CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
& LIVING

Was blind, but now I see.

3 : 11 November 2004

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Copyright © 2001
M. S. Thirumalai


Cross Roads


CONTENTS

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  • THE AGE OF THE CHRISTIAN ROMAN EMPIRE - The Lessons for the Modern Age by ... Laura Robertshaw
    Slowly, the church created a structure that mimicked the Roman political system at that time. The church leadership was divided between four powerful bishops, Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch. ... Another thing that struck me in this reading of the age of the Roman Christian Empire was how much of an influence believers can have without knowing it. Throughout these centuries there were believers who acted out their faith in their daily lives, and it changed the entire history of the world. Constantine knew of the Christian God before he saw Him in the dream. He called out to Him. There must have been family and friends, or even some of the martyrs who God used to let Constantine know who it was he needed to turn to when he was on trouble.
  • LIVING WORTHY OF THE GOOD NEWS - Philippians 1:27 by ...
    Pastor Dave Strem with James W. Skeen
    Where do you stand spiritually? Where are you with God? Where do you stand on His chart? How do you measure that? When gauging physical health, you may put a hand on the forehead and feel for a fever or look at a thermometer. But how do we gauge spiritual health? ... Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven." He wants us to have a relationship with God. He did not lead the people to the temple or the sanctuary. He met them at these places but then He introduced them to His Father. We are called to do the same thing. How you doing? Are you living consistent with the Good News of Jesus Christ-consistent with who He is and what He has done. You want to do better? You do not have to read Shaeffer's systematic theology. What you have to do is talk to God and reflect on His word. Talk to God and reflect on what He has for you. As you grow healthier, we grow healthier. That is how the body of Christ prospers.
  • JESUS - THE SERVANT KING by ... Alec Brooks
    Leadership is not something that a person takes to himself, it is a responsibility Jesus gives him, and his leadership is Jesus' gift to His people. A leader's responsibility is to serve Jesus' people on His behalf so that they can grow to become like Him and learn how to give themselves in service to others. This is what Paul tells us in Eph. 4:7-16. ... This means that leaders must be like Jesus: committed to serving His people with self-giving and self-sacrificing love, and with no thought of return, as Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5:2.
  • BELIEVE AND FEAR NOT - Isaiah 40 by ... James W. Skeen
    The message of assurance and comfort starts out in verses 1 and 2 with God's promise to give rich blessing to those who have endured much suffering. ... Isaiah 40:9 speaks directly to believing Judah but is applicable to all who have ever believed. This verse holds within it a general truth necessary for all ages. ... In God's salvation man finds the hope, meaning, and purpose he desperately needs, and when apart from God, creatively seeks. Men and women separated from God seek to fill their own "cistern" (Jeremiah 2:13) for fulfillment and light their own "sparks" (Isaiah 50:11) for direction. True meaning is found in two things: 1) that God is our caring Lord now (verses 1 and 9) and 2) that our caring Lord has a future planned for us that is filled with comfort and love (verses 2 and 10-11). True meaning is found in two important facts: 1) the truth conveyed to us in God's Word (verse 8) and 2) the fact that we have an identity in belonging to the God of the universe (verses 9 and 11).
  • VIOLENCE IN THE HEAVENS by ... George Foster
    Christians today are hearing about a spiritual conflict that is more violent and more significant than anything we have seen on TV or read in the newspapers. Steven Spielberg would be hard-pressed to produce the visual and audio effects of the unseen war being fought in the heavens today. And this celestial war is more relevant and closer to home than we think. We are involved in it and we are affected by it. ... Because the Church is becoming more aggressive about evangelizing the world, you can be sure that the Devil is becoming doubly aggressive about preventing it. ... How will we live the rest of our lives? Will we allow Christ to test us, without murmuring? Will we be faithful today in the tasks that He gives us that will form our character for tomorrow?
  • PONTIUS PILATE AND HIS DILEMMA by ... Mike Leeming
