April 2015 next wave final

THE NEXT WAVE www.lifenetwork.us PUBLISHER

GRACE by Covenant

Trademark Design Davis Building 1629 K Street NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006

What Every Pastor Needs to Know About Giving ROBERT MORRIS

Contributing Editors David Tait, Derrick Day, Lea Bates, Bernie Wade, John Rogers,

The Joy of Giving Alan Pateman

Cindye Coates, Doc Burkhart,

Church Planting Joseph Mattera

Barney Phillips & Bobby Sutton

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CHURCH @ COMMUNITY Ed Delph

Apostolic Leaders Jon Hietbrink

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RELIGITICS

40031 Electronic submissions to: nextwave@lifenetwork.us

THE MYTHS OF ISLAM

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Humanistic Theism Lea Bates

From his New Book, Grace By Covenant is this introduction on Grace

by Bernie L. Wade

the message to help you mature. When I was an 8th Grader in West Saint Paul Minnesota at Francis M. Grass Middle School, my Economics teacher was Mr. Ligday. Robert C. Ligday was a former Navy officer and in my mind quite a formidable figure. I wasn’t quite sure what the Economics class was going to entail but that Mr. Ligday had the answers was never in doubt.

My hope for this book is to find that common ground offered by the “Clear Note and Certain Sound” of the Word of God. Too often we have what should be a clear and certain sound muffled or distorted by the opinion of men, the pressures of peers or the whim of society. Some strive to achieve morality which is nice but even morality is a moving target based on the dictates and values of the society from one generation to the next. Morality has been defines as, “Whatever a society agrees upon and establishes through consent, compromise and constant use defines reality.” Thus, what was immoral to our ancestors may find itself perfectly acceptable in today’s culture. Morality shifts at the speed of water boiling and like a frog placed in the water, we miss the increasing temperature until it is too late.

On the first day, Mr. Ligday issued this challenge, “There is NOTHING in the world that is not connected to Economics”. Now, Mr. Ligday did not put the emphasis on nothing, but that is what I heard. The result was that I set out to prove Mr. Ligday’s thesis to be incorrect. Every day at the beginning of class I had a new idea to offer that I was just sure Mr. Ligday could not connect to economics. Every day Mr. Ligday proved my objection incorrect. I don’t know if he enjoyed the exchange as much as I did, but I do know that he was the first teacher who really challenged me. I would prove to work harder in his class than any I was enrolled before and perhaps even after.

My desire is to write this book in a style that is easy to read, easier to understand and uncomplicated to apply to your life. There has been no effort to find larger words to explain simple ideas. Rather, we want the simplicity of

One day, I arrived at Economics class with my ultimate challenge. I was ready but so was Mr. Ligday. Mr. Ligday started the class with the usual “let’s see what Mr. Wade has thought up for today”. He spoke to his students 3

formally. In his class I was not Bernie, I was Mr. Wade. As an 8th grader few of us were used to be addressed in that manner. I am not sure what my classmates thought but I liked the approach.

that like as everything in the world is connected to economics; everything in the Word of God is connected to Grace!

GODS RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE

So, class was in session and now I had to give Mr. Ligday my challenge. With all the finality of a javelin thrower competing in World Competition, I said, “A baby in the middle of the Ocean.” My classmates were impressed I could tell!

Could it be that Mr. Wade has trumped Mr. Ligday!? Mr. Ligday must have been a good poker player or he was just playing along! He gave it all of a few seconds to set in on everyone and then said, “How did the baby get in the middle of the ocean? However, that happened was related to Economics.” I was done, that was my last challenge to the question. I understood clearly that everything was related to economics.

Bernie L. Wade, Ph.D. is President of Life Network http://www.lifenetwork.us Life Network is comprised of people from education, business, church, community (government) and media (including the arts and sports) working together to us to a greater unity in Christ.

The vision of Life Network™ is to be instrumental in transforming our world through the energy of a network of like-minded people from all ages, genders, races, nationalities an d cultures whose mutual contribution extinguishes offense, hatred, bigotry, and violence; envisioning a world where war, pestilence, hunger, and poverty are distant memories.

On a personal note, my friends tell me the Mr. Ligday that I reference here was Robert C. Ligday, a respected Teacher & Coach WWII Navy Vet. He passed in 2010, but the input and impact in my life continues. Thank you Mr. Ligday! I expect you are asking, what does that story about you in 8th grade have to do with Grace? Hey, I am so glad that you asked! The answer is simple. I told you that story so that you would understand 4

ICOF members have united over 50,000 ministers representing more than 25 Million constituents, several hundred colleges, universities and other Christian schools, orphanages & feeding programs, humanitarian aid organizations, chaplains and other charities.

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again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he ploughed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

THE JOY OF GIVING Alan Pateman

Joy then is likened to "adrenaline" in our souls and yet JOY is so often times missing from our Christian walk. "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17 - KJV). It is not the sole element of God's Kingdom but let's consider "joy" for today's article.

The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Proverbs 10:22 (KJV) I was handed a small mini book just recently called "The Joy of Giving" written by a Pastor in Holland. It focused on the joy of giving and not just the blessing of giving. A refreshing book, as many give because of instruction but not because of revelation. Both of which are significantly different. In a nutshell we must maintain a revelation of the joy-ofgiving and get serious about JOY!

Just the word "joy" (if dwelt on long enough) starts to have influence! Willing-yourself-into-aposition-of-joy is a good result. There is simply something contagious about joy that always demands a reaction and yet it's so easy to neglect. The cares-of-thislife and the weight of responsibilities can take over, to the point we don't even notice when joy is missing. (A good daily litmus test: "Where's the joy in my life today?")

Why does "God love a cheerful giver"? There is strength in joy. Jesus Himself endured the cross for the "joy that was set before Him." Arguably joy put Jesus on the cross, not the Roman soldiers or Jewish leaders - but JOY! What an awesome consideration! "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).

Perhaps responsibilities are not joyful

The Message Bible offers its own take on this particular verse by saying: "When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story 6

- but Kingdom joy is not emotional, because although it influences our emotions, it is "beyond" emotion. For example, you could not convince me for a second that Jesus "enjoyed" the cross!

Rather it was the joy that was set before Him that motivated Him. Look at it this way: God the Father gave His one and only son to the world.

Jesus gave Himself to the Father (in loving obedience). Both had a separate motivation for giving. Scripture is clear: the Father's motivation was love and the son's was joy, (the joy of being obedient to the Father!) Maturity looks at giving much the same way.

supermarket, or other people's meals at the restaurant, creating a wonderful culture of both giving and receiving. And certainly there can't be one without the other. Receiving without giving is impossible and vice versa.

Christ likeness involves giving that is joyful because it's happy about being obedient to the Father! (In fact I would dare say, that people reveal their true level of maturity through their giving - or lack of it!)

hint of "self-preservation" into our minds and we are hooked! On the contrary compulsive giving – is not synonymous with genuine generosity. Compulsive givers usually live in regret! However Holy Spirit inspired giving, can be extravagant and lavish but never compulsive or emotion-driven.

