October 2007

FREE!

LOVE — Never-Ending (2)CHRIST ALONE • GRACE ALONE • FAITH ALONE • SCRIPTURE ALONE

www.goodnewsunlimited.org

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:• Love—Never-Ending

Page 3

• Being Strong Against GodPage 5

• How Can I Give You UpPage 6

• Love Is Not Blowing UpBridges Page 7

• What Does—and Does Not—Last Page 8

• Barriers to ChristianFaith Page 9

• Scripture SearchPage 11

• Making A Difference:We Are The Arms

Page 12

• To & Fro Page 13

• GNU Better LivingPage 14

• Famous Jesus MoviesPage 14

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“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love ismore delightful than wine” (Song of Songs 1:2).

The Song of Songs has had a controversial history in thebelieving community. The decision to include it in the Old

Testament Canon was not made till the end of the 1st CenturyA.D. Many rejected its literal language of love and inventivelysought to discern allegorical meanings in it. For example, therewere Rabbis who explained the above text as picturing Godtalking to Moses face to face. Roman Catholic exegetes(biblical scholars) saw references to the Blessed Virgin Mary,but it was the Synagogue that came up with the insight that hasbeen most fastened-upon by the Church. Jewish theologiansnoticed that their own prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea andothers, the imagery of God as a husband doting over his bride;a metaphor taken up in the New Testament by Christ himself,along with the apostles.

It seems unlikely, however, that the Song writer had thesemeanings in mind. Without a doubt, a completely allegoricalapproach to the Bible book misses the unabashed appreciationof sexual love evident on every page.

Because the Song lacks any explicit reference to God, somehave said that it has nothing to contribute to Christian living.On another view, it is precisely because of the unaffectedtreatment of the subject, that it does much to aid belief in God.

Francis Schaeffer, the notable 20th Century Christianapologist, tells of a conversation between himself and a youngatheist aboard a cruise ship on the Mediterranean. The atheistwas honeymooning with his bride, and when he learned thatSchaeffer was a Christian he thought to have some fun at hisexpense. But it didn’t quite turn out that way. Schaefferchallenged him to be consistent in his unbelief. He said to him: “If you really hold that there is no God, and that we arejust the products of time plus chance, then why believe inanything—especially in values like love? Tonight when youtake your wife into your arms, how will you be sure that she is really there?”

It was a tough question for a freshly wed young man

because it is precisely at theplace of love—at the placeof joyous union when a manand a maid fulfill theirmutual longing—that it ishardest of all to think thatlove is really meaningless.

It defies our higherinstincts to accept that oursexual nature is nothing but a cosmic accident. Erotic loveproclaims that human life is relational; we are meant to be withsomeone. Sex is much more pervasive than mere physicalresponse, such as salivating at the smell of food. Scriptureteaches that the very first sexual encounter produced children.Out of that came the need for sustained nurture, protection,labor, affection and respect; the need for loyalty amongsiblings, neighbors, the weak and the strong, rich and poor,hungry and content.

Erotic love as an end in itself is a dead end! Yet allrelationships are implicit in it. It is a spring which animates ourimaginings; generating the restless tension, the driving energywhich moves us to aspire and to achieve. The profoundyearning for one life to be joined to another is the ground of allcreative endeavor. It is analogous to God’s love, the mostpowerful force in the universe. The love of a spouse is a strongsign, pointing to God the great lover; the giver of all life.

October, 2007Vol. 27, No. 10Published by Good News Unlimited

Copyright © 2007

EditorRon Allen

PrinterAuburn Oaks Printing, Auburn, CA

Graphic DesignerDebbie O’Brien

ProofreaderPhilip Rhodes

Pastor Ron Allen

EDITORIAL . . .

The profoundyearning forone life to bejoined toanother is theground of allcreativeendeavor.

3www.goodnewsunlimited.org

Asignificant proportion of the church membership atCorinth is intellectually striking—but short on love—so,

Paul, in a few crisp sentences, gives a description of genuinelove’s exceptional behavior, so that they will know just howbarren their religious life really is.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does notboast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, alwaysperseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Genuine Love is Expressed Through RelationshipsLove as defined here is personal. It has to do with relationsbetween people. This might seem too obvious to mention, yetresearch has shown that the average church-goer’s religiousexperience is not deeply woven in human relationship. Thechurch member most likely to have meaningful contacts withnon-Christians is usually either new to the church, or oneregarded by ‘established’ believers as ‘weak.’ He is seen asweak because of his contact with ‘worldly’ people. The newmember has not yet broken with his network of unbelievingassociations. He is likely to invite them to church; to share inwhat he has found. But the longer he is involved in the life ofthe church the more he loses touch with his old associates. Hedevotes himself to church activities: attendance at worshipservices, Bible study, prayer group, band or choir practice—allof which can be entered into in a very private way; requiringno more human interaction than watching television does.

It is possible to care very much about church and about whathappens in church, and not care very much about people at all.This problem is almost certainly addressed in 1st Corinthians.A religious involvement, which is exciting, moving, andstirring; but one that fails to connect the devotee with otherhumans. Love, on the other hand, is made up of vitalinterpersonal concern.

Genuine Love is a DecisionLove is not something that happens to you; it is something thatyou decide upon. Love is not something that one cannotcontrol; that strikes like a lightning bolt. This is apparent fromthe language: Love is patient, love is not easily angered, itnever gives up. None of these things happen on their own.They are the product of the will. When love does not quicklydismiss annoying people, when love is restrained in all itsdealings with people, this requires thought and discipline.

Note well that the language used in this chapter freelyadmits that the folks are difficult; hard to take. They are needy,irritating and always there. Their presence can only beaddressed redemptively with a love that is more than aninvoluntary spasm. It requires love wrought in toils of

inspiration and deliberation. A love that always protects,always trusts, always hopes. It is a love that refuses to discardthe most craven and apparently useless people; refuses to thinkof them as beyond hope.