    In this paper we will be looking at the historical figure of Pontius Pilate, his role as procurator of Judea under the Roman Empire, his reluctance to condemn Jesus to death, possible reasons why he finally did condemn Jesus to death, and some theories concerning what may have happened to him after he was procurator. ... That Pilate had a violent reputation among the Jews can be seen from the above verses. We don't know if this accusation is true, but Jesus does not deny it. He instead uses it as an opportunity to show that when bad things happen to people, it is not an indication of their exceeding sinfulness. ... The last time Pontius Pilate appears in the Scriptures is after Jesus has died. The scene appears only in Matthew. The chief priests and Pharisees, thinking that Jesus' disciples might come and steal His body in order to say that Jesus had risen from the dead, ask Pilate to post a guard at Jesus' tomb.
  • PETER AND PAUL - God's Grace and Message for Us by ... Wayne Anderson
    If Peter is the key guy among the disciples than why is Paul the most talked about in the New Testament. It is Paul that is more talked about in the account of Luke in the book of Acts. It is Paul that wrote more books in the New Testament. Why is this that Paul seems to have more impact on the church than Peter? ... Christianity is now a Gentile movement and not a Jewish one. Paul was the leading apostle in the Gentile movement even though Peter was the head man of the disciples. That is why Paul is talked about more in the New Testament.
  • PETER AND PAUL - Their Roles in World Christian Movement by ... Steven Wakeman
    Perhaps no two men were more responsible for igniting the fiery expansion of the Church than Peter and Paul. Through the work of God in these two ordinary men, the "Jesus Movement" broke out of Judaism into the greatest world-wide religious movement the world will ever know. ... First, it is important to note that God is the one who chooses these special individuals, not the church. ... In Peter, He saw more than just a fisherman; and in Paul, He saw more than just a devout Jew. God believed in Peter and Paul when they would have never believed in themselves; in fact, His very word to them was to deny themselves and allow Him to take control. God has called me into the world "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14), and His calling is never without a significant purpose.
  • GOD'S COMMANDS TO FAMILIES by ... Harold Brokke
    A disobedient child causes hardship and difficulty for parents and superiors. ... Another lesson is learned! Disobedience to parents creates losses for children in matters of privilege, reward, and enjoyment. ... According to the modern philosophy of bringing up children, Mary and Joseph should never have brought Jesus to the synagogue of Nazareth or to the temple of Jerusalem. Hannah and Elkanah should never have surrendered their child Samuel to the duties of the tabernacle in Shiloh. According to such a philosophy, Jesus Christ, the good Shepherd, can lead the sheep, but of course He should leave the lambs to find their way alone. How stupid can this enlightened age of ours get? It will not be "well with us" nor will we "dwell long upon the land" unless we repent of our disregard of this command of God.

Christian Literature & Living is a monthly online journal devoted to the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ through literature, and through living according to His Word. We wish to introduce our readers to the best Christian literature, Christian devotionals, counseling, and to the understanding of the relevance of the Word of God in our daily life, in popular language. Christian Literature & Living is a cross-cultural journal, focusing on Christian literature written in all the languages, and Christian living around the world. We learn by listening to and reading our brothers and sisters in Christ from all around the world. We believe that any creative writing with literary sensibilities that focuses on the presence and life-changing ministry of Jesus Christ is Christian literature. We believe that we all need the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in order to live a life according to His Word. Christian literature and other writings anointed by the Holy Spirit help us to develop a personal relationship with Jesus as the Lord and Savior.

CONTACT EDITOR



The Solitary Poet, poems of reflection by Stan Schmidt


Hadassah, a novel by Tommy Tenney


If I gained the World, a novel by Linda Nichols


Godwrestling Faith, a spiritual development book by Mike Evans


Sharing Your Faith with a Buddhist, a book on evangelism by M. S. Thirumalai


Short Term Missions, a book by Roger Peterson, et al.



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