FISHERMAN'S NET PUBLICATIONS CATALOG 6a

THE BLACKSMITH'S ANVIL


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 |     |   |             THE  BLACKSMITH'S  ANVIL            |   |     |
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       .---.        .---.   Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard,
      /     \  __  /     \   that the everlasting God, the LORD, the
     / /     \(  )/     \ \   Creator of the ends of the earth,
    //////   ' \/ `   \\\\\\   fainteth not, neither is weary?... 
   //// / // :    : \\ \ \\\\   He giveth power to the faint; and to
  // /   /  /`    '\  \   \ \\   them that have no might he increaseth
 //          //..\\           \\  strength. ...But they that wait upon
            UU.||.UU   the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall
   Isaiah   '//||\\`  mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
  40:28-31    ''`` and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.
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                   THE BLACKSMITH'S ANVIL
          
          Last eve I passed beside the blacksmith's door
            And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
          Then looking in, I saw upon the floor
            Old hammers, worn with beating years of time

          "How many anvils have you had," said I,
             "To wear and batter all these hammers so?"
           "Just one," said he, and then, with twinkling eye,
             "The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

           And so, thought I, the anvil of God's Word
             For ages skeptic blows have beat upon
           Yet the noise of falling blows was heard
             The anvil is unharmed- the hammers gone.  -anon.

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  'Twas the night before Chanukah  -Anon

  'Twas the night before Chanukah, boichiks and maidels
     Not a sound could be heard, not even the dreidels
  The menorah was set by the chimney alight
    In the kitchen, the Bubbie was hopping a bite
  Salami, Pastrami, a glaisele tay
    And zoyere pickles mit bagels-- Oy vay!

  Gezint and geschmock the kinderlach felt
    While dreaming of taiglach and Chanukah gelt
  The alarm clock was sitting, a kloppin' and tickin'
    And Bubbie was carving a shtickele chicken
  A tummel arose, like the wildest k'duchas
     Santa had fallen right on his tuchas!

  I put on my slippers, ains, tzvay, drei
     While Bubbie was eating herring on rye
  I grabbed for my bathrobe and buttoned my gottkes
     And Bubbie was just devouring the latkes
  To the window I ran, and to my surprise
     A little red yarmulka greeted my eyes.

  When he got to the door and saw the menorah
     "Yiddishe kinder," he cried, "Kenahorah!"
 I thought I was in a Goyishe hoise!
     As long as I'm here, I'll leave a few toys."
 "Come into the kitchen, I'll get you a dish
     Mit a gupel, a leffel, and a shtickele fish."

  With smacks of delight he started his fressen
     Chopped liver, knaidlach, and kreplach gegessen
  Along with his meal he had a few schnapps
     When it came to eating, this boy sure was tops
  He asked for some knishes with pepper and salt
     But they were so hot he yelled out "Gevalt!"

  He loosened his hoysen and ran from the tish
        "Your koshereh meals are simply delish!"
  As he went through the door he said "See y'all later
     I'll be back next Pesach in time for the seder!"
  So, hutzmir and zeitzmir and "Bleibtz mir gezint"
     he called out cheerily into the wind.

  More rapid than eagles, his prancers they came
     As he whistled and shouted and called them by name
  "Come, Izzie, now Moishe, now Yossel and Sammy!
    On Oyving, and Maxie, and Hymie and Manny!"
  He gave a geshrai, as he drove out of sight
    "A gut yontiff to all, and to all a good night!"

 * Origin: Baudville MEGA-ROM! * 503/343-1483 * 

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               TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS

        Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
        Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
        Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
        In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

        The Children were dressing to crawl into bed,
        Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
        And Mom in her rocker with the baby on her lap
        Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

        When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
        I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter
        Away to the window I flew like a flash
        Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

        When what to my wondering eyes should appear
        But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
        With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
        I knew in a moment that this must be THE DAY!

        The light of His face made me cover my head
        It was Jesus! returning just like he said.
        And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
        I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

        In the Book of Life which he held in His hand
        Was written the name of every saved man.
        He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
        When He said "It's not there" my head hung in shame.

        The people whose names had been written with love
        He gathered to take to his father above.
        With those who were ready He rose without a sound
        While all the rest were left standing around.

        I fell to my knees, but it was to late;
        I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
        I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
        Oh, if only we had been ready tonight.

        In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
        The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
        There's only one life and when comes the last call
        We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

        Author Unknown         From: Nathan Seeley

        * Origin: Call the Christian Soldier! * (805) 237-0124 *
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  >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

 This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications:
 a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information
 regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center
 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________
 |>=>  .e0e. .e0e.               NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES         >=>|
 |>=>  0HHHH~HHHH0          Fisherman's Net                      >=>|
 |>=>  `HHoo ooHH'    "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>|
 |>=>    `HH HH'   will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>|
 |>=>      `V'      http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>|
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EVALUATION MEMORANDUM FOR JESUS

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | EVALUATION MEMORANDUM FOR JESUS | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| EVALUATION MEMORANDUM FOR JESUS TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph, Woodcrafters Shop, Nazareth FROM: Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem SUBJECT: Staff Aptitude Evaluation Thank you for submitting the resumes of the 12 men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests, and we have not only run the results through out computer but also have arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant. It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability. Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus definitely have radical leanings and they both registered a high score on the manic depressive scale. One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contact in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and innovative. We recommend Judas Iscarliot as your controller and right hand man. All the other profiles are self-explanatory. We wish you every success in your new ventures. (Author Unknown) ........................................................................ Top 10 reasons why God has a Ph.D., but did not get tenure: 1) He had only one major publication. 2) It was in Hebrew. 3) It had no references. 4) It wasn't in a referred journal. 5) It may be true that He created the world, but what has He done since? 6) The scientific community has had a hard time replicating His results. 7) He never applied to the ethics board for permission to use human subjects. 8) He expelled His first two students for learning. 9) His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountain top. 10) Although there were only 10 requirements, most students failed his tests. ........................................................................ ~~ ~~~ ~ I think that I shall never see ~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ A poem as lovely as a tree. ~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~ Against the earth's sweet flowing breast; ~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~ A tree that looks at God all day ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~ And lifts her leafy arms to pray; ~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~ A tree that may in summer wear ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~~ A nest of robins in her hair; ~~ ~~~~ ~~~ Upon whose bosom snow has lain; ~~\| |//~~ Who intimately lives with rain. ~\| |/~ Poems are made by fools like me, | | But only God can make a tree." / \ -- Joyce Kilmer ...................................................................... >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Professor of Philosophy