Our culture proclaims love as a mysterious force that comesunannounced—‘some enchanted evening; across a crowdedroom,’ and there is nothing at all that can be done about it. Paulunderstands how far it is from love. Here is love; not as desireto possess another person; not the flushed cheek of romanticobsession, the so-called spontaneous combustion between twopersons; not love in the glands but in the will. It is not evenlove for one’s own—as in the love for family. Rather, love forwhat is not one’s own; the continued determination to lovewhat is alien, what is not warm and pleasing. Not the responseakin to salivating at the smell of one’s favorite dish. Indeed,not a response at all, but an initiative. Jesus spoke of it whenhe said: “don’t just love those who love you; even the pagansdo that. Love your enemies.” Do something that will actuallymake a difference; that will be life-changing for someone.

“Love always perseveres” or, depending on whichtranslation, “Love never gives up.” Most people have a built-in meter that they use to monitor their relationships,because the world is content with a much weakened version oflove. It is programmed to keep score, so that we know whenwe have someone enough; so we know when to stop loving.

Rita’s StoryRita was a completely friendless, grumpy 70-year-old. Shelived in a senior’s village. Whenever she went to the commonroom, she would choose a chair with someone sitting on it, andyank it from under them. Whenever cookies and coffee wereserved, she would grab the cookie jar and thrust her hand intoit, grabbing as many cookies for herself as she could. On days

Love — NEVER-ENDING (2)By Ron Allen

Continued on next page

She loved people, and having observed Rita from a distance,decided to love her too.

4

when there was an outing on the bus, by the time the day wasover, most of the other seniors would join in singing a songthat went: “We hate Rita, we hate Rita.”

Yvonne was a 20-year-old single woman who lived near thesenior’s village. She loved people, and having observed Ritafrom a distance, decided to love her too. She began by visitingher at the village. At first Rita would not talk to her, butYvonne persisted. One day after many visits, Rita agreed tocome out with Yvonne for coffee. They went to CaféBabylon—famous for its coffee and cheesecake. It sohappened that Rita adored cheesecake even more than cookies.The two women made an odd couple as they fell into a patternof visits to Café Babylon every Tuesday morning.

The first time at Café Babylon Rita could not containherself. She lunged at the cheesecake on a plate in front ofanother customer. There was an uproar in the café, and Yvonnehad to pay for the stolen cheesecake and persuade themanagement to let Rita stay. They only relented when Yvonnepromised to keep Rita under control.

As weeks went by, Rita began to trust Yvonne. She learnedto wait for her cheesecake, and she began to relax. Bit by bitshe shared her story with Yvonne. At age 19 she had beendeemed a troublesome person and was committed to apsychiatric institution where she was left for 40 years. Herfamily abandoned her there. In a cold, clinical and lovelessenvironment she developed habits for personal survival. Shelearned to push, shove and fight.

Yvonne began to understand Rita’s alienation, anger andabnormal behavior. They became friends. They talked, laughedand cried together. Sometimes at the café, Rita would want todance. She would take Yvonne and dance her way around thecoffee tables; once more testing the tolerances of Café Babylonmanagement.

Rita made small changes in her ways. She had perfected theart of bumming cigarettes off strangers. Now, when she didthis she would ask for two—one for herself and one for herfriend. Love was beginning to take root in Rita’s heart.Because Yvonne decided to love her, she reclaimed Rita, forRita, and for her community. Love perseveres!

“Follow the way of love” (14:1). Love is a task without aconclusion. It is a vigorous campaign; an ongoing mission.“Love never ends,” is a more accurate translation of 13:8. Thesense intended is that of a spring that never stops running.“Love never falls down,” says another version, and “Lovegoes on forever” is the Living Bible variation.

True Love Goes on ForeverIn case his readers have forgotten, this is the point of hisextended discussion of the nature of true love; Paul goes backto the problems that he was addressing, in the church atCorinth.

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, theywill cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled;where there is knowledge, it will pass away” (13:8, 9).The gifts and abilities in which the Corinthians took so

much pride have but a temporary relevance. They play a partin God’s work in the world—for the time being. Yet, unlikelove, they will not always be. No matter how articulate andcompelling the preacher, no matter how erudite the discussionand how vast the knowledge of the teacher, it will come to anend. But love will never stop. It will go on and on, forever andever. The future belongs to love. Without the love that Paul hasspoken of, there is no future.

Gladstone Makes a SpeechIn 19th Century Britain, Gladstone aligned himself with LordJohn Russell’s Parliamentary Reform Bill, which sought toredress the representative imbalance against the poor. Againstbitter opposition he made a speech in the house. “Time is onour side,” he said. “The great social forces that move onwardin their might and majesty, and which the tumult of our debatesdoes not for one minute impede or disturb—those great socialforces are against you,” he said. “They are marshalled on ourside. And the banner which we now carry in this fight, maysometimes droop over our sinking heads, yet soon again willfloat in the eye of heaven—perhaps not to an easy, but to acertain, and not too distant victory.”

He was proved right. He and his fellow-campaigners wereon the side of those social (spiritual) forces which are theforces of love, and which are destined to prevail and last forever.

What side are you on? There is only one issue of sufficientmoment to link this present age with a future one. It is love;Christian love. The love of God as revealed in Christ. Thisalone is the love that never fails. The universe pulses with thisheart of love. They only live well, who join their small selvesto the great spiritual movement generated by the love of God.They only will be borne by this love, through this world andinto the next.

Continued from previous page

She lunged at the cheesecake on a plate in front of anothercustomer. There was an uproar in the café, and Yvonne had topay for the stolen cheesecake and persuade the management tolet Rita stay. As weeks went by, Rita began to trust Yvonne. Shelearned to wait for her cheesecake, and she began to relax.

www.goodnewsunlimited.org5

God is God because he is love. He is never more God thanwhen he loves us to the point of giving himself to us. We

know God only through Jesus Christ. Do not try to reach Godany other way than through the Incarnation.

