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A Lot of Praying

  • Posted on July 28, 2011 at 12:33 pm

A Whole Lot of Praying Going On… But
from the July 26, 2011 eNews issue
http://www.khouse.org/enews_article/2011/1809

Ramadan begins on August 1st this year and will run to the end of the month according to the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims will take the month to remember when Mohammed “received” the Koran in AD 610, and they will mark it by fasting from sunup to sundown along with extra devotion to prayer and self-cleansing. At the same time, Jews, Muslims, and Christians are gathering to pray together over the National Debt, and Pastor Joe Nelms thanked God for his “smokin’ hot wife” before a NASCAR race this weekend.

There’s a whole lot of different kinds of praying going on, but not all prayers are equal

Ecumenism:
In order to teach Congress a lesson in compromise, Christians, Jews, and Muslims gathered on Tuesday to pray for the United States budget. They want to stand against any deal that would cut too much from social programs for the poor and needy, and they began a prayer vigil to see that Congress doesn’t cap America’s spending ability. The fact that they may not all be praying to the same deities did not seem to concern those involved in the prayer rally.

Embellishment:
Pastor Joe Nelms raised both complaints and laughter when he offered a more colorful-than-normal prayer before Saturday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Nashville Speedway. After thanking God for His blessings, including the “mighty machines…GM racing technology…Sunoco racing fuel” Pastor Nelms finished with, “… Lord, I want to thank you for my smokin’ hot wife, Lisa… Lord I pray you bless the drivers and use them tonight. May they put on a performance worthy of this great track, in Jesus name boogity-boogity-boogity, Amen.”

Some thought the prayer was great, a fun, light-hearted change from the norm. Others thought Nelms was irreverent – trying to entertain rather than pray. One fellow even criticized Nelms because he didn’t mention Chevy in the list of things for which he thanked God.

Nelms explained his reason for the rather unorthodox unscripted prayer. He said, “I think that we need to let folks know that accepting Christ as your savior and letting God into your life is not an end to living but it’s a beginning. I’ve had more fun since I got saved as a 13-year-old boy. The Bible talks about He desires for our joy to be full. Our heart’s desire was to show people that side…”

Grandparents’ 911:
The 10-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks falls on Sunday this year, a day which happens to be Grandparent’s Day, and the Christian Grand-parenting Network is calling for grandparents across the country to focus on prayer that day.

“These are desperate and uncertain times for all, but especially for our grandchildren,” says Cavin Harper, Executive Director of CGN. “With Grandparent’s Day falling on Sunday, September 11th this year, the tenth anniversary of 9/11, we felt prompted to turn this day of tragedy into a compelling opportunity for grandparents to stand in the gap on behalf of the next generations. It is our grandchildren who must navigate a world that is increasingly hostile toward Christianity and God’s truth. It is time for our generation–today’s grandparents–to step to the plate and determine that we will do all we can to not let a whole generation perish on our watch!”

The Response:
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is being sued by the Freedom from Religion Foundation for advocating for a day of prayer and fasting August 6th. The Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas has been reserved for the prayer event, and thousands of people have registered to attend. The Freedom from Religion Foundation has argued that the rally is illegal because it’s “intended for evangelical Christians” and others are not permitted to attend. American Family Association founder Don Wildmon refutes those claims: “Anyone who wants to pray to Jesus for a nation in crisis is welcome to attend.” He also rejected the view that the event was politically motivated: “The Response is a prayer event. No political candidates will be speaking.”

There are many ways humans pray, and many gods to which they pray. Praying itself may or may not be a useful activity, depending on Whom we talk to. The Bible describes some basic principles to keep in mind when going before the Lord:

Matthew 6:7-8: But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Psalms 62:8: Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

John 4:23-24: But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Proverbs 15:8: The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

1 Peter 3:7: Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Philippians 4:6-7: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

James 5:16: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

A lot of people are praying, but not all worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Not all truly pour their hearts out before Him. Some kneel faithfully, but use vain repetitions that fail to touch their own hearts or the heart of the Living God. Others hold onto sin or unforgiveness as they go to pray, and still others treat their wives or their husbands selfishly, and yet expect their prayers to be heard.

We need to pray and pray with all our hearts. Our countries and towns and homes are desperate for the power of God. For His own mysterious reasons, God has chosen to release His power when we come before Him – but we must do so in honesty and truth.

