Newsletter€¦ · Web viewJust believe God's Word. Believe that His Son, the Messiah Jesus, died for your sins, as He said He did, and that He now lives to provide eternal life

Monthly Newsletter Publication December 2005

McClain Ministries 1050 Ridgeside Drive, Brandon, MS 39042 1

COMIN' FOR TO CARRY ME HOME!

Bible Text: Ezekiel 18:32

Central Truth: When we think about the Rapture we think about the sweet lyric that says, "Comin’ for to carry me home."

Are you a Gentile, a Jew, or a Christian? According to the Bible, you belong to one of these three groups and your future depends on which one.

God has revealed remarkable things about His coming and dealing with these three distinctly different segments of the world's population and we have tried to clarify these dealings as we understand them.

In prophecy it is clear that the unbelieving Gentiles will follow the coming Antichrist, the world ruler of the Tribulation. He will take them down the primrose path to destruction. His political, economic, and religious plans will lead only to Armaged-don.

Further on down the prophetic road the Gentiles will face judgment and will fare no

Life Events

Rejoicing with you on your special day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!Melva McClainCynthia SpearsCarlton WilliamsDeloris McNair

May God’s Love Be at the Heart of your Marriage

Howard & Evelyn Magee

http://www.arthursclipart.com/xmas/xmascol/PRESENT.gif


The Christians, or the church, are for the moment in exile like the Jews, but the trumpet will signal their complete and ultimate triumph. The church will go home to Heaven in the Rapture, be joined to the Lord in Marriage, and return to earth with Him to reign.

After the Millennial Kingdom the church will continue with the Lord into the mystical period of eternity, in which there will be instituted a new heaven, a new earth, and a New Jerusalem. The church will live on in glory and triumph with the Lord.

These scenarios are, in brief, what the Scriptures have to say about the three groups of people now present in the world.

To which group do you belong? More to the point, should you consider making a change?

There's actually only one group you can change to. Biblically, a Gentile cannot become a Jew and a Jew cannot become a Gentile. But anybody, just anybody, can become a Christian. In fact, God is utterly counting on it; He wants everybody to be in the church. "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth," says the Father in Ezekiel 18:32. "Wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." He says, "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; Knock and it shall be opened unto you:" (Matthew 7:7)

God's attitude is very clear. But God's attitude counts less on this matter than your own attitude. He didn't make you as a puppet that He could control, but He gave you a free choice. You are free to go with Him or to go the other way. Your future really depends on you.

Our personal view of the Rapture is really less technical than we have presented it here. We have tried to give every detail of each event. But most of the time we think

better than Satan himself, according to the Bible. The Lake of Fire awaits all unbelievers - fallen angels and unregenerate men alike.

If you are a Gentile, bound and determined to remain in disbelief, you will most certainly self-destruct.

The Jews will fare somewhat better, at least as a nation, if not as individuals. They are seen prophetically as a very special people, divinely chosen but presently separated from both their land and their Lord. They are just as lost, in this separated condition, as the Gentiles, but ultimately their double ex-ile will end.

As we have seen, the Jews will yet return en masse to the land and to the Lord. God has promised that at the sound of the trumpet He will re-gather His chosen people from the ends of the earth and return them to Israel. That won't be a happy time, since the Tribulation will be underway. But this "time of Jacob's trouble" is limited and has a divine purpose. The nation of Israel will be purified as if by fire, and the Jewish people will be ready when the Messiah returns.

From then on, Israel and Jerusalem will receive the greatest of honors as their glorious destiny is fulfilled. The Lord will reign a thousand years in Jerusalem and the Promised Land will become the head of a grand world of peaceful nations.

But being a Jew at this moment does not guarantee safe passage to the Millennium. The unsaved Jew, like the unsaved Gentile, must confront the Antichrist and his heinous seven-year rule. Many Jews will die, and they'll be dead men forever.

Christians, on the other hand, have nothing to fear from the future. Let's understand again what a Christian is—a Jew or Gentile who believes in Jesus Christ.

Christian constitute another chosen people


IN HIS PRESENCE6:00 P. M. HOUR OF PRAYER

Use this wonderful supernatural tool the Lord has blessed us with the 6 o'clock hour of power. This is the time to intercede for the needs of others, the concerns of the ministry, and to pray for the leadership within our community, our nation, and our world.

Bring all of your cares and burdens to the altar and encourage others to do the same. Lives are being changed. Breakthroughs are happening.

HOME BIBLE WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Mark your calendars for the December 2005 date. Please plan to attend.

December 10th

1050 Ridgeside DriveBrandon, MS 39042

Phone: 601-824-7498


about this whole beautiful event in much more simple terms.

When we think about the Rapture we think about the sweet lyric that says, "Comin for to carry me home."

You see, once you're on the other side of this faith question—once you're lined up with the Lord—it all becomes very simple and very comfortable. He's coming for us, and that's all there is to it. What will happen to the world is too bad, but our Lord is coming to carry us home and we're glad. He has paid our way, arranged the trip, and re-served our places.

