Welcome to the weekly encouragement letter #42 (4. 11. 2000).

Dear Friend,
How are you? Everyone suffers wth some form of  loss. No one is
exempt. And no matter what the loss it feels like a hole has been
torn n your soul that can not be  mended. It has become very clear
recently as we have seen the loss of our dear ones. So the question
everyone is asking is,"How can I live with my loss?".  Read by
Clicking on or visiting the link below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
Be encouraged,
Othniel.    ( mailto:aocc@...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit the New  web sites:
**All about the Love that never fails- http://www.tuflove.net
**All about disciple-making- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"There is a way that seems right to a man, bu it's end is the way of
death." Proverbs 14:12.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the weekly encouragement letter #43 (11. 11. 2000).

Dear Friend,
How are you? Last week we have seen something about 'how to live with
our loss'. When we are confronted with a loss, many times we feel
unnerved and paralyzed by the pain. It's pretty hard for us to view a
painful loss as an opportunity for positive change. But it is. We
need to face the unsettling reality that change and loss are
inevitably linked, and that they are unavoidable. Read more on "Can
anything good come from loss" by Clicking on or visiting the link
below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
Be encouraged,
Othniel.    ( mailto:aocc@...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our  web sites:
**All about disciple-making- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"For our light affliction (loss), which is but for a moment, worketh
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
2Corinthians 4: 17.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the weekly encouragement letter #44 (18. 11. 2000).

Dear Friend,
How are you? It takes sometime for a person to work through any loss.
Deep wounds of the soul often require more time to heal than wounds
to the body. But the healing will come. Let's look at "four stages of
grief that we must go through if we are to successfully live with our
loss. " Click on or visit the link below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
Be encouraged,
Othniel.    ( mailto:aocc@...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our  web sites:
**All about disciple-making- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"Blessed be the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
2Corinthians 1: 3-4.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the weekly encouragement letter #45 (25. 11. 2000).

Dear Friend,
How are you? Have you ever thought that there is nothing worse than a
life filled with adversity from which nothing good ever comes?.
Here's how you can "Advance through Adversity. " Click on or visit
the link below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
Be encouraged,
Othniel.    ( mailto:aocc@...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our  web sites:
**All about disciple-making- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich and HE addeth no sorrow
with it." Proverbs 10: 22.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the weekly encouragement letter #46 (2. 12. 2000).

Dear Friend,
How are you? In continuation of the last week's letter, since
adversity is God's most effective tool insofar as spiritual growth is
concerned, the degree to which we desire to grow spiritually
corresponds to our ability to handle adversity successfully. Here's
the rest of the article on  how you can "Advance through Adversity
(part-2). " Click on or visit the link below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
Be encouraged,
Othniel.    ( mailto:aocc@...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our  web sites:
**All about disciple-making- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"All things work together for good to those who love God, to those
who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the weekly encouragement letter #47 (9. 12. 2000).

Dear Friend,
How are you? One of the reasons God allows adversity into our lives
is to cause us to rely on His strength instead of our own. In doing
so, He perfects His power in us. This comes out so clearly in the
popular story of David & Goliath. Read more on the "Power of
Weakness" by Clicking on or visiting the link below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
Be encouraged,
Othniel.    ( mailto:aocc@...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our  web sites:
**All about disciple-making- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"Your biggest weakness is God's opportunity--when you are in His
plan."
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the weekly encouragement letter #48 (16. 12. 2000).

Dear Friend,
How are you? Apostle Paul's response to his adversity was that he was
content with his weakness and even rejoiced in it! The whole idea of
being content with weakness contradicts the messages society sends
us. In an age of power lunches and power ties, it is unusual for
people to get very excited about living in a state of weakness. Let
us see how, from God's perspective, it is "A Painful Priority" to go
through adversity successfully. Click on or visit the link below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
Be encouraged,
Othniel.    ( mailto:aocc@...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our web sites:
**All about disciple-making- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"My (Christ's) grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in
weakness." 2Corinthians 12:10.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the weekly encouragement letter #49 (22. 12. 2000).

Dear Friend,
How are you? Since this is the season of giving and celebrating,
people are busy exchanging gifts and enjoying the festivities. But
there is the Most wonderful Gift ever given which many have not
accepted.
This time, I thought it would be useful to write a message on "Oh!
what A Wonderful Gift of Love", which you can use as a tract to share
the Good News of  Salvation with others during these days.
Click on or visit the link below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
* The message in a beautiful tract form is at
http://www.ctouch.org/wondergift.htm

* Read the "Facts of Christmas" at http://www.ctouch.org/xmas.htm
~Is it not shocking to see what's happening around us in the name of
Jesus' birth?!

Be encouraged,
Othniel.    ( mailto:aocc@...)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our web sites:
**The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life." John 3:16.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

WISH A VERY HAPPY and BLESSED NEW YEAR 2001.

Welcome to the Weekly Encouragement Letter #50 (30. 12. 2000).

Dear Friend,
How are you? The Year is Over. So what's ahead? That's the searching
question on everybody's mind now. How awesome it is to think that in
just a few hours, we will enter into another new millennium! I had
written a special letter to you on "When the clock strikes Twelve",
on this auspicious occasion. As we celebrate the arrival of the new
year, let us allow God to use our talents, time and treasures ....to
invest in relationships and to sow for an eternal harvest. Be
encouraged.
Pl. don't fail to Click on or visit the link below to read the full
message:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
Celebrating with you,
A. Othniel.    (Philippians 3:13,14)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our web sites:
**The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of
old. Behold, I will do a new thing...." says the Lord. Isaiah 43:
18,19.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the Weekly Encouragement Letter #1 (6. 1. 2001).

Dear Friend,
How are you? I had the privilege to send you the encouraging letters
for the whole year 2000. Why, you may wonder! It is to encourage you
to be an encourager to others! The comfort I had been receiving from
God and His people, I am passing on to others like you, so that you
in turn may pass it on to others who may need the comfort. The world
is full of people who need encouragement. Read the full message on
how we are "Comforted to Comfort" by clicking on or visiting the link
below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
I like to know and rejoice with you how the weekly encouragement
letters helped you or someone else. Feel free to share with me. Thank
you.
Be encouraged,
A. Othniel.    (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our web sites:
*The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"Praise be to God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our
troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the
comfort we ourselves have received from God..." 2Corinthians 1:3-4.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the Weekly Encouragement Letter #2 (15. 1. 2001).

Dear Friend,
How are you? When we think of adversity, we want to see an ideal
account of someone who went through it all and came out victorious.
We have just that in Paul's life.  Paul made some fantastic
discoveries about adversity that enabled him not to merely survive
his circumstances, but to "glory" in them and emerge victorious. Here
are the Ten "Discoveries in Adversity". Read them all by clicking on
or visiting the link below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
Past one week my telephone is dead (as also all the phones in our
housing complex) due to some cable problem. Hence the delay in
sending this from a pvt cybercafe.
Be encouraged,
A. Othniel.    (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**>Have a look at the new "Great Friendships" at
http://www.ctouch.org/friends.htm
**>"Dangerous Doctrines" at http://www.ctouch.org/cults.htm

Visit our web sites:
*The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"...My (Lord's) Grace is Sufficient for you, for Power is Perfected
in Weakness..." 2Corinthians 12:7-10.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the Weekly Encouragement Letter #03 (20. 1. 2001).

