ΤΙ ΜΑΣ ΕΠΙΦΥΛΑΣΣΕΙ ΤΟ ΜΕΛΛΟΝ;
Η ανθρωποτητα  βρισκεται σημερα σε μια σοβαρη καμπη της ιστοριας της. Ο κοσμος εφυγε απο τον αξονα του, βγηκε απο την τροχια του και κανενας δεν μπορει να μας πει ποια θα ειναι η
αυριανη εξελιξη του.
Βαδιζουμε αραγε, σε μια τελικη καταστροφη; Θα μπορεσουμε να βγουμε απ' αυτον τον κυκλο των αδικιων, των εγκληματων και των πολεμων που μαστιζουν την ανθρωποτητα; Θα παψει καμια φορα αυτος ο απαισιος βραχνας της ανησυχιας, για το τι μας επιφυλασσει το αυριον; Θα παρευρεθουμε στην αυτοκτονια της ανθρωποτητας  με τα μαζικα οπλα καταστροφης, η με αλλα μεσα που εχουν εφευρεθει; Η μηπως θα ηταν προτιμωτερο να μη σκεπτομαστε τιποτα απ' αυτα και να φροντισουμε να διασκεδαζουμε οσο μπορουμε; Στη τελευταια αυτη περιπτωση η υπαρξη θα ηταν χωρις νοημα και σκοπο και δεν θ'αξιζε να την ζει κανεις. Θα μας οδηγουσε σε τελεια απελπισια και απογνωση.
Αλλα αν ο ανθρωπος αγνοει το μελλον, ο Θεος το γνωριζει και στις ποιο μικροτερες λεπτομερειες του και το εχει καθαρα αποκαλυψει μεσα απο την Αγια Γραφη. Να σε συντομια τι μας λεει πανω σ'αυτα η Βιβλος.
Ο Κυριος μας Ιησους Χριστος ηλθε στη γη την πρωτη φορα για την υποθεση της αμαρτιας, πληρωσε εκεινος πανω στο σταυρο με τον θανατο Του σαν εκπροσωπος ολης της ανθρωποτητας
τις αμαρτιες μας και βρηκαν την εκπληρωση τους στο προσωπο Του κατα γραμμα, ολες οι προφητιες των προφητων. Αλλα και αν εκανε τελειο τον εξιλασμο για τις αμαρτιες μας, δεν ιδρυσε ομως ακομα την πανω στη γη ορατη βασιλεια Του. Ειμαστε ακομα στην εποχη της χαριτος, της ανοχης, της μακροθυμιας και της υπομονης του Θεου. Αυτη ομως η υπομονη του Θεου θα τελειωσει.
Καποια μερα, γνωστη μονο στον Θεο, ο Ιησους Χριστος θα ελθει παλι απο τον ουρανο, για να ελευθερωσει πρωτα τους ελεκτους Του και μετα να τιμωρησει τους κακους και να κανει ωστε να σταματησει το κακο και η αμαρτια, μαζι με ολες τις φοβερες συνεπειες της και να ιδρυσει την πανω στη γη βασιλεια Του. Η δευτερη ελευση του Χριστου ειναι 'μακαρια ελπιδα' ολων των πραγματικων οπαδων Του, που Τον περιμενουν ετοιμοι, αγρυπνοι, και μενοντες στερεοι και αμετακινητοι στην πιστη 'προσμενοντες την μακαριαν ελπιδα και την επιφανειαν της δοξης του μεγαλου Θεου και Σωτηρος ημων Ιησου Χριστου'  (Τιτος 3:13).                Συνεχιζεται

UNITY (Ps.133:1-3)
Unity is a rare but vitally important quality in the Church, one that is necessary if we want to experience God's blessing. Unity is not something we can manufacture by human effort but something that descends from Heaven by the agency of the Holy Spirit when we yield ourselves to Christ's discipline.

