And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (ESV)
It just struck me, this scripture is even today being fulfilled by our class. Today I preached at my home Church, the New Life SDA Church, on entering into the Lord's rest (Hebrews 4). I just talked with Josh Maloon, and he also preached at his church today, as did Joakim, Indirah, and Irene. In one day the ARISE class of 2008 has already begun the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14.
Keep up the awesome work, my family. Let's make the end come!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
(Revelation 22:20, 21)
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
The Solemn Reality of Eternal Things
Happy Sabbath ARISE family!!
It's so strange to be away from you - I keep thinking I'm going back to school on Monday! - yet at the same time it's exciting to think what will happen next for us and how God will use us.
Here's a little something to think about:
"Perhaps if there were more of that intense distress for souls that leads to tears, we should more frequently see the results we desire. Sometimes it may be that while we are complaining of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, the hardness of our own hearts and our feeble apprehension of the solemn reality of eternal things may be the true cause of our want of success." Hudson Taylor
This really convicted me when I read it. It is my prayer for myself and each of you that we will more fully comprehend the importance and reality of those "eternal things".
It's so strange to be away from you - I keep thinking I'm going back to school on Monday! - yet at the same time it's exciting to think what will happen next for us and how God will use us.
Here's a little something to think about:
"Perhaps if there were more of that intense distress for souls that leads to tears, we should more frequently see the results we desire. Sometimes it may be that while we are complaining of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, the hardness of our own hearts and our feeble apprehension of the solemn reality of eternal things may be the true cause of our want of success." Hudson Taylor
This really convicted me when I read it. It is my prayer for myself and each of you that we will more fully comprehend the importance and reality of those "eternal things".
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Little quote
Hey, Lynette and I were reading together and we found a nice quote, that we wanted to share with you and encourage you: STAY ON YOUR KNEES!!!
Many, even in their seasons of devotion, fail of receiving the blessing of real communion with God. They are in too great haste. With hurried steps they press through the circle of Christ’s loving presence, pausing perhaps a moment within the sacred precincts, but not waiting for counsel. They have no time to remain with the divine Teacher. With their burdens they return to their work.
These workers can never attain the highest success until they learn the secret of strength. They must give themselves time to think, to pray, to wait upon God for a renewal of physical, mental, and spiritual power. They need the uplifting influence of His Spirit. Receiving this, they will be quickened by fresh life. The wearied frame and tired brain will be refreshed; the burdened heart will be lightened.
Education, p. 260-261
Sara, I'll think about what to write, but ask this guy to give you the websites - because I have NEVER ever heard before that non-life begets life... And what to say about the Bible? Think of our Bible-Study, most of all your personal testimony!!!
Family, I hope you had a great Christmas-day =) Pray for you and love you all lots!
Big hug from Lissi
Many, even in their seasons of devotion, fail of receiving the blessing of real communion with God. They are in too great haste. With hurried steps they press through the circle of Christ’s loving presence, pausing perhaps a moment within the sacred precincts, but not waiting for counsel. They have no time to remain with the divine Teacher. With their burdens they return to their work.
These workers can never attain the highest success until they learn the secret of strength. They must give themselves time to think, to pray, to wait upon God for a renewal of physical, mental, and spiritual power. They need the uplifting influence of His Spirit. Receiving this, they will be quickened by fresh life. The wearied frame and tired brain will be refreshed; the burdened heart will be lightened.
Education, p. 260-261
Sara, I'll think about what to write, but ask this guy to give you the websites - because I have NEVER ever heard before that non-life begets life... And what to say about the Bible? Think of our Bible-Study, most of all your personal testimony!!!
Family, I hope you had a great Christmas-day =) Pray for you and love you all lots!
