God's Favorite Religion

What does your church teach regarding the subject of Widows and Orphans? If we were all being honest, most of us rarely give the matter a second thought. Or a second sermon. If your ministry, company, or even your civic group is struggling, or you're lacking contentment in your own spiritual life, here's a tip that's guaranteed to send any lackluster routine into hyperspace. Interested?

Here it is: Start reaching out to widows and orphans within your scope of influence.

Recently, TV's 700 Club interviewed Heidi Baker of Iris Ministries which is experiencing phenomenal revival among many African tribes. To paraphrase Heidi, "If you want to see revival, start ministering to the widows and orphans."

Even America, the most powerful, wealthiest nation on Earth, lags embarrassingly behind smaller countries where providing for its children is concerned. While we rank first among nations for military spending and the number of our millionaires, we rank a dismal 14th in our efforts to help our orphans. Jesus said, "...what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."

Here are some sad statistics about the State of the Children in the land of the free and home of the brave, submitted by the Children's Defense Fund: Each day, four children are killed by abuse or neglect, five commit suicide, eight are killed by firearms, 76 die before their first birthday, 182 are arrested for violent crimes and 366 for drug abuse, 1,186 are born to teenage mothers, 1,707 are born without health insurance, 2,171 are born into poverty, 2,341 are born to mothers without a high school diploma, 2,455 are abused or neglected, 2,539 high school students drop out and 4,440 children under age 18 are arrested.

Those statistics would make Abraham Lincoln, our nation's 16th President, roll over in his grave. It was he who said, in his Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865: "With malice toward none, with charity for all...to care for him who shall have borne the battle, AND FOR HIS WIDOW AND ORPHAN..."

Today, we find ourselves in a new kind of war. Though wecall it a "war against terrorism," fact is, it's still a war and that means people are dying. As of this writing, July 8, 2005, America has experienced a total of 1,752 casualties in Iraq; 210 in Afghanistan, 56 of those in 2005. Are we, the people, taking advantage of the opportunity to reach out to the women left without husbands and children left fatherless? Or do we leave that to the government or say "Somebody should do something"?

WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE INSTRUCT US TO DO?

There is a verse in Scripture that describes the only kind of true religion, the kind that Jesus taught and exemplified - one which had nothing to do with obligatory Church attendance or obedience to manmade rules and regulations. This verse, describing the only kind of religion that makes sense, can be found in James 1:27: "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

As you may have noticed, Jesus was not a very religious person, always butting heads with the most religious people of His day, healing on the Sabbath, hanging out with prostitutes and tax collectors and so on. The religious part of any faith is no less than a mere return to bondage - adherence to rules and regulations that shackle humankind - intended to be the most free creatures in the universe. That kind of religion - legalism, self-imposed rules and self-denial - is the kind that nobody needs or desires. Religion is, after all, man's hapless attempt to reach God. We simply can't reach that high. So, God became one of us.

I wish everyone had a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He's real, you know. Jesus proclaimed that He came to set us free. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty," (2 Corinthians 3:17). Relationship is what Christianity is all about - reconciliation between God and man and man with each other (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

Look at Colossians 2:23 where religion is spoken of in this way: "These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."

An Old Testament verse, Deuteronomy 10:18, reads: "... He executes justice forthe fatherless and the widow...." There have always been widows and orphans. The Scriptures repeatedly uses widows and orphans as the litmus test of need. Apparently, from Heaven's perspective, there is no one more needy than the woman who has lost her husband or the child who has lost mommy and/or daddy. God's heart is turned toward them.

Ours should be as well.

Religion that is acceptable to God is religion that has Christ's hands and feet, the Body of Christ. Now, it may involve more than this, but it never involves less. Regarding James 1:27, the NIV translates the "visiting" of widows and orphans as episkeptesthai, meaning: "to look after." The King James translates it as, "to visit." The Good News Bible translates it as, "to take care." All these translations are pretty much spot on. It's more than merely visiting and it's more than taking care of. Literally, it's about visiting in order to help. It's about taking the initiative to GO to those who need assistance.

EXAMPLES FROM THE EARLY CHURCH

The Early church actively addressed legitimate social concerns (Acts 6:1; 9:39; 1 Tim. 5:3). This was in keeping with Old Testament instructions about caring for the needy (Deut. 14;28,19; 16:11; 26:12). The example set by the Early church has been imitated for nearly 2,000 years. For example, William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, described his ministry in this way: "We will wash (our sacrifices) in the tears of widows and orphans and lay it on the altar of humanity."

In looking at James 1:27 as it might apply to the life issues facing us today, it is interesting that the two groups James charges us with looking after are single women (widows) and parentless children (orphans). The church is not called to choose between the two - as we have, let's say, in the abortion issue - but to love them both. Truly, the most God-honoring solution to that particular issue is a solution in which both the mother and child are ministered to, not pitted as pawns against each other in a battle of rights.

