On Dangerous Grounds - The Ongoing Saga In Sudan

Romans 12:21

"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Juba, South Sudan

May 2012

The Republic of Sudan (North Sudan) has left many in the South resentful. In 1956 the South initiated a rebellion, motivated in large part by fears of further marginalization as political and economic power were centralized in the north. This conflict was ended by a peace agreement made in 1972.

Yet this fragile peace was soon ruptured by violations of the peace agreement, division of the regions, and the nationwide imposition of Sharia law, which led to the outbreak of open conflict in 1983. Specifically, the accusation was that the Sudanese government was oppressing non-Arab, non-Muslim Sudanese in favor of Sudanese Muslim Arabs.

This conflict lasted 22 years and is estimated to have killed 2 million people and rendered another 4 million homeless. It is also known as the Darfur Genocide, which caught the world’s attention. In 2005 the Naivasha Agreement, was signed by the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the National Congress Party (NCP) in Khartoum, bringing an official end to the conflict. However, trouble continues between the two Sudans, with fresh accusations by each side that the other is supporting rebel groups against their respective governments, causing instability along the border.

There are crucial issues such as border demarcation, sharing of debt, and oil revenues and the use of the North’s pipeline remain that unresolved. To say the least, the Sudan region remains a tinderbox.

Presently, the current fighting along the disputed border between Sudan and newly independent South Sudan threatens to throw the region back into chaos. Just seven years after a peace agreement successfully ended a war that had killed somewhere between 1.5 and 2.5 million people (in a country with a present population of 8 million), there are daily reports of bombings and border attacks, troubling reminders of the frailty of the post-conflict status quo.

The region’s non-Arab Christians and other groups successfully separated themselves from an Islamist regime that imposed sharia law, depopulated much of Darfur, sheltered Osama bin Laden, and bought advanced weapons systems from Iran.

In South Sudan, Christian evangelicals are openly welcomed​—​in particular, a group of American aid workers who have helped build the country, and lobbied on its behalf, and who now have no intention of abandoning it, even on the brink of war.

Justin Lotio, a pastor in Juba who stayed through the violence, told a Western jounalist, “We were living like people in a cage [during the civil war],” It is documented that Christian pastors were taken out and killed simply because they were pastors. The North came and took people out of Christian communities and tried to indoctrinate them, and still they held onto Christianity to the point of death. It’s something that gives them hope. It sustains them. Pastor Lotio said, “Today, there is freedom.”

In South Sudan, American aid groups have opened hospitals, drilled boreholes, fed refugees, and trained rural South Sudanese in farming and water management. The director of one of the aid groups summed up the organization’s mission this way: “If people are starving, helping them is what we’re called to do.”

The report on Sudan, which comes from various news sources & outlets, point to the dire need of the Gospel of Christ in that region. If people's basic needs are met without hearing about their need for a Saviour then all of that wonderful effort to lend succor to a newly founded nation is in vain.

I ask this dire question: Is there anyone out there in cyber-land whose heart is pierced by what took place - and, indeed, continues to manifest itself - South Sudan? That nation needs Christian missionaries. Don't let the Mormons - or any other group - beat us to the punch. Don't allow lies to take the place of the Gospel.

Please be prayerful about how you can be a blessing to this nation. If you are not called out to the missions field by the Lord, then please pray for South Sudan and that the Lord strengthen the Christian pastors and believers there. Pray that the local New Testament church is established and its needs are met to serve the Sudanese.

To be sure, the local New Testament church can bring together poor and geographically scattered communities. When there is no church, the people are divided according to clan, and there is a lot of fighting. The church is the only place where people can and agree, and act like brothers and sisters because it is the love of Christ (Heb. 13:1; Jn. 13:34; Rom. 12:9-10; I Pt. 1:22-23)  and His abiding Presence that hold people together. The glue that binds people together in a society is the local New Testament church. It is here that good overcomes evil.

