Apostle James the Brother of St John the Theologian

http://oca.org/saints/lives/2014/04/30/101248-apostle-james-the-brother-of-st-john-the-theologian

The Holy Apostle James, the son of Zebedee, was the brother of St John the Theologian, and one of the Twelve Apostles. He and his brother, St John, were called to be Apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who called them the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). It was this James, with John and Peter, who witnessed the Raising of the Daughter of Jairus, the Lord’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, and His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

St James, after the Descent of the Holy Spirit, preached in Spain and in other lands, and then he returned to Jerusalem. He openly and boldly preached Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, and he denounced the Pharisees and the Scribes with the words of Holy Scripture, reproaching them for their malice of heart and unbelief.

The Jews could not prevail against St James, and so they hired the sorcerer Hermogenes to dispute with the apostle and refute his arguments that Christ was the promised Messiah Who had come into the world. The sorcerer sent to the apostle his pupil Philip, who was converted to belief in Christ. Then Hermogenes himself became persuaded of the power of God, he burned his books of magic, accepted holy Baptism and became a true follower of Christ.

The Jews persuaded Herod Agrippa (40-44) to arrest the Apostle James and sentence him to death (Acts 12:1-2). Eusebius provides some of the details of the saint’s execution (CHURCH HISTORY II, 9). St James calmly heard the death sentence and continued to bear witness to Christ. One of the false witnesses, whose name was Josiah, was struck by the courage of St James. He came to believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. When they led the apostle forth to execution, Josiah fell at his feet, repenting of his sin and asking forgiveness. The apostle embraced him, gave him a kiss and said, “Peace and forgiveness to you.” Then Josiah confessed his faith in Christ before everyone, and he was beheaded with St James in the year 44 at Jerusalem.

St James was the first of the Apostles to die as a martyr.

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Jesus—His Life and Message: Introduction

By P Amsterdam

When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.1

God, in His love, sent His Son into the world at a specific time and place to live as a human being, to die on a cross, and to be raised from the dead to redeem fallen humankind, so that humanity would have the opportunity to enter into His kingdom and into a special relationship with Him. The four Gospels tell this story—the story of a unique human being, a Galilean Jew, a person who in many ways was very much like everyone else who has ever been born. At the same time, He was very different from anyone who has ever lived.

The Gospels tell us what made Jesus different. They teach us that He came into the world to lay down His life for humankind, and how through His death and resurrection humanity could enter into a new relationship with God. He didn’t come to teach people how to be good; He came to give them the power to be good through the supreme sacrifice He made for us all. There is no other story as important as this one, because how people respond to this unique individual—Jesus—determines their destiny for eternity.2 It’s through this story that we understand the great gift that is offered to us: the gift of becoming a child of our Father in heaven, the means to become a part of His family, and the wonder of living with Him forever.

The Gospels lay the foundation of Christian belief. It’s within their pages that we learn that Jesus was more than a good or righteous man, more than a teacher of morals and ethics, and more than a miracle worker. It’s within the Gospels that we find that Jesus, this unique individual, is the Savior promised by God. It is from the Gospels that we learn of the fulfillment of the promise God made, that through the ancient Hebrew patriarch Abraham all the world would be blessed.3

Jesus lived over two millennia ago, and the Gospels were written a few decades after His death and resurrection by believers of that day. Their goal in writing Jesus’ story was to preserve it so that it could be shared over and over. They wrote so that others would believe,4 and they were successful. There has been an unbroken line of Christians from their day until ours. Two millennia later, we read the same Gospel as did the first readers, and it has the power to transform our lives just as it did theirs.

The Gospels were not the first writings about Jesus. The apostle Paul’s letters are believed to have been written between 49–67 AD, which means some of them were most likely in circulation before the Gospels were written. Some of the other Epistles written in the early 60s AD could have predated the Gospels as well. The Epistles don’t tell a great deal about the life of Jesus, most likely because the authors were writing to believers who already knew something of His life. As was the general custom of the day, the stories and teachings of Jesus would have been circulated orally. The original witnesses, those who knew Him, would have told others the story of His life, describing His miracles, retelling His parables, and sharing other details of His life.

The time between Jesus’ death and resurrection (c. 33 AD) and the first of Paul’s Epistles was probably about fifteen years. The first Gospels were written about thirty years after Christ’s death. Although the writers of the Epistles didn’t go into the details of Jesus’ life, from what they did write, it’s clear that what they communicated in their writings corresponded with what the Gospel writers later recorded.

The Epistles tell us that Jesus was a descendant of David,5 a Jew raised under the Mosaic law,6 gentle and meek,7 sinless,8 tempted,9 and righteous.10 We also learn that He experienced hostility,11 was betrayed,12 suffered without resisting,13 was crucified,14rose from the dead,15 and ascended into heaven.16

The Gospels focus on the time of Jesus’ ministry. Two of the Gospels give an account of His birth, and one speaks briefly of an event from His childhood when He was about twelve years old. Beyond that, we know almost no specific details about His life until He was baptized by John the Baptist. His pre-ministry life wasn’t the focus or purpose of the Gospel writers. Instead, they speak about what Jesus said and did during the public era of His life, the message He proclaimed, and the manner in which He proclaimed it. They tell us of His actions, miracles He performed, stories He told, the manner of His death, and His rising from the dead. They teach us that He was God’s only begotten Son, the only person who was both God and man, and that His purpose for taking on human form was to make it possible for us to live with God forever. In short, the Gospels’ main purpose is to share the good news that salvation is available through Jesus Christ.

The Gospels also teach believers about the relationship we enter into when we become children of God. They lay the foundation for living as the new creations we’ve become through salvation and receiving the Spirit of God within us. The Gospels impart information which can affect our lives for eternity, help us develop a worldview built on the foundation of truth, and act as spiritual, moral, and ethical guideposts on the journey of our lives.

The purpose of this series, Jesus—His Life and Message, is twofold. The primary one is to give the reader some new insight into the Gospels, to enrich your understanding of what they contain. Most of us have read the Gospels over the years and have understood their overall message, and have sought to guide our lives by their teachings. However, deepening our understanding of what the Gospels teach can further strengthen our faith and help us to better apply their principles in our daily living.

