Changing Times Summer 2016

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T h e Vo i c e o f t h e C h r i s t i a n C o m m u n i t y "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths (Proverbs:3:6)

"Love"

Š Chuck Pinson

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The Orchard of Christ There is a portion of Scripture that convicts me deeply. It involves a great and terrible responsibility that no true disciple of Jesus Christ can ignore. Jesus said, "I am the vine, and My Father is the husbandman.

Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.... If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned..." (John 15:2, 6) I have read and re-read these powerful words of Christ, and I can't escape their convicting power. What a solemn charge, along with a frightful, ominous warning set forth here by our Lord.

This matter of Christians bearing fruit is not optional with God. He watches over His vine and all the branches engrafted to it with great jealousy and concern. He patiently waits for the branches to bring forth fruit. He stands beside it with pruning knife in hand, lovingly watching for the slightest evidence of corruption, blight or disease which could hinder growth. God expects fruit from every branch. Without fruit, it is impossible to honor and

glorify God - or be a true disciple of Christ. Jesus said: "herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples..."

(John 15:8).

Bearing fruit has everything to do with pleasing God - with fulfilling our mission in Christ - with having our prayers and petitions answered. Jesus said, "Ye have not chose me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you".

It may sound harsh and unloving to some, but the truth here is bear fruit or be cast into the fire! Bear fruit or be cut off the vine! Bear fruit or be taken away to wither and die! I want to make every change in my life necessary to bear it! I want every hindrance removed! I want the Holy Spirit to purge out all signs of spiritual blight, apathy and corruption!

Am I moved by fear - do these words of Jesus put a dread in me?

My answer is that I am moved by both the dread of God's Word and

by His overwhelming love for me.

In my heart, I want to bear much fruit for my Heavenly Father,

because He is glorified thereby, and my heart yearns to please Him. I want to know that the fruit He wants is brought forth in me; I want to bring joy and gladness to Him. I want to truly glorify the Father.

But I also have in me the terror and fear of a holy God. At the burning bush when God appeared to Moses, he "trembled, and durst [dared] not look..." (Acts 7:32).

The Hebrew word used here suggests to shake terribly!

I have emphasized the fear of God and the trembling at His Word because that is what is missing from the church in these last days.

If we trembled at His Word - if we truly feared His righteous judgments - if we believed Jesus meant just what He said - we could not put this matter of bearing fruit out of mind! This generation too often perceives God as some kind of indulgent, doting grandfather type whose only purpose for being is to pamper and bless them. They see Him as one who winks at sin, who expects nothing more than their best efforts, and who overlooks certain sins and lets bygones be bygones. There is no such God! God is loving and merciful - kind

and tenderhearted! But He is also holy. He visits iniquity with judgment; and when the Word declares Him to be a husbandman with a knife, pruning and cutting, we had better believe it!

God is looking for righteousness in His people! Holiness is the fruit that glorifies the Father! How different from our concept of fruitfulness! We have been led to believe that fruit is success, results, more converts, bigger churches, and ever-expanding finances and nonending prosperity.

Actually, bearing fruit has to do with what we are becoming, rather than simply what we are doing. The Bible makes it very clear that many, many will have great results - successfully casting out devils, healing the sick, doing great works in His name. But God sees it as barrenness, fruitlessness, when sin and pride reign in the heart.

I am bearing fruit when there is nothing hindering the flow of the life of Christ into me! That's what Jesus meant when He said, "Now See ORCHARD OF CHRIST on Page 4

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are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3). He is saying, "Because you believed my word, trembled over it, letting it reveal every hidden secret, bringing to light every dark thing, allowing the Word of God to purge you - the hindrances are all gone!

This is why TV, the internet, video games, facebook, (all manmade) inventions and any other distraction that takes up a lot of your time and energy can harm you.

Why is that?

They bring in death - they are dangerous because they could cost you the abiltiy to bear righteous fruit!

There are multitudes of shepherds who are lying to their sheep about what it means to abide in Christ. Millions are heading to hell believing they are in Christ and abiding by faith. There is little talk about fruit! Consequently, many believers are convinced that once in the vine, always in the vine. They believe that no matter how clogged and diseased the branch, the life of Christ still flows through them and that they are bearing precious fruit to the glory of God. That is impossible! Hear Him! "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my father's commandments, and abide in his love..."

(15:10). Jesus obeyed faithfully every commandment of His Father!

And He called that abiding! He tied it to obedience!

We see the fruits of dryness springing up all over the Lord's vineyard - the music of devils, adul-

tery, fornication, drinking, drugs because the pruning process has stopped with so many. The word of God is His knife - a two-edged sword. The majority of Christians today do not read, do not know, and do not plan to read the Word of God! They have hours and hours to play in their distractions and drink the scum of filth on TV - but no time and no desire to be exposed and probed by the Word.

It is impossible to bear the fruit of righteousness without His Word abiding in you! Neglect of the Word is causing barrenness - it is bringing a terrible withering to God's people.

The abiding believer is one who loves and fears God, who dreads His righteous judgments, who hungers for the Word and trembles at His power of conviction. It is one who delights in having the Word prune away all hindrances, who prays that the very life and likeness of Christ be ever-increasing in him, and who grows more and more mature in obedience and love!

Every Christian who truly loves the Lord must stop and let this word deeply sink in! The more fruit of holiness that is shown in us - the more of Christ's fullness revealed in us - the more heavenly minded we become - the more of Christ's life will touch everyone with whom we are connected.

I want to be like a green oak tree, full of His life - bearing fruit - a channel of life to everything within my circle of ministry and influence.

Will you join me in the Orchard of Christ?

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From The Editor

The Blessings of Genuine Godliness If it be bliss, as it really is, to possess all that we desire and wish, the soul that possesses genuine godliness, must be truly blessed, because he unites his will with God’s, which is always accomplished. Formerly he was pained and tormented in the infernal flame of his own will, which rendered him so frequently dissatisfied, for one thing or another was always wrong, in the opinion of his perverse self-will, and thus he struggled and twisted about, day and night, within himself, in miserable apprehension, care, grief, uneasiness, and anxiety, like a gnawing worm, to the injury of both body and soul. But now he has entirely and unconditionally resigned his will, in the exercise of real faith, and thorough self-denial, into the hands of God, in such a manner that the will of God alone influences and operates in him, by which the soul is placed in a tranquil and very peaceful state.

His will desires nothing but God, and because it possesses him, essentially and in faith, if not always in a clear and perceptible manner, it cannot will or desire any thing besides, since God, as it’s proper and infinite object stills and calms the infinite capacity of its desires.

He can say with the pious patriarch Jacob, “I have all, I have enough” (Gen. 33:11), which no one else, were he even the greatest monarch upon earth, can say with truth. For no one knows what it is to have enough but the truly pious soul, because no one has ever experienced it. People suppose indeed that this thing or that would satisfy their hunger and desire, and the poor, blundering, and from Goddeparted spirit thinks to itself, “Ah, if I were in this or that particular situation, if I had this or that, if this or that were but removed, I should then be quiet and content.” Yet how frequently and constantly does our faithful Creator make the man conscious that these are only broken cisterns, and can afford no suitable food for the soul.

The consequence of all this is an unclouded and cheerful mind, and a well-regulated, harmonious, undisturbed, peaceful demeanor, seeing, as before observed, that self-will is broken, and hence the affections and passions are moderated, and brought into proper order, by which even the body, as is easy to sup-

pose, is more benefitted than injured. Paul expresses the whole of it in these few words, “Godliness is profitable for all things, the infallible remedy and cure-all, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

(1Timothy 4:8) Here are some of the principal reasons, why godliness appears so difficult and disagreeable, not only to the greater part of the children of this world, but perhaps also to the majority of those who make a profession of religion. The first is because too many, are too negligent and gentle of themselves in denying the world, in crucifying the flesh, in mortifying their self-will, their sensual enjoyments, and every selfish pleasure, joy, affection, and gratification afforded by the creature, on which account it is impossible to attain to true peace with God, and a substantial experience of His all sufficiency. It is impossible to serve two masters (Matt. 6:24).

He that will delight himself in God must no longer seek it in the creature, and he that seeks his pleasure in the creature will not find it in God. The second principal reason why a godly life appears difficult and disagreeable, even to many pious people is, that many, who, though perfectly desirous of going to work with more sincerity than the former, yet often run into the contrary extreme, and are improperly too active in that which others act too slothfully, inasmuch as they seek in their own strength, to follow and be faithful to the cautions and requirements of that Holy Spirit to whom they have resigned themselves, instead of immediately forsaking themselves and their own activity and ability, and passing in reality, and not merely in an ideal and imaginary manner, by faith and love into Jesus Christ, and spiritually and sweetly uniting and holding communion with Him, in order that He who wrought in them the will, may also work in them to do according to His own good pleasure, on which account, what they perform is neither pure, complete, sincere, nor abiding; and hence the mind, notwithstanding all its legal efforts, lies powerless under many difficulties, aggravations, reproofs and See GENUINE GODLINESS on Page 36

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away from home at a time when we had a little toddler who loved to play with her daddy.

Gradually, I came to understand that the Lord wanted me to use good judgment and common sense in the things I agreed to do--even if they involved very worthwhile causes.

There will always be more good things to do than one man or woman can get done. I realized I needed to maintain a healthy balance between Christian duty, work responsibilities, recreation, social obligations, and meaningful family life.

Then I came across two Scripture references that helped clarify this issue. The first is found in (Matthew 14:13-14), as follows: "When Jesus heard what had happened [to John the Baptist], he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.

Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick."

Jesus was undoubtedly grieving at that time over the beheading of His cousin and friend, John the Bap-

tist. He needed to "withdraw privately to a solitary place." Nevertheless, the people learned of His whereabouts and came seeking His healing touch. Even in that painful time of loss, Jesus took compassion on the people and reached out to those in need. From this I concluded that there are times when we, too, must give of ourselves even when it is difficult or inconvenient to do so.

But there was another occasion when thousands of people sought to be healed by Jesus. After spending some time with them, He got in a boat with His disciples and rowed away. (Mark 4:36) says, "Leaving the crowd behind, they took [Jesus] along, just as he was, in the boat."

Undoubtedly, the large following that day included individuals with cancer, blindness, physical deformities, and every other kind of human misery. Jesus could have stayed there through the night and healed them all, yet He had apparently reached the end of His strength See OVERCOMMITMENT on Page 8

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Men

More Thoughts for Fathers on Ephesians 6:4

by John Piper Fathers . . . bring them up (ektrephete auta) in the discipline (paideia) and instruction (nouthesia) of the Lord (kuriou).

Last Sunday we spent almost all of our time on the first half of (Ephesians 6:4): “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger.” I built the whole message around the conviction that Fathers cause their children’s souls to shrivel into small, hard, angry shells mainly by being like that themselves. I saw the evidence for this and the remedy for it earlier in the book. Paul says to all of us, especially dads, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you [not just your children!], along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31).

Paul is concerned with our anger before he mentions the danger of our transmitting it to our children.

So we focused not just on a few behaviors dad should avoid so as not to make kids mad (yelling, excessive discipline, boundaries that are too narrow or too harped on, bossiness, etc.). Instead, we focused on how dad can drain the low-grade, long-term frustration and anger that makes his soul shrivel into a small, hard, shell that has only two feelings: anger and emptiness. This, we argued, is the real killer of a kid’s soul.

Anger is the cannibal emotion: It eats all the others till none is left. It does this first in fathers, and then this constricted soul is passed on to the children. Anger is absorbed as the dominant emotion and all the tender feelings die. Paul says don’t let that happen. “Fathers, don’t provoke your children to anger.” The remedy is the gospel—“as God in Christ forgave you.”

That’s where we stopped. So here are a few thoughts on the rest of the verse.

Fathers...

Keep in mind that, even though both mother and father work together in raising the children (“children obey your parents,” v. 1), fathers are the special focus of verse 4.

Fathers have a leading responsibility for raising children. This is a natural extension of the headship of the wife in (Ephesians 5:23-25).

Dad should take the initiative to make sure that plans and processes and people are in place to build a vision of God and truth and holiness into the lives of the children. ...bring them up... (ektrephete auta) This word means most basically to provide for—especially with nourishment. But it comes to have a broader sense of rearing children with a connotation of care. The solicitous feel to the word shows up in (Ephesians 5:29) where Paul says, “No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it.” That word nourishes is the same word as bring up in (Ephesians 6:4). So the focus is on the fact that, in all that a father does to bring his children to maturity there should be a provision and a care that assures the child that, behind all the discipline and instruction, there is a great heart of love. This earthly father is working all things together for the good of his child. And so God’s character is being displayed. ...in the discipline... (paideia) This word signifies the actions a father takes to give his children the abilities and skills and character to live life to the glory of God. It is not synonymous with teaching. It is more full and more active. For example, it is used in (2 Timothy 3:16) for “training.” “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Notice that “teaching” is mentioned earlier in the verse.

“Training” involves the action of the one being trained and then the helpful consequences of doing poorly or well.

So the word often refers to the painful part of training: “It is for discipline that you have to endure.

God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons” (Hebrews 12:7-8). Growing up with a Christian father’s help involves being shown how to do the things that a Christ-exalting life requires and being held accountable to do them as well as you can. ...and instruction.... (nouthesia) This word is not the ordinary See THOUGHTS FOR FATHERS on Page 8

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THOUGHTS FOR FATHERS Continued from Page 7 word for “teaching” (didaskalian).

“Instruction” does not quite capture the force of this word. In fact, it is used alongside of the word teaching as different from it in (Colossians 1:28): “[Christ] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”

The idea of warning is prominent.