The Apostle Paul, in his Epistles, exhorts the believers to be of one mind; something that shows
that this problem existed then and is still endemic in the Church of today. No wonder that most of those ancient churches fell apart and disappeared. Not only Paul but also the Psalmist in the Psalm above calls for Unity among believers. This does not mean we cannot have differences of opinion or views among us. The Church is not a robotic organization, devoid of individuality and thought.

The Psalmist sees Unity as something very precious, saying that it is GOOD and PLEASANT. 
Disunity brings a bitter taste in the Church and people, especially unbelievers, are not slow to recognize this. The example the Psalmist gives of Unity is like the Anointing Oil upon Aaron's head that ran down.... How did the Psalmist know this a long time after the event? Verbal Tradition.

The Anointing Oil was very costly to prepare (Ex,30:34-38). It must have had a beautiful fragrance because of the ingredients used. So is Unity in the Church. It is a beautiful , pleasant quality. Not only pleasant but also costly to achieve. To have Unity we need to lay down our own wills with
their self important ideas, their likes and preferences.

Jesus said, 'Whoever wants to be chief among you let him be servant of all'. A voluntary act. We need to say, 'Not my will but yours be done'. Self wants to have his own way. Self always demands.
We need to crucify self: a costly, painful act.

The Anointing Oil was applied from the top, not from the bottom. Unity comes the same way when we allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in the Church, first with the Leadership and then with the members. The Oil ran down to the hem of the garment where the bells and pomegranates were. If we have unity people will hear of it and they will know that we do. Unity goes together with love,
something people desperately need.

The Psalmist not only likens Unity to the Anointing Oil but also to the Dew of Hermon that descended upon the parched places of Jerusalem, to refresh and moisten the dry ground. Unity
refreshes and moistens the Church. It moistens the parched ground of discord and bitterness. It
sustains the life of the Church. A disunited House of God is like dry bones: having an appearance of life but actually an air of death.

What are the main reasons for Disunity in the Church?
The Apostle Paul in 1 Cor.1:10-11, speaks about the problem in that church, a bed of Disunity and
problems that never ended. Even after Apostolic times the Bishop of Rome wrote to the church
to admonish them and counsel them.

Self was prevalent in that church, people laying emphasis on their own opinions of what the various preachers said but not eliciting the preacher's thoughts. It all pointed to one thing: Carnal Minds.
Paul wrote three Epistles (two survive) to correct them. The church finally disappeared from the face of the earth and only in recent times another church has grown there. Where disunity prevails
spirituality also fails.

Christ warned the Ephesian church that if they did not repent from their error He would remove
their Lampstand from their midst, the source of Light in the Church-Rev.2:5. The church of Ephesus also disappeared from the face of the earth. When the Lampstand goes out of the Church,
there is no more Light from the Word. Our own light with its faults and errors will prevail. Disunity
will eventually prevail.

Η Ομολογια Πιστης Μου

Υπαρχει Θεος; Και αν υπαρχει γιατι δεν κανει κατι για ολο αυτο το κακο που υπαρχει μεσα στον κοσμο; Γιατι δεν κανει κατι για την δυστυχια που πληττει τοσες οικογενειες; Γιατι δεν κανει κατι για τις αρρωστειες που κτυπουν τα αγαπημενα μας προσωπα μεχρι θανατου; Για δεν κανει κατι ν' αλλαξει τον κοσμο; Τετοια ερωτηματικα με βασανιζαν απο μικρη ηλικια και προσπαθουσα να βρω απαντησεις. Οι απαντησεις ομως φαινοντουσαν τοσο ξεμακρες οσο μακρινος και απιαστος φαινονταν και ο ιδιος ο Θεος.

