Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Does Bible Prophecy Predict Revival and
Becoming a Son of God
The Gift of Conviction!
The hallway of the East Colonnade was decorated this year with rows of twinkling, wintery branches – 2017 Picture via www.washingtonian.com
December 2017 – Published by World Bible School International Training Center
Hello and Merry Christmas! This is the month that holds a lot of emotions! I have always believed in Jesus, which is the TRUE meaning of Christmas, but as a young girl, because of something that happened (which may come out in a book), I also believed in Santa Claus. Many people use their time to put down or critize others who have the Spirit of Christmas. You know St. Nicholas was a real person. If you look up the history, he was given the title Saint because of the good things he did. He actually saved 3 sisters from being sold into slavery, or worse. The story goes like this: There was a man, once rich, who had fallen on hard times. Now poor, he had three daughters of an age to be married. In those days a young woman's family had to have something of value, a dowry, to offer prospective bridegrooms. The larger the dowry, the better the chance a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery, or worse. Word of the family's misfortune reached Nicholas, who had the wealth inherited from his parents. Coming in secret by night, he tossed a bag of gold into the house. It sailed in through an open window, landing in a stocking* left before the fire to dry. What joy in the morning when the gold was discovered! The first daughter soon wed. Not long after, another bag of gold again appeared mysteriously. The second daughter was married. The father, now very anxious to know who the secret benefactor was, kept watch during the night. A third bag of gold landed inside the house and the watchful father leaped up and caught the fleeing donor. "Ah, Nicholas, it is you!" cried the father, "You have saved my daughters from certain disaster." Nicholas, embarrassed, and not wishing to be known, begged the man to keep his identity secret. "You must thank God alone for providing these gifts in answer to your prayers for deliverance." As far as the Christmas tree, many say it is pagen and was worshipped. Well, some people today worship many things, like their new car, food, music or many other things that they love. Just remember, there is nothing wrong in having a Christmas tree…The wrong comes if you worship it! For me, I have never worshipped a tree, I use it for decorations at Christmastime. But I must say, Christmas is my most favorite time of the year. The Birth of our Savior, the food, the decorations, and yes, of course, the presents! Just remember, if there are no present to be given or received, Father God gave us the most precious gift that anyone could ever ask for, want, or need. He gave his precious Son, Jesus Christ! This year, be a blessing to someone. Maybe you know a widow who lives near you. Take her a ham, turkey, cake, or just a gift of love. Or maybe you know a family that does not have much. Be a blessing to them. It does not have to be a lot to show your love. I have shared many orphanages in my November magazine, and some ministries this month that go out into the sreets and give to the children and widows in other countries. Many of them would love to just have good meal on Christmas day. Please do not close up your heart of compassion…. GIVE to those who do not have this time of the year. If you would like to give to any of the orphanages or ministries, please contact me. I will certainly share their contact information with you. Or, you can look in this magazine, and our November magazine. You can find it at: www.billhanshewministries.org … In fact all of our magazines can be found at our website. God Bless you, and Merry Christmas!
Co-Publisher & Co-editor Dr. Bill Hanshew
Publisher & Editor Faye Hanshew
Articles
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Does Bible Prophecy Predict Revival & Tragedy? The Evergreen Tree How to Make 2018 the Best Year of Your Life! You Can’t Get Blood from a Turnip! Eyes Wide Open, Move Ahead Slowly Can You See What I see? Can You Hear What I Hear Christ, The Firstborn Discerning the Lord’s Body in Communion Becoming a Son of God The Gift of Conviction! Thinking Different in 2018 Resolution for a Revolution
INTERNATIONAL SECTION Nutritional and Fitness – Exercise Walking Along Your Dreams
Dr. Bill Hanshew Pastor Jo Bruns Tom Tompkins Dr. Dan L. Corse Speaker/Author Larry Thompson Krissy Webb Dr. Richard Rundell Bishop Frank Dupree Dr. Glen Hartline Dave Kachele Matthew Deves Stuart E. Smith
Dewanshu Ahlawat Ernest Nelson K. Nanor
President Trump and First Lady, Melania, light the National Christmas Tree for the First Time! President Trump has the values that America has needed in the White House for a long time…He loves God and America! They both, God and America, go hand in hand, and America should never go without God. Thank you, President Trump and First Lady, Melania, for standing for GOD AND COUNTRY!!! We give you honor and say, “Thank You!”
“HEAR YE! HEAR YE! DOES BIBLE PROPHECY PREDICT REVIVAL & TRAGEDY?” by: Dr. Bill Hanshew
White Pine
Isaiah 43:18 (TLB) says, “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I’m going to do!” The title of this article comes from a headline I read somewhere. Isn’t it amazing that predictions can seem to have both positive and negative proclamations at the same time? It is as though someone would believe that one single color can be white, yet black simultaneously. Such a headline would convey both the expectation of hope and fear at the same time. But the two mixed together only produce a sense of desperation. However, Bible prophecy is always accurate and necessary for many things; especially pertaining to survival in what many believe are the last days. However, since I was a small boy growing up in the church, I was shown movies about the end time, about what is called the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, the Millennial Reign and how that these events would unfold for us in the book of Revelation. Yet, as I am writing this article, I am now a man of more than 60 years old and over the years I have been left with a gap in my understanding of how what is referred to as “the church age” will end and the next dispensation or age will begin. And while it is commonly believed that the next age to come will be an age of the tragedy and wrath, starting with “the Rapture” and the beginning of Great Tribulation; I want to say that I personally have no problem with that when put into its proper historical perspective. My question would be this: What about the sermon Peter preached on the day of Pentecost saying that God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh? It seems like you can find this great event in Bible prophecy, but not in the book of Revelation. Where does it fit in?
