE QUOTES!

Technorati:christian,wise sayings,christian wisdom

Luke 6:27-38 (Sermon for the week of February 18th)

Luke 6:27-38 (New King James Version)

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Do Not Judge

37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

SERMON:

Reading Jesus' words this week and allowing these words to soak into your mind is more important than anything I will say. However, I will mention some of the thoughts and insights that I came to as a primer. There are life changing, mood altering, powerful, actions that this weeks reading encompasses. I must admit that I do not fully live the words of Jesus. I am striving to change and do my best. We all must look, learn and change. Why are Jesus' statements in this reading so hard? They are principles of God...the way things really work...and they go against everything we know and how we are told to act. It goes several steps further than anything taught to us by morals. Mankind is taught in ways different from God's. Let's look at an example. The Code of Hammurabi (18Th Century BC) specified, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". This principal existed before the Jews received the 10 Commandments. The Code of Hammurabi is simple justice, but it is not God's justice. Jesus ends this "reciprocity". It is not the way of God but the way of man. Reciprocity is a commonsense, logical way to live one's life. This principal does not seek to inflict injury except in cases where injury is deserved. It is FAIR. The bad person suffers and the good person prospers. Yet, Jesus tells us that reciprocity is not the behavior we should live by. God goes beyond justice and shows mercy and we must do the same. Yes, it is unnatural and goes against our "instincts". But to move beyond seeking justice and instead show mercy is an act of God's Grace and is an instruction to the followers of Jesus Christ. It is the way the Kingdom of God operates, which means it is totally opposite from the ways that the majority of mankind thinks and lives!

Lets look at the reading....
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise."

Jesus begins with the Truth..."love your enemies" and then gives concrete examples of what He means. In the first set of examples He says:
1) do good to those who hate you
2) bless those who curse you
3) pray for those who abuse you

These three examples are general in nature: hatred, cursing, and abuse. These can manifest themselves in a myriad of ways.

The next three examples, Jesus gets specific:
1) If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other
2) and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold your shirt
3) give to everyone who begs from you and if anyone takes your good, do not ask for them

These three examples are specific: striking a cheek, taking a coat, taking goods.

Jesus is providing us with an array of examples so that we can think about the thousands of ways these principals of God can be applied. The principal is simple in words, "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES". I do not think that this means that we will always feel great about turning our cheek to get hit again. We are called to action. Faith is an action. We turn our cheek. We turn in faith. We are not happy about it, but we do it out of faith. Why? We are Jesus' disciples and we are not to allow the other person to control us and the situation. We are to seize the principal of God and to use it effectively. This may seem weak, to turn our cheek in the face of hatred and violence...but we see how powerful it is when Jesus is crucified. We are to seize the opportunity by loving...on the cross Jesus did not curse His enemies but prayed for their forgiveness. Love conquers ALL! Look at St. Francis of Assisi and Dr. Martin Luther King...they ended the way of reciprocity and the practiced the way of love shown through the action of carrying on in persecution and oppression by turning the other cheek...it is seizing the opportunity to control the situation through love...and once again love conquers all.

"Do unto others as you would have them do to you"

We know this as the "Golden Rule". This rule is often misstated and is usually found in a negative form. For example, Philo said "What you hate to suffer, do not do to any other". Jesus changes this to a proactive statement. We are to expand and go further with this principal. Not only are we to practice behavior that we would want done to us, but to avoid the behavior we would not like to experience. This is a proactive statement. We act in faith BEFORE we act, not after.

But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.


Jesus gives us three examples:
1) If you love those
2) If you do good to those
3) If you lend to those

Jesus instructed us earlier on how to respond to people who treat us badly or take advantage of us. Jesus also instructs us on how to respond to those who treat us well. Jesus wants us to good do at all times. We receive no special rewards for doing good. Doing good works for the sake of good is reciprocity and is not the way of God. Keep in mind that people who are not Christians do good for the sake of good. As followers of Jesus we are to do good whether we receive good OR bad in return. We do not do good and keep track of who has done us wrong and who has treated us well. Jesus is calling for us to stop keeping score and do good---PERIOD! End reciprocity-- end the ways of thinking like mankind and follow the instructions of Our Lord.

"But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as Your Father is merciful"

Jesus gives us the reason for doing good at all times no matter what the circumstances. We are to do good, to love, and act in mercy because of a fact. The fact is that we are the Children of God. We are His representatives here on Earth. The Lord is our boss and employer. Our job is to follow our job description. Forget the insubordinate co-workers or rude customers. We have a job to do and we do it. We are the heirs to the kingdom of God. We are blessed with the opportunity to enter into the presence and to enjoy the protection, love, and care of the Lord. Our reward is great! We are the King's representatives and must act and do the works as representatives of royalty. If your ears and eyes have been opened to the Truth of Jesus Christ...you have received a gift and a privilege...act like it.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put in your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back"

To judge is to form either a negative or positive opinion. To condemn is to pronounce guilt. We are sometimes quick to pronounce what we think God would pronounce. We are not God. We assume what to be true and pass judgement or condemnation, but God judges... not us. That is His job, not ours. Who becomes a goat or a sheep is the Lord's job and not ours. Our job is to be His sheep and act like sheep. We as Christians can go around and do good, pray intently, and seek Jesus...but then we pass judgement..."Oh, he is a Catholic and full of it...or he is a fundamentalist and thus must be off his rocker". White people can be quick to discount a person of another race as from a lower social class and not on the same "acceptable" social level, and Colored races are quick to call White people racists. These are the circular traps of this world and are not found in the Kingdom of God. We as royal employees of the King are not obeying the King by acting in these manners. It is the poison of mankind. Remember this, "for the measure you give will be the measure you get back". We are granted a good measure for not engaging in this behavior. As followers and representatives of Christ, we must acknowledge the reality of evil and be followers who will stand up for what is right. We must be able to identify what is good and what is evil and the Lord directs us by studying His Word and by faith"ing" in Him. We must make decisions and decisions based in Christ. Living faithfully includes making discerning decisions as representatives of the Kingdom of God.

