Happy Wednesday

Top 10 Ways to Invigorate Your Walk with Jesus - Part 2

by Pastor Bill Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:17 "May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech" MSG Continued from yesterday! 05. Praise Jesus from A to Z. For example, "JESUS, You are ALL-POWERFUL in matters of my life" --- "JESUS you are more BEAUTIFUL than the splendor of the Rocky Mountains" --- Thank you JESUS that you COMPLETED your time on earth to give me eternal life --- JESUS you are more DESIRABLE than silver and gold in my life. 04. Spend time fasting. What you fast from is not as important as doing the fast. By depriving yourself of the comforts of life you are sending a message of love and respect for Jesus. Food, TV, video games, coffee, soda or desserts are all examples of items to fast from. You determine the length of time. Spend this time asking the Lord for his direction for your life in the Kingdom. 03. Memorize one or more of the prayers in the Bible. The Prayers of Jesus: John 17:20-23 and  Matthew 6:9-6:13 --- The Apostle Paul has more than 40 prayers in the bible --- The Prayer of Jabez: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 --- The shortest prayer of Apostle Peter: Matthew 14:30 --- The Prayer of Mary: Luke:1:45-56 --- 30 prayers of Moses. Search on your own and find many more prayers in the Bible like Psalm 19:14.   02. Make a list of theological questions you would like answered. What is the Rapture? What does Heaven look like? Why must I be born again? How should I be baptized? Choose one and begin researching it asking the Holy Spirit for the wisdom to understand. And the number one way to Invigorate Your Walk with Jesus as complied by Pastor Bill: 01. Read a biography or autobiography of a man or woman of faith. Inspiration: Corrie ten Boom --- Faith: George Mueller --- Leadership: Tony Dungy --- Service: Mother Teresa --- The Call: Billy Graham --- Baseball: Josh Hamilton --- Football: Drew Brees. Challenge yourself to learn how Jesus inspired them and the Holy Spirit moved in their lives and then apply those principles to your life. If you missed part one you will find it at option 5 http://www.rejoice3.org Prayer:Father thank you in advance for revealing to me how I can invigorate my walk with you, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Lord Send A Revival

Looord send a reviiiivoooo
And let it begin in me
Lord send a revival
Lord send a revival
Lord send a revival
And let it begin in me
Well now we need a revival
to rock this world today
have it begin on another rampage
that is how we pray YAAY
(chorus x2)

Daily Smile: 
In my job with a credit union, I often run across accounts that are protected by password. The credit-union member, when withdrawing funds, must produce identification and then give the password to the teller.

Recently, when I asked a woman for her password, she sighed, rolled her eyes and replied, "Save." I was puzzled until she explained, "My husband put in that password so I'd have to say it every time I make a withdrawal."



In The News:

For Christians in Egypt, Work Hard to Find

It's harder than ever to find a job in Egypt, where the unemployment rate has risen to a record 13 percent, Open Doors USA reports. For young Egyptians, the jobless rate is much higher. For out-of-work Christians, finding a job can be especially tough. They are 10 percent of a country where Islam is the state religion and where the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party holds the highest offices in the government. When quarreling citizens arrive at legal loggerheads, the new constitution turns to Islamic law to resolve the impasse. In the streets, kidnappings for ransom are increasing and churches are often attacked and burned. The International Monetary Fund, which is negotiating a multi-billion-dollar loan to Egypt, put the situation in diplomatic language in April: "Prolonged political and policy uncertainty, social unrest, and security problems have taken a toll on confidence. As a result, real GDP growth has remained sluggish."

25 Tea Party Groups Sue Obama Administration, IRS

A conservative watchdog group filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of 25 tea party groups against the Internal Revenue Service and Obama administration officials, POLITICO reports. The complaint, filed by the American Center for Law and Justice, alleges that the Obama administration overstepped its authority and violated the First and Fifth amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It is the latest in the unfolding legal drama over the IRS' admitted targeting of tea party groups, a scandal that has already cost the acting head of the agency his job. "As this unconstitutional scheme continues even today, the only way to stop this flagrant and arrogant abuse of our clients' rights is to file a federal lawsuit," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ. "The lawsuit sends a very powerful message to the IRS and the Obama administration -- including the White House: Americans are not going to be bullied and intimidated by our government." The suit charges that IRS and Obama administration officials "unlawfully delayed and thereby effectively denied approval of Plaintiffs' application for tax exempt status" based "solely upon Plaintiffs' political viewpoints." The suit asks federal courts to stop any further IRS abuse or retaliation; the groups are also seeking unspecified damages to be determined at trial.

