Genesis 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

And that last bit struck my interest because a) the idea of stealing someones front door and walking off with it amuses me, and b) I seemed to remember Sampson actually doing it. (Talk about a piratical joke. And people think God’s no fun…)

Judges 16:2 And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.

So it turns out that he had a good reason. It was a preemptive strike, but they were going to kill him so hitting second wasn’t such a good option. I just wonder how he kept himself from snickering (or waking anyone up while he was ripping the gates out of the ground for that matter.)

What he actually stole was the gate from the wall around the city, and the posts that hold them in place. This is a bit more important than anyone’s front door, because it was what kept attacking armies outside. (And if you read how much Samson kicked these guys asses, you’ll realize that they needed any protection they could get.)

And in case you’re wondering, Samson is in Abraham’s blood line. He was of the tribe of the Danites. The 12 tribes of Israel were from the sons of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham.

As fellowlaborers, we are working with God in Christ in us to be His “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NIV). Jesus directed these words to all those who are willing to talk his talk and walk his walk. The fellowlaborers have had many opportunities to operate Acts 1:8 these past few weeks.

We witness Christ by fulfilling our fellowlaborer responsibilities. At the October Young Adult Advance, we served by maintaining the church building, helping with meals, driving the attendees, and much more. As we met the body’s material needs, God helped us see how we could serve spiritual needs as well. We ministered the power of God not for one hour or with one person, but for the entire weekend and with everyone! “Fellowship” took on a new meaning that weekend – we shared our hearts with each other. What we had to give varied with each person, but we all gave God’s Word to each other.

Others’ examples have also taught us how to witness Christ. When some of us went to the Weekend in the Word at Rockford, Illinois, we experienced Christ’s love and power as we fellowshipped with dynamic believers. Teachers and disciples from all over the world came to rejoice in God’s Word. Friendships were made, needs were met, and lives were changed – and all because believers acted on the promises of God. The Day in the Word at Tipp City, Ohio was another amazing opportunity to see the example of other leaders and grow in our knowledge of the Word. These events have given the fellowlaborers the chance to serve and individually discover our roles in the body of Christ.

Our radical expectations of God are increasing as December rolls around the corner. The December Young Adults Advance in Florida will be another opportunity to work the Word in our lives. For we now know that the works of the Church did not stop with Paul in Acts 28: because we hear and act upon the Word of God, we are living in Acts 29!

“…Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matt. 9:36-38). As fellow laborers this year, seven young adults are answering this call to action by Jesus Christ. We hail from different parts of the United States – Amanda LeBlanc and Victoria Johnson represent Florida, Mike Miller comes from Illinois, Francis Cardullo, Nathan Friedly, and Ron Shannon grew up in Ohio, and I’m from Maryland. We come from different backgrounds, different families, and different stages of our walks with God. But we all are eager and determined to work as laborers for the “harvest” of the world by becoming leaders and servants in the body of Christ.

Being a laborer with Christ is an exciting and humbling experience. In the three weeks since the Fellow Laborers program has begun, we have already grown in our walks of faith. When we first sought housing, God found houses for the four guys and three girls that are several doors away from each other in affordable, accommodating homes. As we searched for jobs, God provided work for each of us and inclusively taught us patience and peace. Our first ten-minute teachings last week were full of testimonies, principles, and lessons God has taught us since we’ve arrived.

God has not only ensured that all our needs are provided for, but He’s also given us the best support – each other! I still can’t believe how well each of us ‘clicked’ with each other since the first day of the program. Despite demanding work schedules, I see Romans 12:10-13 – “brotherly love” – come alive when we come together in our tri-weekly Fellow Laborers meetings, Tuesday night fellowships, and our Friday “Get to Know People” nights. We are confident that God has brought us together this year and at this point in our lives for His divine purpose, and we are thrilled to continue to discover what He has in store for us!

