What's the Good News?

You Can Make A Difference in Sweden’s Draconian Education Laws

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:54:00 +0000

Please join me in supporting parental and Children’s rights all over the world. Write similar letters in your own voice to the Swedish authorities. Their contact information is here: http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/3469

Open Letter to the Swedish Ambassador to the United States and other Swedish Authorities and Representatives:

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Subject: Hoping Sweden Sets a Good Example for Parental & Children’s Rights in the case of Dominic Johansson...

To His Excellency, Jonas Hafström, Swedish Ambassador to the United States and other Swedish Authorities and Representatives:

My name is Pedro Gelabert, an ordinary citizen of the United States of America, avid proponent of our God-given freedom expressed in parental and children’s rights. Last year I wrote to German authorities concerning the preposterous way they handled a similar homeschooling issue in their country. Thanks to the efforts of many peace keeping citizens of the world, supporters of parental and children’s rights, the issue was recognized internationally and good actions have been taken. There is still more to be done internationally and we hope your country joins in this movement, expressing its wisdom in their love and protection for their citizens. Nothing prevents keeping the peace more than destroying a family by stripping them of their God-given rights.

In the case of Dominic Johansson, you currently have failed to protect his best interests. You are being a very poor parent and an even worse servant of your people if you continue to allow this violation of his rights.

I ask you to request that the Swedish government return Dominic to his family. The social welfare agency has taken custody of Dominic and they have the power to return him to his parents. I respectfully request that they do so immediately. Please! Don’t we all live in a civilized world? Why is this family being treated like common criminals? What is the Swedish government so afraid of?

Second, I believe you are reasonable people, well instructed and wise about how homeschooling allows children to thrive academically and socially. Valid research has demonstrated that homeschooling is a mainstream educational approach that works. This is how education began in the first place! The world doesn’t need any more countries like Germany that repress freedom in education. Any decent and peace keeping government should permit families to opt out of public education because of philosophical or religious convictions. Any repression in this regard is certainly draconian and a step backward from social progress. Repression is an attempt to control stemming from fear. It is political and social bullying.

Sweden is a state party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The starting point for children in Sweden is the “…best interests of the child and the child’s right to be heard….”. Social services have an obligation to “intervene and remove a child from the family if the child’s health and development are endangered.” A child should be returned home as soon as possible if it was “in the best interests of the child.”

“The legislative history of the current Education Act states that home schooling in isolated cases, mainly in the lower grades, might be an acceptable substitute for education if a particular external circumstance exists. Examples of such are: if the child lives in a sparsely populated area or needs special care. Legal practice shows that the situation also arises when parents for other reasons, such as philosophical or religious, want to educate their children at home. In connection with the new Education Act, these rules are now being reviewed.”

The proposed language for this new review would remove philosophical or religious convictions as valid reasons to home school. The new law would allow homeschooling only in “extraordinary circumstances” (essentially, never). If the proposed Swedish law passes it would become as bad as in Germany where homeschooling is effectively banned. So in effect, your new law is about to reflect the obsessive-compulsive nature and out-of-control behavior of social and political “bullying”, tantamount to dictatorship, which I believe is in direct opposition to your political ideology. Or maybe I’m wrong? maybe it is your intent to go in the direction of more and more state control? This kind of legislation is never in the best interest of anyone but the self-preservation of the few who think they are in control and smarter than anyone else. A society and its wisest ministers have to rise above the fear mongering generated by the ignorant to truly establish peace keeping laws that serve the people.

I quote Mike Farris who recently said in his address to the World Congress of Families, “Any nation that severely restricts the ability of parents to choose alternative forms of education, including home education, in the name of creating national unity, cannot call itself a free nation. Freedom necessarily requires the individual to have the liberty to think differently and believe differently than programs instituted by the current rulers of any nation. Educational freedom is the cornerstone for all freedom of thought and conscience.”