Red Cross Offices Attacked in Afghanistan for First Time

Three suicide bombers attacked the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Jalalabad on Wednesday, killing one security guard and wounding another, though all seven Western employees were safely evacuated. Police said a grenade was tossed into the compound, and a gun battle with the security forces followed after the attackers forced their way in. Since the ICRC established an office in Afghanistan more than 30 years ago, it has never been the target of an attack, and was even praised in a Taliban statement last June for its work delivering messages from family members to imprisoned Taliban militants. Wednesday's assault is the second time in a week that international aid workers have been targeted in Afghanistan; on Friday, several staff at the International Organization for Migration were injured in an attack in the capital, Kabul.

In Eritrea, 'Persecution Greater Than Ever and Getting Worse'

The persecution of Christians in the African country of Eritrea is at record levels and increasing, according to an Eritrean Christian leader, World Watch Monitor reports. Churches in Eritrea have been monitored closely since May 2002, when the government closed all Protestant and Pentecostal churches which did not apply for registration. Eleven years later, there is evidence of widespread human rights abuses by the Eritrean government, according to human rights organization Amnesty International. The director of Release Eritrea, a UK-based human rights organization, said there had been an "intensification" of religious persecution since January. "We can't pin it down to anything that has happened, or triggered it, but there have been lots of arrests," she said.

Happy Tuesday

Top 10 Ways to Invigorate Your Walk with Jesus as complied by Pastor Bill:

10. Write a letter to Jesus about your life. In the letter, talk to Jesus about the areas of your life that are bothering you. Write about how you'd like to grow and what attribute of His you'd like to see more clearly. Give the letter to a friend to mail back to you in three months. And then evaluate your progress based on what has transpired in your life since you wrote the letter to Jesus. Repeat process.

09. Take a fifteen minute praise walk. Thank God for everything you see. Take the opportunity to look closely at God's creation, praising Him for His creativity and the beauty of the world He's crafted. That tree, bush or grass. Perhaps the design of a hillside, valley or ravine. The ants, butterflies and birds. Celebrate the incredible creativity of Jesus.

08. Locate your favorite verses in your bible. Write them on a piece of paper and place them in presentation form. Perhaps colored paper and a special color ink. Take a child or grandchild to lunch and present the verses as a special gift. Describe in detail what each verse has meant to you and ask them to pass on to their children.

07. Make a list of every sin that continues to bother you. Pray and ask Jesus to forgive you. As you read down the list and ask for forgiveness take a black indelible marker and write FIRST JOHN CHAPTER ONE VERSE NINE over it. When you have completed this through the entire list --- fold it in half and then in half again and tear it into tiny little pieces. Then light the pile on fire.

06. Change the position in which you pray. Try praying on your knees, or face down, or standing with your face to the heavens and your hands raised in worship. As you do recognize that you are not only changing how you position yourself to pray but consider changing how you pray by adding compassion to your prayers.

Final part tomorrow

Prayer: Father thank you in advance for revealing to me how I can invigorate my walk with you, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

He Is LORD
He is Lord, He is Lord
He has risen from the dead
And He is Lord
Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord

You are Lord, You are Lord
You have risen from the dead
And You are Lord
Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord

Daily Smile:
Eight Levels of Joy

- Your metabolism changes so that you can lose weight by eating chocolate. 

- You realize that your kid's report card was really a bad dream. 

- Your computer actually crashes when the technician is there. 

- You bought Amazon.com 15 years ago -- and held it. 

- Steven Spielberg calls your boss looking for you. 

- You haven't put on weight -- your clothes shrank. 

- Your child calls from college just to say hi. 

- The IRS loses your name.


In The News:

Milwaukee Elementary School Has 'Gender Bender Day'

A themed dress day at a Milwaukee elementary school has some parents up in arms, National Review reports. Last week's "Gender Bender Day" at Tippecanoe School for the Arts and Humanities asked students to dress as a member of the opposite sex. "I think it's just teaching them the wrong lesson about gender," one parent told local Fox affiliate WITI. "If you're a boy, stay a boy. You shouldn't have something like that at school." Another parent said she was "speechless" about the school's decision; she, like some other parents, ended up keeping her son home from school that day. A school board member dismissed parents' concerns, saying they were "using the kids for political purposes." In an effort to appease upset parents, the school changed the name to "Switch It Up Day." WITI couldn't find many students participating in the themed day when it finally came last Friday; it appeared to be mostly teachers and other staffers.