Big hug from Lissi
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
help!:)
okey, im confused here, david told us in the apologetics class that life begets life and that there have never been a case where life has come from nonelife, but today i spoke with a gentleman who insisted that they have done experiments in switserland where life has come from nonelife...
help me out here, what to could i tell him?
hes an agnostic guy, but grew up in the catholic church and does not want to have anything to do with organized church or religion, he doesnt need a God to give him any moral standards and he doesnt need answers to origin meaning morality or destiny...he is content not to know and believes that if theres anything after death hell find out when he gets there...
burn the Bible and how can you base any thruth on the Bible, what is truth by the way and what is a prophecy...!? church and religion is for people who do not use their brains, who do not think...
this is the time when you wish you had studied more than i have!
any advice will be accepted with gladness and thanksgiving, he wants to talk/discuss more before i leave...
thanks!:)
help me out here, what to could i tell him?
hes an agnostic guy, but grew up in the catholic church and does not want to have anything to do with organized church or religion, he doesnt need a God to give him any moral standards and he doesnt need answers to origin meaning morality or destiny...he is content not to know and believes that if theres anything after death hell find out when he gets there...
burn the Bible and how can you base any thruth on the Bible, what is truth by the way and what is a prophecy...!? church and religion is for people who do not use their brains, who do not think...
this is the time when you wish you had studied more than i have!
any advice will be accepted with gladness and thanksgiving, he wants to talk/discuss more before i leave...
thanks!:)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
God is good
Hey ARISE family!!
What a good idea to have this blog - thanks Ben! Right now I'm in Andrews, sitting in the Allcock's living room and listening to Lynette playing "The New Jerusalem" =) GYC was awesome and it was good to see some of you there, I really really miss you all. Every morning I feel like - ah, where is my prayergroup and when is our worship together, singing, when does class start? ;) But as others said before: We are all still doing God's work and that's the best thing we can do. "When our will is in perfect harmony with God's will, then there is peace in our hearts" - We want to seek and save the lost, right? And that's for sure God's will, no doubt!!!
Yesterday when I was waiting to check in and fly back from San Jose to Chicago, a young lady came and stood behind me. I started talking with her and she asked me what I was doing here. I told her about ARISE and GYC and that I love the Bible. She was really amazed and open and we started to talk. When Maria told me that she is working for funerals I asked her what she knows about the state of the dead. "I don't know, do you know anything about it?" she asked me. So, I took out my Bible and gave her a little study. Later I found out that her husband died in a car accident some years ago, and that she has a little daughter. I gave her the Steps to Christ book and left her my email-address. Please pray for Maria, she was really really open and I could see the Holy Spirit working on her heart. When I huged her to say good bye, she first said: God bless you, God bless you so much! ARISEfamily, there is a great work to be done!
On my first flight I was sitting next to a family from China. I was reading the little pamphlets from GLOW and I realized that mum China always looked at me. When I was finished I asked if she liked reading. Well - now she has GLOW. =) It's just wonderful to be used by God, even if we feel tired (and believe me I was SOOOO tired!) and hungry and just like not talking.
So, I just wanted to share my little story from yesterday. Brothers and sisters, stay strong in the Lord, if anyone doesn't know what to read for devotions: Read chapter 33 and 34 in Desires of Ages, it really encouraged me.
Love you, family
Happy week and merry christmas!
Hugs and God's blessings!!!
What a good idea to have this blog - thanks Ben! Right now I'm in Andrews, sitting in the Allcock's living room and listening to Lynette playing "The New Jerusalem" =) GYC was awesome and it was good to see some of you there, I really really miss you all. Every morning I feel like - ah, where is my prayergroup and when is our worship together, singing, when does class start? ;) But as others said before: We are all still doing God's work and that's the best thing we can do. "When our will is in perfect harmony with God's will, then there is peace in our hearts" - We want to seek and save the lost, right? And that's for sure God's will, no doubt!!!
Yesterday when I was waiting to check in and fly back from San Jose to Chicago, a young lady came and stood behind me. I started talking with her and she asked me what I was doing here. I told her about ARISE and GYC and that I love the Bible. She was really amazed and open and we started to talk. When Maria told me that she is working for funerals I asked her what she knows about the state of the dead. "I don't know, do you know anything about it?" she asked me. So, I took out my Bible and gave her a little study. Later I found out that her husband died in a car accident some years ago, and that she has a little daughter. I gave her the Steps to Christ book and left her my email-address. Please pray for Maria, she was really really open and I could see the Holy Spirit working on her heart. When I huged her to say good bye, she first said: God bless you, God bless you so much! ARISEfamily, there is a great work to be done!
On my first flight I was sitting next to a family from China. I was reading the little pamphlets from GLOW and I realized that mum China always looked at me. When I was finished I asked if she liked reading. Well - now she has GLOW. =) It's just wonderful to be used by God, even if we feel tired (and believe me I was SOOOO tired!) and hungry and just like not talking.
