Mormons and Christians

Here is a link to a thoughtful post by Ed Stetzer regarding how we ought to think of and relate to Mormons: http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=39047.  He wrote of being cautious about using the term "cult:"  

I hope they keep in mind how a lost world understands that term -- and how your Mormon neighbor understands the term. We all should ask, "Will it make them more willing to hear the truth?"

He does make the point, without compromise, that Mormonism does fit the definition of a cult theologically, but counsels that we shouldn't use that term when trying to witness to a Mormon.  And we should witness to Mormons, as they veer from the plain truth of scripture in important ways.   But our goal in doing so is not to be proven right, but to bring them to a true, life-changing understanding of the gospel.  

Marriage Vows

Forty six years ago Rose and I stood and made a sacred vow in front of God, a preacher, and an audience of several hundred people. We promised to “love & cherish each other till death do us part”. That vow has been tested many times, but it has helped us to not forget that we made that vow to God.

“…who leaves her husband, the closest friend of her youth,

and forgets her marriage vows to her God.”

Pro 2:17 GW

A beautiful young woman with long blond hair, blue eyes, and soft skin with no blemishes came to America from Sweden. She was raised by good Christian parents and received Christ at a very young age. Her friends said they never heard Lynda speak a harsh word about anyone. She dated the same young man in her freshman year of college till she graduated and they waited to have sex till they were married. They made these vows to each other one week after graduating from college.

In the presence of God and these witnesses, I take you to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.

The newly married couple loved to walk and exercise together, go on bike rides, go to movies, eat pizza, and all the things a normal couple would do with each other. Lynda taught school for a year and then became a surgical supply company’s bookkeeper. One day while working, she lost her balance and fell with no apparent reason. The next day she fell again, but this time was unable to get up. She lost all feeling in her legs and couldn’t move them. Her husband d came to the office and picked her up in his arms to carry her to a hospital. There the doctor diagnosed her as having Multiple Sclerosis. This couple, who had only been married 18 months, had all their future plans changed. For the next 30 years Lynda’s bones became brittle and broke easily. Her beautiful face became puffy and bloated. She went from a walker to an electric scooter, to a wheelchair. She could no longer feed herself, write her name, or control her bodily functions. She now needed 24 hours a day care from someone. Lynda’s husband said, “Had we not had a relationship and commitment to Jesus Christ and to each other, our marriage would never have lasted.” Very few mates stay with a spouse when the MS patient moves into those terribly difficult physical, psychological, and mental stages. Lynda’s husband David said, “We are not super saints or super Christians. Lynda & I are normal, ordinary people, empowered by God to do what God has called every Christian to do. God expects every one of his children to keep our marriage vows we made before Him on our wedding day”.

Selah

Al Yoder

11/2/2012

Like Shepherds... Like Wolves

Jesus deliberately uses the image of the sheep – the most dependent, helpless and stupid of all domesticated animals. They are easily disturbed by harmless things, and they are easily disturbed by dangerous things. And when danger comes, sheep have only one natural defense: running. And they're not very good at it. The sheep's greatest enemy in ancient Palestine and in many parts of the world is, was and always will be the wolf.

The number-one task of a good, faithful shepherd is to protect his sheep from the wolf’s attacks.  I am told that sheep do not do very well without a shepherd. Are we not so much like sheep? None of us do well without a shepherd. I need a shepherd. You need a shepherd. We all need a shepherd. When a sheep is lured away from the fold, that sheep is fair game for the wolves.

“Look after yourselves and everyone the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be like shepherds to God's church. It is the flock that he bought with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I am gone, others will come like fierce wolves to attack you.” (Acts 20:28-29) CEV

A close friend of mine told how her parents had cattle that were having baby calves. She said one day she looked out at the field and the cattle were running. She looked closely and noticed a pack of coyotes were chasing after them. They would separate the calves from their mothers, then attack them and tear them to pieces. The calves that managed to stay close to the herd were protected by the older cattle. The sheep that stays close to the sheepfold and close to the shepherd is never overtaken by a wolf. A sheep is never as open to the attack of a wolf as when the sheep strays or is lured away from the flock.

We will either be like a shepherd that seeks to protect the flock, or we will be like fierce wolves that attack the flock. It’s my hope that we will not be like the wolves that attack the sheep, but that we will be like shepherds to God’s church…reflecting our Good Shepherd.

Al Yoder

2/16/2012

Earnest Prayer

At times we say a prayer. At other times we pray earnestly. What is the difference? The Greek word is ektenēs which means…”something a person feels very strong about, something a person is willing to sacrifice time to bring about a positive change”. At times we may work or play alongside people who are just performing a basic duty. They have no enthusiasm or passion about accomplishing a goal. It is discussing to be on a team with this kind of spirit. Earnest people show great passion about helping accomplish a goal. Their enthusiasm is contagious and draws other people into greater commitment as well. Throughout the Bible we read of people on both sides of this way of relating to God. Almost always when we read about God’s supernatural intervention with people in trouble, it follows people who have prayed earnestly. The children of Israel in Egyptian bondage, Daniel in the Lion’s den, Daniel’s friends in the fiery furnace, Elijah facing 400 enemy prophets were just a few examples of God responding to people’s earnest prayers for help.. Here in Acts 12 is the story of a church praying earnestly for Peter who was locked up in prison for preaching Jesus.

⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

¹¹ Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

Acts 12:5,7,11  NIV

In 1858 John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands located in the country of Vanuatu. This country consists of 83 islands with 100 tribal languages. The Patons were the first white residents in an island full of naked and painted wildmen, cannibals. One night a group of these natives surrounded the entire mission station, planning to burn down the buildings and kill the Patons. John and his wife were terrified and prayed all night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see that all their attackers had left. A year later, the chief of that tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept them from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Because you had hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station, so we were afraid to attack." Paton told the chief that there were no men there at that time, only his wife and himself. God had sent angels in response to their prayers for help.

Never underestimate what is happening in the spiritual realm when you are praying earnestly!!!

Over and over the Bible records how God uses angels to help his people who prayed earnestly. Psalms 34:7 teaches us… “those who honor the LORD are surrounded and rescued from danger by the angel of the LORD.”  When you pray earnestly, picture an angel of the Lord being dispatched to that person or circumstance. It is only a matter of time before we will see an obvious answer to prayer. Remember: God’s delays are not near always his denials. Our earnest prayers tug at the heart of our God.

Al

1/16/2012