The Weekly Diner

2012-01-20T21:50:00.002-05:00

The Weekly Dinner - The Fight of Faith

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Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Blessings to you this week!

This week I am asking for your prayers. By the time you get this, I will be with a team on the other side of the world, Lord willing! Pray that God would bless this trip and that His Word would be proclaimed in truth and purity! Hopefully I will be able to post the Diner from where I am, but the time will be very short as we have so much scheduled for the 3 weeks that we will be there! This week our article is by a guest pastor!

May God Bless your week! John R.

THE FIGHT OF FAITH

Dear brothers and sisters in faith,

God’s Peace!

I am sensing within my spirit a burden that I believe is from the Lord, and He is moving me to tell it. The message from the Lord concerns our fight of faith. What I believe concerns our Lord, and ought to concern us, as well, is the fact that many seem to be afraid to confess their faith; both in word and deed.

There are several verses of Scripture the Lord has joined together in my mind that have to do with the confession of our faith. The first is from Paul’s first epistle to Timothy. We read in 1 Tim. 6:12 where Paul gives the following counsel to his young co-worker: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

The reason this counsel was so timely is the context surrounding that verse. The way of life by which Timothy was surrounded was vile, harsh, ungodly, self-centered, self-serving, and in every other way anti-Christian. It is in the midst of this kind of society, Paul was exhorting Timothy to stand strong in the faith. And every one of us knows this is an accurate description of our own society today. No matter what country in which you live the spirit of antichrist is on the rise.
We may not feel the impact of this growing, deepening, strengthening anti-Christian worldview until it begins to impact our own cities, towns, schools, homes, and children. Not long ago at a Bible study in our local congregation, the pastor was saying how many of the young people in the congregation do not dare to confess their faith because of ridicule and rejection from other classmates, and even the class teacher.

That comment brought to my mind two other passages from Scripture. The first is from Luke 18:8 that reads, in part, “…when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” The context of this saying of our Lord is within the parable of the importunate woman whose determination to be avenged of her adversary kept her pleading with the unjust judge until her helped her. Our Lord’s comment at the end of this parable ought to be taken seriously. I believe what God is saying to us through this Holy Spirit inspired Word is for us to not give in to our foe! No matter how much we must suffer from an unbelieving world, let us now cower in fear before them but unceasingly cry unto the Lord to give us boldness and courage.

We are to do this not for our sake; not that we would get some relief or comfort. Rather we do it so that the Lord’s will would prevail; so that the kingdom of God, the kingdom of true light, will begin to transform the lives of those who are opposed to Christ. And it is only as we are “salt” and “light” (Matt. 5:13,14) can we be the vessels through whom Christ can do His transforming work in this world.

The second passage of Scripture the Lord brought to my mind is from Mt. 11:12—“…from the days of John and Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” I honestly have not understood this verse until now. The larger context within which this verse is placed is preceded by the ministry of John and Baptist and succeeded by the ministry of Christ. The point our Lord was making is that both the ministry of repentance and forgiveness is not only necessary but essential. What is meant by “violence” and “violent” in this context is the boldness and courage that is necessary to confront hardness of heart of the “hearers”; not merely the hearers of this parable, but the hearers of our own day. The “violence” or “courage” we need is not the arm of flesh, but the power of the love of God.

We have no choice, as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, but to become more aggressive, courageous, and determined to bring to bear upon our world the truth of the Gospel. Because we know that on the day of judgment every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father,(Phil. 2:10, 11), let us bodly, lovingly, faithfully, and consistently love our “enemies” that they may be drawn to Christ and humble themselves in repentance and faith now in the time of grace when they can be blessed with the assurance of forgiveness, so that when they bow before the Lord on that Final Day, they will bow, not in fear, but in adoration and praise to Him, the Lamb of God who takes away our sins!

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The Foreign Mission · 63 Poor Farm Road · New Ipswich, New Hampshire 03071

2012-01-04T09:24:00.001-05:00

May The Grace Mercy and Peace of God be with each one reading today!

God has given us all a brand New Year in the Lord! We look forward to the New Year with muchhope, anticipation and excitement.

No matter what our lot is life is, I think we all can say that weenjoy new things! Have you watched achild when they get a new toy, a ball, or even a piece of candy! Such happiness and excitement!   Even as adults we might get a new bicycle,phone, or camera which causes us a temporary feeling of happiness.

But then……………… the candy isgone, the toy breaks, the camera falls into a water puddle. In other words life happens. Let us look today at what our Lord says to uswhen we look at life and find it to be wanting.

This same thing happened to all mankind when sin entered the worldso many years ago in the Garden of Eden. Sin entered the world and destruction and death began.

Let’s look into God’s Word:

Revelation: 21: 5   ..... behold, I make all things new!!    Our Lord God Almighty, the one that sitsupon the throne, the one that created all things, says: Behold, I make all things new!

See, God is in the creation business,not in the fix up business. He is notthat type of a God that can only fix the small things, neither is He limited inwhat He can do for us by and through His Son Jesus Christ!

2 Corinth 5:17    Says:  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things arepassed away; behold, all things are become new..

While the devil seeks to destroy andtear down, God creates and recreates! God makes us new creatures in Christ Jesus!   There is no news that is more encouragingthan to know that when we believe by faith in the complete redemptive work ofour Lord Jesus Christ, we have become new!

Dear believing reader today! You are brand new! Go into the New Year, knowing that the faithHe has given is not of ourselves, it isa giftof God.    Therefore we know that it cannot and willnot become old or tarnished! The thingsof God are new and fresh! It is not New Year’s resolutions that willhelp us in the New Year. It is the workof Jesus Christ the makes men new!

I believe this is made so very clear even in the discussion of theold and new covenants.

Hebrews 8:13   Inthat he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that whichdecayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away ……………….

Now we have a new and living way in Christ Jesus!

Hebrews 10:10 says: Bythe which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of JesusChrist once for all.

The old covenant, the old waywould have us to do and live but the new covenant says Live and Do!    Life is in Christ. Whatever we do when we are in Christ, it isbecause of Him allowing us to do as He is working in and through us by thepower of His Holy Spirit! Galatians2:20 I am crucified with Christ:nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which Inow live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, andgave himself for me

This New Year, God wants us to have a new song in our heart! Psalm 98 v 1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hathdone marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him thevictory.

Are you feeling without hope?   Recall to mind the Word of God in Lamentations 3:23   ²¹This I recall to my mind,therefore have I hope. ²²It is of the LORD's mercies that we are notconsumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³They are new everymorning: great is thy faithfulness.   BEHOLD!!!! All things are made new!

Do you have so many trials and cares in life? The Bible has all the answers! 1 Peter 1:6
Whereinye greatly rejoice, though now for a season,if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:       We must look at this life as apreparation for the next, kind of like a baby in the womb of the mother. Our reality in Christ Jesus is eternal life,not so much this temporal life that we now live!

Feelingsoiled by the sins of the past year?

The Lord wants to as said even way back in Ezekiel 18:31 Castaway from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and makeyou a new heart and a new spirit:     TheNew Testament says: James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray onefor another, that ye may behealed.

The One that washes away our sins wants us to hear loud andclear! Behold, I make all things new! He does not want us carrying paid forsins! Jesus shed His blood to wash awayour sins! Let’s believe by faith thatthis is so!

As Christians, we even have a new name! Imagine, even our names are changed! Our name is no longer lost sinner, no longerthe condemned one, or whatever othername that devil has for his people.

Isaiah 62:2 …… and thou shalt be called by a new name,which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

In Revelations Rev 2:17 . We read this: …. Tohim that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him awhite stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth savinghe that receiveth it.

What is your condition today: Areyou going to be appreciating your NEW NAME in this NEW YEAR?    Are you an overcomer, or have you beenovercome?

Have you not yet believed by faith andreceived your new name? Have you notrepented of your sins and unbelief and become totally new in Christ Jesus?

Recently I was in Kenya and there theysing so wonderfully, Jesus is coming soon, coming to take me home!   Come to Jesus, tomorrow you never know!

Are we ready to meet our Lord? If not, allow Him to recreate us in His time,so that we can then say: Come Lord Jesus!

There is coming a day when my Jesus Ishall see!   There will be no moresorrow, sadness, dying, death, or heartache!  All will be new forever!   This iswhat waits eternally for the Redeemed of the Lord!

Have a Blessed New Year!    John R.

2011-12-22T08:40:00.001-05:00

The Weekly Dinner - Christmas Blessings

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Dear Weekly Readers! May God truly grant each of you a most Blessed Christmas Season. I thank you all so much for your prayers for The Foreign Mission of the ALC, our families, churches, leaders, and all of our people! God has blessed us so much by allowing us to share together with you in so many countries around the world! We desire to continue to share the greatest Gift of all, our Lord Jesus Christ!

This week we have first a Christmas prayer from a Christian family, followed by an article from a pastor! Please enjoy! JR

Our Christmas Prayer!
This is our Christmas prayer, we pray that you would find and know the Lord Jesus Christ, not just the baby in a manger or one who heeled the blind, but that this Jesus would become everything to you, your hope in this life and in the life to come. We pray that you are watching with a longing heart for His return and you have great joy and peace in your heart that says "Come Lord Jesus come". The time is short the day of grace is today and if you wait tomorrow it may be too late. We pray that this is not your cry, "Too late too late I waited too late". We pray you would find this gift of God Son and he would be opened into your heart by the preached gospel that your sins are forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. May the gift of God’s His Son, never stops giving, remain yours this Christmas and forever. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
The Sunnarborg’s
Rhinelander, WI

CHRIST, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined..” (Isaiah 9:2)
“…God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ..” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Lights adorn our homes, churches, stores, and streets here in America at Christmas time. Our nation and state capitols celebrate “a lighting of the Christmas tree.” Homes, churches, and stores are decorated. Merchants base their margin of profit for the year on sales during the Christmas season. Many are now saying, “Happy Holidays” and the Christmas trees ought to be called “Holiday trees.” So while on the surface there is much excitement, celebration, and anticipated joy with the exchanging and opening of gifts, there is an emptiness and darkness in the heart. All the lights, tinsel, and toys provide no lasting peace and contentment, for that can be found only in a personal relationship with Christ.

Thank God, He has not yet given up on mankind! The darkness of which the Prophet Isaiah spoke still shrouds the soul and spirit of people all over the world. Mankind has languished in gloom and doom from nearly the dawn of human history. Adam and Eve, believing Satan’s lie, were convinced they not only would have a more complete knowledge of good and evil but would, in fact, become like God (Gen. 3:5). But like an eclipse of the sun at noonday, mankind was plunged into deep darkness.

Nonetheless, we can celebrate because Christ, the Light of the world, is come and has revealed Himself as our Savior-God. John bears witness to this truth in the opening verses of his gospel when he testifies of Christ that “In him was life and the life was the light of men, and the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (Jn. 1:5,6) Almighty God is faced by two powerful strains of resistance in all of mankind to his love. On the one hand, the darkness of unbelief in the humant heart cannot comprehend God’s truth. Rightly has Luther attested to this in his explanation of the Third Article of the Creed when he wrote: “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him.” On the other hand, this formidable obstacle of unbelief in a person is not invincible. Darkness cannot overcome the light because “the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:25). So while we by nature cannot comprehend, grasp, or understand the power and grace of God in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost calls us by the Gospel, as Luther went on to say. Our Almighty God, through the Spirit-empowered proclamation of the Gospel, can shine into our hearts revealing both the darkness within us but, at the same time, the preciousness of life in the Lord Jesus Christ as we are granted grace to realize that our sins are forgiven in the Name and through the power of the blood of our Savior.

Thus in this glorious light, we can live as “children of light” (Eph. 5:8) in the darkness of this world. And it is as such children of light that those living in darkness can be drawn to the Light of Christ and they will become light-bearers, as well! So may this Christmas Light so shine that men will see the presence of Christ in us and through us; all to the glory of God!

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

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The Foreign Mission · 63 Poor Farm Road · New Ipswich, New Hampshire 03071

2011-11-23T08:40:00.001-05:00

Dear Weekly Readers! God's Blessings to you!

In the USA, tomorrow is the day that each year all of us stop and give thanks to the Lord for all of our blessings! Please pray that our people would really understand in our hearts that all good things come from our Father in Heaven that loved us so much that He gave His only Son so that we could have life! Salvation through Jesus Christ is by far the biggest blessing of all!

Please also pray for strength and inspiration of the Holy Spirit as myself and 3 others go to Africa on a trip to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We depart in just a few days. Please pray!

Very recently, a dear Pastor friend of mine and so many others here in the USA passed away. I decided to use and article written by him for our article for this week! Pastor Alvin now has his reward, and I know that it was his desire that people would come to know Jesus as their Saviour!

LIFE AND LIBERTY

Jesus said that He had come so that we might have life, and

that we might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). He gave

the promise to His disciples that if they would continue in His

Word, they would know the truth and the truth would make

them free (John 8:31-32).

The blessings of true life and Christian liberty are unknown

to the world. Yet the unbeliever thinks that he is leading an

enjoyable life and is a free person. He is satisfied with his life

when it fulfills purely human desires, whether those desires are

the evil lusts of our lower nature or the attainment of certain

exalted goals which are held in esteem in the world. He thinks

he is free and capable of directing his daily affairs. The quality

of his life is based on his own personal success or failure.

Generally the unbeliever considers the believer as being

under some peculiar sort of bondage which deprives him

of life’s enjoyments. Little does he realize that it is he who is not free but is under

such confining bondage that he has not even begun to experience

the true pleasures of life. He is not aware that his very

attitude is evidence of the fact that he is a bond-servant of

Satan, sold under the power of sin (Romans 7:14).

He disregards the teachings of Scripture which show that by the offense

of one—Adam—judgment has come upon all men unto condemnation

(Romans 5:18). This does not mean that all men are

totally indifferent to the will of God and openly, by overt deeds,

or even secretly, transgress His Law without concern. Still, we

all carry the seed of original or inherited sin; this is the source

of all actual sin.

Under the Bible light, which shows that the

Law of God is spiritual and requires absolute obedience, all

men must forfeit any form of self-defense and stand silent and

guilty before God (Matthew 5:21-22, 31-32, Romans 3:19).

The true and abundant life spoken of by Jesus begins only

when we have become new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians

5:17). In this experience we are led to despair of all our own

efforts to please God; we cease laboring to obtain righteousness

by the fulfillment of the Law (Romans 7:4). We die to the Law

(or to our own works) and become united with Christ so that

His life is formed in us (Galatians 2:20). We have become

partakers of His resurrection, and thereby obtain the life that

our Lord calls abundant (Romans 6:5).

In this new life, we enjoy a freedom of heart and conscience that enables us to have

fellowship with God as His children (Romans 8:15, 1 John 1:3).

In this exalted fellowship we live in Christ (Acts 17:28),

having already been made partakers here in this world of the

gift of eternal life (Colossians 1:27). God's love has taken

possession of our hearts (1 John 4:19).

We can come freely to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) and we may also have

boldness in the day of judgment (1 John 4:17). Fear has been

cast out (1 John 4:18) and we rejoice because there is no

condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not

after the flesh but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1).

Our ties to Christ are not bonds against our will as supposed

by the unsaved, but the strong cords of Christ's love

which are stronger than death, for many waters cannot quench

it, neither can the floods drown it (Song of Solomon 8:7).

This glorious liberty which we have in Christ enables us to say with

Simon Peter, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words

of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that

Christ, the Son of the living God. (John 6:68-69)

As free children of God, we exclaim with St. Paul, For to me

to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

Pastor Alvin Holmgren

2011-10-25T08:52:00.002-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers! God’sPeace!

Words are so very important. Onesmall good word can encourage a brother. Likewise, one small evil word can do much destruction. Let us always be careful of the words weuse. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out ofyour mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may ministergrace unto the hears.

The below article by Pastor Wayne Juntunen gives a different but wonderfulexample of how very small words can change the meaning and importance of thesubject being communicated!

Please enjoy, and my God Bless your week!

OURCOVENANT KEEPING GOD

Dear precious brothers and sisters in Christ,the Lord opened mine eyes to see something from His Word I had never seenbefore. Yes, I have read the passagemany times, but have not really “seen” the importance of a single word in theverse that is so important that it changes the emphasis of the entire eventwhich it describes. It is the littleword “it” in Joshua 4:7. God had givenspecific instructions to Joshua as to the manner by which His people with whomHe had made His covenant were to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. There are many significant details in thisevent that are worthy to note. But theone that struck me this morning as I was reading the passage is a part of verse7 in chapter 4. The phrase is as follows: “…the waters of Jordan were cut off beforethe ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan…”

As often as I have read that verse, withoutthinking, I have put the emphasis upon the people so as to believe the waterswere cut when the people passed over. But that is not what the Bible says! It says, “the waters were cut off before the ark of the Lord when it passed over Jordan.” That “it” does not refer to the people, butto the ark! As surely as soon as thefeet of the priests touched the flood waters of the Jordan, the waters parted;not because of the priests, but because they bore the ark. God had given the instructions as to how thecrossing was going to be possible, but it was the presence of the ark thatcreated the effect. Why is this so important? Simply and clearly it shows us that in God’swork of salvation, the emphasis is always upon what He has done, is doing, andwill do!

Yes, it is true that the twelve stones takenup from the dry river bed of the Jordan by a representative of each of thetwelve tribes was to be set up as a memorial to future generations to testifythat the Lord God “…dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over. (Josh. 4:21). But that testimony referred to the effect orresult of the fact that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of thecovenant of the LORD; when it passedover Jordan. Without the presence andpower of “the Ark”, Israel would never have made it into the Promised Land!

That Ark, as we all know, was the Ark of theCovenant that God instructed Moses to make and into which were place the TenCommandments and upon which was the lid known as “the mercy seat” (Ex. 25:17-22). The Epistle to the Hebrews in chapter 8 – 10points us forward to Christ who is the fulfillment of God’s covenant. Therefore, we know this Old Testament Ark wasa “type of Christ.” He is the Author andFinisher of our salvation. It is becauseof Him and Him alone that we are not only saved but in and through whom we havelife in abundance here, now, and forever!

God is faithful! He has kept and continues to keep Hiscovenant. He puts no confidence in theflesh. Not only has He begun the goodwork, within us but will continue to bring it to completion within us until we,too, cross over the Jordan of our death into the Promised Land of eternalglory. All of this is because of Hisgrace. As Paul writes in his Epistle tothe Romans, where sin abounds, grace much more abounds (Rom. 5:20).

Our response is the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26). God has perfected his marvelous gracethroughout the ages having spoken in these last days through Christ’ssuffering, death, and resurrection. Hehas fulfilled and kept his covenant promises. But if we do not take Him at His Word, all that He has promised andfinished will be of no benefit to us. How dramatically did God show His power as the Ark stopped the ragingflood waters of the Jordan. Had Israelfeared the waters and not trusted God’s Ark, they would have never known the richesof His abundant blessing He had in store for them. Has He not shown His power even more dramaticallyon Calvary’s Cross and the Garden tomb through the death and resurrection ofour Lord?

God’s love for fallen mankindhas never faltered or failed. His loveis stronger than death! Dear reader,trust Him and sing, “Jesus love me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” Then live in the power of that truth and walkby faith!

Pr. Wayne Juntunen

2011-10-19T15:17:00.005-04:00

THE CROSS OF CHRIST

Whatdo we think and feel about the cross of Christ?
Thisweek I want to examine what one of the greatest and most notable Christians whoever lived thought of the cross of Christ.
Wecan read about what Paul thought on this important question by readingGalatians 6:14 But God forbid the I shouldglory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…..

Soindividually I would like to ask each of you, "What do you think about thecross of Christ?"

Paulbegins our text by saying God Forbid. In other words: God, do not let this happen, or : God, allowme to NEVER Forget, or: God, stop me from glorying in something else,other than the cross of Jesus.
Theseare such strong words from Paul!

Accordingto how the world sees things, Paul could have boasted about so many things, buthe did not.
Hecould have boasted about his national privileges. He was aHebrew of Hebrews. He could have boastedhe comes through his forefather Abraham, being in the right tribe, born in theright place, at the right time, etc.
Hecould have boasted in his own works, because he did so manythings, even healings and wonderful missionary journeys. He could have boasted in his knowledge, as hewas schooled under the best teacher of his era.   He could have boasted in his graces. He was so loving, he was self-denying,so prayerful, so thankful.

Henever boasted in his churchmanship. Hestarted so many churches; he was a great church leader.
Hecould have gloried in his own personal conversion which was so exceptional thatwe read about it in the Holy Bible even today.

IfPaul said, "God forbid that I should boast in anything whatever except thecross," should I dare to say, I have something to boast of? I am abetter man than Paul?
Oh, let us beware of self-righteousness!   Bethankful, never boasting in ourselves!

1^st Corinth 2:2 For I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christand him crucified.

WhenPaul talks about the cross in this way, he was referring to the doctrinethat Christ died for sinners upon the cross.   This is what Paul is speaking about! The Doctrine of atonement, blood shed forsin! The Doctrine of substitution, where we do not have to die and go to hell,because Jesus died for us!
Heis speaking about the doctrine that says as in Col 1:14    In whom we have redemption through Hisblood, even the forgiveness of sins. (also in Eph. 1:7)

Heis speaking about the fact the “without the shedding of blood there is noremission of sins.”   He istalking about the fact that God so loved the world that He GAVE His onlybegotten Son! John 3:16
Heis talking about the “ Lamb of God that takes away the sin of theworld.”   This is the Cross ofJesus Christ that Paul is referring to when he says he desires to Glory in nothingelse!

Apowerful verse says: ( 1 Corinth 1:18)    For the preaching of the cross is to themthat perish foolishness, but unto us which believe it is the power of God!

Whata revelation when we can see the cross as the POWER OF GOD! The Love of God! Our Salvation! O what power it is!

TheCross was in evidence before time:   In Revelations 13:8 … Lamb Slain from the Foundation ofthe World In Titus 1:2 Inhope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie, promised before the worldbegan.

The Crossin Sacrificial Symbolism: Readthe story of the Passover! What a picture! Read about the sacrificing of the Lambs in the temple…. Right down tothe water and blood flowed from the side of the temple just as they flowed fromJesus side.

The Crossis Life for us! 1 John5 11-12 And this is the record, that Godhath given to us eternal life, and this life is His Son. He that hath the Sonhath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. READ2 Corinth 5 :14-15! You will see life!

The Blood Cleanses: Isaiah 1:18 Come let us reason together saith the Lord, though your sins be asscarlet they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, theyshall be as wool!

The Crossmakes the believers exempt from judgment. Romans 8:1 … No condemnation Rev 2:11.. He that overcometh shall not behurt of the second death. Rev.20:6 …on such the second death hath NOPOWER.

The Cross gives us Power over sin: Romans 6:6 …Old man crucified with him, that the body ofsin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

The Cross is the subject Paul loved to preachabout, and it is the subject he loved to dwell upon when he wrote tobelievers.
This is what Paul lived upon all his life,from the time of his conversion. He tells the Galatians, "The life that I now live inthe flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himselffor me." (Galat. 2:20.)

Maywe rest assured that Paul was right. Depend upon it, the cross of Christ—thedeath of Christ on the cross to make atonement for sinners—is the center truthin the whole Bible.
Letus not forget that all Christ'ssufferings on the cross were fore-ordained. He wascrucified "by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God."(Acts 2:23.)

Donot forget that Christ'ssufferings on the cross were necessary for man's salvation.He had to bear our sins, if ever they were to be borne at all. “byHis stripes we are healed.”