He can do as much for you. Think about it. It will be the most important decision you'll ever make.

The Lord knows you very well. He made you, just as you are. You can talk to Him in your own words. And He'll certainly listen.

If heaven is the home you want, and if you want to go there in the Rapture, it's very easy. Just believe God's Word. Believe that His Son, the Messiah Jesus, died for your sins, as He said He did, and that He now lives to provide eternal life for you. There's no charge.

If your own words fail you, here are some that we can recommend:

Lord, I want to be ready for the Rapture. Come for me and carry me home! Let me be a part of Your Bride in Heaven. I believe that Your death and resurrection were for me, and I want You to be the head of my life from now on. I appreciate all You have done for me, and You will do for me in the future.

Yes, it’s just that simple!Memory Text:

"Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; Knock and it shall be opened unto you:" (Matthew 7:7)



INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLEGOING UP! By Melva McClain

Bible Text: II Corinthians 5:6-9, II Corinthians 5:10, I Corinthians 3:12,

Revelation 4:10, 11 5:11, 12

Central Truth: On earth we burn our trash to get rid of it. How good it will be to permanently get rid of all our earthly trash!

Since our weekly message entitled “From Glory to Glory,” I have received numerous requests for additional infor- formation on the Rapture and Eternity. Quite frankly, detailed information of this type is usually reserved for the “Learning Tree” segment of the website. Never- theless, let’s give it a shot. In the next two weekly messages we will discuss more details of the Rapture and Eternity. Let us first start with the Rapture.

RAPTURE

Really, we know very little about Heaven. But we believers "walk by faith, not by sight," as Paul put it (II Corinthians 5:7). Intimations in the Scriptures about Heaven give us at least a great appreciation of that wonderful place, if not exact details. The Christian longs to go to Heaven to be with the Lord, to be with loved ones who have gone on before.

When a believer dies, his death is different from that of unbelievers. His body is buried, but his soul goes to the presence of the Lord (II Corinthians 5:6-9). At the time of the Rapture, that soul will be reunited with its former body and resurrected. The trans- formation to immortality will take place then, and the believer will live on eternally.

Those alive at the moment of the Rapture will be translated directly and changed at once, without ever experiencing death.Thus, at the time of the Rapture, both the resurrected and the translated saints will be

carried away from the earth in eternal bodies to join Christ in Heaven.

It's not very easy for us earthlings to describe these marvels, other than to take the truth from the Word and write them out. But faith in the revealed truth makes a big difference in the earthly life of any believer. Paul's point is well taken that we do not have to actually see a spiritual thing to believe in it; Christians experience so many spiritual, "mystical" transactions in their daily walk that Heaven is not at all hard to believe.

In walking by faith we gain a serenity and assurance that is simply unexplainable to the rest of the world. That we count on a blessed "hereafter" has confounded many kinds of thinkers every since the gospels were written. The Christian confidence about death has caused many people to wonder.

The Marxists have called Christianity "the opiate of the masses," since the masses count on a bright future they seem drugged to them! To the Marxist Heaven has become a delusion, an escapist way of thinking and an impractical Utopia. As far as the Marxist is concerned believers are regarded as folks who turn their attention from the hard realities of the here-and-now to concentrate on some theoretical better life to come. Psychologists theorize that a future Heaven makes life on earth more endurable, and so they say the naive Christians like to persuade themselves that their belief is true.

Actually, the experience of true faith in God provides reliable and intimate assurances of Heaven every day. Christians are familiar with real joy and they taste heaven-like blessings by faith daily. The abundant life given by Christ far exceeds the physical life understood by the five senses, and it speaks clearly and reasonably of a continuing blessing after death.


To the believer, the realities of Heaven are more dependable than those of the earthly life. The things which we see here on earth are temporary, we know, but the things which are now invisible will last forever. (II Corinthians 4:18). It's a reverse kind of philosophy to the materialistic, earthbound thinker, but it has only to be tried to be verified.

Thus Christians wait in faith to be taken away to Heaven. There, we know from Scripture, is the kind of life believers were meant to live! In Heaven there is complete joy, peace, love, and glory in the very presence of God Himself.

The first event of our existence in Heaven, however, is one which causes mixed emotions among believers, for all Christians will be judged at the “Judgment Seat of Christ” (II Corinthians 5:10). This will be the scene of an examination of each Christian life by the Lord Himself. On that day believers will see what they have done and not done, and how it all looks from Heaven's perspective.

This Heavenly judgment should certainly not be confused with what is popularly called "Judgment Day," which is the final judgment of all unbelievers who have ever lived. That ultimate judgment will be held at the conclusion of the Millennium, and it will involve penalties and loss of life. Jesus' Judgment Seat, on the other hand, examines only the works of believers, not the believers themselves:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to what he hath done, whether good or bad. (II Corinthians 5:10)

Every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is. If any

man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. (I Corinthians 3:13-15)

The issue at this Judgment Seat is not condemnation or even punishment. No one need fear the Lord's wrath or need worry about his salvation at this event. For believers, those issues were taken care of on the cross by the Judge Himself. First Corinthians 3:15 stresses that a believer and his works are two different things in the sight of the Lord.

