We welcome your stories of the "heros" in our community. They can be soldiers in God's Army or in our war on terror. We also welcome testimonials and inspirational stories of how you chose the "road less traveled" that led to a life of "joy and peace that surpasses all understanding".
Praying Through the Job Times
By Derek Dill
Lord,
I am having tough times in my life right now. I have come to realize that there are good seasons and bad seasons in the Christian life, and I happen to be traveling through a bad season. I am concerned about my situation, but not overly so. I know that You are with me and will see me through this.
Father, before I became your child and the troubles would come, I felt a weight that bore on my shoulders like an elephant. Now, that weight is gone. You lifted it off of me by your saving grace and I thank You for it. Now when the hard times hit, it's just something in the back of my mind that I know You will see me through. It doesn't consume me as it once would have, and I also thank You for that.
I trust in You and You alone to work things out for my good. I know that You, Lord, want no harm to come to me. You will protect me as I stumble through this life. I thank You and praise Your name for caring for someone so insignificant to this world, as I.
Father, I pray that You will help me to learn to cooperate with You in the work You are doing in my life. Teach me to not mess things up, but instead enhance Your work. I know You have great plans for me. Thank You for all You have done and will do in my life. In Jesus name. Amen.
About the Author: This article is the property and original work of Derek Dill My body of work.
@ September 25, 2009; Source: Narrow is the Path
Live Your Divine Calling
By Dwight Turner
I am always amazed when I hear people talking about a belief in the random nature of the universe; how everything sort evolved by accident or through some sort of cosmic game of pin the tail on the comet. From my perspective, this is an exercise in absurdity. Every aspect of the universe, not to mention our own bodies, are functioning in a highly intricate and perfectly balanced manner. To think this all happened by accident or chance is beyond the realm of reason.
Considering all this, I just don't have enough faith to be an atheist.
The same principle applies to our lives. As we looked at earlier, God not only created the universe with a finely tuned balance and rhythm, he also planned our lives around a finely tuned purpose. God has a plan and, as an integral and intricate part of the plan, he created a unique plan for each of us.
One of the greatest gifts of God to each of us is the placing of this divine plan for our lives deep within us. God has his generalized plan for humanity and a personal plan or mission for each of us. You, me, the butcher, baker, and even the candlestick maker have a divine purpose scripted on our hearts by the Creator and it is a plan just for us. More incredible is the fact that God has equipped us to carry that plan out and in so doing, help establish his kingdom right here on earth and bring great glory to his being. What a wonder! What a blessing! What a responsibility!
It doesn't matter who you are, where you have been, and what you have done. That divine purpose still exists inside you and with a little effort and a lot of faith, you can discover it. Start with prayer, asking God through the Holy Spirit to reveal his divine plan for your life. Be persistent in your asking; be vigilant in waiting for an answer; and be confident that the answer will come.
Also, keep in mind that it is never too late to get started on the dreams God has for you. God created you to accomplish extraordinary things and no matter how old you are, how sinful you have been, or whatever afflictions you may suffer from, God can and will use you because that is one of the primary purposes you were created in the first place. Listen as Jim Graff speaks clearly to this issue:
"God uses ordinary people with all their flaws and problems to accomplish extraordinary dreams. You and I don't have to wait until we have it all together, achieve a certain degree of fame, earn a specified amount of money, get a better job, or meet the right person. Instead, we can start today to embrace who we are and how God made us, knowing that he will use us. From this knowledge, wellsprings of confidence water our hearts. That confidence allows us to see our dreams and visions as God's road maps to significant lives."
A significant life that is what God created you for. Make a consecrated commitment right now to lead a life of excellence in cooperation and divine partnership with the Holy Spirit. The life of excellence is what Jesus demonstrated for us and it is that same kind of life to which each of us is called. Sure, we may foul up things from time to time, but God is right there with us offering a hand to pick us up, dust us off, and send us on our divinely appointed way.
As said earlier, it matters not where you have been. In fact, your past failures and problems may be part of your qualification for the task God has for you to perform. I worked for many years in the field of addiction prevention and treatment. The most effective professionals ministering to those suffering from addiction were those people who were former addicts themselves. It is this foundational philosophy upon which Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are built.
If you think your past sin(s) prevents you from carrying out your purpose for God, you have been lied to by the Master of Deceit himself. Satan would like nothing more than for you to continue walking around half-alive, depressed, despondent, and spiritually paralyzed. That's why that little voice tells you time and time again that there is no way God will ever use you.
Listen my friend God saved you and God will use you. He is not a God of wasted effort. God never does anything without a reason and a purpose. If you are saved, you are to be used. You are destined to be God's instrument for something special. If you doubt what I am saying, go to Scripture and conduct a detailed study of Paul's life.
Paul, formerly known as Saul, was there when Stephen was stoned to death. He even held the coats for the men who pelted the first Christian martyr. Saul was the most persistent and ardent persecutor of the early church. By the world's way of reasoning, you would never expect that God would use Saul to spread the faith across the Mediterranean World. But that's exactly what God did. God, thankfully, doesn't necessarily think as the world thinks.
If God can use Paul, he can surely use you.
