Prayer Request

Our youngest daughter, Jill, found out today that she has marginal placenta previa.  Only about 10 percent have any difficulty, but she is our daughter.  We would so appreciate it if you will please remember her in prayer.  She is due in January.  Thank you so much.

Woody and Sarah

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"Let Us Go Forth To Him"

"But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness." (Leviticus 16:10)

Tonight, all around the earth, Jews will begin the celebration of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  If I can be so presumptuous to say it, the "greatest" passage of "The Day of Atonement" is in Leviticus 16.  I first read this passage within weeks of our oldest child's passing from this life.  Words cannot explain the power "infused" in me during that reading.

The first lesson I received from the passage was, "Tell Aaron your brother not to come just at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil...."  What a reverent fear came upon me.  The Living Triune God of the universe, "The Eternal One," is not to be treated like some neighborhood kid.  How flippantly at times we, "come...into the Holy Place...."  He is, "high and lifted up,...who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.  To Him be honor and might forever.  Amen."  The passage goes on to tell how Aaron is to dress, "These are holy garments."  And then there are the, "two kids of the goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering," one, "for himself...and his house," one, "for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat."  It was the, "scapegoat," which particularly got to me, taken out into the wilderness, left alone to suffer and die, who really knows how.  The Letter to Hebrew Followers of Jesus alludes to this, "For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.  Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.  Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach." 

So today, "Let us go forth to Him, outside" ourselves, our self-centered, self- preserving life style, "bearing His reproach," and may we say, "bearing" Him, His Words, His Very Life.  "Let us go forth to Him," in the midst of a world lost, not knowing His compassion and forgiveness and mercy.  "Let us go forth to Him," letting the world know and see in us the same, as Bonhoeffer referred to it, "life for others," as the farthest province to the east of the Roman Empire saw as He walked the Judean Hills of Israel.  "Let us go forth to Him," dressed "in His Righteous alone, faultless to stand before His Throne, wearing the, "holy garments," of Him Who fulfills all the sacrifices of rams, goats, lambs, "The Lamb of God Who (alone) takes away the sin of the world."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I will probably never fully grasp just what happened on "That Day," but I receive all I can.  Amen.
Be sure to see our Yom Kippur greeting at: www.apf327.blogspot.com


When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

Our "Greater Than"

"Your are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

Life is a strange reality of ups, downs, ecstasy, depression, joy, sorrow.  The key to dealing with this is our decisions.  Every person has his own way of dealing, some just pathetic, others deceptively alluring.  Yet in the midst of life "stands" the One Whom our text declares is, "in us."  The one, "in the world," is the one referred to in the Scriptures as, "the Destroyer."  He is like so many medications today; the side affects can kill you------ in this case, will!  The One, "in us," who are Followers of Jesus Christ is none other than Jesus Christ Himself, no "side affects," other than, "joy unspeakable and full of glory."

What separates, "the faith of Jesus," from other religions and philosophies is Jesus Christ in the Believer.  Luther once said that our righteousness is "an alien righteousness."  Indeed, but only until we respond to His invitation, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone...opens the door, I will come in to him...."  Then our help is no longer a help outside us, "he walks with me," talking to us, giving examples, cheering us on, and just personifying the right way.  My abilities now are His "abilities," my power are now His Power, my wisdom, His Life my life.  The deception religions and philosophies of the world tell people to look within themselves.  Well, when they do, they find nothing but a literal dead-end.  When we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, however, He comes into our very being.  Now the looking in is not to ourselves ruled by the, "one who is in the world," but to our self ruled by Him Who is the, "Greater Than."   
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, in these increasingly deceptive times, grant me the grace to have only one dependency---------- You.  Amen.
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New, Commentary:  www.apf327.blogspot.com
Prophetic Video:     www.antipasprayerforce2.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

You're Trading THAT For That?!?

