All the Nations

Good News for all People:

Palau is a little place.  Both by land mass and population it is one of the smallest nations in the world.  Small though it may be, there are a diversity of people here.  This morning I attended a Kindergarten program in honor of United Nations Day.  Children from half-a-dozen nations participated. Part of the what the children, many of whom come from families unreached with the Good News of Christ, learn is the Word of God. As my nation finishes up a divisive political campaign it is good to be reminded that the Good News of God's love knows no national or ethnic boundaries.  The lines on the map mean nothing to the Lord of the Universe.  Let's cross those lines whenever we can.   It's STTA. PS:  Here is a simple video presentation of the Good News I'm talking about.

The Bad News Leads to the Good

Something To Think About BAD NEWS/GOOD NEWS:

Where the bad news and the Good News meet. I’m one of those folk who grew up Fundamental.  Not so much my family of birth, but my spiritual/church family was clearly a part of that staunch band.  Flannel-graphs, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Bible camp, and sword drills were key elements in my spiritual upbringing. I can’t remember when I first heard the Romans Road explained.  Basically it is way of sharing the Good News about salvation in Jesus Christ, using key verses from the Book of Romans.   There are many versions of this simple evangelistic presentation, but all of them I’m familiar with have Romans 3:23 first or second.  It's a verse that announces the opposite of good news.  “. . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  The first half of the next verse in the presentation is an even more severe downer.  “The wages of sin is death” (6:23).  You’ve got the disease and it’s fatal, and if you understand the fullness of that death—more so. The fact is the first three chapters of Romans are almost totally bad news.  Read 3:1-20 for a summary.  Actually, by the time we get to Romans 3:23 the Apostle Paul has already turned a corner and has begun to tell us about the Good News.  Verse 21 shares “now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested.”  This “righteousness of God” is accessed “through faith in Jesus Christ.”  It is available to “all those who believe; for there is no distinction” (22).  Verse 23 is where the bad news and Good News meet.  The Gospel (Good News) is offered to all who believe.  Why is it offered in this way?  Because all have sinned, we all fail to measure up.  Left to our own devices none of us will make it.  All are lost.  All who believe will be saved.  The bad news leads us to the good, and encourages us to knock on the door. Go ahead. Read more here. It’s STTA.

Friends don't let friends , , ,

Friends don't let friends . . .
This started out as a slogan against driving while under the influence of alcohol.  "Friends don't let friends drive drunk."  Over the years many "friends don't let friends . . ." sayings have surfaced.  Here is one some friends of mine have reminded me of.  

Friends don't let friends enter eternity without hearing about Jesus.

Several of my friends have been busy doing their best to share the Good News with their friends.  We just finished TEENWEEK.  One of the main purposes of TEENWEEK is to introduce teens to the Lord Jesus Christ.  As I'm typing a group of folk are hosting a supper before a fishing tournament.  Another friend of mine will tell his story--how he came to know the Savior.

Sometimes folk accuse we Christians of being pushy, thinking we are always right.  The fact is, in this dark, cold, dangerous world we have warmth, peace and forgiveness.  We are beggars.  We found where to get bread.  It would be the height of cruelty to not tell other beggars where they can be fed as well.

Find out more here.
 

It's STTA.

Something to Think About for April 9, 2014:

Something To Think About, Spreading the Word, 4/8

We have We have been working with John's seven signs that he presents “so that [we] may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing [we] may have life in His name.” (John 20:31, NASB95)  These miraculous signs are prominent in the first half of John's Gospel. Turning water into wine, chapter 2; Healing the nobleman's son, 4; Healing of the paralyzed man at Bethesda, 5; The feeding of the 5,000, 6; Walking on water, 6; Giving sight to the man born blind, 9; and The raising of Lazarus, 11 are all very impressive actions.  They would have impressed no one, however, had not those who knew about them told someone--many someones. I just had a brief exchange with someone who is very aware of God has done for him.  He is eager to tell about it.  From the Apostle John to my friend, unless we tell what Christ has done others won't know what He can do. Go tell somebody!    It's Something to Think About. Explore the Good News here.  Its one of our attempts to tell somebody.

The US government just closed twenty-two embassies in Africa and the Middle-east.  It seems the chatter is intense.  Lots of bad guys saying bad things about us.  A number of officials and observers say it is similar to what we recognized--mostly in hindsight--before 9/11/01.  I have found it kind of interesting that even those one would expect to pile-on in criticizing the current administration have been reluctant to criticize the closures.  The name "Ben Ghazi" comes up often.  We don't want that again.  

As polite as diplomacy is, it is also dangerous.  Representing one nation in the midst of another can be quite hairy.  Those of us who follow Christ areambassadors.  We represent the Kingdom of God in the midst of a realm that "lies in the power of the Wicked One"  (1 John5:19).  

That is not the kind of thing that can be done with the guarantee of safety.  I know people whose loved ones have died in taking the Good News to those who haven't heard.  Even some of my preacher buddies, who serve in the comfort of the Bible belt, have been treated pretty shabbily.  I heard, just yesterday, about one who after some pretty shameful treatment just quit.  My son was asked to leave a country because he was engaged in proclaiming Christ.  I met one of his associates who just recently was also invited to leave.  Careers have been stymied and even ruined, and young people are socially ostracized--no small concern if you are sixteen years old.  So, do we just put a sign on the door letting the world know that we are shutting down until the opposition subsides?

 

 

Let's ask the Apostle Paul, who was beheaded, or Peter who was crucified, or John who lived in exile.  Our Lord warned us that it would not be easy here in the land where He was crucified.  (John  15:20)

No, we need to proclaim Good News in the face of bad news.  In fact the bad news serves to illustrate why the world needs to hear the message.

 

 

 It's STTA