We are not to allow people to set the agenda...we are not to wait to see what the other person will do before we decide what we will do. Nor are we to be trapped in a vicious cycle someone else starts. We are to seize the opportunity to love. How are we to do that when we act out of our own self will and judge others? To judge is not to love. If you have been harmed...showing mercy is an act of love. Will you do it? What do you lose by not doing it? Are we are not the heirs to the Kingdom of God? If so, what will you lose by showing mercy??

Another example: to judge a person who has or has not done us harm as an unbeliever worthy of hell is to judge and condemn...and a year down the road..the Lord may open their eyes and they will become your brother or sister in Christ.
What will you say then? What would you tell the Lord if He asked you why you acted the way you did?

The fear of God seems to have left Western civilization. Look around. Keep in mind that the fear of God is not one of control or negativity...but one of direction and hope. I have a healthy fear of God that I will somehow fall back into and repeat the unloving acts from my past which directly contributed to my horrible state of being and He will not be there to open my eyes and lead me to change! I fear that! I fear losing His presence in my life that is dear to me.
I fear that I do not have enough faith and I am unworthy. This fear is one big factor that keeps me focused on Him. There is a lot of learning that I still have to do and a lot of change to come.

Progress not perfection, however I seek His guidance as I progress. In a world that judges "Christians" when they themselves are not Christians, it is hard to love sometimes. But love is the Truth. We are sheep when we have reached this level. Loving your enemy will never happen unless you love God. Dr. King reached this level and we need to reach it. We will if we continue to walk the path of faith. We will have to rely on it when the Lord places His Good Works in front of us and we may be targeted by many unloving people and evil that can be staring you straight in the eyes. May we all call upon the Lord to help us be better stewards of His Kingdom and continue to walk at a steady pace on the narrow path. AMEN.

God bless and peace be upon you.


Technorati:Christianity,preaching,bible,bible reading,bible-reading,Luke,sermon,sermons

U.S. History, Christianity, and Politics PART 3

(Spanish Hacienda in Yucatan, Mexico [1542])

This is a new series that will reflect on the rich history of the United States and the part Christianity, politics, corruption, racism, and persecution has played before and after this great nation began. It is important that we remind ourselves of the factual history of the United States and the important role Christianity has in this country today as well as to remember the hardships endured by the people of the past. Some of the actions of "Christians" have not been Christian like at all, and by reviewing history, we hope that mistakes are not repeated again. We will first cover the history leading up to the founding of the United States of America.

New Spain

Spain administered its new holdings as an autocratic, rigidly controlled empire in which everything was to benefit the parent country. Tight control of even mundane matters was carried out by a suffocating bureaucracy run directly from Madrid. Annual treasure fleets carried the riches of the New World to Spain for the furtherance of its military-political goals in Europe.

As population pressures were low in sixteenth-century Spain, only about 200,000 Spaniards came to America during that time. To deal with the consequent labor shortages and as a reward to successful conquistadors, the Spaniards developed a system of large manors or estates (enocmiendas) with Indian slaves ruthlessly managed for the benefit of the conquistadors. The encomienda system was later replaced by the similar but somewhat milder hacienda system. As the Indian population died from overwork and European diseases, Spaniards began importing African slaves to supply their labor needs.

Society in New Spain was rigidly stratified, with the highest level reserved for natives of Spain (peninsulares) and the next for those of Spanish parentage born in the New World (creoles). Those of mixed (Mestizo) or Indian blood occupied lower levels.


CREDIT: "Our Great Nation" Resources for Teachers, 2002.

Technorati:us history,us-history,politics,christian history,christian-history,history,learn from mistakes

Christian Persecution in INDIA

INDIA
Pastor's Conference Attacked by Hindu Militants/Christian Martyred for Christ – VOM Sources

• On February 2, a pastor's conference in Raipur, Chhattisgarh state was attacked by about 100-500 members of the Hindu militant group Dharam Sena. At least 10 Christian leaders were injured and property and money stolen. Pray God heals all those injured and that believers remain faithful.
• On Saturday, February 10, 58-year-old Christian, S. Stanley, was stabbed and killed by rioting youth in front of his house in Pavaloor, Kerala State, India. Youths assembled in front of his house shouting blasphemous abuses against Christians. When Stanley and his wife asked the youths to leave, they became angry and stoned the house. While Stanley was inside the house calling the police, the attackers climbed over the locked gate, entered the house and stabbed him several times on his back, neck and stomach. His wife was also assaulted, VOM contacts said. Pray for the family of this brother, especially his wife who sustained injuries from the beatings. Isaiah 48: 13; Psalm 41:3

Isaiah 48: 13
13 Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth,
And My right hand has stretched out the heavens;
When I call to them,
They stand up together.

Psalm 41:3

3 The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness;
You will sustain him on his sickbed.


Every month The Voice of the Martyrs reports on what is really happening around the world where our brothers and sisters are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Now you can receive a free subscription to The Voice of the Martyrs award winning monthly newsletter. You will be inspired, you will learn to pray and even discover practical ways to get involved.
Sign up today.


Technorati:christian-persecution,christian persecution,persecution

Luke 6:17-26 (Sermon for the week of February 11th)

Luke 6:17-26 (NKJV)

Jesus Heals a Great Multitude

17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

The Beatitudes

20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:

“ Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man’s sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

Jesus Pronounces Woes

24 “ But woe to you who are rich,
For you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full,
For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now,
For you shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you^[a] when all^[b] men speak well of you,
For so did their fathers to the false prophets.


SERMON:

This passage from Luke is known as "The Sermon on the Plain" and is parallel to Matthew 5-7 "The Sermon on the Mount". It is known as the Sermon on the Plain because Luke writes in 6:17 "Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place". Luke's version is much shorter than Matthew's with 3 introductory verses and 30 teaching verses compared to Matthew's 4 introductory verses and 107 teaching verses. Luke's version is distinctly different in that Luke includes a different variation of the Beautitudes called "the Woes" (6:24-26).

It is important to note that Luke parallels Matthew chapter 5 and 7, but does not include any comparable material for Matthew chapter 6. It is unlikely that every word written in both book versions of the sermon are exact, however, like the Word of God (which is the Bible), the Gospel always gets to the theme and allows us to arrive to the Truth. These sermons are a collection of Jesus' teachings from a variety of settings and were taught by Jesus Himself. We know that...

