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"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" 1 Peter 2:4-5 |
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From 2000 to 1500 B.C. Israel was led by Patriarchs. From 1500 to 1000 B.C. they were led by Prophets. From 1000 to 500 B.C. they were led by Princes (or Kings). In the 500 years leading up to the time of Christ, they were led by Priests. |
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In the days when the Judges ruled, there was a famine in the land of Israel. Elimelech took his wife, Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, away from Bethlehem, Judea, to the country of Moab. Bethlehem means 'the house of bread' and yet there was famine in Bethlehem. The land flowing with milk and honey was being judged by the Lord with famine. The name Elimelech means 'my God a King'. Naomi means 'pleasant'. However, their childrens' names were Mahlon (sickness) and Chilion (consumption). It must have been a terrible time in the history of Israel. |
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"Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan. (This was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it)." Judges 3:1-2 |
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"…And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed." Joshua 23:14 |
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"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 10:12 |
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"Be sure your sin will find you out." Numbers 32:23 |
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"You shall be holy, for I the Lord Your God am Holy." Leviticus 19:2 |
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"Rescue those being led away to death, hold back those staggering towards slaughter." Proverbs 24:11 |
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"I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:2-3 |
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"In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1 |
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If we care enough about someone we will speak the truth in love. Letting a conflict fester is not love, any more than allowing an infection to fester, or a cancer to grow. That is why we need to, as the Scripture says, speak the truth in love. |
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"For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the Faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power." Colossians 2:1-10 |
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"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:6-7 |
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Dr. Martin Luther observed that we exhibit a degree of thankfulness in life in reverse proportion to the amount of blessing we have received. In Tabletalk, Dr. Martin Luther wrote: " The greater God ' s gifts and works, the less they are regarded. " The blessings of life, health, freedom and food are not really appreciated unless they are lost, or threatened. Because sunrises and sunsets occur daily, they are taken for granted. |
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Most people expend most of their energy on things that do not last. Transient and temporary concerns consume the overwhelming amount of time, talents and treasure of most people. |
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1. Noah's Ark So were there two of every kind of animal on the Ark? Most artwork feature two giraffes, two elephants, two deer, two sheep, two lions, walking into the Ark. However a careful reading of Genesis 7: 1-3 makes it clear that while unclean animals went in two by two, clean animals went in groups of seven. There would have been 14 sheep, 14 deer, 7 roosters and 7 hens… According to God's Law, there were far more clean animals than unclean. |
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The first attempt to establish a New World Order was by the people who came to the land of Shinar (present day Iraq) and built the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:2-4). Others have tried since. Revelation 13 describes a beast with many heads and horns. The dragon gave the beast power, a throne and great authority. The beast mouthed blasphemies against God, blaspheming His Name, His Tabernacle, and those who dwell in Heaven. The beast made war with the saints and gained authority over "every tribe, tongue and nation." |
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“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:25-34 |
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"Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand." Deuteronomy 32:39 Regularly we hear proclaimed on TBN and God T.V., and from many pulpits: "Sickness is of the devil!"; "It is always the will of God for you to be healed!"; "Don't pray 'If it be Thy will!' Claim your healing! It is your right!"; "Demand your healing! You are a child of the King! Health is your birthright!"; "God can never be glorified by a sick body!"; "If you are not healed, then it's your own fault. It is either sin, or lack of faith, or a need for more seed money!" |
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The fact that you cannot normally see roots does not mean that they are not there. Roots drink in moisture and nourishment - and they spread. Because a root is something that is underground, it cannot normally be seen. But sometimes you can see visible evidence of their presence such as when they start to lift up driveways and pavements. |
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The number one reason for missionaries failing and giving up is interpersonal conflict. Interpersonal conflicts are a primary source of disruption in Christian ministries, missions and churches. |
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There is no doubt that animals will be in Heaven. The Bible is clear: “Now I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse…” Revelation 19:11. The Bible describes the angels around God’s throne as having features and characteristics like that of a lion, a bull and an eagle (Ezekiel 1). God Himself is likened in Scripture to a lion, a leopard, a bear (Hosea 13:7-8) and to an eagle (Deuteronomy 32:11). God made a good and perfect earth, populated by many animals. God directed Adam to name the animals – indicating relationship. |
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When many came to Jesus saying: "I will follow You wherever You go" (Luke 9:57), Jesus appeared to discourage them by emphasising the sacrifices and self-denial necessary. "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head" (Luke 9:58). "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). "…any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33). |
