 Table of ContentsLinda's Opening LetterWho 'We' Are **The Names of God Bible Study** |
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Greetings, dear friends! I'm sorry to be sending this newsletter out so late. I've been buried in a lot of work this past month, not the least of which included patching some huge cracks in the walls and painting my front room (about 27' x 12').  Here's a photo of me with my painters after completing the work — they didn't know what to think about this old woman pitching in and helping with the painting and cleanup!The reason for the delay in sending out the newsletter is that the painting job took twice as much time as originally planned, and we had many setbacks that prevented me from doing my computer work. The main problem was that I didn't take time to consider the differences between my American way of doing things and their Indian ways. For example, I wanted the ceiling white-washed white; but since they always add a little blue to white-wash here (which I didn't know at the outset), they ended up white-washing the ceiling five times before I finally had a white ceiling. Also, I tried to teach them how to use a paint roller so the paint would go on more quickly and evenly; but they simply couldn't manage it. Finally, I gave in and let them do it their way, which was to brush on the paint and then roll over it with a dry roller! But praise the Lord! We finished the work in time for a special ordination ceremony in my home on the 15th and 16th, and that's all that really mattered. I'll tell you more about the ordination in next month's newsletter after I receive the photos. The most important thing now is to get this newsletter finished. Concerning the newsletter and some comments I've received recently, some people are misinterpreting my closing comment that "the Christian life is not what we do for God, but what God does for us." Apparently some of you think I'm suggesting that God is a big "Genie-in-a-box" just waiting for us to call on Him to fill our hands with riches and material things. That's not what I mean. What I mean is this: God doesn't accept us on the basis of what we do for Him; He accepts us on the basis of what He already did for us in sending Jesus Christ to atone for our sins! The simple fact of the Gospel — and the thread woven throughout Scripture — is that God truly loves us unconditionally. That means I can't do anything to make Him love me more, and I can't do anything to cause Him to love me less. He simply loves me! And being a Christian isn't a matter of giving alms or being a "good person"; it's a matter of surrendering my will to His and accepting the payment Jesus Christ made on my behalf. Period. And as God is drawing me into a more intimate relationship with Him through my ongoing study of His NAMES, He is constantly affirming to me that He will grant all the desires of my heart. What does that mean? Simply this: When I seek Him with my whole heart, I gradually shed my self-centered pursuits, and God's desires for me become my desires — and He is happy and obliged to fulfill every one of them. I pray that this month's newsletter blesses, encourages, and refreshes you.  Be blessed in Jesus' name, and remember: The Christian life is not what we do for God, but what God does for us!
Your sister & servant in Christ,  My Redeemer Lives Christian Ministry Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, it is impossible for me to respond to every person who writes. If you have an opinion or question, please understand that I will not offer personal advice or debate theological issues. You are welcome to send your opinions, corrections and questions, but I can't guarantee I'll be able to respond. If you're looking for some good Bible study sources, I suggest Bible.org - Trustworthy Bible Study Resources, Blue Letter Bible Study Resources, Precept Ministries International, and Shepherd Serve all of which offer hundreds of pages of well-organized teaching articles and Bible studies. |
To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world. Back to top |
How many times does God's Word reference the use of His name? "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His Name alone is excellent; His glory [is] above the earth and heaven." Psalm 148:13 (KJV) Editor's Note: To assist you in your own personal journey into drawing closer to God through the knowledge of His names, I have provided only a few of the Scripture references to "whet your appetite". It is my hope that you will want to study for yourself all the verses and environments/occasions in which God's name is referenced. (The list of Scripture references may not be all-inclusive.) Is God's name really that important? I mean, really... who cares? God cares! During the course of my regular Bible studies in the past six months I became aware of phrases referencing, not God's name, but the use of God's name. So, I thought it worthwhile to investigate just how many times God's Word talks about His name. In so doing, I gained even greater insight into how God feels about His name — and I discovered that He's quite serious about how, when, where, and why His name is used. In the Old Testament, the Bible references God's "name" more than 175 times.