In China I knew a wonderful believer named Mr. Zhou (not his real name.) Now in his 60's, Mr. Zhou was a successful businessman and used much of his income to support the efforts of the house churches in his Province and also to support young pastors in training. He also spent most of his free time training Chinese missionaries to live and work in Muslim countries. Mr. Zhou had many business interests in the Middle East and often used his stores for employing young Chinese missionaries.
What makes Mr. Zhou's story so fascinating is how it is similar to that of Paul. Back in the Cultural Revolution Mr. Zhou was a young man and a leader in the Red Guards. His specialty, as he put it, was ferreting out Christians and torturing them. He often beat them horribly, put dunce caps on their heads and signs on their backs, then marched them through the city while a gathering mob hurled insults, stones, and bottles at them.
Later, when in his late 30's, Mr. Zhou found Christ through the efforts of a pastor he had once tortured. Now Mr. Zhou does God's work out of a sense of love and service. God used Paul and God used Mr. Zhou.
If God can use Mr. Zhou, He can use you.
About the Author: Dwight Turner is founder of LifeBrook Communications, a ministry which produces and publishes web content on a variety of faith-based themes. LifeBrook may be viewed at: http://lifebrook.wordpress.com All material: (c) L.D. Turner/All Rights Reserved
@ August 28, 2009; Source: Faith Writers
She Will Always Be The One
By Saralee Perel
One day last week I woke up in a lousy mood. Why? We were out of coffee. I was late paying a MasterCard bill. My favorite clock had just stopped working.
I didn't even think of saying, "Good morning," to my husband Bob. After all, we've been waking up together for 31 years. As usual, we both got out of bed and headed right to our desks.
I checked e-mail and replied to people who were complaining about rainy days as if we were all living through a catastrophic disaster.
One more e-mail remained. It was from a fellow named John. And it turned out to be a breath-stopping shock.
The first time John wrote to me was about a year ago. He was responding to a column I had written about relationship troubles that Bob and I had overcome:
"Hello Saralee, My wife Donna pointed out an article by you she found moving. It brought her to tears. I'm a grown man who can be very emotional. I was pleasantly surprised that there was a happy ending and everything was fine. Few couples these days enjoy the closeness that you have with your spouse. I am proud to say that I have been with my beloved for 26 years and she's still the one."
When I saw his name on this current e-mail, I was hoping to read more about his loving marriage. He wrote:
"Two days ago my wife fell down a flight of stairs. I lost the only girl I will ever love. She was only 54 and in perfect health."
I stared at his words as my life was overhauled in less than one minute. Thank God.
I could hear Bob in his study. He was in a bad mood because he kept getting cut off during a phone call to our veterinarian. I asked him to come in and read John's e-mail.
As he was reading, his demeanor changed. In slow motion, he went from appearing uptight and annoyed to sadly calm. With a deep sigh he said, "Thank you for having me read this."
I cried as I re-read the rest of John's note: "She was an organ donor and I am told that because of her good health she can help as many as 50 people. It has been nice talking to you about the love with our spouses."
I responded, "Your e-mail made me think about so many stupid things I get upset about. You gave me a huge wake-up call as to what matters in life and what doesn't." When I asked for his permission to write about this lesson, he kindly agreed and said, "I'm sure Donna would be honored."
I am the one honored to be writing about Donna's many legacies. She selflessly has changed the lives of 50 people by giving precious gifts from her body. Through the words of her adoring husband, she leaves behind and continues to teach the profound yet often overlooked lesson: Love is what is most important. I am also hoping she will help many realize, the way I did, that most everything is small potatoes compared to love, life and death.
And so this morning, it didn't faze me that I was out of computer paper when a deadline was imminent or that we, along with many others, are so hurting for money that we're on food stamps.
In silence, I said, "Thank you, John, for being so open with me about your tender love affair. Thank you for showing me that living in the moment is the path to joy, because all future moments are truly unpredictable. Thank you, Donna, for showing me that giving, in its most gracious and noble form, is done without expecting anything in return. Eternally, you will always be 'the one' – for John – for 50 peoples' lives you will now be an extraordinary part of . . . and for me."
And then I said, "Good morning," to Bob.
About the Author: Saralee Perel welcomes e-mails at sperel@saraleeperel.com or check her out at her website: www.saraleeperel.com. Many of her articles can also be read at Mikey's daily email MikeysFunnies.com.
@July 17, 2009
Everything’s Fine
By Michael A. Halleen
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded. (Ezekiel 24:18)
Ezekiel the prophet preached as usual one day, and that night his wife died. Still, he went to work the next morning. No doubt if his boss had asked him how he was doing, that noble soul would have answered, “I’m fine.”
I recently met a colleague in her office. Her husband had left her some months before, and she appeared haggard and drained of energy. I asked how she was doing. “Oh, I’m fine!” she said, forcing a smile. The truth is she was hurting—both of us knew it—but she had no plans to talk about it at that moment. “Fine” was all she wanted to say. She was saving herself from an untimely—and perhaps unwelcome—discussion of her feelings. I confess I was somewhat relieved, having intended the question only as a polite conversation starter. When someone answers the light “How are you?” with “Well, not so good today,” we find ourselves caught off guard. The flow of conventional niceties has been has been disrupted. The surface has been scraped open, and discomfort may follow.
