A MAN CALLED PETER

Unaware of the previous night's heated dialogue between two senators, Peter Marshall, Chaplain to the U. S. Senate, began the session of April 3, 1947, with this prayer:

"Gracious, Father, we, Thy children, so often confused, live at cross-purposes in our central aim, and hence we are at cross-purposes with each other. Take us by the hand and help us see things from Thy viewpoint...."

As Marshall left the Senate chamber, one of the senators involved in the quarrel followed him and offered the surprised chaplain an apology for his behavior.

This incident encapsulated the nature of the jocular Scotsman's influential ministry. He was straightforward and eminently practical. Supremely, he was led by God's Spirit.

His pithy, pointed invocations before the Senate during his chaplaincy were often reprinted in such prestigious publications as Reader's Digest and The New Yorker.

Peter Marshall had come a long way in the twenty-two years since he immigrated to America from Scotland. He arrived at Ellis Island in New York harbor in 1927 at age twenty-five with two weeks' living expenses. He worked for a year in New Jersey and then was enticed to travel south to Birmingham, Alabama, where a former schoolmate from his native Scotland had immigrated.

From there, members of his Sunday school class paid his way to seminary in Atlanta. He graduated in 1931 and pastored a small church in Covington, Georgia, before returning to preach at Atlanta's Westminster Presbyterian Church.

His Gaelic brogue, sharp wit, and keen fellowship with the Savior were an engaging combination. The church overflowed each Sunday, especially with young people. A penetrating humility that readily identified with the needs of the common working man saturated his sermons.

It was in Atlanta that Marshall met and married Catherine Wood, a student at Agnes Scott College, who later chronicled Marshall's life in her book A Man Called Peter, later made into a successful movie of the same title.

Catherine quickly realized Peter was not a stodgy preacher, but rather had an innate desire for good fun. He loved playing board games and was given the honorary title of G.G.P.—Great Game Player.

She wrote: "The day of our wedding saw a cold rain falling...I gathered Peter was rollicking through successive games of Yacht, Parcheesi, and Rummy with anyone who had sufficient leisure to indulge him. That was all right, but I thought he was carrying it a bit too far, when, thirty minutes before the ceremony, he was so busy pushing his initial advantage in a game of Chinese Checkers with little sister Em, that he still had not dressed."

While on their honeymoon, the Marshall's stopped for an appointment with the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. which had wooed him to fill their vacant pulpit.

Marshall resisted their call, revealing the depths of his humility in a letter declining the invitation.

"I feel...that I am not yet ready for the responsibilities and the dignities which would be mine as minister of the New York Avenue Church. I am too young, too immature, too lacking in scholarship, experience, wisdom, and ability for such a high position. Time alone will reveal whether or not I shall ever possess these qualities of mind and heart that your pulpit demands."

The church persisted, however, and despite his reservations, Marshall sensed God's hand. In the fall of 1937, at age thirty-five, he moved to the nation's capitol, where his ministry of preaching Christ and His adequacy for life's demands transcended the city's entrenched political barriers.

In ensuing years, his congregation included numerous special guests such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt. But his heart was always with the common man, the bricklayer, the mother, the teacher. Teenagers loved his youthful sincerity and adults his non-ecclesiastical demeanor.

His zeal for God and unmatched eloquence in expressing His ways and character attracted the interests of the country's leaders who appointed him Senate Chaplain in 1947 and again in 1949.

It was his intense zest for God and relish for life that perhaps accelerated a serious heart condition. He suffered his second heart attack only weeks after President Harry Truman's inauguration. When the physician who had rushed to his home informed him he must go immediately to the hospital, Marshall's Scots' humor still sparkled: "I take a dim view of that. What a revoltin' development this is!"

He died hours later on the morning of January 26, 1949, at age forty-six. An editorial in the Washington Evening Star captured the true spirit of Peter Marshall's brief but impassioned ministry.

"Living and working in Washington only eleven years, the Reverend Dr. Peter Marshall nevertheless has left his mark upon the whole city. He was a man of contagious spirit, eager and alert, quick to see opportunities of service and to meet their challenge....In classic language, he was a builder of the kingdom of God on this earth."

WHAT IS YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTING!

Where do you fit into the body of Christ? Try this SPIRITUAL GIFTS ANALYSIS and see if you are right!

THE DECEIVED DECEIVING THE DECEIVED!

This has to be the dumbest thing I have ever read...

god of small things

Phnom Penh: A fight between an elderly woman and a Buddhist monk over an allegedly magic turtle landed the monk in court on charges of impersonating a god.

The monk, Khong Chantha, 26, sold a turtle with Buddhist inscriptions carved into its shell to the woman for the equivalent of $1.60. But when the monk heard the woman had begun a business with the turtle, claiming it invoked miracles, he tried to reclaim it by force, and there was a fight, police said.

The woman reported the monk to police, who found a forged letter purportedly signed by the Prime Minister, Hun Sen, in the monk's possession giving government backing to Chantha's claim he was a reincarnation of Buddha.

The monk was released with a caution.

AROUND THE BILOGS!

We have a feast of great posts today!

We start with a tasty item at Blogotional, 13th item on his menu! Get your teeth into something Very Punny!

And then we are off to Bryan's Nonsense to get our first entree of The Peculiar People!

After that we go for our second entree at Broken Shivers for an Assertiveness Test! Don't mince your words here!

Then it's off to Phil at The Spirit Formed Life for a starter course on The Baptism of God's Love! Well worth chewing over!

Let's join in at J.A.'s table at Sheep's Crib, for a tasty morsel of Twelve Jewels of honor!

Then for our main course, be seated at the table of Callmeteem, for our main couse of Praying for revival! Very good for the digestion!

For our dessert let's dine with Angel wiv Attitude it's full of calories!

And to finish it all off with a nice botttle of Living Water at Maverick Mindset, to wash it all down!

Well folks that it for another around .... Theeee Biiiillloooggggsss! I hope you had your fill! Have a great and Godly week!

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT – FRIDAY: Why They Fired The Pastor.

I go out to preach with two propositions in mind. First, every person ought to give his life to Christ. Second, whether or not anyone else gives him his life I will give him mine. -- Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758).
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”...that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. --1Cor 12:25-27. (ESV)

I thought I would do something a little bit different today, something that would help us all to understand that the Church needs to work together, everyone doing their part, that we might see a mighty move of God as we function together in unity!

I don't know how long he had been at the church when the members noticed. I'm certain he must have been on his best behaviour for at least a few months.Some members think that the first time they noticed was the night he failed to show up for a committee.