Christian Pastor Murdered as Nigeria Declares State of Emergency

Nigeria continues to own the shameful title of being the deadliest place to be a Christian. In 2012, 70 percent of Christians murdered due to persecution were killed in Nigeria. This deadly fact is characterized by the brutal murder of northern Nigerian church leader Rev. Faye Pama Musa, who was followed home by suspected Boko Haram militants and shot. Rev. Faye Pama was likely targeted by the militants attached to the Islamic extremist group because of his outspoken criticism of Boko Haram's targeting of Christians and the discrimination against Christians in northern Nigeria. Rev. Faye Pama, 47, is survived by his wife and three children. Fearing further attacks, the pastor's family is unsure what to do or where to go next. Hours before Rev. Faye Pama was murdered, Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three of Nigeria's northern states, including the state where the pastor was killed. The state of emergency will allow the federal government to send more troops into the states where the emergency has been declared and use special measures to try to curb the violence being perpetrated by Boko Haram. Murder and insecurity continues to define the lives of many Christians living in northern Nigeria. Like the Rev. Faye Pama's family, thousands of Christian families have been devastated by the violence unleashed by Boko Haram as they attempt to establish a separate Islamic state where they can impose their strict interpretation of sharia law. Without effective action taken both by the Nigerian government and the international community, Nigeria is likely to continue to be the deadliest place to be a Christian in 2013.

GLAAD Continues Push for Boy Scouts to Allow Openly Homosexual Leaders

A prominent homosexual advocacy group is continuing its push to end the ban on openly gay leaders in the Boy Scouts of America, the Christian News Network reports. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) states that while it applauds the recent vote to allow avowed homosexual youth as Scouts, it believes the remaining ban on openly homosexual leaders should be repealed. The organization has been using an online effort to prompt further changes in the Scouts. "The Boy Scouts of America voted to end its ban on gay scouts, which is a huge victory for gay youth," GLAAD wrote on its website. "But gay scout leaders ... are still banned from scouting. It's time to keep up the pressure! GLAAD needs your help to make sure gay parents and adults are also able to participate." However, others continue to express deep concerns over such policy changes. Rob Schwarzwalder, senior vice president of the Family Research Council, told reporters it was dangerous to place men that have sexual attraction toward those of the same gender in charge of juvenile boys. "As a father, I wouldn't want my sons to go on a camping trip with a teenage girl and stay in the same tent," he said. "Similarly, I think it's unwise to put boys or young men in a tent with boys or young men who are homosexual."

Religion Losing Influence, Americans Don't Want It That Way

More than three-quarters of Americans (77 percent) say religion is losing its influence on American life, while 20 percent say religion's influence is increasing, according to a new Gallup poll. These numbers represent Americans' most negative evaluations of the impact of religion since 1970, though similar to the views measured in recent years. Yet a separate question found much more positive views of the potential for religion to have an impact on the country, with 75 percent saying American society would be better off if more Americans were religious. Americans who attend church regularly and who say religion is important in their own lives are far more likely to say it would be positive for American society if more Americans were religious, but even so, more than half of those who seldom or never attend and close to one in three Americans who say religion is not important to them personally still say it would be positive for society if more Americans were religious.

Happy Monday

Hello Readers,

     Saturday was a little rough, as I spent most of the day inside... Sharp pain in my side had continued to get worse over the past few days... Then I realized those heavy bundles of papers were almost twice the weigh of last month's batch... Took a muscle relaxer and was pain free with the hour... Also slept well...

     I do not drive after taking any medicine that might make me sleepy, so the papers I planned to deliver on Saturday will be delivered Monday, but without a muscle relaxer... About four - five hours of driving, I will probably need it...

     Pain returned Sunday morning and I took another muscle relaxer... It was not until I turned on the computer at 11PM that I realized I forgot to post the Sunday Devotional...

     Getting tired... I took my second dose just before turning on the computer and getting on the Internet... So I will post this and head to bed...

Have a Blessed Day,

Richard

 

The Starfish

 

There was once a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

 

He was walking along the shore one day when he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself as he didn't think anybody would dance on the beach at this time of the day. Hence, he began to walk faster to try and catch up with the person.

 

As he got closer, he saw that the person was a young man and he wasn't dancing. Instead, he was reaching down to pick up something on the beach every now and then before throwing it into the ocean very gently.

 

When the wise man got closer, he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"

 

The young man looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

 

"Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"

 

"The sun is up and the tide is going down. If I don't throw them in they'll die."

 

"There are miles and miles of beach and there are starfishes all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves.

 

He said, "It made a difference for that one."

 

Each of us can make a difference to this world. Everybody is useful and it is just a matter of whether you want to make a difference.

Turn Your Eyes Upon JESUS
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!
Refrain
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Refrain

Hope the music works out OK... My speakers are not working...
Richard

Daily Smile:
In the middle of a forest, there was a hunter who was suddenly confronted by a huge, mean bear. 

