A Little Something To Ponder

[ZakDar]

I read on the World Net Daily site about a book that was authored that claimed Christianity is the world's fastest growing religion. The reason we don't hear much about it is because it is happening predominantly in Asia. Especially China where Christians are horribly persecuted.

But the estimate is there are 175,000 new converts DAILY in Asia. It's interesting to note that these folks are holding church meeting in their homes without pastors. The thrust of all this is the gift of miracles. Apparently there have been hundreds of bona fide resurrections from the dead. Also, Asian missionaries far outnumber western world missionaries for the first time.

The book that documents this is called Megashift by James Rutz.

Compare this scenario to what is happening in the western world where in my country, (Canada), they are about to legislate abomination (same-sex marriage) as legal. And it has been predicted that next on the homosexuals' agenda is legal pedophilia. I believe America is targeted for this agenda also.

And the church here and the apathetic Christians, (the majority of them as a small minority voice was heard), just sat on their duffs and watched this go on. No wonder we don't see any wonderful miracles from God in our society!

Time to wake up people of El Shaddai! Time to sell out totally for God.

[cris]

I read on the World Net Daily site about a book that was authored that claimed Christianity is the world's fastest growing religion. The reason we don't hear much about it is because it is happening predominantly in Asia. Especially China where Christians are horribly persecuted.

But the estimate is there are 175,000 new converts DAILY in Asia. It's interesting to note that these folks are holding church meeting in their homes without pastors. The thrust of all this is the gift of miracles. Apparently there have been hundreds of bona fide resurrections from the dead. Also, Asian missionaries far outnumber western world missionaries for the first time.

The book that documents this is called Megashift by James Rutz.

Compare this scenario to what is happening in the western world where in my country, (Canada), they are about to legislate abomination (same-sex marriage) as legal. And it has been predicted that next on the homosexuals' agenda is legal pedophilia. I believe America is targeted for this agenda also.

And the church here and the apathetic Christians, (the majority of them as a small minority voice was heard), just sat on their duffs and watched this go on. No wonder we don't see any wonderful miracles from God in our society!

Time to wake up people of El Shaddai! Time to sell out totally for God.

Zak,

I think the people of God are awakened.  What is it you propose we do to totally sell out to God?

We know that Scripture condemns homosexuality but it also says that we should put mediums and fortunetellers to death, to stone others, burn others, etc.  We don't do that, today.  We're kinda pickin' and choosin' certain verses, don't ya think?  Don't misunderstand me, I believe practicing homosexuality is sinful.  The OT says so, but Jesus never did talk much about these ones in the NT.

Seems to me down through the ages, Christians have used God's Word to condone genocide, slavery, etc.  Some Christians were really convinced that they were doing the will of God when they supported the extermination of American Indians, segregation, etc.  Have today's Christian's admitted that this was wrong.  Yes, of course they have.  Could we be wrong about homosexuality?  Jesus said, when confronted about eating grain with some disciples from a field on the Sabbath, "If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent."  We tend to pick out one sin and exploit it.  I've never seen any posts or threads that went on and on because so and so was an adulterer.  Why do we do this?

Part of the above was excerpted from an newspaper article by Rich Aronson.

Grace and peace,
cris

[ZakDar]

What I mean by selling out is simply proclaiming the Gospel of Christ no matter what. The Chinese are being persecuted for their faith, yet we here, (and I include myself), are paranoid about losing our jobs.

We here also seem to be either paranoid or apathetic about the dreadful sins going on in our midst. Take abortion for example. I'm certain God would very well DO something in regards to this terrible deed, but where's the Christians to offer the pregnant mother-to-be support?

And I don't mean just moral and spiritual support either. That mother needs money, shelter, baby items, etc. It used to be in our countries that folks would take all kinds of folks in distress into their homes. But an unwed mother seems to carry some kind of taboo with her.