Dear Friend,
How are you? The nature of our adversity alone does not determine its
spiritual value in our lives. It is our reaction to it, the way we
deal with it, that makes suffering valuable. Here's all
about "Responding to Adversity: The Choice is Yours". Read fully by
clicking on or visiting the link below:
**********************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
**********************************
Be encouraged,
A. Othniel.    (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**>Have a look at the new "Great Friendships" at
http://www.ctouch.org/friends.htm
**>And "Dangerous Doctrines" at http://www.ctouch.org/cults.htm

Visit our web sites:
*The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let the
patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and
complete, lacking nothing." James 1: 2-4.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Welcome to the Weekly Encouragement Letter #04 (27. 1. 2001).

Dear Friend,
How are you? Last week we have seen about Responding to Adversity
when that is the result of sin. Responding to Adversity when it
originates with God or Satan is different from merely responding to
the consequences of sin. Read fully how to  "Respond to Adversity
from Above and Below",  by clicking on or visiting the link below:
******************************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
******************************************
Be encouraged,
A. Othniel.    (Romans 8:37)
A Special Announcement: We want to display your personal or business
promotional advertisement banners on our web sites. In return, you
can donate some small amount towards our Internet Ministry. Pl. let
me know soon by email. Thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**>Have a look at the new "Great Friendships" at
http://www.ctouch.org/friends.htm
**>And "Dangerous Doctrines" at http://www.ctouch.org/cults.htm

Visit our web sites:
*The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"Nay, in all these things (adversities, sufferings, perils, etc) we
are more than conquerors through Him (Christ) that loved us." Romans
8: 31-39.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter #05 (3. 2. 2001).

Dear Friend,
How are you? When we see so much devastation wrought by the killer
earthquake in the state of Gujarat in India, what kind of thoughts
come to our mind? Many are wondering, where is God in all this? Even
though, no one can fully understand or explain all the suffering in
the world, yet we have some reasons to believe in a God who allows
suffering. Here are "10 Reasons to believe in a God who allows
suffering". Read by clicking on or visiting the link below:
******************************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
******************************************
Be encouraged,
A. Othniel.    (Romans 8:37)

A Special Announcement: We want to display your personal or business
promotional advertisement banners on our web sites. In return, you
can donate some small amount towards our Internet Ministry. Pl. let
me know soon by email. Thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**>Have a look at the new "Great Friendships" at
http://www.ctouch.org/friends.htm
**>And "Dangerous Doctrines" at http://www.ctouch.org/cults.htm

Visit our web sites:
*The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"Nay, in all these things (adversities, sufferings, perils, etc) we
are more than conquerors through Him (Christ) that loved us." Romans
8: 31-39.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter #06 (10. 2. 2001).

Dear Friend,
How are you? In continuation of the last week's article on "Can We
Believe in a God who Allows Suffering?-10 Reasons." Here are the
remaining Reasons. Read by clicking on or visiting the link below:
******************************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
******************************************
Be encouraged,
A. Othniel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our web sites:
*The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
______________________________________________________________________
"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His
compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy
faithfulness." Lamentations 3: 22,23.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 07 (17. 2. 2001).

Dear Friend,
How are you? What Do You Do with a Broken Relationship? Let's face
it. To all relationships there comes the inevitable crisis. Someone
is offended, and a painful process of alienation begins. Attitudes
quickly change. Inappropriate words and actions soon follow. The
relationship is strained and at times even ended. Is this your
experience? If so, then read on by clicking on or visiting the link
below:
******************************************
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm
******************************************
Be encouraged,
A. Othniel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our web sites:
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
*The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
______________________________________________________________________
"...a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" Proverbs 15:23.
______________________________________________________________________

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 08 (25. 2. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)

Dear Friend,
How are you? Some suggested to put all the contents in this mail
itself. So, I am writing below this week's encouraging letter. You
can also see this at: http://ctouch.org/encl.htm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Relationship Maintenance"
*************************
Let's be honest. No one wants to experience the pain and embarassment
of a broken relationship.
We would much rather have things go well between us and others. But
good associations are not
easy to maintain. In fact, it requires a diligent effort from all the
people involved.
As we take the necessary steps, it will help to promote the health
and stability of the relationships that we have.

* Talk Openly: It's very important that we freely and regularly share
our thoughts and feelings with one another.
When we do, it helps us to be more understanding. It gives us the
ability to know each other better and to respond in the ways that we
should.

* Communicate Honestly: The Bible instructs us to get rid of all
deceit and hypocrisy (1Peter 2:1). It also says that we should not
lie to one another (Colossians 3:9). Therefore, we should be honest
in everything we do and say. This makes it possible for us to trust
one another, and it binds us closer together.

* Respect Each Other: Having the esteem of others is fundamental to
our personal well-being. We don't feel good about ourselves unless
others think that we are important. That's why friends and loved ones
who care about us are so vital. They affirm our worth. When personal
regard is mutually expressed, it causes us to respond to one another
with a warmhearted acceptance. And this acceptance is maintained as
we continue to honor one another (Romans 12:10).

* Resolve Your Anger: The Bible says, "Do not let the sun go down on
your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26). Our anger should be dealt with as
quickly as possible. Before the day is over, we should go to the one
who has offended us and clear it up. Not only will we sleep better,
but problems will be handled before they have time to grow.

* Be Patient: We need to overlook one another's imperfections.
According to the Bible, we have to be patient making allowances for
one another's faults (Colossians 3:13). No one is excluded; all of us
have flaws in our character. Instead of judging others and being
critical, we should be humble and tolerant. If we are, it will help
to maintain our ties with others.

* Share One Another's Problems: Let's face it. We need each other-
especially when we have problems. It's true that each of us has the
responsibility to handle his own troubles, but there comes a time
when we all need the help of a friend. In fact, the Bible tells us
that we should share each other's burdens and in this way we obey the
Lord's command (Galatians 6:2). When we share each other's problems,
we show that we care-making our relationship much more secure.

* Give Constructive Criticism: The Bible says that open rebuke is
better than secret love (Proverbs 27:5). We may be reluctant to
confront someone about a particular fault, but it is more loving to
say something to him than to keep quiet and allow him to continue on
as he is. Truthful and loving criticism has its goal the best
interests of the other person.
Although this kind of criticism hurts, it is the pain of friendship.
By helping one another this way, we show that we really care. Through
constructive criticism we become better people. And as a result, our
relationships are improved.

* Serve One Another: Rather than asking what we can get, we should be
asking what we can give. Instead of seeking to please ourselves, we
should be seeking to please each other (Romans 15:2). This attitude
recognizes that selfishness only ruins a relationship, but self-
sacrifice builds it up. When we serve one another, our relationship
is maintained and everyone involved benefits.

Yes, these maintenance procedures are very important. If we
faithfully follow them they will help keep a relationship strong.

