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Almsgiving a Church Obligation

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  A young boy complained to his father that most of the church hymns were boring and old-fashioned, with tiresome words that meant little to his generation. His father challenged him with these words: 'If you think you can write better hymns, why don't you?'' The boy accepted the challenge, went to his room, and wrote his first song. He would write 350 hymns in his lifetime.' The year was 1690, and the young man was Isaac Watts. Among his hymns are 'Joy to the World,' 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,' and many other classics. In Acts 11:19-21 we are told that those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed sowed the seed of the gospel as they travelled. Men from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. Antioch was the third greatest city in the Roman Empire, behind Rome and Alexandria. Antioch was known for its commerce, its sophistication and cultur...
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Stars that will Shine Brightly Forever

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                          Evangelist Wandaro with his wife On his way to the market one rainy day, Wandaro (1910-1991) had noticed a clinic erected by a newly arrived white man and woman. The white man Earl Lewis beckoned Wandaro and others to take shelter from the torrential rain. Lewis began reading from a strange book. A book brought by a foreigner! Was this what the Ethiopian prophet Asa had prophesied long ago? Wandaro wondered! He had prophesied that a foreigner would bring a book telling about the creator, whom people should worship instead of Satan. The next week Wandaro returned for more of this news and eventually in Ethiopian language declared “I renounce Satan to follow Jesus”. Fear of evil spirits vanished and for the first time he felt joy. Wandaro longed to read more about God for himself but he had never been to school. Mrs Lewis helped him learn the 256 characters of the Amharic alphabet. ...
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Only God Attended His Funeral

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  Thursday, December 21, 1899, after cutting short a Kansas City crusade and returning home in ill health, D. L. Moody told his family, "I'm not discouraged. I want to live as long as I am useful, but when my work is done I want to be up and off." The next day Moody awakened after a restless night. In careful, measured words he said, "Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me!" His son, Will, concluded his father was dreaming. "No, this is no dream, Will. It is beautiful. It is like a trance. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go." In Deuteronomy the Israelites are at the border of the long-awaited inheritance that God had sworn with uplifted hand to give to Abraham descendants (Exod.6:8). The old generation that disobeyed God had perished in the wilderness ( Joshua 5:6) . Moses had pleaded with the LORD to l et him cross the Jordan River and see the Promised Land. The Lord said No! You will see the la...
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