Do not forget that Christ'ssufferings were endured voluntarily Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, butdelivered him up for us all…..

How can we love sin, when we remember that becauseof our sins Jesus died?
The Cross of Christ is the only place in the historyof the entire world that we can see where the Saviour of Mankind, the Diety,dies for the sinner, for the disciple!    In all the other world religions, man has to do things to please theDiety. That is why Christianity is aFAITH, not a religion and it is set apart by the Cross of Jesus, by the factthe it is all done for us by Christ!

The cross is the strength of a minister and the entire church! . 1Corinth 1:18    For the preaching of thecross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which believe it is thepower of God!
Are you living in anykind of sin? Areyou inquiring the way toward heaven? Are you a distressed believer? Are you dying from a disease or cancer? Jesus Christ won the victory over death, hell, and the power of thedevil upon the cross!

Now I ask you again, What you think now about the cross ofChrist?

May you and I both saytogether… "God forbid that I should boast—except in the cross of our LordJesus Christ!

2011-10-04T11:55:00.000-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers!

Let us remember one another in prayer throughout this week!

Again this week I have typed out a tract that has been usedin our church in the USA! You can feelfree to print and pass it out as you see fit. Also, if any of you feel inspired to write aSpiritual article, please email it to me at foreignmission@comcast.net

May God Bless your week!

Problems Too Great to Carry?

Many times in life our problems and cares in the world causeus great concern and worry. We try to make our own way, and do it allourselves.

The Bible teaches us, “Cast all your cares upon Him (Jesus), forHe cares for you.” (Peter 5:7).

Jesus said, “Take therefore nothought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things ofitself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt. 6:34)

The Lord shows us that “Allthings are possible with God” and that “Whatsoever you askin Jesus’ name, believing, the Father shall give unto you.” How important, therefore, thatwe bring all our problems, cares and concerns to the Father in prayer inJesus’ name.

The greatest burden which we often carry is the guilt of ourown wrongdoings toward men of God, and the consequences of them, which theBible calls sin. It is written, “Letus lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us… Lookingunto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” (Heb. 12:12)

The consequences of in are twofold; The chastisement of theLord and death, “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Heb. 12:6). “The wages of sin is death; but the gift ofGod is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Remember the loving Saviour who looked down from the crossand prayed, saying, “Father forgive them for they know not whatthey do.” If you sins in this world are burdening you, may youby the grace of God bring them to Jesus, in repentance, that by faith you mayreceive the assurance of the forgiveness of all your sins through Jesus’ nameand blood.

God had given such power unto the disciples to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins inHis name beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke24:47)

2011-09-28T16:34:00.001-04:00

The Mystery and Miracle of New Birth

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must beborn again” John 3:7

There are many mysteries and miracles recorded in the Bible.The most important to our salvation is new birth, a spiritual birth throughJesus Christ. The importance of new birth cannot be overstated.

Jesus said, “…except a man beborn again he cannot see the kingdom of God” John 3:3, and “…Verily, verily, Isay unto thee, except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enterinto the kingdom of God” John 3:5

New birth is a mystery to those who have not experienced it.Nicodemus, a learned member of the Jewish Sanhedrin asked Jesus, “…Howcan a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into hismother’s womb, and be born?” John 3:4. Likewise, in our fallen state, weconsidered new birth a mystery.

We may have asked in our hearts, “How would it be possiblefor such a wayward and self-willed person as I am to be so favored by God as toexperience new birth?” We may have evenseen and wondered how other hardhearted men had been miraculously broken andconverted to Christ.

New birth is a miracle to those of us who, by the grace ofGod, have experienced it. We have feltthe calling of the Holy Spirit, convicting us of our sinfulness and felt theburden of sin on our conscience. We have cried out with broken heart,confessing and asking forgiveness and hearing a servant of God assuring us thatour sins are forgiven in Jesus’ Name and shed blood. WE have then felt amiraculous release and a cleansing of the soul. Thus, while in our fallen statewe pondered the mystery of this new birth, we now marvel at the miracle.

The need for new birth is a subject which is avoided by mostpeople. It is most difficult for man to confront and confess hissinfulness. Some view new birth as agradual transition or as a learning experience. Others think that it can come about without repentance, confession, andremission of sins.

The Bible teaches otherwise. It clearly states that theremust be a repentance or Godly sorrow for sin. Jesus said, “…exceptye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”Luke 13:3

Confession of sin is also vital. “If we confess our sins He isfaithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from allunrighteousness”, 1 John 1:9

Also, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for oneanother, that ye may be healed” James 5:16. Remission of sins must be received and believed. Jesus said to hisfollowers, “Whose soever sins ye remit, that are remittedunto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, that are retained” John20:23.

In Romans we read “For with the heart man believeth untorighteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” Romans10:10

We have been given this great miracle of new birth andsalvation by our loving God who did not spare His only Son from the deathpenalty for sin on our behalf. So then if we believe in Him we need not perish,but have everlasting life.

May we thank and praise Him for this great personal gift andremain faithful and obedient unto His Holy Word.

God’s Peace! Al Wuori

The Awakening Call

2011-09-20T10:56:00.000-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers!

This week our dinner article is a little different. This is actually a tract for hand out! This was written by one of our pastors some years back. I thought I would share it with you. Perhaps you may want to print it off and hand it out to people you see in your villages. As we know, the acceptable day of grace is today! O that all sinners would repent and believe during the time of grace, rather than wait until the Lord comes again when it will be too late! May God Bless your week!
John R.

The Awakening Call

Everyone of us has at one time or another experienced some type of awakening call during the course of our lifetime. A Typical awakening for everyone each day is the awakening from sleep. Some hear the call of a parent or loved one informing them f the time to get up. Many must be reminded or called several times before getting up. Others jump up at the first call and are ready to start the day. Those who have no one call them must depend on alarm clocks, or perhaps by a telephone call when lodging at some inn while traveling. Even this type of call has its problems. People just hate to get up, so they will shut the alarm off or press a doze button to delay getting up.

There are, of course, other ways by which we are awakened to a need or some situation. Our automobiles at times will catch our attention when the engine begins to sputter and our glance at the fuel gauge reveals that we are out of gas. How about the siren and blinking lights of a traffic patrol reminding us of our speed? What about the past due notices we receive in the mail? They sure get our attention, don’t they? Well, we could go on and on, and I’m sure you get my point. This happens all too often in our secular lives. But what about our spiritual lives? Is there such a thing as an ”awakening call” from God?

If so, how does it come about and what purpose does it serve, you may ask? I suppose to one who has never heard the story of the creation or has just refused to give it his or her attention, it has no meaning. In spite of this, there really is such a call for His Word tells us that He doesn’t want any of us to perish (2ndPeter 3:9). The purpose of this call is to awaken you to the solemn fact that it is appointed for men once to die but after this the judgment (Heb 9:27), and in so doing get your attention. God wants you to know that we are sinners and that the wages of sin is death.

It is true that everyone must meet with a physical death because of the inherited sin of Adam and Eve. To the one who has forgotten the natural man’s destiny, it has a grim reminder. Once God has your attention and reveals to you your sinful condition, He also wants to let your know that there is hope for you to change your situation. The hope is in His Son, Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Isn’t this Good News to the one who has been awakened from this horrible nightmare of a condemned sinner? The life in store for this sinner who ignores God’s call or scoffs at this call is by no means desirable for it entails eternity with the devil and his angels in the lake of fire. The fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, ad whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death ((Rev 21:8).

The mechanism that trips the alarm of God’s awakening call in a man’s heart and mind if theWORD OF GOD. He wants to be heard with this message delivered to the Hebrews: The word of god is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit , and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12). Where and when does one get stricken by this word? This is a mystery that has no ready answer.

There are many factors which govern this answer. Some have been on the verge of suicide, and by picking up and reading a tract have been smitten by the “sword of the spirit,” which is the Word of God. One departed preacher told of his mother’s convicting words coming to him during a card game which led him to repentance. Others have heard the witness of a child of God or disciple of Christ. Perhaps some tragedy has taken away a loved one and at the funeral service the message delivered God’s convicting sword. God works in mysterious ways.

Whichever way God chooses to awaken you, dear friend, take heed. This is the first step in God’s plan of salvation. In other words, God is placing the conviction of sin into your heart to test your reaction. Is His word going to pierce your hard heart? The two-edged sword wants to break your heart to provide good ground in order that God’s Word would find a lodging place. This is a desirable condition for now the “Sower of the seed” (Matt 13) may be able to plant the seed of hope into your troubled heart. It is now that you need the absolving word of reconciliation to be preached to your listening ears and troubled heart. You need to find the “Keeper of the keys” of the kingdom of God.

These are the members of the royal priesthood who have received the keys of binding and loosing and the authority to use them (Matt 16:19). You see, they too, have heard the Good News, and have had their troubled and evil consciences cleansed with the blood of Christ contained in the Gospel message declared unto them. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples after His resurrection: whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them: and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained(until such time they repent) (John 20:23). In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus instructed His disciples that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47).

May God, our Heavenly Father, awaken those sinners receiving His call to their needs of a savior in these latter and crucial times. Have you received God’s awakening call? If God is calling you, why not answer the call by seeking the Lord while He can be found. Are you aware of the time on God’s time clock? In the days of Apostle Paul, He gave the Romans this warning. Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof (Rom. 13:11-14). May He speak to your heart.

Pastor Rueben O Peterson

The Weekly Diner

2011-09-07T10:35:00.000-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

I am happy to report that the group of missionaries that the Foreign Mission of the ALC sent to Russia has safely returned home yesterday!

All such trips take much overcoming of obstacles! Still we desire to be obedient to our Lord when He said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Furthermore, we know what our Lord has saved us from, and we from His great Love, desire to share with others around the world!

The following very short article by Charles Spurgeon is an encouragement for all, both the missionaries and the ones whose needs are being addressed!

Please enjoy, and may God Bless your week!

"And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay."
Mark 2:4

Faith is full of inventions. The house was full, a crowd blocked up the door, but faith found a way of getting at the Lord and placing the palsied man before him. If we cannot get sinners where Jesus is by ordinary methods we must use extraordinary ones.

It seems, according to Luke 5:19, that a tiling had to be removed, which would make dust and cause a measure of danger to those below, but where the case is very urgent we must not mind running some risks and shocking some proprieties.

Jesus was there to heal, and therefore fall what might, faith ventured all so that her poor paralysed charge might have his sins forgiven. O that we had more daring faith among us! Cannot we, dear reader, seek it this morning for ourselves and for our fellow-workers, and will we not try today to perform some gallant act for the love of souls and the glory of the Lord.

The world is constantly inventing; genius serves all the purposes of human desire: cannot faith invent too, and reach by some new means the outcasts who lie perishing around us? It was the presence of Jesus which excited victorious courage in the four bearers of the palsied man: is not the Lord among us now? Have we seen his face for ourselves this morning? Have we felt his healing power in our own souls?

If so, then through door, through window, or through roof, let us, breaking through all impediments, labour to bring poor souls to Jesus. All means are good and decorous when faith and love are truly set on winning souls. If hunger for bread can break through stone walls, surely hunger for souls is not to be hindered in its efforts.

O Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching thy poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at all hazards.

Charles Spurgeon

Come ye to the waters!

2011-08-16T14:52:00.000-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers!

The prayers of the Christians in the USA are with you again this week!
It is so wonderful that when we read God’s Word and we see very clearly see that there will be people in Heaven from…….. all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands; Revelations 7:9

What a day that will be when our Saviour we see in that beautiful city of gold!

Today let us look into the Old Testament. We will look at just a few short parts of Isaiah 55. Isaiah was such a wonderful writer and such a great prophet.

Leading up to this chapter 55 in Isaiah, The 53rd chapter is very much a prophecy of Jesus that was to come when it says the He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief ..V3…… Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; V4 and so forth.

The 54th chapter is promises for the children of Israel, God’s children. V 14 Says in righteousness shalt thou be established; etc.

The 55th chapter is Gospel (Christ) and an evangelistic chapter. The whole Bible ties together so wonderfully, and Isaiah is surely no exception.

This chapter begins with the word HO! In other words, pay attention, listen carefully! In our country we might say, hey! Listen! Everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.. Do you find yourself thirsty for God’s word?

Do you find yourself in need of God’s word and what Jesus has to offer? If so, the good news is you have a very blessed invitation! COME! COME ye to the waters! Come and drink!

What and where are the waters found? In John 7: v 37 & 38 Jesus said. If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Now we know where to find the living water! By believing in Christ Jesus by faith, we come to the water! Come without money and without price.
There is nothing that we pay, nothing we must accomplish in order to merit salvation. There is no amount of work that we can do, no amount of religious penance that we can pay, no amount of making pilgrimages to certain religious sites that will help us to be redeemed!

The living water is without price because it is so valuable that it is priceless. There is no price high enough that would begin to approach what salvation through Jesus Christ is worth! This is truly the pearl of great price, this salvation through Jesus Christ.

This living water, which is the Holy Spirit, (John 7:39) that is ever flowing for the believer!

Notice that is says if you have no money come, buy and eat. How can we buy without money? In our life here on earth that seems impossible. If we buy, we must have money. Here it says, buy without money. We must remember that our redemption has already been paid for by Jesus Christ suffering and shedding His precious blood for us. It is Finished, Jesus cried from the cross! The price has been paid in full! It is free for the thirsty sinner, but it was a very expensive price that was paid by Jesus.

How great love the Father has shown unto us when He sent His only Son to die for us sinners! He sent His only Son to die so we can live! What a great price was paid! Now this is offered to everyone that thirsts!

Come! Come! Come to Jesus while He is near. We wants to give Life and Life more abundantly!

Verse 3 says, Incline your ear and come unto me: Do not come to show your face, come to listen. Come to hear! So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17
What a wonderful promise of grace fulfilled if we are thirsty, we come to the waters (Jesus), we incline our ear (listen), and we hear! Then v 3 says, and your soul shall live!

Could there be a more clear and simple gospel message written? And to think this was written hundreds of years before Christ! What a good, merciful and loving God we have that would love his people so much as to allow these glimpses of His love and plan! Long before Jesus came, as well as now to us so many years after His work on the cross has been completed, Jesus is calling Come!

Dear Sinner, and we are all sinners, gone like sheep to our own way. If you are thirsty today, what a blessing this truly is! If we come, listen, hear, seek, then His promises for us are so true! Matthew 7:7 …see, and ye shall find…

Verse 12 of this ch 55 of Isaiah explains the real life application and results of the promise and reality made to all those that are obedient to the call! For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace;

Believe today dear reader, in the wonderful saving work of Jesus Christ!

May God Bless your week!
John R.

Keeping the Faith

2011-08-09T16:40:00.002-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Blessings to you this week!

By Faith are we saved! We know this from scripture. The below article is about keeping this most important substance of all! Please enjoy this article written by Pastor Ron Holmgren! JR

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all
your things be done with charity. 1 Corinthians 16:13-1

Closing remarks of a letter or message sometimes can be overlooked. We have heard the contents of this letter and have taken note of them. We try to conform or use
the information to better ourselves, and this is good.

But Paul here would not leave to us just a list of marching orders. He knows how important it is that everything he has written in the letter must be shored up with a foundation that will stand in the testing of the future. He gives us five imperatives. They are given to protect us from falling away from the faith.

I have used some thoughts from RCC Lenski, from his commentary on this
passage of Scripture. Paul would have us be watchful. We must keep our eyes open and be on guard so that we would not be surprised by the things that would erode our faith.

We are to stand fast in "the faith," not like a dead post driven into the ground but like a tree that has roots and lives.
We are to act like men. This attribute of men is used for all of us. Men, women and children are to live this way. We can take our place in the family of God with the assurance of one
who would not give the enemy any quarter to destroy our faith.

Be strong; show strength! We are not helpless in this faith. We are offered all that we need for the walk of faith. Our bodies need food and water to be able to continue doing our tasks.

So, too, have we been given the nourishment for our faith.
Keeping "the faith" requires watchfulness, firmness, manliness, and strength. But it also requires love. This fruit always comes after faith.
Never separated, but always following faith, is love. Faith produces love; not the opposite.

God bless us and give us these attributes to keep us walking in faith. This faith has an object, and it is Christ Jesus Himself.

Pastor Ron Holmgren
Hockinson, Washington

Stewardship

2011-08-09T16:40:00.000-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers!

This week we will feature an article written by a great missionary that many of you know, Alvar Helmes! Please enjoy!

May God Bless your week!

Stewardship

The word "stewardship" is derived from the word "steward." The dictionary definition of "steward" is: a person morally responsible for the careful use of money, time, talents, and resources, especially with respect to the principles or needs of a community or group.

This word has regularly been used in Christian circles (and with good reason) referencing how we should be good stewards of our money, time, talents, and resources in serving the Lord. As a group of churches, we must collectively be good stewards of these gifts from God. The time, talents, and resources perhaps are easier to understand and carry out than the issue of money.

Time: God created time and we are stewards of it; this is the most precious resource we have. We need to order our time according to God's purposes and values, or redeem the time wisely as Ephesians 5:15-16 says: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

We can all understand how time impacts us and how easy it is to waste the time that God has allotted to us. Too often we find ourselves involved in pursuits that are not beneficial to the kingdom of God here on earth, or to our wellbeing. Of course we need time for relaxation and exercise that is beneficial to us, and we spend time caring for and supporting our families and maintaining our homes, but we can all, I'm sure, think of incidents in our lives when we have later thought that what we did was surely a surely a waste of time, and more beneficial things could have been done.

Talents: The talents we possess have been given to also be used for His kingdom. The talents have not been given to us equally, but no matter what talent God has given us, it should be used for His glory. It doesn't matter if our talents are used on simple tasks or on more complicated ones. They are to somehow be used in the furtherance of the kingdom of God according to the abilities and capabilities given to us. It is for each one of us to be aware of the talents that we have and to use them beneficially in His work here on earth. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Resources: In addition to the resource of time, God has also given us other resources to draw upon in this life. These could be things that lie ready for use or can be drawn upon in time of need. We also have what are commonly known as "inner resources" that provide a source of strength or ability within ourselves, sometimes beyond what we thought we even possessed. It is something we turn to in critical times of need, praying to seek from Him as written in Ephesians 3:20-21: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Money: And finally we come to the issue of money, which is the most difficult to deal with. Somehow it hits a sensitive spot with us when it is discussed as a need in the church so that God's work can be carried on. We can think that whatever money we have earned is ours to do with as we please—we worked hard for it; therefore, we'll spend it as we wish. But this is not the biblical expression of the use of money.

In the Old Testament, the Jews were obligated to give the firstfruits of their labor (literally their money) to the priest in the temple (house of the Lord). It is commonly thought that this amounted to ten percent.

The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. (Exodus 23:19)

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. (Proverbs 3:9)

The firstfruits in the biblical sense of the Old Testament is the first produce, the first receipts of labor, the first income that one receives in the year. It is the fruit of our labor before it is committed or applied elsewhere. In other words, giving financially to the Lord's work should be the first item considered. In a sense, the firstfruits can be considered to be a form of tithing.

The New Testament is silent on the amount of tithes that a Christian should be giving to the church. Romans 12:8 says ...he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (or liberally). In other words, giving should be done willingly, not grudgingly.

Giving to the Lord's work should be done thankfully, always considering the blessings that God has bestowed on our lives.

The biggest "giver" of blessings was God Himself. John 3:16 reads: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...

Where would we be today without the gift of the Son? Where would we go for consolation when needed? Where would we go for help in our trials and temptations? The true Christian values God and His Word above all things. We express that value by bringing the fruit of our labor, whether it's called firstfruits or tithe, to the Lord.

...He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

Alvar Helmes
Battle Ground, Washington

Grace Greater than our Sin

2011-08-09T16:39:00.000-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers!

As you know my time is very tight while on this journey visiting churches here in America. Therefore, I am calling upon articles written by friends in the faith! Today our article is by brother David Impola! May God Bless you all this week! John R.

"Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt... Points to the refuge, the mighty cross… Whiter than snow you may be today… Will you this moment His grace receive? Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace that is greater than all our sin."
(Julia H. Johnston)

A s the selected lines from the song "Grace Greater than Our Sin" express, our God is ready to pardon and His grace is immeasurable. As one precious brother in Christ said, "It is
not the enormity of a man's sin that condemns him, but the rejection of God's grace condemns him."

The devil likes to go fishing in the sea of grace to dredge up our past sins, to cause
us to be discouraged and lose our focus on Jesus Christ. The devil has only one purpose toward the children of God. As Jesus makes known: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy... But Jesus reassures us: ...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

May we rejoice and praise God for the revelation of Jesus Christ in saving us
from our sin. Apostle Paul says, That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

When we comprehend God's love, it motivates us to reach out to others with the desire that they, too, would come to know His love. God has comforted us not for our comfort alone, but
also that we would be comforters to others in need. The blessings we receive from God, we pass on to others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 instructs us in this way: Who comforteth us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

By grace may our faith be exercised in the milk and meat of His Word. Apostle Peter has good instruction for us as Christians: According as his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that
by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and
to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness
charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8)

"O happy day when we shall stand, amid the heavenly throng, and sing with hosts from every land the new celestial song, the new celestial song." (Wilhelm A. Wexels)

Constrained by the love of God,
Dave Impola
Everett, Washington

The Weekly Diner

2011-06-15T17:52:00.007-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers!
God’s Peace!
This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. We were able to commemorate in our services about the wonderful event that took place about 2000 years ago, when the Holy Spirit came to 3000 souls in one day on that first Pentecost day.
In our lives as Christian today, we are led by this same Holy Spirit of God that came down, and has filled the heart of each repentant person when they have believed! Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
I love how God’s word is so sure and so solid. Notice that it says SHALL receive the gift of the Holy Ghost upon repenting and believing in the name of Jesus for remission of sins! We are grafted in, we are in Christ and He in us!

Again in Acts it says:
Acts 3:19 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
We can again see that repentance is essential. Mankind must repent of his sins, and believe the Gospel, and then shall the refreshing of the Holy Spirit of God come to dwell in the heart.

This infilling of the Holy Spirit that we commemorate this time of year is not only an historical event, it is who we are in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is only by the power of the Holy Ghost that we are able to do or say anything that is good and acceptable in sight of God.
1st Corinthians 12 v 3 ……: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Here God’s Word sets us straight on where our strength lies; it is in the power of the Holy Ghost, the third person of the God Head! This Holy Ghost is made available to us by and through the completed work of our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus made the promise that He would send the Holy Ghost, and what our Lord Jesus promises, He will do!

Now our Lord Jesus invites us to come as thirsty beggars seeking Him!

John 7 Verse 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

When Jesus was here on earth, He was not yet glorified. Now that Jesus has suffered, bled, died, and arose victorious over sin, death, hell, and the power of the devil, He has opened the way for us! He is risen to heaven, is glorified, and has sent the comforter, the Holy Ghost to dwell within those that have truly repented and believed!

Dear reader, if you have not repented yet, or have not stopped and turned from sinful ways, do so today! Call upon the Lord while He is near! Repent and turn to the Lord! Call out for mercy and forgiveness, and you will be assured by a Christian and from God’s Word, that by the name and blood of Jesus Christ, you can believe that your sins are forgiven and blotted out!

The promises of our Lord are perfect and true for all that truly repent and turn to Jesus! You Shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! You shall Never Thrist again, because out of your belly shall flow rivers of Living water!

Dear Christian who may be reading this, be encouraged to keep sharing God’s Holy Word with those you come in contact with. The time is short, the day is far spent! Many people die each day without Jesus as their Saviour. It is very urgent that they hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the salvation of their souls!