Be Encouraged.
A.Othniel.
**********************************************************************
**************************
Visit our web sites:
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
*The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
______________________________________________________________________
______
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of
God." Matthew 5:9.
______________________________________________________________________
______

*To be removed, send a blank mail to: encl-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 09 (03. 3. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How Can We Work Through Our Differences?
*****************************************
Can we be  true to our convictons without being dangerous to those
who disagree with us? How can being too agreeable set us up for
conflict? What can we learn from our anger?
           What if we are sure we are right about a contested issue of
dispute of policy, or personality or principle, but if giving in
would let dangerous people have their way? What if we believe that
the other side hasn't been honest in the way it has handled its side
of the disagreement?
           Such questions might be especially troubling if we are also
aware of the damage conflict can do. So, knowing the danger of
disputes, what do we do? Do we let people walk all over us for the
sake of unity? No, to begin with, we need to see that the Bible gives
us reason to say...

* Don't Agree If You Don't.
           Don't, for the sake of peace and unity, try to be so
agreeable that you lose your integrity in the process. Don't
contribute to the deadly,dishonest silence that often precedes an
outbreak of conflict.
           Remember that Moses, Jesus, and Paul were not known for
being agreeable. They did not play it safe to avoid rocking the boat.
They did not pursue peace at any price. Through their example and the
whole Scripture, the Bible consistently gives us reason to believe
that...

* Disagreement Can Be Healthy.
           While the Bible warns about the dangers of bitter disputes,
it also gives us many reasons to cultivate the art of gracious
disagreement.Solomon taught us that safety is found in a multitude of
counselors, not a multitude of nondissenting, compliant followers
(Prov.11:14).He said that the wounds of a friend are faithful (27:6)
that manipulative lies of flattery are dangerous (26:28), and that
real friends are to sharpen one another the way iron sharpens iron
(27:17).If we have not learned to practice healthy, animated,
and vigorous  disagreement, we will not be ready to  manage our
response to conflict when  it comes.
            If we have not given one another permission to test our
ideas, any  disagreement can feel like a personal attack. Defenses
go up.Tempers flare. Feelings are hurt. We end up kicking
ourselves with regret while living with the proof that "a brother
offended is harder to win than a strong city" (Prov.18:19).
           If we have not learned to cultivate healthy disagreement,
any issue can be dangerous. Trouble might develop over personal
friendships,family relationships, church policy, doctrines, budgets,
staff salaries,use of facilities or any other issue. Friction could
occur around any such matters. Bitterness could surface over some of
these issues. It might involve trends in the way things are being
done. The anger woulld erupt over important matters or personal
irritations.
           In the light of the fact that almost any issue can turn
into conflict, how then do we develop the kind of gracious
disagreement that results in counsel, safety and wisdom rather than
conflict? That's what we are going to attempt to answer in the
following lines. Before we do, though,there's one other important
matter we need to keep in mind...

  * Conflict is Unavoidable and Not Necessarily Bad.
          We don't need to feel guilty just because we are involved in
some conflict.Trouble is unavoidable. Conflict will come. It comes to
the best of institutions like churches, to the best of spiritual
leaders, and to the best of friendships.Conflict came to Jesus and
His inner circle. It came between Paul and Barnabas, and Paul and
Peter. Conflict came not only to the immature church of Corinth,
but to the much more mature church in Philippi.Conflict came to the
inner circle of Christ even after He had served them communion
on the  night of His betrayal.
           History shows that the "honeymoon experience" of new
relationships is always followed by testing and trouble. Any
expectation to the contrary will result in disappointment. It makes
far more sense,therefore, not to pray that the Lord would keep us
from conflict, but that He would enable us, as gracefully as
possible, to manage our response to it.
           Our challenge in the words of Paul is, "If  it is possible,
as much as depends on you,live peaceably with all men" (Rom. 12:18).
           But how do we develop such an attitude when faced with
people who obviously do not have our best interests at heart? How do
we cultivate the art of gracious disagreement in the presence of
people who don't even like us?

We will continue next week: "Look Behind the Issues"
Be encouraged.
A.Othniel.
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Welcome to Weekly Encouraging Letter # 10 (10.3.2001).
http://www.ctouch.org/encl.htm

          >>> How Can We Work through our differences?
                              -Look Behind the Issues <<<
          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          We have been talking about "how we can work through our
           differences? And we have seen that the Conflict is
           unavoidable and not necessarily bad.
         Now, one of the most practical things we can do is realize
         that as far as conflict is concerned...

     * The problem is not the problem. Disagreement  over issues
        is not what causes us to walk all over one another.
        Disagreement  is not what causes committee meeting
        to erupt in anger. The real story of conflict occurs not in what
        we are disagreeing about, but in why and how we are
        disagreeing. Until we get below surface issues to our own
        unseen motives, we have not even begun to deal with the
        problems that are dividing us. And until we get below our
        unseen motives to the underlying beliefs that form them,
        we will still have a very shallow approach to conflict.
           Our differences might be important. What we need to see,
           however, is that issues do not cause conflict.
           Unseen motives and underlying misbeliefs cause conflict.
           To cultivate relationships that enjoy the freedom of healthy
           disagreement, we need to develop an understanding of
           unseen motives.

        * Motives Behind Issues.
           The issues in a conflict are like the tip of an iceberg.
           Underneath are the unseen motives that cause healthy
          disagreements to turn sour.
           The Apostle James shows us (James 3:13-16)
           that unseen motives can cause us to be like trouble
           looking for a place to happen. He made it clear that
           if we resent the attention or recognition that someone
           else is getting (envy), or if we are committed to getting
           ahead even at the expense of others (self-seeking or
           selfish ambition), we have a hidden conflict of interest
           that will shape and sour our approach to disagreement.
           Paul, on the other hand, shows us ( 2Tim. 2:24-26)
           that if our motives are right, we can act graciously-
           even toward those who are against us.
           Even if we are convinced that the other side is caught in
           serious error, our goal can be for their good.
           James and Paul are not alone in their emphasis on the
           role of right attitudes and motives. The whole Bible is a
           book of the heart. The Scriptures teach us that if our
           motives aren't right, our knowledge, faith and self-sacrifice
           are of little value in the eyes of God (1Cor.13:1-3).
           Over and over the Word of God calls for the kind of love that
           is a motive before it is an action. The Scriptures are also
          clear about what happens when bad motives displace good
          ones. (Lk. 22:14-27).

         * Beliefs Behind Motives.
           Conflict could be defined as "two or more people trying to occupy
           the same space or control the same limited resources." This was
           what was happening between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot.
           was not room for both of them. (Gen.13:1-9).
           Abram's response was peaceful- offering Lot his choice of land.
           The reason for Abram's generosity goes beyond his good motives.
           Abram was able to be so vulnerable because he was being taught by
           God to realize that his well-being was not found in his own
           clenched fists but in the open hand of the One who was leading him
          (Gen.13:14-18).
           Our motives and approach to conflict will not be shaped by rules
           but by whether or not we join Abram in trusting the Provider God.
           Are we willing to let Him provide for us on His terms and in His
           time?Or do we believe our security depends on our ability to take
           matters into our own hands?
           This is not to say that we are to lie down and let people walk
           onus whenever they want. Love doesn't always give others their
          way. Sometimes they need to feel the weight and intensity of our
          concerns and convictions. In the process, however, they need to
          sense that our disagreement is gracious and loving in nature.
          They need to know that we are not resisting merely to protect
          our own interests. And the only way we can be so loving is to rest
          in God's ability to provide for us.
           People who know they are secure in God's hand find their motives
           shaped in that awareness. They learn to live with grace, to love
           freely, and to trust God from day to day when matters beyond
           their control do not go their way.

