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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #59
October 7, 2005

I Cor. 16:9   "a wide door   for effective work has opened...and there are many adversaries."

News
  Maasai Work - We are hoping to buy 600 catechisms to take care of any needs in the LCEA, CLCEA 
and ECLC.   At the Etago, Kenya CLC Maasai hymnals, catechisms and Bibles were distributed at the
preaching station at Olegumi.There are 12 attending there now. 

  Mission Bd. Chairman Naumann and member Hansen will be visiting our sister churches in Kenya,
Tanzania and Congo in October and November. Pray for a safe journey for them.

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continuing on with the Islam series

Islam denies Christ's death and resurrection.   Jesus is the key, the answer and the solution, but they 
deny Him.   His death is the payment for our sin and His resurrection is the proof that we are saved. 
Romans 4:25 He "was put to death for our trespasses and............."
 

What the Quran says about Jesus' Death and Resurrection?

  Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! (Sura 19:33)

  (And remember) when Allah said: O Jesus! Lo! I am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto 
Me, and am cleansing thee of those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those 
who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection.   Then   unto Me ye will (all) return, and I shall judge between
you as to that wherein ye used to differ.   (Sura 3:55)

  And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - They slew
him not nor crucified, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in
doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not 
for certain.   But Allah was ever Mighty, Wise.   (Sura 4:157-158)

  The Quran's testimony about Jesus' death is contradictory.   Sura 19:33 plainly speaks about the
death and resurrection of Jesus.   But in Sura 4:157 it is completely denied.   In Muslim understanding, 
Jesus was not crucified; Allah made someone to look like Jesus and that person was crucified in Jesus' 
place.   But Allah took Jesus alive to himself.

  So, to avoid Quran contradicting itself, all the passages in the Quran alluding to Jesus' death or to 
the possibility of his death are interpreted in the light of Sura 4:157-158.

  The atoning death of Jesus on the cross for the sins of all human kind and His resurrection from the 
dead has no meaning in a Muslim's life.

  Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life.   No one comes to the Father 
except through me."   In the light of this Scripture Muslims are lost without the glorious hope that we 
have in Jesus.   And they need to be saved.

**Taken from 'Al-Bashir News'   March 2001

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Mueller 
X. Of Christ's Work and Office

  WE BELIEVE (a) that Jesus Christ, true God and true man truly suffered, was crucified, died and was 
buried, that He might reconcile us unto God and be our sacrifice not only for original guilt, but also for 
all actual sins of men; (b) that He descended into hell and truly rose again the third day; (c) that
afterwards He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father and forever reign and have 
dominion over all creatures, and, in particular, to gather, guide, and protect His Church on earth; 
(d) and that the same Christ shall finally come again to judge the quick and the dead.

  a) Gal. 4, 4. 5.   But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a 
woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the 
adoption of sons.

  Is. 53, 4. 5.   Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken,
smitten of God and afflicted.   But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon Him: and with His stripes we are healed.

  I Pet. 2, 24.   Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness.

  b) I Pet. 3, 18. 19.   For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might 
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also He went and 
preached unto the spirits in prison.

  Col. 2, 15.   And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphantly 
over them in it.

  Eph. 4, 9. 10.   (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts 
of the earth?   He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might 
fill all things). Cf. I Cor. 15, 17. 18: Rom. 4, 25.

  c) Acts 1, 9.   And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud 
received Him out of their sight.

  Ps. 68, 18.   Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for 
men: yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord might dwell among them.

  Ps. 110, 1.   The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy 
footstool.-Cf. also Eph. 1, 20-22, John 14, 16. 17; I Cor. 6, 11.

  d) Acts 17, 31.   Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness,
by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised 
Him from the dead.

  2 Cor. 5, 10;   For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive 
the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

  I Thess. 4, 16.   For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the 
archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.--CF. also Matt. 25, 31-46:
2 Pet. 3, 10.

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In Christ,
Pastor Koenig

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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #60
October 19, 2005

I Cor. 16:9   "a wide door for effective work has opened...and there are many adversaries."

ISLAM - continued
Question: When Muslims pray and worship, what exactly are they doing?
Answer:   Prayer in Islam is completely different from prayer in Christianity.   The   word "prayer" in the Arabic language is "Salat," which comes from the root of the word "Sellah," meaning relationship.   That is the definition that the God of  Christianity, Jesus Christ, taught His disciples when they asked Him to teach them how to pray.   Jesus said, "In this manner, therefore, pray: 'Our Father in heaven."'   Prayer in Christianity means a conversation based upon a personal relationship with God, just like the relationship between a father and his son.   However, this must be a mutual relationship.
  This is not the case with Muslims.   In Islam prayer is not an act of one who has a personal relationship with God, because according to the teachings of Islam, no one can dare have a personal relationship with Allah.   Prayer in Islam is a compulsory act for everyone over the age of ten and is required by Allah.   Muslims have no choice in the matter.   Muslims cannot choose what they want to say to Allah, as all words are provided for them.

