 | | SOUNDING OUT: | Independence | | UPCOMING EVENTS: | Ft Campbell Weekend in the Word
Weekend in the Word on the Waves, FL
Day in the Word, MI
Family Reunion, OH
Family Camp, IL
Christian Music Festival, CA | | HUMOR OF THE DAY: | Comforting | | JOYFUL 'TOONS: | Church Tea Party | | POEM OF THE DAY: | New School Prayer | STRONG FAMILIES
STRONG PEOPLE: | Tips from Cathy Reichel | | SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: | Declaration of Dependence |
SOUNDING OUT:
Independence
The first Continental Congress met in Carpenters' Hall, located in Philadelphia, in 1774 "to consult upon the present unhappy state of the Colonies." The unhappy state was induced, in part, by Britain's passage of the "intolerable Acts" that punished Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party. The dependency on Britain, coupled with the will and capacities of the Colonies wholly at the service of Britain did much to add to the unhappy state. The colonists lacked their freedom and desired liberation from those they were compelled to serve. Independence, freedom and the power to choose what one does or says, true liberty, was what the colonists were seeking. Our American Revolution was our declaration that we would no longer be in servitude to anyone or any country. Being a servant or slave, surrendering our wills and capacities to the service of others is associated with the lowest scale of servitude, but when transferred to Christian service it expresses the highest devotion of one who is bound by love. This produces quite a paradox. My five senses tell me that submission and a confession that someone or something is Lord in my life, I then become a servant and release my liberty and freedom. God however says the opposite. When we submit our lives to God in service and make Jesus Christ our Lord, we become free. Romans 10:9,10:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Interesting isn't it that verse 10 contains the heart and mouth. Matthew 12:34:
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. When we are truly convinced that God's word is real and true and make Jesus Christ our Lord, we are saved, made whole and set free. Galatians 5:1:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage Christ has made us free. John 8:36:
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. To be free indeed is to be really free. Really free as God has defined freedom and that freedom demands our lives being led as servants or slaves of the Lord. Romans 6:20,21:
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. When we think of a prisoner, we think of shackles, handcuffs and restraints. After receiving the revelation of the mystery the Apostle Paul referred to himself as a prisoner. Romans 1:1:
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, Philemon 1:1:
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer, Titus 1:1:
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; Ephesians 4:1:
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Paul was bound and captive to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 7:21-23:
Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Our forefathers had no problem being a servant to God and His son Jesus Christ. They looked at life through spiritual eyes. Slavery or captivity to another country however, put them into an "unhappy state." Servants to the Lord… yes, servants to men … never. In I Corinthians, Chapter 9, Paul states the difference between servitude to the Lord and servitude to man. I Corinthians 9:1:
Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? Paul sets forth a series of rhetorical questions: - Am I not an Apostle? – Yes
- Am I not free? – Yes
- Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? – Yes
- Are not ye my work in the Lord? – Yes
Paul saw Christ. Paul is qualified, first hand, to declare his position in Christ and except and be comfortable with a position of servitude. I Corinthians 9:19:
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. The key here is that when Paul states he made himself servant unto all he declares that with full knowledge of God's definition of servant not man's. Paul knows full well that being enslaved in Christian service expressed the highest devotion of one who is bound by love. I Peter 2:15-16:
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. It may be a paradox, but let's, as free men, women and children of God, use the freedom given us through Christ and with Christian service display our independence to God, our Lord Jesus Christ and all people who want to truly be set free.
By Bob Faller
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Fort Campbell Weekend in the Word, Friday July 3, 5:00pm-Sunday July 5, 12:00pm.
This is for service members, veterans and their families from all branches of service. Also, for those who work with the military in any capacity. The idea is to unify believers associated with the military to move the Word of God more effectively among America's finest.
The weekend will take place at a pavilion at Destiny Parks & Pavilions, Fort Campbell MWR, 6645 101st Airborne Division Rd. Fort Campbell, KY 42223. See at: www.fortcampellmwr.com
For more information about lodging contact Alicia at: ajbruns7@yahoo.com or 832-392-5391
For more information or to register, contact Ryan or Alicia Behm at ajbruns7@yahoo.com or 832-392-5391. Please include your name, address, phone, e-mail and the ages of any children in the registration e-mail.
All meals will be provided along with any materials for the weekend. Please register by Friday June 26. WEEKEND IN THE WORD ON THE WAVES! Friday, July 10, 4:00pm ? Sunday July 12, 4:00 pm For high school students & young adults. Drop off at: Reichels, 114 Pineapple Ct., Longwood, FL COST: $40 includes all meals, teaching materials, and transportation to and from the beach. Mail your $40 check no later than July 1, 2009. (Make check out to "CFF" and mail to Jon Reichel, 114 Pineapple Court, Longwood FL 32750) Contact Jon Reichel for more details! Cell: (321) 945-6022 or ReichelJon@gmail.com DAY IN THE WORD on Praise & Worship with Tom & Sue Dill,
Saturday, July 11, 2009 at the home of Ellis & Bonnie Law, 731 Channing Street, Ferndale, MI 48220
SCHEDULE: 3:00 p.m. Registration
3:30 p.m. Opening Teaching (schedule is subject to change)
5:00 p.m. Dinner
6:00 p.m. Music (Praise & Worship)
For more information, please contact Ellis & Bonnie Lawat: mcco5031@ameritech.net Family Reunion, Tipp City, OH, July 31-August 2, 2009. Theme: We're in This Thing Together. For registration form go to: http://www.cffm.org/doc/2009- fr.shtml Family Camp, August 9-14, White Pines Camp in Mt. Morris, IL. For more information contact Nancy Banios at: 937-669-3090 or cffsec@aol.com
For registration form go to: http://www.cffm.org/doc/2009- cff-fc.shtml Light At The Lighthouse, Christian Music Festival, Point Fermin Park, San Pedro, CA on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 10:00am-6:00pm. This is a free Christian music concert and family festival. There are 3 stages for all ages, including over 30 different acts. Bring your friends and entire family to enjoy a day at the most beautiful ocean view concert on the West Coast. For more information check out the website: http://www.lightatthelighthouse.com/
HUMOR OF THE DAY:
Comforting
A man was seen fleeing down the hall of the hospital just before his operation.
