It Is Well With My Soul.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

We Rest On Thee

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

Yes, in Thy Name, O Captain of salvation!
In Thy dear Name, all other names above;
Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.

We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
“We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.”

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

Keith + Kristyn Getty / Stuart Townend - By Faith

By faith we see the hand of God
In the light of creation's grand design
In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness
Who walk by faith and not by sight

By faith our fathers roamed the earth
With the power of His promise in their hearts
Of a holy city built by God's own hand
A place where peace and justice reign

We will stand as children of the promise
We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward
Till the race is finished and the work is done
We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith the prophets saw a day
When the longed-for Messiah would appear
With the power to break the chains of sin and death
And rise triumphant from the grave

By faith the church was called to go
In the power of the Spirit to the lost
To deliver captives and to preach good news
In every corner of the earth

By faith this mountain shall be moved
And the power of the gospel shall prevail
For we know in Christ all things are possible
For all who call upon His name.

Faith Mission Summer Camp Harby - Prayer Letter

Dear all, This time next week, the back field of the Faith Mission Centre Harby will either be a peaceful and quiet group of sleeping tents or a cacophany of giggling, sweet packets and shining torches held by excited (and hopefully not home-sick) 9-11year olds! Then a week of 12-14s and finally the 15+s. One things for certain, it'll be the start of another 3 weeks of camp! (25/7/10 - 13/8/10) Faith Mission Camp Harby, Leicestershire.

I'm sending this message to those I know of who are leading/attending camp this year, a few old-FM'ers and Christians I know on the blogosphere too, we'd love to share prayer requests with you all. I know many of you are doing other camps, mission trips, work etc. this year, but didn't want to exclude you! Really looking forward to seeing many of you over the next few weeks, and in the near future for others who aren't Harbying this year.

There's a leaders meeting the night before each week of camp, but I thought it would be great to start praying now and get you praying too. As you'll know, although it's a fantastic and gospel-filled time, it's also draining and challenging, and none of it is possible without our Amazing God. Our loving heavenly Father who so longs to see his people come back to him, that he sent his only Son, Jesus, as the way back to him. That through Christ's death we would have life. What a privilege and joy it is to have been shown that matchless, undeserved grace and mercy! And the privilege and joy it is to be able to share that with others, that they may know him too. And that we're not alone, but God leaves his Spirit to help us.

Let's be praying that God would be preparing the hearts of all of us. All the campers, parents, leaders and speakers. How amazing it would be to see the kingdom of God grow at camp this year, and beyond! Praise God for all the provision he gives, of all the good and perfect gifts; from facilities to food, bibles to beds, trained first aiders to tuck shop (where those not on duty can have a rest!).

Pray also for Dan and others who'll be doing the talks, that God would use them to speak what he wants to say to us and the campers, faithfully and engagingly to/by his word, the Bible. Also that campers ears and hearts would be attentive and retentive to God's word. Pray for us as leaders as we take morning and evening discussions/bible-studies that we'd have strength and wisdom serving the kids, and God would use us to bring them to Jesus, sowing seeds, gathering the harvest or encouraging them in their faith. Pray that their families may know him too. Many of them go back to difficult and sometimes unloving situations.

Let's be praying all these things in Jesus' name with confidence, relying and trusting in him alone, remembering what he's done and what he's promised he will do. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" - Hebrews 12:2

Do pass this on. God bless you all, have a great summer wherever you are.
Sunil :)

An Athiest Professor of Philosophy

was speaking to his Class on the problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his new Christian students to stand.

