The Desert Experience

The Negev south of ben Gurion's tomb in Israel

Exodus 3:1-3

There are times in our lives and the lives of churches and nations when the Lord shakes everything that can be shaken so that He can be revealed (Hebrews 12:26-29). He does that best in what are called desert experiences. You have either been in the desert, you are still in the hiddenness of the desert, or you are headed toward the desert. God uses desert experiences to reveal Himself in our lives and prepare us for the next assignment He has for us.

Iran: Pastor flees; Somalia: 17yo beheaded

IRAN - Pastor Vahik Abrahamian and his wife, Sonia, fled Iran for the Netherlands on Sept 15 with the help of the Netherlands Embassy and with approval from the Iranian government. Vahik and Sonia continually expressed their desire to remain in Iran for the sake of their ministry; however, fears for their safety caused them to flee the country. The Abrahamians were arrested along with another couple in Sept 2010 for having home Bible studies. Sonia and the other couple were released from prison in April 2011. Sonia was told her husband would be released 10 days later, but Pastor Vahik was not released until August 29. Thank the Lord for guiding and protecting Vahik and Sonia. Pray that they would sense His presence and direction in the coming months. Pray for the many other Iranian Christians who are imprisoned for their faith, including Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Source: VOM Canada, FCNN SOMALIA – The Islamic terrorist group al Shabaab beheaded a 17-year-old Somali Christian in his home near Mogadishu Sept. 25 while his parents were at work. The militants, who are fighting Somalia’s transitional government and who have vowed to rid the country of Christianity, had been observing Guled Jama Muktar's family since 2008, monitoring the fact that they held secret Bible meetings in their home. Muktar's parents, fearing the militants wanted to kill them next, have fled to an unknown location. Source: Compass Direct

Related articles

• Islam in Somalia: Behead 17-year-old Christian and Other Stories (atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com)

Genesis 46-50 - Caring for Aging Family Members

 "Jacob's Body is Taken to Canaan" (James J. Tissot, Jewish Museum, New York)

One of the life passages which almost all of us encounter at some point is caring for aging family members. Does the Bible have principles for us in this area? Yes, it does, and we find a great example in the care that Joseph gave to his father Jacob in his final years. Joseph made sure he treated his father with honor and dignity. These are the two most important words in dealing with aging family members. 

Face to Face

Numbers 12:8; Psalm 25:14

God said that he didn’t speak in riddles and visions with Moses, but he spoke with him plainly, face to face (Num. 12:8). David sat before the Lord (2 Sam. 7:18) and talked with him plainly.

What happens when we encounter God? What happens when we are, like the Hebrew expresses it, “before his face”? 

He is totally other than what we expected. We are always aware of his complete “other-ness.” He is infinitely beyond our imagination. Upsetting for some, he is also totally beyond our management. How did your life change when you ran head-on into this extra-ordinary God? Life changes. The Scripture tells us about how we react when we encounter God.

Revival in Cuba, Persecution in Iran, Afghanistan

Cuba's Coat of Arms

Revival in Cuba

Raul Castro's regime has implemented economic reforms in Cuba including massive layoffs of hundreds of thousands of public employees, but they don't appear to be working. The resulting poverty and unemployment has given way to despair. 

Instead, churches are ministering to the poor and growing rapidly. For years churches pushed the legal limits just by meeting, and it's still dangerous for students, religious teachers and leaders, especially in rural areas, to be outspoken Christians. Christians are still considered counter-revolutionary in Cuba, meaning they may be put under surveillance and denied employment and housing. The government has also restricted the size of churches, forcing believers to worship in homes.

Even with these challenges, opportunities are opening in Cuba as it changes politically and socio-economically, making the gospel even more relevant to people there. Cuba's believers have taken advantage of the opportunities with rapid house church growth, evangelism, relief work, and community development. Cubans in the difficult economic times are realizing that they have little power themselves to change things, so they turn to the spiritual side. As a result, revival is springing up in Cuba, and many are coming to Christ. A few months ago a series of amazing meetings occurred in Guantanamo and spread to other parts of eastern Cuba. In other areas of Cuba pastors are boldly planting new churches.

