free vol. 13 no. 152 october 2015 tel:(718) 938

Transcription

“THE LORD GAVE THE WORD: GREAT WAS THE COMPANY OF THOSE THAT PUBLISHED IT.” PSALM 68:11
FREE
VOL. 13 NO. 152 OCTOBER 2015
TEL:(718) 938-7966 | EMAIL: [email protected]
NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, CONNECTICUT, RHODE ISLAND, PHILADELPHIA WASHINGTON D.C., MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, DELWARE, PHILADELPHIA, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, KENTUCKY
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
“Spreading the good news to the world!”
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LIGHT OF THE WORLD
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
FEATURE
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CARSON DOUBLES DOWN ON ‘MUSLIM’ COMMENTS:
‘SHARIA INCONSISTENT WITH CONSTITUTION’
T
he Islamic faith isn’t “consistent”
with the U.S. Constitution, and
a Muslim shouldn’t be president,
Republican presidential candidate Ben
Carson said.
it should matter,” Carson said. “But if
it fits within the realm of America and
consistent with the Constitution, no
problem.”
Todd then asked whether Islam is
consistent with the Constitution.
“I would not advocate that we put a
Muslim in charge of this nation,” Carson
said on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’
“No, I do not. I would not advocate that
we put a Muslim in charge of this nation.
I absolutely would not agree with that,”
Carson said.
Late Sunday, he doubled down on those
comments in an interview with The
Hill. “I do not believe Sharia is consistent
with the Constitution of this country,”
Carson told The Hill. “Muslims feel that
their religion is very much a part of your
public life and what you do as a public
official, and that’s inconsistent with our
principles and our Constitution.”
But Congress is a different matter, he said.
The only exception he’d make would be
if the Muslim running for office “publicly Ben Carson
rejected all the tenets of Sharia and lived
a life consistent with that,” Carson told president is largely “irrelevant” because
The Hill.
no Muslims are running in 2016. He said
the question, which Todd is posing to all
“Then I wouldn’t have any problem,” he
of the Republican presidential hopefuls
said.
who go on his show, “may well have
Carson “sought to frame himself as one of been” gotcha journalism meant to trip the
the few candidates running for president candidates up.
willing to tell hard truths,” The Hill
But he did concede that it “served a useful
reported.
purpose by providing the opportunity to
“We are a different kind of nation,” Carson talk about what Sharia is and what their
said. “Part of why we rose so quickly is goals are.”
because we wouldn’t allow our values or
“So often we get into these irrelevant
principles to be supplanted because we
things, because obviously if a Muslim
were going to be politically correct… part
was running for president, there would be
of the problem today is that we’re so busy
a lot more education about Sharia, about
trying to be politically correct, that we
Taqiya,” Carson said.
lose all perspective.”
Earlier, Carson told NBC’s Chuck Todd
But he said the question of a Muslim
that the religious beliefs of a president
would matter if his or her faith was
inconsistent with U.S. values. His view
contrasted with that of Donald Trump,
the billionaire front-runner for the
Republican presidential nomination, who
said on the program that a Muslim as
president is something that could happen
in the future.
Trump said he knows many Muslims who
are “fabulous,” but there’s “a very severe
problem” with some Muslims around the
world -- comments he repeated on other
broadcasts.
“It depends on who that Muslim is and
what their policies are. Just as it depends
on what anybody else says. And if there’s
somebody who’s of any faith but they say
things and their life has been consistent
with things that will elevate this nation
and make it possible for everybody to
succeed and bring peace and harmony
then I’m with them.”
Carson said he takes President Barack
Obama at his word that he was both born
in the United States and is a Christian.
Trump declined to talk about either of
those issues.
The issues of Muslims in American
politics came to the fore when Trump
failed to correct a man asking a question
during one of his rallies, who said that
President Barack Obama is a Muslim. On
“Meet the Press,” Trump said he wasn’t
obligated to defend Obama.
Carson, asked by moderator Chuck Todd “This is the first I’ve ever gotten into hot
whether a presidential candidate’s faith water for not saying anything,” Trump
said. Trump and Carson both said they
should matter to voters, said it depends.
believe Obama is a Christian.
“If it’s inconsistent with the values and
principles of America then of course SOURCE Newsmax.com
POPE FRANCIS MET GAY COUPLE AT VATICAN EMBASSY IN US
P
ope Francis had a private meeting discuss gay issues.
with a gay couple in Washington.
Earlier it emerged that the pontiff met Kim
A former student of his, Yayo Davis, the Kentucky clerk who refused to
Grassi, told the BBC the Pope agreed to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.
meet him to “give him a hug”.
That news was greeted with anger by
Mr Grassi and his boyfriend Iwan were many liberals and gay campaigners in the
received at the Vatican Embassy where US.
they discussed his business but did not
Mr Grassi said he asked Pope Francis for “Just two friends meeting after a long
an audience when he found out he was time,” said Mr Grassi. “We didn’t talk
coming to the US and the pontiff agreed, about gay issues or anything like that.”
saying he wanted to give him a hug.
The Vatican confirmed the meeting took
During their meeting, they caught up place and added: “The Pope, as pastor, has
on each other’s lives and Pope Francis maintained many personal relationships
asked him about his business, a catering with people in a spirit of kindness,
company in Washington.
welcome and dialogue.”
KENNETH COPELAND LAYS HANDS AND PRAYS OVER DONALD TRUMP
E
arlier this month, we reported how
Paula White set up an invitationonly meeting between Republican
presidential candidate Donald Trump and
evangelical pastors.
him,” Copeland prayed. “And we thank
You and praise You for a bold man, a
strong man and an obedient man.”
As we have reported, Trump’s campaign is
pulling out all the stops to woo Christian
That meeting happened recently—and voters. He recently told a rally his favorite
plenty of Pentecostals were there to lay book is the Bible, but later refused to
hands on the billionaire, make declarations share his favorite verse.
over his life and pray.
“During the meeting, he talked about his
Beyond Paula White, also present were Christian faith,” David Brody, CBN News
Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Jentezen chief political correspondent, wrote. “At
Franklin, David Jeremiah, Jan Crouch, one point he admitted that he may not have Ken Copeland and Donald Trump
Steve Munsey, Jews for Jesus Rabbi read the Bible as much as the pastors in
Kirt Schneider, Bishop George Bloomer, the room. As the conversation continued, discussed trade, balancing the budget,
Bishop Darrell Scott and Clarence a few of the ministers implored Trump to eliminating the deficit and tax reform.”
McClendon.
tone down some of his harsh rhetoric.
Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also
“No man can be successful as president of
the United States without Your wisdom.
And so we ask You today to give this
man Your wisdom, boldly. Make sure and
certain that he hears. Manifest Yourself to
“As for additional subject matter, Trump
told the religious leaders and pastors that
he will be a strong supporter of Israel and
that defeating ISIS would be a strong part
of his agenda,” Brody continued. “He also
director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership
team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of
several books, including The Next Great Move of God:
An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings
With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small
Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan’s
Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion
and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can
also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.
Jennifer’s Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.
SOURCE:Charisma
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LIGHT OF THE WORLD
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
FEATURE
T
15 THINGS THAT MAKE CHURCH PEOPLE
CRAZY MAD
his fun list is meant to help us take a is a good thing, remember that
look at the lighter side of our church pet
10. When a Visitor Sits in Your Seat
peeves.Whatwouldyouaddtothelist?
There are no assigned seats at church–or,
15. Loud Music
at least there shouldn’t be. If your seat’s
The book of Revelation is pretty clear— taken, just smile and find another.
there will be LOUD worship in heaven.
9. People Using iPads Instead of
Of course, we understand there’s probably
a difference between the church youth “Real” Bibles
band rocking out and the voices of angels,
We get it, who’s gonna make sure they’re
but still.
not checking Facebook during the sermon?
14. Crying Babies
Although, to be real for a second—God’s
Word is God’s Word, whether it’s read on
OK, crying babies can be loud at times,
an iPad or in a 4-inch thick King Jimmie
but moms gotta get their worship on too.
Am I right?
13. Out
Dancers
of
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Bible.
8. Coffee in the Sanctuary
Let’s be clear: having a cup of joe in
the sanctuary doesn’t defile anything
or anyone—we’re not in the Temple era
anymore, right? Jesus lives in us—not on
stage in our churches. Although, we do
understand it can be messy
7. Youth Group Attire
hold on, is he trying to get in front of me?!
OK, this one probably has some credibility. I don’t think so!” Not that I’ve ever said
Although, if we’re calling out high school that personally
students for the way they dress, we should
4. Pastors Asking for Money
OK, we’re not talking about your huckster
money-laundering televanglist here, but
your everyday pastor talking about moula.
This shouldn’t get us riled up, seriously.
The Bible talks about money A LOT. The
way we use our money says a great deal
about our faith—whoops, sorry, started to
preach on that one.
Control Worship
Because some things, like out of control
dancers, just need more grace.
12. Awkward Pauses in the Message
You know, that moment when the pastor
tells a joke and no one laughs… Or that
time when the worship leader greets
everyone and no one answers…
3. Women in Leadership
There are some pretty stellar examples of
women leaders in the Bible. It shouldn’t
surprise us to see a woman lead in the
church today.
11. When the Youth Take Over the Service
2. Overly Happy Greeters
The youth group just got back from
Honduras, and they’re pumped to share
their stories and slam on the drums… this
Some church greeters are just waaaaayy
probably do the same for mom jeans. Just too happy. This is church. We’re not in
an idea.
heaven yet. Save some for the after party.
6. Long Sermons
1. The Much-Feared Meet-n-Greet
We shouldn’t complain, really. I mean,
the Apostle Paul preached so long people
were falling out of windows. Plus, it’s
kind of what we’re there for (OK, that and
worship and community and serving…)
“Hi, how are you? Yes, I’m fluent in
awkward as well.” OK, this shouldn’t be
a big deal, really. After all, we’re going to
spend eternity with these people sitting in
front and in back of us. Might as well get
to know ‘em now.
5. Church Parking Lots
For some reason, the message on the
Beatitudes gets chucked out the window
when we hit the church parking lot. We’re
all like, “Yes, the meek shall inher- …
Brian More
Brian is the founding editor of ChurchLeaders.com and
Faithit.com. He works with creative and innovative people
to discover the top stories, resources and trends to equip
and inspire the Church.
I WOULD RATHER BE CAUGHT BY ISIS THAN STAND WITH KIM DAVIS
By Patrina Mosley
D
on’t panic; or maybe you should.
The title of this article is based
on the consensus I got from an
overwhelming number of Christians.
From fellow believers, the response to Kim
Davis was surprisingly 50/50. Either she
was a hero of the faith, courageous, and
may we dare to think we ourselves would
put our career on the line, much less be
jailed, for our faith; or she was not a hero,
she was not courageous, she doesn’t even
represent the Christian faith, and I would
rather be captured by ISIS than be identified
as a homophobic Christian who won’t do
their job.
f you’re not familiar with Kim Davis, she is
the Kentucky county clerk who refused to
issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples
and was jailed by a pro-homosexual judge
earlier this month as a result.
I was shocked not by the media or the
LGBT community, who were pretty lenient
when the case was taken to court, but from
Christians who did not support Kim Davis.
The negative responses from Christians
was interesting to me because most of us
have heard of the Christian cake bakers
being sued out of business, the Christian
wedding photographer not diversifying
their portfolio, and the Christian venue
owners closing their doors. Christians were
not okay with this and commended them for
standing for the faith. But the county clerk
going to jail? That lady should pay the price
for “not doing her job”? Really?
To believe that Christian cake bakers and
wedding photographers should be exempt
from losing their jobs, but Christian
county clerks who have to issue same-sex
“marriage” licenses should not, speaks
discreetly to other underlying issues at stake
here.
