The Wellness Guy - Conscience Meets Commerce

Suffering and God's Grace

2009-07-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

Can it be just about not getting a big head? God wants us to live a holy and righteous life, but sometimes we get confused between getting the approval of the people around us, and getting God's approval. Sometimes, God's purposes for our lives are so big, that our self-image can get in the way of us doing what God made us to do for His kingdom.

We've heard the saying: “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” That's a nice sentiment, speaking greatly to the virtue of courage and perseverance. But we must not overlook the role of God's grace in the process of one's restoration.

If we're going through an ugly situation – even if we're convinced that it's our fault for getting there in the first place - we still have a privilege to ask God to get us out of it. The bible tells us that God can give us a way of escape when we get into situations that are over our heads.

Faith entails a healthy dependence on God's deliverance. If we get into a threatening situation, we should ask God one time – ask God two times – ask Him as many times as we feel led to do so. And if God doesn't bring us right out of it, we have a right to ask God why He is allowing the problem to go on.

At the same time, as long as we're in a situation, we also have a right to ask God to give us the strength to hold on. God's power works best in us when we finally figure out that it's God who's fighting our battles, and not us.

Predicaments that we are too weak to resolve allow us more vividly to see God's grace and power. And this points to a somewhat-perplexing phenomenon: the sufferings that we go through are connected to God's unmerited favor. As the Psalmist has said: “The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground ... His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. “

A thorough discussion about God's grace cannot validly leave out the parts of our lives when we go through suffering. It is through those moments that we really discover the extent to which God will move heaven and earth to help us. In other words, an intimate experience with adversity explains the celebration that absolutely becomes necessary when God brings victory.

One commentator puts it this way: “Grace signifies the good-will of God towards us, and that is enough to enlighten and enliven us, sufficient to strengthen and comfort in all afflictions and distresses.” The painful circumstances through which God sends His grace remind us that our victory does not depend on our own strength or righteousness.

This is what is so amazing about grace. God's grace is simply more significant than the number of virtues that we have demonstrated, and more formidable that the level of our own faith.

This revelation may cause some initial discomfort. But that discomfort exposes our own vanity, as our natural impulse may be to presume that God's favor has some relationship to our own merit. But as God stated to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” In recognition of this truth, the apostle Paul stated: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Perhaps “no guts, no glory” doesn't tell the whole story. Maybe it should be “no grace, no victory.”

July is National Minority Health Awareness Month

2009-07-10T05:11:00.000-07:00

The National Alliance on Mental Illness announces National Minority Health Awareness Month. NAMI has important resources available for communities to address mental health.

NAMI offers a full spectrum of support programs and services across the US. CLICK HERE to find your local NAMI organization.

What is "Resveratrol" and How Can I Get It?

2009-07-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

Res-vera-trol: that's an interesting-looking word, and it is becoming quite familiar to people who are paying attention to its benefits.

"60 Minutes" has already featured Resveratrol. So have CNN, Fox and the NY Times. Maybe you heard Barbara Walters or Dr Oz talking about it. Resveratrol has been touted as the best wellness breakthrough since penicillin.

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Black Business Builders is The Wellness Guy's Top Affiliate Pick

2008-05-30T22:36:00.000-07:00

Take a sneak peak at Black Business Builders, to see how you can earn powerful affiliate income.

The Wellness Guy Welcomes You

2008-02-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

Please come back and visit us again!

The Wellness Guy Welcomes You Back

2008-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who logged onto The Wellness Guy during this blog's first months on-line. Thanks particularly to each of you who cared enough to give suggestions that made this site more enjoyable and informative for you.

If this is your first visit, then make sure to bookmark this page to view our periodic updates.

The Wellness Guy is a compilation of viewpoints, recommendations, promotions, alerts and general information targeted to thoughtful individuals who have an interest in overall wellness, spiritual growth and cultural enhancement.

The Wellness Guy has provided each viewpoint expressed on the left side of this page, but stay tuned for guest viewpoints that also will appear from time-to-time. Each post is intended for your spiritual, physical and financial wellness (see particularly the notices at the top right of this page).

The Wellness Guy invites you to come back soon; Don't Be A Stranger!

September is National Preparedness Month

2007-09-01T20:10:00.000-07:00

During September, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sponsors National Preparedness Month.

This year, the focus is to encourage citizens to take the following important preparedness steps:

* Get a Kit
* Make a Plan
* Be Informed
* Get Involved

Click here if you'd like your own National Preparedness Month calendar. Hint: you'll need to select a state from the USA.

Do you have any questions? Here are some helpful facts.

You can even register to be a part of the 2008 National Preparedness Month Coalition!

Credit Crisis and the Faith Community

2007-08-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

Today's headlines point to the historical relationship between living a well-prioritized life and sound business judgment. A prominent factor in the current economic crisis is the role of credit, from the point of view of both the creditor and the debtor.

In certain circumstances, debt financing is part of an overall risk calculation that is entirely rational. However, one's need to borrow may also reflect some rule of economics that one has already violated.

One well-respected financial author stresses that the problem is not credit per se, but instead the misuse of credit. He points out that rather than prohibiting borrowing, the bible usually cautions against getting into debt.

The scriptures further warn about underlying circumstances in which one becomes indebted to another. Metaphorically, one may consider borrowing to be a symptom of something else that has gone wrong, even if it is not an actual disease.

One common thread in the bible's financial instruction is that God gives greatest priority to relating to His people. One is encouraged to seek God's help in addressing any debt problem that one faces. On the other hand, one is also encouraged to pay God first, before sending repayment to any mere creditor.

A debtor posture may also indicate that one previously has violated some command that God has given to His people. One notable passage from the Mosaic writings indicates that one's need to borrow is a sign that one is experiencing a punishment for having disobeyed God. The scriptures also warn against making any pledge on another's behalf without obtaining collateral.

A believer vigilantly must avoid any unholy and unwise financial commitment, decisively taking any action necessary to become free of any that already exists. This also means obtaining adequate protection against harm from any other person whose business practices are unholy or unwise.

Another noted financial author explains that God's provision for His people extends beyond material blessings, but that obeying God's statutes gives one a reason to expect financial reward, instead of debt.

The bible teaches that a righteous person pays back his debts, and that paying debts is part of a Christian's public witness. God's prosperity for His people extends beyond the material blessings that He faithfully provides.

Those who give God their greatest priority tend not to focus their attention on frivolous pursuits that drain finances, but instead upon things that last eternally. The result is a contentment approach to life that also preserves financial stability.

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2007-08-28T22:55:00.000-07:00

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2007-08-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

Each of us probably knows someone who has had a personal encounter with breast cancer. My first was with my elder cousin, who bravely persevered after a double mastectomy several decades ago.

By God's grace, we now have an increasing number of testimonies from living witnesses to His healing. Tireless efforts by medical researchers and clinicians have led to discoveries that have dramatically increased the recovery rate for our family members, neighbors and associates.

Still, much work remains to be done. As we await further medical miracles, we all have a role to play in increasing awareness of breast cancer's risk factors. In these times, we need to be mindful of our environment, our lifestyle, and our food-and-water supply. Wellness management is not merely a luxury for certain elites; it is a necessity for us all.

Breast cancer does not discriminate on the basis of gender, presumably because both men and women retain breast tissue through adulthood. More women than men have historically been diagnosed with this condition. But American Cancer Society estimates for new breast cancer diagnoses in US males extend into the multiple thousands for calendar year 2007.

Any man who notices a chest-area lump, nipple-area fluid discharge, or nearby skin change should immediately contact a health-care provider for further investigation or treatment.

The Best Is Yet To Come

2007-08-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year to everyone. If you're like a lot of people, you're probably just holding your breath to see if this year turns out not to be as bad as all the experts predicted it would be.

2008 was a year of high highs and low lows. As we look back at last year, we can be reminded of some exciting and wonderful experiences, as well as some tragic and frightening ones.

Our times are about people reaping what we've sown, and God's people need to do what He has called all of us to do. We need to make sure that we don't make the same mistakes that others make in times like these, especially in playing the blame game, or falling into the temptation to just look out for “Number One.”

So if you are asking how can we get out of the mess that we're in, then why not seek the answer in scripture? The bible has the answers to anyone who is willing to accept the truth, instead of the excuses.

The land needs to be healed, and what we need is for all the nations to repent - to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek God's face, and to turn from our wicked ways. God's plans are not to bring sickness and plagues to the land.

In Christ, our best days are not in our past: grace just doesn't work like that. Because of God's grace, the troubles that we face are always a road to the victory that God has prepared for His people.

God never promised that His people would never have problems, but He did promise that He would never leave or forsake us. God offers us a relationship as a father, and His love never ends. God always has plans to bless us as His children, even when we've messed up, and especially when His children are in the middle of a dangerous situation.

