Healing Testimony gathered by Rev. E. Anderson

August 31, 2008 at 8:51 pm (Christian Testimony)

                           

                    

REG AND MAUREEN SWINNEY

 

My name is Reg Swinney, and was privileged to be born into a Christian family. l am the youngest of six children. My parents were very active in Christian work. As a baby I was taken along with the rest of the family to the local Pentecostal Church in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, U.K.

 

Holy impressions were made on my heart by my godly parents, & at the early age of seven I gave my heart & life to Jesus. It was on a Sunday evening October 3lst, 1945.  I will never forget that night talking to the Pastor after the Gospel Service, who led me to the Lord.

 

I am ever grateful to God for the conviction of the Holy Spirit on my heart even though I was just a young boy, & also knowing His hand upon my life from that day on.

 

I have proved His faithfulness & blessing to me & my family over the years I have served Him in ministry. Jesus Christ is more precious to me today than He has ever been.

 

I am Maureen, Reg’s wife. We have been married for over 45years and have been blessed with three children, and six grandchildren. To love & serve the Lord has been our number one desire. I want to give God all the praise & glory as I share with you how He has blessed & shown His love & favour to me over the last few weeks.

 

I have had back problems for quite a few years, having surgery some twenty years ago. On Reg’s birthday, April 1st. we were given a National Trust years Membership token. We decided to plan a day trip into Nottinghamshire & visit one or two places of interest. Unfortunately as we arrived home in the evening I found I could not get out of the car. I was in so much pain I had to crawl up to my bed. I stayed there for three days and was not getting any better, I just laid on the bed room floor & cried, I could not walk, lay, or sit with out excruciating pain.

 

The next day Reg insisted I see the Doctor. We managed with the aid of two walking sticks to get to the surgery. My Doctor told me to go to bed, gave me pain killers, & referred me to the hospital. I had recurring Sciatica. Within four days I had a hospital appointment. After looking at x-ray’s I was told my back was not good, with small pieces of bone trapping my Sciatic nerve. I could not put any weight on my right leg & was in constant pain.

 

It was decided to try intense physio with surgery as an option if no improvement within a year.

After two months I was only able to walk around the house & garden with crutches. Reg had to do the cooking, shopping & household chores.

 

Together we were watching God T.V. & were believing for a healing.

 

On Wednesday, July 23rd. Reg asked if I thought I could manage to get to the House Group meeting, I had not been able to go for over two months & had missed the Fellowship. I said, “I would love to try and go, if I could.” I picked up my mirror to get ready & look at my face & hair, I THEN SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE VERY FINE GLITTER ON MY CHEEKS. I began to wonder what I had touched, but could not find any trace of the glitter on my hands. As I looked into the mirror again I could now see the glitter on my forehead as well. It was very fine and could not rub it off with my hands.

 

I called Reg, and when he looked he also could see the glitter on my face.

 

We have heard about the appearing of gold dust, gold teeth fillings and oil on hands, heads and wondered what the purpose was, but we believe our God is a God of signs & wonders.

 

We came home from the House Group meeting with the thoughts & questions about the Glitter. The next morning I woke up about 6.3Oam. As I lay in bed I felt different with a feeling of energy & strength that I hadn’t felt for many weeks. I asked Reg if he was ready to get up as I was so eager to start the day. We had a relative staying with us from South Africa at the time, and because I was so slow having such a lot of pain in the mornings I would let our visitor go to the bathroom first before I tried to make a move. But this morning was different. After going into the bathroom I went down the stairs & heard the refuse men collect the bin. Reg at this time was in his study, and our visitor in the bathroom. Normally Reg would bring the bin in, but without thinking I walked out of the door and then suddenly realised I was walking normally without pain or crutches. My leg had become strong and normal. PRAISE THE LORD! I WAS FEELING SO WELL. My neighbour, and our visitor couldn’t believe how different I was and looked. The next day I visited my Doctor again & she was surprised how well I was. Also, I had an appointment the same day with my Physiotherapist. After examining me she said, ‘What has happened to you this week?” She was amazed at my improvement. I then told her of my experience.