The Gospels were written two thousand years ago in the common Greek of the day, known as Koine Greek—no longer spoken today. It was the main language spoken throughout the Roman Empire during the time of Jesus and beyond. The world of first-century Palestine was very different from the world we live in today, which can make it a challenge to understand the relevance of some of what Jesus said and did in the course of His ministry. Painting a picture of the setting and atmosphere of the times, looking at the background, politics, relationship between the governing power of Rome and the Jewish people, and discussing the religious factions of the time provide a backdrop for the context in which the Gospels were written that helps us better comprehend their meaning.

A fuller understanding of what the Gospels teach can bring us into a richer relationship with the Lord, which is another purpose of this series. If we can understand more than the words written on the page; if we can grasp the deeper concepts of what Jesus said and did, of His parables, His sermons, His miracles; if we can see them through the eyes of the first eyewitnesses in the milieu of first-century Palestine; then we can see more of the depth and beauty of His message. This can result in a fuller understanding of Jesus’ life, a more profound appreciation for the “depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God,”17and ultimately a deeper faith.

The Gospels provide foundational principles which act as guidelines for leading a meaningful life and making choices and decisions based on eternal truths given by our Savior. Knowledge of the Gospels and what they teach is vital for living a God-centered life, which leads to joy in this life as well as the next. I hope each person who reads this series will gain some new insights and greater depth in their relationship with the Lord.

I’ve had a deep burden to write about the Gospels for the past five years, and I intended to begin this series years ago. Instead, the Lord led me to first focus on The Heart of It Allseries, in order to more fully explore basic Christian doctrines. While I wasn’t thrilled with the idea at the time, I’m glad I worked through that series first, as it forms a firm foundation for delving into the life and teachings of Jesus. That being said, I’m so thankful for the opportunity to begin this new series about Jesus’ life and teachings. I’ve always loved the Gospels, but having more thoroughly studied them these past years has given me a greater appreciation for their depth, beauty, and the life-changing power they possess. Spending more time with them has enriched my life in numerous ways. They have helped strengthen my understanding, my faith, and my connection with the Lord. My prayer is that studying the Gospels with this series will in some way do the same for you.

Researching and writing a potentially long series such as this requires commitment, and so does reading it. Over the past few years I’ve done a lot of study of the Bible's theology and history, both the Old and New Testaments, and parts of what I’ve worked through were rather boring, either because I already knew the information or I was simply uninterested in it. I was, however, trying to learn in a comprehensive manner—and as part of such learning, it’s often necessary to take in some information which is less interesting. The reason it is worthwhile is that it helps lay the foundation for understanding later concepts that build upon it and which are interesting and spiritually enriching.

Some parts of this series are primarily background, and while I am hoping that this background is interesting and helpful, as well as brief enough to be manageable, I realize it may not be the easiest read. It may be challenging to stick with it, especially if certain parts aren’t particularly interesting or spiritually feeding for you. I understand that it can be hard to progress through material that is not your preferred cup of tea. But I believe it will be worth your time and effort if you work your way through those sections.

The first few articles in this series will cover some general information about the Gospels, as well as some historical information. I encourage you to read through this material, even if it feels a little academic or tedious for your liking. I especially encourage you to persevere and continue into the more interesting and inspirational articles which will follow, and not decide to skip the series overall based on these introductory background articles. Being familiar with the introductory material will be helpful later as we look at Jesus’ teachings and the events of His life in detail.

I will start with an explanation of the Gospels—who wrote them and why, when they were written, and the kind of documents they are. I will include some description of the situation in Israel prior to and during Jesus’ lifetime, as well as looking at the rulers of the land, and the religious groups within Israel, in order to help describe the world He was born into. Then we will move into the story of His birth and His life.

In covering His ministry through to His passion, death, and resurrection, I plan to focus on what He taught, what it meant to His disciples, and what it means to us today. I plan to cover the major teachings in depth, as well as the connection between His miracles, actions, and message. There may be aspects of the Gospels, such as the Sermon on the Mount, that will require multiple articles to fully explore. Since I’ve already written about Jesus’ parables inThe Stories Jesus Told series, I won’t extensively cover those again, but I will try to cover the other teachings of Jesus in some depth.

In this series, I will generally use the English Standard Version (ESV) when quoting Scripture, but will also use other Bible translations if they more clearly express a certain point. A general bibliography will be included at the end of each chapter; therefore the citations in footnotes will be abbreviated.

I am very thankful for the team of tremendous people who are helping make this series possible. I am grateful for my wonderful editor as well as the team of reviewers who read every word, ask questions, make suggestions, and point out the flaws in my drafts. As difficult as it can be to receive the multitude of suggestions, I thank the Lord for them, as without doubt they make the text better. Then there is our ever-faithful proofreader, the graphic designer, the webmaster who posts the material on Directors’ Corner, and of course the translators and those who do the same things in other languages. I am eternally grateful for the time, effort, prayer, and plain old hard work these dear ones do to make it possible for you to receive these posts. My thanks to each of you.

My goal is to write about the Gospels in a manner that is interesting, gives a broad range of information, is applicable to daily life, and is helpful to both new and veteran Christians. It is my hope and prayer that this series will be an aid that brings greater understanding to your reading and study of the Gospels; that enriches your understanding of Jesus’ life and message, and the bedrock principles Jesus taught and on which we build our lives as God’s children.

Note:

Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Footnotes:

1 Galatians 4:4–5.
2 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God (John 3:16–18).
Everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God (Luke 12:8–9).
3 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:2–3).
4 John 20:31.
5 … concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh (Romans 1:3).
6 When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law (Galatians 4:4).
7 … by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1).
8 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).
One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth (1 Peter 2:22).
9 Because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:18).
10 Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18).
11 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted (Hebrews 12:3).
For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me” (Romans 15:3).
12 The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread (1 Corinthians 11:23).
13 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:21–23).
14 We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23).
15 … that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:4).
16 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9–11).
17 Romans 11:33.

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A Dádiva de Falhar

Uma compilação

Aprendendo com nossas experiências

Algumas vezes, Deus usa os desapontamentos para nos aproximar mais de Si, ou para nos ensinar a ter paciência e confiar. Outras vezes, Ele usa isso para nos redirecionar e colocar no caminho da Sua vontade. Não deixe uma falha ou desapontamento separá-lo de Deus ou fazê-lo perder esperança para o futuro. Normalmente, quando Deus fecha uma porta, Ele oferece outra, mas precisamos buscar.