As for homosexuality, don't get me wrong. God hates homosexuality, but God LOVES the homosexual. However, enacting laws like this, (pornography is another), should be met with the ENTIRE Christian voice in our countries. Not just a pocket here and there.

But I sense an urgency from the Holy Spirit and the witnessing "fire" is stirring up from within. I remember reading about Charles Finney and how he brought his revival to Rochester, NY. So many people got born again that all the bars and the theatres went out of business!!

We all need to stir up the witnessing "fire" because as an army, we are completely lost and not in unity. It just seems to me that we're all waiting around for the rapture. Sigh!

[cris]

What I mean by selling out is simply proclaiming the Gospel of Christ no matter what. The Chinese are being persecuted for their faith, yet we here, (and I include myself), are paranoid about losing our jobs.

We here also seem to be either paranoid or apathetic about the dreadful sins going on in our midst. Take abortion for example. I'm certain God would very well DO something in regards to this terrible deed, but where's the Christians to offer the pregnant mother-to-be support?

And I don't mean just moral and spiritual support either. That mother needs money, shelter, baby items, etc. It used to be in our countries that folks would take all kinds of folks in distress into their homes. But an unwed mother seems to carry some kind of taboo with her.

As for homosexuality, don't get me wrong. God hates homosexuality, but God LOVES the homosexual. However, enacting laws like this, (pornography is another), should be met with the ENTIRE Christian voice in our countries. Not just a pocket here and there.

But I sense an urgency from the Holy Spirit and the witnessing "fire" is stirring up from within. I remember reading about Charles Finney and how he brought his revival to Rochester, NY. So many people got born again that all the bars and the theatres went out of business!!

We all need to stir up the witnessing "fire" because as an army, we are completely lost and not in unity. It just seems to me that we're all waiting around for the rapture. Sigh!

I HEAR YOU!  The Chinese culture is different from the American culture.  We are used to all kinds of freedoms and don't want to lose it no matter what.  We're a "spoiled" nation, that's what's the matter.  When I say America, I mean Canada, too.  We've gotten so used to these freedoms we feel entitled to them.  It's really a shame but it's how it is and it's really hard for a spoiled child to develop character.  That's it in a nutshell.  Can it all be changed?  Not as it is now.  I really think people are going to have to hit rock bottom before they realize what they had.  This is very unfortunate.  One of these days (if Jesus tarries) I think the people will have to rise up in rebellion.  That, in itself, will cause calamity for many years to come.  Everything will be wrecked.  I think it should be a prerequisite for all children, at least once a year, to know what our forefathers went through for us to enjoy the life we have today.  Will it do any good?  Maybe, if each child had to re-enact that kind of a life every year for 12 years, it might.  Personally, I think all of us are even further removed from Christianity than we think we are.  No one wants to live a sacrificed life.  A sacrificed life without Jesus in the center would be wasted, I agree.  Jesus has to be the center of that life.  How many Zak, just how many people are willing?  God knows, and I think the Bible says FEW will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  It's an "I" society, more of everything is the cry when it really should be more of Jesus.  Well, he was rejected 2000 years ago and people are still rejecting Him.  OK--------I'll stop ranting.

I agree we need revival.  What's stopping it?  Not putting our brother's life before our own?  I don't know.

I remember Finney's story too.  We need a NATIONAL revival now, though.  Guess what it'd do to the economy of Canada and/or the U.S.  Maybe that's why revival is eluding us, eh?

You mentioned abortion, etc.  You are right.  That mother needs support after the birth of that baby.  Point is, she doesn't want to keep that baby.  Sex was OK but baby is not.  We have a lot of undisciplined and irresponsible people among us now.  It's vastly different from how it used to be.  Why?  A laxity of morals, little bit here and a little bit there, until an amoral society stares us in the face.  We don't take in beggars in our society.  I remember when I was a wee one, beggars would knock at our door and ask for something to eat.  My mom always fixed them a sandwich.  They seemed thankful.  Today, we can't even open our doors to strangers because of the society we live in.  Sometimes I would like to close my eyes and wake up back in them olden days.  There's a good Twilight Zone feature if you ever get a chance to view any of them.  I think it's called "Willowby, This Stop Willowby."  It's about a man leaving this contemporary world and going back somewhere to the 1800's.  Very good!

