In Times Like These ...

What do we do when we are forced to live in the midst of a troubled world, surrounded by sin? Should we be taken aback by this? Should we withdraw and cocoon in our own little world?

Not at all! 2 Timothy 3:1-9 and 2 Timothy 4: 3-4 say that these things would happen in the end times. Therefore, Christians should not be troubled or feel defeated because God has prepared us through his word. This is a time of great challenges and great opportunity because God has given us an awesome responsibility to demonstrate and share the love of Jesus Christ.

Jesus lived in a world very similar to ours, yet he never lost sight of the fact that his kingdom was not of this world and He never compromised his relationship to the people of this world. He was often called a friend of sinners (Luke 5:29-30 and Luke 15:1-2).

In Matthew 9:12-13 (NLT) Jesus responds, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

We should follow this example. Jesus befriended many people who were on the fringes of society. He went among them to bring them out of their sin, not to justify their sin. Likewise, under the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit, we must do the same. Ultimately, Jesus loved them and all mankind so much that he willingly laid down his life to pay the penalty for all sin.

My prayer is that in times such as this we would heed the words of the Apostle Peter: “… Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” 1 Peter 3:15

Here are some guidelines that can be used to plant and water seeds:

* Pray for God to open doors of opportunity to plant and water seeds.
* Do not judge or disrespect the people around you.
* Show them the genuine love of Christ.
* Look at people through the eyes of Christ. (2 Timothy 2:23-26 and Colossians 4:5-6).
* Tell them how much God loves them.
* Live before them as a credible witness.
* Make constant intercession for people in your little world. Pray that God will use you or another Christian as a conduit for sharing his plan of salvation.

In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Our Savior was the living embodiment of love shown to the lost.

Paul Weresch

letstalkpw@gmail.com

Again and again and again ...

This morning I received an urgent email from Paul …

Pray for Russia and for Olga’s safety.
Olga has served us as a fantastic Interpreter for more than 12 years, she is to arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Jan 24 for a two month stay to polish up her English.

A deadly blast at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport has disturbed us and we ask you to pray for Russia. At least 35 people have been killed and nearly 200 wounded in an explosion at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport according to the Russian Health Ministry. An Investigative Committee believes it to be a terror attack.

I just talked to Sasha our faithful coworker in Moscow, and he too asks you to pray for their country. Pray for the Caucasus … the region that we have been working in for the past 12 years. Caucasus is the region the security forces suspect the Suicide Bomber to from.

Pray for the Churches and their leadership in this vast region that includes Sochi, Vladikavkaz and Chechnya.

Paul Weresch

How ironic that the Pastor of our church preached a sermon just yesterday concerning the story of Noah and God’s destruction of his creation.

Sin had reached a point where the Creator could not tolerate the actions of His creation. He provided the provision of an ark to save any who would repent. When it floated away, it contained one family.

Twice again, the Bible reports the power of God’s wrath falling on a sinning people. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with, again, very few taking advantage of the provision provided. Ninevah also fell under the wrath of God. However, the story was vastly different because the entire city took advantage of the provision provided and repented of their sin.

It’s been said that "He who forgets history is condemned to repeat it." Have we forgotten … or do we completely ignore God’s history of hating sin as read in the Bible?

Are we doomed to repeat it? The answer is a resounding, YES! However, as before, God has provided a provision for all who will accept it. Our Jonah … our ark … the provision provided for us … is Jesus Christ.

Will you be like the people of Noah’s day? Will you be one of those lost in Sodom? Or will you repent like the people of Ninevah?

Everyday the news contains proof that the human race has become the people of Romans 1:25 .... exchanging the truth of God for a lie, and worshiping and serving created things rather than the Creator.

My friends … it is time! It is time to repent, believe and accept Jesus Christ, who has been given to you as the ARK … the provision for your salvation.

I beg you … get on board!

Larry Abele, editorial team

Hold Up Your Card!

Fall is football season in North America. College teams are vying for championships and students are excited.

One of the phenomena of college football is the card section. Students in a particular section of the stadium have a number of cards that they hold up on command, resulting in a picture or slogan being seen on the other side of the stadium.

The only way to make this work is if there is a master of the section that calls out which card the student should hold up at a particular time. This photo, courtesy of the Penn State Department of Public Information illustrates this premise.
I am reminded of the story in the ninth chapter of John about the blind man that Jesus healed. Jesus was asked by his disciples who had sinned to cause this blindness.