May God Bless your week!

John R. FM Administrator

The Weekly Diner

2011-05-25T14:21:00.005-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

I will endeavor to write a few words for the Diner myself this week. Starting next week, I will be traveling throughout the USA for two months. I will surely attempt to keep an article coming to you each week, but prayerfully they will be written by other willing writers, since my time will be very scarce! The reason for the trip is to raise awareness of what The Foreign Mission of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America is involved in around the world. We are so thankful that God has seen fit to use us for His Service. Therefore, we want to share what God is doing around the world with others in the USA. We do so with the prayer that more people here in the USA will join us in the effort to bring the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to all people!

We know that all of the spreading of the Word that God wants done, will get done. We just want to be willing servants, ready to be used as tools in His workshop! We totally rely upon our Lord for strength to go on and for the faith to believe. We desire to give all honor and glory unto Him!

This week I went to the funeral of an 85-year-old man. At the funeral, a story was told about what this man’s great-grandson. This little boy had been playing when he overheard his mother talking about the coming death of her grandpa.

The little boy came running and asked, “Does your grandpa believe that Jesus died on the cross for his sins?”
The little boy’s mother told him, “Yes, he does.”

With that the boy let out a big “whew” (a sigh of relief), and went back to play!
The only thing that little Christian boy needed to hear was that grandpa believed that Jesus died for his sins. That boy knew that this meant that grandpa would be going to heaven where everything is joy and happiness forever! Oh the faith of a child!

I pray that each one reading this today would also know that we are saved because Jesus died on the cross for us! Our sin debt is paid in full! The work is over; it is finished; it is accomplished.

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Colossians 1:20

The important example that this elderly man left us was that a person needs to believe by faith in this life! We need to be reconciled during this time of grace, to believe the Jesus suffered, bled, died, and rose again for our justification. Do you believe this, dear reader? Prayerfully you do, but if you don’t, then you still have time. The Lord has allowed the world to keep going on; therefore, today if you hear His voice, call upon the Lord! “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

We know that these days are truly the last times; evil, sin, wickedness, death and destruction are all around us. Furthermore, we do not know how many more days each of us has left upon this earth—even if the earth should still stand for another thousand years! It is up to us to watch and be ready for the Great I AM to come calling! “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24: 42
We have a song that we sing in English that goes: He is coming again! In power and great glory, He is coming again!

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18
“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4: 15-16
Let us all share about this Jesus, for we know that Scripture says: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

May God bless your week!
John Ruotsala, FM Administrator

Planters and Waterers

2011-05-10T10:47:00.001-04:00

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

May the abundant grace of God be upon us today as we rejoice and be glad in this new day that the Lord has made! May the peace of God that comes from the apprehension and the reception of His grace and mercy into our hearts be our experience in this new day of thankfulness, excitement and opportunity as we live in Him, being that which He has made us to be.

As we prayerfully meditate upon the Word of God which is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart, we remember the writings of the Prophet Isaiah (ch 55) who was given to write in his day that the Word that goes out of the mouth of the LORD would not return unto me( HIm) void, but it shall accomplish that which I (He) please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I (He) sent it. To illustrate that truth, in the previous verse, he had compared the absoluteness of this promise by comparing it to the natural occurrences of our weather, saying, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, but it..

The effect of the Word that is sowed into good ground will bring forth fruit as Jesus said in His parable in the 13th chapter of Matthew, saying, But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. It is similar to that which Isaiah wrote concerning the desired effect of the preached Word (upon the messinger) that goes forth from your mouth today as messengers of the LORD, "For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

We notice that the Word has two effects: It provides seed to the sower and bread to the eater. As planters and a waterers of the Word of Life, may we be reminded that it is our responsibility to plant and to water, but that the Lord promises to take care of the increase, the increase of and to faith in Christ. May we never forget that. I remember as a young man listening to our minister say, "Don't sow the seed one day, water it for a while, and then take the sickle and began to harvest." I have never forgot that counsel. Let us be patient so that the Word will be able to work freely in the hearts of those to whom we are ministering to, praying for the increase of the Word into their hearts so that their lives would be transformed from within as a result of the Word bringing life to them. The Word is the seed and it is an incorruptible seed. When that Seed is planted, and It is watered, and when the LORD gives It life, It will blossom and bloom. When we are ministering the Word either in preaching or in visitation, may we see with the eye of faith the cypress instead of the thorn, the myrtle instead of the briar as we wait for the Spirit of the LORD to enter into the minds, into the hearts and into the souls of those to whom we are bringing the grace of God in Christ Jesus.

Lastly, may we be so filled with the promise of the LORD as to the sureness of the eventual effect of His Word, that we would be enabled to go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. This is what it means to live in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, for in that knowledge we see souls as through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and that which He desires them to come to know for themselves. May the Lord bless each of us as we continue to labor together in the vineyard of the LORD. Be encouraged that the work that you are doing is bearing fruit unto the LORD. He said it is and therefore, we believe it! And as you minister, may you be filled with the abundance of the joy of the LORD.

May the grace of Jesus be upon you this day in your labors.

Pastor Orval Wirkkala

The Weekly Diner

2011-04-05T11:43:00.002-04:00

Dear Week Readers! God’s Peace be with you!

The compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ is very evident as we read through the Holy Bible! This week’s article by our guest author reflects on examples of such. Let’s continue together in reading and prayer as we get closer to Holy Week.

May God Bless your week! John R.

THE SILENCE OF GOD

We often read in the Bible from Genesis through Revelation of God speaking. Everything that was created came about because God spoke. The Bible tells us—God spoke and it was so. Throughout the Bible God either spoke directly to individuals—Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Prophets, Mary, Joseph, the Apostles, etc—or he spoke through events, circumstances, signs, and wonders. He speaks both words of judgment and condemnation and words of mercy and forgiveness. God speaks through His written Word.

Most powerfully and clearly, God has spoken through His incarnate Son, Jesus. We who have been called by God are, also, to speak for Him. How grateful we can be that God has called apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to proclaim His Word! The Bible tells us “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:15). All of us are missionaries. May we all be encouraging, supporting, and praying for those especially called to be missionaries carrying the Gospel “to the uttermost parts of the earth.” May God continue to speak through all of these precious brothers and sisters in the Lord!

There are times, though, when God is silent. We ought not to be surprised if God is silent when people continually resist the Lord. After King Saul had been disobedient to the word of the Lord. God was grieved with him, yet Saul sought God’s help in his battle with the Philistines for “…when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” (1 Sam. 28:5, 6). Saul then turned to using witchcraft for guidance and help. How tragic when God hides himself from us that we would turn to demonic or man-centered methods for help.

But there are times when God is silent when he bears the horrible pain of our sin. This is most powerfully portrayed by the Savior, Himself. The Prophet Isaiah uttered this heart-rending truth: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). I cannot help but believe that when our Lord was being so severely and savagely beaten by the Roman scourge, as painful as that was, he uttered not a word.

Then there is a time when God is silent because men’s hearts have become so hard and defiant, no word from the Lord can penetrate. One such time took place at Calvary when our Lord was nailed to the cross. We are probably familiar with what is called “The Seven Words from the Cross.” But in the midst of those words which our Lord spoke, there was silence. It was in connection with the two thieves who were crucified with him “one on the right hand and one on the left” (Mt. 27:38).

The penitent thief who had a fear of God in his heart, but like the “Prodigal Son” had lived a wasted, rebellious life, knew by faith who Jesus truly was and cried out: “…Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:42). His cry for mercy touched our Savior’s heart, “and Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). This man, though having wasted his whole life, was granted forgiveness and that very day would enter into the world of the righteous dead.
But to the impenitent thief, there was only silence. While mocking Jesus and, at the same time, wanting deliverance from the consequences of his sin, he was truly and tragically forsaken. For him there was no word, only separation from Life, for only in and through Christ is there Life. He is the only door to the Father’s House.

Dear friend, the door of grace is still open! Perhaps God has spoken to you in many ways and at many times. I urge you, let not the voice of the Good Shepherd fall on deaf ears! Today is the day of salvation! Now is the acceptable time! Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, lest you die in your sins! A solemn reminder comes to us in the hymn—“God calling yet! And shall I give no heed, but still in bondage live? I wait, but He does not forsake, He calls me still, My heart awake!” Jesus is tenderly calling today. He is calling, “Come Home, come Home!”

The Weekly Diner

2011-03-25T08:52:00.002-04:00

Dear Readers:

May the Grace, Mercy, and Peace from God our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ be with you today and always! Amen.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matt. 4:19)

Recently as I was passing a small pond on my bicycle, I noticed that there was a tree that had fallen into the water and was sunken. Because it was a sunny day, I was able to see it and other things on the bottom of the pond. As I thought of this, I remembered when fishing as a youngster that I often would get my hook caught on such things. This was inconvenient and often caused extra work. I would much rather have been able to keep fishing and not have to deal with the tangles caused by the obstructions. Perhaps a nice, sandy bottom with no rocks, sticks, trees, roots, or other obstruction would be a nicer place to fish. I did not know at the time that the fish live where the obstructions are because there they can find food and shelter.

As I continued to ponder this, the thought came that sometimes we would like fishing for souls to be easy as well. We would like all of our plans to go perfectly with no problems or struggles. But this is not reality! When we are true fishers of men, the servants of our Lord Jesus, we quickly find that all is not perfect. The devil places snags in our way to try to stop us, just as he did with the Apostle Paul. As in natural fishing when the fish are hiding under the logs, behind the rocks, or in the fallen trees, the lost souls are found where the fishing is the hardest. These lost souls can be in the slums, in the gutters of drunkenness, filled with evil spirits, or even dwelling near the edge of death. They might be in a faraway place or living close to us.

Dear Christian, do not be discouraged when the going gets tough. That could mean the lost ones are very near. Keep fishing! The fishing is best in the hardest places to reach – that is where the lost souls are found.

If you are not a believer, God is calling you! A Christian is ready to reach out to you in love. May God grant you the desire to repent and turn from your sinful and dead-ended ways. Are you living in the mud of the bottom (dirty) places today? Are you tangled in the deep and dark sins of this world? Perhaps you have started to hear the call and can feel the heat of the sun (Son) already starting to melt your heart. Keep seeking the Lord. The Bible promises that if you seek, ye SHALL find.

Remember in the Bible account when the fishing nets were full, Jesus said to bring Him the fish. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. (John 21:20) Remember to always point to Jesus and lead the sinner to Him. Jesus is the Savior; He keeps calling and calls even today: Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. (John 21:12)

Dear pastors and believers, be encouraged during the hard times and hard work of fishing for souls! The fish are not yours; they belong to the Lord. As believers, we are only poor fishermen beggars showing other poor souls where to find the food, the answer, and the remedy for the pain of sin and shame.

Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and forevermore!

JR

The Weekly Diner

2011-03-14T15:56:00.002-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace and Blessing be with you this week! Today our article is written by Pastor Wayne Juntunen. Please enjoy what the Lord has revealed to our brother!

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, whoever you are and wherever you are, a word from the Lord has been brought to my mind that He wants to share with you. I pray that it will be written as He desires. The actual words are recorded in Ex. 17:12, “…Moses hands were heavy…”

There was good reason for Moses’ hands to be heavy. Israel was locked in battle against the Amalekites. This battle occurred after the Israelites had left Egypt and were traveling through the Wilderness of Sin. The Amalekites must have first attacked the stragglers—the weak and weary who were farther back from the main body of the Israelites. We read in Deuteronomy 35:17, 18, “Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.”

Another battle with them occurred when Israel had pitched their tents at Rephidim (Ex. 17:8). Moses counseled Joshua to choose men to fight with Amalked and he would stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand (Ex. 17:9) Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill with Moses and as long as Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed (Ex. 17:11). So in this see-saw battle that lasted throughout the day, Moses’ hands became heavy. So Aaron and Hur had Moses sit on a stone and they “stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Ex. 17:12, 13).

So what does this mean? Let us remember when the Israelites prayed, they lifted up their hands to the Lord. Here are but a few examples—(Gen. 14:22; Dt. 32:40; Ps. 25:1; 28:2; 63:4; 134:2) I believe Moses was in the spirit of prayer during this battle with the Amalekites. And so long as he was praying, Israel prevailed. When Aaron and Hur held up his hands, Israel was victorious! In essence, all three were engaged in prayer throughout the duration of this battle.

This is the word the Lord has brought across into my heart. We cannot expect to win any battle against any foe, no matter how great or small the foe may seem, if we are not faithfully engaged in prayer. It is the spiritual leadership of any family, congregation, mission field, ministry, or religious institution who are to be ceaselessly praying! I have this saying posted on the door of my study—“You can do more than pray after you prayed. But you can not do more than pray until you have prayed.”

To ceaselessly pray means we must begin our day with prayer. This time of morning prayer is to be given to spending time with the Lord. It is during this time that we are enjoying his presence. It is basically what James tell us in his epistle—“Draw nigh to God and he will draw night to you” (Ja. 4:8). This is a time of adoration, praise, and thanksgiving, confession, reading and meditating on God’s Word, letting him speak to us through his Word to receive food for our soul, a time to spend in intercession for others, and making our requests know. Then throughout the day, we need to be briefly requesting the Lord to guide and help us in every conversation, every task that needs to be done, every emergency that comes up, every need that we may have. Thus throughout the day we are in constant communication with our Lord.

So long as our hands are lifted up; that is, we are praying, the Lord will be in charge and we can be resting in him for “in quietness and confidence will be your strength” (Is. 30:15). There will never be revival in our own hearts, our families, congregations, or ministries so long as we are unwilling “to give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name” (Psa. 29:2).

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, begin now to spend more time in prayer! The radiance of Moses was due to the 40 days he had spent on the mountain with God. But that radiance was disappearing in time. But in the Acts of the Apostles, we read that when Peter and John had been arrested for preaching about the resurrection from the dead through Jesus, that Annas and Caiaphas and many of the family of the high priest “took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:1-13). It is as plain as the nose on our faces, that the more time we spend with Jesus, the more he will become visible to others. Help us, dear Jesus, so that your love for us will radiate through us to draw multitudes to you!

May God Bless your week!

The Weekly Diner

2011-02-28T10:59:00.002-05:00

Dear Weekly Readers!

May the Peace of God be with you today and each day!

I want to thank each of you that have prayed for our recent missionary journey around the world. God has heard your prayers and has safely delivered us home.
It was truly a wonderful trip, one on which tens of thousands of souls heard the Word of God preached.

It is my hope and prayer that the Holy Spirit would add a blessing and would reveal the Holy Word of God in the hearts that have heard not only on this trip, but wherever and whenever His Word is preached.

It is only through the Power of the Holy Spirit, that the words we speak have any worth. There is nothing we can say or do of ourselves to help anyone. Everything is totally the work of our Almighty God, and to Him goes all Praise, Honor, and Glory.

We know that preaching the Word of God is the method that the Lord uses in our time so that souls would be saved. No Glory to man, it is the Word of God by which faith comes.

Romans Chapter 10: 13-17
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Dear Reader, if you are a pastor, preach the true, full, and complete Word of God. Dear Reader, if you are not a pastor, still use the Word of God for your source of strength at all times, and share the Word as God leads you to do so.

During this trip just completed, we experienced first-hand several ways in which the devil tried his very best to stop the Word of God from going forth. We experienced delayed aircrafts, power outages, other groups trying to overtake us with competing noise, sicknesses, tiredness, empty feelings, mosquitoes, a roadblock, and who knows how many other unseen attempts by the devil to stop the furtherance of the Gospel.

However we did not experience anything as extreme as the Apostle Paul did:

2 Corinthian 11 v 23-27
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

The Word of God comes to us again and says in Romans 8 v 31-39

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yes, we deserve nothing but punishment, but when God is for us, who can be against us!

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Go Forth by the Grace of God and in His Faith………

Ephesians 2: 8 -10

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

All true believers are His Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus! Let us go forth in obedience and do what He would have us to do. Walk as He would have us to walk!

May God Bless you bountifully this week!

The Weekly Diner

2011-01-14T11:15:00.002-05:00

…….yet in my flesh shall I see God: Job 19:26

Dear Weekly Readers!

God’s Peace!

The words above from Job give us food for thought! Before we go into that however, I just want to ask for your prayers as again I am leaving on a Foreign Mission trip. On Monday the 17th, Lord willing, we will be departing from Boston, bound for The Philippines. From there it is on to other destinations, with the total trip taking a full month and involves travel all around the entire world.

I know that this kind of trip is not possible without the guiding hand of our Father in Heaven. Therefore, your prayers are desired very much!
The time will be very much filled with church services, so The Weekly Diner may not get published some weeks. If I do get articles sent to me that area written by others, I may be able to post them, but we will see. Lord willing, we will be back to our regular schedule at the end of February.

…….yet in my flesh shall I see God: Job 19:26

In the New Testament in Hebrews 2:9 it says, But we see Jesus….We know that the redeemed of the Lord will go to heaven for all eternity. We know from scriptures that there is much beauty in heaven. The streets are paved with gold; the gates are of pearls and precious stones. Heaven consists of so much beauty that we cannot even imagine the extent of it all.

What does Job say? He shall see God! What a wonderful thought. It is not the beauty of the physical attributes of heaven that will be so exciting. It is the joy and wonderment that will fill us when we see God! There is nothing that could ever compare to seeing our Lord in Heaven. It is His light that will keep everything bright and beautiful.

Imagine seeing our Father God face to face! In this life and in this flesh, we cannot do so. Our bodies even could not hold up to such magnificence. However, in heaven when we do not have this fleshly portion, it will be in such joy, wonder, and amazement that we will never tire, seeing our Lord will never grow old. This is the real beauty of heaven!

But we see Jesus… In this life, there are many trials, troubles, sins, temptations…. But we (the saved ones) see Jesus! We no longer have to look upon the waves of trouble around us. When we are tempted we can look to Jesus! We see Him!
Oh what a Joy it is to see Jesus. It is by the eyes of faith that we are able to see Jesus now! We know and can attest to the fact that He has saved us from our sins. He suffered, bled, and died for me! Not only for the next person, it was for me He died! He died for every person that ever lived or will live.

Through His death on the cross, His victory over death, hell, and the power of the devil, and by His Glorious resurrection, He has won victory and He is alive; therefore we can LIVE! We see Jesus.. It is because we see Jesus, and it is only through faith in Him, that we can then get to see God one day! That is to see Him in this glorious, wonderful way!

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.It is only through Jesus, knowing Him and seeing Him, that we can then have a living hope to see our Father in Heaven.

Do you know Jesus today? Do you see Jesus? Can you say with total faith and confidence that because of Jesus, you will see God in heaven?
God loves you. Jesus died for you! See and Ye Shall find! Our Lord has so promised!
May God Bless your week!
John

The Weekly Diner

2011-01-03T11:07:00.002-05:00

Dear Weekly Reader!

God’s Peace be with you all!

I hope and trust that you all had a very Blessed Christmas season, and you have been encouraged by God’s Word during this time! This is a very special time of year!

Let us all lay hold by faith to the words of the Angels when they proclaimed, fear not! May God grant us the peace that passes all understanding. May Christ Jesus live in our hearts, giving us this peace, joy, and gladness that is only available to those that have come to the manger and dined! Those that have come to partake of all that Jesus did through his humble birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension! Jesus is the only true Peace! Let’s partake of him and share of His peace!

Well, we have come to the last Weekly Diner of the year! It is always amazing to me how fast time goes by. It seems like a year just gets started, and all of a sudden it is the year end and a new year is upon us.

In reflecting on the past year, and looking forward to the New Year, (if the Lord allows a new year!), many scripture verses come to mind. I would like to share some scriptures with you that may be fitting for this sort of reflection.

Luke 11: 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. As we know this scripture is from the prayer that Jesus taught us, the Lord’s Prayer as we call it. As men, we often struggle in this area I believe, at least I do. We must remember that our daily bread is provided by and comes from our Father in heaven. How many times in the last year have we wondered where our provisions are going to come from? We ought not to worry, as that will not help at all! We must always remember that the Lord is the provider of all of our needs. Our food, home, clothing, water, and everything else come from the Lord!

Should we then be lazy, sit back, and let the Lord provide? God forbid. His word says in
2 Corinth 9: 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.It also says in Genesis 3: 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Let us be faithful to our Lord, and work hard at whatever task we have before us. It is up to us to work hard! Do not expect to reap more than you have sown. Also, we must sow good deeds, sow to the Spirit as we read in the following verses.

Galations 6: 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The corruption of our flesh as fallen mankind, leads us to expect that we can sow to the flesh, and yet receive the full blessings of God. What a shame if we allow the devil to convince us that this is so. We MUST sow to the Spirit, in order to reap of the Spirit everlasting life.

Do not weary dear Christian of sowing the good seeds of faith. Do not weary this coming year, dear Pastor of preaching the Word. Do not weary of sowing the seed very liberally in your area.

Dear Christian, do not weary of doing those good deeds for your neighbors. Do not weary of your daily chores. Do not weary of going to church, of lending a helping hand, of comforting the sick. There is so much to do that is good, so let us sow of the Spirit, which will then reap unto life everlasting.

Dear unbelieving reader. Do not forget, that as you go about sowing to your flesh, your rewards are going to be corruption. Even if for a short time you are awarded the benefits of earthly possessions, these are only borrowed to you. They are only very short term possessions. It is time to repent of your sins and unbelief. Today is the day of grace. We do not have a promise of tomorrow, or the New Year. Begin to seek the Lord today! If you earnestly seek him, look at what the promise in God’s Word is! Luke 11: 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Dear unbelieving reader, if not yet begun to truly seek, pray that the Lord give you the grace and strength to begin to seek Him today!

Dear truly believing readers, today and in the coming New Year, enjoy the peace, joy, and rest that you have found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matt.11:29….. ye shall find rest unto your souls.
May the Lord Bless your week and New Year!

The Weekly Diner

2010-12-07T09:22:00.001-05:00

Hello Weekly Readers! May the Peace of God be with you as we meet at the Diner once again!

I first of all want to thank you for your prayers as Chad K, and I went forth in service to the Lord into Kenya, Africa.

It was truly a blessed trip, and we surely felt your prayers as we ministered to the wonderful people in Kenya! We were received so wonderfully, and we felt that there was many people that had to true desire to partake of the Holy Word of God!
May Jesus Christ continue to be lifted up in Kenya, as well as in your country, wherever in the world you may be!

This week we have a guest writer for which I am thankful, as my time is being fully used trying to catch up on work that I am behind on due to the trip!
If the topic in the article raises any questions for you, just email me and I will be happy to communicate with you about it! foreignmission@comcast.net

May God Bless your week! John R.

THOUGHTS ON CHRIST’S SECOND COMING

The second coming of Christ has been widely debated and discussed throughout Christendom ever since Christ, Himself, spoke about it to his disciples. Tragically much of what is written or preached comes out of a person’s own views than out of the Bible. The Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, include the sayings of Jesus regarding his second coming. For the sake of brevity, a portion of our Lord’s discourse with his disciples recorded in Matthew 24:36-44 is as follows:
“…but of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Without going into detail on the text, several facts are clearly stated that we cannot change, even if we would like to do so. Immediately we are told that, “of that day and hour knoweth no man.” So anyone who claims to know when the Lord will return is a “false prophet.”

Secondly, we are told the general conditions of life prior to the Lord’s return will be quite normal and usual. People were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day the Noah entered ark. In a sense it was “business as usual.”

