Partakers Christian Podcasts

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G’day and welcome to Partakers Christian Podcasts! Join us for uplifting Bible teaching, inspiring readings, heartfelt worship, powerful prayers, and fascinating church history. Whether you’re new to faith or growing deeper in your journey, we’re here to encourage and equip you. 🎧 Tune in, interact, and be inspired—wherever you are in the world.

Episodes

Wednesday Sep 10, 2014

WOW Jesus

Wednesday Sep 10, 2014

Jesus Christ, the most extraordinary person who ever lived, who never wrote a book but has more books written about him than any other subject! History is split into BC and AD in honor of him! Jesus Christ, the God-man, who gives a WOW factor to anybody who will bow the knee and serve Him.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmmjezAc1qg]

Here in this short video, I introduce my own WOW factor about Jesus. Jesus who promises salvation and how He still challenges and loves people today.

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I also have a seminar, WOWJesus, which I would also love to bring to your church or group. Contact details are below and at the end of the video. I look forward to hearing from you and how we can work together. Thank you.

Sunday Aug 10, 2014

WOW Jesus

Sunday Aug 10, 2014

Jesus WOW!

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You have heard of the X-factor! Well today we have the WOW Factor! As I look through the Bible and in the Old Testament, I read about how the world fell out of a living and dynamic relationship with God! But I also read how a Messiah, a saviour or rescuer if you like, was to be sent by God, in order to restore the world back into that intimate, dynamic and living relationship with God! I read the four Gospels in the New Testament and I see this Messiah-Saviour as the God-man, Jesus Christ. As I do so, I get a WOW factor about him. Many people in the Bible did also, during his public ministry and even after his death! Here is once such person! We read about this man, in Acts 9:1-3 Saul had just had his first encounter with Jesus Christ: a definite WOW factor for him. Sometime later, as Paul, he wrote about this same Jesus Christ to a group of people in Colossae. We heard that from our bible reading! It's a WOW poem by Paul about Jesus! In here I see Paul's WOW factor of Jesus! Paul's WOW factor of Jesus from Colossians 1v15-20 includes: Jesus' divinity, humanity, death, resurrection, supremacy, creator, leader, eternal, sustainer, power, authority, reconciler, peace-maker and peace-giver! WOW! What would your Jesus WOW factor include?

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Let me share with you some thoughts on the WOW Factor of Jesus and me.

1. My Jesus!

What is this WOW factor I get about Jesus Christ? Who is my Jesus? There are many WOW factors I get, but we don't have time for that tonight, you might be thankful to hear! You will have to come back next week for more! So tonight, 7 WOW factors of Jesus!

a. Unique :

The first word I would use for Jesus is that He is unique - totally unique! Never before and never to be repeated again - ever! Jesus Christ is the standout person from all of history! In all of human history, Jesus Christ is incomparable! Yet in human form, we read that during his earthly ministry he had no physical beauty that would draw people naturally to himself. We read that Jesus' body on the cross was disfigured and tortured beyond that of human likeness. His perfect life, His salvation work on the cross and His subsequent rising from the dead, is what makes Jesus Christ unique - a once and for all lifetime Messiah or Saviour for the entire world! This great God of creation, stepping into His creation as a human, with the purpose of reconciling the world back to Himself! WOW!! Jesus' uniqueness meaning I can have an active and dynamic relationship with God.

b. Majestic:

Then the Jesus I see is full of majesty and awe! He is not simply a king with a crown on his head. He is the King of all Kings and the Lord of Lords! This Jesus Christ did not decay in the grave - He overcame death in the grave and was raised again majestically! As Paul said about Jesus' resurrection, in that passage from Colossians, Jesus is "the first-born from among the dead". Paul writes later in Colossians 2v3, that "in Jesus Christ, all the majestic treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden." Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who with unparalleled majesty, is the head of His body, the church. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, the church would not be in existence 2000 years later, let alone 2 years after his death. Jesus' majesty meaning I can depend upon Him for all matters of life.

c. Tender:

Next I go to look into his eyes - his tender eyes! Jesus looks upon people with love, adoration, justice and tenderness. Eyes filled with mercy, grace, love and compassion. Eyes that fill with rage at injustice and oppression! His penetrating eyes that can separate flesh and spirit! This Jesus is kind and sympathetic - his look of love on a world that is separated from God, and a world He is calling back into an active relationship with God. Jesus' tenderness which means I can run to Him for comfort because He sees what I am going through.