        * Misbelief Behind Cycles.
           We repeat cycles of conflict when we assume that what we want is
           always what we need, or when we are more concerned about the
           people who are against us than God who is for us.
           Misbeliefs are the fuel of ongoing cycles of conflict.
          They lead us to think that it is up to us to take matters in hand,
           and that if we don't protect ourselves no one else  will.
           Underlying misbeliefs also help to explain why the apostle Paul
           wrote as he did to disputing parties in Philippi.
           See Philippians 4:2-7. He must have known something of the
            matters that were separating them. Yet he didn't even mention
           the specific issues. Instead, he wrote  as if the details could be
           worked out once both sides came to terms with the underlying
            misbeliefs that had caused them to turn away from the Lord and
            against one another.
           By addressing the real issues underlying belief, Paul gave them a
           means of breaking the cycle of conflict that could have spread to
          many others. He knew that the formula for unity is not found in
         agreeing about all issues. Neither is the solution merely in knowing
         that we should find it within ourselves to love one another.

           The answer for those who know God is to have the right beliefs
            about Him in the troubling circumstances of life. This alone will
           enable us to avoid the self-protection, fear, and anger that
           otherwise lead to returning  evil for evil and harm for harm.

           Be encouraged.
           A.Othniel.
           *************************Letter # 10 (10.3.2001).*****************

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"Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every
   evil thing are there..." James 3:16.
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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 11 (17. 3. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How Can I Find Satisfaction in My Work?
*****************************************
         Someone has said, " I like work, I could sit and watch someone do it
all day."
But most of us don't have that luxury. We can't afford to spend our days
lounging
at poolside, sipping lemonade, and watching a gardener trim the bushes.
Besides, I doubt that many of us would find fulltime inactivity to be
satisfying for
very long. A Chinese proverb states, "A man grows most tired while standing
still."
         Our sense of personal worth is closely connected to a feeling that
we are
accomplishing something purposeful with our lives. Because of that, work and
a
satisfying life are inseparable. But unfortunately, work doesn't always give
us that
sense of satisfaction. What should be personally fulfilling is more often a
drain on
us physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.
          If you are a factory worker, an executive, a professional, a single
parent
juggling two roles, or any other labourer, your struggles are in many ways
unique.
Yet in many other ways they are similar. There are four elements we all have
in
common and four principles for helping us find satisfaction:
1. Know who you're working for,
2. Put your job to work for you,
3. Keep work in its place, and
4. Look for a better fit.

            Contrary to the way we may feel sometimes, work itself is not a
curse.
When we learn to see it properly, we realize that in almost every job there
is
a way of working for and with God. we need to understand that the perfect
life
is not a work-free existence. Work was part of the Lord's blueprint for
daily life
in Paradise.
             When we accept God's perspective on work, we will find
fulfillment.
That perspective includes a new "job description" as found in the Bible.
It tells us who it is we report to, what our duties are, and how  we will be
compensated. It shows us the significance of what we are doing.
It also gives us a plan for working through difficulties in our
relationships with
bosses, co-workers, employees, and customers.
              It would be unrealistic for us to expect work to be
problem-free.
But that doesn't mean that work has to be joyless drudgery. Jesus Christ
died
and rose from the grave not only to give us a home in heaven but also to
help
us to experience a sense of true fulfillment here on earth as we live for
Him.
Have you made Him the Lord of your life?
Be encouraged.
A.Othniel. (mailto:aocc@...)
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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 12 (24.3.2001).
http://ctouch.org/encl.htm
*********************************************************************
Lonely But Never Alone
*****************************
The darkest nights are not reserved for those who endure loss from fire,
accident,
earthquake, or hurricane. The darkest hours are destined for those whose
tragedy
gets unnoticed. The deepest pain belongs to those for whom no rescue is
intended-
those who must endure loneliness.
For many, loneliness has shown up at some of the most unlikely times and
places.
Answering a knock on the door, only to find an empty doorstep, has sometimes
allowed in an unexpected intruder.Thankfully, the solution also shows up in
the
most unexpected places.
All agree that there is no simple or single answer to the problem, no glib
solution;
for while the root cause is the same, the contributory factors are many.
It is a complex phenomenon, and different types of loneliness require
different
approaches. Relief will be found only when we go beyond symptoms and deal
with the toxic center from which the affliction springs. The lack of
intimacy,
which is one of the most painful elements, must be addressed and remedied.

If loneliness is to be overcome, it must be accepted that the initiative in
relieving
the condition lies with those who are suffering. It is they who must take
the first step
and set the machinery for recovery in motion. If they are unwilling to do
this,
they are likely to be left with their loneliness.
Ultimately, every one of us must face reality and take responsibility for
our condition.
It is our personal loneliness and for it we have final responsibility. So if
any change is
to be effected, it is we who must take the initiative. If we choose to deny
responsibility
and blame others for it, the prospect for release is dim. We must cease
blaming parents,
environment, or other people or circumstances, or there can be no effective
strategy for
conquering the affliction. There is good hope for release when we accept
that, in the end,
we and no one else are responsible to create the conditions for change.

Ultimately, loneliness stems from mankind's alienation from God, so no
remedy
that does not take this factor into account will afford more than
superficial and
temporary relief. But while the condition is rooted in the spiritual, the
relevant
psychological and social elements must not be overlooked.

The resources available to lonely people, both from God and from fellow men
and women, are more abundant than they realize and would discover if they
made the attempt. Did they but realize it, their loneliness could be the
starting
point of a new journey toward moral and spiritual maturity. If they would
abandon
the search for someone to care for them, and set themselves instead to care
for
someone else, they would be amazed to discover that their loneliness was
quite bearable, even if it was not entirely banished.

"Where is God when I am lonely?" is a question asked by many depressed
people. It may not be actually articulated, but it is there deep down
nonetheless.
Of course the answer is, "Right beside you."
Whether we feel it or not, we have His presence for loneliness, His
understanding
for the human misunderstanding that ruthlessly assaults our quivering
sensitivities,
His unchanging and unchangeable purpose for the seeming hopelessness of our
frustration and apparent uselessness... Our very infirmities can open up our
lives
to more of the power of Christ. "For when I am weak, I am strong".
(2Cor.12:10).
Be encouraged.
A.Othniel.
****************************************************************************
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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 13 (1. 4. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Living through Depression (Part 1)
******************************************
A telephone call can do it...or a few minutes' companionship. Some help
with the shopping, the gift of a cake- very often it only takes a simple
gesture to help ease the load of someone's depression.
The following lines may help too. These are not intended as good advice-
for advice is the last thing we want when depression has taken over.
Rather, these are offered as a reminder of friendship and love which are
still there in spite of the walls which may have closed us in.
A busy leader, worn down by the pressures of ministry; someone recovering
from illness...or bereavement; a non-believer struggling with the problems
of
life- who of us is not subject to depression at certain points along the
way?
This letter offers no quick way out. What we need, when we are living in the
twilight, is a reminder- that, and little else. For a reminder may be just
enough
to act as a gentle "trigger" to help us on to the next stage...of recovery,
and to
renewed strength.

