Here's a little Bible trivia to brighten your day.

Did you know that each Hebrew letter has a numerical value? With that in mind, consider this:

Following Jesus' resurrection, the despondent disciples were out in a boat on the Sea of Tiberius attempting to catch some fish. However, their efforts proved unfruitful. The next morning, Jesus stood on the shore of the sea watching His disciples cast their nets and haul them in empty and void of fish. He "called out to them to" cast their net on the right side of the boat, where they proceeded to pull in "153" fish (John 21:1-14).

Have you ever wondered about the importance of citing the number of fish that were caught? Scripture could have simply maintained that there were so many, the disciples "were unable to haul the net in because of the large number" of them (v6). But in verse 11, it states "It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn."

By applying the numerical value to the Hebrew letters contained in the number of fish, the result is surprising.  It translates:

"I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD."

Of course, the account is a lesson, not only to Peter and the other disciples, but also to us; to be "fishers of men", to fill our nets "full of large fish", and to take comfort that in our service to Jesus, the "net" He holds in His hand will not let loose of them. But I found great encouragement and pleasure in learning this little bit of trivia.

When you think your "net" will forever remain empty, allow Him to direct where you cast it. Jesus knows the "fish" He wishes to "catch", and He will fill His "net" with them in large numbers, not letting a single one threaten to fall through the tears and back into the sea below.  Then, when at last we are on the shore with Him where He has prepared an abundant feast for us, we will share in His eternal joy and everlasting peace.

So, with that, go out and cast your net for Jesus. If you listen to His instruction and place your net on the right side of the boat, He will be faithful in filling it with more fish than you can haul in.

When the Pen Becomes A Sword

The ability to express oneself in the form of the written word is a true gift from God.  Not everyone is able to effectively accomplish this, regardless of their verbal eloquence or higher education.  Many uneducated men and women became some of the greatest authors in history, filling library shelves with well-written tomes worthy of reading.  The necessary tools are elementary: a pen and a passion to transfer thoughts onto paper.  This passion, this deep-rooted love for words, drives the writer to convey opinions, reveal truths or falsehoods, or weave tales of adventure, intrigue, humor, or life’s ups and downs.  But if we fail to remember where the gift has come from, it can also be used to inflict damage or cause pain to the reader at which it is aimed.

It can be safely said that the pen has inflicted as many fatal wounds as the sword, because the source of the written word is the heart.  Unsheathed, the pen is able to cut to the very marrow of a man’s soul.  Unbridled, it has the capacity to slice through tender hearts, rendering them broken, despondent, or creating an incurable wound.  If the heart’s enemy is allowed to take hold of the pen and wield it as a weapon, the damage it inflicts can be devastating and life-threatening.  The writer who brandishes the pen of arrogance or hatred causes it to be a sword of destruction rather than a tool of instruction or enlightenment.  And, I might add, no writer is immune from using it in ways it should not be used, including this one. 

There are times when the pen should become a sword, but its use in this way should be reserved for times of necessity; for encouragement, correction, and even rebuking.  It is the method by which the pen is used as a sword that proves its effectiveness.  It should never be used to slay the heart or empty it of its lifeblood.  Rather, it should be applied as a surgical instrument that gently cuts out any offensive parts, leaving a wound that can heal the flesh surrounding it with greater strength than it had before.  

Our Lord Jesus Christ stated that He came not “to bring peace, but a sword” which would divide, setting us apart from others, and cause conflict because of our commitment to God (Matthew 10:34-36).  His coming, as described by Simeon, promised a piercing of not only His mother, Mary’s, soul, but our own (Luke 2:35), for the word He brought, the sacrifice He made, would pierce and convict us of our sin and the need for His intervention.

In the apostles' letters in the New Testament, they illustrate for us the proper usage of the pen as a weapon for God and eloquently demonstrate how, if used effectively, the written word of God is able to penetrate the heart of man, convict him, and lead him towards salvation and righteousness.  The Sword of the Spirit, as described in Ephesians 6:17, is the written word of God.  To the person whose desire it is to wield it in service to Him, he should always apply the apostles' method and check his Source before it is unsheathed, never allowing arrogance or pride to cling to it and cause destruction.

