Hidden Treasures

Words from Jesus
Audio length: 10:09
Download Audio (9.2MB)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered ... We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope.—2 Corinthians 1:3–5, 8–101

Behold the hidden treasures of darkness buried deep down in My mine. As the miner goes into the depths of the earth and sacrifices his desire for sunshine and light and warmth, and chooses instead to labor in the darkness of the mine and tolerate the dust and dirt and grime, the cramped spaces and tight quarters, the aching back and sore muscles, in order to labor and dig for the precious jewels hidden beneath the earth in the mines—so are you. You are now in a hard place, seeking the sunshine, longing for a breath of fresh air, feeling cramped, stifled, and choking from the stale air, longing for a helping hand.

Do not be dismayed or discouraged, for out of this seeming dark place you will find the treasures that are more priceless and valuable than any other! These days will not be for long. They will not be forever. They are only for a time. So do not be weary in well doing. Do not be weary of the place that you are now in, for in this place you are learning to lean on Me. You are learning to stay within My arms, close to Me, where you will find the strength you need to carry on.

Do not be discouraged or dismayed, and do not feel that you are a failure. Do not think that I do not love you. I love you and I care deeply for you. My eye is on you every moment of the day. I hear your every call and prayer, and I see your every tear. I am always here to strengthen and help you.

So do not worry. You are not outside the circle of My love, but you are right in the center of My love. I will never leave you, nor fail you, nor forsake you. I will bring you to My desired end.
*
Forget the past

My precious one, let go of the strain and the weights from the past. Forgive yourself for your past mistakes and receive the forgiveness of others. Don’t worry about how things might have been different or could have been better had you done this or had you done that. Such confusion, such indecision, such guilt and remorse about the past are unnecessary weights and burdens that you carry.

Forget the past and find peace and faith, knowing that I have had My perfect plan in your life. I am the great Shepherd and you have nothing to fear. I have used all the experiences of your life to make you into the person that you now are.

You have experienced sorrow and joy, darkness and light, pain and happiness, loss and gain, defeat and victory, and these have taught you sympathy, compassion, and understanding, that you might understand others, that you might be able to put yourself in their place and be able to say, “I understand what you’re feeling. I know what it’s like. I’ve been there myself. I know how hard it can be.”

You can teach others to find faith and hope and courage because you have experienced Me helping you through the dark times. You know that there is light at the end of the tunnel because you have seen it and you have passed through that tunnel. You know that it’s worth it to keep fighting and not give up, because you have done it.

I understand the trying of men’s hearts, the depths of despair, of discouragement, and of desperation. I understand the depth of forsaking, for first I had to forsake My Father to go to earth, and then I had to forsake those that I loved so dearly on earth to return to My Father.

I understand the depth of pain and affliction, for I screamed out in pain as the nails pierced My hands and My feet. I understand the feeling of being forsaken by those that loved Me, even My own Father, and thus I cried out, “My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me?”2

I understand the depth of fear—fear of facing that which is ahead for the pain and the sorrow that it shall bring. And so I said, “Father, let this cup pass from Me.”3

I understand the depth of the feeling of loss, for those who loved Me most forsook Me as I was carried away into captivity. I know the depth of hurt to see one that you love betray you, even as Judas betrayed Me with a kiss.

Am I not a high priest that is touched with the feeling of your infirmity?4 My heart breaks to see you in your pain and in your struggle, and in the fire of testing, of trying, of purging—when you feel so hopeless, so lost, so forsaken, when you try to hold on with all your might and yet you feel as if there is nothing to hold on to anymore.

Though My Father did not let this cup pass from Me, and though I saw My loved ones flee from My side in time of trouble and this one that I loved betray Me, and though the nails pierced My hands and pierced My feet, and though I was beaten with many stripes, and though I felt as if My Father had forsaken Me, and though I had to pass through death—yet it all brought about such great victory, renewal, and salvation!

For though it looked like a defeat for Me to be whipped and to be scourged, to be crowned with thorns, to be nailed to the cross, and even as I cried out, “My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” My Father kept Me and brought Me forth in a great resurrection that changed the course of history and that changed all eternity.

Though all looks dark and you cannot see, know that I have My arms around you. I ask you to trust Me in the depths, trust Me in the despair, trust Me in your heartache, trust Me in your forsaking. For I do all things well, and I work in your life in love. If you are willing to drink of this cup, if you are willing to say, “Not my will, but Thine be done,”[5]you will also experience My presence in ways that will far surpass anything you have known!

Before the foundation of the world

You are My beloved child. I chose you before the foundation of the world, to walk with Me along paths designed uniquely for you. Concentrate on staying in step with Me instead of trying to anticipate My plans for you. If you trust that My plans are to prosper you and not to harm you, you can relax and enjoy the present moment.

Your hope and your future are rooted in heaven, where eternal ecstasy awaits you. Nothing can rob you of your inheritance of unimaginable riches and well-being. Sometimes I grant you glimpses of your glorious future, to encourage you and spur you on. But your main focus should be staying close to Me. I set the pace in keeping with your needs and My purposes.6

Originally published in 1997, unless otherwise indicated. Adapted and republished March 2014. Read by Simon Peterson. Music by Daniel Sozzi.
1 NIV.

2 Matthew 27:46.

3 Matthew 26:39.

4 Hebrews 4:15.

5 Matthew 26:39.

6 Sarah Young, Jesus Calling (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010).

Read More

Embrace the Chaos: How to Reduce Stress in 5 Easy Steps

By Leo Babauta, Fast Company, March 17, 2014

Stress is one of the biggest causes of health problems in many people’s lives: it can cause heart disease, depression, anxiety attacks, sleep problems, auto-immune diseases, weight problems and more.

But we’re busy—how do we drop the stress levels down while still getting our jobs done, taking care of ourselves and our families?

The busy person might have no time for weeklong meditation retreats, mini-vacations, or weekly counseling sessions. So what can be done?

I’m going to be brief about this: there are five small things you can do. A few shifts in mindset, a couple actions that take only a couple minutes. These won’t solve the most severe stress problems, but they’ll help most of us.

1. Be completely in one task. Instead of being in the stressful task-switching mode, take your next task, let everything else go, and just be in the moment with this one task. Let yourself be immersed in this one task, letting go of the feeling that you need to quickly rush through it, that you need to get on to the next task. There will always be a next task—the nature of task lists is that they’re never-ending. So let those other tasks come later. Just be in this one task, like it’s your entire universe.

