WorldNetDaily: D. James Kennedy dies

WorldNetDaily: D. James Kennedy dies: "D. James Kennedy, author, theologian, biblical scholar, pastor of the 10,000-member 'Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church' in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and founder of the highly influential Coral Ridge Ministries, died early this morning in his sleep. Bryan Fisher, Coral Ridge's executive vice president, said Kennedy died at about 3 a.m. Kennedy launched his weekly one-hour television show, 'The Coral Ridge Hour,' in 1978. It has been broadcast nationally every Sunday morning on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and syndicated on various other networks. Available to 81 percent of the nation's television households, 'The Coral Ridge Hour' has the greatest number of TV station affiliates of any religious program in the U.S."

My 45th birthday: a photo essay

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This photo essay tells a story of how I spend my birthday on June 10, 2003. It shows a full of emotions as commune with God and Nature.

Hostages' Pastor: 'Remorse Is the Face of the Church' | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Hostages' Pastor: 'Remorse Is the Face of the Church' | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction: "Interview with Park Eun-jo: 'I don't want this to be a stumbling block for missions.' Sarah Pulliam | posted 9/04/2007 08:49AM The 19 South Koreans freed by the Taliban returned to Seoul Sunday as the church that sent the group fields critical remarks for sending members to such a volatile country. Related articles and links The return ends a 43-day ordeal in which two hostages were killed, including Bae Hyung-kyu, an associate pastor at Saemmul Church. Before they left Afghanistan, the hostages apologized at a press conference for the trouble they had caused South Korea. 'I've had sleepless nights, thinking of what we have caused the country. I am deeply sorry,' Yu Kyeong-sik said at a press conference. 'Remorse is the face of the church,' said Park Eun-jo, senior pastor of Saemmul Church. The Presbyterian congregation that sponsored the trip, in the Seoul suburb of Bundang, has a weekly attendance of about 5,000 people."

My Testimony

I was raised in a typical lifestyle of suburbia in the Northeastern United States. My Catholic mother and Catechism classes influenced my early religious experiences. These experiences were interesting through high school, but my Protestant father’s influence and my education left me with many questions. However, I had a spiritual awakening on July 2, 1986 at age 28 after more than 15 years of active addiction. I entered recovery and my spiritual life was totally centered on a 12-step program. The life was good, but I knew in my heart something was missing. After nine years of recovery, I knew addiction was not the answer, but the spiritual pain was overwhelming. (The term spiritual here is a New Secularism way of defining an emotional state as related to a Higher Power and not a relationship with Jesus Christ.) I had a career and prosperity, but Beamers and condos did not satisfy. I was educated but my intellectual life was dormant to the point of depression.

In the mid-90’s I began seeking God in the various Churches. I remember thinking I was some kind of closet Christian because I had began discretely reading the Bible more after I began recovery. The Bible reading gave me some simple awakenings. For example, Matthew 6:10 the instruction was that God put me on earth and I was not in heaven. I needed a vocabulary lesson because words like “believe” and “Heaven” had so many worldly magical inferences. The Bible helped me to realize my need for a Savior. When I changed my 12-step sponsor to someone I thought was a Christian, I said, “If I am in this much spiritual pain in a year then I am leaving.” (Again a New Secularism term of spiritual) That turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. One good thing this sponsor did was to introduce me to Christians who were attending a church in Philadelphia. I followed them and started attending this church, Calvary Chapel Philadelphia.

At this church, I watched the altar calls in amazement as people were coming to Jesus Christ. In a 1982 Christian concert, I foolishly thought the church planted people in the audience to go forward and accept Jesus.

One day, the pastor, Joe Focht, of Calvary Chapel Philadelphia made a small comment from the pulpit that struck a cord. He said, “Ok, you got clean from drugs and alcohol. Now you’re saved. So, let’s move on the next chapter” and then he flicked a page of the Bible over as if the discussion was finished. My jaw dropped and I said, “Wait a minute it can’t be that simple! I just spent all these years working on my spiritual program. There must be more!” I learned the blood of Jesus was the only way because my spiritual program had just revealed my sin.

This testimony may seem like one of those radical salvation stories, but finding redemption and hearing the Lord’s voice were very private and personal events. On February 19, 1996 I got a tattoo in a last ditch effort to hold on to my sin, because the Church will never accept an addict like me, recovered or not. In a short time afterwards, I was listening to Greg Laurie of Harvest Crusade on my BMW radio parked in my condo driveway. Greg made an invitation; I bowed and prayed to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.

