We've never been to a funeral, no matter how tragic or expected the person's death, when much of the service and the conversations surrounding it didn't center on memories of his or her life. We recall happier times we spent together. We reflect on what this individual was like. We regret that we won't be able to enjoy their smile or laughter anymore on earth.
We look back. That's all we humans really know how to do. To look back is to know. To look ahead is merely to guess and wonder.
But not for the believer in Jesus Christ. Our view looking forward, though lacking in some of the specifics God has chosen not to reveal, is one of confidence and knowledge, of hope and authentic anticipation. Randy Alcorn writes in Game Plan for Life, "As people age, they tend to look back at when they were at their best, knowing they'll never regain those days. But if you're a Christ-follower, you don't look back to your peak. You look forward to it."
Imagine being encouraged, as Randy says, that "the strongest I've ever felt is just a hint of what's to come." Imagine being sure that "the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God" ( Romans 8:21). Imagine being able to look ahead . . . and know.
Pray this prayer:
Lord, there's so much I don't understand. But as one who has given his life to you, I pray that you will settle my heart whenever I doubt your promises. Help me believe in your love for me.
I Serve A Risen Savior
- I serve a risen Savior
He's in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He's always near. - He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart. - In all the world around me
I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary,
I never will despair;
I know that He is leading,
Through all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing
Will come at last. - Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs
To Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him,
The Help of all who find,
None other is so loving,
So good and kind.
Daily Smile:
"I'm Fine!"
Farmer Joe had an accident and decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company (responsible for the accident) to court. In court, the trucking company's fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. "Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine'?," questioned the lawyer.
Farmer Joe responded, "Well I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the..."
"I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine'!"
Farmer Joe said, "Well I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..."
The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question."
By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie."
Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans. Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, "Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?"
It was then that I said, "I'm fine."
In The News:
Massacre of 46 Nigerian Students Linked to Boko Haram
Nigerian police have arrested the masterminds behind the deadly Oct. 1 massacre at a state university in the northwestern town of Mubi that killed 46 students, many of whom were Christians, Christianity Today reports. Police also confirmed the gunmen were members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect, though Boko Haram denied involvement. Nigerian officials reported that the four university students who allegedly devised the attack acted in response to recent student government elections, targeting Muslims and Christians alike who were either newly elected student leaders or students who voted for them. However, persecution watchdogs and the Christian Association of Nigeria insist the gunmen specifically targeted Christians in the attack, only killing Muslims on accident. "CAN rejects the theory of election dispute as responsible for the massacre ... considering the way it was reportedly carried out," CAN national secretary Musa Asake said; according to several students who escaped the massacre, the gunmen first asked victims if they were Christians before shooting or knifing them.
Romney Pledges to End Planned Parenthood Funding
After announcing this week that he had no plans to push for new anti-abortion legislation, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney clarified his stance by explaining that he would still take action as president to cut funding of Planned Parenthood, America's largest abortion provider, CBN News reports. "I think I've said time and time again: I'm a pro-life candidate," Romney said at a campaign stop in Ohio. "I'll be a pro-life president." Romney said he did intend to take pro-life action even if not pushing directly for legislation targeting abortion. "The actions I'll take immediately are to remove funding for Planned Parenthood," he said. "It will not be part of my budget." He also said he would reinstate the Mexico City policy, which says no U.S. tax dollars can be used to pay for abortions in other countries. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama continues to tell women voters that Romney will try to overturn Roe v. Wade, accusing Romney of trying to "cloud" the issue by "hiding" a pro-life agenda.
As Refugees Continue to Flee Syria, Ministry Calls for Aid
More than 300,000 Syrians have now fled their homeland to neighboring countries to escape the ongoing civil war. According to Christian Aid Mission, Islamic extremists are succeeding in dividing up Syrian territory under various militias in order to help bring down the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite Muslim who has protected the Christian minority. Salafi Muslim extremists, who insist on sharia law, are behind the efforts to cleanse Syria of Christians and moderate Muslims -- and are forcing the Christians to flee. "There are killings every day now that go unreported in the news media," Christian Aid says. Though ministries and NGOs have mobilized to help Syrian refugees through the winter, most currently lack basic supplies and shelter. Christian Aid has set up a special fund to aid Syrian Christians in Jordan, and is calling for Christians overseas to assist in sending emergency aid. Indigenous missionaries on the ground expect another million Syrian refugees to flee into Jordan in the next six months despite Jordan's official closure of its borders with Syria and threats from Salafi terrorists. Syrian refugees have also fled to Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Turkey, and aid is needed in every receiving state, Christian Aid says.
Islam Wins a Growing Number of Followers in Haiti
Islam has won a growing number of followers in the impoverished country of Haiti, especially after the catastrophic 2010 earthquake that killed 300,000 people and left millions more homeless, CNSNews.com reports. The disaster drew in aid groups from around the world, including Islamic Relief USA, which built 200 shelters and a secondary school with 20 classrooms. "After the earthquake we had a lot of people join," said Robert Dupuy, an imam (Islamic spiritual leader) in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. "We were organized. We had space in the mosques to receive people and food to feed them." Port-au-Prince now has at least five mosques, a Muslim parliament member and a nightly local television program devoted to Islam. Just as there are no reliable figures for many things in Haiti, including Port-au-Prince's exact population, there are no firm statistics on the number of Muslims there. A 2009 study by the Pew Research Center on the world's Muslim population estimated that Haiti had about 2,000 devotees, but Islamic leaders in the country insist the number is much higher and growing. However, the Haitian government doesn't recognize Islam as an official religion, nor does it honor Muslim marriages.
 | ||||
Presidential Election
Tuesday, November 6th
No comments:
Post a Comment