Author: Intern'l Christian Ed. Aux. (ICEA)

An Imitation of Love!


Little children, we must stop expressing love merely by our words
and manner of speech; we must love also in action and in truth. 
(1 John 3:18)

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There is a movie titled: “The Imitation of Life”, that could have easily been named the Imitation of Love. The two main actors are a single black mother and her fair-skinned daughter, who conveniently passed as white. The daughter had struggles loving her mother because she wanted to “fit in” with white America during the 1950’s. The mother pursued the daughter with unconditional love. The daughter (suffering her own struggles with her skin color) rejected her mother’s love. She finally realized the depths of her love for her mother at the time of her mother’s death — which was too late. (This was a tragic story!) The movie should be seen by all people who have issues loving anyone because of internal and external pressures.

In many ways there are struggles we face with those who are considered different than who we have defined ourselves as. Many only want those type of people in their world. The church also struggles with loving certain members who are in the body. We all know that love can be expressed by words, but “I love you” means nothing if there are no actions that back up mere words. Take a moment and ask yourself how would you define love? What does it look like? Is it a nice feeling you have for someone and they, in-turn, have for you? How would you define it? Let’s go back to I Corinthians, chapter 13 and revisit the “love” chapter and see what love really is. Here is a good biblical definition of love, as well: For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE his only begotten son. The verse clearly suggests that love is a sacrifice. Forms of intense giving are expressions of love. Love means little to others if our flowery words are simply poured out on them. We must be careful because there is an imitation of love. It looks like love, and it often masquerades as love, but it can have its root in selfishness and indifference. True love cannot be imitated with just words of expressions.

God — help us to love — not just with words, but also in deeds! Amen!

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Want to Go With Us This Saturday to Noah’s Ark?


If you are in the Great Lakes
Conference area in Michigan, come
go with us to the Ark Encounter.

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We have 2 seats left. The cost is 110.00, which includes your round-trip charter and entrance into the Museum.

We will leave Detroit at 6:00 a.m. and expect to return by
10:00 p.m. Great activities are planned on the bus, as well!

Contact us at iceaquestions@att.net
or call 313-843-3661 to enquire!

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PCAF Call-In LIVE Sun. School Class — Saturday at 7:00 p.m. EST and Every Saturday Evening!


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Deacon Gene Claxton
ICEA Director
and the
International Christian Education
Auxiliary (ICEA) Staff

– invite you to –

Saturday Night Sunday School

The upcoming phone conference date will be:

– Tonight –
Saturday, August 24 @ 7:00 p.m. (E.S.T)

 

– Lesson –

“Isaac’s Abundant Blessings”

Lesson: Gen. 26:1-5, 12-14, 20-25
___________________________

ICEA is Hosting Ongoing Saturday
(Sunday School) Classes and Teaching
by Online Phone Conference!

The call-in phone number is:

+1 605-475-4120

The following is the access code:

6902797

JOIN IN WITH CALLERS FROM AROUND
THE COUNTRY, U.K., AND NEW ZEALAND

Just call in and listen to qualified instructors
teach lessons on a weekly basis.

The lessons will be based on the quarterly
Union Gospel Sunday School curriculum.
Please set your clock to alarm every
Saturday at 6:50 p.m. (E.S.T.) Do it now!

Call in to hear a brief
introduction and a great lesson!

Every Saturday evening the class phone conference and informative teaching will take place for the following Sunday lesson. These classes are designed for the shut in, those overseas, and those who can’t make Sunday school, as well as students and teachers who would like more insight on upcoming lessons.

NOTE:

For the 7 p.m. call in; please check your local time zone with EST/EDT Detroit time. It’s best to Google: “Detroit time” to make sure of the current time difference in your area. When you call in your cell phone will be automatically muted.

Some cell phone providers require you pay an additional small monthly fee to access phone conference calls (i.e. – Metro PCS). Check with your local provider. You may access the class-conference calls by land-line phones, as well.

