NETWORK NEWS
The Monthly Newsletter of Christian Educational Services
"Loining" to stand for the truth in the spiritual battle
April, 1998
Dear Child of God,
We greet you again this month in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. Please know that we love you dearly, and that we pray for you regularly.
As a world-wide spiritual battle rages, we continue to hear the call of God to educate the people of God to be able to compete successfully with "the doctrines of demons," "the doctrines and commandments of men" and "every wind of doctrine." Though some will shrink from the important controversies of our age, we are called to continue to hone our understanding of "the sword of the spirit," which is the Word of God. This sword, the only offensive weapon mentioned in Ephesians 6:10ff, is what enables us to defeat the Tempter who tries to pierce us, and to reveal his snare.
Rick Renner, in Dressed To Kill (Pillar Books, Tulsa OK 1991), a detailed explanation of the armor of God, says that the key to the entire armor is the truth . The "loinbelt" of the Roman soldier held his armor together. His shield was attached to the loinbelt, and it held the sheath for the sword. It also held the breastplate on. Renner writes:
"The loinbelt of truth is the written Word of God. This is the only spiritual weapon has taken on a physical, natural form and has passed tangibly from the spirit realm into our hands. It is the most important piece of weaponry that we possess...
"Lay your Bible aside and in time you'll begin losing your sense of righteousness. You will slowly begin to lose your sense of peace. And you will begin to feel the joy of your salvation begin to deplete. If you toss that loinbelt of truth out of your life, very quickly you will begin to lose your ability to believe and walk in faith.
"You absolutely cannot stand without the Word of God having an active and central role in your life...If you remove the loinbelt-the word of God, it will only be a matter of time before you begin to fall to pieces spiritually. Demonic assaults will break through that invisible barrier that used to protect you, and chaos will set into your life."
Renner then makes some comments based on his observations during his many travels and teaching stints in churches:
"Praise and worship is wonderful, but you cannot build a church on it alone. Praise and worship is not the loinbelt...social gathering is not the loinbelt...prayer is not the loinbelt."
To successfully stand against the many wiles of the Devil, it is imperative that we all learn to stand on the truth. The truth is our best defense against the things that would steal our faith. The following verse (Jude 3) aptly expresses our hearts to you:
"Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."
"Contending for the faith" means that we must be willing to lovingly and gently enter the arena and compete for the valuable truths of Scripture that the enemy is continually trying to obscure. Let us close with the following quote from John Milton:
"There is no learned man but will confess that he hath much profited by reading controversies-his senses awakened, his judgment sharpened, and the truth which he holds more firmly established. All controversy being permitted, falsehood will appear more false, and truth the more true."
News from Tanzania
We thought you would be blessed to read segments from letters we have recently received from our friend "Mac" in Tanzania. We want you to have a firsthand sense of the impact of God's Word on his life and the battle that rages around him. We believe you will be ministered to by his words, and inspired by his bold commitment and his love for his people. We are also impressed by his vision for the complete deliverance of his people in every area of their lives. We rejoice at the power of God's Word to bring light, hope and peace to people of faith all over the world.
Dear beloved in the Lord of Lords Jesus Christ,
I greet you both in a wonderful Saviour, Redeemer and the way to the Father of heaven. God bless you richly. I want to tell you brothers that since I was prayed for by you in Kenya all of my sickness were gone. Even my fingers are holding the pen effectively as you can see my handwriting. Very often I was in problem with kidney and hernia I think. Many men helped me, but none could work a cure. I don't feel pain anywhere. Praise the Lord! I love you brothers.
I have done a great deal to tell my fellow Africans about the true Way of the Word. I can tell you the truth that I am recognized in many places and parts of the world as having made substantial and exciting strides in relying on the Scriptures. I was appointed by the big November Crusade. I have never before been taught as you did. Everyone will find your teaching "informative and enlightening."
As I had wrote you once, many places and countries you went have had long experience with your teachings than ourselves in understanding the Bible. Many can point to greater success. There is only one thing we in Tanzania can claim, and that is that when you came to the people, we joined with you and we are fully aware of fundamental importance of teaching the truth. We do not teach: 1. What other people do. 2. What seems best. We only teach what the Bible says.
The objective of this CES in Tanzania is to build a body of Christ in which all members have equal rights and equal opportunities, in which all can live in peace with their neighbor denominations without suffering or imposing injustice; even when we are being insulted and looked down (on).
Thank you for your good new teaching. It is like a new tarmac road. A new road extends a man's freedom only if he travels upon it. It is not a question of forcing our people to change their doctrine, it is a question of providing good leadership, a question of education (Matt 22:29). Leaning must become an integral part of working, and people must learn as and when they work. If we are to make real progress in leaders' education, the work of God will effectively be done.
