July 2008 Articles:

Friends’ Hospice Update
July 25th 2008 marks a whole year since the Friends took over the six bed wing within the Evangelismos Hospital and converted it into an independently run Hospice.

Our many well wishers and supporters at that time donated gifts or money with which to make the wing as much 'home from home' as possible for the many patients with life limiting illnesses who have been admitted during the past year, many of them for respite care.

The Hospice has been fortunate in having a number of highly trained and caring staff who have refined the care and special procedures needed for palliative nursing and the Hospice has received much praise from patients and their relatives. A new Hospice Manager has been appointed, Ruth Marsh. She replaces Judith Pallot who has done so much to ensure the smooth running of the Hospice and remains very much in an advisory capacity, as does Diane Turner who masterminded the Volunteer programme. Her place has been taken by Ann Hill.

The money given by donors and money received from fund raising events is used for patient care, but from time to time the Friends need equipment and for this a fund has been started whereby people may donate specifically for a piece of equipment. A need has arisen for a van to be used by the Hospice shops. The Friends receive many household goods and clothes which need storage and transportation. Anyone who could help achieve this goal, a car sales outlet for example, should contact Chairman Stephen Willis on 26652437. Suitable acknowledgement will be made.

A DVD has been put together showing the daily care of patients, plus interviews with patients and relatives. The theme of this DVD is 'One day someone you love will need us'. It will be used to bring awareness of the existence of the Hospice and its functions to a wider community as well as generate funds for a service which is free to everyone with a life limiting disease.

The Friends; would like to thank all those who have been so generous in their support this year and all the staff who have made the hospice a place of sanctuary. The Friends also acknowledge the input of the Evangelismos Hospital who made the wing available and remain staunch supporters.
 

God’s Great Salvation

An Unshakable Destiny,
On things to come; What do you see when you look ahead- past your years on this earth-to eternity? The writer in the Bible, Hebrews clearly saw the shape of eternity in a vision of all history rushing to a conclusion in the "kingdom which cannot be shaken” the glorious kingdom of God.

In may ways, in the Bible the Book of Hebrews pays tribute to the awesome display of God’s power throughout history. The book begins by acknowledging the various forms by which God has communicated His truth in the past, Hebrews 1:1, and goes on to praise Jesus for working to provide us salvation both in His life and in his death.

Throughout Hebrews, the author compares Jesus’ work to the events recording in the Old Testament and compares the awesome experience of God’s presence on Month Sinai with what Christians can look forward to in God’s eternal kingdom. The Israelites at Mount Sinai were frightened; they begged God to conceal Himself in some way. Even Moses confessed terror. But the author of Hebrews describes Christians as heading toward "Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, Hebrews 12:22. There, we will be in a great company of angels and believers, praising God. This life on earth will fade in the background as all believers join in praising God for his gracious provision of salvation. Everything will pale in comparison to the glorious future with our Savior.

Shaking the Foundations: Yet this kingdom of God will arrive in an unexpected fashion. According to the description in Hebrews 12:25-27, the present world is make of 'shakable" things-such as earthly power, wealth and fame. Thus at the end times, God will shake the entire world. After this great "shaking," only those who belong to God’s kingdom will remain.

We live in a world that is dominated by earthly power. World leaders and political systems threaten one another and vie for domination. But all of these structures are transitory; they are shakable. Throughout history, kingdoms and countries have risen to power, only to crumble under the weight of their own blunders. Sometimes even Christians have been tempted to try establishing God’s kingdom with earthly power, only to see their efforts fall apart in their own hands.

Yet God's word and His kingdom will stand forever. Belief in Jesus Christ saving work on the Cross makes us citizens of God’s kingdom, Colossians 1:13-14. We have no need to fear any shaking that may come to this world, for we are on our way to the one unshakable kingdom. In light of this, how should we live? The author of Hebrews clearly and concisely answers this question: Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptable with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a loving God but is also a consuming fire. For we have come to the ultimate goal of all of history; you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels…. To God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator.

Remember the Bible says in Romans 10-13; “For” whoever calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus shall be saved.”

