Easter - the Gift of Love ...

1 Peter 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”

Easter is a message with special meaning for Christians around the world. It is a message of God’s love for mankind, it is a message of renewal, it is a message of mercy and grace, it is the message of salvation.

It is a statement to the lost and hopeless that there is hope … a chance to start over.

It is the promise from God that though his people had a rocky beginning … they can have a glorious, eternity.

It is a gift from a loving Father to an errant child.

Nineteen years ago, this Easter 2012, I was the errant child (a 58-year-old child) who opened that gift. I never dreamed that the simple acceptance of an unearned gift could change a life so dramatically. I never dreamed of the love, forgiveness, acceptance and possibility that sprang out of that gift given to me and to all mankind 2000 years ago.

I never dreamed that by simply admitting that I was much less than my boasts proclaimed; simply admitting that I was a hopeless sinner who needed a savior; and, simply admitting that only Jesus could pull me through, that I would become a brother in Christ and have life everlasting.

You, too, can open that gift. Easter Sunday 2012 would be the ideal time to complete that act and begin again. Don’t let the chance go to waste.

As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15:10: “But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let His grace go to waste.” (The Message)

Happy Easter and Praise God!

Larry Abele – Editorial Team

I Resolve To ......

Here it is the second week of a brand new year. I have purposely waited to publish this post until most new year resolutions have been broken. Or, are you one of those who valiantly keep your resolutions. 

Possibly you are one of those who make them so practical that they can be kept … “I resolve to spend less time exercising.” “I resolve to watch more TV.” Or, maybe, like me, you usually find them useless and therefore make none at all. After all, it is just a new calendar … nothing else.

Paul sent me a note with his take on this whole process:

“Some time ago, I became somewhat disillusioned with the whole resolution thing. I've found myself to be pitiful when it comes to meeting these long term, sweeping and really rather undefined and general promises for change.

Those who actually make change do not vow to do so, since that places such changes in the future, where they can be postponed continually - rather, such people (of whom I'm rather envious), simply change. They alter their behavior in small ways on a day to day basis.

However these changes have their limitation. Real consequential changes, changes of eternal value comes not from within us … they come from the Lord.

King Salomon said; "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3: 5-6) These words capture the essence of my resolution for 2012 perfectly: to trust the Lord in all things and pray for Him to reveal the next step in our journey. Can't wait to see all of the “good” things that He has in store for our family this year!”

As I struggled with the highs and lows of this past year … from the birth of my first great-granddaughter to the tragic end to three of my best friends, I am reminded that life is fragile, for newborns and for young men … for the middle aged and for seniors. Let us not let the mechanics of living out-weigh the compassion of living. And, remember that the fruit of our lives will always be representative of the god we follow.

I am making a resolution this year … one that I know the Lord will help me keep … one that I encourage all of you to make. I resolve  to love deeper, to care more fervently, to give more unselfishly and to savor every precious moment that the Good Lord gives me.

And, as Paul closed his note …

“Larry and I pray that the year 2012 is a great year for you, a year in which you will come to trust in the Lord and experience the blessing of His leading.”

Larry Abele – Editorial Team

It's Good To Go Home

Both Paul and Betty and my wife, Sharon, and I have been doing some traveling this month. The Weresch’s are on an odyssey across the US and back across Canada taking the whole summer. Sharon and I traveled to Oklahoma to attend my grandson’s wedding. All four of us have marveled at the beauty of God’s creation. We have traveled through areas that cry out … confirming the power of the Lord … seeing new and different sights.

Isaiah 55:12: “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Yet, as our trip from Oklahoma City neared the end and we grew closer and closer to home, we began to look forward to our beautiful little valley, the rolling hills of wheat, the craggy canyons and wide flowing rivers, the awesome grandness of North Idaho … we were nearing our home and we were glad to be back.

Isn’t that the way we all are in our travels through life. The world offers so many wonderful things to woo us away from our home. We enter the world, we experience different things, we fight for position and for affection. We seek the approval of men and compete in the “rat race”. We become enthralled with sinful things, many times without knowing we are doing it … we have strayed from “home” … the bosom of God.