Luke places the Sermon on the Plain later in Jesus' ministry because Luke's concern is emphasizing a theme and not chronological order. Luke emphasizes the conflicts; between this earth and heaven, man and God, between His ways and our ways. In Luke, we often see the scribes and Pharisees taking offense at Jesus for violating religious traditions. They defend a traditional view of who God's people are (Godly Jews vs. ungodly Gentiles) and Jesus counters them with the Truth, which is a different way than they see things. Jesus gives them a glimpse into the Kingdom of Heaven which is opposite from the world they adhere to.

It is extremely hard and virtually impossible to follow the Law perfectly, and we can admire these scribes and Pharisees for trying. However it is glaringly obvious that they ignore their own prophets and ignore the very Messiah they claim to be waiting for. The prophets tried to move the Jews from level one to level two...from following the Law to having compassion. If they would have listened to the very prophets that lived among them and didn't kill them, they would have been better prepared for Jesus' arrival. Jesus moves us to level 3, but the Pharisees and scribes are still stuck in legalism and remain in level 1!

One note, before jumping into this weeks reading, keep in mind that verses 12-16 in Luke chapter 6 details Jesus choosing the 12 Apostles. The 12 Apostles correspond to the 12 Tribes of Israel. The 12 Tribes of Israel correspond to the 10 Lost Tribes and the two Tribes that make up the Southern Kingdom who are now the nation of Israel. When the 12 Apostles were chosen, they were chosen on a mountain. Mountains were places to pray and encounter God. This mountain is where Jesus is coming down from which leads us into this weeks reading.

Jesus "came down with them and stood on a level place".

"Them" are the 12 Apostles and "came down" is Jesus coming down from that mountain. Another interesting perspective is that Jesus "comes down" to the level where the ordinary people are. Jesus meets us on a level place to teach and instruct us. When a person meets you on level ground...they are not overpowering or dominant. We learn more when we do not feel dominated or lowly...even though we are by God's awesome power. Jesus comes down to our level to help.

"with a great crowd of disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon".

Verse 17 is interesting. Jerusalem is the southern province and is located in Judea. Jerusalem is the home of the Temple and the Jewish leaders. It is also the source of the largest opposition to Jesus.

Tyre and Sidon are Gentile cities on the coast of Capernaum. This suggest that Gentiles are present at the sermon.

These four places represent the span of people Jesus ministers to...Jews and Gentiles.

"They has come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured".

Believe it or not! Miracles are happening here! Those who had DISEASES were cured! Those who were possessed or surrounded by evil were CURED! Can you or I do this? We can only with the Power of Jesus. We are called as witnesses to do these very acts and it can and does happen through faith. Jesus did these things and these people were cured! Do you know any Rabbi's, Guru's, or teachers today who can do this?

"And all in the crowd were trying to touch (Jesus), for power came out of Him and healed all of them"

Believe it or not! The Power of God, the Power of the Holy Spirit, resides in the Son of God. He came to teach, and not only did He teach, but He healed everyone present! Now that is the awesome and loving Power of God! What is our call? It is to GO, to MAKE DISCIPLES, to BAPTIZE, and to TEACH. We may be blessed with enough FAITH to heal by touch and exorcise demons...if not...we strive to reach that level of faith. In the meantime, those who are of Christ's Church can heal on a more mundane level: we can supply food, clothing, shelter, medicine, and education to those who suffer. There is an endless amount of suffering, but an endless amount of the Power of God also is at our disposal!

Now for the "Woes". Luke words these differently from the Beatitudes in Matthew. Luke clues in on an important Truth. What GOD does and what WE do are two opposites. The Woes gives us this contrast. We can unlock the Power of God by understanding that Jesus ends the reciprocal principal by understanding the circumstance, doing the opposite of what we think, and asking God for help. The Woes also contain the meaning of conflict within our lives as we walk in faith. Most (and I believe if not all) men and women of Faith have had to endure our personal trials. These are meant for us to learn from and gain faith. Think about it...if we had all of the money in the world...would we seek Jesus? Or would you be out having fun? If you knew horrible pain, would you know to recognize, appreciate, and offer supplications to God when WE KNOW that He granted us relief from that pain? All of my trials in life IN THE END have taught me knowledge or has granted me a spiritual experience of God. It didn't seem like it at the time, but looking back...I understand why I had to go through that experience (in almost every case). Let me also point out that Jesus does not tell us that we should sell all that we have and give it all to the poor so that we can attain the Kingdom of Heaven. He does challenge a rich man to do this very thing...however in the Beatitudes, Jesus tells the poor that the Kingdom of Heaven is ALREADY THEIRS! In the Woes, he tells the rich that they have ALREADY RECEIVED their consolation!

Lets look at a few of the Woes:
"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven"

The poor encompass not only the economically poor but the spiritually poor. They include the disadvantaged, the powerless, the marginalized. When the world is against everything you do, you are poor. When you strive for faith but fail all the time, you are spiritually poor. There is an argument out there that I need to address. Some believe that wealth is the mark of God's approval. Their question is "Doesn't God reward people with prosperity and spiritual blessings?" The answer is: SOMETIMES. Our spirituality is inversely proportional to our wealth. Our need for God usually falls when we are financially secure and grows when we are not. The rich tend to trust their wealth and not God. Perhaps some of the rich have gained their wealth by taking advantage of others. Keep in mind that this is not an absolute that there are wealthy people who live lives of Faith, and poor people who DO NOT live lives of faith. Luke is pointing out the Truth, the Truth is that the Kingdom of God is the reversal of this world. Where you suffer, you shall have relief! What you think is prosperity in this world, is not prosperity in the Kingdom of God! There are far more poor people in this world than "rich". This Beatitudes is a message of Hope to the majority of people in this world.

"Blessed are you who are hungry now for you will be filled"

While Jesus is here, He provides for the hungry. But "hunger" does not mean purely physiological hunger. We can be hungry for faith, understanding, truth, and justice...and can't find it. The Kingdom of Heaven is the opposite, you shall find what you are looking for and no longer hunger!

I think I will end it here with a reprint of the woes...they are Blessings from Our Lord, and if we think about the Kingdom of Heaven being opposite from this world...we can read the Woes and feel the Hope that Our Lord shall provide and does provide!

Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.

Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man’s sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

“ But woe to you who are rich,
For you have received your consolation.

Woe to you who are full,
For you shall hunger.

Woe to you who laugh now,
For you shall mourn and weep.

Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
For so did their fathers to the false prophets.


Woe to our hardships and to our enemies! Rejoice for YOUR Kingdom is at hand!

God Bless you and your families this week.


Technorati:Christianity,preaching,bible,bible reading,bible-reading,Luke,sermon,sermons

Islamic School Principal Admits: "We use textbooks that call Chrisitans "pigs" and Jews "apes"

Wow- A PhD Islamic school principal sees no problem with teaching kids that Jews are apes and Christan's are pigs. In fact, this well educated and mentally challenged "doctor" says: "the books should not be scrapped", saying that allegedly racist sections had been "misinterpreted".
RIGHT! I forgot...calling someone a pig or an ape...IS A COMPLIMENT! Foolish me!

Questions: How do we expect to live peacefully with radical fundamentalist, racist, Muslims? Which religion do you find more extremist beliefs?
Do Christians and Jews advocate racism?
What would a Muslim dominated country do to atheists? Would the atheists ever fight the Muslims for their right for the freedom of expression?


We do use books that call Jews 'apes' admits head of Islamic school

The principal of an Islamic school has admitted that it uses textbooks which describe Jews as "apes" and Christians as "pigs" and has refused to withdraw them.

Dr Sumaya Alyusuf confirmed that the offending books exist after former teacher Colin Cook, 57, alleged that children as young as five are taught from racist materials at the King Fahd Academy in Acton.

In an interview on BBC2's Newsnight, Dr Alyusuf was asked by Jeremy Paxman whether she recognised the books.

She said: "Yes, I do recognise these books, of course. We have these books in our school. These books have good chapters that can be used by the teachers. It depends on the objectives the teacher wants to achieve."

In another exchange, Dr Alyusuf insisted the books should not be scrapped, saying that allegedly racist sections had been "misinterpreted".

The school is owned, funded and run by the government of Saudi Arabia. Mr Paxman asked: "Will you now remove this nonsense from the Saudi Ministry of Education from your school?"

Dr Alyusuf replied: "Just to reiterate what I said earlier, there are chapters from these books that are used and that will serve our objectives. But we don't teach hatred towards Judaism or Christianity - on the contrary." ((BTO question....really? HOW?!))


Technorati:islam, Muslim, koran, Quran, Terrorism, christophobia, islamophobia, islamic violence

The Australians have it right

Every day I log on to my email and find a half a dozen forwards from my Grandpa ranging from jokes to funny pictures to religion to politics. Today I received this one about Australian government reducing the threat of terror attacks by expelling Muslims who wanted to live under Islamic Sharia law from the country. The sense of pride coming from this nation is something to look up to...Americans had it immediately following the 9-11 attacks, but it has dwindled. The way I see it, more people should be standing up for what they believe. That's what we are about here on this site. That's what the Australian's are doing to keep their values, which were founded on Christian faith. The article is pasted below:




Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he said on national television. "I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia: one the Australian law and another the Islamic law, that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option", Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off. Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off", he said.
Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians."

"However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia." "However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand." "This idea of Australia being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty an d our national identity. As Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle." "This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom." "We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, Learn the language!"

"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture."

"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us." "If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your culture, but do not force it on others. This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'." "If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."

MAYBE IF WE CIRCULATE THIS AMONGST OURSELVES, AMERICAN CITIZENS WILL FIND THE BACKBONE TO START SPEAKING AND VOTING THE SAME TRUTHS!

Technorati:islam, Muslim, koran, Quran, Terrorism, christophobia, islamophobia, islamic violenceLabels: Crusaders, Islam, Muslim

Luke 5:1-11 (Sermon for the week of February 4th)

Luke 5:1-11 (NKJV)

1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

SERMON:

Luke's Gospel is unique in several ways from the other Gospels. Luke's account of the calling of the four fisherman is the longest from the other accounts found in the Gospel of Mark, Matthew, and John. Luke opens Jesus' ministry with Jesus' sermon at the Nazareth synagogue. Luke then follows Jesus' ministry by reporting on certain events (that highlight a theme) such as the driving out an "unclean spirit" (4:31-37), the healing of Simon's mother-in-law (4:38-41), and the sermon from the synagogue in Judea (4:42-44). These events do not follow the chronological order of the other three Gospels and it is for a reason. Luke emphasizes points and highlights a theme running throughout Jesus' ministry that the other Gospels do not explain. Luke is highlighting the theme of salvation for Gentiles, and events in Jesus' ministry that were not emphasized enough in the other three Gospels. We can see the importance of the order that Luke places events of Jesus' ministry by beginning with the sermon in the synagogue which then leads up to the crowds hearing of Jesus' works and sermons and flocking to Jesus to "hear the Word of God" in this weeks reading. Luke gives us another insight into that day when the crowds flocked to hear Jesus and the four Apostles were chosen: Peter (Simon), John, James, and Andrew.

As a side note, it is interesting that Andrew is not mentioned once in this Gospel. Also notice that Peter is the highlight here and not James or John. Remember that Luke had the fortunate experience to meet Peter when Luke was with Paul. Luke never grew to know and understand James and John like he did Peter. It is one reason why Peter is highlighted in this Gospel account when the four apostles were chosen. Now we will closely look at the reading...

"1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat."


Lake Gennesaret is a region at the north end of the Sea of Galilee. It is not an actual lake but appears from the shore to be a large cove. Luke calls it a lake but it is still the Sea of Galilee. Notice that the crowds are pressing Jesus to hear the Word of God. This is because of the miracles, works, and sermons that Jesus has done that has spread the word of Him to the locals. Luke uses the phrase "the word of God" and Jesus uses "the kingdom of God". This is a phrase Luke uses in Acts and Luke uses it to refer to the message of the church. The path to the kingdom of God in a sense can be found by hearing the word of God!

It is interesting that there were two boats there...both needed to be involved in the gathering of the fish. Could the boats symbolize the Jews and the Gentiles who will soon be blessed with salvation and eternal life? I think so. Remember that everything surrounding Jesus and His words have a layered meaning. It is a fact that both the Jews and the Gentiles will convert to Christianity when the Good News reaches them that the Messiah has come, conquered the grave, and has provided salvation to those who seek Him by His sacrifice on the cross.

