Happy Friday

WHO IS YOUR "GOD"?

"When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, 'Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him'" (Exodus 32:1 NIV).

 

"As for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him" (2 Chronicles 13:10 NIV).

 

The nation of Israel that Moses led out of bondage in Egypt was stubborn. Their stubbornness against God's plan started to manifest the day Pharaoh increased their burden for asking for "a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices the LORD" (see Exodus 5). However, their statement in Exodus 32:1 indicates that Moses had become their god. When Moses stayed with the LORD on their behalf and they did not see him, they wanted another "god" that would continue to lead them in their journey.

 

Was Moses really the person that led them out of Egypt or he was just an instrument in the hands of God, the real Deliverer? Was it necessary for the people of Israel to see Moses before they could proceed in their journey to the Promise Land? Should they have any visible "god" that would lead them to their destination?

 

Many at times we also think and behave like the Israelites. We worship a particular person or thing. Knowingly or unknowingly, we idolize such person or thing. Any attempt to lose the person or thing, we would also lose hope and try to find alternative in another person or thing.

 

To some people, pastors and other leaders are "gods." When the pastors or the leaders are in sight, such people would be active in the church activities and in their spiritual lives. Reverse would be the case when the pastor or the leader is not.

 

Who or what is your "god"? In who or what do you put your hope? The writer of the book of Hebrews admonishes, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith?" (12:2 NIV). Fixing your eyes on any other person or thing will land you in the same syndrome as the people of Israel. Let the LORD God be your God. Trust only in Him. He will not let you down.

 

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7 NIV).

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Worthy Is The Lamb

Daily Smile:
Canadian geese are known to fly in a "V" shaped as they migrate across the county. The lead goose in the "V" cuts through the air making it easier for the rest of the geese behind him. As that lead goose becomes tired, he will drop off and join one of the sides and a new lead goose will take over. This is done several times as they are flying long distances. So if you look up in the sky and see a "V" shape of geese and one side is longer than the other, do you know what that means?

A:(There are more geese on that side)

In The News: 
Canada Provides Refuge for Pakistani Christian Girl Accused of Blasphemy

A teenage Christian girl fled Pakistan with her family after a Muslim cleric falsely accused her of burning pages from the Quran. After spending months in hiding, Rimsha Masih and her family are now in Canada, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said over the weekend, WORLD reports. Rimsha was arrested in August in Islamabad after the cleric made the accusation. He was later accused of fabricating the evidence and she was acquitted, but those accused of blasphemy in Pakistan are often subject to vigilante justice. Mobs have been known to attack and kill people accused of blasphemy, and two prominent politicians who have discussed changes to the blasphemy laws have been killed. Rimsha left Pakistan with her parents, three sisters, and a brother on March 14, attorney Tahir Naveed Chaudhry said. A Muslim cleric who lobbied for her release, Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, said Rimsha had been facing threats and was moving constantly. "I am sad that this innocent girl had to leave Pakistan," he said. "She had been acquitted by the court, and despite that it was not possible for her to live freely." Kenney said he had been following the case when a Pakistani contact asked him in January whether the family could come to Canada. Privacy concerns prevented Canada's immigration service from saying whether she was in the country at first, but Rimsha's lawyer confirmed it on Saturday. Kenney said he has instructed immigration officials to process their applications for permanent residency under humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

HAPPY THURSDAY - HAPPY JULY 4TH

Mountains Need Moving

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Jesus answered and said...if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.” Matthew 21:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When a nation loses its ability to discern morality, it embarks on a slippery slope toward self-destruction, especially when it comes to basic sexual morality.

When a nation turns its back on the commands of God, He will say, “That’s the last step. I wash My hands. You asked for it. You got it.”

America is in a crisis, and unless we have a moral rebirth, we will join the graveyard of the nations—it’s time to wake up. Time is passing—it’s time to look up. Jesus is coming—it’s time to sober up. Satan is working—it’s time to pray up. Mountains need moving.

ACTION POINT:
Ask the Lord to heal our land, forgiving the iniquities of the wicked by bringing salvation to their souls.

In The News:

Syria: Catholic Priest Beheaded by al Qaeda-Linked Rebels as Men and Children Cheer Syrian Catholic priest Francois Murad was beheaded last weekend by jihadi fighters, The Blaze reports. Murad, 49, who was setting up a monastery in Gassanieh, in northern Syria, was attacked at the monastery last Sunday by extremist militants trying to topple President Bashar Assad. While earlier reports suggested Murad may have been shot to death, Catholic Online reported Saturday: "The Vatican is confirming the death by beheading of Franciscan Father Francois Murad, who was martyred by Syrian jihadists on June 23." The Catholic news service quoted local sources who reported that the radical al Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, or Al-Nusra Front, was behind the savage killing. In video posted by Live Leak purporting to show the execution, dozens of men and boys are seen cheering on as three men are seated on the ground awaiting their grisly fate. The men are methodically beheaded one at a time by men holding what appears to be a simple kitchen knife, after which the heads are placed on top of the bodies. According to Catholic Online, the first victim was Murad. A frenzy ensues, with dozens drawing out their smartphones to capture the bloody scene, as a chorus of Allahu Akbar ("Allah is the greatest") is sung. Several observers are seen moving within inches of the bodies in an effort to capture close-up photos. Catholic Online is raising alarm that western nations are providing support to the rebels who have shown a proclivity toward persecuting Christians: "This should make it clear to Christians around the world what jihadists are about. Make no mistake. Catholics and [other] Christians around the globe are under dire threat, particularly from the spread of militant Islam. Until the threat is recognized and taken seriously, martyrdoms like this will continue."