The next day he explained to a member that he had met a friend who had invited him to a community activity. "I knew you could carry on without me," he said with a disarming smile.When he missed the first prayer meeting is a matter of dispute. Some say one day and some another. But all agree that he failed to show up a number of times.

Not that he ever failed to provide for a speaker; it was just that, well, people kind of expect the pastor to be at prayer meeting. A member recalls one explanation: "A little job I had to get done at home," he said. "It wasn't much, but it was bugging the wife."

Then it was a Sunday evening he missed. The members do recall that date, because just the week before, he had spoken on the brotherhood of believers and the necessity of Christian fellowship -- "so much the more as you see the day approaching," he had quoted.

"The fact is," he explained to a member, "I wasn't on the program, and since the whole family was at home for once, I decided to take time out to be with them. And I was really tired and probably wouldn't have gotten much out of the service anyway."

Probably all this would have been forgiven if it hadn't been for the morning he arrived ten minutes late for the church service. And that morning he was to be the speaker. He didn't give any explanation - just marched up the aisle to the front and went on as if nothing had happened.

Before long he was late more often than not. It got so you could almost count on his walking in with the other latecomers. When a deacon ventured to speak to him about it, he just said he had gotten into the habit of starting late and it was hard to kick the habit.

The whole thing came to a head the morning he didn't show up for the service at all. On the spur of the moment, members learned later, he had decided to go for a drive, since the fall colours were so beautiful. "Not many nice days left," he said. "And I thought I'd not be missed, since I met so many members on the way."

Well, it was then that the church board met, talked over what it meant to be a minister in their church, and decided to get a dependable minister. "He doesn't even know what membership in the church means," said one board member. "He doesn't realize the importance of the church," said another.

The secretary summed it all up in the minutes of the meeting, after the vote to dismiss him had been passed. "It was clear he cannot be a minister here if he insists on acting just like the rest of the members." -- John M. Drescher. If I Were Starting My Ministry Again.

I think that this serves to illustrate that we all need to pull together and encourage one another, love one another, care for one another, carry one anothers burdens.

That we may see the unsaved ministered too and shown the love of Jesus, that we may see souls saved and the kingdom of God move together in power!

Loving Father, I thank for Jesus, my Lord and Saviour! I thank you that I am a member of the body of Christ. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to function in the gifts that you have given to me, and to use them to build up your Church, help me to respect and honour all of my brothers and sisters in Christ, that in unity we may see the kingdom of God extended! In Jesus wonderful name I pray! Amen!

GOING SOFT ON VIOLENCE... Violent Husbands To Be Sent To Motels!

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read this! Victoria has got to have the dumbest goverment anywhere...

MEN who bash their wives and children will be packed off to motels or caravan parks so their families do not have to leave their homes under an Australian-first plan announced by the Victorian Government.

But the head of the Male Family Violence Prevention Association, Danny Blay, criticised the proposal, saying men also needed counselling.

They should not be left to fester in a caravan or hotel room to get angrier and more frustrated," Mr Blay said. "They need ... counselling to get them talking about their relationship, thinking about their life and behaviour differently."

Mr Blay said there was an "excellent" half-way house arrangement, with in-house counselling, in Perth, and two had existed in Melbourne until government funding was stopped.

Under the policy, police or social workers would be able to give taxpayer-funded vouchers to violent men to set them up in cheap accommodation in hostels, rooming houses, hotels or caravan parks for up to three nights, in a policy to cost $600,000 over four years.

Police would also be able to obtain over-the-phone intervention orders to stop men going home to threaten their partners. A further $1.4million would be spent over four years to give women a greater choice of emergency accommodation.

Acting Premier John Thwaites said, currently, men could argue they had nowhere to go following a claim of domestic violence against them and so remain in the home.

"Women and children can receive crisis accommodation in refuges when it is available, but it is short-term and is often a long way from their support networks and their children's schools," he said.

"With this new system there will be vouchers so that if a man has committed violence we can get the man out of the home."

The initiative (The what?) comes in a $35.1million domestic violence package, released yesterday, which is part of a new government focus on social policy.

The policy's main thrust is to integrate services, so that somebody complaining of domestic violence receives a consistent response, whether they approach police, doctors, schools or domestic violence services. It involves large injections of money to increase case management services.

Mr Blay said the package as a whole was "a great start, a great first step". The announcement represents the first installment in the Government's social justice policy, which will be released today.

The policy is an attempt to stem the criticism, made in the wake of a big-spending economic statement last year, that the Government was pandering to its business constituency and ignoring the poor and low-paid.

"I WOULD RATHER WEAR OUT THAN RUST OUT"

George Whitefield (1714-1770)

In a day of widespread infidelity, he was a college student who was highly religious - but lost. While most around him lived for worldly pleasures and material gain, this student strove mightily to attain his own salvation.

Church attendance, Bible study, regular fasting and privations, visiting the sick and imprisoned all led George Whitfield to the point of physical ruin until one day the scriptures opened up for him. That day in the early 1700's he underwent the New Birth, and began a lifelong mission to proclaim to the world the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Whitfield was not a pretentious man. He had a heart on fire, and only sought to learn more about his new birth and to communicate it to others. Throughout his ministry he was aware of his "impurity next to Christ's perfection," his "pride next to Christ's humility."

At a communion service he conducted on the outskirts of Glasgow, (Scotland) that was attended by between thirty and fifty thousand people, his humble question to God was: "Why me?"

At the end of his ministry he still preached as hard as ever, and it was not unusual for him to ride sixty miles in a day, preach two or three times and then ride all night to his next stop. His entire life his body was wracked with sickness, never helped by his constant driving schedule. He answered a friend's concern for his health by stating: "I would rather wear out than rust out!"

He was a man of prayer, criticized because he abandoned use of the Book of Common Prayer in favor of extemporaneous praying. The secret to his amazing ministry was his closeness to God and his burden to do God's will.

The greatest result of his ministry was a revival now known as: "The Great Awakening." This revival swept America from 1740 through the 1770's, touching and transforming perhaps hundreds of thousands of people. It had a profound effect on the ministers, with hundreds of pastors from a variety of denominations getting saved.

When America finally engaged in the struggle for independence, George Whitfield was the man who was largely responsible for having brought the nation "under God."

THE LOST MESSAGE OF JESUS!

Just another sign of the last days, as the false prophets seek to deceive the Church of Jesus Christ... Albert Mohler, Author, Speaker, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, critiques the latest drivel poured out by Steve Chalke and Alan Mann in their book, "The Lost Message of Jesus." It's a long read but well worth it as this drivel is sure to go through the Church like a dose of influenza!