The 1990 Italian film Everybody’s Fine tells a poignant story about a widowed Sicilian bureaucrat who sets out to visit his five children in various cities in Italy. His expectations of them have been high, and they have fed his illusions by telling him lies, not wanting to disappoint their papa’s ambitions for them. In fact, their lives are in disarray. And when he finally gets them together for a family reunion, the father learns that his children have been hiding a terrible secret from him. None of them are fine at all.
Our own family reunion occurs later this summer, and no doubt “Fine” will be used often. As we hear and say it, we’ll do well to recognize the possibility that we may be beginning our encounter with a gentle cover-up. We can’t assume that “Fine” means healthy, successful, happy or contented. In fact, it may mean “I have nothing in particular to reveal right now and prefer to keep my issues hidden.” Hopefully once or twice at our reunion we’ll have the opportunity—and courage—to go deeper.
And, on the other hand, maybe love will keep some things out of sight. When the father in the movie returns home, he visits his wife’s grave to tell her about his reunion with their children. “Everybody’s fine,” he says. It’s an act of love. She wouldn’t want to know more.
Dr. Michael A. Halleen writes very insightful and inspirational messages known as "Monday Moments". If you would like to recieve these messages please contact Mike at mhalleen@att.net.
@ June 29, 2009
Some Risks are Worth Taking
By Dr. Michael A. Halleen
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Hebrews 11:24
Common wisdom says “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” But it depends on which birds are still in the bush.
Moses had a bird in hand. He might have lived in the safety and luxury of Pharaoh’s court all his days. He could have died there of old age and been mummified with a pyramid all his own. But he preferred honor and self-respect to the riches of the palace. People of faith throughout the world have benefited from his choice of birds in the bush.
The Pilgrim settlers might have continued their prosperous standard of living in England or in Holland. Compromises about their expression of faith would have been necessary, but they did hold some worthwhile assets. Yet the prospect of freedom was more beautiful by far and drove them across the sea to years of hardship. Their daring and costly venture became the foundation of the American experiment.
Washington was one of the three wealthiest men in Virginia at the time of the Revolution. His fields were well manicured and fenced, his mansion on the Potomac the envy of all. Obeying the adage about the birds would have kept him out of the war and his property safe. But Washington had seen something well beyond his fields. The far lights of the ages gave him a glimpse of a new nation, and the high adventure of what that might mean caused him to stake his fortune—and his life—on the outcome of the struggle.
Not every risk is worth taking, of course. The saying about the birds didn’t come into our cultural consciousness because it was untrue. Usually we’re well advised to protect what we have rather than risk it chasing improbable dreams. The thousands who flock into riverboat casinos on Saturday nights to throw good money after bad would do well to listen to the wisdom about birds in the bush. We won’t regret most of those decisions we make in the interest of guarding what we already have.
But when we spy honor or faith or love within—even distant—reach, we are wise to make room in our hearts for the Moses choice and say no to the safe way. A move as daring as that of the Pilgrims, an investment as risky as Washington’s, may present itself. Then glory is found in uncommon wisdom—letting go of what’s safely in hand in order to pursue the difficult goal.
Dr. Michael A. Halleen writes very insightful and inspirational messages known as "Monday Moments". If you would like to recieve these messages please contact Mike at mhalleen@att.net.
@ June 1, 2009
Thy Will Be Done, On Earth As It Is In Heaven
By David Crowe
Pray then in this way..
"Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10 KJV
It should not be a curious thing that our LORD Himself instructed His disciples to pray thus. What should be clear to us is that He understood that His Father in heaven intended for His will to be done on earth as it was then 'in heaven,' that His Kingdom would come to earth in all its glory, righteousness, justice and peace.
Then "Why isn't it?" so many are asking, as they observe the earth under continuing convulsions of war, murder, tumult, economic calamity, oppression, and fear.
The prophet Isaiah, after warning the people of Israel not to depend on world rulers for protection (Isaiah 30:1-7) - and in obedience to the instruction of the God of Israel - wrote the following on a tablet for the people to read, "As a witness forever and ever."
"For this is a rebellious people, false sons,
Sons who refuse to listen
To the instructions of the LORD;
Who say to the seers, "You must not see visions";
And to the prophets, "You must not prophesy to us what is right.
Speak to us pleasant words,
Prophesy illusions,
Get out of the way, turn aside from the path,
Let us hear nor more about the Holy One of Israel."
Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel,
"Since you have rejected this word,
And have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them,
Therefore this iniquity will be to you
Like a breach about to fall,
A bulge in a high wall,
Whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant.
And whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter's jar;
So ruthlessly shattered, that a sherd will not be fund among its pieces
To snatch up fire from a hearth,
Or to scoop water from a cistern."
For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
"In returning and rest you shall be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength."
But you were not willing. . ."
Instead, they ran from God, using their own devices and ideas to avoid calamity, to no avail (Isaiah 30:1-7, 16-17).