What are you going to do about it, dear Reader? I Want To Send the Light!

There’s a call comes ringing over the restless wave,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
There are souls to rescue there are souls to save,
Send the light! Send the light!

Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

Let us not grow weary in the work of love,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light! Send the light!

Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

News sources: Weekly Standard, Insight on Conflict & BBC News. Photo credit: United Nations. 


Hopes and Fears of Afghan Christians

 

II Timothy 3:12

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

 

For Afghanistan's tiny Christian community, a community certainly in the hundreds and probably the thousands, the Abdul Rahman case has brought both fear and hope. Mr. Rahman is starting a new life in Italy after his trial in Afghanistan for converting from Islam collapsed. He faced the death penalty if he had been found guilty.

He said, "In Afghanistan we Christians have nothing to do with politics. We love and respect everyone. We love and respect even our enemies, however they punish us."

The Christian community lives with the threat of official harassment and attack by extremists. There have been gun and grenade attacks against churches in neighbouring Pakistan.

But despite the reported hardline rhetoric of Afghan clerics during the Rahman case, the Christian claims that many Muslim friends regard his conversion as a private matter.

"Most of my friends know that I am a Christian," he said. "I have many friends who are mullahs and maulvis. Some of them say they like me more these days. Before I was a liar, I was cheating people and many other things. I don't do that now."

The reasons for conversion in such a potentially hostile environment are of course varied and personal:                    

The harsh doctrine of the Taleban were factors in the conversion of some Afghans.

There is much disillusionment. People used to look to communism, now they look increasingly to Christianity.

The compassionate actions of Christian-based aid agencies during the civil war and Taliban era in Afghanistan had impressed many Afghans.

A Christian Afghan convert stated, "I am very happy with my life and I see other Christians here very happy too,"

He added, "In the future, what God wants will happen. But Christians are always with God and if we are killed we go to God."

Friend, are you promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you living it? Every corner of the world, every nook and cranny is a missions field. The grocery store. The mall. The neighbors. The bus stop. Every place is the right place to take the Light of the world - Jesus Christ - to the world.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  (Matt. 5:16)

Whom do you choose: God or Mammon?

I Want To Serve God!

Story excerpted from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4865818.stm

Counting Your Blessings: The Model of Self-Encouragement [The Model Series, Part 3 of 3]

I Samuel 30:6

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."

While David and his warriors were away, the Amalekites raided their town, burned everything, and captured the women and children. The story is played out in eerie similarity in the rape of the Sabine women, which is the account of Rome's beginnings. In any event, the people wanted to stone David because they charged David in leaving the Ziklag defenseless while he galloped off with Achish.

When David couldn't turn to anyone for encouragement, he turned himself to the Lord. Why? Because he found he couldn't place any confidence in his men or the people around him.

This is what David did instead: He exercised his faith on his God. He encouraged himself in the power of God; in the promises of God, and in the faithfulness of God. You see, David knew and understood God's promises in light of his covenant relation to God.

Oh, that we were like David, in remembrance of the grace, mercy, and goodness of God! If only our former experiences of God's hand in our lives would move us closer to Him rather than away because of doubt (instead of faith); because of unbelief (instead of believing that God will meet us in some way or another, and work salvation for us) and because of timidity in the face of fear (instead of drawing strength from the Word of the Lord).  A Christian's God is no figment of the imagination, but is the real and corporal God-man, the Christ, the living Word of God, whose power, whose might, and whose grace is found in Him, Yes, Jesus, is our All in all.

In times of trouble, Christian, do you consider God? Does He ever come across your mind? In your dire stress & adversity, consider Psalm 23 as your model of self-encouragement when no one else is around to encourage you or when you are under attack.

In verse 1, the emphasis is "LORD" and refers to Jesus Christ for Christians. David states that he shall not want (or, lack) because he acknowledges who his Shepherd is and that He shall provide for all of his needs according to His riches in glory (Phil. 4:19).