Has the message of Jesus been lost? That is the claim made by Steve Chalke and Alan Mann in their now-controversial book, The Lost Message of Jesus. Chalke is a well-known figure among British evangelicals. He founded the Oasis Trust and Faithworks and established his reputation through his broadcast ministry and publishing.

Mann is his researcher and collaborator. Together, they have produced a book that has ignited a firestorm in Great Britain that is almost certain to spread to the United States. Put simply, these authors claim that evangelicals have misunderstood, misconstrued, and mispresented the meaning of the cross and the doctrine of atonement.

The authors begin with a lament, suggesting that Christianity has lost its identity in postmodern society. "What once profoundly shaped communities and changed lives has today been sidelined in society. The radical message of Jesus is now seen as nothing more than an ancient myth containing little, if any, historical truth or contemporary relevancy.

Misleading potted versions of the story of Jesus have been filtered down to us through bland civic religion, caricatured snippets from the mouth of Ned Flanders, Homer Simpson's nerdy Christian neighbour, and the sickly sweet, saccharine-flavoured version of Christmas presented to us by retailers and the media each October through December." This is not a pretty picture... Continue reading

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT – THURSDAY: “What Would Jesus Desire?”

"The days in which we live are days of great opportunity and of grave responsibility, and a second-hand religion is not good enough for times such as these. They demand that we should always be at our best if we are to seize our opportunities and manfully shoulder our responsibilities." -- J. A. Broadbelt.
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Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." -- Mat 28:19-20. (ESV)

As we conclude this series on “What Would Jesus Desire?” I think we know what Jesus would do in any given situation; so it was with this in mind that we ask the question... "What Would Jesus Desire?"

What would Jesus desire of us today? Is there something Jesus would want us to do today? Is there something Jesus would want us to be doing everyday?

It is the old choice which still is presented to every soul; the old crisis which reappears in every experience. Caesar, or Christ, that is the question: the vast, attractive, skeptical world, with its pleasures and ambitions and its prodigal promise, or the meek, majestic, and winning figure of Him of Nazareth?

The election remains for each of us. And the moment of the election, in the shaded and solemn "Valley of Decision," will be memorable in our history, when suns for us have ceased to shine! -- Source Unknown.

As we consider the words of Jesus in Mat 28:19-20, let us ask ourselves whether Jesus would desire it of us. For example, I believe Jesus would desire that we...

OBSERVE HIS COMMANDS
When I was in the military, my commanding officer would issue orders to his troops, if you carried them out as instructed, you were a good soldier! and you remained in the army! If you refused to carry out the orders, you were punished, and banished from the army!

Jesus said, “...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”. Water baptism was only the beginning; there are so many more commands to follow.

Observe means to put His commandments into operation in order to be His disciple… So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, -- John 8:31

What are some of His commandments?
To love each other… "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." -- John 13:34- 35.

Which is one way we show the world we are truly His disciples, which also implies the necessity of active involvement in a local congregation, i.e. Church!

He commands us to bear fruit… By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. -- John 15:8. Such as communicating the gospel, saving souls, serving others, growing in grace and in knowledge!

Unless we bear fruit, we will be cut off... every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. -- Jn 15:1-2; 6.

Bearing fruit comes only through a personal connection with Jesus... Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. -- Jn 15:4-5.

Our study was not intended to be exhaustive, because there are many other commands He gave us, suffice to say, that we need to learn everything that Jesus teaches us and put it into practice. The Church needs to stop being consumed with knowing everything and start obeying the orders the Commander - in - Chief has given us!

Dr. B.J. Miller once said, "It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it." -- Today In The Word.

During this study, I hope that I have encouraged you, to reflect on what Jesus would desire for us to do today:

• If you have not committed to become His disciple...
• If you have not been baptised...
• If you are not observing His commands...

What would Jesus desire for you?

Loving Father, I thank you that I have been baptised in water as commanded by Jesus. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a disciple of Jesus, to sit at His feet and learn from Him, that I may go forth some day and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded us. Knowing that He will always be with us to the end of the age! In Jesus name I pray! Amen!

ABORTION! - The Other Side Of The Story.

When I read this story today, I had the opposite emotion to yesterday's story of Jayde, my heart was singing with joy, and I was praising God! This is the other side of the story to Jayde's Mother, who wanted her dead! If you haven't read the nauseating story yet, you can read it here before you read this wonderful miracle below!

NIGHTMARE OF MUM-TO-BE AFTER DOCTOR'S BLUNDER
MUM-TO-BE Nicola Leary went through two days of torture after a blundering doctor told her that her baby had died in her womb.

But when she went back to hospital two days later, a nurse scanned her tummy and asked in amazement: 'Who the hell told you your baby was dead? 'You have a perfectly healthy baby. And it's a big baby.'

Nicola, 20, said last night: 'The nurse turned the screen towards me and there was my baby kicking away. I could see its heart beating. 'I was in a complete state when the doctor said I'd lost my baby. I was in floods of tears, screaming and smashing things up. I couldn't accept it. 'I'm so angry at that doctor. He put me through hell.'

Nicola's astonishing ordeal began last Wednesday, when she was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary after experiencing internal bleeding. The young mum of one wasn't too worried - she'd had similar problems earlier in her 14-week-old pregnancy and her baby turned out to be fine. But when Nicola finally saw a gynaecologist after a four-hour wait, the doctor dropped a horrifying bombshell.

Nicola recalled: 'He started by telling me that my blood type was RhD negative,and my baby's was RhD positive. 'He said if my baby was bleeding, my body would try to kill its blood cells as it would see them as alien. 'He kept saying, 'Do you understand? Do you understand?' 'He examined me, then he took off his plastic glove and hid it away.

'He took my hand and started patting it. Then he said,'I'm very sorry,but you've lost your baby.' 'I was completely shocked. 'Then he told me,'We'll have to get you cleaned out. Can you stay overnight?' 'But I had to get out of there. I packed my things and left.'

Nicola, of Maryhill, Glasgow, fled the hospital in tears and went home to husband Mark, 24, and daughter Megan,one. And she believes that by doing so, she may have saved her baby's life.

Nicola said: 'If I had stayed in the hospital,they might have removed the baby there and then. I might have lost my healthy baby and been none the wiser. 'I got a horrible sinking feeling when I realised what could have happened. I can barely think about it. 'The hospital made a terrible mistake that almost cost me my baby, and I'm outraged.'

Nicola could not get her head around the thought that her baby was dead. She said: 'I knew I had to go back to hospital so the doctors could remove the baby.

'But I wasn't ready to let go. 'I kept screaming that I wasn't ready for them to take my baby away from me. It was just an instinct - I couldn't accept it was dead.'

Then Nicola felt something move in her womb... Continue reading

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT – WEDNESDAY: “What Would Jesus Desire?”