One major Greek lexicon defines the word like this: “to counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct.”

We can see the corrective, warning side of this word in (1 Thessalonians 5:14) where Paul says, “We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” What the idle need is something a little different than the fainthearted. That is called admonish—a corrective warning about the fruitlessness of this kind of laziness.

But Paul is keen to make sure we feel the sweetness in the admonition he has in mind. Catch the feel of the word in these two verses: (1 Corinthians 4:14), “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children”; (2 Thessalonians 3:15), “Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” There is OVERCOMMITMENT Continued from Page 6 and knew He needed to rest. He and His disciples rowed away, apparently leaving some of the needy people standing on the bank.

A similar event is described in (Matthew 14:23), where we read, "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone" (KJV).

Just as there is a time to give, there is also a time to be alone, to pray and to escape from the pressures of the day--even though there are worthy things yet to be accomplished. Those who fail to reserve some downtime for rest and renewal--as Jesus did-are risking even the good things they want to accomplish. That is like installing a new sprinkler system in a

a warmth to the correcting, warning, and guiding that fathers are called to do. You can even sing it.

And fathers should sing it: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). ...of the Lord. (kuriou) This modifies the training and the admonition. “Bring them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.” I take it to mean that the content of a father’s teachings and warnings, and the method of a father’s modeling discipline, and the goal of a father’s whole life with his children will be from the Lord, through the Lord, and for the Lord. That is, a father will guide all his words and ways by God’s word, and depend on God’s wisdom and strength to apply them, and make everything serve the glory of Christ.

In other words, the most important thing in raising children is that they come to see Christ, the Lord, as supremely valuable as Savior and Lord and Treasure of life. Everything is measured by how that might be biblically achieved.

O Lord, grant to all of us fathers to lead our children (even our adult children) ever more faithfully to love Christ above all.

Pastor John, © Desiring God > yard and putting too many outlets on the line. When that occurs, nothing is watered properly.

Let me offer another illustration.

Did you know that grape growers not only trim dead branches from their vines but they also eliminate a certain number of the fruit-producing branches? They sacrifice a portion of the crop so that the fruit that survives will be better. Likewise, we need to eliminate some of our breathless activities to improve the overall quality of the other things we do.

Having said that, let me offer a word of caution. This need to maintain balance can become an excuse for not carrying our share of responsibility in the church. Pastors tell us that a few of their members do most of the work while most others get a free ride. That is wrong. We shouldn't go from one extreme to the other in our search for common sense. > Manufacturers Since 1867

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Femininity Expressed: Nurturing Others' Children

By Carolyn McCulley Reprinted from the magazine Joyful Woman Almost immediately upon my Christian conversion, God radically changed some of my core views about abstinence, procreation responsibilities, and “choice.” Long a vocal pro-abortion proponent, I never expected to see my feet darken the door of a pro-life clinic.

While a pro-abortion unbeliever, I didn’t know facilities such as crisis pregnancy centers existed nor that they backed up their beliefs by serving women so sacrificially without cost. Within a few months of becoming a Christian, however, I signed up for counseling training at my local crisis pregnancy center (CPC) and eventually became an “advocate,” or mentor, to pregnant women who wanted help.

Whenever I first met one of my new CPC friends, we always had the same conversation: “So, how many children do you have?” she would typically ask.

“None,” I would answer cheerfully.

“Oh.” Then a long pause. “Have you ever been pregnant before?”

“No, I haven’t,” I’d reply.

“Oh.” Another long pause. “Then why did I get you as my advocate?!”

It’s an understandable question, and I was never discouraged when it was asked. I could only reply that being single I had more time to help than a married woman with children of her own. I was 31 when I began volunteering at the CPC, so I fully expected that it would only be a short time before I’d be a wife and mother myself. Now that many single years have gone by, I’ve had more time to ponder the impact of childlessness on the definition of biblical femininity.

All to Be Life-bearers Certainly, the Bible clearly shows that women are called to be lifebearers. From the childbirth curse on Eve through the trials of barrenness in Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Eliz-

abeth and others, the issues of the womb are given much exposure in Scripture. Even in the account of Ruth—the most developed Biblical role model for single women, in my view—the blessing given on her wedding day by the elders at the gate was that she would be fruitful.

The account ends with the birth of her first son, who was the grandfather of King David. Then there is the challenging Scripture from (1 Timothy 2:15) that women will be saved through child-bearing (the commentaries I’ve read say that scholars are unclear about Paul’s theological point there). But Paul adds, “if they [women] continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” By God’s grace, childless or not, we can pursue those qualities at least.

Even with the pain of childbirth, any mother will say that the actual pregnancy and delivery is much easier than the rearing of children to mature adulthood. Children require nurturing care long after the womb.

This is where single, childless women can contribute much to the life-bearing process by supporting the parenting work of those around them. (This is an especially important blessing for single mothers, who benefit tremendously from those who invest in their children and help shoulder the load of solo parenting.) Whether as aunts or close friends of the family, single women can invest in the future by intentionally pursuing relationships with the children around them.

If the role of aunt seems unimportant to you, then please read (2 Kings 11:1-3). When the Baal-worshiping, power-hungry, vengeful Queen Athaliah decides to destroy the entire royal family in Judah, she comes within one baby of wiping out King David’s royal line. But Jehosheba, sister of the deceased See FEMININITY EXPRESSED on Page 38

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Women

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God’s Care for A Single Mom

by Gail Rodgers (The Widow’s Oil) (2 Kings 4:1-7) She was desperate. A widow with two young boys. Her husband had died leaving her with debts she could not pay. Oh, he had been a good man, even a religious man.

And she had tried hard to make the payments. But today her purse was empty and her cupboard was bare.

News had come to her that his creditor was demanding payment and was coming to take her two boys to work for him as slaves in order to pay off her husband’s debt.

In desperation she ran to the house of Elijah. He was a “holy man”, a prophet, a man set apart by God. The local minister of the day. He knew her husband from the religious community where they had worked together. The young widow cried out her anguish to Elijah. “My husband is dead,” she sobbed, “and you know he was a man that revered the Lord.

But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves”.

Elijah asked her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

“I have nothing there at all”, she said, “except a little oil.”

Then Elijah told her to do a strange thing. He told her to “go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons.

Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled put it to one side.”

Knowing the little oil she had in the house, this woman could have easily written this strange advice off as the impractical thoughts of a religious fanatic. But she didn’t.

She had a faith of her own and a situation that truly needed a miracle. So off she went with her boys to collect jars. And not just a few!

Can’t you just imagine the murmur in the neighborhood as this young mom and her boys knocked on door after door with the question, “May I borrow any spare jars you have?”

Then when they had plenty, when their table was covered and the ground around as well, Mom shut the door behind her and her sons.

She reached up into the cupboard for the small bottle of oil and began to pour. One jar filled, then two, then three. The boys brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.

Imagine the excitement growing

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Summer 2016

in that little home as each jar is filled from the small bottle. Imagine all the jars on the table full and the boys begin to lift the ones off the floor. Mom glanced into the little bottle. Still some oil in there! She smiled at her boys and they smiled back. A quiet excitement grew as they realized they were witness to a miracle, a private demonstration of God’s mercy and grace. A quiet miracle that could only happen because of the faith and obedience of a Mom who took the risk.

“Bring me another jar”, she said to her son. But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

In excitement the woman ran back to Elijah’s house and told Elijah what had happened. Words must have tumbled out on one another as she recounted the miracle. Elijah said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

How the neighborhood must have buzzed as mom and her boys lugged the jars down to the market and sold the oil. How faith must have grown in the hearts of the woman and her sons as the coins collected, jingling

in her pocket. How grateful she must have been as she thankfully paid off the pursuing creditor.

How well she must have slept that night knowing she had a God who could do miracles. She had a God who cared about her and her two boys. Yes, she had a God that could be relied on. How thankful she must have been that she had taken the risk in collecting those jars when she knew she did not have oil to fill them. What a miracle they would have missed!

Imagine how she and her boys would recount the story over and over to one another in the years to come. God can be relied on!!

The God of yesterday is still the God of today. The widow’s God is still the same God that cares about you and your kids. He is still in the business of miracles. He still looks for hearts that will trust Him, hearts that will take the risk of believing and obeying.

If you need a miracle today go to God and ask Him for His help. Find a Godly person to pray with you.

See SINGLE MOM on Page 37

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Children

Changing Times

Children Teaching Children about Genuine Love

By Charles Stanley The best way to teach our children about genuine love is to model it for them. Parents are the primary influence for their children in all matters of life, so the example you set of how to treat others says more than words ever will.

However, children also need direct instruction in this area. Here are some practical ways to teach kids the character qualities found in healthy relationships: Kindness. The Bible talks about this attribute as a vital part of genuine love. Share with children that (1 Corinthians 13:4)reminds us that “love is kind,” and (Proverbs 17:17) says, “A friend loves at all times.” Tell children that sharing and taking turns demonstrates kindness. Also, remind them of this character quality when you encourage

them to use pleasant words and gentle hands.

Trustworthiness. Throughout Scripture, we are admonished to tell the truth and be dependable. Consider (1 Corinthians 13), which says, “Love…rejoices with the truth” (v. 6) and “Love never fails” (v. 8). These verses are easy for children to understand and memorize. Explain to your kids that keeping our promises shows people that they can depend on our word. As a result, those relationships grow stronger because others learn they can trust us. Tell them how much you want them to be reliable people, especially as they relate to their friends. Remind them that God is our ultimate model of a trustworthy, loving Friend (See 1 John 4:8).

Helpfulness. In its most basic definition, helpfulness is simply meeting the needs of others around us. A good verse to share with children is (Galatians 5:13), which says, “Through love serve one another.” You can begin teaching this

mindset early as you instruct your child to pick up their toys, place dirty clothing in the clothes hamper, and set the table. As your kids mature, show them opportunities for helping those outside the walls of your house. You may encourage them to assist neighbors with yard work, gather mail or newspapers when they’re out of town, and do other gracious acts. Helpfulness is a great way to show genuine love to those around us!

Sincere love for others is so important in the Christian life that the apostle John wrote, “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8). God has entrusted parents with the incredible task of teaching children how to love others. Model Christ-like love and deliberately instruct your children in this area, and they will grow up knowing how to give and receive genuine love. ©2016 oChristian.com. All Rights Reserved >

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Child of Promise

By Linda Edwards Charlie was jumping up and down anxiously. This is the day he had been waiting for SOOOO long.

"May I hold him? PLEASE? Can I? Can I? I want to hold the baby."

Dad reached down and patted him on his head and told him to sit in the big chair. Mom placed his new baby brother carefully into his arms. Charlie looked at the baby's little hands and counted all his tiny fingers. As he held the baby tenderly, he thought about how great it was to be a big brother.

Abraham was a man who loved God very much. He enjoyed praying to God and talked to Him every day. He did his best to obey God. In turn, God was pleased with Abraham. God blessed Abraham by giving him lots of land. In fact -- God had told Abraham to look in every direction as far as he could see, and all that land would be his.

God blessed Abraham with large flocks of sheep and herds of cattle.

He blessed Abraham with many servants to help care for the land and the animals. God blessed Abraham so much that he became the wealthiest man in the world at that time.

BUT...there was one thing Abraham wanted more than anything else in the WHOLE world . . . Abraham wanted his wife, Sarah, to have a SON. He was remembering the night when God spoke to him saying, "Abraham! Look up at the stars and see if you can count them."

Abraham looked up, but, of course, it was impossible for him to count all the stars. There were so many all over the sky. There was no way they could all be counted! Then God said, "Your descendants will be like the stars. There will be so many, they will not be able to be counted."

THAT had been a wonderful promise, and Abraham BELIEVED that it would happen, because GOD SAID IT WOULD. But that promise had been made SOOOOOO long ago. "WHEN would it ever happen?" he wondered.

He remembered the time he laughed. The Lord appeared to him promising that he and Sarah, his wife, would have a child, and he would be the father of many nations, and some of his descendants would even be KINGS. He laughed because Sarah was already NINETY YEARS OLD, which was MUCH too old be having a baby! It was such joyful news

that he HAD to laugh! Again he wondered, "We are even older now than we were then. WHEN will it ever happen?"

He also remembered the time not too long ago, when the visitors arrived at his tent, telling him again that Sarah would have a son. That time it was SARAH who laughed, because she just couldn't believe she would ever have a baby, especially at HER age.

Abraham and Sarah often discussed how wonderful it would be to have a son. Sarah spent a lot of time making warm blankets and snuggly baby clothes. Abraham had one of his servants make a little cradle. They were overcome with happiness and excitement as they planned and prepared for the arrival of their new baby.

It happened JUST AS GOD HAD PROMISED. A cute little baby boy was born to Abraham and Sarah.

Abraham named the baby Isaac, which means laughter. The babybrought much joy and laughter to Abraham and Sarah. They loved baby Isaac very, very much. They were so happy that God had kept His promise.

THINK! What did Abraham want more than anything else?

What did God tell Abraham to count?

How many descendants did God promise to Abraham?

Why did Sarah think she would never have a baby?

What did Abraham name the baby?

What does the name "Isaac" mean?

REMEMBER God always keeps His promises.

