“PROGNOSTICATORS” OR “A MORE SURE WORD”

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 47-48

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

A young man embraces God's Word while standing in front of the Colosseum in Rome. Over and over in recent readings, the words, "Thus says the Lord," appear. God desires to communicate with His human family. Romans 10:17 tells us that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Isaiah 48:17-18

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,

The Holy One of Israel:

“I am the Lord your God,

Who teaches you to profit,

Who leads you by the way you should go.

Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!

Then your peace would have been like a river,

And your righteousness like the waves of the sea…”

Chapter 47 prophesies the fall and humiliation of Babylon years before it became a world power. The polar opposites of God’s Prophetic Word and the efforts of astrologers, stargazers, and monthly prognosticators are seen here (47:13). The horoscopes in our newspapers contain clever generalities, as does the slip of paper inside a fortune cookie, but, as Isaiah points out, these things cannot “stand up and save you.” Babylon’s eventual destruction is inevitable as prophesied by Isaiah.

Chapter 48 prophesies that God, who has allowed His people to go through the “furnace of affliction” in order to refine them, will not forsake them. When these prophesied events come to pass, as they did, God’s people will know that their God is the “First” and the “Last” and is the One and Only God!! Isaiah 48:16 gives us a glimpse into the nature of God, One God in three Persons, “Lord God” (the Father), “His Spirit,” and “Me” (the One sent by God, God the Son). The Hebrew scholars point out that the singular verb, “Have sent,” is used with the plural subject. Is this a mistake in grammar or is this the verbal inspiration of the Word of God pointing to the Trinity? We see this in other places in the Hebrew Scriptures. For example, in Genesis 1:1, God, (Elohim, a plural word) “created” (a verb which is singular). Isaiah says that “The Lord your God”…”teaches” and “leads.” We should experience the result, “peace… like a river” and “righteousness like the waves of the sea.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Again today, Lord God, I ask for continued effectiveness in doing as Isaiah 48:20 urges me to “declare, proclaim…With the voice of singing,” and to “utter it to the end of the earth.” I pray that this blog, along with a multitude of other ministries, will be more and more effective than ever in convincing people everywhere that You exist and that You “are a Rewarder of them that diligently seek” You (Hebrews 11:6). I ask for these opportunities in the Name of the One Who has fully communicated Who You are, Father God, Your Son and my Saviour, Jesus Christ! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Last week Norma-Jean and I had dinner at a Chinese food buffet restaurant in Brantford, Ontario. It is called “The Great Wall.” I opened the fortune cookie and discovered a generality on the paper inside which could apply to anyone. I would meet someone, it said, that would change my life for the better. Actually that has happened many times during my 77 years on earth, but the most far-reaching and forever change happened when I met Jesus Christ through believing His Word (John 6:37-40), and my life was forever and ever altered! When I saw the word “prognosticator” in today’s reading, I thought of that cookie. I also thought of what the Apostle Peter has written to us in 1 Peter 1:15-21. He declares, “We also have the prophetic word made more sure!”

Yours for reading, underlining, understanding, digesting and then with the spiritual energy derived from all this, proclaiming God’s message to the “end of the earth,”

David

P.S. For some reason I’ve been picking on the great and numerous Chinese people today. Over 25 years ago, Crossroads began working with a group of Toronto Pastors from Chinese language churches. We produced, financed, and released weekly telecasts on Toronto’s multilingual TV station. After about two years, we encouraged the pastors to incorporate, raise their own finances from the Chinese churches, and strike out on their own, with God’s enablement. Today, this television ministry, called “Showers of Blessing Evangelistc Ministry” (SOBEM), is reaching multiplied millions all over the world, providing a mighty utterance to “the end of the earth” to all those who understand the languages of China. At the 20th anniversary of that great ministry, I was given the plaque pictured below. Here is a musical sample of this ministry. The song is called “There is a God!” With the official atheism of the People’s Republic of China, this message is so very powerful! (click here).

Click on photo to enlarge.

LOOK

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 45-46

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

God's handiwork is beautifully on display in Meteora, Greece. The fall colours and the cliffs make for a spectacular view. You can also see some of man's achievements as you look high atop the cliffs at the Monasteries. Such a scene makes one wonder how some people can miss doing as our key verse says, "LOOK"!!!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Isaiah 45:22

Look to Me, and be saved,

All you ends of the earth!