O apóstolo Paulo disse: “Já aprendi a contentar-me com o que tenho.”[1] Ele escreveu isso enquanto preso, com seus planos interrompidos e o futuro incerto. Ele só pode fazer tal declaração porque aprendeu a considerar desapontamentos e fracassos a partir da perspectiva de Deus, e a confiar nEle para o seu futuro. Que isso possa ser realidade na nossa vida.

Ao enfrentar adversidades, tome posse da oração do Salmista: “Mostra-me, Senhor, os teus caminhos, ensina-me as tuas veredas.”[2]—Billy Graham

Falhar é uma bênção

É fato que todos falham em algum momento. O mais importante é não desistir, é estar disposto a aprender, melhorar e crescer a partir das situações. Muitas vezes, o fracasso é um momento de definição, uma encruzilhada na jornada da sua vida. Serve de teste para avaliar sua coragem, perseverança, compromisso e dedicação. Você é um fingido, que desiste depois de uma pequena adversidade, ou um batalhador que sempre se levanta, não importa quantas vezes seja jogado no chão?

Falhar nos oferece uma grande oportunidade de decidir quão importante algo é para nós. Vamos desistir? Ou vamos ficar mais firmes, mais comprometidos, trabalhar com mais afinco, aprender e melhorar? … Por outro lado, às vezes, falhar nos faz trilhar um caminho diferente que, no final das contas, será o melhor. ... Às vezes, é preciso errar a meta para chegar ao destino. Falhar pode nos ajudar a perceber que, na realidade, desejamos outra coisa.

Não importa o caminho que trilhe, você sempre vai passar por situações humilhantes que contribuirão para a formação de caráter, lhe darão perspectiva, aumentarão a sua fé, e o farão dar valor ao sucesso quando o alcançar. Sem falhar não é possível se tornar o tipo de pessoa que, em última análise, alcança o sucesso.

Por isso, da próxima vez que falhar, não deixe isso impedi-lo de viver a vida para a qual foi criado, e de forjar o futuro que cabe a você forjar. Considere cada prova um aprendizado, um desvio na rota rumo a um melhor resultado, um acontecimento que vai fazer de você uma melhor pessoa.

Falhas não são finais e fatais. Elas não nos definem como pessoas. Elas nos lapidam para podermos cumprir o propósito para o qual fomos criados.

Quando consideramos a falha uma bênção, em vez de uma maldição, ela se transforma em degrau que leva ao tesouro, que é o sucesso.—Jon Gordon[3]

Grandes mancadas de homens de Deus

Será que o ministério de Elias foi derrotado quando ele fugiu de Jezabel depois de conquistar uma grande vitória no Monte Carmelo? Por acaso toda a sua valentia perdeu valor diante da sua covardia no deserto? Depois de matar centenas de falsos profetas, lá estava ele, fugindo de uma simples mulher. Imagine a cena! O grandioso, valente e majestoso profeta, superior a todos em termos de força e poder de Deus lá no Monte Carmelo, invocando fogo do céu, subitamente estava fugindo da rainha Jezabel. Ali estava o profeta de Deus, com medo de uma mulher! Será que isso não jogou por terra todo o seu ministério ou enfraqueceu o seu testemunho? Não teria sido evidência, no final das contas, de que ele não era um grande profeta? E não o fez perder seguidores? Ou será que Deus queria lhe mostrar algo que faria dele um melhor profeta, mais humilde, que voltaria sem medo do rei, muito menos da rainha?

Depois de descobrir que Deus não estava apenas no fogo, trovão e terremoto, Elias, um homem explosivo, se tornou um manso condutor da vozinha mansa e delicada de Deus.[4] Ele tinha sido ótimo pregando destruição e juízo, agora estava aprendendo o lento e paciente processo de alimentar e orientar as ovelhas.

Será que não foi uma vergonha e um golpe terrível contra a causa de Deus o grande profeta Jeremias ser pendurado em um tronco para seus irmãos de fé poderem cuspir no seu rosto, ou ser enterrado na lama até os ombros por seus inimigos, e só conseguir escapar à surdina com a ajuda de seu querido amigo, Ebede? E o escândalo maior não teria sido, por acaso, ele ser preso como traidor e criminoso, infiel à nação e ao seu próprio povo?[5] Não para Deus! Tudo foi parte do Seu plano para manter Jeremias humilde, próximo ao Senhor, e completamente dependente dEle.

Será que Deus cometeu um erro? Ou será que estava tentando mostrar que pode usar qualquer pessoa, até mesmo você, dando exemplos tão encorajadores de pessoas “fracassadas, mas bem sucedidas”, fabulosos fracassos, desligados ousados, pessoas que se atreveram a confiar em Deus apesar de si mesmas e deram a Ele toda a glória, porque sabiam que tinha que ser obra dEle!—David Brandt Berg

Olhando além dos erros e falhas

A estrada que leva ao fracasso, geralmente é pavimentada com boas intenções. No final desse caminho, depois de esgotarmos todos os nossos recursos, então encontramos a abundante graça de Deus.

Pedro falhou a Jesus diversas vezes, por melhores que fossem suas intenções. Na Última Ceia, Jesus Se ofereceu para lavar seus pés, mas o apóstolo protestou: “Você jamais vai lavar meus pés”. Jesus respondeu, “Se eu não o fizer, você não tem parte Comigo.” Rapidamente, Pedro mudou de opinião, dizendo: “Então, Senhor, não só meus pés, mas também minhas mãos e minha cabeça.”

Pouco depois desse acontecimento, Jesus disse aos discípulos que todos eles o deixariam, por causa da Sua situação. Pedro, sem papas na língua, como sempre, respondeu: “Ainda que todos te abandonem, eu nunca te abandonarei!"[6] Jesus então avisa que naquela mesma noite, antes do galo cantar, ele O terá negado três vezes.

No Jardim do Getsêmani, apesar de Jesus pedir repetidamente a Pedro que O acompanhasse em oração, este dormiu, por conta do grande cansaço que sentia. E quando os soldados chegaram, ele não estava preparado. Na tentativa de proteger Jesus, Pedro impensadamente desembainhou a espada e cortou fora a orelha de Malcom, um dos soldados. Por não ter orado, faltou-lhe autocontrole. Jesus o censurou e Pedro não pediu desculpas pelo seu ato. E também não continuou leal, cumprindo assim o que Jesus dissera, que ele O negaria três vezes em uma noite.

