 | Rescued
Missionary Sold Everything for Africa
CBN
News has more information about Jessica Buchanan, the missionary who was rescued
from Somali kidnappers last weekend by the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team 6. Those
who know Buchanan describe her as a woman with a strong Christian faith and a
big heart for Africa. The 32-year-old missionary was working with a Danish aid
group. She sold nearly all her possessions to become a missionary in Somalia.
She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 2007 she attended Valley Forge University,
a Christian college in Phoenixville, Pa. While student teaching in Nairobi,
she felt the call to help spread the gospel to Africa. "She absolutely fell
in love with Africa, said Dr. Don Meyers, the university's president. "Africa
grew around her heart or her heart grew around Africa. She could hardly talk about
Africa without getting tears in her eyes," Meyers said. Somali pirates
kidnapped Buchanan and her Danish co-worker, Poul Hagen Thisted, 60, in Galkayo,
Somalia, on Oct. 25, 2011. The two worked together for the Danish Demining Group....
MORE |
| Friday,
January 27th, 2012 | |
| News
Items Of Interest to Christians | Halt
in Iran Oil Could Push Crude Up By 30 Percent
The
International Monetary Fund warned on Wednesday that global crude prices could
rise as much as 30 percent if Iran halts oil exports as a result of US and European
Union sanctions. If Iran halts exports to countries without offsets from other
sources it would likely trigger an "initial" oil price jump of 20 to 30 percent,
or about $20 to $30 a barrel... | ‘Massive’
Blockade Needed to Stop Iran Threat, Israel’s Steinitz Says
A “massive” aerial and naval blockade
of Iran, reminiscent of the 1962 U.S. quarantine of Cuba, is needed to stop the
Islamic regime from pursuing nuclear weapons, Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz
said. The European Union’s ban on imports of Iranian crude and other economic
sanctions “might not be sufficient” to deter Iran’s nuclear ambitions... |
Federal
Mortgage Insurer Headed Toward Collapse
The
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is deeply insolvent and headed toward a financial
crash like that of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in 2008, according to analysis from
the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) released last week. |
Pastor
Not Inclined To 'Meaningless Prayer'
While
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear pushes for gambling expansion, a pastor is being
criticized for trying to use prayer to help encourage lawmakers to make decisions
that are consistent with God's "eternal character and truth." |
Starbucks
Endorses Gay Marriage
"Starbucks
is proud to join other leading Northwest employers in support of Washington State
legislation recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples," |
Bible
Translator William Tyndale Gave English Language 'Nobility,' Says Author
While the words "16th century England"
likely call to mind images of Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth, one author has
argued that another name should be held in higher renown. |
House
OK's Religious Symbols at War Memorials
The
U.S. House of Representatives has passed two bills confirming the use of religious
symbols at military memorials. The first measure would legalize the existing practice
of allowing the display of religious symbols at military memorials and cemeteries. |
Prayer
Cards to Be Removed From Alaska Airlines Flights
Alaska
Airlines is putting an end to its 30-year-old practice of distributing prayer
cards with in-flight meals, saying that the changes are being made out of respect
for its religiously diverse customer base. | School
Picketed for Sticking To Traditional Marriage Values
A
Christian leader is backing a California private school's decision to deny recognition
of an on-campus "gay" and lesbian support group. |
TD
Jakes Breaks Down the Trinity, Addresses Being Called a 'Heretic'
Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor of The
Potter's House megachurch in Dallas, Texas, participated in this year's "Elephant
Room" theological roundtable hosted and moderated by Pastors James McDonald and
Mark Driscoll, and was put on the spot in regards to his beliefs about the Godhead
and why, in some Christian circles, he is considered a "heretic." |
| | Cultural
& Religious Editorials | Gospel
Coalition: The
Global War Against Baby Girls
The
widespread use of sonogram technology---coupled with liberal abortion laws---has
made it easier than ever for women to identify the sex of their child so that
those without a Y chromosome can be killed before they're even born. |
Collin Hansen: When
Good Isn't Good Enough
...No
one can dispute that Paterno did a lot of good in his long, illustrious life,
probably a lot more good than you and I can boast...And yet, we're still debating
whether this man should be remembered as a hero or villain. Do we remember a lifetime
of good works or one mistake? | American
Thinker: On
the Intellectual Inferiority of Liberalism
Liberalism
used to be a respectable position for intelligent, well-meaning, and informed
people. That was a long time ago. No longer. Today the "liberal" faith requires
an extraordinary act of ignorance, purposeful forgetting, and constant spinning. |
American Thinker: Fidelity
- Should It Matter?
