Her perception is just the opposite of mine. But, here question is WHAT IS AMERICA DOING WITH THE HOMELESS EVERYDAY? Does seem like a no brain-er, but I don't see very many people helping their neighbors who are homeless. Once or twice a year they will help some people who become homeless because of a natural disaster, like a hurricane, or tsunami, or earthquake, but will they help those who are chronically homeless? Not based upon what I have experienced. Not based upon the 6000 homeless folks on the Island of Oahu where the government has stated now every year that they will end homelessness within 10 years and 5 years have gone by and they haven't increased the 216 spaces they had for the homeless 5 years ago, it is still 216 spaces. No change. Nobody is feeding them every day. There are food banks that may pass out some small portion of food once a month or once a week, but the homeless can't carry around cans of food when everything they own is on their back. And when the homeless go to some of these churches or non-profit organizations to get it, they are treated like scum of the earth (they soon stop doing that). I know, because I experienced it first hand too many times (and I can show you hundred of others who have also experienced this). They have no place to put food. They need to eat every day, just like everyone else, but they may get something to eat a couple of times a week, it is easier to get something to drink than something to eat. They don't really care, because nobody else cares. It does take somebody to give their individual attention to help one homeless person, but I haven't seen many. There are a few vets that the counties pay to help find them and give a few of them some attention for a short time, and then "Good bye." I guess I can go on and on about the poor treatment the rich give the poor, but it won't do any good, because the Bible is not inspiring too many people to really do anything on a long term basis. Oh, well, says America.

I didn't really mean to stand on my soap box when I started writing this, maybe I just need to vent once in a while.

I am still homeless and not one person has stood up for me and said I will DO something for you, Bob. And I have helped hundreds of people every day for years. Now when I need help, nobody is there for me. I must trust in God, because I haven't found one person who will trust in me.

you are a solution to a problem
o.k
the lord says your significance is not iin your similarities to others, it is in your difference..
find your point of difference and solve a problem with it
wow.
prosperity is inevitable,i suddenly discovered that one of the master keys to personal miracles is to get involved with the needs of others,
think about joseph, he used his gift to benefits others....gifts of interpreting dreams, he used it to calm a tormented pharoah.what happened ,he was promoted,from a prison to a palace
think about job too, during the worst crisis of his life, he also prayed for his friends, the word says proverb 3.27 with hold not good fffrom them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
i see you solvig great problems with what the master has alread deposited in you.
cheers
you prophetic partner
kingsley diala

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to render justice.

Knowing that you are a lawyer, I looked into this in a legalistic way, or at least in the legalistic way that I percieve it to be. And I share what I have concluded here; but I would be open to any other iterpretation you may have also.

What was the relevance of the evidence on which Solomon relied? Is it possible that this "wisest" of all judgments was based on irrelevant evidence? Would a modern appellate court uphold a judgment based on such evidence if the appellate court were not convinced that the trial judge was divinely inspired?

In thinking about this problem, consider the following: Relevance is a relational concept. You cannot tell whether something is relevant without knowing what it is you are trying to decide. Thus, the most important question about any item of evidence is "What is this evidence offered to prove?" What is the "fact ... of consequence?"

It looks as if Solomon were deciding who was the real mother. But the evidence, namely the differing responses of the two women to the prospect of the child being killed, seems quite ambiguous when judged in terms of its probative value on the question of which woman is the real mother. One can easily imagine further facts about the two women and the child that would affect our view of the significance of their responses.

Suppose there was evidence that one of the women was a brutal child-hater who already had more children than she wanted, while the other was a person who opposed all forms of killing and who had been trying for years to bear a child. Would this evidence be relevant? How would it cut? A brutal child-hater who already had more children than she wanted might prefer to have the king kill the baby rather than see it go to her hated, lying neighbor.

Perhaps the neighbor was indeed a saintly person who had wanted a child for years and, when she found her baby dead, had pulled a switchbut then repented when she saw that the king was about to kill the baby. Is it possible that Solomon concluded that he could not decide who the natural mother was and therefore based his decision on a quite different ground, namely, who would be the better mother?

But if Solomon were deciding not who was the real mother, but who would be the better mother, we have little question about the relevance of the women's responses, and Solomon's judgment exudes wisdom. The relevance of the evidence thus depends on what issue actually is being decided.

Suppose that Solomon knew just what he was doing: He wanted to act in the best interests of the child, and he was convinced that he would best serve the interests of the child by awarding custody of the child to the kind and generous woman the "better" mother as opposed to the natural mother. Moreover, suppose further that he knew that a "best interests of the child" standard would be a radical departure from Hebraic tradition, likely to be highly controversial, perhaps even unpopular enough to lead his subjects to question his wisdom. Was it wise for Solomon to portray his judgment as one about who was the natural mother? By doing so, Solomon avoided many hard problems with the "best interests of the child" standard. What, for example, would stop a third woman from saying that she would be an even better mother to the child, or the natural mother from saying, "since when is it the law of Israel that you can take babies away from their real mothers?"

Do we think less of Solomon if we imagine that he saw all of this and consciously engaged in deception? Should the lawgiver always communicate his laws and judgments forthrightly, or are there circumstances in which we, knowing the full picture, would condone and perhaps even approve a bit of distortion in how we adjudicate a controversy in order to affect how our adjudication of the controversy is perceived by the populace? Is this the wisdom of real politics or a path to self-deception and corruption? In any event, what do these issues reveal about the logic of relevance in courts? If logic is not the only component of relevance in law courts, what other values does the concept of relevance serve?

Another view of the Solomon story sees it as a demonstration of ruthless, brutal male power exercised over powerless women who are stereotyped into the good woman, cowed and deferring to male authority, and the bad woman, strong enough to resist superior male power even when it seems hopeless and irrational.

Alternative explanation of the biblical story (versions of which exist in many other cultures) is that it is a fiction designed to legitimize Solomon's attempt to make a transition from military conqueror to legitimate sovereign by demonstrating the wisdom of his judgment, but that, in fact, it does just the opposite if closely examined. We could argue that it is at least a reasonable interpretation that the first woman yielded to the king when he flaunted his physical power and authority. The Other, whom history brands the bad, selfish woman, resists power, continues to assert her claim, and stands on principle, even in the face of a great loss. We can read the Other woman's statement as an outcry against injustice and brutality, a breakdown of reason.

Indeed, the Other's comment comes only after the ["good"] One's concession of the child and thus does not appear to be a product of reason. If the Other were truly cold and calculating, she could have simply kept her silence and received the child....

The king lifts a murderous sword, and we manage to perceive it as a coup of reason, attributing to him not ruthless brutality, but amazing and modern wisdom....

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ,the author and the finisher of our faith.

For more information about my family, We are ten among the family, five boys and five girls, we are all married.We belong to a regular family and we have fear doing bad things, what God don't want to do. I'm serving the Lord since my husband died, four yrs and a half he going to the Lord. We have two children, the oldest is Glenn he is 33 yrs old and the youngest is Mae 28 yrs old and have there own family. By God's grace we are all fine. at this time, I lived in my sister Carmen her husband is pentecostal pastor. It is my desire to served God while i'm still alive. I want to served to other people, I help my sister by feeding because, they have a children feeding ministry. I enjoy my life if i could served to other people.

One of my hobbies is writing and reading the word of God, I also like doing cross stich if i dont have any work. I want to communicate to make friend with you that's why i'm writing you...I want you also to be my prayer partner and i pray for your ministry. I trust that God will use you more mightily...I'm looking forward to your response...

Pharaoh's dreams.

The means of Joseph's being freed from prison were Pharaoh's dreams, as here related. Now that God no longer speaks to us in that way, it is no matter how little we either heed dreams, or tell them. The telling of foolish dreams can make no better than foolish talk. But these dreams showed that they were sent of God; when he awoke, Pharaoh's spirit was troubled.

I pray you will never be troubled and will succeed in accordance with God's time. God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php and check out item 32.

Dear
bob,gretings in HIS name and love from my family.i am sahring my devotion.
When joseph was in prison,he ws so anxiuous to come out of prison that he approached two prisoners from pharo's palace with the intention that they mihgt advocate on his behalf to pharoh and he will be delivered from prison and joseph failed there.verse 14,"d o me one favour,when everythimg will be all right with you remember me and take me out of prison."
When I was mediatating on this verse,i realised that did i ever do this?Ye I did,many times I lean on my friends and relatives to fullfill HIS promises or I look at friends for help thinking that HE will help me thru them.By doing so I dishonour HIm and try to fullfill HIS vision my way and joseph tried too.
MAny imes I make friend with the intentions that they will e of grea help tp me in future,ho foolish I was.
At last we read that the vine taser didn't remember the joseph,he forgot @ him.
BUt HE said I will not leave u nor forsake you.

in HIM
vinay

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31.

Aloha, The Ideal Wife - Proverbs 31:10-11 -- 10-10-05

Dear Mary Mea and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your note. Thank you for sharing the Word of God. Thank you for reminding me of an ideal wife.

As I reviewed Proverbs 31, I am reminded that some women compare themselves to the wife described in this chapter and feel inadequate. Actually, the woman of Proverbs 31 is a description of the IDEAL wife. No wife has ever or will ever completely measure up to these ideal standards. This will inevitably lead to frustration and despair. Instead, a woman should accept herself for who she is and commit to allowing God to transform her more and more into His likeness. As she grows to be more like Him, she will naturally exhibit many of the characteristics of this ideal wife.

Proverbs 31:10-11 (New Living Translation)

A Wife of Noble Character

(10) Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. (11) Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.

The description of a virtuous woman.

This is the description of a virtuous woman of those days, but the general outlines equally suit every age and nation. She is very careful to recommend herself to her husband's esteem and affection, to know his mind, and is willing that he rule over her.

1. She can be trusted, and he will leave such a wife to manage for him. He is happy in her. And she makes it her constant business to do him good.

2. She is one that takes pains in her duties, and takes pleasure in them. She is careful to fill up time, that none be lost. She rises early. She applies herself to the business proper for her, to women's business. She does what she does, with all her power, and trifles not.

3. She makes what she does turn to good account by prudent management. Many undo themselves by buying, without considering whether they can afford it. She provides well for her house. She lays up for hereafter.

4. She looks well to the ways of her household, that she may oblige all to do their duty to God and one another, as well as to her.

5. She is intent upon giving as upon getting, and does it freely and cheerfully.

6. She is discreet and obliging; every word she says, shows she governs herself by the rules of wisdom. She not only takes prudent measures herself, but gives prudent advice to others. The law of love and kindness is written in the heart, and shows itself in the tongue. Her heart is full of another world, even when her hands are most busy about this world.

7. Above all, she fears the Lord. Beauty recommends none to God, nor is it any proof of wisdom and goodness, but it has deceived many a man who made his choice of a wife by it. But the fear of God reigning in the heart, is the beauty of the soul; it lasts for ever.

8. She has firmness to bear up under crosses and disappointments. She shall reflect with comfort when she comes to be old, that she was not idle or useless when young. She shall rejoice in a world to come. She is a great blessing to her relations.

If the fruit be good, the tree must have our good word. But she leaves it to her own works to praise her. Every one ought to desire this honor that comes from God; and according to this standard we all ought to regulate our judgments. This description let all women daily study, who desire to be truly beloved and respected, useful and honorable. This passage is to be applied to individuals, but may it not also be applied to the church of God, which is described as a virtuous spouse? God by his grace has formed from among sinful men a church of true believers, to possess all the excellence here described. I will write more to you later.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php and check out item 31 (www.boberb.com)

The world is a puzzle and we're two pieces that fit perfectly together

Bible verse for me and u

When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize."
Proverbs 31:10-11

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30.

Aloha, the dandelion, maybe not a weed? - Matthew 13:30 -- 10-09-05

Dear Corinne and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your message. Thank you for sharing your perception of the dandelion with me.

If this is your original thoughts, you are entering a world all clarified by God. The words in the Bible will make everything clear as we stay in the spiritual realm. As I reviewed what the Bible says about weeds, I found it mentioned 14 times, but most of the times it was used by Matthew to describe bad stuff. Jesus suggested it represents sin and those who do evil. But, there is a time when it may not really be weeds, just our perceptions.

Matthew 13:30

"Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "

At the moment I read this I am thinking about how it might apply in a recovery program or dealing with significant life changing experiences. On the other hand, I also see it how we grow together with others who we may think are weeds at the time, but as we get to know them, we see the beauty in them. We may find that what we thought were weeds are really roses, or something much greater that we need to keep (or should we if they don't love God). We always need to remember, if we believe Satan was an angle, he was also the most beautiful of all of them.

As I read the whole story in its context, though, I see something else. The story about the wheat and the weeds applies to those of us considering recovery. Ultimately, there are two kinds of people in the world. some submit to God's will and experience the restoration He offers in Jesus Christ, the others, whether they realize it or not, have submitted to the control of Satan. This stark but realistic contrast shows us that if we do not choose God, we choose Satan bu default. If we have already undertaken a form of recovery but have not yet committed our life to Jesus Christ, we still have tone more step to go before experiencing the victory available in God's recovery program.

PARABLES OF THE SECRET KINGDOM

Matthew's central discourse section contains seven or eight parables depicting the present character of the kingdom until the end; his final discourse section contains a roughly equal number of end-time kingdom parables . As in Mark, Jesus' parables of the kingdom's present state explain why his kingdom comes first in a hidden way and why Israel's leaders reject him. These parables dramatically reinforce that Jesus' first coming was coercive neither militarily nor intellectually; he came as the meek burden bearer, and only the meek could recognize and follow him. That the parables address his people's acceptance or rejection of the kingdom message follows from the context: Jesus speaks parables that same day that he has confronted Pharisaic opposition and offered a culturally offensive statement about his family. The parables section closes immediately with an account of Jesus' rejection by his hometown, so that rejection by his own frames his kingdom parables. This likewise implies that true disciples-those who follow the kingdom message-must be prepared to pay the ultimate price for doing so. Because modern readers often misunderstand parables, it is important to provide some brief comments about their character. Most of Jesus' parables were stories designed to illustrate a particular point or points, something like sermon illustrations today (except sometimes without the accompanying sermon that would clarify the illustration!). We should not read too much into parables; often some details of the parables merely are necessary to make a good story. Nevertheless, parables provide one creative way to explain Jesus' central point or points.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php and check out item 30 (www.boberb.com)

what are your thoughts ?

On the way to dropping the kids off to school this morning

i passed some longish grass on the side of the road

and it was covered with these bright yellow dandelions...

At first i thought...the grass needs cutting ...wonder if

my grass needs cutting....then...i looked harder and thought.wow

all those yellow dandelions look beautiful...

my mind wandered.....do we cut short some of the beautiful things

in life because of our traditions.....if that lawn had been kept

mowed and looking the part ...i would not have had the opportunity

to see such a beautiful display of natural yellow...

doesn't end there...you know me the thinker..

on the other hand if we let the so called weeds in our life grow

do they kill the good..(grass)...takeover so to speak..do the lusts of our eyes let us get sidetracked..

still more...what is a weed anyway...i think something that you don't want , something that will choke the good things in your life out..

now last thought....is a dandelion a weed...maybe in some places ..

but others have learn't the value of it and use it for good..

i am sure God is going to continue to speak to me today about this

little flower He pointed out to me this morning...maybe He has something to say to you about it to...or maybe, there is some little piece of nature He is talking to you through today...Let's hear the voice of God

today and see the wonderful things He has to say.....

life can get so busy we walk past the little blessings

and don't even notice them...

God is all around us.....Corinne

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29.

Aloha, We can make it in any situation now - Philippians 4:10-13 -- 10-07-05

Dear Dennis and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for sharing the Word of God.

David forwarded this message to me and it touched my heart enough to respond to it. As I experience my periods of homelessness, I always feel the hope of Christ in my life. Over 31 months ago, I did feel like I was going to loose, until I rededicated my life to God and started DOING what Jesus might DO. I also know that I can begin to thank others for the gifts they give me by expressing their concern for me.

Philippians 4:10-13 (New Living Translation)

Paul's Thanks for Their Gifts

(10) How grateful I am, and how I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but for a while you didn't have the chance to help me. (11) Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. (12) I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. (13) For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

Some of us may wonder if we will ever experience peace again. Our battle against addiction seems endless and hard. we continually find ourselves in helpless situations. When we get discouraged and recognize that recovery is too hard for us to achieve alone, we can claim those verses for renewed hope. God wants us to make progress in recovery, and He has the power to help us do it. As we entrust our life to God, we can make progress in recovery with the help of Christ, who gives us the strength we need. With God, nothing is impossible.

Gives directions to some, and to all in general.

Let believers be of one mind, and ready to help each other. As the apostle had found the benefit of their assistance, he knew how comfortable it would be to his fellow-laborers to have the help of others. Let us seek to give assurance that our names are written in the book of life. Joy in God is of great consequence in our Christian lives; and we Christians need to be again and again called to it. It more than outweighs all causes for sorrow. Let our enemies perceive how moderate we were as to outward things, and how composedly we suffered loss and hardships. The day of judgment will soon arrive, with full redemption to believers, and destruction to ungodly men. There is a care of diligence which is our duty, and agrees with a wise forecast and due concern; but there is a care of fear and distrust, which is sin and folly, and only perplexes and distracts the mind. As a remedy against perplexing care, constant prayer is recommended. Not only stated times for prayer, but in every thing by prayer. We must join thanksgivings with prayers and supplications; not only seek supplies of good, but own the mercies we have received. God needs not to be told our wants or desires; he knows them better than we do; but he will have us show that we value the mercy, and feel our dependence on him. The peace of God, the comfortable sense of being reconciled to God, and having a part in his favor, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, are a greater good than can be fully expressed. This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and with inward satisfaction. Believers are to get and to keep a good name; a name for good things with God and good men. We should walk in all the ways of virtue, and abide therein; then, whether our praise is of men or not, it will be of God. The apostle is for an example. His doctrine and life agreed together. The way to have the God of peace with us, is to keep close to our duty. All our privileges and salvation arise in the free mercy of God; yet the enjoyment of them depends on our sincere and holy conduct. These are works of God, pertaining to God, and to him only are they to be ascribed, and to no other, neither men, words, nor deeds.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php and see item 29. see http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page4.html

Ý The Power of Our Confession Ý - Dennis C.

Hope Y'all find this as inspirational as I did...