“God has honored this generation as He has never honored a generation before. He has thrown dazzling opportunities before it. He has flung wide open for it the doors of access to all parts of His world and has laid at its feet every possible advantage and facility.” -- J. Lovell Murray
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Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." -- Mat 28:19-20. (ESV)

I said yesterday that I think I know what Jesus would do in any given situation; so it was with this in mind that we ask the question... "What Would Jesus Desire?" What would Jesus desire of you today? Is there something Jesus would want you to do today? Is there something Jesus would want you to be doing everyday?

One Sunday, the Minister was giving a sermon on baptism and in the course of his sermon he was illustrating the fact that baptism should take place by sprinkling and not by immersion.

He pointed out some instances in the Bible.He said that when John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, it didn't mean in - it meant close to, round about, or nearby. And again when it says in the Bible that Philip baptized the eunuch in the river, it didn't mean in - it meant close to, round about, or nearby.

After the service, a man came up to the minister and told him it was a great sermon, one of the best he had ever heard, and that it had cleared up a great many mysteries he had encountered in the Bible.

"For instance," he said, "the story about Jonah getting swallowed by the whale has always bothered me. Now I know that Jonah wasn't really in the whale, but close to, round about, or nearby, swimming in the water.

Then there is the story about the three young Hebrew boys who were thrown into the furious furnace, but were not burned. Now I see that they were not really in the fire, just close to, round about, or nearby, just keeping warm.

But the hardest of all the stories for me to believe has always been the story of Daniel getting thrown into the lions den. But now I see that he wasn't really in the lions' den, but close to, round about, or nearby, like at the zoo.

The revealing of these mysteries have been a real comfort me because I am a wicked man. Now I am gratified to know that I won't be in Hell, but close to, round about, or nearby.

And next Sunday, I won't have to be in church, just close to, round about, or nearby. Thanks. You have really put my mind at ease. " – Source unknown.

As we consider His words in Mat 28:19-20, ask yourself whether Jesus would desire it of you. For example, I believe Jesus would desire that...

WE BE BAPTISED
Water baptism is not optional, it’s not a Church commandment, it's not a parents commandment, it’s not something someone else can do for you; it is commanded by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...

“Go therefore... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…” -- Mat 28:19. If we are to baptise people, we need to be baptised!

WHY DOES JESUS WANT US TO BE BAPTISED?
This is explained by Paul... Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. - Ro 6:3-4.

In newness of life (en kainotēti zōēs). The picture in baptism points two ways, backwards to Christ’s death and burial and to our death to sin -- Rom_6:1, forwards to Christ’s resurrection from the dead and to our new life pledged by the coming out of the watery grave to walk on the other side of the baptismal grave - - F. B. Meyer.

In baptism we put on Christ… For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. -- Gal 3:27.

To put on, or to be clothed with one, is to assume the person and character of that one; and they who do so are bound to act his part, and to sustain the character which they have assumed. The profession of Christianity is an assumption of the character of Christ; he has left us an example that we should follow his steps, and we should, as Christians, have that mind in us which was in him. -- Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Loving Father, I thank you that I have been baptised in water as commanded by Jesus. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a disciple of Jesus, to sit at His feet and learn from Him, that I may go forth some day and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,! In Jesus name I pray! Amen!

Is It Only About The Prize?

I was just about to go to bed after replying to my comments and I thought I would check out a few blogs, well, I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight, thanks Phil for a beautiful post...

It was just another chapel service, or so I thought and then making her appearance up front was Kathryn Kuhlman. I had never been to one of her meetings. I had seen her on television but not in person. Just the same, there she was, just like on TV, except in person. Kind of curious, I gave her my full and complete attention.

I don’t remember her topic for the day however I most clearly remember where she ended up going with her message. At some point in her message she began to speak to us about her relationship with the Lord Jesus. She spoke softly and yet clearly. As she spoke, I was, well I was caught up in what she was saying.

In all of my years in the church, to this point in my young life, I had never heard anyone speak so intimately about their relationship with the Lord Jesus.She went on describing this love affair that she was having with the Lord Jesus, its beginning, through the years and now in her life.

At one point, she seemed to no longer be speaking to or even aware of us students. She seemed to be totally focused upon the Lord Jesus. She began to actually speak to the Lord and as she did this, she turned and was facing toward the stage curtain with all of us on her right. Her gaze was slightly elevated and her face literally glowed.

I had never before or since seen such a thing. I asked, afterwards, several others to see if they had seen what I had seen and indeed they had. Continue reading...

PAY YOUR TAXES, 'Jesus says'

If the bill fits, pay it! Wouldn't you think that Church leaders and Christians would be happy to get some free publicity and Bible text from the government? Seems not...

Tax officials in Sierra Leone have infuriated Christians by publishing newspaper advertisements saying Jesus Christ supported the paying of taxes.

The half-page advertisements said that when Jesus was asked if he was against a law requiring the payment of taxes to the Roman emperor he replied: "Pay the emperor what belongs to the emperor and pay to God what belongs to God," quoting from the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 22, verses 17-21). (CEV)

It continued: "All Christians should follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. This week: pay your taxes."

The advertisements provoked the anger of Christians, who make up 30 per cent of the population of the west African nation.

Anglican priest Thomas Carew said he could not "believe his eyes" while the Methodist pastor Cyril William described it as a "blasphemy" and called on the tax department to drop the ads.

A tax department spokesman said the initiative "was to encourage people to pay their taxes as soon as possible".

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT - TUESDAY: “What Would Jesus Desire?”

God never intended His Church to be a refrigerator in which to preserve perishable piety. He intended it to be an incubator in which to hatch out converts." -- F. Lincicome
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Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." -- Mat 28:19-20

It is quite common to see young people wearing a bracelet, T-shirt, or other article of clothing with the letters "WWJD" This stands for "What Would Jesus Do?" Many young people like wearing something designed to remind them to always ask in any situation, "What Would Jesus Do?"

Some time back, I was watching Bill Clinton being interviewed by a British commentator on BBC TV and I noticed that Bill was wearing a "WWJD" bracelet; he obviously didn’t take much notice of what Jesus would do, alas, when the interviewer questioned him on a tryst with a certain young woman, he lost his temper and got very angry with his host!

However, I think I know what Jesus would do in any given situation; so it is with this in mind that I want to ask the question... "What Would Jesus Desire?" What would Jesus desire of you today? Is there something Jesus would want you to do today? Is there something Jesus would want you to be doing everyday?

I believe there are several things we can note that Jesus would desire of every follower. As we consider His words in Mat 28:19-20, ask yourself whether Jesus would desire it of you. For example, I believe Jesus would desire...