2. See your ideals and let go of control. Fear is causing you to be stressed, not external factors like your job or family problems. Those external things are just a part of life, but they become stressful when you fear failure, fear people won’t like you, fear you’re not good enough, fear abandonment, and so on. This fear is based on some ideal (and you fear not getting that ideal): you have an image that you’re going to succeed, be perfect, have people like you, be comfortable all the time. These ideals are a way to be in control of the world that you don’t actually control, but they’re hurting you by causing fear and stress. Instead, let go of control. Be OK with chaos and uncertainty, and trust that things will work out. You’ll fear less and be less stressed.

3. Accept people and smile. We get upset at other people because they don’t meet our ideals of how they should act. Instead, try accepting them for who they are, and recognizing that, like you, they’re imperfect and seeking happiness and struggling with finding happiness. They’re doing their best. Accept them, smile, and enjoy your time with this person.

4. Take a brief walk. When things are getting stressful, take two to three minutes to take a walk and clear your mind. A short walk does wonders.

5. Do short mindfulness practices. You don’t have to meditate for 30 minutes to get the benefits of mindfulness. You can do a quick body scan (see how your body is feeling right now) in 10 seconds. You can pay attention to your breath for 30 seconds. You can watch your thoughts, fears, ideals for a minuteYou can do each of these kinds of mindfulness practices in little bits throughout your day.

And beyond: If you have extra time after doing those things, I have a few other recommendations that will help. Eliminate unnecessary tasks on your to-do list, reduce your commitments by saying no to people, start a regular 5-minute meditation practice, eat healthier, exercise regularly, spend some quality time with loved ones, get more sleep.

I should note that many people cope with stress in unhealthy ways: alcohol, smoking, drugs, unhealthy eating, lashing out at people, watching TV, procrastinating. Ironically these cause more stress. Instead, learn to cope without these crutches.

Read More

A fé cresce em meio a tempestades

Compilação

“A fé cresce em meio a tempestades” —apenas sete palavras, mas quão importantes se tornam para a alma quando vêm as tempestades!

A fé é a faculdade concedida por Deus que, quando exercitada, torna o invisível plenamente visível e o impossível, possível. A fé atua no sobrenatural.

Cresce em meio a tempestades, ou seja, nas turbulências da atmosfera espiritual. As tempestades são causadas pelos conflitos dos elementos e, as que acontecem no mundo espiritual resultam do conflito de elementos hostis.

É nessa atmosfera que a fé encontra as melhores condições para se desenvolver, é aí que cresce e amadurece.

A árvore mais robusta não nasce sob o abrigo da floresta, mas exposta aos ventos que vêm de toda direção e se arremetem contra ela, a dobram, a torcem até que se torne um gigante em estatura —é a árvore que os mecânicos querem que seja usada para fabricar suas ferramentas e a que buscam os que fabricam carroças.

Assim é no mundo espiritual. Ao ver um gigante, lembre-se que a estrada pela qual deve viajar para se colocar ao seu lado não é uma vereda plácida ladeada de flores silvestres a receber o sol, mas uma trilha íngreme, pedregosa e estreita, onde as rajadas de vento do inferno não dão trégua, onde as pedras cortantes lhe penetram a carne, onde os espinhos lhe ferem a cabeça e víboras espreitam por toda parte.

É o caminho de dor e alegria; de sofrimento e bálsamo curador; de lágrimas e sorrisos; de provações e vitórias; de conflitos e triunfos; de durezas, perigos e açoites; de perseguições e mal-entendidos; de angústias e inquietações. É nessa trilha que todos somos feitos mais que conquistadores por Aquele que nos ama.

“Em meio a tempestades.” Sim, bem ali onde ela se torna mais feroz, surge a vontade de recuar da provação e do teste inexorável —mas avante siga! Deus ali está para o encontrar, no centro de todas as suas provações, para lhe sussurrar Seus segredos, que lhe fará dali sair com o rosto reluzente e uma fé indomável que todos os demônios do inferno jamais poderão fazer vacilar. —E. A. Kilbourne[1]

*

A fé não pode ser ignorada
Na Rocha com firmeza planta os pés;
Em meio às ferozes tempestades é revigorada,
E o rugir dos trovões não lhe impõem revés
Sabe que a Onipotência sua oração há de acatar
E brada: “Será feito”, em algum dia, em algum lugar.

O silêncio permanece? Ora, não diga indeferida
Talvez sua parte ainda não terminou
A obra começou à primeira palavra proferida
E Deus há de cumprir o que começou
Se mantiver o incenso ali a queimar
Sua glória verá, em algum momento, em algum lugar
—Robert Browning

*

Há vezes em que as coisas parecem ficar muito escuras —tanto que tenho de esperar até pela esperança. O cumprimento demorado traz suas dores, mas esperar pela esperança, sem ver sequer sinal da resposta, sem ceder ao desespero; nada ter senão a noite à vista lá fora, mas manter a janela aberta para estrelas que possam surgir; ter um vazio no coração, sem contudo deixar que se preencha por alguma presença inferior —essa é a maior paciência do universo. É Jó na tempestade; Abraão no caminho para Moriá; Moisés no Deserto de Midian; é o Filho do Homem no Jardim de Getsêmani —George Matheson

*

O metal mais puro se faz na fornalha mais quente e os mais brilhantes relâmpagos se veem nas tempestades mais escuras . —Charles Caleb Colton

*

O cipó se agarra ao carvalho quando as tempestades são mais severas. Mesmo que a violência da tempestade arranque a árvore, a vinha dele não solta. Se estiver do lado oposto ao vento, o forte tronco a protege; se exposta ao rigor da tormenta, esta só faz com que se apegue ainda mais ao carvalho.

Em algumas tempestades da vida, Deus intervém e nos abriga; em outras, nos permite sermos expostos para que o abracemos ainda com maia força. —B. M. Launderville

*

Estamos mais seguros na tempestade enviada por Deus que na calmaria em que somos aceitos como amigos pelo mundo. —Jeremy Taylor

*

O falecido Reverendo Martin Luther King, Jr. disse: “Tudo que é feito no mundo é feito pela esperança.” Estou certo que enquanto você estiver respirando, há esperança para você. Somos apenas humanos. Não podemos ver o futuro, mas imaginamos suas possibilidades. Só Deus sabe como nossas vidas evoluirão. A esperança é a dádiva que Ele nos dá, uma janela pela qual olharmos. Não sabemos o futuro que Ele tem planejado para nós. Confie nEle, mantenha a esperança no seu coração e quando encontrar o pior, faça o que for preciso para se preparar para o melhor!

