Sunday, August 31, 2008

Here I Am

Here I Am by Downhere

HERE I AM
Sometimes your calling, comes in dream
Sometimes it comes in the Spirit's breeze,
You reach for the deepest hope in me,
And call out for the things of eternity.
But I'm a man, of dust and stains,
You move in me, so I can say,

CHORUS:
Here I am, Lord send me,
All of my life, I make an offering,
Here I am, Lord send me,
Somehow my story, Is part of your plan,
Here I am

When setbacks and failures, and upset plans,
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands,
Are you not the closest when it's hardest to stand?
I know that you will finish what you began.

These broken parts you redeem,
Become the song, that I can sing (chorus)

Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness,
And the fear that I'll fail you in the end,
In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces,
I can't put this together but you can.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

To Seek and Save

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10

Have you seen the movie August Rush? It’s the story of a child prodigy who is inadvertently abandoned by his parents at birth. However, years of growing up in the system doesn’t dim August’s dream of finding his parents. Eventually, he runs away to seek what he has lost. In the course of his journey, he meets Wizard who recognizes August’s special gift and seeks to capitalize on it.

Wizard asks him, “What do you want to be in the world? I mean the whole world. What do you want to be? Close your eyes and think about it.” In a blink August replies, “Found.”

It’s a scary thing to be lost. Jesus taught at least three parables concerning the importance and necessity of searching for what is lost, because what is lost is highly valuable. Friend, there are at least 12,000 lost children in Jamaica; they are homeless, abandoned, and often abused and they need to be found.

Please consider supporting the City of Refuge Children’s Home in Christiana, Jamaica. Help us to find what is lost but highly valuable, to bring them safely back to the Father’s arms.

To make an on-line donation or a monthly commitment to the City of Refuge Home in Christiana, look to the Partner with us in Ministry sectiton to the right, and click on the appropriate link.


Saturday, August 23, 2008

Them Are Fighting Words

Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist. -Oswald J. Smith (1889-1986)

And I wholeheartedly agree. What do you think?

In 1928, Oswald J. Smith started the People's Church for the expressed purpose to send out missionaries. He also instituted faith promise missions giving to facilitate the preaching of the Gospel around the world. To learn more about Oswald J. Smith or the People's Church please visit the following links: http://www.swordofthelord.com/biographies/SmithOswaldJ.htm; http://www.thepeopleschurch.ca/default.asp

Monday, August 18, 2008

A Challenging Proposition

Visitors to the City of Refuge in Christiana desire a life changing experience; spiritually, mentally, and physically. In essence, they want a challenge. On our fun day many brave the 930' zip line over YS Falls (like Sophia, pictured here) and testify of the exhilarating experience.

Itineration is definitely a challenge as well (spiritually, mentally, and physically). However, it can also be an exhilarating experience especially when faithful people brave the challenge with you.

For example, a businessman in our church feels so strongly about our ministry to the orphans in Jamaica, he has offered to match any new monthly commitment towards our missionary support dollar for dollar. That means if twenty churches commit to give $50 per month he will match it with a $1000 monthly pledge!

Are you up to the challenge?

Please consider braving the challenge with us by making a monthly commitment to our ministry. Your financial commitment combined with this wonderful opportunity, will in essence double your monthly support.

***To make a monthly commitment to our missionary account, simply click on the link Support the Brown Family -Online Commitment Form in the section to the right.***

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

"The skies proclaim the work of his hand." Psalm 19:1

I recall looking up into a brilliant Jamaican sky one evening after a storm blew through. In the absence of unnatural light, God’s splendid galaxy overwhelmed us. Constellations usually hidden by light pollution, now shimmered with clarity. We were in awe. Indeed the heavens do declare the glory of God.

I felt the same way recently after I read Creation and Evolution by Alan Hayward. In his book, Dr Hayward, a Christian physicist, affirms God’s handiwork while at the same time disputing evolution. Interesting enough he accomplishes this in part by presenting evidence from non-Christian researchers.

The record of nature and the revelation of God’s word concur; all of creation has been magnificently fashioned by a divine engineer. That is why our creedal statements confess, “I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth,” and our hymnals melodically declare, “This is my Father’s world.” Our world is a wonder to behold, and our God is the Creator to be adored.