THAT WE BECOME HIS DISCIPLES
He said... “Go therefore and make disciples…” He wants His followers to make disciples; In order to make disciples we have to become a disciple... Gk: Matheteuo - enrol as a scholar – a disciple. A disciple is one who desires to become like His teacher…

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. -- Luke 6:40. When Jesus trains you He trains you well!

Clarence Jordan, author of the "Cotton Patch" New Testament translation and founder of the interracial Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia, was getting a red-carpet tour of another minister's church. With pride the minister pointed to the rich, imported pews and luxurious decoration.

As they stepped outside, darkness was falling, and a spotlight shone on a huge cross atop the steeple. "That cross alone cost us ten thousand dollars," the minister said with a satisfied smile. "You got cheated," said Jordan. "Times were when Christians could get them for free." -- Michael Jinkins

Why Would Jesus Desire Us To Become His Disciples?
So that we may learn from Him… Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." -- Matt 11:28-30

The expression "take my yoke" in NT times meant to become one's disciple… i.e., “saddle up” with Jesus and let Him lead us in the direction we should go… why? To offer rest for our souls, He knows that we are under the burden of sin, the burden of the guilt of sin, which is both the legal and emotional guilt of sin!

We need to learn from Him how to become free from the burden of sin, for freedom from sin is true freedom... Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. -- John 8:34-36

Only in Him can we become free from... the legal guilt of sin which is, (having transgressed the Law of God) the emotional guilt of sin which is,(having transgressed our own consciences).

Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong. -- John Diefenbaker

Jesus clearly desires us to be His disciples, to learn from Him and to let Him lighten our load; are we His disciples?

Loving Father, I thank you that I have been set free from the power of sin, set free from the legal and emotional guilt that it carried for me. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a disciple of Jesus, to sit at His feet and learn from Him, that I may go forth some day and make disciples of all nations! In Jesus name I pray! Amen!

ABORTION... Jayde's Misery!

This story actually made me sick to the stomach when I read it! What chance of a bright future does 3yr old Jadye have when she is old enough to realise that she was a mistake. Not only a mistake, but that her Mother wants money to compensate her for the mistake!

Please pray for Jayde, that this would not make her life a misery, but that God would use her for His glory. Please pray also for the Mother and her parents, that they would see the misery that they are placing on Jayde's life...

Woman, 20, sues for $600,000 over failed abortion!
A 20-year-old Scottish woman is suing a hospital where she had an abortion in 2001 after one of her twins survived the operation.

Stacy Dow, who is raising her now three-year-old daughter Jayde with her parents, said yesterday she was seeking $616,000 to cover the costs of raising the child.

"I have got a child now that I wasn't planning to have and I believe the hospital should take some responsibility for that," she said.

The woman said the hospital in Perth, Scotland, where she had her operation had failed "to take reasonable care to establish that the termination had been successful".

Dow was 16 when she learned in early 2001 that she was pregnant and immediately decided to have an abortion.

Although the operation was declared a success, she realised several weeks later after visiting a doctor that she was still pregnant with one of her twins.She then gave birth in August of that year.

In a similar case in 2001, a 36-year-old mother from Stafford in central England received $24,000 compensation under an amicable agreement with a surgeon who had failed to end the pregnancy. In that case, too, one of the twins survived the operation.

IS IT SIMPLY PREACHING OR MORE?

Phil McAlmond, over at The Spirit Formed Life keeps the preaching/transformation subject alive, with his wonderful post on Is It Simply Preaching or More?

Isaiah 52:7 (ESV) How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God
reigns."

Ok, I want to play. There is some discussion going on among not a few blogs concerning preaching and I guess I will weigh in as well. You can not have hundreds of thousands of Preachers out there and not have a whole lot of takes on this most significant discussion on Preaching. I do not believe that it is so much an issue of right and wrong preaching, at least for me, as it is about what we have learned along the
way.

We all, most likely in the beginning, learned from watching and listening to those we respected or not, as well as from our classes and books and then finally from our actually doing the work and ministry of Preaching God’s Word. For me this is true.

So, what I want to share in this regard isn’t what I have learned from books or classes. I want to share is just some of what I have learned along the way while actually Preaching God’s Holy Word to God’s Holy people and serving him in the ministry...

Continue reading

THE SAINT WIN AGAIN!

My Aussie Football team... St Kilda has sent some ominous signs to the rest of the competition, smashing Richmond by 68 points in the first twilight fixture of the season at Telstra Dome. Carn' the Saints!!!!!!! "Oh! When the Saints go marching in, Oh! When the Saints go marching in... Listen

ANZAC DAY

On April 25, 1915, the Anzacs landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula and carved a special place in our history.

Today is a public holiday in Australia as we celebrate Anzac Day,(Australia/New Zealand Army Corp) we honour them...

AUSTRALIA'S oldest veteran, Peter Casserly, intends to lead today's parade, riding through Perth in an open-top Bentley Azure with two great-grandsons.Mr Casserly, 107, has been suffering from a heavy cold, but his son, Peter Jnr, said yesterday that his father hoped to join the parade, and the family would check his condition this morning.

Mr Casserly is the oldest of the three surviving World War I veterans - the others being Jack Ross, 106, and William Allan, 105, both of whom are too frail to take part in today's parades.

Mr Casserly, a former military railway engineer on the Western Front, first marched in 1920, but it took another 84 years before he could bring himself to attend another parade. Peter Jnr said his father, now confined to a wheelchair, blind and almost deaf, was frail. "He might just have to watch it on the television. We'll see how he is on the day, and see what the nursing home people say."

A GOOD KIND OF HURT...by Brad Locke

This testimony just goes to show us that God is in control of our lives...

I couldn't miss that summer. At the Louisiana Tech intramural center, I couldn't miss. At the campground in Mobile, Ala., where my family vacationed, I couldn't miss (won a free lunch, too). In Mr. Morgan's swimming pool, despite a floating, bobbing target, I couldn't miss.

Well, I didn't miss very often. That was the year, 1995, that I reached my athletic peak. I hadn't played organized basketball since ninth grade, but I was doing things on the court I'd never done before. Not that I was spectacular by any means, but I more than held my own in full-court pick-up games.

I was headed for Covenant College the coming fall, and I had every intention of making the basketball team. My friends thought I could do it. I was convinced I could do it. Who knows if I actually would have, but I never got to find out.

On July 4, dunking on my buddy's 8-foot rim under a spotlight, I came down on a stray ball, my right foot turning inward at a full 90-degree angle. It was as close to being broken as it could be without being broken. It swelled up to twice normal size, and I was on crutches for six weeks. I got off them just before leaving for Chattanooga.

