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Showing posts from February 24, 2019

Marriage, Freedom, Safety, Trust and Love. Two Quotations.

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Men, how do we, and should we, treat our wives? Below are two important comments made by two Christian leaders that address this subject. The first comes from John Chrysostom, a 4th Century pastor. The second is by Timothy Jennings, president of "Come and Reason Ministries". "What kind of marriage can there be when the wife is afraid of her husband? What sort of satisfaction could a husband himself have, if he lives with his wife as if she were a slave, and not with a woman by her own free will? Suffer anything for her sake, but never disgrace her, for Christ never did this with the Church" (John Chrysostom, "On Marriage and Family Life"). "The law of freedom is a design law on which God constructed his intelligent beings to exist in perfect love. Love can only exist in an atmosphere of freedom...When we violate the freedoms of others, three predictable consequences always occur: (1) Love is damaged, and if freedom is not returned love will ev

Vespers - 24 February 2019

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Lord, mighty and strong, a refuge in the storm and a shelter in the squall – you see clearly through the fog of human confusion, the stifling smoke of worry, the crushing blanket of darkness of depression - you set captives free, open prison doors and release the entrapped, lift up the oppressed and put the oppressors down. O Lord, mighty and strong, liberating and loving: hear us as we pray for these..... You see clearly what is going on, you hear the groans, know the tears, understand the fears and worries, are wise to the traps. Move in their lives and over their circumstances and set them free – free from their own sins and the sins of others; free from the hurt and pain; free from their own narrow confinements. Set them up in a broad place in full daylight and the fresh air. Strengthen the weak hands and feeble knees; make them run and not grow weary, to walk and not faint. Raise them up on Eagle's wings. O Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, mighty and strong, compassiona

"Give Us Life!" - 24 February 2019

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Give us life, and we will call upon your name! Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved (Psalm 80.18b-19)! Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this (Psalm 80.14) your Church in all nations, for Heritage, for these churches in the OKC area: New Vessels Christian Church; Northwest Christian; Putnam City Christian; and Western Oaks Christian Church; and for the United Methodist Church. Turn to us and be gracious to us; give your strength to your servants and save the sons and daughters of your maidservant. Show us a sign of your favor that those who hate us may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped us and comforted us (Psalm 86.16-17). Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved (Psalm 80.18b-19)! Consider, O God, those who do not know you or have broken faith with you….Change their hearts that they may confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their hearts y