For I am God, and there is no other.

God’s credentials for making such a statement as we read in our key verse are clearly presented here. (1) God revealed the name of Cyrus, the king of Persia (Iran), before he was born, who would restore the slaves from Babylon (Iraq) to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem after he had conquered Babylon. Only God knows the future! Back up to Isaiah 44:25. God “frustrates the signs of the babblers, and drives the diviners mad!” Thus God says, “Look unto Me and be saved!” (2) He reveals His right to say those Words by His creation and maintenance of nature (Isaiah 45:8b), “I, the Lord, do all these things.” Our key verse is repeated for emphasis in 45:22, “Look to Me and be saved…” As we continue to read Isaiah, we will come across dozens of personal pronouns such as He, Him, Whom, etc. Only one Name can be exchanged for those pronouns. Read Hebrews 2:9-10!

This emphasis is continued in Isaiah 46:9-10, “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.'”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, the message to “Look…and be saved” must be shared with the entire world. I pray for wisdom, vision, determination and opportunity to tell people everywhere how to be saved!!! In the Name of the One who lived, died, and rose from the dead to provide salvation, I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I take personally the commission of Jesus to believers to “Go into all the world (ends of the earth) and preach the Gospel (Good News) to every creature. There have always been missionaries willing to risk health, life, material possessions, everything! I ask myself, “Could I have done more to support these people?” I answer, “Yes!” I’m determined more than ever to pray, give, and even go! Crossroads, the sponsor of my blog, is literally reaching to the ends of the earth as I type this. Check out some of the ways Crossroads Christian Communications is making God’s message available around the world and expressing His love in very practical ways (click here). I’ll just mention one aspect of Crossroads’ efforts to reach “every creature.” Our School of Broadcasting and Communications has graduates in 82 countries of the world, sharing the Gospel in many languages. My wife and I are committed to supporting these kinds of efforts, as well as many other initiatives, for as long as we live, and if Jesus does not return before our passing, through our last will and testament!

Yours for telling everyone to “Look…and be saved!!!”

David

GOD KNOWS OUR NAMES

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 43-44

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

A flooded river bed, now dry, makes its way from the high country in Israel to the dry and arid region of the Dead Sea. The roots of the trees can find water which remains underground. Even in dry times we can reach down in our prayers and Bible studies to tap the life-giving underground water Source. God has promised to "pour water on him who is thirsty" (44:3a).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Isaiah 43:1, 44:3

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,

And He who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name;

You are Mine…”

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,

And floods on the dry ground;

I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,

And My blessing on your offspring;

Our Scripture reading for today begins with the fact that our God is a personal God! No doubt Isaiah’s readers will have brought to mind stories such as that of the Prophet/Priest Samuel. God called “Samuel” by name. Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10 and realize that God knows each one of us by our names. God called a man who was persecuting His people. In Acts we read of the man who became the Apostle Paul, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:1-22).

Isaiah 44 describes the efforts of men to create new gods an then represent them by images made of wood and stone. In contrast, the true, one and only God, is not a creation but is the supreme Creator! Man does not imagine Him, nor do we name Him. He names Himself! And to think that Almighty God can call us by our individual names! He expects us to respond to His call. Let us take time right now to listen for God. Is He calling us by name with that “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). When we hear His voice, it is truly like a refreshing drink of water for the thirsty soul.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You said, “My sheep know My voice”! (John 10:27). I am one of Your sheep Lord, so it follows that all I have to do is quiet my spirit and listen carefully. I hear You calling me and telling me, “I know your name and I love you!” I pray that I will love You back more and more, Lord Jesus! 1 John 4:19 declares that “We love Him because He first loved us.” Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have on my laptop screen a page of icons. I can click on “Concordance” and type in a few words of a verse, and it immediately finds the reference, so that I can then open my Bible and read the verse in its context. For example, this morning I did not use the concordance app, but put the words, “Still small voice” into the Google search engine. It said that for those words there were 430,000,000 results in 0.16 seconds!!! All this boggles my mind. I may not know how this all works, but I do know with the certainty of God’s Word that God knows my name, and He calls me by my name! Through the years, when I needed a particular chapter and verse and my son-in-law, Rev. Nizar Shaheen was handy, I would give him two or three words of the Scripture I wanted to find. He would immediately tell me where it was found. I’ve never found anyone else with such a memory.

