10 January 2013
Dear Online Friend,
God has graciously brought us into another year; let's love Him more, praise Him more, and serve Him more! I prayerfully greet you that you may grow in all graces.
It's sickening to read the daily newspaper. The headlines are about violence, clashes, disaster, corruption and war. We are living much nearer to the end of the endtime than the early Christians. If Peter referred to the Day of Pentecost as the "last days," we are in the "last minutes." Things go from bad to worse. All hopes are fading. The political leaders are turning pessimistic. Hearts are failing. The very thought of tomorrow is terrifying. God has taught us in the Scriptures how to survive these evil days—
- Spare no pains to live HOLY.
Rev 22:11; 1 Cor 10:6:11,13; Phil 2:12,13; 1 Pet 12:9; 2 Pet 2:6; 3:11; Rom 12:2
- Set aside definite times for PRAYER.
Mk 13:33; Mt 25:13; Eph 6:11-18; Psa 55:17; Dan 6:10; Mk 1:35
- Saturate yourself with GOD'S WORD.
Rev 12:12; Gen 3:1; 1 Pet 1:24,25; Phil 4:7-9; Acts 2:20; Psa 119:92,54;
Mt 7:24-27; Heb 12:25-27; 1 Tim 4:1-5; 2 Tim 4:1-4
- Save your FAMILY.
Mal 4:5,6; 2 Tim 3:1-3; 1 Cor 13:4-7; Eph 6:4; Acts 2:17
- Submit to ONE ANOTHER.
Mt 24:12; Mk 3:24,25; Eph 5:15,16,21; Js 5:9; Heb 10:24,25; Mk 9:50;
1 Pet 4:7-9
- Set your mind on HEAVENLY THINGS.
1 Tim 6:6; Prov 23:4:5; Phil 3:18-20; 1 Tim 6:17-19
- Seek to win the LOST at any cost.
2 Pet 3:9; Mt 24:14; 5:13,14
The points given above are the summary of the last chapter of my book, Higher Ways
Higher Thoughts, which I wrote 22 years ago, that's in 1991.
Of the many problems each of us has, an important one is sickness. There's no one without some kind of disease or weakness. Some experience divine healing; and a few others get well through medical treatment. But the fact remains that there are more people who are not healed than those who are healed. For these people I wrote an article 25 years ago, titled If you are not healed ... I've reprinted it now as an 8-page multicolour tract in art paper. The article is attached herewith both in English and in Tamil. There will be atleast 50 people known to you who are not healed from their ailments. Give a copy to each of them. They will be greatly encouraged. A pack of 50 tracts, in English or Tamil, costs Rs.100/-. God will be pleased with such a ministry of "strengthening the feeble hands and weak knees," because He is the One who "breaks not the bruised reed and
quenches not the smoking flax!" A dear sister who has been suffering from several ailments has been often encouraged by reading and rereading this tract published 25 years ago. She gave me a tattered copy, and it's because of her prompting I have reprinted it.
As I had mentioned in my letter of 1 Dec 2012, the Talks on the "How not..." Series which I began to telecast in Nov 2008 are getting completed with the 10th and the last episode of the 20th subject today. I'm sure several of you are currently watching this 20th subject, How not to Die. Just as the latter wine was tastier than the former, this 20th subject is of a greater impact than the 19 earlier subjects. These 10 lessons with a total running time of 5 hours are recorded on a 2-DVD pack. It will be uploaded in this website shortly.
There's nothing more certain than death, and nothing more uncertain than the time of dying. One may die at 10 or 100! Each Christian must compulsorily watch these Talks. I give this 2-DVD Pack free to Christians in India who have completed 70 years. Please write to me with your full postal address, age and telephone number.
One may wonder where does money come from for all these! I strongly believe in the Biblical principle, "He who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully shall reap bountifully." I operate on this principle.
The work is on to bring each of the 20 subjects of the "How not..." Series as booklets. Our daughter, Evangeline Jones, is on this assignment to bring the Talks to bookform. So far 5 titles have been published as booklets. Besides helping me in such areas, she as a professional Counsellor also takes up appointments for counselling twice a week. Do contact her at 00 91 98430 11943 and visit her on appointment for psychological and psychiatric problems. If necessary she would connect the candidates to Phychiatrists in the CMC Hospital, Vellore, for clinical help. Never allow any psychological problem to grow. Small snakes can be killed with small sticks!
In order to praise God for His mercies which enabled us to record and telecast 200 Episodes of corrective teaching, from 2008 to 2013, and to pray for the next project of telecasting in English-HINDI, we will gather on Sunday the 10th February from 10 am to 5 pm in Chennai. (Venue: Dhyana Ashram, 25 Madha Church Road, Santhome, Chennai 600028). It's absolutely necessary to fall on our knees before God when we plan a big project like this. Teaching the Sound Doctrine of God's Word to the majority of people in India, who are HINDI-speaking, is no ordinary job. I fervently invite you to this gathering. Medium: TAMIL. Please bring your spouse and children above 18. You may also bring anyone from your area who has been blessed through my Bible teaching ministry. In case you have no facility whatsoever to stay overnight on Saturday, please contact Mr. C. Francis, 98415 73650.
The first recording of Talks in English-HINDI is scheduled to be done in our studio attached to our residence in Vellore from March 6 to 10. This is where we have done the recording of the 200 English-Tamil episodes. A dear brother comes from North India for HINDI translation. Please note these dates and uphold us in prayer, if possible with fasting. Thank you.
—R. Stanley
(For Contributions online: R. STANLEY, Account No. 10545862765, State Bank of India, Branch No. 7274, Vellore 632 006, Tamilnadu. IFS Code: SBIN 0007274; SWIFT Code: SBININBB473)
