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New Year's Confrontations
By Rev. Ron Tovmassian
Now as he journeyed, he ap-proached Damascus and
suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And
he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" And he said,
"Who are you, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus, whom
you are persecuting; but rise and enter the city and
you will be told what you are to do." Acts 9:3-6
At
the end of each year, as we consider our "resolutions"
for the coming year, we find ourselves in a time of
confrontation. All our bad habits are reviewed in our
mind -- overeating, smoking, drinking too much, a quick
temper, or any one of a hundred other things. We have
this notion that by confronting these issues in this
way, we will somehow resolve them. Yet the New Year
comes and goes and very little change actually takes
place. We make an effort for a few days, weeks, or even
months, but it is a rare person who makes a significant
change in lifestyle and is able to make it stick. In
the end, we grow tired of the cycle and close our eyes
to the issues at hand. We learn to look the other way,
to avoid the confrontations, which are so necessary
for our continued spiritual growth.
There
was a man named Saul, who had a very bad habit. He was
a persecutor of Christians. He ignored the Word of God
and did not see his own wrong doings. Eventually he
had a confrontation with Christ on the road to Damascus.
He was knocked off his horse, made blind and had to
be helped into town. Since he would not listen, God
had to grab his attention in a way that was unpleasant
for him.
God confronts us daily, not just at New Years. Yet,
as with so many other things, we have learned to block
out what we donıt want to see. Often we donıt give God
our full attention, but He is determined to have it.
As He searches out that one lost sheep, as He persistently
worked on Saul, He is at work in us as well, trying
to awaken our souls, to renew our commitment to the
lifestyle He has intended for us. The longer we ignore
His message, the harder he has to try to get our attention.
Let us not wait for him to knock us off our feet as
He did with Saul. Let us look God straight in the eye
today and hear what he is saying to us.
After His confrontation with Jesus, Saulıs name was
changed to Paul and he went on to be arguably the most
important of all the Apostles. The time he spent persecuting
Christ could have been spent serving Him and enjoying
the peace and fulfillment of a life in harmony with
God. The time we spend turning a deaf ear to Godıs voice
is also time wasted, time we could spend fruitful fellowship
with Him.
As we confront all the bad habits we would like to change
this year, we must realize that we do not face that
confrontation alone. Letıs turn our ears to Christ with
a keen desire to grow in His Word and our New Years
confrontations will lead us to greater depths of victorious
Christian living.
May
the New Year bring you new life and new vigor to grow
in faith through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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| Worship
updated
January 19, 2001 |
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AMAA
Contributes To Earthquake Relief Efforts In El Salvador
The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) donated
an initial sum of $5,000 to help the victims of the disastrous
earthquake that struck El Salvador in Central America on Saturday,
January 13, 2001.
Red
Cross officials in the area counted for 609 deaths, which were
confirmed nationwide. Government sources had reported also 2365
injuries, 38,000 homes partly or totally destroyed. About 1000
people are still missing, most in Las Colinas, located six miles
east of San Salvador. Saturday's quake, measured at 7.6 on the
scale, was felt from northern Panama to Central Mexico - a distance
of 1100 miles.
The AMAA and the Armenian Evangelical Churches worldwide share
the grief of those who are affected by the earthquake. The AMAA
has requested that Armenian Evangelical churches remember the
victims of this catastrophe through prayers and special relief
offerings. The offering will be added to AMAA's initial aid
and will be channeled through the Wider Church Ministries of
United Church of Christ, a longtime international colleague
agency of the AMAA.
The AMAA appeals to Armenian communities all over the world
and to its members and friends to respond promptly and generously
to the needs of the suffering people in El Salvador.
Armenians have experienced man-made and natural catastrophes,
they understand the plight of suffering people, and they do
reach out to help the helpless and destitute.
Those who wish to help may send their tax-deductible donations
to the AMAA at
31 West Century Road
Paramus, New Jersey 07652,
earmarked "El Salvador Earthquake Relief".
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