John Holmgren (5)

Have you heard about the trucker who has painted his cab and trailer with the names of all those who lost their lives in 9/11?

The trucker's name is John Holmgren from Shafer, Minn. He has been 'pulled over' numerous times just so the troopers can get their picture taken with the truck.

As you look at these pictures and remember 9/11, remember what Jesus did for you as well.

Rick Warren (5)

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said: People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.

I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.

God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.

If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, ^which is my problem, my issues, my pain.^

But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal my wife or make it easy for her.

It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better ...

God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD

Annonymous (4)

Have you ever just wanted confirmation of something that would cause there to be no doubt left in your mind? Perhaps a sign that is so unmistakable that there would be no question, you would know the answer as clearly as if it were tattooed on your forehead.

Let me back up for a moment and fill you in. I have been a believer all my life. I have never doubted God's existence, his love, or his plan for my salvation. I accepted Christ at a young age and even though I strayed for a little while I came back to him, recommitted my life, was baptized and strive daily to live a life in accordance with his will. Now that you are caught up with me, allow me to explain my dilemma and God's amazing answer to my prayer.

When I was very young my mother took me to see a film about the Rapture. It scared me to death! I was convinced that I would wake up and find my family gone and be all alone. This terror stayed with me well into my teenage years. After that I didn't really like to speak of the Rapture or the end of our days. I knew I was saved but there was always this fear that if I had missed something I would be left behind.

Recently my husband became very interested in the book of Revelations and in Bible Prophesy. He really peaked my curiosity so I began to read the ^Left Behind^ series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. This stirred up all the old feelings of doubt that I had carried through much of my life. I began to pray for God to open my eyes if I had missed something or to show me how to have faith that I was truly saved and not let the devil put doubts in my mind that my salvation was not real. That maybe I was doing something that would cause me to miss the big party in the sky.

One morning I awakened before I really needed to (and I try to sleep as long as my children will let me) and began to pray. Once again I asked God to help me see clearly and shared my fear with him. When I finished praying I opened the Bible and it opened to Isaiah 56. As I read the passages I began to truly feel like God had given me an immediate answer to my prayers. To summarize, it basically said if you have bound yourself to the Lord and hold fast to him he will give you an everlasting name that will not be cut off. It goes on to say that those who serve him, worship him and love his name will be given joy in his house of prayer. Wow, I was amazed! I thanked God for his answer to my prayer and marveled at his majesty all day. Then the doubt crept back in. What if I had misunderstood, what if I was interpreting his message wrong?

Fast-forward 3 days. Our church was hosting a wonderful evening of worship & praise on Sunday night. Our family attended and I was blessed beyond measure. During the time we were given an opportunity for silent prayer. I went to my knees and asked God yet again to either open my eyes to any areas I have been blind in or to somehow assure me of my place in his kingdom. I begged for the faith I needed! At the close of prayer I rose to sing another song of praise. To my jubilation, God did it again! We began to sing ^Till I See You^ by Hillsong United. Check out the words of this beautiful song below and you will understand why I stood weeping at the amazing love that my Master poured out upon me. I believe he gave me my answer, healed my doubt and caught every tear!

Till I See You

The greatest love that anyone could ever know
That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul
And till I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in You

With all I am I'll live to see Your kingdom come
And in my heart I pray You'd let Your will be done
And till I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in You

I will live to love You
I will live to bring You praise
I will live a child in awe of You

You are a voice that called the universe to be
You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me
And till I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in you

You alone are God of all
You alone are worthy Lord
And with all I am my soul will bless Your name

Anonymous (3)

The Resume of Jesus Christ

Address: Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13
Website: The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus
_____________________________________________________

Objective
My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.
____________________________________________________________
Qualifications
· I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
· I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
· I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
· I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
· The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

Occupational Background
· I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49)
· I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
· My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15 -17)

Skills Work Experiences
· Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18)
· I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33)
· Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

Educational Background
· I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6)
· In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3)
· My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105)
· I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21)

Major Accomplishments
· I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26 )
· I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15)
· I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15)
· I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
· There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

References
Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance

In Summation
Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47 ). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15 ).

This is an awesome witnessing tool. Send this resume to everyone you know, you never know who may have an opening!

Have you sent this resume to anyone? What was the outcome? How did your friend respond? Please post your comments below for others to read.

Rich C (3)

Are you lost? Searching?… I was, but maybe my experience can help you make sense of your own situation.