Unity is needed
Effort must be exerted to preserve unity and harmony. I am not sure how the work is going to be coordinated here. If people have no leaders, I don't think it can function. Although I have openly told my brothers and sisters that I am no longer their "White Reverend Arch Primate Bishop" or any title, I found myself leading them. Any group without a leader will grow wild and in anarchy government.
Dear John, Mark John and all the believers of CES ,
As you know, the seed you planted here has brought peace. Where there was hatred, you sowed love. Where there was injury, pardon; where there was doubt, faith; where there was despair, hope; where there was darkness, light; where there was sadness, joy. [Our former denominational leader] now works so hard to put away our sound doctrine. He tries hard to prevent people from entering our faith. The more he does this, the more people join our faith and his teaching dwindles.
We are very aware of the fundamental importance of teaching the key leaders. I am always working in earnest. One of the most significant innovations in Bible education in Tanzania is that every local church leader in the country must come to be trained how to carry out his service in the Church of Christ. Education is something that all of us can or should continue from the day we are born until the time we die. A church whose people do not both learn and use their knowledge will stay very poor, and very backward.
Goals and commitment
Amid the vague and confusing notions that other faiths have, brothers, I promise before God that I shall educate my people to the best of my ability and use my education for the benefit of all.
The importance of the teachings of CES both for our country and for every individual cannot be over-emphasized. We are poor and backward, and too many of us just accept our present conditions as God's will and imagine that we can do nothing about them. In many cases, therefore, the first objective of CES in our county must be to shake us out of the resignation to the kind of life Tanzanians have lived for century or centuries.
Learning how to improve our lives is stated as the second objective. In my last seminar, I taught leaders that we must learn how to produce more on our farms. We have to learn how to grow better food, what a balanced diet is and how it can be obtained by our own efforts. But this is not enough for we can only do these things if all members of CES work together for common good.
The third objective here in Tanzania for leaders is that everyone understand fully the aim of CES. The teacher of CES is a leader, a guide along a path that all will travel together. He is no more than that, brethren. He is not a master of the people. We have only one Lord and one God. To be effective in the future, leaders have to identify themselves as learners along with those participating. If CES is to benefit the people, the people must participate in considering, planning and implementing their spiritual development plans. Never forget that initially I wrote you the following:
A true doctrine of the church is brought about by people who use the talents or gifts given, not by money. Money and wealth is not the basis of salvation. Be careful with some young leaders. They will spoil our faith if we are too quick to give money. There are more important things in life than the amassing of riches, and if the pursuit of wealth clashes with things like human dignity and social equality, then the latter will be given priority. I believe that in Tanzania it is only through the development of people rather than things that people's true freedom and human dignity can be preserved. I said in my first letter that a new road extends a man's freedom if we travel on the teaching we got from you effectively.
It has been seen that too many Christians are high position seekers. Some fight for wealth. Some have an illusion that wealth causes man's happiness. I teach the leaders to understand that unity is needed and there should be no schisms in the Body. What is needed is for us to be honest to one another and like-minded towards one another. Let's pray and pray so that our heavenly Father can open the door of finance.
Don't worry about [my former denominational leader]. Don't hide anything. Tell him that I have accepted your faith in fully if he asks you. I rely much upon your auspices. I love you, dear brothers and sisters.
Onward and upward,
John, John & Jenivee, Mark & Karen Anne
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New From The Cultural/Spiritual Scene
Hot Off The Press In Argentina
Hector Teme's new book Biblical Keys To Successful Living is now in the bookstores in Argentina. It is being sold out in some locations, and a few people have even come to the Teme's house to find out how to be born again. Meanwhile, back in America...
Necromancy Is Alive And Well
Currently the #1 book on The New York Times non-fiction bestseller list is Talking to Heaven by James Van Praagh, an autobiographical glorification of his "psychic gift." It is also a how-to book for people who would like to learn to talk to their dead relatives too. The author has made appearances on Larry King Live and Oprah talking to callers' departed loved ones. This is a tragic indication of the spiritual naivete of Americans in general, who apparently have taken leave of both their biblical roots and spiritual sanity. Meanwhile the vast majority of Christians hold a belief that closely parallels Van Praagh's-that dead Christians and "good people" are not really dead, but are "in heaven." This month when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a great time to buy a few extra copies of Is There Death After Life? and give them to would-be necromancers before they get sucked into this doctrine of demons, who are the ones really being "contacted."
New Release:
Return of the Nephilim ?
Once again Hollywood leads the charge in the cultural war against God's Word. This Spring the movie City of Angels hits the scene, starring Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan. Cage's character is an angel living in a black-and-white world devoid of passion. He falls in love with Meg Ryan's character and crosses over into the "superior" world inhabited by humans. Sound familiar? Satan was the first one to think of breaking the barrier between spirit beings and human beings, and it resulted in the Flood. We shouldn't be surprised that he would reintroduce this idea in the popular media, since the Bible says that the world will be in the same state as it was in "the days of Noah." By the way, we don't know about Cage's character, but have you noticed that most all the other "angels" in the current angel craze are dead humans , an idea totally foreign to the Bible. The CES March/April bi-monthly tape, A Matter Of Life and Death, is a concise overview of the whole subject of death in a form easily grasped by someone who wants to know what the Bible really teaches in this field.
