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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #41
December 2, 2004

Prov. 25:25  Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far
country.

MISSIONS IS OUTREACH 
   With missionwork it is not a limiting but an expanding effort realizing what
Scripture teaches us and seeing the Word fulfilled in the history of the spread
of the Word in Acts onward and outward.  In outreach there is a 'totality'
involved as we see from the following passages.
--JESUS TAUGHT THE TOTALITY OF THE GOSPEL EFFORT as He walked on earth.  During
Holy Week in the Mt. of Olives address, He said, "And this gospel of the kingdom
will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations.."
Mt. 24:14  During His forty days on earth before His ascension He commanded, "Go
into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation." Mk 16:15  Just
before He ascends He said, "..and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in
all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the world."  In ever widening circles,
in other words he tells His Church how it will be going even to the fartherest
extent in the world.
--JESUS OWNS US TOTALLY.  Each of us has been bought with a price and therefore
should glorify God. I Cor. 6:19-20  He is the Lord of body, soul and mind. The
total price paid to ransom us from sin, death and hell was totally paid.  "You
know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers,
not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood
of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  I Pet. 1:18-19
--JESUS PAID THE TOTAL PRICE FOR ALL, OF ALL SINS FORGIVEN
I John 2:2 "and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but
also for the sins of the whole world."
--ALL that we have is His.  "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein." "For in him all things were created, in
heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him."
Col. 1:16
--ALL is on loan to us.  How many times don't we have to hear this because of
our sinful flesh.  Job acknowledges this, "..Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be
the name of the Lord. 1:21  Paul repeats, "..we brought nothing into the world,
and we cannot take anything out of the world." I Tim. 6:7  What we have we want
to use wisely and especially for His kingdom's expansion.
--ALL should be done to His glory. I Cor. 10:31  From such simple things as
eating and drinking to the most important, the Gospel preaching and teaching, we
should want His name to be adored.
--ALL this world is kept going by His all powerful Word, "He is before all
things, and in Him all things hold together." Col. 1:17  He is "...upholding the
universe by his word of power." Heb. 1:3
--ALL in this life ultimately works out for your personal good and the church's
advance.  As you read Rom 8:28 you can't help but miss the totality there.  All
things working for your good because you love Him and are the called of God, you
being part of His Church.  For those who have the Christian Faith, the Church,
Christ's gracious rule among men will advance overcoming the gates of hell in
the process, all that which the devil throws up to stop His Word from spreading.
Mt. 16:18
--ALL in Him. I love Paul's statement in Acts. 17:28.

THE FACT OF EXPANSION - OUTREACH
The book of Acts begins the record.  In Jerusalem on Pentecost we read in 2:9
that there were "Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of
Mesopotamia..."  These were from the East.  While there were representatives of
all the points of the compass, look just at the thrust of the Church to the
East.  You might want to have a world map available to trace this as we begin
and then continue in other BASIC's God's moving the Gospel out to the East.

We think of those at Pentecost going home to their distant countries with the
Good News ringing on their ears.  Several of the Apostles continued this
outreach to the East.  From traditions we have: Thomas going to India, Bartholomew
and Thaddeus going to Armenia, Simon the Canaanean going to Persia.  This should
not be strange to witness, for at the close of the giving of the canon of the
Word we have in Rev. 7:9 "After this I looked, and behold a great multitude
which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and
tongues, standing before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches
in their hands."  Here is that totality we look forward to being a part of on
the last day.

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The following is from Pastor Nireekshana,  CLCI in India.

Date: Nov. 23, 2004.
Dear Brothers
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
Happy Advanced Christmas and a Prosperous New Year - 2005 greetings to all of
you.  Here all are fine and telling the wishes to you.
We are doing all the Christmas preparations like practicing new Christmas songs
and plays.
The children are telling to you the Christmas greetings, Nov. 25th of this month 
to Dec. 25th.  This whole month in our churches and congregations at our
campus we keep the stars at our churches, houses, etc.  We celebrate the whole
month in a special way from morning to evening the children are singing
Christmas songs.  Whenever they get leisure time and also evening the children
and our congregation people gather at our church and worship with songs and
messages.  Even up to 10:30pm the children will participate for their
preparation, while snacks will be provided at the preparation time.  The
children are very much interested to stay up to 10:30pm by doing rehearsals,
practicing action songs, etc.  Our Mother will prepare every day some special
cookies and food for these children during this whole month.
It is thrilling that these Cold nights Christmas songs are singing and
practicing with musical instruments in the churches and all are busy with their
assigned preparations like cutting the designs of color papers, making the
costumes and crowns, with colored and glazy papers.  And are sending these
prepared papers crowns costume to different congregations for those Sunday
School children dramas at that churches in the Christmas time. In this month we
purchase cloth for the orphan children and the tailor come to our mission house
and take the measurements the same will stitch on the sewing machine.  Gifts, 
new chappals, ribbons, hair pins, brushes, pastes, bangles, balloons, chocolets,
playing items, Christmas gifts for the participants in the Christmas programs
etc.
In the whole year only this month we feel very happy even our children will
feel the happiness, because it is our main festival.

(Pastor Nireekshana)

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In Him,
Pastor Koenig

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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #42
December 16, 2004

Prov. 25:25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far 
country. 

TITLES OF CHRIST 
   The two most popular titles or names Christians use in speaking of our Lord are  Jesus, a translation of the Hebrew word  Joshua, which means  "YAHWEH Is Salvation,"  and  Christ, a transliteration of the Greek term  Christos, meaning "Anointed One" or "Messiah".  Following are some other significant names or titles for Christ used in the New Testament.  Each title expresses a distinct truth about Jesus and His relationship to believers. 
 

Name or title	Significance	Biblical Reference
Adam,Last Adam	First of the new race of the redeemed	I Cor.15:45
Alpha & Omega	The beginning & ending of all things	Rev. 21:6
Bread of Life	The one essential food	John 6:35
Chief Cornerstone	A sure foundation for life	Eph. 2:20
Chief Shepherd	Protector,sustainer, and guide	I Pet. 5:4
Firstborn from the Dead	Leads us into resurrection and eternal life	Col. 1:18
Good Shepherd	Provider and caretaker	John 10:11
Great Shepherd of the Sheep	Trustworthy guide and protector	Heb. 13:20
High Priest	A perfect sacrifice for our sins	Heb. 3:1
Holy One of God	Sinless in His nature	Mark 1:24
Immanuel (God with Us)	Stands with us in all of life's circumstances	Matt. 1:23
King of Kings, Lord of Lords	The Almighty, before whom every knee will bow	Rev. 19:16
Lamb of God	Gave His life as a sacrifice on our behalf	John 1:29
Light of the World	Brings hope in the midst of darkness	John 9:5
Lord of Glory	The power and presence of the Living God	I Cor. 2:8
Mediator between God and Man	Brings us into God's presence redeemed and forgiven	I Tim 2:5
Only Begotten of the Father	The unique, one-of-a-kind Son of God	John 1:14
Prophet	Faithful proclaimer of the truths of God	Acts 3:22
Savior	Delivers from sin and death	Luke 1:47
Seed of Abraham	Mediator of God's covenant	Gal. 3:16
Son of Man	Identifies with us in our humanity	Matt. 18:11
The Word	Present with God at the creation	John 1:1

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As we prepare to celebrate our Savior's birth, let us remember from these titles 
all about our great God and Savior, Jesus the Christ. 
Titus 2:13 

May you have a blessed and happy Christmas, knowing that your Savior has come. 

Pastor David Koenig