The lovingkindnesses of the Lord

"I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of
the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us."-Isaiah
63:7

And canst thou not do this? Are there no mercies which thou hast
experienced? What though thou art gloomy now, canst thou forget that blessed
hour when Jesus met thee, and said, "Come unto me"? Canst thou not
remember that rapturous moment when He snapped thy fetters, dashed thy
chains to the earth, and said, "I came to break thy bonds and set thee
free"? Or if the love of thine espousals be forgotten, there must surely be
some precious milestone along the road of life not quite grown over
with moss, on which thou canst read a happy memorial of His mercy towards
thee? What, didst thou never have a sickness like that which thou art
suffering now, and did He not restore thee? Wert thou never poor before,
and did He not supply thy wants? Wast thou never in straits before, and
did He not deliver thee? Arise, go to the river of thine experience,
and pull up a few bulrushes, and plait them into an ark, wherein thine
infant-faith may float safely on the stream. Forget not what thy !
God has done for thee; turn over the book of thy remembrance, and
consider the days of old. Canst thou not remember the hill Mizar? Did the
Lord never meet with thee at Hermon? Hast thou never climbed the
Delectable Mountains? Hast thou never been helped in time of need? Nay, I know
thou hast. Go back, then, a little way to the choice mercies of
yesterday, and though all may be dark now, light up the lamps of the past,
they shall glitter through the darkness, and thou shalt trust in the Lord
till the day break and the shadows flee away. "Remember, O Lord, thy
tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses, for they have been ever of old."



"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we
establish the law."-Romans 3:31

When the believer is adopted into the Lord's family, his relationship
to old Adam and the law ceases at once; but then he is under a new rule,
and a new covenant. Believer, you are God's child; it is your first
duty to obey your heavenly Father. A servile spirit you have nothing to do
with: you are not a slave, but a child; and now, inasmuch as you are a
beloved child, you are bound to obey your Father's faintest wish, the
least intimation of His will. Does He bid you fulfil a sacred ordinance?
It is at your peril that you neglect it, for you will be disobeying
your Father. Does He command you to seek the image of Jesus? It is not
your joy to do so? Does Jesus tell you, "Be ye perfect, even as your
Father which is in heaven is perfect"? Then not because the law commands,
but because your Saviour enjoins, you will labour to be perfect in
holiness. Does He bid his saints love one another? Do it, not because the law
says, "Love thy neighbour," but because Jesus says, "If ye lov!
e Me, keep My commandments;" and this is the commandment that He has
given unto you, "that ye love one another." Are you told to distribute to
the poor? Do it, not because charity is a burden which you dare not
shirk, but because Jesus teaches, "Give to him that asketh of thee." Does
the Word say, "Love God with all your heart"? Look at the commandment
and reply, "Ah! commandment, Christ hath fulfilled thee already-I have
no need, therefore, to fulfill thee for my salvation, but I rejoice to
yield obedience to thee because God is my Father now and He has a claim
upon me, which I would not dispute." May the Holy Ghost make your heart
obedient to the constraining power of Christ's love, that your prayer
may be, "Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I
delight." Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness, and not the
apologist of sin.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU MARRY THE OTHER WOMAN?" -

"Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O Lord, have done
it." Psalm 109:27

I pray the Lord will help me as I take you the long way to get there,
but the bottom line is that I did not marry the other woman because
deep inside I knew that would be wrong. Charlyne and I were divorced,
and the world and the law was saying to go on, but something was
reminding me that I was still married.

"To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife
must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must
remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a
husband must not divorce his wife." I Corinthians 7:10-11

I acknowledge that no two situations are the same, and your absent
spouse might be in a totally different arrangement, but most of the
men and women we know AND who have come home have experienced about
what I did.

It does not take a NASA scientist to discover there is something
wrong when I was in another man's home, attempting to make his kids
happy, sitting at his table, eating food bought with his child
support money, watching the television that his labor purchased,
being the joy of his forsaken wife's life--and more. Meanwhile, my
heartbroken wife and our three children were literally struggling to
survive while they prayed that a husband and Daddy would come to his
senses, back to the Lord, and back home where he belonged.

Sadly, most married people who walk out on a spouse have or will
become involved with someone else before they come to their senses.
The natural progression of any continued relationship is toward
marriage. Even though your absent spouse may desire that illicit
arrangement to continue status quo, I can assure you that third
person involved in your marriage is pushing and pushing toward
attempting to legalize the sin of adultery.

Those other people put prodigals under enormous pressure to get
married. A praying spouse, standing with God, is a threat to a
sinful relationship. These other people feel they can gain control
if they are able to pressure the other person into "marrying" them.
There is one big problem; God does not recognize these adulterous
relationships as marriage, and He continues to convict the prodigal
of his wayward ways, regardless of what the records down at the
courthouse are recording.

