For The Love Of God

So you broke a nail. 

Got cut off in traffic, 

or the machine was out of soda… 

There are people in the world who are living their entire life with real problems. Like wondering if today is the day they will be put to death. There are those of the Christian faith, many of which are women and children… who don't enjoy the freedoms that we have come to take for granted. A good number of them have died simply because they chose to follow Christ. Others are living the aftermath of attempts to end their life… only to wonder if the next attempt will be the last.

Please remember to pray for the persecuted around the world.

Persecuted Church from MeadowBrook Baptist on Vimeo.


Matthew 5:11 (KJV)
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

For more information on the Persecuted Church...
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Blessings,
Matt. 

I Challenge You

When I created my web pages they were started in part to encourage the reading of scripture. Bible study is something that I believe we all should be involved in. There are many who profess to be Christian and will agree that it is important to read the Bible. However there are a great many who have only read verse to verse or certain sections while missing others. In order to get the full picture and really understand how the whole story comes together, the entire work needs to be read. If I only studied addition, how could I understand math? Yet many after reading only a portion of God’s Word go on to dismiss it, or worst still, they form a complete opinion after only briefly glancing at a small section. There are many plans that assist in the undertaking of the task, those that lay it out over the course of a year or so; but many have tried these only to loose interest, or are pulled away from the time commitment. For all who have found the task to be a challenge this just might be the solution.

90 DAYS THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Starting June 1st and continuing through August, there is a standing challenge going out to everyone… everywhere.

THE BIBLE IN 90 DAYS

It has been done, not only by the creator of the challenge but others around the world. The fact is Ted Cooper Jr., a one time atheist and creator, found that his whole life changed after reading through the Bible in just 90 days. He even founded a ministry in order to help anyone complete the task. There are study guides, videos and other material which would aid individuals, groups, or whole congregational communities; available through the web site…

http://www.biblein90days.com/index.php

Even without the aids, the project is still a doable one. It requires twelve (12) pages a day but don’t focus on the amount of reading, instead think of the benefits. You can cover the whole Bible from cover to cover, and do it in 90 days. The reading could be all at once in the morning or evening or broken up and spread throughout the day. BibleGateway has even partnered in the challenge to make the reading passages available on line.

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/index.php/today?plan=6&version=31

It will be summer soon and that means vacation season. School will take a break and most will set their minds to relaxing and having fun. Now there is nothing wrong with these activities but they speak of commitment to personal interest. I challenge you all to take an interest in the one thing that brings the life to do these things. Take an interest in the Word of God.

THEY DID IT

AND LIVES WERE CHANGED

Even if you have read the Bible, a revisit wouldn't hurt. Just think of the person who has never done so; you could share the Word together and help them receive the message this summer for the first time. Join me in this reading, invite a friend and together we can unfold the truth of God's love. If you accept let me know in the comment box.

Blessings,

Matt.

Thank You... "The power of Acceptance"

The following is a thank you letter written to a friend for an act of kindness. He befriended a homeless person and posted a blog about it. That act and posting reminded me of a point in my life that gives an example of "The Power of Acceptance."

God's acceptance of man while still a sinner has given us the ability to not only change our own life, but also the lives of others. Accepting Christ and following His example in accepting others can do more than we ever think possible.


Homelessness

Dear Dave,
There are three things that top the list in my Ministry; Poverty, Crime, and Homelessness. One could say that in a big way they are one and the same. I am personally connected to these areas from the conditions of my life. I grew up in poverty, spent time in jail, and for years lived on the street as a homeless man. Your post, “Rose Colored Glasses”, is a timely one and I thank you for being vocal in this area of concern. As you point out, the community of homeless people is a diverse one with members that hit the full range and spectrum in makeup. Our society is mixed in its view as well as its method of addressing possible remedies. Sometimes the actions can be quite horrifying. See my article: Society Today. I have been there and can tell you first hand that the biggest thing that anyone ever did that made a real difference for me, was to acknowledge me as a human being. Of the people on the street, most have stopped viewing themselves with any dignity. We have created a class system, an US and THEM attitude. This has helped to destroy the self-esteem of these that exist as outcasts of the mainstream. The few handouts of money and food are only a Band-Aid solution, and then... only exist for the brief moment that they are given. Real solutions are needed for this real problem. There are good programs out there but they are too few in number, and greatly overwhelmed. A good start is found in the step that you have taken; to take a real concerned look, without the rose colored glasses. If anyone wishes to take that look there are vivid glimpses in my playlist --
"The Real Homeless People", on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/mattmilamii
The problem did not come about overnight and will take an effort from all of us. I for one am more than just willing.