d. Wise:

Then there is Jesus the wise man! When Jesus spoke words, people were amazed! They were astounded that He spoke with elegance and yet with authority. They had never heard anyone speak like He did - with both grace and authority. The same is true today, if we are listening. That is why we read the Bible to find out what He would say to us. That is why we seek to hear Him speak to us and why we speak to Him. That is why preaching is to be seen as an act of worship - by both the preacher and the listener! Jesus' wisdom meaning I can ask Him for advice and seek His imagination to solve problems!

e. Strong:

Jesus is strong enough and capable enough, to carry any burden that is laid upon Him. Jesus Christ gives a solid and sure foundation for all aspects of life, which will not fall or be destroyed. Indeed Jesus Christ will never fall or decay such is His imperishability as the everlasting God. Jesus Christ is solid, dependable and strong; nobody and nothing can stand against Him. Jesus' strength means I can go to Him for protection and strength when I am weak and knowing He will supply my needs.

f. Lovely:

Finally, at least for now, this Jesus oozes loveliness! Jesus is altogether lovely and lovely altogether! Jesus is beyond compare for the things He has done and the things He will do. Jesus Christ is altogether lovely in regard to his person, humanity, birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, exultation, glorification, grace, protection, tenderness, power, wisdom, vengeance, judgment, majesty, redemption and pardon! Jesus' loveliness means I can have His incomparable joy when I feel defeated and dejected. That is my Jesus: unique, majestic, tender, wise, strong, and lovely. That is my Jesus, whom I seek to serve and obey in every facet of life, every second of every day. I don't always achieve it, but I know that when I fail, I can ask for forgiveness and He will grant it from His wellspring of gracious mercy. Yet another WOW factor about Jesus Christ. It is this Jesus whom I depend upon and personally know to be totally reliable in every way. When people let me down, turn away from me, discourage me, think wrongly off me, incorrectly assume my motives, this Jesus always picks me up, never turns me away always encourages and embraces me.

2. So What?

But so what, you may say! I know those outside the church certainly ask "So what?" All through each day, I know that Jesus has been dependable, going ahead of me! Amazing! This Jesus who died on a Roman cross two thousand years ago was the same Jesus who was raised from the dead, without decay, into newness of life and ascended to the right hand of the Father. WOW! There is only one Saviour for the world. There will never be another because there is no need of another. Despite the bleating of other religions and faiths! Jesus never said, "I am a true vine; a way, a truth and a life". Just as He did not say "I am a shepherd, a door, a light or a bread of life." If He was like that, then He would have no WOW factor at all. No! Jesus is the only way, the only truth and the only life. Jesus is the only great shepherd and the only door to life with God. Jesus is the only light of the world and the only bread of life. Jesus calls everyone to partake of the nourishment and shelter only He can provide. That's our Gospel WOW factor which is unalterable. Sadly only a few respond: "Yes!" Are you one of His followers or are you one of His deniers? Again, I ask you - what would your WOW factor of Jesus include?

3. Jesus! WOW!

Oh how Jesus loves us. Jesus! WOW! By now, you may well be asking yourself "What does WOW stand for?" It means "Worthy Of Worship!" Jesus Christ: unique, majestic, tender, wise, strong, and lovely, is most certainly worthy of worship! The Jesus WOW factor involves Jesus being radical and relevant! Even a brief look of the Gospels, will reveal that about him! Some people back then didn't get Jesus, and people still don't get Him two thousand years later! You may well be one of those who don't get what Jesus was about! Whose fault is that? It's not Jesus' fault that people today don't respond to Him! It's partly a result of the church and Christians down through the ages, including today, not following Jesus and being fully committed to Him, obeying His commands as closely as they could or should! That's why my parents thought churches were dangerous places and Christians were simply brainwashed and deluded people. They did not hesitate to tell me that that is what they thought about Christianity! But as a teenager I rebelled against my parents, responded to the call of Jesus Christ, and became a follower of him some 30 years ago! Some say I am still rebellious, but I just don't see it!