Should
marital fidelity matter in a political candidate? And yes, I am talking
about Newt Gingrich. There are many who would scoff at the notion.
Certainly, there were a large number present at the Republican primary debate
who delighted in booing down John King when... | Gospel
Coalition: Why
Christians Should Care About Obama's Contraception Mandate
..."Evangelicals and other faith-minded
Americans should be leery of the government giving a choice to either do what
the administration wants, or face losing their health insurance." |
Public Discourse: The
Unbearable Wrongness of Roe
39
years ago, the Supreme Court delivered a radical, legally untenable, immoral decision.
It has forfeited its entitlement to have its decisions respected, and followed,
by the other branches of government, by the states, and by the people. |
Gospel Coalition: The
Child Fashion Model with Down Syndrome
As
the decision to abort a child diagnosed with Down syndrome becomes more common,
the public is less likely to encounter such children and realize that they can
lead fulfilling lives. | | | Bible/Ministry
Related Articles & Essays | Kathy
Keller: Reasons
You Should Not Marry an Unbeliever
Over
the course of our ministry, the most common pastoral issue that Tim and I have
confronted is probably marriages---either actual or proposed---between Christians
and non-Christians. | Christopher
Cone: Biblical
Perspective on Spanking, Part 2
Previously
we examined Proverbs 13:24, a passage from which we understood three powerful
principles: (1) proper discipline is associated with the use of the rod, (2) proper
discipline is associated with love, and proper discipline is not described here
in terms of abuse or causing harm, nor is it described as punishment. |
/////////////
| Thursday,
January 26th, 2012 | | |
| News
Items Of Interest to Christians | Christian
Colleges: Obama Trampling Freedoms
Christian
leaders are considering their legal options after the Obama administration announced
that many religious-affiliated institutions will have to provide free birth control
for employees. | Muslim
Brotherhood Takes Egypt's Parliament
The
Muslim Brotherhood won elections in the new Egyptian government with 235 seats
in the 498 seat interim People's Assembly earlier this month. |
Gingrich:
'I Have Confessed My Weaknesses'
A
new poll shows former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has erased most of the lead
that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had in the national polls. |
Vanderbilt
Univ. Christian Group Says It's Being Forced Off Campus
The adviser for Vanderbilt University's
Christian Legal Society (CLS) said it is being forced off campus after the university
instituted a nondiscrimination policy and placed various religious campus groups
on probation. | 2012
Could be the Make or Break Year for Future of Gay 'Marriage'
The effort to redefine marriage
nationwide could take a critical turn either way this year, with as many as four
more states potentially legalizing gay "marriage" or as many as six states possibly
voting to protect the traditional definition of marriage. |
Richard
Dawkins: Morals Come From Enlightened Secular Values, Not Religion
Morals aren't begotten from religion,
but secular moral philosophy, jurisprudence and dinner table conversation, renowned
atheist Richard Dawkins recently argued at the Jaipur Literature Festival in India. |
Young
People Dominate Washington Pro-Life March
President
Obama and another massive turnout of pro-life Americans gained attention in Washington
as the country passed the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court's legalization
of abortion. | Why
Do Evangelicals Support Gingrich?
