Letters Letter from the Editor Letter from the Editor Greetings and welcome to our twentieth issue of Morning Star! We all praise the Lord for His faithfulness. This month's Feature Theme area concerns "Marriage and Family" and contains a variety of excellent articles. Our Commentary, People Profiles, Book Review, "New in Christ" and Ministry Focus columns are all tied into this topic. Wonderful news on the distribution front. Morning Star is now being read in Cape Town, South Africa and Moscow, Russia. This brings to sixteen the number of countries that receive the magazine in some format each month. (Some get the hard copy via mail, others receive a computer edition either on disk or via a computer network connection.) Can you believe this? Praise God! Add to your prayers that we may find our way into even more countries. We are currently "targeting" twelve specific countries. If any of you know friends or missionaries in foreign lands that could help distribute Morning Star, please get in touch with me. Another BIG development ... we now have a Fax number! Make note of it please and pass it on. I have designed a page-sized "mini-poster" for Morning Star that I will fax to any ministry or church requesting it. Send me a fax at 603-883-0466. As always we need your help with articles and stories! Our specific needs are for these columns: New In Christ Testimony Ministry Focus (Formerly Ministry Profile) Education Music Mission Field We especially need articles and stores for our upcoming Feature themes: Vol 2.10 - REVIVAL (Personal, Church, National) Vol 2.11 - LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRIES (Choir, Singles, Visitation, etc.) Vol 2.12 - THE FEASTS OF AND PROMISES TO ISRAEL Vol 3.1 - ANNUAL "HIGH-TECH" ISSUE (Christians using technology to do the Lord's work, i.e. computers, TV, radio, Faxes, BBS) Vol 3.2 - DOCTRINAL ISSUE - Theme: "Grace and Legalism" Vol 3.3 - BIBLE PERSONALITY ISSUE - Theme: "Paul the Apostle" Vol 3.4 - TESTIMONY ISSUE - Theme: "Victimization" (all forms, i.e. toxic faith, spousal abuse, childhood abuse, etc.) Quite a variety of themes wouldn't you say? People around the world will benefit by us sharing information on these topics. Won't you please consider writing something, or asking a friend, relative or Pastor to submit an article or story? It's up to YOU our readers to keep this magazine ministry going strong! In Service to our Lord and Savior, Toby Trudel Commentary Commentary Currently, there is a great deal of confusion over the definition of family. The confusion is cultural, not Biblical. Social engineers are striving to redefine family to encompass every conceivable relationship. As believers, we must not accept this revisionism. Scripture presents only two type of families. The first is the earthly family, the second, the spiritual family. The earthly family was created by God in the Garden. "The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" " (Genesis 2:18). So God created Eve. The human family is made up of a husband, wife and children. The Biblical family encompasses the couple and their children. Scripture values the children within the family. "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth" (Psalm 127:4). However, this doesn't mean that it is wrong for a couple to remain childless. The family may also contain extended elements. These may include grandparents and adult siblings. The family cannot be a same sex couple, even when children are part of the relationship. A family is not made up of two adults of opposite sex living together without benefit of marriage. God hasn't redefined the family, and therefore we can not allow society to do so. Certainly, we have to recognize that many of the units within the church include a single parent. We cannot act as if we live in the 1950s and ignore the increase of this group. Also, we cannot accept the modern position that the Biblical model is passe. Keep in mind: most cultures began to decline when they denigrated the significance of the family structure. The strength of the church is found in the family. The model of Christ's relationship to the church is illustrated by the Christian husband and wife. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ..." (Ephesians 5:25). We must stand firmly for the Biblical family model. We must hold to God's standards for behavior. Again, this doesn't relieve the church of the responsibility to care for the single parent. Nevertheless, single parenthood is not God's ideal. No matter how hard the single parent strives to meet all the needs of a child, there always remains the need for both a father and mother. Scripture assumes that children have both parents. "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord" (Colossians 3:20). This doesn't mean there weren't single parents in Biblical times, but this was not the norm, or intended to be. Single parenthood by choice is also inappropriate. For a woman to chose having a child without a father to help raise it is in direct defiance of God's intent for the Biblical model of parenthood. On the other hand, someone who is a single parent through no desire of their own deserves support and aid from the local church. You men within the church should help provide a male role model for the children without fathers. You women can provide a female model for the children without mothers. As, we appropriately strive to protect the family, we mustn't allow the single individual to feel left out. Paul highly values the single state as a life of service. And certainly the single parent has a ministry to the child(ren) "Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. ... I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife-- and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:27, 32-35). For the church, a high priority for ministry must be the survival of the family. God's desire is for all couples to remain married. As God said: "I hate divorce," (Malachi 2:16). He also calls parents to raise their child in His ways. "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads" (Deuteronomy 6:6-8). Within the church, we also find the spiritual family. Here, we should no longer worry about singles, versus couples. We are all brothers and sisters because we have one father. "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Romans 8:15-16). This truth can be of great comfort to believers. Many do not come from Christian families. They are estranged from parents, siblings, even children. But, as Christians within the church, Christ has provided a new family. Paul spoke to this when he said: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Galatians 6:10). As Christians within the community of the local church, we are called to be examples of God's love and mercy to a fallen world. We can model God's ideal of the family. We can show how God loves us as we care for one another within our individual families. We can show how He cares for us as we care for one another within the church family. Let us not fall for society's view that the family is dying and irrelevant. Instead, let us depend on the Lord as we strive to strengthen the family. Let us teach the word that will help families to stay together, to raise children, and to love one another. Then the world will see that God is still in control. If we as God's children commit ourselves to uphold His word as the standard for our lives, He will richly bless us. In keeping with this call, this issue of Morning Star focuses on families and marriage. We hope this will encourage you to praise the Lord for your family, both earthly and spiritual. Staff Listing Staff Listing MORNING STAR P.O. Box 7755 Nashua, NH 03060 Phone: 603-883-4624 Fax: 603-883-0466 EDITOR IN CHIEF Toby Trudel - Nashua, NH SENIOR EDITOR - Biblical Department Geoffrey Kragen - Roseville, CA SENIOR EDITOR - Christian Life Department Teresa Giordanengo - Canonsburg, PA SENIOR LITERARY EDITOR Al Murillo III - El Paso, TX ASSOCIATE EDITORS Jerry Johnson - Modesto, CA Clark Stephens - Huntington Beach, CA Dale Strand - Dublin, CA J.C. Trudel - Naples, FL Mike Wilkinson - Citrus Heights, CA Dr. Charles Wootten - Matoaca, VA SENIOR PUBLISHER - DOS and WINDOWS Editions Steve Paulovich - Pembroke, NH DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL BBS DISTRIBUTION Walter H. 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ELECTRONIC MAIL LINKS INTERNET: mstarmac@aol.com (Toby Trudel) AMERICA ONLINE: MStarDOS (Steve Paulovich) GENIE: M.Wilkinson1 (Mike Wilkinson) COMPUSERVE: 70743,603 (Jorge Lopez) FIDONET: 1:106/3118 (Walter Bauer) CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK: 8:3003/5 (Walter Bauer) CHRISTIAN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK: 8:2013/1 (Walter Bauer) POLICENET: 150:402/53 (Walter Bauer) To receive a free copy of the MS DOOR program, which allows viewers to read the magazine onscreen, contact: Alan Graff P.O. Box 131 Wheelersburg, OH 45694 INTERNET: alangraff@aol.com FIDONET: 1:2260/50 Theme: Families Honoring Your Parents Honoring Your Parents HONORING YOUR PARENTS by Dennis Rainey National Director Family Life Ministry Little Rock, Arkansas You might remember Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon back in 1980. In an interview with Dr. Jonas Salk in McCalls magazine, Chapman made this statement about his relationship with his father: "My father was never very emotional. He never told me he loved me, never said he was sorry; we never ever really got along. He smashed my head down in a plate of spaghetti one time. He never showed any emotion of love, just maybe if I needed money for school he would give it. Mom always told me my father couldn't show these kinds of things, but he would try in other ways. You know, he was always home, and he never drank. But I needed more than just a father who was responsible not only morally, but ethically for his family. I needed more than that. I needed emotional love." When I read that interview, I thought of the many people I've talked with and counseled over the years who have said much the same thing. Many of us are in the same boat with Chapman. We need emotional love. We desire for our parents to reach out to us. We want them to express their love and affection. Many of us receive that love and affection from our parents, and others do not. During the last few years, scores of books have been written about reconciling childhood. Celebrities have streamed forth to tell of their awful childhoods. It's almost chic to describes ourselves as "victims." My concern is that many of us focus too much on condemning our parents. We form a model in our minds of what the perfect relationship should have been, or could be. Then we grade our parents on how well they fit that model. And we forget God's commandment to us to "Honor your parents." When God set the course for the nation of Israel, and gave them the 10 Commandments, the second mandate involved the family: "Honor your father and your mother that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you" (Exodus 20:12). Note that God promises a blessing to children who do honor their parents. Throughout the biblical record you can find stories that demonstrate how God keeps His word in this matter. The Book of Ruth, for example, describes a woman who lost her husband, yet decided to help care for her mother-in-law, Naomi, in hard times. Ruth responded to Naomi with love and loyalty, as though were her own mother. This is the first indication we receive of the type of woman Ruth was. And God later rewards Ruth for her faithfulness by giving her a godly husband, Boaz. But not all of the snapshots in the scriptures are good. Absalom actually overthrew the throne of his father, David, because he was a spoiled brat. The picture that Absalom presents for us in the Bible is one of conspiracy. He connived, he manipulated, he did not honor his father. To begin honoring your parents, a good first step would be to evaluate your relationship with them. Often, while trying their best to develop relationships with parents, children make two types of mistakes. They let themselves become either too attached or too detached. For example, many adult children are too dependent upon their parents for emotional support. You need the emotional support of family members, but you do not need to run home to mommy for emotional support every time you face a struggle or conflict. There needs to be a healthy balance. Another problem is being too attached for acceptance and approval. You need to learn how to live without their approval and do things on your own because you believe it is right. God has to bring about this conviction in your life. On the other hand, children can move to the opposite extreme and become too detached. Two things usually happen here: First, children neglect their parents. I imagine that this problem is becoming more acute in today's mobile society, when many children live hundreds or thousands of miles from their hometown. But even when children live nearby, they often neglect their parents by not visiting them enough, or by not helping meet physical or financial needs. Second, children reject their parents. Some reject their value systems, or show compassion on them and where they have come from as people. We are merciless. Aren't you glad God doesn't deal with us like we deal with our parents? Paul Meier, a Christian psychiatrist in Dallas, Texas, estimates 95 percent of all Christians have bitterness or anger in their hearts toward their parents. That means a lot of Christians are isolated from the people they owe so much to. Whether good or bad, parents need our love. Too often we do not recognize that our parents have needs and struggles too. Our parents are needy and they have struggles. Just as you are growing up, some of them are growing old. For many of you, the idea of honoring your parents is not difficult at all--you just need some creative ideas. For others, this will be one of the most important tests of faith in your Christian life. If you cannot trust God to give you the strength to show love for your parents, what good is your faith? In order to develop that honoring relationship, you must first clear the air of any resentment. Allow God to search your heart. Psalm 139:23, 24 says, "Lord, you search me, you know my thoughts and you see if there be any wicked way within me, and you lead me in your everlasting way." Have you ever said anything hurtful to your parents? Have you ever failed them? Confess any sin that pops up. Take any wrong attitudes or any wrong actions to God first, your heavenly Father. Use I John 1:9 as a reference. Next, accept your parents as God's selection for you. Do you realize God was not wringing His hands when your parents had intercourse and you were conceived? And He didn't say, "Oh, my goodness, I made a mistake -I meant for this other set of parents to have her." Do you think He knew what kind of parents you would have and how you would respond, what your personality would be? The Scripture speaks of a God who knew you even in your mother's womb (Psalm 139). Can you accept those parents as God's selected gift for you? Then, take the initiative to build the relationship. I know of too many adults who let their relationships with parents languish for years, waiting for their parents to make the first move. Yet their parents may not have the knowledge of what to do, or the ability to do it. Paul said, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens you" (Philippians 4:13). Have you ever considered that you may know how to tap that strength, but your parents may not? Tell your parents you love them. Those few words may do more to melt the wall of ice between you than anything else you could do. You know how old I was before I told my parents I loved them? Nineteen years old. I'll never forget that day, standing out in the gravel driveway in front of our house and I looked my dad in the eye and I can almost see a tear in his eye. I always looked in his eyes for tears because I never saw any emotion in his eyes. I put my arm around him and as I left to go away to college and said, "Mom and Dad, I love you." You also may need to approach your parents to ask for their forgiveness about specific offenses from the past. This may be the hardest step of all for you, especially if you think your parents wronged you more than you did them. But nothing will happen unless you take the first step. I'll never forget the year I was teaching a series of classes on the family at Campus Crusade for Christ's Institute of Biblical Studies. Within one 24-hour period, three single gals came up to me and described the same father - aloof, detached, unexpressive, very successful in providing but not in giving them affection. I looked one girl in the eye and said, "What do you need to do?" She said, "I need to call home and tell my dad I love him, and I'm sorry for being such a spoiled brat." She came up the next morning in class with tears streaming down her face. "For the first time in my life, my father and I communicated," she said. "He wept over the phone and so did I. I can't wait to go home." On an ongoing basis, another way to honor your parents is to share your life with them. Write letters, and call home no less than twice a month. You should do this regardless of their response to your victories and your losses. Another way to share your life with your parents is to build new memories. Take your dad fishing, or join your parents for a vacation. A couple of summers back, Barbara and I had the privilege of vacationing in Northern Minnesota with her parents. One day we ended up with a boxcar full of memories as all ten of us spent over 12 hours together in the automobile. We toured the port at Duluth, a huge iron ore mine, and a beautiful high school in Hibbing. We reminiscenced together as Barbara's dad, Bob, showed us where he vacationed as a boy with his family. It was loads of fun. Finally, seek creative ways to honor them. For example, utilize their strengths - if your dad is good at carpentry, for example, invite him to help you put in that new set of bookshelves you've been wanting. Or consider writing a "tribute" to your parents. Take some time to describe specifically how much they mean to you. Several years ago I wrote a tribute to my mom, honoring her for all she's done for me over the years. (See below) Remember my quote from Mark David Chapman? There is an epilogue to Mark David Chapman's story. The editors noted this: "As this issue went to press, Chapman wrote Dr. Salk expressing compassion and forgiveness for his father, explaining that he could only give Christ the credit and marvel at his different attitude towards his father." If the presence of Christ in this man's life could make a difference in his relationship with his father, just think what being obedient to Christ's control and power in your life can do. Anything is possible. Dennis Rainey is director of Family Life, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. TRIBUTE TO MOM by Dennis Rainey Since I began suggesting to others that they write a "tribute" to their parents, many have followed my advice. Here is what I wrote to my mom a few years ago: When she was 35, she carried him in her womb. It wasn't easy being pregnant in 1948. There were no dishwashers or Pampers, and there were only crude washing machines. After nine long months, he was finally born. Breech. A difficult, dangerous birth. She still says, "He came out feet first, hit the floor running, and he's been running ever since." Affectionately she calls him "The Roadrunner." A warm kitchen was her trademark - the most secure place in the home - a shelter in the storm. Her narrow but tidy kitchen always attracted a crowd. It was the place where food and friends were made! She was a good listener. She always seemed to have the time. Certain smells used to drift out of that kitchen - the aroma of a juicy cheeseburger drew him like a magnet. There were green beans seasoned with hickory smoked bacon grease. Sugar cookies. Pecan pie. And the best of all, chocolate bon-bons. Oh, she wasn't perfect. Once when, as a mischievous three-year-old, he was banging pans together, she impatiently threw a pencil at him while she was on the phone. The pencil, much to her shock, narrowly missed his eye and left a sliver of lead in his cheek ... it's still there. Another time she tied him to his bed because, when he was five years old, he tried to murder his teen-aged brother by throwing a gun at him. It narrowly missed his brother, but hit her prized antique vase instead. She taught him forgiveness too. When he was a teenager, she forgave him when he got angry and took a swing at her (and fortunately missed). The most profound thing she modeled was a love for God and people. Compassion was always her companion. She taught him about giving to others even when she didn't feel like it. She also taught him about accountability, truthfulness, honesty, and transparency. She modeled a tough loyalty to his dad. He always knew divorce was never an option. And she took care of her own parents when old age took its toll. She also went to church ... faithfully. In fact, she led this six-year-old boy to Jesus Christ in her Sunday evening Bible study class. Even today, her age doesn't stop her from fishing in a cold rain, running off to get Chinese food, or "wolfing down" a cheeseburger and a dozen bon-bons with her son. She's truly a woman to be honored. She's more than somebody's mother ... she's my mom. "Mom, I love you." The Ten Commitments of Marriages The Ten Commitments of Marriages THE TEN COMMITMENTS OF MARRIAGES From THE SYSTEM BBS, Nashua, NH Marriage was designed by God. Then, why do so many marriage relationships go steadily downhill to ultimate destruction and ruin? I believe it is because before marriage, many couples never made in their hearts certain foundational commitments that can strengthen and sustain marriages for this life we are called to live in. In many more cases the couple arrive in marriage as non-Christian, and fail to adjust their thinking AFTER they receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. We read secular and non-secular reports that link the failure of marriages to money, sex, children or that old-time favorite of the world - incompatibility! What most us fail to look at is that problems are only symptoms for the real failure. In a recent "ordeal" that I found I had subjected myself to in my marriage, I found myself talking with many couples, and found that they have not developed one or more of ten basic commitments, which I have just recently found in my own life. I observed that the majority of these couples were destined or were now experiencing severe difficulties that should never need come up. Husbands and wives need to grow into these commitments as the need for them becomes clear through the teaching of the Holy Spirit. But God in His wisdom granted that you should be reading this or hearing this at a time that the Spirit has appointed for you to hear or read. Most couples didn't fully understand these godly concepts before they got married. Many don't take the time to understand them, now. These ten commitments, which must be made in the heart - for the heart is "the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23)-and by faith, since faith is the only way to please God (Hebrews 11:6), are as follows: COMMITMENT #1 To Commit your marriage and your family to the Lord Jesus Christ. Many marriages begin with a vow to be under the authority of God, but then fail to follow the promises on this vow and others that the marriage vow ask. We are to make a decision and commit our family to God in a deep and meaningful way. "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, but for me and my house - we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15). Only by having Him as the head of both husband and wife will the marriage prosper. COMMITMENT #2: To grow in Christ for the Rest of My Life. Not every Christian has decided to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18). Instead, Christians often think that they have already arrived or that there is "nothing wrong with me." There is nothing wrong with a two year old acting like a two year old, but the child should eventually grow out of that behavior. In the same way, none of us has matured enough that our present state should be classified "mature" we are only able to be "maturing." We must seek growth. We must seek to grow. The result of a lifetime commitment to growth in Christ is that we become more mature in every area of life. In marriage, which demands increasing maturity in character, responsibility, and wisdom, non-growing Christians cannot make it. Their pride will not allow them to accept the learning, correction, rebukes, and questions that require them to humble themselves. Only an open and teachable person can develop the characteristics needed to make a good marriage partner. COMMITMENT #3: To stay committed to my marriage for life, and to work to solve all problems that arise. This commitment provides the security of permanence and keeps us from running away from problems. Either we face up to them and solve them, or we live with them. Christians and Christian leaders are part of the climbing divorce rate in our society, but God still requires faithfulness to our marriage vows (Malachi 2:14). He declares, "I Hate Divorce" (Verse 16). Does this enslave me as a Christian? No! instead it give security in the midst of a world in which "you will have trouble," as Christ stated (John 16:33). And it means living in hope that no problem is too great to be solved. God is working in marriage to fulfill His own desires as well as all married Christians. He is "seeking godly offspring" (Malachi 2:15) from our homes, and therefore He requires faithfulness in marriage. COMMITMENT #4: To be faithful to my mate in both mind and action. Unfaithful actions can be headed off by commitment to think romantically ONLY about the husband or wife. (Matthew 5:28). To decide, "My mate is the only one I will allow myself to think about in this way" will cut off a lot of problems before they begin. The result in marriage will be a greater level of mutual trust. COMMITMENT #5: To practice and allow to be practiced the "help meet" of Genesis. Mankind has heaped years and years of garbage upon the alter of marriage by downgrading the role of the woman in marriage. Many women have allowed themselves to live under these conditions in the interest of peace, Mostly to no avail. God created woman to complete man, which transmits the idea that man was lacking in some areas, and this lacking has existed since man began and continues today. Too many men refuse to accept this gift from God for completion and "macho" it out trying to be all capable and "support the little lady!" Well, God, in His wisdom set a wife on the life of a husband to allow them to be presented to Him as "One Flesh" and complete in their TOGETHERNESS! This does not mean that a wife simply takes orders - it means that SOMETIMES she is the ONLY messenger God has to get through some thick skulls of some husbands. The wife must be able to deliver rebuke, reproof and exhortation in accordance with the leading of the Holy Spirit; However, it is IMPORTANT that the wife recognize that her responsibility ENDS when she delivers the message! God has ordained that the Husband be the head of the family - not the dictator - the HEAD "just as Christ is the head of the church" and with the same servant manner and sacrificial attitudes of the Lord Jesus Christ! When the husband has COMPLETELY lived up to the standards set by God, THEN he can dictate! Until then God has seen fit to have another person come along side and travel the road of life with him, and he had better listen to what she says. Most of the time she can be the KEY to success and failure to listen can result in failure. The wife must realize that she is commanded to obey her husband. Not blindly, but in accordance with the Word of God. God has set up a plan for marriage and families and the plan works to the good of those who follow the precepts, and disaster results in straying from the plan. The wife should OFFER her advice and admonitions in LOVE and not in confrontation. Communicate to him in the same manner as God communicates to you, with overwhelming Love - AGAPE love! If the husband wants to do something you don't really care to do, and it is not against the laws of God, then God asks that you follow your husband. (I Corinthians 11:3)! If you follow his request just as you would follow the request of Jesus Christ, then you will be blessed in ways that you never thought possible. Trust in the Lord. COMMITMENT #6: To communicate - NO MATTER WHAT! Most people learn not to reveal many of their thoughts and feelings because these are personal and so easily judged by others - "You shouldn't feel that way." This fear of judgement from others brings about an attitude of "I'll never mentions that again." But just as nothing can separate us from the Love of Christ (Romans 8:35-39), so nothing should stop us from communicating in marriage; silence, tears, explosions of anger, defiance, defensiveness, the children, or lack of time. This is a commitment to communicate not just facts and accomplishments, but feelings, thoughts, problems, and failures. Both the positive and the negatives in our lives need expression. COMMITMENT #7: To be a Servant God created both men and women to be servants of God, of each other, and of their neighbors. The husband and wife are equal in dignity and worth, and work together as "joint heirs of the grace of life" (I Peter 3:7,RSV) to achieve common goals. Yet each fulfills different roles. The husband takes responsibility as the leader in the marriage (I Corinthians 11:3), but his success begins and ends with a servant's attitude. A willingness to serve each other will bring about mutual dependence and appreciation. COMMITMENT #8: To assume in everything that my mate's intentions are good. We are told not to impute evil to God (James 1:13), and in marriage we are likewise to assume the best about our partner's intentions. Some of our mate's actions may not seem to be good, but we must believe that the intent was good. Let us give our wife/husband the benefit of the doubt. He or she may be immature in some ways and may act out of jealousy or revenge-but even these are cries for help. By avoiding the accusations, each of us will have far less grounds for conflicts and hurt feelings. COMMITMENT #9: To forgive and forget the transgressions of our mates. The hardest act for a human to do is admit to a wrong and ask forgiveness. To be met with a list of acts of contrition that must be followed before forgiveness is "granted" creates a schism in the very foundation of marriage. To compound this error by "dredging up past offenses" is a direct sin against the very Word of God when God tells us to keep "no record of wrongs" (I Corinthians 13:5). This sin is not reserved for any single partner - it is practiced by both. It is sin. It is to be confessed and repented and washed from us. Then the healing of God's power will be able to be received! COMMITMENT #10: LOVE ONE ANOTHER. It may seem strange that I make this the last of the commitments, yet it has been the critical facet of each of the previous nine. The "norm" heard in the divorce courts is "I just don't feel any love for ..... anymore!" The world teaching that Love is a feeling. The Bible tells us that Love is a verb - an ACTION. We are not called to "feel" love, we are COMMANDED to LOVE! We are to love our spouse, and sometimes we must love them in spite of our "feelings" and "please God and not man (ourselves)" (Acts 4:19). We must commit all the other nine commitments in our heart and attach this tenth one to every one of the other nine. Only by His power can we join the Lord when He told us to "be of good cheer for I have overcome the world" and we need so much to be overcomers. Allow the world and our own families see the Rock that our lives CAN be founded on. Let us enjoy the life "and life more abundantly" by following the plan that God laid out for us in His Word, the plan that many times counters our own plan because it requires the Lordship of Jesus Christ and not ourselves. It requires that a husband Serve his wife! It requires that we ALL have the servant nature that sees us washing feet in the spiritual manner that Jesus provided such a physical example of. Let us each ask our spouse the simple question that can very well blow our present "ship" out of the water of the world and settle us on a Rock, the Rock of Jesus Christ. That question is "What are your REAL needs and how do you think I could be more able to supply them?" Ancient Customs Ancient Customs ANCIENT CUSTOMS