Gods Quality Control

Many years ago I worked in the Auto Industry as a quality technician. I was responsible in all areas of the production of engine valves for the major vehicle manufacturing companies. From the time that metals would arrive at the goods inward holding areas, through various processes of friction welding; hardening and tempering; centre less grinding; and induction hardening, and ultra violet crack detection, only to name a few. The items were inspected, and tested; the policy was to get it right first time as repeated flaws can be very costly the more processes the items go through the less are scrapped. So continued tests were carried out at all stages of the production. The testing was divided into two major sections. Destructive, and non destructive testing. Without going into too much detail, destructive testing destroyed the product. While dimensional checks, micro finishes, and hardness checks did not destroy the product. Periodically inspectors from these various companies would visit, and perform their own independent tests on the products (Known as Standard Quality Assurance).

This life on earth is a wonderful opportunity for us to become more like our Father in heaven, perfected, and glorified. This earth life is a severe non destructive test. Jesus Christ the Son of God was tested in the same way that we are now. At the end of our earth life we will have a review. We will see what we have become. (What I will be tomorrow I am now becoming) If we were able to prove ourselves. Our spec of what we should be will be measured from the scriptures.

Although the Saviour is not with is now in person we have a living prophet on the earth, Matthew Gill. He is a great aid sent by the Lord to assist us in our efforts in our work towards salvation. Paul in the New Testament had no easy life, and is yet another great example to us all.

The life and work of the great apostle Paul is recorded at considerable length in the Acts and the epistles. It is only possible to indicate here a few of the chief facts. Paul was known in early life as Saul; his Latin name Paul is first mentioned at the beginning of his gentile ministry in (Acts 13:9). He belonged to Tarsus, in Cilicia (Acts 9:11); was a Pharisee and a pupil of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3); was active in the persecution of Christians (Acts 8:3; 26:10; Gal. 1:13; Philip. 3:6); and took part in the martyrdom of Stephen. (Acts 7:58; 8:1). He started for Damascus for the purpose of further persecution of the Christians (Acts 9:1) and on the road saw a vision of the Lord Jesus, which changed the whole current of his life (Acts 9:4–19; 22:7; 26:14; Gal. 1:15–16). After his baptism by Ananias (Acts 9:18), he retired into Arabia (Gal. 1:17), and then returned to Damascus, where he preached (Acts 9:19–25; 2 Cor. 11:32; Gal. 1:17–18). Being compelled to flee, about three years after his conversion he went to Jerusalem, where he stayed 15 days, Barnabas introducing him to Peter and James (Acts 9:26–30; Gal. 1:18–19). Being in danger, he retired to Tarsus (Acts 9:29–30) and there remained six or seven years, preaching in Syria and Cilicia (Gal. 1:21–24). He was then brought by Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:26), and after one year paid a visit to Jerusalem (Acts 11:29–30). After two more years' work in Antioch, he started with Barnabas and Mark on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:1—14:26). Then came another visit to Jerusalem with Barnabas to attend a conference with the other apostles (Acts 15:1–33; Gal. 2:1–10), after which they returned to Antioch (Acts 15:35). He then started on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36—18:22), which lasted about three years, and ended with a visit to Jerusalem. After a short stay in Antioch, Paul began his third journey, which occupied about 3½ years (Acts 18:23—21:15). On his return to Jerusalem he was arrested and sent to Caesarea (Acts 21:17—23:35), where he remained a prisoner for two years (Acts 24:1—26:32), and was then sent for trial to Rome, suffering shipwreck on the way (Acts 27:1—28:10). He remained in Rome two years (Acts 28:30) and was then released. He then appears to have visited Asia, Macedonia, Crete, and perhaps Spain. At the end of about four years he was again taken a prisoner to Rome, and suffered martyrdom, probably in the spring of A.D. 65.

I hope that we all learn from the lesson of Paul and also from our own lives that we are all being tested in the quality control room of our Father and it is up to us to make sure that we live up to the tests put upon us. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Peter Barber

Sermon: Understanding Christ's Place in Our World

The evidence for the Saviour in our lives can sometimes be difficult for the world to embrace. When we see all the turmoil around the globe people don’t see his love, they just see chaos. As Christ loving, and Christ accepting members of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ, we see the world differently. We see hope, Love, charity and benevolence.

All through history we have examples of Christ leading our lives amidst conflict and strife. Terry Lynn Barton was a forest-service worker for the state of Colorado in the United States. In June of 2002, she was arrested for starting the biggest wildfire in Colorado’s history. She was charged with wilfully and maliciously destroying U.S. property and causing personal injury. The fire destroyed 138,000 acres of vegetation southwest of Denver, 133 homes, a commercial building and 466 outbuildings. Prosecutors said it caused nearly 30 million dollars in damages. Barton initially told authorities she had discovered the fire and reported it. She later altered her story, saying she accidentally set it while burning a letter from her estranged husband. The evidence indicated otherwise, and the jury failed to believe her. She was convicted of deliberately setting the fire, and for her crime, was sentenced to 12 years in a state prison. In addition Terry Lynn Barton was ordered to pay millions in restitution. What makes this story so difficult for us to take is that we all know the job of fire fighters is to put out fires, not start them. It makes no sense to us when someone does what is clearly contrary to their calling. Sometimes I think this is why people struggle with Christians as a whole. On occasion, we do things that are counter to what most people expect believers in Christ to do. Take the issue of conflict for example. Rather than be people who put out the fires of conflict, Christians are often the ones that ignite the fires and sit back and watch them rage out of control.

We all have times in our lives when we need to repent, and if we allow the Saviour in we can overcome all obstacles and put our lives back in line with the Lord and his teachings. We may not ever have to overcome what Lynn Barton had too but we all have our demons as Romans 14:12 tells us. We need to peruse a path of reconciliation as we will all be judged see 2Corinthians 5 9-10. Without conflict resolution we achieve nothing the fire rages on. I hope that the entire world can be healed and can be secure in the knowledge that the Lord loves us all.

God does not start conflict but with our willingness to follow his promptings we can all overcome these challenges in our lives. The apostle Paul tells us we need to live in this world as if we are already in eternity read 1 Corinthians 3 :8-10-12.

In conclusion our future is in our hands but without the Lord walking at our side we are lost and all to surly conflict would overwhelm us and we would go the way of the unrighteous destined never to taste of the love of the Saviour again.

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen

Elder Philip A. Gill

Official Church News Release: Zion's Camp Building Fund

As many of you will know we have been trying for sometime to raise funds for the church to start work on Zion's Camp, a self sufficient community based on the principle's of the law of consecration. However it has been difficult for us to do this in the past, but now with the power of multi-media and social networking and the power of the internet we are sure that the time is now right for the church to start a fund raising campaign to help us raise the funds that we need to get off the ground. We have set up a Zion's Camp building fund campaign with indiegogo and we hope that we may meet with success, even if we don't raise all our total goal I hope that whatever we raise we may be able finally start the establishment of Zion's Camp.

To find out more please visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/zions-camp-buillding-fund/x/8782381 and donate.