Embassy of Heaven

Newsletter Archive

 

Midnight Rider Newsletter

May-Jun, Year of Our Lord, 1999
Number 993

What's Inside


Hope to see you at the Preparedness Show

July 8, 9, 10, and 11, 1999 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza - Hall C.
Phoenix, Arizona


Suffering for Christ

Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I myself have founded empires; But upon what do these creations of our genius depend? UPON FORCE.

Jesus alone founded His empire upon LOVE; and to this very day millions would die for Him.

- Napoleon -

 

napoleon

Dear Friends,

May His Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.

There will come a time when your allegiance to Jesus Christ will not be tolerated. You will be forcibly injected with behavior modifying drugs to make you weak and submissive. For Amos Lamb, that time has come.

On the evening of March 4, 1999, Amos Lamb was on his way home from a meeting hosted by Homer Fletcher, who pastors an unregistered Church in Kentucky. Suddenly red and blue lights flashed in his rearview mirror.

The Kingdom of Heaven plates on the back of his vehicle had attracted the attention of the local patrol. Lamb was unable to show State papers. The only identification he carries is issued by the Church. The confrontation ended with the arrest of Amos Lamb. He was taken to Calloway County jail in Murray, Kentucky.

Needles to change one's beliefsHe was imprisoned for two months. As though that wasn't enough, he was then sent to Western State Hospital. A psychiatrist had assured the court that six weeks of drug treatment would change Lamb's beliefs.

At the mental hospital, Lamb was forced down on a bed and shot up with Prolixin, a dangerous drug designed to modify behavior.

After 76 days in custody, Amos Lamb is back home with his family. But all is not well. According to his wife, "Amos is not the same man as when he left us. They have made a weak, submissive man of him. This is not my husband at all."

The results of the drug last four to six weeks, but some of the side effects can be permanent. Lamb has been struggling with a host of bizarre symptoms. He is having trouble staying awake and his muscles contort uncontrollably. His right arm shakes and at times he must hold his hand over his mouth to keep from drooling.

Amos Lamb is not the first to be tortured for his beliefs. Nor will he be the last. Antichrist will always be at war with the Kingdom of God.

Amos Lamb has been praying that he would be used as an instrument for Christ. He believes that his suffering has been an answer to this prayer. He has touched the lives of dozens of people within the hostile walls of men's institutions. But that is only the beginning. We pray his suffering motivates many others to "come out from among them, and be ye separate" (2 Corinthians 6:17).

This is not Nazi Germany. This is not Russia. This is happening in our own backyard.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Romans 8:35-37

Amos Lamb Tortured for Christ

Since when should Christians feel threatened by simple traffic stops? Amos Lamb was going about the Lord's business on March 4, 1999. He had been fellowshiping with some other believers at a preacher's house. They were discussing how to live in the liberty of Christ's kingdom. On his way home, he was detained and arrested because he could not produce State papers.

Amos Lamb is a rare man today. Though he is in his forties, he has never had a social security number and was educated at home. Amos's Dad was an itinerant preacher who lived what he believed. Though it confounded his neighbors, he labored without a social security number. "It's the mark of the beast," he'd say to anyone who asked.

In the 1940's, he had applied for a job and was told, "You can't work for us unless you have a social security number."

After much prayer, he had a revelation. "You'll not be able to buy nor sell without the mark of the beast. Ah ha! This must be it," he exclaimed.

In the 1960's he removed his children from the government schools. This forced the family to move from place to place. They could not settle down because everywhere they went, someone would report them.

Undaunted, Amos has followed in his Dad's footsteps, living by faith, without a social security number and home educating his children. He and his wife, Shari, live a simple life in rural Kentucky with their four children, Jedediah (14), Laura Beth (13), Joanna (12) and Zachary (8).

Amos quit using a State driver license when a social security number became a requirement. He didn't have much trouble until he removed the State tags from his vehicle. He replaced them with Kingdom of Heaven license plates, advertising His separation from the Beast.

Hauled to Jail

His first serious confrontation began on that dark night in March. When the police demanded to see Amos's papers, Amos had no documents issued by the State. All of Amos's papers identified him as a citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20).

