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)
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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Download the lesson (English) - word file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/doc/2006/20061222_L5_JesusIsEmmanuel.doc
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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)
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Gina, my friend Jim has been staying with me for three weeks.

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I'm finding him very difficult.

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

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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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Download the lesson (English) - word file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/doc/2006/20061208_L4_JesusIstheSavior.doc
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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

Lesson For The Week (Dec. 1)

Jesus Is the Truth
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31~32)
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Steve's Story
It’s not uncommon today to read news stories about careless young people who surf the Internet for long periods of time. I remember one report about a young Japanese man who locked himself in his bedroom to play on the computer. Days later, when he finally came out of his room, he dropped dead right in front of his horrified mother.

As a young boy, I too lived a careless life. I was unconcerned about people, including my friends and family. Being alone was what I liked. One reason was because it was easy – I didn’t have to worry about other people’s feelings. I felt no duty to help others and felt no accountability as to how I behaved. People didn’t really mean that much to me and, in a twisted sort of way, I was proud of that. When I needed something, I simply looked inside myself. The problem was, every time I looked inward, all I found was emptiness.

As time went on, this habit of depending only on myself caused increased depression and apathy. Like the young Japanese man who locked himself in his room and neglected himself, I continued to separate myself from others, not realizing I too was slowly dying on the inside.

It was during high school, thankfully, that the Lord Jesus interrupted my life. After confessing my need for Jesus, he began to change my thoughts, and he lifted me out of my depression. The Bible says Jesus is the Truth. Included in that statement is the fact that Jesus is also the revealer of truth, including the truth about ourselves. One important truth Jesus has shown me is that I was designed to live in community with others and in relationship with God, my Creator.

Friends, we need people and we need God. I denied these truths for many years, only to realize I wasn’t truly living. And my separation didn’t just affect myself; it hurt others, which was something I couldn’t see at the time. I’m still in the process of putting this truth into practice but am forever thankful to know that fullness of life – true love, joy and peace – is found in relationship with God and others, not in my lonely world.

Jesus reveals many truths about ourselves. Why not trust him? After all, if he created us, doesn’t it make sense that he knows us and knows what we need?
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God's Word
Mark 12:28b, 30-31:
Of all the commandments, which is the most important? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
Hebrew 4:13:
There is nothing that can be hidden from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves.
Psalms 42:5:
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
John 14:6:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 8:31-32:
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
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Download the lesson (English) - word file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/doc/2006/20061201_L3_JesusIstheTruth.doc
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Download the lesson (English) - pdf file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061201_e.pdf

Download the lesson (Chinese):
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061201_c.pdf

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

Lesson For The Week (Nov. 24)

God Is the Way
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6)
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Winston's Story
Owning a big company and being a “big boss” had been my dream since childhood. In order to make that dream come true, I worked so hard that I sacrificed everything, even my sweet family life and my health. I did this until one day I lost everything in my business. I realized then that my dreams of becoming a “big boss” would never come true. I felt as if I were standing at the edge of a high cliff. There was no way for me to continue living like this any longer. I was terrified of facing the consequences of the collapse of my entire business.

Just a few days after this tragic event, my wife invited me to attend a Bible study class held at Studio Classroom. The topic of the lesson was “There Is Only One God.” Even though I did not accept Jesus that evening, I began to think about the supreme power of the Creator. The next week when I attended the Bible study class, I was so attracted to the verse where Jesus says: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” I suddenly realized that I had wasted so many years wandering without knowing the truth, and that I had lost my life to a childhood dream. I had a strong desire to find the answer to how a human being could live a meaningful life in this world. That night I accepted Jesus as my Savior and started to learn how to trust and lean on Him. Little by little, I began to understand that my life was a gift from the Creator and that He had a wonderful plan for me.

After I made the decision to follow Christ and the teachings found in the Bible, I began to see real changes in my life. My failing marriage was made strong again. God worked miracles in my company. He not only intervened to take care of the existing problems but also paved a brand new way that brought quick growth and expansion to my business. It was as if my company had been raised from death to life, just like my spirit!
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Over the years, I have learned that only when I seek God and follow His plans can I find real peace and satisfaction in my life. He is the Almighty God and bigger than any problem I could ever face! I lost almost everything in my pursuit of a dream, but Jesus came into my broken life and gave me a new one. He can do the same for you. No matter what problem you face, He is bigger! If you invite Him into your heart, you will experience His power and love. He will give you a fresh start and life that is abundant, just as He has for me.
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God's Word
Matthew 16:26:
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
John 14:6:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jeremiah 29:11:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
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Download the lesson (English) - word file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/doc/2006/20061124_L2_GodIstheWay.doc
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Download the lesson (English) - pdf file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061124_e.pdf

Download the lesson (Chinese):
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061124_c.pdf

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

Kevin's Riddle Time (Nov.18)

I wrote down your name on the sky,

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and the _ _ _ _ blew it away.

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I wrote down your name in the sand,

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and the sea b _ _ _ _ ed it away.

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I wrote down your name on every corner,

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and the _ _ _ took me away.

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s*The answers are in the comment section.*