fm jun 2007
DESCRIPTION
*Volume 93 *No. 06 *Published by Christian Triumph Co. *Permit # 695 *JUNE 2007 (Continued on Page 2)TRANSCRIPT
P I L O T
Years ago, I was
enthralled as I listened to
a pastor who for several years had faithfully served
the church. His executive responsibilities had taken
him all over this country. As he concluded his
message, he told of one of the most frightening yet
thought-provoking experiences of his life.
He had been on a long flight from one place
to another. The first warning of the approaching
problems came when the sign on the airplane
flashed on “fasten your seat belts.” Then, after a
while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving
the beverages at this time as we are expecting a
little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is
fastened.”
As the minister looked around the aircraft, it
became obvious that many of the passengers were
becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice of the
announcer said, “We are so sorry that we are unable
to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still
ahead of us.” And then the storm broke.
The ominous cracks of thunder could be
heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning
lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that
great plane was like a cork tossed around on a
celestial ocean. One moment, the airplane was lifted
on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it
were about to crash.
The pastor confessed that he shared the
discomfort and fear of those around him. He said,
“As I looked around the plane, I could see that
nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed.
Some were praying. The future seemed threatening
and many were wondering if they would make
it through the storm.
Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently
the storm meant nothing to her! She had tucked her
feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was
reading a book and everything within her small
world was calm and orderly.
Sometimes she closed her eyes; then she
would read again. She would straighten her legs, but
worry and fear were not in her world.”
When the plane was being buffeted by the
terrible storm, when it lurched this way and that, as
it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all
the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous
child was completely composed and unafraid. The
minister could hardly believe his eyes.
It was not surprising therefore, that when the
plane finally reached its destination and all the
passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor
lingered to speak to the small girl whom he had
watched for such a long time.
(Continued on Page 2)
Contents:
My Father, the Pilot 1
Storm Tossed Days 2
L. Y. Janes 3
God’s Grandma/Reflecting Him by Sara 4
The Coal Basket Bible 5
A Look at the Book 6
Chat Time 7
Gulls 7
*Volume 93 *No. 06 *Published by Christian Triumph Co. *Permit # 695 *JUNE 2007
2
Having commented about the storm and
behavior of the plane to the little girl, he then asked
why she had not been afraid.
The child replied quietly, “Cause my
Daddy’s the pilot, and he’s taking me home.”
AS WELL: Our Heavenly Father is our Pilot;
And He is taking us Home.+ + + (email- edited)
STORM TOSSED DAYS
-by Adan
Shortly after I was saved, I went to a youth
service where a missionary from Africa was
ministering. After the sermon, he made an altar call
and asked persons who wanted to dedicate their
lives to God – to come forward. I was one of those.
As I knelt at the altar, I lifted up my hands and
prayed, “Destroy ME, God, and make me ANEW!”
And then my whole world began to
change!
First, I was fired from my job! Because I
was different now, I would no longer drink with my
boss - so – I no longer “fit in.”
In finding another job at a convenience
store, I was instructed to sell cigarettes and beer.
But in doing so, I also handed out a Gospel tract.
Very soon, I lost that job! In despair, I dropped to
my knees, pleading with the Lord, “I don’t know
what is going on, but I know that Your Words say,
‘In all things, give thanks,’ and ‘All things work
together for good to those that love God, to those
that are called according to His purpose.’”
Right after this, a lumberyard called me to
work, and I worked there for two and one-half
years. Then, at a doctor’s appointment, I was told
that I had Macular Degeneration; yet God in His
mercy healed me from this condition. In response, I
felt “called” to some special work and left my
lumberyard job.
Later, for the very first time, I heard God’s
Word in Spanish at a Gospel tent meeting, and the
young lady reading the Bible became my future
wife. Just as I fell in love with the Spanish Gospel,
so I fell in love with her.
In the next few years, God began my
spiritual education. While going from house to
house, selling a Bible library, I continued to meet
people who needed prayer. Often, I would pray for
the sick and for other needs. As well, I learned to
depend on God for my income.
