Begin with Jesus

The autobiography of G. Stanley Jones is titled A Song of Ascent, and it’s considered to be a spiritual classic. Jones was a great man: a missionary to India, a friend to Gandhi, a tireless world traveler, and a Read more

Weeds

Have you ever been responsible for a task you didn’t particularly enjoy? Perhaps you can relate to one homemaker who developed a unique perspective on some of her less enjoyable household duties. She said: I don't do windows because I Read more

New Each Day

Patrick Henry, whose primary contribution to the history books is the phrase "Give me liberty or give me death," made another memorable statement. He said, "I know of no way of judging the future but by the past." Repeat this before Read more

I Am Second :: Remi Adeleke

"I made it through the Bronx, the streets, became a Navy Seal, and nobody could tell me nothing." Remi Adeleke craved money, the power and respect as his success in life. He found it being a thug, a hustler, a Read more

Baggage

We've all got it and it's really hard to let it go. In this skit, Tommy and Eddie give us a window into a young man's life who seems to be dealt one blow after another and becomes weighed Read more
•••••

Chosen

Posted on January 20, 2012 by GODencounters in Articles | 1 Comment

Imagine the feeling of being chosen… maybe when you were a kid and for once you were the first one chosen by the team captain at recess. Remember how that felt? You felt special and important; “I am wanted and valued”. Or what about the job that you really wanted and the interview was really tough but you were selected and given the position! That feeling is amazing and gives us so much confidence. It also gives us some pressure to perform and live up to the expectations of the one whom chose us.

Another scenario is a bit different – remember what it was like when that guy chose you and told you that he loves you no matter what? You don’t have to prove ourselves but rather just accept the gift of love that is offered. You have already done everything you can do to win his heart and he doesn’t demand any lists of tasks in order to make him love you more or to keep loving you.

I think this is a reflection of being chosen by God. Paul says in Eph. 1:4 “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” He chose us to be holy not because we were holy!! So love, choosing, and grace were extended before we were holy or perfect or blameless or even created! We were chosen as creations of God and because of his love — for no other reason! Stop a moment and reflect on this fact…

Our human love for each other is just a dim shadow of the immense love of the Father for us but it is what we can relate to. It just makes this love of God that much more amazing to compare how it feels to be loved unconditionally here on earth with how much MORE the love of God is for us individually.

“But there must be something I have to DO?” you say. The loving and amazing answer is “No”. Grace has already been given to us “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” (Eph. 2:4-5) The most amazing thing is that the saving is already done! There is nothing you can do to make yourself “more saved”. We must just accept this gift.

Knowing that we are saved brings us freedom in our Christian life (see Gal. 5:1). Paul discusses the law vs. grace many places throughout his writings and he gives this important warning: “You, my brothers, were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” (Gal. 5:13-14) So it comes full circle and the love that has been extended to us in “unmerited favor” we too should extend to others in acts of service and unconditional love.

-Elisa Brown

Church of Frankenstein

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Dany Hernandez in Articles | Leave a comment

I heard someone at church recently say, “It’s good to see the body of Christ together this morning!”  The statement was followed by a number of “amens” from those who where there.  I was disturbed by the visual of a body scattered in pieces all over town.  I’m not a doctor but I know that a hand away from the arm can’t function properly or survive very long.  And yet, this is what we have done to the concept of church.  If we think that the body of Christ coming together means going to church we are sadly mistaken.  You see, the Body of Christ should ALWAYS be together, because togetherness has nothing to do with proximity.  Look at what Paul writes…

1 Corinthians 12:25-27 (The Message)

The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.  You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this.”

The danger with our current thinking is that a monster is created when on the weekend you throw a bunch of parts together, and then add a bit of singing and preaching to “electrify” this body.  Many times the result is scary.  Welcome to the Church of Frankenstein.

Tebow Time!

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Lisa M Hope Tilstra in Articles | Leave a comment

“I’m going to pray that the Broncos make it to the Superbowl.”

“Do you really think that God cares who plays in the Superbowl?”

“Well, kind of.”

This exchange took place with my husband while Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos were in the middle of their six-game winning streak this fall.

I decided to start praying for the Broncos to make it to the Superbowl when I heard sports commentators talking about how they didn’t think Tebow was good enough to make it in the NFL—he was a great leader, but not a great quarterback.  They pointed out how he appears fearless in the face of stiff competition, but he doesn’t quarterback like the greats—like John Elway.  He doesn’t have what it takes to make it big, they said.

Now, as a Christian, I appreciate Tebow’s faith and his open proclamation of Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior.  And yet there’s something else that catches my attention.

Tebow’s authentic.  He’s transparent about who he is… and who he isn’t.  In a culture that touts individuality, while rewarding conformity, I find that commendable.  And it’s a role model our society is in desperate need of—being kind, caring, true to one’s own beliefs and values.

Being authentic is challenging.  There’s pressures on all sides to be someone we’re not—job demands, a potential promotion, connecting with friends, fitting in.  And yet, pretending to be someone I’m not takes a toll on me—on my heart and soul, especially.

Psalms 139 tells us we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  “You created the deepest parts of my being.  You put me together inside my mother’s body.  How you made me is amazing and wonderful.  I praise you for that.  What you have done is wonderful.  I know that very well.” (v. 13, 14)

David even adds, “Your eyes saw my body even before it was formed.” (v. 16)

Before I was born, God knew who I would be, what would be most important to me, and how I would interact with my world.  He designed me as me on purpose.

And He designed you as you on purpose.  And, yes, Tim Tebow, too.

I honor God by living as the person He created me to be.

This is how I see Tim Tebow honoring God most of all.  He’s not out to be John Elway.  He’s out to be Tim Tebow.  And that means his style of quarterbacking is unique to him.  He’s leading from within and I deeply respect that—even if Superbowl XLVI doesn’t happen for him!

« Previous   1 2 ... 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ... 35 36   Next »