Journey Through The Bible e-letter

The kingdom building ministry of Pastor Charles J. Williams, Jr., M.Div., promoting five Christian disciplines; obedience, prayer, reading and studying the Bible, ministry service, and personal evangelism.  This newsletter version represents the prayerful hope that you will grow closer to God and live the abundant life which only comes through Jesus Christ.

Monday, May 31, 1999

 From God's Word:

  Jesus' Ultimate Sacrifice

 

"And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." (2 Corinthians 5:15)

 

I'm skipping the third lesson from David's life this week to reflect upon the sacrifice Jesus made so we might not perish but have everlasting life (cf John 3:16).  Indeed, on this Memorial Day, we have no doubt witnessed and may well have participated in many celebrations to honor those who have laid down their life for the cause of truth, justice, and the "American way."  We pay tribute to those whose names have been etched on granite walls.  We view parades honoring those who were spared.  We confer medals upon the last remaining survivors of Wars long ago.  Yet do we remember the sacrifice Jesus made.

    Jesus Christ fought in what time will ultimately prove to be the most important battle of all -- the battle for our eternal souls.  And yes, Jesus won that battle, but it cost Him His life.  Indeed, God knew such a battle would cost Him His only begotten Son.  Still, He was willing.   He could have surrendered.  He could have taken the easy way out -- but He didn't!  Instead, He who was without sin died a sinners death so we could have life eternal.

    Jesus deserves our love and devotion.   He desires and deserves our undivided loyalty.  Such sacrifice is not in vain . . . it is the very essence of what will enable us to be raised again as well.

 

Dear Lord, we did not deserve your Love yet you gave it to us anyway.  Thank you.  Thank you for coming so that we might not die.   Thank you for teaching us and revealing Your boundless love to us.  Thank you for dying in MY place.  Thank you, O Lord, for demonstrating your great power through Your resurrection.  Thank you for hearing my prayers of confession and repentance and forgiving me of my sins.  And thank you, O Heavenly Father, for adopting me and sustaining me that I may learn to live in Your likeness and Grace.  For these things I give thanks in Jesus Holy and precious name . . . Amen.

Together We Pray

For a brother-like friend who is facing a review board of the Veterans Administration in consideration of his Chaplaincy application on Wednesday, June 2.

    In great gratitude for ongoing Kosovo relief efforts -- JTTB members and affiliated churches recently raised large numbers of new undergarments in support of one such effort.

    In great gratitude for ongoing relief efforts in Oklahoma -- JTTB members and affiliated churches finished collecting hundreds of new and like new toys for distressed Oklahoma children.

    For three young men (not of the same family) who are experiencing severe rebellion in their adolescent years; please remember the boys' parents as they seek to cope with these struggles through God's help.

    For a young lady feeling the call to lay ministry; please pray for clarity of purpose and for God to speak through the woman's husband as she shares the news.

    For those traveling on this holiday weekend.

    In great gratitude for those who made public their professions of faith this past Sunday and those wrestling with God's leading in their lives.

    For a summer youth worker.

    For teachers and administrators; their devotion to duty paves the way for our future.

    For our Father who art in Heaven . . . Amen.

Click here to share your prayer concerns and/or updates!

Living By Faith:

From underground Strategic Command, A Chaplain's 'Cool Job' Reaches 30,000 ft.
By John Gaskin

BELLEVUE, Neb. (BP) -- Jason Peters ministers in a parish that stretches from 30,000 feet above the earth to deep within an underground command post.
    He is living a childhood dream as a chaplain at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Neb.
    "As a child I had the privilege of knowing retired Army Chaplain Arnold 'Smokey' Stover. I was shocked when he told me the Army had pastors. My father was a pastor and had served in Vietnam, but I had no idea you could do both at the same time. My first thought was, 'What a cool job!'"
    Fifteen years later, Peters now has that job.
    Assigned to three different units at Offutt, comprising more than 1,000 members, Peters is considered their pastor and responsible to the wing commander for meeting their spiritual needs. . . . (( Read the rest of Chaplin Peters exciting story on the JTTB web site! ))

How has God helped you?  Where have you seen God at work?  Share your story today!

Ministry Needs . . .

