Monthly Archives: January 2009

Incredible Short Story of Redemption!

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Michael| Leave a comment

QUOTE: “I feel like I was born again. I will live my life, fixing my eyes only on Jesus on the cross.”—70-year-old Lee Keun-ahn

Lee Keun-ahn who was known as the “Torture Master” in the 1980s because of the inhumane ways he used in extracting information for the North Korean military regime.

Lee went into hiding for 12 years during which he became a Christian and later turned himself in to South Korean authorities and spent seven years in prison where he enrolled in a correspondence seminary school. Now Lee serves as an ordained pastor in South Korea. [koreatimes.co.kr, 11/1/08] *Top

Posted in Praise Report, Repentance, Testimony

American Church at the Crossroads: "Change"

Posted on January 25, 2009 by Michael| 2 Comments

Many times what we see happening in the natural is a symbol for what is also taking place in the spiritual realm. ‘Change’ was the word that we heard over and over again during the recent election. Now with a major change in presidential administration taking place this week it has become a reality in the natural.

As Barack Obama raised his hand and completed the oath of office for President of the USA, a new historical page was turned. Millions look forward with hope for positive changes for the better, while many others claim that America will never be the same and decline is on the horizon. One thing for sure, for better or worse the voters chose to go new direction.

In trying to discern what God is now doing in his church in 2009, the word I hear again and again is ‘change’. Just like we have turned the page in the natural, in the spiritual also a new direction is in front of the church in America. Many have sensed the need for change and movements like the ‘emerging’ and ‘emergent’ church movements were initiated in response to the perceived need.

For the entire 20th century the American church was part of the American culture. Early in the century the church dominated the culture while in the last 40 years or so the culture changed and began to dominate the church.

Now the American church is at the crossroads and must choose to follow the culture or where the Holy Spirit may lead. Some major denominations (like the Episcopal Church and the UCC) are already in the process of choosing to continue with the dominant culture away from Biblical Christianity. The Evangelical churches are now at that fork in the road.

I believe that churches which are fundamentalist/cessationalist will have a hard time surviving the onslaught of a dominant progressive/secular culture in the future. Meanwhile the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches are destined for major ‘change’–the old ‘wineskins’ will no longer be adequate for the task ahead. –More to come later on possible changes ahead. *Top

Posted in American Church, Word for the Church

Pray For President Obama If You Want to Please God!

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Michael| Leave a comment

I’ve read a number of different blogs which call for Christians to actually pray against the new President with all sorts of reasons why this is a good idea. I won’t link any of them because I don’t believe that their approach is Biblical. In fact I know it isn’t!

Then I have also found several other sites who rightly called for believers to intercede for the New President and his administration. Most have cited 1 Timothy 2:1-4—None have explained it any better than my friend Pastor Carl Thomas–plus he posted this great picture that I promptly stole for my article.

1Timothy 2:1-4

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Response: The way I read it–It will actually please God if we offer prayers and intercede for the new President and his administration. After all, Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to give counsel to his folks to pray for the Roman emperor and his henchmen and be thankful.

Wow–we may end up disagreeing with the new President over some important issues but I doubt that he’s going to burn Rome and blame it on the Christians and crucify Peter and Paul! Regardless, according to the scripture it will actually please God if we pray for him and be thankful anyway. *Top

Prayers for the President Elect

Posted in American Church, Intercession, Prayer

The Inaugural Invocation by Rick Warren

Posted on January 21, 2009 by Michael| Leave a comment

Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States

"Almighty God, our Father, everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of You alone. It all comes from You. It all belongs to You. It all exists for Your glory. History is Your story.
"The Scripture tells us, ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.’ And You are the compassionate and merciful One. And You are loving to everyone You have made.
"Now today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States.

"We are so grateful to live in this land — a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

"Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the cabinet and every one of our freely elected leaders.

"Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us.

"And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches and civility in our attitudes — even when we differ.
"Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all.

"May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.

"And may we never forget that one day, all nations, and all people, will stand accountable before You. We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

"I humbly ask this in the name of the One who changed my life — Yeshua, Isa, Jesus, [pronounced in Spanish], Jesus — who taught us to pray:

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
"Give us this day our daily bread.
"And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

Response: I found the prayer to be especially inspired and it brings a tear to my eye every time I read it. Since Pastor Rick is from my home town and since my family and I have worshipped at his church on a number of special occasions, I found it to be particularly meaningful and special.