SYMBOLIZE THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE By Ron Hembree Goodyear, Arizona THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE No formal marriage ceremonies are found in the Bible. Rather, these rites have evolved from society's awareness that an emphatic statement of intent should be made publicly to family, friends and legal structures affirming the meaning and importance of marriage. The closest we seem to come to a Scriptural description is in Genesis, when Isaac takes Rebecca into his mother's tent. (Genesis 24:67) The obvious other reference is the Cana wedding Jesus attended. (John 2) The exact structure of various wedding ceremonies has changed much through the centuries, with each culture adding its own touch to emphasize what it feels is important. While ceremonies have changed, the meaning of marriage remains the same. To help clarify that meaning in a different way, perhaps it would be well to review some of the ancient ceremonies and what they symbolized then and now. The first rite started with: SEALING THE BETROTHAL In the ancient eastern world marriages were arranged by parents, since the emphasis was on "becoming", not "finding". Abraham could safely seek a bride for his son because his faith made him feel it was more important for each partner to "become" the right mate than simply to find the right mate. Obviously selection is important, since Abraham refused to choose a daughter-in-law from anywhere except within the family of God. That seems to still be the only guideline on selection the Bible gives. (II Corinthians 6:14-18) When selection had been made by the parents for a bride, the bridegroom traveled to the bride's home to formalize the agreement. The bride and her mother sat under the ancient kitchilika tree and the bridegroom formally asked permission to marry the bride. Permission was obviously given and he then poured into her hands ten specially minted coins that had been in the family, sometimes for generations. One side of the coins contained the family identification and the other displayed the year that identification had become part of the family. The new bride would wear these coins in her hair on her wedding day and then put them away in her treasure chest to pass down to her oldest son when he repeated this sacred rite at his marriage. Powerful tradition swirled around the ten coins. Tradition claimed love was born in the bride's heart the moment the coins fell into her waiting hands. But tradition also said that if she ever lost one of those coins it meant God had withdrawn favour from her household. In some cases women were divorced or banished because they had lost one of these very special coins. Remembering these powerful traditions, one can better understand the meaning of Christ's parable of the lost coin. (Luke 15:8-10) In this chapter of three powerful parables, Jesus is speaking of how God loves the lost: the lost sheep, lost coin, lost son, and lost elder brother. The coin is irreplaceable and that is exactly the meaning of marriage in this sense. The coin ceremony was saying: just as the coins were unique to this family so the new union was to be unique in the lives of both bride and bridegroom. God wanted us to build the walls of marriage so high that no invader could crawl over to defile it and no one inside that unique relationship would climb out to destroy the concept of having one God and one mate. TEN WEDDING DAYS Researching ancient marriage ceremonies, the number ten keeps popping up. There were ten coins, ten days of the ceremony and ten bridesmaids, each serving as hostess for one of the wedding days. The final vows would be said by the couple on the tenth day, while the preceding nine were spent in counseling, preparation and feasting. There would be no fasting during those ten days because tradition said God attended each wedding and to fast would be to insult God. In God's great shorthand, numbers seem to have significance. The number six represents man, while seven indicates perfection. The number eight signifies new beginnings but there is something special about the number ten. Ten stands for completeness. This ancient rite reminds the couple and community that man is only complete in woman and woman in man. God created man but he was not complete. Only after God created woman did God officially name them "Man" or mankind. (Genesis 1:17) We are made for relationships. From the beginning God told us it is emotionally unhealthy to be isolated. (Genesis 2:18) Usually the greatest source of pain in our lives is isolation from God and each other. Jesus came to restore relationships. Ever since Adam sinned, we have been separated from God. Ever since Cain killed Abel we have been fighting among ourselves. Jesus came so we could come back to God and back to each other. That is why He always insisted that real faith involves both dimensions of reconciliation: Man with God and man with man. (Matthew 22:36-40) THE CANOPY All ancient eastern ceremonies of marriage took place under a specially prepared canopy. Vows were said, the couple was counselled by the priest, and instructions about each role and responsibility were given. The canopy symbolized the brooding presence of God over every marriage. The Psalmist's illusion of the "shadow of the most high" hints of this old custom. (Psalms 91) Most of us know, either by experience or example, that real marriage is a triangle. At the bottom of one side is the husband. On the bottom of the other side is the wife. At the top of the triangle is God and the closer each gets to God the closer he gets to each other. WEDDING GARMENTS When a king's son married, the king knew common people could not afford the needed rich garments required to attend the magnificent wedding ceremonies. Thus, months before the wedding, the king employed the nation's best tailors and seamstresses to make the garments, at the king's expense, for all the invited guests. All they were expected to do was to come properly attired. All costs had been taken care of by the king. This ancient custom helps us understand a hard parable Jesus told in Matthew 22:1-14. Here we see God as the rich king who has made ample provision for the marriage supper of the Lamb. Through the sacrifice of His most priceless possession He has provided a robe of righteousness so all can stand honourable and unashamed. Is it too much to expect that we show up in that robe? Certainly we see His expectations as reasonable in the light of its true meaning. However, this ancient garment custom means much more also. It simply emphasizes that all the provision we need to make a good marriage is given to each by God. If we but choose to wear the garment we will find acceptance and approval by God and each other. Should we contemptuously cast it aside for our own rags of selfishness, we are banished from the wedding feast by our deliberate disobedience. Those who have betrayed the marriage bed and defiled the feast with their selfish rags have tragically learned what it means to be banished from the most secret chamber of a mate's heart. There is no reentrance to the feast, but only as the robes of righteousness are again donned by each disobedient partner. A TOUCH OF SALT On the tenth day, the formal vows are said. Following this, the priest touches the couple's tongues with salt and the two break bread together. This ceremony is perhaps the most sacred of all in the marriage rite. From mankind's beginning, to break bread and eat salt together symbolized a sacred covenant between two parties. One might seek to break a legal contract on paper but one would never dare defile a salt and bread covenant. Salt symbolizes truthfulness, while bread speaks of communion or communication. We still celebrate this in our own communion ceremonies on holy days. Each participant knew exactly what this ceremony symbolized. Marriage was pledging unconditional love and acceptance. A contract is conditional, predicated on whether the other party fulfills his obligations, while covenant is totally unconditional. It is kept regardless of what one mate does. God has made a covenant with His people, not a contract. Regardless of our compulsive behavior and patterns, He keeps His covenant. (Jeremiah 3:14) THE SILVER CORD Wedding rings were not used in the ancient east. Rather, after the vows the husband gently tied a silver cord around his bride's neck. She wore this symbol of their pledge all her life. If she died before him, she wore it in death. If he died first, at his grave she loosed the cord from her neck to symbolize that she was loosed from her husband and free to form a new relationship. The cord symbolized the temporal and the eternal aspects of marriage. While marriage is for this earth only, still it is the most sacred of all human covenants. (Mark 12:25) But, in heaven we will also be married, not to each other but to Christ. (Revelation 21:9) The silver cord is referred to in Ecclesiastes 12:6. THE LIFTED VEIL One of the last rites the husband performs in the ancient ceremony is to gently remove the veil from his wife's face and place it on his shoulder. Isaiah takes this ceremony to prophesy about the coming Messiah, "The government shall be upon his shoulder. (Isaiah 9:6) The total responsibility for our faith and eternal existence rests on Christ. That happened when He took the veil from our face and brought us into His heart at conversion. The veil symbolizes the role God ordains for the husband. He is to be provider-protector. The care of his wife and family is directly placed on him. Peter and Paul both understood this perfectly when they wrote their epistles to the young churches. (I Peter 3:1-12 and Ephesians 5:22-33) THE HONEYMOON Eastern honeymoons lasted for one year. During that time the bridegroom and bride are never apart. They even are expected to refuse dinner and feast obligations. (Luke 14:20) The honeymoon is spent at the home of the parents of both partners. One month they live at the bride's parents and the next at the groom's. When the year is over, the families come together and the bridegroom says solemnly to the bride, "Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." Jesus used these same words to describe why he was leaving His followers for awhile. (John 14:1-4) After saying these words, the bridegroom went away to build a home for his bride on the estate of his father. When this was finished, he returned and took his bride to her new home to live for the rest of her life. The symbolism of the honeymoon is obvious. The first year is spent in establishing a relationship that would last a lifetime. Nothing is as important to the couple as that relationship. Time with the parents indicates the importance of the extended family. It is a wise man who does not insist his wife walk away from her family without tender and continuing relationship. It is a foolish woman who would insist that a harsh choice be made between his mother and herself. Rather, all effort and expense must be made to work through relationships, however strained they might be between parents and the new couple. MARRIAGE IS A MIRROR Perhaps the most succinct statement of all on the meaning of marriage is made by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32) In this poignant passage Paul says marriage is to mirror how much God loves us and how He never turns us away, even though we fail in our covenant relationship with Him. But it even goes beyond that. Marriage does not create problems, it reveals them. A personal example might help. I can hide my selfishness from my friends because, while we are close, we are not intimate. But, in the unique relationship of marriage, there are times of stress and strength, good and bad, health and sickness, profit and loss. At some time that compulsive selfishness will surface. When it does, I must face that selfishness and appropriate Christ's forgiveness for salvation and change rather than blame my mate for having provoked my problem. I cannot excuse my behavior by claiming she is responsible for my sin because I perceive she created a climate for my compulsion. If we really believe the purpose of God for our lives is to be conformed to the image of God's Son, then we understand better how God uses marriage to make the most of us. (Romans 8:28) A FINAL WORD Nowhere in the Bible do we see the common worldly definition of love. The world sees love as a feeling. God calls it a commitment. He says it is an act of the will, something we choose to do. We do not "fall out of love". Rather, we simply choose to close off our love. When I counsel with couples who are troubled in their marriage, they often say, "I can't love him or her anymore." Gently, but firmly, I try to correct them saying, "No, it isn't that you can't love, it's that you won't." When we face this stark reality of our lives we then have a chance to make marriage work. Then our expectations of our mates diminish, tensions lessen, tempers cool, and hearts warm. We begin to learn together why "God setteth the solitary in families." (Psalms 68:6) Used with permission. Taken from "The Meaning of Marriage" by Ron Hembree. P.O. Box 2000 Goodyear, Arizona 85338 To My Wife / To My Husband To My Wife / To My Husband Pastor Joseph DeMarco is a dedicated family man. He is a husband, father of three sons, and grandfather to five grandchildren. He loves the Lord with all his heart and God has blessed him with 75 years of life at this point of time. Pastor DeMarco is a prayer warrior and the Pastor of the Belmont Christian Church in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Rose DeMarco is the wife of Pastor Joseph DeMarco, a mother of three sons, and a grandmother to five grandchildren. She is a God-fearing woman who is ready, willing, and able to help anytime and anywhere she is needed. She loves the Lord with all her heart and is an inspiration to others. TO MY WIFE By Pastor Joseph DeMarco If I had it to do all over again, I would still marry Rose, my wife of 54 years. I don't think I could have ever met a more loving and caring woman. She is always doing her best for everyone in the family and puts the Lord first in her life. She is a wonderful Christian lady who loves others as the Lord loves all of us. I am thankful for a godly woman because I know what it was like living in an ungodly home. When I was growing up my family were not Christians. I was raised in a family of four children ... two brothers and one sister. My father could not work because he was asthmatic. Somehow he and my mother were able to make "moonshine" in order to have a little money for necessities. Since I was the oldest son at home, I was the one who delivered these bottles to local families. I had to hide these bottles under my clothing because this was against the law. I was caught one day and due to the fact that my father was ill, my mother was taken prisoner instead. She was put behind bars on the second floor of the local jailhouse. I remember how we children would go there and stand outside and she would talk to us from this second story window. The authorities kept her there for six months. That was a terrible time in our lives. My older brother who was married and lived in Follansbee, West Virginia asked me to look for a job in his area. It was easy for me to get a job because I was big for my age. At the age of twelve I quit school and got a job at a mill in West Virginia and lived with my brother and sister-in-law. I stayed with them for almost a year. Every weekend we went back home to visit our parents. But first, we would go to the liquor store and purchase a fifth of whiskey and coke. It was a 70 mile trip one way back to Pennsylvania, and the drinks were all gone by the time we got to our parents' home. The three of us drank the whole thing. I thank the Lord for watching over us because I don't see how we ever got from one place to another without an accident in the condition we were in. One day my dad's friends, who had previously been Roman Catholic, came to visit my family and talk about Jesus. They were so excited and happy to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They had become Born-Again Christians and wanted to tell my family all about it and ask them to accept Jesus too. My parents and my brothers and sister accepted. I was the only one who did not accept the Lord at this time. I was young and single and still living in West Virginia and felt like I had a lot of time to decide. At the age of thirteen I decided to come back home and get a job. My family was in a relief program and I was their only means of support. At age thirteen and was willing to work at any job in order to help my parents. Coming back home to live with a family who had accepted the Lord was a God-sent. Because I saw the change in my family, I too accepted the Lord at age fourteen. I realize today that time waits for no man! I thank the Lord that He had patience with me and gave me many chances to accept Him. God watched over me because He had other plans for my life and I can't thank Him enough. Once I was born-again, I remained faithful to the Lord. I never looked back, but kept moving forward toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. I couldn't wait to attend all the church services we had. Our Pastor Domenic Giammarco would ask me to minister to others in order to help him in the church. I was so happy to do anything and everything I could for Jesus. It was a wonderful feeling to know that I was included in the Family of God. I helped in the Sunday School area too. At age fifteen I went to the CCC Camp to build highways and Army camps for $30.00 a month. That meant I received only a dollar a day! The government sent $25.00 a month home to my parents and I lived on $5.00 a month. I was there for one year. When I came home at age sixteen, I got a job in the coal mine. The minimum age was eighteen but I was well built and already weighed 175 pounds, so I was hired. I looked older because I had worked at so many different jobs in my younger years that I appeared older. I believe a man needs to work ... idle hands are the hands of mischief! The highlight of my life was when I met Rose. I was eighteen and knew that she was for me the first time we met. But her parents were very protective of her. I would visit her parents twice a week just so I could see Rose. When we sat at the dining room table, we would be at opposite ends. Her mother always sat between us as we talked together. I prayed and asked God for a good Christian girlfriend ... and Rose was exactly what I wanted. I fell in love with her because she was a wonderful Christian girl who loved the Lord with all her heart. I wanted a woman who would be good to me as my mother was to my father. It makes me think of the popular song that says, "I want a girl just like the girl that married dear old dad." I felt that Rose was "that" girl. Rose and I had our own secret signals to communicate with each other, even though her parents hardly left us alone for a minute. I was very happy that her parents consented to my marrying Rose, but that didn't happen until three years later. We married when I was twenty-one years of age and I have never been sorry. I am and always will be one of the happiest men in the world! We had our share of problems too, just like any family. It was very hard for my own family to accept that fact that I was married and had a wife to care for. They felt that I still had to support them in the fashion I had done before. For instance, I bought my wife a fur coat and my sister felt that I should give her and my mother a fur coat too. I did as she asked because I felt sorry for them. I knew that it would take a little more time to get my family acclimated to the fact that I was a married man now, with a wife to think about. I know that Rose must have had mixed emotions at the time but she was very understanding and we worked everything out together. We always discussed every situation and circumstance and came to a mutual agreement. We always try to understand each other's viewpoint and I believe this is what helps make a good marriage. My wife can tell you that I went directly home after work each night. My wife always knew where I was and where I was going. If I am going to be late, I always call her so that she will not worry about me. My wife and I always do everything together. It is rare that she is not with me even when I make hospital or home visits. She is ready to assist me in anything I ask of her. I love her as the Lord loves the church. Homes are in an uproar today because God is not first in their lives. Many do not even know the Lord and many do not realize that if we do not have God in the home, there is chaos and confusion there. They live above their means and do not live a surrendered life to God. Their values have changed. They have forgotten the God of our Fathers. God is important in every relationship. Where God is revered and part of a household, there is unity and love abounds. In our home we spend much of our leisure time together. My wife plays the piano and my son plays the guitar. There are many evenings we gather around and have a hymn sing. Everybody is welcome at our home. We encourage Bible discussions at our home. We serve refreshments and have a good time. We like others to come in and join us in a happy fellowship with the Lord. I have tried to be an example to my sons so that they could learn. The love I showed them through the years is coming back to me now, and I am so thankful. I counseled them, prayed for them, and taught them each day through our devotions. The scriptures have the answers to any question or problem we may have. I thank the Lord for Pastor Giammarco who was like a father to me. On his death bed, he asked me to take care of the church. I have endeavored to do the Lord's will in my life and ask Him constantly to lead me ... that is my heart's desire to follow Him! I thank God that He saw fit to bring Rose into my life ... because He knew we would be good for each other. TO MY HUSBAND By Rose DeMarco I consider myself the happiest woman in the world! I have so much to be thankful for. God has made it possible for my dreams to come true. I was raised in a Roman Catholic home with two brothers and two sisters. At the age of seven, old friends of the family brought the Word of God to us. My mother and dad accepted immediately and taught us children the Word of the Lord. At age nine I accepted Jesus as my Savior and attended church every time there was service. I never missed Sunday School or a prayer meeting. I prayed and asked the Lord for a young Christian man to come into my life. One day I visited Christian friends of ours. I had no idea what was in store for me that day. I met Joe! He was a tall, handsome, young man at the age of eighteen. My parents were very strict with me and even at the age of sixteen, I was not permitted to date. Joe would come over to the house to visit twice a week, with my mother sitting between us at all times. Somehow we knew we were falling in love with each other. Joe was a very patient and understanding young man. My parents thought we were too young and that his parents needed him at home. He was their sole support. This went on for two years. Finally Joe walked my dad to work one day which was a half mile walk. When they reached the entrance gate, Joe blurted out the fact that he was in love with me. He told my dad that he wanted to see me more often and that he wanted to marry me. My dad told him that we had a lot of time yet ... that we should wait ten years! Joe was so afraid of what the answer would be but he felt encouraged that at least my dad did not say "no". My mother was not in favor at this time at all because of the needs of his family. But Joe continued to visit every Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon. Finally when I was nineteen and Joe was twenty-one they agreed that we could be married. I had never dated another man in my life. That was 54 years ago and we are even more in love today. We didn't have much but we had each other. We had our first son after we had been married five years. Our second and third sons were born five years apart also. Joe was more excited everytime I gave birth to another son. It didn't matter to him that we had no daughters. He accepted what the Lord gave us. It didn't matter what problem came up we always dealt with them together. We came to an agreement together. We loved each other and were patient with each other in everything. Joe never put me down! If one of the children asked something of us, we always agreed on the answer. We never went against each other. We trusted each other's judgment in a given situation. We all know how children can play parents against each other ... we never permitted this to happen. Joe and I confided in each other ... we had no secrets between us. We encouraged input from the children in discussions in the family. We listened and tried to relate matters to what the scripture had to say about it. Even if we disagreed on something, we talked it over until we came to a mutual agreement. Our youngest son was in a terrible auto accident several years ago. He had been drinking with friends due to "peer pressure", and lost control of his car. The doctor told us if we knew "the man up above", He would be the only one who could save our son. We immediately called a few key people who started a prayer chain around the country and possibly world. God gave our son another chance, and for this we praise Him. He is in the church and a happily married man today with two children. I dislike it when I hear spouses refer to each other as "the old man" or "the old woman". I believe there must be respect between a husband and wife. We want to be respected by our children, so we should show respect to one another as an example to them. Our love goes beyond just plain love ... we cherish each other. We "want" to be together. We do everything together. If I am going to be away for a few hours, Joe knows where I am in case he needs me. I try to help him as much as possible in his ministry work too. I have never raised my voice to him and he has never yelled at me either. We speak softly to each other ... we do not believe in being angry and speaking harshly to each other. Harsh words make everything worse ... just as a soft, kind word turns away wrath. We are not afraid to say we are "sorry". We make sure we go to bed each night completely forgiven of any differences we may have had. I have to admit that even today, I sit close to my husband when riding in the car. This has always been a habit of mine. In fact Joe will tease and say that he needs more room ... that I am sitting in his pocket. We spend a lot of time together ... more so since he retired from the factory where he worked for many years, and I retired from the job I had outside the home. He always had a job at the factory, besides being a Pastor of the church. When I worked outside the home, Joe pitched in and helped around the house in any way he could. I would go on visitations with him and stay up very late to get the chores done around the home. I always considered them a "labor of love". One day I counted the shirts I had ironed on the table, after I had folded them neatly. There were 45 shirts, including the ones for our three sons. I thank the Lord for the strength and help he gave me through all the years. I thank him especially for the strength he gave me when I had to work outside the home, while raising a family. I worked for 22 years and retired due to arthritis. Joe retired 8 years after I did. God has been good to us in every way. I still like to do all my own house work, and bake and cook. We have at least twelve for dinner every Sunday. We like all our family around us and I think they enjoy it too. We especially enjoy the grandchildren. They are the ones who keep us young! I have a wall hanging of Proverbs 31. It is a constant reminder of what God expects of me in this life in reference to my marriage and family. If I were to live my life over again, I would marry the same man. I have never said that I regretted marrying Joe. We married for better or for worse. I put God first in my life and He keeps me perfectly content in all ways. I love Him. I would have it no other way. Praise the Lord! The Woes of the Working Mother The Woes of the Working Mother THE WOES OF THE WORKING MOTHER by Randall Hillebrand "Few would debate the almost mystical significance of the mother-infant bond. Research from many fields, including psychiatry, child psychology, and studies of other animal species, has confirmed our intuitive respect of the mother-infant bond. Studies have indicated that the first two years of a baby's life are when that bond forms." (White 27) Does the mother's staying home with the child(ren) versus having a full-time job help, hurt or have a neutral effect on the family? This is the question that will be addressed in the following article. First though, a brief history of why women went into the job force will be discussed as background. Why Women Entered The Work Force During World War II, the men went overseas to fight, and the women were called upon to work in the factories to keep America going. Many mothers left the home to come to the call of their country to serve. These mothers were applauded by our culture and became the symbol of patriotism of the highest order. During this time the government set up child care programs with federal funds and many companies set up stores and hair-cutting salons right in the industrial plants for the women's convenience. But then the war ended. After the war was over, the government and the private sector banded together in an enormous propaganda campaign to get women to leave the work place and return to the home. The mother-child relationship and the support of the husband and his career were stressed (Levine 65). Up until World War II, few women worked outside of the home, the great majority of those being single. The big boom of women (including married women) joining the labor force was after World War II, starting in 1947. "Between 1947 and 1978, married women's rate increased from 20 percent to 48 percent." (Smith 4). (Note: these percentages are of the total amount of women joining the work force). As previously stated, the initial reason for mothers joining the labor force was due to the war effort, which was very commendable. This was a time in history when people needed to pull together and do their part. But then after the war, for whatever the reason, the government and the private sector had a campaign to bring women, in general, back to the home. The majority of the women rebelled at this as can be seen by the union grievances filed. One study showed that 75 percent of the women wanted to continue working (Levine 66). Why was this the case? Two main reasons are usually given. First is that of economics. As Smith says in his book, The Subtle Revolution, economists feel "that the perceived benefits of being in the labor force have been increasing, the benefits of not participating have been decreasing, or both." (Smith 3-4). Therefore, "the 'opportunity cost' of staying at home all day has become too great for an increasing proportion of women." So a choice needs to be made, "unpaid" labor in the home versus paid labor outside (Smith 3-4). The second reason given for women going into the labor force is given by Barbara Deckard when she said that women are "trapped in a situation that provides little opportunity for intellectual growth or the satisfactions of achievement." (Finsterbush/McKenna 127). By this she was saying that a woman cannot find these things if she is a housewife who has to watch after children, so she leaves the home to find that fulfillment. This second reason is probably more of a recent thing (late 60's, early 70's till present), but could have its roots in the post World War II era. World War II was a special time in history that called for the mothers of this nation to give a helping hand, but in the postwar times, the mother was called back to a much more important task, that of raising our nation's children. But the questions that need to be asked are: (1) are economics really a reason for mothers to work outside of the home, and (2) can a mother not find intellectual growth or satisfaction of achievement by being a homemaker? We will see. ECONOMICS AND PERSONAL GROWTH "Working women are stung and enraged by the guilt-provoking suggestion that their careers are more important to them than their children; that if they loved their babies more they'd be willing to put their work aside. And full-time mothers are angered and shaken by the low esteem with which many career women regard them." (Levine 64) On the economical side of things, a comparison needs to be made between