How could a “freethinking” society that values ideas, higher thinking and achievement, not to mention people who take ownership of their lives by educating their children beyond what any state can give, treat such families with the kind of insolence tantamount to persecution? I thought Swedes would be people who embraced such ideas to enrich your own culture, become more socially sophisticated and make the word a better place as opposed to dragging us all down again into dark ages where fear an persecution were dominant.

To provide only one avenue for “education”, and at that, “state-sanctioned” education, is the road to state control which leads right back to feudalism and dictatorship. Is this what your nation seeks to do? Can you not resist the urge to try to control those who think differently? Do you lack the sensitivity and emotional/social maturity to be able to rise above this social illness?

Please let those who can think intelligently in your government educate you on these issues. Listen to them for your sake and pray to God to be able to see the light in this matter. We are also praying for you for we want no better thing than to see people all over the world be able to teach their children freely. I am not saying your schools are bad or that you do not know anything about education, but as a former educator myself I know intimately the limitations and problems associated with public or private education of any kind. It just simply cannot replace what a rightly motivated parent can give to their own child. I am not advocating every parent to teach their child since this is a very private decision. The state, however, should support such parents who desire to teach their own children with supervision, not control, of their agendas.

Here in America we are finally learning to co-exist: those who want their children mass educated by the state and those who feel privileged and honored to educate their own children. New York City has come up with a compromise which I am proud to obey. The city of New York, once again rising above prejudice, fear and social immaturity has established a program for those who educate their children at home. The city has decided to play a supervisory role and to insure the standards are observed. They have recognized that rightly motivated parents will achieve success far beyond any prized school can offer. The children grow up to be better patriots, citizens and humans. They grow up fearing God, respecting government and honoring one another. How can anyone in their right mind fight this outcome?

Now do you understand why I say that your current policies will be to your detriment? Because God is our judge immediately release Dominic from your corruption! Apologize to him and his family and to the world for your selfishness and ignorance. Change for your own sake and we will see Sweden on the road to greatness again.

I hope you join me in making a difference!

May God bless Sweden and the United States of America.

Pedro Gelabert

Cc: Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt; Jan Björklund, Minister for Education; Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Göran Hägglund, Minister for Health and Social Affairs; Beatrice Ask, Minister for Justice.

New Soul in the Kingdom in Valera, Venezuela!

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:58:00 +0000

We want to inform you that October 1st we welcomed Carlos into the body of Christ, the church. He was immersed after 2 months of studying the Bible. During the next three months we will continue teaching him about discipleship and spiritual training.

Thank you for your prayers and your love,

Jose & Nery Pineda.

2 New Souls Added to the Kingdom from Peru

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Praise be God, we have two new brothers in Christ; Freddy (45 years old) and Luis (29). They were baptized for remission of their sins in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Please pray for their growth and fruitfulness in Christ.

Hernando Motta (in the middle)

Transparent Solar Cells

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Companies are beginning to put transparent solar cells into windows. Although the efficiency of these solar cells has not yet reached the effective solar cell range, about 20%, things continue to improve:

But these organic photovoltaics aren't very efficient at converting sunlight to electricity and won't last as long as a rooftop solar panel, which is typically under warranty for 25 years. Konarka said late last year that it achieved 6 percent efficiency in its labs but that's not yet available in its products. A high-efficiency silicon solar cell, the most common cell material, can be over 20 percent.

Using other materials as opposed to organic ones can raise the efficiency considerably:

Thin-film solar manufacturers, including Heliovot, also make flexible cells that can be fitted onto glass or building structures such as awnings but are more efficient. Nanosolar's cells made from CIGS (copper indium gallium selenide), for example, are in the 9 percent to 10 percent range.

Link

Dexterous Hands for Robots!

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:02:00 +0000

Robots have not had that much dexterity in their ability to know how hard to hold onto something or how to hold it. RAPHaEL (Robotic Air Powered Hand with Elastic Ligaments) will change how robots hold onto things:

It’s a big step for robotic hands, which have so far been hampered by lack of flexibility, forcing them to merely grab objects instead of being able to handle a wide range of textures and motions.

