A re-post with a reason

Praise the LORD!!! 

          *** I am led to re-post this previous blog. I can imagine why, considering all the disasters that have taken place in the last month or so. From the earthquake in Japan, to the civil unrest in the Middle East, not to forget the great devastation from storms here in the U.S.. All these events have on thing in common, all the people effected by them, are our neighbors and we're called to love them as ourselves!!!  ***

"A Modern Day Parable"

A certain man was traveling on foot for a great distance, to start a ministry for the LORD.

He’d already traveled a good distance and met some fine people. Even housed and feed for several weeks by one couple, not even church goers. This being just up the street from a church. Yet during his stay there, he’d never had anyone from the church stop in to visit. Though he’d gone to several services and even talked to the minister for a good while after-wards, none ever stopped into check on him.

He was helping this couple prepare an old house for sale, since he was a carpenter and the ministry was helping people with such needs. When one afternoon the LORD inspired him to make a cross out of an old carpet tube. He then was led to place this cross, about six foot tall, on the fence surrounding their pool. For three days the cross stood tall and straight though there were some strong winds blowing. On the fourth day showers came in for most of the day, for the fifth and sixth also. With the sixth’s being quite strong and windy. The next morning the cross was bent over backwards, yet in the form of another cross. This stirred questions in his heart, so he prayed, “LORD, what is YOUR message in this for me?” The answer wasn’t long in coming. ‘This is my church, as it stands today, the first three days is how my church should stand. When adversities come, today’s church wilts and falters under the pressure. Not as it should be.’

He kept this message in his heart and finished the work. After leaving here several days later he befell some misfortune. Somehow he broke several toes on his right foot. It felt like a small cloven hoof had stepped on them, the middle three toes only. Though in pain he continued on, praying, praising and walking. After several miles on one of their rest stops, because his dog let him know she was tired also, a young couple offered him some food and refreshments. Later this turned into a shower, some cash and a ride of around thirty miles. This couple, Christians yet they seldom went to church, lived a fairly devoted life. Helping many that came by their way, such as he did. They dropped him off at a campground, after seeing if he could stay, due to their not having a tent or sleeping bag. They went on their way after exchanging “GOD bless you-s”.He spent two nights in the campground free, another unchurched believer owned it.

Six more days of walking followed, foot swollen and bruised now, he met numerous others that helped him along his way. Some unchurched and a few church goers had helped. He spent two days in a motel, during a particularly stormy period, run by a generous Muslim. He made a turning point in the trip, now instead of heading southwest, he was going almost due south, a more direct path to his goal. When more misfortune came his way. This time his left knee popped out of joint. After prayer and resetting it, it’d happened before so he knew how, they continued walking. After several miles, all while in intense pain, his dog decided it was time for another break, this time in the shade. He found the perfect place, a stump in a roadside ditch which had a root coming off one side, which made the perfect seat, arm rest and all. Cutoff several feet above the ground he set his duffel bag on top. This put his reflective vest, with foot tall cross, in a very visible position. He decided to take a long break, so broke out his Bible and began praying and reading. It was still early 9:30 AM on a Sunday, he figured it’d be a good time for an hour long break. They’d already covered about eleven miles that morning, probably three with the knee problem. With his knee hurting like it was, he prayed that the LORD would provide what he needed. He thought this would be in the form of a ride and assistance. His dog and he ate the last of their food and drank part of their water, since it was early and only five miles to the next town. After reading some more, he sent another round of prayers heavenward.

It was now afternoon and though many cars had gone by, no one had slowed down in the least .In many of these cars were well dressed people, like those going to church. He decided it was time to carry on, so he stood up and got his duffel on, but the knee wouldn’t allow him to put it under pressure. He could barely put any weight on it at all. At this point he began to wonder, what the LORD was trying to teach him. For he’d learned that when times such as these came his way, a lesson in his walk with the LORD was coming soon afterward. Here they were, several miles from the next town, a sixty pound plus duffel bag, a year old wolf-shepherd dog and a broken down stranger, stranded in a rain ditch, out in the middle of no where.