Γεννηθηκα το 1972 και μεγαλωσα στη Λ.... μεσα σε μια τυπικη θρησκευομενη οικογενεια. Λεω

τυπικη γιατι τον Θεο το θυμομασταν καθε Χριστουγεννα και Πασχα και προσπαθουσαμε να ζησουμε  μια ηθικα σωστη ζωη μεσα στη καθημερινοτητα μας. Απο μικρη ηλικια μεγαλωσα κοντσ στη γιαγια μου, μια γυναικα που παρολη την ελλειψη μορφωσης, με  εμαθε για τον Θεο οσα τα βιβλια δεν μπορουσαν να με διδαξουν. Μεσα σε καθε της δυσκολια, σε καθε μαυρη στιγμη, μεσα στις αρρωστειες που περνουσε η ιδια , στον πονο και τις ταλαιπωριες της οικογενειας της, στεκοταν παντοτε αταραχη και μεσα απο την καρδια της παντοτε ελεγε, 'δοξα στο Θεο για οτι συμβαινει στη ζωη μας'. Και καθε φορα που την ακουγα μεσα μου ξεσηκονωταν

μια επιθυμια να μαθω γι' αυτον τον Θεο οσα ποιο πολλα μπορουσα για ν' αρθω κοντα Του. Και απο την αλλη ενας θυμος με εζωνε γιατι παρ' ολη την πιστη αυτης της γυναικας ο Θεος δεν φαινοταν να αλλαζε τις καταστασεις.

Αυτοι οι προβληματισμοι με συνοδεψαν μεχρι τα εφηβικα μου χρονια. Τοτε μεσα στην αναζητηση μου βρεθηκα σε μια Χριστιανικη κατασκηνωση ψαχνοντας να μαθω κατι παραπανω γι' αυτον τον Θεο. Εκει για πρωτη φορα στη ζωη μου συναντησα ανθρωπους που μιλουσαν για τον Θεο και η ζωη τους φανερωνε πως Αυτος ειναι ζωντανος και ενεργος στη καθημερινοτητα τους. Τον Θεο που απο αγαπη για τον κοσμο εστειλε το Γιο Του να πεθανει πανω στον Σταυρο, να αναστηθει ομως τη τριτη μερα και να χαρισει αιωνεια ζωη σε οποιον πιστεψει σ' Αυτον, Ρωμ.10:13.

Γονατισα μπροστα στο Θεο και ειπα απλα, 'Θεε, αν οντως υπαρχεις θελω να σε γνωρισω και εγω. Θελω να παρεις τη ζωη μου και να τη διαμορφωσεις οπως θελεις.' Ετσι στα 16 μου χρονια ξεκινησα τη πορεια μου με το Θεο, μια πορεια που συνεχιζεται απο τοτε μεχρι σημερα στα 30 μου. Ο Θεος δεν ηρθε μεσα στη ζωη μου ετσι δραματικα να δωσει τελος στα προβληματα τα δικα μου και ολου του κοσμου και να μου αποδειξει οτι οντως υπαρχει. Ηρθε ομως και μου χαρισε Τον εαυτο που ειναι η ιδια η ζωη. Στα 16 μου χρονια αποφασισα να περπατησω μαζι 

Του,  να Tου τα δωσω ολα-τα ερωτηματικα μου, τη ζωη μου ολοκληρη. Αυτος τα εδωσε ολα δια

μεσω του Γιου Του. Αλλωστε ολα οσα νομιζουμε οτι ειναι δικα μας δικα Του ειναι. Του ανηκουν. Και το αξιζει, στ' αληθεια.

MIRIAM

Who was Miriam?

In Numbers 26:59, we are told that Miriam was the daughter of Amram and Jochebed (therefore the granddaughter of Levi). The first time Miriam is mentioned in the Bible is in Exodus 2:1-9, where she volunteers to provide a wet nurse for the baby Moses, her brother.

Here, we see God's plan working through her for the redemption of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. Miriam was only a young girl yet she was concerned about the baby Moses and indeed her fate is tied up with Moses for the rest of her life. A family build on spiritual bonds.

Many years later Miriam appears again on the scene as an older woman in Exodus 15:20-21. This

time we know that she is called a Prophetess. Miriam is leading the Hebrew women in dance after the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptian army when crossing the Red Sea.

Miriam plays a leading role among God's people and sings praises to God. She is a woman with spiritual gifts and personality among her people. What a tremendous family Amram and Jochebed

raised-Aaron the High Priest, Miriam the Prophetess and Moses the great leader of God's people.

