The Coffee Cup

Earlier this week a team member had an offsite visit and asked if anyone wanted coffee when they returned.  One member said 'A small coffee would be great', which in turn the offsite team member returned with this:

The cup is only 7cm high - a very small coffee.

After much hilarity, a challenge was issued to give the story of Christmas through the humble coffee cup.  The following was compiled....enjoy!

 The cup itself has the following symbols:

• Just as our Lord was born in a manger filled with hay in a stable filled with animals rather than a palace and much opulence, this cup came from a small coffee store far removed from the hustle and bustle of the “Big City.”
• The logo is a coffee bean encircled with gold and crowned off with a gold crown which is formed with 3 points:

• The bean represents earth and all that that entails – nature, the laws governing creation.
• The gold represents the gifts brought at Jesus' birth.  Gold represents prosperity, that all needs are met and lack is non-existent.  Jesus is the King of the earth, bearing complete authority over all the matters of earth.  No power, government or principality can stand for His Name prevails on earth, above earth and below.
• The crown points to His Kingly heritage and the three points are symbolic of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The gold represents that he is able to richly supply all my needs, that I have been given everything I need for life and godliness.

• When purchased the cup is full - our God came that we may have life and life to the full, John 10:10. Just as Jesus was a fountain of living water springing up into eternal life, so this cup symbolically holds water.

• The contents are consumed - Jesus emptied Himself daily for us so that we could enjoy what God has gifted to us - eternal life. Just as this cup didn’t come for its own pleasure but for the benefit of another, so Jesus didn’t come to earth for a holiday but to seek and save those who had been lost.

• Just as our Lord didn’t come with much fanfare and introduction, this cup is small and unassuming. Whoever this cup came to was richly blessed and left a lasting impression – whenever anyone meets Jesus Christ, he leaves such an impression that they are never the same again.

It is through him that we are able to live, to do what we do, and to be who we are (Acts 17:28 ERV) – that others may know the Life that we have in Jesus Christ.
During the upcoming break, why not put this challenge to your family and friends and see what everyday articles can be symbolic of the story of Christmas.

Merry Christmas from the Bible League Team

.Read more about our work on our website www.bl.org.au

Need for Bibles following Typhoon Bopha

Typhoon Bopha struck Mindanao Island in the Southern Philippines on 4 December causing catastrophic damage. Only now, weeks later, is the full extent of the damage emerging. Whole town and villages were flattened as hurricane-force winds brought torrential rain that triggered floods and landslides. 

 

Over 1,600 people lost their lives. Many were fisherman lost at sea or poor migrant workers who worked on landslide prone banana plantations or in the many unregulated gold mines common in the region.

It has been estimated that more than 310,000 people are homeless – having lost all they own.

While food and emergency supplies are being rushed into the area there is also another deeper spiritual need that requires an urgent response. Bible League Philippines is on the ground in the worst hit areas reaching out with God’s Love through His Living Word bringing true hope and assurance to those whose lives and security have been shattered.

During food and clothing distributions Bible League is able to provide Bibles in the heart language of the people. During one such distribution a lady responded – “Sir, even just a Bible is enough for me”. When given a Bible she embraced it. An old man after receiving his copy kissed the Bible with great joy despite the devastation around him. The stock of Bibles held by Bible League Philippines is now exhausted and they desperately need more Bibles to fill the spiritual need of the people of Mindanao Island. 

Donations will help Bible League meet this urgent need for Bibles in the Philippines.  

Thank you for your prayers and gifts that bring much blessing to the people of Mindanao Island.

Read more about our work on our website www.bl.org.au

Ponder Moment

No one has ever seen God. The only Son is the one who has shown us what God is like. He is himself God and is very close to the Father.     John 1:18 (ERV)

Has there ever been a time where you heard about someone before you actually met them and when you finally had the opportunity to meet them, they were nothing like the picture you had in your mind?

This is what John is writing about here, that people before had heard about God, but they had never met him.  The original word also carries the meaning experience.  In other words, people before this time may have heard about God, or seen miracles and wonders, but they still hadn’t experienced him.

The verse above says that Jesus came to declare him or, in other words, he came to introduce us to the Creator of the Universe.  At Bible League, we are passionate about accomplishing this ministry that has been passed on to us; to introduce those in our world to the Creator so that they may experience the life that he has for them.  This, too, is why we are so excited to partner with people around the world in order to fulfil this great call.

Today, walk knowing that you have the ability to introduce people in your world to God; exhibit His Life in all that you do so that all may experience what the life of a Christian is all about.

Read more about our work on our website www.bl.org.au

Word of God Unveiled

Friday morning in the souq (commercial area of a Libyan city) was Shatha’s time for shopping. She wanted to buy olive oil, dates, and a new green hijab (headscarf worn by Muslim women in the Middle East). Relentless sunlight made it another hot, dry day. Red dirt swirled around her feet as she walked between buildings on a side street.
She reached her favourite merchant’s shop and was deciding on a purchase when she noticed a woman carrying a black book. They left the shop at the same time, and Shatha shyly greeted her. The woman, named Fatin, returned the greeting as they walked together. When they came to a quiet area behind a building, Shatha boldly asked Fatin about the book she carried. Fatin showed it to her and told her it was a Bible.

Shatha was so excited. She told Fatin that she had heard about the Bible, but had never seen one. Fatin made sure to let Shatha know that the Bible was especially for her because it had been translated into Arabic, Shatha’s heart language. Fatin quickly turned to her favourite verse, John 3:16, and read it to Shatha quietly. Before anyone noticed their conversation, Shatha bravely asked if she could have the Bible. Fatin gave it to her, and she quickly hid it in her bag. As they parted, Fatin promised that they would study the Bible together whenever possible. Please pray that Shatha’s life will be transformed by the power of the Gospel.

