Statement of Faith #1-The Scriptures Inspired

Official Assembly of God Statement of Faith #1-The Scriptures Inspired-The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.

The first statement of faith, and ultimately the most important, since all of our doctrine stems from this one, is that the scriptures, the Holy Bible, is inspired by God. If there is any doubt to the validity of the scriptures than all that we believe is at question.

The Holy Bible, 66 different books as we know it, was written over a period of 1,500+ years and had over 40 different authors. Each of the writers was inspired by God to write what he wrote. The Bible, even though it was written by so many people over a long period of time, verifies itself. The same stories are told by different authors, different prophecies by different authors that later were fulfilled. Creation verified the Bible. There are archeological records proving the bible. A couple of great sites to read more about some of those are Creation Science Evangelism and Answers in Genesis.

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

The Assemblies of God Statements of Faith

Here is a list of the 16 Assembly of God doctrinal statements of faith that Molly's class is currently learning about.

1-The Scriptures Inspired
2-One True God-Three in One
3-The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
4-The Fall of Mankind
5-The Salvation of Mankind
6-The Ordinances:Water Baptism and Communion
7-The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
8-Speaking in Tongues
9-Sanctification
10-The Church and it's Mission
11-The Ministry
12-Divine Healing
13-The Blessed Hope-The Rapture
14-Second Coming and the 1,000 Year Reign of Jesus Christ
15-The Final Judgment
16-The New Heavens and Earth

May I clarify that our reason for this series of posts is to help the readers- especially those who have asked-who we are and why we believe what we believe. Our goal is never to offend. You can disagree with us and that is fine. We will still love you and hope you will still love us!

Molly's Doctrine Class

Beginning a couple of weeks ago, Molly has been attending Doctrine Class at our church. We attend an Assembly of God church and there are 16 different statements of faith that she will be learning. Each week, she will learn about a new statement including a bible verse to go with it. She will also be expected to know the Lord's Prayer(she knew that already), the Apostle's Creed(already done), be able to recite the Statements of Faith and explain what each one means as well as write a paper about her Christian Faith and personal testimony. At the end of the 19 weeks there is also a written test on all of the information.

The best part about this is that I will be assisting in the classroom, listening to memory work and helping the children learn. So far I am really enjoying it. I went through confirmation in the Lutheran church at about this same age. I was taught a lot but so much of it I think went over my head and of course, unfortunately, there is also some disinterest at that age.

Shannon and I have decided that the blog would be a great place for me to write about what Molly and I are learning. This way our readers will understand a bit more about who we are and what we believe. Understanding who we are, and where we are coming from is an important goal of our blog. I would like to have a new post for each individual Statement. I have a few weeks to catch up on and will try to get them written this week so stay tuned. First up, listing the 16 Statements of Faith in one post.

Simple Acts of Obedience=The Miraculous

I've written here before of how, often, God will give me similar teachings through many different sources, in a close time frame to teach me, or even just remind me of the simple but profound. Most recently, God has used Pastor Jeff Johns from the Glory Conference, Beth Moore and her book A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place, and a radio teaching, it might have been Gregg Lourie to bring me the same reminder. A very simple act of obedience to the Father can lead to a huge miracle.

For example, look at the story of the floating ax head in 2 Kings 6:1-7. Or how about the staff turned into a snake in Exodus 7:8-13. The bitter water made sweet(Exodus 15:22), Peter walking on the water(Matt 14:29-30), the widow woman's full jug of oil(1 Kings 17:15-16), the examples could go on and on.

As I have studied, been taught about and read these many examples of simple obedience becoming great miracles I can't help but wonder if I would be so obedient. If I heard God tell me in my spirit to throw down a stick to become a snake would I think, uhhh, that's silly, I must be hearing wrong? Would I be willing to get out of a boat to walk on stormy seas. I think maybe I might based upon what I have read in the bible, however if He asked me to do something strange that isn't yet recorded in the bible or recorded history, then would I doubt? Would I obey? And if I don't I can only imagine the great blessings I would miss out on. God will still accomplish His purpose, even if He has to use someone else but the missed blessings could not be regained.

Since God has chosen this subject to specifically remind me about, it is something I must try to remember in my daily life. I pray that God will use me to accomplish great miracles in His name through simple acts of obedience.

Book Review-Fields of the Fatherless

I have never really done a book review here on the blog but this book has prompted me to do my first. The book is called Fields of the Fatherless:Discover the Joy of Compassionate Living and is written by C. Thomas Davis. This is a quick easy reading book with large print. The book tells of how Christians are missing out on so much joy and blessing that they could be receiving if they would only choose to follow the Father's heart and reach out to the orphan, the widow and the stranger. Those who are most in need are those God is wanting us to show love to. The front flap of the book cover gives a clue to what's inside. It reads as follows,
"In this world you are an orphan-eagerly anticipating your adoption as god's child. In this world you are a widow-longing for reunion with your bridegroom. In this world you are a stranger-a pilgrim waiting to become a citizen of heaven. And in this world, God has called you to care for the orphan, the stranger and the widow. Fields of the Fatherless is a book that brings you back to what Christianity is really about: Giving yourself to others, being Christ to a hurting world and living for the One that comes next."
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a tug on their heartstrings towards the needy and hurting people around them.