God delights in such families whose service and dedication are an example in the Church. Through

such people the Church can prosper and move on spiritually.

The next time Miriam appears in the Scriptures is in Numbers 12:1-16. A very different Miriam-

the Rebel. Many years have gone by wandering in the wilderness and maybe the effect of this showed in her personality and character. Has the weariness set in and the zeal gone out? Has disappointment over not reaching the promised land quickly evaporated her hopes? Does it speak of our own Christian lives?

Listen to the accusations against Moses, 'Has the Lord indeed only spoken through Moses?' Paul,

the Apostle, writing to the Corinthian Church warns, 'If I have all the gifts and lack love, I am.....'

The accusation sounds like the one in the Garden of Eden voiced by the serpent to Eve.

The accusation by an older sister against a younger sibling. However, God will not tolerate such

things against people He has chosen to lead His flock. It amounts to doubts cast against a person

anointed by God. Leadership carries an extra responsibility in the eyes of the God who calls people.  It is God we have to give an account to in the final analysis. 

Miriam should have known better than challenge God's leader. It was outright rebellion. (Read the words of Samuel the Prophet when he confronted Saul, the King, 1 Samuel 15:22-23. about his disobedience which amounted to rebellion.)

What was the problem? Moses had married an Ethiopian woman.  What caused Miriam's displeasure and rebellion? God did not seem to object to the marriage. Was it a case of jealousy? Colour prejudice? We are not told the exact reasons but Miriam was at fault. God would not tolerate this kind of behaviour. He spoke to Moses face to face, it was His choice to do so whether Miriam was loaded with gifts or not. Judgement came upon Miriam fast and hard but Aaron was of a softer character. God looks upon the heart and weighs the actions. Was she filled with bitterness?

The episode ends and we hear no more of Miriam till in Numbers 20:1. A plain statement that Miriam died and was buried. No lament, nothing. What a sad end to a great woman, the sister of

of the great Moses. Her final years, since the rebellion, passed without anything of significance in her life. She was certainly left out of the Promised Land, the reward for those who rebel against God. 

Mark 11:11-14.
One of the many strange incidents during that Passover. What is the message here?

Three trees are used in Scripture to refer to the Nation of Israel:

Vine-Symbol of their Spiritual Life.
Olive-Symbol of their Religious Life.
Fig-Symbol of their National life.
All three trees are remarkable for their fruit but not for their blossom.

The Jews are God's people. The story of their Nation reflects God's dealings with man but the Church is the Body of Christ, the Fruit of His Passion.
The life of the Jewish Nation was God. With Him they prospered and without Him they failed. Finally they were scattered to the four corners of the Earth. The Nation ceased to exist as such. 'Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord'- Ps.33:12.
In Luke 13:6-9, Jesus told the Parable concerning the Jews.
The Jews turned away from their Lord to follow other Gods and became dead Nationally and fruitless. The Fig tree was barren, fit only to be cut down. In the Parable the vinedresser said, 'Lord let it alone this year...'
So, the Lord Jesus came down from Heaven to lead His people back to God, but 'He came unto His own and His own received Him not'. They rejected Him and finally they nailed Him to a cross. The Fig tree, Israel, remained barren but retained all the outward form of worship, ritual and religious observance.
In the Passover incident Jesus came seeking fruit but found nothing, only leaves (In early April fig trees blossom and the little green fruit appears quickly overshadowed by green leaves almost immediately). Jesus, coming to Jerusalem for the Passover, early April, did not expect to find new figs, but the leaves so early in the season indicated that He should find the tiny new figs or last years fruit. Jesus condemned it for what it was-Unfruitful.
From their leafy profession of religious habits, etc. Christ expected some fruit from Israel's Religious life. There never is any fruit from a profession of Religion, only hypocrisy and deceit. 'Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites...'- Matt.23:13. Jesus said, 'No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever'.
About thirty years later the Roman general Titus cut down the Fig tree, destroyed Jerusalem and scattered Israel to the four winds. The God of Israel turned to the Gentiles 'To take out of them a people for His Name', the Church-Acts 15:14.
And Jerusalem, 'Shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled' - Luke 21:24.
'And after this I will return and will build again....'- Acts 15:16-17. Have the times of the Gentiles been fulfilled?
'Now learn a Parable of the Fig Tree'- Matt.24:32. A new Fig Tree begun to grow in place of the old one cut down. The Jews returned to Israel for almost a century now and in 1948 Israel became an independent Nation again and Jerusalem in Jewish hands in 1967. The Fig Tree has grown and its branches put forth leaves. Summer is near at hand. The Kingdom of God is nigh at hand. The times of the Gentiles have been fulfilled. Jesus said, 'This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled'.
Are you ready for the Coming of the Lord?  What is your Christianity like?  Full of leaves and no fruit?
'Take heed to yourselves....'  Matt.24:35-42.