The story of Nizar’s conversion to Christ is an amazing one, and today’s first key verse is a big part of his testimony. He fell from the minaret of a mosque under construction and his brothers thought he was dead. They laid him in the back seat of a car when they saw signs of life to take him to the hospital. Lying there he heard a voice saying, “Nizar, Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!” Click here for an interview I did with Nizar in 2003, where he tells this amazing story of our great, personal God Who knows each of our names and Who created each one of us for His purpose. I’ve just read again Isaiah 43:7-11 and committed myself again for today to be as verse 10a says,”You are My witnesses”!!!

Yours in recognition of the fact that God not only knows our names, but He knows everything about each one of us and He loves us!!!

David

P.S. Below is a picture of the life-giving waters of the Jordan River right after my grandson Eric Mainse (Ron and Ann’s son) was baptized by Nizar and me a couple of years ago.

FEAR NOT

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 41-42

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Here you can see a rolling stone that crushes dates. It is located at Neot Kedumim, the Biblical Landscape Reserve in Israel, located between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. This place is a Biblical garden and nature reserve which attempts to re-create the physical setting of the Bible. The judgment of God, which nations bring upon themselves, is often likened in Scripture to the process of "threshing" or "winnowing" (Isaiah 41:15 & 16).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

God says “FEAR NOT” three times in Isaiah 41! Why not fear? Firstly, because God says, “I am with you”! (41:10). Secondly, because God says, “I will help you”! (41:13b). And thirdly, He says again, “I will help you”! God tries to get this message through to all people at all times throughout human history. God has a history of inspiring the recording of the fulfillment of the prophecies He has given through His Prophets and through the greatest of all Prophets, Jesus Christ. In 41:21-23 God challenges all the gods (so called) of the nations to prove the reality of their power by the test of prophecy and its fulfillment! The reality is stated in 41:24. He says to these gods, “You are nothing and your work is nothing.” Therefore, people of the true God, “Fear not”!!!

In Chapter 42 the “Servant” of the Lord is now clearly identified as a Person rather than a nation. The identity of this Person will become more and more evident as we continue our readings in Isaiah. Read the New Testament quotation of Isaiah 42:1-4 (see Matthew 12:17-21). Let’s read again Isaiah 42 with Jesus clearly in our minds, identifying those statements which Jesus fulfilled.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, as the writer to the Hebrews says in Hebrews 2:9a, “But we see Jesus!” May I “see Jesus” over and over again here in Isaiah’s writings! And may I “see” Him with perception, insight, and with 20/20 clarity of vision. As a result, I pray that I will comprehend more fully than ever Who Jesus really is in all His wonder, love and grace. In His Name I ask this. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

My “daughter-in-love,” Ron’s wife, Ann, writes a monthly article in the Crossroads Compass Magazine. She also checks over my punctuation, etc. before my blog is posted. I’ve just read her January offering and it fits in beautifully with my blog from yesterday. I’ve asked her to put here just a portion of her story below. Thanks Ann! (click here to download a PDF version of the complete January issue of the Crossroads Compass…also, previous issues are available to download here).

Yours for “seeing” Jesus and “soaring” with Him,

David

“Called to Soar”

By Ann Mainse

(Excerpt from an aritcle in the January, 2014, Crossroads Compass magazine)

There’s a story of a traveler who came upon an eagle’s egg. He searched for the nest but found nowhere to return the egg. So the man did the next best thing. He put the eagle’s egg into a nest with chicken eggs. Eventually, the egg hatched and the eaglet fit right in with the other baby chicks. He clucked and scratched and pecked around and basically lived as a chicken for years. And then one day he saw a glorious sight. High up in the sky, with wings outstretched, was a magnificent bald eagle. Something stirred within him. Something called him to come up high.

“What’s that?” he asked a nearby chicken. “That is an eagle,” the chicken replied, “the king of the birds. He soars and flies and has unlimited freedom – something we will never have.” Upon hearing this, the chicken-eagle hung his head in sorrow and ignored the urge to join his brother high above the clouds. Sadly, he lived the rest of his life clucking and pecking and scratching. He never knew he could fly.