the homemaker and working-wife families. If the two families have the same amount of income per month, the homemaker's family total income will be higher than the working-wife's family income. This is due to the fact that the working-wife spends at least 15 percent of her paycheck, excluding income tax, on her work-related expenses. This 15 percent is mainly spread across such things as transportation, social security and clothing (Smith 161). Not only does this 15 percent not cover income tax, but it also does not cover child care, which can run between $40.00 to $120.00 or more per child per week. If we take it a step further, her income should also be reduced according to the amount of time that is taken away from the domestic duties that the wife no longer has time to do, which are either sent out for someone else to do or are not done at all. It has also been shown that in the homemaker's family they spend as much as 50 percent less on clothing, transportation, recreation, and retirement over that of the working-wife's family; and their basic food and shelter expenditures are also slightly lower. So there is at least a 30 percent difference in income between the two families, the homemaker's family having the higher savings (Smith 161). In many cases, the mother is going back to work so that the family will have more income for specific bills, for future purchases, or usually just for a better standard of living. But is it worth it? We will be looking at that a little later. The other reason that mothers have left the home is for personal growth and fulfillment. They feel, according to Barbara Deckard, that they have little opportunity for intellectual growth or the satisfaction of achievement as stated earlier. Her view says, "Why should I be tied down to my family? What if I have dreams or plans for doing something more with my life? Don't you know that childbearing is another link in the chain of men's oppression over women? If I am with my children too much, I could damage them and scar them for life. Housework is no fun, it's not creative nor interesting, it's boring and never-ending, so why should I stay home doing these kinds of things, and those diapers !!?" Well, she has a point, they can be boring and tedious, but Phyllis Schlafly's rebuttal to this is that "Marriage and motherhood, of course, have their trials and tribulations. But what lifestyle doesn't? If you look upon your home as a cage, you will find yourself just as imprisoned in an office or a factory. The flight from the home is a flight from yourself, from responsibility, from the nature of woman, in pursuit of false hopes and fading illusions." (Finsterbush/McKenna 115,120,124,125,127). Why can't a woman feel fulfilled as a mother? She can! Then why do these other women say that they are not fulfilled unless they are out of the home and in the labor force? Good question. It could be for a number of reasons. Maybe at home the husband or children or both do not appreciate the mother as much as she needs, so she looks elsewhere for it. But if this is the case, she had better beware, because she may end up working somewhere where they don't treat her any better, maybe even worse. Possibly she has low self-esteem and just does not feel important. If this is the case, as in the first example, she needs to sit down with her family and work it out, instead of trying to find relief somewhere else. Maybe she just wants a change of pace. This too can be accomplished through part-time volunteer work, a home business, etc. What am I trying to say? That if she has unmet needs at home that are driving her to look for a job through which she thinks she will find fulfillment, she is barking up the wrong tree. She needs to get those needs met at home through her husband and children. Phyllis Schlafly makes this point in a more specific example when she says, "If you complain about servitude to a husband, servitude to a boss will be more intolerable." (Finsterbush/Mckenna 120). She goes on to say that "Everyone in the world has a boss of some kind. It is easier for most women to achieve a harmonious working relationship with a husband than with a foreman, supervisor, or office manager." (Finsterbush/McKenna 120). If the base problem is not dealt with, the problem will reoccur somewhere else. But can the home provide opportunity for intellectual growth and the satisfaction of achievement? Yes, if you truly desire it. It may take a little work, but it can be achieved. Also, raising a healthy, productive and happy family that adds to society is one of the greatest achievements a woman can obtain. Then what about the effects of a working mother on the children and family as a whole? THE EFFECTS OF A WORKING MOTHER "The past twenty years have brought dramatic changes in the typical American family. During this period the overall female employment rate rose by more than 50 percent (for married women with children living with their spouses, the rate doubled). Birth rates dropped by 40 percent, and divorce rates doubled." (Kamerman/Hayes 93) No wonder that we see the divorce rate double in the working-wife families, when there is an approximate increase of 16 percent in women having affairs in this group over the homemaker families (Norris/Miller 254). This not only affects the home of the working mother, but that of the homemaker whose husband participated in the affair with her. It can and usually does have long-reaching negative effects. It's not a pretty picture! What about the children of the working mother? If they are not taken care of by relatives of the family, more than likely they go to a day care. Day care centers can have a ratio of adults to infants and toddlers anywhere from one to two in the better places, or as many as ten or more infants to each staff member. The common ratio is about four to one. One of the problems that arise is that the day care industry is not a healthy one. "The work is difficult, and in most cases the pay is very low, and the training of the providers leaves much to be desired." (White 28). What is most likely, is that the child in the first two or three years will be exposed to numerous primary caretakers. Also infectious diseases, especially those involving hearing ability and middle ear infections are three to four times as prevalent than in the home (White 28). Some would say that it is good for the child to be in an environment like that because an "increased sense of independence, well-being, and greater appreciation for their parents have been found to be the attributes of many of the offspring of two-career marriages." (Swann-Rogak 6). But I disagree. During these first years a very important process is taking place in the child's life, that of socialization. For children this is called primary socialization in which the child develops language, individual identity, the learning of self-control and cognitive skills. Also, the child learns the internalization of moral standards, appropriate attitudes, motivations and a basic understanding of social roles (Hagedorn 87). During the most important time in a child's life, when the foundation of his personality, morals and attitudes are laid that he will build off of for the rest of his life, we cannot just give him to a complete stranger to mold. These are the years that can either make or break the child for the rest of his life. Can we leave this up to someone else, even a relative? What about the working mother and the family in general. As seen above, adultery and divorces have risen due to women in the work force, but what about other problems. As I page through books for the working mother I see chapter titles like these: "Succeeding with Your Children," "Getting Organized on the Home Front," "Feeding the Family," "New ways to Be Together," "Having a Baby," "Keeping Your Marriage Strong" (Norris/Miller v); "How Do You Manage It All," "I Can't Keep Up with It All," "This House Is a Mess," "Where Has Our Togetherness Gone?," "What if Something Happens When I'm Not There?," "I'm Tired All The Time," "Where Does All My Money Go?," "I Feel So Guilty" (Skelsey); etc., etc., etc.!! As can be seen from the titles, it is not easy on the family for the mother to go to work. Many adjustments must be made, and even then it cannot be done successfully. The only real superwomen are in the comics, not in real life. This is the feeling of many professional women and can be seen in the book Mothers Who Work by Jeanne Bodin and Bonnie Mitelman on pages 52 through 58. Many trade-offs had to be made. Is it worth it? From all of the negative effects on the children and family that have been shown in this paper, it is very easy to see that it is not. But of course I cannot make that decision for you. You need to decide!! BIBLIOGRAPHY Bodin, Jeanne and Bonnie Mitelman. Mothers Who Work. New York: Ballantine, 1983. Finsterbusch, Kurt and George McKenna, eds. Taking Sides. Guilford: The Dushkin Publishing Group, Inc., l984. Hagedorn, Robert, et al., eds. Sociology. Dubuque: Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers, l983. Kamerman, Sheila B. and Cheryl D. Hayes, eds. Families That Work: Children in a Changing World. Washington D.C.: National Academy Press, l982. Levine, Karen. "Mother vs. Mother." Parents (June, l985): 63-67. Norris, Gloria and Jo Ann Miller. The Working Mother's Complete Handbook. New York: Plume, l984. Skelsey, Alice. The Working Mother's Guide to Her Home, Her Family and Herself. New York: Random House, l970. Smith, Ralph E., ed. The Subtle Revolution, Women at Work. Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute, l979. Swann-Rogak, Lisa. "Careers." Baby Talk (April, l985): 6. White, Burton L. "Should You Stay Home With Your Baby?" American Baby (October, l985): 27-28, 30. Copyright 1989 by Randy Hillebrand You are allowed to reproduce this article only in its entirety and without additions or deletions. Family Discipline Family Discipline The following article is intended to assist Christian parents understand why discipline must be a part of their family responsibilities. Discipline is not an easy task. It is especially most difficult where loved ones are concerned. The Christian parent of the late 20th century lives under extreme stress where discipline is concerned. We must be faithful to God, His Church, and to His Word which is our manual for parenting as well as living our own lives. I trust that as these pages are read, that the reader will have his Bible at hand to refer to the passages in reference. As a pastor, I trust that these words will have the sound of my voice in them to the one who reads these pages, for I write them with love, concern and sincerity. FAMILY DISCIPLINE By Pastor Jake Popejoy Solway Church of God Knoxville, Tennessee The Christian Family requires certain powers, abilities and authorities in order to satisfy the mandate of the Lord Jesus Christ. Idealistically we wish to see the family with every member secured in his proper place continually fulfilling the responsibility of his calling. Unfortunately, all too frequently, members of the God ordained institution (the family) become self-willed and independent. The result, in effect, is rebellion. Consequently, the Head of the Church has given instruction to His body to deal authoritatively with such cases of self-will and insolence found within its ranks. The purpose of this paper is to examine discipline within the family as it parallels church discipline, and to view several pertinent elements pertaining to the disciplining of the Family. The church is the prime example of the administration of the Family. It is able to discipline its own only because it has been given power from Christ to do so. The nature of the Family's power is both Spiritual and Ministerial. "It is a spiritual power, because it is given by the Spirit of God, Acts 20:28, can only be exercised in the name of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, John 20:22,23; I Cor. 5:4, pertains exclusively to believers, I Cor. 5:12, and can only be exercised in a moral and spiritual way, II Cor. 10:4". Like the church, the Family has no power except that which has been given to her Jesus. The Family may not act independently of the will of Christ. Consequently, individual members are not to act independently of the will of Christ. Any disciplinary power administered by the Family must always be exercised in harmony with the Word of God and under the direction of the Holy Spirit. REASONS TO DISCIPLINE It is absolutely essential that we have a proper understanding of the meaning of discipline before we are able to utilize it for its divine purpose. Discipline can be understood and implemented in several way. Most commonly we think of Discipline in three ways. First, discipline is an act of correction. Properly understood, this is the idea of 'teaching a lesson' that they may not make the same mistake or same error again. Second, we may consider discipline in light of an individual's personal comportment or behavior. The bible speaks to us about this element in our life as temperance (discipline). In this case, we personally are the ones who are concerned with the course of our own life. We appeal to the Holy Spirit who strengthens us and enables us by Christ to stay on spiritual course Thirdly, we understand discipline to be a field of study or practice. It is obvious that we could read dictionaries, both secular and Biblical, to obtain a forensic definition of the word "discipline". However, we would not arrive at the conclusions necessary to validate and Theologically justify the reasons why we, as a church or family, discipline our members when they stray from the paths of righteousness. ELEMENTS OF DISCIPLINE The singular motive of the family, when exercising discipline, is ultimately to restore to fellowship the fallen or erring member. It is unfortunate that discipline may result in the severing of fellowship but its Theological intent is reconciliation. Reconciliation is a work of God and should be considered the mission of the family. For the Apostle Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:18-20 "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To with, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us we pray; you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Discipline is therefore a work and ministry of the people of God If the discipline of our family is motivated by the prospect of restoration and reconciliation it is in harmony and accord with the will and design of God. If however, discipline is utilized as tool to separate a member from the family or the church without an exhaustive attempt at restoration, it has simply fulfilled the role of sin itself. Sin is that element in life that separates us from God. If discipline is executed with the intent to separate, sin and discipline become one and the same. THE IMPORTANCE OF DISCIPLINE It is obvious to all who are Christian minded that the Lord requires obedience from His followers. The purpose of obedience should not be understood only as an act of honor and loyalty to the King of Kings, but as prerequisite to the blessings of God. While we do demonstrate our love and loyalty to God by obeying His commands and ordinances, we also become acceptable recipients of His blessings of salvation. Obedience is the prime factor of discipleship. Although obedience and discipline are not synonyms, it is not conceivable to have one without the other as pertains to our relationship with Christ and His church. It would be incongruent to think that one could be a disciple without being obedient to the master. Likewise it should be understood that obedience is the actualization of all that a disciple has learned. The importance of discipline is that its design is to ultimately bring an individual or community into precise harmony with the mind of Christ (and in this case the individual family). Furthermore, discipline must be a transforming experience and not merely a conforming experience. We never feel quite satisfied with the individual who conforms to our position only because they wish not to undergo the consequences of our discipline. To understand the importance of discipline there are two most vital elements to consider. First, if discipline is considered only in the context of punishment for a wrongful act it will surely fail. Second, discipline must be looked at as a training program. The apostle Paul gives us an example of discipline being an act of training in I Thessalonians 5:14, 15, "Now we exhort you brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men." Here we see Paul helping the church avoid catastrophe discipline, that is, discipline that waits until something goes wrong. The Greek text gives this rendering as "... admonish the idle, console the faint-hearted, hold on to the ones being weak ...". We can clearly see that the apostle is instructing the church and consequently the family to exercise discipline in terms of a rebuke, yet in the same breath he is teaching the church to help others avoid the same failure. Authors White and Blue, in their book, Healing the Wounded, say, "Failure of discipline as it is often practiced can be explained in part because we are installing smoke alarms after the fire has started." The necessity of discipline is pointed out to us in the words of Dr. R. Hollis Gause when he stated, "Discipline is necessary because we are capable of falling. Discipline does not expel but rather Discipline embraces." THE ATTITUDE OF DISCIPLINE The single most important element to the tempering of our disciplinary procedures will be our spiritual attitude at the time of administering the discipline. Before discipline can be an act of righteousness and benevolence it must be executed with righteous motives. We know from scripture that is not the will of God that any of His little ones should perish, we should therefore have this same mind in us. Unfortunately we the church, all too often attempt to use discipline as a means for a contrary brother to "see" things our way rather than to use discipline as a means to restore this brother to the way of the Lord. Second Corinthians chapter 13 is an excellent example of the Apostle Paul's ability to make distinction of motive. He commences this chapter with a sharp rebuke to sinners within the church who have participated in uncleanness and fornication. By the time the chapter is concluded he has balanced his rebuke by informing those to whom he speaks that, "This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority, the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down." (NIV) We cannot treat discipline with mediocrity, yet we must exercise care and restraint in our actions lest by applying discipline with the wrong attitude or spirit we create strife and division. Noting Matthew 18:15-21, we see the context in which this text is found is sandwiched between the Lord's parable of the lost sheep and Peter's query about forgiveness. Without stretching the meaning we can see that discipline is an act of God directed to His church (our Family) for the distinct purpose of ministering forgiveness. Christ's main concern relating to the disciplining of a brother is, "If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." The attitude that we must enter in to situations that demand discipline is the attitude of reconciliation. Unlike Christ, many times we don't care if we have 'gained our brother', we just want him to 'hear us'. THE AUTHORITY OF THE FAMILY RELATING TO DISCIPLINE Matthew 18:15-21 is a paradigm (example or formula) for church and family discipline. As we have already noted the prominent factor in this paradigm is that a brother is gained as a result of the disciplinary confrontation, let us now look at the echelons of authority that are mentioned by Christ. First, the Lord says, "if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone:" We have both the admonition and authority from the Lord to act individually in an act of discipline providing that we are attempting to resolve a situation that exists between the two of us as principal parties of the trespass. We should learn a great truth from this illustration. The fewer people involved in any disagreement, the less likely will be the possibility of enlarging the existing problem. In the second place we will note that it is not always possible to resolve a situation in the manner described, hence, the Lord authorizes involvement of witnesses. This is a most serious undertaking. The intent of the witness or witnesses is not someone who will accompany for mere moral support or be of partisan support for the offended person, but rather to undertake the responsibility as a guarantor of truth. Not to intimidate the individual who is being confronted but rather to give him the assurance of care and concern for his soul as well as the privilege to speak his own feelings in the presence of a witness of the family or church. Thirdly, if the second confrontation did not bear the fruit of restoration, the Lord then authorizes the intervention of the family body. This will obviously by its nature entail humiliation. If the trespasser does not heed the admonition of the church or family in public session it is as if he has neglected the voice of the Lord. The consequence of his action will be that he is treated as a heathen man and a publican, for in essence he is denying the body of the Lord and determines no longer to be part of it. In verses 18 through 20 the Lord reinforces the disciplinary rubric by giving it heavenly dimensions. The authority of the individual is seen in the Lord's statement of verse 18. "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth...". The authority of the witnesses is seen in verse 19, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing...". And finally the authority of the congregational setting is noted in verse 20, "... where two or three are gathered together in my name...". THE IMPACT OF DISCIPLINE UPON THE FAMILY The burden of administering discipline goes far deeper than would first meet the eye. While a shepherd or elder of an flock may well see the need to exercise an admonition or rebuke in order to correct and restore an erring brother, it must be noted that the responsibility of discipline will ultimately fall upon the whole family. One or both parents or guardians may act on behalf of the family to administer the discipline, but it is the grave duty of the whole family to maintain discipline. This can only be accomplished by adherence to scriptural guidance. In II Thessalonians 3:6 the apostle Paul teaches us two important things about discipline as relates to the actions of the church. First, we see that Paul is commanding the church to implement discipline within its own body, "...we command you, brethren,...". Secondly as an act of discipline to inordinate believers we are to withdraw ourselves from equals (brothers) who walk disorderly. Sin is contagious. For this reason the Family cannot afford to be careless about sin in its midst. As well as contaminating the Family, open sin among God's people does damage to its (the church's) witness in the world. In Romans 16:17 Paul exhorts the church the 'mark', that is, to watch or keep their eyes open for those around us who would cause divisions among us. The warning is to avoid them. In I Corinthians 5:11 the apostle warns against socializing with anyone who calls himself a brother yet manifests the works of the flesh. The context of this passage is relating to the horrors of sin that were found in the church being practiced by members. Paul's call for purging in the 7th verse is a call for church discipline. I Corinthians 5:6,7, "... Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened ...". From a pastor's perspective, who is also a parent, and as a member of the local church I am very much aware that the actualizing of the disciplinary charge to the family is much easier to teach or preach than to actually put into everyday practice. Yet, Paul would actually demand that our socializing come into subjection to the authority of the church, Hence, socializing by family members must come into subjection to the discipline of the family. This becomes a great dilemma for the family because we can think of manifold reasons, all in the name of love, why we should not severe any relationships. THE DOCTRINAL IMPLICATIONS OF FAMILY DISCIPLINE In a broad sense the doctrinal implications of discipline are of a two fold nature. The consideration of the salvation of the individual and the preservation of the purity of the Family. I Corinthians 5:5, "... deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus". Herein is Paul's hope of salvation for the backslider indicated. The interpretations of this passage are legion however, the implication is for the disobedient brother to be able to view the blessings of the family by contrast. The ultimate goal would be the repugnancy of the world being a factor that guide the wayward back to his Family and parents. The preservation of the purity of the church and family has always been of doctrinal importance. This is the body of Christ manifest on earth. God's desire for His Church is spotless perfection. His desire is none less for the individual family. The illustration of the leaven mentioned earlier in the paper is a doctrinal thread treated through the entire context of the Bible. Jude warns us about "spots" in our feasts of charity. The warning is to guard against hidden rocks in our communities of worship. CONCLUSION Family discipline must be considered in doctrinal context. If we view discipline as anything other than a scriptural doctrine our lives and families will be chaotic. If discipline is not given full doctrinal support we will find ourselves making up the rules of discipline as we need them. The Bible has outlined for us both importance and the imperative of the execution of this great work of the Family and Church. If it is exercised with great relish it is most probably being exercised in the wrong attitude. If it is given little consideration and utilized only as an absolute 'last resort' then it is probably not really being exercise at all. The most difficult thing for the 20th Century Christian family is to administer discipline. You stand in a world which rejects sound biblical principles of the church and family discipline. I trust that we will be strong enough to rely on the wisdom of God. EDITOR'S NOTE: Pastor Popejoy's article is presented with the intent to assist Christian parents understand disciplinary issues. Discipline is not an easy task, but it is one that all Christian parents are called to. There are many Biblical principles dealing with the subject of discipline, including God's discipline of us, His children. One area of Scripture that has a lot to say on the subject is the book of Proverbs. For consideration of discipline from this book see our Old Testament Study column in the Biblical Studies area of this issue. God, What Do I Do Now? God, What Do I Do Now? GOD, WHAT DO I DO NOW? (What happens when your child wants to date a nonbeliever.) By Joanne and Guy Miner Our journey as parents began at a young age. We were not ready for what lay ahead. Within the first couple of years of marriage our daughter was born. Our twins were born 3 1/2 years later. It was then we, in our role as parents, began to apply the Word of God to our lives. God began to reveal to us the importance of not only reading his word, but also applying it to our lives. Our lives were not perfect. We had many struggles to deal with. These not only including trying to be the parents God wanted us to be, but also dealing with the struggles in our own lives. These struggles often were a product of our family backgrounds. Guy came from a well structured family, while I came from a very dysfunctional family. When our children were younger, our lives were very busy, especially with the twins. As they grew older, our concerns for them also grew. We watched them grow up in a world that believed the opposite of what was taught in God's Word. This was a serious concern. We struggled for years with our oldest daughter, Nicole, and her academic performance. This problem continued right into her high school years. Also, we tried to communicate to all of our children God's standards for their lives. One specific standard related to dating. It was in this area we faced conflict with our daughter during her junior year. She had never wanted to date until then. We knew, with some reassurance from a counselor, that God only wanted her to date Christians. Our daughter began seeing a young man. He was very nice and polite. The relationship went on for about 2 months. We continued to ask Nicole if this boy was a believer. Her response: "I don't know yet." He had talked to her a little about going to church and knew she also attended. So, we felt it was time to talk with him. We needed to explain what we and God wanted in their relationship. Nicole was a believer. So, we believed God did not want her to be in an "unequally-yoked" relationship that could one day end in marriage. After that day, we began praying for the young man's salvation. We also prayed that, if he was a believer, God would restore his heart. We also prayed that our stand would not cause him to be bitter towards God. This was a very painful and delicate situation, not only for our daughter, but also for us. Nicole had already grown closer to him. Much to our amazement, God began a work in this young man's heart. After about 2 months, Nicole and Joanne were very burdened for him. The Lord keep placing him upon our hearts. We decided to allow Nicole to contact him, only to see if he was OK. This gave Nicole a chance to share the testimony of her salvation with him. He explained that he had been searching for some answers about Christ from friends, and especially one who was a youth worker. He also was asking some questions of Jehovah's Witness. He was to be given a Bible from them, which he had committed to read. We found out that this young man had accepted the Lord, but had never been discipled or supported. From that time until today, he consistently attended church and youth ministry. This is not because he is forced to. It is because he loves the Lord and wants to attend. What a blessing it has been to see him growing in the Lord. During the period we required Nicole to stop seeing him. It was a very painful situation. Although it did not feel good to see our daughter hurting, we knew we were doing what God wanted us to do. It was a wonderful blessing to see the Lord encourage our daughter. And this encouragement was in the same areas where we had struggled with her. We were very proud of her this year. She made honor roll, something we thought was out of reach for her. The Lord also gave her a ministry in music. We thank God for this. There is so much more we could share. The most important point is, we are not perfect parents. Our kids are not perfect kids. There have been many trials and tribulations which we have had to deal with. We feel it was, and still is, very important during these times to teach and apply God's word to each situation. This must be done as we face different situations with our children. As it says in Deuteronomy 6:6-7: "These commandments I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk to them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." We believe as problems arise, they present us with an opportunity to teach our children. We show them what the Lord would have them do or how He wants them to react. Through these times, we can also cultivating our relationship with them. We can continue learning how to love them unconditionally. May you experience the same opportunities. Biblical Studies New In Christ New In Christ You have just started a new adventure. You have accepted Christ as your savior. Join us an a mission to new ideas. Meet new people. Go where you have never gone before. Presented for your consideration ... NEW IN CHRIST "God's Word For The Christian Teenager" By Mr. and Mrs. Clarence A. Elzinga Galesburg, Michigan When choosing entertainment ... Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22). When ridiculed for witnessing ... "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41). When instructed by parents ... "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right" (Ephesians 6:1) When tempted to smoke ... "An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire" (Proverbs 16:27). "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). When taking a test ... "Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly" (Hebrews 13:18). When speaking to others ... "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gently, shewing all meekness unto all men" (Titus 3:2). When participating in sports ... "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully" (2 Timothy 2:5). When tempted to drink beer, wine or liquor ... "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the King's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of eunuches that he might not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8). "At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder" (Proverbs 23:32). When planning for the future ... "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me" (Psalms 119:133). When choosing companions ... "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14). God has a plan for YOU! He earnestly desires to work out this plan in your life. Don't spoil the plan! Just ask yourself the question, "What would Jesus do?" Remember God loves us as His children. We love Him as our Father but we also fear His wrath. "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If we endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which be exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:5-11). "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). "Let no man despise thy youth; but he thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). The Christian Teen-ager must be as different from the world as the world is different from the Bible. Old Testament Study Old Testament Study OLD TESTAMENT STUDY SOLOMON'S PROVERBS ON RAISING CHILDREN by Randall Hillebrand "To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles." (Proverbs 1:2-6) Solomon tells us that it is a good thing to study proverbs. This is because proverbs is filled with wisdom and instruction through which one can increase in learning and acquire wise counsel; where one can discover sayings of understanding and be taught wise behavior. This is why I chose to glean the Book of Proverbs for bits of wisdom on the proper way in which to raise children, in a manner pleasing to God. Also, as the proverb above states, "To the youth knowledge and discretion" come from their learning and understanding of proverbs. So the first piece of wisdom that I see Proverbs teaching on the raising of children is that it is very profitable to teach one's children the proverbs contained in this book. Not only would it be profitable to teach from this book, but from all of the wisdom literature in the Old Testament for the understanding which they will receive. To take it even a step further, we know that not only is wisdom literature profitable for teaching, but that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16-17). So, we should teach all scripture to our children, keeping in mind the application derived from Deuteronomy 6:4-7, which is an exhortation to love God with everything we have, to keep in our heart the word of God, and to diligently teach the scriptures to our children at all times ("when you sit in your house and walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up." vs. 7). Maybe Deuteronomy 6:4-7 was in the back of Solomon's mind when he wrote Proverbs 1:8-9 which says, "Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head, and ornaments about your neck." Where Deuteronomy 6:4-7 is an injunction to parents, Proverbs 1:8 is an injunction to children. Solomon is not only telling them to listen to their father's instruction, but this verse has the idea of obeying them also. So when the father gives instructions, the children carry them out. The children are also told not to forsake or abandon their mother's teachings, probably meaning the teachings of the scriptures which were usually part of the mother's duties since the father did not always have the time to do so. So as the parents are told to teach, the children are told to listen and respond. Verse 9 gives the results of children that abide by verse 8, which is that "they are a graceful wreath to your head, and ornaments about your neck." In other words, they are something to be displayed because of their value and they are prize possessions that bring pride to their parents. Any parent would be happy and proud to display their children for others to see if they are obedient. The next proverb which shed light on the raising of children was Proverb 1:7. Here we see that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;" but "fools despise wisdom and instruction." Solomon's use of the phrase, "fear of the Lord," has more than just the idea of fear. When the Israelite used this word fear (Hebrew -"yare'") with respect to God, it had the idea of the highest reverence and respect combined with love that a child could have for a parent. The aspect of fear was still there, but because of the expression of love involved, it became more of an awe toward God; a fear without torment. (Kufeldt 475). This is what we are to teach our children when teaching them the fear of God, not a type of fear that causes them to go and hide in a corner from, nor attempt to lie to God every time they sin because of their fear that God will be cruel and mean toward them. This kind of fear knows that God will chastise the disobedient, but also knows that it is for their best. So having this type of fear is the beginning of knowledge, because understanding what it means to fear God is in itself an important piece of knowledge to have. But also, having a fear of God shows that one believes in God, which gives him the ability to grow closer to and learn more about God, which is the beginning of true knowledge. So the second thing we need to do as parents is to teach our children the "fear of God" which "is the beginning of knowledge, "otherwise we will have children who are fools, 'fools' who will "despise wisdom and instruction." The word instruction here has the idea of discipline, correction, chastisement, which says that these are the kind of things that they despise. The man who despises these things will live a life that is undisciplined and irresponsible, a life that is full of one mishap after another because he has not learned the fear of God and put God in His proper place. The Book of Proverbs has a number of things to say about the discipline of children. We will even see that in some of the proverbs, the rod will be discussed as a tool of discipline, challenging some today that would say that when a child misbehaves we should talk to him or her, but never spank. This would especially challenge those today that say children should not even be disciplined by talking to them because we may hinder their creative abilities. But as we will see, Solomon disagrees with this philosophy of child rearing. Proverbs 23:13 brings Solomon's view across vividly when he says, "Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you beat him with the rod, he will not die." The word "beat" here has the idea of smiting or striking with a powerful effect. It is not talking about a couple pats on the child's behind. And as Solomon states further, "he will not die." Some may say, that's too cruel, children do not need a spanking like that. Yes, there is some truth in that. All children are different and they all respond to discipline in different ways. But Solomon has a very good reason for this as can be seen in the next verse. He says, "You shall beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from Sheol." I believe this truth can be seen in Proverbs 22:6 where Solomon says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it." If a child is trained in the way he should go, which includes a fear of God, teaching about God and discipline to keep his way straight, then we are told that "when he is old he will not depart from it." In other words, what one learns as a child will in most cases be lived out by that person in adulthood. So an undisciplined child will in most cases turn out to be an undisciplined adult, as a disciplined child will probably be disciplined as an adult. Solomon is just letting parents know that the discipling of their children has eternal consequences (delivering them from Sheol). Solomon further tells us in Proverbs 13:24 that the one "who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently." The word "diligently" means to look for early. So it is not the kind of situation where the parents discipline the child when they get around to it, but it is an immediate handling of disciplinary action. Solomon also says, "Discipline your son while there is hope." (Proverbs 19:18) A literal translation might be, "Discipline your son for there is hope." Solomon is telling us here that there is hope for our children if they are disciplined. He states further in that verse, "And do not desire his death," or in other words, do not set your heart on his destruction. Do not make the decision that he is a hopeless case without trying to help him." (Kufeldt 548) Again trying to help this child can be done through discipline as stated in this verse and two others that we will be looking at. Proverbs 22:15 tells us that "foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child," but there is hope as stated above. What is that hope? That hope is seen in the latter part of this verse which says, "the rod of discipline will remove it far from him." The foolishness that the discipline will remove can be defined as silliness or folly; acting in such a way so as to be irresponsible in their acts and behavior. Another instance where discipline brings hope is in the case of the one who forsakes his way. Solomon tells us that "stern discipline is for him who forsakes the way" and that "he who hates reproof will die." (Proverbs 15:10). This verse is true for any age, but with our specific application to children, we can see that a child that forsakes or decides to leave the way can be brought back through the use of discipline. What is Solomon talking about when he talks about him that forsakes the way? From the context it seems as though he is talking about forsaking the way of God -- going your own way and doing your own thing. In the case of a child, not obeying his parents, which is a direct sin against God assuming that the parents are not having the child go against the moral law of God. The latter part of the verse makes it clear that he who hates reproof or correction is headed for death. This is because the child in our case is not listening to the parents' reproof, which shows his lack of sense. By not listening to the parents, the child may never consider the things of God in his life, which will definitely lead to spiritual death. From a physical standpoint, the child may not listen to the parent's reproof about the proper way to cross a street. This could later end in the child's death because he did not look both ways before crossing as he was told. Solomon further states along these lines that "whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid." (Proverbs 12:1). In the case of the child above, if he would be one that loves discipline (knowing that it is for his best), it would then be true that he has a love for knowledge because he understands that when discipline is applied, there is a definite lesson to be learned for future living. He would be happy to be set straight each time he falters, knowing that this discipline would keep him living a life pleasing to God. As the child above may run out in front of a car someday because he did not listen to his parents' reproof, the child who loves discipline would not do that because he would have taken heed to past warnings. Solomon says that the child who hates reproof is stupid. He is stupid because if he is not reproved, he will not learn. So we can say that this child hates knowledge because he does not want to learn from his past mistakes. Along these same lines, Proverbs 13:1 tells us that "a wise son accepts his father's discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke." Why does the wise son accept his father's discipline? Because his father's discipline is knowledge for the son to live by as stated previously. But the scoffer, one who intensely looks down at others, does not listen to rebuke. This is because the scoffer sees himself above everyone else and above anything that they would have to tell him. So when the scoffer is rebuked for wrongdoings, it means nothing to him since he would never make a mistake. He, as the child above that hates reproof, is himself stupid. Relating to the son accepting his father's discipline, Solomon tells his son not to reject God's discipline. He says, "my son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord, or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves he reproves, even as a father, the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12). Parents need to have good communication with their children so that they can discuss pretty much anything and everything with them. This can come in handy by being able to help the child see God working in his life, whether in the area of discipline or blessing to the child. If the parents are keen to the happenings in the child's life, they may be able to see if the child is rejecting the Lord's discipline or loathing His reproof. In other words, to see if the child is rejecting the Lord's discipline by continuing in the sin that the Lord just disciplined him for, indicating no regard for the Lord or for his discipline. Also to watch and see if the child is loathing the Lord's reproof which means basically having a hatred, or sickening and intense fear toward that reproof. Reproof being an understanding of the sin committed as well as any actions that need to be taken because of and/or against that sin. We need to show our children that God has a good reason to discipline and reprove them and us alike. This reason is seen in verse 12 when Solomon says, "for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father, the son in whom he delights." God disciplines because he loves us. Not only does he love us, but he loves us as a father loves his child in whom he finds great pleasure. Lastly in considering the area of discipline, Solomon tells us that "the rod of reproof gives wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother." (Proverbs 29:15). What Solomon is telling us here is that through discipline of our children, they will learn the proper way in which to act. They will learn to fear God, to respect their parents, and how to live a valuable life for God and others. As can be seen from the latter part of this verse, the child who is not disciplined but gets his own way and does what he wants will do nothing but bring shame to his mother. This is so because this kind of a child becomes nothing more than a self-centered, uncaring and disrespectful person that brings no honor to his family, especially his mother. This kind of child, besides bringing his mother shame, also brings her grief; and he despises her (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20). This kind of a child is nothing but a heartache to his mother, who shows his dislike towards her by being foolish in his ways and by bringing her sorrow and shame at the mention of his name. This type of child is a disgrace to this whole family in contrast to a child who has learned from the rod of reproof. When the rod of reproof is used in such a way so as to bring wisdom to the child, proverbs say that it makes his father glad (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20). As can be seen from the above discussion on discipline, discipline is very important in the rearing of children. So the third thing parents need to do in the raising of their children is to discipline them, using a rod when necessary. I will end this section on discipline by quoting Proverbs 29:17, "Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul." Two other important truths of Proverbs that I believe a child should know will now be discussed. The first one is seen in Proverbs 14:12 which says, "there is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." We need to teach our children that the word of God is our authority and that we need to check everything against it. Just because a way seems right to us does not mean that it is the way that God wants us to go. God may very well want us to go in the other direction. The other verse is Proverbs 22:1, which states, "a good name is to be more desired than great riches, favor is better than silver and gold." Here Solomon is stating that a good name in the sight of men is more important than riches because riches may not last. Also, if your riches do not last, your friends may not either; but with a good name it does not matter if you are rich or poor because you will have friends not because of what you have, but because of who you are. Solomon also states that favor (meaning grace or charm) is better than silver and gold because one's grace can go much farther than silver or gold. Especially for a person who is poor; if he has grace, he can win people to himself and to his cause. So if our children grow in the grace and knowledge of God and have a good name and favor among men, they will have things that are important in God's eyes. They will also understand that wealth is not everything and that their pursuit of it, bypassing the things of God, is nothing but striving after the wind. To summarize on raising children according to Proverbs, we need to remember the following: (1) Teach children the scriptures according to Deuteronomy 6:4-7. (2) Teach children what it means to fear God. (3) Discipline children: a) To deliver their souls from Sheol. b) To train them up in the way they should go. c) Because you love them. d) As soon as the child misbehaves. e) While there is still hope. f) To remove foolishness from them. g) If they forsake the way. h) To add to their knowledge for living. i) Because it gives them wisdom. j) So they do not bring shame and disgrace to their mother. k) So your children will not grow up despising their mother. l) So they will bring you comfort and delight to your soul. (4) Teach children that the word of God is to be their standard by which to live. (5) Teach children that a good name and favor are more important than riches and gold and silver. (Note: The two references used in this paper were taken from The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume II.) Copyright 1989 by Randy Hillebrand You are allowed to reproduce this article only in its entirety and without additions or deletions. Special Studies Special Studies THE REVELATION OF GOD THROUGH HIS KENOSIS Dr. Charles A. Wootten Whole Counsel Ministries, Inc. In a great act of condescension and self-humbling, Jesus, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-8 NIV). All of this was for our salvation. The Revelation of God here is firmly sealed in the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (II Corinthians 8:9 NIV). This is not only the stated fact of the incarnation but its meaning. The kenosis theory, a view propounded by Bishop Gore in 1889, stated that Jesus had to empty Himself of some Divine qualities. This is a fallacy because God could not give up what was His. The Scriptures, especially the New Testament testimony, repeatedly, emphatically, shows the omnipotence and omnipresence and omniscience of Him (see also Matthew 28:18, John 21:17, Ephesians 4:10). The impression of Jesus that the Gospels give is not that He was without these qualities, but that He drew on them intermittently, while being content much of the time not to do so. This is so obvious a testimony of Divine capacities restrained rather than Divine capacities discarded. The real kenosis is a laying aside of glory for an acceptance of hardship, isolation, ill-treatment, malice and the sins of the world so that through His poverty we might become rich. The Revelation of God here is a serious, wonderful manifestation of Love, Tender Mercy, and Grace in all meanings. Thus, the kenosis became flesh in a manger in Bethlehem. In his book, Jesus the Messiah, Alfred Edersheim remarks that "He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder, 'the tower of the flock.' This Migdal Eder was not the watch- tower for the ordinary flocks which pastured on the barren sheep-ground beyond Bethlehem, but lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem. A passage in the Mishnah leads to the conclusion, that the flocks, which pastured there, were destined for Temple-sacrifices, and, accordingly, that the shepherds, who watched over them, were not ordinary shepherds. The latter were under the ban of Rabbinism, on account of their necessary isolation from religious ordinances, and their manner of life, which rendered strict legal observance unlikely, if not absolutely impossible. This same Mishnic passage also leads us to infer, that these flocks lay out all the year round, since they are spoken of as in the fields thirty days before the Passover that is, in the month of February, when in Palestine the average rainfall is nearly greatest. It was ... the very place consecrated by tradition as that where the Messiah was to be first revealed." The doctrine of grace, mercy, and redemption was even shown in the witness of shepherds. After the time of her purification was complete (see Leviticus 12) Mary took the child Jesus to be circumcised. She presented Him in the Temple according to the Law. She offered up a sin-offering for the Levitical defilement, symbolically attaching to the beginning of life. Also offered was a burnt offering which marked the restoration of communion with God. She could again partake of the sacred offerings as, through prayer and praise and offerings with a grateful heart, she was declared Levitically clean. Luke chapter 2 shows the prayers of thanksgiving and of prophecy from Simeon and Anna all combine to stress the humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The thought is: If He were only God and not man, there would be no need to go through the required ritual. The painful circumcision was only a very small part of His true kenosis. This was the first of the requirements of being human just like any other male. Jesus passed through the various stages of growth like anyone else. Since we have no accurate history of His childhood, we can infer that His growth and development were according to the laws of nature and the training He received in a Godly home. We are sure that in His later years, much of His knowledge was via Divine Revelation. But, according to the Law, His entire being was the handiwork of God. As such, He was totally subject to the Law of God. The Revelation of God shown here is: There is not an area of man's life and being that can be held in reservation from God and His Law. In order to know what the Law is, all of us, and this included our Lord during His youth, have to acknowledge that education in the law is basic to and inseparable from both obedience to the law and worship. This could be taken a step further in our lives by saying that anything other than a Biblically grounded schooling is an act of apostasy for a believer. In order for Jesus to handle and dispense the keys of the kingdom during His ministry, He had to have been educated in the Law. He came to understand that these keys were inseparable from the Law, and the faithful declaration of the law. This was because they were the law as the only instrument of true power under God. Eusebius (Proof of the Gospel, X/1) states "we recognize Him (Jesus) as the Word of God, the Power of God, the Wisdom of God, the Angel of the Great Counsel, and the Great Eternal High Priest, offering sacrifice for the existence and preservation of all, and propitiating the Father. And as Human we know Him as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, as a sheep led to the slaughter. And this was the human body, which as a high priest He took like a lamb or sheep from the flock of humanity, and offering the firstfruits of the human race, sacrificed them to the Father. By it He entered into human nature, which could only thus perceive the Word of God, and His spiritual unembodied power, being able with eyes of flesh to see nothing higher than flesh and physical things. So that everything that follows, which may seem to lower His glory, must be taken as conceived of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, and of His human body." The revelation of the humanity of Jesus Christ is shown in that He was subject to the ordinary laws of human development. To all eyewitnesses He had the appearance of a man in all respects. The difference in this carnal nature is that it was sinless (1 Peter 2:22: "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."). By His incarnation, the kenosis, Jesus Christ came into possession of a real, human, physical nature consisting of spirit, soul, and body. This gave to Him a true humanity. W. Evans in his The Great Doctrines of the Bible says, "There is not a note in the great organ of our humanity which, when touched, does not find a sympathetic vibration in the mighty range and scope of our Lord's being, saving, of course, the jarring discord of sin." As we read in the Scriptures to form a life of Christ we see Him subject to the ordinary physical limitations of human nature, such as hunger, thirst, weariness, pain, and death. "Christ possessed no moral limitations which were due to sin or which involved the possibility of sinning. This must be true, or the plan of redemption would be always liable to failure. Our Lord was the Lamb 'ordained before the foundation of the world!' A lamb to be accepted for sacrifice must be 'without spot or blemish.' As the antitype, the Christ must be sinless from an essential point, and without sin because of victory over it. Had he yielded to temptation and sinned, His fall could not have changed the fact that He had been ordained as the Lamb of God. If that ordination remained, we should have the fixed, ordained Lamb of God guilty of sin and denying the very demand of both type and principle that He should be without sin. He could not be man's Redeemer. "The Scriptures give no warrant for the teaching that our Lord might have sinned. The illustrations from Satan and Adam cannot come into court. Satan was a created angel; Adam was not the begotten Son of God, but a creation of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not a created angel; He was not a created man. He was begotten of God by and through the Holy Spirit from the seed of the woman. That which was begotten was not a person but a nature, a human nature. This human nature was holy. It was in its quality the holiness of God. Since its quality was the holiness of God, there was no sin in it and no possible tendency to sin. This holy, sinless, human nature was indissolubly joined to the personality of the Son. His human nature could not have sinned without the consent of His unique person. "Since the personality of our Lord Jesus Christ is the personality of God, it was impossible for Him to consent to sin. Since His personality could not consent to sin, it was impossible for Him in His human nature (seeing that human nature was inseparably joined to His personality) to have sinned." (Emery H. Bancroft, Elemental Theology, pp. 135-136). The kenosis, that emptying of Himself for us, is not an easy concept to discuss. This is a concept to be believed in the spirit, trusting that God is Whom He says He is, and depending on Him for the faith to do it. The next discussion shall center around the revelation of God through baptism. Messianic Studies Messianic Studies The Messianic Studies column explores the world of the Messianic Believer. Like the church at large, Messianic Judaism contains much diversity. It is made up of numerous views as to what it means to be a Messianic Jew, who we are, what we call ourselves and what we believe. This column will be used to explore this variety, giving the reader a broader perspective of Messianic Judaism than found elsewhere, exposing those of us who are Messianic Believers to the wide spectrum of practice found within the movement. Hopefully we will succeed in helping our Jewish brothers and sisters to understand why we follow Yeshua as our savior. We also hope that what is provided here will give our gentile readers both a better understanding of their Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as the Jewish roots of their own faith. BASIC DOCTRINES OF SALVATION From "The Roots of Our Faith" series By Chuck and Karen Cohen Jerusalem, Israel "...I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets." (Acts 24:14) Messianic term used in this teaching: Yeshua = Jesus Messiah = Christ Tanach = Old Testament (Unless stated otherwise, all scripture verses are from the New King James Version) All of the basic doctrines of the New Testament have their roots deep in the Tanach. It is hard to understand the full meaning of these doctrines unless we dig into their Hebraic soil. This background permeated the hearts and minds of Yeshua and the New Testament writers. Only with this foundation could they "fulfill" the Tanach (i.e., explain the true meaning) from a spirit-anointed point of view. The next several articles the "Roots" series will explore some basic doctrines pertaining to salvation. Specifically, we will examine what the Tanach says about grace, faith, blood atonement and forgiveness. To give an overall picture, we will start with the Feast of the Lord known as Pesach, or Passover. This particular feast, the first of the seven yearly celebrations mentioned in Leviticus 23, is a dynamic picture of salvation by grace through faith in the blood of the Lamb. The whole story of Israel's redemption from the bondage of Pharaoh and subsequent freedom to receive God's law at Mt. Sinai is a pictorial type of our redemption from the clutches of sin and Satan and our freedom to live under God's rule. Paul also, uses Tanach scriptures for examples of our walk with the Lord. Thus, this is legitimate exegesis (I Cor. 10:11). Besides teaching us spiritual truths, Tanach stories recount the penetration of world history by the God of the universe, the God of Israel. These episodes actually happened to a real flesh and blood people. Israel is never just a symbol. Background of the Passover As the book of Exodus opens, Israel finds herself in severe bondage to cruel taskmasters under a tyrant who is using them to build a kingdom and glorify himself. God hears their cries and chooses a man whom He can use as His ambassador, an instrument to set His people free. Moses, who in many ways is a type of Yeshua (see Deut. 18:15-19), is sent as God's prophet to say to the god of this world, "Let My people go!" The Lord knows that Pharaoh will not listen (Ex. 3:19). Pharaoh hardens his heart. Then God stiffens Pharaoh's chosen state of heart, allowing ample opportunity for God to display His power and turn many to Him. This process, found in both Exodus 9:16 and Romans 9:17, is a clear attestation of God's sovereignty in the affairs of men (see Dan. 4:17, 25, 32, 35; 5:21). It is also an attack against the concept of dualism, i.e., that there is in the universe a good force and an evil force fighting for the souls of men. This doctrine is basic to many religions but cannot stand in the light of the Scriptures which declare that our God is the Lord of heaven and earth (Ex. 8:22; Ps. 2:1-9; Isa. 40:17-26; Matt.11:25; Acts 10:36). We are all familiar with the story of the ten plagues the Lord sent upon Egypt (Ex. 7:14-12:30). Each of these plagues was a specific attack on the gods of Egypt, the last being on the future god-king of Egypt, Pharaoh's son (Ex. 12:12). Note two items that might be overlooked in all this excitement. 1. After three plagues the "Israeli" neighborhood of Goshen was set apart. God protected His people from His wrath to demonstrate His Lordship to the Egyptians (Ex. 8:22,23; 9:4,26; 10:23; 11:7). Believers also live protected from God's wrath. We face the wrath of man (Jn. 16:33), and the discipline of our Father (Heb. 12:511), but in Yeshua, we will escape the wrath God will pour out on this world (I Th. 5:9). 