Newt
Gingrich says the media finds the issue of faith "very strange stuff" -- and that
that's why the media can't figure out why evangelicals would support someone with
past marital infidelity. | In
Egypt, Christians Look Past Surface Tension to Real Need
..."Many people are still optimistic,
but by far not all. One man I talked with said Egypt isn't ready for a democracy,"
said Beth Judson*, a Christian worker who visits Egypt regularly. |
America's
Covert War Against Islamists in Africa
Violence
on the Horn of Africa has grown dramatically in the past six months. And
much of it is to do the al Qaeda-linked terrorist group al-Shabab. |
| | Cultural
& Religious Editorials | Pete
Wilson: Is
God Glorified When the Preacher Is Impressive?
How
do I know if God was glorified and if He did a work in my soul through a particular
message from a preacher? Well....did I come away marveling at the preacher, or
marveling at God? As a result of the message, am I enthralled with the man or
with the Lord? | Chuck
Colson: Why
Christians Divorce
I
still remember my sadness on hearing that an old friend, someone I believed was
a sincere Christian, was leaving his wife. I was shocked and disappointed. How
could this man, committed to both his spouse and his Lord, fall in love with another
woman? | Jimmy
DeYoung: Iraq
Risks Slipping Back into Authoritarianism
There
are reports that Iraqi authorities are suppressing freedom, abusing anti government
protesters, and using secret prisons where PM Maliki's security forces are cracking
down on protesters, harassing opponents, and torturing detainees. |
Will
Romney's Tithe to Mormon Church Matter?
When
presidential candidate Mitt Romney releases his tax records Tuesday, voters will
get a chance to see how much he donates to the Church of Jesus Christ-Latter Day
Saints. Will the news help or hurt Romney with Republican primary voters? |
| | Bible/Ministry
Related Articles & Essays | Joe
Carter: A
Neglected Tool in Modern Reformation
"The
father of the family---and in his absence, the mother---has the responsibility
from God to provide spiritual leadership for his household," says Donald Whitney,
associate professor of biblical spirituality at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. |
Bill Salus: Ezekiel
35, the Arab-Israeli War Before Ezekiel 38
Many
end times experts believe the “Gog of Magog” invasion described in Ezekiel 38
and 39 is nearing the time of its prophetic fulfillment. Russia’s seemingly inseparable
alliance with Iran, Turkey’s increased disdain toward Israel, and Libya’s uncertain
future all suggest that the stage is rapidly setting for the fulfillment of the
Magog invasion of Israel. | Wall
St. Journal: The
State of Religion In America
...He
acknowledged that the U.S. had been something of a "religious anomaly in the Western
world" in the past, but insisted atheists are now making "major gains while Christianity
withers." Do the polls back up such bold claims? Not really. Gallup
has been tracking American religious preferences since 1948. |
Croft: How
Should a Pastor Decide Whether to Conduct a Marriage Ceremony?
I am consistently asked about the circumstances
surrounding weddings. What makes it permissible or not to conduct a wedding
in ”this or that” situation? I am very aware that there are strong opinions
and lively disagreements about whether an evangelical pastor should marry Christians,
non-Christians, and everything in between. |
| ///////////////
| Wednesday,
January 25th, 2012 | Nigerian
Christians Plead With President for Better Protection After Fresh Attacks
As the terrorist attacks decimating
Nigeria continue, its citizens are blaming the government for failing to protect
them and asking why President Goodluck Jonathan is not doing more to save the
Christians under attack by Islamist extremists. READ
MORE | Obama
Says Roe v. Wade Assures Our Daughters Can 'Fulfill Their Dreams'
President Obama says the 39th anniversary
of Roe v. Wade is the chance to recognize the “constitutional right” to abortion
and to “continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights,
freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.”
READ
MORE | | News
Items Of Interest to Christians | Persecution
of Christians Rising in Islamic Countries
With
Islamists poised to take over governments overthrown during the "Arab spring,"
Christians and other minorities may soon be subject to Sharia (Islamic) law. Some
say assurance by Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Salafis, and
Ennahda, that non-Muslims would not be mistreated under Sharia is, at best, questionable. |
Every
Major US School District Allows Churches to Rent Schools, Except NYC
No other major school district
in the U.S. prohibits religious groups from renting school buildings for worship
services, except New York City. | U.S.