4. We are to be little Jesus'

Another definition for you! The word Christian, means ‘little Jesus'. Did you know that? That's what being a Christian is to be - a little Jesus! As we travel this life we are to be little Jesus' to others. The world out there and this community will know you and I are Jesus' followers, if we are obedient to Him, practically showing love! A love which considers the interests of others before our own self-interest! A love which sees different churches working together and for churches willing to be radical and risk-taking for the sake of the Gospel! Surely we can celebrate our differences and yet work together for the sake of the Gospel? Our ability to love others is borne from a loving God of vast imagination! Even a subtle look at creation will reveal His imagination - even in creation's fallen state! What is more, the solution to most problems is borne from people with imaginations reflecting the imagination of this Jesus! WOW! Imagine whole communities transformed for Jesus Christ, having got the WOW factor! Imagine Ringwood, or the place you live, filled with people seeking to know about our Jesus, because we as Christians were sacrificing our time and possessions, just as the early church did in Acts 2, and wanting in every aspect of life to give Jesus the glory and honour that is worthy of His name alone! Is that your vision for this community? Loving God and loving each other just as Jesus commanded would transform our local community! How do you show others that you love this Jesus? You show it by loving and serving others! They are the primary ways of showing you love God! It is easiest for us to love our friends. But Jesus commanded that his followers also love their enemies! Now that is very radical and it can be difficult! We see constantly in the media and elsewhere, that regards our enemies, we are to be confrontational or at best to just ignore them! How is it possible to love our enemies? It is only with the help of God and His abundant grace towards us! We depend on the Holy Spirit who lives inside all Christians to empower, transform and guide! To only love those who love you is what is expected by people everywhere as normal behaviour. But if you are a Christian, you are to do more! You are to be seen to love more than other people. You don't have to like others as friends, but you do have to love them as fellow human beings! According to the late John Stott, perhaps the greatest indicator of your love of Jesus Christ is in your giving! Jesus talked about giving quite a lot. Jesus Christ gave everything so that you and I may have life and life in abundance. So by giving generously, you are reflecting that God, through Jesus, has given abundantly to you. And of course, by loving, serving and giving to others, we may just be the answer to people's prayers. How is your giving? Giving generously is not just financial. It could be an email, a letter, a smile, a touch, a kind word or a phone call. These things too are valuable to the recipient, particularly the lonely, isolated, sick, depressed, recovering and oppressed. We are to give generously, but not just to those we like. Just as we are not to love only those we like and get on with. We are commanded to love everybody, including our enemies, those we are ambivalent towards and particularly those who are in need. Our giving of words, gestures, touches, possessions, lives and yes, even money! How does our giving of anything match that of the God we claim to love? Our money, words, talents, gestures, touches, possessions and lives: to be given without expectation of return. That is the essence of grace. Our money, possessions and lives were all given to us by God in the first place! How and what you give is up to your own conscience before God. To not pass them on wisely and freely for the use of others in need is to rob God of glory due His name. To not do that is to engage in a gospel of works and not the gospel of grace. Indeed, the reason most people don't give to those in need, is because they are either selfish or lack the imagination to fulfil those needs. Or is that just me? When those outside the church, in the world, give, they generally give expecting something back. When we Christians give, we are to give as God gives - freely and without expectation of getting anything in return. Now that's radical giving! We, as the church, being little Jesus' are not to emulate the world. Rather, we are to emulate the greatest gift, Jesus Christ, who freely gave all, in the name of love! How is your own WOW factor of Jesus?

5. Give in His strength

Whose strength are you using to love, serve and give?

Let me ask you another question. Whose strength are you using in order to love, serve and give? If we love, serve and give to others in our own strength then eventually we will get tired of loving, serving and giving. But if we maintain our relationship with Jesus and do it in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside us, then our loving, serving and giving will never tire - we will keep on loving, serving and giving because the Spirit's power is inexhaustible. So as you love, serve and give, who are you leaning on for strength and replenishment? When you are tired of loving, serving and giving, ask God to renew your strength! When you lack the imagination to love, serve and give, then ask God to renew your imagination! He will help you! Most problems can be solved with the use of imagination and putting it into practise. Just because you can't help somebody, doesn't mean somebody else cant! That's why we are a church, a body of believers, to help each other and together, envision solutions to the problems being faced - a people of vision! How is your own WOW factor of Jesus?

