Man Contracts A Computer Virus

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that now one may buy or sell except on who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of man: His number is 666 (Revelation 13:16-18).

We live is a world were technology seems to be increasing expeditiously; reflecting a time when we are controlled by the same technology we once controlled. We go to the movies and see such worldly ideas of having Terminators that go around killing mankind and/or Big Brother Governments that watch our every move...believing that it will never truly come about. or never get to that! But the future is here and Satan will use every means he can to control the masses. I am certainly not anti-technology; for the information has been posted based on today's technology, but certainly one needs to view technology based on Scripture to determine what is right or wrong. I leave that up to you to determine.

Just so you don't think I am going off the deep-end and reading too much into this...I leave you with this: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3). Any government can make statements that are believable, "for the good of mankind," but the question at hand is -- for who's good is it really? We are living in a time (2008-2012) where the government is Big Brother; forcing new and better ways to live, but is it truly better or the start of something that will turn on us later. Chips, in plants for security, sound like a great concept; you don't have to carry money, but in light of Revelation 13...it should make you stop and wonder before running off to the local store to receive! What starts small (sin) normally takes over big time. Satan has that ability to turn good to bad in a heart beat!

Loma Togo-2010

We're helping the blind to see.
To date, we have touched the lives of nearly 30,000 people with both eye procedures and evaluations.

We're making a lasting impact.

In the recent months we taught seven surgeons and two nurses in Togo how to use innovative medical techniques to treat cataracts and other vision issues in West Africa. Because of their training, they will be able to serve hundreds -- maybe thousands -- of people who live in this region for years to come.

We're caring for the forgotten poor.
On the vision team alone, over 50 volunteers, mainly professionals, are bringing care and compassion to Mercy Ships' patients. From the initial eye screening appointments held weekly throughout Togo, to guiding the patients on the ship for surgery, to the Celebration of Sight ceremonies where patients often engage in African dancing and song, our patients feel the love they deserve.
Mercy's on its way,



Don Stephens
Founder/President
Mercy Ships

The Story: Acts 8:26-40

In the middle of a successful crusade in Samaria, Philip was called to go south into desert country. He left the city for the country, the crowds for one person, Samaritans for an African. But this was no “wild goose chase.” It never is with God. The call came from an angel and guidance came from the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:26,29).

The man Philip was to meet was an Ethiopia who worked under Candace, the queen mother. He was secretary of the treasury, and he was spiritually thirsty. In fact, he traveled 800 miles to Jerusalem to get some answers for his seeking heart. He left Jerusalem with a copy of the scroll of Isaiah. Miraculously, these two connected on the Gaza road—the eunuch in his royal chariot and Philip, perhaps, on a camel.

As Philip approached the chariot, he heard the Ethiopian reading Isaiah. Philip asked a great question, which is the key to the story: “Do you understand what you are reading?” (8:30). And the man’s response was, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (v.31). Seekers need a guide. The Greek word for guide, hodegos, is interesting. When Peter appealed to the believers in Jerusalem to replace Judas, he identified Judas as the one who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. He guided with a kiss and a torch that illuminated the face of Jesus. But Philip was a different kind of hodegos for the eunuch as he used Isaiah to light up the face of Jesus and said, “Believe!”

Philip evangelized the Ethiopian from Isaiah 53. And the rest of the story is one of belief, baptism, and rejoicing. The eunuch returned to his homeland with his spiritual thirst quenched as he drank of the water of life (John 7:37-38).

What I want to suggest from this story is -- how many times have you felt that what you are doing is just a wast of time. If Philip thought that, what would have become of this encounter with the Ethiopian? Certainly it would have been a missed chance to share the gospel, but more than that, it would have not allow Philip to be blessed by the encounter. We all need to take time for others; allowing us to be blessed by thinking of others before ourselves. No trip will ever be a "wild goose chase" if God is involved. Think about it -- the next time you feel that your time is being wasted!

I'm a Christ Follower

How do we approach our relationship with Christ? Certainly all of us need to address; but what we come up with and how it is perceived will determine how affective we are in sharing the Gospel. Think about it; especially when it is time to open your mouth.

When In A Hole, Stop Digging

Although, it may seem like simple advice; using common sense has been taken over by those who believe they know better. Like most, they are under the illusion that if they keep on doing what they are doing, things will change. They won't! Doing the same thing and expecting things to be different is the definition of insanity. If you are not getting the results you want, it is because you are not taking the proper actions. Stop doing what you are doing and do something else, anything else!

When life isn't going your way, the first thing you should look at is your contributions within the situation. We need to stop and ask ourselves what are we doing presently that contributes. To many, it may seem like you are the victim, but the truth is there are very few innocent victims. Most of us, when given the opportunity, can figure out what part we are playing in creating what we don't want in our lives. More than likely we are doing something or allowing something to happen that isn't serving us. Stop! Give yourself the opportunity to take a few steps back from the situation and access what is really going on. If you can't do this on your own, seek help from a professional or trusted friend. Often, others can see what isn't working in our lives and what the cause is better than we can. Once you figure out what you need to do differently, do it. Knowing what to change and not changing it doesn't help; you just continue down the same path without a solution. Awareness is the first step. The next step is -- take action.

Christ never wanted us to dig this hole to begin with. We did it without Him and against Him. It all started with Genesis 3:4 "The the serpent said to the women, "You will not surely die. for god knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." We dig our hole then and we are still digging it deeper each day. Only Jesus Christ can offer a means of stopping our efforts and filling in our holes...but we have to allow Him. He started filling in our hole and continues to do so.

Over the past few weeks I have been posting things pertaining to our present fix as a nation. We dug this hole ourselves; allowing those in control to continue to rule over us. We first need to fix our own hole before we attempt to fix the holes of others. It starts with us; any action to climb out and fill in the hole we find ourselves must start within us. Remember that when we look at the situation and want to place our trust in others to help fill our hole.