Arthritis Relief
In an area known as the Zambia Copper Belt, there is said to be a very low incidence of arthritis amongst the people who work in the copper mines. It is thought that the presence of copper is a contributory factor in this phenomenon. Many believe that wearing a copper bracelet has kept them free, or relieved the pain from arthritis. It is always hard to prove such things and what works for one person doesn’t work for another. However, the Spring 2005 issue of Arthrocare News quotes from an article in the British Medical Journal which says that research indicates that copper bracelets have been proved to reduce pain in osteoarthritis.
There can be no substitute for the genuine Zambian copper and some of our brethren there have made some copper bracelets. They are packed in display boxes of six and cost £15 per box inclusive of postage and could make gifts for friends. Whilst our brethren need to sell them for a living, they know what it is like to be poor, and are happy for us to send a free bracelet to any who cannot afford to buy one. Orders should be placed with the Christadelphian Advancement Trust, 49 The Woodfields, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 OHJ, England.
Sisters in Latvia unpacking 29kg of wool we managed to deliver to them for the hand-made loomed items they endeavour to sell to supplement their income, as mentioned in the last issue of Gospel News. We thank all those who responded. If any in the UK have wool they do not need, it would be most appreciated. Two Ecclesias have been collecting wool for these Sisters; they can use all they can get. Please send to Gwladys Heaster, 49 The Woodfields, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 OHJ, England.
There are 6,900 languages of which there are still 2,700 into which the Bible has not been translated. A massive effort is underway to complete the translation of the Bible into every language of the world within the next 20 years. Many of these languages are understood by only a few people, others by considerable numbers, mainly in Central and North Africa, China and Tibet. It was 1,000 years before the Bible was first translated into English by John Wycliffe. The Catholic Church were so incensed that the Bible should be available to the common people that, 44 years after Wycliffe’s death, they dug up his bones and publicly burned them. It has taken seven years to translate Bible Basics into fifty languages and so we are a long way behind preaching to all the world, our initial ambition is 100 main languages and that would mean, if they could get a copy, over 90% of the worlds population could read or hear about our beliefs.
Changing the clock?
An article in the International Herald Tibune (30.6.05) reports that in 1905 Einstein predicted that because of the rotation speed of earth, clocks would run slower at the equator than the poles. However, it is now known that the earth bulges slightly at the equator, exactly compensating for this effect. "It's a deep coincidence", said the astro-physicist who explained this coincidence; can he really not see Design when it stares him in the face?
Disappointment and Suffering
Sis Bev Russell (Hurstville, Australia)
We do not know why God allows us to suffer, like the suffering of the prodigal son's father, or a child/adult lost to the faith. Job questioned God about suffering and did not get a satisfactory answer until he accepted that God decided what path the world would take, that His ways are unfathomable, that He is in charge and that we must accept our place: "I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee…therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not" (Job 42).
The only thing that we can do is to walk with Him through our suffering and underneath His sheltering canopy. Then when we wait on Him, He will renew our strength, and we shall fly like eagles, and run, and walk, and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31). So often these parents have a constant habit of praying and waiting, and have done the best they can in parenting all through. And now those heavy laden, lay down that problem with God, as He suggests they do, for He stills their trembling hearts, and they find rest in Him (Mat 11:28-30).
One can imagine wrapping a problem in beautiful paper, taking that parcel up a ladder to God, and passing that problem over to Him, climbing down, leaving it with Him. We did that with a very ill child and He answered our prayers and our problem, as He thought best. The mental picture helps. But it takes lots of practice and to stop "worrying oneself sick". At first you might only get a few minutes before that problem jumps back in your mind, "driving you witless" again. The lady of Shunem is a fine example of the process, "do not worry, give the problem to (the man of) God" (2 Kings 4). To all those who objected to her confidence, when she was so "vexed" with worry, she said, "It shall be well", "it shall be well". When she came near to the man of God, she said "it is well". She gave up her son to the man of God, and "it was well" for that lady and her family, for her son was restored to them.
However, unlike that Shunem lady (and the prodigal son), even after that closeness with the Lord, and the pray-and-wait, we can be disappointed with His decision. In our grief over a ‘lost’ child we question and question that: "Why have I been burdened with this terrible burden?" "Why is my heart broken, in pieces, and outside my body dragging along?" "I will never recover”. “Is that what life is to be for me now?" "Why is life just going on for everybody else, as if nothing has happened?" Logic is overtaken by emotion and we become self-centred and we say, ‘No one else has suffered like me”. And when praying becomes too hard, and "looking up" is all we can do, God still understands, and even that, too, it seems, even that, is enough. So we say, sit/walk/be where you can see Him. "Go forward with Him, and look up, look up". Eventually God's amazing love guides our steps and our minds back to places that we thought we could not ever go again. He heals our wounds with His balm better than we thought possible, and then the emotional mind catches up with the logical steps in life, and things begin to make more sense again.
We just do not know why suffering and disappointment happen, and anyone who has "lost" a child experiences that, except that we know that God is watching and will help. We do know it is how we manage the grief and suffering that is important to God, and that He watches and holds us, and lifts our arms up, and gradually we surmount the terrible burden, and "it is well" again, like the Shunem lady said. One of the sustaining thoughts to our faith in the grief over a ‘lost’ child, is that God knows best, and that after time, His time (which might be long, even after our deaths), He may see fit to bring back that ‘lost’ child. We may not be there, as was that relieved father of the prodigal, to welcome him home. The lesson in the prodigal son is (and we give the advice too), Never give up hope, while there is life.
Brothers to Stay Together in Unity
Bro David Wanjala (Chwele, Kenya)
God wants His people to stay together in harmony, to love one another and work as a team. It is quite encouraging and admirable to be with brethren in the ecclesias.
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1). God is pleased with our unity. We should be helpful to others for we share the same faith, but if we do not help them then we are like unbelievers (1 Tim 5:8). Brotherly love is encouraged to strengthen the bonds of unity among the believers. Love binds us together, so we ought to be peacemakers in order to be true children of God (Mat 5:9). True believers should always avoid the bitterness that causes trouble, because that defiles his people (Heb 12:15-16).
One who hates his brother is a murderer, and one who kills, eternal life does not abide in him (1 John 3:15-16). We, at times, have problems with our brothers and sisters; do we really feel happy when we see them? How do we go about fostering healthy relationships?
Abraham had a problem with his nephew Lot and his shepherds. But he told Lot to avoid quarrelling because they were relatives (Gen 13:8). What a wonderful example for us to emulate! We should have the same mind and the same judgement among us (1 Corinthians 1:10). To have different minds means that we are divided, and if the house is divided, then it will fall. Bitterness, wrath and anger, clamour and slander are to be put away from us, with all malice. We must be kind to one another, and forgiving as God in Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:31, 32).
Let us forgive one another, which is a key to eternal life. Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins and it is only through this that we are counted worthy before the eyes of the Lord. Let us learn to forgive so that we are forgiven.