Se não vivermos em oração, estaremos despreparados para lidar com imprevistos, conflitos, e tragédias. A maioria de nós, em algum momento, pode se identificar com os erros e falhas de Pedro. Achamos, erroneamente, que temos condições de viver por Cristo por mérito próprio, e descobrimos que não temos. No caso de Pedro, que ficou desolado, Jesus não o abandonou. Ele ensinou e reiterou um princípio que devemos ter arraigado no nosso coração: Jesus só consegue atuar por meio de nós na medida em que Lhe permitimos. “Se eu não lavar seus pés, você não tem parte Comigo.”

No caso de Pedro, recuperar-se não significava tornar-se perfeito, mas sim reconhecer a sua condição e avaliar-se de maneira realista. Ele é acolhido de volta não por valor próprio, mas por razão de seu quebrantamento de coração. Nós ingressamos na vontade de Deus ao reconhecermos nosso amor por Cristo. Somos amados para amarmos; fortalecidos para fortalecermos; e é por meio do poder de Cristo que deixamos os erros e falhas para trás. ...Erros e falhas nos ensinam que, quando somos infiéis, Cristo permanece fiel.—Charles Price

O processo de formação da alma

Sabemos que caráter e força moral se adquire através de dificuldades, superação de obstáculos e persistência diante das adversidades. Por exemplo, seria impossível existir coragem se não existisse sofrimento. O apóstolo Paulo deu testemunho da obra de lapidação que o sofrimento realiza. Ele disse: “O sofrimento produz perseverança; a perseverança caráter; e o caráter, esperança”.

Devemos admitir que aprendemos por meio dos erros que cometemos e do sofrimento que nos causam. O universo é uma máquina que auxilia no processo da formação da alma. E parte desse processo envolve aprender, amadurecer, e crescer através das dificuldades, desafios, e experiências dolorosas. A nossa vida neste mundo não é por conforto, mas para capacitação e preparação para a eternidade. A Bíblia nos diz que até Jesus “aprendeu obediência por aquilo que padeceu”. E se foi assim com Ele, por que esse princípio não se aplicaria ainda mais a nós?—Peter Kreeft[7]

*

É preciso muita fé para encarar aparentes derrotas e fracassos em alguns aspectos e continuar firme na Minha Palavra e nas promessas que lhe fiz. Às vezes, sente-se cansado, exausto, desencorajado e não consegue ver a vitória ou o potencial para a vitória. Praticamente todo grande homem ou mulher de fé no decorrer das eras passou por isso, às vezes por muitos anos, até morrer. No entanto, não importa a duração da batalha, viver por Mim e apegar-se à sua fé é a vitória.

Como acha que se sentiram os mártires no Coliseu em Roma? Minhas promessas devem ter parecido um grande fracasso diante daquelas situações. No entanto, os mártires ganharam algumas das maiores vitórias de todas as eras simplesmente por terem permanecido humildes e fieis até o final.[8]

Muitas vezes você pode se sentir derrotado, mas o seu compromisso Comigo, mesmo quando tudo parece perdido, contrário à lógica e não parece fazer sentido, é a maior vitória que existe.—Jesus, falando em profecia

*

Siga acreditando, nunca desista! Siga acreditando, não fique desanimado! Siga acreditando, não se entregue. Continue agarrando-se às promessas de Deus. Continue firmando-se nas promessas, e, faça o que fizer, siga em frente por Jesus.

Nunca pare, nunca desista! Não perca a esperança. Não perca a fé só porque acha que perdeu o último ônibus. Espere no Senhor um pouco mais e Ele enviará outro ônibus, outra oportunidade, outra chance.

Se quiser mesmo a vontade de Deus, Ele certamente lhe dará outra oportunidade, enviará outro ônibus para pegá-lo e levantar seu espírito, encorajá-lo, inspirá-lo, fortalecê-lo, curá-lo e transportá-lo no poder do Seu Espírito para a gloriosa vitória de seu destino celestial. Continue acreditando!—David Brandt Berg

Publicado no Âncora em outubro 2014.
Tradução Hebe Rondon Flandoli. Revisão Denise Oliveira.


[1] Filipenses 4:11 NVI.

[2] Salmo 25:4 NVI.

[3] Cortesia de Guideposts. Para ver o artigo na sua íntegra, veja:http://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/inspirational-stories/motivational-stories/the-gift-of-failure.

[4] 1 Reis 19:11–13.

[5] Jeremias 20:2, 38:6–13, 37:11–15.

[6] Mateus 26:33 NVI.

[7] Segundo citado por Lee Strobel em The Case for Faith (Zondervan, 2000), em tradução livre.

[8] Romanos 8:36–37.

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Picos e Vales

Elsa Sichrovsky

Tenho lido o romance de C. S. Lewis Cartas de um Diabo a seu aprendiz, que narra uma correspondência fictícia entre um demônio sênior chamado Fitafuso e um diabo júnior chamado Vermebile. Adquiri com essas cartas um entendimento fascinante das estratégias de Satanás para sabotar o meu crescimento espiritual, meu relacionamento com Deus, e minhas interações com os outros. Uma das cartas explora os altos e baixos da experiência humana, o que eu chamo de "picos e vales".

Nesta carta, Fitafuso discute o período de "seca e apatia" pelo qual a vítima de Vermebile está passando. Fitafuso lamenta que Deus pretenda usar esse tempo para fortalecer a determinação do jovem para amá-lO e segui-lO, mesmo sem inspirar sentimentos para validar Sua presença. Fitafuso pede a Vermebile que garanta que o jovem não vai se conscientizar da normalidade dos vales, mas que fique convencido de que aquela sensação arrastada de depressão é uma condição permanente. Enquanto eu lia, refleti no meu ciclo de picos e vales pessoal, e sobre o que tenho aprendido com os meus vales.

