Faithful Christians!
That is what America and its churches need --- men and women who consistently read their Bibles, pray, witness, and attend church every week, and support the work of God with their giving. But in 21st century America you know its hard to be a faithful Christian. There are alot of people who "say" they are "Christians" in America, but you wouldn't know it by their habits of life. But a real, genuine, consistent Christian in America? A faithful Christian in 21st century America? Well, you know, it's really HARD to be one of those kinds of Christians. I mean, to get out of bed on Sunday morning and go to church? That means a person would have to go to bed early on Satuday night, and that would interfere with TV viewing, video games, or internet surfing. That would be such a HARDSHIP on the 21st century American "Christian." To read the Bible everyday? How can a person find the time to do that in these modern days in which we live? Or to actually set aside time to pray? (What would Bill Maher think?) Or to pass out a Gospel tract to someone and ask them if they are saved and invite them to church? They might think a body was some kind of religious nut. I mean, those are things that a person has to MAKE themselves do. That would require self-discipline, and you know, that is not what 21st century American "Christians" are all about. "Saved," well, yes, of course, why should anyone doubt that? But, "committed?" --- no way. It is just way too HARD to be a faithful Christian in 21st century America.
It is so much HARDER in America to live the consistent Christian life; I mean look at what the average "Christian" has to contend with here in America. It is not a bit like living the Christian life in some other country, say NIGERIA for instance. Just read about how EASY the Christian folks have it there in the following true story from this year. (If only it was this easy here in America, 21st century American "Christians" could be faithful, too.)
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KURUM, Nigeria (Compass Direct News, 5/12/2011) — As she lay on the ground after being shot and then slashed with a machete, Dune James Rike looked into her husband’s tear-filled eyes and asked, “Is this the end between us, so we shall not be together again?”
Pastor James Musa Rike told Compass he held the hands of his dying, 35-year-old wife and told her, “Hold on to your faith in Jesus, and we shall meet and never part again.”
Muslim extremists who attacked Kurum village, in the Bogoro local government area of Nigeria’s Bauchi state, had already killed two of the couple’s children in a rampage that began Wednesday (May 4) at midnight. Rike, pastor of a Christian congregation in Kurum, next heard the cries of his 13-year-old daughter, Sum James Rike, a few yards away.
“I rushed to my daughter, only to discover that she too was cut with a machete on her stomach, and her intestines were all around her,” he said. “I held her hand and began to pray, knowing she too was about to die. She told me that the Muslim militants told her they would kill her and “see how your Jesus will save you.”
The girl told her father that she responded by telling them that Jesus had already saved her, and that by killing her they would only be making it possible for her to be with Him. Pastor Rike prayed for her as she died.
Shooting and setting homes on fire, the Muslim extremists killed 12 other Christians in the attack. Bauchi police reported 16 people dead – one man, three women and 12 children.
Pastor Rike said that when the attackers reached his house, they tried to force their way into their bedrooms.
“I opened a backdoor, and we ran out into the dark night while the militants pursued us,” he said. “They shot my wife and two of our kids as they tried to escape.”
Pastor Rike said that after killing the two children (one of them 1 year old) the assailants cut his wife’s abdomen with a machete.
"I was shocked at what I saw,” he said. “I knew my wife would not last long, and the only thing I did was to encourage her to hold on to her faith in Jesus.”
The Muslim extremists set more than 20 houses ablaze before leaving the village, he said.
Pastor Rike and his son survived the attack, and he said his adopted daughter was injured and receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Bogoro. He said five others others were also receiving hospital treatment.
The Muslim jihadists also stole money and the other valuables from the Christian village as they withdrew, church sources said.
The area has a history of sectarian violence, and the attack follows the death of hundreds of people in Bauchi and other northern states last month after Muslims rioted over the April 16 election of a Christian, Goodluck Jonathan, as president. He defeated a Muslim candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. More than 200 church buildings were burned.
Northern Nigeria climbed to 23rd place in 2010 from 27th in 2009 on Christian support organization Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations with the worst persecution.
The church where Pastor Rike ministers has about 30 members and has been in existence for more than 50 years. Those killed were members of the three churches in the village – the COCIN church, St. John’s Catholic Church and an Evangelical Church of West Africa congregation.
Pastor Rike said the incident has strengthened his faith in Jesus.
“Whatever is the situation, I will never forsake Christ,” he said.
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Yep, 21st century American "Christians" have it got it rough; I mean, it really is HARD being a faithful Christian in the good old USA these days. While some of our 21st century American "Christians" were laying out of church for some lame excuse this year, real Christians were literally being chopped to pieces by Satan's soldiers. But I know - these American "Christians" are having a tough time, too, what with the gas prices being what they are and their cable TV reception having intermittent problems and all.
But just maybe we'll see some of those 21st century "Christians" at church next time they can drag their lazy carcasses out of bed on a Sunday morning. Oh - and if they can't, there is always Sunday night or Wednesday night service to attend. Oh, but, I forgot ---- that would be HARD for them, too, wouldn't it?
Peace and Love, brothers and sisters.
