March 2022

Undesigned Coincidences -“The Water-Soaked Offering – Solving a Bible Puzzle” by “Grandma Joelee”

“Grandma Joelee” Chamberlain has a new children’s Bible audio with undesigned  coincidences -“The Water-Soaked Offering – Solving a Bible Puzzle”.

You can listen to it on SermonAudio

It’s part of her apologetics for kids series. and tells a story. She tells the exciting story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. It answers a “Bible puzzle.” Where did Elijah get the 12 barrels of water to soak the offering to the Lord when there had been a 3 1/2 year drought?

It connects to the gospel, too. This ais for children ages 4 to 10, though adults have enjoyed these also.

Undesigned coincidences - Picture of mother reading Bible story book to child
Undesigned Coincidences – The Water-Soaked Offering

This argument is taken from the book “Undesigned Coincidences in the Writings of the Old & New Testament, An Argument for Their Veracity” by J.J. Blunt. He published it in 1869. This is a type of apologetics that argues for the truthfulness of Christianity. It shows how an apparent problem in one part of the Bible is answered by an incidental fact elsewhere in the Bible or in history. You can read the book online HERE.

William Paley seems to be the first who came up with this idea. He wrote a whole book fitting together the Book of Acts and the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. You can read “Horae Paulinae” online on Archive Here. Paley also covers this topic to a lesser degree in his better known book Evidences of Christianity.

For a brief introduction, here is an article with internal and external coincidences on Frank Turek‘s site CrossExamined.

Apologetics

Children’s Ministry

Isaiah 53 Gospel Tract by Tom Cantor

Here is an Isaiah 53 gospel tract by Tom Cantor. This chapter of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible or Tanakh [Tanach]) been called “The Fifth Gospel.”

Tom Cantor is a Jewish believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Tom is also a teacher at Mission Valley Community Chapel. He usually teaches our adult Sunday school class. He also gives the sermon on the first, third, and any fifth Sunday of the month.

You can read it at Israel Restoration Ministries

Isaiah 53 Gospel Tract Cover
Isaiah 53 Gospel Tract

This tract presents seven references from this passage to present the gospel of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). It is a good tract that you could share with someone this Passover/Easter season. We also have a variety of gospel tracts at the Chapel.

This tract uses verses from this prophecy to give the sacrifice needed, the sacrifice presented, the sacrifice examined, the sacrifice offered, the sacrifice’s purpose, the sacrifice accepted, and the sacrifice personalized. Its focuses on the Lord Jesus Christ and his work. It concludes with our need for him as our Savior and Lord.

Here here’s a blog post we have on a booklet on Isaiah 53 How a Jew Learned the Meaning of Isaiah 53 by Tom Cantor

Read more posts on Jewish Evangelism

How to make a Resurrection Day Cake – Joelee Chamberlain

How to Make a Resurrection Day Cake by Joelee Chamberlain is a 50 second video that gives an idea on how to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Easter Cake)

You can watch the video here How to Make a Resurrection Day Cake

How to make a Resurrection Day Cake - “Grandma” Joelee Chamberlain
How to make a Resurrection Day Cake

Briefly, get a cake. Then scoop out a “tumb.“ Next, use a cookie or York mint patties for the door. Also, fresh flowers can be put on top. Like how the seat of a flower is buried and the flower blooms, so Christ was buried and rose from the dead.

This is “Grandma“ Joelee’s first video. She has done many audios previously. This video was shot by your son holding his phone and using pause for editing. Her later videos have gotten longer and are edited by a deacon at a former church. For her latest video, she got a tripod with a mount to shoot straight down. Lord willing, that video will be finished soon.

You can listen to her audios on her YouTube Channel, too. Or listen on your favorite podcast site.

“Grandma” Joelee Chamberlain

Also on Rumble, March 27, 2022 Worship service, sermon by Sohrab Ramtin (Matthew 25:45–50)

Also, on Rumble, Watch our March 17, 2022 Worship service (Matthew 25:45–50). It includes singing, announcements, and special music “Wade in the Water” sung by the Believers.

The sermon is by Dr. Sohrab Ramtin, “The Wickedness of Calvary” from Matthew 25. This was a surprising title to me, but as he worked it out it made sense.

The Chapel emphasizes the Lord Jesus Christ through Missions, Prayer, and the Word of God.

