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| "Notes from the Vine"
Our monthly newsletter
March 2010

A message of
warning!!!
Praise the LORD!!!
I pray that all
are well and growing in their faith. For truly I am greatly concerned, for the
many that claim faith in JESUS CHRIST. For there are many out there that would
enlist you to follow their words and teaching and not that of the
MASTER!!! I’ve been spending a lot of
time online as of late; due to the weather here is south Texas. I’ve over five
hundred follower/friends on the two largest social networks and they all know
that I’m a Christian and proud of this fact. If you’re reading this, there is a
high likelihood that you’ve come here from knowledge of me or the ministry at
one of these sites. Then again it could be from one of the other dozen or so
that I visit and post on also.
I have a good
number of people that request I enlist them as friends, which usually I will
do, after just briefly checking out their personal sites. With the current
state of the ministry’s computer, I’m limited to the sites I can visit, due to
the graphics content of them. Not that it’s pornographic or of a violent
nature, but the amount of graphics on them. This system doesn’t handle a lot of
graphics well and begins to slow down greatly or freeze completely up. Si, I
will take a very brief glance at the wording of their speech and symbolism that
the site contains. If it shows anything resembling a Christian nature I will
allow them in as friends. Then it is up to them to remain on the site by not
falling outside the bounds of decency and good moral judgment. To date, I’ve
but knocked off two people that have joined as friends. The LORD has blessed me
here greatly!
Now to the point of
this article: I have met more people that are preaching false doctrines then
I’ve ever met before. There are those that believe in the redeeming sacrifice
of JESUS, but not HIS teachings. Grouping the WORDS of JESUS and the apostle’s
as only being applied to the Hebrews and no one else. They believe that the
apostle Paul’s teaching are the only thing that gentile Christians should
follow. These people start from the fact of errors within the translation of
the Bible from the original text, which there are a good number of, but then
they use their own slightly different wording to adapt it to their own beliefs. The basis of this is that all are
saved by CHRIST crucifixion alone and there is no need of a person’s
confession, repentance or acceptance of anything else. I other words, you are
saved whether you want to be or not, no matter what kinds of heinous sins
you’ve committed, you are guaranteed
salvation and a place in heaven.
There is another
group that follow after a man that claims to of received direct revelations
from GOD and still does to this very day in all aspects of the Christian faith
and the soon return and judgment of the LORD upon all others beliefs. Now this
is a fairly small group at this time, but there are many that have grown tired
of fodder that is preached in mainstream Christian churches and are seeking
after a quick return of the LORD. In this school of thought, they’re taking
scripture, mostly prophetic, and adding more words to it to make matters seem
more grave and judgmental.
Another of these groups consists of the new apostles
and prophets, preaching out of the Book of Enoch. These follow along the lines
of basic Christianity and the doctrines of the church, yet say that if one
doesn’t follow after the teachings of
their ‘apostolic governance’ and authority they’re condemned and completely
forsaken by GOD. These utter long lines of their apostle’s teaching and adhere
to all that they teach and preach for fear of falling out of grace with GOD.
Their words are luxurious and finely tempered with scripture, but with many
words added within to draw new mean from within it. According to these, every
denomination out there is wrong in their beliefs and we should all turn and
follow their apostles and prophets. They will take any scripture that one
places before them and use it right back against the person with but a few
words added or subtracted.
There other groups
that I could go into, but for brevity I will keep it to these. Two things that
all of these groups are very potent in, is their understanding of that which
they follow and the understanding of scripture as taught by the Bible. Not just
our Bible, but those that they claim to be better then ours. I have talked with
members of all thee groups and seen firsthand how they can take scripture
placed before them and twisted it, or disprove it to suit their whim. This is a
very sure sign of a cult and one that all Christians should be aware of.
I am a firm
believer in the fact that we as Christians should be well versed in the Bible.
