Month: December 2016

Is Turkey Using Russia to Head off a Clash with Donald Trump?

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With one little sentence declared by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, there is now the potential to change many prime players and sides in the Syrian ongoing crisis/war.  While on his first visit to Russia, Yildrim was  quoted yesterday as saying both countries “understand each other better than before.”  Can the end of this arab bloodshed be on the horizon?  As we know, Turkey has been a staunch critic of Assad since the start of the uprising in Syria. Turkey and Russia have also been backing opposing sides in the Syrian conflict for a long time.  Ankara has been combating …

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Song of Solomon 2:10 “My beloved spoke, and said to me: ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away.'”

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_____________________________________________________________ As human beings, we all have desires, but it may surprise some of you that Jesus does too. One of them is the keen longing to have us with Him, for it is with great joy and anticipation that He eagerly prepares and waits for us. Jesus said just before His earthly departure nearly two thousand years ago, that He was “going to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there you may be also” – John 14:2-3. So why aren’t we in heaven yet? Apparently, things are not quite ready, but all the indications are very …

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The Pattern for Servanthood

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Christ laid aside His authority, prominence, and power to become a servant.   Matthew 20:25-28 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life …

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How The Lord Used A Beagle To Save Christmas!

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“Time is running short Lord.  I know you have a purpose and a plan for this church, but the wolves are at our door, Lord.  If something does not happen fast, I do not see how this church is going to be here come Christmas.  Please send me a sign Lord, let me know that this church is your will, and this is a stand you are calling me to make.” Each morning he prayed as he arrived at the church.  A quiet moment each day when he turned to God to help him with the day ahead.  But on …

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Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum….

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Dr. Mike Murphy December 7, 2016 It is funny how the smallest of things can trigger our fondest of memories! While flipping through the channels of the television the other day I saw a commercial for an upcoming broadcast of The Little Drummer Boy.  In that split second, a smile came to my face as I remembered all the years as a young boy watching the story unfolded on the television screen.  Before I even knew it, I found myself going online and listening to the familiar song I had grown up hearing. We all have heard the song more …

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THE TRUE STORY OF PAIN AND HOPE BEHIND “I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY”

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In March of 1863, 18-year-old Charles Appleton Longfellow walked out of his family’s house on Brattle Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and—unbeknownst to his family—boarded a train bound for Washington, D.C., traveling over 400 miles across the eastern seaboard in order to join President Lincoln’s Union army to fight in the Civil War. Charles (b. June 9, 1844) was the oldest of six children born to Fannie Elizabeth Appleton and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the celebrated literary critic and poet. Charles had five younger siblings: a brother (aged 17) and three sisters (ages 13, 10, 8—another one had died as an infant). Less …

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The Simple Gospel

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By David A. DePra What is the gospel? — what is the true good news of God? The good news is wrapped up in a PERSON – a Person, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The good news is that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to do for human beings what human beings could not do for themselves. And what was that? God sent Christ to deliver us all from sin through His death on the Cross, and He sent Christ to usher in a new creation through His resurrection.  He sent Christ to die and be raised so …

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DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN JESUS?

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Have you ever really believed in Jesus Christ? I was talking to my five-year old son. He replied quickly, “Of course, dad.” “But have you ever really been saved? How do you really know you are saved?” He replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,.” He ripped off the words as fast as his little mouth could phrase them. It was a verse he had memorized, and he had heard it explained so many times. Perhaps you would have answered just as he did. “Of course I am saved. Of course I believe in Jesus …

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How to Deal With Unforgiveness

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Matthew 18:21-22 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. God’s Word clearly teaches that we’re to forgive those who hurt us. So let’s identify practical ways to confront the matter of unforgiveness head-on. You may want to keep this list in your Bible or some other handy place for easy review. Take it seriously. Unforgiveness is an issue that shouldn’t be dismissed. Assume full responsibility. …

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One Mediator

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For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Tim 2:5) A, “mediator,” is a proxy; one who connects two parties. Jesus Christ is the sole Mediator between the believer and God. If Christ is in us, then by His very presence in us, we are joined to both Him and the Father. Now, notice what this means: It means that there must NEVER be introduced anyone or anything into our relationship with God who acts as ANOTHER mediator. There are no mediators in addition to Christ – there is no one …

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HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING

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“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans5:8-11 KJV). The fourth verse of the classic Christmas carol highlights today’s Scripture. “Come, …

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THE POWER WITHIN

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Acts 1:8 (KJV) 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. God’s Spirit works in every believer. He doesn’t limit Himself to pastors and missionaries. If you’ve received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then residing within you is the same great power that raised Christ from the dead. (See Rom. 8:11.) The Holy Spirit creates godly character in all who follow the Lord. The fruit of the …

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