Answering
the Call
Step
into the Light
Position
Parent
His
Name is Bill
Isn't
it Funny?
What's
in a Name?
ABC
Quote
On Saturday, Sept.
2nd, 2000 an event took place on the Mall in Washington D.C. Over 350,000
young people gathered for twelve hours for a time of prayer, fasting, and
repentance. Though there was plenty of music, it was mostly very
reflective and worshipful. The times of repentance were filled with tears,
and the prayer was filled with passion. Many teens fell to their faces as
they cried out for the spiritual condition of their nation. I have never
seen such emotion expressed by so many in prayer, not even at Stand in the
Gap. God is putting his hand on the hearts of our youth. Many adults were
there also, in support of their kids.
Few left during the day, even when a heavy rain came about four o'clock.
Almost everyone remained until the closing prayer at six that evening.
There were messages by Benny Hinn, Coach Bill McCartney, and Bill Bright.
But one of the most poignant moments occurred toward the end of the
program when Darryl Scott, the father of Columbine martyr Rachel Scott,
passed a torch, representing the call to spread the gospel that Rachel
left, through the crowd of youngsters, asking them to carry the light of
Christ to their homes, school, and neighborhoods.
It is my prayer that our young people will receive the fire of God in
their hearts, and let it burn hot and bright. Don't let the darkness of
the world throw a basket over your light, run with it through your
schools, neighborhoods, and especially your homes. Jer.
20:9 (NLT) And I can't stop! If I say I'll never mention the LORD or speak
in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire in
my bones! I am weary of holding it in!
By Hobert Arp Jr.
Psa. 119:105 (NASB) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my
path.
Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night and tried to move about
the house, even in familiar surroundings it's pretty easy to stumble,
fall, stub your toes, step in something. But click on a flashlight, and
navigation becomes much less difficult, as the light illuminates all those
obstacles and stumbling blocks. It is much easier to find the right path
with the light.
As we walk through the spiritual darkness of this world, we need the light
of God's Word to shine before us, illuminating the pathway of life before
us. Without the light of God's word, we wouldn't know which paths to take,
and which ones to avoid. Like driving down a dark highway without
headlights, we would be headed for certain disaster.
2 Cor. 4:3-6 (NASB) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled
to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has
blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light
of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do
not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your
bond-servants for Jesus* sake. For God, who said, *Light shall shine out
of darkness,* is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Satan does not want people to see the light however, and tries to put the
blinders on men so that they cannot see the light (vs. 4). But when we
preach Christ to the world and lift Him up, God will cause *Light shall
shine out of darkness,* (vs. 6) into our hearts.
Jesus Himself said that He was the *Light of the World* (John 8:12). If we
are in Christ, we are in the light. As long as we are in Him, we are not
stumbling around in the dark. And as we walk in the light with Him, His
blood is able to continually cleanse us from sin (1 John 1:7).
Also, as we walk in the light, we become lights ourselves (Matt. 5:14-16).
When we act as Christians are supposed to act, we are putting God's light
on our lampstand, then men are able to see God's light shinning from us,
so then men are able to glorify Him.
Prov. 4:-19 (NASB) *But the path of the righteous is like the light
of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. The way of
the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.
As we walk more and more in righteousness, our light will increase,
growing ever brighter. But if we go to the other way, the way of the
wicked, you'll just be stumbling around in the dark.
John 3:19 through John 3:22 (NASB) *This is the judgment, that the
Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the
Light, for their deeds were evil. *For everyone who does evil hates the
Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be
exposed. *But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his
deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.*
People who live in darkness don't like light. It shows them off for what
they really are. Sinners! People who love Jesus love to dwell in His
light, even when it's exposing our flaws. But this doesn't happen
naturally. Natural man is unable to stand the light of God. That's why
Jesus said we needed to be *born again*. When you turn on a light all the
cockroaches run for the dark. But all the moths head for the light, flying
closer and closer to the source. But a cockroach cannot turn itself into a
moth, only God can do that.
So are you a
cockroach or a moth?
2 Cor. 5:17 -
18a (NASB) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old
things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are
from God.
POSITION: PARENT
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term team players needed for challenging permanent work
in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent
communication and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24
hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel
required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and
endless sports tournaments in faraway cities. Travel expenses not
reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
For the rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated at least
temporarily, until someone needs $5 to go skating. Must be willing to bite
tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this
time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must
be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget
repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone
calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework
projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for
clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be
indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly
and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys and
battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared
for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality
of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years,
without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so
that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually
exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
You pay them, offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon
payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption
that college will help them become financially independent. When you die,
you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary
scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS:
While no health or dental
insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid
holidays and no stock
options are offered, job supplies limitless opportunities
for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.
His name
is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no
shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of
college. He is brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He
became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the
campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a
ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it. One day
Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt,
and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the
aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't
find a seat. By now people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no
one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit
and, when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the
carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship,
trust me, this had never happened before in this church). By now the
people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this
time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a
deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his
eighties, has silver-gray
hair, and a three-piece suit.
A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a
cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to
themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you
expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college
kid on the floor? It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The
church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All
eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The
minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to
do. And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With
great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships
with him so he won't be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the
minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will
never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget. Be careful
how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read."
How true it is! We need to each of us stop and ask ourselves "What
kind of testimony do I give through my actions?"
- unknown -
Funny how we set our clocks to arise
at 4:00 or 5:00 am to be at the job by 7:30, yet when Sunday comes we cant
get to church for 11:00 am service to praise the One who gave us the jobs!
