EASTER, PART 2

                                                           EASTER, PART 2

    As Jesus Christ was dying on the cross, one of the two others being crucified beside Him said, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." (Luke 23:42) Even at the end, salvation took place. Christ offered redemption if you accepted His invitation.
When the centurion who stood opposite the cross saw Christ  breathe His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" (Luke 15:39 ) For those who heed the call of Christ (God), the offer of eternal life is always available any place, anywhere. Christ died,
but Easter began. Redemption continues.

    Although redemption was accomplished differently in the Old Testament, it was always there. The Law and sacrifice were the method God used before Christ. Perhaps the redemption of the largest number of people occurred in the Book of Jonah. The mission God gave Jonah was so daunting Jonah tried to squirm out of His marching order. He had to go to Nineveh and tell them God would destroy them if they didn't repent.

    Nineveh was a great city inhabited by a fierce people who had a huge pile of skulls at the entrance to the city to intimidate anyone who entered the city. It was a very large city for that period of time,  spanning eight miles and the center of a nation that extended 55
miles. Jonah went there knowing the savage culture of the people and armed exactly as John the Baptist. His message was simply for the people to repent. To his amazement and consternation, the entire nation repented. Jonah did not like this result because he
felt the people should not be excused from their wicked actions. He needed to understand that redemption is based on the condition of your heart and the reception of God's Word.

    We're going to move backwards to Joshua for our next refresher course in redemption, but it is important to pause and take note of a very important event as Israel faced the fortified city of Jericho. While Joshua was contemplating how to take the city, he had a very important visitor. Joshua 5:14 tells us, "No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." Early in my ministry I had the occasion to meet with several representatives of a Christian denomination to talk about military service. Readers of my messages should know I'm a veteran and very proud to have served. These people told me they didn't believe in taking up arms because they didn't want to have to shoot or kill brothers in Christ. Although they professed to be Christians, they refused to accept the facts in scripture clearly showing that spiritual as well as material warfare
is a constant on-going conflict. It's pretty comfortable if someone else sacrifices their life to save you. I would not count on them or their denomination to fulfill Christ's mission. He was all about putting His life on the line. 

    The arrival of the Lord's military leader introduces us to the  presence of angels. This goes along with other spiritual phenomena  such as dreams and visions. Most people doubt these experiences are real. That doubt usually results in no such "visits" or information. People have to have an "open line" to receive such spiritual guidance.
There are many places in scripture where angels appeared as men  and brought special messages. The announcements of the future births of John the Baptist and Jesus were brought by angels. 

    Christ did not teach about physical war, but rather about spiritual war. We are to follow His instructions on how to live as Christians. We receive instructions now so we can practice the Christian life before His kingdom becomes reality. I see very few professing Christians following instructions from the four Gospels, and that includes pastors
and church leaders. Friends, you can not just read at random in scripture or pick out verses to suit your purpose. A major mistake by Christians today is misunderstanding redemption. We will continue exploring this subject in Joshua.

     God's Commander in chief gave Joshua the spiritual strategy and tactics to accomplish the goal. There was no military textbook to provide guidance. A general or captain needs spiritual guidance to be able to win battles or war. Joshua sent out two spies to learn
specifics about Jericho. They found a well fortified city, and an ally God had prepared for them. The people of Jericho had heard of Israel and the miracle strength and power they wielded. The only entry to the city was a fortified gate. The city was not large, covering only about seven acres, but the heavy walls were also used for housing, somewhat like our apartment houses.

    The spies needed a place to stay, and were taken in by a prostitute named Rahab. The king of Jericho heard that Israelites had entered the city, and sent men to find them. Rahab had somehow become a believer in the God of Israel, and was there to protect the spies. She hid them on the roof of her home among flax spread out to dry. She told the
searchers the spies were gone. She did not have a priest to direct her actions, but did exactly as God, Himself, directed her. Could we have a violation of scripture here, since her answer to the searchers was not exactly accurate?

