“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."
1 John 1:5

Traditions
"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 12:50

In Native tradition, the nurturing of a child (the bringing up) is done by the extended family.  It's not just the mother and father, but also the uncles, aunts, and grandparents that help the child become what he should be.

In our family, we adopt our brothers and sisters in Christ as uncles and aunts.  This is giving respect for an elder and realizing that our Christian brothers and sisters can help us nurture our children.

But who is our ultimate brother - Jesus Christ himself.  We need to allow our brother Jesus to be a guiding force, a light for ourselves and for our children.

• Onondaga woman named to United Nations post: Tonya Gonnella Frichner, a member of the Onondaga Nation of New York, has been named North America's regional representative to the United Nations' Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Frichner, an attorney, will spent most of her time at the UN in New York City. She has been working on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, which encountered resistance from the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

• Lawmaker drops bill for Gabrielino Tribe: A California state lawmaker has withdrawn her support for a bill that would create a reservation for the Gabrielino-Tongva Tribe. Sen. Jenny Oropeza, a Democrat, introduced the bill just last week. But after learning that tribal leaders hoped to use the reservation in the future for a casino, she withdrew her name. The tribe is recognized by the state and has petitioned for federal recognition. Rival factions claim control of the tribe.

• Bush cutting vital Indian programs: On Monday, President George W. Bush presented his budget for fiscal year 2009, which begins Oct. 1. In the final budget of his presidency, Bush proposed serious cuts in federal spending to many programs vital to Indian Country. In his annual address last Thursday, President Joe Garcia of the National Congress of American Indians spoke about the need for economic development, health care reform, public safety funds and education reform for Indian Country. So it came as a slap in the face when Bush's budget Monday proposed cuts to many Indian programs, including:
  
  • The Bureau of Indian Affairs education construction fund, which would be slashed by $177 million less than Congress appropriated for it this year, if Bush has his way. His budget sets aside just $140 million for that fund.

  • The Indian Health Service's Urban Indian Health Program, which serves Indians in South Dakota communities like Sioux Falls and Pierre, would not be funded, and likely be eliminated, under Bush's proposed budget. Congress set aside $35 million for the program this fiscal year.

  • The Indian Health Facilities fund, which would see a $22 million decrease under Bush's proposed budget and receive just $362 million for the next fiscal year. That account supports construction, repair and improvement of Indian Health Services facilities.

  • Three Department of Justice programs that service Indian Country, which would be zeroed out under Bush's plan. Those programs provide for incarceration on tribal lands, tribal courts and grants for tribes. Congress provided $33 million for the programs for the current fiscal year.

  • Two U.S. Department of Education programs that provide financial support to tribal colleges, universities and technical institutes would see none of the more than $30 million that Congress appropriated to them this fiscal year under Bush's budget.

  • The Native American Housing Block Grants program, which Congress funded for $681 million this fiscal year, would see $54 million less under the president's budget."

Walking the New Path
(Lesson 4, Part 4)

Below is an excerpt of the Warriors for Christ discipleship course. Each newsletter we add a new section. Visit our first newsletters on the homepage or email us if you want previous lessons.

4. REVEALS GOD TO US: The Holy Spirit gives us understanding of Father-reator's love for us through reading the Bible, visions, dreams and impressions. He gives us direction for our lives. Through God's Word we understand His mysteries.

Joel 2:28- "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."

Ephesians 1:9 - "And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ."

NOTE: Satan can also give us dreams and visions, yet these are half truths. Sometimes, he can even use God’s Word, yet when he does he twists the truth – he uses them to manipulate the situation for his behalf.

5. TEACHES US: The Holy Spirit gives us WISDOM to understand the Word of Father - Creator. He teaches us truth through; His Word, truth to live our lives, direction, and understanding of His way.

1 Corinthians 2:13 - “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”
 
John 16:13 - “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

5. LIVES IN US: The Holy Spirit lives in the believer (Christian). When you became a Christian, Father-Creator, Jesus and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you.

1 Corinthians 3:16
“Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?”

Romans 8:9
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ."

• "For the Esselen Nation to all come to know Jesus - the Creator, as their Lord and Savior. For their tribe to be known as Christ followers. For them to see His love and how He wants to bless them and heal them - they have a lot of issues that has brought so much hurt and heartache and division." - Friend of Esselen family
• Tonita-apache/cahuilla native - "Salvation,arthritis & stroke healing & diabetes, misses her oldest daughter haven't heard from in 10 years now, loneliness." - Peggy, Cahuilla
• Chosenbeacheagle - "Pancreatitis healing,medication giving me very dry mouth & now need dental work,brakes need repair/no funds 4 brakes GOD's provision." - Debra, Cherokee
• "Please pray for a Klallam woman who has recently accepted the Lord and is currently in discipleship with me. She has 5 children, who's father has been in jail on drug charges and warrants. He has been released and she is afraid that he will come back to her home and try to start up their relationship. They are not married, and she has explained to him that she doesn't want to continue the relationship, but wants to follow the Lord. She is trying to be strong, but is afraid that he will try and force his way back into their lives."

• Please pray for additional finances, so we can finish our discipleship center.
• Volunteers to come and help with building projects.
• A volunteer who could help with accounting and office work.