There is a move of God which begun in Acts chapter 2 and has never ceased. Yet people are still looking for a move of God. You may be looking for a new wave or a new thing, but let’s call it what it is. It is first a FRESH wave of revelation, and second, it is the manifestation of that revelation you embrace. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the face of the whole earth HAS COME and is STILL here even though we experience FRESH waves of it all the time. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV) says, “18 Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” Is it possible that you are so preoccupied with the things around you that you cannot see what God is up to? His Word came to pass.... all of it. And Christ came to live in us, including the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was the “NEW THING” God said would come. The writer of Isaiah 43:18 is saying this about
Bible prophecy: To forget all the former things, or past moves of God, and/or compared to what new thing or the next thing that I am going to do concerning my prophetic timeline. Then in Isaiah 43:19 (TLB) we see the question, “See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it?” The word of the Lord is sure and stands fast, no matter what your experiences may be. We know that God is the sum-total of all wisdom and knowledge, and not us. And God does not change His mind. 2 Peter 1:20 says, “knowing this first, that no prophecy {or prediction} of Scripture is of any private interpretation.” Therefore, we can clearly see in the context of this passage, that this verse is talking about a Word from God, which is written in the Bible. These words did not come by the will of man, but by men of God, who spoke as they were moved upon by the Holy Spirit. And even when we think others are wrong about their interpretation of scripture, know this, even if we convey it correctly, God is never wrong. Isaiah 43:18-19 (MSG) says, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.” The desert and the badlands refer to the dry places around you where there is no flow of understanding about God’s truth. But how will the world have a chance to be revived or ministered to, unless we embrace what God in Christ has done in His finished work? God’s glory has been poured out over the whole earth, not necessarily a planet, but a people. And His glory is represented by rain, water, and/or rivers in scripture. It takes water to cause desert places and the badlands to have a chance for new life. It takes an outpouring of glory to bring life to the hurting as you release his glory to all.
Colossians 3:1-2 says, “1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” When “the church,” who are the people of God are assembled together into the building that we call “churches,” we need to be sure not to fall into the mindset that “we go to church” as opposed to being the church. However, what the Bible might refer to as “the church age,” I believe that age is fading out or coming to an end. There is a new age for us which is the age or time of the rule of Christ in a people. I believe in a catching away, but not a Rapture. I believe in revival, but not in having one. I believe in an Awakening to the truth. I believe that there has been a sleeping church, whose mindset is very worldly. But I also believe that God knows what He is doing. And while I cannot explain it all, I do believe that my focus cannot and must not be upon the things of the earth, even though I am aware of their existence. Just like John whose body never left the Isle of Patmos, his soul and spirit encountered the Throne Room of Heaven and now my focus must also be caught up into a heavenly realm or the realm of God. I am not looking for a rapture; I’m looking for Jesus. What I mean is that my focus is on Jesus more than anything else. I know in my heart that God is using me to put some of the pieces together or to find some of the answers in my own heart and in the minds of others. But I do know this: God in Christ has provided an opportunity for His people to have a fresh and new insight from His Word and His Spirit. And I want more. I want to know Him more, and I want to know everything I need to know so that I can be a member of the remnant company of sons of God. who can
help usher in this Awakening of truth and of His glory. Yes, it is not about “Revival and Tragedy,” but it is about a fresh Awakening to the knowledge
of what Jesus has done for you in His finished work. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and the prosperous New Year the Lord Jesus has promised in His blessing. …Think about it!
by: Pastor Jo Bruns
The Evergreen Tree
“O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from Me. Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right, the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” Hosea 14:8-9(NIV) When I was a teenager, I often babysat for a Jewish couple who lived in my neighborhood. To my surprise, at Christmas time, they not only celebrated Hanukkah, but they also decorated a Christmas tree as well. While I realize that most Jewish believers would not think this was appropriate, their choice, especially for me, solidified and brought together the message of the Old Testament, which the Jewish believers refer to as the Law of Moses, and the New Testament, which tells us how Jesus’ coming fulfilled those prophecies. Today, when I decorate our family’s Christmas tree, the Star of David, a symbol of the Jewish faith, is displayed alongside ornaments depicting the names of Jesus that were foretold long ago —the Light of the World and Emmanuel—God with us (as well as many other ornaments). Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration to remember how God kept the light burning in the Temple for eight days. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, who came to save the sinners of the world. When we are “saved” or “born again” (in other words, have our sins forgiven and are given a brand-new beginning), Jesus places his eternal light within us to continually burn so that His light will shine before men as a testimony of how He came into the world to save the world. “In the beginning,” (John wrote), “was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness,
but the darkness has not understood it…He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-4; 10-14 (NIV)
The Christmas tree, generally a pine or spruce tree, depicts Christ who brings us everlasting peace and life. Not only does the tree, with its ornaments and lights, reflect the light of Christ, but it also reminds us of how He is the Vine and we are His branches. In John 15:5, Jesus states, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” When Christ came into the world He came to save both the Jew and the Gentile. In fact, His desire is that all will be saved (although He knows that not everyone will receive Him as their Savior). It was because of Israel’s unbelief, that salvation came to the Gentiles (see Romans chapter 11). Does this mean that Israel will be cut off, hopeless and beyond recovery? No. If God can graft in the Gentiles through faith in Jesus, He can surely graft
Jewish believers in when they come to know Yeshua as their Messiah. After all, He is the Root of Jesse, the promised Messiah, who supports us all. Who is your Savior? During this holiday season, search the Scriptures regarding the Messiah. Consider how Jesus has become “the evergreen tree,” from which we bear fruit. One way you might do this is through the use of an Advent candle and Scripture book which often has many of the scriptures referring to Jesus’ fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies, and is available at most Christian bookstores. Christmas is more than just presents under the Christmas tree. Christmas is God’s gift to the world. It is up to you and me to open His present of salvation by receiving the One who came to save us all. Merry Christmas everyone!
by: Tom Tompkins
World’s largest floating Christmas tree – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – December 2011
I have a question for you. On December 31, 2017, will you be able to confidently say, “2017 has been the best year of my life!�? If you are someone who can do so, congratulations! I want to encourage you to expect 2018 to be even better, but what if you cannot make such a statement on December 31, 2017? If you cannot say this year has been the best year of your life, what needs to be done differently in 2018 to be able to boldly declare such a thing on December 31, 2018? It all begins with making changes in your daily routine. To be honest, this is not going to be the easiest thing you have ever done, but if you will make the necessary changes and stick to them, it will be more than worth any sacrifice you may have to make. If you were to talk to those who are millionaires or highly successful, you would discover one common trait among each of them, and it has to do with how they begin their day. Those of whom I speak, wake up no less than three hours before they are to be at work or basically, begin their day. Such people are those living out their dreams, building wealth, and successful at anything they put their hand to. Three percent of people who are struggling financially, unhappy, and living a life that is less than what they know is possible, have such a practice. This information alone speaks volumes of the importance as to how you start your day. Many people have different routines, but I will touch on one of the most common habits of those who are living out their dreams. This is often referred to as the hour of power, but keep in mind, if all you have is twenty minutes to spare each morning, use that twenty minutes wisely.