Read the Gospel: the Transcendent is someone who washesour feet! And if this scandalizes you and you look forsomething else, apply yourself to his threat to St. Peter whenhe, like you, rebels and advises Jesus better to maintain hisrank and preserve his dignity: “If I do not wash you, you haveno part in me” (John 13:8).

God has put his power on the cross so that one mighthenceforth see nothing in him but his love. When you are toldthat God loves you, you are told something so often repeated,so worn out that it no longer means anything to you. Translateit in a living way: God has given you power over him. This isto love someone: to give him power over you. When someoneloves you, you have power over him, power to rejoice him,

power to make him happy, satisfied; but also power to makehim suffer. And one loves to make use of one’s powers.

The Gospel, the Passion, was the revelation of the powerGod has given us over him. One could do everything to him,all that one can to someone who has surrendered himself toyou, who is handed over to you.

God is weak before us. When Jacob had wrestled with theangel, God imposed on him a new and prophetic name:“Israel,” which means: “Strong against God.” We are the trueIsrael. We are strong against God.

In Normandy there is this cynical and cruel motto: “he wholoves the least is always the strongest.” In a married couplethere is always one who loves less than the other; he isstronger, he keeps a cool head, he has control of the situation,he commands! God, towards us, will always be the weaker: heloves us! He has cancelled his power. Louis Everly. ARELIGION FOR OUR TIME, pp. 60, 61.

BEING STRONG AGAINST GOD

...if this scandalizes you and you look for something else... so worn out that it no longer means anything to you.

HOW CAN I GIVE YOU UP?

6

Our world is a schizoid world. Not long after the beginningof Scripture, with its reference to the division between

heaven and earth, light and darkness, we come to the tree ofthe knowledge of good and evil. Then we find two boys, oneof whom is a murderer and the other a worshiper. Holy writtells the truth about reality, that life is a frightening dualism. Itis split, and so there is sickness and health, light and darkness,love and hate, good and evil, pain and pleasure. These are therealities, and the Bible is as real as the earth under our feetbecause it deals with these realities.

In the book of Hosea, there is a story of a young ministerwho was told by God to take a young wife from the ‘red light’district—a symbol of God’s own love for an idolatrous people.He did that, but she was not faithful to him any more thanIsrael has been faithful to God. Her children were children ofharlotry, just as Israel was continually idolatrous. Now note thewords of Hosea 11.

“How can I give you up Ephraim? How can I hand youover, Israel?... I will not carry out my fierce anger, nordevastate Ephraim; for I am God and not man” (Hosea11:8, 9).Here is the hope of all who hear the gospel—that we are not

dealing with one who is just like us. We are easily hurt, easilythreatened, but we worship one who is God and not man. Godis much more patient than we are, much more long-suffering.We are prepared to forgive people if they apologize, or comecap in hand, or if they reform; but God offers repentancebefore a man turns. God was in Christ, “not imputing theirtrespasses.” He is God—and not man. That is our hope.

I read again, of the “Bird Man of Alcatraz.” He lived in asteel cage in an immense prison, surrounded by a brick wall.They raised his gallows when he was a young man, and birdsplayed on the gallows but ultimately some of those birds sat onhis shoulder and played in the hair of his head. What was itthat saved this man who was buried in a tomb, within a tomb,within a tomb? What enabled him to survive in a steel cage ina cement prison surrounded by a brick wall? He went to prisonbefore World War I, and he was still there after World War IIended. This is what he wrote to his mother from prison whenhe was still a young man.

I am weary; life seems dreary, and the world is bleakand bare.I’m lonely, O so lonely, and there are none who think orcare.In my sadness, close to madness, all the world is turnedaway.All is blindness, there is no kindness, for the friend ofyesterday.He was sentenced to death. His mother had delivered him

from death before he was born. When he was conceived hisfather said, “Abort him.” She refused to do this. Later the

government said, “Abort him.” Again the mother refused toaccept this. She made her way to Mrs. President Wilson. Shespoke to the President’s wife about her son; about the fatherwho had beaten him, and how he had really been a good boy.

He had killed a man who had severely hurt a woman. It wasnot done out of viciousness, but because he had been hurt byso much cruelty. She won her son’s life. A mother’s loveenabled this man to survive for a while in prison.

One day God gave him a strange love. It was during a stormwhen he was walking in what was called the ‘bull-pen’; theexercise yard surrounded by tall walls. He wanted to make themost out of being outside. Suddenly a large branch fell from atree. At his feet he saw a nest, and in the nest some sparrows.He put them in his handkerchief and then into his cage in theisolation block. He took off his sock and placed it over a25watt light globe. Having warmed up the sock he put thebirds into it. Then he put them down, and after a while henoticed that their mouths were open. They were hungry. Hetook half of the food that was given to him and fed it to thebirds. He found cockroaches in the crevices of his concretefloor, ground them up and mixed them with bread crumbs.

About that time the deputy warden came. He loved birds.Note now the point that I am making: In Hosea, the book oflove, a young man loved someone who was not worthy of hislove. It was a love that endured despite her continuedunworthiness. Only love, and conviction of love, only faith inan undying love, an omnipotent love, can enable us to meet theschizoid nature of life in the threat of death.

The deputy warden came to the prison, Leavenworth, and hewas a bird lover. One day the warden went down to theisolation ward to see this particular prisoner. The prisoner said,“Warden, would you watch.” He spread out the handkerchiefon his bunk and put down some birds. They all still lay on theirback, putting up their feet and shaking them. The deputywarden who loved birds was impressed. The prisoner asked ifhe could keep them. “Yes you can, but they won’t survivewithout birdseed.”

“Sir, I’ve ordered some. Will you give permission for it tobe released?” And he got the birdseed.

In the months thatfollowed he had as manyas 125 canaries in thatlittle cage. He was soonselling them to supporthis mother, but a timecame when a law waspassed to clean up theprisons. He was told thathe would lose his birds.He was not ready to doso. When his mother

HOW CAN I GIVE YOU UP?By Desmond Ford

Robert Stroud (1890- November21, 1963), is the famous “Birdmanof Alcatraz.”