Halloween's origin & the paranormal

The Origin of Halloween
Truth Encounter, Dave Wyrtzen

October 31st is Halloween. Should we as Christian parents let our kids get dressed up and collect candy? Because of its origins in druid worship and the occult, should we not completely divorce ourselves from any involvement with it? The opinions about Halloween are wide ranging. Dave shares how he dealt with this issue as a dad in his own family. He isn't asking you to agree with him, but he does want you to think about how we as parents can make decisions about these controversial areas.

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Halloween: Enter at Your Own Risk, Part 1
Halloween: Enter at Your Own Risk, Part 2

Eric Barger hosts and interviews ministry colleague David Benoit. They have co-authored books on the paranormal and both sound a warning about the so-called holiday known as Halloween. Avoid it at all costs. Learn of the cunning stealth of Satan and how it is on overdrive this time of year.

Related articles

• On Halloween, abstinence is best (genebrooks.blogspot.com)
• Halloween's origin & the paranormal (genebrooks.blogspot.com)

Are Halloween activities connected to the occult?

On Halloween: Choose abstinence

Image via WikipediaFollowing is a brief case for abstinence from participation in Halloween adapted from two articles (1, 2) by John Ankerberg. Christians who choose to participate in Halloween need to decide whether their participation brings honor to the Lord. We hope believers will take a closer look at their involvement.

In participating in Halloween, do we help, even indirectly, to publicize what may be the single most important day in the world of the occult? Can we truly align ourselves innocently with something traditionally and currently involved with the occult and be certain it will not affect us or reflect negatively on our relationship with Christ?

I have previously written here about Halloween, explaining why we do not celebrate Halloween, showing how practicing pagans/witches view Halloween and Christians, addressing the question of redeeming Halloween for Christ, quoting Focus on the Family's H.B. London, and suggesting how to tell your children why your family will not celebrate that day. I have even set aside a webpage describing Halloween. 

Based on what we know of Halloween, abstinence is the better of two choices: “‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” (1 Corinthians 10:23, 24).

Deficit Reduction

2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Colossians 3:11-15

With all the talk about the deficit and national debt, we realize that as believers we have a balance sheet as well. We have both a great debt and a large surplus. We have a surplus of selfishness and wanting my way right now. We have a great deficit of obedience and love for Christ. 

What does your balance sheet look like? Perhaps it is time for an audit of your spiritual books. Those treasures you are laying up – where are they (Matthew 6:19-21, 33). In the economy of the Savior, less is more. Less of me makes room for more of Him.

Columbus' motivation to explore

Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Columbus in the “New World” (on a small island off Florida) on October 12, 1492. It is painful to read the snide and derisive comments about Columbus Day by my dear friends of Native American heritage. Columbus has become for them a symbol of everything horrible which happened to their peoples in the exploration and colonization of the Americas. Is it right to curse the man Christopher Columbus for the deeds of unbelieving, greedy, and terrible Europeans who came later and committed genocide and liquidation of entire natons?

Perhaps by reading Columbus' own words we can let him speak for himself about his motivations in exploration.

Genesis 1:26-31 - What about environmentalism?

Italy from space

Opening thought: 

In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day." The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment.”

House of Prayer or Den of Thieves?

Luca Giordano, Christ Cleansing the Temple

Matthew 21:12-17:Jesus intends for His House to be a house of prayer (Isaiah 56:7). But there are defilers in the Temple, “but you are making it a den of robbers” (Jeremiah 7:11). As God watches your life, watches us, what does He see (Jer. 7:11)?

What is hindering you from completely pursuing an intimate relationship with Christ? Are your attentions distracted? Is it busyness? Is it religious activities? Do you have a divided heart? What are you doing that is crowding the Lord out of your life (Jer. 7:13)? Why are you doing it? What would you do differently if you knew Jesus was in the house? Do you run around like Martha in a hectic blur and find yourself farther and farther behind? What did you choose yesterday that cannot be taken away? (Luke 10:38-41. Notice Jesus’ teaching on prayer immediately follows in Luke 11).