Because of God's grace, His people may not face hard times the same way that some folks do. Both in our daily experiences and in the scriptures, we can be confident that God has a “holy hookup” for His people that may not be there for folks who don't believe.

Maybe it's happened to you when you rented a car at the airport: even though you booked the least expensive car in the lot, the clerk at the desk looked at you and gave you an upgrade. Rather than try to figure out the clerk's motivation, why not admit that a “Holy Ghost Hookup” just occurred?

Because of God's grace, He's not condemning His people, He's purifying us. God's grace is about more than how good we've been or even how strong our faith is.

God is not out to get us for how sinful we are, He's out to rescue us from what sin does to us. God grace is there waiting for us to turn away from the sin that keeps us down in the pit. He promises to answer our cries, but we have to be ready for the answer that He has for us.

We have a role to play in the grace that God gives us. God shares His grace with us so that we can do the good works that He's made us to do. God's grace is always practical - here to meet the needs of those who are willing to receive His blessings.

Because of God's grace, the only thing better than yesterday's blessings are today's blessings. God's grace is available to anybody who is willing to trust Him.

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. His grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in weakness. Here's a plan for 2009: trust in God, no matter what!

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2007-08-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

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January is National Blood Donor Month

2007-08-10T21:10:00.000-07:00

According to AABB, formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks, National Blood Donor Month is intended to encourage donors to give or pledge to give blood during winter months, when blood is traditionally in short supply.

You may be eligible to donate blood if you are at least seventeen years of age (or younger in some states, with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and meet other donor requirements.

Click HERE to find where you can donate!

Everyday Accountability

2007-08-02T06:40:00.000-07:00

Some people might be surprised to know that the bible's financial management instructions are not limited to the worship context. Beyond first fruits and free-will offerings, the scriptures include guidelines for everyday financial decision-making.

Many of the bible's “sow and reap” instructions pertain also to parts of our lives and to societal segments that may not necessarily include God's elect. Overall generosity practices enable believers to achieve biblical budgetary results even in ethical environments that are not quite as beneficial as in the assembly.

Applying sowing principles in everyday matters according to God's word edifies one's relationship with God and brings blessings to a believer. This includes careful attention in avoiding wasteful indulgences, which tend to accelerate the onset of financial hardships.

In direct contrast to generosity, the bible strongly condemns personal finance decisions that place a believer into any extended debt. The scriptures teach that a believer should take affirmative steps to repay any outstanding obligation.

Through the ages, debt has been a means by which persons exert influence over those whose circumstances may have become adverse. The scriptures teach that the rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. In other words, power and money have a direct correlation.

One's motivations for over-committing financial resources may be varied. In certain instances, one may lack sufficient awareness of a financial risk, or one may face an unanticipated emergency. However, a common temptation for accepting a debt obligation is one's prideful presumption that one is entitled to receive a benefit that one's current resources are not sufficient to compensate.

Undisciplined financial choices call into question whether one can be trusted with money. Furthermore, sin and misery are a predictable result of lapsing into a selfish or covetous mindset.

The bible teaches that one who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish. God holds us accountable for our use of the blessing that we receive. Mixed with His financial relief, God also provides a divine perspective on the use of what we receive.

We actually have power to choose between freedom and dominance from others, based on whether we dedicate God's wealth for His purposes. We make that choice by either ignoring or embracing God's counsel about proactive generosity.

Risky Business

2007-08-01T23:01:00.000-07:00

The Psalmist has said: “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ” If it bothers you to see financial wealth in the hands of the wicked, you are not alone. Prosperity in the hands of the wicked is also an unmistakable outrage to God.

But one must never forget that God's sovereignty over all of creation prevails despite any appearance that persons committed to sinful purposes can freely assume entrenched lifestyles of ease and comfort.

One whose trust is directed only to money is doomed to an unanticipated consequence of money's limitations. Instead of inheriting an everlasting benefit of God's provision, one who primarily trusts money is subject to money's own finite capabilities.

A close companion of misdirected trust is an arrogance that leads certain people to question whether God can hold them accountable for their practices. As a self-justifying outgrowth of deceit, this arrogance often leads to a misguided sense of invincibility, often taking form in unscrupulous business practices.

Tragically, persons may not realize that their own ruin is the fruit of that deception. Simply stated, bad seed produces an even worse harvest.

On the other hand, one who remains faithful to God's purposes can expect to reap a bountiful harvest, often including the very benefits that unrighteous individuals have plotted for themselves. One may describe this phenomenon as God's sovereign way of redirecting wealth for His people and away from those who pursue riches outside God's plan of abundance.

The enemy seeks frequently to convince God's people that their suffering reflects an absence of God's favor, or that their faith itself is delusional. Concurrently, the world's system sensationalizes the lifestyles of ruthless and corrupt individuals, as they heap up silver like dust and clothes like piles of clay. Informed only by outward appearances, one might presume that those individuals are free from the burdens common to man, and not plagued by human ills.

But just as the Psalmist discovered, one's perspective is greatly improved upon engaging the Lord's glory. Fellowship with God greatly reverses the desperation that results when we mistakenly lean on our own understanding.

In God's sanctuary, one discovers that the final destiny of the wicked remains a sudden, complete and multi-generational ruin. Certain doom and a cursed legacy await those who gain riches outside God's plan of abundance.

The challenge for God's people in the marketplace is always to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness, trusting that a faithful God has sufficient grace to meet one's needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

God has promised not to withhold any good thing from those whose walk is blameless, and as the bible teaches, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

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2007-08-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

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2007-08-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

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Tis The Season

2007-08-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

Feeling jolly? Do you find yourself speaking words like fa-la-la-la-la?

If you're like most people, then the answer is probably no. In fact, during the holiday season, it may be more likely that you will have other more troubling emotions.

According to Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association), it is not unusual for people at this time of the year to experience "self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection of past failures and anxiety about an uncertain future."

While western cultures emphasize upbeat celebrations during the holiday season, that emphasis often includes a strong materialistic influence that can be most discouraging to persons whose financial resources are being strained. Likewise, the season's focus on renewed connections with family and friends can be quite frustrating for individuals whose life circumstances include estranged relationships or diminished numbers of family members.

During this time of year, the commercial world tends to promote seasonal food and beverage consumption practices that only exacerbate one's difficulties. At few other times during the year does one encounter such strong encouragements to "eat, drink and be merry."

It should then come as no surprise that within weeks, we then begin a process of making New Years' resolutions to address the recently-exaggerated mismanagement of our physical, emotional and spiritual lives. Almost blindly, we irrationally self-medicate with indulgences during the "jolly" season, forcing ourselves immediately afterward to place ourselves into demanding renewal regimens in pursuit of a more satisfying life pattern.

Fa-la-la.

There is a better way. Our internal compasses point toward a direction that we all too often ignore. Few things are more meaningful in our lives than to find appreciation for what we can contribute to society. Each of us has something unique to give, and each contribution is absolutely necessary somewhere in this society.

If we're able to communicate with others, then that is a gift that needs to be shared. If we have time and skills available to help someone in need, then that is a gift for which one will rarely need to stand in long shopping lines to give.

If we're really open-minded enough to accept the message of the Nativity, then we can express it in ways that will fight off the "blues," both for ourselves and for others. Somehow then, maybe we can find a new "light" within ourselves that allows us to enjoy all of the decorations outside of ourselves.

Have a Blessed Christmas Season Everyone!

When We're Finally Ready For Grace

2007-08-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

Any practical discussion of God's grace must begin with the real-world consequence of sin. When even an historically religious society becomes so caught up into its own self-interest that it imitates the evil from which it has been delivered, that consequence is often an erosion of the protection that comes with obedience. A society that takes God's grace for granted risks becoming vulnerable to enemies that do not enjoy that grace.

Plainly stated, God's grace is not cheap.

But because grace is built upon relationship instead of behavior, even a wayward society has hope. If you recall the parable of the prodigal son, then you may be able to envision how God as a loving father waits for His sinful children to come to their senses and head back home. The same God who provides favor that we don't deserve nevertheless remains ready to show His compassion if we remember to cry out for His help.

That “crying out” is related to God's relational arrangement with His people, whom He chastises where appropriate and redeems as an expression of His sovereign will. The bible says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God is ready to forgive us, but first we have to admit that we have sinned.

Quite remarkably, once God has forgiven a sin, one has no further need to cry out concerning that sin. God's “once and for all” forgiveness is much unlike what one finds within many faith communities, from which lasting forgiveness is somewhat more begrudging. Perhaps that is a reason that when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He not only directed us to request each day our daily bread, but also included a petition that our Father would forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

God encourages us to trust Him enough to confess our sins, rather than to gloss over them. A failure to confront our own sinfulness yields a harvest of trouble and sorrow – which only improve our spiritual awareness that we've gone off track – whereas confession leads directly to God's abundant blessings.