Suddenly in this text, there is an alarming shift—“ Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” The reality of the brevity and uncertainty of life in this world is inescapable and may be shocking. No one has a guarantee of tomorrow. In the light of this reality, Jesus makes the most important statement regarding his second coming saying: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

In Luke’s account of this sudden, unexplainable death of which Jesus spoke as “being taken”, the disciples asked. “Where, Lord?” to which Jesus gave a mysterious reply saying: “Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together” (Lk. 17:37) The word for “eagles” could also be translated as “vultures.” The meaning is clear—the one taken is not someone “raptured” out of this world, but plainly one who has died as vultures or eagles are meat-eating birds.

Thus without question the most important matter connected to our Lord’s second coming is not our concern as to the “when” of it, but the necessity of preparation for it. So what is the necessary preparation? To this the Bible gives a clear and sufficient answer. It is to personally believe in and confess that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord. There are many additional details that spell out more completely how this faith in Christ becomes a reality for each of us.
But essentially it is through the work of the Holy Spirit using the Word of God, the Gospel, to effect “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

Everyone is summoned to repent and believe the gospel. This is the first work of God in our hearts and our response is our “first love” that is to remain as the continuous fuel that will fire our whole life of being a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is all summed up in two truths—love to God and love to one another. When these two truths are real in daily life, we will be prepared for the “when” of our Lord’s appearing!

Come and Dine!

2010-11-09T08:53:00.003-05:00

Dear Weekly Readers ! God’s Peace be with you this day!

This week I would ask you all to be in a spirit of prayer for an upcoming mission trip. Today, Nov. 9th, Lord willing, Chad K. and I will be on our way to Kenya. Please pray for the listeners and for Chad and myself, as we endeavor to bring the Word of our Lord to whomever we encounter while in Kenya.

Please be understanding in that you will not receive The Weekly Diner for 3 weeks, since I will not be able to publish it from Africa. This article is three times the usual length, so feel free to read it in sections if you desire!

The title for our article for The Weekly Diner is titled: Come and Dine! These few precious words of our Lord Jesus are recorded for us in John 21 verse 12. Come and dine..!!

Jesus said these words as part of the story we find recorded in verses 1-14 of this chapter. This story took place shortly after the resurrection of our Lord, but before Ascension day and the day of Pentecost.

Can you imagine how the disciples felt, after having come through so many miraculous events of recent? They surely experienced many highs and lows. We also experience highs and lows in our life. There are many turbulent, trying times, as well as times of much joy.

These disciples were men like us, and Jesus knew them (and us) all very well. He knows our needs, He knows our desires. He knows that sometimes we need to experience real events to help us see the full picture of His love for us. The disciples were about to experience quite an event!

Simon Peter says in verse 3, I go a fishing. The others said, we are coming along. This shows that while these Godly men were Disciples of Christ, they still were committed workers, husbands, perhaps fathers, and sons, here on earth. They did not want to sit around idly, wondering what to do next. They plunged into their duties and for many of these men, fishing was their occupation. They did not allow the devil room to come in during these amazing times in their lives, offering idleness and folly.

This story also depicts for us a lovely picture of becoming fishers of men. Here again, we as Christians should not sit idly around, but rather be busy attending to the Lord business. These men had gone out into the sea, but they caught nothing. This draught of fish teaches us several things. In our picture of being fishers of men, it shows us that just because we are out preaching and teaching, and doing things properly, it does not mean men will repent or even listen. We learned this lesson from the story of Noah already in the Old Testament.

The draught of fish also shows us a little natural picture in that is dispels the myth that is common today which is the teaching of the prosperity doctrine. Being a Christian, faithfully doing the right thing, does not insure that we will have success in the way the world views success. It is just not true that we can provide even our daily bread without the Lord’s help. In the Lord ’s Prayer we pray, Give us this day, our daily bread. It is of the Lord’s hand that we are fed, and we will see that later in this story as well.

Verse 4. But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: How precious! He was there for a while already, but they just could not see him. Jesus is often much closer to us that we think as well. He is waiting for us, watching us, praying for us. We can believe this by faith, we do not have to see! Scripture says in John 20:25 …… blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Jesus asked them, Children, have ye any meat? Jesus cares about us! Naturally speaking also, He wants us to have food to eat. He wants us to be nourished so we have the strength to go on. Yes, Jesus does care about our natural life! God wants to provide for us, and He is faithful!

Jesus called the disciples children, which is a lovely term suggesting that He was their Father, and God surely is our Father also. Imagine, being called Children by the King of Creation, this Jesus who was, even before the foundations of the earth were laid.

Jesus asked them if they had any meat. Do you think Jesus did not know if they had caught anything? Jesus sees and knows all things. Jesus knew of their poor success. He knows when we have poor success whether it be in our work, or in the preaching to the world. However, Jesus wants to hear our confession, He wants to communicate with us!

After hearing from the disciples that they had caught nothing, Jesus told them to cast the net on the other side of the ship, and ye shall find. Imagine for a moment being told to cast the net in a different way than perhaps they had ever done it before. Perhaps even their riggings made it more suitable to fish from a certain side of the boat. If they were like me, they could have thought, what difference could it possibly make if the net is on this side or that, it is still the same water, and we had just toiled all night and caught nothing.

It is quite sure that some of these men had thoughts on this matter, but do you know what? They did not spend time listening to bad thoughts, or giving into temptation, tiredness, laziness, or whatever other trick the devil would have used on them. They simply obeyed! Oh what joy there is in store for us when we obey the Words of our Lord. Great things may be right around the corner for us, even after times of dryness or draught. Oh Lord, let us obey Thy Word!

When the disciples obeyed, they caught so many fish that there nets were full. They were heavy laden with blessing. Even in being fishers of men, we need to be open to doing things in a way that may be different than how we have been doing it. Perhaps we have not been listening closely enough to Jesus when He tells us how to fish for men! Here Jesus came to where the men were, where they could see them. Perhaps we spend too much time waiting for people to come to church, and not enough time meeting them where they are. Let’s pray that we would be obedient fishermen, like these ones in our text today!

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved, (John) verse 7, said to Peter, it is the Lord! Upon hearing this, Peter put on hisfishing coat (the best he had available at the time, and perhaps this shows us a picture that when we go to meet the Lord, we must have on the wedding garment..) and jumped into the sea. Peter was often very aggressive. Do you remember that not long before this story took place, Peter had denied his Lord? Now Peter is so excited to see Jesus, he could not wait. Oh that we would all be this anxious to see our Lord! How refreshing it is to see Peter act in this way!

However, it is also just as encouraging to see that the other disciples were more measured in their response and continued to do the job at hand. This is an exciting picture to me, because we are all called to different parts of the Lord’s Ministry. We need to faithfully adhere to our calling. Not everyone is the out front man, the one full of life, the one vocal, the one that is the first to act, etc.

Jesus, as we will see later in our story, received the energetic and boisterous Peter, with the same love and equity that He met the other disciples! We are all equally important in His Kingdom, no matter our jobs or our natures.
As the ambassadors of Christ, (all Christians are, not just preachers) we are to do as the disciples were attempting to do with this boat full of fish, bring them to Jesus. Do not bring them to see our life, our church, our good deeds, but rather, bring them to see Jesus. We are witnesses of Jesus! In Hebrews it says, but we see Jesus! The saved see Jesus by faith!

In Verse 9 we see that when they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus had the full meal already there! The fire of the Holy Spirit is burning where Jesus is! The nourishment of God’s Word is there. Remember when Jesus told the devil, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Here was the bread of life! The meal was ready!

We notice that there was already fish at this fire! Jesus already has fish. We need to remember, that Jesus is the real fisherman. We need to be obedient to the Master, but all results are from Him. As Christians, sometimes we can begin to feel that our circles must be the only true Christians. The devil would love us to stumble in this area! We must always remember, the Jesus knows and has His own. His work will get done with our without us. John 10: 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. There was already fish there at the fire, Jesus saw to that, as He still does today. He does work through His disciples on earth still today, as He did in this story. But the actual work of saving souls, of causing man to repent and believe, is out of our hands. Rather we rely on Him whom is able and willing to save fallen mankind!

V 10: Bring of the fish that ye have now caught. Bring the fish to Jesus. As fishers of men, bring them to Jesus. Bring in the lost, the weak, the struggling and backsliding, the lame, the blind, bring them all to Jesus! He is the help and the Saviour or all! Bring them to Jesus! Be obedient fishermen!
This whole story, from beginning to end shows divine intervention. Now the nets did not break even though they were overloaded. The Lord is stilling working. He is interceding in our behalf before the Father in Heaven even today. Do not think that the things we do are just happen stance or accident. God is in control in our lives, and He is very close by us. So close in fact to His children, that He has given His Children the gift of His Holy Spirit to live within us. How blessed are the children of God because of His unspeakable gifts!

Now we get to those lovely words, the title of our article, in Verse 12. Come and Dine! The food is prepared. Jesus is there! Come and eat. Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Dear sinner even today, Jesus is calling out Come and dine. You need no money, there is no price. Just Come and Dine! Then you shall find rest! Matthew 11: 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. The day of Grace is today. Come and Dine. Come and eat! Partake of His Grace by Faith. Tomorrow may never come, but today, Jesus is waiting and calling for you! What a time we live in!

Jesus called John 10: 4 …. and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.Let us do as the men in our story did, they came and dined! Let us always follow the voice of Jesus, and as fishers of men, let us broadcast far and wide the Words of Jesus! Lift Him up, and all men will be drawn unto him!

We notice at the end of our text, that Jesus took the bread, and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. (v:13) All the work that needed to be done, Jesus has accomplished. Man only has to partake of that which is prepared and finished by Jesus. Jesus lived perfectly, fulfilled all in our behalf, suffered, bled, died, and arose for us. All is complete, there is no work left to do. Jesus has performed it all! Believe this today, dear sinner. Those readers that are believers today, you sinners saved by grace, always continue to believe in the finished work of Redemption and Salvation provided for us by none other than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

If there are any that read this that does not believe by faith today, call out. Make your voice heard! A fisherman of the Lord’s will hear you and will show you the way to Jesus. They will witness to you of Jesus. They will proclaim the wonderful words of life to you, that yes, you as a repentant sinner, you can believe by faith that all your sins are forgiven by and through the name and precious shed blood of our Saviour, our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

May God continue to work in each of our hearts, and let us Dine with Him!

The Weekly Diner

2010-11-01T16:01:00.002-04:00

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

God’s wonderful creation is a proclamation and a reminder to us of His majesty! Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.>There are so many examples in God’s creation that we can learn from.

Below is an article of one such example, written by a guest author, a dear friend of mine. Please enjoy, and

May God Bless your week! JR

“By their fruits… ye shall know them”

A seed is planted in the warm moist earth. Days pass with no apparent change, until at the prescribed time, bent and crouching like a strong man lifting a heavy load, a tender plant, begins to emerge. The seedling slowly pushes its’ way upward, rolling away every obstacle, until standing erect, it points its’ face heavenward to receive the blessing of the summer sun.

What variety of plant is it that has just exhibited the marvelous transformation from seed to seedling? It is difficult to tell at first. Only as the plant matures, can one begin to identify its’ species by visual cues such as leaf, bark and bloom. With slightly rounded leaves of pale green and profuse blossoms of the purest white, laced with subtle pinks and rosy hues, one suspects this plant to be among that of a fruit bearing type. However, only when fruit is found among the branches, can positive identification be made. It is then that the passerby, upon tasting the bounty, knows assuredly that such flavor and texture belong only to the fruit borne of an apple tree.

It might be said at the time of harvest when the apple is gathered, that the tree has “spoken” by way of its’ fruit, making known to the world that it is a tree of such and such a species, ordained to bear fruit of a size, shape, color and flavor according to the Creators’ master plan. And this testimony will be confirmed each season, leaving no doubt to the observer as to its type and genus.

So the natural example of the fruit tree illustrates a similar picture found in the life of each child of God. The good seed of Gods’ word is planted in the soil of the heart, followed by the refreshing “water of life” that permeates the soil, causing the seed to germi-nate and grow. Attracted by the warm rays of Gods’ grace the seedling of faith bursts through the soil to prosper and develop into what Jeremiah the prophet calls a “noble plant.”

Our Good God, from the abundance of His heart affords this delicate plant every necessary grace and blessing, that would support its’ needs and prosper its’ growth. Such care and tending, in due time, strengthens the plant to bud and blossom forth to the Creators’ honor and glory.

But our Lord is not satisfied with vibrant leaves and swelling buds alone. His desire is to receive a fruitful harvest. So He instructs the keeper of the vineyard to dig about the plant and “dung it”, that no effort would be neglected or detail missed in the caring of this delightful sapling.

It is then we are told, that “the husband-man waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it.” “Until he receive the early and latter rain.”
It would be good for us to remember that the Lord has withheld no effort or expense concerning our spiritual birth, nourishment and care that would produce His desired fruit. For so we are told in His word that it is “good seed,” planted, in a “very fruitful hill” where the water of life is offered in liberal measure, to him that is “athirst,” with the invitation to “come” and take of this water freely.

How is it with us this day? Are we fruit bearing plants in the Lord’s vineyard? Are the fruits of the Spirit evident in our lives, or are we merely a religious type of ornamental shrub, pleasant to behold but void of fruit?

Jesus has told us in His word that the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, (and) temperance.”This is the fruit that the Lord is seeking, and it matters much that He finds fruit among his plantings.

For a solemn warning is given to the fruitless soul and yet a wonderful promise to the fruitful, when He says, cut down the fruitless tree, for “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit (is taken) away, yet every branch that beareth fruit, (is purged) that it may bring forth more fruit.”Knowing this to be true, may we pray the “Lord of the harvest” that His efforts would not be in vain concerning our spiritual welfare, but that it may be said of us, by virtue of the fruit we bear and the testimony of our lips that we are the children of God. And like King David, we can say, “I believed therefore I have spoken.” “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Faith or Works?

2010-10-06T10:48:00.001-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

Today our article is by Pastor Mark Matson.
May God Bless your week! John R.

Faith or Works?

In other words, Christianity or religion?
Saved or lost? This important doctrine is the difference between heaven and hell,
eternal life and eternal death.

Ephesians 2:8- 10 says, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that
we should walk in them.

Martin Luther, in his Introduction to Romans, brings clearness to this doctrine: "Faith is not that human notion that some hold for faith. Because they see that no betterment of life and no good works
follow it, and yet they can hear and say much about faith, they fall into error and say, 'Faith is not enough; one must do works in order to be righteous and be saved.' This is the reason that, when they hear the Gospel, they fall-to and make for themselves, by their own powers, an idea in their hearts which says, 'I believe.' This they hold for true. But it is the human imagination and idea that never reaches the depths of the heart, and so nothing comes of it and no betterment follows it.

"Faith, however, is a divine work in us. It changes us and makes us to be born anew of God (John 1); it kills the old Adam and makes altogether different men, in heart and spirit and mind and powers, and it brings with it the Holy Ghost. Oh, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith; and so it is impossible for it not to do good works incessantly. It does not ask whether there are good works to do, but before the question rises, it has already done them, and is always at the doing of them. He who does not
these works is a faithless man. He gropes and looks about after faith and good works, and knows neither what faith is nor what good works are, though he talks and talks, with many words, about faith and good works.

"Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man would stake his life on it a thousand times. This confidence in God’s grace and knowledge of it makes men glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and all His creatures; and this is the work of the Holy Ghost in faith. Hence a man is ready and glad, without compulsion, to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer everything, in love and praise, quite as impossible as to separate the heat and light of fires. Beware,
therefore, of your own false notions and idle talkers, who would be wise enough to make decisions about faith and good works and yet are the greatest fools. Pray God to work faith in you, else you will remain forever without faith, whatever you think or do."

The Bible says in Philippians 2:12, 13: Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

What God has done will stand forever, as Jesus has said, "Without me you can do nothing (John 15:5)," as one who has learned that in all things He might (must) have the preeminence
(Colossians 1:18), and continues to learn. May God richly bless each of you as you do the work of the Lord, in and by the faith of Christ, which works by (because of) love, His love.

God's peace, Pastor Mark Matson Pasco, Washington

REST

2010-09-29T08:34:00.002-04:00
This lengthly article was actually broken into 3 weeks for the Weekly Diner publication. It is about an the important topic of Rest! This is nowhere close to an exhaustive study, but if it serves the purpose of getting us to search God's Word, then May God be Thanked!

May The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all.

Today I would like to share with you about REST…., the true Rest that is found only in our Lord Jesus Christ.

There many types of rest.

First there is a Rest that is Temporary, as from our work. This is a blessed type of rest for the Christian. This is a rest from our work, like we do as we rest on Sunday’s. Jesus even told his disciples to go apart and rest. They entered into a ship, and went to the other side and rested. We are very appreciative of this type of rest; however, we will not focus on this type, as there is a rest for more precious that we will focus on in this letter.

Another type of Rest is when we rest not from our work, but in our work….. Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest! Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Notice that in taking His yoke, learning of Him, these are things that we do. However, the direct promise is that we SHALL find rest for you souls! How blessed!

Then there is another type of rest as in God’s rest after He created the World in 6 days. He did not rest because he was tired; He rested because His work was complete! Our God is almighty and powerful! He completed this huge task, and when He looked He said, it is good.

It is this type of rest we will focus on, and also the cause to rest like we read in Hebrews 3 and Sabbath kind of rest like we find in Hebrews 4:9 when it says there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. A perpetual Sabbath. This is a rest that in Him is never ending, everlasting.

Let us look at a verse from the Old Testament:
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.”— Psalm 116:7

Those who are not Christians, have no rest to return for their soul. In fact they do not even know what they are missing out on. The unbeliever will attempt to quite his soul, to find temporary joy and happiness, but he must always keep looking. The only true rest is In Christ!

Hebrews 3:18 and 19 says: 18And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

There is no rest to the one that does not believe. Pray that they would be able to hear, to repent, and to believe during the time of Grace.

But we who Believe in Him, do enter into rest. We have entered into His rest!
Our journey can be pictured as the children of Isreal who have crossed the river Jordan and entered into the Promised Land. We still have battles here in this life, as they did once they crossed the river, but as long as we stay in Christ, we have all the promises of God available and for us! We can have peace and rest in the storms and the battles of this life!

This does not mean we will have rest as far as this world is concerned; this world is polluted with so much grief, sin and vice! Yet, in the midst of all this, the Christian is promised rest and peace!

The Apostle Paul writes to the Romans, there is no therefore no more Condemnation to those are in Christ Jesus. Who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit…. How wonderful to have such a wonderful Saviour.

We HAVE the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

If there are reading this today that are believers but you seem to have lost this blessed rest… My message to you is RETURN unto thy rest.
I hope that you would be able to take the Psalmist words unto your own heart.. Return unto thy rest, for the Lord hath dealth bountifully with thee.
We must remember: The Believer has his rest!

There is a condition that a believer can be in when his heart is perfectly at rest. Perhaps Jude’s benediction describes it best when he says: May The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. We opened our letter with this today!
Let us take a moment to search the rests for the Christian heart and soul!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK DUE TO LENGTH> Please study Hebrews chapter 3 and 4 during this week and Lord willing, I will finish this letter for next week!

May God Bless your Week in The Lord!
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Dear Weekly Readers! I hope and pray that this week you have meditated the topic of His rest, and have experienced His rest personally. Shall we continue where we left off?

Let’s begin by looking first at the rest of the heart and soul that comes through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!
When a person is come to him, when a person has repented and believed, (and remember, Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all, then we are subject unto the Spirit of God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. When this redemptive work is complete through Jesus Christ in our hearts, then we have peace and rest.

This is all made possible, and all Glory and Honor for this goes to our Lord Jesus and what He has done, when He willingly gave up His life on the cross! He suffered, bled, and died for you and I. He won the victory over death, hell, and the power of the devil for you and I. Ephesians 2:16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

On the third day, He rose triumphantly from the grave, having won the victory! What a mighty and wonderful Saviour we have! What grace the Lord Jesus Christ has given unto us!

When this complete work is believed by faith, when we have repented and believed, all of our sins are drowned in the sea of Grace, never to be remembered again! There is no fishing in the sea of Grace! Dear believer, the devil no longer has power over us, we are living by the grace and merits of our Lord Jesus Christ! What rest we can have in this fact and reality!
All of our necessities are provided for us. He has promised in His word that His eye is on the sparrow. He provides for the birds, He also provides for us. Matthew 10:31
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. We can rest in the fact that the Lord will supply all of our needs. Now, these supplies may not be to our liking, as we may feel we need or want much more. However, we are still alive today to read this, because He has allowed us provisions by His great grace!

There is no longer need to be stressed: 2 Corinthians 4:8
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

There is a further rest for us who believe. It is a very sweet one indeed. It is The Love of God. It comes to us with soft word like this: . Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: . ……. He will be with us forever! Everlasting love, wow, how can we contain such wonderful things?

Isaiah 43:2 2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

The facts born out by these verses, truly give us cause to be at rest. They verify that rest is for the believer!

Now let us look at another reason for this Christian rest, the Communion of the Holy Ghost. Here again is true and complete rest for the soul. Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Are you with me dear reader, that we cannot ask for more? He has filled us with His Holy Ghost, to lead us and guide us safely through this life! What a wondrous gift! John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The comforter is ours, the Holy Ghost! He wants to comfort us, and to give us rest! Let’s listen to, and be willing to be taught and reminded by the Holy Ghost, who is God in us!
I cannot ask for more! His banner over me is love! We are as it were, living in the Palace of the Great King!
Song of Solomon 2:4
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

I will end part two on this topic of His Rest at this point. Next week, if the Lord allows, we will look at the sad fact that many leave this rest. Even believers are tempted to forget that they are, and can be at perfect rest! Let’s pray that the Spirit would move within us, keeping us in His rest, both during this week and always!
Reminder: Hebrews chapter 3 and 4 and Psalms 116 v7
May God Bless your week! John R.
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Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace and Rest be with you!

As we continue and hopefully conclude our study on the topic of His Rest, I mentioned last week, that there is a sad fact that we must address, namely that many leave this perfect rest, which is found in Christ Jesus.
Our study verse found in Psalms 116 verse 7 says Return unto thy rest... This statement indicates that believers can lose sight of the rest that they have had. This can happen in so many ways.

Losing rest can be that the believer has become discontent. Let us always remember that the Word of God says in 1 Timothy 6:6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. Let us be urged into contentment again. Have we let our earthly desires for greater riches, more fame, or more ease, begin to crowd out our contentment and our joy in His REST? If so, Return!

Sometimes the believer loses their joy in His Rest due to rumors, lies and gossip being told about them. It is so extremely sad when this takes place. The tongue, though it be such a small member of our body, can cause so much hurt. Let us never be one that would use our tongue to hurt or tell untruths about a fellow believer, or anyone else. Rest will be lost for both the teller of tales, and the one being told about. The sins of the tongue are so awful that we need to tell the devil to flee from us if we feel tempted in this area. James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Sometimes a Child of God can lose their Rest because they have not believed the Word of God when it directs us in 2 Cor. 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? This is true in all walks of life, and most especially when it comes time to find a mate to marry. Friends and partners can lead the believer into wicked ways if one is not watchful. Let’s be sure we adhere to God’s Word even in this, so we can remain in the full Rest!

Life is full of many storms. We can get disheartened, unrestful, and saddened by many things. We experience untimely deaths of our loved ones. There are tragic accidents, death by crime, death of innocent children due to illness. It is times like these that we want to begin to quarrel with God. It is in times like these that we must remember to Return unto our Rest! Due to the fall in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve, sin and death has entered into the world. We should not quarrel with God, but rather know that God is sovereign, almighty, eternally righteous, and always correct! He is always calling us into His Rest, despite the storms that rage all around us!

