Good morning,
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Memorial Day is an official holiday in the United States. It was observed on May 30 until 1971 when, for federal employees, the date was changed to the last Monday in May. With the exception of Louisiana, all states observing Memorial Day adopted the change. Memorial Day is also known as Decoration Day. The custom of placing flowers on the graves of soldiers killed in the Civil War began on May 5, 1866 in Waterloo, NY; Waterloo has been recognized by Congress as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. In 1868, Gen. John A. Logan, then President of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared that May 30 would be a day to decorate "with flowers the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion.” After World War I the day was set aside to honor the fallen of all American wars, and the custom was extended to pay homage to deceased relatives and friends, both military and civilian. The most solemn ceremony conducted on Memorial Day is the placing of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns located in Arlington National Cemetery. Some Southern states observe Confederate Memorial Day. The fallen are remembered on April 26 in Georgia, the last Monday in April in Alabama and Mississippi, and May 10 in South Carolina. Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina do not observe the general holiday, and in Virginia the last Monday in May is called Confederate Memorial Day. Many people see Memorial Day as just another day off - a 3 day weekend. Others observe Memorial Day as the official beginning of the camping season. However, for those who have lost someone because of war or military action, it means much more than a day off. In fact, every American ought to recognize this day out of his patriotic duty to his country and in honor of those who have spilled their blood to make America what she is today -- a nation that is free, strong, and worth fighting for. Because men have died for this country, we have the right to preach God’s word freely. We have the right to live at peace in our own homes. We have the right to pursue peace, prosperity and happiness. Thank God for those who died to make us free. As we prepare to remember those who died for liberty, it is fitting to remember the one who died to set us free from spiritual tyranny. Jesus fought the armies of Hell that we might have liberty in his holy name. We celebrate Memorial Day once a year to remember those who have died for freedom, but every week is a celebration of the death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He came, He saw, and He conquered sin and death. He is the real giver of freedom. Blessed be His Name.
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VslzcciRmZg
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Brown's Daily Word 5-21-09
Good morning, Dear friends,
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Praise the Lord for the way He calls us out of the world, transforms our lives into His new creation, and sends us forth in to the world to live as His witnesses. He calls us out of rugged individualism and puts us in the fellowship of His Body, the Church, the Church militant and the Church triumphant. We are called to live our lives, not in isolation, but in the context of His Family. The General rules of the United Societies ( Methodist), first published, in 1743, not only provide guidelines for Christian living in the world, but also stipulate that "works of Mercy", and works of piety are the personal condition of being a Christian.
There is great temptation to live a life of alienation from the Lord and from His people. Actress Shirley MacLaine once said, "The most pleasurable journey you take is through yourself...the only sustaining love involvement is with yourself... When you look back on your life and try to figure out where you've been and where you're going, when you look at your work, your love affairs, your marriages, your children, your pain, your happiness... When you examine all that closely, what you really find out is that the only person you really go to bed with is yourself... The only thing you have is working to the consummation of your own identity. And that’s what I’ve been trying to do all my life." - HOGWASH! What a mixed-up woman she is! Shirley MacLaine is utterly consumed by self. Her philosophy is, "All I really have to do is take care of me. All that is important in life is me." WHAT A SELFISH WAY OF THINKING AND LIVING! Yet, she is like so many people in our world. Most people are only interested in themselves. They live for themselves and are concerned primarily for their personal welfare. But the Christian is called to live for Christ. Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." In this reference, the apostle Paul is saying, "I have died to myself and I don’t live for me anymore. I don’t live for money or prestige or praise or power. I do not want to do my thing in my way because Christ lives in me, and so I live for Him now and forever more." A story is told of an old mountaineer who gazee into the fire for a while, sighed and then said, "Aw, Ma, why don’t we just call in the dog and see if he’s wet." That is what you may call the height of laziness. I do not want to say that we are all downright lazy, but most of us have a lazy streak in us.