If you focus on the Lord's 10 Provisions in Psalm 23 and reflect how Jesus has personally met your need in each area, then you truly will be blessed with encouragement in the Lord!

1. SAFE REST

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:"  (v. 2a)

Here the picture is of repose or resting safely while being fully fed. Confer Eze. 34:15. Can you remember the last time the Lord furnished you repose?

2. PEACE
"...[H]e leadeth me beside the still waters."  (v. 2b)

Not stormy waters or stagnant waters. These waters are still waters, deep waters that not even the strongest heat could steal your breath away or drain you of strength. See Isa. 49:10; Jn. 7:38.

3. REVIVAL
"He restoreth my soul:"  (v. 3a)

God brings back the soul from its errors and sinful wanderings. Oh, what joy one experiences when God delivers us from our evil ways, redeeming the soul from destruction! Check out Ps. 19:7a.

4. JUSTIFICATION
"...[H]e leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."  (v. 3b)

God shows us paths that are good and true and not false in any way because God does not deal treacherously with us. Confer Prv. 4:11; Rom. 3:28, 5:1. Also, being justified is not the sole purpose of your salvation, but that He may be honored & glorified! See Ps. 51:14-15; Eph. 2:8-9.

5. COURAGE
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:"  (v. 4a)

What more do you need than God's mighty hand? It was good enough for Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David and Paul, so it should be good enough for you! Not convinced? Okay, read these Scriptures - Isa. 40:28-31; Exo. 15:2; Jn. 10:27-29.

6. PROTECTION
" ...[F]or thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."  (v. 4b)

Even in the darkest of dark hours and deepest valleys, Jesus will never forsake you or abandon you (Heb. 13:5). Interesting note on the rod & staff: It seems to suggest that the staff refers to the part the which the shepherd used in walking, and the crook (or, rod) refers to the hooked part of the staff, which was used for guiding his flock. Thus, the Lord keeps you on the straight and narrow, if you allow Him! Please confer II Sam. 2:19; Ps. 48:14; Ps. 138:7.

7. PERFECT SUFFICIENCY
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:"  (v. 5a)

Wow! In the heat of the battle, the Lord prepares a feast for his sheep. A sumptuous feast in perfect security in the midst of turmoil. Truly, if God be for you who can be against you? Christian, are you going to be at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9)? Are you encouraged just yet?

8. ABUNDANCE
"...[T]hou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."  (v. 5b)

God not only fills you with the joy of gladness, it runs over. This, too, indicates an  abundance of  favors thus bestowed on His children. With the Lord, a believer is never left lacking or unfilled with spiritual joy and comfort. It overflows. See Lk. 6:38.

9. MERCY & GRACE
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:"  (v. 6a)

The hymnist sang, "Mercy there was great and grace was free, pardon there was multiplied to me, there my burdened soul found liberty. Where? At Calvary!" How so true for every one that believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God! How very comforting to know that as we pass through this life, His goodness and mercy shall follow us every step of the way. Praise the Lord! Amazing grace, how sweet the sound! Need more proof? Go to Lam. 3:22-23.

10. ETERNAL LIFE
"...[A]nd I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."  (v.6b)

Friend, where will you spend eternity? Christ said (three times, mind you) that you must be born again to enter the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:1-7). Are you saved? Are you washed in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow? If not, don't reject the free gift of mercy of Calvary! Don't be left out in the dark where there will be gnashing of teeth (Mt. 13:43).

Reader, please consider this model for self-encouragement the next time you're struggling in your Christian walk and have no one to turn to at the moment. It might be a good idea to memorize Psalm 23 and meditate on each part of the psalm, reflecting how God has worked in your life in each of the areas that were noted above.

A final observation on David: He was brought low, only just before he was raised to the throne (read II Sam. 2). So, when things are at their worst with the church and the people of God, that's when they begin to mend.