6. A Final WOW factor

You may have noticed I used only 6 WOW factors when I originally said 7. Here is my seventh - Jesus is coming back! This Jesus is coming back to gather His followers, to Himself. Jesus is coming back, but not as a baby this time. There will be no kitchy-kitchy koo factor. No! Jesus is coming back with a big WOW Factor as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. More about this aspect next week, unless the Lord changes my mind! But for this week, are you ready? What does Jesus look like now? He is described by one of his beloved followers, John in Revelation 1v13-16 Among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. That's the ascended Jesus Christ as portrayed by his friend John! WOW! Are you suffering today with some illness or you are in the middle of a period of grief? We all suffer in some way. I had a stroke back in 2003 and recovered. I still get aches and pains, particularly a very dodgy memory. But one day! One day you and I will have perfect bodies and minds. WOW! And not only that, but this God suffered and died on a cross, so has sympathy for our own suffering while we are in this world! WOW! Jesus is coming back and will do the most extraordinary thing. We read about it in Revelation 21. But for now just verse 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Isn't that just the most amazing verse with a great big WOW factor? Picture it! Jesus Christ taking your face in His scarred hands and He will wipe away your tears - tears of suffering and tears of joy. You will say to yourself, it was all be worth it - the trials, temptations, sufferings and experiences I have had for the sake of Jesus Christ my Master. WOW!

Conclusion!

So our time is at an end for tonight, how can we conclude? We saw together how Paul had a WOW factor about Jesus Christ! We saw how to me Jesus' WOW factor included his uniqueness, majesty, tenderness, wisdom, strength and loveliness. Then we looked at the WOW factor having an impact on communities; that we Christians are to be as Jesus by loving, serving and giving to others! We saw that by loving, serving and giving using Jesus' strength means that we will never tire of loving, serving and giving to others. Then lastly we glimpsed briefly at that momentous time when Jesus comes back to wipe the tears from those who endure for His sake. WOW! How are your travels with Jesus? It may well be that you are here tonight, feeling desolate, abandoned and lonely. Let the WOW factor of Jesus wrap you like a warm embrace, encompassing you with loving compassion. Or you may well be here and you are feeling tired, drained, burdened and in need of help. Maybe you are struggling to make a major decision and don't know what to do. Allow Jesus to give you the strength to endure! Give the burden to Jesus and let Him take the weight for you. Seek the wisdom of Jesus in making that decision. He will help if you ask. That's all part of the WOW factor of Jesus Christ. You may well be here and you are on fire, fully committed to Jesus and feeling great! Then keep going and keep letting Jesus be your strength, your wisdom and your help. But don't keep it to yourself - that would be selfish! Go to others you know who are in need, regardless of who they are, showing them your WOW factor of Jesus. Go to others, loving, serving and giving just as Jesus loves, serves and gives to you. Finally, you may not yet be a follower of Jesus Christ. I don't know. If that is you, then I would urge you to accept His call upon you: for He is calling you. You may not get another chance. If that is you, then please don't leave here without talking to somebody about this Jesus. Know that Jesus calls you by name, just as He did Saul, myself and innumerable others. Jesus invites you to have a WOW factor with and about Him. Next week, we will continue to look at the WOW factor of Jesus. But as for those particularly aspects, you will have to come back!