I tried out anyway, but I wasn't the same player. Barely got down the court. Couldn't shoot. I eventually played my way back into previous form (maybe even better form), and I assimilated myself into the program by becoming a team manager.

But by the time coach Ken Brooks said to me, "We'll keep you in mind," I knew my chance was done. I had neither the grades nor the dough to return, and I harbored regret over my suffering for a long time.
Continue reading...

Baptist Says 'False Gospel' Leaves Multitudes 'Sealed in Unbelief'

Multitudes have been misled or given a false assurance of a salvation they never had by ministers preaching the wrong gospel, author and speaker Voddie Baucham said April 14 at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

These ministers strip the Gospel of sin and repentance, depicting instead a "warm, fuzzy" Jesus that is foreign to scripture, said Bauchman, an adjunct professor at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and a D.Min. graduate of Southeastern.

Baucham, who preached from I Corinthians 15 at the Wake Forest, N.C., campus, said false representations of the Gospel seek to manipulate people, often with humor, rather than call them to repentance and faith in Christ.

"You can make a good living if you know how to manipulate crowds," Baucham said. But such "ministry" has left countless individuals "sealed in unbelief."

God has chosen the "foolishness" of the preaching of the Gospel to save sinners, Baucham noted, and He blesses its proclamation when it is done in a way that is faithful to the truth of the biblical text.

Another way in which the Gospel is distorted is when Jesus Christ is not fully proclaimed as the Son of God, Baucham said. Those who concede that Jesus was a good teacher or a moral man but deny Him as the divine Son of God who died for sinners must be reminded of Jesus' claims of His own divinity.

"If we don't understand who Jesus is, we don't understand the Gospel," Baucham said. "We allow them to believe in this warm, fuzzy Jesus who is not the Christ of the Scriptures. Jesus is not just a warm, fuzzy guy who wants to be your friend."

This type of preaching frequently fails to mention sin, Baucham said. Instead, society is blamed for man's failure.

"We don't just make bad choices," Baucham countered. "We weren't just raised by the wrong parents in the wrong neighborhood.

"It's sin -- we're sinners."

Preachers also must be sure to uphold the doctrine of a believer's eternal security in Christ and God's gracious keeping of His children, Baucham said. At the same time, he cautioned, "If you believed the wrong gospel, you weren't saved in the first place."

The authentic Gospel will bear lasting fruit in the lives of those God has saved, he said, encouraging the chapel audience to preach, teach and live the Gospel.

"God saves sinners. God keeps sinners. If you believe that, act like it," Baucham said.

CHILLING OUT!

Please forgive me, as there is no Daily Encouragement today, I had such a wonderful time over the weekend... spending some quality time with the wife. Back on track tomorrow! :o)

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

AROUND THE BILOGS!

Wow! There is some fantastic, fighting, fabulous, forthright and funny posts today!

First... How I was finally convinced to buy the ESV by Phil at The Spirit Formed Life.

Secondly, Adrian has the threat of a new thread on 'Lay Preacers' at Adrian Warnock.

Thirdly, If your appetite is whetted, then read Tommy's 'Serving a dangerous God' at Dark Glasses.

Fourthly, still going? Then you have to read Frank's summation of 'Issues with men and church' at Team-Swap Blog.

Fifthly, after all that why not go over to John at Sheep's Crib and see Kerry and Kennedy in their new role!

Sixthly, if you are still laughing go and read Jeannie's post on 'An extremely embarrassing moment' at Angel wiv Attitude, where you will split your sides!

Finally, to keep you laughing for a week, go to John at Blogotional for 'Friday Humour.'

Well folks that it for another around .... Theeee Biiiillloooggggsss! I hope you enjoyed them, have a great week!

NEW PONTIFF NEEDS TO GIVE WOMEN A VESTRY WITH A VIEW!

This article from THE AUSTRALIAN April 19, 2005 by LOUISE EVANS...

IF the new pope wants my vote he's going to have to earn it. Zipping around the globe to tend his flock and preaching world peace in multiple languages doesn't cut it any more after John Paul II earned frequent-flyer gold card status.

And he better not make John Paul II a saint before he does the right thing by our own Mary MacKillop, who is waiting to be upgraded to a full-blown saint. Lord knows she has earned it and has waited long enough, having died in 1909. Australia doesn't have a saint, not one, (AFL team St Kilda and St George Illawarra rugby leaguers don't count) and we need a home-grown miracle worker to save us from having to work until we're 75 before we can get the pension.

Having done the right thing by our Mary, the new pope can turn his attention to giving his female flock a role in the church. I don't mean ironing the candle wax out of the altar cloths, vacuuming the confessional and populating the pews.

If we have to keep working past 65, I wouldn't mind a second career as a priest. The perks are definitely worth it: nice house, usually on a hill with good views, a housekeeper, huge office, large devoted workforce and flexible working hours. The uniforms are lovely, especially those lace-trimmed dresses with contrasting satin embroidered sashes worn for mass. And don't get me started on the hats. They're divine. There'd also be a ready supply of essential oils - especially myrrh and frankincense - to soothe sore joints after a hard day's prayer and candles to burn.

It's a dream job for an old chook. The pay would be low but women are used to that. And we'd have to be better at administering pastoral care than a celibate home-alone male who rolls up his sleeves only to stop them getting wet at christenings.

Of course, Catholic women have to produce the next generation to feed the collection plates, so the vexed question of priests and marriage would become a moot point for the new pope. A female priest with child would have to be married, unless the new pope wants to declare all priestly offspring virgin births. I can't see the Vatican Council going for it.

If the new pope offered favourable maternity leave and superannuation benefits, there would be a flood of faithful females rushing to frock up and take the place of those male priests who keep getting defrocked.

Unaccustomed as I am to begging, I couldn't come at making pleas from the pulpit for my struggling flock to pay for the upkeep of me and the church. So I'm thinking of getting some sponsors.

Nothing sacrilegious, of course. But McDonald's, for example, could supply the bread and McWilliam's could sponsor the shiraz. Kids and grown-ups would be falling over in the aisles in the rush for communion.
In return for the sponsor's generous patronage we could put some tasteful advertising on the prayer books and hymn sheets, "McDonald's family restaurants: Where cleanliness is next to godliness", and "McWilliam's shiraz: Heaven in a glass". Ronald McDonald could make guest appearances at christening breakfasts and McWilliam's could do the wedding feasts.

One of the biggest problems facing the new pope (apart from pedophilic priests) is dwindling congregations. So here's what I'm thinking: ditch the choirs and do hymns karaoke-style. It'll have them laughing all the way to the altar, not to mention queuing for the microphone.