A VERSE TO LEARN " . . . in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3) LET'S PRAY Dear God, thank You for all the promises You've given to us in your Word, the Bible. Help us to remember that even though something may seem impossible, nothing is too hard for You, and You will always keep Your promises.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE? Genesis 21:1-8 Copyright © 2016- The Lorain County Free-Net Chapel, North Central Ohio, U.S.A. >

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Seniors

Changing Times

Seniors The Grandpa I Never Knew Story

by Richard L. Provencher Mom and Dad said Grandpa's ways were more like the pleasant scent of coffee. Or licorice chews in the evening. When dressed up neat he was best in his outdoor clothes as if animals in the forest deserved his best intentions and needed to be impressed.

Then he fished or simply went for a walk in the woods. He was a treat to see. A friend to the forest my Grandpa was.

He's not with us anymore but I know he's hiding somewhere special. Mom and Dad said he was such a friend, missed by all the animals, deer his favorite.

Birds liked him too following him through ancient trails he always seemed to find (Mom and Dad told me) and trees that grew taller than the sky. Where lakes sheltered beneath forgotten stands of coniferous trees, where at the end of the trail his boots placed each step carefully not to disturb the wind, nor deer hooves.

He paused long enough to listen for any disturbing sounds and only moving on after a comforting peace came upon him. He loved being in the forest, Mom and Dad said.

Everything in his sight became part of his family same as his wife and children who had lots to eat and a nice place to live in. They traveled often to Cape Breton Island then Montreal, sledding and tobogganing and snow shoeing and kite flying and lots of other things, even sail-boating at Baddeck.

But, most of all, he talked about one day having a grandchild. I know it was me and even though he did not get to see me when I was a baby I grew up listening to stories from my Dad about Grandpa who spent so much time fishing and hiking in the woods. His own father my great Grandpa said he might grow up into a tree and Mom told me he liked Birch best so shiny in

the sun with a white cloak of skin flapping in the wind.

Whenever I see one of those Birch trees I think of Grandpa and him flapping bark waves at me.

When I walk in the woods especially in Autumn time it becomes a special place for me because I know his spirit has gone before me like today. When I listen to the wind I'm sure it's his voice in the crackling of leaves or even his footsteps one two three steps.

And the smell of spruce trees maybe like his shaving lotion as I sit and remember the way he looks from pictures of him and Mom and Dad on my dresser. It was a day of days Mom said when they sat in a rowboat many years ago and just maybe he even sat on the same fallen log I'm on right now watching two squirrels play tag in the sunlight.

I lean against a tree and hear what he must have heard one day long ago. Once more I listen to the wind and smell the moss at my feet while waves splash loudly against the shore. YES-YES I'm sure that's him peeking from behind that birch tree not so far away.

Hi GRANDPA! Richard L. Provencher 2016 My wife, Esther and I are "bornagain" and enjoy sharing our writing. It is a Christian Outreach for us. Our E-mail is: richardprov2@ gmail.com. You are invited to visit our website at: www.wsprog.com/ rp/. Free downloads available. We live in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Please pray for one another. © 2016 FaithWriters.com. All Rights Reserved >

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Seniors

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The Keeper of the Rose

by Richard L. Provencher Peter's steps sounded like thunder as he hurried to Grandma Dorothy's room. He was unhappy to see her in a wheelchair.

"I wish Grandma didn't have to be in this ole Nursing Home," Peter said to his parents.

"Well," answered mom, "she needs help for washing and cooking."

"And climbing stairs is too difficult for her," his father added.

Peter liked the floor in the Nursing Home with its brightly colored patterns. But it bothered him so many residents sat like soldiers at attention along each wall, staring at visitors.

He knew they too once had strong legs and quick steps. And sat on swings or played on the ocean shore.

The last time he visited Grandma she held tightly to his arm. She couldn't speak but Peter knew she didn't want him to leave.

As he entered her room he noticed how she stared out the window. Was she remembering the way it used to be? The boy explored Grandma Dorothy's room, with pictures of the two of them in her garden.

This little space was nothing like her country home.

"Mom?" he asked later. "How come Grandma hardly talks? Or walks anymore?"

"Son, your grandmother has to have a wheelchair now, since her legs aren't very strong. And her memory is beginning to slip because of Alzheimer's disease."

Each question Peter asked was like the slapping of ocean waves against the shore. More questions kept piling up in his head. Peter knew it was very hard on mom and dad.

Especially when they first coaxed Grandma to move to the nursing home.

"I wish Grandma was like before," Peter said. He loved her so much. He sat in silence on the way home.

At bedtime, Peter's bedroom was full of creaks and groans caused by his pacing on the floor. He tired to imagine how hard it must be for Grandma.

No more working in her garden, nor feeding sparrows and goldfinch. Not even being able to fish with Peter in her backyard pond, stocked with neat rainbow trout.

Stars winked each time Peter blinked back tears. He squeezed his 14

Summer 2016

hands wishing Grandma was here.

Visiting the Nursing Home today was another sad time for him.

Her wheelchair looked so cramped. Peter knew Grandma was sorry he had to see her like that. She used to enjoy showing Peter around her farm. When he caught his first fish, Grandma was right beside him.

It was a fourteen-inch Rainbow.

And he remembered jumping up and down like a jack-in-the-box.

Peter missed her warm hugs, often calling him, "My little chickadee," her favorite bird. She had such a neat way of making him feel safe and comfortable.

Now in the stillness of his room, he wrapped his arms around his shoulders. "Was she thinking of him right now?"

Mom and dad said Grandma also couldn't see very well because of "Glaucoma." They explained it was a word dressed like a robber, taking away her window to the world.

"But, your Grandma still has feelings," said dad, "even though she may not say the words. On our next visit, watch her face when she's sitting beside the lounge window. Don't say anything, just watch."

Peter nodded his head. Sometimes he didn't listen. This time he did.

During their next visit he did watch as Grandma Dorothy sat in her wheelchair. Her usual smile almost made her wrinkled skin disappear. A raspy sound came from her throat.

Then, humming floated throughout the room. There weren't any words, just a soft melody. Grandma seemed content, sitting and staring out the window.

"What is she looking at?" Peter whispered to himself. He looked over at mom and dad. Would they be the same, someday? Questions kept nattering like pesky mosquitoes.

Then Peter noticed a robin on the outside window ledge staring directly at his Grandmother. Its halfopened beak and tilted head seemed to be listening to the vibrations of song working its way outside.

The boy hardly breathed, eyes wide with interest. Grandma Dorothy was smiling and humming.

Yes, she was singing to the robin.

The boy was sure the bird could See KEEPER OF THE ROSE on Page 36

Seniors

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Proud as a Peacock!

Changing Times

“Fun, Friendship, and Peace of Mind”

David Jeremiah "Honey," Grandma said sweetly as she took the last sip of coffee her little grandson had made her, "why are there two little army guys in my cup?" "Well, they say on TV, 'The best part of waking up is soldiers in your cup.'" Grandma smiles.

Proverbs says "Grandparents are proud of their grandchildren" (17:6 CEV)-proud as peacocks.

After our first grandchild, I couldn't imagine having love left over for another. But after another, and another…I learned that a grandparent's love is limitless.

"The bond between a child and a grandparent is the purest, least psychologically complicated form of human love" (Dr. Arthur Kornhaber, author). Grandparents can offer an emotional safety net when parents falter, passing on traditions-stories, songs, games, skills, and crafts.

And, they often have more time.

Kornhaber found that children close to a grandparent are more emotionally secure and have more positive feelings about older people and the process of aging. Grandparents are Grand Parents. Grand means having more importance than others; foremost; having higher rank; large and striking in size, scope, extent, or conception; very good; wonderful.

At 46, the average American woman becomes a Grandmother.

Some become Grandparents at 29.

Baby boomers are becoming Grandparents and step-Grandparents, adding to the over 60 million in America today. Many Grandparents can now petition for visitation rights.

Support groups give legal advice.

Modern mobility means many grandparents learn the techniques of long-distance grandparenting.

Others provide regular childcare. In almost a million American homes, grandparents raise their grandchildren. Five million live full-time with grandparents.

Our Past One gift grandparents can give Grandchildren is the past-oral histories of the family. "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a pony" Grandma mused. "Wow," said the little girl, "Wish I'd known you sooner!"

Grandpa Jacob gathered his sons and grandsons around him, blessed them, and said: "God Almighty

appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me." Jacob related his relationship with God and his spiritual legacy. His recital was remembered and passed on to a thousand generations. (Genesis 48) Paul told Timothy, "the genuine faith that is in you…dwelt first in your Grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice." Moses said "Teach (my commands) to your children and your Grandchildren."

We can't become Christians by being born into a Christian family, but by making a personal decision to follow Christ. Being raised in a loving Christian environment helps.

Our Presence Spend time with your Grandkids.

Make your home user-friendly.

Grandparents can instill in grandkids a love for God's Word and His people. Talk to them, tell stories, and read them Scripture.

Charles Spurgeon's life was molded by his Grandfather's stories. You too have stories your grandchild would like to hear.

Some Grandparents record stories their Grandkids listen to at bedtime. Vacations, letters, emails, and phones provide time with Grandchildren when they are not near.

Our Provision Grandparents may help provide clothing, books, toys, or college seed money for their Grandchildren.

A few extras by a loving Grandparent can make a big difference.

Our Prayers Grandparents can give their grandchildren a legacy of prayerpraying and claiming Scripture before the throne of grace. Samuel said to the Israelites, "God forbid that I should sin against heaven by failing to pray for you."

I pray regularly that God will protect my grandchildren and help them grow up to know Christ. One day my oldest grandchild called to say he'd accepted Jesus into his heart-an answer to my prayers.

We Grandparents can pray best for our grandchildren because there's a bit of their parents each of them.

We already know a lot about their parents, so we can pray knowingly.

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Grandpa's Voice

by Marvin Williams When I was a child, my grandfather always seemed to have something extra that he always wanted me to have. When I was 6, it was whatever change was in his pocket every time he came to visit. He always seemed to have the same amount in his pocket no matter what! There was enough to pay for my lunch in the cafeteria for a week and just enough left over to put in a little box I had under my bed to save up for whatever special toy I thought “I just had to have”. As a curious little boy, I was perplexed as to how he always knew just how much I needed, so one day I asked him about it.

“Well son, I’ll tell you…..I know what you need and I know what you want. I always try to give you all of one and some of the other.”

In the early ‘60s, my parents worked hard to see to all my needs and they worked a lot harder for their money in those days than I do today. My grandfather kept a pretty close eye on things (without my knowledge) so that if there seemed to be more month than money, he was always there to supply whatever was needed.

When I was 12, I needed a new baseball glove and money to pay for a new baseball uniform. I didn’t even have to ask, it just happened!

After graduation from high school I left home to make my way in the world. I remember thinking I was leaving home and family behind, but he called to tell me, “I love you. If it

gets tough, you know where I am.

All you have to do is call.”

On my birthday that year, I got card from him with a check in it which I used for a deposit on an apartment.

My grandfather was a “larger than life”sort of man. He never walked into a room un-noticed but made me feel as though he was there “just to see me!”

I’m 53 yrs. old now and he’s been in Heaven for a long time. Every time I see an old John Wayne movie, a tear still comes to my eye because it makes me think of my grandpa.

This morning as I was praying, I asked God for a special touch to help me get through what is developing into a very trying week. As I knelt beside my bed like a little boy, I felt a peace come over me. In my grandpa’s voice, I heard my Heavenly Father say “My son, don’t be afraid. I will give you all that you need and even some of what you want. When life becomes a struggle you need only to call out to me.”

It’s in the family that we learn how to love and care for one another. From our parents we learn how to love, grow and manage the cares of this world. From our grandparents we learn about His unconditional love for us free from fear.

How blessed I am to have known from the time I was a child that I was loved. © 2016 FaithWriters. com. All Rights Reserved >

PEACOCK Continued from Page 15

aged" (Proverbs 17:6). And those peacock-proud people who realize it are the grandest people of all.

This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah’s devotional magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your copy of Turning Points. >

Grandparents carry this influence in their lives sometimes without recognizing its source" (Jay Kesler).

Or as the Bible puts it, "Children's children are a crown to the

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Marriage

Changing Times

7 Reasons Why You Should Stay a Virgin Until Marriage

by Angie Lewis Sex between two married people is a very beautiful aspect of marriage. God has blessed us with the ability to give and receive physical pleasure with the one we are married to. But when we give ourselves to another before marriage, sex becomes something else altogether.

1) Lust and Fornication Are Sins Why do you think God made fornication a sin? I mean, on the outside it seems like a lot of fun to have sex and to flirt with feelings of lust. No one is really hurting anyone, right? Wrong! Sex before marriage always, always hurts someone, and for many reasons which we will get into. God's desire is for single people, young and old to remain sexually and emotionally pure for marriage. When young couples go into marriage with such purity and anticipation for one another, the marriage thrives.

2) Virginity is a Precious Gift to Bring to Your Spouse What a precious gift of love and purity to share yourself only with the one you married. It creates the "one flesh" of marriage even more beautiful and sacred. But perhaps some of you reading this have erred and are not a virgin anymore. Let me tell you, its ok. God still loves you and wants you to have a blessed marriage.

Ask for forgiveness and turn away from the "attitude of going out on a date" and God will forgive you. Flee from temptation and stop dating because 95% of the time dating leads to sex. Having likeminded friendships in the Lord is much better than dating. Don't give your heart away! Your emotional and spiritual self is a precious commoditysave it for your spouse, you will be so very happy that you did.

3) The Risk of Pregnancy Children are precious, beautiful people of God, and everyone needs to experience being a parent at sometime in their life. But God does not want us to concern ourselves with the responsibilities of

children until we are ready and capable of caring for their needs properly.