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
Mark Twain
SCENES FROM UGANDA. Top left: happy moments - Bro John Ouma (Jinja) and Bro Godwin Mugasi (Mbarara). Top Right Bro Emma (Kampala) waving his hands, Bro Emmanuel Kibuuka (Jinja) sleeping and Bro Godwin Mugasi (Mbarara) seated, during the Bushenyi Bible School. Bottom left: Bro Ahabwe (Bushenyi) being interviewed for baptism. Botton Right: Bro Enock Ahikirza (Kabule) at the Mbarara Christadelphian Library.
Top left: baptism of Bro Johnny Muhangi – the immersion was done in a baptismal bag at an hotel. Bottom left, Bro Kevin Rawlings briefing Bro Kule and Bro Cox after their baptisms. Top right: baptism of Bro Denis Ainembabazi. Bottom right: baptism of Bro Sunday Moses.
Can We Be His Disciples?
Bro Duncan Heaster (Walton, UK & Riga, Latvia)
Think of what the Hebrew word “Cain” means - for he is alluded to by the Lord as the epitome of the “devil”, the “murderer from the beginning”, the archetypical sinner (Jn. 8:44 - perhaps because Adam and Eve’s sin was forgiven, whereas Cain was the first impenitent sinner). “Cain is defined on the basis of a double Hebrew etymology, as ‘possession’ (from qana = acquire) and ‘envy’ (from qana = be envious)” (1). Personal possession is almost – almost - inextricably linked with envy, and led to the lies and murder for which Cain was noted by the Lord. To have a strong sense of our personal ‘possessions’ will lead us into the same sins. Indeed, it’s the epitome of ‘the devil’. The concept of ‘private property’ is indeed a myth. For we die, and leave it all behind. The Mosaic law sought to teach this because, “The land is mine”; what appeared to be a ‘sale’ of property wasn’t really a sale at all, quite simply because the land was God’s (Lev. 25:13,23). And likewise our ‘generosity’, as David observed, isn’t really that at all, for we only give God back what He has given us. In fact, when you think about it, the only ‘thing’ that Biblically a person can say is ‘theirs’ is their partner or family, even though these are also given of God. And so it’s sadly understandable that a materialistic, wealthy society always becomes one that has a low estimate of the family unit and the exclusive sanctity of marriage.
Having said that, it is so hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom - as hard as for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle - the Lord comments that ‘what is impossible with man, is possible with God’ (Mk. 10:27). In first century Palestinian Judaism, this saying was a kind of figure of speech for describing a miracle. If any rich person gets into the Kingdom - it will be a miracle. That’s what the Lord is saying. And He says it to us today. Generosity alone, of course, won’t bring us into the Kingdom. It’s not as if we can buy our way in. But there are major implications that our attitude to wealth is, in fact, a crucial indicator of whether or not we will be there. God richly gives things to all of us, Paul says; and by our being “liberal and generous [we] thus lay up for [ourselves] a good foundation for the future, so that [we] may take hold of the life which is life indeed” (1 Tim. 6:17-19). “The life which is life indeed” is not the lower middle class striving-for-security life of slowly saving and occasionally splashing out on something, building, building up, watching the interest slowly grow, worrying about inflation and the possible need for a new boiler or roof… Much as those things are all part of our human experience in this age, they’re not “the life which is life indeed”. That life begins now, in a counter-instinctive going against the grain of being generous. Making friends of the unrighteous mammon results in the man who had otherwise been somewhat weak in his stewardship being accepted in the end by the Master: “I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations” (Lk. 16:9). “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death” (Prov. 11:4). Riches kept in hand will not help us through the day of judgment. But righteousness - which in the Hebraic parallel in this verse refers to the correct use of riches - will deliver us from eternal death. And perhaps Prov. 13:8 also speaks of how our attitude to wealth is a crucial factor in our eternal destiny: “The ransom of a man’s life are his riches”. Just prior to that we read in Prov. 13:7: “There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches”. This verse is actually part quoted in 2 Cor. 8:9 and Phil. 2:7, about how on the cross, the Lord Jesus made himself poor, of no reputation, and now has been so highly exalted. Our living out of the Lord’s cross is shown in our making of ourselves poor. That is surely the unmistakable teaching of this allusion.
Wealth is increasing in this world. Even a number who were previously without doubt ‘poor’ do in fact have enough over these days to buy a few of those extra luxuries with which the Western world is so obsessed. And many in the West end up receiving legacies from relatives, when they have already got themselves nicely established in life. They are strapped [in God’s eyes] with extra cash. So are we to just hope on the Father doing a miracle to save us? Do we realize the grave importance of what the Lord is warning us of here? It seems to me that the Father has given us a way of escape. The enormous explosion of the Gospel in these last days has brought forth a huge harvest of converts amongst the genuinely and desperately poor of this world. The blind and lame, as it were, have been herded into the feast, after so many others have rejected the call. And thanks to the communication revolution, our world-wide family can relatively easily respond to those needs. Is this not a wonderful, Divine way of escape for the ‘richer’ segment of the brotherhood? An escape, no less, from condemnation…?
But we are not to give for fear of condemnation. The spontaneity of giving is of course exemplified by the ‘love communism’ of the very early church. They just counted all that they had as “common”. What they did was not organized, not compelled by a strict set of rules about giving [as e.g. in the contemporary Essene community, or as in the tithing churches of today]. It was a voluntary, sincere abandon of love and generosity and resignation of self. The early Christians “joyfully accepted the plundering of [their] property” by the state (Heb. 10:34). There was a joy felt amongst them because of their loss. This is a totally counter-instinctive feeling - to be joyful because you lost or gave away ‘possessions’. The Philippians likewise gave out of a deep joy at giving away; the abundance of their joy resulted in their liberality (2 Cor. 8:2). And let’s not think that the early church were necessarily all dirt poor. The Christians of Heb. 10:34 had property which was plundered - and still they gave support to the poor saints in Palestine (Heb. 6:10). A case could be made that Luke’s account in his Gospel and in the Acts actually emphasizes how wealthy and middle class people came to the Lord - e.g. Joanna wife of Chuza, Cornelius the Centurion; Dionysius; Sergius Paulus, governor of Cyprus. Perhaps a reason for this was that he dedicated his works to the “noble” [Gk. ‘well born’, ‘wealthy’] Theophilus (Luke 1:3). Luke, it seems to me, was writing to Theophilus because he wanted to convert him. And so he gives other examples of wealthy people who had also converted. He was urging the middle class to allow the radical call of Christ to reach to them.
Especially in our generation, we hold wealth - any wealth - in the full knowledge that our Lord could return at any moment. James 5:3 brings out the paradox - of hoarding up wealth for the last days! The Greek for ‘hoarding up’ means ‘to reserve’. And this is just what our flesh tells us to do - reserve ‘our’ wealth for a rainy day, for long term security. It’s as if James foresaw that in our last days this would be a particular temptation. In the context of writing about the approaching end of the age, Paul commented that because “the form of this world is passing away”, therefore those who buy anything should “be as though they had no goods, and those who deal with this world as though they had no dealings with it” (1 Cor. 7:30). Of course, this was taught millennia ago by the Mosaic law of Jubilee - that whatever land was bought was not really theirs, because the land was and is God’s. And again, we are not to be “anxious”, because “the Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5). And there is nothing like managing our ‘wealth’, however small it may be, to make us “anxious”. Paul’s not saying we shouldn’t buy, sell or ‘deal with this world’. He’s saying we should do so as if we’re not really doing so, as if it is all an act, a sleepwalk, something we do but our heart isn’t in it.