2. God's judgments were for the specific purpose of redemption; not just Israel's, but also that of the Egyptians! The Lord states nine times that He sends these plagues so that "he Egyptians may know that I am the LORD" (Ex. 7:5,17; 8:10,19, 22: 9:14,29;14:4,18). This is an example of Ps. 9:16, "The LORD is known by the judgment He executes". Our God still executes judgment on Israel's behalf and will continue to do so until the whole world knows that He is the Lord (Ps. 98:3; Rom. 11:15). On the cross, the Father executed His righteous judgment on our sin, which was laid on Messiah Yeshua (Isa. 53:4-6). Not only by this do we possess the knowledge that God is faithful, just, loving and merciful, but we also now have a heart knowledge of Him. His judgment on our sin removed the barrier, the veil. Now we enjoy a mutual love relationship with Him (Isa. 59,1,2). Exodus 12 - The First Passover As we examine certain verses in Exodus 12, the Egyptian Passover, we will see how they not only relate to our salvation through Yeshua, but bring out facets of God's glorious redemption that the New Testament alone does not. The reason the New Testament does not expand on many root issues is that all its writers, as well as the Spirit of God, assume that believers will study and know Yeshua's Bible, the Old Testament as their foundational scriptures (see 2 Tim. 3:16,17 and the first "Roots" article). v. 1.2 By telling Moses and Aaron that "this month... shall be the first month of the year to you", God indicates that this redemption from bondage in Egypt will mark the start of a new life. We also start a new life when we accept the sacrifice of our Lamb and become "new creatures in Messiah" (2 Cor. 5:17). v. 5 The "lamb without blemish" is a type of the Messiah as a man without sin (Heb. 4:15). In the life of sheep, a "male of the first year" is in the prime of his life as was Yeshua at 33, when He was sacrificed. v. 6 The lamb was examined for four days to see if there was any defect in it, then it was killed. Yeshua walked and taught openly throughout the land of Israel for three years (and some months) so all could examine Him. He once asked, "Which of you convicts Me of sin?" (Jn. 8:46) None. He is the spotless Lamb of God (1 Pet. 1:19). v. 8-11 Israel is commanded to eat the flesh of the lamb, which is described in v. 11 as "the LORD's Passover". Compare this with vv. 21 and 27. God speaks of the lamb when He uses the term "The Passover". Paul, by the Holy Spirit said, "Messiah our Passover was sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5:7). Calling Yeshua "our Passover" is identical to calling Him "the Lamb of God", the title used for Yeshua more often than any other in the New Testament except for "the Messiah", "the Christ" (Jn. 1:41). "Messiah our Passover was sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5:7) makes perfect sense with this background of Exodus 12 in mind. The Last Supper, which was a Passover Seder, the meal commemorating the Exodus from Egypt, has its roots in Exodus 12. Yeshua broke the bread and told His disciples to eat it. "This is My body..." (Lk. 22:19). This bread, called "the bread of affliction" in the Seder. was unleavened as commanded in Ex. 12:X. Leaven represents the power of sin (I Cor. 5:6-8). Yeshua, the sinless Lamb, used unleavened bread to represent His body. At the Seder, Jewish tradition calls the cup of wine after supper "the cup of Messianic redemption". Yeshua said this cup now represents His blood that seals the New Covenant promised in Jer. 31:31-34 (Lk. 22:20). "And they overcame him ("...that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan...", v.9) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Rev. 12:11 KJV) v. 12 This verse reminds us who destroys evil. The Lord says, " will pass through... Egypt, and (I) will strike all the firstborn... and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD" (emphasis ours). If we compare this with vv. 13, 23, 27 and 29 we see that only in v. 23 is there reference to "the destroyer". This is not Satan! Satan would not destroy his own kingdom, rooted so firmly in Egypt! God says four times that He Himself is the destroyer of Egypt's gods. This is none other than the pre-incarnate Son of God Who destroyed the works of the devil in our lives at His first coming (1 ln. 3:8) and will totally destroy Satan's kingdom when He returns (Rev. 11:15-17; 19 21)! v. 13 The children of Israel were commanded in v. 7 to apply the blood of the Passover lamb to the door frames of their houses, then they were to go inside and eat the Passover meal. Once inside, they would no longer see the blood. The blood was a sign for God. The Hebrew word for "sign" is "ot" and can also be translated as "token", "flag", "monument" or "miracle". The inference here is that God the Father is looking for the blood of His Son applied to our lives and when He sees it, He not only passes over us, i.e., does not allow His wrath to fall on us, but He also protects us when it falls on the world. Yeshua presented His blood to His Father and the Father accepted it (Ac. 20:28; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:12,22). We only need to trust in His sacrifice. Another similarity to our salvation is that, unlike the later sacrificial system, the Passover was a "once for-all" deliverance within enemy territory! "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; ...You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... my cup runs over." (Ps. 23:4,5) In the rest of this chapter the children of Israel are commanded to keep this meal to remember God's redemption for ever. Both Jews and the Gentiles who joined themselves to the house of Israel were to keep this feast (vv. 19, 47-49) as a way to teach the next generation about God's goodness and power (vv. 26,27). We teach this when we keep the Passover as well as when we celebrate Communion. "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death [redemption from spiritual Egypt] until He comes" (I Cor. 11:26). The scripture passage instructing God's children to keep a yearly Passover observance is Exodus 12:25-27: "It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service.... when your children shall say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' that you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.' So the people bowed their heads and worshipped." If you can join one this year, you will find it edifying and exciting. "...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things ...but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Pet. 1:18,19). Conclusion We stated that Passover "is a dynamic picture of salvation by grace through faith in the blood of the Lamb." It was by grace because it was God who delivered the children of Israel when, through faith, they obeyed His instructions to apply the blood. They rested and ate under its protection until the Lord Himself destroyed His and Israel's enemy. Applying the blood of God's Passover Lamb, resting in Him, partaking of Him and remaining under His protection, we "Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD" (Ex. 14:13). The basics of salvation in both the Tanach and the New Testament are the same. "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Ps. 34:8) "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn. 1:29) Chuck Cohen is on the Pastoral Staff of King of Kings Assembly, Jerusalem. Please feel free to copy and disseminate this information. The WORD for Today The WORD for Today In Hebrews 10:25 we read "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." The responsibility of all Christians is to encourage one another. This series is intended to help provide some guidelines in the process of encouragement. The book, ENCOURAGEMENT, THE KEY TO CARING, by Lawrence J. Crabb, Jr., and Dan B. Allender, is recommended reading with the series. Each message can be read in conjunction to the related chapter in the book. The series can be used as the basis of a group study in your church. Please let us know if you find the material helpful or if you have any questions or suggestions. The article presented here is the fifth of fourteen messages given by Pastor Geoff Kragen. They were presented at Foothill Bible Church in Lincoln, California. "MIRROR, MIRROR ... WHO'S THE FAIREST ... ?" "Encouragement is the kind of expression that helps someone want to be a better Christian, even when life is rough." (1) The young woman looked in the mirror. "My hair is nice. I do have good eyes. I've been very lucky to have clear skin. But ... I'm so heavy. If only I could lose another twenty pounds, then I'd be beautiful. David would really notice me then. Maybe he'd take me to the senior prom. That would be so wonderful. We could date. We could get married. Then I could have my own life. -- If only I could lose twenty more pounds! -- If only I could ..." If you're quiet, you can come into the room. She won't notice you. See how she looks into the mirror. What do you suppose she is thinking about? She looks so sad. Her eyes are so dull, like they have seen too much pain. Her complexion is sallow, her hair dray and stringy. The most tragic thing of all, however is how thin she is. You can see her bones right through her skin. Mirror, Mirror on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all? This young lady is not seeing the real person in the mirror. She doesn't see herself accurately. This young person suffers from anorexia. She is starving herself to death. Her life is controlled by others. Using food, she has finally found an area in which she has reclaimed power. She doesn't understand this. She believes she is fat and wants to diet to be more attractive. As she looks into the mirror, all she sees is a fat little thirteen year old. She may never see fourteen. She is a real person. Who is she? I don't know. There a many young girls who are killing themselves because of an inaccurate self-image. The problem is so prevalent that the comic strip "Luann" has used an anorexic character to help the reader identify the danger of the problem. This is the extreme example of lacking an accurate self-image. How does this problem apply to our desire to encourage? I suspect that your saying, "I can't help encourage someone with this problem." And, your right. You can't. I'm providing this example to show just how deluded people can become. The point is that we all have areas that, when reflected in our mirrors, may show something equally inaccurate. As we have considered the different aspects of encouragement in previous issues of Morning Star, we have focused on some factors related to both personal and corporate areas. We have seen that both open and closed environments don't really contribute to the process. What is necessary for encouragement to flourish is an environment of total commitment. Before we can to be committed to others however, we must first be aware of the factors in our lives that can prevent this. Encouragement is the first level of counseling, if we consider counseling a specific form of discipleship. The purpose of discipleship is to conform one another to the image of Christ. To do so, we need to see where we are, and where we are headed. And we need to help those we encourage make the same self-examination. The spirit in which we encourage requires a particular type of self-awareness. This can be defined as having an accurate self-image. It is the accurate self-image that allows us to root out those behaviors and beliefs that could affect the level of our commitment. Encouragement requires a willingness to be unselfish. To be unselfish, we have to be aware of our specific areas of selfishness. This means we must have an accurate self-image. When we look in the mirror, we must see what is really there. When we can see ourselves accurately, we will recognize where we have taken a legitimate desire and made it into an illegitimate goal. For example, the desire for material comfort is a legitimate one. However, when that desire turns into an obsession which destroys our obedience to the Lord, it has become an illegitimate goal. As we see ourselves for who we are, we will learn to recognize our self-protection techniques. We will understand the hidden agenda that affects our ability to encourage others with God's love. To see and care for others effectively, we must first must see ourselves correctly. Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Hopefully, when we look in the mirror, we see the Lord. For as we see Him, we see the fairest. And, as we see Him, we need to see ourselves for who we are. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" ( Matthew 7:3). To see our brother's speck, we must first recognize the "redwood tree" in our own eye and get rid of it. In this article, I want to first make clear the distinction between a good and an accurate self-image. Second, we will consider how we can go about developing this view of ourselves. Finally, we will consider how life approached from this perspective will give us the opportunity to be more effective in ministering to others. Currently a lot of attention is given to the importance of acquiring a good self-image, or having high self-esteem. We are told it is important that children feel good about themselves. Some Christians teach that to love others, as Christ commands, we first must love ourselves. Of course Christ never called us to love ourselves; after all, we do that so effectively already. I do find it interesting that in the school systems where children are supposedly helped to find good self-worth, there is an almost instinctive hatred of Christianity. The assumption is made that the teachings of Scripture, which say man is fallen and faces judgment, somehow undermines the self-esteem of the individual. This is a correct assessment. Therefore, the position of many teachers, and even more so, for many "educators," is that Christianity is an anathema to healthy self-esteem and self-love. Therefore, secular education is determined to undo the "damage" the Christian home has made in the lives of children. What is sad is that many Christians want to encourage striving for a good self-image, and emphasizing the importance of self-love. But to live as God requires we must have an accurate-self image. An accurate self-image does not mean a good self-image. A good self-image is the goal of humanism. "We are all good. Environment is what makes us bad." The logical conclusion of this kind of thinking allows for a self-deification that is endemic to humanism. What do you think it means to have an accurate self-image? It means first, to see ourselves as God sees us. Second it means that we need to see ourselves in contrast to Jesus, the model God provides for us. If we do this, it is impossible to have a good self-image. However, this doesn't mean we are to have a bad self-image. Consider the following verses: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). -- " ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). -- "As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;"" (Romans 3:10). This teaching isn't conducive to feeling good about oneself. These words present an accurate view of who we have become as a result of the fall. This teaching deals with the total depravity of man. We were created in the image of God, but with the fall, that image become corrupted in all its aspects. Logically, part of having an accurate self-image is recognize that people are not fundamentally good. Actually, I can't understand how anyone could believe this, living in today's world. There is however, a counter-balance to this truth. "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,"" (Genesis 1:26). We are created in God's image, even if that image has been corrupted. And we are loved by the Creator of that image. "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" (John 3:16). We were so loved by God that He was willing to die for us ... in the midst of our sin. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). And, He loved us enough to give us the gift of salvation. "For many are invited, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). We do have value, not because of who we are, but because of Who God is. Having received the gift of salvation, we have a relationship with the Father. "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father"" (Galatians 4:6). We have value, not because of who we are, but because of Who our Father is. A good self-image is self-centered. I can feel good about myself because of what I do, or the nice words others say about me. I have a good self-image, because I have a good ego. However, to continue to feel good about myself, I am dependent on circumstances over which I have no control. In contrast, an accurate self-image is God-centered. As I move towards the Lord, I see myself as a fallen human, redeemed by the blood of Christ. I will see that even as a believer I fall short of God's standard as modeled by Christ. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). I will not have any illusions of having any intrinsic worth in myself. Simultaneously, I will see myself as extremely valuable. Christ was willing to die for me. He was willing to allow God to impute His righteousness to us. "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22 & 24). We have this new self that is created by God. He values us as His children, for what He has done for us, not for who we are. We stand before God spotless. "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will -- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves" (Ephesians 1:6). Thus, an accurate self-image recognizes our intrinsic unworthiness, while appreciating our imputed value. We can see both our shortcomings and our worth. Our self-image isn't dependent on our performance, or circumstances, or the opinions of others. Praise the Lord! It is because we are the loved children of our Father in Heaven. We have worth because God created us, and sent His Son to save us. So what is the point of all of this? We need to examine our behaviors and motives considering who we truly are. As we reach out to others to encourage them, are we doing so from a God-centered or self-centered position? Am I sincerely allowing God's love to flow to you, or am I trying to build myself up by being such a good guy? Am I loving my spouse because God does, or am I trying to straighten her or him out to make my life easier? Am I, who is way up here, trying to help you little schmucks who are way down there? Have I lost sight of the truth that we are both fallen and hurting people? We must see that our worth comes not from ourselves, but from the Lord. And, if we recognize that our value comes from the Lord, then we can move towards others in His love. We will not be concerned with protecting ourselves. As I live in the reality of God's love, and all that he has done for me, my desire is to please Him. I will encourage and care for others in a way that will please the Lord. I will strive to deal with them unselfishly, in sincerity and with God's love. Equally important, as we see ourselves accurately, we will be less likely to be judgmental. Recognizing my own shortcomings makes me able to accept that you aren't perfect. We can help one another move towards the Lord. We are all God's children, and we all need to grow in our maturity, because none of us are there yet. And it is these truths that we will use to encourage others. As we disciple people, we must help them develop an accurate self-image. We must move them towards the Lord, letting go of self-centeredness and moving towards God-centeredness. People will only find true peace and joy in relationship with the Lord. Only He can be trusted never to fail His children. We can't teach others what we don't know for ourselves. We must be willing to do the difficult job of seeing ourselves accurately. For as we see ourselves for who we are, we no longer need to hide. We no longer need to protect ourselves. We become free to be the people God intended us to be. Praise the Lord. 1. Crabb, Jr., Lawrence, J. and Allender, Dan B., Encouragement-The Key to Caring, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1984, p. 10. Prayer Guidelines Prayer Guidelines PRAYER AND AUTHORITIES Article 15 of the "Prayer and ...." Series By Michael Wilkinson "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time ..." (1 Timothy 2:1-6). Did you know that we are responsible to pray for those who are in authority over us? Our governors, employers, supervisors and teachers need to have Christians pray for them, and the Lord has called us to do so. We are to pray prayers of supplication, asking God's guidance and blessing for our leaders. In Proverbs, God's Wisdom says, "By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries" (Proverbs 8:15-21). We need to pray that our leaders today would receive Wisdom. We are to pray prayers of intercession, asking God to help our leaders pursue righteousness and shun evil. "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan" (Proverbs 29:2). "If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked" (Proverbs 29:12). We pray for them also to believe in Jesus as their own Savior. This is pleasing to the Lord, who wants all men to come to the knowledge of the truth. Also, the church is less likely to be persecuted when Christians are in authority of the secular government. For instance, the early church suffered under the reign of Emperors such as Nero, Domitian and Diocletian, who persecuted and killed many Christians out of spite. When Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in AD 324, the church was free to worship openly and spread the Gospel freely. Although we may not always agree with our leaders, especially if they abuse their authority, we know that God establishes earthly authorities. "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same" (Romans 13:1-3). Therefore, we must be subject to authority, yet without sinning, and pray. Therefore, as good Christians, let us remember to pray constantly for our leaders. SCUD Warnings SCUD Warnings S piritual C ounterfeits U ndermining D octrine W A R N I N G S By Jerry Johnson I was down to just a couple of days before my deadline to get this column done and I was all hyped and ready to write about the current trends and difficulties in Christian activism, instead of doing Reformationator II as I had planned. Then a co-worker hands me a copy of the March 29, 1993 U.S. News and World Report and while reading it I find that on page 17 was the "On Society" column by John Leo. It was my column. He didn't use scripture or weird humor, but he definitely delivered my message: "The sheer practical fact is that abortion will become rarer only when more women come to see it as wrong." and (although he's more optimistic than I am) "Practices that were once regarded as natural and moral, such as infanticide, torture and slavery, gradually come to be seen by the whole world as barbaric. Abortion, too, I think. But to get there, the appeal has to be to conscience, not to menace to the clinics ." I have no idea if John Leo is a believer, but I think he has spoken rightly, (whether he knows it or not) Biblically and wisely. I encourage you to go to your library and read a copy. So, now onto my previously scheduled, nearly postponed, but now back on track, REFORMATIONATOR II. Partial transcript of the February 28, 1993 showing of the OPRAHUE! Show. O: Have you ever been involved in a really unbalanced relationship? You know the kind I mean. You're in a relationship with someone who is just so much better, smarter and cooler than you are and you're scared to death that if you do one thing wrong they'll leave you for someone better. You're faking it and know that if they ever come to realize what you're really like, it's all over. That's today's topic on ... OPRAHUE! (Opening music theme and credits) O: Today, we'll talk to some people stuck in these unbalanced and stressful relationships as we explore ... When You Can't Measure Up To The One You Love. Our first guest is wearing a veil because she is in mortal fear that if her "better half" saw her discussing her inadequacy, he'd leave her in a second. We'll address her as Mrs. X. Now, Mrs. X, what is it like to be in a relationship like this? X: It's horrible now, Oprahue! When I first met him, it was WONDERFUL! I couldn't believe that someone like that could actually love me. It was like a fairy tale. O: What made that feeling change? X: It happened really pretty quickly. After all, if you spend any time at all with him, you realize how accomplished and polished he is and then you realize how many others are attracted to him ... and they have so much more to offer him than I do! O: When you realized you were beginning to have these feelings, did you seek advice? X: Definitely. But that just made it worse. O: How? X: They just confirmed how wonderful he was and how it was a miracle that we were together at all. O: Whoa! Who needs friends like that? Mrs. X, how do these feelings define your relationship with him? X: He's done so much for me, I have to spend all my time proving that I'm worthy of his attention and love. O: How do you do this? X: I do whatever he asks, as well as whatever I think might even possibly make him happy. O: Does it make him happy? X: I'm really not sure, you see, I'm afraid that if I spend too much time with him, he'll see me for who I really am, so I spend most of my time doing things for him, but not necessarily with him. O: (to the audience) It sounds like that may be part of the problem! Now our second guest, also wearing a disguise for the same reason as Mrs. X, is Mr. Y, who is in a nearly identical relationship. Mr. Y, please describe your relationship. Y: Frankly, Mrs. X has pretty much said it all. It is just so stressful. I know that regardless of how much I try, it may just not be enough. O: You're in love ... is that love reciprocated? Y: Oh, the love is obvious, but that is what creates such a huge feeling of obligation ... how can I return such a great love? How do I prove I'm worthy? O: Is that kind of proof being requested? Y: Get real Oprahue! Who stays in a relationship if they're only giving and not getting ... and don't all of us expect to get back at least as much as we give? O: We now have an expert, Dr. Bertram. Doctor, you have examined these relationships, what are your conclusions? Dr.: They're right. They've received so much, they must work to prove they are worthy of such an incredible love. O: But Doctor, as a Doctor of Theology, a pastor, do you really believe that these people can earn the love of God that they have received? Dr.: They have to try! I sincerely apologize to those who were hoping that REFORATIONATOR II would start with an Arnold Schwartzenegger-style intro, but it is impossible to keep up a written accent (Ah'll be bach) for any length of time and have it be understandable. This column is, hopefully, a culmination, summary and conclusion of some things that God has been trying to get through my thicker than normal skull. I've touched on some of these issues in previous columns and hope to tie it up here. The above transcript points out a trend I have been observing in numerous churches and heard from many Christians, both lay people and pastors. It is a disturbing trend, and definitely qualifies as a SCUD ... it is bad theology and inhibits the liberating work of Christ in his people. (Bummer, I'm almost sounding like a theologian) Back in 1517 Martin Luther stuck a notice on the Wittenberg door that declared, among 94 other things, that we couldn't buy forgiveness, but that we are saved by grace through faith. Soon after followed the Reformation, the Protestant movement, and some historians believed it significantly contributed to the Renaissance. And many Christians, in the close of the Twentieth Century, who still happily hold to that understanding of not being able to buy forgiveness ahead of time, have begun to cling, with great pain I might add, to a brand new misunderstanding regarding the gift of the cross: that even though you can't buy forgiveness, you can pay it back. "Say what?" That's the trouble, nobody's actually saying it, but they are living like they believe it. "Could you be more obtuse, so I can't understand what you are saying at all?!" I have interacted with an increasing number of believers that seem to have an overriding feeling that God is really unhappy with them because they are not doing enough on His behalf. The weird thing is, they are working their fingers to the bone for Christ. If the church is open, they are doing something. If there is a possible new ministry, they are either involved or trying to get other people involved. If they talk about the Lord they always share how we, themselves included, are not doing enough. Personally, I find these people annoying. "You shouldn't say that!" Sorry, but it's true. No offense, but I was brought up with the idea that I wasn't doing enough for God, that I had to constantly recombine my life to Christ, that God was just waiting to disapprove of me. Then I read the Word. That trashed most of that condemnatory thinking, really quite effectively. Here are a few verses that helped color my current theology and my irritating habit of being comfortable in God's love for me: Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we yet sinners, Christ died for us." (In other words, He sacrificed Himself for me, in the totality of my life's sins. He has NO illusions about my character.) Romans 7:25, 8:1: "So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Paul wasn't pulling any punches. He admitted, in writing no less, that his sinful nature had influence and he still declared himself to have no condemnation in Christ.) "Yeah, but he really did a lot for God!" And before God knocked him off his horse, he did a lot against God, enough for him to feel totally justified if he wanted to believe he should feel condemned by God. Isaiah 64:6: "All of us have become like one who is unclean, all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." (And without going into detail, the Hebrew indicates yucky, filthy rags. Hey, if that's my best and God still wants to relate to me ... He must REALLY be committed to His people, which includes li'l ol' me.) Philippians 1:6: "... being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to COMPLETION until the day of Christ Jesus." (Excuse me, but if Jesus is committed to bring me to completion, with Him being omnipotent enough to do what He wants and omniscient enough so he knows beforehand every mistake, sin and cruddy attitude and belief I'll ever hold, who am I to say He won't be able to do it?! But more of that just two paragraphs later.) Romans 9:10-24, but only writing verse 21: "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" (I am them Lord's creation, warped by my participation in my sin nature, but nevertheless His creation and if He wanted to make me Jerry Johnson rather than another Billy Graham, that's His choice!) There are tons of other scriptures, but let me just soapbox on this as a bottom line. These people I was referring to have a basic fear of God. Not fear in the Biblical sense of being in awe and respectful of the incredible power of One who could make you or break you with a mere portion of a thought, the are just plain afraid of Him ... because they fully expect His disapproval. They have this gut feeling that when they stand before the Almighty at the Bema (or is it Beeema) Seat judgment He'll say, "Boy, did you blow it!" So to cover their bases, they work and work and work to show themselves approved ... essentially to prove to God that they were worth dying for. That's their main mistake. They weren't worth dying for. None of us were, are or will be. Christ was just TOO GREAT a sacrifice for billions of imperfect people to ever act good enough to pay off the debt He paid. If we buy into the concept of paying God back for the cross, our "acts" become based on compulsion and obligation. Christ did not make fun of the Pharisees, who were into works as righteousness, to die at the insistence of the Pharisees, just to create a whole new pile of Pharisees. He died to reconcile us to Him, when we didn't deserve it and would NEVER be able to deserve it. To quote Wayne and Garth (Saturday Night Live characters for those who go to bed at a rational hour) ... "We're not worthy!!" AND THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS! We can relate to the Almighty as Abba, Poppa, Daddy. That's a privilege, not an earned right. The thing that annoys me about "those people" is that they are scared to death of disapproval from a God who sent His son to die, so He could approve them through His son's blood. They fear they are not doing enough when God is primarily concerned with us just doing the very specific things He would require of us as individuals that He gave very specific gifts to. I Samuel 15:22 ... To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams. I believe that includes a sacrifice of driven, maniacal service to try to appease an already loving God. It is my opinion that we are to seek the Lord's face and spend time with Him so that we may come to know what specific tasks he has designed and called us to do. To do less, or more, is to be out of obedience, regardless of how sacrificial the acts are. These same people sacrifice their time with their family, sacrifice the assurance of God's love through Christ's death, sacrifice the "Good News" part of the gospel, sacrifice the enthusiasm of their hearers and sacrifice the joy that comes only from understanding how little of what we accomplish in Jesus' name