IN A SQUEEZE? "If I never had a problem, I wouldn't know my God could solve them," goes the song by Andrae Crouch. Christians are not automatically perfect, or problem-free, and are certainly not free of the challenges and responsibilities that go along with living in the world. Jesus said, "In the world, you shall have tribulation..." (John 16:33). "Tribulation" is a longer way to spell TROUBLE. EVERYBODY has problems; some are our own fault, and some just happen. The difference here between Christians and unbelievers is that we have Somebody we can turn to who loves us and is strong enough to help. The Psalmist boasted, "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble*." (Psalm 46:1) The marginal notes in the New American Standard Bible render the second phrase: "Abundantly available for help in tight places." At [Word of Life Fellowship], we know that we have a Friend and King who is abundantly available for help, and we call on Him frequently. We pray for ourselves and each other, and we pray for people who ask us for prayer. Call us or write us a note, and we will pray for you, too. You don't have to wait for us. The Lord Jesus Christ cares for you. Call on Him to save you and become your Lord and Best Friend. Do it right now. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS28] THAT'S MY SECOND LOCK Many people in Atlanta are afraid to go to bed at night. They are afraid that someone will break into their home to steal, kill, destroy. They fear for themselves and their loved ones. They are afraid of the night. The Lord Jesus Christ is not for hire as a nightwatchman. However, there are some remarkable promises in Scripture for those whose trust is in Him. "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them." (Psalm 34:7) Believers in Jesus don't need to be afraid at night, or any other time. Dust off your Bible and read Psalms 91 and 121. If you are not a subject of King Jesus, keep in mind that you are "reading somebody else's mail." Once while visiting a dear Christian friend who lived in a downtown apartment, I noticed a card taped to the back of her door. She said, "Don't bother that. That's my second lock." It read, "In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For Thou alone, O Lord, dost make me to dwell in safety.--Psalm 4:8." --Clyde Price SCRAPS29 CUTTING A PLAINER PATH Don't know where to go or what to do? Need direction for your life? Listen to Solomon: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NAS) Someone has applied the second sentence: In all your ways, make known the Lord Jesus Christ. When you come out clearly as a follower of Jesus, a lot of doors will close quickly. This simplifies decision making. Other doors, we can evaluate and eliminate or pursue on the basis of what we know of God's will in general, and of His calling on OUR life in particular. Publicly acknowledging Jesus Christ will also open other doors, perhaps through meeting other people in public places BECAUSE we were identified as a Jesus Person. Since it is not (yet) illegal in this country to be a Christian, we have the freedom to wear Christian symbols or slogans on pins, patches, buttons, embroidered on clothing, etc. We are free to carry our copies of the Bible under our arm or in pockets or bags, and read them at our convenience. At [______OUR church_______], we are not saying that any Christian "has to" get plastered with Jesus stickers; but--PRAISE GOD!--we're FREE to do these things. Let's identify publicly as Jesus People, and He will direct our paths. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS30] _BUG_ ONE ANOTHER! "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." (Hebrews 10:24 NIV) Sometimes we get lazy, or discouraged, or cool, or upset, or just busy with our own concerns. We might even slip into areas that are actually sinful. At these times, and maybe others, we need to be encouraged or rebuked or awakened or kicked in the rear end. It really helps at times to know as Christians that we are accountable in general to a body of believers who care for us, and accountable specifically to someone in our church who has a responsibility to look out for ME. The word "spur" in the quote above could be translated "BUG one another". The Greek word can actually have connotations of IRRITATE. We do not apologize for taking a PERSONAL interest in people at [Word of Life Fellowship]. Every Christian who is honest with himself, even a church officer or teacher, knows that he may need an occasional "rear end adjustment." [Clyde Price--SCRAPS31] $ MONEY $ MONEY $ MONEY $ Here is something the Bible says about money: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5 NIV) Somebody asked a very rich man, "How much do you need before you'll feel that you have enough?" The rich man answered, "More." People whose emotional focus is fixed on money are never SATISFIED with their riches (see Eccl. 5:10). On the other hand, we can find satisfaction and contentment in a personal love-trust relationship with our Creator. Jesus Christ, the God-Man, created you and cares for you. Read about Him yourself in the Gospel of John. He is the most interesting and satisfying Person in the universe. Put your trust in Him, and He promises that you will never, never, no never have to be alone again. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS32] SEX--SEX--SEX The so-called sexual revolution has been a revolt against the lovingly commanded patterns our Creator gave us in the Scriptures. "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." (Hebrews 13:4 NIV) The sexual freedom expounded and practiced by so many in our "liberated" society is nothing more than license. "Free Love" is neither free, nor is it love. God Himself designed and created human sexuality, and He revealed in the Scriptures that sex works best within the protective limits of a lifetime, heterosexual, monogamous marriage covenant. The Bible teaches that people involved in any kind of sex outside of marriage are not only sinning against God, but they are also sinning against their own bodies (I Corinthians 6:15-18). God provides release from sexual bondage (see I Corinthians 6:9-11). Jesus is the true Liberator, and cleanser and restorer. Read the Gospel of John for yourself, especially chapters 4, 8, 11 and 12. Find acceptance and support from other "sinners" who found forgiveness and overcoming power through faith in Jesus Christ. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS33] BEWARE OF RELIGIOUS LIARS Especially here in the South, we see a lot of people who claim to be Christians, but they hate people of other races. Maybe they don't use the word "hate", but they do reject, avoid, and don't like the idea of going to church with "them". You might as well call it HATE. The Bible has interesting things to say about such alleged Christians. "If anyone says `I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." (I John 4:20 NIV) The gospel of Jesus Christ is for all racial, ethnic, linguistic and socio-economic groups. The visible church in the world should have no racial barriers or prejudices. We humbly point out that the Bible teaches that anyone who claims to love God yet hates (rejects) Christians of other races is a LIAR and is still in DARKNESS (I John 2:9). Whether you are a Christian or not, if you know a religious bigot, you might want to wave this verse under their nose and tell 'em, "Hey, man, you need to REPENT and GET SAVED!" --But only if you like fireworks. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS34] BEWARE OF RELIGIOUS FAKES The Bible teaches that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of Israel, the Son of Man, the Son of God, God the Son through whom the universe was created and who invaded His own creation to redeem a people for Himself. Many pseudo-Christians and fake ministers of Christ preach about a Carpenter who was not virgin-born (a bastard) and who did not arise from the dead (a corpse). "No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (I John 2:23 NIV) Ministers who talk about God, but do not recognize Jesus Christ as the redeeming God-Man proclaimed in the Scriptures are preaching a cotton-candy gospel laced with cyanide. Messiah had to be virgin-born and sinless to be the perfect human sacrifice, the "Lamb of God". If He had not risen from the dead (read I Corinthians 15), then that means DEATH WON, and nobody can be saved. An ordinary sinner, as modern writers portray Jesus, couldn't save himself or anybody else. False teachers were already a problem in the first century church, a problem addressed by John the Elder, "Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist." John says that the way to treat such teachers or preachers is this: "Do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting." (II John v.7, 10) We urge you that if you know a minister who preaches a dead bastard Messiah, that you not be a member of his church, either. [Clyde Price-SCRAPS35] THE BELIEVER'S BAR OF SOAP Many dear church members who want to walk with God are caught in an endless cycle of "rededication" at every chance they get, yet they fail to realize the relationship with God that they so desperately desire. If you are a Christian, with Jesus as the Lord and King of your life, you already BELONG to God. "Re-dedication" is pointless. What we need is renewed fellowship with our King through CLEANSING of our day-to-day sins. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9 NIV) The context of this verse is I John 1:1-2:6. God is faithful to receive His children back who are willing to admit their sins to Him, turning away in sorrow from them, and trusting Him to cleanse and restore. This is based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, and not on any "penance" or works. Abuses of this principle can lead to filthy living, as some folks practice "cheap grace" and "sloppy agapee". Still we must affirm and proclaim that we Christians, though we're not yet perfect and sometimes stumble, do have a provision to come to God to be cleansed from our sins and restored to fellowship. When your child is dirty, he doesn't need to re-thumbprint his birth certificate. He needs a bath. [Clyde Price--SCRAPS36]