Sights and Sounds and Criminality
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Psalm 101:3, 4.
There is reason for deep solicitude on your part for your children, who have temptations to encounter at every advance step. It is impossible for them to avoid contact with evil associates. . . . They will see sights, hear sounds, and be subjected to influences which are demoralizing and which, unless they are thoroughly guarded, will imperceptibly but surely corrupt the heart and deform the character. . . .
Some fathers and mothers are so indifferent, so careless, that they think it makes no difference whether their children attend a church school or a public school. “We are in the world,” they say, “and we cannot get out of it.” But, parents, we can get a good way out of the world, if we choose to do so. We can avoid seeing many of the evils that are multiplying so fast in these last days….
To the active minds of children and youth the scenes pictured in imaginary revelations of the future are realities. As revolutions are predicted and all manner of proceedings described that break down the barriers of law and self-restraint, many catch the spirit of these representations. They are led to the commission of crimes even worse, if possible, than these sensational writers depict. Through such influences as these society is becoming demoralized. The seeds of lawlessness are sown broadcast. None need marvel that a harvest of crime is the result. . .
Say firmly: “I will not spend precious moments in reading that which will be of no profit to me, and which only unfits me to be of service to others. I will devote my time and my thoughts to acquiring a fitness for God’s service. I will close my eyes to frivolous and sinful things. My ears are the Lord’s, and I will not listen to the subtle reasoning of the enemy. My voice shall not in any way be subject to a will that is not under the influence of the Spirit of God. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and every power of my being shall be consecrated to worthy pursuits.”
Maranatha p. 145
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray that BD gets a good job soon. Pray that it will be where God wants him to be. R
—–Please pray for the following evangelism events that are taking place in the near future: Diane
- Prineville, OR (Oct 7 – Jan 13) Celebrating Life in Recovery 12 step program based on Steps to Christ for our church family Oct. 7 – Jan. 13 to spiritually and emotionally prepare our church members to offer this to the public in the future. Please pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to work in each member’s heart both now and during this program. Thank you!
- Phoenix, AZ (January-February, 2015) It Is Written
Prayer Request from Justin Lyons, President Minnesota Conference:
We have a major campaign underway in which three conferences and 31 churches are working together to share Jesus with the Twin Cities. We have 3.4 million people in the metro area who need to know God. There are multiple training events and outreach events as well as a mailing of 300,000 Bible study request cards. We have hundreds of members trained and willing to give Bible studies. Each local congregation is to hold a reaping series in her locale. The climax of this campaign is the Revelation Speaks Peace series with Shawn Boonstra from February 27th to March 28th, 2015 and a Spanish-language campaign with Elder Julio Chazarreta, Editor of El Centinela Magazine, from March 28th to April 4th, 2015. Then every church is to have a follow-up series locally. Thank you for your prayers and those of the prayer warriors on your distribution list. Justin
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Dear Friends,
Over the years, Ronnie Jay has found antlers and snake skins while walking in the woods. He is always on the lookout for such things as he has always had an interest in God’s great creation. One day he even found part of a snakeskin while mowing the grass. This was no little skin. It was about three feet long and, unfortunately, incomplete.
Just as a simple set of antlers or the skin that some snake had shed gave witness to their having been in the area where he was walking, so we affect the lives of those around us for good or for ill. We must daily ask ourselves, “Are the people I came in contact with today any closer to God because of my presence?”
God’s Holy Word tells us, “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” Isa 43:10 ,11 What a responsibility we have, yet, how rarely we give it a second thought. By all that we do, by all that we say, by our attitude we are leaving an impression that changes those around us. Sobering thought!
Throughout the Bible, we find recorded the witness of the life of patriarch and prophet, shepherd and king, carpenter and Pharisee. One such person was John the Baptist. His whole life witnessed to the work given Him by God. From his birth, he was set aside for this special work. “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:6-9 John the Baptist did not live a life of ease. He even separated himself from the temptations of the day and dwelt in the wilderness. Although he lived in a solitary place, people went out to the wilderness to hear him preach. “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham . And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matt 3:1-11 Jesus said of John, “What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.” Luke 7:24-28
Think of it! Just as John’s mission in life was to prepare the way for the Messiah, we who live today have a similar mission. We are, by our life’s witness to prepare a people prepared to meet Jesus when He comes again. May we take that commission seriously leaving evidence of our walk with God wherever we go. May others take “knowledge of [us], that [we have] been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 May we make our first work that of leading those we meet to the foot of the cross, that they may receive the grace and blessing and eternal life that our Great Redeemer longs to impart.
Rose