is accomplished by us. Christian Life Anee M'Amin Anee M'Amin ANEE M'AMIN is Hebrew for "I believe". Each month this column presents the story of a Jewish believer in Yeshua (Jesus). SAVED BY HIS GRACE The Testimony Of Gil Singer From ISRAEL MY GLORY magazine Homemade chicken soup, my mom's special hors d'oeuvres, and an invitation to our best friend Charley were the only things that distinguished the Jewish holidays from any other day in our home. Although all of my grandparents were Orthodox Jews, the extent of my family's religious life was my bar mitzvah and Hebrew school for my sister and me. We were taught Hebrew, but it was hardly enough to enable us to make sense of the synagogue services, which were read in Hebrew. We learned about Jewish traditions, the Jewish holidays, a Messiah who might come to usher in a golden age for the Jews, and the innate goodness of man that would eventually make everything in the world turn out all right Those early years were very frustrating for me. I could never fit all of the pieces together, and there never seemed to be anything practical in my training. I remember the anguish we felt when loved ones passed on, because there was simply no comfort in being Jewish. My odyssey to the cross began in second grade when, during the Christmas season, that forbidden name-Jesus-was sung in the carols. I didn't know if it was even legal to mention His name, and I wondered if I'd be struck dead if I did. But then I heard my friend Joel say 'Jesus," and he didn't die, so I ever so softly and cautiously, said that word. I didn't die either, but it felt very strange. When I was 16 years old, I was confronted with the gospel. Charley, one of the customers in my family's luncheonette, was a godly man who loved the Lord and the Jewish people. (It was Charley who was invited to our home for all the special occasions and who, I later learned, prayed every day for over 20 years for our salvation.) Charley responded to a question I asked by taking a little Bible from his pocket. That was the beginning of my 22-year journey home. For the next two years, I visited Charley's home regularly, disputing the ridiculous notions that we needed a Savior and that the man Jesus was that Savior and very God Himself. Preposterous! Charley was, indeed, a good friend. My mom and dad both needed medical attention, and he was always there to provide transportation and offer a calming word. We even attended a few prayer meetings in his home. But, while traveling there one evening, some well-meaning Christians used my mom as a Ping-Pong ball as they tried to witness to her in the back seat of a car, and it turned off the family to the gospel. We told Charley we wanted him to be our friend, but we wanted no more of this Jesus business. And that's the way it remained with Charley and our family for over 20 years. When my father died (never wanting to hear anything about God), it was Charley who drove us to the cemetery and said the prayer at the grave. And it was Charley, a year later, who drove the family back to my father's grave for the unveiling of the headstone. We all loved and trusted him, yet we wanted no part of his message about Jesus. Nine years after I first heard and rejected the gospel, God dealt with me in a very special way. I was training for a sales job, and one night in a hotel room far from home, I was so excited I couldn't sleep. As I heard my heart pounding in my ears, I asked God to calm me. It was a prayer from an unbeliever, but, to my stunned amazement, the pounding stopped instantly, and I felt completely calm. From that moment on, I realized there was some kind of a God. A few months later, during a big sales drive, I asked God for a very specific sale to begin the day. Again, to my amazement, my first contact purchased our product for himself and his entire family-exactly as I had prayed. I was stunned. That turned out to be the best sales week I had ever experienced, but that morning I was so unnerved that I could do nothing more than drive home, shuddering and wondering about this God who had heard and answered my prayer. I knew there was no other explanation for what had happened. Over the next 13 years, I had many jobs, and I kept encountering those strange people who said they "loved the Lord" and who had a special peace about them. And all the while there was a deep longing in my soul. I would mull over my purpose in life, and the best I could come up with was that there was a core. But every time I thought I had the answer and knew what that core was, a loose end would unravel my conclusions, and I'd have to start all over. Although I was never involved in drugs or alcohol (cigarettes gave me a headache, and the one glass of New Year's Eve liquor I drank when I was 16 made me sick), my life was far from angelic. I had an attitude. I was selfish and unloving-things I never realized until after my salvation-and the resulting loneliness brought an ache that couldn't be measured. I had a feeling deep down that there was something else and that God had destined me for something, but the years rolled by, and I was no closer to peace than when I began my search. When I was 38 years old, I was working as a salesman in the evenings. Being single, I had plenty of free time, so I watched a lot of daytime television. Flipping through the channels one morning, I discovered the televangelism talk shows that were on four or five hours each day. They fascinated me, and I was intrigued by the testimonies of the guests, particularly Jewish people who had gotten "saved." And I continued to meet those strange people who were "born again" and said they loved the Lord. Each day for an entire month, I watched every Christian television show on the dial. One evening, while on a sales call, a Christian lady witnessed to me. By this time, I had heard the gospel many times over many years, but there was something different, special, unique about that evening. I knew something was happening to me, something I could not understand, something that was making me light-headed and uncomfortable. The next morning, when the TV preacher gave an invitation, I knew I had to receive Christ as my Savior. And that wasn't easy! It was, in fact, the single hardest decision I had ever made in my life. Jewish people simply do not believe in Jesus. What on earth was I doing even contemplating such a thing? I was hesitant to ask Jesus to be my Savior, but I felt I must. The Holy Spirit dealt so strongly with me that I knew I had to ask God to forgive me of my sins. And, finally succumbing to the loving pull of the Lord, that's exactly what I did. I prayed, "Oh, Lord Jesus, come into my heart." At that instant I knew that I was saved! Forgiven! On my way to heaven! I also knew that from that moment on God would teach me about the Bible, which I now understood was His Holy Word. A great weight was finally lifted. I was free! I vividly remember that very evening when I called on my sales prospect. The family had a large Bible on their coffee table, and I asked if they were Christians. When they said they were, I bellowed, "Guess what happened to me today? I got saved!" We laughed, cried, and rejoiced together-but we never did get into the sales pitch. The irony of the situation was that I was selling fire alarms, telling people how they could be saved from death by fire. Now I could tell them how they could be saved from spending eternity in the Lake of Fire. It was quite a while before I could comfortably say the name of Jesus, but there was never a doubt where I stood with the Lord. I experienced glorious peace for the first time in my life. I finally knew the purpose of my life: to tell others about the great gift of salvation through the Messiah of the Old Testament, the Lord Jesus of the New. God graciously led me to a sound, Bible-believing church where I was baptized and sat under the teaching of a godly pastor. Soon a dear widow who loved the Jewish people gave me a subscription to Israel My Glory, and six years later (in 1985), through a series of circumstances engineered by the Lord, I began a full-time ministry with The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. A few months later I married my lovely wife Sandi, and we are now experiencing the blessing of caring for the three beautiful children the Lord has given us. It was a joy to our hearts when our oldest daughter Shayna recognized that she was a sinner and, at the tender age of three years and ten months, asked the Lord Jesus to be her Savior. It is our heartfelt desire to serve and please the Lord in all that we do. Sandi and I pray that our family will be a light to our neighbors and that our ministry with The Friends of Israel will touch the hearts of the people in our community, particularly those Jewish people who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Messiah and Savior. People Profile People Profile Morning Star Senior Editor, Teresa Giordanengo, conducted this interview with Joel Shields of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Joel and wife Susie are adoptive parents to Aaron and Maria. He is the manager of the Pizza Hut in Canonsburg. Teresa: Why did you want to adopt children if you could not have any of your own? Joel: Children are gifts from God. My wife and I are very happily married and want to complete our family circle with children. We also thought that if we could not have any of our own, we would like to help children who were not in a family environment. We both love children very much. Teresa: When did you and your wife discover that you were not able to have children of your own? Joel: Nearly four years ago my wife and I were taking part in numerous tests to determine our ability to conceive children. During this time we were lead to two conclusions. The first being that our infertility is not at all uncommon and touches many lives. Secondly, and more importantly, our God is faithful and sufficient to meet all our needs. Teresa: How were your prayers answered? Joel: Less than one month after learning that we would never have our own children, we were contacted by a pregnant teenager looking for help. My wife developed a very good phone relationship with her over the ensuing months, realizing what this girl needed was Christ's love. Our prayer was that the baby being carried would at the very least be given the opportunity to be born, as abortion was being considered as an option. Approximately two months before the due date we received the call asking us if we would consider adopting the baby. We sensed God's leading as our ultimate request of God had been to be given the blessing of raising this baby as our own. We were rejoicing in God's goodness to us! Teresa: When were you permitted to adopt this child? Joel: On February 9, 1990 our son Aaron was brought into this world. In a very unusual situation, my wife and I were present at the hospital, holding the baby even before he was cleaned up. Less than four months later, our adoption petition was signed by the judge and without much fanfare our legal proceedings were complete. Teresa: I am sure Aaron is the apple of your eye. What changes has he brought into your household? Joel: The Lord has richly blessed us with the addition of the bright ray of sunshine that he brought into our lives. Our son, who recently had his third birthday, is full of love and life itself. Through this wonderful adventure we have been fortunate to have the support of our family and friends. And, of course we couldn't love our precious boy any more than if my wife had carried him herself. Watching our son grow up is reminiscent of what I did growing up. It takes time to see what the inside of a flower looks like and he likes to pick up worms to look at them. I hurry home from work and rush off to somewhere else or to bed because I have to get up and go to work. He makes us stop and reflect on our childhood and what it was like to be young again. He keeps me young. He is doing the same thing that I did and I enjoy watching him. We do so much hi-tech today that it is great watching him take things apart to see what makes them tick. Teresa: Did you find the adoption proceedings difficult? Joel: We found private adoption to be quite rewarding and basically simple to complete. The cost for the entire procedure was less than five hundred dollars, all in legal fees. Teresa: What advice would you like to pass along to anyone thinking about adopting children? Joel: The advice that we would give concerning private adoption is that it ultimately could be the easiest of options, however, each situation is different and needs to be handled that way. Nearly everyone we have spoken with concerning adoption gives the same advice ... network. Talk with people who have gone through the process and had experience with the agencies. We went through the phone book and asked for information. Many are concerned about adopted children everywhere and are interested whether or not you are adopting through them or not. One agency we spoke with, and were very encouraged by, was an Internal Agency in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Networking with friends, acquaintances, relatives, anyone and everyone that you can communicate your desire to adopt with. In this way, you are able to have additional eyes and ears out there keeping you informed of possible adoption situations. Teresa: How did you find out about the adoption agency in Peru? Joel: We have friends at church who have also adopted a child. A woman they were acquainted with at work, had previously adopted a child in Peru. During conversation we found out that babies were available for adoption in Peru. This is why I say that networking is so important. Teresa: Tell us about the adoption of your new daughter. Joel: Through networking, we were made aware of our newest addition, a newborn baby girl from Lima, Peru. We began our preparation to go to Peru in December of last year and departed for South America the last weekend in January. Let me pause again to remind you, all of this (and I mean ALL) was made possible through our sovereign God. The process by which we prepared to leave differs according to the country in which the adoption is taking place. However, several common items include a home study, passports, marriage and birth certificates and medical exams. All these require notarization and certification. Through the resources of an agency we were able to secure a Peruvian lawyer and begin our adoption before actually leaving the United States. Currently, I have since returned for work, leaving my wife and baby Maria in Lima to finalize all paperwork. While international adoption has proven to be much more expensive than the private process we completed nearly three years ago, again the Lord has met all our needs and continues to generously touch us with His love. The Chaplain of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers initiated a fund-raiser for us. The players who were available came to an event. We had an autographing session set aside for anyone who was interested. Every little amount raised helps with the expenses and we thank the Lord for all the help He made possible. Teresa: What would you say to the childless couples reading this column? Joel: Susie and I were married only for a short period of time when we discovered that we were not able to have children of our own. We were content if we were to be alone ... even though we wanted children. When we got the opportunity to adopt our son, we were elated at the option to adopt him. It has made all the difference in the world in our family. Children are definitely our gifts from God. We realize that even more so when it happens as it did with us. We hate to see the families that take their children for granted. We see them especially in the shopping malls. It breaks our hearts to see how some of the children are treated. So many couples want children and can't have them and it really hurts to see children mistreated and treated with anger. It means so much more when we can't have children of our own. Teresa: Who encouraged you and your wife to adopt children? Joel: No one convinced us to adopt, but it was wonderful and a blessing that we knew our family and our friends at church were behind us and supportive of our adopting ... especially adopting a baby from another country. My mother stayed with us almost the whole time that my wife was away in Peru. My mom and dad live approximately a three hour drive from us. They were willing to sacrifice some of their time together in order to help us. My dad was home alone when my mom stayed here to help us ... and at times my dad would spend time here with us too. Teresa: Why did your wife have to spend so much time in Peru? Joel: My wife has been in Peru for eleven weeks, and will probably be there another three before she will return with our daughter. When I was there from the end of January through February 1993, I handled most of the paper work, but we still do not have legal custody of the child. My wife stayed in Peru in order to take care of the child until the court finalizes the documents to bring her home. We have legal guardianship but not custody as yet. She is in Peru taking care of the child otherwise she would have to be put into a foster home. We couldn't afford to keep flying back and forth so my wife stayed there. It takes a real commitment but God provides that inner peace that only He can give. While we were there together, we rented an apartment with two other couples. They were adopting also and had their babies with them. We shared expenses so it made it easier for all of us. It is amazing how the babies compliment and match the families so well in personalities. They seem to melt together from the very beginning. One couple was on edge about everything and pushed the paper work through as soon as possible because they were homesick. But it was tearing them down instead of helping them. They missed out on many good aspects of the stay in Peru that without God we would not have been able to do either. While we were there we tried to focus on what God had in store for us. We were able to see the family situations there as well and we trusted God all the way. Teresa: Since your stay in Peru, how have the adoption laws changed? Joel: In March, the laws changed. If the paper work is done before going down there, it will take only three weeks to complete and return with the baby. The judge basically has about two days to decide. He wants to see if the mother was serious and whether she had bonded with the child. They are trying to make it as readily accessible now because so many people were discouraged having to wait so long. Many could not afford the long wait. They are really trying to place the babies. They think of Americans and Canadians as being very wealthy and they don't want the babies to be made slaves to these families. Culturally they feel that they are in a lower class situation and are better taken care of outside their own country. Teresa: Where is your wife and new daughter living while they wait for the final papers to be approved? Joel: They are staying at a home in Lima that is staffed full time, similar to a boarding house, where people share meals and are helped in their shopping. They try to make your trip as pleasant as possible, in your free time, while you are away from friends and family. She can relax and see the country. My wife met two other couples there from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was so nice that they were there at the same time. Teresa: Are you doing anything special for your new daughter? Joel: We want to keep our daughter in touch with her ancestry and appreciate where she came from. We bought some art and other articles that have the flavor of her country so that she will always have something from her heritage. We felt led to pray for missionaries who are actually discipling there. They are the citizens from their own country and are accepted more readily. We pray for our daughter to have a missionary heart to go back to her ancestry to share the gospel someday. There is a great need there and the people will accept the gospel more readily from one of their own. Teresa: What is a final thought you would like to leave with our readers? Joel: My wife and I have had numerous leads end up fruitless. However, as we humble ourselves before the Lord and submit our lives to Him, He will work all things out to our good. Ultimately the best advise is to seek the Lord's will, no matter how desperate a situation looks or how unattainable it seems. Anything in His will is possible with Him. Seek the Lord's will, follow His will and don't be discouraged. Things may seem impossible because it is not an easy road, but God will see you through. Pray about it, be prepared emotionally, and put your total trust and confidence in God and allow Him to work for you. Ministry Focus Ministry Focus This month's Ministry Focus column features reports on two ministries dedicated to Christian marriage and family. We are thankful for Christian Marriage Enrichment of Tustin, California and Family Life Ministry of Little Rock, Arkansas for providing the following material. --------------------------------------------------------- CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT Christian Marriage Enrichment is an organization located in Southern California (specifically, Tustin). Owned and directed by H. Norman Wright, we are a Biblically based group that offers professional services and current resources to people and churches around the world. H. Norman Wright is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist. He was former director of the Graduate Department of Marriage, Family and Child Counseling at Biola University, as well as an Associate Professor of Psychology. He was also Associate Professor of Christian Education and Director of the Graduate Department of Christian Education at the Talbot School of Theology. He has taught graduate school for over twenty-five years. Dr. Wright is a graduate of Westmont College, Fuller Theological Seminary (M.R.E.), Pepperdine University (M.A.). He has received two honorary doctorates-- D.D. and D.LIT. He is the author of over fifty books, including Crisis Counseling, Recovering From the Losses of Life, Marital Counseling, Premarital Counseling, Quiet Times for Couples, Communication: Keys to Your Marriage, Family Is Still a Great Idea, and Holding on to Romance. Dr. Wright has pioneered Premarital Counseling Programs throughout the country, as well as Marriage Enrichment Training Seminars for ministerial couples. Currently, Norman Wright is Director of Family Counseling and Enrichment and Christian Marriage Enrichment, and is keeping busy with counseling several days a month, writing books, and speaking at his seminars around the country. Norm, being aware years ago of pastors that would marry any and every couple that came to their church, saw a need in the church for premarital and marital counseling curriculum. He began developing this curriculum and various tape series, as well as training ministers through two-day seminars. As the ministry of Christian Marriage Enrichment was established and continued to grow, a mail-order bookstore was added. Along the way, several seminars were added. Currently, Christian Marriage Enrichment has two main areas of focus: 1) VARIOUS SEMINARS Norm Wright has 4 different seminars that he presents in several cities around the country each year. Using practical input that he has gained from over 25 years of counseling and ministry experience, Norm presents the relevant and up-to-date information via lecture, discussion, case studies and demonstrations. All of the seminars are one-day events, with fees ranging from $60.00 to $70.00 a person. Seminar size is usually fairly small (60-100 people) as Norm prefers a personal setting with opportunity for discussion, as well as question-and-answer time. His Crisis Counseling Seminar is a unique practical seminar designed for ministers, doctors, nurses, counselors, secretaries and lay counselors. (This seminar provides seven (7) hours of continuing education credits for nurses.) In this seminar Norm covers topics such as: - the typical stages of a crisis - which counseling techniques to use at each stage - when to pray and use Scripture - what happens to families in crisis - how children and adolescents handle crisis how to help people turn crisis into a growing experience without denying their feelings - how to assist others in taking charge of their crisis - what to do and say at the time of a suicidal attempt, a severe loss, an abuse case Also discussed: - learning the causes and extent of stress, solutions and its relationship to crisis - a very specific and structured model of helping in a crisis situation - learning how to determine the strengths of each person in crisis, what spiritual resources to use and apply, and when to apply them. The Day of marriage Renewal seminar is designed for couples who have a good marriage and would like to strengthen and enhance their relationship. The focus of this seminar is to help increase the positive and healthy aspects of marriage. Engaged couples are welcomed as well. Topics include the following: - identifying the purpose of marriage - how expectations and needs affect your marriage - learning to speak your partner's language - how to anticipate and handle changes throughout your marriage - building romance into your marriage--it can be done! - increasing intimacy and love A main emphasis in this seminar is on communication: - how to communicate your feelings - how to communicate so your spouse will hear you and respond to you--understanding your differences - applying a Biblical pattern of communication A third seminar, based on Norman Wright's 25 years of experience in using the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis personality test, is a day of training in the use of this test. This seminar is open to pastors and counselors, as well as those who are in some type of counseling work, such as local church ministry, mission work, education, etc. Participants will be taught how to administer, score and interpret the test, and how to use these findings to assist those who need help. Also, Norm teaches creative Biblical integration of the T-JTA with the counseling ministry. This seminar provides participants with the training needed to be an authorized user of the T-JTA, and a certificate of completion suitable for framing is provided. A special new seminar that Norm has put together for ministers and laypeople is the Premarital/Marital Training seminar. Critical Issues and New Approaches in Premarital Training: The greatest opportunity the church has today to impact marriages is in the area of premarital preparation and enrichment. Presented and demonstrated in this seminar will be specific approaches to create a learning atmosphere for the premarital couples. Step by step topics, approaches, resources and tests will be covered, as well as video presentations of actual premarital counseling. The following questions are addressed and answered: - How is counseling those who have been formerly married different from those never married? - What is the best way to use the Family History Analysis and Prepare in premarital counseling? - How can you determine which couples should not marry? How can you help the couple make the decision not to marry? - How can you educate your church and community about premarital counseling? - How can you assist interracial couples to anticipate their adjustments? - How can you involve in-laws and parents in the counseling process? Effective Short Term Strength-Oriented Marital Counseling: What can you do when you see a couple for just six, four or even one session? That is what this seminar will approach. Many couples seek help first from their minister rather than going to a counselor in private practice. But often ministers are frustrated in knowing what to do with the couples or just one member of the marriage. Several models of what to do will be taught through lecture, visual presentations and demonstrations. Behavioral approaches, confrontational methods, indirect techniques, focusing on the process, and strategies for changing marital interaction will be included. Specific techniques for helping couples increase positive behaviors, change communication patterns, and how to discover their strengths rather than focus on faults will be stressed. The emphasis is on the specific how-to rather than theory. This seminar is designed for the lay counselor or those in the ministry. 