It was a great weekend

We are getting back into our regular routine now after a three day Glory Conference with the ministry. The speakers were anointed, the praise and worship was, as always, amazing and there was personal prophecy given to many. Our family enjoyed our time as we served in several ways. Shannon, Collin and I helped with the screens for the words to the songs. Collin and M helped with serving the banquet Saturday noon and all of us helped with the clean up afterwards. I think I hand washed more silverware that afternoon than I have in the previous 10 years! Thankfully the plates and cups were all disposable. Then afterwards, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming and preparing the building for church services the next day was the grand finale and we had fun working with others to get that done.

I was proud of our children as they so willingly pitched in wherever they could and we received several positive comments about them. I feel so very fortunate that our kids are getting it-understanding how to serve and realizing the value and privilege in being a part of God's work.

Last Tuesday evening, the orphanage committee meeting went well as we all explored topics that need to be researched. We all realize we have a huge job ahead of as we pull together this new branch of End Time Glory Ministries. At the end of the meeting as the group prayed, one of the members thanked the Lord for our family and our willingness to serve. I cried as I truly feel so incredibly honored that God wants to use us in this way. It isn't a willingness on our part but rather a feeling of incredible awe(fear and trembling) and a complete inability to say no to God. I wish there was a way to help more people understand that this isn't a choice for us. We are positive that God has asked us to do this and there is no way we could ever say no to Him.

Pray for Kenya

As you likely already know, Kenya is going through some difficult times right now. The recent presidential election, which had voter turnout in some areas of 115%(say crooked politicians) has caused tremendous upheaval. There have been fighting and attacks going on in a country that has always been known as a stronghold of peace in East Africa. Somewhere between 3-500 have been killed and thousands left homeless. Kenya is located directly north of Tanzania. Shannon and I know a native Kenyan woman running an orphanage/feeding program in the slums of Nairobi. We emailed her to let her know we were praying and here is her response:

Dearest Friends,
Praise Jesus,
Thank you so much for your email. Things has been so bad here, but I thank God for He has hidden me and the Children under His Blood. Last week 100 houses were burned down at night in our Slums where our Children Home is. God saved our Children. To-day we are feeding more than 150 Children whose houses were burned down. Thank you for your prayers and concern. Please pray that God will provide more support so that we can be able to feed these children who has been left without a home. some of them their parents has been killed.
I write this with tears, but our God will save us.
Pass my love to your family.
Shalom and blessings.
Anne.

Last night, I woke up after having a dream of a man with a machete standing over another man lying on the ground covering his head and face with his arms. I immediately began praying for Kenya and after awhile fell asleep again. Then this morning, about 10 minutes before my alarm clock went off, as I lay in bed waiting for it to do so, the Chris Tomlin song Amazing Grace was running through my head. The line "My chains are gone, I've been set free..." caused me to think of the people in Kenya whose earthly chains have disappeared as they have left this life for a new one in heaven but it grieved my heart as I realized that certainly there are some who have gained new chains, the chains of hell.

Finally my alarm clock went off. I have it set to radio rather than buzzer and Praise FM is the station it is tuned to. The same song is what was playing when it went off.
This has caused me to really pray today for Kenya. For the safety of her people, for the restoration of a true and good government. Will you join me in those prayers?

Reflections

I will not make excuses for not posting for nearly three weeks other than to say I have been as busy as anyone.

I have found myself over the past week, since the new year began, reflecting on the year 2007 and even the past few years. What is it about a new year that makes us look back? I guess it feels like a new beginning in a way.

It was about three years ago now that both Shannon and I knew we were being called into the mission fields of Africa. It wasn't until a year later though, that we finally accepted that. The first year, neither of us really talked about it, we were both aware of it in our own ways but it seemed so "far out", so impossible, so crazy, that neither of us could imagine it could be real. When we finally realized that with God's help, none of those thoughts are actually true.

These past couple of years of preparation have brought about tremendous growth and changes in each of the members of our family. As I look back at how God has been preparing us and what He has done in us in a couple of years, I am excited at what He can do with us, in us and through us in the next year. We have watched our children mature and come into a greater understanding of their role in this adventure. We know that God sees our children as tremendously important to the ministry as well. It is something we remind them of and we are excited to see them begin to understand that.

This evening we have the first "official" meeting of the End Time Glory Ministries orphanage committee. We are excited to see people, chosen by God through the ministry leadership, come together with a similar goal and mindset-one of seeing the orphans and widows of Mwanza ministered to so that they can eventually become strong Christian leaders in their community.

Please keep the ministry and our family in your prayers during these continued times of preparation.