Bringing children into the world out of wedlock is not fair to the child or to you. Terminating our unborn child is not fair to them either. It is always best and God's ideal for single women to not have children and to remain sexually abstinent until marriage. Then, when you both are ready to have a child, financially, emotionally and spiritually, God will bless you with children.

4) Multiple Heartaches From Dating Sexual intimacy bonds two hearts together in such a way that they become emotionally attached to one another and feelings of desires are confused with love. Most dating relationships are not based on love, but on the desire aspect of the relationship. Dating does not lead up to a healthy marriage. Dating leads up to heartbreak because eventually one party will want out of the relationship. Heartbreak after heartache develops a cold, callous heart. It also can develop other negative emotions such as jealousy, suspicion, and mistrust because this too is part of the dating scene. Dating has too many negative emotions attached to it. It is God's desire that single people have friendships in the Lord and do not date.

5) Virginity is Cool I don't care what anyone says, virginity is cool! A woman who can remain a virgin until marriage this day and age is a courageous and Godly woman, and I commend her on her ability to turn away from what the crowds are doing. Losing your virginity before marriage is not cool. Ask any older woman with values, who has been there and done that already, and she will tell you to wait until your are married too. That's because we know that when a young person wants to have sex before marriage, it's only

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Changing Times

Marriage

www.changingtimes.info

Trusting in God For Our Marriage

by Angie Lewis Who do you trust in when things go wrong in your marriage? Do you trust in self, or perhaps you go running to family and friends, explaining your side of the story? Some of us go running to therapists, counselors, divorce lawyers, and strangers on the street. But we seldom run to God. Many of the people we go running to in times of marital troubles aren't equipped in giving us proper advice and guidance. Most of them have had divorces themselves! How can someone fix our marital wounds when they can't fix their own?

Most people mean well when they offer advice but is that advice really what your marriage needs?

Family and friends are always bias toward your side of things. Anything you have to say about your spouse will be treated with such bias. Is that what you want, really?

Have you ever gone to the doctor with a certain ailment and the doctor sends you home with medicine to cover up the symptoms with?

That's what it’s like when we go running to family, friends, and counselors. I'm not saying we shouldn't go to counselors, but what I am saying is, have you tried going to the Architect of marriage? Perhaps He can shed some light on your problems - do you think?

Why do people get sick with disease and illness? It is because they are putting something in the body, on a daily basis that it doesn't like.

The body is rejecting what it's being given every day. For a healthy body we need to feed it nutritious building foods and then it will begin to heal itself. Whole foods in their pure form are what the body REALLY needs.

It is the same with marriage.

Marriages fail because couples in marriage are getting fed lies and deceit from the world, and they believe it! The institution of marriage is rejecting what it is being given on a daily basis. For a healthy marriage we need to make the Designer of marriage a priority in

our lives and let Him feed us with His truths. Christ-like principles are what marriage REALLY needs.

Don't treat your marriage like everyone else does. Go to the Inventor of marriage. If you wanted a chocolate bar, you wouldn't go to the hardware store to get it, would you? Where would you get your chocolate bar, the corner mini mart or the grocery store, right? But you still have to ask this question, where did that chocolate bar come from, originally? It came from the factory, but where did the factory get it?

From the cocoa bean!

If it doesn't come from the cocoa bean then its not real chocolate it's a fake. Look for the fruit, or in this case look for the cocoa.

It's impossible to manufacture a REAL chocolate bar without first starting from the cocoa bean. ALL chocolate comes from the cocoa bean it is its source. ALL people come from God He is our Source!

Chocolate makes a candy bar, which comes from the cocoa bean.

Couples in marriage - a man and a woman, make a marriage, which come from the Creator!

My point? God created and designed marriage. He is the Master Architect! So then why are we not trusting in God for our marriage? All the principles for a healthy, abundant and blessed filled marriage derive from the Source and Creator of marriage God our Lord and Creator of the universe has already given us everything we need to be fulfilled in our marriage.

All you have to do is put those blessings into action, and you do that by trusting in God. Trusting in God takes more than "saying what we're going to do". We actually need to change our way of thinking and attitude and be the people that God created us to be FOR OUR MARRIAGE. It's a personal discovery, really. It's a renewal of heart and mind a transformation. http://www.heavenministries.com © 2016 FaithWriters.com. All Rights Reserved >

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Education

www.changingtimes.info

Changing Times

Education Scripture Memorization Nancy Leigh DeMoss One of the most valuable aids to meditation is Scripture memorization. In fact, when I encounter someone who is battling discouragement or depression, I often ask two questions: "Are you singing to the Lord?" and "Are you memorizing Scripture?" These two exercises are not some magical formula to make all our problems go away, but they do have incredible power to change our perspective and attitude toward the issues we are facing.

"But I can't memorize," some will quickly respond. Don Whitney points out that the issue is not so much our ability to memorize as our motivation: What if I offered you one thousand dollars for every verse you could memorize in the next seven days? Do you think your attitude toward Scripture memory and your ability to memorize would improve?

Any financial reward would be minimal when compared to the accumulating value of the treasure of God's

Word deposited within your mind.

The fact is, we can and do memorize all the time. We memorize people's names, television commercials, directions to places we frequent, credit card numbers, and phone numbers. How? We remember information that is important to us or that we frequently use or repeat. Scripture memorization is no different. It requires motivation and regular, systematic review.

If you have not memorized Scripture before, start with small portions, perhaps one or two verses a week.

Select verses that relate to specific concerns or needs in your life. You may want to write out the verses on a card that you can keep with you and review several times a day.

Reviewing Scripture before going to sleep at night is one of the best ways to reinforce it in your memory.

Once you have mastered a verse or a paragraph, go on to the next, but review daily the verses you have memorized most recently. You may find it helpful to memorize with a partner so that you can encourage each other and check up on each other's verses on a regular basis. Scripture memory and meditation will bring about many bene-

fits in your life, including: • cleansing and renewing your mind; • keeping you from sin; • providing insight and direction in the midst of real-life situations; • strengthening your spirit; • combating the attacks of the Enemy on your mind and emotions; • stimulating spiritual desires; • diminishing the demands of your flesh; • protecting you from wrong thinking patterns; and • fixing your mind and affections on "thing above" (Colossians 3:2) Evidence Not Seen is the moving story of Darlene Deibler Rose, a young American missionary who spent four years in a Japanese prison camp during World War II. She recalls the way God used Scriptures she had memorized as a child to sustain her through her terrifying ordeal: As a child and young person, I

had had a driving compulsion to memorize the written Word. In the cell I was grateful now for those days in Vacation Bible School, when I had memorized many single verses, complete chapters, and Psalms, as well as whole books of the Bible.

In the years that followed, I reviewed the Scriptures often. The Lord fed me with the Living Bread that had been stored against the day when fresh supply was cut off by the loss of my Bible. He brought daily comfort and encouragement - yes, and joy - to my heart through the knowledge of the Word. . . . I had never needed the Scriptures more than in these months on death row, but since so much of His Word was there in my heart, it was not the punishment the Kempeitai had anticipated when they took my Bible. © Revive Our Hearts. Written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Used with permission. www.ReviveOurHearts.com. > like us and follow us on facebook for chances to win prizes

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Education

Changing Times

www.changingtimes.info

Your Teenagers' Friends

by Adrian Rogers

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Louisiana Osteoporosis Study (LOS) The Dept. of Biostatistics is conducting a new research study, LOS, on bone health. This study will recruit subjects to participate.

Participants will receive: • Free bone density scan • Compensation for travel and time Eligibility criteria: 18 years or older. No severe uncontrolled chronic diseases For more information, call (504)988-1016 Or make an appointment online: http://los.sph.tulane.edu Or email: bonestudyneworleans@tulane.edu

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Summer 2016

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17) Teenagers are more affected by friends than almost anything else.

They are sometimes more affected by friends than by parents and pastor combined. Teenagers want friends. In fact, the deepest need of all of us, whether we're young or old, is for enduring friendships. A true friend is a great treasure, but the wrong kind of friend is the greatest danger that a teenager can possibly have.

There are two categories of friends: casual and intimate. Now, casual friends are not the kind of friends I'm talking about when I say a friend can either help or hurt you.

We are to have casual friends that we minister to, but this does not mean that casual friends are to become intimate friends. The Bible says, "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Proverbs13:20).

A true friend is somebody who is faithful, who encourages you and makes you better. One of the marks of a true friend, a godly friend, is whether you are a better person for having been with him, and is he a better person for having been with you. A true friend will challenge you. A true friend is strong enough to say, "That is wrong, and I love you too much to let you get away with it." The Bible says in (Proverbs 27:17), "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

One of the saddest stories in the Bible is found in (2 Samuel 13). It involves one of King David's sons who let a casual friend become an intimate friend and influence him

with tragic results. Amnon desired to have an illicit relationship with his half-sister, Tamar. His friend, Jonadab, encouraged him to play sick and ask for Tamar to be sent into his room with some food. She came, and he raped her. This act brought tragedy and turmoil into King David's family for years to come, and it all started because Amnon "had a friend" (2 Samuel 13:3).

Parents, let me tell you something: your kids are going to be like their friends. They are already like them, or they will soon be like them. When a teenager is asked why he smokes, his reply often will start with, "I had a friend..." When asked why he drinks: "I had a friend..." "How did you get hooked on pornography?" "At a friend's house."

Some of you don't even know what your kids' friends are like. You need to listen to their conversations, see how they dress, and pay attention to the kind of music they listen to. Know the kids your kids are hanging around with. You can evaluate the spiritual condition of your children by their friends.

Now, parents, you need to help your children here, even when they may not want your help. You need to help them to choose their friends wisely.

• Help them to understand the dangers that are involved. Today, teenagers often don't see the consequences of sin. They see the beautiful side shown on TV and in advertisements. Take them to the court, to the jail, to the hospital emergency room on a weekend night, or even to the morgue. Teach your children that there are real consequences to sin.

• Carefully guard their company.

(Proverbs 22:10), says, "Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease." If there's a kid who's hanging around who's bad news, say, "Son, there's the sidewalk." Or tell your teenager, "You're not going anywhere with him." Parents, don't try to win a popularity contest. Help your child choose his friends. • Teach them the importance of their choices. Don't let your twelve-year old go out on a date. Wise up!

These children are babies. They do See TEENAGER'S FRIENDS on Page 22

www.changingtimes.info

Health

Changing Times

Health How Toxic is Your Kitchen?

by Dr. Don Colbert

You depend on your kitchen to be a place where healthy food is prepared and stored to provide energy and nutrition for your family. Many people don’t realize the amount of toxins lurking in their kitchen, contaminating the food that should be nourishing their family.

Ask yourself the following questions to assess your kitchen’s level of toxicity.

• What materials are your pots and pans made of?

• How often do you use a microwave?

• Do you store food in, drink from, or eat on plastic dishes or containers?

• Where do you store your nuts and oils?

• Is your water unfiltered?

• Do you use conventional, store-bought cleaners in your kitchen?

Simple Ways to Detoxify Your Kitchen Practice minimal use of the microwave oven, or get rid of your microwave altogether. Using a microwave to cook your food is of three main concerns.

1. Harmful and cancer-causing chemicals can leak into your food from heated plastic and

paper containers.

2. Microwaving alters the molecular structure of food, damaging nutrients and even generating harmful compounds. For example, broccoli cooked in the microwave looses 97% of its antioxidants versus 11% when steamed.

3. Microwaves emit radiation.

Although it is controversial as to how much radiation, studies have shown correlations between microwave radiation in the home and effects on the heart and blood sugar.

Heat your food in the oven, on the stove-top or in a toaster oven. If you do use the microwave, let it be the exception and not the rule, and be sure to stand back at least 20 inches.

Store nuts and oils properly. Nuts and oils go bad quickly with exposure to heat, light and air. Rancid nuts smell and taste bad, and can be carcinogenic. Rancid nuts are linked to headaches and digestive upset. Roasted, chopped, and ground nuts go rancid much more quickly than whole raw ones. Nuts should be stored in the refrigerator.

Look for oils that are sold in dark tinted bottles since the packaging will help protect the oil from oxidation caused by exposure to light.

Glass bottles are best to prevent contamination from plastic containers. Oils should be stored in a cool, dark place like a cabinet or pantry.

Oil should be used within 1-2 months to ensure its quality remains intact, even when stored properly.

Do not use non-stick cookware.

Pots, pans and baking dishes should be stainless steel, glass or cast iron with no non-stick agent. A very dangerous chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), is known to cause cancer and other developmental problems. When non-stick cookware is heated, this chemical, and others, are released into the air and into your food.

Get rid of all plastics including

storage bags, cups, plates, silverware and containers. Dishes made of glass are ideal. Harmful chemicals in plastics can leach into foods, especially when heated or if the food item is acidic. A common chemical found in plastic products is bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is associated with increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

More and more plastic products are appearing with a “BPA Free” label.

This is a good start, but BPA is not the only harmful chemical in plastics.

Filter your water, especially for drinking and cooking. Your water must be clean in order for you to stay healthy. Tap water is likely not clean enough. It often contains a myriad of toxins from industrial chemicals to pesticides to pharmaceutical products to viruses and parasites.

Use natural cleaners for the dishes, appliances, floor and counters.

The ingredients in mainstream cleaning products can be unsafe.

For example, the majority of laundry detergents contain formaldehyde, which is associated with cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies, and more. More safe cleaning products are becoming available in health food stores, supermarkets, and online. You can even make your own.

