KatoombaBaptistChurchBulletinOh,magnifytheLordwithme,andletusexaltHisnametogether.Psalm34:4

41WaratahStreet,KatoombaNSW2780. November2020.Pastor:SteveCooper.Contact:mob.0451954675;emailcooper.steve.j@gmail.com.Sundayservice,10am.IncompliancewiththeNSWGovernmentrules.KatoombaBaptistChurchwebsite:https://katoombabaptist.org.au;SundaymessagesonYouTube.BibleStudy:SecondandFourthWednesdayofthemonth,onZoom (toparticipate,pleaseemailGrahameMcCraw:mowogmaca@gmail.com).Churchprayermeeting:EachSaturday,9am.PrayerforIsrael:ThirdFridayofthemonth,1.30pm.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________FromthePastor Inrecentmonths,ourchurchfamilyhasconsideredthethemeofprayer.We’vethoughtaboutprayerfromdifferentangles.TheLord’sPrayer remindsusthatwebeginprayingbyrecallingwhatGodis like,thenpray for what honours God, and finally pray about our own needs and the needs of others. The Book ofHabakkuk shows us that the Lord invites us to be honest in prayer, expressing to him our complaints andquestions.Throughthishonestdialogue,Godisabletoteachusmoreabouthimselfandhisways.ThepsalmsoftheOldTestamentprovidefascinatingmodelsofprayer.ReflectingonthepsalmsencouragesustopraiseGodineverysituationthatlifebringsusinto. These different ways of thinking about prayer havemademe examinemy own prayer life. There isalwaysmoreto learn!Prayer isnevereasy. It involvesus inhardworkaswebattlewithevil inourselvesandothers, coming humbly before the living God, and asking him to intervene in the mess of our world. GodencouragesustopraybyofferingtheloveofourFather,thegraceoftheSon,andthecomfortoftheHolySpirit.Yet,prayerisstillhardwork!Weallneedencouragementfromeachothertokeeppraying. OurworshipservicesonSundayshouldhelpustopray.Prayersareofferedduringtheworship,andwecanprayalongwiththepersonleadingusinprayer.TheScripturereadingsandmessagesgiveinsightsinhowtorelatetoGod,andthiscandeepenandenrichourprayers.Weshouldprayforeachother.Letmeencourageyoutowritea listof all thepeopleyouknow inour church family, andpray for themregularly. If youattendourweeklychurchprayermeetingonSaturdaymorningsat9am,youwilldiscoverinspirationforyourownprayers. TheBook of Acts presents an attractive picture of the early church: ‘They devoted themselves to theapostles’teachingandtofellowship,tothebreakingofbreadandtoprayer’(Acts2:42).Noticethatprayerwasanimportantpartofthelifeoftheearlychurch.Ihopethatistrueforourchurch,andwillcontinuetobe.IfIcandoanythingtohelpyoutobeaprayingperson,pleaseletmeknowandI’dbedelightedtoassist. Yourcompaniononthejourney, PastorSteveCooper_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Pleasepray

• forourPastorSteve,fortheLordtoguidehimandblesshisministry• fortheLordtohelpusthroughthesetimesinwhichwelive,andgrantusstrengthandwisdom.• forourleadersandauthorities,formedicalstaffandindeedallthosewhoaredealingwiththiscrisis.• thattheLordwillministertoallwhoareundergoingtrialsandsuffering,hereandeverywhere.• forIsrael,forthe“PeaceofJerusalem”(Ps122:6)andfortheGospelthere“TotheJewfirst.”(Rom1:16).• forourpersecutedbrothersandsistersinnationsrichandpoorandforthosewhopersecutethem.• forthepeoplewhoselivelihoodshavebeenimpactedbytheCoronavirus,thedroughtandfires.• withthankstotheLordforalltherain.Itwas12monthsagothattheGosper’sMountainFirestarted...• forrevivalinourcommunity,state,nation,andthroughouttheworld,andforourfaithtoincrease.• thattheLordwillhelpustouseourgiftsforHisgloryandtosharetheGospelwithothers.• thattheLordwilldrawtoHimourunsavedlovedonesandallforwhomwehaveaburden.• formissionstobefruitful,especiallythosewesupportasachurch,andforthepreservationofconverts.• thatwecontinuetogrowinChristianloveasachurch,servingtheLordandeachother.• Maranatha!(“Come,OLord!”)

“Rejoicealways,praywithoutceasing,ineverythinggivethanks:forthisisthewillofGodinChristJesusforyou”(1Thessalonians5:16-18).

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Churchannouncements:1)Congregation&Members’Meeting.JoinusonSunday8Novemberforameetingforallregularattendersofourchurch.Itstartsaftermorningteaat11.30am,inthechurchsanctuary.We’llhearreportsfromourPastorandleaders,andareportaboutourchurchfinances.Weespeciallyneedchurchmemberstoattend,sowecanmakedecisions,andvoteaboutapplicationsformembership.2)Haveyouthoughtaboutbecomingamemberofourchurch?AllregularattendersofourchurchwhoareChristians,andhavebeenbaptisedbyfullimmersionasabelieverinChrist,areinvitedtobecomemembersofKatoombaBaptistChurch.Becomingamembermeansyoumakeapublic stand aboutwhatyoubelieve, andyourcommitment toourchurchasyour localchurch. Itmeansyoucanparticipateasavotingperson inourregular congregationalmeetings aswe discernwhere the Lord Jesusmight be leading our church andmakeimportantdecisionstogether. Ifyouwould liketo findoutmore,orapplytobecomeachurchmember,pleasecontactPastorSteve.

