Thomas Cosmades
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While I was living in Marash word reached us that there was a distinguished soldier of the Cross in Aintab who was God’s instrument in the revival there...A missionary of the American Board in Aintab, Mr. Speakers, encouraged him to visit Marash… But we were astonished to see an ordinary-looking man, clothed as if he were from the poorest peasant class. Just as the evangelist Isaiah described his Master, ‘he had no form or comeliness…; no beauty that we should desire him.’… We departed from his company with grateful hearts to God for allowing us to be in the company of this noteworthy Christian. It was he, along with twenty-seven other Christian believers, who were burned to death in Osmaniye on April 14, 1909, on their way to the Cilician Convention in Adana. When the Muslims burned Sarkis Hoja and his companions to death, they actually set aflame a new commitment among the Christians… more
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Pentecost (Ephesians 5:6-20)
On May 11th we celebrate the day of Pentecost. I have written this message for the occasion, with prayer that it will refresh your heart in this dry world. Thomas Cosmades The Incarnation is the most distinctive event in history. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (John 1:14). In this momentous occurrence divine and human natures appeared in oneness in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son. Another resplendent manifestation of the divine-human dynamic is the baptism of Christ’s believers with the Holy Spirit... more
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During the past few decades, Turkey (Anatolia) has been in the limelight of activity for the Savior of all people. Hundreds of proclaimers of Good Tidings from many countries have been motivated to spread Christ’s message all the way from the main metropolises to the remotest hamlets in this historic land. The brief life story of Stephanos Sirinides (1846-1916) will elucidate contemporary laborers in this same land… There is a sequel to the once-functioning church in Zinjidere and her sister churches. In our time the testimony of Christ is moving ahead, albeit against concerted contention… Churches of all ages such as the one in Zinjidere which bore a living testimony for Christ the Redeemer will be continually followed by new ones until the Lord returns... more
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Story of Haralambos Bostanjoglou Approximately five million Christians lost their homeland and many their lives during World War I and afterwards... Some of them are bathed in sublime joy and others drenched in human blood. This remarkable account of Haralambos Bostanjoglou is only one in the series of brilliant achievements in Asia Minor prior to the blotting out of the Christian faith. The reader will observe unswerving gallantry against an unrelenting adversary, fascinating reception and appalling rejection, a desperate community and a despondent outcome... more
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WILL SHINE LIKE THE STARS FOREVER Story of Vahram Tatikyan (1909-1965) Vahram's single-minded service to God and man, first in Istanbul, then in Anatolia and finally in different countries around the world reads like a spiritual epic... What is so distinctive and striking about this godly man and yet whose name is virtually unknown in our times? How was it that he, who knew neither school nor university, was able to speak to hundreds of thousands of people, change the direction of their hearts' affections and be used as an effective instrument in bringing countless people to find peace with God?... more
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"NO LONGER LONELY" AND GALLIPOLI Who knows how many of these young Anzac lads and other soldiers met their resurrected Savior as they were cut down by the bullets in the trenches.. more
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My residence was at the palace of Herod in Caesarea. During the Jewish feasts I moved to Jerusalem to prevent any possible turmoil caused by Jewish extremists ... more
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Every statement from the Incarnate Word bears timeless significance. However, in the last seven words which Christ pronounced from the cross there is historic, theological and existential relevance. From the hour they were first heard during the Savior’s tormenting agony, much has been communicated on the subject. Always some new light or insight emanates from these unfading pronouncements... more In a compendium article, we took the subject of The Churches in Christ’s Eyes. In sequence to this, a striking observation comes to light: The letters to the Seven Churches are loaded with serious imperatives from him, related to his solemn pronouncements. These are dispersed between the lines of the epistles, constantly reminding the reader about the urgency of decision and action ... more
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The story of Dr. Daniel Morrison Benonia Thom written by Nellie Elona Thom Freyer Father came to the United States when a minor with his father and mother, brothers and sisters. They settled in Wisconsin and then moved to Minnesota near Owatonna, Steele County, Minnesota. He studied at Rush Medical College, Chicago and went to Mardin, Turkey as a medical missionary (for forty years) with his wife in 1874, where he remained until he was deported by the Turks during the first World War at the instigation of the Germans, to Sivas, Turkey, where he died of typhus on 8 December 1915 and was buried there. His wife passed away in childbirth resulting from uremia poisoning on 16 January 1888... more
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St. Thomas was a disciple of Jesus Christ whose life and ministry carry great weight to the Christians in India, some of whom belong to the Martoma Church. In the Church calendar, the Sunday following Easter is celebrated as St. Thomas' Day. The emotional turmoil observed in the conduct of this renowned apostle exposes the span of conflicts surfacing within my soul and yours. Incidents affecting our overall behavior can be readily traced to battles that troubled this reputable disciple's life. It is of benefit for every believer to examine the pros and cons in Thomas' stormy behavior, which mirror our own ups and downs... more |