Mission Valley Community Chapel a Bible believing Christian church, an Open Plymouth Brethren (Christian Brethren) assembly. All leadership is volunteer, enabling the majority of our giving to go to evangelists and missionaries worldwide. There are opportunities to serve for those interested in participating, including outreach, hospitality, and music.

Watch more of our worship services on RUMBLE
 

Worship Services on Rumble

Passover Lamb by The Liberated Wailing Wall

Passover Lamb by The Liberated Wailing Wall is a great song from their second album is a great song about Passover and the Messiah.

You can listen to it on YouTube. You can buy this song or the whole album “I am Not Ashamed” at Jews for Jesus.

Lyrics

Passover Lamb
Words by Sam Nadler & Stuart Dauermann, music by Stuart Dauermann

Pharaoh had us all enslaved, lab’ring in his land.
The Lord God heard our cry and freed us by His hand.
And by the blood of the pure and spotless Lamb
We’re free; we are all set free.
Passover’s Lamb’s blood upon the door,
Forming a cross to seal us from death’s jaw.
And by the blood of the pure and spotless Lamb,
We’re free; we are all set free.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
God of Abram,
Thank you for the Lamb.

God gave us Israel, but we turned away.
God gave the Law to us, but we disobeyed.
God gave His only Son to come and set us free.
We’re free, we are all set free.
Yes, we all did turn away and we all were lost.
So we took a perfect Lamb and nailed Him to a cross.
And by the blood of the pure and spotless Lamb
We’re free, we are all set free.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
God of Isaac,
Thank you for the Lamb.

Three days He lay; then Jesus did rise.
So all who will believe never have to die.
And by the blood of the pure and spotless Lamb
We’re free, we are all set free.
Passover Lamb’s blood upon the door,
Forming a cross to seal us from death’s jaw.
And by the blood, of the pure and spotless Lamb,
We’re free; we are all set free.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
God of Jacob,
Thank you for the Lamb.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
God of Israel,
Thank you for the Lamb.

Analysis

This is a great song from Jews for Jesus from the early 70s. It is off their second album, “I am Not Ashamed.” We do not have this one in our Friendship With God Hymnal. Next, some analysis.

This song has three verses and one course that is repeated in varying ways. The first verse is about the Exodus and the Passover lamb. The second verse is about Christ our Passover lamb dying for us. The last verse is about his resurrection (First Fruits/Easter). These verses have a pattern of seven, six, six, four, seven, six, six, four feet to them. This complexity reminds me of Joni Mitchell’s early folk music. The course is repeated once after each of the first two verses and twice after the last. The God of Abram, Isaac, Jacob, and Israel is praise. Note how alleluia is used instead of hallelujah. This is because the open vowels in alleluia work better here.

This is another great song by Stuart Dauermann co-authored with Sam Nadler.

Hymns and Songs

Jewish Evangelism

Watch our March 27, 2022 Worship service, sermon by Sohrab Ramtin (Matthew 27:45–50)

Watch our March 17, 2022 Worship service (Matthew 27:45–50). It includes singing, announcements, and special music “Wade in the Water” sung by the Believers. The sermon is by Dr. Sohrab Ramtin, “The Wickedness of Calvary.” This was a surprising title to me, but as he worked it out it made sense.

Sohrab taught from Matthew 27:45-50 with many other references. He noted the four kinds of wicked people at Calvary – the ignorant (Roman soldiers), the informed (the crucified robbers) a fickle (the crowd), and the religious (Jewish leaders and priests. He noted that these categories apply today, too.

After pointing out the wickedness of Calvary, he spoke how it showed Christ’s love for sinners. He said Jesus is the best friend of sinners. He spoke on Jesus his request to his father that he forgive them (Luke 23:34). He then went on to tell of the Lord Jesus Christ effect on the uninformed with your centurions confession (Matthew 27:54). Next, with the informed with the lords interaction with one of the thieves on the cross (Luke 23:42–43). Then he spoke of how the fickle were blessed by the Lord Jesus with many of them being saved (Pentecost – Acts 2) and later (Acts 4:4). Finally, he pointed out how many of the religious were blessed by the Christ, too, with many priests who were saved (Acts 6:7).

He concluded noting again how Jesus truly is the friend of sinners. “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20). And again, Jesus is the best friend of sinners.

Watch more of our worship services Here on Our Blog, on our YouTube Channel, or On Our Rumble Channel.

