Update #15 August 25, 2009

This might be the most important Update I have sent out. Please read it all and allow God’s Spirit to bless and minister to you.

I want to begin by expressing our deep appreciation for so many emails of love and encouragement! Your expressions of support and prayer touched our hearts! Thank you!

Thank you for praying for Diane. We are on a journey regarding her health. The tests indicated that she has a definite slowing in the abdominal tract and will need continued care and treatment. She is, as always, living each day to the fullest and being the best wife, grandmother, friend and helper possible – and doing a great job! Please continue to pray for her as the Lord brings her to your heart and mind.

Now – the Lord has laid a “Message” on my heart. I pay attention to what is happening in our country and in the church. Obviously, there is much to be concerned about. There are lots of words here, and it is worth the time for you to read and consider . . .

What is the answer? What is God’s answer?

We are watching our country in decline . . .

We have forsaken God. This nation had a special covenant with God from its founding. Our national motto is “In God We Trust.” We used to sing “God Bless America”, and He did. We used to pray in schools. We used to advocate, “Attend the Church of your choice.” We used to close our businesses on Sunday. We still pledge allegiance to one nation, under God. But for most Americans we honor God with our lips, but not with our hearts. Our pulpits were once aflame with righteousness, according to Alexis De Toqueville. America was once great because she was good, but she has ceased to be good, and we are no longer great. Our President has declared we are no longer a Christian nation. He does not attend the National Prayer Breakfast. After two hundred years to the contrary, our Supreme Court has told us God is no longer officially welcome in America, that we cannot not acknowledge Him officially, even though each is free to worship Him as they please. Our Supreme Court removed the Bible, the Ten Commandments (the moral code and basis of Western civilization and Judeo-Christian law), and prayer from public schools, contrary to the will of the majority of Americans. But we have done nothing to restore it. We have acquiesced. We are guilty. What happens to a nation that abandons God? The Bible is very clear on this point. “If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you." Joshua 24:20 The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him." Ezra 8:22 (This is taken from an article written by Allan Parker. If you would like to see the entire “Warning, Disaster is Coming” I would be happy to forward it to you.)

What is the answer? What is God’s answer?

We are watching our churches in decline . . .

Recent trends over the past 40 years indicate that Americans are becoming less interested in what the Christian church has to offer. From 1986-1996 the US population increased 11.4% (24,153,000) yet the combined membership of Protestant denominations decreased by 9.5% (4,498,242).• Not a single county in America has a greater percentage of “churched persons” than 10 years ago!• In 1900 – 27 churches for every 10,000 Americans.• In 1950 – 17 churches for every 10,000 Americans.• In 1996 – Less than 11 churches for every 10,000 Americans. • Approximately 4,000 churches close their doors every year while only 1,500 new churches are opened!• Percentage of people attending church in the US decreased 12% in the years from 1991 to 1996 – (49% to 37%)
Bible believing churches must do something and quick! If these trends continue, who is to say that in 100 years the churches of America won’t become like the churches of modern Western Europe – museums. (This information is copied from an article written by Backpack Truth Ministries. If you want to see the entire article that has many more documented facts, I’ll be happy to send it to you.)


What is the answer? What is God’s answer?

Is God’s #1 answer for Christ-followers to become passionate about standing up for our conservative Christian values as a nation and fight against the political left that is taking our country away from the constitution and the Judeo-Christian roots of America?

Though the above is good – it is not God’s #1 answer!

Is God’s #1 answer for church growth instead of church decline to become more and more like the modern culture in it’s attempt to gain attendees? Is the answer for the church to spend thousands of dollars each week on the ‘production’ so the attendees will ‘love’ the service and come back? Is the answer for the church to have newer, more high-tech auditoriums that feed the needs of the younger attendees and keep them coming?

Though the above might be ok – it is certainly not God’s #1 answer! What God wants . . . is for His Gospel to be preached, both in the church buildings and outside the church building. JESUS is the answer!!! People being rescued from their lost condition and discipled according to the terms of Matthew 28:19, 20 is the mission of the church. The greatest need that all people have, because they are under God’s wrath against sin, is for the blood atonement that only Jesus Christ provides. This comes from the preaching of the Gospel. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

A personal word . . . my passion

I see in the gospel of Jesus Christ the good news of the Son of God, the truth of God. Only Christ can meet the perfect law. Only Christ can satisfy the justice of God. Only Christ can open the way for us into the holiest of all, into the presence of the Father. Only Christ can supply the need of the bankrupt sinner, and only Christ can keep me from falling. "Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling, and who is able to present you faultless before the throne and the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; to him be glory both now and forever." That's why it's necessary for me to preach (to speak or share) the gospel: the beauty of it, the glory of it, the truth of it. I could tell you that salvation is in the church, but it wouldn't be true. I could tell you to come forward after I preach and shake my hand and God would take you to heaven, but it would be a lie. I could tell you, ‘let me baptize you,’ and by obeying the baptismal commandment you will go to heaven, but it wouldn't be so. I could tell you that if you live a good life and pray and go to church on Sunday and give a little offering, God will take you to heaven when you die, but it wouldn't be so. I could tell you to quit drinking, quit lying and cheating and live a good, moral life and you will go to heaven when you die, but that would be a lie — it wouldn't be so. But when I tell you that Christ died for our sins; that Christ is a sufficient Savior; that Christ is an effectual substitute who came down here and gave us a righteousness which we didn't have and couldn't produce, went to the cross, bore our sins, paid our debt, satisfied the justice of God; that he is our living advocate at the right hand of the Father; and that if you come to a living, vital union with him, you'll be saved — that's the truth, and the only truth that will make you free. It’s only Jesus that can save our country! Jesus and His gospel is the only message our church should be preaching! It’s the only way to have real church growth! Jesus is the answer! We are all ‘preachers’ & ‘evangelists’ and ‘tellers’ of the gospel! We all must “get all excited & go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is King!”

Romans 10:9-13 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News (The Gospel) I preached to you . . . Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said . . . if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Do you sense the Holy Spirit giving agreement to all the above? Does your spirit bear witness that what I have written and what we are doing is right?

Will you help us call the church back to the ministry of evangelism? Will you join us in lifting up the gospel of Jesus Christ (ministry of evangelism) in the church and outside the church (missional living) to it’s proper value?

This is good!!! Let the Lord bless and challenge you with this youtube.com video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZiMlwXU6fQ&feature=player_embedded

May God bless you as you seek to be more like Him every day!

O Lord, Glorify Yourself at Our Expense!

Evangelist Ken & Diane Ramey

Home address:
14400 SE 270th Pl
Kent, WA 98042 Phone: 425-495-3723