SHARE Magazine July 2018 by The SHARE Magazine

MyDevotions.today A Morning Prayer

I wish your voice and smile breaks away the sadness from someone’s heart today, I wish they will see the God in you And feel more hope to pray, I wish your words will bring forth a smile someone’s weak spirit today

So maybe they can know any despair won’t last always.... I wish your thoughts will be felt by a soul needing to hear them, And resonate sprinkles of joy and the beginnings of newness, I wish for you another day to die so you can live, Another day to be thankful, And unconditionally give, Just another day, I pray, I wish, Just another day.....

by Milton McCulloch Taken from his up coming book of poetry - Love and Emancipation

Contents EDITORIAL 4

REFLECTIONS

FEATURE ARTICLES

From The Cross To The Crown Their labour was not in vain.

Distractions 6 We are swamped by too much, to do anything for God. An Unlikely Hero 8 God finds you in your faithfulness & brings out the hero in you. The Good Samaritan 10 Who is your neighbour and are you their keeper. Will they ever Learn? 12 History teaches us that we learn little from it. Cut to the Heart 14 We need Spiritual conviction to bring about a change of heart. The New Ice Age 16 “In the last days the love of many will grow cold”...JESUS Making a difference in the community 18 Do what you can with what you have for as long as you can... just make A DIFFERENCE

Did You Know 24 Saluting Modern Martyrs. The Story Teller 26 Choosing to help even when it hurts to. Think Film: Silence 28 Survived persecution but now the enemy is modern indifference. The Question the Devil asked God 30 When is doing good not good enough?

In Praise Of Hymn 32 Reviewing Great Christian Hymns: – I Vow To Thee My Country.

Poem: Love Thy Neighbour 33 By Steve Yull #youthSHARE 34 Fashion Trends.

TESTIMONY 20 “Use me for Your glory!”

12 14

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SHARE|MAGAZINE Volume 6 - Issue 3

About Us

EDITORIAL

The Deadly Nature of Indifference

I watched a posted video on Facebook showing a vulnerable man falling down in a public shopping Mall from what appeared to be a seizure and I watched in horror as every shopper walked past, some slowed down to gawk at him some took photos. I prayed one of those phones was actually calling emergency response and then the worst happened, one shopper went up to him and picked his wallet; not knowing that he was caught on camera. Well I recoiled with indignation. I sat transfixed, for hours I couldn’t get on with my day, thinking what if that had been me in need of assistance? The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. Enemies have time for each other even to the point of mutual respect or obsession. Christians please let’s examine patterns of indifference in our lives that have become acceptable and normalised. It is our manifest destiny, our reasonable service to love and serve humanity with the same humility and dedication that Jesus our Servant King did. Where are the ‘Good Samaritans’ of today, The People of The Book’ who bring good news? A return to good neighbourliness Let’s revive the tried and true practices of giving each person you meet a greeting, acknowledging another person’s humanity, 4

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giving for the sake of meeting a need, no strings attached, give compliments and affirmation to others, reach out to humanity, experience something new, gain broadened horizons and new experience that will produce tolerance, patience and empathy towards others from other cultures and experiences. Give the benefit of the doubt, expect the best from people, bury suspicion and doubt of others. Remember the days when we would greet our new neighbours by taking a thoughtful gift round, have a housewarming or a welcoming street party? Back then we all knew and related to each other, watched each other’s children, looked out for each others’ property and general welfare. What has made us change? The impact of Fear on our culture ‘Stranger danger’ and other paranoid responses to meeting new people is just one phenomena that has become normal. We are afraid, so driven by fear that we don’t greet our neighbours but tend to keep a safe distance. We don’t get involved mind our own business and don’t stick our necks out or stand up for any one thing because we are too afraid of the repercussions. We may be outraged on the inside or heart broken but we will only express this inwardly or behind the security of closed doors or closed groups. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth

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SHARE MAGAZINE is a FREE Christian quarterly that deals with challenging Christian topics that have been mostly ignored or left unanswered. The magazine includes written articles, poems and thoughts etc. Read our online version at www. TheShareMagazine.com where you can go to our blog to discuss articles or order a printed version. If you would like to submit articles, join our writers group, or to get involved in any other way kindly email us. SHARE MAGAZINE is produced by Select Arrow, the publishing arm of United In Christ charity number 1140448.

Disclaimer

Throughout this magazine the editor & contributors seek to present a balanced and accurate view of Scripture’s teaching. We are all on a journey of studying and understanding God’s Word. Because of this, all we can offer is as balanced an understanding as the Holy Spirit has offered us at this time. The views or opinions represented in this publication are personal to each of our contributors and may not fully represent those of any other contributor or editor. Be aware that some articles may use UK spelling while others may use US spelling.

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out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 Sin brings fear, perfect loves cast out all fear. The more we let sin prevail in our lives the more need we will have to be fearful. “The wicked flee when no one is chasing them! But the godly are bold as lions! “ Proverbs 28:1 Living Bible (TLB) Dare to be hurt and love again! Making a difference in a world of INdifference is a call to service, to fulfill

QA &

the sacred duty of every believer, no matter what it cost us we should take up our cross and follow Jesus. The Bible calls it, ‘The Great Commission’, taking the good news that liberates, delivers, heals, restores mankind back to their original place as the children of God to live with Him in His Kingdom and enjoy the blessedness of being in His presence. People will not necessarily thank us or even receive us they may want to harm us but as Jesus prayed FOR THOSE WHO KILLED HIM, “Father forgive them

for they know not what they do” so also should we. “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us...” “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:12 & 17 p

Angela Slack

Editor and Co-founder

You have questions we’ve got answers

Not what God has called me to do?

Do we have to get a word from God for everything or are there some things we do just knowing they are right?

We all have something that we feel God has called us specifically to do but increasingly when there is a need to support assist or help one another, some Christians say this: “I can’t help because its “ uncommanded works” or “ its not what I’m called to do.” Often it may be the simplest of things where another would help achieve a practical task yet there seems to be a hesitance, a reluctance, perhaps a lack of obedience to help another. Of course wisdom and prayer are fundamental but where do we draw the line? Just something I thought I would share. Julie S.

Answer… Hi Julie, A very interesting thought. At first look I would think helping others is the will of God and needs no prayer and seeking God first. What l have found from living most of my life in a country of great need is that there are some things one must consider before deciding to help. Example. 1. Is this a genuine need? 2. Do I have the resources that is required to help? If it is a genuine need and not just a casual desire and we have the resources to help it would be wrong not to. If we do not have the resources then the correct thing would be to try to find someone who does and try to connect the person in need with the one who can help. On the other hand it would also be wrong to offer a person in need false hope by telling them we will help when we know we are not able to. “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” 1 John 3:17 Thank you for a very provoking question. Blessings July - September 2018

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Distractions

We must carefully consider the distractions the enemy uses to turn us away. 6

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Since the enemy of our souls is skilful at trying to draw us away from full commitment to Jesus Christ, we must carefully consider the distractions he uses to turn us away from the purposes God intended for us. Consider people whom God had greatly gifted, whose life could have influenced thousands for Christ, but who were sidetracked by the devil. Isaac Newton (1642–1727), the most famous mathematician of the 17th Century, made many scientific discoveries we take for granted today such as the “corrected” Gregorian calendar date. His greatest discovery was the gravitational relationship between the earth and the moon and of centrifugal force. He suffered from several “nervous breakdowns” and became greatly enraged towards anyone who disagreed with him. From this account it may be

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seen that although he firmly believed that God was Creator of all, Newton was distracted by the exalted view he held of his own opinions. Even as a scientist, he could have turned many to Christ! Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), probably the most celebrated of all actresses, was born Norma Jeane Mortenson. Prior to her birth, her father abandoned the family, so she grew up uncertain of who her father really was. Her mentally ill mother abandoned her to foster homes, so that during her adolescence she was in and out of orphanages. As she watched the movies, she craved the attention lavished on screen stars like Lana Turner or Jean Harlow. Soon she became a successful model, then turned to seriously studying in an Actor’s Studio in Hollywood. At 16 she had an arranged marriage with a neighbor, Jim Dougherty, who entered

