Happy Monday

The Abundant Life

 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last." - John 15:16
Let's begin today with a little absurdity. Let's say an investment firm phones a wealthy person and asks him to let them invest all his money for him. I'm sure the rich man would ask, "And what would be the return on my investment?"
Here comes the shocker. "Based on our research, we can guarantee that you will lose no more that $50,000 a year. Yes, sir, you can count on it. Let us take control of your money, and in a few years you will be broke."
The man would decline the offer, wouldn't he?  Of course he would!

Now, Christian, if we have only one life to invest, we'd better ask about the bottom line. What does God promise in John 15 to those who follow Christ? First, Jesus says, "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit" (verse 5). Second, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (verse 7). Third, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (verse 11). Fourth, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love" (verse 10). Think of it! A life enveloped in the love of God. Then He summarizes: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit... Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name" (verse 16).
Friend, how do you like those dividends! 

Prayer

Lord, may I seek my all in You. Amen.

The world tries to buy joy, love, and lasting fruit. But those things only come to us one way--by abiding in Christ!

Daily Smile: 

In The News:

Syrian Christians: 'Why is the U.S. at War With Us?' Syrian Christians are asking why the United States supports extremists who want to turn Syria into an Islamic state, according to CBN News. That testimony came during a congressional hearing on Syria's religious minorities on Tuesday. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who chairs the House subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, called on President Barack Obama to defend the rights of Syrian Christians. Smith said statistics showed that "Christians are even more fearful for their lives and safety than other segments of the Syrian population." Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom, testified that Islamic insurgents were targeting Christians for "ethno-religious cleansing." Christian Solidarity International CEO Dr. John Eibner said displaced Christians were asking him, "Why is the U.S. at war against us?" Eibner told the panel he recently returned from a trip to Syria where he met with "many resilient and courageous Syrians," mainly displaced Christians and church workers. "Victims recounted to me the religious cleansing of Christian neighborhoods in Homs and Qusair by armed jihadists who threatened them with death if they did not leave their homes," he said. He added that the U.S. should work with Russia to negotiate peace rather than help Sunni Muslims turn the country into an Islamic state.

Laos: Christian Families Evicted From Land Refuse to Leave Faith Local authorities have taken the citizenship and farmland of six Christian families in Laos, promising to reinstate them only when the 16 people give up their Christian faith, Voice of the Martyrs reports. In December, authorities and village party members confiscated the registration papers of the families, saying they would be returned if they renounced their faith. Next, they also took the deeds to their land. On May 7, when two Christian leaders attempted to intercede for the families with the vice president of the Patriotic Front, they were told that return of the registration papers and the land deeds was contingent on the families renouncing their faith. The families said, "We are willing to die rather than renounce our faith." Voice of the Martyrs is helping the believers with food and fuel.

Traditional Marriage Supporters: Court Set Dangerous Precedent The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday essentially legalized gay marriage in California after ruling that defenders of Proposition 8, the voter-approved amendment defining marriage as being between a man and woman, had no legal standing to defend it. Backers of Prop 8 say the court has set a dangerous precedent that in effect neutralizes the will of the people who vote, CBN News reports. "The definition of marriage should be left to the people. When the people validly enact a law to limit marriage to one man and one woman, it should be the people who decide whether that law should be reversed," said attorney Robert Tyler of Advocates for Faith and Freedom. Karen Kenney of the San Fernando Valley Patriots called Wednesday's ruling a new kind of tyranny in which the courts advocate social justice over social structure and social traditions and standards. Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, said: "If someone doesn't like a proposition that has passed in the state of California, arguably, all they would have to do, is find one judge, one federal judge to declare it unconstitutional, and then to get a wink and nod from the attorney general and the governor, and it's over. I think that's a terrible, terrible situation to have for the voters -- to have their votes count -- and to have their votes respected in a proper system." It will take at least 25 days before the Supreme Court's ruling becomes official and gay marriages resume in California. If supporters of Proposition 8 ask for a re-hearing, then gay marriages may still be barred beyond the 25-day period.

Algeria's Protestants Want Their Churches Back The Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA) has reaffirmed its desire to regain control of several former churches used today for other purposes, World Watch Monitor reports. Christians are the distinct minority in Algeria, representing less than 1 percent of Algeria's 38 million inhabitants, and often face restrictions when seeking to build new churches. The presence of Protestant Christians in Algeria dates back to the French colonial era, when a number of churches were built. However, after the country gained independence in 1962, many of these buildings were given to other purposes. One example is the temple of Mostaganem in the northwest of the country, which became a clinic in 1976. In the north-eastern city of Béjaïa, a temple once belonging to the Evangelical Reformed Church (now the EPA), was given by local authorities to the General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA) after the church's pastor fell seriously ill and returned to France. Now, Protestants in cities like Béjaïa and Mostaganem are petitioning for their old churches to be returned.