The Perfect Letter in 6 Quick & Easy Steps

This article will show you a simple, step-by-step formula to quickly and easily write a character reference letter that you can be extremely proud of.

If you've ever been asked to write a character reference letter, you know the anxiety that the request can create. The first thought is usually "how in the world do you even write one?" And this thought is quickly followed by such questions as "what do I say?" and "what if I say the wrong things and make the person look bad?"

The fear and unanswered questions can be very troubling. But, rest assured that if you know the person you're going to write about and use the information presented in this article, you won't have anything to worry about.

But understand this. If someone you're not comfortable with asks you to write them a character reference letter or if you can't think of enough good things to say about the person, then it will be better if you can find a way to get out of writing it. However, if you just can't say no to them or can't get out of doing it, well, just follow the information presented here as best you can.

So What Is A Character Reference Letter All About?

A character reference letter (also sometimes referred to as a letter of personal reference or personal recommendation) is used to recommend someone for a position within a company or for some capacity within an organization. But, the primary objective is to share how the person you're writing about possesses the character traits that make them best suited for the position they're seeking.

A character reference letter is different from an employee reference letter and even a letter of recommendation.

A character reference letter is usually written by someone you know outside of work which could be a friend, neighbor or relative. It can also be written by a person with whom you have shared an experience with, like a teammate or fellow volunteer. And because of this, the tone of the letter is usually more casual than a letter of recommendation.

Character reference letters generally describe a person's positive qualities. Meaning, all of the good things are written about them while leaving out any of the bad. You want to put the person you're writing about in the best light possible without going overboard.

Steps To Organizing and Writing Your Character Reference Letter

Character letters that have the greatest impact are personal and heartfelt. So, the more you can write in your own words, the better it will be. But know that although a character reference letter might be less formal, you shouldn't just randomly include words in it.

A character reference letter speaks of your relationship to the person you're referring and your assessment of that person's abilities. It provides evidence from your personal observation that the person meets certain criteria and the letter centers itself on specific attributes to prove its effectiveness. So to organize such a personal testament for someone, your letter must have a proper structure.

The letter should be relatively short, usually no more than one typewritten page. The paragraphs only need to be 2 to 4 sentences.

Just follow the 6 steps and you can write a winning character reference letter in no time!

First Things First - Get Prepared

The first thing you should do once you've decided to write a character reference letter is to do a little prep work. You need to get information from the person who has asked you to write the letter.

- If possible, get the name and/or title of the person to whom the letter should be directed.

- Get the address of where or to whom you should mail the letter.

- Depending on what you're writing the letter for, get the job description or qualifications needed for the position they're seeking.

- Make sure you know exactly by what date they need the letter completed or mailed.

- Think of at least 3 strong, positive qualities that the person possesses that relate to the position they're seeking.

Start Writing The Letter

STEP 1: Date & Address

The person reading the letter will want to know that the reference is current and not from 5 or 10 years ago so include the date. Also include your full address

STEP 2: Salutation

Start with a salutation. If you know the full name of the person the letter is being addressed to, use it. Using their first and last name will increase the professionalism, and therefore the credibility of the letter.

If the person being addressed is not known or if you're unsure who it is or if the letter is being used for general purposes, simply use "To Whom It May Concern". However, if you know the title of the person being addressed, you can write, for example, "Dear Human Resources Director" to personalize the letter a little more.

Avoid using "Dear Sir or Madam" as well as Miss, Mrs., Ms., or Mr.

After all, how much credibility would your letter have if you wrote to "Mrs. Sydney Smith" only to find out that "Sydney Smith" is a man?!

STEP 3: The Opening

The opening is usually a paragraph of only a sentence or two. The opening paragraph explains who you are, how long you've known the person you're referring, and how you know them.

STEP 4: The Body

The body is the largest part of the letter. It can be several paragraphs. This is where you make the case for the person you're referring by describing your experiences with them and giving examples of the person's outstanding qualities or abilities.

It's best that you construct the letter around 1 to 3 of the person's best qualities. And try to keep these qualities somewhat related.

For example, suppose the person you're writing about is friendly, honest, intelligent, creative, responsible, and hardworking. Now, suppose also their seeking a supervisory position. A supervisor should be, among other things, friendly (able to get along easily with others), honest, and responsible. So it's best to build your letter around these qualities.

The examples of these experiences provided should be focused and direct, making them very easy for the reader to grasp. Usually, a paragraph of no more than 3 sentences for each quality should be enough.

Two pieces of very strong advice: When writing a character reference letter, don't go overboard sharing the person's positive qualities and be honest.

You need to understand something. The person who will be reading your letter already assumes that the letter writer is "pumping up" the person they're referring. So, to keep your letter more credible, you should provide proof that your high opinion of the person is legitimate. You can do this by explaining very specific events concerning the person you're referring.