Time continued to pass, finally at 3:30 PM an older couple stopped. They let him know that they’d seen him several times already and thought that something may be wrong, so they’d called 911. They left them several bottles of water and said they’d pray for him and went on their way. At this he began to worry a bit and called for a rescue mission from his family, over three hundred miles away. They had to roundup the money, having to borrow it, but did. He gave them directions and told them where to meet him, plus made plans just in case he wasn’t there. This was a gas station near where they’d started walking from in the morning. Hopefully whomever came to check on them would drive them back to this point. At 5:30 PM a police officer showed up. After running his ID he loaded them into his car and drove them back to the station. He thanked the officer greatly before he drove off.

Since it would be several hours before his family could get there, he bought them some sandwiches, dog food and drinks. They ate and relaxed the best that he could, still wondering what this lesson was. As it began to get late and was near closing time he bought more food and drinks. Praying his family would make it there soon enough to gas up and head back north before closing time. They got there just fifteen minutes before closing, he’d no known it but had crossed a time line. The girls in the store were very helpful and even made coffee after cleaning up for the night.

After a long ride, it was about 3:30 AM when they pulled in the yard. After hopping into the house, he fell asleep quickly on the couch. It felt awesome, especially after not sleeping in a bed, under a roof for nearly two months. As usual he awoke early, around sunrise and prayed. Soon the family awoke and made breakfast. He enjoyed coffee, eggs, sausage and pancakes. All of which he hadn’t had in sometime. Thanking his sister and brother in law for picking him up and feeding him like they did, they settled in for some small talk about events of the trip.

Sounds like something out of the Bible doesn’t it? Almost like the parable of the “Good Samaritan.” Let me tell you, it wasn’t. I know, because this is what happened to me. I’m the Rev. Marshall T. Barth and I was headed to Kingsville TX., to set up Vine of CHRIST Ministries disaster relief branch. My dog, Maryann and I had left Utopia OH. the morning before Easter. The rescue mission took place on the thirtieth of May, a month and a half later. For the most part I’d seen more charity from non-believers and believers that didn’t go to church often, if at all, then from those that attended church on a regular basis.

During my extended stay in the little town in KY., when I was put up in the house being readied for sale. I was given plenty of food, had a bathroom, laundry service and everything one needed. The couple believed in GOD, but hadn’t gone to church for many years. She was “born again”, he wasn’t. I did a lot of work for them and didn’t want paid, their hospitality was more than enough. Yet before I left, they gave me several hundred dollars and took me shopping for things for the trip.

While there, I’d been puzzled about the actions of those in the church. The story of the cross gave me the answer, because this did happen, the whole story is true. The LORD isn’t happy with what is to be called HIS Church! They carry the name, but none of the actions. Like that “cardboard cross” they have the form, they dress the part, have the bumper stickers and pins, talk the talk and go to church several times a week. Yet they do nothing that a Christian is supposed too! The “goats” in Matt. 25:31-46. They’ve all the looks and words of Christian’s, but lack the love of the “sheep.” Just like that cross, it stood fine until the storms of life came along, but then lacked the strength to stand after-wards. Not able to show it’s true glory when it was really needed. This pertains not just to those of that little church, but too all those that had passed me by along the roadside. Not just while in need, but all of the time.

We as true Christians, the sheep, are supposed to show CHRIST to the world, not by our dress, our words, or even by how many scripture verses we know. We’re to show them by our love for them and our works in their times of need. Feeding the hungry, giving drinks to those athirst , clothing the naked, housing the homeless , caring for those that are sick and visiting those that are in prison! This is far from what I saw on this trip. Actually it was what I saw from those that didn’t go to church.. From what I gathered from them in conversation, I wasn’t the first one that most of them had helped. They made a regular practice out of helping others in need. I ask you, “What is wrong with this picture?”