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | A Professor of Philosophy | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| This is a true story of something that happened just a few years ago at the University of South Carolina. A professor of philosophy there was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn't exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable logic. For twenty years he had taught this class and no one had ever had the courage to go against him. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever *really gone against him* (you'll see what I mean later). Nobody would go against him because he had a reputation. At the end of every semester, on the last day, he would say to the class of 300 students, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" In twenty years, nobody ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove he is God, and yet he can't do it." And every year he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it could shatter into a hundred pieces. All of the students could do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students were convinced that God couldn't exist. Certainly, a number of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years they had been too afraid to stand up. Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to get enrolled in the class. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about this professor. He had to take the class because it was one of the required classes for his major. And he was afraid. But for three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said or did could ever shatter his faith, he hoped. Finally, the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor, and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the room. The professor shouted, "YOU FOOL! If nothing I have said all semester has convinced you that God doesn't exist, then you are a fool! If God existed, he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!" He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleats of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. And as it hit the ground, it simply rolled away, unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man and ran out of the lecture hall. The young man who had stood up walked to the front of the room and share his faith in Jesus for a half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love and of his power through Jesus. /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`.~.`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\ AND / .'. \ YE SHALL /........... .' `. ..........\ HALLOW / /~~~|~~~~~~~|~~~\ \ THE | / | | \ | FIFTIETH | / /~~~~~~~~~~~\ \ | YEAR | | /_____________\ | | AND SHALL |________| | | |________| PROCLAIM |:::::::::::::| LIBERTY |'`'`'`'`'`'`'| THROUGHOUT | | ALL THE | | LAND | :' | UNTO | : | ALL THE / :' \ INHABITANTS /.......:'........\ THEREOF /::::::.':::::::::::\ # # # /_____.'______________\ LEVITICUS 25:10 Permission given to use the Liberty Bell KBA - Carolyn Mineah ................................................................. There were two monks traveling to the city. On the way they met a woman trying to cross a river. The older monk carried her on his shoulders across the river. Once across she went her way and the monks continued their journey. The younger monk was silent for quite some time until the older monk asked "Brother, why are you so quiet?" The younger monk replied,"You did a terrible thing when you carried that woman across the river. Our order doesn't allow brothers to touch women." The older monk replied, "But your sin is greater little brother. I only carried her across the river. You have carried her all the way since." >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally, My Brethren

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | Finally, My Brethren | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| I will lift up mine eyes unto the /\ hills, from whence cometh my help. /:.:`\ My help cometh from the /\ /.::`::.:\ LORD, which made /.:`:\ /:``::::.::`:\ heaven and earth. /:`:`:..:\:..::``::``::.\ __---~~~~~--/:::..::``:::\`` '` '` \ __--~~~~--__----_/:::::``` ''::\ ~-_ _-~ / `` ~--___ ~~-- Psalm 121:1-2 (Keyboard art by Carolyn Mineah) ............................................................... To be sung to the tune of Edelweiss: May the Lord, Mighty God, Bless and keep you forever. Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor. Lift up your eyes and see His face, and His grace forever. May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever. ....................................................................... /:\ "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of |:| His might. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to |:| STAND against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against |:| flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, |:| __ against the rulers of the Darkness of this world, |:| / ) against spiritual wickedness in HIGH places. Wherefore (Oo / _I_ take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be +\ \ || __| able to withstand in the EVIL DAY, and having done \ \||___| all, to STAND. Stand therefore, having your loins girt \ /.:.\-\ about with TRUTH and having on the Breastplate of |.:. /-----\ Righteousness; And your feet shod with the |___| O | preparation of the Gospel of PEACE; Above all, / | OOOOO | taking the SHIELD of Faith, wherewith ye shall be |_____\ O / able to quench all the Fiery Darts of the Wicked. | | \ \O/ And take the Helmet of Salvation, and the sword of | | | | the Spirit, Which is THE WORD OF GOD: Praying always | | | | with all Prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and \ / | \__ watching thereunto with all perseverance and / \ /_____\ supplication for all SAINTS. And for me, that `-' utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel." -Ephesians 6:10-19 >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[--- [--- [--- Nails ---] ---] ---]

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | [--- [--- [--- Nails ---] ---] ---] | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| .................................................................... | | | |~~~~~~~| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |~.\\\_\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~xx~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/_//;~| | | | \ o \_ ,XXXXX), _..-~ >o / | | | | ~~~\ ~-. XXXXX`)))), _.--~~ .- ~~~ | | | ~~~~~~~`\ ~\~~~XXX' _/ ';)) |~~~~~~..-~ _.-~~~~~~~~~ | | `\ ~~--`_\~\, ;;;\)__.---.~~~ _.-~ | | ~-. `:;;/;; \ _..-~~ | | ~-._ `'' /-~-~ | | `\ / / | | | , | | | | | ' / | | | \/; | | | ;; | | | `; . | | | |~~~-----.....| | | | \ \ | | | /\~~--...__ | | | (| `\ __-\| | | || \_ /~ | | | |) \~-' | | | | | \ ' | | | | \ : | | \ | | | | | | ) ( ) | | \ /; /\ | | | | |/ | | | | | | | | \ .' || | | | | | | | | ( | | | | | | \ \ | | | || o `.)| | | |`\\\\) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | `~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~' [--- [--- [--- Nails ---] ---] ---] I was hammering a nail today and it reminded me that I had been a lost sinner condemned to death for all eternity. I was hammering a nail today and it reminded me that God felt I was worth redeeming from my penalty of death. I was hammering a nail today and it reminded me that Jesus thought enough of me to endure the pain of death in my place. I was hammering a nail today and it reminded me that He asked me to take up my cross and follow Him. -anon. ............................................................... ##### ## ## ## ## ## ## ##### ## ##### ##### ## ## ##### ##### ## ### ## ## ## ## ## # ## ######## ## ## ##### ## ## ## ## ## ## ## What do you see? Is it just a random series of #'s? If you look at it long enough you might see the name of the One who gave up his life by dying on the cross for your sins. All you need to do is confess your sins to God, accept His forgiveness offered through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and ask Him into your heart to be your Lord and Saviour. Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9-10. ............................................................... Somebody said, you can explain chocolate in technical terms to a person, but only by actually "tasting" chocolate can you ever know what chocolate is really like. The same is true also of the Sabbath, I could give you all sorts of Scriptural arguments as to why you should keep Sabbath, but unless you actually "try it" for yourself you cannot understand what the Sabbath is like. ._________________________________________. | __ | | /__/\/\ The |\./\./\./\./| | | \__\ / joy of | ** ** ** | | | /__/ \ bearing |____________| | | \__\/\ \ the ...is the hope of | | \__\/ Cross... wearing the Crown! | |_________________________________________| Luke 2:8-14 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch.---. .---.over their flock by night. And lo the angel of the / \ __ / \ Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord / / \(..)/ \ \ shone round about them and they were sore ////// '|__|` \\\\\\ afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not//// / // : :: : \\ \ \\\\ for behold, I bring you good tidings of // / / /`<\/>'\ \ \ \\ great joy which shall be to all people. // : :: : \\ For unto you is born this day in the city of David: :: a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto:: : : you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in`~UU~' a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, saying Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When does the new millenium begin?