Como é possível suster a esperança em meio ao sofrimento? Algo que me mantém quando ouço sobre grandes calamidades é o fato de que sempre provocam uma tremenda solidariedade de outros seres humanos. No momento em que você está se perguntando o porquê de tudo aquilo, em meio a um sofrimento tão sem sentido, as pessoas ainda têm esperança e centenas de voluntários altruístas surgem nessas regiões.

A esperança surge mesmo nos piores momentos para nos dar prova da presença de Deus. —Nick Vujicic[2]

*

Está em meio a circunstâncias difíceis agora mesmo? Têm dificuldade para entender por que tudo isso está acontecendo a você? Tente aceitar que Deus o ama e permitiu suas adversidades porque sabe que são boas para você. Louve-O pelo que Ele trouxe à sua vida.

O louvor a Deus não é uma fórmula mágica para o sucesso. É uma maneira de viver que está solidamente amparada na Palavra de Deus. Louvamos Deus não pelos resultados esperados, mas pela situação tal qual é.

O louvor é baseado em aceitar de forma ampla e com alegria o presente como parte da amorosa e perfeita vontade de Deus para nós. O louvor não se baseia no que pensamos ou esperamos vá acontecer no futuro.

É verdade que quando sinceramente louvamos a Deus, algo acontece como resultado. Seu poder obviamente flui para a situação e notaremos, cedo ou tarde, uma mudança em nós ou à nossa volta. A mudança pode ser sentirmos verdadeira alegria e felicidade no meio do que parece uma situação miserável, ou pode ser que a situação mude. Mas é o resultado do louvor e não pode ser a motivação para o louvor.

Deus tem um plano perfeito para nossas vidas, mas não pode nos levar para o próximo passo do Seu plano até que tenhamos aceitado nossa presente situação como parte desse plano. O que acontece a seguir compete a Deus, não a nós. —Merlin R. Carothers[3]

*

Jesus parecia ser do contra em tudo. “Você é bem-aventurado quando chega ao limite de tudo. Quanto menos de você houver, mais Deus haverá.” É assim que Eugene Peterson interpreta a primeira bem-aventurança.

Nunca ouvi ninguém se levantar para dar um testemunho e dizer: “Sei que sou muito abençoado hoje porque não tenho opções. Perdi tudo e estou no fim da rosca, com nada em que me agarrar.” Não vemos pessoas assim como abençoadas. Nós as vemos como necessitadas. Consideramo-nos abençoados quando todas as nossas necessidades são atendidas e não há nuvens escuras no horizonte. Mas estamos errados!

Cada um dos escritores do Novo Testamento reverbera as palavras de Jesus. Todos nos dizem que podemos nos regozijar nas maiores dificuldades porque nesses momentos Jesus está agindo em coisas que jamais Lhe deixaríamos tocar quando tudo está bem. Ele não nos disse para nos regozijar pelos momentos ruins, mas nos momentos ruins, porque Ele converteria nosso sofrimento em Sua glória. —Wayne Jacobsen[4]

*

Nem sempre sabemos por que Deus fez certas coisas ou permitiu que acontecessem. Em alguns casos, só descobriremos no céu. Tenho muitas perguntas que quero fazer quando chegar lá. Só temos que, de alguma forma, confiar nEle!

Há muitas coisas que não entendemos agora. Às vezes, temos vergonha de não entender e tentamos explicar para os outros coisas que nós mesmos não entendemos. Achamos que deveríamos saber as respostas, quando, às vezes, a melhor coisa a fazer é sermos sinceros e dizer: “Não sei!”

Uma das grandes perguntas da vida é por que Deus permite que coisas aparentemente ruins aconteçam às pessoas e, especificamente, a nós. Provavelmente não saberemos a resposta completa para isso até chegarmos ao céu. Podemos ver parte da resposta e entender algumas das razões, mas não compreenderemos plenamente até chegarmos lá e vermos toda a situação. Acho que vai ser parte da nossa educação continuada no porvir: entender por quê. Como Paulo escreveu: “Agora conheço em parte; então, conhecerei plenamente, da mesma forma como sou plenamente conhecido”[5]

Tudo que conhecemos é Deus! Não sabemos todos os porquês, mas sabemos que o Senhor nos ama e sabe o que é melhor. E se não entendermos algo agora, entenderemos depois. No meio tempo, temos de confiar em Deus aconteça o que acontecer, mesmo se não entendermos por que algumas coisas estão acontecendo. Talvez Deus permita que aconteçam coisas que escapam à nossa compreensão simplesmente para testar nossa fé e ver se ainda confiamos nEle!

O negócio é ter fé e confiar. Fé para confiar em Deus. “Ainda que Ele me mate, nEle confiarei! Apesar das dificuldades e de eu não entender por que tudo isso está acontecendo, vou confiar nEle! Vou confiar nEle, apesar de Ele deixar isso ou aquilo acontecer! Apesar de Ele permitir que eu passe por aflições ou os meus amados, ainda assim vou confiar nEle.”

Deus adora ver se você tem verdadeira fé e se vai confiar nEle aconteça o que acontecer. É a maior vitória de todas, quando você parece derrotado e ainda confia no Senhor. Isso deve agradar ao Senhor mais do que qualquer coisa —inclusive quando parece que você está perdido e derrotado, ainda confia nEle, como Jó. É a fé diante do desastre ou da agonia. É a fé diante da morte! —David Brandt Berg[6]

Publicado em Âncora em maio de 2013.


[1] Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. Streams in the Desert, Volume 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1965).

[2] Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life (New York: Doubleday, 2010).

[3]Power in Praise (Merlin R. Carothers, 1980).

[4] He Loves Me! second edition (Newbury Park, CA: Windblown Media, 2007).

[5] 1 Coríntios 13:12 NIV.

[6] Mais que Conquistadores (Aurora Produções, 2002).

Read More

Trials Equal Good

A compilation

Audio length: 11:28
Download Audio (10.5MB)

Because “many are the afflictions of the righteous,”1 it's certainly comforting to know that “all these things work together for good to them that love the Lord, to them who are called according to His purpose.”2 In fact, in order to come through our many trials, difficulties, battles, and temptations victoriously, it is imperative that we make this promise in Romans 8:28 a vital part of our life.

If we don’t send the events of our daily lives through the filter of Romans 8:28, if we don’t constantly view our disappointments, hurts, tests, illnesses, opposition, battles, etc., through the perspective that Romans 8:28 gives us, we will sadly miss many valuable lessons the Lord is trying to teach us. And we will rob ourselves of the peace that comes from absolute trust in this precious promise and principle.