It should be plain to see that there’s a problem within the Christian community. When we overlook those that are needy, because of a worldly outlook on life. Our hearts tell us to help this person, or at least stop and see if they need anything, yet the worldly view tells us “to keep going, this person is trouble.” Who do we trust? CHRIST, that tells us “to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 19:19(but one of many places))”, or the world, that says “live for yourself and the hell with them.” This is not just a contemporary problem, for it was the basis for the “Good Samaritan” parable to the Jews of the first century. It is expounded in numerous places within the epistles also. So this isn’t a new problem within the Christian community or the world. Why though, haven’t we overcome this defect in our humanity? Our Christian community? Our own lives? I’d have to say it comes down to but one word, “SIN.” If you carry this farther, the center of sin is “I” or the self, pride. Our self-worth, our self-protecting, our selfish needs. Where this sin originated, the original sin, none are fully sure of. Whether it was with Lucifer or it was in the garden with Eve. Wherever it stems from, it is the center of the downfall of mankind, all our evils emanates from it.

There are many sermons that could come from this experience and someday I shall preach them, but for now, let me leave you with the WORDS of our MASTER, JESUS CHRIST, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 25:45 

        Pray and meditate on this verse, then think about what CHRIST would of expected you to of done had you run across the man in this modern day parable. An if by chance you see another person in need, what will you do? 

GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries


Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org

We also now have a daily devotional at: http://vinegleanings.blogspot.com

Praise the LORD!!!

Praise the LORD!!!
   Today while running my networked sites, well those I use to network, one recurring fact hit me. There are hundreds of Christians out there that are crying out because times are hard and they're suffering. I began thinking on this and the LORD laid upon my heart something I believe many should think about. For forty years the Israelite nation trekked around the desert, constantly grumbling about all that they were suffering. GOD wasn't very pleased then, what do you think HE thinks about this same thing happening today?
   If you've followed me or come across anything I've written, you notice that I always start it by praising GOD. Why, you may ask? It's very simple. I shouldn't even be alive today and if not for my mother's faith in GOD, I wouldn't be. My mother had slipped on the ice while carrying me, yet born, and the doctors recommended that she abort me and save her life. Now this was early 55 before abortion became so prevalent, yet she told them that if it came to a choice of her life or mine, it was to be her's given for mine!
   This though isn't the only occasion where my life came close to ending, if it weren't for the call of GOD upon my life. Numerous car wrecks and accidents of other sources tried to take it. Several came very close, yet I'm still here working for the LORD's glory. As late as 97, when I had a heart attack, where  the doctors had me planned for a very major surgery. One where they were going to stop my heart, remove it and preform 5 major procedures on me, all before replacing it and jump starting me.
   As I see it, each breath I take and every beat of my heart is a blessing from GOD and I acknowledge HIS hand in my life for each and every detail. Right now, I'm sitting in a host families house, working on a donated nine year old computer, with only enough clothes to fill a large backpack to my name. I am still going to praise GOD for it all. No matter how bad my health gets or any other situation in life befalls me, I'll continue to praise the LORD!!!
   Take a go long look around you, listen to the evening news or radio. Do you really think you've truly that much to complain about? Sure, you may be sick, out of work or fearing the lose of your house, but you've a heart beat and you're breathing! How many died in Haiti this last weekend? You could be one of those poor and suffering people, or maybe not suffering, some died quickly.
   Start taking an inventory of all that GOD has blessed you with and then let HIM know exactly how thankful you are that you've been blessed by HIM so abundantly. Even be thankful that right now you're reading this, you've a computer and internet connection, even the ability to read. There are truly many little things that we overlook daily in life, that if it weren't for GOD's blessings upon us, we would not have them. Take stock in all these things and lift your voice in abundant praises to GOD. For HE is the one that truly has given more then we can ever imagine!!!

Haiti...