Pastor Youcef's letter to believers

The letter below was written by Brother Youcef Nadarkhani to encourage the saints whom he pastors. I believe you will find a great deal of encouragement yourself considering his circumstances.

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

When someone internalizes the revelation of the Truth, he will be willing to share it with others and future generations. We are indebted to the people who, in the past, fought for the Truth, allowing us to have access to this glorious revelation of Jesus Christ. These believers understood the richness and the beauty of the revelation and they were ready to fight in order to pass down the fruit of the revelation.

How can we bear similar fruit for eternal life?

Ephesians 2:11-22 - From Racism to Reconciliation

Pastors Michael Catt (l) & Daniel Simmons

Opening thought: 

This weekend the movie Courageous opened across the nation, a movie about men being the husbands and fathers God has called them to be. I urge you to see the movie which was was made by a Southern Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, and pastored by Michael Catt. As a young white minister, Michael Catt was fired from a Mississippi church for quoting Martin Luther King, Jr. in the pulpit. He never forgot it.

“Getting fired … was really a pivotal, defining moment for me,” Michael Catt said.

Now 58, he’s the pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA, and among a few churches taking steps to create – and maintain – the multi-ethnicity of Christ’s body nearly a half a century after King’s death.

When Catt became pastor of Sherwood Baptist in 1989, he noticed his predominantly white congregation was a stark contrast to the small city of Albany, whose population is about 65% black. He led the way in hiring its first black associate pastor. A tragic flood in Albany in 1994 eroded racial barriers even more and created a sense of unity that still exists today. Catt and his congregation reached out to the predominantly black Mt. Zion Baptist Church, which had been damaged by the flood.

There Catt met Senior Pastor Daniel Simmons, who is black, and the two forged a friendship and began swapping pulpits. Now, the two regularly preach at each other’s churches, and their congregations come together for those occasions.

Catt, Simmons and their mixed congregation are featured in the new movie Courageous, produced by Sherwood Baptist, ranked #1 in per theater ticket sales its first weekend.

“We learn from each other,” Simmons said of the two churches. “We mutually support and encourage each other.”[1]

Pastor Fred Luter

The Southern Baptist Convention a decade ago confessed the sin of racism and asked forgiveness. At the Convention this past June, messengers approved moving toward more racial diversity in its boards and committees. It also elected its first black First Vice President, Pastor Fred Luter of New Orleans, a position that traditionally prepares an SBC leader for the President’s chair.[2]

Contextual Notes:

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is an awesome study of the church of Jesus Christ. In chapter 2 we see that God formed His church of flawed human beings, but He formed it out of His great love for sinners of all kinds (Eph. 2:1-4). He takes those who are dead in their sin and makes us alive in Christ, recreating us to make us suitable for the good works He prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:5-10). That regenerating, recreating work closed the gap between Jews, who enjoyed a covenant relationship with God, and the Gentiles, who were locked out of that relationship (Eph 2:11-13). By bringing both Jew and Gentile to God through the Cross, Jesus settled the long-standing hostility between the races, removing its cause (Eph 2:14-18). As a result, Jew and Gentile are now “fellow citizens” of God’s household and together parts of a holy temple that God’s Spirit is building even today (Eph. 2:19-22).

Key Truth: Paul wrote Ephesians 2:11-22 to teach believers that believers are people of reconciliation through Christ’s blood, Christ’s peace, and in Christ’s household.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about racism and reconciliation.

Key Verse: Ephesians 2:14

Pray and Read:  Ephesians 2:11-22

Sermon Points:

1.   We are all reconciled in Christ’s blood (Eph 2:11-13)

2.   We are all reconciled in Christ’s peace (Eph 2:14-18)

3.   We are all reconciled in Christ’s household (Eph 2:19-22)