    The walls of Jericho have not yet fallen, but we have several possible scriptural discrepancies to examine. Scripture doesn't conflict with itself, and we must keep  that in mind. We also must look at how verses from the Old Testament fit in with Christ's teaching. Putting together the writings from the Old Testament, especially from Proverbs, has been a stumbling block for many loudly proclaiming their Christianity. Proverbs is advice from several sources, and it is good advice. Violating that advice may or may not be a sin, but it is not a sin of condemnation. Too many pious Christians are judging (a mistake) people who do not or seem to not heed the advice. None of us is free from sin. I could quote from Matt. 7:3 about judging others, but if I did, doubters could say I was doing exactly what I warned about--picking one scripture to suit my purpose. So...I'll tell you to read all of chapter 7. 

    God loves people, but He hates sin. Understand this--He hates all sins, and does not separate them by categories. This is where so many  professing Christians err. Compare their misunderstanding: a lie is a sin; cheating is a sin; prostitution is a sin; fraud is a sin, slander is a sin, homosexuality is a sin, adultery is a sin, murder is a sin. In God's eyes,
each of these carries the same value. Note I did not include same sex marriage. That is because a civil ceremony does not imply a sexual union. The Pope recently stated the Catholic Church will accept the civil marriage ceremony. Without sex, the civil union isn't a sin. This is one of the Christian  mistakes, especially among Protestants. Another
mistake is to throw gay people under the bus. It is a sin, but does not disqualify the sinner from the opportunity to receive salvation. If a Christian quotes Proverbs 6:17-19 lists things God hates, but all can be covered by Christ's shed blood. 

    Back to Jericho. The two Israeli spies promise to spare Rahab and her family when Israel captures the city. She lowers them with a rope out the window of her home, which is located on the city wall. She identifies her home with a scarlet cord so the Israelites will spare her family. With the strategy and tactics provided by the Lord's Commander, Israel takes the city, and all the inhabitants were slaughtered except Rahab's family. God used a prostitute to enable Israel to destroy Jericho, and Rahab became a part of Christ's ancestry (Matt. 1:1-16). When a professing Christian sets anyone apart because of his/her personal judgment, that Christian is actually committing a sin. 

    Elite Christians are bigots who don't realize they are sinning as they pass judgment on others. All judgment will be made by Christ, and all people have the opportunity to accept His invitation to eternal life. That is what Easter and the Cross are all about.

Rev. Walbear

EASTER, PART ONE

                                                  EASTER, PART ONE

    Easter is rightfully called the season of Redemption, but Christians
should be familiar with the full meaning and history of the subject. While Christ is our celebrated example of redemption, God had His plan in action long before Christ became our symbol. There are many examples, beginning in the Old Testament. It would be difficult to live in the United States and not know the Easter story. Unfortunately, for many people Easter is more about colored eggs, the Easter bunny and splashy new clothing outfits for the Easter Parade.

    Movies have attempted to describe the horrors leading up to, and the crucifixion, of Christ.  God sent His only Son to teach us, heal us, and pay the price of death to bring us eternal life. Unfortunately, again, we are like the Druids in Ireland, slow learners. In fact, it would appear a very sizable number of people proclaiming they are Christians are not. I make that statement based on the failure of pastors and members of congregations to follow Christ's teaching in the Four Gospels. With Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and Lent all given us as lead-ins to Easter, there is a concentrated period for us to review our life, and to study the Gospels. If we would just study and understand Christ's instructions, we could be examples of America's solutions instead of part of the problem.

    The world was not ready for Christ, so He was not born with fanfare
except for those who understood the prophecy and reason for His birth. Of course Herod expected a rival for the throne, but never had the opportunity to prevent Christ's mission. There was a great deal of fanfare when Christ suffered death on the cross. Don't blame the Romans for this deed. It was the clergy, the priests and leaders of the Jews who essentially murdered the Son of God.

    Why would these religious leaders want to kill Christ? He followed 
scripture in the Old Testament, healed people, and taught how to treat
your fellow man/woman. Christ pointed out the continuation of God's  master plan, with a far better explanation of Jewish and Christian
living. As always in scripture, it was the misleading and corrupt teaching
of the priests and leadership who brought about the demise of the Jewish
state. When Satan gets hold of people, including priests,  they become
reprobate. That is, as happened with Pharaoh, their heart is "hardened."
They actually believe they are correct in what they're doing.

     We pay no price for our salvation except to follow His instructions. I
hear or read comments from pastors and leaders daily in direct opposition to Christ's teaching the Four Gospels. Most of these comments lead to separation of people and are in direct opposition to His instructions. He died for us. He gave us directions. We must make a serious attempt to follow Him. Apparently many professing Christians are using various quotes from elsewhere in scripture to base their decisions against others. Specifically, the directions of Proverbs seems to be a major avenue.