The phrases "My name" and "Your name" (apart from the other more specific verses already provided) appear at least 58 times:
In next month's newsletter, we'll begin our in-depth study of God's specific names by first studying the names "Yahweh" and "Jehovah". 2001 MT-based public domain update of 1901 American Standard Version (ASV) Previous Month's "Names of God" Bible Study Back to top |
Brought to You by Voice of the Martyrs  While distributing Christian literature, Pastor M. Aharon, was mercilessly assaulted by a group of militant Hindus. He was assaulted for converting Hindus and Muslims to Christianity. His face was covered with blood from heavy blows to his mouth and nose. He survived the brutal attack at the hands of Hindu radicals in the town of Nizamabad, Andhra Pradesh, located about 300 miles east of Bombay in central India.During this violent incident, a mob of more than 100 Hindu radicals cheered and yelled in support of the attack on Pastor Aharon, inciting the rest of the crowd to turn against him. Police stood by as the extensive attack was being carried out, and the constables even prevented the pastor from escaping. Only after Aharon could barely hold himself up did police begin to escort him from the tumultuous scene. They carried out their attack plan as a secret mission to keep other pastors from spreading the gospel in India. Pastor Aharon, who has led 700 Hindus and Muslims to Christ and has established 12 churches in this community, has outraged radical Hindus and Muslims. When a VOM contact asked Pastor Aharon what was going through his mind during the attack, he said, "I remembered Christ and many others persecuted for their faith in the last twenty centuries." Pastor Prem Kumar of Nizamabad’s CSI Church in Andhra Pradesh, India, was murdered on June 8th with the same brutality typical of earlier radical Hindu attacks. According to the Global Council of Indian Christians, the 67-year-old pastor’s body was found mutilated with his head crushed, in the hills near Rampart in Kotagiri Mandal of Nizamudeen district. Kumar’s body was so disfigured that Kotagiri sub-inspector, Ch. Anjaneyulu had to identify his remains from a description of his clothes. Family members report that several people planned to pick Kumar up in the city of Bodhan after inviting him to pray over a newly constructed church in Kotagiri on the eve of its opening. When Kumar arrived at the meeting place, unidentified men ushered him onto their two-wheeler and drove off. Kumar called his family on his cell phone, telling them he was picked up by people he was not familiar with?not those who had invited him. Sensing danger, he asked his family to call him every 15 minutes, but after an hour-and-a-half, the connection was lost. Pastor Kumar’s ministry extended beyond his church in Nizamabad. He also taught at prayer gatherings, corner meetings and conventions. Since 2004, when the secular Congress Party won India’s national election over the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), attacks by militant Hindu groups such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang (RSS), Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have increased. Please take this opportunity to request your free subscription to "The Voice of the Martyrs monthly newsletter. You will read some of the most courageous stories and find practical ways you can get involved. 
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"You'll never catch me doing that," one might say. "Oh yeah?" Upright and obedient, Noah stood alone against a carousing, lustful world that drank itself silly. Who would have thought Noah would end up drunk?1 Abraham was ready to push obedience to the point of sacrificing his only son. Who would imagine he would lie straight-faced?2 Look at Lot standing against the filthiness of Sodom. Hardly does he get delivered from the city's destruction than he falls into incest.3 Who would have guessed? Bold and courageous David was brave enough to go up against Goliath, the warrior giant of the Philistines; later on he made believe that he was a madman for fear of his enemies.4 And consider Elijah. We take him to be a rather brave man, wielding the sword of God's vengeance against tens of thousands. But the threat of one woman then sends him into suicidal despair.5 Peter, as part of the inner circle, followed the footsteps of Jesus closer than anyone. He ended up cursing and denying the Lord.6 "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come (1 Corinthians 10:11)." Just when you think you know yourself, you do or say something that seems so out of character. But it's not. The character of our body of sin and death is to sin. Don't be surprised. Just be careful that you, too, don't fall. "Diamonds in the Dust" © Copyright 1993. Joni Eareckson Tada & Steve Estes Scripture References: 1Genesis 9:21, 220:2, 319:31-35; 41 Samuel 21:13-15; 51 Kings 19:2-4; 6Mark 14:68-71 Back to top |
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Anagrams An anagram, as we all know, is a word or phrase made by transposing or rearranging the letters of another word or phrase. The following examples are quite astounding! Dormitory — Dirty room Desperation — A rope ends it The Morse Code — Here come dots Slot Machines — Cash lost in 'em Animosity — Is no amity Mother-in-law — Woman Hitler Snooze Alarms — Alas! No more Z's Alec Guinness — Genuine class Semolina — Is no meal A Decimal Point — I'm a dot in place The Earthquakes — That queer shake Eleven plus two — Twelve plus one Contradiction — Accord not in it The Public Art Galleries — Large picture halls, I bet Astronomer — Moon Starer This one's amazing [from Hamlet by Shakespeare]: "To be or not to be: that is the question, whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." becomes... In one of the Bard's best-thought-of tragedies, our insistent hero, Hamlet, queries on two fronts about how life turns rotten. And the grand finale: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." — Neil A. Armstrong becomes... A thin man ran; makes a large stride; left planet, pins flag on moon! On to Mars! Back to top |