If we learn the simple equation, “Trials equal good,” our lives will be richer, our lessons greater, and our minds more tranquil, and we will more easily recognize the Lord's hand in the events of our lives. It makes all the difference in the world whether we look at a flood of problems, trials, battles and tribulations just waiting to see the worst happen, or if we look at them with the excitement and challenge that comes from waiting to discover all the good we know the Lord will bring out of them.—Maria Fontaine

*

God often does his best work in the darkness. God does not throw trials at us haphazardly … He does not accidentally let trials slip into our lives... Every trial we experience has been handcrafted by God for our good. Trials are God’s kiln. We are the clay, he is the master potter.

What good does God accomplish in the darkness? Here are just a few of the thousands of things God accomplishes.



He forces us to rely on Him.

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.—2 Corinthians 1:9 ESV

Trials remind us of what is already true: we are desperately dependent on God. We cannot function apart from God. We cannot make it to heaven apart from the sustaining grace of the God who raises dead men. God takes us through trials to decrease our self-confidence and increase our confidence in him.



He produces steadfastness in us.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.—James 1:2–3 ESV

Without steadfastness … we will be like seed that springs up quickly but has no root. We will have the life choked out of us by the cares of this world. God wants us to have a steadfast, steady faith, which is not easily rocked by trial and hardship. Trials cause our faith to mature and become steadfast.



He prepares us to comfort others.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.—2 Corinthians ­­­1:3–4 ESV

When we experience trials, we also experience God’s comfort in a unique way. As God’s comfort flows into our lives, we are then divinely prepared to comfort others who are enduring trials. We could not adequately comfort others if we didn’t first receive God’s comfort. Trials ready us to comfort others.—Stephen Altrogge3

*

None of us can come to the highest maturity without enduring the summer heat of trials. As the sycamore fig never ripens if it be not bruised, as the corn does not leave the husk without threshing, and as wheat makes no fine flour till it be ground, so are we of little use till we are afflicted. Why should we be so eager to escape such benefits? We shall have to wait with patience, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” He waited to give grace to us; let us wait to give glory to him.—Charles Spurgeon

*

I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea
Come drifting home with broken mast and sails;
I shall believe the Hand which never fails,
From seeming evil worketh good to me;
And, though I weep because those sails are battered,
Still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered,
“I trust in Thee.”

I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,
And troubles swarm like bees about a hive;
I shall believe the heights for which I strive,
Are only reached by anguish and by pain;
And, though I groan and tremble with my crosses,
I yet shall see, through my severest losses,
The greater gain.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox

*

No physician ever weighed out medicine to his patient with half so much care and exactness as God weighs out to us every trial. Not one grain too much does He ever permit to be placed on the scale.—Henry Ward Beecher

*

Difficulties, tests, trials, heartbreaks, suffering and disappointments come from many causes and for many reasons, but regardless of why they have come or what the reason, you can rest assured that all things work together for good to them that love Me. Because you love Me, I can take even these trials and turn them into blessings.

If you could see as I can see—beyond today, beyond this moment, beyond the pain which you are feeling—then you would better be able to understand why trials equal blessings. You would better be able to understand why this loss, this ache in your heart, this time when you are being sorely tempted and tested, can with time become a blessing to you.

The secret to understanding, the key to understanding, is in the phrase "with time." As you believe by faith that My hand is on your life and that all things work together for good, with time, that which you believe by faith you will understand and see, and it will become a reality in your life.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy

*

I have a life preserver, which is my most valued possession.

While sailing on the sea of life, so many times I have looked out to see a storm brewing on the horizon. I grab my life preserver and tie it on securely, then brace myself for the unforgiving blast that approaches.

When the storm hits, my little craft is tossed by the angry waves. They threaten to swamp and drown me, but with my life preserver, I know I will survive. No—more than survive. I will rise again, bruised and beaten perhaps, but victorious.

Sometimes the storms creep up on me from behind. Caught unawares in the raging fury, my boat capsizes, throwing me into the icy waters. I choke, sputter, and gasp for air, but find myself caught in a whirlpool. The more I struggle, the tighter the water holds me in its grip.

Alone, helpless, and defeated, I wait for the end, hope flickering like a melted candle. As I sink under the waters for the last time, a Voice comes over the sound of the storm. “Grab the life preserver! It is your only hope.”

Straining to see in the darkness, I catch sight of something floating on the water. It is my life preserver—always there when I need it most. I tie it on and immediately begin to float.

The darkness still envelops me. The sea still churns and foams and its angry waves threaten to pull me under. The rain continues to sting my cheeks. But I am buoyant once again. With complete trust, secure in my life preserver, I am content to wait out the storm.

What is the secret of my life preserver? It is so simple that you may dismiss it. It is the verse from the Bible: “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God.”4

ALL things—storms, rain, and winds included—are for our GOOD.

Someday, somehow, we will understand.—Stellaris Jade



Published on Anchor October 2013. Read by Jon Marc.
Music by Daniel Sozzi.


1 Psalm 34:19.

2 Romans 8:28.

3 Excerpted from http://blogs.christianpost.com/guest-views/god-often-does-his-best-work-in-the-darkness-15992.

4 Romans 8:28 NKJV.

Read More

The Power of Intercession

A compilation


Audio length: 10:06
Download Audio (9.2MB)

If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and this will lead us to prayer: Intercession is a way of loving others.—Richard J. Foster

*

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.—1 Timothy 2:1

*

Why pray for others?—Because it works.

In the abstract of his study for the prestigious British Medical Journal,1 Professor Leonard Leibovici reported that the objective of his study had been to “determine whether remote, retroactive intercessory prayer, said for a group of patients with a bloodstream infection, has an effect on outcomes.”

This was a double blind, randomised controlled trial at a university hospital. The subjects were 3393 adult patients whose bloodstream infection was detected at the hospital between 1990 and 1996.

In July 2000, patients were randomised to a control group and an intervention group. A remote, retroactive intercessory prayer was said for the well-being and full recovery of the intervention group.

The outcome was measured according to mortality in the hospital, length of stay in the hospital, and duration of fever.

There was a 2% reduction in mortality in the group prayed for, but it was the length of stay in hospital and duration of fever results that were most outstanding. Both of these measures were significantly shorter in the intervention group (those prayed for) than in the control group.

