T.J.I.F.A.

THANK JESUS IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON...& ON...& ON...& ON
JULY 18, 2003


SUBJECT: I AM NOT ASHAMED
 
THERE ARE SOME LEADERS IN OUR PAST THAT WE SHOULDN'T FORGET.  LEADERS LIKE JOHN WYCLIFF WHO IS SAID TO BE THE FATHER OF THE REFORMATION.  HE HAD WHAT IT TOOK TO STAND BY HIS CONVICTIONS AND BECAUSE HE WASN'T ASHAMED OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WE HAVE THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR HANDS.  THE QUESTION THIS WEEK...ARE YOU ASHAMED?  

NOTEWORTHY: AN UPDATE ON PREVENTING BURNS: NEWS ON EPHEDRINE

FRIDAY'S WORD: HERETIC

IN THE MIRROR: COMMENTS ON MOODY'S COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

O TASTE AND SEE! : STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE THE EASY WAY.

LOOKING FORWARD

SEE YA NEXT TIME

TER

 I AM NOT ASHAMED!

Romans 1:16  

Are you?  Are you ashamed?  Are you ashamed of the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST?  

Recently, through the radio ministry of Dr. Charles Swindoll,  these words penetrated the air, and this uncovered a strong  desire to wave the torch of The Gospel of Jesus Christ even higher and more boldly than ever.  It is with deep desire and hope that you, also, will be stirred to "Lift HIM Up!"   

Usually the examples given in TJIFA are pointed  toward  some Biblical Figure who has exhibited an extraordinary trait, to be coveted.   There are, however, others who have made such in-roads to our Faith that they deserve, more than an honorable mention, but a ...SALUTE!   

John Wycliff, is proclaimed as the "Father of the Reformation;"  was a Roman Catholic Priest; a Preacher; and Professor of Divinity of Oxford University, (Whose Credentials were  stripped away , because his peers believed him to be ‘A Deviant.')     He was abused, branded ‘An Instrument of the Devil,' slandered, hated, and viewed as a man out for ‘no good.'    

He had a compelling  conviction that drove him to ACTION.  This conviction was: Everyone should be able to read the WORD of GOD for himself.  At that time the Bible was written in Latin, a dead language, and kept on a chain at the pulpit in the Church.  Only the Priests were allowed to read and/or interpret The Holy Scriptures.

Wycliff observed  that the Priests, rather than instructing the people, were keeping them in ignorance. His strong conviction, and no doubt his love for The Word of GOD, caused him to grab hold of a job much bigger than himself.  

Wycliff interpreted the whole Bible from Latin, to English.  In doing this, his peers labeled him an ‘heretic,' and all of the above terrible names.  You must look at the rationale behind their arguments. They could no longer fool the common people, and they had to tell them what Jesus actually said.  

Wycliff was exiled and died in prison, but before he died he completed his task.  

These words: "The Bible is translated and shall make possible a government of the people; by the people; and for the people."  Were placed on the inside fly of his completed project.  He had no idea that a country that had not yet been discovered would use these words in the "Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln.  

Wycliff died in obscurity.  Thirty years after his death he was declared an Heretic.  His bones were exhumed and burned publicly to ashes, then poured into the river which fed, through another river to the open sea.  (Just like his translation of the  Bible, his ashes reached from coast to coast.)  There were many people who followed Wycliff and were willing to stand alone for their conviction.  These people were labeled Protestants.  They, like Wycliff, were not afraid of standing for what they believed.  Because of Wycliff  and his followers, we have ‘THE BIBLE" in every home that wants it.  

Where do you think we would be if it weren't for John Wycliff, (and those like him) and his strong conviction?  Many people have convictions, but they aren't willing to give up the ‘plush' life for them.  There is a world of people dying, because Christians have become too lax in their witnessing and speaking the Name of JESUS.    His Name is more outlawed than other agendas in the public forum.  

Anyone can walk into any place with any of the other symbols of their religious  preferences: Rosary; Veil; Rug; Bald Head; Long Hair; Many clothes; No clothes; Snakes around their necks; Beads; Bells; Whistles and drums; Books, Magazines etc.  But, when you walk in with a Bible...LOOK OUT!!!  

The very thing that our forefathers fought for and believed to their death; that strong conviction that led to lion's dens and burnings at the stake; torture and abuse.  That very Book, we hide and pretend that we're just like everyone around us.  