While attending my church, some of us went
to a special, inspirational seminar for a week;
shortly, thereafter, the pastor said he was going on a
trip and asked if I would preach some of our
services for him. Glory to God! - God had indeed
“destroyed me” but now was building me up again.
Following this experience, I began to fast
and pray for two weeks; then I was summoned to
my pastor’s home. The pastor explained, “I believe
God has told me to let you use the sanctuary to
begin a Spanish ministry.” What a miracle! What an
answer to the prayer and fasting! And now I knew
how God was desiring to use me.
Eventually, this newly formed Spanish
congregation grew, and we moved into a bigger
building, staying there for 13 years. And then we
moved into another wonderful place of worship; in
fact, it was the very building that I used to walk past
when I was a little boy, carrying my shoeshine box.
Those “storm tossed” days were followed by
a rainbow; and indeed my PILOT has guided my
ministry for over 25 years. And praise God – I am
still going strong! - Pastor Adan Espinoza (edited)
Faith Messenger Permit #695
Periodical Paid at Corpus Christi, Texas
Published monthly, except July and August. POSTMASTER SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO:
Christian Triumph Company
P.O. Box 5187
905-909 Bluntzer
Corpus Christi, Texas 78405
L.Y. Janes, Founder (deceased); Steve Beletic,
President; Israel Hernandez, Vice-President;
William Anderson, 2nd
Vice-President; Diana Beletic,
Secretary/Treasurer; Una Collins, Asst. Sec./Treas.
This periodical is issued without charge in the name of
the Lord Jesus to help inspire child-like faith and
maintain Christ-like simplicity among the people of
God. To send donations or for your FREE
SUBSCRIPTION, write to the address above or contact
Christian Triumph Co. at
[email protected]. Or see us on the web at
christiantriumphcompany.com
3
JESUS SAVIOR, PILOT ME
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treacherous shoal;
Chart and compass come from thee,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
-Edward Hopper/John E. Gould
+
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
Unconditional love, sent from heaven above,
Jesus came just to prove that God is Love.
Such incredible Grace, that He should me
embrace,
As I look on His face who took my place.
Irrepressible joy is mine without alloy,
Since I’m in the employ of Christ, my Lord.
-Byrum C. Lee 04/2007
+ ___________________________________
Christian Triumph Mission Church
*************************************
Editor’s Note: This June Faith Messenger will be
our final issue for the summer - until the month
of September. July and August are the two
months we do not print this periodical in order
to be responsible - financially. We shall miss you,
our readers, but will look forward to meeting
with you again in September. God bless and
protect you. Christian Triumph Missionaries
(We will still correspond by letters. Thank you.)
L. Y. Janes
FOUNDER OF
CHRISTIAN TRIUMPH COMPANY (“Papa” to his three girls)
Because of the tract, What the Bible
Teaches, Lyell Y. Janes, at the age of 19, left his
parent’s farm to give his life in God’s service.
Through his efforts and God’s blessings, the seed
planted through the little tract has resulted in many
Gospel tracts going forth throughout the world.
After two years in preaching and in
missionary work in Mexico, Brother Janes worked
in the Gospel Trumpet Publishing House. On
December 24, 1910, L.Y. Janes and Una Daley, a
proof-reader, were married, then pastored at North
Anderson for one year.
Brother and Sister Janes were burdened for
the Spanish work but applied to the Missionary
Board for foreign work anywhere. They were sent
to Jamaica to take George Olson’s place while they
were on furlough in 1912.
In Colon, Panama, they built the first
Church of God building, working with the
congregation, then later moved by faith to Panama
City where they bought a printing press, carrying it
up three flights of stairs to their small apartment and
started printing and distributing tracts in Spanish,
with great sacrifices and many tests of faith.
In 1934, they moved to Corpus Christi,
Texas, with a home-made trailer and started
building. God worked many miracles just to get
started and has worked many more miracles through
the years, providing buildings and machines.