Do you remember the time Jesus walked on the water. The water was the big problem the disciples in the boat had at the time, but Jesus put the rough waters under His feet. He calmed the storm and the sea! He can and will do this for us to, if we but trust in Him! Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool:

There is no problem too big for our God, no problem that he cannot overcome for us, if we be willing and obedient! No battles to large, no hurt too bad. Return to thy Rest!

There is so much more to talk about on this topic, but space in this article does not allow. We could talk about backsliding, lack of regularly gathering with the saints in fellowship, walking in all the various ways contrary to His word! There are so many ways to lose ones rest, his way, his joy.
No, man can never be happy unless truly resting in Jesus.

A picture and promise of this returning to God’s rest was given to us already at the time of the flood. Remember how after the rains stopped, Noah set a dove free? The Dove returned unto the arch because he found no resting place elsewhere. Let us be like the dove and stay resting in our ship of Faith, leaning on the promises of God! There is rest, safety and security.

Our Lord has delivered our souls from Death, has delivered our eyes from tears, and can keep us from falling! Such a mighty and powerful God we have. Enter and stay in His rest dear reader!
Isaiah 18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

Hebrews 4 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God

Jude 24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

May God Bless your week! John

The Weekly Diner

2010-09-01T16:12:00.002-04:00
Hello Weekly Readers! May God’s rest and peace be with you all!

The below letter shares with us the importance and the fact that we all will, should, and must, continue to grow in Christ Jesus our Lord!

May God grant you a wonderful week!

GROWING IN CHRIST

Growing in Christ means to grow in grace and to diminish in oneself. First of all, read in Ezekiel 47:1-6 how the man who had the line in his hand measured the water:

Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house;
and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the
house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward
the east, and the waters came down from under from the right
side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Then brought
he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about
the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh
eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth
eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me
through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he
measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters;
the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand,
and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward
he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could
not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a
river that could not be passed over. And he said unto me, Son
of man, hast thou seen this?
T hese four times depict four periods of time in a Christian's
life. First, in childhood, he understands very little
about Jesus or Christianity; then a little more in youth, and
much more in manhood.

When the water is to the loins, he
understands the redemptive work of Jesus and lives accordingly,
but he still has his feet on the bottom, trusting a little on
his own works, though he may not realize this within himself.

When he reaches the fourth period of life, comparable to
the measure of the fourth one thousand cubits, he finds the
hidden roots of sin in himself, such as jealousy, greed, pride
and vainglory, which affect even his holiest endeavors. He must
say, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the
body of this death? (Romans 7:24) He finds as the apostle Paul
did, For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I
would not, that I do. (Romans 7:19)

Now he can see that he has nothing of his own to stand on; his feet must be loosened from
the bottom of his own works. He must cast himself to swim in
the sea of grace, saying, “I am what I am through the grace of
God, and that grace has not been in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

A servant of the Lord, Juuso Runtti, wondered what fault
lay in him that he could not enjoy the happy feelings of grace.
He heard a voice saying, “Juuso, you are foolish to search for
one fault in yourself; don't you know you are one big fault with
God?” His heart was warmed when he realized this; he rejoiced
to hear God's Word when he felt so sinful and unworthy.

It is an eternal truth that whenever a person grows in Christ
he diminishes in himself, and grace abounds more and more.
As we begin to see the wretchedness within ourselves and then
see how God has cast all our sins and sinfulness upon His Son,
as we read in Isaiah 53, Jesus becomes our all in all. Now is the
vessel cleansed from within so that the outward life becomes
upright and a glory to God.

When we grow in Christ all else becomes as dross and to
know more of Him becomes most important to us. Our salvation
is not based on changeable feelings, but on the knowledge
of Jesus, whom God has made to be unto us wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). In
this knowledge there is much room in which to grow; that is, to
know the Jesus of the Bible who is the Savior of sinners.

Sometimes a child of God must believe himself righteous
even though he feels that he is filled with demons, and again his
feelings of grace are so overwhelming that the vessel of clay
nearly bursts with joy. We understand that we are saved by
grace, whether downcast with temptations or in the heights of
joy.

When we grow in grace in this way, we are growing unto
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Ephesians
4:13) Such a Christian is not easily swayed by winds of doctrine
and can judge all matters by the Scriptures.
Jesus says, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and
they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my
hand. (John 10:27-28)

the late Janne Marttiini

The Weekly Diner

2010-08-25T13:32:00.002-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

First of all, I want to thank you for your prayers for safe travels as we traveled for two months around the USA. We have arrived safely home. This was a time that was very blessed, and the visiting of the congregations was very heart warming as the fellowship was wonderful! The Christians in America surely are in prayer for each of you!
This week our article is written by a guest pastor.
May God Bless your week! JR

OPEN OUR EARS, LORD!

The Bible is full of stories in which God is involved in one way or another. And every story is full of meaning and purpose. One of these stories to taken from the Gospel according to St. Mark. It reads as follows:

“And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.” (Mk. 7:31-37)

At the beginning of this chapter, Pharisees were murmuring to Jesus that his disciples were not walking according to the tradition of the elders because they ate with unwashed hands. Jesus challenged them about the hardness of their hearts, closing with the words—“he who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (See Mk. 7:1-16 to read the entire episode!):

Jesus and his disciples, after traveling to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon where he healed the demon-possessed girl, returned to the area of the Sea of Galilee. Someone begs Jesus to lay his hands on a man who was deaf, because of an actual physical malady, Jesus, being all wise and all-knowing, takes into account this deaf man’s limitations. So to let him know what he is actually going to do, he took him away from the crowd. This man needed to understand that he was the special object of the Savior’s love; no longer just one in the crowd, but one to whom the Lord desired to direct all his attention. Also, this man’s condition required absolute isolation from anyone and anything that may have created a distraction.

Then Jesus put his fingers into this man’s ears and after spitting touched his tongue to let him know exactly what parts of his body he was going to be dealing with and the results of his action Because this man could not understand language, he needed “sign language.” Then Jesus looked up to heaven and sighed. This man needed to know that what was to transpire would be an act of God. In fact, it would be a re-creative act of God. Just as God at the beginning breathed and Man became a living soul, so by this breath of the God-Man, Jesus, this man’s creatureliness would be restored. He would become a full man.

Finally, Jesus spoke the word, “Ephphatha,” an Aramaic word meaning, “Be opened!” Here in an area that was a mixture of Greek and Jewish cultures, people would know that the mercy of God belongs to anyone, irrespective of their culture or condition. Physically hearing the instant this word was proclaimed, this man grasped the truth of God’s grace.

Since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, may the Lord have mercy on us that we do not become dull of hearing. While it is true, as Luther has stated in the explanation to the Third Article of the Creed, speaking about the work of the Holy Spirit that “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him,” we do need to hear, read, and study the Bible so that we have the Word of God in our minds that the Holy Spirit can then use to draw us to the Lord.

The result of this miracle was immediate, as it is with any of God’s miraculous work in our lives. And this man began to speak plainly. His prior condition of deafness made his speech garbled. Now that he heard plainly, he could also speak plainly. And that’s how it is with us, as well. Until we clearly understand the message of our salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we will not be able to clearly and distinctly proclaim that message. So help us, God! Amen!

The Weekly Diner

2010-08-10T15:30:00.002-04:00
Dear Readers around the world! God’s Peace be with you!

This week we are preparing to go a youth camp where 250 or so of the youth of our church will be gathered. Please pray that the time together with this important generation of the Lord’s church is blessed by the power of the Holy Spirit!

As summer is more than half way over now in the USA, we soon will be turning our attention to many of the tasks that begin again in earnest in September. The article below lets us know that whatever things we are given as tasks to do on earth, or whatever may befall us in the way of hardships, God can take care of all things! He is concerned even with the little things in our life! May all praise, honor, and glory go to Him for His great Grace!

Please enjoy the article by our guest Pastor Nathan Juntunen

Little Things

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2
Corinthians 4:17)

The choice of the word "light," above, is simply astonishing.
For Paul used it to describe the nature of the Apostles' dire fate of rejection and death for the sake of Christ. How many of us, in the middle of trial, could accept an appraisal of our woe as "light"? Yet, this is precisely what Paul was inspired to believe in regard to his own woes.

Even the severest of trials—beatings, imprisonments, severing of limbs and
family ties, and yes, even death itself— are counted as "little" and "light," indeed, for they are all nothing but momentary. It is only in the eternal Christ where these temporal weights lose their enormous pull and become as the gnat upon the shoulder of the great ox from Aesop's fable who replied to his transient guest, "I neither noticed when you landed, nor will notice when you leave."

The trials of this life, in contrast with our eternal reward, are likewise minimized. The faith of Christ grants a release from the gravity of earthly trial in exchange for a new center of infinite gravity that has come and even now draws us with cords of love. As the Lord draws us toward Himself, it cannot be but that the things of earth will grow "strangely dim."

Among these "dim" things ought to be our appraisal of death. Having been released in Christ from its frightful grasp, we are not longer to treat it with the awful majesty of which it falsely boasts. The emotions we experience in relation to it or any other difficulty are not, however, disqualified; for Paul encourages us with the sympathy of Christ Himself when he pleads with us to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15).

Nor do we dismiss Christ's own emotional conflicts: His exasperation with His own generation at their lack of faith, His anger at the money changers who defiled His Father's house, His grief over the lost city of Jerusalem... but... standing over against all this emotional conflict, all this grief, anger and rejection to which Jesus submitted Himself, sharing flesh and blood with us, He bids us, here, to give these things their proper place, assuring us that none of these provocations are ultimate.

Isn't this what is in the heart of the Apostle Paul as he, in another place, calls us to celebrate our possessions in Christ, one of which includes death itself? Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or
things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. (1 Corinthians 3:21-23) Who would celebrate death as his own possession except he over whom death holds no threat or power?

Who would dare make such a strange claim? Those who are Christ's have the daring, even audacity, to belittle the false majesty of death and loss, ruin and chaos. These things
are all, in reality, very little, indeed "light," for the one whose mind is set on things above (Colossians 3:2).

We are convinced of the true littleness of our trials only in Him and by Him who has already both suffered and triumphed over them all—rejection, dread, death, hell... He is risen victorious from the dead and has transferred ownership of all things into the hands of His own who can now confidently join the Apostle's song, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Pastor Nathan Juntunen
Vancouver, Washington

The Weekly Diner

2010-08-03T19:44:00.003-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

The Lord has blessed us with another week in and of His Grace! We are so thankful to the Lord for allowing us to visit several more churches in the USA that are part of our church federation. So many have asked me to share their greetings and love with all of you! Please remember all American Christians in your prayers.

Today, our article is written by Pastor Chuck Bylkas who is also a member of the Central Board of our Church Federation. Please enjoy! John R.

Mercies of God

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, withcheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (Romans 12:1-9)

In the latter portion of his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul gives a significant challenge to the church. He calls Christians to a radical life of service. Paul beckons us away from the world, so that we might live lives in accordance with the will of God.

But how can we do this? No matter how hard we try to be faithful to our calling, we slip and fall. In the weakness of our flesh, we find ourselves to be like the Apostle Paul: For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (Romans 7:15) This statement from Paul is not some sort of false modesty, but rather a declaration about the truth of the human condition. Because of sin, we cannot follow the commands of God by our own efforts.
The key to understanding Romans 12 can be found in verse one, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God...

What are these mercies of God? They are the mercies that Paul describes in chapters one through eleven. Paul tells us that no one can save himself and everyone is a sinner (ch. 1-2). He then tells us that it is faith in Christ Jesus that justifies us in God's sight, not the works of the Law (ch. 3-4). Paul then instructs us
that God's gift of grace in Christ is far greater than the power of sin and death (ch. 5). Now, through the death and resurrection of Christ we are united with Him (ch. 6). We still struggle with sin (ch. 7), but we are not condemned by God or the Law, because we walk by the power of the Holy Spirit (ch. 8).

God's mercy is given to everyone, both Jew and Gentile (ch. 9-11). So then, Paul tells us that because of all of these mercies of God, we are now able to serve Him. Our efforts gain us nothing, while God's effort gives us everything. Because of God's mercy we have been forgiven, justified and restored. We live this new life of servant hood because of who we now are in Christ Jesus.

May God grant us grace to always abide in His mercies.

Pastor Chuck Bylkas
South Range, Michigan

The Weekly Diner

2010-07-20T13:55:00.003-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace be with you!

Please continue to pray for our travels as we travel the USA on Foreign Mission duties. Our time has surely been blessed so far. This week again our article is written by a guest pastor.
May God Bless your week! John R.

BANKRUPT DEBTORS IN NEED OF FORGIVENESS

How amazing and wonderful is our precious and gracious Lord! Try to put yourself into his sandals. John the Baptist, having been imprisoned by Herod, had just sent servants to Jesus to ask him if he was the one to come or were they to look for another (Lk. 7:19). Jesus continued healing those who came to him (Lk. 7:21) giving evidence that in and through him the kingdom of God had truly come among them.

Then Jesus commended John to the people (Lk. 7:24-28). This commendation triggered a joyous response in the hearts of the publicans (tax gatherers) and others who had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected and reacted against Christ’s commendation of John (Lk. 7:30). In fact, Luke records “…the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him” (that is by John) (Lk. 7:30).

Then an amazing turn of events occurs. One of these Pharisees invites Jesus to his house for dinner. Can you believe it! This critic of Jesus and resister to the grace of God extends an offer of fellowship to Jesus! And Jesus goes! Why? Because there is no one whom God does not love. This critical, hard-hearted, stiff-necked, self-righteous Pharisees needed this love of God more than he realized. Jesus does not avoid extending God’s grace and love even to those who hypocritically feign love for him. For him to go to Simon’s house was not condoning Simon’s philosophy of life, but an opportunity to reveal to Simon a more accurate portrait of the nature of God.

Then God, orchestrating circumstances so beautifully, draws “a woman in the city, who was a sinner, and knew that he [Jesus] was sitting at meat in the house of the Pharisee, having taken an alabaster box of myrrh, and standing at his feet behind him weeping, began to wash his feet with tears; and she wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the myrrh” (Lk. 7:37, 38).

The critical, judgmental Pharisee immediately concludes that Jesus is no prophet, much less the Messiah, for he has no knowledge about this woman. And this opens the door for our Savior to tell the parable that followed (Lk. 7:41-50). Both debtors are bankrupt; unable to pay their debt. So, in that sense, both are the same. Be our sins many or few; great or small as far as Man’s idea, no one is righteous before God.

James writes that “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (Ja. 2:10). Undoubtedly the Pharisee thought he was morally superior to this woman. But in God’s eyes he was no more righteous than she.
Whether Simon, the Pharisee, ever understood it or not, we don’t know. The point of the parable is not to make a judgment between the two debtors, but to point out the greatness of God’s mercy and grace. Whether like Simon, the Pharisee, or this woman, we all need forgiveness for our sins.

Though this Pharisee was convinced that Jesus was deceived by this woman’s signs of remorse coupled with loving affection for her Savior, we know that Jesus knew this woman more fully than Simon. And once again the truth is revealed—"...God demonstrates His own love for us in this: “…While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Ro. 5:8). The Lord... is longsuffering..., not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pe. 3:9) God loves the contrite heart and the broken spirit, for the contrite heart and broken spirit he will not despise (Ps. 51:17).

This woman knew her sinfulness but, also, the greatness of God’s love and mercy! Her worship of the Lord, flowing forth from a heart set free from carnal bondage, demonstrated her joyous and grateful heart. A heart set free through the assurance of forgiveness.

Jesus has suffered and died because of and for our sins. And his blood is the only blood by and through which we can truly be forgiven. Dear reader, don’t run away from God or try to bury your sins! Come to the Savior who lives in humility in your believing brother or sister, receive the forgiveness for your sins in the Name and through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and the righteousness of God, peace, and joy will fill your soul.

The Weekly Diner

2010-07-06T11:13:00.002-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! This week our article is written by Pastor Orval Wirkkala. Please enjoy!

Training, Teaching and Transition

2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

We recall in our school days of relay races and of the baton that was carried by the runners which was handed off by the one who was finishing to the one who would be continuing the next portion of the race. In order to make the transition, it was important that they synchronize their efforts so that the baton would not be dropped in the exchange ensuring that the race would continue on smoothly.

In our text today, we could compare this example with the "passing of the Gospel" between the Apostle Paul, who was imprisoned as he wrote this, and his young co-worker, Timothy. As Paul saw the end of his ministry in the not too distant future, he wrote a letter to his beloved son in the Lord in order to leave him with some important teachings concerning the Gospel. For he knew of the importance of making sure that the teamwork of preaching the gospel was kept intact so that the power of the Gospel would not be diminished in the transition from himself to his young co-worker.

After recounting that the authority for his call into the ministry was by the will of God according ot the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, he extended the grace, mercy and peace to him from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. He was thankful for Timothy, he remembered and prayed for Timothy, and wanted greatly to see him again, for it would bring him joy. Then Paul listed four influences that were instrumental in the life of Timothy which had brought him to the place where he was, a servant of the Lord.

1. He was nurtured in a Christian home. (5)
2. He had been befriended by the Apostle (2-6)
3. He had gifted by God with according to the measure of grace. (6)
4. He acted upon that which God had gifted him with discipline (6-7)

The Apostle sets before us the desired method of the Lord in that we would raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord so that from generation to generation the Gospel would be "handed off" to the next servants and would not be dropped. May the example of the Apostle Paul instruct us today as we consider this teaching from our place of participation in the work of the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Are we in the beginning of the race, in the middle, or are we nearing the end? May we be mindful of the privilege that is ours to be in the race as well as of the responsibility of our commitment to the continuance of the race into the future.

Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Running with you in the Gospel,

Pastor Orval Wirkkala

The Weekly Diner

2010-07-02T10:38:00.003-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace! This week our articles is written by a guest Pastor. Please enjoy and may God Bless your week!
John R.

GOD CALLING YET SHALL I NOT HEAR!

This parable is in response to the comment made by one of the guests during the meal put on by a prominent Pharisee to which Jesus had been invited. Jesus was saying to him that bade him, “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Lk. 14:12-14).

Having said that, “one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.” vs. 15). Jesus uses that opening to alert the crowd to an event that would have eternal consequences. (Read Luke 14:16-24!)

Reading vs. 16,17 within the context of this parable it is clear the “ certain man" represents God, the father. - Jesus deliberately makes the man anonymous so as not to “cut off” the ears of the Pharisees who were already suspicious of Jesus’ divinity and, also, to emphasize the point of the parable—the graciousness of the host.

The supper in this parable is the call to salvation requiring nothing on the part of the guests except a willingness to come. The responses to this invitation indicates a universal stubbornness. "they all.with one consent.." not just a few! It reveals the self-centeredness of people generally: the importance of one's own agenda.
The first said, "I've bought a piece of ground and I must needs go see it" (vs. 18). Real estate and riches in this world is more important than a place in heaven.

The second said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen and I go to prove them" (vs. 19) . This man was must have been rich and had a huge farm. He was too busy: farm work becomes more important than the salvation of our soul.
The third said "I have married a wife therefore I cannot come" (vs. 20). A temporal relationship takes importance over an eternal relationship. Jesus challenges this, too in this chapter, (vs. 26) saying: - If any man come unto me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
None of these excuses was acceptable. A day of reckoning was coming!

(vs. 21-24) “The servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.’ The privileged ones--those first invited are the losers.
Those who have no claim or right are the winners—the poor, the crippled, the blind (vs. 21b) – those whom society tends to reject for from a natural point of view they are a burden; they contribute nothing. This brings to a head the point of this parable. The invitation is not based on a person’s worth, or status, but on the grace of “the certain man.” Are not we like these poor, crippled, and blind? (Read the story of Mephibosheth – (2 Sam. 4:4; ch. 9)

The door of grace has not been closed! There is still room at the cross today! God's grace is universal. How beautiful are those words the songwriter has penned in the song, “There’s Room At The Cross For You!) How many times have you been invited and have turned down the invitation? Come now! Make no delay! Jesus is calling. The "day of grace" will one day end. The call to salvation must be joined to a warning of rejection: "today if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts" (Heb. 3:15). The close of heaven's doors to mankind will not be because heaven is full, but because no one else will respond.

The Weekly Diner

2010-06-23T14:41:00.003-04:00
Dear weekly readers! God’s Peace!

In a few days my son and I will begin two months of travel by car as we do church visits around the USA. The purpose of the trip is to help raise awareness in congregations about the work that the Lord is allowing the Foreign Mission of the ALCA to participate in, in His Vineyard around the world. My urgent request is that you would remember us in your prayers, and that the work would be blessed by God.

Also on this trip we will be at the Annual Convention of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America (ALCA). During these four days of meetings and services, many sermons will be preached. Please pray that the power of the Holy Spirit would be present, and all in attendance could be feed and nourished by our Lord! If you want to listen to archived recordings of these sermons, email me at foreignmission@comcast.net in late July and I will be glad to give you the information of how to do this.

Since all this travel will make my time very short for the next two months, I will be using articles written by other pastors and believers for the “Weekly Diner.” I will still publish it weekly however, but the day you get it may vary from Monday to Thursday depending on the daily schedule and internet access availability.

For this week, I will not have a long article, but just to ask you for your prayers. They are so important to the continued Work in the Lord’s Vineyard. Please remember that the USA is in a time of a poor economy, and we must all realize that we all need to join in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. We want to be obedient to the words of our Lord Jesus, in both times of plenty and in hard times! Jesus only said, “Go ye into all the world,.....” He did not say to go only if the economic times are really good. No, we are to go by faith!

This week we were privileged to have a guest Pastor from Sri Lanka in our area. His name in Lynton. He spoke on Sunday night in the church that I attend on the power of prayer! He pointed out many verses from the Bible that show the amazing power of prayer. Please look up the verses on this topic in your Bible and you will be enriched by it. There are so many verses, but if you need, a topical Bible or a study Bible would help you find them. I could give you a list at some point as well if you need.

Pastor Lynton, then also shared with us a verse that goes along very well with the prayer topic. This verse lets us ponder the power of God. Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? Take the time to think ponder on this verse. Do so while you are still and quiet. I am sure upon reflection, you will agree, that NO, there is nothing too hard for God. Therefore, if you add to the fact that there is nothing too hard for God, to the part in His Word that says the prayer of a righteous man availeth much, there is much reason for both Prayer and Rejoicing!

Yes my friend, we can let the Lord take care of us! Yes, we can let the Lord take care of our friends and others! Let’s take all of our cares and concerns to our Lord in prayer, as we pray in Jesus name!

The prayers of the saints go up in Golden vials before God. So important are your prayers!

Please remember us in America in your prayers, and we will surely endeavor to remember you in ours.

May God Bless Your Week.

John R.

" The Weekly Diner"

2010-06-15T14:52:00.005-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

Jeremiah 15:21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

Such are the promises of our Almighty God towards us! We must remember that the God that made all the promises in the old times, is still our God today, …with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

So often the devil would tempt us and tell us that we are surely in big trouble! Yes, sometimes we are in trouble according to the way the world and we as people look at situations. The obstacles in front of us can seem so large and so burdensome. God’s promises are still for us at these times! He will redeem us. Will we give all of our cares over to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith?

Will we allow Him to deliver us, just like God delivered David from the lion and the bear? God gave David these experiences which helped to perfect his faith, so that when it was time to take on the giant Goliath, David was ready and faithful!