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | When does the new millenium begin? | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| When does the new millenium begin? 2000? 2001? Actually it is neither because neither the year 0 A.D. or 1 A.D. or for that matter 100 A.D. or 1000 A.D. never existed because those early years were not counted that way. When the new millium should begin is actually a moot question. The A.D. designation behind the year stands for Anno Domini which translated from the Latin means "The year of our Lord" and is supposed to be based on the birth of Jesus but His birthday wasn't celebrated in the first century. Herod had heard that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem but after he killed all the young children it was probably forgotten. The calculation of Jesus' birth is now believed to be off by about four years making his birth 4 B.C. (B.C. meaning "Before Christ"). If the first century actually began in 4 B. C. then the first century actually would have ended 96 A. D. and the twentieth century will end 1996 A.D.! Now here is an even more mind boggling concept. When Bishop Ussher set the date for creation, he put in the margin of his Bible 4004 B.C. That is consistent with the above calculations. If the world is only to be around for 6,000 years and the Future Age known as the Millenium is to be the 7th thousand year, then the New Millenium is about to dawn! There is one little flaw in all of this (besides the big flaw of trying to set dates). The church age didn't begin with the birth of Christ, it began with the Crucifixion of Christ. If the Crucifixion was when Jesus was 33 years of age, it would have begun in 29 A.D. If the Church Age is to last for exactly 2,000 years, it would end in the year 2029 A.D. Is that when the Second Coming of Christ will occur? Well lets not try to set any dates! But it is an interesting thought that it is very near! ....................................................................... The Cross of Christ by John Stott has an excellent chapter on viewing pain and suffering from the cross. I like the play he cites - the Long Silence (?). The setting is the judgment. People are in small groups arguing about God's ability to judge them. They select representatives to put their case to God. The case is sharp. God must suffer as we have suffered to judge us. Each verdict is given. He must be born a Jew, He must be given work so difficult even His closest family and friends will think Him out of His mind when He tries to do it, He must be tried by a cowardly judge and convicted by a prejudiced jury and He must die alone. After the final part of God's sentence is called out, there is a long silence. Everybody realizes God already served the sentence. >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He Is No Fool

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | He Is No Fool | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose. -Jim Elliot _,~~~,_ |=-=--=-|___________________________________________________ |~~~~~~~| _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ ,_ _ _ _ _ _ _||\___ | | | \|/ | | | \|/ || ,\' ' |_) ' _|_ ' ,| ' ||| __\ | | | -, |_ ,_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ ||_/ _)\ | | | | / |_) ,| \|/ | | | \|/ || ,\' ,\' | ,||| (__/ | | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ ,_ ||~\ )~~\ | | | _|/ _|_ \|/ \|/ | _| | _|/ | | | ,| |_)|| |~\ /\ | | | _ _ _ __ ,_ _ ,_ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _||--/ (_/~~\ | | | ,| _| ' | |_) ,|,\'|_) | |_| ' | \|/ _|/ |||--\ (~\__/ | | | ____ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ __ _ ,_ _ _ || |_/ \/ | | | _| | _|_ \|/ __| |_| ,| ,| |_| ' |_) ' _|_||_/ )__/ | | ||___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ |__ ,_ _ || (~~\ | | | /_|/ \|/ | | | \|/ || ,\' | / |_) ,|||~\ ~)/ | | ______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |__ ,_ | __ _ || ~~/ |_______| | \|/ ,\' | _|| | _| / |_) ,\' (_) _|||/~~~ |=|=====================================================; | | |\__ <~\ | | ______ _______ _______ ___ |_ / _______ | |___ ____ __ __ /-\ \____ ||_ __ )\_ __ \|__ \//' |_ __ )|___ )\__ )\ \/ \ (===) | |__|| | | ( (__) )/_\ \_ __|| | | / / __| | > /~\ | \_/ |_|\__| |_| \____/|__ |\__\ \__| |_| /_/' /_/|_||_| [__| [_] \| Keyart by Shoshona Bieman ............................................................... The Milkman The milkman carried an account for a woman and her two children for October, November, and part of December knowing they needed the milk and that she was unemployed and couldn't pay. Just a week before Christmas, they moved without paying him or leaving a forwarding address. He was angry that she just took from him, leaving without so much as a thank you. It was almost Christmas and he needed that money for gifts for his own family, yet the woman and her children needed the milk. His wife noticed that he carried his anger and suggested the solution. "Give her the milk then she'll no longer owe the money." It worked and he was no longer angry. In fact, he felt good. It was after all, Christmas. Nearly a year later, the milkman noticed that a woman was running towards his truck and waving. It was the woman to whom he had given the milk. She explained she had to move suddenly to a neighboring town to take a job. She had returned to try and find him and pay her debt. She handed him an envelope with payment for the milk he had given her. When she offered him the money, he said "I can't take this....I gave your family the milk at Christmas!" The story focused much on how angry he was at being "taken" after she moved without paying for the milk. ...and how much peace he received when he gave the milk. We can never be robbed of what's truly important and anything else we freely give to whoever needs it enough to take it (steal it). That way we don't own the anger. >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Moshiach's Hat