Eu com certeza tenho desfrutado dos “picos” na minha vida: períodos de sucesso no meu trabalho, progresso nos estudos, camaradagem com familiares e amigos, ótima saúde, alegre comunhão com Jesus e leitura inspiradora da Bíblia. Mas também tenho passado por “vales” tais como aquele com o qual tive dificuldade recentemente. Comecei com um grande revés no meu trabalho, seguido de problemas nos meus estudos, conflitos e comunicação desgastada com meus amados, e finalmente fiquei doente. Eu me vi no fundo do poço, com nenhuma inspiração para ler a minha Bíblia ou até mesmo orar.

O meu vale parecia não ter fim, e me engolia num vazio escuro e me cobria em desespero. Senti como se Deus tivesse feito as malas e desaparecido. Eu roguei para Ele estar próximo, me ajudar a passar pelos meus problemas e me permitir sentir a Sua presença, mas Ele parecia distante e silencioso. O que está acontecendo? O que fiz de errado? Ponderei desesperadamente.

Tentei usar força de vontade e esforço para recriar a emoção e inspiração espiritual da qual desfrutei nos meus picos, mas isso só me deixou exausta e ainda mais desencorajada. Finalmente me ocorreu que fé não pode ser medida por sentimentos, como Paulo diz, “Vivemos por fé, e não pelo que vemos.”[1]

Ler Cartas de um Diabo a seu aprendiz confirmou o que eu tinha descoberto no meu vale. Descobri que o segredo era entender que eu estava passando por um vale e que é comum a todos passar por vales. Minhas dificuldades não eram indicadores de que eu havia falhado a Deus ou que Ele havia me abandonado. Em vez disso, são partes dolorosas contudo normais da experiência humana em um mundo caído. Eu sentira como se fosse permanecer naquele triste estado para sempre, mas descobri que todos os vales têm um fim, no tempo de Deus, e emergi com fé renovada na Sua graça e amor.

Deus usou o meu vale para desenvolver o meu caráter e aprofundar a minha fé, fazer com que eu fosse mais capaz de passar pelos tumultos da vida sem ser lançada de uma para outra parte. Tal como Fitafuso explico, “[Deus] quer que aprendamos a andar e tem, portanto, que retirar a Sua mão; e se houver verdadeiramente disposição de andar, Ele fica feliz com seus tropeços.” Deus nos aceita no ponto em que estamos, nos ama pelos nossos débeis esforços, e nunca nos abandona. Muitas vezes quando nos sentimos mais longe dEle, é justo quando Ele está mais próximo de nós.

Tradução Denise Oliveira. Revisão H.R.Flandoli.


[1] 2 Coríntios 5:7 NVI.

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Makings Through Breakings

By D. Brandt Berg

Audio length: 10:44
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God chooses and uses the weak things, the foolish things, the despised things, “that no flesh should glory in His presence!”—1 Corinthians 1:25–29

The list is almost endless of all the men in the Bible whom God had to humble before He could use them, of all the leaders God had to bring down to the depths before they could stand to be exalted—lest they would have taken credit to themselves and not given God the glory.

Look at Joseph. Of Jacob’s twelve sons, he was his father’s favorite. His elder brothers finally became so jealous of him that they nearly killed him, threw him into a pit, and then sold him into slavery. But the Lord used this to humble him. Joseph was made a slave and a prisoner and condemned as a criminal before God was able to exalt him to become the savior of His people.1

And look at Moses. For 40 years he was groomed in the very courts of pharaoh, and rose to become the second most powerful man in the mighty world empire of ancient Egypt. The Bible says he was “educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians,”2 but God could not yet use him to lead His people to freedom, for he was full of the ways of the world and not the ways of God. Moses had to be broken first. So God allowed him to become a fugitive from pharaoh, and he had to spend 40 years in the wilderness doing nothing but tending sheep, until finally he was broken and humble enough for God to use him for the great task He had designed him for.3

And consider King David, the greatest king that Israel ever had. He fell in love with Bathsheba, purposely had her husband, Uriah, killed in battle, and then tried to lie and cover up the entire crime. God had to completely expose him, humble him, and severely judge him. And he was soon driven from the throne by his own traitorous son, Absalom.4

But was David’s fall a fall downward or a fall upward? God’s way up is sometimes down—usually, in fact! Just the opposite of what we think. David was humbled and the whole kingdom was humbled, and they were all reminded that it was only the Lord who made them great. And from that squeezing and twisting of David’s life came forth the sweet honey of the Psalms, and the fragrance of his praises to the Lord for His mercy—a lesson that’s been an encouragement to other sinners like me and you ever since.

The great, brave and mighty prophet, Elijah, was able to call down fire from heaven to confound the false prophets of Baal and to prove that he was right.5 But after slaying hundreds of false prophets, he panicked and ran away from one little woman, wicked Queen Jezebel. Hiding out in the wilderness, he became so discouraged that he wished that he might die. But there in his time of desperation, this prophet of fire and thunder became a meek little man who learned to listen to the still, small voice of God. And he became a much better, humbler instrument in the hands of the Lord—a prophet who fearlessly returned to face not only the queen, but the king and all of his soldiers.6

And look at the apostle Peter. He was so proud and self-confident that he swore to Jesus, “Though all others forsake You, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death.”7 But just a few hours later, when Jesus was seized by the temple guards and hauled before the Jews’ religious court, some people outside of the building recognized Peter and pointed him out as one of Jesus’ followers. Peter vehemently denied that he even knew Him, cursing and swearing that he had no idea what they were talking about!8

As he was denying the Lord a third time, Jesus, who was being led by His captors to another part of the building, turned and gazed upon Peter, and Peter suddenly remembered how he had sworn that he would never deny Him. The Bible tells us that Peter then “went out and wept bitterly.”9 Was this the end of Peter’s service for the Lord? No! It was shortly after this humiliating defeat, this great failure, this breaking of his pride, that the Lord anointed and raised up Peter to become the leader of the early church.