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“Then I saw an angel coming down from Heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the devil and satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and he cast him into the bottomless pit and shut him up and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more…” Revelation 20:1-3 God is Truth. God’s Word is Truth. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. “And war broke out in Heaven… that serpent of old, called the devil and satan who deceives the whole world…” Revelation 12:7 |
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Nigeria The militant Islamic Boko Haram movement has demanded that all Christians living in Northern Nigeria must leave. This comes amidst an escalation in terror attacks on churches throughout Northern Nigeria. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for at least 45 major terrorist attacks on Christians, including assassinations and bombings. |
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There are some people who believe in love at first sight. There was a man who was away from home when he dreamed a heavenly vision and believed that God spoke to him. One day he saw the girl of his dreams. He was captivated and enchanted by her. He was overwhelmed with emotion and convinced that God had guided him to the right place, at the right time, and to the right person. There was nothing he would not do for her. She was the love of his life and he went to her father and offered to serve seven years for her hand in marriage. |
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“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the Will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:15-20 |
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“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:15-17 |
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The Birkenhead On 26 February 1852, one of the worst naval disasters occurred off the coast of South Africa. Her Majesty's Ship Birkenhead struck a rock shelf and began to sink rapidly. The Birkenhead as carrying the 74th and the 78th Highlander Regiments. These were Scottish and Irish warriors whose regiments had distinguished themselves in every conflict from the Napoleonic Wars to the Crimea. Also on board with these troops were their wives and children. It became apparent that the foundering ship was going to sink. There were very few lifeboats aboard. Nevertheless, calm prevailed. |
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The year was A.D. 155. The persecution against the Christians had swept across the Roman Empire. It had come to the city of Smyrna. The Pro-Consul of Smyrna, swept up into this persecution, put out the order to arrest the Bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp. Polycarp was to be arrested and brought to the local Coliseum, for execution. Polycarp had been warned to flee, but he had decided not to. When the Romans found Polycarp, they asked: “Does Polycarp live here?” He said, “Yes, I am he.” |
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“I will give you two thousand horses – if you are able on your part to put riders on them!” Isaiah 36:8 This challenge was made by one of Sennacherib’s generals, Rabshakeh, during his speech demanding the surrender of Jerusalem. |
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“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and no not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10 |
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Creation Ordinance It is God’s Creation ordinance that man begins his week by submitting to God and humbly listening to His Word. Before the Fall of Adam and Eve into sin, mankind was to start his week with a Sabbath rest and worship. |
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God has promised “I will give water to the thirsty land, I will pour out My power on your children.” Isaiah 44:3 “Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen One in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1 |
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Oscar Wilde claimed that suffering proved that a good God does not govern the world. If God cannot stop the suffering, then He is not all powerful. If God will not stop the suffering then He cannot be good and loving. |
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Rob Bell’s no hell teaching has brought the subject up for international discussion. There is no doubt that the doctrine of Eternal Judgment is the most unpopular subject in the world. Whatever we say on the subject is bound to be misunderstood and misconstrued. |
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The betrayal, arrest, trial and execution of Jesus of Nazareth was unique. It was not His actions that were in question, but His identity. The charge laid against Christ by the Jewish Sanhedrin was blasphemy. The testimony on which He was convicted was concerned with His identity as the Messiah. The interrogation by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and the inscription and proclamation placed on His Cross at the execution, dealt with the identity of Christ as the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. |
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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3 The empty tomb of Christ has been the cradle of the Christian Church. From the very first day of its existence, the Christian Church has unitedly borne testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. |
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Dealing with the devil and his disciples is serious business. The evil spirits declared: “Jesus I know!” The Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, was, and is, certainly well known in hell. It was this Jesus whom satan tried to have killed as an infant in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:18-18). It was Jesus whom satan personally tempted in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). It was Jesus Christ whom the devil attempted to have thrown off a cliff at the beginning of his earthly ministry (Luke 4:28-30). It was satan who prompted Judas to betray Christ into the hands of the chief priests to have Him put to death (John 13:27-30; 18:1-3). |
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Anger flows out of perceived injustice. We are angry when we are mistreated, or when somebody we care about is wronged. The Scripture tells us not to let the sun go down on our wrath. To be careful that we do not allow our anger to lead us into sin. It is possible to be angry without sin, but it is all too easy to sin in our anger. |
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“I would never become a Christian! Look at all the hypocrites in the church! Look at all the scandals of tele-evangelists, the Health and Wealth preachers, the Name it! Claim it! Frame it! Hyper-faith prosperity preachers, two-faced frauds and conmen! I don’t want to be part of hypocrisy!” |