Bible League is committed to serve local churches and our partners around the world to provide Bibles and Scripture materials for them to use in their ministry of helping people meet Jesus Christ.  With your help, more people like Shatha can come to know Jesus.

Read more about our work on our website www.bl.org.au

The Greatest Journey

Fourteen year old Shirley Michael is one young life that 

has being eternally changed through The Greatest Journey.

Shirley Michael is a 14 year old from the settlement in the Kaugere area of Pt. Moresby.

She has been around the local Church for the past few years, involved in their feeding programme, youth and Sunday School.

Shirley has always been a ringleader with plenty of influence. The problem was she was extremely difficult, very disruptive and always influencing other children in bad things. The church tried many things to change her and were at a loss to know what to do. In the words of Pastor Sere, “Shirley was a pain in the neck!” 

Earlier this year Shirley enrolled to do The Greatest Journey discipleship program. It was the first time the church had run the program. Shirley was her usual disruptive self until, as she studied Lesson 2, “The Greatest Problem”, she was suddenly convicted of her bad behaviour, realising where it came from.

As Shirley worked through the activity in Lesson 2, writing a list of the bad things in her life, she was moved to accept Jesus as her Saviour. Pastor Sere said there was an immediate change in her life and she became a model student, finishing the entire 12 weeks course and receiving the award for the most improved student.

That was 6 months ago. Today, Shirley still comes to church but now she is helpful rather than difficult and disruptive. She is involved in Sunday School and helps organise the younger children, taking them to their class, singing songs and settling the children down.

Shirley is still a ringleader, only now she is using her influence to win others to Christ. Already four of her friends have been saved and baptised and will be doing The Greatest Journey this coming season.

Bible League International  Australia is seeking to transform key nations in our region through a partnership with Samaritan’s Purse Australia by funding all the print materials for their children’s discipleship program – The Greatest Journey. 

After completing all 12 lessons, each child receives their very own Bible. Over the last 12-18 months the program has been trialled in Fiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Just $7 will provide a child with a beautifully illustrated and colourful book containing 12 interactive Bible lessons plus a Bible of their own on graduation. For a whole class (20 students and their teacher) it costs just $148 to provide all the resources needed for The Greatest Journey.

Will you join with Bible League International and Samaritan’s Purse in a partnership that will bring real hope and the power of God’s love to many spiritually needy children in South East Asia and the South Pacific?

Thank you for your prayer and financial support in helping many children start The Greatest Journey of their lives.

Read more about our work on our website www.bibleleague.com.au   

Persecuted By Those You Love Most

Imagine for a moment that you’re the only Christian in your family. Now picture this. The people you love most persecute you because of your faith. Your family rejects you because you believe in Jesus! That’s reality for many Christians around the world.

Last year Christians in Thailand resourced by Bible League International share God’s Word with displaced minority ethnic people in refugee camps along the border of Thailand and Myanmar, among others. Nung was part of a small group of evangelists planting God’s Word in these refugees’ hearts and lives.

But it wasn’t easy. You see, Nung and some other team members are persecuted by their own family members.

“Some of us are the only ones in our families who are Christians,” Nung explains. “Our families don’t like what we are doing. They want us to follow their animistic practices and not serve the Lord. Sometimes people in our families will even physically harm us.”

People like Nung appreciate the Bibles and Bible study materials, and training your gifts help provide. But they also covet your prayers.

“Please pray for members of our families, that they will open their hearts to Jesus,” Nung asks. “And pray, too, that we will be able to stand firm in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Read more about our work on our website www.bibleleague.com.au

Ready Set Go!

 Kelly Tams, Junior Campus Sports Coordinator, reports on the recent Elim Christian College Run4Bibles event

Every year, all over New Zealand cross country events are held in schools with the main focus being on participation and winning.  This year at Elim Christian College, our Junior Campus chose to combine their cross country event with Run4Bibles to make it more meaningful by fundraising for a fantastic cause.

Our Run4Bibles cross country event was held on Friday 10^th August with 457 students participating from years 0 through to year 8 running distances of between 500m and 3.1km.  What was so exciting is how the students bought into the Run4Bibles concept.  God had undoubtedly been working in our students hearts, because the event became more than just running a race, but about raising money for Bibles.  I know of one student who emptied his wallet of his own hard earned pocket money and gave it all to Run4Bibles.  Another student alone raised over $200.00.  As the money kept coming in the daily figure kept astounding us.  In the end our wonderfully enthusiastic students raised an unbelievable $5,400.00. 

God be praised over and over for such a wonderful result!

Why not make the next cross country event at your local school really worthwhile.  To find out more about Run4Bibles call us on 1800 800 937 (Australia) or 0800 242 537 (New Zealand)

Read more about our work on our website www.bibleleague.com.au or bl.org.nz

Check Out Our ERV Mobile App

Check out Bible League International's new Easy-to Read (ERV) mobile app.

Bible League has created a free app to encourage you each day in your walk with Christ. Designed for both iPhone and Android smartphones, WordPower™ will propel you into a deeper meditation of Scripture. Download the free app today and tell your friends.

Description
WordPower™, a ministry of Bible League International offers encouragement from God's Word, the Bible, each morning directly from your iPhone/iPod Touch.  Prepared especially for readers who want a translation that accurately expresses the full meaning of the original text in a style that is clear and easy to understand.

iPhone App     Android App

Go to Google Apps store and search for ‘ERV Reader”(includes Books & Reference).  It’s free and a wonderful App.  At present there are three ERV translations on the App – English, Spanish and Hungarian. New translations will appear on future upgrades.

Read more about our work on our website www.bibleleague.com.au