When do Muslims Pray?
  By law Muslims must pray the same text certain times of the day (five times each day).   The ritual of prayer in Islam is not designed for a two-way, personal relationship, like a child who desires to talk to his father.   In Christianity, the Bible teaches   us that we are to pray continuously and without ceasing.   If prayer is an act of   fellowship, of our relationship with God, we are to continue this communication   with our heavenly Father all day, every day during times of need, rejoicing,   meditation, etc.   Our prayers do not have to be confined to a specific number of   times every day.

Where do Muslims pray?
  In Islam, Muslims have to pray either in a mosque (especially on Friday, as prayers   on this day have more merit than any other day), or in any location using a prayer   mat in a clean area.   Certain places are considered unclean and inappropriate   (e.g., graveyards and lavatories).   They must always pray toward   Mecca where   Mohammed's father maintained his collection of stone idols.   Since God fills the   earth and the heavens, He doesn't require His children who are Christians under the   new covenant to pray in special places or facing a specific direction.   Jesus warned   His disciples of praying on the streets or in the marketplaces.   He told them to go into their room and close the door, because they are talking to their Father in   heaven, who sees in the secret places and rewards publicly (Matthew 6:5,6).

What are the components of a Muslim's prayer?
  Prayer in Islam begins with "Allah Akhbar" (meaning Allah is great), and then   "Sura El Fatiha," which they have to recite in every "Rakaa" (the prayer unity).   Each   prayer must consist of many Rakaas, then Allah Akbar, then they kneel down.   Muslims must repeat the Rakaa and every prayer at each session with many chanting   repetitions.   They are not allowed to pour out their hearts with individual praise or   petition before Allah in prayer or to add or omit anything required from their ritual   prayer in Arabic, no matter what the reason.   Prayer in Christianity is pouring our   hearts out before God.   It includes thanksgiving, praising and worshipping God and intercession for others.

How do Muslims pray?
  Muslims do not believe in the Holy Spirit, and they see the Qur'an as their truth.   Jesus said that the true worshippers will worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:21-24).

What makes a Muslim's prayers acceptable or unacceptable to Allah?
For Allah to accept prayer:
  l. Muslims prayers are only valid when they are preceded by ceremonial ablutions,   called "wudu" (symbolic cleansing), to achieve legal purity.
  2. Muslims must stand shoulder to shoulder in a straight row, because Allah will not   look at the crooked rows.
  3. Muslims must pray facing Mecca.
  4. Muslims must pray in Arabic, even if they do not speak or understand Arabic.
  5. Muslims have to follow the pattern of prayer in Islam precisely.
  6. Women cannot pray during their monthly cycle, as they are considered unclean.
  7. Muslims must clean themselves again if a woman or dog touches their prayer mat during their prayer time.
  Our God (in Christianity) told us that the acceptable prayer to Him has to come out   of a pure heart, by faith in Him, with humility as we abide in Him.   One of the most   important points in a Christian's prayer is that it must be offered to God in the mighty   name of Jesus, believing that Jesus is the Son of God and the only mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 8:6, 9:15 and 12:24).   Muslims do not believe   that Jesus is the crucified Son of God.
  Prayer in Christianity is a spiritual act that cannot be accomplished with rituals and   body movements but by heartily desiring to have a deeper, personal relationship with   God, so one can be transformed into the likeness of His Son.   In Islam, prayer is a   ritualistic act that must be done in order to avoid the punishment of the heavenly   seated Allah, who does not care about a personal relationship with his people.
  Understanding these difference, let us draw near to His throne of grace, petitioning   for the salvation of Muslims worldwide.

  (Prayer, taken from The Voice of the Martyrs, March 2002)

News from Pastor Alex of Taveta,Kenya

  We like to inform you of what is going on in Masaai place from the last information we sent . 
  To Masaai, many wives is wealth to them.  Early marriages are still going on in Masaai land 
  Also forced marriages are still going on.  Many are surprised when we teach them on Gods plan of marriage 
  Not all are that way on the type of marriages like tribes enkusero parish a  olosho  nyokie parish. 
They are better understanding.

  GODS PLAN FOR MARRIAGE 
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  A WIFE IS A PARTNER 
  FRIEND TO HER HUSBAND 
  A CHILDLESS MARRIAGE IS STILL A BLESSED MARRIAGE (Genesis 2;24) 
  ONE WIFE PER ONE MAN (MATH;19:6) 
  WHEN A MAN DIES HIS WIFE CAN RE-MARRY (Rom 7:3 1timothy5:14) 
  THINK OF YOUR WIFE NEEDS 
  SHE IS WEAKER. TREAT HER AS YOUR PARTNER. IF YOU TREAT HER WELL, NOTHING
  CAN HINDER YOUR PRAYERS (1PETER3:7) 
  WHEN A MAN DIES HIS MONEY PROPERTY GOES TO HIS WIDOW (Ruth 4:3) 
  A PERSON MAY DECIDE EITHER TO MARRY OR REMAIN SINGLE 
  SINGLE PEOPLE CAN DO GREAT WORK FOR GOD ( 1Cor7:26-38) 

  WE ARE REQUESTING YOU TO REMEMBER US IN YOUR PRAYERS

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In Him,   Pastor Koenig