StreetFishing

Someone Needed To Say It

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Someone needed to say it. Thank you John Macarthur for remaining bold and truthful in todays troubled evangelical climate. I recently bought a teaching on DVD entitled A Call For Discernment from Justin Peters Ministries. I highly reccomend adding this to your video library as it exposes the false and in many cases heretical teachings of the "Health and Wealth/Prosperity Gospel."

A Colossal Fraud

by John MacArthur

Former NASDAQ chairman Bernie Madoff ran a ponzi-scheme swindle for nearly 20 years, and he bilked an estimated $18 billion from Wall-Street investors. When the scam finally came to light it unleashed a shockwave of outrage around the world. It was the largest and most far-reaching investment fraud ever.

But the evil of Madoff's embezzlement pales by comparison to an even more diabolical fraud being carried out in the name of Christ under the bright lights
of television cameras on religious networks worldwide every single day. Faith healers and prosperity preachers promise miracles in return for money, conning their viewers out of more than a billion dollars annually. They have operated this racket on television for more than five decades. Worst of all, they do it with the tacit acceptance of most of the Christian community.

Someone needs to say this plainly: The faith healers and health-and-wealth preachers who dominate religious television are shameless frauds. Their message is not the true gospel of Jesus Christ. There is nothing spiritual or miraculous about their on-stage chicanery. It is all a devious ruse designed to take advantage of desperate people. They are not godly ministers but greedy impostors who corrupt the Word of God for money's sake. They are not real pastors who shepherd the flock of God but hirleings whose only design is to fleece the sheep. Their love of money is glaringly obvious in what they say as well as how they live. They claim to possess great spiritual power, but in reality they are rank materialists and enemies of everything holy.…

Continue reading.....

Responding To Criticism

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Another excellent article from the blog of Tullian Tchividjian.

As many of you know, my family and I were recently faced with the painful challenge of how to handle public criticism. It forced me to carefully think through how the gospel should inform and shape our response to public, personal attack.

Well, the other day I found great help (and healing) from Carl Trueman’s thoughts on how Christian’s should respond if they are criticized or defamed (specifically on the web). His gospel-drenched insights are right on the money:

"The answer is simple: for myself, I do not believe that it is appropriate that I spend my time defending my name. My name is nothing—who really cares about it? And I am not called to waste precious hours and energy in fighting off every person with a laptop who wants to have a pop at me. As a Christian, I am not meant to engage in self-justification any more than self-promotion; I am called rather to defend the name of Christ; and, to be honest, I have yet to see a criticism of me, true or untrue, to which I could justifiably respond on the grounds that it was Christ’s honour, and not simply my ego, which was being damaged. I am called to spend my time in being a husband, a father, a minister in my denomination, a member of my church, a good friend to those around me, and a conscientious employee. These things, these people, these locations and contexts, are to shape my priorities and my allocation of time. Hitting back in anger at those who, justly or unjustly, do not like me and for some reason think the world needs to know what they think of me is no part of my God-given vocation. God will look after my reputation if needs be; He has given me other work to do."

Muslims Attack on Christians in Gojra Pakistan

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Christian Martyrs 2005-2008: Remembering

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Stand To Reason and The Ambassador's Creed

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

I recently registered with Stand To Reason. There are to many resources there to name them all, so it's definately worth a look.

Below is a snippet from their mission statement:

"Stand to Reason trains Christians to think more clearly about their faith and to make an even-handed, incisive, yet gracious defense for classical Christianity and classical Christian values in the public square."

I really liked their Ambassador's Creed which fits in nicely with the mission verse for this blog (2 Corinthians 5:20) I plan to link to it in the sidebar. Read it here.

Will you go to Heaven?

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

I found this on my friend Marcus' Repent Trust Blog. It's about as clear as a Gospel message as one can find. No matter how many times I hear it, the Gospel never gets old.