An effective way to keep the credibility in your letter without it sounding like a bunch of hype is by telling one or more short, believable stories that you know personally about the person. In doing this, the experiences should illustrate the person's positive qualities. They should be examples of how the person behaves.

In the event you mention more than one incident, divide them into 2 different paragraphs and end the paragraph with the quality that should be highlighted with each example.

STEP 5: The Closing

The closing is the last part and doesn't have to be long. It summarizes and reinforces your belief in the person you're referring, why you believe they meet the qualifications, and contains your actual recommendation.

This is where you can say something about yourself by mentioning your credibility as to what qualifies you to make an assessment of the person's ability by way of the type and duration of your relationship to them.

STEP 6: The Valediction

End your letter with a valediction or complimentary closing, such as "Sincerely".

Leave three spaces and type your name. Include your title if it will help the person you're writing the letter for.

Complete the letter with your signature.

On a side note, include contact information so the person reviewing your letter can use in the event more information is required. But, adding this information can sometimes be a judgment call.

Final Comments

The bottom line is a character reference letter should be recently dated, short and to the point, and very professionally presented.

If you have excellent penmanship, the letter can be handwritten, but even still, it would better if you used a word processing program.

It may not be the best decision to show your finished letter to the person whom you're writing for. Reason being is the person may ask you to change something or to include some other information. Or, they may even feel disappointed that you didn't "pump them up" enough.

Be sure to mail the letter without delay.

Save yourself a ton time by going to http://www.sample-and-example-letter.com and getting FREE character reference letter templates as well as many other business and personal letter templates. Just add your personal touch to them and BINGO! You have the perfect instant letter right when you need it.

Who Should Sit in Communion Chairs in a Baptist Church?

The Baptist church practices the communion as one of its two acts of faith-obedience. Much of the time, this is called an ordinance rather than a sacrament. In other words, you cannot receive salvation or grace through communion. Instead, these are purely symbolic acts that were commanded of Christ's followers by Christ Himself. This is actually the second ordinance in the Baptist church and it is patterned after the Last Supper, which was recorded in the Gospels wherein Jesus says to "do this in remembrance of me." With this in mind, participants in communion break and eat bread and drink a small shot of wine. These items are symbolic of the body and the blood of Jesus, respectively.

Traditionally, Baptists serve communion to participants wherever they are seated. However, it is up to each individual church how communion is arranged, because the arrangement itself has no theological significance. More important than seating or arrangement is the communion itself. For instance, the bread used is unleavened, as it is believed that this is the type of bread the would have been served at the Last Supper. As such, bread cubes, wafers or small crackers are passed around on plates to those who wish to participate in communion. Of course, it is also acceptable to do the "breaking of bread" from loaves, as well.

The cup is filled with unfermented grape juice. However, the Gospel passages only mention the "fruit of the vine." It is never called wine therein. Usually small individual cups are used to represent the "cup." A "common cup" that the entire congregation drinks from can be used, but it is usually reserved for small gatherings for practical reasons.

Most of the time, both the bread and the wine are served by the pastor to the deacons. The deacons then serve the congregation, followed by the pastor. In bigger churches, the pastors may often serve one another, allowing the deacons to focus on serving the congregation. Once the entire congregation has been served, everyone takes the elements at the same time. This symbolizes unity.

Communion can be held as frequently as the church desires. However, most of the time communion takes place during a regular worship service. It is important to note that communion is only taken by those who have undergone a believer's baptism, though this does vary from congregation to congregation as well. As such, there are three types of communion:1. Open communion allows anyone who professes to be a Christian to take communion.2. Close communion occurs whenever only members of a Baptist church can take communion.3. Closed communion takes place when only members of that local congregation can participate.

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A Match Made In Heaven

Mary Magdalene is this years leading lady. Common misconception used to paint her as a lowly prostitute. Now, no one is quite sure what to think. Her life has become a mystery for modern Sherlock Holmess everywhere. But, no one has channeled the man of reason better than Dan Brown. In The DaVinci Code Dan Brown firmly supports the marriage theory. But is it really possible Mary and Jesus were married? To find the answer the Bible is not the only thing under scrutiny. Culture needs examining too.

Separate but equal is not a new concept. During Jesus time men and women hardly ever mixed. A womans domain was her home, while men kept the public persona. If a woman did anything in public, she got permission from her husband. In the Bible, Mary Magdalene traveled. She met Jesus at his early teaching at Galilee and appeared in Judea where Jesus was crucified. Since women could not leave their homes on a whim, Mary had to be married to someone. Jesus is the best candidate.

The Gnostic Gospels, written by early Christian followers, claim Jesus and Magdalene had a very close relationship. It is written Jesus was extremely fond of her and used to kiss her. This action meant one of two things: adultery or marriage. Men did not feel comfortable with their wifes speaking to male relatives, let alone kissing strange prophets. The scandal would have ruined Jesus reputation. The only option left is marriage. Even holy men had wifes; it was unnatural to be alone.