3) Reformation Day. On Sunday 1 November, our church is celebrating Reformation Day. The Reformationbeganon31October1517.Onthatday, inGermany,MartinLutherannouncedhisviews.HeprotestedagainstteachingandpracticesoftheRomanCatholicChurch.ThenewsspreadlikewildfireacrossEurope.Thosewhoagreed with Luther eventually formed new churches. They emphasised the authority of God’s Word, thatsalvationisbythefreeandundeservedgraceofGod,andthateverybelievercomesintoadirectrelationshipandunionwith Christ. The Baptistmovement (founded in 1611)was part of these Reformation churches. Today,thereisneedtoremindourselves,andallchurches,oftheemphasesoftheReformers.4)KBCPrayerMeeting.C.H.Spurgeoncomparedtheprayermeetingtothe“ship’sengineroom”ofthechurch.So,ifyouareled,pleasejointheKBCprayer‘stokers’whomeeteverySaturday,9am.Aspecialtimeofblessing,worship,fellowship,praiseaswe“comeboldlytothethroneofgrace”[Heb.4:16]andglorifytheLordtogether._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“IcouldnothavewrittenthousandsofhymnsifIhadbeenhinderedbythedistractionsofseeingalltheinterestingandbeautifulobjectsthatwouldhavebeenpresentedtomynotice.”[FannyCrosby,explainingwhysheconsideredherblindnessagiftfromGod.]_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________FromVoiceoftheMartyrsjournal,October2020issue,EditorialbyTonyBenjamin,CEO,VoiceoftheMartyrs ... Pastors and families on the frontline of ministry in hostile nations face extreme pressure, as thechallengesofministryimpacttheirdailylives.WehaveheardofcaseswherepastorsareimprisonedforpreachingtheGospelandthefamilylandisforciblyconfiscatedsothereisnomeansofsupport.Childrenarealsopreventedfromattendingschool.Howdotheycope? OtherChristiansand local churcheswill step inandhelp these families,where theyareable.Prayerandfellowshiparethe lifesourcethatbindsthesebelieverstogether.Whena familymemberhasbeen imprisonedforpreaching,therestofthefamilywilloftencontinuetheworkofmakingadifferenceinthecommunityandmakingdisciples. ... I am encouraged by their perseverance and selflessness in pursuing the things of God in such direcircumstances.Theirfaithholdsstrongandshinesthrough,regardlessoftheirsituation.Theirrequestofusisthatwe pray that through all of the challenges they face, God may use them to show His unconditional love andcompassiontothosewhodonotknowHim. During this timeofupheaval in theworld, these familieson the frontlineneedourcontinuedprayerandsupport.Thesearethedevotedmen,womenandchildrendoingtheheavyliftingforusastheymakedisciplesandbringGod’shandsandfeettopeopleinhostilenations.Continuetorememberthem,upholdtheminyourprayers..._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Novemberbirthdays:GraceJ2nd,BethD3rd,BillF25thMaytheLordblessyouabundantlyonyourspecialdayandthroughtheyearaheadinyourwalkwithHim._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Spurgeononsuccessinprayer It isverysignificantthatbeforeChrist fedthethousands,Hemadethedisciplesassesstheirprovisions. Itwasgoodtoletthemseehowlowthefoodsupplyhadbecome,forthenwhenthecrowdswerefed,theycouldnotsaythatthebasketfedthemorthattheladhaddoneit.Godwillmakeusfeelthatourbarleyloavesareverylittleandourfishesareverysmall,andHewillcompelustoask,“Whataretheyamongsomany?”(John6:9). WhentheSaviour toldHisdisciples tocast theneton theright sideof theshipand theydraggedsuchamightycatchto land,Hedidnotworkthemiracleuntiltheyhadconfessedthattheyhadtoiledallnightandhadcaughtnothing.TheywerethustaughtthatthesuccessoftheirfisherywasdependentontheLordandthatitwasneithertheirnetsnorthewayofdraggingthemnortheirskillandartinhandlingtheirvessels,butthataltogetherandentirelytheirsuccesscamefromtheLord... ThusIhaveshownyouthatforasuccessfulseasonofprayer,thebestbeginningisaconfessionthatwearepoorandneedy.[CharlesSpurgeon,fromthesermon“Pleading”.Text:Psalm70:5.]_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________FridayNovember20th,1.30pm—PrayerforIsrael(pleasecontactIreneRobertsonforvenuedetails)“Iwillbringtheone-thirdthroughthefire,willrefinethemassilverisrefined,andtestthemasgoldistested.TheywillcallonMyname,andIwillanswerthem.Iwillsay,‘ThisisMypeople’;andeachonewillsay,‘TheLORDismyGod.’”[Zechariah13:9]_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Contributionswelcome:TheKBCbulletin isavailableinprintonthefirstSundayserviceofthemonthandalongerPDFversionoftheBulletinisonthechurchwebsite:https://katoombabaptist.org.au/library/bulletins/.Contributionsandenquiriescanbemadetotheeditor,BillFewer(email:hillbillyfewer@gmail.com)._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Giving: Please remember that you can give online to KatoombaBaptist Church at BSB 704-922 andAccountNumber100008926.Thankyouforyourfaithfulcommitmenttogiving._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Andasthey(themessengers)went,theyenteredavillageoftheSamaritans,toprepareforHim.ButtheydidnotreceiveHim,becauseHisfacewassetforthejourneytoJerusalem.