China Clamps Down on Families Who Rescue Abandoned Babies (WNS) -- Orphaned children hold on to their toys at the Bethel foster home for the care and education of blind and disabled children in Lan Fang, China. China has banned groups and individuals from privately adopting abandoned infants, making it much harder for babies without families to find good homes. The country’s Ministry of Civil Affairs announced Tuesday that people who find an abandoned child must immediately tell local residential committees and the police and not adopt the child at will. Tens of thousands of infants are abandoned each year in China due primarily to its strict one-child policy, which limits most urban couples to one child and rural couples to two. A traditional preference for male heirs leads many families to abandon the girls and disabled children that have not been aborted, hoping to have a boy. Poverty and the social stigma for unwed mothers are also factors. China’s adoption law forbids baby trafficking, including in the name of adoption, but did not specify whether individuals could keep abandoned babies. The new rules that forbid keeping such babies are outlined in a document from several government departments that was posted on the Ministry of Civil Affairs’ website. The new rules mean people who want to adopt Chinese children domestically must meet the requirements leveled under official channels, including being healthy, over 30, and childless. People who use abandoned children for illegal and profitable ends will be severely punished, the rules say, without specifying what that entails. The document also sets out measures police should take when an abandoned baby is found, requiring them to try to find the parents or guardians. The police are to transfer children to a government-sanctioned nursing home for temporary care. The homes only take the children under official care if no guardian is found within a certain period. China’s chronically underfunded state orphanage system has been unable to adequately provide shelter for many of the children who have been abandoned. Often, such services have been left to private citizens with few resources and no legal authority. In January, the issue was highlighted when a fire at an illegally run orphanage killed six children and one young adult. Zhou Xiaozheng of Renmin University’s School of Society and Population Studies said around 200,000 babies are abandoned in China each year, mostly girls whose parents wanted to try again for a boy. “It’s good for the government to strengthen its management of abandoned children, but it will also bring revenue to the government because any potential adopters must pay a handsome adoption fee,” Zhou said. But the revenue will only come if families are willing to pay the fee to adopt. In a country where thousands of children are orphaned, some question whether making the process more difficult and expensive is going to remedy the problem. c. 2013 WORLD News Service. Used with permission.

Massive Crowds of Egyptians Take to Streets in Protests Calling for Morsi to Step Down Washington, D.C. (ICC) -- International Christian Concern continues to monitor the situation in Egypt as millions of Egyptians took to the streets in protest against Islamist president Mohammed Morsi. June 30 marked the one-year anniversary of Morsi's entrance to office, but the majority of Egyptians feel betrayed due to his dictatorial style, his now-apparent radical Islamist agenda and his economic mismanagement. They are demanding that Morsi step down.   Estimates of the number of demonstrators who opposed President Morsi are as high as 14-17 million, according to the Egyptian Interior Ministry, Al-Jazeera reported. The opposition group represents people from a wide swath of Egyptian society, including liberal secularists, moderate Muslims and Egypt's Christian community. Tamarod, or "Rebel," one of the organizing groups of the demonstrations, reportedly collected more than 22 million signatures calling for early presidential elections and urging the masses to work to "achieve a society of dignity, justice and freedom." The 22 million signatures are nearly 10 million more than the number of votes Morsi received in the 2012 elections. Hal Meawad, a spokesman for Coptic Solidarity, told ICC, "He is not the president of the majority; he was only voted in by 14 percent of Egyptians." The massive crowds filled Cairo's Tahrir Square, the area outside the presidential palace in Cairo's Heliopolis district, and cities throughout Egypt. The clashes between Morsi's opponents and supporters resulted in the death of at least seven people; and more than 600 were injured, Ahram reports. The protests continued through the night. Early Monday morning, the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) was stormed and set on fire, though no MB members were thought to be in the building. "The millions of Egyptians who demand Morsi step down don't understand that they face a strong [movement], not just one person [Morsi] or even a group [the Muslim Brotherhood]," Yasser Khalil, a journalist from Cairo told ICC. "The [Islamic movement to turn Egypt into a theocracy] is backed by many groups and supporters. The Muslim Brotherhood though [which Morsi is a member of] is the biggest loser of popularity. However there are more than 26 Islamic political parties and religious groups still popular, and they back the [movement] and some of them are ready to fight for it," Khalil continued. "The huge demonstrations of June 30, 2013, reflect that the experience of political Islam is at the beginning of the end," Khalil said. The Tamarod group has issued an ultimatum calling for President Morsi to step down before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, threatening a civil disobedience campaign if he does not. "This date [July 2 at 5 p.m.] can be considered the beginning of a general civil disobedience for the sake of implementing the will of the Egyptian people," Tamarod said in a statement published on its website. The economic collapse under the Morsi government, the growing Islamization of the country, and the abuses of human rights are at the center of the protests. "The country is suffering in every area of life, unemployment is sky-rocketing. There is no security. The country is suffering from a total breakdown of law and order. The only industry that is booming is kidnapping for ransom," said Meawad. There is a fear that the removal of another president via massive public protests makes the establishment of a stable political system even more challenging. Yet, the opposition feels that Morsi has lost all legitimacy and that dialogue will not change anything fundamentally. Despite pressure from Morsi to keep Christians from joining, many took part, as they have been especially abused during Morsi's year in office. "Christians were struggling under Mubarak; but there is a huge difference between Mubarak rule and Brotherhood rule. Morsi and the Brotherhood want to establish an Islamic state in Egypt. Now we have active persecution. We have the government actively participating in the persecution," Meawad told ICC. Todd Daniels, ICC regional manager for the Middle East, said: "The opposition protests taking place in Egypt represent a huge swath of society that are opposed to Morsi and his MB's Islamist government. Morsi's Islamist agenda has alienated large segments of the population, pushed the country to the brink of economic collapse, and contributed to a culture of violence and abuse especially directed toward Christians. Whether this movement leads to a new government and fundamental rights for all of its citizens remains to be seen." International Christian Concern is a Washington, D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides awareness, advocacy and assistance to the worldwide persecuted church.