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | Moshiach's Hat | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| Moshiach's Hat (A Poem To Ponder) 'Twas the night of the Geulah -- And in every single Shtiebel Sounds of Torah could be heard -- Coming from every kind of Yeedel. This one in English -- Some in Hebrew, some in Yiddish. Some saying P'shat -- and some saying a Chiddish. And up in Shamayim -- The Aibishter decreed: "The time has come -- for My children to be freed." "Rouse the Moshiach -- from his heavenly berth. Have him get in his chariot -- and head down to earth." The Moshiach got dressed -- and with a heart full of glee, Went down to earth and entered -- the first Shtiebel he did see. "I am the Moshiach! -- Hashem has heard your plea! Your Geulah has come! -- it's time to go free!" They all stopped their learning -- This was quite a surprise. And they looked at him carefully -- with piercing sharp eyes. "He's not the Moshiach!" -- said one with a grin. "Just look at his hat -- at the pinches and brim!" "That's right!" cried another -- with a grimace and frown, "Whoever heard of Moshiach -- with a brim that's turned down?" "Well," thought Moshiach, -- "If this is the rule, I'll turn my brim up -- before I go to the next shul." So he walked right on over -- to the next shul in town. Sure to be accepted -- since his brim was no longer down. "I'm the Moshiach!" he cried -- as he began to enter, But the Jews wanted to know first -- if he was Left, Right, Center. "Your clothes are so black!" -- They cried out in fright. "You can't be Moshiach -- you're much too far right!" "If you want to be Moshiach -- you must be properly outfitted." So they replaced his black hat -- with a kippah that was knitted. Wearing his new kippah, Moshiach went out and said: "No difference to me -- what I wear on my head." So he went to the next shul -- for his mission was dear. But he was getting frustrated -- with the Yidden down here. "I'm the Moshiach!" he cried -- and they all stopped to stare, And a complete eerie stillness -- filled up the air. "You're the Moshiach?! -- Just imagine that! Whoever heard of Moshiach -- without a black hat?" "But I do have a hat!" --- the Moshaich then said. So he pulled it right out -- and plunked it down on his head. Then the shul started laughing -- and one said: "Where's your kop? You can't have Moshiach -- with a brim that's turned up!" "If you want to be Moshiach -- and accepted in this town, Put some pinches in your hat -- and turn that brim down!" Moshiach walked out and said: "I guess my time hasn't come. I'll just have to return -- to where I came from." So he went to his chariot, but as he began to enter, All sorts of Jews appeared -- from the Left, Right, and Center. "Please wait -- do not leave -- it's all their fault" they said, And they pointed to each other -- and to what was on each other's head. Moshiach just looked sad -- and said, "You don't understand." And then started up his chariot -- to get out of this land. "Yes, it's very wonderful -- that you all learn Torah. But you seem to have forgotten -- a crucial part of our Mesorah." "What does he mean? -- What's he talking about?" And they all looked bewildered -- and all began to shout. Moshiach looked back and answered -- "The first place to start, Is to shut up your mouths -- and open your hearts." "To each of you, certain Yidden -- seem to Frum or too Frei, But all Yidden are beloved -- in the Aibishter's eye." And on his way up he shouted: "If you want me to come, Try working a little harder -- on some Ahavat Chinam!" * Origin: MESSIANIC JEWISH CN1 BBS (8:7002/1.0) >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PUTTING A POLITICALLY CORRECT NATIVITY

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | A POLITICALLY CORRECT NATIVITY | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| A POLITICALLY CORRECT NATIVITY by John Leo And Joseph went up from Galilee to Bethlehem with Mary, his espoused wife, who was great with child. And she brought forth a son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. And the angel of the Lord spoke to the shepherds and said, "I bring you tidings of great joy. Unto you is born a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." "There's a problem with the angel," said a Pharisee who happened to be strolling by. As he explained to Joseph, angels are widely regarded as religious symbols, and the stable was on public property where such symbols were not allowed to land or even hover. "And I have to tell you, this whole thing looks to me very much like a Nativity scene," he said sadly. "That's a no-no, too." Joseph had a bright idea. "What if I put a couple of reindeer over there near the ox and ass?" he said, eager to avoid sectarian strife. "That would definitely help," said the Pharisee, who knew as well as anyone that whenever a savior appeared, judges usually liked to be on the safe side and surround it with deer or woodland creatures of some sort. "Just to clinch it, throw in a candy cane and a couple of elves and snowmen, too," he said. "No court can resist that." Mary asked, "What does my son's birth have to do with snowmen?" "Snowpersons," cried a young woman, changing the subject before it veered dangerously toward religion. Off to the side of the crowd, a Philistine was painting the Nativity scene. Mary complained that she and Joseph looked too tattered and worn in the picture. "Artistic license," he said. "I've got to show the plight of the haggard homeless in a greedy, uncaring society in winter," he quipped. "We're not haggard or homeless. The inn was just full," said Mary. "Whatever," said the painter. Two women began to argue fiercely. One said she objected to Jesus' birth "because it privileged motherhood." The other scoffed at virgin births, but said that if they encouraged more attention to diversity in family forms and the rights of single mothers, well, then, she was all for them. "I'm not a single mother," Mary started to say, but she was cut off by a third woman who insisted that swaddling clothes are a form of child abuse, since they restrict the natural movement of babies. With the arrival of 10 child advocates, all trained to spot infant abuse and manger rash, Mary and Joseph were pushed to the edge of the crowd, where arguments were breaking out over how many reindeer (or what mix of reindeer and seasonal sprites) had to be installed to compensate for the infant's unfortunate religious character. An older man bustled up, bowling over two merchants, who had been busy debating whether an elf is the same as a fairy and whether the elf/fairy should be shaking hands with Jesus in the crib or merely standing to the side, jumping around like a sports mascot. "I'd hold off on the reindeer," the man said, explaining that the use of asses and oxen as picturesque backdrops for Nativity scenes carries the subliminal message of human dominance. He passed out two leaflets, one denouncing manger births as invasions of animal space, the other arguing that stables are "penned environments" where animals are incarcerated against their will. He had no opinion about elves or candy canes. Signs declaring "Free the Bethlehem 2" began to appear, referring to the obviously exploited ass and ox. Someone said the halo on Jesus' head was elitist. Mary was exasperated. "And what about you, old mother?" she said sharply to an elderly woman. "Are you here to attack the shepherds as prison guards for excluded species, maybe to complain that singing in Latin identifies us with our Roman oppressors, or just to say that I should have skipped patriarchal religiosity and joined some dumb new-age goddess religion?" "None of the above," said the woman, "I just wanted to tell you that the Magi are here." Sure enough, the three wise men rode up. The crowd gasped, "They're all male!" And "Not very multicultural!" "Balthasar here is black," said one of the Magi. "Yes, but how many of you are gay or disabled?" someone shouted. A committee was quickly formed to find an impoverished lesbian wiseperson among the halt and lame of Bethlehem. A calm voice said, "Be of good cheer, Mary, you have done well and your son will change the world." At last, a sane person, Mary thought. She turned to see a radiant and confident female face. The woman spoke again: "There is one thing, though. Religious holidays are important, but can't we learn to celebrate them in ways that unite, not divide? For instance, instead of all this business about 'Gloria in excelsis Deo,' why not just 'Season's Greetings'?" Mary said, "You mean my son has entered human history to deliver the message, 'Hello, it's winter'?" "That's harsh, Mary," said the woman. "Remember, your son could make it big in midwinter festivals, if he doesn't push the religion thing too far. Centuries from now, in nations yet unborn, people will give each other pricey gifts and have big office parties on his birthday. That's not chopped liver." "Let me get back to you," Mary said. ........................................................................ >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SAVING THE STARFISH