About me

I’m not someone who is easily convinced about anything and am of the philosophy if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. So first, let me give you a little information about myself.

I am in my forties, married with one child. I am employed as a Fire-Captain/Paramedic in a suburb of . I have been on the job for about 26 years. I tell you this because I think I am a pretty average normal guy and have at least been around the block once or twice – I hope! Eight years ago, if I would have heard someone say they were “saved” I would have thought they were some kind of religious freak. So, bear with me! If you have found this article, I now truly believe there is a greater reason you are reading it.

Who did I write this article for? Well . . .

First, if you are a bible scholar, then I am sure you will soon be painfully aware that you are not reading an article that measures up to your caliber. I am writing this for people who, maybe like I did, feel lost or feel as though something is missing in their lives. Also possibly, for the new believer who’s life has been affected or changed in such a way that they feel “compelled” to investigate this new conviction and need some direction.

This article isn’t for . . .

As I stated earlier, it is neither for the bible scholar nor for the debater or “my faith is better than your faith” person. I am an “average Joe” and offer this only for those people who find themselves in a situation similar to mine - 8 years ago. I am only equipped to defend my own position and beliefs. This is my personal story plus some helpful (I hope) advice – So now is the time to turn back if you think reading this will be too painful!

My Story

One morning, about 8 years ago, while I was driving to work, I was going through my usual routine of trying either to find a good morning talk radio show or music station with a song I wanted to hear. I came to a busy intersection and had to make a left turn into traffic to proceed on my route. Just before I made the turn, I pressed the scan button on my radio and it landed on a religious station. I remember thinking “Oh Brother”, and that “as soon as I make this turn I’m going to turn this nonsense off!” But, ‘something’ the guy who was talking said, caught my attention and I felt compelled to leave it on. The person who was speaking was Pastor Greg Laurie. I remember thinking this guy is pretty funny and also thinking most of what he was saying really seemed to make sense.

Let me back up a little at this point…

My wife and I had recently experienced tragedies that had either personally touched our lives or touched the lives of our close relatives and we had begun to question subjects like our life purpose, beliefs, and faith - or should I say lack there of it. Each day, listening to this guy (Pastor Greg) really hit home and I found myself really looking forward to hearing his show. On his broadcasts, he would share personal stories about his life and I learned that, compared to where he was now in his life, he had come from a very different path. He was very funny and presented his sermons on the level with no sugar coating. I was able to relate to a lot of what he said. Most of the guys I work with or my friends are straight talkers – no bull. And as I listened to this guy, I could tell he was giving it to me straight. Many times when I listened, I felt as though he was speaking directly to me. There would be sermons he presented discussing subjects or questions that were almost identical to the subjects and questions my wife and I had been discussing recently and often in just the previous night’s conversation. Many times, I would call my wife and tell her to turn his broadcast on and listen. I would say something like, “you’re not going to believe what Pastor Greg is talking about right now!” I also began to feel like I was starting to get some direction in my own life. There was a point at the end of each show where Pastor Greg would ask if the listeners wanted to say a “prayer” regarding a request. Well I always felt compelled from day one to do it, but I initially didn’t, mainly because of my previous faith background. Well one day at the end of one of his shows, I said the prayer and made the request that Pastor Greg stated. I repeated the prayer and it changed my life. Now there weren’t fireworks or lightening bolts, but a peace came over me, like a weight lifted off my shoulders and I knew in my heart that I had made the right decision. I also felt a wave of emotion that sort of took me by surprise.

I’m not Mr. Emotional mostly because of my upbringing. My dad – don’t get me wrong –is a good guy; he was a sergeant in the army and then in construction, but I don’t think he ever lost that sergeant thing! He always kind of ran our household like a mini boot camp and sayings like “I’ll give you something to cry about!” taught my brother and I early in life to “suck it up” and move on. But when I said the prayer and the first time I shared my story with a pastor at my church, it really got to me. I didn’t really understand it then, but I do now! As you grow in your faith, you too will increasingly understand the stakes involved and the cost of the gift offered to you.

Saved?….