For many, the first hour of their day is broken up into three parts: twenty minutes of prayer, twenty minutes of reading (motivational material, the Bible, or something to increase knowledge within their profession), and twenty minutes of exercise. The way you begin your day is of utmost importance. Therefore, some people are in a bad mood when they get to the office. This stems from an argument with a spouse, child, or being rushed from waking up late. However, what would happen if the same person were to intentionally wake up three hours before they needed to be at the office and spend time praying, listening to something uplifting, or exercising? They would have a completely different attitude and outlook. Doing so first thing is important because this is the time of day when you have the most control over the tone from which the rest of the day will resonate. During prayer, God may show you something that will prepare you for an event you will face. He may show you something you need to know to make a deal that will change everything or get the ball
rolling on moving toward the greatest opportunities you have ever known. It all starts with being prepared ahead of time. One of the best quotes I have heard is, “Preparation time is never wasted time.” This is what a morning routine is all about. Many wake up at the last minute and must rush to get ready, eat breakfast, and hurry out the door only to be met by frustrating delays on the road or a less than desirable load at the office. I am only scratching the surface in this article as to how this concept works, but if you will begin your day differently, you will live your life differently, ultimately leading to day after day, week after week, and month after month that will end in the best year of your life. Keep in mind, if you do not want the results of the majority, you cannot practice the habits of the majority. After all, the majority always does what is easiest which leads to, at best, average results. God does not want you to live another year of less than desirable. The only way you will move from where you are to where you wish to be or better yet, where God wants you to be, is to change your habits. This literally begins at the start of each day.
You do not have to necessarily work the hour of power as I mentioned earlier. It may be going to the gym for an hour to workout or answering emails to free up needed time later in the day. It may mean watching or listening to motivational television shows, online videos, or audio. For each person, their morning routine may look different from others. A great way to move forward is to turn off the music in your car while commuting to and from work and turn on motivational teaching or listen to something that will help you to grow in knowledge based on what it is you do or want to do. Keep in mind; the average person drives 30-minutes one way to work. That is one hour per day of potential learning. This will add up to much additional knowledge and motivation that you may not currently have. This could change your life for the better faster than you ever imagined possible. My question to you is this: what do you need to do differently each day from now on to be able to arrive at December 31, 2018, and declare, “2018 has been the best year of my life!”?
This is our magazine writer, Dewanshu Ahlawat and his beautiful wife, Sonia. He was very busy this month and could not send in an article on weight loss, but he says he will be back next month and give you some good ideas on how to get rid of the holiday pounds you may have added! Watch for it!
by: Ernest Nelson K. Nanor
Douglas Fir
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So, it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8, ESV) Many people in the Church today are very lazy and carnal for the fact that God will speak to them in diverse ways, especially in dreams, visions, and prophecies about something that needs to be done through a heart of faith, but due to their lazy attitudes; they will fail to do the exact thing that God asked them to do. At the same time, these same people will complain when they see others who are blessed for taking an action of faith. Abraham obeyed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Rehab, who was a harlot received some children of God into her room and hid them at the expense of her own country, and her own citizens, she made an act of faith and her own life was spared. When the children of Israel came to fight against her nation and destroy it, her and her household were spared.
informed by the Angel of the Lord, and the life of baby Jesus was saved. This shows that although this baby was Jesus Christ, He might have been killed if it were possible, if Joseph and the three wise men had been lazy with the way they handled their dreams and have taken things for granted.
Later on, one of the Jewish sons married her and she was the Mother of Boaz, the grandfather of Jesse who gave birth to David and he became the favorite King of Israel. Anytime there is an act of faith, it is accompanied by the divine blessings of God. After the birth of Jesus Christ, the wise men who visited Him were further warned by God to take a different root home, and then acting accordingly to His voice, they saved their lives and the life of the baby Jesus.
If we are born of the Spirit of God and we are led by Him through His teachings, inspirations, dreams, visions, and prophecies, we cannot be totally understood by the outside world around us; and if that happens we should not feel so strange that we are not understood. If we are completely understood, then it is not God in control, but man. Anytime the wind blows, we cannot know whether the wind is blowing from left, right, center, up or down but we can see the effect of the wind on our lives.
Again, Joseph the father of Jesus, because of his marriage to Mary was warned by God in a dream, he was told to take the baby Jesus and his mother out of Bethlehem to Egypt because of Harold who piloted to have the baby Jesus killed. The Bible also revealed that Joseph did not hesitate at all, but even acted as he was
Many times, we seem to be awake at the early hours of 12:00 am – 2:30 am in the morning; sometimes we are awake by dreams, visions, or by an unconscious act, someone may wake up and if they are a lazy Christian, they may go back to sleep again. But the Lord may be speaking to you to praise Him at that time, or
Jesus may be desiring your worship at that time, for the purpose of rescuing you from a situation. When God wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, He did not do it without first telling Abraham about His plans. And then He went ahead after Abraham’s intercession, which saved the life of his brother in law. If we are children of God, He can prompt us on any day at any time to pray, to worship, or even to obey Him. But if we are stubborn, we make the things he provided for us on the cross to be
ineffective in our lives which provided for by His divine blessings. Just like how the obedience of the three wise men and Joseph, who rescued the baby from the hands of Harold; so, our obedience to Him and to His voice can help to save our nation, city, family, friends, and loved ones from any form of uncertainty. We wish you Merry Christmas and a Glorious Happy New-year to you all. God richly bless you.
