Thank you all for praying.
The goverment has chosen to remove the blockage
on the blogspot function.
The blog continues as the prayers continue.
God hears and wants to be heard.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
pray!
Unfortunatelly the Turkish Goverment has chosen to block the Blogspot Function.
This blog can no more be read in Turkey.
Please, pray for us to have wisdom for continuing our ministry.
This blog can no more be read in Turkey.
Please, pray for us to have wisdom for continuing our ministry.
His voice
Can silence really help people to hear from God?
In this noisy world our soul easily gets filled with voices.
Voices from our surroundings, friends, family members,
politicians, cats, dogs, birds and the lonely mosquitoes
begging for our attention in the darkness of the night.
The Holy Spirit in every believer’s soul has created in him
a new capacity to filter this noise.
This is the kind of silence that enables us to hear God.
Think about the martyrs who were brought to the arena.
They did not respond to the roaring crowds. The lions
didn’t get their attention. Their souls were silenced by
the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Their silent voices are heard still today.
But beware; silence can help your lying, too.
It has been used successfully to avoid all responsibility
behind the mask of so called wisdom.
God did not save the world by his silence, but by
becoming the Word.
If we remain silent in the time of need God will raise his
voice from somewhere else. Esther 4:14
May our silent moments always prepare us to be His voice.
First they came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945
In this noisy world our soul easily gets filled with voices.
Voices from our surroundings, friends, family members,
politicians, cats, dogs, birds and the lonely mosquitoes
begging for our attention in the darkness of the night.
The Holy Spirit in every believer’s soul has created in him
a new capacity to filter this noise.
This is the kind of silence that enables us to hear God.
Think about the martyrs who were brought to the arena.
They did not respond to the roaring crowds. The lions
didn’t get their attention. Their souls were silenced by
the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Their silent voices are heard still today.
But beware; silence can help your lying, too.
It has been used successfully to avoid all responsibility
behind the mask of so called wisdom.
God did not save the world by his silence, but by
becoming the Word.
If we remain silent in the time of need God will raise his
voice from somewhere else. Esther 4:14
May our silent moments always prepare us to be His voice.
First they came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
today is full of hope
Have you ever regretted something in your life:
missed opportunities, fatal mistakes, careless words
or lost friendships?
It’s a well known feeling to all of us.
“Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away,
Now it looks as though they‘re here to stay,
Oh’, I believe in yesterday…”
The old Beatles song has a nice melody, but a hopeless
message. It recognizes the fact that yesterdays
cannot be returned, but leads you to live in denial.
It’s a dream, a bubble ready to burst any moment.
A week ago I spoke with a young Greek Atheist.
I asked him what does the word “believe” mean for him.
How can he use it in his vocabulary?
He gave a long “no sense whatsoever” answer and finally
was so wrapped up with his own lines of thoughts that
he cried out: ”Okay, okay, but let me keep my dreams!”
Lies are not dreams worth keeping.
Lies have no future.
God’s answer is redemption.
He doesn’t only fix broken vessels, but also continues
to treat them as if they never were broken. He continues
giving new beginnings.
Without the principle of redemption and restoration
all our tomorrows would be our worst enemies.
They are not.
In His dealings with the nation of Israel He calls
the harlot a virgin.
I don’t think that the power of redemption could be
expressed by a better picture than that.
Today is full of hope. Tomorrow is worth waiting for.
missed opportunities, fatal mistakes, careless words
or lost friendships?
It’s a well known feeling to all of us.
“Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away,
Now it looks as though they‘re here to stay,
Oh’, I believe in yesterday…”
The old Beatles song has a nice melody, but a hopeless
message. It recognizes the fact that yesterdays
cannot be returned, but leads you to live in denial.
It’s a dream, a bubble ready to burst any moment.
A week ago I spoke with a young Greek Atheist.
I asked him what does the word “believe” mean for him.
How can he use it in his vocabulary?
He gave a long “no sense whatsoever” answer and finally
was so wrapped up with his own lines of thoughts that
he cried out: ”Okay, okay, but let me keep my dreams!”