We should not just read it, but dive deeply into every knock and cranny of it
to understand it to the great depth possible. In other words, we should study
to find ourselves approved. Being able to stand strong against any that try to
change that which we believe, and also being able to disprove the errors of
their teachings. This is a big task, especially considering the amount of time
these kinds of groups have enlisted to studying their beliefs. I have found
that some of these have great piles of ‘teaching’ lying at their side, ready to
find the needed information to stand against whatever you’ve placed before
them. I’ve even gone as far to find their sources and read massive quantities
of these myself, so as to better understand what they insist is the truth.
I will now ask of
all those that read this, to start honing your skills in the apologetics of our
faith. Start diving deeper into scripture then you ever have before. Doing all
this with the leading and guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT and not depending upon
your own wits or intelligence. There is a very well trained enemy out there,
one that can weaken the faith of all but the most astute scholar, let alone one
depending on their own strengths and not that of the LORD. So, pick up your
sword and sharpen it well, honing it’s edge to the finest it can be and prepare
yourself, for the battle for true Christianity has begun and many are those
against us. Our swords must be sharpened and our armor polished, for the battle
will be great. Though we know the outcome and we fight the battle well, there
may be many that fall at the wayside if we don’t lead them into a fuller and
more perfect understanding of what it means to be a CHRISTian!!!
This month in ministry
In the last month, there has been a lot of
work done online and due to the weather this alone. The weather on the coastal
bend of south Texas has been cold and wet. Not like a lot of the country, but
as to the normal for the area. This has kept me mostly inside doing that which
I can out of this old computer. The headers here posted, are one of the
gleanings from this work. It is a colorization and improvement of the original
which was drawn for me while in prison. I would like to thank J. Conrad for his
artistic help to me at that time, for without our logo would not be today.
There has also been other graphics works
being worked on, some are posted around our sites and at other places online
and others yet completed. The current daily devotional has been going well,
with a post for almost every day in the last month. Thank YOU LORD, for it is
only by HIS grace that this was accomplished. There has been few blogs other
wise from me, though there has been several posted or re posted.
We now have a new member on board with the
ministry. Donna Duncan has come on board to assist with the email prayer line.
Though she lives out of state we’ve set up a means of her praying for those
that enlist us for their prayer needs. Thank you Donna and welcome on board.
The greatest amount of time has been spent
on organizing our international branches. Team Liberia has had phenomenal
growth this past month. We now have over twenty members, a board of trustees
and several of these are ordained ministers willing to add to their calling for
the LORD’s work through them. Thank you all and may GOD continue to bless this
movement to win hearts and souls for the KINGDOM of GOD in the name of JESUS
CHRIST!!!
There have been several changes to the website;
several slide shows have been added to pages. The work isn’t the best and this
is due to several factors: 1. my personal inabilities in graphics, layout and
design; 2. the computer system’s inability to render graphics well; 3. the need
for an improved web service, whether a better package ($) through Office Live, a different service provider altogether or maybe just someone that has a
better knowledge of this system of programming.
One thing is for certain, Vine of CHRIST
Ministries is growing, but there is a long way still to go and until others
begin to catch the vision, this will not happen. So I ask you, please pray for
the LORD to open your eyes about the truths behind this ministry and to that
which HE would have you do to help in its growth. There are many great needs
that can only be met when others from the KINGDOM of GOD here on earth catch
the vision of sharing the love of CHRIST to those in need!!! If you feel the
LORD calling you to help, don’t ask me or another person, just do it. Take the
risk and just step out of the boat and trust the LORD to fully take care of you
in the works that HE has called you to!!!
February 2010
"In the last several weeks of networking the site, I've run into that which the LORD has laid upon my heart as an important message to the Church. This has been blogged at several sites, yet others, for some reason won't post a copy and pasted version. So here it is "About my FATHER's works..." and addition to this months newsletter!
Praise the LORD!!!
In the last several weeks I've been enlisting many new friends
online in the social networks. One thing that I've seen a lot of is the
focusing on prophecy. Don't get me wrong, prophecy is great, but truly
it isn't that which we are called forth to concentrate upon.