I have at various times studied why the early church went wrong. How did the high idealism of Acts fritter away into the apostasy and hollow emptiness of ‘mere Christianity’? One of the reasons seems to me to be associated with their attitude to wealth. The band of poor men who followed the Lord around Galilee were replaced by wealthy bishops and pontiffs. Even as early as AD 144, the Roman church gave Marcion 200,000 sesterces (Roman coins) when he left the church. This was a huge sum, enough with which to buy ships (2). Instead of meeting in homes, churches were built and lands acquired. Money and legacies were hoarded rather than spent. And, even worse, the attitude of the church leaders became obsessed with money. The writings of their leaders came to focus upon it quite wrongly. The so-called ‘Acts of Peter’ [written during the second century] keep stressing how converted people supposedly gave all their money to Peter or to the church, encouraging readers to do likewise. According to this uninspired book, when the wealthy woman Chryse was converted, she supposedly gave 10,000 gold denarii to Peter in gratitude. This nonsense is quite sickening; it reflects nothing more than a greedy desire by church leaders to build up large capital. Such obsession with money on an organizational level will lead us astray too. Generous we must be, but directly to the poor and those in need.
So, should we literally ‘sell all we have and give to the poor’, as the Lord bids us, finally breaking out of the mire of middle class mediocrity by real, radical, concrete action, in obedience to our Lord? Nobody could really criticize anyone who did. For His words - from the lips of the Man who at times had not where to lay His head - hardly sound as though they were meant to be figurative. In my opinion, no amount of gymnastics with the text or exegetical tricks can legitimately rob those words of their obvious meanings. For those of us who can’t fully rise up to them, I have to say [and I hope, desperately, this isn’t mere sophistry] that there is a teaching that we should have an attitude to wealth that says: ‘This doesn’t exist… I don’t really personally possess this’. In the early church, “no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own” (Acts 4:32). I wonder - and maybe I’m clutching at straws and justifying us all - if the emphasis is upon the word “said”. Their attitude was that they didn’t personally possess anything. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, to buy and sell and deal in this world, as if we didn’t really buy anything or gain a thing, as if it’s all somehow performed by us as in a disconnected dream. And this is surely what the Lord was teaching us in Lk. 14:33: “Whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple”. Renouncing is something we do in our hearts and deepest feelings and attitudes. Have we truly renounced it all? Even if there are still bank balances and pension plans and property deeds and cars and treasured possessions… made out in our name, have we in our hearts, renounced them? They aren’t really mine, I have no personal long-term security from them, because they’re not mine, I’m just holding in stewardship what God gave me. And not DH but the Lord Himself drives the point home - if we have any other attitude to these wretched things, these almost-nooses around our necks, then we are not His disciples. It’s one of the scariest thoughts for 21st century Christadelphia.
Notes
(1) Martin Hengel, Property And Riches In The Early Church (London: S.C.M., 1974) p.1.
(2) Adolf von Harnack, Marcion (Berlin, 1921) p. 24.
Jesus Helps the Needy
Bro George Kum (Wotutu, Cameroon)
Jesus Christ is the right person to follow in our lives as far as the truth is concerned. When he came into the world as the Son of God, he made the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the lame to walk the dumb to talk as well as raising the dead (Matt 11:2-6).
I share the faith of the Christadelphians since my baptism at the Buea-Tole ecclesia in 1998. I now belong to Buea-Wotutu ecclesia which I joined in 2003; there are 13 members. The love of our UK visiting brethren is much appreciated in Cameroon, but is yearly visiting, much as we appreciate it, right? The money saved could be used towards hospitals and schools.
We have a local problem at our ecclesia in Buea-Wotutu with our Sunday service. The neighbours play noisy radios, children cry and the landlord holds a family meeting so it is difficult to hold an effective meeting.With limited resources, should other areas in the world get a turn, and Cameroon manage with a visit every three or four years? I pray that my suggestion does not upset people, I am only trying to help everybody in love.
Comment: It is not easy to get a balance between spending money on visits and the further development of the Truth. I hear that in Cameroon when UK visitors arrive the attendances are very much higher, this indicates that the visits are very useful, indeed would the Truth have been established without the visits? MH
Bro R Miwele (Kitwe, Zambia)
We thank God for His love in bringing us together as one with our Brothers and Sisters at the Bush Camp from July 19th-August 2nd. We enjoyed the company of Brothers and Sisters from the UK: Bro. Michael Owen, Bro. David and Sis. Linda Nicholls, Bro. Ben and Sis. Sara Brook and Sis. Katherine Simpson.
First study: Jethro and Family. Moses was an Egyptian prince from a Hebrew background (Acts 7:22-29). Though he was highly favoured and enjoyed the privileges of being Pharaoh’s adopted grandson, he did not forget that he was a Hebrew, a descendant of Abraham and heir of Yahweh’s promise to inherit the land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. He had in mind that the pleasures of Egypt would pass away, but Yahweh’s promise would endure for ever (Heb. 11:24-27).
When Moses was 40 years old he decided to visit his brethren. He saw an Egyptian ill-treating a Hebrew and he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The next day he found two Hebrews fighting and tried to reconcile them, but the one in the wrong answered Moses with menacing words. Moses was terrorized and fled to Midian, where he eventually married Zipporah Jethro’s (Ruel’s) daughter (Ex. 2:11-21).
In Exodus ch.18 we read of Jethro visiting Moses and seeing him seated from morning till evening judging the people’s disputes. Jethro then advised Moses to share his leadership with other Godfearing people, which he did. Due to this relationship of Moses and Jethro the Kenite, the descendants of Jethro became members of the Israelite congregation. Moses’ good character motivated Jethro’s family to unite with God’s people. We should reflect God’s character to people around, as Moses did (Num. 10:29-33; 1 Sam. 15:56; 1 Chron. 2:55; 2 Kings 10:15).
Second study: Joshua. This showed how Moses instructed his servant Joshua to rely upon God in all circumstances and to do His will (Deut. 25:17-19). Moses instructed Joshua and all the congregation to remember how the Amalekites attacked them from behind, taking advantage of their weakness (Ex. 17:8,15-16). The Amalekites represent God’s enemies, which God wants destroyed completely. We should always remember that God’s people do not take advantage of weak people as the Amalekites did.
Israel endured hardship on their way to the Promised land and this happens to those of us who are spiritual Israel on our way to the Kingdom. We should help each other and strengthen our weak brethren (Heb. 12:11-12). We should avoid criticising our brethren and sisters and not follow Miriam and Aaron’s example (Num. 12:1-15). We should leave some matters to God.