by: Dr. Dan L. Corse
Spruce Tree
When I was a child, I pestered my Mom often in the grocery store. If we went down the snack aisle, I wanted snacks. If we went through the candy section, I wanted candy. Sometimes, I was able, to a degree, to get what I wanted. However, at other times, my Mom would say something like, “You can’t get blood from a turnip.” By her comment, I knew that she was telling me there was no extra money for snacks and candy. I recognized that the possibility of my getting snacks or candy was equivalent to the possibility of getting blood from a turnip, an impossible task. Like me as a child, all of us have wants. Caring Christian parents, grandparents, extended family members, and loving others want the best for our children. Generally included in that yen is the desire that our youth be instilled with a biblical worldview, which will equip them to successfully interpret and interact with the world from a scriptural perspective. Many of us also recognize that a biblical worldview was integral to the successful founding and development of our nation. Knowing that, it is not for obscure reasons that we desire that our youth be instilled with a biblical worldview. Rather, we seek it because we recognize that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34, NKJ). Desiring that our children be imparted a biblical worldview, we support and/or engage in a variety of efforts insuring that becomes a reality. We provide biblical instruction in our homes. We support biblical instruction in a variety of other settings (i.e. in churches, conferences, and special events). We encourage movies and technology that aid in biblical instruction. Yet, though we do all these things, too many of us forget or are unaware of this very important fact. Public education, though it was for the first hundred and fifty years of our nation, is no longer a force for instilling a biblical
worldview in our youth. Numerous Supreme Court decisions have made that so. Everson v. Board of Education (1947) reversed one hundred and forty-five years of Supreme Court precedents, which viewed Jefferson’s separation of church and state as a wall existing that prevented the government (state) from infringing on our religious rights. Engel v. Vitale (1962) removed prayer from public schools. Abington v. Schempp (1963) removed Bible reading from public schools. Stone v. Graham (1980) ruled it unconstitutional for students to see a copy of the Ten Commandments in public schools, even if they did so voluntarily. As it is now, public schools, to varying degrees, do quite the opposite of instilling in our youth a biblical worldview. Instead, they generally impart to our youth the worldviews of secularism and materialism, which are the antithesis of a biblical worldview. Secularism focuses not on God, but on human beings, seeing mankind as the ultimate norm by which truth and values are to be determined. The moral deterioration of our culture points to the absurdity of that view. Materialism rejects that
which is spiritual and displays a preoccupation with the physical. The stranglehold of evolution on public school curricula and the spiritual ignorance in our nation reveal the foolishness of that view. Understanding the reality of our public schools, we recognize that expecting them to instill a biblical worldview in our youth is like trying to get blood from a turnip, an impossible task. Recognizing that public schools do not instill in our youth a biblical worldview, what should we do? We should provide our youth with the option of alternative educational settings where both biblical and academic instruction are given. Those alternative settings include both homeschooling, when appropriate supervision and curricula are available, and Christian schools. If we do not have the wherewithal to provide our youth with credible alternatives and our only viable choice is public schooling, we need to provide consistent activities to counteract the unscriptural effects of those schools. Those actions include any number of appropriate interventions (i.e. familiarizing ourselves with public school curricula and instructors so we can provide viable activities aimed at counteracting any unscriptural effect due to them; where possible, removing our children from activities that impart unscriptural views and attitudes; etc.). Whatever the level of interventions, based on the alternatives that we choose, it is our responsibility, especially as parents and guardians, to oversee and insure that our youth are instilled with a biblical worldview. In choosing alternatives, we must recognize that there will often be resistance. Public school educators, their supporters, and others often do not support such alternatives. Even some Christians will not support our efforts. Encountering such resistance, it is not unusual to hear, depending upon the alternative being considered or selected, comments like: “We
can’t shelter our children from evil.” “Homeschooling does not allow for the proper socialization of our children.” “Christian schools do not provide adequate academic instruction.” To those comments, appropriate responses are, “We realize that, living on this planet, our youth will encounter evil. However, we desire to instill in them the biblical perspective that empowers them to successfully deal with that evil, which public schools do not. In fact, that setting often contributes to them not being able to overcome it.” “Socialization opportunities are available in many ways outside the school setting (i.e. homeschooling networks, church activities, and the activities of sports and clubs). I will make efforts insuring that my child has access to those activities. I also recognize that some socialization taking place in public schools is not beneficial but counterproductive to our children’s health.” “Christian schools, like public schools, offer varying degrees of effective academic instruction. In selecting a Christian alternative, I have sought not only the best academic, but also spiritual instruction available. Where weaknesses exist, I will find ways to supplement them.” Understanding that our children being instilled with a biblical worldview is not a given, but requires our planning for, providing, and supporting activities insuring that it happens, we have before us a great responsibility. As parents, grandparents, extended family members, and caring others we cannot shirk that responsibility. We must prove ready for the task. We cannot allow the detractors we encounter to thwart our efforts. Otherwise, we will be complicit to the moral deterioration of our youth and our nation. Last, we cannot allow ourselves to forget that public schools are no longer a force for instilling a biblical worldview in our youth. Doing so is like expecting to get blood from a turnip, an impossible task.
Eyes Wide Open, Move Ahead Slowly by: Speaker/Author Larry Thompson
Pre-Lit Liberty Pine – Artificial Christmas Tree
One late winter night in the back country of the northwest corner of Oregon, I took a fourwheel drive excursion with my friend John. It had snowed more than two feet in the valleys, so we anticipated finding much more in the hills. When we left, the temperature was only a mere 10°. After driving around several country roads, we decided to go up to higher ground. The drive was made fairly easy by our traveling in my 4WD Blazer. Soon we were met by a complete whiteout everywhere—nothing but snow covered everything. All of the trees, heavy laden with snow, were sagging. The moonlit sky glittered from the snowy terrain, and ice crystals made up the bitter-cold air. We finally came to a large concealed clearing in the middle of the forest where we parked to gaze up at the stars on this cold, brisk night. Suddenly from seemingly out of nowhere, a half-dozen ATV vehicles came darting in from several different directions, breaking up that conspicuous silence. We left shortly after that intrusion and chose to traverse an old logging road, which looked more like an ice cave than a road. All of the trees lining both sides of the roadway were covered with so much snow that they hung over this narrow slit, forming a frosty-white tunnel and making the edges of the roadway barely detectable. At the end of this snow-covered canopy, we came to a small opening. In the middle of the road about fifty yards further in front of us lay a dark, ominous area in contrast to the glistening white everywhere else. I slowed the vehicle and then came to a complete stop. This doesn’t look right or make sense. What appeared to be a large murky pond was right in the middle of the road. I got out of my Blazer to walk closer for a better analysis of the situation. I remember thinking to myself, I’ll bet that this is really deep, at about the same
time I stepped onto that brown-colored, muddy-looking patch of ground. My uneasiness increased when my foot went through the half-frozen mud, never even touching bottom! I immediately pulled back my leg before I lost my balance. All I could think was I sure am glad I didn’t drive haphazardly into this muddy bog! I attempted to turn around, but the ruts from many other trucks had carved a deep trench. Add to the ruts the fact that all of the snow and ice made it very difficult to negotiate. The road, which was too narrow to begin with, made maneuvering in four-wheel drive even more difficult. I knew then that I had to put my tire chains on the front tires to get any traction. The coldness of the air from the frigid temperature made simply touching our fingers to any steel very stiff and numb. John and I made several cat-and-mouse attempts, working at putting the chains under the tires, and then we quickly jumped back into the rig