Australia's candidate for pope, Cardinal George Pell, says the church needs to change with the times. So how about confessions by email? "Bless me, father, for I have sinned, it has been 164 emails since my last confession ..." Mass times could be decided by the masses via text messaging: "cu8 2nite 4 kara-ok".

And if the church is supposed to be a collection of worshippers rather than a structure, how about giving the congregation a financial interest by selling off 49 per cent of the church and land package? If parishioners had a stake in the real estate, they'd readily volunteer for those dirty jobs - such as scraping pigeon poop off the cross on the roof - to protect their investment.

And while they're on the roof, how about attaching this marketing slogan under the cross: "Pray here to Aussie saint Mary MacKillop. She'll save you."

Australians Actually Consider Banning Popular Alpha Course

This is definitely the most ridiculous item of the week!

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) met this week to consider a call to ban Alpha, the internationally known introductory course to Christianity.

Robin Fletcher, a self described witch, called for the ban under the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act passed in the state of Victoria in 2001. This is the same law that pastors Daniel Scot and Danny Nalliah were convicted under for "inciting hatred" in December 2004. In that case it was hatred against Muslims.

In this case, Fletcher claims, it is hatred against witches."It constitutes a personal danger to my health and safety within the prison system," he said, citing negative references to witchcraft in the course material. He is currently serving a 10 year prison sentence for sexually abusing two teenage girls.

The United Kingdom has tried to introduce similar legislation that will also ban incitement to religious hatred. However in order to pass an important bill through parliament before the general election, the government removed the hotly contested clause.

Nevertheless, if re-elected, they have committed themselves to bringing it back in, and next time will use the Parliament Act to force it through. From the outset Barnabas Fund has claimed that such legislation presents unacceptable restrictions on religious freedom of expression in Britain.

The usage of the law in Australia suggests that this will certainly be the case.

LIFE AFTER DEATH!

As Adoniram Judson graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, his parents reveled in his presentation of the valedictory address. He was a bright boy and his father, a pastor, welcomed his son back home to start a school. By the following year, he was both a successful schoolteacher and an accomplished author.

This seemingly stable young man, who faithfully attended church with his family, suddenly announced one day that he was leaving teaching to become a playwright in New York. His parents were astounded. Upon questioning him, they found that Adoniram had been deeply influenced by a fellow student at Brown University named Jacob Eames.

Eames had convinced Adoniram that there was nothing of substance to Christianity, and since Adoniram had never been born again, Jacob's arguments seemed to fit what he knew. Jacob Eames had succeeded in turning Adoniram into a man without earthly or eternal hope. Adoniram determined to follow his friend's philosophy of living only for the moment.

After a few unsuccessful weeks in New York, Adoniram Judson decided to go west to seek his fortune. When he stopped at an inn to spend the night, he was told the only available room was next to one of a man who was dying.

Adoniram lay awake most of the night, listening to the sounds from the next room and thinking about where he himself would go when he died. As he checked out the next morning, he was told that the man had died, and that his name had been Jacob Eames!

That day, he decided to search for the truth back in his hometown. At home, Adoniram talked to his father and some other Christians about the possibility of a real relationship with God.

Finally, he himself confessed to God his sin, and placed his complete faith and trust in the price that Jesus Christ had paid on the cross. He at last found peace with himself and God, through accepting God's gift of eternal life.

Adoniram Judson eventually married and traveled to Burma as a missionary, laboring for six years before having his first convert. By the time of his death, he had translated the entire Bible into Burmese, and on the one-hundredth anniversary of his death it was estimated there were two hundred thousand Christians in Burma.

Yes, Adoniram Judson died, and Jacob Eames died, but Judson's life work lives on and his spirit rests eternally with the Lord.

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT - FRIDAY: Gospel Powered Christians!

"Alas! What stirs ordinary men's blood and turns them into heroes, makes most Christians run like a flock of frightened sheep." -- C. T. Studd
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For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. -- Rom 1:16 (ESV)

I never want to be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, why should I? It was the Gospel that got me saved and turned my life around from a hopeless alcoholic with no purpose in life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ changed me, saved and restored my family, gave me a purpose in life, a life that is lived to the full in service to His people!

I have preached and taught this Gospel and its life changing power all over the world, seen many souls saved and many lives changed by its power! No! I could never be ashamed of this Gospel for it is the power of God to everyone who believes! Hallelujah! Praise His wonderful name!

I believe that there are many people all over the world just like me! But there are some who struggle to communicate this Gospel and it is to these people I want to address this post today, that they may know the full power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

THE GOSPEL IS AN EMBARASSMENT TO SOME

Some are ashamed of the Gospel’s main character, Jesus Christ, they don’t mean to be, but they are unaware that Jesus said… "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -- John 14:6. They don’t realise the significance of what Paul said about salvation… And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." -- Acts 4:12.

Some are ashamed to admit that they really need Him, once again not realising that...

• We've all sinned (Romans 3:23)
• There is none righteous (Romans 3:10)
• We are all like sheep have gone astray (Isa.53:6)
• We all need a Saviour and Jesus is the only Saviour (Acts 4:12)

Some are ashamed to communicate the consequences; they are ashamed to talk about Hell, they claim that Hell is offensive; once again not fully realising that there is a real hell for those who reject the Gospel...

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." -- Rev 21:8.

According to Matt 8:12, it is a place of "outer darkness" where there shall "be weeping and gnashing of teeth." If Jesus and Paul was not ashamed to talk about it, neither will I be ashamed of communicating the consequences, God willing!

The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions. -- A.W. Tozer.

The Gospel is a powerhouse for believers
Where is the power? It's in the same place it has always been, God's Word! When God speaks, things happen! Thousands of years ago, God said, "Let there be light..." Light is still "in force" today! Light went out from God when he spoke and it is still available, it has never stopped! It's easy to believe that the light has never stopped, why not believe that God's Word never stopped?

The power is in the Word of God...

He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. -- Ps 107:20;

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. -- Isa 40:8;

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. -- Isa 55:11.

This Gospel power is for all who believe in Jesus
The power is to those who believe; "...to everyone that believes..." - - Rom 1:16. "Believe" and "Faith" come from the same root word in the Greek, it simply means to Trust God to do what He said He will do! He said the blood of Jesus will cleanse you from your sin, do you believe it? He said He will forgive if you will confess your sin! Do you believe it?

This gospel power is to all races; "...to the Jew first and also to the Greek..." -- Rom 1:16. The Gospel is for all colours and all races!

“A sermon in shoes is often more eloquent than a sermon on paper.” - - Theodore L. Cuyler

We are Gospel Powered Christians, we should never be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, let’s show this by putting it into action today, for His Glory!