Amos was hauled to the Calloway County jail in Murray, Kentucky. He remained imprisoned for the next two and a half months.

The court said they would let Amos out of jail. But they wanted Amos to sign a Release Agreement, promising to make court appearances. Amos declined. He knew he could not make agreements with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:16-18).

So Amos sat in jail and talked about the way of Christ to anyone who would listen. On March 8, he was hauled to an arraignment where it was decided that Amos should be sent to Western State Hospital for a mental evaluation. Upon examination, the Medical Director, Marco Baquero, M.D., came to the conclusion that Amos Lamb was incompetent to stand trial. Baquero had the gall to call Lamb's belief in the Kingdom of Heaven "delusions."

At the next court event, Leslie Furches took the bench. She expressed concern for Amos's mental state. Baquero was pleased to give his professional opinion.

"Your honor," he said, "Amos Lamb is incompetent to stand trial. He is very religiously preoccupied. He denies hearing voices but he carries a Bible with him and says he reads the Word of God every day and follows the Word. . . . He is severely mentally ill and in need of commitment to a state facility in order to obtain competency." He assured the judge that after six weeks of his drug therapy, Amos Lamb would be more than happy to get a state driver's license. In other words, this doctor thought that forcing drugs into Amos Lamb would cause him to abandon his beliefs.

The judge was not convinced and ordered a second evaluation by another mental health professional. Amos told this man the same thing he had told Dr. Baquero. This evaluator returned a very favorable report on Amos and affirmed that he did not have mental problems.

The judge now had two opinions with opposite conclusions. She ordered another evaluation at the mental hospital. During this third evaluation, Amos kept his mouth shut. The evaluation could not be completed and Amos was sent back to jail.

Amos Lamb sentenced to drug therapy!Drug Injections Ordered

May 6 was a day that would change Amos Lamb's life forever. It started off dull and routine. At the hearing, a court-appointed attorney resigned after Amos explained that Jesus was his only mediator.

Leslie Furches felt she had been patient, but Amos used Jesus as his defense for EVERYTHING! If Lamb would only cooperate, she could move ahead. But he stood firm in his convictions. "I am a creation of God, not the State," Amos explained.

But Leslie Furches had heard enough. Obviously, Amos Lamb did not "understand the severity of the offense," and jail was not producing the desired effect.

When Amos Lamb tried to make a simple name correction, Furches came unglued. She sentenced Lamb to SIXTY DAYS of Dr. Bacquero's promised drug therapy!

At Western State Hospital, Amos spent several days resting comfortably. The nurses assured him that he was mentally stable and needed no treatment. Amos found time to pray and preach in this relaxed atmosphere.

Then suddenly on the morning of May 11, 1999, all hell broke loose. Three big bruisers pounced on Amos and slammed him on a bed.

"What's going on?" Amos exclaimed. He knew by the iron grips of his assailants that something unpleasant was coming his way. A nurse was preparing a long needle with 100 milligrams of Prolixin.

In the midst of the confusion, Amos pleaded with them. "It says in your papers that I have the right to be informed as to what you are going to do. What happened to informed consent?"

"Court orders," the nurse growled.

"Wait a minute," cried Amos. "You said I didn't need to be treated! If the court ordered you to cut someone's arm off, would you do it, even if you knew it wasn't needed?"

Getting no response, he continued. "What are you treating me for anyway?"

Someone hollered, "Well, buddy, you're mentally ill."

A moment later the drug-filled needle was forced into his posterior. There was nothing Amos could do to stop it.

Drugs used to change beliefs

After the damage was done, things relaxed. Amos took the opportunity to inquire about the injection. The nurses told him that he had been injected with a hundred milligrams of Prolixin.

According to the Physician's Desk Reference, Prolixin's side effects include damage to the liver, eyes and nerves. Some of the damage can be irreversible. A single injection is effective for 4 to 6 weeks.

DeeAnne Conger, a mental health nurse, heard about the incident and gave her professional opinion. She said, "Amos is not being treated. He is being tortured."

