Merry Christmas Game

Merry Christmas everyone.

May God bless you with a happy break.

Wish Jesus a Happy Birthday and enjoy the Christmas story found in Luke 2. 


DIRECTIONS: 
1. Have a Merry Christmas :)
2. Find everything on the list below the picture. Have fun!

3 wise men, 
2 shepherds, 
advent wreath, 
3 camels, 
carolers, 
ark, 
4 poinsettias, 
dove, 
7 sheep, 
baby Jesus, 
7 angels, 
donkey


See you January 2, 2017 for more Bible and missionary stories!

Mary Vee

A Time Between Time-The Rebellion and A Reason to Fight

By Mary Vee
Between the Old and New Testament

From the Historical records

The time in between time. 

Four hundred years are in the process of passing since God last spoke through a prophet to His people.

Remember we are counting backwards to year 0. The year is around 143 BC. (before Christ)

    400 BC                           300 BC                        200 BC                        100 BC                          Birth of Christ
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|

The Syrians ruled Judea.

These soldiers were equipped with the best, newest, and powerful weapons of the day: rams to break through strong city gates, bows and arrows, javelins, spears, armor, elephants, and military siege engines shaped like large crossbows having better accuracy than a catapult. What small army would dare fight them? 

A Jewish remnant did. 

This group of Jewish soldiers didn't even have the support of their entire nation. Many Jews chose to do as they were told by their captors, giving up the right to worship God and the laws He gave for living.

Last week, on his death bed, the priest Mattathias appointed his sons Simon and Judah to lead the rebellion in his place. Simon, his second son for his wisdom in judgement and Judah his third son for his courage and strength.

In a short time, three thousand Jews became frustrated with losing their freedom of worship. They joined Judah in a campaign against the Syrians and their leader Antiochus IV. Judah had brilliant battle plans. Attack a small group of Syrians here and there. Sneak up on a Syrian meeting and attack. He kept the attacks small, within their reach. Judah's men used rocks and farm tools for weapons and their strongest weapons: a knowledge of the hills, caves, and mountains and a desire to worship God. 

Judah and his men had one more huge advantage. A reason to fight.

The Syrian soldiers followed the orders of Antiochus IV. Their country had not been invaded.  They were not protecting their families or land. They were dominating a county they had conquered. The only reward these men had was the show of their power.

Judah and his men's reason to fight was to regain the control of the Temple in Jerusalem. The freedom of worship. Prior to this time the Jews had not rebelled against their captors. Those captors let them worship as God commanded. The reign of the Antiochus throne took away that freedom.

With so many men joining the rebellion, a problem rose. Where would they hide all of them in the hills? Judah devised another phase of his plan. Jewish soldiers would live at their homes, farm their land, and listen. Listen for Syrian activity. When they heard important information, they sent messengers to Judah. It was like having spies throughout the country.

The small Jewish army surprised Syrian soldiers, won the skirmish then quickly retreated to the hills. Antiochus hated these annoying outbursts. He made stronger rules against the Jews for their punishment.

Antiochus ordered his general to march into the area where the remnant soldiers hid. The general gathered a large army, armed with powerful weapons, and marched. With the eyes and ears of soldier farmers, Judah heard about the coming attack. He formulated an ambush while the Syrian soldiers still marched. The rebellion won the battle, killing most of the Syrian soldiers. Judah's army took the Syrian's powerful weapons, including the sword of the general. 

When news of the defeat reached Antiochus he became even more angry.

Who will win in the end? Come back next time to read the next events.


The timing of this story is very crucial. God sent His son, Jesus, to save and protect. 


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*The Hanukkah Book by Marilyn Burns, Four Winds Press, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1981

Jonathan Goforth-The Blind Police Chief

By Mary Vee
Year: fall 1889

Jonathan Goforth-30 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy Chinese Dai house architecture
with bamboo sides and thatched roof 

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I are missionaries in China. 

I am so excited. I'm finally beginning to grasp the Chinese language. The people understood me when I spoke in chapel. Isn't that exciting? After the chapel meeting, I ran home to tell my wife. 

This was the moment we've been waiting for. The moment that proved I was ready to move to my assignment as missionary in northern China.

I have a lot more studying to do, but I have enough of the basics to move forward. In preparation for Rosalind's and my move to our assigned area, I travelled with Dr. McClure and helped him with his work. This gave me a many opportunities to learn and practice the language.

In the fall of 1889, Dr. McClure and I met with the magistrate from Hsunhsien in northern China. We sat at his table, ate a meal, and talked. At the end of the meal, the magistrate said, "I have a favor to ask."

"What do you need?" 

