Transition Announced at Abbott Loop CC (Anchorage, Alaska)

From: AbbottLoop.org

2008-04-11: Elders Report

The elders met on April 8 at the home of Rick and Deloris Benjamin. We prayed for Val Hirschberg and other prayer needs. We reported on the progress of the transition to Josh Tanner becoming our next senior pastor. We will explore ways to bring similar reports to the congregation.

The elders will meet again on May 13 at the home of Carlos and Janet Guerra. Thank you for praying for the elders.

Source

May the Lord Strengthen Your HEART—Behold the BEAUTY of the Lord

I had a heavy dream this morning in which certain people were actively trying to take me out.

Normally, I try to wake myself up enough in order to write down all dreams that I think are probably from the Lord. It’s so easy to talk myself out of doing this to go back to sleep, even though I make sure my laptop is by my side.

This time, this was obviously a warning dream from the Holy Spirit, but I reasoned in my sleepiness that all I needed to remember from the dream is that these people were serious in their evil activity against me. But in hindsight, I probably would have learned significant things from the details of the dream, which I don’t remember.

Afterward, I heard very clearly: “Psalm 27.” I thought “great! God is giving me the solution!” I really was going to read it, but then went back to sleep and forgot about it until now—thankfully, probably by the grace of God, I remembered.

What a beautiful answer to this yukky dream!

The New King James version showcases the heart as the focal point (v. 13, 14):

I would have lost heart,
unless I had believed that I would see
the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And he shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

_______________________________________

<< Psalm 27 >>
World English Bible

1 Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.

4 One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, to see Yahweh’s beauty, and to inquire in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the covert of his tabernacle he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock.

6 Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.

7 Hear, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me.

8 When you said, “Seek my face,” my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Yahweh.”

9 Don’t hide your face from me. Don’t put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don’t abandon me, neither forsake me, God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then Yahweh will take me up ["then the Lord will take care of me" - NKJV].

11 Teach me your way, Yahweh. Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies.

12 Don’t deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living.

14 Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh. By David.

Praise be to Jesus!!!

- jeff fenske : )

Joe Schimmel: The Great Deception—Once Saved, Always Saved

Related:

On audio cassette: “The Great Deception”—Exposing the false teaching of once saved always saved, along with some of its most popular teachers

Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures

Heartquotes: Happiness

“I am more and more convinced that our happiness or our unhappiness
depends far more on the way we meet the events of life
than on the nature of those events themselves.”

- Karl Wilhelm Von Humboldt

Click for the Sunflower Version

An Evangelical Manifesto: ‘Christians’ Have Become ‘Useful Idiots’ for Political Parties—Creating a Backlash Against Religion

From: CNN

Conservative Christian leaders who believe the word “evangelical” has lost its religious meaning plan to release a starkly self-critical document saying the movement has become too political and has diminished the Gospel through its approach to the culture wars.

The declaration encourages Christians to uphold traditional marriage, as in this Massachusetts protest.

The statement, called “An Evangelical Manifesto,” condemns Christians on the right and left for using faith to express political views without regard to the truth of the Bible, according to a draft of the document obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

“That way faith loses its independence, Christians become ‘useful idiots’ for one political party or another, and the Christian faith becomes an ideology,” according to the draft.

The declaration, scheduled to be released Wednesday in Washington, encourages Christians to be politically engaged and uphold teachings such as traditional marriage. But the drafters say evangelicals have often expressed “truth without love,” helping create a backlash against religion during a “generation of culture warring.”

“All too often we have attacked the evils and injustices of others,” the statement says, “while we have condoned our own sins.” It argues, “we must reform our own behavior.”

Read Entire Article

Heartquotes: “It is not enough to stare up the steps…”

“The vision must be followed by the venture.

It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs.”

- Vance Havner

Click for the Sunflower Version

HeartQuotes: Forgiving Opens the HighWay

“He who cannot forgive others
destroys the bridge over which he himself must pass.”

- George Herbert

Click for the Seagull-Image Version

Coach Daubenmire: The Death of Shame

From: News with Views

Shame–the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another.

I’m not really sure when it began, as it has been a gradual thing, I’m sure. But like the slow removal of a grass stain from a teenager’s hack-around T-shirt, the impression has slowly been extracted from the conscience of America.

Whatever happened to shame?

I suppose some of it could be traced to Dr. Spock, as he is responsible for so much of what is wrong with child-rearing these days, or to Benjamin Bloom, and John Dewey, two acolytes-of-atheism, men who promoted the Humanistic ideals that have replaced Christianity as the bedrock of our educational system. “If it feels good, do it” has replaced “Thou shall not.”

But the bare boned bottom line is that the goal of “building self-esteem” in our young children required the elimination of any type of negative reinforcement and led to the development of the value system we now see permeating the American culture.

[...]

“Everyone lies. We’re all sinners, Coach!” Well, I guess you’re right, but there was a time in America when you were taught to be ashamed of your sin. Sadly, those days have gone the way of sin-hating Christians.

Read Entire Story

Related: Asbury Revival, 1970: “Dr. Kinlaw, I am a liar. Now what do I do?”

Kupelian: The Passion of the Christian—Clearly, We’re Missing Something BIG

From: WorldNetDaily

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

– Mark 8:34-37

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

– Luke 9:23

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

– Matthew 10:38

…viewing “The Passion of the Christ” is powerfully rekindling many believers’ appreciation for what Jesus endured for their sakes.

Question: Will this roaring fire of gratitude for Christ’s suffering and death on the cross also rekindle – or ignite for the first time – a fire in the belly of believers for “taking up the cross” themselves?

What about it? Is it enough to immerse our minds and souls and emotions in the graphic realization of Christ’s immense suffering on our behalf? Or are we going to go the distance, finish the race, and fulfill Jesus’ direct and repeated instruction that each of us “take up his cross daily”? …

But you see, there’s something really wrong with today’s Christianity. Over 80 percent of Americans consider themselves Christians, but our country’s government, laws, culture and institutions, from its education system to it is entertainment industry – are increasingly and overtly hostile to Christianity. Even Christian families all too often are falling apart. Believe it or not, the divorce rate among Christians is higher than that of unbelievers, according to respected Christian pollster George Barna. Clearly, we’re missing something big.

So, can you handle a little tough love? Here it is: Just continually telling each other about Jesus’ death and resurrection is not enough. It’s not what He taught. Jesus didn’t say, “Just talk about me and you’ll be saved.” Rather, He said: “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) And “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10) And “… he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13 KJV)

Read Entire Article

Very Heavy Reality Check: 1.78 Per Second!

 

Click for Video

Only 1-minute long

Wow!