She went on to say that patients on prolixin can experience extreme muscle contortions. "They walk like robots," she said. "If this treatment continues, Amos Lamb's motor skills could be damaged to such an extent that he will not be able to drive a car again, ever."

Shari Lamb contacted a local doctor for help. The physician would not intervene, but said, "Don't worry. They won't give Amos any drugs that will harm him."

Court Seals Records

On May 19, 1999, Amos Lamb was released and allowed to return to his family. The court records have been sealed and the judge is refusing to allow inspection of the file.

When the hospital records were examined, there was no indication that any drugs were injected into Amos Lamb. During a later contact, the hospital modified their story and claimed that Amos Lamb received a different drug called Haloperidol. Since then, the hospital has changed their story several times. They recently told a reporter that Amos received NO DRUGS.

Homer Fletcher, the preacher, believes they are covering up everything and lying about what has been done. He said that Amos Lamb called him on the day he was injected with Prolixin. He even spelled out the name.

Though Amos spent 76 days in custody, his suffering is far from over. We still do not know what additional side effects he will have from the drugs.

Through his entire ordeal, reports kept coming in that Amos was in good spirits and at peace. He was not interested in compromising his beliefs to get out of jail. Instead he chose to suffer for His allegiance to Christ. His wife Shari wrote us, "Amos will stand to the end, even if they kill him. This is a conviction with him, not a preference."

We have posted the names, home addresses and phone numbers of Randy Hutchens, prosecutor; and Leslie Furches, Judge, on the internet at www.EmbassyOfHeaven.com. Also posted is Amos Lamb's mental evaluation by Marco Baquero, newspaper articles, an audio interview with Amos and Shari Lamb and additional information.

Be Ye Separate

"I can't stand going to work anymore." These were the exasperated words of a friend of mine. "I know what the Lord is calling me to do," she said, "but every moment of my working day is committed to my employer."

My friend is reaching the end of her rope. Every day she faces difficult customers, including local police. Her working day is spent serving the world, leaving her drained and tired. Her heart yearns to work for the Kingdom of Heaven, but a vicious cycle of expenses and debt drive her further and further into slavery.

I thought about her situation and said, "All I know is that I would rather be poor with heavenly riches than work for the devil and live in comfort. If we are content with a humble lifestyle, then having enough is a feast." I suggested that my friend get out of debt and then quit her job.

She agreed, but was not yet satisfied. "But where do I begin?" she asked.

Three Levels of Separation

What do you do when you realize the whole world lies in wickedness? (1 John 5:19) How do you go about separating?

To separate doesn't necessarily mean to keep apart physically. According to Webster's 1828 dictionary, the word separate means to disunite, to divide, to sever. To separate implies leaving something you were once a part of. As followers of Christ, we are called to separate from everything which is not approved by our Heavenly Father. He wants us pure and unspotted from the world (James 1:27).

Separation is done at three levels. It is similar to refining gold. During the first stage, big hunks of impurities are separated out. Then in the next stages, more imperfections are removed until you have a finely polished bar of gold. That's just what the Father wants with us. And it takes several swipes until we are finally unspotted from the world.

Purifying Gold

The first stage of separation is simply separation from outward sin. The next level is separation from the thoughts of sin. The third stage is separation from organizations that promote sin.

Jesus starts off His ministry by commanding separation. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent! for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). In other words, change your direction. Stop pleasing self and start pleasing God. Apostle Paul says it this way, "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22).

This first level of separation, from sin itself, is even taught by the churches that are in harlotry with the State. Most people, if they try, can comply, at least outwardly.

Most people never get beyond this personal level of cleaning the outside of the cup. But Jesus goes even further. And this is where it starts getting to be a rough road.

Jesus also requires separating from even the thoughts of sin. On this second level, we purge even our desire to sin. We don't just stop doing it. We stop THINKING about it.

Years ago a Godly preacher tried to teach me this higher level of repentance. He caught me pulling a prank. I was about 14 and attending a Church camp. I hated being awakened early in the morning by the sound of the bell, so I found a ladder and removed the rope from the bell so it could not ring. Then the camp started using car horns to wake us. But I disconnected the horns.

