www.hismansion.com
His Mansion Ministries, Inc.
"and the rain descended, the
floods came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house; and it did
not fall, for it was founded on
the rock." -Matt. 7:25
"He is like a man building a
house, who dug deep and laid the
foundation on the rock. And when
the flood arose, the stream beat
vehemently against that house, and
could not shake it, for it was
founded on the rock." -Luke 6:48
"For I proclaim the name of the
LORD:Ascribe greatness to our God.
He is the Rock, His work is
perfect; For all His ways are
justice..." -Deut. 32:3,4
"Then He said, 'Go out, and stand
on the mountain before the LORD.'
And behold, the LORD passed by,
and a great and strong wind tore
into the mountains and broke the
rocks in pieces before the LORD,
but the LORD was not in the wind;
and after the wind an earthquake,
but the LORD was not in the
earthquake..." -1 Kings 19:11
Greetings in Jesus' name,
This month's newsletter will focus
on "support." There, I know I have
caught your attention!
Our major emphasis at His Mansion
is to coach and teach fragile
souls to acquire solid
foundations. Prayer and praise
times, journaling, and quality
teaching of God's Word, are the
cornerstones of this "support
system."
It is clear that today, young
adults are being formed and
conditioned to be comfortable with
a baseless society. No absolutes,
no firm foundations, and a
community of peers who insist that
"no one is better than me," or
deserving of any particular
esteem. "We are all equal."
The problem with this culture is
that they lack any solid system of
support--Ah, yes! This is the,
"support" I speak of.
Over the last several years, I've
been intrigued with the
construction of medieval
cathedrals. Quite fascinating.
The clever, "uneducated masons"
had figured out the math and
physics of building awe-inspiring
spired-wonders, impressing
tourists, engineers and
contemporary worshipers.
Consider hundreds of thousands of
tons of carefully carved granite
stacked up to well over 100 feet.
Imagine huge open spaces with
story-telling colored glass,
leaded into the vast openings
admitting history in shades not
captured by HD!
Unseen by those standing in awe
are the vast underground
foundations going deep into the
earth, shoring up the tremendous
weight. Massive carved pillars
sweep up out of the earth 100 feet
away from the cathedral proper,
like the roots at the base of the
majestic oak tree. These keep the
walls from buckling out, dropping
the heaven-reaching spires, and
filling up the sanctuary. Support.
It is all about strong support.
This part is fairly intuitive. But
there are deeper truths to be
learned here.
Every town of any size insisted on
having a huge cathedral--each
upstaging the one in the
neighboring town. Breath-taking
edifices requiring lifetimes to
build, sprouted out of the earth
all over France and England in the
11th and 12th centuries.
One after the other, soon after
completion, large cracks began to
form high in the clerestories in
many of the cathedrals. Masons,
engineers, and architects were
baffled. The base support was
clearly more than adequate. The
foundation would not shift. Surely
this was more than enough support.
One day a gifted mason climbed
high up the outside of his
crowning achievement, intrigued by
the cracks that seemed to appear
on other such works. A rare
hurricane had crossed the Atlantic
and buffeted all of Europe,
wrecking towns and buildings
everywhere.
As the hurricane subsided, he
scaled the heights of his
creation. Our mason was nearly
blown off the spire and then it
hit him: "Support!" Support had
always meant enough foundation and
buttresses to hold up the weight.
No one had thought of another
source of stress--the storms that
rage above the ground and attack
from unsuspected angles!
All this to say that we must not
be content to go about
facilitating the healing of broken
hearts and minds using "proven
tried" methods while blind to
overlooked forces of stress and
pressure that require principles
and truths heretofore not
considered.
The weight issues in
foundation-building are fairly
static. However, wind and storms
don't follow static patterns nor
do they follow preset schedules.
St. John says: "The wind blows
where it wishes, and you hear the
sound of it, but cannot tell where
it comes from and where it goes."
What are these unplanned for,
frightening stresses? Unexpected
loss. Undeserved abuse. Sneak
attacks by little understood
viruses and bacteria-cancer.
Rejection by someone you love.
