In this newsletter we look at:-
Popology - Light in a Dark World
Dear CRC
New DVDs
COMMENT - by John Lindsay CRC’s Operations Director
Taking the gospel to the dark, noisy corners of our culture is hard, dangerous work. Missionaries like Steve Bell who labour in such places are sometimes misunderstood or viewed with suspicion by other Christians. But they need your prayers for both the success of their ministry and the health of their hearts and minds.
Steve’s Pop Culture radio spots reflect a music-oriented youth culture that is being fed mixed messages; some positive but others that are more likely to cripple and destroy lives. It is dangerous territory, harbouring ideas that would offend many Christians. But Steve carries a bright light, fuelled by the Holy Spirit, that has the power to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness and offer a pure alternative. Satan is driving a music and entertainment industry that offers instant gratification and fun without consequences, but the deception needs to be exposed before it destroys more lives.
The latest development in this project is “popology.net”, a web site created to carry Steve’s spots to a global audience. It is not a site for Christians but for those who listen to the top charting pop, rock and hip-hop music.
The Pharisees condemned Jesus for welcoming sinners and eating with them (Luke 15:1–2). They accused Him of going to the wrong places and talking to the wrong people.
Paul warned the church at Ephesus to have nothing to do with the “fruitless deeds of darkness”, but he went into the market place and mixed with ordinary people and exposed their lifestyles and philosophies to the light of the gospel.
Pray that thousands of music fans will find popology.net and take their first steps towards God.
Steve and Miriam Bell with Sophie
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Many thanks, Elaine, for this excellent viewing material. It is timeless and imperative for all facets of life. A valuable relationship as been resolved of late by using the principles mapped out in these videos (by John & Agnes Sturt).
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Thank you for the DVD which arrived Friday and was very well received. We’re continuing to have people ‘from the street’ come into the evening meetings. Yesterday a ... man came in at the end of our morning meeting. He came back at night and saw the ‘Everyday Jesus’ DVD (V935 Greg Laurie) and wept at part of it. He stayed for supper and spoke to one of our brothers here. He’s planning to come back to the midweek Bible study. Please pray for him.
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In response to a Jacob Prasch message which CRC has distributed with caution, one borrower wrote “(this message) was wonderful, very poignant, very provocative, very timely.”
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We have just listened to the second message on this DVD (V958 Stuart Briscoe) and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all in our Home Group.
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Thank you for this DVD (V925 Charles Price). The messages have been such a blessing to our small fellowship. Someone said yesterday, “I haven’t heard such a challenging message for years.”
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New DVDs
V969 – V971 - Charles Price - Restoring the Life of God to Human Experience
These messages from Romans chapters 1 to 8 were recorded at the Central West Christian Conference in Orange, NSW.
Charles explains that Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome to counter rumours about the message he was preaching. It is the most complete explanation we have of what the Gospel is – a message that tells how God came out of heaven so He might get into people. In the beginning, God made human beings who would reflect His character. Through sin, man became unrighteous, no longer presenting an image of the character of God. The Gospel shows how God changes us from being unrighteous to being righteous.
V969 | Messages 1 & 2
V970 | Messages 3 & 4
V971 | Messages 5 & 6
V972 | VeggieTales – Larry Boy and the Bad Apple | 46min
The Bad Apple has arrived in the peaceful town of Bumblyburg and is trying to take control by making its citizens give in to their temptations. Can Larry Boy foil the Bad Apple and save the situation?
This DVD teaches kids that we cannot fight temptation on our own – we need God’s help and the help of our friends. Bonus features include a “look behind the scenes”, puzzles and other activities.
V973 | VeggieTales – Moe and the Big Exit | 52min
A fresh look at the story of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt.
God calls a good-natured cowboy, Moe, to rescue his people from their bondage in Dodgeball City. The story that follows becomes a lesson in learning to follow instructions. Bonus features include a visit to a Cowboy Ranch and drawing activities.
V974 | Ravi Zacharias | Q & A Volume 4 | 52min
Part one of a two-part session at Columbia University in New York where Ravi answers eight questions. They include “Is Satan an illusion?”, “How could an all-powerful, all-knowing God create a world where people hurt each other?” and “Are we born inherently evil or inherently good?” The DVD could be viewed in several sessions to allow time for discussion of the points raised.
V975 | Ravi Zacharias | Q & A Volume 5 | 47min
Part two of the Question and Answer session at Columbia University with a further eight questions including “Is every word in the Bible divinely inspired and true?” and “As someone in public ministry, what are some of Ravi’s biggest challenges and what are his spiritual disciplines?”
I like to feel safe and I guess you do, too.
We accept invasive security procedures at airports because they promise a safer journey and a growing number of New Zealanders are moving into gated communities because they want to live in a safe neighbourhood.
I notice a similar trend in Christian lifestyle. We will obey God provided He does not send us to an inner city mission for the homeless; to a disease ridden village, to a polluted city in Asia or to religious fanatics who hate Christians.
When we think like that, we have forgotten our own condition when Christ saved us. There was nothing attractive about you or me. We were rotten to the core. We were dead – stinking, bloated, stomach-churning spiritual corpses.
A Christian is a transformed being. No longer condemned but free. Free to become a slave in the service of God.
A human master may exploit you but God will never overload you. He will go with you wherever He sends you and when you speak to someone about Christ, He will get into their heart and head in a way you never could.
Yes, some places are physically or culturally tough. We may be ridiculed or slandered when we address certain issues, but God will be our wisdom and enable us to respond with a suitable answer.
It is not easy to sacrifice our safety and reputation for Christ’s sake. We naturally shy away from hardship, preferring to protect ourselves against unjust criticism and antagonism. But if that is what God asks of us, there is no better cause.
Our challenge is to rethink our attitude to people we have no natural desire to go to. The neighbour we find intimidating, the person who seems deaf to God’s message, or the individual who lives in one of earth’s many “hell holes”.
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