Finally, I got caught in the very act by this preacher. As he walked me back to my cabin, I told him how sorry I was. The preacher paused and looked me straight in the eyes, "Paul, are you sorry because you got caught, or are you sorry because it was wrong?"

He knew that if I was sorry merely because I got nabbed, I would be pulling another prank at my first opportunity. But if I was sorry because I knew it was wrong, I would change my ways. This is Godly sorrow.

Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). "Be born again." That's a little different from merely repenting. We cannot be merely born of the flesh. We must also be born of the Spirit. Through this new birth of the spirit, we enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, into God's government. It means putting away the old man with all his lusts and desires and becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus. This is a rough one, but it doesn't stop there.

The next level of separation is not just separating from sin, but separating from organizations that promote sin. Have no connection with them. This includes nations where men are lording over other men and making laws in defiance of God's Word.

Look at what Apostle Paul says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). Here we see that we are going to be separating from whole nations because they are not of Christ. And if we do that, we have a warning: "He that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey" (Isaiah 59:15).

Anyone who attempts to separate from the nations, will become a prey for the world to attack. Jesus says, "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19).

The Whole WorldThat's a difficult one. We are called to be a holy nation, a people set apart from the nations of the world (1 Peter 2:9). Most people know when they hear the command to "come out" that they must disconnect from all the flag-waving nations of the world because they have all rejected Christ. But where do they go? How do they separate when every place they work and everywhere they go, they are surrounded by people who belong to the devil?

Leaving Worldly Employment

The nations have divided up the whole world into territories. They want to control all our activities. That is our number one problem. But all is not futile. There are some things we can do to separate before that hour when God throws the unrighteous in the lake of fire. First, we can quit working in their offices. That means don't take jobs offered by the world system. We are commanded to work, but we are commanded to work for God. Everything we do in word and deed, we do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17).

If the job requires a social security number, you know they want to entangle you in their wicked system. They want to make sure you belong to them. They don't want Christ's people working in their ranks.

When you start looking at the jobs available, it looks almost hopeless. You can't be employed by the cities or states or the federal government and be separate. You can't even work for a corporation because they get their life from the Antichrist beast system.

There are many jobs you cannot fill. You have to come out. You cannot be participating with them. The reason is that you must agree to work under their terms. You belong to Christ. How can Christ make an agreement with Belial? You can't do it. How can you tie the two together? You cannot. Christ will not share the throne with those who are in rebellion to Him (Psalm 94:20). How can two walk together unless they be agreed? (Amos 3:3).

The most popular passage in the Scripture on separation says, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

This passage means you cannot be employed by the world system. You can offer your services, but don't bind yourself to them. If you are employed by them, complete your obligations and then quit. Come out. Work in faith.

Get Out of Debt

Another area to separate from is the banking/credit system. Making agreements with the banks causes indebtedness. You are beholden to the bank when you take out a loan. "The borrower is servant to the lender" (Proverbs 22:7). You think you are obtaining financial assistance. In reality, you are the one actually being purchased. The bank gains a financial interest in you. Because of your agreements, you are forced to work to pay off your debt to them.

In the Kingdom of Heaven, everything you do is in cash. When you receive funds, you transfer them from the world system into the Lord's treasury. You owe no one anything but the continuing debt to love one another (Romans 13:8).

Leaving State Employment

I remember many years ago when I received the call to come out from my State job with the Department of Transportation. My wife, Rachel, said, "No problem. I've got a really great State job and I'll support us both."

Our first child and no jobI was going to rely on my wife. That shows how much faith I had! I didn't have any faith. Shortly after I quit, my wife lost her job. It was a done deal. I had no job. Rachel had no job. The business we had started hadn't brought in even a dime. Then the Lord blessed us with our first child, Brooke. It took us six months before we saw any funds come in. We subsisted mainly on brown rice, beans and some fruit we had canned. I think we were PUSHED into leaving the State. It was God's idea in order to get us out of the system.

