Lion’s RoarMagazine

December 2011

A Publication of City of Praise Church

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1

UPDATES | NEWS | HEALTH | LIFESTYLE | FOOD

THE CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

A YEAR OF VICTORIES

Take the December Bible Trivia Challenge

VICTORY IN THE TOUGHEST TIME

2 - Magazine

Article title

The CHRIST in Christmas

We know that each year the Christmas season becomes

increasingly watered down and secularized. Instead of Christmas vacation, our children take a holiday vacation. Rather than hosting Christmas parties, company’s host holiday parties. In an effort not to offend people of other religious faiths, there is both a subtle and blatant attempt to remove Christ from Christmas. This has not been an overnight move. It is something that is happening so gradually in our culture that we barely even notice. A perfect example is the YMCA’s Holiday Toy Drive. This is a wonderful outpouring by which people give toys to children from under privileged backgrounds. The YMCA or Young Men’s Christian Association host a Holiday toy drive rather than a Christmas toy drive because like many national organizations once rooted in a Christian worldview erasing any visible link to the Christ child seems prudent and less offensive to other faiths. My caution this Christmas

season is that by removing Christ from Christmas, we may not be offending the world. But it is a great offense to Christ.When we replace Christmas with “the holidays” or even worse “Xmas,” we are attacking the very essence of the holy-day. Christmas must be about Christ because Christ represents the great selflessness and sacrifice that sets the season apart from all others. Let’ face it, Christmas is a time of year when people are a little bit nicer, a little bit more thoughtful and giving and selfless. We are bent towards serving others as we model the way Christ served the world. By removing the very reason for the season from the season, Christmas becomes nothing more than a month of tinsel and retail sales strategies.Furthermore, as we celebrate

Christmas and not Xmas, we know that the birth of Christ is a real and historic event. While it may not have actually occurred on December 25, the celebration of this actual historic happening gives us an anchor to something tangle and not abstract. This anchor begins to frame our very identity on this earth.Some may believe that we have come too far in the secularization of Christmas and there is no turning back. I say, “the devil is a liar!” I implore you to push back with your families and friend as we are pushing back with ours. We will send out Christmas cards. And while we maybe jingling bells this Christmas, we will sing proudly and with thanksgiving about the joy that came to the world on that silent night in that little town of Bethlehem.

by Pastor Joel Peebles

The Christ in Christmas

2 - Lion’s Roar

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoul-ders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with

justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wil-derness a highway for our God.

(Isaiah 40:3)

Magazine - 3

Article title

A Year of VictoriesThe Last Year Has Shown God Strong and Victorious

Bible Trivia Challenge

Over the last 12 months, our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ has shown Himself mighty and victorious. Pastor has listened to the Holy Spirit and made some powerful moves in the ministry. From the 10am unifying service to the Forgive and Live Concert, from the fellowship with Boys Town to the outreach to the poor in

spirit, we have literally seen hundreds of people make a commitment to Jesus Christ. As an evangelistic ministry, we are fulfilling our mission and bringing honor to Christ.

There was unexplainable excitement and enthusiasm in the air when God instructed Pastor Joel to call the entire City of Praise Family to a 30-Day Daniel Fast, which began on Monday, October 10, 2011 and concluded on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. While we realize fasting changes the person, we as a corporate body are thanking God for: Victories, Vindications and Validations. From the onset of the fast, the testimonies have poured in and for that we give honor to our Father and Lord. We are thanking God in advance for your manifestation. For this is the season for “High Expectation. Manifestation,” and our testimony will be “And It Came To Pass.” On Day #5 of the Corporate Fast Anna Marie Butler was patiently waiting for a benefits package from her place of employment for over five years, while taking a stand to claim and remain healed from her light momentary affliction of cancer...”And It Came To Pass!” On Day #11 of the Corporate Fast Malika Jordan had no idea a blessing was lurking just around the corner. Even during the toughest of times, she remained faithful and God rewarded her and her family...”And It Came To Pass!”

Daniel 1: 8 – 10Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

Matthew 6: 6 – 8But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Ezra 8:23So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

A Year of Victories

by Lions Roar Staff

1. What carol tells us, "Then entered in those wise men three, / Full reverently upon the knee"?2. Referring to the English custom of ringing church bells on Christmas morning, what carol says,

“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep” / ‘God is not dead: nor doth He sleep’”?

Email your answers to coplionsroar@gmail.com

4 - Magazine

Article title

One evening after teaching the crowds, Jesus wanted to get away, so he and the disciples got into a fishing boat and set sail to the other side of the sea. He was tired, so he fell asleep in the boat. Suddenly and without warning a

furious storm arose. Now the Sea of Galilee is 680 feet below sea level and is surrounded by hills. Sudden storms can appear over the surrounding mountains with little warning, stirring the water into violent 20 foot waves. The disciples were seasoned fishermen who were experts in handling boats in a storm, but this storm was so violent that they panicked. The water had actually filled the boat and they were in danger of sinking. Jesus, full of faith, slept like a baby.

The disciples had seen him heal the sick and cast out devils, yet when He did not appear to immediately come to their rescue

they began to doubt Him, doubt His power and doubt His love. They woke Him and said “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38) He rebuked the wind and the sea, and the forces of nature became still. The storm was over. Why were they afraid? He was right there in the boat with them while they were going through the storm. He had never left them, yet all He had to do was speak and the storm was over. Yes they had seen Him perform miracles, but they had to go through this storm so that they could witness first hand that He had power over even the winds and the sea. Many times when we are going through, we don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. We wonder where God is. We wonder if He even cares. Why doesn’t He DO SOMETHING??!! Sometimes God has to use those storms to teach us who He really is, even when we think we already know. When we wonder where He is, we still don’t fully realize the extent of His love and His power. Don’t underestimate Him. His power is unlimited, as is His love for us. He will bring us through, but He is training us to know that. No test – no testimony. With every situation that we cannot control, He is teaching us that He can. Life will bring us storms. Even the unbelievers have storms. They are going to happen anyway. But God is training us to know beyond a shadow of a doubt how good it is just to have Jesus in the boat.

Victory in the Toughest Times In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus

concerning you. - I Thessalonians 5:18

by Pastor Joel Peebles

Victory in the Toughest Times

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will

find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matt 11:28-30 (NRSV)