What follows (Isaiah 30:18-26) was the assurance that He would deliver them only when "He heard the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you."
The prophecy is for all generations, and for all nations, a warning that following the ways, worries, and fears of man instead of following the One True God who rules all, is both foolish, unnecessary, and calamitous. Nothing but turning back to Him. . . when He hears our 'cry', our calling out to Him as a child cries for their mother or father in the night, will cause Him to hear and reveal Himself to us, and lead us in the way we should go.
Oh LORD, Thou art the only true God. Thou art the living God, the God of mercy whose everlasting love was, and is, manifested in Him Who died for all men. We come to you this day in humility and brokenness for our nation, our own sin, the sin of the people, the sin of our leaders and the souls of our enemies around the world who know not the love, forgiveness, and power of God to transform our lives and the life of their nation. We cry out to You in the quietness, desperate for Your peace, a word from You, that will only come as You hear our 'cry.' Without a turning back to You, we perish. We have sinned, all of us, everyone, believer and unbeliever, having loved this world and its pleasures more than You, more than our neighbors, more than even those who bore us. Forgive us dear LORD. Awaken us by Thy Holy Spirit to see Your Glory and by Thy Spirit your resurrection power, the power to heal our hearts, our lives, our neighbors and nation, to Your Glory! Awaken our hearts dearest LORD. Turn the hearts of the people to You, our Father. Turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and to You as the source of all wisdom and love. Hear our cry dear LORD. Come into our hearts LORD Jesus, and heal our land. It is in your name we pray. Amen
"The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; and His sovereignty rules over all." Psalm 103:19
About the Author: David Crowe is the founder of Restore America, an organization formed to call all bible believing voters to restore our nation to its Godly foundation, to help restore hope and preserve our liberty. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." (Psalm 33:12) To read more from David Crowe, please visit his website at RestoreAmerica.org.
@May 26, 2009
A Gift of Blood – a True Story!
By Gregory Kane
Blood: fluid substance that circulates in the arteries and veins of the body.
I feel obsessively attached to my personal quota of 8 pints. I still cringe to remember the first time I visited a blood bank. After doing the deed, a kindly nurse pointed me in the direction of a table with juice and chocolate biscuits; I never made it; instead they had to peel me off the carpet. Subsequent attempts have been little better and I had more or less given up. Until, that is, just a few weeks ago
Judith joined our church at the end of last year. She and her husband Daniel are refugees from neighbouring Zimbabwe. When we first met them, Daniel was eking out a living chopping firewood. He has since found work checking that lorry drivers have paid their tolls. Ironically they are both university graduates and should be able to command well-paid jobs but things are rarely that simple here.
Judith's pregnancy troubled us. She contracted a tenacious strain of malaria that gnawed voraciously at her red blood cells. The resulting anaemia led to severe swelling in their legs and poor nutrition sapped her remaining reserves of strength. Yet no one else seemed bothered. Not even the nurses who checked her over when she went for her regular antenatals. One in five children here don't reach their fifth birthday, so no one cared about the plight of yet another refugee.
A blood count of 4.0 is critically low in an ordinary person. In a pregnant woman it becomes a matter of life and death. We sent Judith to the hospital for an emergency transfusion, but the blood bank was empty and she was sent to fetch two family members who could donate blood. Feasible, if you're a local person with a supportive family around you. But all Judith had was her husband, Daniel, and a motley crowd of waifs and strays known collectively as her local church.
My wife went down the next day to offer her blood. Unfortunately Daniel's was rejected: incompatible blood group. The nurses were ready to send Judith away. They didn't seem interested that she was only weeks away from delivery. In desperation my wife placed an urgent call: would I be willing to donate?
The needle was enormous so I looked to the side and tried not to flinch. My wife sat opposite and smiled reassuringly. But just then, just as the first few drops began to trickle into the collecting bag, everything went wrong. Living in Africa, my face normally sports a healthy tan, but the colour vanished in an instant. My lips turned white, my blood pressure fell through the floor and my pulse slowed to a crawl. I'm told that it's called an intense vagal response. What it means is that all my capillaries opened and my brain was deprived of oxygen. I gasped frantically for breath and would have fainted, had not my wife responded promptly and elevated my feet.
It's at such times that you think deeply about your own mortality. Were I to expire, would I enter joyously into Heaven? My answer was immediate. Yes. Without a shadow of a doubt.
The phlebotomist noticed that things weren't exactly going as normal. Did I want to stop? My sluggish thoughts fastened on to Judith and her unborn child. They would kick her out if I recanted. Martin Luther King once remarked "If a man hasn't discovered something that he would die for, he isn't fit to live." I hope that I passed the test. This time.
Judith received her transfusion that same day. It was just as well. Her baby decided to make an early appearance the following weekend. Without the power of my blood and my wife's coursing through Judith's veins, we think it entirely possible that both mother and child would have died. Thanks be to God for his great mercy.
Jesus said "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (Jn 15:13 NIV) But we don't regard Judith and Daniel as just friends. They have been torn from their homeland; we as missionaries have been uprooted from ours. We share an affinity with them that transcends national borders. They are brother and sister to us, holy brethren united by agapē love. We stand together as one family forged from the far more precious blood that the Saviour shed for us all.