Tuesday November 9, 2004
The Power of Our Confession
Philippians 4:10-13

What we say about ourselves reveals what we are really like on
the inside. We often fail to realize that our negative statements
are more than comments on our life; they are the reason for our defeat.

The apostle Paul was different. Writing from places that were
lowly in both the physical and emotional sense, he is a triumphant
example of positive confessions.

We, like Paul, need to view ourselves as
our heavenly Father does. The best way to do that is to recognize
God as the source of our power: "I can do all things through Him who
strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

Many of us have memorized this verse, but have we accepted its
truth? To say "all things" is ! a bold statement, but it is balanced too.
The emphasis is not on "I can," but rather on the fact that I can
through Christ-He supplies what we need to carry out His plan for our
life.

This verse is a confession that we cannot do God's will in our own
power. But that does not mean we should simply sit back and become
spectators.

We have a responsibility to obey God's leading in both small and
large circumstances. Furthermore, it is your hands, feet, body, voice,
compassion, and desires that God uses to accomplish His ultimate
goal for you.

Obeying by faith may seem frightening, but the comfort zone is
not where godly people choose to spend their time. To do all things
through Christ, we must take a few risks. And the rewards for obedience
are deeply satisfying.

We need to thank Jay Quisenberry from Cocoa Beach for this one.

Ý Yours in Christ Ý
Dennis C.
Christian Fellowship
Cocoa Beach, Florida

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28.

Aloha, An Axe and (2) 38s -- 10-07-05

Dear Merlyn and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for the ecard. Thank you for sharing the Word of God. Thank you for helping me to remember Acts 2:38.

The ecard suggested that I could remember when we do something wrong that someone will be ready with an Axe and 2 38s to stop us in out tracks.

Acts 2:37-39 (New Living Translation)

(37) Peter's words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"

(38) Peter replied, "Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) This promise is to you and to your children, and even to the Gentiles--all who have been called by the Lord our God."

Peter's preaching led the people to examine their lives, and they readily recognized their need for salvation in Christ. Peter assured them that by turning from their sins and entrusting their lives to God, they would be forgiven and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We can expect the same blessings if we bring our sins before God. His forgiveness will set us free from bondage to our sins of the past. The presence of His holy Spirit will give us the power to persevere through hard times. If God is in our life, He will lead us to successful recovery and help us deal with significant life changing experiences.

Peter's address to the Jews.

From this gift of the Holy Ghost, Peter preaches unto them Jesus: and here is the history of Christ. Here is an account of his death and sufferings, which they witnessed but a few weeks before. His death is considered as God's act; and of wonderful grace and wisdom. Thus Divine justice must be satisfied, God and man brought together again, and Christ himself glorified, according to an eternal counsel, which could not be altered. And as the people's act; in them it was an act of awful sin and folly. Christ's resurrection did away the reproach of his death; Peter speaks largely upon this. Christ was God's Holy One, sanctified and set apart to his service in the work of redemption. His death and sufferings should be, not to him only, but to all his, the entrance to a blessed life for evermore. This event had taken place as foretold, and the apostles were witnesses. Nor did the resurrection rest upon this alone; Christ had poured upon his disciples the miraculous gifts and Divine influences, of which they witnessed the effects. Through the Saviour, the ways of life are made known; and we are encouraged to expect God's presence, and his favour for evermore. All this springs from assured belief that Jesus is the Lord, and the anointed Saviour.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php and check out item 28 and http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page3.html

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27.

Aloha, when the brook dried up - 1 King 17:7 -- 10-07-05

Dear Vinay and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your response. Thank you for sharing the Word of God. Thank you for sharing your devotion with me. Thank you for expressing your concern for the ministry that God had led me to do at one point in my life and what He is doing now.

As I read your letter it inspires me to study that portion of the Bible. This is what I see it showing me on using that scripture for a 12 step program. Please forgive me for not writing sooner, but I was spending some time with my youngest son this past week who does not have internet access yet. Since I rely on others, and God, I cannot always respond right away.

1 Kings 17:7-16 (New Living Translation)

(7) But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.

The Widow at Zarephath

(8) Then the LORD said to Elijah, (9) "Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. There is a widow there who will feed you. I have given her my instructions." (10) So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, "Would you please bring me a cup of water?" (11) As she was going to get it, he called to her, "Bring me a bite of bread, too." (12) But she said, "I swear by the LORD your God that I don't have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die." (13) But Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid! Go ahead and cook that `last meal,' but bake me a little loaf of bread first. Afterward there will still be enough food for you and your son. ⁽¹⁴⁾For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!"

(15) So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat from her supply of flour and oil for many days. ⁽¹⁶⁾For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah.

As Elisha came to having nothing, God led him to do something else. As I come to having nothing, God is leading me to do something else for a while. As the brook seems to be dry for the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry, He seems to be leading me to share the Word of God on the Life Recovery Ministry web site and more. As the widow gave away her last portions, I continually give away my last portions knowing God will provide in His time. I also am reminded that the brook is always represented by the spirit, so the brook always replenishes itself when it rains.

The widow of Zarephathe demonstrated the delivering power of faith. She and her son faced starvation, but still she shared the last of her food with Elijah. She believed that God would come through, so she gave up her last resource for survival. The result was her deliverance. God provided for her need. When we are powerless - at the end of our rope - all we need to do is call out to God. He will take care of us and deliver us from our dependencies and significant life changing experiences if we are willing to trust Him.

Before the brook dried up, Elijah was fed by ravens.

God wonderfully suits men to the work he designs them for. The times were fit for an Elijah; an Elijah was fit for them. The Spirit of the Lord knows how to fit men for the occasions. Elijah let Ahab know that God was displeased with the idolaters, and would chastise them by the want of rain, which it was not in the power of the gods they served to bestow. Elijah was commanded to hide himself. If Providence calls us to solitude and retirement, it becomes us to go: when we cannot be useful, we must be patient; and when we cannot work for God, we must sit still quietly for him. The ravens were appointed to bring him meat, and did so. Let those who have but from hand to mouth, learn to live upon Providence, and trust it for the bread of the day, in the day. God could have sent angels to minister to him; but he chose to show that he can serve his own purposes by the meanest creatures, as effectually as by the mightiest. Elijah seems to have continued thus above a year. The natural supply of water, which came by common providence, failed; but the miraculous supply of food, made sure to him by promise, failed not. If the heavens fail, the earth fails of course; such are all our creature-comforts: we lose them when we most need them, like brooks in summer. But there is a river which makes glad the city of God, that never runs dry, a well of water that springs up to eternal life. Lord, give us that living water!

Elijah sent to Zarephath.

Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, and some, it is likely, would have bidden him welcome to their houses; yet he is sent to honor and bless with his presence a city of Sidon, a Gentile city, and so becomes the first prophet of the Gentiles. Jezebel was Elijah's greatest enemy; yet, to show her how powerless was her malice, God will find a hiding-place for him even in her own country. The person appointed to entertain Elijah is not one of the rich or great men of Sidon; but a poor widow woman, in want, and desolate, is made both able and willing to sustain him. It is God's way, and it is his glory, to make use of, and put honor upon, the weak and foolish things of the world. O woman, great was thy faith; one has not found the like, no not in Israel. She took the prophet's word, that she should not lose by it. Those who can venture upon the promise of God, will make no difficulty to expose and empty themselves in his service, by giving him his part first. Surely the increase of this widow's faith, so as to enable her thus readily to deny herself, and to depend upon the Divine promise, was as great a miracle in the kingdom of grace, as the increase of her meal and oil in the kingdom of providence. Happy are all who can thus, against hope, believe and obey in hope. One poor meal's meat this poor widow gave the prophet; in recompense of it, she and her son did eat above two years, in a time of famine. To have food from God's special favor, and in

such good company as Elijah, made it more than doubly sweet. It is promised to those who trust in God, that they shall not be ashamed in evil time; in days of famine they shall be satisfied.

As I feel like I am struggling at times, I need to remind myself that God will provide and is providing what I need right now. Praise the Lord.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php and check out item 27. Also see http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page4.html and www.boberb.com

Hello
bob,greetings to you,how are u?are u ok?I didn't hear from you.Anyway I am sharing my today's devotion with you
! king 17:7 and it came to pass........the brook dried up.this is the true pictureof life of each of us.Insome way o the other we will have to learnthe difference between trusting in thegift abd trusting in the giver.The gift may be good for a while butthegiver is the eternal love.
When so ever some resources and springs dried up,then it has benn that we mightlearn thatour hope and help are in GOd.
whatever elijiaha lost atthe brook in life,he recovered it in zarepath thru the widow who was struggling for survival.

how is ur ministry going on?
I ampraying for you.

in HIM

vina
y

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26.

Aloha, Praise Report Living One Day at a Time - Matthew 6:25-34 -- 10-07-05

Dear Lori and Everyone Else I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for sharing your praise report. Thank you for sharing the Word of God. David forwarded your message to me.

As I was reading the Bible to see what God says about living one day at a time, I am feeling impelled to share some comments on how these scriptures might be applied in a twelve step program.

Matthew 6:25-34 (New Living Translation)

(25) "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? (26) Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. (27) Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. (28) "And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, (29) yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ⁽³⁰⁾And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! (31) "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. (32) Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, (33) and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

(34) "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."

It is easy to slip back into worrying about tomorrow, dwelling on the "what ifs" and the "if onlys." Each day brings a host of things we cannot change; there will always be circumstances beyond our control. We must also face the reality of who we are - human beings confined within the slice of life we call today. It is tempting to deny the present, by escaping the reality of our addictive way of life.

To supplement what Jesus said, the prophet Jeremiah said, "The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day" (Lamination 3:22-23). Since God's grace comes in daily doses, that's the best way to face life.

We need to ask ourselves at every turn in life, Am I accepting this present moment, or am I pretending - trying to escape into the past or the future? Each day there is something to find joy in, and in there is strength promised for the trouble of the day. The psalmist wrote, "This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). We, too, can choose to find joy, strength, and sanity when we accept each day's realities.

Evil of being worldly-minded.

Worldly-mindedness is a common and fatal symptom of hypocrisy, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold of the soul, under the cloak of a profession of religion. Something the soul will have, which it looks upon as the best thing; in which it has pleasure and confidence above other things. Christ counsels to make our best things the joys and glories of the other world, those things not seen which are eternal, and to place our happiness in them. There are treasures in heaven. It is our wisdom to give all diligence to make our title to eternal life sure through Jesus Christ, and to look on all things here below, as not worthy to be compared with it, and to be content with nothing short of it. It is happiness above and beyond the changes and chances of time, an inheritance incorruptible. The worldly man is wrong in his first principle; therefore all his reasoning and actions therefrom must be wrong. It is equally to be applied to false religion; that which is deemed light is thick darkness. This is an awful, but a common case; we should therefore carefully examine our leading principles by the word of God, with earnest prayer for the teaching of his Spirit. A man may do some service to two masters, but he can devote himself to the service of no more than one. God requires the whole heart, and will not share it with the world. When two masters oppose each other, no man can serve both. He who holds to the world and loves it, must despise God; he who

loves God, must give up the friendship of the world.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php and check out item 26. Also see http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page4.html and www.boberb.com

Though it seems things continue to be a mess in my life & it can be to
easy to complain; I rather take some time out to thank God, family,
friends on & off-line & all those who have helped make a positive
difference.

Though the enemy, world, old-self may try to hurt us; God directly,
through angels, people, feelings, moods, situations can ( if I allow )
Him can make good of it like He did we Joseph ( Old Testament Bible. )
&
so many others when his brothers sold him into slavery.

As I seek God 1st & let Him handle m worries things are better {
Matthew
6:25-34. }

It can be too easy to let the "garbage" of the past, present & even
imagined future cause misery; I have a choice & rather say TY to God &
all for blessings, gifts, encouragement, hope, love, faith, talents {
basically all good things- of God! }

Father God, I tY for accepting me, loving me & saving me where you
found
me.

TY that You loved me too much to leave me there.

TY that You will never turn me away, belittle me, stop loving me or
give
up on me.

Please help me not turn from You, give up, return bad to others, stop
fighting the fight & runnng the race.

I can't speak for anybody else.

May we not letanything or anybody; past, present or future keep us from
true salvation, freedom, love, hope, eternity with You, joy, peace &
all
the good that is available.

You conquered all so that we could not be trapped in a hopeless past,
present or future.

Please help us to meet others where they are; 1st so they might be
saved, then so they may help others & most importantly so we would
truly
be conneted with You.

In Jesus' name I rebuke all that keeps us from Your abundant life amen.

God loves u very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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25.

Aloha, Recognize our weaknesses for Christ to work through us - 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 -- 09-30-05

Dear Winnie and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your response. Thank you for your words of encouragement. Thank you for sharing your love of God. Thank you for showing me the Word of God that touches your heart. Mostly, thank you for your prayers. Thank you for sharing the miraculous power of prayer when two or more are gathered in His name. Jesus said we could do what He did if we believe.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 (New Living Translation)

Paul's Vision and His Thorn in the Flesh

(1) This boasting is all so foolish, but let me go on. Let me tell about the visions and revelations I received from the Lord. (2) I was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago. (3) Whether my body was there or just my spirit, I don't know; only God knows. (4) But I do know that I was caught up into paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be told. (5) That experience is something worth boasting about, but I am not going to do it. I am going to boast only about my weaknesses. (6) I have plenty to boast about and would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it. I don't want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message, (7) even though I have received wonderful revelations from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud.

(8) Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. (9) Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. (10) Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul's "boasting" was not intended to make him look better than he really was. He boasted about his weakness so Christ could work through him. Even though the apostle told of his incredible vision of heaven, he quickly admitted his own weaknesses. He recounted how he sensed God's grace even through his chronic physical suffering and spiritual warfare. Paul honestly assessed his life, recognizing both his strengths and his weaknesses. Then he accepted and received the power that God offers to all who look to Him. Paul is a good model for us to follow. When we make an honest assessment of our life and learn to depend upon God's infinite resources, we will make significant progress in recovery and dealing with life changing experiences.

The apostle's revelations.

There can be no doubt the apostle speaks of himself. Whether heavenly things were brought down to him, while his body was in a trance, as in the case of ancient prophets; or whether his soul was dislodged from the body for a time, and taken up into heaven, or whether he was taken up, body and soul together, he knew not. We are not capable, nor is it fit we should yet know, the particulars of that glorious place and state. He did not attempt to publish to the world what he had heard there, but he set forth the doctrine of Christ. On that foundation the church is built, and on that we must build our faith and hope. And while this teaches us to enlarge our expectations of the glory that shall be revealed, it should render us contented with the usual methods of learning the truth and will of God. As Paul continues in this epistle, he ex pains that these experiences were just the beginning, which were improved through his spiritual journey. God bless you and your family. Your brother in Christ, Bob Erb @ http://liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php check out item 25, and http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page3.html and www.boberb.com

Dear Bob
Victorious greetings in the most holy name of
Jesus.---Youknow Bob,you are such a great man of
God.You write such great messages that iam sure
blesses everyone who reads them. Robert Erb
wrote:
>You must have realised that i have not written as
much as i should have.The main reason is that i have
been extremely busy in missions and sometimes in
plases where there is no axess to internet.yet i have
at the same time thought about you.I have thought so
much about all that you have gone through with deep
concern. Yor brother who comited suicide, your broken
relationships,your children,your homelesness and so
on.You know what Bob,it is so amasingas i realise that
mwaitIIy life is so similar to yours in so many
ways.So i know where you have been, what you have
tasted there,the wounds the pain,and also what you
need.Last night i was reading 2 corith 12 vs 1to 10.i
keep rereading it because it is part of me.You even
remember my ministry is called The Lords Grace
Ministries.A name God gave me when He told me to leave
banking,business and all to searve Him.And from that
day everywhere i have passed and everything i have
done it has been by special grace.Long before i got
saved ,while in the bank i met my late husband and all
was well i should say.We were staunch Catholics and
you know what that is.when the day of my salvation had
fully come the Lord saved me in great power,in my own
bedroom.After the people who praeched to me on God,s
command had failed to convince me they went into
prayer and fasting without food and water.So in that
bedroom my conversion was so dramatic only i cannot
say it all.i got filled with the Holy Spirit and i
spoke in toungs i had never heard of.I was sweating
under the haet of the hotplate that i felt was above
my head N short i left that bedroom preaching up to
today.I have never done any personal business or
stepped in the bank much as i wanted and even
tried.God called me to surrender all to His service
and i did with all my heart till now.From that day my
husband determined to kill me and did a lot but the
church was praying for my safety and his
salvation.However God acted according to His will and
after ten monts my husband died in an accident.The
Lord started manfesting Himself to me in mighty
ways.After one year my daughter Angel died and on
God,scommand as people gathered i prayed for her and
she resurrected.Her testmony is on two tape and when i
am read i will give it to you in full.She was four
then and at six got saved after another great
miracle.at eight she received a heavenly calling in a
dream.At the time she was ready to go for a degree in
medicine God seriouslly diverted her and she joined
Youth With A Mission and today she is a youth minister
together with her husband.Bob i believe with all my
heart that God is gonna save your entire family and
you are gonna live to see them and all your children
searving your God.Halleluah.Dear Bob i know i cannot
tell you all now but i will be willing to answer all
and explain anything else you may want to know about
me.The lord started giving me messages for the body of
Crist in July 1987 after my first missionary journey
yo the Congo where i spent three months.The Father has
given me a world ministry and if God willed that we
team together you would be ready to travel.For this
the enemy has fought tooth and nail to hinder but he
cannot go too far for it is a matter of God,s time.So
please join me in prayers much as you have a lot to
pray for.You can be sure i am praying for you and your
family,especially your children.Bob i know how you
feel and i am ready to carry the burden with you I
wait for your reply.
God bless you.
Your fellow servant.
Winnie

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24.

Aloha, The needy in distress – Isaiah 25:4 – 09-27-05

Dear Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. As I was reading my email, some organization focused my attention on a verse that foretold of what Jesus said about 700 years before He was born to this world.

Jesus said to focus on the poor and homeless, and so did Isaiah. As we see the wreckage in the wake of the hurricanes, we might be able to recognize the homeless that are right outside of our walls. We are willing to do a lot for those who lost their homes during the hurricanes, but what are we doing to help those who lost their homes because no one will hire them. No one will give them food. No one will give them something to drink. No one will give them clothes. No one will give them shelter. No one will care them before they are in the hospital (and they all get there, but nobody knows). No one will visit them when they go to jail (and they will all be arrested at one time or another for vagrancy or some other charges).