We are told in scripture to know the signs of the times and to be
watchful, yet we are also told to be about our daily routine. Our daily
routine as Christians is the spread of the GOSPEL and showing the love
of CHRIST to all of mankind. How can we be focusing on spreading the
GOSPEL when all that comes from our lips is about our dreams and
visions, the prophecies that we have receive or those of another? We
can't, plain and simply put we can't! We are to busy reading, listening
to, researching and praying on that which we already know to be coming.
Truly, what does it matter if all these were to happen tomorrow or even
today? Nothing at all for the believing Christian, but to the millions
of people out there that aren't saved. It means a whole lot! The
difference between an eternity of suffering compared to an eternity in
heavenly bliss.
Many of us out there have friends and family members that are not
saved. From our closest loved ones to people we may never meet in
person, are all in need of knowing the saving grace offered through
JESUS CHRIST. If we are pondering the great calamities that are soon to
come upon this earth and not worried about leading someone else into
the family of GOD, are we truly being about our FATHER's work? No we
are not!
The "Great Commission" was given us to fulfill and we as believers
must be about it. We must pick up our Bibles and pray for the LORD to
grace each of us with another person to plant a seed within. We must
ask for the guidance and wisdom needed to know those that have seeds
planted, but need a little nurturing to bring forth a harvest. We need
to truly be about that which is to be our focus and not that we know is
going to happen. Trust me, it is going to happen, just as it is written
and no different. There are thousands of thousands of people reaching
out to those that offer the slightest bit of relief to their lives and
that which they're grasping hold of are but the lies of the adversary.
This is because there are not enough workers in the harvest field with
their eyes open and their eyes attuned to GOD's leading. They're too
busy worrying about those things that they can't change, instead of
that which they should be about.
I enlist all of you that read this, to tell another believer about
it, but not to stop there alone. Reach out and touch the heart of
someone else that doesn't know JESUS as their personal LORD and SAVIOR.
Or show someone the love that CHRIST has for all of mankind by showing
HIS love for you through your works. Let us stop allowing false
preacher and prophets to lead others away from the truth. Stand up and
speak out the WORD of GOD as it is written in the Bible. Stop allow
others to fall prey to those that would deceive them into believing
something that is not true. Stand as a beacon of LIGHT to all those
around you. Let that LIGHT shine forth like never before and let the
world know JESUS CHRIST is the only way to salvation and eternal life.
Let our voices rise above the noise of the world and let everyone hear
the truth about JESUS CHRIST. The Way, the Truth and the Life, the ONE
and ONLY Way to eternal LIFE!!!!!!!
Praise the LORD!!!
This month been one of forward strides and battles with the computer system. Great ground has been made with the formation of VMNI's Liberia, West Africa team. Outreaches into the areas outside Monrovia have provided a great amount of excitement in those doing the work and those hearing of our plans. Many are beginning to come on board to work with and help promote the works needed in their area. One look at the photos on the VMNI page will show much. There are the smiling faces of those that have just received our message and yet there are those that show the great needs of these people. There are more photos coming in the near future, but from that which I've seen, my heart goes out to all of them. Many are living in conditions that we can only imagine, yet they continue day in and out to carry on with a hope of a better future. The work is great, but the volume of workers coming into the ministry there is growing everyday. They've already had their first 'Board of Directors' meeting and are striving to organize all the needed materials and workers to go out on another trip later this month.
In the last month I've added more sites to the network of those being used to draw attention to the ministry and it's operational plans. Still, it is only I whom has the vision, but I've faith that the LORD is working within peoples hearts right now and things will begin to happen here as well. I've been lead to add a daily devotional to my writings, the address can be found here on site with just a little searching. Over all visits to the site are up from several months ago, yet not that which they should be. This too is totally in the LORD's hands and shall change greatly in the near future.
