Happy Wednesday

Readers:

   This morning I decided to share an email that I wrote to several Christian groups over 4½ years ago...

HE Leadeth Me

Good Morning,
     I finish the paper layout about 4:30AM Thursday (Jan. 31st) and got about 2 hours sleep before heading to McComb... Just as the paper was finished printing, it started to rain and I loaded my truck...  I had to hurry because the papers sitting on the loading dock was getting wet... After loading the papers, I realized that I have covered my supply of plastic bags under 500+ pounds of papers, by then it was a huge down pour... Now instead of delivering papers as I drove, I would have to go home instead... A weather report on the radio told me just how bad the rain storm was that I was driving through... I was under a Tornado Watch... I should expect 60+ Mph winds... The skies grew darker, but I could still see a glimmer of light about 12 miles down the long straight highway in front of me... The LORD's Prayer comes to mind and I said it as I emphasized some of the words...

The LORD is my SHEPHERD; I shall not want. HE maketh me to lie down in green pastures: HE leadeth me beside the still waters. HE restoreth my soul: HE leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

     My focus on that  faint glimmer of light in the distance soon overpowered all the darkness around me... I thought to myself is this what the light at the end of the dark tunnel looks like... I can only hope so... With just a few miles to go to Tylertown, I broke free of the darkness and although it was still cloudy, the light shone all around me... I turned South to Franklinton and as I drove the darkness and rain as it headed East caught up with me about 5 minutes later... The highway ahead of me  was littered with fallen limbs... The strong wind that shook the truck and sometimes pushed me into the oncoming lane,  did not bother me... My LORD was with me, I needed no one else... 

    The last few miles were difficult as visibility was cut to about 100 feet, I slowed down and a small red car without their headlights on came flying by... Thank You LORD... With deep ditches on both sides, there was not anywhere to pull over, I trusted the one that leads me daily through the sun shiny days to do the same during stormy weather and soon I saw my final turn that would take me to the house... Thank You LORD...

     Today (Feb. 1st), the sun is shining... The chance of rain is about 10%... It is human nature for us to pick the pretty days and say, LORD, I'll take this walk by myself, but it is the pretty days that I feel I need HIM even more... 

     Everyone calls on the LORD when bad weather comes, but how about the pretty days... Do you seek HIS guidance on the pretty days??? or Do you say, "I'll walk by myself today LORD"...

HE is the All-Weather GOD...

YBIC,

Richard

Daily Smile: Kid's Joke of The Day

Patient: Doctor, Doctor I keep thinking I'm invisible 

Doctor: Who said that?

In The News:

Poll: PCUSA Members Increasingly Favoring Same-Sex Marriage
According to a recent survey by Presbyterian Research Services, support for same-sex marriage among Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) members and pastors has considerably increased since 2005, the Christian Post reports. In 2005, 23 percent of PCUSA members supported same-sex marriage; in 2012, the number had increased to 34 percent. Among pastors, support for same-sex marriage in 2005 was 35 percent; in 2012, it is at 49 percent. "This result indicates a broad-based shift in opinions across the church in only a few years," said Jack Marcum, coordinator of research services at Presbyterian Mission Agency and author of the published findings. Though the PCUSA's General Assembly voted this summer to keep the traditional marriage definition in the denomination's constitution, "longer term, the effect of generational change will be felt: 75 percent of young adult advisory delegates at the General Assembly supported the redefinition of marriage," Marcum said. "Hence, the next effort to change the marriage definition might well succeed. Indeed, it's possible that this year's effort would have succeeded, save for arguments that such a radical redefinition was too much change in the denomination, too soon."

Egypt Frees Boys Held for Alleged Quran Defiling
An Egyptian security official says authorities have ordered the release of two Coptic Christian boys taken into juvenile detention for allegedly urinating on the Quran, but they will remain under investigation, WORLD News Service reports. Security chief Gen. Attiya Bazrou in Beni Suef province, south of Cairo, says the boys, ages 9 and 10, were taken Thursday to a police station to await their parents. A local radical Muslim cleric had publicized the alleged defiling. Rights groups say the incident showcases Islamist intimidation of Copts, estimated at 8 to 10 percent of the population. According to International Christian Concern, accusations of insulting Islam have increased since violent protests swept the Middle East last month over a U.S.-produced film that ridicules Islam; at least 17 people in Egypt have been charged with blasphemy following the release of the film. "However, it is not the film that should be blamed for the influx of blasphemy cases," said Aidan Clay, ICC regional manager for the Middle East. "Rather, it is extremists who have used the film as an excuse to press their Islamic agenda, arguing that banning blasphemy means standing up for Islam. The battle is being waged by Islamists who want their interpretation of religion to be declared as the only acceptable version. Sadly, the Islamists are getting their way, and blasphemy charges, like those filed against the two young boys, will inevitably increase."

