Happy Monday

The Lord's Work
We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. - 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Can you imagine a farmer "trusting the Lord" for a good corn crop but never bothering to take the seed out of the storage bin and plant it? Although bringing life from the seed is the work of God, He expects the farmer to be involved in the process.

The same principle of cooperation is true of witnessing, and we see it clearly in the book of Acts 2, when thousands responded to his message about salvation.
As I read of Peter's exploits, I say to myself, What a man! What an outstanding example of Christian witness. And it's true. Peter was truly a mighty man of God. But the last verse of Acts 2 puts it all back into perspective: "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Although the fruit of witness is the result of the Holy Spirit's work, the Lord uses people to accomplish it.
Remember the story of Cornelius the centurion? "One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, 'Cornelius!...Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter'" (Acts 10:3-5).
Why didn't the angel just say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved?" Why send someone to Joppa to find Simon Peter? Because God uses people, not angels, as His witnesses to Christ.

Christian, what a privilege we have to cooperate with God in telling others of His salvation in Christ.
PrayerLord, thank You for the privilege I have to join You in Your work. Amen.

Food For Thought:
The fruit of our witness is up to the Lord. 
Amen!



Daily Smile:
Kevin and Ryan, ages five and three, were waiting for breakfast one Saturday morning. As their mother was preparing some pancakes, the boys began to argue loudly over who would get the first one from the griddle.
 
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.'" she explained.
 
Kevin immediately turned to his younger brother and said, "Okay, Ryan, you be Jesus!"


In The News:

President Morsi Denies Christian Persecution in Egypt
Amid eyewitness accounts and reports that Coptic Christians are leaving their homes after threats from Muslim radicals, Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi has denied that there is persecution against Christians in the country, International Christian Concern reports. According to WND.com, an Egyptian citizen in Cairo, who asked to remain anonymous for security purposes, says the denial is because of how Morsi defines persecution: "Morsi denies outright the Copts are persecuted in Egypt. Morsi is not lying because he sincerely believes what he is saying. The Western definition of persecution differs to Morsi's understanding of persecution because Morsi is following the Islamic meaning. ... As a member of the Brotherhood, Morsi subscribes to the Islamic tenets of treating non-Muslims as second-class citizens. They must be subdued, they are not equal with Muslims, they do not enjoy equal status with Muslims. They are fair game. Islam teaches this is not persecution. ... At the end of the day Morsi is telling us this is not persecution." The Cairo citizen believes Copts will see no change in their status or situation: "Morsi believes that nothing needs to change, so nothing will change. The status quo will remain and persecution of the Copts as taught in Islam will continue under Muslim Brotherhood rule."

Yale May Not Recognize Christian Fraternity
A newly approved Christian fraternity at Yale University may be denied official recognition and student group funding because it plans to restrict membership to men who believe in Jesus, WORLD on Campus reports. Just days after the leaders of Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX) announced the formation of the Yale chapter, the student newspaper Yale Daily News reported that the group would "have to change its membership rules if it intends to comply with Yale's anti-discrimination policies." Yale's policy bans all university-affiliated groups from discrimination based on "sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, or national or ethnic origin," though groups like Yale Law Women exclude men. While BYX requires its brothers to be Christians, it does not exclude non-Christians from the group's social events. At Yale, BYX members said they hoped to strengthen the Christian community, but also provide a social alternative to traditional Greek activities for anyone interested. John Meesek, Yale's associate dean for student organizations and physical resources, told the Yale Daily News that "exclusivity on the basis of religion is against Yale's anti-discrimination policies," but declined to comment on the BYX chapter. Yale representatives have declined to comment to any news source about the future of BYX's registration, but communications officer Karen Peart said the dean's office was working to resolve the matter and would communicate a resolution once one was made.

Colorado City Council Sticks with Opening Prayer
The city council in Pueblo, Colo., is sticking with its opening prayer, for now, according to CBN News. It was previously reported that the council would cancel the prayer and replace it with a moment of silence following a legal threat from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. However, The Pueblo Chieftain said the council's rules and bylaws call for an invocation, and it would take a majority vote to stop the official prayer.

Illinois Court Affirms Pharmacists' Conscience Rights
An Illinois appellate court ruled Sept. 21 that the state may not punish pharmacists for refusing to sell possible abortion-inducing drugs in violation of their religious convictions, WORLD News Service reports. "The decision is a great victory for religious freedom," said Mark Rienzi, senior counsel for The Becket Fund for Religious Liberties, which has represented the pharmacies since 2005. "The government shouldn't kick business owners out of the market just because it dislikes their religious beliefs." The case began after then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued a mandate in 2005 requiring all pharmacies and pharmacists to sell Plan B, also known as the "morning-after pill." When taken by women within 72 hours of unprotected sex, the drug may prevent pregnancy but also may cause an early abortion. In 2005, pharmacists Luke Vander Bleek, a Catholic, and Glenn Kosirog, a Christian, filed a lawsuit against the governor. A circuit court dismissed their claim, but the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that the case must be heart. In 2011, a trial court ordered an injunction to halt the rule, saying it was designed to target religious objectors. The appellate court upheld that decision Sept. 21. Six other states -- Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi and South Dakota -- have also passed laws allowing pharmacists to refuse to dispense emergency-contraception drugs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER???





October 08, 2012  Last day to register to vote in the November 6, 2012 general elections in Louisiana...