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | SAVING THE STARFISH | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| SAVING THE STARFISH There was once a little boy who was walking along the beach and all of a sudden he came upon thousands of starfish that had washed up on the beach. The tide was going out, and for some strange reason, the starfish ended up stuck on the beach. They were all doomed because they couldn't survive being out of the water in the hot sun until the next high tide. The little boy realized this and frantically started picking up starfish and throwing them, one at a time, back into the water. A man who was walking along the beach saw the boy and he yelled, "Son, what in the world are you doing? Don't you know that there are thousands of starfish on this beach? And don't you know that this beach goes on for miles and miles? There is no way in the world you can save all those starfish!" The little boy thought about that for a moment, then turned to the man, picked up a starfish and said, "Yeah, I know. But I can save this one." And he heaved it as far as he could into the ocean. Sometimes we get discouraged because we can't solve all the problems of the world, or see all of our friends and family come to Christ, or do everything that we feel God wants us to do. But we can do something. And something is always better than doing nothing at all. You aren't going to be able to win the whole world to Christ. But you can share the love of Jesus with one person. All heaven rejoices when one person is saved. You can't do everything--but you can do a lot more than you think you can. And God will take what you do, bless it, and multiply it--just like he did with a little boy's lunch beside the sea of Galilee. So pick up a starfish and toss it. That's all God wants you to do. He'll do the rest. ........................................................................ EVOLUTION REVISITED "Science will never raise ...the curtain on the mystery of creation... The scientist has scaled the mountain of ignorance. He is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries." -Robert Jastrow, Professor of Earth Sciences at Dartmouth ....................................................................... Are we are worse than a broken down automobile? by Bob Spreadborough _________ BANG! _________ ____/_________\______ ____/_________\_______ / _ _ // _ _ / <--- A REAR-END CRASH! \--(_)---------(_)--/ \--(_)----------(_)--/ Keyart by Carolyn Mineah Even though Detroit is increasingly doing better. they can't make a car that will last forever. So we get 36 months or 36,000 miles guarantee. And even 24 hour round the clock roadside service... Wonderful!!! but it all ends in 36/36. Then if we change the oil, and give it proper service, we may get 100,000 miles or even more. Now the maker of the human body did a whole lot better than Detroit. The original humans had a lifetime warranty... and a life that would never end. This was a conditional warranty that our maker gave- the condition was obedience. (our maker even gave his original humans the choice to obey or not to obey). To obey the Creator, the original humans were given total physical, emotional, mental, health and harmony, and a life that was un-ending. To disobey the Creator, the original humans would be out of harmony with the power of the creator ...malfunction, would follow; deceitfulness, pride, hatred, murder... and ultimately death. Have you read in the book of Genesis of the temptation, and the fall of the first humans? Their maker wisely allowed them the power of choice. They chose and the results of their choice to go against the will of their creator, brought all of the sickness and disease... such as recorded by Johns Hopkins in "Health and Wellness". Now... the Creator of humankind... still valued those he created... even though they had become weak, sick, and decrepit from that fatal 'choice to disobey'. He wanted all humankind to enjoy the original benefits of his original creation... so much, that he offered everyone of us a way to regain that estate. That was something that Detroit could never do for our old worn out cars. But our Creator has offered us a far better deal than Detroit, and the best part of it is, that the Creator has offered it as a free gift. No gimmicks, no balloon note financing. The gift is ours if we believe in His Son! You can read all about this free gift of restoration to eternal life... if you read the Book of John, or of Matthew, or Mark, or Luke. If you have read it before, please read it again, and ask the Creator to help you open your eyes to understanding. I will be asking the Creator to help you see. BobKat >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE ROAD OF LIFE

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | THE ROAD OF LIFE | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| The Burden of the Day It has been well said that no man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourselves so, my friends. If you find yourselves so loaded, at least remember this: it is your own doing, not God's. He begs you to leave the future to Him and mind the present. -George MacDonald ........................................................................ _@ THE ROAD OF LIFE _ \<._ ......(_)/ (_)............................(Keyart by Kenneth Peck) At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized his picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him. But later on, when I met Christ, It seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know when it was that he suggested that we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable... It was the shortest distance between two points. But when he took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, It was all I could do to hang on! And though it seemed like madness, All He said was 'Pedal'. I worried and was anxious and I asked, 'Where are you taking me?' He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, 'I'm scared,' He'd lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, joy and acceptance. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, 'Give the gifts away; they are extra baggage, too much weight.' So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light. I did not trust Him, at first, To be in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion Jesus Christ. And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says....'Pedal.' -Author unknown >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Pastoral Relations Committee