The power of the written word comes from the heart.  It is conveyed to the pen we hold in our hand and written onto the blank page before us.  Like spoken words, once published for the world to see, written words are hard to take back.  If we, as writers, pause before the first stroke of the pen and ask God to provide us with His wisdom and His word of truth, which is “living and active" and “sharper than any double-edged sword,” (Hebrews 4:12) then the dynamics with which we write may just cause a reader to decide for Him.  The result will then be a manuscript we can humbly take pride in, for the true Author has written it.

Answered Prayers! Gao Zhisheng Update

Shalom Alechem...Barukh Hashem Y'shua!
(Peace and Blessings in Jesus' name!)

How faithful our God is in answering our prayers!  Thank you to everyone who has kept Chinese Christian attorney, Gao Zhisheng, lifted before God's throne.  I would like to share the following information I recently received from China Aid, the Christian organization that has tirelessly worked on Gao's and his family's behalf:

Yesterday morning, on April 6, 2010, ChinaAid President Bob Fu spoke with Gao Zhisheng over the phone. This was the first direct contact Bob has had with Gao Zhisheng since he last spoke with him by phone last January, as Bob was rescuing Gao's wife and children in Thailand. The conversation brought hope and light for the two men, after more than 400 days of uncertainty and doubt.

Gao told Bob he had spoken with his daughter Gege in New York earlier this morning. "She told me she felt like God was silent, that He had not heard her prayers," Gao shared openly, deeply pained by his daughter's anguish over their prolonged separation. He expressed concern for his family's safety and well-being, and his desire to be reunited with his family.

Gao thanked Bob Fu personally for ChinaAid's role in pressing the FreeGao campaign internationally on his behalf for so long, and for aiding his family in their escape from China.

He informed Bob that he had just returned to his Beijing apartment from his guarded location in Shanxi. Abandoned for more than a year, Gao was saddened by the thick layer of dust covering the apartment and the emptiness of the rooms.

Using the words of Psalm 23, Pastor Bob Fu prayed for Gao Zhisheng and his family, reminding him of God's faithfulness and love.

Gao further reported he had just recovered from a racking cough for more than a month, but was not able to give any further details about his physical condition. According to Pastor Fu, Gao was deeply concerned about the condition of his family in New York, but has remained strong in his faith.

"Gao Zhisheng and his family have suffered deeply from the long separation," said Pastor Fu. "Despite the persecution, he continues to trust the Lord."

Pastor Fu was moved by Gao's need to be with his family. "By allowing us to speak with Gao Zhisheng, the Chinese government has shown they have been forced to respond to the international outrage and pressure on Gao Zhisheng's behalf.

"Yet, Gao is still not able to speak or move freely. According to international norms and Chinese law, he has the right to travel overseas to reunite with his family and to be free, if he is not found in violation of laws during his probation."

"We must call on the Chinese government to release Gao Zhisheng and permit him to reunite with his family in the United States. It is his legal and basic human right to be united with his loved ones."

Please continue to pray for Gao and his family.  Ask the Lord to continue to strengthen his faith and trust in Him and to wait upon Him for deliverance, for the Lord's timing is perfect.  Pray also that those who are detaining Gao will see the light of Christ through him, repent, and seek salvation through the only One that can give it.  Also, please keep Gao's wife and children lifted up in prayer, asking for comfort and peace for them, knowing the Lord is watching over His servant.

The Snake In The Grass: The Westboro Baptist Church

I am a Christian. I am grateful for the grace and mercy that God has shown to me through His Son Jesus Christ. I am heading to a home beyond my imagination because of that grace and mercy. I love Jesus and what He did and stands for. Because of that I am compelled to let everyone else around me know about that love and forgiveness. But there is a snake in the grass seeking to devour everyone out there who does not know Jesus. This snake is a liar and a very good one. He can convince even the very educated. The ones who say "there is no God".

