DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

Father YHWH,I pray thanking You for allowing me, my family, church family, friends and enemies to come this far in the year 2011. No matter the circumstances that befall us in the year, me and others through faith gave our problems to You, knowing that You would solve them as promised if we through faith and prayer asked You. Thank You Father; Thank You also for our infirmities and health; Thank You for our jobs, homes and finances; Thank You for food on our tables. Father YHWH, if You allow us through grace and mercy to come into the new year 2012, we promise to continue to uphold and evangelize Your Word to others whenever we have the slightest chance. We promise to let our light shine before others that they may see our salvation through Christ Jesus. Father YHWH, we thank You for just being the only God that is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscience! In Your precious Son Jesus' name. Amen.

December 31 THE LORD IS KING! Freely adapted from Josiah Condor, 1789–1855 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:3) As we reflect on the joys, failures, and blessings of the past year, we can rejoice in the truth that we are personally related to the Lord Jehovah, who is king of heaven and earth and will reign forever. Some day we shall see Him and begin to enjoy His eternal presence. This vibrant hymn stirs us to praise and gratefulness for all of God’s leading in the past year. We will never “murmur at His wise decrees” if we remember His promises and reflect on how good and great He is. We are also reminded by this triumphant text that we must submit ourselves in humility to God’s will in our lives, trusting “His tender care” for us. Then we are to sing and shout His praise throughout each day! What a victorious life this suggests for us as believers as we approach another new year. The text of this fine hymn is an adaptation of one written earl

He is Able to Deliver You While in captivity, Daniel excelled over many years and under several Kings. His success so angered the Babylonian bureaucrats that they plotted to destroy him. They searched for a character flaw in him, but couldn’t find one. Instead, they baited a trap. They convinced King Darius to sign an irrevocable law forbidding prayer to anyone but the king. Daniel’s custom was to face Jerusalem and pray three times a day. He did not change this practice when he learned of the new law. His enemies plotted and schemed and successfully caught Daniel breaking the law—they caught him in the terrible act of praying. They reported him to the King. The news deeply troubled King Darius. In a moment of vanity, he declared an irrevocable law that was about to destroy one of his closest advisors. He had no choice, he had to carry out the punishment prescribed by the law—to cast Daniel into the den of lions. The times looked bleak, but Daniel slept comfortably with the lion

New Year ... This is the last Friday in the year 2011. Thank and praise God for his grace and mercy allowing you to live this far and to read this writing. The next moment is not given to you, so take this moment before reading on to STOP IMMEDIATELY and thank Him. God says that "not everyone will be saved"; He would like to have everyone saved, but that is not to be. Jesus said that you should "... be prepared. For the next moment is not promise ..." Why am I writing about New Year ...? I am writing about the New Year ..., because me nor you may not make it to the last second (11:59:59) of 2011. If you're not saved by the blood of Jesus, then COME NOW WHILE YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SOUL SAVED FOR ETERNITY. Resolutions are made to be broken moments after they are vowed; A vow made to YHWH is for eternity even when we sin; He will not break his promise to you of forgiveness; if you make a mistake along the way; we sin daily and we--saved--have a pr

December 30 JESUS SHALL REIGN Isaac Watts, 1674–1748 The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. (Psalm 50:1) The spread of Christianity has been phenomenal. In spite of cruel persecution of Christ’s followers in the first three centuries A.D. and from time to time through the years since, His kingdom has continued to spread to “realms and people of every tongue.” Periods of attack on believers have served only to increase their fervor and growth. Then in recent years, with the rapid development of technology—radio, television, gospel films, Bible translations and distributions—the preaching of the gospel has been heard by more people than ever before in the history of mankind. When this stirring hymn was written in 1719, however, the evangelical missionary movement that we know in our time had scarcely begun. In 1779 William Carey was one of the first to try to persuade Christians to carry the gospel message to

Degrees of Sin I would rather someone be angry with me than murder me, but that doesn’t mean that anger isn’t a sin. It is. Jesus did not teach that there are any unimportant sins. On the contrary. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus went to the heart of overt sin—He showed that it began with an attitude that needed to be changed. For instance, He said: “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ [22] “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” (Matthew 5:21–22 NASB) Anger is the seed of murder, it is where it begins. It isn’t unimportant. By itself it is a terrible sin, but it has the capacity to become a worse sin, it can end in death. Jesus also said, “You have heard that

