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RECAP NEWSLETTER - 11/21/4 Issue 25 When Christ described the people's attitude toward leaving Jerusalem as it was going to be judged, he stopped to remind the people that their exodus would be similar to Lot and his family. When the Roman armies would come to judge Jerusalem and destroy it, those that heeded Christ's warnings and saw it coming were to make haste and flee. They were not to stop and gather things together. They were to flee and separate themselves. Christ reminded them that they should remember how Lot's wife perished because she was too attached to her worldly good to fully recognize that God was punishing the cities. There are also the parallels between the warning to the Jews then and also prophecy of when Christ returns. When Christ comes back, is He going to find us staring back at the world that He is going to shortly judge? Will He find us wistfully wanting more of the world and a pang of sorrow in our heart that we have to leave it? 2 Timothy 4:1-5 is Paul's admonition where he states, "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." Paul was reminding them that Christ is coming back to judge. In light of that, how do we live? Paul reminds us that we should not be looking back longingly at this world, but striving forward. Preaching, ready, reproving, rebuking, exhorting - these are the activities and energies of one whose eyes are on an eternal city. Do we find our self too easily encumbered by the lusts of this world? Do we want more 'things' and knick-knacks? Do we desire shallow teaching and doctrine because it allows us to enjoy the world more with less guilt?
Are you making full proof of your ministry as a Christian? Does the world
see us turning back in our daily life? Does the world find us watching
them more than watching Christ? Remember Lot's wife.
ADDED RESOURCES
MISC THOUGHTS "America has not killed forty million children by abortion - America has decided forty million times that they will murder a child." "It is God who raises kings up and puts them down. In these United States of America, "we the people" were so blessed by God that we were made king. With this most rare and precious gift of political freedom from our Creator, (and particularly in a nation where the majority of people still address themselves as Christian), how is it that so few educate themselves to participate in the process so that government is "good" as mandated by God?" - Debbie O'Hara
CURRENT EVENT RECAP I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to get better. This week forbes.com had an article warning that our large deficits are "unsustainable." The euro is coming out far more attractive to investors, mainly because the EU is not entangled in fighting two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, destabilizing oil prices and availability, or running up large trade and budget deficits. Expect more investors to go euro. Our country already needs at least $1.8 billion a day just to maintain our dollar value. The buyers won't stick around long. I am starting to see more and more articles compare our deficit situation to Argentina before their economic collapse. For a historical peek at what could happen, let us remember what happened to Argentina in late 2001 when it defaulted on its foreign debt: their currency was devalued, a freeze was placed on their savings (as the economy recovered, people got back their money), more than half of their population slid below the poverty line as they needed three or four times as much currency to match the dollar. For the US, America may need more of the dollar to pay back our debts with the greater value euro. Also, it was large foreign investors making lavish 'bailouts' that barely saved Brazil and Mexico from a collapse like Argentina. One thing that has helped Argentina has been exports. Considering that America is import and outsource-crazy, we might find it hard to boost exports. It is alarming that America is so dependant on China, not only with imports (it is cheaper to get imports from China, than it is from our next door neighbor Mexico), but with finances relating to our economy as well. NAFTA is popping up again, as worldnetdaily discusses some of its implications. The plan is geared toward creating a "continent-wide, customs-free zone with a common approach to trade, energy, immigration, law enforcement and security." This act would further destroy U.S. sovereignty, effectively eliminate U.S. national borders, etc. Oh, yes, the Bush administration is also pushing for it. It is all part of a larger plan to lower the US power base and economic-wise to make it blend into a globalized structure. Expect America to take more detrimental steps this second term as Rumsfeld has suggested the military could possible help out in more domestic roles such as fighting terrorism, organized crimes, etc. Also, with Rice taking Powell's place, expect more 'legacy' decisions such as unilateral actions and preemptions. Already, invading Iraq is reaping its bitter fruits. Plans are already underway to boost US forces in Iraq by about 5,000, on top of delaying the departure of current troops. Even though Bush has stated that there will be no draft, the Selective Service System and the DOE are making sure that the draft lists are full of all eligibles. In moral and spiritual matters, we saw two bold attacks on Christian freedom in America. The first one was our military bases are no longer allowed to officially sponsor the Boy Scouts. What should be a blatant clue to America's decline, and the churches' neglect is that one of the principle players responsible for this recent decision was NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association)!! The House has overwhelmingly criticized the recent decision in a resolution, and we will continue to monitor this situation. Also, even more alarming is a Toronto school's forced homosexual sensitivity training. No child is exempt, as it would be "discriminatory against children of same-sex couples, board officials argued." We are very, very close to duplicating the same type of forced indoctrination without religious exemptions here in America. Have you given careful thought and planning to what you will do when such a situation occurs with your children (even if they are home schooled)? If you don't think it could happen here, here is another crackdown: The Colorado Spring military college is now having a 'sensitivity' class aimed almost entirely at Christians, getting them to stop 'coercion' and to spread 'tolerance'. In other words, stop witnessing. Granted, how you share the Gospel is very important, but to start implementing policies and classes to eliminate or sharply curtail the sharing of the Gospel is tantamount to persecution. As Christians, when we look at this world, it should make us revile at the sin, debauchery, vain pursuits, and instead strive to serve Christ even greater! As we see the wickedness and the filth taking over our country and world, we must remain ever more vigilant to remain unspotted. Our light should shine as a lighthouse: bright, unique, and different from the neon lights of the broad way. Here is a timely reminder from Fanny Crosby, written in 1870:
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Refrain:
REMINDERS & PRAYER REQUESTS
Pray for our President that if he is not saved, he will come to the true
knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray that he will work to the protection
of the American people, and the punishment of the wicked.
Pray for the requests in PrayerList, and also in iChurches.
May God richly bless,
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