Prodigals are handed ultimatums by that other person. We can walk
out on a covenant wife without hardly looking back, but tremble when
the counterfeit hands down an "or else" dictate. From personal
experience the church that the other person and I were attending
(yes, prodigals attend church and listen to preachers declare truth
to other people) had a new sanctuary under construction. It was to
be finished by a specific Easter. I was told that we would be
married before that date or our relationship would have ended. I was
also ordered to "get over Charlyne" before that time. How could a
person I had known for only a few months be dictating that I "get
over" a wife of nineteen years?

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a
day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance." II Peter 3:8-9

Much of what I went through will not be disclosed, but I feel led to
share one incident that is often on my heart. The other person and
I were finishing dinner at an Italian restaurant when I was paged by
my employer. Back then, cell phones were still tethered inside autos,
so I left my credit card on the table and went searching for a pay
phone. When I returned to the table, my dinner companion handed me
the credit card and a receipt. "I just wanted to see how it will
look," she explained.

I opened the receipt to see "Mrs. Robert E. Steinkamp" signed on it.
I had never before seen that name written in anyone's handwriting
except Charlyne's. It just did not look right. I felt trapped. My
indigestion that night did not come from Italian food, but from the
thought there might soon be a "Mrs. Robert E. Steinkamp" who was not
really "Mrs. Robert E. Steinkamp."

"Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I
said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be
at rest—I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah"
Psalm 55:5-8

Some time later, I hear a quote on the car radio that touched me
deeply. Martyred missionary Jim Elliot was quoted as having said, "A
man is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he
cannot lose." The Holy Spirit revealed to me that I was giving up
Charlyne, who I could not lose, for someone else, a counterfeit wife,
who I could not keep.

Can you see what the Holy Spirit of God was doing, in response to
Charlyne's prayers? He was sending arrow after arrow of His truth to
me, and continued to do so until the bubble of selfishness that
surrounded me was shattered. That is when this prodigal came home.

As a stander, do not feel that your prayers have been unsuccessful,
or that you have failed in marriage restoration if your spouse enters
a non-covenant relationship. You have failed only if you give up. It
is our Lord God's reputation that is on the line, not yours, and He
will do exactly what He promised you, but in His timing and not by
anyone's timetable.

Here are my Five P's to help if you are faced with your mate's non-
covenant marriage:

Pray- Learn how to pray for your spouse who is being forced into
marriage. (My wife knows all about this!)

Proposal- Remember, that other person most likely proposed
marriage, not your mate.

Peace - Get the peace of God that He has your mate in His hand
today, regardless of what words may have been mumbled to someone
else. God is saying you and your beloved are still married.

Purpose - Refocus your purpose in standing. Is it to get even
with the other person and bring your mate home, or is it so that
all involved will come to a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ?

Promise - Reclaim the promises that God has given you and hold
fast to them. God never changes, even when a spouse is
disobedient.

"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my
life." Psalm 119:50

Stand strong with Jesus,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.®

PRONACO MEETS IN ENUGU ON 21.01.06

The penultimate pre-PNC General Assembly of PRONACO will meet in Enugu this weekend after the Soyinka-led successful reunification of the peoples' body fated to trigger the new season of lasting change in Nigeria this year.

The AJforUNHCR Project

Goal of the AJforUNHCR Project is to passionately stimulate individual, corporate, and institutional altruism towards those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

The AJforUNHCR Project was founded and maintained by a small group of dedicated people. We started off small, but hope to gain momentum as we grow.

Inspired by the wonderful work of Angelina Jolie, we have set up a day of celebration on June 4th 2006, where events will be happening to raise much needed funds for UNHCR.

Main event on AJ Day 1 is the Hearts Know No Borders CHARITY DINNER in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as we dine together for a cause. You are more than welcomed to join the world of caring and compassion, altruism and empathy! Click here for more info.

Although neither Ms. Jolie nor UNHCR are directly involved in this project in anyway, we think that this is the best possible chance for us to show our support for Angelina's work as Goodwill Ambassador and like her, help those who need it.

First fundraiser organised is the sale of blue WRISTBANDS with all profits going towards assisting those who have left their homes, their country in fear of death and persecution. Get yours here and help us help others!

The need to establish every world citizen's uniting for concerted efforts, calculated to end the conflicts that produce the majority of the world's over 20 million refugees and IDPs is urgent! You can learn more about UNHCR and their invaluable programs here.

Show the world that your Heart knows no borders and spread the word. Together we can make the world a better place for people who have lost everything.