Just think about it! Generosity is part of God's perfect design. So why then do so many believers remain sterile despite their giving? Sadly it takes very little for the devil to spoil the revelation of Godly generosity. All he has to do is project a

The divine nature of God consists of more than just love and if joy is a major part of God's Kingdom and Nature, then it must also be a major part of ours. In our last article we spoke of the spirit of generosity, which helps kindle the fires of revival. Where people begin paying for each other's grocery bills at the

My wife and I are determined to promote this cheerful spirit of generosity wherever we go. We have seen it flow THROUGH and TO this ministry for decades. Always giving over-and-above, we see miracles regularly because we 7

give-out much more than what comes in (including scholarships and other incentives), with increasing opportunities daily to sow all around the world.

There is a special joy in serving God with our money, love, talents, ministry and prayers."

Maturity in giving has the sole purpose of glorifying God and Pastor Dirk adds that we must look to, "Give our lives first because no gift given to God can equate our souls." He goes onto say, "We need a REVELATION and not just an INSTRUCTION to give. We are more than just living principles."

However the reality of spiritual warfare means that we can all get hit sometimes - because the devil knows just how to attack the funds of Christian ministries (when MTV prospers excessively, in its trendy politicalcorrectness!) But when partners stand together and give by the Spirit's leading - this equals God's provision - for Christian ministries such as ours.

"God so loved that He GAVE..." (John 3:16) is all the proof that we need, to develop a giving lifestyle that mirrors God's. "Let each one give as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver whose heart is in his giving" (2 Corinthians 9:7 AMP).

In his book Pastor Dirk Ophalfens of Holland discusses the fact that many believers give only because they are expecting a "payback-package." But that God desires Kingdom ambassadors who will grow beyond basic giving-and- receiving and grow into a place of maturity.

"To a mature standard of knowing that it is our responsibility to give all we have towards the kingdom of Our Father God who is always ready to reward faithfulness. The motive is not just because we are trying to influence God to bless us but that we are serving a faithful Father who always rewards faithful servants.

Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and your generosity as it is administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11 AMP) 8

This is why God loves a cheerful giver - when everyone is giving everyone is receiving and the result of that is "thanksgiving" unto God. When we give generous scholarships to students who aren't able to pay the full price at our LICU University, they run with an opportunity that has been given to them! They gush with thanks to God.

sterile or selfish. So in the same measure that we look to minister to others, we thank you for standing with us as we go from strength to strength running this ministry on the currency of faith!

A lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and armtwisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything... this most generous God... who is more than extravagant with you... He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

You are personally invited today to become a Giver of Life partner with this ministry. Your monthly financial partnership makes it possible for us to share God’s unconditional love and unending hope around the world through our, live worship events, online resources, medical and mission’s outreaches and more.

Without YOU, this would not be possible.

(2 Corinthians 9:6,8 MSG) Verse 12 goes onto say,

Our desire is to continue sharing hope with millions in new ways and in new places. We are so excited about all the wonderful things that God has placed in our hearts to accomplish in His name.

It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God... moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need.

http://www.lifecommunity.us/contributions/

Generous giving creates a domino effect because obedience is never 9

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While Mission or Ministry is Vision Focused...it's Values Driven!

national pride, and Kenyans have in their DNA the capacity for long distance running. It’s a grace from God, a redemptive purpose, and a divine enablement that has been proven race after race for years. The world— especially the Kenyans—knows it.

Remember, this was January 2000, and the Sydney, Australia, Olympics was going to start in a few weeks.

In January 2000, I was speaking for Pastor Mark Kariuki of Nakuru, Kenya.

Pastor Mark had scheduled me to speak at one of his church’s lunch hour “fellowships.” The church rents a movie theater during the week at lunchtime, and the people come to get fed “the Word of God” for lunch. I had been to Kenya many times in the past, and while I have a tremendous love and respect for the Kenyans, I had noticed a tendency of Kenyans to be full of vision, but lacking the follow-through to ever see their vision fulfilled. This tendency exists in people all over the world. But I must admit, despite my love for the Kenyans, their lack of follow-through in many cases was getting to me. I want them to get to their purpose, vision and destiny.

I started my message with a question: How many Kenyans here have a vision to win the marathon at the Olympics? The scene following this question was wildly enthusiastic and positive! Over 1,000 Kenyans stood up, screaming, dancing, going crazy. We had a revival! It took me over ten minutes to calm down the crowd! Then, after they quieted down, I asked the next question: How many people here think that Kenyans have it in their DNA to win the marathon at the Olympics?

You guessed it! The theater exploded with shouting, joy, celebration, etc. It took me (as I recall) fifteen minutes to quiet the “revival.” I could have gone back to my hotel at this point and we would still have “had church.”

As I prepared for the lunch hour message, none of my old messages would “resurrect.” Finally, the Lord gave me an idea, a revelation, a principle that has changed my life as well as thousands of other lives around the globe. God showed me that there was, indeed, a problem, or “matata.”

Then I asked the last question: What if you have a Kenyan who has a vision to win the marathon at the Olympics, and he/she has it in their DNA to win the Marathon, but who never practices. Will he/she win the Olympic marathon? You

First of all, let me say that most every Kenyan’s “vision” is to win the marathon in the Olympics. Kenyans are great long distance runners. It’s a source of 13

guessed it—the theater was quiet. No revival, the celebration stopped! I was worried they would think I had quenched the Holy Spirit.

work together. Vision is the driver.

Values or governance is a vehicle for the fulfillment of vision. Vision by itself cannot and will not achieve our objective. That Kenyan who never practices will never win the Olympic marathon, even though he has it in his DNA! His lack of self-governance will undermine him every time. The fulfillment of potential requires appropriate and enabling governance resulting from a core value.

A Vision Ungoverned Leads to Frustration Here is the problem with the 'wanna -be' Kenyan I used as the example. He/she has a core value or “governance” issue that undermines their vision of winning the marathon rather than enabling their vision. You can’t win the Olympic marathon and at the same time be lazy, eat wrong, not have a coach, etc. The Kenyan’s lack of self-governance will lead him to frustration, failure and unfulfilled potential. Born to win, conditioned to lose by the disabling core value of laziness or unawareness. How does that Kenyan move from dream to done. Change his values. Replace laziness or discipline. Now he/she has an enabling values, not a disabling values. By replacing his values, he has moved from the impossibility of ever winning the Olympics to the possibility or even probability of winning the Olympics. Obviously, there are Kenyans who have a good vision as well as enabling core values or governance, or else no Kenyan would ever win the Olympic marathon.

Good Vision...Poor Governance Here’s the problem with most people, churches and organizational spheres.

Generally, we’re good at vision, but lack the appropriate governance or core values to get us to the vision. Somehow we think a good vision is enough. Let me say it again. Every vision requires enabling core values for the vision to move from dream to done.

What about the man who wants to have good “abs” (abdominal muscles), but never works out or exercises? Great vision, but the wrong values for the vision. What about the person who wants to graduate with honors from college but never does their homework?