But God promises to guide His people back to His protective presence once we become so ready for it that we confess our sin. When we “get over ourselves,” and stop blaming everybody else for what's going wrong, and humble ourselves and pray, and turn from our wicked ways, that's when God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land.

This principle applies not only in the temporal context of our earthly struggles, but also in the context of our eternal destiny. Recall the prophet Isaiah's statement that “the Lord has given you trouble and sorrow as your food and drink.” As many of us imbibe from our everyday cup of sorrows, we may have unknowingly digested an aspect of our “daily bread” from God that leads us to repentance.

Our salvation is premised on our frank admission that we have sinned and fallen short of God's glory, our recognition that our noblest efforts are inadequate to remedy that breach, and our acceptance that Jesus' death at Calvary has atoned for that sin once and for all. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

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2007-08-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

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Back To Africa’s Future

2007-08-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

Being of African ancestry in the US has always been, and continually remains a subject of analysis, both inside and outside the African-American community. For some Black people, the implications of maintaining our community identity can seem to be a burden, while for others, it is a source of inspiration and thanksgiving.

A beloved preacher asks the questions: “What Makes You So Strong Black Man?” and “What Makes You So Strong Black Woman?”

Sometimes we need to be reminded of these related questions and their common answer. Perhaps it is when we experience vulnerability and hopelessness that a need increases within us to recall what makes us so strong. Perhaps it is when our shared history begins to appear ill-suited to inform our present challenges, that we begin to inquire about the ultimate relevance of our ancestral destiny.

Now you might be asking: “Ancestral destiny – what does that have to do with being a Christian, and where is that in the bible?” These kinds of questions are important to ask, even if we don’t immediately know the answer.

Anyone who is of African ancestry has a history that should never be underestimated in terms of God’s kingdom. This history is full of highs and lows, and is never boring. From Nimrod to Moses, and from the Apostle Paul to Apollos, persons of African ancestry have filled the pages of scripture with tremendous impact and renown. Their combined genetic trajectory would appear headed for nothing short of kingdom-sized majesty.

But something has happened along the way to get us off course from that ancestral direction. The time line of history has taken a path that bears little resemblance to what would have seemed to be the logical consequence of these biblical figures’ lives.

As descendants of these great bible personalities – whether dispersed to the US or elsewhere across the planet – we need to get back to the future. Studying the lives of these biblical giants may help us to recognize how far our path has become diverted away from their footprints.

One classic theory is that sin has carved a tragic historical detour that led to slavery and colonialism. But before we even begin to theorize, we need to become more intimate with the great I AM who nevertheless has preserved us as His scattered remnant for His purposes and His glory. It is He who has provided for us a Comforter to guide us in all truth.

His truth sets us free, unlike most of the “pat” answers that have weighed us down over recent centuries - bearing no resemblance whatsoever to Holy Spirit inspiration. We judge Holy Spirit inspiration by the fruit that it bears.

The kingdom of the Lord is at hand. The Lord has kingdom business for his beloved remnant to do. On earth, as it is in heaven, the Lord has promised to restore His throne in Zion, our true homeland.

But mere genetics will not suffice for us. We need to be ready, with our faith lamps trimmed and burning. We cannot afford any longer to stand by the sidelines, arguing about cultural religious creeds. The great I AM is coming soon.

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2007-08-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

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March is National Nutrition Month®

2007-08-01T00:01:00.001-07:00

Diet and exercise: words we know, sometimes more easily spoken than accomplished.

Sometimes it helps just to get a better understanding of our individual needs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has adopted MyPyramid, which is a major departure from an outmoded 1992 model that actually may have accelerated America's obesity rates.

For my own age, size and exercise pattern, that means roughly a 2600 calorie daily intake, including 4.5 ounces of whole grains, 3.5 cups of vegetables, 2 cups of fruit and 6.5 ounces of protein. Click on the above link to find out your recommended approach!

Children can also participate in this initiative: CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION.

For more information, see this link: National Nutrition Month. "National Nutrition Month®" is a federally registered service mark of the American Dietetic Association.

February is Black History Month

2007-08-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Thousands of years of history cannot be compressed into one blog post. Neither can the complexity of the African Diaspora be represented solely through the experience of Black America.

Nevertheless, this blog post is intended to honor the heritage of people of African ancestry, a story that has its roots in the beginning of human civilization, and that continues substantially to impact every aspect of life in the new millennium.

In the United States, Dr. Carter G. Woodson is credited with having focused the nation's attention upon recognizing annually the historic contributions that African-Americans have made in this society. This effort - having begun as a week-long observance within academia - has now developed into a month-long annual celebration across a wide mosaic of American subcultures, experienced in an even wider range of expressions.

In connection with any European presence in the Americas, this history dates to a point no later than the Jamestown settlement in 1607, although not necessarily connected to slavery or other involuntary servitude. Apart from that presence, substantial evidence suggests an African presence in the Western Hemisphere that far predates Jamestown.

Through the past 400 years, Black history has been largely a litany of struggle for survival and personal dignity, predominately as a background that demonstrates a miraculous influence of a sovereign God. This struggle has brought out the best and worst in humanity, and remains to the present date as the counterpoint to any assertion that America is a moral society or has any legitimate claim to any noble heritage.

Black history is a continuing story, acting as a launching point and measuring stick for each current generation. The accomplishments and lessons of the ancestors inform the present, and challenge today's generation to produce a legacy worth celebrating in the future.

Clearly, the relevance and importance of commemorating Black history extends beyond any single-month observance. Nevertheless, this month has a unique function of refocusing a very unfocused population upon an experience that must never be forgotten, and must never be allowed to become trivialized.

Honoring one's father and mother, and honoring the God of one's ancestors for this history is of paramount significance in maintaining a balanced real-time perspective. That kind of balance is a primary factor in enjoying any prolonged wellness.

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2007-07-31T20:29:00.000-07:00

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Election Victory

2007-07-31T00:03:00.000-07:00

“When you least expect it, you’re elected,” so goes the saying. Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent, you are experiencing an election victory if you are in Christ.

The bible calls Christians the “elect.” But who gets a vote in our salvation? The answer may not be what you expect – it’s neither a democratic nor an elitist selection. We learn from 1 Peter 1:2 that God’s elect have been “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Sprit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.”

All too often, the Church forgets that it is a servant body. As much as we may try to treat it otherwise, God’s kingdom is not a parliamentary oligarchy, a republican democracy or a meritocracy. God is sovereign, and solely upon His grace do we have a right to be His servants. According to 1Peter 2: 9, God has chosen the Church as His own so that we might declare His praises as the one who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.

But being a servant/slave in God’s kingdom is anything but oppressive. In Galatians 5:1, the Apostle Paul urges:

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do now let your selves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Christian servanthood entails a freedom that must not be neglected, in order not to revisit the bondage from which we have escaped. Paul clarifies in verse 13:

"You, my brothers, were called (elected) to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love."

Likewise, 1 Peter 2:16 states: “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”

Living as God’s servants means obeying His word. Our ability to obey His word is accomplished not by our own strength, but instead through our trust in God’s perfecting power in our lives. 1 John 5:3 states:

"And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

It is said that to the victors come the spoils. We are the spoils in the election victory that Jesus has won, with no recount and no “chad.” Despite any accusation of irregularities caused by our sins, all election appeals are settled by Ephesians 1:13 and II Corinthians 1:22. Through our faith in Christ, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, “who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.”

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2007-07-31T00:02:00.000-07:00

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November is American Diabetes Month

2007-07-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Few things are more unsettling than to learn that a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition like diabetes. Whether type-1 or type-2, this diagnosis can have a life-changing impact on entire families.

When my own son was given a type-1 diagnosis a few years ago, a trusted friend of mine who had received the same diagnosis more than three decades before offered a sobering consolation. Said she, this was probably the best time for anyone to have to deal with diabetes, explaining further how modern diagnostic advancements have removed much of the uncertainty that she faced during her own childhood.

Another colleague, who is a clinical dietitian, described to me the troubling implications that type-2 diabetes has very for the growing health care crisis in the US. She indicated that an alarming increase in type-2 diagnoses could represent the tip of an iceberg of diabetes-related conditions, ultimately sending already enormous health care costs into an out-of-control spiral. Particularly of concern to her was the relative preventability of type-2 conditions, as compared to type-1 diagnoses.

The American Diabetes Association estimates that out of every four Americans, one is at risk of developing type-2 diabetes, or already has that condition. These estimates are far more acute in nonwhite segments of the US, where the likelihood is increased to one out of every two individuals born as of the year 2000.

Anyone who does the math can easily realize how grave a concern that this epidemic has become both for those who must obtain treatment for this condition and an entire society that must find means to address its economic implications.