The looks of devastation and despair are hard to miss after the hurricanes when we look at New Orleans or now Texas. Many are asking will we ever rebuild our lives. But there are still those who live right were we live who are asking the same thing and nobody is there to really help them. Oh, yes, we hear a lot of rhetoric about helping them once or twice a year, but they need help everyday, just like you and I do. Are we there to help them.

Entire communities lay flattened by the Katrina and Rita hurricanes, and millions of lives remain splintered by the immense destruction. Together, we can deliver the timely comfort and strength of Gods Word to hurricane survivors. But, can we give it to those right outside of our own doors? There are many more millions who are homeless before these hurricanes struck.

Isaiah 25:4 (New Living Translation)

But to the poor, O LORD, you are a refuge from the storm. To the needy in distress, you are a shelter from the rain and the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall,

God will comfort those who trust in Him and punish those who ignore Him. He is a shelter from the storms of life to those of us who have established a relationship with God. No matter what we have done to mess up our life before we can rely on God to strengthen us and keep us from our dependency. If we havent yet asked God to take control of our unmanageable life, there is still time. No one is too far gone to receive Gods mercy.

The homeless around the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry have been receiving Gods mercy. The ministry had been feeding the local homeless with food and the Word of God every day, but now needs help. Is there anyone out there who might help the 200 folks that that ministry desires to help?

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page4.html
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23.

Aloha, All things are possible - Matthew 19:26 and Philippians 4:16 -- 09-27-05

Dear David and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank your for sharing so many prayer requests. Thank you for being part of the team to get 2 or more gathered in His name to produce results in agreement. Thank you for sharing God's Word, again.

As you share these verses, again I am being inspired to share what God is showing me how these words might apply in today's life of recovery.

Matthew 19:26 (New Living Translation)

Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."

This verse is true not only for salvation, but also for recovery. Left on our own, we would fall deeper into the pit of our addiction, never gaining control over it. But with God's help, the inconceivable is possible. He can turn our life around, bringing hope and health where once despair and pain had reigned. Giving God control of our life is the only way to regain independence from our addiction and other compulsive behaviors.

Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

Some of us may wonder if we will ever experience peace again. Our battle against addiction seems endless and hard. We continually find ourselves in helpless situations. When we get discouraged and recognize that recovery is too hard for us to achieve alone, we can claim this verse for renewed hope. God wants us to make progress in recovery, and He has the power to help us do it. As we entrust our life to God, we can make progress in recovery whit the help of Christ, who gives us the strength we need. With God, noting is impossible.!

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php and check out item 23.

For friend's mom { and her } having trouble at work.

For the men from Emmanual Bible Church { & others } going on upcoming
retreat.

For renewing of old friendships for me.

That all of us can count our blessings. { At least more than we focus on
what's wrong in/ with our lives. }

God + any of us = more than any problem/ s! Matthew 19:26 & Philippians
4:13.

Ty.

God, Jesus & The Holy Spirit love you very
much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John 3:16, 1 John 3:16, Psalm 139:1-18, Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 40:31, 2
Corinthians 1:3-5 , 2 Timothy 1:7, Romans 8:26-39, John 17:20-26, Luke
18:1-18, Ephesians 6:10-20 & Matthew 6:25-34.

^i^
@)>--->---
^j^

Dav
e
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22.

Aloha, Evil deeds come around back to us Obadiah 1:15 09-26-05

Dear Laura and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your response. Thank you for sharing the Word of God.

I dont recall you sharing this with me in the past, but it sure trapped me today. I spent many hours studying this and sharing what I understand to put it into todays perspective. Is this what you saw two years ago?

Obadiah 1:15 (New Living Translation)

Edom (or New Orleans) Destroyed, Israel (or the Christ focused USA) Restored

"The day is near when I, the LORD, will judge the godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads."

Maybe we can consider this picture today as it might have been have been about 2850 years ago. Where will New Orleans, or for that matter, USA, be a thousand years from now? Will New Orleans still be flagrantly showing off the sinful nature of itself years from now, full of pride? Will it begin to move toward glorifying God for its rebuilding?

Betrayal always produces feelings of agony, and the closer our relationship with someone, the greater the pain we feel if that person betrays us. In this short book, Obadiah condemned the people of Edom (the land area in the desert at the southern end of what now is Israel south of the Gaza Strip) for betraying their kinsmen in Judah, who were descendants of Jacob, while the Edonites were descended from Jacobs twin brother, Esau. The two nations were closely related, yet over the years the Edonmites treated the Israelites cruelly.

When Judah needed help to stand against the armies of Babylon, the Edonmites stood by and encouraged the attackers. They cheered the enemy on! They gloated while the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem. When the Babylonians left, the Edomites entered the Holy City and helped themselves to the remaining plunder. They even captured Judeans who were trying to escape and turned them over to the Babylonians.

Obadiah reassured the hurting Judeans that justice would come. In Gods timing, Edom would experience the same kind of destruction that Judah did. God promised that Judah and Israel would someday be restored, and He has been true to His word. The nation of Israel still exists, but the nation of Edom has been gone for thousands of years. When we have been betrayed and are struggling with hatred and the desire to "get even," we can leave justice in Gods hands. We can rest in the knowledge that someday He will right all wrongs. Then, as we release the burden of anger and hatred to God, we can get on with the recovery process and deal with significant life changing experiences.

God held the Edomites accountable for taking advantage of their helpless relatives in Israil. People who are undergoing trubulation are precious to God; He will not tolerate those who gain from their misfortunes. God will bring justice, He says that their "evil deeds will fall back upon their onw heaes." We may have sufferedunjustly in the past. If so, we can let go of our hatred or bitterness because God will see that our enemies get what they deserve. If we have taken unfair advantage of others, we need to admit our sins to God and seek to make amends. If we dont, God will not allow us to go unpunished.

OBADIAH: DEATH TO EDOM!

Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, is the pronouncement of doom against an ancient and long-forgotten nation, the land of Edom. But there is more to this book than that. The Scriptures have that beautiful faculty of appearing to be one thing on the surface, but on a deeper level, yielding rich and mighty treasures. That is certainly true of this amazing book of Obadiah.

We know very little about Obadiah except that he was one of the minor prophets. Most Bible commentators believe the author of this book was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah, the last of the prophets before Israel went into captivity.

The name Obadiah means "the servant of Jehovah;" he fulfills the position of a servant. He comes and does his work and fades into the background; he delivers his message and he is gone. And that is about all we know about the man behind this book.

The book of Obadiah tells the story of two nations, the nation of Israel and the nation of Edom, the country to the south of Israel that is now usually referred to as the Negev or Negeb. Through this ancient land of Edom the Israelites marched as they came into the land of Israel out of the captivity and slavery of Egypt. As they came into the land they had difficulty with the Edomites; they were enemies of Israel from its very beginning.

But behind the story of these two nations, this book tells the story of two men. Every nation in the Bible is a lengthened shadow of its founder, and the two men behind the nations Israel an Edom were twin brothers, Jacob and Esau. Jacob was the father of Israel, and Esau, his twin brother, became the father of the Edomites. In the story of these nations you also have the extended story of these two men, Jacob and Esau. God, in a sense, has put Jacob and Esau into an enlarger and blown them up to national size. As the prophet discusses this you can see that the story of these two men continues; Israel is still Jacob and Edom is still Esau.

Jacob and Esau were in perpetual antagonism. We read in the book of Genesis that even before they were born, they struggled together in their mother's womb. That antagonism marked the lives of these two men, and, consequently, the lives of their descendants, the two nations of Israel and Edom.

And as you recall from Genesis, Jacob was mother's darling and Esau was daddy's little man, and there was one unending conflict between the two of them which did not end with the lives of these men. The nations carried on this same conflict, and all the way from Genesis through Malachi there is the threat of struggle and unbroken antagonism between them. In the book of Malachi (remember, Genesis records the beginning of these nations), the last book of the Old Testament, God says, "I have loved Jacob but I have hated Esau." (Malachi 1:2) Why does the story of these two men come to a focus here in this little prophecy of Obadiah? What is so important about these two men and these two nations? Well, that is what the book of Obadiah makes very clear to us. In the New Testament we discover that there is a perpetual antagonism within the nature of the Christian. In Galatians 5:17 we are told that the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh; they are opposed to one another.

God is a great illustrator. He is always using pictures for us so that we can understand truth more easily, more graphically. We are children in this respect. We like to have a picture. We would rather see something than hear it, so God has many pictures. He has taken these two men and the subsequent nations that came from them and used them through the Bible as a consistent picture of the conflict between the flesh and the spirit -- Jacob and Esau, Israel and Edom.

The trouble with Esau is pride. Pride is the root of all human evil, and pride is the basic characteristic of what the Bible calls the flesh that lusts against, wars against, the Spirit. The flesh is a principle that stands against God's purposes in human life and continually defies what God is trying to accomplish. Each of us has this struggle within us if we are Christians, and its basic characteristic is revealed here as pride. That is the number one identifying mark of the flesh.

Proverbs 6:16 says: "There are six things which the Lord hates, seven which are an abomination to him." And what is number one on the list? A proud look. And everything else that follows is a variation of pride. Those that are swift to run after mischief, he that spreads lies and slander and discord among brothers -- all these things are manifestations of that single basic evil, pride. This is the satanic nature which was implanted in the human race; all who are born of Adam have this congenital twist of pride, the independent ego that evaluates everything only in terms of its importance or its unimportance to self. The universe centers around self, the rival god. That is pride. That is Esau; that is Edom. It can appear in our lives in ten thousand ways, but you will find some common expressions of it here in this book of Obadiah.

Here is the man who says, "Nobody can touch me. Who is going to upset me? My plans are all laid out. I am able to carry through what I set out to do." This attitude of self-sufficient ability is a mark of pride. And the Lord says that "though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, yet I am able to bring you down."

This kind of self-sufficiency is clearly evident in the man who says, "I don't need God. I can run my own life without God, in my own wisdom, my own strength, my own abilities, my own talents -- that is enough. That is all I need to make a success in life." But self-sufficiency is also seen in the Christian who says, "Well, I need God, yes, in times of danger and fear and pressure, but I am quite able, thank you, to make my own decisions about the girl I am going to marry, or the career I am going to follow, or the friends that I have, or the car that I buy or anything else like that." That is the same spirit of self sufficiency, isn't it?

The thing that characterized the Lord Jesus Christ and marked him as continually opposed to this spirit of self-sufficiency was his utter dependence on the Father. We Christians have to learn that if there is any area of our life where we think that we've got what it takes to do without God, it is in that same area that we are manifesting the flesh, the pride of Edom. When you step into your office on Monday morning and you have been a fine Christian on Sunday and all through the weekend, but on Monday morning you say, "Now I am in charge. I know what to do here. I don't need the Bible. I don't need God. I don't need my religion to help me here. I know exactly how to run this business," you are manifesting this same spirit of Edom, this spirit of self-sufficiency. In many areas of their lives Christians live as though God were dead, they believe in God, but live as though he were dead, they live without any sense of dependency upon his wisdom and his strength.

Violence is a form of pride; the man who strikes his wife, a child who has been beaten, a baby whose bones have been broken, and who has been damaged internally. What is behind this violence of the human heart? An unbroken ego, a spoiled and cowardly spirit. Pride is centered only on self and it strikes out against anything that dares to challenge its supreme reign in life. I have been in a Christian home and seen a woman with black eyes and bruises on her legs and arms because her Christian husband, who was a Sunday School teacher, had beaten her. Where does this violence come from? It is from Edom. It is the pride of the flesh.

Indifference is a form of pride. I think this is by far one of the major causes of marital difficulty. In the constant stream of people who have come to see me about problems in their marriage, almost invariably, somewhere along the line, I hear the complaint. "Well, he is simply indifferent to me. He doesn't care about me. He ignores me." Or, "She pays no attention to me. She isn't interested in the things that I am interested in." Isn't it strange that these things can be true in Christian homes? And how quickly it comes in after courtship. During the courtship it is, "What are you thinking about? Tell me what you would like?" But when marriage comes, it is, "Where's dinner? Where is the paper? What's on TV?" And the concern is entirely different. Why? Well, Esau is at work -- that's why. The force in human life that God hates is Esau.

God charges Edom with the sin of gloating as a manifestation of this basic problem of pride. Notice how you hear this so frequently in children who haven't yet learned to cover up what they feel with a subtle varnish of politeness: "Yay, yah, yah, good for you. You had it coming!" Did you ever say that in your own heart about somebody? "You had it coming." You were gloating over them. Adults learn to disguise this sometimes, but it comes out once in a while. You hear that the boss is sick, and you say. "Nothing trivial, I hope." What do you say when someone fails and you hear about it? Do you ever say, "Well, I told you so. I knew that would happen. I expected it all along"? That is the sense of gloating, you see. I remember reading of the hypochondriac who had written on his tombstone the words, "I told you I was sick."

Now, what causes this? Why do we like to rub salt on another's wounds? What is behind this perverse delight we take in another person's failure or his faults? It is Esau in us. The flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. In our pride and unconcern we don't care what happens to someone else, as long as everything is all right with us.

When calamity fell, Edom took advantage of it. The Edomites moved in on a fallen people, a captured people, took advantage of the fact that these were fugitives, and used their trouble and their misery to their own advantage. They delivered up the survivors in the day of Israel's distress. They took unfair advantage. God hates it when we utilize another's weakness or bad luck to our advantage.

Have you ever heard anyone say, "Well, I had a contractor bid on some work I would like him to do, and the fellow made a mistake and he has underbid this. But I am going to hold him to It. After all, I've got the contract. He signed it and I am going to hold him to it"? That is taking advantage of another's mistake. We find this spirit coming up so easily when something like that happens. We say, "Oh, that is your hard luck. Finders keepers, losers weepers." We try to move in and take advantage of another's distress.

"Oh," you say, "I could never do a thing like that." Well, how many of you are on the lookout for some old coin, or some antique chair, or some widow selling her husband's golf clubs who doesn't know the value of them? What a bargain! Move in on that and take advantage of it.

Well, this is only a partial listing of the ways of Esau, the man God hates

That is the terrible thing about pride. It traps us. It tricks us. It trips us up. We don't recognize it until we are too late. We go stumbling along in our pride and arrogance and vanity and we think we are doing fine. Everyone else can see the trouble we are having, but we go blissfully on, sawing away on the limb, totally unaware that the limb we are sawing on is the limb we are sitting on, until it falls down and we are suddenly exposed.

In other words, God has determined judgment upon Edom, and there is no escaping it. Does that sound like destruction? Well, it is -- for Esau. There is no hope for Esau; there is no way out. The judgment of God is absolutely inescapable for Esau. God is forever set against him. One of the grandsons of Esau was a man named Amalek, who withstood the Israelites on their way into Canaan. In Exodus 17:14-16 it is recorded that God said to Moses, "I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." And Moses says, "The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." That is what God is saying about the flesh. He will never make peace with it.

Isn't it interesting that when you get to the New Testament you find these same two principles personified again in two persons who meet in the pages of the Gospels face to face. In the last week of our Lord's sufferings, he stands before Herod. Herod, we are told, is an Idumean, which is another spelling of Edom -- he is an Edomite. Jesus before Herod -- the representative of Jacob and the representative of Esau face to face. Herod the Edomite, proud, arrogant and rebellious, watches the cruel mockery of the soldiers as they strip the Lord down and dress him in his royal robes. The Gospel writer says that Herod plied him with many questions, but for the son of Esau there is no answer from the son of Jacob. He has nothing to discuss with him. There can be no compromise. God has nothing to say to the flesh, nothing at all except judgment.

And what is the final issue of that account? The prisoner went out to a cross and a grave, and from it he emerged a king; but King Herod went on to disgrace, exile, and, finally, to a grave in a foreign country. Beyond that he is a prisoner, bound by chains of his own making, eternally.

Now which are you? A king or a prisoner? Is Esau or Jacob ruling? Do you know about this ruthless cross that denies you any right to self-sufficiency, to self-_expression, to self-advantage, to self-exploitation, to all these things -- denies you indifference, gloating, or self-righteousness? Have you learned yet to reign with Christ, not in heaven, but right now? Have you learned to possess your possessions -- as Jacob is intended to do -- so that the kingdom shall be the Lord's, the kingdom of your life? Or are you still a prisoner, like Herod, fancying yourself to be free, on a throne in authority, but still bound by unbreakable chains because you refuse to pass through the death that sets you free?

Destruction came upon Edom. Their offences against Jacob.

Destruction came upon New Orleans. Their offences against Jacob?

This prophecy is against Edom. Its destruction seems to have been typical, as their father Esau's rejection; and to refer to the destruction of the enemies of the gospel church. See the prediction of the success of that war; Edom shall be spoiled, and brought down. All the enemies of God's church shall be disappointed in the things they stay themselves on. God can easily lay those low who magnify and exalt themselves; and will do it. Carnal security ripens men for ruin, and makes the

ruin worse when it comes. Treasures on earth cannot be so safely laid up but that thieves may break through and steal; it is therefore our wisdom to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. Those that make flesh their trust, arm it against themselves. The God of our covenant will never deceive us: but if we trust men with whom we join ourselves, it may prove to us a wound and dishonor. God will justly deny those understanding to keep out of danger, who will not use their understandings to keep out of sin. All violence, all unrighteousness, is sin; but it makes the violence far worse, if it be done against any of God's people. Their barbarous conduct towards Judah and Jerusalem, is charged upon them. In reflecting on ourselves, it is good to consider what we should have done; to compare our practice with the Scripture rule. Sin, thus looked upon in the glass of the commandment, will appear exceedingly sinful. Those have a great deal to answer for, who are idle spectators of the troubles of their neighbors, when able to be active helpers. Those make themselves poor, who think to make themselves rich by the ruin of the people of God; and those deceive themselves, who call all that their own on which they can lay their hands in a day of calamity. Though judgment begins at the house of God, it shall not end there. Let sorrowful believers and insolent oppressors know, that the troubles of the righteous will soon end, but those of the wicked will be eternal.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother and friend in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php check out item 22

GOD BLESS YOU BROTHER BOB today as always, and I never knew if you had received this or not,,,,,, as you never made a comment on it before...... so I thought I'd send it to you again,,,,,, you may remember when I sent it to you a couple of years agao. AMEN

GOD BLESS YOU & YOURS

YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST

CHRISTINE

For the day of THE LORD is NEAR upon ALL the heathen; as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

OBADIAH 1: 15

This scripture is so significant to me as it is the day after GOD had me write about HIS
RAFT ! JULY 2, 2003

Those that dont know JESUS ,,,,, need to come in NOW !