Let the world know of your love for YHWH through His Son Christ Jesus, But before you can let your light shine for YHWH, you must: Accept Him as your Lord and Savior. Earnestly and truly repent of your sins; Then will the Holly Spirit of YHWH immediately come and indwell within you. Now you can pray and talk with Him through the Holy Spirit and through His Son Christ Jesus, And your answer(s) will immediately return to you in righteousness. YHWH does answer sinners prayers when we come boldly before the throne humble, honest and repentant. YHWH heard me and you when we were yet sinners: Dirty, nasty, lost and on our way to Hades., STOP telling secular's that YHWH does not hear sinners prayers; He heard me and you didn't He? - Rev. Lynwood f. Mundy

December 29 THERE’LL BE NO DARK VALLEY William O. Cushing, 1823–1902 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Revelation 21:4) There is a land of pure delight, where saints immortal reign; Eternal day excludes the night, and pleasures banish pain. —Isaac Watts In every life there will be some “dark valleys.” Difficult days cannot be avoided. In fact, the lives of some believers seem to be filled with affliction and suffering. But for the child of God, there is glorious relief just ahead … the return of Christ and the promise of a land of endless delight. The prospect of Gods’ tomorrow also means a time of joyous reunion with loved ones who have preceded us. Truly “there’ll be songs of greeting when Jesus comes …” William Orcutt Cushing knew the meaning of “dark valleys” in his life. After more than 20 years of successfully pastoring Disciples of Christ churches in the state

Deeds The bombing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 is bringing the best out of most people, and the worst out of others. The rescue workers, some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice, inspire me. Democrats and Republicans are getting along with one another, setting aside their partisan bickering to do the Nation’s work. I’ve followed politics for years, and I’ve never seen anything like it. The other day I heard a lawyer on one of the morning talk shows talk about how his firm is working pro bono to file the forms to help the victims’ families get their death certificates. I was amazed at his generosity. Not only are they not charging for their services, but they’ve set aside their paying clients to work for free. All I can say is, may God bless these generous people, and God bless America! But the tragedy is also bringing the worst out of other people. Bogus charities are surfacing trying to scam people out of their money. They are making door-to-do

As the year 2011 is about to close around your personal gains and losses, The world had its ups and downs as well: Deaths of world and terrorists leaders, political turmoils and people dying for freedom/democracy, disrespect for the American President Obama because of the color of his skin, And Caucasians not wanting to take orders from a black man, Political parties main topic is to oust the American black President, And not caring about the welfare of the nation as a whole with partiality for the rich/famous. Pray for love for all peoples of the world, No matter their religious affiliations, creed or color. There will never be peace on earth, Nor the worlds powers will destroy the world; Man cannot destroy what God created, And peace will not come to earth until the Second Advent of Christ Jesus as the Judge of the World. Then and only then will there be peace. - Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy

December 28 CHRIST RETURNETH! H. L. Turner, 19th century I will come again, and receive you unto Myself. (John 14:3 KJV) The promise of Christ’s return has been a source of much comfort to God’s people through the centuries. However, it has also caused disagreement and even some divisions within the church. Not all Bible students and groups of Christians are agreed on the outline of future events. Even a casual acquaintance with the study of eschatology (the doctrine of the last things) will soon introduce such conflicting terms and interpretations as postmillennialism, amillennialism, premillennialism, posttribulation, midtribulation, and pretribulation. Each of these positions has the support of excellent biblical scholarship and many sincere Christian followers. It is easy for believers to get confused with the many aspects of Christ’s return. Although Christians may disagree on some of the specifics related to future prophecy, most will agree on these basics: Christ will return

Darkness September 9, 2000 was a day like any other day for Larry and Terry Singletary, Southern Baptist Missionaries to Uganda, as they drove toward Karamoja, Uganda with their two teenage children in the back seat of their car. But it wasn’t just any day. A tribal warrior stepped out of the tall grass that flanks the primitive road, and when he saw them, darted back into the cover. A few seconds later, he reappeared with an AK-47 aiming toward their car. That’s when Larry noticed a second armed man on the other side of the road. Larry slammed on the breaks, threw the gearshift in reverse, pointed the car back toward safety, and sped away. Automatic weapons blazed. One bullet lodged between Andy’s (19) and Jackie’s (15) back seat. Another one shattered Andy’s window, and shrapnel from a third lodged in Jackie’s back. As the sound of the gunfire waned, it looked like the family had escaped danger, until they heard a tire blow. Cautiously, Larry got out of the car to change the ti