About the Author: Gregory Kane is a missionary from the UK who ministers in Mozambique, Africa. He can be contacted through his web site at http://kane.elim-moz.org/
@ May 11, 2009; Source: FaithWriters.com
Taking Another Road
By Dr. Michael Halleen
So he took another road and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel . (1 Kings 13:10 )
Deep in the pages of the Old Testament is a fascinating little story about an unnamed prophet who traveled to Israel in a period of great difficulty and delivered a strong message. He was a foreigner, and his harsh words were vexing to the cruel king. Being no fool, the prophet had a sense that danger awaited him on his journey home. “So,” we are told, “he took another road and did not return by the way he had come.”
Our subdivision is located near a major east-west artery, the only means of access to or from our house. Watching the busy traffic on that road prompts me occasionally to ask what other means of escape we might have in a time of crisis. What alternate routes are available to us? We can’t go more than one block before we must get on the highway that everyone else uses too. While there’s no immediate threat to our calm little neighborhood, still it’s discomfiting to think there’s only one exit.
A few weeks ago I drove from Raleigh, North Carolina into South Carolina. I could have used the interstate but chose instead to take old Highway 1. It was a slower but far more interesting route, and I enjoyed wending my way through smaller cities that I might otherwise never have seen: Apex, Sanford, Southern Pines, Rockingham. “Another road” provided a pleasant day of sightseeing on my journey.
Alternate routes are good for life’s journey too. My friend Bob, having been laid off in his mid-fifties from his accounting job, has decided this is an opportunity to take another road and pursue a lifelong dream of a career in music. I’ve had clients who would like to try something new but who, unlike Bob, are afraid to leave the highway on which they’re coasting along. They have stayed in cruise control for too long and let the lease expire on their motivation, technical know-how, ambition or curiosity. Inertia has taken over. They’re stuck on the familiar road and can no longer imagine any other.
The story of the foreign prophet does not end happily, for he changed his mind and returned to the common highway, and then—well, something about a lion and a tomb. When his crisis arose, this man chose familiarity over risk, abandoning his newly chosen road home. Find your alternatives. Check the map. Recalculate the GPS. Refresh the resume. Make the plan. And trust God to go with you.
Dr. Michael A. Halleen writes very insightful and inspirational messages known as "Monday Moments". If you would like to recieve these messages please contact Mike at mhalleen@att.net.
@April 20,, 200
A Mark of Greatness!
By Dr. Michael Halleen
A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (Luke 12:15)
At the close of the Civil War the great Confederate general Robert E. Lee was approached by a group of promoters who offered him a large amount of money for the use of his name in connection with a business enterprise they were about to launch. Despite his protest that he knew nothing of their business, they were willing to pay a considerable fee to be able to announce that Robert E. Lee was the president of their fledgling company.
The general declined. “I cannot accept,” he is reported to have said and, quoting Jesus, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. My name stands well among my people and, although it is all I have left, it is not for sale.”
The names that remain in history’s memory have shared that perspective. John Wesley died poor, leaving nothing but a few well-worn books, some saddlebags . . . and the Methodist Church. Yet he saved England from its own version of the French Revolution, and his name stands among the immortals. He never made much of a living, but he made great life.
George Washington served his country throughout the Revolutionary War paying all of his own expenses. He could have insisted on a top salary as well as reimbursement for the personal funds he spent. But instead of amassing a private fortune, he disbursed it to the cause for which he lived. For Washington, life consisted of an abundance of service and sacrifice.
Louis Pasteur could have collected millions of francs for his discovery of a remedy for the parasitic disease that was ruining the silk industry of France. His development of vaccines against rabies and other infectious diseases serve as a landmark in the history of science. Rather than making a fortune, he gave his secrets to the world and is remembered as one of his country’s greatest heroes. His life consisted in an abundance of energy, effort and generosity.
Charles Steinmetz, whose contributions in the field of electrical engineering were responsible for the growth of General Electric, was asked why he didn’t demand a hundred thousand dollars a year for his work (the equivalent of several million today). He said, “What would I do with all that money? It would keep me so busy that I’d have no time for my work.”
One mark of greatness is that a person has set aside the goal of making a good living in favor of making a good life.
Dr. Michael A. Halleen writes very insightful and inspirational messages known as "Monday Moments". If you would like to recieve these messages please contact Mike at mhalleen@att.net.
@March 30, 2009
They Could Have Been the Worst Four Years of My Life
by Peter Stone
The years of 2002 to 2005 could have been the worst four years of my life. My health was literally disintegrating before my eyes.
Although I had been gradually going deaf since my late teens, in 2002, my thirty-seventh year, I lost all hearing in my left ear. I had to leave the church band, could not engage in social dialogue, stopped listening to music (one of my greatest pastimes), could not hear the television, and almost drove my family crazy asking them to constantly repeat themselves. Otosclerosis, an inherited disease that causes the calcification of the bones of the middle ear, was the cause of this ailment. Yet of equal concern to me was the accompanying tinnitus that was extremely unsettling.