 

I  KNOW THE GLITTER, OR GOLD DUST WAS SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL, AND I KNOW MY HEALING WAS TOO. I thank God for His Grace AND Favour upon my life and give Him all the glory.

 

                                                    

 

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Knowing the Truth compiled by Rev. A. Hocking

August 31, 2008 at 8:44 pm (Knowing the Truth)

                                  

                                    Rev. A. Hocking

THE BIBLE GOT IT RIGHT!

 

A certain well known professor is fond of rubbishing Christianity by attempting to prove that the Bible is nothing but fables and myths and is endeavouring to get rid of what he classes as ‘mindless religion’.   He is of course merely the latest in a long line of such people.  The Bible even refers to them way back in the Old Testament some 4000 years ago when it says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’”.

 

If only these people would read the Bible carefully, they would find that, although not a technical book , the facts it gives are remarkably accurate.  Especially so, since they were written hundreds, even thousands of years before modern scientists discovered the truth.

 

Until only 200 or so years ago, men thought the earth was flat and rested on pillars or ‘Atlas’ or several huge elephants.  Then scientists discovered that in fact, the earth hangs on nothing!  Just as the Bible had been saying for the past 4 or 5 thousand years in Job chapter 26.

 

It was only quite recently discovered that the winds move by certain fixed laws, but Ecclesiastes said so about 3000 years ago!

 

Hundreds of years before Christ, men thought there were about 200 stars. Centuries later, they reckoned about 400 million. Today, scientists agree with the Bible that it is impossible to calculate the number of stars – and they are finding new galaxies almost every day!

Yes, in spite of the professor’s ranting, the Bible is true and can be trusted.  Rather like a cake – if you eat a slice and it tastes good, you can be pretty sure that the rest of it is ok!

 

The Bible says there is only one way to Heaven – and that is through trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary to pay the price for our sin.   Why not put your trust in Him today? 

 

                                         

 

 

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Messages of the Moment received by Rev. E. Anderson

August 31, 2008 at 8:27 pm (Messages of the Moment)

                                    

                                       Rev. E. Anderson

Created to become like Christ
by Rick Warren

“God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. . . . We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him” – Romans 8:29 (MSG)

*** *** *** ***

From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like his Son, Jesus. God announced this intention at creation: “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image and likeness’” – Genesis 1:26 NCV.

In all of creation, only human beings are made in God’s image. This is a great privilege and it gives us dignity. We don’t know all this phrase covers, but we do know some of the aspects it includes: like God, we are spiritual beings – our spirits are immortal and will outlast our earthly bodies; we are intellectual – we can think, reason, and solve problems; we are relational – we can give and receive real love; and we have a moral consciousness – we can discern right from wrong, which makes us accountable to God.

But the image is incomplete and has been damaged and distorted by sin. So God sent Jesus on a mission to restore the full image that we have lost.

What does the full “image and likeness” of God look like? It looks like Jesus Christ! The Bible says Jesus is “the exact likeness of God,” “the visible image of the invisible God,” and “the exact representation of his being” – 2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT; Colossians 1:15 NLT; Hebrews 1:3 NIV.

People often use the phrase “like father, like son” to refer to family resemblance. When people see my likeness in my kids, it pleases me. God wants his children to bear his image and likeness, too. The Bible says, “You were . . . created to be like God, truly righteous and holy” – Ephesians 4:24 GWT.

                                                 

 

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Knowing God provided by Rev. E. Anderson

August 30, 2008 at 7:18 pm (Knowing God)

                                      

                                          Rev. E. Anderson

KNOWING GOD

 

This is a further series on Knowing God, the most important and vital knowledge that any person can possess in life. To come to know God and His ways is fundamental to the fulfilment and pleasure of life.

 

The Bible discloses in its history and pages the great truth and fact of people coming to know God in their day and generation. They were different, living at different times and situations, but God broke through into their lives and made all the difference to life, to their view of things and the way they conducted themselves. Knowing God brought a radical shift in their thought, belief and behaviour and so they contributed greatly to the society of their day for good and so made a difference.