I struggled with assurance because I did not make a public profession. However, a few months later at a Christian concert I when forward at an alter call and told the counselor that this was rededication prayer. In July of that year, I found myself on Grafton Street in Dublin Ireland on a summer mission trip. I wish I had the time and space to tell the story of how I first heard the voice of Jesus on Grafton with the team. I know that I know Him because I heard His voice personally.

I have been obedient to His calling in my eight-year walk the Lord. He showed me the inerrancy of the Scripture through Child Evangelism Fellowship. The Lord has allowed me to serve with Harvest Crusades and in Sunday School. These ministries helped me to grow and prepare for the ministry at JAARS. As a result being here at JAARS can only be a testament that my Jesus loves me.

To God be the Glory,

Dan King

Purifying Your Branch by Steve Arterburn

Purifying Your Branch

by Steve Arterburn

But if serving the Lord seems undesireable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . .But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 25:15

Let’s be honest: most of our family trees aren’t very pretty. In fact, for most of us, those branches are filled with adultery, pornography, divorce, substance abuse, addiction, physical violence, and more. And even if your family hasn’t been affected by one of these, your family history hasn’t failed to affect you in one way or another.

At some point, then, every man must decide: will I purify my branch of the family tree, or will I allow this poison to seep through to another generation?

Purifying your branch of the family tree begins with driving a stake into the ground with the decision that you and your family will follow Him.

When you do this, you transition your family from a pattern of sickness to the possibility of living for God. For generations to come, people will look at your family tree and see that under your leadership, life was influenced for good rather than for evil.

Going against the trends of past generations isn’t easy to do. But it’s worth the effort to blaze a new path—a path that’s honorable; a path that’s worth following; and a path that will show God’s grace and goodness to future generations.

“One must live the way one thinks or end up thinking the way one has lived. - Paul Bourget (1852-1935)

He Knows Battle, He Seeks The Romance From The Ransomed Heart, by John Eldredge, reading 245

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He Knows Battle, He Seeks The Romance
09/02/2007

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Let us first turn to the romance with God. How has he been wooing you? What has stirred your heart over the years?

We cannot control what the Romancer is up to, but there is a posture we can take. There is an openness to this stage that will enable us to recognize and receive the wooing. So let me ask—are you willing to let go of your insistence to control, meaning, to allow for a life that exists beyond the realm of analysis, to let some portions of your life be impractical, to cease evaluating all things based on their utility and function? Coming closer to the heart, are you willing to let passion rise in you, though undoubtedly it may unnerve you? To permit the healing of some of your deepest wounds? To let yourself be run through as with a rapier by Beauty itself? Are you willing, at some level, to be undone?

Then we may proceed.

To enter into the Romance we must slow down, or we will miss the wooing. Turn off the news and put on some music. Take a walk. Take up painting, or writing or reading poetry. Better still, what was it that stirred your heart over the years? Go and get it back.

This is hard to do, especially for men who are out conquering the world. But remember—what the evil one does to a good warrior if he cannot keep him the battle is to bury him in battles. But life is not all about the battle. The Romance is always central. Listen again to David:

Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD. (Ps. 27:3–4 NIV)

He knows battle, knows what it is to have God come through for him. He does not fear it; he is confidant as a seasoned warrior is confidant. But, he does not make it his heart’s desire. What he seeks is not battle—what he seeks is the romance with God. “To gaze upon the beauty of the LORD.”

(The Way of The Wild Heart , 206, 207)

My first letter from Mom, posted on the web

Dear friends and family,

I went to California for a two week vacation on July 5, 1977 and decided to stay. Mom mailed me this letter on August 26. In preparing Beth's eulogy, I found it a box labeled Memorabilia, that has been in storage for years. As reflected on it, I saw how my Mother's love was passed down to my sister. My heart was share my private letter as memorial to my sister's love, therefore it is now open letter. As I stood is the pulpit at my sister's viewing I read the letter was dated August 26. Mom wrote my letter 30 years to date and I almost lost it. Well, I did. Please continue to share our stories of love.

Web link: http://picasaweb.google.com/kingdan.610/MyFirstLetterFromMom

Beth: Hotel information

Dear friends and family,

Hotel: Holiday Inn Select Auburn Hills 1500 Opdyke Road Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326 Phone: (248) 373-4550 • Fax: (248) 373-8220 Toll Free: 1-800-HOLIDAY
Link: http://www.hisauburnhills.com/
The Modetz has the wrong phone number listed.

If you say "part of the Rogers party", should be special $89 rate. 25 rooms are reserved.

Party: Sunday at 7PM dinner party, fully catered, open bar until 11PM. Italian carving station.

