Exloring Life Eternal

Received via AFA:

"Environmental Protection Agency
(Funded by your tax dollars)
Celebrates Gay And Lesbian Pride Month"

A few observations:

* Benjamin Franklin (American pragmatist extraordinaire) advocated the turkey as the American bird of choice.

* In recent weeks, Michigan public TV aired a segment in the early hours which featured a female bird strutting for other female birds. The seasoned hunters had footage & said it was odd behavior indeed!!

* _Noah's_Ark_ by Ms. Stein imagined a day when female deer would have to be given birth control, since hunting was a decreasing option.

* In times of war, the male population declines, generally.

The Son of Man demonstrated His strength by enduring the cross, without exerting physical resistance. Jesud died for your sins & mine, according to the Scriptures. Being buried. And then rising again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.

I believe that Hosea 14:1-5 is for this land @ this time: Turn to Jesus Christ the Lord & Savior. Stop resorting to human methodologies & monies & militarism & marital bliss. God desires mercy, NOT sacrifice. Let Him show you mercy. Stop trying to impress everybody.

SOMETHING TO REPENT

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:1-2

The Christian teaching tells people to REPENT (turn from their sins and go back to God) and promises to them forgiveness when they repent. So you see the Christian teaching cannot say ANYTHING to the people who think they have no sins! God cannot talk to the people who think that they do not need forgiveness!

It is AFTER you understand
1) that there is real EVIL in the world, SIN, and
2) that there is a Great God Who has ALL power, and
3) that YOU have broken God¹s LAWS, and
4) YOU are now WRONG in the eyes of God
(YOU have sinned!) --
Do you understand this about YOURSELF?
ONLY NOW, when you understand all this, can GOD talk to you!
Look inside yourself. Do you see a sinful person who needs HELP?
If you do, then you are ready to hear the Christian teaching, but NOT BEFORE!

Lord Jesus, help me to recognize my sins and to ask forgiveness.

=====
(No, I did not receive this email from C.S. Lewis. & No, I do not agree with all that C.S. Lewis wrote or believed. However, this basic intro is a basic core about why I believe in Jesus: He never sinned. I have. He came to save me & He shall! The sender of the email abbreviated some words.)

Today I had a short chat with some folks on a bus. A fellow begged for money & if I had had something that he would have received, I would have given it. He boasted of taking pesos, dinars, etc. He was particularly fond of some Egyptian dinars.

He wished to boast of his tongue, speaking a word or two in various languages, & I shared just a little from the scriptures from Him and was going to discuss the meaning, but he was more interested in $$ & silly rhymes.

He challenged me with a question: After asserting the possibility that he might be god. He asked, "Do you believe that God is undefeated?" To him this was a rather astounding question. He seemed impatient for a reply. Another fellow, who claimed rather adamantly to be baptist, & seemed to place this above faith in Christ Jesus as Lord. They chattered on about me being an atheist. Oddly, this was the same accusation that was hurled at early Christians.

I asked, "Do you believe in the resurrection? If you answer that correctly, you have the answer to your question."

In a brief internet search on "God is undefeated" the following results were found:

It seems that Shaun Alexander uses this as a way of testifying to the grace of God & why he committed to Christ "His team is undefeated:"
http://bama.ua.edu/~bamafca/docs/Shaun5TDNight9-30-02.htm

Also, this song came up, talking about God's glory. On the whole, it is an excellent song. Perhaps the main weakness is that "money & power" are listed as more important reasons to pray than the salvation of souls. There are many who are rich & powerful who know nothing of God's grace:
http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/741329

I think in both instances, there is a fundamental weakness in how they understand the grace of God: GOD's power is perfected through -weakness- (2 Corinthians 12:9). This most basic truth is contrary to all human understanding. Indeed, the only way we are able to be saved was accomplished through Jesus who embraced "defeat" in order to win the victory for us. It was really only a temporary setback.

Indeed, the way of the cross was revealed early, very early in the history of the human race: the seed of the serpent & the Seed of woman would be in conflict. The serpentine seed would bruise the heel of the woman's Seed; and HE would crush satan's head. (Genesis 3:16). In other words, the Lord Jesus became poor that many might be made rich. The riches of heaven have much less to do with wealth, and much more to do with the stores which are waiting on high to those who have faith.