AndwhenHisdisciplesJamesandJohnsawthis,theysaid,“Lord,doYouwantustocommandfiretocomedownfromheavenandconsumethem,justasElijahdid?”

ButJesusturnedandrebukedthem,andsaid,“Youdonotknowwhatmannerofspirityouareof.FortheSonofMandidnotcometodestroymen’slivesbuttosavethem.”Andtheywenttoanothervillage.

[Luke9:52-56]

KatoombaBaptistChurchBulletinOnlineExtra*PleasenotethattoaccesswebsitesreferredtointheBulletin,pleasecopyandpastethelinkintotheaddressbarofyourwebbrowser.*_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Wearesavedbyfaithalone,butthefaiththatsavesisneveralone.”[MartinLuther]

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“WhatIsReformationDay?”byStephenNichols,Oct26,2020blog[SourcedfromLigonierMinistries,https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-is-reformation-day/,viewed28/10/20]Asingleeventonasingledaychangedtheworld.ItwasOctober31,1517.BrotherMartin,amonkandascholar,hadstruggled foryearswithhischurch, thechurch inRome.Hehadbeengreatlydisturbedbyanunprecedentedindulgencesale.ThestoryhasallthemakingsofaHollywoodblockbuster.Let’smeetthecast.First, there is the young bishop—too young by church laws—Albert ofMainz. Not onlywas he bishop over twobishoprics, he desired an additional archbishopric over Mainz. This, too, was against church laws. So Albertappealed to the pope inRome, LeoX. From theDeMedici family, LeoX greedily allowedhis tastes to exceedhisfinancialresources.Entertheartistsandsculptors,RaphaelandMichelangelo.WhenAlbertofMainzappealedforapapaldispensation,LeoXwasreadytodeal.Albert,withthepapalblessing,wouldsellindulgencesforpast,present,andfuturesins.AllofthissickenedthemonkMartinLuther.Canwebuyourwayintoheaven?Lutherhadtospeakout.ButwhyOctober31?November1helda specialplace in thechurchcalendarasAll Saints’Day.OnNovember1,1517, amassive exhibit of newly acquired relicswouldbe ondisplayatWittenberg, Luther’s home city. Pilgrimswould come from all over, genuflect before the relics, and take hundreds, if not thousands, of years off time inpurgatory.Luther’ssoulgrewevenmorevexed.Noneofthisseemedright.MartinLuther,ascholar,tookquillinhand,dippeditinhisinkwellandpennedhisNinety-FiveThesesonOctober31, 1517. These were intended to spark a debate, to stir some soul-searching among his fellow brothers in thechurch.TheNinety-FiveTheses sparked farmore thanadebate.TheNinety-FiveThesesalso revealed thechurchwasfarbeyondrehabilitation.Itneededareformation.Thechurch—andtheworld—wouldneverbethesame.OneofLuther’sNinety-FiveThesessimplydeclares,“TheChurch’struetreasureisthegospelof JesusChrist.”ThataloneisthemeaningofReformationDay.ThechurchhadlostsightofthegospelbecauseithadlongagopaperedoverthepagesofGod’sWordwithlayeruponlayeroftradition.Meretraditionoftenbringsaboutsystemsofworks,ofearningyourwaybacktoGod.ItwastrueofthePharisees,anditwastrueofmedievalRomanCatholicism.Didn’tChristHimself say, “Myyoke iseasyandMyburden is light”?ReformationDaycelebrates the joyfulbeautyof theliberatinggospelofJesusChrist.WhatisReformationDay?Itisthedaythelightofthegospelbrokeforthoutofdarkness.Itwasthedaythatbeganthe Protestant Reformation. It was a day that led to Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and many otherReformershelpingthechurchfinditswaybacktoGod’sWordastheonlysupremeauthorityforfaithandlifeandleadingthechurchbacktothegloriousdoctrinesofjustificationbygracealone,throughfaithalone,inChristalone.It kindled the fires ofmissionary endeavors, it led to hymnwritingand congregational singing, and it led to thecentralityofthesermonandpreachingforthepeopleofGod.Itisthecelebrationofatheological,ecclesiastical,andculturaltransformation.SowecelebrateReformationDay.ThisdayremindsustobethankfulforourpastandtothemonkturnedReformer.What’smore,thisdayremindsusofourduty,ourobligation,tokeepthelightofthegospelatthecenterofallwedo._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“GodwithallHisomnipotenceatHisdisposalneverwastesanything.Heneversendsafloodifashowerwilldo;neversendsa fortuneifashillingwilldo;neversendsanarmyifamanwilldo.AndHeneverthundersifawhisperwilldo.”[F.W.Boreham,TheWhisperofGod]_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FromTimChester,“AMealWithJesus”WeLivebetweenGoodFridayandEasterSundayOneoftheproblemsisthatweknowtheendoftheEmmausstorysowell.WeknowthatJesusisrisen.Sowefindithardtoenterintothedisappointmentandgriefofthesedisciples.“Wehadhoped,”theysay(Luke24:21).Yet many people today are following their own version of the Emmaus road. They’re walking away from hope.They’rewalkingindisappointment.Formanythisinvolveswalkingawayfromthechurch.Christdoesn’tbeginwitharesurrectionpronouncement.Hebeginswithaquestion:“Whatisthisconversationthatyouareholdingwitheachotherasyouwalk?...”