There were so many protests against Warren in the last several weeks, with many asking Obama to drop him from the program. Then there was article after article instructing Rick that he should not invoke the name of Jesus, and even some Christian detractors made it known that a better choice could have been made.

Pastor Rick told them: “I’m a Christian Pastor, so I will pray the only kind of prayer I know how to pray.” Pastor Warren not only invoked the name of Jesus but did so in Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish, and English. –Praise The Lord. (Cross-posted on ANSWERS For The Faith) *Top

Posted in Intercession, News Commentary, Prayer

A New President to Pray For

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Michael| 4 Comments

2009 Five Presidents, President George W. Bush...

(-Presidential Picture by BL1961 via Flickr)

After 8 years a new era is dawning today in America. We come together to celebrate the passing of the torch to a new president regardless of who we voted for–it is an historic day on so many different levels.

After all the sights and sounds, the pomp, the parades, and the balls are all over– a new administration must pick up the ball and face a changing world that continues to bring us wars, economic problems, and natural disasters that no one is prepared for.

As the new president sits down for the first time in the oval office with the levers of power at his disposal, all the weight of that office will finally become apparent. As President Harry S. Truman put it: "The buck stops here."

With two wars on the table and an unprecedented economic crisis continuing to unfold, the new president, Barack Obama, will have little time to celebrate. Expectations are running high and probably way beyond what any one man will probably be able to accomplish on his own– even with an able new administration at his side.

It is time to put aside our differences and petty partisanship and wish for the best–no– we need to pray that the new president is successful, our future depends upon it.

For 8 years I have been praying for George W. Bush–now Barack H. Obama will be in my daily prayers–so bless him and help him God. In Jesus name Amen. *Top (Cross-Published on ANSWERS For The Faith)

Obama to Step Into History as 1st Black President
Challenges ahead, but Obama can learn from the past

Posted in Intercession, News Commentary, Politics & Religion, Prayer

A Testimony by Tim Tebow

Posted on January 14, 2009 by Michael| 1 Comment

(Picture via Wikipedia)

From New Man eMagazine:

In His Own Words …

Tim Tebow on Preaching at Prison

“Because of my faith, I receive a lot of requests to speak to different organizations. I like to do as many as I can. During the summer of 2007, I had the opportunity to speak at the state prison in Union County. I got to get up and preach.

The people there don’t have a lot to look forward to, and they don’t have a positive outlook on things. I told them that everyone looks at them like they are nothing, and I told them that they are no different than I am, except they made a bad choice. That doesn’t make them any worse of a person, and God doesn’t love them any less. I let them know that because of their actions, there are consequences, but God wants them to go to heaven.

There were people in there for all sorts of things. There were murderers and drug lords. I saw these guys break down and cry. I gave them an invitation to accept Jesus Christ and change the way they were living.

In the two prisons I spoke at, 195 guys came forward. I held their hands and prayed with them. The security guys told them they weren’t allowed to get close to me, but I wasn’t worried about it. I felt like I was doing what God wanted me to do, so it was safe.”

By Tim Tebow
Quarterback, University of Florida

*Top

Posted in Testimony, Witnessing

Prophetic Word for 2009

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Michael| 1 Comment

By R. Loren Sandford

We just came through a historic presidential election. Seventy percent of evangelical Christians like us voted against the man who won. Before the election—and now especially since the outcome became clear—I have read and heard prophecies of doom and gloom from many on the Christian right who don’t like the results. I want to begin by balancing and debunking some of that.

Despite the pronouncements of a growing number of so-called prophets, Barack Obama will not be our last president. He is not the Antichrist, contrary to some of the writings I’ve recently come across. I believe that he will actually undergo a conversion in his faith while in office as solid evangelical voices speak with him in love—voices that work with his faith to bless and advise him without promoting a right-wing political agenda. He will listen to such voices.

