I thought I would talk about loans and borrowing money today. Ive recently decided to look at loans (particularly small loans by friends and family, in a different light)

Here it is:

When times are prosperous people borrow money from friends/family and normally have no problem paying the loan back because there are plenty of jobs and business opportunities.  Because of the prosperity that everyone is enjoying they generally don’t think about the downside to having a loan.

The problem comes when times are not prosperous and people borrow money from friends and family. Im not talking about deadbeat relatives that always are “bumming” money from everyone, Im talking about your normal person here. What Ive noticed happens when you loan them some money for them to get through the next month or to get their cars transmission fixed or whatever, is that the small loan becomes a huge weight for these people’s conscious’s. Because of the bad economy or their financial circumstances, they have just gotten themselves into a more difficult situation then they were in before. And you helped them get into this situation, by your well meaning loan.

You see taking a loan for anything is taking the easy way in almost all cases. You learn nothing about real life by taking a loan. Getting loans allows you to comfortably step over lifes canyons, when really you need to sit down and figure your own way across the canyon even if it takes some time, sacrifice and “gasp”…pain. The reason for this is that you will be guaranteed to have more canyons in your future and if you never learned how to make a rope bridge, or you never tried to hike into and out of a canyon or hang-glide across a canyon you wont have the knowledge and skills necessary to cross the next canyon in life.

If you are still paying on a loan that easily got you over your last canyon and you come to a new canyon and you of course don’t know how to cross it, your only thought is to take another loan. If you are the person taking the loans it is obvious with this example that you are wrong and you need to become self sufficient and learn how to cross canyons in your own way which will build your trust in God, wisdom and self reliance. If you are the person giving loans and not allowing your friend to cross these canyons on their own, you are hindering them and their personal development.

So what to do when we see friends and family in financial trouble and want to help? The best thing is to give encouragement a helping hand when possible and financial gifts. Financial gifts are different from loans as they are normally smaller and  more focused on a personal need. A financial gift will free the persons conscious from worry about having to pay back a larger loan. And they will still have to figure out their own way of crossing the canyon, which builds wealth in themselves in the form of wisdom that they can use to get across the next canyon more easily. And they will remember your gift when they get back on their feet and return the favor if you ever find yourself at the edge of a financial canyon.

Of course there are prideful people that will say that they cannot take a financial gift from you, and that they insist that it must be a loan and that they will pay it back. You must not give them the money gift if this is their attitude. You will only be enslaving them to a loan which will stunt their growth opportunities for the future. Only give them a money gift if they can accept it as a gift.

So that’s it about personal loans and gifts for friends and family. Also remember for yourself that you are only cheating yourself when you take out a loan or borrow money for a newer car,  for a bigger house, for a church building, for some new clothes…whatever. You must learn to trust God, learn to be resourceful and build personal wisdom and courage to attain these things. If you want a snapshot of what happens when an entire country lives off of loans and doesn’t trust in God and doesn’t learn to be resourceful, but always sides steps the difficult canyons in life through loans and borrowing money you can take a look here: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/united-welfare-states-america-2011-nearly-half-population-received-some-form-government-benefit

People need to start trusting in God again and relying on their own brains and physical strength to get through lifes  canyons. The culture of quick fix loans is coming to a natural end at least in America and you may find yourself on the wrong side of that 50% if you have not learned to trust God and build wisdom and ingenuity in yourself and the people around you.

Romans 13:8

 “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”

Now we have this question: does ‘Christian rock’ represent Christianity? Is it Christian? Does it fit amongst the saints?

Listen to these testimonies:

The testimony of godly men. I could list several men of God whom others and I highly esteem in the faith who cry out against so-called Christian rock – its music, its worldliness, and its carnality. Some years back, two leaders of the underground church in Russia sent a message to the USA churches asking them to not send Christian rock over there. Now, we know, man’s word is not conclusive when it comes to making an absolute. But, nevertheless, when men, many men, men greatly used of God in turning hundreds of souls to righteousness, speak out against a thing, it is at the very least significant. (See: 2 Chr. 36:15,16).

The testimony of the secular artists themselves. If you won’t believe the men of God, hear what the secular leaders say about the music.

LITA FORD: “Sex and rock go together like wheels on a car.”

LITTLE RICHARD: “I was using dope, marijuana, angel dust, cocaine and heroin with pills and drinking and all I wanted to do was have orgies … rock & roll doesn’t glorify God. You can’t drink out of God’s cup and the devil’s cup at the same time. I was one of the pioneers of that music, one of the builders. I know what the blocks are made of because I built them.”