Funny how we call God our Father and Jesus our brother, but find it hard
to introduce them to our family.
Funny how small our sins seem, but how big *their* sins are.
Funny how we demand justice for others, but expect mercy from God.
Funny how much difficulty some have learning the gospel well enough to
tell others, but how simple it is to understand and explain the latest
gossip about someone else.
Funny how we can't think of anything to say when we pray, but don't have
any difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend.
Funny how we are so quick to take directions from a total stranger when we
are lost, but are hesitant to take God's direction for our lives.
Funny how so many church goers sing *Standing on the Promises*,
but all they do is sit on the premises.
Funny how people want God to answer their prayers, but refuse to listen to
His counsel.
Funny how we sing about heaven, but live only for today.
Funny how people think they are going to Heaven, but don't think there is
a Hell.
Funny how it is okay to blame God for evil and suffering in the world, but
it's not necessary to thank Him for what is good and pleasant.
Funny how when something goes wrong, we cry, *Lord, why me?*,
but when something goes right, we think, *Hey, it must be me!*
Oh, wait.... maybe all this isn't so *funny* after all.
Funny how we probably all read this, but few of us take the time to pass
it on......
By Hobert Arp Jr.
Have you ever walked into a Christian bookstore to purchase a Bible, and
stared at the many different sizes, types, and translations, and wondered,
"What do I do now"?
Maybe you asked someone about which Bible to get, and got a variety of
answers that left you more confused than ever.
Perhaps you have run into some one who told you that every version other
that the King James is part of the New Age conspiracy.
So what is it about all these different Bibles? How many Bibles are there,
and which one is the right one?
Let's start off by answering the question of "How many Bibles are
there"? The answer to that is, "There is only ONE Bible".
That is the one that the Church has recognized for the past 2000 years. It
is made up of the 39 books of the Hebrew Scriptures we call the Old
Testament. It also consists of the 27 books of the Greek Scriptures known
as the New Testament. There are some extra-biblical writings known as the
Apocrypha, but these are not a part of the Scriptures.
God inspired these 66 books of the Bible when the authors originally
penned them. II Tim. 3:16 (NASB) All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness. These originals no longer exist, but they were hand copied
down through the centuries and passed on from generation to generation.
"So what about all those different Bibles you see down at the
bookstore"? Well, they are not really "different"
Bibles, but different "Translations" of The Bible.
There are word for word translations (called formal equivalence).
There are thought for thought translations (called dynamic equivalence).
And there are paraphrases (interpretations of a particular author). Since
languages are constantly changing, various translations are done in an
attempt to provide Bibles in the language of the people. Some are good,
some are not so good, and some are really bad. Like the New World
Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses, and Joseph Smith's Inspired
Version (a remake of the KJV), some are done in an attempt to promote
their heretical teachings.
A quick look at the top five best selling versions gives us a good range
of the different types and styles of translations.
I. King James Version (KJV) first translated in 1611, to provide a
Bible in the common language of the people, it is truly a masterpiece of
English Literature. It is a formal translation and was revised four times
between 1611 and 1768. It rose to prominence as the favorite English
translation until the late 20th century.
II. New King James Version (NKJV) released in the early eighties as
the fifth revision of the KJV, it is a formal translation. The more
archaic language of the KJV was change to modern equivalents, but still
keeping the same poetic style of the Authorized Version.
III. New American Standard Bible (NASB) released in the late fifties
as a revision of the American Standard Version of 1901. It was done as a
more scholarly version, utilizing 20th century textual discoveries,
especially the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is the most formal translation,
renowned for its literalness, but sometimes reads a bit choppy. It was
updated in 1995, which smoothed it out quite a bit.
IV. New International Version (NIV) first released in the late
seventies as a totally new translation, it has quickly become the most
preferred version in the United States. It is a dynamic translation and is
known for its understand-ability.
V. New Living Translation (NLT) released in the late nineties, it
uses the same style as the popular paraphrase, the Living Bible. The NLT
however is a translation of the original languages. It is a dynamic
translation, relying a little more heavily on paraphrase than the NIV, but
it is very understandable.
So which one is the best? Personally I think you need at least two. One
formal and one dynamic. And you need to read and study them on a daily
basis. No translation will do you any good sitting on the coffee
table collecting dust.
A word of warning though. There are some writings that would have you to
believe that the KJV is the only acceptable Bible, and that all other
modern translations are part of a great New Age conspiracy to destroy the
Christian faith, and that the Vatican is behind all of it. These
accusations are made to play off of the emotions and cause knee jerk
reactions. In particular is a book called "New Age Bible
Version" by Gail Ripplinger.
The book is filled with misquotes, false accusations, poor research, and
out-right bald face lies. This book has been known to cause church splits
and create great hostility between those who had before been close
friends. No matter how you regard the King James Version, you cannot
defend it with a lie. God just doesn't work that way.
I hope that this little bit of information will help you in deciding which
Bible version to use. Of course, once you've done that you have to decide
how you want that packaged. Study Bible, hardback, leather bound, etc..
there is plenty to choose from. The main thing is to read it! There are so
many resources available to study God's Word, but yet still much of the
American Church is biblically illiterate.
*Psa. 119: (NLT)
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there will be good times and yes, some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
- author unknown -
"Those
who teach that the day of miracles is past, teach the most disastrous lie
that was ever told....Such lies are responsible for the prevalent lack of
faith in God and have robbed Christianity of the power to demonstrate
itself."
- John G. Lake