In his fear, all attempts to shoot the bear were unsuccessful. Finally, he turned and ran as fast as he could. The hunter ran and ran and ran, until he ended up at the edge of a very steep cliff. His hopes were dim. 

Seeing no way out of his predicament, and with the bear closing in rather quickly, the hunter got down on his knees, opened his arms, and exclaimed, "Dear God! Please give this bear some religion!" 

The skies darkened and there was lightning in the air. Just a few feet short of the hunter, the bear came to abrupt stop, and glanced around, somewhat confused.

Suddenly, the bear looked up into the sky and said, "Thank you God, for the food I'm about to receive..."

In The News:

Kentucky High School Graduates Ignore Objections, Pray at Ceremony

A Kentucky high school continued its tradition of having a student lead a prayer during graduation ceremonies, despite objections by at least six students, Fox News reports. Jonathan Hardwick, class of 2013 president at Lincoln County High School in Stanford, was given a standing ovation after he delivered a prayer during Friday's commencement. A video of Hardwick's prayer quickly hit social media, with most online comments supporting his decision. "Thank you for helping us get here safely today, Lord, and thank you for the many blessings you have given us," Hardwick said as part of the prayer. Lincoln High principal Tim Godbey acknowledged that six students -- including at least one atheist -- had asked him not to allow a student-led prayer at the ceremony. Godbey, who is Christian, said under separation of church and state laws, faculty members have never been able to pray publicly on school grounds or during school-sponsored events, but he noted that the U.S. Constitution does not prohibit students from praying as long as they are not disrupted. Ricky Smith, an atheist who has been lobbying for a "moment of silence" to replace prayer during government meetings in the area, said he intended to notify the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation about Lincoln's public prayer, which he feels violated the civil rights of students who are not Christians.

Hobby Lobby Crafts Contraceptive Mandate Appeal

Lawyers for arts-and-crafts chain Hobby Lobby argued again Friday the company should not be forced to provide employee health insurance that includes abortifacient drugs, something its Christian owners oppose. The Oklahoma-based company, owned by the Green family, is fighting the government mandate that businesses with more than 50 employees must provide coverage for contraceptive drugs, including the so-called "morning-after" pill. Although Hobby Lobby is a business, its founders' faith permeates everything the company does, argued Kyle Duncan, one of the lawyers from The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents the Green family. The stores are a "profit-making company, yes, but also a ministry," Duncan said. Friday's appearance before the full 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals marks the third time the company has made its case in the courts. If it loses this round of its religious liberty fight, it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Lawyer Alisa Klein, arguing on behalf of the government, said allowing Hobby Lobby to avoid covering contraceptive devices it doesn’t like would in effect impose the Green’s religious beliefs on their employees: "If you make an exemption for the employer, it comes at the expense of the employee." It's the same argument government lawyers have made in other cases, with mixed results. Fourteen for-profit businesses have won temporary injunctions against the mandate on grounds it violates their religious freedom. Only six businesses have lost their cases. But the mixed rulings from across the country virtually guarantee the issue will end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Hobby Lobby is the first company to have its case heard by a full appeals court.

Same-Sex Assault Apparently on the Rise in Military

Since the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which now allows homosexuals to serve openly in the military, same-sex sexual assault appears to have shot up dramatically, WORLD 

reports. According to a new Pentagon survey, sexual assault is on the rise, and most victims of sexual assault in the military were not female (about 12,000 incidents), but male (about 14,000). It's possible that the discrepancy is even greater, since men -- according to the Washington Times -- are less likely to speak up when they have been sexually assaulted. "How could this happen?" asks Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. "Well, for starters, the Obama administration ordered military leaders to embrace homosexuality -- completely dismissing the concerns that it could be a problem to have people attracted to the same sex, living in close quarters."

New York Governor to Relax Abortion Restrictions

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, vowed to push through the state legislature a Women's Equality Act before the current legislative session ends on June 20, WORLD reports. The act, he said, would include a provision to expand the legality of late-term abortions. In the wake of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell's grisly trial, opponents of Cuomo's proposal are hoping political support for the measure will evaporate. Gosnell was convicted of not just murdering three babies after they were born but aborting 21 babies after Pennsylvania's legal limit of 24 weeks of pregnancy, when babies are considered viable to survive outside the mother. Gosnell's trial highlighted Pennsylvania's lack of oversight of abortion centers, and Cuomo's proposal could relax regulations on abortionists further in New York, a state that already has few abortion limits such as waiting periods or bans on public funding of abortion. Cuomo hasn't introduced his promised legislation yet, but in his January State of the State address he named the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) as one point in the Women's Equality Act agenda. The standalone RHA is a few votes shy of passing in the state Senate, so Cuomo will likely make some tweaks to try to gain support from Republicans.