Or the woman who wants to weigh 125 pounds, but who loves and consumes snacks? What about the pastor who wants to have a big church, but doesn’t serve the people, invest time leading or

The point is that vision and values (governance) were always meant to 14

study the Bible? How about the person who wants to be a great worship leader or musician, but never practices? What about the man who wants a big savings account, but spends everything he gets and more? How about the person who wants to be a good employee and get a promotion, but comes to work late and unfocused? What about that husband who returns from a Promise Keepers meeting and wants to be a great husband, but then cheats on his wife?

What about a church that wants to “take the city,” but is exclusive and ends up competing with other churches? What about the Christian who wants to be a “good neighbor,” but leaves his front yard a mess?

word core values which means governance.

Here's another example of this principle. God has a vision statement. It is Habakkuk 2:14. "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

In Genesis, Chapters One and Two, we see God giving Adam and Eve everything necessary to fulfill God's vision; power, authority, intelligence, relationship and all the capacity to fulfill His vision. God gave them a vision.

What happened? They ended up eating fruit from a tree on the advice of a serpent. Could they ever fulfill God's vision of filling the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord after doing that? No way. Adam and Eve were created to be a type of government to fulfill God's vision. They turned out to be a disabling government to fulfill God's vision. God's vision would never become reality with them as the government.

Will these people ever get to their vision or desire? The answer in all but a very few cases is no! Why? The core values, or governance, of these people disables their vision rather than enables their vision. They might have a good vision but incompatible core values for the vision. Envisioned to win...devalued to lose.

There are many Christians who would have said at this point, "God has a bad vision. It never got fulfilled." They would have blamed the visionary. But the problem was not the visionary. The problem was the government or ability to govern that was in Adam and Eve.

Moving from Tell-A-Vision to Do-AVision...From Dream to Done!

You have probably noticed that I use the words governance and core values together. That is on purpose. Core values govern getting a vision done.

From now on in this article I will use the 15

What happened then? In the fullness of time, God sent Jesus. What did Jesus come with? Government and governance resting on His shoulders!

(Ish. 9:6). What Adam and Eve couldn't do because of disabling core values, Jesus did because of enabling core values. Jesus came to fulfill God's vision and fulfilled God's vision. He filled the earth with the knowledge of the glory.

Principle: Right vision but wrong core values...Failure. Right vision with enabling core values...Success.

Values Drive Behavior I heard a message by Dr. John Maxwell in which he said that core values are deeply held beliefs authentically describing the soul of the leader and the organization. They provide guidelines by which all members are expected to conduct themselves. These values are not open for compromise. Core values are the deep structures in our belief systems that guide our behavior. Core values are internal; behavior is external.

Core values are the roots; forms and behaviors are the fruits. Our values drive our behavior. Our core values must change in order for our behaviors to change.

Here is what I'm concerned about.

Many of us may have a great vision from God but lack, in ourselves, the right core values to govern the vision. Just like the man from Kenya, we are always learning, never able. Many of the pastors, leaders or business owners reading this article might have the best vision ever but lack a team with enabling core values in them to do the vision. I believe that while there are people with ungodly visions or just wish dreams that they call visions, more often than not, the problem is not vision. The problem is disabling core values that are not congruent with fulfilling the vision. The key from moving from a prophetic vision (seeing) to an apostolic reality (doing) is a values issue. In other words, vision is a picture of where you want to go.

Values are the power to get you there.

Aha!

Values are constant. Values are passionate. They touch the heart. They are the essence of the organization.

Values are core beliefs that drive the ministry. Remember, while ministry is vision-focused, it is values driven. Some other words we could use for values are precepts, choices, ideals, assumptions, or standards. Values affect decision making, risk taking, goal setting, conflict resolution, problem solving, priorities determination, role clarification, and resource utilization. Values communicate what is important. Values influence overall behavior. Vision inspires people to action. Values enable execution of the vision. Values can be the best friend or the worst enemy of the vision.

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Dr. Norman Wakefield says a significant value is something which is important enough to find consistent expression in the choices we make. The true test of values in not in our words of agreement, but in our lifestyle and actions. We have freedom to choose our own values. We can evaluate what is important, make our own determinations, and then go on to live by principles we have chosen to be our own. However, values are not fixed. Our values have potential for growth and change. But sometimes people do not seem able or willing to change. Even when change means growth.

a recipe for failure. One may get excited with a vision change, but without a value change the vision is defeated before it gets off the ground.

Many communities and cities have been captivated by the vision of community transformation, but after trying it for a short time, have failed, and failed miserably. “It does not work here,” is the rhetoric for hundreds of community transformation initiatives all over the world. What was the problem?

A bad vision? No. The values. That is why in Church@Community, I explore the eight disabling values and replace them with eight enabling values. The result? It moves us from the impossibility of transforming a community to the possibility, even the probability of transforming communities.

In short, a good core value, serves the vision…engenders passion…is shared…is constant…can be expressed clearly….congruent with other values…is implementable!

Moving From a Wanna-be to an Gonna-be to an Is-a-be!

Core Values and the Vision of Transforming Society and Communities

How do you change a value? Dr. Norman Wakefield enlightens us. I discover or state what I believe to be an important value for the fulfillment of the vision. As opportunities arise I choose daily to act on what I believe is important. As I consistently make such choices over a period of time, the belief becomes part of my character and lifestyle. And then… and only then… it’s a value!

In my book, Church@Community, community transformation is the vision.

However, the distinctive of the book is that I identify eight core values in church culture that most churches have adopted that disable community transformation. Casting vision for community transformation requires both a vision change and a value change. A vision change without a value change is 17

It's important to understand that a belief is not a value. A belief is where we start. A value is a belief that we act on consistently. For example, I believe I should work out. But when the fork in the road comes, do I work out or do something else? I believe that I should pray, but do I pray? I believe that I should be honest? But, am I honest when temptations come? James says the demons believe in Jesus but they don't do anything about it. In other words, the demons disabling values trump their beliefs. Just think, if you believe in something but don't do it, you are no better than a demon! Just kidding...I think. A value is something that you consistently do, not just agree with. So, there you have it. Generally, a lack of getting to your vision is generally not a vision issue, it's a values issue.

Aha! Written for Bernie Wade and Life Network \

NATIONSTRATEGY

Ed Delph has been responding to God's call to the community and to the nations since 1979. He has ministered or been in over 100 countries as well as serving as a pastor in the United States.

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LIFE CHURCH OF KENTUCKY Committed to leading people to become devoted followers of Christ.

502.265.3795

http://www.lifecommunity.us

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In truth, the Quran not only calls Muslims to submit to Allah, it also commands them to subdue people of other religions until they are in a full state of submission to Islamic rule. This has inspired the aggressive history of Islam and its success in conquering other cultures.

THE MYTHS OF ISLAM (REPRINTED BY PERMISSION) The Myth: Lesser educated Muslims sometimes claim that the root word of Islam is “al-Salaam,” which is “peace” in Arabic.

The Truth: An Arabic word only has one root. The root word for Islam is “al-Silm,” which means “submission” or “surrender.” There is no disagreement about this among Islamic scholars. al-Silm (submission) does not mean the same thing as al-Salaam (peace), otherwise they would be the same word.