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | The Pastoral Relations Committee | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| The Pastoral Relations Committee One of the toughest tasks a church faces is choosing a good minister. A member of an official board undergoing this painful process finally lost patience. He'd just witnessed the Pastoral Relations Committee reject applicant after applicant for some minor fault -- real or imagined. It was time for a bit of soul-searching on the part of the committee. So he stood up and read this letter purporting to be from another applicant. "Gentlemen: Understanding your pulpit is vacant, I should like to apply for the position. I have many qualifications. I've been a preacher with much success and also have had some success as a writer. Some say I'm a good organizer. I've been a leader most places I've been. I'm over 50 years of age and have never preached in one place for more than 3 years. In some places, I have left town after my work caused disturbances and riots. I must admit I have been in jail three or four times, but not because of any real wrongdoing. My health is not too good though I still accomplish a great deal. The churches I have preached in have been small though located in several large cities. I've not gotten along well with religious leaders in the towns where I have preached. In fact, some have threatened me, and even attacked me physically. I am not too good at keeping records. I have been known to forget whom I have baptized. But if you can use me, I promise to do my best for you." The board member turned to the committee and said, "What do you think? Shall we call him as pastor?" The good church folks were appalled! Consider such a sickly, trouble-making, absent-minded ex-jailbird? Was the board member crazy? Who signed the application? Who had such colossal nerve? He eyed them all keenly before he replied, "It's signed, 'The Apostle Paul.'" ........................................................................ It Matters Not It matters not if I've been hurt; it matters not at all That sometimes from my weary eyes the scalding teardrops fall. What matters most is if I've erred and not confessed a sin, And through my lack some needy soul has failed to follow Him. It matters not if cherished friends on whom I lean in vain, Have wounded me in word and deed and left me with my pain. What matters is can I forgive again and yet again? It's not, "Have they been true?" but, "Lord, have I been true to Them?" 'Twill matter not, when evening comes, how rough the road I've trod, If only I have walked with Him and led some soul to God. -Anonomous >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SONGS OF THANKSGIVING

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | SONGS OF THANKSGIVING | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| **SONGS OF THANKSGIVING** Lord at thy table we behold the wonders of Thy grace; But, most of all, admire that we should find a welcome place. What strange, surprising grace is this, that we, so lost, have room? Jesus our weary soul invites, and freely bids us come. Ye saints below, and hosts of heaven join all your sacred powers: No theme is like redeeming love; no Savior is like ours. Joseph Stennett 1663-1713 Here at Thy table, Lord, we meet to feed on food devine; Thy body is the bread we eat, Thy precious blood the wine. He that prepares this rich repast, Himself comes down and dies; And then invites us thus to feast upon the sacrifice. Sure, there was never love so free, Dear Savior, so devine! Well Thou may'st claim that love of me, which owes so much to Thine. Yes, Thou shalt surely have my heart, my soul, my strength, my all, With life itself I'll freely part, my Jesus, at Thy call. Samuel Stennett 1728-1795 >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riding in the Back of a Pick-up Truck

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | Riding in the Back of a Pick-up Truck | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| __________/~~~\_______ Riding in the Back /===_======~~~~~=_====/ of a Pick-up Truck \--(_)----------(_)--/ by Ginger McAfee "The many warnings of the apostles in the New Testament epistles to their wayward flocks don't make any sense unless one assumes salvation may be lost. In the history of the church different traditions tend to emphasize either one set of passages or the other. A theology professor spoke about this debate comparing it to riding in the back of a pickup truck with the tailgate down. He said some are convinced a person can fall out the back, others are convinced it is impossible. Whatever you think it makes sense to ride as close to the cab as you can." -Gary Cole As a Baptist I believe that if a person is truly born again, they are secure in Jesus' hand. In John 10:28-29 Jesus said, "and I give ETERNAL life to them, and they shall NEVER perish and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me is greater than sll; and no one is able to shatch them out of the Father's hand." NAS In Romans 8:32-39, Paul asks the the question, "What shall separate us form the love of Christ?" Shall tribulation, or distress or persecution, or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? ...But is all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus." NAS There is, however, enough tension in Hebrews to "keep us near the cab of the truck". We must remember, though, that the writer of Hebrews was writing to Israel. The Jews who had left keeping of the law and Temple sacrifices and had accepted Jesus, some Judaizers were saying trusting in Jesus alone was not enough, you had to keep the law too. The writer was telling them that once they accepted the atoning blood of Jesus, there was no need to fall back into the law. I don't believe this meant that one sin will cost a Christian's salvation, but according to Hebrews 6:4-6 "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away (back into the law, (my emphasis) it is impossible to renew them again to repentance since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame." The falling is a deliberate act of leaving the saving grace and taking up again another form of salvation. If it were possible to have salvation in any other manner then the cross would be a shame to Jesus. It would not have been necessary for Jesus to have died. With these verses in mind, I will say that if it is possible to turn away from God and loose your salvation, it will be impossible to be saved again. I love the illustration of that pick up truck by Gary Cole. I fully believe I am safe in Jesus' hand but all the same, I want to ride as close to the cab of the truck as I can. | /\-/\ | \@ @______/\ Blessings, Ginger McAfee | \ O \#######} | <> #######} Now may the God of peace be with you all Amen | { }~~~{ } (Rom. 15:33) ........................................................................ BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT GOD HATH PROMISED God hath not promised skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through; God hath not promised sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, Peace without pain. But God hath promised strength for the day, Rest for the labor, light for the way. Grace for the trials, Help from above, Unfailing Sympathy. Undying love. -Unknown >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus!