     Scripture does not conflict with itself. It does, however, give some
Christians the foolish idea they can judge others and relegate people to be Christian or non-Christians. Before you "classify" others, study  Matt. 7:1-2 VERY CAREFULLY. "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure
you use, it will be measured back to you." Christ offered redemption to
everyone, and spent time with beggars, the poor, the sick, the mentally
challenged, and all people. He did not classify them as rich or poor, sick
or healthy, laborers, professionals or by politics. Each person God has
created should have the opportunity for redemption. The people you don't want to associate with may be the ones God would like to see accepting Christ's offer of redemption. Christ ate with sinners and  publicans. It's the unsaved who need to hear the Word. By separating ourselves (classifying), we are denying them an opportunity to hear the words of redemption. We don't have to wallow in a garbage dump, but being a smug  Christian is absolutely wrong...and, it's a sin.

    There was a movie about the "ugly" American, and that is an  excellent description of the elite Christian church leaders (including pastors). Poor people may not be able to dress smartly, or they may be unclean. Do you know that food stamps can't be used for cleaning products? Handicapped people may look okay on the outside, but there are many ways to be handicapped. Before you label me a liberal, you need to know our ministry has assisted people who really needed help, and some who just milked the system (and us). We can use common sense, but we are not judges. When I first began ministry studies, I had some elitist ideas. It was a sign of ignorance and judging. We all have to start somewhere, and if we aren't careful, we'll wind up bigoted sinners. ALL SINS ARE EQUALLY BAD. 

    Christ died to cover our sins. He redeemed us. His shed blood covers all
sins except the rejection of the Holy Spirit. If you lie or cheat, commit
adultery, are a glutton, get drunk or assault someone, your sin is exactly
the same as a person in a same sex marriage, being gay or committing
murder. While everyone should try to live up to Christ's teaching, not one
of us will be able to be sinless. Refresh your memory with John 8:7, "He
who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."

    If you observe Easter in the traditional manner with thanksgiving and
shudder to consider the physical suffering Jesus went through, go a bit
further and weigh your responsibility to uphold your end of the bargain.
And, a grand bargain it is! You receive eternal life, a mansion in Heaven,
and only at a cost of being a caring, decent person. Stay tuned for Part 2, 
where we'll take a look at some redemptions you may have overlooked
in scripture reading. If I was a betting man, I'd bet there is at least one
I'm going to discuss that will surprise you.

Rev. Walbear

MAEWYN SUCCAT

   
                                                             MAEWYN SUCCAT    

    It's always a bonus when a message brings new information that enhances the original subject. You may be wondering who the above named person is/was, although you are undoubtedly aware of why we take notice of what that person did. We are exploring some Christian history, and the major impact this person had on our faith.

    One thing that is clear, when God taps someone on the shoulder for His work, you are entering the sphere of spiritual war. The wounds, and even death, are as real as any physical combat. Expect to be wounded and to suffer. If you don't dwell on this reality, think about the dedicated Christian workers, beginning with Christ, Paul, Stephen and so many others. Often the spiritual battle turns physical because Satan just has to shut your
mouth. Because you see the physical battles with your eyes, and the spiritual battles may not be seen, many people, including Christians, doubt they even exist.

    Maewyn Succat and his ministry were driven by visions. Many people, including Christians, do not believe in messages through dreams and visions. God plans and carries out His work His way, and He uses whatever is  necessary to get His message across. God still uses dreams and visions today, but He does not find many Christians paying attention. If you don't answer His telephone (Call), He moves on to someone who does. Look at Matt. 20:16, the second sentence, "For many are called, but few are chosen." This is part of a parable difficult for practical people to fully understand. We'll go back to that later.

    We celebrate St. Patrick's Day in mid March, and Maewyn Succat was St. Patrick. He is not only the Patron Saint of Ireland, but the person who brought Christianity to that country. He began life in England, the son of a very high placed family. His father was the official in charge of a district in England and was a Romano Christian. His grandfather was a clergyman and his mother was from Tours, France. Maewyn's privileged life was abruptly changed at the age of 16, when he was captured by Irish pirates and taken to Ireland, where he was sold into slavery. For the next six years he was a sheep herder for his master, a Druid priest. During that time, he learned the language and culture. When God puts you in a place, make good use of your time. It is meant as a learning opportunity for work He will lead you to do.