Legal Groups Sue to Overturn California Gay Therapy Ban
Two federal lawsuits have been filed against California's new law banning "reparative therapy" for teens struggling with their sexual orientation, CBN News reports. Beginning Jan. 1, licensed professional therapists in California will no longer be permitted to tell anyone under the age of 18 that it is possible to change sexual orientation. "[The therapies] have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery," said Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown, who signed the ban into law Oct. 1. However, two legal groups, the Pacific Justice Institute and Liberty Counsel, filed suit last week. The Pacific Justice Institute, who says the law violates First Amendment and equal protection rights, is naming a plaintiff who says he has benefited from the reparative therapy. "When it benefits some people and may or may not benefit other people, there's no basis for the state to step in," Pacific Justice Institute attorney Matthew McReynolds said. Liberty Counsel filed a civil rights suit Thursday, naming as plaintiffs two Southern California boys, ages 14 and 15, who have been undergoing the therapy. The suit claims the ban violates the teens' freedom of speech and freedom of religion by denying them the chance to be cured of "unwanted same-sex attraction."

Tyndale House Publishers Latest to File Suit Against Contraceptive Mandate
Tyndale House Publishers, a for-profit Christian company, filed the 31st lawsuit against the federal government over its contraceptive health insurance mandate on Oct. 2, WORLD News Service reports. "Tyndale and its owners are Christians who are committed to biblical principles, including the belief that all human beings are created in the image and likeness of God from the moment of their conception/fertilization," the lawsuit reads. "But defendants' recently enacted regulatory mandate under [the healthcare law] forces Tyndale to provide and pay for drugs and devices that it and its owners believe can cause the death of human beings created in the image and likeness of God shortly after their conception/fertilization." The company said under the law it would have to begin providing coverage for several objectionable drugs and devices: abortifacients -- including Plan B and ella -- as well as intrauterine devices. The company's self-insured plan, which renewed Oct. 1, would have to provide that coverage for Tyndale's 260 full-time employees, but Tyndale has refused to add that coverage this year. 

Early voting in Louisiana • Oct. 23-30

The Presidential Election is on

Tuesday, November 6, 2012.

Happy Tuesday

Help for the Hurting
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. - James 5:16

When we hear about someone who has been brought low, either through his own sin or through no fault of his own, do we weep over it? Or are we quick to condemn--quick to pass on gossip? It's easy to snicker and to take on a holier-than-thou attitude. But it's more profitable to pray.

In today's passage, we find Job's friends doing everything but comforting him. They try to expose some hidden transgression. They cast doubt on the integrity of his family. They bring his honesty into question and imply that he obtained his wealth by dishonest means.
Finally, Job cries out, "My friends scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!" (16:20-21, KJV). That's the need. Rather than punishing people with words that are as sharp as knives, we need to pray for them with words that are directed by the spirit of truth. It is through prayer that we can help hurting people focus their eyes on Christ.
The Bible challenges us to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. And during the painful process, the Bible tells us to "consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:3). Is there a person you know who is suffering right now? Will you take a few minutes and pray for that individual?
Prayer
Lord, just as You have showed mercy to me, give me a heart of compassion for the frailty of others and a passion to pray for them. Amen.

It is through prayer that we can help hurting people focus their eyes on Christ.


Daily Smile: Kid's Joke of The Day


Doctor: "Good news you passed your hearing test!" 

