-------------------------<BrethrenVoice>------------------------- [which seeks to be guided solely by the NT Biblical pattern, facilitates free flow of Christian info. To God be the glory!] [eMail Moderator: brethrenvoice-owner@...] [<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> archives/read online: http://associate.com/groups/brethrenvoice/ezmlm.cgi] <GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY> <19 December 2002> Contents: ------------ 1) <Devotional> "The Plan of God, Part 2 of 2"- Ravi Zacharias 2) <Exhortation> "Dwell together in unity" - Connie Giordano 3) <Science> "Bible and Science" - (Pt-3/4) - Varghese John 1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY> "THE PLANS OF GOD, PART 2 OF 2" Ravi Zacharias I have shared part of the story of God's providence in the life of my dear friend, Hien Pham. You may recall that Hien was my interpreter in Vietnam in 1971. When Vietnam fell, he was imprisoned and indoctrinated, and had decided to abandon his Christian faith. Then he came across a page from Romans 8 that had been used as toilet paper while cleaning the prison latrines. After finding the Scripture, Hien asked the commander if he could clean the latrines regularly, because he discovered that some official was using a Bible as toilet paper. Each day Hien picked up a portion of Scripture, cleaned it off, and added it to his collection of nightly reading. The day came when, through an equally providential set of circumstances, Hien was released from prison. He promptly began to make plans to leave the country and to construct a boat for the escape of him and fifty-three others. All was going according to plan until days before their departure. Four Vietcong knocked on Hien's door and said they had heard of his escape. He denied it and they left. Hien felt relieved, but at the same time disappointed with himself. He made a promise to God-fervently hoping that God would not take him up on it-that if the Vietcong returned, he would tell them the truth. He was thoroughly shaken when only a few hours before they were to set sail, the four men returned. When questioned again, Hien confessed the truth. To Hien's astonishment, the men leaned forward and in hushed tones, asked if they could go with him! In an utterly incredible escape plan, all fifty-eight of them found themselves on the high seas, suddenly engulfed by a violent storm. Hien cried out to God, "Did you bring us here to die?" He said to me, "Brother Ravi, if it were not for the sailing ability of those four Vietcong, we would not have made it." They arrived safely in Thailand, and years later Hien arrived on American soil where today he is a businessman. How fittingly do the words of the eighteenth-century poet William Cowper capture what God did in Hien's life: God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour: The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His works in vain: God is His own interpreter And He will make it plain. ---- Copyright (p)(c) 2001 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. A Slice of Infinity is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. _______________________________________________________________________ 2) <EXHORTATION> "DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY" Connie Giordano Unity refreshes. It emanates beauty. It enriches. It brings abundance of blessings to all. Psalm 133:1 - "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Jeremiah 32:39 - God spoke through the Prophet Jeremiah - "And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear Me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them." John 13:35 - In the Gospel of John, it is recorded that the Lord Jesus said - "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 17:21 - Also, it is recorded in the same Gospel that the Lord said - "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee..." In 1 Corinthians 1:10, the Apostle Paul admonished the believers - "...that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." In Philippians 2:2, Paul exhorted the Philippian believers - "...that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." In 1 Peter 3:8, the Apostle Peter exhorted the believers to "...be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." "one heart" "love one to another" "that they all may be one" "all speak the same thing" "be perfectly joined together" "be likeminded" "having the same love" "being of one accord" "be ye all of one mind" In God's sight, it is "good" and "pleasant" for brethren to be one - to be delighting in each other with mutual endearments; to promote each other's wealth; to dwell as one - having one heart, one soul, and one interest. "Behold, how good..." - That word "good" means agreeable, becoming, right, a good thing, beautiful, cheerful, joyful, and precious. "Behold...how pleasant..." - That word "pleasant" means charming, sweet, lovely, and attractive. In God's sight, unity among the brethren is a delightful thing. It is commendable. It is His Perfect Will at all times and in every place. Harmony among brethren is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured upon Aaron's head and ran down upon his beard and even unto the skirts of his garments. The anointing with oil was common on festivals and joyous occasions. Hence, unity among brethren brings great joy and well-being to all. It was customary in the East to pour the oil on the head so profusely that it ran down to the very skirts of the garment, diffusing a sweet fragrance. Therefore, the same abundant, overflowing love, as the fragrant anointing oil, pervades the entire Body of Christ and combines all as one. Harmony among brethren is as refreshing as the dew which descended upon Mount Hermon - on the mountains of Zion. According to the Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, dew is defined as "the moisture which forms in drops during a still, cloudless night upon the earth." It is a symbol of blessing and refreshment. It diffuses beauty and abundance everywhere. It gently descends and enriches the ground. Is it any wonder that it is a striking image for the influences love, unity, and harmony have on believers? Unity refreshes. It emanates beauty. It enriches. It brings abundance of blessings to all - Psalm 133:3 - "...for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life forevermore." Wherever brethren are dwelling in unity, God pours out His copious blessings, abundant as the flowing oil and numerous as the drops of dew. He gives prosperity and good success unto all. Indeed, it is "good" and "pleasant" for brethren to dwell together in unity. It would behoove us to do everything that we could possibly do to maintain this blessed state among believers. This becomes the seat of God's residence and the source of all His holy influences. This is where He chooses to pour our His blessing of blessings upon all. Psalm 18:30 - "As for God, His way is perfect." --- Copyright 2002 by Connie Giordano _______________________________________________________________________ 3) <SCIENCE> "THE BIBLE AND SCIENCE" (PART-3 OF 4) Varghese John LIMITATIONS OF SCIENCE: All affirmations and negations of science depend upon experimental observation. If repeated experiments are not possible to conduct on something, science will stand as a silent and helpless spectator in the analysis of it. Moreover science is a vast field constituted by very many branches. Each branch aims to investigate and analyse the things pertaining only to its respective field. Science is only a tool or methodology formed to study matter and energy within the boundaries of space and time. If something transcends these boundaries no scientific method is available for observation and experimentation. Even all the things occurred within the framework of matter; space and time cannot be explored by science. For e.g. historical events are beyond the scope of scientific investigation. Science may provide techniques to study the objects discovered by Archaeologists. But conclusions on a historical event depend upon rules of historical research. The discussion on the purpose and limitations of science makes it clear that science is not the ultimate tool to test all kinds of reality. It is only a tool for investigating matter and energy. Since Bible is only a theological book and theology is beyond the scope of science, science is only an imperfect and insufficient tool to test all the realities of the Bible. Therefore the second assumption behind the question i.e. science is the ultimate tool to determine the reliability of anything and everything, also is a false one. Consequently the question itself is an absurd one. It is as senseless as asking, 'Can you prove scientifically that India got freedom on 15th of August, 1947?' or 'Can you show New York in the map of Kerala?' . [To be concluded] --- [Reproduced by permission] . ---------------------------<BrethrenVoice>--------------------------- Subscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-subscribe@...> Unsubscribe, eMail:<brethrenvoice-unsubscribe@...> FAQs/Faith Statement, eMail: <brethrenvoice-faq@...> <BrethrenVoice> Home: www.brethrenvoice.com <eFellowship> Home: http://groups.msn.com/BrethrenChristiansForum/ "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." 2 Cor 13:5