 If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with! Back to top |
On my way from Minnesota to Colorado, I decided to make a stop at one of those rest areas on the side of the road. I went into the washroom. The first stall was taken so I went into the second stall. I just sat down when I heard a voice from the next stall... "Hi there, how is it going?" Okay, I am not the type to strike up conversations with strangers in washrooms on the side of the road. I didn't know what to say, so finally I said, "Not bad..." Then the voice said, "So, what are you doing?" I was starting to find that a bit weird, but I said, "Well... I'm going back to Colorado..." Then I heard the person say all flustered, "Look I'll call you back. Every time I ask you a question, this idiot in the next stall keeps answering me." |
by Michelle Molina Editor's Note The following article is lengthy, but I believe it will bless you immensely if you take the time to read it. "We must walk very close to a companion if we would have His shadow fall on us." Mary Duncan (1825-1865) Have you ever been around someone who seemed to radiate Jesus? You saw Him in their eyes, felt Him in their touch, and heard Him through their mouth. If you have someone in your life like that, either through a personal relationship, a mentor, a minister, or someone whom you read about (Smith Wigglesworth, Kathryn Kuhlman, or the like), that person is in your life for a reason. It is not the reason that you may think it is. It is not for you to admire them. It is not for you to be able to tell others about this wonderful Christ-radiating person you know. God placed that person in your life to cause you to want to radiate Jesus. God sent them to you so you would learn, through their example, that it is possible to live so close to Him that others can sense His presence through a human vessel. If you were completely honest, how close to Jesus are you really walking? Are you staying just close enough to keep you out of hell? Perhaps you stay near enough to keep kinda Christ-like. Maybe you are one who has decided to ditch all and follow Him all the way. Regardless of where you would place yourself, God wants more of you. And the reason is two-fold.  He wants more of you in order to have a more intimate walk with you. It's easy to see that the closer you walk to someone, the less distance there is between the two of you. You could walk a football field apart, a car length apart, close enough to reach out and touch each other, or side by side, face to face. Only a breath apart. The latter is God's plan for you and Him. He wants to take out of you those things that have caused His image to be blurred in your life. He removes every obstacle that keeps you from living in His presence — the glory of His presence — every single day. He craves, more than you, a closer walk with you. Not the person who seems to have it more together than you do, but He has chosen you! He wants you!!! Then He wants to use you to touch the world around you. It could be your church world, your business world, your friendship world, your family world, or your hobby/leisure world. He wants to invade the world you live in and use you as His funnel to touch them. For example, a woman died in England and the funeral was set for two days afterward. In the church, the day of the funeral, the family and friends of this woman of God wept profusely, as this young lady in her twenties had died so young. Suddenly the doors opened and a man walked in, walked over to the casket, opened it completely, grabbed the dead woman rather forcefully, walked over to a wall, slammed her lifeless body against the wall and commanded, "WALK! In Jesus' name, walk!" She slid down the wall and onto the floor, lifeless. The crowd, too stunned to react, sat and watched as this man picked her up and again slammed her body against the wall and commanded, "WALK! In Jesus' name, walk!" Again, she slid down the wall and onto the floor, lifeless. A third time he picked her up, slammed her body into the wall and commanded, "WALK!" And she began to walk. She walked past her casket. She walked past her family and friends. She did what the voice that had called her back from heaven had said to do. The man was Smith Wigglesworth. God used him to ignite revival and healing in England. The woman later testified that she was in heaven when she began to hear a voice saying to her "Walk!" Then she suddenly found herself before that man and no longer in heaven. This woman died at a ripe old age and her sister, who is still alive, says she still remembers that day in the funeral home. No one who was there that day did anything less with their life than sell out all the way for Jesus.  What Mr. Wigglesworth and all the others before and after him have done is show us what is available to us if we will go all the way with God. Pay the full price for that kind of relationship with God. That anointing is not just for people in five-fold ministry. Those are just offices. Jesus said to his disciples — which is what we all are if we are saved — to go, preach the kingdom of God is at hand, heal the sick, cleanse the leper, cast out demons, and raise the dead. Many people have no problem with witnessing to those around them when God opens the door for them to do it. They may not have a problem believing divine healing can still happen today. There are no lepers hanging around their neighborhoods, so they aren't sure what to do with that part of the mandate. But raise the dead?? Surely that anointing has long since departed! Not at all. There are people of God, who have touched His power and His glory, who are doing all of the