PHONE IN NOW TO SEE IF YOUR PHONE IS COMPATIBLE!
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Short Inspiration from the Scriptures: The Lord is My Shepherd…He Is With Me!


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David, The Protector of Sheep

David, the writer of Psalms 23, was a man who loved his animals. He cared for them as a good shepherd would and, as a result, these animals had no want. David supplied all their needs. When they needed water, he gave them water. When they were sickly, he nurtured them to health. They…at times were afraid; he stayed near. They were in constant dangers from attacks; David diverted their attention while always on watch for their predators. He knew when they were stressed and he would seek out places of rest. He anticipated all of the changing environments and made the necessary adjustments to sustain his helpless creatures.

Identifying with David

In many ways…those of us who are domestic animal lovers and who have cared for animals have a greater appreciation for Psalms 23.  We are constantly concerned about our animals’ welfare — meaning their safety, their health, and what they will eat  (Prov. 12:10).  We spend years building relationships with our pets and understand them on levels that the casual observer would never understand. Real animal lovers can sense the heart of David, the true shepherd, as he met every need of those over his care.

God, The Ultimate Provider

Domestic animal lovers know how helpless their animals are. We go through the daily routines of looking after their needs. We also look upward and understand that God has been doing similar things for us! It is an appreciation we feel toward God, because we understand the relationship we have with our animals. The duty David had with his flock is what caused him to look internally and see the greater relationship God had with him. We see — as David did — the Master provider; the One who oversees our needs and doesn’t fail to mete-out at the appropriate times.

The Lord is my shepherd!
He is with me!

 

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Stay Away from Murder!


 

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THE FASCINATION WITH MURDER

Murder is on the increase, not only with those who physically commit such crimes, but also those who are transfixed with their details. Many video games and apps, news reports, and television programs all have one thing in common — murder! Our world has a curiosity, fascination, and even a love affair with the “how’s” and “whys” of murder. We are being fed a steady diet of crime, served up in as many ways as possible to make the viewing and hearing about killing palatable. Murder is a heinous crime that can capture the attention of its listeners and viewers. For those taken in by the sensationalism…at some point murder goes beyond “news”. The news has the ability to feed on the psyche and can become as addictive as any powerful drug. This is a trick of an enemy!

THE EFFECTS OF MURDER ON A SOCIETY

Many know the account of Samson who was fascinated with Delilah’s ways. After Sampson’s hair was cut, he thought he had the strength he once had to fight. He found out at the critical time he didn’t have that strength at all. Likewise, one cannot be consistently curious about murder and think it doesn’t have any negative affect on them mentally and spiritually (Mt. 24:12). The Bible states: “We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.” – I John 5:19 – Berean Study Bible

Copycat killings usually start with one who is intrigued by another’s murder(s). The intrigued person eventually “acts out” what has been sown in their heart. We should stay away from anything that is wicked — and our hearts are desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). We should also know that we haven’t experienced the utter depths of where our hearts can lead us. (“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” – Prov. 4:23/GNT.) A person who is “saved” is not immune from being caught up in the spirit of murder — which is usually in some form of news or entertainment through means of broadcasting. People can be subject to this spirit, whether saved or unsaved (James 4:2; I John 3:14-15). Great spirits from history have a way of returning and affecting masses of people. We see these following accounts in the Bible. During Noah’s day the earth at that time was given over to violence (Gen. 6:13). The apostle Paul noticed that the city of Athens was given over to a similar spirit, which was idolatry (Acts. 17:16). The prophet Hosea took a wife from the land of Israel that was given over to idolatry and adultery. Habakkuk complained of the wide-spread violence of his day (Hab. 1:1-3). History has a way of coming back to repeat itself.

The first murder in the Bible was broadcast for the purpose of showing how dark sin really is, but we see the insatiable drawing power murder has to consume all who are given over to its spell — from those who commit actual crimes to those who are drawn in by the details.

Stay away from murder!

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