This judgment has to do more with rewards than with punishments. We will be "receiving the things done in our body," in other words; we will be receiving the results of our earthly lives. This refers to the way we have served our Lord on earth during the time that we knew Him.

Our works of service for the Lord vary a great deal and we're going to know just how much they vary on that unique day in Heaven when the Lord looks all of them over. Some works will be extremely pleasing to Him and others not at all. And even within these two groups of good works and bad works there will be gradations: good works will be graded as "gold, silver, and precious stones," while bad works will be graded as "wood, hay, and stubble" (I Corinthians 3:12).

Paul's image of the testing of our works (". . . it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is") is very logical. The precious metals and jewels will survive the fire while the wood, hay, and stubble will be totally consumed. It is as if the entire works of our lifetimes in Christ will be piled up and put to the torch. What comes out of that fire will last for eternity; what is burned will be gone forever.


On earth we burn our trash to get rid of it. How good it will be to permanently get rid of all our earthly trash!

The things that last—the good works—are pictured as beautiful rather than merely durable; they are precious and beautiful things rather than durable but drab iron and stone. In Paul's metaphor is the intimation that we will be adorned with our good works for all eternity. We are to "wear" them in glory!

The Lord made each one of us, and He knows how we tick. Our salvation does not depend on these good works; it is a free gift. But the opportunity is open for us to earn rewards for good service. By God's grace we can work to receive that finest of commendations from the very lips of the Lord Himself, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

We are not expected to be able to perform works pleasing to Almighty God by our own strength. It is by the grace of God that we produce these durable works—by our yielding to His direction, just as a good servant yields to his master's will. As we yield to God, He produces good works in us that we send on to Heaven and these become our "treasures in heaven." Jesus recommended that our personal fortunes be stored above, where they are safe, rather than on the earth, where thieves break in and steal.

God is practical; He even operates a sound retirement program! We contribute now and reap the full benefits later on. Our pension fund is safe and sound under God's own care in Heaven!

No one can be sure how long the Judgment Seat will last, or even on how we determine time in Heaven, but in earthly terms. All Heavenly business must be cleared up in seven years. That is, the tribulation will be wracking the earth for a seven-year period,

and the Heavenly events scheduled to occur before Christ's second coming must be accomplished during this seven-year period. What a difference between Heaven and earth! There will be joy above but woe below, and such extremes between the two!

The wedding of Christ and His bride, the church, plus the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb,” will take place after the Judgment Seat events. An actual wedding ceremony will be held in Heaven, and it will surely be something to behold!

The bride will wish to present the bridegroom with a "dowry," and so the members of the church will give to Christ their only possessions—their crowns. While the crowns are made to last for etern-ity, it appears that the church does not keep them, but rather presents them to the Bridegroom with the proclamation that He alone is worthy of praise (Revelation 4:10, 11 5:11, 12).

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteous-ness of saints." This is how Revelation 19:7, 8 describes this unique, joyful moment of Heavenly matrimony.

It is admittedly difficult to imagine this idea of a corporate wedding of the church to the Lord. The church is composed of millions of individuals, but apparently in Heaven it becomes one personality clothed in beauty, chastity, purity, and loveliness, with her entire yearning and aspiration to be presented in this fashion to her Bride-groom, the Lord Jesus Christ. An actual ceremony is envisioned, with the Father conducting the marriage, the Son standing as a literal Bridegroom, the Holy Spirit escorting the redeemed church as the Bride, and the wedding guests being the in-


over the Millennial Kingdom of God forever. Memory Text:

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." (Revelation 19:7, 8)

A GIFT FROM ABOVETunisha Stewart

The Lord has blessed my family with a beautiful baby boy.

BLOOD COVENANT PRAISEMelva McClain

I actually forgot to share this praise report last month, so I would like to take the opportunity to share it with our members at this time.

In the month of September it was time for the ministry to renew our website service. We had the option of making monthly payments or one annual payment. Because of the generosity of our members we were able to issue a check for an entire year of services. This makes the second year we’ve been able to accomplish this goal.

When it was time to re-register our domain name (www.mcclainministries.org) in the month of October and because we had paid a year in advance for services, our provider renewed our Domain name free of charge. The monthly service and domain represent two separate charges and our Heavenly Father took care of them both.

As a side note, all of the ministry expenses are listed on my “Blood Covenant” and the Lord is handling each and every one of them. What a wonderful God we serve.

numerable spirits of the Old Testament saints.

This is the ceremony toward which Christ has been looking for almost 2000 years now and really from eternity past. It was at least partly for this unique, mystic event that He endured the Cross. He surely anticipates this wedding at least as much as does His stumbling, erring, unchaste church today.