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Tuesday Feb 11, 2014

Psalms MP3

Tuesday Feb 11, 2014

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Sunday Nov 10, 2013

Sunday Psalms

Sunday Nov 10, 2013

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Saturday Nov 09, 2013

Saturday Psalms

Saturday Nov 09, 2013

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Saturday Nov 09, 2013

Church Moves Ahead 30

Saturday Nov 09, 2013

Church Moves Ahead Part 30

Persecutions in the Eleventh Century

Alphage, archbishop of Canterbury, was descended from a considerable family in Gloucestershire, and received an education suitable to his illustrious birth. His parents were worthy Christians, and Alphage seemed to inherit their virtues. The see of Winchester being vacant by the death of Ethelwold, Dunstan, archbishop of Canterbury, as primate of all England, consecrated Alphage to the vacant bishopric, to the general satisfaction of all concerned in the diocese. Dustain had an extraordinary veneration for Alphage, and, when at the point of death, made it his ardent request to God that he might succeed him in the see of Canterbury; which accordingly happened, though not until about eighteen years after Dunstan's death in 1006. After Alphage had governed the see of Canterbury about four years, with great reputation to himself, and benefit to his people, the Danes made an incursion into England, and laid siege to Canterbury. When the design of attacking this city was known, many of the principal people made a flight from it, and would have persuaded Alphage to follow their example. But he, like a good pastor, would not listen to such a proposal. While he was employed in assisting and encouraging the people, Canterbury was taken by storm; the enemy poured into the town, and destroyed all that came in their way by fire and sword. He had the courage to address the enemy, and offer himself to their swords, as more worthy of their rage than the people: he begged they might be saved, and that they would discharge their whole fury upon him. They accordingly seized him, tied his hands, insulted and abused him in a rude and barbarous manner, and obliged him to remain on the spot until his church was burnt, and the monks massacred. They then decimated all the inhabitants, both ecclesiastics and laymen, leaving only every tenth person alive; so that they put 7236 persons to death, and left only four monks and 800 laymen alive, after which they confined the archbishop in a dungeon, where they kept him close prisoner for several months. During his confinement they proposed to him to redeem his liberty with the sum of 3000 pounds, and to persuade the king to purchase their departure out of the kingdom, with a further sum of 10,000 pounds. As Alphage's circumstances would not allow him to satisfy the exorbitant demand, they bound him, and put him to severe torments, to oblige him to discover the treasure of the church; upon which they assured him of his life and liberty, but the prelate piously persisted in refusing to give the pagans any account of it. They remanded him to prison again, confined him six days longer, and then, taking him prisoner with them to Greenwich, brought him to trial there. He still remained inflexible with respect to the church treasure; but exhorted them to forsake their idolatry, and embrace Christianity. This so greatly incensed the Danes, that the soldiers dragged him out of the camp and beat him unmercifully. One of the soldiers, who had been converted by him, knowing that his pains would be lingering, as his death was determined on, actuated by a kind of barbarous compassion, cut off his head, and thus put the finishing stroke to his martyrdom, April 19, A.D. 1012. This transaction happened on the very spot where the church at Greenwich, which is dedicated to him, now stands. After his death his body was thrown into the Thames, but being found the next day, it was buried in the cathedral of St. Paul's by the bishops of London and Lincoln; from whence it was, in 1023, removed to Canterbury by Ethelmoth, the archbishop of that province. Gerard, a Venetian, devoted himself to the service of God from his tender years: entered into a religious house for some time, and then determined to visit the Holy Land. Going into Hungary, he became acquainted with Stephen, the king of that country, who made him bishop of Chonad. Ouvo and Peter, successors of Stephen, being deposed, Andrew, son of Ladislaus, cousin-german to Stephen, had then a tender of the crown made him upon condition that he would employ his authority in extirpating the Christian religion out of Hungary. The ambitious prince came into the proposal, but Gerard being informed of his impious bargain, thought it his duty to remonstrate against the enormity of Andrew's crime, and persuade him to withdraw his promise. In this view he undertook to go to that prince, attended by three prelates, full of like zeal for religion. The new king was at Alba Regalis, but, as the four bishops were going to cross the Danube, they were stopped by a party of soldiers posted there. They bore an attack of a shower of stones patiently, when the soldiers beat them unmercifully, and at length despatched them with lances. Their martyrdoms happened in the year 1045. Stanislaus, bishop of Cracow, was descended from an illustrious Polish family. The piety of his parents was equal to their opulence, and the latter they rendered subservient to all the purposes of charity and benevolence. Stanislaus remained for some time undetermined whether he should embrace a monastic life, or engage among the secular clergy. He was at length persuaded to the latter by Lambert Zula, bishop of Cracow, who gave him holy orders, and made him a canon of his cathedral. Lambert died on November 25, 1071, when all concerned in the choice of a successor declared for Stanislaus, and he succeeded to the prelacy. Bolislaus, the second king of Poland, had, by nature, many good qualities, but giving away to his passions, he ran into many enormities, and at length had the appellation of Cruel bestowed upon him. Stanislaus alone had the courage to tell him of his faults, when, taking a private opportunity, he freely displayed to him the enormities of his crimes. The king, greatly exasperated at his repeated freedoms, at length determined, at any rate, to get the better of a prelate who was so extremely faithful. Hearing one day that the bishop was by himself, in the chapel of St. Michael, at a small distance from the town, he despatched some soldiers to murder him. The soldiers readily undertook the bloody task; but, when they came into the presence of Stanislaus, the venerable aspect of the prelate struck them with such awe that they could not perform what they had promised. On their return, the king, finding that they had not obeyed his orders, stormed at them violently, snatched a dagger from one of them, and ran furiously to the chapel, where, finding Stanislaus at the altar, he plunged the weapon into his heart. The prelate immediately expired on May 8, A.D. 1079. This is the final podcast in this series. You can download an e-book copy on which these Podcasts are based "Foxes Book of Martyrs" by visiting this Bible Study Tools site.

