Gospel News — Jan-Apr 2013

44

NEWS FROM BROTHERS & SISTERS

most of the evangelical churches gave assent to the `Death Penalty'. I was surprised to see and hear the Catholic Church veto it vehemently.

NDOLA

Thank you for the CD you sent me about the real devil. I would like you to send me two copies of the book "The Real Devil" as one of the head teachers at a High School is very much interested to read this book. He borrowed it from me and did not want to give it back.

All the natural and spiritual family are doing relatively fine, except for the usual third world related problems mainly associated with poor environmental management here, otherwise we are soldiering on. Thank you very much for your letter in which you clearly outlined the necessary scriptural quotations regarding David's throne and the subsequent coming of his promised descendant, Jesus Christ, to sit on it.

Indeed, the Lord Jesus was not a King at his first coming but his Kingship will be when he returns to the earth to establish the Kingdom of God.

I am equally delighted to receive a CD tape on the devil, which is a very heated debate here compounded by the Pentecostal movements who preach a literal devil and satan, responsible for the world's problems.

NEWS FROM ZIMBABWE

BANKET

Thank you very much for the wonderful work we have seen CAt. doing in the Lord's vineyard here in our ecclesia. We enjoy reading the Gospel news magazine and other books you sent to many of us. We are still actively at work here and our memorial service is fairly well attended.

I am pleased to let you know that the parcel of Bibles and a few Introducing Bible Basics sent to me have arrived safely. once more I would like to

thank you for your invaluable help by keeping on feeding the flock in these difficult days to deal with.

In a song of praise the Psalmist cries out, "one generation shall laud thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. on the glorious splendor of thy majesty and on thy wondrous works, I will meditate." (Psalm 145:4- 5) The book of James tells us to count it joy whenever we face trials, knowing that it is for a short time, and the times we are in are the last days, just before the return of Christ, when he will restore order in this troubled world.

When we read or hear God's Word, He expects us to put it into practice. Read ezra 9:1-15. After only a few months, a serious problem of a life-style inconsistent with God's words became apparent. People were convicted by such passages as exodus 34:11-16, Deut 7:1-4 which spoke of purifying the land and banning foreign marriages, ezra 9:1- 2, which inevitably led to the worship of pagan gods. ezra, realizing the grim situation took it straight to the Lord, not in any `holier than thou' attitude, but in deep sorrow for his people, ezra 9:3-6. God's holy name was at stake because of the contamination of His holy people. What do we need to do when we know we have sinned? ezra's prayer is honest and humble, ezra 9:8-15. Again we begin by acknowledging our own unworthiness. Facing and owning the sin and making no excuse can be the hardest part, yet we remember God's grace in the past. From our point of view in history we look to the mercy and grace of the cross and trust God for pardon and peace.

Thank God that the blood of Jesus , His Son, purifies us from every sin. 1 John 1:7-10.

CHEGUTU

It has been a long time since I last wrote to you. I do hope you are well through the grace of God. As we look to the new year, we hope it will result in Jesus' return. We do appreciate the good works CAt are doing toward helping all people in the world