above. (Yes, there are still lepers in the world.) And their testimony is to us that if we will also press past the customs and norms of religion around us, and touch the power and glory of heaven, we can do the same that these people did. The people doing miracles today are ordinary people who have touched an extraordinary God. So how about you? Where are you on this journey with God? Are you just beginning? Good, begin right. Take hold of His presence and pursue Him until you touch His glory. Then show others how to encounter God for themselves. Maybe you have been saved for a long time and have just enough of God to keep you satisfied. But do you have enough of Him to keep Him satisfied? He wants to use you right where you are. He has called you to encounter Him so that others may encounter Him through your life. Jesus wants you to radiate Him out of your life. Regardless of what you do for a living or what kind of trial you are facing today, encounter His glory so that His glory can pour forth from you onto a waiting world. Living for the Call Back to top |
"The ministry of a servant of God is evaluated not by the yardstick of the great number of people that attend his meetings/ church services but by the yardstick of the small number of people who have accepted Jesus Christ and become His disciples." Job Anbalagan Glory of His Cross Prophetic Ministries |
Find and Replace The age of the computer brings much ease and expertise to the preparation of the worship folders. Some churches which use the same basic format each week can simply call up the form on the computer screen, make a few necessary changes, and presto, it's done. But it can be tricky. In one church, they use the same format for funeral services. And when a person dies and a funeral service is prepared, the secretary simply uses the word-search-and-replace process and changes the name of the deceased from the previous service to the name of the deceased who has just passed away. Very simple. So when Edna died, the pastor instructed the secretary to prepare the service for her by following the above-mentioned process. The last person who died was Mary. So the secretary instructed the computer to change all entries for "Mary" to "Edna". And so it was. Imagine the surprise of the attendees when they recited the Apostles Creed and read: "He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Edna..." |
Separating Fact from Fiction  "The Da Vinci Code" — a best-selling novel recently released as a Hollywood film — has troubled many with its claims to uncover the "truth" about Christ and the church. How can you separate fact from fiction when it comes to novel’s story of conspiracy and cover-up? To understand the controversy swirling around the recently-released movie based on the bestselling novel, you have to first understand the story and weigh its claims against historical accounts.This free online course, "The Da Vinci Code: Separating Fact from Fiction", will help you decipher where the truth ends and fiction begins so you are prepared with facts and talking points for meaningful discussions about the life and message of Jesus Christ. RBC Ministries’ Mart De Haan, Day of Discovery’s Jimmy DeYoung, Ancient History Professor Dr. Paul L. Maier, Theologian Dr. Charlie Ryrie, and Richard Abanes, author of "The Truth Behind The Da Vinci Code", present the evidence in a clear and compelling way. Take this course and strengthen your confidence in God’s Word as you explore biblical answers to questions raised by "The Da Vinci Code". |
You can't lose when you help others win. |
Editor's Note I received the following message from a dear online prayer partner and I wanted to share it with all of you. Be blessed in Jesus' name! When Stephen was stoned, as perfect as he was, he was still done in for man's lack of love of the truth. I'm sure that as he was being stoned — one rock on his forehead, one on his knee, one in the middle of his body — as he was going down, he knew full well Christ could save him, and the Bible says Stephen was one of His best servants. I'm sure that as he died, he was wondering why these evil people would do such a thing to him. Did he drop to his knees? Did he maybe say to the crowd, and to himself, as he was cruelly murdered, did he say, "...I serve the most powerful God in the universe!"? Did he die in complete innocence? The kind of man that he was, I'm sure he did. We all die like that when we are murdered for our belief in Christ — whether literally or verbally. We don't understand this strange world, and all its strange inhabitants. They despise us, Linda. I don't understand why myself, and I've been a Christian all my life, and I'm 65.  Did Job get up one day and say, "Well Hallelujah, today I'm going to lose all that I have, even to the point of attending my own children's funerals, one after another. I'm going to lose my credibility, my dignity, my good name."? But God was doing a mighty miracle for us, and for Job. He's my most favored saint. I couldn't have made it through my own afflictions, had I not had Job's dirty laundry there to verify that there are strange circumstances that only God can handle. When Job was sitting in a pile of ashes, with boils and in indignity and humiliation, he had no clue what Christ was doing in his life. That his life would be one of the oldest books in the Bible, and that it was going to be used by God for 6,000 years to help others in their afflictions. Isaiah 66:1: "Thus saith the LORD, 'The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?' " Isaiah 66:2: "For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." And this verse is very important also. Isaiah 48:10: "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." We have a strange God; He says so himself in Isaiah. Whatever our people go through, we know that Christ is with us. We must trust God at all seconds of our life, as Satan despises us and will trick us at all points. Christ is the Victory. Amen? (Because of the threat of spam or other web abuses, I don't publish people's email addresses. Please contact me if you'd like to write to Flora.) Back to top |