For starters, do you believe in the First
Amendment or not? “Congress shall make
no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof...” The “free exercise thereof”
protects not just religious beliefs but actions
informed by those beliefs.
Should Kim Davis just have “done her job”
and left her faith at the door? No. And sadly,
not only do we now have the Supreme Court
Justices and the homosexual community
telling Christians to leave their faith out of
the public sector, we now have woefully
misguided fellow Christians telling other
believers the same thing!
Have we really bought into the lie that your
faith is private, or is there a slight elitism
of mainstream Christianity that says if
you “look like us, talk like us” and “don’t
come from back-woods, no-name, religious
places” then we’ll accept you as a martyr on
“our team.” Hmmm?
The Kentucky judge and the American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) wanted to mock
and scare this lady for exercising her faith
and make an example of her to all Christians
— call it an “immoral morality lesson” of
what could happen to you if you don’t leave Patrina Mosley
your faith at home.
it before the rooster crows. Are you really
Places like Iraq and Syria don’t get like it ready to be beheaded before being called
is today overnight. It happens slowly over homophobic?
time with freedoms being restricted one
Answer carefully before making such broad
regulation at a time. Today it’s Kim Davis;
comparisons.
tomorrow it could be you.
Patrina Mosley servers as the Young
How much do you value the God-given,
Women for America Regional Coordinator
constitutionally protected freedom to live
under Concerned Women for America and
out your faith everyday, everywhere? If
holds a Specialization in Biblical Studies
your faith is required to be “private,” then
and a M.A. in Public Policy from Liberty
this freedom means nothing ... to you or
University.
anyone else. If it is a Biblical faith, one that
Jesus describes as public and costly, then Christian Post
you need to evaluate what you really believe
and how far you’re willing to go to defend
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LIGHT OF THE WORLD
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
FAMILY
MATTERS
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CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER?
mos 3:3 asks a pertinent question: There are some people who will only tell
Do two walk together unless they you what you want to hear. That type of
people will not help you in your growth in
have agreed to do so?
all areas of your life. A friend who could
As couples, there are certain questions
help you if both of you are sincere with
we need to ask ourselves as we relate
one another and be truthful to one another.
with other people: Is this person accepts
me as I am, even when things are bad? Whatever I am today apart from God
Does this person knows me well and likes are made possible through some of the
me anyway? Does he / she knows me friends I have and some from high school
intimately and is committed to my best and some from college. We are able to tell
under all circumstances, regardless of the each other the truth and nothing but the
truth but not necessarily what we want to
risk to the relationship.
hear. These types of friends are those that
Is the person a trusted confidant to whom
can help you to move to the next level.
I am mutually drawn as a companion,
who loves me not for my performance, According to Sabrina D. Black, loving
and whose influence draws me closer to confrontation between friends causes us to
Christ? Answers to the above questions lay aside our masks. Iron sharpeneth iron,
lead to another question, who is a friend? so a man sharpeneth the countenance of
his friends (Proverbs 27: 17). The phrase;
A friend is someone who challenges us
‘iron sharpen iron’ refers to a friend who
and encourages us to grow spiritually. If
can counsel you according to God’s word.
our relationship with our friends are just
So when you think about your friends, ask
to share jokes and kind words, never see
yourself: does this friendship cause both
anything wrong with each other or never
my friend and I to draw closer to God or
have anything to say to help each other to
draw you afar from God
grow spiritually, it may just be cover up.
A
As Christians we need to carefully
consider who our friends are. With whom
are you sharing the things that are going on
in your marriage? Why are you sharing the
things that are going on in your marriage?
Is it because he or she will affirms your
action or because he / she will give you
genuine advice that you may not like but
could help you in development. What kind
of character do these friends have?
A woman was sharing this story in a book.
She said she called her special friend to
engage her in conversation. According
to her, the friend said she would call her
back because she has not spent time with
the Lord that day. According to the friend,
spending time with God for her is utmost
importance and critical. Is spending
time with God an utmost importance or
engaging in unproductive activity?
It is important to make sure that our friend
is someone who is concerned about Godly
things – a person who knows the word of
God and who will turn to it when you call.
Keep in mind that friends are people who
Pastor Olusola Oloidi
should draw you closer to God. Therefore,
if they are telling you something that is
contrary to the words of God, then they
are not really your friends. Don’t make a
costly mistake by moving with the wrong
crowd, because your friends can make or
mar you.
Olusola Oloidi, is a certified Pastoral Counselor and a zonal
coordinator at RCCGNA based in Glassboro New Jersey.
He can be reached on (856) 906 – 4745 or solaseminary@
hotmail.com for relational issues. Confidentiality is
guaranteed.
15 WAYS TO FIGHT LUST WITH THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
t is almost impossible in the Western
world to escape sensuality. Sex is on
the television, in the movies and in
our music, on the side of buses, during
halftime shows, in our books and in glossy
close-ups at supermarket check-out. Sex
is all around us in the mall, dripping off
every beer commercial, and two stories
high on our billboards. Sexual sin is
walking around our high schools, flaunted
across our universities, and hiding in our
churches.
I
conceives and gives birth to sin (sin in the
flesh or sin in the mind). Sin then grows
and matures and leads to death. It is not
lust to be attracted to someone or notice
he or she is good looking. It is not lust
to have a strong desire for sex. It is not
lust to be excited about sex in marriage.
It is not lust to inadvertently notice a
woman bathing on the roof. It is sin to
keep noticing and start scheming. Stoke
the fires of this lustful passion and it will
bring forth death. Just ask King David.
And of course, sex is on the Internet.
Pornography and sex-related sites make
up 60 percent of daily web traffic. Of
Internet users in the U.S., 40 percent visit
porn sites at least once a month, and that
number increases to 70 percent when
the audience is 18- to 34-year-old males.
Half of hotel room patrons purchase
pornography from their rooms. Ninety
percent of 8- to 16-year-olds with Internet
access have viewed pornography online,
and the average age of exposure is 11.
6) Hebrews 2:17-18 “Therefore he had to
be made like his brothers in every respect,
so that he might become a merciful and
faithful high priest in the service of
God, to make propitiation for the sins of
the people. For because he himself has
suffered when tempted, he is able to help
those who are being tempted.” Jesus was
tempted, not as we are from a sinful nature.
But there were external voices calling him
to sin. Let us not underestimate the real
nature of his temptations and undercut
his sympathy and his ability to help. Jesus
was hungry in the wilderness. He had a
desire, a want. He was enticed to make
the stones bread so he could enjoy the
pleasure of food. But he told the devil,
“Man does not live by bread alone, but by
every word that comes from the mouth of
the Lord” (Matt. 4:1-3). In our moments
of sexual temptation, we need to think,
“Flesh does not sustain me. Jesus does.”
The seventh commandment is not just
broken in this country; it’s being smashed
to pieces.
And sexual sin is not just an “out there”
problem. Any pastor will tell you stories
about how sexual sin has destroyed
people in his congregation. None of
us are immune from the dangers of
sexual immorality. In a Christianity
Today study from several years ago, 40
percent of clergy acknowledged visiting
pornographic websites. Another survey
found that 21 percent visit regularly. Yet
another survey at Pastors.com found that
50 percent of pastors reported to viewing
pornography in the previous year. And
then there’s the underlying issue of the
heart. The seventh commandment doesn’t
just forbid adultery and pornography. It
forbids every action, look, conversation,
thought or desire that incites lust and
uncleanness.
So how in the world, in this world we live
in, and with our sex-saturated hearts, can
we obey the seventh commandment?
decades.” Think about today. The Lord
has given you grace for this day and he
Let me suggest 15 passages of Scripture
will give you grace for every subsequent
that can help us fight lust and the
day in which you follow God in the midst
temptation to sexual immorality.
of unmet desires.
1) Proverbs 5:18-19 “Let your fountain
3) 1 Peter 3:15 “In your hearts regard
be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of
Christ the Lord as holy, always being
your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
prepared to make a defense to anyone
Let her breasts fill you at all times with
who asks you for a reason for the hope
delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”
that is in you.” Before you take a second
This may seem a strange text for fighting
look or dress yourself so that others will,
sexual temptation, but married couples
think: “Will this make me more ready to
need to know they have delight at their
talk to someone about Jesus?” Sensuality
lawful disposal. We need to know that sex
deadens the spiritual senses and makes us
is good, intimacy is good, bodies together
less courageous and effective witnesses
in marriage are good. Good, glorious sex
for Christ.
is spiritual warfare for the married couple.
4) 2 Peter 3:10-14 “But the day of the Lord
2) Lamentations 3:25-27 “The Lord is
will come like a thief … Therefore … be
good to those who wait for him, to the soul
diligent to be found by him without spot or
who seeks him. It is good that one should
blemish, and at peace.” Do you want to be
wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
cheating on your husband, masturbating
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke
or watching Game of Thrones when
in his youth.” This a verse is for singles.
Christ returns?
Granted, this passage isn’t talking about
waiting for a spouse. It’s about waiting on 5) James 1:14-15 “But each person is
the Lord. But that’s the point: The Lord is tempted when he is lured and enticed
good to those who wait for him. He knows by his own desire. Then desire when it
what you need. The preceding verses tell has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin
us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
ceases, his mercies never come to an end; This passage helps us understand how
they are new every morning; great is your temptation works and reminds us that
faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says feeling tempted is not necessarily the
my soul, therefore I will hope in him.” same as sinning. Temptation beckons
Don’t think, “How can I live without us to do what we should not do. That’s
sex for another year or decade or two not sin. When the desire is nurtured it
7) Romans 14:21 “It is good not to eat meat
or drink wine or do anything that causes
your brother to stumble.” As Christians,
we want to help each other avoid sin,
not lead one another into it with flirting,
coarse joking and immodest dress.
8) Matthew 5:27-30 “You have heard that it
was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
But I say to you that everyone who looks
at a woman with lustful intent has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it
out and throw it away. For it is better that
you lose one of your members than that
your whole body be thrown into hell. And
cont pg. 18
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LIGHT OF THE WORLD
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
AFRICAN NEWS
Page 10
NIGERIA’S PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI:
‘END UNRULINESS’
igeria’s President Muhammadu
Buhari has called on Nigerians
to stop their “unruly behavior”
to achieve progress.
N
failure to appoint a cabinet some four
months after taking office, saying he
did not want to act in a “haphazard”
way.
“To bring about change, we must
change ourselves by being law-abiding
citizens,” he said in an address to mark
55 years of independence.
Mr. Buhari said the nation would have
to “face squarely” the economic crisis
caused by the sharp fall in oil prices.
It would require “prudent housekeeping”, and tackling corruption in
the oil sector, Mr. Buhari added.
Mr. Buhari was a military ruler in
1984 and 1985, and returned to office
in May after winning democratic
elections.
He has said that he will personally
keep control of the oil ministry.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous
state, and the continent’s main oil
producer.
However, most of its citizens live in
poverty, and the country often faces President Buhari
fuel and electricity shortages.
“We must change our unruly behavior
in schools, hospitals, market places,
“Change does not just happen,” Mr.
motor parks, on the roads, in homes
Buhari said in his first address to the
and offices,” he added.
nation since becoming president.
Mr. Buhari is the first Nigerian to
become president after defeating the
incumbent in elections.
He beat Goodluck Jonathan by a
comfortable margin in the March
He did not give any details of policies
polls.
he would introduce to encourage the
change of behavior.
Mr. Buhari strongly defended his
BURUNDI’S NYAMITWE ACCUSES RWANDA OF TRAINING REBELS
B
urundi has accused neighboring
Rwanda of training rebels seeking
to destabilize the country.
Since then, relations between the two
presidents have gone downhill, leading to
the current diplomatic tensions.