Third study: Korah, Dathan and Abiram. This began with the rebellion of the elders which Moses appointed over the people. Korah, Dathan and Abiram initiated this rebellion and with them were 250 community leaders. They envied Moses and wanted to replace God’s worship with that of idol worship. But Moses shewed his humble attitude (Num. 16:1-5) and sought God’s guidance, as we always should, standing away from bad company (v. 26).
Moses’ love for his fellow brethren is shewn when God wanted to destroy all the community; he prayed for them and God heard his prayer (Num. 16:21-
Bro. Michael Owen speaking to the audience
23). As God’s flock we have to stand aside whenever bad leaders entice us to rebel against God. This characteristic is shewn by Korah’s sons who stood aside when Moses told the assembly to step aside. Even though their leader, Korah, died, they went on living, for God provided Phinehas who became their leader. They entered the promised land and became gatekeepers of God’s temple under the banner of Phinehas (1 Chron. 9:19-20).
Fourth study: Daughters of Zelophehad. Numbers 27:1- begins with Zelophehad’s family tree. They were five and came to Moses to claim their inheritance among their fellow brethren in their clan. Here we learn how faith influenced Joseph their ancestor, which he passed on to his descendants in that they wanted to get their inheritance among their clan. God promised them husbands within their clan. Because of their faith God cared for them.
We should do the same. Joseph reminded them before his death saying that God would help them to come out of Egypt, the house of bondage, to the land of Promise. The faith of Joseph influenced the five daughters of Zelophehad through their lives (Gen. 50:22-25). In like manner we should be wise (as the five wise virgins –Zelophehad’s daughters) - so that when the bridegroom returns to take his bride, we will have part in the rejoicing and share his glory.
Bro & Sis. Watson (Solwezi ecclesia) and,
right, Bro. Herbert Tigerepasi (Matero ecclesia)
Exhortation: Be of Good Cheer
Bro Thomas Radido (Mombasa, Kenya)
Reading: Mark 6:45-52
There is a phrase that occurs seven times in the New Testament, namely, “Be of good cheer” or “Be of good courage”. It is used for people in trouble. Jesus loves you! He comes to you saying: “Be of good cheer (or courage); it is I, be not afraid”.
Life is full of storms of uncertainty, disappointments and sorrows. Never before have there been so many people who are depressed or just feel ‘down’. Is this your problem? Do you feel that no one loves you and that you just don’t count for anything? If this describes you, ‘cheer up’ because Jesus knows your problems and why you have them.
Once when Jesus’ disciples were in a ship on the Sea of Galilee, a violent storm arose. Jesus, a short time before, had provided food for more than 5,000 people from a boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish. He did this miracle to show the people that he was the Jew’s Messiah and the Saviour of the whole world. After this meal he told the disciples to get into a ship and cross the sea to the town of Bethsaida while he sent the people away.
When the people were gone, he went to a mountain to pray. It was late in the night when Jesus finished praying. As he looked across the water, he saw the disciples fighting for their lives in the storm. After the disciples had been on the water for about eight hours, Jesus went to them. Even though the water was tossing high with waves, Jesus walked without difficulty. It was around three o’clock in the morning when he came close to them and would have walked past them.
As he continued walking, they saw him and screamed out in fear. Jesus went to them saying, “Be of good cheer; it is I: be not afraid”. When he got into the ship the wind and storm ceased. The disciples were so startled at what was happening, they didn’t know what to do. The Bible says they had forgotten the miracle of Jesus feeding the huge crowd and their hearts were dull at this time toward Jesus and his teachings.
Our lives, in many ways, may be like a sea voyage. There are many waves, dangers, disappointments and depressions. These, and other troubles, may sweep over us as waves mount over a small ship. If we take Jesus on board it will be a very different experience than trying to cross life’s sea alone. Without him, we will make shipwreck of your lives; with him, our voyage may only seem rough but he will calm the storms. If we allow him to stay in our lives and obey his orders, he will bring us to the end of our voyage, to his haven of safety.
Jesus knew long ago that our lives would have times of distress. He said to his followers and says to us: “In the world ye shall have tribulation (trouble and sorrow): but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). If we are not Christians, this assurance does not apply. In order for his delivering power to be effective in our lives, we must allow him to enter our lives and take control. Remember, the stormy sea became calm once Jesus entered the ship.
The life of the sinner is shown in Isaiah 57:20, 21 “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked”. Maybe we have gone astray and want the peace in our lives that only Jesus can give. Let us ask him now. Come back to him and ask him to enter our hearts. To do this we must pray the sinner’s prayer: “God, be merciful to me a sinner”. The tax collector knew this prayer (Luke 18:13). God will come to our lives with calmness more real than the calm of the sea.The apostle Paul speaks of this peace in Philippians 4:7: “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.
As Christians, we may have times of storm and unrest. This may be caused by the cooling of our relationship with Jesus. He wants us to be hot in our relationship with him. In speaking to the church of the Laodiceans in the book of Revelation, he said: “I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue (spit) thee out of my mouth” (Rev 3:15, 16).
If this condition makes Jesus sick, it is no wonder that a man feels as though he is in a storm when this condition exists. It may be that Jesus allows times of testing. He brings circumstances into our lives to show us our direct dependence on him for everything. He may have caused the storm on the sea to test the faith of his disciples. Jesus watched them during the storm, perhaps waiting for them to call on him for help. Why does Jesus allow such times of testing to come on those he loves? He knows that even as Christians we have a tendency toward sin and selfishness. Even at our best we cannot live a righteous life in our own strength.
The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah said in a prayer: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). We can surely see from this scripture that we must receive our guidance and strength from God. The apostle James says: “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8). Jesus has done so much for us by showing us how to live a life pleasing to God. He died on the cross to give his blood as an offering to God for our sins. He has done all he can without running against our free will. So, when he comes to our life with tests, don’t let us do as the disciples did, cry out in fear, thinking he has come to harm us. Be sure we are in the right relationship with him when the waves of testing come so that we can grow in our faith and closer in our walk with him. For the disciples, the storm in their hearts was more frightening than the storm on the sea. As Christians we should not let outward conditions affect the peace in our hearts. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee” (Isa 26:3).
Another reason Jesus allows testing times is to teach us faith so that we can help other Christians in their testing times. The Bible says that God, “comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Cor 1:41). When testing comes, the Bible has many promises of God’s care. God allowed difficult times in king David’s life. Sometimes when David sinned, God worked in his life to bring him to see where he stood with Him. Often it seems David allowed his troubles to get him ‘down’. He wrote in the Psalms of his struggle: “Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1). “How long wilt thou forget me, …how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?” (Psalm 13:1). “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? ( Psalm 22:1).
But then David speaks of the greatness of God being with him and delivering him: “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple and my cry did enter into his ears” (2 Samuel 22:7) He also wrote, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (Ps 34:15). Now read Psalm 23 to find more of the care God provides. Remember, Jesus said, “Be of good cheer”. This means “Be cheerful”. Are our troubles too much for us to handle? If they are, we can be sure Jesus can help. He said, “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and by burden is light” (Mat 11:28-30).
