Wednesday, November 26, 2008
the rock
We need a rock, a foundation that is bigger than our life.
Psalm 61:2
If we limit ourselves to our own understanding and ability
we will be frustrated and troubled.
From the platform of faith we see further.
It seems like God always invites us out from our own
circles when we get overwhelmed by our circumstances.
He leads us to step into his presence.
He somehow encourages us not to worry about those
things that sooner or later will pass away and be no more.
He wants our souls to prosper.
Man’s subjectivity gives him a false security. People often speak
about their intuition, their ability to know people at first glance.
They trust their own heart and encourage others to do the same.
The reason why human heart is described to be more evil than
any other thing is it’s subjectivity. Jer.17:9
Most of the endless misunderstandings and other complicated
relationship problems are rooted in subjective hearts.
Jesus did not come to this world to look for people’s opinions.
He took the blame on himself
and became the rock that helps us to see beyond
the nonsense all the way to eternity.
Psalm 61:2
If we limit ourselves to our own understanding and ability
we will be frustrated and troubled.
From the platform of faith we see further.
It seems like God always invites us out from our own
circles when we get overwhelmed by our circumstances.
He leads us to step into his presence.
He somehow encourages us not to worry about those
things that sooner or later will pass away and be no more.
He wants our souls to prosper.
Man’s subjectivity gives him a false security. People often speak
about their intuition, their ability to know people at first glance.
They trust their own heart and encourage others to do the same.
The reason why human heart is described to be more evil than
any other thing is it’s subjectivity. Jer.17:9
Most of the endless misunderstandings and other complicated
relationship problems are rooted in subjective hearts.
Jesus did not come to this world to look for people’s opinions.
He took the blame on himself
and became the rock that helps us to see beyond
the nonsense all the way to eternity.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things
The description of God’s love in I Corinthians 13
sounds too incredible. Practically speaking most of believers
would have a hard time with going all the way with it.
It doesn’t say, “Love covers some things”, it actually says it
covers all things. All means everything unless it is followed
by a list of other nouns specifying the all.
This love is daily tested in relationships where people
continuously abuse, cheat and fail.
How much should we cover?
What exactly does it mean to cover, not to talk about it?
I believe that this biblical principle of covering is strongly
connected with forgiveness.
We forgive because God forgives.
We have no biblical right to withhold forgiveness from anyone.
You don’t have to wait to forgive, it’s an immediate choice.
No evil in this world should be able to overpower our
decision to forgive.
This doesn’t mean that people are not held responsible for their
sins.
Evil should be reported through proper channels.
No one should accept continuing abuse, physical nor
emotional, in the pretext of spirituality.
This kind of situations are often very private and demand
a sensitive way to deal with them.
However the best covering for an abuser or any evil doer
is to bring his deeds to the light.
May it be a pedophile relative, dishonest boss or
a violent husband, God’s love wants to bring them to the light.
Whenever other people’s life is in jeopardy covering means
reporting.
sounds too incredible. Practically speaking most of believers
would have a hard time with going all the way with it.
It doesn’t say, “Love covers some things”, it actually says it
covers all things. All means everything unless it is followed
by a list of other nouns specifying the all.
This love is daily tested in relationships where people
continuously abuse, cheat and fail.
How much should we cover?
What exactly does it mean to cover, not to talk about it?
I believe that this biblical principle of covering is strongly
connected with forgiveness.
We forgive because God forgives.
We have no biblical right to withhold forgiveness from anyone.
You don’t have to wait to forgive, it’s an immediate choice.
No evil in this world should be able to overpower our
decision to forgive.
This doesn’t mean that people are not held responsible for their
sins.
Evil should be reported through proper channels.
No one should accept continuing abuse, physical nor
emotional, in the pretext of spirituality.
This kind of situations are often very private and demand
a sensitive way to deal with them.
However the best covering for an abuser or any evil doer
is to bring his deeds to the light.
May it be a pedophile relative, dishonest boss or
a violent husband, God’s love wants to bring them to the light.
Whenever other people’s life is in jeopardy covering means
reporting.
Monday, November 24, 2008
the cloud
Their ministry in the temple was interrupted by the cloud.
It filled the place of worship with God consciousness and
“they could not continue ministering because of the cloud.”
Their religion was interrupted by God.
I Kings 8:10-11
One of man’s problems is his ability to practice a religion that
works without God.
Without the presence of God any church turns to a market place,
or just to a funeral home, where bureaucracy is well maintained
by religious vocabulary.
What can stop a church from dying?
When you look at the massive , empty churches in Europe this
question is unavoidable. Why did these churches die?
It’s clear that for one reason or another they lost the mystery.