Dear Lord, let each one of us realize that each day the victory is won for us by what Jesus has done! Our salvation is complete. Jesus has delivered us and all believers from the hand of the wicked one! The victory is ours! We have been redeemed by the blood of His cross! We are delivered!

Dear Lord, give us the faith to believe this more and more clearly. We as humans are so often doubting and rebellious. We see this in the Old Testament with the children of Israel. When they turned away from God, they would be defeated and lose the battles. When they repented and obeyed God they would succeed and win the battles!

Lord, help us to turn to thee for deliverance! A favorite verse of my favorite president of the USA, Ronald Reagan was 2nd Chronicles 7:14. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

In many of our countries the governments have not been honest and upright. Our God is much bigger than governments. You will notice in this verse that God is talking to His people! Not governments. All of salvation, Godliness, blessedness and blessings, is individual. Even this verse gives us good reason to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We notice that if the people repent, sins will be forgiven, and their land will be healed!

This great work of repentance, forgiveness, and new life, is one person at a time. The consuming fire of the Holy Spirit moving in the hearts of men can then cause a movement, and our unchanging God will heal our lands!

What precious promises we have! Dear Christian, believe that you are delivered and redeemed! Dear non believer, Repent and believe the gospel, and you too can have rest for your souls! You too will be delivered from the hand of the wicked, and you will be redeemed from hand of the terrible one, the enemy of souls!

Come on me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 Such a sweet rest we have when we find our rest and comfort in our Lord Jesus Christ!

Let us lean on the sure promises of God, enter into the rest of Jesus Christ, and we will be safe and most blessed!

May God Bless your week! John

"The Weekly Diner"

2010-06-08T15:22:00.002-04:00
Dear weekly readers! Welcome to the Weekly Blog which now has a new name! It is now called the Weekly Diner! I have loved that portion of scripture when Jesus says “ Come and Dine!” Oh that we could dine on His word often. It is the prayer of myself and the Foreign Mission that many souls across the world could be fed and encouraged by this “Weekly Diner.”
This week our article is written by one of our former pastors, Pastor Alvin Holmgren. This faithful servant of God is now elderly and unable to preach, but thankfully we have some of his writings preserved!

May God Bless your week! John
Fellowship in the Early Church
Acts 1 and 2

The Scriptures give a very favorable report of fellowship in the early church. Jesus had numerous meetings with His followers in the
forty-day period between His resurrection
and ascension. Luke explains in the book of Acts that
these various meetings provided infallible proof of the resurrection
and gave additional opportunity for the Lord to speak with
His disciples of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Then in preparation for His ascension, Jesus told the disciples
not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the coming of the
Holy Spirit. They had been baptized with water, but Jesus
promised that they would also be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
The disciples were obedient to the Lord’s command. They
continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the
women and with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with His
brethren.

When the day of promise came, we are told that they
were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there
came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it
filled all the house where they were sitting. And there ap-
peared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon
each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

The power of the Holy Ghost gave the disciples the freedom
and courage to speak the Word to the multitude assembled that
day. Many hearts were pricked by the spoken Word and they
began to inquire, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts
2:37) Apostle Peter, the primary spokesman, said to them,

Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord
our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify
and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
(crooked) generation. (Acts 2:38-40)

St. Luke summed up the
effect of the Spirit’s power by saying, Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)
The Word of God teaches that faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the Word of God. God’s Word also teaches that
when we believe, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of
the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. But if
the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in
you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken
your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. The
Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that
we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:9, 11, 16-17)

Pastor Alvin Holmgren
Seattle, Washington
Archived writing

Suffering because...

2010-06-02T11:31:00.002-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

These days it seems our weeks go by so quickly! We are now one week closer to eternity than we were last week. We do not know if we will see next week, and we know the we are alive now because of God’s Grace! During our life here, we experience many things including sufferings. That is the topic of our article today, which is written today by a guest writer.

Please partake of the message from your “Weekly Diner.” (please let me know if the word Diner means a place to eat, like it does in our country. I am thinking of naming the Blog “ The Weekly Diner” and I would like your feedback on that!)

“Suffering because…”

Suffering is not a pleasant topic. Everyone experiences suffering of some sort. Some suffer more than others. The Old Testament patriarch, Job, is often singled out as one endured a great measure of suffering. Not only did he suffer the loss of health, wealth, and family. But he, also, suffered from so-called “friends” who became accusers rather than comforters.

We all know there are many reasons for suffering. But generally all suffering comes under four major reasons—1) suffering because of willfulness, 2) suffering because of circumstances, 3) suffering because of the love of God, and 4) suffering for God’s purpose.

Suffering because of willfulness is that which we reap because we willfully do or say something that causes us emotional, mental, physical, social, and/or spiritual pain. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (6:7). Whenever our carnal mind is in control we will suffer for our attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions. We can blame no one because we chose the course of action!

Suffering because of circumstances are unavoidable. Accidents happen, disease and illness attack, simply living in this “fallen world” can expose us to consequences over which we have no control. We may or may not understand the “reason” for what happened. If we know the reason and it is in our power to make some changes so that what happened doesn’t happen again, well and good. But we may not ever know the reason.

This brings us to the third general reason for suffering. We may suffer because of the love of God. This is one of the more difficult reasons for us to understand, but Hebrews 12:6 states that, “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.” We are to believe that our loving, heavenly Father needs to discipline us in order to deepen his work within us.

This suffering is tied closely with the fourth reason for suffering; namely, suffering for God’s purpose. This purpose of God is two-fold: a) internal and b) external. The internal purpose is the sanctifying work of God wherein we are being trained to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The more fully we know him, the more we desire to be like him, and the more our heavenly Potter will be transforming us into the image of Christ. (Read Romans 8:18-28.)

The external purpose of God is our daily, visible, inter-relationship with others as witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the evidence to others of Jesus Christ living and dwelling within us. How we relate to others; especially when under stress, will be a proof to them whether Christ is in control, or are we acting in the flesh. Of course, we all sin, we all fail, and we can be so grateful that there is forgiveness. We all need daily cleaning in the blood of Jesus. But, nonetheless, when Christ is the center of our life and the Holy Spirit is present within us, we are to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. (Rom. 8:9)

This inter-relationship with others includes both Christians and non-Christians. And since none of us as Christians is fully mature, even relationships with brothers and sisters in the Lord may lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, harsh words, anger, division. Hence, we may experience suffering. That can happen with non-Christians, also, but this is a different kind of suffering arising from those who are opposed to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even if we testify to others about Christ in a kind, loving, humble manner, some will react with scoffing, scorn, rejection, hatred and even physical harm. Most certainly this is suffering for God’s purpose since He does not want anyone to perish but that all would come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).

Suffering for God’s purpose is the highest level of suffering we will ever have in this world. Since our heavenly Father has established His Church, suffering for His sake has been and always will be our lot. Paul wrote to his young “son in the faith” saying: “…all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Please read the study the whole of Peter’s first epistle in the light of suffering for God’s purpose!

Praise God we have the comforting and assuring word of our Master that if we are faithful unto death we shall receive the crown of everlasting life. (Rev. 2:10) So help us God! Amen!

Rise and Walk!

2010-05-25T14:48:00.002-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers around the world! God’s Peace!

I sincerely do pray that the peace of God is in your hearts today! This is the peace that passes all understanding!

John 5:8 Jesus said unto him, Rise, take up thy bed and walk.

What amazing words for this man that was by the pool of Bethesda. This man had an infirmity for thirty eight years. Such a long time he waited to go into the water. This pool was such that when the angel stirred the water, the first man to enter into the water would be healed.

Jesus had asked the man, Wilt thou be made whole? V6. The man answered, I have no man, when the water is troubled to put me into the pool. Jesus wanted to hear from the man with his own mouth, do you want to be made whole? Jesus already knew what the man needed, and he knew his heart. This man would not have been by the pool unless he had some measure of faith that the water would heal him. Just as God called to Adam in the Garden of Eden, where art thou? Genesis 3:9 Our God knows right where we are. Yet he calls out. He is still calling out for the lost, the hurting, and the sinner today.

Here Jesus came to this pool called Bethesda, which is the place or house of mercy. The God of all mercy, our Lord Jesus Christ, came to show mercy to this man. There were many other people there that needed healing. John does not record whether or not Jesus healed any others. From this we see that each person needs to be healed one by one. Each individual heart needs to be mended one by one. As in this text, the first person into the troubled water was healed. As individuals we must face our Lord!

Oh that all mankind would come face to face with our Saviour during the time of mercy and grace, as this man did. The Bible says that unto me every knee shall bow……. Isaiah 45:23 So important it is if one by one we would humble ourselves as great sinners during this time of mercy and grace! Soon the day of Grace will be over, and the Lord will come again in the eastern sky. Then it will be too late! That will be a great and terrible day of the Lord. Much like the day that the door on the ark was closed; no more could get in when the rains came. When Jesus come again, it will be with power and Great Glory! The day of grace is then over, no more can enter in.

Once this man with the infirmity spoke of his troubles, his problems, what did Jesus do? He listened to his confession. He listened that the man had faith that if he could get into the waters, that he would be healed. Jesus listened, heard, and showed great mercy!

Jesus said unto him, Rise, take up they bed, and walk. V8 Jesus did here what He came to do! In Isaiah 61:1 we read how He came to ….. preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prisons to them that are bound.

Are there any of us reading this today that are bound? Satan has so many ways he desires to keep us bound. It may be the sins of this world, the pride of life, the deceitfulness of riches. It could be depression due to our physical illness, or so many other things. Are the waters of your heart troubled today? Will you preach today in a way that will stir up thoughts and movement in other people’s hearts? Remember, one by one we must each turn for help!

It is such a glorious Gospel then that we can hear from the ambassadors of Jesus Christ, as from God himself, when they proclaim to the dear poor, weak, sinful one; believe that Jesus died for you. You can believe that by the power of Jesus name, His completed work on earth and on the cross, and by His own precious shed blood, all of you sins are forgiven! He has come to set the captive free!

What a joy when sinner mankind can then be set free by Jesus, and can Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Immediately the man was made whole, took up his bed, and walked. V 9 When the heart was ready, when it was prepared, and when Jesus spoke to him, immediately he was made whole. No more waiting was needed. His time of turmoil was past, the day of rejoicing is now!

Dear reader, no matter how long you or someone close to you has had turmoil and troubles, this can all be over as soon as the Lord fills us with His Holy Spirit. Enter into His Rest. Enter into His peace!

Notice the man carried his bed. He did not leave it behind. This I believe signifies that we still carry our fleshly portion with us, and we will until we die. No, life will not be perfect, we are still sinners. However, when we have been made whole by the merits of Jesus Christ, we are perfect in God’s sight, and now we are only waiting for Jesus to come take us home to worship the Lord forever in heaven above.

May God Bless your Week! John R.

Oil in our Lamps

2010-05-21T09:25:00.002-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

“Oil for the light”… Exodus 25:6

We remember from scriptures that the wise virgins had oil in their lamps and the foolish virgins did not. Dear reader, the oil is the Holy Ghost. Without the Holy Ghost, which is the third person of the Godhead, there simply is no light. It is impossible to light our light shine, unless we have been anointed by the Holy Ghost.

Let us pray that each one who calls themselves a Christian would know that no matter what we may do, we are not capable of being a light to the world without the Holy Ghost.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5

The light of Jesus shines through us by the power of the Holy Ghost! Always remember that the Word of God and the Holy Ghost agree in one. We cannot say that we are following the leading of the Holy Ghost if we are doing against what scripture records.

Let us all pray that beginning with ourselves, that we would earnestly desire to keep our light burning. Keep reading God’s Word, keep praying, keep fellowshipping with other believers, and attending the church services. These are all ways that we are fed and nourished from His word and are ways by which we are given strength by God to continue on in the battle against the enemy or our souls, the world, and our own flesh!

Let us also pray for our pastors, leaders, fellow congregants and other Christians, that they too would understand the importance of having this oil in our lamps.
Pray that they would have truth, life, joy, holiness, love, knowledge, and the many other attributes and characteristics of one that possesses the light and becomes like a sunbeam!

Galatians 2:20 says: “ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ which liveth in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Are we living by the faith of the Son of God? If we are, then we have the Holy Ghost and the oil is in our lamps. Then we can truly be a light unto this dark world! There is no other way!

We have a children’s song in America that talks about being a sunbeam for Jesus! Our small children often sing this song. I will put a copy below since it seems fitting to our topic today! Perhaps you can teach it to your children and Sunday School children.

Let us let our light shine! The sunbeams of the morning pierce the darkness! It shows light to the lost. There is hope for the sinner, those lost and weary souls. Dear reader, if you do not yet have the light in your heart, remember, today is the day of Grace! Seek the Lord while He may be found! Seek Him out where He is today, in the heart of a true Christian Brother or Sister! Call out today, repent and believe the gospel!

May God Bless your week! John R.

Verse 1) Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, To shine for Him each day; In every way try to please Him, At home, at school, at play.
Refrain: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam; A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for Him.
Verse 2) Jesus wants me to be loving, And kind to all I see; Showing how pleasant and happy His little one can be.
Refrain
Verse 3) I will ask Jesus to help me To keep my heart from sin, Ever reflecting His goodness, And always shine for Him.
Refrain
Verse 4) I’ll be a sunbeam for Jesus; I can if I but try; Serving Him moment by moment, Then live with Him on high.
Refrain

Love

2010-05-11T17:13:00.001-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11

Our message today is about the perfect love of Christ! It is in only when we know the love of God that we can truly love one another. Please enjoy learning today from Pastor Orval Wirkkala. May God Bless your week! John R.
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If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:1-4

A couple of weeks ago, I heard a pastor make this comment concerning the above portion of Scripture:

"If we consider our spouse more important than ourselves, they will know that they are important to us." This is how he explained the last part of the third verse, in which it is written, "but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves."

As I thought of what he had said and of its significance in our relationships with one another, the words of Apostle John came to mind as to the definition and foundation of love:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1 John 4:8-11)

Our Creator sent His Son into the world to reveal His seeking, forgiving and accepting heart of love toward us. He wishes through His Son for us to know and experience this forgiving and accepting love toward us as it was revealed through the Christ on the cross. God views His new creation through Christ and desires that all would come to this knowledge of acceptance in Christ. As it is written:

to wit, 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. 2 Cor 5:19

Do we understand what this means for us today and for all the peoples of the earth? Have we come to experience the full impact of the meaning of how God has received us in Christ? That we are no longer his enemies, but He has become friendly toward us because of the work of His Son in doing the will of His Father through the cross? He is waiting for us to accept this gift through repentance toward Him (turning away from and turning toward Him) and faith in Christ. (acceptance of forgiveness through Christ's offering of Himself)

When we come to know, understand and experience the love of God in His forgiveness and acceptance, we come to experience our true worth in the sight of God. Because we know that we are extemely important to Him, we live in the experience of that relationship of being accepted in Christ, and this is on a continual basis. For God looks upon us through His Son, of whom He testified: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17 Do I believe this? Do you believe this?

And if God welcomes us into this fellowship, how can we than not welcome all even as we have been welcomed? Therefore, when we are in Christ, we consider others more important than ourselves and we exhibit this through our desires, motives and actions. May the life of Christ in us be evident to all that we come in contact with in our daily lives.

May God bless you in Christ today and always!

Pastor Orval Wirkkala

True Life!

2010-05-04T15:39:00.003-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

Spring is here in New Hampshire, USA! The leaves are coming back unto the trees, flowers are in bloom, and the grass is growing! What a wonderful time of year. This time of year reminds me every year of the New Life we have in Christ Jesus! Just like the seeds sown, the must die, then new life comes forth! The same spiritually, as we read in 1 Cor. 15:22 (KJV)
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Our article this week is about True Life! It is written by Pastor Wayne Juntunen. Please enjoy! John R.

Who is living? You or Christ!

Isn't it amazing how slow we are to learn? God gave me the grace to repent and believe in Christ and know Him as my Savior a few months after mine eighteenth birthday. By that grace, He has been working mercifully and faithfully in my life so that to this very day I know how much He loves me. Throughout my life as one of His disciples, the Lord has taught and shown me many things. Yet through all these years of being a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, one thing I have known, more in my head than in my heart, is a truth that is now imbedded within me.

Just recently the Lord has brought to my mind a thought that has transformed my way of thinking about myself and my life in this world. It's a thought that has made a great impact upon me, and I want to share it with all of you because I believe many, maybe most, of us do not fully realize its importance. This thought is based upon the statement made by the.Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians. He wrote: “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me...” (Galatians 2:20a).

We all know that Jesus Christ is a real person! When He, God, became incarnate in Christ Jesus to live on this earth, upon fulfilling the will of the Father as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, He returned to heaven to live a life he had never lived before. Because since His birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension, He is and will be forever both God-Man. But, also, after His ascension, Christ lives in every believer in and through the Holy Spirit. And since the Holy Spirit, who is also a real person, has come from the Father and the Son (Jn. 15:26), this means the entire Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, dwell within us (1 John 4:13-16).

So what does all of this mean in a practical sense? It means what the Apostle Paul stated to the Galatians— Christ lives in us! And it is exactly this reality that has such a far-reaching, astounding impact. Because of our fallen nature, we tend to be quite self-centered. We think more highly of ourselves than we ought (Rom 12:3; Phil. 2:3). We often are more concerned about our own interests than the interest of others (Phl. 2:4). The fact that the Apostle Paul wrote these exhortations to Christians shows that even as believers, we walk in the flesh rather than in the Spirit (Gal. 5:13-16) at times.

But we have been “crucified with Christ.” So WE NO LONGER LIVE! It is Christ who lives in us! Dear brother and sisters in Christ, do you understand what this means for your everyday life in this world? When Jesus Christ declared that He is “the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:25). that didn't just mean the future only. Jesus Christ is today and every day our resurrection and life. This is what the Apostle Paul meant when, quoting one of the Greek poets, he said that in Christ “we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Simply put, everything we are involved in; whatever decisions we make; whatever we are doing, Christ is doing it!

Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which means we are the vessel or instrument by which and through which Christ now lives in this world. Our responsibility is to be obedient to the voice of his Spirit and maintain an intimate fellowship with the Lord so that he may continue to live His life through us in this world. (Jn. 14:12). The “greater works” are not greater in nature but greater in number.

So our daily prayer ought not to be what we can do for Christ, but that we can be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit so Christ can do what He wants to do through us. We don't do things “for Christ.” We live a life of daily communion with the Lord trusting that as He leads us, we will be doing what He desires. And by this obedience our spirit is filled with joy as co-workers with Christ. He supplies the wisdom, direction, power, etc.; we supply a body [implying our mind, will, and emotions] as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is [our] reasonable service” (Rom 12:1).

Pastor Wayne Juntunen

Enter into His Rest!

2010-04-28T10:56:00.003-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers around the world! God’s Peace!

As we journey through this life day after day, week after week as God gives us grace, we experience so many things. We may be very busy with many pursuits, many of which are necessary, as well as many that are non essential. We may have sorrows, sadness, trials, and temptations. We may have joy, reasons for happiness, and reasons for rejoicing. There are so many different situations in life that we find ourselves in.

Dear readers that are followers of Jesus and those reading that do not yet follow Jesus. I want to talk to you today of rest! Rest for your souls! Is it not time to rest? Have you had enough yet of this worlds problems? Are you ready to rest?

Who has the right to be at rest and peace?

We know that scripture says in Galatians 6:7-9
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Are we listening and sowing to Spirit or to our own flesh? If we are following the Lord, the following promise is for us!

Jeremiah 6:16
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…

God’s word even tells us what to seek:

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

When should we seek and call up the Lord?

Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

When we have called upon him, repented and believed, then what have we entered into? What do we still have to do?

Hebrews 4:9-11

9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Is it always easy to believe that this rest is for us? No, but Hebrews 4 verse 11 says
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Read and believe scriptures about this rest!

There is no escaping Almighty God by trying to work our own way by some other method. Dear readers please understand that God sees and knows all!

Hebrews 4 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

As the followers and believers of Jesus, we have the greatest power by our side and going before us. He knows all of our struggles, temptations, and problems. Turn to Him, our Great High Priest for help!

Hebrews 4 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

There is always help at the throne of grace for the sinner. Call upon His holy name! Come to the throne of grace! The veil has been rent (torn) the throne of Grace is open today! Call upon the Lord! You SHALL find REST!

Call out with your mouth! Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Seek Jesus; He is in the heart of the believers through His Holy Spirit. Confess and believe!

What a beautiful thing when no matter where in the world we live, what we look like, what language we speak, the facts written in these verses above are eternally correct!

So many wonderful promises and certainties are recorded in God’s Holy Word for us!

Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Live and be at Rest!! May God Bless your week! John R.

Road to Emmaus

2010-04-14T09:19:00.000-04:00
Dear Weekly Readers! This week our article is written by Pastor Wayne Juntunen. Please enjoy as we remember the mighty happenings that took place after our Lord's resurrection! May God Bless your week! John R.

AN EMMAUS WALK NEVER TO BE FORGOT!

Two disciples on an afternoon stroll from Jerusalem to Emmaus had heard some amazing things that morning. Some of the women had returned to the disciples to say they had “seen a vision of angels, which said that he [Jesus] was alive (Luke 24:23). And some of them, especially Peter and John, who were with them went to the sepulcher, and found it even as the women had said, but they didn't see Jesus (Lk. 24:24). They were saying this to Jesus whom they did not recognize. To them he was a stranger.

Undoubtedly Jesus chose to remain “a mystery man” to them for at least two reasons—1) to give these disciples an opportunity to talk about their understanding of what had happened during the past few days; 2) to provide Jesus with “an opening” to help them understand what happened in the light of the fulfillment of the Old Testament thereby making their faith more sure. (See 2 Peter 1:19). While they thought this “stranger” was the only one in Jerusalem who didn't know what had happened, in reality Jesus was the only one who did know what had happened.

What a special few hours for these two disciples! May it bring comfort and encouragement to each of you to know that Jesus cares about you as much as did for these two. Though we may be as sad, disheartened, confused, or bewildered as were these men, Jesus loves us and will draw near to us and walk with us to encourage, enlighten, comfort and guide us in our walk of faith. Because we all see through a glass darkly (1 Cor. 13:12), we constantly need Jesus to draw near to us. And He does so through His Word and the Holy Spirit. Life is so filled with so many trials and tragedies only the assurance of Christ's presence with us can help us to go through them.

While the hearts of these two disciples burned within them while Jesus talked with them and opened to them the scriptures (Lk. 24:32), they still did not know this was Jesus speaking to them. When they reached their home in Emmaus, Jesus “made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent” (Lk. 24:28, 29). Jesus went in to spend some time with them and “as he sat at meant with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him” (Lk. 24:30, 31).

Can you imagine how important it was for these disciples to invite Jesus into their home; even though they didn't know it was Jesus? Jesus, the gentle Lamb that he is does not and will not impose himself on anyone. Even with the Laodicean Church, of which we read in the Revelation of St. John, Jesus said: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20). Jesus may walk with us, talk with us, open his Word to us, but until we long for him to enter our homes, our hearts, our lives, we will never truly “know him.” It is a precious and blessed thing to know the Scriptures as they speak to us about Jesus. But we need to know “the Christ” of the Scriptures in a real, personal relationship.

When these disciples knew Jesus as the once crucified, but now the resurrected, living and actual Messiah, Jesus could leave them. And their personal experience with him was so powerful, they hastened back to Jerusalem, probably as fast as their feet would carry them, to tell the others that the Lord is risen indeed!