What a sad story. But what is sadder still is that for many of us, that is our story. We have the ability to fly, but we choose not to. How so, you ask? Consider this…

We are called to soar. We are offered the wings of eagles. It’s in the Bible. Really…

“Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.” ~ Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)

“BECAUSE I SAID SO!!!” – GOD

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 39-40

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This bronze eagle, found in Pella Greece, is now on display at the Archaeological Museum. It sure looks like this eagle is "mounting up with wings," as our key verse tells us. Let's all stretch our wings and fly onward and upward in our relationship with God!!!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

In his book, Isaiah gives us God’s Word! Isaiah said to King Hezekiah, “Hear the Word of the Lord!” (39:5). Hezekiah would pray and God would answer through His Prophet. This was the way it was in Old Testament times. False prophets were plentiful and they would distort God’s message, or simply make up something and claim they had heard from God. This was a dangerous time for God’s people. They did not have the book of Isaiah, let alone Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. As John wrote in his first chapter, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!!!” The Apostle Peter’s words in 2 Peter 1:15-21 bring together “our Lord Jesus Christ” and “the prophetic Word.” Essentially, God summed up all He had to say to the world in His Son and our Saviour and Lord, Jesus. Read Matthew 17:1-8 and note the words, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. HEAR HIM!!!”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

O Lord God, I pray for grace to follow You so closely that I will know all that You are saying to me. You promised that “My sheep know My voice.” By this I know that I am hearing directly from You and not just from someone else speaking for You, as the true prophets like Isaiah did. You, Lord Jesus, are the One of Whom Isaiah wrote, “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom” (Isaiah 40:11a). What assurance I have in the knowledge that You are holding me and that I am hearing from You! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

This past Sunday at church here in Burlington, Pastor Kevin Shepherd preached a great message. I’m so glad I’m able to get to church regularly. I know that I heard New Testament prophecy, as described in Revelation 19:10b, “Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” On the birthday of the Church, Peter took as the text for his message the words of the Prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:14-21). Peter said that as the 120 spoke of Jesus on the streets of Jerusalem, they (sons, daughters, all of them), were prophesying. These were New Testament prophets. I want to daily share Jesus. In this understanding, when I do this blog each morning, I’m functioning as a New Testament prophet. And so are you when you share Jesus with someone!

Pastor Shepherd also launched a new initiative for 2014. It’s a campaign called, “Because I said so!” All in attendance were given a sticker to put in a prominent place, like on the back of our cell phones, which reminds us that God’s promises can be relied upon! We will also receive a text message each week with one of God’s promises selected by the Pastor. I have no doubt that one of them will be our key verse, and again we’ll be encouraged to “Wait on the Lord…mount up with wings as eagles.” Because God said so, we will “run and not be weary,” and “walk and not faint.”

Yours for hearing and understanding God’s Word to each one of us,

David

POWER IN PRAYER

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 37-38

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Many believe that this southeast corner of the Temple Mount area is what the Bible referred to as "the pinnacle of the Temple" (the place where Jesus was taken by Satan, who tempted Him to jump off because the angels would protect Him - Matthew 4:5-6). The southeast point is the highest point overlooking the Kidron Valley below. This temptation came when Jesus was nearing the end of an extended period of prayer and fasting. As we will see in today's reading, prayer and a Word from God are the means whereby we receive strength to overcome every attack of Satan.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Isaiah 37:15-16

Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying: “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth…”

Isaiah 37 teaches us that fervent prayer is effective to change circumstances in the world around us! Isaiah 38 teaches us that fervent prayer is effective to change our personal circumstances! In desperation, Hezekiah tears his royal robes, puts on sackcloth and goes to pray in the Temple. Isaiah’s advice to him was to “lift up your prayer!” (37:4b). When Hezekiah received the threatening letter, he again went to the House of the Lord, opened the letter, and “spread it before the Lord” (37:14). Then he “prayed to the Lord!” As a result, Isaiah received a message from God for Hezekiah…”Because you prayed to Me…!” On the personal matter of the terminal illness from which Hezekiah suffered, it appears that he may have just rolled over in his bed and “prayed to the Lord!” (38:2). As a result once again, Isaiah was sent to Hezekiah with God’s answer…”I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears, and I will add to your life 15 years!” (38:5). What is the message for us? PRAYER! PRAYER! and more PRAYER!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’m praying some of the words of Hezekiah. For national and international concern I pray, “THAT ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE LORD, YOU ALONE!!!” For my personal needs I reverse the words of Hezekiah in 38:1b and ask that I will “LIVE” and not “DIE.” Grant that I may “take root downward and bear fruit upward!” (37:31b). “Undertake for me!” (38:14b). I pray this in the Name of the One “Who…offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears…” the Lord Jesus Christ!!! Amen!!! (Hebrews 5:7).