If, my friend, you have stumbled upon these words and you suddenly realize that you are a long way from home … or, if you have known for a long time and just don’t know your way back … there is good news. He is waiting. He is longing for your return … and He can’t wait to enfold you in His loving arms.

As the Lord told Israel in Hosea 14:1, “Return to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall!”

Stop in the road and do a “180” … and say: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.“ (Luke 15:21). That’s what the prodigal son of the Bible said when he returned … that is called repentance.

Remember the Father’s reply in verses 23-24? “Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” … that is called Grace.

"So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on him.” Hosea 12:6

Though your travels may have led you far away … you are now home

As Asaph wrote in Psalm 73:28: “ ... as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Welcome home weary traveler!

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

From the Little Church Down the Street ...

The elders of our local church have a standing account with the Thrift Shop in town. If the proprietor, a Christian lady, sees someone in the store that is in obvious need, she is to offer a bag of clothes or whatever else they might need, and it goes on the account.

This little gift has proven to be a wonderful testimony to the Grace of God. The highest the elders have ever had charged was $10.00 and most of those receiving the gifts only take $2.00 or $3.00 worth. For that amount they can stuff in as much clothing as a paper grocery bag will hold. The store owner lets the recipients know that it is an offering of love from the little church down the street.

As a harried young mother accepted her bag of winter clothes … two small children hanging on to her hands … she was heard to ask, "Why do they do this for me … they don’t even know me."

She was right … the elders probably didn’t know her. But, they loved her … not because they knew her … but because they knew their Master, Jesus Christ.

John described the Christian when he said "We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

God is described in Deuteronomy 10:18 as the one "… who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing."

John again, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7)

"We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." 1 John 3:16-18

Love does not ask how this young mother found herself in a position of great need. It doesn’t tsk-tsk over bad decisions she might have made. It just says … give. From your heart … give. Jesus Christ asked us to mold our lives here on this earth in an image of himself … and that is His image … one of love.

That is what Grace is all about … an unbending and undeserved love for all of us. All of us have made bad decisions … all of us have fallen short … all of us are the most dastardly of sinners. But, the love of God … Grace … trumps it all.

And, to that young mother and all who resemble her, God gives this invitation, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live." (Isaiah 55: 1-3)

That’s today’s message from the Little Church Down the Street.

Larry Abele – Editorial Team

Why Should We Pray For The Muslim People ...

Pray because God loves all people!
The scripture is clear, God loves the world … all people.

The New Testament makes it clear that both Jesus and his Apostles reached out to all people regardless of race or religious persuasion. Jesus further commanded his followers to go into all the world and make disciples of all Nation.

Like all humans, Muslims too have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. (Romans 3:23)

Like all humans, God loved them so much that He sent His son, so that those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life (John 3:16). (For further study read: Ezekiel 18:23. John 3:16-18. John 1:12)

Pray because Muslims also have a hunger for God!
Someone said: That every person has a void in his soul/spirit/life that can only be filled by God. The "God-shaped hole" is the innate longing of the human heart for something outside itself ... something transcendent, something "other." It refers to God placing "eternity in man’s heart."

God made humanity for His eternal purpose, and only God can fulfill our desire for eternity. That includes Muslims. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Pray because of the promise of God to them.
Many Muslims look to 'Ibrahim (Abraham) as "our forefather" (Romans 4:1). Since those who follow Jesus call Abraham "the father of all who believe" (Romans 4:11) … that makes us ‘cousins’!

God made this promise to Ibrahim / Abraham: "As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and I will make him fruitful, and I will multiply him. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation" (Genesis 17:20). God fulfilled this promise, for there are over one billion Muslims in the world today!

When God gathers all His people at the end of time, there will be representatives from every people group on the earth, "from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing before the Throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes – crying out in a loud voice, 'Salvation to our God who sits on the throne"! (Revelation 7:9,10)

Please pray for the Church of Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Church may rise to the Challenge and become all things to all people, that it may … by all means … save some. (1 Corinthians 9:20-22)

Paul

Pray for Egypt ...