(Luke24:17).Hegivesthemspacetotelltheirstory,tosharetheirpain,tospeaktheirdisappointment.Lukecapturesthedramaofit:“Andtheystoodstill,lookingsad”(v.17).They’rewalking,buttheyhavetostopbeforetheycanbegin.Weneedtobeginourinteractionwithpeoplewithaquestionmuchmoreoftenthanwedo.Onlyasweenterintotheirstories,theirhopes,andtheirdisappointmentswillourmessageconnectandhavemeaning.Wemustn’tfearothers’painorhideourown,forChristiswithusevenifwedon’talwaysrecognizehim....It’snotjustindividualswhoarewalkingtheirownversionoftheEmmausroad.OurwholeworldisbetweenGoodFridayandEasterSunday.“Wehadhoped,”ourculturesays.Modernitywasfullofhope,fullofvisionsofprogress.Capitalism. Socialism. Scientific progress. Liberalism. All were driven by derivative forms of Christian hope. Allshared a sense that historywas an onwardmarch. But postmodernity recognizes the dark side of progress. Theendemicpoverty.Thepollutionoftheplanet.Thesocialfragmentation.Itdistruststhegrandnarrativesofprogress.“Wehadhoped.”Weliveinaworldinwhichthebiblicalstoryseemsoutofplace.Christianityseemspasséandanachronistic.Welivein aworld inwhich, functionally, God is dead. Thatwas the cry of the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.Nietzsche claimed not only that “God is dead,” but that it’s we who’ve killed him. For Nietzsche this “truth”represents the triumph of human freedom.We no longer need God to make our way in the world.We can livewithouthim.SopublicdiscoursetakesplacewithoutGod.OurcultureisontheEmmausroad,headingawayfromJerusalem....Yetthisiswherewebelong....Inabrokenworld.Christ’sresurrectionisthepromiseofanewworld.Butwehavenotyetreceivedresurrectionbodiesandourworldhasnotyetbeenrenewed(Rom.8:22-25).Itremainsunderthesignof thecross.We live inagodlessandgodforsakenworld—aworldstillunderGod’scurse.AsChristianswehave resurrection life, but we have it so we might live the way of the cross. We live between the cross andresurrection,betweenGoodFridayandEasterSunday.FornowChristisincognito.HeiswhattheReformers,followingPaul,called“thehiddenChrist”.Paulsays:“Foryouhavedied,andyourlifeishiddenwithChristinGod.WhenChristwhoisyourlifeappears,thenyoualsowillappearwithhiminglory”(Col.3:3-4).ThereturnofChristismoreoftendescribedintheNewTestamentasamanifestation.ThereignofChristisnowhidden.Butonedayitwillbemanifest.Alltheearthwillseehisgloryandeverykneewillbow.Fornow, though,we liveasdisciples of the cross.Weembraceobscurity, hiddenness,weakness,marginality, andsmallness....Thelastshallbefirst.ThisisGod’sway.Hiskingdomgrowsunnoticedbytheworld.It’syeastindough.It’sseedthatgrowsunseen.It’sthroughthecrossthatChristreignsintheworld.SowewalkalongsidepeopleontheEmmausroadnotasvictors,noraspeoplewithalltheanswers,butasfellowhuman beings, fellow sinners, and fellow strugglers. Otherwise the rumour of resurrection will always soundincredibleorglib....Weliveatauniquetimeinhistory.Christianitynolongerdominatesourculture.WeliveafterChristendominanincreasinglysecularculture.TheBiblestoryseemsoutofplaceandarchaic.PeoplehaveremovedChristfromtheirworldview...Butdon’tdespair.ThisisamomentofopportunitytorediscoverauthenticapostolicChristianityshapedbythecross.The glory, power, and wisdom of Christ, says Paul in 1 Corinthians 1, are seen in the shame, weakness andfoolishnessofthecross.Andthey’reseeninthecross-centredlivesofthosewhofollowChrist.OurresurrectionlifeisrevealedinourconformitytoChristinhisdeath(2Cor.4:10-12).WemakeGodknowntoapost-Christianworldbyrevealinghimincross-centreddiscipleship.... In Emmaus Jesusmakes himself known at themoment in the story at which he disappears: “Their eyes wereopened,and they recognizedhim.Andhevanished from their sight” (Luke24:31). Jesusdisappears,buthisword

remains.ThisisLuke’smessagetous.HowdowemakeChristknown?ThroughtheBible.Itmaynotsoundtrendy,butit’sGodway.GodrulesthroughhisWord....There’sanimportantsenseinwhichthemessagesofsecularismandthecrossarethesame:Godisdead,andtheworldiswithoutGod.Thedifferenceisthatthisiswherethemessageofsecularismends,butit’swherethemessageofthecrossbegins.Thescientificrevolution,theEnlightenment,andmodernityallleadtothisterribleconclusion:Godisdead,andweliveinaworldwithouthim.Butthisiswherethemessageofthecrossbegins.Godhasdied,andtheworldwaswithoutGod.Butonthethirddayheroseagain.ForsakenbyGod,Christtookuponhimselfthecurseofhumanitytoredeemtheworld.NowrisenasLord,helaysclaimtoalloflife.Thereasonwe’resentoutinmissionisthatallauthorityhasbeengiventotheSon.TheworldwaswithoutGod,butnowit’sclaimedinChrist’sname.[TimChester,AMealwithJesus:Discoveringgrace,community&missionaroundthetable.Wheaton, Ill.;Crossway,2011.pp.127-31;133;137-8.]

