Newsletter                                                                       May 2020

Dear saints,

The last Monday in May is Memorial Day, a day we remember those who have given their lives in military service for our country. It is a solemn day for many that have been directly affected by the loss of a loved one or a close friend in war. On this day we raise our Nation's flag to the half-staff position until noon to honor their lives. It is raised to the top for the remainder of the day to acknowledge our freedom.

I recall one of my earliest memories of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) located outside of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Ridge Park, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. where my parents had taken me as a three-year-old child. It was an experience that has been with me all my life. Now, I have shared my experience with my grandson who lives a few blocks from this Memorial. There may be a Memorial that has impacted your life. Each of these represents a great loss, but it also represents events with great cost, and have changed our history for good.

Did you ever question why these events happen which cost people their lives? In many cases, they began with some injustice or oppression that finally could not be ignored. Every human being can choose whether they will do good or evil. If you are born again, you know who the author of evil is. The Bible does though direct us to a path that contradicts evil, which Jesus Christ demonstrated. This is the path of walking in love and it involves personal sacrifice, e.g. saying no to self-will and saying yes to God’s will. Jesus said: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

This path of love was fully shown when Jesus gave his life for us on the cross. When one comes into a right relationship with God (through Jesus Christ), then they can see throughout Scripture what God has said. The following Scriptures declare our moral and spiritual obligation. “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, And shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; And let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart” (Zechariah 7:9-10).

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, evil has permeated the world and true peace for all mankind will come only when Jesus (The Prince of Peace) is ruling in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. Up until that time, peace is available to anyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15). Every child of God has been called to share the love, forgiveness, and acceptance of God through Jesus Christ.

God has called us to stand against evil oppressors. As we raise our flag this Memorial Day, let us remember those that have given their lives for our nation, to secure freedom around the world. Some of the wars have been questionable, but others were necessary to maintain our freedom. Sad to say, the Civil War caused more lives to be lost than any other war. What a shame: family members fighting against each other. At the same time, we are honoring those who died, let us also remember all those believers who have lost their lives since the Upper Room (The Day of Pentecost) “...and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11b). Please pray for the persecuted Church both in and out of prison.

Rev. Joseph again wants to express his gratitude for your prayers. Altogether, he was home for five weeks and is now back on the radio and waiting for the TV studio to open. Along with many others, he is trusting God that he will be able get back into the pulpit soon. May the Lord’s blessing and protection be upon you during these trying times.

Please make your tax-deductible check to: The Master’s Hand Christian Fellowship, c/o the above address.

Serving Our King Together,

Eric Ross for Rev. Joseph