Nor Cal (Redding) CBF Christmas Music Program

Riga (Latvia) UBF Christmas Worship Service

Missionary Timothy Kang shared the good news - the birth of the Savior whose name is Jesus. MAT 1:21

After the service they ate Korean food like deokbokki.

Bible Botswana (prayer for the healing of Missio^^ )

On Dec 11, 2015, at 8:09 PM, Hee Tae Chung <chtubf@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear shep Anreas!

I am Timothy Chung of Botswana. I pray that God may bless new year Africa Bible conference in Cape town mightily and fill all the attendants with his word of life. I also pray that God bless your faithfulness and love through this conference.

I and my family expected to attend this conference by car. but this Tuesday around 2-3 am, an event unexpected happened to us. Two(?) robbers broke into the yard of our house and broke the 1st door of the living living, trying to break the 2nd. i heard the noise and saw this. i hurried up to block them from entering, calling my wife and children. My wife and i kept blocking and my son called the police. then one of them went to the windows to break them. feeling urgency, i kicked the windows with my left leg, breaking them. then they ran away. however i saw a deep wound in my leg, from where much blood kept flowing. i went to the kitchen and took towels to wrap the wound. i saw the blood all around the living room and kitchen. even in the ambulance and at the hospital, blood did not stop coming out. the doctors said the vein, artery and tendons were cut. they took one and half hours for operation. Thanks to God I did not need blood transfusion and the surgery was done well. one day later, i came back home. i must remain in the cast at least for 6 weeks.

My wife and children cannot attend the conference. And as for me, if i take the airplane alone, i worry about how to carry the baggage on crutches. Please pray for my journey or probably for the journey of my family to cape town. We also pray for the security of my family. We thank God for his protection and for the prayer of his servants. We decide everything as early as possible and inform you.

May God give you all necessary wisdom to prepare for the conference.

Timothy Chung

Building a house (your person) 101

Matthew 22

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

YMCA has a logo sign connecting together the Spirit Mind and Body in a triangle indicating the soundness of one's person hinges on the soundness of the three faculties that is the Spirit Mind and Body in complete harmony.

When the Spirit goes amiss mind and body will go faulty. Shepherd William's message on a woman with a hunched back is the case in point. (Refer to http://laubf.com/?p=3809)

In today's daily bread Bible passage in answering the question about the greatest commsnd Jesus said,"Love the Lord your God with all your heart..." 

This is the "GRESTEST" command for nothing is more valuable (or greater in value) than one's own life!

Bible Tempe Az

Last thursday (Oct. 28) Missionary David Kim Sr. successfully finished a liver transplant. THE Lord Provided for him everything including the right liver donor fitting his body.

David is a humble caring man. Let us pray for his complete recovery.

After waking up from surgery he wrote an email stating:

"Dear M. Issac & Rebecca. Kim. I did surgery on Thursday right after I texted to you. Dr. said, this liver is very fitting to me and I got a good liver.  Dr.  Just stopped by and said my transplant was very successful and I'm doing excellent. Not much pain & no nausea Dr. exampled All lab result fine & new liver is already working . and discontinue nasogastric tube, Foley, Atrial line, two central line and moving to general floor. Yeah!!  I am in Intensive Care unit now and recovering. I have no cancer in my body!!!! My prayer topic is: 1) to fight any kind of infection, 2) my new liver to adjust my body . It's another big challenge but God is able & we believe he will take care of it. We always thank for your prayer support. May you find good Heath & Holy Spirt in daily living in the love of Jesus!!

Indebted yours, Ruth & David Kim."

Praise the Lord!

Bible Nocal

Today we had a Bible study with Jeff.

We sang the hymn "O Wonderful Savior my Lord" and read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11.

After the study Jeff shared a sogam saying, "The Risen Jesus appeared to Paul who says is the least of all. So in Jesus even the least can be a great apostle."

So please pray that Jeff may grow and be used as a great servant of the Lord."

Jesus, the rejected stone became the capstone (Prophecy 101)

In a news brief dated October 1, 2015 the Al Jazeera reports as top stories:

* Kremlin: Syria air strikes target "a list" of groups
* Reports: Iranian troops in Syria for joint offensive
* Hadi loyalists claim capture of key Yemen strait
* Afghan forces fight to push back Taliban from Kundus
* Palestine 'no longer bound' by agreements with Israel
* Iran nearly doubles its death toll from Hajj stampede
* Fresh 'revenge' blast rocks southern Chinese town
* Floods hit the US Eastern Seaboard
* Palestinians celebrate hoisting of flag at UN

Many arose to prophesy about the end times nearing. Some predict the U.S. will be hit with major disasters due to her abandoning Israel via striking the Iran nuclear deal. Another says finally the stage is set for the lawless man to appear, causing the rapture of the saints and the arrival of the Savior to become imminent etc. and so forth. Listening to them make already confused people more confused.

The reason for the confusion and loss of the peace of mind lies in the lack of clarity on the will of God. God is God. He is the God of plan and purpose. And He is in control. Nothing happens without it being consistent with the will of God. And God's will purpose and plan are all clear, as crystal clear as the light of the day.

How then can one know/understand the will purpose and plan of God? There are many Scriptures that reveal God's will, but of all, stands out the word of our Lord Jesus when he spoke to the religious leaders of his day before his suffering, where Jesus quoted from Psalm 118, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." 22, 23

In our days there arise builders trying to build their kingdom according to their own will. They include folks like Jihadists, Zionists, political leaders like Putin, Iranian leaders, leaders in Israel, politicians of the U.S. like Obama, Hillary Clinton or nowadays Donald Trump. All of them are playing their own cards to promote their own agenda according to their own will and purpose. It was the same with the people of Jesus' day.