Jesus replies in verses 3 and 4, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

We have to admit that many hardships are born of our sins. However, we should not dwell on this fact, for many of our trials are NOT the result of sin. Also, we should realize few of our hardships have to do with how we are living at the present time.

We, especially when feeling devastated, are focused on our needs. God is looking at the big picture. IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT US!

At the football game we are given one card of many. The master is on the other side telling us what card to hold up. It doesn’t make sense to us but it does to the master who has the plan and sees the result. If we fail to follow the master, the picture is not going to develop as it should.

In the game of life, we may be dealt a card that we don’t understand. However, the Master … our Lord, who is on the other side seeing the whole picture knows what that card is doing and is pleased with the result.

Think of the millions of people who have heard this story and think of the glory it has brought to our Lord … all because the blind man held up the card that had been dealt to him … blindness. And, having successfully held the dealt card, the Lord eventually cured him of his blindness. Jesus opened his eyes and in verse 38, upon his confession of belief the man accepted the gift of eternal life.

We are all in God’s card section. He is handing out the cards. We may never understand why our particular card has been given to us but our faith in God and His ultimate plan will result in the final picture being gloriously correct.

So, with joy in your heart, endure your hardship and praise Him … the Master Creator and HOLD UP YOUR CARD!

Larry Abele – Editorial Team

It's No Joke!

I recently read a story in the humor section of a magazine.

I seems an atheist was sitting in his seat during a flight and noticed across the aisle an elderly woman, reading her Bible.
After a while, he asked her, "Do you believe what you read in that book?"
"Yes, I do," she replied, smiling sweetly.
"Every word?" he asked.
"Yes, every word."
"Aw come on … do you really believe that Jonah was swallowed by a fish?" he scoffed.
"Yes, I do!"
"Prove it," the atheist retorted.
"Well, I can’t," the little lady replied. "However, when I get to heaven, I’ll ask him."
"What if he isn’t in heaven," the man smirked.
"Well, she responded without hesitation, "then you ask him!"

I giggled to myself until I realized that the joke was not funny. That man will someday believe in God, as we all will.

When we are standing before God’s throne, in judgement, the proof will be before us. But, by then, it may be too late to avoid an eternity in hell.

All of us will meet our maker. Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior will have the perfect lawyer … Jesus, Himself. Those who refused to believe or worst yet, never got around to believing will have no defense. They will stand condemned.

It will be an unbelievably awesome, knee-shaking event, standing before the Lord. Personally, I want to be well prepared for that meeting. I want Jesus on my side.

How about you? Are you a sinner … you better answer yes … we are all sinners. Will you stand before Him, trembling in your filthy rags, or will you be standing there dressed in the clothes that Christ’s blood supplied for you?

All you need to do is admit you are a sinner, repent of those sins, and believe that Christ died to save you from those sins. Let Him know … Jesus will do the rest.

It’s no joke! Take your pick … as for me and my house … I will chose Jesus!

Larry Abele, Editorial Team

God helps those who help themselves!

This is a common saying but it is not true when it comes to the salvation in Jesus Christ.

The Bible speaks of Salvation as a free gift rather then something we did for ourselves.

The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23)

That means that everyone misses the mark in his own deeds. All great and small have missed the mark for all have sinned. He further states that sin has consequences: “the wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23)

Paul, who had a personal encounter with Christ, the Saviour of all mankind, concludes: “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Then back to Romans 3:24, the Bible says, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

This Gift, my friend, is available to all, by faith. In Romans 10:13, the Bible says, “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” God is a respecter of no person. His salvation is available to all who will call on His name.

The truth is God will help those who cannot help themselves and will call upon him for salvation in Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus?

Paul Weresch

CLEAN-UP or FESS-UP?

I accepted the Lord’s invitation to live eternally very late in life and became rather zealous that my children should be of like condition ... it is part of the great commission that Jesus gave to all believers, to spread the Good News.

I remember taking my daughter to dinner one night to ask her forgiveness for being such a lousy father. I told her of the joy that I had experienced the moment I decided to accept the Lord’s gift. I told her that the same joy was available to her. I told her that I wanted to be with her in the Heaven I knew I was going to. I thought I was doing a marvelous job.

But, alas, she was like many, who in their hearts, are not ready to accept such a gift of grace given freely to anyone who will believe in Him. She reminded me that she smoked, she drank and she liked to party. She told me that she had a lot of "cleaning-up" to do before she was ready to make this step. I suspected that she was embarrassed to present herself to the Lord in such a "human" condition"

How sad it is that so many sons and daughters, men and women, all creations of God, believe in that putrid lie told by the devil, "You are just not good enough for God. How could He ever accept the likes of you!"