The Myth: The Quran places men and women on equal foundation before Allah. Each person is judged according to his or her own deeds. Women have equal rights under Islamic law.

Submission and peace can be very different concepts, even if a form of peace is often brought about through forcing others into submission. As the modern-day Islamic scholar, Ibrahim Sulaiman, puts it, "Jihad is not inhumane, despite its necessary violence and bloodshed, its ultimate desire is peace which is protected and enhanced by the rule of law."

The Truth: Merely stating that individuals will be judged as such by Allah does not mean that they have equal rights and roles, or that they are judged by the same standards.

There is no ambiguity in the Quran, the life of Muhammad, or Islamic law as to the 23

inferiority of women to men despite the efforts of modern-day apologists to salvage Western-style feminism from scraps and fragments of verses that have historically held no such progressive interpretation.

husband may also bring other wives (and slaves) into the marriage bed. And she must be sexually available to him at any time (as a field ready to be “tilled,” according to the holy book of Islam).

After military conquests, Muhammad would dole out captured women as war prizes to his men. In at least one case, he advocated that they be raped in front of their husbands. Captured women were made into sex slaves by the very men who killed their husbands and brothers.

Muslim women do not inherit property in equal portion to males. This is somewhat ironic given that Islam owes its existence to the wealth of Muhammad's first wife, which would not otherwise have been inherited by her given that she had two brothers and her first husband had three sons.

There are four Quranic verses in which "Allah" makes clear that a Muslim master has full sexual access to his female slaves, yet there is not one that prohibits rape.

A woman's testimony in court is considered to be worth only half that of a man’s, according to the Quran. Unlike a man, she must also cover her head - and often her face.

The Quran gives Muslim men permission to beat their wives for disobedience, but nowhere does it command love in marriage. It plainly says that husbands are “a degree above” wives. The Hadith says that women are intellectually inferior, and that they comprise the majority of Hell’s occupants.

If a woman wants to prove that she was raped, then there must be four male witnesses to corroborate her account. Otherwise she can be jailed or stoned to death for confessing to “adultery.”

Given all of this, it is quite a stretch to say that men and women have “equality under Islam” based on obscure theological analogies or comparisons. This is an entirely new ploy that is designed for modern tastes and disagrees sharply with the reality of Islamic law and history.

Under Islamic law, a man may divorce his wife at his choosing. If he does this twice, then wishes to remarry her, she must first have sex with another man. Men are exempt from such degradations.

Muslim women are not free to marry whom they please, as are Muslim men. Their 24

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It's the same with giving. Giving is not the key to financial prosperity, it's the key to an abundant life.

Giving affects our hearts. In Matthew 6:21, Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (NKJV). Our hearts follow our treasures—not the other way around. When you invest in a stock, you check the newspaper or Internet to see how it's doing. Since part of your treasure is there, so is part of your heart. Likewise, as a shepherd, if you want your sheep to have a heart for the kingdom, let them start investing in it!

What Every Pastor Needs to Know About Giving ROBERT MORRIS

Satan, of course, tries to prevent this and targets pastors with a dose of deception. You're preaching on giving because you want to build a bigger building, he tells us. You need to hire another staff member or fund another ministry, and you're just manipulating the people. To combat these lies, I've learned to address the enemy head-on in my money messages. I emphatically state to the congregation that I don't have an ulterior motive, and that I genuinely want to help them discover the joy and freedom I've found from having a selfish heart turned into a generous one. By being upfront and transparent, they can sense that my motive is pure.

For many pastors, giving the annual "stewardship" message ranks up there with getting a root canal.

Why the dread over dollars and biblical sense?

Because many of us fear that people will misjudge our motives or accuse us of focusing more on money than ministry. We don't want to be clumped with those melodramatic televangelists always clambering for donations.

They also know this because I live what I preach.

God has blessed our church tremendously. By the end of our first year, we had paid off the $1.4 million for our first 14 acres—in cash. During the next three years, we made two multimillion-dollar expansions, again completely with cash. We've recently purchased 190 acres and are now master planning. God's grace has allowed us to do these things, but in the process I believe He's revealed to us five crucial truths that can destroy the lies of the enemy. As a pastor, you can be free from the stigma surrounding money and, in turn, spark an

The truth is, none of us should apologize for preaching on giving. Think about it: We don't apologize when we preach on marriage. We don't apologize when we preach on faith, prayer, studying Scripture or any other spiritual discipline.

We address these subjects because, as pastors, we have a desire to help people and a mandate from God to equip the saints. We preach these things because we believe people will have a more joyful and abundant life if they practice them.

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entirely new perspective on giving in your congregation.

you. "For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38).

If these words are more condemning than liberating, understand that it's not too late. You can begin to relearn what true giving is. Study God's Word on the subject. Read some books on it. Talk to a friend who has victory in this area. Though most of us have seen God's supernatural provision at times in our lives, we can't expect to help others in this area if we remain in bondage. Press in to gain freedom. Trust God, step out in faith and begin to give for the pure joy of it.

2. Give to give.

Much of the current preaching on giving turns my stomach. At its core is this message: Give to get.

How many times have you heard someone summon the checkbooks with a pre-offering misinterpretation of Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom"? When you back up a little in this chapter, you find Jesus saying, "Give to everyone who asks of you ..." (v. 30) and "Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return ..." (v. 35).

Lend, hoping for nothing in return. That sounds a lot like giving!

1. Become a joyful giver.

My wife and I love to give. By God's grace we've been able to give away several vehicles and even a home to families who needed those things. When I preach on giving, it doesn't come across as a minister trying to raise funds for his projects. I share as a believer whose life has been completely changed by this revelation. I talk about God's blessing and provision in my life. Not just financial miracles, though they are included. I talk about God's blessings and rewards in my spiritual walk, about breakthroughs in my marriage and family.

Let's face it, many pastors don't preach on giving because they don't have any personal illustrations.

I know some who don't tithe because they believe their tithes are their time. They feel they don't get paid adequately—and they don't! But where does blessing and provision come from? Your income is not set by a board but by God. And you determine the size of the instrument He uses to dish it out to 27

Luke 6:38 is a verse about giving, not about getting.

Yes, God loves and rewards a cheerful giver, but that's not our motive for giving. We should give because we want to see God's kingdom advance on the earth, because we want to truly help people— and not out of a selfish motive. The current "give to get" message appeals to the selfish nature of our old selves that we are told to "put off" (Eph. 4:22) and "reckon ... dead." (Rom. 6:11). God wants us to get the revelation of giving, not of getting. Luke 6:38 is the reward for giving, but it's not the motive. When you immerse it with the gospel message of denying ourselves, it is the reward for giving from our hearts.

your church who have the gift of giving? I don't know what anyone in our church gives, but I can spot the givers, because in the same way that I know about teaching, serving or leading, I know about giving.

It's amazing how we will train the teachers in our church, but we have no training for someone with the gift of giving. We help the leaders develop their leadership gifts, and we put the servants to work, but we don't seem to know much about this spiritual gift or have any resources to help these people. They need to know the gift God has given them is important and spiritual. And who is better able to help mature them in their gift than their pastor?