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The earthquake and tsunami in Japan has sparked numerous articles and programmes alternately blaming God for the disasters, or claiming that these disasters prove that God does not exist. Similarly with the AIDS plague. “A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord.” Proverbs 19:3 |
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There is nothing wrong with being cautious and careful when it comes to eternal matters. Indeed there is much in the world that we should be skeptical about. We should not be gullible. There is far too much superstition and ignorance in the world. We should carefully investigate and establish what the facts are. We need to have the courage to face the facts. |
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God gives the very best to those who leave the choice to Him. The Lord came that we may have life, and life in all its abundance. But the devil comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. One of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control (Galatians 6:8). A person who has no self control is like a city that is without walls, defenceless and easily plundered (Proverbs 25:28). |
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“Beware of the leaven of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. And I say to you: My friends do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear; fear Him, who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell. Yes, I say to you, fear Him!” Luke 12:1-5 There is probably no more detested vice than that of hypocrisy. And yet it is pervasive. |
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The man who pioneered mass production of motor vehicles, Henry Ford, said that the most successful person would be the one who would fill the greatest need the best. There is no doubt that Jesus Christ remains the greatest person who ever lived because He made the greatest sacrifice to fill the greatest need for the greatest number of people. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 |
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“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him…' When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. When they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2: 1-11 |
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The question of why there is evil in the world was never discussed by the ancient philosophers of Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece or Rome. They were polytheists who had a pantheon of gods. Evil was the result of conflicts between the gods. For example, the historical account of the war on Troy was reported by the Greeks as the result of jealously and rivalry between three goddesses. |
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“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Martin Luther observed that we exhibit a degree of thankfulness in life in reverse proportion to the amount of blessing we’ve received. In Tabletalk, Martin Luther wrote: “The greater God’s gifts and works, the less they are regarded.” The blessings of life, health, freedom and food are not really appreciated unless they are lost or threatened. Because sunrises and sunsets occur daily, they are taken for granted. |
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A Defining Moment The Reformation was a defining moment when the Christian convictions and courage of Reformers, such as Dr. Martin Luther, met the crossroads of decision and engaged the battle fields of belief and behaviour. Decisive Action Their decisive actions were blessed by God with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which made the Protestant Reformation one of the greatest movements for Faith and freedom in history. |
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“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. „For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways?, says the Lord. „For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts?.” Isaiah 55:6-11 How can you tell the difference between real guilt and false guilt? Corporate Guilt or Personal Responsibility? We live in an age of guilt manipulation, where many reject the concept of an objective standard of right and wrong. Yet, while denying personal responsibility, many will accuse whole nations of corporate guilt. |
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“And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the Resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:4 |
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A Travesty of Justice The trial of Jesus was a travesty of justice. It is a terrifying thing to be judged by a mob. Can you imagine being judged by your worst enemies? |
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Discerning the Voice of God In order to understand the Will of God, it is essential that we recognise the Voice of God. We cannot do His Will if we cannot discern His Voice from the clamour of peer pressure, the noise of the world and the cacophony of our emotions. Our Duty to Hear One of the persistent commands in Scripture is for us to listen to God and to hear His Word: “Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord, the God of your fathers has promised you…” Deuteronomy 6:3 |
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Some people see Christianity as some kind of intellectual suicide. A blind leap of faith. However, Christianity is a reasonable Faith. It is based on incontrovertible, historical facts. Christianity is not a blind leap into the dark. It is an intelligent step into the light. There is nothing virtuous about gullibility. We are not proclaiming faith in faith. It is all too possible to be sincerely wrong. Our faith needs to be in the facts that God has revealed in Scripture and in Creation. |
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In 1815 all of Europe agonized in suspense waiting for news of the impending battle between the Duke of Wellington and the French emperor Napoleon. For over 25 years Europe had been convulsed by the French Revolution, the mass executions of French nobles, the guillotine, and two decades of Napoleonic wars, which had turned all of Europe into a battlefield. And, just when they had thought that the threat was over, with Napoleon defeated and in exile on Elba, Napoleon had returned, mustered a huge army and marched to destroy the British Army under the Duke of Wellington. People waited in great anticipation for news of the critical battle, which would decide the future of all of them. |
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All too often the Cross is seen as the "national flag" of the church. The Cross was never meant to be the mere nostalgic symbol of a religious system. Neither is the Cross a signpost. The Cross was not meant to re-direct our lives, but to end them. The Cross is not an ornament, but an instrument of death! |
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