Economy Unlikely to Fully Recover, Canada Warns
Canada
needs to look beyond its southern neighbour for markets because the US economy
is unlikely to ever fully recover, Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney said Sunday. |
Nigeria
Neglecting Persecuted Christians
A
Christian leader in Nigeria believes the murder of more than 80 Christians is
just the beginning of a campaign of religious cleansing in the North. |
Magnetic
Storm Sparks Concerns of Disruption
The
strongest geomagnetic storm in more than six years is continuing to hit the Earth,
with experts concerned it could affect power grids and satellites and maybe even
airline routes. | IMF
Chief Unveils Euro Plan and Warns of '1930s Moment'
In
a wide-ranging speech at the German Council on Foreign Relations think tank in
Berlin, Ms Lagarde also called for an additional $500bn (£320m) for the
IMF as it seeks to keep afloat countries battered by the crisis. And she had a
dire warning for policymakers if they failed... | Teens's
Anti-Gay Essay Lands Him In Hot Water
A
15-year-old Wisconsin boy who wrote an op-ed opposing gay adoptions was censored,
threatened with suspension and called ignorant by the school's superintendent,
according to an attorney representing the child. |
Iowa
State Univ: Religion, Finance Don't Mix
An
attorney with Liberty Institute doesn't think Iowa State University should have
given in to pressure from opponents to cancel a business management course focused
on how biblical principles can be applied to running a business. |
'Bullied'
Into Supporting Homosexuals
In
approving a specialty license plate for a special-interest youth group, the Indiana
Bureau of Motor Vehicles is stirring considerable controversy. |
Son
of Oral Roberts Arrested on DUI Charge
An
Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper stopped Richard Roberts a little after midnight
driving 93 miles per hour in his Mercedes-Benz. | Virginia's
'Tebow Law' Debate Draws Attention to Homeschooled Athletes
Legislators in Virginia are working
to pass a law that would allow homeschooled students to participate in public
school athletic programs, just like Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow did when
he was younger. Some are opposing the idea, however, saying such a law... |
'2012:
Prophecy or Panic' Director Warns Dec. 21 Could Bring Deception
Theories abound about what, if
anything, will happen on Dec. 21, 2012. One documentary seeks to examine not only
the natural cataclysms that threaten the planet, but also what the Bible has to
say about the end times – as the Mayan date could be used to deceive Christians. |
Rhode
Island School to Remove Prayer Banner After Atheist Teen Wins Lawsuit
A 16-year-old Rhode Island girl
and self-described atheist has won a legal battle against her high school over
a prayer banner displayed on campus, with a federal court ruling Wednesday that
the Christian mural, erected more than 50 years ago, has to be removed. |
Mark
Driscoll Responds to Criticism of Sex Talk in 'Real Marriage'
Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill
Bible Church in Seattle, Wash., has hit back at critics who claim his new book
goes too far, or doesn't go far enough, in its discussion of marriage & sex. |
| | Cultural
& Religious Editorials | Raymond
Ibrahim: Why
Obama Should Speak Out Against Religious Persecution
Why
should the president speak up on the oppression of religious minorities? For starters,
because it is the right thing to do, and reflects American values and principles. |
Daniel Greenfield: The
Most Dangerous Place To Be an Atheist
Alexander
Aan was just another bureaucrat holding down a desk at the Department of Planning
until his Facebook Atheism page came to the notice of Indonesian authorities in
Obama’s old stomping grounds. Now Aan is facing a five year jail sentence for
using social media to spread the message that Allah does not exist. |
Rick Moran: ‘Unprecedented’
EU Sanctions On Iran a Farce
The
European Union has agreed to an “unprecedented” set of sanctions against Iran,
banning the importation of Iranian oil to its member states while also imposing
currency and commodity sanctions on Iran’s central bank. But far from forcing
Iran into a corner, the latest sanctions leave a backdoor open to the regime,
affording it more time to pursue its nuclear objectives. |
BBC: Has
Capitalism Got a Future?