* PROFESSOR : You are a Christian, aren't you, son?
* STUDENT : Yes, sir.
* PROFESSOR : So, you believe in GOD?
* STUDENT : Absolutely, sir.
* PROFESSOR : Is GOD good?
* STUDENT : Sure.
* PROFESSOR : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL?
* STUDENT : Yes.
* PROFESSOR : My Brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
* (STUDENT was silent)
* PROFESSOR : You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is GOD Good?
* STUDENT : Yes.
* PROFESSOR : Is Satan good?
* STUDENT : No.
* PROFESSOR : Where does Satan come from?
* STUDENT : From...GOD...
* PROFESSOR : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
* STUDENT : Yes.
* PROFESSOR : Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
* STUDENT : Yes.
* PROFESSOR : So who created evil?
* (STUDENT did not answer)
* PROFESSOR : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
* STUDENT : Yes, sir.
* PROFESSOR : So, who created them?
* (STUDENT had no answer)
* PROFESSOR : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe The World around you. Tell me, son...have you ever feen GOD?
* STUDENT : No, sir.
* PROFESSOR : Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?
* STUDENT : No, sir.
* PROFESSOR : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
* STUDENT : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
* PROFESSOR : Yet you still believe in HIM?
* STUDENT : Yes.
* PROFESSOR : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
* STUDENT : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
* PROFESSOR : Yes, Faith. And that is the problem Science has.
* STUDENT : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
* PROFESSOR : Yes.
* STUDENT : And is there such a thing as Cold?
* PROFESSOR : Yes.
* STUDENT : No, sir. There isn't...
* (The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events)
* STUDENT : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat. But we don't have anything called Cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that
* There is no such thing as Cold.
* Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
* We cannot Measure Cold.
* Heat is Energy.
* Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.
* (There was pin-drop dilence in the Lecture Theatre)
* STUDENT : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
* PROFESSOR : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
* STUDENT : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the Absence of Something.
* You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light...
* But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and its called Darkness, isn't it? In reality, Darkness isn't. If it is, you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
* PROFESSOR : So what is the point you are making, young man?
* STUDENT : Sir, my point is, your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
* PROFESSOR : Flawed? Can you explain how?
* STUDENT : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
* Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought. It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
* To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing. Death is Not the Opposite of Life, just the Absence of it.
* Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from
* a Monkey?
* PROFESSOR : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
* STUDENT : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
* (The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going)
* STUDENT : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavor, Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
* (The Class was in uproar)
* STUDENT : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
* (The Class broke out into laughter)
* STUDENT : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?... No one appears to have done so.
* So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have No Brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
* (The Room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable)
* PROFESSOR : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
* STUDENT : That is it sir...Exactly!
* The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
* That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.
* That student was ALBERT EINSTEIN.

The 'One Anothers'

Peter Dray has spent some time doing a word study on 'one another' of the New Testament. Most of these 'one anothers' appear to be those things we do in community with other Christians, regardless of whether they are in our own church family (although they will often find expression primarily in our local church family). It's quite a list... and a great reminder that whilst following Jesus is a personal allegiance, it's never merely private.

* Love one another (John 13:34, John 13:35, Romans 13:8, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:11, 1 John 4:12)
* Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Romans 12:10, Hebrews 13:1)
* Honour one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
* Living in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16, 1 Peter 3:8)
* Stop passing judgement on one another (Romans 14:3)
* Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
* Instruct one another (Romans 15:14)
* Greet one another with a holy kiss (Romans 16:16)
* Agree with one another (1 Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 4:2)
* When you come together to eat, wait for one other (1 Corinthians 11:33)
* Serve one another (Galatians 5:13, also by implication in John 13:14)
* Don't become conceited, provoking and envying one other (Galatians 5:26)
* Carry one other's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
* Bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:13)
* Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32, 1 Thessalonians 5:15)
* Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13)
* Sing to one another (Ephesians 5:19)
* Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, Colossians 3:16)
* Do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9)
* Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:25)
* Build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
* Live at peace with one another (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
* Consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24)
* Do not slander one another (James 4:11)
* Do not grumble towards one another (James 5:9)
* Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)
* Pray for one another (James 5:16)
* Offer hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
* Clothe yourself with humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5, see also Philippians 2:4)

I must go till He comes.

In 1980 a young man from Rwanda was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or face certain death. He refused to renounce Christ, and he was killed on the spot. The night before he had written the following commitment which was found in his room:

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made- I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me & when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”