That is what America and its churches need --- men and women who consistently read their Bibles, pray, witness, and attend church every week, and support the work of God with their giving. But in 21st century America you know its hard to be a faithful Christian. There are alot of people who "say" they are "Christians" in America, but you wouldn't know it by their habits of life. But a real, genuine, consistent Christian in America? A faithful Christian in 21st century America? Well, you know, it's really HARD to be one of those kinds of Christians. I mean, to get out of bed on Sunday morning and go to church? That means a person would have to go to bed early on Satuday night, and that would interfere with TV viewing, video games, or internet surfing. That would be such a HARDSHIP on the 21st century American "Christian." To read the Bible everyday? How can a person find the time to do that in these modern days in which we live? Or to actually set aside time to pray? (What would Bill Maher think?) Or to pass out a Gospel tract to someone and ask them if they are saved and invite them to church? They might think a body was some kind of religious nut. I mean, those are things that a person has to MAKE themselves do. That would require self-discipline, and you know, that is not what 21st century American "Christians" are all about. "Saved," well, yes, of course, why should anyone doubt that? But, "committed?" --- no way. It is just way too HARD to be a faithful Christian in 21st century America.
It is so much HARDER in America to live the consistent Christian life; I mean look at what the average "Christian" has to contend with here in America. It is not a bit like living the Christian life in some other country, say NIGERIA for instance. Just read about how EASY the Christian folks have it there in the following true story from this year. (If only it was this easy here in America, 21st century American "Christians" could be faithful, too.)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
KURUM, Nigeria (Compass Direct News, 5/12/2011) — As she lay on the ground after being shot and then slashed with a machete, Dune James Rike looked into her husband’s tear-filled eyes and asked, “Is this the end between us, so we shall not be together again?”
Pastor James Musa Rike told Compass he held the hands of his dying, 35-year-old wife and told her, “Hold on to your faith in Jesus, and we shall meet and never part again.”
Muslim extremists who attacked Kurum village, in the Bogoro local government area of Nigeria’s Bauchi state, had already killed two of the couple’s children in a rampage that began Wednesday (May 4) at midnight. Rike, pastor of a Christian congregation in Kurum, next heard the cries of his 13-year-old daughter, Sum James Rike, a few yards away.
“I rushed to my daughter, only to discover that she too was cut with a machete on her stomach, and her intestines were all around her,” he said. “I held her hand and began to pray, knowing she too was about to die. She told me that the Muslim militants told her they would kill her and “see how your Jesus will save you.”
The girl told her father that she responded by telling them that Jesus had already saved her, and that by killing her they would only be making it possible for her to be with Him. Pastor Rike prayed for her as she died.
Shooting and setting homes on fire, the Muslim extremists killed 12 other Christians in the attack. Bauchi police reported 16 people dead – one man, three women and 12 children.
Pastor Rike said that when the attackers reached his house, they tried to force their way into their bedrooms.
“I opened a backdoor, and we ran out into the dark night while the militants pursued us,” he said. “They shot my wife and two of our kids as they tried to escape.”
Pastor Rike said that after killing the two children (one of them 1 year old) the assailants cut his wife’s abdomen with a machete.
"I was shocked at what I saw,” he said. “I knew my wife would not last long, and the only thing I did was to encourage her to hold on to her faith in Jesus.”
The Muslim extremists set more than 20 houses ablaze before leaving the village, he said.
Pastor Rike and his son survived the attack, and he said his adopted daughter was injured and receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Bogoro. He said five others others were also receiving hospital treatment.
The Muslim jihadists also stole money and the other valuables from the Christian village as they withdrew, church sources said.
The area has a history of sectarian violence, and the attack follows the death of hundreds of people in Bauchi and other northern states last month after Muslims rioted over the April 16 election of a Christian, Goodluck Jonathan, as president. He defeated a Muslim candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. More than 200 church buildings were burned.
Northern Nigeria climbed to 23rd place in 2010 from 27th in 2009 on Christian support organization Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations with the worst persecution.
The church where Pastor Rike ministers has about 30 members and has been in existence for more than 50 years. Those killed were members of the three churches in the village – the COCIN church, St. John’s Catholic Church and an Evangelical Church of West Africa congregation.
Pastor Rike said the incident has strengthened his faith in Jesus.
“Whatever is the situation, I will never forsake Christ,” he said.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yep, 21st century American "Christians" have it got it rough; I mean, it really is HARD being a faithful Christian in the good old USA these days. While some of our 21st century American "Christians" were laying out of church for some lame excuse this year, real Christians were literally being chopped to pieces by Satan's soldiers. But I know - these American "Christians" are having a tough time, too, what with the gas prices being what they are and their cable TV reception having intermittent problems and all.
But just maybe we'll see some of those 21st century "Christians" at church next time they can drag their lazy carcasses out of bed on a Sunday morning. Oh - and if they can't, there is always Sunday night or Wednesday night service to attend. Oh, but, I forgot ---- that would be HARD for them, too, wouldn't it?
Peace and Love, brothers and sisters.