It is hosting Burundi’s failed coup leader,
and helping rebels launch cross-border
attacks, Foreign Minister Alain Nyamitwe
told the BBC.
Rwandan foreign ministry official
Olivier Nduhungirehe accused Burundi
of harboring rebels from the Democratic
Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
(FDLR) group, which was linked to the
1994 genocide in Rwanda.
Rwanda denies the allegation, and says
Burundi is trying to deflect attention from
its own problems.
Mr Nyamitwe said a fact-finding team,
sent to Burundi by regional leaders, found
there was no truth to the allegation.
The two governments have a tense
relationship, with both countries sharing
a similar ethnic make-up.
Burundi has been hit by a spate
of
assassinations
and
attempted
assassinations since President Pierre
Nkurunziza won disputed elections in Old friends, now foes
July.
service that Rwanda was “facilitating”
He survived a coup attempt in March. attacks that the coup plotters were
It was led by renegade Gen Godefroid orchestrating in Burundi.
Niyombare, who opposed his bid for a
“We also have extensive information about
third term.
recruitments in refugee camps, especially
Gen Niyombare has not been seen in in Mahama refugee camp, where refugees
public since then.
are taken for military training, and some
of the trainers are Rwandans,” he added.
About 70,000 Burundians are living in
refugee camps in Rwanda after fleeing Pierre Nkurunziza and his Rwandan
counterpart Paul Kagame were once on
the unrest.
good terms, even playing football together
Mr Nyamitwe told the BBC Kinyarwanda
The team visited Burundi after Rwanda
made similar allegations in the past, he
added.
when they visited each other’s countries.
This changed in November 2012, when the
two disagreed sharply over the M23 rebel
group in eastern Democratic Republic
of Congo. Mr Nkurunziza opposed the
M23, which, according to the UN, had
Rwanda’s backing.
Both Rwanda and Burundi have long
experienced ethnic conflict between a
Hutu majority and a Tutsi minority, which
has traditionally been dominant.
Rwanda sees the mainly Hutu FDLR as a
major threat to its stability, and is pushing
for its disarmament.
Mr Nkurunziza is a Hutu former rebel
leader, while Mr Kagame is a Tutsi.
The two leaders clashed at a meeting of However, the unrest in Burundi is not
regional leaders over the issue, prompting linked to ethnic divisions, analysts say.
Mr Nkurunziza to walk out before the
talks ended.
BURKINA FASO COUP LEADER GEN DIENDERE ‘HELD’
G
en Gilbert Diendere - the leader residence of the Vatican’s representative
of last month’s short-lived coup in in Burkina Faso, reports say.
Burkina Faso - is in the custody of
Details of his reported surrender are still
the country’s security forces, sources say.
unclear.
Some reports suggest he earlier
The financial assets of Gen Diendere
surrendered at an unnamed diplomatic
and another 13 people suspected of
mission in the capital Ouagadougou.
involvement in the coup were frozen last
Interim President Michel Kafando was week.
reinstated a week after intervention from
Separately, the first full meeting of
the army and West African leaders.
the government since Mr Kafando’s
The presidential guards’ unit that carried reinstatement decided to disband the
out the coup is to be disbanded.
presidential guard (RSP) and to dismiss
the minister in charge of security.
“He [Gen Diendere] has been handed
over to Burkinabe authorities,” a judicial The RSP - a unit of 1,200 well-armed
source was quoted as saying by Reuters. and well-trained men - is loyal to Blaise
Compaore, the country’s long-time ruler
The general had earlier taken refuge at the
who was ousted in a popular uprising last
year. They were unhappy about being
integrated into the regular army.
Members of the unit stormed the cabinet
room on 16 September, seizing Mr
Kafando, the prime minister and others.
A week later, when it became clear they
did not enjoy popular support and after a
threat from the regular army to step down
or be ousted by force, the RSP withdrew
from the capital.
An emergency meeting of the regional
bloc Ecowas also helped to bring a smooth
end to the crisis.
At least 10 people were killed and more
than 100 injured in clashes during the
takeover, which Gen Diendere later
described as “the biggest mistake”.
Coup leader Gen Gilbert Diendere
Page 11
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Page 12
WORD
L
istening recently to an anointed
preacher, Pastor D. Akerele, I
learned something about “the
pattern in the bloodline”. He said everyone
should take note of whatever is happening
to him or her that may be traceable to one’s
generations. As you read, please pause
and think through: What’s happening to
you now that has always happened to
everyone down your generational line?
Medically speaking, doctors sometimes
do blood work on people to find out what’s
wrong with them. They draw blood and
run it through tests to determine cause
of sickness. So should you should allow
Jesus to run your blood work today and
fix whatever is in your bloodline, which
does not glorify God. Whatever sin,
wickedness, disease or mishap have been
running in your family, it won’t continue
with you or your children. Jesus is able
and willing to intercept every inherited
evil in your life today and liberate you.
Just to clarify what I am saying, look at
the some bloodlines here: Abraham begat
Isaac. Isaac begat Jacob. The preacher
says that Abraham lied about his wife in
Genesis 12:11-13; Isaac also lied about his
wife in Genesis 26:6-9. They lied because
of beautiful women and the fear of human
beings; Jacob, the third generation, was
also a liar and supplanted who deceived
his father and stole his brother’s birthright.
O
See Genesis 25:29-34 & 27:18-41. Well,
Jacob was also deceived by both his fatherin-law and his own children. Here we see
generations of people who were deceivers.
Do you notice that your children lie a lot?
Have you lied to parents? Could they also
have been liars?
Ishmael, Abraham’s first born never
mattered. Esau, Isaac’s first born never
mattered. Abraham’s wife was initially
barren; many of these men also had barren
wives. In fact, they all had extra-marital
affairs. Many things continued to happen
down the line but they did not take note
to stop this kind of evil pattern in their
bloodline.
Ask yourself, ‘what are the patterns in
your bloodline. Do you need blood work?
Jesus is ready right now to remove every
evil pattern that you have inherited. Rev.
12:11
Tap into the power of His WORD, you
will be released. Jesus has redeemed all
believers from the curse of the law and
all iniquities. See Galatians 3:13 & Titus
2:14. If you already have Jesus, then take
authority over lineage problems. You don’t
have to continue under that suffering.
The Bible says, “a bastard shall not enter
into the congregation of the Lord; even
to his tenth generation shall he not enter
into the congregation of the Lord” Deut.
23:2. It was Judas the son of Jacob who
sinned and no king could come from his
generations until the tenth generation
when Jesse was born. Jesse was the one
who finally produced a king (David) in Pastor Abraham Obadare of Christ
Apostolic Church WOSEM
the generations. Mt. 1:2-6
continuity in your life today and begin to
You should be the one upon whom evil and
curse the curse of your life in Jesus name.
curse would stop. You should be the one
You shall be set free.
who won’t go through divorce, diseases or
I am Pastor Abraham Obadare, bringing you the words of God.
untimely death. Pray to Jesus now.
You are invited to worship with me at 108-02 Sutphin Blvd.,
You may have been hated and forsaken
Is bareness traceable down the line in
before, but the bible says you will become
your family? Do people die young in your
an eternal excellency and a joy of many
bloodline and you are now afraid for your
generations. Isaiah 60:15
life? Is there a particular disease in your
lineage and you already have or expect it? Is everyone always afflicted in your
Do people always divorce in your family? family? Affliction will no longer trouble
This is not your portion. Don’t settle for it. you. Isa. 60:14says, “The sons also of them
Fight and stop it before it transfers to your that afflicted thee shall come bending
children. Jesus could intervene today; just unto thee; and all they that despised thee
accept Him as your personal savior. Call shall bow themselves down at the soles
on Him to prosper your health and soul. of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The
3 John 2
city of the Lord…” Be angry against evil
Jamaica, NY 11435 or reach me at 718-658-8981. In other areas
of New York City you can worship with us at: 611 Williams
Avenue, Brooklyn, NY; 442 E. 183rd Street, Bronx, NY; 37-21
Rockaway Beach Blvd., Far Rockaway, NY.
Dial 712.432.9932 for 24/7 Christian Radio programs or visit
www.eagernessofgod.org. You may also watch us on www.
worldtv.com/eagerness_of_god_tv.
Our website address is
www.wosem.org - where you can watch on demand videos for
your enrichment, watch our live streaming or read past messages / articles. You may also visit www.thewayoutforyou.com
for more words of life.
TEN GIFTS YOUR PASTOR WILL LOVE
ctober is Pastor Appreciation
month. This is the month when
many churches will take some
time to show their appreciation to their
pastor for his love and ministry over the
past year.
Some churches will take up a love offering
for their pastor. Many will put a basket in
the vestibule in which members can place
cards with kind sentiments they want to
share with their pastor. A few churches
may even have a dinner or a reception, a
nice time to get together, to express their
feelings for their pastor.
All of these things are nice and good. In
fact, I believe it is a great idea for a church
to take one month out of the year to do
something special to show just how much
they appreciate the time and effort, love
and concern their pastor has for them.
I know I’ve been blessed in recent years
by a church that does just that. Now, it
wasn’t always that way. When I first came
to Temple, I remember when one of our
new staff members, who had come from
a larger church in North Carolina that
evidently knew how to show their love for
their pastor, approached Temple’s deacon
chairman and asked him if the church ever
had some sort of a pastor appreciation day.
The chairman got a funny look on his face
and said: “No. We never have. We just
always paid ‘em good.” My new associate
shared how strange that sentiment was to
him. He just couldn’t understand how a
man so successful in the business world
could overlook something so simple as
expressing love and appreciation for a
year’s worth of ministry. I remember him
telling me how his former church would
try to outdo themselves every year when it
came time for Pastor Appreciation month.
I know that pastor had to appreciate all
the possibility he might just be human
too. Maybe, like you, he actually has
good days and bad days. You never know
what burden he might be carrying, what
issue he’s having to deal with. It might be
something at church or at home. So, give
a little grace and cut him some slack. You
would want him to do the same for you.
5. A “good word” to your pastor
to read minds. I can’t tell you how many
times I’ve received a card expressing a
As I was driving to the office this morning,
member’s love and prayers just when I
I was thinking through some of the gifts
thought nobody in the church liked me,
I know I have appreciated over the years
much less loved me.
as a pastor and thought that I would share
what I believe are the top 10 gifts you 3. Your unconditional support
should give your pastor, not just during
Dr. Jim Henry told our deacons recently
Pastor Appreciation month but the other
that researchers say that other than being
11 months of the year as well.
the president of the United States, the
1. Your prayers
most stressful “job” is that of being the
pastor of a local church. I remember years
This is the greatest gift you can give your
ago when one of our associate pastors was
pastor. If you don’t love him like you
preaching, he made a statement that at
should, begin to pray for him and you
first made me think he was going to have
will. Of course, if you already love him,
to make a trip to the pastor’s office. He
then you’ll naturally want to pray for him.
said, “The pastor is not always perfect
I’ve had several of our senior adults tell
…” I knew that. Everybody knows that.
me when I call just to check in on them
I just didn’t think somebody would say it
how they pray for me every day. That’s
from the pulpit. Then he added, “But he is
fuel for more ministry!
always the pastor.”
they did to show him their love.
2. Your love
A pastor who really shepherds his people
will expend a great amount of love. His
heart will be stretched and often broken.
Next to your prayers, the greatest thing
you can give your pastor is your love. By
the way, if you love him, let him know it.
Despite what some people think, I don’t
know of any pastor who has the ability
4. A little grace
I’m amazed at how often people get their
feelings hurt in church. Often it is because
of something somebody did or said, or
didn’t do or didn’t say. Sometimes that
somebody is the pastor. The next time
you start to get upset with your pastor,
take just a minute, breathe and consider
Everybody likes to hear when they’ve
done something right or been a blessing
to somebody. Maybe the sermon spoke
to you. Perhaps the service blessed you.
