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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">May 9, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>2012-05-09
- AMOS - INTRODUCTION</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>(From
“The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language” by Eugene H.
Peterson)</b></p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>More
people are exploited and abused in the cause of religion than in any
other way. Sex, money, and power all take a back seat to religion as
a source of evil. Religion is the most dangerous energy source known
to humankind. The moment a person (or government or religion or
organization) is convinced that God is either ordering or sanctioning
a cause or project, anything goes. The history, worldwide, of
religion-fueled hate, killing, and oppression is staggering. The
biblical prophets are in the the front line of those doing something
about it. </b>
</p>
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</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>The
biblical prophets continue to be the most powerful and effective
voices ever heard on this earth for keeping religion honest, humble,
and compassionate. Prophets sniff out injustice, especially injustice
that is dressed up in religious garb. They sniff it out a mile away.
Prophets see through hypocrisy, especially hypocrisy that assumes a
religious pose. Prophets are not impressed by position or power or
authority. They aren't taken in by numbers, size, or appearances of
success.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>They
pay little attention to what men and women say about God or do for
God. They listen to God and rigorously test all human language and
action against what they hear. Among these prophets, Amos towers as
defender of the downtrodden poor and accuser of the powerful rich who
use God's name to legitimize their sin.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>None
of us can be trusted in this business. If we pray and worship God and
associate with others who likewise pray and worship God, we
absolutely must keep company with these biblical prophets. We are
required to submit all our words and acts to their passionate
scrutiny to prevent the perversion of our religion into something
self-serving. A spiritual life that doesn't give a large place to the
prophet-articulated justice will end up making us worse instead of
better, separating us from God's ways instead of drawing us into
them.</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
Prophets are not popular. When King Jehoshaphat of Judah requested a
true prophet of the LORD to give counsel to him and King Ahab of
Israel - the latter said concerning the prophet Micaiah - “I hate
him - he always speaks evil of me!” Jehoshaphat chided Ahab for
this outburst, but it did little good!</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">When
John the Baptist rebuked King Herod for marrying his brother's wife,
Herodias contrived to have John beheaded!</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">When
Jesus as the Son of God and a true prophet confronted the scribes and
Pharisees of His day - they arranged to have Him crucified.</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Persecution
and death has been the normal end for all true prophets. It mattered
not to them whether it was a king, a governor, a ruler or a rich man
- all true prophets spoke out the truth - let the chips fall where
they may!</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">There
was a time when the word that came forth over pulpits was of this
order. Mary Queen of Scots heard John Knox speak concerning her so
clearly, that she wept. She said, “I fear the prayers of John Knox
more than all the armies of England! When Know preached, it is said
that he “dinged the pulpit into blads.” Interpretation: While he
preached, he hit the pulpit so hard, that splinters flew off!</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">We
have an election coming up. Is it legitimate for one to hear from the
pulpit concerning our present president? Should he be given a second
term? Or is he like Mary Queen of Scots - one who needs to hear from
the pulpits of the land areas where he needs to repent, truly come to
God, and hew the line as a ruler by conforming to the Word of God? If
all professing Christians heard and followed such words, we would
have a definite change in the presidency.</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">There
are many in our land who are not clear in their thinking concerning
the prophetic responsibility of the pulpit in this area for our day.
J.A.Watt</span></b></p>
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