The Promises of Advent – Week 4 – The Priest’s Prophecy December 24, 2006
Posted by Bill in Advent, Jesus, Love, Romania, holiness, hope, messenger, peace, promise, restoration, righteousness, salvation, shalom, waiting.1 comment so far
Click here for the recording of this week’s message.
Rev. Laszlo Tokes was a successful pastor in Timisoara, Romania. But being a successful pastor in a Communist country was dangerous. In December 1989, the authorities came for him, but they were stopped in their tracks. Around Pastor Tokes church had gathered a wall of humanity. Members of other churches–Baptist, Adventist, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic–had joined together to protest Pastor Tokes’ impending arrest.
The police tried to disperse the crowd, but they stayed, all day and all night. About midnight a 19-year-old Baptist student named Daniel Gavra pulled out a packet of candles, lit one and passed it to his neighbor. Soon the faces of the united Christian protestors were illuminated with a soft glow.
Finally on the second night the police broke through the blockade. They broke through the church door, bloodied Pastor Tokes’ face and then paraded him and his wife through the crowd and into the night. But that was not the end.
The people streamed to the city square and began protesting against the Communist government. The government responded with troops and gunfire. Hundreds were wounded, including Daniel Gavra, whose leg was blown off.
The example of these brave Christians inspired the nation of Romania and within days their bloody dictator Ceausescu was gone. For the first time in 50 years, Romanians celebrated Christmas in freedom.
Daniel’s pastor came to offer sympathy to him in the hospital were he was learning how to use crutches. But Daniel said, “Pastor, I don’t mind so much the loss of a leg. After all…”
Click on the link above to hear the rest of the story!
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The Promises of Advent – Week 3 – Zion’s Song December 17, 2006
Posted by Bill in Advent, Love, Podcast Post, Trials, forgiveness, healing, hope, peace, restoration.add a comment
Max Lucado tells the story of a woman who had a parakeet named Chippie. She loved Chippie because he was such a happy little songbird. Chippie’s constant chirping just seemed to brighten her day. One day, the woman was cleaning the bottom of Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner when the telephone rang. She reached for the telephone without removing the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner from the cage, which was a mistake. The vacuum cleaner nozzle got pointed in the direction of poor little Chippie, and he was suddenly sucked up into the machine. When the woman looked back at the cage and realized what had happened, she was horrified. She dropped the telephone, turned off the vacuum cleaner and ripped open the dust bag to get to her little bird. Chippie was a real mess, but he was still alive. She raced to the kitchen sink and turned the water on full force on Chippie. The more she tried to wash him, the worse he looked, so she took him to the bathroom and started trying to dry Chippie with her hair dryer—full force and high heat. Finally, she got the bird dry and put him back in his cage. Several days later, a friend called and asked how Chippie was doing. She replied…
To hear the full story, listen to this week’s podcast.
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The Promises of Advent – Week 2 – Malachi’s Messenger December 10, 2006
Posted by Bill in Advent, Allegiance, Compassion, Integrity, Podcast Post, Purity, character, communication from God, covenant, grace, justice, messenger, refining silver, righteousness, transformation.add a comment
Ever had a Pop Quiz? Hated it didn’t you? I always prefered my teachers to help me prepare for the final exam not by giving me pop quizzes during the semester, but by giving me a “Study Guide!” A Study Guide is a great example of grace! Ever wonder what God is looking for in your life? Check out His “Study Guide” in today’s message from Faith Church.
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The Promises of Advent -Week 1- Jeremiah’s Justice December 3, 2006
Posted by Bill in Jerusalem, Judah, Podcast Post, eminent domain, grace, justice, peace, promise, restoration, right, righteousness, salvation, shalom, sin, waiting, wholeness.add a comment
Are you frustrated that things are not right in this world? Are you in a time of desolation or devastation in your personal life? A man named Jeremiah has a message for you.
Click here to listen to the audio file of this presentation.
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Click here for the note taking guide for this presentation.