Loving Father, I never want to be ashamed of your gospel! I thank you that your word says that I am gospel powered, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to put this into action by communicating the gospel to everyone I meet! In Jesus mighty name! Amen!

UPDATE... BIBLE BAN SCRAPPED

Here is an update on my post last week on BIBLES BANNED IN SCOTLAND... It is just another example that God answers prayer, thanks to all of you who prayed!

Apr 21 2005

A PLAN to ban the Bible in students' rooms has been axed after a storm of protest.

Up to 6000 Gideon Bibles were to be removed from Stirling University's halls of residence amid fears they may offend non-Christians.

The Stirling University Students' Association voted 15-1 in favour of the move last week but were bombarded with complaints. All religious groups will now be invited to supply copies of their holy texts.

Student union president Al Wilson said: "Many people sent letters saying it's disgusting and students said it's a step too far"

A NEW ROLE MODEL

Every boy's father is a role model for that child. Jerry's father was a counterfeiter, so it is not surprising that by the age of thirteen, Jerry was already beginning a life of crime.

At nineteen, Jeremiah McAuley was a thief and the terror of the New York waterfront. While still a young man, he was sentenced to serve fifteen years of hard labor in Sing-Sing prison, framed by some of his underworld "friends." Jerry spent years in prison, filled with bitterness toward the men who had falsely accused him, and plotting his escape.

One morning, something happened that changed his life. As the prisoners sat in chapel, Jerry saw his old friend Awful Gardiner sitting on the platform. "I was wearing stripes like you only a few months ago," Awful Gardiner explained. "Then I found Christ as my Saviour..."

After leading in prayer, Awful Gardiner, amid tears, told how he had come to find salvation through knowing Jesus Christ. Jerry was intrigued. For the next few weeks he studied a Bible that was in his cell. He fought a long battle with his own pride until he finally gave up to Christ, not caring what anyone thought.

Getting down on the stone floor of his cell, Jerry McAuley turned his life over to the Saviour. As soon as he did so, he found the joy of his sins forgiven and faith in Christ. Jerry could not be silent now. He told guards and prisoners of his newfound faith, and won several prisoners to the Lord.

When the governor granted a pardon, Jerry McAuley was free to roam the streets again. After personally experiencing the difficulty of adjusting to freedom, Jerry turned his house into a base that he called the Helping Hand Mission. This criminal had found new life through receiving the Saviour, and wanted to do everything he could to point others to Jesus Christ.

As a result of his zeal in reaching the lost and helping Christians to live for God, hundreds of rescue missions were established across the nation.

Today, many rescue missions continue to do a great work, all because Jerry McAuley found new power and a positive role model in his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

AROUND THE BILOGS!

Its congratulations to the new "WARNIE" winner... Unveiled Face after only 10 days of blogging, its a new record for the warnie,why don't you drop in and say hello!

After you have done that, dawdle along to Angel Wiv Attitude who has a very funny post on a game of netball!

Finished there than mosey on over to Bryan's Nonsense who has a great post on 'What You looking At!"

When your done there, go on over to Blogotional, where John is still in a battle... 'This Discussion Is Getting Out Of Hand!' sounds like fighting words!

Got over that? Then go visit Callmeteen, he is asking a question of Adrian Warnock about speaking english in England!

Tired? Not yet! Okay, let's walk on over to Maverick Mindset, who has a great post on... 'DEFENCE IS THE KEY!'

Still not tired yet? Righty oh! Let's go to Rebecca Writes, who has a marvellous post on one of my Scottish heroes... John Knox's Dying Words !

And to finish the 'roundup' off, over to Uncle Milton at Transforming Sermons who has a lovely post on... "Are we wrong on rights?"

Well folks that it for another around .... Theeee Biiiillloooggggsss! Have a great day!

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT - THURSDAY: More Than Conquerors

“Our sufficiency is of God. Difficulties melt in His presence. In Him are those mighty, overcoming energies, which accomplish the possible and the impossible with equal readiness…The real resources are with Him for the evangelizing and the redeeming of the world. But He has not been able to do ‘many mighty works’ in the non-Christian lands, because of our unbelief as a Church. We have not possessed our possessions. God has been waiting to be honored by the faith of a generation that would call upon Him for really large outpourings of His power.” -- J. Lovell Murray
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No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. --Rom 8:37 (ESV)

Concluding our series on... More Than Conquerors, we realised that once we have been born again, said yes to the new life that Christ has given us, believing what God has said in His word, and comprehending that Jesus qualified us! We now need to look at the final component on how Jesus made us… MORE THAN CONQUERORS!

A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough today to last him for the next 6 months, nor can he inhale sufficient air into his lungs with one breath to sustain life for a week to come. We are permitted to draw upon God's store of grace from day to day as we need it. -- D. L. Moody

We Are Strong In The Grace Of Christ
We are instructed by Paul to be strengthened by the same grace that is in Christ!.. You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, -- 2 Tim 2:1. It is so wonderful to know that we do not have to do things in our own strength, but go to where the power is located, in Jesus! He is the dynamo for power only when and while we keep in touch with him… I can do all things through him who strengthens me. -- Phi 4:13.

When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award--yet receives such a gift anyway--that is a good picture of God's unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God. -- G.W. Knight

Strengthened by Him
We are strengthened by Jesus for our battle against the principalities and powers of darkness… I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, -- 1Ti 1:12.

Strengthened for battle because the blood of Christ dealt with our sin and guilt. The cross of Christ dealt with us, and the sins of the flesh, and the life of Christ is made available to indwell, rebuild and empower us. Let us die daily, as the operation of death in us, will bring forth the indwelling life of Christ, which makes us MORE THAN CONQUERORS! Praise His mighty name!

Since I am More than a CONQUEROR, I will...
Like Paul, forget those things which are behind and press forward.
Like David, lift up my eyes to the hills from which my help comes.
Like Abraham, trust my God implicitly.
Like Enoch, walk in daily fellowship with my heavenly Father.
Like Moses, suffer rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time.
Like Job, be patient and faithful in all circumstances.
Like Joseph, turn my back on all evil advances.
Like Gideon, advance even when my friends are few.
Like Andrew, strive to lead my brother to Christ.

What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? -- Rom 8:31 (CEV)

WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS… THROUGH JESUS WHO LOVES US!

Loving Father, I praise you because I am strengthened by the grace of Christ I am born again to my new life. I believe I am what you say I am, the righteousness of God in Christ and that Jesus has qualified me to be your child and allowed me to claim my inheritance. By the power of your Holy Spirit, help me to put all these principles into action, so that I can be more than a conqueror! In Jesus wonderful name I pray! Amen!