Patient: "HUH"


In The News:


Coptic Children Arrested for Defiling Quran in Egypt
Two Coptic Christian boys in Egypt, ages 9 and 10, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly desecrating pages of a Quran, International Christian Concern reports. Mina Nady Farag, 9, and Nabil Nagy Rizk, 10, were detained Sept. 30 when a local imam from their home village of Ezbet Marco in Beni Suef province accused them of tearing pages of a Quran. They are being held in a juvenile detention center until their scheduled court appearance on Sunday. Accusations of insulting Islam have increased since violent protests swept the Middle East last month over a U.S.-produced film that ridicules Islam; at least 17 people in Egypt have been charged with blasphemy following the release of the film. "However, it is not the film that should be blamed for the influx of blasphemy cases," said Aidan Clay, ICC regional manager for the Middle East. "Rather, it is extremists who have used the film as an excuse to press their Islamic agenda, arguing that banning blasphemy means standing up for Islam. The battle is being waged by Islamists who want their interpretation of religion to be declared as the only acceptable version. Sadly, the Islamists are getting their way, and blasphemy charges, like those filed against the two young boys, will inevitably increase."

Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy: 'We Support Biblical Families'
Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy voiced his support for "biblical families" in one of his first interviews since this summer's controversy over his comments in support of traditional marriage, Yahoo! News reports. Cathy told Atlanta TV station WXIA in an interview released Wednesday that families were important to "those of us who are concerned about being able to hang on to our heritage. ... We support biblical families, and they've always been a part of that."

India: Hindu Extremists Break Up Prayer Meeting, Detain Four Christians
A mob of about 50 Hindu extremists broke up a prayer meeting held for the HIV-positive and the blind in Karnataka, India, on September 18, according to the Karnataka Legal Aid Cell, Open Doors News reports. Led by the president of the local Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, the attackers destroyed the dinner prepared for the worshippers and attempted to capture the pastor, identified as Raju. They forced four worshippers, at least one of them blind, to the local police station, and filed a complaint accusing the pastor of forcible conversions to Christianity. The four Christians were detained through the night. Christian leaders in the area have intervened to defend the believers.

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez Says He'd Vote for Obama
Hugo Chavez, the socialist dictator of Venezuela, has given President Obama his seal of approval, WORLD News Service reports. Last weekend Chavez said, "If I was from the United States, I'd vote for Obama." He went on to say: "Obama is a good guy. I think that if Obama was from Barlovento or some Caracas neighborhood, he'd vote for Chavez." Conservative pundits had a field day with this statement. Gary Bauer, for example, said: "It's obvious why Hugo Chavez supports Obama and thinks Obama would support him. Chavez certainly knows a fellow socialist when he sees one, and he also knows a weak-kneed American president when he sees one."

TODAY is the LAST DAY that you can REGISTER to VOTE in The Presidential Election...

 

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.

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

Happy Sunday

Nurturing Your New Nature

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires. - 1 Peter 4:1-2

In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul tells us about our two natures that war within us. And while it is true that the nature we feed will grow strong and dominate the other, we must be very realistic about the power of the old nature and its ability to rebound and gain control. It doesn't take much nourishment for the old nature of sin to revive and flourish again.

Some of the great foundational realities of Christian living are tucked away in Romans 6. In verses 12 and 13 we read: "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life."

Paul says that to go forward in spiritual growth, we must deal ruthlessly with sin in our lives. Paul calls us to feed the new nature and starve the old; to be dead to sin and alive to God, walking in newness of life. I know of no better way to do that than to begin each day with a quiet time of personal Bible reading and prayer. Without this time of reading, study, recommitment, and prayer, we cannot hope to provide the nourishment our souls need each day.

Yes, sin will remain with us, but it will no longer make the rules, chair the meetings, and command the army. It will not have its own way. Once we were powerless as the servants of sin, but, thank God, that is no longer the case.

Prayer
Lord, today I will nourish the life of the Spirit within me by making choices that starve the old nature. Amen.

Which nature are you nourishing today? 

Daily Smile:


Ms. Terri asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their favorite Bible stories. She was puzzled by Kyle's picture, which showed four people on an airplane, so she asked him which story it was meant to represent..
 
"The Flight to Egypt ," was his reply.
 
Pointing at each figure, Ms. Terri said, "That must be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. But who's the fourth person?"
 
"Oh, that's Pontius - the pilot!"

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Happy Saturday

After Salvation, Then What!