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

It’s time for my personal testimony of healing! Just last week the cancer specialist, oncologist/hematologist, who had originally diagnosed my MDS acute leukemia said, “Remarkable” and “Jaw dropping!” My latest blood tests showed unusual improvement. One of the tests showed everything in the normal range! From what looked to me in the mirror like a rack of bones last August, I have gained 30 pounds and even my grandsons were impressed to feel grandpa’s muscle. “Remarkable” is the right word. Thanks everyone for your prayers!!! Also, as Isaiah prescribed a human remedy to Hezekiah’s illness (a “poultice” – 38:21), my Doctors (three different ones) prescribed oral medicines, healthy foods, as well as injections, etc. etc. I’m thankful for human knowledge and skill. A bone marrow test was just done at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, and I won’t have the report for several days yet. I believe that I may be like Hezekiah and have “15 more years.” I’m even thinking of approaching Dr. John Hull, our Crossroads Global CEO, and asking him for a job! Let’s see…in 15 years I’ll be 92! I can’t keep the smile off my face. Ron wants me to tell the TV audience what I’ve just typed here on Friday this week. Be sure to watch the 100 Huntley Street shows this week! Of course, like Paul, I long to depart and be with the Lord (read Philippians 1:19-26). But in God’s plan, I just may be needed down here for a while yet!

Yours for continuing in the centre of God’s will for our lives through prayer, prayer and more prayer, and through God’s intervention in response to our prayers,

David

SEARCH

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 34-36

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This Book of the Lord was well used to the glory of God by my Father, Dr. Roy Lake Mainse. The notes attached are for a sermon entitled, "Time to be fully dressed." If it is enlarged to the full size of the screen I can read his writing. He believed that we need to "Search from the Book."

Key Verses: Isaiah 34:16a, 35:10

Search from the book of the Lord, and read:

Not one of these shall fail;

Not one shall lack her mate.

…And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,

And come to Zion with singing,

With everlasting joy on their heads.

They shall obtain joy and gladness,

And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Chapter 34 points out the desolation that will come upon Zion (Jerusalem) but the birds and animals will continue as usual. In Genesis chapter one, God created living creatures before He created man. To this day they find a mate and produce after their own kind. When we search the Book of the Lord, we find this to be a fact!

Chapter 35 is a beautiful promise of restoration. The words of our second key verse form a joyous song that we may have sung in the past (I unsuccessfully looked for a Youtube video of the song for us to link to).

Chapter 36 follows this promise with the terrifying threat against Jerusalem by Sennacherib’s mighty army. Sennacherib made two big mistakes. His messengers offended God by their over confidence in their own ability to conquer Jerusalem in spite of any intervention God might make. The Assyrian also overlooked a humble praying man, King Hezekiah. Sennacherib returned home leaving his dead army in the fields outside Jerusalem. In the temple of his god, his own sons murdered him as he worshipped. Click here for a poem by Lord Byron from 1815 that tells the Bible story.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, as I meditate on this story, I’m reminded that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10a). You are an awesome God! I rejoice in You with singing, and I am silent before Your all-powerful and eternally-wise judgments! Teach me more and more of Your ways, O Lord I pray! In the Name of the greatest Teacher ever, the Lord Jesus Christ, I ask these mercies. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Due to the misinformation that’s out there on the internet about Rick Warren (this month’s book offer from the 100 Huntley Street telecast is Rick’s book, The Daniel Plan), I’ve asked my son Ron, Spiritual Director for the Crossroads Ministry, to put at the bottom of this blog posting his answer to a person who wrote a message of concern about us associating with Rick Warren. Thank you Ron! True soul winners understand exactly why Rick does what he does.

Yours for the truth instead of the lies often found on the internet,

David

Ron’s Response to a Person’s Comment about Rick Warren:

Thank you for sharing your concerns about Pastor Rick Warren. Unfortunately, there is a lot of mis-information out there about Rick and his church. Having personally spent time with Rick and having conducted a series of interviews with him, I know him to be a man God is using to dynamically share the Gospel of Christ. Within the pages of his book, The Purpose Driven Life, there is a pure, direct and simple salvation message that has led many to make a decision for Christ. Just over the recent Christmas season, Rick gave the following praise report on his church website: “In just the first three days of our Christmas services 1,966 people have given their lives to Christ for the first time…WOW!”