FRANK ZAPPA: (quoting Hal Zeiger, one of the first big promoters of rock) “The big beat matched the great rhythms of the human body. I knew it and I knew there was nothing that anyone could do to knock that out of them (the youth). And I further knew that they would carry this with them the rest of their lives. The ways in which sound effects the human body are myriad and subtle. The loud sounds and bright lights of today are tremendous indoctrination tools.”

DAVID BOWIE: “Rock has always been the devil’s music and you can’t convince me that it isn’t.” TED NUGENT: “Rock is the perfect primal method of releasing our violent instincts.” He calls his music ‘combat rock’ and speaks of raping his audience.

MICK JAGGER: “We communicate aggression and frustration to an audience, musically and visually.”

ALLEN LANIER of Blue Oyster Cult: “Rock and roll brings out violent emotions. There’s a lot of violence, a lot of aggression in the music.”

JERRY LEE LEWIS: “I am sorry that I was involved in the beginnings of rock and roll. It has helped to destroy untold millions of young people the world over.”

JIM STEINMAN: “Rock is the perfect idiom for the supernatural.”

LINDA RONDSTADT: The purpose of rhythm “is to get into an orgiastic state of losing yourself.” TOM MCSLOY: “To get into rock you have to give in to it, let it inside, flow with it to the point where it consumes you, and all you can feel or hear or think about is the music.”

GRAHAM NASH: “Pop music is the mass medium for conditioning the way people think.”

TIMOTHY LEARY: “Don’t listen to the words, it’s the music that has its own message…I’ve been stoned on the music many times.”

BOB DYLAN: “If I told you what our music is really about, we’d probably all get arrested.”

RICHARD OLDEN: (manager of Rolling Stones) “Rock music is sex and you have to hit teenagers in the face with it.”

JANIS JOPLIN: “I couldn’t believe it — all that rhythm and power. When I first heard rock and roll, I got stoned just listening to it. Like, it’s the best dope in the world. It was so sensual.”

JAN BERRY: “The throbbing beat of rock and roll provides a vital sexual release for its adolescent audience.”

PETE TOWNSEND of The Who: “When performing I don’t know who I am. If someone walked on the stage I’d probably kill.” “We wanted to blow their minds with our music, turn up the amplifiers so they could not hear themselves think.”

The testimony of sociologists, psychologists, doctors, lawmen and newsmen. These make connections between violence and rock.

Drs. Daniel and Bernadette Skubik say, “Indeed, as rock music has moved farther away from its historical roots and medium (viz. folk music) it both causes and expresses an increasing association of overt aggression linked with sexuality.” It should be apparent that more than just the lyrics are involved in producing such powerful effects as seen at concerts and in lives. The content of the Beatle’s “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and of Elvis’ “Teddy Bear” is fairly mild and hardly worthy of the fame accorded them, but the music is gas to the fire in the words.

Professor William Shafer, a non-Christian sociologist, says, “What is undeniable about rock is its hypnotic power.” Jimi Hendrix, one of the devil’s best pipers who died early and miserably, as many of them have, said, “Atmospheres are going to come through music, because music is a spiritual thing of its own…you can hypnotize people (with music)…and when they get to the weakest point we can preach into the subconscious what we want to say. Our music is just as spiritual as going to church.” He called his concerts “the electric church.” Yes, music is a very spiritual thing. It speaks to our spirit. Sin and bondage can be ministered by music. Righteousness and deliverance can be produced by music (2 Chr. 20:22, Ps. 149:6,7, 1 Sam. 16:23, Ac. 16:25).

Think. If David’s harpistry could drive away demons (1 Sam. 16:23), we should not be surprised if certain other music could also invoke them. Think. If Elisha’s musicians could invoke the Holy Spirit (2 Kg. 3:15), we should not be surprised if certain music could invoke evil spirits. Hendrix often used a young African from Ghana, Kwasi Dzidzornu, a skilled conga drum player. Kwasi said Hendrix’ rhythms were identical to those used by his father in demon-raising voodoo ceremonies. The devil is a musician. If his demons can inspire doctrines (1Tim.4:1), it should not surprise us that they can also inspire music. Admittedly, music is not as much a hard science as math or chemistry. Room must be left for personal taste. There are gray lines. But music is not at all entirely subjective, and we who profess Christ would do well to exercise discernment, to be as objective as possible, and to stay away from devilish music. “Do not touch what is unclean” (2 Cor. 6:17). There is such a thing as good music produced by ungodly men, which nevertheless fits the Christian worldview. There is such a thing as bad music, produced by true Christians with the best of motives, but nevertheless, music that simply does not fit Christianity. It does not communicate a Christian worldview. Music can be a powerful tool for good or evil. Music matters, and the right music with the right words sung by a right heart is more pleasing to God than the offering of a herd of cattle on some altar (Psa. 69:30,31). May it be so amongst the saints for Jesus’ sake to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