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus! | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus! $f dF , .,,,... :$L ;$ ,dP ,!!!!!!!',cd$$$$$e, q 4$f,$$,z$" ,!!!!!!!',c$$$$$$$$$$$$c `$o`$$kuC3$$ .zf ,!!!!!!!',c$$$$$$P**""**?$c R$beeF?$$$$$" ;!!!!!!! c$$$$$$",eed$$F"?t" "$$$$bd$$$" ;!!!!!!!.d$$$$$F j"j$3$bf""?b?e, '$$$$$$P" !!!!!!: $$$$$$P J,f ,d$$b?$bde`$c .$k(?????)'$b !!!!!!!$$$$F".$$".u$$??P}"""^ ?$$c. d$$$$$dd$$$$$> `!!!!! ?L e$$ $$$$$P'zee^"$$$$boc"$$, R$$$$$$$$$$$$ '!!! z$$$$$c,"$P'd$$F'zdbeereee$$$$$eu "??$$$$PF" Mn !! d$$$$$$$$ee z$P",d$$$$$$c?$$$$$$$$C '!!!::::!!!) MMM ,cec, '^$$$$$$$$$c,",e$$C?$$$$$$bc?$$$$$$$k !!!!!!!!!!!! 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"""??$ !!!!!!!!!!!!! '!!!!!!!!i:`'!!!!!!!!!!!;,.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: '!!!!!!!!!!!.'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: '!!!!!!!!!!!!! '!!!f`!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: `!!!!!!!!!!!!!i `!!i:.``!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: `!!!!!!!!!!!!!i`!!!!!!i `!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!> ``'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!;.:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (!:. ``''!!!!!!!i')!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!':((`... ``` '''!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!: ``!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!`:!!!!!!!!!!' `'!!!!!!!!!!!`:!!!!!!!!!!! `'!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!` `' :!!`''`...:!' ``'''!!!''` zr Yt$$$. .,e$$$$$F' 4e r $$$$$$$. d$$br _z$$$$$$$F` ?$$b._ ^?$$$$$$$ 4$$$" -eec. ""JP" ..eee$%.. -**N #c -^***.eE ^z$P$$$$$$$$$r- .ze$$$$$eu?$eu '$$$$b $=^*$$ .$$$$$$$$$$" --."?$$$$$$$$$c"$$c .""" e$K =""*?$$$P"""" ueee. `:` $E !!h ?$$$$$$$$b R$N'~!! *$$F J"""C. ` J `"$$eu`!h !!!`4!!(?$$$$$$$P ?".eee-z.ee" ~$$e.br 'j$$Ne`?$$c`4!~`-e-:!:`$$$$$$$ $$**"z $^R$P 3 "$$$bJ 4$$$F".`?$$c`!! \).!!!`?$$$$F.$$$# $u$% ee*"^ :4`"$"?$q ""`,!!!:`$$N.4!!~~.~~4 ?$$F'$$F.@.* -L.e@$$$$ec. " "Rr`!!!!h ?$$c`h: `# !! $F,r4$L*** e$$$$$$$$$$$$hc #e'4!!!!L`$$b'!.:!h`~~ .$F'" d$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$h, ^$.`!!!!h $$b`!. - $P /' .$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$c "$c`!!!h`$$.4~ $$$r' ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P""" ^te.`~ $$b `Fue- `$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P".: !! "( ^"=4$P" .,,,. -^. ?$$$$$$$$$$"?:. !! :!!~ ,,ec.. ..z$$$$$$$$$h, `$$$$$$P"..`!f :!f ~)Lze$$$P""""?i ud$$$$$$$$$$$$$$h `?$$F (!!'(!):~)ue$$P*"..:!!!!! J .K$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, P.>e'!f !~ ed$$P".:!!!!!!!!`.d" z$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 4!!~\e$$$P`:` .!!!!!!!!!!'.eP' -*". . "??$$$$$$$$$$$$ ~ `z$$$F".`!!!!!!!!!!',dP" ." ):!!h i`!- ("?$$$$$$f ,$$P":! ). `'!!!!`,d$F' .ueeeu.J`-^.!h (- ~`.. ??$$' ,$$ :!!`e$$$$e `,e$F' e$$$$$$$$$$$$$eeiC ")?:-(:%':^? ?$f !!! ?$$$$",F" P"....```""?$$$$$$$$$euL^.!..` . "Tu._.,``"" $ !!!!!!!!!!::.""??$$$$$$eJ~^=. ```` ?$.`!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:."??$$$$$c'. "?b.`!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!>."?$$$$c ^?$c`'!!!!!!!!!!!',eeb, "$$$k "?$e.`'!!!!!!! $$$$$ ;.?$$ "?$ee,``''!."?$P`i!! 3P ""??$bec,,.,ceeeP" `"""""" --- keyart by slemo warigon Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. But he's much more than the mythical figure described in the Christmas editorial that appeared in the New York Sun more than a century ago. In response to a question by eight-year-old Virginia Hanlon, a New York Sun editor wrote, ''How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!'' But Francis Church, the Sun editor, missed the most important point: there really is a Santa Claus. It has nothing to do with fairies or romance, and everything to do with child-like faith. Santa Claus, a derivative of the Dutch name, Sant Nikolaus, or St. Nicholas, exists today as surely as you and I exist. In the Catholic Litany of Saints, Santa Claus is on the list, after St. Martin. We even have a picture of the real St. Nick. A famous fifteenth-century icon depicts him as a rotund bishop with a white beard. As befits his office, he is dressed in ecclesiastical red, a color meant to evoke memories of the martyrs. And, although the great saint now lives forever with God in heaven, we also know where his earthly remains are buried. In 1087 Italian soldiers stole the saint's body from Myra, Asia Minor, and carried it to a church in southern Italy, where it rests to this day. St. Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop, was known far and wide for his charity and his Christian zeal. In one legend, St. Nicholas anonymously threw a bag of gold into the open window of a young woman who couldn't marry because she didn't have a dowry. In another legend, he saved three children from death. One item reported as fact, not legend, is that St. Nick was the first to initiate programs to teach mentally handicapped children. Today, more than 2,000 churches are dedicated to St. Nicholas in France and Germany, and about 400 in England. He's honored as the patron saint of Russia, Greece, Sicily, and the Lorraine region of France. In addition, he's known as the patron saint of children and brides. His feast day is celebrated by Roman Catholics on Dec. 6. Devotions to St. Nicholas were brought to America by Dutch settlers in Colonial days. The saint became airborne in 1866 when cartoonist Thomas Nast, creator of the Democratic and Republican symbols of a donkey and an elephant, drew a carton for Harper's Weekly magazine depicting St. Nick as a jolly Dutch farmer who rode through the sky in a wagon, dropping presents down chimneys. More than 150 years ago Clement Clarke Moore penned his famous poem, originally titled ''A Visit from St. Nicholas.'' Today, most of us know it as ''The Night Before Christmas.'' ''The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there,'' he wrote. How did we get from the true image of a generous saint to the false icon of a business tycoon? Indeed, the toy moguls are happy, but the real St. Nick wouldn't want it that way. Beware of what you tell kids about Santa Claus. Be worthy of their ''child- like faith.'' Instead of compiling a demand list for a secular Santa, have them write a letter to the real Santa Claus. On Christmas morning, let your children know that the presents under the tree are meant to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. Tell them about St. Nicholas, and how he loved to bring smiles to the faces of children. It's just as easy to tell the truth about St. Nick as it is to indulge ourselves by weaving secular tales. When it comes to Santa, truth is better than fiction. Kids know that what they see on TV is make-believe, like Big Bird. They depend upon us to relate the story of Santa Claus in a way that is based, if only loosely, on the facts. There is something drastically wrong with the fact that a secularized version of Santa has become more popular than Jesus. Many kids look forward to his ''coming down the chimney'' more than they look forward to the celebration of the birth of Jesus -- the real reason for the season. It's our fault, not the kids, because if we spoke the truth about the real St. Nick in the same glowing way we speak untruths about the Santa invented by Madison Avenue, maybe kids would be excited about Jesus, too. They might even decide to dedicate their lives to Him -- just like Saint Nicholas did. Contributed by Kathleen Howley. Kathleen Howley is a syndicated columnist. Copyright 1996 73360.271@compuserve.com(samundso@harp.aix.calpoly.edu) Daily Wisdom online devotional http://www.gospelcom.net/gf/dw A service of Gospel Communications Network (GCN) A Ministry of Gospel Films, Inc. Downloaded courtesy Gospel Films and Communications Network. >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prayer by an Unknown Confederate Soldier