The wedding ceremony, though not given a great deal of space in Scripture, is certainly one of the preeminent events of God's program for His own. We don't completely understand what a Heavenly wedding is, especially between the Savior and the millions, but we all know what marriage is. It is as if the Lord wishes to create a relationship with His own people which is more intimate, more complete, more loving, and more adoring than any He has partici-pated in previously. Marriage, the ultimate union, the final joining together, will be accomplished in Heaven as it never was on earth. God's relations with men, even with Israel, were never so close as this.

In Revelation 19:9 a "Marriage Supper" is spoken of, and this is generally thought to be just that—a kind of reception meal following the wedding. It has also been suggested that this supper will be delayed until after Christ descends to the earth and establishes His Kingdom. In the latter case the Marriage Supper would correspond with the Millennial Banquet described by Isaiah (25:6-8).

Whether or not the two suppers are the same or are held successively, the church and the rest of the redeemed of all ages are in for some joyful feasting. The Lord enjoyed a good meal, as do we and He has made many plans along these lines.

So the Bride of Christ will be completed in Heaven, attired graciously and presented to her Bridegroom. She will be formally wed and will return triumphantly to the earth with her Lord and Husband to establish and reign

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GOD’S FAVORDenise Jones

Five months ago, my daughter Anitra began working at Blue Cross Blue Shield in the Document Services Dept. Now she is Administrative Assistant in the Document Services Dept. She said everyone in the department was really upset about it because they were not offered the job and she hasn't been on the job long enough to receive a promotion. As a matter of fact, the job wasn’t even posted. I told Anitra, NO it wasn’t FAIR, It was FAVOR!

HIGHER

Also, Anitra will be moving in her very own apartment December 2nd. Please keep her in your prayers.

AND HIGHER

My son, Carlton Williams has completed his first football band season as band director at Province High School. He has earned LOTS of recognition in and around the school. Thank you all for your prayers.

A TIME OF CELEBRATION!Gloria Wallace

I am so pleased to report that I have successfully relocated to Little Rock. After retirement from SBC my goal was to relocate from Texas back home. With the help of God I was able to renovate my home in Little Rock for just that purpose. I also want to give thanks that my home is paid for and once again I can live close to my family.

My appreciation goes to all of you for praying for my son Derek Walker. Derek has been working since September 1st and ranks second in his department. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. God is so good!

STORM RELIEF CARE PACKAGES

As you can see Care Packages fill the Home Bible Workshop Area

We have delivered an additional 100 Care Packages to the designated Storm

Relief Center here in Jackson. Collectively, we have delivered 350

essential care packages.

Our sister Mary Simpson made the delivery today with the generous use of

her son Charles' vehicle.


(Article Excerpts)www.mcclainministries.org

ARE YOU IN DE’NIAL?Have you ever just let bills stack up, as you say to yourself; “Oh well, they’ll get paid somehow.” Yet you have no plan to pay them off. All the while, deep down inside somewhere, there is a little voice that tells you someday you’ll have to face the music.

We all have a handy little mental tool called a “defense mechanism.” These are useful, often unconscious techniques that help cushion the blow of reality. For instance, the class clown may be masking inner insecurity, while the swaggering macho guy may feel threatened and alone. So why be concerned with these helpful cushions?

As adults, we need to take care of ourselves while not avoiding reality and imposing on others. Defense mechanisms can work too well and keep us from facing the things we need to face in our lives. Instead of squarely dealing with the real issues in our lives, we have what I call the ‘Baby Moses’ syndrome. Do you remember when the baby Moses was set adrift on the Nile River in Egypt in a floating basket? Well, we can also be a basket case and in de’nial.

“PLUG IN AND POWER UP”A powerless gospel is quite possibly worse than no gospel at all. In a world that needs to read the work of God in our lives, a powerless gospel leaves us dark and without a message. But God doesn’t leave anyone powerless. Ask Him to live in you, change you, make you powerful, and He will. His Spirit pulses with power, and He wants your life to shine with it. Put in your request and watch it happen. Sometimes we get use to living in darkness and so the light

THANK YOU!

I would like to thank everyone for their participation in this humanitarian en-deavor. I will not try to cite all of the parties involved but you and God know who you are. Thank you for stepping up to the call to help us help others. We have so much more work to do with our Relief Outreach, so please keep those contributions coming.

THANKS BE UNTO GOD WHO ALWAYS CAUSE ME TO TRIUMP

Sylvia Williams

I thank God for his saving grace! I thank God for He always brings to my attentionmy wrong doings and wrong thinking.

I thank God that he never lets anything get by me without first letting me know! I thank God for my children, grandchildren, sisters brother, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and grandfather.

Satan tried to keep my son, Jessie from going to college by throwing his little mile- stones in the way. But “Big H” intervened and Jessie is now in college and doing well!! He loves what he is doing (industrial technology), and is making good grades. Hang in there Jessie, God never fails!!