The testimony of Scripture. What does God say? Is there a direct scripture? No, there is no scripture that directly says that Christian rock is not Christian, just like there is none that directly says that cocaine or pornography or abortion is wrong. We must look at underlying scriptural principles and then make applications and conclusions, just as has been done, for example, with the doctrine of the Trinity.

Ephesians 5:3,4 tells us to consider what is “FITTING” and “PROPER”. Just as we would consider what clothing fits the occasion or what food fits the occasion, so we must ask if this music fits Christianity. Does rock music communicate attributes and virtues of God? Is it Godly? Does the music exalt God? Specifically, does it minister submission to Him or does it communicate aggression and rebellion? Does the music minister cheer or tension? Does it suggest order or disorder and chaos? Does it suggest hope (tension followed by resolution) or despair? The answer is obvious. Look at rock. It is loud and pushy. It is daring and tough. It is lawless. Pete McRae, a disc jockey pushing for Ted Nugent’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, said, “He embodies the spirit, energy and wild abandon that rock and roll is all about.” Wild abandon! Well said! And, rock is sensual; it calls me to move my hips. None of this fits the deepness, the richness, the seriousness, the urgency, and the majesty of the great God of heaven and His glorious gospel. These C-rock singers snarl out a commitment to God. This does not fit the contrite disciple of Jesus. None of this fits the God of the Bible. It is a different message. It is a different worldview.

Ephesians 5:19 calls for “MELODIOUS” music. The music of heaven is “like harpists playing on their harps” (Rev. 14:2). David was called the “sweet” psalmist (2 Sam. 23:1). There should be a sweetness in Christian music. But rock is (in varying degrees) harsh, strident, snarling, distorted and kind of nasty. Furthermore, in rock music, the beat is generally very dominant and competes with the melody. The body must have a (heart)beat, yet when the beat becomes predominant, you’ve got trouble. Rock is not Christian. Rolling Stone Mick Jagger said, “It’s a noise we make. That’s all. You could be kind and call it music.”

I Corinthians 14:33, similarly, tells us our God is “the author of PEACE.” Again, the strident, harsh, and driving elements of rock are condemned. Rock is a pounding music; it won’t let you rest. There is indeed virtue in lively music but the roar and the scream of rock makes it anti-Christian.

Colossians 3:16 says that Christian music is to “TEACH and ADMONISH.” But the characteristic high volume of rock music is not only unapologetically, sinfully injurious to the hearing, but it disgustingly covers the words. Dave Roberts, a columnist for Buzz, a CCM (contemporary Christian music) magazine, agrees, “Heavy rock is body music designed to bypass your brain and with an unrelenting brutality induce a frenzied state amongst the audience.” Content should be preeminent for the Christian.

James 4:4 condemns WORLDLIKENESS. Contrary to this, Christian rock often is a deliberate, professed attempt at friendship with the non-Christians to try to identify with them and win them. Amy Grant’s manager says her music gives Christian kids something to be proud of so they can say, ‘Hey, we’re normal’. But God does not need the world’s tunes to carry His message any more than a Philistine ox cart to carry the ark (1 Chr. 16:13). That is not Christian. 1

Corinthians 10:31 says, “DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.” Rock music is generally so wild that it is quite incompatible with congregational singing. Thus, these musicians are not able to be worship leaders; they are performers. Their ministry is more like a showboat than a lifeboat. What so often comes across is not ‘Look, the Lamb of God’, but ‘Look at me saying, “Look, the Lamb of God”.’ Thus, the musicians steal the glory. The girls even scream at these fellows! Someone asks, “Are they servants or stars? Are they producing followers or fans?” It has all the smell of flesh. It is idolatry. Contrast this show business with Paul’s ministry — “night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 20:31). Let’s look at some of the leaders of Christian rock. Are they doing “ALL to the glory of God”? Consider their lyrics and their conduct, as well as their music. One leader unashamedly says that his intent is to entertain. The crowd laughs, yells, and claps at his blasphemous skit, “Are You the One?”, a mock conversation between Jesus and John the Baptist. Now entertainment may have its place, but the gifts of God are given by God, not to divert, not to amuse, not to entertain, but to edify the church (1 Cor. 14:12, 26). This fellow is cute. His music is cute; it is clever — the very thing the apostle Paul says “nullifies the gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17).