Just prior to losing my hearing in one ear, after undergoing MRI and EEG scans in 2002, I was also diagnosed as suffering from complex partial epilepsy. Prior to this, I had never heard of this condition, thinking the partial-seizures to be a symptom of depression. At this time I ceased taking anti-depressants and took anti-seizure medication, which had (and still has) quite horrid side effects. I lost interest in almost all of my hobbies, entered a continual state of exhaustion, and both short term and long term memory deteriorated significantly.
It was a Sunday morning in November 2004, when I had come down with the flu for the sixth time in a row, (which may have had something to do with burning the candle at both ends recently) that I reached a crossroads. With the deafness, epilepsy, and apparent inability to return to any semblance of health, I felt the crushing weight of despair threatening to descend upon me. This was the last straw.
I had a choice. My life appeared to be in a state of utter disarray. I could succumb to despair and slip into the miry pit of depression, or I could turn to Jesus and rely upon His strength in my weakness, as He said to Paul in 2 Cor 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
I chose the second option. While I drove down Canterbury Road that November summer morning, I waited upon Jesus and recalled something I had heard in a sermon. My life was like riding in a bus, and the bus driver was Jesus. I was comforted by the fact that the bus driver always knew the destination and how to get there. This was my situation in a nutshell. Although my life appeared to be a complete mess and out of control, this was not the truth. The truth was that Jesus was in control of my life. I had nothing to fear. Jesus said in John 10:27-28, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."
So rather than let these burdensome troubles drive me to depression, I surrendered them to Jesus and placed my trust in Him. The pressures faded away and hope, joy, and peace prevailed.
Considering the breadth of my troubles at this time, did this seem too easy?
I know the Bible says in James 1:2 to 'Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,' but trust me, although I reach this place eventually, this is not my initial reaction to trials!
How could I, after going through so much, 'seem' to shrug off their debilitating affects and yet live a normal life?
The only reason these afflictions did not drag me headlong into depression's merciless grip was because I had already been down that road, back in 1990. It began with an eight-month period of living hell which included an endless cycle of debilitating anxiety attacks, chronic insomnia, crippling feelings of guilt, low self-esteem, utter despair at what was happening to me, and much more. As the days turned to weeks and then to months, I was crippled by the fear that this 'thing' that had overcome me would never lessen or end.
Here is an extract from my diary dated February 20th, 1990.
Oh Lord, when will this end?
Day after day, I remain trapped
In this endless personal hell of pain and confusion.
I want to get out of myself!
To be someone else, anyone but me.
The me I know is gone, yet somehow I am still me.
I must escape from myself, but
I'm trapped in a suffocatingly small, dark room.
I know there is sunlight outside.
I run, push, and strive to reach that light,
But the room comes with me--I cannot get out!
Why? Because I am the room.
Jesus, for what reason have you allowed this?
Where are you? How long will you remain silent?
They say that others who have been down this route
Have left signposts along the way
To help those like me find the way out.
But where are these signposts?
By His grace and provision, Jesus helped me overcome depression and live a normal life again. And in learning how to cope with depression, Jesus set me so that I need never again succumb to its depths. Galatians 5:1 '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.' In conclusion, it was because of what I learnt during my trials of the early 1990s, that I was able to endure the trials of 2002 to 2005 and through Christ, overcome them.
(All verses from NIV)
About the Author: Peter Stone, a Bible College Graduate, has an international marriage and two children. Suffers from epilepsy and otosclerosis. He teaches Sunday school and plays the piano in church. The above article is from his blog at http://cornerstonethefoundation.blogspot.com/
@ Feb 19, 2009, Source: FaithWriters.com
Christian in Name Only
By Terry L. Brown
“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness” (Matthew 6:23)! The church at Laodicea had a serious eye problem. They saw themselves one way and the Lord Jesus saw them in a totally different way. They were involved in some activities, but they were done with no fire, no zeal. The Lord described them as being lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. It is as if they did just enough to make them feel like they were performing their religious duty, but their heart was not in it. Their motivation seemed to be to get done whatever needed to be done as quickly as possible so they could get on with their personal lives.
Many today are like this. They have just enough religion to soothe their consciences, to make them think they are “good” people. They may give a little money to their church or to other religious organizations and be quite pleased with themselves. Perhaps they donate some time to their favorite charity, go to church every Sunday, drive the church bus, sing in the choir, teach a Sunday School class, say the Lord’s Prayer every night, keep their Bible on the coffee table, hang pictures of Jesus or Bible quotes on their walls, put a fish on their vehicle. Yes, Jesus knows our deeds, but more importantly He knows our hearts. “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives” (Proverbs 16:2). It is not so much what we do, but why we do it. There is nothing wrong with any of the things mentioned above unless they are done for a show in the flesh as the Pharisees did, or to gain favor from the Lord “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20).
The church at Laodicea describes a church that is at peace with the world. There is no evidence of either external or internal strife. It is a church that resembles all the qualities that the unsaved so vigorously seek – to be rich and self-sufficient. It is a church that has sold its birthright to be the voice of Jesus in the world. When Paul was on trial before Felix his accusers said, “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5). So much of Christianity today has bought peace with the world at a terrible price. It does not stir up dissension or cause the conscience of sinners (or even fellow Christians) to realize that they are not in right standing with the Lord. Tolerance of any and all lifestyles and activities is advocated. It is politically incorrect to voice opposition to homosexuality, immorality, promiscuity, abortion, feminism, or religions that claim equality with Christianity.