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Friday Nov 08, 2013

Church Moves Ahead 29

Friday Nov 08, 2013

Church Moves Ahead Part 29

Persecutions from Eighth Century to Tenth Century

Boniface, archbishop of Mentz, and father of the German church, was an Englishman, and is, in ecclasiastical history, looked upon as one of the brightest ornaments of this nation. Originally his name was Winfred, or Winfrith, and he was born at Kirton, in Devonshire, then part of the West-Saxon kingdom. When he was only about six years of age, he began to discover a propensity to reflection, and seemed solicitous to gain information on religious subjects. Wolfrad, the abbot, finding that he possessed a bright genius, as well as a strong inclination to study, had him removed to Nutscelle, a seminary of learning in the diocese of Winchester, where he would have a much greater opportunity of attaining improvements than at Exeter. After due study, the abbot seeing him qualified for the priesthood, obliged him to receive that holy order when he was about thirty years old. From which time he began to preach and labor for the salvation of his fellow creatures; he was released to attend a synod of bishops in the kingdom of West-Saxons. He afterwards, in 719, went to Rome, where Gregory II who then sat in Peter's chair, received him with great friendship, and finding him full of all virtues that compose the character of an apostolic missionary, dismissed him without commission at large to preach the Gospel to the pagans wherever he found them. Passing through Lombardy and Bavaria, he came to Thuringia, which country had before received the light of the Gospel, he next visited Utrecht, and then proceeded to Saxony, where he converted some thousands to Christianity. During the ministry of this meek prelate, Pepin was declared king of France. It was that prince's ambition to be crowned by the most holy prelate he could find, and Boniface was pitched on to perform that ceremony, which he did at Soissons, in 752. The next year, his great age and many infirmities lay so heavy on him, that, with the consent of the new king, and the bishops of his diocese, he consecrated Lullus, his countryman, and faithful disciple, and placed him in the see of Mentz. When he had thus eased himself of his charge, he recommended the church of Mentz to the care of the new bishop in very strong terms, desired he would finish the church at Fuld, and see him buried in it, for his end was near. Having left these orders, he took boat to the Rhine, and went to Friesland, where he converted and baptized several thousands of barbarous natives, demolished the temples, and raised churches on the ruins of those superstitious structures. A day being appointed for confirming a great number of new converts, he ordered them to assemble in a new open plain, near the river Bourde. Thither he repaired the day before; and, pitching a tent, determined to remain on the spot all night, in order to be ready early in the morning. Some pagans, who were his inveterate enemies, having intelligence of this, poured down upon him and the companions of his mission in the night, and killed him and fifty-two of his companions and attendants on June 5, A.D. 755. Thus fell the great father of the Germanic Church, the honor of England, and the glory of the age in which he lived. Forty-two persons of Armorian in Upper Phyrgia, were martyred in the year 845, by the Saracens, the circumstances of which transactions are as follows:

In the reign of Theophilus, the Saracens ravaged many parts of the eastern empire, gained several considerable advantages over the Christians, took the city of Armorian, and numbers suffered martyrdom.
Flora and Mary, two ladies of distinction, suffered martyrdom at the same time.
Perfectus was born at Corduba, in Spain, and brought up in the Christian faith. Having a quick genius, he made himself master of all the useful and polite literature of that age; and at the same time was not more celebrated for his abilities than admired for his piety. At length he took priest's orders, and performed the duties of his office with great assiduity and punctuality. Publicly declaring Mahomet an impostor, he was sentenced to be beheaded, and was accordingly executed, A.D. 850; after which his body was honorably interred by the Christians.
Adalbert, bishop of Prague, a Bohemian by birth, after being involved in many troubles, began to direct his thoughts to the conversion of the infidels, to which end he repaired to Dantzic, where he converted and baptized many, which so enraged the pagan priests, that they fell upon him, and despatched him with darts, on April 23, A.D. 997.