Depression...It can happen to anybody.
Think of the composer Tchaikovsky...or the poet Coleridge...or Churchill,
the
political leader. They were all subject to times of darkness. The examples
are
numerous: it can happen to anybody. Many of us know the experience of
waking in the morning and shrinking as the film of the day ahead begins to
roll
before our minds, because we feel we are trapped in a never-ending tunnel.
Sometimes this can take an acute form- when we want oblivion now.
Frequently,
depression takes a chronic form. "I can't go on," we sigh, as grey day
follows
grey day. We feel hemmed in and oppressed. Perhaps somebody has said
something, and this has plunged us into gloom. But as often as not, it is a
nameless dread that hangs over us and constantly threatens to engulf us.

Depression...It Always Gets Better.
But there is an end to the tunnel. Let's say that immediately. We don't
easily
believe this when we are actually in the tunnel; nevertheless it is true.
Depression does get better!
It isn't advice that we want; it's practical help, and little reminders from
trusted
friends that the end will be coming into view. We can learn a good deal from
the
O.T. character of Job. Here was a man, a truly good man, into whose life
came
unbidden adversity. Job lost virtually everything, but somehow he stuck it
out and
finally the dark waiting period was over, and he emerged into the sunlight
once
more. He'd made it. So you can, whatever the situation!

*(To be contd next week).
Be encouraged.
A.Othniel. (mailto:aocc@...)
*************************************************************
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___________________________________________________________
"...the God of all comfort, comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may
be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith
we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Cor. 1:4.
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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 14 (8. 4. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Being Grateful Always
**********************
When we think of so many good things happening to us, what do we do?
Of course, we can somehow pay back or respond to the one who has
done good to us. But what about God, from whom we are receiving innumerable
blessings and benefits? Even if you don't see any visible blessing as coming
from God you still need to be grateful!
Because, one of the sins listed in the Word of God is ungratefulness.
(Romans 1:21). So being grateful always is the right way of responding to
all the good we are receiving from God and others.

Everyday of your life is a gift from God. Don't squander it. Don't waste it
by
being angry with anyone. Don't let it slip away by feeling sorry for
yourself.
Instead, be grateful for this precious gift of life and spend it by being as
happy
and thankful as you can possibly. Also, because, "In everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1Thess. 5:18).
Let your mind dwell on good things that have happened to you.
Think on your spiritual assets, and don't let anyone else (Satan, demon,
friend
or foe) spoil your day for you. Enjoy everyday of your life to the fullest
for the
glory of God. Realize that you can add to the joy of each day by making
someone else happy. Everyday is God's day for you. "This is the day which
the
Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24).

The kind of prayer that helps you get into a peaceful and grateful attitude
might
be something like this:
"Heavenly Father, help me to be grateful for being alive right now. Help me
to
realize that no matter what my problem may be, where there is life, there is
hope.
Help me to think positively and to realize that thousands of miracles are
happening every day. Help me to pray, and help me to remember the times
when prayer brought peace. Let me be a listener and not self-centred.
Help me to realize that if I get my mind occupied by helping and cheering up
other people, I will be healthier than if I were always checking my own
pulse.
Help me to look for good in everyone I meet. Let me realize that I can not
change anybody's way of thinking. Only by doing the best I can and setting
a good example may I influence someone to change his or her behavior.
Help me to understand that other people have as much right to their opinions
as I do mine. I must be thankful for the mind and body you have given to me
and realize there is a purpose for every person being different. Let me
realize
that you, my Father, are with me always to guide and comfort me. Let me open
my heart to the Holy Spirit and let your love flow in. Let me accept the
peace
that You can bring; and help me to understand that You have a plan and
purpose in everything that happens. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Be encouraged.
A.Othniel. (mailto:aocc@...)

* Please note: I have moved to a new place and my
new Tel. & Fax no. is: 022-537 9346.
*************************************************************
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_______________________________________________________________________
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." Psalm 103: 2.
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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 15 (14. 4. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Living through Depression-(Part 2).
******************************
So far we have seen that Depression...It can happen to anybody, and it
always
gets better. Now let us see some more.

* Depression...It May be Diagnosed.
In the valley of depression, the Psalmist David learned to talk to himself:
" Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?"
(Ps.42:5). This was very positive!

A famous person made the point that much of our unhappiness in life is
because we are listening to ourselves instead of talking to ourselves.
Those uninvited thoughts that crowd in upon us- we do not have to let them
dictate to us. Like David, we can say to ourselves:"Why am I cast down?"
And in doing so, we begin to know ourselves. We can get depressed for many
different reasons.
+The Physical factor: sometimes ill health, plain and simple, brings us down
emotionally.
+ The Circumstantial factor: Our environment and background may contribute
  to our outlook on life. Financial insecurity, middle age, an uncertain
future-
any of these may affect us.
+ The Intellectual factor: "Who am I?"...What is the meaning of life?- what
are
we here for? These are the questions that many of us ask. The Word of God
offers
real and solid answers to these questions- but our period of investigation
may
sometimes be painful and slow.
+ The Moral and Spiritual factor: We may be out of touch with God, or deeply
regret things that we have done in our past- it will not be surprising if
depression
then takes hold of us. We feel isolated and alone, and we long to discover
our true
roots.
Even to pose these questions is a help. Sometimes we need other friends to
help
us diagnose ourselves. When this happens, it is a great step forward.

* Depression...It can be helped.
Depression is anger turned inwards- did you know that? Because it's turned
inwards, it hurts very much. What is needed is for one or two friends to be
around
- little and often- to help ventilate the problem and let it out- sometimes
just by
being there.
We do not want to be deluged with books, or worn out by the advice of
others,
however spiritual or well-meaning. This was the problem with Job's three
so-called
'comforters'. Over-talkative and self-righteous, they were useless to him.
What we
need, when we are stuck at a particular stage of sorrow or depression, is
for
someone to be alongside, to move us helpfully on to the next stage of
recovery.
Depression can be shared.

* Depression...The Way Back is Steady and Slow.
To be depressed is to be heavy; and what is needed is for someone to lighten
the
load. Not by sensational remedies, but simply by practical help. Sometimes
expert
help is required- but as often as not what we are looking for are the little
human
reminders of God's care when the world seems to have caved in. We should
never
despise the medical profession in this matter. If tablets have been
prescribed, let
them be taken and accepted as God's gift.

Bereavement...sorrow...heaviness...recovering from them is like getting
better
slowly after an illness. Imperceptibly, the darkness turns to grey, and the
grey
turns to the pink of the new dawn. We've made it. No one comes out of these
waiting tunnels just the same as when they went in. Job (in the Bible) knew
infinitely more of himself- and of God- at the end of his experience than he
did
at the beginning. In this way, he helps us, and, who knows, maybe we are
going
to be able to help others when our own tunnel of waiting is over?

Be encouraged.
A.Othniel. (mailto:aocc@...)

* Please note: I have moved to a new place and my
new Tel. & Fax no. is: 022-537 9346.
*************************************************************
Visit our web sites:
* All About the Love that Never Fails! http://www.tuflove.net
*Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
*Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
*Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
*Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
*Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
*The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
_______________________________________________________________________
"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount
up
with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and
not faint." Isaiah 40: 31.
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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 16 (22. 4. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is Your Family Stressed Out?
******************************
You might have noticed that many families these days are really stressed
out.
It seems that everyone is quick to acknowledge that we have been pulled into
the "fast lane." We may expect this from people living in urban communities,
but even the "country folk" have been victimized by the "rat race" pace.
Is anything more destructive to family life than this?