They lost the sense of God’s presence, the cloud that cannot be
controlled, manipulated nor perfectly explained.
Have you ever felt the presence of God? Many of us can recall
a strong sense of God’s presence in revival meetings
and prayer times, the place was shaking.
I think even a better question is, “Have you ever believed in the
presence of God?” When your emotions didn’t provide any
power signals, you didn’t think about moving mountains, but
you simply loved God with all of your heart and mind.
Faith accompanied with sings and wonders can easily be
shipwrecked. Faith without signs and wonders will most
probably die out. How about him who believes without seeing
and worships him independently of the visible and invisible
surroundings? He will be gladly interrupted by the cloud.
It filled the place of worship with God consciousness and
“they could not continue ministering because of the cloud.”
Their religion was interrupted by God.
I Kings 8:10-11
One of man’s problems is his ability to practice a religion that
works without God.
Without the presence of God any church turns to a market place,
or just to a funeral home, where bureaucracy is well maintained
by religious vocabulary.
What can stop a church from dying?
When you look at the massive , empty churches in Europe this
question is unavoidable. Why did these churches die?
It’s clear that for one reason or another they lost the mystery.
They lost the sense of God’s presence, the cloud that cannot be
controlled, manipulated nor perfectly explained.
Have you ever felt the presence of God? Many of us can recall
a strong sense of God’s presence in revival meetings
and prayer times, the place was shaking.
I think even a better question is, “Have you ever believed in the
presence of God?” When your emotions didn’t provide any
power signals, you didn’t think about moving mountains, but
you simply loved God with all of your heart and mind.
Faith accompanied with sings and wonders can easily be
shipwrecked. Faith without signs and wonders will most
probably die out. How about him who believes without seeing
and worships him independently of the visible and invisible
surroundings? He will be gladly interrupted by the cloud.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
hospitality
Guest- host relationships are known to be a new area
of popular sociology studies.
Hospitality as defined in the Merriam-Webster’s
Dictionary means “offering a pleasant or
sustaining environment”.
After living for over twenty years in hospitable countries
I find it kind of amusing to read long, defensive articles
about the dangers of trusting people who show themselves
too friendly. “Behind every smile there is a long shopping
list of needs that you’ll end up paying for.”
This presumption of bribery is often the only reason for
cross-cultural misunderstandings.
Corruption–free countries have a reputation of being
nice but boring.
The European skepticism doesn’t easily mingle with the
oriental market place mentality. Why should we speak
through calculators and stamped contracts when we can
explore one another’s chemistry around a
glass of tea and free of charge goodies?
I remember a director of a big printing house “Red East”
in Baku who was so fascinated by my calendar. He
asked me several times, “How does it work?” I explained
him the principle of numbers following one another and
days turning into weeks filling my life with appointments,
dead-lines and other commitments. He thought it was cute.
Hospitality has become a big industry.
The more you pay the better service you can demand.
But can hospitality be demanded?
Isn’t it strongly based on voluntary caring?
Five-star hotels create an illusion of people caring for
you when they actually don’t have a choice. They don’t
like you, they work there.
I like the unconditional attitude in caring.
Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers,
for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”
Yes, it could also be demons disguised in an
angelic appearance knocking on your door.
That’s the kind of world we have been sent to.
of popular sociology studies.
Hospitality as defined in the Merriam-Webster’s
Dictionary means “offering a pleasant or
sustaining environment”.
After living for over twenty years in hospitable countries
I find it kind of amusing to read long, defensive articles
about the dangers of trusting people who show themselves
too friendly. “Behind every smile there is a long shopping
list of needs that you’ll end up paying for.”
This presumption of bribery is often the only reason for
cross-cultural misunderstandings.
Corruption–free countries have a reputation of being
nice but boring.
The European skepticism doesn’t easily mingle with the
oriental market place mentality. Why should we speak
through calculators and stamped contracts when we can
explore one another’s chemistry around a
glass of tea and free of charge goodies?
I remember a director of a big printing house “Red East”
in Baku who was so fascinated by my calendar. He
asked me several times, “How does it work?” I explained
him the principle of numbers following one another and
days turning into weeks filling my life with appointments,
dead-lines and other commitments. He thought it was cute.
Hospitality has become a big industry.
The more you pay the better service you can demand.
But can hospitality be demanded?
Isn’t it strongly based on voluntary caring?
Five-star hotels create an illusion of people caring for
you when they actually don’t have a choice. They don’t
like you, they work there.
I like the unconditional attitude in caring.
Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers,
for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”
Yes, it could also be demons disguised in an
angelic appearance knocking on your door.
That’s the kind of world we have been sent to.
Friday, November 14, 2008
ISTANBUL BLITZ / program
P.Gary Groenewold visiting from Berlin.