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There can be no substitute for the long process of building acredible identity. It is the foundation for any bridges we

might want to build in the community. We lay this foundationwhen we introduce ourselves. How we introduce ourselveslays the foundation for the bridges we want to build. Byemphasizing what we have in common, we can lay a strongfoundation on which to build. This may seem obvious enoughbut many of us don’t do it. We often emphasize those thingsthat separate us rather than those things that unite us and,consequently, blow up the very bridges we are trying to build.

To identify with our neighbors, we need to introduce our-selves to them in terms of those things that we have in com-mon with them. Thus, even though I am a member of a BaptistChurch, I never introduce myself to anyone as a Baptist, unlessthey are a Baptist. With Catholics I identify myself as afollower of Christ. With Muslims I identify myself as abeliever in God. With agnostics and atheists I usually identifymyself as a seeker of truth. When I don’t know where thepeople are coming from, in my neighbourhood I simplyintroduce myself as their neighbor.Dave Andrews. NOT RELIGION BUT LOVE, Pp. 109, 110.

We often emphasize those things that separate us rather than those things that unite us...

came, he gave her a mass of letters which she took to editors.By this time he was writing for bird magazines. He had learneda lot about birds. Some of his birds had been dying in the celland he learned how to bring them back to health. He learnedthat they needed sunshine. He would take them out into theexercise yard every day. His mother took the letters and soonthere was a petition of 50,000 signatures asking that thebirdman not lose his birds—and he won.

But the prison authorities had long memories. They decidedthey would get him another way—by shipping him to Alcatraz.There was a woman whose birds had been saved by counselthe Birdman had written to her from prison. She obtainedpermission to visit him regularly. They started a bird businesstogether. He made certain medicines, and she sold them. Hetold the woman, “They are going to move me to Alcatraz andthat will be the end of our business.” She said, “What can wedo?” He said, “you can marry me.” He had found out about alaw which provided that in a Federal property, a marriagecould be solemnized by a mere written contract of the partiesconcerned, without priest, bell or candle, and that was legal.Unknown to the prison authorities they married in prison. Theywrote their contract and it was taken to newspapers. Again,America heard about this Birdman, and again he won areprieve for some years.

Here was a man in prison, facing death. He survivedbecause of the love of a mother, because of the love of awoman who became his wife, because of the love of birds.

“How can I give you up? How can I hand you over?” Godsays. Yet according to Romans 8:32, God “Did not spare hisown Son but gave him up for us all.” God gave up his Son buthe would not give up Israel. In eternity, God must have said tohis son, “I must give you up, or else give them up.” And that isa divine love that is able to frustrate death and hell.Edited from a transcript of a sermon preached by Dr. DesmondFord.

LOVE IS NOT BLOWING UP BRIDGES

Here was aman inprison, facingdeath. Hesurvivedbecause ofthe love of amother,because ofthe love of awoman whobecame hiswife, becauseof the love ofbirds.

8

“Love never fails. But where there areprophecies, they will cease; where thereare tongues, they will be stilled; wherethere is knowledge, it will pass away”

(1 Corinthians 13:8).

I ask this question: What will drop away? Paul answers,‘prophecies, tongues, knowledge.’ Now these three were allextraordinary gifts belonging to the then present phase of theChristian life. But, inasmuch as these gifts were theheightening of natural capacities and faculties, it is perfectlylegitimate to enlarge the declaration and to use these threewords in their widest signification. So understood, they cometo this, that all our present modes of utterance andapprehension are transient, and will be left behind.

‘Knowledge, it shall cease,’ and as the apostle goes on toexplain, it shall cease because the perfect will absorb into itselfthe imperfect, as the in-rushing tide will obliterate the littlepools on the rocks at the seashore. For another reason, theknowledge belonging to the present will pass because here it isindirect, and there it will be immediate. “We shall know face to face” (13:12).

Here our knowledge creeps from point to point, painfullyamassing facts, groping its way toward principles and laws.Here it is imperfect like the thin red line on a map that showsthe traveler’s route across the prairie. But then, ‘face to face.’Incomplete knowledge shall be done away, and much of whatmakes the science of earth will be antiquated and powerless.What would the hand-loom weaver’s knowledge of how tothrow his shuttle be worth in a weaving-shed with a thousandlooms? Just so much will the knowledge of earth be when weget yonder.

Modes of utterance will cease. New experiences will comewith new methods of communication. As a man can speak, anda beast can only growl or bark, so a man in heaven with newexperiences will have new methods of communication.

Think, then, of a man going into that future life saying, “Iknew more about Sanskrit than anybody that ever lived inEurope”; “I sang sweet songs”; “I was a master in philology,grammars and lexicons”; “I was a great orator.” Tongues shallcease! And the modes of utterance that belonged to earth willdrop away and be of no more use.

If these things are true with regard even to the highest formsof these high and noble things, how much more solemnly trueare they with regard to the aims and objects which most of ushave in view? They will all drop away, and we shall be left,stripped of what has made the whole interest and activity ofour lives…

What will a Manchester man do that knows nothing exceptgoods and office work? What, in the name of common sense

will he do with himself when he gets to a world where there isnot a single ledger, nor a desk, nor a yard of cloth of any sort?What will some of us do when we are stripped of all the thingswe have cared about and worked for, and have made our aimsdown here?

Suppose that you knew you were under sailing orders to gosomewhere or other, and that at any moment a breathlessmessenger might appear and say, “Come along, we are allwaiting for you”; and suppose that you never did a single thingtoward getting your outfit ready, or preparing yourself in anyway for that which might come at any moment. Would you bea wise man? But that is what a great many of us are doing;doing every day, and all day long, and doing that only.

