Page 2 - Good News Okt2007 paper

n 1848 London was stricken sin can plunge us into the prevent evil thoughts, but we are
with a devastating cholera depression of guilt. A frantic under no obligation to nurture
Iepidemic. No one knew the busyness or the laziness of them.
cause of the disease. Panic was leisure can dull the heart with We must test our thoughts by
widespread. apathy toward God. God's Word. If we let seeds of
Dr. John Snow, studying the We have all met people whose unbelief, lust, or sin linger to
deaths of 89 people in one week spiritual lives have been side- germinate, we reap their grim
in a certain district of the city, tracked and crippled by failing harvest of an enfeebled faith.
discovered that all but two of to guard their hearts diligently. It Finally, we must fellowship with
these drank from the Broad could easily happen to us. God's people in order to keep
Street Well. How then are we to guard our our well sweet. There is a
When asked his advice in an hearts? Several principles are cleansing, renewing effect from
emergency meeting of con- essential. the encouragement and lifting
cerned leaders, Snow sugges- First, we must confess sin just faith of other Christians
ted, "Take the handle off the as soon as the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Broad Street pump." It was done convicts us. We cannot afford to Is Christ in your heart? Are you
and the epidemic in that quarter allow it to filter into our hearts. forcing Him to live among filth?
of the city ceased. We can receive God's cleansing If we allow Him, He will cleanse
But removing the pump handle immediately (1 John 1:9). our hearts. As we love Him, we
didn't solve the fundamental Second, we must refuse to will guard our hearts with all
problem. Sewage was seeping harbour a grudge. Jesus diligence from anything that will
into the well, poisoning it. The teaches that immediate forgive- prevent them from being places
Well had to be protected from ness and reconciliation are fit for the King. - Dr. Ralph F.
contamination to secure a safe mandatory for His disciples Wilson
water supply for the future. (Matthew 5:23-24; Mark 11:25). http://www.joyfulheart.com/
The Bible pictures the heart as a To delay is to invite bitterness maturity/pump.htm
spring or well. Proverbs 4:23 within.
exhorts us, "Keep your heart Third, we must be quick to
with all vigilance, for from it flow humble ourselves. Humility
the springs of life" (RSV). never hurts relationships; pride
Sewage in the heart poisons the always does. Pride barricades
whole life. the heart against God's voice.
We must be continually on our Fourth, we must turn away
guard against the subtle wrong thoughts at the door.
spiritual sewage that would Martin Luther once said, "You
trickle in and pollute. A hurt, an cannot stop a bird from flying
offense, can fill us with over your head, but you can stop
bitterness. A hint of gossip can it from making a nest in your
finish a friendship. A repeated hair." We may not be able to

Dutch Astrologer Finds Jesus

well-known Dutch astrologer turned to Christ weekly follow-up talks. "When I met him, he was
several months before he died. This is exhausted, and asked our help to find peace," Leen
Areported by evangelist Leen van Slooten in said. "There were many people who hated him,
the Dutch edition of Joel News. Simon Suiker, a because it turned out that he had taped a number of
former barber's assistant and practising clair- his telephone consultations with powerful people,
voyant, was consulted by top politicians, business and was accused of having sold these tapes to a
people, lawyers and soccer players. The astrologer, journalist. He was crying when he asked forgiveness
who was on drugs, led a homosexual lifestyle, and and mentioned all the names of the people with
was diagnosed HIV-positive, was in hospital for whom he had a troubled relationship to God."
surgery, and heard from a good friend that her sister, "He read a lot in the Bible, and during our visits we
Joyce Bootsma, had found Jesus. shared the Lord's Supper," said team member
Suiker was desperate. "I'm searching for God, and Mauritz Dijkgraaf. "Simon told us:
sometimes pray through the night. I really need to 'God has warned me several
talk to your sister," he said. At first Joyce was hesi- times to get out of the occult
tant to visit the astrologer, but she felt God wanted because it would ruin me, and it's
her to go to the hospital and pray with him. At his bed His grace that I finally got out.'"
she led him to Jesus. "He was convinced that he had Source: Leen van Slooten and
to break with his occult activities," Joyce said. team, Joel News International, JNI
Leen van Slooten and his team visited Suiker for 605

We are just days away from a powerful of Jerusalem, and minister peace to all of
moment, when Christians in every nation her inhabitants, Jew and Arab alike.
across the planet will join in faith and Sunday 7 October 2007 has been
unity to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. designated as the Global Day of Prayer
This massive prayer initiative, one of the for the Peace of Jerusalem by well over
largest in Church history, has now been 1 000 global Christian leaders.
reported by major news outlets around Although there will be a Jerusalem
the world. The Jerusalem Celebration of Celebration of this day carried live on
the Day of Prayer for the Peace of GOD TV around the world, the real thrust
Jerusalem will be carried live into 192 of the initiative is on the local church
nations on God TV. level.
Literally, in every corner of the planet, Please BE SURE that your church is
churches are preparing to stand in participating! There are resources such
agreement with Psalm 122, and with one as posters and prayer cards for your
another in hope, and pray for God's local church available on the web at
presence and peace to flood the streets http://www.daytopray.com