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Monday, October 29, 2012
Christian pumpkins
In the previous post "How Can I Celebrate Halloween?" we talked about how we can share the gospel on Halloween. Here are a few photos of our Christian pumpkins.
Click here to see all related Halloween posts.
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Voice of the Martyrs - Prayer Update
"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18
Philippines—Philippine Government and Rebels Make a Deal
Source: BBC News
The Philippine government reached a peace deal with
the largest Muslim terror group last week, ending 40 years of conflict
between the two groups. The government conceded another autonomous
region in Mindanao to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). While
most Filipinos are Catholics, in the Mindanao region, Muslims are the
majority.
The MILF has long agitated for an independent state, but the
agreement to give Bangasamoro leaders more political and economic
freedom appears to have pacified them. What is not clear, is how this
will affect Christians in the Mindanao region. Christians have long
been the victims of violence and land-grabs. Pray for the protection of
Christians in the region, that God will strengthen them in his power.
Sources: VOM Contacts
A Christian convert from Islam was sentenced to six
years in prison after he was charged with crimes against the regime and
caught trying to flee the country. Alireza Seyyedian, 37, has been a
Christian since 2006. Last year, authorities found a video of his
baptism in Turkey on his laptop, which had been seized in a raid.
In
December 2011, he was charged with crimes against national security and
propaganda against the regime. The judge cited his baptism in Turkey as
evidence that Alireza was trying to express dissatisfaction with the
regime. He was also accused of hosting a house church and distributing
Bibles to youth. In March, Alireza was caught fleeing to Turkey, and
was brought back to Iran to Evin prison. He is being held in the
section for political prisoners. Pray for Alireza. Ask God to
strengthen his faith and give him endurance.
Source: Release International, BBC News, The Jakarta Globe
Bomb attacks on Christian targets in the city of Poso
have revived painful memories of religious violence in Central
Sulawesi. Explosives were detonated outside a Christian’s home just
after 8 p.m. on Oct. 9 — then, about an hour later, a bomb went off
outside Imanuel Church in nearby Taripa, Pamona Timur.
Police said the
house targeted in the first attack was that of Okrifil Mamuaya, a
Christian working for the local government. No one was injured in the
blasts — but they have alarmed Christians in an area blighted by
religious conflict in the past. Groups such as Laskar Jihad have
carried out jihad, or holy war, against Christian communities,
particularly in the Moluccas and Central Sulawesi between 1999 and
2002. Pray that Christians in Poso and other parts of Central Sulawesi
will know God's peace and love. Thank God that His perfect love drives
out fear.
Pray for tribal Christian
training centers operating in Vietnam. The centers provide materials and
training for 400 rural and tribal Christian pastors with the goal of
strengthening house churches in rural areas, which face more
persecution.
Source: http://www.persecution.com/public/pray.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51Follow us on Twitter
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Sunday, October 21, 2012
How Can I Celebrate Halloween?
Turn Halloween into something positive in your family and neighborhood. We live among so many people who don’t know Christ. There is a desperate need for light in our dark world, and the Bible says we are to “shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Philippians 2:15b-16a) to those who are perishing. What a great time to tell people they can have a hope and a future with God if they put their faith in Him. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Halloween Gospel Tracts (click here to order Gospel Tracts)
A day of playing dress-up and getting free candy is every child's dream. But children need to know that while trick or treating on Halloween is fun, the best treat of all has been given to us by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Simple Free Pumpkin Carving Templates With Christian Designs (click here to print out free patterns)
This year, consider carving a Christian pumpkin that will spread God's Word to those who see it. (You may need to re-size them before print)
God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you may have gotten from the other pumpkins. Then he cuts the top off and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for the entire world to see.
Jack o’ Lantern Gospel
Our prayer is that Halloween will help you to remember the great thing that Christ did for us when he saved us from the terror of death and granted us “citizenship in heaven” (Philippians 3:20)!
And remember, we need to let our light shine for others to see: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Ephesians 5:15 "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
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Our prayer is that Halloween will help you to remember the great thing that Christ did for us when he saved us from the terror of death and granted us “citizenship in heaven” (Philippians 3:20)!
And remember, we need to let our light shine for others to see: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Ephesians 5:15 "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
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Thursday, October 18, 2012
Why should we read the Bible?
Question: "Why should we read the Bible / study the Bible?"