As I mentioned, I've been having to fight nearly daily with this computer system. It is just to old and slow for the great amount of work I'm putting it through. Several times in the last month I've had to forgo any internet work to restore the system to proper functioning levels. I've had to forgo using more then one program at a time, even when online. This has made it where I've had to shutdown important programs to visit sites with large amounts of graphics. The computer has no video card, so uses shared memory and will bring the system to a grinding halt if I'm not especially careful. I've been typing emails and not looking at the monitor, then when I do look up, the system is still typing several lines behind me and I'm not the fastest at typing. I'veput this matter before the LORD in prayer and ask all of you that read this to please do the same. I'm confident that HE will stir someones heart great enough that they'll provide the money or a system that will take care of our needs!!!
If you've not noticed, we've now the ministry's logo on our pages and in color! This was a chore, system considered, but I was blessed to get it and several others worked up. These will be making an appearance on the website before long, I've just got to figure out how to do it. I've been blessed, because this is the first time I've worked with graphics to any extent and I'd say they came out pretty good. Especially considering they came from hand drawn prints, not from a program of any sorts. These are the logos that the LORD has shown me over the years, one of them all the way back in '97' when HE first anointed me into the ministry!!! All I can really say is Praise the LORD, thank YOU JESUS!!!!!!!
The weather has been a mess down here and no work has been able to be done on the one house I've been working on. The other job I've lined up has been delayed because I've hurt my hip and would have a hard time climbing a ladder. Both of these will, LORD willing be taken care of by months end and it will be on to bigger and better works for the LORD. May JESUS receive all the glory, for it is only by HIS grace that any of this has happened!!!
GOD bless and good day, Rev. Marshall Barth
January 2010
With all that has been happening, I've not been able to get the time to write out a newsletter for this month, part of the problem of doing this all by myself ! So I've decided to kind of re-post my blog from yesterday. I pray you all can forgive me, but I really should of had something here last week and I'll try to post several days in advance of the month's end from now on!
Praise the LORD!!!
Any that have checked into the VCM website will know that there are
things happening there. Not a lot to the site itself, but expansion
within the ministry, or I should say ministries! Though I am the only
one here in the states working on this ministry, GOD has brought in
others from around the globe. There is now an international branch
being formed. Vine Ministerial Network International will be the
official name and each of the branches will amend their name behind
this.
Currently there are two; Liberia, Africa and Chittoor, Indian. The
total number of workers operating in these fields I currently am not
sure of, but do know that there are more then here in the states! I
believe that at last count in Liberia there were well over a dozen,
with more coming on daily. We will even have a school, which is already
open, coming under our control. There are a good number of details that
are lacking and I'm in the process of gathering them so it can be
recorded and kept official.
All of this has come about through the LORD's leading these men to
read my book, "Out of the LIGHT", and then them undertaking to
translate it into their native tongues, Liberia was easy, because they
speak English there. Then the LORD began moving on all of our hearts
at the same time and VMNI came into being, well the first stages of it.
As many of you can imagine, there are many details to be worked out and
organized. These are being taken care of as they are presented.
One of the biggest obstacles to all of this is my current standing
as a convicted felon and not being able to gain a passport to travel
outside the country. I've known that the ministry was going to be
international from the very beginning, but was lead not to worry about
this matter and to this day, haven't and won't! This is one of those
things where GOD has promised to do the works completely and I must
simply, let HIM. To me, there is no better place to leave a matter,
then in the LORD's hands. For if HE can create a universe with just a
spoken word, what is impossible for HIM to do on this earth!?!
December '09'
For the last month I’ve been working on networking the ministry
online at several social networks. You most likely know the names of these, so
there is no need to say more. For this
whole time I’ve had to nurse this computer system through the whole thing. What
you may say? Let me fill you in on the details. The ministry’s current computer
is an ‘01’ Dell Dimension 2100, a 1.1 processor, running a big 256 M of RAM
which is shared. I don’t know how familiar or knowledgeable you are about
computers, but for just the simple chores that I’m performing at this time, it
greatly underpowered. When I run into a site that is high in graphics content,
forward motion slows to a crawl, sometimes completely freezing up the system.
