Bill Federer | American Minute
"How they hate a Christian in Damascus!..." Mark Twain wrote
"...and pretty much all over Turkeydom."
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was born NOVEMBER 30, 1835.
His first popular story was "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," written in 1865 while he was in San Francisco. In 1866, as a reporter for the Sacramento Union, Mark Twain traveled to the Sandwich Islands (present-day Hawaii). In 1867, a newspaper funded Mark Twain's voyage to the Mediterranean, which he recorded in his book, Innocents Abroad, 1869.
Tom ClarkWe actually enjoy Thanksgiving
The history of Thanksgiving - how it came to be, and what it means:
In 1620 English settlers arrived in “Massachusetts” from England.
In the fall of 1621 they invited the Indians to join them in thanking God
for having carried them through a difficult first year.
The settlers observed Thanksgiving for many years in the interest of promoting faith in Christ.
Until 1682 Thanksgiving proclamations were made, primarily by church leaders,
and then by both government and church leaders until after the American Revolution.
We read in the HOLY BIBLE “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. The world and its entire people belong to Him.” God is our Creator and we were created in His image. He made us and we are His. He rules over everything.
He has given us many wonderful gifts; the most important (and dangerous) is the gift of deciding to give our life to Him. The choice we make now determines where we will spend eternity. The bottom line is that our relationship with our Creator is the most important thing in our earthly life.
Rob FranzenEach young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve month’s preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation [purification] apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes [sweet spices] and preparations for beautifying women – (Esther 2:12 NKJV, emphasis mine).
You might be wondering why I would relate this verse (along with verse 17 and the whole story) with the profound and difficult subject of suffering and brokenness. It has to do with illustrating the ultimate purpose in brokenness. I have been casually mentioning it throughout these messages, now it’s time to emphasize how profound and prophetically powerful this really is!
Rob Franzen(see links to this multipart series at end of article)
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus (Rev. 14:12)
Luke 21:19 speaks of this “patience” saying, In your patience possess ye your souls. Other translations communicate it like this: By your steadfastness and patient endurance you shall win the true life of your souls (AMP). By your endurance you will win your souls (Barclay's Daily Study Bible).
I was always puzzled by these words until God began showing me the message and purpose of brokenness. I understand that it takes faith in something to endure through something. The Greek word for patience is hypomonē and can also be interpreted as endurance. It is very similar to the word perseverance. In a 2009 devotional I spoke of the slight difference between patience and perseverance. Patience is waiting with contentment (some can wait but not be content), while perseverance is fighting the battle while you’re waiting with contentment. Perseverance in the faith is a main theme throughout the New Testament for the Body of Christ to follow until the return of Christ; a theme that is not talked about enough. With the pressure of the end-times bearing down on us, we need to understand the message of biblical brokenness and how to receive the grace to persevere. The hardships we endure in life have a way of applying a lot of pressure on us, - to the point of breaking us.
Rob FranzenMy brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4 NKJV).
The word “broken” today basically brings negative thoughts or images: broken equipment, broken bones, broken hearts, etc. Many today in our churches are unaware that the Word of God speaks a lot about the subject of brokenness: biblical brokenness. What is biblical brokenness? The Bible speaks of a brokenness that is not only positive but absolutely essential. Jesus reveals a symbolic spiritual pattern in communion when the Bible says; “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it” (Matt. 26:26).
Rob FranzenA Study in the Purpose of Brokenness Part I
By Rob Franzen
Ever wonder why being a Christian can be difficult at times when outright sinners are not experiencing the difficulties you are as a Christian? Isn’t Jesus supposed to be with me delivering me from these troubles and making life easier for me? Why doesn’t God prosper me more than wicked people; I would use the money for the good. Jeremiah the prophet asked the same question in chapter 12:1-3 “Why are wicked people successful? Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives? You plant them like trees and they put down their roots. They grow prosperous and are very fruitful. They always talk about you, but they really care nothing about you. But you, Lord, know all about me. You watch me and test my devotion to you” (NET).