to thaw out with the heat on high. Not until our fingers were limber enough to continue putting on the chains did we dare make another effort at the arduous job. After thirty minutes or so, we finally had everything coordinated. Finally, we were able to turn around, and with the chains on the front, we were even more amazed at how much better it was to travel in all of the snow. By then, I had undergone enough excitement for the night. I kept thanking God that I did not foolishly drive through that forbidding muddy anomaly. Several months later after the church service had concluded, the subject of that very early morning adventure came up in conversation. One of those listening knew the area about which we were talking. He had been working with a company in that area during some natural gas drilling. He said, “It was a good thing you did not continue driving. That hole is so deep that four-wheel drive pickups have been stuck in mud halfway up the cab!” He added, “One time it took a couple of fourwheel drives with winches to pull out one truck.” He further explained that the area serves as a runoff from the rain, and rainwater settles there, creating a mini-pond right in the middle of the road. The place has been dubbed the sinkhole. I have no doubt of it. The thought which comes to my mind when I think back on that ordeal was how white everywhere was with the fallen snow, but then how easily it would have been impossible not to realize something was different. That is exactly how the Bible phrase, “the gospel of the glory” stands out—once you have focused on it. Have you ever heard of it? I had not heard of it nor noticed it myself; that is, not until the Holy Spirit captured my attention with the phrase. Unlike that half-frozen muddy
pond, which stood out immediately, this phrase, “the gospel of the glory” so blends in with the rest of Scripture that it goes unnoticed. This phrase within the verse is so eye-opening, that I find it amazing that it has been hidden— to the point that very few people have even heard of “the gospel of the glory.” However, some noteworthy Christians throughout history have identified this phrase in particular. Allow me to mention a few who have taken time to address the subject from the insight they garnered in their day. In 1889 Charles Haddon Spurgeon had preached the delivery of his sermon from this phrase. His words began as follows: Shining in the center of the verse, like a pearl in its setting, you find these words. Literally and accurately translated, they run thus— “The light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ.” Charles Finney, the founder of Oberlin College, in Oberlin, Ohio, also wrote concerning the phrase, “the gospel of the glory.” A more contemporary personage, but perhaps one of whom a few have heard, is T. Austin-Sparks, who wrote an entire book on the very subject being unveiled in this book. I have had the privilege of doing my own survey in connection with this truth. I asked many people nationwide if they had ever heard of the phrase, “the gospel of the glory.” I discovered that more than 90 percent of those whom I asked answered the same way: “No, I have never heard of it.” Many were longtime born-again believers who were well acquainted with the Scripture, but they were completely in the dark concerning this exact phrase. When I mentioned that the phrase was word for word in the Bible twice, they would incredulously ask, “Where?” I would then direct them to the verse in 2 Corinthians 4:4, which says, “whose
minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (NKJV). Jesus also spoke on this matter in Matthew 18:6, “...by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (NKJV). He also said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). The fact that every word is important to Him includes the a•n•d's and the t•h•e's. He is the Word Who became flesh. Our understanding of how the Father has spoken and has so ordered every word keeps in perspective what is happening in that unseen realm. He inspired the writers to write what the Holy Spirit was declaring to them. The Holy Spirit is unveiling the simplest truth that has been hidden since the beginning of time. “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory” (I Corinthians 2:7 NKJV). I think that many of us simply read the Scriptures and tend to gloss right over what we read. Jesus said, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:23 NKJV). In this verse He is implying that we slow it down long enough to capture what was really said. This is a form of meditating, which thinks and ponders over what we read. So when we come to words that were previously never opened up to our thinking, we miss the
content of what was written. In the case with this verse in 2 Corinthians 4:4, the word “blinded” is not simply addressing those who are unsaved. There are believers who know things, but because they never studied this precept, they never knew. They are blind to what is written in regarding this one area. In fact, I really think that is what gets read into it, (unsaved, I am saved, therefore not blinded) and because of that, this phrase, "the gospel of the glory,” is completely missed. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (II Peter 1:5-9 NKJV) Thomas was a believer, but he did not believe that Jesus had been raised from the dead. He was an unbelieving believer. Until he saw Jesus and had placed his hands in the nailscarred hands, he did not believe. Many believers are like Thomas—not truly believing until they see, but Jesus said, “...Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29 NKJV).
by: Krissy Webb
Royal Douglas Fir
This month can be so exciting for most. Shopping, Family, Food, and don't forget the PRESENTS!!!! As a child, I could not wait for that oh so special morning to come. You all know the one I am talking about, Christmas! You stayed up as long as you could to try to see Santa Clause under your tree. Then to wake up and find all those gifts that he left. Those were the days. After I got older and was married to my husband, and we had our son, the fun continued for me. Not in the same way; instead, I was now excited for our son. How his eyes lit up on that beautiful Christmas morning every year as he came running in to wake us up yelling that Santa had been there. However, for some, December is a reminder of missed loved ones, loneliness, disappointments, and so many other painful experiences. Those are the ones I pray come in contact with this article. As you wallow in your pain, I ask you to get on your knees, bow your head, and Ask God "What are you doing God?" Make sure you are ready to receive the answer. God is a bold God. It will smack you right in the face when you least expect it. After you do this, keep your eyes and ears open for what God has to show or tell you. When we invite the Lord into our lives and ask his insight into what is happening, we are showing our love to God. This pleases Him very much. He in return wants to give you your hearts desires. I have been working on this myself. I am much more aware of what I need to do when I get into that funk of a place. God does not want you to be miserable here on earth. He wants you to be filled with joy and to prosper. One of the best
things you can do to help yourself is to help others. Giving is so much better than receiving. It is endless as to what you can do for others. Find a homeless shelter to volunteer at, make something and give it away, or be that person that will sit and listen to someone else's story. You can learn a lot if you will just take the time. So, this Christmas season I leave you with this prayer: Father God bless each one of my readers with the joy and peace they need going through the holiday. Bring them the answers to their questions. Show them that they are not alone and that they have everything they need in and through you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Photos by: Ted Hayward – Find him on Facebook at Ted’s Junkyard Art
By: Dr. Richard W Rundell
Pine Tree
In the Scriptures, the term “firstborn” does not always refer to the first born in time but to the first born in rank. Though Jesus was the first born of Mary in time, this can also refer to Him as first in rank. The firstborn also represented the prime of human vigor (Gen. 49:3). We read about the birth of Jesus to Mary in Luke 2:7 KJV, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” In the Old Testament economy God required the parents to dedicate their firstborn to God. Every firstborn of Israel, both man and beast belonged to God (Yahweh). (Exod. 13:2, 15). The parents presented the child to the Lord at one month of age. The father had to buy back the child from the priest at the redemption price not to exceed five shekels (Num. 18:16). Even the heathen nations recognized the significance of the firstborn. Remember when the death angel passed over the land and all the firstborn of the Egyptians, man and beast, were slain. But when the Israelites placed the blood over the door posts, the death angel spared the firstborn. Israel was God’s firstborn (Exod. 4:22) and enjoyed priority status. Moreover, Christ is the firstborn of the Father. Hebrews 1:6 NIV reads, “And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world (inhabited earth- CLNT) he says, "Let all God's angels worship him.” Christ was also called firstborn of all creation (Col. 1:15). “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation and firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18). Furthermore, Christian believers, united with and as joint heirs with Christ, enjoy the status of “firstborn” in God’s household. Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead, guarantees each Christian future resurrection
through His resurrection. “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (Col. 1:18). “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming (1 Cor. 15:20, 23). The word “coming” here comes from the Greek parousia, meaning appearing. It has nothing to do with a future coming. Christ appeared on the Day of Pentecost and He now appears to born again believers constantly now. And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth” (John 1:14 AMP).