December 27 LO! HE COMES, WITH CLOUDS DESCENDING Charles Wesley, 1707–1788 Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. (Revelation 1:7) When Jesus made His first entrance to earth, He was seen by only a small group of people—a few lowly shepherds and later by some wandering wise men. Bethlehem’s stable birth attracted little attention and had limited immediate effect upon the rest of the world. It was nearly 30 years before Christ’s earthly ministry gained much notice. What a contrast it will be when He returns for His second advent—every eye “shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). Even those who crucified God’s Son will see and mourn, as will people from every tribe and nation because of their rejection of Him. But for those who have trusted in His redemptive work, the days of mourning will b

The Cure In 1879, Louis Pasteur ceased his investigation of an outbreak of chicken cholera to go on vacation. When he returned, he injected some chickens with germs that were left in some flasks while he was on vacation. The chickens didn’t get sick. Thinking the germs in the flasks had “spoiled,” he collected some fresh germs and injected them into the same chickens and some new chickens he bought at a market. All the new chickens died, while all of those injected with the “weakened cholera” survived. As he reflected on the experience, Pasteur remembered a discovery, Edward Jenner made 83 years earlier. Jenner observed that milkmaids who contracted cowpox never contracted smallpox. Seeing the cause and effect, Jenner created a vaccine using a weakened form of the cowpox to innoculate his patients against smallpox. It worked, but most scientists dismissed it as a “folk remedy.” Pasteur knew he was on to something and began a series of experiments that laid the foundation for modern

December 26 GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN Stanzas by John W. Work, 1871–1925 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” (Isaiah 40:9) For many people, another Christmas season is merely a rerun of the trivial and the sentimental. But for the devoted Christian, Christmas is much more than a once a year celebration. It is a fresh awareness that a Deliverer was sent from the ivory palaces of heaven to become personally involved in the redemption and affairs of the human race. The impact of this realization becomes a strong motivation to share the good news with needy and desperate people who need to know that there is an Emmanuel available who can meet their every need. Men everywhere must hear these glad tidings if they are to benefit from them. With absolute clarity they must hear the message, “Here is your God!” Negro

Culture “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16 NIV) Much of the culture wars in our society, in my humble opinion represent misplaced energy. We lament that “the liberals have taken prayer and the bible out of our schools” when we should be repenting from the sin of unopened bibles and unbent knees in our own homes. Criticizing culture doesn’t advance the cause of the gospel. Other churches have reacted to the culture issue by becoming “culturally relevant.” If the venture doesn’t become an end in itself, I suppose there is nothing inherently wrong with being relevant. Not as long as we don’t lose sight of our primary goal. It is one thing for a church to be culturally relevant, but quite another to leverage culture for the gospel’s advantage. In a Leadership Journal article, Chad Hall, lead Pastor of Connection Church in Hickory, North Carolina wrote, “We bel

In the World This Week with the Word The Sunday School Lesson

December 25 THOU DIDST LEAVE THY THRONE Emily E. S. Elliott, 1836–1897 I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) This spiritually enriching text differs from the usual Christmas songs since it focuses not only on Jesus’ birth but also on His life on earth, His suffering and death, and the ultimate triumph of His second advent. This hymn was written by Emily Elliott to teach children the truths of the advent and nativity seasons. Emily’s life was filled with benevolent activities in rescue missions and in the work of the Sunday school movement of that time. Although she wrote this text for the children of her father’s church, St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Brighton, England, the easily understood wording, the poetic imagery, and the spiritual truths found in these excellent lines soon made the hymn a widespread favorite everywhere. The clear message of each verse is accentuated by the use of contrasting sentences, each beginning with the word “but.”

December 24 SILENT NIGHT! HOLY NIGHT! Joseph Mohr, 1792–1848 English translation by John F. Young, 1820–1885 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: He is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11) When this beloved hymn was written by two humble church leaders for their own mountain village parishioners, little did they realize how universal its influence would eventually be. Joseph Mohr, assistant priest in the Church of St. Nicholas in the region of Tyrol, high in the beautiful Alps, and Franz Gruber, the village schoolmaster and church organist, had often talked about the fact that the perfect Christmas hymn had never been written. So Father Mohr had this goal in mind when he received word that the church organ would not function. He decided that he must write his own Christmas hymn immediately in order to have music for the special Christmas Eve mass. He did not want to disappoint his faithful flock. Upon completing the text, he took his words to Franz Gruber, who exclaime