If a child becomes an orphan, James asks The Church to take care of it. If a woman loses her husband, James asks The Church to take care of her. The practical implication for the abortion issue is clear; if both mother and father abandon their child, even an unborn child, it is The Church's responsibility to present an alternative and to speak up for that child. Proverbs 31:8 admonishes us to "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." If a man abandons a pregnant woman, the church - NOT the Government - must step in and take responsibility there, too.

AN EXAMPLE FROM SCRIPTURE

Dorcas was a very kind person who was always mindful of the widows and the poor. Great example, she was. In Bible times, when a woman's husband died, she had no way to make a living. This condition exists even today all over the planet. The law in those times stated that if a widow's husband had owned land, it went to the oldest son, not the dead man's wife. If the oldest son failed to take care of his mother, she had nowhere to turn for help. If there was no son, she still lost her property and could only get it back if a relative of her husband married her. Remember the story of Ruth and Boaz? That's what that was about.

God had instructed the Jews to care for the poor. They could not harvest the edges of their fields, but had to leave the grain for the poor people to "glean" or pick up. Neither could the owner go over the field a second time to pick up grain that had fallen. It was to be left for the poor.

Every third year the tithe was to be reserved as a festival tithe where they brought out all the tithe, and their produce where the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, the widow, the poor who were in their town, could come and eat and be content (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12-15).

In the New Testament, there was organized giving within local assemblies to care for believing widows and orphans who had no other family to rely on (Acts 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 5:1-16). As we see in the book of James, those who care for the poor receive God's approval, and those who do not are displeasing to him.

True, there is NO New Covenant example (after Christ's Resurrection) of the early Church "tithing." In Acts 4:32-37, there were many wealthy Christians who sold portions of their assets and put the money at the Apostles' feet. Was it for the apostles, in order to make them rich? No, it was for the Christian community. The apostles distributed what they received. The only time we find a New Testament example of God's judgment having to do with money is in Acts 5:1-11. Ananias and Sapphira were condemned for lying, because they held back part of the proceeds from the sale of the land that they had promised along with everyone else. Despite what some preachers may say, this judgment had absolutely nothing to do with "tithing," as much as it had to do with keeping their word. Message: Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no.

REVIVAL BASED UPON OBEDIENCE

As Heidi Baker said, I believe that, if the Body of Christ were to set their sights on aiding the widows and the orphans, it would command a blessing from Heaven that we could not contain.

It's true. To obtain a blessing we must remain blessable. Frankly, I believe that stands true regarding civic groups, businesses and individuals as well. Why else would it be that so many nations - other than the USA, that is - are experiencing exponential Christian growth amidst famine, war, disease and pestilence? I contend that it's because so much money and aid are being directed to assist the refugees, consisting in great part, of widows and orphans.

Let's read Acts 6: 1-7. It says: "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration... brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word...and they chose... And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."

Did you notice? As soon as The Church focused upon the widows, their numbers increased. So simple! You see, the bottom line is this: it's not OUR money. We are merely stewards of it and, if we perform our duties well, it commands a blessing from God. Simply put, it's called reaping and sowing.

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done," Proverbs 19:17.

I expect most who are reading this right now have a religion of sorts. Hopefully, many have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I wish that was so for all people everywhere. But, for those who have religion only - even if it's the 'religion' of Christianity (rather than a RELATIONSHIP with God through Jesus Christ) - please ask yourself this question: how pure, and undefiled is it? Does it measure up to James' description of pure and undefiled religion? Dedicated church attendance means very little in comparison.

Though there are some who claim that James 1:27 refers only to those within The Church (specifically THEIR church), there are multitudes who will never join ANY Christian group because these groups neglected to show the hands and feet of Christ to the widows and orphans right there in the community.

Jesus, once again, has the final word on this subject. In Matthew 25:40, He says, "...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Love one another.

Every blessing!

Michael Tummillo

http://www.YourTown4Jesus.com (NEW!)

Michael's mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Since 1999, he has broadcast over 300 hundred inspirational articles and a dozen booklets on subjects that will interest the thinking Christian, all designed to accelerate the process of spiritual development in God's people.

He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries (team1min@aol.com). An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as "Your Town for Jesus" are reaching millions around the globe WEEKLY. Write team1min@aol.com if you'd like to SUBSCRIBE.

A licensed/ordained minister, a Certified Workplace Chaplain, and a Professional Member of NIBIC, he has ministered in Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, College and Cowboy churches. He is also a Speaker on the Christian Speaker Network and may be available to speak to your church or Christian group.