DiegoVelazquez.“KitchenMaidwiththeSupperofEmmaus”,1618.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________FromVoiceoftheMartyrswebsite,https://vom.com.au/pakistan-victims-family-goes-into-hiding,viewed27/10/20PAKISTAN:Victim’sFamilyGoesintoHiding,Oct22,2020Marilyn Asif, along with her four young children, has had to flee for safety after her husband Asif Pervaiz wassentencedtodeathforblasphemy.Asif,37,hasalreadyspentsevenyearsinjailafterablasphemycasewasfiledagainsthimin2013.Hewasgiventhedeathpenaltyon8September.The case against Asif was brought after the Christian refused to take part in Muslim prayers at his factory orconverttoIslam.Asiflosthisphone,whichwaslaterusedtosendaso-calledblasphemoustextmessagetohissupervisoratwork.Asifbelievesthetextwasactuallysentbyhisaccusertoincriminatehim.Asif’swifeisfearfulforthesafetyofherchildren.ThecasehasechoesofthatofAsiaBibi,wholanguishedinjailforeightyearsawaitingthedeathpenaltybeforeherlawyerhad the case thrownout by the SupremeCourt. A pricewasput onAsiaBibi’s headandher familyweredrivenintohiding.AftertheSupremeCourtoverturnedtheverdict,mobsbroughtcitiestoastandstill,callingforthearmytomutinyandoverthrowthegovernment.AfterAsiawasreleased,sheandherfamilyhadtoleavethecountry.AsifhasthesamelawyerasAsia,SaifulMalook,aMuslimwhoriskshislifetodefendChristians.VOM’sministrypartnerReleaseInternationalishelpingAsifandhisfamily.Source:ReleaseInternational

• Pray the Lord’s protection will be upon Asif, Marylin and their children. Pray they will see the Lord’smercifulhandatworkintheirdailylivessothattheywillnotdespairbutcontinuetotrustinHimduringthistryingtime.

• PraiseGodforthecourageandkindnessofSaifulMalook.AsktheLordtoprovidehimwithimmeasurablespiritualblessing.PraytooforfavourandwisdomashedefendsAsif.

• PraythenationofPakistanwillbringchangetoitsnotoriousblasphemylawsandguardagainstinjustice._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Perspective” apoembyJ.M.WoolleyStandingstill,waiting-Admiretheview!Orwillyoustrainforward?Oh,whichwillyoudo?InplottingandplanningSomefolksspendtheirlives,Insettingoutfutures,Onwhichtheyrely.YetlifeshowsustroublesWeneverforesaw,AndyetalsoblessingsThatweren’tguessedbefore.Howmuchareyouscheming?Isthattimespentwell?Orshallwelive,waiting,Whilelivingaswell?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Let’spraisetheGodofallcreationforHiswonderfulworks!

“Allthingsbrightandbeautiful,allcreaturesbigandsmall...”.ThisisaphotoofaMetallicShieldbugonaLillyPillyblossom.ThanksMareeforthisbeautifulphotoandforthecaption.If anyone has a taken a photo that glorifies God in creation and wants to share it, please email it to me athillbillyfewer@gmail.com.Youcouldalsosendinashortdescriptionortestimonytooifyoufeelled._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

APrayerinDarkTimes

WhenmysteryhidesTheefromthesightoffaithandhope;whenpainturnsevenlovetodust;whenlifeisbittertothetasteandoursongofjoydiesdowninsilence;then,Father,doforusthatwhichispastourpowertodoforourselves.BreakthroughourdarknesswithThylight.ShowusThyselfinJesussufferingonaTree,risingfromthegrave,reigningfromathronewithallpowerandloveforusunchanging.Soshallourfearbegoneandourfeetsetuponaradiantpath.