May this glorious message of the resurrected Lord have such a powerful impact upon us that we, too, will hasten to tell others this Good News! Everyone needs to know that Jesus, our crucified Savior, is living. And he longs to dwell within us for it is in him that “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Or as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans: “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (11:36)

Pastor Wayne Juntunen

John 12 1-3

2010-03-30T16:39:00.002-04:00
Dear Readers around the world! God’s Peace!

During this Holy Week, I am so thankful that we have the Holy Word of Almighty God that we can read and hear preached from so we can learn ever more about our His great unending love for us. While we were yet sinners, Christ died of us! May the life of Jesus, His suffering, His death on the cross, His victory over the grave, death, hell and the power of the devil, and His Glorious resurrection be revealed by His Holy Spirit to each of our hearts to an even fuller extent during this week!

This week our article is by Pastor Andrew Kandoll from Michigan USA

May God Grant you a Blessed Week! John R.
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Dear friends,
God’s Peace!

The Bible tells us a brief story about a family that Jesus helped in John 12:1-3: “Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. The Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the whole house was filled with the odour of the ointment.”

What a miracle occurred in the house of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Lazarus who had been dead sat at the table with Jesus to eat with Him. This is a marvelous picture of those who have been born again from the death of trespasses and sins to sit with Jesus in heavenly places.

Ephesians 2:4-10 says: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

When Lazarus was raised from the dead, his heart was filled with love, thanksgiving, and praise for the Lord Jesus Christ. He sat with Jesus. Martha and Mary also showed their love by serving and worshipping Him. This love for Jesus and desire to be with Him is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 23: “ The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”We are filled with love for Him who has loved us first that we might love Him. We have joy in fellowship with God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3,4). Jesus forgives us and gives us peace that the world cannot give. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” John 14:27a.

Dear friend, have you been raised from the dead like Lazarus, been born again from God, and received the forgiveness of your sins? Jesus is powerful to save, forgive and wash you clean through the blood that He shed on Calvary’s cross. Believe in Him today, praise, worship and thank Him always, and sit in fellowship with Him and His people.

In God’s precious love,
Pastor Andrew Kandoll

Saved By Grace!

2010-03-24T10:38:00.002-04:00
Dear Readers around the world!

This week our article is written for us by Pastor Rod Johnson. As we get closer to the time of year when we gaze upon our Saviours’ suffering, death, and resurrection, we can really get a clear view of His great love, mercy and grace for us! The message of this season of Lent is who we are in Christ Jesus! Our Salvation is all completed, and it is by grace we are saved through faith! Therefore, I feel that even though this article is not for this time specifically, yet it is very fitting for this season.

May God Bless your week! John R.

FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED!
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14

I love the message of this text, for it puts all things in the perspective of God’s gift, will and desire for all of mankind! God’s amazing gift of grace provides all things necessary for our salvation. As it is written:
• Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. • Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The primary points of this passage:
1. Grace bringing salvation by: His work alone in Christ Jesus!
2. Grace teaching us denial: Of ungodliness and lust in this world!
3. Grace teaching us how to live!: Self-controlled, upright, (soberly, righteously) and godly lives in the present age
4. Grace teaching us what to look for!: “The blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”5. Grace teaching us, how it was accomplished!: “He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people …..”6. Grace teaching us, what kind of people we are!: “A peculiar people, zealous of good works”We may then ask, “What else is there that we are to do?” The Lord tells us in the next verse the fulfillment of all things, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 It is His work (For we are his workmanship) by which we are transformed into His image (created in Christ Jesus) that His will would be accomplished to His honor and glory and the exaltation of His Son Jesus Christ, as Lord! To be transformed into His Image cannot be done by our works. Not by the keeping of the law, or to minister His Word, or loving our neighbor, or anything else, but only by His work of grace alone.

Yet in love for Him, because He first loved us, as a fruit of the faith He has given to us by grace, we desire to submit ourselves unto His will to do what He sets before us! Praising the Lord for His Grace!

THIS IS WHAT IS SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE! Therefore, let us praise the Lord!

Saved By Grace!
In His Love serving Him!
In Service to His People,
Pr. Rod

Christianity Begins at Home!

2010-03-10T15:17:00.001-05:00
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

Well, our mission group has safely returned from a wonderful mission trip to India! God truly blessed the trip. During this trip about 10,000 people came to the services. We also had pastors training for about 300 pastors. What a blessed and wonderful time the Lord allowed us to have by His great grace! Please pray the God would add His blessings to the words spoken even now after we have returned home.

To the others in India and neighboring countries that I would have loved to visit on this same trip, please be forgiving and understand! This trip was for 3 weeks and every day was booked solid. The Foreign Mission did not have extra funds or time to visit more than we did on this trip. I pray that someday we could visit your area also. We must trust that the Lord will allow for that in His time! His timing is always correct, and we must be still and know that He is God!

This week I am very busy trying to get caught up on my administrative work. Therefore, I asked for articles from some of our pastors and God provided a willing servant to send me an article for this weeks blog. His name is Pastor Wayne Juntenen. Please enjoy! John R.

Christianity Begins at Home

Many times in the Bible we can read how important is the home in the eyes of God. God begins with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:26 - 3:24) from whom have come all nations, kindred, peoples, and tongues. But as they yielded to Satan’s lie, the effects of that “Fall” infected all of creation and home life became a battle ground. And from there the infection of sin has spread to all peoples.

God, the All-Knowing, All-Powerful, and Everywhere Present Lord of all, provides the blood sacrifice Himself in and through Jesus Christ to reclaim and restore all that was lost in the Garden of Eden. Jesus, God in the flesh, is born of a woman. A new home begins through Mary and a substitute father, Joseph; God, the Father, being the true Father. Even though Joseph was not the true father of Jesus, it was necessary that he be a godly man. The beginning of the Gospel according to Matthew records a long history of Joseph’s godly heritage (Matthew 1:1-16). Mary, too, came from a godly heritage being a relative of Elizabeth (Luke 1:36), the wife of Zacharias, a priest, whose genealogy would go all the way back to Levi from whom the entire Old Testament priesthood started.

While it was important that the home was a godly one into which Jesus was to be born and in which he would be raised to manhood, the timing of Mary’s conception was, also, important. Engagement in Bible times was as binding as the marriage, itself. So it was important that Joseph and Mary were engaged before the angel brought the message from God that she was to conceive a son through the power of the Holy Spirit. Had it occurred before Joseph and Mary were engaged, Joseph could simply separate from her and have no further connections. He would be breaking no law but Mary, quite likely, would have been stoned to death -- the punishment for adultery (Deut. 22:23). Or at best she would have been left to raise Jesus outside of marriage. God waited until they were engaged to guarantee the marriage, although an angelic message to Joseph was necessary in order for him to understand the reason for Mary’s pregnancy. Mary was not to raise Jesus as a single parent. Beginning with Adam and Eve, the blueprint for marriage is one man with one woman for life. Children need both a mother and a father for proper nurturing.

As Jesus began the work of saving creation and mankind from sin, death, hell, and the devil, the first miracle he performed was at a wedding. (John 2:1-11) Why? Because only a home where Jesus Christ is present can mankind’s history and civilization, itself, survive and flourish. In every home where Christ is not enthroned as Lord, there the fruit of our fallen nature will reign. Since the original home from which God was to build humankind had departed from the word of the Lord, Jesus, the Word made flesh, began in a home at a wedding to reveal both his human and his divine nature that was needful not only for life after death, but life before death. For, as the Apostle Paul said in his sermon to the gathered crowd on Mars Hill in Athens “in Christ we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

While Christ, through his life, suffering, death, and resurrection, has finished the work necessary to save mankind from his destructive course, each of us is still responsible to be the “doers of that Word” (James 1:22). And the Bible is full of instructions as to how marriage and family life is to be carried out in the home. Each of us has a responsibility to live in harmony with God’s Word as parents, children, brothers and sisters within a household. It has been said, “The light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home.” May the light of God’s Word, the two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), penetrate into our hearts. And as it reveals our thoughts and intentions, may each of us yield to its truth. The only way Christianity can spread is from heart to heart, from house to house because the church, as a body of believers, is only as strong as each household within it. Then out of each heart and out of each home, Christianity can then spread to the neighborhood, the community, the nation, and the world.
May God Bless your week!

The Evidence of a True Christian

2010-02-09T16:36:00.003-05:00
Dear Readers around the world! God’s Peace and Blessing to you. We are living in the days of the King! The King is the Lord Jesus Christ! Glory be to God!

This week, I come to you with a prayer request. Myself and a group of 5 other Christians will be leaving on Sunday for a three week mission trip. Please pray for this journey, for health and safety for all. Please pray that the Word of God would be preached in truth and purity and that God would be glorified during this time that is made possible through His Grace.

If some issues of this weekly blog get missed, it is because I am out in the Mission field and may not be able to write or post issues. Today our article is written by Pastor Wayne Juntinen. Please enjoy!

May God Bless your week! John

The Evidence of a True Christian

Many call themselves “Christians.” Being called a Christian began at Antioch. Paul had been preaching and teaching there for a whole year. And people who were not believers in Christ began to call these disciples, or learners, “Christians” (Acts 11:26) because the Holy Spirit, through the preaching and teaching of Paul, gave these hearers who responded to the Word of God the grace to believe in the crucified and resurrected, Man-God, Jesus Christ, as their Savior and Lord.

This change in the spirit of these disciples is the evidence of being true Christians. We all, if we call ourselves “Christians”, have this inner testimony. This is what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote in his epistle to the Romans saying: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God” (Ro. 8:16).

This witness of the Holy Spirit within us works in our mind, will and emotions. We have the mind of Christ (2 Cor. 2:16). But because we are still real humans who still have a fallen nature, we do not always live in obedience to the will of God. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to the Romans that by the mercies of God we would be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Ro. 12:2).

The Holy Spirit, also, works in our will. But in order that we would do what God wants us to do and not do what he does not want us to do, even if it might be something good, we are to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Read Galatians 5:16-26. Thanks to God there is forgiveness for us when we sin, but we don’t have to sin. God, the Holy Spirit, works within us both to will and to do his good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).

And as we live in obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, our emotions are also affected. We have an inner joy. In fact, the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10). Furthermore, we have an inner peace; a peace that passes understanding. It is the peace that Jesus, Himself, gives (Jn. 14:27). It is a peace that cannot be taken from us (Jn. 16:22), even though we go through suffering, sorrow, and want.

All of this points to the greatest truth in all world--that God loves us! And it is this love that is to flow out of us as the external, or outward, evidence of being a true Christian. Jesus, Himself, said: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (Jn. 13:35).

The Apostle John, in his first epistle confirms this by saying: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God” (1 Jn. 4:7). This love towards one another is not merely in words, as John also writes: “My little children, let us not love in word neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 Jn. 3:18).

Our heavenly Father desires that our love would be a true expression of His love. Paul describes this as being “without dissimulation.” or “without hypocrisy” (Ro. 12:9). That means that it is an expression of love that is genuine. It has no selfish, self-centered motives, impure, or wrong reasons. It is a love of another because God loves him or her. We don’t love so we can get some benefit for ourselves because true love never loves to “get” but only to “give.”

Also, true love speaks “the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15); especially when sin needs to be brought into the light so it can be confessed and forgiven in the name and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 1:9; Jn. 20:23).

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, may the inward testimony of Christ living within you fill your hearts with righteousness, peace, and joy. And may the love of God flow out from you as a fountain of water to refresh and bless one another. Amen!

Rightful Ownership

2010-02-03T11:25:00.001-05:00
Dear Readers around the world. God’s Peace and Blessings to this day of our Lord!

Have you ever had something that you owned and treasured? Today let’s explore this issue of rightful ownership.

In the beginning God created the world, the entire universe, and all that was or ever will be. He looked and said it is good. Then God created Adam and Eve. We read how God said, let us create man in our image. God molded and created us to be like Him. Then God looked and said it is very good.

God has created each person on earth in His image. We must agree that this is good and that God is the rightful owner of His creation. God created us in His purpose. However, God also put choices before man.
We can see in the Garden of Eden the choice had to be made as to whether or not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. To eat meant to reject the will of God and to decide for themselves what is good and what is evil.

Mankind still today still struggles with this battle of good and evil.

The Bible tells us in Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
There is none good, no not one. However, this is why the Great Shepherd of the sheep has come!

There are certain fundamentals of human life even today, before God and Satan. 1) the one you believe is, is the one you obey. 2) The one you obey is the one you become like, and the one who becomes your owner 3) The one you become like, is the one with whom you will spend eternity.

Who is your King? There are only two choices. There is one that is the Truth and then there is the Liar. The True King, the Lord God has these characteristics; Light, truth, goodness, love, creativity and life. The false king, Satan is darkness, a liar, full of evil, full of hate, loves to destroy and murder.

When we think of the Kingdom of God, we believe that the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The Kingdom of God is His Kingship, His rule, His authority. We are in awe of God’s power, His might, His Glory!

This is the rightful King and ruler! It is under His rule that true believers belong! He is the Creator, the Savior, and the Redeemer! The devil thought he had won the battle when Jesus died on the cross. He falsely assumed that man will be lost forever. He could not have been further from the truth.

By His death, Jesus destroy’s Satan right of ownership over humans. The document that was against us is Satan’s certificate of ownership. (our sins). Jesus Christ melts and dissolves this false ownership in His own blood! The victory is won! Jesus is victorious and He lives!

This offer stands for unbelievers today!
Mark 1:15
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Under whose authority and Kingdom do you belong today? Is it God’s? Remember, sometimes we feel weak and poor, but be encouraged because it says in Luke 6:20
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Believe and share the following! Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Our God, our Creator, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, has rightful ownership of you!

Come to Him humbly and just as you are. We know that it does not take great learning or head knowledge to be in the kingdom of the KING! Luke 18:16
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Dear reader, the time is short. All of the prophecies of Jesus have been fulfilled except the last one, which is that He is coming again! His coming must be first preceded by Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Matthew 25:31 (KJV)
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

What a day that will be when our Saviour we see in that beautiful city of gold!

May God Bless your week!

JR

To God be the Glory!

2010-01-27T08:46:00.004-05:00
Dear Readers around the world! God’s Peace be with you!

Glorify God. That is our topic today, and I pray that it would be your focus, topic, and your hearts desire not only today, but every day. To God Be the Glory!

Let our prayer be as such;

That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6

Even the very death on the cross of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, gloried God!

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. John 21:19

The earth and the heavens declare His handiwork! The Old Testament is full of this word Glory, all of which is the Lord’s!

Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. 2Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. Psalm 29:1-3

In the New Testament, often when Jesus healed someone, He said that it is for the reason that it would glorify God. John 11:4

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Let us learn from our Master!

Even is our prayers, let us gaze upon our Father. Look to His Glory, His strength, Glorify Him, understand that He can provide, that He is in charge of our lives, and is in control of the whole earth.

Let us try to remember not to approach God only with our needs, our desires, our problems and situations, but let us remember that we can approach Him in Praise of His Glory! His Power, His Majesty, and His Might! Our God is all powerful, He has promised and will provide! Let us trust in Him!

When we share about Jesus with our congregations, our towns, villages, family, co-workers, schoolmates, or anyone else, let is be all about Him! Romans 15:9

And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

1 Cor. 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

What is that price? Jesus Christ! Our Redemption cost Jesus Christ His life. We repeat! 1 Cor. 6:20

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Yet, Salvation for us is free! Isaiah 55:1

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Are there any thirsty today? Come just as you are. No money, no price is required. Repent and Believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Acts 3:19

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Jesus is in the saving mood still today! I trust that you believe this! If so, share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world for the Glory of God!

All Glory and Honor be to God today and always!

Hallelujah, Amen!
JR

Behold Your God

2010-01-20T15:03:00.002-05:00
Dear Readers around the world!

The text of our article this week will be Isaiah. Ch. 40:1-11.

The book of Isaiah is such a wonderful book. Many of my favorite verses are recorded in this book. I desire to list a few of these here:

1: 18 Come let us reason saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool,………

Ch. 6 Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His Glory

Ch. 12 Read all 6 verses and notice the Wells of Salvation

Ch. 53 Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? V5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, each one to our own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all!

Ch. 55 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price

Ch. 61 The Sprit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath appointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound, To proclaim the acceptable year of our Lord…….

Ch. 66: Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.

Before we go into the 40th chapter I would like to point out some interesting facts about this chapter and the book of Isaiah.

The Book of Isaiah has 66 chapters just as does the entire bible has 66 books. Also, there are 39 chapters before chapter 40, just like the Old Testament. Those first 39 chapters are written in prophecy style similar to the OT in general.

Then starting with chapter 40, Isaiah becomes the book of comfort, like the New Testament. Starting with chapter 40 there are 27 books, just like the New Testament Our God is surely a God of order!

Now when we look into chapter 40 Please READ V 1-11 and preferably the entire chapter, in Jesus name!

We will not look at this portion in an historical perspective, but rather how these verses apply to the hearts of men today.

1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Our God is a God that wants to comfort us when we need comforting. When we are in times of mourning, times of hardship, times of financial distress, times of hunger, or in some other season, God wants to comfort us! Notice the words my people, and your God. Such a God we have that He personally wants to care for us! He is our Father.

2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. Jerusalem was the center of the church and God’s people in those days. Where is the center of Christianity today? It is the church, which is in the hearts of his people that are believing by faith in the complete redemptive work of the Lord Jesus. God wants to speak to our hearts; He wants to speak to our families, communities, and villages through His Word and through His believers.
What is this most comforting message that we should CRY out? The message is that ones sins are forgiven, sins are pardoned; forgiveness is received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins! Not only is our sin forgiven, it is forgotten! Not only is our guilt removed, the power of sin over can be removed! Sin is not only forgiven, it is forgotten and removed. There is not a more comforting message that that our sins are forgiven by and through the Name and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ!

3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. You remember John the Baptist in each of the four gospels! He was a messenger, a crier to point the way to Jesus. We too can be messengers! We can point to Jesus! Proclaim Him loudly to all! Let them know that there is a better way, which is life in Christ Jesus. He is the Way the Truth and the Life!

4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: God is the God of the mountains, which can be those good times in our life, and He is the God of the valleys, which are those bad times in our life. He is in control in all situations, and He can lift up and bring us down, (humble us) if that is what is needed.

5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
6The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Our God is so mighty and powerful. He created all things. He is over all and above all. We are but grass, we pass away quickly. The Word of God shall stand forever! His Word is the Eternal Truth. His Word is true, yesterday, today, and forever.

9O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Behold your God! He is all powerful, and He is able and willing to save! Lift up your voice and proclaim him! Cry out, be a witness!

10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
As mighty and strong as our Lord is, He is also so tender and loving. Jesus paid it all, He is the Great Shepherd. He will reach down, pick us up, and carry us when we need to be carried! Do you hear His voice? Follow the Good Shepherd. At the end of life He will carry all who believe in Him by faith all the way to our final resting place in Heaven above.

Please read verse 12, and the rest of the chapter. It shows God’s mighty power so clearly.

Dear Readers! Behold your God, and wait on HIM!

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

May God Bless your week! John

God is in Control

2010-01-13T08:56:00.001-05:00
Dear Readers around the world! This morning my heart is heavy for the people of Haiti whom are suffering badly due to the massive earthquake. I have been in contact with people in the hardest hit city in the last year or two, so my prayers are for them, their families, and all the other suffering people. May God grant that country help from others, and a peace and strength to go through the very difficult days ahead.

Since I had these thoughts, when I found this article written by one of our Pastors, Joel Kandoll from the state of Washington, I thought it was fitting for today!

May God Bless your week. John

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven
and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that
keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the
Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite
thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve
thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall
preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth,
and even for evermore. Psalm 121:1-8

The Psalmist here describes the preserving hand of the
Lord as we travel through this life. Often as we experience
trials and afflictions we need to be comforted; we need to be
once again assured with the many promises found in His Holy
Word. Our natural tendency may be to struggle alone against
those things which may come our way, but how good it is if we
recognize that we have a great true Friend in the Lord Jesus
Christ! And that as Jesus lives in our hearts by faith we also
may be true friends to one another by assuring one another of
the Lord’s deliverance unto salvation.

Here in this psalm we are taught to look unto the Lord, the Creator,
the One who has made all things, even as it is recorded in Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

God has created all things by the power of His Word, and He continues to hold all things in His hand. We need not fear that He has lost control, that He is no longer able to rule all things; and we need not fear that He is not able to help us or sustain us. God is an eternal being and, as stated in this psalm, He does not slumber or sleep; He does not become tired or weary as we do in our natural bodies.

As age advances upon us, we find that the activities that were so easy when we were younger now seem to take so much effort, and some activities we find we are even unable to do anymore. This is not so with the Lord our God; He is unchanging, the same yesterday, today and forever.

Let us look unto the Lord always for the preservation of our souls, as He shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Pastor Joel Kandoll
Castle Rock, Washington

Armour of God

2010-01-04T14:09:00.002-05:00
Dear Readers around the world! May God Bless you and yours with a wonderful and blessed New Year in the Lord! This week our article is written by Pastor Orval Wirkkala. Please enjoy! John

Dear Brothers, here are some thoughts for us to consider as we look to the future.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesian 6:10-11

As we enter a new year in the Lord, we face it in confidence and hope because the Lord is strong and powerful. As we go into the new year, our expectations are built upon the promises of the Lord for the future, rather than upon that which has happened in the past. Yes, our circumstances may remain the same as we begin this new year, but as we have seen in the lives of people throughout history, circumstances are always changing. Sometimes for the worse, but mostly for the better. The experiences of Christmas equip us for the year ahead, for we are called to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might!!

As we celebrated Christmas this year, did we not receive much encouragement from the mutual sending and receiving of Christmas greetings through cards and gifts? Yes, we did. These times of fellowship one with another are helpful for us in that they point toward the reason for our hope and away from the cause of our pessimism toward the future. There are many modern forms of communication today which the people living in the time of the early church did not have for their use. But even if they did not have all of that which we have, they had that which our Father has ordained for the purpose of communicating with us: Language..They communicated in the same way that people have for all of time: With words. And they wrote and received letters, in whatever form they had at that time.

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Christians at Ephesus in the early church years. In his conclusion to the letter, he counseled them with these words: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.Ephesians 6:10 After writing these words, he went on to say that they should "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." And why we must put it on: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:11-12)

He then goes on to list the 7 parts of the armor which he had called for them to put on, emphasizing that they are to put on the "whole" armor. Here are the seven which he listed:

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, (1) having your loins girt about with truth, (2) and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 (3) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, (4) taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 (5) And take the helmet of salvation, (6) and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 (7) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

As we consider this letter which was written to the Ephesians (and to us)by Paul while he was in prison, we can appreciate his giving heart which we see reflected from the words he wrote while imprisoned:
"Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. "Ephesians 3:13

The driving force of his life was that those to whom he had been called to serve would be pointed to the source of Hope and Joy, Jesus Christ. He outlines this in this letter to the Ephesians in a systematic manner, first establishing their position in Jesus Christ through faith, pointing out to them of how the body of Jesus Christ (the church) works together in common love and purpose. Then in the conclusion, calls them to stand in that which God has done for them, is for them in Christ and is doing through them as the body of Jesus Christ. As reflected in the verse above, he did not consider his life important, for he spoke to the elders of the Ephesian church in the book of Acts in this manner as he said farewell to them as he journeyed toward an unknown future in Jerusalem: "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24

May we read and meditate on these verses which have been given for our teaching and edification. May the Spirit of Christ dwell richly in us today and may it be reflected by our understanding of who we are within the body of Jesus Christ. Yes, the armor must be put on individually, but it is through the corporate body that we gain and have more strength as an army as opposed to acting on an individual basis. May this letter be read and reread by us so that we will understand clearly as to what it means to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Let us read, meditate upon and pray through Paul's prayers for us in 1:15-23 and 3:14-21 and his call to prayer in 6:18-24. His prayers focus on our increased awareness of the power of Christ which we possess being in Him and that this power is brought forth among us and through us through the serving of one another within His body.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.