When troubles come, “Be of good cheer”. They need not lead to despair. Jesus is more real to us even than our troubles. Remember, he walks on the waves to deliver us. They will pass but he will stay with us. But we are so often absorbed with our own affairs, trying our best to steer straight, anxiously watching the events around us, and allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed.
We may be so taken up with the things around us that we have no time to look across life’s waters to see who is coming through the storm to help us. We must keep our eyes and total attention on the only one who can help us. God said to people who turned from Him: “In returning and rest ye shall be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).
Are we always aware of Jesus’ presence with us? Is he really our best friend? A favourite hymn of many is:
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear!
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer”.
If our troubles are great, we must call on Jesus, he will answer and help us. We may want to go to a Christian friend for help. He may have had victory over similar experiences in his life. Let us tell him our problem and then pray together and gain encouragement from Jesus’ words, “Be of good cheer; it is I. Be not afraid”. In Matthew 9:1-13, a lesson was left for us all. Whatever our weaknesses, whatever the sins we commit, we could not have a more understanding God, and a more fervent Saviour and mediator.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”(1 John 1:9). That paralyzed man, forgiven his sins, was able to jump for joy. The realization of the marvel of forgiveness we received should cause us to end each day happy in the knowledge that we have been so privileged. (Matt 14:23).presents the Lord as a solitary figure, in a lonely place, under a full moon, conversing with God. Alone one can experience a greater frankness and earnestness, it may be that prayer is more effectual as the mind is not encumbered or distracted.
“Be of good cheer”. How can we respond to it unless we read and live this word each day? How can God listen to us if we seldom bow in prayer? How can He answer if there is no plea from us? God is more than aware of all that we do. So if there is a solid faith now, with no wavering on the way to Zion, if we live our lives to the glory of God and to the praise of His dear Son, He will be pleased with us. As we come to the emblems of the Lord’s sacrifice, we think of that surge of joy for us all, as we are welcomed by our Lord, “Be of good cheer”; and the kingdom will be ours.
Bro Charles Muhupu (Kabompo, Zambia)
There is fear of man, animals, war, people say they fear God but on the other hand they are fearing man. Today people world-wide fear the so-called pastors, priests, bishops and many men in man-made posts; they think that when they fear these people they fear God. But this is not what the Bible teaches; it tells us to fear, worship and give glory to God (Rev 14:7).
How, then, should we worship the Lord? Men may stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to south searching for the word of God but they will not find it. (Amos 8:12) According to this chapter, it is the duty of people who fear the Lord to search His word before this time comes.
Fearing the Lord is not just reading the Bible like any other book, but putting into practice what the Bible wants us to do. Let us continue fearing God by searching His word, because we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed (Hebrews 10:39).
As we know, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Let us then be a good example to the world. We should be like lamps put on a mountain for everyone to see, not hidden in a basket, and like the salt of the earth. So, brothers and sisters world-wide, tell people about your fear of God for them to be with us in the Kingdom. The one King, our lovely Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon.
Baptism is symbolic showing that water is not the most important factor. This is the point made by the apostle Peter in his first letter, when he explains that baptism is not the removal of dirt from the body (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism is not like taking a bath, something else is involved which makes a difference. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16). Baptism must follow belief. It becomes a seal of assurance and declaration of belief. Bro Fred Mumba (Mululira, Zambia)
The Day and the Hour Not Known
Bro Emmanuel Kondowe (Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe)
Brothers and sisters, let us keep watch, for no one knows the day or hour our Lord Jesus will come. If we are not prepared, we will be like the foolish of the ten virgins who carried lamps without oil and went to meet the bridegroom. When the bridegroom was coming, the foolish asked oil from the wise, but the wise replied that there may not be enough for both of them. While the foolish were going to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived and those who were ready (the wise) went in with him to the wedding banquet and the door was shut. When they came back they said, “Sir! Sir! open the door for us, but he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you’”.
That’s how it is going to be when the Son of Man comes. So, brethren and sisters, let us not look back. Whatever we do or say should come from our Lord Jesus Christ. We should keep our lamps burning like saints waiting for their Master, so that when he comes and knocks, we can immediately open the door. Also, let us keep ourselves in God’s love as we wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the time of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Brethren and sisters, let us watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded
Fufilling Our Vows
Bro. Paul Chembe (Lusaka, Zambia)
When we were without God in this world and foreigners (aliens) to the commonwealth of Israel, God in His mercy, sent His beloved son, Jesus, who redeemed us from the curse of sin (Eph2:12; Romans 5:8). And God is not willing for any to perish but for everyone to come to repentance. So, as we all know, our sins can only be forgiven through acknowledging the work and sacrificial death of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will never be disappointed. We came to be spiritual Israel when we put on the name of Jesus through baptism, thereby putting off our old selves and becoming new creatures in the Lord (2 Cor. 5:17). It means at that time we vowed to God that we would serve Him and obey Him in all He required of us. But sadly we do fail to fulfil our vow by not doing the will of God.
Remember what happened to the Israelites in the wilderness when they failed to fulfil their vow. Yet reading through (Ex. 19:7,8) we are told that Israel agreed to do all that God commanded them, but then later on they rebelled against Him by turning away from Him (Ex. 32:8). In (Numbers 14:21-23) we see how that all those who had seen the good acts of God were not allowed to enter the land of Canaan. Equally, if we fail to remain faithful to God and His promises, we will be left out of the Kingdom of God, which He has promised to those who love Him.
All that happened to Israel happened as examples (1 Cor. 10:6) to us that we should not set our hearts on evil things as they did. If we do not circumcise our hearts and remain faithful to our Heavenly Father, then He will reward us according to our works (Rom. 2:6). What we sow is what we shall reap (Gal. 6:8). Let us all fix our eyes on the future Kingdom of God. We need to make sure that we adhere to the things of God. The order of these present things is passing away (1 John 2:17), therefore we need to repent of our failings and remain faithful as we wait eagerly and patiently for the restitution of all things.
Study Week in Solo Indonesia.
Bro Sigit G Sugiarto
The Study Week had been held in Solo Indonesia during the holyday of the students on the 6th - 10th of July 2005, it was attended by the brethren and sisters from Australia, Singapore, Japan and Hongkong. The last day 10th was held on the slope of Mountain Lawu ( village Tawangmangu) that is about 42 km from Solo.The topic of the Study Week was “ The Early Days ( Acts 1 – 7)” it invited many questions to discuss, really very interesting. Bro John Gilmore who had written this topic said that it was very important to discuss because many churches think that the gift of Holy Spirit is still happening nowadays, so this Study Week was the right time to let us know that the gift of Holy Spirit is no more. The next Study Week will be held in July 2006, so the brethren and sisters who read the Gospel News could attend this to encourage the brethren and sisters in Indonesia.
Bro John Bounaparte from Singapore was very happy and enjoyed the Study Week and he has promised to come the next Study Week with his family.