Christmas Decorations As I’m getting older, I find that I like some of the icons of the Christmas season that I once rejected. In the past, decorations and traditions seemed a bit sacrilegious to me. I thought that if I had a picture of Santa Claus in my home or if we went overboard decorating, we’d be missing the real meaning of Christmas. And I suppose that if those things were the final destination I’d have been right. Today when I see a Christmas tree, I am reminded that the first Adam took the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil from his wife and sinned against a holy God (Gen 3:6), but that the second Adam, took the fruit of that sin and bleed and died on another tree to pay the price of that sin. When I smell the scent of the evergreen, I’m reminded that the new life I enjoy because of what Jesus did on the cross gives me everlasting life (John 3:16). The ornaments hanging on the tree also remind me of what Jesus has done for me. When I see the red ones, I thi

Until Christmas day, this daily e-mailing will lead you the reader's up to Christmas day with biblical details of Jesus' birth from the pregnancy of Mary his mother by the Holy Spirit of YHWH. Remember that the celebration of Christmas is for Jesus' birth and not the giving of gifts to each other. JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. Travel with the ministry for the next 3 days to Christmas with biblical chronology of His birth. Lets remember that Jesus' exact birth date is unknown. - Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy Note: The Magnificat is one of the Bible's most beautiful songs of praise to God recorded. Read: Luke 1:46-55 MAGNIFICAT [măg nĭfˊə kăt].† The name commonly given to Mary’s song of praise (Luke 1:46–55), from the first word of the Latin translation of the song: “Magnificat anima mea Dominum.…” Like the related songs in 1:68–79; 2:29–32, the Magnificat represents what would be expected of common Palestinian Jews such as the speakers are portrayed. What is hoped

December 23 I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY Henry W. Longfellow, 1807–1882 And He will be their peace. (Micah 5:5) The cruel miseries caused by the Civil War greatly distressed the beloved American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. With heaviness of spirit he put his thoughts into words to create this fine carol. Since he was the most influential American poet of his day, Longfellow brought fresh courage and renewed faith to many of his countrymen who read this poem. Although he was a member of the Unitarian church, he maintained a strong belief in God’s goodness and personal concern for His people. “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” was written in 1864 for the Sunday school of the Unitarian Church of the Disciples in Boston, Massachusetts. It originally had seven stanzas and was titled “Christmas Bells.” References to the Civil War are prevalent in the omitted verses. The plain, direct wording of the present five stanzas gives this clear message: God is still in command and i

Costly Christmas Is Christmas too costly? The average American will spend more than $800.00 on Christmas this year, according to the CNN Financial Network. Is this too much? Are there ways to cut costs and still celebrate Christmas? There is no way to answer those questions without first coming to grips with what you want to accomplish this Christmas. Exorbitant spending will be necessary if your goal is to impress people, but modest spending is sufficient to express your appreciation or affection for your friends and family. This Christmas, my goal is, “to celebrate Jesus’s birth by worshiping with my Church, and cherishing my family. I will express my love by giving of my time, attention and gifts.” In making out your gift list, don’t neglect non monetary expressions of your love. Wives, would you like to get a love letter from your husband attached to his gift to you? Children, would you like to get an entire afternoon of your Dad’s time? Husbands, would you like a romantic even

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18

December 22 GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN, REJOICE Latin carol, 14th century Translation by John M. Neale, 1818–1866 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones. (Isaiah 49:13) As this sprightly carol reminds us, Christmas should be the most joyous season of the year for all true Christians. Our lives should be filled with gratitude to God for the immeasurable love shown to us in the gift of His Son. Out of joyous hearts we should be exuberant in “heart and soul and voice!” This ancient hymn uses frequent repetition to impress upon us that the birth of Christ won for us “endless bliss” by opening the way to heaven and conquering our fear of death through His assurance of eternal life. The festive spirit of Christmas, however, should not fade away as the holiday passes. The joy and peace that Christ brings to our lives should enable us to be continually rejoicing Christians, regardless