What will drop? Modes of apprehension, modes ofutterance, occupations, duties, loves, and we shall be leftstanding naked, stripped to the very quick, and only as muchleft as will keep our souls alive. But if we are clothed withfaith, hope and love, we shall not be found naked.

Cultivate the high things, the permanent things; then deathwill not wrench you violently from all that you have been andcared for; but it will usher you into the perfect form of all thatyou have been and done upon earth. All these things will pass,but faith, hope and love stay. They will last as long as Christtheir object lives, and as long as we in him live also.Alexander Maclaren. EXPOSITIONS OF HOLYSCRIPTURE. pp. 187-195.

WHAT DOES—AND DOES NOT— LASTBy Alexander Maclaren

Tongues shall cease! And the modes of utterance that belonged toearth will drop away and be of no more use.

9

No religion except Christianity has a God whocondescended to join humanity in order to serve

humanity. No other religion has a wounded God; wounded forour sake. No other religion has a God who forgave man’s sin athis own expense through the sacrifice of himself. No otherGod of any religion has lavished such great acts of kindnessupon obstinate and ungrateful humankind.

Why then, in the face of such kindness and grace is there so much denial or indifference for him? From his lowly birthin Bethlehem to the present day, attempts have been made toget rid of him. He by whom the universe was made, who wasadored by angels, was a stranger in this world. The Gospelwriter testified: “He came to his own, and his own receivedhim not.”

Regardless of what critics have said about Christ, the bestscholarship consistently affirms the biblical declaration abouthim as true. It is up to you and me to ascertain the verity of thisaffirmation. All must individually decide what they will dowith Christ.

Consider the miracle of the Book, the Bible. It was writtenover a span of 1500 years. By forty authors, ranging in statusfrom kings to shepherds, on three continents, in threelanguages. Yet despite the great length of time in writing,diversity of cultures, widely dispersed locations and languages,precluding any collusion between scheming writers, there isstill an amazing unity of teaching about Jesus Christ and hismission to the world. There is only one possibility for suchunity: there was One Mind direction its composition overmany centuries.

Beware of modern novels and theatricals that propose newideas about the Bible and about the historical Christ. Ifrespectable people cannot be objective about political andsocial issues, how could they be objective on the moresensitive religious issues? If novels or theatricals add, or takeaway, or alter, or deviate from the original biblical account,they suggest that the Bible is faulty or insufficient withoutmodern tinkering.

Jesus forewarned that attempts to counterfeit, obscure,confuse or redefine him and his Word would continue to theend. Make the Bible, divinely inspired and miraculouslyprepared, your primary source of information.

The real problem of unbelief is not intellectual but moral.Our fallen race, with its natural propensity for sin, does notlive comfortably with a holy God. By nature we want a Godwho thinks about right and wrong as we do. It is not evidenceabout God that is lacking. Rather a new heart that loves God isneeded; one that trusts all his counsels on right and wrong, anddelights in observing them.

The evidence that God exists, and that he visited this worldfor thirty-three years in the person of Jesus Christ, is a settledfact, as a university professor discovered. Upon reading themany prophecies in the Old Testament, and their fulfillment inthe New, the professor devised a mathematical formula todetermine what possibility there was for this to have happenedby chance. His finding showed that it was one in a trillion tothe 16th power. Such odds dismiss all possibility of chance.Christ was who he claimed to be: God in his own right and theSon of God in the plan of salvation.

Prophecies other than about Christ, such as the rise and fallof world empires, are also amazing. Unlike the tabloidpredictions, and those of self-acclaimed prophets, which arefulfilled in chance proportions, the biblical prophecies of pastevents have all been fulfilled in detailed accuracy, confirmingthat the Bible is the Word of God.

The big question again is: Why, in the face of so muchevidence, do so many in the world turn away from this Christ?The following few reasons stand out as most common: (1) Bad representation. (2) People don’t want a God whosewill they do not like. (3) People have difficulty accepting anall-powerful God, claiming to be love, who allows so muchtragedy and misery. (4) People can’t reconcile to a teachingheld by some Christian churches that God has a place ofeternal torment for the unsaved.

Continued on next page

BARRIERSTo The

CHRISTIAN FAITH

Christianity is tarnished by much sordid Christian history. Wemust never evaluate the Christian faith by Christian people, (The Crusades) ...

By Edmund Rogol

10

(1) Christianity is tarnished by much sordid Christianhistory. We must never evaluate the Christian faith byChristian people, or Christian churches, because somany Christians subscribe to the Christian religiononly in mind and not in heart. It must be evaluatedonly by Jesus Christ, and what he did and taught. Forinstance: “Love your enemies, do good to those whohate you, bless those who curse you, pray for thosewho mistreat you…”

Christians are sinners no less than non-Christians,both having the same sinful nature. Except for therenewing of the heart by the Holy Spirit to restrainthat sinful nature, the sinful nature within them is asvile as of all others.

(2) The second point considers the fact that, since manydo not want a God whose will they do not like, theysearch and rationalize for ways to escape God. This isexemplified by Huxley, a promoter of Darwin’stheories: “I felt very much relieved when I decidedthere was no God.” Why relieved? Because then hecould do what he wanted to do with an easyconscience.

The will of God seems terrible to those withdistorted views of God, but it is the sweetest thing tothose who know him right. David, despite his ownserious failures and guilt, could love God supremelyand say, “I delight to do your will, O my God; yourlaw is within my heart.”

As mentioned previously, we all would like to havea God who thinks about right and wrong as we do. Wehave this frame of mind because we don’t know theperversity of human nature, nor the goodness ofGod’s will. When we acquire right perceptions ofGod, what he is like, how he thinks about us, what hisdesire and plan for us is, we will discover greatpleasure in doing God’s will.

A look at Mark Twain’s experience helps us seehow a new and better attitude toward God and his willmay develop in us. In the earlier years of his life,before he married the love of his life, Mark Twainwas an intransigent rascal, refusing to change his lifefor anything. After he married the woman he loved,he greatly changed for her sake: to the amazement ofhis family and friends. Explaining how it happened,he said, “You don’t mind reforming if you love thereformer.”

