Jews ordered to register in eastern Ukraine!

Some very alarming news is being reported by Joel Rosenberg and USA Today. Jews in eastern Ukraine are being ordered to register their families and property with the new temporary government or face deportation and loss of property. We need to pray for the people of Ukraine and keep alert as to how we should help if necessary to prevent another holocaust. 

Read Joel Rosenberg's Blog Here

What About the Blood Moons?

There's been a lot of talk about blood moons lately. What's the big deal anyway? 

There have been many blood moons in the past.

Joel (2:31) and Peter (Acts 2:20) declared that the moon will be turned into blood before the "day of the Lord."

The "Day of the Lord" speaks of the time of the Great Tribulation. The moon will become like blood during the sixth seal (Rev. 6:12) in the midst of the Great Tribulation. The church will not be on earth during this time.

When Jesus was asked about the signs which would precede His return, He mentioned several signs (see Matthew 24:1-28) and then said "immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the power of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky…" (verses 29-30).

It appears the events affecting the moon are apocalyptic and occur during the Great Tribulation. Blood moons have occurred throughout history; most of them without any reference to Israel. It is always exciting to look forward to the Lord's return, yet we must be very careful to not to push things into prophecy. The Lord says that we should be ready for His return at any time.

The Real Story of Noah

There's been a lot of talk about Noah lately.  Want to know what the Bible actually says about Noah?  Was there really a flood and an ark that held all the animals?  Watch this teaching message where we look at every instance of Noah in the Bible.

            Watch "Noah" here

Faith and Obedience

"The apostles said to the Lord, 'Show us how to increase our faith.' " Luke 17:5

You may be getting discouraged because you know you're doing what the Lord has told you to do, but you don't see any results. You've been faithful, but you're getting weary. Let me share a story that will encourage you:

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. The man did, day after day. For many years he worked all day, with all his strength, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been a huge waste.

Since the man was showing sign of discouragement, Satan took advantage of his weakness and put thoughts into the man's mind: "You've been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You're never going to move it." He only reinforced the man's impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. He began to despair and thought, "Why kill myself over this? I'll just put in my time with minimal effort, and that'll be good enough."

That was his plan until he thought that he'd pray about it one more time. He stood and pleaded, "Lord," he said, "I've worked long and hard serving you, putting all my strength into doing what you asked me to do, yet after all this time, I've not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What's wrong? Why am I failing? What am I doing wrong?"

The Lord asked him to sit down and rest, and in a voice filled with compassion said, "Son, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, exhausted and worn out, thinking that you've failed. But this isn't so. Look at yourself. You're arms are strong, and your muscles have grown solid and defined. Your legs are powerful, your back is sinewy, and your hands are callused from constant pressure. You've become powerfully built.

"Through resistance you've grown so much, and your abilities now surpass what you could ever do before. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. Son, I will move the rock."

At times when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect and end up misunderstanding why the Lord wants us to do what He's called us to do. Many times what He wants is simple obedience, faith and trust in Him.

So, your faith may move mountains, but it's still God who moves the mountain. If the mountain doesn't move, faithfully serve Him until He tells you to move on.

"When you obey me you should say, 'We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.' " Luke 17:10

Unity

"Is Christ. . . . divided into parts?" 1 Corinthians 1:13, AMP

Sadly, disagreements and divisions have characterized the church from the start. Some of the divisions were justifiable in that they occurred because believers were separating from false teachers, but most of the time the divisions were a result of pride or personal preferences.

The unity of the church is Jesus' plan as well as His pleasure. He takes joy in a church united; it is the answer to His prayer that we may be perfected in unity (John 17:23).

We don't make unity; that is a result of our common salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit baptizing us into the universal Church, but we are commanded to preserve the unity that the Spirit has wrought. "I. . . . urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:1-4, ESV

When I see what some believers are bickering over and I see a lost world on its way to hell, my heart sinks. In many cases it would be like firefighters answering a five-alarm fire at an apartment building fire and not moving forward to rescue people because they're arguing over whose uniform is the most authentic, which hose is the most efficient or where the water came from.

As important as a five-alarm fire is, the church has a call that is far more challenging. We've been called to bring the message of life to those who are going to die and go into eternity unprepared to meet God. Eternal souls are at stake.

In view of this, is your cause worth the fight? Is it worth taking time and energy and resources from the kingdom rescue work? Is it a matter of personal pride? Is it a matter of your preference?

Jesus is not divided; neither should be His followers.

I urge you to do what you can do—what you should do, to maintain the unity of Christ's church with the special wisdom that God will give you through His Holy Spirit.

Jesus says: "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

Rob Bell: A Brother to Embrace, or a Wolf to Avoid?

John MacArthur says it like it is, he recently wrote this article addressing the controversy over Rob Bell. Check it out.

Rob Bell: A Brother to Embrace, or a Wolf to Avoid?

A Baptism Story

Last Wednesday evening we had an impromptu baptism service after the teaching. I wanted to share with you this email that came in afterward:

For two years God has been encouraging me to be baptized. I would always say next time there is a night for baptism, I’m going to do it. Then the night would come and go and I’d make another excuse.

Last night Pastor Mark spoke on Luke 3, about John the Baptist and explained baptism in a new way which really convicted me. He explained baptism is a covenant between me and Christ to recognize what He did for me. It is like wearing a wedding ring after become married to someone. It shows a commitment.

I was one of the 25 people who was baptized last (Wednesday) night and thank God He is so faithful and loving and patient with me. I want to be obedient to everything He has for my life.

–from Susan B.