When Jesus the Savior and God over all came to the land of Israel, the builders of the world such as the religious leaders of Jesus' day or the governors of the Gentiles (Romans) rejected Jesus, yet God rejected their rejection and in turn made the rejected stone the cornerstone.

Knowing that Jesus is the plan that will stand, (meaning all other plans that are inconsistent with Jesus will be set aside, coming to nothing), what should one do?

We find the answer to the question in what Jesus added: "Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed." Matthew 21:44

Everyone is a builder, building this or that, some as a politician some as the so called leader of a church organization or some declaring atheist.

But all builders ought to attend to what Peter says: "As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to  him-- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1Pe 2:4,5

You might be tempted to say, "Oh, I do not want to have anything to do with Jesus. I eat my own bread, mind my own business, live my own life." But remember: you cannot avoid Jesus for He is THE Stone. He is THE Builder. So there are only three possibilities: You either are built into Him (THe Plan of God), fall on this stone, or the stone falling on you. If you fall on this stone you will be broken to pieces. If the stone falls on you you will be crushed. So we better repent and turn to Him, so we be built into Him, the Living Stone. Otherwise, you will end up learning all of your pursuits especially 'yourself' earning nothing but eternal destruction.

And this is true both on a collective level (like the deal on Syria or Palestine vs. Israel deal) as well as a personal level.

Tim Staples vs. Mike Gendron

What is Pope Francis Up To?

Grow me up, Lord!

Once Benjamin Franklin said, "Without...continual growth such words as improvement or achievement means nothing."

Question becomes: how does a man grow up?

According to the Scriptures man grows up as his faith in the (grace and) knowledge of the Lord grows. (2Th 1:3; Col 2:19; 1:10; Eph 4:14,16)

For this reason the Apostle Peter says straightforwardly: "Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18 And he exhorted fellow siblings in the Lord to grow by eating (craving) the word of the Lord (pure spiritual milk) (namely the Bible).

To grow up the slave nation Israel out of slavery onto his greatness the Lord revealed himself to his children so that they might come to the knowledge of him as the Lord (Jehovah) God stated through Moses:

'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. [And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.' ” Exodus 6:6-8

The Lord revealed himself to them so he could dwell among them and make them holy. Exodus 29:46; 31:13

When Jesus came he expressed the same purpose saying in effect, "on that day you will know that I am in the Father, the Father in me, you are in me and I am in you." So all three (God the Father who sent Jesus, Jesus the Son, and you, his child/brother/friend) are in one, so God would be "all in all." (JOHN 14-17; 1 Co 15)

So growth comes through (the growth in the faith in the) knowledge of  Christ maturing in and to the full knowledge of the full measure of His greatness.) Col 4:13; Eph 1:28

Biblical Concept of Man (Man 101)

Once upon a time, King David said, "What is man that you are mindful of him (so much)?" Psalm 8:4
What then is man? There is a pictorial answer to this question, illustrated in Exodus 1-4.

In calling Moses to go and save the slave nation Israel, the Lord said, "This will be a sign to you - the sign that it is I who sent you: "After you have brought the people out you will worship God on this mountain."

God created man in His image. By worshiping God man can thrive functioning like Him, so that man would be like God serving Him as His child enjoying the fellowship with Him, taking care of His creation.

The Israel of Moses' day fell short of this glorious state. The downward trip began with Abram and eventually all of his 70 going down to Egypt where its ruler began to treat the people Israel as slaves. After about 4 centuries the Lord heard their cry. Through Moses the Lord chose to recover them back to the original state, that is, the life that worships and serves God, deriving from the fellowship with Him the full life and thriving onto His infinite beauty.

No creatures were endowed with this feature, that is, the image of God and the feature to worship Him. Only human beings were created in His image, not even angels. No wonder that the devil also known as Satan grew jealous that through the serpent tried to tempt man causing his downfall and since then continually attempting to pull him down. But still the Lord God chose to save man back to the original state of glory. Speaking of this restoration the Lord God said, "Here on this mountain you (Yes, even you yourself Moses) will worship God!

Man worships God in spirit and in truth. Spirit and truth refer to the Living Word that comes from the mouth of the Living God. After giving Moses the sign for him, the Lord performed three miracles: staff turning to snake, hand turning leprous, water turning to blood. While the three miracles of snake, leprosy, and blood address the way/power of redemption, it denotes the Lord God being holy, who alone is set apart, in that he alone is self-sufficient, so that under His holy wings man though in and of himself self-deficient can stand perfect in righteousness, holiness, and redemption, becoming fully sufficient through God-sufficiency.

Speaking of this truth the Apostle Paul states, "Now if we are children, we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with the Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings, in order that we also may share in his glory." Romans 8:17 [For those who live by faith in the Lord, participating in His sufferings for His name's sake represents opportunities to experience His glory.]

The Biblical definition of sleep

You  say "I sm going to go and sleep." Then you go to your room fall down on the bed and sleep, or lie down in a couch for a night's sleep.

What then do you mean by sleep?

Here is the answer: to go to the Lord (Jesus Christ) and rest in His arm and find rest in Him.

This definition is true for in the true sense of the word sleep it represensts finding rest in it and this rest is found only in the Lord. 

In this world there is no rest. There you are made only restless. This is seen in the book of Exodus 1 where while the Istarlites were in Egypt they were made restless, for Pharaoh put slave masters over them who in turn drove them to work work and work but no rest. 

