Dinner with the Family

If you are a Bonhoeffer "fan" at all, this is a great video.  Sarah and I will be in a meeting with Eric on October 24 in Grand Rapids, MI.  This is a great interview and message for the American Church, in fact, the Church in any country.

http://dinnerwiththefamily.org/

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

These Are All Texts From My Daily Reading (Great Multivitamin)

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace....Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever....Take away the wicked from before the king , and his throne will be established in righteousness....The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.  He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned....I will be your King; where is any other, that he may save you in all your cities....All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.... Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things as I supposed: But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one, Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive....All Scripture is God- Breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness...." (Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 125:1; Proverbs 25:5; Isaiah 50:4; Hosea 13:10a; Matthew 25:32; Acts 25:18, 19; Timothy 3:16)

The above Scriptures are from today's (July 25) readings through the Bible for the third quarter.  You can see how such a reading program gives a very wide view of the Administration of God.  These readings span many centuries, and they reveal to the human race, "the unsearchable riches of Christ."  If a person desires to expand his/her world view, such a reading program will do just that.  It takes people out of a private "bless me" club, desperately trying to find some little portion of Scripture which will just get me through the day, to a prophetic world view which will lift us to heights unknown.  

I close with a variation of words from the hymn, "Sweet Hour of Prayer:"

"....In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief,

And oft escaped the tempter's snare

By thy return, sweet [Words of God]."

Father, in Jesus' Name, there is no equal, no comparison with anyone or anything to Your Words.  Thank You.  Amen.

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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

"False Prophets Will Rise Up...."

"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." (Mt. 24:4)

And they won't just be in the churches.  They will come from some of the most unsuspected places in a society.  Perhaps these will be the most dangerous.

Some more recent translations use the word, "mislead," for, "deceive."  It just does not carry the "punch."  The word translated, "deceive," can mean "lead astray, mislead, cause to wander," but, "deceive," gets to the warning best.   Our Lord uses the word at least four times in Matthew 24. 

Deception in general is the plague which will be the undoing of many in the last days.  One of the examples the dictionary uses to describe "deceit" is, "They deceived the enemy by disguising the destroyer as a freighter."  This is a good revelation of deception.  We may think it is bring us supply, but it is really bringing destruction.

"The elect," according to our Lord Jesus, will escape this.  Why?  Because, "the elect," are united, at one with, those who have come into the reality of, "Abide in Me, and I in you."  I know no better way to walk a deception free life than to be full of the Words of God.  No deceiver, including, The Deceiver, can overcome, "Me and My Words" (Mark 8:38).

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for this warning and the accompanying, "Me and My Words."  Amen.

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* Preaching This Week in the Good Shepherd Church meeting, Sunday, July 29.

* Plans coming together for this Fall's Mission

* Article: "Obama's Spectacular Failure": www.jerberwash.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

Humanity Has Been Given A Choice: Love Wickedness Or Truth

"They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved....All will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2:10b, 12, NIV)

It seems as though we have a choice here: Love and delight in truth, or love and delight in wickedness.

Today's prayer item from Brother Andrew's Open Doors Newsletter was for The Maldives.  The latest reports reveal that the nation has cracked "down on preaching unofficial Islam, and non-Islamic faiths," and even passing legislation banning church buildings (ICC).  Despite this and other persecution of Christians, many young people are curious about Christianity and are wanting more information about Jesus.  The prayer request asked that we pray for these "truth seekers."  According to our text, all who, "love the truth, " and, "have...believed the truth," will, "be saved."  The rest of the "God-Breathed" Scriptures affirm this; therefore, I prayed today for the "truth seekers" in The Maldives-- and everywhere.

You and I today are called to, "love the truth."  If we do, the Words of Jesus will be fulfilled in us, "the Truth," not just any "truth," but the Truth Who is Jesus Christ, "will set you free."  Refusal to love and believe, "the truth," however, will bring nothing but what verse 11 declares, "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."  This is very disturbing, even frightening: "God sends... delusion...."  It is a judgment "sending."  He offers us truth, but, "....God sends... a powerful delusion," when men, "have delighted in wickedness,"  To any who have found another delight, however, to those who will, "love the truth," Jesus Christ, Father "sends" salvation.  

When I read 2 Thessalonians 2 the other day and came to the great benediction at the end of the chapter, I thought of you.  It is a benediction to all "truth seekers" everywhere.  "May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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* Please pray with us for the planning of the Fall Mission.

* I will be preaching this coming Sunday, July 29, in The Good Shepherd Church

* Unreached People Group: www.apfunreachedpeoples.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