Check out the video:

Link

Packing more data on media with Holograms

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:39:00 +0000

GE labs in New York make possible a 200 fold increase in data storage using holographic storage.

As I said before, these micro-holograms can create a capacity of putting 100 average DVDs on one disc, and it is possible to put 20 Blu-rays discs on one. These jam-packed holographic discs will come in handy when it comes to high resolution formats like 3-D television, which is getting bigger everyday.

Link

Swine Flu – Fact or Fiction?

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:18:00 +0000

Much debate over the so called swine flu pandemic has led to vaccination preparations and outright fear mongering from many irresponsible agencies, including the government.

What no one is talking about, especially in our very liberal and irresponsible media, are the dangers of the vaccine itself and the fact that this so called “pandemic” is no more dangerous than the regular flu.

Read carefully through this article and all its references so that you can be informed and not bullied by propaganda and pseudo science.

Be healthy!

Link – Source – mercola.com

New soul added to the Kingdom in Valera, Venezuela!

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Wednesday, September 2 we baptized Antonio, who is 56 years old. His Occupation: Constructor and blacksmith. We were studying the Bible with him for 3 months. He decided to obey the Gospel of God when he believed and was baptized (Romans 6:3-4). We continue teaching the other members of his family, who are even not Christian, and mentoring this new soul. Thank you for your prayers for this new creature in Christ and we also pray that the Lord continues to add to his Church. Let us remain faithful and obedient!

Jose Pineda
Evangelist

President Obama’s Message to the Students of the Nation

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:03:00 +0000

After reading so many unscrupulous and presumptuous remarks about what President Obama wanted to say to the students of the nation, I was very encouraged to find his message to them very motivating and very responsible. It is about a call to responsibility and owning your future. Although I am not an Obama supporter, generally speaking, I thought his speech to the students was a great example of leadership. That is what good leaders do: motivate the rest of us to be responsible and to do good. Shame on those who made much ado about nothing!

I was also enlightened and delighted to find out that the President himself was homeschooled for a time. Cool!

Read the speech for yourself and please comment. God bless!

Link

New baptism in India!

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Here is our brother D. Rajarao with our new brother Rangarao, an engineering graduate. Please pray for all in his family and for his friends at school to have an open heart to the Gospel of Jesus!

More baptisms in El Salvador!

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:06:00 +0000

Two young men, CRISTÓBAL and ESTEBAN, were baptized August 2. Cristobal’s parents are in the Lord’s church and have been faithful for many years. He recently got more involved in the worl of the kingdom and was convicted to die to the world and be born again alive to Jesus!

Esteban had been visiting the church for about three months. He was convicted to be born again after listening to our brother preach about the new life in Jesus.

Please pray for these brothers, especially for Esteban whose wife is not a believer.

Young people coming to the Lord are a sign of a growing and living congregation. Amen!

Homeschool with Joy

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:21:00 +0000

“Jump Start” to a Joyful School Year

Dear Friends,

As a new school year approaches, wouldn’t it be great if homeschooling could feel less overwhelming and more joyful?

As a fellow homeschool mom, I know that it can be overwhelming when that big box of curriculum arrives and you suddenly aren’t sure that you are up to the task. It can be overwhelming when you can’t seem to find the right key to unlock learning in your child. It can be overwhelming when life broadsides your homeschool. Even as my years of homeschooling experience climbed into the double digits, I still always felt more confident and equipped for a new year when I read through the organized back-to-school checklists—so I’m including a few helpful links for you at the end of this month’s newsletter; I hope these will help you feel less overwhelmed as you begin.

But what about the joy?

Allow me to give you a glimpse into the heart of this ordinary mom. Not a supermom, but a homeschool mom who, in the busy-ness and everyday-ness of life, awoke one day to the realization that I had no joy. The Lord directed me to Psalm 113:9 and showed me that making me a joyful mother of children ranked right up there with seating the poor with princes. I purposed to not take life so personally, to laugh more, smile more, love my babies more, and cherish my family. I wanted them to remember their childhoods as joyful, contented times with a mom who treasured them, not think back woefully to the stressed mother of their youth!