July is National Park and Recreation Month

2007-07-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

The National Recreation and Park Association has designated July as National Park and Recreation Month.

This is a great opportunity to rediscover the recreation and park services in your community. Also included in this month's celebration are National Therapeutic Recreation Week (July 13-19) and National Youth Sports Week (July 20-26).

Comprised of more than 21,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, National Recreation and Park Association encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.

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2007-07-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

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When Generosity is both a Test and Testimony

2007-07-30T21:36:00.000-07:00

Generosity may be one of the first qualities of God that any of us comes to know. However, as created beings made in His likeness, many of us fail to recognize that God expects His people to follow His example in providing for the needs of others.

A common misconception among believers is that we are accountable only with respect to spiritual choices. But God also holds us responsible to manage wisely any material resources that God has given to us.

The bible describes a steward as one in whom God places authority over God's possessions. Central in this concept is that despite human legal practices, a believer recognizes that the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it - the world, and all who live in it. Rather than considering a material item to be an individual's own property, God expects a steward to treat the item as God's own property.

God intends each thing of value that He gives to a steward to produce a specific outcome. Likewise, God expects a steward to make prudent and wise decisions about whatever the steward possesses. However, God imposes neither stewardship's obligations nor its benefits upon anyone who has no serious intent to fulfill them.

In few places does the bible describe this accountability more vividly than it does in describing end times. The Gospels explain that Jesus' return will result in not only a judgment of sin, but also an assessment of His people's faithfulness with what God has given us to accomplish.

Each believer – while secure in God's promise of everlasting life – remains subject to Christ's assessment of what we have done with our blessings. God's word shows that when He judges our deeds, He will assess both the nature and breadth of our stewardship, before assigning to us eternal blessings.

The bible emphasizes that our current faithfulness with material things determines the level at which God will place His people spiritually in charge of His resources in the next life. In measuring faithfulness, we can expect God's priorities to be consistent with His purposes in making His presence known to unbelievers, and in providing mercy to those whom this society has forsaken.

God does not describe His riches only with respect to the intangible realm. Instead, God's word includes both tangible and intangible items in describing the wealth that God has in store for His people in this life, and in the life to come.

On the other hand, God also emphasizes that all of creation must remain the servant of our Creator and His people, and never the other way around. The scriptures frequently remind God's people not to allow material items to divert a believer's attention from the spiritual source of God's provision.

The bible encourages believers to adopt generous giving practices as a means of ensuring that we are never cut off from each blessing's divine source. Furthermore, faithful stewardship transforms a believer's purpose in business and labor from merely working for a living, toward producing a means to express generosity.

Stewardship is a vital expression of spiritual authority within God's Church, and requires a believer at all times to maintain integrity and honesty as essential components of success. In that regard, a steward must maintain fidelity in honoring any vow to which the steward has committed God's resources.

A steward labors with a primary purpose of meeting the needs of the unfortunate and spreading God's liberating truth. This urge to give is merely one part of an overall commitment to impart spiritual discipleship to others.

A steward's approach to giving is not like the larger society's frequently detached approach to charity. Instead, as a testimony of God's care, a steward expresses authentic generosity in a uniquely personal and involved manner toward each recipient.

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2007-07-24T02:21:00.000-07:00

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Bridal Preparations

2007-07-24T01:48:00.000-07:00

Matthew's gospel account uses bridal imagery to describe the Church's relationship to God's only begotten son, the Messiah.

In one passage, Jesus tells a parable of ten brides who are given lamps as a symbol of readiness to meet a bride groom. In that parable, those brides who failed to remain prepared with ceremonial oil for their lamps are excluded from an eventual wedding.

One end-times passage continues the bridal theme, describing an actual wedding between the prepared Church as a bride and the Lamb of God as a groom, emphasizing the sacrificial bond between the Messiah and His redeemed body.

A related passage further describes the bride's significance as a new Jerusalem, God's holy dwelling place, having the attributes concurrently of Israel's twelve tribes and the Lamb's twelve apostles.

That gospel combines the bridal preparation theme with yet another parable concerning stewardship of resources, symbolized by a financial allocation of one, two and five talents given to God's servants. The scripture teaches that God holds his servants accountable for fruitfully multiplying these resources according to God's purposes.

In concluding a trilogy series of parables, Jesus then clarifies that the royal Son of Man's fruitfulness accountability standards relate specifically to treatment of society's least-regarded individuals. His third parable shows the Messiah measuring the nations' faithfulness to the King in terms of their responsiveness to the needs of the hungry, the thirsty, the unclothed, the infirm and the incarcerated.

The juxtaposition of these parables is far more than coincidence. Their combined message is that God's Church must prepare for the Messiah's imminent return in line with God's highest priorities. This message suggests further that the Great Commission's call to discipleship extends far beyond conversion outreach, toward ensuring that the Church literally embodies God's concerns for the “least of these.”

Jesus' parables set a framework for us to understand that His sacrifice does not find its full expression in building impressive religious hierarchies or facility infrastructures. God's ultimate priority in forming His Church is not religion or humanly-assessed virtue, but instead a relational continuum with God's redemptive purposes.

God's purposes are most accurately described in Jesus' prophetic mission statement: preaching good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom for the prisoners, recovering sight for the blind, releasing the oppressed, and proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor.

Scripture also shows us that Jesus diligently takes steps to ensure that the Church is not caught off guard by His return. He explains His return's connection to wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, false prophets and false messiah's, and each nation's hatred of God's people.

As God's people find these signs being fulfilled in their daily lives, we must make certain that our lamps are fully prepared for the groom's return. We have unique abilities to reach and attend to the needs of lost sheep, given our own “sheepish” experiences. Our mindset must be on the groom's return.

Getting Personal With Societal Sin

2007-07-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

The good news of Jesus Christ is that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but shall have everlasting life.

This message’s premise is that sin - separation from God’s righteousness – has a built-in penalty of everlasting punishment. The Gospel story consists wholly in God’s solution of redemptive sacrifice as a remedy for sin.

In this era of personal empowerment religion, the pivotal issue of sin often becomes obscured by well-intentioned messages that emphasize overcoming obstacles. These messages often emphasize dedication and determination as essential elements in reaching one’s person objectives, while occasionally deemphasizing spiritual forces that hinder one’s individual progress.

The backdrop of evil and demonic strongholds – frequently calling to mind an otherworldly context that extends beyond factors that one ordinarily considers to be controllable – is increasingly dismissed almost as if it were a naïve superstition. Even though the scriptures continually describe a cause-and-effect relationship between these strongholds and humanity’s rebellion against God, modern emphasis tends to focus on sinfulness in some kind of cosmic vacuum.

As a result, public descriptions of sin tend to be focused on individualistic habits, often apart from a general societal acquiescence to wickedness in high places. Even some gospel proclamations reflect an assumption that the sin that Jesus came to save the world from is somehow more individualistic than societal.

The effect of this assumption is that the individual phenomenon of accepting the gospel is expanded into characterizing sin’s impact in isolation from an overall societal context. Consequently, introducing the person of Christ as an entire society’s resurrection and life can be perceived erroneously as importing worldly baggage into a spiritual deliverance.

God’s word does not support that perception. Any attempt to divest God’s kingdom of its significance in everyday matters is in opposition to any notion that God is sovereign over both earthly and heavenly realms. In particular, to suggest that societal injustice is too trivial for Christ’s attention is not only expressly counter to the Gospel’s accounts of Jesus’ earthly ministry, but also opposite to most prophetic themes throughout scripture.

The Messiah’s prophetic identity is grounded in ending societal oppression both among and against God’s covenant people. Immediately upon emerging from his wilderness temptation, Jesus at a Nazareth synagogue declared that he fulfills that prophetic identity.

When Jesus then challenged Nazarenes with the prophecy’s relevance to their immediate environment, their hostility was no less than with today’s gospel preachers who similarly contextualize the gospel, as they drove Jesus out of town. Sadly, not much has changed.

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2007-07-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

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Sowing Seeds Under The Power Of God's Word

2007-07-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

Many believers may be surprised to learn the bible's teachings about providence and reciprocity. In both Old Testament and New Testament scriptures, God shows that providence is a tangible outgrowth of His word's activity.

In the clearest of terms, Isaiah's prophecy explains that God's word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. This is an iron-clad guarantee for God's people to recall even in the direst of circumstances.

One can presume that adversity is a constant in this world, and yet rest assured that no obstacle is any match for God's word in fulfilling God's purposes. On psalmist observes that he who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying [harvest] sheaves with him.

Extended adversity cannot undermine God's providence. His victory simply does not depend on how “successful” we seem to appear in carrying out our lives' responsibilities.

We do have stewardship duties to which God holds each of us accountable. But our role as harvest workers is never to be confused with His role as Lord of the harvest.