Based on the cultural evidence, a bond between Jesus and Mary Magdalene was very likely. They were too free around each other not to be married. The Bible says God made everything with the purpose of balance. Jesus was not above this. He needed a woman to be complete. That woman was Mary Magdalene.

The Existence of God without Evidence

Here's a pretty good interview about someone explaining the existence of God.

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Peaceful Warrior God

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a christian video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

Who Do People Say I Am?

There is a story about a Lutheran minister, a Catholic priest and an Anglican priest who dies and arrived at the Pearly Gates at the same time. When they arrived, St. Peter was on his lunch break, so Jesus was on duty at the Pearly Gates. He decided to test the three men of the cloth, so he asked them, "Who do you say I am?" The Lutheran minister was first in line, so he spoke up first and said, "The Bible says..." Jesus interrupted him and said, "I don't care what the Bible says. Who do YOU say I am?" The Lutheran minister replied,"I don't know..." Now the minister was standing on a trap door, so when Jesus pulled a lever, the door opened up, and the Lutheran minister was on his way to hell.

The Catholic priest was next, and when Jesus asked him, "Who do you say I am?" the Catholic priest replied, "The Pope says..." Jesus interrupted him and said, "I don't care what the Pope says. Who do YOU say I am?" The Catholic priest replied, "I don't know..." Jesus pulled the same lever, the door opened, and the Catholic priest was on his way to hell. The Anglican priest stepped up and Jesus asked him the same question. The Anglican priest replied, "You are the Christ". Jesus was very pleased, so he threw open the Pearly Gates. When the Anglican priest started to step forward, he said, "But on the other hand..."

You have to feel sorry at times for Peter. His intentions are often for the best, but like most people he often ends up putting his foot in his mouth. For example, he cut off a man's ear with a sword when he tried to prevent Jesus' arrest before his crucifixion. He also wanted to build houses when he saw Moses, Elijah and Christ together on the mountain at Christ's Transfiguration. When Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Peter did the right thing when he said "You are the Christ", but when Jesus mentioned his upcoming trials and crucifixion, Peter tried to rebuke Jesus for what he said. Peter's intentions were noble, but he was ignorant about what it really means to be a Christian.

Like many of us, Peter didn't really understand the true nature of Christ's kingdom. Knowing Jesus is key to understanding the Gospels. Ignorance about what it really means to be a Christian is a second, central key to Mark's Gospel. When Christ asks us to take up our cross and follow him, we have to be prepared to pay the price just like he did. We must be prepared to face scorn, ridicule, ostracism, etc. We must be prepared to embrace the will of God, whatever it may be and whenever he decides to reveal his will. When we become a Christian and take up our cross, we must do four things:

1. Embrace Christ voluntarily
2. Renounce all prejudices, sins, etc.
3. Submit willingly to Christ's will
4. Be faithful, even unto death

Mark's view is that knowing Jesus is important, just like it is for us. It allows us to trust him, to transform our way of thinking, to tell others about Christ and to take our identity from him. Our faith in God and our belonging to Jesus Christ are the foundation of our comfort, strength and courage to face the battles of this world.

God doesn't promise a life free of suffering, trouble, problems, persecution or danger. These forces can and often do bring us pain and suffering, but when we endure them in faith for Christ, he will be with us always, for as Paul wrote in Romans 8:39, "...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus". No one knows why God allows suffering and pain, but we do know that when we believe in him by faith, he identifies with our suffering, because Christ suffered and died for our sins. If we believe in him and acknowledge him as Christ, He will give us strength in times of need, even to the point of carrying us through the deep, dark valleys of life.

Our answer to the question, "Who do you say I am?" can reveal our struggle as to what it means to be part of a Christian community of faith. If we answer, "You are the Christ" like Peter did, our answer reveals two things:

1. A view of a life of compassion and justice as a vivid experience
2. A deep trust in God through Christ

Our lives have to be lost so that they might be saved. Preoccupation with saving life is a sure way to lose it. Fulfillment is found in denial of ourselves. Doctrinal knowledge of Christ is not enough to save our lives. We need to have a personal encounter with, and a vivid experience of, the crucified and risen Lord. This only happens when we receive the spirit of the Lord. Belief is necessary to know Jesus. We have to accept his words by faith. Jesus asks us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him. His suffering led to God's peace. Anyone who refuses to suffer for doing God's will loses the very life they cherish. Those who willingly suffer for his sake will save their eternal life and soul.

Jesus was the model of courage. He had the courage to face a difficult task of suffering, rejection, death and resurrection. He is the source of our courage and competence when we believe in him by faith. Christianity is also the means by which courage is demonstrated. Christian courage seeks opportunities to put life and faith on the line. Christians have the courage to always seek loads or crosses to carry. Christian courage also means fighting the desire to avoid pain. Pain is sometimes necessary in order to follow Christ. Change is necessary and sometimes painful, and often involves short term pain for long term gain, but the process can and often does result in something bigger and better that fits in with God's plan.