You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. - 1 Thessalonians 2:1

Many years ago I used to tell about picking up a hitchhiker who got into my car and promptly used the Lord's name in vain. As I talked to this young man and explained the gospel to him, he felt we had met somewhere before. It turned out that one year before, I had led him in prayer to receive Jesus Christ. Here he was, a year later, with no evidence of the new life in Christ within him.
This bothered me much, and as I prayed about it and studied the Scriptures, I was convinced of the importance of follow-up in the life of every new believer.
One of the passages underlying my conviction was Philippians 2:14-16: "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the WORD of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."

How could Paul talk about running and laboring for nothing when, back in 1 Corinthians 15:58, he said that his labor was not in vain in the Lord? These Philippians had been converted to Christ and were part of the local church in Philippi. Then why on earth was Paul talking about laboring for nothing? Because he knew that the Great Commission of Jesus Christ could be fulfilled only if every Philippian believer grew to maturity and did his part.
To see someone come to Christ is only the beginning. Let us take the same attitude of responsibility toward new believers that Paul felt toward the Philippians.

Prayer
"Lord, give me a heart of love and a desire to help new believers to be built up in the faith.  Amen."

Is there a younger believer you could help to grow?

think about this!


Daily Smile:
A 6-year-old was overheard reciting the Lord's Prayer at a church service, "And forgive us our trash passes, as we forgive those who passed trash against us."

Time Is Running Out...

Happy Friday

Doing What Comes Naturally

Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! - -1 Corinthians 9:16

There is a saying in management circles that "people do not do what you expect but what you inspect." Today's passage of Scripture indicates this is not true of the personal witness of a motivated Christian. For some Christians, witnessing is reserved for the one night a week when they go out calling in the visitation program. They talk to people about Christ, but that's it for the week.
What a contrast with the report in Acts 8:4-5: "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there."
We find Philip in the city of Samaria, apparently alone, with no apostle looking over his shoulder, witnessing to the entire city. Later, in Acts 8:26, we find Philip out in the desert, responding to the Lord's prompting to catch up with an Ethiopian man in a chariot. The man was seeking the Lord, and Philip had the wonderful privilege of introducing him to Christ.

I believe the key to this kind of ongoing witness is found in the preceding chapters of Acts, where we see the apostles and other believers filled with the Holy Spirit, being unable to contain themselves when it came to talking about Christ. For them, witnessing was the natural thing to do. 
 
When Christ fills our hearts and minds, we will naturally share Him. We don't need an external manager to inspect us in order to get us to perform. The motivation comes from within, from Jesus.

Prayer
Lord, give me a vision for the lost so that my witness for You isn't a duty but the natural product of my relationship with You. Amen.

True witness for Christ is not coerced or forced; it is the overflow of a life of fellowship with the Savior.



Daily Smile:
A little boy was attending his first wedding.

After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?"
 
"Sixteen," the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he had an answer
so quickly.
 
"How do you know that?"
 
"Easy," the little boy said.
 
"All you have to do is add it up, like the pastor said,
4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."


I Will Sing The Wondrous Story

I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me.
How He left His home in glory
For the cross of Calvary.

Refrain

Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.

I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way.

Refrain

I was bruised, but Jesus healed me,
Faint was I from many a fall,
Sight was gone, and fears possessed me,
But He freed me from them all.

Refrain

Days of darkness still come o’er me,
Sorrow’s path I often tread,
But His presence still is with me;
By His guiding hand I’m led.

Refrain

He will keep me till the river
Rolls its waters at my feet;
Then He’ll bear me safely over,
Where the loved ones I shall meet.

Refrain

In The News:

Christians Bombed, Burned Out in Kenya and Tanzania
Kenyan police are investigating a deadly attack on a church in the capital city of Nairobi, CBN News reports. One child was killed and at least three seriously wounded when an explosive device was set off in a Sunday school class full of children. "We heard a blast from outside on the side of the nursery school and people started stampeding and scampering all over," said Jackson Mwangi, who was worshipping in the church when the bomb went off. "The kids who were injured ... the congregation started taking them to the hospital." Police believe the Somali Muslim group al Shabaab is behind the attack; churches in Kenya have been a target of al Shabaab since Kenyan forces moved into Somalia last year to fight the militants. Meanwhile, just south of Kenya in Tanzania, Christians are also under attack: Voice of the Martyrs reports radical Muslims burned six houses and several cars belonging to a pastor and other Christians, as well as burning alive 60 pigs that belonged to Christians.