FromHebrideanAltars(CelticDailyPrayer)____________________________________________________________________________________________________________“F.W.Boreham:TellingStories,ExaltingtheCross” byAustinB.Tucker[SourcedfromPreaching:leadingtheChurch,proclaimingtheWord,https://www.preaching.com/articles/past-masters/f-w-boreham-telling-stories-exalting-the-cross/,Viewed27/10/20]F.W.Boreham(1871-1959)wasintroducedoncetoagatheringofpreachers inEdinburgh,Scotlandas“themanwhosenameisonallourlips,whosebooksareonallourshelves,andwhoseillustrationsareinalloursermons.”1FrankWilliamBorehamdidhaveauniquewayof illuminatingatextthroughthelifestoryofafamouspersoninhistoryorliterature.Let’ssketchalittleofBoreham’sownlifestoryfirst.Thenwewilltalkmoreabouthisuniquestyleofnarrativepreaching.BorehamwasbornMarch1871inTurnbridgeWells,EnglandandbornagainNewYear’sDayof1888.Fromearlychildhood both parents encouraged his interest in reading biography and other literature. He preached his firstsermon at age seventeen and three years later publishedTheWhisper of God. Itwas the first ofmore than fiftybooksofsermonsandessaysinhisuniquestyle.BorehamwasprobablythelaststudentthatSpurgeonpersonallyinterviewedforentranceintohispastor’sschool.HeattendedSpurgeon’sCollegebutdidnotgraduate. Instead,when JamesA.Spurgeonreturned toLondon fromNewZealandtocontinuetheworkofhismorefamousbrother,heselectedBorehamtoanswerthepleaofayoungcongregationonthesoutheastplainoftheSouthIslandofNewZealand.So,inJanuary1895,BorehamleftEnglandandtraveledhalfwayaroundtheworldwherehewouldpreach,writeandbecomeworldfamous.WhileBorehamwasstillayoungman, theRev. J. J.Doke,anolderminister,counseledhimtodevelopmethodicalreadinghabits.“ButwhatshallIread?askedBoreham,“Givemeastart.”“ReadGibbon’sDeclineandFalloftheRomanEmpire,”theoldermansaid.HeurgedhimtoreaditthroughandtofollowupwithamoreintensestudyofeveryperiodinwhichGibbonstirshisinterest.BorehamstartedtheplanthenextdayandcompletedallfourvolumesofGibboninonemonth.Thisbeganalifetimehabitofbuyingandreadingonebookperweek.Helovedhistoryandespeciallybiography.WhilestillayoungpreacherinLondon,hesoughteveryopportunitytohearthegreatpulpitmasters.HesatatthefeetofF.B.Meyer,JosephParker,andCharlesH.Spurgeon.HeheardD.L.MoodywhenthegreatevangelistvisitedfromAmerica.Thisattentiontomastersofhiscraftwasnotwasted.Herecognizedtherelativeweaknessofhisownsermondeliveryand set about to strengthen it. For example, henoted that thepulpitmasters hadagreat vocalrange and flexibility that he lacked. LikeDemosthenes, hewent to the seashore to practice against the crashingbreakers.WhenhebecamepastorinthesmallagriculturalcommunityonNewZealand’splain,hewasstillspeakinginahigh-pitched,rapidandmonotonousvoice.Heshuthimself inhisstudyregularlytopracticevocalexercisestoimproverangeandpitch.He rehearseddeliveryofhis sermons, includinggestures.Hisonly critic, his youngbride,helpedhim.“Youstillspeaktoofast,dear.”He tookpains tohearandanalyzeeverynotable lawyer,politician, lecturerorpreacherwhocamewithinrange.Beforeheleftthatpastorate,hehaddevelopedapleasinganddistinctivedelivery.Hehadclearenunciation,flexible,well-modulatedtoneswiththelong-drawnoutvowelsthatcametodistinguishhisdelivery.

After six years at Mosgiel, he accepted the call of Baptist Tabernacle in Hobart, Tasmania, an island state twohundredmiles southof theAustralianmainland.Thereheattractedmoreattentionasa speakerandwriter.Thenewspaper editorialized right away about his “oratorical flight” at a temperance rally and described him as “apleasingandeffectivespeaker”whowouldhave“bothears”oftheTasmanians.”2In the middle of this pastorate, he made a decision to prepare only one new sermon a week so that he mightcontinue toresearchandwrite.Hecontinuedhis readingofbiography.WhileworkingonhismarathonseriesonTextsThatMadeHistory,atage forty,he found inausedbookstoredozensofbiographicalstudies.Hebargainedwiththeshopkeeperforthewholelotatashillingeachandreadthemeveryone.Hewould eventually producemore than fifty significant books, plus 2,500 articles andmanymore editorials fornewspapers.Healsowrotehundredsofcarefullycomposedpersonal letters.ManyofthesewerepartofaregularevangelisticoutreachtothoseinhiscommunitywhowereyetuncommittedtoChrist.DuringWorldWarIhekeptupalsoafaithfulpastoralcorrespondencewitheveryservicemanawayfromhischurch.ButsupremelyF.W.Borehamwasapreacher.Hehasbeencriticizedfordependingtoomuchonstorytellingforthecontentofhis sermons. It is true thathe isnotanexpositor if thatmeansonemust takeanextendedpassageofScriptureandexplainitinallitsdetail.ButfewpreacherscouldtakeakeyverseoftheBibleandmakeitliveforthecongregationasBorehamcould.Considerthissampletypicalofhisinterpretationofthelifeofagreatpersoninhistory,alwaysthroughthelensofalife-shapingScripturetext.Suchsermonsusuallyboreasimpletitlesuchas“MichaelFaraday’sText.”InitBorehaminterpretsthecharacterthroughthelivingtextandatthesametimeshedslightonthetextthroughthelifeofthehistoricalcharacter.Let’s slip into a sermonalready in progress. The preacher has introducedhis subject, the great scientistMichaelFaraday.Nowthepreacherwishestointroducehistext.ThesceneisFaraday’sdeathbed,ascenepreachersofhisgenerationwerenotreluctanttodescribe.Thepreacherissaying:

Ashelaydyingtheytriedtointerviewtheprofessor,butitwasthelittlechildinhimthatansweredthem.“Whatareyourspeculations?”theyinquired.“Speculations” he asked, in wondering surprise. “Speculations! I have none! I amrestingoncertainties.‘IknowwhomIhavebelievedandampersuadedthatHeisabletokeepthatwhichIhavecommitteduntoHimagainstthatday!’”And,revelinglikeachildinthosecloudlesssimplicities,hisgreatsoulpassedaway.”3

