Number 23									  

"Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers."   James 1:22

                              SPREAD  THE  WORD

  Please realize that the text of most Bible versions are very similar. Catholic
versions have several additional books in the Old Testament, but the exact same
27 books and chapters in the N.T. The Bible contains God's Word for you today!
His Word is active and alive and sharper than any two edged sword. (Heb 4:12)

  Our hope, purpose, and prayer is for you to read God's Word, the Bible. "For
we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your
servants for Jesus sake" (2 Cor 4:5). We don't promote any brand of religion.
We desire to emphasize relationship with Jesus, our Savior!  We send these
letters because some people will seek to know God in private and they don't want
others to know about it. However, if you want more information please call or
write us.  We'll keep your request confidential. We'd love to hear from you.

                   FREE WILL VS. FATE  -  THE CHOICE IS YOURS

  "It's my body, I have a right to do with it as I please."           Quote # 1

  "I don't like being told what to do, I'll do it my way."                  # 2

  "Your church and religion is okay for you, but I'll serve God my way"     # 3

FREE WILL:  The above statements may be (legally) true, yet are they in
opposition to God?  God loved us so much, He gave us this powerful gift: freedom
to choose. Instead of being programed robots we can make many, many choices
everyday.  However, true freedom requires responsibility and right understanding
of the consequences.  God will never take this gift from us.  We have power over
God in that we can choose to go our own way towards destruction.  Adam & Eve
chose their own way (instead of God's way: Gen 3) and hence all mankind has
suffered the consequences: a fallen sinful nature, suffering, and death.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Cor 15:22

SECOND CHANCES:  Since man had misused his freedom, God gave us His Laws and
revealed Himself over time through the Scriptures. The Law and God's Words are
merciful boundaries (walls) to guide our choices, not a list of do-nots to spoil
our fun.  Laws were given to direct us and to expose sin for what it is (Romans
3:20 & 7:13). Walls not only keep evil out, but protect us within (Rev 21).

  "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but blessed is he who keeps
   the law."                                                          Prov 29:18

  Those "who come to Me and hear My words and put them into practice."
   He is like the man who built His house upon the Rock (Christ).     Luke 6:47f

NO CHOICE = REJECTION:  To ignore God is to reject Him. Any honest person cannot
deny God's existence; the earth and the heavens tell of His glory (Psa 19). In
space everything is pitch dark unless you are facing the sun. Even so, on earth
if you are not living for and seeking Jesus then you are headed for darkness
(John 3:19). We need to choose Christ (the Light of the world; Isa 9:2) and His
Ways as our own. Simply being a good moral person is not enough. You must make a
decision about Christ. You can't be neutral. True faith will result in active
living for Jesus Christ.  Doing nothing is really saying, " NO, not now! "

 "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me
  scatters abroad."                                     Matt 12:30    Luke 11:23

  "because you are lukewarm ... I am about to spit you out "            Rev 3:16

  "He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him:
   the word that I have spoken shall judge him in the last day."      John 12:48

  "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man
   love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."            1 John 2:15

COVENANTS: God gave Adam and Eve everything in the garden of Eden except the
tree of knowledge of good and evil. If they ate of it they would die (Gen 2:17).
Later, God made a covenant with Abraham. Circumcision was man's part of it; a
choice to be God's people (Gen 17). Throughout the Old Testament, people choose
to enter in to covenants with God, and then they always broke them.
  Yes, all men, including you and I, have failed to live according to God's
laws.  Sin's penalty is death.  God is holy and just and He must punish sin.
Thank God He promised to send us a Savior. He sent His only Son to die in our
place for payment of our sins; to pay the price for all of the wrong choices and
violations we have made, and to offer God's plan of salvation to us!

  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"             Rom 3:23

THE MOST IMPORTANT CHOICE: Can you imagine sending your own child to die in the
place of criminals and sinners? And even if you could and did do that, what
if those people didn't accept that great sacrifice? What if no one really cared?
One time when the Israelites were complaining/sinning in the desert, God
allowed a plague of venomous snakes to bite the people. Moses prayed for
deliverance. God told him to make a bronze snake and mount it on a pole (just
like the medical symbol). If anyone, who had been bit, would simply look at the
snake on the pole he would live. They had to choose to look at it. How many are
dying today because they refuse to look to Christ as their Savior and Lord?
Do you know anyone dying now because they're too proud to look to Jesus Christ?
HAVE YOU REPENTED, ASKED JESUS TO FORGIVE YOU, and HAVE YOU DECIDED TO RECEIVE
HIS FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE? Will you be His disciple for life?

  "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the
   Son of man be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have
   eternal life."                                          John 3:14    Num 21:9

  "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed
   upon all men, for that all have sinned ... by one man's disobedience many
   were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made
   righteous. ...  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
   life through Jesus Christ our Lord.                    Romans 5:12, :19, 6:23

RIGHT CHOICES: Decisions that are difficult, complicated, and/or life changing
can also bring about the most fulfillment. God allows these opportunities. If
everything were easy we would love little. The more you choose His ways and live
for Jesus the more you will experience the joy of knowing your Creator!

  "O, taste and see that the Lord is good."       Psa 34:8     "Delight yourself
   in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."         Psa 37:4

  "As the deer pants for the waters, so my soul longs after Thee."      Psa 42:1

  "God rewards those who earnestly seek Him."          2 Chron 15:15    Heb 11:6

  "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments,
   and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."              I John 3:22

WRONG CHOICES: "The wages of sin are death" Rom 6:23 You need to know there is a
hell. The Bible uses images of fire and darkness. It is a real and horrible
place or state. The soul was made to live forever. Banishment from God is so
horrible we can not imagine it. Jesus warns of it more often than He speaks of
heaven. We are not god and we can't make the rules; God already has established
the rules of life. Hell is our choice if we don't choose God's way, thru Jesus.
Temptations will come (Luke 22:40,46  1 Cor 10:13). We need to say "No" to them.

 "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever
   believes in him shall receive remission of sins."                  Acts 10:43

TODAY'S CHOICES:  Choices made long ago need to be re-affirmed. Renew your
choice to follow Jesus every day. Are you ready for His soon return?

  "Choose you this day whom you will serve ... but as for me and my house,
   we will serve the Lord."                                         Joshua 24:15

  "I have chosen the way of truth and set my heart on your laws."     Psa 119:30

  "... I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose
   life so that you and your children may live."                      Deut 30:19

  The Bible is our Father's revelation of Himself to us. Will you choose to
study it to know your Father's Will?  One of the primary reasons the American
school system was formed was to teach children to read the Bible. How ironic
that the Bible has been outlawed from our public schools by a court system that
was modeled after the Old Testament courts. What then, is our moral authority?

  Those quotes # 1, 2, & 3  at the beginning of this letter; are they of the
world or of God? How do you know for sure? In order to choose correctly, we need
to know the Word of God and be in prayer. Will you step out in faith and be an
overcomer for Jesus Christ? (Luke 10:19, Rev 2 & 3) Or will you let fate and the
world dictate to you and let your opportunities to choose God's Ways slip away?
God has given you responsibility over your eternal destiny. The Choice is Yours!

  American Family Association (AFA) is an organization that has been monitoring
television, video, and media source for over ten years. We are showing some
information here for those who might be interested in joining the fight against
immorality. For $15.00 a year, you can join and get a monthly magazine.