ΑΙΡΕΣΕΙΣ
'Επειδη, πρωτα μεν, οταν συνερχεστε στην εκκλησια, ακουω οτι υπαρχουν αναμεσα σας σχισματα....Επειδη ειναι αναγκη να υπαρχουν και αιρεσεις μεταξυ σας για να γινουν φανεροι αναμεσα σας οι δοκοιμοι' Α Κορ.11:18-19.
Αιρεσεις: Ενα απο τα προβληματα στην Εκκλησια της Κορινθου που ιδρυθηκε απο τον Απ. Παυλο το
50 μ.χ. περιπου. Μια λεξη η ορος που συχνα προβληματιζει και προβληματισε τους πιστους δια μεσου των αιωνων.
Για να κατανοησουμε ομως το θεμα των 'αιρεσεων' πρεπει πρωτα να κοιταξουμε την ιδια τη λεξη. Αιρεσις (αιρεω): παιρνω, αφαιρω, κυριευω, παιρνω με το μερος μου, δελεαζω, κλπ. Ερμηνιες που
ριχνουν καποιο φως στο θεμα που μας απασχολει. Δυστυχως, δεν υπαρχει η διαθεση να γινει το θεμα κατανοητο απο τις διαφορες 'παραταξεις'. Αυτο που βλεπουμε συχνα ειναι να εκτοξευεται η λεξη τουτη κατα παντων που διαφωνουν με το δικο μας πιστευω, ιδιαιτερα οταν υπαρχει η γνωμη οτι η δικη μας 'παραταξη' ειναι η μονη που εχει την αληθεια.
Πως δημιουργουνται οι Αιρεσεις; Η Εκκλησια της Κορινθου μας δινει το προτυπο. Ο Παυλος, ο Απολλως και ο Κηφας κηρυξαν τον Λογο του Θεου φωτισμενοι με τη Θεια Χαρη. Και ομως δεν περασε πολυς καιρος απο την ιδρυση της Εκκλησιας τουτης, οταν ο Παυλος αναγκαζεται να γραψει στους πιστους για να τους νουθετησει και να διορθωσει ορισμενες λανθασμενες γνωμες, 'Σας παρακαλω αδελφοι...να λετε ολοι το ιδιο και να μη υπαρχουν μεταξυ σας σχισματα...υπαρχουν
ματαξυ σας φιλονικιες...επειδη καθε ενας απο σας λεει: εγω μεν ειμαι του Παυλου, εγω δε του Απολλω...' Α' Κορ. 1.
Σημειωνουμε;  Σχισματα, Φιλονικειες, Διαφορετικες γνωμες, κλπ. Οχι πανω σε ποικιλες διδασκαλιες
αλλα σε οτι ολοι ακουσαν δηλ. το ιδιο Ευαγγελιο! Το προβλημα δεν ηταν ο Παυλος η ο Απολλως η ο Κηφας αλλα οι διαφορετικες ερμηνιες που προβαλαν οι πιστοι λογω εμφασης στα σημεια που αυτοι νομιζαν οτι ειναι σωστα, χωρις να λυνουν τις αποριες που ειχαν με τους ιδιους τους κηρυκες που εφεραν το μηνυμα του Ευαγγελιου. Το αναποφευκτο αποτελεσμα; Αιρεσεις.