Furthermore, if we will pray, his current stances regarding abortion and gay marriage will change. If we will pray for him with love and respect, he will go down in history not only as the first African-American to win the presidency but as one of our greatest presidents. He has the gifts to inspire this nation to shed its crippling blanket of fear and rise again. He has already moved to a more centrist position than he held during the election. I say these things having not voted for the man. I believe this is the word of the Lord. …

<<Continue-read the whole message>>

Response: There is a lot here to digest–more than just one reading will bring. Chaotic times and major changes are on the way, but the counsel that R. Loren Sandford brings calls for the church to rise up and not be affected by the fear that the enemy is sowing. He closes the message with these encouraging thoughts:

Finally, the only thing that can stop this season from being the greatest time of our lives and the most exciting move of God in our lifetimes is fear. That’s why I began this word by speaking against the things the fear mongers are trying to tell us while they claim to be prophetic. "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline" (2 Tim. 1:7).

Fear is a prison. It makes you emotionally self-centered and sucks the hope out of life. Fear paralyzes its victims and blinds them to opportunities. Fear blinds us to the needs of others. It consumes our joy. Fear is useless. Without cause.

Matthew 6 removes the need for fear. We have a Father who cares for us, who will care for us. He never lets us down. Because of that, we’re free to walk in the power of the kingdom of God. Why do you supposed that when Jesus sent the 12 out on their first missionary journey to heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead, He told them, "Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support" (Matt. 10:9-10). God would provide. No fear.

Trust Him in the days to come. They can be the best and most exciting days of our lives. We were born for such a time as this.

*Top

Posted in Prophetic Message

Tebow is a Winner!

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Michael| Leave a comment

MIAMI - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Tim Tebow #15...

(Image by Getty Images via Daylife)

I watched the big game between Florida and Oklahoma last night. Tuned in hoping that somehow both teams would lose or look bad in the process since I am a diehard USC fan. By the 4th quarter I found myself rooting for Florida because of their very impressive quarterback-Tim Tebow.

The camera did a close-up of Tebow during the game and there it was–John 3:16 written in the middle of the under-eye black spot. Meanwhile, the sports announcers in the 4th quarter were talking about what a fine young man he was–a son of missionaries–who visited folks in hospitals, prisons, and even went on missions himself. Impressive indeed–a real winner on many different levels.

Here are some links to a few stories about Tim today on the internet:

-College Football Star Sports ‘John 3:16′ in Championship Game

-Scripture & faith were ‘secrets’ to parenting Tebow, mom says

-Pastor calls Tebow ‘servant leader’

-Tebow’s faith takes center stage *Top

Posted in Christian Living, News Commentary, Witnessing

Prayer: Greater Intimacy with God

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Michael| Leave a comment

(Wigglesworth via Wikipedia)

Received from Charisma Online-

Another great message by Smith Wigglesworth to start off the week by:

Do you hear the ringing of the prayer bells? The Father is waiting in the prayer tower of your soul, waiting and longing to have a talk with you. He wants you to know Him as intimately as the Old Testament prophets knew Him. You can confidently enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus. (See Hebrews 10:19.) He is the way to the Father.
Moses, an Old Testament prophet, knew God, and he knew the ways of God. He was not afraid to reveal his disappointments, frustrations, anger, and fears to the God in whose presence he dwelled. David, who wrote many of the psalms, expressed his innermost thoughts to Jehovah God even while declaring his trust in Him. In Lamentations 3:17, the prophet Jeremiah expressed his true feelings of despair. This opened the door for him to receive hope and confidence.

You can talk openly with God—your wonderful Counselor, your Prince of Peace—about anything. Tell Him your innermost thoughts. Describe your fondest dreams. Expose your true feelings, desires, wants, and needs. Express your love and gratitude to Him with thanksgiving. It may be possible to hide your true feelings from others or even from yourself, but it is impossible to hide your feelings from God.

Often feelings are a barometer, alerting us to a need for change in our thought life and attitudes. Unfortunately, we sometimes misuse the Scriptures as a cover-up for a feeling we perceive as wrong instead of acknowledging the feeling and expecting answers from the Lord to determine the cause and the remedy. God is concerned about everything that concerns you (Ps. 138:8). Ask Him for what you believe you need. Allow Him the time to speak to you and to show you your real need.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
But as for me, I will come into your Temple protected by your mercy and your love; I will worship you with deepest awe.—Psalm 5:7, tlb

TODAY’S PRAYER:
Lord, You are my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in You, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to You. Thank You for arming me with strength and making my way perfect. In the name of Jesus, I can face challenges with wisdom, understanding, intelligence, and supernatural ability because Your Word dwells in me richly. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. *Top