Remembering Martyrs

"Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection" (Heb 11:35)

 

 

The Australian medical missionary Mr. Graham Staines (1941-1999) and his two sons were burnt alive in the tribal State of Orissa, in 1999.

 Though the killing of the Staines has left a stain on Indian soil, they are grains of wheat which are fallen on the ground to give plentiful harvest. Apostle Thomas was martyred in Chennai.

The Church in India is strongest in this city!

  

Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) penned,

 "Divine presence made the martyrs as willing to die as to dine!"

God in answer to the prayer of the Church sent an angel into the prison chamber to release Peter.

What our prayers can do for the persecuted at critical hours and perilous situations cannot be underestimated. When challenged before martyrdom, Bishop Polycarp (70-160) replied,

"Eighty-six years I've served Christ and He never did me any injury. How then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour?"

Henry Vos shamed his persecutors with the words,

"If I had twin heads, they should all be off for Christ!"

Tahir Iqbal, a Muslim convert, before he died in a Pakistani prison in 1993, declared,

"I'll kiss the rope, but I'll never deny my faith!"

 Every Christian must read Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

The martyrs shook the powers of darkness with the irresistible power of weakness. How much the persecuted need our prayers!

It's repeatedly observed in mission fields that the malignant opponents get powerfully converted and become mighty exponents of the Bible.

This is what our prayers for the persecutors do.

Stephen's prayer deeply impacted the young man Saul.

 When this persecutor of Christians became a preacher of the gospel, people said in amazement,

 "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this Name in Jerusalem?" (Acts 9:21; 22:19,20).

The last prayer of William Tyndale (1494-1536), the Reformer and Bible Translator, before he was strangled and burnt, was,

"Lord, open the eyes of the King of England!"

The Lord answered his prayer, and the King authorized a Bible translation.

Who has not heard of the King James Version?

Any attack on the Church must primarily be discerned as the direct activity of wicked spirits. Spiritual powers cannot be combated by numerical or physical strength. Fasting prayers in secret are more effective than protest fasts in public.

 

 Restudying of the Book of Acts will keep us in the right perspective.

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Five Ways God Uses the Problems in Your Life....

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you - depending on how you respond to them.

 

 Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives.  They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring. 

 

 Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

 

 

1. God uses problems to DIRECT you.
Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving.

 

 Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? 

 

  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

 

 

2. God uses problems to INSPECT you.
People are like tea bags... if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot ever water!

 

Has God tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? 

 

  "When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience." James 1:2-3

 

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you.
Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure.

 

 It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something by losing it. 

 

  "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." Psalm 119:72

 

4. God uses problems to PROTECT you.
A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious.

 

 Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered.  

 

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" Genesis 50:20

 

5. God uses problems to PERFECT you.
Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders.

 

 God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. 

 

"We can rejoice when we run into problems... they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady."

 Romans 5:3-4

 

Here's the point:

God is at work in your life - even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it's much easier and profitable when you surrender to his plan for your life.

 

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the Veil Of Veronica.... UnVeiled

 

 

"Who was the woman who wiped Jesus' face on the way to the cross?"

  The Bible does not record the account of a woman wiping Jesus' face with the towels. The tradition is that the woman's name was Veronica. This tradition is very old, but there is no way to know if there is any truth to it. However, since the Bible does not say, we should not give the account any authority. If this event was important, it would have been mentioned in the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion.

 

Some Workouts:

 

In Catholic Churches around the world we find an early practice formalized much later called the Stations of the Cross (14 of them) which walk through various incidents during the passion and death of our Lord.

 

The Church dedicates the Sixth Station to Veronica Wipes The Face of Jesus.

 

Is this an actual event and what do we know of the Veil on which Jesus is believed to have left His image?

 

The Basic Story:

 

 

The Veronica Legend relates that while Jesus was on the Via Dolorosa going to His Crucifixion, a woman stepped out of the crowd and, out of love and compassion, wiped His face of sweat and blood with her Veil.

 

As a reward, Jesus left the imprint of His face on the Veil.

 

 That Veil is believed to have passed down to us through a long, convoluted history. Today, there are two claims to having the Veronica Veil. One is by the Vatican in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The other claims the true Veronica is in a Capuchin Monastery about 150 miles east of Rome in the Apennine Mountains of Manoppello - it having been lost (stolen) from the Vatican in the 16th century during renovations and brought eventually to Manoppello.