The abstract concludes,

“Remote, retroactive intercessory prayer said for a group is associated with a shorter stay in hospital and shorter duration of fever in patients with a bloodstream infection and should be considered for use in clinical practice.”—Abi May

*

Prayers go out among the people. They touch, they heal, they mend. They give strength and courage. They lift up those who are down. They touch and heal hearts and bodies and minds. They wash away doubts and fears and worries. They wash away bitterness, envy, jealousy and strife. They kiss away heartache and misunderstandings. They soothe hurts, heal wounds, and remove scars.

Prayers guard and protect and hide away in safekeeping. They comfort and soothe and bring peace and calm. They feed, they clothe, and bring abundant supply. They inspire, they bring cheer, they bring laughter and good fortune. They encourage, they lift up, they motivate, they enrapture. They energize, they empower, they invigorate, they spark life. They shed light, they give hope. They stabilize and they make wise, they make firm and sound and steady.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy

*

The best and most faithful intercessors I have met learned the holy art of intercession only after many trials or great suffering. All that some of them could do at last was to lie in bed, scarcely able to whisk a fly away from their faces.

But how they could pray! Though they lay unseen by men, nevertheless they were centres of spiritual power, and by their simple and persevering prayers they were the chief supporters of the Christian work which was being done in their neighbourhood, their community, their country, and even to the ends of the earth. Every time I meet one of these unseen intercessors I am reminded of a great electric power plant. They, too, are often hidden away in some secluded valley. But they are, nevertheless, exceedingly important, a fact which we become aware of especially when they do not function. When that happens, our homes are darkened, and our factories [are] brought to a standstill.

One of my missionary friends had just returned from the mission field. We were sitting and conversing about many things, among them also about his health during the years he had been out in the field. This is a difficult problem in the lives of most missionaries. The tropical fevers weaken and undermine the health of many of them, even in the early years of their life. And my friend had been at a station where the fever had been particularly bad.

When I began to talk about this, he was a little evasive. But I was so well acquainted with him that I was not afraid of being inquisitive, and I asked him how his health really had been. He replied as follows:

“When I was about to sail for the mission field, I naturally went around to my friends in my home community to say goodbye. In this connection I called on an elderly believing woman in a tenant household. As I bid her goodbye, she clung to my hand and, looking me calmly in the eyes, said quietly, ‘I am going to pray to God for you and ask Him to save you from the fever in order that you may devote all your strength to your work out there.’

“And I have not felt the fever once during all these years,” he added with tears in his eyes—tears of joy!

Here was someone who had learned to make use of prayer as a means of doing the Lord’s work. There are many ways in which we can work for missions, even those of us who do not go to the mission fields. God grant that we may see this and act accordingly. It would make it easier for the missionaries to work out there.—Ole Hallesby

*

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.—Ephesians 6:182

*

Intensity is a law of prayer. God is found by those who seek Him with all their heart. Wrestling prayer prevails. The fervent effectual prayer of the righteous is of great force.—Samuel Chadwick

*

How often have we prayed something like, “O Lord, be with cousin Billy now in a special way”? Have we stopped to consider what it is we’re requesting? Imagine that you are a parent who is preparing to leave your children with a babysitter. Would you dream of saying, “O Betsy, I ask you now that you would be with my children in a special way?” No way. You would say, “Betsy, the kids need to be in bed by 9 p.m. They can have one snack before their baths, and please make sure they finish their homework. You can reach us at this number if there’s any problem. Any questions before we go?” We are very specific with our requests and instructions for our babysitters. We want them to know specifics. It should be no different with prayer.—David Jeremiah

*

Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need as a burden we must lay upon God, but also because we are so bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as acutely as our own. To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them.—John Calvin

Published on Anchor March 2014. Read by Debra Lee.
Music by Michael Dooley.


1 BMJ 2001;323:1450, http://www.bmj.com/content/323/7327/1450#alternate.

2 NLT.

Read More

Without Love, It’s Nothing

By David Brandt Berg

Audio length: 7:27
Download Audio (6.8MB)

If I speak in the languages of humans and angels but have no love, I have become a reverberating gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all secrets and every form of knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains but have no love, I am nothing. Even if I give away everything that I have and sacrifice myself, but have no love, I gain nothing.—1 Corinthians 13:1–31

*

If you don’t have love, all your talents will ultimately profit you nothing.2 You have to be loving in the first place; you have to be sympathetic and understanding of people’s problems.

Christianity wasn’t built on tough rules. It’s first of all built on love and consideration and sympathy and compassion. Jesus was tired out and tried to retire inside the house one day, but He looked out and there were thousands of people gathered there wanting healing. And He went out, it says, and He healed them all because He had compassion upon the multitude.3

If you don’t have compassion, if you don’t have love, if you’re not motivated because “the love of Christ constraineth me” and you’re sorry for people and you want to help them and you’re trying to do the best you can, then you are not going to get anywhere.4 You have to have sympathy and understanding. You can be sweet, quiet, wonderful, faithful, loyal, diligent and hard-working, but it’s not enough if you don’t seem to know people very well or the problems they face.

We need to have love for others and feel so sympathetic toward them that we could almost cry just thinking about them and try to do everything we can to help them and make it easy for them.

“We have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted like as we are.”5 He suffered the same things and went through the same things we do in our human condition.

I don’t even think you can be a good salesman unless you have love. What makes a good salesman? Somebody who’s sincere, who’s sold on his product. He’s convinced that it will really be a help to the people he’s trying to sell it to and can convey that sincerity and the conviction that, “You’ve got to buy this, and I’m selling it to you at the least I possibly can to make it easier for you to do your job” or whatever it is.

I’ve seen some TV commercials that fall flat as a flounder. They try to really make it sound like they’re concerned about you and your health, your beauty, your comfort. But real salesmanship, especially in our business of preaching the Gospel, has got to have love or it will never go over, it won’t sell.

We first of all have to have love. If we haven’t got love, it will profit us nothing and we can do nothing of lasting value.

People in leadership anywhere in the Lord’s work should be trying to save souls and trying to help the soul-savers. Really, sincerely, honestly concerned about them, not just doing some kind of formal, mechanical job, going through the motions without the power thereof.6 What’s the power? Love! Without that power, we haven’t got anything.

Love is the lifeblood of God’s work—the Spirit of God. As my mother used to say, if the baptism of the Holy Spirit is anything at all, it is a baptism of love.

*

God only uses broken people, broken lives, broken hearts, because only a broken heart gives you love and compassion for others. Only a broken life can help you sympathize with others. Only brokenness can give you humility.

If you show a real love for people, you won’t have a hard time winning friends, winning the lost who need love. When we show love to the most despised, rejected, and discriminated classes of people in the world today, they respond with love. Love begets love! “And the greatest of these is love.”7 Of all the gifts outlined in 1 Corinthians 13, love was greater than any other—because God is love.