Praise the LORD!!!
   This evening I watched the 60 Minutes bit on Haiti and the conditions the rescue efforts are being faced with. If anyone can watch this without being profoundly effected their heart has stopped beating or only beats for themselves.
   They showed large frontend loaders scooping up human bodies and depositing them into dumptrucks, to be take away and buried in mass graces. Though inhuman in a sense, it is much needed to protect from the spread of disease. There is no electricity to run coolers for morgues or refrigerated trucks like those used after 9/11 or hurricane Katrina.
   The doctors that they were following had brought most of what they thought they'd need, but were far from correct. They were having to preform surgery, using rusty instruments or basic hand tools a contractor would use. You heard me right, contractor tools. They had to amputate a child's leg using a common hacksaw, not the surgical type which can be thoroughly sterilized. They were having to use boiling water, which was very limited instead of alcohol, because they were down to two bottles of it. For lighting, they had headlamps on, instead of good overhead lighting normally used.
   Needless to say, their efforts are being overshadowed by the enormous size of the task. I'm very thankful that they're there, but pray that better solutions can evolve from this tragedy. This is the intent of Vine of CHRIST Ministries and I'm praying that I'll be able to interview people such as these to develop a larger more efficient means of supplying relief to major disasters like this. This though will have to be undertaken in the future, the matter of taking care of this disaster must be taken care of first and foremost.
   I pray that anyone whom reads this will pray and search their heart and do what they personally can to help the current relief efforts. Either by making a donation to a responsible relief organization or gathering the materials together and donating these. Every person on this planet should realize that someday in the future they too may be facing a disaster such as this and there will be people out there giving their all to assist them in every manor possible! So please, do what you can today, for tomorrow it may be you that is in need!!!

Unable to go to Haiti so...

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GOD is moving!!!

Praise the LORD!!!
   Any that have checked into the VCM website will know that there are things happening there. Not a lot to the site itself, but expansion within the ministry, or I should say ministries! Though I am the only one here in the states working on this ministry, GOD has brought in others from around the globe. There is now an international branch being formed. Vine Ministerial Network International will be the official name and each of the branches will amend their name behind this.
   Currently there are two; Liberia, Africa and Chittoor, Indian. The total number of workers operating in these fields I currently am not sure of, but do know that there are more then here in the states! I believe that at last count in Liberia there were well over a dozen, with more coming on daily. We will even have a school, which is already open, coming under our control. There are a good number of details that are lacking and I'm in the process of gathering them so it can be recorded and kept official.
   All of this has come about through the LORD's leading these men to read my book, "Out of the LIGHT", and then them undertaking to translate it into their native tongues, Liberia was easy, because they speak English there. Then the LORD began moving on all  of our hearts at the same time and VMNI came into being, well the first stages of it. As many of you can imagine, there are many details to be worked out and organized. These are being taken care of as they are presented.
   One of the biggest obstacles to all of this is my current standing as a convicted felon and not being able to gain a passport to travel outside the country. I've known that the ministry was going to be international from the very beginning, but was lead not to worry about this matter  and to this day, haven't and won't! This is one of those things where GOD has promised to do the works completely and I must simply, let HIM. To me, there is no better place to leave a matter, then in the LORD's hands. For if HE can create a universe with just a spoken word, what is impossible for HIM to do on this earth!?!

New 'branch' for the 'VINE'