So, how does one come to love the reformer?Never, if we imagine him frowning on us. But whenwe accept Christ, God looks upon us as he does onChrist. He is then always for us, never against us.God’s favor toward us does not depend on someatonement we must make, he simply asks us to acceptChrist who is our atonement. God’s wrath against sinnever hangs over us. Christ bore that wrath so that we

need not bear it. We are not under God’s frown, butunder his smile.

The commandments of God are not given us todeprive us of the good things in life, but to guide andsafeguard us, and to spare us needless misery. Goddid not create us to submit us to misery. Does he hatewhat he made in his own image and designed for ahappy relationship with himself? Is he indifferentabout the good of those he redeemed with his ownblood? Does he prevaricate when he tells of his ownthoughts toward us? “For I know the plans I have foryou, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans togive you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

It is true that God’s law speaks wrath to guiltysinners who choose to be without Christ and refuse torepent, but it does not speak so to those who havefaith in Christ; who repent of sin. Being reconciled toGod’s law through Christ’s perfect obedience for us,we need not fear it as an enemy that is opposed to us,as demanding something too stringent for us. Throughfaith, the law is our friend.

To be continued…

The above article is part of a book by Edmund Rogol, “TheBurning of a City.”The book can be obtained from its author. Simply contact:

Edmund Rogol25755 Rogol Dr.

Hillsboro, OR 97123

Continued from previous page

11www.goodnewsunlimited.org

Scripture Search...“These are the Scriptures that testify about me…”

Love—Never-EndingIntroduction:The question at hand is this: Is loving really the way to humanfulfillment? If I choose love as my personal life principle, willI find satisfaction and true gratification? Are all the gospelparadoxes about love really valid in the laboratory of life? If Iseek myself and my own happiness, is it certain that I will loseboth? Does the seed really have to fall into the ground and diebefore there can be a full and happy life? Is the gospelbeatitude of unselfish and unconditional love really the path to true human joy? These are indeed hard and practicalquestions—questions that are today the subject of considerable debate.

In fact, I would say that this is the major crisis facingcontemporary society. Is a life of love, which involves apermanent and unconditional commitment to the happiness ofanother, really the way to personal satisfaction and humanfulfillment? Or must one rather stay free and unencumberedfrom all such relationships in order to experience the pleasure,the power, and the variety of sensations that life can offer?John Powell. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, pp. 43, 44.

Read: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7• How many characteristics of love are listed here?• Why do you think the writer personifies love in these

verses? Compare Proverbs 1:20-22; 8:1-8 where the sameteaching device is used of Wisdom.

• Some think of love only as an emotion. Here it is not whatone feels but what one does. Compare Ephesians 5:1, 2;Colossians 3:12-14; Romans 12:10; Romans 13:8.

Note:No one treated Lincoln with more contempt than didStanton. He called him a “low, cunning, clown.” He nick-named him “the original gorilla,” and said that Du Chaillu was a fool to wander about Africa trying tocapture a gorilla when he could have found one so easily atSpringfield, Illinois. Lincoln said nothing. He madeStanton his war minister because he was the best man forthe job and he treated him with every courtesy. The yearswore on. The night came when the assassin’s bulletmurdered Lincoln in the theater. In the little room to whichthe President’s body was taken stood that same Stanton,and, looking down on Lincoln’s silent face he said throughhis tears, “There lies the greatest ruler of men the world hasever seen.” The patience of love has conquered in the end.William Barclay.

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13• Note the comparison between the permanence of love and

the temporality of spiritual gifts admired and sought after bythe Corinthians.

• Compare these scriptures which affirm that the work of theSpirit, who supplies gifts to the church, is partial, incompletein this age. 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:14. Nowread again, 1 Corinthians 13:10-13.

• Love is often linked with faith and hope in the NewTestament. Compare Romans 5:2-5; Galatians 5:5;Colossians 1:4, 5; Hebrews 6:10-12.

Conclusion:There is a great deal in the world that is delightful andbeautiful; there is a great deal in it that is great and engrossing;but it will not last. All that is in the world, the lust of the eye,the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, are but for a littlewhile. Love not the world therefore. Nothing that it contains isworth the life and consecration of an immortal soul. The onlyimmortal things are these: Faith, hope and love. And thegreatest of these is love.

We know but little now about the conditions of the life thatis to come. What is certain is that love must last. God, theeternal God, is love. To love abundantly is to live abundantly,and to love for ever is to live for ever.

–Henry Drummond.

Paul du Chaillu (July 31, 1835 – April 29,1903), traveller and anthropologist, wasborn in either Paris or New Orleans.During his travels, he saw numbers of thegreat anthropoid apes called the gorilla(possibly the great ape described byCarthaginian navigators), then known toscientists only by a few skeletons, allowing

him to market himself as the first white to have seen a gorilla.For more, log onto wikipedia.com.

ENCOUNTERING DEFEATS

“You may encounter many defeats, butyou must not be defeated. In fact, it maybe necessary to encounter the defeats, soyou can know who you are, what you canrise from, how you can still come out ofit.”~ Maya Angelou

1212

We Are The ArmsM.A.N.N.A. Outreach

Mercy Action Nutrition Now AllianceA Ministry of Good News Unlimited

By Courtney Smith

One of the most beautiful things I have witnessed was fromthe lips of a homeless person. As they had spent their

nights on the cold, dirty grounds, awaiting deliverance aftermonths of pain and suffering, they praised God for the air thatthey were breathing. They spoke to the Lord saying, “You areall I need.” I remember walking across a foot bridge over theAmerican River, a few people ahead and a few behind; Ilooked out into the distance and thought to myself, I amexactly where God wants me to be.