My son, Michael, is up for a promotion on his job, “Lead Night Person.” I am thanking “Big H” now for Michael's promotion. Do your dance and give God the Glory, Michael!!

I thank God that my daughter Jasmine is making good grades her first year in high school. Go Jasmine, God has your back!!! My grandson, Amaje' received a gold medal in nursery school for completing every scholastic task given him. Go Amaje', Go Amaje'!My granddaughter, Amari, one year old, can spell her name. Yeah Amari!!

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light Jesus brings can seem overwhelming, threatening. It demands the investment of our own self-determination. It requires the complete reorientation of our lives. It exposes the dark corners of our hearts and puts the shadows to flight. And, frankly, some folks just aren’t ready to go that far. Just seems safer to stay with what we know -- even if what we know is making life infinitely harder and in the long run killing us.

I JUST WANT TO BE LOVED(TEEN MESSAGE)

We think, I suppose, that God's love is more about the next world than this one. We harbor doubts, I think, that He could love us - with all our sins - as much as the Bible says He does. We think of God's love in abstract terms while we think of the love of human beings in physical, emotional, and psychological terms. We feel valued when someone hugs us, or holds our hand, or wants us sexually, or says positive things about us. We feel like we matter when someone does something nice for us or wants to spend time with us.

God knows that about us, I think, which is why His love is more than words on a page. He has created for us a world that, despite humanity's best efforts to mess it up is still a beautiful, hospitable and life sustaining home for us. He has consistently intervened in human affairs, sometimes dramatically, to show His love for us. And, He surrounds us with people time and time again who do His work of loving us, caring for us, and giving meaning to our lives. Oh, and there's also the whole Jesus thing.

If the gospel is true, then it means above all that God loves us. We matter enough to Him that He would come and live among us. He would suffer hunger and be too cold and too hot, He would get tired and He would get thirsty. He would wade out into the sewage

of disease, hatred, violence, injustice, and despair that we had spilled across His planet and pull out people who were going under. And, in the end, He would die like us. And He would die for us, so that in history's greatest paradox we can enjoy life with Him.

WHAT IF WE DID WHAT JESUS SAID?

If we did what Jesus said, would we respond differently when our boss treats us unfairly and passes over us for the promotion we deserve? Would we wish evil on the person who got the promotion? Would we be public with our criticism of our boss? Or, would we do our best to encourage the person who received the promotion and do everything within our power to do our job better than ever before?

If we did what Jesus said, would we react differently when the person of our dreams chooses someone else? Would we be jealous? Would we seek revenge? Would we be vocal in our accusations? Or, would we demonstrate that our love was real and show each person the true love of Christ?

If we did what Jesus said, would we respond differently when our child disappoints us? Would we be a little less prone to point out their mistakes? Would we remind her of how she disappointed us less often? Or, would we remind her that she is our child, and she needs our acceptance, forgiveness, and love regardless of her actions, and that she has our acceptance, forgiveness, and love regardless of her actions?

If we did what Jesus said, would we respond differently when our spouse hurts us with words or actions that cause us to question their love and doubt our value? Would we respond with our own version of hurtful and cruel comments? Or, would we respond with a quiet calmness that demonstrates the love we promised them on our wedding day?


If we did what Jesus said, would we respond differently when we are threatened or attacked by those who openly express their hatred for us? Would we respond with an equal or greater show of force? Would we respond with our own threats of revenge and retribution? Or, would our response be characterized by patience, forgiveness and a living example of what it means to love our enemies?

THE DUMPSTER LIFESTYLE

Wake up! Get up out of the trash you've chosen as your bed, because it's also your coffin. And if you can't get out on your own, call for help. Cry out to God, and He'll hear you immediately. His Son knows the trash well, and He can pull you out and fill you with a Spirit that will help you resist going back. So don't wait for judgment to come any closer. Cry out now, and He'll come dig you out with pierced hands, wash you clean with His blood, and set you on your feet again, awake and alive.

And once you're out, well, listen for the cries yourself. Offer a helping hand. Through your words and acts, bring God's grace, forgiveness, and Spirit into the lives of others trapped in the trash. You've been awakened and pulled out for a reason: to help dig out others who are buried like you were or might have been. Just don't go back. Don't find your way back into the dumpsters you once found so comfortable. They aren't your home. You weren't made for living in the garbage.

When God comes to take out the trash, make sure you aren't included.

ARTICLES BY OTHERSKNOWING WHEN TO TAKE THE OFF-RAMP

God doesn't always lead us in straight paths, and sometimes it takes extraordinary

events for us to be shaken out of our self-absorbed plans and self-directed journeys. Sometimes it takes a talking donkey. Sometimes it's the tears of a spouse or the disappointment of our children. Sometimes it's a lost job or a flunked class. It can be a fractured church, a broken heart, a shattered dream. It can be as relatively painless as a lost opportunity, or as dire as a life-threatening illness. The point is, God will go to whatever lengths necessary to get us to see that the road we're on is reckless and leads to our inevitable destruction.