Too Fast!
It's like a snowball rolling down a steep hill. As it gains momentum and
speed,
the size increases until the centrifugal force causes it to explode. The
faster we
live, the more force is exerted until, finally, we reach the point that
nothing can
hold us together. We disintegrate without even knowing what has taken place.

We may be living in a world that has gone crazy, but do we have to go crazy
with it? One of the reasons why our world is in this condition is because of
the
emptiness so many people are experiencing. Their lives are so void of
meaning
and purpose, they go to every imaginable extreme to discover something worth
living for.
But those who have experienced Christ have meaning and purpose for living.
The reality of our personal relationship with Christ gives us the greatest
motivation for living.

Too Busy!!
The majority of the families today are struggling with the issue of busyness
for
one basic reason, a lack of discipline. And I'm not referring to punishing
children for disobedience. What I mean is simply the inability to say,
"No!"-
a failure to properly prioritize, to recognize what is really important and
what is incidental. In too many homes the incidental is crowding out the
essential.

With overly full schedules, there is no time for families to just enjoy
doing things
with each other. Taking a quiet walk, throwing a ball, baking a batch of
cookies,
reading a story, building strong relationship. Family worship has been
crowded
out. Mealtime has become a disaster area. Many families seldom sit down
together to enjoy a well-balanced, home-cooked meal. Like many other areas,
we eat on the run. Everyone has to be somewhere doing something. We can't
stand inactivity. Even the Lord's Day is being used to do all the things we
couldn't get to during the week.
TV,Videos,CD players and computers haven't helped us either. They have done
more to create restlessness than we'd like to admit. They are time-wasters
for
many families who don't know how to do things together.

An Answer
Is there an answer? Can we salvage something that has been taken away from
us by the high-tech, high-speed society in which we live? I believe we can,
but we must start with several important things.
First, we must recognize what has happened to us. Stand back and take an
honest look at what and where your family is? Nothing will change until you
see
the need.
Second, determine to do something about it. Things will be no different
unless
you want them to be.
Third, evaluate your priorities. Determine what matters and what doesn't.
Don't be afraid to get rid of the incidentals.
Fourth, get your direction from God, not the world. Study His Word, spend
much time in prayer, seek godly counsel, and determine together as a family
the changes you must make.
Finally, make solid commitments and stick to them. Don't allow yourself to
be
drawn back into the "rat race." The biggest problem with the "rat race" is
the
rats always win- and the family always loses!

Set the Pace
Get ready, because others may not understand. You may find your family
being criticized by other good families, when you choose to drop out of
certain
activities. But remember, your family is your greatest earthly treasure, and
you
will answer to God for what you do with it. Don't be afraid to be different.
I honestly believe God will bless you if you will set a sensible pace for
your family.
You'll have more time for the Lord and for enjoying each other, as you
relieve
your family from those stress factors that you can live without.
Be encouraged.
A.Othniel. (mailto: aocc@...)
*********************************************************
Visit our web sites:
* All About the Love that Never Fails! http://www.tuflove.net
* Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
* Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
* Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
* Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
* Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
* The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
_______________________________________________________________________
"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways...thy
wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house; thy children
like olive plants round about thy table." Psalm 128: 1,3.
_______________________________________________________________________

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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 17 (29. 4. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When We Just Can't Stop.
************************
Addictions raise many questions. Are they moral weaknesses, diseases,
habits,
or sins? Are they physical dependencies, or complicated spiritual
cycles?
What's needed for change? Is it medical treatment , family
intervention,
daily group accountability, or spiritual transformation? Can
behaviours be
changed quickly, or will recovery be the process of a lifetime? If
our answer
to these questions is yes, or at least maybe we are being honest
about the
complexity of addiction.
This week and next week, we'll look at this complexity, and we'll
focus on
some of the more critical personal and spiritual dimensions of
addiction.

The Complexity of Addiction
Defining An Addiction: An addiction is an enslaving, destructive
dependency.
Random House defines addiction as "the state of being enslaved to a
habit or
practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-
forming,
as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe
trauma."
Because a person can be physically predisposed to an addiction, and
because
of the likelihood of medical complications, addictions are often
viewed as a
disease. It would be a mistake, however, to think only in terms of
the physical
dimensions. Most addictions are also rooted in moral choices and
spiritual needs.
What is most important is not whether we are predisposed to an
enslaving habit
but whether we are willing to do whatever it takes to bring this
predisposed
"diseased body," habit, or idol under the control of reason and faith.

How Widespread Are Addictions?
According to a 1992 Library Journal article, 45 million Americans
attend
140 different kinds of weekly recovery groups. Another 100 million
are trying to help those who are in recovery. In other words, half of
us are either in recovery
or helping someone who is. If the whole picture could be seen,
however, far
more of us than any one has ever dreamed are captive to enslaving,
destructive
dependencies that are ruining us and our relationships.

What Can Be Addictive?
In his book Addiction And Grace, Gerald May has compiled a list of
105 items
to which many have become irresistibly attached. The vast majority
are good
things such as food, work exercise, shopping, and prescription drugs.
Let's look at some of the more common ones, and also the  "Marks of an
Addiction"  in the next week.
All of us have the seeds of addiction within ourselves. We all want
to minimize
our pain. We all want to control our world.
At this point, we need to ask ourselves some important questions:
"Is there anything in our lives that has become excessive, compulsive,
or entangling? Is there anything we feel we cannot let go of because
it means
too much to us?" If so, we need to be aware that we are ripe for an
enslaving,
destructive dependency.
It's time for us to hear the loving, pleading voice of God, who says
in His Word:
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that
he will
also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap
corruption, but he
who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (Gal.
6:7-8). Amen.

Be encouraged.
A.Othniel. (aocc@...)
********************************************************************
Special Program in Mumbai: Life Enrichment Seminar: dealing with
"How to Overcome Failure in Life & How to Turn Failure into Success."
On 20thMay2001. From 4-8pm. Dinner Supplied. Reg.fees Rs. 30/- per
person.
Rs.50/- per two persons. Register before 15thMay. For details:
aocc@...
*********************************************************************
Visit our web sites:
* All About the Love that Never Fails! http://www.tuflove.net
* Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
* Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
* Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
* Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
* Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
* The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
______________________________________________________________________
_
"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are
sick.
I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Mark 2:17.
______________________________________________________________________
_

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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 18 (6. 5. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When We Just Can't Stop-Part 2.
*********************************
Continuing from last week, let us see What Can be Addictive and
The Marks of An Addiction, and also what does it take to break the
addictive cycle.

The vast majority are good things such as food, work, exercise,
shopping,
and prescription drugs. Let's look at some of the more common ones.
* Drugs and Alcohol: Mood-altering chemicals account for some of our
most
obvious addictions. They create physical, emotional, and social
dependence
on artificially induced feelings.
* Food: With food, some of us attempt to satisfy not only the natural
needs of
our bodies but also insatiable emotional and spiritual longings.
* Sexual Pleasure: Addiction to sexual pleasure may involve marital
or extra-
marital heterosexual, same, fettish, or pornographic obsessions.
* Work: workaholics are chronically absorbed in a continuous stream
of tasks.
Our sense of well-being is wrapped up in what we do.
* Relationships: A form of relational idolatry occurs when we view
another
person as the source of our identity and well-being. When threatened
with
separation, we fight to cling to the other person at all costs, even
to the harm
of the one we claim to love.
* Gambling:By playing the lottery, gambling at casinos or racetracks,
or
betting on point spreads of sporting events, some have become
addicted to
numbers games. Mounting losses and dreams of financial freedom fuel
the
need for "one more chance".