If the baptism of the Holy Spirit is anything, it is a baptism of love. It doesn’t matter “whether you speak with the tongues of men and of angels,” without love, you’d become “as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.” “Though you understand all mysteries and all prophecies and have faith to remove mountains...,” even if you have great faith, if you don’t have love, you’re nothing.8

“And above all, have fervent love one toward another.”9 “Love one another.”10 In Jesus’ message to His disciples at the Last Supper, before He was arrested, taken to jail, beaten and killed, what did He tell them? He talked about love, that love was the most important thing.11

“Above all thy getting, get love.”12 Wisdom is love, did you know that? Because God is wisdom, but He’s also love. “Love one another.” “Have fervent love one toward another.” What is the greatest commandment? To love God. What’s the next greatest? To love your neighbor as yourself! He said that’s like unto the first one.13 To love your neighbor is to love God. Without love, it’s nothing.

*

Love is always patient;
love is always kind;
love is never envious
or arrogant with pride.

Nor is she conceited,
and she is never rude;
she never thinks just of herself
or ever gets annoyed.

She never is resentful;
is never glad with sin;
she’s always glad to side with truth,
and pleased that truth will win.

She bears up under everything;
believes the best in all;
there is no limit to her hope,
and never will she fall.
Love never fails.
—1 Corinthians 13:4–814

Originally published in 1984 and 1969. Adapted and republished March 2014.
Read by Jerry Paladino.


1 ISV.

2 1 Corinthians 13.

3 Matthew 14:14.

4 2 Corinthians 5:14.

5 Hebrews 4:15.

6 2 Timothy 3:5.

7 1 Corinthians 13:13.

8 1 Corinthians 13:1–2.

9 1 Peter 4:8.

10 John 15:12.

11 See John 13:1, 34–35.

12 Proverbs 4:7.

13 Matthew 22:37–39.

14 ISV.

Read More

Viver sem Preocupação

Uma compilação

Podem todas as preocupações acrescentar um momento que seja à sua vida? —Mateus 6:27[1]

*

Será que atravessamos o rio antes de chegarmos à margem, tememos problemas que nunca chegam, ou esperamos que o Senhor nos traga o mal em vez do bem? Em outras palavras, devemos ver se nossa alma não está cheia de cuidados. Cuidados, nesse caso, significa incomodar-se e se preocupar sem necessidade.

“Não se preocupe” é um mandamento simples, mas muito difícil de obedecer. M. D. Babcock oferece algumas sugestões para quem se sente derrotado por conta de preocupações, um problema que acomete a muitos. “O cristão ansioso prejudica mais os outros do que a si mesmo. Fere a fé dos que o conhecem e prejudica a reputação do Senhor que prometeu suprir todas as suas necessidades”. Podemos orar sobre e por qualquer coisa. Vamos nos aprofundar na afirmação: “Em tudo dai graças e com súplicas faça as suas petições diante de Deus”. O que podemos levar diante de Deus podemos confiar a Deus. Aquilo em que depositamos nossa confiança, Ele aperfeiçoará por meio da Sua fidelidade. Contanto que nos esforcemos para alcançar o melhor, Ele realizará o que sabe ser melhor para nós. Podemos não alcançar o sucesso esperado, talvez tenhamos que nos disciplinar de maneira que não esperávamos, mas o Pai conhece as necessidades dos Seus filhos. Somos capazes de fazer o que Deus espera de nós, ou de suportar o que devemos suportar. Será que não existe água suficiente no oceano por Ele criado para encher o nosso jarro? Com as necessidades de cada dia virá também o cumprimento da promessa: “Minha graça te basta”.

Não devemos nos esquecer da continuação do versículo “dando graças”. Esteja atento às misericórdias. As bênçãos ganham novo brilho quando as contamos. O olho vê o que coração escolhe. Se quiser ser uma pessoa sombria, existem suficientes coisas ruins para deixá-lo assim; se escolher a alegria e a felicidade, não faltam belezas para torná-lo feliz. Melhor é perder as contas das bênçãos do que deixá-las escapar por ficar contando problemas.

Divida o versículo em três cordas — confiança, oração e gratidão — e prenda-se a Deus com elas, vivendo ansiosos por nada, orando por tudo e agradecendo por qualquer coisa. “E a paz de Deus que sobrepassa todo o entendimento guardará seus corações e mentes em Cristo Jesus”. —Thoughts for Every-Day Living[2]

*

Deus não abre caminho para nós antes da hora. Não promete enviar ajuda antes da necessidade. Não remove obstáculos antes de os encontrarmos. No entanto, na hora da necessidade, a mão de Deus sempre se estende em nossa direção. Muitos se esquecem disso e passam a vida se preocupando com possíveis dificuldades futuras. Esperam que Deus aplaine o terreno e abra suas veredas com quilômetros de antecedência. Mas Ele prometeu abrir o caminho passo a passo, conforme surgir a necessidade. Devemos clamar a promessa ao chegarmos à beirada da água, quando estivermos em meio à inundação.

Muitas pessoas têm tanto medo de morrer que lamentam não terem “graça para a hora da morte”. É claro que não vão ter graça para morrer se estiverem bem e com boa saúde, pois estão ocupadas cumprindo seus deveres e a morte está longe! Por que haveriam de ter graça para morrer nessas circunstâncias? O que precisam é graça para cumprir seu dever, graça para viver. A graça para morrer virá na hora da morte. —J. R. Miller

*

Não andeis ansiosos.[3]

Não são poucos os cristãos que vivem ansiosos, temendo e tremendo. Ter perfeita paz em meio às tribulações do dia a dia é algo que precisamos aprender. De que adianta se preocupar? Esse sentimento nunca fortaleceu ninguém, nunca ajudou ninguém a cumprir a vontade de Deus, nem abriu um caminho de escape. A preocupação estraga vidas que poderiam ser úteis e lindas; ansiedade, inquietação e cuidados são expressamente proibidos pelo Senhor. “Não andeis ansiosos”, ou seja, não ande preocupado, “com o que haveis de comer, ou com o que haveis de beber ou vestir”. Ele não está dizendo que não devemos tomar medidas de prevenção ou planejar. Mas diz que não devemos nos preocupar com essas coisas. É possível identificar quem vive em um mundo de angústias e apreensões pelas linhas de expressão no rosto, pelo tom de voz, pela tristeza na sua vida e pela falta de alegria no seu espírito. Entregue sua vida a Deus e se verá nas alturas, contemplando as nuvens aos seus pés. —Rev. Darlow Sargeant[4]

*

O histórico da fidelidade de Deus no passado se combina com a esperança em um futuro melhor contribui para um fim: preparar-nos para o presente. Como disse Tolstoy, este é o único tempo sobre o qual temos controle. Não é possível mudar o passado e o futuro é imprevisível. Posso apenas viver o momento. Cristãos fiéis oram: “Seja feita a Tua vontade, aqui na terra como no céu” e passam a realizar a vontade de Deus — amando, praticando a justiça, vivendo em paz, tendo misericórdia e perdoando — hoje, enquanto vivem na terra.