This snake uses an assortment of methods to accomplish his goal. He even uses "religion". One of those "religions" is the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka Kansas. You know them. They are the ones who claim to be Christians yet go about spewing hatred at fallen soldiers funeral services. Why? "Well didn't you know that God hates homosexuals and because of that He is judging America because we accept them here." (Their sentiments not mine or God's). These people have chosen to fixate on one sin: homosexuality. They have chosen to be the judge. They have chosen to hate. These people are as far removed from Christ as someone who says they do not believe.

These two groups, the atheist/agnostic and members of cults like Westboro Baptist Church are more alike than they would like to think. Both have decided to fixate on one issue. Both have decided to be the judge. Neither have a relationship with Jesus Christ. One is just claiming to have one and the other is claiming He doesn't exist. That's the only difference between the two.

Why do I write this? Many people who have no knowledge of Jesus Christ are convinced that because I am a Christian that I must believe like this cult. That's an oxymoron. I am a Christ believer. I am fixated on Him. I am not nor will ever be the judge. I love because Christ loves me and through me. The truth is, if you have no knowledge of Him you are much more like the Westboro Baptist Church cult. They have no knowledge of Him either.

So I've said my peace. I do not have to defend my Christianity to anyone. Jesus is already doing that for me before His Father. He knows the hearts of men. My job is just to tell you about His love, mercy, grace and forgiveness.

Hebrew Lesson #2

It has been a while since I posted any new Hebrew words.  While looking for the pronunciation of a Greek word we wish to use for the name of our boat, I ran across this  phrase.  I hope you use it often!

Shalom Alechem...Barukh Hashem Y'shua!
 
(Peace and Blessings in Jesus' name!)

Best Friends, Forever

“Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends.”

John 15:13

To be called a “friend” by Jesus is worthy of my contemplation.

The word “friend,” or philos  in the original Greek, implies “loved, dear, or friendly.”  Primarily used as an adjective, its usage became a noun in both the masculine and feminine genders.  The word exudes an intimacy reserved for those who are closest to one’s heart; those who are greatly loved and cherished.  It speaks of an affection so vast that there is no depth nor height to which one would go to insure the safety and well-being of another person.

A true friend is the rarest of gems.  The intimacy that derives from this person is faceted with unwavering allegiance.  There are no limits to which a friend would go for another he loves.  His surface sparkles and gleams from the brilliance of the light that emanates  from deep within him.  The gem of friendship is placed deeply and firmly in its setting, held tight by golden prongs of faithfulness that will never wear out or break.  And like the hardness of a diamond, his love for his friends will never be shattered, but will remain eternally unyielding.

Yes, to be called a “friend” by Jesus is more than worthy of my contemplation.  He is what I described above - and more.  But I am unable to understand the reason He calls me His friend.  I rejected Him for so long, refused to obey Him when He called, and treated Him with contempt.  And because of all this, I helped put Him on that cruel cross.  My sins, so great, nailed Him there.  What true friend would hate so much that he would respond to Jesus so cruelly?  Yet, He still calls me His friend, and He does so in spite of my unfaithfulness to Him.

He loved me so much, He stepped in to defend me.

He loved me so much, He intervened for me and asked His Father to make me His child. 

He loved me so much, He took my sins, ever great before Almighty God, and carried them to the cruel cross.

He loved me so much, He took upon Himself the Father’s wrath that should have been reserved for me.

There, in His precious hands, He loved me so much that He held my sins firmly in the grip of his hands as they were nailed to that tree - and He forgave them.

There truly is no greater love than the friendship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His children.  I did nothing to earn it.  He did it all through His tremendous display of obedience to His Father,  and loyalty and selfless love for me, whom He calls His friend.  There are also no other of my friends who can equal what He has done for me.  They will fail me, but He will not.  And because I know this, I will embrace His friendship, remember it, and in return, I will call Him my Best Friend, forever.