Related Links:

US Muslims Prepare For Summertime Ramadan Fasting – The Jarkart Post http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/07/27/us-muslims-prepare-summertime-ramadan-fasting.html

Pastor Defends Nationwide Invocation, Says He Didn’t Want ‘Cookie-Cutter Prayer’ – ThePilot.com http://hamptonroads.com/2011/07/pastor-defends-invocation-says-he-didnt-want-give-cookiecutter-prayer

Thousands of Grandparents Gathering to Pray on 9/11/11 – Earned Media http://www.earnedmedia.org/cgn0726.htm

Religious Groups Set Prayer Vigil For U.S. Debt Deal – Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/26/us-usa-debt-prayer-idUSTRE76P07520110726

Perry Sued Over Web Event – AP http://online.worldmag.com/2011/07/26/perry-sued-over-prayer-event/

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What is Depression?

  • Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:45 pm

Depression can effect anyone, even Christians.   Just look through the pages of the Bible and you will see much sorrow and despair and HOPE, FAITH, and LOVE.  Below are some links to help you to learn about depression, what it is, how we can cope with it and what it can teach us about ourselves…

What is depression? http://familylife.net/sermons-main-page?sermon_id=2693

Suffering Well …  http://familylife.net/sermons-main-page?sermon_id=2694

Help for the depressed …  http://familylife.net/sermons-main-page?sermon_id=2695

Strategies for dealing with depression …  http://familylife.net/sermons-main-page?sermon_id=2696

A long dark path …  http://familylife.net/sermons-main-page?sermon_id=2697

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Book:  If God is Good- Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil …   

http://www.shopfamilylife.com/if-god-is-good.html

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What Causes the Worst Bondage

  • Posted on June 15, 2011 at 10:42 am

NOTE: If you ever talk to someone involved in Deliverance ministry they will tell you that the most common cause of severe “demonic” problems in a person’s life is “UNFORGIVENESS”. Clinging on to bitterness or grudges is virtually the single most dangerous spiritual thing that a person can do. It can even cause physical sickness.  And yet it is so common – even in the church! Below is a great article on this topic by Rodney Francis:

UNFORGIVENESS – A CAUSE of MAJOR BONDAGE
-by Rodney W. Francis.

It has been said that the major cause of hindrances and bondages in the lives of Christians is that of unforgiveness. Every one of us will have experienced things in our lives, disagreements, criticisms, accusations (both true and false) against us. We cannot avoid these things happening. Even Jesus said that it was “impossible but that offenses would come” (Luke 17:1). Offenses are “stumbling blocks” which come against us ~ things said and done to us to put us down, or to try and subject us to someone else’s will, etc. So, no matter how well we handle relationships, etc., we will all face negative things being thrown at us. Some will “attack” us if for no other reason but that they are jealous of us.

For the Christian we must accept that these things will happen in our lives.

· The big issue is how we deal with them!

It is very important to realize that once the offense has taken place, that we cannot change that. What we can change is our response to it, and how we allow it to affect us. The sooner we can take these matters to the Lord and leave them with Him ~ and at the same time practice forgiveness toward those who have offended us ~ the sooner we will be able to get on with our lives and continue to be fruitful in His service. But if we allow those criticisms to get into our emotions and cause us to re-act negatively and to start “bad mouthing” that person who has offended (and hurt) us, then it will quickly get into our spirit and lodge there.  Once that happens, then we become the loser in the situation ~ even if the accusations are wrong! It is so important that we learn to keep short accounts with God and with people; otherwise we will start on a downward slippery slope that can cause us to finish up being hurt, angry, resentful, “bitter and twisted”, carrying a wounded spirit in the process. None of us can afford to let that happen. Yet, in my travels in numbers of countries, I am finding wounded Christians that have to be set free…

It is sad, but true, that many who have a prophetic calling in God have been “put down” or prevented from functioning.  This has caused many to be “shut down,” be hurt and to go inwards, which does not allow them to pursue and fulfill their calling. Tragically, many Christian Leaders have been guilty of clamping down on those who are trying to exercise their Spiritual Gifts. Regardless of who caused the offense we all need to practice forgiveness. Let me emphasize strongly to you: carrying unforgiveness in your heart is not worth it! There is nothing good or justifiable in our carrying unforgiveness. If you have any unforgiveness in your heart and life right now, let me encourage you to make it a top priority to deal with it, and to get rid of it. Take it to JESUS ~ give it to Him, as He is the only One who can take it away from us. It is He that we are called to please; and our carrying unforgiveness does not please Him at all. In fact unforgiveness stops God from forgiving us of our many offenses against Him (Matthew 6:14-15)! Right now, come before the Lord Jesus and give it all to Him.

