Focus

January 27, 2012 at 1:59 am (Focus)

Rev. E. Anderson

The Living God

“But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.” -  Psalm 115:4

Are we following a blind god? Are we talking to a deaf god? Are we following a god without feet, thinking that we are going somewhere? Are we lulled by the illusion of progress? We must guard against letting the work of our hands become the object of our worship. The work of our hands is an offering to the true God— not a god in and of itself.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a living God. He has a mouth and a voice. When He spoke, the world came into being. At the very sound of His voice, the earth was created. When He speaks, the mountains tremble and the oceans roar. He whispers in a still, small voice, and our hearts are satisfied, filled with His deep secrets.

God has eyes. He sees us. He searches for us as He did for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He sees beyond what human eyes can see. He is not impressed with outward appearances. He is not intimidated by strength or size. His piercing gaze sees straight to the heart. He sees our innermost thoughts and senses our subde attitudes.

God has ears. When we cry out to Him, He hears and answers. He heard the cries ofIsraelin bondage. He listens to our prayers. He hears us.

God has hands. With them He fashioned us in the womb. He holds the uni­verse in the palm of His hand. He shelters us under His wing. With one wave of His hand, all His enemies are vanquished. His hands held Him in place on the cross, pierced with nails, fashioned by the work of our hands.

We follow a living God Who is present and active. Where do you see Him at work? You would do well to join Him there.

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Message on behalf of Rick Warren

January 27, 2012 at 1:57 am (Messages by Rick Warren)

Rev. Rick Warren

GOD ENERGISES YOUR SERVICE TO OTHERS

Jon Walker 

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith2 -Ephesians 3:16–17 NIV.

God empowers you to successfully do everything he asks you to do. He transforms you inwardly with a growing desire to serve others, and then he gives you abilities to use in carrying out that desire.

The Holy Spirit within gives you the ability to tune into God, to hear him, listen to him and talk with him. God didn’t create you to fail; he created you to succeed once the Holy Spirit energizes your abilities and empowers your efforts.

Perhaps you’ve noticed the small stickers on many computers that say, “Powered by [this brand of chip].” In a sense, you have the “God-chip” powering your life as a follower of Christ. You are empowered by the one and only Holy God, who’s placed his Holy Spirit within you.

Without the God-chip, you simply cannot succeed in the things God calls you to do. With the God-chip, you’re guaranteed to succeed in all God’s called you to do.

GOD CONNECTS WITH YOU THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” – Ephesians 3:16–17 NIV.

GOD ENERGIZES YOUR MINISTRY AND SERVICE TO OTHERS. In faith, believe God enables you to succeed. Tell God your fears and ask him to replace your fears with faith.

 

 

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Christian Testimony

January 27, 2012 at 1:54 am (Christian Testimony)

Denis Kigongo

NEW YEAR RANG IN MY NEW LIFE

FOR many people, New Year resolutions mean going on a diet or joining the gym.

But for Denis Kigongo Victor, it meant nothing short of gain­ing a completely new life.

While family and friends were partying as the bells chimed midnight, Denis fell to his knees and cried out to God.

Denis, 37, who now lives inTaunton,Somerset, remembers the moment he gave his old life to God and got a new one in return.

At the time, he was a young man living in a small village inEastern Uganda.

“I was 19, but even at that age I knew I was wasting my life,” he said.

“I was always getting into trouble, usually after drink­ing too much and just mess­ing around. I didn’t have any ambitions and never gave much thought to my future.”

As the fireworks crackled out­side his bedroom window, Denis rose to his feet with a sense of joy and peace that he had never known before.

Growing up poor as one of 11 children in ruralUganda, life was hard for Denis.

At school, he got involved with a bad crowd and soon he

HELPING OTHERS… Denis Kigongo and the clinic he set up in his home country,Uganda was spending his days drinking and roaming the streets with his gang.

It was then that Denis met a woman missionary called Pat. Unlike the religious people he was familiar with, Denis felt able to relate to Pat.

She encouraged the teenager to go to church and much to his surprise he enjoyed 4&ft-service.

“I started to love praying and reading the Bible. It was as if God was guiding me and giving me direction.”

When he saw an advert in a magazine for a Christian youth course inEngland, Denis decid­ed to apply. He felt it was nothing short of a miracle when a letter arrived a few weeks later inviting him to come to the UK.

Now based inBritain, Denis has returned toUgandato open a clinic where villagers can receive basic healthcare that they can’t afford to pay for.

And last year he led a volun­tary group of 12 dentists fromPlymouth who provided free treatment.

Whether working with local youth inTauntonor helping out at the clinic inAfrica, Denis says he owes everything to that New Year’s Eve when he called out to God.

“I run African drum classes where I teach young people about rhythm and beat. I tell them how the whole universe is pulsating to a natural rhythm that was set going by God.

“It needs a Creator, the same Creator who heard me over the noise and partying one New Year’s Eve and changed my life forever.”

For more info on the clinic in Ugandaor to make a donation, go to www.suubiclinic.co.uk

 

 

 

 

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Illustrations that Light up Life

January 27, 2012 at 1:50 am (Illustrations)

Rev. E. Anderson

THE CHURCH WITHOUT COMMITMENT

Emerson Colaw tells about doing some work with his church’s nonresident membership list. He wrote a letter to one family that had been very active in his church.

A letter came back saying, “Mr. Colaw, we now live near a university campus and we go every Sunday to the chapel service there. They have unusually fine music . . . they have nationally known preachers ever Sunday morning.” And she added a note he didn’t think necessary. “We had not heard such preaching as that before. The children are being taught in church school by seminary students.” And then she ended, “But the best of all there is no membership, no pledging, and no women’s society asking me to work. So if you don’t mind, we’ll just leave our membership atHyde Parkand continue to enjoy what we have here.” No involvement, no bother. No crosses. 

 

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