    During the six years, he had a vision of children reaching out to him to learn about and become Christians. God told him to escape and travel to a port where a ship would be waiting  to take him home. He did escape and get to a port where sailors permitted him to board. The direct trip back to England was not what he expected. The ship went to France, where he found himself essentially abandoned. This was not by accident. God had his next step of "education" planned in France.

    The area of Tours was his mother's background, and after a short time in prison, he studied under the auspices of French Monasticism influenced by Catholic teaching. Here the vision of children reaching out to him became more meaningful as God told him to take Christianity back with him to Ireland. He was to be God's man in the midst of a pagan Druid country.

    St. Patrick was met with opposition from the Druids, who had mixed beliefs of Paganism as well as Christianity. Although he was basically self educated, he always felt he should have had more formal education to be able to write and speak more elegantly. He found local people to be slow learners, requiring extensive time to bring them to Christianity. One of his legends is built on that difficulty. St. Patrick always carried an ash walking
stick. It was said that at one village he stuck the stick in the ground when he arrived there to teach. He was there so long that when he went to leave, the stick had taken root. St. Patrick believed it was God's test of his faith to have him dedicate so much time to teach slow learners.

    St. Patrick, like Christ, often used parables in his teaching. One such was the use of a shamrock to illustrate God, the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He likened the three leaves to the trinity, as all part of the God family. He compared the color green as emblematic of life, rebirth and eternal life.

     Also it is said St. Patrick banished snakes from Ireland. That apparently isn't so, because science and research have stated that Ireland is one of several countries where glacial activity did not permit the presence of snakes. Some people have compared St. Patrick's walking stick to the rod of Aaron that became a serpent and swallowed the snake/rods of the  Egyptian priests. There is a lesson here, because we see that Satan's
people also possess the power to turn miracles.You must try the spirit.

    St. Patrick established over 300 churches in Ireland, and baptized over 100,000 people. He followed his dream and visions to take Christianity to Ireland, and the converts have taken it to many other parts of the world. God still talks to people today by voice, dreams and visions. Few people are open to receive His messages, much like His original search to find a man who would listen and obey. That was Abraham, and in Gen. 12:1-3, God sent him on his mission. You can read about God speaking in I Sam. 3:1-11, and God speaking in Matt. 3:17.

    Now back to Christ's Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Matt. 20:1-16. Workers hired near the end of the day received the same pay as those who had worked all day. Being a one-time practical business owner, employee and familiar with seniority and pay scales, I at first couldn't understand this parable. It is something like Christ's explanation
to His disciples when they were trying to establish their "rank." In Matt. 20:25-28, He tells them He did not come to be served, but to serve.

    The vineyard pay did not represent money, but rather the mercy of God through salvation, where all who accept Christ's offer can receive eternal life. There is no seniority because all who are saved become brothers and sisters in Christ. Nothing material can change the method of salvation. No matter what we do, we cannot earn salvation, and once we are saved, there is no seniority.

    We need to think about the rigors of life St. Patrick faced and overcame to achieve the goal of God's plan. That is a good introduction of the sacrifice Christ made for us, and the season soon upon us to rejuvenate our faith and service. "We all owe God service for the free gift of salvation. His tap on the shoulder means He has work for us. It may not be pretty or fun, but we will stand with others like us in eternal life. Don't fail to recognize that tap.

Rev. Walbear

FAITH HEALING

                                                                               FAITH HEALING    

    Prologue: This introduction is a message in itself. The subject gives the reader the opportunity to decide the validity of inspiration and prayer. Inspiration comes through the Holy Spirit, and may direct you in many ways. If you don't believe the Holy Spirit can direct you, you need to study scripture and renew your belief in the Good Book. My inspiration for this message "visited" me three times, and I finally realized what was in store. For three days I awakened in the early morning with a slight pain in the palm of both hands. They were not injured and did not bear marks. The pain did not last. I was puzzled until the third day, when the message to me was an early commentary on Easter. I did not pick up on this until I associated the pain in the palms of my hands to the crucifixion. I have written about several controversial issues at the request of pastor friends, but never this
subject. Read on, and make your own decision.