Happy Saturday

God, Are You Enough? by Melissa Taylor

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 (NIV 1984)

God, are You enough? It's a question my circumstances bring me to quite often.

Over a lifetime I've concluded not only is God enough, but He has to be enough.

It takes effort on my part to make sure my heart is staying in this truth.

As a young child, I didn't realize my need for God, but I did realize I had a need that was not fulfilled. I was sexually abused when I was seven years old. My dad left our family when I was eleven. Both circumstances left me devastated, and I didn't understand then how God could ever heal my broken heart. So I spent many years trying to heal myself and make myself feel better.

Nothing was enough to meet my needs. Nothing worked.

As I grew older, I moved from being a Christian who simply believed, to becoming a Christian actively seeking and following Jesus. That was when my life began to change.

Because I was having direct conversations with God through prayer and consistently reading His Word, my faith grew. I learned that when the hard knocks came, and they would, I needed to ask one question: "God, are You enough?"

When a friend betrays me, "God, are You enough?"

When I need to forgive what seems unforgivable, "God, are You enough?"

When my child has issues out of my control, "God, are You enough?"

When my marriage is on the brink of destruction, "God, are You enough?"

When my mom is dying of cancer, "God, are You enough?"

When others don't recognize my value, "God, are You enough?"

When I struggle professionally, "God, are You enough?"

When someone I love uses words to hurt me, "God, are You enough?"

When I am in debt and don't know how I'll pay my bills, "God, are You enough?"

When my past haunts me, "God, are You enough?"

When my health declines, "God, are You enough?"

When I am let down and disappointed in my life, "God, are You enough?"

Every time I asked "God, are You enough?" I opened my Bible and began reading, verse by verse. Though my doubts were strong in the beginning, God's Word started to silence the thoughts paralyzing me.

Through promises fulfilled and promises given in Scripture, I discovered the answer was always the same when I asked: "God, are You enough?"

Yes, He is.

Nothing here on earth is guaranteed, except for one thing: Jesus is with us always. And when we understand who He is, our doubts begin to disappear.

The Bible tells us Jesus is sufficient; He's enough. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (NIV 1984). I discovered this to be true. Every need, every doubt, every inadequacy, every fear was met, answered and removed by Jesus.

If I lost everything, I'd be okay because no one can take away my Jesus. Whether I live in a mansion on a hill or in a tent on the side of a swamp, I have my Jesus. Whether the world is for me or against me, I have my Jesus. When I am knocked down, I get on my knees and find my Jesus.

When life becomes more than you think you can handle, don't quit. And certainly don't believe the lie God is not enough. Instead, ask yourself, "God, are You enough for me?" Then plant His Word deep in your heart so you'll always have the ready answer, that yes He is. He is enough for me, for you. Ours is the God who "... will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

Dear Lord, help me to realize and remember the secret to being content in all circumstances is You. Help me to be aware of Your presence in my life at all times. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Happy Thursday & Friday

Humility!... as Jesus was humble!

But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. - Daniel 5:20
"HUMILITY"  God's Word has much to say about  humility.  Jesus preached a combination of love, compassion, humility, and yes, even BOLDNESS, when referring to the Gospel of Salvation! ... but humility when referring to our relationship one to another!

There are times when only HUMILITY is appropriate, times to be BOLD, times to be filled with LOVE, compassion, gentleness ...  JESUS WAS  ALL OF THESE QUALITIES!
As I look at this word humility, I am reminded of the words of the apostle Peter recorded in 1 Peter 5:5. "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.  All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"

It's frightening to think of going through life pushing against something you can't budge.  God resists the proud. And I'm sure we'd agree that when a person has God resisting Him, he's in for a hard struggle.  So we each have a choice.  Do we want to struggle through life, fighting God in our pride and arrogance, or do we want to go through life in the enabling power of His grace, experiencing His love, mercy, power, and blessing?
 

How wise it is to walk humbly with our God -- and our neighbors -- relying on Him to enable rather than resist us in our journey through life.... toward that prize that is before us!

Prayer

"Lord, keep me from a haughty spirit; I desire to walk humbly with You.   Amen. "
The same God who resists the proud pours out His grace to the humble.

Editor's Note:

Been ailing for a few days... All remedies have failed... 

I am over half way with the paper delivery and pray I finish Thursday night/Friday morning...