5 Favorite Pets to Keep If You Have Allergies

We Brits are a nation of pet lovers. But what do you do if you are an animal lover and are allergic to their fluff? It's a real nightmare: you love animals and would like to keep a pet, but the wheezing, sneezing and itchy eyes associated with pet allergies makes it impossible to have a pet dog or cat. Well, fear not good pet-lover, as there are other pets that are recommended to keep which won't have you reaching for the anti-histamines!

Lizards - Firstly, you need to choose whether or not to get a herbivore or a carnivore. For the carnivorous types you will need to get live bait for food. With lizards this so that they can see it move, and identify it as food. It's not always best just to get fly larvae as if they aren't eaten immediately, they will spin cocoons and become flies, proving difficult for the lizards to catch. So it's best to stick with crickets as they will breed in the lizard's container. If you are brave enough, some larger lizards will eat live mice.

Don't give your lizard raw meat unless you physically feed them yourself, it doesn't move so they will not eat it. Most lizards do not eat every day either, so try not to overfeed, as it can cause problems including insect infestation. Always research how big your lizard will grow when adult, some get extremely big and you will have to accommodate them. Most lizards are small enough to be housed in a five or ten gallon aquarium. Always keep the lid on so the food doesn't escape! You don't want them moving into your house! Inside the tank, you must keep a heat rock; lizards are cold blooded, so it is important that they have a source of heat. You must also remember that lizards are usually sluggish creatures, so do not be overly concerned if they don't move a lot.

If you are new to lizards, begin with species that are easier to care for. These include:

Leopard Geckos which are small, easy to handle, only need a small tank, and do not need special UV lighting
Crested geckos and fat tailed geckos are very similar in their needs, so are good choices too
Bearded Dragons are docile and easy to handle, but they do need a largish tank and UV lighting
Blue Tongued Skinks are usually docile, but again need a large tank and UV lighting
Green Anoles are relatively small, they don't need a huge tank, but do need UV lighting Other lizards such as Geckos, Iguanas, Chameleons, Chinese Water Dragons and Savannah Monitors, are better suited to more experienced reptile owners. They require proper environments and large spaces.

Snakes can make great pets, but it is best never to keep large constricting snakes or venomous snakes. Most snakes will live to be about 20 years old, so they are a huge commitment. If you are starting out with snakes, try to get a snake from infancy as they will be easier to tame, so stay away from wild caught adults.

Snakes are best kept in glass or Plexiglas tank, so that you can see them and control their environment accordingly with the temperature and humidity. Always keep the lid secure. Any snake will try to escape! Try to line the enclosure with butchers' paper for easy cleaning. Don't use gravel or cat litter or wood shavings, as they trap moisture and waste and can hide parasites. They should be kept around 80 to 85 degrees during the day for tropical snakes. If necessary, have a heating pad or shielded heat lamps. Most other snakes can manage in 70 to 80 degrees.

Snakes need either live or dead food. You can buy frozen rats which you can thaw to room temperature and these are very convenient, as long as you are happy to keep them in your freezer! when it comes to feeding live ones, you must remember to train your snake to feed in this way, as a healthy rat is quite capable of seriously injuring even a large snake.

The best snakes for beginners are Corn Snakes, King and Milk Snakes and Ball Pythons. Try to avoid large constricting snakes, venomous snakes, and snakes that require more care requirements, such as Boa constrictors, red-tailed boas, Burmese pythons, Tree boas or pythons, Water snakes and Green snakes. Never have Reticulated pythons, Anacondas or any venomous snakes as these are potentially very dangerous. Another fact to bear in mind is that you may need a permit to keep certain types of snake, as they will only act on instinct and can be dangerous. Keeping exotic pets is a big responsibility for which you need to be prepared.

Spiders Tarantulas are the best and most popular spider to keep as a pet. However they are large and although only slightly venomous, their bite is painful. The New World spiders flick hairs from their abdomen when threatened so they can irritate the skin and eyes. However, most species are docile. You could go for a wolf spider; their venom is virtually non-existent and the bite is almost completely harmless to humans. The only problem is, is that they are fast and aggressive, and they can escape!

Tarantulas and Wolf Spiders need the same amount of space and feeding, but the temperature and humidity are different for each. Enclosures are usually fairly small, but you must ensure that you have either burrows or climbing spaces, depending on your type of spider. Hiding places are essential. Try not to use lamps, use heated strips instead. Tanks should be kept in darker areas of the room. Spiders like to feed on live insects such as crickets. Spiders tend not to overeat. However, a live prey insect may be a danger to your spider during molting.