Wuest Expanded Translation reads, “And the Word., entering a new mode of existence, became flesh, and lived in a tent (His physical body] among us. And we gazed with attentive and careful regard and spiritual perception at His glory, a glory such as that of a uniquelybegotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The son of God who was from the eternity became human, limited in time and space (Phil 2:5-6). Yet He lost nothing of the essential nature of deity. From the time of conception throughout His earthly ministry, He took on the physical nature of humans, including skin and bones (Luke 24:39), yet He did not pick up the sinful disposition of man. As God manifested His glory in the tabernacle, so Jesus displayed His divine presence before the apostles. We do not pass over lightly the fact that Jesus was born. He did not appear out of nowhere as some of the Jews thought. Nor did He suddenly come into His role as a Savior from the ranks of an ordinary man. As a Son, He came into all rights and inheritance as a Son of God. His virgin birth proved significant in the plan of God for all humanity.
Paul wrote, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” (Gal. 4:4). “The fullness of time” marked the perfect time in history, the time appointed by God for His son to be born, and later to die for the sins of the world. “Born of a woman” speaks of Christ’s humanity. He was born under the law, that is, subject to the Jewish law (Matt. 5:17-19) which helped to establish His identification with all people who are subject to the law. Many of the Jews in Jesus’ day evidently believed that the Messiah would somehow come in the flesh, but they misinterpreted the Old Testament prophesies about how, when and from where He would come. They therefore rejected Jesus as the Messiah. This rejection emerges as one of the dominant themes of the book of Matthew (11:12-24; 12:28-45; 21:33- 22.14). Jesus said He came from God. He came from the Father in the invisible realm. He was God in the flesh; therefore He put a face on God. Through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus turned the negative law, inside out. Jesus declared, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matt. 5:17).
by: Bishop Frank Dupree
Scandinavian Fir
When we think of Communion we need to go back to the Passover that The Lord instituted to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt in EXODUS 12:1-12 The Passover was a Family Meal which was to remind the Israelites of their years in bondage and how The Lord delivered them with a “mighty outstretched arm”. The Last Supper where Jesus gave his Apostles His Body and Blood in the New Covenant was a Passover meal. And, Paul states very clearly that the Church is the Family of God (Ephesians 2:19) and that JESUS is our Sacrificial Lamb and His sacrifice was the giving of His life on the cross where He delivered us from the bondage of sin by His outstretched arms (1 CORINTHIANS 5:7). There is usually a question that arises about children participating in Communion and I believe we can get the answer to that in the fact that the Passover was a “Family Meal” and all of the children partook of it. Let’s look at EXODUS 12:26-28; 43 “And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the Passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof…” So, it’s clear, if the Last Supper is when Jesus instituted Communion and Jesus also said elsewhere: "Let the little Children come unto me, and forbid them not!", then there is nothing in the entire New Testament about Children being forbidden until reaching a certain age. Children are also under the covering of their parents so there seems to be no reason to exclude them from the Lord's Supper.
The Apostle Paul had a powerful revelation about Communion and tells us about it in 1 Corinthians 11:20-31 I will highlight some of the verses: “When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper… (the wealthy were eating and drinking too much and others were going hungry) … 23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the
Lord’s death until he comes again. 27
So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. So, Paul tells us two things… We are supposed to eat “worthily” and “examine” ourselves… When Paul talks about eating and drinking unworthily he is talking about being sure not to treat the Body of Blood irreverently. Let’s continue… 28
That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 31
But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. You see, if we examine ourselves… our attitudes, our spiritual condition AND the way we look at the bread and the cup we will not be under “judgement” … We believe that the Bible is The Word of God and that it is “a living thing” … There are two truths here… 1. The Bible is a book made of paper and ink and it is not “alive”
2. The Bible is a “Spiritual Book” and it is therefore “Alive” because God says so! This is how it is with Communion… 1. The bread and the cup are not “alive” … 2. The Bread and the Cup are “Spiritually Alive” because Jesus said so! So, we must spiritually discern that the Lord's Body and Blood are “Spiritually Present” in the bread and in the drink… And, we must examine ourselves… Failure to do these two things can lead to judgement in the 3 ways Paul mentions: Verse 3: “That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.” I believe that Paul is talking about people being: 1. “Spiritually Weak” 2. Physically Sick 3. Dying before their time So, if we will do these things we can then expect the exact opposite to be true… We can that partaking of Communion will bring us: 1. Spiritually Health 2. Physical Health 3. A Long Life Let’s celebrate the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus in Communion and receive the blessings that come with it!