"My former chief of police is going blind. Would you take a look at his eyes. Maybe you could help him."

This was a great opportunity to show we cared about the people in the community. Dr. McClure said, "Send for him. I'll see him right away."

The magistrate ordered his servants to bring the former police chief. Only ten minutes later, the servant helped an elderly man into the room. The magistrate bowed. "This is Mr. Chou, the man I told you about." The servants led Mr. Chou to a chair.

I opened Dr. McClure's medical bag and handed him the tools he asked for during the examination. It didn't take long for him to diagnose Mr. Chou's problem. "You have cataracts," the doctor said. "There is a simple procedure to remove them, and once this is done, you will be able to see again."

The former police chief laughed, he was so happy. "When can you do the procedure, doctor?"

Dr. McClure shook his head. "I can't do it today, but I can when I return the next time. I must return to Linching right away. This surgery requires me to stay with you for two weeks. I can come back in about six months and stay long enough to operate and provide the care you will need.

Mr. Chou's happiness switched to anger in a flash. He held out his hands to his helper. "Take me home. Now." As he walked out the door he grumbled, "That doctor won't come back. He's lying. I'll never see again. That doctor is a foreign devil."

The magistrate sighed. "I'm so sorry. Police chiefs aren't known for being polite."

That was the truth. In the short time I had been in China I had seen several chiefs, all corrupt men. These men didn't receive any salary for their work. They were expected to force citizens to bribe them for services. The innocent who couldn't pay bribe money went to prison. The guilty who could pay bribe money went free. 

Dr. McClure stood. "Magistrate, Jonathan and I will be back in six month. We'll stay the two weeks needed to perform Mr. Chou's surgery and care for him."

The magistrate bowed and walked us to the door.

Six weeks later, Dr. McClure and I returned to Hsunhsien. The magistrate welcomed us and called for Mr. Chou. While we waited he served us tea. Mr. Chou walked into the room. He turned his head as if listening. "Is that you, Dr. McClure? Have you really returned to help me?"

"Yes. I have. As I promised."

Mr. Chou smiled. "Then I am ready."

I worked as Dr. McClure's assistant for the short surgery. When the doctor finished he held up his hand. "How many fingers do you see?"

Mr Chou said, "Oh my. I can't believe it. I see five. Five fingers. I see five fingers, doctor!"

Dr. McClure reached for the bandages sitting on the counter. "Good. Then I'll wrap your eyes. The bandages must remain in place for two weeks to give your eyes time to heal. When we remove them, you should be able to see again."

The police chief tried to speak but he was so happy he couldn't. He stayed with us for the two weeks being led to each place we went. The once corrupt police chief sat in on prayer meetings and open air meetings where the doctor and I preached. As time went by, we saw his heart change. He asked questions and said kinder words. A few days before the doctor removed the bandages, Mr. Chou believed in the God who loves him. The One who sent His Son, Jesus to take the punishment for all our sins. 

Mr. Chou told his wife all that he'd heard and witnessed. Soon, she, too, believed in the God who loves her.

Mr. Chou's story does not end here. 

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

A Time Between Time-Those Who Fought For Freedom to Worship

By Mary Vee
Between the Old and New Testament

From the Historical records

The time in between time. 

Four hundred years are in the process of passing since God last spoke through a prophet to His people.

Remember we are counting backwards to year 0. The year is around 143 BC. (before Christ)

    400 BC                           300 BC                        200 BC                        100 BC                          Birth of Christ
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|

The Greeks rule a large area including Judea and Egypt. To make their conquest complete, all persons not Greek were required to dress as Greeks, worship Greek gods, speak Greek, and completely forego their own cultural ways, language, and worship. No exceptions. 

Last time we talked about soldiers sent by Antiochus IV to Modi'in, a village northwest of Jerusalem. They ordered the most honored man of the village to kill a pig and eat its flesh. Scroll down to read this story.

Mattathias the priest and his five sons led Jews fleeing from the village to the mountains. They hid, afraid Antiochus IV's army would track them down and kill them. 

We don't know why Antiochus IV didn't hunt down these Jews. Maybe he didn't consider them a big threat. It ended up being a huge mistake on his part.

As time went by, Mattathias and his sons sneaked out from their caves and went to other villages surrounding Jerusalem to offer a hiding place for Jews who remained dedicated to the one true living God. He and his sons also went into every place of worship and home to remove all statues of Greek gods. They warned their fellow Jews of the danger they faced if they did not follow the Laws of Moses. God is, after all more powerful than any Greek army.

A group of Jews who had refused to follow the Greek way called themselves Hasideans. Some Hasideans joined Mattathias and his efforts to free Jews from the Greek influence. 