Happy Wednesday

It is Well with My Soul

“But God will rescue me; he will save me from the power of death” (Psalm 49:15 TEV).

The hymn, “It is Well with My Soul” is one of the most popular Christian hymns. Horatio Gates Spafford (1828–1888) composed it. When Spafford was forty-three years old as a Chicago businessman, he suffered financial disaster in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. He and his wife were still grieving over the death of their son shortly before the fire, and he realized they needed to get away for a vacation. Knowing that their friend Dwight L. Moody was going to be preaching in evangelistic campaigns in England that fall, Spafford decided to take the entire family to England. His wife and four daughters went ahead by a ship, and he planned to follow in a few days. Nevertheless, on the Atlantic Ocean, an iron sailing vessel struck the ship and the ship sank within twelve minutes. Two hundred and twenty-six lives were lost—including the Spaffords’ four daughters. When the survivors were brought to shore at Cardiff, Wales, Mrs. Anna Spafford cabled her husband with two words: “Saved alone.” Spafford booked passage on the next ship. As they were crossing the Atlantic, the captain pointed out the place where he thought the first ship had gone down. That night, Spafford penned the words of the hymn: “When peace like a river attendeth my way. . . it is well, it is well with my soul.”  

One of the close associates of Jesus Christ betrayed Him. He was arrested, tried and condemned to die on the cross. He was crucified and died. However, as the Psalmist prophesied in Psalm 49:15, God saved Him from the power of death, and He resurrected on the third day. The suffering and death of Jesus Christ were not pleasant, but He triumphed over everything. Today, His name is exalted above every other name “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11 NIV). Horatio and Anna Spafford later moved to Israel and became channels of God’s blessings to many people there. It was indeed well with their souls.

Trial, temptation, hardship, calamity, death of loved one, or anything that happens to us is not the end of the road. No matter what you may be passing through, the Lord will indeed rescue you from all of it and you will join Horatio Spafford to sincerely sing, “It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul.” “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 NIV).

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

In The News: 
My Country 'Tis of Thee: Evangelicals Score Highest on Patriotism

WASHINGTON (RNS) -- When it comes to God and country, white evangelicals report the most intense patriotic feelings in a new poll, with more than two-thirds (68 percent) saying they are extremely proud to be an American.

That figure was markedly higher than for white mainline Protestants (56 percent), minority Christians (49 percent), Catholics (48 percent) and religiously unaffiliated Americans (39 percent), according to the study, conducted by the Washington-based Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with Religion News Service.

White evangelicals are also more likely than any other religious group surveyed to believe that God has granted the U.S. a special role in history (84 percent) and to say they will likely attend a public July 4th celebration (62 percent).

On the other end of the spectrum, relatively few religiously unaffiliated Americans believe in a God-given American exceptionalism, (40 percent) or plan to attend a public Independence Day celebration (48 percent).

Eric Metaxas, the popular Christian author and speaker, said evangelicals “are not patriotic and pro-American in a tribalistic, nationalistic, or jingoistic sense.

“But they do tend to be pro-America because they believe that the ideas of the Founders — religious liberty at the head of them — have been a huge blessing to those on our shores – and to those beyond them.”