Generally the best beginner tarantulas are the ground dwellers or burrowers, as they tend to be a little slower moving. Best tarantulas to start with include, Chilean Rose, Costa Rican Zebra, Mexican Redknee, Mexican Redleg, Desert/Mexican Blonde, and Curly Hair Tarantula. The pinktoe is a good first arboreal (tree-living) tarantula, but not a good first tarantula. Normally, arboreal species are more challenging. The pinktoe is also quite fast and agile. Try to have a female as they live longer than the males. The males will also try to get out to find a mate, causing them unnecessary distress.

Tortoises and Turtles can live for about 50 years and sometimes more, so they are a long term commitment. All turtles and tortoises need exposure to ultraviolet light, either by the use of UVA/UVB producing bulbs or through natural exposure to sunlight. On the whole turtles grow quite large and need large tanks. Box turtles and tortoises are best kept outdoors in pens for at least part of the year, weather permitting.

These creatures need fresh vegetables and fruits, and there are also some formulated foods on the market for certain species. Because they eat a lot, they will also produce a lot of excrement, so they can be messy. They are also not good for younger children due to the risk of salmonella. A balanced diet is essential; luckily most common garden plants, like cress, parsley and dandelion leaves are great because they have high levels of minerals and vitamins. Try to steer away from lettuce which isn't very nutritious and too much cabbage slows down a tortoises metabolism. Make sure that there is always plenty of clean water.

Ensure that you research what is best for your type of tortoise. You must consider what you can offer them in terms of space. Can you give an outdoor terrarium, indoor terrarium, or perhaps both? It is thought that tortoises are able to live outdoors and are capable of surviving our various weather conditions, but the small period of warm weather and sunshine in the UK is not really enough for farming them. Therefore tortoises should always be kept warm and awake and never put through hibernation without professional advice. Good indoor enclosures should consist of a cardboard box with a UV light and heater at one end to create a temperature gradient. Ideally though, a tank with a thermostat controlled heating and UV light will ensure a more realistic, natural environment.

Due to the kidnap of many tortoises as well as looting of turtle eggs from Southern European beaches, there is now a strict governance of only captive bred Mediterranean species being sold legitimately in the UK. Ensure that you are aware of where your tortoise or turtle has come from, as there is sadly a huge black market whereby they are smuggled into the UK from not only Europe, but Africa, Asia and South America too. Many turtles and tortoises end up at animal sanctuaries having been seized by immigration officials, so check at your local santuary first before rushing into a private purchase. The main types of tortoise for sale in the UK are now:

Greek or Spur-Thighed Tortoise - this was the original tortoise; they need daytime temperatures of 25C (78F) and 18C (65F) at night. They can spend the British summer outside; they hibernate over winter; and grows a shell length around 9 inches (22.5cm). They are herbivores, so need an area to graze
Hermann's Tortoise is another very commonly kept European tortoise, very similar to the Spur-Thighed, but with a more domed and clearly marked shell and they are slightly larger
Marginated Tortoises - not so commonly known, grow to about 12-14 inches (30-35cm). These tortoises should only be outside on the warmest and driest of days
Horsfield's Tortoise or Russian Tortoise is very similar to the Greek; they hibernate and are herbivores but are sensitive to humidity, so they need slightly higher temperatures and drier conditions; only hot, dry days can be spent outside.
Bell's Hinge-Back Tortoise is the West African species, similar in size to the Greek. Again they need higher temperatures and more humidity, they do not hibernate and are omnivores. They can go outside in really good conditions, but otherwise need a heated tank. Only experienced owners should keep these tortoises.

Hairless Cats and Dogs: Certain breeds of dog or cat which are hairless or hypoallergenic, so a known pet allergy should not be a problem in all but the most sensitive of sufferers. For dogs these breeds include, American Hairless Terrier, Chinese Crested, Peruvian Inca Orchid and Xoloitzcuintli. Low-dander breeds which allergy sufferers may be tolerant of include Basenji, Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Irish Water Spaniel, Italian Greyhound, Kerry Blue Terrier, Maltese, Poodles, Portuguese Water Dog, Schnauzers and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. For cats, breeds include the Siberian, Sphynx, Cornish Rex and Devon Rex.

Whatever your choice of animal, there are certain responsibilities which come with being a pet owner. These include providing the basics of food, water and shelter, as well as health and veterinary care. Vet's fees can be expensive, so another consideration, especially for cats and dogs, should be protecting yourself financially with a good pet insurance policy. All pets, even spiders and reptiles, deserve love, care and attention - whether or not they are capable of showing it in return!

Animal Friends Pet Insurance is the UK's only not-for-profit ethical pet insurance company. AFI has been trading since 1999 and since then has helped thousands of needy animals all over the world by donating 100% of their net profits to worthy causes. Buy pet insurance online from Animal Friends or simply call our friendly staff if you prefer on 0844 55 70 300; the policies won't cost you more and you won't be disappointed!