Warm regards

The AJforUNHCR Team

"I have prayed for thee."-Luke 22:32

How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer's never-ceasing
intercession for us. When we pray, He pleads for us; and then we are not
praying, He is advocating our cause, and by His supplications shielding us
from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to
Peter-"Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat;
but"-what? "But go and pray for yourself." That would be good advice,
but it is not so written. Neither does he say, "But I will keep you
watchful, and so you shall be preserved." That were a great blessing. No,
it is, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." We little
know what we owe to our Saviour's prayers. When we reach the hill-tops
of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God hath
led us, how we shall praise Him who, before the eternal throne, undid
the mischief which Satan was doing upon earth. How shall we thank Him
because He never held His peace, but day and night pointed to the w!
ounds upon His hands, and carried our names upon His breastplate! Even
before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him and entered
a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice. Mark, He does not say, "Satan
hath desired to have you." He checks Satan even in his very desire, and
nips it in the bud. He does not say, "But I have desired to pray for
you." No, but "I have prayed for you: I have done it already; I have gone
to court and entered a counterplea even before an accusation is made."
O Jesus, what a comfort it is that thou hast pleaded our cause against
our unseen enemies; countermined their mines, and unmasked their
ambushes. Here is a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence.

How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer's never-ceasing
intercession for us. When we pray, He pleads for us; and then we are not
praying, He is advocating our cause, and by His supplications shielding us
from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to
Peter-"Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat;
but"-what? "But go and pray for yourself." That would be good advice,
but it is not so written. Neither does he say, "But I will keep you
watchful, and so you shall be preserved." That were a great blessing. No,
it is, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." We little
know what we owe to our Saviour's prayers. When we reach the hill-tops
of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God hath
led us, how we shall praise Him who, before the eternal throne, undid
the mischief which Satan was doing upon earth. How shall we thank Him
because He never held His peace, but day and night pointed to the w!
ounds upon His hands, and carried our names upon His breastplate! Even
before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him and entered
a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice. Mark, He does not say, "Satan
hath desired to have you." He checks Satan even in his very desire, and
nips it in the bud. He does not say, "But I have desired to pray for
you." No, but "I have prayed for you: I have done it already; I have gone
to court and entered a counterplea even before an accusation is made."
O Jesus, what a comfort it is that thou hast pleaded our cause against
our unseen enemies; countermined their mines, and unmasked their
ambushes. Here is a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence.

Free vote 'possible' on smoke ban

There could be a free vote of MPs on having a complete ban on smoking in public places in England.
Ministers told Labour MPs they were considering the idea after an amendment was tabled calling for the total ban.

Many backbenchers are angry that the Health Bill, as it stands, would allow smoking to continue in private clubs and pubs which do not serve food.

Health select committee chairman Kevin Barron said he was "quite optimistic" that a free vote would take place.


Arguments

Mr Barron, who met Labour chief whip Hilary Armstrong on Tuesday, said a free vote would apply not just to backbenchers but to all Labour MPs, including ministers.

He added: "If carried, our amendment will greatly strengthen that part of the bill which aims to protect the public from the dangers of second hand smoke.

"Since 1997 this government has come a long way towards controlling the harmful effects of tobacco use and this is another milestone towards the improvement of public health."

The partial ban plan was put forward by the government after several days of argument within the Cabinet.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, who was thought to back a total ban, has since said she expects all smoking in enclosed public spaces to be outlawed within a few years.

The cross-party amendment to the Health Bill will be considered in a couple of weeks when it returns for its report stage in the Commons.

Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay told BBC News 24: "If backbenchers get a free vote... there will be a total ban."

Last month, 64 Labour MPs signed a motion calling for a free vote.

Inequality fears

Conservative MPs have also been promised one.

In a recent report, the Commons health select committee said a total ban was the "only effective means" of protecting public health.

A partial ban would "widen health inequalities" and "be disputed in the courts", the MPs added.

But Health Minister Caroline Flint said it represented "a huge step forward for public health".

Some Conservative and Lib Dem MPs are thought to oppose a total smoking ban for fear it could undermine civil liberties.

Tony Blair has promised to "listen to the debate with interest".

The partial ban being proposed is the one which was enclosed in the Labour manifesto at the 2005 general election.

The government has agreed to stop smoking in all pubs and clubs in Northern Ireland, and the Scottish Executive has ordered a ban.

The Health Bill gives the Welsh Assembly the right to decide for itself whether to implement a ban it has already twice approved in principle.

Q&A: Respect agenda

BBC News explains what the prime minister's "respect agenda" means - does it just focus on crime, or is it more wide ranging?
What is the respect agenda?

Tony Blair's so-called "respect agenda" emerged as a broad idea during the 2005 general election campaign. He said that it was about putting the law-abiding majority back in charge of their local communities.

"Whether it's in the classroom, or on the streets in town centres on a Friday or Saturday night, I want to focus on this issue," he said. "We've done a lot so far with anti-social behaviour orders and additional numbers of police.

"I want to make this a particular priority for this government, how we bring back a proper sense of respect in our schools, in our communities, in our towns and our villages."