Understanding their restlessness the Lord says: come TO ME all of you who are weary and burdened. I will give you rest." King David heard the Lord went to him and found rest (or sleep) in the Lord so he says "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want."

For the same reason John says: do not love the world and anything in it, for if you do love of the Father is not in you. 

This command may sound hard to practise for you say, "the world offers so much but I don't see the Father." Then you need to understand this: all that are in the world came from the Father." 

So which one woud you rather choose? The world that is seen or the Father who is unseen? Further "Why is it said "God chose the things that are not to nullify the things that are"? Or why did Jesus say to Martha: "Lazarus is not dead but asleep?"

The Faith of God

Launching pad for a Zip Line at the Pinecrest

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants—not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all... Romans 4:16

From August 18 to 26 I and Rebekah visited Vietnam. We came back home on August 27. After a few hours of sleep in Redding, the next morning we flew down to LAX via San Francisco Airport, to attend the LA UBF Summer Bible Conference.

The conference took place at the Pinecrest Presbyterian Christian Conference Center in Big Bear Mountain.

Pinecrest added an archery

I was sick with stomach flu, so I could not attend the first night evening service. Apparently Robert Fishman served a message, "You will be a blessing" Genesis 12:1-9.

Lying in bed sick, I meditated on the Bible passage.

One word, "God's faith" came to mind. It deeply moved my heart. The days of Abram were wicked, so wicked that the Lord God had to wipe out through the Flood all peoples on earth except Noah's family. But the problem of idol worship did not go away, but only mushroomed. Joshua 24:2

Apparently Abraham's father Terah talked with Noah and Noah's son Shem. Abraham knew Shem 150 years. Noah died 2 years before Abraham was born. Isaac knew Shem 50 years. (Source: Agape Bible Study at http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/charts/Generations%20Adam-Moses.htm) In other words Abraham is in the line of believing family. Yet how come did he too worship idols? Too sad!

Yet, in faith God visited Abram and called him with the promise of blessing: I will make you into a great nation; I will bless you; I will make your name great!; You will be a blessing; all peoples on earth will be blessed through you!

If you are unsure you do not use the word 'will', but with absolute faith God said, "I will" repeatedly.

Abram at the time of God's calling, Abram had every reason to regard himself as hopeless. For one thing he was 75 years old. He was childless. Perhaps his health also started deteriorating.

Yet, God called him out with a great promise: I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

When I put myself in Abram's position, I doubt whether or not the promise of such great blessings would come true of me. But when I thought about God who believed in what he was saying, faith arose within me, so I too could believe.

I think when this great calling came upon Abram first, he too must have doubted. But I am confident that Abram too was moved by God's faith, so he too believed. Thus he left and go. And as he went along, he built an altar to God and called on the name of the Lord.

The same promise is guaranteed to all who share the faith of Abraham. Thank and praise be to the Lord who had absolute faith in Him that he gave us wonderful promises believing that we too would believe in Him, that all who put trust in Him and his promises would see the promises becoming a reality in each of us beginning here and now! Amen! 

Viva Vietnam

God chose things that are not to nullify the things that are. 1 co 1:28

August 21 Friday Abe Lee checked us in at the 5 star Somerset Hotel at #49 Hai Ba Tung Stress, Hanoi.

After a short journey to a food market through the old city we (jacob esther i and rebekah) spent the night at the hotel.

Next morning (saturday) we moved to Halong Bay where we spent a night at the cabin of the cruise line.

A BIG THANK You to Abe for your generosity giving us a royal treatment paying for "everything". 

It has been said "The Korean War is the first war the US lost." But the Vietnam War is the war both the US and Korea (among other nations) fought but lost."

The question becomes, "Why?"

 The next day as I was heading back to Hanoi from the Ha Long Bay on the cruise line "Bhaya 7" 1 Co 1:28 came to mind: 

people here are lowly in spirit, humble and  kind, poor yet friendly. And her land comes with tons of beauties. The Lord preserved the land and her people for his good purpose.

Sunday we moved back to the hotel. MSN jacob served a message entitled "Fix your eyes on Jesus".

Monday morning along with Jacob and Esther we visited One pillar pagoda, Ho Chi Min Museum,  and Literature Court.

At the Ho Chi Min museum I met Uncle Ho who loved and fought for his people like a father. Once his general Giap  (who was 20 years youger than he) got tangled up in a scandal with a dancer, so was on the virge of getting purged. But instead of purging Giap he solved Giap's "marriage problem" by introducing to him a daughter of noble origin. Since then Giap stood and fought for him till he died at the age of 102 leaving two kids.

Dedicated to the cause of independence and freedom of his people and nation uncle ho did not marry. He died at the age of 79 without seeing the nation freed and united. He died poor leaving a pair of sandals and a pistol. 

People of Vietnam are happy to have a father figure who loved them.  So they call him "Uncle Ho". This coming Sept. 2 they celebrate the 70 years of independence so streets, government buildings and stores were adorned with banners bearing the number 70.

Tuesday evening the last night of our stay in Saigon Abe took us to one of the best restaurants in town located at a highrise building. There I could see saigon becoming a boom town like Kangnam of Seoul.

(After occupying the land first in the north and then south they tried the communist idiology but quickly learned that it is a prescription for emptiness, so they quickly trashed it out and went for western thoughts like "the poor can become rich the rich richer". )

Books to read: 

# The sorrow of war by frank palmos

# Ho chi minh thought on the military, ministry of national defence

# People's war people'army by vo nguen giap

# vietnam war by stanley karnow

# Ho Chi Minh' biography by Chu Duc Tinh Phd

♡ Quotable quotes:

(In an interview conducted by Stanly Karnow in 1946, Ho Chi Minh was asked:

"How long would you have gone on fighting against The United States?" 

