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Cybersalt News

Sunday greetings everyone!

I often receive posts from persecuted Christians overseas (overseas from me, that is) regarding the most recent and terrible acts of violence carried out against their community. On one recent post, I was disappointed to see someone from a North American country commenting and basically asking for prayer because the same things were happening in their country. I commented back that it was not true but the commenter insisted that it was.

I really think it is important for Christians living in freedom to look into and learn what life is truly like for so many of their brothers and sisters around the world. Becoming better informed will not only help them to live more grateful lives, it will also help give them discernment when politicians pretend there is persecution in order to get their votes to try and stop it.

Look, I'm not saying life in North America is a Utopia for Jesus's followers, but thinking we have it as hard as those being oppressed, maimed, and killed for their faith puts us in the wrong mindset to be salt and light in our own countries. Many years ago I knew a man who was very passionate about a ministry of outreach he had to women who were trapped in the sex trade. However, he was such an obtuse, overbearing, rude, pain in the neck (those are not the actual adjectives I would use if you and I were sitting down over a coffee) that nobody wanted to support him. Of course, every time he was rejected by someone he just chalked it up to persecution.

I think something similar happens when Christians stop seeing themselves as free in Christ to reach out and love others and instead self-identify as oppressed and see others as enemies to be wary of and fight with hate. Their attitude and combative approach to discourse turns people off and puts them on the defensive, which makes it easier to view them as combative, which makes it easier to continue combat against them. It's a classic scenario of self-fulfilling prophesy - though no true prophet is behind it.

What got me onto this long train of thinking is my video share for today. It's a video about life as an urban refugee: a refugee who has fled for their lives to a different country, but instead of ending up in a refugee camp is living (and often hiding) in a city which is foreign to them. They are one type of refugee that we try to help through the Be a Billionaire Fundraiser:
www.cybersalt.org/inspiration/be-a-billionaire-fund-raiser

Click here to watch the video.

Enjoy the rest of today's mailing!

~ Pastor Tim

A Swiss guy visited Sydney, Australia, and pulled up at a bus stop where two locals were waiting.

"Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?" he asked.

The two Aussies just stared at him.

"Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?" he tried. The two continued to stare.

"Parlare Italiano?"

Other than a glance at each other, there was still no response.

"Hablan ustedes Espanol?"

Still nothing.

The Swiss guy gave up and drove off, extremely disgusted. When he was gone, the first Aussie turned to the second and said, "Y'know, maybe we should learn a foreign language."

"Why?" the other replied. "That guy knew four languages, and it didn't do him any good."

The trouble with opportunity is ...

it always looks bigger going than coming.

"Be a Billionaire!"

and Help

Refugees and

Persecuted Christians

My son is the manager of a glass and window company and advertised in the paper for experienced glaziers.

Since a good glass man is hard to find, he was pleased when a man who called about the job said he had over 20 years of experience.

"Where have you worked as a glazier?" my son asked.

The man replied, "Dunkin' Donuts."

"There are two types of people ... those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am!" and those who come in and say, "Ah, there you are!"

- Frederick L. Collins

One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and an equally worn out Bible.

The church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories. As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him.

They were all appalled at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it. The preacher gave a long sermon about Hellfire and brimstone and a stern lecture on how much money the church needed to do God's work.

As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor. "Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what He thinks would be appropriate attire for worship."

The old cowboy assured the preacher he would.

The next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat. Once again he was completely shunned and ignored.

The preacher approached the man and said, "I thought I asked you to speak to God about what you should wear before you came back to our church."

"I did," replied the old cowboy.

"If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?" asked the preacher.

"Well, sir, God told me that He didn't have a clue what I should wear. He says He's never been here before."

Featured Illustrations are items well suited for illustrating or inspiring a point in a sermon, speech, or devotional. Funny, moving, or perhaps even graphic, the point of them is the point you make with them.

Rev. James Snyder, God's Penman, writes . . . . 

This past week was one of the best weeks I've had in a long time. I got everything completed, as well as some overdue projects. There’s no feeling quite like the feeling of having accomplished your goals for the week.

As far as I was concerned, this called for an Apple fritter celebration. Just keep this between us and don’t let you-know-who hear. Driving home from my office, I was whistling and just enjoying myself while I was nibbling on my Apple fritter. My goal was to get it finished before I got home, and because of the week I was having, I finished that goal as well.

The Cybersalt Digest is a ministry of Pastor Tim and Cybersalt.