It is sad to see some Christian leaders attack this brother in Christ without knowing all the facts and without going directly to Rick for clarification. Such people have taken certain statements by Rick out of context and accused him of taking a theological stance that is completely opposite to what he actually believes. One example of this is how some have accused him of promoting “Chrislam,” which is the uniting of Christianity and Islam, saying that we serve the same God. Regarding this, Rick wrote the following public statement:

“The so-called ‘Chrislam’ rumor is 100% false. If the guy who started this libelous myth, or anyone else who passed it on, had obeyed our Lord’s command (Matt. 18:18-20) to come directly to me, and then asked what I actually believed they would have been embarrassed to learn that I believe the exact opposite. As a 4th generation Christian pastor, my life & ministry is built on the truth that Jesus is the only way, and our inerrant Bible is our only true authority.

As an evangelist, I spend much of my time speaking to non-Christian groups. You cannot win your enemies to Christ; only your friends, so we must build bridges of friendship and love to those who believe differently so Jesus can walk across that bridge into their hearts. Besides, it is not a sin, but rather COMMANDED by Jesus that we love our enemies. In the past 10 years, Saddleback Church has baptized over 22,000 new adult believers…simply because we express love to those who don’t know Christ yet.

It is nonsense to believe that you must compromise your beliefs, or water down your convictions in order to love someone, or even just treat them with dignity.

Jesus was called “the friend of sinners” by the legalistic Pharisees because He hung out with (and clearly loved) unbelievers. I HOPE YOU will 1) Always believe that EVERYONE needs Jesus as their Lord & Savior. 2) Have the courage to associate with nonbelievers in order to love them and bring them to the Savior. 3) Consider being called “a friend of sinners” a Christ-like compliment. 4) Refuse to pass on rumors until you’ve checked for the truth with the person accused.

God bless you,

Rick Warren

Also, here is a recent statement from our Crossroads Founder, David Mainse, that he posted online in his 100words.ca blog:

“Some have misunderstood Rick and said unkind and untrue things about him. There is much misinformation about him on the web. I’ve personally investigated Rick’s life and ministry and am convinced that he is a true Pastor-Teacher and Evangelist! God is using him to penetrate the culture with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God!!! Rick’s book, The Purpose Driven Life, has sold over 30 million copies and has brought large numbers of people to a saving knowledge of Christ.”

I trust that this has helped to answer your concern. May God bless you, and thank you again for taking the time to share your comments.

Rev. Ron Mainse

Spiritual Director, Crossroads

Host of 100 Huntley Street

THE KING OF KINGS, THE GREAT ROCK

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 32-33

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Here the path goes under a great rock when making your way through Petra. Petra has been called, "The city half as old as time." With amazing rock formations all over the lands of the Bible, it's obvious why Bible writers likened our security, the solid foundations of our faith, and even the character of God to a "Great Rock."

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Isaiah 32:2

A man will be as a hiding place from the wind,

And a cover from the tempest,

As rivers of water in a dry place,

As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

Isaiah ministered during the reign of four kings. Again and again Judah was under attack from surrounding nations and in danger of being destroyed. In this setting our key verse takes on added meaning. Isaiah’s call from God included a vision of the true King of the Universe! The prophetic message of Isaiah was to point his people to this King of Kings!!! To place our faith in any other source of apparent help is to court disaster. Political alliances and sophisticated weaponry are but false security. We can be like King Hezekiah who looked beyond present circumstances and focused on Almighty God!!! Read Isaiah’s vision of the Lord once again, and we’ll understand more fully the reason for his total confidence in God (Isaiah 6:1-8).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that I will remember the King that Micah 5:2says will be born in Bethlehem. King Jesus, I’m celebrating Your birthday on each of 365 days this year! I give You my worship like the shepherds and, as modelled by the wise men, I give a present of myself and what I have as sacrificial offerings! I ask for grace to be faithful and not forgetful 24/7!!! I pray this before the eternal throne in Heaven in Jesus’ Sovereign Name! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

