*Volume 84 *No. 07 *Published by Christian Triumph Co. *Permit # 695 *SEPTEMBER 2006
Contents: Summer Storms Jesus in the Storm Pictures Anita 2005 Annual Report Annual Report Love with Faith Letters and Matthew
SUMMER
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STORMS
The July summer day was one of the hottest I had ever felt. The weatherman predicted high numbers, and the stifling heat agreed with his forecast. In the West, dark, ominous clouds began to gather, and soon a blinding streak of angry lightning tore through the sky, promising a storm to remember. And then came the rain, pounding – pouring – flooding the earth. As if in agreement with the rain’s fury, the howling wind hurled itself forward, selecting the largest trees to break and bend. The summer storm was relentless. In time, restless to move on, the storm rushed Eastward, leaving damage and destruction in its path. And thus, the forces of nature persist in reminding us that we reside in a world subject to alarming occurrences. As I write this article from my back porch, I glance hesitantly at the monstrous, sprawling Oak tree which lies as a huge beast spread over the roof. →↑
In crashing onto my house, its branches entangled electric lines, rendering them useless. For a moment, I shiver, remembering the energy of such an uncontrollable event. The storm’s force reminds me how very vulnerable I am, and emphasizes a deep need for a Greater Power. Thankfully, that need is met in our Creator Who is stable, secure, and dependable. The Bible refers to God as our Rock, one who stands firm, as a shelter in times of storms. (Isaiah 25:4 “For Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm…” The following is a little story which has a similar message. It describes a man who, in his own way, prepared for the furious winds of life. Can You Sleep While The Wind Blows? Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. “Are you a good farm hand?” the farmer asked him. “Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer desperate for help hired him. The man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer (Continued on Page 2)
grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!” The man rolled over in bed and said, “No sir. I told you that I can sleep when the wind blows.” Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered; the cows were in the barn; the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew. Moral of this story When one has prepared spiritually, mentally, and physically, there is little to fear. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God. We don’t have to understand; we just need to hold His Hand - to have peace in the midst of the storm. One Christmas season, I received from my daughter - a card which remains by my side. It describes so well the Presence of our Lord, One who remains steady though the “wind blows.” “…may you rest in the deep satisfaction of knowing that because you have Him, you have EVERYTHING!” “This is how God showed His love among us; He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.” (I John 4:9 NIV) God is our Rock in the midst of the storms. N. Hunter
JESUS –IN THE STORM “And the same day, when the even was come, He (Jesus) saith unto them (His disciples), ‘Let us pass over unto the other side.’ And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him and say unto Him, ‘Master, carest Thou not that we perish?’ And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, ‘Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?’ And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, ‘What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’” (Mark 4:35-41) Faith Messenger Permit #695 Periodical Paid at Corpus Christi, Texas Published monthly, except July and August. POSTMASTER SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO:
Christian Triumph Company P.O. Box 5187 905-909 Bluntzer Corpus Christi, Texas 78405 L.Y. Janes, Founder (deceased); Steve Beletic, President; Israel Hernandez, Vice-President; William Anderson, 2nd Vice-President; Diana Beletic, Secretary/Treasurer; Una Collins, Asst. Sec./Treas.
Psalm 107:29, “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” + (The Faith Messenger welcomes original inspirational articles and poems. Editing of contents may be necessary. Articles may be emailed to hunterblend@townsqr.com in a Word document or mailed to Christian Triumph Company, PO Box 5187, Corpus Christi, Texas 78465-5187. Please send only a copy of the original.)
This periodical is issued without charge in the name of the Lord Jesus to help inspire child-like faith and maintain Christ-like simplicity among the people of God. To send donations or for your FREE SUBSCRIPTION, write to the address above or contact Christian Triumph Co. at christiantriumph@yahoo.com. Or see us on the web at christiantriumphcompany.com
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CHRISTIAN TRIUMPH FAMILY & WORKERS Christian Triumph President: Steve Beletic (A volunteer for God and others)
Where is My Name? Special occasions may find us searching for our names on beautifully arranged tables marked with name cards. When we find our distinctive name, it is a relief, and we are satisfied that this is where we belong. Records such as birth announcements – school records - record our names; additionally, there are other significant documents - Social Security cards, voter registrations and drivers’ license. Our names are very important and add to our individuality. Even more noteworthy is the fact that when we ask to be forgiven of our sins, God writes our unique name in the Book of Life. There is no better or more important place than this. (Phil. 4:3, “…the Book of Life.”) Then with sins forgiven, we are bound for Heaven. I personally believe in the One who writes our names in this Special Book. God has blotted out all my sins and written my own name there. A song says, “Lord, I care not for riches, neither silver nor gold. I would make sure of Heaven; I would enter the fold. In the Book of Thy Kingdom, with its pages so fair, tell me, Jesus, my Savior, Is my name written there? “Lord, my sins they are many, like the sands of the sea. But Thy blood, O my Savior, is sufficient for me. For Thy promise is written, in bright letters that glow, ‘Tho’ your sins be as scarlet, I will make them like snow.’” 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If your name is still unwritten in the BOOK OF LIFE…. it can be, right now, - if you will but ask.