Working in the Kingdom of Heaven

There are so many who are hesitant to quit their corporate employment. For us, it has been 20 years since we took that step and started walking in faith. The Lord has escorted us through some major attacks. And the Lord continues to look after us. He is ever faithful.

We belong to God. We do not belong to those who have rejected God. That does not mean we cannot talk and associate with these people. Not at all! But we don't make agreements with them. Instead, we work in the Kingdom of Heaven laboring at the work God shows us to do.

In the beginning, it may look hopeless. Before you can leave the system, you will need to pay off all your debts and simplify your life. Then you can quit being an employee. As you diligently work by faith, you will see job opportunities opening up. God has given you gifts that can be used to advance the Kingdom of Heaven. You will discover them as you seek first His Kingdom. Go after the Kingdom first, then all the other things you need will be provided.

Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

Debt-Free in a Year

As we were coming out, our goal was to be debt-free in a year and a day. We had purchased property with a 10-year land sale contract. By diligently applying extra funds to the principal, we paid off the loan in a little over a year. It was a challenge to see just how cheaply we could live and still enjoy the "things" that money can't buy.

Treasures in Heaven

The best "things" in life aren't things.

 

 

 

We cut up all our credit cards and used only cash. Except for special occasions, we stopped eating out. We started buying wholesome foods in bulk and cooking from scratch. We avoided meat. This cut our food bills by one-third. We applied the savings to the loan.

We bought our clothing used. Mostly we made do or did without. We bicycled to work to save gas. We made lists of things we needed, instead of "going shopping." When we finally did go to the store, we revised our lists, eliminating or postponing as many items as possible. We learned to make our own music on the guitar, instead of buying records.

When we weakened, we reassured ourselves that these were only temporary cutbacks until we were out of debt. Slashing our costs had become a game.

Our biggest expense was rent. In the late spring, God opened an opportunity for us to caretake a summer camp. We moved from our apartment to a small travel trailer in the country. Eating from our large garden and being liberated from rent, we quickly paid off the remaining loan. At last, after about fifteen months, we were debt-free. Surprisingly, even after we were out of debt, we kept these frugal habits. And life was a lot more fun.

Readers RespondReaders Respond
 

Dear Pastor Paul,

Greetings to all at the Embassy of Heaven fellowship in the name of Jesus Christ. I'd like to share with you a quick testimony regarding your cleansing booklet.

Two weeks ago I came down with a severe pain in my abdomen, not to mention my back - everywhere really! I called some friends and asked for prayer. They both agreed that it sounded like I had a gall bladder attack. Well, I got better the next day and kind of did a "Jonah". I "ran" from the fact that I needed to do the gall bladder cleanse. I said to myself, "I feel fine now. I'll do the cleanse if I ever get another attack."

Well the Lord found Jonah, and he found me, too. A week later I talked with a friend that had his gall bladder taken out. Then I began to really look forward to doing the cleanse, instead of avoiding it.

Anyway, I started the cleanse. Just as your booklet says, I had a fairly uncomfortable third night. But, oh man! The next day I must have passed at least 50 gallstones. I could not understand how my gall bladder even functioned with all the stones I had to pass. Praise the Lord for your booklet. I look forward to doing the cleanse again soon just to make sure I've gotten them all. Thanks and God bless.

CG - North CarolinaCleanse or Surgery


The Keys to the Kingdom of HeavenEmbassy of Heaven

What We Believe

We are a peculiar people living in obedience to the simple teachings of Jesus Christ. We are Christ's ambassadors and citizens of Heaven, called out of the world to preach Heaven's message (2 Corinthians 5:20, Philippians 3:20 and 2 Corinthians 6:17).

The ancient scriptures say that the Kingdom of Heaven is coming someday. The new testament proclaims that the Kingdom has arrived! Jesus didn't bring us a RELIGION. He brought us a NATIONALITY. (John 1:12,13)

History of Our Nation

Kingdom of Heaven Predicted

The Scriptures foretold that God would set up an everlasting kingdom:

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven SET UP A KINGDOM.

Daniel 2:44

Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. . . . But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.