The Programmed Ones
Have you recently had a visit from one or two people?
The doorbell rings and when you open the door you are faced with one or two well dressed people holding small briefcases. They introduce themselves and begin, 'We have come to talk to you about the state of the world nowadays (or something similar)....' When you refute their arguments they repeat the same thing. PROGRAMMING. When they come again they will find more plausible answers! All these purport to be from the Bible.
We usually open and shut this door firmly because we know who these people are and what they have to offer: a religious organization which enslaves people and from which one escapes only with great difficulty.
There is, however, another visitor at the door who is very different.
The doorbell rings and nobody opens the door. But the visitor does not go away. He waits outside the door and rings the bell repeatedly. He does not force the door open, though he has the ability to do so. Why does he wait? Because his motive is love. He wants to give you his love, which you need so much. He wants to give you his peace which you also need, and his protection to keep you safe in the sorrows of life. The door still does not open, but he waits patiently. Why?  'I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me'  Rev.3:20.
The mysterious visitor who knocks at the door of your heart does not go away because He has not come to offer you religion, denominations, church rules, etc. but life, because He is the real life. He wants to sit at the table of your heart, to share and talk about your problems because He has answers, not empty promises. He wants to set you free from guilt and the power of sin. He can do that because He is a real faithful friend. But for Him to do this there is a pre-condition. You must open the door! He will not force you against your conscience and free will which He has given you. Will you let the Lord Jesus Christ come into your life?

Why did God Let Evil Happen
In looking at the apparent defeat of God's purposes in the Garden of Eden (Gen.3), people sometimes say,
'Why  didn't God put out His hand to prevent these things from taking place? Why didn't the Almighty intervene to prevent such a catastrophe?'  There are several answers to this question.
1,  God made us free agents and is obliged to respect that freedom. If His heart of love could have been content with marionettes, and not men, then He could have had a sinless and perfect world.
2. God rules the world by inflexible laws which apply equally to everyone. The universe would be greatly unbalanced if there was no  principle of cause and effect. If quinine killed malaria germs on one occasion and killed the patient on another, no medical service would be possible. Having established the Universe on firm Laws, God would violate His own nature if He intervened to change them.
3. God foresaw that He could transform evil into good and make the gain greater than the loss.
A young officer said, 'Weather in war is always favourable if you know how to use it'. That is the point-if you know how to use it. Infinite wisdom knew how to use man's sin and rebellion to further the divine goal, and there is therefore, no sin, no suffering, no frustration, no disappointment that cannot be gathered up by Him and used for higher ends. God is never nonplussed-He always has a way out. If He can't do this then He can do that- and both are equally good in the final results. When God is faced with a problem, He does't break up, He breaks out.                Skepsis