Our spiritual strengthening must
include training and preparation
to withstand the pressures coming
"against" us as well as adequate
foundations to support the "weight
of the world."
We all welcome the gentle breeze
that bears the fragrance of spring
flowers or the salt-fishiness of a
sea breeze. Here's the challenge:
Am I developing "spiritual muscle"
to handle those vicious winds,
born in the hot sands of evil,
destined to become the tornadoes
that batter, beat and test us? His
Mansion's shepherds are attempting
to do a better job at this, as we
have witnessed disappointing
fissures in some of our "finished
product!"
Joyful in His service together,
Stan Farmer; Director
Emeritus
Debbie
Penner
Do You
Trust Me?
"Every day God finds a new way to
ask: "Do you trust me?"
Chuck Missler
It was last Sunday evening. I was
teaching the church's English
Bible class. This class has about
7 members, most of whom have
studied under my dad for many
years. None of them have made a
profession of faith, but they all
have a solid foundation in the
Word, know the gospel, and are
simply holding God at arms length
for convenience' sake.
We were singing "Great is Thy
Faithfulness." and came to verse 3.
Pardon for sin and a peace that
endureth Thine own dear presence
to cheer and to guide Strength for
today, and bright hope for
tomorrow Blessings all mine, and
ten thousand beside!
I found myself searching for a
real world example of one of the
10,000 spiritual blessings.
I told them of Romans 8:28 -
actually I had them look it up in
their English Bibles and read it
out loud. Then I told them once
again (although they already know)
about how my father has had a
brain hemorrhage, and is lying in
the hospital week after week,
unable to move, unable to speak,
unable to eat, and very, very
bored. I spoke about how he has
given his life to serve Christ,
and how unfair it seemed that God,
who could heal him at any moment,
would let him lie there and suffer
like that.
Then I told them how Romans 8:28
makes it all OK. We know beyond
any doubt, that God is going to
take this situation and bring good
out of it. We know that one day we
will look back and be satisfied
that we wouldn't have had it any
other way. We can rejoice in that
fact now, even though we can't see
how anything about the situation
could possibly be good, because we
know that we are just looking at
it from the back side, and that's
why it looks that way.
All these things were coming out
of my mouth, and the students were
becoming more and more sober, when
it hit me like a flash of
lightening, and the thunder roared
in my ears. "Are you really worthy
to be saying these things? Do you
really believe it? Is it true? Can
you actually live the victory you
are spouting because it's the
"right" thing to say? Do you
REALLY trust Me?"
I hurriedly finished my sentence,
put away the hymnbooks, and
somehow stumbled through the
evening's lesson, which by some
coincidence just happened to be on
Abraham and Isaac, stressing the
idea that Abraham trusted God, no
matter what, then drove away with
the question still roaring in my
ears and heart. I discovered that
yes, my mind doesn't always think
that way, and my feelings
certainly don't, but somehow,
somewhere deep inside, I know
beyond any doubt that it's true.
Because God is God, and because of
the cross, and because we have
been given Romans 8, I can be
sure, that Dad is exactly where he
is supposed to be. Lying in that
bed is his work, at least for the
moment, and God is going to bring
something good out of it. I don't
need to know what, or when or how.
My job is to trust, (and work my
head off finding him a home,
visiting him every day, caring for
Mom, and teaching his classes he
left behind) Dad's job is to lie
there, and God's job is to make
sense out of it all. The stress
comes when we try to reverse those
roles to be some other combination.
And
we know that God causes all things
to work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose. Rom. 8:28
Debbie Penner
“GREAT EXPECTATIONS”
Charles Dickens’ novel, “Great
Expectations” is story of an
orphan, Pip, that takes place from
Christmas Eve of 1812 to the
winter of 1840. Christmas has
always been a time of
expectations, whether great or
small. Some of us remember a song
entitled “All I Want for Christmas
is My Two Front Teeth.” Another is
“Here Comes Santa Claus.” And who
doesn’t know a favorite, “I’m
Dreaming of a White Christmas?”