Daniel 7:14,18

And the kingdom . . . shall be GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

Daniel 7:27

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the GOVERNMENT shall be upon his shoulder . . . to order it, and to establish it.

Isaiah 9:6, 7

Kingdom Arrives

Jesus began His public ministry urging men to turn from sin and unto God:

The TIME IS FULFILLED, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 1:15

And it came to pass afterward, that he (Jesus) went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him.

Luke 8:1

Government of Service

Jesus explained that in the governments of the world, men lord it over other men. But those in His Kingdom are not to participate in such activities. In His government, we serve one another:

The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. BUT YE SHALL NOT BE SO: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger: and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Luke 22:25,26

Kingdom Handed to Apostles

In the year 33 A.D., Jesus Christ handed the Kingdom of Heaven to his followers at Jerusalem as prophesied at Daniel 2:44 and 7:27:

I APPOINT UNTO YOU A KINGDOM, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 22:29-30

Jesus Dies for His Nation

Less than 24 hours after delegating His Father's Government to the apostles, the kingdoms of this world crucified our King. By shedding His blood, a nation was born.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, IT IS FINISHED! and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

John 19:30

Jesus Predicts Kingdom of God

At the Last Supper, Jesus predicted that He would eat and drink with the apostles in the Kingdom of God:

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, UNTIL THE KINGDOM OF GOD SHALL COME.

Luke 22:15-18 (Also see Mark 9:1)

Confirmation of the Kingdom

Then Jesus rose from the dead, and He did "eat" and "drink" with the apostles. This act confirmed that the kingdom of God had truly come.

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did EAT AND DRINK WITH HIM after he rose from the dead.

Acts 10:39-41

God's Government Now Available

Fifty days later, the Holy Spirit fell upon Christ's followers at Jerusalem. Receiving power from on High, the apostles continued in their Master's steps, preaching the glad tidings of God's government:

Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:38

Then came Philip into a city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. . . . And there was great joy in that city. . . . As soon as they believed Philip's preaching of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women.

Acts 8:5,8,12. Tyndale

The law and the prophets reigned until the time of John: and since that time, the kingdom of God is preached, and every man striveth to go in.

Luke 16:16 Tyndale

Incorporated in Christ

Jesus is God (John 1:1-14). From Him we receive our life:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me.

John 14:6

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:5

Code of Conduct

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5 - 7) describes a new way that was from the beginning. The Code of Conduct is summed up in the Golden Rule:

All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 7:12

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:12

Seeking God's Government First

The first priority of our lives is to seek His Kingdom:

Therefore take no thought saying: what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? After all these things seek the gentiles. For your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But rather SEEK YE FIRST the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be ministered unto you.

Matthew 6:31-33 Tyndale

Come, follow Me

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32


Putting Mortgage Payments in High Gear

If you are straddled with a mortgage, consider letting the bank foreclose and then starting over with a simpler, debt-free living arrangement. This might be your best choice if you are looking at 20 or 30 years of debt. However, if your loan is not too large, you might be able to make extra payments and get out faster.

Let's say you have a $30,000 loan at 7 percent for 20 years. If you double your payments, you will finish in far less than half the time. You'll be out-of-debt in less than seven years. If you can't afford to double your payments, how about throwing in an extra $100 each month. You'll cut your payment period from 20 years down to less than 11 years. If you were able to come up with one prepayment of $5,000, you would cut off 14 years and 7 months on the loan. You would be debt-free in 5 years and 5 months.

Initial Loan Data

Principal: 30,000 Interest %: 7.00 Years: 20

Monthly Payment: 232.59 Total Interest: 25,821.43


Prepayment Data

Monthly Prepayment: 232.00 Savings: 18,204.96

Term Shortened by: 13 years 3 months


Prepayment Data

Monthly Prepayment: 100.00 Savings: 13,222.87

Term Shortened by: 9 years, 3 months


Prepayment Data

One-time Prepayment: 5,000 Savings: 20,836.27

Term Shortened by: 14 Years 7 months


Only Christ Will Last Forever

This one life,
     Will soon be past.
Only what's done
     for Christ will last.