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | Prayer by an Unknown Confederate Soldier | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| Prayer by an Unknown Confederate Soldier I asked God for strength, that I might achieve. I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life. I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for-- but everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men, most richly blessed. >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHRISTIANITY ENTERS CYBERSPACE

|~~~~~._O_.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~._O_.~~~~~| | [_____]_______________________________________________[_____] | | | | | | | | | | CHRISTIANITY ENTERS CYBERSPACE | | | | !___!_________________________________________________!___! | | [_____] [_____] | |______'O'___________________________________________________'O'______| What is the internet? What is the World Wide Web? These questions were unknown in the not too distant past. Science Researchers wanted a way to communicate quickly with each other and send research papers back and forth to study. An internet of computers was set up for this purpose. The internet grew beyond the field of science and became a mode of communication for any person who had a computer and a modem that connected their computer to their telephone line. It didn't take Christians long to discover they also could communicate the gospel through the internet system. They also started to set up web pages that can be read by people all over the world. Seventh Day Baptists have entered this ministry also. Those who attended the General Conference in Lindsburg, Kansas in 1994 may have noticed an announcement in the Conference Crier. The announcement was for a meeting to set up a plan to use the internet by Seventh Day Baptists. At that meeting a plan to use the internet was established. The Seventh Day Baptist Internet newsletter, Fisherman's Net, was also the result of that meeting. Please tell all your friends about The Fisherman's Net newsletter. Those who have e-mail addresses can receive a copy each month. Be especially mindful of high school and college who very likely have e-mail addresses through their schools. We have an opportunity to keep our college youth in contact while they are away from home. Simply have them send their request for the newsletter to my email address- jconrod@juno.com through their internet service. I have been also working on a local computer bulletin board called Colorado Meeting Place. It was to help people with disabilities. I received a message from a person who works with Joni Eareckson Tada at JAF Ministries. He asked me, "What is your opinion of the ministry potential to persons affected by disability via the 'Net? Do you have to find opportunities, or do they just come to you? My theory is that there is tremendous amount of potential, but at this point I only have theories." I told him that I found a problem trying to minister to those who are still in denial about their disability. Many try to look and act "normal" so they will not stop to take the time to type on a computer. Those who have reached the point where they no longer have an active lifestyle finally find the world of the internet a place they can be "active." And at this point they are really start to ask spiritual questions (Christians and non-Christians alike). When I first logged onto CMP I just read and wrote informal letters. Most of the questions were of the "Why, me?" type. Then there started the "How could a loving, caring God allow this?" questions. The public forum became so filled with these messages that it was decided to set up a separate Sprituality forum. Almost as soon as the Spirituality forum was set up, I was asked to host it. When I have time I surf the "net" looking for messages that are cries for help and seek with God's help to supply answers. Search words like "life," "God" and "why" help to find such messages without reading through all of them. We are always in the process of updating World Wide Web pages for Seventh Day Baptists. A lot of the information presently found on various websites about our denomination is incorrect or incomplete. The first time I did a search using the words "seventh day baptist" all I was able to find was the Web page of the Grace Baptist Church in Anchorage, Alaska. They had on their page the statement, "God rested the seventh day and so should you." Although the statement is correct, it didn't help me find Seventh Day Baptists. People are out there on the internet who are looking for Seventh Day Baptists. One person who did find Seventh Day Baptists and is communicating with me by vinternet said, "What makes Seventh Bay Baptists unique in Christiandom is the 'freedom of conscience as quided by the Holy Spirit.'" Another writer wrote about the church he left, "When people are forced to accept 27 doctrinal beliefs for membership and when the church focuses on unity by doctrinal beliefs, not by love, you can see why there is such concern about doctrinal purity." What does all this have to do with evangelism? Remember that there are three sections to the Great Commission which the Lord gave to us to follow: Matthew 28 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. First, we are to teach the gospel of salvation. Second, we are to baptise those who believe the gospel. But also we are to teach the observance of all that the Lord has commanded and this includes the Sabbath commandment as well as the command to love God and neighbor. It is all a part of evangelism. We are to witness and teach with the loving concern that only comes through the guidiance of the Holy Spirit, whether it is done one by one or it is done by a global message flashed across the planet on the internet. >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=> >=>

This Electronic Tract was produced by Fisherman's Net Publications: a division of New Covenant Ministries. For additional information regarding other publications write: Seventh Day Baptist Center 3120 Kennedy Road P.O. Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 ____________________________________________________________________ |>=> .e0e. .e0e. NEW COVENANT MINISTRIES >=>| |>=> 0HHHH~HHHH0 Fisherman's Net >=>| |>=> `HHoo ooHH' "The time is coming, says the Lord: when I >=>| |>=> `HH HH' will make a new covenant." -Jeremiah 31:31-33 >=>| |>=> `V' http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM00050 >=>| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Copyright © 1999 New Covenant Ministries. All rights reserved.Last update February 26, 1999 MIDI files Copyright © 1997 Conrod Technical Services

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All rights reserved.
Last update February 26, 1999

MIDI files Copyright © 1997 Conrod Technical Services