And consider the great apostle Paul. He had been a prominent Jewish leader, the Rabbi Saul, and had personally taken it upon himself to put an end to the fast-growing sect of the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. Journeying by horseback to Damascus, where he intended to capture, imprison, and execute as many Christians as he could find, God had to literally knock him off his horse and blind him with the brilliant light of His presence. Trembling, helpless, and blind, the once proud rabbi had to be led by the hand into the city, where he was so astonished that he was unable to eat or drink for three full days. A disciple of the Lord then came to give him God’s message and pray for his eyes, and Saul was converted and became the apostle Paul! But God had to humble him and break him first, and make him a new man before He was able to use him.10

In fact, this is the story of everyone who is of any real use to the Lord’s work. For us to become what He wants us to be usually requires many breakings, humblings and meltings, remolding, reshaping, and remaking into a better vessel, better than we were, better than we thought we were, and much more yielded and useful for His kingdom. Such tests, trials, and tribulations will either soften and melt you, or harden and embitter you. Suffering can either make you bitter or better. So watch out that you don’t get hardened, bitter, and resentful against God when you’re going through it. His Word says, “Look diligently, lest any man fail the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up and trouble you, and through it, many be defiled.”11

If you let trials humble you and melt you, you’ll be a whole lot happier, because you’ll be drawn a whole lot closer to the Lord. If you harden your heart against the Lord, if you resist the Holy Spirit and harden your heart against God’s love and truth, your heart becomes calloused, and soon it no longer even feels it so much anymore, and you risk becoming “past feeling.”12 Be careful, you wouldn’t want to wind up like the man in that horrible poem, “Invictus”: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. My head is bloody, but unbowed.”13 Even though he was bruised, buffeted, and bloodied, he still insisted on being his own boss and would not yield or “bow” to the Lord.

Truth resisted will lose its power over your soul. Every time you resist the truth, you’re hardening your spirit against the Lord. It’s like when you have a little tender spot on your foot where your shoe has been rubbing. At first it’s very, very sensitive, really sore. It hurts. But if it keeps on rubbing, pretty soon you build a big callus; the skin gets thicker and tougher and hardened.—Which is what happens to your heart if you continually refuse to yield to the Lord.

Hardening your heart is not the solution. He says, “Harden not your hearts.”14 But rather, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite (broken, repentant) spirit.”15

Whatever God does, He always does it in love. “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”16

The Lord loves you and is even “touched with the feeling of your infirmities.”17 But He knows that He will never be able to use you as much as He would like to unless you are humbled. When you become a tool and a channel, a little diamond of dust, then He can mightily use you!

He makes us through the breakings we experience. Without experiencing suffering, loss, tragedy, and failure, you won’t know how to love the poor lost world and sympathize with and reach others with His love. But if you’ll allow Him to break and melt your heart, then He’ll woo and win it, warm and melt it, and make it bright and happy and burning with His love—so you can share that love with others.

Compiled from the writings of D. Brandt Berg, originally published in April 1987. Adapted and republished November 2014. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso.



1 Genesis 37, 39–41.
2 Acts 7:22.
3 Exodus 2–3.
4 2 Samuel 11,12,15.
5 1 Kings 18.
6 1 Kings 19 and 21.
7 John 13:37; Luke 22:33.
8 Mark 14:66–71.
9 Luke 22:62.
10 Acts 9.
11 Hebrews 12:15.
12 Ephesians 4:19.
13 William Ernest Henley (1875).
14 Hebrews 3:15.
15 Psalm 55:22, 34:18; Isaiah 55:6.
16 Psalm 103:8–14.
17 Hebrews 4:15.

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Cold Case Christianity - Jim Warner Wallace

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CEO Went Against the Petrodollar and Dies a Mysterious Death. Who Holds a Monopoly on the Truth?

The World of Energy
by Marin Katusa, Chief Energy Investment Strategistl facebook twitter google+

Last month in these pages, I wrote:

Patrick de la Chevardière, CFO of Total SA (which is France’s largest energy company), has publicly announced that Total is looking to finance its share in the $27-billion Yamal LNG project using euros, yuan, Russian rubles, and any other currency but US dollars.

“The effect of US sanctions was that Yamal LNG will be prevented from raising any dollar financings,” Patrick de la Chevardière stated in London at a news briefing.

Patrick de la Chevardière’s boss was Total SA CEO Christophe de Margerie. De Margerie is now dead: he died under mysterious conditions last week, when just after midnight a snowplow and his private jet collided at a Moscow airport.

Back in university (yes, over 18 years ago now), I actually worked at the Vancouver International Airport. Because I was a young buck going to university, I got the night shift: I was responsible for bringing planes into the bays, where passengers unload and the plane gets refueled.

One has better odds of being struck by lightning at an airport than being hit by a snowplow—or any other ground support.

Is it a coincidence that the one CEO who went against the petrodollar is now dead?

To understand the consequences of being on the wrong side of the Colder War, you really need to read my new book.


Maybe Christophe de Margerie had a falling out with Putin… As I wrote last month, his company is part of the charge to kill the petrodollar… but perhaps something happened behind closed doors.

In my book, part of a chapter focuses on “mysterious deaths” and how they’re linked to being on the wrong side of the political equation. Whether it’s going against Putin or against the petrodollar, there are many who have fallen on both sides.

But back to de Margerie and Total.

Total has yet to complete the financing. Did de Margerie fail to deliver what he promised to Putin—which was that he would invest $27 billion into the Russian Yamal LNG plant? Did the EU28 prevent Total from closing the financing under pressure from the French government? De Margerie and French President François Hollande were close friends.

De Margerie was outspoken in his support for Putin’s agenda; he believed Russia was a good partner for Europe. While we don’t know for sure whose toes de Margerie stepped on, we know how this story ended last week.

If Total doesn’t close the $27 billion financing to move forward with the Yamal LNG project, then we will know that the powers that be (whether French government, EU28, or the US) stepped in to prevent an attack on the petrodollar.

The world is turning its back on the US Under Obama

As an American, you may not like what I’m going to say, but it needs to be said: America is losing face internationally under President Obama’s leadership. Obama’s failed foreign policy was challenged publicly at the podium at the most recent 69th United Nations general assembly.

On September 27, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov started out his speech by challenging America’s undemocratic actions of late, stating:

The US-led Western alliance that portrays itself as a champion of democracy, the rule of law and human rights within individual countries, acts from a completely opposite position in the international arena, rejecting the democratic principle of the sovereign equality of states enshrined in the UN Charter and tries to decide for everyone what is good or bad.

Lavrov uses the election in Crimea as an example, stating:

“It was precisely the aggressive assault on these rights that compelled the population of Crimea to take its destiny in its own hands and make a choice in favor of self-determination. This was an absolutely free choice no matter what has been invented by those who were, in the first place, primarily responsible for the internal conflict in Ukraine.

The attempts to distort the truth and to hide the facts behind blanket accusations have been undertaken at all stages of the Ukrainian crisis.

