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Windmill Ministries - Newsletter - November 2008 Welcome to Windmill Ministries' October/Novermber 2008 newsletter, our regular update about our Christian evidences ministry, recent apologetic discoveries, answers to asked questions, books, an inspirational story or poem and so on. Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you
have. (1 Peter 3:15)
Are
you prepared to answer?
I was not prepared when I faced these kind of questions as a teenager
and because of that, I lost my interest in God and the Christian faith. I
did not have clear answers and my commitment to God just faded away. Let
this not happen to you! Get prepared - grow your own faith and be better
equiped to share with others by learning about the compelling evidences
for the truth of Christianity.
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'Gefundeerd geloof - zinnige argumenten om een christen te zijn' wil be published in the Netherlands on November 8th |
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We're excited let you know that the Dutch language edition of 'Prepared to Answer' will be published on November 8 under the title 'Gefundeerd geloof - zinnige argumenten om een christen te zijn' . The book will cover the three main questions that every Christian will need to answer for him or herself before become a follower of Jesus Christ:
'Gefundeerd geloof' will be publised by Uitgeverij Medema (www.medema.nl) in Vaasen, the Netherlands. The book has a word of introduction and recommendation by dr.ir. Jan van der Graaf and prof.dr. Mart-Jan Paul. They write on the backcover of the book: 'this book deserves to be studied in depth.' |
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The book will be officially presented on Saturday evening
November 8th at 19.30 (7.30 PM) in the Sionskerk, Rubensstraat 35 in
Papendrecht, the Netherlands. Besides Rob, also dr.ir. Jan van der
Graaf and Mr. Henk Medema will give brief presentations related to
the subject of evidences for the Christian faith. Everybody is
welcome to join, entrance is free of charge.
Additonally Rob will be interviewed on Dutch public radio (Radio 5)
during the program EO.nl on this same Saturday November 8th between 12.00
and 13.30.
Gefundeerd geloof can be ordered at www.medema.nl (for delivery in the
Netherlands) and our webstore (for
delivery outside the Netherlands). The retail price is € 16.95 (US$
22.00). | |
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Apologetics: The Conversion of Saul |
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For more articles like this see our resource center | |
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The great apostle Paul was initially a zealous
persecutor of Christians. What made him change his mind? Only Jesus'
resurrection can explain his dramatically changed life, his commitment to
Christ and ultimately his martyrdom.
Paul, the great apostle who founded churches throughout Asia and
Europe, whose missionary spirit fills the book of Acts, and who wrote much
of the New Testament was initially a fanatic Christian killer.
Known originally as Saul of Tarsus, Paul is introduced in the New
Testament at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1), one of seven Hellenistic
deacons, around 34 AD, only about twelve months after the resurrection.
Next, "Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to
house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison" (Acts
8:3). Extending the vigorous Jewish persecution of the young Christian
movement, Saul travelled to Damascus with letters from the high priest to
imprison more Christians. However, on the road to the city he encountered
the resurrected Jesus. A few days later he was baptized and filled with
the Holy Spirit (Acts 9). Paul, in his own words described his dramatic
conversion in letters to churches in Corinth (1 Corinthians 15:9-10),
Galatia (Galatians 1:12-23), and Philippi (Philippians 3:6-7).
Initially, Paul's conversion was met with suspicion; even the
apostles were reluctant to meet with him when he returned to Jerusalem the
first time after his conversion: "Then after three years, I went up to
Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him for fifteen
days. I saw none of the other apostles - only James the Lord's
brother" (Galatians 1:18-19, emphasis added). In these days, so soon
after the resurrection, the apostles remained in the Jerusalem area,
apparently they were still not convinced that Paul's conversion was
genuine. Only years later, all apostles felt comfortable with Paul as a
fellow Christian and apostle. This might also be one of the main reasons
that Paul's ministry was mostly in Gentile territory as far away as
possible from his initial anti-Christian, Pharisaic roots.
Saul/Paul spent the remainder of his life in ministry and church
planting until his death as a martyr in Rome around 66/67 AD.
A dramatic conversion as what happened to Paul is not necessarily
unique. Critics and sceptics will assert that history shows numerous
examples of people that convert from one set of beliefs to another. What
makes Paul's conversion such strong evidence is its cause. People usually
convert to a particular religion because they have heard the message of
that religion from a secondary source and have believed it. Quite similar
is how Christians today reach out to non-Christians and share the gospel
of Christ. Very contrary to this, Paul's conversion to Christianity did
not include any sharing by any Christian. It was based completely on his
personal encounter with Jesus. Today, we might believe that Jesus rose
from the dead based on secondary evidence, trusting the testimony of the
disciples and Paul who saw the risen Christ, but for Paul, his experience
came from an unexpected primary source: Jesus appeared to him
personally. His conversion was not based on the testimony of someone else.
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Singing during hard times |
Inspiration and worship |
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“The Lord is my strength and my song: He has become
my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I
will exalt him.”
Exodus 15:2
Sometimes when my walk with Jesus is difficult and hard
I sing a song to get the sadness out of my heavy,
burdened heart
Because the music lifts my sorrows to Him I worship most
He is my Father in heaven and the Host of host
He knows how heavy my cross at times can be
He carried once His own
And He did way more then that for me
Because He carried His alone
My burden is nothing compared with what He endured
And because of it, my life is in Him secured
That is why, in every situation and in every
circumstance
I will rejoice and I will dance
Because when I sing ESPECIALLY in times of sadness and
of grief
He takes away my sorrow and I find in Him relief
Amen.
(for more of Coba's poems and
devotionals) | |
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Last of all, but all important... | |
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Please pray for our trip to the Netherlands in the first half of November, that the Lord will bring people with open minds and open hearts to the presentation of the book and that we will have numerous opportunities to share His gospel with family, friends and others in our home land. We also need your support and prayers to:
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"Prepared to
Answer"
Order as paperback ($17.50), hardcover ($27.50), on
MP3 ($12.50) or on audio CD ($ 29.50) in our
webstore . Special pricing
available when ordering multiple copies.
We love to share about the evidences - e-mail or call us if you would like us to come and share in your church, at your home, in school, at a seminar or any other setting. We would be encouraged to hear from you at our mailing address or e-mail (see below). |
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Windmill Ministries * PO Box 1253 * Port Hadlock, WA
98339, USA Windmill Ministries is a Christian apologetics ministry that equips believers and challenges skeptics through the sharing of evidences for the foundations of the Christian faith. If you do not want to receive these newsletters - please just reply with "remove" | |
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