Here are six steps to “jump start” your joy as you begin this new school year:

1. Have a vision for your family. The Greek model of education is all about knowledge; the Hebrew model is all about relationships (read Robin Sampson in What Your Child Needs to Know When or Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach). What purposes does God want to accomplish through the relationships within your family, and how does home education help fulfill those goals?

2. Have realistic expectations of your children. Maybe you awakened this morning, still drowsy from the dream of a day when everybody gets himself up, makes his bed, tidies his room, speaks gently to the siblings, offers to take the smallest cookie, bundles the trash, folds the laundry, finishes his schoolwork by noon—all with no reminders. Then you smelled the toast burning—and reality set in! Someone will very likely test the rules today; it is just part of the territory when you’re a parent. You can prepare yourself in the family service arena by having age-appropriate expectations, pre-determined consequences, and a sense of humor.

From ages 6 months to about 5 years, children are learning cheerful first-time obedience and basic routines. They need life to be very concrete and hands-on. They often can and want to help you, but they need lots of modeling and supervision, so don’t expect the results to be the same as if you did it all yourself! Be appreciative of their efforts.

From ages 5 to 12, they are being better trained in consistency, respectfulness, deference to others, diligence, thoroughness, and cheerful obedience.

From 12 to 18, they earn the privilege of independence and responsibility by showing their faithfulness to accomplish a task and to be accountable for their actions. (You might listen to Dr. S. M. Davis’ tape, “What to Expect of a Twelve-Year-Old.”)

3. Have realistic expectations of yourself. Instead of comparing yourself to your friend or neighbor (or support group leader), recognize your own gifts and talents, your limitations, your specific family circumstances. It’s no mistake that your children got you as a parent—it’s by God’s design! Be aware, too, of your own needs for sleep, food, and encouragement. Is the Lord revealing to you any areas in which you might need to make adjustments?

4. Recognize that interruptions often are God’s purpose for your day—opportunities for ministry and discipleship of your children and of others. If you are tempted to view the interruptions as frustrations to the success of your plans, you might consider the possibility that they are God’s way of reminding you what is really important today.

5. Recognize spiritual warfare for what it is. The mind is the enemy’s battlefield. I had to be reminded to take captive every harsh thought about my children, every selfish thought about my own entitlements in life, every self-pitying thought about being a less-than-perfect homeschool mom. I learned that the enemy really can’t take away my joy, but he sure can influence me to give it up! If you are committed to raising warriors for God, your family is a target for battle, and you may want to take inventory of your Ephesians 6 armor.

6. Recognize the source of true joy. I used to sing to my babies and toddlers: “Break forth into joy, O my soul; break forth into joy, O my soul; In the presence of the Lord, there is joy forevermore; break forth, break forth into joy, O my soul.” When I am spending time in God’s presence, I can choose to be joyful, to speak gently and cheerfully, and to recognize that I am blessed to have this season with my children.

Enjoy the start of a new adventure this fall! (And for good measure, I’ve included a few back-to-school links at left.)

Joyfully yours,

Vicki Bentley
HSLDA Early Years coordinator

“…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10b NKJV)

“The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:3 NKJV)

A soul gets saved in Valera, Venezuela

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Saturday August 8 María was baptized. We were studying the Word of God for 2 months before she made her decision to be baptized.

Maria is an administrator of an Inn for tourist families in the city of Escuque, which is 20 minutes from Valera. She was born in Maracaibo and has been living in Escuque for 4 years. She has 2 adult sons who live in Maracaibo.

With love,
Jose & Nery Pineda.