When we read that the fisherman had been out all night and had fished unsuccessfully...we need to understand their physical and mental condition and then relate it to our own experience. Fishing can be an exhausting and frustrating task. Imagine working hard all night in a physically exhausting job only to produce nothing! These fisherman wanted to go home, eat, and get some sleep. They are exhausted, probably irritable, and in no mindset to help someone let alone listen to anyone. To top it off, they just cleaned their nets and boats and are practically minutes away from leaving! Then a "man" comes and wants to get into one of their boats and asks to be pushed out into the water! What does Peter do? He does what Jesus asks without question. We know that Jesus is not just any man or prophet...there was something glorious about Jesus and Peter recognizes it!

Jesus then sits down in the boat. Among the Jews, when you sit you sit to teach. It is comforting to see Jesus coming out of the synagogue and goes directly to the common people. He goes to the Sea of Galilee to teach the common people from all walks of life. The Sea of Galilee becomes the synagogue...a synagogue available to anyone who is interested in seeing this special "prophet" that people are murmuring about.

Keep this thought in the back of your mind as we read on...these fisherman were exhausted but spring to life when the Son of God who is Jesus asked them to do something. They forget how tired and weary they were and come to life to fulfill the works Jesus wanted them to do. Any energy that is needed to complete a work of God will be granted to you no matter how exhausted or stressed out you become. At least most of us aren't called to do His Works after an exhaustive and unproductive night of trawling around the sea in a little boat with a heavy net to drag around!!

"4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. "

This part of the reading is also interesting. Jesus' command has a layered meaning. Notice that Jesus commanded Peter to cast his net into the "deep" water. Peter is a professional fisherman. He knows how to catch fish, where to catch fish, and when to catch fish. What does an exhausted, weary, and disappointed Peter do? He does as he is commanded and without question. What is the meaning behind casting the net into the deep water? For a fisherman, hugging the shoreline and fishing in shallow water is secure and safe. The shallow water is a safety zone. It is familiar, known, and does not offer the prospect of injury because the shore is near...if something happens to the boat, they could always swim to shore. The deep water is away from the comfort zone, dark, and more dangerous. This is where Jesus commands Peter to go...into the unknown, away from the safety zone to fish.

So it is with us. The Lord places us away from our comfort zone to cast our "net" in order to save those who are really lost...those who are living in the deep water. It is less secure and an unknown place we venture to but as we see in this weeks reading, our catch will surpass all expectations. You catch the "fish" and the Lord will clean them!

The rewards are abundant and almost overwhelming with the Lord. However, this does not mean that fulfilling His will in order to find a pot of gold is the reward you shall receive or should expect to receive. Worldly possessions stay with this world and rot with this world. What we think is valuable is vastly different from what God thinks is valuable. If we are weary, tired, beaten down, close to defeat, or attacked in a spiritual or physical way, know that just like Peter if we act in faith by doing what we are told and fulfilling the Will of the Lord, the catch will be miraculous. Peter just wanted to go home after a demoralizing night of fruitless fishing, but he awakened to the call of Jesus, and in turn had the best day of fishing he would ever have in his life!

As we go and do the Lord's fishing, we may have to signal to our partners to help us haul in the catch. The abundance of the Lord's blessing can seem to be almost overwhelming....it could sink two boats...ALMOST sink two boats! When we focus our faith on small works we get small results. When we focus our faith on large works we get large results...actually extra-extra large results! The abundance of the fish in this weeks reading is the same abundance the Lord provided in the Old Testament as the manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16), the widow's meal and oil (1 Kings 17:8-16), and Elisha's feeding a hundred men with 20 loaves of bread (2 Kings 4:42-44). The Lord provided this abundance in the Old Testament and Jesus will provide many miracles of abundance in the New Testament. The Lord still works these miracles today...the miracles of abundance fulfill the needs that we have as humans and demonstrate the awesome power of God. They are there waiting for us to experience them personally right now!!

"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him."

Peter serves as a role model for us...his faith was unquestioning, quick, and subordinate. However, even a man of faith has a little doubt at times. Peter followed Jesus' instructions but he really didn't know if Jesus was the real deal until he saw the physical evidence before his eyes of the abundant catch of fish. One thought that came to my mind while writing this...it would be fitting if all the atheists were there on that day at the Sea of Galilee. They would have to believe or go home if they were granted the chance to witness the physical proof in this account in Luke, and I know that after the atheists are presented with all types of physical proof from Our Lord...they would still not believe!!

Peter is a man of faith...and a man of faith is humble about his unholiness in the presence of God. Just like Moses and Isaiah, Peter is faced with the fact about how unworthy he is in front of the Lord! So are we...and we should be reminded of that fact again.

Do not be afraid. For the Good News of Salvation has come! Jesus tells us not to be afraid for the Father wants us to be with Him in the Kingdom. We have the awesome power of the Lord to watch our backs. Just as we read Peter humbly falling to his knees before the Lord...we will see Peter preach a sermon where 3,000 people will be baptized in one day. A large catch of fish this day and a large catch of men one day! This experience is available for us to carry on right now.

The world is a unforgiving and uncomfortable place for Christians...in fact this world on the whole despises Christians. It was not a comfortable world for Peter 2000 years ago; Peter experienced opposition, arrest, and crucifixion. As Jesus says in Luke 12:17 "Do not be afraid for you are of more value than many sparrows".

Finally, the disciples left everything and followed Jesus. We can leave everything and do His Works too...but that does not always mean that this "sacrifice" will bring us more faith! What are our true intentions and how well do we really know Jesus? Becoming a disciple is to discover the Truth that the meaning of our life is not based in worldly goals and possessions, but instead the basis of life is living in God alone. If we reach that point, we have indeed left everything in this world to fulfill His Will.

God Bless you and your families this week!!


