FAIR SUNSHINE

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 The Karen people inhabited northern Thailand and the highlands of Burma (Myanmar) for generations.  A prophecy that was part of their oral traditions stated that the Creator God, Y'wa, had once given them a book that contained His truth. They believed that their forefathers had lost this book long ago as a result of their disobedience to Him.  Tradition told that the missing book would eventually be returned to them by a white brother who would come across the ocean.  Despite not knowing the Bible, they sung old hymns about Y'wa being everlasting, holy, and the creator of everything. This prophecy kept alive a desire for the restoration of truth. Adoniram Judson comes to Burma in 1813, and opened his first public preaching place in 1819. For seven years he labored among the Burmese Buddhists, working on...

I was beaming with gladness and my heart ablaze once again after the LORD led me to find this brother who preaches the glorious gospel in public with his son in the Andes,Peru. Such conviction is aroused by speaking plain truth of the great need of our times. May the LORD advance His kingdom among the people in this place and call them home through this dear brother's labors. Even in the beginning of the LORD's work here in our place we have been praying for the unnamed and unknown missionaries who have left their lives behind to labor in places where Christ has yet to be named. May the LORD answer their prayers. May He give their families comfort. If they are in peril, may the LORD hold their faith and see them through to the end. Oh, what sweet gladness for me to hear these faithful soldiers praise God as they see the face of Christ in the end smiling at them. Ushering them into His eternal promise and rest where they will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. I am granted ...

Father led me to Brother Ryan Denton , and in turn, led me to the praying brothers and sisters of Grace Covenant Reformed Church. It is clear as day. This is not to deprecate or look down upon the faith and conviction of brethren in Christ who were "raised" to believe differently. I thank the LORD for His Sovereign hand in my affairs. The enemy meant it for evil, but God meant it for good (Genesis 15:20) . My motive is never to divide but to emphasize the distinctions in church government and polity.  The absence of accountability in churches run by a single pastor is severely open to error and abuse, whether by overzealousness or lack thereof. It has led to unnecessary hurt and even hostilities between people who are supposed to love one another. Despite the command, the "gang" mentality still holds sway as personality overshadows Christ-like love. Coming from two downcast but God-sent experiences that opened my eyes to this crucial issue, Presbyterianism embodied ...

I have hardly, ever heard from any reformed pulpit, read from any reformed material, or was impacted upon by any reformed preacher, a substantial and relevant dwelling upon the subject of prayer drawn from a deep and intimate experience of its source. Is it because we know little of it? Do we not teach that which we only know? Much of what is floating around what I have been in since I was regenerated revolves around higher thinking and academic theology. Knowing about God, than knowing God. Belief in God, than believing God. Sitting in church, than effecting the responsibility of the church. This is not to say there is little gain in good theology. Truly correct theology is critical in knowing God, and walking in God. Knowing and walking go hand in hand. Most are taught it is perfectly fine just to have one. But study is not practice, as is having a doctorate degree or a pulpit does not equal God's anointing.  I spoke with a pastor once, and he opened up to me, 'Nag-pepray di...

Will not ecclesiastical rank and dignity confer infallibility? No—they will not! It matters nothing what a man is called. He may be a Preacher, Minister, or Deacon. He is still a fallible man! Neither the education, nor the anointing oil, nor the laying on of hands, can prevent a man making mistakes. Will not numbers confer infallibility? No—they will not! You may gather together princes by the score, and ministers by the hundred; but, when gathered together, they are still liable to err. You may call them a council, or an assembly, or a conference, or whatever you please. It matters nothing. Their conclusions are still the conclusions of fallible men. Their collective wisdom is still capable of making enormous mistakes. The example of the Apostle Peter at Antioch is one that does not stand alone. It is only a parallel of many a case that we find written for our learning, in Holy Scripture. Do we not remember Abraham, the father of the faithful, following the advice of Sarah, and takin...

This is not my article. I did not write it. I copied it here as part of my  attempt to compile articles about rarely heard Men of God. The publishers can be found at http://www.epbooks.org/ October 5, 2012 Paul Schneider – German opponent of Hitler From WAR AND GRACE – Short biographies from the World Wars, by Don Stephens, published by Evangelical Press, Faverdale North, Darlington, DL3 0PH, England. Throughout 1915 the First World War raged in both western and eastern Europe. In the German onslaught in the east against Russia, Paul Robert Schneider, an eighteen-year-old German soldier, received a serious wound in the stomach. For his bravery he was awarded the Iron Cross.  After surgery and recovery from it, Paul Schneider fought in the artillery against Britain and France. His courage did not go unrecognized. By the end of the war he had risen to the rank of lieutenant. At about the same time another German soldier ended the war as a corporal. His name was Adolf Hitler....