Maybe you appreciated his call or visit, or
you just like his tie. In a given week the
average pastor hears a lot of things he’s
done wrong. Take a moment and share
something he’s done right.
6. A “good word” for your pastor
If your pastor is a gifted Bible preacher,
a visionary leader or a caring pastor, tell
your friends. Invite them to come hear
him preach, spend time with him. Brag
on him. Make sure everybody knows just
how great you think your pastor is. This
will get out and back and will be a great
gift of encouragement.
7. Your faithfulness
Recently I had lunch with a pastor friend
of mine who’s served the same church for
nearly 20 years. He told me that instead
of large receptions or lots of money, he’d
rather just have his people be faithful. I
completely agree. Money or cards don’t
begin to say what a family’s faithfulness
does. Your faithfulness to the ministry
of your church says volumes about how
much you really love and appreciate your
pastor. Don’t just say it or give it—show
it.
cont. on Page 24
Page 13
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Elders (Pastors) who do
their work well should be
respected and paid well,
especially those who work hard
at both preaching and
teaching. For the Scripture says,
“You must not muzzle an ox
to keep it from eating as it
treads out the grain.”
And in another place,
“Those who work deserve
their pay!” 1 Tim 5:17-18
Happy Pastors’ Appreciation
Month to all men and women
of God in His vineyard!
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Page 14
Page 15
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Page 16
Page 17
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
JOSEPH IN THE PALACE, EXACTLY WHERE HE BELONGS
Steadfast and hopeful even when
forgotten
G
oing through the scriptural
references, one of the most painful
waiting periods for Joseph was
the two years after the restoration of the
butler. Joseph painfully uttered the words
(for the first time to anyone) Gen. 40:1415, “But think on me when it shall be well
with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee,
unto me, and make mention of me unto
Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
For indeed I was stolen away out of the
land of the Hebrews: and here also have I
done nothing that they should put me into
the dungeon”. This was certainly a very
humble request by a dreamer, but even so,
it was a request that was totally forgotten
for 24 months.
My honest assumption was for the butler
to remember Joseph the very first time
he served Pharaoh the royal cup after his
release. And in case that did not happen,
may be worst case scenario, within the
first week. The butler is by far one of
the closest aides of an emperor; in most
cultures, he is the one that puts down his
life everyday by tasting the king’s drink
first. If the king would be poisoned at
all, it can never happen without a butler’s
involvement because he must sip the drink
before the emperor does. Hence, the level
of closeness between Pharaoh and the
butler can only be imagined. The miracle
of his restoration to the position came
through the right interpretation of his
dream by Joseph. It is commonsensical
to assume that Joseph’s deliverance must
be immediate. However, in the program
of God, certain things occur to defy all
logic and human reasoning. Waiting two
more years is unbelievably painful, but
time surely develops godly attitude and
character, not diminish it.
When the butler remembered Joseph, he
uttered these words: “I do remember my
faults this day” Gen. 41:
It is definitely a fault in the lives of all
that you have interpreted their dreams or
helped and encouraged to reach greater
heights; for individuals that drank from
your cistern and have enjoyed from your
generosity, to forget you and pretend like
you have not been divinely positioned in
their lives, and very instrumental in their
lifting or deliverance. While the times
may be hard now and you may be going
through your dark moments, everyone
that needs to be reminded to favor you,
or put in a word for you, may have to be
jolted by heaven’s electric shock, so that
“they can remember their faults”
Rejoice! Your deliverance does not come
from any man. However, God has divinely
positioned individuals who must put a
positive word for you in this season to get
you to the throne right from the prison.
Your great testimony is here.
It was delayed, but deliverance came!
Gen. 41:
37 So the advice was good in the eyes
of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his
servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his
servants, “Can we find such a one as this,
a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,
“Inasmuch as God has shown you all this,
there is no one as discerning and wise as
you. 40 You shall be over my house, and
all my people shall be ruled according to
your word; only in regard to the throne
will I be greater than you.” 41 And
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set
you over all the land of Egypt.”
It is often said that a dream can be
delayed, but God-given dreams are never
denied. How faithful God is and will ever
be, His ways are perfect and just, his
manifestations completely different and
mind-blowing.
Joseph never for once gave up on his
dreams no matter where he was. It will be
good to note that before his rise to power
and prominence:
1. He was hated, persecuted and ridiculed;
2. He was sold into a totally foreign land;
3. He refused to commit sin, or
compromise;
4. He suffered wrongly but remained
steadfast;
5. He enjoyed God’s presence and favor
continually;
6. He had to interpret the dreams of
colleagues (fellow prisoners);
7. He had to interpret the dream of his
superior (Pharaoh); and
8. He decided to trust God all the way.
God, in His magnanimity, had to take
Pharaoh to the dreamland to have the
kind of dream that no one else, but
Joseph could interpret. It is good to note
that astrologers in those days were very
precise and accurate on many occasions
and the reason Pharaoh summoned them
all in the first place was because he was
certain they would interpret his dreams.
Unfortunately, in this particular situation,
no one was able to, no one even tried.
You see, on your way to the top, and when
God is ready to place you on that pedestal
of glory intentioned for you alone, He
will divinely orchestrate riddles that you
and you alone can solve. It was not just
Joseph that enjoyed this in the scriptures;
the same was true of Daniel and his
three friends. It is interesting for me to
state unequivocally that the reason some
problems are not yet solved, codes not yet
cracked and questions not yet answered is
simply because God is repositioning His
own children to come and be the riddlesolvers for the purpose of divine lifting.
Time will fail to properly explain the great
restoration Joseph withnessed when he
was enthroned; the level of restoration was
simply unbelievable. For a strange young
man to rise to such level of prominence is
only possible with God.
Pastor Victor Adedokun
Isn’t that the prayer of every dreamer and
the sincere desire of every believer? Joseph
summed up his lifting in two phrases, TO
FORGET and TO BE FRUITHFUL. It
is my sincere prayer that as you dare to
dream bigger dreams even in the face of
all oppositions, the Lord God will bring
an unusual transformation and lifting
your way this season.
Whenever God restores an individual,
he ends up in a far better place than
where he was originally. True lifting
and promotion from God takes you far
beyond your expectation. The years spent
in pain and agony can surely be quickly
forgotten at the dawn of an unprecedented
breakthrough. Welcome to your season
friend!
I decree and declare that you will be
made to forget all the toils and hardship,
made to forget the sorrows and pains, the
heartaches and downfalls, as I join the
To forget and to be fruitful.
Gen 4150 And to Joseph were born two heavens in agreement to welcome you to
sons before the years of famine came, your season of fruitfulness.
whom Asenath, the daughter of PotiRejoice dreamer! Your lifting is now.
Pherah priest of On, bore to him. 51
Victor Adedokun
Joseph called the name of the firstborn
Pastor, †he Redemption House
Manasseh:[a] “For God has made me
www.redemptionhouse.org
forget all my toil and all my father’s
Feel free to follow me at facebook.com/PastorVictor.
house.”52 And the name of the second
Comment as you deem fit; [email protected]
he called Ephraim:[b] “For God has
Victor Adedokun.
caused me to be fruitful in the land of my
affliction.”
cont. on Page 20
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR SUNDAY ON NIGERIA’S INDEPENDENCE.
W
hen Nigeria got her independence
on October 1st 1960, the few
Nigerians who were privileged
to be alive at that time, looked forward to
building a great nation. They dreamt of a
Nigeria that will make a mark in the history
of our world.
No doubt, a lot of Nigerians that were born
much later have dreamt of the opportunity
to have been alive during the independence.
I personally have thought of the opportunity
of living at the same time with the Founding
Fathers of our country and how I could have
contributed to our growth and development.
Today however, I want to say a big
congratulations to those Nigerians that
are alive to witness the 55th Independence
Anniversary of our great nation. Indeed
God is a God of a second chance. That
second chance is being offered to all of us
today, to start afresh and build the nation of
our dream.
Why do I believe that this is a second chance
for Nigeria? Why do I believe that the
chance we have today is not worse than the
one those who were alive at independence
had? Most Nigerians would agree that
the Nigerian project of the past 55 years
failed mainly because of poor leadership.
Everything rises and falls on leadership.
That era of leadership failure is now
surely coming to an end. I believe that the
Almighty God himself has decided to have
mercy on Nigeria. It is my firm believe that
with this new leadership, Nigeria stands a
good chance to forever re-address her point
of failure.
I strongly believe in the leadership of
Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice President.
Even more comforting is the process by
which our President is selecting his team.
The fact that President Buhari is being so
meticulous in selecting his ministers and
other team members is a testament to the
fact that Nigeria is about to come out of the
wilderness of leadership failure. I pray God
will help him pick the best people for the
job.
A popular Russian proverb puts it succinctly;
“a fish begins to rot from the head.” In the
Nigerian scenario since our leadership, the
head of this country is whole and healthy,
it indicates a sign of recovery, health and
wholesomeness to the entire Nigerian polity.
So congratulations dear Nigerians that we
are all alive today. I want to encourage you
to revive your faith in a great Nigeria. We
stand a better chance today to build a great
nation than our forefathers did.
• Today Nigeria is the 7th biggest country in
the world by population, 1st in Africa.
• Today Nigeria ranks 6th in agricultural
output worldwide and 1st in Africa.
• Nigeria is the 21st largest economy by
nominal GDP in the world and 20th by
Purchasing Power Parity.
• Our economy is one of the fastest growing
in the world. According to Citigroup,
Nigeria will record the highest economic
growth in the world between now and 2050.
• The Nigerian diaspora has become our
second biggest source of foreign exchange
with over $20 billion USD yearly remittance Pastor Sunday Adelaja
to Nigeria.
• Nigeria is one of only two African greater Nigeria than at Independence. Let us
countries among 11 Global Growth not miss this opportunity.
Generators countries
Let’s believe in ourselves.
In short, what I am trying to say is that our Let’s support our new government
future is bright. In the words of Peter Eigen Let’s surprise the world.
(Transparency International Germany) “IF
Happy Independence Beloved Nigeria!!!
NIGERIA DOES NOT SUCCEED WHO
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND NATION
ELSE CAN SUCCEED?”
By Pastor Sunday Adelaja.
We stand a greater chance today to build a
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Page 18
15 WAYS TO FIGHT LUST WITH THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
CONT’D FROM PG.8
if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it
off and throw it away. For it is better that
you lose one of your members than that
your whole body go into hell.” We are not
good fighters. We make excuses. We don’t
get radical. We pray a few prayers, feel bad
all the time, tell a friend to ask how we’re
doing once in awhile and that’s it. We need
more decisive action than that. Avoid the
movies, get rid of your Internet connection,
don’t kiss before marriage, throw out your
t.v., tear out your eye—whatever it takes
to battle lust. There are too many wholebodied people going to hell and not enough
spiritual amputees going to heaven.
9) Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God
is not mocked, for whatever one sows,
that will he also reap.” There are often
temporal consequences for disobedience.
It could be STDs, baggage in marriage,
a guilty conscience, getting mired in a
deeper addiction, distraction at work, a
pornography fetish you pass on to your
children, destroying your family, your
marriage or your ministry. There are also
eternal consequences if you give yourself
over to this sin. Galatians 6:8 “For the one
who sows to his own flesh will from the
flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows
to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal
life.”
10) 1 Cor 6:15-20 “Do you not know that
your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I
then take the members of Christ and make
them members of a prostitute? Never! … Or
do you not know that your body is a temple
P
of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you
have from God? You are not your own, for
you were bought with a price. So glorify
God in your body.” We need a theology
of the body: The body is good, but it’s not
yours. Jesus didn’t just die to ransom our
souls. He also died for your body. It belongs
to God. It is a member of Christ’s body now.