Jesus goes even further to explain how God operates miraculously through our everyday diligence in financial stewardship. He says: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

None of us has any meaningful control over the means by which a good measure is poured into our laps. That is God's business. Our business is simply to be faithful and obedient in being givers.

Obedience means focusing not on our own understanding, but instead on what God has instructed us to do. Isaiah's prophecy teaches that God teaches us what is best for us – in the way that we will experience beneficial gain – and directs us in the way that we should go.

As we follow God's instructions, we avoid the pitfalls of seeking merely-material outcomes, instead of an eventual harvest of righteousness which is the purpose for which God's providence is directed. We must never forget His admonition that we must seek first His kingdom and righteousness, from which all the other things will be added.

As we remain faithful toward God's priorities, we need not be diverted into worldly cares that can deprive us of the victory that should accompany material gain otherwise. As Isaiah has prophesied, God's blessings are designed to lead ultimately to peace of mind that flows like a river, and a righteousness that flows like the waves of the sea.

God's purpose in blessing us is that we reap our harvest blessing with songs of joy. If we fail to remain obedient, then life's usual adversities and temptations could deprive us of that joy.

At the moment that we overcome the world's obstacles and gain any tangible benefit, the first order of business is to dedicate our harvest to the same Lord who provided our victory. This small gesture confirms our commitment to God's system of provident reciprocity, which we must then extend to others having the same needs as our own. Ultimately, God's word is self-sustaining.

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2007-07-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

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Why We Must Sow During Difficult Times

2007-07-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

The effect of spiritual life can be most evident through the process of reaping what one has sown. God's laws seem quite impartially to reward the actions of anyone who remains faithful in sowing specific types of seeds in specific ways.

One benefit of intentional generosity in seed sowing is God's reward of replenishing a faithful sower. As a sovereign and miraculous sign of His faithfulness, God even extends that replenishing benefit to that sower's offspring.

God delights in rewarding His people's faithfulness in adversity, by converting our tearful sacrifice into a joyful harvest. God's focus is not merely the material item that we sow, but instead the conviction of our faith in continuing to sow generously despite the adversity.

Recalling that faith without works is dead, we know that a life's discipline of generous sowing is a continuous vocation that requires no less diligence than any other aspect of service. We have no reason to expect a bountiful harvest if our sowing is merely an occasional hobby.

The generosity in sowing that God blesses seems to include not only numerical quantity, but also widespread dispersal. As we focus His resources in that fashion, God's laws seem to provide for us multiple paths for harvest blessings.

By urging us to cast bread upon the waters – likely having the same sense as the “daily bread” that Jesus teaches us to request in prayer, God seems also to infer that our “seed” comprises the everyday provision that He gives us. Under that assumption, God's principles appear to be suited to blessing anyone's faithfulness, and not only those who have extraordinary seed resources to sow.

On the other hand, the scriptures leave a strong impression that one's failure to sow generously is offensive to God. While not condemning ordinary personal savings, God has explicitly warned His people not to hoard unnecessarily what He has provided to us in abundance. In fact, the Proverbs teach that one who withholds unduly can expect to experience poverty, in contrast to the abundant gains that one can expect from free giving.

As we demonstrate our faithfulness in a few material things, God has promised to give us dominion over many more things from the heavenly realm. The prosperity that God intends for His people is not limited to monetary or commercial resources, but instead extends to an entire connectedness with God's plans to redeem His creation.

God's has promised to direct His resources toward giving seed to the sower for His word's harvest. He promises that His word will not come back to Him void.

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2007-07-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

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Excitement About What?

2007-07-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

Many of us begin a faith walk after having experienced some kind of earth-shaking insight, while others discover a path to regeneration from a somewhat more subtle recognition of timeless truth.

But irrespective of one's initial motivation toward faith in Christ, a common thread is that a faith journey can lead to some unexpected turns. Each passing day brings a new set of challenges, forcing us to reassess our core beliefs and update our prior assumptions about how we relate to God.

Many modern-day expressions of faith include an emphasis on celebration and excitement toward the things of God. For some, this emphasis leads to some discomfort, particularly for those who question whether certain leaders have chosen these expressions for manipulative purposes.

Nevertheless, many believers are comforted to learn that expressiveness has ancient roots in the community of faith. As one combs through the annals of biblical history, one finds repeated instances of joyfulness and euphoria, particularly in context to circumstances where God's people have overcome major obstacles.

One psalmist writes: “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” The “let us” part of that verse indicates that this celebration is not intended to be solitary or hidden. Whatever forms the basis for this joyfulness clearly has a relevance to an entire society; the purpose for this expression includes a shared experience.

Purpose and excitement need not be strangers to one another. Nowhere in scripture does one find any encouragement for God's people to seek out euphoria for euphoria's sake. Instead, celebration is closely linked with victory, whether viewed retrospectively or in its anticipation.

Celebration “seals the deal” for us. Our logical minds process facts, while our hearts affirm meaning. It is one thing to acknowledge the fact that a country has won its own sovereignty from a former colonial ruler; it is quite another to commemorate that event with a fireworks display.

As we enter the gates of the assembly, and the courts of God's sanctuary, leaving out thanksgiving and praise reduces the whole experience into mere ritual. On the other hand, a failure to provide context for this celebration can also result in purposeless ecstasy.

As we reflect on what God has already done, the whole idea of praise becomes embodied with meaning. Even as we consider the harsh realities that surround us, remembering God's goodness begins to fortify us as we consider how personally He has already extended His mercies to us.

In fact, the whole concept of salvation – which is the basis for our faith – is that God has rescued us from the power of an evil that seeks not only to corrupt us, but also to destroy us. It is that context that forms a basis for the highest of all praise and celebration about God's goodness.

That is what we are rejoicing and glad about. Despite our own rebellion and shallow-mindedness, God has made special provision through His only begotten Son to restore us to fellowship with Him.

In His presence, we are bountifully blessed at a level that can only overflow into thanksgiving and praise. As we gather with others who are similarly blessed, this combination can become far too explosive to be subdued into emotionless sentimentality.

And yet, God's perfect order harnesses this energy into righteous results that extend beyond the four walls of any worship setting, toward the real needs of the society where God's people have been placed. The meaning that is affirmed from celebration embodies God's own purpose of extending mercy and redemption to all of creation. That itself is something worth shouting about.

The Prosperity Deception

2007-07-06T22:15:00.000-07:00

The era of so-called “mega-churches” has become increasingly associated with an emphasis on biblical teachings on the subject of prosperity. In many cases, it appears that the main proponents of these teachings seem quite adept in applying these principles on behalf of their own households, perhaps to a larger degree than on behalf of most needy segments of our society.

Some ministries have targeted communities that historically have been characterized by financial struggle, attracting a representative following of persons who have experienced considerable monetary instability. Among these ministries are individuals who earnestly have sought out a God-made solution for entrenched societal traits that have kept entire communities locked into poverty.

Nevertheless, many of these ministries have faced criticism from persons who consider an emphasis on financial wealth to be a perversion of the bible's principal teachings on the connection between wealth and unfaithfulness toward God. These critics point specifically to verses such as Jesus' comment that it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Other commentators express concern that English-speaking believers may greatly misunderstand the meaning of original scriptural words that translate into English as “prosperity.” For example, when we read Isaiah's prophecy (KJV) that “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper ...”, no one sensibly concludes that a weapon is capable of earning money. In fact, another translation of that quotation points to a weapon having prevailed.

The whole idea of prevailing brings greatly into focus a notion that God has a purpose for His people prevailing in whatever He has empowered His people to accomplish – despite all odds. This distinction from mere monetary success is significant enough to draw attention away from any petty financial vulnerabilities or cravings that befall God's people.

At the same time, God's purposes in delivering His people from the evil of economic oppression are consistent with the objective of benefiting the “least of these.” To the extent that God's people have surrendered their individualistic yearnings to God, the bible's “seed for the sower” promises remain worthy of a believer's trust.

The same biblical chapter that demonstrates God's “least of these” measuring stick, also sets forth God's expectation that His servants will multiply any resources that He has given them. The unifying principle is that God does provide seed for the sower, and makes each of us responsible for multiplying that seed to reach this planet's greatest needs.

At no time should a person consider material wealth in itself to be sinful, or a barrier toward a closer walk with God. Concurrently, one should also realize that the purposes for that wealth are not for one's own individual “nest feathering” or for enriching some purported prosperity preacher.

God desires and expects His people to apply the fruits of one's labors toward righteous ends. This means giving first fruits and offerings toward the Gospel's advancement, and providing “alms to the poor.” This also means sharing financial acumen with those who need it, in the sense of “teaching a man to fish.” Additionally, this means sharing one's very being with those whom this society has forsaken.

God's prosperity plan is real, and completely encompassed in His redemptive plans – not bling-bling.