Will you go to heaven? This question is too important to get wrong. Therefore, don't go by opinions or feelings to find the answer. Go by what God has told us in His Word. The Bible states, "...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) How will you do on Judgment Day? Have you obeyed God's commands? Let‘s take a look at a few and see. Have you ever lied? "...all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."(Revelation 21:8). Have you ever looked with lust? Jesus said "...whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28). Have you ever taken God's name in vain? “…the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7). Ever stolen anything (Exodus 20:15)? Ever gotten drunk (Ephesians 5:18, 1 Timothy 3:3)? Ever consulted a medium or person who claims to talk to the dead (Leviticus 19:31)? Ever dishonored your father or mother (Exodus 20:12)? You can also sin by omission, by not doing something that you should do (James 4:17). Have you always loved your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18)? Always loved God with all your heart, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5)? The Bible states "...there is none who seeks after God." (Romans 3:11). It only takes one sin..."For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10). Without a doubt, God's standard is high. Jesus commanded, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your father in Heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48). Based on what God has told us, do you think you'll be innocent or guilty on Judgment Day? Will you go to Heaven or Hell? God is good (Mark 10:18) and He is also just (2 Thessalonians 1:6). Therefore, "...he does not leave the guilty unpunished..." (Numbers 14:18). There are many who make the mistake of thinking that they will be forgiven because of good deeds they have done, but the Bible warns that "...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." (Isaiah 64:6). Good deeds don't erase bad ones. The sad truth is that we have nothing to offer God. "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight..." (Romans 3:20). WE HAVE ONLY ONE HOPE... Although we deserve to "...be punished with everlasting destruction..." (2 Thessalonians 1:9), God made a way that we could be forgiven and made right with Him. "...God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." (John 3:16). He sent Jesus to take our punishment upon the cross (Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Peter 2:24). The good news is "...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again according to the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If you want to be freed from sin and eternity in Hell, then you must have "...repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21). Repentance is a "change of mind." Turn away from your sinful ways. Turn away from lying, lusting, blaspheming, coveting, stealing, fornicating and/or any other sin(s). Then, place your trust in Jesus Christ to save you (John 14:1). Trust in Christ more than you would in a parachute if you were to jump from a plane that was flying at 20,000 feet. You would be counting on that parachute alone to save you. It would be your only hope. Do the same and more with Jesus, trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins. Attending church, being water baptized and doing good deeds are all good things and we should do them; but they cannot save you. God's Word say it's "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Christ Jesus our Savior," (Titus 3:5-6). Eternal life is a free gift of God (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9). If you truly do repent and trust in the Lord, God will save you and He will transform you. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17). After you get right with God, read the Bible daily (1 Peter 2:2) and obey it, see 1 John 5:3.

How do we understand the relationship between the Bible and modern science?

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

We've received a couple of comments recently pertaining to the Bible and modern Science. Since these folks seem to be visiting this blog lately, I've decided to provide some more fodder! Here is a great response from John MacArthur to the so-called "Starlight Problem."

Click here to listen to the audio.

Inerrency of Scripture

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:00:00 +0000

I do not believe that, from one cover to the other, there is any mistake in it of any sort whatever, either upon natural or physical science, or upon history or anything whatever. I am prepared to believe whatever it says, and to take it believing it to be the Word of God; for if it is not all true, it is not worth one solitary penny to me. It may be to the man who is so wise that he can pick out the true from the false; but I am such a fool that I could not do that. If I do not have a guide there that is infallible, I would as soon guide myself, for I shall have to do so after all; I shall have to be correcting the blunders of my guide perpetually, but I am not qualified to do that, and so I am worse off than if I had not any guide at all. Sit thou down, Reason, and let Faith rise up.

-C. H. Spurgeon

Birth of a New Species

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

STR gave this just the right amount of explanation. Translation. They're still birds!

Wired magazine reports this story of a new finch species, loading the story with Darwinist enthusiasm.

Interesting. Neat. But they're still birds. No Darwinism here, folks! It's variation on a theme, and the theme hasn't changed, only offered a bit more variety.

HT: Stand to Reason Blog

Bell Ringer Outreach

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

This weekend marks the emergence of the familiar Bell Ringers of the Salvation Army--At least here in the Phoenix area.

Each year I select both English and Spanish gospel tracts to hand out to them along with a short verbal history of the Salvation Army. I've found this to be a great ice-breaker since the organization was deeply interested in evangelism when it started. Many are surprised at the information.

Here is a brief excerpt from the Salvation Army's official web site:

William Booth embarked upon his ministerial career in 1852, desiring to win the lost multitudes of England to Christ. He walked the streets of London to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor, the homeless, the hungry, and the destitute.

Booth abandoned the conventional concept of a church and a pulpit, instead taking his message to the people. His fervor led to disagreement with church leaders in London, who preferred traditional methods. As a result, he withdrew from the church and traveled throughout England, conducting evangelistic meetings. His wife, Catherine, could accurately be called a cofounder of The Salvation Army.