We Still Don't Take American Express
But we do now take Discover Card . You can now use Discover Card along with Visa and MasterCard when ordering books and tapes, registering for CES Weekends and seminars or making a donation.
And Speaking Of Credit Cards...
Did you know that you could place an order or register for a CES function via e-mail or our website? For security, however, please call or fax us and give us your credit card number so we can put it in our system for all future transactions.
Can You Help?
In July 1999 (preferably one of the last two weeks) we would like to do a Family Camp with a theme focussing on marriage and parenting. We are looking for a good location, with accommodations that allow married couples to sleep together. Please let us know right away if you know of a possible site.
Update On
The Fruit Of The Spirit Seminar
In last month's letter, we announced that a new seminar titled The Fruit Of The Spirit: Developing the Character Of Christ would be available this month. It now looks as though it will be another couple months or so. The fruit of the spirit was the theme of our winter Fellowship in California, and the tapes from that weekend are now available for $25. They include an introductory teaching and a teaching on each fruit of the spirit (with an outline of each teaching), as well as a sharing by John, Mark and John on current happenings in CES . It was another powerful weekend, and we believe you will be most blessed by what was shared. When the seminar is put together in its final form, we will let you know.
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Bible Lands Tour
June 27 - July
10, 1998
Only $2498
We still have room
for you !
Have the Bible come alive before your eyes! Visualize yourself standing where the prophets stood, or walking the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked with his disciples 2000 years ago. Ascend to the Temple on the stone steps that Jesus would have walked on, recently uncovered by archaeologists. Swim in the cool waters of the Sea of Galilee and float in the salty Dead Sea.
John and Jenivee Schoenheit will guide you on this tour of Israel. These two weeks will make the Bible come alive for you! Some of the sites which we will visit are the Old City of Jerusalem, Caesarea, Capernaum, Meggido, Hezekiah's tunnel, En Gedi, the Sea of Galilee, Masada, Qumran and many more. You will also experience firsthand the local cultures and lifestyles of the present day.
John has an extensive knowledge of both the Bible and the country of Israel. He lived in Israel in 1977, studied archeology and excavated at the Biblical city of Dan, and has made six trips to Israel in all. John specializes in Old Testament history and has taught on a wide range of biblical subjects including geography, culture and customs, chronology and archaeology. He is a gifted teacher with a knack for making seemingly difficult subjects easy to understand. Between his knowledge of the text and his experience in the country, he will create a challenging adventure you will never forget.
A limited amount of space is available for this tour. Please send in your registration and deposit to ensure a reservation. After we have received your deposit, you will receive a travel package from CES Bible Lands Tour coordinators. This travel package will include a detailed itinerary of daily activities planned, tips on preventing jet lag, packing clothes, and items you will need while you are visiting Israel. For more information on the trip or itinerary, please call John or Jenivee Schoenheit at (704) 542-7250.
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1998 EARLY SUMMER FELLOWSHIP
10th Anniversary Celebration of Christian Educational Services
June 12 - 14
Indianapolis, Indiana
Join us as we rejoice together around the greatness of God's Word in gratitude for His goodness, His grace and His mercy during the past 10 years and in anticipation of seeing the vision come to pass that He has planted in our hearts. This Weekend will be a very enlightening and edifying occasion as we look back at what our God has wrought and look forward to even greater things in the future.
Place: Indianapolis Airport Ramada Hotel
2500S. High School Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46251 (317) 244-3361
Call for reservations. Be sure to tell them you are with CES .
The hotel is exactly 35 steps from the airport terminal.
Schedule: Friday, June 12 7:30 P.M. - 10:30 P.M.
Saturday, June 13 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. & 7:00 P.M. until?
Sunday, June 14 9:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Cost: $65 per room per night (up to four per room).
HOTEL REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, May 22. Please register on time . (Availability of rooms at this price is not guaranteed after this date, although they may be available.)
CES PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, June 5.
REGISTRATION FEES (Paid to CES ):
*We are happy to announce that there will be Children's Fellowship and childcare made available at the weekend. If you would like to volunteer to help with this, please contact Karen Theisen (616-471-4104) right away. We will need each parent who has a child participating to help with at least one session. ALL CHILDREN MUST BE REGISTERED BY Monday, June 1!
There will also be dynamic and moving praise and worship, as well as ministering. If you know you are coming, please register soon . If you want to participate in any way, such as singing, dancing, etc., please let us know soon.