From: R & S Scarcella & Family [inbox@webpastor.com] Sent: Wednesday, 22 November 2000 6:22 PM To: hits@webpastor.com Subject: CoGS Weekly Hits! 2000 Vol.11 No. 4 =================================================== YOUR CoGS WEEKLY HITS! - FREE NETMAGAZINE =================================================== distributed by Rev. Rocco & Mrs. Susan Scarcella from Church of the Good Shepherd Bossley Park NSW Australia WEBSITE: www.webpastor.com ITEMS, JOKES ETC TO: hits@webpastor.com SUBSCRIBE: subscribe@webpastor.com UNSUBSCRIBE: unsubscribe@webpastor.com (Please write "no hits" in the subject frame) HITS! ARCHIVES: Go to... http://www.webpastor.com/hits/index.htm WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY?: Go to... http://www.christianity.net.au HELP BLIMBINGSARI ORPHANAGE?: Go to... http://www.webpastor.com/miss&supp.htm LIKE YOUR OWN FREE EMAIL ADDRESS & MORE? Go to... http://www.webpastor.com/free-mail.htm *************************************************** Dear NetFamily, One third of the state of NSW in Australia is under water at the moment and the crops of many country areas ruined for the third year in a row. It looks like being a bleak Christmas for many "bushies". READING FROM THE WORD OF GOD Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present not the future nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35,37-39 (NIV) I remember someone telling a story about a pastor who asked one of his congregation: "How are you, brother?" The answer came back,"All right, under the curcumstances." To which the pastor replied, "Well, get out from under the circumstances!" "Easy for him to say",we shoot back! "He doesn't live with an uncaring husband, or a dying parent, or rebellious children, or work long hours in a boring job, or have to suffer under an uncaring boss." And in some cases, you may be right to say that, if the pastor is merely talking platitudes. But look at Paul. Paul, during his lifetime of service to God, was cut off from his family and his people, was beaten, chased, falsely accused and imprisoned -several times over! Yet from a cold dirty prison cell, he wrote the famous words, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" How did he rejoice in such circumstances? How do we? Firstly, we must understand that "rejoicing" does not mean going round with a plastic smile on our face, singing hallelujah songs. It means having the assurance, through faith in Christ, that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God. That assurance can and must change our very beings, and the way we handle the deep and real problems we face every day. THE POWER OF PRAYER: COVERED BY THE CLOUD! By Spencer January ( From Guideposts) It was a morning in early March, 1945, a clear and sunny day. I was 24 years old and a member of the U.S. Army. With several other companies of American troops, we were making our way through dense woods, towards the Rhine River. For hours we had pressed through an unrelenting thicket. Shortly after midday word was passed that there was a clearing ahead. We approached a large stone house, behind which huddled a handful of wounded, bleeding soldiers who had tried to cross the clearing and failed. Before us stretched at least 200 yards of open ground, bordered on the far side by more thick woods. As the first of us appeared on the edge of the clearing there was an angry rat-tat-tat and a ferocious volley of bullets. Three nests of German machine guns, were firing across the field. As we got our bearings it was determined that the machine guns were so well placed that our weapons couldn't reach them.To cross that field meant suicide. Yet, we had no choice. The Germans had blockaded every other route. I slumped against a tree, appalled at the grim situation. I thought of home, of my wife and my 5-month old son. I had kissed him good-bye just after he was born. I thought that I might never see my family again, and the possibility was overwhelming. I dropped to my knees. "God," I pleaded desperately, "You've got to do something. Please do something." Moments later the order was given to advance. Grasping my rifle, I go to my feet and started forward. After reaching the edge of the clearing I took a deep breath. But just before I stepped out from cover,I glanced to the left. I stopped and stared in amazement. A white cloud-- a long fluffy white cloud -- had appeared out of nowhere. It dropped from over the trees and covered the area. The enemy's line of fire was obscured by the thick foggy mist. All of us bolted into the clearing and raced for our lives. The only sounds were of combat boots thudding against the soft earth as men dashed into the clearing, scrambling to reach the safety of the other side before the mist lifted. With each step the woods opposite came closer and closer. I was almost across! My pulse pounding in my ears, I lunged into the thicket and threw myself behind a tree. I turned and watched as other soldiers following me dived frantically into the woods, some carrying and dragging the wounded. This has to be God's doing, I thought. The instant the last man reached safety, the cloud vanished! The day was again bright and clear.The enemy, apparently thinking we were still pinned down behind the stone house on the other side, must have radioed their artillery. Minutes later the building was blown to bits but our company was safe and we quickly moved on. We reached our objective but the image of that cloud