What exactly does the prime minister mean?

It's one thing to talk about respect, but another to define clear policy goals. Take anti-social behaviour orders, for example. These were designed to deal with people engaged in nuisance behaviour or low-level criminality - in effect a form of control.

But whether or not they instil "respect" is another matter. One key element of the respect package is what Downing Street says will be a major public consultation. That might provide some more answers.

But is crime at the heart of this?

Undoubtedly - and it's about how crime impacts on communities. Since Labour came to power in 1997, the government has pursued a range of policies that it believes provide local councils, the police and other bodies with far more sophisticated ways of tackling nuisance behaviour.

Supporters of the respect concept argue that this focus on low-level aggravation - drinking, vandalism, daily problems which depress householders but may not warrant the blue flashing lights and sirens - helps people sleep easy.

So how does this go beyond crime?

The prime minister signalled his intention to "join-up" the anti-social behaviour agenda with wider goals when he set up a special task force on school discipline.

One of the most controversial proposals is a power to "shut and seal" what Downing Street has dubbed "properties from hell". In practice, it could lead to people deemed guilty of causing serious nuisance to others being excluded from their own homes for three months, even if they own them.

Mr Blair has also signalled he wants to see more done on parenting through a special academy. This would augment the existing parenting orders and contracts - measures that try to enforce good behaviour by making parents recognise their responsibilities.

Is there a clear strategy here?

The idea of a respect agenda has been criticised for being at best vague and at worst a clever slogan with nothing behind it.

But if you link all the themes - crime, parenting, schools, relationships with local authorities and so on, supporters see a strategy of seeking to influence behaviour at a very local level, rather than in the institutional heights of the courts.

Although the policies differ, the respect agenda is arguably very close in concept to the US idea of "zero tolerance", used to target low-level offending in an effort to create a better environment, step-by-step.

The other element of the package is the "signal" the government is seeking to send out. If it is trying to recreate a sense of respect, the question is how was it lost in the first place - and this may be an inevitably divisive issue depending on your political persuasion.

What do critics say?

The general anti-social behaviour agenda to date has faced a variety of criticisms. Firstly, those concerned with rights of the individual have argued that it is verging on the totalitarian and criminalises young people by presuming they are yobs.

Secondly, it has also been criticised from the other end of the political spectrum for being ineffective and tokenistic: the Conservatives have argued that you can have all the clever measures you can dream up, but they will be no good if there are not enough police officers.

Some people who work in criminal justice also have their doubts, saying that jailing of people for breaching an Asbo can be extreme - particularly if the cause of the problem, such as drug addiction, is not tackled.

They also point out that figures from last year revealed that four in 10 Asbos were being breached - meaning the behaviour had not actually become any more acceptable.

So can governments change the behaviour of society?

Drink driving was once commonplace - but it is now regarded as unacceptable by most people. That social change came about thanks to a massive publicity campaign coupled with sanctions.

But then again, despite a long-running campaign to persuade people of the dangers of cannabis, use of the drug became increasingly widespread until the government eventually reclassified the drug to make use and possession less serious offences.

By Dominic Casciani
BBC News community affairs

Mobile Teams Make a Difference in Evangelism in Asia

Dear Mr. Uranta,

The desire of Gospel for Asia native missionaries is to reach as many lost souls as they can with the Gospel. Therefore, one of the most fulfilling times in their lives occurs when they are able to enter a village for the first time, carrying with them the Good News of Jesus Christ.

GFA mobile teams play a big part in helping missionaries spread the Gospel to more villages. Mobile teams spend about a week with local missionaries and pastors, going with them to nearby villages that have yet to be reached. They talk about Jesus with any who will listen and pass out Gospel tracts. In the evenings they show Man of Mercy, a film on the life of Jesus.

When the mobile team moves on to another village, they leave behind fertile ground. Some villagers will be very interested in the Gospel after seeing the film. Others will have already received salvation. Mobile teams prepare the way for local missionaries to plant more churches.

Click here to see a PhotoShow about the significant impact a mobile team's visit had on GFA Pastor Raji's ministry.

Yours for the unreached villages,


K.P. Yohannan

Founder & President
Gospel for Asia

IDOLBUSTING!

Scripture to Read: Daniel 3

"Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded
to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as
you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes
and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image
of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall
down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
Daniel 3:4-6

Who are you are worshiping in your life? What idols do you have that
you worship daily?

Another way of asking this might be; What will be foremost on your
mind as you go to church this weekend? What will you be thinking of
as you fall asleep tonight? The enemy is always trying to put idols
in our lives without us realizing it. Today as you go and worship
your Lord, may you examine your heart and put your Lord first in your
life.

"Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first
and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:37-38

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, 90 feet high. He made a
decree that everyone must fall down and worship his image of gold.
Whoever did not obey would be immediately thrown into a blazing
furnace.