Services: In-state at 12:00pm, Service at 4:00pm on Sunday, August 26th at:
Silverbell Chapel, Modetz Funeral Home

Location: Silverbell Chapel, Modetz Funeral Home 100 East Silverbell Road Orion, MI 48359

Web link: http://www.modetzfuneralhomes.com/
Please sign the e-guestbook on this website, especially if you are unable to join us at the services. Go to tab for Visitations and scroll down to Elizabeth Ann Rogers. The website has directions.

We'd love to see you.

I have been uploading some more photos to Web today.
Photos Link: http://picasaweb.google.com/kingdan.610

(Please do not assume I have been able to send this announcement to every member of our group. You have my permission to forward it at will. Please keep our friends without email up to date.)

Beth's arrangements

Dear friends and family,

Obituary: A graveside service will be held on Monday, August 27, 2007, 10 AM at Perry Mount Park Cemetery.

Visitations: 12:00pm - 4:00pm on Sunday, August 26^th

Services: In-state at 12:00pm, Service at 4:00pm on Sunday, August 26th at: Silverbell Chapel, Modetz Funeral Home

Memorial: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI 48201

Cemetery: Perry Mount Park Cemetery 878 North Perry Street Pontiac, MI 48342

Location: Silverbell Chapel, Modetz Funeral Home 100 East Silverbell Road Orion, MI 48359

Web link: http://www.modetzfuneralhomes.com/

Please sign the e-guestbook on this website, especially if you are unable to join us at the services. Go to tab for Visitations and scroll down to Elizabeth Ann Rogers. The website has directions.

We will have the hotel from the wake tomorrow. We'd love to see you.

I have been uploading some more photos to Web today.

Photos Link: http://picasaweb.google.com/kingdan.610

(Please do not assume I have been able to send this announcement to every member of our group. You have my permission to forward it at will. Please keep our friends without email up to date.)

Beth announcement

Dear friends and family,

My sister, Beth, passed at 8:39AM, Wednesday, August, 22, 2007. Happenstance, Mom passed at 8:41PM, Friday, August, 30, 1985 of the same disease and near the same age.

Lee, Cheryl's husband, told me she fought all night. I hope Cheryl and the family there gets some rest today.

Cheryl and I stayed up late Saturday night going through photos. Jimmie, her husband, wants to blow up a few because it will be closed casket.

Beth's wish was to not have a religious service, one for the intermediate family and another for everyone else. Their another wish to have wake at the hotel accompanied by festivity.

My niece and nephew don't recognize their Uncle Dan. Marissa is 10~ and Stone is 8. I hope can connect with them somehow.

My family has asked me for a eulogy. I have written out sometime, however it needs some revision to the sensitivities on my family.

Plans have been made, however no date is set yet. Jimmie wants to want to get give the family time to get there. We have large extended family, 45 cousins. We'd love to see you. Stay tuned for more details.

Beth and Jimmie Rogers' address is:
1373 Ashover Drive
Bloomfield Hills MI 48304

(Please do not assume I have been able to send this announcement to every member of our group. You have my permission to forward it at will. Please keep our friends without email up to date.)

I will be uploading some more photos to Web today.
Link: http://picasaweb.google.com/kingdan.610

The Ransomed Heart - The Power of Addiction

The Power of Addiction 08/11/2007 This is the power of addiction. Whatever the object of our addiction is, it attaches itself to our intense desire for eternal and intimate communion with God and each other in the midst of Paradise—the desire that Jesus himself placed in us before the beginning of the world. Nothing less than this kind of unfallen communion will ever satisfy our desire or allow it to drink freely without imprisoning it and us. Once we allow our heart to drink water from these less-than-eternal wells with the goal of finding the life we were made for, it overpowers our will, and becomes, as Jonathan Edwards said, “like a viper, hissing and spitting at God” and us if we try to restrain it. “Nothing is less in power than the heart and far from commanding, we are forced to obey it,” said Jean Rousseau. Our heart will carry us either to God or to addiction. “Addiction is the most powerful psychic enemy of humanity’s desire for God,” says Gerald May in Addiction and Grace, which is no doubt why it is one of our adversary’s favorite ways to imprison us. Once taken captive, trying to free ourselves through willpower is futile. Only God’s Spirit himself can free us or even bring us to our senses. (The Sacred Romance , 133–34) From The Ransomed Heart, by John Eldredge, reading 223 Ransomed Heart Ministries www.ransomedheart.com

Covert message from the Geek Squad

Warning:This message will self destruct in 59 seconds

Mission Control has recruited me to be a Counter Intelligence Agent (CIA for short).

The first assignment will be to the Geek Squad Precinct in Rock Hill, SC, USA.