11:30 pm. The coroner stated that she had died mysteriously from a drug overdose of acute barbiturate poisoning and it was a probable suicide at the age of 36. Her personal physician “felt it was possible that Marilyn Monroe had felt rejected by some of the people she had been close to.” Today Marilyn Monroe is still remembered for her romantic relationships with Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Yves Montand and director Elia Kazan, and people still look up to her, wanting to be like her. From this account we learn that fame and glory can distract us from the purpose God planted within us when He endowed us with gifts meant to glorify Him.

the military. When he returned home, they were divorced in 1946. At 22, 20th century Fox contracted her and in 1953 with her breathy voice and hourglass figure, despite her chronic insecurities regarding her acting abilities and her pre-performance anxiety, the film “Gentlemen prefer Blondes” launched Monroe as an international sex symbol superstar. That same year she married and divorced baseball great Joe DiMaggio, a marriage that only lasted nine months. In 1956 she married playwright, Arthur Miller. While making a film in England she began to use alcohol and pills. She often expressed wishes to give up and die and in fact attempted suicide more than once. On August 5, 1962, she made desperate calls to all who would listen to her, both friends and lovers. However, Marilyn died sometime between 9:30 pm and

Whitney Houston (1963-2012) was raised a Baptist, but was also exposed to the Pentecostal Church. At the age of 11, she became soloist in the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, her first performance being “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah!” But soon the music of Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and Roberta Flack, became an influence on her as a singer and performer. In her teenage years she toured nightclubs where her mother was performing and sometimes performed with her. At age 14, she began as a backup singer on albums by well known singers. Then in the early 1980s, Houston worked as a fashion model, became one of the first women of color on the cover of Seventeen, was featured in Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Young Miss and in a Canada Dry soft drink TV commercial. She embarked on her world tour, Greatest Love Tour in 1985–1986. Several years later, Houston admitted using cocaine and other drugs with former husband Bobby Brown, who “laced marijuana with rock cocaine.” By 1996, she told Oprah Winfrey “drugs were an everyday thing. I wasn’t

happy by that point in time. I was losing myself.” In May 2011, Houston enrolled in a rehabilitation center again, as an outpatient, citing drug and alcohol problems. On February 11, 2012, the eve of the Grammy Awards, Houston was found unconscious in suite 434 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, submerged in the bathtub in Los Angeles, and was later announced dead. The amount of cocaine found in her body revealed the use of the substance shortly before her death. Toxicology results revealed “a plethora of prescriptions” ...12 bottles, prescribed by five different doctors, had been littered across her hotel room. The 48-year-old singer had ingested a cocktail of cocaine and prescription drugs before her final breath. Among drugs discovered were the anti-anxiety medication, Xanax and the muscle relaxant, Flexeril. Let us take note of the principles that the above world-famous people laid aside to fulfill their own dreams. Firstly, each had great talent, but were distracted by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, of which John, the apostle, warns every true believer. Secondly, God does not call us to follow Him, only to be placed second on our list of priorities. Jesus told His disciples, “Follow Me.” One said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” God expects to be loved above every human relationship, event, or material possession. God’s plan for the natural as well as the spiritual world is clear: He must hold the highest place in our hearts! Paul, the apostle wrote to Galatians believers, that “he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” p By C Richard McCaw author, music teacher and many years as a Bible teacher

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An Unlikely Hero Consider this; was Gideon a coward for hiding in the winepress while threshing wheat or the hero who saved the day? 8

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Gideon - An Unlikely Hero I hope to redeem Gideon’s reputation as I believe that he has been misunderstood. He has been often referred to as a coward since he was, hiding in a winepress but it’s interesting how the Lord showed up and used him. Isn’t it encouraging that God takes characters like Gideon and uses them for good? Similarity, when we are scared and hiding He can take us and send us into a great future. I think Gideon gets a bad deal, I would like to suggest that he is a hero. Background to the Story In Judges 6, after 40 years of peace, whilst Deborah was a Judge, God had for 7 years, allowed the Midianites and the Amalekites and others, to run amok in the land. The Israelites as usual had turned away from God. At

the beginning of the chapter they were doing evil in the sight of God, so He turned them over to these enemies who raided and pillaged their land. The Midianites came from the east of the area, they were the sons of Abraham by Keturah, Abraham’s wife after Sarah had died. He did not permit them to inherit Isaac’s inheritance but they were given gifts and sent East (Genesis 25:6). These are the people who took Joseph and sold him into slavery. The example of the Midianites are used today as an example of oppression in the Bible. They were known as a rabble, undisciplined, unintelligent, a mob. One of Moses’ last battles was to take vengeance on the Midianites, to get rid of them all. They had all but been decimated but they grew again in numbers, so much so that 200 years later, here they are again in multitudes. These Midianites ruined the Israelites’ crops, took their sheep, cattle, goats and donkeys so much so that there was very little left for them to eat. Apparently, just a small amount of wheat. There were so many of these marauders that the Bible says they were like a swarm of locusts. This must have been a real shock to the Israelites, who were unprepared for war. Remember that most of this generation would have grown up in peaceful times. They were being impoverished and beaten, with nothing left, they had to run to the hills for protection and hide in caves. The Israelites had imprisoned themselves through fear. In their absolute desperation they cried out to the Lord to save them! You can read all about it in Numbers 31. In His grace and mercy, God sent them a prophet, let’s read what he prophesied in verse 8 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out

of the land of slavery. I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.” Imagine Gideon’s surprise, he is all alone, just quietly threshing wheat in the winepress. He must have jumped when he noticed that the Angel of the Lord was sitting there, watching him under that oak tree in Ophrah. “The Lord is with you mighty warrior.” That is a very strange thing to say to someone who is hiding, threshing wheat in a winepress! He replies, “but Sir, if the Lord is with us why has all this happened?” He believed that God had abandoned them and seemed confused. The angel of the Lord then says “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my family.” He eventually realised who this visitor was. Things to Note • He was on his own when the angel of the Lord met him. When we escape the noisy, hustle and bustle of the day, God meets us and speaks to us when we are in solitude. • He was beating wheat in a winepress! You beat wheat on a threshing floor not in a winepress. These were normally depressions below the ground level, where they would tread the grapes and the juices would then run off to another depression that would collect the juice to be fermented into wine. It would have been hot and unpleasant beating wheat there but it was where no one would likely see him. Usually

the threshing floor is above ground, a place that the wind could pick up the chaff and blow it away. • He was not hiding himself rather he was hiding the wheat, for the people to eat. It must have been a really, very precious little, to have been using the winepress to beat the wheat. How clever, to think of beating wheat in a winepress. • He had many servants but He chose to get busy and beat the wheat for the people. For a young master from a previously wealthy family it was probably a very menial, tedious job. Conclusion Sometimes we are in a place or situation where we may feel that we are just beating wheat. You might not realise how important that place is. Every one of us has a winepress to look after, every one of us has to be responsible for something that we wish we didn’t have to do; jobs that frustrate us or perhaps we feel overlooked and not really given our just rewards. We often try to get out of these situations when maybe God just wants us to just get back in. In fact, God will forge heroes in wine presses. Every great man or woman of God was prepared for their exploits in private, whilst no one was looking. If Gideon had not taken it upon himself to beat the wheat, the people he most cared about would have starved. It must have been so boring, dusty, hot and uncomfortable beating wheat. Gideon could have been a coward and hidden in the caves in the hills with everyone else but he had the courage and bravery to just beat the wheat. He was a hero! He refused to bow to the dangers and pressures that were coming at him. p

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By Teresa L. Randle Missionary, Preacher and Bible Teacher

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The

Good Samaritan...

Who is your neighbour and are you their keeper?

The other day, whilst listening to a friend telling me a very sad, shocking tale, which often reflects our society today, I was reminded of the Biblical Good Samaritan. Her elderly aunt had taken ill whilst she was out and unfortunately, fell over. People carried on walking by until a young man came to her aid, rang an ambulance and sorted her out. This young man is someone she would normally be fearful of but he was the only one who cared enough. He was a young black man whose appearance often, mistakenly and stereotypically, fall into the category of a thug or ‘gangsta.’ How far from the truth could people be? When we think of all the racial tension and hatred that is being displayed today against different sections of our communities, it may remind us of what is told of in Luke 10:25-37. It was a story that was told by Jesus to an expert of the law who was trying to test Jesus; very wisely Jesus gave him the answer as to who was his neighbour by describing a parable that could only lead to one conclusion. A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho on a 17-mile journey, he may have been coming from the temple as he had to be a Jew to make the important point of the story. It’s not a real person, he was made up by Jesus as a parable to illustrate a point!