Forcing me to reboot the system , so far I’ve been blessed not to lose any
important information or documents.
Now this is
happening just with the minor chores that I’ve been doing. What is going to
happen when I really begin to do major works for the LORD? Even with just
typing this in, I’ve had problems when another program, such as the spelling
correction in this program itself, has gone to work. Slowing typing to a snails
pace or completely shutting it down for a short while. All this is happening
while the ministry’s foundations are being set. A lot of paper work is being
read, which truly doesn’t bother it much. Until it comes time to change
articles or something else that may be memory intensive.
I’ve several sticks of RAM ordered, which will max
out the system to it’s 512 M limit and a PCI card to upgrade the USB’s . These
will be but minor fixes, for a system that should be left to data entry or some
other simple task! Well why you may ask don’t I upgrade the system? One major
factor, its called funding. Most of the funding to date has come from out of
pocket, not that which has been donated by outsiders. This is the seventh
computer system I’ve had for the ministry, the first to be donated and not part
of the big one that was new. In the twelve years of ministry’s existence, it
would be a fair bet that I’ve invested over $100,000 into doing that which the
LORD has shown me. In this time there may have been $5,000 in cash donated by
outsiders and another $30,000 in materials and tools.
Now don’t get me
wrong, I ‘m very thankful for everything that GOD has blessed me with to put to
use in this HIS ministry. There comes a time though when others need to take
note of the LORD’s leading and begin to supply the needs of others through this
ministry. I’ve to date not drawn attention to the works this ministry has done
through any other means then the internet and this being only through the
ministry’s websites. The current one, Vine of CHRIST Ministries (a dot org site),
and two other far smaller ones, basically just web pages. The current site is
truly the only one that can be called a website. This has been the workings of
my hands alone and only through the LORD’s leading has it become that which it
is today. It is still far from what it should be, but I’m no website designer
and lack a great deal of the expertise that it takes to build an awesome
website.
I’ve not to date
ever asked anyone for money or anything else to be a matter of fact. This is
something that I’ve promised the LORD, I’ll refrain from doing. For to many of
the ministries today, this is almost all they do, pander the public for money.
I’ve always had a great dislike for these ministries, they try to ply the WORD
of GOD for their gain and I believe this is wrong in many ways. LORD willing I’ll
not ever sink this low. I’ve great faith, thanks to the LORD and I firmly believe
that this ministry, which HE has started in me, HE will provide for and bring
completely through to abundant fruition. How HE’ll do this I’ve no idea, but
what I do know is that HE has promised to complete the good works that HE has
begun in me and to provide all of my needs to richness of HIS glory. When this
will happen, I’ve no idea, but I do know that it will come to pass and all will
be to HIS glory and not that of myself or any other man!!! There are many more needs of this ministry at this time and they can be found on the current needs pages here at the website. As I've always done, I'm not asking for donations, but that you pray to the LORD and ask HIM what HE would have you do and then just to be obedient and follow through upon HIS leading. GOD bless all and may this holiday season be a special one for you and your families!!!
An added note(Dec. 2, 09)
Due to the translation efforts of fellow Christians, there has been a request for my traveling and evangelizing to several countries. These include Liberia, Africa and Pakistan. As most who have visited this site and read my book should know, I'm a convicted felon. This makes it next to impossible for me to obtain a passport to travel outside the U.S.. As we all know as Christians, "nothing is impossible for GOD!" Please this aspect of the ministry in your prayers, for if it is the LORD's will that this happens it will and as many as possible need to stand in agreement on this matter. It will take a 'Presidential Pardon' for this to happen and this would also open the door of the Federal Prison System to me, which I'm currently restricted from going into. Which all of you should know is at the heart of the ministry. Again, please keep these matters in your prayers.