Mattathias and his followers hid in the mountains, organizing, formulating plans and going out to villages to undo what Antiochus IV had done. Even though Mattathias came to help, many Jews remained afraid of the Greeks.

Mattathias worked nonstop, training and adding new recruits to his force. His fighters struck out against Antiochus' army patrols and disrupt Greek ceremonies held in Jewish villages.

Mattathias died during this first year of rebellion. His dedication to freeing Jews to worship and remember their roots inspired the movement to grow. During this time of his leadership one important change took place. Previously, Jews refused to fight on the Sabbath. Foreign armies had planned their attacks to be on the Sabbath for this very reason. Mattathias declared that the Jews would not attack on the Sabbath as they always had, but they would defend themselves if an army attacked them.

Before Mattathias took his last breath he appointed two of his sons, Simon and Judah to take over. He chose Simon for his son's wise judgements and Judah for his strength and courage. Judah was given the nickname, Maccabee which means hammer. As time went on, all five brothers were referred to as Maccabeen because they fought for the Jews freedom to worship. 

Come back next time, because some really exciting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*The Hanukkah Book by Marilyn Burns, Four Winds Press, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1981

A Time Between Time- Epic Power in A Tiny Village

By Mary Vee
Between the Old and New Testament

From the Historical records

The time in between time. 

Four hundred years are in the process of passing since God last spoke through a prophet to His people.

Remember we are counting backwards to year 0. The year is around168 BC.

    400 BC                           300 BC                        200 BC                        100 BC                          Birth of Christ
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|

The Greeks are still in power and they are quite adamant all Jews will give up their cultural ways, language, and worship no matter what. 

The army first marched to every Jewish home in Jerusalem killing those who refused to conform. Antiochus IV then ordered the soldiers to go to all the villages in Judah. They were to take a pig to each village's gathering place. 

The soldiers did so then ordered all the villagers to attend a meeting. 

Today's story is about one particular village called, Modi'in located northwest of Jerusalem. The soldiers invaded the gathering place then built an altar for Greek sacrifices. They ordered all the people to attend a meeting. 

Jewish men and women left their homes and fields as they were told. Mattathias the priest and his five sons were among the villagers.

The soldiers led a pig to the center. The leader said, "Who is the man most honored among you?"

The people pointed to Mattathias. 

The army commander faced Mattathias and ordered him to step forward. "Kill the pig and eat it. If you obey us you will be friends of the king."

Mattathias didn't move.  

To move forward would be to dishonor the One True Living God. To move back would be to call the army down on him.

He cleared his throat and said, "If obeying the king requires disobeying our God, we will not do it."

The Jewish men and women looked at him then at the guards waiting for someone to speak. One of the Jewish men stepped forward. "I can't take it," it said. "I'll do it." The man pushed through the villagers and walked toward the pig. 

The soldiers grinned. They even lowered their weapons a bit. 

Mattathias' anger boiled. He lunged forward, grabbed a soldiers spear, and thrust it into the Jewish man. He then turned on the commander and killed him, too. "We will worship only the Lord God.

The villagers rallied with Mattathias grabbing the soldiers weapons before the soldiers knew what happened. 

"What should we do now?" one of the Jews asked Mattathias.

He looked around at the village that had become their homes. Once the army in Jerusalem discovered these men hadn't returned to the city they would send more troops. "We have to leave. Those who only choose to worship the one true God, follow me."

He and his sons gathered as much food and blankets as they could carry. They led their animals to the hills and hid along with the other dedicated Jews.


Come back next time, because some really exciting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*The Hanukkah Book by Marilyn Burns, Four Winds Press, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1981

Jonathan Goforth-I Spoke Chinese and My Words Made Sense

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1889

Jonathan Goforth-30 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy Chinese Dai house architecture
with bamboo sides and thatched roof 

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I are missionaries in China. 

This is the third week of Advent for you, Reader. A time to remember what God has done for us and taught us. That is exactly what I plan to do, today.

Last week, I told you about the terrible outbreak of dysentery here in northern China. Rosalind is still very ill, but the doctors says she should recover. She's sleeping a lot and when she's awake nurses are caring for her. While she rests I use the time to study and practice. 

As a thirty-year-old man, I wouldn't have thought learning a language to be that difficult especially when the person really wanted to learn and the person lived in the country. My survival is dependent on learning this language. I've practiced when shopping, or dressing, or eating, or doing anything. I only speak English when I can't figure out the Chinese word...which seems to be a lot of the time.

