tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post6124146191885427092..comments2024-02-13T08:49:07.287-04:00Comments on 'Thought & Humor!': POSTMODERNISM! THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY!Professor Howdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189934292678757335noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-72568087822121862432007-01-03T16:28:00.000-04:002007-01-03T16:28:00.000-04:00A New Year's Blessing
Happy New Year! We are tha...A New Year's Blessing <br /><br />Happy New Year! We are thanking God for you and asking Him to bless you abundantly in the coming year. We are so grateful for your partnership with us in seeing Arab Muslims come to faith in Christ Jesus. Let us all look ahead with to hope to see what God will do. <br /><br />"Behold, I will do a new thing!" Isaiah 43:19 NKJV <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />In Response to Beggars<br /><br />The physical needs of the poor is a burden on the hearts of many of those who love the Lord. A beggar on the street is a familiar sight in some North Africa countries. But should you give them money, or not? This question was recently pondered by one of our workers: <br /><br />From the moment I arrived here I have been overwhelmed by the physical needs of the people in this land. So many jobless, homeless, and hungry. American life sheltered me from much contact with the poor. I participated in food drives & distributions, and gave money to worthy causes to help the poor. When living in the US, I always carried food in my car so that I could give it to the homeless people on the corners as I drove by. My policy was that I preferred to give food so that I was providing for a basic need, and to be sure that I wasn’t providing for an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Occasionally, I went into the slums with friends to share the Good News with the homeless. But none of my previous contact prepared me for the daily assault to my senses that comes from contact with the poor in my life here.<br /><br />I’ve had a huge inner conflict, partly because I couldn’t even communicate with them. I still retained my old policy about not directly giving money. I avoided the beggars on the street, or said sorry to them as they held their hands out to me. I prayed about it. “What am I to do about this problem, God? It’s so big.” I encountered other foreigners who always gave to them. Others only gave outside of their neighborhood. Some just adopt one needy family to give to. Others pray to receive word from God after each request. But none of these strategies helped me. I want what I do to be from an overflow of my relationship with God. <br /><br />I have discovered my avoidance and inaction was due to fear and feeling overwhelmed. So in the last few weeks I’ve been interacting with some scriptures and some other people. Jesus was very clear that we should loan and give and take care of the poor without expecting repayment (Luke 6, Matt. 5, Gal. 2). We are also supposed to be good stewards of what we are given. How does all of this reconcile into action? Somebody told me that it’s not so important what we give but how we do it. What a novel idea: even if I don’t give I need to treat them with love—something that they rarely receive. How simple, yet effective. That’s what I want to leave them with. Another simple idea: keep some coins in your pocket so that you don’t have to access your wallet to give. <br /><br />So, early one morning last week I was on the way to the bank. I didn’t even have a single coin in my purse. A beggar walked up to me. I greeted him, shook his hand and looked him in the eye. “Good Morning, Sir. How are you today?” We started talking. He asked me for money and I told him that I didn’t have anything for him. He was just glad to talk. We parted. I walked away and prayed for him. I ended up seeing him later in the day. I did have money then and I gave him something. He was so thankful. Since then I have tried to greet them, shake their hands, and talk for a while, whether I give or not. It has made all of the difference. From what I have seen, love is something that they rarely encounter from the people who give. I am so thankful that now I can talk to them and that God has removed my fear and overwhelmed-ness, replacing it with a love for them. I had been distracted by the money issue, when the real issue is love. What a change. Please thank God with me for this! Pray that I would be a reflection of our God before them. It’s a huge breakthrough in my life here and it’s because of interaction with His Word and His people. I’m sad it took this long, but glad that I have a new strategy that is God-inspired. <br /><br />Really, aren’t we all just beggars? Not just for money, but for eternal life, healing, love, etc. May we all get better at responding to the beggars in our lives. <br /><br />Praise God that our worker sought wise counsel and was guided by the Holy Spirit. May the Lord use her mightily in His service. The culture may be vastly different but the need is the same - the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray with us for the hearts of the spiritually poor in the Arab Muslim world.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Your Purchases From Amazon.com Will Help Us All Year Long <br /><br />Thanks so much to all of you who have taken the time to make your gifts count even more this holiday season! Please remember that even though the holiday season has come and gone, your purchases from Amazon. com will contiue to earn AWM 4-8.5% all year through. We are so grateful that many of you have taken advantage of this opportunity and we hope that you continue to help us in this way. <br /><br />Please continue to help us spread the word: Tell everyone you know who uses Amazon, they can help AWM by using the following link to enter the site. There are no additional costs to the user, but they will need to use the link for us to get the credit. Tell your family, friends, bible studies, sunday schools, and mission committees about this easy way to donate to Arab World Ministries. <br /><br />Purchase items by clicking on this link www.awm.org/amazonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-79608387418512014162007-01-03T16:12:00.000-04:002007-01-03T16:12:00.000-04:00The "E-Mail Newspaper" containing 'Thought & Humor...<b> <br />The "E-Mail Newspaper" containing 'Thought & Humor' <br />is sent out FREE via e-mail w/o ads. This information <br />was sent to you because you made the request, 'Thought <br />& Humor' is one small attempt to obey "The Great* Com-<br />mission". First published in the last century (July 26, 1997). <br /> Soli Deo Gloria... <br />________ "E-Mail Newspaper (Free4u)" _________<br />References gleaned for great humor & information: Merry Heart, <br />Thomas S. Elworth, Funny List, MeMail, Daily Dose, Joke of the Day, <br />Kim Komando, MIKEY'S FUNNIES , The Daily Tease, Crosswalk.com, <br />CLEAN LAFFS & Gophercentral.<br /> <br />Quoting one is plagiarism; quoting many is research.<br /><br /><br />'Thought & Humor' respects your privacy and wishes to honor <br />your desires to not receive e-mail from us if that's your choice, <br />and we apologize if any message causes any inconvenience <br />to you or your computer. We have never given any reader's <br />e-mail addresses to a third party & have no plans to do such <br />unless the price is right:o) (Liberals please note - that was <br />humor) The E-Mail Newspaper is sent to you with love.<br /><br /><br />But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, <br />that I may show My power in you, and that My <br />Name may be declared in all the earth. Ex 9:16<br /> <br /></b>Professor Howdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189934292678757335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-15781140275047301692007-01-03T12:46:00.000-04:002007-01-03T12:46:00.000-04:00Dear Howdy,
Please put me back on your mailing li...Dear Howdy, <br />Please put me back on your mailing list for "Thought <br />and Humor". I really enjoyed these transmissions <br />but have not received any since this one three <br />weeks ago. Thank you!<br /><br />ShirleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com