Also anyone that lives outside the U.S. and would like to translate my book into their native tongue or others, please use the contacts email address to do so and I'll get you a copy of the file (PDF) so you can do so!!!
November '09'
A
Modern Day Parable
A
certain man was traveling on foot for a great distance, to start a
ministry for the LORD.
He’d
already traveled a good distance and met some fine people. Even
housed and feed for several weeks by one couple, not even church
goers. This being just up the street from a church. Yet during his
stay there, he’d never had anyone from the church stop in to visit.
Though he’d gone to several services and even talked to the
minister for a good while after-wards, none ever stopped into check
on him.
He
was helping this couple prepare an old house for sale, since he was a
carpenter and the ministry was helping people with such needs. When
one afternoon the LORD inspired him to make a cross out of an old
carpet tube. He then was led to place this cross, about six foot
tall, on the fence surrounding their pool. For three days the cross
stood tall and straight though there were some strong winds blowing.
On the fourth day showers came in for most of the day, for the fifth
and sixth also. With the sixth’s being quite strong and windy. The
next morning the cross was bent over backwards, yet in the form of
another cross. This stirred questions in his heart, so he prayed,
“LORD, what is YOUR message in this for me?” The answer wasn’t
long in coming. ‘This is my church, as it stands today, the first
three days is how my church should stand. When adversities come,
today’s church wilts and falters under the pressure. Not as it
should be.’
He
kept this message in his heart and finished the work. After leaving
here several days later he befell some misfortune. Somehow he broke
several toes on his right foot. It felt like a small cloven hoof had
stepped on them, the middle three toes only. Though in pain he
continued on, praying, praising and walking. After several miles on
one of their rest stops, because his dog let him know she was tired
also, a young couple offered him some food and refreshments. Later
this turned into a shower, some cash and a ride of around thirty
miles. This couple, Christians yet they seldom went to church, lived
a fairly devoted life. Helping many that came by their way, such as
he did. They dropped him off at a campground, after seeing if he
could stay, due to their not having a tent or sleeping bag. They went
on their way after exchanging “GOD bless you-s”.He spent two
nights in the campground free, another unchurched believer owned it.
Six
more days of walking followed, foot swollen and bruised now, he met
numerous others that helped him along his way. Some unchurched and a
few church goers had helped. He spent two days in a motel, during a
particularly stormy period, run by a generous Muslim. He made a
turning point in the trip, now instead of heading southwest, he was
going almost due south, a more direct path to his goal. When more
misfortune came his way. This time his left knee popped out of joint.
After prayer and resetting it, it’d happened before so he knew how,
they continued walking. After several miles, all while in intense
pain, his dog decided it was time for another break, this time in the
shade. He found the perfect place, a stump in a roadside ditch which
had a root coming off one side, which made the perfect seat, arm rest
and all. Cutoff several feet above the ground he set his duffel bag
on top. This put his reflective vest, with foot tall cross, in a very
visible position. He decided to take a long break, so broke out his
Bible and began praying and reading. It was still early 9:30 AM on a
Sunday, he figured it’d be a good time for an hour long break.
They’d already covered about eleven miles that morning, probably
three with the knee problem. With his knee hurting like it was, he
prayed that the LORD would provide what he needed. He thought this
would be in the form of a ride and assistance. His dog and he ate the
last of their food and drank part of their water, since it was early
and only five miles to the next town. After reading some more, he
sent another round of prayers heavenward.
It
was now afternoon and though many cars had gone by, no one had slowed
down in the least .In many of these cars were well dressed people,
like those going to church. He decided it was time to carry on, so he
stood up and got his duffel on, but the knee wouldn’t allow him to
put it under pressure. He could barely put any weight on it at all.
At this point he began to wonder, what the LORD was trying to teach
him. For he’d learned that when times such as these came his way,
a lesson in his walk with the LORD was coming soon afterward. Here
they were, several miles from the next town, a sixty pound plus
duffel bag, a year old wolf-shepherd dog and a broken down stranger,
stranded in a rain ditch, out in the middle of no where.