Just been reading a bit about the droughts affecting so many places, the American National centre for Atmospheric Research says, the percentage of the earth's land area stricken by serious drought has more than doubled in the past thirty years. The following recent news clippings conform this.
"Australian drought raises questions about long term sustainability"
"Wading Birds in danger as our wetlands dry up"
"Global warming blamed for decline in Puffins"
"Drought tightens its deadly grip on Europe"
"Sewage could solve Australia's Drought"
"Showers will barely dent the drought"
"Call for aid as Niger faces famine"
"Iberian misery as drought bits"
"A Nations starving to death"
The Blind Man of Jericho (Mark 10:46-52)
Bro Sylvester Tembo (Mzuzu, Malawi)
It is not strange to see multitudes of people following where a popular man goes. Indeed, Jesus was known by many people as a great teacher, miracle-man and healer. And as he went out of Jericho, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. What our friend did is even true of the blind men we see today. We can find them at their usual places along highways and at the doors of supermarket stores begging for alms. But is it alms that would satisfy their vital need? I’m sure not.
In Acts 3, Peter and John saw a lame man at the gate of the temple asking for alms Peter was quick to see the dire need of the man, but he said, “Silver and gold have I none … in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (v6). The man did really walk. So we see that his dire need was to walk.
Now back to Bartimaeus. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth coming along, “He began to cry out, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me”. But many people saw that the blind man was unfit to speak with the great man who was passing along and so they charged him that he should hold his peace: “But he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me”. As for Bartimaeus, this was truly his only chance to plead for mercy from the man who was able to heal him. That is why he did not care about those people who were trying to obstruct his efforts for mercy from Jesus.
We can imagine how horrible is the burden of being sightless. And Bartimaeus himself knew that very well, that is why he was deaf to hear those who were trying to bar him from achieving his desired goal. Hence his persistent cry did really help him for he was heard. They said, “Be of good comfort, rise, he calleth thee. And he casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus”. Look! He was so happy that he didn’t even care for his garment. Now face to face with the great physician, he was met with the question, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” His reply was straight to the point, “Lord, that I might receive my sight”. Indeed, sight is vital to anyone. The blind man was where Jesus found him because he was sightless. But upon receiving his sight he had a task at hand, and that was to follow Jesus. There are two types of blindness, physical and spiritual. As for the blind man of Jericho, it was physical blindness. By his faith he gained his sight. It is the same with spiritual blindness. One has to have faith in God, His word and in Jesus Christ if we are to be cured of our spiritual blindness. We must look at Jesus with your spiritual sight. Faith is very important, without it “no one can please God” (Heb 11:6).
Paul Learned the Secret of Contentment
Bro Moses Dhlakama (Rimbi, Zimbabwe)
The apostle Paul explained in his letter to the Philippians, “I know indeed how to be low on provisions, I know indeed how to have an abundance. In everything and in all circumstances I have learned the secret of both how to have abundance and how to suffer want” (4:12). Paul sounds so confident, so optimistic it would be easy to assume that his life was rosy when he wrote these words, but not so. He was in prison in Rome – Philippians 1:12-14.
Given that sobering fact, this passage speaks powerfully on the issue of contentment not only with material possessions but with circumstances as well. Extremes of wealth or hardship can test our priorities. Paul spoke of spiritual resources that enabled him to be content regardless of material circumstances: “For all things I have strength by virtue of God who imparts power to me” (Philippians 4:13). Rather than looking to his possessions, many or few, or to his circumstances, good or bad, Paul looked to God to satisfy his needs. The result was contentment. Paul’s example was especially important to Timothy. The apostle urged the young man to pursue a life-style that put godly devotion and a close relationship with God before wealth.
.Being a Refugee
Bro. Harris Mulongesha (Ndola, Zambia)
We have Jacob being away from home (a refugee) in Haran, as some of you Brothers and Sisters are away from your own countries. As we read in Gen.27:41-45, Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of a blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then will I slay my brother Jacob.” You are away, Brothers and Sisters, because of your belief in the Son of God, as the Esau of today they have held a grudge against your belief and faith in Jesus.
When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is consoling himself with the thought of killing you. Now then, my son, do what I say; flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran, stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there: why should I lose both of you in one day?”
In Gen. 28:3-4 we read, “May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your number until you become a community of people; may he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien (refugee), the land God gave to Abraham.” But, Brothers and Sisters, no one has sent you in the way Jacob was sent and blessed by his father, you have just run away from your homeland because of your belief and faith in the Son of God; Jacob went away because of a blessing.
Verse 20, “Then Jacob made a vow saying, If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear, so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God. And this stone that I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that you give me will I give a tenth.” And I know that you are saying similar words in your way in an unknown land.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I know wherever you are going you don’t know who will welcome you – like Jacob, as we see in Gen. 29:13-14, “As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all those things, then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.” To you Brothers and Sisters who are on the run to unknown lands, who is welcoming you and saying, “You are my own flesh and blood”? I know the Lord God is always with you.
In Gen. 29: 15-20, Laban said to Jacob, “Just because you are a relative of mine should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be”. The wages of Jacob was Laban’s daughter. Wherever you are today what are your wages? Gen 32:9-11. Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, Go back to your country and relatives, and I will make you prosper; I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only a staff when I crossed the Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me, I pray, from the hands of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me and also the mothers with their children” If the Lord God saved Jacob from the hand of his brother Esau is He not going to save you in the same way? In Gen. ch.33 we see how the Lord’s hands work: Jacob looked up and there was Esau, “And Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him: and they wept.” (vs 1-4). Brothers and Sisters, one day those who are looking for your life to kill you, the same Lord whose hands saved Jacob will do the same to you.
Verses 10 and 11, “No, please, said Jacob, If I have found favour in your eyes accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God now that you have received me favourably. Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. One day you will go back to your own countries and you will say the same words as Jacob said to his brother and will give a gift to your own people who are hunting you and your gift will be the goodness of our Lord Jesus the Son of God.
Sis. Esther Worrell (Canada)
One of the points brought out in an encouraging exhortation recently, was King Josiah's outstanding faith in attempting a spiritual revival in a society darkened by sin and gross corruption from the throne to the dunghill. Then there was Jeremiah's persistence for many years, in continuing to preach despite the fierce opposition with which he was confronted. These were daunting tasks in situations which seemed so hopeless.
I got to thinking that they were like those tiny night lights in a large dark area. The darker the area, it is amazing how the more these lights become visible. Jesus was not a recognized personality in the dark world of his day, yet look at the impact he has made in this world of sin. His light still shines brightly, enlightening the path leading to the Kingdom. Likewise his disciples who were scattered because of persecution, were able to spread the gospel. I think of Moses, scorned by the powerful Pharaoh, but whose feeble light invaded the darkness of the kingdom of Egypt, becoming brighter as he advanced with God's commission.
In various parts of the world the light of the gospel, although disregarded by the dark world, still shines, revealing God's purpose to those who are seeking. When we are tempted to give up because of apparent lack of interest in our proclamation of God's Word, it is strengthening to remember that the light we bear is not our own feeble human light, but the light of God that shone in the darkness even from the beginning, bringing light and life. The light we bear - the word of God reflected in our character and uttered by us - is just as powerful and penetrating and effective and will accomplish God's will if we do not give in to our own negativity, but maintain the courage to keep shining.