Quando refletir no total da minha peregrinação espiritual, tenho a tendência de me sentir normalmente fico nostálgico por aquelas ocasiões quando Deus parecia estar muito mais próximo. Descobri que a fé não é uma condição na qual devo me acomodar ou aprender a dominar. É um dom de Deus e preciso orar por isso diariamente, como oro pelo pão de cada dia. Uma amiga que ficou paralítica depois de um acidente diz que o ponto decisivo na sua fé foi justamente esse princípio. Não conseguia pensar em passar o resto da vida paralítica, mas podia se imaginar vivendo um dia de cada vez com a ajuda de Deus. Na Bíblia, encontramos 365 versículos que nos dizem para “não temer”, a instrução mais repetida na Bíblia, como se Deus quisesse nos lembrar que todos os dias enfrentaremos dificuldades que podem nos fazer temer.

“No amor não há medo,” diz o apóstolo João. “O amor perfeito lança fora o medo…” E ele aponta a fonte do perfeito amor: “Nós o amamos porque Ele nos amou primeiro”. Em outras palavras, a cura para o temor não é mudar as circunstâncias, mas ter um firme alicerce no amor de Deus. Peço a Deus para me revelar o Seu amor diretamente, ou por meio da minha relação com pessoas que também O conhecem. Acho que Deus gosta de atender esse tipo de oração. —Philip Yancey[5]

*

O guia acompanha a pessoa por um caminho novo, mas não lhe diz o que vai precisar fazer antes de chegar à encruzilhada. Espera até o momento em que precisará lhe dizer o que fazer ou que direção deve tomar. O Senhor faz o mesmo. Na maioria dos casos, não precisamos saber em detalhes o que faremos amanhã. Jesus disse para não nos preocuparmos com o amanhã. Geralmente, devemos planejar, mas não nos preocuparmos. Fazer o que Deus sabe que podemos fazer, o que nos pede para fazermos hoje e estarmos preparados para o mesmo amanhã. —David Brandt Berg[6]

Publicado no Âncora em março 2014. Tradução Hebe Rondon Flandoli.


[1] NTLH.

[2] Streams in the Desert, Volume 2 (Zondervan, 1977).

[3] Filipenses 4:6 NTLH.

[4] Streams in the Desert, Volume 1 (Zondervan, 1965).

[5] Reaching for the Invisible God (Zondervan, 2000).

[6] Mais que Vencedores. Livro da série Mananciais (Aurora Production, 2002).



Copyright © 2014 The Family International.

Read More

Tudo é Possível

Uma historia verdadeira

Carla tinha dois anos e oito meses quando notamos pela primeira vez sua dificuldade de apoiar-se no pé esquerdo.

No início era quase imperceptível, mas, com o tempo, foi piorando. Quando nem o pediatra nem o ortopedista conseguiram diagnosticar o problema, pediram uma tomografia.

Os resultados do exame e o prognóstico foram devastadores: três tumores malignos no cérebro — de um tipo muito agressivo chamado meduloblastoma — que, no caso dela, já se encontrava no quarto e último estágio, e atingira a medula óssea em várias partes do corpo. Os médicos nos disseram para não desanimarmos, mas também para nos prepararmos para o pior, pois se tratava de um câncer que avança rapidamente nas crianças. O nosso mundo desmoronou.

Carla foi internada para uma cirurgia de emergência para a remoção dos tumores, sob o risco de entrar em coma a qualquer momento. A cirurgia durou sete horas e não foi bem. Conseguiram retirar apenas o tumor maior. Quanto tempo Carla ainda permaneceria connosco? — Perguntávamo-nos.

Os médicos sugeriram o uso quimioterapia para retardar o crescimento inevitável dos tumores que ficaram, e dar mais algum tempo à nossa pequena.

Mostramos os resultados dos exames para outros especialistas que confirmaram esse tratamento como único recurso disponível.

Nos doze meses que se seguiram, marcados por lutas diárias pela sobrevivência de Carla, tivemos de lidar com os muitos efeitos colaterais da quimioterapia e das cirurgias às quais foi submetida. Com o tempo, o avanço do câncer perdeu força e os tratamentos foram suspensos, mas passados seis meses, um dos tumores voltou a crescer rapidamente e Carla foi novamente operada às pressas. Conter a doença estava se tornando cada vez mais difícil.

As condições de nossa filha pioravam continuamente e os médicos não nos davam nenhuma esperança. Precisávamos um milagre de Deus, como os que, ouvíramos falar, outros receberam quando a medicina não oferecia mais recursos. Que maravilhoso seria, confidenciávamos entre nós, se Deus fizesse uma maravilha assim por Carla! Por um ano e meio imploramos a Deus que a curasse, mas não nos atendeu. Por quê? O que estaríamos fazendo de errado? Tínhamos de descobrir!

Começamos a estudar a Bíblia e alguns materiais impressos e de áudio que recebêramos de um missionário Crista, e, quanto mais estudávamos, maior se tornava nossa fé. Vínhamos orando, mas não em plena fé, verdadeiramente contando com a resposta. Era por isso que nossas orações não alcançavam os resultados desejados! Acreditávamos em Jesus desde a infância, mas sempre O víramos distante e separado de nosso mundo atual e seus problemas. Mas conforme pesquisamos a Sua Palavra, começamos a perceber que Jesus está verdadeiramente vivo e atuante nos dias de hoje

Nossas buscas nos levaram a outras promessas: “Para vós, que temeis o Meu Nome, nascerá o sol da justiça, trazendo salvação [cura, em algumas traduções] debaixo das suas asas.” (Malaquias 4:2) “Para os homens isto é impossível, mas para Deus tudo é possível.” (Mateus 19:26)

Estava claro que Deus era capaz de fazer o que a medicina não podia, mas como nos beneficiarmos da Sua ajuda? Mais uma vez encontramos a resposta na Palavra: “Se tu podes [crer], tudo é possível ao que crê.” (Marcos 9:23) “Se alguém disser a este monte: ‘Ergue-te e lança-te ao mar’, e não duvidar em seu coração, mas crer que se fará o que diz, lhe será feito. Por isso vos digo que tudo o que pedirdes em oração, crede que recebestes, e será vosso.” (Marcos 11:23 –24)

Memorizamos Suas promessas e a elas nos apegávamos com tudo que tínhamos quando orávamos. “Se permanecerdes em Mim, e as Minhas palavras permanecerem em vós, pedireis o que quiserdes, e vos será feito.” (João 15:7)

Entregamos nossa filha nas mãos do Senhor para que cuidasse dela como somente Ele pode. Falamos com Ele sobre tudo, pedimos-Lhe que os tratamentos dessem certo e O consultávamos diante das difíceis decisões que todos os dias tínhamos de tomar. Sabíamos que os resultados estavam totalmente em Suas mãos.