For the new Christian, you have heard and should understand this term, but for the person who is searching, you may not understand this term or many of the other terms you will begin to hear. But hang in there, it will shortly become very apparent how many of these terms will apply to your new Christian life. That day, I repeated the prayer Pastor Laurie stated and I was saved. Now if you’re new or searching, don’t get nervous . . . just hang in there and keep reading, it will soon make more sense. There was no mystery and the prayer was all I needed to meet the requirements of being “Saved”. OK! Here was the context of what I said; I repeated: “Lord Jesus I know I’m a sinner, but I believe you died on the cross for me. I turn now from my sin and receive you as my Savior and my Lord and I choose to follow you from this day forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me. In Jesus’ name I pray.” It was and IS that simple. I meant it from my heart! Meaning…everything in me told me it was right. I said it, meant it, and I felt relieved. As I stated, there weren’t fireworks or lightning bolts, but I felt a peace in my life, a relief. It changed my life.

It changed my life . . . . .

When I say it changed my life, I don’t mean it was immediate and I surely do not mean I picked up a sign, grew a beard and started yelling at people through a megaphone. But I do have to say that if today, I saw someone doing what I describe in that scenario, the bearded guy and megaphone, I wouldn’t think less of that person. Although it might not be the method I would use to get the message out, it might be the method someone else feels convicted to use and I wouldn’t think he or she were strange. Well, maybe she - with the beard thing – just kidding! In general, here’s how it did change my life. Instead of living a selfish life, pursuing my own desires, I started to try and live my life for others. Instead of trying to fill that gap in my life with financial pursuits, parties and the next “good time”, I started to look at what was really important in life.

As for God, I always believed in God, but I thought of Him as very distant from me. I thought of Him more like a Judge with a good and bad list. Each of our names headed a list and there were check marks in the bad and good columns of each person’s list. I always hoped that if my time came, that I would have enough checks in the good column and be able to “get in”. I felt that God was “up there” somewhere watching me and if I screwed up, he would shake his head and place a mark in the bad column of my list. If I did pray, it was half hearted or more along the lines of “if you can do this for me, I will never do that” or “remember when I did that ‘good deed’, now I need something.” It was often a bargain session, rather than true prayer. There was always a gap and I felt like I could never measure up, but I now know God has filled that gap. God made the ultimate sacrifice and provided the answer to that problem in His Son. I also learned that, to my surprise, God isn’t looking for the perfect person and he most often uses the “second string”, the common and many times broken man to accomplish his greatest work.

Many other things changed and continue to change in my life. Don’t get me wrong though. Does this mean that everything started to go great in my life and I became a “choir boy”? NO! I did get on solid ground and had a more clear direction. I made peace with God, but in some ways, my life got complicated. Overall my life has become more fulfilling and peaceful. I try, with God’s help, everyday to live for Him and others. Try is the key word here; if anyone tells you they are the poster child for the perfect Christian- you probably want to steer clear of them. I’ve heard it said and I subscribe to it – “put your faith in God, not men”. Look to God for your Christian life example and you will continue on the right path. I have learned that serving God by serving others is how you begin to live a Godly life. Also, that moderation in some things and elimination of others is how you stay on the right path. If you have trouble with moderation in any given area of your life, you need to eliminate that problem. Now, I could give you specific examples or opinions of things you should avoid, but I would risk being a hypocrite. For me, I can give you an example I have expressed to some friends and guys I work with. “I don’t think God, my creator, is happy when I drink, get drunk, and act foolish.” As I said, this is an example of mine. I unquestionably am the last one to pick up stones and start launching them. I will say however, I now do believe that if you have a buddy (brother) who has difficulty with moderation in this or any other area, you should help him by not causing him to stumble because of your actions. Also, let’s face it. If you are reading this article, you’re no dummy. I mean, you apparently have the basic skills down. Therefore, I believe you are also smart enough to know that moderation is moderation. In view of that you know, some things in life do not fall into the category of any “-RATION”. For me, now I have an understandable “life guide” to go to for advice on most anything this life has to throw at you. You should try it! Previously, when I would hear people say that the bible was an old book and out of touch with today’s life style, I would have somewhat bought into that philosophy! That was until I actually read it and then realized the old adage, “history tends to repeats itself”, is as true today as in biblical times. Many of the problems and issues we face today were also present in biblical times.