"In the past God spoke...in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by (in) his Son,..through whom he made the universe." (Hebrews 1:1, 2- NIV)

I read through Hebrews today.  If you have never done that, you cannot image the blessing, impartation, the power of the, "two-edged sword."  A simple forgoing of a favorite TV show would do it.  Illustration: I had a 1968 muscle car.  Because of my schooling and increasing pastoral duties, I had to trade it in.  When I was transferring my "stuff" from the 327 cubic inch, 325 hp vehicle to the little 62 hp gas saver, the young mechanic said something that was painful.  "You're trading that for that?!?"

Back to our text-- The introduction to the Book of Hebrews in the Broadman and Holman NKJV Bible is a good summary of the Book.  "Many Jewish believers, having stepped out of Judaism into Christianity, want to reverse their course in order to escape persecution by their countrymen.  The writer of Hebrews exhorts them to 'go on to perfection' (6:10).  His appeal is based on the superiority of Christ over the Judaic system.  Christ is better than the angels, for they worship Him.  He is better than Moses, for He created him.  He is better than the Aaronic priesthood, for His sacrifice was once for all time.  He is better than the Law, for He mediates a better covenant.  In short, there is more to be gained in Christ than to be lost in Judaism.  Pressing on in Christ produces tested faith, self-discipline, and a visible love seen in good works."

The theme of Hebrews is, "better"---------------- "best" is implied.  Hebrews is a headache for academics, Muslims, and anyone else who cannot come to grips with the reality of Who Jesus Christ is.  Just in the first chapter, we hear Father saying of Jesus, "Let all God's angels worship him....Your throne, O God, will last forever....In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands."  Now if this does not "make your day," whatever seems to is pure fanciful delusion.  "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus" (3:1).  There are just no better, "thoughts."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for the blessing this morning of the fullness of Your Word.  Amen.
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Bonhoeffer Quote: "The proclamation of grace has its limits.  Grace may not be proclaimed to anyone who does not recognize or distinguish or desire it....The world upon whom grace is thrust as a bargain will grow tired of it, and it will not only trample upon the Holy, but also will tear apart those who force it on them."   

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

The Only Antidote to Acculturation

"Therefore,..desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby...." (1 Peter 2:2)

I share from my daily reading, just as I survive by my daily reading.  I pray; I worship; I tithe; I pray always to be a good "fisher of men."  But my testimony over the last 40 years is that the, "Word of God," revealed in, "the Words of God," has been, "the strength of my life."  The power of the Word of God is the reason the Apostles in the Book of Acts gave themselves, "continually to prayer, and to the service of the word."

The most dangerous force in the world today is not terrorism, anti-Semitism, liberal politics and media.  It is an acculturated church, a church subtly ruled by its  culture rather than Jesus Christ and His "Law-Word."  It is something of which we all need to be constantly aware.  Most Followers of Jesus spend most of their days in an atmosphere dominated by the culture of their people group.  There is simply no antidote to this other than a thorough, regular, daily reading and meditating on the "God-Breathed" Word.  Our lives reflect what dominates our minds.  Fill our minds constantly with anything other than the Word of God, and our lives will sooner or later be ruled by that which enters the portal of our eyes and ears. 

It was said of Bonhoeffer that he "took preaching seriously.  For him a sermon was nothing less than the very word of God, a place where God would speak to his people."  I do not write a daily devotional just to spout off my theological ideas, get it off my chest, so to speak, because I am preaching less than I did for most of my life.  These devotionals are a continuation of the "call," the call to proclaim Jesus Christ, His Church and Kingdom, the call to, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations."  I take it very seriously!  I do not come to you with the air of superior theologian or more mature Christian.  I come as a brother in Christ, praying first of all that, "the words...and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer," and that those same words will bring you and me more and more into our full potential in Jesus Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that my "desire [for] the sincere milk of the word," will never wane.  Amen.
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There is another great article about Israel's and America's destiny at:   www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2