Gao Zhisheng Update: Please Continue to Pray

"Commit your ways to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this; He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."

Psalm 37:5-6 

God has answered our prayers!  The whereabouts of Chinese human rights attorney, Gao Zhisheng, have been confirmed!  Through a recent phone conversation with AP and Reuters, and finally with his family and friends, Gao is alive and currently "residing" at a "Buddhist landmark in Shanxi province."  See the following link to read the details:

http://www.chinaaid.org/qry/page.taf?id=105&_function=detail&sbtblct_uid1=1413&month=03&year=2010&_nc=d2a5d6f9016427114026ed11d2a728be 

Through your tireless prayers offered on his behalf, and for the compassionate demands and persistent pressure some of our Congressmen have expressed to the Chinese government for Gao's release, the international pressure placed upon China has forced them to at least reveal he is still alive. 

Although this is wonderful news - God be given the praise! - we need to continue to be in vigilant prayer for Gao.  The Chinese government places "detainees" in camps that are designed to "re-educate" them through labor.  Because Gao's condition and location has been kept secret until now, we have no idea what he has endured or where he was kept prior to being placed in his current location, other than he was "detained" for 6 months and now "resides" there.

The effectiveness of the Chinese government's "re-education" process often breaks the spirit, returning the detainee to subjection and obedience to their God-less government.  Gao had been brutally tortured on other occasions when the Chinese government arrested him for his work.  Because Gao was obviously being watched during his phone conversation, it is clear that he was unable to give specifics to his family and friends.  His statement, "This is a mistake and I want to correct the mistake," is troubling, but perhaps was forced upon him by those holding him in order to give the world the impression he was wrong and his arrest justified.  It is my hope and prayer that Gao's spirit was not broken and that he remains dedicated to giving the Gospel to his people and continuing to fight for their right to worship freely.

Gao's wife, Geng He, and his children were "overwhelmed" with tears when they heard his voice on the other end of the phone.  However, China Aid clarified that they were not necessarily all tears of joy.  Geng He continues to bring attention to her husband's plight and is moving forward in the battle to secure his release.  She has enlisted the aid of  Freedom Now, a non-profit legal organization, to press the Chinese government to allow him to join his family in the United States.  Until that happens, the tears she now sheds will remain tears of sorrow.

Please continue to pray.  Ask the Lord to strengthen Gao's faith and trust Him and to remain true to Jesus Christ.  Also pray that the Lord will reunite Gao with his family in the U.S. and that he will be able to continue to honor God and work for his people here.

No Tears In Heaven

Revelation 21:4

There is a old hymn from my childhood that is not often, if ever, sung in contemporary worship that speaks about how there will be no tears in the new Jerusalem.  In the Holy City of God where He will make His dwelling among us, “He will wipe every tear from [our] eyes.”  Death, pain, and sorrow will be forever replaced with eternal life, comfort, and joy.  Never again will tears be shed over our sinfulness, for we will have regained God’s favor and the reward He promised the faithful will be realized (Jeremiah 31:16).

Although we still weep while we wait for Jesus to return, this old hymn is a encouraging reminder that when our wait is over, eternal and everlasting joy is all we will know.

No Tears In Heaven

by Tennessee Ernie Ford

No tears in heaven, no sorrows given.
All will be glory in that land;
There'll be no sadness, all will be gladness,
When we shall join that happy band.

No tears (in heaven fair).
No tears, no tears up there,
Sorrow and pain will all have flown;
No tears (in heaven fair).
No tears, no tears up there;
No tears in heaven will be known.

Glory is waiting, waiting up yonder,
Where we shall spend an endless day;
With Christ our Savior, we'll be forever,
Where sorrow no more can dismay.

No tears (in heaven fair).
No tears, no tears up there,
Sorrow and pain will all have flown;
No tears (in heaven fair).
No tears, no tears up there;
No tears in heaven will be known.

“Who are you?”