OK, here are some things that helped me as a new believer…

Read your bible! When I became a Christian I began reading the bible. In addition to reading the bible, I also tried to find a bible study, but I was very apprehensive because I knew my knowledge of the bible was almost non-existent. I was “fortunate” to know a guy at work who I considered religious. I thought of him in this way because I formerly believed that anyone who would even utter the name Jesus Christ in public must be “very religious”. Well, this friend from work introduced me to a man named Hank from his church and the three of us had an informal bible study for about a year. The study, along with guidance I received from Hank, really helped me in my faith walk and helped me find a church. Regarding the bible, I would suggest that you get a copy of the NIV Study Bible or a Life Application Study Bible. At times in my life, before I became a Christian, I would feel lost and think maybe there is something in the bible that can help. I would then pick up a copy of the King James Version bible that we had collecting dust on our book shelve, and try to make some sense of it. Well for me, the language they used made an already unfamiliar book, even harder to understand. Needless to say, my reading session would be very short and unproductive. Now, I read either the NIV Study Bible or the Life Application Study Bible. If you are searching, I suggest you get one of these versions and start in the book of John. (Gospel of John)

You will find as you read the bible, on the surface that in many chapters, this book wasn’t necessarily written as a “feel good” book and many times leaves you with more questions than answers. Also, it often appears we/people (I’m included in that we) have the “what’s in it for me” mentality. Well again, on the surface this isn’t a great advertisement for that – which in my opinion makes my faith in this book even stronger. Because the bible is a no frills, no sugar coating, in your face kind of book, people do not want to accept it. Most of us want to believe we are in control of our own destiny. Well, the gift God offers us is free – all we have to do is accept it! It’s that simple, but He is not going to make you accept it. It’s a choice that we are going to have to make and in a world where absolutes seem grayer and grayer everyday, I think many people think it can’t be that black and white or simple. There are only two answers to the offer extended, yes or no, but it’s your choice.

You may think why doesn’t God just give us a taste of the “good life”? I believe if God had given us a crystal clear window into what our afterlife would be like, it would be too easy and our choice would be skewed. We wouldn’t be making a decision based on faith or belief; we would be making it on the “OH! I see what’s in it for me attitude!” I believe that He has given us a view and if we are really seeking HIM, He will reveal it. He states it best in his own words: Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in, and eat with him, and he with me.” OR John 3: 16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Attending a Christian Church

First of all, it is going to be different! What I mean is, if you have never attended a Christian (Protestant) Faith based church it will seem strange. The language you will hear might and/or will seem overboard, weird, cultish. I have a hard time explaining exactly how I initially perceived the first Christian Protestant faith church I attended, but here are some examples of things I would see or hear that made me uncomfortable because at the time, I really didn’t understand my faith. First, I would see people raising their hands and swaying back and forth when they sang praise songs and I would hear them sometimes shout out various phrases during a sermon, like “Praise Jesus” or “Amen”. Initially, I would think “man, that’s kind of weird!” “Am I in the right place?” Are these people just trying to put on some kind of act?” Then there was the “weird” way they talked the terms or phrases they used either while singing or in conversation. Things like “we are all washed in His blood”. “Nothing but the blood of Jesus can save us”. “Can you feel His Spirit?” “We are all crucified in Christ”. “His Spirit is moving in you right now!”

I really can’t remember everything, but those were the highlights. Now if you were raised as a Christian, things like this are familiar and normal to you, but for me, this just added to my confusion over my new found faith. Since I have grown in my own faith, I now understand these actions and this “lingo”. Before, I would have thought this stuff bordered on over the top freak cult behavior. I’m now ashamed to say it, but I would have categorized people like this as “Jesus freaks” and I would have steered clear of these people. I now can tell you that although I may not act or speak entirely as many of my Christian brothers and sisters do (see I just did it!) I totally understand the actions and each day understand more of the “lingo”. I now know why people are raising their hands and what it means to have His Spirit move you. I was formerly of a different faith, and mostly only a Christmas and Easter attendee. You may have heard the term or joke people would use when asked what faith they were and they would say they were “Chreasters”. That was how I would describe my faith to people and again I am ashamed to say that I actually thought that it was funny to use that line. After I was saved, I did attend my former church, but for ME I believed I needed to find another church. When I listened to the message I found it vague and had a hard time applying it to my life. In my own experience, I can tell you that if I sang a song at my former church, I would kind of just mouth the words with a lot of the other attendees. Now as I stated earlier, I understand how people can be moved to really show their feelings for God during worship. Today when I worship at Sunday Services, while singing praise songs, sometimes I get choked up because the words point to how much I have been freely given and I have to stop singing because I really am being moved by His Spirit. There are times now where I have either said or done things that I never would have in my “former life”; for instance, sharing my faith with a friend who is experiencing a low point in their lives. I now ask for guidance and, if I can get out of the way long enough and allow God to work through me, He will provide that guidance, not only in my request, but also in all areas of my life.