Dr. Don Colbert is a graduate of Oral Roberts School of Medicine and shares his years of experience and research in nutritional medicine in all of his work. He is a national speaker, bestselling author and host of a national talk show titled Your Health Matters. © 2015 Dr. Don Colbert, MD PA www.drcolbert.com >

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Be tightfisted until the crisis is over Dear Dave, Recently, my husband had to quit his job due to an old back injury.

We have $25,000 in debt, but I’ll be receiving a $38,000 inheritance in a couple of weeks. Should we use the money to pay off our debt, or hold on to it in case he needs surgery?

—Kristen Dear Kristen, Now is the time to keep the cash piled high. You’re in the middle of an emergency, and that means you push the pause button on your Total Money Makeover and stop paying extra on debt. Surgery is a possibility at this point, plus you may need some of that money to live on until his job situation improves.

Then, the moment he returns to work and things are stabilized, you jump back into getting control of your finances. Use whatever is left of the $38,000 to pay off debt that very day. But right now you don’t need to worry about becoming debtfree, only to turn around and be in a mess in the event he has trouble

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finding another job.

Let me give you a warning too.

Thirty-eight thousand dollars is a great gift. If someone handed me a check for that amount, I’d cash it in a heartbeat. But it’s not $380,000 or $3.8 million. It’s easy to develop a false sense of security if you’ve never received a check of that size.

This kind of money is enough to keep the wolf away from the door for a while, but it’s nothing to retire on.

This little nest egg is a real blessing, Kristen. Just make sure you handle it wisely, and take into account all of the possibilities over the next couple of months. In a best-case scenario your husband won’t need surgery, he’ll find a job pretty soon, and you guys won’t have to dig in to the inheritance money. Hang on to as much as possible, though. This sounds like a time of personal and professional transition for you both, and having that kind of extra cash around could be a lifesaver!

—Dave

TEENAGER'S FRIENDS Continued from Page 20 not yet have what it takes to make these kinds of choices. Teach them.

Work with them. Guide them.

One of the best things to do is make your home the most fun place in town. Fill up the refrigerator, get a table tennis table, some good music, and let them sit on your couch and break it down. Let them drop stuff on your rug, but have them in your house so you can watch them and see what they're like. They're more precious than

your furniture or your groceries.

I beg you, help your teenager choose his friends carefully. Thank God there is one friend that "sticketh closer than a brother" ( Proverbs 18:24), and His name is Jesus.

He's the one that will help them understand all these other friendships. And He's the one that will guide them to the right friendships. © 2016 Love Worth Finding Ministries, P.O. Box 38300, Memphis, TN 38183, www.lwf.org >

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Financial

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The car has got to go!

Dear Dave, My husband is in the middle of serving a five-year prison sentence.

We have a nine-year-old son, and we’ve sold our home and everything else of value just to get by and pay off debts. I’ve managed to pay off almost everything, but we still have about $20,000 in debt from credit cards and a car note. Our rent is $375 a month, and the car payment is $400. He was making about $100,000 a year before he was incarcerated, and the only income we have now is my monthly disability check of $1,478. Should I file Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

—Samantha

going to beat you up over those last two debts, especially after all the stuff you’ve been through and done, but there’s no way a car payment fits into your life, kiddo. You need a little $1,000, paid-for car, not a car payment. You can’t raise a nineyear-old on $1,478 a month when more than half of that goes out the door for rent and a car payment.

I want to get you back on solid ground so you can start growing again. I don’t have a magic wand that will turn $1,400 into $14,000, but I do want to pierce through your pain and love you enough to help you realize that you need to look at the figures and do some math. You’re not stupid, Samantha. You’re an Dear Samantha, amazingly courageous person. But I’m really sorry you and your you do need to sell that stupid car! family have been put through all —Dave this. You’ve endured a real mess the * Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted last few years, and I know you’ve voice on money and business. He has fought like crazy to keep things authored four New York Times bestselling books: Financial Peace, More afloat the entire time.

First, there’s no reason for you to Than Enough, The Total Money Makefile bankruptcy. Chapter 13 is a pay- over and EntreLeadership. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by 6 million ment plan, and right now you can’t listeners each week on more than 500 make payments, keep your lights radio stations. Follow Dave on Twitter on, and feed your child. The credit at @DaveRamsey and on the web at card companies can wait. I’m not daveramsey.com.

Changing Times

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But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ––Colossians 3:14

Summer 2016

23

Feature Articles

Changing Times

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The True Vine: Abide In My Love

By Andrew Murray Even as the Father Hath Loved Me, I Also Have Loved You: Abide Ye in My Love— (John 15.9) Abide in My love--We speak of a man's home as his abode. Our abode, the home of our soul, is to be the love of Christ. We are to live our life there, to be at home there all the day: this is what Christ means our life to be, and really can make it.

Our continuous abiding in the Vine is to be an abiding in His love.

You have probably heard or read of what is called the higher, or the deeper life, of the richer or the fuller life, of the life abundant. And you possibly know that some have told of a wonderful change, by which their life of continual failure and stumbling had been changed into a very blessed experience of being kept and strengthened and made exceeding glad. If you asked

them how it was this great blessing came to them, many would tell you it was simply this, that they were led to believe that this abiding in Christ's love was meant to be a reality, and that they were made willing to give up everything for it, and then enabled to trust Christ to make it true to them.

The love of the Father to the Son is not a sentiment--it is a divine life, an infinite energy, an irresistible power. It carried Christ through life and death and the grave. The Father loved Him and dwelt in Him, and did all for Him. So the love of Christ to us too is an infinite living power that will work in us all He delights to give us. The feebleness of our Christian life is that we do not take time to believe that this divine love does really delight in us, and will possess and work all in us. We do not take time to look at the Vine bearing the branch so entirely, working all in it so completely. We strive to do for ourselves what Christ alone can, what Christ, oh, so lovingly, longs to do for us.

And this now is the secret of the change we spoke of, and the beginning of a new life, when the soul sees this infinite love willing to do all, and gives itself up to it. "Abide ye in my love." To believe that, it is possible so to live moment by moment; to believe that everything that makes it difficult or impossible will be overcome by Christ Himself; to believe that Love really means an infinite longing to give itself wholly to us and never leave us; and in this faith to cast ourselves on Christ to work it in us; this is the secret of the true Christian life.

And how to come to this faith?

Turn away from the visible if you would see and possess the invisible.

Take more time with Jesus, gazing on Him as the heavenly Vine, living in the love of the Father, wanting you to live in His love. Turn away from yourself and your efforts and your faith, if you would have the heart filled with Him and the certainty of His love. Abiding means going out from everything else, to occupy one place and stay

there. Come away from all else, and set your heart on Jesus, and His love, that love will waken your faith and strengthen it. Occupy yourself with that love, worship it, and wait for it. You may be sure it will reach out to you, and by its power take you up into itself as your abode and your home.

Abide in My love. Lord Jesus, I see it, it was Thy abiding in Thy Father's love that made Thee the true Vine, with Thy divine fullness of love and blessing for us. Oh, that I may even so, as a branch, abide in Thy love, for its fullness to fill me and overflow on all around. www.christiansunite.com © 2016 ChristiansUnite.com. All rights reserved. >

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CHRISTIAN Community Referrals ATTORNEY

Bono Law Firm 3801 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 206 Metairie, LA 70002 504-835-9909 www.bonolawfirm.com AUTOMOTIVE BODY REPAIR Fradella's Collision Centers Metairie 504-888-1772 Northshore 985-649-1144 Chalmette 504-277-4769 www.fradellas.com AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS Bergeron Automotive 3525 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, LA 70002 504-888-2131 Honda of Covington 100 Holiday Square Blvd., Covington, LA 70433 985-892-0001 www.hondaofcovington.com Premier Automotive Group Toyota of New Orleans • 504-940-0000 Premier Nissan of Metairie • 504-455-5800 Premier Kia of Kenner • 1-866-744-5083 Ross Downing Chevrolet 600 S. Morrison Blvd., Hammond, LA 70404 985-345-1285 www.rossdowningchevrolet.com AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR Griffco Automotive Diesel Repairs , Oil Changes, A/C Service 79056 Hwy. 40 Covington, LA 985-373-8710 www.griffcoautomotive.com Zoom Tech 815 Asbury Dr., Mandeville, LA 70471 985-624-5080 www.zoomtechautomotive.com BUS CHARTERS Gaten's Adventures Unlimited "For All Your Traveling Needs" 465 Morris Road, Hammond, LA 985-345-7629 · 877-855-8572 www.gatenbuscharters.com CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Larry Holmes Bourgeois Bennett 111 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, La 70005 504-831-4949 larryh@bb-cpa.com • www.bb-cpa.com CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORES Celebration Church Bookstore & Gifts 2001 Airline Dr., Metairie, LA 70001 Sunday 8-1, Wednesday 11-8, Saturday 5-8 504-831-9673

Faith Christian Bookstore 1337 Gause Blvd., Slidell, Louisiana 70458 985-641-7776 Gospel Book Store 91Westbank Expy Ste 410 Gretna, LA 504-362-7770 Books, Bibles, Music, Gifts...

Open: Monday - Saturday 10:00am-6:00pm CONVENIENCE STORES Todd’s Country Corner 79056 Hwy. 40 Covington, LA 70435 985-893-2424 CREDIT CARD PROCESSING MLS Direct Network Dan Arroyo 504-957-6956 866-850-8913 nhullen@aol.com www.mlsdirectnetwork.com DECORATIVE CONCRETE AND FLOORING MiraCrete Concrete Coatings 985-206-9100 www.miracrete.com FINANCIAL SERVICES First Bank and Trust 909 Poydras St., New Orleans, LA 70112 887-426-2498 www.FBTonline.com FURNITURE American Factory Direct 68490 Hwy. 59 Mandeville, LA 70471 985-871-1120 www.afd-furniture.com HARDWARE STORES Mid Point Feed & Seed True Value Hardware Open Mon – Sat 7:30-5:00 19744 Hwy. 40, Covington, LA 985-892-2002 HIGH SCHOOLS International High School of New Orleans

727 Carondelet Street New Orleans, LA 70130 504-613-5702 enrollment@ihsnola.org • www.ihsnola.org HURRICANE SHUTTERS Cool-Vue Aluminum 504-464-9194 coolvuealuminum@bellsouth.net www.coolvue.com LANDSCAPING Louisiana Landscape Specialty Northshore: 985-898-0333 Southshore: 504-391-1800 www.lalandscape.com

LONG TERM CARE FACILITY Trinity Neurologic Rehabilitation Center 1400 Lindberg Dr., Slidell, LA 70458 985-641-4985 www.trinityneurorehab.com MOVING & STORAGE Armstrong Relocation Agent for United Van Lines Bruce Veenstra 504-617-9150 Cell: 985-807-8501 755C Airline Dr., Kenner, LA 70062 PHARMACY Lee Road Family Pharmacy Your Trusted Family Owned Pharmacy 19705 Hwy. 40, Covington 985-400-2595 leeroadfamilypharmacy.com PLUMBING Elliot’s Plumbing Residential & Commercial Renovations, Additions Gas Lines & Service 985-966-5598 POWERSPORTS Honda of Covington Powersports 1026 N. Collins Blvd.

Covington, LA 70433 985-892-9730 www.hondaofcovingtonpowersports.com RETREATS - VACATIONS Berry Creek Cabins 985-730-4395 www.berrycreekcabins.com Like us on Facebook SIDING New Creation Siding All types of Siding, Seamless Gutters, Patio Covers, Screenrooms Brandt Matzke 985-290-2389 TOWING SERVICE Jenkins Towing, Inc. Ray Jenkins & Sons 24-Hour Towing Covington, LA 985-892-4038 VETERINARY VCA Causeway Animal Hospital 1315 N. Causeway Blvd.

Metairie, LA 70001 504-828-2700 www.vcacausewayanimalhospital.com WINDOW FASHIONS Gotcha Covered Window Fashions 985-624-8882 WELDING Lloyd’s Welding & Son, LLC 19722 Hwy. 40 Covington 70435 Office 985-892-0889 Fax 985-871-7785 WINDOW INSERT REPLACEMENTS Window Solutions by Richlyn LLC Distribution Center 70454 Ste. C Hwy. 59 Richard Weixel 985-871-8181 www.nofoggywindows.com

As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. ––Psalm 103:13

Summer 2016

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Changing Times

Personal Revival

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The Mystery of the Born-Again Life Revealed!

The message of the cross is the greatest story ever told! Through faith in Jesus Christ, who was crucified for us, anyone can be free from anything!

There is no sin, no problem, no circumstance, and no addiction that cannot be resolved and cured by the grace of God through Jesus Christ!

The believer can find new liberty in body, soul and spirit by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and sacrificed His life for us.

The cross is to be preached not only for salvation, but for the believer’s ongoing sanctification. It is this “Truth” that makes men free.

The believer’s only hope of victory is through the Cross! We believe the message of the cross is what the “Holy Spirit is saying to the church” in these last days.

God’s original design for man was to enjoy living his life in the love, fellowship and worship of his creator. God’s love demands a choice. God’s love for man would demand that he be given opportunity to choose to remain obedient to the word and will of God or choose a willful disobedience.

Adam and his offspring which includes the entirety of the human

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race have now incurred a “sin nature” which makes man “evil” in his heart and hostile to God and his will for man. It is called “original sin”. Every human being is born with it. Sin is not so much what men do, it is “what” we are within.

Because of the indwelling sin nature, men have corrupted themselves in thought, word and deed which lead to addictions, misery and bondage.

Men are slaves to their inward passions and have no power to free themselves from inner working of sin’s power and its vise like grip.