M.A.N.N.A. Outreach has changed me. The people on thestreets have touched me. Every Monday and Friday night,M.A.N.N.A. backpacks out to the homeless camps and streetsof Sacramento, California. We meet at the Dream Center, achurch in the heart of the city. All ages and all denominationscome out with M.A.N.N.A. We load up as many backpacksand bags that we can, and then we began our miles-longjourney to the lost. The goal is to build a relationship with thepeople we meet and ultimately bring them into a relationshipwith Christ.

The effect of actually knowing these people is what changeseverything. It is not just a kitchen where people come to eat, ora truck that drops off lunch bags of food. It is our armsreaching out to theirs. It is their eyes looking into ours; and itis going home at night and actually having names to put with

our prayers. Having a sister or brother cry out and trust usenough to share their pain is an honor. Witnessing a moment,in which somebody under the influence reaches completeclarity while we pray to our Father is miraculous.

I remember sitting with a woman I had met on the darkstreets of an alley. Sweltering heat was rising off the asphalt asgarbage covered the area in which she called home. I could tellshe had been on the streets for a while. I asked her if I couldpray for her and tears filled her eyes. Through the filth of herface, and the aged wrinkles from years of suffering, her eyes litup; and the eyes that had seemed so ashamed and sunken in,brilliantly pierced my heart. She asked me to pray that Godwould take her. The desperation and helplessness in her voicebroke me; but that moment of intensity, when all the barrierswere broke, gave me a purpose. Sometimes we meet peopleand can help them off the streets; but sometimes we meetpeople so that we can pray, because we just might be the onlyone praying for them.

We hike out to give people what they physically need, butGod sends us out to give them what they spiritually need.M.A.N.N.A. works by starting out with a can of chili, and Godworks by ending it in a brother’s or sister’s salvation.M.A.N.N.A. knows that nothing is by coincidence, but all by adivine encounter. I cannot tell you what the people we havemet think, but they know when we will be there, and theyknow our names when they thank us. For myself and the otherM.A.N.N.A. volunteers I can tell you what it means to us.God’s commandment is to love one another as He has lovedus. We have been called. We carry more than just food, wecarry the Truth. We are called to be light in the darkness, andthat is what we are. We have not lasted because of man; wehave been blessed because of the Father. We want to serveothers, because He has served us. When God gives love forsomeone or something other than family or friends, it brings afeeling of purpose. This love is the love of compassion. This feeling comes from seeing the hurt and wanting to make a change.

Last month we gave out over 2,500 items. I was excited tosee this number, but I am even more excited to see a change. Ibelieve that we could have leaders step up to lead M.A.N.N.A.and backpack out five days a week. I believe M.A.N.N.A.could be planted in hundreds or even thousands of otherchurches across the United States. If everyone who wanted tohelp someone gave one dollar, we could do so much. We couldactually take these people off the streets, sponsor them into jobtraining and recovery; we could help them build a life. Ifeveryone cared, maybe we could come together and build ashelter. Seeing M.A.N.N.A. in action makes a difference. Forme, I can no longer turn my eyes from all the suffering on thestreets, because it is the faces that are in my heart. I once heardthat there are missionaries and mission fields. There must be amission field to support its missionaries, and there must be

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Molly Sellards presents John, a Vietnam Veteran, with hisbirthday cake, at his home under a bridge in downtownSacramento, California.

www.goodnewsunlimited.org13

missionaries to use the mission field, M.A.N.N.A. needs both.We need people with compassion; compassion to serve andgive time, and compassion to financially help us continue to doGod’s work. God uses us to answer other’s prayers.M.A.N.N.A. humbly asks you to never stop praying, neverstop loving, and please never stop giving. Be a part of us, sothat we can help others to be a part of Him. “Thou shaltneither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were oncestrangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:21).

If you would like to be a part of M.A.N.N.A. Outreach, aministry of Good News Unlimited, we are in constant need ofnon-perishable food items, clothing, Bibles, financialdonations, and any other ministry applicable donations. Allfinancial donations are tax-exempt and can be made payable toM.A.N.N.A. Please visit our website atwww.mannaoutreach.com, or give us a call at 530-823-9690.

M.A.N.N.A. OutreachGood News UnlimitedP.O. Box 6687Auburn CA 95604

Yvonne, a former model now on the streets, with her water andG.N.U. magazine given out by M.A.N.N.A.

TO and FROwith the Editor

Question:What is dogma?S.F.

Answer:Dogma is an established opinion or system of belief. It is ahuman trait to cling to belief systems somewhat tenaciously.The relationship between ‘dogma’ and ‘dogmatic,’ is thereforeapparent.

In church history, dogma rests on the conviction that theBible is the inspired word of God and is therefore infallible.An unfortunate by-product of this belief has produced in somequarters, the idea that the churches teaching and interpretationof Scripture is also infallible.

There was a time when the Bible was taken to be aninfallible handbook for every area of human knowledge—including geology, biology, astronomy; all the sciences. Themassive expansion of human understanding in the last twohundred years was seen as a threat to Scripture. When newdiscoveries conflicted with parts of the Bible they were seen asan attack on its authority. A conflict developed (still inprogress) between Science and the Bible; between churchdogma and science.

This battle raged in the 19th Century, but calmed down

somewhat when it became clear to many that science waswinning.

The Bible is not, and was never intended to be, an infallibletextbook for science. It is infallible for its purpose however:

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is theChrist, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have lifein his name” (John 20:21).

“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think thatby them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures thattestify about me” (John 5:39).

“…the Scriptures which are able to make you wise forsalvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).

The Bible has proved perfectly reliable in the religious taskfor which it was inspired. Christians can afford to be dogmaticabout that, but ought to proceed with humility in all otherclaims they might make on the basis of Scripture. The churchhas not shown that it is an infallible interpreter of the sacredtexts, nor as a judge of all moral and religious questions.Witness the inquisition, the burning of witches, and themartyrdoms of many more theological dissidents.