Answer: We should read and study the Bible because it is God's Word to us. The Bible is literally "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, it is God's very words to us. There are so many questions that philosophers have asked that God answers for us in Scripture. What is the purpose to life? Where did I come from? Is there life after death? How do I get to heaven? Why is the world full of evil? Why do I struggle to do good? In addition to these "big" questions, the Bible gives much practical advice in areas such as: What do I look for in a mate? How can I have a successful marriage? How can I be a good friend? How can I be a good parent? What is success and how do I achieve it? How can I change? What really matters in life? How can I live so that I do not look back with regret? How can I handle the unfair circumstances and bad events of life victoriously?
We should read and study the Bible because it is totally reliable and
without error. The Bible is unique among so-called "holy" books in that
it does not merely give moral teaching and say, "Trust me." Rather, we
have the ability to test it by checking the hundreds of detailed
prophecies that it makes, by checking the historical accounts it
records, and by checking the scientific facts it relates. Those who say
the Bible has errors have their ears closed to the truth. Jesus once
asked which is easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or "Rise,
take up your bed and walk." Then He proved He had the ability to forgive
sins (something we cannot see with our eyes) by healing the paralytic
(something those around Him could test with their eyes). Similarly, we
are given assurance that God's Word is true when it discusses spiritual
areas that we cannot test with our senses by showing itself true in
those areas that we can test, such as historical accuracy, scientific
accuracy, and prophetic accuracy.
We should read and study the Bible because God does not change and
because mankind's nature does not change; it is as relevant for us as it
was when it was written. While technology changes, mankind's nature and
desires do not change. We find, as we read the pages of biblical
history, that whether we are talking about one-on-one relationships or
societies, "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). And
while mankind as a whole continues to seek love and satisfaction in all
of the wrong places, God—our good and gracious Creator—tells us what
will bring us lasting joy. His revealed Word, the Bible, is so important
that Jesus said of it, "Man does not live on bread alone, but by every
word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). In other words, if
we want to live life to the fullest, as God intended, we must listen to
and heed God's written Word.
We should read and study the Bible because there is so much false
teaching. The Bible gives us the measuring stick by which we can
distinguish truth from error. It tells us what God is like. To have a
wrong impression of God is to worship an idol or false god. We are
worshiping something that He is not. The Bible tells us how one truly
gets to heaven, and it is not by being good or by being baptized or by
anything else we do (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:1-10; Isaiah 53:6; Romans
3:10-18, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-13). Along this line, God's Word shows us just
how much God loves us (Romans 5:6-8; John 3:16). And it is in learning
this that we are drawn to love Him in return (1 John 4:19).
The Bible equips us to serve God (2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). It helps us know how to be saved from our sin and its ultimate consequence (2 Timothy 3:15). Meditating on God’s Word and obeying its teachings will bring success in life (Joshua 1:8; James 1:25). God’s Word helps us see sin in our lives and helps us get rid of it (Psalm 119:9, 11). It gives us guidance in life, making us wiser than our teachers (Psalm 32:8, 119:99; Proverbs 1:6). The Bible keeps us from wasting years of our lives on that which does not matter and will not last (Matthew 7:24-27).
Reading and studying the Bible helps us see beyond the attractive "bait"
to the painful "hook" in sinful temptations, so that we can learn from
others' mistakes rather than making them ourselves. Experience is a
great teacher, but when it comes to learning from sin, it is a terribly
hard teacher. It is so much better to learn from others' mistakes. There
are so many Bible characters to learn from, some of whom can serve as
both positive and negative role models at different times in their
lives. For example, David, in his defeat of Goliath, teaches us that God
is greater than anything He asks us to face (1 Samuel 17), while his
giving in to the temptation to commit adultery with Bathsheba reveals
just how long-lasting and terrible the consequences of a moment's sinful
pleasure can be (2 Samuel 11).
The Bible is a book that is not merely for reading. It is a book for studying so that it can be applied. Otherwise, it is like swallowing food without chewing and then spitting it back out again—no nutritional value is gained by it. The Bible is God's Word. As such, it is as binding as the laws of nature. We can ignore it, but we do so to our own detriment, just as we would if we ignored the law of gravity. It cannot be emphasized strongly enough just how important the Bible is to our lives. Studying the Bible can be compared to mining for gold. If we make little effort and merely "sift through the pebbles in a stream," we will only find a little gold dust. But the more we make an effort to really dig into it, the more reward we will gain for our effort.
Answer: We should read and study the Bible because it is God's Word to us. The Bible is literally "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, it is God's very words to us. There are so many questions that philosophers have asked that God answers for us in Scripture. What is the purpose to life? Where did I come from? Is there life after death? How do I get to heaven? Why is the world full of evil? Why do I struggle to do good? In addition to these "big" questions, the Bible gives much practical advice in areas such as: What do I look for in a mate? How can I have a successful marriage? How can I be a good friend? How can I be a good parent? What is success and how do I achieve it? How can I change? What really matters in life? How can I live so that I do not look back with regret? How can I handle the unfair circumstances and bad events of life victoriously?