The Marks of Addiction:
Those who work with people caught in addiction identify at least five
telltale
signs, which when found together indicate the presence of an
enslaving,
destructive dependency.
1. Absorbing Focus. All addictions consume time, thought, and energy.
They
are not mere pastimes. They are obsessions and preoccupations that
demand
more and more from us.
2. Increasing Tolerance. The pattern of diminishing returns is also
common.
We need increasing amounts to maintain the same effect. e.g. drug
addicts
need more crack to get the same high. Alcoholics need more alcohol to
maintain the "buzz" that came so easily at first, etc.
3. Growing Denial. To protect the sacred moments of our pleasure, we
deny
that our "interest" is ruining us. We convince ourselves that we can
stop
whenever we want. We learn to live in two worlds at the same time.
4. Damaging Consequences. There is no such thing as a harmless
addiction.
All addictions are destructive to ourselves and those we love.
Directly or
indirectly, our obsessions can destroy our family and our
friendships.
5. Painful Withdrawal. Anything we habitually use to give us an
artificial sense
of well-being results in pain when it's taken away. When deprived of
our
addiction, we are likely to feel that we have lost something
essential to our survival.

What Does It Take To Break the Cycle.
Sometimes it takes family intervention to get our attention. It may
take
court-ordered treatment. Sometimes it takes financial ruin, loss of
employment,
loss of health, or loss of relationships.
Something must bring us to the end of ourselves. Something must cause
us to be willing to reachout for whatever spiritual or medical help
or daily accountability
meetings we need to break the grip of our enslaving, destructive
dependency.
Onething is certain. Even if hospitalization and medical treatment
are needed
to break the stranglehold of our addiction, we will need spiritual
help to recover
our sanity, sobriety, and self-control.

Addiction involves our spiritual inner being. We have needs that can
not be met
by filling them with food, alcohol, drugs, or work. Physical
obsessions cannot
satisfy our deep longings for satisfaction, security, and
significance.

If we are walking on the edge, it's time to face the truth. Our
hearts are hurting.
Our God-given desires are powerful. Our self-absorbed strategies to
satisfy those
desires will only increase our pain. They will hurt not only
ourselves but those
who are closest and dearest to us. Our addictions are gods who have
no empathy
for us or those we love. It's time for us to hear the loving,
pleading voice of God,
who says in His Word:

"Do not be decived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that
he will also
reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption,
but he who
sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life" (Gal.
6:7-8).

So let us commit ourselves to the process of recovery, knowing that
in spite of
fall-backs, God doesn't abandon us. Nothing can compare with the
process of
being forgiven and gradually delivered from self-absorption to self-
sacrificing
love for the sake of others.
Be encouraged.
A.Othniel. (aocc@...)
********************************************************************
~ Special Program in Mumbai: Life Enrichment Seminar: dealing with
"How to Overcome Failure in Life & How to Turn Failure into Success."
On 20thMay2001. Sunday. From 4-8pm. Dinner Supplied.
Reg.fees Rs. 30/- per person. Rs.50/- per two persons. Register
before 15thMay.
For details & to reg. Visit http://ctouch.org/seminar20may.htm
*********************************************************************
Visit our web sites:
* All About the Love that Never Fails! http://www.tuflove.net
* Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
* Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
* Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
* Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
* Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
* The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
______________________________________________________________________

"Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest." says the Lord Jesus. Matthew 11:28.
______________________________________________________________________

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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 19 (13. 5. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What Do I Do With the Memories?
*****************************************
When the blowtorch of exposure has finally turned away we are left in a
feverish
state. The perspiration beads of memory stand thick upon our foreheads,
adrenalin still speeds through our bloodstream, and we know it will be a
long
time before normalcy returns.
At such a time, we almost wish for amnesia. If only the past could be
erased, if
we could dismiss the pictures that flash in living color upon the screens of
our
minds. Instead, our misdeeds are rerun over and over, as if on a closed-loop
film, from the beginning to the awful conclusion and back to the start.
We force our brain to switch subjects, but before we know it, there we are
again,
thinking about it for the thousandth time. We identify with David, who,
after his
affair, wrote, "My sin is always before me" (Ps. 51:3).
Memory, we realize, is a two-edged sword, though it has served us well in
the
past, it now turns and threatens to destroy us. Memory is one of God's great
gifts,
a unique part of our creation as human beings in His image, but for the
moment
we would just as soon be a bit less gifted.
What do we do with our memories? There are several options available to us.
1. We can become their prisoner.
The replay machinery of the brain has vast power supply. It is thus
altogether
possible to live for weeks, months, and even years in a vicious trap of the
past.Emotionally, we ricochet from shame to anger to guilt to fear and back
again.
Round and round we go, from one anxiety to another, while the events
themselves
echo through our heads.
We have an example of this whirlpool in the contrasting lives of two
disciples of
Christ in the N.T. Two broken men appear side by side on the stage of
Scripture.
For many men and women the agony of Judas and Peter becomes their own...
They arrive at a midnight moment. Hope disappears and they reach the end.
Like Peter and Judas they face a choice-one that despair always offers-
between
remorse and repentance, between dying and weeping.
A second option as time goes on, is even more deadly than the first.
2. We can embellish our memories.
We begin to place negative interpretations upon the facts. The reason we did
such
and such, we conclude, was that we're simply rotten individuals who always
make
a mess of things. All our vague misgivings and self-doubts link up with
these
events as proof of our worthlessness.
The next step of embellishment is to put ourselves on trial. Our memories
serve
as evidence of guilt, after which we act as judge to pass sentence upon
ourselves.
3. We can release our memories.
We can allow ourselves, with God's help, to lose track of some things! Our
memory
is supposed to be selective. The painful things are meant to recede over
time,
while the good things keep shining bright.
It is the enemy who likes to hang onto the rubbish so he can keep using it
against
us. He enjoys exhuming it before our face time and again, reminding us of
how
dreadful we were. He doesn't want us to release those memories, to forget.
What has happened in the past may not, in the end, be as important as how we
choose to feel and think about what has happened. The way we choose to treat
our memories has more to do with the future than the events themselves.
If we are consumed with driving toward the goal Christ has held out for us,
the past is not all that relevant.
God intends to make us whole persons by calling us to take on new attitudes,
future-oriented attitudes. This does not happen overnight. The New Birth is
not
the total cure, but only the initial treatment in the process of bringing us
to
wholeness. Our return to God after a downfall is not a once-for-all miracle;
it is
rather a restarting of the change process toward emotional and spiritual
health.
The important thing is not to stall at any point along the way, to quit the
race.
" Let us throw off everything that hinders...let us run with perseverance
the race
marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1.
Be encouraged.
A.Othniel. (aocc@...)
********************************************************************
~ Special Program in Mumbai: Life Enrichment Seminar: dealing with
"How to Overcome Failure in Life & How to Turn Failure into Success."
On 20thMay2001. Sunday. From 4-8pm. Dinner Supplied.
Reg.fees Rs. 30/- per person. Rs.50/- per two persons. Register before
16thMay.
For details & to reg. Visit http://ctouch.org/seminar20may.htm
*********************************************************************
Visit our web sites:
* All About the Love that Never Fails! http://www.tuflove.net
* Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
* Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
* Othniel's Homepage- http://www.othniel.net
* Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
* Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
* The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
_______________________________________________________________________
"Finally, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
what-
soever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise,
think on these things...and the peace of God shall be with you. Philippians
4:8-9.
_______________________________________________________________________

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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 20 (20. 5. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friend, Just yesterday we had a wonderful seminar on Failure at
Thane, India.
Here's something I want to share with you on Failure too.
************************
Growing Through Failure
************************
What makes the difference between being smart or a slow learner? What
makes
it possible for personal growth to rise up out of the deadness of a
failed marriage,
bankrupt business, or floundering walk with the Lord?
Our response. Surely, if Satan can get us preoccupied with our
failures, then the
opportunity for growth can be delayed indefinitely.
So how does one grow from an experience of failure? That's what we
will see now.