Vitalina Hernandez “…a woman of strength and dignity…” (Proverbs 31:25, 26)
(Editor’s note: This picture was in the June Faith Messenger but because of technical difficulties failed to reflect Vitalina’s true beauty. Vitalina is a valued missionary with the Christian Triumph Ministry.) +
Bojub (edited)
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never fail if it is of God in us. Paul tells us to love one another as Christ loves the Church, and when we do that, whether we feel the love or not, we operate in the love of God. I was praying one time and told the Lord about some people I was acquainted with, that I did not feel love toward them and was asking why. His response was that it matters not what you feel but what you do, so we should never trust our feelings – just obey the word of God. Not to say that when discernment comes and we feel that something is wrong with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we still need to seek the Lord’s advice first before we trust our discernment. In fact, we need to seek the Lord’s council on everything we plan to do in our lives, leaning not to our own understanding but seeking the Lord, and He will direct our path. When we say we love someone and have no faith in God, then my question is, “Do we really love him or her?” Now I love my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; they all are not saved, yet I have faith that the Lord will save them before they pass out of this world. My wife and I were studying the book of Job one time, and I began to pray for my children, telling God their faults and their sins. My Lord asked me a question, “Do you think I can save them?” My response was, “Yes, Lord.” He then told me that to thank Him for their salvation and leave the rest up to Him. I have faith that the Love of God in me will prevail by having faith in God that He will honor my prayer and all of my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will be saved and will live with me and my wife in Heaven eternally. We cannot have faith without love and cannot make love work without faith. So love with faith is the working part of our life that will prevail in all situations that occur in our life. We must love God and demonstrate that love in obedience to Him and then we can do the same with our brethren who love God also. Remember that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that none should perish but all come to repentance. So if we do not love our brothers and sister, how can we love the people of this world? How can we win souls to the cause of Christ without the love of God working in our lives? How can this love work if we do not have faith that what the word said is true? (Continued in the October Faith Messenger)
LOVE WITH FAITH By George Bell Ephesians 6:23, “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This love with faith is the peace of God that passes all understanding; this love from God never fails, and this faith is the “substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” All of those who have accepted this love through our Lord Jesus Christ have been given a measure of faith in order to believe. All of this is from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. These are some of the exceedingly great and precious promises that have been granted unto us. Ephesians 5:16-17, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be you not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” We have to understand what the will of God for us as individuals is and collectively, that we have been redeemed from the flesh and this world; yet we are housed in the flesh which is in this world. John tells us that God is love, and we who dwell in love are of God. “The reason for this is that there is no fear in love for perfect love cast out all fear.” When we are living according to the word of God, we have peace because of the love of God; and we can believe all things are possible. This is the relationship we have with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, as sons. This is the fellowship we have when we live in the Presence of God. When in this Presence, there is no fear and our understanding reaches a new height and love prevails in our life. Not only do we have the fellowship with God but with each other who believe. When we walk in this love of God with understanding in peace, we have faith in God to help in any given situation that arises in our daily life. Not only do we know God, but also we are known of Him, and when this takes place, our life will take on the nature of Christ through the Spirit of God – in awareness and in power, knowing that all things are possible in God. The key is to study – to show yourself approved, and this is done through the word of God following after the Spirit of God. This is our relationship and fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. When we love one another and prove our love by demonstration of this love, not only in word but also in deed, we can have faith that the love will 6
From: M. Aungst …The Lord is so good to all of us, the saved and unsaved. If it wasn’t for His mercy, things would be a lot worse in our lives. He is precious to me. There is no real happiness or security without the Lord…Trust all is well there…will keep remembering you in prayer and all at the mission. * From Goldie regarding - her sister, Ruth. On September, 2005, Ruth told the Chaplain at the nursing home where she was living that she would not be in chapel the next morning because she would be in Heaven. She died the next morning…at 6:00. It was her 94th birthday and her wedding anniversary. I asked the chaplain to explain her death to me. He said, “Her relationship with God must have been that God answered her prayer, because she did not want you to die first.” One month before Ruth died, her doctor told me “Ruth is in perfect health for a woman her age.” …….My father, Ruth, and I visited Uncle Fred. He was living with the Janes at that time. Please remember me in your prayers. * (Editor’s note: Our prayers are with Goldie. She and her sister both have been wonderful missionary partners of this ministry. God bless. +
Christian Triumph appreciates - Susan Kirk for taking approximately 100 Bibles to Mexico as well as other books and tracts. Also, God bless Jim for helping in this evangelistic opportunity. * We appreciate all the used Sunday school literature that individuals and churches have sent recently. Isaiah 55:11 promises a prosperous return: “So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” * A friend recently wrote to us about - seeing a woman in a grocery store changing a sticker from cheaper bananas to more expensive ones. When the woman checked out and went to her car, it was possibly the most expensive one in the parking lot. (Thanks for sharing, Joan) There is a little chorus which says “Oh, be careful little hands what you do…….for the Father up above is looking down with love, so be careful, little hands, what you do.” *
We will be sharing more letters in the October Faith Messenger. Thank you each one for writing.) * A LOOK AT THE BOOK OF MATTHEW The temptations of Christ Chapter 4 (Reference for this study comes from the Holy Bible as well as the book, The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1 By William Barclay) In English, the word “tempt” is noted to have a bad meaning such as persuading another to do wrong. However, the word “tempt” comes from a Greek word, “peirazein,” and it means to “test.” God never tries to get a person to do wrong, but He may test us as he did Abraham in the Old Testament story with Isaac, his son. The October issue of the Faith Messenger will begin “the testing of Jesus.” +
Dear Christian Friends, I finally got the box of Bibles mailed to you. It is very heavy…long ago, I used to go to a local tract house and they would put all the foreign mail on a table and I would get the addresses from envelopes and send tracts and books to them….in your last letter, you said – send Bibles or Christian books to you and you would send where most needed so that is what I will do… Yours truly, Brother Raymond * (Editor’s note: These Bibles are as little missionaries taking God’s word into other countries. THANK YOU, Brother Raymond.) 7
Faith Messenger A publication of Christian Triumph Company P.O. Box 5187 905 Bluntzer Corpus Christi, TX 78465
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Lead Me To The Rock!
Summer Storms
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For Thou has been a shelter for me…” (Psa.61:2,3) 8