Grace Martial Arts Fellowship began in 1990, went online with a website in 1995 and began publishing newsletters to the Christian martial arts community in 1998.
Because of the quality of information found in those early newsletter articles and the fact they are no longer available online, we’ve decided to re-publish many of them in the coming weeks and months. Our hope is that a new generation of Christian martial artists will be blessed by the wisdom of those who were on the path before them.
GMAF NEWSLETTER APRIL 2001
Welcome to the GMAF Newsletter! We pray it will encourage you in your Martial Arts and Outreach for Christ.
Thoughts from the Master
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you…This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Jesus Christ
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
The Apostle Paul
Wisdom Notes
“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.” Psalms 18:1
“Lover of Souls” Part Two
by Sensei Mark McGee
Look around you today. What do you see? People desperately in need of God’s Love. Christians are surrounded by a sea of humanity; people who are sad, depressed and downtrodden. What can we do for them? What can we say to affect their lives for good? What can we give them to make a long- term difference?
Some say money is the answer. Give people money and they’re happy and fulfilled. Do we know any unhappy people who have plenty of money? Yes, we do; millions of them.
Some say position and prestige is the answer. Give people a good job with position and prestige and that will make them happy. Do we know unhappy people who have position and prestige? Yes, we do; millions of them.
Some say power and influence is the answer. Give people power over others and that will make them happy. Do we know unhappy people who have power and influence? Yes, we do; millions of them.
Some say sexual freedom is the answer. Give people freedom to have sex with anyone they want and they’ll be happy. Do we know unhappy people who have sexual freedom? Yes, we do; millions of them.
Some say alcohol and drugs is the answer. Give people all the alcohol and drugs they can swallow, smoke and inject and they’ll be happy. Do we know unhappy people who have plenty of alcohol and drugs? Yes, we do; millions of them.
Money is not the answer. Position and prestige are not the answer. Power and influence are not the answer. Sexual freedom is not the answer. Alcohol and drugs are not the answer. What is the answer?
Jesus Christ! He is the Answer to everyone’s need.
What is it that Jesus has that people need? Love! Love and Forgiveness. Christ Jesus is Love and gives Love. He gives Forgiveness and Eternal Life. Jesus is The Almighty Lover of Souls.
“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” (John 13:1)
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you…This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:9,12-13)
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
“And walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and hath given himself for us an
offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:2)“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” (Ephesians 5:25)
Jesus is not a sometime Lover of souls. He does not Love us when it’s easy or convenient. He does not Love us only when we obey Him. Jesus Christ loves us “unto the end.” He Loves us so much He laid down His Life for His friends (that’s us!).
Christ’s Love for us is Supernatural. It’s Eternal. It never ends. It never wears out. It never has a bad day. It never forgets. It never gets too busy. Christ will be with us always. His Love for us extends from the beginning to the end. He is always in a good mood with us. He always has time for us. He always remembers our needs. He always gives us His Best.
Jesus gave us His Love so we could do four basic things during our lives:
- Love God
- Love ourselves
- Love each other
- Love the world
Without Christ we can do none of these things in ways that please God.
“Jesus said unto Him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:39)
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Galatians 5:14)
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen. And this commandment have we from him, That he who
loveth God love his brother also.” (1 John 4:20-21)
Jesus went so far to say “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:40) Jesus Christ taught that the primary directive of the Old Testament was to love God and your neighbor. Paul taught that the entire Law was fulfilled in one word: Love. That love was specifically toward others. What a message! What a challenge.
Many Christians are searching for a ministry. They wonder what God’s Will is for them. What does He want us to do? The answer is simple: Go forth and love someone. Love somebody; that’s our ministry. Many Christians look at their pastor or a missionary or an evangelist and think, “Oh, if only I had a degree from a Bible College. Oh, if only I had the gift of preaching. Oh, if only …….” Christians are wasting their precious time with the “Oh, if onlys.” You have all you need to begin a ministry. Look around you. See someone who needs love? Go love them. Show them the true power of God: love them.
How do you know God loves you? He gives you time. He speaks graciously to you. He forgives you. He listens to you. He cares for you. He meets your needs. He protects you. He gives you hope.
How do you know someone loves you? They give you time. They speak graciously to you. They forgive you. They listen to you. They care for you. They meet your needs. They protect you. They give you hope.
That’s what you can do for others. Give someone love today. Give them some of your time. Speak graciously to them. Forgive them. Listen to them. Care for them. Meet their needs. Protect them. Give them hope. It’s surprising how easy it is to have a ministry of love to another human being. That’s what God has called us to do. To use a common phrase: Just do it! Your home, your neighborhood, your town, your world will be a better place for it.
“The Game of Life” The Benefits of Salvation
by Master Robert Xavier
When we are “saved,” we are born again: “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
When we are saved, we are made to be new creatures: “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
When we are saved, we have passed from death to life: “Verily, verily, I say to you, He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)
When we are saved, we have been transferred from the rule of darkness to the kingdom of God’s Son: “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
When we are saved, we enter a new Personal relationship with God which gives us a spiritual life and vitality. This new life is a gift that will never die: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10-b)
These wonderful results of having new life in Christ are offered freely to all who trust in Christ for salvation:
“But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)
Salvation is supernatural. It is based upon the revelation that God has provided redemption for the world from the possibility of being condemned on account of our sin.
Salvation means wholeness: “having all the parts working.” It is not just an eternal rescue (although that would be a great thing in itself!), but it also includes health, functioning lives in the present, with our minds, wills, emotions, bodies and relationships all working as he intended. The experience of salvation means a person can be regenerated; with the character of Christ born within him, by way of the Holy Spirit.
God accomplished a life-changing transformation for all who truly believe and trust in Christ!
(Next month: Dimensions of Salvation)
“THOUGHTS”
From Grand Master Karl William Marx Sr.
That tiny thought, good or bad, which can make you happy or sad. Wow! A thought can do that? The first thing in (or should it be out) of our mouth every morning should be the praise of God. I have noticed that my disposition in the mornings depends on my thought pattern at that moment. People who suffer from Anxiety attacks, manic depression episodes, and other emotional problems may learn something from this view of mine. When I feel depressed, I usually start to pray. My mind becomes distracted from whatever was disturbing me and I begin to focus on God. As time passes (Prayers are so useful and powerful) my mental condition changes to a peaceful joy of the Lord.
As always the Words of God are proven true to His faithful and actually to those who are not so faithful. ” What God say’s God Does” Problems will be found all our lives on this Earth. The choice of how we deal with each situation depends on us. For me this is difficult. To be happy and thankful when times are difficult is not my nature.
Remembering what Ephesians say’s That we are to give thanks ALWAYS for ALL things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s a hard road to hoe for me. However thanks to the correct thoughts like those above to remind me, I can “out with the bad thoughts, and in with the good”.
This is just the first part of several parts concerning thinking the thoughts that helps keep the joy of the Lord present. One of my old saying’s is something like this” a person who thinks he’s thinking, without thinking, about what he’s thinking, might just be thinking stinking thinking. That is were many of us become ensnared with emotional problems. The thoughts we sometime think are responsible for how we fell during the time we are thinking. I leave you with this, Just THINK about it. ( Did I make a pun)?
Just me walking the walk, not just talking the talk.
Christ’s servant Karl
Taking God’s Grace to the World!
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