The Bible itself bears witness to a slow development in human thinking about God (see 1 Peter 1:10-12; Acts 17:26-31). In fact, the Bible can be seen as a record ofmankind’s increasing awareness of his inadequate conceptionsof God. I accept the Bible as authoritative because of its honestrecognition of human intellectual and spiritual shortcomings,and because it leads its readers to Jesus, God’s Son, thereligious genius of the world.

A true relationship is hard work because lovingis hard work, with many tears and many smiles.But it is God’s work, and worth every part of it.

-Henri Nouwen

1414

G.N.U. Better LivingThe word pumpkin comes from the Greek pepõnfor a large melon. The English termed it pumpionor pompion. The pumpkin was one of the manyfoods used by the Native American Indians inthe New World, and was a welcomediscovery by the Pilgrims. The Indianspounded strips of pumpkin flat, dried them,and wove them into mats for trading.They also dried pumpkin for food. Thisterm dates back to 1547, yet it did notmake an appearance in print until 1647.Pumpkins are a tasty source of vitaminsand minerals, particularly beta-carotene,vitamin C, and potassium. It also helpsprevent arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which canlead to strokes and/or heart attacks.

Pumpkin seed oil and pumpkin seeds are a good source of zincand unsaturated fatty acids, which are effective help for prostateailments. A study by the U.S.D.A. indicated that diets high inpumpkin, as a fiber source, tended to curb the appetite, yetprovided more food for the same calorie count. The subjects in thisstudy also absorbed less fat and calories from their food. As withall homeopathic treatments, consult your physician.

Curried Pumpkin-Cauliflower SoupMakes 6 servings (6 cups).Recipe can be halved or doubled.Nutrient Value Per Serving: 119 calories, 3 g protein, 4g fat, 19g carbohydrate, 429 mg sodium, 10 mg cholesterol.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter2 cups coarsely chopped cauliflower1 large onion, chopped2 to 3 teaspoons curry powder4 cups Vegetable Stock (or Chicken broth)1 can (16 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin puree1 teaspoon salt1/3 cup coarsely chopped cashew nuts (optional)

1. Melt butter in large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Addcauliflower: sauté about 5 minutes or until almost tender. Removecauliflower with slotted spoon to medium-size bowl. Reserve.2. Add onion and curry powder to saucepan; sauté about 5 minutesor until almost tender. Add 2 cups Vegetable Broth. Bring toboiling. Lower heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes.3. Cool mixture slightly. Working in batches, place mixture inblender. Whirl until smooth puree, about 1 minute. Return brothmixture to saucepan. 4. Add remaining 2 cups broth, pumpkin, salt and reservedcauliflower to saucepan. Bring to boiling over medium-high heat.Lower heat; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until cauliflower istender. Stir in the cashews, if using.

Make-Ahead Tip: This soup can be made ahead andrefrigerated, covered, for up to 3 days. Gently reheat. If using thecashews, do not add until serving time.

Famous Jesus Movies (5)Godspell (1973)

Note: The Famous Jesus Movies articles are intended tohighlight aspects of famous Jesus films, good and bad.It is not the position of G.N.U. to officially endorsethese films, only to let the reader know what is outthere for the viewing. Prayerfully, these articles willhelp you make good decisions for your family viewing.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord! In some ways, Godspell,one of three musical Jesus movies released in 1973 (theothers were Andrew Lloyd Webber’s agnostic, angst-ridden Jesus Christ Superstar and Johnny Cash’s TheGospel Road), may not belong on this list. For one thing,it’s set in modern New York—or rather, it uses modernNew York as a backdrop; one sequence even takes place onthe roofs of the then-brand-new World Trade CenterTowers. It is also less concerned with the life of Jesus thanwith his sayings, especially the parables and the Sermon onthe Mount, and how they resonated with thecountercultural mood of that time. But it is precisely thisfocus on the teachings of Christ that makes the filmunique. Its comical approach to the parables, and itsdepiction of Christ as a clown in make-up, werecontroversial at the time, but that debate seems quaint now in the age of Veggie Tales. The giddy, and at timesprayerful music, is by Stephen Schwartz (The Prince of Egypt).

Godspell takes a very 1970s look at the gospelaccording to Matthew from the Bible. Disco was not yet inJohn Travolta’s eyes, and flower power was still a force,and it is played in spades here. The film is anamalgamation of Bible story, stage play, vaudeville skits,mime techniques, and a whole bunch of joyous folk rocknumbers. Joyous would be the key word to describe thisfilm, with only a couple exceptions (it is hard to stayjoyous during the crucifixion scene for example).

Rather than a theater, the cast uses New York City as it’sstage; doing scenes in diverse locations such as CentralPark, skyscraper rooftops, and a junkyard. The cast runs,dances, skips, sings, and laughs its way from location tolocation, and scene to scene. There is a high level ofenergy throughout the performance, only becoming moresubdued at the more solemn scenes, such as the prayer inthe Garden of Gethsemane. The songs are equallyenergetic, and the voicessuperb. One of the songs,“Day by Day” even became a pretty big hit in the early‘70s.

Victor Garber as Christ.

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October 2007

As you walk up thesteps to the building

which houses theU.S. SupremeCourt, you cansee near the topof the buildinga row of the

world’s lawgivers, and each

one is facing one in the middle who isfacing forward with a full frontal view;

it is Moses, and he is holding the TenCommandments!

As you enter the Supreme Court Courtroom, thetwo huge oak doors have the Ten Commandmentsengraved on each lower portion of each door.

As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see thewall, right above where the Supreme Court judges

sit, a display of the Ten Commandments!James Madison said, “We have staked the whole

of all our political institutions upon the capacity ofmankind for self-government, upon the capacity ofeach and all of us to govern ourselves, to controlourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the TenCommandments of God.”

Every session of Congress begins with a prayerby a paid preacher, whose salary has been paid bythe taxpayer since 1777.

Thomas Jefferson worried that the Courts wouldoverstep their authority, and instead of interpretingthe law, would begin making law. This is anoligarchy, or the rule of few over many.

Did You Know?