Everything they have ever done to people is NOW RETURNING TO THEM !

GOD IS NOT A RESPECTER OF PERSONS,,,,,,, therefore there is no favorites that do not GET EVERYTHING GOD HAS FOR THEM

GOD is POURING OUT HIS RAFT on AMERICA---------

A NATION THAT PULLS GOD OUT ------- CANNOT STAND

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21.

Aloha, Hear the cries of the needy - Psalms 69:33 -- 09-25-05

Dear Esta and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for responding from the "Contact Us" web site of the Life Recovery Ministry. Thank you for sharing the Word of God.

Psalm 69:33 (New Living Translation)

For the LORD hears the cries of his needy ones;
he does not despise his people who are oppressed.

He declares the judgments of God.

The previous verses are prophecies of the destruction of Christ's persecutors. They are applied to the judgments of God upon the unbelieving and those who oppress the poor and homeless. When the our society's culture and delights of sense, through the corruption of our nature by despising the needy, are made the food and fuel of sin, then we might be getting trapped by something other than God. Their sin (those described by the psalmist who ignore the needy) was, that they would not see, but shut their eyes against the Light, loving darkness rather; their punishment was, that they should not see, but should be given up to their own hearts' lusts which hardened them. Those who reject God's great salvation freely available to us all, may justly fear that His indignation will be poured out upon those of us whom might demean the poor. If men will sin, the Lord will reckon for it. But those that have multiplied to sin, may yet find mercy, through the righteousness of the Mediator. God shuts not out any from that righteousness; the gospel excludes none who do not, by unbelief, shut themselves out. But those who are proud and self-willed, so that they will not come in to God's righteousness, shall have their doom accordingly; they themselves decide it. Let those not expect any benefit thereby, who are not glad to be beholden to it. It is better to be poor and sorrowful, with the blessing of the Lord, than rich and jovial, and under his curse. This may be applied to Christ. He was, when on earth, a man of sorrows that had not where to lay his head; but God exalted Him. Let us call upon the Lord, and though poor and sorrowful, guilty and defiled, his salvation will set us up on high as we do our best to help the needy. If we can't help those outside of our own walls, how can we really help those in New Orleans or other parts of the world. When will we see what is right around us and DO something about it? Bob Erb and the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry hears the cries of the needy and we DO something about it. As God does not despise them, nor do we by our ACTIONS, not just talk and words and rhetoric. God bless you and your family, and those you help. Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page4.html

MailFromName - Esta Lake
Comments - The Lord hears the cries of his needy ones;he does not despise his people who are oppressed.Psalm 69;33

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20.

Aloha, Denial - Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:1 -- 09-24-05

Dear Randy and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. I started thinking about you today as I was reading Ecclesiastes 3 and thought I might share those thoughts with you and others.

I started out with Ecclesiastes 3:6, and then remembered I wrote something about the first 8 verses many months ago. I reviewed what I wrote and then continued to read the scriptures. As I started to read verses 16 to the end of that chapter and started into 4, I was thinking about Solomon recognizing all of the injustices as you do. So I share it here for you and add some comments.

Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:1 (New Living Translation)

The Injustices of Life

(16) I also noticed that throughout the world there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! (17) I said to myself, "In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds." (16) Then I realized that God allows people to continue in their sinful ways so he can test them. That way, they can see for themselves that they are no better than animals. (19) For humans and animals both breathe the same air, and both die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! (20) Both go to the same place--the dust from which they came and to which they must return. (21) For who can prove that the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth? (22) So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why they are here! No one will bring them back from death to enjoy life in the future.

Ecclesiastes 4

(1) Again I observed all the oppression that takes place in our world. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and the victims are helpless.

Some of us avoid or cope with our own pain by trying to fix the world. We try to right every wrong, heal every wound, point out every injustice. We spend our time demanding that the world system reform. We may also dedicate ourselves to rescuing and reforming those we love. Our zealousness to set the world right can be a means of denying that we are powerless to do so.

Solomon, as you do, saw that the world was not as it should be. He also recognized that it was ultimately God's job to judge the injustices in our world.

When we set out to save the world, we err by taking on a role that belongs to God. What we gain my taking on such a massive task is the guarantee that we will always be busy. Then we will never have the time or energy to face our own issues. The Bible makes it clear that the world will never be right until Jesus Christ returns to make it so. We need to accept the fact that we are powerless to do His job. This does not mean that we should turn a blind eye to the world's problems. When we focus on our own recover, fixing ourselves instead of everyone else, we will be more effective in helping others.

I know you are trained to fix stuff like this, but you need to make sure you are doing what you need to do to fix things in your life. I am still willing to help you if you will find a house we can share together walking distance to Waikiki Beach. If you keep doing what you're doing, your going to keep getting what you're getting. Maybe it is time for a change. Read the first 8 verses of chapter 3 and that might testify what I am suggesting.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother and friend in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php and check out item 19 and let me know how to modify "Amen-ism"

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19.

Aloha, What are you DOING today, don't worry about tomorrow - Matthew 6:25-34 -- 09-23-05

Dear Sister Benny and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for sharing a part of your life. Thank you for your words of encouragement. Thank you for sharing the Word of God.

Ad I started reviewing Matthew 6, I fell impelled to share what God seems to be showing me. Maybe you might be able to add something in your preaching this Sunday about what is being written.

Matthew 6:25-34 (New Living Translation)

(34) "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

Thank goodness that God has put men and women on this earth in churches like the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry that will provide this stuff, so those who don't have them at that moment might be able to focus on something far greater, like the spiritual life with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

It is easy to slip back into worrying about tomorrow, dwelling on the "what ifs" and the "if onlys." Each day brings a host of things we cannot change; there will always be circumstances beyond our control. We must also face the reality of who we are - human beings confined within the slice of life we call today. It is tempting to deny the present,but escaping reality is part of the insanity of our addictive way of life.

In addition to what Jesus said in these verses, the prophet Jeremiah said, "The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day" (Lamination's 3:22-23). Since God's grace comes in daily doses, that's the best way to face life.

We need to ask ourselves at every turn in life. Am I accepting this present moment, or am I pretending - trying to escape into the past or the future? Each day there is something to find joy in, and there is straight promised for the troubles of the day. The psalmist wrote, "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). We, too, can choose to find joy, strength, and sanity when we accept each day's realities.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php

check out items 18 and 19 and others each day as letters are added. Also check out the NEW stuff on the bottom of http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page4.html

Blessing Bob.

Thanks for the passages you had sent me, nothing happen for causality in life , for at this moment of my life I needed a friend , someone to talk to , thanks for accepting my friendship and sisterhood in Christ . Bob I ask God each day to granted me strength because I have a constant communion with him. He is all I need and have in my life. I like to praise God dancing, singing between his trials . Pastor is nice all what you are doing , you have a nice ministry . God will bless you each day more and more so that you can bless others with your faith and words

May be one day Pastor God allow me the blessing to visit your congregation, in the pictures I observed a nice view and great nature , where one can sit for hours without being bore or simple have a conversation with God , that will be marvelous! God knows us perfectly , I like our friendship , I like to receive your mails , to know how things are working out for you , that you are ok , that you pray for me as well as I pray for you .I thank God when I see someone care about another person without any interest thats the way it should be. I like it so. Pastor with all respect you have the grace of God upon you for you still look strong and good looking eventhough your daily activities.

Bob I believe end of year I will visit my son , I have all my documentation ready Im just waiting for the time for I am entitled to three months vacation from my job (school secretary ) but I have to wait until classes are over in the month of December to travel. Meanwhile, I hope to hear from you , and your ministry .May God increased your force and multiply your provisions. I love the expression "STRUGGLE AND BE BRAVE". As I tell my children I LOVE YOU IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST, may God be your guide and protect you always. Take care BOB On Sunday I have to explain MATTEW 6:25---34.

BLESSING FOR ALL SISTER BENNY FROM PANAMA

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18.

Aloha, Battling evil called the crocodile Job 41 -- 09-23-05

Dear Merlyn and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for sharing the mighty pictures of the giant crocodile found in New Orleans. Thank you for asking what it might symbolize.

As I opened the Bible, I was trapped in the book of Job 41 where the crocodile is described by God. Some see it representing evil, and I guess, as I recall from my experience being there many years ago, there is a lot of it trapped in the minds of those living there. Does this respond to your concern? What do you get out of it? Does it touch your soul?

Job 41 (New Living Translation)

The LORDs Challenge Continues

(1) "Can you catch a crocodile with a hook or put a noose around its jaw? (2) Can you tie it with a rope through the nose or pierce its jaw with a spike? (3) Will it beg you for mercy or implore you for pity? (4) Will it agree to work for you? Can you make it be your slave for life? (5) Can you make it a pet like a bird, or give it to your little girls to play with? (6) Will merchants try to buy it? Will they sell it in their shops? (7) Will its hide be hurt by darts, or its head by a harpoon? (8) If you lay a hand on it, you will never forget the battle that follows, and you will never try it again!

(9) "No, it is useless to try to capture it. The hunter who attempts it will be thrown down. (10) And since no one dares to disturb the crocodile, who would dare to stand up to me? (11) Who will confront me and remain safe? Everything under heaven is mine.

(12) "I want to emphasize the tremendous strength in the crocodile's limbs and throughout its enormous frame. (13) Who can strip off its hide, and who can penetrate its double layer of armor? (14) Who could pry open its jaws? For its teeth are terrible! (15) The overlapping scales on its back make a shield. (16) They are close together so no air can get between them. (17) They lock together so nothing can penetrate them.

(18) "When it sneezes, it flashes light! Its eyes are like the red of dawn. (19) Fire and sparks leap from its mouth. (20) Smoke streams from its nostrils like steam from a boiling pot on a fire of dry rushes. (21) Yes, its breath would kindle coals, for flames shoot from its mouth.

(22) "The tremendous strength in its neck strikes terror wherever it goes. (23) Its flesh is hard and firm, not soft and fat. (24) Its heart is as hard as rock, as hard as a millstone. (25) When it rises, the mighty are afraid, gripped by terror. (26) No sword can stop it, nor spear nor dart nor pointed shaft. (27) To the crocodile, iron is nothing but straw, and bronze is rotten wood. (28) Arrows cannot make it flee. Stones shot from a sling are as ineffective as straw. (29) Clubs do no good, and it laughs at the swish of the javelins. (30) Its belly is covered with scales as sharp as glass. They tear up the ground as it drags through the mud.

(31) "The crocodile makes the water boil with its commotion. It churns the depths. (32) The water glistens in its wake. One would think the sea had turned white. (33) There is nothing else so fearless anywhere on earth. (34) Of all the creatures, it is the proudest. It is the king of beasts."

God used the majesty and power of His creation to remind Job that God is the only one who can save. If Job could not even overpower created beings such as the crocodile, how could Job save himself from the God who created the crocodile? Everything under heaven belongs to God, including Job. God never did give Job an explanation for his suffering; God only let Job know that He was ultimately in control. We may be suffering unfairly because of an abusive family member or because of codependency with an addict. We may never know why we have to go through the pain, but we need to realize that God is in control of our life. Our faith in Him will be rewarded if not in this life, then in the next.

Concerning Leviathan.

The word Leviathan is used in the Kings James Version several places in the Bible which means the following in the dictionary as shown on the web site www.biblehelpsonline.com/ebd/T0002200.htm:

a transliterated Hebrew word (livyathan), meaning "twisted," "coiled." In Job 3:8, Revised Version, and marg. of Authorized Version, it denotes the dragon which, according to Eastern tradition, is an enemy of light; in Job 41:1 the crocodile is meant; in Ps. 104:26 it "denotes any large animal that moves by writhing or wriggling the body, the whale, the monsters of the deep." This word is also used figuratively for a cruel enemy, as some think "the Egyptian host, crushed by the divine power, and cast on the shores of the Red Sea" (Ps. 74:14).

Leviathan is a poetic name for a large aquatic creature, defined by many as a crocodile or a whale or a dinosaur. It is a monstrous sea creature symbolizing evil in the Old Testament

The description of the Leviathan, is yet further to convince Job of his own weakness, and of God's almighty power. Whether this Leviathan be a whale or a crocodile, is disputed. The Lord, having showed Job how unable he was to deal with the Leviathan, sets forth his own power in that mighty creature. If such language describes the terrible force of Leviathan, what words can express the power of God's wrath? Under a humbling sense of our own vileness, let us revere the Divine Majesty; take and fill our allotted place, cease from our own wisdom, and give all glory to our gracious God and Savior. Remembering from whom every good gift comes, and for what end it was given, let us walk humbly with the Lord.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/wst_page3.php and check out item 17 and 18

Hi,

i received this from a friend and
wish to know your idea, if any =
what could be God's message for us
in this phenomena?
Please share it to me..

Thanks & God bless!

merlyn

WOW! Wonder what these people think about staying in New Orleans now>???

Now this is a Crocodile !

This crocodile was found in New Orleans swimming down the street. 21 FT long, 4,500 lbs, around 80
years old minimum.

Specialists said that he was looking to eat humans because he was too old to catch animals. This crocodile was killed by the army last Sunday at 3:00 pm, currently he is in the freezer at the Azur hotel. The contents of it's stomach will be analyzed this Friday at 2:30pm.

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17.

Aloha, Turning worthlessness into a reflection of God - 1 Peter 1:7-9 -- 09-23-05 Dear Benilda and Everyone I Know, Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your ecard to me. Thank you for expressing you desire to know more about the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry. Thank you for sharing the Word of God. I already sent you pictures of my "congregation" who live on the streets and beach of Waikiki. More pictures can be seen on the remaining pages of the web site, especially at the bottom of http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page3.html and http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page2.html. I don't know what else to show you other than suggest that you look at all of the pages and all of the links and you should be able to get an idea how God has me working with my "congregation" that we call our constituents. As you share the Scriptures, I would like to share them to everyone I know. 1 Peter 1:7-9 (New Living Translation) (7) These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (8) You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (9) Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. The refiner would heat the gold in the fire in order to separate the worthless and impure dross (worthless materials) from the precious and beautiful gold. The worthless materials would be skimmed off until the refiner could see his image in the liquid gold. God uses the fiery trials and tribulations in our life to purify and beautify our faith so that one day He will see clearly His image in us. This truth offers great comfort to those of us who struggle to make sense of a past marked by suffering. We can be confident that God will separate something priceless from the dross of our experiences. Turning our will and our life over to God is a critical step in the recovery process. During our most painful trials, we may fail to see God with us. Yet Peter suggests that strange as it may seem at the time, surrendering to God in difficult times can be a joyful experience. If we trust that God will use our trials to further the process of healing in our life, even the tough times can become times of celebration. God bless you and your family. Your brother in Christ, Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org, www.waikikibeachoutreach.com and www.boberb.com believe in God nothing is impossible for God , I will reply your letter the soonest posible, please send pic. of your congregation, and the beaches of hawaii, both will pray for each other, I work from 6 to 4, at school , today i have to visit my church , see you.take care . blessing bye is good to know you are my friend , interesting!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 16 Aloha, Love, Joy and Peace Galatians 5:22-24 09-22-05 Dear Esta and Everyone I Know, Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your call today. Thank you for expressing your love of God to me. In the beginning of my recovery, over 30 months ago, God seemed to speak to me as I read these verses then. As I was sharing with you about how God showed me that I needed to focus on love, joy and peace, and dont try to remember the other 6 virtues, yet, His Light will shine and reflect off of me. Whenever I experience something not bringing up love, joy and peace, then the feelings are not from God. I tend to move away from people or situations that do not maintain those virtues, but sometimes He puts me in those situations to help others move away from the negative feelings that does not reflect the Holy Spirit. Then this morning as I began to study the Bible, another email ministry used one of the verses which got me thinking, so I am writing what I am thinking. I pray that Gods Word might touch somebodys life who is reading this, as it did me today, or someone they know needs to be reminded of Gods virtues. Galatians 5:22-24 (New Living Translation) (22) But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. (24) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. These qualities are produced by the Holy Spirits work in a life submitted to God. Just as a tree bears fruit by means of Gods silent work in nature, we experience these fruits of the Spirit by means of Gods power alone. Our part is to entrust our life to Him. When the Holy Spirit begins to bear these fruits in our life, our dependency loses its power. With joy and peace we overcome the pain of our broken past. With love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness we restore our relationships and make amends. With patience we persevere through the difficult times. With self-control we stand against our tendency to relapse. Gods Spirit can supply everything necessary for a successful recovery and deal with significant life changing experiences. Another version uses the following words for verse 23: (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Meekness and gentleness are suggested to be similar. Temperance and self-control are suggested to be similar. Meekness is the by-product of a number of elements, not the least of which are deep, thorough humility and an awareness of the seriousness of what our past conduct produced, especially toward Jesus Christ. These things have tamed the beast, broken our self-will, and made our minds receptive to the pure influences of God's Spirit. This is not natural but supernatural, the product of God's grace toward us and His Spirit working and growing in us. It very deeply, sometimes radically, alters our perspective of God, His purpose, the trials of life, the self, and other people. This is very important regarding trials because meekness is the opposite of self-will toward God and of ill-will toward men. The meek are those who quietly submit themselves to God, to his word and to his rod, who follow His directions, and comply with His designs, and are gentle towards all men. Meekness is the fruit of God by His Spirit working in us. Godly sorrow softens our stiff-necked rebellion and our hearts so that we are made receptive to the workings of the Creator to produce His image in us. Therefore meekness, along with the qualities already mentioned, also includes our becoming pliable, malleable, submissive, and teachable. A New Testament term for this condition might be "childlike." God disciplines every son He loves, and sometimes His disciplines are very difficult to bear. We have passionate drives within us to flee from them, or at the very least, to grumble and murmur under their burden. But the meek will not do this. They will endure the privation, embarrassment, pain, loss, ignorance, or persecution with quiet patience because they know that God is sovereign over all and He is working in their lives. To take heed of indulging a sinful temper. The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, and is so far from giving the least countenance to sin, that it lays us under the strongest obligation to avoid and subdue it. The apostle urges that all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, We shall love our neighbors as ourselves. If Christians, who should help one another, and rejoice one another, quarrel, what can be expected but that the God of love should deny His grace, that the Spirit of love should depart, and the evil spirit, who seeks their destruction, should prevail? Happy would it be, if Christians, instead of biting and devouring one another on account of different opinions, would set themselves against sin in themselves, and in the places where they live. And to walk in the Spirit, and not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh: the works of both are described. If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature which remains in us, it shall not have dominion over us. Believers are engaged in a conflict, in which we earnestly desire that grace may obtain full and speedy victory. And those of us who desire to give ourselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit, are not under the law as a covenant of works, nor exposed to its awful curse. Our hatred of sin, and desires after holiness, show that we have a part in the salvation of the gospel. The works of the flesh are many and manifest. And these sins will shut us out of heaven. Yet what numbers, calling themselves Christians, live in these, and say they hope for heaven! The fruits of the Spirit, or of the renewed nature, which we are to do, are named. And as the apostle had chiefly named works of the flesh, not only hurtful to men themselves, but tending to make them so to one another, so here he chiefly notices the fruits of the Spirit, which tend to make Christians agreeable one to another, as well as to make them happy. The fruits of the Spirit plainly show, that such are led by the Spirit. By describing the works of the flesh and fruits of the Spirit, we are told what to avoid and oppose, and what we are to cherish and cultivate; and this is the sincere care and endeavor of all real Christians, disciples of Christ. Sin does not now reign in our mortal bodies, so that we obey it, for we seek to destroy it. Christ never will own those who yield themselves up to be the servants of sin. And it is not enough that we cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well. Our conversation will always be answerable to the principle which guides and governs us. We must set ourselves in earnest to mortify the deeds of the body, and to walk in newness of life. Not being desirous of vain-glory, or unduly wishing for the esteem and applause of men, not provoking or envying one another, but seeking to bring forth more abundantly those good fruits, which are, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God. God bless you and your family. Your brother in Christ, Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org, www.waikikibeachoutreach.com, and www.boberb.com xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 15 Aloha, Practice these Principals in all of our affairs - Isaiah 61:1 -- 09-22-05 Dear Bernlda and Everyone I Know, Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for the ecard. Thank you for sharing such a powerful message from God. Isaiah 61:1 (New Living Translation) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. This reminds me of the twelfth step, having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs. A life set free from all addictions by the Lord is a beautiful sight to behold. When we practice these principles and share our experiences, people will see the glory of God in our life and gain hope. We know from experience the depths of suffering, pain of being enslaved to our passions and blinded by our denial. We have endured our seasons of grieving. We can relate to those who struggle to be free. We also know that there is more to life than bondage. In Christ are healing and freedom, clarity and mercy, beauty and joy. When Jesus came to earth, He had a mission, which was expressed in these words shown above. This mission has been passed to us. Some people talk about "preaching the gospel" but may alienate those who need the Good News the most. We are in a unique position to share our experiences, our strength, and our hope in a way that broken people can understand and receive it. As I continue to read this chapter, the Lord leads me to understand that God promised rebuilding, prosperity, ministry, and honor to the people of Israel. God promises these same things, through in different forms, to all His children, Jew or Gentile. He wants to rebuild our broken lives, make us spiritually prosperous, give our life significance through ministry to others, and fill us with honor through His love and grace. God bless you and your family. Your brother in Christ, Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org Hi, benilda albelo frias stopped by my site, VIRTUAL CHRISTIAN CENTER and created a Virtual Card just for you! To pick up your card, simply point your browser at the page listed below. http://www.virtualchristiancenter.com/scripturecards/sep21-3346531920.html The card will remain on the server for about one week, so please print it out or save it as soon as you can. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 14