I wonder, how many Christians, so called, in the USA today, would continue as Christians if we faced the same persecution & oppression that Christians in the Middle East face? How many are Christians because their parents were, but not because they are fully persuaded.

God's victory may not always look like what we want it to look like. He may be victorious by humiliating us. His undefeated record seems to be marred with "defeats." Why?? Because his people prefer secondary divisions over our primary unity in Christ Jesus. May God save us from ourselves!!

Peace, In Christ,
Mert Hershberger

http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth22.html
Truth Journal
Contemporary Scholarship and the Historical Evidence
for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
by William Lane Craig
William Lane Craig is a leading apologist today in the USA.

============
http://www.xenos.org/classes/papers/doubt.htm
Historical Evidence for
the Resurrection of Christ:
by Christopher Louis Lang

============
http://www.wcg.org/lit/disc/11evidence.htm
Discipleship 101
a beginner's guide to Christianity
Evidence of Jesus' resurrection
by the Worldwide Church of God
(A group that returned to "salvation by grace through faith")

==========
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection_of_Jesus
This text includes arguments for & against the resurrection.

==> Also, there are numerous links at the end to various Christian apologists. I think your magazine editors would find this part of the sight most helpful!

It is very much a pick & choose sight - discernment needed! The most
value is the links. One must note though that there are more reasons listed to believe the resurrection than to disbelieve & that they present an overall argument that is fully coherent, whereas many of the others are contradictory & mutually exclusive.

Hope that helps,
Mert Hershberger

Prayer Alert - Iran
HOUSE CHURCH LEADER MARTYRED: by a group of fanatic Muslims
Iran Ranks 5th in Persecution Ranking

Iranian Christians are asking for prayer following a series of disturbing incidents in their country, including the recent murder of a house church leader.

On November 22, Ghorban Dordi Tourani was arrested from his home in Gonbad-e-Kavus, located in northeastern Iran. A few hours later, Tourani, 53, who converted to Christianity while in prison 22 years ago, was beaten and stabbed to death by an unnamed group of fanatic Muslims, who dumped his body in front of his house.

Not long after Tourani's murder, representatives of Iran's secret police, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), raided Tourani's home, apparently searching for Bibles and other banned Christian literature in the Farsi language.

...

Over the past month, Ahmadinejad has conducted a broad shake-up within the government establishment, replacing hundreds of governors, ambassadors and senior ministry officials with young and mostly inexperienced Islamists. Recently, students at Tehran University protested when a religious cleric without even a high school diploma was appointed rector of the nation's oldest university.

In November, the new director of prisons also transferred a number of political prisoners of conscience into criminal wards with convicted murderers and drug dealers. At least one of these political prisoners has been killed by fellow inmates, sparking the fears of Iranian Christians for the security of Hamid Pourmand, serving a three-year sentence at Tehran's Evin Prison for refusing to renounce his conversion to Christianity.

Prayer Points
Please pray:
* Tourani's widow and his four children to know the comfort, peace and strength of Jesus. Pray for God's care for Tourani's house church. Pray that his death will bring many to Christ and for his congregation to grow spiritually and to multiply.
* Those detained and beaten by the Ministry of Intelligence and Security to know the LORD's healing, physically and psychologically.
* All Christians across Iran to know the LORD's Psalm 91 protection and deep inner peace now and always. Ask God to deepen the faith, conviction and passion of Iranian Christians who are facing an escalation in incidents of persecution. Pray Psalm 140 over Christian Believers.
* This recent wave of persecution to cease immediately and for God's intervention in Iran.
* The salvation of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, other authorities and members of Iran's secret police.
* The LORD to continue to build His Church in Iran, and raise up anointed pastors to lead it.
* Supernatural growth of house churches to multiply rapidly and for new converts to grow strong in their faith.
* The glory of God will be revealed in unprecedented ways to the people of Iran.
* The LORD of Hosts to crush the forces of darkness in and around Persia (Iran).
* All women in Iran to be protected, equipped, and informed with biblical principles.