Surely, we don’t want to employ Christ’s
body in some sexual escapade or his eyes in
viewing pornography or his mind in sensual
fantasy.
11) 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone
is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has
passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Cultural liberalism says, “Just be yourself.”
Self-help doctrine says, “You can find a
better you if you just dig deep enough.”
Moralism says, “Be a better person.” The
Bible says, “You are a new person by God’s
grace, now live like it.” “Be who you are” is
the gospel motivation for holiness.
12) Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider
how to stir up one another to love and good
works, not neglecting to meet together, as
is the habit of some, but encouraging one
another, and all the more as you see the
day approaching.” No one fights a war by
himself, and no one will have victory over
sexual sin on his own. You need to talk to
others about your struggles and listen just as
well. Be honest. Ask good questions. Don’t
just confess and feel better. Repent and
change. Don’t just sympathize; admonish.
Follow up with your brothers and sisters.
Pray and remind each other of the gospel.
13) James 4:6 “But he gives more grace.
Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.” God always
gives more grace. So keep coming to him
with your sin and all your commandment
violations. Confess like David in Psalm 51
that you have sinned against God. Confess
that God is the most offended party as a
result of your sin. And then believe like
David in Psalm 32: “Blessed is the one
whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin
is covered. Blessed is the man against whom
the Lord counts no iniquity.” We will never
experience growing victory over sin unless
we are quick to turn to Christ all the times
we fail.
14) Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they shall see God.” This has been
the most helpful verse for me in fighting lust
and the temptation to sexual immorality.
We need to fight desire with desire. Satan
tempts us by holding out something that will
be pleasurable to us. We aren’t tempted to
gorge ourselves on liverwurst, because for
most of us, it doesn’t hold out the promise of
great pleasure. But sex does. Pornography
does. A second look does. The Bible gives
us many weapons to fight temptation. We
can tell ourselves it is wrong, it is sinful, it
will lead to bad things, it isn’t what I should
do as a Christian. All of those are helpful.
But the one weapon we rarely use is more
pleasure. We need to fight the fleeting
pleasure of sexual sin with the far greater,
more abiding pleasure of knowing God.
The fight for sexual purity is the fight of
faith. It may sound like nothing but hard
work and gritting your teeth—the very
opposite of faith. But faith is at the heart of
this struggle. Do we believe that a glimpse
of God is better than a glimpse of skin? Do
we believe that God’s steadfast love is better
than life (Psalm 63:3)? We’d probably sin
less if we spent less time thinking about our
sins, sexual or otherwise, and more time
meditating on the love and holiness of God.
15) Ephesians 1:19-21 “… and what is the
immeasurable greatness of his power toward
us who believe, according to the working
of his great might that he worked in Christ
when he raised him from the dead and
seated him at his right hand in the heavenly
places, far above all rule and authority and
power and dominion, and above every name
that is named, not only in this age but also
in the one to come.” The great power that
created the world, and saved us, and raised
Jesus from the dead—that same power is
now at work in you. We must believe that
God is stronger than sexual temptation,
sin and addiction. If you believe that God
brought a dead man back to life, you should
believe that you can change. Not overnight
usually, but from one degree of glory to the
next. Work out your salvation from sexual
sin with fear and trembling, for God’s power
is already at work within you.
Kevin is the Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church
(RCA) in East Lansing, Michigan, right across the street
from Michigan State University. He has been the pastor
there since 2004.
More from Kevin DeYoung or visit Kevin at http://
thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/
7 SUBTLE SYMPTOMS OF PRIDE
ride will kill you. Forever. Pride
is the sin most likely to keep you
from crying out for a Savior. Those
who think they are well will not look for
a doctor.
As seriously dangerous as pride is, it’s
equally hard to spot. When it comes
to diagnosing our hearts, those of us
who have the disease of pride have a
challenging time identifying our sickness.
Pride infects our eyesight, causing us to
view ourselves through a lens that colors
and distorts reality. Pride will paint
even our ugliness in sin as beautiful and
commendable.
We can’t conclude that we don’t struggle
with pride because we don’t see pride in
our hearts. The comfortable moments
when I pat myself on the back for how
well I am doing are the moments that
should alarm me the most. I need to reach
for the glasses of Christ-like humility,
remembering that nothing good dwells in
my flesh, and search my heart for secret
pride and its symptoms.
In his essay on undetected pride, Jonathan
Edwards points out seven sneaky
symptoms of the infection of pride.
1. Fault-Finding
While pride causes us to filter out the evil
we see in ourselves, it also causes us to
filter out God’s goodness in others. We
sift them, letting only their faults fall into
our perception of them.
When I’m sitting in a sermon or studying
a passage, it’s pride that prompts the
terrible temptation to skip the Spirit’s
surgery on my own heart and instead
draft a mental blog post or plan a potential
conversation for the people who “really
need to hear this.”
Edwards writes,
The spiritually proud person shows it in
his finding fault with other saints. … The
eminently humble Christian has so much
to do at home and sees so much evil in his
own that he is not apt to be very busy with
other hearts.
2. A Harsh Spirit
Those who have the sickness of pride
in their hearts speak of others’ sins
with contempt, irritation, frustration
or judgment. Pride is crouching inside
our belittling of the struggles of others.
It’s cowering in our jokes about the
‘craziness’ of our spouse. It may even be
lurking in the prayers we throw upward
for our friends that are—subtly or not—
tainted with exasperated irritation.
Again Edwards writes, “Christians who
are but fellow-worms ought at least to
treat one another with as much humility
and gentleness as Christ treats them.”
3. Superficiality
When pride lives in our hearts, we’re far
more concerned with others’ perceptions
of us than the reality of our hearts. We
fight the sins that have an impact on how
others view us, and make peace with
the ones that no one sees. We have great
success in the areas of holiness that have
highly visible accountability, but little
concern for the disciplines that happen in
secret.
4. Defensiveness
Those who stand in the strength of
Christ’s righteousness alone find a
confident hiding place from the attacks
of men and Satan alike. True humility is
not knocked off balance and thrown into a
defensive posture by challenge or rebuke,
but instead continues in doing good,
entrusting the soul to our faithful Creator.
Edwards says, “For the humble Christian,
the more the world is against him, the
more silent and still he will be, unless it
is in his prayer closet, and there he will
not be still.”
5. Presumption Before God
Humility approaches God with humble
assurance in Christ Jesus. If either the
“humble” or the “assurance” are missing
in that equation, our hearts very well
might be infected with pride. Some of us
have no shortage of boldness before God,
but if we’re not careful, we can forget that
he is God.
Edwards writes, “Some, in their great
rejoicing before God, have not paid
sufficient regard to that rule in Psalm
2:11—‘Worship the Lord with reverence,
and rejoice with trembling.’”
Others of us feel no confidence before
God. Which sounds like humility, but in
reality it’s another symptom of pride. In
those moments, we’re testifying that we
believe our sins are greater than his grace.
We doubt the power of Christ’s blood and
we’re stuck staring at ourselves instead of
Christ.
6. Desperation for Attention
Pride is hungry for attention, respect and
worship in all its forms.
Maybe it sounds like shameless boasting
about ourselves. Maybe it’s being unable
to say “no” to anyone because we need to
be needed. Maybe it looks like obsessively
thirsting for marriage—or fantasizing
about a better marriage—because you’re
hungry to be adored. Maybe it looks like
being haunted by your desire for the right
car or the right house or the right title at
work: all because you seek the glory that
comes from men, not God.
7. Neglecting Others
Pride prefers some people over others.
It honors those who the world deems
worthy of honor, giving more weight to
their words, their wants and their needs.
There’s a thrill that goes through me
when people with “power” acknowledge
me. We consciously or unconsciously pass
over the weak, the inconvenient and the
unattractive, because they don’t seem to
offer us much.
Maybe more of us struggle with pride
than we thought.
There’s good news for the prideful.
Confession of pride signals the beginning
of the end for pride. It indicates the war is
already being waged. For only when the
Spirit of God is moving, already humbling
us, can we remove the lenses of pride
from our eyes and see ourselves clearly,
identifying the sickness and seeking the
cure.
By God’s grace, we can turn once again
to the glorious gospel in which we stand
and make much of him even through
identifying our pride in all its hiding
places inside of us. Just as my concealed
pride once moved me toward death, so
the acknowledgement of my own pride
moves me toward life by causing me to
cling more fiercely to the righteousness of
Christ.
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts! And see
if there be any grievous way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm
139:23–24)
Fabienne (Fabs) Harford (@fabsharford) is a writer,
speaker, and counselor, serving on staff at The Austin
Stone Counseling Center in Austin, Texas. She writes
regularly at www.fabsharford.com.
ore from Fabienne Harford or visit Fabienne at http://www.
fabsharford.com
Page 19
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Page 20
7 SPIRITUAL CONSEQUENCES OF LIVING A HURRIED, BUSY LIFE
In 1967, experts on time management
delivered a report to the U.S. Senate.
These experts believed the speed of
technology, satellites and robotics would
present a big problem for the American
workplace in the years to come. The
problem? People would have too much
free time. Here’s what they concluded:
the mechanism.” In other words, create a
“tunnel vision” where you see nothing but
the catcher behind home plate.
When your life moves at freeway speed,
you have no time or energy to consider the
world outside of your lane. You become
desensitized or unaware of brokenness in
the world. Your heart becomes calloused
to the things that break God’s heart. The
Syrian refugee crisis. The abortion of
millions around the world. The heinous
treatment of God’s people by ISIS.
“By 1985, people might have to choose
between working 22 hours a week, 27
weeks a year or retiring at 38.”
Good call, “experts.” If I had a time
machine, I would fire all of you.
Almost 50 years later, we’re moving
faster than ever. We’re addicted to speed,
obsessed with hurry. This addiction now
has a name … ”hurry sickness.”
Hurry sickness is defined as “a continuous
struggle to accomplish more things and
participate in more events in less time,
frequently in the face of opposition, real
or imagined, from other people.”
If you’ve ever laid on the horn because
the person in front of you didn’t turn fast
enough, switched lanes to avoid slow
drivers, or changed lanes at the grocery
store because another lane had fewer
people, you might suffer with hurry
sickness.
Our pace is out of control. And, if we
compare our pace to the pace of Jesus’
life, there aren’t many similarities. Jesus
was never rushed. He didn’t cater to
the demands of the world. He wasn’t
overwhelmed by life, even though he had
an enormous mission to complete in a
very short period of time.
Jesus never rushed because he moved
at God’s pace. You see, hurry isn’t from
God. It’s the world’s pace. It’s Satan’s
pace. Psychiatrist Carl Jung said, “Hurry
is not OF the devil. Hurry IS the devil.”
Culture’s obsession with busyness
and hurriedness isn’t just a scheduling
problem. It’s a heart problem. It’s time to
consider what a hurried life is costing us.
And, make no mistake, the cost is
enormous.
Here are seven consequences of living a
hurried life.
1.) A hurried life
relationship with God.
destroys
your
Wing Mandao, a Chinese pastor, said,
“We have so much to do that we never
really commune with God as he intended
in the Garden of Eden.”
Intimacy with God requires stillness,
attentiveness and silence. You must get
off life’s busy freeway to grow closer to
God.
Jesus frequently removed himself from
the world. He spent time alone in prayer
and solitude. And in these moments, Jesus
received the strength to fulfill his mission,
the confidence to continue his mission,
and the wisdom to discern the ways of
God from the ways of the world.
Unless you spend extended periods of
time alone with God through prayer,
solitude and sabbath, the speed of the
world will skew your understanding of
God. Anxiety, unrest and discontentment
will hover over your life like a dark storm
cloud.
As Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know
that I am God.”
2.) A hurried life feeds “approval
addiction.”
When your life moves at a hurried pace,
you seek validation and approval in a
hurried way. This explains why social
media resonates with so many people.
The Instagram photos and Facebook
posts give you instant validation. No
need to invest in relationships where
people actually know you. That’s time
consuming. Our culture is “in bed” with
large followings and spotlights. The
short-term result is validation. But the
long-term consequences are burnout,
loneliness and over-commitment.
You see, crowds are fickle. Followings
are self-seeking. They love you … until
you say something they disagree with.
I’ve seen this in ministry. A new family
places membership, gets plugged in,
becomes frustrated with an individual or
church philosophy, then strikes out to the
door down the road.
Jesus never catered to the crowds. He
often retreated from crowds to be alone.
He gave his most controversial sermons
when the largest crowds gathered around
him. In fact, on one occasion in John 6,
Jesus said something so controversial
that many of his disciples left and never
followed him again.
That type of behavior is foreign to
American Christians. Our churches often
cater to crowds. We love the instant
validation from a packed auditorium
on Sunday morning. But Jesus didn’t
care about Facebook likes or packed
auditoriums. Jesus knew you couldn’t
point a crowd to God if you needed their
approval.
You can’t point people to Jesus if you
need their approval.
American Christians could learn
something from Jesus. Are we attracting
crowds to fill our self-seeking desire for
quick validation? On a personal level, are
you living the life you proclaim?
You can’t preach the difficult message
of self-denial if you attract people on the
basis of self-interest. You can’t embrace
the scandalous, radical life of Jesus if you
need the approval of others.
Jesus knew this. That’s why he disengaged
from the crowds. He wanted to be
driven by God’s desires, not the crowd’s
demands.
3.) A hurried life decreases your capacity
to love others.
It’s not a coincidence that the great love
passage, 1 Corinthians 13, begins with
“Love is patient.” Love isn’t easily
angered. Love doesn’t leave at the
first sign of trouble. It doesn’t rush to
judgment.
Love and hurry can’t co-exist. Matthew
Kelly, in The Rhythm of Life, says
relationships can only thrive under
“carefree timelessness.” And this is
something hurried people don’t have. The
more you increase the speed of your life,
the less capacity you have to love others.
Considering
the
two
greatest
commandments are to love God and love
others, you need to consider whether your
hurried life is costing you more than you
realize.
It saddens me to think about the failed
marriages that are the product of an
impatient culture. I think about the
prodigal Christians that have been
abandoned because we have no capacity
to wait.
Love is patient. Are you?
God’s heart breaks for injustice and
oppression. If your heart doesn’t break
for the things that break God’s heart, it’s
time to slow down and consider the world
outside of your lane.
6.) A hurried life increases narrowmindedness and legalism.
Superficiality is the curse of our age.
Richard Foster
A hurried life promotes a shallow,
narrow-minded understanding of God.
Information is at your fingertips. Any
podcast from almost any preacher can
be accessed with a few clicks. You can
purchase books with your phone. Type
in any question, Google will answer it in
seconds.
all this information, you would think
4.) A hurried life increases the power of With
Christians would know more about God
temptation.
Why did Jesus wait until he was 30
to begin his ministry? Why did he
immediately go into the wilderness with
the Spirit for 40 days after his baptism?
Through my American lens, it seems
like Jesus wasted most of his life doing
nothing. He could have performed
miracles long before 30, and his following
might have been larger. Who knows,
more people might know Jesus today if
he started his ministry earlier.
That’s a no-brainer, God. Why can’t you
see what I see?
Because I’m moving at the world’s speed.
The 30 years Jesus spent in relative
obscurity weren’t wasted years. God was
developing an important virtue in Jesus
… patience.
Through temptation, Satan tries to
decrease the time between impulse and
action. And, in our instant gratification
culture, Satan has masterfully deceived
people.
So many of my mistakes—sex before
marriage, stealing, drunkenness, porn
addiction—are the result of looking for
instant gratification. Could it be that
Jesus lived a perfect life largely because
he started his ministry with a strong
understanding of patience and waiting?
These virtues take time to build. When
you nurture patience, you trust God to
give you the things IN TIME Satan says
you need NOW.
5.) A hurried life numbs you to injustices
that break God’s heart.
Hurry is a desensitizer, snuffing out
moments of intimacy with life to the point
that we get used to living day after day
with little deep feeling. Kirk Jones
I was a pitcher in high school. When I
pitched, my coach always told me not to
worry about the crowd. Instead, he said
to focus on locating my pitches. In the
movie For the Love of the Game, Kevin
Costner’s character called this “clearing
than ever. But that’s just the problem.
Information teaches you ABOUT God.
Information increases knowledge. But
knowledge alone leads to legalism.
Truly knowing God requires discernment
and wisdom. These grow incrementally
through reflection, solitude, prayer
and Christ-centered community. The
difference between knowledge and
wisdom is the difference between “God
can’t work that way,” and “I can’t believe
God worked that way.” It’s the difference
between “either/or” and “both/and.” It’s
the difference between the disciples,
having minimal knowledge about God but
recognizing Jesus when he approached
them, and the Pharisees, having a wealth
of knowledge but crucifying Jesus when
he approached.
The Spirit’s upside-down ways are foreign
to people living a hurried life.
Wisdom is slow. It can’t be microwaved or
manufactured. Don’t expect to understand
the upside-down movements of the Spirit
if you move at the world’s speed.
7.) A hurried life clouds your purpose and
diminishes your passion.
“Purpose” is a trendy word in today’s
culture. It’s also more elusive than
the Loch Ness Monster. “What is my
purpose?” is one of the most popular
questions I hear as a college/young adult
pastor.
Many college and young adults consider
their life’s purpose in this season because
they’re choosing a career. And, in a
hurried culture, your life’s purpose is
determined by what you do. Your career.
It’s all about what you can see. What you
can hold.
But God’s idea of purpose isn’t about
DOING. It’s about BECOMING. So,
the ultimate question when considering
your purpose isn’t, “What do you DO?”
Instead, the question is, “Who are you
BECOMING?”
God is concerned about who you’re
BECOMING, not what you’re DOING.
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Page 21
Page 22
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
OPRAH WINFREY GETS EMOTIONAL TALKING ABOUT JESUS, HER
DAILY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
O
prah Winfrey will premiere the
seven-night OWN television
event “Belief” this month, an
interfaith program that claims to examine
“humankind’s ongoing search to connect
with something greater than ourselves.”
In a video posted to YouTube, the media
mogul became emotional while sharing
her own belief practice. She also spoke
about her understanding of God and how,
as a child, she grew up learning biblical
stories before nursery rhymes.
In the lead up to the show’s October
premiere, the former daytime talk show
host has been promoting the program
by sharing a series of videos with the
hashtag #beliefstories in which she
openly discusses her Christian faith and
her interpretations of Jesus Christ and the
Bible.
Winfrey got teary-eyed while answering
the question “What is my belief practice
today?” in a video shared with her 10
million Facebook followers
“Today, I feel the fierce love of all that is
God,” the OWN network CEO said with a
brief pause while choking up.
“… So deeply. So strongly and so purely
in my heart that it lifts and carries me
and sometimes I actually feel weightless
in the love that is God, because I feel it
in all things. I’ve reached a point in my
life where I actually pay attention to every
breath and my spiritual practice is that I
awaken and the first thought is ‘thank
you’ and the next thought is ‘I’m still here
in this body.’ And my heart’s desire is
to want to live and be in this body fully
present to everything, to not miss this
experience of being here now on the
planet we call Earth.”
The global icon was raised in the church
as a young child and said the Bible taught
her how to surrender to Jesus.
“I grew up with the stories of Elijah
and Elisha and Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego in the fire,” said Winfrey. “All
of these biblical characters and stories
were what I learned before I learned
nursery rhymes or before I learned
fairytales. … I learned what it means to
rely on Jesus, and not to rely on your own
power. Because of those stories, I grew up
knowing that real fear was trusting in only Oprah Winfrey
myself and that being fearless was being
In a separate video, Winfrey, whose able to release my fears to that which is until age 6, said. “Not growing up with a
empire has an estimated net worth of $3 greater than myself and let God handle it.” father, I heard in church that God was my
Father and that God was the Father of us
billion according to Forbes, credited her
Also , Winfrey sparked an online
all and that Jesus was God’s son. So, in my
Christian faith for keeping her grounded
discussion about the Christian doctrine
imagination, my way of thinking about
after years of great business success.
of the Holy Trinity after recalling a time
God was ‘God is my Father and Jesus is
“Everything that I am has come from that she once considered Jesus Christ to
His Son, so I am His child which makes
my belief in that which I call God,” she be her brother. She spoke candidly about
me His daughter, which makes Jesus my
shared. “My idea of what that is, is no how growing up without her father led her
brother.”
longer a person out there or in the sky, to faith when she was between the ages of
but my belief in understanding that there 3 to 7 years old.
In 2012, the TV mogul declared: “I am
was a force, a presence, a power, a Divine
a Christian. That is my faith” during her
“For the earliest part of my life, I didn’t
Entity, a being that loved me. And the very
“Oprah’s Lifeclass: The Tour.”
know my father,” Winfrey, who was
idea of being loved into being is what has
By Benge Nsenduluka , CP Reporter
raised by her maternal grandmother up
kept me grounded, centered and strong.”
SHOULD I WATCH THIS? A CALL TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF
ENTERTAINMENT ON YOUR LIFE
O
n June 7, 2003, Devin Moore
entered a Fayette, Ala., police
station on suspicion of stealing
a car. He had no criminal history, and
showed no signs of agressive behavior.
Then, inexplicably, he snapped. Grabbing
a police officer’s gun, he proceeded to
shoot and kill three people. All three were
shots to the head. After being captured,
Devin Moore said this, “Life is like a video
game. Everybody’s got to die sometime.”
Moore spent hours upon hours playing
Grand Theft Auto, a video game that has
we desensitized? Are we rebelling against
sold millions of copies and grossed over
the uber-conservatives who believe any
$2 billion.
movie, song, etc. is a work of Satan?
What you allow into your mind and heart
And, if we’re rebelling, I get it. On a list
shapes your life.
of things I dislike most, the “movies are a
This is an extreme example of an work of Satan” crowd comes in at number
important truth: Your life is shaped three, behind cats and green bean baby
by what you allow into your mind and food. Movies and music aren’t bad. In
heart. Relationships. Movies. Books. fact, the opposite is true. They are good
Video Games. All of these impact the gifts from God. They can reveal powerful
person you are currently and the person qualities of redemption and truths about
you will be in the future. Neurologist God. They can help you see God’s creation
Dr. Richard Pellegrino said it this way, in new ways.
“You can pour messages in, and if you
This post isn’t my attempt to convince
pour the wrong messages in, they take a
you movies are evil. It is a call to see
particular power—more than the listener
the importance of intentionality and
understands.”
discernment. It’s a call to stop swinging
If you don’t believe videos and music shape on a pendulum from “almost everything
your mind, consider the companies who goes” to “all movies are from Satan.” It’s a
cut $3 million checks for a 30-second ad call to embrace the “gray area.” It’s in this
during the Super Bowl. Three million … area that you must deal with your heart
for 30 seconds?! That’s crazy unless these and motives.
companies are confident that showing you
Should I watch this? Here are seven
a glimpse of their product will influence
questions to help you answer that question.
your mind and increase their revenue.