 

God came to them differently thus showing that He knows each one personally and that He is not restricted to one way of breaking through into an individual’s life.

 

We shall be taking a bird’s eye view with regard to them and see what we can discover and learn from their personal encounter and experience with God.

 

JACOB  – THE MAN WHO FOUND GOD THROUGH MUCH DIFFICULTY

 

Genesis 28 ; 32

 

Introduction

 

SIGNIFICANT: Jacob lived quite a different and singular life amongst the patriarchs and the rest of the people that are mentioned in the Scriptures. It was a significant life because so many chapters are ascribed to his life story and so there is so much to learn about him and his personal experience and dealings with God. Without doubt, his was a unique character that formed a real basis for the birth and development of the nation of Israel. His twelve sons were to be the foundation on which the promises made to Abraham would be brought to pass.

STRANGE: Reviewing what is written, this individual appears to encounter a tremendous amount through the course of his life span. He had to go through some strange situations before he finally reached his spiritual climax in God. He was a twin with a rather complex nature that landed him into real bother and created great difficulties. Quite a number of the problems created were of his own doing. His scheming mind worked continuously in order to find the better of things, until he had his personal confrontation with the Lord.

SPIRITUAL: At the heart of this man, in spite of this untoward spirit, mind and attitude was a desire to know God and to experience His hand of blessing. He had difficulty living with himself with the sort of nature he possessed and must have longed secretly within to be changed so that he could attain to a greater and better lifestyle. It was to be by a chequered, complex and thorny route that this would come about so that he would emerge a spiritual man with inspired, prophetic powers and the capacity to bless.

 

It is good to see how this man came to know God in such a personal and dynamic way.

 

1/. HE CAME TO KNOW GOD IN SPITE OF PERSONAL DEFECTS AND FLAWS – Gen 25; 27

     

The stories are known on how he sought to cheat his twin brother twice thus exposing the weakness of his character, yet indicating where he considered the real values of life were. Whilst not agreeing with his actions, one is appreciative of what he felt most important. He must have been aware of what grandfather Abraham had received in sacred covenant and agreement and had been passed on to Isaac, and he wanted to be in on this above everything else. Inspiring and spurring him on was this motivation but before it could all occur he required sorting out by the Lord and He was ready to achieve this over a long process. The fact that he was prepared to buy the right of the firstborn and act in accord with his mother’s wishes to obtain the divine blessing indicates a significant fact about his inward bent and tendency.

 

2/. HE CAME TO KNOW SOMETHING OF GOD WHILST EVIDENTLY ON THE RUN – Gen 28: 10-22

 

      He has to flee from a brother who is in vengeful mood and has to spend a lonely night under the stars away from everyone but the Lord. God’s grace was towards him and begins to set him up for knowing Him and experiencing His workings within his life. In that deserted place he has his first dynamic experience of God in a wonderful realistic dream that produces a major commitment – vv20-22. His vow is birthed as a blessed consequence of this unique encounter that becomes a spiritual turning point in his affairs.

 

3/. HE CAME TO KNOW GOD THROUGH EXTENTUATING CIRCUMSTANCES – Gen 29 -31

 

      In a quiet dramatic way things appear to come immediately together as he draws near to where his relatives live. Of all people to immediately meet was Rachel who he came to love and marry. It was during this long period spent with Laban that he had to go through some very trying times and later on Jacob had to admit that it was the Lord who had brought him through – “Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely you had sent me away empty” – Genesis 31: 42. He had problems with regard to his marrying Rachel and Leah, then such with them in the outworking of the families, difficulties with Laban regarding his wages and then the attitude of his sons when he began to prosper – Genesis 31:1, 2. Amidst it, Jacob had to learn to lean on God.