Has
capitalism got a future? Is it fit for the 21st Century? And if it has and is,
how must capitalism change? The organisers of this year's World Economic Forum
(WEF) have put some pretty crunchy questions on the agenda. |
| | Bible/Ministry
Related Articles & Essays | Trevin
Wax: Studying
the Trinity Is an Exercise in Love
“Why
does a doctrine like the Trinity matter?” some ask. After all, the idea of one
God existing eternally as three Persons is complex. A brief survey of Christian
theology will show you that most heresies are heresy precisely because they get
the Trinity wrong. | Tracey
Allred: A
Drive-Up-Window God
...I
cannot help but recognize, however, the detrimental effects of the drive-up craze.
There are some things in life that cannot best be experienced in a hurried drive-up
fashion. Among those things is our faith. Yet, I am increasingly aware of our
human tendency to want our faith... | Neil
Epler: Managing
Time
Time
is an amazing and interesting thing. One fact about time is that it is not real!
You can’t hold it. You can’t see it. You can’t taste it. You can’t buy it. You
can’t control it. You can’t... | King's
English: How
the Mighty Are Fallen
“Have
you seen the news? Flooding, fires, earthquakes, wars. If we don’t
watch ourselves the world’s going to fall apart completely.” “We must be
very near the end!” These are statements I hear pretty regularly... The trouble
is they’re all far too optimistic. | King's
English: East
of Eden
Humanity
is homesick. We feel restless, estranged, ‘out of place.’ But this
is very odd! Where else should we be? Where else have we known?
Why should we not feel ‘right at home’ in the world where we live? |
Michael Horton: Getting
Ready For 'Super Sunday'
...However,
the doors are wide open in many churches for the upcoming Super Bowl Sunday. Only
it’s not going to be a regular service of “the apostles’ teaching and fellow-
ship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers” (Acts 2:42), but big-screen gridiron
action. | | ///////////// |
 ...Netanyahu
and Barak have both repeatedly stressed that a decision has not yet been made
and that a deadline for making one has not been set... Barak underscored that
if Israel or the rest of the world waits too long, the moment will arrive — sometime
in the coming year, he says — beyond which it will no longer be possible to act.
“It will not be possible to use any surgical means to bring about a significant
delay,” he said. “Not for us, not for Europe and not for the United States...
READ
MORE | ///
 Newt
Gingrich says the media finds the issue of faith "very strange stuff" -- and that
that's why the media can't figure out why evangelicals would support someone with
marital infidelity in their past. In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting
Network on Wednesday, GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich explained why he
believes evangelicals are able to get behind his campaign.
READ
MORE | ///
 The
Arkansas Department of Human Services announced a new proposed rule Tuesday opposing
the use of religious activities at state-funded preschools. Though proponents
believe that the new rule will keep some faith-based preschools in line with the
Constitution, specifically the separation of church and state, one state lawmaker
says that it may be doing the opposite.
READ
MORE | //
 Does
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu think the West is taking decisive action to stop
Iran from getting the Bomb, or does he think the West is fiddling while Tel Aviv
runs the rising risk of burning? That’s the Big Question as tensions continue
to mount in the epicenter this week. Iran is making new threats to close the Strait
of Hormuz to oil shipments, just days after test-firing missiles over the Strait.
The U.S., Britain and France are sending additional naval forces to the Gulf.
The European Union is taking new steps to impose an oil embargo on Iran.