FACING ADVERSITY OVER AND OVER

Maybe you were hoping to get bills cleared up, only to be hit with an unexpected dentist bill or car repair. Maybe its harsh criticism you're dealing with, a situation at work that's making it difficult to maintain your Christian standards, or perhaps the struggles of dealing with a rebellious child. You think, "I can handle the difficulty I'm going through as long as I can see the light at the end of the tunnel." Only just when you're about at the end of the tunnel and you've taken about all you can take, you then realize that there's more adversity ahead and the light is barely visible. I understand; I've been there.

SEASON OF LONGER DARKNESS

God does join us in the darkest parts of our season of longer darkness. In truth, in the darkest of those days in this long season, He carries us and sustains in many ways:

He sends a friend to help with an encouraging word or a needed rebuke.

He supplies increased strength to weather our raging nighttime storms.

He prevents an unseen attack from the evil one when we are most vulnerable.


He answers hundreds of our prayers even though the one we most want seems to remain unaddressed.

He speaks to us through His Spirit in the songs we sing with other believers and the words of Scripture when we open ourselves to His Word.

He pours His love into our hearts through His Spirit and strengthens us in ways we cannot know in response to the prayers of others on our behalf.

Yes, sometimes in the season of longer darkness, we face grueling periods of perseverance brought on by life’s trials or our own failures and sin. But even in this long season, and even in the darkest of nights that try the human soul, we are not abandoned. No matter what our circumstances suggest, our God is faithful and he has promised that the night will pass; He will not forsake us. No matter how long the night may seem, morning will come with its joy.

THE BOND OF ADVERSITY

I wouldn’t wish trouble on anybody. But who hasn’t noticed that the thing which really bonds people to one another is sharing and surviving trouble? Instead of scattering, employees "hunker down" and get through a lean period. Rather than split up because of their “irreconcilable differences,” her cancer or their child’s arrest forces them to cling to one another and learn to love again.

Don’t give up on the less-than-ideal relationships in your life. Believers are living in enemy territory here on this planet! And we really do need each other.

IS JESUS RULING YOUR LIFE?

“When does Jesus rule in your life?”

Is Jesus ruling when you allow your tongue to speak lies?

Does He rule when your treatment of others is filled with hate or disrespect?

When you cheat or take advantage of others, is Jesus ruling in your life?

When envy, strife, and general contentiousness fills your relationship with

others, is that Jesus ruling?

When you are just like the unsaved, does that mean the lordship of Jesus Christ is

operating in your life?

“The Christian is different only when Jesus rules his life.” I believe that is true. Christians are different when Jesus rules. But, Jesus cannot be ruling if it fails to produce a difference in us. It is that “difference” that is the concern of his lordship. Therefore, it is imperative that we discover that “difference” in ourselves. We will not find it in our claims, but in our actions.

Is Jesus ruling your life?

HOOF, ANVIL, FIRE, WALL, OR JUNK PILE

So where is your faith right now? Have you put it in the junk pile and now find yourself merely going through religious motions? Is it on the wall, relegated to little more than a religious good luck charm? Or do you find yourself in the fire of troubles, trials, and testing? Do you feel yourself being shaped by powers and forces greater than you, but cannot yet see the plan God has to use you? Or do you find yourself on the hoof strapped and fitted to a set of circumstances and being used by the Master himself? God's call to you is based on the place of your faith — hoof, anvil, fire, wall, or junk pile. No matter where you've put your faith, he still calls to you to make you more.


THANK YOU partners for doing your part. You are truly a blessing to McClain Ministries. Your faithful commitment and support is greatly appreciated. If you have not yet made a commitment to partner with us, please ask the Holy Spirit to speak to, and guide your heart about it in 2006. If you will do your part God will do His part.

THE GUEST BOOK

Please use the guestbook on the website to let us know what you think. We invite all suggestions.

If you have not toured the site recently, I encourage you to do so today. The Home page has undergone a facelift. Please use your computer's full screen view and scroll slowly to the bottom of the page to experience the full affect. On each side of the Homepage you will find articles taken from embedded links. We have added inspirational music, new graphics and compelling articles that we hope will enrich you spiritually. Enjoy!

REMEMBER OUR TROOPS

Let us remember our troops as we gather this holiday season in fellowship with our

families, friends and love ones.

ONE MINUTE MEDITATIONThe new One Minute Meditation message will have some interesting features:

The email message you will see on the screen will be short and self contained.

Scripture links will be embedded in the message that will take you directly to the Bible Gateway link for in-depth study.

An audio link will be embedded in the message that will enable you to hear the passage of scripture discussed.

A commentary link will be provided to expand your comprehension of the scripture discussed.

All one-minute-meditation messages will be available on the website.

Please watch for this new feature coming soon.

MULTIMEDIA FEATURESTHE WORD

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In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."