When it comes to living for Christ and giving our lives to Christ, we are either lazy or we are uncommitted, undedicated, undecided, unfaithful, unfruitful. If we decide to go to church, we go to church. If we want to stay home or do something different, we do that. For most, THE LORD’S WILL IS NOT THE DOMINANT FORCE IN OUR LIVES. In terms of practicality, our will is what matters most, but it should not be this way! Vance Havner said it this way, "Too many of us today are shaky about what we believe, BUT NOT SHAKEN BY WHAT WE BELIEVE." Our faith doesn’t shake us or have a hold on us. The Christian life is about living for Christ and giving our lives to Him. It is putting Christ first in our lives no matter what or who comes our way. Its purpose is to reach out to all people in love and with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOb8ihacSM4
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Praise the Lord for the way He calls us out of the world, transforms our lives into His new creation, and sends us forth in to the world to live as His witnesses. He calls us out of rugged individualism and puts us in the fellowship of His Body, the Church, the Church militant and the Church triumphant. We are called to live our lives, not in isolation, but in the context of His Family. The General rules of the United Societies ( Methodist), first published, in 1743, not only provide guidelines for Christian living in the world, but also stipulate that "works of Mercy", and works of piety are the personal condition of being a Christian.
There is great temptation to live a life of alienation from the Lord and from His people. Actress Shirley MacLaine once said, "The most pleasurable journey you take is through yourself...the only sustaining love involvement is with yourself... When you look back on your life and try to figure out where you've been and where you're going, when you look at your work, your love affairs, your marriages, your children, your pain, your happiness... When you examine all that closely, what you really find out is that the only person you really go to bed with is yourself... The only thing you have is working to the consummation of your own identity. And that’s what I’ve been trying to do all my life." - HOGWASH! What a mixed-up woman she is! Shirley MacLaine is utterly consumed by self. Her philosophy is, "All I really have to do is take care of me. All that is important in life is me." WHAT A SELFISH WAY OF THINKING AND LIVING! Yet, she is like so many people in our world. Most people are only interested in themselves. They live for themselves and are concerned primarily for their personal welfare. But the Christian is called to live for Christ. Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." In this reference, the apostle Paul is saying, "I have died to myself and I don’t live for me anymore. I don’t live for money or prestige or praise or power. I do not want to do my thing in my way because Christ lives in me, and so I live for Him now and forever more." A story is told of an old mountaineer who gazee into the fire for a while, sighed and then said, "Aw, Ma, why don’t we just call in the dog and see if he’s wet." That is what you may call the height of laziness. I do not want to say that we are all downright lazy, but most of us have a lazy streak in us.
When it comes to living for Christ and giving our lives to Christ, we are either lazy or we are uncommitted, undedicated, undecided, unfaithful, unfruitful. If we decide to go to church, we go to church. If we want to stay home or do something different, we do that. For most, THE LORD’S WILL IS NOT THE DOMINANT FORCE IN OUR LIVES. In terms of practicality, our will is what matters most, but it should not be this way! Vance Havner said it this way, "Too many of us today are shaky about what we believe, BUT NOT SHAKEN BY WHAT WE BELIEVE." Our faith doesn’t shake us or have a hold on us. The Christian life is about living for Christ and giving our lives to Him. It is putting Christ first in our lives no matter what or who comes our way. Its purpose is to reach out to all people in love and with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOb8ihacSM4
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Brown's Daily Word & India update 5-20-09
Good Morning,
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. It is going to be one of the ten best days. Thank you Jesus. On this day in 1959, my aunt ( my dad's only sister) died at the age of 35. This was the first death in our family. I still remember the day and all the events that surrounded the death my aunt. This was the first death in our immediate family that I experienced as a young boy. Praise the Lord for precious memories. We read in Philippians 1, "I thank my God at every remembrance of you".
There was a tenant in an apartment building whom loved God dearly. Her landlord on the other hand was an atheist and despised her faith. One day she ran out of food and money. She prayed out loud, “Oh dear God please help me in my time of need, I look to you and you alone to provide my needs, now please send me some food, for I’m tired and hungry.” The landlord heard the prayer through the wall and thought, “I’ll show her once and for all that God doesn’t care for her, that He doesn’t hear and answer prayers.” So he went to the grocery store and bought a bag of groceries and used his access key to get into her apartment and set the groceries on her dining room table. When the woman came in and found the groceries she began to praise God and thank Him for answering her prayers. The landlord was listening and went to her apartment and told her she was a religious fool and that God didn’t give her the groceries he said, “I gave you the groceries, there is no God.” And the lady replied, “You’re wrong, God gave me these groceries and he got the devil to pay for them.” Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” The Bible teaches that it is appropriate to present your requests to God. We are permitted to ask the God of the universe to act on our behalf. The Bible says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2,NIV) A.C. Dixon wrote, "When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend on prayer, we get what God can do." Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is near them that are of broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit."