MORE |
////////////////
 Iran’s
supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has held several secret meetings with
his economic and military advisers in recent days to prepare for the possibility
of war with the United States. Sources report the preparations are to include
the execution of those Iranians who oppose the regime. Khamenei has been heard
to say that the coming of the last Islamic Messiah, the Shiites’ 12th Imam Mahdi,
is near and that specific actions need to be taken to protect the Islamic regime
for upcoming events. MORE |
////////
 America
is coming apart. For most of US history, what- ever the inequality in wealth between
the richest and poorest citizens, we maintained a cultural equality known nowhere
else in the world—for whites, anyway. "The more opulent citizens take great care
not to stand aloof from the people," wrote Alexis de Tocqueville, the great chronicler
of American democracy, in the 1830s. "On the contrary, they constantly keep on
easy terms with the lower classes: They listen to them, they speak to them every
day." Americans love to see themselves this way. But it's not true anymore, and
it has been progressively less true since the 1960s. READ
MORE | //
 Abortion
is now one of America’s most common surgical procedures performed on adults. As
many as one out of three women will have at least one abortion. In some American
neighborhoods, the number of abortions far exceeds the number of live births.
Most Americans will pay little attention to the 39th anniversary of the infamous
Roe v. Wade decision. In 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that
a woman has a constitutional right to arrange the killing of the unborn life within
her. Since that decision was handed down, more than 50 million babies have been
aborted, at a rate of over 3,000 each day. One of the most chilling aspects of
all this is the sense of normalcy in American life. MORE |
////////////////////
 ...Advocates
of “open marriage” refuse the ideal or attack it. They point the failures of some
to achieve it as an excuse to ignore the perfect. An open marriage is merely consensual
adultery. Open marriage claims to remove the “cheating” from adultery, because
an open marriage starts with the consent of both parties. Of course, American
marriages have overwhelmingly included a third party: God. He makes the union
sacred, but then He is not likely to consent. An open marriage cheats one partner
to a marriage: God. But perhaps marriage for some is merely “secular” and not
“sacred.” Sex will be redefined as... MORE |
/////////...//////////////
 |
| I would direct your attention to the
last verse above, Matthew 13:58: "And he did not many mighty works therebecause
of their unbelief." There is nobody in the world who has any judgment, any good
sense, who wants to tell of his or her failures. No matter haw apathetic we may
be, such a course is always discouraging, disappoint- ing, disheartening. It is
good for us to know, however, that there were times in the life of our blessed
Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST when even He apparently failed. Perhaps it is because
misery loves company, but I personally have failed so many times in my own life
that I like to read about the times in the life and experience of our Master when
He too seemed to be tossing His words against stone walls as far as results were
concerned. Of course you must remember that it all depends on what you mean by
failure, and also what you mean by success. | |
| .//../
 |
| Foolish persons have made remarks
upon the trifles of Scripture. They have marvelled why so little a matter as a
cloak should be mentioned in an inspired book; but they ought to know that this
is one of the many indications that the book is by the same author as the book
of nature. ...Hence learn to see in the littles of the Bible, the God of providence
and nature. Observe two pictures, and you will, if thoroughly skilled in art,
detect certain minute details, which indicate the same authorship if they are
by the same hand; the very littlenesses often, to men of artistic eye, will betray
the painter more certainly than the more prominent strokes, which might far more
easily be counterfeited. Experts detect a handwriting by a slight quivering in
the upstrokes, the turn of the final mark, a dot, a cross, or less matters still.
Can we not see the legible handwriting of the God of nature and providence, in
the very fact that the sublimities of revelation are interspersed with homely,
every-day remarks? | | |  |
| "Let my people go, that they may
serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues." Ex. 9:13,14 |
| ...Gambling is the risking of something
more or less valuable in the hope of winning more than you hazard. The instrument
of gaming may differ but the principle is the same. The shuffling and dealing
of cards, however full of temptation, is not gambling, unless stakes are put up;
while, on the other hand, gambling may be carried on without cards or dice, or
billiards, or ten-pin alleys. The man who bets on horses, on elections,
on battles--the man who deals in "fancy" stocks, or conducts a business which
hazards extra capital, or goes into transactions without foundation, but dependent
upon what men call "luck", is a gambler. Whatever you expect to get from
your neighbor without offering an equivalent in money or time or skill is either
the product of theft or gambling. Lottery tickets and lottery policies come
into the same category. Fairs for the founding of hospitals, schools and churches,
conducted on the raffling system, come under the same denomination. |
| | ./
 |
| ...But our text brings us on to a
still more serious truth, and that truth is that there is an end to God's visits
to rational, accountable human beings. When does such end come? I shall make answer
to that in two remarks. Mark it, I pray you, oh, my fellow-men and my gentle sisters,
listening so deferentially to what the minister says...mark it well. If you should
go down into your grave, unrepentant and unbelieving, the battle for your soul
is forever lost. Destiny eternal is settled this side of death. "As the
tree falls, so shall it lie." Jesus finally turned upon some men who carped and
caviled at His words, and said: "Ye shall die in your sins." That will be the
outcome of it all. And then He added: "Whither I go, ye cannot come." Destiny
for the soul is determined this side the grave. | |
| /////////////////
//.//..
