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, June 7, 1999

 From God's Word:

  A Different Kind of Rebuke

 

"He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise." (Prov 15:31 NIV)

 

The words "life-giving rebuke" stands out in this verse.  Such is not a mere warning regarding a wrong done or a mistake made.   The image here is one of Spirit-led admonition regarding sin and depravity.   This is not a rebuke with an attitude but a rebuke with a purpose -- to save our very soul.  The ultimate aim of these wise words is eternal life.

    No one rebukes a corpse -- unless, of course, in a burst of emotion over the tragedy of a life lost.  A corpse is dead; it cannot hear, it cannot repent.  No, the rebuke described here is to one who is physically and emotionally alive but spiritually dead.  This rebuke is given to one who has the potential of joining those who see the light, have escaped the darkness, and now stand with the truly wise of the world -- those who know God!

    Is this verse for you?  Does this verse describe the need of your life?  Have you yet received the wisdom which comes from knowing and trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  If not, what are you waiting for?  Accept His offer of eternal life before it is too late. 

    For more information on how you can receive God's free gift of eternal life, click here now.

 

. . . Amen.

Together We Pray

For a brother-like friend who was rejected by a review board of the Veterans Administration in consideration of his Chaplaincy application.

    For yet another couple who is being plagued with marital difficulties.  This couple has only been married three years and the woman has been pregnant 18 of these months.

    For the prospect of peace in the Balkans.

    For a grandmother who suffered a stroke while driving and lost control of her car; she remains unconscious in a South Carolina hospital.

    For a young lady who continues to feel the call to lay ministry; her husband rejoiced at the news and she will soon speak to an organization which she feels called to serve.

    For students, teachers and leaders of Vacation Bible School programs this summer; may God grant an abundant harvest of young souls.

    For grandparents who will be traveling this week.

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

    For our spouses . . .

    For our children; remember especially those children who may be at camp this week and in the weeks to come.

    For God's very real and personal presence in our lives . . . Amen.

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

Living By Faith:

Stealth Pilot Says "God took my hands and pulled"

The United States stealth fighter pilot shot down over Yugoslavia in March of this year says God helped him survive.  The pilot, whose name was not mentioned in a report published by the Air Force, ejected during a night mission on March 27 deep in Serbian territory.  The pilot's F-117A Nighthawk had been hit by a Yugoslav surface-to-air missile or anti-aircraft fire, military sources said.
    The ejection was violent, the pilot said.  "The one fragment of this whole event I can't remember is pulling the (ejection seat) handles.  God took my hands and pulled."  The pilot landed in a Yugoslav field where he hid in a culvert for six hours until he was rescued by helicopters from the Air Force's 16th Special Operations Group.  While in hiding, the pilot says he saw flashing lights and reported that a search dog came within 30 yards of his position, the Air Force said.
    The pilot had an American flag folded under his flight suit.  "For me, it was representative of all the people who I knew were praying," he said.  "It helped me not let go of hope.  Hope gives you strength and it gives you endurance."

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

 

Get VBS Help OnLine!   Summer is here and that means Vacation Bible School will soon be here -- if it's not already!  In the past, church leaders have had to rely on printed catalogs and toll-free telephone numbers to order material, get advice, and field questions about their Bible School.  Not any more!  Today, VBS materials, supplies, and information are available on the World Wide Web.  One place in particular is the Mt. Extreme Online site at www.bssb.com/yourvbs/index.htm.

    Mt. Extreme is this year's VBS theme from the God-filled servants at the Southern Baptist Convention.  The school features mountain climbing adventures and trail blazing activities which students of all ages (nursery through adult) are sure to enjoy.  More important, each lesson is purposed to bring participants closer to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.   The site let's visitors download information and clipart and a whole lot more.

    Check out the latest VBS information online at www.bssb.com/yourvbs, it's some of the good stuff on the Internet.

 

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.

 

News You Can Use . . .

Wal-Mart's decision not to sell the "morning-after" contraceptive Previn at its pharmacies is a positive step, a pro-life group says.  "They are to be congratulated for their decision and commended for sticking to it," Judie Brown of the American Life League said.   The organization praised the chain of discount stores for not giving in to pressure from groups such as Planned Parenthood.  Wal-Mart's decision "may save human lives," Brown said.
    Previn stops ovulation and may prevent fertilized eggs from becoming implanted in the uterus if taken up to 72 hours after having intercourse, The New York Times said.  It is not similar to the RU-486 abortion pill, which induces an abortion up to 49 days of having intercourse.  While most pro-life groups have opposed RU-486, many have taken no stand on Previn.  Wal-Mart, the fifth-largest distributor of pharmaceuticals in the country, did not elaborate on its reasons for refusing to sell the drug.  (Religion Today, Monday, May 17, 1999)

 

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?"