An requisition is in route to my current location.
The delivery package will include clip-on ties, white socks, shiny black shoes and maybe a badge.
All are standard issue for cool agents.

As loyal civilian of the blogger-sphere you now have 10 seconds to pray for my continued protection and a mission accomplished.

Over and out for now,
Alias: KingDan

WorldNetDaily: NAFTA Superhighway traffic tied to bridge collapse

WorldNetDaily: NAFTA Superhighway traffic tied to bridge collapse: "Evidence of increasing international trade truck traffic on Interstate 35 through Minnesota raises concerns that NAFTA Superhighway traffic contributed to last week's collapse of the freeway bridge in Minneapolis."

WorldNetDaily: Top 'conservative' websites compiled

WorldNetDaily: Top 'conservative' websites compiled: "The DrudgeReport is the top conservative political website of 2007, followed by FoxNews.com, according to a survey by IntellectualConservative.com.

The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, WorldNetDaily, Newsmax, Boston Herald, Free Republic, TownHall and U.S. News & World Report rounded out the top 10.

While WND has never considered itself 'conservative,' it is currently ranked as the No. 1 conservative website by Alexa.com, the public rankings agency affiliated with Amazon.com.

WND is also ranked as the 861st biggest website of any kind in the U.S. and No. 1 in the Alexa category of News and Media."

Prayer

"We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers". (1 Thessalonians 1:2) Do you give thanks to God for those He has placed in your life, even though that person may not be a real joy to deal with? Do you pray for someone without knowing why you are praying for them, only to find out that, they were in dire need of prayer and intercession? God places people on our hearts so we may stand in the gap, in prayer for even the unknown things. many times I have prayed for someone, only to find out, they really needed it. Never discard an impression from God as your thought and not His. After all, the more we pray, the more we stand before His Throne and the more we get to know Him and His love. So know for sure, that someone on this list, or someone across the globe, myself, is in prayer for you at any given moment when God places you on a praying heart.

Lord God, thank You for the love and compassion You have for me, and may I show that love and compassion to others. Thank You for the gift of prayer and especially for the times You place someone on my heart to pray for. Thank You for those who pray for me, sometimes inadvertently, not knowing why, yet continue to lift my needs and concerns to You. Bless each one here today, meet their needs and provide for their comfort. This is my prayer in Jesus name, amen.

Have a great day.

"Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry" Psalm 47:1

--
In His Grip
Gary

Winget Park Movies

Winget Park Movies: "Welcome to Winget Park Movies!

We are so glad you've found your way to Southwest Charlotte's newest and exciting community gatherings. There is no better place to be on a summer evening than surrounded by family, friends and neighbors while enjoying a free, family-oriented movie. All ages and family members are invited!

July 20th is our first movie showing. The Pre-Show starts at 8:30 pm with movie starting at 9:00 pm. So grab a blanket and bring your family out to enjoy a free showing under the stars.

In case of rain, updates will be posted on this web site."

Higher beat rocks Furay: As a founding member of Buffalo Springfield and Poco

�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "Mr. Furay took time off from the music business and began hosting Bible study in his home in Boulder. Things grew from there, and today he is pastor of Calvary Chapel in Broomfield, near Boulder."

The Second Commandment Republicans - TIME

The Second Commandment Republicans - TIME: "But there is a striking change in the 2008 Republican presidential field. There are two candidates with strong religious credentials, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas and former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, and both spend far more time talking about good works than about sin, although each has the requisite positions on abortion and gay marriage. Indeed, it was Huckabee who reminded me of Chesterton's lament. 'I'm a 'grace' Christian,' Huckabee told me over lunch recently, 'not a 'law' Christian. The Second Commandment--do unto others--is the basic tenet of my faith. And so I believe that life begins at conception, but I don't believe it ends at birth. I believe we have a responsibility to feed the hungry, to provide a good education, a safe neighborhood, health care ... That's why I talk so much about the need for music and art programs in our schools. I know some conservatives think it's foolish, but I just believe it's necessary to build whole, creative individuals.'"

Urgent Prayer Request from Kurt Wiltsey

Kurt requested prayer for healing.

He is very sick and been in the hospital.

They did an MRI and the doctors are concerned about a possible tumor in his digestive system.

He was at a family reunion with his family in the mountains.
The plan is to have someone drive his car back to Charlotte tomorrow, Saturday.

Kurt asked for prayer and for us share his request with others.

Recommending Bible Plan

I liked Bible Plan and suggests that you check it out by going to http://BiblePlan.org/ yourself.

Jesus promised freedom for those who continue in His Word, so we have plans to help you read through the Bible. You can look at the different plans at http://BiblePlan.org.