“Like Gov. Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century,” Metaxas continued, “evangelicals see America as being blessed by God to be a blessing to others, to be a ‘city on a hill.’ And to the extent that that’s true, they celebrate that.”

But Dan Cox, PRRI’s research director, said the study of 1,007 adults might say as much about cultural and regional differences among Americans as religious distinctions.

“A lot of evangelicals live in the South, and flying a flag from your house or car, and singing the national anthem — not just standing for it — is infused in Southern life,” said Cox.

“In the South and in many rural areas, we see a cultural terrain that is more likely to embrace Americana in ways that people who live outside the South don’t get,” he said.

Similarly, a person’s lack of religiosity doesn’t necessarily signal a lack of patriotism.

Instead, the relative lack of a visible patriotism among the one in five Americans who are religiously unaffiliated may be better explained by their perceptions that they are culturally distinct from the rest of the country, Cox added.

The poll found that unaffiliated Americans are more likely than other religious groups to report that they are very different from the typical American, and Americans who believe they are atypical are also much less likely to say they are extremely patriotic (35 percent) than those who see themselves as typical (59 percent).

It may also come down to politics: The unaffiliated tend to be liberal, and liberals tend to view their patriotism in different ways than conservatives, who, as the poll shows, are much more likely to embrace public displays of patriotism.

“Many liberals argue that they can be patriotic as they criticize their country, and exercise their First Amendment rights to express dissenting opinion,” Cox added.

In general, the poll found that Americans are proud to be Americans, with eight in 10 reporting that they are extremely (51 percent) or very proud (31 percent).

Asked what makes them proud to be an American, those surveyed said:

• Their military service or American military achievements, including the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden (17 percent)
• The nation’s response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks (14 percent)
• Freedom in American society (12 percent)

About one-third (31 percent) said there has been a time when they were not proud to be an American — the most cited reasons given were the wars in Iraq and Vietnam (29 percent) and poor treatment of minorities and racism (14 percent.)

The study, conducted June 5-9, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

c. 2013 Religion News Service. Used with permission.

Happy Tuesday

God In You ... Sanctification!

"What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?  For we are the temple of the living God. " - 2 Corinthians 6:16
The Vietnam War memorial in Washington, D.C., has become one of the most visited and emotional sites in the nation's capital.  What sets it apart from other memorials?  Carved into that black granite wall are more than 58,000 names of Americans who gave their lives building a foundation for freedom.

In 1 Kings 9, we find Solomon, having built the temple, now dedicating it to God.  Here is God's response, verse 3:  "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my name there forever.  My eyes and my heart will always be there."

Solomon built a physical temple, but only God could hallow it and consecrate it to Himself.  In the New Testament, God tells us of living temples -- the people of God.  And only God can sanctify us to Himself.  He promises that those whom He sets apart for Himself have His eye, His heart, His love, and His care upon them.

Sanctification begins with God's call to us in Christ.  It is put in motion when we respond by faith and give our lives to Him.  And it continues with God's work of molding us to be more like the person of Jesus Christ.  We must dedicate ourselves to Him and cooperate by obeying His commands, but the sanctifying belongs to Him.
 

The apostle Paul wrote, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Prayer
"Lord, when I get discouraged by my inability to be holy, remind me that I can do nothing unless You do it in me. Amen. "

Holiness does not come from observing a list of do's and don'ts; it comes from God's supernatural work in me as I obey Him.

In The News:
19 Firefighters Killed in Arizona Blaze: 'Our Entire Crew Was Lost'

The state of Arizona is mourning the loss of 19 firefighters who died Sunday battling a wildfire northwest of Phoenix, CNN reports. The firefighters were part of an elite squad who confronted wildfires up close, setting up barriers to stop the spreading destruction. It was the deadliest day for firefighters since 9/11, and it is the deadliest wildland fire since 1933, according to a list from the U.S. National Wildfire Coordinating Group. "Our entire crew was lost," Prescott fire chief Dan Fraijo said Sunday night. "We just lost 19 of some of the finest people you'll ever meet. Right now, we're in crisis." Fraijo said he did not know the exact circumstances surrounding the firefighters' deaths and wouldn't speculate on a cause, but he said drought conditions, combined with winds that whipped unpredictably, have made battling the flames especially difficult. Authorities believe lightning sparked the Yarnell Hill fire on Friday. By Sunday night, it had scorched more than 6,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures, incident commander Mike Reichling said. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano urged residents in the area to heed local authorities' instructions, while lamenting the loss of so many firefighters. President Barack Obama also lauded the efforts of the fallen firefighters, saying their deaths are heartbreaking and "our thoughts and prayers go out" to their families.