 

4/. HE CAME TO KNOW GOD IN A GREATER WAY IN A POWERFUL ENCOUNTER – Gen 32:

 

      He receives a summons and direction to leave Laban – Genesis 31: 3. Just when things are at their height the Lord breaks in to relieve the tension and give a sure word of guidance. But there was more than a Laban to leave; there was an Esau to confront. His scheming mind immediately gets to work to bring appeasement to his twin. What a lavish gift was arranged – vv6-20. It was rather an expensive bestowment that was totally unnecessary with God in overall charge! He was to meet more than Esau: he was to have a real spiritual conflict that would utterly drain and change him – vv 24-32. He was to be transformed into a prince with God and possess a new name!

 

5/. HE CAME TO KNOW GOD THROUGH A SERIES OF PROVIDENCES –Gen 37- 49

 

      Returning home was to be no easy going affair as the story unfolds. His sons were to land him in some difficulties but the Lord protects. One son arises to give him pleasure and cause some sense of pride, Joseph. This young lad revealed a great depth of spirituality and he was able to talk and deposit good things in him. During the next years, as the narrative reveals, he would have to trust God in an extraordinary manner. The departure and seeming death of Joseph was a great loss and Jacob must have wondered what was happening and what was the Lord doing. However, at the end, he was to know that the Lord had been working when he saw Joseph. He was able to bless Pharaoh and then his sons – Genesis 47: 7; 48:48: 11-20; 49. How well he finished up as the mouthpiece of the Lord over his family!

 

CONCLUSION

 

      This life indicates that God is able to work over the period of years to reveal Himself to those who desire Him, in spite of weaknesses, and make them into a choice person and an agent through whom He can forward His immense purposes.

 

                                                   

 

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Points to Ponder arranged by Rev. E. Anderson

August 30, 2008 at 7:12 pm (Points to Ponder)

                                   

                                        Rev. E. Anderson

MISSIONS

 

Missions and missionary is challenge to every Christian and prayerful thought must be given to it. What are you doing for Christian Missions?  Here are things to think about – the work and workers.

 

A CHURCH gave its members a self-evaluation questionnaire to see how con­cerned they were about missions. Compare for yourself where you might be) considering these examples of the “High” and “Low” criteria:

 

When it comes to a biblical understanding of missions, I…

Can explain how every book of the Bible relates to world evangelism.

Do not own a Bible.

 

When it comes to missions education, I…

Assist others in understanding what God is doing in missions.

Conscientiously avoid any missions emphasis or any missions information.

 

When it comes to prayer, I…

Regularly fast and pray for specific requests from missionaries.

Do not believe in prayer.

 

When it comes to encouraging missionaries, I.

Visit them at their assignments.

Don’t do anything with missionaries.

 

When it comes to giving, I

Encourage others and sacrifice myself to give to missions.

Take money from missionaries.

 

When it comes to missionary recruitment, I…

Actively educate others to the need for more missionaries around the world.

Feel they should stay home and earn a living.

 

 

A FEW YEARS AGO I stood on the banks of a river in South America and watched a young man in western clothes climb out of a primitive canoe. The veteran missionary with whom I was traveling beamed at the young man and he whispered to me, “The first time I saw him he was a naked Indian kid standing right on this bank, and he pulled in my canoe for me. God gave me a real concern for him, and eventually he came to Christ, committed himself to the Lord’s work and is just returning home after graduating from seminary in Costa Rica:’ I could understand the beam on the missionary’s face, and I think Paul beamed when he talked of his men. And he had good cause to be thrilled with them.

Stuart Briscoe, Bound for Joy

 

A MISSIONARY COUPLE came home aboard a ship after many years of faith­ful service in Africa. It so happened that there was a very important diplomat also on the same ship who got special treatment and special attention. When the ship arrived, this couple stood back and watched from the deck as the band played and the people had gathered and there was great applause. As the diplo­mat walked down the gangplank and was whisked off in a lovely limousine to the sounds of music and applause, this dear fellow put his arm around his wife and he walked off with her and got into the streets of New York. “Honey,’ he said, “it just doesn’t seem right after all of these years that we would have this kind of treatment and here this fellow gets that kind of special treatment?’ And she put her arms around her husband and said to him, “But, honey, we’re not home yet?’