Joyell Nevins
January 23rd, 2006

What are some powerful things in this world? Guns, tornadoes, bulldozers, all have a lot of power and can have a serious impact. But I want to introduce you today to the MOST powerful thing there is.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

One of the things I loved when I first heard Mitzi Holdren teach is that she went through verses word by word. So let’s do that here. “For the Word of God is quick” – quick is the greek word zaos, and it means to live, both literally and figuratively. Personally, I think both literal and figurative apply here. “and powerful” – powerful is the greek word energes, which is where we get our English word energy. Energes means to be active, operative, and effectual. We learned recently that when something is effectual it produces the desired result. It doesn’t just have an impact, but it has the impact it was purposed to. “Sharper than any twoedged sword . . .” Sharper is the greek word tomoteros, which means to cut as if by a single stroke.

I have a Cutco knife that is extremely sharp. In my old house on Market street, I was cutting bread with it when I sliced right through my two fingers (there is still a mark where it happened). Blood went gushing everywhere. We called it the massacre because blood got on the ceiling, the floor, the counters, etc. And all that was from one stroke. That’s what the Word is like – it does what it’s meant to do, efficiently and quickly.

Ephesians 6:12-13 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Then Ephesians lists what’s part of your armor – gospel of peace, truth, righteousness, etc. What I want to draw your attention to is at the end of the list:

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:The Word is also called a sword in Revelations, when Jesus Christ comes back. It says he has a sword coming out of his mouth, which is the Word of God. And anybody who’s seen Lord of the Rings or Braveheart or any movie of that era knows what damage swords can do!

The Word is also called a sword in Revelations, when Jesus Christ comes back. It says he has a sword coming out of his mouth, which is the Word of God. And anybody who’s seen Lord of the Rings or Braveheart or any movie of that era what damage swords can do!Here’s another analogy of how powerful the Word is:

Jeremiah 23:28-29 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? [I’m sure you guys know what power fire has and what it can do!] saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

My fiance Jason has a set of dinner bowls. One time I was goofing around and dropped and broke one of the bowls (as you can see I’m not too handy in the kitchen). Since the bowl broke into three clean pieces, Jason was able to glue it back together and use it again. Well, in Jeremiah that word “break” means . Unlike the bowl, the hammer dashes the rock into a thousand pieces with NO hope of putting it back together. Again, what the Word is meant to do it gets done!

Psalms 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

That word “delivered” is commonly translated escaped – it gets you out of a situation. To me, I think of an argument. When Jason and I first got together I told him look, I’m a strong willed person and I may not always listen to you. But I will ALWAYS listen to the Word. I have found in all my relationships that the Word of God is the BEST way to stop an argument, period. You can’t argue with the Word. What did Jesus do when the Devil himself came at him (Mark 4)? That’s right – It is written. He used the Word of God, and escaped that temptation and nasty situation.

Psalms 147:18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

Again, look at the power in that. The word “melt” means dissolve. When you mix oil and water, it separates and you still have oil and water. If you mix sugar and water, the sugar DISSOLVES and there is no hope of getting that sugar back again. Same thing with the Word. Never underestimate its power.I know I’ve used a lot of analogies, and now I want to give you a true story of how I’ve seen the Word of God change lives. My friends Stephen and Rhonda West run a Bible study/fellowship at the VA, a local rehab program. I have had the privilege to meet some of the men they work with and watch their lives change. One guy, Greg, checked into rehab June of ’05 after an attempt to commit suicide. He had no job, no house, and seven cents to his name. Greg had been in and out of rehab before, but to no avail. This time, he started going to the West’s Bible study. Through that, through the Word of God, one year later I was able to attend an anniversary celebration of Greg’s success. He has a job, a house, a serious girlfriend who also loves God and His Word, and even runs a fellowship out of his home.

Another guy, George, who again had been in and out of rehab, was so excited because he went home for Thanksgiving and for the first time his mom didn’t have to check the house to see what he’d stolen after he left.

This is real, people. The Word of God changes lives. It mends relationships. It has power. Yes, people are loving and wonderful and let God’s light shine, but it all comes back to the Word.

Fellow Laborers, both last year and this year, is a great idea. It can be a great program. But sometimes things get hairy – there are complications, issues, people aren’t all they should be, whatever. Yet I sat at the Family Reunion last year and was amazed at the testimonies – at the growth I saw in my fellow Fellow Laborers. Same this year – the Fellow Laborers are growing and changing because of the Word of God – it is a sword, it is fire, it dashes, it dissolves.