(Excerpt - from The Story of a Tract, compiled by
Evelyn Anderson) (edited)
4
“BRING TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE”
The above text is taken from II Peter 1. The
writer – Peter – was concerned about encouraging
Christians to persevere. He talks about the
unchangeable, permanent true knowledge for the
believer, telling us also about great and exceeding,
precious promises given to us – that we might be
partakers of God’s Divine nature, qualities and love.
Peter continues in verse 5 – 7 to add to
perseverance: faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance,
patience, Godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.
These qualities are the Divine nature of God
and His Son, Jesus.
Verses 8 – 11 “for if these things be in you
and abound, they make you that you shall neither be
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ.”
In contrast, “they that lacketh these things is
blind and has forgotten what he was purged
(cleansed) from.”
Concluding with verse 10 and 11 – if we are
obedient and practice His word – we “shall never
fall and so an entrance shall be ministered unto you
abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Let us be aware of whose Kingdom we are a
part of - by practicing these principals in our every
day life, making right choices.
-One of God’s Grandmas- Jo Blackerby (edited)
A little child
with hopeful eyes,
looks to her Father.
Is he wise?
Reflecting Him
A while back I was walking our Husky-mix
dog, Nika, on a leash. We were beside the fence on
the creek side of our property, headed toward my
husband’s workshop. The sun was shining brightly
and we were enjoying the beautiful weather. I
noticed something several yards in front of us that
was reflecting the sun; it was sending large beams
of light back toward the sky. I thought it was
probably a large piece of glass or metal – the man
who owned the property before us had multiple old
cars and parts stored all over it. When Nika and I
came close to the place where the reflections had
come from, I was surprised to see that there was no
big piece of anything; only a few small black bits of
some unknown substance were lying there bouncing
the sun’s rays heavenward.
Similarly, there are times in life that we can
feel like a nobody - just some minor part of creation
that is not useful for very much. We may not see
ourselves as a part of the “great scheme of things”;
we feel more like useless debris than a diamond in
the rough. But we have a great God who can use us
no matter how we feel. If we are reflecting the love
of His Son to others, we are doing immeasurably
more than we realize. Sometimes it is those who
feel the most insignificant that become major
players in the kingdom of God.
If you are feeling more like rubbish than
something useful, remember that the Father of Light
is shining down upon you. Make up your mind to
spread that light to all those around you and realize
that in so doing, you become a brilliant reflection of
the love of God. You may never know the effect
you have on others until you reach Heaven, but you
can rest assured that the “Son-beams” you reflect
will leave a legacy far beyond your wildest
imagination!
“SHINE
Make ‘em wonder what you’ve got
Make ‘em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored.
SHINE
Let it shine before all men
Let ‘em see good works and then
Let ‘em glorify the Lord.” (Continued on Page 5)
5
(Reflecting Him: continued from Page 4)
credits: Music by Peter Furler, Lyrics by Steve Taylor � 1994
Ariose Music
Sung by the Newsboys on their “going public” album
Scripture: “For you were once darkness, but now
you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,
righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases
the Lord. …But everything exposed by the light
becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything
visible. That is why it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”
Ephesians 5:8-10, 13-14 NIV
By Sara Ray (edited)
+
Psalm 103:13, “As a father has compassion on his
children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him;
for He knows how we are formed, He remembers
that we are dust…but from everlasting to
everlasting, the Lord’s love is with those who fear
Him, and His righteousness with their children’s
children – with those who keep His covenant and
remember to obey His precepts.”
Matthew 23: 9
“And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you
have one Father, and He is in Heaven.”
John 14:6 – 9
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through
Me. If you really knew Me, you would know My
Father as well…Anyone who has seen Me has seen
the Father…’”
John 14: 23
“Jesus replied, ‘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.’”