In1916,F.W.BorehamacceptedthecallofachurchinasuburbofMelbourne.Thereheservedaspastorforthenextdozenyears.Thenin1928heenteredanewandfinalphaseofministry:heresignedthepastoratetogivefulltime towritingand itinerantpreaching.Whenhewasnotonapreaching tour in these lastyears,hedeliveredaregularlunchtimesermonattheScotsChurchinMelbourne.The Hobart Mercury published some 3,000 of Boreham’s weekly editorials over 47 years (1912-1959). Anothernewspaper,theMelbourneAge,publishedmanyothers.Borehamcontinuedwritingfornewspapersuntilheretiredin1956.Threeyearslaterhedied.Itwaslargelyfromhisregularweeklydisciplineofwritingsermonsandeditorialessaysthathepublishedsome46books.Hislastbook,TheTideComesIn(1958),appearedonlymonthsbeforehisdeath.ManyofhisbooksmetwideacclaimallovertheEnglish-speakingworld,nonemoresothantheseriesoffivebookspublishedbetween1920and1928from125sermonsunderthebanner,TextsThatMadeHistory.Theyappearedinfivefamousbookspoeticallyentitled A Bunch of Everlastings, AHandful of Stars, A Casket of Cameos, A Faggot of Torches, andA Temple ofTopaz.There is today a lively trade in them on the Internet. Each sermon is based on a text that Boreham thoughtexplained the essence of a famous person in history such asMartin Luther,WilliamPenn, AldusHuxley,WilliamBooth,AndrewBoner,andWilliamCarey.OthersarebasedontextsthatfigureprominentlyinthestoryoffictionalcharacterslikeRobinsonCrusoeandUncleTom.Some criticized his use of fictional characters to illustrate divine grace. Boreham did not apologize, but he didexplainthatafictionalstorymightconveydivinetruthas“aportraitofhumanity,paintedbyamasterhand.”Hesaid,“RobinsonCrusoe’sTextisreallyDanielDefoe’sText;thetextthatstandsembeddedinUncleTom’sCabinisthetextthatMrs.HarrietBeecherStowhadenthronedwithinherheart.”4

NotableaboutBoreham’shomiletical style is thewayhe capturedattention in theopeningwordsof the sermon.Almostanyintheserieswouldserveasanexample.Theyarenotconstructedwithcookiecuttersameness,buttheyinvariablyplunge the listener intoanattention-gettingnarrative fromthe lifeof thecharacter.Thisbecomes thecanvasforpaintingtheScripturetext.Take“HudsonTaylor’sText”asanexample.

The day on which James Hudson Taylor – then a boy in his teens – found himselfconfrontedbythattremendoustextwas,ashehimselftestifiedinoldage,“adaythathecouldneverforget.”ItwasadaythatChinacanneverforget;adaythattheworldcanneverforget.Itwasaholiday;everybodywasawayfromhome;andtheboyfoundtime hanging heavily upon his hands. In an aimless way he wandered, during theafternoon,intohisfather’slibrary,andpokedaboutamongtheshelves.“I tried,” he says, “to find some book with which to while away the leaden hours.Nothingattractingme,Iturnedoverabasketofpamphletsandselectedfromamongthem a tract that looked interesting. I knew that it would have a story at thecommencementandamoralattheclose;butIpromisedmyselfthatIwouldenjoythestoryand leave therest. Itwouldbeeasy toputaway the tractassoonas it shouldseemprosy.”He scampers off to the stable-loft, throws himself on the hay, and plunges into thebook.Heiscaptivatedbythenarrative,andfindsitimpossibletodropthebookwhenthestorycomes toanend.Hereadsonandon.He isrewardedbyonegreatgoldenword whose significance he has never before discovered: “The Finished Work ofChrist!”Thethemeentranceshim;andatlastheonlyrisesfromhisbedinthesofthaythathemaykneelonthehardflooroftheloftandsurrenderhisyounglifetotheSaviourwhohadsurrenderedeverythingforhim.If,heaskedhimself,ashelayuponthehay,ifthewholeworkwasfinished,andthewholedebtpaidupontheCross,whatisthereleftformetodo?“Andthen,”hetellsus,“theredawneduponmethejoyousconvictionthattherewasnothing in theworld to be done but to fall uponmy knees, accept the Saviour andpraiseHimforevermore.”5

In littlemorethan300words, thepreacherhasourattentionandhasdirected it tohis textandthethemeofhissermon.ThetextisJohn19:30“Itisfinished.”Borehamhelduptothelightthatthree-wordjewelofatexttoletusseethesparkleofonefacetafteranotherthroughthesermon.Firsthestatedthetext,thenhestateditagaininthecontext in which it is found in Scripture. Then he quoted the key sentence in Hudson Taylor’s testimony of thedawningconvictionthattheworkofredemptionwasindeedfinished.NextthepreachershowedhowthatoneGreekwordwasusedinancienttimes.“Itwasafarmer’sword.Whenintohisherd,therewasbornananimalsobeautifulandshapelythatitseemedabsolutelydestituteoffaultsanddefects,thefarmergazeduponthecreaturewithproud,delightedeyes.Tetelestai!hesaid,tetelestai!”Inhalf-dozenlinesorso,heliftedupthewordasanartist’swordadmiringhismasterpiece,apriestlywordlookingat the sacrificial lambwithout spotorblemish,and finally theLambofGodhimselfwho “criedwitha loudvoiceTetelestai!Andgaveuptheghost.’Next thepreacherturnedtotalkaboutthe joyof finishingand finishingwell.Hedrewon literature forexamplesfromLivingston’s journal, fromhistorianHenryBuckle, frommissionaryHenryMartyn,fromCharlesDickens,andseveralotherswho“long,butlonginvain,forthepricelessprivilegeoffinishingtheirwork.”In this vein the preacher continued. He reached the high point of the sermon to quote from Hudson Taylor’sautobiographyapoemthatincludedthestanza:

’ItisFinished!’yes,indeed,Finishedeveryjot;Sinner,thisisallyouneed;Tellme,isitnot?