was never far from my mind.It had appeared out of nowhere and saved our lives. Two weeks later a letter arrived from my mother back in Dallas. It contained words that sent a shiver down my spine. "You remember Mrs. Tankersly from our church?" my mother wrote. Who could forget her? I smiled. Everybody called Mrs. Tankersly the prayer warrior. "Well," continued Mom, "Mrs. Tankersly telephoned me one morning from the defense plant where she works. She said the Lord had awakened her the night before at one o'clock and told her, 'Spencer January is in terrible trouble. Get up now and pray for him!"My mother went on to explain that Mrs. Tankersly had interceded for me in prayer until six o' clock the next morning, when she had to go to her job. "She told me the last thing she prayed before getting off her knees was this" -- "Lord, whatever danger Spencer is in, just cover him with a cloud!" I sat there for a long time holding the letter in my trembling hand. My mind raced, quickly calculating. Yes, the hours Mrs. Tankersly was praying would indeed have corresponded to the time we were approaching the clearing. With a seven-hour time difference, her prayer for a cloud would have been uttered at one o'clock, the exact time my Company was getting ready to cross the clearing. From that moment on, I intensified my prayer life. For the past 52 years I have gotten up early every morning to pray for others. I am convinced there is no substitute for the power of prayer and its ability to comfort and sustain others, even those facing the valley of the shadow of death. --submitted by Pat Croisant PRAYER POINTS ***Thank the Lord that nothing can separate us from His love in Christ Jesus. ***Pray for those who do not know this, that they too, may be covered by "the cloud". ***Thank the Lord for all those faithful men and women who pray for you regularly. Pray for those you know and mention those you don't! *** Pray for work for several brothers and sisters who are needing it. Pray also for guidance for those who are considering great changes in their lives, whether it be moving house, getting married, having a baby new ministries or whatever. *** Pray for those hit by floods in Europe, Asia and Australia. *** Pray for those in our NetFamily who are or have not been well: i. Steve A from the USA ii. Pat Croisant's hubby, Bill with suspected pneumonia and living in the shadow of cancer. iii. Sue's mum Barbara is also among them. ***Thank God for Hans, Rebecca and their families, who are taking things to the Blimbingsari orphanage in Bali. Pray for safe travelling. Praise God for a wonderful response from individuals and businesses in donating gifts. ***Pray for Christmas outreaches, that God's salvation will be faithfully preached over the festive season. HAHAHA CORNER ***Worried Sick The ninety-five year old woman at the nursing home received a visit from one of her fellow church members. "How are you feeling?" the visitor asked. "Oh," said the lady, "I'm just worried sick!" "What are you worried about, dear?" her friend asked. "You look like you're in good health. They are taking care of you, aren't they?" "Yes, they are taking very good care of me." "Are you in any pain?" she asked. "No, I have never had a pain in my life." "Well, what are you worried about?" her friend asked again. The lady leaned back in her rocking chair and slowly explained her major worry. "Every close friend I ever had has already died and gone on to heaven. I'm afraid they're all wondering where I went." --Anon. ***Converting the Natives A bishop discovered a tribe of Eskimos in the Yukon who had never recorded a baptism, confirmation or marriage. The bishop soon rectified the situation by baptizing and confirming everyone. He also married every beaming couple that walked by. Later, the tribal chief told the Bishop the tribe had never had so much fun. The bishop asked the chief which part they enjoyed the most. "The marriage service," the chief said, smiling. "We all got new wives!" --Anon. ***What Was That Again?! You work it out! "I have lied in good faith." - Bernard Tapie, French politician accused of fixing a soccer match involving the team he owned, when his sworn alibi fell apart in court. "A few months ago I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that's true, but the facts and the evidence tell me it is not." - Former President Ronald Reagan, on the Iran hostage deal. "I'll be sad to go, and I wouldn't be sad to go. It wouldn't upset me to leave St. Louis, but it would upset me to leave St. Louis. It's hard to explain. You'll find out one of these days, but maybe you never will." - Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues player, explaining his point of view after requesting a trade. "When you have two engines, you have two engines that can fall to bits. When you have four, you have four that can fall to bits. The less engines you have, the safer you are." - Frank Fickeisen, chief engineer for Boeing, replying to a complaint made by the American Airlines Pilots' Association about the dangers of flying two-engine airplanes across the Pacific Ocean. "This evening is a very different evening from the morning we had this morning." - David Coleman, British sportscaster. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And remember, just being yourself, being who you are, is a successful rebellion. Hahaha. Until next week. Rocco and Sue. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++