1.) Does this movie or show celebrate sin
Last night, I couldn’t sleep thinking about
and make righteousness look strange?
this. You see, I’m not sure Christians
approach any other issue with as much For years, I heard, “You’re sinning if
apathy and passivity as they do with you watch a rated-R movie.” Then, Mel
their entertainment choices. This is Gibson filmed The Passion of the Christ,
puzzling when you consider the potential and it was rated … wait for it … R. How
entertainment has to shape our lives. Are could this be?
freshmen at the University of Michigan
who turned the college basketball world
upside down in the early ’90s. The show
was fascinating regardless, but when
I saw it through a gospel lens, I noticed
some truths about how people create
movements. They build community. They
stand firm in their values. They celebrate
one another. They take risks. These are
all truths from God. Truths that these
five freshmen used to change college
basketball.
Here’s how.
The Bible is littered with sin, from cover
to cover (excluding, of course Genesis
1-2). In fact, if the Bible were made into a
film, the rating would probably be worse
than R. I mean, really, how would you
even film the scene in Judges 19-21?
But, here’s what the Bible never does.
It NEVER celebrates sin. It NEVER
champions sin, making it look normal. It
NEVER paints righteousness as strange,
boring or something only for Class A
losers. This is the opposite of many (not
all) movies and shows. The coolest people
have the most sex. The most popular
people degrade others. It’s normal to
betray your friends to get what you want.
And when someone tries to do the right
thing, they are often painted as closeminded killjoys whose sole purpose is to
rob everyone of fun.
If you approach movies and TV with a
gospel lens, truths about God will jump off
the screen and into your heart. Doing this
also focuses your mind on the positive, so
when the movie is over, the images that
stick aren’t ones of brokenness and sin,
but goodness and beauty.
I believe, as Christians, this is an important
layer when it comes to consuming movies,
music, etc. But it requires intentionality.
3.) Does this feed a struggle or temptation?
Two years ago, while battling an addiction
to porn, I made the decision to cut movies,
TV and music unless they explicitly
glorified God. I made this decision
because my mind needed a detox. I
struggled mightily with lust, and any
image of a woman wearing slightly less
than normal was a temptation. I firmly
believe that decision played a major role in
my recovery, and ultimately my freedom,
The presence of sin in a movie isn’t from addiction.
grounds to dismiss it. If that’s your filter,
The question isn’t “Can you watch this
dismiss the Bible as well. The question
or listen to that?” the question is “Should
that needs to be asked is, “Does this movie
you watch it?” Some movies might
celebrate sin?”
portray truth, but contain scenes that feed
2.) Am I intentionally looking for truth a struggle in your life.
about God?
If you struggle with lust, it’s not a wise
Several months ago, I watched a decision to watch movies that tempt you
documentary about the “Fab Five.” The to lust. The same is true if you struggle
show wasn’t about God. It was about five
cont. on Page 25
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Page 23
Page 24
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
POPE FRANCIS SHOULD’VE BEEN MORE LIKE MOTHER TERESA IN
MEETING KIM DAVIS
P
ope Francis made a powerful
statement by meeting with gay
marriage dissenter Kim Davis.
But imagine how much more powerful it
would have been had the meeting been
public, rather than private.
Pope Francis has come and gone. His fiveday sojourn in America started with a visit
to Washington, D.C. (including speaking
to a joint session of the U.S. Congress),
continued in New York City (including
a speech to the U.N. General Assembly)
and concluded with a World Congress of
Families in Philadelphia.
What should one make of this historic
visit? The mass appeal generated by the
pope’s visit, symbolized by a millionperson mass in Philadelphia, was
extraordinary by any standard or measure.
The pope is a head of state (Vatican City),
thus a political figure, but primarily and
overwhelmingly he is an overtly religious
figure in that he is the titular head of the
world communion of Roman Catholics.
The massive public outpouring of
goodwill and visceral emotion generated
by the visit of such an overtly religious
figure reveals just how ultimately empty
and unfulfilling millions of Americans
find their secularizing lives and society
to be. Multitudes are clearly yearning for
spiritual sustenance.
I cannot help but wonder how many in the
left-leaning American secular mass media
were mystified, if not down right alarmed,
by just how popular Pope Francis proved
to be to Americans, no matter how
encouraging the media found his support
of their political agenda to be.
The incredible grassroots response to the
pope’s visit certainly calls into question
just how rapidly and irreversibly America
is secularizing.
In his speech to Congress, and later at the
U.N. General Assembly in New York, the
pontiff was more overtly political than
many conservative Catholics and non-
“By contrast, the Pope was explicit not
only on immigration and climate change,
Some of my conservative Catholic friends
but on the death penalty and arms trading
ranged from disappointed to grieved that
...” (Investor’s Business Daily, 9/28/15).
Pope Francis was much more forceful and
emphatic when speaking about climate It certainly appeared that the Pope was
change, economic justice and peace- putting the emphasis on issues associated
making (including positive comments with the left, at least in public.
about the Iran deal), than he was when
In private, it now surfaces, he secretly met
dealing with the sanctity of human life,
with Kentucky Count Clerk Kim Davis
same-sex marriage and religious freedom.
and her husband at the Papal Nunciature
Why?
in Washington, D.C. after his speech to a
It is certainly true that the Catechism joint session of Congress.
of the Catholic Church requires a
On Wednesday it was revealed that he had
“balanced” view of economic policy:
met with the Davises, prayed for her and,
“The Church has rejected the totalitarian according to Mrs. Davis, Pope Francis
and atheistic ideologies associated in “thanked me for my courage and told me
modern times with communism or to ‘stay strong.’”
socialism. She has likewise refused to
Why meet secretly? Imagine the impact
accept, in the practice of capitalism,
if that visit had been publicized while he
individualism and the absolute primacy
was still in the spotlight in America.
of the law of the marketplace over human
labor. Regulating the economy solely by I must confess that as I observed the
centralized planning perverts the basis of Pope’s visit my memory kept going
social bonds; regulating it solely by the law back to another visit from another world
of the marketplace fails social justice, for renowned and beloved Catholic leader,
there are many human needs which cannot Mother Teresa, who visited America in
be satisfied by the market. Reasonable of 1994 to speak to speak at the National
the marketplace and economic initiatives, Prayer Breakfast in Washington.
in keeping with a just hierarchy of values
Mother Teresa held the audience
in a view to the common good, is to be
spellbound as she made an eloquent plea
commended” (Catechism of the Catholic
for the sanctity of all human life from
Church 2425; A, 10; 13; 44).
conception to natural death with President
Still, the Pope’s choice of emphasis Clinton and his wife Hillary sitting less
concerned and disappointed many than six feet from the podium. No one
conservatives, Catholic and Protestant who witnessed such brave, eloquent and
alike.
explicit speaking of truth to power will
ever forget it. By the way, as Mother
As liberal commentator Ruth Marcus
Teresa spoke, the stone-faced First Lady
put it:
became more and more flushed. I actually
“But for the most part, the statements thought she might spontaneously combust
that put Francis in line with conservatives before the speech was over.
were muted and indirect — and when, in a
Here is some of what Mother Teresa
year that saw the Supreme Court legalize
said:
same-sex marriage, he said ‘Fundamental
relationships are being called into “But I feel that the greatest destroyer of
question, as in the very basis of marriage peace today is abortion, because it is a war
against the child — a direct killing of the
and the family.’
innocent child — murder by the mother
Catholics had hoped he would be.
herself. And if we accept that a mother can
kill her own child, how can we tell other
people not to kill one another?”
She then went on to say “any country that
accepts abortion is not teaching people
to love, but to use any violence to get
what they want. That is why the greatest
destroyer of love and peace is abortion.”
Then she immediately pressed the point
home:
“But what does God say to us? He says,
‘even if a mother could forget her child, I
will not forget you. I have carved you in
the palm of my hand.’ We are carved in
the palm of His hand — that unborn child
has been carved in the hand of God from
conception, and is called by God to love
and be loved, not only now in this life, but
forever. God can never forget us.”
Now that is a testimony of the value and
dignity of human life.
Imagine if Pope Francis had said that
to the joint session of Congress, House
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi might have
needed medical assistance.
What a historic tragedy that Pope Francis
did not seize his moment the way Mother
Teresa did.
Moral capital is like political capital. If
you hoard it, and don’t invest it in worthy
causes, it atrophies and dissipates.
By Richard Land Christian Post
TEN GIFTS YOUR PASTOR WILL LOVE
CONT’D FROM PG.12
pastor and his family can have at least one
week to get away on a vacation. In a day
where most “faithful” church members
miss at least one Sunday a month and take
multiple trips or vacations a year, it’s not
asking too much to make sure he and his
family have at least one.
9. Time by himself
8. Time with his family
He won’t be any good to your family if
he’s not any good to his family. If you
have a need that’s not an emergency, leave
a message and tell him there’s no hurry.
Or send an email or a direct message.
No pastor minds taking a call or making
a visit if there is a real need, but make
sure it is a real need before you call in the
evening or on the weekend when he’s with
his family. Another good idea is to insist
and, if funds are available, make sure the
The demands of being a pastor today
are exponentially greater than they were
just 25 or 30 years ago. The pressure of
meeting all the needs and living up to the
expectations can get to the point that it just
becomes too much to bear. This explains
why so many pastors are burning out and
quitting—often to never darken the door
of a church with their families again. Let
your pastor get away to a good conference
where he can refreshed. Send him on a
hunting or fishing or golf trip. Whatever
he likes to do. Allow him to recharge his
batteries so he can come back energized
for the ministry the Lord has for him
there. If your pastor is always available,
he won’t be worth anything when he is
available.
giving a gift card for a nice meal. Or,
even better, a little extra money to do
whatever they want to do with it. Express
your appreciation for the long hours of
ministry and love he gives, not just during
10. A financial gift
the month of October but the rest of the
There is a reason why this is last—because year as well.
it’s last. For most pastors I know and have
These are just a few thoughts of a pastor
talked to, a love offering is way down at
who was raised in the home of a pastor
the bottom of a list of things they would
and loves pastors.
like to receive from their church. Now,
I’m not saying there aren’t those pastors What gift will you give to your pastor
who are more like used car salesmen today? Every day?
who are always out to get an extra buck Brad Whitt is the newly-installed pastor of the historic
or two. I’m also not saying there are not Abilene Baptist Church in Augusta, GA. A leading young
pastors who may have a financial need voice among Southern Baptists, Dr. Whitt recently moved
the church doesn’t know about and a gift to Georgia following a ten-year pastorate in South Carolina
right now would help them maintain their where he served as president of the SCBC Pastor’s
self-respect or help them get ahead a just Conference. A former NAMB church planter, Brad is
little bit. I’m just saying most pastors an avid outdoorsman and gifted speaker for crusades,
don’t become pastors to get rich or have conferences and men’s events. He and his wife, Kim, live
a lot of money. They do it because of the in the Augusta area with their 3 young children.
call of God on their life. So, consider
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
LightSPORTS
Page 25
FIFA BANS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JACK
WARNER FOR LIFE
IFA has banned former vice
president Jack Warner from the
organization for life, the Associated
Press reports.
F
in 2005 showing the sale of the 2010
and 2014 World Cup rights to Caribbean
Football Union, which was controlled by
Warner.
On Tuesday, FIFA said Warner
“committed many and various acts of
misconduct continuously and repeatedly
during his time as an official in different
high-ranking and influential positions at
FIFA and CONCACAF.”
The sale totaled to $600,000. Warner
then transferred the rights to his private
company and sold them for about $20
million.
Warner was also involved in the “offer,
acceptance and receipt of undisclosed and
illegal payments,” FIFA added.
Jack Warner
in Zurich with Sepp Blatter I guess that
Warner posted a statement on his there is no such thing as a coincidence.”
Facebook page in response to the ban.