Christian courage also means accepting the power God gives us to change the world. When we accept him as Christ, we are called by God to live as people who can make an impact on others by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. When we use the gifts he gives us to make a difference in the lives of our families, friends, communities, churches, schools or community groups, we are showing Christ's love while at the same time acknowledging that Jesus really and truly is 'the Christ".

German theologian Dietrich Bonheoffer is a good example. He was a Christian dissident in Nazi Germany. He was tired of both Nazi persecution and colleagues who compromised with Nazi philosophy. He decided to go to the United States to escape the Nazis, but he returned when he believed that God called him to be involved in the reconstruction of Germany once the Nazis were defeated. He felt that he could not take part in the process unless he shared the trials of the people-just like Christ shared our trials during his lifetime. Dietrich Bonheoffer paid the ultimate price when he was hung from the gallows at the Flossenberg concentration camp-just like Christ paid the ultimate price on the cross.

This story reminds us that our struggles with ourselves are often more dramatic than our confrontations with others. We are designed in the image of Christ, but we are also marred by the stain of the original sin in the Garden of Eden. We are often torn between our desire to obey God's will and our own human weaknesses. The only way this struggle will end is for us to submit to God's higher calling.

Jesus asks the disciples to tell him who others confess Jesus to be. We should consider their answers carefully, for we can apply them to what people confess concerning Jesus today. We need to know who he is in order to follow him and continue his work. The importance and necessity of Christ's teaching and the proclamation of Christ are derived from our understanding of modern answers to the question "Who do you say I am?"

Those who refuse to acknowledge Christ by not attending church at all without good cause, or by only attending church on special occasions, or who refuse to attend when the Eucharist is not being celebrated, or when the service is not from the Book of Common Prayer, or when the service is not from the Book of Alternative Services, or because they do not like the celebrant are in effect stabbing the church and Christ in the back. When we come together in humility and humbleness in public worship, we admit that we are not better than God. We are all part of God's family. When we submit to him, we do so in the same way we submit to our parents' authority, or to another authority figure. When we say, "You are the Christ" we acknowledge God's authority. If we run away from him by not attending church, we are in effect running away from him and his family.

There are two sides to Christ. One side represents Christ's love for us, and the other side represents his wrath when we refuse to accept him and submit to his will. This might seem like a contradiction. After all, how can a God of love also show fierce anger? It's simple. God does love us, but that doesn't mean his wrath isn't real or that he lets us get away with sin. There is a price to pay when we don't take him seriously. All one has to do is remember the stories of the Great Flood, or the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, or the drowning of the Egyptian army after Moses parted the Red Sea, and one will realize what happens when God unleashes his wrath. We need to know the fierceness of God's wrath in order to understand the wonder of his love. He showed us his love by providing a way out of our sinful ways-namely, Christ's death on the cross.

A more down-to-earth example of the two sides of Christ is to remember a child's relationship with his or her own parents. The parents love the child like Christ loves us, but when the child misbehaves or does something to make the parents angry, they unleash their wrath through various forms of punishment. God is the same way. He loves us because he is our heavenly Father, but when we displease him and refuse to accept and acknowledge Christ, LOOK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The church is where we can devote ourselves to the apostles' teachings. These teachings will provide us with the answer to the question, "Who do you say I am?" They teach us about who Jesus is, what he did and what he taught. They teach us what it means to follow Christ is our own life and congregation. Those who substitute attendance at worship services with listening to radio or TV evangelists do not receive the benefit of this "local touch". People who go to church are not perfect, and even the celebrants are not perfect, but when a church member faces the tough times that all believers will sometimes face when they take up Christ's cross, the entire church pulls together to share the burden.

Those of us who remember Christ's words from the Sermon on the Mount will remember the phrase "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven". This phrase refers to those who are humble, those who recognize the incompleteness or poverty of human resources, and those who realize their utter dependence on God. If we humble ourselves to God, and if we put our trust in God's plentiful resources, and if we put our trust in him, he will reward us with eternal life and a place of honour in his heavenly kingdom.

Craig Condon, Lay Minister, Anglican Parish of South Queens, Liverpool, NS Canada. He can be reached by email at craig.condon2@ns.sympatico.ca.

Cherubic Hymn Movie Video

I love the chants from the Byzantine Chant and other Religions

Peaceful Warrior God

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a christian Ideas library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

A Thief's 3-Point Message

Did ever a messenger of the pulpit deliver a more eloquent all-inclusive recounting of the Gospel of Christ than the thief anguishing with Jesus on the day that lives in infamy? Through the grace given only by the Spirit, illumination filled his dying soul. He saw the Truth. The other thief saw the man in pain, the flesh and bones and blood flowing out, the nastiness and hopelessness of it all. But this one saw the Truth, and saw it in a Man, the man Christ Jesus.