Al Bryant, 1,000 New Illustrations

                                                 

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Great Stories assembled by Rev. E. Anderson

August 30, 2008 at 7:05 pm (Great Stories)

                                  

                                       Rev. E. Anderson

WEAK, CONVINCING VESSELS

 

Writing about his time as a counsellor at a teen Bible camp, Tony Campolo says, ‘Teenage boys have a tendency to pick on some unfortunate kid. That summer it was 13-year-old Billy, kid who couldn’t walk or talk right. When the kids from his cabin were assigned to lead devotions they voted Billy in as the speaker. It didn’t seem to bother him. He dragged himself up to the pulpit amid sneers and snickers and it took him a long time to stammer, “Je-sus loves . . . me… and I love Je-sus.” There was stunned silence, and when I looked around there were boys with tears streaming down their cheeks. We’d done many things to try to reach these boys but nothing had worked. We’d even brought in famous baseball players whose batting averages had gone up since they started praying but it had no effect. It wasn’t until a special needs kid declared his love for Christ that everything changed.

 

I travel a lot and it’s surprising how often I meet people who say “You probably don’t remember me. I became a Christian at a camp where you were a counsellor and do you know what the turning point was for me?” I never have to ask. I always know I’m going to hear, “Billy!”‘

The Bible says, ‘God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who ~ink they are wise.’ So when you find yourself focusing on what you can’t do, remember His power works best in [your] weakness . . . .’ – 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT. Just do what you can and God will do the rest! He’ll crown your efforts with success.

 

                                                    

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Extracts from Life afforded by Rev. E. Anderson

August 29, 2008 at 6:35 pm (Extracts From Life)

                            

                          Rev. & Mrs. E. Anderson

NEVER IN A HURRY

 

One of the most important graces to be created and developed in life is that of patience. Most people find this quality in themselves to be in short supply. We find it very difficult to wait and bide our time until certain factors have come to a head. So often we would like to speed things up so that we are not seemingly hanging around frustrated and wondering if ever things are going to take shape and become significant.

 

In dealing with God, there comes the discovery that not only is He a God of patience, He requires the same in those who are to come into a positive and dynamic relationship with Him. There comes in the outworking of faith the birthing and nurturing of divine patience whereby one learns to wait on and for Him to show up and perform His words of promise. To those who have found this principle and respond to it, they know His workings and interventions in rather incredible ways. Through the years of spiritual experience they find out that God is never in a hurry. Having stated such, one needs to know that God is never late and neither is He too early; He is always on schedule.

 

It was around 1960 whilst walking down the main street in Louth that I got what I felt was a distinct impression from the Lord upon my spirit. Certainly, it was no audible voice from heaven but suddenly inscribed upon my spirit was this brief message, which I believe came from on high. The Spirit of God registered the words: “God is never in a hurry.” This was to be a signal to me for life and throughout the course of my ministry and service for Him. Waiting His timing and working was to be absolutely essential.

 

The prophet, Habakkuk was to find out this message, too. The Lord spoke to him in a similar manner in his day, when he was facing dilemma and difficulty. The Lord said: “For the vision is for is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” The Lord having spoken and awakened expectations made sure that His servant was left in no doubt it would take a length time for its fulfilment.

 

We like to think that things will happen over-night especially when God has given sacred promise. This is not always the case. Sometimes it takes more than days and months; it can be years before all is brought to pass by Him. Joseph had fantastic dreams in Genesis 37 but it took quite a number of years before actual realisation. It is in this stage that faith, patience and endurance is created and nourished.

 

Whilst waiting on God around 1960, the word from Isaiah 41: 15 was sown into my being. It was a challenging word at that time – “Behold, I will make you a sharp threshing instrument having teeth: you shall thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and make the hills as chaff.” What a ministry and possibility for my life! It is in and through the passage of time that you find out it does not occur straightaway. My Bible College principal, Donald Gee used to say and teach: “It takes a life time to make a man and ministry.” I found that difficult to accept then but life and experience has taught me how right he was. Having served the Lord in various churches and in a Bible College I have had to wait until retirement for this to be brought to fruition. I have sensed that the last eleven years the Lord has placed a real cutting edge upon life and ministry. To Him be all the glory.

