November - 2009
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They're Waiting |
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By Ty Gibson |
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| "Darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. . . . Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather together, they come to you" (Isaiah 60:2-4, NKJV). read more... | |||
There's this girl. She's about sixteen. The look in her eyes is haunting–a
mixture of despair and hope. A strained hope, but it's there. She holds a
piece of paper. It's just a piece of paper. I gave it to her. I know it contains
revolutionary ideas. She doesn't know . . . yet. But she's about to know. "Go
ahead," I say,"read it. It's for you. It's about you. It's about how God sees you
and His plan for you." Her eyes light up a bit. She sits down on a wooden
bench there outside the little shop she's running in a village market in Africa.
She glances up at me a few times as she reads, each time smiling a little more
at ease. The piece of paper is telling her she is deeply loved. That God cares
what happens to her and wants her to live forever in His love. That He has a
plan to make it happen.
There's this man. He looks really old and tired. His wrinkles are deep set. There's a scar across his left cheek. He has a history and a name. I don't know his history or his name, but someone does know . . . every detail, with perfect sympathy. He's pushing a broken bicycle. As I pass by, he glances my way. I'm strange. I'm out of place. He's black. I'm white. He's wearing torn clothes. I'm wearing better clothes (I feel embarrassed). What's he thinking? I'm obviously not from here. I'm from some other place far away. He probably thinks it's a better place, but I know it's not. Not really. I know it only appears better . . . that in some ways, in the ways that matter most, it's worse where I'm from, because people don't care so deeply, don't feel so needy. I gently smile his direction. He smiles back. Such an easy reciprocation. I offer him one of those simple, but profoundly meaningful, pieces of paper. He reaches out and takes it from my hand and walks off. I see him pause to open it and start to read. He's about to encounter ideas that will turn his eyes heavenward, to a God who knows his history and his name.
There's this girl.
There's this man.
. . . and another, and another.
"Lift up your eyes all around, and see. . . " God says, "Look. They’re everywhere. People with names. Individuals I love. Shine the light of My goodness on them. Go to them. They’re waiting."
That's why Light Bearers exists. Thank you for teaming with us to place countless pieces of literature in the hands of real people in need.
There's this man. He looks really old and tired. His wrinkles are deep set. There's a scar across his left cheek. He has a history and a name. I don't know his history or his name, but someone does know . . . every detail, with perfect sympathy. He's pushing a broken bicycle. As I pass by, he glances my way. I'm strange. I'm out of place. He's black. I'm white. He's wearing torn clothes. I'm wearing better clothes (I feel embarrassed). What's he thinking? I'm obviously not from here. I'm from some other place far away. He probably thinks it's a better place, but I know it's not. Not really. I know it only appears better . . . that in some ways, in the ways that matter most, it's worse where I'm from, because people don't care so deeply, don't feel so needy. I gently smile his direction. He smiles back. Such an easy reciprocation. I offer him one of those simple, but profoundly meaningful, pieces of paper. He reaches out and takes it from my hand and walks off. I see him pause to open it and start to read. He's about to encounter ideas that will turn his eyes heavenward, to a God who knows his history and his name.
There's this girl.
There's this man.
. . . and another, and another.
"Lift up your eyes all around, and see. . . " God says, "Look. They’re everywhere. People with names. Individuals I love. Shine the light of My goodness on them. Go to them. They’re waiting."
That's why Light Bearers exists. Thank you for teaming with us to place countless pieces of literature in the hands of real people in need.
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Something Better |
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By James Rafferty |
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| This month we want to let you know about a new series of written outlines available from the Resource Center, as well as on our website (www.lbm.org/printedmedia/?series=Hebrews%20Study). These outlines cover the Hebrews television programs that have aired on 3ABN, Books of the Book. read more... | |||
This new series on Hebrews dispels a lot of religious confusion about
God. This is because Hebrews focuses on a personal God who gives of
Himself selflessly in an effort to win our hearts. Sin and evil have darkened
our understanding of who God is and how He operates, leaving many with
good reason to question the idea of a loving Creator God.
Hebrews is a masterpiece of Christian apologetics.1
In each chapter we are directed to a relational God who invites us into an intimate relationship with Him. The message of Hebrews presents a personal God who has entered into the experience of the human race, both emotionally and physically. In fact, this epistle is so charged with the current of emotional language, so unique in its picture of God when compared with many of Paul's theologically doctrinal epistles, that many scholars have doubted whether Paul was the author.
This theme continues throughout the book of Hebrews by the use of relational language, consistently directing us into a personal relationship with God and people. This emphasis directs our intellectual and theological understanding of truth into personal love relationships.
This is why the Bible compares our relationship with God to the deepest bond between two people, the union of a man and a woman in marriage. Throughout the Bible, God has communicated His desire to have a close, interpersonal, loving relationship with each one of us.
If you are longing for such a relationship with God, we invite you to visit our website for the new Hebrews outlines as well as to watch the video programs that go with the outlines. Remember they are free and easily downloadable. Or you may call our Resource Center and obtain a set by mail.
1 "Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views. Christian apologetics have taken many forms over the centuries, starting with Paul of Tarsus . . . " Wikipedia.
Hebrews is a masterpiece of Christian apologetics.1
In each chapter we are directed to a relational God who invites us into an intimate relationship with Him. The message of Hebrews presents a personal God who has entered into the experience of the human race, both emotionally and physically. In fact, this epistle is so charged with the current of emotional language, so unique in its picture of God when compared with many of Paul's theologically doctrinal epistles, that many scholars have doubted whether Paul was the author.