Time
continued to pass, finally at 3:30 PM an older couple stopped. They
let him know that they’d seen him several times already and thought
that something may be wrong, so they’d called 911. They left them
several bottles of water and said they’d pray for him and went on
their way. At this he began to worry a bit and called for a rescue
mission from his family, over three hundred miles away. They had to
roundup the money, having to borrow it, but did. He gave them
directions and told them where to meet him, plus made plans just in
case he wasn’t there. This was a gas station near where they’d
started walking from in the morning. Hopefully whomever came to check
on them would drive them back to this point. At 5:30 PM a police
officer showed up. After running his ID he loaded them into his car
and drove them back to the station. He thanked the officer greatly
before he drove off.
Since
it would be several hours before his family could get there, he
bought them some sandwiches, dog food and drinks. They ate and
relaxed the best that he could, still wondering what this lesson was.
As it began to get late and was near closing time he bought more
food and drinks. Praying his family would make it there soon enough
to gas up and head back north before closing time. They got there
just fifteen minutes before closing, he’d no known it but had
crossed a time line. The girls in the store were very helpful and
even made coffee after cleaning up for the night.
After
a long ride, it was about 3:30 AM when they pulled in the yard. After
hopping into the house, he fell asleep quickly on the couch. It felt
awesome, especially after not sleeping in a bed, under a roof for
nearly two months. As usual he awoke early, around sunrise and
prayed. Soon the family awoke and made breakfast. He enjoyed coffee,
eggs, sausage and pancakes. All of which he hadn’t had in sometime.
Thanking his sister and brother in law for picking him up and feeding
him like they did, they settled in for some small talk about events
of the trip.
Sounds
like something out of the Bible doesn’t it? Almost like the parable
of the “Good Samaritan.” Let me tell you, it wasn’t. I know,
because this is what happened to me. I’m the Rev. Marshall T. Barth
and I was headed to Kingsville TX., to set up Vine of CHRIST
Ministries disaster relief branch. My dog, Maryann and I had left
Utopia OH. the morning before Easter. The rescue mission took place
on the thirtieth of May, a month and a half later. For the most part
I’d seen more charity from non-believers and believers that didn’t
go to church often, if at all.
During
my extended stay in the little town in KY., when I was put up in the
house being readied for sale. I was given plenty of food, had a
bathroom, laundry service and everything one needed. The couple
believed in GOD, but hadn’t gone to church for many years. She was
“born again”, he wasn’t. I did a lot of work for them and
didn’t want paid, their hospitality was more than enough. Yet
before I left, they gave me several hundred dollars and took me
shopping for things for the trip.
While
there, I’d been puzzled about the actions of those in the church.
The story of the cross gave me the answer, because this did happen,
the whole story is true. The LORD isn’t happy with what is to be
called HIS Church! They carry the name, but none of the actions. Like
that “cardboard cross” they have the form, they dress the part,
have the bumper stickers and pins, talk the talk and go to church
several times a week. Yet they do nothing that a Christian is
supposed too! The “goats” in Matt. 25:31-46. They’ve all the
looks and words of Christian’s, but lack the love of the “sheep.”
Just like that cross, it stood fine until the storms of life came
along, but then lacked the strength to stand after-wards. Not able to
show it’s true glory when it was really needed. This pertains not
just to those of that little church, but too all those that had
passed me by along the roadside. Not just while in need, but all of
the time.
We as
true Christians, the sheep, are supposed to show CHRIST to the world,
not by our dress, our words, or even by how many scripture verses we
know. We’re to show them by our love for them and our works in
their times of need. Feeding the hungry, giving drinks to those
athirst , clothing the naked, housing the homeless , caring for those
that are sick and visiting those that are in prison! This is far from
what I saw on this trip. Actually it was what I saw from those that
didn’t go to church.. From what I gathered from them in
conversation, I wasn’t the first one that most of them had helped.
