New York's [this world's] Not My Home

Things were spinnin' 'round me And all my thoughts were cloudy And I had begun to doubt all the things that were me Been in so many places, you know I've run so many races I looked into the empty faces of the people of the night Somethin' is just not right 'Cause I know that I've gotta get outta here I'm so alone Don't you know that I gotta get outta here 'Cause New York's not my home Though all the streets are crowded There's somethin' strange about it I lived there 'bout a year and I never once felt at home I thought I'd make the big time I learned a lot of lessons awfully quick And now I'm tellin' you that they were not the nice kind It has been so long since I have felt fine That's the reason that I've gotta get outta here I'm so alone Don't you know that I gotta get outta here 'Cause New York's not my home That's the reason that I've gotta get outta here I'm so alone Don't you know that I gotta get outta here 'Cause New York's not my home Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: James Croce New York's Not My Home lyrics © Universal Music - Z Songs, Bmg Platinum Songs, H&r Lastrada Music, R2m Publishing, Denjac Music Company, Croce Publishing

Yavuz Sakbas (25 June 1940 - 07 June 2013)

"Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures." (James 1:18)


"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. (...) But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ."(1 Corinthians 15:20 , 23)

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We are very sorry to receive news of Yavuz agabey's passing.
Our hope is the surest of all hopes anchored in the reality of the resurrection and the reality of our living Lord Jesus Christ who walks with us day by day.

From my limited perspective over the years i was privileged to know him especially during some of my most precious years in Turkey.

Yavuz agabey's life was a significant example to me and a significant role model in an era where Turkish Christian role models were very rare indeed.

In our generation, the Lord Jesus started a new work calling us Turks to Himself. Now there are a few thousand Turkish Christians.

Back in history somewhere in Canada Yavuz agabey heard and answered the call of the Lord Jesus to be a "member of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19).

Yavuz agabey became one of the Lord Jesus' "first fruits" among Turks. He was in many ways a pioneer. As it is the case with all pioneers, life is not easy. His life was a struggle in many ways, perhaps chiefly a health struggle; but also a struggle in how to be a Christian among his Turkish Muslim natural family, a struggle in how to be a Christian citizen in a Turkish country and society and so on ... .

When i was 17 years old, my high school yearbook had this quote from Yunus Emre under my picture :

"Up up to the Caspian Sea and down to Damascus i have wondered around yet never found a wanderer like me".

Well, it turned out 9 years later, i did find a fellow "wanderer" : my brother Yavuz.

He wandered from Canada to Turkey and then to Sweden.

But now he wanders no more ... he is home .... he is with our beloved Saviour and Lord Jesus.

Verse of the Day

Ephesians 3:14-21

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁴For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
¹⁵For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].
¹⁶May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
¹⁷May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
¹⁸That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
¹⁹[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
²⁰Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--
²¹To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

Verse of the Day

[26] 'Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins, [27] while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded, and have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown. [28] 'I know your sitting down and your going out and coming in, and your raging against me. [29] Because you have raged against me and your arrogance has come to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will turn you back on the way by which you came.' [30] "And this shall be the sign for you: this year eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs of the same; then in the third year sow and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. [31] And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward; [32] for out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. --- ISAIAH 37

Verse of the Day

"And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him." (Isaiah 30:18)

And a good devotional on this passage can be found HERE.

"I once was lost, but now am found"

"[4]On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.[5]No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you.

Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.[6] “‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!”

-- Ezekiel 16:4-6

Quotes of the Day

"Zeal for God's house consumed him and constructed him. Destroy this temple and
in three days I will raise it up." (J Piper)

"My body and the Church are also His house and His zeal for these, I would say, is even greater than His zeal for the temple made with hands! Thank you Jesus for Your zeal for me!!!" (Mark Harrell Jr)

What is Christianity ?

Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past - Poem by C.T Studd

“Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

— extra stanza —

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,only what’s done for Christ will last. And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,if the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee

A Man Bent Over from The Orchard on Vimeo.

At 9:09, he quotes Daniel Rowland :

" Lost men love doctrine, saved men love Christ"

Quote of the Day

“I am responsible for my life and the lives of the young ones that I’m given charge of in my household.

And the certainty of my faith is this:

If I don’t waste the opportunities that I am given, the talents that I am given, if I dispense one man’s portion of kindness and decency, then all will be all right, because I’m not so solitary.

There’s nothing so wonderful and unique and distinct about me. I know that. And so if I just do my part, the world won’t go to hell in the bucket.

What paralyzes you is taking on the responsibility of trying to make the whole world that way. Heavens, I’ll not do that.

But we can keep the flame alive. We can keep stoking the fires. And that’s really all we’re obliged to do.”


Cleophus Thomas Jr., Alabama attorney; from "Fearful Symmetry"(1998) documentary about the making of the film "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Herald - Kerux (1 Corinthians 9:27) (1/2)

Herald - Kerux (1 Corinthians 9:27) (2/2)

The revision of the SGH (Sevinç Getirici Haber) version of the New Testament has just come off the press in Turkey and in Germany.

It is now available for all who wish to purchase it, either for themselves or for Turkish friends or acquaintances. .

The price in Europe is 4€ (Four Euros) and in Turkey 2 € (Two Euros).

The places to order these New Testaments are: For the German edition: msoe@msoe.org and for Turkey: agape55@gmail.com.

Verse of the Day

Folly delights a man who lacks judgment,
but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.

Proverbs 15:21

Quote of the Day

"Even if I were utterly selfish and had no care for anything but my own happiness, I would choose, if God allowed, to be a soul-winner, for never did I know perfect, overflowing, unutterable happiness of the purest and most ennobling order till I first heard of one who had sought and found a Savior through my means." –Charles Spurgeon

Verse of the Day

Luke 6:35-38 (New American Standard Bible)

35"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

36"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.

38"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

Keep Your Heart With All Diligence -- Proverbs 4:23

http://www.bhpcommunitychurch.org.uk/mp3/sermons/2009/q3_09/bhp300809p.mp3



Psalm 119:32 "I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart."

Prayer : "Jesus come into my heart, grow in my heart and enlarge my heart." Amen