Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

If you don't know where to spend your Christmas,

Why not come to the special Christmas Program

at Home of Christ on this Sunday!

Lesson For The Week (Dec. 22)

Jesus Is Emmanuel
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalms 34:18)
0000
Lily's Story
It was December 1997, the coldest winter of my life. My marriage had just ended in divorce. While people all around me were celebrating the Christmas holiday, my heart was filled with pain and bitterness. I didn’t know how to get on with life. I often asked myself: “Why did this happen?” “Why me?” I was angry at how naïve I had been. How could I not have known my ex-husband was a homosexual?
0
I was filled with hatred toward him and other people who had hurt me. I even hated myself. Life seemed so unfair. I was depressed and worried about the future. I lost my confidence completely and was frightfully lonely. I felt no comfort, no hope, anywhere. Then, at this lowest and darkest time of my life, I met Jesus.
0
My best friend suggested we go to a place where we could improve our English. The price was right—it was free! So in the autumn of 1998, we started attending Studio Classroom’s Bible Study. Previously, I had disliked the Christian religion, especially because it said there was only one God. But this time I felt different. Each song we sang touched my heart and made me cry. I felt I was not alone in my troubles, but that God was there with me, even weeping with me. He knew the pain behind each tear.
0
As I studied the Bible, I learned about my own pride and sin. But I also learned how precious and special I was in God’s eyes. God’s love for me was unconditional. And no matter what I had gone through, He still loved me and forgave me.
0
I continued to ask questions to learn more about Jesus. Finally in 1999, I made the decision to receive Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, and I was baptized at House of Praise Church.
0
In Jesus, I experienced new life. God’s love healed my broken heart and brought peace to my wounded soul. He helped me to accept and deal with my bitter past. He gave me the love and courage to forgive—even to forgive myself. He replaced my pride with humility and helped me to love others.
0
It has been almost ten years since I made the decision to follow Christ. Today, I am blessed with many good friends, a challenging job and my very own apartment. And, just recently, God blessed me with a marriage to a wonderful man.
0
Of course, my life still has difficulties. But God walks with me through them and uses them to help me grow. I still have so much learn, but God is always with me. He always has been. He is Emmanuel!
00
God's Word
Psalms 34:18:
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Isaiah 41:10:
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Matthew 6:14-15:
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Ephesians 4:32:
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
2 Corinthians 5:17:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
00000
Download the lesson (English) - word file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/doc/2006/20061222_L5_JesusIsEmmanuel.doc
0
Download the lesson (English) - pdf file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061222_e.pdf

Download the lesson (Chinese):
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061222_c.pdf

Past Lessons:
http://www.ortv.com/english/ebs_c/ebs_e.htm

Kevin's Riddle Time (Dec.1)

Do You Speak Hamlet? (Proverb)
00
Gina, my friend Jim has been staying with me for three weeks.

0

I'm finding him very difficult.

A: _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ stink after three days.

0

s*The answers are in the comment section.*

Lesson For The Week (Dec. 9)

Jesus Is the Savior
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)
0000
Philip's Story
Not long after I got married, I became addicted to drugs. I told myself I could quit, but the truth was—I couldn’t. The more I took drugs the stronger the desire became. I wasted much of my family’s money supporting my habit. Even worse, I was emotionally out of control. Unfortunately, my wife and children were often the victims of my anger.
0
One night, I overdosed and lost control. Holding my daughter, I waved a kitchen knife and threatened to kill my family. The next day, Wendy and my daughters were gone. At work, my boss found out I was taking drugs and fired me. My drug addiction had caused me to lose my family and job.
0
Soon after, Doris Brougham, the founder of ORTV, where Wendy worked, prevented me from seeing my family unless I went to a Christian drug rehabilitation center in Hualian. I didn’t want to go, but there was nothing else I could do. I wanted to see Wendy and my girls again so badly.
0
I missed my family so much. I would often go for walks in the bamboo forest near the center. Once, on one of these walks, I became overwhelmed with homesickness. My sadness felt like a heavy burden pressing down on my chest. Suddenly, I heard the Lord say: “Do not fear! I love you.” At that moment, I was set free. I realized I had hope in Jesus. I could change! With God’s help, I could beat my drug addiction and be reunited with my family.
0
I began to attend the worship service held at the center. Every time I thought of my family, I prayed to God: “Make me into a good husband and father.”
0
One day, four months later, my family came to see me. I can still remember when I first saw Wendy. She was standing at a distance, holding the two children by her side. She was so tiny, yet her hands held the children firmly. I was reminded of her firm commitment to our wedding vows. Nearly everyone had advised her to divorce me. But she firmly believed that I could change. After a year I had, and I returned home. That was eight years ago. Since then, Wendy and I have experienced many difficulties, but—hand in hand—we’ve gotten through them together. I am so thankful to God. He gave me my family back. He used people like Doris Brougham and those at the center to turn my life around. I had been a slave to drugs, and ruined my life because of it. But God saved me. God can also save you—if you give him the chance.
00
God's Word
Romans 7:18, 24-25:
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
John 8:34-36:
34 I tell you the truth; everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Philippians 4:13:
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
2 Corinthians 7:10:
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
00000
Download the lesson (English) - word file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/doc/2006/20061208_L4_JesusIstheSavior.doc
0
Download the lesson (English) - pdf file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061209_e.pdf

Download the lesson (Chinese):
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061209_c.pdf

Past Lessons:
http://www.ortv.com/english/ebs_c/ebs_e.htm