Technorati:Christianity,preaching,bible,bible reading,bible-reading,Luke,sermon,sermons

U.S. History, Christianity, and Politics PART 2

Vasco de Balboa

This is a new series that will reflect on the rich history of the United States and the part Christianity, politics, corruption, racism, and persecution has played before and after this great nation began. It is important that we remind ourselves of the factual history of the United States and the important role Christianity has in this country today as well as to remember the hardships endured by the people of the past. Some of the actions of "Christians" have not been Christian like at all, and by reviewing history, we hope that mistakes are not repeated again. We will first cover the history leading up to the founding of the United States of America.

The Spanish Conquistadors

To conquer the Americas, the Spanish monarchs used their powerful army, led by independent Spanish adventurers known as conquistadors. At first the conquistadors confined their attentions to the Caribbean islands, where the European diseases they unwittingly carried with them devastated the local Indian populations, who had no immunitites against such diseases.

After about 1510 the conquistadors turned their attention to the America mainland. In 1513 Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the isthmus of Panama and became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. The same year, Juan Ponce de Leon explored Florida in search of gold and the fabled fountain of youth. He found neither but claimed Florida for Spain. In 1519 Hernando Cortes led his dramatic expedition against the Aztecs of Mexico. Aided by the fact that the Indians at first mistook him for a god, and armed with firearms, armor,horses, and (unknown to him) smallpox germs all previously unknown in America, Cortes destroyed the Aztec empire and won enormous riches. By the 1550's other such fortune seekers had conquered much of South America.

In North America, the Spaniards sought in vain for riches. In 1528, Panfillo de Navarez led a disastrous expedition through the Gulf Coast region from which only four of the original 400 men returned. One of them, Cabeza de Vaca, brought with him a story of seven great cities full of gold, (The "Seven Cities of Cibola") somewhere to the north. In response to this, two Spanish expeditions explored the interior of North America. Hernando de Soto led a 600-man expedition (1539-1541) through what is now the southeastern United States, penetrating as far west as Oklahoma and discovering the Mississippi River, on whose banks de Soto was buried. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led an expedition (1540-1542) from Mexico, north across the Rio Grande and through New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Some of Coronado's men were the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon. While neither expedition discovered rich Indian civilizations to plunder, both increased Europe's knowledge of the interior of North America and asserted Spain's territorial claims to the continent.


CREDIT: "Our Great Nation" Resources for Teachers, 2002.

Technorati:us history,us-history,politics,christian history,christian-history,history,learn from mistakes

Chrisitan Persecution in COLOMBIA

COLOMBIA
Teachers Forced to Deny Christ - VOM Sources
A VOM contact reports that three teachers working with a tribal group are being forced to deny Christ in order to be permitted to teach for the next year. All three teachers intend to stand firm. An effort is being made in some of the tribal areas to eliminate Christianity. Pray God gives these believers courage to stand against this persecution. Ask God to protect them and use their experiences to bring others to Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:13
13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.


Every month The Voice of the Martyrs reports on what is really happening around the world where our brothers and sisters are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Now you can receive a free subscription to The Voice of the Martyrs award winning monthly newsletter. You will be inspired, you will learn to pray and even discover practical ways to get involved.
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Technorati:christian-persecution,christian persecution,persecution

Descendent of Mohammad Converts

YES! There is hope....it is nice to see the Good News of the Gospel reaching into these oppressed lands. May the Muslim Crusaders fumble and fail at any attempts to harm any man, woman or child who has found the Truth: and that Truth is Jesus the Christ....


FAITH UNDER FIRE
Descendant of Muhammad converts to Christianity

But faces threat to life if forced to return to Turkey A Turk who claims to be a descendant of Islam's prophet Muhammad has converted to Christianity while living in Germany. But Sedar Dedeoglu, of Luedenscheid, now faces a threat to his life if he's forced to return to Turkey, and is seeking help from German authorities. Dedeoglu, who is involved in Christian outreach programs among Muslims, has been receiving death threats from Muslims unwilling to accept his conversion. His relatives also regard the apostasy as shameful.

If Dedeoglu is returned to his native country, he very likely would be killed, his lawyer says. Despite this threat, the German Federal Migration Office and several courts of justice have rejected asylum applications by the Dedeoglu family. They claim Christians are free to practice their religion in Turkey. To avoid deportation, Dedeoglu, his wife Husniye and their daughter Isil now hope at least to be tolerated in Germany as a "case of hardship." According to their attorney, Oswald Seitter, it is impossible to overlook the extraordinary danger the Dedeoglu family is facing. For Muslims, he said, it is undeniable Dedeoglu descends from Muhammad's daughter Fatima and her husband Ali. In Dedeoglu's hometown, Elazig, in eastern Turkey they used to be revered as a holy family.

According to Seitter, the apostasy of a family member is regarded as an insult of the prophet himself. Dedeoglu's case has become so widely known in Turkey that his life is in real and imminent danger, the lawyer said. "We should rejoice that a such a person has become a Christian, and we should avoid any actions which could put his life in additional danger," Seitter told an evangelical news agency. Seitter is an evangelical Christian and used to be the speaker of the synod of the Protestant Church in Wuerttemberg. Dedeoglu came to Germany in 1997 and asked for asylum because of political persecution of the Kurdish minority in Turkey. Four years later, he and his family converted to the Christian faith. They are members of an Evangelical Brethren church

Technorati:islam, Muslim, koran, Quran, Terrorism, christophobia, islamophobia, islamic violence

Christian Persecution in ERITREA

Sixty-eight Christians Arrested -
Compass Direct News/VOM Sources

Police and military authorities in Eritrea jailed 68 Christians in three official round-up operations conducted the first week of January.

• January 4 - Military commanders at Sawa Military Center held "random check-up on the activities of Christian extremists" on teenage student conscripts. They found 250 Bibles, which they burned in front of the whole military camp. They arrested 35 students and ordered they be subjected to severe military punishment, including torture.
• January 5 - Police took 8 government workers into custody. The Christians are being interrogated and pressured by police to identify leaders and name anyone supporting them.
• January 5 - Thirty-five Christians in Assab were arrested by police. They were pressured to recant their faith. Pray for the release of all Christians in Eritrea who are imprisoned for their faith. Pray those being tortured will be strengthened and delivered by the Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:9-11

9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does^[a] deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our^[b] behalf for the gift granted to us through many.