The Bible equips us to serve God (2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). It helps us know how to be saved from our sin and its ultimate consequence (2 Timothy 3:15). Meditating on God’s Word and obeying its teachings will bring success in life (Joshua 1:8; James 1:25). God’s Word helps us see sin in our lives and helps us get rid of it (Psalm 119:9, 11). It gives us guidance in life, making us wiser than our teachers (Psalm 32:8, 119:99; Proverbs 1:6). The Bible keeps us from wasting years of our lives on that which does not matter and will not last (Matthew 7:24-27).
The Bible is a book that is not merely for reading. It is a book for studying so that it can be applied. Otherwise, it is like swallowing food without chewing and then spitting it back out again—no nutritional value is gained by it. The Bible is God's Word. As such, it is as binding as the laws of nature. We can ignore it, but we do so to our own detriment, just as we would if we ignored the law of gravity. It cannot be emphasized strongly enough just how important the Bible is to our lives. Studying the Bible can be compared to mining for gold. If we make little effort and merely "sift through the pebbles in a stream," we will only find a little gold dust. But the more we make an effort to really dig into it, the more reward we will gain for our effort.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Help us Amplify the Gospel through Radio
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
 |
| A GFA radio broadcast reaching the mountains of Nepal. |
Many places in South Asia are difficult for Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries to reach—sometimes they are restricted all together. However, with the use of radio broadcasts, millions of people from the mountains, jungles and even remote villages can hear the Good News of Christ.
We can have a huge impact, with lasting fruit, on the field by bringing the Gospel to people in their own language. Our goal is to raise: $45. Would you please prayerfully consider helping? To Help Please Visit: https://www.mygfa.org/2believeministries/
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
What Does It Really Mean to Follow Jesus Christ? by Pastor Greg Laurie
"And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. . ."
— Luke 14:27-28
What Does It Really Mean to Follow Jesus Christ? by Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship
When Jesus was in Jerusalem during the Passover, John's Gospel tells us
that many believed in His name after they saw the signs He did. But
Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because "He knew all men, and
had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in
man" (John 2:24–25).
To put it simply, many believed in Him, but He did not believe in them. Many believed in Him in a shallow, superficial sort of way, without any real commitment attached. They were interested in Him, curious about Him, drawn by Him, and perhaps even felt affection for Him. But the loyalty of these crowds was a mile wide and an inch deep. Jesus knew that when push came to shove, the multitudes would simply drift away. For that reason, Christ did not commit Himself to them.
There are many people who say they want to follow Jesus. And that's good. But that commitment will be challenged. We must decide to follow Jesus—not because our best friend is, not because our boyfriend or girlfriend is, not because our parents are, but because we have chosen in our own heart of hearts to follow Christ.
Many of us can get caught up in the moment. It's like watching an Olympic medal ceremony. We see someone representing their nation standing up on that pedestal. As the gold medal is placed around the athlete's neck and the flag of his or her country is raised while the national anthem plays, we say, "I want to be an Olympic athlete. That's what I want to do." But do we realize the hours, days, months, and years these athletes dedicate to one competition?
We get excited about the medal ceremonies. But are we willing to go through the training? Are we willing to count the cost? Is our commitment to Him and Him alone? Are we willing to be real followers of Jesus?
Source: http://www.harvest.org/devotional/archive/devotion/2012-10-06.html Copyright © 2012 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
What Does It Really Mean to Follow Jesus Christ? by Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship
To put it simply, many believed in Him, but He did not believe in them. Many believed in Him in a shallow, superficial sort of way, without any real commitment attached. They were interested in Him, curious about Him, drawn by Him, and perhaps even felt affection for Him. But the loyalty of these crowds was a mile wide and an inch deep. Jesus knew that when push came to shove, the multitudes would simply drift away. For that reason, Christ did not commit Himself to them.
There are many people who say they want to follow Jesus. And that's good. But that commitment will be challenged. We must decide to follow Jesus—not because our best friend is, not because our boyfriend or girlfriend is, not because our parents are, but because we have chosen in our own heart of hearts to follow Christ.
Many of us can get caught up in the moment. It's like watching an Olympic medal ceremony. We see someone representing their nation standing up on that pedestal. As the gold medal is placed around the athlete's neck and the flag of his or her country is raised while the national anthem plays, we say, "I want to be an Olympic athlete. That's what I want to do." But do we realize the hours, days, months, and years these athletes dedicate to one competition?