The short answer to why we experience sufferings would simply be, “God loves you!” Our heavenly Father loves you too much to leave you in any sinful condition whatsoever; He wants more for you. That’s why the Bible says in places like Rom. 5:3-5; Jas 1:2-4; and 1Pet.1:6-7 that we can rejoice when we’re experiencing difficulties; we know God is at work! “…, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed [at His return](1Peter 1:6-7 NET).
Conventional political wisdom suggests that candidates must avoid, at all costs, the appearance of being focused on “divisive social issues” and instead focus exclusively on the economy. This is a false dichotomy of issues.
When politicians show us their positions on today’s social issues, they show us their philosophies of government. Ultimately, these — their conception of the proper role between government and the governed — will determine our success at restoring national prosperity.
Christians and The Culture: “Defending Faith, Family and Freedom”
There have been several articles in newspapers about what Americans believe. The USA Today December 10, 2009 had a long article about the findings of a survey by the Pew Forum on religion. Here are some of the findings of the survey:
Christians – 23% believe “the position of stars/planets can affect people’s lives” (astrology);
Christians – 22% believe “people will be reborn again and again”;
Christians – 17% believe “people with the ‘evil eye’ can cast curses or harmful spells”.
I posted an article at Renew America several months ago titled “The Coming Criminalization of Christianity in America.” I suggested that the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision on homosexual “marriage” would be to enshrine sodomy into American law and in so doing, would decree that all Americans must bow to homofascism. As expected, they have done the despicable deed. Now what?
Many, many so-called Christian leaders will, of course, do nothing other than what they have done throughout the decades, and that is effectively ignore the homosexual lobby and its lawlessness. Other so-called Christian leaders are clearly apostate and have embraced that lawlessness, while falsely claiming that God agrees with them. That is a despicable lie. God does not agree, as Scripture clearly reveals. And then there are those believing Christian leaders who will fight evil. They are the hope of this nation, at least until Almighty God ultimately determines America’s fate.
Destitution is a fascinating novel. On the surface, it is a heart-stopping sci-fi thrill ride about the impending destruction of an entire civilization. Deeper down, though, it offers a careful treatment of many contemporary issues and spiritual themes that should resonate with every American Christian. As the world is attacking Christianity from all sides, Destitution depicts an alternate world in which the only remaining faith system is similarly being attacked from all sides, with the ultimate goal of eliminating it entirely from society.
There is nothing preachy about the novel; the spiritual messages are all delivered metaphorically, reminiscent of C.S. Lewis. It is done in a way that Christians would understand immediately, but would not dissuade non-Christians from reading it as well. In fact, the story is so compelling that, after hooking non-Christians, it might just end up getting a number of them to think twice about some of their basic assumptions on life.
Brad Huddleston, one of Virginia Christian Alliance advisors is a specialist in dealing with the effects of technologies such as smartphones and the devastation it is having on our children. Brad has returned from missions to South Korea and Australia where he ministered to 6,000 students. He has seen the effect of governments preventing the mention of God is our schools. At the end of the article Brad ask, WHERE TO WE GO FROM HERE?
The answer is we need for him to minister here in Virginia. As a start we are running Brad's article- Smartphones- Not Always So Smart to appear next week.
… the men of ISSACHAR, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do…1 Chronicles 12:32
During our missionary training sessions back in 1981, Art Katz, a converted Jew, made this statement to us during one of his lectures:…
the issue of God was going to become more and more
pronounced in society as we proceed more and more into the future….
Today’s headlines across our nation this April Fool’s Day 2015, are replete with issues related to God and religious belief, and whether conscience can be coerced by any form of governmental or societal pressure. We are witnessing an unprecedented abuse of political and raw economic power in attempts to punish people of faith into submission and silence.
Resettling Immigrants in Virginia Maps and Content:
CLICK HERE
PDF Brochure | Islam - An Overview
Other Articles by Dan Wolf
Of Governance, Healthcare, and Refugees
About that 1% on Extremists
Extremism, Islam, and Politics
Extremism and Islam - Law and Culture
--See the Entire Series Click Here------------------
--See the Entire Series Click Here----------