HO said, "Another 20 years, maybe a hundred years, as long as it took to win, regardless of cost.")

Uncle Ho Inspecting People's Army

SUN rises on Vietnam

Unlike other Asian nations like Japan or Korea, Vietnam today has far more kids/young gens than oldies.

In Saigon highrise buildings are going up like crazy. Streets are filled with young people going somewhere.

Jesse Young teaches English to college students. He looked younger than I last saw him a few years ago. At a dinner fellowship Jessee met Abe and struck friendship with him.

Vitnamese people have a keen sense of art. In one of the places we visited they presented the Korean folk song

 "Arirang".

Abe Lee has 2 sons (Josiah and Jacob) and 1 daughter (Samantha). His wife is expecting another son (Joshua) soon.

Yesterday he took us to an authentic Vietnamese restaurant. There we ate like kings and queens. Thank you Abe

View from Abe Lee's Riverside Apt.

The Lips of Children and Sucklings

King David says "From the lips of children and sucklings you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." Psalm 8:2

When Jesus came about a thousand years later he quoted David to his opponents saying, "Have you never heard, "From the lips of children you have ordained praise?" Matthew 21:16 This way Jesus silenced those who attempted to smother the sound of children shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David". 

Centuries ahead David saw the Savior coming to Jerusalem. By quoting David on his coming, Jesus reminded people of him coming as the Savior (or Messiah in Hebrew). 

What is interesting here is that it was from the "lips" of the children (as well as) "sucklings" (or infants) that God ordained praise. What is so special about the "Lips of the Sucklings"? The answer is obvious: although no one teaches infants (in total trust) know how to feed from mother's breast. They have innate knowledge to use lips and suckle and thereby secure nutrition for life. 

We do not know exactly who taught the children to shout at the moment of Jesus' (triumphal) entry to Jerusalem. Perhaps no one taught them to do so. People were wondering about who Jesus is so in bewilderment they turned to each other asking, "Who  is this?" But somehow kids figured it out and shouted, "Hosanna in the highest; Hosanna to the Son of David (the Savior King)".  

This episode reminds me of what the Apostle Paul said: "Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -  his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen - being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20 It appears that the kids who shouted at the time of Jesus' entry "understood" Jesus' divine nature, so they said, "Hosanna in the highest!" 

Jesus used what came from the mouth of the infants as a stronghold to defend himself (and his ID as the Savior). 

It is interesting to note that despite his great intelligence and great knowledge of the Scriptures a man named Rambam died (in the year of 1204 AD) without knowing Jesus the Savior. Based on Psalm 8, Rambam formulated a set of guidelines leading to the loftiest accomplishments to which man can aspire -- the love and fear of God. (P. 121, Tehillim, published by Mesorah Publications, Ltd.) He is known as a great scholar, a physician, a Talmudist, the author of Mishneh Torah, a code of Jewish Religious Law. Yet, he died still waiting for the Savior. 

Why is it that a group of people such as infants and sucklings of Jesus' day believe in Jesus, the Savior, whereas people of great intelligence like Rambam finish their lives unbelieving? 

I think the Apostle Paul already answered the question in 1 Co 1:27-30, that is, God's choice: God chose the foolish and weak things to shame the wise and the strong, the  lowly, the despised, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are. 

Why did God choose that way? Answer: that no one can boast before him (Jesus Christ). 1Co 1:31; Eph 2:9 

Why no boasting? Solomon answered the question: Pride goes before destruction. Pro 16:18 In the first place, it was due to pride that Adam and Eve fell. But a child, an infant, a baby suckling from the mother's breast is not proud, just as David said, "My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty... I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me." Psalm 131:1.2

Louisa M. R. Stead formulated the words/lyric of the hymn song, "'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus" saying, "Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease, just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest, and joy and peace." 

The Kingdom of God is "WITHIN" you. Luke 17:21 (Location of the problem)

When Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you", he based his statement on the truth that all of one's problems exist "INSIDE", NOT outside.

Knowing where the problem exists is the key to getting it resolved. This is like when one loses one's eyeglasses, in order to find them, he must first find (or at least think about) where he might have put them. About three months ago I lost my eyeglasses. I searched them everywhere, but with no success. After three months finally I gave up. (Or rather my wife gave up). So my wife contacted the Costco, found out the prices. We went there and got new pairs (she had one, I also had one). After getting a new pair, in two days, I found the old ones. I put them in a small bag, in a side pocket attached to the 8-5 inches of the green bag for my Ipad. But since I did not know when where I put them there, although the bag was always there in my bedroom, I never bothered to look for them there.

We can easily understand this truth when we think about how the first couple Adam and Eve fell. They fell and got into all troublems by first taking the forbidden fruit and eating it. When you eat it it goes inside of you. Then "you" became sin-sick. This is just like a man eating rotten fruit, so as the rotten fruit remains inside, he starts getting sick, like stomach flu or diarrhea. When this happens our body knows this first, so as the body pushes the contaminated food out, you end up puking. Then you feel better.