Cooking I never thought of myself as a good cook. Oh, I can heat up a TV Dinner with the best of them, and I can flip a burger on the grill, but I’m not much of a cook. One of my problems is I can’t follow a recipe. When Susan cooks, she carefully measures out a cup of this and a teaspoon of that; cooking to her is an exact science. Not me. I mean what difference does it really make if I use a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon? And if a cup of walnuts is good, wouldn’t a cup and a half be better? The recipe thing is the least of my problems. When I go through the cabinets to find an ingredient, I’ll spot the jar of ground up green chile and think, “Hey, that would go good with this dish, wouldn’t it?” That one discovery begins a domino effect in my mind. “I wonder if Vanilla Extract would work with the pot roast? Hmm, what’s Cumin? How would it taste? Cinnamon? Cinnamon goes with everything, right? Don’t we still have some watermelon in the fridge?” You see my point, don’t you? I’m l

SUPPORTING IDEA, God provides confirmation for the promises he gives. Luke 1:39–41. Ready to serve but also anxious to see evidence of God’s other miracle, Mary headed for the hill country to visit relatives. First words of greeting brought encouraging confirmation in two ways: the baby jumped in the womb and the Spirit spoke. Luke 1:42–45. Spirit-inspired words from Elizabeth rained blessing on Mary. They distinguished Mary from all other women. She had God’s grace and presence (v. 28) in unique measure, but not in measure that lifted her up for eternal praise and worship. Mary’s blessing came not from who she was or would become. Mary’s blessing came from the holy baby whom she carried in her womb. This blessed child placed Mary in the position of blessing. God had turned his eyes to Elizabeth (v. 25) but had set his Savior in Mary. Just to stand in such presence awed Elizabeth. How did she deserve the opportunity to stand in the presence of the mother of her Lord? Even before his

December 21 WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE Words and Music by John H. Hopkins, 1820–1891 And when they were come into the house, they [the wise men] saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11) Each of the participants involved with Christ’s birth—Mary and Joseph, the inn keeper, the angels, shepherds, and wise men—has much to teach us. Although there is no scriptural basis for stating dogmatically that there were three wise men, the fact that three distinct gifts are mentioned has given rise to this traditional idea. Master artists throughout the centuries have depicted three wise men on camels as one of their favorite nativity themes. The number of wise men is not important, but the fact that they persisted in following the light that was given them until they found the object of their search, that they responded in worship, and that

Contentment It was my sixth birthday; I felt so special. We had a party with hats, pretty plates, special punch and a great big birthday cake. All my friends came, that was good. All my friends came with presents, that was better. I made my wish, blew out the candles and smiled. I felt invincible on August 27, 1965, like everything would always go my way. I was not quite thirteen. We lived on the plains of West Texas, where the wind howled, rattlesnakes slithered, and everyone worked hard. One afternoon, I was helping a farmer move his equipment from one section of land to another. He drove the tractor, I drove his bright red, new Chevrolet pickup. I put my foot on the accelerator trying to catch up to him, the wheels turned sharply when the front end hit a sandbar in the middle of the dirt road, the pickup went from one side of the road to the other until, finally, I lost control. It crashed into the bar ditch through a barb wired fence onto a nearby field. The impact thrust me thr

Joseph is Helped in His Understanding “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’” Matthew 1:19–20 This is a good summary of the divine conception of Jesus. To be completely accurate, we should refer to the “virgin conception” of Jesus, rather than the “virgin birth” of Jesus. Mark Water, Bible Teachings Made Easy, The Made Easy Series ( Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishers Ltd, 1998). 42.

December 20 WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS Nahum Tate, 1652–1715 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11) In the spring of the year, the lambing season, shepherds in ancient times would sit all night beside their flocks, watching for wolves or other dangers and even feeding orphan lambs with milk on a soaked rag. No doubt this is why these shepherds were seated on the ground the night Jesus was born, for biblical scholars believe the event was actually some time in April. It would be natural for these humble men to be fearful, not only for themselves but also for their flock, when the brilliant light and the voices of the angels pierced the silent night. But with what wonder and exultation they must have heard the astounding news! Are we surprised that they forgot their duty to their flocks and hastened joyfully, though perhaps doubtfully, to see the Holy Babe in the manger with their own eyes? This clearly written, colorful

Communion For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. [27] Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. [28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (1 Cor. 11:26–28) We believe that the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, like baptism is symbolic. It also shows the central truth of the gospel, the death of our Lord For our sins. It is a time for us to commemorate our Lord’s Death (verse 26) Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of me.” Jesus was saying, “This is how I want to be remembered. When you observe the Lord’s Supper, think of my death for you.” He could have asked to be remembered by his marvelous teachings, his words of wisdom, his deeds of mercy, his healing, or his powerful miracles; but he said, “This do, in remembrance of me. Remember my death on the cross for you. Remember my brok