Another CCM leader’s music so ambiguous that it sells equally well to the devil’s crowd. She says, “If an audience feels I’ve walked away from God because I no longer talk about Him on-stage, then that’s their loss.” On another occasion she says, “I’m a singer, not a preacher … I’m not trying to convert anybody.” Beer companies sponsor her TV shows. Another CCM group’s performance was so vile and violent that MTV would not even tolerate it without some changes. Probably the most prominent, in one album, The Big Picture, uses the name of Jesus once in the nine songs.

One Reunion Records promo says, “[He] took the stage with some twirling dance steps that sent the crowd into rocking frenzy.” Glory to God? Another says, “We’ve been careful to avoid any religious terminology in this record that would turn people off.” Jesus turned people off so much that they killed Him! Another takes their song, “Bargain”, from an old secular song by The Who. No wonder it is a little thin on doctrine. One Christian music magazine says of another’s album, Live to Die, “It is a sound your parents will hate.” Christian? Glory to God? Another: In one album you could count the references to Christ on two fingers. They say the reason they don’t give altar calls is that the crowd might mob them and rip their clothes off (what little they have). Christian? These “effeminates will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9,10).

Here’s another group that makes reference to the resurrection of Christ by saying, “You can’t keep a good man down.” This is not Christian. This is cheap blasphemy! Remember, these are the leaders! Can you see, there is a yellow streak right through the Christian rock scene revealed by, not only the music, but also, the lyrics and the manners of these C-rock idols? And these concert-hopping, money-loving, fame-promoting, merchandizing, compromising entertainers are ashamed to be too different from the world. They are ashamed to come out for Christ entirely (Mk. 8:38). They are ashamed to “glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:3).”

“Written Briefly” by Bob Jennings

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking my name out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate my birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered any time.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that, let me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting my birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all my followers did that, there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a “holiday tree” instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can and may remember me any time you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish. I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks was. If you have forgotten it, look up John 15: 1-8.

If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know. They tell me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up… it will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that’s hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile. It could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local hotline. They talk with people like that every day.

7. Instead of nitpicking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day, they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes my love and good news to those who have never heard my name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in me. They will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in my presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of myself. Just love me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work. Time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love. And remember,

I love you,
 Jesus

Author Unknown

to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,

and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (Jas.1:27)

While reading the Bible, walking with God and ministering the people around us, day by day more and more we understand our Father’s heart for mission. This mission is not traditional religion or attending the church every Sunday. This mission is not the big Christian concerts or programs for satisfying human emotions. God’s mission is not something super complicated. His mission is VERY SIMPLE: it is to take care of fatherless and widows – the children and adults who are rejected, abused, hurt, naked, hungry, wounded, lonely, stressed, depressed… With every day in our modern society the number of such people is growing. It doesn’t matter if it’s developed or developing country. Yes, Africa and India need missionaries. But Europe desperately needs missionaries now too… The missionaries who will not seek comfortable place to leave or satisfying their own needs only and sometimes participating in their church’s programs. Europe needs the real Christian Missionaries who will have open their eyes to the needs of the surrounding them people, help them as much as they can and bring them hope and love from God.

So, we believe that this is time not for the “big” evangelists or prophets… This is time for the simple Christians, as we and you, to change the world around us:

to loose the bands of wickedness,

to undo the heavy burdens,

to let the oppressed go free,

to break every yoke,

to share our bread with the hungry,

to bring the poor that are cast out to our houses,

to cover the naked

and not to hide from our brothers and sisters!

(Isa.58:6,7)

Let’s remember, Jesus Christ conquered the power of sin and death. He shares His victory and authority with us and He sent us to do His mission! He knows we can do that and He believes in us!

/p

“YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH,
AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND;…”
(Lk.10:27)

It was a fantastic mission trip with lots of funny adventures and God’s blessings on the way!:-)

We are glad to help the Army of David Church in Gdansk in their ministry to homeless people.

Every Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 there is place for children to come and play, be accepted, loved and appreciated…