Happy Friday,

Richard 

Happy Wednesday

Is Jesus the Only Way?
A December poll released by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life reveals that “a majority of all American Christians (52 percent) think that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life.”
This finding is troubling because it indicates that many people—namely, those calling themselves Christians—are being deceived by modern concepts suggesting that there are multiple paths to heaven.  It appears that the age of diversity may have crept into some contemporary church pews, if not a few pulpits.

However, I wish to argue that diversity is completely unimportant when it comes to matters of eternal life.  There is only one thing that is important: what God has to say on the issue.

Here is the bottom line for Christians: if we are to believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word, we must live according to its precepts.  Further, the primary instruction of the Bible is that the only way to heaven is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which means that we must fearlessly and lovingly preach this message and never stray from the path, no matter who challenges it.

For Christians, I believe the toughest question we will ever have to answer is: Do people who do not believe in Jesus Christ really go to hell?  When we answer yes, a follow-up question is often applied: How can a loving God send good people to an eternal hell?

First, our loving and compassionate God desires that no one should suffer eternal damnation.  Hell, according to the Bible, was created solely for Satan and other fallen angels (Matthew 25: 41).  However, when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, a vast breach between man and heaven was generated.

But Jesus bridged that gap, my friends.  Through His miraculous birth, death on the cross and glorious resurrection, He defeated the grave and provided THE WAY to heaven for all who will believe.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (NKJV), Jesus declared without hesitation in John 14:6.

You may ask, How could Jesus legitimately make this claim?  It is because He was and is the unique, singular and sinless Son of God.  John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  The Apostle Peter said of Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

Through Him, everyone can experience New Life—spiritual cleansing and forgiveness of sin that comes only through Jesus Christ.

I don’t preach the Gospel of Christ to condemn others or to set myself up as better than those who do not believe.  In fact, I see myself as the lowliest of sinners in need of the Savior.  Through this column I hope only to encourage every reader to ask himself/herself the most important question of the ages: “Did Jesus really come to this earth to save me?”

I believe that He did.  I believe that He is the only way to heaven, as He said.
Fashionable, feel-good doctrines have come and gone over the course of the ages, but the Truth of Jesus Christ has stood the test of time (Hebrews 13:8).  And He stands today with arms held open waiting to receive unto Himself all who will trust and follow Him.


In The News:

Gosnell's Defense Attorney Says U.S. Needs 17-Week Abortion Ban, Yearly Clinic Inspections

Jack McMahon, defense attorney for abortionist and convicted murderer Kermit Gosnell, shocked America last Wednesday during his first live cable news interview since the jury's verdict in his client's case, the Christian Post reports. McMahon twice spoke the words "Thank God" and revealed to Fox News host Megyn Kelly that he believes banning abortion after 17 weeks should become law and all abortion clinics must be inspected annually. "I've come out of this case realizing that 24 weeks is a bad determiner," he said. "It should be like 16, 17 weeks. That would be a far better thing, and I think the law should be changed to that. I think there will still be the right to choose, but they've got to choose quicker. I think that's something that should come out of this. I think more regulations should come out of these locations." McMahon also partially blamed lax regulations of abortion clinics for the horrific conditions found in Gosnell's Women's Medical Society in West Philadelphia. "I'm not going to tell you that things didn't get out of hand at that location," he said. "There was no oversight for over 18 years, and no one came and looked at that location."

India: Pastor Beaten During Church Service

A pastor in India's Uttar Pradesh state was recently attacked and beaten during his church service, Voice of the Martyrs reports. Near the end of the service, a group of Hindu men attacked Pastor "Caleb," tied him to a tree and beat him. The attackers, who apparently were directed by Hindu leaders in the village, broke Pastor Caleb's arm during the beating. VOM partners are helping provide medical treatment and urging police to prosecute the attackers. Pastor Caleb's church has been threatened in the past by high caste families. About five families who have faithfully remained with the church had angered villagers by refusing to offer a gift to a Hindu goddess, and a group from the village also became angry when the Christian families refused to help with the wedding of a high caste family's daughter.

'Fetal Pain' Abortion Bans Face Court Scrutiny

As abortion laws in states such as North Dakota, Alabama, Arkansas and Kansas have become more restrictive, critics have taken the new "fetal pain" restrictions to court, Christianity Today reports. In one of the first rulings by a federal appeals court on such bans, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco struck down Arizona's ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The court cited "40 years of Supreme Court precedents that allow a woman to terminate her pregnancy if the fetus is not yet viable," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Nine other states have similar bans on abortions before 20 weeks of pregnancy -- the point at which a fetus is thought to be able to feel pain. Idaho's fetal pain law was the first to be struck down, but at the district and not appellate level. Arkansas faces an injunction against its newly passed ban on abortions after 12 weeks; meanwhile, North Dakota's only abortion clinic has also filed suit after the state approved a bill to ban some abortions as soon as six weeks into pregnancy.