There is no perfect church

It’s been said there is no perfect church and if there was, you or I wouldn’t be members there, if you get my drift! But, you will find, like anything in life, there are going to be things you like and dislike. Unfortunately, if you answered that persistent knocking at the door later in your life, as opposed to being born into it, there are going to be people who think of you as a “Johnny come lately”. You may find it’s initially hard to relate to the “Christian Scene” and therefore feel like you don’t fit in. You have to remember this is a “two way street”. You may also find tight knit groups that may not allow you into the inner circle. That being said, you have to remember why you are there. It’s not for any other reason but to serve God. So get involved, volunteer, serve, just give freely of yourself just as He gave freely of himself. Pray to God to bring people into your life that will help you in your new found faith and He will! Get into a bible study. When we searched for a church, we used Pastor Greg’s number one rule of advice. Find a bible- based Church that teaches from the bible and adheres to biblical principles. We looked for a church following this principle and one that would help our child grow in faith. Ask the experts, go online, do a little research. We attended several churches until we finally chose a church. I would suggest you do the same.

In conclusion

As I stated, I wrote this for the person who is searching or who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior but is thinking now what? I have only scratched the surface, but I felt “moved” to do this! In the fire service, we use the acronym KISS which stands for “keep it simple stupid”. So that’s what I have tried to do. I could hit you with a lot of catch phrases and terminology that would probably just cause confusion or add to your frustration. So I have kind of given you a blue-collar view. If you are trying to sort this all out, first pray about it! Really, if you are truly seeking and praying about it, you will be amazed at how God answers your prayers!

Second, listen to Christian radio and find a good pastor on the radio. As I said, I really love Pastor Greg Laurie. You can cut and paste this link into your browser to go to his website www.harvest.org. I feel God really uses him to reach people. His shows are powerful and additionally you can listen to him either on his website or download his pod cast. He never talks down to you and his messages are a benefit to all believers, regardless of your stage as a believer.

Third, get into a good church. A church that teaches from the bible and adheres to its principles.

Lastly, read your bible. Some people say it’s an old book with old ideas and problems. Well, read it and you be the judge. It seems to me we are still repeating the same mistakes of ancient times. It also seems apparent to me that if we would just follow the advice given in this book, we might find that life is a great deal easier, but again, you be the judge. I suggest you start in the book of John. (Gospel of John)

Shayne Hammond (3)

Approximately 10 years ago, on a freezing July night, the cold, hard, truth hit me like a freight train.

NO ONE WAS COMING TO MY RESCUE.

On our bedroom floor, my wife was giving birth to our son, he’d come so quickly that we had just called the hospital to tell them we were on our way. But we never made it out of the house.

The complication was he was breech, and when he had come out to his shoulders, the contractions stopped and he stopped coming. My wife and I stayed calm, but for all my trying I just could not get his head out.

While this was happening my sister had called an ambulance, but we were stuck in this position for about 15 minutes before they arrived and were able to fully deliver him.

What I didn’t realise was that the umbilical cord was obstructed and our baby was suffering asphyxiation. When he was finally born our boy was blue, and his heart rate was 40 beats per minute when it should have been 140 beats per minute.

As the paramedics worked on our son, pumping oxygen into his lungs, with a hand pump, I went outside to talk to God.

I'd been studying faith at a local church for a while, and had achieved some small successes. One of the scriptures that has always impressed on me the most was Mark 11:24 “Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be though removed and be though cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass. He shall have whatsoever he says.”

This scripture told me I had to take responsibility in the situation, and not wait for something to happen, but make something happen.

I felt strength flow through me as I reminded God what this scripture said. I told God that I was not going to ask for anything but that I was going to take control of the situation.

I had a strong belief that parents are supposed to protect their children, not just naturally but spiritually as well.

I also could not accept the idea that a child would be born just to die ten minutes later.

After my conversation with God I felt fearless and determined. When I went back into the house the main paramedic pulled me aside and asked me if he could have a word with me. With a grim look on his face and a professional tone in his voice he told me, “I don’t think the little blokes gonna make it.”

This was a defining moment, I refused to become afraid and accept his opinion!

Looking directly into his eyes I replied “No he is going to be fine.” I know I must have had a look that said I meant business, because the paramedic backed off immediately with a quick reply “Yer Okay”.