The vast majority of North America has a strong bias against Russia or any election results involving the Eastern blocs and specifically Russia. When I bring up the fact in any media interview that the takeover of Crimea by Russia was the result of a free election, my interviewers immediately dismisses that election as a fraud. They state that it was staged and fixed and ignore the data. The fact is that the vast majority of the population of Crimea are Russians who speak Russian and who see themselves as Russian… so it makes total sense that they freely voted to join Russia instead of wanting to be under the rule of an unfriendly regime in Kiev.

Many years ago, a well-known media personality was involved in the promotion of a company looking for an investment. He was pitching Doug Casey and me, and as Doug’s analyst I began to question the media personality regarding the details of his pitch. His only response to my very pointed questions was, “Look, kid, don’t let the details interfere with my story—it’s a good story.”

This is essentially what most of the Western media outlets are doing—distorting the facts so that they fit neatly into the story they want to tell.

But back to Lavrov’s speech at the UN; he also called out the US for its failed foreign policy by stating (emphasis mine):

Washington has openly declared its right to the unilateral use of military force anywhere to advance its own interests. Military interference has become common, even despite the dismal outcome of the use of power that the US has carried out over recent years.

The sustainability of the international system has been severely shaken by NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia, intervention in Iraq, the attack against Libya and the failure of the operation in Afghanistan.

Lavrov is speaking from experience. When Obama openly declared, “We are drawing a red line” regarding Syria in 2013, it was Lavrov who threw out a lifeline for our president, suggesting that Russia should work with the US to get rid of the sarin gas and other WMDs, rather than invading against the wishes of Congress and the American people.

I am not at all sympathetic to the Russian cause, but rather look at the facts, the data, and more important, the actual events to form my opinion. The harsh reality is that Obama, as much as the Western media will deny it, is comparable to the Wizard of Oz. The current US president is a confused and weak leader hiding behind a curtain: the American flag.

Russia is standing up to Obama and his failed foreign geopolitical policies. Unfortunately for us, the rest of the world is taking notice.

It would be nice if the Western media would remember that nobody has a monopoly on the truth.

The Colder War will provide all the details

Hard copies of my book are available on Nov 10, but it is available now on Amazon kindle, and my book has already cracked Best Seller status in the following categories on Amazon:

Best Seller: Oil and Energy Industry

Best Seller: Public Policy

Best Seller: Commodities Trading

Best Seller: Physics of Energy

My book covers many aspects of the geopolitics of energy… especially the struggle between Russia and the US. Some influential people have endorsed my book, such as former Congressman Dr. Ron Paul, who noted:

The Colder War provides a reversing contrast from the hysterical “Putin is Stalin, Jr., restart the Cold War” message emanating from the neocon think tanks and the mainstream media. Marin Katusa shows the real threat to the American people …

You see, while America and the West weren’t looking, Vladimir Putin has orchestrated a takeover of the energy sector. Putin has transformed Russia from a crumbling former Soviet state into an energy powerhouse. Russia is quickly becoming the only source of energy for countries desperate to secure long-term supplies—this gives Putin more power and more leverage than ever before, and the West has yet to recognize this threat.

Europe, Africa, and China are all dependent on Russian energy. Putin won’t stop until he takes down the only thing holding Russia from turning into a superpower: the US.

Inside my book, you’ll discover how Putin is working to break the monopoly of the US dollar in the global energy trade. He has set in motion an ingenious and devastating plan to do it.

If Putin is successful, he could nuke the US economy and cost the average American dearly.

Do you think the recent pullback in oil prices will cripple Putin? If you said yes, you’re wrong… and you really need to read my book.

Friends and colleagues have told me that when they sat down to read it, they could not put it down and had to finish it; it was fast paced and easy to digest.

Once you read it, your view of the world and the global markets will never be the same.

You might even want to call your broker the next morning—because the US has never been more vulnerable, and the stakes have never been higher.

Preorder your copy of The Colder War and make sure you’re among the first to read this important book, so that you can start to separate partisan politics from the truth in this increasingly important geopolitical chess match.


Preorder The Colder War Now

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38 Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning!

How to Teach Your Kids Critical Thinking Skills: A Great Resource
September 10, 2014 By Natasha Crain - 8 Comments



With two 5-year-olds and a 4-year-old in our family, bad logic frequently permeates our home. Here are two conversations just from yesterday:

Me to my 4-year-old daughter: “Can you please put that blue ball away?”

My daughter: “Mommy, I’m not wearing blue today. I must not have gotten it out.”

Logic fail: Not wearing blue has nothing to do with whether or not you got the ball out. (But nice try.)

Me to my 5-year-old daughter: “It looks like you need to go potty. Please go.”

My daughter: “No, mommy I don’t need to go.”

Me: “Then why are you walking like a duck?”

My daughter: “Because I need to go potty.”

Me: “You just said you didn’t.”

My daughter: “Right, because I don’t.”

Logic fail: Totally inconsistent responses.


It’s pretty easy for adults to call out kids when they’re using poor logic. It can be a lot harder, however, to identify bad reasoning coming from other adults, particularly when it comes to claims against Christianity.

Consider the following statement that commonly gets tossed around the internet. You might realize it doesn’t sound like good reasoning, but can you explain why? More importantly, can your kids?

“Religion is just an accident of geography. If a person is born in Kansas, he’ll probably be a Christian. If he is born in Saudi Arabia, he’ll probably be a Muslim. Religion is man-made and you were simply brainwashed into it.”

(This is called a genetic fallacy – saying something can’t be true because of where it began, how it began, or who began it. Even if religions are correlated with geographic locations, that says nothing about the respective truth of those religions.)

We can’t teach our kids how to answer every single claim against Christianity before they encounter it. But we can teach them how to think critically so they are intellectually prepared to appropriately evaluate the massive amounts of information that will come their way.

Today I want to share a fantastic resource that is designed to help you do just that. It’s a book called The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning.

A fallacy is simply an error in the way someone is making an argument. The book’s 38 lessons are written for kids ages 12 and older to understand, and are perfect for parents to go through as well (I don’t have kids 12 and older, but I learned a lot myself as I read through this!). Each chapter contains:
A 2-3 page lesson on what the fallacy is.
Several exercises to practice identifying that fallacy. Example statements are given, and the reader has to identify which of all the fallacies he/she has learned to date applies.
Answers to the exercises, with brief explanations. (As a side note, there were several answers I disagreed with, but it didn’t hurt my overall impression of the book. They could have made some of those exercises more clear, but at the same time, that makes for even better discussion with your kids.)