The King was told that the three Jewish men who were part of his high
officials would not serve or worship the image of gold. He called
the three men and questioned them. He asked them if they would bow
down and worship the image? He also asked them:

"If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very
good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately
into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you
from my hand?" Daniel 3:15

Do you trust in your Lord God to protect and rescue you regardless of
your circumstances? What faith these men showed their peers! Will
you trust your Lord completely for your life and your marriage? Do
you have that kind of faith for your Lord regarding your life?

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchad-
nezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this
matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve
is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O
king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O King, that we
will not serve your gods, or worship the image of gold you have set
up." Daniel 3:16-18

What are you putting before your Lord God? It is your career, your
spouse, your children, money, a hobby or schooling? What is your
reason for not spending time with your Lord daily?

There are men and women who allow standing for marriage restoration
to become an idol. They have the cart before the horse. Standing
must be the outcome of your close walk with Christ. Some people
focus all their time and efforts, not on being a better Christian,
but on being a better stander. Being a better Christian will always
make you a better stander, but standing in itself will not make you a
Christian. That happens only when you discover a relationship with
Jesus Christ.

We know of people who attempt to stand. They pick up the buzz words
of the Christian faith, without discovering a personal relationship
with Jesus Christ. Their email and their talk might be filled with
pious phrases, but when the first big wind of opposition howls, not
being rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ, they are blown into
divorce recovery, and into the arms of someone else.

Since they never had a personal relationship with the Living Lord,
they never allowed Him to deal with the unforgiveness, the
bitterness, and the anger. It is not a matter of these things
returning when they gave up on a prodigal spouse. They were there
all the time, seething just under the surface.


We all know the next part of the story in Daniel, Chapter 3. King
Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter
than usual. After the three men were thrown into the furnace, the
King looked and saw four men in the furnace.

"Look, I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and
unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." Daniel 3:25

The King commanded the men to come out of the fire.

"Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his
servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and
were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship
any god except their own God." Daniel 3:28

What a victory for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! Nebuchadnezzar
saw the power of their Lord God. Do you believe that your God is
able to save you from the blazing fire of circumstances that you are
in? Whether your circumstance is separation, a divorce, a non-
covenant relationship or a baby being born, God is able to save you
and your family from the fire that is attempting to destroy you. May
your family and friends see your Lord providing and protecting you
from your enemy in a supernatural way.

Trust God. Believe in Him. Do not yield yourself to the standards of
the world. God's standards are higher. You will be blessed mightily
in the future. Wait on the Lord to show you, He is able! Let Him
show you, your family and friends His mighty power.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to
accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Genesis 50:20

Our friend, it is worth doing it God's way! Don't give up on your God,
or on His ability to touch your prodigal spouse. This weekend pray
for all spouses, both prodigals and standers, to bow down, repenting
to their Lord God.

Have a blessed Sunday,

Bob and Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.®

"Serve the Lord with gladness."-Psalm 100:2

Delight in divine service is a token of acceptance. Those who serve God
with a sad countenance, because they do what is unpleasant to them, are
not serving Him at all; they bring the form of homage, but the life is
absent. Our God requires no slaves to grace His throne; He is the Lord
of the empire of love, and would have His servants dressed in the
livery of joy. The angels of God serve Him with songs, not with groans; a
murmur or a sigh would be a mutiny in their ranks. That obedience which
is not voluntary is disobedience, for the Lord looketh at the heart, and
if He seeth that we serve Him from force, and not because we love Him,
He will reject our offering. Service coupled with cheerfulness is
heart-service, and therefore true. Take away joyful willingness from the
Christian, and you have removed the test of his sincerity. If a man be
driven to battle, he is no patriot; but he who marches into the fray with
flashing eye and beaming face, singing, "It is sweet for one's !
country to die," proves himself to be sincere in his patriotism.
Cheerfulness is the support of our strength; in the joy of the Lord are we
strong. It acts as the remover of difficulties. It is to our service what
oil is to the wheels of a railway carriage. Without oil the axle soon
grows hot, and accidents occur; and if there be not a holy cheerfulness
to oil our wheels, our spirits will be clogged with weariness. The man
who is cheerful in his service of God, proves that obedience is his
element; he can sing,

"Make me to walk in Thy commands,
'Tis a delightful road."

Reader, let us put this question-do you serve the Lord with gladness?
Let us show to the people of the world, who think our religion to be
slavery, that it is to us a delight and a joy! Let our gladness proclaim
that we serve a good Master.