 

Chick-fil-A CEO: 'Founding Fathers Would Be Ashamed' of Supreme Court Ruling Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy has spoken out against gay marriage once again. Following the Supreme Court rulings Wednesday striking down the Defense of Marriage Act and opening the door for same-sex marriages in California, Cathy took to Twitter to criticize the rulings, CBS reports. "Sad day for our nation; founding fathers would be ashamed of our gen. to abandon wisdom of the ages re: cornerstone of strong societies," Cathy tweeted. It was later deleted from his account. In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, Chick-fil-A said it was not focusing on the Supreme Court rulings. "We believe in providing great-tasting food and genuine hospitality to everyone -- so our focus is on running an exceptional restaurant company," the statement read. "Therefore, we are leaving political decisions and discussions to others and focusing only on what we do best." Cathy created a firestorm last year when he spoke out in favor of traditional marriage, leading to protests and boycotts of Chick-fil-A. Thousands of supporters though flocked to restaurants nationwide last August for "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" to stand behind the company's platform.

Court: Hobby Lobby Can Challenge Obamacare Without Paying Penalties In a decision giving hope to opponents of the federal contraception coverage mandate, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Hobby Lobby won't have to start paying millions of dollars in fines next week for not complying with the requirement, Fox News reports. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver decided the Oklahoma City-based arts-and-crafts chain can proceed with its case against the government without being subjected to fines in the process. The reprieve gives Hobby Lobby more time to argue in a lower court that for-profit businesses -- not just currently exempted religious groups -- should be allowed to seek an exception if the law violates their religious beliefs. The company had sued to overturn the mandate on the grounds that it violates the faith of founder and CEO David Green and his family. "Sincerely religious persons could find a connection between the exercise of religion and the pursuit of profit," the judges wrote. "Would an incorporated kosher butcher really have no claim to challenge a regulation mandating non-kosher butchering practices?" Lawyers for the Greens called the court’s ruling a "resounding victory for religious freedom."

Sri Lanka: Church Attack Injures Five Five Sri Lankan believers sustained injuries after a Buddhist monk and a mob stormed the New Life Church in Hanwella, Colombo District, on Sunday, Open Doors USA reports. At about 9:45 a.m., a Buddhist monk stopped the New Life Church pastor who was out on a personal errand. "The monk hurled derogatory words and picked up a fallen coconut branch and assaulted the pastor," according to the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka. "A week prior to this, the [same] monk went to the village school principal and demanded that the pastor be removed from the school committee." The pastor fled to his church, but the relentless Buddhist monk pursued him. When the pastor reached the church premises, about 20 young men were already gathered outside waiting for him. The men encircled the pastor and they began to beat him for allegedly assaulting the same Buddhist monk. "The mob then forcibly entered the church," NCEASL said, "disrupting a worship service that was taking place. They assaulted the church members who were praying and damaged the musical instruments inside."

Happy Monday

The Abundant Life

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

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

Prayer

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

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

Daily Smile: 

In The News:

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

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

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

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

Happy Saturday

There Is Power In The Blood

While perusing through a Christian Hymnal, I came to a realization that there is a wealth of "Gospel" in the hymns that we Christians sing.  From The Old Rugged Cross to Power in the Blood ... we sing about Jesus and His love for us.... what incredible LOVE!
Most of the hymns we sing are truly "All About Jesus"... I don't know what YOUR favorite hymn is, but, as I went from hymn to hymn, it occurred to me that I have many favorites.

Basically, I prefer hymns and songs that tell of the saving Grace of God and the POWER of the blood of Jesus to cleanse us of our sin.   Hymns that tell of SALVATION by the shed blood of Jesus.... of LIFE after death ... eternal LIFE with Jesus!

Hymns that LIFT UP the name of Jesus and Glorify our Lord and Savior.  I feel led to begin a series about the time-honored hymns and spirituals, which I believe have been given to the various song writers by Almighty God Himself, to help us to WORSHIP God for WHO HE IS.

God lives in our PRAYERS and WORSHIP ... HE demands that we sing PRAISES to Him!  Scripture tells us that if we do not WORSHIP GOD, the hills and mountains will clap their hands in PRAISE to Almighty God!

Truly, all creation is admonished to WORSHIP GOD in some form or fashion.  One of the FIRST HYMNS that I learned to love after becoming a child of the Living God more than fifty years ago, was introduced to me by a dear Methodist friend.   It tells of the wonderful cleansing power of the Blood Of Christ... YES, There is truly POWER IN THE BLOOD!

"Would you be free from your burden of sin?  There's POWER in the BLOOD, POWER in the Blood.
Would you over evil a victory to win?  There's wonderful POWER in The BLOOD.

There is POWER, POWER, wonder working POWER in the BLOOD of the LAMB, There is POWER, POWER wonder working POWER in the precious blood of the LAMB!

Friend, if that don't light your fire, your wood is wet!

Many songs have been given to us about the POWER of the BLOOD of Jesus to CLEANSE us from SIN.  I am at a loss to name my FAVORITE... they are all so marvelous!  Perhaps YOU will tell me what YOUR favorite hymn is... I would appreciate that very much.

Scripture tells us that without the shedding of blood, there can be no cleansing from sin ... In the old testament, we had the shed blood of animals ... and burnt offerings.  The NEW TESTAMENT brings salvation and cleansing from sin by the shed blood on that Old Rugged Cross by none other than the Son of God, Jesus, our Redeemer.