Τα Οστρακα Μιλουν
Η επισκεψη στο Αρχαιολογικο Μουσειο Ιωαννινων μας χαρισε μια μεγαλη εκπληξη. Μια βιτρινα ηταν γεματη απο δεκαδες οστρακα απο το ιερο του Δια στη Δωδωνη οπου ηταν γραμμενα τα αιτηματα των προσκυνητων του αρχαιου κοσμου. Τουτες οι εγγραφες πανω στα οστρακα μας θυμιζουν συγχρονους προσκυνητες με τα προβληματα τους. Ας διαβασουμε μερικα. 'Σε ποιο Θεο να προσευχηθω....', 'Προσευχομαι για τα παθη μου (σεξ)....', 'Φανερωσε τον μελλοντα συζυγο....', 'Για θεραπεια....', 'Ας μου μιλησει ο Θεος (ποιος απ' ολους:)....' Σημερα τα οστρακα πηραν τη θεση τους στα μουσεια και αλλα ιδρυματα τουριστικου ενδιαφερονυος, τα αιτηματα ομως τραγικα υπαρκτα και διαχρονικα τα σερνουμε μαζι μας και γεμιζουν στηλες περιοδικων κ.α. που προσφερουν λυσεις απο συγχρονες Πυθειες.
Μια απλη λυση του ολου θεματος μας φανερωνει ουσιατικα οτι η παροδος των αιωνων δεν αλλαξε πολλα πραγματα στον συναισθηματικο και πνευματικο εσωτερικο κοσμο του ανθρωπου. Τα προβληματα παραμενουν σχεδον τα ιδια, τα ονοματα αλλαξαν και τα αντικειμενα πανω στα οποια χαραζουμε τις αγωνιες μας. Χθες στα οστρακα, σημερα στις σελιδες περιοδικων και εφημεριδων. Και πισω απο τα ονοματα δεν κρυβεται τιποτα αλλο παρα η αγωνια ψυχων να ακουστουν σ' ενα επιπεδο ψηλοτερο απο το δικο μας.
Ο ανθρωπος απο καταβολης κοσμου νοιωθει την αναγκη να στραφει σε μια υπερφυσικη οντοτητα για λυσεις στη ζωη του. Και η ικανοποιηση αυτης της αναγκης μας φερνει αντιμετωπους με την απλη αληθεια. Χρειαζομαστε Καποιον, και ακομα ποιο πολυ, χρειαζομαστε Εναν στενο Φιλο που να μας συμπαραστεκεται σε καιρο χρειας. Τα λογια του Ιησου στο κατα Ιωαν.15.13-15, μας  δινουν θαρρος να αντιμετωπισουμε τα προβληματα της ζωης, οχι με γραμμενα οστρακα αλλα με τον ιδιο τον Θεο που Εδωκε τον Εαυτο του για μας προσωπικα. Οταν η σχεση με τους φιλους μας ειναι υγιεις ζητουμε και περνουμε απαντησεις στα αιτηματα μας. Ποσω μαλλον απο τον Γιο του Θεου που υποσχεται '....
εσας ομως σας αποκαλεσα φιλους, επειδη ολα οσα ακουσα απο τον Πατερα μου, σας τα φανερωσα'.

The Power of Prayer
This true story comes from 19th century China.
Twelve year old Na Ma Si came home from his far away school to spend his holiday and found nobody there. He sat down to rest on the doorstep of the family home where his father was the village priest.
Na Ma Si had not been sitting there for long when he saw someone in the distance galloping towards the house. The rider who seemed in a state of distress, was someone from a distant village. The rider asked if the priest was at home and the boy replied that his father was away. This news made the man upset and he quickly explained why he had come. He had been sent from a distant village to return with the priest because his friend's wife needed to be exorcised.  He explained how in her distressed the demon possessed lady pulled our her hair, tore her clothes, scratched her face and broke the furniture in the house. She foamed at the mouth and was in a state of total physical and spiritual exhaustion. Na Ma Si, not knowing what to say, kept repeating, 'My father is away'. Suddenly the man fell on his knees and in desperation implored the child, saying 'You are also a man of God. Come to help us.'
A few moments of silence followed during which Na Ma Si weighed up the situation in his heart. Although he was a child Na Ma Si knew that his heart was committed to the Lord and he was not afraid to confess Christ as his Saviour. He decided, like little Samuel in the Tabernacle, to obey the Lord's call. They mounted the horse together and headed for the distant village. On the way thoughts filled the boy's mind. Was he, a child of 12 years old worthy for such a mission? He prayed and asked for cleansing in his heart and reliance on the Grace and Mercy of God and to be led by the Holy Spirit. When they arrived at their destination they found all the members of the family holding the woman down on her bed. They had told her a priest would come and as soon as she heard the footsteps in the yard she started screaming. 'Quick, let me go. There's a man of God coming. His name is Na Ma Si'.
The boy went into the house and after the customary greetings sang a hymn to praise the Lord. He then commanded the demon to leave the woman. Immediately she calmed down and lay quietly on the bed. From that day she had been perfectly well. However she was astonished to be told that she had called out the name of the boy although she had not met or heard of him previously.
Dear reader, I do not know if this story has spoken to your heart but I pray that you will acknowledge God's hand in your life and that you will experience the power of prayer which works for those who sincerely seek Him and obey Him.