4. Put God first.

The most important part of the tithe is not that it's 10 percent of our income, but that it's the first 10 percent. God didn't tell Israel to conquer all of the promised land and then give Him one city. He told the people to give Him all of the silver and the gold from Jericho. Why? Because it was the first one, and the rest would be blessed if they gave the first one. God didn't tell Abraham to have 10 sons and then give Him one. He wanted the first one!

3. Recognize the gift of giving.

Romans 12 clearly lists giving as one of the seven spiritual gifts mentioned. Isn't it possible, then, that one out of every seven believers has this gift? Yet how many of us know how to recognize this gift and develop it in people? Maybe the real question is, How many of us even recognize it as spiritual?

Despite knowing the Scriptures, we often view giving as a predominantly financial matter rather than an equally spiritual one. It's time to turn that around in your congregation. Can you spot those in

The reason God accepted Abel's offering and not Cain's was because Abel gave the firstborn, but Cain didn't give the firstfruits. Cain brought an 28

offering in the process of time. God accepts only the first! It takes faith to give the first one, yet God said that if we would, He would bless the rest. In biblical times, if an animal was unclean, a clean one (a lamb) had to be sacrificed for it to be redeemed.

Jesus was the firstborn clean Lamb of God, sacrificed for all of us born unclean so we could be redeemed.

As pastors, we can't preach on tithing and stewardship yet operate our personal funds and those of our churches by different standards. We must practice what we preach. We can no longer shy away from learning, living and teaching biblical principles of financial stewardship. God's Word is true! Remember, our obedience can open the windows of heaven.

This is what the tithe does. When we give our firstfruits to God, the rest of our fruits (money) are redeemed. Doesn't this bring tithing to life? Our congregations need to hear this revelation so they won't continue to see tithing as law. The truth is, tithing was a principle that was in Scripture hundreds of years before the law. It is simply the principle of putting God first in our lives. When every pastor catches this revelation and preaches on giving with sincerity and a burning passion from God to break the yoke of the enemy upon His sheep, we'll see the windows of heaven open over us. Not so we can drive nicer cars or wear nicer clothes, but so we can send missionaries, build churches, support pastors and preach the gospel to a hurting world.

5. Operate your church's finances according to biblical principles.

Robert Morris is the senior pastor of Gateway Church in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and bestselling author of several books, including The Blessed Life.

Every pastor's finances should be a model of biblical stewardship principles. We should live below our means, save and give generously to the kingdom. We've operated the finances at Gateway Church this way, and I believe God has blessed us accordingly. As a young church, we began giving 10 percent to missions and saving 10 percent. After a few years, we increased our missions giving to 15 percent. God has opened up the windows of heaven over us because we have put Him first in our finances.

In only six years, his church has grown to more than 12,000 active members.

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denominations and/or institutions often lacks biblical precedent and principles. The reason why so many fail in regards to church planting, in my particular city, is because potential lead pastors are recruited from other parts of the country and they come into a daunting, complex city that is alien to their own social context. Hence, they are stepping into a church culture that is foreign to them. Just giving theological/methodological training and sponsoring them financially is usually not enough to trump the other factors related to city planting such as: leadership development, raising a family in a secular environment, the high cost of living, finding affordable places to rent for a congregation, etc.

SEVEN PRINCIPLES FOR CHURCH PLANTING ACCORDING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN

From my observation, most of the church plants in New York City don’t even last three years. Fewer still last a decade. Of course, Jesus told us to go into the entire world and preach the gospel, but we also have to learn the environment before attempting to establish a beachhead. Perhaps many of these leaders would be better off serving as an associate pastor for many years in a city church before attempting to lead one right out of the gate. The exceptions to the rule are if they come with an already established mega-brand (e.g. Hillsong) or they have an enormous amount of resources and can afford to purchase their own building and support fulltime staff in addition to the salary of a lead pastor.

I recently spent some quality time with one of the best church planters in a particular city. In just a few years he has planted almost 10 campuses or extensions of the original church he started almost 10 years ago. He was also involved in a prayer meeting with other church planters for several years. When I asked him if this weekly prayer meeting was still functional, he told me that it no longer exists because most of these planters are no longer ministering in the city and that many of the churches are either closed or are led by another pastor. He said that he has almost no pastor friends left in the area.

When my wife and I planted Resurrection Church in 1984 we had no money and we did not own our own building, but we were used to the culture of our city (we were both born within a few miles of our church plant) and we had already raised up a small team of disciples we led to Christ the previous years thru street

As I mused over this, I realized that much of what is called church planting by 30

evangelism. Hence, I can speak from experience as a church planter.

2. Church planters were nurtured first under apostolic church leadership.

The following are some of the principles necessary to plant churches according to the New Testament biblical pattern:

Peter and the original apostles were trained for more than three years under the chief apostle, our Lord Jesus. Barnabas and Paul were trained by the Jerusalem church apostolic team (Acts4:36-37; 9:26-29) and also refined their leadership skills for several years in the Antioch church (Acts 11:23-26) before they were sent out. Bible school and theoretical training are not enough; you have to serve in a local church for many years under tried and true senior church leadership before you are seasoned enough to plant and lead a congregation.

3. Planters had a clear leading of the Lord that was confirmed by the church.

Some folks come to New York City to plant a church because of the emotional excitement of ministering in the most famous city in the world. Some no doubt think they are going to become famous and make a name for themselves in ministry. I would advise against planting a church unless other unbiased mature Christian leaders also confirm it. The risk is too great to miss God in this kind of endeavor.

1. Church planters were sent, they did not just volunteer to go.

The apostle Peter was told by Jesus to strengthen his brethren and to feed His sheep (Luke22:32 and John 21:15-17). He had a divine commission to minister to the flock of God and call the Jews back to the Messiah (Galatians 2:7). The apostles Paul and Barnabas were sent out to plant churches by the leaders of the church of Antioch (Acts 13:12).

Planting a church is a life-altering decision that will affect your family, marriage, finances and emotional health. It is hard enough to attempt to do when you have the grace and calling of God, but when you are not sure of this and it is mere emotion, you will not be able to stand firm when the fires of testing come your way.

Consequently, it is important that a person has the blessing and confirmation of their local church before they attempt to plant a local congregation. This is necessary not only for prayer support and accountability, but also as a way to discern the will of God and make sure you are hearing His voice correctly.

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4. They went into cultural contexts they were prepared for.

7. They planted congregations that stayed connected to the founding apostolic leader.

The apostle Peter generally focused on ministering to the Jews (the religion and people he lived among), and the apostle Paul focused on the non-Jews. Both were prepared for this kind of ministry. Paul was not only educated in the Hebrew Scriptures under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), but he also had classical training and quoted Greek poets when ministering to the educated class (read his Mars Hill sermon in Acts 17–especially note verse 28).

Although it seems as though each local congregation was autonomous, they all remained under the oversight of their founding apostolic leader. The apostle may come and go, and not stay for long periods of time after the original process of building the foundation, but he was always welcome to come and speak into the life of the church as well as continue to give oversight from a distance.