Parental Rights Amendment Reaches 110 Co-Sponsors

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:06:00 +0000

Grassroots Movement behind Effort to Ensure Parents’ Rights to Raise their Children

Back in April I posted an open letter to congress to approve a Parental Rights Amendment:

http://thanews.blogspot.com/2009/04/you-dont-have-to-accept-international.html

Here’s a press release from parentalrights.org with some good news:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / July 27, 2009 / Washington, D.C. – A Constitutional Amendment to protect the parent-child relationship introduced by U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Michigan, has reached 110 co-sponsors in the House.

"More and more members of Congress are recognizing the threat from government and foreign interference into the parent-child relationship," Hoekstra said. "I encourage my colleagues to support the initiative by co-sponsoring the Parents’ Rights Amendment."

The Parental Rights Amendment (H.J.Res.42) would state explicitly in the U.S. Constitution that parents have a fundamental right to raise their children as they see fit, while protecting against abuse and neglect. Threats to the parent-child relationship include potential Senate ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and the erosion of fundamental parental rights in our federal courts.

"Just about every member of Congress agrees with the legal principle that parents have the fundamental right to make decisions for the upbringing of their children," said Michael Farris, J.D., president of Parentalrights.org. "Because of international law and shifting judicial philosophies, the right is being steadily undermined. We now have 110 members of Congress with the foresight to say that we need to protect this long-standing right before the erosion goes too far. We appreciate the leadership of Pete Hoekstra and the 109 other members of Congress who believe that it is important to secure the rights of American families for generations to come."

More information on the Parental Rights Amendment can be viewed at www.parentalrights.org.

More Good News

In addition, we also received word that Senator Coburn of Oklahoma has signed on as a cosponsor of S.J. Res. 16, the Parental Rights Amendment in the Senate. This brings our total in the Senate to three (3) - a slow but important start.

While there is no way to track the direct effects of your calls and emails and our visits last week, it is safe to assume that at least some of these cosponsors would not have signed on before the summer break without this contact. When we visited Congress last week, everyone we spoke to was already aware of the Amendment - a major change from just four months ago! Our thanks and congratulations to you for your efforts to bring this vital issue to the attention of your Senators and Congressmen. With help like yours, we will win!

Two Baptisms in Two Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Actually, it’s been baptism number six and number seven for us here at the Long Island Church of Christ since the start of our Harvest Campaign in mid June. I personally have baptized these two souls and it was such a privilege doing so.

William, pictured here with Bob, was baptized July 9th. His two brothers and sister-in-law, Dora, are deaf and have visited the church. Dora is a regular in the deaf ministry. William and his family have been coming to church on and off for about 5 years. Finally, William decided to put on Jesus in baptism (Gal 3:26-27) and has been added to God’s family! He speaks English and Spanish and will focus more on the Spanish work of the church.

Iris, who is also Ismael’s sister, was baptized July 19th. Her husband Pedro had been baptized before our summer campaign began and Iris had been visiting us for a while, also being a regular at our house church in Queens. Finally, yesterday after services she expressed desire to die to her old life and give herself up for Jesus and join Him in His death, burial and resurrection through baptism to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4)!

Now Iris is Ismael’s sister twice, but much more so now that she is a true sister through the blood of Jesus!

Welcome these souls into the kingdom of our Savior next time you see them! May God be praised and New York City inundated with the saving and powerful Gospel of Jesus!

Romans 1:16 ESV For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Another souls added to the Kingdom in El Salvador!

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Friday, May 8/2009, suddenly, I received a telephone call in my home, from Mr. Ángel Menjivar Rivas, who asks me if I am the preacher of the Church of Christ in Quezaltepeque, which I respond to positively.

Mr. Menjivar says to me that fifteen years ago he began to study the Bible Correspondence Course “What Does the Bible Says? ”, but only studied until the sixth lesson (I clarify that for at that time I was the Director of those courses), nevertheless, he indicates to me the desire to visit the church, and expresses his desire to take with him his family to the worship meeting.

