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Basic Newsletter #72
I Cor. 16:9 "For a wide
door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."
"Easter with an Exclamation Point!" What a world of difference a simple punctuation mark can make. It can be the difference between sadness and delight. For instance, one man realizes, in his old age, that he has gone as far as he will ever get in his career. He looks around himself and says "This is as good as it gets?" The fact that he has asked the question shows that he is very unhappy with the way his life has turned out. But another man might say exactly the same words, but with a different punctuation mark. He surveys his accomplishments and exclaims "This is as good as it gets!" The words are the same, but the meaning is as different as night and day. Easter is like that, too. Some people react to the news about Jesus' resurrection from the dead with a question mark, while others use an exclamation point. It has been that way since the very first Easter. Early on the first Easter morning, a dark question mark hung over the hearts of Jesus' followers. Consider Mary Magdalene, who saw the empty tomb of Christ and wept at first, thinking that someone had stolen the body. Consider Jesus' own disciples, who were told of the empty tomb and the angel's announcement that Jesus had risen, but did not at first believe it. Consider the two disciples who were traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus that afternoon, who told a stranger about the reports of Jesus' resurrection. With downcast hearts, they considered it to be only a story, because "Him they did not see." In each of these cases, news about the risen Christ was met not with conviction, but with a question -- "The Lord is risen?" Today it is no different. Many people get no further than Jesus' empty tomb, with a question mark hanging over it all. Many would agree that "Jesus lives," but only in the same sense that other famous figures from history "live on." In this way, you could say that Mahatma Gandhi "lives on" in the nation of India. His body is dead, of course, but many people still remember his ideas. In the same way, some would say that "Jesus lives" when we love our enemies as well as our friends, or when we try to be as forgiving to others as we would like them to be to us. These are good things, of course -- but the Bible claims much more than this for Christ! The Bible testifies that the man Jesus is also God. It says that this man's body was dead, but came back to life -- a living, breathing, flesh-and-blood Savior who still lives today! To prove His point to His doubting followers, Jesus appeared to them in just this way. On Easter evening He showed Himself to them -- not as an idea, a figment of their imagination, or a ghost, but with His risen BODY. "He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have'" (Luke 24:38-39). Jesus later appeared, alive and in the flesh, to hundreds of people, so that the news of His victory over death could be proclaimed with conviction down through the centuries. So which is it for you? Is it "Jesus lives?" -- or "Jesus lives!" The punctuation makes all the difference, for if you know the Lord Jesus as a living Savior, then you can also say with conviction, "He died for me!" and "My sins are forgiven!" A heart that knows this knows what the future holds, and says with joy, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes--I, and not another" (Job 19:25-27). Easter with an exclamation mark means gloom is turned to gladness. The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! We pray that your proclamation of this living Savior will lead many to faith, and thus to life eternal. In His Name, Pastor Bruce Naumann, Chairman
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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #73
Outline Thumbnail Sketches – Ephesians Ephesians coupled with Colossians pictures the church in its totality with the Head/ Christ pictured in Colossians and with the body/the church pictured in Ephesians. This is one of Paul’s four prison epistles written during his two year imprisonment at Rome(59-61). It appears to be a letter written to Ephesus and its surrounding region where Paul labored for three years on his third journey. Some highlights of the epistle are: 1:3-6 – The clear teaching of predestination or election, that God in eternity picked us to be His. An act of pure grace. Both words used for predestination and election are found in the Greek in the reference. 2:1 – With this passage conversion is showed to be a singular act of God and not of man in any part. 2:8-10 – If you haven’t already memorized this reference, by all means do. It is an excellent brief summary of grace/faith/works all properly aligned. 5:21-33 – A detailed exposition of marriage as to both the partners. 6:11-17 – And who can forget the full armor of God listed here by which we stand! Outline HIGHLIGHTS - Lutheran Church of East Africa (Tanzania and Kenya) The brethren in this sister church number 1197 souls served by nine pastors besides evangelists and assistants. They have withdrawn from the large Lutheran church in Tanzania which has become liberal allowing Pentecostalism and women as preachers. The church is divided into five districts and one other area of work. St. Peter's Seminary at Himo, Tanzania has 14 students in the three year program. Pastor Angowi, who is head of the church, states, "7 students are in the 3rd year Diploma Course under graduates, 3 are second year and 4 are doing their first year. We thank God for St. Peter's Seminary which is the hope of the LCEA to sustain growth and strengthening the proclamation of Christ's message of salvation to all people." Pastor Angowi further reports, "On Sunday July 7th, 2005, the new Karoyo church was founded...11 converted Moslems were baptized and 20 children were also baptized. Over 40 Christians from other churches were accepted and joined the LCEA. It is the Holy Spirit who is working through Karoyo village to call and gather God's people to His Kingdom through the proclamation of the Gospel. Dar es Salaam District. This district is located in the east coastal belt of Tanzania and is the capital city of the United Republic of Tanzania. The growth in this district is coming up very slowly because of the strong Islamic faith which dominates the eastern coastal area. Losimingori: Manyara Mission Area Over 85% of the inhabitants of this mission field are Masai and most of them are not Christians. In 2005 baptisms were conducted twice in the year. This increased the membership of Christians by 50. Total number of Christians in Losimingori is now 160. God be praised for such a harvest of hearts to Christ our Lord, in a period of two years." Also at Kasaani among the Kamba people in the last two years there were 30 adult baptisms and 10 child baptisms. Pastor Koenig
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