In 1865, William Booth was invited to hold a series of evangelistic meetings in the East End of London. He set up a tent in a Quaker graveyard, and his services became an instant success. This proved to be the end of his wanderings as an indepedent traveling evangelist. His renown as a religious leader spread thoughout London, and he attracted followers who were dedicated to fight for the souls of men and women.

Thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and drunkards were among Booth's first converts to Christianity. To congregations who were desperately poor, he preached hope and salvation. His aim was to lead people to Christ and link them to a church for further spiritual guidance.

Islamic Extremists Execute Young Convert in Somalia

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Christian accused of trying to convert Muslim teenager found shot on Mogadishu street.

NAIROBI, Kenya, November 23 (CDN) — Islamic extremists controlling part of the Somali capital of Mogadishu this month executed a young Christian they accused of trying to convert a 15-year-old Muslim to Christianity.

Members of the Islamic extremist group al Shabaab had taken 23-year-old Mumin Abdikarim Yusuf into custody on Oct. 28 after the 15-year-old boy reported him to the militants, an area source told Compass. Yusuf’s body was found on Nov. 14 on an empty residential street in Mogadishu, with sources saying the convert from Islam was shot to death, probably some hours before dawn.

“Our brother Yusuf has been murdered,” the source told Compass. “His body was dumped in Yaqshid district of Mogadishu, and his body is said to be on an empty residential street.”

Al Shabaab, said to have links with al Qaeda terrorists, controls parts of Mogadishu and much of southern parts of Somalia, as well as other areas of the nation.

Continue reading...

Pakistani Christian on Run from Taliban Death Threat

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:37:00 +0000

Islamic extremist sermonizing leads to altercation at barbershop in South Waziristan.

LAHORE, Pakistan, November 27 (CDN) — A young Christian man is in hiding in Pakistan from Taliban militants who seek to kill him for “blasphemy” because he defended his faith.

In February Jehanzaib Asher, 22, was working in a barbershop his family jointly owns with his cousin in Wana, South Waziristan – a Taliban stronghold in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan’s northwest – when the Islamic militants showed up to try to convert him to Islam.

It was not the first time the Taliban’s Noor Hassan had delivered strident sermons to him and his relatives, and this time Asher decided not to listen silently. He defended Christianity by citing verses from the Bible, and Hassan and another Islamic militant viciously beat him – breaking his left leg and some ribs and leaving his left hand non-functional.

He told Compass that he only defended Christianity and did not comment on Islam.

“One can bear the death of one’s father or mother, but can we keep listening to insults of our religion?” Asher said.

Continue reading...

The Gospel: The Power of God Unto Salvation

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Here is a bit of a follow up on my post this past Wednesday.

Five qualities in the Gospel which command our confidence in its power to save:

1. Strictly speaking, proper gospel preaching is done "with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven" (1 Peter 1:12). Otherwise it come to men only in word, with no saving effect at all (1 Thessalonians 1:5). But where the Holy Spirit is operative, convicting men of sin, righteousness and judgment, there the gospel comes with power and with much assurance.

2. The gospel is the narration of historical facts, interpreted by God for us, to be embraced and kept. Since Christ truly died and was raised, therefore our salvation is in him alone; he is our hope. The gospel is the outworking of God's eternal decree to save his elect. The same God who plans our salvation has also executed it. It must therefore be powerful and infallible in its purpose.

3. It is the gospel of grace, as Paul called it (Acts 20). Grace from beginning to end. We can be confident because the gospel does not depend on men's capacities and goodness (for he is totally depraved); rather it depends on God; it is the declaration of what he has accomplished through his Son on Calvary. The mission is already accomplished. Man does not need to sign on the dotted line, as if the gospel depends on him for success. No! By grace, God himself gives us the gift of faith, to embrace His Son in all his saving efficacy.

4. It is the gospel suited for sinners par excellence. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. I came to serve and to give my life a ransom for many. The gospel addresses all as condemned sinners, under God's wrath, but it goes us to speak of a way of escape. Sinners, who are made poor in spirit, will certainly realize how adapted the gospel is to them. It's exactly what they need to hear. It is relevant to all in every age.