Lies are not dreams worth keeping.
Lies have no future.
God’s answer is redemption.
He doesn’t only fix broken vessels, but also continues
to treat them as if they never were broken. He continues
giving new beginnings.
Without the principle of redemption and restoration
all our tomorrows would be our worst enemies.
They are not.
In His dealings with the nation of Israel He calls
the harlot a virgin.
I don’t think that the power of redemption could be
expressed by a better picture than that.
Today is full of hope. Tomorrow is worth waiting for.
Friday, October 17, 2008
With Men It Is Impossible
With Men It Is Impossible
A Christian is an impossible being:
he has been born a second time,
he has begun to live forever,
and personally knows the only God that’s true;
anyone can tell you that these things are foolishness.
Please remember,
the one you hear calling them foolish
will come to the end one day,
and will be saying, “One more day, just one more day…”
and will call out for those precious moments,
and will be gone.
And his words will have fallen to the dust.
Someone will say, “But you will die as well.”
Of course that is true; the question is,
will you see the One who will raise me from the dead?
Will you?
HUNGER AND THIRST
P. Michael A. Staples
Brooklyn GG church
A Christian is an impossible being:
he has been born a second time,
he has begun to live forever,
and personally knows the only God that’s true;
anyone can tell you that these things are foolishness.
Please remember,
the one you hear calling them foolish
will come to the end one day,
and will be saying, “One more day, just one more day…”
and will call out for those precious moments,
and will be gone.
And his words will have fallen to the dust.
Someone will say, “But you will die as well.”
Of course that is true; the question is,
will you see the One who will raise me from the dead?
Will you?
HUNGER AND THIRST
P. Michael A. Staples
Brooklyn GG church
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
just humble yourself!
Naaman was so disappointed with prophet Elisha
when he didn’t perform a certain miracle in a certain way.
What seemed a failure to Naaman was actually the answer
to his problem. II Kings 5:11
The little Jewish servant girl encouraged him to humble
himself and receive his healing.
Naaman’s healing was much more simple than what he wanted.
He seemed to know a lot about healing people!
Preconceived ideas about the church have caused bitter
disappointments to many.
If you go to the church expecting them, her, it, to meet
your needs from rags to riches you can count on being
disappointed.
The message will not be what you expect it to be,
neither will the people, songs, curtains, chairs etc.
But Naatan is not an exception.
All people have incurable diseases that can be healed
only in the church.
Yes, I’m a fanatic believer in the role of the church in
the life of believers.
Forget about this "being a member of the universal body
of Christ without a commitment to a local church".
That what some believers claim to be a blessing in their lives
is actually a trap that has separated them from true blessings
that can be experienced only in the fellowship of believers.
I’m very happy, if I make some people angry with
these statements.
Sometimes anger causes people to reconsider their lives
and repent.
The living church is the only thing that God will allow
to heaven from this earth.
when he didn’t perform a certain miracle in a certain way.
What seemed a failure to Naaman was actually the answer
to his problem. II Kings 5:11
The little Jewish servant girl encouraged him to humble
himself and receive his healing.
Naaman’s healing was much more simple than what he wanted.
He seemed to know a lot about healing people!
Preconceived ideas about the church have caused bitter
disappointments to many.
If you go to the church expecting them, her, it, to meet
your needs from rags to riches you can count on being
disappointed.
The message will not be what you expect it to be,
neither will the people, songs, curtains, chairs etc.
But Naatan is not an exception.
All people have incurable diseases that can be healed
only in the church.
Yes, I’m a fanatic believer in the role of the church in
the life of believers.
Forget about this "being a member of the universal body
of Christ without a commitment to a local church".
That what some believers claim to be a blessing in their lives
is actually a trap that has separated them from true blessings
that can be experienced only in the fellowship of believers.
I’m very happy, if I make some people angry with
these statements.
Sometimes anger causes people to reconsider their lives
and repent.