Jesus shed His blood that you and I might LIVE!  Jesus became sin in our place!  Such incredible LOVE... AGAPE LOVE!

Oh, what a Savior!  Because Jesus shed His blood on that cross at Calvary, you and I can claim VICTORY over death!  We call it SALVATION through the shed blood of Christ, plus NOTHING we can do to deserve or earn salvation!

It is a free gift, bought and paid for by God... WHY?  because God desires that NONE should perish, but that all might be SAVED!  GOD IS LOVE!

"Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving even me ... so much that you would have died on that cross if I was the only sinner in this world!  Lord Jesus, I love you and want to serve you.  I want to be in Your perfect will at all times.  Help me, Jesus, to be your vessel here on earth, filled with Your Holy Spirit ... ready to say, Here am I, Oh Lord... send ME.  May I ever proclaim to "whosoever" that JESUS SAVES."

YES, there is POWER in the BLOOD OF CHRIST!  Now, GO and TELL somebody where they, too, can find LIFE ... EVERLASTING LIFE IN JESUS!

 

Daily Smile:

Little Johnny is in art class. The art teacher asks, “what are you drawing?" 

 

Johnny answers, “a cow eating grass," 

 

"where's the grass?" 

 

"The cow ate it!" 

 

"Oh... what about the cow?" 

 

"She ran away!" 

Editor's Note: This one brought back memories of long ago as I child my imagination was light years ahead of the others and not only did I impress my Mom with unique drawings, but also the tallest tales that I swore were true...

 

 

 

In The News:

National Cathedral Rings Bells to Cheer Gay Marriage
The National Cathedral is ringing its church bells, along with some other Washington churches, to celebrate the Supreme Court's decisions on gay marriage, CBS DC reports. Cathedral spokesman Richard Weinberg said the bells rang at noon Wednesday for 45 minutes to an hour. Bells also rang at other Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and Unitarian churches. The cathedral scheduled a prayer service for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families Wednesday at 7 p.m. to celebrate the ruling. In a statement, the cathedral's dean, the Rev. Gary Hall, said the church was ringing its bells "to celebrate the extension of federal marriage equality to all the same-sex couples modeling God’s love in lifelong covenants." Hall said the ruling should serve as a call for Christians to embrace religious marriage equality.

Muslim Officials Attempt to Charge Ethiopian Evangelist With Terrorism, Treason

International Christian Concern has learned that Ethiopian officials have arbitrarily detained and arrested a Christian evangelist under charges of terrorism and treason in response to his Christian faith and activities. Alemayehu Legese was initially arrested in late March in Dodola, 180 miles south of Addis Ababa, by local police after having admitted to owning literature that "discussed the history of Islam from a Christian perspective." Legese, a student at Dodola Mekane Yesus Bible School, had dropped the literature off at a copy shop. A Muslim employee subsequently contacted authorities to demand Legese face consequences for violating the widespread cultural belief that Christians, being inferior citizens, are morally insufficient to learn the history of Islam. Legese was known for his outwardly evangelistic nature, and it is believed that because of that, as well as the fact that he coordinated faith-based activities for youth at his local church, he was made a target for arrest and ultimately arbitrarily detained. In court, Legese's lawyer objected to the charges of both terrorism and treason, and as a result, the court ordered public prosecutors to modify their charges against Legese. The prosecution has yet to do so. Until the prosecution submits new charges against Legese, he will continue to sit in jail, awaiting charges that may take years to be submitted. "I think the evangelist is arrested to discourage other Christians from teaching [the gospel] in the area," said a Christian legal expert who asked to remain anonymous. "All the government officials in the area are Muslims and this has created a big problem [for the Christians]."

Obama: Supreme Court Rights a Wrong, Country Better Off
President Barack Obama hailed the Supreme Court's decision to strike down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act on Wednesday, declaring the court "has righted a wrong, and our country is better off for it," AP reports. Obama decided in 2011 to stop defending the 1996 law, concluding that it was legally indefensible. In a statement issued while he was flying on Air Force One to Africa Wednesday, Obama said he had directed Attorney General Eric Holder to work with others in his administration to make sure federal law reflects the court's decision. "This was discrimination enshrined in law," he said. "We are a people who declared that we are all created equal -- and the love we commit to one another must be equal as well." The court invalidated a part of the law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Acknowledging that many Americans object to gay marriage on religious grounds, he stressed that nothing in the decision changes how religious institutions define and consecrate marriage. His statement came moments after he telephoned his congratulations to gay rights advocate Chad Griffin and plaintiffs in a California gay marriage case. "Through your courage, you're helping out a whole lot of people," Obama told them. Obama put Griffin and the plaintiffs' legal team on speaker phone told and told them that "today's ruling is a victory," even if the high court did not directly address the constitutionality of Proposition 8.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Part of DOMA, Dismisses Prop 8 Appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Wednesday a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, ruling that same-sex spouses legally married in a state may receive federal benefits. The 5-4 ruling comes largely due to Justice Anthony Kennedy’s agreement with his liberal colleagues, forming a majority opinion. "DOMA divests married same-sex couples of the duties and responsibilities that are an essential part of married life and that they in most cases would be honored to accept were DOMA not in force," Kennedy wrote, saying that the law "places same-sex couples in an unstable position of being in a second-tier marriage." The Defense of Marriage Act was signed into law by then-president Bill Clinton in 1996 after clearing the House and Senate with overwhelming support. In addition to providing a federal definition of marriage, the law barred homosexual relationships from being recognized by the IRS or the Social Security Administration, and also excluded homosexuals that served as government workers from being recognized as a couple in order to obtain insurance benefits. The Supreme Court on Wednesday also dismissed an appeal regarding California's Proposition 8, ruling that private parties did not have "standing" to defend the voter-approved ballot measure barring gay and lesbian couples from marrying. The 5-4 ruling permits same-sex couples in California to legally marry, but avoids for now a sweeping conclusion on whether same-sex marriage is a constitutionally-protected "equal protection" right that would apply to all states.