As the difficult situation continues on the streets of Egypt, pundits and politicians are filling the air with their specific type of "knowledge" … demanding this and that; setting up this solution and that solution.

The Lord of yesterday, today and tomorrow had much to say about this:

God told Isaiah to send a message to the people in Isaiah … The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled) … The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear. Isaiah 2:12, 17-18

And, in 1 Samuel 2:3 you read, "Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."

If you read the story of Genesis 16 and 21:8-20 you will have some background into some of the troubles we face today in that region of the world … the story of Hagar and Ishmael.

There is definitely a war going on but it is God’s war … not ours. I doubt if God is going to put us in charge of a war if we haven’t even been able to complete the ONE task He has assigned to us ... that of spreading the Good News concerning His Beloved Son into all the world.

Unfortunately, this war has brought grief to millions of people in the Middle East, many who can trace their roots back to Ishmael, the son of Abraham. And, I know that God hears the voices of these helpless and needy people.

In the media, never once do you hear the one word that can mean everything in this tragedy … prayer! It is time we put aside our worldly arrogance, humble ourselves to God and pray!

And, pray for more than democracy … pray for the church to rise up and fulfill their commission … to proclaim the Gospel to the Muslims and Jews. We must pray that their eyes will be opened to the wonderful salvation of Jesus Christ.
Pray for Egypt, the church, all Christians and for all those in authority.

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:43-45

And finally from the words of James …

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3:13-18

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples ..."

An earthquake matching the power of several nuclear bombs struck the island nation of Haiti about 5:00 PM, Tuesday, January 12th. According to the U.S. Geological Survey report, the quake was centered about 10 Miles southwest of Port-au-Prince and reached a magnitude of 7.0.

The Red Cross has estimated that about 3 million people, amounting to one-third of Haiti’s entire population, have been affected by the quake. Although it is too early to tell, some officials feel that 50,000 to 100,000 people have lost their lives. Haiti is the most impoverished nation of the Western Hemisphere and this quake has dealt them a tremendous blow.

Those are the hard details to date that you will see on various news outlets. However, the final and most important detail of all is … that every one of those people affected by this catastrophe are individually and unqualifiedly loved by Jesus Christ!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son ..."

The people of the world (the world includes Haiti) are our brothers and sisters and we have been commissioned, by our God, to love them as He loves us. John explains it very well in 1 John 4:9-11:

This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about — not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God. My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. (from THE MESSAGE)

Our first task of love is to drop to our knees and pray for these people. Not just pray, my friends, but PRAY! Pray without ceasing. "The hospitals cannot handle all these victims," said Louis-Gerard Gilles, a doctor and former senator. "Haiti needs to pray. We all need to pray together."

Secondly, we must do what we physically can to help these people. Officials who are close to the situation recommend that the greatest thing you can do is to send cash to your favorite relief agency. Nearly every one of them have gotten on the band wagon and have well developed programs to deal with disaster.

Jesus said it … "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Let's all show ourselves as disciples and love our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

Ten Years and Counting ...

This blog, “Let’s Talk …” isn’t the only communication medium the Weresch’s use to further the spread of the Good News. Recently a website “Paul Weresch Online” has been launched. Also, a newsletter has been going to a mailing list that includes supporters in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Ten years ago this month, after returning from a four day visit with the Weresch’s in Germany, I designed and published the first newsletter showcasing how God has used them through the last several decades. They took me on a whirlwind visit through the territory they had ministered in during the cold war … delivering Bibles, money and medicine behind the Iron Curtain to believers in Eastern Europe ... laboring obediently with a price on their heads. At that time, the mentoring that had begun six years before in Tacoma, Washington came to full bloom and I was sold out to this couple, who through every obstacle had been obedient to the Lord.

Between the periods … Spring 1999 and Spring 2009, Paul’s supporters have received 21 issues of “Der Bote” which loosely translated means “The Messenger” in German.

