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Showing posts from August, 2011

Christian Persecution in Action Today

 Update: prayer still needed for brother Yousef. Pastor Yousef facing execution In Iran three pastors have been arrested and and are facing death penalty charges for their faith in Christ. In today's world you do not need to read about the persecution of believers in the early church as your only source.  Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was just re-sentenced to face "death by hanging" if he does not recant his faith in Christ. If he confessed Islam they will spare his life. Source: Levitt Newsletter Sept 2011 Other pastors arrested include: Pastor Behrouz Sadegh-Khanjani Pastor Abdolreza “Matthias” Haghnejad Please Pray Sincerely for the Lord to miraculously intervene or that He would use their faith as examples to lead others to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ! There are many other areas where persecution is going on and they all need our prayerful support!!!! God Bless Bro. Mike More info can be found at Voice of the Martyrs

IL State Fair

Earl Powell manning the God Mobile Yesterday was a blessed day at he fair. My family and I attended two concerts, Chris August and Jars of Clay. The events were co-sponsored by our BMIC (Business Men In Christ) ministry and they were a blessing. On another note, the "God Mobile," headed up by the BMIC Chaplain at large, Earl Powell, has been a mainstay at the fair for several years. This year preliminary figures indicate they were able to pray with over 265 men, women, and children concerning their relationship to Christ. May God's blessings be upon those wonderful God-fearing men and women, who attended the booth and prayed and counseled those individuals. All-in-all, it was a very blessed day, especially for those who prayed to accept Christ. Verse to start the week: Romans 8:26-39 (NKJV) 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings

Working Out Your Salvation? Truth exposed in New Book!

Desiring to deepen your understanding of Scripture? "Those Who Are Wise Will Shine! Understanding the Work of God in Your Redemption" underscores that desire. First off, it is not a self-help book. It doesn't try to entice the believer by giving advice directly related to struggles with particular life situations. Instead, it exposes God's work as it directly relates to bringing redemption or salvation into the world. It is punctuated by the simple gospel message that it is Christ God the Father sent to relate to humanity on our level; His relational work — His becoming like us in order to truly represent us — underscores His love for us. It is His work on our behalf. Essential to maintaining proper godly and spiritual growth is the Christian's ability to grasp how God's work in our lives brings lasting peace. Colossians 3:15 states: " And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."

Works Without Christ

One of the things I have noticed in my witnessing is that many people are desirous to use good works as a replacement for real faith in God which, subsequently, is the catalyst of good works. Many do not want to have a personal relationship with God so they choose instead, as a replacement, to just be a good person. Why not? It’s one of the easiest things to do! Oh my, to be in charge of your own life and to never have to commit to God or the church!! Wow! Isn’t that something! Readers beware! That lie of Satan, “Works without Christ—no commitment necessary” has taken the world by storm. Unfortunately, so many are listening that Isaiah the prophet held no punches when he was inspired to write the following: Like a parched earth, so are those without Christ Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself And opened its mouth beyond measure; Their glory and their multitude and their pomp, And he who is jubilant, shall descend into it . (Isaiah 5:14) Now the lie doesn’t sound so ent

When the Feet of Christ Descend!

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Matt. 23:37 NKJV I have been watching the news as it funnels out of the Middle East now for many years. The evolving nature of the dispositions of the entire area is like a time-bomb. The area and the world ticks away second-by-second awaiting the birth of things to come, things the Bible plainly declares. It is clear from the passage above that God loves Jerusalem. Moreover, i t was to the Jewish people that Jesus first came and preached salvation. But soon after the nation had rejected Him, He stood outside the city lamenting the coming slaughter that would occur as a result. The passage that follows simply says the ir house would become desolate (cp. Matt . 23: 3 8). Josephus records that approximately 40 years later, in 70 A.D., the Roman Empero

God, Idols, and the Stock Market

Update on the Stock Market: As it continues to be volatile please make sure you review in whom you really trust! It is the Lord that owns the cattle on a thousand hills, not wall street. :) Wow, another bad day in the Markets! 265 points downward on Wednesday followed up by a 513 point jagged red line on Thursday. Things are not going to get any better in these last days. Many people during these risky times lose millions some just a huge percentage of cash, yet back to the market they always seem to go. And today, the headlines will be filled placing blame on the Republicans from one crowd and Democrats on the other. Why is this scapegoat mentality so prevalent? Not only “Why” and, especially for the one who claims to be Christian, Does fault really matter? I would like to place some perspective on this issue and any others from the past or in the future. In the early days of Israel’s history, during the days of the prophet Samuel and the Judges, Israel had been at war with th

Christ, Sin, and Why I Believe!

The enigma of the Christian lifestyle has taken many forms and garnered many attacks, some even justified. It is these justifiable attacks, usually the result of false teaching or loose living, that give fuel to the fiery assaults. They also give rise to continuing opposition. Marx was quick to convey his opposition to religion in the following manner: Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions. Karl Marx, Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right Marx was somewhat correct in identifying that people have problems and they reach out in m