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Back to the story, he was beaten up, stripped and robbed and left half dead: his identity was stripped away. Nobody presumably, would necessarily know if he was a Jew as he had no clothes, whether he was rich or if he even had an accent to identify himself by as he couldn’t speak. Along came a priest, a Holy man, possibly with a donkey or horse as they were usually quite wealthy and again possibly came straight from the temple. However, he crossed over the road and went on by. Then a Levite, again, possibly straight from the temple, he crossed over and chose to ignore this poor soul. Then a Samaritan, the most hated of people by Jews, took pity on him, not only did he pour oil on his wounds, he bandaged them and gave him water, also he put him on his donkey and took him to an inn. He must have cared for him all night as verse 35 states the next day he gave money to the innkeeper (equivalent to 2 days’ wages) to look after him and was prepared to cover the man’s expenses until he was well enough to travel on again. Samaritans were vehemently disliked by the Jews but not Jesus, we have several examples of Jesus breaking all conventions and talking to the woman at the well John 4. He even healed a Samaritan Luke 17:12-19. The Samaritans were from the tribe of Ephraim and the half tribe

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of Manasseh, after many of the tribes were taken into captivity in Assyria, the remnant that were left married foreigners and began to worship foreign idols. This caused irreconcilable differences between the Jews and Samaritans. The Samaritans were thought of as the lowest of the low. In fact, Jesus was accused of being a Samaritan because He tells the Jewish leaders who are desperately trying to entrap Him that their father is the devil. John 8:48. I notice that Jesus neither confirms or denies that He is a Samaritan, He only says that He has not got a demon, in response to their accusation. I had an ‘ah ha!’ moment a few years ago, I had openly boasted that I had no prejudices and I truly believed that until, I grabbed my bag closer as a group of young

people came toward me with brightly coloured hair. I was really shocked at my response, it is particularly shocking as I considered what had happened because I had a daughter with multi-coloured hair at home who hung around with like-haired friends. Sometimes we have preconceptions based on our past experiences or family circumstances. Maybe we believe all that is fed to us from the media, which is often far from the truth. I believe we all need to understand we all have our certain prejudices no matter our race, colour or creed, intelligence or wealth. The important thing is how we process them in our everyday life with Jesus. Jesus has shown us that the thing He hated most was hypocrisy, those that think they are pious when in fact they are judgemental, harsh and cruel.

I recognise it doesn’t matter what country we come from we can all stereotype our geographical neighbours. If you are English, think of some of the unfair remarks made of those in Scotland, Ireland or Wales. Whilst staying with an African family, I was surprised at the bigotry against Indians and vice-versa. I saw in South Africa the same thing, in Mauritania I saw the white skinned Arab child beat the darker skinned Arab child, who in turn beats the very dark skinned African child, who beat the goats all in one afternoon. That also translated into the prejudice of the adults, all believing they were better than the other; none were. Even in the job situation, probably the most important person in the company is the lowest paid, the cleaner, be kind to them, you could not do your job without them.

The question in the parable put to the learned Jew was, “who was the ‘neighbour’ in this scenario?” The only answer that could be really given is the one he was forced into giving and probably through gritted teeth, the one who had mercy on the one who was robbed. Who is your neighbour? Be merciful to those you don’t understand or are fearful of, you have been forgiven and should anyone also hurt you accidently or on purpose, remember that they are your neighbour and you must forgive and extend mercy to them. “As Jesus says, go and do likewise.”

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By Teresa L. Randle Missionary, Preacher and Bible Teacher

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When

Will They

Ever Learn?

Not many years after we got married my wife and I went to live in the hills just on the outskirts of the metropolitan area. Here, unlike the more populated suburbs, were a lot more trees and shrubs due to larger land space around distant houses. While living here we had much trouble with bush mice coming into the house. Our solution was to acquire two mouse traps and put them out each night. We learned that slightly burnt coconut was irresistible to mice so we would put a piece out each night. Often even before the lights go out at night we would hear the trap fly announcing the end of another mouse. Sometimes it would be in the dead of night, while in deep sleep, that we would hear the familiar sound. Though it registered in our minds we would just turn and go back to sleep knowing we would have a job cleaning up before heading off to work that morning. We would catch many mice this way, their activities would slow down and eventually cease. I often wondered, whenever my mind wondered back to our time living at this house, how we never once needed to change our strategy

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in catching these mice. The same trap with the same bait, at the same places, night after night would get the job done. The traps could only take one mouse at a time so I am sure that most of these mice would pass and see their trapped friends or even family members. Why then come another night to be caught by the very same trap that caught another a night or two before? It didn’t take long for observation to teach me that men are like mice. A young man and woman would make the very same mistakes their parents made. A young man will speed in his newly acquired car knowing fully well that he had a friend who died from speeding. Similarly, it is extremely intriguing to find out why someone who has seen first hand the effects of hard drugs would go on to get themselves trapped by the very same drug? I have the honour, on most weekends, to work among very underprivileged people most of whom suffer from some kind of addiction, so I asked them. Most of them said they thought they were stronger and that it could never overpower them. The same single deception is still entrapping and destroying many. Pete Seeger no doubt saw men die like mice during WW2 after he was drafted into the Army in 1942. He penned the well known song “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” that was later extended by Joe Hickerson to become a circular song. The words expresses my very own concern i.e. “When will they ever learn?” The song goes... Where have all the flowers gone? (Question) Long time passing Where have all the flowers gone? Long time ago

Where have all the flowers gone? Girls have picked them every one (Answer) When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn? It continues by using the same lines as above but changing the questions then giving the matching answer. Where have all the young girls gone? (Question) Taken husbands (Answer)

every

one

Where have all the young men gone? (Question)

people Israel through judges that, “...it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.” Judges 2:19 Israel would improve their ways during the rule of a judge but no sooner that judge passed away they would go right back to their wicked ways and practiced even worse things than before.

Where have all the soldiers gone? (Question)

The cycle from apostasy to holiness then back down again would happen every few years and is evident through all of Israel’s history and not just during the time of the judges.

Gone to graveyards every one (Answer)

“For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn calf…” Hosea 4:16

Gone for soldiers every one (Answer)

Where have all the graveyards gone? (Question) Covered with flowers every one (Answer)

Have we learnt mistakes? p

from

their

How long will we remain Peace in the land. indifferent to the fact that Israel serves the no one wins in war. That Lord no one will escape death (except for Israel does evil in Israel is those who belong to the eyes of the delivered Christ and are alive Lord From apostasy when He returns). to prosperity and That denying God will not change the back fact that He is real. God punishes God hears Israel’s cycle Israel. They are That sin will not, indeed cannot, go Israel’s cry enslaved unpunished. Israel cries out to the Lord and repents

George Hegel says it best, “We learn from history that we do not learn from history.” God’s people have stubbornly resisted Him all through history up to this day. It is recorded, during the time when God governed His

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By Homer Slack author, preacher, Bible teacher, IT tutor, programmer & graphic designer

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t Cu

e h oT

“

t r a e H

Conversion without conviction is not conversion! Conversion with conviction is circumcision

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”