 

It was whilst at Louth around 1964 that I felt the conviction that the Lord desired us to lead a church in a certain town having achieved his designs where we were. He gave us such remarkable tokens then of where we should go next, and, unbelievably closed the door at the last moment. It was then we had to learn to allow God to do a thing like that. There was the seeming disappointment but then He opened another blessed door of opportunity in another place where we found fulfilment and development. Over a number of years we were approached to go and oversee the place where we had received such divine indications of calling but were restrained to do so. Eventually, after nearly 20 years we received the go-ahead and served that fellowship. It became the exact time in God’s agenda.

 

In 1971 we were called to serve and minister for the Lord in the Doncaster fellowship. We had hardly been there a few weeks when the Lord definitely spoke to us to tell us not to get our roots down. It was rather disconcerting because it was virtually our home town and we loved the place. Little did we know that the Assemblies of God Bible College was to come near at hand, just around 10 miles south? A divine sense was born in me that this is where the Lord wanted us to be. However, it was up to Him to work it all out and in a series of events He brought this next stage of our life and service into being and fruition. It was to be the most testing yet beneficial period of our lives. During that phase we were challenged but enriched in many ways and it was part of God’s process of putting that cutting edge on our lives and ministries.

 

We could never imagine that over the past few years we have been able to reach and affect so many people for Christ in such a positive manner and measure. Beneath and behind it all, as we review what has happened over 50 years, we have to say that God has gone at His pace and we have had to become regulated to it. It has to be said, walking with and working for God is a steady matter and process but in the end yields immense dividends. Digest the truth: God is never in a hurry. He doesn’t have to be!

 

                                             

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Word for the Week provided by Rev. E. Anderson

August 29, 2008 at 6:29 pm (Word for the Week)

                                    

                                      Rev. E. Anderson

 

CULTIVATE

 

This is a word that is very much related to life and activity in a specific field. It is something that is required in certain areas if things are to reach their full maturity and productivity. This is particularly so in the realm of nature.

                     

The dictionary defies it as “to till, to prepare for crops; to raise or develop by tilling; to improve by labour or study; to civilise; to seek the friendship of.” It will be noted that it can be observed in a number of connections.

 

One of the best uses and illustrations of the word is that as seen in the farmer and his industry. A principal task is that of seeing that his land is properly prepared and tilled before the next stage of sowing seed. This involves a lot of sweat, toil and hard work in ploughing the lad, disking the clods of earth, chopping them up and then running a set of harrows over in order to break and refine the soil further. The seed to be sown will only get off to the best of starts in germination when the work of cultivation has been thoroughly done. Even after the seed has been sown and springs up, there is to be further cultivation in keeping the ground released so that air can get to the plants.

 

The vine-dresser is also a cultivator. Not only has there to be the setting of healthy vine plants in the ideal conditions, great care must be taken as to their development and structure if they are to bring a prolific yield. The right pruning must proceed, that is the cutting off and away any extraneous growth that I not required so the best results are assured.

 

The horticulturist is in the business of cultivation. Much time is spent on fruit trees, bushes, plants and flowers making certain that they receive the best attention so when the final fruition takes place, all is bountiful and beautiful.

 

Even in family life there is the responsibility placed on parents to make sure that there are children are brought up in the best of environments and that right, good and needful disciplines are introduced and applied that ensure the proper development of their offspring. They are not simply present in the home to fill space but to be wisely invested in with healthy cultivation. Such requires time, labour foresight, love, discipline etc., so that they yield profit and pleasure.

 

God, likewise is in the immense business and task of cultivation. He cultures those who come into a spiritual and dynamic relationship with himself. He is not simply interested in growth of any sort but of the best kind, that which produces quality.

 

It can be seen in His dealings with Israel as a people of ancient times. He not only brought them out of Egypt as a nation of slaves, He adopted them as His own and then set about creating a divine culture in them. It was not enough to come out of Egypt, the ways of Egypt must be erased from their nature and life-style. The wilderness experience of 40 years was designed to do just that. There were divine disciplines introduced to make them a choice and quality people.