Aloha, HOW GOD WORKS FOR US Gideon in Judges 6-8 09-21-06

Dear Kingsley and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. One of the Christian ministries sent me some information about how God works for us. It focused on Gideon, and so God seems to be leading me to show me how that story might be applied to those of us who are going through some type of recovery or significant life changing experience. I was also reminded by some others by my own generational challenges.

God works for us, just as He did over 3200 years ago as described in the book of Judges about Gideon. That book seems to show those of us in a 12 step program how tragic an incomplete recovery program can be and how dysfunctional patterns tend to continue from one generation to the next. And to show how God is ready to lift us up when we look to Him for help.

The conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua had been a miraculous success. It wasnt long, however, before the people forgot what had made it all possible faith in God and obedience to His commands. They became trapped in a spiritual cycle from falling into sin, enslaved by an oppressor, crying out to God for help, and then, God sent a leader (or judge) to deliver them. Maybe some pastors are sharing a message here to deliver us. At the end of each painful round, there was a temporary period of faithfulness and stability. But soon, most of the people slipped back into the same vicious cycle of relapse.

The book of Judges shows what happens to a society when its citizens do whatever they choose. The people of Israel refused to learn from their past mistakes. They blinded themselves to the needs of others and to the commands of God. As a result, they became trapped by their individual delusions and brought suffering on themselves and the people around them. They refused to follow the path to freedom by obeying Gods program for righteous and healthy living. Doing things our way still leads to enslavement and suffering; following Gods program is the only path to freedom.

Let us learn from Israels mistakes. We would be wise to note that Israels failures often came after great victories. Success is sometimes the first step toward a fall. We must humbly take inventory of our activities and relationships, keeping our eyes on God and obeying His will for us. But when we do fail, we can be sure that God will listen to our cries for help. Maybe New Orleans is crying out for help. He wants to deliver us once again.

Most of the story of Gideon is told in chapters 6 and 7 in the book of Judges, before Saul, David and Solomon became kings of Israel. There was a span of about 400 years where the 12 tribes of Jacob (Israel) did not trust putting their leadership in the hands of a king after Moses died and Joshua led them to capture what is now Israel. Several leaders came to surface as described in the Book of Judges. One of them was a person who worked on the farm that God transformed into one of the Israelites great leaders.

In times of trouble, we often search for the thunder and lightning of Gods voice and direction. Mistakenly, we think that God will provide us with the solution we seek in some spectacular way. The truth of the matter is that the answer often lies within us.

Gideon struggled in his commitment to God. Day in and day out he sought food and shelter for his family in a land constantly raided by hostile invaders. Gideon was under extreme pressure to remain resourceful in the face of his enemies. His deliverance came in an unexpected way.

God called Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the rule of their oppressors. Like many of us, Gideon felt inadequate in the face of a great task. He obeyed, but his doubts kept him dragging his feet. He waited time and again for confirmation of what God had already told him to do.

Many of us feel week and thing we are a failure. We question Gods interest in our life or our situation. Just as Gideon already had the talents and resourcefulness that God needed, often we already have within us what God needs to overcome our obstacles. Even when our faith wavers, God empowers us as we act.

6;11-15 Gideon responded to the angles message with little faith or hope. He was so used to the oppression of the Midianites that he had little confidence that things could ever be any different. Not only did Gideon view himself as weak and insignificant, he also viewed God with distrust as being unfaithful to his covenant people. This is a typical response of a person trying to cope with terrible circumstances. We become so worn down by continuous pain that we lose hope of ever breaking free. We are deeply aware of our helplessness. But this is the starting point fo recovery. Gideon had admitted that he was helpless; now he only needed to discover that God was able to deliver him.

6:22-40 Gideons responses to God alternated between faith and fear. It took courage to build the altars to God and to tear down the altar to Baal. He also blew the trumpet of assembly for those who would fight for God. Yet his fears limited him to destroying the place of idol worship in the middle of the night and questioning Gods leadership (as seen in the fleece incident). Similarly many of us use any excuse we can think of to not face what we fear. Fear is healthy; it can warn us of dangers and prompt us to be careful. But it should not stop us from doing what we know is right.

7:4-7 In further streamlining the fighting force from ten thousand to three hundred, God demonstrated to Gideon that He was looking for men who most consistently faced the reality of their present circumstances, keeping watch for the enemy while drinking. Facing the present reality is crucial to success in the recovery process. If we are constantly in touch with reality, we will not fall victim to sneak attacks we will expect struggles with temptation. We can only combat our problems when we remain alert.

7:8-25 We may begin to believe that we are destined to bondage, poverty, and failure. When we persist in this view of our life, we give up the possibility of change. We settle for just trying to survive. We live in fear and shame, filling up with resentment as our life remains in the pit. We need to overcome these kinds of negative assumptions about ourselves.

Our first impression of Gideon is of a discouraged young man with little self-respect. His family was the poorest in a small tribe, and he was the least in his family. We first see him as he was threshing wheat in a winepress, hiding the little grain he had from his Midianite oppressors. An angel appeared and called to him, "Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!" Gideon didnt look or feel like a mighty hero, but God could see his potential. By the end of the story, Gideon had become the deliverer of his people. His first step toward success was to see himself as God saw him a mighty warrior. Then he was able to hope in the possibility of freedom.

We, too, must begin by finding the courage to see ourselves in a new light and to summon up hope for a better life. Then as God gives us the strength we can set about pursuing freedom from the bondage that surround us and our family.

7:24-8:3 Gideons patient handling of the temperamental Ephraimite leaders reflect a great deal of progress in overcoming his feelings of power inadequacy. In contrast to the anger of Ephraims leaders, Gideon displayed great self-control and wisdom as a leader. He was willing to go to great lengths to set things straight. Self-control and wisdom are important elements of the recovery process.

8:4:21 This pursuit and execution of the Midianite kings are a striking example of perseverance on Gideons part. In clear contrast to the tribes of Israel who had failed to finish the job of driving out the Canaanites, Gideon continued until the Midianite forces were completely defeated. He reversed the previous oppressive situation completely, opening the doorway to a new life of freedom for Israel. We should follow Gideons example, doing all we can to escape oppression from our dependencies. God will help us to accomplish this; then He will help us goon to build a new life.

8:22-35 Once again the Israelites turned form the true God and worshipped idols. The special golden vest Gideon made to commemorate the defeat of the Midianites was soon worshiped by the people. And Later, after Gideons death, the Israelites went back to worshiping Baal and Baal-berith. The people still did not recognize the cycle of disobedience and oppression. We must not be like the Israelites but should learn form our past experiences. When tempted to return to old addictions, we need to remember the consequences of those behaviors and persevere in recovery.

I know I could go on and on about how God is working for us. God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org, www.boberb.com, www.waikikibeachoutreach.com and other links they provide.

bro robert, i am again humble to know that you are on the move for the master.

please uphold me in prayers.

and also the congregation too,

you are welcome to africa,

we love you.

please tell me how can i be involved in ministry with you.

shalom

kingsley diala

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13.

Aloha, Working for God or for Self - 2 Corinthians 9-11 -- 09-19-05

Dear Vinay and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your response. Thank you for your words of encouragement. Thank you for sharing a part of your life and ministry. Thank you for expressing your love and confidence in God. Mostly, thank you for your prayers. Thank you for sharing the Word of God.

I will continue to pray for God's guidance in your life. Your words have inspired me to study God's Word and to share what He is showing me.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (New Living Translation)

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

The more spiritual seeds we plant by generously helping others, the greater will be our harvest of spiritual fruit. god never forces us to give; He wants us to give with willing hearts. God is only interested in what we DO; He is also interested in the attitudes and motives behind our ACTIONS. Some of us may feel that we don't have much to offer people in need. Our life may be in ruins; we may have gone into debt to support destructive habits. But even if we have nothing else to give, we can share our story of how God gave us a second chance. As little as this may seem to us, it may be the gift of life to someone in the throes of an addiction.

As Paul continues in the remaining chapters to this little church in the midst of a sinful city in Greece, similar to New Orleans, he expresses the suffering he had to encounter to love Christ that ensured him of love, joy and peace, even when in pain and in jail.

From a recovery perspective, it is illuminating to note that Paul had set limits on his ministry based on his understanding of God's will for him. Our recovery activities also need to be in line with God's plan. We must concentrate our limiting energy on priorities that reflect God's will. Paul was sensitive to God's will for his life, and he was confident that his leadership over the Corinthian church was a part of that plan. We can be sure that recovery is part of God's plan for us. We need to learn what activities He wants us to be involved in on a daily basis. Insight concerning God's will for us is likely to come through prayer, study of the Scriptures, the help of godly friends, or the guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Paul was worried that the Corinthian believers would replace their faith in Jesus with a false faith (money and lust)/ Corinth was a cosmopolitan city; numerous pagan religions and cults were practices there. Paul also was concerned because rejecting Christ would lead to painful consequences. Believers might reject the abundant life offered by Jesus Christ for lives of ultimate disaster. We also live in a world of multiple religions; recovery programs can be found that represent most of them. But true recovery is possible only through the work of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit (based upon my own experiences). Rejecting the hope offered in Christ is rejecting the only real power available for recovery and dealing with significant life changing experiences. Looking to any other power will lead to disappointment and failure.

The Corinthian believers had apparently rejected Paul's teachings in order to follow a number of false teachers who had twisted the Christian message. These false leaders were probably Judaizers who taught that salvation came through faith in Christ plus adherence to the Jewish law. Sometimes we are tempted to follow the same heresy. We want to earn our life and recovery by working hard. This approach, however, is powerless over our dependency. We need God's help. Paul made it clear in all of his letters that salvation is a free gift, paid for by the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. Without God, we are helpless against the power of sin in our life. But, with His help, we can overcome our dependency.

Paul demonstrated his commitment to Jesus Christ by listing the tremendous hardships he had suffered. If nothing else, such ongoing mistreatment, deprivation, and the burden of his ministry responsibility revealed his perseverance. Paul was definitely no fair weather minister or friend. If we display the kind of commitment to recovery that Paul had for his ministry, we will receive the same kind of powerful help that Paul experienced in his service for Christ.

Paul's "boasting" was not intended to make him look better than he really was. He boasted about his weakness so Christ could work through him. Even though the apostle told of his incredible vision of heaven, he quickly admitted his own weaknesses. He recounted how he sensed God's grace even thought his chronic physical suffering and spiritual warfare. Paul honestly assessed his life, recognizing both his strengths and weaknesses. Then he accepted and received the power that God offers to all who look to Him. Paul is a good model for us to follow. When we make an honest assessment of our life and learn to depend upon God's infinite resources, we will make significant progress in recovery and dealing with significant life changing experiences.

Acts 20:33-35

(33) "I have never coveted anyone's money or fine clothing. (34) You know that these hands of mine have worked to pay my own way, and I have even supplied the needs of those who were with me. (35) And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

As Paul met with the Ephesian elders, he told them of his plans to return to Jerusalem. Paul sensed a clear leading by the Holy Spirit and was determined to follow it. Apparently, Paul was aware that God's plan would lead him through difficult circumstances. Yet he felt compelled to do the work God assigned him. Following God's will in recovery is not easy. Sometimes it leads to loneliness and loss. Sometimes it causes conflict with out friends and family. Even though following God's will can be hard at times, it is always the best way. Paul's example encourages us to pray for clear knowledge of God's will and the power to obey it.

If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let us consider our Master's concern for the flock committed to our charge. It is the church He has purchased with his own blood. The blood was His as Man; yet so close is the union between the Divine and human nature, that it is there called the blood of God, for it was the blood of Him who is God. This put such dignity and worth into it, as to ransom believers from all evil, and purchase all good. Paul spake about their souls with affection and concern. They were full of care what would become of them. Paul directs them to look up to God with faith, and commends them to the word of God's grace, not only as the foundation of their hope and the fountain of their joy, but as the rule of their walking. The most advanced Christians are capable of growing, and will find the word of grace help our growth. As those cannot be welcome guests to the holy God who are unsanctified; so heaven would be no heaven to them; but to all who are born again, and on whom the image of God is renewed, it is sure, as almighty power and eternal truth make it so. He recommends himself to them as an example of not caring as to things of the present world; this they would find help forward their comfortable passage through it. It might seem a hard saying, therefore Paul adds to it a saying of their Master's, which he would have them always remember; "It is more blessed to give than to receive:" it seems they were words often used to His disciples. The opinion of the children of this world, is contrary to this; we are afraid of giving, unless in hope of getting. Clear gain, is with many of us the most blessed thing that can be; but Christ tell us what is more blessed, more excellent. It makes us more like to God, who gives to all, and receives from none; and to the Lord Jesus, who went about doing good. This mind was in Christ Jesus, may it be in us also. It is good for friends, when they part, to part with prayer. Those who exhort and pray for one another, may have many weeping seasons and painful separations, but we will meet before the throne of God, to part no more. It was a comfort to all, that the presence of Christ both went with Him and stayed with us.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org, www.boberb.com, and www.wiakikibeachoutreach.com

DEAr
bob,greetings yo uou in HIS name.I was sure that u will write me bck fo I belive that our friendhip is om HIM.
LAt me share somethin @ me.
I have ben in the ministry from last 6 yearsinvolved in church plnting among porr tribls and villagers o India.HE has been used me beyond mesure during this 6 yers.
I have seen grievences and hardship of these new belivers so closely.Some people came to HIM depite of community and family pressure and ome of them nd evngelising now.
On july 19,04 HE gave us a vision while me and my wife,kim were praying.We wrer asking HIm to open a door fo us to get some job so that we will meet our needs and live comfotably.While praying some of the people came on our heart and and HE said to us They are in more verse situation that you.Since then we have been praying fo these people and give us apportunity to help them and stand by them not to live fo ourslves only.Later this viion get conformed thru one ldy from singapore.
Miraculously on 19 july 05,i have been called by the University and got a job as a CAd engineer.We ask HIm weather this HIS will or not?HE spoke to us"I have open a door for you".So we left the privious minitry and moved to new place last month.My leader thought that I am running after money.But HE knows where i am running.
On 16 sept we got our 1 salary.We decided to support these new belivers and kept beside HIS pert for them.The very next day on your b'day HE promised us something.
2 coronthians 9:8,10,11. HE is at work and HE is working in my life.

MY VISION : TO WORK AND TO HELP THE WEEK BEING A TENTMAKER AND MAKING THE SAME.
ACTS 20:33-35

MY PRAYERS :ASKING BLESING TO THE lORD TO BLESS OTHERS.ENLARGE THE BOUNDARIES OF GOOD WORK TO BING GLORY TO HIM.

2 CHRONICLES 4;10

HIS PROMISE :HE WILL BLES ME RICHLY.