Stacy Siedlecki taught earlier this year that when God said “I am that I am” in Exodus, that means “I become what I become” – basically God is everything you need Him to be. Well, the Bible is God on paper – it’s God’s words to us. It says in II Peter 1:3 that the Word has everything that pertains to life and godliness – whatever you need, the Bible has it for you.

Psalms 119:160-62 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

I love the heart David has for the Word – it’s like a treasure hunt for him. But what I want to draw your attention to is “endureth for ever” and “true from the beginning”. I heard a great story of a little boy who walks past a blacksmith’s shop. The blacksmith is banging a hammer on the anvil, and at his feet is tons of used up hammers. The boy asks what happened to all these hammers? The blacksmith tells them “the anvil makes them so”. The storyteller related the strength and endurance of the anvil to the strength and endurance of God’s Word – no matter how people beat on it or try to twist it or discredit it, the Word stands true. Talk about a solid foundation!

I Peter 1:23-25A Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.

The word “endure” is the greek word meno. It is a primary or root word that means to remain, abide, stand. The Word of God isn’t going anywhere, folks. I’d like to quote an email devotional called God’s Minute:

“After all God worked through 40 different men, who lived on three different continents, from every walk of life, who lived over a sixteen hundred year period to write His letter to us. The result is the Bible was still created containing not one single contradiction.”

That’s a pretty big statement, for a very big book. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this – I hope that you too, can say you treasure the Word of God as one that has great spoil, and realize the POWER that you have through it.

I want to leave you with an exhortation of Paul’s that is my heart to you.

I want to leave you with an exhortation of Paul’s that is my heart to you.Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

God bless you all!

Why I’m A F.L.: To learn how to better serve God and the body of Christ.

Favorite Scripture and why (what you’ve been thinking about):
Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalms 29:11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

These have been my favorite scriptures lately because there are so many things that are going on at the same time and I can get overwhelmed if my focus is on worldly things. These verses help me to slow down. I have no need to get worried or upset because God gives me the peace and the strength I need to accomplish all I need to do as long as my thoughts and my focus are centered around Him.

On a Bad Day, I:
On a bad day I start by trying to figure out why I am having a bad day. Sometimes just taking a moment to myself to analyze what is going on can go a long way to fixing the problem. Once the cause is identified, I try to do what I can to fix it. An example of this would be if someone had said something to me that hurt my feelings and I was dwelling on what they said. I would go find that person and talk to them to resolve the hurt feelings. Sometimes I am tired and can tend to be cranky. In a situation like that I do my best to pay attention to my attitude because no one else is responsible for my being tired. Other times there does not appear to be any reason why I am having a bad day. So I take some time to either read the Word or recite it to myself and build myself up. I have never had an instance where reading the Word didn�t make my day better.

Music style: Classic Rock

Ultimate Dinner Guests (If you could have a dinner party with three people, living or dead, who would they be):
Socrates, Michelangelo, Steven Tyler

Pet Peeves:
People who are parrots – meaning people that tend to just repeat things they have heard without looking into them to verify their validity. This can include gossip, but also includes opinions or viewpoints.
People who don’t clean up after themselves.
People who do not deal honestly with others.
Drivers who don’t use their turn signals.

What I Like (hobbies, secular passions): Playing the piano and doing artwork.

Thank you and I CAN’T WAIT to see you!

Firstly, we should make separate login’s and passwords for at least you four, and possibly last year’s fellow laborers as well. That way each post will be correctly attributed to the it’s author.

Secondly, check the links at the bottom. Especially the Some Rights Reserved license. It’s a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license and it’s the default license that I use on nearly everything. It basically allows for other people to do nearly anything they want with what you post on here as long as they credit the original author. If everybody likes that then great. There are some optional restrictions that can be added on to that license including a no-change restriction where they can copy it verbatim, but not make any edits themselves, and a noncommercial restriction where other people can’t sell it.

The other links are to the software that runs this site, to the designer of this template and one to my website.

At the right hand side, I renamed Uncategorized to General (you can put each post into categories such as Teachings, Life, General, etc.) I also added a link to CFF and a link to myself.