The Anabaptist Voice
05/14/2008

Warm greetings to you, dear friend, 

       How are you?  We pray God our Father is blessing you.  It had been quite hot here, around 90, and our air conditioner had been going most every day.  This afternoon the temperature went down to 52 degrees because it rained a bit.  It was so wonderful to hear the sound of rain.  It is a special treat for us here in the desert.
       Last Sunday was Mother’s Day and Michi received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from her son David, and letters and phone calls from her other three sons.  Naomi gave her the beautiful Swedish weave that she made (see photo of Naomi with her three birds).  Michi is blessed with wonderful grandchildren, wonderful children, a wonderful husband and wonderful God our Father.  We attended the CDO church Mother’s Day picnic at a park on Sunday where we had lovely fellowship (see photo below).
       Michi and Naomi went to worship the Lord on Monday at Linda Dowdle’s house.  They had brunch there also because a lady named Greta is moving to Texas.  The Lord gives her visions which she shares with the ladies there.  Michi and Naomi will miss her because she reaches out to Michi and Naomi so she is special to them.
       Our family is all well, thanks to God our Father.  Naomi receives text messages on her cell phone from her brothers who encourage her to do more exercise.  Naomi is again learning to walk with crutches and this morning she and Michi went to the mailbox to mail some letters with Michi holding her belt in case she falls.  She did fall but because Michi was holding her belt, she fell gently.  The next-door lady was walking her dog and she helped us, so Naomi could get up. 

How to Be Stress Free!

       Stress is a state of tension that is created when a person responds to the demands and pressures that come from work, family and other external sources, as well as those that are internally generated from self imposed demands, obligations and self-criticism.  Stress is a major contributing factor either directly or indirectly to the leading causes of death:  coronary artery disease, cancer, respiratory disorders, accidental injuries, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide. 
       The world offers a number of ways to relieve stress such as the use of drugs, herbs, counseling, and so on.  The kingdom of God offers a completely different way of relieving stress:  become and live as a child of God.  A little child who is well loved doesn’t have stress, he depends on his parents to take care of him and so he is content.  We see that in the book of Psalms where David frequently relates to God as his father, casting his cares on Him.
       Peter teaches, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.”  (1 Peter 5:6-7)
       Jesus tells us, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  (Mt 8:3)
       When a person views themselves as a child of God and knows that God loves him, then he can rest stress free in His love and care.  Then he can truly experience that life in the kingdom of God is one of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  (Rom 14:17)
       So when things become stressful, run to your heavenly Father and hide in His care.  And of course if you always stay under His wing you will never have any cares, any stress.

How To Be a Child of God

       Simply live your daily life as taught by Jesus in the New Testament.  And that is only possible if His Spirit is living in you and giving you the ability and power to live a holy life.
       Jesus calls, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  (Mt 11:28-29)

A Small Group Bible Study Method

       A popular and fruitful method of group Bible study for serious, mature Christians is the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) which involves reading a Bible passage three times with a pause for private prayer, meditation and sharing between each reading.  It works best in a group of between four and eight people who are seeking the kingdom of God and are open to the Holy Spirit speaking to them.  A humble group leader coordinates the process and facilitates sharing. 
       The same text from the Scriptures is read out three times, followed each time by a period of silence and an opportunity for each member of the group to share the fruit of her or his meditation, what they heard or feel the Spirit saying.
       Anyone may “pass” at any time.  If instead of sharing with the group you prefer to pray silently, simply state this aloud and conclude your silent prayer with Amen.  This method requires a peaceful, quiet place where there are few distractions or disturbances.  It also requires people who are able to control their pride and resist the desire to dominate the meetings.  The leader’s role is to facilitate a quiet time for hearing from the Holy Spirit.

Our Renton Home Fellowship

      Beginning in January 1979 we hosted a weekly small group meeting in our home in Renton, Washington, a Seattle suburb.  Don had previously attended a year long weekly training sessions at our church, Faith Tabernacle, and was selected to be one of the home fellowship leaders.  The weekly meetings started out rather small but grew and by 1982 we were having 40 to 55 people in our home meetings, and not just from Faith Tabernacle but from various churches.  For example, on 4/2/1982 we had 24 adults, 20 youth and 11 children meeting in our house.  About 75 people came one afternoon for a wedding renewal ceremony of one of our couples.
       Our home meetings started at 7:30 pm and usually included about 30 minutes of singing, 30 minutes of Bible study (led by various members), 30 minutes of sharing, 15 minutes of prayer and an hour of fellowship.  We occasionally had an outside speaker come in, including Michi’s uncle who was the Superintend of the Church of the Nazarene in Japan.  The youth and children met in different rooms.  We generally had a pot luck meal the first Saturday of each month and sometimes would go out to a restaurant together or to a park.  We took up collections to help those in our group who were in need and also we would go help someone in their home.
       The year long training that Don attended stressed the role of the group leader.  His job was to encourage fellowship, see that the meetings started on time, ended on time, and that the sharing stayed on the subject, and to gently quiet excessive talkers.  He was to encourage the sharing by asking questions and be careful not to share more than anyone else.  We were to be as Jesus taught in Matthew 23:12, we were all brothers and sisters, all equal, a very challenging and difficult concept for most leaders. 

Is This Your Christianity?

       On page 4 of Leo Tolstoy’s book ‘The Kingdom of God Is Within You’ it is written: “We do not acknowledge allegiance to any human government.  We recognize but one King and Lawgiver, one Judge and Ruler of mankind.  Our country is the world, our countrymen are all mankind.  We love the land of our nativity only as we love all other lands.  The interests and rights of American citizens are not dearer to us than those of the whole human race.  Hence we can allow no appeal to patriotism to revenge any national insult or injury…”
       Do you think that this is the Christianity taught by Jesus?  Remember that God is love and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them.  (1 John 4:16)

Disobedience Means Unbelief

       “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  (John 3:36)
       “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?  So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.”  (Heb 3:18-19)
       Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him…  If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”  (John 14:21-24, 14:15, 15:10)
       Now, dear friend, may the Lord God strengthen your heart so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.  (1 Thess 3:13)

Your Pentecostal Anabaptist brother and sisters in Christ,

Don, Michi and Naomi Murphy
Tucson, AZ, phone 520-297-1639
Don@AnabaptistChurch.org

"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  (Ephesians 2:10)

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