2 CORONTHIANS 9:8.10,11.

I AM NOT LONGING FOR YOUR SILVER OR GOLD MY FROEND BUT FOR PRAYERS AND ENCOURGEMENTS.
pLEASE PRAY FOR h\ME.

in HIm
vinay

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12.

Aloha, Discouragement to JOY - Psalm 43:5 -- 09-15-05

Dear Esta and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for sharing your understanding of being a garbage throw away.

I hope the web site describes the pain that I had felt and the great joy I now have as I have turned to Him and His Word. Thank you for sharing the Word of God.

Psalm 43:5 (New Living Translation)

Why am I discouraged?
       Why so sad?
    I will put my hope in God!
       I will praise him again--
       my Savior and my God!

As we work through the recovery process, those who are ungodly may treat us unfaily. During such time we must look to God, our only dependable source of strength and encouragement. As we turn our life over to Him and seek His wisdom and strength, we will find the help we need. We must learn, as the psalmest did, to find strength by reading God's Word and allowing Him to restore our joy. As our relationship with God grows stronger, we will discover the means for reconciling our broken relationships.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org

Esta Lake <estalake@yahoo.com> wrote:

Good Morning,
Bob, I think the web site really speaks to the inner soul I know that I have felt the valleys of depression, rejection knowing that no one cared feeling like a garbage trow out ,I still do at times but my God didn't make any junk he has a reason for my hurt I believe that he let the hurt happen so I would grow closer to him. Your web site shows how God has taken a hurt and used it to help us that are in Pain.
Thank you for that and for showing Gods love.
Esta Lake PS.43:5

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11.

Aloha, The Arrogant are blessed? Malachi 3:13-16 -- 09-15-05

Dear Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. God seemed to lead me to the last book of the Old Testament today. So, I will again share what He seems to be showing me, and maybe someone else will also understand.

Malachi 3:13-16 (New Living Translation)

(13) "You have said terrible things about me," says the LORD.

"But you say, `What do you mean? How have we spoken against you?'

(14) "You have said, `What's the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the LORD Almighty that we are sorry for our sins? (15) From now on we will say, "Blessed are the arrogant." For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them go free of harm.' "

(16) Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.

When recovery involves only changes in external behavioral without internal change, there is the constant threat of relapse. This seemed to be the case with the people in Jerusalem. Under Nehemiahs leadership, the people had rebuilt the walls of the city and their lives. But when Nehemiah returned to Persia, all the excellent activities and attitudes that he had fostered in the people disappeared.

Malachi wrote this about 420 years before the birth of Christ Jesus. This is the last book of the Old Testament.

Malachi preached to a nation of backsliders people who had relapsed. Even the spiritual leaders had fallen into old, sinful patterns. As a result, they were suffering the consequences of economic depression, poor crops, and attacks of foreign marauders. Family life had dissolved, and divorce was rampant. The peoples religious lives were cold and empty.

Malachi gave a message of hope to a nation that knew repeated failure. After being restored to their homeland, the Jews had forgotten the One who had delivered them. We tend to make the same mistakes. As soon as we overcome our pressing problem, we forget the One who helped us escape God. Without a continued relationship with God, our hope of sustaining recovery is slim at best. We need to keep our eyes on God, the source and means for success in recovery.

Although Malachi presented a long list of the peoples sins, woven throughout his words of judgment is a clear message of hope and forgiveness. As the final book of the Old Testament, Malachi forms a bridge with the New Testament with its promise of the coming of another prophet like Elijah. This promise was fulfilled in the coming of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the Messiah Jesus Christ. With God, there is always hope!

The Lords Promise of Mercy

Malachi wrote in Judea between the return from Babylon and Christ's birth. During that period God's people had grown lackadaisical in their worship, yet a faithful few remained.

"'Your words have been harsh against Me,' says the LORD." God accuses them of calling Him into account for what was happening within the nation. They were experiencing difficult times, just as the people of God have frequently endured difficult times. These are times when we cry out to God, "Why, God? Why are you allowing this to happen? When are you going to intervene?" but He does not seem to be listening.

"Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against You?'" They did not feel that their accusations were against God, but He gives them an example.

The faithful can see that these others are not very godly. Maybe they see that "the proud" are sinning openly, breaking the commandments of God. Maybe the proud do not have a submissive, quiet, and gentle spirit. Maybe they are aggressive and assertive, and they maneuvered themselves to the head of the group. And they seemed to be getting away with it!

Notice what these faithful people did in response to the difficult times they were enduring as part of the partnership. All of God's faithful people should do these things:

1). They feared God. They respected and revered Him. They stood in awe of Him. Some may have even felt an appropriate measure of terror.

2). They thought on His name. They meditated on it. It can suggest that they esteemed His name. They spoke highly of it. They honored Him. They looked to Him, though they were complaining for leadership and guidance. His name, of course, stands for everything that He is. He does not have just one name, He has many names. They show, or advertise, what He is, what He will do, and what He requires.

3). They fellowshipped with one another. No doubt they spoke of their trials and their blessings, about the things that were going on in the partnership of that day, of their studies into God's Word, of their plans, of their expectations of the Kingdom of God. God heard! God watched and responded, maybe not when they would have liked Him to respond, but God did respond in His time, when it was right for His purposes.

So will He respond to us!

Then God makes a wonderful promise to those of us who fear Him: "'They shall be Mine,' says the LORD of hosts, 'on that day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him'" . In Isaiah 49:15-16, God says, "Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands...." He is watching! He is aware of what is going on, and He will act!

The Jews reproved for their corruptions.

The men of that generation turned away from God, they had not kept his ordinances. God gives them a gracious call. But they said, Wherein shall we return? God notices what returns our hearts make to the calls of His word. It shows great perverseness in sin, when we make afflictions excuses for sin, which are sent to part between our sins and us. Here is an earnest exhortation to reform. God must be served in the first place; and the interest of our souls ought to be preferred before that of our bodies. Let us trust God to provide for our comfort. God has blessings ready for us, but through the weakness of our faith and the narrowness of our desires, we have not room to receive them. We who makes trial will find honoring the Lord with His substance loses nothing.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org
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10.

Aloha, Profile Philimon 1:4-7 & Colossians 3:14 - 09-14-05

Dear Esta and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. As I was beginning to study the Bible today, I happened to check out your profile on ChristiaNet and saw you identified some scriptures and decided that maybe God wanted me to check them out.

Maybe my comments may help someone else see things to help them in their challenges in life.

Philemon 1:4-7 (New Living Translation)

Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer

⁴I always thank God when I pray for you, Philemon, ⁵because I keep hearing of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people. ⁶You are generous because of your faith. And I am praying that you will really put your generosity to work, for in so doing you will come to an understanding of all the good things we can do for Christ. ⁷I myself have gained much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because your kindness has so often refreshed the hearts of God's people.

Before bringing up the problem of the runaway Onesimus, Paul established his lines of communication with Philemon. The apostle showed an appreciation for Philemon and a real concern for his family. Paul's example can help us in recovery. Sometimes we must confront others about their dependency or deal with another touchy problem. As we face confrontation, we need to make sure we value the people involved and take the time to establish strong lines of communication. If we jump in too soon, they may feel that we are just trying to hurt them. If we prove our love beforehand, however, they will be more receptive to what we say.

Paul's Prayer

Some of the most significant explorations of the literary genre of Paul's letters have been in the second parts of his letters, where he gives thanks to God and then offers a prayer on behalf of his audience. Generally speaking, such expressions of thanksgiving and petition serve three purposes: (1) to establish good rapport between Paul and his first readers, so that they will respond positively to the advice that follows, (2) to set forth in the context of thanksgiving the religious ideals or moral virtues toward which the congregation should aspire, and (3) in the petitions offered, to introduce the spiritual crisis that threatens the readership's spiritual advance. Paul's thanksgiving functions, then, as a critical preface to what follows in the letter's main body. Not only are specific goals established and a motive given for following the apostolic advice, but the crisis that might undermine these goals is sometimes suggested. We should take particular care to explore the meaning of the special vocabulary that Paul uses in this part of his letters, since it will often form the basis for the advice that follows in the main body. In the case of Paul's letter to Philemon, the ideals established in thanking God are faith and love. The implied threats to these twin ideals are, first, whether the faith of Philemon (Paul's thanksgiving has a single person in mind) will be shared in a sufficiently active way and, second, whether his love, which Paul claims has given him great joy and encouragement, will continue to refresh the hearts of the saints -- including Onesimus, as we will see. Thanksgiving Paul gives thanks to God for his friend Philemon. His language is emphatic--adding personal pronouns to emphasize that he is the subject of the sentence and Philemon is its object -- and immediate, expressing the verbal ideas in the present tense. Not only is the content of Paul's thanksgiving formed by current reports of Philemon's faith and love, but Paul is ready to always thank God for Philemon's Christian witness. The force of the present tense of Paul's thanksgiving impresses the reader with the security of their relationship: Paul continually gives God thanks for the continuing good reports he hears of Philemon's faith and love. Paul often uses a triad of Christian virtues, such as faith, hope and love, to express his thanks to God for his readers; he highlights qualities that characterize mature Christian life. Although only two are mentioned in this letter, they constitute the Christian ideals he desires to find in Philemon's life. Certainly Paul reworks the triad to introduce his subsequent appeal: Philemon is characterized by the very virtues that will forge a restored relationship with Onesimus. After Paul thanks God for Philemon, he prays for him. The content of his petition actually reverses the terms of his thanksgiving: first he prays for Philemon's faith and then for his love. Some commentaries suggest Paul's intercessory prayer for Philemon is that he may acquire sufficient faith and love from God to respond favorably to the request to reconcile himself with Onesimus. Most commentators, however, link the opening clause that you may be active in sharing your faith with my prayers rather than with as I re- member you. Paul's prayer is not for Philemon's character, for which Paul has just given thanks, but for the sharing of Philemon's faith. He is mainly interested in the kind of fruit that God harvests in the relations between believers. Paul's implied prayer, then, is that Philemon welcome Onesimus gladly as an equal "partner" in the faith. God calls each believer into a congregation and provides each with certain gifts and opportunities to minister to other believers, so that all may be brought to maturity together in Christ Jesus. This sense of partnership marks out a congregation's partnership and is found where persons view one another as equals in worth and importance. It aims at partnership with Christ in God's salvation, so that with him we are able to find those resources necessary to enable us to minister, to love, to view one another as important and valuable. Christianity is about a transformation of the way we see and think about other people. When we begin to view others as those with whom life and faith are shared equally in Christ, arrogance and bigotry are finished. Further, in referring to Philemon's faith Paul probably has in mind his public demonstration of Christian faith rather than his personal faith in Jesus Christ. While the immediate result of Philemon's faith is a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Paul is speaking about every good thing Philemon experiences while in Christ, where God's grace is found. For Paul, compassion is both the capacity to love and the experience of being loved. His prayer for Philemon is for a greater capacity to love; but such compassion is also the experience of those saints he has refreshed. In this way, the compassionate heart is the mark of the partnership of shared faith. More important, Paul's prayer introduces in a positive way what the main body of his letter develops: that the compassion and so partnership of the congregation are now threatened by the problem between Onesimus and Philemon. Given Paul's twofold petition, then, the reader realizes that Philemon's response to Paul's appeal will largely determine whether the congregation's witness to the gospel in Colosse will survive.

Colossians 3:14

And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.

To mortify or put to death all corrupt affections;

It is our duty to mortify our members which incline to the things of the world. Mortify them, kill them, suppress them, as weeds or vermin which spread and destroy all about them. Continual opposition must be made to all corrupt workings, and no provision made for carnal indulgences. Occasions of sin must be avoided: the lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world; and covetousness, which is idolatry; love of present good, and of outward enjoyments. It is necessary to mortify sins, because if we do not kill them, they will kill us. The gospel changes the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the rule of right reason and conscience, over appetite and passion. There is now no difference from country, or conditions and circumstances of life. It is the duty of every one to be holy, because Christ is a Christian's All, his only Lord and Savior, and all his hope and happiness.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org

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Aloha, Cry out to God and He will Provide - Psalm 69 - 09-13-05

Dear Laura and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your message. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for sharing the Good News. Thank you for sharing God's Word in Psalm 69.

As I am reading this song of David's, these verses I am being focused on the first third of it. Another friend of mine is crying out for understanding and may need to hear these words.

Psalm 69:1-13 (New Living Translation)

¹
    Save me, O God,
       for the flood waters are up to my neck.     ²
    Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire;
       I can't find a foothold to stand on.
    I am in deep water,
       and the floods overwhelm me.     ³
    I am exhausted from crying for help;
       my throat is parched and dry.
    My eyes are swollen with weeping,
       waiting for my God to help me.     ⁴
    Those who hate me without cause
       are more numerous than the hairs on my head.
    These enemies who seek to destroy me
       are doing so without cause.
    They attack me with lies,
       demanding that I give back what I didn't steal.     ⁵
    O God, you know how foolish I am;
       my sins cannot be hidden from you.     ⁶
    Don't let those who trust in you stumble because of me,
       O Sovereign LORD Almighty.
    Don't let me cause them to be humiliated,
       O God of Israel.     ⁷
    For I am mocked and shamed for your sake;
       humiliation is written all over my face.     ⁸
    Even my own brothers pretend they don't know me;
       they treat me like a stranger.     ⁹
    Passion for your house burns within me,
       so those who insult you are also insulting me.     ¹⁰
    When I weep and fast before the LORD,
       they scoff at me.     ¹¹
    When I dress in sackcloth to show sorrow,
       they make fun of me.

    ¹²
    I am the favorite topic of town gossip,
       and all the drunkards sing about me.

¹³
    But I keep right on praying to you, LORD,
       hoping this is the time you will show me favor.
    In your unfailing love, O God,
       answer my prayer with your sure salvation.

As he wrote this psalm, David felt as if his problems were drowning him. It seemed that everyone was attacking him and no one was around to take his side. We often feel the same desperation as we work through the process of recovery. In times like these, we should do what David did - cry out to God for help, submit to His will, and entrust our life to His care.

David knew how important it was to recognize his sins and to admit them to God. This is an essential step toward recovery in our own life. We must accept responsibility for what we have done in the past. Then, like David, we should turn to God for forgiveness and restoration.

David's visible repentance and desire to change his life brought him intense ridicule. He became a laughingstock among those who opposed God. Even the town drunks ridiculed him. As we confess our failures and turn our life over to God, we may experience similar scorn. We may deserve some of the ridicule we receive; it may take people awhile to believe that the changes in our life are real. During such trials we should remember that God is more concerned about rebuilding our character than he is about restoring our reputation.

He concludes with joy and praise.

At the end of the psalm David expresses holy joy and praise, which he began with complaints of his grief. It is a great comfort to us, that humble and thankful praises are more pleasing to God than the most costly, pompous sacrifices. The humble shall look to him, and be glad; those that seek him through Christ shall live and be comforted. God will do great things for the gospel church, in which let all who wish well to it rejoice. A seed shall serve him on earth, and his servants shall inherit his heavenly kingdom. Those that love His name shall dwell before him for ever. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Arise, You great Restorer of the ancient places to dwell in, and turn away ungodliness from your people. God bless you and your family. Your brother and friend in Christ, Bob @ www.liferecoveryministry.org

GOD BLESS YOU BROTHER BOB, today as always, just a word of encouragment and I wanted you to know that THE LORD JESUS CHRIST had me write a poem about raising the dead several weeks ago, right before the gulf coast was hit..........

Brother Bob,,,,, so much good is coming forth, and we as examples of CHRIST cannot let fear into our FAITH.............

                                        do not let the enemy come in !

I keep looking at all the SOULS that are being saved,,,,,,,

all the famalies that GOD IS REBUILDING THEIR LIVES IN HIS IMAGE

as HE POURS OUT HIS SPIRIT,,,,,,, AMEN

all the BLESSED future days of the children to be raised in the NUTURE & ADMORITION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

for the generations to come to be more POWERFUL than any other generation before IN THE LORDS NAME

They have conquered THE POWERS OF DARKNESS in their lives........

GOD is showing them, how he is with them.......

HE IS VICTORIOUS........

JESUS IS THE SAME TODAY, YESTERDAY & FOREVER,,,,,,, AMEN

And NOW THE WORLD IS SEEING THAT ! It's in HIS NAME WE DO ANYTHING! Not ours

Just remember LOT, and his wife--------- WE ARE NOT TO LOOK BACK.

We know what is happening, and what is coming, but we are SAVED & SO are our FAMALIES...........                   GODS WORD SAYS IT

                                            I BELIEVE IT

                                            AND THAT SETTLES IT,, AMEN !

I must REJOICE ------ my daddy is attending A FULL GOSPEL CHURCH NOW !

GLORY BE TO GOD ----- PRAISE JESUS ------- THANK YOU LORD GOD ALMIGHTY

By the way,,,,,,, alot of Preachers are talking right now about PSALM 69

                                                  LOVE & GOD BLESS YOU & YOURS

                                                  YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST

                                                          CHRISTINE

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Dear Pastor William John and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for sharing the Word of God for me to understand.

As I review the scriptures you share, I gain comfort.

Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

What comfort this verse offers! In our dispair, we must remember that God has a special plan for each of us; He wants to bless us. Our challenge is to act on that knowledge. In recovery we are to pray for knowledge of God's will and the power to carry it out. Our recover is an important part of God's will for us. We can begin the process by recognizing how helpless we are against our dependency and entrusting our life into God's powerful yet loving hands. Realizing how much God loves us gives us hope for the future.

God bless you and your family and your sheep.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.com and www.waikikibeachoutreach.com

Dear Bob,
Greetings and God's richest blessings to you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Lord ahs His perfect plans for each one of us. (Jer.29:11). I thank you for your prayers for us.
I will pray that the Lrod to open the doors for you to come to India. You are most welcome to come and visit our mission fields and share the love of Jesus with the underrpivileged boys, gilrs and women.

With prayers,
Pastor William John

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Aloha, Minister to the "priest" FIRST

Dear Drucilla and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your heart felt message. As I am reading it, tears are coming to my eyes. Weeping of the spirit within me is occurring because the words you share touch my heart. Thank you for sharing the words God seems to be telling you to write me.

I am really touched by your words. I have never felt what I am feeling from reading anybody's words. I have felt touched by the Word of God, though. Therefore, I really believe the message you are sharing me, personally, also needs to be shared to others who really desire to God's will, as I do.