 

Early Sources of the Legend:

 

 

The Story of Veronica's Veil is not found in the New Testament. It appears in early Christian history.

 

This was not likely the real name of the woman alleged to have wiped Jesus' face, but rather a name ascribed to her. The name given was Veronica from the Latin Vera (true) and Icona (image). Later legends says that Veronica brought the Veil to Rome where the Veil cured the Emperor Tiberius from an unknown malady. In addition, she is said to have given the veil to Pope Clement - the 4th Pope.

 

 However, other historical texts take the Veronica in a different direction.

 

She was also identified with the woman with the haemorrhage who touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was healed of a 12 year problem of bleeding. Jesus stopped and asked who touched Him and said that power went out from Him and healed her.

 

The Veronica, as indicated above, does NOT appear in the New Testament, although the story of the woman with the haemorrhage DOES appear when she touches the hem of Jesus' garment and is cured.

 

 

EUSEBIUS (Church Historian circa 320-325) does not mention Veronica or the Veil, but mentions the woman with the Haemorrhage. (

Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History: V11-18) in 325 A.D. from Luke 8: 43-48; Matthew 9: 21-22).

 

ACTS OF PILATE (ACTA PILATI).

 

 It was not long before a name was given to this woman in a work called the Acts of Pilate - an apocryphal writing also called the Gospel of Nicodemus around 380 A.D. In this work, mention is made of the name of Veronica and she is associated with the woman healed by Jesus. No mention is made of the Veil or Legend. However, it should be noted that, since the term Veronica means Vera Icona or True Image, it is possible that the Legend was known but not reiterated in this work.

 

Further, the Acts of Pilate dating from approximately 380 A.D. are considered by historians to be a work which grew over the centuries allegedly from the records Pilate kept at the Praetorium at the Fortress Antonia when he was Governor. He, however, was not the author. However, Justin Martyr mentions the Acts of Pilate around 163 A.D. in two letters which he wrote to the Emperor and the Governor of Rome indicating that they heard these things (about Jesus) from the Acts of Pilate.

 

No mention is made of the Veronica, but it is possible that an early version might have been circulating and was included was known to Justin.

 

Tertullian, an early Church Father, also mentions the Acts of Pilate toward the end of the Second Century.

 

 

The Avenging of the Saviour:

 

In the late 7th Century mention is made of the name of Veronica and, for the first time, the Legend of the imprinted cloth which healed the Emperor Tiberius is mentioned. The work is also referred to at the Cura Sanitatis Tiberii - The Cure of the Emperor Tiberius.

 

Now... What happened to the Veil?.. Where is it?...

 

When the Bible doesn't back it up... It needs no attention or clarification..

 

Check your traditions with the Word of God.... Whatever  you practice need not be true...

 

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The GOD Who Won't Give Up...

By Max Lucado

 

 

Not everyone in Jesus' world gave him a warm welcome. Not everyone received him with grace. And many didn't just ignore him, they rejected him.

 

Isaiah prophesied his reception like this:

 "He was despised and rejected by men" (Isa. 53:3 NIV).

 

John summarized the rejection of Jesus with these words:

 "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him" (John 1:10-11 NIV).

 

How did Christ endure treatment like that?

 

 At any point he could have said, "I quit. I've had enough." Why didn't he? What kept him from giving up?

 

 

I wonder if Lee Ielpi understands the answer? He is a retired firefighter, a New York City firefighter.

 

 He gave twenty-six years to the city. But on September 11, 2001, he gave much more. He gave his son. Jonathan Ielpi was a fireman as well. When the Twin Towers fell, he was there.

 

Firefighters are a loyal clan.

 

When one perishes in the line of duty, the body is left where it is until a firefighter who knows the person can come and quite literally pick it up.

 

Le made the discovery of his son's body his personal mission. He dug daily with dozens of others at the sixteen-acre graveyard. One Tuesday, December 11, three months after the disaster, his son was found. And Lee was there to carry him out.

 

He didn't give up. The father didn't quit. He refused to turn and leave.

 

 Why? Because his love for his son was greater than the pain of the search.

 

 

 Can't the same be said about Christ? Why didn't he quit?

 

Because the love for his children was greater than the pain of the journey. He came to pull you out. Your world had collapsed.

 

That's why he came. You were dead, dead to sin. That's why he came. He loves you. That's why he came.

 

That's why he endured the distance between us.

"Love…endures all things."

 

That's why he endured the resistance from us.

"Love…endures all things."

 

That's why he went the final step of the incarnation:

"God made him who had not sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21 NIV).

