CRUSHED GRAPES MINISTRY |
Frank B. Smith, Director, PO Box 3009, Vista, CA. 92085-3009 |
March 9, 2002 Dear fellow watchers and waiters in Christ, holy and set apart unto Jesus and His purposes. Our slates were wiped clean at Calvary without stain or blemish of any kind; but our minds are being renewed day by day. As we wait and serve, I find that I'm much better off if I focus on what I am becoming - the righteous and holy image of God in Jesus Christ Himself -; and not on the trash and filth being removed. When you become aware of trash and filth, repent, turn away from it, ask Him to remove it, and go on as the child of God you are becoming. His love, His grace, and His tender mercies are encouraging and life giving. My failures and shortcomings are depressing and lead to death. Therefore, choose life and live as who you are in His sight, and who you are becoming. Please forgive me for the long delay in sending this "semi-regular" newsletter. I have lots of excuses, but as is true for most excuses, they are fit only for paving material on the road to hell. I am well and happy and rejoicing in God's love and goodness. Since the last letter I spent a week in Baltimore with the beautiful folks who call themselves, of all things, Crushed Grapes Ministries. Then in late January it was a wonderful two plus weeks in Taiwan. This was the best Taiwan trip so far. The family there is doing well, grandsons Solomon and Isaac are flourishing and it was a great blessing to be with them. I was privileged to preach at Rong Mei congregation with Nico, my daughter-in-law, translating. Mike and I met with fifteen Chinese Pastors and leaders of several of the congregations that meet, pray, and strategize as the Church of Taichung. And we spent several days at the Oasis, a missionary retreat center in the south of the island. Since returning, priority number one has been the book, Doing Church God's Way. If any of you would like a copy, click on the link. Please copy it and use it any way you want. As God provides the funds, it will be printed and distributed on a donation basis. Our monthly leadership meetings on Saturdays from 8:30 till noon have been a great blessing to me, and I pray to others also. It is difficult to schedule them around upcoming trips, but here are the dates for the next six months. These dates are set and will stand unless we notify you of changes or the Lord returns. Both possibilities are quite likely. March 16; April 13; May 4; June 8; July13; August 10 "Teach me your way O lord, and I will walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11. The loving, forgiving, grace-filled way of God seems to flourish under persecution and torture, rather than under praise and blessing. The sweet aroma of a Christ-like life thrives more in prisons and torture chambers, than in the comfortable settings of "cushy" American church life. The many accounts of the escalating persecution of our brothers and sisters are sobering. Naturally these are not items that make the mainstream media, but we are becoming more aware of the atrocities and anti-Christian hatred, especially in the fundamentalist Islamic regions and the continuing Communist insanity. Some places of high concern for our brothers and sisters are the Sudan, Iran, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, India, Burma, Turkmenistan, and of course China. "Remember those in prison as if you were there fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13:3 Paul says, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:17 I do want to share in His glory, and if that means I must share in His sufferings, so be it. He goes on to say that there is no comparison between our present sufferings and the glory that will be revealed. We have given our lives over to Christ. We have surrendered to Jesus. We have asked our Lord to use us as He wills. We have given Him all our "rights" so that now when we are used by Him or "busted," the reading of our rights might go something like, "You have the right to be abused. You have the right to suffer. You have the right to be misunderstood. You have the right to be persecuted. You have the right to be hurt." In the last newsletter I referred to the World Trade Towers as the Towers of economic Babylon. To me this identification was crystal clear, and the hand of God using wicked men indisputable. (Please check it out on the web site or ask for a copy if you didn't read it.) Am I crazy? Is this just the idiotic ranting of a radical Christian or is there something to it? If there is validity in this identification, why is there such a wall of silence? I would appreciate any input you might have on this subject, good or bad. May the loving-kindness and tender mercies of our God uphold us in faith and loving service to all men-our friends and brothers as well as those who are enemies of Jesus and His Kingdom. Maranatha! Come, Lord Yahshua. Love, Frank  Ps: Hungersite.com is an advertising website that feeds the hungry. Every “hit” sends a meal to a hungry person in a third world country. Check it out and if you feel it’s worthwhile, put it on your favorite sites. It is an easy and convenient way to help the hungry and a good reminder to pray. |