Days of Elijah

How Beautiful Video by Twila Paris

With special emphasis on matyred missionaries

Can be accessed by the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd7WrJlS6OA

And acapella version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixRXAcM57bE

God of Wonders video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CBNE25rtnE

"There is a fountain filled with blood" and "It is well with my soul"

My dear's and my favourite song respectively.

"There is a Fountain Filled with Blood", by William Cowper, 1772


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-cY5vO0W0M
Interesting background to the song: http://www.truthinhistory.org/there-is-a-fountain-filled-with-blood.html

"It is well with my soul", by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss, 1873


From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSXzDiGpYZ8&NR=1
Interesting background to the song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_With_My_Soul

Video on "The Change" by Steven Curtis Chapman

Up to the middle of the video, I thought I was looking at a video made by an extremist. The images of hate, of violence, of persecution done in God's name is sick, hateful and not glorifying to God. Is that what the author believes is done for God's glory?

Then as I reached the end, I realised it was done to illustrate the natural, spirit-filled change. Ultimately, a spirit-uplifting video that contrasts religosity, acts of hate with real, deep-seated changes that are powered and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.


From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgpEwGoSLB8

Nice video of "How deep the Father's love for us"

Well-thought through video, with appropriate bible verses for the lyrics and the lyrics complemented with appropriate images too. A good reminder of the finished work of Jesus Christ.



From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrtgrU_uo9s

Atonement

And he (Jesus) asked them (His disciples), "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ (Messiah, Saviour)." (Mark 8:29)

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31)

And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!" So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

And when the sixth hour (noon) had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"... Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. (Mark 15:25-34; 37-38)

(Personal notes of talk)
It is obvious from the above that He does not save himself or others from the cross. Rather he saves by being rejected, being killed and then rising after that. The question then is that in that act, who does He saves, and what does He saves from?

Some professing Christians may protest that it is unfair that an innocent scapegoat had been found to take the punishment of another already convicted guilty, it is unjust. Why should He be punished for our own personal wrongs against God? But if we remember that Jesus is not just fully man, but fully God as well, it is actually God Himself taking the wrath and punishment (wages) of sin upon Himself.

Most great men are remembered because of their lives, Jesus is remembered because of why He had to die.

Note: Another take on this issue could be found here: "Why did Jesus cry out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"" and "Why did Jesus have to die for our sins?"

At rest

For a long time, I had felt unease about my relationship with SO. Although I had ascertained (to the best of my ability) that he is truly saved before going out with him, there had been this sense of niggling doubt whether I can really trust his headship and to depend on him spiritually. This heart of unrest had led to many sinful throwing of tantrums, whining, nagging and harsh, spontaneous and deliberate words designed to hurt and break the spirit - all on my part.

But all these changed after our personal bible study yesterday. And what is surprising is that this feeling of being at rest spiritually with him, comes from his respectful sharing of his discomfiture with my church after visiting it with me for nearly 2 years.

Note: These heartfelt comments had to be taken against the background that we both agree that my church is preaching God's Word. Heavily edited and summarised version of what he had said.

"The greater emphasis by your church is on what we *should* (emphasis mine) do, as believers in Christ. That is right, not wrong. However, what it has led to in me personally, is a focus on myself, my failings and to fear. And we know there is nothing we can do that will ever reach God's standard. What has helped me rather so far, is my awareness that Jesus is constantly present with me, and that He accepts me and whatever requests I bring to Him always. Then I am able to do what is preached in James, which is a natural response of faith in Him to be in me and constantly around me."

For some reason, despite the fact that he is not totally comfortable with my "spiritual home", his words laid to rest my worries about him leading me spiritually. Long and arduous may be our spiritual journey as we continue to discuss and debate the many, many differences in our understanding of His Word and how that should work in actual applications in our lives, but even this no longer matters.

For I know that Jesus is with us, as He is with him.