U.S. Embassy Warns Female Missionaries in Egypt
The U.S. Embassy in Cairo has posted a warning on its website for American citizens living in Egypt, particularly female missionaries, CBN News reports. Officials cautioned on the embassy's website that the government had "credible information suggesting terrorist interest in targeting U.S. female missionaries in Egypt" and warned Americans to "exercise vigilance, taking necessary precautions to maintain their personal security." The embassy in Egypt has been the scene of fevered anti-American demonstrations in recent weeks, and the climate has also deteriorated for Egyptian Christians, as a Coptic priest claimed Friday that a group of Christian families had fled their town in the northern Sinai after threats from Islamists.

Swing Voters Dismayed by Obama's Abortion Record
The Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) released poll data Sept. 26 showing that 54 percent of swing voters say they're less likely to vote for President Obama after learning he opposes laws protecting babies who are born alive in abortion clinics, WORLD News Service reports. The poll, conducted by the polling company inc./WomenTrend, shows 69 percent of swing voters also reject the new federal mandate requiring business owners to cover contraceptives and potential abortion-inducing drugs under their insurance plans. "We are really encouraged by the results," SBA List communications director Mallory Quigley told CitizenLink. "We're going to use [them] to educate voters leading up to the election." The data indicates that once people learn about Obama's history regarding taxpayer funding of abortions, they are most likely to turn away from him, she said. That information could prove critical in a tight race: The Committee of Justice predicts that should Obama be re-elected, he will likely be able to appoint at least one replacement for a retiring conservative justice on the U.S. Supreme Court -- potentially tipping the balance of its makeup to the far left.

California Governor Signs Law Banning Sex Orientation Therapy for Teens
California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Saturday a bill banning what is known as "reparative" or "conversion" therapy for minors -- a controversial therapy used to help those struggling with same-sex attractions combat their unwanted desires, the Christian Post reports. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, says no mental health professional will able to provide to anyone under the age of 18 therapy that seeks "to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex" -- regardless of the "willingness of a patient" or a "patient's parent." Mental health providers who violate the law will be subject to discipline by whatever group regulates and licenses them. The organization Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays, who opposed the bill and called it unconstitutional, wrote in an open letter in August to the bill's author, Sen. Ted Lieu: "As parents of gays and ex-gays, we are ashamed of your willingness to take action against parents, children, and the family in order to support gay activists. California is not a socialist state and our children do not belong to the government, subject to the ideology of the state over the objections of their parents."

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Happy Thursday

REASSURANCE

Scripture Reading: II Thessalonians 2: 1-5

Paul now specifically aims at assuring his readers that they will not go through the day of the Lord. He had taught them, when personally with them, about this day from the Old Testament (vs. 5). Meanwhile false prophets claiming to speak "by the Spirit" (vs. 2) had entered in teaching that the day of the Lord had already come. A spurious letter, or letters, had arrived claiming Pauline authorship asserting that the Tribulation. was upon the Thessalonians. Had the Lord failed to come for His own?

It would be easy for the Thessalonians to conclude that the persecutions they were experiencing were what the prophets of old had predicted. This certainly disturbed their calmness. So much so, that many had even quit their daily occupations (3:10-12). Their lives had certainly been disrupted by eschatological teaching. Paul says that "that day shall not come except there come a falling away first" (KJV). "That day" refers back to the "day of the Lord" of verse two. All texts read "day of the Lord" not "day of Christ."  The exact translation of verse three reads "for that day will not be except there come the apostasy first." What apostasy is Paul referring to that must precede the day of the Lord? If it is a general departure from the faith, how does that assure the Thessalonians (and us) that Christians will not go through the day of the Lord? How would we know when the apostasy begins? The basic and simple meaning of the word "apostasy" (verb, aphistemi) is simply departure. (Lk. 2:37; 4:13; 13:27; Acts 12:10; II Cor. 12:8; II Tim. 2:19 etc.). What "departure" had Paul previously taught the Thessalonians about? What departure guarantees them, and us, that believers will not go through the day of the Lord? The answer is in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. The departure of the church from the world satisfies our inquiry. So once again Paul is asserting a pre-tribulational rapture. We can be sure of our safety in this regard.



Daily Smile:
Three Gifts
Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered.

They discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother.