5. Preachers may be bound and beaten; but the Word is not and cannot be bound. God, in his sovereignty, send the gospel wherever he desires and to whomsoever he wishes, so that it accomplishes his purpose. God's ministers are unto him "a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish; to the one we are the savour of death unto death, and to the other the savour of life unto life." (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Even where it seems to fail, the gospel accomplished God's wise and inscutable purpose.

Copyright Paul Mizzi www.tecmalta.org Used by Permission.

Calvanistic Turkeys

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:00:00 +0000

I just couldn't resist this one. Compliments of Sacred Sanwich!

Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

October 3, 1863

... I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens... to set apart... a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens....

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

Abraham Lincoln

First Things First

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Yesterday I posted an article with several quotes from LDS founder Joseph Smith Jr. I received some comments from Terri, a StreetFishing reader and former Mormon. She made a couple of excellent points.

Here is what she said:

"The sad thing is that most Mormons, unless they start digging into their beliefs and read the history of church, will never realize that these statements were made and will deny their existence, or if they have heard them, will try to explain them away. One main characteristic of Mormons is their blind faith (even though many would deny this). As a result, most will never question their beliefs... unless God is working in them. And since we do not know who God is working on or how we may reach them, it is important to share the truth about Christ at every opportunity, whether we know all of the intimate details of Mormonism or not. For me all it took was someone saying, 'Your Jesus is not my Jesus.'"

One objection I get from Christians enthusiastic about reaching the LDS with the true gospel is that my "method" of using the Law and the Gospel won't reach Mormons because it doesn't address their particular beliefs enough. I believe that they are mistaken because scripture tells us that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. (Romans 1:16) We also read this: "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14-16)

Personally, I try to always get the gospel communicated at the beginning of a conversation no matter what. Then if the person loses patience later in the discussion concerning differing doctrines or has somewhere else to be, I know they have heard the truth.

The true Gospel speaks of a different Jesus than the Jesus of Mormonism. For Terri, that was all it took to really get her thinking.

Interesting Quotes from Joseph Smith, the Founder of Mormonism

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Here are some fascinating quotes from Joseph Smith at CARM. I've asked about some of these when witnessing to Mormons, but they're pretty good abou dancing around them. Better to stick to sharing the true Gospel with them first and foremost, then discussing specifics about their beliefs. Otherwisse, we find ourselves down endless rabbit trails and fruitless debate.

Joseph Smith boasted that he did more than Jesus to keep a church together.

"God is in the still small voice. In all these affidavits, indictments, it is all of the devil--all corruption. Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet . . . " (History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 408-409). Click here to see this quote in context.

Joseph Smith said the Book of Mormon was more correct than the Bible.

"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book," (History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461).

Joseph Smith made a false prophecy (one of several).

". . .I prophesy in the name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state of Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted, and there will not be so much as a potsherd left . . . " (History of the Church, vol. 5, p. 394). Click here to see this quote in context.

Joseph Smith said mothers have babies in eternity and some are on thrones.

"A question may be asked, ‘Will mothers have their children in eternity?' Yes! Yes! Mothers, you shall have your children," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 10). "Eternity is full of thrones, upon which dwell thousands of children reigning on thrones of glory, with not one cubit added to their stature," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 10).

Joseph Smith said there are many gods.

"Hence, the doctrine of a plurality of Gods is as prominent in the Bible as any other doctrine. It is all over the face of the Bible . . . Paul says there are Gods many and Lords many . . . but to us there is but one God--that is pertaining to us; and he is in all and through all," (History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 474). "In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 5).

Joseph Smith said the Trinity is three gods.

"I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods," (Teachings of Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370).

Joseph Smith said God was once a man.

"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens...I say, if you were to see him to-day, you would see him like a man in form -- like yourselves, in all the person, image, and very form as a man....it is necessary that we should understand the character and being of God, and how he came to be so; for I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity, I will refute that idea, and will take away and do away the veil, so that you may see....and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth the same as Jesus Christ himself did." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 3).

Joseph Smith said our greatest responsibility is to seek after our dead.

"The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 7).

Joseph Smith said that there are men living on the moon who dress like Quakers and live to be nearly 1000 years old.

Since he was wrong about the moon, is it safe to trust him regarding the way to Heaven? (The Young Woman's Journal, vol. 3, p. 263-264. See reprint in Mormonism -- Shadow or Reality? by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, p. 4.)