If it hadn't been for the Martyrs of our faith, we would be just like some of the others who don't really know the truth.  But, my Bible says, "The Truth will make you free."

Why should we be ashamed of GOD, who came to be our sacrificial lamb?  All others are still sacrificing and trying to find Peace, Joy, and Truth.  We have all of that in our Lord and  Savior, Jesus Christ.  And in reality, we have so much more.  Our Father is the only one who claims to have created the  heavens  and earth.  Jesus is the only leader who claims to be GOD Incarnate, and the only one who has ever RAISED FROM THE DEAD!  

Do you think that His Disciples were ashamed of Him when He showed Himself?  What made them all preach The Gospel?  Paul, who was added to the number couldn't be swayed from what he knew about Jesus Christ, and preached it everywhere, even to Kings who could have had him killed instantly.  

In all of this, let us check our standing.  Are there are many reasons to keep quiet about Jesus?  Once, TJIFA wrote: "Every one is running out of the closet, but Christians should be  running in,  not  to hide but to PRAY."  If and when you pray in secret, Jesus has promised to answer you  openly. It takes Warriors of the Faith to accomplish good.  

Wycliff was a Priest, and probably spent much time in his closet.  There!  He came under conviction by the Holy Spirit of GOD to, DO SOMETHING about what he perceived to be wrong against the people.  He could have been like the other Priests, who ate the fat of the Priesthood and remained quiet.  He had a good living and didn't have to disturb his "plush" existence.  But thank GOD for his obedience, and  The Spirit within him who was NOT ASHAMED of JESUS and would not be quenched.

NOTE: When I was a child, I asked my Mother, "Why didn't Jesus pretend that He wasn't the Son of GOD, so that He wouldn't  crucified?"  She answered me, in a kind and patient manner, "Jesus had to do what He did.  If Jesus hadn't been crucified as the Son of GOD, you and I and others who now believe in Jesus wouldn't go to Heaven."  She also told me, "Jesus was whipped for you so that you can go free."  

"When I was a child I spake as a child; I understood  as a child; I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things." ( 1Cor. 13: 11)

There should no longer be wonderment about Why Jesus came, nor if He came.  We can look around us and see the degradation of Society as we once knew it.  People are hungry and hurting for TRUTH, and we have it.  To sit on it and PRETEND that we know nothing of it because of being ASHAMED is childish.   


Are you?  Are you ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Are you childish in your Faith?  We, here at TJIFA, are praying that each and every one of our readers c can say along with us that..."I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!"  

LOOKING FORWARD ...TO SHAKING YOUR HANDS WHEN WE ALL GET THERE.  

SEE YA NEXT TIME

TER


NOTEWORTHY:  

Avoid Burns with these precautions:
Never leave items cooking on the stove unattended.
Turn all pot handles toward the back of the stove.
Use sturdy oven mitts that cover hands and wrists.
Keep hot liquids out of the reach of children and pets.   
Never  wear loose fitting clothing that  could catch fire over the stove.
Keep space heaters away from combustible material.  
If you smoke, avoid smoking in the house, and never smoke in bed.  
Keep caustic chemicals out of the reach of children.  

Any electrical burn should  be examined by a physician.  

From: Mayo Clinic "Health Letter"  May 2003.

Ephedrine:
According to Dr. Weil, this component of many diet control products, should be appropriately labeled,  and the side effects listed on the label.  
Side effects that have been observed:
-Constricts blood vessels and  increases heart rate and blood pressure.
-As a Cardiac Stimulant, Ephedrine is more dangerous when used under conditions of physical activity stress and heat.
-Nervousness; anxiety; and insomnia; to heart attacks; strokes; psychosis and death.  
-Using Ephedrine containing products can be risky, especially if you  have underlying medical conditions such as;  heart disease, hypertension ,or diabetes.

For example:  Many sports organizations have banned its use (Olympics, Professional Football, and most recently, Minor League Baseball.)
 