100words.ca is a love gift to King Jesus! My sons give of their time to this joyful effort, as do I. Reynold’s travel and time to take spectacular photos are his gift to us at no cost to the ministry of Crossroads. Thank You, my son, for your daily gifts! Ron’s gifts of preparing the format for this blog, monitoring it and posting it, are not in his job description at Crossroads. He, and his wife Ann, help me as a gift of love to Jesus! Thank You Ron and Ann for your gifts! All who participate by sharing the blog with others are giving gifts of love to Jesus! I’m asking today that you share the blog with more people. If you have a Facebook or twitter account, can you post a suggestion to all your friends today to check out 100words.ca? Thanks so much! Also, all who respond lovingly with your comments on this blog are giving special gifts to the rest of us! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Remember that anyone can start with me any day and, in two short years, read the Bible cover to cover with the help of 100words.ca! I’m trusting God to help me do this every morning without fail, so that busy people will gain a more comprehensive understanding of God’s revelation to His human family. I pray that God will make this blog to be, as our key verse says, “Rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land!”

Yours so that we will learn to think the thoughts of God daily,

David

P.S. The photo below is of the Crossroads Centre. It is seen in the distance down below the Niagara Escarpment. It was taken by Ron with my iPhone camera from the top floor of the highrise where Norma-Jean and I live. My grandson Adam added the big red arrow and circle. From this building flow “rivers of water!” Dry places around the world are irrigated by the electronic flow of God’s life-giving streams!!! The prayers and love gifts of God’s people make this possible!!!

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

QUIETNESS & CONFIDENCE

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 30-31

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

A series of public ritual purification baths (mikvot) were found on the south side of the Temple Mount. Because of the demanding laws regarding purity before entering holy places, the need for mikvots was high, and many have been discovered from first century Jerusalem. Larger ritual baths such as this one have a small divider wall called a "parapet" that separates the entrance steps from the exit steps, so that a person already cleansed (coming out) would not touch an "unclean" person (going in). I pray that 100words.ca will be a washing for each reader in preparation for a daily and constant experience of God's holy presence. "The washing of water by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26b).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Isaiah 30:15

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved;

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

But you would not…

As we move on into the New Year, let us “rest” in “quietness and confidence.” The secret of this “strength” is just the opposite to the frantic efforts of Isaiah’s contemporaries. We take counsel daily from God by reading His Words to us. We ask the Spirit of God to reveal to us the plans the Lord has for us. He doesn’t do this like a daily appointment calendar, but as the day unfolds He guides us step by step. Sometimes we need to just sit still while we wait for God. The Scripture tells us to “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Let’s all read Jeremiah 29:11-13, and in Matthew 11:25-30 we have Jesus’ recipe for rest.

Isaiah clearly points out that God did not need the horses and chariots of Egypt to protect His people. The Lord had spoken to Isaiah, assuring him of protection (31:4-5). God is watching over him and His people as a roaring, vicious lion, and as a bird watching over her nest to protect her chicks! Therefore, let the minutes, days, hours, weeks, and months of the New Year proceed. As Zechariah 4:6 says, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Quiet my spirit, O Lord, I pray. I rest in the sure knowledge of Your full protection. My confidence is completely in You. I’m praying now, Lord, the “Our Father” prayer which Jesus taught as a model prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

While resting in God’s plans for my life, I’m obeying Him in the care of my body as God’s Word instructs me. I expect to start on “The Daniel Plan,” joining the “on air” team and many of the Crossroads leaders and staff. Today, I’m getting my copy of Pastor Rick Warren’s book, which I intend to follow carefully. I believe the Lord is healing me, with the co-operation of the medical profession, from MDS acute leukaemia. I confess that I have not cared for my body as I should have through the years. That’s probably the reason why I have the physical problems I have. Therefore, with God’s help, I intend to change through The Daniel Plan. Please join me by ordering your own copy of this book, and then by following our 100 Huntley Street team under Rick Warren’s leadership, we’ll succeed in healing and strengthening our “Temples of the Holy Spirit,” our bodies. Click here to order Rick Warren’s book, and you can also sign up for daily email encouragements regarding The Daniel Plan by clicking here and entering your info on the right side of the page.