David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. The soul of the people was bitter; their own discontent and impatience added to the affliction and misery. And, they acted upon their emotions. But David bore it better. Why? Because they gave liberty to their passions, but he set his graces to work; and while they dispirited each other, he, by encouraging himself in God, kept his spirit calm. Those who have taken the Lord for their God, may take encouragement from him in the worst times because God is still on the throne. To God be the glory!

During discouraging times, you need a Saviour. Sometimes you can't wait for the rescuers to arrive. Take matters into your own hands, literally, by praying and encouraging yourself with God's Word. In desperate times you need something solid. What you need is the Holy Bible. In calamitous times you need someone solid. Who you need is Jesus Christ.

Are you his and is He yours? I Want Jesus To Be My Anchor!

In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible,
In times like these O be not idle;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

The Decision to Return to God: The Model Confession [The Model Series, Part 2 of 3]

Psalm 51:1
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions."

Do you feel trapped by a besetting sin or tormented by guilt? Repentance is the key to finding freedom and joy again. Begin by reading the story of David and Bathsheba, which is found in 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25.

David behaved as if nothing was wrong. After all, it was only adultery, murder, conspiracy to murder, and so forth. He even played the Consoler-in-Chief with Uriah's pregnant widow afterwards. And, on top of that, the LORD sent convicting messages from others, culminating in Nathan's confrontation & condemnation, "Thou art the man."

When Bath-sheba told David she was with child, David had an opportunity to repent. When Uriah maintained his integrity by refusing to lie with his wife while his men were at war, David had another chance to change the course of his choice. When Joab told David about how Uriah died at the battlefront, he had a third shot at getting it right. Even as David sent for Bath-sheba and spoke to his servants with words to the effect of "Fetch me Bath-sheba" or "Bring her to me", he had occasion to consider his decisions. But, David didn't.

Thus, the LORD sent Nathan to declare, "You're the man." And David acknowledged this charge by answering: "I have sinned against the Lord." What about you, Reader? Have you admitted your sins before the Lord?

David composed Psalm 51 as a result of this debacle and fall into sin. This doesn’t mean that David failed to recognize the wrong he had done against Uriah and Bath-sheba. However, he realized that his sin was chiefly against the Lord. In this Psalm, we see a model confession. Much like the model prayer in yesterday's post, I need to remind you all that Psalm 51 is only a model, an approach to take when coming before the Lord to get right with Him.

1. ACKNOWLEDGE

"For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me."  (v. 3)

That is, admit you sins and confess them to God. I Jn 1:9 is a comforting promise by God to forgive us if we take the first step to confess our sins.

2. ASSUME

"Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest."  (v. 4)

Assume full responsibility for sin. Don't deflect the blame as tempting as it is. Anytime we try to blame someone else for our wrongdoing, repentance is incomplete. Ultimately, each individual involved in a sin has made a decision to rebel against God. David didn’t rationalize, “Lord, I wasn’t the only one involved. You know it takes two. She should have been more careful. I am only human.”

Confer Lk. 15:21 on the correct posture of humility before God. A great parable on confession and repentance.

3. REPENT
"Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee."  (v. 13)

Many people - both ungodly ones as well as saved ones - don't like this word and don't care much for the concept of turning from their wicked ways. It's human nature to be self-willed. However, without a full 180 degree turn, it's impossible to please God. In this verse we find that David conclusion that teaching sinners can only follow after acknowledging sin and assuming responsibility for his choices and then repenting. It's implicit that teaching others about God can only come after repentance.

Once again, confer with the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11. -32).

4. PRAISE
"Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise."  (vv. 14-15)

I want you to notice that this confession process yields 5 wonderful benefits as per David's statements; it brings forth washing & cleansing (vv. 2, 10), purging (v.7), renewal & restoration (v.10, 12).

Knowing this, David observes that there is joy, gladness, rejoicing, a right spirit, and praise. It's not an easy process to own up to your sins, but it's necessary in the daily walk with Christ and in your relationship with God through Jesus (Heb. 12:5-13). But, there is the fruit of peace with God and the peace of God.