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Thursday Nov 07, 2013

Church Moves Ahead 28

Thursday Nov 07, 2013

Church Moves Ahead Part 28

Persecutions from Fifth Century to Seventh Century

Proterius was made a priest by Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, who was well acquainted with his virtues, before he appointed him to preach. On the death of Cyril, the see of Alexandria was filled by Discorus, an inveterate enemy to the memory and family of his predecessor. Being condemned by the council of Chalcedon for having embraced the errors of Eutyches, he was deposed, and Proterius chosen to fill the vacant see, who was approved of by the emperor. This occasioned a dangerous insurrection, for the city of Alexandria was divided into two factions; the one to espouse the cause of the old, and the other of the new prelate. In one of the commotions, the Eutychians determined to wreak their vengeance on Proterius, who fled to the church for sanctuary: but on Good Friday, A.D. 457, a large body of them rushed into the church, and barbarously murdered the prelate; after which they dragged the body through the streets, insulted it, cut it to pieces, burnt it, and scattered the ashes in the air. Hermenigildus, a Gothic prince, was the eldest son of Leovigildus, a king of the Goths, in Spain. This prince, who was originally an Arian, became a convert to the orthodox faith, by means of his wife Ingonda. When the king heard that his son had changed his religious sentiments, he stripped him of the command at Seville, where he was governor, and threatened to put him to death unless he renounced the faith he had newly embraced. The prince, in order to prevent the execution of his father's menaces, began to put himself into a posture of defence; and many of the orthodox persuasion in Spain declared for him. The king, exasperated at this act of rebellion, began to punish all the orthodox Christians who could be seized by his troops, and thus a very severe persecution commenced: he likewise marched against his son at the head of a very powerful army. The prince took refuge in Seville, from which he fled, and was at length besieged and taken at Asieta. Loaded with chains, he was sent to Seville, and at the feast of Easter refusing to receive the Eucharist from an Arian bishop, the enraged king ordered his guards to cut the prince to pieces, which they punctually performed, April 13, A.D. 586. Martin, bishop of Rome, was born at Todi, in Italy. He was naturally inclined to virtue, and his parents bestowed on him an admirable education. He opposed the heretics called Monothelites, who were patronized by the emperor Heraclius. Martin was condemned at Constantinople, where he was exposed in the most public places to the ridicule of the people, divested of all episcopal marks of distinction, and treated with the greatest scorn and severity. After lying some months in prison, Martin was sent to an island at some distance, and there cut to pieces, A.D. 655. John, bishop of Bergamo, in Lombardy, was a learned man, and a good Christian. He did his utmost endeavors to clear the Church from the errors of Arianism, and joining in this holy work with John, bishop of Milan, he was very successful against the heretics, on which account he was assassinated on July 11, A.D. 683. Killien was born in Ireland, and received from his parents a pious and Christian education. He obtained the Roman pontiff's license to preach to the pagans in Franconia, in Germany. At Wurtzburg he converted Gozbert, the governor, whose example was followed by the greater part of the people in two years after. Persuading Gozbert that his marriage with his brother's widow was sinful, the latter had him beheaded, A.D. 689.

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Wednesday Nov 06, 2013

Church Moves Ahead 27

Wednesday Nov 06, 2013

Church Moves Ahead Part 27

The Last Roman "Triumph"