Sources: Compass Direct and Jubilee Campaign USA
http://www.win1040.com/

editted for clarity:
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I was wondering if any research has been done by your group with any link of muslims to masons? I just finished a Cleansing Stream seminar and they have a lot of information on masons that many Christians need to know about, but I also wonder the link that masons may have with muslims.
- BJ in Ohio

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You ask a good question. If you are interested, I could send you some info I have on that eventually, though I have not avidly pursued research on this topic.

Apparently, the masons (Freemasons / Masonic Lodge) emerged from the same area as a sect of Islam in Yemen. The roots of this go back (I believe) to the days of Solomon, when the pagan worship of an immoral female warrior idol spread from Phoenecia to Sheba / Yemen via trade routes. When Islam entered the area, the result was that a brand of
Islam came from it, an attempt at universalism which really ended up corrupting both Islam (in the eyes of some followers of Mohammed) & Christianity (according to Biblical standards).

The masonic emphasis on building civil buildings which are very "templesque" in shape & size is a key feature of this pseudo-religion can be seen in Yemen. Today, there are some archaeologists who are studying the architecture of what appears to be the "throne of the Queen of Sheba / Queen Bilqis." This same love of bricks & mortar infects churches resulting in crippling building programs as groups forget their First Love and seek to establish themselves in society with good works instead of trusting God's grace.

May we never forget that Jesus is first in the church! Also, please pray that the pure gospel of Jesus would get out to all nations!

Peace in Christ,

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Mert Hershberger
ptap@srginc.org -- 1-800-376-5876
North American Coordinator
Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
==
Also sent:
I know a fellow who left the Masonic lodge. He emphasized that someone had simply urged
him to examine the roots of the system. Asking good questions for those who are into
these things (and think) is one part of the process. Praying for them, is another. I
agree on the need to ardently pray for the various sorts of lostnesses / compromises that
have taken place in the church. We can't just bash people on the head. Nor can we
conform to the world around. Only Jesus Christ is our refuge. May the church in the USA
again give herself up to Him whole-heartedly!

I would also encourage a simple, friendly sharing of a book such as:

Masonic Rites and Wrongs: An Examination of Freemasonry (Paperback)
by Steven Tsoukalas Paperback: 241 pages Publisher: P & R Publishing (July, 1995)
Language: English ISBN: 0875524575
Product Dimensions: 9.0 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces.
[Info from Amazon.com]

A very solid link from the Christian Research Institute. It states what is wrong with Freemasonry very clearly:
http://www.equip.org/free/DM166.htm

Another even better site describing how one may lead others away from Masonic Lodges to the Messiah as Lord of all. It includes links to Ministry to Masons:
http://www.ephesians5-11.org/

A book you may find of interest, that I am reading (in an older edition):
Reasons of the Heart: Recovering Christian Persuasion
by William Edgar (Paperback - May 2003)
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: P & R Publishing (May, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN: 0875525954
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces.
Avg. Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

"Love by sharing the truth.
Be honest, but be gentle."

Looking to the day when Christ reigns supreme in & over all!

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Thank you for these resources. Twenty years ago I wouldn't know of any helps like these. I agree we need to lovingly confront these compromises and realize that each has some kind of compromise that needs out of our lives. Just because we know Christ and are not tied to Masons doesn't mean we don't have some kind of compromise in our own lives. I don't believe those who remain a Mason will lose their salvation. As the example of my family members who understand the occult activity of Masons lording over others still tied in the Masons, the truth we have come to understand doesn't reach them for a deeper relationship with Jesus. In fact it can push them further into their belief systems. Also treating them as if they are like leprosy isn't good either.

My sister won't bring her children over to their house and she treats them like they are not Christians and that they will bring curses on her children. There is a point where we need to remember we have been attached (are probably still attached) to many things and are not better than those that have masonic ties. Speaking the truth in love is the door to reaching them. I pray that the Body of Christ will become aware of the Masonic stuff and renounce it, but I also pray that as they become aware of this they don't mistreat others in the Body that have Masonic ties and shun them but instead continue to love them to Christ.

Any information you learn about this topic of Masonic-Islamic ties please pass on to me. Thanks again for the book resources I hope to look them up sometime.

Thanks for praying as well
BJ in Ohio

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Please remember the saints here in the Ann Arbor area. The Masonic lodge has a strong influence historically on the University of Michigan. Islam also has a strong influence on the area. Please pray that the Lord Jesus will set free & keep free the people here. In many ways, the church is compromised. We face a great many temptations from the world & all its' schemes. However, I know that Christ is stronger & will redeem those who are His own. May the Word of God conquer!

Thanks.

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Mert Hershberger
ptap@srginc.org -- 1-800-376-5876
North American Coordinator
Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info

Prayer Requests and Praises for November 9, 2005

1. Praise God for all the prayers that were lifted up over the last month and a half. During Ramadan, the whole Christian world was praying for Muslims around the world. And many chose during the month of October to take one week and fast specifically for the country of Tajikistan. To those who did, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. May you find your treasure in heaven!

2. Pray for seeds of good news sown in some remote areas recently to grow and bear fruit. Ask that God would open many hearts the the Truth through these seeds. Ask that God would also protect those doing the sowing and mature them as they seek Him in all their endeavors.

3. Pray that those working in Tajikistan would not be drug down by depression, discouragement, or despair; but would rather enter a fresh new season of Knowing God and Enjoying Him, being satisfied in God and enjoying His Presence. May this new wind be so appealing to others that they want it for themselves!

4. Praise God with us for nearly 250 pre-orders so far for the calendar. The final version has been sent to the printers and we will have them soon. Again if you want to get some, please don't hesitate to email HT@hopetajikistan.com. In regards to the already-printed Hope Tajikistan prayer guides, please order those by emailing PrayerGuides@hopetajikistan.com Thanks so much!!!!

5. There is currently an unprecedented freedom in this country to proclaim the truth. Pray that many will be called to take advantage of it while it last. There are signs that there are those who want to close the door, but it is not closing yet! Pray that this door of opportunity will be taken by many while it is still open!!!


Thanks for praying. May God bless you richly as you are blessing to the people of Tajikistan.

- HT Prayer Coordinator

For those dear saints of God & servants of the church who are interested in reading this,

Peace & grace in the name of our Father & our God & His Son, our Lord,

Today is still the day of the Lord's salvation. He has not stopped seeking out & saving those who are lost ... & He never will ... until the end of the age.

But the devil knows that his time is short ... so he gets a little agravated at times & tries to wreak havoc any way he can, through toe holds, snakes, scorpions, and beasts with more growl than glory.

Since the beginning of time, it has been the best & worst of times most of the time as wars & rumors of wars increase & as catastrophes continue even while the good news of God's glory goes abroad.

This past week there were 7 days. Every day, the sun did what it was told to do & the clouds obeyed the commands of God as well. He is keeping his promise to send harvest time ... and spring-time as well.

This past week or two has been filled with spiritual attack & blessings ... & the presence of Christ throughout.

Some difficulties which reveal out deep need for prayer:
= Curses against our family scrawled on the door to our apartment.
= Direct moral temptation from total strangers itself directed towards both of us (There is a delight in perversity in this area).
= Financial demands from one of the "brethren" who bestowed upon me the blessing that God would "put a few knots on my head."
= A family member who questioned the validity of sharing the message.
= A preacher who stated very distinct (& narrow) limits on how far he would help see the good news spread.
= A relatively new friend of mine (his muslim? wife is also Indonesian) was hospitalized for suicide / withdrawal symptoms (his neck has been broken for a couple years leading to great pain, but he loved to be reminded about Jesus' love & mercy over the phone).

But there have also been some huge open doors which only God could have
accomplished:

- A Nigerian brother who gladly took some materials to share with the brethren in Zambia (He is in Ann Arbor for another 1.5 weeks).

- A fellow who was deeply oppressed & recently affected by a grand mal seizure gladly listened to the good news ... & found some thoughts hopeful. A smile broke his previously blank face. PTL!!! "God, save David!"

- We have had some very good talks despite the busy days of getting settled a little-more.

- The rent is paid!! We have food & clothes & electricity!!

- A local brother was willing to hear my story out despite pressing demands on his time.

- A friend committed to regular support (very substantial support at that!)

- 2 days ago, while walking home, I picked up a sign. The next day, I took it to the owners (a hot dog store), they gave me a free frank. A small gift - they offered a temporary job & got the good news. But God regards even small things.

- Relatively good health & a decently working car.

- Wisdom to teach some kids learning English & math.

- The list could extend, but my time is limited. Not least of these is that all is ready for moving into the newly designated office except getting a key to the door. PTL, PTL, PTL!!

Some have mentioned that they would like to see some more creativity (i.e. I had not been sharing my thoughts/writing as much). God's word is still alive. I hope that some of the following thoughts will be an encouragement & refreshment to you. Feel free to share them with others.

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SHEEPISH THOUGHTS:
A shepherd sacrificed, & the shepherd was slain. (Gen 2)
A shepherd slew beasts & a brute, & the sheep stood up again. (1-2 Samuel)
The shepherds got rich, & the sheep were slaughtered. (Ezekiel)
The Shepherd was born, & the sheep were freed. (Luke 2)
The Shepherd was dyed, & the sheep were cleansed. (John 1)
The Shepherd spoke, & the sheep listened. (John 10)
The Shephered went out of the fold, & a lost sheep found safety. (Luke 15)
The Shepherd was slain, & the sheep were scattered. (Matthew 26)
The Shepherd stood, & the sheep were gathered. (John 21)
The Shepherd reigns, & the sheep are fearless. (Psalm 23)
The sheep may suffer, but the Shepherd shall surely save!! (Romans 8)

The Lamb leads on.
See: The sheep were twelve, eleven remained: the faithful endure.
(Revelation 12:11)

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Prayer with purpose can prevent persecution,
so love one another & all will be stronger & more secure.

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Perfect Love resisted leads to rebellion.
Rebellion persisisted leads to ruin.
Perfect Love received leads to righteousness.
Righteousness expressed leads to revival.
God is perfect love:
Repent & see revival or refuse & face His wrath.

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A LITTLE THOUGHT ON THE GLORY OF GOD
You have not seen the the Greatest if you have not seen to your last responsibility.
You do not love much if you do not love the least.
You will not live long later if you do not live just a little now.

The Infinite become Infanteseminal in Christ Jesus.

BUT GOD will show you Great & Mighty things if you look a little.
He can love you most, though He is loved the least.
He has given you eternal life if you live but the last moment for Him alone.

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An encouraging word received via email from a man called Grace in Africa: "I love your commitment!!" [To which I can only say, any commitment I have is only there because God made a commitment to love me.]

While we may be far away & not always the most neighborly of neighbors, thanks for remembering us as though we live next door. Your faithful prayers are like walls around us & incense within our home, sanctifying our hearts & preserving our heads.

Mert (with "Lydia")

P.S. If you will recall, Lydia was a woman from Asia who was a great help to Paul.

Below is a letter that was shared with some friends about why I believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a message of Peace:

Dear Brother _____,

Yes, I am quite familiar with the fact that Islam is by nature a religion
that is hostile to God & no-one can ever please God by the methods which it
espouses. It has much form of godliness, but no real power. I also am 100%
aware that Islam teaches, in essence, that the best way to win in this world
& the next is to be violent. I believe Islam is false when compared to
Christ & the cross.

However, my point was to clarify that I (& others?) preach & practice
"Christ & Him crucified." We will not see Muslims come to Christ just
because we return tit-for-tat with swords or bombs or laws. Nor because we
do nice & courteous things to Muslims. Rather, because we preach the Risen
Lord & are willing to follow Him to the cross.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. If all muslims were miraculously
redeemed & then secure in Christ, would they then continue to wage war
against non-Muslims simply because _they_ were from a Muslim background? I
sure hope not. In otherwords, the dragon may deceive & satan may use lies,
but he will ultimately lie dead at the foot of the cross.

Our security is not in national boundaries either. The Lord is our Defense.
The name of the Lord defines who we are as a people. (I am under the
distinct impression that there are members of this forum & the Body of
Christ from political states other than the USA, correct?)

I am not advocating that all people from the West evacuate the Middle East.
Quite the opposite. We need to send more there who will go in the Lord's
name. Nor do I advocate/endorse the opintion that the USA stop supporting
Israel/mediating in the regional conflict. That seems both unwise & useless
to me. Though, the USA is a straw reed compared to the Man who suffered
outside the gates of Jerusalem.

Pray for me to be a better communicator & listener, my friend.

Peace in the name of Jesus,
Mert Hershberger
PTAP@srginc.org
S.E. Michigan

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Real nice expression of a wonderful Christian faith / walk!
N.