Christmas is a time of
expectations. Some are looking for
that special emotional warmth we
call “the Christmas spirit” that
lifts them up. Others are more
focused on the material
expectations. Retail stores are
counting on this being a big part
of Christmas. Then, there are
others who have relational
expectations. Isn’t that why so
many travel to be with family and
friends at Christmas time? Jimmy
Stewart starred in the movie “It’s
a Wonderful Life” as George
Bailey. After his life totally
falls apart on Christmas Eve,
what’s the lesson that George
Bailey finally learns? In the
closing scene, as the entire town
gathers around his Christmas tree,
younger brother, Harry, reminds
George that “the man who has
friends, has everything.”
Those may be “normal”
expectations; but if that’s what
we expect, everything has to line
up just right. And, if you luck
out, you’ll have a good Christmas.
What are your expectations this
Christmas?
In Isaiah 9, the prophet reminds
Judah that her only hope is in a
Child who was to be born (vv.
6-7). In Luke 2:11-12 we have the
record of that Child being born!
When Jesus’ birth was prophesied
and when Jesus was actually born,
there were many differing
expectations. Some expected Jesus
to become a great political leader
and free people from the
oppressive governments of their
day. Some expected Jesus to be a
great teacher since they had not
heard anyone speak as he spoke.
Those among the thousands Jesus
fed expected Jesus to continue to
provide daily rations.
Isaiah’s expectations included
Jesus as a wonderful counselor,
mighty God, everlasting Father,
and Prince of Peace. We need a
counselor. Jeremiah 10:23 says, “I
know, O Lord, that a man’s life is
not his own; it is not for man to
direct his steps.” As Mighty God,
Jesus is God in the flesh (John
1:1-2, 14) has power to wage war
against our greatest enemy, Satan.
As our Everlasting Father, we are
reminded of his eternal kingdom
which culminates in heaven. And,
as our Prince of Peace, Jesus
removes the sin barrier which
separates us from God (Rom. 5:1).
The greatest gift anyone can ever
receive, whether at Christmas or
any other time, is the forgiveness
of sin and peace with God.
This is the season of great
expectations. It was when Jesus
was born also. In Luke 3:15 we
read, “Now as the people were in
expectation. . .” Jesus himself
said, “God so loved the world that
He gave his only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have
everlasting life.”
Among all other expectations we
may have at Christmas, may we
remember that our greatest needs
are met in Christ. Without Him,
any other expectations, fulfilled
or not, will never meet our
greatest need. As one slogan puts
it, “Jesus is the Reason for the
Season.” “Thanks be to God for His
indescribable gift!”
(2 Corinthians 9:15)
Pastor Richard Walker, retired
Question of the Week?
If
I am saved and all of my sins are
forgiven, why not continue to sin?
Answer: The apostle Paul answered
a very similar question in Romans
6:1-2, “What shall we say, then?
Shall we go on sinning so that
grace may increase? By no means!
We died to sin; how can we live in
it any longer?” The idea that a
person could “trust in Jesus
Christ” for salvation and then go
on living just as he/she lived
before, is absolutely foreign to
the Bible. Believers in Christ are
new creations (2 Corinthians
5:17). The Holy Spirit changes us
from producing the acts of the
flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) to
producing the fruit of the Spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23). The Christian
life is a changed life because the
Christian is changed.
What differentiates Christianity
from every other religion is that
Christianity is based on what God
has done for us through Jesus
Christ—divine accomplishment.
Every other world religion is
based on what we must do to earn
God's favor and forgiveness—human
achievement. Every other religion
teaches that we must do certain
things and stop doing certain
other things in order to earn
God's love and mercy.
Christianity, faith in Christ,
teaches that we do certain things
and stop doing certain things
because of what Christ has done
for us.
How could anyone, having been
delivered from sin's penalty,
eternity in hell, go back to
living the same life that had him
on the path to hell in the first
place? How could anyone, having
been cleansed from the defilement
of sin, desire to go back to the
same cesspool of depravity? How
could anyone, knowing what Jesus
Christ did on our behalf, go on
living as if He were not
important? How could anyone,
realizing how much Christ suffered
for our sins, continue sinning as
if those sufferings were
meaningless?