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Get Back Up Again

2007-07-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

The resurrection and the life: Christians recognize this expression from Jesus' many I AM descriptions in bible. As we come to grips with our own mortality, the whole idea of being raised again gives us much hope, even though we have very little understanding of what forever means.

But as we grow in Christ, it becomes clearer that life means resurrection and vice versa. Creation seems to operate along a death-to-life continuum that frustrates us at times, but gives glory to God in His sovereignty. As life's seasons change, God uses regeneration and newness as a necessary stage for things that we would consider only to be headed for certain death.

Jesus said: "unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." He stated further: "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." Hating our lives in this world means trusting that God knows best what to do with the raw ingredients of our being, including the parts that otherwise would keep us from producing "many seeds."

In our own lives, whatever we hold dearest often seems the most difficult to keep alive. Loved ones, institutions, societies, ways of thinking, and sometimes even our own reputations all seem to be vulnerable to history's ash heap. Try as we may, we alone are unable to preserve them from the destructive elements that surround us.

Personal crises can seem to be the worst. As Christians in a success-driven culture, we often have to confront doubts about our relationship to the living God when our lives fall out of working order. How can we be "more than conquerors," while at the same time in a constant war with our worst shortcomings?

The good news for those in Christ who fall down is that, as a continuing sign of God's faithfulness to us, we get back up again. As we surrender to Christ's authority, accepting that He is the potter and we are the clay, we then can experience His victory as our own.

Jesus teaches that before we receive eternal life in the world to come, hardship and persecution will come in this age with the Gospel's hundred-fold blessings. But even with the most punishing influences that the clay might experience, we must never forget that in the potter's hands, the clay comes out of the process intact and better off for the experience.

Jesus says: "He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." The key factor in the death/life cycle is our relationship with the living Christ. So the age-old question remains: "Believest thou this?"

2008 - This Is Your Season

2007-07-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

The amazing thing about a change to a new year is the sense that we can make new beginnings and accept challenges that we may have considered ourselves ill-suited to address in the previous year.

2008 can be your year of wellness and renewal. This can be your season to thrive. You can expect to gain ground this year, to find healing in broken relationships, and overcome obstacles that you once considered to be invincible.

What is different about this year from the last one? For one thing, you now have a full year's more experience than you had only 365 days ago. You have tested out new approaches, found some old approaches to be lacking and recognized some old successes that can be your launching point for whatever trajectory that you choose.

You now know what kinds of excesses that you should avoid. It is clear that merely maintaining the status quo is likely to produce only the same results this year that you have known in past years.

You also understand better how critical it is to maintain constant improvement. Because you are not getting any younger, you will insist upon finding more time for physical exercise, intellectual growth and spiritual development.

You will be less likely to embrace principles that have not shown themselves to be reliable over time. But you will be willing to embrace new approaches to address negative situations that have not worked themselves out.

This season is, in fact, yours to experience in all that it has to offer. You will not be shocked by the mere presence of adversity. Instead, you will place adversity on the run by the force of your own proactive agenda.

You know who you are, and what you are meant to accomplish in this new season. It may not be easy, but your destiny is worth whatever it takes to make it happen. Because you are what is great about 2008!

Enjoying The Fruit Of Your Labors

2007-07-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

Although the bible has much to say about our need earnestly to plant seed and ensure that its soil remains suitable for further growth, some believers may lack an awareness of how to enjoy the abundance that God provides from those seed.

Few experiences in life can compare to the moments when we finally reap the benefits of our diligent efforts. Although we cannot always predict the exact date when our efforts are rewarded, we can be certain that a reward does await us once each necessary step has been completed.

One cannot overstate the importance of completing each necessary step, because a failure to do so can needlessly delay or detract from one's anticipated outcome. In biblical terms, reaping time comes in due season – a period that has been divinely ordained to no less precision than occurs with the ripening of a plant's fruit.

Our accountability for diligently producing beneficial outcomes never ceases. Not only do outcomes become manifest within our earthly lifetimes, but also our present efforts have consequences for our eternity.

Meaningful results come at a price. In the real world – as opposed to idealized circumstances - true victories emerge from adverse and even oppressive environments. For this reason, one is well advised to focus one's energies toward God's agendas in order to overcome forces that are poised to divert or subvert one's best efforts otherwise. Despite cultural suggestions to the contrary, rugged individualism is a recipe for abrupt failure.

God uses our harvest moments as a celebration with His people in which He abundantly rewards us for our enduring dedication to His purposes, while we as God's people recognize His faithfulness in the wealth that we produce.

The bible teaches that God provides hundredfold success for those who faithfully maintain their primary loyalty to His agenda. Jesus made this clear in his parable of the seed that fell on good ground.

Amazingly, a hundredfold blessing is a mere foreshadowing of an infinite abundance that God has reserved for His people in the world to come. In God's economy, abundance is not limited to one or two aspects of life, but instead encompasses all of our existence. The same God who promised through Moses an abundant state in which His people lack nothing, is the same God who has made even more abundant promises to the Messiah's elect.

God has declared holy our encounter with the fruits of our labor. In that context, God reminds us never to lapse into selfishness or arrogance as we reap these fruits. Instead, He teaches us to have thankful and obedient hearts once we reach the objectives that He has prepared for us. This is the same message that God spoke as He opened the promised land to His people (Deuteronomy 8:17-18):

“You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.”

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2007-07-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

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The Power in Poise

2007-07-05T05:59:00.000-07:00

A popular comedian recently demonstrated a profound lesson with an irreverently-relatable series of skits entitled “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong.” In those skits, the main character encounters what appear to be unfair scenarios and – rather than addressing them with restraint – responds with forceful acts of retribution that give rise to permanently-damaging consequences against that character.

In the heat of battle, God's people can often experience a wide range of emotions that are out of character in their normal lives. As complex packages of spirit, soul and body, we occasionally encounter adversity at levels that challenge our normally-peaceable framework.

The scriptures consistently warn believers about the role of tribulation in our lives. By their very nature, spiritual attacks are vicious and calculated to bring calamity and disgrace to God's people.

Our conditioned response from the general society is to respond to hatefulness with comparable force. We even have piecemeal biblical precedent on which to justify “eye-for-eye” and “tooth-for-tooth” indignations expressions when opposition comes.

Yet, few of us can point to many occurrences when uncontrolled retaliatory anger has proven to be profitable. A sudden rush of vengeful words or deeds can quickly set in motion negative consequences that far exceed any initial harm that has given rise to a believer's rage.

The Gospel accounts show the Son of God facing threatening wind and waves with a direct and effective command that ends the drama: “Peace, be still.” The apostle Paul instructs the church to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Oh, how different our lives would be if our usual response to adversity was a effective as what we learn from Jesus' example or Paul's instruction. How many times have the saints of God instead unwisely followed the example of Peter, who impulsively rebuked Jesus upon hearing of the Lord's impending suffering at Calvary, cut off one man's ear who had come to seize Jesus, and afterward denied the Lord three times?

How many times have the saints of God responded to viciously unfair circumstances not with righteous indignation, but instead with momentarily-understandable venom that has placed our lives into levels of turmoil that only God's infinite mercies can repair?

The scriptures teach us that along with peace, self-control and temperance are fruits of the Spirit, against which there is no law. Our mind, will and emotions can temporarily fall prey to intemperate urges, but under God's authority, we need not remain captive to what those urges seek to fulfill.

As we encounter tribulation, each believer has God's own army in place and fully adequate to fight each battle. Under Jesus' shed blood, we need not accept the lie that we are fighting alone.

Anyone who attacks God's people does so at their own peril. Concerning His prophets, God has even warned: “touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”

The scriptures teach God's people not to take revenge, but instead to leave room for God's wrath. God has said this concerning his beloved: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.”

August Is National Immunization Awareness Month

2007-07-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

National Immunization Awareness Month is intended to increase awareness about immunizations across the life span, from infants to the elderly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals who keep up-to-date on recommended vaccines can protect themselves, their families and friends and their communities from serious, life-threatening infections.

While most of us associate vaccination with childhood years, many adults may find helpful an adult immunization schedule that the CDC has made available. According to the National Academies, because elderly persons are the highest risk group among adults, immunizations are strongly recommended for people above age 60.

According to University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, vaccines are both very safe and effective, with only minor side effects including soreness at an injection site, low-grade fever, or fussiness in some infants.

For more information, see also the Immunization Action Coalition.

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2007-07-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

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How God's Grace Works In Us

2007-07-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

Worship through giving doesn't always make sense to church attendees (especially those who don't have a saving relationship with Christ). In the current culture many presume that worship's main elements are jubilant singing, ecstatic utterances and other expressions of adoration toward God. But actually, worship's most basic expression takes place at the moment that one gathers the best of one's most prized material possessions to describe the value of one's saving relationship with God.