God Longs For a Relationship With You
With You Hebrews is a relational book. A relationship can be defined as a specific connection between objects, entities or concepts. A typical form of relationship is the social tie between people, usually made through some form of introduction. Hebrews is written to initiate such a relationship between us and God. It introduces us to God as the One who created us in His image, the image of His love (1 John 4:8). Our encounter with God begins in Hebrews 1 as God first reminds us of His ongoing pursuit of us through the prophets. He then initiates communication with us Himself, personally, through the Son (Hebrews 1:3). God describes Himself as the divine, infinite Being who has come to us as a human being so we can personally know Him (Hebrews 2:14). God longs for a close, intimate, loving, interpersonal relationship with each and every one of us.This theme continues throughout the book of Hebrews by the use of relational language, consistently directing us into a personal relationship with God and people. This emphasis directs our intellectual and theological understanding of truth into personal love relationships.
The Languages of Love
The book of Hebrews is all about how to experience, keep or recover a relationship with God. The foundation of this relationship is love. This love is primarily God's love to us, but it also includes our love response to Him, which spills over to people. Hebrews introduces a relational God who speaks to us in the languages of love. There are seven basic love languages that define our relationships with people. They are gifts, physical touch, acts of service, quality time, words of affirmation, correction and commitment, each clearly emphasized in Hebrews.The Quality of our Relationship
Our own life's experiences tell us that relationships can take on many forms. Some can be lasting and fulfilling, while others are short or empty. It is not necessary to have deep lasting relationships in all areas of our lives, yet, when we see God as our Creator and Redeemer, it will call forth from our hearts a relationship of the highest quality possible for each of us individually. Communication is the key principle to consider in any relationship (Hebrews 1:1-2). Through communication with God and His Word, we begin a journey that will bring forth a relationship experience that will surpass anything we can imagine.This is why the Bible compares our relationship with God to the deepest bond between two people, the union of a man and a woman in marriage. Throughout the Bible, God has communicated His desire to have a close, interpersonal, loving relationship with each one of us.
If you are longing for such a relationship with God, we invite you to visit our website for the new Hebrews outlines as well as to watch the video programs that go with the outlines. Remember they are free and easily downloadable. Or you may call our Resource Center and obtain a set by mail.
1 "Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views. Christian apologetics have taken many forms over the centuries, starting with Paul of Tarsus . . . " Wikipedia.
| Consider This ... | Speaking Schedule | |||
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Christ came to the world to convince men, by evidence that
could not be controverted, that "God is love." This fact, so long
disputed by Satan, is forever put at rest with unfallen worlds and
with heavenly intelligences. It is put at rest with those who look
upon an uplifted Savior, who are convinced by the manifestation
of the love of God displayed at Calvary. The wondrous condescension
of God in giving Christ to the world to work out the principles
of divine character, leaves every human intelligence without
a shadow of excuse in withholding his allegiance from the God
of heaven. . . . Jesus placed the cross in line with the light coming from heaven, for it is there that it shall catch the eye of man. The cross is in direct line with the shining of the divine countenances, so that by beholding the cross men may see and know God. . . To the world the cross is the incontrovertible argument that God is truth and light and love. The plan of Satan was by his lying philosophies to widen the breach that existed between God and man. . . Satan's work was to keep the agitation against God in progress, and keep the question to the front as to whether God was light and love or not. . . Uniting fallen man with himself, he kept a series of false theories in regard to God in continual circulation, asserting them to be truth, in order that he might cover up the truth. Satan could establish pronounced enmity toward God only by bringing into contempt the laws of His government. . . Thus he thought to cultivate so large a harvest of enmity toward God as to discourage the divine power, exhaust the forbearance of God, and counteract His love, so that God would abandon man to his deceiver by withdrawing his mercy and grace. He thought to so work with human agents as to cause the last spark of love to die from the heart of God, and cause him to lift the sword of justice and destroy the rebel race. Then Satan supposed that his claims would be vindicated before unfallen worlds, before unfallen angels. But what was the result of his malignant workings? The signals of mercy were continually exhibited. . .the forbearance of God did not cease; he did not fail or become discouraged. Love and hatred stood face to face with each other. Were men to receive the annihilating stroke of an offended God? "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.". . . At the crisis, when iniquity had overspread the world, and Satan seemed about to triumph, Jesus came with the embassage of divine mercy. Satan, exulted in the idea that he had led men to such a state of evil that God would destroy the world, but Jesus came, not to condemn but to save the world. Ellen G. White, |
October 30–November 8 Fall Creek SDA Church, OR James Rafferty • (541) 937-3526 November 14 Pleasant Hill SDA Church, OR James Rafferty • (541) 746-1750 November 14 Bishop SDA Church, CA Ty Gibson • (760) 872-7191 December 5 Turning Point Community Adventist Company, Roseburg, OR James Rafferty • (541) 492-1300 December 8 Bible Study, Light Bearers Ministry Ty Gibson • (541) 988-3300 December 12 Cottage Grove SDA Church, OR James Rafferty • (541) 942-5312 December 12 Pleasant Hill SDA Church, OR Ty Gibson • (541) 746-1750 January 8–9 Bend SDA Church, OR James Rafferty • (541) 382-5991 January 9–23 Tacoma Central SDA Church, WA Ty Gibson • (253) 752-6637 January 26 Bible Study, Light Bearers Ministry Ty Gibson • (541) 988-3300 January 29–30 Milo Academy, OR Ty Gibson • (541) 825-3626 |
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