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Whilst travelling recently, I was reading my Bible as I wanted to go through the book of Acts again. It is amazing how you think you know God’s word until you read it again and again and then receive a new revelation. In Acts chapter 2 after the wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit Peter stands up to explain to the crowd what is happening and in verses 36-38 he says; “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified. Both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles “What shall we do?” Then Peter said: “Repent and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” I have read this passage so many times over the years and even quoted it in my book ‘The Holy Spirit’ and yet this day came a deeper revelation. OUR HEARTS NEED TO BE CUT… IT IS A SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION and with that comes true conversion. This spiritual operation is performed by the Holy Spirit speaking through ‘born again’ Spirit filled believers. The male Israelites had to be circumcised as a covenant sign with God and of course this was to men only. But now this spiritual circumcision is open to all who will believe. Jesus gave His life that we might live but until we are ‘cut to the heart’ we remain lifeless. Genesis 6:6 God says: He regretted

the day He made man as man’s heart has become so wicked. We need a change of heart and only God can give it to us. It has always been difficult to explain how I was ‘born again’ and I used to try and understand what I knew happened within me but until recently I had not realised that I had experienced a spiritual circumcision. A new life began, my eyes were opened and I knew that Jesus was (is) alive. That circumcision occurred 40 years ago. He has given me an amazing life full of hope in an eternal destination to be with Him. You maybe a believer in Jesus Christ, you may have attended church all your life and yet you have never been ‘cut to the heart,’ you have never experienced the fullness of life that comes with really knowing Jesus and being filled with His Holy Spirit. There are many false gospels, false religions and false hope just as Jesus warned. Look to the truth of the Scriptures and do not be deceived: Jesus says; “I am the Way the Truth and the Life Conversion without conviction is not conversion! Conversion with conviction is circumcision I have yet to read in Scripture that you need to be ‘led in the sinner’s prayer’ or where you need to attend a course to ‘get saved’ or even attend a specific Church. This circumcision is the work of the Holy Spirit not of man. Oh yes we need people full of the Holy Spirit preaching the true gospel of Jesus Christ, then as Paul says in Romans 1:16 ‘The gospel is the power of God to the salvation of men’s souls

Paul clarifies the issue of true circumcision when he said, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Roman 2:28-29 The Old Covenant required an outward circumcision… “Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come... Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.’” Genesis 17:9-14 It was a sure covenant between God and His people, a seal as it were that set God’s people apart from all others. Today however, under the New Covenant, a circumcision of the heart and not of the flesh, is what God requires. Anyone who is not so circumcised will be cut off from among His people. God declares in His New Covenant, “I will put my laws in their minds and write them ON THEIR HEARTS. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Hebrews 8:10 The New Covenant is a heart covenant so try to recall if you were cut to the heart in deep conviction when you first heard the gospel and made a decision to follow Jesus. If not, pray today that God will perform a heart surgery on you that you may be sealed as one of His. p

July - September 2018

By Barbara Payne intercessor, worship leader, retired minister and Divorce Care counsellor

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I was once in a situation where a social worker was assigned to me. This worker was employed by the government and mandated to help me but the experience was one of the most shocking I have ever had to endure. She had the knowledge of all the facts, laws and bylaws of what was required and what needed to be done but she had no empathy or genuine concern for her clients. She was as cold as a computer screen. She was obviously doing it for the pay and not because she had a heart to help people. The experience was worse than reading the information from the cold sheets of a textbook. She could quote the facts but could not connect with people. Though I knew it already, my experience was no less of a shock to me. The fact is, that some people cannot remove themselves from their present reality and identify with others less fortunate than themselves. Today it is common to find doctors/nurses who cannot empathise with their hurting patients or the passer by who is untouched by the circumstances of the person laying on the sidewalk who just had an accident. We are no doubt presently living in a new Ice Age that is not caused by the spreading of North Pole ice sheets but by the freezing over of men’s hearts. Jesus warned

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us that these times were coming. He said, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12 Yes, love can be measured in degrees and its temperature is dropping with every passing day. This coldness is very rampant among God’s people. I am amazed to see how much people give in tithes, anxious for God to open the windows of heaven and bless them, while the person sitting next to them in church is in dyer need but cannot get help. Many leaders in the Church are no different. They preach for the pay but couldn’t care less about the welfare of God’s people. Scripture refers to them as hirelings, people who are hired to do the job. So called, ‘Men of God’ who care more about the recognition they will get for healing a person than they care for the hurting person. Men who live in mansions, drive very expensive cars and fly about in private jets while people in their own congregation are unable to afford basic necessities. They are in it for the honour and not because they love of people. “There was a time when you couldn’t stop a man from preaching even if you offered to pay him. Today you cannot get a man to preach unless you pay him.”

The New

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And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:12

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July - September 2018

God in Christ Jesus demonstrated His compassion. He opted to be like us and live like us that He may understand our struggles. God made this a requirement for anyone who would be a high priest hence one of the main reasons Jesus had to come in flesh. “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.” Hebrews 4:15 (AMP) Jesus, though He was God, was determined not be like that boss who is clueless concerning the plight of his own workers. He is not that politician who cannot identify with the struggles of his constituents or like those policy makers who send young men to war but have no experience of what it feels like to be shot at. “Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus: Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings.” Philippians 2 (CEB) “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because

they were like sheep not having a shepherd.” Mark 6:34 Jesus is not a distant God but is one who is near us and feels for us and with us. “...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 We read in the Bible times when He was moved to tears by the plight of others. Jesus wept is the shortest verse in the Bible. So, will you allow the prevailing circumstances such as the betrayal of those whom you trust, to freeze your heart? Do you have the grace that only God can give, to overcome those heart wrenching experiences? Are you able to bless those who curse you and pray for those who persecute you? Those of us who are not able to do this will soon discover ice forming over our hearts. Scripture commands us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 Jesus, inspite of all He went through, was able to pray for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him. We must be no different from our Master. Continue to be compassionate and not allow yourself to become indifferent. p By Homer Slack author, preacher, Bible teacher, IT tutor, programmer & graphic designer

Ice Age

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But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant... 2 Timothy 3:1-2 (AMP) July - September 2018

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Today is a lovely Lincolnshire morning, brilliant, sunshiny, clear blue sky, the birds are making a ruckus, the garden is in full bloom and I’m excitedly awaiting the arrival of a very special couple: Dave and Jean Wells, who are the founders of We Are One Foundation.

and prejudice.” We presently meet at St Andrew Anglican Church Hall and provide one cooked meal and a grocery bag of food and or clothes every Saturday 5-9 pm. As a Christian not for profit Charity Organization we offer our services fee and our entire team is made up of volunteers.

I opened my front door and the SHARE - “What prompted you to warmth and grace that exudes from begin feeding the homeless and vulnerable people of Grimsby?” them is humbling. A more unassuming and gentle couple I have scarcely met, they have such a huge heart and tremendous capacity to give, share and serve others. My husband and I have been personally observing this couple for about 2 years now and they are consistently and incredibly gracious, under the most stressful circumstances. I’ve decided to make their story this issue’s cover story because they, ‘walk the talk and live the dream’... of making a difference in their community, in exemplary fashion. I wanna be like them when I grow up! As we settled into the sofa and sipped our teas and coffee I launched straight in. SHARE - “Guys, I know what you do but I don’t really know you, do I? I’m sure others are also wondering who are these people?” They immediately shy away from any recognition or accolades for themselves and so realising that it’s not about them but all about their ministry, I asked my next question and they became animated. SHARE - “So, what really is, We Are One Foundation?” I asked. WAOF - “A Christian foundation that helps all in need without judgment

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There was a pause and they both conferred with each other using their eyes, then they both agreed... WAOF - “It’s a call.”

Academy’s kitchen and delivered and served it at the S.A. once per week. It was a very long day and it grew from there to another venue the YMCA.” SHARE - “How did you manage it all?” WAO - “So we would prepare all day get the food to the S.A. for 5pm, set up serve and clean down and then, when done got to the Y.M.C.A. for 9pm at night and did it all over again. We did this for a while and then hit a bump on the road.” SHARE - “What happened to you next?”