The Lord wants us to be honest about our sin, weaknesses, and frustrations. Truthfulness promotes fellowship (I Jn. 1:8, 10). As long as we are open with Him, He can continue to work with us.

Trouble starts when believers make excuses: “Now, Lord, I just made a mistake. After all, everybody has faults. Nobody is perfect.” Responding like this avoids the real issue. It is therefore dishonest. Those who constantly deny their guilt will not mature spiritually or find freedom from sin.

David’s failure to repent sooner increased the severity of the penalty for his rebellion. But if we deal with our sin genuinely, openly, and immediately, God often lessens the harshness of His chastisement. Why is that? Because if He sees that we have purposed to obey next time, stern correction is usually not needed.

The longer we put off repentance, the greater God’s discipline. Those who are wise will repent quickly.

• Dear Christian, is the Lord prompting you to repent of a particular sin? If so, pray about it, And, if you are not saved, now's the time. Don't put off tomorrow what can be done today!

Lord, I Want to Get Right With You Today

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Crying Out Quietly: The Model Prayer [The Model Series, Part 1 of 3]

Matthew 6:9-13

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

When I was a kid, I used to love working on model planes. I'd save up the money I had earned from collecting soda pop bottles (back in the day when you redeemed them for a nickel each) and picking pecans from the pecan trees around southside San Antonio (In Texas, the pecan is king). Anyway, I loved everything about working with model planes - the small plastic parts & pilot and their tiny details; the decals; the paint as it went over the fuselage and wings; the hobby knife. Ah! Those were the simple days of childhood...

And yet, even as a little boy, I knew that what I held in my hand was just a model plane. It was a replica, a miniature representation (1:38 scale to be exact),  and nothing more. If I wanted to fly, there was no way that the Revel model plane was going to take me anywhere. If I wanted to know what it was like to fly, I'd have to get in a real plane and find out first hand.

The point I'm trying to make is that the model prayer works pretty much the same way. Your prayer life will go nowhere if you rely on the replica. In order for your communication to be real with God, you must communicate. What a novel concept.

When Christ taught it to His disciples, He made it clear that it was after a certain "manner". If you read a couple of earlier verses, Christ warns them - "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them:" (vv. 7-8a)

Here's my rough outline of the prayer. See if it makes sense and, more importantly, works for you:

1. ADORATION
"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."

This is an act of worship of who God is and where He is; that is, He's in heaven and He's holy. Confer Isa. 6:1-3; Rev. 4:1-9; Ps. 97:1-6

2. SUBMISSION
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

In order for God's will be done that means your will must be gone. God doesn't need a co-pilot telling Him how to fly the plane! All you have to do is trust and obey God. Confer Jer. 29:11; Ps. 32:8; Prv.3:5-6; Prv. 16:9; Phil. 2:13

3. PROVISION
"Give us this day our daily bread."

Don't ask for more than you need or want. Just for the day. That's it. Tomorrow's not promised. Confer Jms. 4:13-16; Matt. 6:34; Exo. 16:1-5

4. PETITION FOR FORGIVENESS & FORGIVING
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."

This one's pretty straight forward in prescription, but difficult at times in commission, right? Forgive those who've offended you and seek peace with those you've offended, Christian. Confer Matt. 5:22-24, 6:14-15; Col. 1:13-14

5. PETITION FOR TEMPERANCE & DELIVERANCE
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:"

The idea behind this verse is a petition to God that He make a way out of the testing, trial, etc. Please confer I Cor. 10:13; Matt. 26:41. A quick rejoinder: God doesn't tempt you to do evil! Check out Jms. 1:13-16. So, stop blaming Him for your own messes!

6. ADORATION
"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever."

This is adoration in that you acknowledge that God is Possessor of everything, of power and of glory. Who is this King of Glory? I'll tell you who! Jesus Christ is the KING of GLORY!!! (Ps. 24)

Amen. Indeed, amen and amen!