    Does faith healing exist? If it doesn't, why do Christians and people of other faiths pray for someone who is injured or ill? We need to understand that healing comes through God, not any human. This is the most common misconception of faith healing. This is also why people sometimes conclude that faith healing is a hoax. The faith healing  process is a communication between the person making the request and God. The presence of a person praying for someone is to build confidence in the person who seeks healing. That is to help remove doubt and increase concentration by the person needing healing. It may
be difficult to believe, but our faith is usually very weak. Matt. 17:20 tells us "if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

    It is easy to have faith when you have a situation that permits you to actually see a proven solution, i.e., turning on the television. When it comes to healing, you usually can not see the process. Moreover, your faith must continue after the healing. Otherwise, you can experience a recurrence of the original problem. The key is: you must overcome any semblance of doubt. Some pastors teach that nearly every problem you may have is
because of the lack of faith. For example, if you have a cold, it is because your faith is too weak. That is total nonsense. Getting a cold or stomach ache, sore muscles, etc., are usually caused by stress, food, strenuous work and normal causes. We should consider the cause and do what we can to effect a cure. We have specific common medicine and know that rest and massage of muscles will cure the problem. You may note here, that you express faith in these common cures because you can observe recovery in a reasonable time. Prayer may help, but countless people do not pray, and do receive relief from medicine or therapy. This is faith in man-made cures.

    When man-made cures don't work, people have nowhere to turn except God and prayer. Pay attention here! You don't have to be a Christian to be healed by prayer. See Matt. 5:45, (the last half of the sentence), our Father in heaven "sends rain on the just and on the unjust," God loves His creation, but hates our sin. Healing depends on God's powers and is available to those who believe in Him, even though they may not be Christians. You do not have to be a Christian to receive faith healing. This may not be a popular statement
for Christians, but scripture makes it very clear. Salvation will certainly help the prayers, because you can call on Christ and the Holy Spirit. But healing is a blessing from God, Himself, and is available to anyone who accepts God as described in the Ten Commandments.

    We want to remember that God is always in control. Our hopes and desires are subject to His plan for us. Some people pray for a result "if it is in God's will." That is well-meaning, but tends to destroy the positive concentration required for the solution. In a sense, you are admitting you aren't certain the healing will come. There is a bit of doubt in your mind. Faith healing is not just a matter of prayer. If we start out placing our request within the bounds of God's will, we are admitting we don't understand God wants people to not only receive eternal life, but an abundant life. Here we come upon another key word frequently misunderstood.

    The word ABUNDANT can mean many things, and is especially a stumbling block for Christians. It is frequently interpreted to mean "financial" abundance. God may prefer to give you abundance in many other ways, such as health, education, family, leadership, or any specific He chooses. Often Christians jump to define abundance incorrectly because their explanation suits their desire. An excellent example is Matt. 25:14-29, the Parable of the Talents. To keep yourself from missing the real message of this parable, you should
start at verse 26. Consider that Christ NEVER taught that anyone should cheat or steal. Then note the lord (wealthy) admitted he gained his wealth by reaping where he had not sown and gathered where he had not scattered seed. That, my friend, is stealing. In verse 30 the wealthy man claims power he doesn't have when he condemns the servant to outer darkness.

    Abundance for any of us may be something we don't recognize. Or, we may lose it because we seek something else. If we use the spiritual and physical gifts He gives us, we'll have the abundance He wants us to have. That may include a long, healthy life. It may mean financial success. You should note that most Christians in God's service are not rich. You should also note that many wealthy people have serious problems, often not known by the general public. 

    If you have faith in abundance, you have the key to many things, including health and wellness. This is not to say someone ill or handicapped lacks faith. Sometimes a problem exists perhaps with only God knowing  the reason for the situation. Not getting an answer for healing does not necessarily mean the failure is due to a lack of faith. Accomplishing something on faith is not as simple as salvation. You receive a free gift when you are saved, but you request a gift when you pray for healing or anything else.

