Istrouma Ascension Podcast

If we are honest, there are moments in life when our hearts are troubled.  We get agitated; anxiety and worry overtake us.    Last week we actually talked about some of the common causes for worry.  These include: health problems, marriage dynamics, parenting, money, and growing old.  We saw that a lot of us are squandering huge hunks of our lives worrying needlessly.    Last Sunday I began a mess...

Un Dios de Amor, Tiene Hijos que Aman Text: 1 Juan 4:7-11 Domingo 28 de Enero  Dr. Edgar R. Aponte   Introducción Referencia sobre 1 Cor 13 ¿Qué nos dice acerca del amor? ¿Pero qué pasa si no somos así…cómo podemos convertirnos en personas de amor? 1 Juan 4: 7-11 Lectura del Texto Contexto del pasaje bíblico Principal Mensaje Un Dios de Amor, Tiene Hijos que Aman. Dios es Amor (v.7-8) La Naturalez...

La última palabra "verdades para corazones atribulados"   Juan 14:1-6   Jesús promete la Paz Anulando el temor. Animando la fe. Jesús prepara un Lugar Él se ira por su propia cuenta. Él regresará por su propia cuenta. Jesús ofrece el Camino Que es efectivo. Que es único.

There are a lot of things that can trouble our hearts.  A list was recently published that catalogs the types of things that tend to trouble our hearts—that cause us to worry.  Here is a partial list:   Health and weight. Marriage. Parenting and children/grandchildren. Lack of savings and an uncertain financial future.  And the number one worry is: Getting old!   We spend a lot of time worrying an...

How can you identify a Christian?  What is the chief characteristic of the Christian?   A cross necklace has been used by many across the years to identify as a Christian; however, as you know, for many it has little to no significance whatsoever.   It certainly doesn't make one a Christian.   More recently there's been a trend in Christian tattoos.  Many devout young believers have inked themselv...

A 2014 study by Harvard University listed the happiest cities in America.  The results surprised many and were broadcast widely.  The five happiest cities in America were all in the same state—Louisiana!  These cities included our own Baton Rouge along with Lafayette, Houma, Shreveport-Bossier City, and Alexandria.   In 2017 National Geographic produced a new list.  There was not one Louisiana cit...

La última palabra "El camino a la felicidad" Juan 13:1-17 Vivir en humildad La fuente de la humildad El ejemplo de humildad Vivir en santidad La conversión nos limpia completamente La confesión nos limpia continuamente Vivir en felicidad El principio de ser un siervo La práctica de ser un siervo

La Gran Historia "Capítulo 6: Revelación" Apocalipsis 5: 9-14   1. El cordero es digno a. Por su carácter b. Por su conquista   2. El cordero está trabajando a. Para rescatar personas b. Para restaurar personas   3. El cordero es adorado a. A través de oraciones b. A través de la alabanza

The Big Story "Chapter 6: Revelation" Revelation 5:9-14   The lamb is worthy Because of his character Because of his conquest The lamb is working To ransom people To restore people The lamb is worshipped In song By singers

In the span of a single day, an Argentinian woman received the two biggest shocks of her life.  First she heard the heartbreaking news that her newborn baby was stillborn.  Devastation.  Later that day she discovered in the morgue that her baby girl was actually still alive.   The infant, named, Luz Milagros, or "Miracle Light," was pronounced a stillborn on April 3rd, 2012. Twelve hours after she...

Johnella Howard, 72-years-old, and her caretaker, Susan Snow, entered a Publix grocery store in Florida.  In the course of their shopping, Johnella apparently suffered a nasty fall.  Her caretaker rushed to the management of the store to report the fall.  Employees called 911 and first responders attended to her.   It was a nasty fall, because it was staged.  Truth be told, she didn't fall as much...

La Gran Historia "Capitulo 2: La Caída" Génesis 3.1-10 & 21     El Pecado tiene elección Nuestro enemigo tiene un objetivo Nuestro enemigo tiene una estrategia El pecado tiene efectos El pecado trae vergüenza El pecado trae separación El pecado tiene esperanza Un Sacrificio inocente Un Salvador invencible

The Big Story "Chapter 1: Creation" Genesis 1:1, 26-28 & 31   The Creator In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (v. 1) His person His power The Created And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good (v. 31a). His imagination His image The Causes Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion . . . " (v. 26)   Th...

Guest speaker: Pr. Aroldo Vargas "Tres motivos para Celebrar y Agradecer" 1 Pedro 1:3-9                                                 Dios es el que da, el hombre es el que agradece. Dios es quien concede su Gracia y el hombre es el que le da Gracias por ella.   Primer motivo : Como cristianos tenemos en nuestro corazón un profundo agradecimiento por la ________ y ____________del Hijo de Dios. (...

Generous "Sowing and Reaping" 2 Corinthians 9:6-15   The principles of giving The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (vv. 6-7).   How to give   Heart to give   The provisions for giving And God...

Generoso "Siembra y Cosecha" 2 Corintios 9:6-15     Sembrar generosamente   Recuerden esto: El que siembra escasamente, escasamente cosechará, y el que siembra en abundancia, en abundancia cosechará (v. 6).   La provisión de las semillas   Los principios de la siembra   Sembrar alegremente   Cada uno debe dar según lo que haya decidido en su corazón, no de mala gana ni por obligación, porque Dios...

On the night Nell and I were commissioned as missionaries, a former missionary shared the following story with us.  She and her husband had served the Lord in the Far East.  One evening they hosted other missionaries in their home for a nice dinner.  She set the table with their fine china.  She prepared a delicious meal of favorite dishes.  For the centerpiece she chose a beautiful orchid from th...

This Lord's Day we will celebrate "Go Global" Sunday.  It is our special yearly emphasis on taking the good news of God's grace to the far corners of the globe.   The basis for our global goal is the grace of God in Christ.  Because we have come to know His grace experientially, we are motivated to give generously and go courageously till all the world has had an opportunity to experience the same...

In the mid-1900s Detroit, Michigan was one of America's greatest cities.  Its population swelled to some 2 million.  Its industrial base, centered on the production of automobiles, made it affluent.  The architecture of the city reflected its optimism and wealth.    But in more recent years its fortunes have changed.  People began to move out into the suburbs.  The population plummeted.  Buildings...

Dios es "Dios es bueno" Salmo 34:1-10   "…Prueben, y vean que el Señor es bueno. ¡Feliz el hombre que en él confía! " (Salmo 34:8)   Dios es digno De una adoración ininterrumpida De una adoración inigualable De una adoración unida Dios está trabajando El responde a nuestras oraciones El nos rescata de nuestras aflicciones Dios es Maravilloso Aceptemos su invitación Aceptemos su provisión

One of the first choruses I learned to sing is entitled "God Is So Good."  It is simple and child-like, but it is also true and priceless.  Here are the lyrics:   God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me!   The famous and brilliant Swiss theologian Karl Barth was once asked if he could summarize his life's work in theological studies in one sentence.  He answered that he...