(The epistles of Paul to the Galatians, Philippians, Ephesians, Timothy, and Titus all demonstrate the need for local churches to stay connected to their founding apostolic leader.)

5. They had a leadership team.

Paul never went out to plant a church alone.

He always had a team that included great leaders like Barnabas, Silas, John Mark, Timothy, Luke and other qualified leaders.

Never attempt to plant a local congregation without a faith community supplying a competent planting team to support you.

In closing, there are more principles that could be stated in this article. But for the sake of brevity I have only given seven. May God continue to raise up church planters who will plant congregations that will turn the world upside down.

6. They had financial backing.

Barnabas had houses and real estate that he sold to finance the kingdom (Acts 4) and Paul had the backing of the Antioch church as well as the sponsorship of all the congregations he founded that partnered with him to advance the gospel (Philippians 1:3). Also, some scholars estimate that almost one third of all the men who traveled with Paul were benefactors who financially supported his apostolic ministry.

Even Jesus had benefactors who followed Him (Luke 8:2).

Joseph Mattera has been in fulltime church ministry since 1980 and is currently the Presiding Bishop of Christ Covenant Coalition and Overseeing Bishop of Resurrection Church in New York. He is also serving as the United States Ambassador for the International Coalition of Apostles, and as one of the founding presiding bishops of the International Communion of Evangelical Churches.

It would be crazy in most cases to attempt to plant a church without financial backing unless you have a clear leading from the Lord to do so.

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things off the ground (even if they don’t always last), whether it be a new initiative, gathering, or community. Whereas gifted evangelists leave a trail of new disciples in their wake, gifted apostles leave behind a trail of new communities that have come into being due to their vision and initiative.

HOW TO IDENTIFY AN APOSTOLIC LEADER Ministry may be blooming, but apostolic leaders are focused on the edge; where things haven’t blossomed yet.

By Jon Hietbrink

* Whose vision was behind the new communities/initiatives that have started in your network?

For most of my life in the church, “apostle” has been something of a dirty word. Either because it’s assumed to be an expired gift, or because we’ve so often seen it abused, most of us (even those of us who are gifted as apostolic leaders!) struggle with the idea of calling something “apostolic” and have difficulty finding the right language to identify this gift in its emerging forms.

Apostolic folks demonstrate a remarkable ability to get things off the ground…

2. Apostolic Leaders DEMONSTRATE SPIRITUAL INTENSITY2 Another indicator of the apostolic gift at work is a palpable spiritual intensity.

Especially focused intensity towards starting new things that are not in existence yet. Apostolic leaders are zealous for God, God’s mission, and God’s people, and their passion leads them to act, even when the odds are stacked against them. In younger leaders, this passion can often create as many problems as it solves, either because they find themselves passionate about everything or sometimes the wrong things (notice I didn’t call this one spiritual maturity), but we can’t allow their

Toward that end, here are five key indicators that might evidence an apostolic gift at work in you or your community, and some reflection questions to help you identify the emerging apostolic leaders in your midst!

1. Apostolic Leaders START NEW THINGS1 Perhaps the surest sign of an apostolic gift at work is a litany of new things that have been started due to their influence, whether spiritual or not. Apostolic folks demonstrate a remarkable ability to get

2

Luke 6.12-13 provides a great example of Jesus’ spiritual zeal, and Philippians 3.1-16 captures both the pre and post-conversion intensity of Paul.

1

See Mark 1.38-39 and Acts 13-14 for examples of this trait in Jesus’ and Paul’s ministry.

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immaturity to blind us to the potential latent in these emerging leaders.

apostolic leaders are consistently thinking about the systems and structures that undergird a…

* Who in your networks radiates an almost exhausting expression of intensity?

4. Apostolic Leaders EXPRESS A BURDEN FOR EXPANSION4

Apostolic leaders are zealous for God, God’s mission, and God’s people, and their passion leads…

In contrast to teachers and pastors who tend to be concerned primarily for what is already, apostolic leaders express an almost overwhelming burden for what isn’t yet— for the people not in the room, the communities not being reached, the territory no one else is talking about.

Apostolic leaders have more than a vision to reach new territory, they have a genuine burden to do so; it’s housed not just in their mind, but in their soul.

3. Apostolic Leaders THINK STRUCTURALLY3 Whereas evangelists and pastors tend to think more relationally about individuals or groups of people, apostolic leaders are consistently thinking about the systems and structures that undergird a community and how they could be redesigned to function more effectively. They might be constantly devising new overhauls to your current structures or suggesting brand-new initiatives, but apostolic leaders often demonstrate an aptitude for connecting previously disparate parts of a given network, in a way that releases new energy and momentum.

* Who in your community is constantly championing growth & expansion to new territories? apostolic leaders express an almost overwhelming burden for what isn’t yet

5. Apostolic Leaders RESPOND TO BIG CHALLENGES5

* Who in your community is regularly coming up with better ways to structure your ministry for greater momentum?

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Paul’s words in Romans 15.20-24 capture this sentiment beautifully, and we see it too in Jesus’ decision to go through Samaria in John 4.1-42.

5 Of course, Jesus’ Great Commission to the 11 apostles in Matthew 28.16-20 is the preeminent example of this, and we see it too in Paul’s choice to press onward to Troas (despite multiple closed doors) in Acts 16.6-10.

3

The “Sending of the 72” in Luke 10 is a terrific example of Jesus’ structural thinking, and we see the early apostles demonstrating this same trait in Acts 6.1-6 in their handling of the food dispute. Finally, Paul’s shift from focusing merely on synagogues to the Greek oikos provides another fantastic example (Acts 20:20).

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For better or for worse, apostolic leaders have huge vision, and consistently respond to big challenges—the more impossible the dream, the more motivated they are to take it on. Of course, this often gets them into trouble as they regularly bite off more than they can chew, but this willingness to act into the gap is a hallmark of emerging apostolic leaders.

language that helped me understand my experience, I found the apostolic gifting in me fanned into flame and operating with far more boldness (and maturity). May these “clues” do the same for you or the emerging apostolic leaders in your midst!

Jon works with InterVarsity/USA as the Regional Director for the Central US where the vision is to see "a movement of missional communities planted in our 'Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth': 500 Cells, 50 Chapters, and 1 overseas student movement”. Jon and his wife Steph have been married for 10 years and have two children, Elijah (6) and Abigail (4).

* Who are the folks in your community who respond to your costliest challenges? apostolic leaders have huge vision, and consistently respond to big challenges…

Because it wasn’t a part of the vernacular of community, I did ministry for years before I even considered whether I might have an apostolic gift. However, once I was given

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Dr. Barney Phillips and Bishop Derrick Day

MINISTER OF MUSIC. Life Church is seeking a minister of music for the La Grange Campus. For more information visit IF YOUR COMPANY, MINISTRY OR ORGANIZATION HAS AN JOB OPENING, MINISTRY OPENING OR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN HAVE IT LISTED HERE. EMAIL: BW@ICOF.NET

http://www.lifecommunity.us Seeking Spirit Filled Music leader that is knowledgeable in contemporary worship. Duties include leading music for all services and seasonal celebrations.