The decision to ban Warner over
“[If] the FIFA wants to ban me for life misconduct comes as Swiss officials are
without even a hearing then so be it,” investigating FIFA’s bidding process for
Warner said, “I do not believe however the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
that this will serve as the distraction to
On Friday, the Swiss attorney general
the FIFA’s present problems as the FIFA
announced that FIFA president Sepp
wishes it to be. Given what is happening
Blatter was also under investigation
In 2011, following his departure from
FIFA after he was implicated in bribery,
Warner claimed that FIFA agreed to give
him cheap World Cup rights in exchange
for helping Blatter continue to win
for criminal mismanagement and
elections.
misappropriation. Those charges stem
from the “unfavorable” contract Blatter Warner is one of 14 former FIFA officials
forged with the Caribbean Football Union who were indicted and charged with
and Warner in 2005, as well as from racketeering, wire fraud and money
suspected “disloyal payment” to UEFA laundering conspiracies by the United
States on May 27. He is currently in
president Michel Platini.
Trinidad, fighting extradition.
On Sept. 11, Swiss broadcaster SRF
published a document signed by Blatter - Erin Flynn
CAMEROON: NEW FA CHIEF TOMBI A ROKO SIDIKI VOWS TO UNITE BODY
N
ew
Cameroon
Football
Federation (Fecafoot) president
Tombi A Roko Sidiki has vowed
to unite the body and restore his country's
sporting pride.
Sidiki was elected on last month and
will take over from the Fifa-appointed
Normalisation Committee that has run
Fecafoot since July 2013.
"We must all sit together and talk if we
want to rebuild," he told BBC Sport.
"I will bring everybody to the project to
work together to make Cameroonians
proud of the football we all love."
Tombi A. Roko
By successfully holding elections,
Cameroon met a Fifa deadline to avoid a
ban from world football.
"Nobody would be left aside but they are
free to accept the hand of fellowship or not
And Sidiki has been quick to make a
- and we welcome constructive criticism
start on healing the divisions that have
that would help us advance."
threatened Fecafoot and Cameroonian
football.
As part of an 11-point agenda, Sidiki
revealed he would ensure there is
He reached out to former international
development of infrastructure in regions
goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell, a vocal
that would not benefit from the 2019
critic of the Cameroonian game who
Nations Cup, as well a plan to construct
failed in his bid to stand as a presidential
new Fecafoot offices.
candidate, to work with the new Fecafoot.
The 52-year-old also intends to place an
"I would call on those who nursed
emphasis on youth football and develop
ambitions in different sectors with
an programme of of social responsibility
contradicting views, Joseph Bell Antoine
that would apply particularly to former
among them, to collaborate because
footballers.
football is made up of 11 players but
By Leocadia Bongben
requires teamwork.
BBC Sport, Yaounde
SHOULD I WATCH THIS? A CALL TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF
ENTERTAINMENT ON YOUR LIFE CONT’D FROM PG.22
feeling toward someone. Reality says love
is a decision and a commitment. I wonder
how many marriages fail because someone
jumps into a relationship believing a
person will complete them. I wonder how
many people never experience intimacy
in a relationship because they equate love
with emotions and feelings?
Let’s remember this. Movie producers
aren’t interested in portraying the truth.
They’re interested in selling tickets.
If you’re always discontent, you could
have an unhealthy level of entertainment
consumption.
If you’re always discontent, struggle to
build healthy relationships or would rather
be the lead character in your favorite
movie than play the lead role in your own
life, maybe your consumption of movies
is unhealthy.
5.) Would I watch this if it happened in my
living room?
Events and circumstances become more
real to you as you move closer to them.
For example, a million pictures of orphans
in China won’t impact your life the way
flying to China and seeing those orphans
personally will. I would rather see Tiffani
for a day than look at dozens of different
pictures of her for months.
So, if you’re struggling with whether a
movie celebrates sin, ask yourself this
question: If it happened in my living room,
would I watch it?
6.) Is this the BEST use of my time?
How you spend your time is a stewardship
issue. The trendy phrase is “redeeming the
time.” What you call it doesn’t matter, the
important thing is that you understand God
will hold you accountable for how you use
your time.
So, although entertainment is inherently
good, the real issue becomes how you use
God’s good gift. Are you using it to wind
down and refresh your mind? Are you
looking for elements of God’s character?
Are you consuming it in excess? Are you
watching it to fill your selfish pleasures?
These questions matter. And there’s no
cut-and-dry answer, unless, of course,
you’re binge-watching 30 episodes of
Breaking Bad. Hard to justify that. What’s
entertainment and refreshment for me
might be gluttony and filling of selfish
pleasures for you. So, you must examine
your heart and check your motives.
7.) Am I watching this because I am bored?
Boredom, in essence, is a lack of interest
or apathy with your current situation. In
my teenage years, I experienced boredom
quite often. But, in the last several years,
I can count on my hands the number of
times I’ve said, “I’m bored.”
Here’s why. I’m doing work that I love.
I enjoy getting up every day. I love
ministering to the next generation. I
love writing. I love spending time with
my family. Here’s another way to say
it: I’m living out my purpose and doing
meaningful work.
You see, boredom is a product of overconsumption and/or laziness. You won’t
hear world-changers say they’re bored very
often. They’re too busy doing meaningful
work. They’re too busy impacting lives.
You see, the remedy to boredom isn’t to
consume more. The remedy is to create
something. Do something meaningful.
The remedy to boredom is to do something
meaningful with your life.
I love this question because it reminds
you that God created you for a purpose.
He didn’t create you to simply exist. He
created you to … create. So, next time
you’re bored, rather than running to
Netflix or the local movie theater, try
doing something meaningful.
When it comes to the movies you watch,
intentionality and purpose must factor in
the equation. “I probably shouldn’t watch
it, but …” “I’m trying to relate to my
non-Christian friends” or “It’s harmless
entertainment” aren’t sufficient answers.
Neither is “I just don’t watch movies or
TV.”
This isn’t THE guide for choosing which
movies to watch. It’s an open door for
discussion. What you allow into your
mind shapes your life. Let’s consider that
as we choose how we consume any form
of entertainment.
What do you think? How should
Christians approach entertainment?
Leave a comment below.
I love you all. To God be the glory forever.
Amen!
Frank Powell serves in the Campbell
Street Church of Christ in Jackson, Tenn.,
ministering to college-age and young
adults.
More from Frank Powell or visit Frank at http://
frankpowell.me
Page 26
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
SEVEN LESSONS FROM BURKINA FASO’S SEVEN-DAY COUP
Bbc West Africa Correspondent Thomas Fessy Looks At The Lessons We Can Learn From The Coup In
Burkina Faso, Which Has Been Reversed Just A Week After The Presidential Guards Seized Power:
1 The coup was a waste of time and life
They recommended that Mr Compaore’s
allies be allowed to run in the elections and
offered an amnesty to the soldiers behind the
coup.
General Gilbert Diendere’s mea culpa
- however sincere it may be - contains,
perhaps, the first lesson of this coup.
This proposed plan didn’t go down well in
Burkina Faso. It prompted regular troops who sided with the protesters - to march on
the capital city, Ouagadougou, to face Gen
Diendere’s men.
“Human lives were lost,” he said, admitting
that seizing power had been “a waste of time
and resources for Burkina Faso.”
Between 10 and 20 people were killed (the
exact death toll is still unknown) and more
than a hundred more were left injured with
bullet wounds.
Coups often have a human cost that is
unnecessary.
BURKINA FASO’S COUP: WHO’S WHO?
People expect stronger regional institutions.
The population of Burkina Faso want the
men who grabbed power and shot civilians
dead to face justice.
Some civil society activists were strident in their criticism of the coup plotters
In October last year, when former President
2 The goals behind the coup will not necessarily Compaore tried to change the constitution
be achieved
so he could run for another term in office,
people took to the streets and forced him out.
After all, the presidential guard nearly
trashed months of national and international
violently resisted months of popular
efforts to organise elections - why would
discontent earlier this year. He eventually got
they get away with it?
his third term in office but at a bloody cost dozens have been killed. His move sparked
anger within the international community,
including some African countries.
Civil society groups, and the youth in
particular, have shown that in one of the
world’s poorest countries, democracy may In the Democratic Republic of Congo,
come from grassroots initiatives rather than grassroots activists have received support
from their counterparts in Burkina Faso and
built by a power-hungry elite.
Senegal but some of them have been jailed.
THE ‘HEROES’ OF BURKINA FASO’S REVOLUTION
President Joseph Kabila is widely believed to
4 ...and they may herald the beginning of the want to try to play with the election schedule
end of coups in Africa
to extend his rule.
Gen Diendere has admitted his actions In today’s Africa, there are military coups President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, too, has Burkina Faso avoided rival wings of the
armed forces coming into open conflict
were a mistake
6 Dialogue prevailed, even within the army
Gen Diendere explained that the coup was
precipitated by the interim authority’s
decision to prevent associates of former
President Blaise Compaore from taking part
in the elections, and by a plan to disband the
elite presidential guard.
There were many fears of a descent into
armed conflict when Ecowas mediators
failed to reverse the coup over the weekend.
Army chiefs sent regular troops to
Ouagadougou but called on Gen Diendere’s
men to return to their barracks rather than
leading a straight offensive to forcibly
disarm them.
It remains to be seen whether the transitional
government will now allow Mr Compaore’s
allies to contest the elections, while the role
of the presidential guard within the army
will certainly be redefined.
A tense stand-off ensued for 24 hours.
But dialogue prevailed throughout as rival
“The biggest mistake was to carry out this
generals spoke several times and sought
coup,” he said, “because nowadays, when
to find a peaceful solution to avoid further
President of Benin Thomas Yayi Boni (third from left) is one of the leaders who has
we talk about democracy, we can’t afford
bloodshed.
had to change their plans in the light of events in Burkina Faso
such acts.”
Burkina Faso’s army chiefs have given
and what many call “constitutional coups”. yet to clarify whether he will seek an extra
term despite laws that prevent him from
The Burkinabe example has certainly spread
running again.
democratic hopes and actions in Africa.
5 African institutions have yet to show their
Benin’s President Thomas Yayi Boni
teeth
has since abandoned plans to change the
constitution.
In a rare show of strength, the African Union
referred to the soldiers behind the coup as
Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville
“terrorists”.
has just announced that he will hold a
referendum over the very same issue. Let’s The AU’s condemnation showed no room
see whether the vote is free and fair.
for compromise.
Mogho Naba played a crucial role in
mediation efforts
The situation threatened to spiral into
3 Grassroots activists can make a difference...
He played a key role in appeasing tensions
at a time when Burkina Faso could have
slipped into serious violence.
Of course, it doesn’t work everywhere on the However, West African leaders from the conflict before a deal was agreed
continent yet but citizens are mobilising.
regional bloc Ecowas sent mediators who
This was Gen Diendere’s third coup. He
were seen as giving in to the coup leaders’ African armies a very important lesson
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza
helped Thomas Sankara take power in 1983
demands.
in showing restraint and trying to avoid
and he then overthrew him, along with Mr
confrontation at all costs.
Compaore four years later.
7 Traditional leaders still play a key role
Whether you look at Cpt Sankara’s popular
As rival senior officers gave dialogue a
support or at the 27 years that Mr Compaore
priority, they involved the traditional leader,
spent in power, you may conclude that Gen
or Mogho Naba, a well-respected, symbolic
Diendere’s first two coups were successful.
and neutral figure in the country.
This one was not.
The Mossi king brokered a non-aggression
“We have taken lessons for the future,” Gen
deal between the presidential guard and the
rest of the army, clearly avoiding the worst.
Diendere went on to say.
This is the second time in less than a year that
the people of Burkina Faso have succeeded
in ousting those who they saw as trying to
confiscate power.
Members of the presidential guard
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Page 27
Page 28
LIGHT OF THE WORLD

free vol. 13 no. 152 october 2015 tel:(718) 938

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