HE DIED AT SATAN'S THRONE (Rev. 2:13) Success catapults one into the limelight. The world sings the praises of those who succeed, acclaims those who achieve. Undeserving persons are placed on a pedestal, while unsung heroes are buried in the archives of negligence. There is a vast army of heroes of faith encountered in the Old Testament and the New, along with those mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, whose commitment to the Triune God draws due admiration. There are also a large number of puissant champions, who are either mentioned in a cursory manner in the Scriptures or not at all. The Holy Spirit apportions another manner of divine recognition for them... more
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The Quranic claim to the quality, capacity and finality of Islam is nothing less than direct defiance of YAHWEH’s covenant pronouncement once made to Abraham. The intrusion and usurpation of the defiant religion launched by Ishmael's most prominent son testifies to his deep-seated grudge. It cries out that his people were cheated and short-changed by Isaac's progeny. In the very beginning of the new religion the grievance of the founder comes to light ... ... Fourteen hundred years have elapsed since the inception of this religion in Arabia. Its impact and force are at its apex in these perilous times. Politico-military confrontation between Muslim and Jew has been ongoing for the past sixty years. In our time religious terrorism is the chief concern of nations and societies. Radical jihadism propelled chiefly by Al-Qaeda is the primary imperilment of this precarious age. While many Islamic governments feel that they are also threatened by its merciless incursion, those who carry it out with resolve justify their bloody operation to age-long grievance... more |
There are many proverbs in the Bible, with a whole book carrying this title. Of these, the earliest, if not the first, is "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before YAHWEH" (Genesis 10:9). Immediately following is a statement about this mighty man, who became the founder of Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, all in Shinar. From that land he went to Assyria where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah and Resen – eight famous city kingdoms. The first four were in Shinar – Hebraicised form of Sumer (Babylonia); the latter four in Asshur (Assyria) (cf. 11:2)... more |
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THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN CHRIST'S EYES The church, Christ's body on earth, has undergone – and is undergoing – a number of variations and transformations since its inception. Alas! Many for the worse... more |
An Analysis of the Paraphrased New Testament by FRONTIERS A group in Turkey associated with a society called ‘Frontiers’ have been enthusiastically involved in paraphrasing a Turkish New Testament with Islamic intonation. This attempt is already stirring wide controversy and audible alarm among young Turkish pastors, ordinary believers and most of the missionaries... The argument for this new trend is that certain elements and phrases in the New Testament are offensive to Muslims. Therefore, the reasoning goes, it ought to be rendered in such a way as to present it in friendly modulation. Some designations in the New Testament are being jettisoned in favor of non-offensive and more acceptable terminology... more |
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Tathlis - Tawhid, Principle Difference Between The Two Basic differences, even contradictions among religions, are an actuality. An expression which we may call conciliatory is often voiced: three monotheistic religions of the world – Judaism, Christianity and Islam are described in this way. Dialogs and exchange of views on the subject have become the burning passion of some. The three religions to which ordinary folks refer as monotheistic are basically discordant and in many cases antithetical. Monotheism, as is being used today, starts with Abraham. The historic significance of monotheistic belief is seen in the course of history by Abraham’s faith in the One God and God’s reckoning it to him for righteousness (cf. Genesis 15:6)... more
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In a compendium article, we took the subject of The Churches in Christ’s Eyes. In sequence to this, a striking observation comes to light: The letters to the Seven Churches are loaded with serious imperatives from him, related to his solemn pronouncements. These are dispersed between the lines of the epistles, constantly reminding the reader about the urgency of decision and action. There are ten imperatives addressing the churches, each one a direct command to every individual within each fellowship ... more |
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The Dreadful Warfare Symbolized By The Cup The chief question is related to our Lord’s supplication, “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me.” What is this cup? This age-long question has drawn many answers throughout the centuries. Here are a few of the attempted explanations that will be dismissed by anyone acquainted with Christ’s commission and its impeccable fulfillment ... more |
(Luke 24:50-52; Acts 1:1-11; Hebrews 9:1-14; 24-28) The glory of the Incarnation and Redemption fixes our eyes on the Savior’s Ascension. Today he is in a different involvement than in his pre-incarnate state. In Revelation, the gleaming ascension of Christ is treated as the climax of the ultimate fulfillment of his ministry. It is to be lamented that the remembrance of this crowning chapter goes unnoticed in most of the evangelical churches or in individual remembrances. How many pulpits consider this glowing event on the Sunday that follows Ascension Thursday, joyfully looking into its different phases? more |
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