First, your words remind me of what Paul said: "The worker deserves his pay" (1 Tim 5:18). "Is it too much if we receive part of the harvest from your earthly goods? If others have the right to expect this from you, don't we deserve even more? But we haven't used our rights. Instead, we would put up with anything in order not to hinder the Good News should earn their living from the Good News" (1 Cor 9:11,12). "So what is my reward? It is to spread the Good News free of charge. In that way I won't use the rights that belong to those who spread the Good News" (1 Cor 9:18). I have been moved to help the poor with food and sharing the Good News as Jesus did. But, as you have shared, we need others to help, or go back to "tent making" as Paul did. With all the riches we have in the USA, it is ashamed that not one person has donated even one cent to this ministry in over 6 months. As people saw me distribute food, some would donate $5 or $10, and once, $100 on the street. And every penny went for food, not for me, for rent, or for the electricity to prepare the food. One supporter did expend thousands for advertisements on the radio for several months to get volunteers with little avail. As people see the time I spend on sharing the Word of God, on the other hand, not one cent is contributed. Interesting.

As I am reading Romans 6-8 per your suggestion, I seemed to be led to focus on the self-perception required to be made as defined in Romans 7:18-25 and the life in the spirit as expressed in Romans 8:9-11. Other words also addressed my soul and spirit, but I am limiting this letter to those identified here. My words of understanding are those related to dealing with significant life changing experiences, or recovery from addictions and mental disorders.

Romans 7:18-25

¹⁸I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. ¹⁹When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. ²⁰But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it.

²¹It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. ²²I love God's law with all my heart. ²³But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. ²⁴Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?^[a] ²⁵Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

We may have begun to realize that we have character flaws that are beyond our control. Deep down inside there is a sense of brokenness that is a constant reminder of our humanity. Hopefully, we will get to a place where our behavior is under control, and we will be able to maintain sobriety and sanity. But as long as we are in a human body, we will have to contend with our sinful nature.

Paul recognized his sinful nature. King David described God's tenderness toward us because of our human condition in Psalm 103.

No matter how far we progress, our sinful nature will always incline toward and be susceptible to the lure of our addiction. We can't afford to forget this or let down our guard. Maintaining sobriety and sanity is something we will need to nurture for the rest of our life, one day at a time. But we also have a reason for great hope. By trusting Christ and recognizing our helplessness against the power of sin, we open our life to the transforming power of God.

The spiritual conflicts between corruption and grace in a believer.

Compared with the holy rule of conduct in the law of God, Paul found himself so very far short of perfection, that he seemed to be carnal; like a man who is sold against his will to a hated master, from whom he cannot set himself at liberty. A real Christian unwillingly serves this hated master, yet cannot shake off the galling chain, till his powerful and gracious Friend above, rescues him. The remaining evil of his heart is a real and humbling hindrance to his serving God as angels do and the spirits of just made perfect. This strong language was the result of St. Paul's great advance in holiness, and the depth of his self-abasement and hatred of sin. If we do not understand this language, it is because we are so far beneath him in holiness, knowledge of the spirituality of God's law, and the evil of our own hearts, and hatred of moral evil. And many believers have adopted the apostle's language, showing that it is suitable to their deep feelings of abhorrence of sin, and self-abasement. The apostle enlarges on the conflict he daily maintained with the remainder of his original depravity. He was frequently led into tempers, words, or actions, which he did not approve or allow in his renewed judgment and affections. By distinguishing his real self, his spiritual part, from the self, or flesh, in which sin dwelt, and by observing that the evil actions were done, not by him, but by sin dwelling in him, the apostle did not mean that men are not accountable for their sins, but he teaches the evil of their sins, by showing that they are all done against reason and conscience. Sin dwelling in a man, does not prove its ruling, or having dominion over him. If a man dwells in a city, or in a country, still he may not rule there.

The more pure and holy the heart is, it will have the more quick feeling as to the sin that remains in it. The believer sees more of the beauty of holiness and the excellence of the law. Our earnest desires to obey, increase as we grow in grace. But the whole good on which our will is fully bent, we do not do; sin ever springing up in us, through remaining corruption, we often do evil, though against the fixed determination of our will. The motions of sin within grieved the apostle. If by the striving of the flesh against the Spirit, was meant that he could not do or perform as the Spirit suggested, so also, by the effectual opposition of the Spirit, he could not do what the flesh prompted him to do. How different this case from that of those who make themselves easy with regard to the inward motions of the flesh prompting them to evil; who, against the light and warning of conscience, go on, even in outward practice, to do evil, and thus, with forethought, go on in the road to perdition! For as the believer is under grace, and our will is for the way of holiness, we sincerely delight in the law of God, and in the holiness which it demands, according to his inward man; that new man in us, which after God is created in true holiness.

Romans 8:9-11

⁹But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.) ¹⁰Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. ¹¹The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.

Either we have the Spirit of God living in us, or we don't. How does the Spirit of God come to live within us? By our act of faith in turning our life over to God and by our acceptance of the work of Christ on our behalf. Can we feel the Spirit of God within us? Sometimes, but we can know He is there whether we feel His presence or not. God has promised to give us the Holy Spirit when we ask. We receive the same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. God will use this same power in us to bring about our recovery.

The freedom of believers from condemnation.

Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By our union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured. What is the principle of our walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do we make provision, by which are we governed? The un-renewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully. And the law, besides outward duties, requires inward obedience. God showed abhorrence of sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, that the believer's person might be pardoned and justified. Thus satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and the way of salvation opened for the sinner. By the Spirit the law of love is written upon the heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet, blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us; there is that in all true believers, which answers the intention of the law. The favor of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which those that are after the Spirit do mind. Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure? Which way go our plans and contrivances? Are we most wise for the world, or for our souls? Those that live in pleasure are dead. A sanctified soul is a living soul; and that life is peace. The carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but enmity itself. The carnal man may, by the power of Divine grace, be made subject to the law of God, but the carnal mind never can; that must be broken and driven out. We may know our real state and character by inquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not. We are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Having the Spirit of Christ, means having a turn of mind in some degree like the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and is to be shown by a life and conversation suitable to his precepts and example.

Ephesians 2:6 (New Living Translation)

⁶For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms--all because we are one with Christ Jesus.

Here Paul affirms two essential truths related to recovery: (1) we are all born with an evil nature, powerless to stand agianst our tendency toward sin and failure; (2) God is rich in mercy and love, and even though we are far from Him and entrapped by sin, God graciously reaches out to us. God wants to fogive us and give us the power to rebuild our life. through the word of Jesus Christ, God has already conquered the power of sin and death. When we admit that we need God's help and ask Him to act on our behalf, God empowers us to overcome our problems and dependency.

Galatians 2:20

²⁰I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Paul showed that our old lifestyle died on the cross with Jesus Christ. The Jewish-Christians had to give up trying to earn salvation by following the Jewish law. Many of us have struggled with this very problem. Some of us have worked very hard to overcome our addiction but have achieved no real freedom. Paul wanted the Jewish believers to realize that they could gain nothing by trying harder. They had to give up control and allow god to heal them and empower them in battling sin. We must give upour old ways of looking for deliverance and accept God's grace - the free gift of forgiveness and healing offered by Jesus Christ.

And from thence he enters upon the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ, without the works of the law.

Paul, having thus shown he was not inferior to any apostle, not to Peter himself, speaks of the great foundation doctrine of the gospel. For what did we believe in Christ? Was it not that we might be justified by the faith of Christ? If so, is it not foolish to go back to the law, and to expect to be justified by the merit of moral works, or sacrifices, or ceremonies? The occasion of this declaration doubtless arose from the ceremonial law; but the argument is quite as strong against all dependence upon the works of the moral law, as respects justification. To give the greater weight to this, it is added. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ the minister of sin? This would be very dishonorable to Christ, and also very hurtful to us. By considering the law itself, he saw that justification was not to be expected by the works of it, and that there was now no further need of the sacrifices and cleansings of it, since they were done away in Christ, by His offering up himself a sacrifice for us. He did not hope or fear any thing from it; any more than a dead man from enemies. But the effect was not a careless, lawless life. It was necessary, that he might live to God, and be devoted to him through the motives and grace of the gospel. It is no new prejudice, though a most unjust one, that the doctrine of justification by faith alone, tends to encourage people in sin. Not so, for to take occasion from free grace, or the doctrine of it, to live in sin, is to try to make Christ the minister of sin, at any thought of which all Christian hearts would shudder.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org, www.boberb.com and http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page3.html

drucilla777@webtv.net wrote:

Dear Bob,
Your message is very touching and I can read between the lines and feel
your pain. Perhaps it is because I have walked that walk, not in the
same way nor the same circumstances, but have born the same burden and
desire to be all that He wants me to be in Him. You do not need to ask
for humbleness...you are humble to the same degree as you are the
Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Awesome reality isn't it!
Re-read Romans 6,7,8 and Ephesians 2:6 and Galatians 2:20 from a point
of already BEING. Then think about the practical application from that
position. I cannot tell you how many
times in the 20 years of ministry I have had to ask the same questions
that you are asking. Each time He was refining me or fine tuning
me...sort of like a violin to be played by the Master.
I have had people give and the ministry was sustained on their giving. I
have had to close the doors and go back into tent making (teaching).
Just recently I have gone back into full time ministry on Faith alone
with a 10 year old daughter to support alone...no health insurance, no
income, etc. It is a trusting again with Abba and knowing that He will
make a way in whatever way He desires.
After reading your web sites which are very inspirational, I would
advise you to fine tune them. Cut to the very life blood....and keep
that. Remember you are dealing with people from all faiths, all walks,
young and old, educated and uneducated. Be gentle, be soft, let the Lord
convict...you heal. Words of comfort, healing, and hope need to stand
out more. You are a gifted writer and a prophet. I smile now thinking of
Peter...so precious yet some words hard to bear until he grew in knowing
that Jesus loved him so much and that all was forgiven forever and that
there was a higher level....to heal and save through an inner strength.
You hate sin and those who are blind to the hurting and suffering...so
does the Lord. Let Him feel and bear it all as you pour out Holy Spirit
oil.
Bob, you have ALL you need! Go to the pastors and friends that you
already know and to those you don't know. Tell them of your personal
needs and that you would like for them to give to YOU. After they have
blessed YOU then ask for the ability to bless the ministry. I have
always put the ministry first...before my own needs. The Lord has shown
me that He knows my heart and that I would give my last crumb to someone
else. He knows your heart is the same. His message to you and me is to
allow the body to minister to the "priest" FIRST and then let the
blessings flow from the "priest" to bless others. This is THE hardest
lesson I am learning and I still goof up! If you do not receive from
their hands adequate funds, then do some "tent making" for a season. I
think I know your heart and tent making seems to be such a waste of time
and effort, but sometimes He wants to use it for us to learn something
about the body and how it needs to be ministered to. I also sense a need
for you to make Director decisions about your ministry and trust your
instincts. You are precious and your
ministry is of the Lord to bless so many. This is the time to allow Him
to bless YOU and to give you a deeper level of His peace and grace. REST
in Him and knock on those doors. I'll be right there with you doing the
same :)

...in His unfailing Love and Grace...
Drucilla

Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 07:21:33 -0700 (PDT)
From: Robert Erb <boberb2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Aloha, Know Him, and the power of His resurrection - Philippians 3:1
To: drucilla777@webtv.net

Dear Drucilla,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your reply. Thank you for your words of encouragement.

Your words are reminding me that maybe I haven't been humbled enough to reach a new level of understanding with Him. I have also learned in my journey that there are different levels, but, as I look at how little I have done to help so many, as I did in the past, that was the ministries that I thought God inspired, really that, if others can't see it.

I have not had any financial support since I have left and do not have the funds to even go back and make a new place possible to restart the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry. I guess I have been thinking that this new web site http://www.liferecoveryministry.org/ might be the reason I have been away and the emails I share do not confine me to a place. But now I have been praying a lot and don't seem to find the answers. Yesterday I wrote a new letter on http://www.waikikibeachoutreach.com/wst_page3.html because of those questions and challenges I have been recently been experiencing.

Please share your feedback on helping me to become more humble. Also, please express your perceptions of these web sites to me.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.boberb.com

drucilla777@webtv.net wrote:

Dear Bob~
This was a beautiful reply. Thank you and I know all will be blessed by
it. I have found in my journey with Him that this verse is cyclic as in
order to know Him (to be more intimately acquainted with Him) the more
we have to yield to the cross in our lives (death to self/flesh) and
then experience the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit in all
gifts...glorifying Him and empowering us for more and more service...and
then it begins again...and again...each time to bring us into more unity
with Him and appropriating the very mind of Christ.
Blessings!

...in His unfailing Love and Grace...
Drucilla

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Aloha, Know Him, and the power of His resurrection - Philippians 3:10 - 9-12-05

Dear Drucilla and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for writing to me like you might be writing to Jesus. Thank you for sharing God's unfailing love and grace.

As you share the Word of God to me I believe it is my job to review them and share what God seems to be showing me. There might be somebody else I am writing this to who needs to hear these words, or maybe someone they know.

Philippians 3:10 (New Living Translation)

As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death,

Other translations say it slightly differently:

that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death; (WEB)

that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; (ASV)

That I may have knowledge of him, and of the power of his coming back from the dead, and a part with him in his pains, becoming like him in his death; (BBE)

to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, (DBY)

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (KJV)

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death; (WBS)

I long to know Christ and the power which is in His resurrection, and to share in His sufferings and die even as He died; (WEY)

to know him, and the power of his rising again, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, (YLT)

Paul made a detailed inventory of his past behaviors - including his religious activities - and found nothing worth hanging on to. He threw out his past life and replaced it with his new life in Christ. We should engage in an honest inventory of our heritage and accomplishments as Paul did. As we compare the value of our past accomplishments to the power offered by Christ, we will find the new life God offers is the obvious choice. Our personal inventory helps us discover that the things of this world can't satisfy our eternal needs - only God can.

To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself. The power of the Divine Spirit, which raised Him from literal death, is the same which raises believers from spiritual death now, and shall raise their bodies from literal death hereafter. By identification with Him in His sufferings and death, we might be filled by His Holy Spirit. Also, in actually bearing the cross whatever is laid on us, after His example, and so filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ; and in the will to bear all for His sake . As He bore all our sufferings, so we participate in His. Conformed to the likeness of His death, namely, by continued sufferings for His sake, and mortifying of the carnal self.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org and www.boberb.com and www.waikikibeachoutreach.com

Dear Bob,
We seem to always be tracking with the Word of the Lord. I just received
the same scriptures and the Holy Spirit has been revealing to me how He
desires the body of believers to get to where they need to be in Christ
and to be equipped for the things that are coming. It grieves my heart
to know that we all need to be able to not worry and to see the signs
and miracles follow us everywhere we minister. How many are really
raising the dead? How many are really seeing the miraculous and being so
protected that even a venomous snake won't effect them? I remember when
I was bitten by a poisonous spider and prayed that I would be ok and I
was. I was overcome with joy...but that was just a spider! I remember
the first time I laid hands on someone who was ill and they were healed.
Again...joy! But, have I laid hands on the dead and they rise...no. This
should be a natural and normal thing...right? But it isn't. My take on
it is that when we are going forth and doing His will he will perform
these things naturally. My heart's desire is Phil 3:10 and that I will
be able to expand in Going and I will Do His will for His glory.
Bob, you and your prayer team are so on target in the will of Father. I
am so excited for you all and I know that He has been preparing you all
for the miraculous as you continue to minister to those others have
neglected. The time is coming soon when you will be amazed at the power
of resurrection life coming forth out of your ministry. It is there now
and has been, but what is coming will put us all on our face before the
Lord as we behold His glory!

...in His unfailing Love and Grace...
Drucilla

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Aloha, A Friend Having Faith - 09-11-05

Dear David and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for sharing your prayer ministry with me. Thank you for sharing the Word of God.

I shared this letter to you in the past, but God seemed to lead me to add and change some comments. I pray it touches someones heart as it has mine.

Proverbs 17:17 (New Living Translation)

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

A true friend will stick beside us during the hard times. Without a relationship with that kind of friend; recovery and growth can't take place. We all need to be able to express our needs and concerns to someone who will care, pray, and encourage us in our efforts to change.

No change of outward circumstances should abate our affection for our friends or relatives. But no friend, except Christ, deserves unlimited confidence. In Him this text did receive, and still receives its most glorious fulfillment.

Proverbs 17:22

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.

It is great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful, and cause to be cheerful, if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. As I greet each morning with God's Word, from Psalms 118:24. This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. It really does inspire a cheerful heart all day long, even during challenges.

Proverbs 18:24

There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Christ Jesus never will forsake those of us who trust in and love him. May we be such friends to others, for our Master's sake. Having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end; and we are His friends if we do whatever he commands us,

Luke 18:1-8

Story of the Persistent Widow

(1) One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up. (2) "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who was a godless man with great contempt for everyone. (3) A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her. (4) The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out. `I fear neither God nor man,' he said to himself, (5) `but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!' "

(6) Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this evil judge. (7) Even he rendered a just decision in the end, so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? (8) I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?"

Many of us have experienced injustice at the hands of authority figures, such as family-court judges, mean bosses, or parole officers. This story contrasts God with the unfair judge and makes the point that even if life is unfair. God is fair. If an evil judge and persistent widow, how much more will a just God respond to those in need who pray to Him in faith. When trials and challenges make life is unfair, we can still trust God to deliver us. Seeking God in prayer requires patience and persistence, but He always answers.

All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God. Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.

Ephesians 4:10-18

(10) The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe. (11) He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12) Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, (13) until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. (14) Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. (15) Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. (16) Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Living as Children of Light

(17) With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. (18) Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him.

We have been gifted in ways that make us necessary to others. Others have been gifted in ways that make them necessary to us. Some of us have special gifts for teaching others about God. Others may have the gift of caring for hurting people. Our individual gifts are important for the emotional and spiritual growth of others. God has a purpose for each of us, so we must strive to know Him better through prayer and meditation on His Word. He will show us what our gifts are and how we can use them to help others. As we share our gifts and receive the benefits of other people's gifts, we will find the body of Christ growing stronger and full of love.

Exhortations to mutual forbearance and union.

Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as becomes those called to Christ's kingdom and glory. By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul, which makes men unwilling to provoke, and not easily to be provoked or offended. We find much in ourselves for which we can hardly forgive ourselves; therefore we must not be surprised if we find in others that which we think it hard to forgive. There is one Christ in whom all believers hope, and one heaven they are all hoping for; therefore they should be of one heart. They had all one faith, as to its object, Author, nature, and power. They all believed the same as to the great truths of religion; they had all been admitted into the church by one baptism, with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the sign of regeneration. In all believers God the Father dwells, as in His holy temple, by his Spirit and special grace.