Applications:

- One lady next door contacted me saying, "Isaac, my husband just walked away from home. He lost his job. Then he started behaving erratically. He got depressed, became belligerent, and started sleeping outside, not coming back home. As I tried to help  him out, even begging  him to come back and sleep at home, he said, "Shut your mouth. If you keep bugging, you will get a bullet in your head." She knew he had a gun underneath his bed. So she called the police. The police said, "Lock the gun." She did lock it up. Then the husband walked away for good, never coming back home. "Isaac, I am afraid. What should I do?" I then shared with her that the problem exists inside, not outside. With her problem being anxious and worried (about first and more about her life without the husband in support of her, than her husband), I shared with her 1 John 5:4 which says "This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith." Like this lady the Apostle John also was nervous and anxious about his life. Living under the Roman rule he had to see the Roman soldiers coming, nabbing innocent Christians and getting them eaten live by wild beasts in a public arena. He was single. He did not have a stable job. And in his old body he had to be worried and anxious. He also suffered from anger and hatred towards the Romans who butchered people just for being a Christian. Then one day (tradition so says) as he was imprisoned at the Island of Patmos, he complained to Jesus saying, "I am angry for the Romans. I hate them. How can I get rid of this hatred?" Then he heard the voice from the Lord, "John, it is because you did not repent and turn to (or live by faith in) me." The message him him like a thunder. Then he knelt down, repented and turned to the Lord. Then problems (anger, hatred, worry, anxiety) disappeared. Filled with the Holy Spirit, even revelations poured in. And this is how we came to have the Book of Revelation!

- God does not get rid of Satan, but still let him run wild. It is because the problem is NOT without that is Satan but within that is you.

- In the parable of weed and wheat when servants came and asked, "Do you want us to pull out all the weeds?" the owner said, "No." The owner said "No pulling up and throwing away weeds until the harvest time" because the problem exists not outside but inside.

Bible Indonesia World Campus Mission

Reports by Dr. WILLIAM Kim of Cikarang UBF and Peter Lee of Depok UBF, Indonesia

First Cikarang SBC in Indonesia:

God blessed Brother Darius and Sister Rina to receive the word. God may help them grow continuously with new hearts.  And God encouraged Me and M. Marie to have a beautiful coworking to hold the first SBC of Cikarang UBF ministry. God blessed me to deliver three messages in a conference. It was God's abundant blessing that many people may not have often.

God may continue to help us to manage this faithful and spiritual ministry based on Cikarang UBF!! Thanks for your hearty prayer support!!

Second, Depok, Indonesia:

From July 16 to 19 they held the Summer  Bible Conference at the Lembah Nyiur Hotel. The theme title was "the faith that overcomes the world" 1 John 5:4 which is designed to help students overcome the increasingly adulterous environment and win victory in Jesus. Total 174 people attended the conference. They pray to establish 20,000 Bible teachers and 2,000 missionaries. 

Responsibility - the purpose of God's child education

8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. 9 I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. Genesis 43

The book of Genesis consists of 50 chapters. Of the fifty chapters thirty chapters are assigned to describing the life of Joseph. Joseph occupies three out  of five! Genesis is known as the Code Book for God's Salvation. Question then becomes, "Why did the Lord assign three fifths of the book to describing the life of Joseph?"

I think we can find the answer to the question in what Judah said to his father Jacob, that is, to teach his children the responsibility for the safety of brethren. 
In the book of Genesis God made efforts to produce children. His efforts produced the result: Israel bearing 11 sons out of which 70 came out. Genesis 46:21 

But the problem is the quality of children, not the quantity. If all of his children do not love one another, hate each other, hit each other, soon they would all turn out to be children of the devil, bound to destruction. 

Since the fall of the first man Adam and Eve, children started coming out, but the children registered the same problem from the first family: Cain the first son of the first couple murdered his younger brother Abel! 

Number of people increased on the surface of the world, but since the problem remained unaddressed, eventually all became good for nothing, so after ridding the earth of them via the flood except Noah's family, the Lord made a new beginning. Out of Noah came out Abraham, then Isaac then Jacob called Israel who in turn produced eleven. What was the quality of the eleven? 

The problem remains still unaddressed. The Eleven were the hodgepodge of kids from four different moms! There was no unity of love among them. No wonder that after lynching through Judah's initiative they sold Joseph in a slave market. 

How did the Lord solve the problem? In the account of the so called "Joseph's love" as narrated in Genesis 30-50, using Joseph, the Lord taught his children the sense of responsibility knowing how to be responsible for the life of fellow brethren. 

The Christian's Secret of Happy Life for Today

A while ago an old lady on the block passed away, so her children put out for (yard) sale her stuff.

I saw in a box dozens of books which are all Bible related. I asked the daughter in charge of the sale, "How much are ALL the books in the whole box?"

She said, "$5.-"

So I bought them all.

It was only today that I was able to read one of the books entitled "The Christian's Secret of Happy Life for Today."

The book has 223 pages, but I think the writings on the two pages below on the message of the Old Testament Scriptures (the Law says) and the New Testament Scriptures (the Gospel says) pretty much sum up the point.

2015 U.S. Canada Staff Meeting Report Part I (by Msn. Jose Ahn)

Msn. Jose Ahn wrote in his email dated June 24, 2015 from Denver Colorado  saying:

Dear world mission prayer coworkers,

Thank you for praying for NA staff conference.

The following is a Brief update of NA staff conference by 6/19

God blessed around 160 North America staff from 110 chapters of Canada and USA from June 18-20 at the beautiful, spacious and quiet Colorado State University which is located an hour and a half hours away from the Denver airport. We saw some parts of Rocky Mountains, vast green fields and clear sky with magnificent pictures of the clouds.