The first said: "I built a big house for our mother."

The second said: "I sent her a Mercedes with a driver."

The third said: "You remember how our mother enjoys reading the Bible. Now she can't see very well. So I sent her a remarkable parrot that recites the entire Bible. It took elders in the church 12 years to teach him. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse and the parrot recites it."

Soon thereafter, their mother sent out her letters of thanks.

"Milton," she said, "the house you built is so huge. I live only in one room, but I have to clean the whole house.

"Gerald," she said, "I am too old to travel. I stay most of the time at home so I rarely use the Mercedes. And that driver is so rude! He's a pain!"

"But Donald," she said, "the little chicken you sent was delicious!"

In The News:

Ministry's App Makes Children's Bible Available in Closed Countries
Scandinavia Christian Publishing House has now made 85 children's Bibles available as apps that can be downloaded and read on iPhones and iPads, with Android and Kindle formats on their way, ASSIST News Service reports. The apps are being sold worldwide, even in closed Muslim and communist countries where the written Bible and other Christian books are not permitted. "We are able to monitor global sales of our apps daily," said Scandinavia's Jorgen Vium Olesen. "In just one day, 300 Bibles and biblical books were downloaded in approximately 60 countries. There were 94 books in the USA, 25 in China, 23 in Saudi Arabia, 19 in the United Arab Emirates, nine in Malaysia, seven in Russia and four in Egypt. Some days, up to 52 are downloaded in Saudi Arabia alone. ... We continue to see a high number of downloads in China. In Beijing in 2010 we were informed there are no restrictions on digital Bibles and children's Bibles in China. If this freedom remains, it will provide a great opportunity to legally get Bibles into China using digital means."

Egypt: Christians Flee Town After Death Threats from Suspected Islamists
Coptic Christian families have fled their homes in the town of Rafah in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, fearing for their lives after receiving death threats from suspected Islamic militants, CNSNews.com reports. According to a local priest, Islamic militants dropped leaflets on the doorsteps of shops owned by Copts in Rafah, ordering them to leave town within 48 hours and making an implicit warning of violence if they failed to do so. Two days later, masked militants on a motorcycle opened fire on one of the shops before speeding off. No one was hurt in the shooting. When Christians met Tuesday with the province's top government official -- who was recently appointed by Egypt's new Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi -- the governor promised to facilitate the Copts' move to the nearby city of el-Arish but did not offer to protect the community to ensure that it stayed in Rafah, the priest said. It is unclear how many Copts have fled Rafah, but the priest said the number of Coptic families in town had dwindled from 14 to two since the uprising that pushed longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak from power in February 2011.

Muslim Brotherhood Mobilizes for Overthrow of Jordan's King Abdullah
The ASSIST News Service reports that Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood has given King Abdullah II notice that he has until October to bow to their demand to transform the moderate nation into a constitutional monarchy -- or face Arab Spring street pressure for his abdication. Middle East sources report that Israeli and Saudi intelligence watchers are becoming increasingly concerned about the approaching climax of the conflict in Amman between Islamists and the throne. For Israel, an upheaval in Jordan "bodes the tightening of the Islamist noose around its borders -- Egypt and Libya to the south and Syria to the north, with unpredictable consequences with regard to Jordan's Palestinian population," according to DEBKAfile. The Muslim Brotherhood has already set a date for mass demonstrations against the king to start on Oct. 10, and has ordered its members to begin working to mobilize at least 50,000 demonstrators for daily protests until the king bows to their will. Abdullah is reported to soon be meeting with Brotherhood leaders to personally appeal for calm.

Colorado City Council Drops Prayer from Meetings
The city council in Pueblo, Colo., will now begin its meetings with a moment of silence instead of a prayer, CBN News reports. The change comes after a complaint from the Freedom of Religion Foundation, who sent a letter to council members arguing the opening prayer was unconstitutional. Council members said they believed a moment of silence would satisfy all sides. One Pueblo resident, Mary Beth Netherton, told the local TV station, "I'm really sad that they made that decision because for those of us who believe in God and the power of prayer I think prayer is very important." Another resident, George Starkgraf, told reporters, "Regarding the moment of silence, I actually find it to be more fair because it gives people who want to pray the option to do so but those who don't want to no longer have to."