 

The Church of Christ as a whole must be cultivated by Christ through His Spirit and Word so that it is perfectly developed and matured into His likeness. Christ not only creates a people to himself, it is is plan and intention that all shall conform to His life and standard of behaviour. There has to be the work of cultivation and much of the New Testament doctrine focuses attention on this matter. He comes to cut off and out things that do not serve the best interests of the believer or himself. A study of John 15 makes this clear.

 

As you are cultivated by Christ, so you will be brought to a state of luxuriant and rich fruitfulness. This is what He has in mind for you as you trust and allow Him to perform His perfect plan for your life and service.

                                            

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A Time to Laugh served by Rev. E. Anderson

August 29, 2008 at 6:14 pm (Time to Laugh)

                               

                                     Rev. E. Anderson

CHURCH BULLETIN BLOOPERS

 

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

 

The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church.

 

Evening massage – 6 p.m.

 

The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.

 

The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession.

 

Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 to 8:30 p.m. Please use the back door.

 

Ushers will eat latecomers.

 

The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment.

 

For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

 

The Rev. Merriwether spoke briefly, much to the delight of the audience.

 

The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, “Break Forth Into Joy.”

 

During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit.

 

Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on “It’s a Terrible Experience.”

 

Due to the Rector’s illness, Wednesday’s healing services will be discontinued until further notice.

 

Stewardship Offertory: “Jesus Paid It All”

 

 

                                                      

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Christian Prime Timers supplied by Rev. E. Anderson

August 28, 2008 at 9:15 pm (Christian Prime Timers)

                                    

                                      Rev. E. Anderson

THE PRIME TIMER WITH PASSION

John served God with Gusto  – From John Maxwell’s Leadership Bible

 

The best single word to describe John the baptizer might be the word “passion. “John’s passion began even before he was born. He leaped in his mother’s womb when Mary spoke of her pregnancy – Luke 1:41. His passion for God grew so great, that before he began his public ministry he lived alone in the desert, wearing camel’s hair and a leather belt and eating locusts and wild honey – Matt. 3:4. He was a radical and unafraid to let anyone know it.

 

John needed passion to fulfill his God-given calling. Every pioneer needs passion. Pioneers cannot be satisfied with mere maintenance, for they have nothing yet to maintain. They create from nothing. The common folk often view them as eccentric-but their passion attracts other pioneers.

 

WHAT GAVE JOHN HIS PASSION?

 

1. He spent time in solitude.

Before John began his public ministry, he lived in the wilderness and spent much time with God. He boiled with the presence of God and could hardly stay quiet.

 

2. He felt consumed with his mission.

John knew of Jesus’ identity and His soon advent. John urgently tried to prepare dl way f6r Him.

 

3. He possessed a magnetic temperament and wiring. John is described as a voice crying out – Luke 3:4 and as an exhorter – 3:18. Like a magnet, he repelled some and attracted others.

 

4. He possessed a strong sense of justice.

When people asked John what they should do, he told them to do justice – 3:10-14. This hunger for justice drove him. He wouldn’t sit still until he saw results.

 

5. He saw things as black and white.

Like others with prophetic gifts, John saw most issues as either black or white. While this sounds narrow to most pastors or businesspersons, this is part of what gave John his passion.

 

6. He felt dissatisfied with anything but action.

John was a doer. He didn’t want people to merely talk about repentance and faith. He told the Pharisees they should bring forth fruit to prove their repentance.

 

Passion makes for an effective ministry. So how can you increase your passion?

 

·          Take your temperature. Get an honest assessment from coworkers: Are you passionate about what you do? You can’t start a fire in your organization unless it first burns in?

·          Return to your first love. Many leaders allow life to push them off track. Think back to when you first began your career. What drove you? What made you enthusiastic?

·          Associate with people of passion. Birds of a feather flock together. Hot coals stay hot when they remain in the fire. Find passionate people and let them rub off on

 

                                                 

 

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