And there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." (Luke 2:8-15, NRSV)

It could have been King Herod who got the news from the angels. "Messiah," the Anointed One, was a loaded term in his day. It implied royal power, kingly authority. If this child born in Bethlehem was going to be king, it meant that Herod's descendants would not be. You'd think, wouldn't you, that he would have been notified? But while shepherds are visited by angels, while the birth of the Savior is announced to simple herdsmen and their confused sheep, Herod sleeps in his comfortable bed. Unaware of the storm about to break.

It might have been the high priest to whom the angels went. If anyone should welcome the Messiah with open arms, it should be the man who was in charge of the people's spiritual well-being. He who offered the sacrifices on behalf of worshippers should have recognized the Lamb of God come to take away the sin of the world. But while the high priest dozed, the birth that would make the entire system of sacrifice obsolete was announced to the victims of those sacrifices and their keepers.

You might have expected the scribes and Pharisees to be notified. They were the faithful, the scrupulous, zealous for the Law and the teachings of their forefathers. They knew how far you could travel on a Sabbath, what constituted work and what did not, and the proper way to prepare food. Sure people who knew the Scriptures so well would have recognized the significance of the birth of a descendant of David in his city. They would have known the prophets' longing for the Messiah and joined in the angel chorus enthusiastically. But while the upright Bible scholars rested their pious heads and dreamed their righteous dreams, God sent angels to announce the birth of His Son to men who weren't trusted enough to be accepted as witnesses in court.

Or you might think that God would have sent His angelic ambassadors to Governor Quirinius, the Roman authority in the territory. Or even to Rome, to Caesar himself. You might think that God would get in the face of the Emperor, that the angels would sing a song of the conquest of God's kingdom over the human race's mightiest empire. But while


heads of state rested from the cares of their offices, the birth of a new King was announced only to common laborers caring for someone else's livestock as far from the corridors of power as they could be. Curious of God to announce the birth of His Son in this way. Curious that the One whom the church has believed for centuries to be God in flesh should come into the world in such an innocuous way. Wonder what the shepherds thought when the angels told them that the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord was wrapped in common cloth and lying in an animal's feed trough? Wonder what they thought when they arrived at the stable to find no one but a tired peasant couple trying to get a cranky newborn to nurse? "Good news of great joy for all the people," the angel had told them. In a rich-get-richer-poor-get-poorer world, good news for everyone is hard to come by. But by announcing the birth of Jesus to simple people like these shepherds, God showed His commitment to creating joy for everyone. By going to the shepherds, God showed that average, everyday working stiffs matter to Him. By believing and going to search for the One God told them had come, the shepherds showed their trust. Herod, we know, felt threatened and tried to exterminate the upstart king. The high priest, we know, eventually condemned Him to death. The scribes and Pharisees were offended by Him. A Roman governor passed off responsibility for Him. And in His lifetime He was never important enough by human standards to attract Caesar's attention. All the important people of Jesus' time missed His coming, for one reason or another. But the shepherds were a different story. They heard and saw the angels, believed, and went to see.

As Christmas rolls around again, should we perhaps stop and ask ourselves if we too believe and go to see? It's ironic that in the "Holiday Season" that Americans celebrate Jesus is almost nowhere to be found. He makes an appearance in our Christmas carols, sometimes adorns cards, maybe is the centerpiece of nativity scenes, and yet very often it feels as if He's little more than a decoration -- one that gets put away with all the others when the season ends. But according to what the angel said to those shepherds, His coming is not just a holiday to be celebrated once a year. To those who put their trust in Him, He brings "good news of great joy." He is exhibit A that God looks upon the human race with favor. Only too many of us miss His coming. We go about our busy lives, raise our kids, do our jobs, even meet our religious obligations, and never see what those shepherds saw. We never see God Himself sleeping in a manger or nursing at the breast of a human mother. We never notice that the Creator became creature, that He traded heaven for earth: for a stable, a manger, a cross. We don't notice because few of us take the time to listen.

Hear that? A chorus of angels sings in heaven still, because one song won't contain the joy of the gospel. But this good news is not to be just heard. It is to be seen, experienced and lived. So follow the footprints of a scraggly bunch of shepherds. Go with them to the manger to see the Savior of the world, the Son of God who cares for shepherds and mechanics and administrators and managers and accountants and students and wives and mothers and fathers and preachers just like me and you. Kneel beside them in the dirt and straw and dung to see the Savior who came into this world and took our sufferings on Himself to save us. All the "important" stuff you have to do will wait. For now, let the song of the angels lead you to the Savior. Hear the good news of great joy for all the people, including you. Merry Christmas Saints!


ARE THERE ANY JUST WARS?ARE THERE ANY JUST WARS?ARE

Jesus said that those who are peacemakers are blessed--not just peacekeepers, but those who actively seek to unite parties at odds with one another. In the Christian faith, this is best exemplified by Jesus, in whose death we see, in the words of Paul, "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself."