The high lights of this conference were: The intensive Bible Study of the whole book of Philippians to learn “The surpassing knowledge of Christ Jesus” to prepare 2016 school year in 5 Group Bible studies. We also had 5 plenary sessions to listen to the 6 messengers (David Miller, Philip Wong, John Baek, Russel Kille, Helen Rarick and one special outside lecturer pastor Stephen Lutz), 3 Chapter reports: Miami, West LA, Humber (Canada) and 3 mission reports (Dr. William Altobar (Philippines), Paul Kim (Chun Cheon, Korea), Isaac Choi (Kangreung, Korea). Edward P was introduced as a NA conference coordinator to succeed Mark VC who had served last 30 years. Edward gave a video presentation about the next NA international conference-place-candidate. We prepared prayer topics for NA and 6 continents so that NA staff serve not only their own ministries but also world mission by praying and raising shepherds and missionaries to the whole world. 

Tomorrow morning we will share testimonies and another plenary and will finish with P. Abraham Kim's Prayer topics and announcement.

Tks for participating in our prayers

Bible Mozambique, World Campus Mission - A new house church for the poineering work of Mozambique

Missionary James Lee of Pretoria UBF of S. Africa UBF, wrote in his email:

Here is the good news of Sara (Portugal) and Thapelo (South Africa) by M. James Lee.

There was the Wedding Ceremony between Sh. Thapelo and Sh. Sara Neusa at our Bible House on 13 June 2015.

The guests came from Portugal and Botswana and from all other chapters in South Africa. We could share together the vision to pioneer many other African nations bringing to them the word of God. 

Sh. Sara Neusa is from Portugal UBF, and she has the vision to study Bible with the youth of Mozambique after marrying to Sh. Thapelo. 

Sh. Thapelo has the plan to stay with his bride in Portugal for six month period in order to study the Portuguese language, because Mozambique people speak Portuguese. Afterward the couple will move to Mozambique for campus mission. 

It is the historical event because Portugal UBF sent a shepherdess to Africa, and to raise a house church with a shepherd from Pretoria UBF, South Africa. It is God's wonderful work that Sara Neusa made up the decision to build up the House Church with our member and then go to another country in Africa to pioneer.  

Missionary Daniel Rhee officiated this marriage based on Genesis "Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you." The word encouraged us to carry on the work of God in Africa. 

Thank you for all your prayers and other supports. 

James Lee

The Day Job Was Born Again

In Job 42, Job said "My ears have heard of you, but now that my eyes have seen you, I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Job was a good person, yet while he did not meet the Lord in person, he remained unsaved. The words that flew from his mouth in response to the three friends that were visiting him evidence his lost condition. Here and there he said something which sounded that he was 'saved', such as saying, "I know my redeemer lives and in the end  he will stand upon the earth." Job 19:25 But what he said in Job 19:25 falls short of conviction of the salvation, just as was the case with one thirsty woman in Samaritan area when she said to Jesus, "I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming; when he comes he will explain everything." John 4:25

The Lord had mercy on him, sent and spoke through Elihu three times. Just like John the Baptist preaching, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for  him" Mark 1:3, Elihu helped Job prepare for the Lord speaking. The Lord indeed came and spoke once, twice and the third time. Then there was an encounter:  Job met the Savior in person. "My eyes have seen you." In the past he used to know the Lord only by 'hearsay', just as he said, "My ears have heard of you". But now it was different. "My eyes have seen you!" After personal encounter with the Savior a man born blind said, "I was blind, but now I see." John 9:25

The signs of new birth came right away:

1. I despise myself. He found himself no longer worthy. He stated no longer 'self righteously'. As the Apostle Paul said he opened his eyes on the deadness of his old self for the old self is going to go only from bad to worse. Opening the eyes of the old self comes with the bestowal of the new self which is created to be like God  in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:24

2., I repent in dust and ashes. Dust is where a sinner is to go. Ash refers to nothingness (or lifelessness). Repentance "in dust and ashes" is a synonym for the throwing up one's hands to the Lord, giving up the life that relies on himself, choosing to live by full faith in the Lord. It was the sign of total surrender to the Lord, just as Peter said, "Go away from me, for I am a sinful man." Luke 5:8

From this day on Job could live a new life in the Lord, just as was said, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone; the new is come."

The Lord blessed the life after conversation so to speak twice as much as before. (Job 42:12 et seq)

Shining like a star in the sky at night

From 5/22-27 accompanied by Dr. Mark Yang and his wife Anna, Mother Barry visited Redding.

She is 86 years old, yet she is still going strong.

On sunday she served a message. Her message was on Phil. 2, entitled "shining star". Andrew and Natalka also joined the worship. The message had 4 points: manger spirit; incarnational spirit; serving spirit; and obedient spirit.

The Lord commanded Abraham to make a prayer journey by going out of his tent, and walking to the north, south, east, and west. So during her visit she made a prayer journey by visiting the Turtle Bay in the south, the Mt Lassen all the way to the top (8,500 ft) in the east, the site for the gold rush as well as The Judge Francis Carr Power House, French Gulch in the west, and the Castle Crag Mountain Vista Point (all the way to the top) in the north. At each location she prayed for the Lord's blessings upon the wesstcoast, Bible Westcoast campuses, asking the Lord to send harvest workers to harvest fields.

After the visit she grew at least 16 years younger particularly through forest walks so I entitled a picture collage compiling her visits "86 - 16 = 70."

86-16=70

A Book Recommendation - The Historical Christ by David Greer

This book is available for free at the website: https://archive.org. Once you go there, type in words like "The historical Christs, the moral power of history, by David Greer."

It was published in 1890, and about Jesus Christ. On the way (of reading it through) you also can meet in a passing way people like St. Paul, St. Augustine (the great Christian theologian), Tertullian (the great Christian purist), Origen (the great Christian mystic), Mohammed in the Koran, Zoroaster, Sakyi Mouni, Fenelon, Vincent de Paul, and many more.