“Self” is now man’s god and the gratification of his lusts the reason for his fallen life. But God still loved man and had a plan to redeem man from the destructive power of sin, its bondage and its penalty!

God foreknew man would fail and rebel. It was preplanned by the Godhead that man would be redeemed by the death of a substitute, the innocent for the guilty.

God himself clothed Adam and his wife Eve with the skins of two slain animals thus covering their sin and nakedness foreshadowing the future death of God’s Son, Jesus Christ on the Cross. Fig leaves were man’s

way and effort to cover his sin and nakedness and has since attempted to free and deliver himself by his own workings, but to no avail!

Religious works and manmade programs cannot break the power of the inner working of sin! So God from the beginning of the creation and fall of man would institute what is known as the sacrificial system. Innocent blood would be shed to pardon the guilty! When men obeyed and submitted to the sacrificial offering properly offered, he in turn received “pardon” from the full penalty of sin! This is known as “justification”.

When the believing sinner by faith put their trust in the shed blood offered for them personally, they received from God what is known as “Justification”. Justification means “acquittal”, being forgiven and accepted completely on the merit of the innocent blood offered on their behalf. Jesus Christ offered His precious life’s blood on the cross in order to redeem man from the power of sin and to completely defeat the one who had the power of sin and death, Satan and his kingdom of darkness.

Jesus’ blood was the once and for all blood sacrifice that animal blood could only temporarily cover. By ones faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross, the believer is now made free from the bondage of the sin nature and finds inner cleansing and peace from God. By faith the believer receives a new heart and a new spirit as a result of being born again! A perfect righteousness is now given or imputed to the believer as a result of believing faith. Again, faith in Jesus Christ who is the source of life and righteousness and the cross which is the means by which that benefit is received. This peace and righteousness is freely given and freely received by faith, not by personal merit or religious works.

When one has turned to God by repentant faith and put their trust in Jesus Christ who was crucified for them, the question arises: “Once saved, how does the believer live for God in victory over sin?” This is the golden question as it seems too many Christians live defeated lives!

See BORN AGAIN LIFE on Page 38

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The Christian Journey

Changing Times

Responding to His Call

Consider the Secret of the Eagle's Power "Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off." (Job 39: 30) Can you identify with the eagle?

Is this a spiritual picture of you? If you seek the Lord daily and follow His instructions, then indeed your spirit will lift you up higher than you can imagine. The secret is to establish yourself on the Rock, rely on the steadfastness and strength of that Rock, and profit from its high vantage point.

As a Christian, who has acknowledged Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are seated in heavenly places with Him far above any worldly powers or circumstances. (Eph. 2: 20 - 21)

Your eyes may be focused on the problems rather than on the One who is always there with a gentle reminder to put all your cares on Him. When problems are examined from a worldly perspective, all too often the end result is that the solution is sought and applied from a secular source.

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Mat. 11: 28 - 30) Whose report will you believe?

One is your Provider, who tells you that "if ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15: 7) The other

would have you believe that the kingdom of god is within you and you can attract wealth to yourself.

Beware! There really are two kingdoms! However, unless you know the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, you'd be dealing with the wrong kingdom. Whatever is in heaven is duplicated on earth by the prince of this world. You may receive what you envision and meditate on, but also the consequences.

God's law of sowing and reaping is in force in both kingdoms. God provides the seed to sow into the Kingdom of God, your provision, your righteousness and abundance.

(2 Cor. 9: 10 - 12) "I am the Lord; that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." (Isa. 42: 8) Consider Him who "is a sun and

But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. ––Matthew 5:44

shield: the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Ps. 84:11) Therefore, do not consider the so-called secret that by envisioning and meditating on any god of your choice, the outcome will be the same. God will not get the glory.

Instead, the credit will go to the receivers, acknowledging that all their wealth was created through their own power. (Deut. 8: 17) "Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him? He that reproveth God, let him answer it."

(Job 40: 1) "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."

See THE EAGLE'S POWER on Page 37

Summer 2016

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Changing Times

Guiding Light

www.changingtimes.info

Are You Ready to Respond to Him? How many believe that the Lord still speaks? He didn’t just speak into a book some 2000 years ago and then lapse into silence. He still speaks. It’s a living word. You know the medium that he speaks through is not important. It’s not about the speaker; it’s about the message. You see, it can be in a dry desert through a burning bush or it can be in a church, through an ordinary preacher. God speaks in many different ways through different mediums.

Sometimes or all the time, He speaks to us through the scripture. It’s His word, it’s the living word, folks, it’s all about Jesus. It’s all about Him from Genesis to Revelations. If you read it and didn’t see it, you misread it. Go back and read it again.

He’s speaking. Sometimes, He speaks to us in situations in life.

Sometimes He speaks to us through signs, dreams or visions. Sometimes He speaks to us through significant people that cross our path.

But, be careful, everybody that has a prophecy doesn’t necessarily have a word from God. But God can speak to you through people. And He uses people to speak. God sometimes speaks to us, many times just in the sanctuary of the soul, something way down deep.

And those that know Him hear His voice. They hear His voice, regardless of how it comes. Those that know Him, know when He speaks. My question is “are you ready to respond to Him”? If God speaks to you right now and He reveals something very special to you, something unusual or He tells you tonight to do something that’s unusual, are you ready to respond to Him? It may be something that’s unprecedented, something that’s never been done before. He may thump your heart like He did Mary’s that night, when they said in the house of Zion, six days before the trial of the crucifixion. He thumped Mary’s heart and told her to break an alabaster box of very precious ointment and anoint the Savior’s feet. The church thought it was a foolish act that it shouldn’t have been done, but Mary heard the voice of God and she obeyed and broke a box that was worth a year’s salary… and poured it on the Master’s feet and anointed His body and Jesus said she did a great thing.

In fact He said, wherever the gospel is preached it’s going to be told about what this woman has done.

But it was something unusual; it was something that had never been done before. You know we’re hesitant to do that, we’re hesitant to act 28

Summer 2016

in a strange way because we’re afraid that somebody’s going to think strange of us. But I want to tell you, this is not about you, or me, but I want to hear from God and I want to be able to respond to Him when He speaks. God’s doing some strange things and He’s moving in some significant ways in this land today. And you better get ready.

How would you feel if God called you to do something different in your life, to change your occupation, to change your lifestyle? Could you in a moment’s time leave your security, to follow a man, a stranger you had never seen before but you recognized this is something different. I’m going to tell you, the same Spirit that was poured out on the day of Pentecost is happening now!

You may not be ready for it.

Most people are not. We’re in a day of extreme Christianity, risk taking.

God’s moving in some extreme ways; ways I’ve never witnessed before. It’s been unusual to me and I’ve been traveling this way for a long time, somebody said I’ve been in the way a long time; it’s about time you get out of the way.

He’s doing things in this generation that’s being used of God in extreme ways. Now people think it’s so extreme that it can’t be God. Be careful, be very careful what you call extreme because God’s anointing is being poured out and God is rising up people that’s going to listen to His voice. And they’re going to obey Him. I want to tell you God is not going to wait for you to get ready.

I’m praying the Lord’s Prayer today; I tell you I am hungry for God. I am praying to God, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, hallelujah. I want to tell you, for His kingdom to come, our kingdoms have to go.

I want God to reign. I want to get out of the way, get behind the cross and say take over Jesus. Take over. I want to hear what He says and I want to do what You tell me to do. When your king comes, the lame man is going to leap like a frog and the tongue of the dumb is going to sing for joy! When your king comes you’re going to have revival. When the king comes in, the sick are going to be healed.

When the king comes in our churches, hallelujah, I want to tell you, the lost are going to be saved. Sinners will fall on their face before God See ARE YOU READY? on Page 37

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TheTransformed TransformedLife Life The

Changing Times

How To Grow Into Christ-Like Maturity EVERY WORD AND PROMISE WAS FULFILLED

by David Wilkerson

Joseph was in one of his darkest hours—lonely, downcast, about to give up his dreams, questioning his place in God. Suddenly, the call came from one of the king's guards:

"Joseph! Get cleaned up—Pharaoh is calling for you!"

In that moment, I believe the Spirit of God came mightily upon Joseph and his heart leapt with excitement. He was about to understand what it was all about!

As Joseph shaved and trimmed his hair, he probably thought, "This is the beginning of what God promised me. Now I know I heard from him! The devil has not been in control and my life hasn't been wasted.

God has been directing everything the entire time!"

In a matter of minutes, Joseph was standing before Pharaoh, listening to his dream. Joseph gave the interpretation of the coming famine and told Pharaoh he had to gather and store the nation's grain:

"Someone must be in charge of the storehouses. You have to find a man who's full of wisdom to oversee it all" (see Genesis 4l).

Pharaoh looked around and then turned toward Joseph: "You! Joseph! I appoint you second ruler.

Only I will have more power in the kingdom than you. You will oversee it all!"

How quickly things had changed!

The day came when Joseph stood before his brothers and was able to say: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 50:20).

"God sent me before you to preserve you posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliv-

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erance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of his entire house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt" (45:7-8).

Dear saint, very soon you're going to understand your present fiery trials. God is going to bring you into the promise he gave you and suddenly it's all going to make sense. You'll see that he has never forsaken you. He had to take you this way, for he has been training you, preparing you, teaching you to trust him for everything. He has planned a time for you to be used— and that time is just ahead!

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As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ––John 15:9

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The Triumphant Christian

Changing Times

www.changingtimes.info

The Christian's Guide To Living a Victorious Life Overcoming Sin "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. for God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

These two verses sum everything up. Our WHOLE duty is to fear God and keep His commandments.

Yet, there are so many who claim that this is an impossible duty to fulfill. "Sure," they say, "we can obey God sometimes, but of course we will still sin." They say this despite the fact that they have no Scripture to back up what they claim. So, many professing believers EXPECT to continue to sin and therefore they do because without faith in God to keep them from sin,

they will surely fall--guaranteed.

"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him" (Titus 1:16). They have a form of godliness going to church every week and being "spiritual" MOST of the time, but when it comes down to it, they have not accepted God's provision to overcome sin and thus they deny the power to be godly. What is this provision that God has made for Christians to overcome sin? It is the grace given us by God sending His Son. Through the blood of Jesus, we can overcome, "for everyone born of God overcomes the world" (I John 5:4). Many professing believers have read passages like (Romans 6 and I John 3) that state VERY CLEARLY that we are no longer slaves to sin and that those who are in Christ do NOT

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Summer 2016

continue to sin: "We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Romans 6:2) "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness" (Rom. 6:18).

"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him" (I John 3:6).

Despite these and MANY other clear passages throughout the Bible, many do not have the faith to fully believe, so they may turn to a commentary or ask a friend or a "pastor" and it gets explained away for them. Then they FEEL much better thinking that they can continue in sin. So these people are like seed sown along a path: they "hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts"

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(Luke 8:12). So I ask you, do you have faith to believe the Bible?

Have you accepted God's provision to overcome sin in YOUR life? Do you really know what it means to be a SLAVE of righteousness? I pray that you will consider these things. I long to see more people living a victorious life in Christ overcoming sin.

(John 8:31-47) contains an excellent lesson on being set free from sin. (What I write from here on will be better understood on your part if you have your Bible with you. If you don't have a Bible, please read this message again when you have one with you.)

Jesus begins by talking to those See OVERCOMING SIN on Page 35

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Community Spotlight

Changing Times

Spice up your next trip with the “New”…..TABASCO® Experience!

Stop 1.

Visitors Center Welcome Center

Visitors Center will be the first stop on the enhanced TABASCO® factory tour. The Center will display a range of artifacts pertaining to McIlhenny Company, the McIlhenny family, and its world-famous products. Several video kiosks will permit guests to learn about TABASCO® history at their leisure. Among other topics, these short videos will feature TABASCO® inventor E. McIlhenny, sons John Avery McIlhenny (one of Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders) and Edward Avery McIlhenny (artic explorer and conservationist), as well as

Edmund’s grandson Walter S. McIlhenny (war hero and Marine Corps brigadier general).

These “interest stations” will be interactive, inviting visitors to customize their TABASCO® experience. Artifacts will include memorabilia, such as a hood from the company’s NASCAR racer or a Tabasco bottle-shaped bass guitar wielded by rock group Van Halen. The new Visitors Center will also emphasize TABASCO®’s relationship with the environment, from coastal protection to using every part of a tabasco pepper.

Stop 2 Greenhouse

After this introduction, guests will visit a newly constructed greenhouse. TABASCO® will scale down the pepper-growing experience so that everyone can readily enjoy it. Visitors will also see actual pepper seedlings and mature plants year-round in this tropical greenhouse.

Stop 3 Mash Warehouse

Visitors will see the barrel restoration process, which involves scraping charred wood out of the former whiskey barrels. As often as possible TABASCO®’s master cooper — one of only a handful in the U.S. — will explain his craft and demonstrate barrel restoration. When he is unavailable, a life-sized projection will fill in and guide visitors through the barrel “recoopering” process. In addition, vintage tools once used by mash warehouse workers will be on exhibit. Visitors will get to look into the warehouse and see the 1000's barrels stacked for the aging process. A really phenomenal site to see.... the huge mounds of barrels with tags, dates and country of origin.

Stop 4 Blending

The next stop is the blending warehouse. Here pepper mash and vinegar are stirred together in 2,000-gallon vats to produce the finished product — TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce. This part of the tour is a sensory overload that visitors crave. You can view the process up close and smell the pungent sauce. Visitors will be able to look out over the vats and see them being stirred. Then a video will explain how it happens and what our highly trained workers look for during the process. The current blending warehouse will undergo extensive renovation to include a second-story observation deck. This deck will afford guests a bird’s-eye view of the blending floor.