"I will be their God."-Jeremiah 31:33

Christian! here is all thou canst require. To make thee happy thou
wantest something that shall satisfy thee; and is not this enough? If thou
canst pour this promise into thy cup, wilt thou not say, with David,
"My cup runneth over; I have more than heart can wish"? When this is
fulfilled, "I am thy God," art thou not possessor of all things? Desire is
insatiable as death, but He who filleth all in all can fill it. The
capacity of our wishes who can measure? but the immeasurable wealth of God
can more than overflow it. I ask thee if thou art not complete when God
is thine? Dost thou want anything but God? Is not His all-sufficiency
enough to satisfy thee if all else should fail? But thou wantest more
than quiet satisfaction; thou desirest rapturous delight. Come, soul,
here is music fit for heaven in this thy portion, for God is the Maker of
Heaven. Not all the music blown from sweet instruments, or drawn from
living strings, can yield such melody as this sweet promise, "I !
will be their God." Here is a deep sea of bliss, a shoreless ocean of
delight; come, bathe thy spirit in it; swim an age, and thou shalt find
no shore; dive throughout eternity, and thou shalt find no bottom. "I
will be their God." If this do not make thine eyes sparkle, and thy
heart beat high with bliss, then assuredly thy soul is not in a healthy
state. But thou wantest more than present delights-thou cravest something
concerning which thou mayest exercise hope; and what more canst thou
hope for than the fulfillment of this great promise, "I will be their
God"? This is the masterpiece of all the promises; its enjoyment makes a
heaven below, and will make a heaven above. Dwell in the light of thy
Lord, and let thy soul be always ravished with His love. Get out the
marrow and fatness which this portion yields thee. Live up to thy
privileges, and rejoice with unspeakable joy.

China oil firm buys into Nigeria

CNOOC, one of China's largest state-run oil and gas producers, has agreed to buy a stake in a Nigerian offshore oil and gas field for $2.3bn (£1.3bn).
It will buy a 45% stake in the license covering the OML 130 field, which is owned by South Atlantic Petroleum and is in deep water near the Niger Delta.

CNOOC is hunting overseas oil and gas assets to supply its domestic market.

China's appetite for commodities such as oil and gas is second only to that of the United States.

The OML 130 field covers almost 500 square miles, and was first discovered six years ago.

It is reported to need billions of dollars of investment before it comes on stream in two years time.

'Huge interest'

Company chairman and chief executive, Fu Chengyu, said the purchase would give CNOOC access to "an oil and gas field of huge interest and upside potential, located in one of the world's largest oil and gas basins".

CNOOC is one of four big oil companies created when China's oil industry was restructured seven years ago.

Its parent company is controlled by the Chinese government.

CNOOC shares were suspended before the start of trading in Hong Kong on Monday, ahead of the announcement.

The company has bought access to overseas oil and gas resources in a number of countries in recent years, including Indonesia and Australia.

Last year CNOOC failed to buy US firm Unocal following what it called unprecedented political opposition to its plans from US lawmakers.

The deal still needs to be approved by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Chinese government.

By Chris Hogg
BBC News, Hong Kong

ADULTERY IS WRONG! -

"Lay your spouse and the other person at your Lord's feet and allow
Him to deal with both of them. Your responsibility is to forgive."
(More on this subject from Charlyne below).
- - - - -
"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept
pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually
immoral." Hebrews 13:4

The world today blinks at the word "adultery." You and I must hate
adultery, as it has attacked our spouses, our marriages, and is
destroying so many families. May you and I make a difference in
teaching our family, friends, and our church families the
consequences of adultery.

Some prodigal spouses stop by the home and family they left, and want
to act as if everything were normal, but continue in adultery. People
are work have affairs, and almost seem proud of their sin. Society is
blinking at adultery as as acceptable. Your spouse may even be acting
as if the affair with the other person is not wrong. It is morally
wrong. Make time in your devotion time to read Proverbs, Chapter 5.

"May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife
of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer- may her breasts
satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why
be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom
of another man's wife?" Proverbs 5:18-20

We love the sinner, but hate the act of adultery and all that it
represents. The spouse who has had the affair often moves out of
their home, lives with the other person and may in time marry the
other person. The other person often asks for this "marriage" to
happen, thinking that God will bless the marriage that was birthed
out of adultery.

If we were to do a study on the meaning and the consequences of
adultery in the Bible, each of us would realize that it is wrong and
the Bible teaches us to flee from sexual immorality. I would forever
shout from the rooftops the severe consequences of adultery on each
husband, wife, children and family. If we will teach about adultery,
strong and often enough, and warn others of the consequences, people
may start to stay away from it, flee from it or not open the door to
the temptations of the flesh.

Our society has painted adultery as exciting, everyone does it, fun,
sexy, and with no consequences! There are severe consequences for
the person who commits adultery, to the other person that committed
adultery, and consequences to the innocent spouse plus their
children, if there are any.

Sexual immorality can be stopped and our world can turn from the
promiscuous lifestyle that we are advertising on our televisions,
movies and radio talk shows, for everyone to try.