Being raised as a Roman Catholic, I thought that prayer was rote and a rite. On one count I was right (sorry, no pun intended). "I thought", but realized I was wrong. Prayer is personal communication with God, intimate and private. Doesn't it bug you to get automated calls that solicit low credit card rates or one day blowout sales on purses or the robo-call from your local politician? It's so...impersonal. Guess what? That's how you probably sound like to God if your prayer life is just a script of words. You might as well be using a tele-prompter. Without a personal invitation for Christ to listen to your needs, worries, fears, failures, victories, etc., you're left with a dial tone prayer life.

Talking to God is a privilege. Don't take it for granted. It's the most powerful weapon you'll ever use in your Christian walk (Eph. 6:10-18).

And, if you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord & personal Saviour, friend, you don't know what you're missing! It's Not Too Late to Start A Relationship With Jesus!

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

When I Die, Tear My Stillhouse Down

II Corinthians 5:1

"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

A still house is a make-shift shack tucked and hid somewhere out of sight and scent, where a combination of corn mash, sugar & water are used to distill the ingredients to make a backwood concoction called moonshine, white lightning or mountain dew (No, not the sodie pop). The manufacture was illicit; its distribution was illicit; and the monetary gain was illicit.

The copper (or metal) kettle is as infamous as those moonshiners you see in any old picture. In those same photographs you'll also notice oak barrels. In them was the whiskey where it mixed with charcoal and other sundries like oak chips, apples, honey or Dr. Pepper to give the hard liquor a distinct flavor.

The reason I write about the still house (which, by the way, is a American Southern thing) is that it is an apt metaphor for the sinner's body. In this ramshackle abode dwell all sorts of sinful elements, poisonous compounds. Yet, the body is only part of the equation; sin is a nature and we all have it.

David said in Psalm 51:5, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."

In Psalm 58:3, he adds, "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies."

And, the main source in which sin springs forth is found in Jeremiah 17:9, which states, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Indeed, who can know it but God.

We have no else to blame for our choices but ourselves as a consequence of God's indictment of our nature. And, because there's no hope for any of us, in this life or the next, for absolution from our sinful state and sorry affairs we choose - when faced with this simple truth - to ignore the problem or do something about it.

When people ignore their problem about what to do about their sinful state, they turn to alcohol, drugs, gambling or any other sort of vice. Honestly, it doesn't even have to be something illicit. Anyone or anything that turns your heart away from God is considered an idol. And God made it very clear that He was to be worshipped before anything or anyone else (Exo. 20:3). By the way, the reason people run around doing all sorts

Truly, the only way through the problem of your sinful nature is Jesus Christ. God sent Him to the world to die for your sins (John 3:16) so that, by believing in Him, you would be forgiven and enter into a relationship with God through His Son (I John 1:3; 4:15).

Finally, when that body of sin dies you get a new body. Consider these verses:

1. Romans 6:6 - "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

2. Philippians 3:20-21 - "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

3. II Corinthians 5:1 - "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

Here's a few more you all can look up: II Cor. 5:4; 6:16-18. Eph. 4:22-32; Col. 3:9-25.

The only catch is that, in order to have the Holy Spirit indwell within you (Rom. 8:11), you must be born again (Jn. 3:1-7). Ultimately, when you die that ol' body of sin can be put to rest and you will receive a glorious abode. Yes,, we groan in this makeshift stillhouse, but when I'll die, this ol' stillhouse will be torn down. Hallelujah!

Lord, I Want A New Body and A New Hope!

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

Feelings (Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!)

Romans 6:1-7

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin."

There was a song, a terrible one, that was sung in the '70's and its chorus had this howl of despair from the singer that went like this: "Feelings! Whoa, whoa, whoa feelings!"

Well, the reason I write about feelings is because there are Christians out there who are like crazy barometers of pathos. If they are feeling good then their faith is good; conversely, if they're down, then their faith is down, too. It's quite a roller-coaster ride if you fall into category. Almost like a bipolar believer!

