A little harbor village in Alaska and I Corinthians 1

By: American Decency Staff

Personal note: Last night we visited with a young missionary couple who minister in a small village of 250 in a little harbor village in Alaska. They are on furlough visiting friends, relatives and supporters.We talked of the lack of Gospel light there, the poverty, the pagan practices and of how despite the poor economic conditions many households have satellite television adding to the spiritual deprivation and attack of the evil one. Some hardly go out of their homes staying affixed to their television soaking in hour after hour and day after day the messages of all that the satellite brings into their households. How different their circumstance are from most of us in the mainland of America. The Gospel is so available in so many ways: many households (including our own) have 5 or more Bibles. Christian radio, Christian television and DVDs, and churches on nearly every corner in so many communities. Yet, hearing we do not hear and seeing we do not see. The young couple – ten years married – stated perhaps what will be needed to bring back some semblance of renewal (the power of God) is for America to experience persecution – to separate the wheat from the chaff. Scary thought. Many of us recognize that "things they are a changin'" as Simon and Garfunkel sang so many years ago. Now the television writers strike is officially over so soon we will get new low levels of assault upon Biblical morality. How encouraging to see this young couple "getting it" – understanding that it isn't about themselves, but about living lives in humble submission to God their Creator. As the young husband stated, we think of that section in I Corinthians quite often that talks about how God uses the weak things, the foolish things. I told him I agreed and can definitely relate. Here's that scripture: "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." [I Corinthians 1:25-31] Lastly, so we battle on. We press on. We fight the fight of faith knowing that the battle is the Lords and we are His workmanship – that He would be glorified. It must get kind of lonely up there in that tiny village in Alaska as they live their lives humbly before man and before the Lord – with day by day passing by with seemingly little to no progress. No conversions. Just life passing them by. So it seems here as well for me and probably for some of you. Strangers in a foreign land. Many scriptures come to mind at this point — "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." [I Peter 2:9-12] =========================== Strangers in a foreign land. Speaking of which I received some thoughtful responses to yesterday's email regarding the "slutification of women". https://americandecency.org/main.php?f=updates_new/2008/February/02.12.08 Consider the following I solved the problem of buying clothes for myself. I wear jumpers and cover-the-elbow-with-sleeves high-scoop-neck tops to complement in color and buy it all at Thrift stores in my northern California area. Goodwill, Senior Center Thrift Stores and Salvation Army Thrift Stores….I cannot beat the prices and if the clothes make it to the thrift stores, they are in pretty good shape. Those flimsey blouses one of the women wrote you about just do not make it to the thrift stores. If I had girls, I would sew and teach them to sew their own clothes. Macy's, Penny's and Sears just do not have well-made clothes and they expose too much. … The Thrift stores have 99% of my business. In Christ, P.C. ==================================== "… Here is the reason why we have a moral breakdown in every area of life. The titanic freedoms which we once enjoyed have been cut loose from their Christian restraints and are becoming a force of destruction leading to chaos. And when this happens, there really are very few alternatives. All morality becomes relative, law becomes arbitrary, and society moves toward disintegration. In personal and social life, compassion is swallowed up by self-interest. …" Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer ================== If you think our efforts are worthy, would you please support us with a small gift? Thank you for caring enough to get involved. https://americandecency.org/folder.php?f=donate ========================== American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph:231-924-4050 fax:231-924-1966 www.americandecency.org ———————————————————————

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