Initial Facts about Failure
Part of the reason failure is so painful is that it is usually
accompanied by two
pressures that really work us over.
           Pressure from other people
           It's painful being kicked when you're down, but in many
places back-alley
treatment seems to be a sanctioned indoor sport. At a time when
restoration is
needed, many continue to be pummeled with blame.The pointed fingers
of the
backbench watchers seem to outnumber the helping hands of fellow
bruised
players on the field.
            Pressure from Self
            Many of us have tried to pattern ourselves after the image
of the super-
human which the world has unfortunately fostered. So when we fall
short of this
false ideal, we heap guilt on ourselves for being anything less than
perfect.
Our consciences, being more attuned to this fallacy than to a
forgiving God,
stand ready to fire when any semblance of humanity exposes itself.

Practical Ways to recover from Failure
The Lord Jesus said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden,
and I
will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). And when you're carrying around a
load of
failure on your shoulders, that's just the invitation you need.
In Psalm 103, David gave us the encouragement and practical counsel
we need
to come to Christ and put down that load. His advice centers around
five crucial
areas.
           Responsibility: Your reaction is your responsibility.
           David's Psalm bursts open with an admonition to himself and
to us that
ensures a healthy reaction to failure. vv. 1-2. The first thing we
have to come up
to grips with is our reaction to failure. The natural human tendency
is to search for
a source of blame, but David repeatedly emphasizes the importance of
fixing our
eyes on the Lord. Where we place our eyes during times of failure
will make the difference between bitterness, moodiness, and anger, or
humility and growth.
            Focus: Replace blaming yourself with claiming God's grace.
            While we often blame others for our failures, our next
favorite hobby
seems to be beating up on ourselves. David offers an encouraging
alternative-
remember the Lord. vv.3-5, 10-12. In these verses from Psalm 103,
David pours
out the new things that God's love and grace provide. So often the
only thing blocking us from the love of God is ourselves. The fact is
God loves us without
any conditions attached. Let us acknowledge and receive the gift of
God's grace
that He holds out to us all so freely.  (to be contd next week).
        Be encouraged.
A.Othniel. (aocc@...)
*********************************************************************
Visit our web sites:
* All About the Love that Never Fails! http://www.tuflove.net
* Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
* Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
* Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
* Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
* Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
* The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
______________________________________________________________________
"Bless the Lord, O my soul;... and forget none of His benefits. Psalm
103:1-2.
______________________________________________________________________

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Welcome to the Weekly Encouraging Letter # 21 (27. 5. 2001).
(http://ctouch.org/encl.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friend, let us continue on "The Practical Ways to Recover from
Failure".
**********************************
Growing Through Failure-Part 2.
**********************************
* Focus: Replace blaming yourself with claiming God's Grace.
* Security: Count on the Lord's Constant Understanding and Complete
Forgiveness.

When the things we count on for security fail- such as a job, a
relationship,
a life's dream- our whole world seems to crumble with them. David
points us
to the only kind of security that will never let us down. Ps. 103: 13-
14.

Much of our discouragement in failure comes from focussing on people.
We tend to base our security on whether or not others will accept us
and that
acceptance, we feel, is usually based on our performance. When we
succeed,
we believe we are loved and wanted; but when we fail, we have to get
back up
to a certain level of performance before we feel accepted again.
Unfortunately, this is the type of insecurity many of us live with.
But with God,
there is always constant understanding and complete forgiveness. He
already
knows our hearts, our motives, our worst failings, and yet He
continues to love us.

* Perspective: Refuse to compare yourself with any other person.
When failure hits, one of the first casualties is our perspective. In
Ps. 103: 15-18,
David contrasts man with God and offers insight into how we can hold
on to the
right perspective.
One of the things we are tempted to do when we fail is to compare
ourselves
with others, which only increases our despair and self-pity. We look
at the
neighbor who's never lost his job; we look at others who seem further
along in
their maturity. And the longer we look, the more distorted our
perspective
becomes concerning our problems. But David reminds us that people come
and go like short-lived flowers and that the Lord's loving-kindness
is everlasting.
It's His judgement and His perspective that count.

* Morale: Continue to Obey the Lord.
David began by telling himself to focus on the Lord. Now he concludes
by
broadening his admonition to include even the angels. Ps. 103: 19-22.
David delclares that God is sovereign over all, and this leads him to
exhort all
angels to bless and obey the Lord- the same exhortation that all of
us need,
especially when we fail. For failure can be a powerful enemy to our
morale and
rather than telling ourselves, like David, to bless and obey the
Lord, we may
begin saying, "Why try again? I'll never be able to pull things back
together."

In the aftermath of failure, it is easy to forget that God's
sovereignty means that
He is in control and can bring good even out of our failures... if we
continue to
obey!

* Succinct Lessons to Affect Tomorrow
We can glean at least two practical helps from our study of Psalm 103.
* Control Your Expectations: We set ourselves up for failure when we
stack our
expectations too high. Be sure, as you set your goals, that you leave
yourself
some room to fail, to be human.

* Leave Results with God: Colossians 3:23 says, " Whatever you do, do
your work
heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." We're to give life
all we've got, but
also to leave the results in God's hands. What may appear as a
failure from our
limited viewpoint may in fact be God's way of bringing about
something good.
Even Christ looked like a failure when He hung on the cross. But it
was through
that crushing experience that our very salvation was secured (Isaiah
53).

* Some Final Thoughts.
Many of us have experienced the crippling effects of being hit by
failure.
All kidding aside, it can be completely shattering, and many never
recover.
But even when we think we've been flattened by a bus, God is ready
and waiting
to pick us up and teach us to walk again. Failure can be a deterrent
or an
opportunity for growth. Which will it be for you?
Be encouraged.
A.Othniel. (aocc@...)
*********************************************************************
Visit our web sites:
* All About the Love that Never Fails! http://www.tuflove.net
* Something for everyone- http://www.ctouch.org/
* Encouraging messages- http://www.comfortingyou.com/
* Othniel's Homepage-http://www.othniel.net/
* Church & Ministry page: http://www.calvarycentre.com/
* Weekly letters : http://www.encouragingletters.com/
* The Art of making disciples- http://www.discipling.net
______________________________________________________________________
"..For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust.
Psalm 103:14.
______________________________________________________________________

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