Happy Tuesday

No Longer on the Outside

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. . . .
— Matthew 27:51

If I could have been present at certain moments in history, one event I would like to have seen was the veil of the temple being torn in two.

In the inner court of the temple in Jerusalem, in the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the Covenant. That was where the high priest would go once a year to offer atonement for the sins of the people. A veil, a very thick, woven curtain, separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple.

When Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, that heavy curtain was torn from top to bottom. It was not ripped from bottom to top, as though a man were ripping it. Instead, it was ripped from top to bottom, because God was ripping it.

God was saying, "You no longer are on the outside. You can come in. My Son has made a way for you."

The apostle Paul explained how we can now draw near to God:
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. (Hebrews 10:19–22)

The veil was torn. Jesus is now our Intercessor. We don't have to go through a person to reach God anymore. We don't have to go through rituals anymore. Instead, Jesus made a new and living way for us to reach God. 

Jesus paid it all. And that is so important to remember.


In The News:

Boy Scouts Overturn Ban on Gay Members

Delegates to the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America on Thursday approved new membership guidelines which open the ranks of the organization to homosexual members. Young men who openly claim to be homosexual may now participate as Scouts. The decision, the BSA leadership said in a statement, was based on "growing input from within the Scouting family." That input led to a national review of policy, or a "comprehensive listening exercise," resulting in a resolution to remove the restriction "denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone." Some 1,400 delegates to the National Council approved the change in membership standards by a margin of 61-39 percent, but changes to the adult leadership policy of the organization, which forbids homosexual Scout leaders, was not up for vote and remains in place. Rules on sexual misconduct, heterosexual and homosexual, also remain in place for Scouts and Scout leaders. John Stemberger, who waged a national campaign to keep the ban on homosexual Scouts in place through the website OnMyHonor.net, said the "most influential youth organization in America had turned a sad corner. ... The Boy Scouts are now teaching kids that when your values are no longer popular, change them." Stemberger added that BSA leaders had succumbed to the pressure of special interest groups by making the change to the membership policy. He added that he plans to call a coalition together to discuss creating a new youth organization centered on biblical values, a call echoed by many religious leaders.

Catholic Church Explains Pope's Comment on Atheists Receiving Salvation
After Pope Francis' comments during Wednesday Mass in Rome that God redeems nonbelievers, a number of people were left asking whether the Catholic leader believes atheists and agnostics go to heaven. The Vatican on Thursday issued an "explanatory note on the meaning to 'salvation,'" CNN reports. The Rev. Thomas Rosica, a Vatican spokesman, said that people who are aware of the Catholic Church "cannot be saved" if they "refuse to enter her or remain in her." At the same time, Rosica said, "every man or woman, whatever their situation, can be saved. Even non-Christians can respond to this saving action of the Spirit. No person is excluded from salvation simply because of so-called original sin." Rosica also said that Francis had "no intention of provoking a theological debate on the nature of salvation."

One Third of Millennials Regret Going to College

Here’s an indication of how burdensome student loans have become: About one third of millennials say they would have been better off working, instead of going to college and paying tuition, reports Jim Liebelt. That's a according to a new Wells Fargo study which surveyed 1,414 millennials between the ages of 22 and 32. More than half of them financed their education through student loans, and many say that if they had $10,000 the "first thing" they'd do is pay down their student loan or credit card debt. That's no surprise when you consider student borrowing topped the $100 billion threshold for the first time in 2010, and total outstanding loans exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in 2011. Student loan debt now exceeds credit card debt in the U.S., which stands at about $798 billion. The problem sometimes is that not all college educations are worth their cost since they can’t guarantee a high-paying job to help pay off that student debt. A report from the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys says the rising student debt problem can have a bad impact on the economy. Even in the best of economic times when jobs are plentiful, young people with considerable debt burdens end up delaying life-cycle events such as buying a car, purchasing a home, getting married and having children.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend - Happy Monday

Remember!

Psalms 105:4, 5 and 8 Seek the LORD, and His strength: seek His face evermore.  Remember His marvelous works that He hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of His mouth . . . He hath remembered His covenant for ever, the word  which He commanded to a thousand generations.

Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who have fallen in our nation’s wars.  Sadly , the day will pass and most of us will be so caught up in picnics, family gatherings, or outdoor projects that we won’t even give much thought to the real meaning of the day.  That’s too bad, because remembering does many things.  It brings me back to the reality of what actually happened.  It also encourages me to see the dedication of those who fought and died.  Remembering stirs within me a sense of gratitude and appreciation, and it strengthens my resolve to do my part in serving God, country and others.