Prayer for Israel Meeting on the Third Mondays of the Month

We have a monthly prayer meeting for Israel at 7:00p.m. Join us in prayer for Israel, for missionaries and evangelists to the Jewish people, and for the salvation of Israel.

As the Apostle Paul said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” (Romans 10:1)

Get directions on our website HERE

Mission Valley Community Chapel
6964 Mission Gorge Road
San Diego, CA 92120

We are an Open Plymouth brethren (Christian Brethren) assembly. From their beginning, the Plymouth Brethren have had a focus on the prophecies given to Israel and their future salvation and restoration. From Pastor Jim Mader’s founding of Mission Valley Community Chapel, reaching the Jewish people with the gospel has been important to us. This work was often done in connection with the San Diego Hebrew Mission. Now Tom Cantor, a Jewish believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, teaches at the Chapel. He is also the founder of Israel Restoration Ministries.

We have free books and tracts for Jewish evangelism at the chapel. You can also read more blog posts with free online material about Jewish Evangelism

Watch our March 20, 2022 Worship service, sermon by Tom Cantor (Micah 5)

Watch our March 20, 2022 Worship service (Micah chapter 5) including singing, announcements, special music, a sermon by Tom Cantor. The special music was hey song in Portuguese by a Ruthie, missionary that we help support to Brazil.

Scott wasn’t here, so he didn’t record it. But you can watch our live stream on FACEBOOK

You do not need to sign into Facebook to watch it.

Tom Cantor taught from Micah 5 how this chapter pointed to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He connected it with passages from other books including the Gospel of John. Tom also gave an example of an experience of is when witnessing to a fellow Jew, a rabbi, about Jesus the Christ (the Messiah).

More of our worship services are HERE on our website and on our YOUTUBE .

I Bind Unto Myself Today (Saint Patrick’s Breastplate)

For the St. Patrick’s Day, “I Bind Unto Myself Today  (Saint Patrick’s Breastplate)”. This hymn or poem is adapted from a work attributed to Saint Patrick.

Saint Patrick was a missionary to Ireland in the fifth century. He is known as the Apostle of Ireland. You can listen to a free recording of the “Confession of Saint Patrick” On LibriVox. In it he tells of being captured by pirates, being a slave in Ireland, becoming a Christian, and becoming a missionary to Ireland.

The lyrics below were adapted by Cecil Francis Alexander (1818-1895). She was born in Ireland. Not only was she a poet and hymnwriter, she also cared for the poor and opened a school for the deaf.

You can find lyrics along with sheet music Online Here.

As with many hymns, there are different versions with different verses. Below is one. You can listen to a slightly different one than the one below here on YouTube.

I Bind Unto Myself Today  (Saint Patrick’s Breastplate)

Words St. Patrick adapted by Cecil Frances Alexander & music by Charles V. Stanford

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heav’nly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heav’nly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord

This poem or lyric is in iambic pentameter with four feet per line (de-um, de-um, de-um, de-dum). Often at the end of the last line there is an extra unstressed beat (de-dum-de).

Stanza one about the trinity has four lines and a rhyme scheme of second and fourth line rhyming.  

Stanza two through six are eight lines each with an aba’b’cdc’d’ rhyme scheme. That is, the first and third line rhyme, the second and fourth line rhyme, the fifth and seventh line rhyme, and the sixth and eighth line rhyme.

Stanza seven is different from the other stanzas with its poetic power from the repeated words “Christ” and “me”.

Stanza seven concludes with a repetition of stanza one with four more aba’b’ rhyming  lines added.

I do not think a summary of I Bind Unto Myself Today  (Saint Patrick’s Breastplate) would do it justice. But note the scope of subjects brought up and how they all fit together with each other, Christ’s work, and the Trinity in our Christian life. It can also be helpful to see what the focus of the poem is about and what each stanza is about. The focus of the poem is taking on God and his good for Christian life and work, even battle. There are eight stanzas. The first and the last focus on the Trinity. In between these bookends, the stanzas cover the work of Christ, God’s creation, the power of God, two stanzas increasing an emphasis as to the threats to be resisted, and an interlude of sorts about Christ. Again, it concludes with the Trinity; this time in more detail. The best way to understand a poem is to read it and reread it with enjoyment.

Christian Poetry
Hymns and Songs