Happy Friday

God's Care For His Children!

"And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus..."  Philippians 4:19

When the Israelites' supplies ran out, they accused Moses and Aaron of leading them out in the wilderness to kill them.  Their complaint was really against God, for He was the one who had brought them forth out of the land of Egypt. Now, you'd think they would quickly learn the lesson of the bountiful provision of God!  But here they are, putting on a repeat performance and forgetting the long chain of miracles whereby God had delivered them, served them, and fed them.  God didn't forget His people, and once again He met their needs.

In addition to God's provision of food and water, He sent them a management consultant in the person of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law.  Jethro watched Moses in action and saw that he was overworked and needed to delegate some responsibilities.  He gave Moses some sound advice: "You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him" (Exodus 18:19).  Then he said,  "Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform."  He had to teach them the Word of God and then lead by example. So in these three chapters, we see the God who provided food to eat, water to drink, and leadership to help meet their spiritual needs.

What is the greatest need in your life today?  Maybe you need more money to meet the obligations of life.  Or maybe you need a companion, friend, or advisor to help you through a time of aching loneliness or critical decision making.  Whatever your need, let me encourage you to depend on God to meet it.

Prayer

"Lord, I trust You to meet all my needs.  Amen. "

God doesn't deal with us as we deserve . God is love!

Daily Smile:
A dog thinks: Hey, these people I live with feed me, love me, provide me with a nice warm, dry house, pet me, and take good care of me ... They must be Gods!

A cat thinks: Hey, these people I live with feed me, love me, provide me with a nice warm, dry house, pet me, and take good care of me ... I must be a God!

In The News:
Syrian Christians Caught in the Crossfire

Syrian Christians are the victims of disproportionate violence and abuse as sectarian violence continues to engulf Syria, Open Doors USA reports. Christian women are especially vulnerable to sexual abuse, while Christian men are facing pressure from both sides to join the battle, according to a new report, Vulnerability Assessment of Syria's Christians, coordinated by the World Watch List's Dennis Pastoor with analysis from political commentator Nicholas Heras. The result, the report claims, is that Christians are scared to engage in public displays of worship, while proportionally more Christian refugees are leaving Syria than any other religious or ethnic group. Vulnerability Assessment of Syria’s Christians acknowledges that many of the struggles facing Christians in Syria are shared by the entire population, but says Christians are "soft targets" and "particularly vulnerable" to some things, including hostility in refugee camps, targeting by Islamist groups and criminals and confiscation of land. Christians are "caught in the crossfire of the strife between government and opposition forces and suffer violence from both parties," writes Pastoor. Christians are not always targeted deliberately, he says, but this "does not mean they are not a vulnerable group…and implies they are in varying degrees liable to suffer specific threats." More than two years have passed since the beginning of the civil war between President Bashar al-Assad's government forces and the Free Syrian Army and the fight is increasingly taking the shape of a "jihad" against the Syrian government, writes Heras, as opposition forces are ever more "Islamized." Meanwhile Syria’s Christians are called victims of "systematic militarization," which Heras predicts will become a "significant trend" in the near future.

Christians Don't Feel Safe in Egypt, Fleeing to U.S. and Europe to Seek Asylum

Many Coptic Christians are fleeing to the United States and Europe because they no longer feel safe in Egypt, the Christian Post reports. They feel the Islamist government is not doing enough to protect them against discrimination and hate crimes, so they are resorting to fleeing the country. Many Copts are electing to go the United States, a country in which Egyptians now rank as the second highest nationality receiving asylum. In 2010, only 531 Egyptians received asylum in the U.S.; however, 2,882 Egyptians received asylum in 2012, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Copts are also fleeing to Georgia and the Netherlands because both countries have decreased restrictions on those seeking asylum. This comes at a time when escalating sectarian violence appears to be going unchecked by the government. In April, eight people were killed in sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims, and Cairo's St. Mark's Cathedral was attacked, prompting Coptic Pope Tawadros II to criticize President Mohammed Morsi for not protecting the church. Other examples of sectarian incidents include the Muslim Brotherhood's leading cleric's decision to advise Muslims to refrain from wishing Christians a Happy Easter. His justification was that the Christian holiday is un-Islamic. Copts face further discrimination when trying to build new churches, as the Egyptian president must issue a presidential decree in order to build any new churches. After one year in office, Morsi has only sanctioned one new church to be built. Copts are Egypt's largest minority, making up nearly 10 percent of its 85 million people.