Actually, in our "human" condition, He CAN’T accept us. However, knowing that and loving us just the same, God devised a plan. He sent His Son to earth, free of human sin, who lived a sinless life and presented Himself as a living sacrifice to pay our sin debt. His work on the cross was designed to save us. Now when God looks upon the believer, He sees His perfect Son!

He did this for everyone on earth. All we have to do is confess that we are powerless without it and accept the Gift. Yes, we have to accept the Gift to receive it. God said, "Come as you are." You don’t have to clean up … just accept.

Don’t take time to clean-up … just fess-up. Admit you are a sinner and need salvation. Ask the Lord for His forgiveness and accept His Gift today!

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

It’s All About The Blood!

I just had my annual physical exam. Along with the probing and questioning, they took a pretty fair amount of blood. The doctors can tell a great deal about your health by examining your blood. You have a particular blood "type". Also, various components of the blood tell the doctor how your cholesterol levels are, the "PSA" test lets you know the health of your prostate gland. They can tell if you have diabetes or are prone to it. Real bad news could be delivered that you are "HIV positive".

One test the doctors did not perform on my blood is the one that would tell me that my blood is "SIN positive"!

Oh, yes … your blood is "SIN positive" also! It is genetic. SIN has been passed down through the generations from Adam who let SIN into his life and thus branded us all. This is pretty bad news because we know from the Bible that God is righteous and cannot abide SIN. We have been doomed through Adam’s blood.

But wait … do not despair … there is a cure!

Paul told the Ephesians in chapter 2, verse 13, "Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."

Jesus, himself said, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins", (Matthew 26:28).

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

And finally, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18:19)

So, the cure is there … believe in Jesus Christ who shed His blood that yours may be purified. Take your medicine!

Larry Abele, Editorial Team

Does God Care?

Does God really care?

Come unto me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Words of Jesus.) Matthew 11:28
Last week a man came to our meetings. He was very dejected, his problem was that he had an alcoholic past because of which he had lost his employment and now was unable to find a job. He came to Pastor Daniel asking him to assist him in finding a job. Pastor Daniel said to him that he was not a job agency nor was he qualified to give him psychological counselling that would enable him to find a good job. But what he could do for him said Pastor Daniel, was to pray with him and God would make sure that he got a job. The man looked in disbelief at Pastor Daniel. But on being encouraged to simply trust God, he joined in prayer. The next day we were surprised to see a joyful man come to our meeting. He was beaming from ear-to-ear, and informed us that he had found a job. Early in the morning he had an impulse to go to a certain company and ask for employment as he approached the person that interviewed him he realized that he had walked into an open door. Not only was he offered the job but he was offered immediately a contract for six months. The personnel manager was fully aware of his alcoholic past but he was also aware of the fact that he had managed to stay dry for four year. This man was amazed that God would really care for him and answer his prayer so quickly.  
Now does God really care? The answer is yes, we read that in the text from the gospel of Matthew. God really cares! 
 Can anyone go through life without facing problems? No, we're surrounded by problems! There's no way of hiding from them, they pursue us like shadows. What's more, problems are individualized. No two pPublish Posteople have exactly the same problems. That's why it's comforting to know that God knows us individually, personally God knows all our troubles. Remember Jesus said come unto me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. The psalmist knew that and sang: “I lay my requests before you and I wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3

Think about it!

Paul Weresch

Break Any Commandments Today?

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
"Yeah, $1000 is a lot to spend on a TV. But, our whole family watches TV constantly."

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
"I work six days a week, I don't want to waste Sunday in church!"

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
"They’re just a couple old fuddy-duddies. They’re spying on me!"

You shall not murder.
"He's about as worthless as they come. Have you heard what he did?"

You shall not steal.
"Let’s mark that up a little more we could use a little extra profit on this junk."

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
"He’s not the same as us. He’s probably growing dope in that house."

How did you do … that is only half of God’s ten commandments (Exodus 20:2-17). It is ten parts of one law. He designed them knowing we could not keep them. And, if we break one (see statements above) we have broken God’s Law.

That is why He gave us a solution, the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 8:1-3 states: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering."

That, my sinful friends, is called GRACE!

Larry Abele - Editorial Team