A friend sent me the following e-mail. I thought it is worth passing on :
There's a movie coming out in December, called 'The Golden Compass' (starring Nichole Kidman). Turns out it's based on books written by Phillip Pullman, who is basically the exact opposite of CS Lewis; he's an avowed atheist who is quoted as saying the goal of his books is to 'kill God in the minds of children.' Apparently the movie itself is fairly watered-down and based on his least-troubling first book but Christian parents are being cautioned that the books themselves are much more disturbing than the movie.
I'm including a link to the full story on Snopes.com. http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Operation Christmas Child
From the Samaritan's Purse Website
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp?MPGID=1
Dear Friends,
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp?MPGID=1
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate 
situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God's love. This program of Samaritan's Purse provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands—on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ.
situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God's love. This program of Samaritan's Purse provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands—on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ.Dear Friends,
It’s a heartbreaking reality. Millions of boys and girls around the globe live in difficult circumstances and are in desperate need of hope. Whether they are slum dwellers in Calcutta or orphans in Johannesburg, children long to know that they are loved.
Operation Christmas Child is one way you can make a difference in a young person’s life. Since 1993, this Samaritan’s Purse project has shared the Good News of God’s love with hurting children through the simplest of gifts—shoe boxes! Filled with school supplies, toys, and personal items that are packed by caring people, these boxes help introduce children to Jesus Christ. Local believers follow up with evangelistic programs, and many precious boys and girls later receive Jesus as their Savior.We invite your family, church, or group to take part in this unique missions project. As you pack a shoe box for a child, please pray for the boy or girl who will receive it. Spread the word so others will get involved too. You will be amazed to see how God can use a small gift—your gift—to touch a child’s heart!
Operation Christmas Child is one way you can make a difference in a young person’s life. Since 1993, this Samaritan’s Purse project has shared the Good News of God’s love with hurting children through the simplest of gifts—shoe boxes! Filled with school supplies, toys, and personal items that are packed by caring people, these boxes help introduce children to Jesus Christ. Local believers follow up with evangelistic programs, and many precious boys and girls later receive Jesus as their Savior.We invite your family, church, or group to take part in this unique missions project. As you pack a shoe box for a child, please pray for the boy or girl who will receive it. Spread the word so others will get involved too. You will be amazed to see how God can use a small gift—your gift—to touch a child’s heart!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Repaying Evil With Blessing
Ed and I have been involved in Motorcycle Ministry for many years. We attend secular rallies to bring a Christian presence to these often boisterous and sometimes even decadent events. We go to where the lost and hurting souls are even if it is in the midst of Satan's camp.
One of the "services" that we would often provide is a coffee tent where we would provide coffee and/or hot chocolate to the other bikers, often late at night or first thing in the morning, free of charge to those who needed an alternative to drinking too much or who needed something to warm them up when the night air turned chill.
We never charged for our coffee or hot chocolate but at one particular event the grateful participants insisted on setting up a donation jar. In order to get permits for these events, the organizers need to donate any extra funds, over and above their expenses, to a charity organization. We agreed to the donation jar but decided amongst ourselves that at the end of the rally we would donate the contents to that particular clubs charity.
Sunday morning the donation jar was quite full. Ed was manning the tent that morning when a young Hell's Angel member walked over, intent on establishing his reputation. As his friends looked on from a short distance, the young man snarled at Ed and said "I'm going to steal that jar of money." Ed smiled at him pleasantly and said, "I'm sorry, but you can't steal it." "And just how do you plan to stop me, old man?" the young man questioned defiantly. Ed smiled again and held the jar out. "You can't steal it because I'm going to give it to you."
The Hell's Angel, with the wind visibly taken out of his sails, abruptly turned and made a valiant attempt at nonchalantly striding away - without the money jar.
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:13
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
One of the "services" that we would often provide is a coffee tent where we would provide coffee and/or hot chocolate to the other bikers, often late at night or first thing in the morning, free of charge to those who needed an alternative to drinking too much or who needed something to warm them up when the night air turned chill.We never charged for our coffee or hot chocolate but at one particular event the grateful participants insisted on setting up a donation jar. In order to get permits for these events, the organizers need to donate any extra funds, over and above their expenses, to a charity organization. We agreed to the donation jar but decided amongst ourselves that at the end of the rally we would donate the contents to that particular clubs charity.