Becoming a child of God
by: Dr. Glen Hartline
Leyland Cypress – ‘Leighton Green’
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12 In December of 1998 I had a supernatural encounter with God where I heard His audible voice, telling me this was my last chance and asking would I serve Him. The voice of God knocked me to the floor and I responded to Him more out of fear than anything else. Before that encounter, I would have told you I knew God, and I did, I knew Him as God. He was my God and I was His creation, a creation He loved enough to die for, but still just a creation. It wasn’t until after that first encounter that I began knowing Him not only as my God but as my Father. As Holy Spirit gradually began showing me who God was and introducing me to my sonship, my eyes were progressively opened up to the reality of who He created me to be. In the beginning, the revelation brought excitement as I peered into the potential of a son of God, but eventually as time passed the excitement gave way to frustration as I looked in the mirror and gazed at the stark contrast between who Holy Spirit told me I was and the perception I had of myself. I knew my weaknesses and how far I was from resembling the image Holy Spirit was revealing. To me, there was very little if any resemblance at all. “How do I become the person God says I am?” I wondered daily. I was spending 8 to 12 hours a day in prayer and having deep intimate encounters with God daily. My understanding of God’s nature and His will was changing at a rocketing pace. My understanding was increasing, however, every time It appeared I was making progress in my walk as a son of God, another weakness would rear its ugly head and demolish any belief I had that I was
actually becoming the son of God I was created to be. In John 16:14 it says that Holy Spirit takes what is of Jesus and declares it to us. That’s exactly what He was doing. Daily, even hourly, He would show me Jesus and declare that is who children of God are created to be like. I knew what I was to be like; I just didn’t know how I could make it happen. If God gave me the power to become a son, then how do I make it happen. The frustration continued for months. It wasn’t until I began looking deeper into the meaning of John 1:12 and John 16:14
that I would begin understanding how we become sons of God. In John 1:12 it says we have been given the power to become sons of God. As I looked deeper into the meaning of that verse the lite of my understanding was gradually illuminated. First, let’s look at the word believes in the Greek. The word translated believes is the word lambano which means, to take in hand, to grasp, or to comprehend. The next word I looked up was the word translated as become. That is the word ginomai, which means to generate or to come into being. As we look deeper we see that Genomai was written in the aorist infinitive tense which means that it was a prior action that has been completed. So what we see is that to everyone who comprehends their inclusion in Jesus is empowered by seeing that they truly are sons of God. Do you see that? God isn’t given us power to become sons of God through our own efforts. He did, through the sacrifice of Jesus, remove the veil of separation that clouded our minds and by doing so enabled us to see the truth that we are sons of God! We don’t have to try and be anything! We just look at Jesus and see ourselves in Him. As we continually see Him then we gradually become the object of our gaze. We put on the Lord
Jesus or we reveal the Christ in us! We don’t become anything, the true you created by God is just revealed as the veil over our mind is removed! That is why in John 16:14 it actually says that Holy Spirit takes what is of Jesus and reveals it’s completion in you. He actually shows you that the work has already been completed and because the fullness of the Godhead was in Jesus you are already complete in Him. The word used by John when he said that Holy Spirit will declare it to us is the word annaggello, which means to declare a thought showing it has gone through its necessary stages. You have been made a mature, a complete son of God lacking nothing. You don’t need to struggle in frustration trying to become a mature son of God. Only fall back into the arms of your loving Father who has already made you complete and allow Him to reveal His fullness in you! See yourself complete, and eventually, your feelings and action will align with what you know to be true about yourself. In every situation that you face, know that the fullness of the One who has all power in within you, waiting to ensure your victory!
The Gift of Conviction!
by: Dave Kachele
Colorado Blue Spruce
“Thank God we can repent!” Ruben and I had been meeting to read the Bible together ever since I’d had the privilege of leading him to Jesus. “Thank you, Ruben. I’ve never thought of what a blessing that is! Two short, personal repentance stories. (I could tell you more!) 1. Our new home needed a LOT of work. My wife and I walked in one night to clean before we moved in, flipped on a light, and the entire wall we were looking at moved! It was infested with cockroaches! Yeah, that’s what we yelled, “Yuck!” Not long after we moved in I was complaining to a young mentee about all the work that still needed to be done. “Complaining” is really too mild; I was ranting and raving. My friend let me finish, then said with peace giving wisdom, “Well Dave, I guess you guys needed the house and the house needed you.” It was like Jesus had stood up in the boat and calmed the storm! 2. “I’m sorry Babe,” I said hugging my wife. Only a chuckle came from Dona. I stepped back frowning. This was a serious moment! What was funny?!? “Well, I’ve been praying about that,” she replied, still smiling. My patient, gracious wife had not complained to me, but she had talked to Jesus about it! “Repent!” The prophets of the Old Testament preached the message often. It was carried into the New Testament by John the Baptist. It was the first sermon Jesus preached: “Repent and believe in the Good News!” (Mark 1:14, HCSB) It was the message from Peter on the Day of Pentecost: “Repent and be baptized, each one of you ….” (Acts 2:38, HCSB) There’s no condemnation for believers. Instead, there is the convicting voice of the
Holy Spirit drawing us to repentance. This is kindness from God to us (Romans 2:4). “Thank You Lord for godly sorrow that leads to confession, repentance, forgiveness, and cleansing!” (1st John 1:5-2:2) As I write this, Thanksgiving is approaching. When you read it, we’ll be looking towards the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior. As you thank Him for all His blessings, don’t forget the gift of repentance! Merry Christmas everyone!
Thinking Different in
2018
by: Matthew Deves
The World’s most illuminated Christmas Tree – Osaka, Japan
You and I are going to head into the new year thinking differently. Let's start now, even before Christmas. Make this a season of thinking differently about yourself. Can you love yourself as God loves you? Is there a way to reset your thoughts that contradict God’s delight for you? This might be the best gift you unwrap. Your way of changing is to repent of being bad or wrong. God’s way of cleansing is to see yourself as He sees you. He gave you His new Nature to live inside you but your lens to clearly see this is dirty. Time for a fresh perspective. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:4-5 Message Bible. With Salvation, you are washed inside and out. How amazing is that? What if your default mindset was to see yourself wholly cleansed? God views you as whole and complete, lacking nothing. Paul spoke this goal for the church in Colossians 1:28. “Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (fullgrown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One).” Amplified Don’t go into another year apologizing to the world for existing. Should a filter of shame, guilt, and worst of all, self-hate, be the way you view yourself? New Year. New View. God’s View. How do you change the default settings in your brain? A well-meaning preacher may have
told you that you just need to “renew your mind.” If you tried to do this through hard work, discipline, or sheer willpower, the chances are that you still feel frustrated. This type of preaching comes from the KJV of Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” It is often taught like a to-do list for the self-cleaning believer, but did Paul tell the Roman’s that they, “gotta get with it and just renew their minds?” I think you know better. Here’s a more accurate translation of Romans 12:2 from the Amplified. Notice the difference. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. This is a better translation of the Greek words, but do you still feel trapped by your efforts and shortcomings? Try this one for a biblically accurate how-to on mind renewals.