We have all been asked that question in one way or another.  Normally, we reply with a description of what we do, the type of job we work at, or a generic explanation of our life in general.  We respond that we are single, married, parents, grandparents; throwing in details concerning the things we do for recreation, habits, likes and dislikes.  But rarely do we ever answer the question with any depth and conviction.  Most of us would prefer not to wear our true selves on our sleeves.  We would prefer that people walked away with a good impression, instead of possibly seeing a defect we are attempting to hide.

Today’s devotion took the question of “Who are you?” a step further: “If what you do is who you are, who will you be when you stop doing what you’re doing?”  If you suddenly found your life void of all the things that define you on the outside, what would be left?  What answer would you then give?  It is at this critical point in our lives that a choice to answer correctly is forced upon us.  Our true identity, what defines the core of our heart and what we hold the dearest, then becomes the real issue.  We are stripped bare of all the outward accoutrements we once used to explain ourselves and are forced to reveal an identity we may have been keeping secret - our Christianity.

Because I claim Jesus Christ as my Savior does not mean that I always identify with Him as I should when I conduct business or interact with others.  The correct response to the “Who are you” question should always be, “I am a follower of Jesus Christ”.  Not what, but Who that defines our very being should first be revealed to those who ask what makes us who we are.  If I fail to place God first and acknowledge Him as the Giver of all I possess, including my income and the provisions and gifts He has bestowed upon me, then I am deceiving those who ask the question - and deceiving myself.  Being a follower of Jesus should always be my first response.  Everything else that defines me is secondary because, without Him, I would have nothing.

The next time you are approached and asked, “Who are you?”, pause a moment and ask yourself the question.  Are you keeping a secret identity that is only revealed to a certain few insiders?  Or will your response be, “I am a follower of Jesus Christ.  He defines me.”  As today’s devotion concluded, “It’s all the identity I need.”

Recommended reading:

• Isaiah 30:21
• Matthew 11:1-6; 16:13-20
• Mark 8:27
• Luke 9:23; 11:33-36; 22:31-36; 22:54-62
• John 8:12; 10:4; 10:27
• 1Corinthians 13:12
• James 1:23

Persecution: The Unspoken Word

Matthew 5:10-12

“Persecution” is a little-used term in today’s society.  The secular world would rather avoid using it because, if they correctly applied the word to various atrocities that are being committed against others, they would be forced to admit that there are those who are suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ.  To use the word in its proper context would drive Him to the forefront where He rightly belongs.  It would perhaps cause people to reconsider the reality of God and His plan for mankind.  In addition, the use of the term would validate the horrible suffering our Lord endured for the sinfulness of all humankind: the persecution He bore before and on the cross for our sake, and the persecution He is being subjected to now through His children.

Persecution upon others can come in many ways.  It can be subtle, like an expression of disgust or disdain.  It can be applied by the use of belittling words, ridicule, slander, or false accusations that attempt to slice through the heart of a Believer, or to cast aspersions on them.  Or, it can be used in its most vicious form by use of physical attacks upon possessions or persons.  Persecution has often resulted in great injury or death and is usually committed in the most atrocious manner.  The history of Christ’s church, which His children represent, is replete with examples, and the extreme violence of those committing the persecution is only limited to their intense hatred and the blackest darkness with which they are consumed.  As I have cited before, it has been determined that since Christ’s resurrection, over 70 million Christians have been martyred for their faith and the majority of them within the last century.

The Apostles understood the true meaning of persecution (Acts 5:17-18; Mark 10:38-39).  With the exception of John who died a natural death approximately 100 AD, each one was martyred for their faith and died in a horrible and excruciating manner (for specific details, see http://www.apostles.com/apostlesdied.html).  Jesus had warned each of them that they would suffer for the sake of the Gospel.  But they understood that their suffering would also bring great honor to Him and even greater eternal reward for themselves.  Perhaps the most recognizable New Testament example was Stephen’s persecution and eventual death by stoning, which Saul of Tarsus, soon-to-be-convicted-and-repentant Paul the Apostle, encouraged (Read Acts 7:1-60).  From that point forward, “a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1), scattering the Apostles “throughout Judea and Samaria.”  Although they were forced to flee for their lives, they “preached the word everywhere they went,” proclaiming salvation through Jesus Christ (Acts 8:4), and proving that even in the direst of situations, His Gospel would go out among the nations.   The intensity with which Rome persecuted Christians was evil personified,  but opportunities were opened to preach salvation to those who otherwise may not have heard it.