After this fortunate victory over the Goths a "triumph," as it was called, was celebrated at Rome. For hundreds of years successful generals had been awarded this great honor on their return from a victorious campaign. Upon such occasions the city was given up for days to the marching of troops laden with spoils, and who dragged after them prisoners of war, among whom were often captive kings and conquered generals. This was to be the last Roman triumph, for it celebrated the last Roman victory. Although it had been won by Stilicho, the general, it was the boy emperor, Honorius, who took the credit, entering Rome in the car of victory, and driving to the Capitol amid the shouts of the populace. Afterward, as was customary on such occasions, there were bloody combats in the Colosseum, where gladiators, armed with swords and spears, fought as furiously as if they were on the field of battle. The first part of the bloody entertainment was finished; the bodies of the dead were dragged off with hooks, and the reddened sand covered with a fresh, clean layer. After this had been done the gates in the wall of the arena were thrown open, and a number of tall, well- formed men in the prime of youth and strength came forward. Some carried swords, others three-pronged spears and nets. They marched once around the walls, and stopping before the emperor, held up their weapons at arm's length, and with one voice sounded out their greeting, Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant! "Hail, Caesar, those about to die salute thee!" The combats now began again; the gladiators with nets tried to entangle those with swords, and when they succeeded mercilessly stabbed their antagonists to death with the three-pronged spear. When a glatiator had wounded his adversary, and had him lying helpless at his feet, he looked up at the eager faces of the spectators, and cried out, Hoc habet! "He has it!" and awaited the pleasure of the audience to kill or spare. If the spectators held out their hands toward him, with thumbs upward, the defeated man was taken away, to recover if possible from his wounds. But if the fatal signal of "thumbs down" was given, the conquered was to be slain; and if he showed any reluctance to present his neck for the death blow, there was a scornful shout from the galleries, Recipe ferrum! "Receive the steel!" Privileged persons among the audience would even descend into the arena, to better witness the death agonies of some unusually brave victim, before his corpse was dragged out at the death gate. The show went on; many had been slain, and the people, madly excited by the desperate bravery of those who continued to fight, shouted their applause. But suddenly there was an interruption. A rudely clad, robed figure appeared for a moment among the audience, and then boldly leaped down into the arena. He was seen to be a man of rough but imposing presence, bareheaded and with sun-browned face. Without hesitating an instant he advanced upon two gladiators engaged in a life-and-death struggle, and laying his hand upon one of them sternly reproved him for shedding innocent blood, and then, turning toward the thousands of angry faces ranged around him, called upon them in a solemn, deep-toned voice which resounded through the deep inclosure. These were his words: "Do not requite God's mercy in turning away the swords of your enemies by murdering each other!" Angry shouts and cries at once drowned his voice: "This is no place for preaching!--the old customs of Rome must be observed!--On, gladiators!" Thrusting aside the stranger, the gladiators would have again attacked each other, but the man stood between, holding them apart, and trying in vain to be heard. "Sedition! sedition! down with him!" was then the cry; and the gladiators, enraged at the interference of an outsider with their chosen vocation, at once stabbed him to death. Stones, or whatever missiles came to hand, also rained down upon him from the furious people, and thus he perished, in the midst of the arena. His dress showed him to be one of the hermits who vowed themselves to a holy life of prayer and self-denial, and who were reverenced by even the thoughtless and combat-loving Romans. The few who knew him told how he had come from the wilds of Asia on a pilgrimage, to visit the churches and keep his Christmas at Rome; they knew he was a holy man, and that his name was Telemachus--no more. His spirit had been stirred by the sight of thousands flocking to see men slaughter one another, and in his simple-hearted zeal he had tried to convince them of the cruelty and wickedness of their conduct. He had died, but not in vain. His work was accomplished at the moment he was struck down, for the shock of such a death before their eyes turned the hearts of the people: they saw the hideous aspects of the favorite vice to which they had blindly surrendered themselves; and from the day Telemachus fell dead in the Colosseum, no other fight of gladiators was ever held there.

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Tuesday Nov 05, 2013

Church Moves Ahead 26

Tuesday Nov 05, 2013

Church Moves Ahead Part 26

Persecution of the Christians by the Goths and Vandals.

Many Scythian Goths having embraced Christianity about the time of Constantine the Great, the light of the Gospel spread itself considerably in Scythia, though the two kings who ruled that country, and the majority of the people continued pagans. Fritegern, king of the West Goths, was an ally to the Romans, but Athanarich, king of the East Goths, was at war with them. The Christians, in the dominions of the former, lived unmolested, but the latter, having been defeated by the Romans, wreaked his vengeance on his Christian subjects, commencing his pagan injunctions in the year 370. In religion the Goths were Arians, and called themselves Christians; therefore they destroyed all the statues and temples of the heathen gods, but did no harm to the orthodox Christian churches. Alaric had all the qualities of a great general. To the wild bravery of the Gothic barbarian he added the courage and skill of the Roman soldier. He led his forces across the Alps into Italy, and although driven back for the time, returned afterward with an irresistible force.

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