The living church is the only thing that God will allow
to heaven from this earth.
Monday, October 13, 2008
following made simple
Have you ever risked your life in order to achieve something?
The Bible goes ever further in describing the biblical life-style,
you must loose your life. Loose your life, not for the purpose
of becoming a super hero and an admired celebrity
in the global scene, but just to be qualified to follow Him.
He who dies and the one
who follows are two totally different kinds of you.
The division between good and evil is not sufficient,
for a “good” man also has to die and loose his well kept
goodness. This was the reason why Jesus was in constant
conflict with the religious leaders. People’s sinfulness didn’t
shock him. He was seemingly more irritated by people’s
self-righteous goodness than by their moral failures.
He had a lot of compassion on humble sinners,
but no tolerance with the proud.
To loose your life is an invitation to total surrender.
“I know that in me dwells no good thing: for to will is present
with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not…”
Romans 7:18
Outside of his saving grace I’m not just nothing, but worse
than nothing.
His grace has qualified me to follow him, step by step,
decision by decision, day by day.
If you find following too simple, just stop doing it for a while
and you’ll soon find out how complicated life gets
without the Good Shepherd.
The Bible goes ever further in describing the biblical life-style,
you must loose your life. Loose your life, not for the purpose
of becoming a super hero and an admired celebrity
in the global scene, but just to be qualified to follow Him.
He who dies and the one
who follows are two totally different kinds of you.
The division between good and evil is not sufficient,
for a “good” man also has to die and loose his well kept
goodness. This was the reason why Jesus was in constant
conflict with the religious leaders. People’s sinfulness didn’t
shock him. He was seemingly more irritated by people’s
self-righteous goodness than by their moral failures.
He had a lot of compassion on humble sinners,
but no tolerance with the proud.
To loose your life is an invitation to total surrender.
“I know that in me dwells no good thing: for to will is present
with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not…”
Romans 7:18
Outside of his saving grace I’m not just nothing, but worse
than nothing.
His grace has qualified me to follow him, step by step,
decision by decision, day by day.
If you find following too simple, just stop doing it for a while
and you’ll soon find out how complicated life gets
without the Good Shepherd.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
today's schedule
SUNDAY
October 05
9 a.m. BREAKFAST ( VAN Kahvalti Evi in Cihangir)
10 a.m. SERVICE
7 p.m. SERVICE
Welcome!
October 05
9 a.m. BREAKFAST ( VAN Kahvalti Evi in Cihangir)
10 a.m. SERVICE
7 p.m. SERVICE
Welcome!
Friday, October 3, 2008
it starts tomorrow morning at 10
TIMEwith
P.SCHALLER
Istanbul
October 04-05, 2008
SATURDAY
10 A.M. SESSION
1 P.M. LUNCH
2-4 P.M. BOAT TOUR
7 P.M. SESSION
AND RAP
P.SCHALLER
Istanbul
October 04-05, 2008
SATURDAY
10 A.M. SESSION
1 P.M. LUNCH
2-4 P.M. BOAT TOUR
7 P.M. SESSION
AND RAP
Devotional from My Manna Yahoo Group
My Manna
"I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ...to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me." Romans 15:30.
To be a missionary in today's world-One has to separate himself from the I-want-it-now culture we live in. Results on the mission field can be slow going!So it's not uncommon for missionaries to retire having seen but a handful of conversions during their entire career. This fact is enough to discourage many people-- from ever becoming full-time missionaries. But for those who have heard their Divine calling to missions-- nothing—not even the lack of apparent progress - or the constant persecution—can keep them from fulfilling their task. One reason they are able to push on is that-- they have Christian brothers and sisters faithfully supporting them through prayer. Fellow believers!We should never underestimate the power of our words offered up to God-- on behalf of the brave souls on the mission field. God hears those words and grants His workers the ability-- to remain encouraged and faithful to the cause. Prayer for our missionaries is tantamount to the work itself! American missionary Samuel Zwemer once said:"The history of missions is the history of answered prayer."