They made a regular practice out of helping others in need. I ask
you, “What is wrong with this picture?”
It
should be plain to see that there’s a problem within the Christian
community. When we overlook those that are needy, because of a
worldly outlook on life. Our hearts tell us to help this person, or
at least stop and see if they need anything, yet the worldly view
tells us “to keep going, this person is trouble.” Who do we
trust? CHRIST, that tells us “to love our neighbor as ourselves
(Matt. 19:19(but one of many places))”, or the world, that says
“live for yourself and the hell with them.” This is not just a
contemporary problem, for it was the basis for the “Good Samaritan”
parable to the Jews of the first century. It is expounded in numerous
places within the epistles also. So this isn’t a new problem within
the Christian community or the world. Why though, haven’t we
overcome this defect in our humanity? Our Christian community? Our
own lives? I’d have to say it comes down to but one word, “SIN.”
If you carry this farther, the center of sin is “I” or the self,
pride. Our self-worth, our self-protecting, our selfish needs. Where
this sin originated, the original sin, none are fully sure of.
Whether it was with Lucifer or it was in the garden with Eve.
Wherever it stems from, it is the center of the downfall of mankind,
all our evils emanates from it.
There
are many sermons that could come from this experience and someday I
shall preach them, but for now, let me leave you with the WORDS of
our MASTER, JESUS CHRIST, ‘I
tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of
these, you did not do for me.’ The Holy Bible : New International
Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 25:45
Pray
and meditate on this verse, then think about what CHRIST would of
expected you to of done had you run across the man in this modern day
parable. An if by chance you see another person in need, what will
you do?
May
GOD bless you and guide you,
Rev.
Marshall T. Barth Jr.
Current harvest: Being new to the area things are a bit slow. I've done some work for the local church that assisted me when I first arrived in Kingsville, Bay Area Fellowship. Some minor construction work, floor stripping and finishing and a little painting. I was also enlisted to install a laminate wood floor, molding and some painting for a young couple at the church. Now I'm in the middle of painting an elderly couple's house, where the original contractor left them hanging. I have made a little money to purchase tools and a few personal items, but making money isn't why I'm here. I'm here to set up the LORD's ministry for me. I'm currently being hosted by a Christian family from BAF, the second one I've been blessed with. These are some good folks down here and I'm very thankful the LORD has brought me here to set up the ministry. From the 'Modern day Parable', which was the first attempt to make it here, you can tell that this endeavor hasn't always been this good. Even on the second trip there fun times. I've had blisters on top of blisters, spent night and rainy days under bridges or in vacant buildings. Battles with cell phones, a long story in it's self, but all in all I count every second of lIfe as a blessing from GOD. Trying my best not to waste a moment of it. If you've read my book you'll know the reason for this. At this time the ministry is made up of the LORD and myself. HE supplies the ideas and I do the works. Whatever funds I'm blessed with get put to use in the manor HE leads me to. Thus far it has only been a little bit, but I've managed to purchase some basic hand tools and some needed personal items. I've managed to operate the ministry mostly out of pocket for ten years now, with very little help from others. If this is the way the LORD wills for it to be for another ten, I'll still be doing it to the best of my ability until then! Few people can understand why I've continued on in this way. All I can tell them is "that if the LORD had blessed you in as many ways as HE has me, you'd be doing it too." This is my first attempt at a newsletter, so please forgive me for it roughness. If you've any ideas of how to improve it, please contact me at one of my emails. Better yet, enlist in VCM and give me a hand growing this ministry for GOD the way it should be. This would mean relocating and providing your own needs until the ministry is functioning better. Is it worth it? Praise the LORD, I think it is!!!
Vine of CHRIST Ministries,( V.O.C.M. and V.C.M.), and Vine Ministerial
Network International (V.M.N.I.)are registered names for these
ministry's and it's affiliates.All rights reserved.
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