I first heard of Prince Kaboo's story, a Liberian prince, ten years ago. His life is one remarkable testimony to the simplicity of a child who frequently talks with God, whom he affectionately calls 'his Father'. I was glad to see Torchlighters' animated rendition of his life, and a well made short film about it as well. It will serve us well to be inspired by this man, who after living as a light for God went home to be with his Father at a young age of 20.  Over 130 years ago, in a small Liberian village in West Africa, Samuel Morris was born Prince Kaboo, the eldest son of a Kru tribal chieftain. While still a child, a neighboring clan defeated his people and demanded Kaboo’s father pay a hefty ransom for his son’s return.  The conquering chief subjected Kaboo to terrible treatment and cruel labor. During one of many intense whippings, Kaboo said he saw a bright light and heard a voice from Heaven telling him to flee. Kaboo recalled the rope binding him fell to the...

Women are frowned upon by the evangelical world when they are known to preach. Stemming from a portion of a letter by Paul to Timothy forbidding women not to teach, to which I agree to wholeheartedly, women do have their place in the Lord's vineyard, and that the pulpit is not one of them. But I believe to a certain point this must be taken into context, that, for one, if there is a man present who is able to preach, then the woman must keep silent. Two, if there IS NO man available and the woman IS ordained by God (not by man) for a special errand in His ministry for missions, no man has the right to hinder her. Surely God will not reprimand the soul who seeks God's glory with a pure heart. God operates as He wills, and uses whoever He wills.   Amy Carmichael is one such woman that comes to mind. She single-handedly confronted India's problem of young girls being offered by their families to be temple prostitutes, and was used mightily by God to stop what the Indian gov...

John Rogers (c. 1505 – 4 February 1555) was an English clergyman, Bible translator and commentator. He guided the development of the Matthew Bible in vernacular English during the reign of Henry VIII and was the first English Protestant martyr under Mary I of England, who was determined to restore Roman Catholicism. The following is taken from Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Chapter 16. John Rogers was educated at Cambridge, and was afterward many years chaplain to the merchant adventurers at Antwerp in Brabant. Here he met with the celebrated martyr William Tyndale, and Miles Coverdale, both voluntary exiles from their country for their aversion to popish superstition and idolatry. They were the instruments of his conversion; and he united with them in that translation of the Bible into English, entitled "The Translation of Thomas Matthew." From the Scriptures he knew that unlawful vows may be lawfully broken; hence he married, and removed to Wittenberg in Saxony, for the impr...

These six short rules for young Christians come to us from the pen of Brownlow North, an evangelist, preacher, and writer who lived from 1810–1865. While these helpful habits are addressed to the young believer, it is clear that they ought to be embraced by all Christians. Never neglect daily private prayer; and when you pray, remember that God is present, and that He hears your prayers. (Heb. 11:6). Never neglect daily private Bible reading; and when you read remember that God is speaking to you, and that you are to believe and act upon what He says. I believe all backsliding begins with the neglect of these two rules. (John 5:39). Never let a day pass without trying to do something for Jesus. Every night reflect on what Jesus has done for you, and then ask yourself, "What am I doing for Him"? (Matt. 5: 13-16) If you are in doubt as to a thing being right or wrong, go to your room and kneel down and ask God's blessing on it. (Col. 3:17). If you cannot do this, it is wron...

I believe we are moving into this world's darkest age. Vividly surreal, that one will find it extremely difficult to grasp the speedy pace at which things are happening as they are plainly laid out in scripture. Yesterday we were blessed to have gathered with a small number from the church body to help instruct each and everyone who has been given a heart for the lost, the points of sharing the gospel in line with proper biblical doctrine, both one on one and on the street. I remember saying this line without thinking, "the world out there does not need more ministers, but people who are willing to die for the gospel." A hospital that operates only eight hours a day is absurd. A fire department that closes at the end of the day is even more. But a church that operates only two hours one day of the week is a tragedy. And as a fiery preacher puts it, 'the tragedy of our day is a sick church in a dying world.' If we refuse to let our very light shine forth, the...