The Spring 1999 issue was the first time the Weresch’s had more than a single typewritten page for their newsletter, so they provided material for one page … the front … and kindly let me ramble on for three more about our travels during my visit along with a few of the hundreds of pictures taken.

It has been a delight to put together these missals for ten years … a labor of love … love for our Lord and love for Paul and Betty Weresch. After much prodding, we have found a way to link them to this blog and they are available by touching any of the dates in the column to the upper right. You will have access to the very first issue as well as the last three. Possibly, if they are enjoyed by you, the frequent reader, we will prepare and upload all 21.

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Larry Abele … Editorial Team

Im Watching You Dad!

Watch this amazing little video.
It is a message from a little boy to his dad.
We all need to know this!



May God help us, fathers.
Alexander Shein, Editorial Team

How Is Your Prayer Life?

As a brand new Christian, many years ago, I struggled with prayer. Since then, I have heard many Christians say the same thing. It always seemed so formal … so stilted. Most of us were familiar with the Bible in language penned in 1611. Speech from that time seemed a bit formal to our ears.

Then I remembered a story related by my Pastor at the time. His son had built a house next door to his own. It became a habit for his pre-school grandson to walk over, enter the house and go for the refrigerator. The pastor confronted this little intruder one day and asked him, “Why do you think you can just come in here when you want, young man!?” The little tyke replied, “Cause you’re my grandpa.”

I then had the same revelation that Martin Luther had in the sixteenth century as he read Galatians 4:4-7, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”

The term "Abba" is felt to convey a sense of affection and intimacy that is perceived to be very much lacking in the far more formal term "father." Abba is actually an Aramaic word, which most scholars feel is the language that our Lord Jesus Christ spoke during His human existence upon this earth.

As expositor, W. E. Vine wrote, "'Abba' is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; 'father' expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child."

Though our God, the Creator of the entire universe and everything in it, is deserving of the highest honor and respect, He is also our “father” … our “daddy”. He loves us as little children

I remember my father as a man bigger than life … however, I also remember the warmth of his strong arms and the love that radiated from his instruction. And, I want to face my heavenly Father on the same terms.

So, if you are having trouble with prayer … in either the frequency of it or the formality of it … just try to envision yourself snuggling up to your “daddy” and telling Him how your day has been.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15-16

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

An Extraordinary Event ...

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ we sometimes get lost in the trappings that have attached themselves to this day and forget the extraordinary grace that surrounded the event.

I have a friend who is a pest control man. He searches out and eliminates various types of vermin. He presented an idea that is amazing to me.

Sewer rats live in an environment of slime and filth. They are content to live in the sewer and would be uncomfortable living in our world … forsaking the filth with which they are comfortable.

Wouldn’t it be an extraordinary event if one of us … humans … would decide to go down into the sewer, live with the sewer rats and attempt to better them and their lives with the idea of saving them from their plight and eventually inviting them into our world? Disgusting idea … isn’t it?!

Isaiah had the privilege that only a couple men had of seeing into heaven. He wrote in Chapter 6, verses 1-3, “I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”

Can we, as humans, wrap our arms around such majesty. Can we imagine the God that created everything and keeps track of everything and is used to bands of creatures continuously praising Him? Many people in the Bible have said that God and Heaven are beyond our ability to reason or even wonder.

Now lets read Philippians 2:5-8, “ … Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”

God looked upon us … sewer rats compared to heaven … and said, “I love you too much to let you perish. I will set aside the glories of heaven and come abide with you … and I will save you from yourselves. In fact, I will become a sewer rat so you can learn how to live and how to leave your sewer.”

The best we have to offer the Baby in the manger is filthy rags … but, He loves us just the same. Can we do any less than honor that love and love Him back.

Let us never forget the sacrifice He made for us … to come live with us and show us the way. Love that Baby Jesus with all your heart and marvel at that extraordinary event.

Merry Christmas and God Bless you all!

Larry Abele – Editorial Team

A Great Experience .. A Wonderful Legacy

Recently I officiated at the memorial service for a very dear friend, fellow worker and father-in-law to my son. It was an experience I will long remember.