SHARE - I probed further, “What do WAOF - God’s Provision and New you mean, did you hear a voice, have Promise... you had a dream, an epiphany?” Dave was placed in a position to leave WAOF - “No, we just have this his job as he was pressured to comply deep desire to help” said, Dave and with and put practices in place that Jean nodded in agreement. They went against his conscience and elaborated that this desire just grew Christian faith. So he decided to until they had to look for a way to leave. fulfil it. Jean explained,”It really Meanwhile, the S.A. told both of began when Dave was still in his last us that they were experiencing job as a Production Manager with a corporate restructuring and hence local Company. There was a young the programme was no longer viable colleague whom he supervised that from a budgetary perspective. “One was going through hard times and good meal per week isn’t helping the Dave noticed that he wasn’t eating people to get back on their feet.” A well, if at all sometimes. So, he began cold, corporate decision was taken by taking a packup meal and sharing and the programme ended. it. We built a relationship with the young man that was trusting and Dave and Jean refused to walk confidential. So eventually we would away from the growing numbers of do a weekly shop for the family and vulnerable people, they desired to do it just grew into something that we a bigger and better job since neither did for others. We felt there must be the S.A. nor Y. M. C. were meeting more people out there who needed the growing need sufficiently. The help. So we went looking and after numbers were clearly larger than one bad experience with a secular they were meeting at that time organisation, we found the Salvation having begun from an average of 60 Army (S.A.) was feeding people so per night, there were hundreds out we made food out of the local Oasis there. Plus they were dissatisfied with

July - September 2018

the way in which the people were treated, being fed out in the cold with nowhere to sit and eat did not reflect Christian values of treating people the way we would want to be treated. Answered Prayer. A fellow volunteer mentioned to Dave and Jean that St. Andrew’s Anglican Church on the East Marsh had a hall and fully equipped kitchen. There was a group of ladies who used the hall to play bingo and when they leaned of the work that THE WAOF planned to do for the vulnerable community they used the profits from the bingo to pay for the hall to help supplement the team’s efforts to use the premises on a long term basis. They began operating out of St Andrew’s (it’s been 3 years now) the numbers average 80-100/night and sometimes over 120. “We always prepare 200 meals just in case and second helpings are definitely encouraged, we want to really fill them up. Alongside the one hot meal, food parcels are handed out each night including, clothes when available and deliveries of groceries are made to families in need that have been referred, word of mouth by supporters and friends of the foundation.” SHARE - “Any Current Challenges?” WAOF “Most of our guests are drug addicts/alcoholics, homeless, victims of violent crimes or domestic abuse, street workers who have little or no income. Recently, we have began noticing that there are refugees among the group as well. It’s quite an eclectic and challenging group and so it necessitates that the team has to be all trained in dealing with vulnerable persons; they are qualified in Adult Safeguarding up to NVQ

level 2 or work under a supervisor if Turner, Steve Yull, Dave (distributor working towards qualification. of 2nd hand clothing). They all have Food and Hygiene qualifications up ‘What we desperately need is storage to level 2 and their kitchen is certified and more functional space,’ says 5 Star. Dave. We have a very experienced Christian counsellor who needs a SHARE - “Any Prayer Points?” place on site to work out of. We would WAOF - Dave said, “Ultimately like to also offer haircuts (a local salon we sincerely desire that our guests is waiting to support us). We want to could come to know our Lord Jesus also offer chiropodists services, all on Christ, this would be an answer to sight. We desire to meet the needs of their problems not just ‘a hand out the whole person.” but a hand up’ as He has the power SHARE - “What are your future plans to deliver people from the addictions and projections?” and bondages that they are trapped in. So we begin each food service with WAOF - ”We are looking forward to a prayer, we read the Lord’s Prayer expanding the program to include sometimes a passage of Scripture a week day to allow families in and we say grace blessing the meal. the surrounding community of St. Andrew’s (the East Marsh) to have We make ourselves available to sit access to a cooked, balanced hot and chat with those who need a meal free. Friends of the foundation listening ear we develop helping also allow their homes to become relationships of trust and support. We hubs of storage and they distribute facilitate their transformation as best to the people within their sphere of as we can. This is the family and heart influence. of God in action. At the end of food service the team stays behind to have We hope that they will have storage a time of prayer and reflection. We facilities of their own soon. share, encourage and pray for and It’s a ripple effect says Dave, you toss with each other. Guests are welcome something on the waters’ surface to join in if they want to. and watch the ripples as they expand We need more prayer support outwards.” for wisdom and insight into SHARE - “Who Makes up the each individual’s’ spiritual and Team?” psychological needs. We can’t do it WAOF - The Team of Trustees: without God’s grace and guidance. Dave and Jean Wells (cofounders), Father Edward - St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Terry Tidswell and Michelle Donner.

We don’t really mind if people do not know who we are (Dave & Jean), per se, as long as they know what we do and are happy to support us to keep Volunteers: Dawn Binch, Allison getting it done.” Blastland, Lawrence and Chris If you would like to support the work Brown, Barry Freer, Pat Gulsher, Keith of the WE ARE ONE FOUNDATION Hudson, Julie and Derrick Johnson, contact: Dave & Jean Wells on (UK) Robert and Claire Shadlock, Rose +7952106562 p July - September 2018

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TESTIMONY

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And what is the fruit of a mango tree?” “Mangoes!” I answered... “So, what is the fruit of a Christian, my dear brother?

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July - September 2018

Talented Teenager Transformed by C. Richard McCaw

One day when I was a teenager during my summer vacation, a Chinese brother knocked on my door. He was part of an organization called ‘The Soul Clinic’ and had been going door to door witnessing about Jesus. After introducing himself, he asked if he may ask me a few important questions, to which I agreed.

ten to twelve year olds, and preached my first message in a little country Church in the parish of St. Mary in Jamaica. I also went on the road giving out tracts, witnessing to as many as would listen. I found many people willing to hear and receive the Word of God. I’ve always wondered why more Christians have not caught the vision. Too busy, perhaps?

“What is the fruit of an orange tree?” I also went around my entire school he began. on a Friday afternoon inviting “Oranges!” I said, curiously looking everyone to the Christian Fellowship. into his face. Many turned to Christ. At 17, I wanted “And what is the fruit of a mango to leave school and preach on the streets, in Africa or the jungles of tree?” he continued. South America. However, my mother “Mangoes!” I answered, wondering encouraged me to complete my school where he was leading. examinations.

“So, what is the fruit of a Christian, Years later, I became an associate my dear brother?” he pressed home missionary with Christian Literature his point. Crusade in Jamaica. After several months, God spoke to me from Exodus I scratched the back of my head. The 4:2 and asked as He had asked Moses, answer was obvious. “What is in your hand?” “Christians!” I said. The impact of that He revealed to me that the two gifts truth changed my life forever. He had given me, Writing and Music, At 15 years of age I surrendered would support my ministry. all my ambitions to Jesus Christ as Lord of my life and told Him, “Lord, I’ll go where You want me to go and do what You want me to do. Use my hands, walk through my feet, look through my eyes, listen through my ears, think Your thoughts through my mind. Take my gifts, and use them for Your glory! “

about thirty or more students. This allowed me time to care for a mother, crippled with arthritis at home and to begin ministering the Word of God in many schools. I ministered from 1965 to 1994 in schools, and today there are several young men now in Christian ministry full time, not only in Jamaica, but in other parts of the world. Jesus Christ has left us one last command, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person!” The ministry of music is a powerful tool that can reach many for Jesus Christ. However, the world has taken over this tremendous gift and infiltrated the minds of the present generation with filth and evil attitudes that reject the Lord God of the Universe. Neither can the ministry of writing be underestimated. We have left the media to the world which has devastated successive generations. It is time for the people of God to awake out of sleep and to attack the enemy. We must invade their camp and reclaim territory that by right belongs to God.

“But Lord,” I asked, “who is going to Without a vision the people perish. come to me to learn music?” God has called us to something Like Moses, I only saw my inabilities. more far-reaching that will transform Next day, a Baptist brother came to me countless lives throughout the world! and said, “Richard, I want you to teach me to play the piano!” Of course, I was If this Testimony touches your heart, surprised at how fast God was working join with me in prayer and let us make His purpose out. Soon, I started with the vision become a reality by asking six students in the afternoons, which Jesus to take control of your lives and Soon, I began teaching a Bible Class of kept growing and growing until I had use us to build His kingdom. p

July - September 2018

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“L

“...looking to Jesus the author and ﬁnisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 It is so amazing that Jesus through His precious blood atoning for our sins is the perfect ﬁnisher of our faith. Our desire in life should be to allow Jesus who lives in us to do the will of the Father through the Holy Spirit.