Sunday, May 10^th, he listened to the class and the sermon very kindly; later he said to me that the following Sunday he would bring his family. Next Sunday, May 17^th, he came with his wife and four children, whose ages are between 20 to 14 years (two boys and two girls).

Sunday, May 31^st, Mr. ANGEL MENJIVAR RIVAS, a man of 50 years of age, was baptized for the forgiveness of his sins. Brother Angel has not stopped congregating, accompanied with his wife, and almost always the four children. We are also working on them that they also come to the Lord. We request your prayers for him and his family.

For the Cause of Jesus Christ,

Alexander & Silvia Castellanos

City Harvest Campaign 2009

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:21:00 +0000

City Harvest Campaign 2009 (formerly known as Conquering Queens for Christ) was outstanding. Words can not begin to describe the enthusiasm and joy that filled the brothers and sisters who hit the streets of Elmont, Valley Stream, and Queens County. Everyone's faith was taken up a notch as we sowed the Gospel on Jamaica Ave. which turned out to be "ripe for the harvest." Each night ended with the Team and some of our new friends having dinner and a Gospel presentation while the kids (ages 3-14) participated in their own bible classes (a pre-vbs environment). After three days of evangelizing we had two new souls added to the body on Friday, our new brothers Hiram (who will be attending the Spanish Church at Far Rockaway) and Douglas. On the fourth day we held a community BBQ inviting all our new friends to eat with us. On this day there were many gospel conversations being had with our new friends and God gave us more than we could ask for or imagine with those conversations turning into bible studies being held on the second floor, ground floor and six in the basement. Some who we met those four days have visited bible class and/or are actively learning more about the Gospel. Following are some pictures from amongst the many hundreds that were taken during the event. May God be praised as we continue to declare the saving name of Jesus!

- Rob Young

Our new brother Hiram with Jaime and Manuel from the Far Rockaway Church

Troy and our new brother Douglas Friday, July 3

Pre - VBS

Kids ready for the pre-VBS

City Harvest Campaign Team Members

Our new brother Hiram after his baptism

Another souls gets baptized in India!

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:41:00 +0000

Once again, God has blessed our humble efforts and gave us this wonderful opportunity to share this "GOOD NEWS" with you.

We are much delighted to inform you this report of 1 precious soul from Tribal community obeyed Gospel and baptized into Christ. We are so thankful to our co-laborers in the Lord who are putting on their best efforts to reach the unreached in these Tribal forest areas. We appreciate the dedication and hard work of our Tribal preachers who preached gospel to this man belongs to Koya Tribe, also had many Bible studies since few months. On this Saturday 28th June, we have conducted a gospel meeting in Nemalipeta tribal village and Bro. David Daniel and I are invited as guest speakers. We preached on topics "The Church Jesus has built" by Brother David Daniel and I preached the on topic "Why I am a Member of The Church of Christ".

For the cause of Christ,
Chorlian K. Samson - Associate Minister
Sathupalli church of Christ

Another soul added to the Kingdom in Long Island!

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:59:00 +0000

Hello kingdom saint!

The Lord has added a new soul to His Church! After Wednesday night Bible class, Chris was baptized into Christ! I met Chris a few months back singing karaoke. I introduced myself as a Christian and minister and we started to talk about life. Chris was going thru struggles and I kept reminding him of the importance of knowing and following Christ. Eventually, Chris needed a place to stay so I offered my home (which is really the Lord's) and he moved in around February. We studied for a bit but the studies stopped. I wanted to make sure that if Chris were to become a disciple, he would do it because of his love for the Lord and not because he lives with a Christian. Since he has a good voice, I asked Chris if he would like to sing lead on one of the songs on the Friday Devo CD (Open The Eyes Of My Heart). He said "Sure!" So, I had him sing lead (so for those of you who have the CD, you can hear Chris on that song!). My goal was to allow the song to minister to his heart -- Open the eyes of my heart, Lord was an appropriate song! hehe Well, after our brother Charlie preached on commitment on Sunday and after experiencing the fellowship at Dave’s house during our last Harvest Saturday campaign, Chris told me that he realizes that he needs to commit to Jesus and obey the gospel! He said to me: "I need what you and those in the church have!"