Worship through giving also teaches about how God's kingdom works. The scriptures frequently address this overall phenomenon using the metaphor of seed and harvest, as concrete illustrations of otherwise invisible aspects of God's kingdom.

To begin describing this phenomenon, one letter from the apostle Paul states: “Remember this saying, 'A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest.'” Paul's point was that in God's economy, one reaps what one sows.

However, this economy is not a merely-mechanistic system. Paul also explains that one's free will connects to God's own heart: “Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give.”

In addition, Paul reveals the practical results of this connection to God's heart: “God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.” Worship though giving allows us to connect to the inner workings of God's kingdom. God always has a purpose for the grace that He shares with us.

The same God who saves us from our sins also expects us to use that salvation to help somebody else. He shares His grace with us so that we can do the good works that He's made us to do.

In these troubling times, as human needs increase, so do the purposes for God's harvest. The Church must seek to benefit others who are in need of the blessings of God's kingdom.

The first step in this process is to plant more seeds in proportion to the challenges that our society faces. Following Paul's teaching, that means scattering our gifts to those who are in need. As the scriptures explain: “God gives seed to people who will plant them, and provides everyone with food. He will increase what you have, so that you can give even more to those in need. You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift."

Again, this all demonstrates how in God's kingdom, our faith connects with God's supernatural power to accomplish God's purposes. God blesses us so that we will bless somebody else who is in need.

One who chooses to operate in this faith receives God's blessing in every way – not just with money – but in every way – so that one can be generous on every occasion. Not only does one have an opportunity to witness the spectacle of mercy in someone else's life, but also one is able personally to experience God's power and faithfulness, for God's glory.

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2007-07-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

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What Does Sacrifice Mean To You?

2007-07-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

Even though humans are made in God's image, some aspects of that image tend to be challenging for many of us to emulate. One notable example is the trait of sacrifice.

Although Jesus' sacrifice at the cross is our most precious foundation, the idea of presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice unto God can sometimes be beyond our comprehension.

But those who walk by faith and not by sight can never primarily rely on their comprehension. As God teaches us that seeking His kingdom and righteousness is the first step in obtaining the essentials of life, we are left to proceed without immediate clarification of the character or timing of our provision.

The demands of our trust include recognizing that our earthly domain is not the most secure location for storing God's riches. In fact, Jesus' teaching implies that planet earth is not a wise place to invest one's heartfelt connection to those riches.

Jesus' teachings emphasize that we should focus our reliance in God's own person as our ultimate source of His kingdom's riches, rather than any particular category of His creation.

Jesus explains that any diversion of our attention away from God as our provider - and toward the material things that He provides to us - constitutes defective faith, stating: “your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

The psalmist - acknowledging that anyone who trusts God is blessed - similarly recognizes that a believer's blessing is God's presence, observing that God does not withhold any good thing from anyone whose walk is blameless.

In seeking first God's kingdom, we remain connected with God's purposes of blessing all of humanity. Jesus describes this phenomenon as “living water” that flows within a believer, thereby rendering obsolete one's own individual thirst.

We establish an intimately fruitful connection to both spiritual and material abundance when we accepting a transformed purpose of supplying the needs of others. Jesus teaches: “the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Isaiah teaches that God's purposes overwhelm the influence of adverse circumstances in a believer's life. Even in a sun-scorched land, God's sovereign presence both satisfies the believer's needs, and strengthen that believer's frame. Says Isaiah: “You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

As we supply the needs of others, we demonstrate God's principles in an explicitly material setting, whether as loosing the chains of injustice, untying the cords of the yoke, setting the oppressed free, or breaking every yoke. Rather than merely meditating on abstract abundance principles, we must share food with the hungry, provide a poor wanderer with shelter, clothe the naked, and remain accountable to one's own kinsmen.

God continually has shown Himself to be faithful in rewarding a believer's sacrificial faith through adverse circumstances. Our most memorable family histories relate to God's faithfulness through those difficult periods, and our families' enduring legacies usually connect to having a positive impact of those in need. God's faithfulness is our richest heritage.

June is National Safety Month®

2007-07-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

National Safety Council's June 2009 life-saving campaign focuses on teen driving safety including free enrollment in two popular online training courses, June 1-7 only: "Alive at 25® Parent Program," for parents of teen drivers, and "First Aid and CPR with AED" basic training for adults.

As part of this month's activities, the NSC is sponsoring National CPR and AED Awareness Week. NSC also offers informative safety tips on distracted driving, poison prevention, and falls prevention.

April is National Donate Life Month

2007-07-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

Do you know of anyone who has ever had a critical need for an organ transplant? According to a recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimate, roughly 95,000 people currently need an organ transplant, and more than half of this number includes ethnic minorities.

From time to time, we learn of famous individuals who have either donated or received working organs from living family members and colleagues. As we honor this level of sacrificial commitment, many of us may find ourselves more challenged in following suit during our natural lifetimes, than upon our inevitable demise.

Some persons may consider the whole idea of donating "body parts" to be strange, and possibly in conflict with traditional teachings of faith. In that regard, one might be well-advised to investigate those teachings to confirm the extent of any principled basis not to donate.

Some of us might be comforted in knowing that simply completing and carrying a donor card could enable each of us to benefit someone who greatly needs our healthy organs once they are no longer needed to sustain our lives.

Items that one can donate include organs, tissue, stem cells and blood. One's donation choices include doing so as a living donor, after brain death, after cardiac death, and as a whole body donor.

To confirm whether you are eligible to donate, click this link.

Grace Is Now In Charge!

2007-07-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

Within the spectrum of belief and non-belief systems that one may observe, one of the toughest concepts that people seem to face is the whole idea of grace, God's unmerited favor. Perhaps this concept is challenging because grace is something that is God's own choice, not ours. Despite what any religious group may claim, nobody can control grace, or decide who's worthy of receiving it.

To understand what grace means, one must begin with a premise that God is sovereign; God can do what God wants to do, when He wants to, how He wants to, and to whomever He wants to. Grace is God's choice to bless His people not because we deserve it, but instead because God values His relationship with us enough to bless us.

That premise may be understood more easily by one whose perspective is already established in a monotheistic tradition. However, for anyone whose history is unconnected to a tradition of that type, any discussion regarding accountability to an unseen God may be somewhat perplexing.

Perhaps even more challenging is an offer of freedom from a system that one fails to recognize as being oppressive in the first place. God's grace is intimately connected to one's struggle against that oppressive system.

Many of us may miss the key principle in God's grace. Indeed, the abundant blessings that God provides as a sign of His relationship to us are an important benefit of one's everyday connection to grace. However, a more profound expression of that relationship is justification, God's method of declaring His people innocent.

The highest expression of that grace is the death of God's only begotten son, Jesus. That kind of grace is what allows a believer to have victory over sin, as it eliminates all accusation and condemnation.

Because sin existed before there was ever any law, the benefit of God's law is to expose that sin, allowing one to mitigate its harmful effects through atonement and repentance. However, in contrast to God's law, the effect of grace is God's full cancellation of any penalty that a believer must pay for having transgressed that law.

As the apostle Paul explained to the Church at Rome: “where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” In declaring us not to be guilty of the sin in this world, God has set in motion benefits for which Jesus has paid all the costs.

By faith in the risen Savior, anyone can be acceptable to God, moving from sin's estrangement, to peace with God. With this peace comes access to a favor from God that none of us deserves.

Our God has promised to answer our cries, but we have to be ready for the grace that He has for us. With God's grace, we no longer have an excuse to cop out by saying things like: “well, this is just me being me – that's just how I am.” Adam's seed may be just you being you, but Jesus' Spirit is ready to take you higher and higher.

God's gift in Christ has made it possible for us to be acceptable to Him, even though we have sinned many times. It doesn't matter how many times before that one has sinned – whatever trait one has inherited from Adam is no match for what one can have from Christ. Whatever Adam did to disobey God, and whatever the rest of us did with the same nature, Jesus overcame that by obeying God so that now God accepts us.

Because of the sacrifice that Jesus has made for the sin in each of us, God not only accepts us, but also His plan is for us to live and rule like kings. The rule of death is over! Grace is forever more in charge!

Lenten Renewal for the New Millennium

2007-07-01T00:33:00.000-07:00

The subject of Lent may be puzzling to many Christians of the current era. While some perceive Lenten and Advent seasons as an unwelcome intrusion of pre-Reformation ideals and practices, others through reexamining these seasons have gained a renewed appreciation for the scriptures' core teachings.

Commentator Ken Collins (no relation) notes that a common reluctance among certain Protestant groups to observe Lent may be based on a mistaken concern that this season has a Roman Catholic origin. He explains that Lent predates Roman Catholic practice, and is instead traceable to the Eastern Orthodox and Apostolic communities.