Until Christmas day, this daily e-mailing will lead you the reader's up to Christmas day with biblical details of Jesus' birth from the pregnancy of Mary his mother by the Holy Spirit of YHWH. Remember that the celebration of Christmas is for Jesus' birth and not the giving of gifts to each other. JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. Travel with the ministry for the next 7 days to Christmas with biblical chronology of His birth. Lets remember that Jesus' exact birth date is unknown. - Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy Mary’s Pregnancy “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: his mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18 “Pledged to be married” was a more binding relationship than our present-day engagement. It could only be ended by a divorce. The Jews did not have sexual intercourse during this time of betrothal. Mary’s pregnancy was not the result of any human ac

December 19 WHILE BY OUR SHEEP German carol, Translated by Theodore Baker, 1851–1934 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:20) It was a cold, clear night. The stars twinkled above and an air of peaceful serenity settled calmly over the field outside of Bethlehem. The fire was burning low as the shepherds sprawled out to rest among their sheep. “What is the meaning of that star?” asked one of the younger boys. As some turned to look, the star seemed to sparkle with a glorious glow, almost hanging over Bethlehem. Then suddenly they were blinded by a brilliant light! They cried out in fright and hid their faces on the ground. The consoling voice of an angel calmed their spirits as they listened in rapture to the blessed announcement of the long-awaited Messiah. How great was their joy! Have you ever wondered why these simple, uncouth shepherds without wealth, power, or social posit

Compassion University of California at Santa Cruz isn’t a typical college. Recently they made the national news when their students started protesting the administration’s decision to start giving letter grades. Their bathrooms are co-ed., and their politics are liberal. A few weeks ago, a resident assistant at one of the dorms invited Dan Kimball, Pastor of Graceland Church, “a church within a church” of the Santa Cruz Bible Church, to be a part of an open forum on Christianity. Maybe it was because of the publicity generated by proposition 22, a ballot measure that defined marriage as “between a man and a woman” or the simple fact that the University has a large gay population, but homosexuality was the issue. “But people have these feelings,” one participant said, “why would God give us these feelings, and not expect us to act on them?” Gently, Kimball commented, “Some people have violent tendencies too, but that doesn’t mean violence is OK.” In response to the questions, Kimbal

Consecrate yourself before going to you respective church or synagogue with all of your heart, mind and soul. Almighty Father, bless those churches that teach and preach Your Word as it is written with power from You. May those that hear Your Word become doers of Your Word, And evangelize too bring those that do not know You through Your Son Christ Jesus in the pardoning of their sins, Come to Jesus through faith, and have eternal live eternally. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. - Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy

In the World This Week with the Word The Sunday School Lesson

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2011 | ADVENT FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR B Old Testament 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16 Psalm Luke 1:47–55 or Psalm 89:1–4, 19–26 New Testament Romans 16:25–27 Gospel Luke 1:26–38 Revised Common Lectionary (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009).

Costly Christmas Is Christmas too costly? The average American will spend more than $800.00 on Christmas this year, according to the CNN Financial Network. Is this too much? Are there ways to cut costs and still celebrate Christmas? There is no way to answer those questions without first coming to grips with what you want to accomplish this Christmas. Exorbitant spending will be necessary if your goal is to impress people, but modest spending is sufficient to express your appreciation or affection for your friends and family. This Christmas, my goal is, “to celebrate Jesus’s birth by worshiping with my Church, and cherishing my family. I will express my love by giving of my time, attention and gifts.” In making out your gift list, don’t neglect non monetary expressions of your love. Wives, would you like to get a love letter from your husband attached to his gift to you? Children, would you like to get an entire afternoon of your Dad’s time? Husbands, would you like a romantic even

December 18 THERE’S A SONG IN THE AIR! Josiah G. Holland, 1819–1881 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God … (Luke 2:13) What a beautiful scene is drawn for us in this joyful Christmas hymn! As we visualize once more the glorious chorus of angels, the brilliant star, and Mary watching over her babe in the lowly manger, we feel like joining the “heavenly throng” in their “tumult of joy” to greet our Savior and King! Josiah G. Holland created one of the most thoughtful and thrilling of all the carols that we sing during this season. It is no wonder that the angels’ song rang out so jubilantly: They knew it was the King of heaven and earth they serenaded. How little did those who followed the brilliant light of the star realize that through the ages the whole earth would be illumined by Christ the Lord (Revelation 22:16). Like those who saw the star, we “rejoice in the light, and we echo the song …” Born in Belchertown, Massachusetts, Josia

Self-Control He that would govern others, first should be Master of himself. —PHILIP MASSINGER, The Bondman Inc Merriam-Webster, The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations . (Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1992). 378.