Remember us in your prayers-- that we grow not weary in well doing!
=============================
Visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mymanna8/ to join this group.
"I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ...to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me." Romans 15:30.
To be a missionary in today's world-One has to separate himself from the I-want-it-now culture we live in. Results on the mission field can be slow going!So it's not uncommon for missionaries to retire having seen but a handful of conversions during their entire career. This fact is enough to discourage many people-- from ever becoming full-time missionaries. But for those who have heard their Divine calling to missions-- nothing—not even the lack of apparent progress - or the constant persecution—can keep them from fulfilling their task. One reason they are able to push on is that-- they have Christian brothers and sisters faithfully supporting them through prayer. Fellow believers!We should never underestimate the power of our words offered up to God-- on behalf of the brave souls on the mission field. God hears those words and grants His workers the ability-- to remain encouraged and faithful to the cause. Prayer for our missionaries is tantamount to the work itself! American missionary Samuel Zwemer once said:"The history of missions is the history of answered prayer."
Remember us in your prayers-- that we grow not weary in well doing!
=============================
Visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mymanna8/ to join this group.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
TIME WITH P.SCHALLER
TIME
with
P.SCHALLER
Istanbul
October 04-05, 2008
SATURDAY
10 A.M. SESSION
1 P.M. LUNCH
2-4 P.M. BOAT TOUR
7 P.M. SESSION
AND RAP
SUNDAY
9 A.M. BREAKFAST
11 A.M. SERVICE
1.30 LUNCH
7 P.M. SERVICE
AND RAP
ALL SESSIONS AND SERVICES
WILL TAKE PLACE IN
THE GREATER GRACE CHURCH
IN GUMUSHSUYU
with
P.SCHALLER
Istanbul
October 04-05, 2008
SATURDAY
10 A.M. SESSION
1 P.M. LUNCH
2-4 P.M. BOAT TOUR
7 P.M. SESSION
AND RAP
SUNDAY
9 A.M. BREAKFAST
11 A.M. SERVICE
1.30 LUNCH
7 P.M. SERVICE
AND RAP
ALL SESSIONS AND SERVICES
WILL TAKE PLACE IN
THE GREATER GRACE CHURCH
IN GUMUSHSUYU
today's freedom
Freedom means choices.
If a man doesn’t believe that he has any choices,
he will not believe that he has any responsibilities either.
It’s impossible to continue experiencing freedom without
responsibilities showing up.
Another commonly accepted lie about choices is to think
that one chooses only for himself.
This has been strongly amplified in Western societies
where personal comfort and security are highly respected
values. All our choices influence other people one way or
another. No man is an island and no man has ever survived
in this world without the help of others.
It’s also a lie to think that the same choices will always be there.
As time goes on our legs start running slower and our
minds need to be waken up over and over again to hear
the smallest piece of new information. Teeth start falling
and brains start leaking.
Life is dynamic. It goes on without waiting for us to sort
out all our “I will”s and other complicated excuses and
explanations to defend our disobedience.
Choose well now, when you still can say ”Today”!
One day “Today” will not exist anymore and
will not come back for us to enjoy.
If a man doesn’t believe that he has any choices,
he will not believe that he has any responsibilities either.
It’s impossible to continue experiencing freedom without
responsibilities showing up.
Another commonly accepted lie about choices is to think
that one chooses only for himself.
This has been strongly amplified in Western societies
where personal comfort and security are highly respected
values. All our choices influence other people one way or
another. No man is an island and no man has ever survived
in this world without the help of others.
It’s also a lie to think that the same choices will always be there.
As time goes on our legs start running slower and our
minds need to be waken up over and over again to hear
the smallest piece of new information. Teeth start falling
and brains start leaking.
Life is dynamic. It goes on without waiting for us to sort
out all our “I will”s and other complicated excuses and
explanations to defend our disobedience.
Choose well now, when you still can say ”Today”!
One day “Today” will not exist anymore and
will not come back for us to enjoy.
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