As I said before, the thing that made the most difference to me when I was on the street was being treated as a human being. Acceptance is the single most lacking thing in most of the lives of the homeless. After a time it works away at your sense of self worth, leaving you to feel rejected and useless. Validation as a person is a big hand up. If anyone really would help them, it would be in finding ways to instill a new sense of self worth. This one thing is what creates new character or at least helps to find the character that is there hidden away. Far better than money with the ability to give life back, not just a meal.

It was in a conversation over a meal with a stranger that my life was changed. That man took the time to make me feel accepted. As I bathed in feelings of kindness, God took hold of my emotions and gave me a reason to live. That one single encounter marked a chain of events that has taken me from being homeless in the streets. It has brought me to the service of Our Father as a Minister of His Gospel, and the journey is just beginning.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Your act of kind acceptance follows this directive to the letter. It sets up a pattern that I find universal in truth. You see when I was shown kind acceptance I was given back my value. With the feeling of value came my sense of worth. God showed me the reason and purpose for that worth and just how much value it was. 
Our life is found and given value in the death of Christ.
Continue to follow your heart...for it is guided by the spirit.

For an eye opening look - use this link - "The Down and Out"


Thank You Again…
Blessings,
Matt.

Whose Church

A non believer questioned the existence of God. He made it clear that at times he felt that he should be more open to the idea; that it was possible that he might be wrong in his position. He said that with help from the Church, he might have better understanding and more to go on. He then asked a question that I find difficult to supply an answer for. It seems that any answer that I could give fails to provide the answer that he seeks. His question was simply “WHOSE CHURCH.” Now I know that there is only one Church, "The Body of Christ"... which I tried to explain. We were still stuck on these points, which I must say, gave me reason for pause. If only one Church, then why so many different Church groups? There is the Catholics, Lutherans, Baptist, Orthodox, etc., and the list goes on. What makes them different, and... who is right. If they are all right then why not form one group? For this person the message from the Church was a confusing one. So for him it remained at “Whose Church.”

Ephesians 4:3-6 (NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

As a Minister one of my goals is to evangelize the non believer. At some point everyone in the body has this as an undertaking. Do we as a Church body make that task more difficult by causing confusion outside the body? Is it that the many divisional Church groups affect the credibility of the Church as a whole? Again the question; "Whose Church"... does it matter, and why? Paul spoke on this very subject; have we moved so far from the advice given us? Even inside a denominational groups there seems to be rivalry and competition. Many of those who hold leadership in the Church today have worked hard to develop a following. When you look at the congregation of some of the mega Churches, you can get an idea of just how much labor went into that effort. I believe that many are sincere and have produced good fruit for God’s Kingdom. On the other hand, I also see a flaw in their methods which should be re-assessed.

1 Corinthians 1:11-13 (NIV) My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

A Good many of the clergy have made their seats the final stop on the road to salvation. They site the number of their following as a benchmark of their effectiveness. Paul was warning of the danger of this view. At best, it is a Minister’s role to give direction as to where Christ might be found; for the individual must find Him (Christ) for himself. Ministry should function as a sign, pointing in the direction that we may seek Jesus. When the journey stops in the congregation seat; Christ is not found or followed. Matthew 7:14 should ring clear… “few there be that find it.” Personal relationship requires a meeting; to meet Christ is an event that must be a personal and individual experience. None of us can walk the road of salvation unless we follow Christ and Christ alone. The position of any Church group or any Church member, clergy included, should only be to assist in the effort to find Christ.

Blessings,

Matt.

The Truth of Jesus

John 8:32 (New International Version)Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

To know the truth you must know Jesus. Only then can He set you free. We spend so much time defining the truth, searching for what it is, and how we can know for sure. It's easy to loose focus on Christ by not connecting Him with the truth. When we place our focus on Christ, our effort on the relationship that we make with Him; we also build our understanding of what the truth really is. To know Christ is to know the freedom of the truth that comes with Him. This world, this sinful world with all of it's pleasures and lusts... is a lie. A trap that keeps us from the truth. With every desire to possess the offerings of this world, we are confronted with the price that the world must be paid. It becomes an ever increasing bill that consumes us. We find ourselves lost in the sea of material pursuit, for increasing gain. What we see as a gain is only our loss. In the end we loose not only the material, but also our place in the eternal kingdom.

Mark 8:36 (New International Version)What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

Knowing Christ through relationship, gives us the ability to understand this world for what it is. We know the truth simply because we know Christ. We are set free by the price he paid for all of us. That is the truth of salvation; a gift of which the world has no comparisons.


Blessings,
Matt.