    For a Christian, your level of faith when you accept salvation is a reasonable 

measurement of your commitment. There's much more to your "contract" to follow Christ. Have you studied the Four Gospels? I hear or read the very distorted or completely wrong interpretations of Christ's teaching as I pointed out in Matthew above. When you commit to Christ, you commit to His teaching. If you interpret scripture to suit yourself, you are unraveling  the rope that holds you above Satan's pit. Romans 10:17 tells us "So then faith comes by hearing,  and hearing by the Word of God." 

    I know faith healing is real, because I was healed through prayer as a young boy. I have seen others healed by prayer, some who lost healing by later doubting the possibility, and some because they simply lacked faith. Faith is a spiritual element you must have to experience success.

Rev. Walbear

A WALK WITH ESTHER

                                                               A WALK WITH ESTHER

    The book of Esther in the Old Testament can tell us how the Lord puts together His plan, and provides a solid explanation of faith. There is much more to salvation than merely repeating a prayer or a few  words of acceptance. This is an unusual book of the bible, because it dwells on faith and does not contain the word God. The story has all the elements of a best seller, with sharply defined characters.

    Here we can assess our understanding of belief and faith in God, and recognize the difference. Even Satan recognizes and believes God exists. The difference between a follower of Christ and other people is faith. When you accept Christ's offer of salvation, it costs you nothing materially. To have this contract sealed, you must attempt to follow Christ's example and teaching. You cannot "earn" your salvation, but you are expected to live your life as Christ lived His life. You receive your reward in Heaven, which means your earthly material assets are meaningless.

    Now we return to the word "faith", which has everything to do with your heavenly treasure. Obviously this word is very important to me and our ministry because our walk and our tracks reflect the extent of our faith. Research, study and experience have contributed to the mission of our ministry which exists only because of faith. God has His
purpose, and He sent His Son to clearly explain His purpose and set an example for us. We are what we live (values)  and God knows the priorities of our heart. Esther had a purpose in God's plan, although she didn't know what it was until after she had progressed from an
orphan to the queen of a secular regime.

    The remarkable story of Esther is observed/celebrated in mid-March each year by the Jewish people. It is called Purim. This book of the bible could have been titled "Faith". Now, as they often say, "we return to yesteryear", or the rest of our story.

    In Matt. 17:20, Christ tells His disciples they couldn't cast out a demon because of the lack of faith. "if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it  will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." There are dozens 
of biblical references to faith, but Paul sums it up concisely in 2 Cor. 5:7, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." It is easy to talk about faith, but it is not easy to practice faith. 

     After completing ministry studies, we worked within organized (denominational) churches. I was ordained by two of these, but the time I spent within these and other denominations showed me both the good points and some glaring weaknesses. While faith was preached, it rarely resulted in actual practice. This was true with many pastors as well as congregations. The pull of the secular world is extremely strong, and relying on faith tries the patience when it appears a secular solution will work. The best example of this is in present day mega churches, which are built on secular marketing principles. This is not to say all these people lack faith or are on the wrong path. Salvation and faith are personal issues, and each person stands according to his/her heart values. 

    The glaring weaknesses were the very foundation of Christianity: lack of teaching the Word, and lack of actually following Christ's example and teaching in the Four Gospels. Unfortunately, the secular marketing principles are just as successful in religion as they are in business. Blessings are touted, as they should be, but the sacrifices required of Christians as clearly written in scripture are shoved under the rug. Christ has given you eternal life, and  showed us the sacrifice that was necessary. Each of us who receives salvation has a purpose to fulfill as our "payment."  Always remember, however, that God values obedience above sacrifice. 1 Sam. 15:22, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." We need to remember that obedience frequently requires sacrifice.

    Our ministry name, "Faith Walk", is meant to remind people that we need to walk in faith. Without denominational affiliation and support, we knew the financial road would be difficult. Every step in this walk has seemed impossible. We never sought payment for
our work, and we received almost no financial support. Our secular occupations provided the ministry support. A major reason for that was many of the people we served were poor and widely scattered. While this meant living practically from paycheck to paycheck,
it strengthened our walk in faith. I recall the dean at Liberty Baptist University telling me about two farmers. One sold his crops in the secular market, and told his neighbor he had his money by October 1. He was goading his neighbor because the neighbor had sold his crop otherwise, and had not yet been paid. The farmer responded, "God pays His people well, but not necessarily on October 1st."