"What's the matter?" he was asked.
He said, "I heard the nurse say, 'It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure it will be all right.'"
"She was just trying to comfort you, what's so frightening about that?"
"She wasn't talking to me. She was talking to the doctor.
- from ArcaMax Jokes
JOYFUL 'TOONS:
POEM OF THE DAY:
New School Prayer
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Author unknown
STRONG FAMILIES - STRONG PEOPLE:
Tips from Cathy Reichel
This 4th of July, as we give tribute to those world shaking events that founded the United States of America, I urge all Christian families to read and discuss at least the opening statements of the Declaration of Independence. When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind require that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Parents should point out that these principles we consider "self evident "today, were not at all accepted in the world in 1776. Most nations were ruled by a dictator, many claiming a "divine right" to do whatever they pleased, and cruel caste systems in some cultures prevented people from bettering their lives regardless of their abilities or desires. These words, offered to the world as justification for the United States declaring themselves free from British rule, shook the very foundation of how mankind would think about "government."
At this critical time, I further urge all our strong Christian families to pray about situations that carry great SPIRITUAL consequences in our world today – military, economic, and political. The President of the United States has stated publically that his country is not a Christian nation. A so called "Hate Crimes" bill now before the US Senate would make it a punishable crime to state what the Bible says about homosexual acts. David Hamilton, a federal judge known for his ruling that it is unconstitutional for a state legislature to open with prayer, and likewise any public prayers closing in the name of Jesus Christ, has been nominated to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the same court that OVERTURNED his anti-faith rulings just mentioned. Should his appointment to the 7th Circuit be confirmed in the next few days, he will certainly uphold anti-faith rulings that come before his court of appeal. His rulings will then become the standard for judging similar cases involving prayer and the public recognition of Jesus Christ. For more information of these and other issues, you can go to www.lc.org.
Now is an important time to PRAY, not just wait to see what will happen. The Family Research Counsel has designated July 5th as a national day of prayer. Tens of thousands of churches, families, and businesses have committed to pray for our country in response to God's offer in II Chronicles 7:14.
II Chronicles 7:14:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, And seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,And will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. I wish you a prayerful, joyful 4th of July holiday! God bless you and yours,
Cathy
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
Declaration of Dependence
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." - Galatians 5:1 228 years ago, our country, the United States of America, declared its independence from England. While there were many events surrounding this declaration and subsequent war, among the most noteworthy was the drafting, endorsing, and ratifying of the Declaration of Independence. Today we celebrate the birthday of our country looking back to that occasion as the start of our great nation, One Nation under God. Thomas Jefferson is given credit for writing this document that continues to be one of the most important treasures in our national archives, passed on by our forefathers.
It basically stated that the people of the United States are no longer going to be controlled or ruled by another country or king, that we are able to take care of ourselves and that our colonies were free and independent states, not subject to the government of England. (Who, by the way, are our closest friends and allies today!)
Of course, a great struggle took place after the signing of this document, the Revolutionary War. And after that struggle was concluded, the words on that paper showed true - we were independent. We fought to win our freedom and liberty rang,
and continues to ring today.
I think it's time for us to acknowledge our thankfulness to Almighty God for our freedom. It is also time, not for a Declaration of Independence but a Declaration of Dependence. A declaration of dependence on the Almighty God to sustain us and keep us in the hollow of His mighty hand.
Let this be a sample Declaration of DEPENDENCE!
And so, with equal vigor and determination as the founding fathers of the United States, we believers in the Lord Jesus Christ united in strength and commitment within Christian Family Fellowship declare our dependence upon the One True God and His son our lord and savior, Christ Jesus.
We understand our responsibility to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great mystery of God, to preach, teach, and heal in the name above all names. We confess our dependence upon the Lord God Almighty to perform His Word and to sustain our lives. We understand that the purpose of our Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness is to bring glory to Him.
Therefore we resolve to live by the faith of Jesus Christ, to walk by the spirit, to operate the manifestations of holy spirit to do God's will and bring glory to Hhim. We know that no people can continue on their own sustained by their own power. Therefore we beseech Thee to sustain us and we affirm our dependence on You in matters both big and small. Secure Your blessings upon us and continue to show us the way through the wilderness in the wonderful name of our risen and ascended lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Author unknown |
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