Raymond Woosley  MD. PhD, a Pharmacologist and Vice President of University of Arizona Health Sciences believes Ephedrine is  dangerous  to use without medical supervision.  Because consumers are at risk for side effects.   He feels the F.D.A.  
should  require; " to be used under medical supervision  and by prescription only."    
From: "Self Healing" Dr. Weil
drweilselfhealing.com

 
FRIDAY'S WORD: heretic; her*e*tic;(noun) a person holding an opinion, or doctrine contrary to church dogma; one who is not orthodox in their beliefs

IN THE MIRROR:  

We're getting ready to lose a Pioneer in the field of Ministry. Moody Magazine writes their Farewell Commemorative Issue. 103 years of Ministry is a lot to let go of, and they'll be missed by millions.  The President Dr. Joseph M. Stowell 111 comments, "...the impact that the proliferation of dozens of newer Christian" niche" magazines was having on subscription statistics and the high tech means that people now count on to receive and exchange information, it became increasingly clear that the historic legacy of this ministry was coming to a close.  As the wisdom writer in Ecclesiastes reminds us, "There is a time for everything...a time to plant and a time to uproot..."  (Eccles.3:1-4) We will greatly miss their Magazine, and I hope  nobody  misses getting their Commemorative Issue.

What they have taught and will continue to teach through their "Today in the Word," will continue to last for generations to come because GOD's Words are externalized throughout all of history.

Their cover topic "The Future of Truth" epitomizes what their magazine and its writers have represented over a period of 103 years, and I found it to be a most brilliant thought to leave with its millions of readers.  

Falling in love with this closing thought, "The Future of Truth,"  left me challenged with the question of; What really is the ‘future of truth,' and in the future will it only be a matter of what is ostensible, and what is not, when determining God's truth?   

I came into some definite thoughts as I viewed the overhanging threat that always exists whenever the truth of God's word is put under a microscope, and I think I came up feeling even more secure after taking this idea before the Lord.     

We should be able to point you to John's gospel 14;15;16&17th chapters alone, and yet there's so much more.  

Theological answers are not always what we're looking for, and I surely respect that, but what about what's inherent within us, that we can never escape from? When Job ask the question over four thousand years ago, " If a man die shall he live again?," do you really think that same thought doesn't stir man's spirit even to this day?  GOD created man with an inherent curiosity, and that same curiosity is capable of leading  him right to the cross of  Jesus Christ.

Every time we suffer the loss of a loved one, are we not left with a longing, burning desire to see the one that was so precious to our heart again?  It's commonly called "grief," but did not God give mankind an answer to console his heart? [Jesus] You see; ‘spiritually,' not ‘intellectually,' something within you knew life was supposed to be  so much longer.

In many recent messages from different Pastors, and Leaders in the field of ministry, I've been able to learn there's been more of a willingness to move away from the message that says, "We can have it all now." There's been more signs of the extirpation of a "material gospel," for a ‘spiritual' one. One that causes true conversion and takes our eyes of the world, for the privilege of learning what's God's truth about
the life I now live.  
 
Good news for the Christian. In our return to the message of the early Church, we'll also witness the Power the early Church possessed when the centrality of the message was the Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST!
What is the "Future of Truth?" I say it's a Good One!
S.L.C.
O TASTE AND SEE!

FRESH STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

DEAR READERS,
THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO AVAIL YOURSELF TO ALL THE DELICIOUS FRESH FRUITS OF THE SUMMER. THE CHERRIES ARE BLACK AND SWEET; THE APPLES ARE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT TO THE TASTE; AND THE STRAWBERRIES ARE PLUMB AND SWEET.  

FRESH STRAWBERRIES 2 CUPS
SUGAR OR HONEY   1 TBLSP SUGAR COMPARABLE HONEY
REDI WHIP OR COOL WHIP
STRAWBERRY SHORT CAKE - CAKES (PREPACKAGED)  

DIRECTIONS:
WASH AND REMOVE STEMS FROM STRAWBERRIES.
SLICE IN HALVES OR FOURTHS (YOUR PREFERENCE)
PLACE STRAWBERRIES IN LARGE BOW LAYERING  WITH EITHER SUGAR OR HONEY.  
LET SIT IN REFRIGERATOR ABOUT 2 HOURS OR UNTIL FRUIT HAS ABSORBED SUGAR OR HONEY.  SLIGHTLY THICKEN JUICE WILL FORM.  
IN EACH CAKE SPOON WHIPPED CREAM THEN COVER WITH TABLESPOONS OF STRAWBERRIES.  ENJOY!  

THIS IS A QUICK DESERT FOR SUMMER.  YOU MAY WANT TO SPRINKLE SOME FRESH BLUEBERRIES ON THE TOP AFTER ANOTHER LAYER OF WHIPPED CREAM.  THEN TOP WITH CHOPPED NUTS.
YUM, YUM!

TREAT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY TO OUR NATURAL INHERITANCE ..."THE BLESSING OF HARVEST."

TER