I hate it when people forward bogus warnings, but this one is real, and it's important. So please send this warning to everyone on your e-mail list. If someone comes to your front door saying they are conducting a survey on deer ticks and asks you to take your clothes off and dance around with your arms up, DO NOT DO IT! IT IS A SCAM; they only want to see you naked. I wish I'd gotten this message yesterday. I feel so stupid now... |
 "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!" Back to top |
On a ski lift in Taos, New Mexico: "No jumping from the lift. Survivors will be prosecuted." Official sign near door: "Door Alarmed" Hand printed sign nearby: "Window frightened" Road sign seen on the island of Cyprus: (translation of the Greek) "Caution: Road Slippery from Grape juice" A sign advertising a company-wide skiing race: "Let's see who can go downhill the fastest" Sign in King's Canyon in California: "Slow Parking Ahead" A billboard seen next to the highway, travelling from Johannesburg International Airport into town. An Ad for BMW showing a photo of a BMW 328i convertible with the roof and all the windows down. The caption reads: "Our hardware runs better without WINDOWS!!!" Two signs, one on top of the other, in a country kitchen: "Restrooms to the left" and "Please wait for the hostess to seat you" Seen in a health food store: "Shoplifters will be beaten over the head with an organic carrot" Back to top |
Christians did not name themselves. They were called "Christians" for the first time by pagans in Antioch (Acts 18) who saw them speaking like Jesus, acting like Jesus, doing miracles like Jesus, and loving like Jesus. So they called them Christians, which means "Little Christ". How wonderful it would be for us to return to the original meaning of this title. To say "I am a Christian" would be to say, "I am in love with my Lord Jesus and my actions all reflect that." Steve Hill |
My heart stopped As I saw Him fall Would He get up Or would He crawl. He had to make it He had a goal He was to be crucified For my lost soul. Look into His eyes It is not despair It is a look of love For those He cared. He's made it up He's on His feet Someone carries His cross As their hearts meet. Now He can make it Now He can be crucified Now I can live Because He died. © Copyright Roger Montgomery Back to top |
"They told me at the blood bank this might happen." "This is just a 15-minute power nap like they raved about in that time management course you sent me to." "Whew! Guess I left the top off the White-Out. You probably got here just in time!" "I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm." "I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance." "I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress. Are you discriminatory toward people who practice Yoga?" "Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem." "The coffee machine is broken." "Someone must've put decaf in the wrong pot." "... in Jesus' name. Amen." Back to top |
One day, a cat dies of natural causes and goes to Heaven, where he meets the Lord Himself. The Lord says to the cat, "You lived a good life, and if there is any way I can make your stay in Heaven more comfortable, please let me know." The cat thinks for a moment and says, "Lord, all my life I have lived with a poor family and had to sleep on a hard wooden floor." The Lord stops the cat and says, "Say no more," and a wonderful, fluffy pillow appears. A few days later, six mice are killed in a tragic farming accident, and all of them go to Heaven. Again, the Lord is there to greet them with the same offer. The mice answer, "All our lives we have been chased. We have had to run from cats, dogs, and even women with brooms. Running, running, running; we're tired of running. Do you think we could have roller skates so we don't have to run anymore?" The Lord says, "Say no more" and fits each mouse with beautiful new roller skates. About a week later, the Lord stops by to see the cat and finds him snoozing on the pillow. The Lord gently wakes the cat and asks him, "How are things since you got here?" The cat stretches and yawns, then replies, "It is wonderful here. Better than I could have ever expected. And those 'Meals On Wheels' you've been sending by are the best!" |
Not the beep! No! Please! Not the beep! Anything but the beep! AAAAIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!" |
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God's choice of me is the basis of my view of myself. If the sovereign, majestic God of the universe lovingly and personally called me to Himself, then I am valuable, precious, and loved because of that calling. Cynthia Heald "Becoming a Woman of Excellence" Copyright © 1996 |
has a vision for a great Christ awakening and revival around the world, and a passion
to help bring this about, directly or indirectly, irrespective of national boundaries,
languages, denominations, or ethnic, racial or social/economic castes or classes.
We are a non-denominational, Christ-centered Free Ministry and Missions Society.
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Scripture taken from:
King James Version (KJV), Copyright © 1990 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
New International Version (NIV), Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
New King James Version (NKJV), Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
New Living Translation (NLT), Copyright © 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers
World English Bible (WEB), 2001 MT-based public domain update of 1901 American Standard Version (ASV)
Copyright © 2006. My Redeemer Lives Christian Ministry™. All rights reserved.