-Please comment on this topic at the following website – http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/

Source – http://www.gospel.org.nz

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Home Churches

  • Posted on May 4, 2011 at 10:45 pm

HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT KEEPS GROWING

K-House eNews for April 26, 2011

There is no place like home, at least for some Christians. In recent years the number of home-based churches and small group fellowships in the United States has risen exponentially. In January, Barna Research, found that about 11.5 million American adults – a full five percent -, say they attend a “house church or simple church, which is not associated in any way with a local, congregational type of church,” at least weekly or monthly.  That number is up from 8.8 million adults in 2006.

House churches were, of course, the way it all started. Christianity began with a group of a dozen men along a seaside in Galilee. Even later as Paul traveled and planted, it was the intimacy of home fellowships that provided the earliest forums for the Gospel. His sermons in the synagogues and on Mars Hill were but an invitation. The deeper teaching was taking place in small groups in homes and on hillsides. While the facilities and formalities of Sunday services have since become the norm for many, it was not always so.  Philemon, Nymphas, and Aquila and Priscilla all had churches in their houses (Phm 1:2, Col 4:15, 1 Cor 16:19; Rom 16:5).

Many Christians today have grown dissatisfied with organized religion. Some have even become so discouraged that they have quit attending church altogether. However, the Bible is very clear when it emphasizes the importance of spending time with other believers:

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

In the era of the mega-church, where parishioners often number in the thousands or even tens of thousands, it is easy to see why many Christians feel lost. Such large congregations can be intimidating and impersonal. (Many of the more effective larger organizations also foster and nurture small groups – often called “cells” – during the week to respond to such needs.) For many Christians who desire a more intimate fellowship, home churches seem to be the answer.

In other parts of the world, home churches are the safer option. The regime of Bashar al-Assad has been telling Christians to ”avoid any public gatherings under the guise of religious expression.”   As Iran’s Islamic influence spreads throughout Syria, the relatively large Christian communities (12 percent of the population) are forced to be more careful.

In China, home churches are widespread.  Five hundred Christians were forced to remain in their homes on Easter in Beijing as part of the government’s crackdown against churches that are not approved by the government.  Forty more were hauled away to jail for the crime of attending a church that doesn’t abide by state-approved theology. While the official number of Christians in China is about 15 million, the true number of Christians, often worshiping in homes,may be closer to 100 million.

“In the past five years, every year, the degree of persecution increased, of how many churches were persecuted, how many Christians were arrested, sentenced, abused or tortured,” says Mark Shan, spokesman for China Aid. “It’s a common phenomenon. Every year is like this.”

In Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea, and many other places where Christianity is frowned upon, those who love Christ must often meet together in small, private groups of believers under the radar.

In his book Tortured For His Faith (1975), Haralan Popov tells of his leading home churches in communist Bulgaria.  The church members would throw birthday parties on a regular basis in order to meet.  Some church members had five or six “birthdays” each year.   In times of persecution, the close, warm fellowship of the home church and home Bible studies meet the spiritual needs of people desperate for the reality of God in their lives.

Even those believers who are actively involved in their local church can benefit from the intimacy and accountability of a home fellowship. If you are not presently in a small, weekly, Bible study group, we strongly encourage you to find one and give it a try. You may be in for a truly life-changing experience. If you can’t find one, you might even consider starting one (for more information on how to do this, see the links below).

There are many Christian leaders today who think that home fellowships represent the church of the future – as we live in an increasingly volatile and politically correct world.

Related Links:
• The Once and Future Church – MP3 Download
• The Joy of Teaching God’s Word – Free Guide By Chuck Missler
• A Secret of Spiritual Growth – K-House Archives
• Christians Celebrate ‘Simple’ Easter – USA Today
• China’s Easter Offensive Against the Churches – The Washington Times
• Why Beijing’s Largest House Church Refuses to Stop Meeting Outdoors – Christianity Today

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