Dear Friends and Family,
WOW! Can you believe that we have come to the end of our term of service and it is time to return to the USA on April 27? We have been amazed at the great things that God has done through you partnership with us here in Ecuador and around Latin America and Haiti. We have been able to visit all of our missionaries serving on the field in six countries and you have have made that possible through your giving and prayers. Thanks so much for standing with us.
This month we focus on our Pastor to Missionary Ministry and invite you to visit our web site for a full report. http://straightpaths.org/pastorstomissionaries.aspx
Also, be sure to check out Jordan's Corner this month for a special edition.
http://straightpaths.org/jordanscorner.aspx
We look forward to seeing many of you and plan to visit with as many of you as possible in this coming year. If you or your church would be interested in us coming for a missionary service please contact us. Also if you would like to renew your support for our mission work please visit the home page on our web site for info.
Sincerely,
Ned, Marlene and Jordan
Rev. Ned R. McGrady
Global Partners Pastor to Missionaries in Ecuador
Apartado 01.01.338
Cuenca, Ecuador South America
Ecuador Home Phone 593-07-408-2545
Celular: 593-08-049-8723
Email ned@straightpaths.org
Skype ned.mcgrady
Skype Phone (727) 231-4151
www.straightpaths.org
M
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
EASTER DECLARES DEATH DOESN’T GET THE LAST WORD
NEWSPAPER COLUMN Roger Campbell
EASTER DECLARES DEATH DOESN’T GET THE LAST WORD
A minister friend of mine was once approached by a delegation from a small religious group in his city to see if he would be willing to officiate at funerals of their members.
They told him they had no one trained in speaking at funerals and that, if he accepted their offer, they would require that he never mention death during his sermon because they didn’t believe in it.
The caring pastor decided to accept this offer to serve hurting people, in spite of their strange restriction, thinking it would provide him an opportunity to comfort grieving families and that in spite of their denial of reality, death would speak for itself.
In contrast to the conclusion of this delegation of death deniers, Easter faces the problem of death head-on and offers hope to those facing it.
Early in His ministry, Jesus had been challenged by His critics who demanded a sign to prove His authority to teach and work miracles. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” He had replied (John 2:18).
Thinking He was referring to the temple in Jerusalem, His enemies reminded Him it had taken forty six years to build that magnificent structure and that rebuilding it in three days after its destruction would require a miracle. But He was speaking of the resurrection of His body three days after the coming crucifixion.
Talk about drawing a line in the sand!
With one startling statement, our Lord risked everything on His promise of resurrection. Others have since made similar statements and convinced many
to follow them but when death came and they didn’t rise from their graves they were
DEATH DOESN’T GET THE LAST WORD PAGE TWO Roger Campbell
revealed to have been either deceived or deceivers.
This man was different.
There have been great military leaders but they have all been defeated by death.
There have been conquering kings but death has conquered them all.
There have been famous philosophers and teachers but they have all gone to their graves like the unlettered and unknown.
Then came Easter: bringing indisputable proof that our Lord was who He had claimed to be. This demonstration of authenticity transformed His trembling disciples into dynamic people of faith.
In some areas, now considered vital, the infant first century church was powerless.
It was without financial power. The members had to sell their belongings and pool their resources just to survive.
The first century church was also without political power. Neither the apostles nor their followers could pull strings in high places. Furthermore, there is no evidence that they ever tried to do so. Their master had said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36) so they left politics to the politicians and set out to impact the world one person at a time. In doing so, they gained the reputation of being world changers.
Easter may be the perfect launching time for a spiritual awakening that revives our
churches and changes our troubled world today.
Roger Campbell is an author, a broadcaster and columnist who was a pastor for 22 years.
He can be reached at rcministy@ameritech.net
EASTER DECLARES DEATH DOESN’T GET THE LAST WORD
A minister friend of mine was once approached by a delegation from a small religious group in his city to see if he would be willing to officiate at funerals of their members.
They told him they had no one trained in speaking at funerals and that, if he accepted their offer, they would require that he never mention death during his sermon because they didn’t believe in it.
The caring pastor decided to accept this offer to serve hurting people, in spite of their strange restriction, thinking it would provide him an opportunity to comfort grieving families and that in spite of their denial of reality, death would speak for itself.
In contrast to the conclusion of this delegation of death deniers, Easter faces the problem of death head-on and offers hope to those facing it.
Early in His ministry, Jesus had been challenged by His critics who demanded a sign to prove His authority to teach and work miracles. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” He had replied (John 2:18).
Thinking He was referring to the temple in Jerusalem, His enemies reminded Him it had taken forty six years to build that magnificent structure and that rebuilding it in three days after its destruction would require a miracle. But He was speaking of the resurrection of His body three days after the coming crucifixion.
Talk about drawing a line in the sand!
With one startling statement, our Lord risked everything on His promise of resurrection. Others have since made similar statements and convinced many
to follow them but when death came and they didn’t rise from their graves they were
DEATH DOESN’T GET THE LAST WORD PAGE TWO Roger Campbell
revealed to have been either deceived or deceivers.
This man was different.
There have been great military leaders but they have all been defeated by death.
There have been conquering kings but death has conquered them all.
There have been famous philosophers and teachers but they have all gone to their graves like the unlettered and unknown.
Then came Easter: bringing indisputable proof that our Lord was who He had claimed to be. This demonstration of authenticity transformed His trembling disciples into dynamic people of faith.
In some areas, now considered vital, the infant first century church was powerless.
It was without financial power. The members had to sell their belongings and pool their resources just to survive.
The first century church was also without political power. Neither the apostles nor their followers could pull strings in high places. Furthermore, there is no evidence that they ever tried to do so. Their master had said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36) so they left politics to the politicians and set out to impact the world one person at a time. In doing so, they gained the reputation of being world changers.
Easter may be the perfect launching time for a spiritual awakening that revives our
churches and changes our troubled world today.
Roger Campbell is an author, a broadcaster and columnist who was a pastor for 22 years.
He can be reached at rcministy@ameritech.net
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