    The meaning of this declaration came home to roost this past year. I had a serious medical problem that required some six months' of treatment and care. My wife and daughter, already carrying a heavy workload, stepped up to keep things going. Here's a teaching point  for you. Many people prayed for me, but very few gave us any money.
The prayers are appreciated, but without the trickle of money, my wife would not have been able to make the trips for the care I needed. The teaching point is that the money came equally from Christian and secular givers. If you payed attention to Christ's teaching, you know He welcomed and worked with secular people as well as believers.
An important point we realized early in our ministry was that while prayers are important,  material aid may be even more important, and may require you to make a personal sacrifice. You are not to judge the person in need, but address the entire situation. Throwing money at a drunk won't help him at all. A poorly dressed person can be helped by some shoes or clothing. A mortgage or car payment can help someone temporarily in need. Christ told us to share with the less fortunate, and our generosity will be repaid in heaven. 

    The exciting part of Faith Walk now is how increments of our undated payment is taking shape. There's a small amount of cash, but a huge amount of personal input--much by secular people. Their input consists of chopping and hauling wood, unloading feed, watering livestock, and various helpful acts of labor. While this is happening, we are able to  discuss God and Christ's path on a low key basis. For some, this is their first taste of religion and/or Christianity. Food brought to us is shared with these families as needed, and wood from our woodlot goes to heat another home. Some of our helpers take meals with us. Helpers range from middle class to poor. They are an expansion of the widow's mite. Even if not saved, they are becoming accustomed to the Christian "walk".

    A Faith Walk naturally leads to Faith Tracks. If your walk in faith is as true as you can make it, you will provide tracks for others to follow. We all follow tracks of those who have gone before us, whether the tracks are physical or mental. Early in our ministry, we were led to use the experiences with animals to show people--mainly children--the power of faith. An example was a cat taken by a puppy/cat mill person while we weren't home.  This was a gentle house pet taken from our yard. We felt a real loss, but told our young daughter God could bring the cat home if her prayers were strong in faith. Several weeks later, when we went to our coal bin, we found the cat sleeping peacefully there. She was very thin and obviously had a difficult journey to get home. She became known as Coal Kitty from that day on.
 
    Our farm animals and pets became a source of comfort and companionship, both for children and adults suffering from depression and loneliness. We put together a book of these real life events, and the stories were used in some Sunday Schools. These booklets were a major source of disappointment when their display at a church-sponsored event resulted in the theft of our entire stock. Since then there have been many more animal adventures that may join the original group in a book. We have become a "known" place to drop off pets, so the variety and number of animals continue to grow. These animals frequently leave spiritual footsteps that may be followed through bonding and understanding.

    We are very thankful to have a part in a recent undertaking by a group of military veterans who are putting together a recovery facility to help returning veterans who suffer from various forms of post traumatic disorders. The project is using a foundation group of our miniature cattle to provide veterans with an opportunity to rediscover peace with these animals, who will also provide milk and meat. This extensive project, like our ministry, exists without taxpayer subsidy or other organizational support. It offers a faith walk and faith tracks to Christ's message, a rebuilt life and salvation. There is no secular
separation and money isn't required. This project, like Faith Walk, is in the hands of caring volunteers. 

    The Book of Esther illustrates how God uses man/woman to carry out His purpose and plan. Esther had to risk her life, a willing sacrifice if necessary, to save her people, God's Chosen. Read the Book--it's short--and it will do you good. I also urge you to read something every American should read and seriously consider. It is inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. It was written by Emma Lazarus. The name Lazarus occurs in several places in scripture, but most notably in Luke 16:19-31.
For those of you who don't recall these passages, I will sum them up for you. It describes who and why people go to Heaven or Hell. Now please read the inscription on the Statue of Liberty.

    "Give me your tired, your poor,
    Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
    The wretched refuse  of your teeming shore,
    Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
    I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

    This message by that lady speaks to us today just as Christ spoke to the people of His time and directed the path to eternal life. Christ is the Light of the World  and the golden door is the gateway to Heaven. Many Americans today are interested in material wealth, unwilling to share the wealth God has provided (all wealth belongs to God, not man), and don't care about the health and well-being of their fellow man/woman. Lazarus didn't have much in the material world, but he retired to a mansion in Heaven. You can make your choice. Saying you are a Christian doesn't make you one. God knows our values.

Rev. Walbear