Bro Gaurd Momba (Banket, Zimbabwe)
It was the way I received an empty envelope that made me realize the value of a letter - the envelope was well stamped and addressed but there was nothing inside.
We all write letters, and we pop the letter into an envelope and post it. The recipient receives and opens the envelope, takes the letter out and throws the envelope into the dustbin, as its purpose has been completed, but the inner message is carefully gone through.
This is what our lives are like, a letter sent to God, enclosed in an envelope – the body. To this body we add our own stamp, our decoration and we give it all the necessary care and attention. To get our bodies right we may travel far and near, achieving much (or little) in the social, economic, educational and cultural trends of this world. We tend to forget the only thing of value in us is the inner contents and not the outward show of the envelope of our bodies, which in the end are dropped into the dustbin (the grave). The letter which contains our inward heart and charater is carefully considered by the Almighhty God.
Our life may not be as empty as we think. We might have been engaged in all types of events that make life apparently full and promising. Sometimes, we may have dismissed an invitation of a friend with the words, ‘I’m too busy, I cannot come, so please have me excused’. But in God’s estimation we were busy doing nothing. What are we so busy doing about the Truth? Sudddenly at Jesus coming there will be no opportunity of retracing our steps. Like the postage stamp on the envelope it’s only valued for one way. Like the foolish virgins one may beg for mercy but it will be too late.
So let us beware and consider these things. Why don’t we give our hearts and minds to Christ who says “… him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Why not acknowledge him as our Lord and Saviour before your inner soul – the letter – gets to his hands. What profit does it give us to decorate the envelope (our bodies) with all care, and find out at the end of life’s journey that the letter (your inner soul) is what the receiver values “… for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen 3:19). So, let us confess to Jesus the worthlessness of our past life and accept him as the right owner of our life-long letter of dedication to him.
Sarajevo (Bosnia) Chicken Project
Summary from various Carelink Reports
June 2005
We have been receiving reports of the seriousness of the situation some of our brethren in Bosnia are in. The country remains divided into three, Serb, Croat and Bosnian, with three presidents, and the factions held apart by UN forces still in place despite active conflict having ceased. Wages are often not paid, and corruption is endemic. One brother lives in great poverty in a house once owned by Serbs. The Serbs fled leaving the house empty. Our brother's family home was destroyed, and therefore he's now living in the deserted house. He works in the mine, in terrible conditions, and even then is often not paid his wages due to corruption. The suggestion has been made that we support the brethren in starting a chicken breeding project. They would get, say, 100 chicks and feed them according to a well tried programme for 55 days and then re-sell them. This suggestion has been carefully looked into. Needs for fencing and electric light and re-selling have been considered. Two British brethren recently visited Sarajevo and held a study weekend, enthusiastically attended by all the brethren baptized in Bosnia. Our brethren's conclusion was that the chicken project is viable and worth doing. In addition, the detailed plans for the project were submitted to two brethren in Australia, one a vet, the other a businessman. After a lot of discussion with the brethren in Bosnia the Australian brethren, too, conclude the project is viable and has been well thought out.
A Bosnian Brother with the chickens he is raising
July 2005 We have been most encouraged by your support of the appeal for our needy brethren in Bosnia and their plan to raise chickens. Duncan and Cindy having spent some time down there with the project, we are now going to report to you in some detail about everything. We feel this is a really worthwhile project - giving brethren a fishing rod rather than a fish - a path to self-support, and it may be feasible to run this project elsewhere.
So, thanks to the initiative of brethren in Australia, a document was produced explaining in detail how to raise chickens, from buying them as day-old chicks, through an intensive program of feeding, until they can be sold or slaughtered at 45 days. It was explained how hygiene was essential, how to feed them, the requirements for warmth and lighting and other conditions. Our thanks go out to brethren Joel Pickering and Peter Finnan for their massive assistance.
We're proud of our brethren for conscientiously following all the guidelines. Br. Mustafa constructed a shed as stipulated, insulating the wood with cardboard and then plastic sheeting. He then ran some power cables to it, and installed the electric bulbs, only a few cm. above the heads of the chicks. The bulbs are on 24 hours, providing both light and heat to the chicks.
We had to buy 'grader' feed for the chicks, which they eat for the first 20 days, and then a more advanced feed for the final 25 days. With the feed; and the home made feeding drums. Under this regime, the chicks grow at an amazing rate. Mustafa and Zehra [his wife] made some feeding drums, but they still have to re-fill them every two hours. So Zehra is going down to the chickens every two hours, and cleaning out the place twice a day. This is a major thing for her to do, being pregnant, and as the chicks are located 5-10 minutes walk up the mountain from their home. They are simply so appreciative. They have very little to give by way of appreciation, and so they gave us a cup which had been in their family for generations and had been passed on to them. It was really very touching, to see how much they valued the effort made. The very fact they are making such round-the-clock effort with the chicks indicates, too, how much it all means to them and how seriously they are taking it all.
PROGRESS REPORT At the present moment, the chicks have been growing for 15 days, and are now weighing around 100 grams. Only 3 chicks of 100 have died, which is apparently a very good ratio. Every two hours Zehra or Mustafa check for sick or dead chicks, to get them out before they contaminate the others- chicks are very prone to disease. Of course they are eagerly looking forward to day 45 when they can sell the chickens.
August 2005: We are delighted to report that the chickens have now grown, with very few deaths, have been killed and sold. Our brethren are feeling their way at every stage of the project, and it was a bigger job than they realized to convert 2 kilogram chickens into meat ready for sale. They had to be killed, have their feathers plucked and unsaleable parts removed, then washed and sold. The final killing of the chickens was a rather messy business - the brethren described it in appropriate Bosnian terms as 'the genocide of the chickens'. However the job was done and now all the chickens have been sold, some in bulk, others in ones and twos to local people.
Latest news is that the brethren are ploughing the money back into buying more day-old chicks, to repeat the project one more time this year before the snow comes and it will be too cold. There are other groups of brethren & sisters in other countries who could run such a project now it's been pioneered. Any donations to enable this can be sent to Carelinks, FAO Brother John Thatcher, PO Box 152, Menai Central NSW 2234 AUSTRALIA
Selling the chickens
Bro. Amnobe Iyungu (Kigoma, Tanzania)
Most people today would most likely claim that they believe in the sanctity of marriage. Why, then, do so many unions end in divorce? For some, marriage is little more than a romantic promise and a legal agreement. But promises can be broken. People who view marriage this way find it quite easy to give up on their marriage when things go wrong. How does God view the marriage arrangement? The answer is found in Hebrews 13:4: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”. The word “honourable” carries the thought of something that is precious and highly esteemed. When we value something we take care that we preserve it and do not want to lose it, even accidentally, and the same should be true of the marriage arrangement. Christians are to view marriage as honourable, as something precious that they want to protect. Obviously God arranged marriage as something sacred between a husband and wife. How can we show that we share His view on marriage?