It’s amazing how quickly people will change their mind and come into agreement with you when you are clear and absolute about something.

Upon entering the hospital I repeated with conviction “No he’s going to make it, He’s gonna be just fine,” to any one that spoke to me.

As I stood back and watched Doctors and Nurses buzzing around my son in a hive of activity, things became surreal.

A smiling woman in a white coat approached, “You know when they called in, I thought they’d be bringing in a dead baby, but it’s a miracle, they’ve done a great job, he’s looking good.”

Of course our baby did survive.

But the next day he was placed in intensive care. At a meeting with the head of intensive care, the Doctor explained to us that our baby was “fitting” and this was most likely because he would have suffered brain damage and organ damage due to the lack of oxygen he received during birth. At this point, once again I reassured the Doctor, “No, don’t worry, he’s going to be just fine.” Because of what we had just been through, I thought there’s no way I’m going to start backing off now.

About this time we were interviewed by the hospital psychologist, to see how we were handling the fact our baby would be severely handicapped. After the meeting my wife sneaked a peek at the psychologist’s clipboard and notes. Amoung other things, my wife noticed the statement “This couple is not prepared for failure.” It was not written as a positive statement, but I found it incredibly empowering.

The ward is divided into ten sections. Section one for the sickest babies and our son was in this section. Some babies are in section one for months and some never get well. However, within two days our son was in section three and in three days he was in section nine. Within another three days we were taking him home in absolutely perfect condition.

Since that time I have pushed myself to learn as much as possible about this incredible power that saved my son’s life.

What I have learnt I have applied to many different areas of my life, I have used this power to transform my near bankrupt, failing business into a thriving prosperous company that has allowed me an income that has totally changed my lifestyle.

I have seen this power make cancer and arthritis completely disappear from people’s bodies.

I have seen it transform children with learning difficulties and sleeping problems into peaceful intelligent, happy kids.

I have seen it do many incredible, wonderful things in relationships, and every area of life. I believe this power controls the world, and I believe it exists for the benefit of mankind.

I truly believe it’s the answer to every obstacle we face.

“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32

To find out more about Shayne Hammond please visit www.shaynehammond.com

Get Excited! It's Time to Overcome

Tony Evans (2)

God is not going to waste anything He can use! Before he was Paul, Saul had tremendous credentials, which he used against the church. Once Paul was committed to Christ, God was able to use Paul´s gifts to advance His kingdom. When God needed a strong leader in the early church, when God needed a man to write down the theology for His church, when God needed a man to stand up to Caesar yet talk straight to ordinary, hurting people . . . He used Paul.

How can God use your life? Even before you were saved, God already knew all your traits. God wants to sanctify the things that are already part of you so He can use them to advance His Kingdom.

Are you in a situation right now wondering how to turn it around for good? God is preparing you, positioning you and enabling you to do what He knows you can do most effectively.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 51:1-13
2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Ephesians 4:1-16
John 15:9-17; Psalm 138; Psalm 139:13-18

Visit The Urban Alternative at www.tonyevans.org

Anonymous (2)

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.

After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.
He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this...I got an old barn out back.
It's been there a long time, it's withstood a lot of weather, it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years.

It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit.
So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time.
I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times,
and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the
Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning, at times.

Sometime we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning
toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't. So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on
our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.

If you stare at this barn for a second you will see who will help us stand straight and tall again.

Kelli (2)

Once in a while I have frightening dreams, I call them my devil dreams. One in particular was even more scary than usual because all the other times I would say or think the name Jesus, and I would wake up instantly.

But this time it was different. In my dream I was standing in my kitchen and Satan was sitting in a chair. He started to get up, coming towards me. I rebuked him in Jesus name. He flew back onto the chair and looked as if he had been beaten . He was shaken and weak and I could tell he was hurt, but it scared me because I didn’t wake up as I usually do.

He looked at me slyly and started to get up and come towards me again, I said “I rebuke you Satan in Jesus name” this time I said it a little louder, he fell back but not as hard and he got up faster.

He came towards me again, and I yelled “I rebuke you Satan in Jesus name!” He fell back to the chair but got right back up. This time I screamed the rebuke as loud as I could, and he just stepped back.

I was so scared because I knew I couldn’t scream any louder, I could see him crouching and could sense he was about to fly at me when I heard a still small voice in my heart, “if you have faith you can whisper.” I remember looking Satan right in the eye as I spoke softly, whispering, “I rebuke you Satan in Jesus name” and I instantly woke up.