Sunday morning the donation jar was quite full. Ed was manning the tent that morning when a young Hell's Angel member walked over, intent on establishing his reputation. As his friends looked on from a short distance, the young man snarled at Ed and said "I'm going to steal that jar of money." Ed smiled at him pleasantly and said, "I'm sorry, but you can't steal it." "And just how do you plan to stop me, old man?" the young man questioned defiantly. Ed smiled again and held the jar out. "You can't steal it because I'm going to give it to you."
The Hell's Angel, with the wind visibly taken out of his sails, abruptly turned and made a valiant attempt at nonchalantly striding away - without the money jar.
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:13
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
Friday, October 26, 2007
Tis An ILL Wind
" Tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good."
The last couple of days a bitterly cold, bone chilling north wind has been blowing. This morning there was snow on the ground. Trying to keep warm during cold Alberta winters is a definite challenge to Edmonton's homeless population.
Last winter several homeless people froze to death before anyone found them. One case in particular struck home. She was pregnant. We knew her well. The Ministry Van had served her often giving her food, clothing and a ride to a shelter. One of our Ministry Van workers had even gone to school with her. He felt a profound sense of guilt when one cold morning she was found frozen to death behind a building. He felt that he should have done more for her but we had done what we could. Another sad case was a man in a wheel chair who had been on the streets many years. He had been found frozen in snowbanks so many times that he eventually had to have both legs amputated. He was still out there last winter, struggling to keep warm.
Winter is not an easy time of year for any of us, how much worse it is for those who do not have a warm home where they can escape the merciless weather. Please remember to give generously this winter to the agencies that assist the poor and the homeless.
The last couple of days a bitterly cold, bone chilling north wind has been blowing. This morning there was snow on the ground. Trying to keep warm during cold Alberta winters is a definite challenge to Edmonton's homeless population.
Last winter several homeless people froze to death before anyone found them. One case in particular struck home. She was pregnant. We knew her well. The Ministry Van had served her often giving her food, clothing and a ride to a shelter. One of our Ministry Van workers had even gone to school with her. He felt a profound sense of guilt when one cold morning she was found frozen to death behind a building. He felt that he should have done more for her but we had done what we could. Another sad case was a man in a wheel chair who had been on the streets many years. He had been found frozen in snowbanks so many times that he eventually had to have both legs amputated. He was still out there last winter, struggling to keep warm.Winter is not an easy time of year for any of us, how much worse it is for those who do not have a warm home where they can escape the merciless weather. Please remember to give generously this winter to the agencies that assist the poor and the homeless.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Love According to 4 - 8 Year Olds
What does Love mean? A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - age 6
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy - age 8
"My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day" Mary Ann - age 4
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image) Karen - age 7
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross." Mark - age 6
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica - age 8
And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - age 6
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy - age 8
"My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day" Mary Ann - age 4
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image) Karen - age 7
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross." Mark - age 6
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Jessica - age 8
And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"
YOU Have a Testimony
We have all heard the dramatic testimonies of people who were drug addicts, into organized crime, involved in all kinds of demon worship and so on, that were changed by the power of God. That is wonderful and very powerful if that is the kind of people you are ministering to. The story of Nicky Cruz is indeed an inspiration as well as the stories of people who have overcome incredible difficulties such as Joni Erickson 
Tada.
Do not think that you do not have a testimony as well, if you grew up in the church and accepted the Lord when you were five years old. The most difficult people to witness to are the ones who feel they already have their lives together. The drug addict or gang member already knows that he is a sinner. The person who is "good" and has "never done anything wrong" is much more difficult to convince. I had a woman tell me once, after I had given my testimony in a church, "You really did need Christ didn’t you." My answer to that is , "Yes I really do need Christ. But not any more or any less than anyone else." There is a story about a young lady who was talking to a group of friends and said, "The Lord delivered me from a life of prostitution and drug addiction." Her brother, who was also there, was shocked and said, "You were never a prostitute or a drug addict!" She smiled sweetly and replied, "Yes, I know that. That is because God delivered me from it."
Tada.Do not think that you do not have a testimony as well, if you grew up in the church and accepted the Lord when you were five years old. The most difficult people to witness to are the ones who feel they already have their lives together. The drug addict or gang member already knows that he is a sinner. The person who is "good" and has "never done anything wrong" is much more difficult to convince. I had a woman tell me once, after I had given my testimony in a church, "You really did need Christ didn’t you." My answer to that is , "Yes I really do need Christ. But not any more or any less than anyone else." There is a story about a young lady who was talking to a group of friends and said, "The Lord delivered me from a life of prostitution and drug addiction." Her brother, who was also there, was shocked and said, "You were never a prostitute or a drug addict!" She smiled sweetly and replied, "Yes, I know that. That is because God delivered me from it."
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