Three Martyred in the Philippines in January 2010!

When thinking about my Christian faith I am often faced with the fact that faith in Jesus Christ is not a popular thing in the world. Hostility is increasing daily over Christianity by many different groups, but the largest group is Muslims.

In January 2010, a group of an estimated 15 or more heavily armed Muslim men attacked a couple of farmhouses while the families slept. In one house at around 9:40 pm in the evening these hardcore haters of Christianity opened fire and three of the four people were killed and one wounded.

Hector, Norberto, and Lyneth lost their lives in the name of Christ. These Muslim extremist who do not fit the profile which many world leaders would like for us to believe about the Muslim faith as being peaceful are just the opposite. Their desire is for all Christians to perish off the face of the earth. They want the livestock and property of Christians around them and will kill to get it.

This is only one of hundreds of incidents like this which cost a fellow believer their life. Here in the land of the free and home of the brave are we willing to share the gospel of Christ with those around us even if it places our lives under the threat of torture, imprisonment or even death? Think about this as you ponder your faith today. How far are you willing to go? Many of us may not really know how we would react in a similar situation, but we do need to count the cost of being a follower of Jesus Christ.

No matter what transpires in our lives here in the United States of America, we can rest on the true words of Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

To see the full story at VOM and videos, go to the Persecuted

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Successful prayer!

"Successfully praying should be the first lesson a preacher or teacher of the Word of God must learn to do in order to preach/teach effectively and fruitfully. However, prayer seems to be the hardest activity we are ever called upon to do. In our human depravity, praying is the one action we are constantly tempted to do less of more than any other.

Prayer is our best weapon against our enemies or the lack of will be our demise."

-Scott Bailey

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Our Confident Hope!

Our Confident Hope
By Scott Bailey

Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

"God provided us with His Word written down throughout the ages to reveal who He is, who His Son is, the amount of gracious immeasurable love He has for His people, and how to live a real authentic eternal life. Although, the biblical words are ancient, they are still as relevant today as they were four thousand years ago. Further, history which has taken place since the Bible was written also, has been preserved and recorded for our instruction. We can rely on the historical value found in God’s word.

These ancient words are still, even today, the best counselor we could ever want. Through patient meditation and enduring study of the Bible we find hope weaved into the fabric of ever passage. These Scriptures are there to not only instruct and give direction, but also, to encourage, to sooth, to calm, to restore us, and to bring us great comfort in the hope delivered within.

For centuries tyrants have been attempting to get rid of God’s word. However, the Scriptures continue to endure the test of the times. The Bible is still the most widely distributed book in all the world of all times. The very words contained within its pages are guarded meticulously by the Holy Spirit. He does not allow it to be distorted, abused, or altered away from its original contextual meaning. Each writer who contributed to the Holy Bible we have today was spiritually inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit. The contributions span over several thousand years, but all connect together as though written at the same time. God guards His Word.

Our ultimate desire in reading, studying, and praying over the Scriptures is the hope found within the pages of God’s Word…the Good News that although we are condemned to eternal death because of our sin, God made a way for reconciliation by the justification in Jesus Christ dying for our sins. Furthermore, the fact Jesus came back to life after His death, and eventually was taken to heaven to be at the right of the Father. The Good News is found in no other and so there is no hope apart from Christ death, burial and resurrection.

Our ultimate goal is to be in heaven for all eternity with our Lord. Our hope is that the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ will find us no matter what state of sin we are in. Hope is looking forward and upward with a unique God given desire when placing ones loyal trust in another. For the Believer, we are placing our loyal trust in Jesus Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Our hope is an inner joy and confidence with the expectation of our external salvation which is only found in Jesus Christ!"

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