FRIDAY / NOVEMBER 14
7 p.m. SESSION
SATURDAY / NOVEMBER 15
10 a.m. SESSION
12- 1 p.m. EVANGELISM
1.30 p.m. LUNCH
7 p.m. SESSION
SUNDAY / NOVEMBER 16
10 a.m. SERVICE
7 p.m. SERVICE
All sessions will be held in our church facilities in Gumushsuyu
FRIDAY / NOVEMBER 14
7 p.m. SESSION
SATURDAY / NOVEMBER 15
10 a.m. SESSION
12- 1 p.m. EVANGELISM
1.30 p.m. LUNCH
7 p.m. SESSION
SUNDAY / NOVEMBER 16
10 a.m. SERVICE
7 p.m. SERVICE
All sessions will be held in our church facilities in Gumushsuyu
God loves people more than anything
It’s not difficult for man to enjoy everything that God has
prepared for him. The world is beautifully designed to
please man. His soul responds to it’s beauty from the refreshing
morning dew to the spectacular sunsets.
Most people love the nature, but have great difficulties in loving
themselves and other people.
The sin-nature has run it’s course in man’s history.
After all the devastating effects of Adam’s sinful genes in our
blood it’s a surprise that we have survived on this planet.
God’s common grace preserves us from total destruction.
God so loves the world.
Believers’ ability to love exceeds all natural motivation
for love. We can love even those whom we don’t like,
because God’s gift of love is stronger than an affection.
This love “suffers long and is kind;
does not envy; does not parade itself,
is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek it’s own,
is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but
rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.” I Cor.13:4-8
This is the love that is behind all forgiveness, grace and mercy.
This love never fails.
prepared for him. The world is beautifully designed to
please man. His soul responds to it’s beauty from the refreshing
morning dew to the spectacular sunsets.
Most people love the nature, but have great difficulties in loving
themselves and other people.
The sin-nature has run it’s course in man’s history.
After all the devastating effects of Adam’s sinful genes in our
blood it’s a surprise that we have survived on this planet.
God’s common grace preserves us from total destruction.
God so loves the world.
Believers’ ability to love exceeds all natural motivation
for love. We can love even those whom we don’t like,
because God’s gift of love is stronger than an affection.
This love “suffers long and is kind;
does not envy; does not parade itself,
is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek it’s own,
is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but
rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.” I Cor.13:4-8
This is the love that is behind all forgiveness, grace and mercy.
This love never fails.
Friday, November 7, 2008
let the inner man out
If we lie to ourselves we reach the worst state in our moral
character. Some people have learned to do it so well that
they are able to justify their irrational behavior to themselves
and others. They insist being “dead” when they actually
are busy running all over the place covered with labels,
well-fitting masks and commonly accepted vocabulary.
The inner man needs to come to the surface.
When that happens a believer starts living in a revival.
Nothing is more satisfying than an undisturbed fellowship
with the Creator of our soul.
Whenever truth hurts it’s pain has a taste of promise in it.
Martha responded to Jesus with a cynical statement:
“I know, that my brother will rise again in the resurrection
at the last day.” In the same time she was burdened by the
length of all those innumerable days before the last one.
Truth works today, not only at the last judgment.
Truth works, but it cannot be used.
It always pups up above all the politics, manipulations
and other complicated games that men play.
It cannot be used as a stepping stone for man’s flesh.
Truth is eternal and unchangeable.
It is not our conscience, super ego nor an adapting pattern
for survival.
It’s incredible that our Savior’s name is the Truth. (John 14:6)
Maybe that is going on in your life:
The truth in you wants to come out.
character. Some people have learned to do it so well that
they are able to justify their irrational behavior to themselves
and others. They insist being “dead” when they actually
are busy running all over the place covered with labels,
well-fitting masks and commonly accepted vocabulary.
The inner man needs to come to the surface.
When that happens a believer starts living in a revival.
Nothing is more satisfying than an undisturbed fellowship
with the Creator of our soul.
Whenever truth hurts it’s pain has a taste of promise in it.
Martha responded to Jesus with a cynical statement:
“I know, that my brother will rise again in the resurrection
at the last day.” In the same time she was burdened by the
length of all those innumerable days before the last one.
Truth works today, not only at the last judgment.
Truth works, but it cannot be used.
It always pups up above all the politics, manipulations
and other complicated games that men play.
It cannot be used as a stepping stone for man’s flesh.
Truth is eternal and unchangeable.
It is not our conscience, super ego nor an adapting pattern
for survival.
It’s incredible that our Savior’s name is the Truth. (John 14:6)
Maybe that is going on in your life:
The truth in you wants to come out.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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