I had Chris look at the DVD so that he can be sure if he is ready to become a disciple! After viewing the DVD, he said "I am ready!" Pray for Chris' growth, now that he is entering "the wilderness" to be tested! He is very sociable and loves being around people. Pray that the Lord uses him in a mighty way -- he already wants to be part of the next Harvest campaign! I'm going to encourage him to try to get some people interested in learning more about the bible -- he works in the Iron union. With new converts, its good to start them with the focus of making disciples and even taking them out to evangelize!

Lets keep on sharing Jesus! Time is short and moving fast and there is no time for us to waste! When we find ourselves in our Father's business, we experience His joy within, even when life gets hard! But remember, there is eternity to face: and we want to be with the Lord forever and bring as many as possible with us!

"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible"... 1Corinthians 9:19 (NIV)

Because He lives,
your brother, Bob

Using Your WM Phone as a BT Modem

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:55:00 +0000

I’ve been trying to figure out for the longest how to use the internet plan I already pay for on my cell phone to surf the internet from my laptop without having to purchase another internet plan just for that!

Well, I found this excellent article online recently that shows you just how to do that and it worked beautifully! I was able to use the internet and wirelessly at that in the Caribbean on a recent trip where internet is tough to get.

The article begins talking about pairing your laptop to your phone. Of course you will need to get a USB BlueTooth dongle which is relatively inexpensive.

After pairing your devices then you have to set the type of connection for your internet sharing using an app called “Internet Sharing” on your phone. That’s the critical piece I had been missing. Once you do that it is as easy as pie to connect and begin using that expensive data plan you already pay for on your phone.

The full article

Summer Harvest Campaign 2009

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:16:00 +0000

"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest'" (Matthew 9:37-38 ESV)

After Jesus made this statement, He sent His 12 disciples into the harvest. Why did Jesus say the laborers are few? Because they are not being sent out! We all need to be sent out into the field as per the Lord's instruction! For this reason, the goal of the Spring-Harvest Campaign was to encourage every disciple to heed the Master's call to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19), proclaiming the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15).

The past three Harvest Saturdays have been a great encouragement! New disciples, like Peter K. and Paulette I., along with older disciples, were hitting the streets of Central Islip, sharing Jesus with the lost; even praying with those who were going through difficult times in their lives! Some have agreed to Bible studies and some have even come to Sunday worship!

Many of the disciples shared with me how their participation in this event has encouraged their hearts! I shared with them that whenever we fulfill our calling as disciples, we find ourselves experiencing the joy of the Lord! The last thing Satan wants us to make disciples. He will try everything in his power to keep us from evangelizing. Complacency and idleness promotes discouragement and dissatisfaction! But being in our Father's business spells JOY: (J)esus first; (O)thers second; (Y)ou third!

People need the Lord! And each time we encounter the lost with the hope of the Gospel and the love of God, they encounter Jesus, because "as He is so also are we in this world!" (1John 4:17 ESV)

They say a picture paints a thousand words. Here are some of the disciples in action -- taking Jesus to the streets!

George and Lisa sharing the Gospel

Carolyn sharing the Gospel with a lady

David sharing the Gospel in Islandia Shopping Center

Pedro sharing the Gospel on Suffolk Avenue

Bob sharing the Gospel on Suffolk Avenue

May God continue to send out His workers into the field! The harvest is plentiful!

IF ONLY THEY KNEW

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:09:00 +0000

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
John 4:13-14

Jesus offered the Samaritan woman the opportunity of a lifetime. He offered her the water of life. At first she didn’t understand what kind of offer that was. She thought that it was water from the well. Little did she know that the well was Jesus himself and the water that he offered was the Spirit of God. He clarifies this in John 7:37-38

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.”

This is what the Spanish Ministry has been offering during our Harvest campaign: both kinds of water.

We are giving out bottles of water with labels on them that quote John 4:13-14.

As we give them the bottle of water we tell them about the water of life hoping to come across a thirsty soul. Some listen, but most just take the bottle and go on their way. I think to myself “if only they knew”. If only they knew what was just offered to them, but they don’t. It is our mission to let them know.

And how will they find out?

Romans 10:14-15 gives us the answer:

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Let us not grow tired of offering the water of life to a dying world.

Charlie Gómez

5 souls baptized in India

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Our brother Chorlian reports:

We are immensely happy to inform you the report of 5 new souls baptized into Christ, as a result of many personal Bible studies at the BASIC BIBLE SCHOOL this past week.

We have dealt with them the plan of salvation, Bible Doctrine, Importance of Baptism, Godhead, The Church Jesus has established etc. During the sessions many doubts were cleared to them in Faith, Repentance, Baptism, The only true Church etc. Once again we are proud of our Minister David K Daniel and the Instructors at BASIC BIBLE SCHOOL for their sincere efforts in teaching/preaching the Word of God to the unreached.

As always, our almighty God has blessed our humble efforts with fruitful results. 4 new souls from Hindu community and 1 precious soul from Muslim/Islam community obeyed gospel, baptized into Christ and saved. Even though the weather is too bad (as we have been in mid summer, the temperature is striking about 45 to 50 Degrees Celsius) we worked actively, God protected us under His mighty wings and blessed our humble efforts.

We have gifted them a New Bible to each person to help them in their daily Bible study and their walk with God. We will follow-up with them regularly to help them and enable them to grow well in the knowledge and image of Christ.

We urge you to pray earnestly & encourage the ongoing work in Sathupalli Tribal Mission fields which is being very fruitful in reaching the unreached with the glorious gospel and leading them into Christ.

Please pray for the success and good results of classes to be conducted in this month of JUNE. We are earnestly praying God to provide the needed resources for the monthly operation of the BASIC BIBLE SCHOOL.

Convey our loving greetings to your family and to all the Saints at your congregation.

We pray for you, we urge you to pray & encourage us in our Lord's pioneer work.

Thank you and we love to hear your prayerful response.

In Him we live, move & have our being,

Chorlian K. Samson - Associate Minister

Sathupalli, Khammam District

Andhra Pradesh-507303

INDIA.

New baptisms in Venezuela!

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:54:00 +0000

Our brother Jose Pineda has been busy teaching the Gospel to some souls in Valera, Venezuela.

Welcome into the kingdom these new brothers: Jose, Miguel and Gerson, all students at the local college.

Please continue to pray for Jose’s wife, Nery, as she is still recovering from her heart surgery earlier in the year.

Digital Storage Breakthrough from GE

noreply@blogger.com (kingdomsaint) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:49:00 +0000

How would you like to put the content of 100 DVDs into a single DVD? Wow! Talk about cheap storage! Well, thanks to holographic technology that will soon be a possibility!

Holography is an optical process that stores not only three-dimensional images like the ones placed on many credit cards for security purposes, but the 1’s and 0’s of digital data as well.

The data is encoded in light patterns that are stored in light-sensitive material. The holograms act like microscopic mirrors that refract light patterns when a laser shines on them, and so each hologram’s recorded data can then be retrieved and deciphered.

Holographic storage has the potential to pack data far more densely than conventional optical technology, used in DVDs and the newer, high-capacity Blu-ray discs, in which information is stored as a pattern of marks across the surface of a disc. The potential of holographic technology has long been known. The first research papers were published in the early 1960s.

Many advances have been made over the years in the materials science, optics and applied physics needed to make holographic storage a practical, cost-effective technology. And this year, InPhase Technologies, a spinoff of Bell Labs of Alcatel-Lucent, plans to introduce a holographic storage system, using $18,000 machines and expensive discs, for specialized markets like video production and storing medical images. - By STEVE LOHR, New York Times

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