Severalotherexamplesfromhistoryandliteraturefollow,extollingthevirtueof finishing.Thesermontextcomesagainandagainlikethechorusofahymn:

’TheFinishedWorkofChrist!’‘Tetelestai!Tetelestai!’‘Itisfinished!’

Boreham’suniquehomileticalstyleinhisbooksandinthepulpitfoundagreatwelcomefromthepublic,butsomeother preachers criticized them as theologically shallow. If amodern reader is looking for theological jargon inBoreham’swritings,hewillsearchinvain.Thisisnoaccident,forBorehamsaid:“Theologyistoasermonwhattheskeletonistothebody:itgivesshapeandsupporttothepreacher’sutterancewithoutitselfbeingvisible.ItisverynoticeablethatJesusHimselfseldomorneverbecametheological.”6Inhisautobiography,Borehamsaid,“TheonepassionatedesireofmyhearthasbeentoleadmyhearerstoChrist.Ihaveneverenteredapulpitwithoutfeelingthat,ifonlypeoplecouldcatchavisionoftheSaviour,theywouldhavenoalternativebuttolaytheirdevotionathisfeet.MysoulhascaughtfirewheneverIhaveexaltedthecross.”7F.W.Borehamwasamasterstoryteller,butthisskillwasmorethanamereattentiongetter.LiketheparablesofJesus, Boreham’s storieswere the vessel for bringing thewater of life to thirsty souls. His stories didmore thancaptureattention;theyalsoconveyedthegospeltruthandstuckinthememoryofallwhoheardthem.__________________Notes.1.W.A.VanLeen,www.ccgm.org.2.T.HowardCrago,TheStoryofF.W.Boreham.Marshall,Morgan&Scott,1981,p.121.3.F.W.Boreham,AHandfulofStars.Chicago:Judson,1950reprint.pp.183-185.CopyrightbyF.W.Boreham,1922.4.Crago,180.5.F.W.Boreham,“HudsonTaylor’sText”AHandfulofStars.Philadelphia:Judsonreprint,1950(copyright,1922,byF.W.Boreham).6.Crago,120.7. F.W.Boreham,MyPilgrimage. Judson, 1950, p.20, quoted inClydeFantandWm.Pinson,TwentyCenturies ofGreatPreaching,VIII,189.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________AShortVideoforyou“TheFourCupsofthePassover”fromtheFriendsofIsraelGospelMinistryAteachingonthesignificanceandmeaningbehindthefourcupsofthePassover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsVFmY4q7p4[Thanks,Michael,forthiscontribution]_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Andanother“TheApostle”MovieCLIP-YellingattheLord(1997)HD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5v5DOEF45E&t=3sWehavebeenstudyingtheimpassionedprayersofHabakkuk.IfitisourcustomtoprayquietlytotheLord,wemay find it hard to imagine what unrestrained praying looks like. Even prayers that argue with God. Thisdramatizationfromthefilm“TheApostle”maymakethatclearerforus!_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Somemusicforyou1)Softly&Tenderly(OfficialLyricVideo)-KristynGetty,VinceGill,EllieHolcomb,SierraHullBeautifulversion,performedinagentle,countrystyle,andfeaturinganinstrumentalpassagewiththeevocativemelodyof“AshokanFarewell”(thethemetoKenBurns’“TheCivilWar”documentaryseries). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck58d3BMBX02)MahaliaJackson-HisEyeIsOnTheSparrowPerhapstheworld’sgreatestevergospelsingerathersoaringbest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM_JRAPSwVM3)ToGodBeTheGlory(RoyalAlbertHall,London)ThousandsofvoicesjoiningtogethertosingFannyCrosby’sbelovedhymn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-15v9iworAU_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ThanksgivingforGod’sRighteousJudgmentTotheChiefMusician.Setto“DoNotDestroy.”APsalmofAsaph.ASong.

PSALM75

WegivethankstoYou,OGod,wegivethanks!ForYourwondrousworksdeclarethatYournameisnear.

“WhenIchoosethepropertime,

Iwilljudgeuprightly.Theearthandallitsinhabitantsaredissolved;

Isetupitspillarsfirmly.Selah

“Isaidtotheboastful,‘Donotdealboastfully,’Andtothewicked,‘Donotliftupthehorn.

Donotliftupyourhornonhigh;Donotspeakwithastiffneck.’”

ForexaltationcomesneitherfromtheeastNorfromthewestnorfromthesouth.

ButGodistheJudge:Heputsdownone,Andexaltsanother.

ForinthehandoftheLordthereisacup,Andthewineisred;

Itisfullymixed,andHepoursitout;Surelyitsdregsshallallthewickedoftheearth

Drainanddrinkdown.

ButIwilldeclareforever,IwillsingpraisestotheGodofJacob.

“AllthehornsofthewickedIwillalsocutoff,Butthehornsoftherighteousshallbeexalted.”