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Happy Wednesday

The Cost of Commitment


Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed... They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." - Mark 10:32-34

A number of years ago, a young farmer in South Dakota felt God's call to help people in the Third World. He believed his skill in agriculture could improve their lives and open doors to share his faith in Christ with them.

So God sent him into a very difficult and dangerous part of the world. From the time he arrived, he identified himself with the people, often living among them for months at a time in order to teach them better techniques of farming and caring for their animals. He would return from the bush sick and emaciated, but fulfilled in the knowledge that he was doing what God had called him to do. Over the years, he has become something of a legend among the people he serves.

I thought of him as I studied the twentieth chapter of John. After Jesus was raised from the dead, He appeared to His disciples. And on one occasion, as His disciples were gripped by doubt and fear--the two great enemies of witness--Jesus did a strange thing. He showed them His hands and His side, and spoke these words in John 20:21: "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."What was Jesus trying to get across by showing them His scars from the cross? In effect, He was saying, "Men, this ministry is no bed of roses. This is no stroll in the park. Following me may cost you your life." To the apostles' credit, they did not turn back. They were captured by the vision of taking the good news of Jesus Christ to all the world.
I want to be that kind of person. Do you?
Prayer
Lord, free me from my fear and doubt as I see Your vision for the world, and work with You in fulfilling it. Amen.
There is personal cost for all who will follow Christ in daily discipleship. 



Daily Smile: Kid's Jokes

Knock,knock

Who's there?

Egbert...

Egbert who?

Egbert no bacon please!

In The News:

Forty Students Slaughtered in Terrorist Attack on University 

By Rae Burnett

Urgent Request for Prayer

 The identity of this ministry is not disclosed for security reasons.

Dearest Rae,

Last night, just a few miles away from our headquarters, the militant Islamist Boko Haram group stormed a university dormitory. They rounded up students in hostels and shot 40 of them to death. The ministry sent several native village children from Koma Hills to school there. It is so important for them to receive a good education, and we have tried hard to get the funds needed for their support. I am so grateful to Christian Aid for making their schooling possible. Now, we are waiting to hear if they are still alive.

Everywhere here in Adamawa State is now under curfew. The soldiers had taken over that town a few days ago, but in spite of their presence, the terrorists struck in the dark of night. They also attacked homes and killed the families.

In the mean time, our missions stations in Adamawa, Taraba and Niger States have been devastated by flooding. Our staff have been evacuated. It was an emergency situation, and there is no way now to go in to save any possessions. Will send you pictures on that.

Please pray for Nigeria and Adamawa State. Pray that we will have wisdom to minister Life in the midst of the terror.

In Him,

Nigerian ministry leader

The Old Rugged Cross

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
 the emblem of suffering and shame;
 and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
 for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
 So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
 till my trophies at last I lay down;
 I will cling to the old rugged cross,
 and exchange it some day for a crown.

2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
 has a wondrous attraction for me;
 for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
 to bear it to dark Calvary.
 (Refrain)

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
 a wondrous beauty I see,
 for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
 to pardon and sanctify me.
 (Refrain)

4. To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
 its shame and reproach gladly bear;
 then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
 where his glory forever I'll share.
 (Refrain)

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Happy Tuesday

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7

In the mid-1990’s, my Canadian co-worker, PJ, and I were leading a ministry trip of Canadians and Americans to Iran. This was the first trip with a sizable group of Americans so there was a lot of excitement about it. And as expected, it took us right to the wire (two hours before our air flight) to secure their visitor visas.

As we finally relaxed on the long air flight, we realized we’d been so busy with travel details we’d had no time to shop for gifts for the brothers and sisters we’d be meeting. So on the plane, we bought every box of chocolates that were on the duty-free carts.

On arrival in Iran, our women were all conservatively dressed in their black chadors allowing them to travel anywhere in the country and be accepted. It also enabled many discussions with other women on the street. Only their shoes gave them away as westerners.

One of our tasks was to deliver some funds for widow support for the several Christian widows of martyred pastors in the country at that time. We channeled this through Sister Takoosh who was the widow of well-known Pastor Haik, the leader of the evangelicals in the entire country until his untimely murder.

We sent our group of chador-covered ladies to meet Takoosh at night at her home. They were received with the traditional great hospitality of the Persian culture and Christian community. They drank tea together and enjoyed wonderful fellowship in Jesus after sharing the financial and other gifts they brought.