 

Why did Jesus do that?

 

There is only one answer. And that answer has one word. Love.

 

 And that love of Christ "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Cor. 13:7 NKJV).

 

Think about that for a moment. Drink from that for a moment. Drink deeply. Don't just sip or nip. It's time to gulp. It's time to let his love cover all things in your life. All secrets. All hurts. All hours of evil, minutes of worry.

 

The mornings you awoke in the bed of a stranger? His love will cover that. The years you peddled prejudice and pride? His love will cover that. Every promise broken, drug taken, penny stolen. Every cross word, cuss word, and harsh word. His love covers all things.

 

Let it. Discover along with the psalmist. "He…loads me with love and mercy" (Ps. 103:4).

 

Picture a giant dump truck full of love. There you are behind it. God lifts the bed until the love starts to slide. Slowly at first, then down, down, down until you are hidden, buried, covered in his love.

 

"Hey, where are you?" someone asks.

 

"In here, covered in love."

 

Let his love cover all things.

 

Do it for his sake. To the glory of his name.

 

Do it for your sake. For the peace of your heart.

 

And do it for their sake. For the people in your life.

 

 Let his love fall on you so yours can fall on them.

 

 

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Cartoons again!

The cartoons you see below are from Joyfultoons.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The World is Watching

 

 

Several years ago a young priest moved to London.

 

 He often took the bus from his home to the downtown area. Some weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride a bus. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him twenty pence too much change.

 

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'you better give the twenty pence back. It would be wrong to keep it'.

 

Then he thought, 'Oh forget it, it's only twenty pence.'

 

Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company already gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from the Almighty, and keep quiet'.

 

When his stop came, the priest paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the twenty pence back to the driver and said:

 

 "Here, you gave me too much change."

 

 

The driver with a smile replied:

 

"Aren't you the new parish priest in this area? I have been thinking lately about going to worship at your Church. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change."

 

When the young priest stepped off the bus, his knees became weak and soft.

 

 He had to grab the nearest light pole and held for support, and looked up to the heavens and cried:

 

"Oh my Jesus, I almost sold you for twenty pence!"

 

We may never see what impact our actions have on people…

 

What we need to provide is an example for others to see. Be careful of how you behave, and be honest always: you never know who is watching your actions.

 

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Jesus In My Wallet

A ticket collector in a train found an old worn out wallet in a compartment full of many people.

He looked inside to find the name of its owner. There was no clue. All that there was in it, was some money and a picture of Jesus Christ. He held it up and asked, 'Who does this wallet belong to?'

An old man said, 'That's my wallet, please give it to me.'

The ticket collector said, 'You'll have to prove that it is yours. Only then I can hand it over to you.'

The old man smiled a toothless smile and said, 'It has a picture of Jesus Christ in it.'

The ticket collector said, 'That is no proof; anyone can have a picture of Jesus Christ in his wallet. What is special about that? Why is your picture not there in it?'

The old man took a deep breath and said,

 'Let me tell you why my picture is not there in it.

My father gave this wallet to me when I was in school. I used to get a small sum as pocket money then. I had kept a picture of my parents in it.

When I was a teenager I was greatly enamored by my good looks. I removed my parent's picture and put in, one of my own. I loved to see my own face and my thick black hair. Some years later, I got married.

My wife was very beautiful and I loved her a lot. I replaced my own picture in this wallet with a picture of her. I spent hours gazing at her pretty face.

When my first child was born, my life started a new chapter. I shortened my working hours, to play with my baby. I went late to work and returned home early too. Obviously, my baby's picture occupied the prized position in my wallet.'

The old man's eyes brimmed with tears as he went on..

 'My parents passed away many years ago. Last year my wife too left her mortal coil. My son, my only son is too busy with his family. He has no time to look after me. All that I had ever held close to my heart is far, far away from my reach now.

Now I have put this picture of Jesus Christ in my wallet.

It is only now that I have realized that He is the eternal companion. He will never leave me.

Alas! If only I had realized this before. If only I had loved the Lord all these years, with the same intensity as I loved my family, I would not have been so lonely today!'

The collector quietly gave the wallet to the old man.

When the train stopped at the next station, the ticket collector went to the book stall at the platform and asked the salesman, 'Please give me a small picture of Jesus Christ? I need a one to put in my wallet!'

The Question we need to ask is where is Jesus in our lives today?

 Think of it cause it could make a difference to your life today and in the days to come.

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