 

Haiti . . . Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, continues to sink in despair.  The U.S. economic embargo from 1991-1994, Hurricane Georges, and unstable political leadership have thrown the country into chaos, Religion Today reports (Thursday, May 20, 1999).  One ministry in particular, For Haiti With Love, operates a medial clinic and provides food, medicine, and funding to help Haiti's most desperate citizens.

    "The only people that are making it in Haiti are those who had money before the embargo and those with relatives outside the country who send them money," Eve DeHart of For Haiti with Love told Religion Today.   International aid to the country has been reduced to a trickle.  "It seems everything is refocused because of Hurricane Mitch and Kosovo.  Haiti has kind of faded from the news and people's thoughts," DeHart said.

    Food is scarce and too expensive for the average person, DeHart said.  Rural dwellers can grow food, but those in the cities can't buy it.  "They have sold off, traded off, and bartered everything they have until they have nothing left," she said.  The money shortage is forcing people out of their homes because renters usually have to pay a full year in advance.   Saving all that money is 'just a dream,'" DeHart said.  "For those lucky enough to eke out three balanced meals a week, saving anything is an impossibility."

    For Haiti with Love is helping those in need to keep their homes.  Rental of a one-room home costs about $180 a year, and $15 a month can help keep a family off the streets.  A church recently donated enough to keep nine families housed, and the Kiwanis International Foundation recently contributed $8,000 for food assistance.  If you or your church would be interested in helping the people of Haiti, contact the ministry at (727)938-3245.

Oklahoma . . .  Oklahoma Relief Operations Enter New Phase

By James Dotson & Art Toalston

OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) -- Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers have prepared more than 115,000 meals and begun scaling down feeding operations as of May 13 in areas of Oklahoma and neighboring states devastated by tornadoes May 3.  Relief efforts have now begun moving into a new phase as chainsaw-bearing crews from across the South began arriving to assist with massive cleanup operations.

    In Oklahoma, where tornadoes claimed 44 lives, units from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas conventions had prepared 78,730 meals at four locations.  An Oklahoma unit at First Baptist church of Moore had closed operations and moved to Graceway Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, where an Arkansas unit was returning home May 14.  Other feeding units from Texas and Louisiana remain active.  Cleanup and recovery teams arrived throughout the week from Arkansas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas.  Also, a specially equipped trailer with multiple showers had arrived from North Carolina to supplement another NAMB-owned shower unit from Albany, Ga. . . . (( Read the entire story on line! ))

 

Click here to discover ways you can get involved. . .

Internet Corner

 

Watch Those Rumors!   For all its many advantages, the Internet may well have made communication too easy.  Such is evidenced by the propagation of a multitude of e-mail rumors which often creates undue worry and/or confusion.  Case in point, a FALSE e-mail rumor recently circulated which reported that a missionary in West Africa was about to tried for murder and would be hanged.   The story, which containing a kernel of truth, was nevertheless false.

    E-mail rumors are being transmitted everyday.  Some are disguised as "user response" opportunities to commercials, recipe stories, and more.  Believers should beware of such reports and seek to check out stories for ourselves before acting.  Remember, the Internet works both ways . . . not only can users glean information rapidly, we can request information just as quickly!

    It is the policy of Journey Through the Bible and Pastor Williams to NOT retransmit invalidated stories.   In addition, all prayer gram requests are verified for accuracy prior to transmission.   We want you to be sure of the information you get from us.  Besides, we want to be some of the good stuff on the Internet.   Because I Love Him and You . . . Pastor Williams

 

Have you an idea for "Internet Corner"?  Write us.

For other interesting web sites, check out our list of links on the Journey Through the Bible web site.

Want More?

e-mail us at jttb@oocities.com or visit us on the World Wide Web at www.oocities.org/~jttb for the latest updates on Service/Ministry opportunities, the complete one year Bible reading plan, links to web sites that help you grow in Christ, e-letter back issues, biographical data on Pastor Williams, and much more.

God loves you!  (cf John 3:16)

(c) 1999 Charles J. Williams, Jr., M.Div.  All rights reserved.

Preview subscribers will automatically become subscribers unless we hear from you otherwise.  Send an e-mail to Journey Through the Bible to unsubscribe from this free ministry.  Submitted 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 yourself: "What is God saying to 'me' in the this passage?"  Then ask "What will I say to God in response?"