I believe God works through dreams because there are instances in the Bible I can refer to, and this one had a profound affect on me.

I reflect on it often I think that’s why I remember it so vividly.

Allan (2)

GOD’S TRUE MIRACLE

All my life, I have heard the name of God in all walks of life, sometimes in praise but many times in curses and disbelief… oh, I’m sorry… my name is Allan, a filipino. I’m just a normal, outspoken kid whose life has been twisted by the wrong belief that you create your own destiny and there is nobody to blame but yourself. Let me tell you a story. A long time ago, when I was a kid, I remember my lolo and lola putting me to sleep in one of those wooden kuna’s. I had trouble sleeping then… then my lola would tap my legs until I would. The instance I wake up my lola would put a bottle of milk to my mouth to suck. That was a long time ago… they said that I was a good kid… and I was for a short time.

It started when I was I think at 5 yrs old or 6 when I was playing with my baby sister. My baby sister started crying and I didn’t do a thing. Then she started pointing at my direction seemingly telling me I was at fault. My lolo started whipping me with his sinturon and I was helpless until my yaya advised my lolo it wasn’t me. At that time I didn’t know how to get angry…. I was confused at the situation then. How I wish that was true today.

When I was 11 or 12, when I went home I overheard most of the people shouting at my lola because of a confusion of some sorts (until now I don’t know the cause). It was the first time I saw that it was taking a hard toll on my lola. I then immediately went up to my lola and told the other persons in the house to stop and Mama’s hurt (I call my lola Mama) with what they’ve said. It was the first time I noticed everybody listened. It wasn’t that I don’t know what I’ve said… it was just an honest thing.

At 15 yrs old… I was idolizing juvenile delinquents who were at my point of view then was cool… I thought doing bad things was pretty cool and I lost my sense of direction on how to view life. I tried everything to the point that I became a liar, a thief and I made my evil alter-ego become myself. I was consumed by sin itself… and constructed my own version of how to live my life…. I didn’t know that this event would shape my whole life up… which was evidently shown because during my college days… I struggles with myself and did not finish my studies because of confusion… until it was too late.

At 24, I’ve noticed that my Lolo, who was our bread winner, then fell ill. Then I’ve noticed that our family was already struggling financially and I was in the middle of it. So I’ve prayed to God and contemplated on what to do. Then I’ve decided to find some work by hook or by crook. I’d be interviewed then and there… to the point I got accepted to be part of training. But due to my inexperience I didn’t get my job. But in one brief flash, the other company in which I applied to took notice of my resume and hired me. It was a miracle in itself… but I really didn’t know back then. It was the start of me growing up. I’ve learned that there are sacrifices that I need to do but I was very selfish… I didn’t share my blessings at that time… I’d use people to get what I’ve wanted and the liar inside me controlled me again. It was a pain.

When I was 26, I fell in love with this girl who was my office mate… problem was I didn’t become honest enough and eventually she broke my heart and fell in love with another man… the pain was so deep… it worsened into a depression I’ve never before experienced. I became an alcoholic after that, which led to me resigning from my job. It was a disaster. After a month of treating my depression, I’d landed another job. This time I made a vow that it won’t happen again… but it did. I wouldn’t go into details any more… but it led me to resign again and transfer to another company. It became a cycle. I was confused and I became more of an atheist every passing day. Then it happened. My girlfriend got pregnant. All the confusion, basically all that I know halted to a stop. I basically didn’t know what to do. But everything I believed was it was all me. I tried to handle it by becoming more of a man… but it stressed me out… then my baby was born. We gave the name Kyle to the baby boy… who I really loved and cared for… but at a price. My girlfriend was mad at me because of the sacrifice I did for work… and I became a financial burden for them. A few months later my health degraded. I had to be absent because I don’t want to stress myself and get much sicker… and at the same time my son got sick and my lola got sick. Bow, in the face of adversity… I turned and noticed one church. They had this video on the internet about a sermon on how God was testing us constantly… and it hit me. It wasn’t bad luck or kharma that was giving me problems. It was sin. And God was constantly testing me in every way. God wants me to trust him and let him do his work for me… I alone accepted… now I trust him more… but he still testing me. I wish to those who read this please pray for me and my family, so we in God’s will go through and pass God’s test. Thank you.

-ALLAN

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