2) MAIL-ORDER BOOKSTORE A second aspect of Christian Marriage Enrichment is our mail-order bookstore. Among the hundred or so resources that are available, we offer books, audio tapes, video tapes, teaching curriculum, workbooks, and devotionals, all of which cover material such as marriage, family, children, dating, parenting, divorce, sex, grieving, God, etc. from a Biblically based approach. We also have several resources that are geared toward pastors and counselors: premarital, marital and crisis counseling suggestions, training tapes, counseling aids (questionnaires) etc. All are resources that Norman Wright has personally handpicked; every six months he updates our resource list with only the best and most current publications that are available. Twice a year we create an informational newspaper listing the resources and seminars, as well as additional relevant information such as upcoming conferences and various ministries and services around the country. Every one of the 30,000 names on our international mailing list receives this information bi-annually. Norm Wright has been one of the leading counselors in the country to help make premarital counseling what it is (and is increasingly becoming) today. Based on Norm's own experience and intense format in conducting premarital counseling, CME is excited to offer material on the cutting edge of this relevant subject. Included are in-depth outlines for pastors and counselors to create your own premarital program, an invaluable intake questionnaire called the "Family History Analysis", video tapes on finances, sex, and communication, audio tapes dealing with the sexual aspects of marriage, and various resources that Norm has his own premarital couples work through. Although some of our resources may be found in your local bookstore, CME also offers some exciting and helpful materials that can only be ordered through our organization. For a free catalog, seminar brochure, or any additional information or questions that you have, please feel free to call (800) 875-7560, fax (714) 544-8153 or write us at 17821 17th St., Ste. 290, Tustin, CA 92680. ------------------------------------ FAMILY LIFE MINISTRY Who We Are The roots of Family Life go back as far as 1951, with the beginning of Campus Crusade for Christ. Its founders, Bill and Vonette Bright, had a great desire to help fulfill Christ's Great Commission - taking the gospel to every nation in the world. Starting on one college campus with one couple, Campus Crusade has grown into a multifaceted ministry of more than 40,000 full-time and associate staff serving in more than 150 countries. In 1976, Campus Crusade began the "Family Ministry" to provide pre-marriage seminars for its staff members. Following our phenomenal success in meeting the needs of "pre-marrieds," married staff couples began asking for encouragement through marriage seminars. As these were added, and success continued, we opened them to the public. Since that time in 1978, hundreds of thousands of lay people have attended our conferences and used our materials. For nearly two decades, our ministry has experienced explosive growth, taking our conferences into over 70 cities each year, at times drawing as many as 2,500 attendees at a single conference. As these numbers continue to grow, we have also added cities in 15 other countries where we present our conferences. Family Ministry, now known as Family Life, is led by co-founder and director, Dennis Rainey, and operates with a staff approaching 150 in number, and a volunteer corps of several thousand throughout the country. "FAMILYLIFE TODAY" RADIO PROGRAM This daily, 25-minute program can be heard on top Christian radio stations from Los Angeles to New York, and from Seattle to Orlando. Your host on the program is Dennis Rainey, who is joined by radio veteran Bob Lepine. "Family Life Today" presents a format that is conversational in nature and provides you with biblical insights and practical "how to's" for successful marriage and family relationships. At the core of every program will be motivation, encouragement and help. FAMILY LIFE MARRIAGE CONFERENCE "It encouraged me. Challenged me. It's been fun! This is one of thousands of comments we receive each year from those attending this weekend conference, which offers practical, biblical ways to achieve oneness and intimacy in marriage. With powerful messages you'll learn about God's plan for marriage, and by completing our practical couples projects, you and your mate could experience the positive difference God's principles can make. It is a unique opportunity for you to revitalize your marriage. And as many say, "It's a great romantic getaway." FAMILY LIFE PARENTING CONFERENCE This conference is presented in the same style as our marriage conference - enthusiastic delivery of biblical principles and humorous real-life examples. It will help you clarify your convictions and assist you, as a parent, in evaluating your relationships with your children. You'll also have the opportunity to take practical steps to help your children mature in their emotional, sexual and spiritual identities. THE HOMEBUILDERS COUPLES SERIES This home Bible study series is a "best seller," having sold over a quarter million copies. It is designed to provide you with biblical help for your marriage in a setting of fellowship and encouragement among a small home-based study group. Couples can participate in an existing group or follow a few simple steps to set up their own small-group study. And with "life application" at the heart of each session, it's no surprise so many couples are using HomeBuilders material for small-group study in churches and neighborhoods. FAMILY LIFE MINISTRY 3900 North Rodney Parham Suite 100 Little Rock, AR 72212 (501) 223-8663 Education Education "IT'S A PARENT'S DECISION" - AND PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS CHOSEN A RELIGIOUS SCHOOL By Dr. Paul A. Kienel, Executive Director Association of Christian Schools International There is nothing unusual about public officials in Washington, D.C. choosing a private or religious school for their children. The Washington Monthly found that none of the 67 top education policymakers in the Bush Administration send their children to public schools, including the United States Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander. The press and the secular education establishment expect that pattern from conservative Republicans. What they did not expect was President and Mrs. Clinton's decision to send their daughter, Chelsea, to the 108-year-old Sidwell Friends School where the annual tuition is $10,800. The President's decision sent shock waves through the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the two major public education groups who gave their enthusiastic support of Bill Clinton's candidacy for President. Obviously back peddling, USA Today quoted several public school officials as follows: - Washington, D.C. board president David Hall said, "It's one decision about one child ... Clinton's commitment to public education still stands." - AFT President Albert Shanker said, "It took a lot of courage. I'm sure Clinton is and will continue to be committed to improving public education." He defended the Clinton's decision as one based on what's best for their daughter. When you're a public figure," he said, "you've got to preserve the closest thing to a normal life for your children as you can." - Several Clinton supporters, including the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers' union, saw no contradiction between Clinton's personal decision and his opposition to the use of public money to send kids to private schools. - A spokesperson for the Clintons, George Stephanopoulos, said, "They didn't reject public schools ... families have to make decisions that are right for them at the proper moment." - Finally, Laura Anthony, a Washington school board employee and college classmate of Hillary Clinton's at Wellesley, said she didn't think "it's a signal at all. It's a parent's decision to make, and I don't think a child should be an instrument of policy." The Clintons, themselves, in a press release, said, "As parents, we believe this decision is best for our daughter at this time in her life based on our changing circumstances." Other public school leaders, however, were not so supportive of the President's decision to bypass the local public schools. It looks like "an unfortunate vote of no confidence in urban education," said Michael Casserly, interim director of the Council of Great City Schools, representing the 44 largest school systems. "Such a decision by the President, however personal, has important symbolic impact on parental school choices." 1 Wray Herbert, writing in US News and World Report said, Critics accused the Clintons of hypocritically abandoning public education ... This tempest reflects the extreme jitters of the public school community ... That community knows that public schools can work well only if they can attract deeply involved parents. It is, however, clear that those schools are not always the right choice. 2 Unsettling as it is to President Clinton's constituency, he has reaffirmed an important American freedom - the freedom of parents to select the school of their choice for their children, be it a public, private, or religious institution. There were two attempts in the past by individual states to force all students to attend public schools. In 1922 Oregon voters, by state initiative, attempted to require all students between eight and sixteen to attend Oregon's public schools. The law was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court and ruled: Parents have a right to be free of unreasonable state interference in upbringing and education of their children. States are forbidden from standardizing resident children by forcing their attendance at public schools only. 3 Also, in the 1920s the State of Ohio had, for a short time, the following law in their state's education code, ... the natural rights of a parent to custody and control of ... children are subordinate to the power of the state to provide for the education of children. Laws providing for the education of children are for the protection of the state itself. 4 Thankfully, these restrictive laws were set aside and Americans from the President on down may choose a school which best reflects their family values. While it is not likely that Sidwell Friends School where the President's daughter now attends would characterize itself as an evangelical Christian school, the President's action to choose a non-public school for his daughter will cause many Americans to consider enrolling their children in non-public schools, including Christian schools. Christian schools continue to be on the forefront of growth in American education. Dr. Bruce S. Cooper, a university professor and a well-known specialist in private education wrote, The meteoric rise in evangelical Christian schools is likely the most important new development in American education in the last three decades. Their growth, energy, and strength signal a major change in religious beliefs, family and church life, and the education of children in the United States. 5 This past year the combined enrollment in member schools of the Association of Christian Schools International increased by 39,761 giving ACSI a total student count of 566,410. While the recent action of President and Mrs. Clinton to select a religious school for their daughter did not affect the above growth figures of ACSI, and while the President is not prone to advance the cause of Christian schools, his recent action may indeed cause many Americans to look our way. Not a bad idea! 1 Dennis Kelly, Brian O'Connell, Andrea Stone and Johanna Neuman; USA Today, January 6, l993, P. 1,2. 2 Wray Herbert, US News and World Report, January 18, l993, P.11. 3 U.S. Supreme Court, Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 1922. 4 Revised Education Code, page 195, Ohio School Guide, section 7.06, Compulsory Education Law. 5 Bruce S. Cooper, Independent School, winter 1978, P.78. Music Music GOD'S WAY By Dale E. Strand These lyrics, written to the tune of the Sinatra, Elvis and others' big hit, "My Way" turned an "I, Me, My" man-honoring song into one that puts the priority in the proper place - that of honoring the One who made us and loves us. The One who longs to lead us and guide us into what I like to call, "His blessing zone" - that place where He becomes first in everything we do. This "new" song was first introduced by the Victory Temple recording choir, "Children of the Lord", from Oakland, California and has since been sung in churches throughout the country. It is my hope that it will also touch and challenge your life as you come to recognize that, "without Him, we can do nothing". Vs. 1 I've tried, so many times, to please the Lord the way I'm living, And yet, it seems that I'm not in accord, and unforgiving. I tried to make it work, and when I failed to do it my way, I learned that it was best, to do it God's way. Vs. 2 And what a change it made when I gave all to serve the Savior. I watched ambition fade, and idols fall, I didn't waver. I'm proud to live for Him, I'm glad that I did not go my way, There's so much more to life, when you go God's way. Chorus What can I say, I've really changed and my whole life is rearranged. Jesus is real, so real to me; I'm not the man I used to be, As days go by, I'll testify, I did it God's way. Vs. 3 I've shared this message true, with anyone who cared to listen. I'll keep on sharing too, tell everyone just what they're missin'. The things that once were sad, turned into joy when I left my way, And yielded to the Lord, and did it God's way. 2nd Chorus Thank God I am free, from all my sin, His blood has cleansed me deep within, I love Him more than I can say, This really is a happy day! I praise His Name, I'm not the same, Since I took God's way! HAS SOMEONE SEEN JESUS IN YOU? By Dale E. Strand Has someone seen Jesus in your life today? Do your friends know that you're born anew? Does your life show you're walking the narrow way? Has someone seen Jesus in you? Chorus: Your friends measure Jesus by your life and mine. So Christ must dwell in us, our nature refine. Are you living now in His Presence divine? Has someone seen Jesus in You. Have you lost the victory since you found the lord? Do you find that it's hard to live true? Remember the world's watching you every day, Oh, let them see Jesus in you. Repeat Chorus: Has Someone Seen Jesus In You was written in 1971 and published and copyrighted by Zondervan in 1972. Copies of this song will be sent free of charge to anyone who sends a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Dale E. Strand, 6817 Cedar Lane, Dublin, CA 94568-2509. Book Review Book Review Browsing With The Bookworm Welcome to our column of reviews. This month we look at two completely different publications about and for (?) the family. WHAT IS A FAMILY? by Edith Schaeffer Fleming H. Revell Company Old Tappan, NJ, 1975 The world of Christian publishing is a vast wasteland. Considering the volume of words being published, there is very little worthy of our reading time. There is even less of value offered by women writers. Nevertheless, there have been outstanding writers among Christian women including Elizabeth Elliot, Dorothy L. Sayers, and the author of this book, Edith Schaeffer. As we examine the state of marriage and family, WHAT IS A FAMILY is an excellent discussion of the subject. This work is biographical in nature. Here Mrs. Schaeffer discusses her experiences as a wife, mother and grandmother at L'Abri. L'Abri is the Christian community established in Switzerland by the will known contemporary Christian thinker, Dr. Francis Schaeffer. Edith Schaeffer is concerned with the survival of the family. In this work she considers the problems and challenges facing the Christian family in the midst of a hostile world. Dr. Francis Schaeffer in his books discussed the dangers of contemporary thought in the world. He identified the philosophical changes that are reflected in the modern world. He warned of the effects on society and the responsibility of Christians to understand and respond to these changes. Edith Schaeffer applies these concerns to the Christian home. This book however, unlike her husband's, reads like a piece of literature. In a very lyric style she presents the family, its environment, problems and qualities. Initially, she describes the family as a mobile. "What is a family? A family is a mobile. A family is an art form. A family is an exciting art career, because an art form needs work" (p 19.). Mrs. Schaeffer is concerned that her readers see the family as a thing of beauty, needing care and love. She describes it as "An Ecologically Balanced Environment" (p. 34), in which God works and builds to His glory. In other chapters the family is described as the "Birthplace of Creativity," a center for relationships, and a place of peace in a tumultuous world. It is clear as you read this book that Edith Schaeffer has a high and loving view of the family. She describes the family in a beautiful language. As we see the family so lovingly presented, we again are forced to recognize just how much is at stake in the battle to hold to a Biblical model of family versus the redefinition of family offered by today's social engineers. This book should lead us to thank and praise the Lord for the gift He has given us, our families. It should cause us to depend on Him to conform our families to His standards. WHAT IS A FAMILY? should be read by every Christian for it is even more relevant today then when it was written in 1975. WHAT IS A FAMILY? is highly recommended. THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS Based on the book by John Bunyan Written by Martin Powell Marvel Comics/Nelson, New York, NY, 1992 What, another review of PILGRIM'S PROGRESS? Actually, no. I don't get out much, but the other day I was in a comic book shop. (It's a little tough getting around. While I am a large worm (4 inches), I still have to avoid getting stepped on.) There on the shelf was a graphic novel version of Pilgrim's progress. (For the uninitiated, the graphic novel is an expensive comic ($10) in a stiff cover.) The cover picture showed a man in armor fighting against some kind of monster. "Marvel comics?" I asked myself. This publishing company isn't known for the theological soundness of its publications. In fact, among Christian parents Marvel has more rejected titles than its largest competitor, DC Comics. But I decided to take a look at the book anyway. As far as production values, this is an excellent work. It is up to the production standards of many of the best selling publications: "Spiderman," "The X-Men" and the "Death of Superman" series. Comic books with Christian themes have been few and far between. Most have been very amateurish. Neither Marvel nor DC have provided many books with Biblical themes. The majority having been done by smaller companies. The major exception was a Giant Comic published by DC many years ago. This was an illustrated version of the Bible and measured about 3 feet by 2 feet. Even that was artistically weak. THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS is done in the contemporary graphic style. The characters are shown in modern clothing and live in a contemporary environment. Interestingly enough, the rendition of the story is fairly accurate, considering the space limitations of the comic form versus the length of the novel. Unlike many contemporary versions of the book, this comic version even includes parts of the second half of the book dealing with the story of "Christiana's Progress." This is the account of how Christian's wife and children follow after him, and their journey to the Celestial City. Having noted the positives about this book, I do have some reservations. First, I would not recommend this for small children. It is a graphic novel. This means that the demons and enemies of Christian are drawn in frightening detail. The depravity of the fallen world is shown clearly through illustrations of the homeless, drug users, prostitutes, etc. Nevertheless much of the same characters and places as in Bunyan's work are featured here. Generally, I would prefer that the family read together a modern language version of the book. But the comic book might be another way to introduce older children to a work they might otherwise never read. And certainly this can be a basis for a discussion of the work of Christ and His gift of salvation. This is one book you will have to check out for yourself and decide if it is something you want to make available for your children. Since Morning Star itself is on the cutting edge of using contemporary communication techniques for the disseminating of the Gospel, I though it might be interesting to see other modern ways that Christianity and its themes are being presented. Marvel/Nelson is doing a number of "Christian" related titles, including a series on the life of Christ, and a "superhero" title called the "Illuminator." This type of comic book is generally only found in comic book speciality stores, not in your local book stores or supermarkets. I did see a couple of these titles at the local Christian book store. Until next month, good reading. Your Friend, The Bookworm Chef's Corner Chef's Corner FRUIT AND VEGGIES ... SO REFRESHING ON A WARM SPRING DAY! PASTA PRIMAVERA: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in saute pan and add 1/2 cup cubed zucchini, 1/2 cup green beans, 1/2 cup broccoli florets, 1/2 cup cauliflower, 1 diced shallot, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic. Cover and steam for 5 minutes. Stir and mix well. Add fresh parsley and 1/4 teaspoon basil, recover, cook until veggies are al dente. Season with 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Toss with 1 ounce cooked fettucini. Sprinkle with grated cheese. FRESH VEGETABLE MEDLEY: Prepare a hot pan with olive oil. Add fresh garlic. Saute garlic. (Remove garlic, optional.) Add zucchini, yellow squash, onions, green and red peppers, mushrooms, snow peas, and celery. Add basil, oregano, and rosemary, to taste. Don't overcook. Leave vegetables crispy. Garnish with fresh tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste, and a little fennel. CUCUMBER SALAD: Wash one whole cucumber but do not peel. Cut it very thinly and place the slices in a strainer. Leave to drain for about 20 minutes. Wash and core one red apple, and slice thinly. Wash and trim one medium-sized fennel, removing the tough outer leaves and stem. Slice finely. Reserve feathery leaves for decoration. DRESSING: Mix 3 tbsp. corn oil or sunflower oil, 2 tbsp. cider vinegar, 2 tbsp. fresh dill or 1 tsp. dried dill, 1 tsp. caraway seeds, 1-2 tsp. paprika, salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Mix with the drained cucumber slices, apple, fennel and 1 tbsp. pine nuts. Place the salad in the refrigerator or keep in a cool place for about an hour before serving. Serve decorated with finely chopped fennel leaves. Finely chopped celery may be used in place of fennel in this recipe. FRUITY CABBAGE SALAD: Remove any tough or discolored outer leaves from 1 large red cabbage. Trim the base so that the cabbage will stand upright, and cut about a quarter off the top. Using a sharp knife, scoop out the inside of the cabbage leaving 1/4 inch for the shell. Set the shell aside. Discard any tough pieces and shred the remaining cabbage very finely. Put the shredded cabbage into a large bowl together with 1 green pepper, de-seeded and chopped, 1/2 small pineapple, peeled and finely chopped, segments from 2 medium oranges, 6 green onions, finely chopped, 3 sticks chopped celery, 1/2 cup hazelnuts, roughly chopped, and 1/2 cup sprouted aduki beans. DRESSING: Mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup thick set yogurt, and salt and pepper together and carefully fold into the vegetables and fruit. Put the mixture into the cabbage shell and place on a serving dish garnished with parsley. (If preparing in advance, refrigerate the salad and dressing separately and mix them together just before serving.) EASY VEGETABLE PIE: Saute 1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped, in 2 tbsp. margarine together with 2 sticks of diced celery and a little water until just tender. Add 3/4 cup cashew nuts, chopped and dry roasted, 4 cups mixed frozen vegetables (peas, corn, rutabaga, carrot, turnip, diced peppers, parsnip, etc.), 2 tsp. tomato paste, 2/3 cup water or stock, 1/2-1 tsp. yeast extract, and salt and black pepper to taste. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, adding a little more water if the mixture seems too dry. Keep hot. Cook 3-4 large potatoes until soft, mash with 1 tbsp. butter and a little milk, adding salt and pepper to taste. Turn the vegetable mixture into a casserole dish and cover completely with the mashed potato. Fork over the top roughly, dot with butter and broil for 3-5 minutes until golden brown. Serve immediately. LEMONY BEANS AND MUSHROOMS: Wash, trim and place 1 1/2 pounds green beans in boiling salted water; cook 10 minutes. Cool beans under cold running water; drain and set aside. Heat 2 tbsp. butter in frying pan. When hot, add 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms that have been cleaned and sliced; cook 2 to 3 minutes over high heat. Do not stir. Season generously with salt and pepper; mix well. Continue cooking 2 minutes. Add beans, juice and rind of 1 lemon; cover and cook 3 minutes. Serve. MINESTRONE: Heat 2 tbsp. butter in large saucepan. When hot, add 1 onion, peeled and diced small, 1/4 sliced cabbage, and 1 leek, white section only; add 1/4 tsp. basil and 1/4 tsp. oregano. Cover and cook 4 minutes over low heat. Add 1 turnip, peeled and diced small; 1 potato, peeled and diced small; 1 carrot, pared and diced small; mix well. Continue cooking, covered, 3 to 4 minutes over medium heat. Add 1 tomato, diced, 1 garlic clove, mashed and chopped, and 1 tsp. chopped parsley; pour in 7 cups cold chicken stock and 5 1/2 oz. can tomato juice. Stir and bring to boil. Season soup to taste and cook, uncovered, 5 minutes over low heat. Break 2 1/2 oz. spaghetti in three and add to soup. Season with pinch celery seed and thyme and continue cooking 12 minutes over medium heat or until pasta is cooked. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese to taste and serve. COLD VEGETABLE LOAF: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Generously grease 6 cup loaf pan. Place 4 slices white bread, trimmed of crusts and cubed, in small bowl and cover with 1/2 cup milk; set aside. Heat 2 tbsp. butter in large frying pan. Add 2 cups sliced carrots, 1 green pepper, diced small, 1 cucumber, diced small, 2 cups diced cauliflower, 1 large celery stalk, diced small, and 1 garlic clove, mashed and chopped; season well. Sprinkle in 1/4 tsp. thyme, 1/2 tsp. oregano, 1/2 tsp. powdered ginger, 1/2 tsp. basil and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg and cover pan; cook 8 to 10 minutes over medium heat. Remove pan from heat and transfer vegetables to bowl of food processor. Blend until pureed. Add soaked bread and blend again. Transfer mixture to a larger bowl. Mix in 6 eggs using whisk. Correct seasoning. Pour mixture into loaf pan and cover with foil. Place mold in roasting pan containing 1 inch hot water. Cook 1 hour and 10 minutes in oven. 20 minutes before end of cooking, remove foil. Cool slightly, then refrigerate 2 hours before serving. BERRY CREAM: Rinse 2 cups fresh cranberries (or raspberries) and stew with a scant amount of water until softened. Remove from the heat, add 2-4 tbsp. clear honey to taste and leave to cool. Whip 1/3 cup whipping cream and gently fold in 1/2 cup thick set plain yogurt. Combine the yogurt and cream with the cooled berries. Divide the mixture between four stem glasses and decorate with toasted almonds. STRAWBERRY SHERBET: Pare the rind from 1 medium lemon and put into 1 1/4 cups water with 3/4 cup sugar. Heat slowly until the sugar has dissolved then boil for 5 minutes. Strain and set aside to cool. Hull 3 cups strawberries reserving a few for decoration. Press the remainder through a strainer and add the juice of half the lemon. Whisk 2 egg whites until very stiff. Combine all the ingredients well. Put into a container and place in the freezer. Remove when half frozen, beat well and return to the freezer, for overnight. Place in the refrigerator about 1 hour before serving. Serve in wine glasses topped with the whole berries. PEAR AND APRICOT BARS: Peel and chop 2 pears into small pieces. Soak 1 cup dried apricots, then chop finely. Mix together 1 tbsp. clear honey, 1/2 tbsp. pear and apple spread, and stir into the pears and apricots. Add 1 tbsp. sunflower oil, and 1 egg and mix well. Mix together 1 cup whole-wheat flour and 1 tsp. baking powder, and fold into the pear and apricot mixture. Spread the mixture in a greased 6x8 inch tin. Sprinkle with sliced almonds to decorate. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes or until risen and golden. Leave to cool and cut into 8 bars. Praise and Prayer Praise and Prayer PRAISE AND PRAYER is our international prayer link column. Send your praise report or prayer request to MORNING STAR for publication in our next issue. Call on your brothers and sisters worldwide and together we will call on God! PRAISE REPORTS: MORNING STAR online magazine is now being read and distributed in South Africa and Russia! We received calls from Cape Town and Moscow this week! The magazine is now being received in 15 countries: U.S., Canada, Israel, Norway, Finland, Northern Ireland, England, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Philippines, South Africa and Russia. Donna in California thanks the Lord that the doctors have discovered the reason why Solica, the counselor at her church, is going slowly going blind. The doctors found a massive amount of mercury in her bloodstream. They still don't know how reversible the condition is, so keep praying for this situation. Lyman in Mississippi wants to say praise the Lord for the better job he now has. Rob and Kimberly Kirsch in Pennsylvania just had a baby boy! They named him Thaddeus Benjamin (his Hebrew name will be Tzvi Binyomin). He weighed 7lbs, 6ozs. Praise the Lord! Scott from Tennessee has been saved for a little over a month now and thanks the Lord for changing him completely. He was the class clown previously but now feels so much love for everyone. For ten years, Mark in Illinois, got up each morning and got "high" on marijuana. Then with one desperate prayer, that desire was taken away ... Praise the Lord! Michael in North Dakota was fired lately ... but thanks the Lord for providing a job that ministers to others who are less fortunate. Deanna from Texas thanks the Lord because her students won the District One Act Play contest and will move on to other competition. Jack in Illinois smoked a cigarette for the last time last week, and praises God for complete deliverance. Carol in California praises God for His infinite grace and power! She underwent the bone scan on April 1st. The results have come back negative and there are no malignancies! Buster from Baltimore, Maryland praises the Lord because his sister-in-law, Cookie, gave her heart to the Lord. Please pray for her. Denise from Florida praises the Lord for her Dad who went to the sunrise and regular service on Easter and heard the Gospel. Pray for him. She also praises the Lord that her husband's company won a rather important contract this week. This means the Lord has provided work for him for a while longer. Thank you Jesus! We are praising the Lord that Rox and Mike are back together again. Russ in Florida reports that Diane Thomas' operation went OK (she had colon cancer surgery) but that there are still tests before they give any kind of answer. She was visiting her parents in Florida when this happened and so is very much alone. Her brother asks that we continue to pray for her. Dale from Maryland thanks the Lord that the facility where his wife works will not be closed. This means she will continue to be employed. Bruce from Texas thanks the Lord for traveling mercies when members of his church traveled to Belize, Central America on a mission trip. They saw about 650 people saved at crusades and trips to the schools in that area. The Lord REALLY ministered BIG TIME to the churches there. There were healings everywhere and they were told that this was the first time the churches in that area all worked together for a city wide crusade. Praise God - He is good! PRAYER REQUESTS: Pray for Denise's 87 year old grandfather. His name is Jim, from Bessemer, Alabama. He is having a triple bypass. Pray for her dad, also named Jim, who needs a closer walk with the Lord. Pray for Tom in Texas, and his parents, who argue over spiritual issues. Pray also for a safe and pleasant tour of Germany for his friend Tom, whom he met in Saudi Arabia. Scott in Tennessee asks for prayer for his Pastor who is having back surgery. Pray for John in Michigan, who is a high school teacher and finds it very discouraging dealing with the students. Pray for Geoff and Janette in California, who are dealing with some spiritual oppression. This is probably a product of the increased case load in his counseling ministry and the establishing of the two support groups. Pray for their financial needs as well. Brian had a phone interview from an employment agency in Columbus, Ohio concerning a computer related position. Also pray for him and his fiancee Janet concerning financial matters, and that the Lord will find a way for them. Clifford in New Jersey asks prayer for a church group he attends and also for a church member, Fred Everett, who was just diagnosed as having a brain tumor. Dale in Maryland asks prayer for his friend Larry and his wife about her job travel requirements. Pray also for his church's music ministry which is in need of a new leader. Sharon from Tennessee needs prayer concerning her job that will be done about the end of the year. Thomas from Ohio asks for prayer concerning a job. Pray for his parents also. David in Texas asks prayer for the Baylor Religious Hour Choir going on a mission trip to Belize this May 17-28. Pray that the Lord will draw many souls to Himself. Pray for Tony in Alabama who is going through a very rough time with his marriage and finances. Pray for Philip's mom in Arkansas, Marie, who was admitted to the hospital. Keep Philip and his dad in prayer through all this too. Pray for Geoff's home church in California. The church is growing and being blessed and is a blessing to the community. Pray for Denise's sister Jamie in Florida. She is due to deliver her firstborn in three weeks. Pray for Robert in Ohio who has had a sore throat for over a month which won't heal. Wayne in Pennsylvania asks for prayer for Kol Simcha (messianic choral group). They are going to St. Petersburg, Russia (formerly Leningrad) in three weeks for a week long evangelistic campaign! Pray for success, safe travel, health, etc. and REVIVAL! Kathy in California asks us to pray for her husband who is in therapy right now to address a lot of childhood issues. Lynn asks prayer for "DK" who needs prayer for salvation. Michael in North Dakota has an opportunity to go to Arkansas this summer as a youth pastor. His prayer request is that God brings a strong Godly woman into the church that is willing to help him with the female youth. Mike in New Jersey feels the need for prayer for positive assurance that a new job opportunity is in God's will. Meta from Washington asks for prayer concerning a sugar problem. Deanna asks for prayer for about 35 pregnant teenagers in a school in Texas. Karen from Maine asks for prayer for her dad. Her mom passed away less than a year ago and he has lost the will to live. Pray for his salvation. Deb in Virginia asks for prayer for her sister Lynn whose husband left her and she has no idea where he is ... but she has received divorce papers from him. Pray that she will hear from him this week. Steve from Arkansas asks for prayer concerning his moving to Knoxville, Tennessee in May. He is looking for a position in a Youth/Music ministry at a church. Pray for Karen in Virginia about a few family situations that she is concerned about. Pray for Danny's good health in Texas and for his financial needs. Pray that his church continues to prosper in the Lord. Richard in Tennessee asks for prayer for a friend who is dealing with an alcoholic associate and having a hard time. Michael in California asks for prayer for the family of someone who was shot and killed in his apartment complex recently. Pray for the safety of Michael as well. Pray for Roxanna's financial needs. Emily in Moscow Russia sent several prayer requests in this week; Pray for Elianora & her son Volodya. She's the now ex-chairman of a Holocaust survivors association, which she founded because she and her son are moving to Germany next week. She is a believer and was baptized last October in the Jordan River. Pray for Emily and other missionaries in Russia. If the Congress of People's Deputies gets into full power, all foreign missionaries could be in serious jeopardy. Pray also for the ever-present threat of anti-semitism rearing its ugly head in Russia. Pray for a new messianic newspaper, written and xeroxed by Russian messianic Jews. Hallelujah! Pray for "K" who is doing counseling for a crisis pregnancy center in Chicago Area. Pray for all the counselors. Ron in Ohio asks prayer for his mom Beth, who lives in Colorado. She is having some difficulty at work from bosses. She could use encouragement and strengthening of the Holy Spirit. Donna in California asks for prayer for herself because she is having a real rough time right now. Pray also for a young mother named Fretta who is pregnant and her boyfriend is leaving her. CM from New York requests prayer for Will & Penny and their ministries. Pray also for her daughters Samantha & Sabrina that they will sleep well. Charles in Massachusetts needs a new career. Pray for guidance from the Lord. Steve in New Hampshire asks for prayer for his cousin Janette, whose infant daughter was just christened. Her husband committed suicide late last year and now she's trying to raise four children on her own. Lyman in Mississippi wants prayer for a friend who is in ICU getting some sort of blood clot treatmeant and going to have surgery sometime next week. Pray for a family in Pensacola, Florida where the mother and a young son were murdered by a friend's 20 year old son. Dominic in California asks prayer for a job. He has been out of full-time employment for almost a year and is seeking God's direction. Pray for Ronny in Ft.Worth, Texas who has pains in his chest now, and previously had a heart attack in July. Pray for missionary Kent Hart who was arrested in Egypt. He is in a jail just south of Cairo. Charges have been dropped from "Disrespect for Islam" to "Preaching without a license". Pray also for another man, a native convert who could face torture and death penalty for converting to Christianity. Al in Texas requests prayer for the mother of his former manager in the hospital. He requests continued prayer for a minister who is closely involved with youth work but continues in the intimate relationships he had as a homosexual and continues to allow the flesh and emotion to be the leader in his life and ministry. Pray that matters are resolved quickly and properly by the Lord. AB in Nevada asks prayer for a fiend, Bill, whose girlfriend Kelly needs to be more committed to the Lord. Also they need the Lord's guidance concerning their relationship. Pray for JH in Arkansas who is teaching in a school and finding some things difficult. He is new to the area, and among his immediate peers, there are few believers and even less his age making him feel lonely. Brother Ron Elkin asks us to pray for Ellen, a 12-yr old Russian Jewish girl, who made a profession of faith in July of 92 and is now denying her need for God and is acting in a rebellious way against Him. Also pray for Isa, a Russian Jewish woman is struggling with her fear of rejection from the Jewish community if she were to believe in Jesus. Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim! - Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:6a) Potpourri Potpourri BUT YOU DIDN'T Almost forty years ago my father gave me a wonderful little plaque that said simply: "Never give up". The Never Give Up plaque still hangs above my desk and contains three of the most powerful and important words I've ever heard or read. I wrote the following poem just after learning that my dad, now seventy-six, has cancer. I wrote it to honor this very special man whom I have the privilege of calling my father. Dad, Remember when I broke the window at the neighbor's house? You know, the great big one? I tried to get you excited about the fact that I'd hit a home run in the process; But by the look on your face when you found out how much it was going to cost, I thought you were going to strangle me, BUT YOU DIDN'T And remember when you found out that I had sold the Minister some books on how to mix drinks (that I'd found in the alley) just to make some extra money for Christmas presents? I thought for sure that you were going to tell me that there was going to be no more Christmas for me, BUT YOU DIDN'T Do you remember, Dad, when I borrowed your best knife, kinda without your knowing it, and kinda lost it? Oh I felt awful. I knew that you were going to tell me that I was a screwed-up, irresponsible kid, BUT YOU DIDN'T Remember, Dad, when I split my head open for the fourth time in only three years? For sure, I expected you to tell me that it was a really dumb thing to do, BUT YOU DIDN'T O Dad, can you remember when you tried to teach me how to drive? And I became an instant imbecile, unable to remember which pedal did what, making the car jump up and down all over the road? I felt certain that you'd adopt me out to another family until I finally learned how to drive, BUT YOU DIDN'T And, can you remember, Dad, when you let me use your car, for that "extra special" date and I got into an accident because I was trying to show off? I was afraid to come home because I told her you were going to ground me... for at least a year, BUT YOU DIDN'T O Dad, you were always surprising me, always loving me more than I ever deserved. Somehow you always knew just what I needed. Like, remember when I didn't make the team that year and I came home in tears, feeling pretty sorry for myself? I was confident that you'd join me in my self-pity party, BUT YOU DIDN'T Or, years later, when I finally made the All City and All State teams and even got a scholarship to go to Stanford? I thought you'd be so impressed and tell me that now I "really had life made", BUT YOU DIDN'T I guess that's why you didn't seem so surprised when I got thrown in jail for "celebrating a little bit too hard" after a State Championship game. Remember, Dad, (how could you ever forget) when you and Mom got a phone call at 4:30 in the morning from the chief of police asking you to come down to the jail and get your son? All the way home I waited and waited for you to blast me, BUT YOU DIDN'T The first words, in fact the only words, you said to me were: "Come on, son, let's go have some breakfast." How did you know, Dad? How did you know? At the time of most critical failure; at the very time when I knew that I had let you down the most, you knew, you remembered to remind me that I was your son ... period ... in spite of it all. How did you know? For a man with only an eighth - grade education and no time to read, because you were always working more than one job just to keep your family going, you were sure smart. No, more than that, Dad, you had some of that "wisdom" that must have come from the Other Father. You always told me that you and "The Man Upstairs" (as you were fond of calling Him) were pretty close friends. The years passed, and our friendship grew even closer. I can remember, Dad, the first time we had lunch together - just you and me, alone. I was in my late twenties - almost a grown man. We laughed and you told me stories about your youth that I never knew before. That lunch seemed to go on forever. After that, you seemed even closer and I began to realize who you really were ... and how much I really loved you. Memories ... Special ones ... Aren't we fortunate, Dad, to have so many? Steve and I have a lot of rich memories, because you made sure that we experienced a lot of life... together. REMEMBER, DAD, When we used to go duck hunting at Midnight, our little dog was so small that she couldn't drag the ducks back? When I brought forty-three kids home from a Young Life camp at three in the morning, to sleep on the floor? When you and Mom could dance all night and still knock the socks off everybody at work the next day? When your sons finally graduated from college (it was something you always wanted for us)? REMEMBER, DAD, When Steve, your number-one son and my number-one friend, got married in Boston? What a grand celebration. You were so proud. When you got honored for being the top man in your region, an honor few men get (still working) at the age of seventy-four? When you first had to tell me that "California was a long ways away" and that you would like to come down, but maybe later...? O Dad, I've never quite had enough words to be able to tell you and Mom just how much I love you. Remember when Pam and I finally got our first house and the children came? We wanted so much for you to be able to come visit, BUT YOU DIDN'T You couldn't anymore. For a growing number of reasons. You wanted to so much, but California was "such a long way". Remember, Dad, the day they broke the news to you that you had cancer? Everyone else seemed to fall to pieces, BUT YOU DIDN'T Never have I been more proud of you, Pop. The quiet courage that you showed us all those years, sometimes when we weren't even aware of it, has shown all the more brightly these past months. I never heard you complain. In fact, I've never seen you laugh more richly, Pop, and never seen you so much at peace. I'm understanding, at even deeper levels, those three precious words you gave me four decades ago, "Never Give Up", because, YOU DIDN'T From ... "What kids need most in a Dad." By Tim Hansel THE ART OF MARRIAGE A good marriage must be created. In the marriage the little things, ... are the big things... It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say "I love you", ... at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is having a mutual sense of values, ... and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that, ... gathers in the whole family. It is speaking words of appreciation, And demonstrating gratitude, ... in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity, To forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere, ... in which each can grow. It is a common search, For the Good and the beautiful. It's not only marrying the right person, It's being the right partner. -Wilfred A. Peterson Come my Lord, my soul is searching, All that I have, has come from thee; Oh I adore thee, and I implore thee; Oh my Lord, abide in me! -Anonymous International Mission field Mission Field PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL - MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS February/March 1993 SERBIAN STUBBORNNESS Even as the outside world agonizes over the tragic civil war, one of our partner ministry leaders, a Serb himself, shares some insights on his people. He says, "There is something of Don Quixote in the Serbian people, idealism and courageousness and living the dreams, heroic, suicidal, stubborn, ready to die but not to change." Despite the upheaval of the war, the Balkan Mission pressed forward in 1992, planting two new churches and two new preaching points in the former republic of Yugoslavia. One of the new churches now has over 30 members, all Albanian. Fourteen Albanians were baptized there the day before Christmas. THE COST OF FOLLOWING CHRIST Subhas Sangma, our ministry leader in Bangladesh, knows the heavy price new believers sometimes have to pay in his country. Mr. Ganendra is one of them. On the third day after he received the Savior, his house was burned to ashes with all of his belongings. THEY NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF HELP! Dr. Vijayam, our South Asia Coordinator, has helped start community development programs among the poor Harijan (outcast) congregations in South India: basket weaving, animal raising, coconut trees, dairy production, etc. He took the Harijan leader, Rev. Moses Swamidas, to nearby Kerala University to request the help of the university's agriculture department. The director of the university research farm offered to help Rev. Swamidas any time, and to give them coconut and banana nursery plants. Since the Harijans are generally oppressed by the higher castes, Moses was astonished to get this kind of attention from such highly trained professionals. Dr. Vijayam wrote, "Moses could not believe that there are people who are genuinely interested in the poor and exploited communities. Let us hope that this trend will help in eradicating not only the poverty but also the caste-based social structure to establish His kingdom." COMMITTED TO SELF-SUPPORT Rev. Nonilo Sanchez, one of our partner leaders in the Philippines, is concerned because their workers do not receive sufficient financial help. At the same time, he is "convinced that Partners International and other foreign friends have already done their best to help us." He is encouraging the local Filipino churches to grow in the support of their own workers. Already nine church planters are getting regular support from local donors, 20 churches have taken responsibility for their full-time workers, and five churches have built concrete buildings from their own resources. A PERSONAL LOOK AT WAR Rev. William Tarty fled Liberia with many other refugees when the civil war began there in the fall of 1990. He has since spearheaded the planting of 23 churches in the Ivory Coast. About his own situation, he writes: "I lost my oldest sister and my stepson in the war ... For the past two years my children have not been able to attend school, but now by the grace of God they are in school and doing fine in their lessons. Besides my own family I have with me 25 refugees that I am taking care of, both old people and children." THE PRINCIPLE HOLDS Johan Lukasse, director of the Belgian Evangelical Mission, rejoices that five new couples joined the ministry in 1992. Three of the couples are Belgian nationals, and one of these has already seen remarkable results. According to Johan, "The principle still holds-the best people to win Belgians are the Belgians themselves." EMPTY CHRISTMAS BOXES Samuel Chiang, our East Asia Regional Coordinator, was going through the lobby of a Westernized hotel in China. Some of the Chinese ministry leaders that Partners assists were with him. These leaders noticed wrapped presents under the Christmas trees. They remarked, "How nice that the guests left gifts for the hotel management." Samuel had to tell them that the gifts were fake. Disbelieving, they said, "How nice that the management wanted to leave presents for the guests." Samuel had to repeat that the gifts were fake. They were still skeptical, so he picked up one of the gifts and tossed it to them. They recognized that it was indeed very light-an empty, wrapped box. Disappointed, they made the following remark: "China is opening up economically. We try to copy all that the West has to offer. Our celebration of Christmas (still not officially recognized) is almost as big as the celebration of the Chinese New Year. The window displays show the festive color of Christmas but they are laced with liquor bottles and expensive clothing. The free Gift, the Christ of Christmas, is missing like the empty boxes under these trees. As for us, we may not have boxes to give, empty or full, but we have the glorious promise to share!" CHINA: JAIL DOES NOT STOP THEM! As they were handcuffed and brought in, they felt the hostile looks of the other prisoners. They knew that newcomers are usually insulted and beaten up. In prayer, Brother L felt led to share the gospel there, and to be patient and humble. A prisoner asked why they were there. Brother L replied, "We believe in Jesus." The prisoner asked what he could gain if he believed in Jesus. Brother L shared about Christ, and said the prisoner "went away with joy." The other prisoners had heard the conversation, and the next day they asked Brother L to share the Good News with them, too. In all, they were there 17 days, and our partner workers were able to preach to the prisoners every day. A prisoner remarked, "it is true that God sent you here- how else could we meet you?" Their last day in jail was a Sunday. One prisoner suggested, "Let's have a Sunday service!" They worshipped the Lord together. By the time our partner workers were released, they felt themselves wanting to stay longer with the prisoners. One remarked, "It is in such hardships that the Chinese Church was built." CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO AIDS In Kenya, Rev. Isaac Simbiri has recently held five seminars on AIDS-three for women leaders and two for pastors and youth leaders. The participants came from eight denominations. Rev. Simbiri has reason to be concerned. Africa has approximately 64% of the world's AIDS cases. Rev. David Kitonga, Partners International's Africa Coordinator, reported that in some of the hardest-hit countries, whole villages have been nearly depopulated by the disease. Rev. Simbiri fights against AIDS through educational programs, and by promoting biblical values that will help protect people. AWARD FOR HIS "WITNESS" Rev. Ki-Chang Ahn received a Witness Award from the 80th Korean Presbyterian General Assembly. The award was in recognition of his evangelization efforts in the unreached rural areas and remote islands of Korea where Buddhism is still strong. Rev. Ahn's research found that, besides the many unreached villages in Korea, there are 517 inhabited islands; 302 of them presently do not presently have a church. His Operation Lighthouse ministry has planted 78 churches and 300 house churches in the rural and island areas. Upon receiving the award, Rev. Ahn said, "I believe it is our Lord who was rewarded." WHAT DIFFERENCE CAN ONE DOLLAR MAKE? Rev. Charles Saydee, like many Liberians, fled as a refugee from the civil war in his country that started in 1990. One day, after he finished preaching to other refugees, a woman approached him. Mrs. Seekie was formerly a well-to-do lady in Liberian society. She said she had heard of "the great things your ministry has been doing for many of our stranded people here. I came to seek your help." The tragedy of her story was beyond words. They had been caught by the rebels after walking for a week. She was ordered not to shed a tear or show any sorrow on her face as her husband was beheaded before the eyes of her and her children. Since then they had been surviving by begging. Rev. Saydee was only able to give her the equivalent of one U.S. dollar. She was nevertheless overjoyed and in tears. Rev. Saydee commented, "Yes, prayer partners, she and her children need our prayers, and we are trying to help them." THEY KNOW HOW TO REACH MUSLIMS Our partner organization of Arab Christians sent ten brothers and sisters to three European countries where a lot of North Africans live. They also sent six others to North Africa to visit the homes of people who had shown interest in Christian radio programs. Their expenses were met by donors who gave through Partners International. These young evangelists saw hundreds of Muslims come to Christ. Local churches are now following up on these new believers. In some places where there was only a handful of Christians and no organized church, services were held to encourage and train them in evangelism and follow-up. One of the leaders of The Network was describing each of the five members of the executive committee that leads this ministry. His comments provide a clue as to why their ministry is so effective. He said, "All five have a history of reconciliation. They are reconcilers. None is a polarizer. And that is the very secret of the movement-we need more reconcilers than polarizers." ADDICTS REACHING ADDICTS Operation Dawn reaches drug addicts in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Rev. Simon Lau leads the Taiwan branch. Simon was himself an addict and gang leader for ten years. His mother prayed for him every day. Simon tried to kick his habit a number of times. He went through detoxification programs. But the craving for drugs was too strong, and he always returned. Finally Simon found Operation Dawn. Their tough one-year program, designed to lead the addict to Christ, disciple him and rebuild his broken body, changed Simon. With God's help, he found himself strong enough to stay off drugs. He also found a vision to reach other addicts. Now there are five former addicts, three men and two women, all products of his ministry, studying full time in seminary. FILIPINO MISSION LEADER EXPRESSES HIS THANKS Rev. Nonilo Sanchez leads a ministry that has sent nearly 200 Filipino missionaries to the unreached areas of their country. He wrote to me recently: "You cannot imagine how much all of you mean to us as we work together in partnership in the ministry of the Gospel. The lost are saved. Thousands of lives are changed, churches established, and ministry is expanded. The precious name of our Lord is glorified. All this because there are people like you who are willing to help us. Ministry Highlights is published by Partners International, 470 North Fourth Street, San Jose, CA 95112-4787. For more information write, or call (408) 453-3800 or FAX (408) 437-9708. CFI Reports CFI Reports CFI REPORTS is our monthly column dedicated to the ministries of CHRISTIAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL in Jerusalem. Our October 1991 issue of MORNING STAR (Volume 1.1) presented a summary of the various CFI ministries and explained the foundational principles and objectives of CFI. In this month's column we present the April 1993 "Watchman's Prayer Letter", direct from Jerusalem. WATCHMAN'S PRAYER LETTER - April 1993 The tide of violence in this land has increased dramatically over the past few months. How will God stem the tide? What are the means He uses to do it? "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lit up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19). God has His company of intercessors in the earth who are instruments in the hands of the Holy Spirit to lift up the standards and stem the tidal wave of satanic attacks pouring into Israel during these days of "peace talks". Whether we bow down (Genesis 24:26); bow our heads (Exodus 4:31); spread our hands to heaven (II Chronicles 6:13); fall upon our knees (Ezra 9:5); or kneel (Daniel 6:10); fall on our faces (Joshua 5:14); or stand (I Kings 8:22), the posture of prayer is insignificant compared to the attitude in which we pray. The promises are that when we call, He will answer. (Psalm 91:15). As Abraham drew near to God and persistently pleaded with God for the righteous to be saved in wicked Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-32), God conversed with Him and answered his persistent prayer. Likewise, may we be faithful to persevere in the heat of the day for this tiny nation through our intercession. An unrelenting wave of terrorism against the Jewish presence in Israel has plagued the country these past few weeks. Violence has risen into a rod of wickedness and the land has been polluted with innocent victims' blood. The days are indeed evil. * PRAY that there be a realization by Arab workers that the price of violence is high and that they will not go unpunished. Pray that they will begin to disavow this rein of terror and take a stand to have no further part in bloodshed. * INTERCEDE for believers who call on the name of the Lord in Israel to have the determination and the will to persevere for God's help for this land from its troubles, for vain is the help of man. "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies." (Psalm 60:11-12). * SINCERELY PRAY that stricter inspection of Arab laborers from the Gaza Strip who try to defy the law by bringing in dangerous weapons carried for one reason, to kill Jewish people, will be enforced. May the "candle of wickedness" burning with a hot flame be blotted out. (Proverbs 24:20). * ASK IN PRAYER that the 2, 000 additional men and women which have recently been added to the police force and those who have enlarged the Civil Guard be able to control those who "lay in wait for blood and lurk for the innocent without cause." ( Proverbs 1:11). * GIVE THANKS for the numbers of Israelis who have volunteered their labor in settlements without wages (particularly in Gush Katif in the Gaza District which has suffered most from terrorist attacks). "There is nothing better for a man... that he shall make his soul enjoy good in his labor ...". (Ecclesiastes 2:24). According to poll and local voting patterns, at least one half of the Palestinian Arab population is openly opposed to any "peaceful" solution for the land short of the elimination of the State of Israel. * EARNESTLY PRAY that the PLO, Hamas and Islamic Jihad will have severe drops in recruitment to their ranks of terrorism and murder. May their yoke of bloodshed be broken. (Nahum 1:13) * BESEECH THE LORD for uprightness and accountability in all areas of government "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice ...". (Proverbs 29:2). May the prayer of Elijah be borne on our hearts . " Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God ...". (I Kings 18:37). Israel is talking of territorial concessions, and the halting of settlement building in the waste places. The Israeli people have been told that there are no guarantees against a complete withdrawal from the Golan Heights. If this takes place, Israel will be a divided nation. (Israel News Digest). Syria is also appearing to want a treaty with Israel and Palestinians are considering self-government. The talk of territorial concessions, coupled with the spate of violence, left Jewish settlers on the Golan Heights and in the Gaza in a state of uncertainty. * PREVAIL IN FAITH that a division of the Land will not take place. It is God's Land and Israel has inherited it. (Numbers 26:53; Jeremiah 12:14). Pray that Israel not be drawn to compromise or modify God's commands to possess the Land. May no settlements nor negotiations be made that would endanger or jeopardize additional lives of the people of Israel (Psalm 28:3). "Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts". (Psalm 28:3). Also Ezekiel 35:10; 36:5. The shofar sounds for additional prayer for Jewish immigrants still in Russia. Tales of woe are increasingly worsening. It is clear that the Communist Party now see a possible path to absolute power once again. It is difficult to name anything in today's Russia that is under control. * SEEK THE LORD for anti-God strongholds in Russia to be broken down and hedges of political power to crumble in order for the gospel of Israel's Messiah to be brought freely to Russia. "Thou has broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strongholds to ruin." (Psalm 89: 40). Also Isaiah 24:10. "Wherefore glorify yet the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea" (Isaiah 24:15). Political difficulties in Ethiopia have stalled the bringing of the Falash Mura to Israel and also the definite postponement of a visit to that country by the present Absorption Minister. The ancient Ethiopian Jewish prayer has always been: "The hungry go to food; the thirsty go to water, but I shall go to Jerusalem". * SERIOUSLY INTERCEDE that despite many difficulties, a smooth way will soon be made for Ethiopian children and their parents to be reunited in Israel. Pray that God will make a way with the government to accept them. May Israel's increase of people include the Falash Mura. "Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock." (Ezekiel 36:37) "And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord." (Ezekiel 37 :14) * PRAY that government officials will show understanding and concern for the situation of the separation of families. May the Lord be a "refuge for the oppressed, and a refuge in the times of trouble". (Psalm 9:9) May they that know the Lord know that "the Lord has not forsaken them". (vs. 10) The world is indeed facing perilous times, but ultimately, Islam, Arab terror and anti-God strongholds will be humiliated and defeated, for whoever dares to touch Israel, is still touching the apple of God's eye. "In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror for it will not come near you. No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn." (Isaiah 54:14,17). Standing steadfast on the promises of God's Word, Sharon Sanders, Jerusalem Please copy and disseminate this prayer material as far and wide as possible to the Body of Christ for prayer purposes. For further information contact Christian Friends of Israel. P O Box 1813 Jerusalem 91015 ISRAEL Tel: 972-2-893172/187 Fax: 972-2-894955 Newsdesk Newsdesk MORNING STAR NEWSDESK - May 1993 WILL TWELVE BECOME TEN IN THE EC? Support for the Maastricht treaty is waning in Denmark, giving rise to fears of another No vote in the referendum on May 18th. A second rejection would throw the European Community into crisis. Defeat would raise questions over whether Denmark would break away entirely from the EC and whether Britain would abandon its Maastricht ratification. It is believed that Prime Minister Major could not maintain his majority if he tried to press ahead after a Danish No. (From THE EUROPEAN 3/28/93) MORE EC-ISRAEL LINKS Israel's Foreign Minister Shimon Peres held talks in Strasbourg with members of the foreign affairs and foreign trade committees before meeting Council President Niels Helveg Petersen. Appealing for European help to create a "new Middle East," he expressed the hope that peace negotiations would start again towards the end of April. Israel was prepared to compromise and accept UN resolutions, including the return of territory, as a basis for negotiations with both Syria and the Palestinians, he said. One possibility was jordan/Palestinian confederation. European leaders had an important role to play in the peace negotiations, he said, and this was emphasized by President-in-Office of Council, Mr. Petersen, who said, the Middle East was a high priority area for the Community. The European Investment Bank is making available two new global loans totalling 40 million ECU to the Industrial Development Bank of Israel for promoting industry, tourism and environmental protection projects. (EC - EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT NEWS) PERSIAN PURCHASES An Iranian military delegation is in North Korea to complete the purchase of 150 missiles capable of reaching Israel with conventional and chemical warheads, reported an Iranian opposition official. Asked about the reported deal, Secretary of State Warren Christopher said: "We would view that with considerable concern." Mohammed Mohaddessin, foreign affairs director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an opposition coalition, said sources in Iran reported that the 21-man Iranian delegation is headed by Brig. Gen. Hossein Manteqi, head of Iran's Defense Industry Organization. He said in an interview the Iranians are pressing the Koreans for delivery of the missiles this year, perhaps as early July or August. The missiles have a range of 1,000 Kilometers or 625 miles, more than doubling the range of military payload which Iran can now deliver. Mohaddessin said the North Koreans would probably fixed and mobile launchers for the new missiles. The Iranians are repaying North Korea with oil shipments now running at a level of 100,000 barrels a day. (ASSOCIATED PRESS) MORE PLO DOUBLE TALK PLO leader Yasser Arafat, broadcasting in Arabic over Monte Carlo Radio, appealed to President Clinton to prove his commitment to human rights by curbing what he called Israel's "cruel oppression" in the territories. In the same address Arafat also urged Palestinians to escalate the violence against Israel "and burn the earth under the feet of the occupiers." (JERUSALEM POST) JEWISH PATRIARCH REALLY A MOSLEM A Moslem professor stunned his Christian and Jewish colleagues at an interfaith symposium last month by telling them it was clear that Abraham was an upright Moslem, and not a Jew. "Abraham is an imam of the Arab nation," said Professor Yassir Mallah of Bethlehem University. He told the audience that "he who turns away from the way of Mohammed turns away from the religion of Abraham." The promised land, in Moslem tradition, he said, was Greater Syria. It was given to the Jewish people on the condition they follow the teachings of Moses, and it was only for the era of Moses, which ended when the Jews were invited to follow the prophecy of Mohammed, he said. (JERUSALEM POST) Ministry Information Ministry Information MORNING STAR INFORMATION AND PRODUCT GUIDE April, 1993 ******* READING ******* DECISION MAGAZINE ($7 annually, 11 issues per year) Billy Graham Evangelistic Association P.O. Box 779 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-0779 FOCUS ON THE FAMILY MAGAZINE P.O. Box 35500 Colorado Springs, Co 80935-3550 (free upon request) HIGHWAY A magazine for Truck Drivers Transport For Christ - Highway P.O. 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