There are many studies and books that demonstrate to us that both
parents are needed to raise children. Teenager are now becoming
sexually active at a much younger age, because of their searching for
happiness, love and acceptance due to family problems and divorce.
Gods ways and standards are the only way!

Let's look at what the Bible says about adultery.

"My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of
insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may
preserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter
as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to
death; her steps lead straight to the grave." Proverbs 5:1-15

How is your heart? How is your spouse's heart? An impure heart will
corrupt one's thoughts, feelings, words and actions. We need to pray
for ourselves, for our spouses and children, to get a new transformed
heart, seeking to be more like your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
every day. We need to shun evil, adultery, sexual immorality and all
selfishness.

"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart,
and these make a man ‘unclean.' For out of the heart come evil
thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false
testimony, slander." Matthew 15:18-19

Your spouse has fallen into Satan's trap of sin. Sin is wrong and
there will be consequences to sin on judgment day. I pray that you
will be careful not to harbor anger, unforgiveness and bitterness in
your heart. Lay your spouse and the other person at your Lord's feet
and allow Him to deal with both of them. Your responsibility is to
forgive. Your Lord God knows what is best. You are praying for
restoration and for your spouse's salvation, and for them to be in
Heaven with you and your loved ones eternally.

"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD , and he examines
all his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the
cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline,
led astray by his own great folly." Proverbs 5:21-23

"Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being
burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being
scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one
who touches her will go unpunished." Proverbs 6:27-29

Adultery and sexual immorality can be avoided. We need to teach our
young people the importance of purity before marriage. We need to
discourage couples from living together before marriage. Let us teach
in our churches about obedience and disobedience to God's laws and
committing sin. If you are a parent, you and I need to teach our
children the Word of God, so they learn right from wrong and know why
it is wrong.

What are the consequences to sexual immorality and adultery?

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters
nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor
thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers
will inherit the kingdom of God." I Corinthians 6:9-10

"You shall not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14

We each need to pray for our family and spouse that they will turn
their hearts toward their Lord Jesus Christ and toward home. Each of
us need to surrender our personal lives to our Lord to follow Him.
walking and being in the will of God daily. God has a perfect plan
and purpose for each of us, if we are willing to follow Him in
obedience. Pray that your spouse will be obedient and cleanse their
heart from their sinful lifestyle. Hate adultery, love the sinner.

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I
will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the
bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and
blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and
renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:7-10

God bless,
Charlyne Steinkamp

Blessed 2006!

I hope you had a merry Xmas. My family and I did. Praise be to God. Amen.

My message to you for the new year, 2006, is about the lessons learnt from this year, 2005, particularly and generally since May 2003 that L4T has been working with CSN. This message is aptly summarised by His Grace, the Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke, the Archbishop of Onitsha.

In section 9 of his Pastoral letter (Our Glorious Heritage) presented at the beginning of the First Onitsha Archdiocesan Synod, His Grace reflected on the leadership examples of past Catholic leaders in Onitsha.

These lessons would serve us all well if we could learn from them. They are: Faith; Hope; Charity; Self sacrifice; Hard work; Trust in Providence; Inventiveness; Vision; and Knowledge.

I wish you a prosperous, spiritually fruitful and peaceful 2006.

Remain Blessed
Dr. Jumaa

"And the LORD shall guide thee continually."-Isaiah 58:11

"The Lord shall guide thee."

Not an angel, but JEHOVAH shall guide thee. He said He would not go through the wilderness before His people, an
angel should go before them to lead them in the way; but Moses said,
"If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." Christian, God
has not left you in your earthly pilgrimage to an angel's guidance: He
Himself leads the van. You may not see the cloudy, fiery pillar, but
Jehovah will never forsake you. Notice the word shall-"The Lord shall
guide thee." How certain this makes it! How sure it is that God will not
forsake us! His precious "shalls" and "wills" are better than men's
oaths. "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Then observe the adverb
continually. We are not merely to be guided sometimes, but we are to
have a perpetual monitor; not occasionally to be left to our own
understanding, and so to wander, but we are continually to hear the guiding
voice of the Great Shepherd; and if we follow close at His heels, we!
shall not err, but be led by a right way to a city to dwell in. If you
have to change your position in life; if you have to emigrate to
distant shores; if it should happen that you are cast into poverty, or
uplifted suddenly into a more responsible position than the one you now
occupy; if you are thrown among strangers, or cast among foes, yet tremble
not, for "the Lord shall guide thee continually." There are no dilemmas
out of which you shall not be delivered if you live near to God, and
your heart be kept warm with holy love. He goes not amiss who goes in the
company of God. Like Enoch, walk with God, and you cannot mistake your
road. You have infallible wisdom to direct you, immutable love to
comfort you, and eternal power to defend you. "Jehovah"-mark the
word-"Jehovah shall guide thee continually."