Executive Vice President of Business.

LIFE NETWORK seeks an experienced entrepreneur / business person to serve as the key person for our business division. http://www.lifenetwork.us

Looking for an individual that leads from Keyboard or Guitar. Able to work with existing Praise Teams and develop vocals, musicians, etc. Experience with media and PowerPoint a plus. Must have strong leadership skills and be a team player. Send your resume to lifechurchky@live.com

For more information email info@lifenetwork.us

LIFE AMBASSADOR for Life Network. As a Life Ambassador you will serve your city, area, state, or nation in bringing the vision of Life Network. For more information please email: ambassador@lifenetwork.us

Secretary General. International Circle of Faith (ICOF) seeks a person to serve as Secretary General for North America. http://www.icof.net For more information contact Bishop Derrick Day’s office.

Derrick@derrickday.com

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MUSICIANS. Life Church is seeking musicians for the Life Church Praise Band for the La Grange Kentucky campus. For more information visit http://www.lifecommunity.us Email: lifechurchky@live.com

Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Life Network is seeking a CFO to Position Reporting to the Life Network President, the CFO will define the process and implement the infrastructure/ systems needed to support substantial growth over the next five to 10 years. S/he will continue to build and manage effective and streamlined administrative/financial systems, including financial, accounting, legal, information technology (IT), human resources (HR), and physical infrastructure.

Specific responsibilities include: Financial Management  Review and approve preparation and finalization of monthly and annual financial reporting materials and metrics Life Network’s board.  Oversee budgeting, financial forecasting, and cash flow for administration, existing programs, and proposed new sites.  Coordinate all audit activities.

Administrative Leadership and Management

As a member of the senior management team, the director will be involved in strategic planning, evaluation, and professional development initiatives, as well as planning for LIFE NETWORK’S Nonprofit’s expansion to multiple new sites both locally and in other cities. In keeping with LIFE NETWORK’S core values.

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Serve as a business partner to the President of Life Network on the organization’s financial, budgeting, and administrative processes— including HR, payroll, and benefits functions—with an eye to

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continuously developing and improving systems.

Lead Life Network’s technical staff to design an IT plan for the future, and implement it successfully to meet IT needs (hardware and software) as

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the organization grows.

Qualifications The director of finance and administration will have at least five to eight years of professional experience, including managing the finance and administration of a high-growth $10 million to $20 million organization (preference given to nonprofit experience). S/he will have experience creating and driving the analytic framework for planning and managing organizational change in a highly entrepreneurial organization. The CFO will have the following experience and attributes: 

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Bachelor’s degree (MA/MBA preferred) in Business, Management, or Finance.

Excellent people skills, with experience collaborating in a multidisciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team.

Demonstrated experience in financial management and accounting, ideally in the nonprofit sector.

Experience should include legal, audit, compliance, budget, and resource development.

Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, proposing new ways of creating efficiencies, and guiding investment in people and systems.

Proven effectiveness leading professionals in finance and accounting.

Technologically savvy, with an ability to point to examples of having worked with IT staff to develop and implement new processes and systems that increased efficiency in a fast-moving environment.

Flexible and a self-starter; able to multi-task while also being highly detail-oriented.

Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to Life Network’s mission.

For more information contact LIFE NETWORK info@lifenetwork.us

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Secretary General of Life Network.

EDITOR: NEXT WAVE MAGAZINE

Life Network seeks a person with experience in government, or with a political action committee (PAC), or similar to serve as Secretary General of the Life Network. http://www.lifenetwork.us

Next Wave magazine is looking for an editor. The Next Wave magazine is the monthly voice of Life Network and is published 12 times annually.

This person will be responsible for all aspects of the magazine.

This is an Executive Vice President level position. This person will serve as a key part of the Life Network Executive Board and will lead the ‘pillar’ Government (Community) under Life Network. For more information email: bw@icof.net

For more information email bw@icof.net

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Administrator Job Description for Life Network™

Administrator Job Skills • Excellent oral and written communication skills • Detail oriented and works with a high degree of accuracy • Highly organized and flexible • Ability to multitask and meet changing deadlines • Must be self directed and able to complete projects with limited supervision • Maintains confidentiality • Working knowledge of email, scheduling, spreadsheets and presentation software

http://www.lifenetwork.us Administrator Job Duties • Maintaining files and databases • Prepares reports, presentations, memorandums, proposals and correspondence • Monitors office operations • Schedules appointments and meetings for executives • Serves as the go-to for office inquiries • Manages staff schedules • Assists in the preparation of department budgets and expenses • Supervises all administrative personnel

Administrator Job Requirements • 2 years or more related experience • Preferred: Associates Degree or Higher Please send Resume to bw@icof.net

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April 1-3 Operation 10,000 souls ICOF Cameroon http://www.icof.net

September 4, 5, 6. LIFE FEST La Grange, KY. Life Church. 1901 Prestwick Drive. La Grange, KY 40031. Life Fest Executive Director: Birgit Zeph.

Phone: 502.265.3795 lifechurchky@live.com

April 19, 2015 Life Church Anniversary Service. 1 PM. 1901 Prestwick Drive. La Grange, KY 40031. Phone: 502.265.3795 Email: lifechurchky@live.com

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LIFE NETWORK Social Media Coordinator Volunteer

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Ability to identify threats and opportunities in user-generated content Basic SEO knowledge Ability to produce quality editorial and technical output

Position Overview Functions, Duties, & Responsibilities

Social Media Coordinators help engage the target audience via various social media channels

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Expectations

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Education/Certifications/Experience 

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Degree in marketing, journalism, new media, advertising, entertainment or social media experience. Will train in lieu of experience.

Digital or communications experience

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Computer Skills  Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Utilizes posts, tweets, podcasts, articles, videos, or screen casts to interact Moderate and promote communications that encourage the exchange of user-generated content Create strategies and tactics to increase participation and ensure the clarity of the message across social media channels Coordinates campaign calendars with online activity Contact: Dr. Ralph Day LIFE NETWORK VP of Social Media

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities  Demonstrated, participatory expertise in various social media channels, including LinkedIn, YouTube, Foursquare, Twitter, Bookmarking sites, Flickr, Forums, Wikis, blogs, etc

biewebmaster@gmail.com

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Hi Bishop Wade,

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ICOF BRAZIL

Greetings in The name of LORD .

Thank you very much for your prayers for our precious event on 14th December. We were able to give Bibles, Feed people and share The Word of God. Praise God.

Dear Bishop Wade.

Greetings in the Mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor Dilshad Bhatti & Pastor Karamat Masih Bhatti are pastors running Jesus Calls Church Ministries Pakistan. But fundamentalists , Extremist and Militant at attacking us and my family. Because we are spreading the Word of God Muslims were healing and accepting the word of God. But extremists and their priests do not like that they are anti Christ. We have stopped church .If we do not stop they will kill us they are threatening again and again.

Our next event is on 21st December and we want to give Free Bibles & Christmas gift to Children and Families and celebrate Christmas with them. To these believers it would mean the world to have their own Bible and to be able to read the Word of God. There is great hunger for Bible in Pakistan.