Florida Professor in 'Jesus Stomping' Case Reinstated

Florida Atlantic University has reinstated an instructor who had students stomp on a piece of paper with the name "Jesus" written on it, CBN News reports. The school exercise provoked a strong reaction, including a request from Florida Gov. Rick Scott that university officials investigate the matter. "This incident gave me great concern over the lessons we are teaching our students," Scott wrote in the letter to chancellor Frank Brogan. "The professor's lesson was offensive, and even intolerant, to Christians and those of all faiths who deserve to be respected as Americans entitled to religious freedom." Instructor Deandre Poole said the point of the lesson was to show the power of words, not denigrate Christianity. Meanwhile, Heather Coltman, interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters, defended the university's decision to retain Poole. "We thought it was in the university's best interest," Coltman said. "We need experienced, qualified faculty members, and all things considered, we decided he would be a valuable asset to the college. I understand this decision may not be popular with all members of the community. But it was based on months of thorough research and consideration." Poole will only teach online because of security concerns.

Rick Santorum: Faith-Based Movies Will 'Rival Hollywood'

ST. LOUIS (RNS) -- It’s not the message you might expect to hear from Rick Santorum, the Christian-conservative former presidential candidate: Faith-based films tend to be lousy, and Christians should quit trying to lock modern popular culture out of their lives.

Instead, Santorum says, Christian conservatives should acknowledge that modern popular culture is here to stay, and use that platform to produce Christian-themed films that will also have quality and popular appeal. It’s a strategy he says he intends to pursue in his new role as CEO of a ground-breaking faith-based film studio.

In an interview here, Santorum also stood by his strong views against same-sex marriage, citing the necessity to adhere to religious teachings — but then disputed his own religion’s leaders on the issue of immigration.

Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania and darling of the religious right in the crowded GOP field for the 2012 presidential nomination, was in St. Louis Monday (June 24) to promote his own foray into popular culture. He has been named CEO of EchoLight Studios, which bills itself as “the first movie company to produce, finance, market and distribute faith-based, family films across all releasing platforms.”

“For a long time, Christians have decided that the best way to fight the popular culture is to keep it at bay, to lock it out of their home. … That’s a losing battle,” Santorum said in an interview at America’s Center Convention Complex, where he was attending the International Christian Retail Show.

With “the pervasiveness of [media] right now, the content just seeps through. The only option is to go out into that arena and try to shape the culture, too.”

Santorum said one problem with Christian-themed films was that they’ve traditionally been aimed at just Christian audiences, rather than attempting to appeal to audiences that don’t necessarily share the movie’s messaging going in.

He blamed that limited appeal on what he said were often the “hokey” and “cheesy” feel of such films, with all the filmmakers’ attention focused on the message and not enough on artistic quality.

“Quality. Quality acting, quality directing, quality scriptwriting. That is going to be a watchword for me,” Santorum said at a news conference talking about the studio’s pending projects. He said the goal was to produce movies “that rival any good Hollywood film.”

Dallas-based EchoLight’s first theatrical release, “The Redemption of Henry Myers,” is slated for release in the fall. Promotional material describes it as a Western about a bank robber who finds redemption from a widow and her children who take him in after he’s wounded.

Santorum’s St. Louis visit came as the nation awaits a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal marital benefits to same-sex couples. It also comes as the national immigration debate heats up in Congress.

Santorum dismissed the suggestion from some Republicans that the GOP should soften its official opposition to gay marriage rights to widen its appeal to young people. Among his reasoning is that a federal stamp of approval on gay marriage would be a direct affront to religious teachings and would hurt religious institutions.

“The destruction of the institution of marriage and a redefinition of it will not only harm the family but will do incredible damage to the church” by labeling church teachings as outside the mainstream, said Santorum, who is Roman Catholic. “It’s going to do great damage to the church and its ministries, and I think, therefore, the country.”

But on the issue of immigration, Santorum himself voiced opposition to his own church’s position. He stood by his hard-line view against federal legislation that some conservatives claim provides amnesty for unauthorized immigrants, even as Catholic leaders embrace it as a humanitarian approach.

“Certainly, the Catholic bishops have a very different point of view than I do” on the immigration bill, Santorum said. “I think it’s wrong, I think it’s short-sighted. Every country has a right to protect its border. [The bishops] don’t see that right as legitimate.”