Praise the LORD!!!
   As of yesterday, I'm being led to start another new branch for the ministry. This one will be international in scope. Vine Ministerial Network International (V.M.N.I.) will be its name. It will be multifunctional in actions. There will be evangelism outreaches to many countries around the globe, discipleship training schools, along with the standard disaster relief operations.
   This has me a bit stifled. Because currently I'm living in a host family's home, with a backpack full of clothes, a few hand tools and this ancient computer system (that freezes up typing emails:)) You can count on the fact that I've been talking a great deal with the LORD over this matter and the answer keeps coming back, 'trust in ME!' If there is one thing that I truly do, that is trust GOD!!! All the things HE's done throughout my life are amazing, it boggles my mind to think I waited so long to turn the controls over to HIM! I was 39 and had lived 26 of it in heavy drug use and all sorts of sinful behavior. More details on this can be found in my book "Out of the LIGHT" at the ministry's website, so I'll not go into it all here. To say the least, I wasn't one that you'd think would ever be successful, let alone running an international Christian helps ministry. GOD can surely amaze us at times.
   Since the LORD opened my eyes to HIS calling in '95' I've totally given HIM the control over what I do. The results can be seen by doing a online search of my name or that of the ministry. Ever little detail of it has been at the LORD's leading, even the prayers and the few games I play to relax. Now I'm no computer guru, not even close, but I've been highly blessed to produce the ministry's website, all by myself. To date almost everything I've done has been 100% done by these hands and feet that the LORD has blessed me with. All moneys, well 98% of, have come from my own pockets through work that I've done outside the ministry.
   Yet with all this being said and done, there are three people at this moment working on translating my book into a foreign tongue. I've been asked to come to two nations, Liberia and India, to preach and evangelize. Through one of these two men has come the formulation of this branch of the ministry, to open the door for it by having it legalized before his government. Now the fact that VCM was going to be a world reaching ministry isn't new to me, but when I've not even yet begun to break ground on that part of it here in the states!
   There are hundreds of details that have yet to be taken care of here, let alone those that will come with the addition of an international branch.I spent several hours today, walking around the house talking with GOD, bearing my soul to HIM (there's no one home but me.) I talk to GOD like I would my earthly father, with respect and straight from the heart. If something has distressed me, I let HIM know it and this has me a bit stirred up. As I said though, the answers keep coming back the same, "Trust in ME." There is truly only one that I trust anymore, for I don't even trust myself, that is GOD and GOD alone. So I guess what I'm saying is, Vine of CHRIST Ministries is going international, with it's branch Vine Ministerial Network International !!!

Something to think about during CHRISTmas!

Praise the LORD!!!
   I've not been blogging much in the last week because GOD has laid upon my heart a little side job. It is a little something we as Christians should think about during out CHRISTmas. If anyone has been keeping track of my activity on Facebook or several of the other sites that I frequent, its likely they'll know these subjects. Homelessness and Human Trafficking.
   Recently I've started posting bookmarks to several sites and articles that have been working on or focused on the elimination of or at least the knocking down of the statistics relating to these two topics. Since the beginning of time we've had both of these around and at times had began to get them under control. In the last part of the 20th century, with the advent of the internet, investigations into both of these began to expose some startling figures and practices. As the world has become more civilized, or supposed to of, we have more and more people becoming trapped in one or both of these webs of indecency.
     We as Christian are supposed to look out for and if possible supply the needs of those in need. Yet it seems that we forget this, especially during the CHRISTmas season. That time of year when we celebrate the birth of our LORD. This year I ask that while you're preparing for this festive celebration, that you think about one or both of these groups. These people are our neighbors, as pointed out in the parable of the 'Good Samaritan.' We should not look down upon them with disgust, but lift them up with love and compassion. Trying to figure out a way to improve their lives and possibly lead them to a saving relationship with JESUS. Could a few leftovers be gathered up and taken to some homeless person? Or maybe a young prostitute plying her trade on the streets? We don't know the conditions that brought these people to either of these lifestyles and shouldn't stand in judgment. What we should do is our best to bring about a change within them, not through a gospel tract or preaching to them, but through a compassionate and loving spirit.
    There are so many ways we can change peoples lives, if we but take those first steps to actually do something. You've obviously a computer, or you'd not be reading this, so do a little research into these topics. Swing by the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe even lending them a hand or supplying them with the needed provisions. Pray for them, but also pray for the LORD to open your eyes and heart to what HE wants you to do and then go and do it! Believe me, there is no greater feeling than seeing the smile on someone's face or hearing a thank you from someone that you've just blessed in some way by showing them the love CHRIST has for all of mankind!!!

GOD bless all and may you have a Merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year. Better yet, may you bless someone else with these same blessings!!!