LEST We FORGET

THE ODE
by Laurence Binyon

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them." 


In memory of our brave Australian and New Zealand men & women who gave their lives for our freedom

Members of the armed forces at the Sydney Centotaph in Martin Place early this morning. The service began at 4:30 am.

Services were also held at the Gallipoli Penisula in Turkey where thousands massed to remember the blood sacrifice of their loved ones.

We will not forget

THE TIE THAT BINDS

This is a cover for my latest book, an inspirational historical romance.

The Victorian Era fascinates me.
Everything about its customs and the real life stories from that age is enough to inspire me to write fiction about what could have been.

Arranged marriages were often quite acceptable. But what would happen to a young woman if that was not the case? So this is what my story, The Tie That Binds, covers.

It hasn't come off the presses yet, but in several days I hope to hold the very first proof copy in my hand. All the hard work has been done now I wait. I know many folk have been waiting for this second book of a trilogy. And the next book, A Parcel of Promises is being edited as of now. It will follow this soon after.

Everything can change in a heartbeat.

Mayfair London, 1859
All is well in the well-to-do Cantrell household until its scheming mistress begins to act on her self-serving plans.
Forced into the security of an arranged marriage and an uncertain future of eloping with her heart's desire, Charlotte Cantrell's faith and integrity are tested to the limit. Either choice threatens dire consequences to everyone she holds dear, and even as she hovers over her decision, she knows that once made it will affect the entire course of her life.

Only an unforeseen event can rescue Charlotte from personal tragedy and forsaken dreams.
 

AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE

Although a commonplace occurrence in many countries, it rarely happens in Australia. My friend, Hanaa shares her story:

I was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and grew up in a Christian family. As a young woman and a believer, I taught Sunday School in Soul Salvation Assembly.

Meanwhile Moheb, a young man from my church, emigrated to Australia to live and work there for two years with his family. Believing it was time he got married, his mother and sister advised him to return to Egypt to find a Christian wife. It happened that my father and his father worked together at the Alexandria Water Board so they mentioned my name to him.

After Moheb visited my family, he approached the elders in the church about being engaged to me. But before they agreed, they checked whether he would make a good husband by contacting his church elders back in Australia. Only then did they agree, and we had our engagement party. Then they encouraged us to get married in Egypt. And with God's blessing, we were married there.

We were parted when Moheb travelled back to Australia to get a working visa for me. And one wonderful day I was able to come to Australia to live with him. We have been married for twenty-nine years and have two good boys who have grown into manhood. Our trust in is Jesus and now I still enjoy teaching Scripture in many schools with my Christian brothers and sisters at the Campbelltown Christian Community Church.

Thank you so much, Hanaa, to hear how God blessed your life.

Resurrection Proofs

Today many deny Jesus' Resurrection. Here are some proofs to refute this lie.

1.  Jesus’ enemies would not have stolen His body because that have propagated the very prediction that He would rise from the dead.

                    2.  Jesus’ disciples could not have stolen His body because Pilate established Roman guards to stand watch over the tomb. (Matthew 27:65).

 (1) Ironically, many of Jesus’ disciples were not fully convinced of His Resurrection itself.

(2) The very character and the later history of the disciples compels us to believe that they neither stole nor secretly carried away the body of Jesus.

II.  In nearly 21 centuries, no body –except the Resurrected body of Jesus Christ– was ever found. Thus, the evidence needed to disprove Christ’s prophecy is missing.

III.  The mathematical probability of anyone being able to perpetrate any hoax –especially concerning Christ’s Resurrection– over 20 centuries is astronomically negative! 

IV.  The prophecy prediction record of the Old Testament is 100 percent accurate! 

V.  Notice that the chief priests and the elders never questioned whether the tomb was empty.  There is no record anywhere that they even questioned whether the guards’ report were true.  They knew it was true! 

VI.  Notice that the soldiers were told to say that Jesus’ disciples came and stole the body away while they (the soldiers) were asleep!  How could they have known what was going on if they were asleep?  (Matthew 28:12-13)

VII.  The leaders of Judaism in Jerusalem, who had put the LORD Jesus to death, had nothing to offer to contradict these disciples as they continued to preach Jesus and His Resurrection– because all Jerusalem knew the tomb was empty.  If there had been trickery involved, sooner or later it would have been suspected, then proven.

VIII.  Had fraud occurred, surely one of the disciples, even most of them, would have confessed it under the horrendous persecution they underwent.  It may be possible to live a lie, but men seldom die for a lie –and most of these men died for what they believed.

IX.  The result ultimately would have been that the message that Christ had risen would have suffered the fate of all such unfounded stories– it would have lost its power.  Instead, this truth has swept the world, closed pagan temples, won millions of disciples, brought hope to a despairing humanity, was the very foundation truth of the early Church, and is as freshly glorious as ever!

X.  But not only did Jesus come alive again, He did not disappear to leave the disciples speculating through all the subsequent days as to what had happened to Him.  Instead, He appeared to them literally, visibly, frequently and in bodily form –to more than 500 believers following His Resurrection from the dead (I Corinthians 15:3-8).

NOTE:  In over 60 years in the Christian ministry, it has been my observation that those who persist in denying the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, are in the grip of some personal sin which they are unwilling to surrender in order to lay hold of Christ.  As with physical survival, it is in the nature of man to embrace hope, not to disparage or deny it.  Thus, when men engage in unmitigated attacks upon the only One who offers true hope to all mankind, it is undeniable proof both of man’s own decadence and of his love of sin.  – Gene L.  Jeffries, Th.D.

                                                         Thank you for sharing this with us, Dr Jeffries!

HE is THERE

This true story might give you some idea of why Jesus died for us....

Susan was rendered sightless due to a medical mistake. Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan lapsed into a deep depression, hating the fact she was now powerless and a burden on those around her.

Her husband, Mark, an Air Force officer, loved her with all his heart. He remembered his once optimistic wife and was determined to help her gain her confidence and independence again. His disciplined background convinced him that to accomplish this sensitive situation would be the most difficult battle he would ever face.

When she felt she was ready to return to work he drove her there every day on the opposite side of the city where he worked. And he also picked her up afterward. They both realized this was hectic and very costly. He knew he must prepare her to take the bus as she had previously. But Susan reacted bitterly. "I'm blind. How am I supposed to know where I am going? I feel you're abandoning me. This broke his heart.

Mark knew what he would do. He promised her he would ride the bus with her and help her adapt to the new environment. He promised he would do this morning and evening until she felt she could handle it herself. For two weeks Mark did this in full uniform. He taught her how to rely on her senses and befriend the bus drivers so they would save a seat for her. He believed in her and knew she would not give up her struggle.

The day came when her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his love, his loyalty and his patience. She was ready. She rode the bus successfully for a week. One day the bus driver said to her, "I sure envy you." She asked him what he meant. He answered, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected the way you are." She was puzzled until he added, "Every morning for the past week a fine looking man in a uniform has been standing across the street watching when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the road safely. He watches until you enter the building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives a salute, and walks away."

Tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks. For although she couldn't see him, she had always felt his presence. He had given her a gift far more precious than sight. She didn't need to see to believe - a gift of love that can bring light when there had been darkness.

I know someone who is always there helping those He loves. His name is Jesus. He shines His light into our darkness. He tells us "I will never leave you, or forsake you."