Dr. Glen Doornink was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, beloved physician to many, and a dedicated man of God.

I am reminded of Dr. Luke’s observation about David in the 13th chapter and 36th verse of Acts, "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep and was buried with his fathers …"

What a wonderful legacy to a selfless man that hundreds of co-workers and former patients .. patients crossing many color lines, but treated equally .. attended his memorial.

What a wonderful legacy that 7 children, 36 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren all serve the Lord.

What a wonderful legacy that he will be remembered in Romania and Yugoslavia where he assisted me on several missionary trips.

And what a wonderful legacy that 8 of his grandchildren have been part of the team that helped us with the language camps in Slovakia and Poland for the last 6 years.

Dr. Doornink was distinguished by his many professional accomplishments over 40 years, by his love for his family and by his service to mankind while walking this earth. He always put the health of the people over the importance of making money.

And now, like David, "having served his own generation by the will of God, he has fallen asleep and been buried with his fathers …"

A wonderful legacy .. a marvelous man .. Dr. Glen Doornink.

Paul Weresch

What a Great Time For Thanksgiving!

In the United States we will soon be celebrating Thanksgiving. And, as I thought about the many things I have to be thankful for, I am reminded of a song.

Song writer, Irving Berlin, penned a little ditty for the 1940’s musical “Annie Get Your Gun.” I can still see in my mind, Ethel Merman singing:

“Got no check book .. Got no banks .. Still I’d like to express my thanks, I’ve got the sun in the morning and the moon at night.”

In this present time, 60 years later, it is still a great attitude to have. People around the globe are gnawing on their knuckles wondering what is going to happen to them as their world seems to be draining into the sewer! Enormous ego’s and giant greed has reduced their sight to a tunnel that leads to disaster.

The financial crisis has spread throughout the world and is no longer a problem for just the Western Hemisphere.

In the Los Angeles area over 500 high end houses and mansions have been burned down in wild fires this past week. And still war and starvation and abuse continues to blight the whole world.

However, believers know that no matter what storms swirl around us, there is one thing that endures forever … the love of our almighty God! We DO have many things for which to be thankful.

We do not judge our worth by our finances or by our position in this world … we judge our worth by what Jesus Christ did for each of us. We judge ourselves by the fact that God … the Creator of EVERYTHING … loves each and every one of us.

The apostle Paul gave us such a beautiful truth in Romans 5:1-2 when he said “… since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”

And on top of that, my friends, “we have the sun in the morning and the moon at night.”

As Thanksgiving time approaches, let us take our minds off of the secular world for a week. Don’t think about what you don’t have. All of us DON’T have something. Don’t think about what you may have lost. All of us have LOST something. Take time to think of what you HAVE and be thankful for it.

I guarantee … the Lord will be pleased … and knowing that … you might like to express your thanks.

Larry Abele, Editorial Team

DO NOT HESITATE !

Occasionally I meet people who are aware of their need of the Savior Jesus Christ but are reluctance to make a personal commitment to him by believing in his saving work accomplished for us. Although they have seen what faith in Christ has done for others they still hesitate. Their problem seems to stem from the misinformation given to them by well meaning religious people. Some people think one must join a certain church to be saved. Others insist that a person must be baptized in a particular manner. Still others claim that we must obey the “golden rule” in order to be pleasing in the sight of God. 
The Apostle Paul made it clear in his writings: it is not what we do for God, but what God has done for us that will bring us into relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
As we read the writings of the Apostle Paul we realize that God Loved us while we were yet sinners. Furthermore Paul makes it clear that it is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that enables us to be saved; which means that our sins are forgiven and we can be brought into an eternal relationship with God. Paul makes it unmistakably clear that, all we have to do to be saved is turn away from our sins and believe (place our trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have not done so, do it today trust Jesus now. Remember, we are not saved by what we do, but by trusting what Christ has done

Paul Weresch

*For further reference please read Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapters one to eight. Should you care to, please look it up on the following web pages: http://net.bible.org/bible.php