Observations on Jesus' comments in the Sermon on the Mount:

"Do not resist an evil person": This passage needs clarification. Police and law enforcement are necessary to preserve order in society. Romans 13:4 makes clear that evildoers are to be resisted. Jesus forcefully resisted the money-changers in the temple in John 2. What Jesus is saying in this passage does not apply to how the state should operate but how Disciples of Christ should operate in their interpersonal relationships. (The state, for example, must bring evildoers to justice. "Forgive your enemies" would not be appropriate for a justice system, letting off criminals without punishment.)

"Whoever slaps you on your right cheek; turn to him the other also": This text does not mean that your child cannot defend himself as a last resort when being beaten up by the school bully. And the text clearly does not imply that we stand by while a woman is being raped. Even Jesus, when slapped by order of the priest, didn't literally "turn the other cheek." Rather, he said, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike me?" (John 18:23).


"And if someone wants to sue and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well": The cloak (outer garment) was considered the inalienable right or possession under the Law of Moses (Exodus 22:26). Jesus is here saying, "Gladly part with what is legally yours." The Christian surrenders his "inalienable rights" for the good of others.

"If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles": In Christ's time, a Roman soldier could force a Jew to carry a burden one mile (1,000 paces) and no more. This action was meant to infuriate the Jews since the Jews despised the Romans. Can you imagine the shock if a follower of Christ would offer to carry the load another mile? This displays a supernatural disposition. Christ here says, "Go beyond expectations forced upon you."

“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you": This passage does not justify indiscriminate giving, but rather cheerful, sacrificial generosity--even to those who are evil. We should not, however, give money to the person with a drug habit-pray for them-furnish them food-get them help but no money should be given to shoot in their veins. In Jesus reference to generosity He is not advocating a government welfare system which gives handouts to all who ask. To the contrary, Paul wrote that a person should work if he is to eat.

If a war is ever to be fought, its principles should be just, keeping in mind both human beings as made in God's image and the reality of human sinfulness:1

1) JUST CAUSE: The only morally legitimate reason to go to war is for self-defense (or for defending a nation in moral need of defense)-or if there is very strong reason for a pre-emptive strike (e.g., a "rogue nation" with "dirty bombs"). For a pre-emptive strike there must be conclusive proof of emanate danger: "If these rules were universally followed there would be no aggressors and no wars."

2) JUST INTENT: The only morally legitimate goal in war is the restoration of peace, with justice for both friend and foe: "Vengeance, subjugation, profit and conquest are unjustifiable purposes." Unfortunately, there are times when, there may be "unintentional effects" (death of civilians) which accompany the intended effect of restraining violence and restoring peace. 3) LAST RESORT: "war should be entered into only when negotiation, arbitration, compromise and all other paths fail; for as a rational being man should, if at all possible, settle his disputes by reason and law, not by force."

4) LAWFUL DECLARATION: Only a lawful government has the right to initiate war. Only the state--not individuals or parties within the state--can legitimately exercise this authority.

5) IMMUNITY OF NON-COMBATANTS: "those not officially serving as agents of the government in its use of force, including POW's, medical personnel and services, should not be permitted to fight and are not to be subject to violence."

6) LIMITED OBJECTIVES: The goal of war is peace--not the destruction of the enemy nation's economy nor the destruction of its political institutions or infrastructure.


7) LIMITED MEANS: "only sufficient force should be used to resist violence and restore peace." "Sufficient" does not necessarily mean decisive victory.

This article contains excerpts from a panel discussion, used by permission of Dr. Paul Copan a visiting Assistant Professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, traveling speaker and author of “True for You, But Not for Me and That's Just Your Interpretation.”

Reprinted by permission from Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

Reference:[1] Taken from Arthur Holmes' essay ("Just War") in Four Views on War, ed., Robert Clouse (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1991), 4-5.

Ravi Zacharias International Ministries

Statement of Faith

We believe there is one God who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus Christ to be true God and in His incarnation to have been true man. He was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, died for our sins and was raised from the dead for our justification. He is now seated at the right hand of God in majesty, making intercession as our High Priest. He will come again to establish his kingdom of righteousness and peace.

We believe the Old and New Testaments to be the infallible word of God, inerrant as originally given, verbally inspired by God and the complete and sufficient revelation of His will for man's salvation and conduct.

We believe man was originally created in the image of God. Through disobedience and self-centeredness he incurred both physical and spiritual death. Thus, all are now born with a sinful nature, separated from God and can be saved only through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. All who are unrepentant and unbelieving will be lost in a Christless eternity of conscious torment; for those who believe eternity will be spent in God's presence, in His distinct joy and peace.

We believe the church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They join together for worship, prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the Gospel and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

We believe in the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ as both personal and visible. This is our blessed hope and serves as an incentive for holy living and faithful service.

We believe in the Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord to the uttermost parts of the earth.



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Newsletter€¦ · Web viewJust believe God's Word. Believe that His Son, the Messiah Jesus, died for your sins, as He said He did, and that He now lives to provide eternal life