From The Cross To The Crown

No matter what our differences are our lives should demonstrate the Kingdom of God with friends, family, neighbours or even the brethren. We should be able to deal with all things where possible in love. To compromise and push others away when differences arise does not show the love of Christ. We can so make a difference in upsetting situations that can demonstrate the love that was given to us on the cross. Every new day in the power of the Holy Spirit we can make a difference around us. John 15:12 “This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.” Love is the key. But how do we navigate through this world of turmoil and division? We cannot afford to compromise if circumstances make us feel uncomfortable. John 15:18 Jesus says, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” We will be persecuted at times but there are also times when we tell folks about Jesus that we won’t be. We have been called to go out and preach the good news the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can make a difference in an indifferent world. 1 John 2:6-11 tells us to walk in the light, it is the mark of a true Christian we cannot go about evangelizing if we have hatred, strife and the suchlike in us. Matthew 5:38-48 explains things so well. Jesus teaching here shows love in action. We can show love to others when our hearts are ﬁlled with the love

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of God. Compassion will overﬂow from us because we so love Jesus that we will just want to do what He asks us to do. Also remember, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” We never know when we reach out to help someone they might easily be angels on an assignment. We are not to go looking for them our whole focus must be on what we have been assigned to do that brings glory to the Lord. Everyday we can ask to be ﬁlled with the Holy

July - September 2018

Spirit. Why? Because, as it says in Galatians 5:22-23 that the Spirit is, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law. It is not a case of how we feel we can choose to be grumpy, down, sad or whatever but glory to God we have what it says in Galatians 5:24-25 “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” We can choose to walk in the Spirit or the flesh.

on. If yours is a bit rough, tough!” Some are still very young in the Lord and like many of us from first being born again, need time to grow and be nurtured with the word of God, the Holy Spirit being our teacher. We may not all be called to some great evangelistic ministry all our gifts are individually created in us in a unique way for us to use in the way God has designed them. Jesus died on the cross for us He knows what things we will go through. He is interceding for us even right now. What He went through for us, paying such a high price to bring us back into the family of God is awesome. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 Then one day there will be a reward. “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” Revelation 22:12 Brethren it is with the utmost importance that we listen to our Lord and Saviour. The days are short Jesus is but one step away. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus! Revelation 22: 20 We have the mind of Christ our born again spirit has Christ and we must learn to walk in the Spirit deny our flesh and don’t let negative things dominate us. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good, especially to those who are in the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10. It is not just non Christians who we are to look out for but our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to contribute to the work of the Gospel with the gifts we have been given. There are so many areas

were we can help one another. If we do not yet know what our gifts are, we can ask the Holy Spirit to tell us and direct us into whatever part of the ministry we have been called. To compromise is a dangerous thing to do because we will miss out on what we have been called to do for the glory of the Kingdom. There is a lost world out there even born again Christians needs one another to navigate this path we have been called to walk on.

Prayer: Lord we so want to do what You have called us to do for Your glory with the gifts You have blessed us with. Help us in the power of Your Holy Spirit to be and do what You have called us to for the glory of Your Kingdom in the name of Your beloved Son Jesus, we pray. Thank You. Amen. p

We must not have a selﬁsh attitude of “I’m alright Jack, I know which path I’m July - September 2018

By Lynda K Smith writer, proof reader, poet and Evangelist

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A World of Indifference

Stuff like this is happening near us and they could be prevented if we were less indifferent as a community. Where was the community in all of this, were there no family and friends to notice the suspicious behaviour? There was no community support or accountability so atrocities happened.

Girl starved to death while parents raised virtual child in online game S. Korea “South Korean police have arrested a couple for starving their three-month-old daughter to death while they devoted hours to playing a computer game that involved raising a virtual character of a young girl. The 41-year-old man and 25-year-old woman, who met through a chat website, reportedly left their infant unattended while they went to internet cafes. They only occasionally dropped by to feed her powdered milk. “I am sorry for what I did and hope that my daughter does not suffer any more in heaven,” the husband is quoted as saying on the asiaone website.

Empty Homes and Rough Sleepers UK: the Numbers According to these figures there are 610,123 empty homes in England while 3,569 people are sleeping on the streets. Maybe not all these homes are long term empty but even if half were still there would be more than enough rooms available to put a roof over the heads of the homeless. Why are so many without shelter, even through bitter winters, when there is more than enough to provide for them? Not to mention the volume of food that’s dumped each year compared to the many who go hungry and without food for days unend. For Further Reading go to: theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/mar/10/empty-homes-englandscotland-homelessness

We could easily end up homeless ourselves, do we care to help those who do? 24

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July - September 2018

According to the Yonhap news agency, South Korean police said the couple had become obsessed with raising a virtual girl called Anima in the popular role-playing game Prius Online. The game, similar to Second Life, allows players to create another existence for themselves in a virtual world, including getting a job, interacting with other users and earning an extra avatar to nurture once they reach a certain level. ‘The couple seemed to have lost their will to live a normal life because they didn’t have jobs and gave birth to a premature baby,’ Chung Jin-Won, a police officer, told Yonhap. ‘They indulged themselves in the online game of raising a virtual character so as to escape from reality, which led to the death of their real baby.’” Mark Tran | Friday 5 March 2010 heguardian.com/world/2010/mar/05/korean-girl-starved-online-game

Where was the family and friends’ support to help this couple cope with their joblessness and a new premature baby?

Joyce Carol Vincent lie dead and undiscovered for almost three years in her flat - London, UK Child left to starve to death above pub - Sheffield, UK. “A three-year-old girl who was ‘unloved and unwanted’ was left to starve to death locked away in a beetle-infested bedroom above a Sheffield pub. Little Tiffany Hirst was abandoned in her locked room for as long as two days before she died. The court was told that her body, covered in bites, was found by paramedics in her bed in a room above the Scarborough Arms pub on Addy Street, Upperthorpe. Sheffield Crown Court heard that Tiffany, who weighed less than a child of a year younger when found, died of pneumonia after becoming weak due to repeated and severe malnourishment. The court was told that the Hirsts were in the habit of leaving children locked upstairs for more than 12 months before Tiffany’s death. Senior detective Det Ch Insp Steve Williams said the toddler was ‘unloved, unwanted and left to die alone’ and that police officers dealing with the case had been left traumatised after discovering the child’s body. He added: ‘She was like a tiny porcelain doll, so tiny and frail and we all wondered how this had been allowed to happen in this day and age.’ We have heard Tiffany would be seen staring out of her bedroom window and this was probably the little girl’s cry for help but nobody realised - it is heartbreaking.” 12 June 2008 Updated 01:40, 4 Feb 2012 mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/child-left-to-starve-to-death-above-313007

Where were the community workers/neighbours that should have rescued little Tiffany?

“On 25 January 2006, London housing association officials repossessing a bedsit in Wood Green owing to rent arrears discovered, lying on the sofa, the skeleton of a 38-year-old woman who had been dead for almost three years. The television set was still on, a small pile of unopened Christmas presents lay on the floor. Washing up was heaped in the kitchen sink and a mountain of post lay behind the front door. Food in the refrigerator was marked with 2003 expiry dates. The dead woman’s body was so badly decomposed it could only be identified by comparing dental records with an old holiday photograph of her smiling. Her name was revealed to be Joyce Carol Vincent. The image of the television flickering over her decomposing body haunted me... London is home to 8 million people, how could someone’s absence go unnoticed for so long? Who was Joyce Vincent? What was she like? How could she have been forgotten? News of Joyce’s death quickly made it into the global media, which registered shock at the lack of community spirit in the UK. The story ran on in the British press, but still no photograph of Joyce appeared and little personal information. Soon Joyce dropped out of the news. ...people discussed her in internet chatrooms, wondering if she was an urban myth, or talking about her as though she never mattered, calling her a couch potato, and posting comments such as: “What’s really sad is no one noticed she was missing – must have been one miserable *****.” And then even that kind of commentary vanished.” Carol Morley | Sunday 9 October 2011 00.04 BST theguardian.com/film/2011/oct/09/joyce-vincent-death-mystery-documentary

She was only discovered after her bills went unpaid for 3 years. What is this telling us about how we value human life? July - September 2018

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Love Thy ‘Unkind’ Neighbour... Actually!