The exercise examples are somewhat entertaining, so kids won’t be bored by them. They’re also very practical types of statements that kids would actually hear – statements about religion (the authors are Christians), politics, and everyday life. Although the suggested age is 12 and up, parents could easily use this with younger kids who are intellectually curious.

If you want to help your kids learn how to think, this is a wonderful introduction! You can read more about The Fallacy Detective here. (Just for credibility’s sake, this was a totally unsolicited post about the book – I simply came across it, bought it, thought it was an awesome resource and wanted to tell you about it!)

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Former Buddhist finds Jesus!

By Laurence, Spain

Though I am originally from Scotland, I now live in Marbella, in the south of Spain. I’m a maths teacher and give private classes to students in the area where I live.

For almost 30 years, I was a practicing Nichiren Buddhist and a local leader of the lay Buddhist organization, Soka Gakkai International, in the UK. As many people are aware, Buddhism is a godless, atheistic religion. To understand why I gave up being a practicing Nichiren Buddhist and member of Soka Gakkai we need to examine why I turned to Buddhism in the first place.

Until I was about 21 years old, I was a Roman Catholic. Like many other young Catholics, I had relaxed my religious practice to the point where I never attended church regularly, took communion, or made confession. As a child, I recall speaking happily and directly to the Lord about everything in my life. But as a young man in the late ‘60s and ‘70s, the pagan, satanic influences of rock music such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath entered my consciousness and began slowly but surely to dull the soft voice of the Lord.

One day I found myself in the confessional box. As I confessed to some minor sins, the priest absolved me as usual and gave me a small penance of 10 Hail Marys. As I silently recited the prayers, I was struck by the ludicrousness of the situation. Here I was praying to the Virgin Mary, while in my heart of hearts, I no longer believed in a God. The steady chipping away of my soul by Satan had finally worked … at least for a while.

I thought that Nichiren Buddhism held the answers to inner peace for me, and thus began many years of sincere practice. Nichiren Buddhism essentially teaches that all earthly desires are considered as “enlightenment” and can be achieved by chantingNam Myoho Renge Kyo (devotion to the mystic law of cause and effect). They believe the universe is subservient to this law and adjusts everything in harmony with the desire of the chanting Buddhist.

Over the years, when teaching people about Buddhism, I would say, "If this practice fails to work for me personally, then I will immediately give up Buddhism."

Little did I know that there were challenges ahead of me that chanting could not overcome. As I slowly came to this realization, I began to acknowledge that chanting had not helped me achieve my "earthly desires."

So what happened to me? In September 2013, I received the Lord into my heart. I think my conversion was a gradual process, quite natural and gentle—a steady leading along the correct paths. I realized that Buddhism did not contain all the answers to life and death, nor does it have a clear picture of life after death. Jesus and the Bible have all those answers and the answers toevery question. Receiving Jesus caused a complete repentance in my life—a 180-degree turnaround.

The Lord had filled my spiritual vacuum. I was that little boy once again being talked to in a comforting way by his dear heavenly Father. A natural and painless rebirth had occurred in my heart. Now I found that there was a power infinitely greater than I had ever known before. Jesus is alive!

One instance that helped me see a tangible manifestation of Jesus’ power was when I was cycling home along the seafront in Marbella. A young man stopped me and joked about my rather slow speed. I laughed and continued my journey. A few seconds later, I realized that my new cell phone was missing! I turned back to retrace my short journey to that point. I soon began to think that I had been the victim of a classic professional pickpocket. I prayed to find my phone.

I made the decision to return to the spot where I had met the young man and ask him politely if he had seen my phone. But as I approached the spot, I couldn’t see him. I made up my mind to report the incident to the local police. Suddenly as I turned the next bend, there stood another young man. He held one hand in the air, and to my astonishment, he held my new cell phone in the other hand. He spoke Arabic, so I found it difficult to understand why he had my phone and expected him to demand some reward, but instead he just handed it over. I thanked him, shook his hand, and said, “God bless you.”

As I got back on my bike, I noticed the first young man I had originally spoken to standing nearby. I also thanked him and continued home. I later checked the phone and found it had not been accessed in any way. I thanked Jesus for His clear intervention and asked Him to bless the young men.

Over the next weeks and months, as I walked about in my new faith, I determined to ask as many people as possible about their experiences with the Lord in their daily lives. I feel like a missionary and try to act like a disciple of Jesus, spreading the Good News where and when the opportunity arises.

Around the time of my conversion, I was researching the musical roots of Jeremy Spencer. I have always been a keen guitarist and mandolin player, studying and playing Celtic music from my home country. I read of Spencer’s conversion to Jesus after he met the Children of God.

As I continued my research, I came upon the writings of David Berg. I realized almost immediately that this was the type of Christian I would aim to be. I felt at home when I read Father Berg's writings. His writings inspire me in the same way that Paul's letters must have inspired the early followers of Jesus; simple and direct, a true prophet for the endtime.

This led me to write the Family International, and I got a reply from Paul and Sara, who invited me to take the 12 Foundation Stones course and sent me the lessons via email, which I really enjoyed studying. The course was the perfect introduction to the Bible, and I have benefited from it greatly. After completing the course in February, I applied for Family International membership and was delighted to have my application accepted!

Since then, I have met up with some TFI members in Spain and have also attended a fellowship in Murcia. What an experience! It was wonderful to meet so many loving and caring people devoting their lives to Jesus. They were very welcoming to a newbie like me. I listened carefully to their testimonies and witnessing experiences. Many have been members since the 1970s.

I have maintained contact with several brothers and sisters since the meeting. Several ask me to pray for specific requests and I ask them in turn to pray for me. I like to read the GNB to get an idea of how other brothers and sisters serve Jesus on a daily basis and in their own way.

On becoming a member, I worked through the 12 Bridges course, which I had access to via TFI’s publication site. I completed the 12 Bridges in June 2014 and found it to be a truly awesome course!

Praise the Lord, and thank you for the warm welcome to the Family. May God bless you.

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