December 17 IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR Edmund H. Sears, 1810–1876 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:13) The peace of Christmas, proclaimed by the heavenly chorus, is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. “God was reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). This message of reconciliation involves us on three different levels: Peace with God, peace with our fellowmen, and peace within ourselves. It is this blessed concept that Edmund Sears wanted to emphasize in his unusual carol. In the second stanza Sears stressed the social aspects of the angels’ message—the hope of Christians spreading peace and good will to others who are burdened and painfully toiling. The hymn was written in 1849, a time preceding the Civil War when there was much tension over the question of slavery, the industrial revolution in the North

Commitment A chicken and a pig were walking through the streets of New York city one day. They enjoyed the new sights and strange aromas as they casually strolled through the “Big Apple.” Their fascination turned into conversation when they noticed a small boy playing at the bottom of a tenement stoop. His clothes were tattered, his hair mussed and his face was dirty. He had a dull gaze in his eyes, he looked very unhappy. The pig said to the chicken: “I wished we could take this boy back to the farm with us and let him run in the fields.” “That would be wonderful,” responded the chicken, “he could play in the barn, ride the pony and fish in the pond.” “We can’t take him with us, his mother would miss him. But, I’d like to get involved and do something for him though, do you have any ideas Miss Chicken.” “Yes,” she responded, “I have a splendid idea, let’s feed the little boy a good country breakfast, If we can’t take him to the country, let’s bring the country to him.” Mr. pig wa

If the Jesus has saved you from your sins, tell somebody about Who saved you. The Word of God is too good to keep it to yourself. - Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy

December 16 THE FIRST NOEL English carol, before 1823 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (Luke 2:8) Although no Christmas season would be complete without the melodious singing of this tuneful carol, very little is known about its origin. It is believed to have had its rise in France during the 15th century. Noel is a French word originating from Latin meaning “birthday.” The song is thought to have been brought across the channel to England by the wandering troubadours. The carol under the English form, “Nowell,” became a great favorite for Christmas Eve, especially in the west of England. This was when the entire village gathered for singing and celebrating the bringing in of the Yule log. At this time carols were thought of as popular religious songs meant to be sung outside the church rather than within. “The First Noel” portrays in vivid narrative style the story of the birth of Christ. All six verses are needed

Classic Christians I’d love to own a 66 Ford Mustang. Susan had one before we were married but gave it away to a friend when the car broke down. I’ve often agonized that I didn’t meet her a few years earlier, who knows, she may have given it to me. I was just a little boy in ’66 when the pony first took to the road. A teenager in our Church drove one and took me for a ride. It was a red convertible; I was in love. Today the 66 Mustang, in great condition, costs more than it did when it was new. Collectors consider it a classic automobile. It has enduring value. Why is a Mustang a classic and a 76 Vega just an old car? The difference is reliability, style and durability. As you get older, do you want to be a classic, or just old? The key is reliability, style and durability. Are you a reliable person? Can people count on you? Do you live up to your word? Do you live life with style and splash? Are you a classy person? Have you found ways to put “zing” into your years? How durabl

He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty. —LAO-TZU, The Way of Life Inc Merriam-Webster, The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations. (Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1992). 378.

December 15 HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING Charles Wesley, 1707–1788 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times. (Micah 5:2) Christmas carols as we know them now were abolished by the English Puritan parliament in 1627 because they were a part of a “worldly festival,” which they considered the celebration of Christmas to be. As a result, there was a scarcity of Christmas hymns and carols in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Charles Wesley’s “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was one of the few written during this period. Wesley’s fine text and the melody by master composer Felix Mendelssohn have given this hymn its great popularity and its standing as a classic among Christmas songs. Like many of Charles Wesley’s more than 6,500 hymns, this text clearly presents biblical doctrine in poetic language. The first stanza describes the song of the ang