Yours for rest, confidence, good nutritious food, and all God’s blessings,

David

P.S. Some readers may not know about Rick Warren. We may remember that Rick, in order to ask questions of the candidates for the presidency of the USA, hosted a leadership forum. He asked clear-cut questions about their personal faith. At the time I had a sneaking suspicion that he favoured McCain, but he maintained an objectivity. I placed this picture below to remind us all of the respect in which Rick is held. Some have misunderstood Rick and said unkind and untrue things about him. There is much misinformation about him on the web. I’ve personally investigated Rick’s life and ministry and am convinced that he is a true Pastor-Teacher and Evangelist! God is using him to penetrate the culture with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God!!! Rick’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life” has sold over 30 million copies and has brought large numbers of people to a saving knowledge of Christ. He had a clear witness for Christ to Obama and McCain!

A SURE FOUNDATION

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 28-29

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

A couple of tourists enjoy the ruins that Josephus called a "most magnificent Palace." Herod the Great built it on a promontory jutting out into the waters of Caesarea. The pool in the centre was nearly Olympic in size and was filled with fresh water. A statue once stood in the centre. Paul would have been imprisoned on the grounds of this Palace (Acts 23:35). Caesarea Maritima is a national park on the Israeli coastline, near modern Caesarea. In today's reading God says, "Behold I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation!" (Isaiah 28:16a). Herod's buildings have crumbled, but God is constructing a forever building!!!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Isaiah 29:18

In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

There’s bad news on the way to the good news of our key verse. Six times Isaiah declares that “intoxicating drink” and drunkenness are bad news! Like this blog, hopefully, “precept upon precept [repeated], line upon line [repeated], here a little, there a little” (28:10) will cause us to understand the message! God will then use the people who speak other languages, the Assyrians and the Babylonians, to speak to His people, because they don’t listen well! It’s almost as if they had a pastor with a serious stammer trying his best to communicate. In 28:13 the people responded to Isaiah’s words with mockery, considering them unworthy of a hearing, repetitive, and boring. This resulted in backsliding, brokenness, and being caught in the snare of their own making. They brought it on themselves! Isaiah 28:16 tells us of the foundation upon which we should build our lives. A helpful New Testament reading is 1 Peter 2:4-8.

Isaiah 29 mentions “Ariel” several times. “Ariel” means in Hebrew, “Hearth of God,” and probably refers to the altar of burning coals in the Temple at Jerusalem. The people who offered their sacrifices were going through the motions of their religion but were not repenting for their sins! Therefore, they were bringing more judgement upon themselves. But God does not give up on His people. It turns around and our key verses kick in! Hallelujah!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that I will have Your grace to continue building my life on Your “sure foundation,” the measuring line (horizontal) and the plummet (vertical) being 100% governed by the position of Jesus Christ in my life, the “Precious Cornerstone!” I ask this in His Name! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve been impressed by the repetition of “black cummin” and “cumin” in today’s reading. My daughter, Ellen Shaheen, has become an expert cook in middle-eastern foods. She tells me that “black cummin” is caraway seed, and cummin is the spice that makes much of her food so delicious. In preparation for use the seeds are “beaten out with a stick” (28:27) in order to remove the casings and to bring out the flavour of the spices. The “beating” Judah had by the Babylonians served to bring out the best in the people of God! Never again did the Jews turn to wholesale idolatry.

The Apostle Paul writes of the necessity of disciplining our bodies (the stick, maybe!). Norma-Jean and I are joining Ron, Moira, Jerry, and our CEO John Hull in an amazing plan developed by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California called “The Daniel Plan.” It’s important, as Paul teaches us, to make sure the building in which God dwells, our bodies, are in good shape. Check it out by watching Jerry Johnston and Rick Warren from the New Year’s Day 100 Huntley Street show (click here). If you join us in this program (dare I call it a “stick”), I want to hear from you. We’ll design a format for you to report to me with ease and for me to report to you. Norma-Jean and I plan to start on Monday, January 20th! God willing I’ll keep reminding us all regularly.

Yours for building in an excellent way the “temple” in which God desires to live and in which we live! (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

David

P.S. Yesterday afternoon I visited my daughter Ellen Shaheen who often cooks for her family using common middle eastern spices. I asked her for samples of “cummin” and “black cumin” which are mentioned in today’s reading. She told me that the “cumin has been ground into a fine powder and the “black cumin” or “caraway” is beaten to remove a shell. Isaiah gives us a word picture of what the Assyrians and Babylonians will do to Israel and Judah! I know from personal experience that the end result makes certain foods taste very good! (Isaiah 28:25-27)