Romans 6:11-15 declares, “In the
same way, count yourselves dead to
sin but alive to God in Christ
Jesus. Therefore do not let sin
reign in your mortal body so that
you obey its evil desires. Do not
offer the parts of your body to
sin, as instruments of wickedness,
but rather offer yourselves to
God, as those who have been
brought from death to life; and
offer the parts of your body to
him as instruments of
righteousness. For sin shall not
be your master, because you are
not under law, but under grace.
What then? Shall we sin because we
are not under law but under grace?
By no means!”
For the truly converted, then,
continuing to live sinfully is not
an option. Because our conversion
resulted in a completely new
nature, our desire is to no longer
live in sin. Yes, we still sin,
but instead of wallowing in it as
we once did, we now hate it and
wish to be delivered from it. The
idea of “taking advantage” of
Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf
by continuing to live sinfully is
unthinkable. If a person believes
himself to be a Christian and
still desires to live the old,
sinful life, he has reason to
doubt his salvation. “Examine
yourselves to see whether you are
in the faith; test yourselves. Do
you not realize that Christ Jesus
is in you—unless, of course, you
fail the test?” (2 Corinthians
13:5).
Source:
GotQuestions.org
Linda
Davis
What
Does Charlie Brown Have
To Do With...The True Meaning
Of Christmas?
My sincere thanks to my
husband Brett for his help
with this wonderful post!
Does all the commercialization of
Christmas have you down? I am here
to offer you one remedy for family
and friends. Amid the avalanche of
TV Christmas specials that hit our
screens this time of year; there
is one little gem that always
stands out from the rest. It is a
simple, unpretentious cartoon that
is several decades old, however it
still manages to earn great
ratings and has been loved by many
generations.
I am guessing this is no
coincidence. Out of all the the
Christmas specials claiming to us
about "The True Meaning of
Christmas," this little cartoon is
the one that everyone remembers
and watches over and over
again...The one that gets the true
meaning.
I am referring to "A Charlie Brown
Christmas". There is so much to
recommend about this show; not
least of which is the gentle
skewering of the commercialism
that surrounds our modern ideas of
Christmas. Oddly enough,
commercialism has gotten
progressively worse since "A
Charlie Brown Christmas" was fist
produced in 1965. This charming
cartoon has become more and more
relevant every year. There is
hardly a viewer who cannot
identify with Charlie Brown's
feelings that, somewhere in all
the hype and advertising,
the...True Meaning of
Christmas...has been lost.
Sadly there are more
anti-consumerist messages out
there every Christmas. A Charlie
Brown Christmas does not just
critique the commercialism; it
offers something to counter
it...something real and
significant. Most other TV
specials leave us with the
thoughts that the True Meaning of
Christmas is family, or giving, or
kindness etc. Although these
concepts are wonderful and
admirable in themselves, they
totally miss the mark.
In simple, sincere, but utterly
effective fashion, A Charlie Brown
Christmas gives us the Pure and
True meaning of Christmas when the
famous Peanuts character, Linus,
recites the Glorious Nativity
passage from the Gospel of Luke.
It is not heavy-handed; it is not
an altar call; it is not
sentimental or sappy in the least.
It is a straight forward sharing
of the Gospel, as a direct
response to the emptiness,
frustration and despair from all
the commercialism that is out
there. It demonstrates TRUE HOPE
to the hopeless; not just at this
time of year...All Year Round! It
is a beautiful example of the
Power of Christ to infiltrate and
transform culture.
This Christmas I have a wonderful
idea for you and your family. Why
not pop some popcorn, or bake some
cookies, and invite your friends
and neighbors over to watch it. If
you search the channels, it always
airs during the Christmas Season.
You can also rent or purchase the
DVD. It is available at many
retailers, as well as online. What
better way to begin to share
Christ with those around
you...plus give them a nostalgic,
enjoyable and no-pressure
experience! If the viewing opens
the door to a serious conversation
about Christmas and It's True
Meaning...everyone will be
blessed. However it turns out;
your family, friends and neighbors
will have learned...The True
Meaning of Christmas...An
all-too-rare experience during the
Christmas Season these days.
JESUS IS THE REASON
FOR THE SEASON!
That is the only TRUE
reason to celebrate.
Linda Evans
http://gloryway.org/