Do not allow current religious tradition to mold you into its pattern of reasoning. Like an inspired artist, give attention to the detail of God’s desire to find expression in you. Become acquainted with perfection. To accommodate yourself to the delight and good pleasure of him will transform your thoughts afresh from within. Romans 12:2 Mirror Bible Ahhhhhhh! Much better. As Paul said to Titus, God gave you a bath that transformed you inside and out by the Holy Spirit. God desires to find expression IN you. When we see how delighted He is to live in us, it will transfer your thoughts from within. Very refreshing. Give attention to God’s view instead of trying to make yourself righteous. He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5 Amplified
The New birth regenerated and renewed your mind to the Mind of Christ. Read this last verse carefully, and it will put you over the top and help to reset your thinking in 2018: There, away from any effort of your own, discover how the God of perfect peace, who fused you skillfully into oneness - just like a master craftsman would dovetail a carpentry joint - has personally perfected and sanctified the entire harmony of your being without your help! He has restored the detailed default settings. You were re-booted to fully participate in the life of your design, in your spirit, soul, and body in blameless innocence in the immediate presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 5:23 Mirror Bible Fully participate in the Life of your design today. His view is your new default setting in 2018.
15949 Highway A Vichy, MO 65580 573-201-9981 Email: Nelsonsmta@gmail.com
Classes: Mon-Tue & Thursday
7:15 pm9:30 pm
The Flying Dragons Taekwondo and Mixed Arts Training Center A place of honor, loyalty, and respect. Not to mention great times, and a family atmosphere.
Founded in 1998 by Head Instructor Bart Nelson.
The Flying Dragons Taekwondo and Mixed Martial Arts Training Center provides a home for those that wish to learn a way of life that goes beyond day to day routine. Our students showcase not only the physical aspects of a martial artist, but the strong mental traits as well.
The Flying Dragons Taekwondo Training Center is run by Bart Nelson and his two sons: Dakota Nelson and Caleb Nelson
by: Stuart Smith
Christmas Tree Trail – Light Trees – Branson, MO – Pic from Explorebranson.com
Where did 2017 go? Did I blink and all of the sudden 2018 closes in? Well friends, welcome to December. It happens every time. Those many things you had on your list to do just didn’t get done. There are so many carry overs from years past and now, once again they will appear on your new resolution list. Like neighbors coming back to visit and just about time they are to leave, a conversation is rekindled and you’re sure they will be around a little longer than you had anticipated. Alas, allow me to encourage you, take a deep breath and breathe out again, life goes on. It is a beautiful thing to wake up another day. Some of you who read this might not be here on this planet a week from now, much less a year, so march onward. Take a hard look at that list and if you have seen something on there a few years and it hasn’t gotten done, maybe it’s time to let that go or to readjust your timeline for making it happen. You see, God is the giver of life and thus, the distributer of time. What we do with that time reveals how we approach life and our priorities are a signal to what is most important to us. I had a conversation with a nephew of mine who has a very lucrative job, yet it keeps him from his family so much of the time. I told him that money wasn’t worth the time he was missing with his children and his wife. I guess I am super sensitive about this because I lost my wife of 30 years in 2014. I can look back and say thank God that I had a job where she and I got to raise our children together. Ask yourself to take an inventory of how your time was spent this current year? Then, ask, how you can do better in regard to family and friends.
Psalms 103:15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. As this year comes to a close and you prepare your resolutions for the coming year, I dare you to include in them more time with your family. If you want a life that is full of joy and meaning I also encourage you strongly to spend more time in prayer and worship toward God. Indeed as a born again believer He is our Heavenly Father. So, don’t just spend more time with your earthly dad if he is still living, but include more time for your Father. Upon reading the Bible I understand that if we draw nigh or nearer to Him it is promised that He will draw nearer to us. Wouldn’t that alone make your new year something to get excited about? Surely a year closer to God than before would make a world of difference in every respect. Knowing God intimately through Jesus Christ and comprehending more His expectations for our lives would be nothing less than wonderful.
As we take time from things that have no eternal benefit and invest it in things such as mentioned, our world becomes more mission oriented. Opportunities to minister or do outreach will be unleashed upon us when we have prepared our hearts for the task. Redeeming the time as a precious resource that should be given to work in the kingdom not made with hands. Our hours become His, and God can do a whole lot in a minute than we can in decades. In financial terms, it is a huge dividend when invested in God’s plans more than our own.
Ephesians 5:15-17 See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. The Resolution of Revolution is this, we as believers stop allowing the enemy to steal away our time. We confiscate it and reclaim it for good use. Let the church, the body of Christ arise. Let her be known as a force for good in this world reaching out to the lost. Let us go into the schools, politics, every profession and be salt and light. If we do not step up now, many souls will be lost forever. Minds have already been polluted with the religion of humanism and political correctness. Do not be afraid in this revolution to have people be mad at you for speaking truth. That’s right, we may not be the most popular are embraced once we stop using our time for selfish reasons and give it back to God. Because when we dedicated it to God we will be delivering His message not just of love but of repentance. We will declare to the lost, that they are lost. We will no longer pat them on the back and say it is all going to be okay. Why? Because, if they do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, “IT WILL NOT BE OKAY!” My Grandfather Smith used to have a saying, “Let me tell you!” Then he would go on to say something like, “We have a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun.” People this is a fight to the end against the darkness that wants to destroy you, our loved ones, our neighbors and co-workers. It is time to allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine like never before through YOU and ME. It is OUR – RESOLUTION FOR REVOLUTION! Let’s GO and TELL!!!
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Ernest Kweku Nanor, Author
After the death of Joshua, the Bible says that a Generation came which did not know God nor regarded Him as God. Right after those generations was the generation that Gideon was born in. God is about to raise Some disciples like Gideon and all the other through this book and it will help you to keep your head up on God without fainting!
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Romans 8:19-23 (NKJV) 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
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