(For more information contact);
Pastor Mike Beesley
PCFi Church
Tel 99175985
 

June 2008 Articles:

Amazing True Story

Dear Friends,

I hope you'll be inspired by the following amazingly true story.

In 1830, Peter Richley survived despite a series of strange and harrowing events. The ship he was travelling on capsized. He was rescued but, by some strange twist of circumstance, the ship that rescued him also sank.

He was rescued again but, this third ship sank too. He was rescued for a third time. Nevertheless, the fourth ship also sank soon afterwards. Unbelievably, he was rescued for a fourth time, but the fifth ship sank too.

It would have been laughable if it hadn't been so serious. By this time, Richley must have been floating confident that somehow God would not let him die. And sure enough, as if on cue, another ship came along and rescued him.

This ocean liner, The City of Leeds, was bound from England to Australia and was travelling in the same sea lane as the other ships Peter Richley had been on. The crew hoisted Peter aboard and provided him with dry clothing. The ship's doctor also examined him and pronounced him fit. But then he made an unusual request. "There's a woman on board who booked a passage to Australia," the doctor explained. "She's looking for her son who disappeared years ago. She's dying and she’s asking to see him. She knows everybody on board and since you're the only newcomer, would you pretend to be her son?" Peter agreed - after all, his life had now been saved for the fifth time, so why shouldn't he feel amenable to any request?

He followed the doctor below deck and entered the woman’s cabin. She was obviously suffering as she lay on her cabin bed. Deliriously, she was crying out. "Please, God! Let me see my son before I die. I must see my son!"

The ship's doctor gently pushed the young man towards the bed. Soon, however, Peter Richley started to sob because he suddenly realised why he hadn't been allowed to die. Here was the lifeline that had kept him from drowning five times. For lying on that bed was none other than Sarah Richley - who had prayed for ten years to be reconciled to her son, Peter.

The ship's doctor stood in amazement as the young man fell down by the bed and embraced the sick woman. "I'm here, Mother! I'm here. It's me!" Within days the fever had subsided and his mother woke up to find an answered prayer sitting on the edge of her bed.

Let's persevere and continue to pray and expect the Lord to remove all obstacles in answer to the prayers of our hearts. Let us remember what Jesus said (recorded in Matthew 21:21-22) after He made a fig tree wither: "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Aloe Vera

Last month I wrote about the remarkable plant Aloe Vera and its healing properties.

The response from the article in the Paphos Post was great!!!

Most of the people who called me said "you can drink it?"

YES YOU CAN!

Besides the fact that I'm drinking it myself here are a few happy customers'comments:

Anita has been drinking Forever Living Products Aloe Berry Nectar for about 2.5 years now. There was nothing "wrong" with her but she likes the idea of looking after her digestion and supporting her immune system, a bit like giving your car regular services.

"It's quick, easy and highly nutritious. My skin, hair and nails look and feel better and I have more energy."
Christine was allergic to dust (in this climate!!!) and milk and was taking tablets against hay fever. After only a couple weeks of drinking Forever Living Products Bits n' Peaches she felt so much better and could stop taking her medicines! The Aloe Vera also sorted out her hormonal imbalance.

She was so impressed with this drink that she introduced it to her two brother-in-laws. They both suffer with IBS and after drinking the Aloe Vera Gel for a while they both had their "normal" lives back. One of the brother-in-laws tried a different brand but changed back after just one bottle because Forevers' gave him better results.

Christine also told her mum, who has suffered from arthritis for about 20 years. She began to feel a relief after about a month.

These customers are drinking between a teaspoon to 30-40 ml/day and the elapsed time till benefits are noticed, varies from person to person.

Scientists have (so far) found 75 different vitamins and minerals in the Aloe Vera plant. It is also the perfect balance between the ingredients that play a big role.

Please note that Forever Living Products Aloe drinks are not a medicine and there are no side effects.

For more information on Forever Living Products Aloe Vera drinking Gels and/or other products please call Beatrice on tel: 99-481 672. Independent distributor in Paphos.