I migrated to a foreign country with my wife and two young children where we settled in a small town Northeast of the country. After about six years working at the same organisation another gentleman joined who happened to have migrated from the same country that I was from. The company I was with was a large one with hundreds of employees, so having a countryman in the same department where I worked helped us both to feel less lost and lonely. Though I did not know him, I felt a sense of comradery and responsibility for this fellow national so when he said he was desperately in need of somewhere to live I immediately agreed that I would help in whatever way

Story Teller

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We left and headed straight to my home to talk it over with my wife. On the way there I told him how uncomfortable I felt about putting up our house as security. We had worked very hard for many years in a strange, often unfriendly and hostile environment to see to it that our children had a secure place they could call home. As we had no close relatives in this foreign country, our home was the only place where our children could feel secure but my fellow national assured me he would do nothing to jeopardise our home. My compassionate wife thought we should take the risk to ensure that this gentleman had somewhere to live so we returned and I signed.

Experience teaches us to be cautious in trusting people and this affects our relationship with God. Many do not trust God either. However, for this relationship with God to work we must let go the steering of our lives and surrender it to

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He said he found an apartment but needed a guarantor to be able to secure it. I went with him to see this place and agreed that it was suitable. We then went to the estate agents who made it clear that if my friend should at anytime during the lease period fail to pay his rent then I would have to pay it. They took details of my recently acquired family home and told me that if both he and I failed to pay, my home could be taken. Upon hearing this I told them to hold the proceedings and told him I would need to speak to my wife further about such a commitment.

He wasn’t even halfway through his lease when he got himself fired for questionable practices. To make things worse he soon disappeared without a trace and without paying the rest of his lease. My wife and I were left with the responsibility of over a thousand dollars which we had to pay. We haven’t heard from him since.

The

that I could.

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Him. We do not know where we are going or what we are doing. Man at his best destroys himself. “The cause of the weakness of your Christian life is that you want to work it out partly, and to let God help you. And that cannot be. You must come to be utterly helpless, to let God work, and God will work gloriously… And yet, we are some of us wanting God to give us a little help while we do our best, instead of coming to understand what God wants, and to say, ‘I can do nothing. God must and will do all.’”[1] Jesus said, “I can of Myself do nothing.” John 5:30 Jesus said He needed the input of The Holy Father in everything that He did. Natural beings cannot, by themselves, generate spiritual activity so we are totally dependent as pertaining to spiritual things. Only spirits can maneuver the realm of the spirit; so to generate any activity there, we must solicit the help of spiritual beings. We need God. Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority…” John 14:10 He continued in verse 24 “...the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” and again in verse 31 “...as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do.” There is a move today to be independent of God. An example of this is the new and popular way of decreeing and declaring when ‘praying’. A search of Scriptures however, will reveal a prayer of supplication, of intercession and of thanksgiving but none of decree or declaration. Are we greater in character and closer in relationship to God than the great men of old? David, the man after God’s own

heart said, “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles...” Psalm 34:4 David did not decree and declare but cried out to God. How about Daniel who prayed a prayer of repentance on behalf of Israel and called on Him saying, “... hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications…” Daniel 9:17 Why is Daniel making supplications to God if he could just go ahead and decree and declare? Paul the apostle said, “I kneel in prayer to the Father... I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers…” Ephesians 3:14-16 (CEV) Listen to what Scripture says about our Lord Himself. “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” Jesus said this to Peter who had just cut off a man’s ear. “...do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53 If Jesus would pray to His Father for angelic help why is it we think we have the authority to decree and declare them into action? The Big Question God is not man, He can and must be trusted. The big question however is, can I trust people again after so many horrible experiences? Why should I help in a time when so many are nothing more than tricksters waiting to take advantage of our kindness? The answer is, we should learn from our experiences and not be overwhelmed and ruined by them. We must draw upon the power of God’s Spirit to help us conquer the hurt caused by bad experiences and move on. We need to have people whom we can

trust. We must learn to give again even after people have abused our kindness but this time be wise. I knew what Scripture said about such situations but still went ahead and did it. This stranger wasn’t even of the household of faith. We were foolish. “If someone puts up security for a stranger, he will suffer for it, but the one who hates such agreements is protected.” Proverbs 11:15 (CSB) You will find that many times there will be a conflict between your head and your heart. Do not feel condemned by thinking you are being mean because you are acting wisely. For example, wisdom teaches that some people should be given food or cloths as they need but not money. Out of compassion a friend once gave a street corner beggar a bit more money than one would usually give. This woman ended up being stalked by this young man who tried to manipulate and frighten her into always giving him money. She had to solicit the help of the special forces of the police to eventually dissuade him. Do not use bad experiences to mask a mean spirit neither go overboard and use wisdom as an excuse to not give. Give again, but where necessary, do your checks. Think! The good Samaritan spoken of by Jesus, helped a man who was obviously and clearly beaten up and needed medical help. This person wasn’t just giving the Samaritan a story. His wounds and semi conscious state told his story. “Only a simpleton believes everything he’s told! A prudent man understands the need for proof.” Proverbs 14:15 (TLB) p [1] Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray, Pg 61

July - September 2018

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Think Films! Film: Silence

Today the Silence is Deafening… Starring: Liam Neeson as father cristóvão ferreira, Andrew Garfield as Father Sebastião Rodrigues, Adam Driver as Father Francisco Garrpe, Ciarán Hinds as father Valignano, Tadanobu Asano as interpreter, Shinya Tsukamoto as Mokichi, Nana komatsu.” youtube.com/watch?v=ysC75TexvsA&list=PLf1XABnsa-AVv_quTKTicrfd33cyqLacs A profoundly Christian film. “Two Jesuit priests, Sebastião Rodrigues and Francis Garrpe, travel to seventeenth century Japan which has, under the Tokugawa shogunate, banned Catholicism and almost all foreign contact. There they witness the persecution of Japanese Christians at the hands of their own government which wishes to purge Japan of all western influence. Eventually the priests separate and Rodrigues travels the countryside, wondering why God remains silent while His children suffer. Sometime silence is the deadliest sound.” Scorsese’ faith as a catholic made this film very personal for him as he had his own journey of faith, his own questions of theology but he never peroports to have all the answers but through the characters explored the big questions. He presented the facts. Surely we can come to our own answers about the value of faith? A masterpiece of filmmaking. Martin Scorsese’ genius is unquestionable. Artistic, beautiful and slow but every scene necessary. The music was perfect, any other sound track would have disturbed the communication between the actors and audience. The cinematography pulls you into perfectly edited scenes. You will most likely hold your breath throughout as you experience along with the victims their persecution. www.chrisstuckmann.com Warning! Emotionally draining. Set in rural Japan, in confined spaces of captivity. Amidst very complex themes of brutal violence meted out to Japanese, Catholic believing Christians. The inhumane, tortures of various horrific means that systematically forced the denunciation of their faith was uncensored. A well written and balanced script. It brings the audience through a gamut of emotions without being dogmatic and pedantic, spanning shock, horror, frustration, pain, sorrow, empathy and relief and you exhale when it ends as the suffering of the victims is over. My faith was personally impacted, I was renewed and energised to live more intentionally for my beliefs. If you have no faith/belief system in particular, at the very least this film will cause you to admire the great courage of those who are among the faithful believers of the Christian faith. The dramatic and historic irony. What drew me in as I watched this film and spurred me to go on to research this portion of Japanese history is, that when the film is viewed in the context of contemporary Christianity in Japan, the unshakable faith that caused Christianity to survive through persecution and the threat of extinction via the perseverance and resilience of the original believers is missing today in Japan. Having been replaced by indifference, what exists today is traditional rituals that have long lost their revelation and have no power of conviction. If anything this is a warning to us all that something that was preserved at great peril and deemed more precious than life can easily come to be treated as psaltery by those who inherited it in ease and thereby trivialise their great inheritance and legacy. Let us not be among the Silent in speaking out about our faith. The juxtaposition of ritual and reality. This becomes increasingly poignant where every time the japanese believers perform a ritual they risk their lives; as it forms their identity as Christians. Contemporary believers in the audience must have groaned within as we take those rituals to be just so and lose sight of their spiritual reality and significance. This is where form and substance go separate ways. They had the substance of faith in action that punctuates and permeates their reality and echoes down though the annals of time. DO we now NOT know our God and is that WHY WE ARE SILENT? p 28

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July - September 2018

Letter To God by Chris Easton

Heavenly father ARE YOU THERE? Do you know, do you care? I often lie awake and cry, for the world seems cruel and children die, Old people broken, murder done, homeless drunks the list goes on, Vandals braking everything, they say its lack of discipline. Then there’s the men who go to war to fight for rights they feel so sure that all who die, die not in vain, But if that’s so then where’s the gain? For fathers, husbands, sons are lost, And those that are left they count the cost. There’s broken homes and broken lives and husbands beating up their wives; Children neglected and sexually abused, Heavenly Father I’m so confused. That man you made could sink so low, to depth of darkness. How far will they go? I’m asking Father for I need to know.