An Altar Call for Jacob

In Genesis 35 the Lord God commanded Jacob to go up to Bethel, settle down, and build an altar there. Jacob obeyed the command, and called the place "El Bethel".

Jacob had a relationship problem. He did not get along with Esau his twin brother. Even after shaking hands, he ended up telling a lie, that is, instead of going to Seir he went to Succoth and settled there, sending a message: "Esau, you live over there, minding your business, I live over here minding my business." Prior to this event he exhibited the same problem with his neighbor Laban, his relative. Laban was his father-in-law, from whom came his wives. Yet, he built a wall between him and Laban as if  sending a message, "Laban, you mind your business over there, I will mind my business over here." He had problems with his neighbors the townspeople at Succoth, for as he had a relationship problem Dinah had a problem, so she went out and got into trouble. Like father, his sons went out and gotten into trouble with neighbors - they butchered people in revenge, making it impossible for Jacob to continue to stay there.

We see this 'relationship' problem not only on an individual level but also on a nationwide, and certainly worldwide level. Esau used to be bent on killing Jacob, and Jacob used to flee from him. And the Scripture ways the hands of Ishmael will be against all, prompting all against those who are against all.

Is there a solution to the relationship problem? Genesis 35:1 offers the solution, that is, build an altar to the Lord. Altar is symbolic of dedication and consecration. There you lay down what you have been attached to or holding onto - people, money, and all else, that is that which is created, and devote yourself to God, so you would rise to God's level and live at His level. [The expression 'settle' there at Bethel means do not meander or deviate from there, so you  should always walk with God.]

People like Laban, Esau, people at Sukkot, are all limited, so they are not the objects of competition, but compassion from you. The Lord prayed that Jacob should leave the life that lives on man's level, and rise to and live on God's level, so that by being fully sufficient with God who alone is fully sufficient all the time he could live not as a competitor but a source of blessing for all peoples on earth.

Go up to Bethel and settle down there. Build an altar to me. Jacob then called that place El Bethel. El means God. Bethel means house of God. Bethel is not a physical location but a spiritual one, built inside of you.

After the worship at El Bethel, it appears that Jacob forgot the purpose of the altar call. So the Lord God had to appear to  him again and reminded him that his name should no longer be Jacob but Israel meaning 'the one who contends with God and men and has overcome."

This is the reminder of the purpose of the altar call, that is, the call to live on God's level, not on man's level, and purpose of this purpose is for God to use him as a source of blessing for all nations, just as is shown in his promise (given to him subsequent to the reminder), "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants." Gen 35:11

The way of the Holy Spirit

In today's daily bread Bible passage (May 7, 2015), we see Jacob meeting God face to face "at night".

The environment in which he saw God face to face reveals the way of the Holy Spirit, that is, He reveals and makes himself present in an environment which is devoid of that which is created, or simply QE, that is, a quiet environment, because of which we say, "You need "QT" (quiet time) with the Lord."

God created  man to represent Him as his steward for his creation. To equip man to do this mission he built into man the channels to God and his creation, so it has been said, "within man are found ways opened up - the channel to the mineral, the biological, the animal, man, demons, angels, and God."

In reaching God (or God reaching us) and having communion with Him in the sphere of time and space in our inner person, sincerity separation dedication (or consecration) and stillness on our part are must.

In case of Jacob using the news that Esau approaches him with 400 men, the Lord secured sincerity of  the heart on Jacob's part, so he not only moved over the Jabbok river the 550 mercedes benzs, but also his wives, and 11 sons. He was left alone. To  help him empty himself the Lord wrestled with him all night. The blessing came when finally he after desperate prayer "save me (from the sword of Esau)" received the new name Israel [meaning a man who struggled with God and man, and won [or overcame]](rather than Jacob meaning the deceiver). Then joy and peace ruled in his heart.

Jesus followed the sane path, that is, before he began his public ministry he went down into the river of Jordan for baptism (separation from creation, dedication to the divine). As we rose from the river, the Spirit descended upon him. Voice (this is my son; I am pleased with him) was heard.

Similarly Peter said to the crowds, "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and you will  receive the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38

The way of the Spirit is most clearly seen in the way the Lord commanded Moses to build the tabernacle. This way is not man's invention. It is from God, for he says, "Built the tabernacle according to the pattern shown you [by me the Lord] on the mountain." The temple/tabernacle consists of three sections, two on earth three from above, that is, "holy" place, "holy of holies', and finally the one who is holy holy and holy descends. Inside of the holy of the holies there is the ark of the covenant. Inside the covenant is the Lord's Ten Commandments. Above it is the atonement cover on which there are two cherubs (whose mission is to protect his holiness). Between the cherubs the Lord promised to speak to the Israelites. This set up is a lot of hiding on God's part, as Isaiah said, "You are a God who hides yourself". Isaiah 45:15

Because the way of the Holy Spirit is set this way, the first batch of Jesus' disciples also had to  wait 10 days in (intense) prayer until the day of Pentecost.

The same was true with the Apostle John. According to the tradition after Jesus' departure, and through the days when the wind of persecution was raging throughout the Roman Empire, John had hard time to overcome hatred against the Roman 'beasts'. One day while he was incarcerated at the island of Patmos, to overcome hatred he sort of complained to the Lord, "Why I cannot love the Romans? Why is there still hatred in me?" (from watching the innocent being butchered by the Roman beasts.) Then Jesus said, "It is because you do not deny himself." The word of the Lord struck him like a thunder. Then true conversion (emptying himself and turning to the Lord) took place, whereupon along with the revelations the Holy Spirit poured in. In a matter of week or so, the book of Revelation was born.

