A Message on Suffering, Free Streaming Session for Pastors & Elders, & Audio LSB

 Are you suffering illness or trials in your life?  

We generally want to escape suffering and pain and difficulty, but God may be using it to turn you to Him.

Don Green gave a message on January 16, 2024, that I recommend for you and those you want to share it with.  It's called, "What If Suffering Is a Gift?"

Free streaming session for newer elders and pastors on February 9, 2024, at 6 AM Pacific (9 AM Eastern and 2 PM GMT)!

Don Green is planning to share things that weren't taught to him in pastoral ministries classes. The streaming should be on the church site HERE (and you can see alternative sites to stream from on that page as well).

An audio version of the Legacy Standard Bible:

If you like the LSB translation and would like to listen to someone else's reading, it is available HERE.

Merry Christmas & Christmas Concert Highlights

Merry Christmas to those of you who are Christians and visiting my blog this week.  I have not been feeling that well in recent times.  I still have much to be thankful for.  God has provided much for my family despite my great limitations.  

It has been a crazy year with the world in a mess, and so much deception and attempts at control by so many in various places.  I was blessed earlier in the year to be able to make it to visit Truth Community Church one Tuesday night, and I saw the Ark Encounter using a driving wheeled chair.  Even though I had some difficulties on that trip, I am thankful that I was doing better then than now as far as energy goes. Please excuse any mistakes I make in typing this, as my brain is so often tired.  It's a struggle.

What many of us celebrate this time of year is the birth of Jesus to a virgin named Mary, and He was a real man and yet also truly God.  He came to save His people from their sins, and He lived a holy life without sin.  He came to die on a cross to take the punishment for sinners like you and me, and He rose from the dead so that we who trust in Him would be forgiven, have a right relationship with Him, and live forever in Heaven with Him.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 LSB (Legacy Standard Bible)

Jesus didn't come to save good people.  There is none righteous.  All have sinned and fall short of His glory.  You can find that out by reading the Bible.  If you haven't trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, please go to the Bible reading link I shared..  You can start with searching for and reading John, Romans, or even Genesis.

Grace Community Church Concert

For those who missed the Grace Community Church Christmas concert, here is the video they shared that was linked on their website (from Vimeo). (See more information HERE.)  I hope they don't mind my sharing their official video through this page.  I watched the concert, and it has a variety of styles (so don't stop if there is a song or two that isn't in your taste), and some of the favorite soloists that sing there were in superb form.  The kids were especially cute, and they also had bells and other instruments.

I was glad to see that one choir member was able to make it for the final concert though going through a great trial in life.  

Enjoy!

Christmas Concert 2021 from Grace Community Church on Vimeo.

Legacy Standard Bible Online, GCC Christmas Concert 2021, & Psalm 2 Music

The Legacy Standard Bible is fully online.

In case any of you missed reading about this, they have finished putting the Old Testament section of the Legacy Standard Bible translation text on their website.   So, the whole Bible is there now.  The large print hard copy edition isn't out until next year last I read about it.

Read Here.

Grace Community Church's Christmas concerts are coming up.  For those of you, like me, who can't go in person - December 19th at 6 PM Pacific / 8 PM Central / 9 PM Eastern - they plan to stream one of the concerts at their usual church site stream HERE.  I look forward to hearing the concerts whenever they stream them.  I only went in person once, but the music is excellent.

Here is information.

Psalm 2 Music

I recently saw someone sharing music of some of the Psalms.  I don't know everything about the person who did the music for the songs, but I looked up a little bit about him.  (I'm not vouching for him personally.)  The following song reminded me of the style of an old Petra one (The Road to Zion) for some reason.  This song sung by Brian Sauvé is focused on Psalm 2.  

Haiti Quake Relief, Legacy Standard Bible Update, & Puddleglum Song

Haiti Earthquake Relief

I've read that 2,200 or so people died in the earthquake in Haiti that happened recently.  Yes, so many other crazy things are happening around the world and in our country (and even some flooding in the state that I live in) that this major quake has gotten pushed into the background in many of our minds.

Yes, we as Christians need to pray for those in Afghanistan (Christians and also Americans), for those (especially Christians) in China being persecuted, and the myriad of things going on in the U.S. and Canada, etc..  There are a lot of things to focus on, but this circumstance is urgent as well.

There are Christians in Haiti, and people who have basic needs besides buildings that need replacing.  One church that is facilitating aid through those they know in the vicinity affected is Grace Community Church.

They have it set up so that a person can give by choosing "Haiti Disaster Relief" amongst their choices on their giving page.

HAITI DISASTER RELIEF

Legacy Standard Bible

The full Legacy Standard Bible is available for pre-order...at least the small print handy sized version.  I read that the larger sized print (well, I don't consider it large...more normal) should be available next year.  It's still exciting though!

Legacy Standard Bible (Pre-Order Site)

Puddleglum's Anthem

Some family members shared about a singer recently, and this was the first song by her that I listened to.  I know C.S. Lewis was off some (confused in thinking the ransom was paid more to the evil one rather than God saving us from His own just wrath).  At least that is the impression I've gotten about him.  Anyway, I still appreciate the fiction Narnia stories over all.  This song is more of a take off from it, because she jumps from the story to Peter's denial of Christ, etc.  I don't know the singer, so of course, I don't vouch for her on the whole.

This song is interesting though.

LSB Online & Psalm 23 Hymn

Legacy Standard Bible

They already have the New Testament, Psalms, & Proverbs available to read online!

I'm excited about this new translation in which they worked so hard to focus on accuracy and consistency rather than simply readability.

You can find it HERE.

The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

I've heard this song in recent times, and it's worth sharing.

It's also in the Hymns of Grace hymnal!