Origin Into The Schools: Part two

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Here are a few pics of our outing at Arizona State University on the day "Origins" went out to college students en masse. Our little corner of the world saw two thousand copies distributed in about two hours.

Wating for our team to arrive at the parking garage.

Arrival of the team and briefing from Linda Essary

The Nelsons!

The task at hand. How would it go?

My first load. Eighty books.

Well underway!

The Atheist table

The Atheist guy.
Property of.....Now that's just not right!

A Life Well-Lived

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Every so often God raises up an exceptional person whose great positive influence changes their family, friends, community, culture, country and even the world. Such a man was Doming Lucasi who was buried on January 28, 2007. Over a thousand people attended his funeral. A taxi driver passing the funeral was overheard to say, “He must have been a very important person.”

You might have imagined, as you passed by, that this person had been a wealthy businessman and great philanthropist, someone who had lived in a grand villa overlooking the ocean. But none of that is true of the Doming Lucasi that I and so many others knew and loved.

Doming was a Balangao—one of a people group found in central Luzon in the Philippines. His childhood home was nestled among nearly inaccessible thousand-year-old rice terraces that stair-step their way up the steep slopes of the surrounding mountains. Doming’s early life was not easy. There were no roads, no electricity and no running water. The Balangaos, while culturally rich in many ways, were former headhunters who lived in constant fear of spirits. Vengeance on their enemies was one of their highest values.

But in 1962, their lives—and Doming’s—changed forever.

Continue reading...

Iran Releases Two Christian Women from Evin Prison

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Here is something to praise God over. Continue praying for these young women. Although they've been released, charges have not been dropped.

Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad
No bail required; charges of ‘proselytizing’ and ‘apostasy’ remain.

ISTANBUL, November 18 (CDN) — Two Christian Iranian women, Maryam Rostampour, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad, 30, were released from prison this afternoon with no bail amid an international campaign calling for their freedom since their arrest on March 5.

The two women, whose health deteriorated while in detention at the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, are at their homes recovering from their nine-month ordeal, an Iranian source told Compass. They still could face charges of proselytizing and “apostasy,” or leaving Islam.

Continue reading.....

Human Depravity

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:00:00 +0000

This story defines human depravity. How can be any more clear than this.

Read the story here...

Can God's biblical blueprint be true in raising children?

Read some TRUTH here!

The Amazing Evidence of the Bible

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Many times in evangelism outings, we are quizzed on the evidence for God and the bible. Most of the time, this is used as a smoke screen for unbelief and a hardened heart. It's pretty common on a college and university campuses to hear things like "The bible has been translated many times, and things have been left out and added."

Our goal is to make sure that they have heard the Gospel before we get too far into intellectual discussions. This ensures that we accomplish the commission set before us, and that we don't waste time in fruitless debate. Once we have appealed to the conscience that God has given them, we are happy to defend our faith as best we can. Tools like this article help us to do just that.

Origin Into The Schools--Local Update

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Our local team here in the Phoenix area distributed 2,000 copies of this special edition of Origin of Species to students at Arizona State University campus in about two hours. There were around twenty of us and we worked in pairs. Even so, it seemed a daunting task for our team to give away so many books

Most were surprised and delighted to get something free. But several who started reading came back to return their books.

Overall, the mission as it was planned, emerged a success. Pictures to come soon!

Do You Pray?

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The following is a timely reminder adapted from an essay by J.C. Ryle, on the vital importance of this oft-neglected spiritual discipline. To read the full essay, click here.

I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words, DO YOU PRAY?

The question is one that none but you can answer. Whether you attend public worship or not, your minister knows. Whether you have family prayers in your house or not, your relations know. But whether you pray in private or not, is a matter between yourself and God.

I beseech you in all affection to attend to the subject I bring before you. Do not say that my question is too close. If your heart is right in the sight of God, there is nothing in it to make you afraid. Do not turn off my question by replying that you say your prayers. It is one thing to say your prayers and another to pray. Do not tell me that my question is unnecessary. Listen to me for a few minutes, and I will show you good reason for asking it.

I ask whether you pray, because a habit of prayer is one of the surest marks of a true Christian.…

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Does God Want Everyone To Be Saved--R.C. Sproul

th3zs@aol.com (Robert Tewart) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:31:00 +0000

I'm not sure what the occasion was for this pairing of Mark Driscoll and R.C. Sproul, but this is an interesting commentary from Dr. Sproul nevertheless.