Throughout the Bible, God’s people are instructed to stop and recall what He did for them.  Psalm 105 is a song of remembrance of God’s goodness to His beloved ones.  It traces His direction, provision and protection through their history and the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses.  As believers in the 21st century, we can look back over a much longer history and see how God’s plan has and is unfolding, and observe His incredible goodness to us. 
Psalm 105:1-5 shows the natural progression of what happens when I pause to remember—I give thanks to Him and continue calling on Him.  I sing of Him, and talk with fellow believers of all He has done.  Then I must go tell others of His greatness.  When I stop to trace the work of God’s hand in my life and in the world around me, these things just come naturally. 

But the key to being able to rejoice in the past is not found in counting the number of good things that have happened, but in remembering that God remembers!  I can rejoice because He never forgets His plan and He never forsakes His promises.  Even when life is tough and things don’t seem to make sense to me, I can rest assured that He is in control and He is working out His plan.  He has my best interest at heart.  Knowing this encourages and strengthens me, and pushes me to do my best to live for Him.
A song that was popular when I was younger went something like this:

“When I remember the cross that He bore,

When I remember the thorns that He wore,

My heart cries out, ‘Oh Christ divine, I’m thine forever!’

When I remember what He did for me.”

I encourage you, my friend, at this Memorial season, take time to remember.

Dear Father, help me daily to look back at Your faithfulness and praise You for being a God who remembers.  
By Ann Shorb
©Copyright Ann Shorb, 2006

In The News: 

Christian, Jewish Persecution Up in Muslim Nations

The U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report for 2012 shows persecution against Christians and Jews is on the rise, especially in Muslim countries, CBN News reports. Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia are among the many countries where non-Muslims are suffering persecution. Saudi Arabia prohibits any religion except Islam and enforces state restrictions on religious freedom. In Sudan, Muslim rioters burned down an evangelical church compound; in Libya, terrorists bombed an Orthodox church; and in Nigeria, Muslim radicals murdered hundreds of Christians. The report also devotes a section to the ongoing global increase in anti-Semitism, citing Venezuela, Egypt and Iran as countries with political and religious leaders who openly espouse Holocaust denial and anti-Israel rhetoric.

New York City Council: No More Church Evictions From Public Schools

Churches threatened with eviction from New York City public schools are celebrating the city council's passage of a resolution calling on state lawmakers to protect their right to rent worship space on Sundays, Christianity Today reports. The Right to Worship Resolution passed 38-11, despite opposition from Speaker Christine Quinn. "This is one of the first times in recent memory that the city council has responded to faith-based groups and, despite significant opposition, passed a resolution supporting their rights," said Tony Carnes, editor of the website A Journey Through NYC Religions, which chronicles religious life in New York City. "That's a remarkable change, and certainly will catch attention." Carnes pointed to a Journey poll indicating that nearly 70 percent of the neighbors of schools that rent to churches do not see the rentals as a problematic endorsement of religion. The long-running legal standoff between churches and the city's education department over whether or not schools can ban worship has been pending since a judge blocked the city's ban last June and the city appealed. The Supreme Court declined to hear the relevant lawsuit by the Bronx Household of Faith, and a previous attempt by lawmakers at the state level to permit church rentals failed.

Pope: Atheists Redeemed by Doing Good

Pope Francis caused a stir this week when he declared during his homily at Wednesday Mass in Rome that everyone was redeemed through Jesus, including atheists, the Huffington Post reports. Francis emphasized the importance of "doing good" as a principle that unites all humanity, and told the story of a Catholic who asked a priest if even atheists had been redeemed by Jesus. "Even them, everyone," the pope answered. "We all have the duty to good. ... The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! 'Father, the atheists?' Even the atheists. Everyone! ... We must meet one another doing good. 'But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!' But do good: we will meet one another there."

Cleanup Efforts Continue in Oklahoma

Oklahoma officials say they do not expect to find any more bodies or survivors buried in the rubble left by Monday's deadly EF5 tornado, which pulverized a mile-wide path through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, WORLD reports. The death toll stands at 24, including 10 children. Officials had originally feared the number of dead could climb as high as 100, based largely on the twister's complete destruction. Local hospitals treated more than 300 people, and rescue crews pulled more than 200 others from the rubble Monday night. The state's insurance department estimates the damage could top $2 billion. Survivors are beginning to tell harrowing stories of huddling in closets and bathrooms, watching as the storm peeled back roofs and obliterated walls. It pushed winds of more than 200 mph and had the power of many atomic bombs, scientists said.