*Volume 78 *No. 4 *Published by Christian Triumph Co. *Permit # 695 * APRIL 2014
Contents: The Chosen…………………………1-2 Email news……….………..………….3 I’m Important by Melissa Ann Bell...4-5 Poem by Byrum ………………………4 The Grace of God by Chaplain Ron.….6 Praying for Leaders by Carol…....…….7
THE CHOSEN By Editor
As the King, the Messiah, and the Savior of mankind, Jesus still chose ordinary human beings to instruct and carry on His divine purpose on this earth. earth. Rather than reaching out to the prominent Pharisees and Scribes who studied and taught the law, law, Jesus selected a tax collector, fishermen fishermen, a scholar, and nationalists who dreamed of supremacy by their people. people. Bibleinfo.com When Jesus was dining at the home of Matthew (the tax collector), collector), many sosocalled sinners joined them them for dinner, dinner, but not without the notice of the the everever-watchful Pharisees, Pharisees, standing, perhaps, on the corner. corner. They questioned one of Jesus’ helpers: Why does your teacher eat with
tax collectors and sinners?
Jesus’ answer was piercing and precise - go and learn what this means: I
desire mercy, not sacrifice. Jesus designated persons to help Him who were authentic, teachable, merciful, merciful, and willing to receive the “Spirit of the law, law,” balancing ethics with soul changing beliefs and action, while replacing pride pride with humility and concern. concern. One of those chosen men was a hard working fisherman turned disciple. We often read about him during the Easter season, for although he was bold, bold, he still needed further spiritual courage to empower his beliefs and actions. In the final days, after Jesus was arrested and tormented, tormented, this man named “Peter,” who loved Jesus dearly, denied even even knowing Him because of extreme fear and the threat of danger. In sorrow, sorrow, Peter, Peter, later, later, wept bitterly over his actions and grieved deeply. deeply. In Luke 24 when the women brought news on the “first day of the week” that the stone had been rolled away from Jesus’ now empty tomb, this disciple listened carefully, while the others imagined this was just idle idle talk. Suddenly, Peter forgot all about his fear and failure; failure; instead instead he jumped up and ran an an unfaltering race with the other disciple, John, to see an empty tomb. The fact is that when Peter took action, he reclaimed his faith and, and, once Page 2