Stops 5-8

Avery Island, Salt Mine, Bottling Line & Branding

The next stop on the new tour will be Avery Island Conservation, Salt Mine Display and seeing the production line. Much more of an informative experience. Each machine will be labeled and its purpose explained. Stop 8 will also feature TABASCO® labels in many different languages as well as old advertisements and giant TABASCO Bottles.

Stops 9&10 TABASCO Country Store & TABASCO Restaurant Finally, guests can visit the new TABASCO® restau- TABASCO® sauce in every meal. To ensure freshness McIlhenny Company will locally source as many ingrerant and the current Tabasco Country Store gift shop. dients as possible.

Restaurant Located adjacent to the Country Store, the TABASA Creole-cottage cafeteria-style restaurant will cater to large crowds with palate-pleasing south Louisiana CO® restaurant will seat about one hundred persons favorites like crawfish étouffée, gumbo, corn maque inside. Additional seating will be available outside on choux, and boudin, as well as chili, nachos, hot dogs, fanned porches. The restaurant’s walls will be covered and a “Messy Mac” (pulled pork spiked with TABAS- with memorabilia, and, of course, diners will be able to CO® Chipotle sauce). Each dish will incorporate a dif- spice up their meals by choosing from a variety of ferent sauce, providing guests with new ideas for using TABASCO® sauces.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ––John 15:13

Summer 2016

31

Changing Times

Community Spotlight

www.changingtimes.info

Upper Iowa University – New Orleans Center: Continuing to Meet the Needs of All Students In 1999, Upper Iowa University opened an education Center on Jackson Barracks, Headquarters for the Louisiana National Guard, New Orleans, Louisiana. Up until August 2005, classes were offered in the evening in the classrooms of the New Orleans Police Department Academy which was previously located on Jackson Barracks. As a result of the devastation to Jackson Barracks from Hurricane Katrina, center director Vicki Melton and her staff temporarily relocated to Central Louisiana where they were instrumental in opening the UIU-Alexandria Center.

During the winter of 2005, Melton was able to reconnect with enough of the adjunct faculty and students so that in spring of 2006, through assistance from a local law enforcement agency, the U.S. Coast Guard at Michoud and the Navy College, Melton was able to resume offering UIU classes in the New Orleans area.

In 2009, UIU moved their classes back to Jackson Barracks using space on loan from different military units. On September 2011, Melton returned to the New Orleans area as the “new” New Orleans Center director.

Through a joint effort between the Louisiana State Military Department and UIU in October 2011, work began to expand the UIU administrative area and add classrooms, including a computer lab. In January 2012, UIU staff (now including office manager Barbara Collier) began occupying the newly renovated area now known as the Upper Iowa University – New Orleans Center, located on Jackson Barracks.

Although UIU is a military friendly school, it is open to all non-military members of the community. UIU’s schedule and flexible delivery options, such as in-class, online and self-paced, meet the needs of working adults.

UIU offers programs that fit busy life styles through these delivery methods.

Associate degrees in criminal justice, general business, liberal arts and psychology are available. Bachelor of Science degrees are offered in a variety of majors including business, accounting, criminal justice, emergency management, human services, psychology, public administration and more. Additional majors and graduate programs are offered online.

Classes are held in six 8-week terms. Evening classes meet once a week per class and there are numerous enrollment periods throughout the year.

Credit is accepted for law enforcement academy training, military and life experience. Up to 90 college credits may be transferred and financial aid is available for those who qualify. UIU also offers a Corporate Advantage Program which provides employees of businesses and organizations a tuition discount which is also extended to spouses and dependent children up to age 26.

UIU has been ranked among the top colleges, universities and trade schools that are the most welcoming for members of the military. Military Advanced Education & Transition (MAE&T) has become one of the three key organizations to recognize Upper Iowa University as a “Top School” for veterans and military personnel and their families.

Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, non-profit University providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Whether you are a new high school graduate or a non-traditional student, UIU has an academic program that will best suit you – a traditional campus in Fayette, Iowa, evening classes at 20 U.S. locations, or a full array of online programs, including master’s degrees. UIU also partners with community colleges to increase the number of college credits that students can transfer into UIU. Upper Iowa University has articulation agreements with both Nunez and Delgado Community Colleges.

In a continuing effort to meet the needs of all students, UIU education centers provide face-to-face classroom learning opportunities in the evenings and on weekends. Upper Iowa University not only wants its students to obtain academic success and enjoy their entire college experience, but also looks forward to best preparing them for a successful career.

For additional information about Upper Iowa University-New Orleans Center, go to www.uiu.edu/neworleans, call 504-682-6792, or email neworleans@uiu.edu.

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY – NEW ORLEANS • Programs that fit your busy life – on-post evening classes, online and self-paced • Year-round classes start every 8 weeks • Smoother transfer of up to 90 college credits • Approved for financial aid/company tuition reimbursement • Credit for law enforcement, military and life experience

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504-682-6792 | neworleans@uiu.edu

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Summer 2016

2/4/2016 10:20:52 AM

www.changingtimes.info

Community Spotlight

Changing Times

J&J - Total Pest Elimination is Just a Phone call Away Your home, it’s your personal sanctuary, your refuge from the world. You’ve worked hard to create an environment that your family can enjoy. So when you want to take in the pleasures of your own yard — landscaping or pets, patio or pool, fun with the kids or parties with adults — you deserve to do so in complete comfort. For all that you’ve put into your home and yard; you shouldn’t have to be at the mercy of annoying insects and their painful bites. Fortunately, you won’t with J&J Exterminating’s Mosquito Elimination program because Mosquitos stay away from J&J, because of our revolutionary automatic insect mist system that effectively eliminates mosquitos and other biting insects from your yard. Whether you are planning a One-Time event and want the nosee-ums out of there, or you want everyday comfort from what’s bugging you, J&J Exterminating has the answer.

There has never been a more effective, convenient method for preventing mosquito bites in your yard. J&J Exterminating’s Mosquito Elimination program works auto-

matically and is virtually main-tenance free. You’ll never again have to spray your kids with messy repellents or remember to fog your yard before an evening cookout.

J&J Exterminating’s Mosquito Elimination system sprays a very fine mist of botanical insecticide through nozzles installed around the perimeter of your property. The mist settles on the grass and landscaping, killing any mosquito that comes in contact with it. The system is programmed to automatically spray at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active and other, more beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, are not. It also kills or repels other unwanted pests, like spiders, flies, gnats and no-see-ums. Our insecticide’s primary ingredients are rapidly degraded by sunlight or rain, leaving your property free of residue.

For a broader protection package, J&J Exterminating offers our Year Round Gold Shield 365 program. With Gold Shield 365 all pests become a thing of the past.

Now you don’t have to worry about spiders in the corners, mice in the walls or roaches in the cabinets.

We’ll visit your home four times a year to treat all of the hiding places and entry points — inside and outside — and make your home off-limits to pests. Gold Shield 365 is dependable Protection at your convenience.

You schedule our quarterly visits when it’s convenient for you.

If you can’t wait, J&J Exterminating offers our customers Same Day Service, so if pests are bugging you, we’ll be there in a flash.

From roaches, termites, no-seeum to mosquitos, J&J is your 1 stop Pest Control Service. J&J Exterminating is Louisiana owned & operated and is Louisiana’s Largest Independent Pest Control firm with over 50 years experience. When your home is on the line, experience does make a difference. With spring approaching, consumers should be prepared for the termite swarm sea-son. Even the aggressive Formosa termite is no match for J & J’s experts. Other problem pests which J & J regularly tackles include mos-quitos and fire ants, which are rapidly becoming a big problem in this area. “From a health standpoint, we feel that all of our

Let all that you do be done with love. ––1 Corinthians 16:14

services benefit the community because insects and rodents carry diseases, and if you have them in your home, you always have a chance of that occurring,” says Robert John, owner of J&J Exterminating. “I feel we contrib-ute to the health of our area resi-dents by ridding their homes of un-wanted pests.” “Staying involved with our local communities and their concerns is an integral part of our business. I grew up in Acadi-ana, and am raising my children here. When there is a problem with my customers, they know they can find me, that’s what ‘family-owned and operated’ really means.” Adds Robert.

Whatever pests prowl Louisiana; J&J Exterminating has developed a way to keep them away from your home. Thousands of Louisiana families trust J&J to protect their homes. We’d like to make your home a pest-free zone too. J&J Exterminating, Shielding What’s Near & Dear in Louisiana for over 50 years.

Summer 2016

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Changing Times

Community Spotlight

www.changingtimes.info

The English Tea Room

Southern charm with an English accent Established in 2002 by Tim & Jan Lantrip, the English Tea Room & Eatery is located in historic, downtown Covington, Louisiana.

More than just an eatery and tea room...they create unique, memorable experiences with their eclectic charm and friendly surroundings.

In addition to carrying the largest retail selection of loose teas nationwide, with over 200 of the highest quality loose leaf teas from around the world, they also host special events, offer a flawless tea service, and serve European breakfast & lunch fare in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. You can of course partake in traditional tea service with all the accoutrement of scones, crumpets and the like, at this cozy Covington cottage.

While some tea rooms have the stigma of being stuffy or formal, the English Tea Room prides itself on its friendly, warm and inviting approach, fun and quirky décor and a whole world of tea knowledge.

They are lighthearted in approach, conversational, with a hint of lovely. It’s reflected in the china the tea is served in and their graciousness of the ceremony of tea.

When most people think about Louisiana, they think of European architecture, the French Quarter, and strong influences by a mixture of 18th-century French, Spanish, Native American, and African cultures. Owner, Tim Lantrip was raised drinking traditional English tea with his grandmother in Texas and wanted to bring that nostalgia, tradition and ritual to their town of residence in South Louisiana.

You’ll get more than just a pot of tea when you visit The English Tea Room—you can get an education in all things tea. All of the tables have little factoids about England’s history, the royal family, or about tea leaves themselves. Many of the servers are tea aficionados and can tell you all about the health benefits of specific teas.

If you’re lucky, you can catch Jan, one of the owners and pharmacist by trade who is a wealth of knowledge on the topic. She researches every study regarding the health benefits of tea that she can get her hands on. “Each one of the teas presents different healing and health properties. One cup of a good quality loose-leaf tea is equivalent to

34

Summer 2016

three or four servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. That’s how much anti-oxidant nutrient value is in one cup of tea.” Along with white tea, another relatively new product high in antioxidants is an herbal infusion from South Africa called rooibos (“red bush”), which is used medicinally there to treat nausea in pregnant women and colic in babies.

Plates full of goodies are served during high tea — scones, tea sandwiches, mini-quiches, and chocolates. You can blame every bite on Queen Victoria. “Queen Victoria really started it,” said English Tea Room owner Tim Lantrip. “She wanted something between lunch and dinner.” High tea is typically served around 4 p.m. in England, but at the English Tea Room you can order it all day. The lunch menu at The English Tea Room includes a variety of soups, salads, quiches, sandwiches and what Jan says is “a little twist of English things: Shepherd’s Pie, Scotch Egg, Plowman’s Lunch and Buckingham Bake, a recipe from a bed and breakfast in England.”

At the English Tea Room, you’ll never feel rushed…“We’re slow and easy,” said Lantrip. “Most of our customers come and they’ll spend two hours or so on average while they’re here. And that’s what we want to be. We want to be the opposite of fast food.”

Cody Ludwig, who came on board to help the Lantrips with their marketing in January of this year says, “We want people to not just think of us as a place for special birthday lunches, Mother’s Day or holiday teas or baby showers, but I also want people to come by on their lunch break for a salad and iced tea, with a good book on a rainy day or with their monthly book club… we are a great atmosphere for those “special moments” of course, but we are a lovely place for an everyday treat as well!”

The English Tea Room is open Monday through Saturday from 9am until 6pm. Live music Monday through Friday from 12-2pm.

Gift cards are available, shop online at www.englishtearoom.com, or by phone at 985-898-3988.

Written by Cody Ludwig, May 2016.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. – James 3:13

www.changingtimes.info

The Triumphant Christian

OVERCOMING SIN Continued from Page 30

already a Christian."

My reply would be much like Jesus' reply in verses 39-41: "If you are a Christian, then why do you continue to do the things that the devil does (see v.41)? Why do you continue to sin? The whole world is under the control of the evil one and yet you love things that are in the world; therefore, God's love is NOT in you (I John 2:15)." Then I would say, "Turn from your sin and realize that God provides a way for you to stand up under EVERY temptation (I Cor. 10:13). Have faith in God. Rely on Him. Make every effort to be holy (Heb. 12:14; I Peter 1:1317) and His power will sustain you and keep you from falling (Jude 24; Eph. 3:20). I pray that you will listen and believe the Bible and come to true faith in God." "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in EVERY way: bearing fruit in EVERY good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience..." (Colossians 1:10-11) Save the Nations Ministries >

who had BELIEVED him (v.31).

And so I am writing this to those who believe in the Lord and I tell you what Jesus told them: if you hold to his teachings, you are really his disciples and then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (see v.31-32).

Similar to the Jews (in v.33), you may ask, "we are not slaves of anyone or anything, so what do you mean by telling us that the Truth will set us free? Free from what?"