On 8th December, 2013 10:00 AM during church service they attack on us with dangerous weapons they were calling they want Pastor Dilshad and Pastor Karamat.

We were hiding inside the church the next day in night they broke the lock of the church and steal all the things .

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in News Papers but we find now help many times they attacked on our family. If we had not stopped evangelism they will kill us finally. After this situation Church is stopped last three months .They are searching for us .We are away from City our family is hiding on other City.

They misbehave forcibly two church ladies Nagina and Uzma we want to stop them but due to that they became our enemies. We are running Pakistan Community Peace Foundation to help persecuted and needy.

But these extremist and Militants do not want to see us by doing help the people.

Pastor Salamat Bhatti Chairman PCPF looking after this case. He was also with us in all situations. His life is also in danger.

He is not in Pakistan now. Pastor Salamat Bhatti and Church members help us for visas and tickets so we came to Brazil. We and our family need help and protection here. We cannot go back in Pakistan if we go back they will kill us. Our life is highly under threat.

On 1 5 December 2013 we were in Prayer at 7:00 PM at Pastor Karamat house in Chashma Town new Sohan Islambad. The extremist came at house and attacked on us immediately .our family and children were crying they beat us and firing on us. IhsanUl-haq was leading this group. We were all injured.

Pastors Karamat hand was broken and Pastor Dilshad got a head injury. We informed 15 police and Police station and having the FIR on 16 December 2013 against Ehsan-ul-haq and this Militant group FIR No.631/2013 But the Government and Police is not taking it seriously. Because we are minorities and Christian. We also giving

Dear Bishop I need financial help to bring my family here in Brazil and family of my Brother Pastor Karamat Too, You please request to ICOF all leaders to collect the donations at head office USA and send me , I am here in Brazil , came here to save us.

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EDUCATING TOMORROWS LEADERS http://www.lifecollege.education

LIFE COLLEGE

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Together we are making a real and lasting difference for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

WANTED INTERCESSORS

IF YOU ARE AN INTERCESSOR WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are putting a team of intercessors together to pray for our Life Network. We know that we can never accomplish the vision that God has given us without intercessors.

As part of our team we need a plethora of God called intercessors.

We would love for you to be part of what God is doing in our area.

If you will commit to praying for LIFE NETWORK we will commit to give you timely updates on the needs.

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Harvard celebrates academic achievement

“There is no way to say how much that means, not only in the workplace, but what it will mean in terms of confidence that you can do anything with the help of Jesus Christ.”

By Mitch Sneed

Students from age 17 up to 44 were in Saturday’s group of honorees. Each had a story, but Saturday they all had a smile. Two in the group were 44-yearold Aretha Smith and her 24-year-old daughter, Saprena Woody.

Saturday was a day of celebration for the students on Harvard High School International in Alexander City as those who have and will earn their high school diplomas were recognized.

“I wanted to get this diploma to show that it is never too late,” Smith said. “I have four kids and six grandkids now.

But now I can tell them that I did this to show how important education is. Now they will know that what I say comes from experience.”

Nine students, dressed in royal blue caps and gowns, gathered with family, friends and dignitaries at Jehovah-Jireh Ministries on Hillabee Street to celebrate a lifechanging accomplishment. Rev. Roderick Williams said that in today’s world, there are many reasons why graduating the traditional way just doesn’t work for everyone.

Woody said she will use her diploma as she will attend Virginia College and start with a CNA certificate and work her way up. She hopes to be a nurse one day.

“We are so honored to be celebrating this day,” Williams said. “This is not a GED, This is a diploma from an accredited high school. So no matter what age, when you walk in looking for that job, you will now have something that shows you are an achiever.

“This will open some doors that I may not have had open for me otherwise,” Woody said. “This is a great start.”

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“I am so thankful to have this program,” Smith said. “I just didn’t fit in at my high school and I couldn’t take it any longer.

Now I can go on and start working towards my goals and a career in the medical field. That wouldn’t have been possible without this.”

Dr. Bernie Wade of the Life Church in LaGrange, Kentucky is one of the founders of Harvard International. As president of the outreach, he said that to see students of all ages reach a life goal is “more rewarding that words can describe.”

“In this world we live in – we put a man on the moon in the 1970s – but we still do not graduate all of our children from high school,” Wade said.

“It doesn’t have to be that way. That’s why we started Harvard International. We are making a difference. Graduates from Harvard High School now own their own businesses, work as leaders in major companies, serve in the military and even pastor churches all over the world.

The Harvard mission says “Harvard High School was founded by concerned people who realized that our education system doesn’t work for everyone. Many people are held at an economic and social disadvantage because they do not have a high school diploma. Harvard High School is committed to helping all have a quality education.”

“It all starts with getting that diploma and we are delighted and honored that we can now say that there is no reason in the world not to have your high school diploma. You have all proven that. Now you can go out into the world and tell people that God had has blessed you with a gift that will change your life.”

For 18-year-old Breasia Smith, she said this program gives her a chance that she may not have had otherwise.

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Humanistic Theism?

Here is what I found:

By Lea F. Bates noun: humanism an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.

Today I observed someone accusing another of being humanistic – in other words they proclaimed that the other person practiced humanism.

The words said were an all-out verbal attack that really saddened me. I can’t say I know the person being attacked very well so therefore I couldn’t defend them against this accusation. Besides, as aggressive of a personality as the accuser had it would have been pointless anyway. Kind of like casting pearls in the direction of swine. I did however look up this term – humanism, because the case the accuser made seemed to attack many out there who are (or claim to be) Christians.

 A Renaissance cultural movement that turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought. noun: Humanism  (among some contemporary writers) a system of thought criticized as being centered on the notion of the rational, autonomous self and ignoring the unintegrated and conditioned nature of the individual.

I suddenly realized as I read this terminology how dangerously close the body of Christ has leaned towards this direction. No one wants to hear a negative commentary; but we must be real here. We attend church services where “the praise team is wonderful” or we go to this church because “they still sing the old hymns.”

Either music is fine with me, but if we are determining our attendance of a fellowship 53

(ekklesia G1577 Strong’s) gathering based on the music, or the dress, or even the people, or the pastor, then have we not become humanistic in our own right? Have we forsaken our First Love? Who is at the Head?

sting of the death to self? Therefore our sin calls us unto the strength of the law (1 Corinthians 15:56), because we follow our fleshly desires instead of dying to self so He can reign within us.

Christ is centered as the Head of the Church.

We didn’t choose God, He chose us (See 1 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Romans 9:16). God chose the people he called Israel and called them out to bring them unto himself (Exodus 19:4). Not to satisfy their wants, but because He cared for them and to bring them into a covenant and communion with Him. Jesus came as a propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10).

God takes no pleasure in our desire to bask in selfish desires. “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38). He predestined those he called – to be conformed into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30), according to the good pleasure of His WILL (Ephesians 1:5, 11). Our God is faithful to those He has called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). He longs to scoop us up on eagle’s wings.

His sacrifice didn’t give us carte-blanch to our own desires. No! We were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). Oh, death where is your sting? Have we fallen short of facing the 54

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