So, I just wanted to share my little story from yesterday. Brothers and sisters, stay strong in the Lord, if anyone doesn't know what to read for devotions: Read chapter 33 and 34 in Desires of Ages, it really encouraged me.
Love you, family
Happy week and merry christmas!
Hugs and God's blessings!!!
LIFE in Florida
Hello Everyone!
Melanie and I are praying for all of you daily. Please pray for us as we move to Florida and run the LIFE school.
Pray, Study the Bible, and Witness!
Scott
Saying Hi...
Have a good Christmas everyone, and remember that going home is not a break from Outreach (even though I feel like I need one!!). Keep sharing....
Reece
P.S.- Remember to tell us who you are when you post because we can't tell otherwise...
Reece
P.S.- Remember to tell us who you are when you post because we can't tell otherwise...
separation through insulation
hey guys, i think this blog idea is stupendous! i miss ARISE, but i'm not really that sad b/c i know we are all doing God's work, and that's all that matters, even more importantly than seeing e/o before Heaven. just wanted to share something i've been thinking about ever since GYC. randy skeete talked about separation from the world. it was SUPER potent! (check out his sermons on audioverse.org) what i'm saying is, i've REALLY been convicted of the importance of separating myself from the world's influence as a Seventh-day Adventist. that doesn't mean we should become super-ultra-conservative and live in isolated communities out in the woods, but it does mean that we need to accomplish godly life in Christ through a way deeper dedication to the Word. i've been feeling like i need to get a lot more serious w/ God for a while now, and i know the only reason to do that is through His Bible. it's not through nice music, or good books, or sublime sermons (even though all those things are great), but ONLY through the Word of God. for real guys, let's keep e/o accountable to the Word. that's the only map we have for our times. if you'll help me with my commitment to read and study it more i would really appreciate it too.
Revelation 2:10-
"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Revelation 2:10-
"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Monday, December 22, 2008
hey there,
i hope u will all have a blessed xmas, and thanx to ben we can now keep updating eachother on whats going on and stuff, share prayer requests etc. For the moment im praying for God to show me where He wants me to be and do next year. its one week since ARISE finished, and thats crazy to me, im still waiting to go back to class, as if we just had the weekend of...man i miss u all so much! keep up the spirit and pray for eachother!
Stay strong, remember that we have the best power source in the universe, and not only that, its free too!:) u can use as much as u like, without paying a cent or wearing it out!
i love u all!
sara
i hope u will all have a blessed xmas, and thanx to ben we can now keep updating eachother on whats going on and stuff, share prayer requests etc. For the moment im praying for God to show me where He wants me to be and do next year. its one week since ARISE finished, and thats crazy to me, im still waiting to go back to class, as if we just had the weekend of...man i miss u all so much! keep up the spirit and pray for eachother!
Stay strong, remember that we have the best power source in the universe, and not only that, its free too!:) u can use as much as u like, without paying a cent or wearing it out!
i love u all!
sara
ARISE!
Hello to my brothers and sisters from ARISE 2008.
This blog spot was the idea of Sara. The objective is that all of us get on here on a regular basis and post updates on what God is doing in our lives. In order to post, you need to get a blogger.com account (which is insanely easy to do). By this time each of you should have received an invitation to join posting on this page.
Note: If any of you have the email addresses of Kristina, Diana, and/or Alan, please let me know so I can invite them too.
And everyone, keep checking back whenever you have a free moment so we can all see what God is doing in our lives. Our url is
http://arise08.blogspot.com/
God bless! Keep the faith, and keep SEEKING THE LOST!
-Ben
This blog spot was the idea of Sara. The objective is that all of us get on here on a regular basis and post updates on what God is doing in our lives. In order to post, you need to get a blogger.com account (which is insanely easy to do). By this time each of you should have received an invitation to join posting on this page.
Note: If any of you have the email addresses of Kristina, Diana, and/or Alan, please let me know so I can invite them too.
And everyone, keep checking back whenever you have a free moment so we can all see what God is doing in our lives. Our url is
http://arise08.blogspot.com/
God bless! Keep the faith, and keep SEEKING THE LOST!
-Ben
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