Just before leaving, one of the Canadians remembered something. She reached into her large purse and pulled out a box of chocolates. She handed it to Sister Takoosh and said, “The two Pauls sent this as a gift for you.”

Unexpectedly, Takoosh began to weep. She then wiped her tears and said, “I really love chocolate. And when I get any, I cut it into small pieces to make it last as long as possible. Just yesterday I ate my last piece. And I said to the Lord, ‘I know this is a very selfish request, Lord, but would You please bring me some more chocolate!’”

God is concerned about even the small things in our lives. Talk to Him about them.

RESPONSE: Today I will talk to God about every detail of my life and trust Him with the answers.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord that You care about my every need. I will Trust You to take care of every detail.

Daily Smile:

Detention Span 2

Who invented fractions ?

 

Henry the eighth !

 

In The News: 

 

Coptic Christians Call for Three Days of Prayer and Fasting for Egypt's Future
Coptic Christian leaders in Egypt are calling for the church nationwide to unite in fasting and prayer from Oct. 1-3, Open Doors USA reports. On Wednesday, Oct. 3, Coptic Christians are being urged to gather in churches across Egypt to pray for the future of the country, for God's protection, and for the next pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, who will be chosen soon. "The significance of the call to prayer comes from the desperate urgency we Egyptian Christians feel as we see the developments that are taking place in our country, and the many concerns we have about the future," says a Christian leader who has been blogging from Egypt. "The political, social, economic and religious situation in Egypt today does not indicate we are proceeding towards stability. Just to see the increased influence of Islamist groups has already scared away many Christians and has stolen peace from their hearts. It's indeed a time to cry out in the name of our Father. We need to fast and pray, seeking God's face to shine on our nation, renewing our strength and motivating us to reflect the bright shining face of Jesus to our fellow Egyptians."
Obama Calls Planned Parenthood, Thanks Abortion Provider for Support
Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards recently provided another indication of President Barack Obama's connection to the country's leading abortion provider, according to Baptist Press. In a Sept. 10 tweet, Richards said: "Yesterday @BarackObama called to thank PP for all we're doing. He knows how important this election is for @PPFAQ patients. Let's win this!" Richards was one of 25 speakers at this month's Democratic National Convention who spoke in support of abortion rights, and the Obama re-election campaign has referred to abortion in its TV ads more than any other major presidential candidate in history. Affiliates of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) reported performing 329,445 abortions in 2010, the most recent year for which statistics are available, and received $487.4 million in government grants, contracts and reimbursements in 2009-10.
Beijing Church Takes Legal Action Against Police for Religious Persecution
After more than a year of being barred from worshiping and having its members arrested and beaten, the Shouwang Church of Beijing is taking its case to the courts and seeking legal action against the police, International Christian Concern reports. Although the case probably has little chance of making headway, it hasn't deterred the leaders of Shouwang Church, many of whom have been under house arrest for months. Church members have been detained 1,600 times at 90 different police stations in the last 17 months for trying to meet outdoors after the church was forced from the building it had just purchased for more than $4 million U.S. dollars. Additionally, more than 60 people had been forced to move house and quit their jobs under government pressure. "This is obviously repression of citizens' religious freedom and the church's right to practice its faith," the church's pastor, Jin Tianming, wrote in his application for an "administrative review" -- a legal step that enables citizens to contest government actions -- with the Beijing municipal government.
Uruguay Close to Legalizing Abortion
Uruguay could soon become the second Latin American country to legalize abortion, CBN News reports. Legislators in the Chamber of Deputies decided just before midnight on Tuesday to narrowly approve an updated abortion bill by a 50-49 vote. The new legislation would give women the right to a legal abortion during the first trimester and would decriminalize late-term abortions if the mother's life was at risk or if the fetus would not survive after birth. The changes to the legislation include a requirement that women seeking abortions justify their request before a panel of at least three professionals: a gynecologist, psychologist and social worker. Women will also be required to get advice on abortion alternatives and wait five days to "reflect" on the consequences of the procedure. The Senate will now take up the issue, and President Jose Mujica says he will allow the measure to become law if the Senate approves the changes, which are expected to pass. Cuba is the only other country in the region to allow abortions during the first trimester.

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