All jesting aside, this unstable Christian walk is a serious matter in that believers who go through emotional unravelings begin to question their salvation or begin to question God.

Your position in Christ, however, has nothing to do with your feelings. Rather, it has everything to do with the fact that is revealed in Ephesians 1:7: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

Are you going to trust your feelings or something you may have been taught in the past? Or are you going to trust what the Word of God says about His provision for your salvation?

In Romans 6, we learn the foundational truth that when we accept Christ as our Savior we are baptized into Christ Jesus. This is not water baptism, although water baptism is a symbolic portrayal of this fact. Instead, Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit immerses us in Christ Jesus, identifying us with Him and sealing us in Him forever.

Verse 4 asserts, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

There really is no adequate way to explain this transaction because our minds cannot fathom the infinite depths of the omniscient mind and wisdom of God. Yet in Ephesians 1 repeatedly affirms that we are "in Christ," or "in Him."

God's word, Friend, is fact and not opinion. If you're seeking an opinion go to a doctor or the Op-Ed pages of your favorite newspaper. Here, we're talking about the eternal truth that will stand the test of time. To wit, in Mark 13:31 Christ declared, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."

Do you believe this today, dear Christian?

Ephesians 2:4-6 adds this gloriously unfathomable security: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

You see, we understand in part, but one day everything shall be made known (I Cor. 13:12).

God has reserved a permanent residence for us with Him in heaven (Jn. 14:1-3). Our eternal destination is both decided and sure.

So, stop living your Christian walk by placing your faith in your feelings and put your entire faith in God' word. The quality of life you'll live as a believer will be determined by where you'll put your trust in. Remember, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17)

Put Your Faith In Jesus Christ Today!

I care not today what the morrow may bring,
If shadow or sunshine or rain,
The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything,
And all of my worries are vain.

Living by faith in Jesus above,
Trusting, confiding in His great love;
From all harm safe in His sheltering arm,
I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.

I know that He safely will carry me through,
No matter what evils betide;
Why should I then care though the tempest may blow,
If Jesus walks close to my side.

Living by faith in Jesus above,
Trusting, confiding in His great love;
From all harm safe in His sheltering arm,
I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.

Part of this post courtesy Dr. Charles Stanley

Do You Know The Bible?

                                                          II Timothy 2:15

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Here's are little funny takes on the Bible. These are actual answers given in response to the questions about the Bible, which were posted on the net. Believe it or not, not all answers came from kids!

1. The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.
    
2. Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night.

3. Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the apostles.

4. A Christian should have only one wife. This is called monotony.

5. Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol.

6. Solomon had 100 wives and 700 porcupines.

7. The epistles were the wives of the apostles.

*

A pastor told his congregation, "Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you all understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark, chapter 17."

The following Sunday, as the pastor prepared to deliver his sermon, he asked for a show of hands, wanting to know how many people had read Mark 17. Almost every hand went up.

The pastor smiled and said, "Mark only has 16 chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying."

*

A new pastor in Waxahachie, Texas, USA, spent the first four days making personal visits to each of his prospective congregation inviting them to come to his inaugural services.

The following Sunday the church was all but empty. Accordingly, the pastor placed a notice in the local newspapers, stating that, because the church was dead, it was everyone's duty to give it a decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the following Sunday afternoon.

Morbidly curious, a large crowd turned out for the 'funeral'.

In front of the pulpit they saw a closed coffin which was covered in flowers. After the pastor had delivered the eulogy, he opened the coffin and invited his congregation to come forward and pay their final respects to their dead church.

Filled with curiosity as to what would represent the corpse of a dead church, all the people eagerly lined up to look in the coffin. Each mourner peeped into the coffin then quickly turned away with a guilty, sheepish look.

In the coffin, tilted at the correct angle, was a large mirror.

*

A fringe benefit of soul winning