 |
| Christianity stands or falls by the
proposition that Jesus of Nazareth was more than man; in other words, while being
man, that He was God manifest in the flesh. That is a stupendous assertion, but
God, my dear friends, does not ask us to believe it without proof. What then are
the reasons why we Christians receive Jesus Christ as God manifest in the flesh?
I say at the outset that the merits of my cause should not be judged by my ability
in presenting it. Truth itself transcends the ability of any man to present it...Give
me, then, your attention to that cumulative body of truth which establishes beyond
all question this proposition, that Jesus of Nazareth, the historic Christ, was
God manifest in the flesh. | | //////////./////// |
EDITOR'S
DISCLAIMER
Be
advised that some of the viewpoints espoused on this page may not be held by the
editor. News For Christians is a news digest, pulling links from all over the
internet. The articles found here represent a window into what is being written
about religion and Christianity, not necessarily the editor's personal views.
Please read with these thoughts in mind.
////////////
 |
| Sports is one of the largest pastimes
in the world. Biillions of dollars are spent on sports events and sports
related items. Events like the Super Bowl and World Series attract worldwide
interest. Many Christians would also add that sports is probably the
biggest idol in many people's lives. Many Christians also follow athletics.
This message is not to condemn all sports as bad. In fact, there are some
things sports fans can teach Christians --if we are willing to learn. What
can sports fans possibly teach the Christian? Did you ever study the origins of
the word "fan?" The word "fan" is a shortened form of "fanatic."
A fanatic is "one who is unreasonably enthusiastic or overly zealous, going
beyond what is reasonable" A fan, however, is "one who is enthusiastic
about a sport, pastime, or performer." We can see by the definitions that
there is a fine line between the two, with the difference possibly only being
in the eye of the beholder. The dedication and zeal that a sports fan shows
for his team or sport might be considered fanatical if the object of that enthusiasm
was Jesus Christ and the things of God. I believe many Christians stop short
of full surrender to God because of "what people might say." After all,
we don't want to be fanatics, do we? | | | .////////////////////////
 |
| And of the Gadites there separated
themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and
men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces
were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mount- ains;
Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah
the fifth, Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, Johanan the eighth, Elzabad
the ninth, Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh. These
were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred,
and the greatest over a thousand. These are they that went over Jordan in
the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight
all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west. I
Chronicles 12:8-15 | | Super
Bowl Sunday has become an American tradition. Despite the fact that the
game itself is usually a one-sided, boring affair, it seems as if the whole world
stops each year for the game. Many churches even cancel their Sunday evening
services for their members to watch the game. While there is certainly nothing
inherently wrong with a Christian enjoying sports, God's people might want to
eval- uate their own hearts and determine if we are committing the sin of idolatry
in our sports pastimes. In this passage we have the account of David's 'mighty
men." Coincident- ally, there are eleven of these mighty men, the same as a football
squad. There are some wonderful lessons we can learn from these verses concerning
our spiritual walk with the Lord. As the world ready themselves for the
big game, let us prepare our hearts to do battle for our Sovereign and give Him
100% effort and concentration in this "game of life." |
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