In talking with Dr. Paul Hong of Toledo last weekend, he asserted that the Apostle Paul had a quiet time (QT) while he was incarcerated for two years in the prison cell in Jerusalem. During the two year period, no one (from the second-gen controlled church of Jerusalem) visited him, Dr. Paul alleges. It was while he was having the QT that he did receive most of (if not all) revelations as reflected in his epistles.

"That night... Jacob was left alone..." (Gen 32:22, 24) During the night all grew calm. Noise and the hustle bustle of the day are quieted down. As the angry face of Esau looms large on him, he must knelt down praying more earnestly than ever. And this went on..., until the next morning, and he met God face to face, calling the place "Peniel". 32:30

In the same way Elijah heard the Lord (speaking in a gentle whisper) while in a dark cave, having QT. :-)

Speaking of the same, Isaiah says, "in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength". Isaiah 30:15 Or Zechariah says, "Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his dwelling place." 2:13

Was it a mere coincidence then that it was while he was in a "far" side of the desert that the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush? In a song of ascents (ascending to the throne of the Lord) didn't David exhort the pilgrims, "I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother...O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, both now and forevermore"?

Jacob was a pilgrim. And on the way to Paddan Aram (which is symbolic of this mundane world where pilgrimage is staged) the Lord secured for him a QT revealing himself at night (Gen 28).

Jacob's pilgrimage is nearly over. Thus towards the closing point off his pilgrimage the Lord helped Jacob secure a QT at the Jabbok River.

So before during and after the pilgrimage, (or simply now and forever) we the pilgrims do need QT.

Framework of God's Kingdom

(Tom Cassidy (1920-1989) tried to live a life that is simple. He lived in a small cabin 10 by 10 at most. Before his departure his friend John Rice Irwin visited him. And Tom said, "I've got that little cot in there, a chair, a stove for heat and cooking, a frying pan, a bean pot, an old dresser, my fiddle, and my pistol. What more does a man need?")

So what more does a man need? 

Here is what you need. 

The other day as I was heading from Redding to Igo area, when I turned on the radio in my truck, the music station on the radio played a pop song which kept saying 'shake, shake, shake'.

This reminded me of Hebrew 12:26 where it is written that God will shake everything that can be shaken so only that which cannot be shaken should remain.

That which cannot be shaken refers to His kingdom, as is described in the scriptures like Isaiah (9:7), Daniel (4:34, 6:26, 7:18) or Luke (1:33).

The citizens of his kingdom are composed of Jesus Christ the Son, and his co-heirs (or his bride), that is, those who belong to Him.

The expression 'that which cannot be shaken' describes the essence of His kingdom that is that which is spiritual. The word 'shaken' or 'shake' (raash in Hebrew), as it is quoted from Haggai 2:6 is repeated 30 times in the Old Testament (in KJV). The key word for this word shaken is the 20th letter of Hebrew Alphabet that is 'reish'. Its primary function of this letter is wickedness, and therefore destruction (via shaking). This concept is seen in what Moses said in regard to the wickedness of the Canaanites reaching its full measure (in fourth generation following Abraham) whereupon the destruction (or cleansing or removal as worthless) should be due.

The same cleansing will happen in regard to the universe, that is, heavens and earth, so as Hebrew 12:6 states the time is set when the foundations of the heavens and earth should be shaken for removal, but this time by heat (2 Peter 3:12).

According to the words of the Apostle Peter,  some of the properties of that which cannot be shaken are "those which cannot spoil, fade, or perish." In God's kingdom then you do not need septic system, sewage system, no recycling, no antique stores, no yard sale, no funeral home, no beauty shop, no need to trim your toe or finger nails, no need to put out trash can on every monday (in case of Redding), no need to change engine oil, no need to go to rest room one, two, or three times a day, no need to brush teeth.

Categorically that which cannot be shaken refers to that which is spiritual, just as Jesus said, "The Spirit gives life to man, flesh counts for nothing." John 6

By definition God is the Creator, so that which cannot be shaken is that which exists on the Creator's level. By the same token, that which can be shaken and therefore should be shaken for removal, consists of that which exist on the level of creation such as soul, body, iron, silver, gold, wood, stone, atom, and so forth.

Spiritually though that which cannot be shaken consists of that is righteous and holy. Speaking of the same concept, it is said, "The righteous shall live by faith" or "those who lead many to righteousness shine like stars forever." Daniel 12:3

Similarly the Scripture says "Without holiness no one will see God." Heb 12:14 For this reason the Book of Hebrews warns his audience against sexual immorality and love of money (13:4 et al).

In talking to the Samaritan woman Jesus revealed to her the way to enter the Kingdom which is not shaken: "God is spirit. His worshipers should worship in spirit and in truth." In this statement Jesus exhorted her to position her in the position of spirit, so she would live a life that is spirit-dominant, not flesh-oriented. In the same way Jesus said to Nicodemus, "You must be born (of the spirit) again".

For the same reason the Scripture shows the selection (or election if you will) of Isaac (that which is of God who is spirit) over Ishmael (that which is of man), Jacob (that which is spirit bound) over Esau (that which is earth bound), Israel (that which is spiritual) over Jacob.

To consummate the work of saving people from the world bound for destruction to the Kingdom that is forever life-giving, our Lord Jesus came saying, "I am He". John also says, "God so loved the world that  whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." 3:16 Then Peter says, "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and you will receive the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38

The English word 'position' means "a place where someone is located or has been put.'

So what is your position?