Every month The Voice of the Martyrs reports on what is really happening around the world where our brothers and sisters are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Now you can receive a free subscription to The Voice of the Martyrs award winning monthly newsletter. You will be inspired, you will learn to pray and even discover practical ways to get involved.
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Technorati:christian-persecution,christian persecution,persecution

Exibit of Human Origins?

What can I say, I'm a scientist. I studied hard in my AP Biology class in high school, entered college as a Biology major, and still have years of Biology classes ahead of me before I reach my ultimate goal. But evolution has always been one of those topics that made me wonder. I didn't think of it much back then, but now I've realized that if you have so many questions about a topic and not one answer makes you fully understand that theroy, you might want to start doubting the theroy. I found this article today on Yahoo! News where it makes a statement in a photo caption claiming "this is the most comprehensive evidence of human evolution ever assembled". My problems with this article (other than it goes against what has been proven to me in the Bible) are these: it makes bold statements without the scientific proof to back it up, it never gives the HOW (don't scientists always look for the how?), the quotes in the article are vague and do not strengthen the story.

Now that I break it down, this article not only covers bad science, but it's bad journalism. You can read the article and draw your own conclusions, but I find it's lack of journalistic digging bothersome. Then again, there's not much to dig out of a topic like this because the theroy has so many holes the journalist cannot possibly be expected to elaborate more than this...


New exhibit details human origins

By DEEPTI HAJELA, Associated Press Writer Tue Feb 6, 9:16 PM ET

NEW YORK - In the beginning were the bones. Fossils dating back hundreds of thousands- even millions- of years used by anthropologists to trace how the human species evolved.
Recent times brought new technologies and new ways of looking, using genomics and DNA research to show our connections to other species through common ancestors.
A new exhibition hall at the American Museum of Natural History is breaking ground by combining the two, using the fossil record and genomics to tell the story of human development and evolution. The Anne and Bernard Spitzer Hall of Human Origins opens to the public on Saturday.
"I think this is the first major exhibition in the world where the fossil evidence and the genomic science are brought together to tell a mutually reinforcing story," museum President Ellen Futter said at a media preview on Tuesday. "Bringing the two stories together is extraordinarily powerful."
The hall, covering more than 9,000 square feet, succeeds the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution and was a couple of years in the planning and installation. It features the casts of more than 200 fossils and artifacts as well as DNA evidence, a host of technology and interactive features and of course the dioramas for which the museum is well known.
"I think what we've done here is we brought them together quite nicely," said Rob DeSalle, co-curator of the hall. "The stories can each tell us certain things. ... When they overlap, it's kind of amazing they agree quite well."
Visitors to the hall are met at the entrance by three skeletons — a chimpanzee, a Neanderthal and a modern human — in front of an animated display that shows cells and other genetic material. One side of the first gallery shows the tools that paleontologists use and casts of some famous finds, such as the Neanderthal skull cap found in Germany in 1856.
The other side of the room introduces genomics concepts and shows how close our DNA is to that of other primates such as bonobos and chimpanzees. Among the display items is a vial containing DNA removed from a 40,000-year-old Neanderthal fossil, the first public display of the DNA extracted by a German lab.
The center section of the hall contains dioramas, including one showing Neanderthals preparing hides and another showing how artistic and creative humans have been.
The last section covers ground such as what separates humans from other species and what the future might hold.
The museum has set aside a small theater space in the hall for a series of programs on the latest research and discoveries.
It has planned a series of public programs for the opening, including lectures and workshops.

TECHNORATI:
intelligent design,creationism,darwinism,intelligent-design,evolution

Luke 4:21-30 (Sermon for the week of January 28th)

Luke 4:21-30

21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
23 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum,^[a] do also here in Your country.’” 24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath,^[b]in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

SERMON:

Luke starts the story of Jesus' ministry with the events of Jesus' sermon in the synagogue in order to emphasize the paradigm and irony of His ministry and to emphasize the fact that salvation is available to everyone...not just Jews. Luke does not follow a chronological order, and chooses to arrange the events of Jesus' life in an order that supports one of many themes in Jesus' ministry. First, there are the ironies that take place. For example, Jesus will resurrect in order to conquer death and to prove Himself as the Messiah, and in this weeks reading Jesus escapes death on a smaller scale by miraculously "passing through" the midst of an enraged crowd bent on tossing Him off a cliff. Luke also emphasizes the importance of salvation to Gentiles. On that note let's look at the reading.

"21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth."

Notice that once again, Jesus says: "TODAY". Today is not yesterday and today is not 2,000 years later. Today is NOW. NOW the scripture is fulfilled! Jesus is the One who fulfills the Scripture! It would seem ludicrous that you or I would stand before a crowd and exclaim that we have come to fulfill scripture! What would the crowd think if we did this? They would probably think that we had a screw loose! Jesus states this boldly and with authority and how does the congregation react? They marvel at His words! The scripture has and was fulfilled, and the fulfillment of this "scripture" was completed by Jesus. The waiting is over. The time has come. The Jews have waited and still wait for the Messiah. They have seen God work miracles throughout their history from the parting of the Red Sea to the destruction of the false prophets of Baal. We would expect the Jews to be ready and be able to recognize and accept the Messiah...but we are wrong, they are not ready TODAY. The Jews at the time of Jesus' birth have not seen or heard from any prophet in 400 years...they have grown weary of waiting like a guard who falls asleep at their post. Jesus says, "Today the scripture has been fulfilled" but today the Jews are not ready! The Jews start off by speaking well of Jesus, but soon turn against Him because Jesus does not do or fulfill what they want...they want freedom from THEIR captivity...forget everyone else...they are the chosen ones, not the Gentiles. The reading this week also asks us for a decision...no fence sitting. Did Jesus fulfill the scriptures or not? You have to make a choice, and hopefully this choice is based on actual investigation on your part.

"And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”"

Mankind looks for power and wealth as attributes of royalty and high social status. The Jews expect their king to be born into terms that they have determined as worthy. They expect a king to be born into wealth and power as kings ususally are born into. Jesus as Creator knows this and purposefully "predestines" or creates the circumstances so that He is to be born into poverty and humility. Jesus does not come to fulfill the expectations of men, but to grant all people of this world with Salvation if they choose to accept Him. This verse is sarcastic. Joseph was a humble man from an insignificant town. Joseph was not born into wealth, but Joseph is a descendant of King David! We know that Jesus is the Son of God and not the son of Joseph...Jesus comes to fulfill the will of the Heavenly Father, GOD, not the will of men!

