Over A Year Old!

Pastor Steve’s Church

Seasons Christian Fellowship

10850 N. 32 nd Street

Phoenix, AZ 85032

Services:

• Sunday morning          10:30 am
• Sunday evening            6:00 pm
• Wednesday                    7:00 pm

YOU are Still invited and Welcome!

Nothing wrong with the Message

Again I was reading an introduction to a book about Bible prophecy and the same sad message emanated from its pages. It was the old “doom and gloom” scenario and now this book takes a more practical approach to prophetic interpretation of imagery. But what is really wrong with the literal interpretation?

First, we must ask ourselves do we really understand God’s heart when it comes to prophecy. It is God’s stamp of approval on this God breathed book He gave us. What other religious writing was ever so bold to make so many predictions and yet be so accurate?

Second, the concept of literal interpretation is not as much doom and gloom as it is warnings of impending doom and the need for repentance. Noah’s culture was warned for more than a century. Lot’s culture was spared as God searched for just a handful of righteous people and Nineveh saw the greatest single revival ever recorded because they received the words and repented.

Finally, as believers, do we serve a God that just goes soft on Sin? Is it doom and gloom to realize after the age of man coming to a close the Creator of the universe will deal with all of the rebellion and wrong in the world? It is hard for me to picture a just God giving everybody a pass including the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Arafat and bin Laden to name a few. There is not doom and gloom for those anticipating the just and righteous reign of Jesus Christ on earth. We look forward to it, and in reality there is nothing wrong with that message!

Not Yet

Thirty years ago a prophetic Tsunami once again hit the Christian circuit. Greece became the tenth nation of the European Union. Books, videos, and speakers on the circuit capitalized on the frenzy for a fair amount of time.

So after three decades has God’s prophetic clock stopped ticking? Absolutely not, in fact as far as His timetable things are moving quite rapidly, we just need to be practical.

First there are currently 47 nations that occupy what was the geographical area of the ancient Roman Empire. Second the financial woes of Europe could actually cause a separation of nations that would then form geographic pockets such as the northern nations of Europe headed by Germany and the Southern nations forming a different group. And the vastly increased Muslim population of Europe will no doubt play a big role across Europe.

Realistically there are too many variables that have not played out but God’s hand is moving nonetheless. One of my Bible College teachers told his students when the ten nations come together you won’t have to be told, you will know it. How many people were sure the prophecies of Russia were voided when the Iron curtain collapsed? Will Russia invade Israel? Absolutely! Has the ten nation coalition come together officially? No, at least not yet.

 

A Boiling Point

The prophet Jeremiah had a vision of a boiling pot and the spout was pointed to the south ready to pour its boiling contents into the land of Judah, Chapter 1:13. This prophecy was to happen in Israel’s immediate future, however current events indicate it will happen again.

The Arab spring hailed as the beginnings of democracy has but turned into a prairie fire raging out of control. Directly to the north of Israel is Lebanon the dragon’s lair of Syrian/Iranian aggressions. Given Syria’s current unrest taking place a vicious attack can erupt at any moment having both nations raining death and destruction of the Jewish state. Farther north lies Russia, friend to both Syria and Iran and openly desires to become involved with Syria in resolving problems between nations of the region.

The prophecy of Jeremiah warning of an inescapable invasion from the north did ultimately come to pass but so did the second part, Israel returning to their homeland.

Can we see a boiling pot to the north ready to flow into the Jewish state? Yes, but again there is the second part as well. We know Israel will not only be victorious but will stay in the land God has given them and once again we can trust in God’s word to be the shining light in dark times.

Pastor Steve Opening a NEW Church

Pastor Steve’s Church

Seasons Christian Fellowship

10850 N. 32 nd Street

Phoenix, AZ 85032

Services:

• Sunday morning          10:30 am
• Sunday evening            6:00 pm
• Wednesday                    7:00 pm

YOU are invited and Welcome!

First service January 1st, 2012 10:30 am

To Pastor Don, Gerri and Congregation,

“Steve and I are so thankful for how God skillfully weaved our family and friends together for the past 26 plus years. Our lives have a rich heritage that we will always be so grateful for. Working and being a participant of God’s work in the wonderful church has both been a blessing and a privilege with no regrets only a Thankful heart with much gratitude to God and those in leadership that entrusted us to many responsibilities. God has been so faithful – we join with the hymn “Great is thy Faithfulness” reminding ourselves and you of God’s consistent love and care for us in days gone by and worshiping him as the bringer of “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow”

May the Lord that we all serve pour out a special blessing to Pastor, Gerri, the rest of the family, the Board, the Elders, the Deacons, and to this great congregation may He pour out His power and grace in a special way.”

With all our Love,

Steve, Lori and Boys

War For The Holidays

There will be much celebration in Israel during the eight days of Chanukah. Some will take time to reflect on the deep spiritual significance; while others will celebrate without any real deep belief.

In any case there is the other group of Israelis that will celebrate their holidays in different fashion. Some will be patrolling the waterways on ships and in submarines and some will be flying some type of aircraft or monitoring radar and intelligence reports. Still others will be found in bunkers, on constant patrol, or back at a base waiting to respond to a call they hope never comes.

True there are many nations whose military personnel must do the same thing but Israel has a unique distinction. They learned in 1973 that even the most Holy day of their culture can be violently interrupted by invading armies. Israeli lifestyle has seen terrorist bombing even on a holiday like Purim, or wedding banquets being attacked by terrorists.

But an even stronger reality is that if unprepared or even at the ready their enemies stand poised at every border threatening to cut the tiny nation to pieces. Thus Israelis lie in a constant state of flux longing for peace but always prepared for war. Much of the geography in Israel significant to Jew and Christian is now under Moslem control while some is being negotiated for. In either case war will come again, holiday or not, and Israel must be ready.