We get excited about the medal ceremonies. But are we willing to go through the training? Are we willing to count the cost? Is our commitment to Him and Him alone? Are we willing to be real followers of Jesus?
Source: http://www.harvest.org/devotional/archive/devotion/2012-10-06.html Copyright © 2012 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
Sunday, October 7, 2012
A Follower by Pastor Bob Coy
Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
-Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)
A FOLLOWER
by Pastor Bob Coy of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale
The disciples were a diverse cast of characters.
There was Peter, boisterous and blunt. There was John, sensitive and
sublime. There was Simon, the zealot, who was committed to the cause of
rebelling against the Romans. Then there was Matthew, the tax collector,
who was committed to collaborating with Rome.
Yet there was something they all had in common. They were all called at some point or another to follow. Jesus didn't leave them where they were when He encountered them. Instead, He invited them to drop what they were doing and follow Him.
For Matthew, it was his collection table. For Peter, it was his fishing business. Each one had to leave a lifestyle and an identity, all for the purpose of pursuing Christ's presence. And they did, as evidenced by the fact that we primarily know them as "disciples" (which literally means "learner-follower"), not as tax collectors and fishermen.
Just as Jesus called his disciples to follow after Him, He does the same with us. In the process, He calls us to lay down those things from which we derive our sense of identity so that our identity is found in Him. It's probably not a tax collector's table or a fishing net, but it might be a prestigious title, a car, or an image that says, "Check me out. This is who I am."
More than anything else, God wants us to be His followers. But for this to happen, we must be willing to set aside certain things so we can be in His presence. Then, and only then, will others identify us as disciples.
The Active Word Daily Devotion (RSS Feed) (Also Mailed for Free)
Source: http://www.activeword.org/dailydevotion.cfm?keyword=02-Feb-08 ©2011 Active Word
-Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)
A FOLLOWER
by Pastor Bob Coy of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale
Yet there was something they all had in common. They were all called at some point or another to follow. Jesus didn't leave them where they were when He encountered them. Instead, He invited them to drop what they were doing and follow Him.
For Matthew, it was his collection table. For Peter, it was his fishing business. Each one had to leave a lifestyle and an identity, all for the purpose of pursuing Christ's presence. And they did, as evidenced by the fact that we primarily know them as "disciples" (which literally means "learner-follower"), not as tax collectors and fishermen.
Just as Jesus called his disciples to follow after Him, He does the same with us. In the process, He calls us to lay down those things from which we derive our sense of identity so that our identity is found in Him. It's probably not a tax collector's table or a fishing net, but it might be a prestigious title, a car, or an image that says, "Check me out. This is who I am."
More than anything else, God wants us to be His followers. But for this to happen, we must be willing to set aside certain things so we can be in His presence. Then, and only then, will others identify us as disciples.
The Active Word Daily Devotion (RSS Feed) (Also Mailed for Free)
Source: http://www.activeword.org/dailydevotion.cfm?keyword=02-Feb-08 ©2011 Active Word
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Over 250 Million?
Did you know that over 250 million women in Asia are illiterate? How will they stand firm in their faith if they can't read the Bible?
More than one in three women in Asia are illiterate—and the statistic holds true for women in Gospel for Asia-supported churches. Their inability to read leaves them vulnerable to those wanting to take advantage of their ignorance, and without reading the Bible, it's a challenge to deepen their knowledge of their Savior.
You can help empower them to care for their families, avoid bad contracts that cause debt, and overcome abusive employers who take advantage of their ignorance through breaking the chains of illiteracy. They’ll also get better prices at the marketplace--just because they can do math. Finally, churches will be strengthened as women are able to read the Bible for the first time.
One hundred percent of your donation will go to provide for women's literacy in Asia. Nothing is taken out for administrative expenses.
More than one in three women in Asia are illiterate—and the statistic holds true for women in Gospel for Asia-supported churches. Their inability to read leaves them vulnerable to those wanting to take advantage of their ignorance, and without reading the Bible, it's a challenge to deepen their knowledge of their Savior.
You can help empower them to care for their families, avoid bad contracts that cause debt, and overcome abusive employers who take advantage of their ignorance through breaking the chains of illiteracy. They’ll also get better prices at the marketplace--just because they can do math. Finally, churches will be strengthened as women are able to read the Bible for the first time.
One hundred percent of your donation will go to provide for women's literacy in Asia. Nothing is taken out for administrative expenses.
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