"23 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum,^[a] do also here in Your country.’”"

Luke has not reported yet on what Jesus has done in Capernaum, and Mark has Jesus teaching in Capernaum at the beginning of His ministry. It is obvious that Jesus is living in Capernaum at the time of this event in Nazareth. Jesus' hometown crowd expects Him to do wonderful things in His hometown of Nazareth. Their attitude stems from the belief that Jesus healed the undeserving people of Capernaum...He should heal the deserving people of Nazareth. It is a call for loyalty to the people of Nazareth, the people of Jesus' hometown.

"24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country."

A prophet is not going to please the people of his hometown, for a prophet is not bound by loyalty. A prophet has to move away from his hometown in order to be heard. The Jews have a long history of rejecting prophets because true prophets speak the truth that ears do not want to hear. Prophets tell of judgement and a call for change among the people and people seldom want to make these changes. What is acceptable to the Lord is oftentimes unacceptable to men. The rejection of Jesus in Nazareth is a foreshadowing of the rejection of Jesus in Jerusalem. Jewish rejection does not discredit who Jesus was in any way. One question: They were not ready for the Messiah then, and are they ready for the Messiah today? Are Christians ready for the Messiah today?

"25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath,^[b]in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

This story is from 1 Kings 17 and would be familiar to this crowd. In the midst of a destructive drought, God sent Elijah to Zarephath to ask a poor widow for some water. The widow objected, but Elijah told her that God would replenish any food or water Elijah used. The widow was rewarded exactly as Elijah said she would, but later her son died. Elijah prayed that the son's life would be restored. There is one theme in this story from 1 Kings that would strike this crowd in an almost insulting way...the widow was a Gentile!

The same theme applies for Jesus' reference to Naaman the Syrian. Naaman was a Gentile. The point of these two themes is that the Jewish people cannot consider their relationship with God as an exclusive relationship. Jesus reinforces this point by beginning His ministry in Capernaum...a place heavily populated by Gentiles. The Nazareth crowd soon rejects Jesus because Jesus shoots down their expectations on what a Messiah, {if Jesus is the Messiah and Jews question this}, will do for them. Jesus shoots these expectations down with works and speeches like in this weeks reading because the Jews cannot expect exclusive "rights" to the Messiah just because they are Jewish.

"28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way."

The scripture the Jews think of pertaining to Jesus' speech is Isaiah 61:1...the Messiah will bring good news to the oppressed Jews. Isaiah 61:2 speaks of "the day of vengeance of our God" which Jesus purposefully omits from the reading. The Jews expect the Messiah to deliver them from oppression and to punish their oppressors. Instead, Jesus reminds them of a time when God cursed the Jews and instead God showed mercy to a Gentile, Naaman the Syrian. Jesus' message is not want the Jews want to hear and become angry. Isn't this true today? If a person where to speak the Truth, would we like it? Or would we get angry? These people got so angry that they wanted to kill Jesus by throwing Him off a cliff! Why? Because they expect the Messiah to fulfill THEIR expectations and THEIR will...thinking like selfish, sinful, prideful humans. Leviticus 24:14 required the stoning of a FALSE prophet...usually they would take a person and throw them off a cliff into a lower place and then people would stand above them and stone them to death. This is what they wanted to do to Jesus.

Question: What was Jesus' charge? Speaking the Truth! Speaking words that they didn't want to hear because the Jews believed that they were Chosen and were deserving of redemption...they alone. Jesus came to grant salvation, He came to deliver the oppressed, and HE DOES! He grants this to the whole world and not a select group. What the Scriptures speak of are God's Words...not open to our selfish interpretation and the expectations of men. Our job is to find the Truth in God's words...not place our will on God. The Jews disobeyed God's orders many, many, times and were fully aware of their actions and the consequences. This time the rest of the world has a chance at salvation. Notice that Jesus slips through the crowd and is not thrown off the cliff. How did He do that? A miracle! Could you escape a riot by "slipping through the crowd" when that crowd is rioting because of you? How about a crowd that is bent on stoning you or throwing you off a cliff? How could you "slip" through them unseen and unnoticed? I know I couldn't except by the Power of the Lord! The wait is over and Salvation is here for us TODAY! Our salvation was granted when the Messiah was here in a tent of flesh with the name Jesus, 2000 some years ago and that is something we can feel rojoice in NOW.

God Bless you and your families this week!

Technorati:Christianity,preaching,bible,bible reading,bible-reading,Luke,sermon,sermons

U.S. History, Christianity, and Politics Part 1

This is a new series that will reflect on the rich history of the United States and the part Christianity, politics, corruption, racism, and persecution has played before and after this great nation began. It is important that we remind ourselves of the factual history of the United States and the important role Christianity has in this country today as well as to remember the hardships endured by the people of the past. Some of the actions of "Christians" have not been Christian like at all, and by reviewing history, we hope that mistakes are not repeated again. We will first cover the history leading up to the founding of the United States of America.

1500-1763 The Colonial Period

The Age of Exploration

Excited by the gold Columbus has brought back from America, Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian member of a Portuguese expedition to South America whose widely reprinted report suggested a new world had been found. Ferdinand and Isabella, joint monarchs of Spain, sought formal confirmation of their ownership of these new lands. They feared the interference of Portugal, which was at that time a powerful seafaring nation and had been active in oversees exploration. At Spain's urging the pope drew a "Line of Demarcation" 100 leagues west of the Cape Verde Island dividing the heathen world into two equal parts--the east of the line for Portugal and the west of it for Spain.

Because the line tended to be unduly favorable to Spain, and because Portugal has the stronger navy, the two countries worked out the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), by which the line was moved farther west. As a result, Brazil eventually became a Portuguese colony, and Spain maintained claims to the rest of the Americas. As other European nations joined the hunt for colonies, they tended to ignore the Treaty of Tordesillas.

CREDIT: "Our Great Nation" Resources for Teachers, 2002.

Technorati:us history,us-history,politics,christian history,christian-history,history,learn from mistakes