To a due use of spiritual gifts and graces.

Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for us, that he might give to us, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fullness in Christ, and a measure of that fullness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God's children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more we find ourselves drawn out to improve in our station, and according to our measure, all that we have received, to the spiritual good of others, we may more certainly believe that we have the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in our hearts.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.liferecoveryministry.org, www.boberb.com and www.waikikibeachoutreach.com

Proverbs 17:17, 22a & 18:24.
Luke 18:1-8.
Ephesians 4:10-18.

God, Jesus & The Holy Spirit love you very
much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John 3:16, 1 John 3:16, Psalm 139:1-18, Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 40:31, 2
Corinthians 1:3-5 , 2 Timothy 1:7, Romans 8:26-39, John 17:20-26, Luke
18:1-18, Ephesians 6:10-20 & Matthew 6:25-34.

^i^
@)>--->---
^j^

Dave

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Aloha, Doing What Jesus Did - Mark 16:16-19 - 09-10-05

Dear Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. As I was studying Gods word today, He seemed to lead me to do my job by sharing the Good News as Jesus taught His disciples before He ascended.

Mark 16:16-19 (New Living Translation)

(16) Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. (17) These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. (18) They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them."

(19) When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand.

His commission to the disciples.

Many of the disciples had a hard time believing that Jesus had risen from the dead. When they finally met the resurrected Jesus, He rebuked them for their unbelief. Then Jesus rewarded His followers as they came to believe. Faith is foundational for salvation and recovery, unbelief leads to condemnation and relapse. As we grow in our faith in Jesus, we will discover that the power of His resurrection can touch and transform our life. Then we can become a source of encouragement to others as we share how God has delivered us.

The evidences of the truth of the gospel are so full, that those who receive it not, may justly be upbraided with their unbelief. Our blessed Lord renewed his choice of the eleven as his apostles, and commissioned them to go into all the world, to preach his gospel to every creature. Only those of us that are disciples, or true Christians, shall be saved through Christ. Simon Magus professed to believe, and was baptized, yet he was declared to be in the bonds of iniquity: see his history in Ac 8:13 to 25. Doubtless this is a solemn declaration of that true faith which receives Christ in all his characters and offices, and for all the purposes of salvation, and which produces its right effect on the heart and life; not a mere assent, which is a dead faith, and cannot profit. The commission of Christ's ministers extends to every creature throughout the world, and the declarations of the gospel contain not only truths, encouragements, and precepts, but also most awful warnings. Observe what power the disciples should be endued with, for confirming the doctrine we and they were to preach. These were miracles to confirm the truth of the gospel, and means of spreading the gospel among nations that had not heard it.

Jesus called four burly fishermen to be His disciples. We are not sure how many times Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him. On two other occasions a similar call went out to these four fishermen. Their response to Jesus call on any one occasion, as here, seems to have been "immediate." But it seems that they soon went back to their old occupation and way of life. So it is in recovery. Our faith in God will grow over time, at an uneven rate and with uncertain steps. Each step of faith we take requires that we drop whatever else we are doing and follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

The Life Recovery Ministry is spreading the gospel among all those who have a computer and are willing to read the words contained in its web site, www.liferecoveryministry.org. We believe that in order to have a personal relationship with God, we need to study His Word daily. This form of communications helps me, possibly more than those who read these words. It is also my way to show God that I am willing to believe and do what He as instructed all of His disciples to do, carrye over all the world. The world wide web seems to be my forum to do this.

Thank you for allowing me into your emails and studying His Word with me.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob @ www.boberb.com and www.waikikibeachoutreach.com and, now, www.liferecoveryministry.org
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Aloha, The Cost of Discipleship - 09-07-05

Dear Everyone I know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Thank you for allowing me the time to study the Bible and be able to share what God seems to be showing me.

I found the word "Christian" in the KJV only 2 times in the Book of Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. I found the word "disciple" in the KJV 271 times and in the New Living Translation 305 times.

As I described the ministry God showed me on the web site www.waikikibeachoutreach.com, I wrote

"Desiring to be disciples of Christ Jesus, God has led us to establish the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry to feed and minister to over 150 homeless and about 50 others who are very poor and hungry from Queen Kapiolani Beach Park (near the Waikiki Aquarium) to Lewers and Kalakaua (near the pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel) at this time."

He showed me a new way to live, not of this world, but in the spirit realm. What does that mean? As I studied His Word today, I was led to the following that might touch the life of someone reading this or someone you know.

The Cost of Discipleship The Bible does not call us to be Christians, it calls us to be disciples of Christ.

"Sit Down First and Count the Cost"

What is the cost of discipleship? Jesus said, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it - lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:28-33). "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:25-26)

The Cost of Discipleship - Paul Knew the Cost

The Apostle Paul understood the cost of discipleship! He was a man who enjoyed great prominence among the Jewish elite, but forsook all for the love of Christ! Paul declared, "What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." (Philippians 3:7-9)

The Cost of Discipleship - From Carnal to Christian
The cost of discipleship is this: We must each give up our old selves in order to embrace and become the person Christ has created us to be. Therefore "put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:9-10), for "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

"The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:14), rather, "the carnal mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). But even though "we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3), "you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight" (Colossians 1:21-22). Thus, having been "reconciled to God through the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10), we have received "exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4). Therefore, "do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16). "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4). "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (John 12:25-26).

The Cost of Discipleship - A Final Word

The cost of discipleship is totally reasonable in light of the gift we've been given! "You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19). Simply put, we were "bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20). "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11-14).

Whatever stage of life we are in, discipleship will cause changes to happen in our hearts. As we grow closer to God, we will have less of a desire to sin and more of an urge to obey God. Our attitudes, values, morals, and desires will change and this will affect our relationships. This is a cost of discipleship.

We may find that we begin to make new friends - friends who share our values and beliefs. However, we may also have opportunities to share our new-found faith with our existing friends as they see the change take place in our life. Try not to concentrate on whether we will lose your friends. Instead focus showing Christ's love to them.

Even though the cost of discipleship can be heavy, our heavenly Father loves you and knows what we need. When we allow Him to change our heart, remember that He is a good God who can be trusted. He loves us and wants His best for us. He has our best interest at heart and wants to fulfill His wonderful plan for our life. So although the cost of discipleship may be great, it is always a worthwhile sacrifice! When we get discouraged, remember the verse in 2 Samuel 24:24: "I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing" When we offer that which is precious to us up to the Lord, He values it and it is beautiful in His sight.

God bless you and your family in your personal journey.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.boberb.com and www.waikikibeachoutreach.com

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Aloha, Thanks - 09-05-05

Dear Esta and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your words of encouragement. Thank you for calling me and speaking to me today. mostly, thank you for your prayers. Thank you for sharing God's Words and your favorite scriptures.

As you have been, I was in the Dark and no one listened until I called upon our Lord and became willing to turn my will and life over to Him. Wow, what He has done to me! What He is doing to you! We trust Him to solve all our challenges as we call upon Him in prayer. Amen.

Psalm 33:4 (New Living Translation)

For the word of the LORD holds true,
and everything he does is worthy of our trust.

Psalm 34:4

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me,
freeing me from all my fears.

As we recognize that love, joy and peace comes from our Lord, then everything else, including fear, is not from Him, we can release it back to the ego, self, demons, devil, others, or whatever we want to call that which is not from God. Since God's Word, and Jesus, is above all words, we are free in our Lord. Our Heavenly Father will take good care of us. He will always answer our prayers. We have nothing to fear, no matter how trying situations may seem.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.boberb.com

Dear Bob,
I just want to thank you for who you are in Christ ,I enjoy each e-mail I know that God is useing you for his glory.
I want to share this with you.
From most people we receive mostly Words,from you ,she or he will receive Yourself,a companion who will sit in the Dark and share her or his pain,listening,Perhaps without saying a word.The cry of Job is the cry of most sufferers: OH,THAT I had somone to hear me!
Spoken words are seldom remembered But the person who came ,who stayed,who wept.who cared ,who listened,is NEVER forgotten.
I shared this with my womens prayer coffee group often it is so ture as christian if we could only put this in to action our world would be a much better place.

Praying for you in Christ I feel like I all ready know you.
PS:33:4 PS:34:4 ONE OF MY FAV.
Esta Lake God Bless!

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Aloha, Part 3 Pain - the city of present day New Orleans - Nahum 3:4-19 - 09-05-05

Dear Laura and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for sharing the Word of God again.

As I was led to read the Scriptures, it led me to research some more. So, I have confirmed what you have written in a different way. The words in parenthesis are my own, not the Bible's, but could give some clarity to how God's Word might apply to today.

Nahum 3:4-19 (New Living Translation)

(4) All this because Nineveh (this is now the city of Mosul in Northern Iraq, once the capital of the Assyrians), the beautiful and faithless city, mistress of deadly charms, enticed the nations with her beauty. She taught them all to worship her false gods, enchanting people everywhere. (Maybe like New Orleans is now with the focus on nudity, sex, money, drinking and drugs during Mardi Gras and a nice appearing city at the Gulf - but not so pretty in the poor areas)

(5) "No wonder I am your enemy!" declares the LORD Almighty. "And now I will lift your skirts so all the earth will see your nakedness and shame. (6) I will cover you with filth and show the world how vile you really are. (7) All who see you will shrink back in horror and say, `Nineveh lies in utter ruin.' Yet no one anywhere will regret your destruction." (8) Are you any better than Thebes (in Egypt, see description below), surrounded by rivers, protected by water on all sides? (9) Ethiopia and the land of Egypt were the source of her strength, which seemed without limit. The nations of Put (land just west of Egypt that is now called Libya and could be like Texas supporting New Orleans) and Libya also helped and supported her. (10) Yet Thebes fell, and her people were led away as captives. Her babies were dashed to death against the stones of the streets. Soldiers cast lots to see who would get the Egyptian officers as servants. All their leaders were bound in chains. (11) And you, Nineveh, will also stagger like a drunkard. You will hide for fear of the attacking enemy. (12) All your fortresses will fall. They will be devoured like the ripe figs that fall into the mouths of those who shake the trees. (13) Your troops will be as weak and helpless as women. The gates of your land will be opened wide to the enemy and set on fire and burned. (14) Get ready for the siege! Store up water! Strengthen the defenses! Make bricks to repair the walls! Go into the pits to trample clay, and pack it into molds! (15) But in the middle of your preparations, the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down. The enemy will consume you like locusts, devouring everything they see. There will be no escape, even if you multiply like grasshoppers. (16) Merchants, as numerous as the stars, have filled your city with vast wealth. But like a swarm of locusts, they strip the land and then fly away. (17) Your princes and officials are also like locusts, crowding together in the hedges to survive the cold. But like locusts that fly away when the sun comes up to warm the earth, all of them will fly away and disappear.

(18) O Assyrian king, your princes lie dead in the dust. Your people are scattered across the mountains. There is no longer a shepherd to gather them together. (19) There is no healing for your wound; your injury is fatal. All who hear of your destruction will clap their hands for joy. Where can anyone be found who has not suffered from your cruelty?

Thebes is city of ancient Egypt. Luxor and Karnak now occupy parts of its site. The city developed at a very early date from a number of small villages, particularly one around modern Luxor (then called Epet), but remained relatively obscure until the rise of the Theban family that established the XI dynasty over 4000 years ago. The city rapidly became prominent as the royal residence and as a seat of the worship of the god Amon. At Thebes, also, was the necropolis in the Valley of the Tombs where the kings and nobles were entombed in great splendor in crypts cut into the cliffs on the Niles west bank. The citys greatest period was that of the empire, when it served as a reservoir for the immense wealth that poured in from the conquered countries. As the empire began to decay and the locus of power to shift to the Nile delta, Thebes went into decline. For a time in the 11th cent. B.C., it was a separate political entity under sacerdotal rule. Thebes was sacked by the Assyrians in 661 B.C., an event referred to in the Bible (Nah. 3.810 as shown above), where the city is called No Amon (Amon city). The Romans sacked it in 29 B.C., and by 20 B.C. a Greek visitor to the site reported only a few scattered villages. The temples and tombs that have survived, including the tombs of Tutankhamen and of Ramses IIs sons, are among the most splendid in the world, and the site has been the scene of much important archaeological work. (I saw this city in an Omni Max show about the Nile River in Las Vegas this year - very interesting)

I could add a lot more words, but I think the Holy Spirit with is already enlightening most of us by just reading the words of the Bible as we understand the historical perspective. Maybe the Bible shows us something about today. Maybe those who don't know the Lord need us to share the Good News of allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us as we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. Praise the Lord.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ www.boberb.com and www.waikikibeachoutreach.com

Brother BOB,,,, GOD BLESS YOU AS ALWAYS,,,, and everyone else,,,,,,,,,,

After the HURRICANE HIT,,,,,,,,,,, THE LORD TOOK ME TO THIS...........

NAHUM 3: 4-6

Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.

Behold, I am against thee, saith THE LORD OF HOSTS; and I WILL discover thy skirts upon thy face, and i will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.

And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.

NAHUM 3: 4-6

It very much explains the terrirtory,,,,,,,,,,,, and you don't need to be a BIBLE scholar to see that,,, or come from simanary school,,,,,,,, AMEN

                                                        GOD BLESS YOU & YOURS

                                                        YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST

                                                                  CHRISTINE

Father GOD, I received this, and not only do we hold up those in NEW ORLEANS, but we hold up all those that are effected by the HURRICANE,,,,,,,,,,

LORD, you know that there are many who haven't been reached yet, and you know who they are, and where they are, we ask LORD JESUS that YOU DO WHAT ONLY YOU CAN DO, and Send a MIRACLE to each and EVERYONE, and that YOU WOULD GET THE GLORY FOR IT,,, as YOUR HOLY WORD says

                                                   NO FLESH will glory in YOUR PRESENCE,,,

LORD, we know that it is not about us, but ABOUT YOU,,,,,,,

and WE THANK YOU GOD that you always know how to restore order from disobidance of a NATION,,,, as well as a person, or family.........

FATHER we realize that there are many in your HOLY TEMPLES that distort the truth about what YOU DO,,,,,,,,,, and that YOU NEVER CHANGE,,,,,,,,

and that YOU ALWAYS JUDGE SIN,,,,,,,,,,,

WE THANK YOU LORD GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK< and SERVE YOU, and YOUR HOLY NAME FOR ALL OTHERS TO SEE,,,,, and realize that WE have no protection without YOU,,,,,,,,,,,, IN THE BLESSSED NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, and SAVIOR,,,,,,

O earth, earth, earth, hear THE WORD OF THE LORD.

JEREMIAH 22: 29

LORD we stand upon YOU WORD for THE CHURCH to REPENT, and RETURN,,,, as YOU WORD tells us in JEREMIAH 3:22

RETURN, ye backsliding children, and I WILL heal your backslidings, Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art THE LORD OUR GOD.

We know that the past is true, as your WORD is foretold,,,,,,,,

Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind; it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

JEREMIAH 23: 18

We know that many were responsible for DECADES of generations of wicknessdness in withchcraft, voodoo,,,,, black magic, hypnosis,,,,,, etc............

and THE CHURCH did little to stop it,,,,,,,

as you told us

A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the NATIONS, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith THE LORD.

Thus saith the LORD of HOSTS, Behold evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

JEREMIAH 25: 31 & 31

so FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS

HEARKEN UNTO OUR CRY for the GENERATIONS TO COME,,,,, and let them KNOW THE MIGHTY ALL POWERFUL LORD GOD and YOUR WAYS..........

Let them NOT FOLLOW their elders wrong doings,,,,, and BLESS THEM WITH a FUTURE THAT THE WORLD HAS NOT KNOWN , or SEEN YET...........

Continue to POUR OUT YOUR SPIRIT,,,, and LET THE LOVE OF GOD BE PRESENT in a MIGHTY WAY.............

WE THANK YOU LORD GOD FOR BREAKING US,,,,,, and setting our PRIORITIES... in order,,,,, as you are a GOD OF ORDER,,,,,, and a GOD OF RESTORATION........

FATHER TURN IT AROUND,,,,,, and BRING PEACE ,,, LOVE,,,, and JOY AGAIN........

                                             We ask in YOUR PRECIOUS NAME

                                                                    AMEN

attached is what THE LORD HAD ME WRITE IN 2002,,,, Brother Bob you will probally remember it,,,,,,, AMEN                          YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST

                                                                               CHRISTINE

For the day of THE LORD is NEAR upon ALL the heathen; as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

OBADIAH 1: 15

This scripture is so significant to me as it is the day after GOD had me write about HIS
RAFT !   JULY 2, 2003

Those that dont know JESUS ,,,,, need to come in NOW !

Everything they have ever done to people is NOW RETURNING TO THEM !

GOD IS NOT A RESPECTER OF PERSONS,,,,,,, therefore there is no favorites that do not GET EVERYTHING GOD HAS FOR THEM

GOD is POURING OUT HIS RAFT on AMERICA---------

A NATION THAT PULLS GOD OUT ------- CANNOT STAND

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Conclusion

Judgment against Wealthy Oppressors

The LORDs Future Reign

A Ruler from Bethlehem

The Widow at Zarephath

Evil of being worldly-minded.

He declares the judgments of God.

Ecclesiastes 4

Aloha, Battling evil called the crocodile Job 41 -- 09-23-05

The Lords Promise of Mercy

The Jews reproved for their corruptions.

Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer

Paul's Prayer

He concludes with joy and praise.

The spiritual conflicts between corruption and grace in a believer.

The freedom of believers from condemnation.

And from thence he enters upon the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ, without the works of the law.

Dear Drucilla and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for writing to me like you might be writing to Jesus. Thank you for sharing God's unfailing love and grace.

As you share the Word of God to me I believe it is my job to review them and share what God seems to be showing me. There might be somebody else I am writing this to who needs to hear these words, or maybe someone they know.

Philippians 3:10 (New Living Translation)

Story of the Persistent Widow

Living as Children of Light

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. As I was studying Gods word today, He seemed to lead me to do my job by sharing the Good News as Jesus taught His disciples before He ascended.

Mark 16:16-19 (New Living Translation)

His commission to the disciples.