City Lights The city looks beautiful from a distance. Have you ever seen the San Francisco skyline as the sun descends in the west? Or the Tandy buildings lit up at Christmas time in Fort Worth? The view of Albuquerque is exquisite from the West Mesa looking down into the Valley. The hot air balloons fill the morning sky and the lights sparkle, illuminating the evening air. Up close, now that’s a different story—traffic jams, pollution, noise, crime, homelessness, stench, hopelessness. Our cities have unique problems that seem impossible to solve. Country folks think there is something inherently sinful about it and warn their young of the evils of the city. What is the cure for the problems of the city? A new government, more police, better schools and more churches? Several Biblical writers used the city as a metaphor for heaven. The writer of Hebrews wrote: “Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; … If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same … Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it. —RUDYARD KIPLING, “If—”

December 14 ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH Traditional French Carol Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests. (Luke 2:14) As vast numbers of angels swiftly descended toward earth through the star sprinkled sky, the leading angel halted them with a sign. They hovered with folded wings over a silent field near Bethlehem. “There they are,” said the leading angel, “the humble shepherds who have been chosen by God to receive our message. It will be the most wonderful news that mortal man has ever received. Are you ready with your great angelic chorus?” The leading angel drifted slightly downward so that he could be seen by the shepherds below. They were terrified! Each one of them covered his face in the brilliance of the light but earnestly listened with awe as the vision before them began to speak in their own language: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been

Circumstances Why do you think you’ve been blessed with the talents, disposition and abilities that make you uniquely you? Why do you think you have the advantages you have? What about the tragedies in your life—why did you have to go through them? One evening in the Fall of 1981, I opened Concentric Circles of Concern, by Oscar Thompson to read a chapter or two. I finished the last page around four o’clock the next morning. I literally couldn’t put it down. That book radically changed my ministry, for me, it put the personal back into personal evangelism. I didn’t know what it was about that book that was so compelling. I didn’t know, that is, until I heard Jerry Sutton tell a group of students about Dr. Thompson’s last days. Dr. Thompson was a professor of Evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Sutton was his grader/assistant. As Dr. Thompson’s cancer progressed, he turned his teaching responsibilities over to Sutton, but Dr. Thompson didn’t give his witnessi

Self-Control He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. —BIBLE, Proverbs 16:32 Inc Merriam-Webster, The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations. (Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1992). 377.

December 13 ANGELS, FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY James Montgomery, 1771–1854 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (Luke 2:9) All my heart this night rejoices as I hear, far and near, Sweetest angel voices. “Christ is born” their choirs are singing, Till the air everywhere now with joy is ringing. —Paul Gerhardt “Angels, From the Realms of Glory” is considered by many students of hymnody to be one of our finest Christmas hymns. In a unique style it addresses first the angelic chorus in the first stanza, then the shepherds in the second stanza, the wise men in the third, and finally today’s believers—calling all to worship Christ our King. Worship is the very essence of the entire Christmas story. James Montgomery was known as a deeply devoted, noble person who made an important contribution to English hymnody through his many inspiring texts. At the age of 23 he was appointed editor of the weekly Sheffield Reg

Inner Circle I’ve never been comfortable with John’s self designation as the “Disciple whom Jesus loved.” As a child, my Sunday School teachers told me John was a humble man and used that designation to avoid using his name. They thought it was his way to avoid “name dropping.” I didn’t buy it. Oh, I knew better than to argue with them, but I didn’t buy it. Though it isn’t exactly what he said, to a child, the phrase smacked of “He loved me more than you.” Was John saying that Jesus loved him more than the others? Remember, it was his mother who asked Jesus if her boys could have a place of honor in the Kingdom (Matt. 20:20). Do you think John was being competitive? Not me. As a part of the “inner circle” John had a special relationship with Jesus. But I don’t think that explains the designation either. Then what does? He was there. The hymn writer described it like this, “Oh the love that drew salvation’s plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man! Oh, the mighty gulf that

s God mythical or spirit? God is a spirit; He is the first in a three part Triune--God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Ghost. God is alive in heaven; Jesus is alive in heaven sitting at the right hand of God the Father; The Holy Spirit or Spirit of God indwells in Christian believers. Those reasons I know that He is real because He lives within me! If He was mythical, I could not pray for salvation; A mythical god has ears but can not hear; Hands that can not feel, Eyes that can not see; Ears that can not hear; Feet that can not walk, A heart that can not love. That's why I know that He lives; I can talk with Him; Pray to Him; He gives me the answers to my prayers while they are being sent. He gives me un-bounding love for everybody. He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies; He anoint my head with oil; He feeds me never letting me hunger for food; He cloths me with His righteousness; He keeps a roof (house top) above my head; He is the I Am that I Am