Those who once had an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ have been lulled to sleep by the riches and pleasures of the world. They have been deceived into accepting sin at the cost of denying the truth revealed in the Bible. Like Demas, who had followed Paul as he preached the Gospel, they return to the ways of the world from which they were saved. “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10 ESV).
It is not so much that Demas did not believe the truth of the Gospel; he just had too much of the world still in him. “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). It is perception again. What appears to be riches and wealth to the world and blind Christians is, in fact, severe poverty. To buy the things of the world at the cost of faithfulness to Jesus Christ is no bargain. There is a quote, by Jim Elliot I believe, that goes something like this: “He is no fool who gives up what he can not keep to gain that which he can not lose.” Money, power, authority, fame, prestige, and even peace pull strongly upon the unsaved and carnal man, but these things are transitory. In the end they do not satisfy the hunger in the human soul. Yet, when they are given up at the command of the Lord in order to receive true riches from His hand the world scoffs. They ignore these words of Jesus: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
It is interesting to note that the name “Demas” means “Commoner”. When Demas left Paul and returned to the world from which he had come he was merely living up to his name. The true Christian is not a “commoner”. Indeed, we “are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV). As children of the King we are royalty, kings and priests. We are no longer “commoners” with earthly ambitions and goals. Our citizenship is in Heaven. Following this train of thought it gives added depth of meaning to the church at Laodicea because the name “ Laodicea” means “opinions (or conquers) of the common people”. Laodicea was a church that no longer lived according to the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, it lived by the customs, traditions, and desires of the “common” people, of those spiritually dead.
There are people today who have tasted the power and goodness of the Lord through the Holy Spirit and yet have rejected and denied the Faith. They are lukewarm spiritually, neither on fire for the Lord, ready to fight the good fight no matter the cost, nor so cold as to make them easily distinguishable as false brethren or false prophets. They are embarrassed by true Christians who refuse to sell out to the world, who refuse to sit idly by while Jesus is being mocked and blasphemed using tax dollars to support works of “art” through the National Endowment for the Arts, who refuse to acquiesce to the lie that homosexuality is a legitimate alternative lifestyle equal to a monogamous, heterosexual relationship, who take a public stand on the evil of abortion, and who unashamedly proclaim Jesus Christ as the only way to obtain salvation and enter into the presence of the heavenly Father.
Laodicean Christians focus solely on economic prosperity. As long as they are warm, well fed, have shelter, and can live comfortably, they do not care who governs them. They will support anyone, whether Congressman, Senator, President, or even King, who will supply their material comforts. Morals take a back seat. This attitude is so dangerous I now believe this is how the Antichrist will gain and keep his following.
Those who so vehemently deny they would ever take the Mark of Beast will willingly hold out their hands or their foreheads as long as they can retain that which meets their physical needs. In our country today we are experiencing this right now. Morals do not matter. If our leaders commit adultery, fornication, lie, embrace abortion rights, or equate homosexuality with heterosexuality, it does not affect their popularity or their chances of remaining in office as long as the economy is good and their pocketbooks are full.
Sad to say it is not just the unbelievers who are guilty of this slap to the face of God. Christians, or at least those who call themselves Christian, are equally guilty. (Actually they are more guilty because they identify themselves with Christ by having taken His name.) The churches are full of people who are prospering materially; and with that prosperity comes the deception that sin is to be tolerated.
Radical feminism which must take the largest share of blame for the breakdown of the traditional family, has so altered our daily lives that men are hesitant to use masculine pronouns when speaking or writing for fear of being labeled a male chauvinist. The feminist philosophy also embraces homosexuality and the monstrous practice of partial birth abortion. Homosexuality is becoming so pervasive through television, movies, and our largest corporations that it is being accepted as normal by our children. Parents will not take the time to teach their children the truth either because they do not know the truth or they are afraid that to do so will cause them to be labeled as homophobic.
Again, note that the church at Laodicea, the church that is ruled by the “opinions of the common people”, has no mention of internal or external conflict. This is exactly what we are seeing today. The feminist philosophy, the homosexual agenda, the pro-abortionist and the morally corrupt are accepted with open arms into the denominations even to the point of placing them in leadership positions. Practicing homosexuals are being ordained to preach and teach. Bibles translations are being printed and used by the churches that strip it of all references to masculine pronouns because the feminists are outraged by the perceived authority such exclusive use of them gives to males at the expense of females. This has gotten so bad that to call God “Father” is offensive to some. This is one of the basic reasons goddess worship is on the rise.
Christians are being exposed to satanic influences at an unprecedented level and they are being swayed by them to accept that which is blasphemy to the heavenly Father. Peace at any price is the result. Tolerance has become our most worshipped idol.