Love,

Orval Wirkkala

Blessed New Year!

2009-12-29T16:29:00.001-05:00
Dear Readers around the world! The entire Foreign Mission board prays that each of you would have a most Blessed New Year and that the light of the world, Jesus Christ, would be shining brightly in and through each of you!

This week our article is written by the late Reverend Andrew Mickelsen. He was truly a beloved Pastor from my childhood and he was a most faithful servant of the Lord for many years! Please Enjoy, John

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people
Israel. (Luke 2:29-32) The first thought revealed to us in this text is this: Simeon was ready to depart in peace for he had seen the salvation that God had prepared before all the people. What greater blessing could befall man than to be ready to depart in peace from this world of sorrow and sin and to dwell in the land of the righteous forever? This was the goal that Simeon had sought, and it is the goal toward which all true Christians
are striving. Is this the goal toward which you are
also striving, dear friend? If it is, let us examine how Simeon reached this goal.

The Holy Ghost had revealed to him that he would not see death until he had
seen the Lord’s Christ. When he saw the Savior, on whom all the promises of the Word
of God hinged, he was ready to depart in peace because he had believed those promises.
This is what happens to all who see the Lord as He is: full of grace and truth. They find
the peace of God that drives away the fear of death. Have you seen the Lord in this
manner? You may think this is impossible because He is not in the flesh as He was in the days of Simeon. But does not the Bible say, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people?

Therefore all may see Him. But do all know Him as their Savior? Great multitudes saw Him when He was here on earth, but did they know Him as their Savior? He performed
miracles and wonders that never had been seen before and He spoke as no one had ever spoken before. But Simeon knew Him though he only saw a babe in the arms of His mother. This teaches us that some requirements are needed in order to come to know the Savior when He appears to us. The Bible tells us that Simeon was just and devout, and the Holy Ghost was upon him. The definition for just and devout is one who is upright and impartial, devoted to studying and obeying the Word of God. Those requirements are necessary; namely, that we honestly and impartially study and obey God’s Word in the light and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Then we shall know the Savior whenever and wherever He appears to us. The natural eyes may see only a babe, or a Christian mother or father, sister or brother, but to the humble, sincere soul the Spirit reveals the Savior in and through them. The rationalist says that is foolishness. The atheist says that is superstition. The intellectualist brushes it aside as ignorance.

Apostle Paul says, The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (I Corinthians 1:25) Let us take St. Paul as an example. The Bible introduces him to us as Saul of Tarsus in the eighth and ninth chapters of the book of Acts. He had seen the Lord with His disciples, but did not know Him as his Savior because at that time he was not upright and impartial, although he may have entertained such thoughts about himself. He no doubt was sincere in his belief that he was serving God when he persecuted the Christians, but the Holy Ghost was not upon him, enlightening and guiding him.

Not until the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus in such brightness that his natural eyes were blinded did he know the Lord, and that not by sight for he was blind. He knew Him through the words of introduction revealed in His response to Saul’s question, Who art thou? when the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. (Acts 9:5)
Now, though Saul was blind, he received spiritual light and guidance to become upright, impartial and submissive, asking, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6) Jesus commanded him to go into the city and that he will be told what he should do.

Why did Jesus Himself not tell Saul what to do? Because He wanted Saul to know Him through His followers and His Word. Had He justified Saul on the way, he would never have come to know Jesus in His followers and would have taught men to seek and find the Lord in secret, as many teach today. This experience taught Saul to seek the Lord in His followers and to find Him in His Word. When he received the blessing of the Lord, he received his sight and the Holy Ghost by believing that the words which Ananias spoke to him were just as authentic as if they had been spoken by the Lord.

Therefore, Paul teaches, 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, (IICorinthians 5:20) and To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave
any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ. (II
Corinthians 2:10) Note that Paul says, forgave I it in the person of Christ. Thus from
experience he says, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Romans 10:17)

The light that shines from Jesus first enlightens the heart and conscience of man to take note of his utterly lost and condemned condition. Then it shows man what he must do to be saved. Therefore, Paul says, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God, (Romans 3:23-25)

and also these words, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7) Now the sinner becomes aware of the grace of God in the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace.

Dear friend, has the light of Jesus enlightened you in this manner? If so, you are indeed blessed and you have the peace of God, which is the peace of a good conscience. My new year’s wish for you is that you keep faith and a good, peaceful conscience to the end of your journey. On the other hand, if you have not been enlightened, pray to God that the light of Jesus may shine into your heart and that He would give you strength to repent of your sins and to believe them all forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. Then you also
will have peace in the new year that has just begun, and the Sun of Righteousness, which rose to its glory on the cross of Calvary, will warm your heart to sing His praise for the salvation of your soul throughout the new year.

May the peace of God be
in and with you all! Amen.
The late Andrew Mickelsen

Blessed Christmas Greetings!

2009-12-23T10:21:00.001-05:00
Dear Readers around the world! The Foreign Mission desires and prays that each and every one of our friends would have a most Blessed Christmas season. Jesus our Friend Most Precious, is the entire reason for this season! Jesus is also the entire reason that we get together for this weekly reading, and is why we desire to even worship together one day.

What a force for unity Jesus has been even this year, has He not? We are separated by many miles, languages, cultures, traditions, and so many other things. However, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can be one in Him.

What a difference the birth of Jesus has made in the world. Even people that do not yet believe in Jesus unto the Salvation of their souls, know about Christmas. There is no other figure in all of history that so many people know about. Even though many do not know him personally, He is so present that He is hard to miss. The fact that Christmas is celebrated so far and wide, must make many people at least wonder about Him at this time of year.

Even the calendar that we all use has the days of the week. Our maker, the one who created Heaven, earth, and all things, did all His work in six days and rested on the seventh. Calendars in all parts of the world have seven days per week. There is no escaping God’s greatness.

Also, we are now in the year 2009 AD. This date is related to the birth of Jesus Christ. Also, if you study the languages of the world, many words and sayings come directly from the Bible.

Have you ever wondered how a dog is a dog in all countries? What about a lion, tiger, elephant, cat, cow, or any other animal you want to name. They have the same name throughout the entire world. How is this possible? It is because of our Almighty God the Creator and Adam who named all the animals.

Now it seems like I have strayed away from the Christmas story. Not really, I do not believe. Can you agree with me that our Lord Jesus has always been and always will be? You can see in Genesis 1:26 that Jesus was with God even during creation, (note the underlined)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

As time went on, it was not long when man fell into sin. Remember Adam and Eve partaking of the forbidden fruit. Our wonderful Creator cared so much about us His created, that we know and believe as it says in John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This is how much God loves us! In order to make this become a reality, God in His infinite wisdom saw fit that He would send Jesus into the earth. Yes, He sent His Son Jesus as a baby so no man can say he is not worthy to come to him. This event we know very well and study especially during Christmas time when we celebrate his birth.

I will not go into the whole Christmas story now, but I just want to point out a couple things.

Remember John the Baptist. He was a forerunner, or a messenger of Jesus Christ. I believe each one of us can also be a messenger through the Gospel of Jesus that now lives within us in the form of the Holy Ghost. Spread the Gospel of Jesus in your neighborhood, in your villages, in your country!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is still as valid and worthy of praise today as on that first Christmas night when the angels proclaimed to the shepherd, Fear Not! The Lord is born! Oh that we could be the sounders of the trumpet to the lost and unsaved. Heavenly Father, use us as your mouthpiece to let them know of the Saving Power of the Lord Jesus!

The star showed the way to Jesus. The star lit the way for the wise men! Wise men today still seek the Lord. Are we willing to be used even as the star, to point the way to Jesus? The light that we have is not our own, and we know that scripture says in John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Jesus is our light. Dear Lord, even this Christmas season, let the Light of Jesus shine in us so brightly that He will draw all men unto him! John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Praise and thank God for the gift of Light, His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Together in His love, let us raise our voices of praise and thanksgiving in two words that we all share in common, no matter what our language is!

Hallelujah, AMEN!

On behalf of the entire Foreign Mission Board,
May God grant you a most Joyous and Blessed Christmas!

John Ruotsala, Administrator

THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS

2009-12-16T09:27:00.001-05:00
Dear Readers around the world! This week our article is written by one of our Pastors here in the USA, Pastor Phil Wilson. Please enjoy, and may the Lord Bless you and yours during this season and always!

The Joy of Christmas

It is difficult to look at the Babe, Jesus, lying in the manger, who possessed all
that is so endearing in a precious little one, while remembering the whole
message of the angel: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)

What message did the angel bring? The message of the angel bore our need for a
Savior, the promise fulfilled of a Savior, and what this Babe of humble Bethlehem must endure in being our Savior. What was given unto us that first Christmas day? A
reason to get together as a family, an excuse to lavish gifts on each other, a guide for our temporal lives, another helper in our life of goodness?

No, for unto us was born a Savior. It was not the poet’s intent, nor is it mine, to turn Christmas into Good Friday, but let us marvel in this: The plan of salvation, which was from the beginning, was set into motion with the first human breath of Immanuel.

After 400 years of no prophecy, the tender plant appeared out of a dry ground. The longawaited Messiah had come!

Oh, heavenly tidings of great joy could now be applied to the hearts of men!
But for this great joy to be realized, must this precious little Babe first be despised and rejected of men, must He appear before the chief priests, elders, and scribes,must He suffer in bearing our grief and sorrow, and must He die on the cross?

How much easier it would be if we could continue to think of that precious little
Babe of Bethlehem than to look at the suffering servant, but, by God’s grace, we can
look and still find joy. We have joy in this, that our sin debt has been paid, and death has been vanquished by the heavenly gift, enshrouded in mortal flesh but for a season.

It is not a grievous thing which God has revealed to us, for we know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (I John 3:5)

Enjoy the Christmas season as you gather with family and friends, sharing in
the natural gifts that we have been given. My prayer for your time spent, as well as
mine, is that we would use that time wisely; that we would read and reread the
old, old story of Jesus and His love, sing the carols of old, and teach our children what it cost for God to give us of Himself, and what it means to us as recipients of that gift.

The Christmas season gives us an opportune time to share the story of Jesus with
many: the clerk at the store, the bell ringer, the mailman, and our neighbor. As we may be caught in the hustle and bustle of busy malls and shopping, placed under the
burden and stress that the world has to offer at this time, and bombarded with “Happy
Holidays,” let us reply with infinite joy in our hearts.

We have already received the greatest gift offered to mankind. We have a Savior, who now reigns in the heavens and in the hearts of the believers.

He can be your Savior,too. What greater gift could be received or given?

In God’s peace,

Pastor Phil Wilson
Ridgefield, Washington

Prayer

2009-12-09T11:31:00.002-05:00
Dear Readers around the world! This week I feel led to ask all of us around the world to be united in prayer. We know that the world of God says in James 5:16… The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Since Christians know the power of prayer, it is a wonderful thing when we can pray one for another. The first most important desire and prayer that Christians have should always be as it is stated in Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

The people of Israel are God’s children. All people are God’s children, however not everyone has repented and believed yet. God created all people, and He desires that they would be saved! We truly desire that all would be saved. Jesus died for all! Please pray that more and more people would be become believers in the complete redemptive work of our Lord Jesus during the time of grace.

There are so many things that we can prayer jointly for! Imagine; Christians from all corners of the world praying to God in Heaven in Jesus name for the same things. I will list a few common items here.

Please pray for:
• The Apostolic Lutheran Church of America and it’s leadership and boards, and congregants.
• The Foreign Mission of the ALCA and its board and administrator.
• The United States so that it would turn toward God for strength and directions
• All the churches, pastors, and congregants that the Foreign Mission of the ALCA is in fellowship with in the following countries: Guatemala, South Africa, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, India, Russia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Sri Lanka,
• Pray that the word would be preached in truth and purity in all these countries.
• Pray for Foreign Mission of the ALCA’s work being done in China, Kenya, Pakistan, Haiti, Napal, Malawi, Vietnam, Congo, Mexico. Pray that the missions can expand further into these countries.
• Pray that the Foreign Mission in the future would be able to work in a greater way in even more countries as God leads. It surely is our desire to be obedient to the Word of our Lord Jesus when He said, “ go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
• Pray for mission work in your own neighborhoods and outback areas. Not all mission work has to be foreign, close to home is just as important.
• Pray for all Christian missionaries everywhere.
• Pray for the health and safety of all of God’s people in all of the countries listed above, as well as others not listed here that I may have forgotten to list.
• Pray for the children, young people, elderly, and infirm.
• Pray for the financial condition in the USA, that it would improve so more people can afford to support Foreign Mission work in the Lord’s Vineyard.
• Pray that the people in the USA as well as in all the countries that the Foreign Mission works in; would be lead to give financially to the church from their first fruits of God’s blessings. Remember the widow’s mite!
• Pray for all the other servants in the Church worldwide! The ladies in the kitchen, the cleaning people, and all those other so very important jobs that are so appreciated in God’s eyes.
• Pray for humbleness.
• Pray that we would not have envy.
• Pray that we would not be covetous.
• Pray for unity. Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
• Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5:17
• Remember God word says: 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. 2 Cor. 5:20 Pray for the unbelievers and backsliding.

• Pray for contentment

• Pray for Peace and Joy! (not only in this season but all year)

I need to stop due to length. We each have our own items that we can add to this list!

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 Thes. 3:1

May God Bless your week!

Password

2009-12-02T15:14:00.004-05:00
Dear Readers around the world! We are now entering into the Advent Season! We are so thankful for Jesus, that this time of year is quite exciting. However all who are Christians have the right to be joyous and at rest in Jesus all year long, not just in this season.

Yesterday I experienced computer problems in my office. The internet stopped working. For no real reason that I could tell, it just stopped working. The thing was, the computers still worked, the cables were all hooked up and everything seemed in order. I surely could not tell by looking or inspecting why the internet stopped working. Since my job demands that I always have internet access for communications around the world, this was quite a problem.

I earnestly set about to try to correct this problem. I spent a total of probably 6 hours on the phone during the course of the day and evening. I talked to people as far away as India and the Philippines that work for the customer service departments of these major companies.

Finally at the end of the day, a nice lady in the Philippines was able to enter the correct code numbers in the proper places in the multiple levels of internet security and set up, to make the internet work again. During this lengthy call I was able to share about Jesus, and she promised to come to our services in the Philippines in March. God is Good!

I tell you this story to make a point about Jesus, who is our passage to heaven. You see, even though a person may look good on the outside, and even though they seem to be doing all the correct things, this does not mean that they are saved. The good appearance and the works that they are doing will not amount to eternal salvation. Man can never work his way to Heaven. Ephes. 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

No, dear reader, without the Lord Jesus, no flesh shall be saved. In the picture about my computer, codes were needed to be put into my computer in order for it to work. Likewise, Faith of and in our Lord Jesus is the only way to heaven. Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Dear Reader, share with all whom you know about this passage to heaven. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If there is someone reading this today that does not know the way to heaven yet, the Holy unerring Word of God has the answers. Please turn to the Holy Bible and read it, and listen to the preaching from truly believing Christian preachers in accordance with Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Dear Pastor and readers, remember that God’s Word teaches us in 2 Cor. 4:5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Also Jesus said in Luke 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

We have been given the password and codes to get to Heaven. Jesus Christ is the Way! Let us pray together than many would yet come to faith before it is too late! Let the calling voice of our Lord be heard in our day and in this Advent season!

May God Bless your week! John

Jesus and the Woman at the Well

2009-11-24T13:43:00.006-05:00
Dear readers around the world. Thank you for your prayers for our travel to Guatemala. God granted us safe passage, and a wonderful time while we ministered to both Christians and those that are not yet Christians there in Guatemala.

This week’s article is way too long, more than double the normal length, so please forgive me for the length. I could not figure out how to shorten it and still complete the story. (Of coarse, it is still not completely said, that would take so much more writing!!)

This Thursday is Thanksgiving in the USA. This is when we as a nation pause to thank the Lord for the Blessings the He provides us. I am thankful for each of you that are in contact with The Foreign Mission through this method! May God Bless you and yours!

Jesus and the Women at the Well
This story found in John chapter 4 is another one of those wonderful portions of God's Word. So much is revealed here about the heart of our Lord Jesus. Let’s take a short look at this story, as the Lord permits!

We notice that Jesus was going from Judaea to Galilee. Verse 4 says the He must needs go through Samaria. Going through Samaria was the most direct route, but the Jews took the long way around because they despised the Samaritans. Since these people were only part Jewish, the Jews felt these people were a lower class people and wanted to have no part of them.

Our Jesus however, did not partake in these feuds; rather, he had a “divine appointment.” It was not by accident, or just to take the shortest way, that Jesus went by way of Samaria.

When Jesus got to Sychar, he came to Jacob’s well. Scripture tells us that Jesus sat on the well. Jesus is weary, He sat on the well. This show’s Jesus was true man. He was tired from the journey. This shows his humanity. He walked the dusty roads; he got thirsty, tired, and weary. Jesus has experienced all the discomforts, aches, pains, trials, and temptations that we experience today.

We notice in many places in the Bible that God, perfect in power, is also perfect in Love, and deals with us in our weakness, not His strength. Augustine wrote, “The strength of Christ created you, the weakness of Christ created you anew.” Jesus died on the cross for me (us/all)! He could have called 10,000 angels to destroy the world and save His life, but He died upon the cross for you and for me!

Notice Jesus was at the well alone. He was there before the woman came. He was there at the sixth hour, which was high noon. In Palestine no one goes out to the well at noon; it’s too hot. No one, that is, except a social outcast like this Samaritan woman. In this we may take heart: if Christ is willing speak to a Samaritan, a woman which is an outcast from society, just who is He unwilling to touch? No one!

Jesus was already there when the woman came. He was waiting for this sinful woman. It is no accident that Jesus was there. It was also no accident Jesus was there in the other stories in the Bible when He showed up to heal, to care, to save. Even today, Jesus waits for sinners in need, and is willing and able to forgive.

Jesus came by a way that a Jew would not come. He ministered in ways that the church in those days would not do. Can we agree, that we should also be ready to minister, and that we should minister in ways and places other than the customary, usual ways of the church. Jesus is always willing and able to listen and to forgive. He will never leave or forsake us.

Can we understand that Jesus loves all mankind? Here he says to the woman, Give me to drink. Jesus started the conversation. The Jews were not even supposed to talk to Samaritans, much less ask them for help. The woman recognized this right way as we see in verse 9. Then Jesus answered in: John 4:10
If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Living and eternal water is what Jesus offers. This living water is spoken about very often in the scriptures. Man often does not understand this even today. This woman surely did not understand whom she was talking to.

The women told Jesus that he had nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Jesus answered in John 4:13-15
Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Then the woman said unto him in verse 15, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Now she wanted some of this special water. She envisioned never having to drink again, or come to the well in public, where her shame would be shown. She did not yet see her sin; she was not yet penitent or repentant. She was not yet ready to die, so that she could live. Notice how Jesus dealt with her at this point. He wanted the process in her heart to proceed, but watch the gentleness with which he handled her. Love is a mark of Jesus. Jesus not only loves all of us, He loves each of us!

Now Jesus told the woman, go call your husband. She said I have no husband. Jesus already knew this, and He said you have had five husbands, but you said correctly that the one you are with now is not your husband. Jesus did not come down fiercely on her, but rather dealt with her with so much patience. He even found something that she was correct in saying, and gave her credit for that. Jesus put the best construction on her. Do we do this? Jesus goal was to get her to see her who he was, and that He could save her.

Let this be a lesson to all believers today. Let us deal with the sinner as Jesus did. Let us have patience, and above all point them to Jesus. The most important thing is that they would come to see Jesus, come to know Jesus by faith.

Let this portion of Jesus being able to see this woman's sin also be a lesson to people in our day. We cannot hid from God. Man sometimes think that they can have "secret" sins. Well, maybe they can be hid for a short while from people, but God sees all.

Now the woman understands that Jesus is a prophet. But she goes on to say again about the proper worship of the elders. She said they worshiped on this mountain, but you say to worship in Jerusalem. She wanted to hang on still to the old ways and traditions, but Jesus tells her what is important. In, John 4:21-24
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But 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. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Jesus gets to the point lovingly with this woman. He said you don’t know what you worship. Going through the motions and methods of worship is not enough. But the time will surely come that true worshippers will worship in Spirit and in Truth. God is a Spirit; we must truly worship in spirit and in truth. It has to come from the heart; it must be true and not false. It must be the One True God, no other God’s. Jesus is God. It is him that we worship! It must be real and fresh. It is not good enough to be just going through the motions because our family has done it for years. Our worship must be because we desire and appreciate the Living water, and that we know and see Jesus.

The woman now says that the Messiah is coming, which is called Christ, and He will teach us all things. She still could not SEE Jesus. Our loving Lord is so long suffering, He said, “I speak unto thee am he.” He wants all of us to see Him. What unending love and patience. He revealed Himself to this woman. Do we understand this? Do we see Jesus? Do we have this living water? Dear sinner, Jesus is calling for you, He is waiting for you! Do you hear him?

Now the disciples finally came back and started asking; why are you talking to this woman? The woman left her water pot, and went to proclaim about Jesus.
No longer was the woman concerned about the natural water. She had been in the presence of the one that could provide the living water, the water that will last forever. She no longer needed the water pot, since she had the Living water.

She was a sinful woman who came to the well in shame when she thought no one else would be there. Now she is leaving a new woman, and goes straight into the city in front of all the people and told about Jesus. She wanted to share. She could not be held back. She shared of Jesus. Do we do this? Are we so excited that we leave the church and want to share about Jesus? Let all bring their sins to Jesus, and leave them there at the cross. Let us leave all our cares and our burdens with Jesus, repent of our sins, and begin or continue to walk by the Power of the Holy Spirit going forth into all the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus to every creature.

If there are any reading this message, or that hear this message from you’re telling of it, who cannot believe, encourage them to go to a Christian or to a Christian pastor and confess their faults and sins. Dear Christian, encourage them with the blessed message of the Gospel that Jesus has forgiven all there sins through His death on the cross, the shedding of His blood, and through the limitless power of His Holy Name. Encourage the unbelieving sinner to believe this complete message of the Gospel for their soul’s salvation! The woman in our story was a great sinner. Jesus waited for her and spoke so lovingly to her. She saw Jesus! Oh that this story could repeat itself so many more times, that the sinner would see Jesus.

This woman became quite an evangelist. She went forth and presented Christ. Each one must come to experience new birth and Christ for themselves. She had now experienced so she went into the city to share, to witness! This woman proclaimed the Jesus knew all that she had done. She admitted she was sinful. She did not care who knew know, she had been visited and she had seen Jesus. She was no longer shackled by her sin.

Let us also be witnesses for our Lord. Let share with whoever will listen about the Jesus that knows all things, and see all things. Let us share about the Living Waters supplied by Christ Jesus. This is the water that when one has partaken, they will never thirst again!

In the beginning of this story, Jesus was thirsty and asked for drink. He did this so He could share of the Living Water. Do you know of someone thirsty that you can share with them of this water? Believe the Bible as it states in John 7:37-39
If any man thirsts, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Praise and Thank the Lord for the Living Water! JR