My reply would be (see v.34-38): "do you sin? Don't you know that, according to Jesus, EVERYONE who sins is a slave to sin? So if Jesus sets you free from sin, you will be ENTIRELY free -- free indeed. I have told you this many times; in fact, you have probably read it in the Bible, but you refuse to believe it. Therefore you continue to sin, showing that your actual 'father' is the devil, not God." Some may not like my reply and may try to justify themselves like the Jews did in verse 39. Some may say, "Hey, wait a minute! I'm

7 REASONS Continued from Page 17 feelings of desire talking. There is not love there.

As Christian people, we need to be more concerned with what God wants us to do, not what our friends are doing, or what anyone asks us to do. If it does not come from Jesus Christ or Christ's principles then it should not be a part of our Christian life and shouldn't be done.

6) Sexual Purity is God's Plan For You God wants Christians, young and old to stay pure for marriage. It's His plan! When a Christian person disobeys God's calling for them, there is always consequences. These consequences may be emotional attachments that break our hearts, unwanted pregnancies, or a venereal disease.

God does not make these bad things happen to us. We make these bad things happen to us because of the choices we make in our life. Let's choose what God wants. Let's pray about it and seek God's will for our life always and forever.

7) Fornication is NOT Healthy Most of the time in a intimate

Changing Times

relationship, young people don't even really know the person they are having sex with. The only thing intimate about the relationship is the sex aspect of it. Did you meet their parents? Do you know what they do in their spare time? Perhaps they have a venereal disease or worse, HIV or AIDS. Physically speaking, casual sex is very dangerous. These relationships can cause many kinds of infections and other health ailments. Emotionally speaking, these relationships cause a defensive, calloused heart and teach young people to base love on feelings rather than something they do.

Single Christian people should wait on God. They should have all the friendships they want based on the foundation of respect and brotherly and sisterly love. The best marriage spouses are with those who first respected you physically, sexually, emotionally and spiritually.

Remember, the minute your emotions take over and rule the relationship, the minute you will stop feeling respect and real love for one another. God wants our emotions to follow our lead, not lead our lives. © 2016 FaithWriters.com. All Rights Reserved >

zephrys baseball$$ 4 tickets 4 hotdogs 4 sodas a program & parking pass for $44

www.zephrysbaseball.com Call (504) 734-5155 for more info Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ––1 John 4:11

Summer 2016

35

From The Editor

Changing Times

GENUINE GODLINESS Continued from Page 5 confines. This is a very important point, when well understood, and is more prevalent among the pious than might have been realized.

True holiness and godliness is both impracticable and a stranger to the law and the natural powers of man. The exhilarating Spirit of the Lord Jesus must make us new creatures, and wholly animate and influence us. Thus filled with this free and powerful grace of the new covenant, we may deny and over-

come everything, with delight, valor, and constancy, and live, in the exercise of genuine godliness, in the presence of the Lord.

If every one, who is in earnest to attain genuine godliness, were to plunge himself into this only source of all grace and godliness, that is, into Jesus Christ, in the consciousness of his deep depravity and inability, and in heartfelt confidence, and abide in Him, truly we should then grow, flourish and bear fruit, like trees planted by the waterbrooks, and find by vital experience, that “His commands are not

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grievous” (1 John 5:7).

But let no one suppose that we wish to pass over the mystery of the cross, or to exclude the blessed paths of affliction by which God leads his people, from the sphere and course of godliness, certainly not! For by so doing, we should condemn all the children of God that were before us (Psalm 73:15)— Abraham, Job, David, Jeremiah, and all the saints, both of the Old and New Testament, all of whom, each in his measure and degree, have been exercised, tried and purified by God, both in body and soul, by various temptations and assaults of the enemy, darkness, abandonment and emptiness, distress and various other afflictions and sufferings.

May He, who is God alone, blessed for ever, and who alone can make us godly, so vitally and powerfully touch by His Spirit, the hearts of those, who reads this article, that they shall not only immediately resolve to deny themselves and all created things, but really do and perform it through Him, that they may follow Him and enjoy the unspeak-

www.changingtimes.info able and eternal presence of His divine fellowship! We must forsake ourselves in order to apprehend Him, and be apprehended of His Spirit. We must depart from ourselves, in order to enter into Him. This exit and this entrance is the basis and most essential act of godliness, because by it, we restore to God what is His—I mean ourselves, thoroughly, wholly, and irrevocably, and likewise by so doing, acknowledge and accept him for what He is: that is, as our God, Creator, Redeemer, our Supreme Good, our One, and our All, forever.

If this one thing, this departure and this entrance, be neglected, our godliness is of little worth.

But since the compassionate love of God in Christ Jesus, so faithfully calls us to it, let us follow this inestimable vocation of grace, in humble resignation and by forsaking all we have and are, that in this manner we may be made Godly and blessed in Him, in truth, both now and for ever, which is the cordial wish and most fervent prayer to the source of all goodness.

Save the Nations Ministries >

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Summer 2016

KEEPER OF THE ROSE Continued from Page 14 hear since the feathered creature answered with his own song.

In the car on the way home, Peter poked his dad's shoulder. "Do you think the robin was singing to Grandma?" It was a question his parents didn't answer right away.

Maybe Peter had to work it out for himself.

Before climbing into bed this evening, he felt Grandma's warmth in his room. She was such fun. He remembered she always had a song on her lips. And her smiling face could cheer up anyone needing a friend.

He leaned his head to the side, like the robin did this afternoon. It was a comfortable feeling. The same as when he was a little boy needing an answer to a question.

Grandma used to pull him into her lap and hum quietly as he fell asleep.

He told her of his dreams. Sometimes he wanted to be a Forest Ranger, or a Jet Pilot.

She said, "Be anything you want to be. But, be like a flower that glows with beautiful colors."

Peter looked up into the night sky. Tonight it sparkled as a bucket full of diamonds. It was alive with excitement, almost like Grandma's garden. As he lay in bed, under-

standing swept over him like an extra blanket.

"Goodnight Grandma. I love you," Peter said out loud. He began to hum his own made-up tune. It was filled with a wagonload of good thoughts.

"Your Grandma is like a rose," his father said earlier at the supper table. "She's a special flower in a garden surrounded by her loving family. And that's why her face is covered in smiles."

Peter had listened to every word.

"She has accomplished many of her dreams," dad also said. "And you play a special part in her memories."

Before closing his eyes this evening, Peter decided. He would plant a rose bush this summer. Like Grandma's garden, he would grow many smiles.

And his would be the brightest of them all.

Richard & Esther Provencher 2016 My wife, Esther and I are "bornagain" and enjoy sharing our writing.

It is a Christian Outreach for us. Our E-mail is: richardprov2@gmail.com.

You are invited to visit our website at: www.wsprog.com/rp/. Free downloads available. We live in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. Please pray for one another.

© 2016 FaithWriters.com. All Rights Reserved >

Guiding Light

www.changingtimes.info ARE YOU READY? Continued from Page 28 and repent of their sins because the king is in the house.

Yes, there’s a command to repent and surrender to the authority of Christ. Yes, there is a command to live holy. You’re to blow the trumpet of Zion and warn the people of righteous judgment of God upon those that refuse to repent. But even this message, it has to be a compassionate message pointing us to God’s mercy that desires abundant pardon. Our message today has the same purpose as our King’s message, and that is to seek and save the lost. He came to rescue the dying; he came to reach out to those that could not help themselves. I’m glad today that I know Him and that

He still is my King.

We’re living in an exciting age.

Things are moving rapidly; things are changing fast in this world.

And yes, the church is changing.

The church is not exempt from an era of change. We’ve got to start following Him without fear. If we’re really going to break loose and make a difference in our communities and in our towns and in our churches, we’re going to have to do things differently than what we’ve always done. Amen. We’re going to have to be the salt and the light of the world once again. A church that’s unwilling and unable to move, a church that clings to forms of worship and patterns of service, a church that will not listen to the Voice of God or respond to the promptings of the Spirit, will be

SINGLE MOM Continued from Page 10 Believe in Him, obey Him and watch Him work.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) “You are the helper of the fatherless” THE EAGLE'S POWER Continued from Page 27 (Isa. 55: 8) "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (Ps. 1: 1) "Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth." (Deu. 8: 18) Whoever comes to Him and obeys His Word is like someone building his house on a rock. (Luke 6:

unable to speak with any relevance or power to a changing world that we are living in right now.

And I remind you today that we are a people that are pressing on to the mark of the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus. You see Jesus spoke strongly against the church of His day that seized to move and held fast to the traditions of men. That met at a wailing wall to grieve over a departed spirit. I want to tell you, I’m tired of routine, repetitious services.

I’m ready for God to move in and take over.

I’m ready not to be just stirred, but I want to be changed by the power and by the Spirit of God. There are some today that want things to be

Changing Times

different in your life but… you somehow convinced yourself that it has to be this way. God’s saying today, I want to make a difference.

I want to move the mountains out of the way. God specializes in things that we think are impossible.

He can roll back the waters, your troubles today; He can make a path for you to walk across on dry ground. He can lead you to victory!

Save the Nations Ministries >

(Psalm 10:14b) Gail Rodgers has a passion for discovering and sharing how the Scriptures apply in very practical ways where we live and walk each day. She is a wife, mother of three, businesswoman and a pastor to women. She resides in Alberta, Canada with her family.

Visit Gail's website at www.gailrodgers.ca or read more of her articles at www.christianwomentoday.com. > 46 - 49) He alone is the Rock.

Reflect on the secret of the majestic eagle's power. She makes her nest in the rock. And not just any rock. She has been placed on a very high, solid rock, safe from all harm. Furthermore, she is directed by keen eyesight, focus and means to her sustenance.

He will set you on that Rock, and show you great and mighty things. (Jer. 33: 3) "Before they spring forth I tell you of them." (Isa. 42: 9) Then shall you be blessed and delight in the Lord, your Redeemer. (Isa. 58: 14) www.christiannotepad.com >

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. –1 Corinthians 13:13

Summer 2016

37

Changing Times

Women

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FEMININITY EXPRESSED Continued from Page 9 King Ahaziah, “took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain,” hiding the one-year-old boy and his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while the ambitious Queen Athaliah ruled. Joash’s mother was Zibiah of Beersheeba (2 Kings 12:1), and Jehosheba was his aunt. Who knows whether you have been put into the lives of your nieces or nephews for such heroism as this, or more simply to follow the command in (Psalm 145:4) to be part of one generation that praises God’s works to another? Either way, you are investing in the eternal.

Practically Speaking Over the years, I’ve been fascinated with the prophetic imagery in (Isaiah 54:1), where a barren woman is commanded to burst into song because “more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife.” This picture of the future glory of Zion grabs our attention because of the juxtapositions of joy in barrenness and teeming descendants given to those who are childless. The Lord continues by telling the barren woman not to hold back, to enlarge the place of her tent.

Obviously, this is a prophetic portrait of faith in the One who is the “Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,” but I believe there is a practical application for childless women— namely, to make room for children.

When I was a new Christian and one of the few single women in my church, one woman wisely counBORN-AGAIN LIFE Continued from Page 26

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Once justified, sanctification “begins”. Sanctification is the inner working of the Holy Spirit in one’s daily life, conforming the believer to the image, likeness and holiness of Christ. By our daily walk of faith in the provision of Christ, the believer receives “Grace” which is the goodness of God. It is the grace of God that transforms and sets the believer apart from the old life and its sinful passions and habits! Every believer can live in victory over sin, its power and its deception! Sin no longer has to be the dominant impulse in one’s life for grace is greater than all sin!

Consecration is the believer’s part in all this. In simplicity, consecration is ones “freewill devotion”

www.changingtimes.info seled me to prayerfully choose a few families to invest in for childcare and to limit my babysitting roster to those children. That struck me at first as a tad self-protective, but later I saw how that developed deeper relationships with those children. I got to know them well, and then could plan for activities and gifts that might bless them. (Maybe I was too fun, however! At my going-away party when I moved from that church to my current church, these children’s favorite memories of me were about staying up way past their bedtimes to talk, playing in the rain, desserts served before dinner, chocolate games, and the undisciplined like!)

Now that I have three nieces and a nephew, I plan for visits, “dates” out, and overnights. More importantly, I pray for and with them, trying to share the love of God and the Gospel in ways they can understand. I’m sure I have plenty of room to grow in this role, but I don’t want to lose the vision for its importance. When I get discouraged by the “limits” of being an aunt or special family friend, I can count on God to provide refreshment through something such as this recent note dictated by my fouryear-old niece, Claire: “I love to play with you. Thank you for my new dress-up clothes and new book.

Thank you for everything. I’ll always love you. I love you until the moon comes up and until the morning and the night!” It makes you want to lengthen those tent cords even more. ©Revive Our Hearts. Used with permission from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. www. cbmw.org www.TrueWoman.com > to the finished work of Christ on the cross including justification and the sanctification process. This devotion is not accomplished by “doing” something, but rather by “believing” something!

It is the believer’s part to daily “believe by faith” what has been provided to him through Jesus Christ and him crucified! It is the daily fight of “faith”. The believer is saved and justified by faith, is sanctified by faith and by faith consecrates himself by his own choice to the sacrificial system provided to a lost, sinful world by God himself becoming man and offering himself for the sin of man once and for all!

Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the message of the Cross and is the “vein of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation!

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For the Gift of Love: O God, please fill me with Your Love. Help me to share the Gift of Love with all those in need of Your Mercy. Help me to love You more. Help me to love all those in need of Your Love. Help me to love Your enemies. Allow the love You Bless me with to be used to engulf the hearts of everyone I come into contact with. With the Love, which You infuse in my soul, help me to conquer all evil, convert souls and defeat the devil and all those wicked agents of his, who try to destroy the Truth of Your Holy Word.

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