HIs first conviction, and the one which must be the starting point of our own entrance into the Way, was the admitting of the fairness of His judgment. I preached weekly in jail for several years. Almost never did someone say to me that he deserved to be in that place. Regularly I heard the justifications of men who just didn't get it, just couldn't be wrong. But this thief got it. "We are receiving the due reward of our deeds," he shouted to the other thief, who was demanding human justice of the One Who could have given him God's righteousness. He cursed Christ, and using his limited logic reasoned, "If this Man were some sort of Messiah, He would first take care of Number One, then sweep through a suffering world and set everybody free, starting with me of course." He said as much to Jesus until he was cut off by the greater - the heavenly - revelation given to his comrade.

But the "good" thief, pardon the expression, wasn't wallowing in his sin, only recognizing it. And he recognized something else. The only one who can save a drowning man is one who is not drowning himself. The only one who can rescue a straying lamb from the mountain must be a shepherd, and a compassionate one at that. And the only One Who can take my sins away must be One Who has no sins of His own. "This man has done nothing wrong," he argued. Perhaps in his mind he was thinking only of the facts of the present punishment. The trial had been a scam, the mob had been herded into a place of false accusations; he knew what was going on. This Christ was innocent. But the thief had touched unwittingly upon the greater truth, that here being sacrificed on a high place of Rome, an unlikely but real altar lifted to the glory of God, was a spotless Lamb, the sinless One Who takes away the sins of the world. The thief somehow understood this.

Many men have seen it through the years, when the facts have been explained. "I am a sinner. Jesus is a Saviour." Good as far as it goes, but thus far only undeniable history. The action the thief took next is what sealed the deal. He made it his own. In what we might want to call a brash move he approached this One against Whom he had sinned, though unknowingly, this One Who had no sin of His own, though perhaps the thief did not have a perfect understanding of the theology involved, but in desperation, in hope planted by the Spirit, the thief reached out to the Truth, the Way, and asked for Life. He saw the whole picture. He wanted it. And that is the key to having something from God. Wanting it. "Remember me, when" - not if - "when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus, I believe you are a real King, with a real kingdom, in a real place, for real people, even people like me, maybe especially for people like me, totally unworthy but oh so needy and desiring. I've blown it in this life but I truly believe there is another. I feel pain and am in anguish right now, but I believe that somehow there's more. Remember me when it all materializes."

Jesus shows us Who He is by His response to this appeal. No hesitation. Time is running out. Both men will appear to be dead shortly. But both men will also be in bliss shortly. "Today you will be with Me in Paradise."

I realize that most of those who come to this site come with a testimony already. Christ has entered into and changed your life. But if you have happened onto this place today without a Saviour, without a hope, filled only at present with your own wretchedness, I wish to hold before you the crucified but now risen Savior Who still calls out to those who will reach for Him, "You will be with me in paradise. After the pain, after the suffering, after a life that seems to have no purpose at times, you and I will share glory together forever."

Feel free to contact me for further instruction if you wish to follow the crucified Messiah.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , ovber 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

Jesus, Lord Over All

My western friends may be disappointed to know that I do not believe democracy to be the purest form of government. In its misunderstood form, the "rule of the people" does not exist. All the people cannot rule. They merely designate who will rule. If you think you are in charge, try a late payment to the IRS or parking in a spot designated "no parking."

But even representative rule, true democracy as we know it, which we have experienced so beneficially for these 200 plus years in America, is not the preferred way. Not for me. Corruption enters into systems like these, precisely because they are run by the people, not in spite of that fact.

No, give me an iron-fisted ruler.

One will will speedily punish wickedness. But let the definition of wickedness be properly spelled out.

One who will reward righteousness. But let righteousness also have its proper definition.

One who cannot be toppled by some greater power. One who is unquestioned in his right and capacity to rule.

Give me a perfect monarch, who can settle all disputes with justice. One from whose lips will drop perfect wisdom, but from whose hands will flow perfect compassion.

You say, There is no such one. I say, There is. King Jesus , Messiah of Israel and of all believing gentiles too, meets the requirements I have listed. His reign of 1000 years will be the very prelude to eternity. The earth awaits Him. His people elect Him, but He was elected by the Father for this very position before the worlds began. He shall rule, even though the "people" of earth attempt to strike Him down .

So in speaking so often against the rule of oppressive tyrants on earth, one in particular, we must remember to oppose them on the right grounds. It is not because they are "all powerful" or "unopposed" or a "totalitarian" leader. Jesus Himself will be all of that and more.