Pope's Message for 14th World Day of the Sick

Mental Illness: "A Real and Authentic Social Health Care Emergency"

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 9, 2005 (ZENIT.org).- Here is a translation of the message Benedict XVI has written for the World Day of the Sick, which will be held Feb. 11. This year the main focus of the world event will be in Adelaide, Australia.

* * *

Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI
For the XIV World Day of the Sick
Adelaide, Australia, Feb. 11, 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The World Day of the Sick will be held on Feb. 11, 2006, the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin of Lourdes.

Last year this Day was held in the Marian sanctuary of Mvolyé in Yaoundé, and on that occasion the faithful and their pastors, in the name of the whole of the continent of Africa, reaffirmed their pastoral commitment to the sick. The next World Day of the Sick will be in Adelaide, in Australia, and the events will culminate in the celebration of the Eucharist in the cathedral dedicated to St. Francesco Saverio, the untiring missionary of the populations of the East.

On that occasion, the Church intends to bow with special solicitude to the suffering, calling the attention of public opinion to the problems connected with mental disturbance, which by now afflicts one-fifth of mankind and constitutes a real and authentic social health care emergency.

Remembering the attention that my venerated predecessor Pope John Paul II gave to this annual event, I, too, dear brothers and sisters, would like to make myself spiritually present at the World Day of the Sick, so as to pause to reflect, in harmony with those taking part, on the situation of the mentally ill in the world and to call for the commitment of the Church communities to bear witness to the tender mercy of God towards them.

In many countries, legislation in this field does not yet exist and in other countries a precise policy on mental health is absent. It should also be observed that the prolongation of armed conflicts in various areas of the world, the succession of terrible natural catastrophes, and the spread of terrorism, in addition to causing a shocking number of deaths, have also created mental traumas in not a few survivors, whose recovery at times is difficult.

And in countries with high economic development, the experts recognize that at the origin of new forms of mental disturbance we may also find the negative impact of the crisis of moral values. This increases the sense of loneliness, undermining and even breaking down traditional forms of social cohesion, beginning with the institution of the family, and marginalizing the sick, and especially the mentally ill, who are often seen as a burden for their families and the community.

I would like here to thank those who work in various ways and at various levels to ensure that the spirit of solidarity does not decline and that people persevere in looking after these brothers and sisters of ours, basing themselves on human and Gospel-based ideals and principles. I thus encourage the efforts of those who work to ensure that all mentally ill people are given access to necessary forms of care and treatment. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world the services for these sick people are lacking, insufficient or in a state of decay.

The social context does not always accept the mentally ill, with their limitations, and for this reason, as well, difficulties are encountered in securing the human and financial resources that are needed. One perceives the need to integrate in a better way the tandem appropriate therapy and a new sensitivity towards disturbance so as to enable workers in this sector, in a more effective way, to help these sick people and their families, who on their own would not be able to take care of their relatives in difficulty in an adequate way. The next World Day of the Sick is a suitable occasion to express solidarity to families who have mentally sick people dependent upon them.

I would here like to address myself to you, dear brothers and sisters burdened by illness, so as to invite you to offer your condition of suffering, together with Christ, to the Father, certain that every ordeal received with resignation is meritorious and draws the benevolence of God upon the whole of mankind. I express my appreciation to those who help and care for you in residential centers, day hospitals and wards providing diagnosis and treatment, and I exhort them to strive to ensure that medical, social and pastoral assistance for those in need which respects the dignity specific to every human being is never absent.

The Church, in particular through the work of chaplains, will not fail to offer you her own help, being well aware that she is called to express the love and care of Christ for those who suffer and for those who look after them. I commend pastoral workers and voluntary associations and organizations to support -- in practical forms and through practical initiatives -- those families who have mentally ill people dependent upon them, in relation to whom I hope that the culture of welcoming and sharing will grow and spread, as a result, also, of suitable laws and health-care programs that envisage sufficient resources for their practical application. The training and updating of the personnel who work in such a very delicate sector of society is as urgent as ever before.

Every Christian, according to his specific task and specific responsibility, is called to make his contribution so that the dignity of these brothers and sisters of ours is recognized, respected and promoted. "Duc in altum!" This invitation of Christ to Peter and the Apostles I address to the Church communities spread throughout the world and in a special way to those who are at the service of the sick, so that, with the help of "Mary Salus Infirmorum," they may bear witness to the goodness and the paternal solicitude of God. May the Holy Virgin comfort those who are afflicted by illness and support those who, like the Good Samaritan, soothe their corporeal and spiritual wounds!

I assure each one of you that you will be remembered in my prayers, and I willingly impart my Blessing on you all.

From the Vatican, Dec. 8, 2005

BENEDICT XVI