Father’s Response:

My dearest child are you there? Do you really think that I don’t care? For I see the world that you see too, The world I made so fresh and new, This world I made to share with man was part of my eternal plan. I made the world a wondrous place, with mighty mountains rivers and lakes; I filled the earth with flowers and trees, Then the oceans and the seas. I made the animals great and small and even then I knew man would fall. I know you ask the question for you really need to know if all the cruel things in the world go on and on just so, What depth of darkness will men reach? How far to hell they’ll go? I sent to men an answer, I sent to them My son. I let them nail Him to a cross and when the deed was done, I looked upon my broken child and knew that I had won. And everytime someone looks upon the cross and see the love I have for man and realise the cost. For everyone that looks that’s the reason that I wait; For narrow is the path to me and narrow is the gate. For when I look upon this world and see it as you do; I could end it all tomorrow and be thankful for the few; And then I look again and know I have to wait; So many loved ones would be lost and so I hesitate. So dearest child bear with me and try to understand; I’m anxious none should perish and so I stay my hand. For you see through a glass darkly and only know in part, Though time will see us face to face and reveal the love within my heart, So when you are feeling downcast just call upon my name, For I’m the one who changes not I’ll always be the same. Remember there’s a purpose, a vast eternal plan For Jesus came upon the earth to reconcile God and Man.

July - September 2018

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The Question the Devil asked God...

Does Job serve you for nothing? 30

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July - September 2018

he didn’t do it with all his heart.” 2 Chronicles 25:2 NIRV

As we seek to please God we must be conscious of two things that are very important to God, our motives and our attitude. The devil accuses us before God day and night as he tries to find reasons to condemn us. As God spoke to the devil about Job the devil accused Job of serving God with wrong motives. It is recorded thus… “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” Job 1:8-11 God recommended Job as a pure, righteous man but the devil disagreed. He suggested that Job only did what was right because he was having it good and was blessed and protected. The devil is making out that Job’s worship was shallow and limited to good times. He was adamant that Job’s worship would fade and be replaced with curses if things got difficult for him. The devil knew from his many years experience of dealing with humanity, that worship that does not flow from the heart will collapse under pressure. Was Job’s worship ‘will’ worship (generated purely from one’s will) or was his worship heart worship? God was about to allow Job’s motives to be tested. God allowed the devil to take away all of Job’s material wealth but Job passed the test and did not murmur against God. The devil argued that Job would curse God

if his health was taken away and again the Lord allowed the devil to bring illness on Job. He was afflicted with boils all over his body that developed into putrid sores but Job still did not wave his fist at God but humbly accepted his fate and continued to worship. Could we pass the Job test? Churches now boast about their ‘good works’ how they are feeding the hungry and helping the poor etc. It’s as if our Christianity is measured only by our community work with no need for righteousness and holy living. Not all good works are motivated by love. Paul points this out when he said, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3 One could give all they have to feed the poor yet their giving was not motivated by love. If you give to the poor because you want to please God or because you want to do what is right understand that your motive is wrong. We must help others because we truly care. Are we moved with compassion when we see others hurting? Does injustice anger us? Do we truly want for others the same things we want for ourselves? Giving is good but giving for the wrong reasons is not. Scriptures say this about one of Israel’s kings, “Amaziah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. But

As we encourage God’s people to act and make a difference where people are in need remember that this action must not be done only to be seen by others and to be honoured and praised by them. Jesus says, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Matthew 6:1-4 These acts of kindness must be done from the heart that is overflowing with love and concern for the welfare of others. Paul did not leave room for doubt but plainly said, “Let love be without hypocrisy…” Romans 12:9 Other translations may help to bring even more clarity. CJB “Don’t let love be a mere outward show.” ERV “Your love must be real.” GNT “Love must be completely sincere.” RSV “Let love be genuine.” Help others because you really care and if you lack compassion pray and ask God to change your heart. p

July - September 2018

By Homer Slack author, preacher, Bible teacher, IT tutor, programmer & graphic designer

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I Vow To Thee My Country

1 In Praise 2 of Hymn

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above, Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love: The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test, That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best; The love that never falters, the love that pays the price, The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice. And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago, Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know; We may not count her armies, we may not see her King; Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering; And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase, And her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.

Reviewing Great Christian Hymns In 1921 Sir Cecil Spring Rice’s poem entitled”The City of God” or The Two Fatherlands. was set to music by Gustav Holst. It describes how Christians owe loyalty to both their homeland and the heavenly kingdom. First performed in 1921, it is still associated with Remembrance Day services all over the Commonwealth of Nations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Vow_to_Thee,_My_Country

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July - September 2018

Love

Thy

r u o hb

g i e N

I was stumbling around in the dark, Bashing my head, Hurting my knee, I was chained in addiction, I couldn’t break free, My filthy hands, My gaunt face. My broken life, My shame and disgrace. I cried out to God, God change me! Then someone helped me to my feet, And handed me a torch, Quickly I shone the light on the floor,

There, there is the key! Hurriedly I unlocked my chains, And opened the prison door, I shone the light on the Good Samaritan, Haven’t I seen you before? Yes, the kind person said, I am, your neighbour, I only live next door. © Steve Yull, January 2018

July - September 2018

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youth # SHARE Viral Videos and the Human Morale R Recently a video went viral on facebook. A man fell down in a shopping mall, apparently ill and experiencing seizures. Based on the reactions of passersby in the shopping mall, there are many types of people in this world; those that sympathize, those that empathize, those that watch, those that make record of events and those that outrightly only think about benefiting themselves. What was painfully missing from this video was the one person who offered help.

Now mind you, those that are selfish don’t tend to do so from an intellectual standpoint, all the time. The highlight of this video was a man who for some reason has lost his sense of morality all together, when he stole the wallet of the helpless man on the Mall floor, not taking into account that his crime went recorded, witnessed and went viral on social media. The comments on Facebook, can be summarised into three recurring trends of thought; 1. It’s a publicity stunt, 2. People are trash, 3. How could the crowd just watch and not do anything?

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As you can imagine the most popular of the three is number two. However, all three recurring trends are interestingly enough, reflections of the human condition of vanity, moral insensitivity and apathy. An idea worth exploring is, whether moral insensitivity is a millennial phenomenon or an ageold battle with our humanity. A quick look back into history reveals that as humans we have always had internal conflicts with morality, the continuous insensitivity to what is right has led to the callousness we see in the video. Christian Apologist, Ravi Zacharias said that “immorality is always preceded by impiety,” this quote sufficiently sums up what we witnessed. There is a loss of consideration for the inherent value of life; valuable simply because it was created by God. The natural question that follows is, why has humanity become so impious toward life? The loss of compassion coupled with society’s growing addiction to social media is at the heart of this video. An overwhelming desire to share, obtain responses and popularity has caused present day humans to lose

July - September 2018

their humanity. The video is a snapshot of society’s priorities. Getting a viral video is more important than the pain and injustice a man experienced. Social media has somehow caused humans to believe that everything is virtual. That the day to day activities of life become real only when they obtain the validation of followers. If we are to maintain our sensitivity and morality in an age where human interaction has become so impersonal and virtual, we must first value life. This consideration begins with us loving God and honouring the things He has made, which includes us as individuals and this honour should then spill over into us loving our neighbours. Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ”Matthew 22:3739 NKJV p

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