Love and respect. The marriage arrangement requires that husband and wife honour each other, “Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another” (Rom. 12:10). The apostle Paul wrote to first century Christians, “Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she reverence her husband” (Eph. 5:33). Granted, at times a spouse may not act in the most honourable or respectful manner; still, Christians must show such love and respect. Paul wrote again to the Colossians, “…forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put on charity (love), which is the bond of perfectness” (Col. 3:13-14).
The married couple who view their union as sacred take time to fulfil each other’s physical and emotional needs. The Bible says, “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence, and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband, and the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife” (1 Cor. 7:3-4).
SIGNS OF THE TIMES “Fear seems to be the dominant mood of the moment. Hurricanes, tidal waves, floods, earthquakes and terrorism this year have all brought with them not only appalling scenes of devastation, death and suffering, but also outrage at the lack of preparations to avoid or cope with these disasters. Now even the birds of the air are a threat we are told…could be carrying the virus which might soon kill tens of millions of people” (The Economist 22nd Oct 2005). One could add disease drought, pestilence and wars etc to these woes. As awful as these signs are of the coming “time of trouble such as never was” (Daniel 12v1), they tell us the coming of Jesus is near as he told us, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke21v26).
Key to Answered Prayer
Bro Joseph Oppong (Shama, Ghana)
There are some precious secret words of inspiration to encourage us to stand firm and strong in the Lord Jesus Christ, which we want to share. (Mat 6:7-15). The few words of the Lord’s prayer span the spectrum of God’s purpose and concern for humanity. They sweep from the majesty of God in heaven to the earthly details of daily need. Upholding the highest ideals while recognizing the realistic obstacles of human temptation and failure, the Lord’s prayer searches us, inspires us and empowers us.
Jesus gave us the Lord’s prayer not only as a specific text to be recited, but as a model for our own prayers. God is not manipulated by rote exercises or mechanical prayers, and the Lord’s prayer gives us a basic pattern that will deepen and enrich all of our prayers.
“Our Father in heaven” (Mat 6:9). Prayer begins with our adoption and acceptance as God’s children. The Creator loves us and desires to answer the requests of His children.
“Hallowed be your Name” The third commandment speaks against misusing God’s Name (Exodus 20:7); it refers to more than just using His Name as an expletive. It includes associating God’s Name with anything that demeans, devalues or dishonours Him. We sometimes do this not only with our lips but with our lives.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (verse 10). This is our highest goal, that for which we should pray and strive. God’s agenda must set our agenda.
“Give us our daily bread” (verse 11). Jesus assures us that if God’s Kingdom is our primary concern, He will provide for our needs from day to day: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mat 6:33).
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (verse 12). The grace of God shown to us must show through us to others. If we hold grudges, our hands and hearts are not free to receive God’s mercy.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (verse 13). God is the great guardian of our lives. He is more powerful than anything that can come against us. He will not allow us to experience anything beyond our ability to bear: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor 10:13). These few words of the Lord’s prayer provide us with a comprehensive pattern for prayer that can help us thoughtfully bring our requests before God.
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him” (Mat 6:5-8).
Public prayer has been distorted and abused. Some individuals use majestic, religious jargon that often impresses people, but doesn’t impress God. Others think that the key to receiving an answer to prayer is repetition, using the same words and phrases over and over. Such an attitude reduces prayer to the level of a chant or mantra, which assumes that prayer has more to do with technique than with the heart. True heart to heart communication with God, whether private or public, is rewarded and will have a profound effect on our spiritual growth.
In Mat 6:9-13 Jesus gave his disciples a model prayer to follow. This prayer, however, is more than just a model for our lives. We must acknowledge and praise God’s supremacy and desire that His Kingdom enter our world. Looking to God for our daily provision, we must ask for forgiveness of our sins while forgiving those who have wronged us. God also wants us to ask for protection from the evil temptations that we face each day. Let us seek to serve God by both praying these things and living them out in our daily lives.
True forgiveness is an essential part of our obedience to God (Mat 6:12-14). We often experience difficulty in releasing our inward anger and bitterness toward those who have mistreated us. Yet asking God to forgive our shortcomings and sins is hypocritical unless we are willing to forgive others: “forbearing one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Col 3:13). We forfeit forgiveness from God by denying forgiveness to others. Such an attitude is selfish and self-destructive.
Jesus made it clear that living for personal gain only leads to great anxiety (Mat 6:19-34). Materialism and anxiety are two enemies to spiritual growth, working together to lead us away from a balanced life. We need to realize that the essence of life is not found in the possession of things, nor worrying about the future. We must trust God to take care of us. God promises to provide for our needs, for He loves us and gives His children good gifts (Luke 11:13). “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13).
Putting it into practice What limits have you put on God that weaken your faith and hinder your prayer? How does your way of life honour God’s Name? What situations are currently dishonouring it? In what ways is God working through you now? Choose one activity that dominates your time and interest, and pray instead, for a period of time. Ask God to make your prayer a time of spiritual renewal. May good health and God’s blessing rest firmly upon us all as we wait patiently for the coming of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. May we all be found in the Kingdom.
Why Study the Book of Revelation
Bro Nelson Bwalya (Kitwe, Zambia)
This book was given to us if we are his servants. Those things were not known to Jesus during the time he was flesh and blood. But when he was glorified, God revealed them to Jesus, so that we can know what the future holds for us.
Read Mat 28:18; 11;27; Rev 1:1-4. If we think carefully on these verses we learn that it is not everyone who can understand this book. Three things are needed: to study, to search and to understand. That is why the Lord has given us minds to think and ponder. Otherwise if we become lazy we will get nothing from this book. We should strive according to the rules of the scriptures.
Please note: the book of Revelation is for those who devote themselves to reading scripturally and have become servants of God. Remember that during 29 to 70 AD the gospel was preached to the whole Roman Empire and ecclesias were formed. This is why John was told to write to seven churches. Having spent so many years in the things of God, some were able to understand the book of Revelation. Rewards were promised to those who overcame the flesh. “Blessed is the one who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy” (Revelation 1:3).
So what do you think?
1. Do you find difficulty in having an interest in studying this book?
2. If so, why?
3. Are you concluding that you are not one of his servants?
My suggestion is that you read the daily readings every day. If the Lord tarries, you may find that scripture interprets scripture. The book of Revelation needs to be interpreted with the whole of scripture in order to understand the symbols and signs.
Bro. Bassam (Jordan)
I never remember a word in the Bible telling us as Christians to be more than one church. No, we must be one church as we are one body. What I do not understand, is where did we get all the ‘churches’ from - it’s clear that I mean the kind of doctrines the false churches teach, when Jesus our Lord told Peter about the church, that He would build it on the foundation of the doctrine he gave to Peter and all the apostles (Matt.16: 18). You see brothers, the Lord mentioned one church not many. And He gave us one doctrine not many, He taught us one way not many. To be one church was His demand. If we are children of God the Father, and Jesus is the head of the body, then we should be one body with different members, we should think and act