“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name…”
Matthew 6:9
The Coal Basket Bible
The story is told of an old man who lived on
a farm in the mountains of Kentucky with his young
grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early
sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old
worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be
just like him tried to imitate his Grandpa in any way
that he could.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpapa, I
try to read the Bible just like you but I don't
understand it, and what I do understand I forget as
soon as I close the book. What good does reading
the Bible do?”
The Grandpa quietly turned from putting
coal in the stove and said, “Take this coal basket
down to the river and bring back a basket of water.”
With wonder, the boy did as he was told, even
though all the water leaked out before he could get
back to the house. The grandpa laughed and said,
“You will have to move a little faster next time,”
and sent him back to the river with the basket to try
again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the
basket was empty before he returned home. Out of
breath, he told his grandpa that it was “impossible
to carry water in a basket,” and he went to get a
bucket instead. The old man said, “I don't want a
bucket of water; I want a basket of water,” and he
went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this
point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he
wanted to show his grandpapa that even if he ran as
fast as he could, the water would leak out before he
got far at all.
The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but
when he reached his grandpa, the basket was again
empty. Out of breath, he said, “See Grandpapa, it's
useless!”
“So you think it is useless?” And then the
wise elderly man added, “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket, and for the
first time, he realized that the basket looked
different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was
clean.
"Son, that's what happens when you read
the Bible. You might not understand or remember
everything, but when you read it, it will change you
from the inside out. (Continued on Page 6)
6
(The Coal Basket Bible – continued from Page 5)
That is the work of God in our lives: to change
us from the inside out and to slowly transform us
into the image of His Son."
Take time to read a portion of God's Word each
day. It will make a complete difference!
+
A LOOK AT THE
BOOK OF MATTHEW
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Chapter 5
(Reference for this study comes from the Holy
Bible as well as the book,
The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1
By William Barclay)
Scripture: Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.”
In exploring this beatitude spoken by Jesus,
I am reminded of a time that my Dad was in the
hospital with a kidney stone. This condition causes
acute pain, such that only a person who has
experienced it could realize. Lying exhausted in his
hospital bed, my Dad looked up at visitors who
continued coming and then stood talking (at) him
for many moments, relaying their own problems
and life issues.
I have noticed this situation happening in
homes, nursing facilities as well as other places -
well-meaning persons visiting the sick and then
talking about themselves for an extended time.
Perhaps, we, as concerned visitors, should take a
“look at the Book” and ponder the beatitude (verse
7) before making our next visit, “Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
The Hebrew word for “mercy” does not only
denote sympathizing but also means “getting right
into the other person’s skin until we feel as he
feels.” As I watched my Dad become more
exhausted with those who lacked deep,
understanding mercy, I decided to put a sign on his
door that would protect him. NO VISITORS!
And, thankfully, he then closed his eyes and went to
sleep.
Emotions of pity or a passing thought of sadness are
only the beginning of “mercy,” for “mercy”
demands a deliberate effort of the will to understand
and then follow with the appropriate action. Most of
us are too busy- in a hurry- and often are just
“feeling our own feelings” to take the time to enter
into another person’s pain, mind, or heart. However,
making a purposeful attempt to identify with the
trials of another would certainly make a great
difference in showing the wisdom of mercy. In fact,
it would save us from those presumed “actions of
kindness” that are actually insensitive.
Remember the story of Mary and Martha
when Jesus came to their home. At the time He paid
that visit, the Cross was looming just ahead.
Surely, Jesus must have needed rest and serenity.
But Martha, “feeling her own feelings,” believed
that He needed a clean house and a big meal.
Mary understood Jesus very well; she
identified with Him, and soon she was found sitting
calmly by His feet. When Martha asked Jesus to do
something about her sister’s (selfish) behavior, He
answered her, “Martha…you are worried and upset
about many things, but only one thing is needed…”
And Mary was doing it! (spending time with Jesus,
and, in this instance, showing compassion for Him.)
Sometimes, our kindness comes from within
our own mindset; and the other person has to put up
with it whether he likes it or not. “Mercy” insists
that we make the effort to “get inside the other
person’s skin and do what is best for him/her.”