We are against them because they take from the hearts of men their right to choose King Jesus as their Lord. They supplant Jesus with their own ways and principles and songs. Rather than allowing their people to experience the fact that a nation is blessed whose God is Jehovah, they show the world that a nation without this God of Gods is cursed. In this they have been a mighty revealer of the truth of God but their end shall come, all rulers and nations that despise the Holy One.

All hail, KING JESUS! Lord over all the lords of Earth!

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Rapture Or Second Coming? A Fourth & Fifth Distinction Refuted

We're told by some that there are real distinctions between the "catching away" or rapture of the church and the final appearance known as His second coming. "The rapture occurs during prosperity and normalcy, but the second coming takes place in the midst of great devastation." Here our brothers are referring to the portion of Matthew 24 assumed by them to be "before" the tribulation, verses 36-44 , distinct from Revelation 19, where plagues of all sort have been laid on the sons of men. In Matthew the reference is made to the days of Noah, and the very "ordinary" lifestyle they were leading when suddenly the flood came.

The argument implies that normal living does not take place in abnormal times, that there is essentially no "eating and drinking" , "marrying", and working, and playing and all the rest, during world crises and wars. But is that conclusion justified in even the world in which we now live? What was it that President Bush called for in the days following our 9-11 tragedy? Normalcy! A quick nod to the Creator, a "moment of silence", then back to normal lives so "the terrorists don't win." How many weddings were cancelled? Maybe a few. Who stopped being over- indulgent in food and drink? Maybe a few. But normal life continues, even in disaster.

But you say, Magnify 9-11 many hundreds of times, to the World Wars, and to that final series of tragedies slated for the planet. Surely the desire for "normalcy" ends somewhere, and men as a unit abandon all hope in things material and cry out for God? No. Never. This incredible truth is discussed in Revelation 9:18-21. At this juncture, one-third of mankind is dead! What of the rest? They do NOT repent! They continue their murders, their sexual abominations, thefts, drugs. Normal. Business as usual. They will have their needs and wants met, and that is all that matters. They have no clue about a coming judgment.

Consider Egypt of old (Exodus 7-12). In the midst of their own plagues, the likes of which will be coming to all the earth one day, we read of the unbelievable hardening of the hearts of all from the one on the throne all the way down. Truly when Jesus comes it will be after an unprecedented series of calamities, so bad that if he did not come at that moment all flesh would be annihilated. Yet in the midst of it all, men continue to defy God and ignore His ways, and are totally shocked at his coming. Normal life will thus continue until the very downfall of this present regime. No distinction

here, only side-by-side truths.

Maybe this "distinction" will work: a "rapture" occurs when the church is sleeping, but the second coming occurs during the devastation, when Christians must obviously be wide awake. The sleeping church idea he proves only by using the parable of the virgins (Matthew 25:25) when at least half of the young ladies are quite ready to go in to the feast. There is also a problem in his evaluation of believers in the midst of devastation, in my opinion. Revelation 16 tells us that Jesus must even at the very worst of moments warn His people not to show their "nakedness" by being polluted by the world. For, as we showed above, the world, in its panic will be trying everything to stay alive and stay happy, normal, so as to ignore the evils falling around them. Remember how many entertainers came to fame during the [Second World ] War years?

Christians are warned not to sell out to the world with all its comforts and false peace, so as to avoid the harsh realities of life in this era. Though this is a message for all times, it is especially true in a society which will require the damnable mark of the beast to be able to prosper. But Revelation 16 implies that some have already slipped into the desire for a comfort zone, available at that time only to those who deny Christ.

Christians living in a prosperous economy even now would do well to examine their hearts and see if they too are compromising Christ in their present lifestyle. Harry Bethel of Bethel Ministries says, "Most Christians in this country are not spiritually ready to go through what is on the horizon if it is as late as we think it is. The days of the Great Tribulation will be the worst time that this world has ever seen. And this earth has seen some very bad times. Probably not many Christians will be ready to go through the Great Tribulation, but believing that you are going to be raptured out before it begins is certainly not conducive to spiritual preparation for it."

But our point is that even on the eve of Christ's coming there will be believers sleeping, dreaming that eternal lukewarm dream that somehow there is peace and joy in this present evil age. These wicked servants will be dealt with by one look at the descending Jesus.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Note to Pastor - About That Music

I'm getting old. That's the only explanation/apology I give for the following comments. It does not set aside the truths which I am trying to communicate. But it is a fact. And in many churches, the desires of the young have been placed over the wisdom of the elderly. Music is one of the victims of this decision. For centuries the Church has passed on a legacy of rich doctrine-laden verse, majestic-sounding melodies, true "psalms, hymns, songs of the Spirit." As with Scripture, these have been recorded (no one is claiming inspiration here) and passed on. The bad ones were weeded out, the classics remained, the collection of songs went forward.