Although to some it may not be apparent, hope can be found in persecution (Matthew 24:13-14).  It can be counted as a blessing that, in spite of being on the receiving end of  life-threatening trials, Christ’s message is heard (Acts 5:41).  And as Peter proclaims in his encouraging second letter to the Jewish Christians who were dispersed over all of Asia because of Rome’s brutality, their faith with which they held firm was “of greater worth than gold”, and by adherence to this faith, it would bring Christ honor and glory and salvation of their souls (1Peter 1:9).

We want to believe that, because we live in what many perceive as a “civil” and industrialized world, persecution does not exist.  The stories that are reported of organized assaults on ethnic groups in other nations rarely, if ever, tell the whole story.  Car bombings are down-played to “civilian” casualties.  Uprisings and wholesale slaughter of hundreds or thousands in northern Africa and other parts of the world are falsely labeled “tribal conflicts".  And those who are arrested, imprisoned, or disappear and are never seen again for illegally crossing borders in and out of China and North Korea are called “dissidents” or spies.  If we want to know the real truth, we must do our own homework.  We cannot rely upon the secular media to keep us informed of persecution against Christ’s children, regardless of the location on our globe.  We must root out the ugly truth ourselves by remaining diligent and aware.  It is only through The Voice of the Martyrs, China Aid, and other worthy organizations such as these that serve the persecuted church that we learn the truth behind what may seem to be just another uprising or random murder in other nations.

In spite of the fact that the stories of persecution we read and hear about are far from the confines of America’s borders, one day we can expect it here (Matthew 24:12-13).  Jesus warned there would be a time when hatred for Him would spill out upon His followers.  Although the signs are subtle, persecution in North America is increasing: recent church burnings and shootings; the attempt to remove God from our time-honored documents and public places; banning open prayer and worship in our schools and workplaces; prohibiting Christ’s shepherds from preaching God’s truths under the label of “hate speech”, to name just a few.  And because of the Islamic influence and the world’s refusal to acknowledge its violent nature for fear of offending them, there is a blatant attempt, even by many so-called evangelicals, to muffle the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is “political correctness” run amok and  it is only the beginning of more to come.

In light of the fact that Jesus forewarned all His children that persecution would come to them one way or another, are you ready to face it?  Each of us who claims Jesus Christ as Savior must ask ourselves if we are ready to suffer for the Gospel (Acts 5:40).  This means that whatever form of persecution comes, even in the most vile and brutal way, our faith and trust must remain firmly grounded on God’s promise.  (Read Romans 8:31-39).  We are called to endure hardships like a “good soldier”, even under intense persecution, and keep going despite the suffering brought upon us (2Timothy 2:3, 10; 2Timothy 3:10); being “prepared in season and out of season” (2Timothy 4:2); “unswervingly” confessing the “hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

It is imperative that we never think we will be immune to such violence, or that  our lives and those of our loved ones will never face the same type of persecution those in other nation's endure.  We must also never forget those who suffer for their faith.  I encourage everyone to do their own homework.  Get the facts concerning news reports you hear.  Join one or more of the organizations I listed and actively get involved.  It may just be a suffering brother or sister in Christ that you hear about on the evening news.  And when you do discover the truth behind the stories you hear, speak the word "persecution"  loudly and with boldness, never leaving it unspoken, so that others will hear and share in their suffering.  

With all diligent faithfulness, continue to pray for the persecuted church, that they may be bold in their witness, are able to  find forgiveness for their persecutors, and are strengthened to endure what is brought upon them.  And pray also for those who persecute, that they would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and have eternal salvation with Him.