Where does it stop? If homosexuality is a legitimate alternate lifestyle that can he equated with heterosexuality, then why not polygamy? Why is it wrong for a man to have several wives or a woman to have several husbands? If they are consenting adults who is to say it is wrong? Why is incest wrong? If it takes place between two (or more) consenting adults who are we to be so intolerant as to say that it should not happen? What about pedophilia? If the child is cared for and not harmed what business is it of anyone’s? What gives us the right to impose our beliefs upon anyone else? We may find some things to be personally offensive and we may never ourselves practice such things, but does that give us the right to prohibit others from doing so? The argument is used: “I would not personally get an abortion, but I have no right to say someone else cannot get one”; especially if you are a man. Feminists are adamant about that. The argument is a poor one and opens the door for everything mention above and for anything else that others wish to do.
A Laodicean church supports this, if not directly then indirectly because it has lost its position of moral leadership. It does not truly believe the Bible to be the Word of God. If it did it would not try to justify that which it plainly and clearly teaches about homosexuality, the sanctity of human life in the womb, or the roles of men and women.
The Southern Baptists have affirmed that a woman was to submit to the servant leadership of her husband and that the husband was to love and honor his wife as Christ does the Church. The firestorm that resulted was swift and severe; not just from unbelievers, but from other denominations. So where in the world did the Southern Baptists get such as offensive line of thought? “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself” (Ephesians 5:22-28). Amazing, is it not? What the churches found so repugnant is from the very Bible they say they teach.
The Church that Jesus Christ built has a very specific foundation. “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19-20). The teachings of Christ Jesus and His apostles as revealed to us in the New Testament are to be the basis from which we make life’s decisions. Laodicea, on the other hand, makes decisions based on the “opinions of the common people”. The Psalmist asks, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do” (Psalms 11:3)? Unless we have a foundation upon which to base our beliefs then all that is left is the wisdom of man. How dangerous that is! “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverb 14:12). Man may think his way is more enlightened than God’s or more fair, but God knows the end from the beginning. He is not limited by time or space and we are clearly told, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). A foundation of tolerance that allows the acceptance of sin as normal and even preferable to a life of holiness will result in the destruction of spiritual growth. This causes lukewarmness to appear as zeal, poverty to appear as riches, self-sufficiency to appear as humility, wretchedness and miserableness to appear as wealth and joy, blindness to appear as great insight and understanding, and nakedness to appear as garments of purest white.
Laodicea looked good to the world. Yet the righteousness of Laodicea was a lie. “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (Isaiah 64:6). From a worldly standpoint Laodicean churches and congregants are a success. They have large, elaborate church buildings, they have money, wear expensive clothes, drive nice, new cars, are generous with their wealth (when it helps them), have impressive titles such PhD prefacing their names, have people the world admires attend Sunday services, and boast of speaking for the poor and downtrodden, and of championing the cause of those who have felt the sting of the world’s injustice. They deceive people into believing “God loves you just the way you are”, which is true, but forgets to tell them that He also loves them enough not to leave them that way. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). A Laodicean church is a church full of people who are content to remain in their sins while worshipping God, being tolerant of all things. The true Church is full of sinners who have repented of their sins and evil, immoral lifestyles. They have been redeemed by the Blood of Christ and forgiven. They receive the righteousness that comes from Jesus and recognize that nothing they have or do will make them holy and acceptable to the Lord.
The church at Laodicea may call itself “Christian”, but it is not. In fact Jesus is not even a part of their assembly. He told them, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). He was not even in the church; He was outside seeking to come in. This verse is often quoted in the context of Jesus standing at the door of world, but it is actually speaking about those who claim to know Him.
Laodicean Christians think they are saved, think they are doing God’s work, think they have God’s blessings, think God is pleased with them, think they have understanding and spiritual insight. In truth they are deceived and rant at those who truly are Christian. “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me” (John 16:2-3). True Christians will be expelled from the world’s denominations while those who practice sin and are unrepentant will be welcomed with open arms.
The greatest danger to the Christian is not the cold, unsaved, worldly person who makes no claim of being a Christian. It is religion and those who have taken the name of the Lord in vain. When Peter and John had healed a lame man in the Name of Jesus, it was not the civil authorities that threatened them. It was the religious authorities. “‘What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.’ And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard’” (Acts 4:16-20).
It is fast coming about that the true Christian is going to suffer greatly at the hands of both the false Christians and the civil authorities as laws are passed that make it impossible to not break them and remain true to the Lord. The antagonism against Christians is increasing daily. Trials and tribulations are becoming more intense and more frequent. Our faith will be tested to the limit, but we are not to despair for our Lord has said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Let us never forget this. We are never alone.
Unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, copyright 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
About the Author: In January 2000 Terry began a writing ministry called, "Whispers of the Spirit" (www.whispersofthespirit.com). In 2003 he graduated from Yellowstone Valley Bible Institute with high academic honors. Today, he continues to teach, preach, and write. Terry is the author of "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (ISBN 9781420820546) which can be reviewed and ordered from www.authorhouse.com/bookstore or numerous other booksellers. You may reach Terry at Terry_L_Brown@whispersofthespirit.com.
@ Jan 14, 2009 - Source: Narrow is the Path
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