But as I have said in another place: " ...now, the collections are set aside en masse. Entirely new collections are in place, and weekly there are new songs added to the list. A man who has been a Christian for 50 years can sit through a meeting totally a stranger to the music portion of the fellowship. And he can think he is a stranger to the church, being left behind. This has not been true in every generation. It is sadly true in this one."

English-speaking believers have exported this treasure of music all over the world. To this day many nations sing translations of the old hymns of the faith, while those who passed it to them, the Western Church, have gone on, may I say it, to lesser things. Oh, there is energy, zeal, and for the most part, truth, in the new songs. But there is little depth, character, and beauty. Little being written today can compare to the grand songs. The beat is consistently rock-folk. Guitars replace organs. No room in some churches for multi styles, multi instruments. We must get those kids in. Get rid of the old, bring in the new.

Sounds like the rantings of an old man, don't you think? But if there is any truth in what I speak, take note, and in your church, perhaps you can still "save the music." Someone, I believe, must pass on the good parts of our past to the next generation. Someone must do the weeding out of the questionable lyrics and tempos today. Someone needs to exercise discernment in this area.

If the present crop of songs is allowed to be the entire musical inheritance we leave the next church, I fear that that church will be a much weaker one, one that is much more susceptible to what is coming to the planet. We need to revive the old songs, and add to them cautiously some of the new, as we have done for so long.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com - There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Christ in North Korea

As is true of much of Korean history, the pathway of Christ and His people on the Korean peninsula is a bloody one.

In 1122 B.C. 5,000 subjects of Chinese rule rebelled and fled to the peninsula we now associate with Korea, organizing a new state, "Chosun", land of morning calm. For the next 3,000 years this "hermit kingdom" suffered the abuses of Mongolians, Chinese, and Japanese until in 1876 a trade treaty was forced upon it by Japan. Korea was brought out of its shell, and over the next quarter of a century all of its ports were opened to the West.

Japan pushed even farther, however. From 1910 to 1945 it occupied Korea totally. What Christian witness had spread was slowly extinguished, not by the Koreans, but by their foreign "hosts." At the end of World War II, the country was divided. More intruders came in, and in the North they still are there. Christians have been murdered en masse during the long occupation of Russian/Chinese style totalitarian Communism. 500 pastors were killed during the Korean War period alone.

Thousands to this day languish in theNorth Korean gulag, trusting Christ daily for their perseverance and deliverance.

That is the rough outline. We go back now to fill in details. First, Roman Catholicism. It was in the early 1800's that Korean diplomats in Peking, China, met members of the Catholic world system. Contacts were made, and secret entrances were attempted into Korea. Catholicism spread rapidly, but was countered by Buddhist priests as Rome, a foreign power, was a political threat to their authority over the lives of the Korean people. This anti-foreign fear in Korea -well founded, unfortunately - climaxed in 1846 by the all-out slaughter of the entire Romanist hierarchy along with 10,000 members.

The name of Jesus was dealt a heavy blow. But the Protestants were not far behind in their own advance into Korea. In 1882, the United States and Korea (there was only one Korea then) signed a trade treaty. Protestants now found their way into this little kingdom on the other side of the world. Medical doctors led the way, followed by evangelists and educators.

The general pattern of church formation at the beginning was laid out by China missionary John Nevius. Churches were to start in the homes of nationals, and as quickly as possible they were to be under the complete control of the national church. This was not to be an "American" thing, nor a Roman one. Christ would prove Himself a sufficient leader of men through His Spirit and His Word. Missionaries would serve as advisors and specialists, then move on.

By 1907, Hefley says that over 1,000 self-supporting churches served 120,000 evangelicals. And that was just in the Presbyterian part of the church. A major revival swept across Korea in that year. Mass prayer meetings. Confessions of backsliders. Conversions of hardened sinners. God was preparing His Church for a trial by fire.

Those of us who pray for such revival in our own day must remember that God's Spirit is poured out for a reason. Pentecost was followed by persecution, and probably ever shall be. What a difference in North Korea from 100 years ago! How our hearts should be stirred to humble ourselves before God! The "It can't happen here" mentality has ever been proved faulty.

[My thanks to James and Marti Hefley's By Their Blood for some of the facts of this article.]

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

The Judgment of God

It is not a popular subject today. The pendulum of preaching has swung far away from hell-fire brimstone to a sentimental reading of Scripture that is just as diabolical as the enemy's first questionings of the truth of God. We have changed, church. The Scriptures have not. Here is what they say about the coming judgments.

Yes, I say the word should be plural. The best historical traditions of church teaching has seen in the Scriptures two very separate events, both called judgment. And in both cases it seems that the purpose of the gathering is to make public the obvious outcome of man's shortcomings, not to have a Perry Mason-like courtroom scene where the outcome is not certain until after the last commercial.