Tão logo confiamos nossa filha a Jesus e nos entregamos totalmente à Sua vontade, a condição física de Carla passou a melhorar e os efeitos pós-operatórios da última cirurgia — infeções e febres — começaram a ceder.

Deus cuidou de cada aspeto da sua vida durante os quatro anos seguintes, quando outra tomografia revelou que os tumores haviam desaparecido. O câncer fora derrotado!

A única explicação que os médicos puderam dar foi que “a doença se comportara atipicamente,” mas sabemos que Deus interviera em reação às nossas orações desesperadas. “Buscar-Me-eis, e Me achareis, quando Me buscardes de todo o vosso coração.” (Jeremias 29:13)

Hoje, catorze anos após o início da nossa angústia, Carla é uma jovem abençoada, feliz, saudável e dona de uma fé do tamanho do mundo.

Sem dúvida, foi o tempo mais difícil de nossas vidas, mas nos ensinou que existe um Deus vivo e todo-poderoso, para Quem não há impossibilidades. Ele está sempre pronto para agir a favor dos que nEle confiam e entendem que foi para eles que Deus fez Suas promessas: “Se tu podes [crer] Tudo é possível ao que crê.” (Marcos 9:23).

Para mais informações TM. 915016534/TF.253987451

Read More

Five Broken Cameras-Palestinian Documentary

Read More

Dr M insists Arabs incapable of planning 9/11 attacks

MALAYSIA

BY CLARA CHOOI
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
NOVEMBER 19, 2012
LATEST UPDATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2012 09:07 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad persisted today in backing a conspiracy theory that the US government could have planned the 9/11 attacks on its own soil as an excuse to retaliate against the Muslim world.

The former prime minister, a vocal critic of the US government’s subsequent wars on Iraq and Afghanistan, pointed out that 9/11 had inspired the attacks on Muslims worldwide, even subjecting innocent Muslim airline passengers to “humiliating searches” and unwarranted detentions.

File photo of the World Trade Center south tower (left) in flames after being struck by a hijacked airliner as the north tower burns following an earlier attack by another hijacked airliner in New York City on September 11, 2001. Dr Mahathir says the Arabs could not have planned these attacks. — Reuters pic“9/11 started the horrific war against hundreds of thousands of Muslims, devastated Iraq and Afghanistan and made Muslims the universal enemies of the whole world.


“Someone obviously gained from this... find the beneficiaries and I believe we will find the real terrorists,” he told the opening of the international conference series “9/11 Revisited — Seeking the Truth” organised by the Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

Dr Mahathir also repeated his insistence that Arab Muslims were incapable of planning the well-strategised, multi-pronged attack that saw the iconic twin towers of the New York World Trade Center crumble to the ground in the historic 2001 attack.

“I apologise to the Arabs but planning and executing these complex operations are not something they can do very well,” he said.

“The Arabs were great warriors in the past, but after western rule, they lost their prowess in wars.”

He gave a reminder that the Arab Muslims have never won a single battle in their wars against Israel, saying that in the years after Israel was formed, even the combined armies of Egypt, Jordan and Syria were defeated by Israeli forces.

“The Arabs never seem to be able to plan or strategise and, certainly, their execution of battle plans is just plain bad. They are not disciplined people... someone would leak whatever plans they may have worked out.

“For money, there are Arabs who are even prepared to reveal the hiding places of their leaders.

“They are brave and willing to die for their beliefs, but they are not like the American marines who planned and carried out the assassination of Osama bin Laden... including the disposal of the body of the victim... and they are brilliant,” he said.

Dr Mahathir pointed out that the September 11 attacks would have taken years of intense training, complex planning and strategising, and precise timing and disciplined execution.

He said if the Arabs had the capacity to plan such attacks from remote locations in Afghanistan or even Iraq, US intelligence agencies like the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) would have come to know of it and sabotage the operation.

“But the fact remains that four planes were hijacked and all crashed into their targets,” he said.

Dr Mahathir pointed out that historically, there has never been a case where four large aircraft were hijacked simultaneously, and on top of that, while they were flying in different airspaces and in different directions.

He said it was still a mystery how the hijackers managed to overwhelm the crews of the four planes, take control of them, change their flight plans to four different places before crashing them into their targets.

The veteran politician said the planes’ pilots would have at least tried to steer the aircraft away from the twin towers if they had known they were likely going to die that day.

“It would not need much change of direction to miss the towers.

“But the planes hit the towers squarely, bursting into flames apparently due to the fuel they carried,” he said.

“I can imagine trained operatives like those in the CIA or Mossad (Israel’s Institute of Intelligence and Special Operations) planning and executing this complex operation but I cannot imagine an Arab like Osama bin Laden planning and directing this sophisticated aerial attack from some remote place in Afghanistan,” he continued.

Dr Mahathir, Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, admitted later that his beliefs may be inaccurate but urged those invited to today’s conference to press on with their independent debunking of the 9/11 attacks to shed light on the issue.

Speakers at the conference include, among others, former US congresswoman and former presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, journalist and film producer James Corbett and Architects & Engineers for 9/11 founder Richard Gage, who have been vocal in their clamour to expose the truth behind the attacks.

“This conference is about finding the truth regarding the world-shaking events of 9/11,” Dr Mahathir said.

“Attempts will be made to black out reports on the talks and discussions here... they will be made by the very protagonists of free speech and the free press.

“But the alternative media will frustrate them and shed light on the events,” he added.

He noted that many were likely to question the various theories raised during the conference that would place doubt on official accounts that blame the attacks on Muslim terrorists, Osama and the terror network Al-Qaeda.

“But a substantial number,” he added, “...will believe or at least rethink their views of the events.”

Read More