Sometimes I can understand why the West, expecially America has been called "Satan".  Look at the legalized pornography, legalized abortion, etc.  Very frightening.  I know that Canada and the U.S. have many good people in them but it's not enough.  We need to be countries of integrity, countries of character.  We aren't.  If ya take a look at how we talk about God loving the homosexual and hating the act, then you can see we're really pointing a finger at the homosexual and not loving them.  I don't have a ready answer for this problem.  I don't know any homosexuals.  If I did, I wouldn't reject them.  I'd ask God what He'd want me to do in that situation and then follow through on what He told me.  Elementary, probably, but it's all I know and am.  

OK............'nuff typed.

Grace and peace,
cris

   

[ZakDar]

One of the big reasons Finney was such a successful Apostle was his prayer team. He had a couple of guys that would go into a town ahead of time, and do nothing but intercessory prayer. Then, by the time Finney got there, all the devils would be bound up and cast out, that the anointed Word would cut to the heart and be received. I know of few people that want to be an intercessor nowadays - which means some are ignoring their calling.

You mentioned abortion, etc.  You are right.  That mother needs support after the birth of that baby.  Point is, she doesn't want to keep that baby.

That's not what is really happening Cris. The clinics are major money makers and they have "counselors" who are basically persuasion experts. You'd be surprised how many ladies have second thoughts about an abortion, only to be persuaded to follow through with it. Then, after the deed, they end up needing a psychiatrist, (pile one evil on top of another!), to cope with the stress and regret.

One thing I did with my daughter was provide her with a graphic description of the various techniques used to abort a baby. It left her in tears. Big impact on her, I know, but she has no doubts that abortion is nothing more than butchery and murder. Now if those ladies mentioned above had a balanced view of abortion, what do you think their decision would have been? I'd bet many would have NOT gone thru with it.

There have been several homosexuals who have been converted. I think they would be the key to conquering satan in this area since they know what it is, and what it would take. Ultimately, we know it is the Word that breaks the bondage. But how do you get them to listen?

[ollie]

I read on the World Net Daily site about a book that was authored that claimed Christianity is the world's fastest growing religion. The reason we don't hear much about it is because it is happening predominantly in Asia. Especially China where Christians are horribly persecuted.

But the estimate is there are 175,000 new converts DAILY in Asia. It's interesting to note that these folks are holding church meeting in their homes without pastors. The thrust of all this is the gift of miracles. Apparently there have been hundreds of bona fide resurrections from the dead. Also, Asian missionaries far outnumber western world missionaries for the first time.

The book that documents this is called Megashift by James Rutz.

Compare this scenario to what is happening in the western world where in my country, (Canada), they are about to legislate abomination (same-sex marriage) as legal. And it has been predicted that next on the homosexuals' agenda is legal pedophilia. I believe America is targeted for this agenda also.

And the church here and the apathetic Christians, (the majority of them as a small minority voice was heard), just sat on their duffs and watched this go on. No wonder we don't see any wonderful miracles from God in our society!

Time to wake up people of El Shaddai! Time to sell out totally for God.

"And the church here and the apathetic Christians, (the majority of them as a small minority voice was heard), just sat on their duffs and watched this go on. No wonder we don't see any wonderful miracles from God in our society!"


If the good news of Jesus Christ is being preached/shown through daily living then no one is sitting on their duffs. The miracle seen is the believing response to the good news and the individual rebirth out of this evil and into Christ. Sanctified in Him.

The devil will have his way more and more as he knows his time is short and wants company into that burning "lake".

All Christians can do is preachin the saving power of Christ and to obey Him that calls one out of the world where such goings on are happening.

ollie