There are many differences between God's judgment meetings and our own. We have laws in abundance in America, for example. But a man can break those laws and still come out innocent. Innocent persons have been found to be guilty. Injustice and perversions of the legal system abound. That's why a trial here can take so long. Not so in the Heavenly Court. In that place God is judge and jury and author of the law. He knows exactly what is right and exactly what is wrong and who did what when, and with what motive. No need to drag this scene out. Unless a sin has been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, mankind is guilty, and our God will make that eternally and painfully clear. Publicly.

But there is this thing of the "judgment seat of Christ," that both Paul and John talk about. It seems to have a different flavor, though it is a judgment. Let's go to the Book of Revelation, chapter 20.

John speaks clearly of a 1,000 year period of time, at the beginning and end of which will be a judgment that follows a resurrection. Jesus referred to this series of events as the "resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation."

At the first resurrection, or the one we refer to now as the rapture, when the dead in Christ are raised, there is a group of people brought forth that live and reign with Christ for the millennium. But not before they must be judged. Yes, the first things John sees in this picture are judgment thrones. Not one negative word is said in this passage. It seems that this is a judgment in favor of the saints. Jesus' parable of the talents, and others, tells us that varying rewards will be given out. It would seem to me that this is the time for that.

Though salvation is secure to those first resurrected, the judgment of little or no reward for service is a serious matter. Saints today should be running a race so as to do well at the finish line, a type of judgment, where crowns of victory are given out. Or withheld. A time of weeping and shame, but not eternal loss.

Far more horrible shall be the judgment of damnation. Men shall be resurrected at this time, also, according to Jesus and John (still in Revelation 20). Here "the rest of the dead", those not included in the first resurrection, shall be given bodies fit for destruction, eternally able to bear shame. Unspecified books will be opened. Will these be the 66 of the Bible, as a testimony against the works of men? Will they be minute details of every sinful action, inaction, and thought of every man, woman, and child who has ever lived? The Scripture does say that all of these people will be judged by their works, according to everything written in the books.

Yes, believers 1000 years earlier will be able to say that Christ bore their judgment on the cross. And that argument will be accepted. But unbelievers, those who never accepted the work that Christ did, will have to offer their own works. An offering that has never been accepted in Heaven.

The only puzzle I find in this passage is the mention of the Book of Life. If what I have concluded above is true, then there will be no one whose name appears in the Book of Life that is represented at that second judgment. Our works cannot justify us before a holy God.

But John says "anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." The way that's worded seems to open the door to some on that day actually being in that special Book, but by what provision I know not.

I certainly want my name to be in the Book now. The question I pose may be interesting enough academically, but as a matter of life and death, I don't want to take any chances regarding that second judgment. I trust my readers and listeners have come to that same conclusion.

Judgment. A very difficult matter to discuss. But a message that must be preached by the church to a world that becomes increasingly ignorant of the things of God. For whether man knows about it or not, God has appointed a day for that judgment, and a Man to supervise the proceedings. Judgment Day is coming. May the Day, and especially the Man, Christ Jesus, be preached.

As always, join me in prayer for the nation of North Korea, a land headed for judgment unless the Word of God is allowed in.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

The Birds and Me

Three kinds of birds are in my life talking to me these days.

I've been a birdwatcher since I was very small. Bird-lister, they call folks like me. The sport involves finding a new species somewhere, anywhere, adding him to your list, and going on to the next one. Pretty simple stuff. My list only amounts to about 230 after all this time. But the memories that go with having found a particular bird, the people who were with me, the place where I was visiting, it's a nice way to tie a life together.

There's a year-round cardinal (redbird to some of you) in my back yard who literally gives me "cheer" in the winter, reminds me he is a "birdie" other times, and seems to welcome me back when I've been away for awhile. God has used him as the "lifter of my head" on more than one occasion.

But there are other birds. For four years there were large mechanical birds that grumbled and growled as they passed over my house. They mocked me and told me I'd never fly like they do. One day I called their bluff. Now they hum on their transit. They call me to get on board with a smile.It seems they are all heading toward the northeastern parts of Asia... Maybe my imagination...

Then the other ones. Oh my. I told you about them before. Remember the "birds of Yanji", residents of that Chinese town near North Korea's border?

This bird has been nicknamed by some kotjebi, the "flower-swallow". In actuality, he's a child. But "child" does not really describe him. He lives in North Korea and surrounding areas. He flits from eating place to eating place, simply trying to survive. No parents. No care at all unless arrested and placed in institutions, "cages". There he is often slowly starved, out of sight of any who can do anything about it. If he gets out of the cage, he is a nuisance, and despised. He becomes a thief. But he's just hungry... Sounds like a bird to me. Couldn't be human.

The birdwatcher in me is stirred. Here is a species I have never seen. But one who only lists birds, what can he do? Unless, of course, the Caretaker of all earth's creatures happens to come along.

Kotjebi! Don't despair! You are loved after all!

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .