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Quote - David Brainerd

"As long as I see any thing to be done for God, life is worth having; but O how vain and unworthy it is to live for any lower end!" David Brainerd

Gambling

Have you ever given thought to whether gambling is right or wrong? Do you know where the Bible provides helpful principles to guide a Christian in make decisions about this area? The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention has published a helpful resource on gambling. Some interesting statistics & quotes:
  • 85% of Americans have gambled
  • 60% of Americans have gambled in the past year
  • "Although Scripture does not say “Do not gamble,” gambling clearly violates biblical principles. In addition to doing personal damage to the gambler, it encourages a love of money, legalizes taking from your neighbor, victimizes the poor, corrupts government, produces the wrong attitude toward work, hurts legitimate business, increases violence and crime, and jeopardizes the well-being of families."
  • "Scripture gives Christians principles for living in a proper relationship with God and with each other. Gambling and its promotion violate these principles. It is my prayer that Christians will run from gambling in every form, for there is scarcely no greater act of disobedience and faithlessness than to cast your lot at the feet of a false idol, in this case, the gambling industry." Dr. Richard Land, President of ERLC

They also helpfully include 10 questions to consider concerning one's gambling behavior: 1. You have often gambled longer than you had planned. 2. You have often gambled until your last dollar was gone. 3. Thoughts of gambling have caused you to lose sleep. 4. You have used your income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid. 5. You have made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling. 6. You have broken the law or considered breaking the law to finance your gambling. 7. You have borrowed money to finance your gambling. 8. You have felt depressed or suicidal because of your gambling losses. 9. You have been remorseful after gambling. 10. You have gambled to get money to meet your financial obligations.

National Problem Gambling HelpLine Network (800-522-4700).

The Family Foundation (http://www.kentuckyfamily.org ) highlights the top reasons to be opposed to gambling in your area:

  1. The Family is targeted
  2. Businesses will lose
  3. Government will be corrupted
  4. The Vulnerable will be destroyed

Proverbs 15:27a(ESV) "Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household" Jeremiah 17:11 (NIV) "Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool." Proverbs 1:19 (ESV) "Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors."

Quotes - C.T. Studd

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." C.T. Studd

Christian Cartoons

Did you read the funny pages growing up? Still do? Here are some links to a variety of Christian cartoons! Here is a link to 7 different cartoons through Baptist Press: http://www.bpnews.net/BPCartoons.asp

http://www.christiancartoons.com/ - this is another good one that points to several different sites

Here are some of the better sites it points to:

Proverbs 17:22a "A joyful heart is good medicine"

Ecclesiastes 3:1 &4b "1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...4b a time to laugh"

Quotes - Gordon Olson

"If every Christian is already considered a missionary, then all can stay put where they are, and nobody needs to get up and go anywhere to preach the gospel. But if our only concern is to witness where we are, how will people in unevangelized areas ever hear the gospel? The present uneven distribution of Christians and opportunities to hear the gospel of Christ will continue on unchanged." Gordon Olson

Salvation of Babies & Infants??

What happens to babies who die in the womb? What about infants and young children who die; do they go to Heaven? What is the age of accountability?

These are important questions that many people have asked themselves as they or others they know have struggled with the loss of a child.

I have not found a pastor or teacher who has addressed the issue with such biblical depth and breadth as John MacArthur. His book, Safe in the Arms of God, answers the below questions:

  1. Where is my child?
  2. What can we say with certainty to those with empty arms?
  3. How does God regard children?
  4. What if my child is not among the elect?
  5. Will I see my child again?
  6. What is my child’s life like in heaven?
  7. Why did my child have to die?
  8. How shall we minister to those who are grieving?

Here are two sermons in which John MacArthur exposits the relevant biblical passages and also addresses many of the same questions as in his book.

Also, an article by John MacArthur:

2 Samuel 12:21-23 "21 His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" 22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

Quote - C.S. Lewis

"When you are arguing against Him, you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all." C.S. Lewis

Free Bible (audio) - www.faithcomesbyhearing.com

www.faithcomesbyhearing.com is an amazing website that seeks to share the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth through audio bibles in currently 336 languages in 98 countries.

from their website:

The World's Largest Catalog of Audio Bibles We offer the world’s largest catalog of Audio Bibles to individuals and nations who hunger to hear.

Offering every person on our planet equal access to the Bible requires meeting the unique needs of generations, technical societies, and fast-paced lifestyles. It also means meeting the cultural and literacy challenges presented when working in underdeveloped countries. Faith Comes By Hearing is rising to meet the biblical needs of a complex world through modern technology. MP3 Bible, BibleSticks for all ages, and third-world culturally adapted playback units, Proclaimer, are just a taste of the technology that God is using to spread His Word throughout the world with Faith Comes By Hearing programs. And, the plans include offering this technology in every language or tongue…

Romans 10:17 "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."

Quote - C.S. Lewis

"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sunhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it." C.S. Lewis

The Visual Bible - Must WATCH!!!

Is it hard for you to imagine and visualize the Gospel narrative of Jesus Christ? Would you love to see a DVD of the Gospel being shared in an incredible way? I just finished watching the Gospel of John DVD by the Visual Bible. It is an outstanding and amazing visual description done through a word-for-word dramatization. I was amazed (particularly following a three week Seminary class in Israel in 2008) at the level of accuracy, attention, and detail given to the costumes, props, and sets. I strongly recommend this DVD to all Christians of all ages. Some ideas:
  • watch the DVD progressively as a devotional method
  • read the Bible along with the DVD as it plays, recording in your Bible specific ways in how you are newly impacted through seeing a representation
  • watch a scene or use a scene when teaching a class
  • use for a family devotional to teach your children
  • give it as a gift
  • watch it again and again!!!

Although I have only seen the Gospel of John, but cannot wait to buy and watch Matthew and Acts as well!! This is available online through http://www.visual-bible.com/ but also through Lifeway.

This is SO POWERFUL....do not miss watching this!!!! Don't fail to share this with your friends and family!!!

John 20:29 "Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"
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