In God’s Supreme desire to show His
compassion/mercy for us, He became as we are:
feeling as we feel, experiencing pain, weakness,
exhaustion, heartache and tears. And in His Mercy,
He died for our sins and paved the way for us to call
upon His Name in our struggles and illness. (“For
we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses…let us then
approach the throne of grace…so that we may
receive MERCY…in our time of need.” Hebrews
4:15-16) Jesus knows what we really need.
Mercy also requires forgiveness for in the
Lord’s Prayer, we read, “Forgive us our debts as we
forgive our debtors.” Throughout the New
Testament, we read that only the merciful shall
receive mercy. In becoming like God, we must seek
to become compassionate and forgiving.
(September issue of the Faith Messenger: Matt.5:8)
7
From Anita:
I am home again after my very wonderful
experience at IHC, Interchurch Holiness
Convention, held at the Dayton, Ohio, Convention
Center.
What a time of rejoicing, praising, and
enlightening!
It was great to hear the voices of some of the
missionaries who were on the foreign field,
represented at IHC by their parents. I can truly say
from the depths of my heart that I was blessed with
attending this 56th
annual convention, beginning in
1952 and the 32nd
convention held in the Dayton
Convention Center.
The days were spent in prayer, praise,
preaching, music, fellowship and spiritual blessings.
The General Secretary of the convention
stated, “Our need of God can hardly be overstated.
It seems the world around us is reeling from one
crisis to another, and even the church world in
general has apparently lost its way. But as our
theme reminds us – rather than despair, ‘Look Up;
Lift up your heads; your redemption draweth near.’
While we agonize over the chaos around us, let us
personally take new hope and encourage our faith in
the never-failing God Whom we love
and serve.”
- Anita Hennis (edited)
________________________________
CHRISTIAN TRIUMPH INSTITUTE
It seems to me that times are getting
extremely difficult, and that is why I decided to
attend the Theology Institute of Christian Triumph.
If you are not prepared, you won’t be able to take
those lost souls away from Satan. First of all, we
need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to
help fill the Spiritual needs of others. Another
reason is that a church with prepared members is a
victorious church.
I am not satisfied with just occupying a seat in my
church. We need to prosper and prepare in order to
help rescue those lost Souls, remembering always
that “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are
few.” -Maria B
__________________________________________
Editor’s note: Recently, I was reading a brief,
scientific article about “sea” gulls. It explained that
there are about 45 different kinds of gulls, such as
herring gulls, California gulls and ring-billed gulls.
It has been noted that these birds have
webbed feet and can swim well but seldom go out
to sea. Although they may follow boats, hoping to
get a bite, they do not fly out too far.
Gulls can also be found near lakes and
rivers. Their numbers are growing in these areas
because of trash left behind by humans.
And yet, their Great Creator made these
gulls to fly more than 100 miles a day, if necessary,
while going between their nests and food sources.
Their long wings catch drafts, and they often glide.
God made a very unique bird when he
created the Gull - as only God could do!
Below is a little humorous story about a
person who mistakenly believes he also has God’s
creative powers:
God is sitting in Heaven when a scientist says to
Him, "Lord, we don't need you any more. Science
has finally figured out a way to create life
out of nothing. In other words, we can now do what
you did in the 'beginning.'"
"Oh, is that so? Tell me..." replies God.
"Well," says the scientist, "we can take dirt and
form it into the likeness of You and breathe life into
it, thus creating man."
"Well, that's interesting. Show Me." So the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to
mold the soil.
"Oh! no,no, no..." interrupts God, "Get your own dirt."
WE LOVE YOU!
8
Faith Messenger
A publication of Christian Triumph Company
P.O. Box 5187 905 Bluntzer Corpus Christi, TX 78465
Address Service Requested
“Sing to God,
Sing praise to His Name…
His Name is the Lord--
A Father to the fatherless...”
(Psalm 68:4-5)
God bless
our
Dads!
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Corpus Christi, Texas
Permit # 695