February 19, 1999

Christ Suffered for Me!

"Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers aroudn him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him." (Matthew 27:27-32 NIV)

Jesus indured much to save you and me. The reality of His suffering is made all the more vivid when we realize Jesus suffered and died for our sins. Our sins caused him to be treated like this text describes. Our sins made Him endure the death He faced. What a terrible reality. I would never want anyone to be beat and abused as Jesus was beat and abused -- much less for something I had done! But such is exactly what happened.

How can we undo the harm caused Jesus? Alas, we can not. Nothing we do can ever make it up. What's worse, God will someday hold us accountable for causing Jesus' pain. Everyone, whether we acknowlege Jesus as Lord or totally disbelieve in God, we WILL someday be judged for every deed, every word, every single solitary sin.

Fortunately, Jesus, the very one we wronged, He is willing to forgive us. The reality of that should cause us to fall to our knees in utter humility. How could anyone beat so badly, humiliated so disgracefully forgive us? Because He loves us!

Realizing that Jesus does forgive -- that is, if we confess our sins and genuinely seek His forgiveness, we can offer the rest of our lives to Him in grateful acknowledgement for His sacrificial love. It's a small price to pay when understood in light of eternity.

Friend, don't let another minute go by. Read the words printed above again. Consider the suffering your sins caused God's Son. And when you have, ask God to forgive you. If you need help drop me an e-mail. If you prefer visit my web site to discover how to recieve the free gift of eternal life.

Forgive me, Jesus, for making you suffer. Thank you, Savior, for dying for me. Use me, O Lord, as only you can. Amen.

Together We Pray

For young Ann Taylor, a 7 year old who sustained serious head injuries when she was hit by a tree this week. Ann is in serious condition in a pediatric hospital in Columbia, S.C.

For the families of six children who were killed near Wallis, S.C. Pray also for the driver of the bus as she deal with the magnitude of that day.

For a mother who suddenly lost her 4 year old baby last week. The baby had an infection but the child's death can not be explained.

For a couple seeking to adopt a foster child in their care.

For a pastor seeking God's "perfect" will.

For the family of a missionary and his two sons murdered by Hindu's in India.

For three kidnapped Columbian missionaries who are reportedly still alive after eight years!

For God's grace, goodness, and love . . . Amen.

Bible Readings (date, read, focus)
Fri Feb 19	Mk 5:1-5:43; Prov 10:10-12	Prov 10:10
Sat Feb 20	Mk 6:1-6:56; Prov 10:13-16	Mark 6:1-3
Sun Feb 21	Lev 9:1-13:59; Psm 25	Lev 10:10
Mon Feb 22	Lev 14:1-16:34; Psm 26	Lev 16:2
Tues Feb 23	Lev 17:1-20:27; Psm 27	Psm 27:8
Wed Feb 24	Lev 21:1-24:23; Psm 28	Lev 23:22
Thur Feb 25	Lev 25:1-27:34; Psm 29	Lev 25:1
Fri Feb 26	Num 1:1-2:34; Psm 30	Num 1:1-2
The complete one year Bible reading plan is available on the Journey Through the Bible web site.

Computer Corner

I have two sites to share with you this week. First, my wife stumbled accross a Christian web page devoted to humor called Humor, Jokes and Good Clean Fun. The editor of the page, Darrin Simpson, granted me permission to use the Jesus Inside image below. My wife sat at the page for a while. Her only interruption was an occational outburst of laughter. I couldn't help myself either. It was that good!

Another site of particular interest was one I visited with my young nine year old daughter. The Crayola crayon company has something to offer for children, parents, and teachers. You'll very much enjoy the page's clean layout and the multitude of images you can print for your wee ones. While there, let your child color the logo at the top of the page using the online crayons provided. It's some of the good stuff on the Internet.
For other interesting web sites, check out our list of links on the Journey Through the Bible web site.

Testimony: As Far as East from West

Seated in a lone mountain cottage, a man of sixty years read the 103rd Psalm aloud. When he reached the words, "Who forgives all your sins," his wife remarked. "I heard Dr. Guthrie preach on that thirty-eight years ago," she recalled. "He said forgiveness could be known here . . . I never forgot his words."
"If it can," the husband remarked, "we'll have it," and he read on. At verse twelve, he read: "As far as the east is from the west, so far HAS He removed our transgressions from us." A moment of silence followed, then grasping his wife's arm he said, "If God says that, I am a pardoned man!"
The man had taken God at His Word. Amen!

Send me your story!

Ministry Needs

Kidnapped Missionaries Alive? Prayer and diplomatic efforts continue for three kidnapped missionaries. Prayer for Rich Mankins, Dave Tenenhoff, and Mark Rich is making a difference, Sanford, Florida-based New Tribes Mission (http://www.ntm.org) says. The men were taken hostage by a Colombian rebel group in 1991; recent unconfirmed reports indicate they are still alive. (More on this ministry opportunity is available on the JTB web site)


Turkey is "close to a spiritual breakthrough." (BP) Christians are boldly proclaiming the gospel in mostly Muslim Turkey, and as they do they are gaining more freedom and becoming more accepted, a U.S.-based ministry to the country says. . . . More churches are being granted legal status and are more accepted by society. . . . Sales of New Testaments are increasing, and a 24-hour Christian radio station reaches 20 million listeners. Christians distributed 1,200 New Testaments and hundreds of audio tapes telling about the life of Christ in Istanbul's main shopping district on Christmas Eve. Most people warmly received the handouts and police officers did not interfere. "That kind of thing would have been impossible a few years ago," an official of a U.S.-based ministry to Turkey told Religion Today. Police arrested and deported foreign Christian workers for the same activities less than five years ago. (More on this ministry opportunity is available on the JTB web site)

Colombian Relief Effort Update --
Local churches and help from the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund, food parcels are now being shared with many earthquake victims. When asked what the food has meant to her and her family, Diana Geraldo unequivocally responded, "The help is very special. It is all that is keeping us alive. Without it, we would not be here." Clutching her frail hands to her heart, Diana declared, "We are very thankful to the people who sent the food. I know they have done it because they love the Lord and because they love people."
No doubt, there will be many struggles for Diana and those like her in the months ahead, struggles that Christians will be helping to ease through their support to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund and other relief agencies. You can make a difference if you are willing to get invovled today!
Gifts for Southern Baptists' Colombia earthquake relief efforts can be designated for Colombia relief/World Hunger Fund and mailed to the:

SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty
901 Commerce Street, Suite 550
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 244-2495

Want More?

e-mail Pastor Williams at ccwms@rocsoft.net for help in overcoming the storms of life, share prayer concerns, provide feedback, and more. You may also want to visit us on the World Wide Web at www.oocities.org/heartland/hollow/9254. There you can recieve the latest updates on Service/Ministry opportunities, review & print the entire one year Bible reading plan, share prayer concerns, biographical data on Pastor Williams, and more.

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Preview subscribors will automatically become subsubscribers unless we hear from you otherwise. Send an e-mail to Pastor Williams to unsubscribe from this free ministry. Submited testimonies and prayer requests are subject to editing by Pastor Williams for length and content. Bible readings alternate between Old and New Testament selections so as to journey the reader through the Bible in one year. Reflection verses are suggestions for daily spiritual growth. When reflecting, ask
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