I came to China a year before Donald McGillivray, my best friend from Knox College. We met up for a short time at a mission and were both being sent to serve in northern China. But because we had more to move to our next location, Donald went ahead. After my baby girl, Gertrude died of dysentery, Donald helped me take her back to the mission for her burial. I was so thankful for his friendship, especially since Rosalind was too sick to go. So much happened to Rosalind and me in a short time. Our first house in China had burned to the ground, we lost all our possessions, later we lost our baby Gertrude to dysentery, and we didn't have any family in China to share our sorrow. Donald helped both Rosalind and me more than we could have hoped.

After the funeral, Donald and I hurried back to Linching, where Rosalind was under medical care. I honestly didn't know if she would still be alive or not. My heart was so broken. I prayed for her the entire two days it took to sail back. 

I must admit my sorrow hampered me from learning Chinese. I tried so hard, but nothing I did seemed to help the words stick in my head. On top of this, Donald picked up the language quickly and had learned more than me...with one less year of study. 

Of course, to add to my embarrassment, when chapel time came, Donald and I took turns reading Scriptures and explaining the passage to local Chinese people. He went first then walked to his seat as I stood for my turn. The Chinese people begged me to sit back down and Donald to come back. I don't know, they said something like they could understand Donald better.

In truth, I couldn't blame them. I knew Donald spoke Chinese better than I did. What I didn't understand was how it happened. I studied just as hard as he did, maybe harder. I practiced. But if I couldn't master the language what kind of missionary would I make?

Several months passed by with me spending long hours studying. I didn't like when even the nicest Chinese person. who sat patiently while I bumbled my words, couldn't understand me. 

The walk to the chapel took me about twenty minutes. That morning I prayed the entire way, asking God to help me understand the language. I didn't beg or plea or want to be better than Donald, I just asked God to give me understanding so I could be His witness in China.

At the chapel, I stood when my turn came to read the Scriptures. I read them and paused. Words appeared in my head. Sentences formed. All in clear Chinese. I couldn't believe what I heard me say. I looked at the Chinese people and saw them listening. They didn't have confused looks on their faces. They understood my words!

When I finished, I stepped away and Donald stood. The audience shouted for him to stay seated and for me to keep teaching.

I couldn't wait to go home and tell Rosalind my news. I spoke Chinese and my words made sense! 

I felt like a little child who just received the best Christmas gift ever.

Thank you, Jesus.



Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

A Time Between Time-Those Who Stood Strong

By Mary Vee
Between the Old and New Testament

From the Historical records

The time in between time. 

Four hundred years are in the process of passing since God last spoke through a prophet to His people.

Remember we are counting backwards to year 0. The year is near 168 BC.

    400 BC                           300 BC                        200 BC                        100 BC                          Birth of Christ
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|

The Greeks are in power spanning as far east as at least Iran, south of Judea, and west into Egypt. The las time we  learned a group of Jews who didn't want to give up their culture, language, or worship, grouped together and called themselves Hasideans. They patiently waited for the right moment to rise up and revolt against the Greeks. 

Antiochus the Greek in charge took his army and marched to Egypt. Romans had conquered the land and he wanted it back. While he was gone, the Hasideans revolted against the Greeks. Rumors came to the Hasideans that Antiochus died in the battle against the Romans.

The Jews felt empowered. They marched into the Temple, conquered the Greek supporters, and threw out all the Greek statues that had been placed in the Temple. They then went throughout the city searching and conquering Jews who chose to join the Greek style of life then replaced articles of worship to God back in the Temple.  

Unfortunately, the news of Antiochus' death was wrong. He had been conquered in the battle against the Romans, humiliated, but remained alive. He marched his army back to Jerusalem and discovered what had happened. His anger exploded. He slaughtered 10,000 Jews then went to the temple, removed the altar, the furniture, and the Jew's treasures.

The surviving Jews became terrified of this ruler. Antiochus' said all Jewish culture and worship must end. He ordered any Jew who worshiped on the Sabbath, studied the Torah, or had their sons circumcised executed. His soldiers went house to house looking for any signs of Jewish culture or worship. No chances were given. The Jews were immediately execute. 

All the Jews were terrified. Some gave in to the demands and lived only the Greek culture. Others were so angry and full of sorrow they joined the Hasideans. Some families moved out of Jerusalem into the countryside to live in peace.

Antiochus sent his soldiers to all the villages. They took with them pigs and ordered the Jews to sacrifice the pigs like a Greek then eat the meat. Some Jews did as they were told thinking living was better than dying. Those who did not were tortured and killed.

These were sad days, but there were those who stood strong. God always promised there would be a remnant, a people who would keep a true witness of the one true living God.


Come back next time, because some really exciting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*The Hanukkah Book by Marilyn Burns, Four Winds Press, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1981