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqvVcvCZOVs
Prayer Request:
Sri Junasa Nayak , Gadaguda , Via.G.Udayagiri , Dist .Kandhamal is a riot victim. On September 30th, 2008, early in the morning at 5 AM the rioters attacked him with homemade guns. His hands and legs were injured with bullet pellet injuries. He was treated in hospitals of Orissa. He was traced to the Rudangia Health camp on 03.05.2009, and MUT and CMC in Vellore are now helping to remove the pellets and give treatment.
Currently, Brother Junasa is in CMC Vellore for treatment; please pray for him. We are highly grateful and thankful to MUT and CMC Vellore, and particularly to Dr. Samuel Chittaranjan and Mr.J.J.Ratnakumar.
Thank you Lord for your grace and provision.
Pradeep C. Mallik
PS: Junasa (in English, Jonah) Nayak was my middle School classmate. He is married to one my first cousins. He is a deeply committed Christian, who is one of the victims of persecution of Christians by Hindu Radicals. His uncle was killed during the same attack on Christians last year (when Junasa was shot). CMC Vellore (The Christian Medical College of Vellore), one of the best Medical Institutions of Asia, is located in South India. It has 2500 bed hospital. Some of the best Christian surgeons and doctors around the world are trained there and practice there. I did my first Chaplaincy internship there in 1972. This great Institution was founded by Dr. Ida Scudder( one of the relatives of our dear friend Dr. George Miller, the past Presisent of Davis College". Dr. Ida Scudder was the first female graduate of Cornell Medical College. Dr. Scudder served the Lord all the days of her life . She died in Vellore and is buried there.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. It is going to be one of the ten best days. Thank you Jesus. On this day in 1959, my aunt ( my dad's only sister) died at the age of 35. This was the first death in our family. I still remember the day and all the events that surrounded the death my aunt. This was the first death in our immediate family that I experienced as a young boy. Praise the Lord for precious memories. We read in Philippians 1, "I thank my God at every remembrance of you".
There was a tenant in an apartment building whom loved God dearly. Her landlord on the other hand was an atheist and despised her faith. One day she ran out of food and money. She prayed out loud, “Oh dear God please help me in my time of need, I look to you and you alone to provide my needs, now please send me some food, for I’m tired and hungry.” The landlord heard the prayer through the wall and thought, “I’ll show her once and for all that God doesn’t care for her, that He doesn’t hear and answer prayers.” So he went to the grocery store and bought a bag of groceries and used his access key to get into her apartment and set the groceries on her dining room table. When the woman came in and found the groceries she began to praise God and thank Him for answering her prayers. The landlord was listening and went to her apartment and told her she was a religious fool and that God didn’t give her the groceries he said, “I gave you the groceries, there is no God.” And the lady replied, “You’re wrong, God gave me these groceries and he got the devil to pay for them.” Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” The Bible teaches that it is appropriate to present your requests to God. We are permitted to ask the God of the universe to act on our behalf. The Bible says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2,NIV) A.C. Dixon wrote, "When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend on prayer, we get what God can do." Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is near them that are of broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit."
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqvVcvCZOVs
Prayer Request:
Sri Junasa Nayak , Gadaguda , Via.G.Udayagiri , Dist .Kandhamal is a riot victim. On September 30th, 2008, early in the morning at 5 AM the rioters attacked him with homemade guns. His hands and legs were injured with bullet pellet injuries. He was treated in hospitals of Orissa. He was traced to the Rudangia Health camp on 03.05.2009, and MUT and CMC in Vellore are now helping to remove the pellets and give treatment.
Currently, Brother Junasa is in CMC Vellore for treatment; please pray for him. We are highly grateful and thankful to MUT and CMC Vellore, and particularly to Dr. Samuel Chittaranjan and Mr.J.J.Ratnakumar.
Thank you Lord for your grace and provision.
Pradeep C. Mallik
PS: Junasa (in English, Jonah) Nayak was my middle School classmate. He is married to one my first cousins. He is a deeply committed Christian, who is one of the victims of persecution of Christians by Hindu Radicals. His uncle was killed during the same attack on Christians last year (when Junasa was shot). CMC Vellore (The Christian Medical College of Vellore), one of the best Medical Institutions of Asia, is located in South India. It has 2500 bed hospital. Some of the best Christian surgeons and doctors around the world are trained there and practice there. I did my first Chaplaincy internship there in 1972. This great Institution was founded by Dr. Ida Scudder( one of the relatives of our dear friend Dr. George Miller, the past Presisent of Davis College". Dr. Ida Scudder was the first female graduate of Cornell Medical College. Dr. Scudder served the Lord all the days of her life . She died in Vellore and is buried there.
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