The Gospel of Matthew's Chapter 16 focuses upon self-denial, highlighting a shift in Jesus' ministry from teaching parables to the people, toward a focus on His ultimate confrontation with religious authorities in Jerusalem. In that chapter, Jesus strongly connects self-denial with authentic discipleship.

While roughly estimating this time period as a forty-day period preceding the crucifixion, some commentators have decided that the Lent tradition is consistent with both the time frame and sacrifice message that Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 16. Others contend further that a meaningful Lenten observance follows scriptural patterns in which God prepares His people for major changes that are about to take place.

The bible never commands believers specifically to celebrate a Lent season. But the scriptures do warn believers to be aware of signs of difficult changes on the horizon.

Observing Lent is one way that God's people can prepare for trials that believers face in the modern era. For example, self-denial can enhance a believer's focus and clarity in choosing responsible life approaches during increasingly unpredictable times, as well as fostering a sense of independence from the world's weakening enticements.

A Lenten observance is also a helpful reminder of each believer's need to prepare for Jesus' return. Just as His return is a reason for joy in any believer's heart, it also makes sense to rejoice in Lent's denial experience.

Rather than on eternally insignificant items that one voluntarily has sacrificed, a believer's attention can be directed to unmet needs of others, and a closer walk with God. Celebrating Lent can also mean working to reconcile damaged or lapsed relationships, and improving one's commitment to stewardship of God's resources.

Lent is a celebration not of legalistic mandate, but instead of voluntarily replacing worldly temptations with God's priorities. This is far greater than a weight-loss program!

Grace For When You Need Help

2007-07-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

Do you know anybody who needs a miracle?

We often associate miracles with something that is unusual or extraordinary. But many miracles that we seek relate to everyday problems that are so big that only God can solve them. At great moments of need we seek a God who makes a way out of no way.

In our faith journey, we face tests that create an ongoing expectation of God's inexhaustible supply. Eventually, these tests allow us to recognize a powerful connection between God's grace and the wonderful plans that He has for our lives.

God always has a purpose for blessing His people. Where sin increases, grace increases all the more: God blesses His Church with all of our faults because He has a purpose of setting the whole world free from the built-in tyranny of sin.

Because God has practical purposes for blessing His people, we should never forget how useful it is to ask for His help with everything that we need. If God didn't spare His own Son, then we should not consider anything to be too much to ask of God.

As we enjoy a harvest of God's blessings and protection, we also must not forget that this harvest is nothing that we deserve. Instead, each victory that we experience is a vital reminder that God has tremendous purposes for our lives.

On the other hand, doing God's business sometimes puts us in the middle of the worst situations, and that still doesn't separate us from the love of Christ! In fact, one can learn even more profound aspects of God's grace at times when nothing seems to go well, or when one is in a situation that seems uncontrollable.

Adversity shakes apart our illusions of self-reliance and entitlement, focusing us instead upon the various dimensions of our reality. Once we come to recognize the impartial indifference that surrounds us throughout creation, one no longer takes for granted the initiative that God takes in establishing relationship with us.

This initiative is fulfilled in God's offer of salvation through our faith in the Messiah. God values Christ's relationship with us through blessing us. Our struggles demonstrate that in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

So what about your struggle? Do you seek God's help with an insurmountable problem?

If so, then give God the glory through your adversity. Nothing can separate you from God's love--not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate you from God's love for you in Christ Jesus our Lord!

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

2007-07-01T00:15:00.000-07:00

For the past 25 years, the month of May has been designated as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.

Included in this month's celebration is National Employee Health & Fitness Day™ which occurs annually on the third Wednesday in May, and is administered by the National Association for Health & Fitness.

This month also includes the National Physical Education and Sports Week (1-7 May), as well as Project ACES (All Children Exercising Simultaneously) that has been held on the the first Wednesday of each May.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has even provided a toolkit that can enable persons and organizations to celebrate physical activity and fitness year-round.

Click to take the Adult Fitness Test!

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2007-07-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

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2007-06-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

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Why God Chose Us

2007-06-29T05:18:00.000-07:00

The role of today's church seems to be growing increasingly complicated. Perhaps it has always been that way. While the world goes mad, Christians are still oriented toward urging the nonbelieving world to come to Jesus, and the community of saints to come back to the Bible. However, the unregenerate world responds to the church in utterly fickle ways.

First, the culture of modernism tends to reject the use of the Gospel as a primary guide, considering Bible adherents to be simple-minded nuisances with outmoded ideals. However, on the other hand, the world also somehow expects that society will govern itself under universally-understood standards (but just not that bible thing).

In other instances, people criticize the church because it does not always cure every ill in the society (or with immediate dispatch). The bizarre inference given such reluctance is that these people would only join the fight once the war has been won.

This criticism is a close relative to a few familiar others: "I would join the church, but all they do is take your money," or "... but there are just too many hypocrites there." It is somewhat doubtful whether these critics themselves have any greater propensity toward better ethics, budgetary soundness, or tenacity.

Just as was illustrated with the twelve-plus-one apostles whom Jesus chose, the Church is made up of people having ordinary virtues and vices, yet called by an extraordinary Savior to dedicate the essence of their being toward the goal of the world's redemption. The pool of talent from which the church is populated is generally reflective of both the good and bad in the society, and therein lies the problem.

Had Jesus merely sent in flawless extra-terrestrial beings to form his Church, the work of the Gospel might theoretically work in a much smoother fashion. However, that plan would by definition necessitate an invasion of alien beings who would lack a first-hand understanding what it means to be "one of us."

Perhaps that is why Jesus wrapped himself in flesh to set off the chain reaction commonly known as the Gospel. The same God who had appeared in a wide variety of manifestations in times past, saw fit to be "one of us" while instituting the church age.

Still, one might wonder why God would choose the Church to be the incumbent vehicle for this age, considering the faults of its individual members. Perhaps the answer is in the existence of the faults. The essential purpose of the Church is to put God's plan and personality on display. It is difficult to imagine a better model than the Church to demonstrate both the foolhardiness of the world's standards of righteousness, in contrast with God's own perfect Way, Truth and Life.

Although Christians are at times disappointing, it is also true that the world's standard is an utter failure. The Gospel, to the contrary, by stressing redemption rather than rejection, is accessible to all kinds of people, lacking the conditionality found under the world's standard. Following Christ requires only that we reject the paths of our own destruction.

THE VALUE AND WISDOM OF FRIENDSHIP

2007-06-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

We begin learning friendship's lessons even when we are small children. We start out expecting that most other kids will accept us as friends with no questions asked.

At one point, we begin to discover that people make friends based around shared likes and dislikes. Eventually, we may find that friendship not only has benefits, but also has demands, each as a result of being loyal to another person.

We are told all our lives that it is more blessed to give than to receive, although some of us might admit that our instinct to receive seems to be stronger than our desire to give. But friendship teaches us vividly that there will be very little for us to receive if we have not given to those whom we care about.

Friendship is spiritual truth put into action, teaching that giving is its own enduring reward. Proverbs 17:17 explains:

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Most of us have seen this statement in action. We can move to different cities, change jobs, change churches, become famous or fall away from the in-crowd, and a real friend is still going to treat us as if no real change ever occurred.

We need to pay particular attention to the other half of Proverbs 17:17 -- “a brother is born for adversity.” Difficult times can reveal who our real friends are.

People who we thought we were close to sometimes lose interest when the circumstances of life make it difficult to remain in touch. Perhaps that is why it means so much to us when we can reconnect with a person with whom we’ve been out of touch, and that person treats us just as warmly as before.

When we’re walking on “easy street,” a real friend may choose either to be visible or instead to keep a low profile. But if we have walked into harm's way, instead of avoiding us as others will do, that person tends to get more involved in our lives to encourage us.

It is not enough to refer to that kind of person as “just a friend.” That person is really part of our family, maybe even more than someone who is a blood relative.

A friend who remains loyal through thick and thin has made a choice to adopt you as if you were kin. For all practical purposes, that person is your brother or your sister.

The benefit of giving lasting and loyal friendship is that neither time nor changes in life can erase the satisfaction of having made a difference in another person’s life.

A good friend may not be easy to find. But finding someone who needs friendship is rarely difficult. The blessings of giving will find you anyway.

So What Are You Looking For in God's House?

2007-06-23T04:42:00.000-07:00

You would think that everyone at a local church gathering comes there for the same reasons that you do. Maybe they do. Maybe they don't. Unfortunately, many of us may not have thought about it at all.

Probably everybody comes into the Lord's house hoping to find something that seems unavailable elsewhere: a pure dose of divine relief and instruction. Strangely, we often struggle among ourselves while seeking our connection with divinity. Seeking the Lord's face, we can often end up stepping all over each other's hearts, unaware of the message in each other's faces.

Every face in the gathering is a face that God has provided to reveal something about Himself to us. Not only do the people whom you like represent what God wants you to see, but also God wants you to pay attention to some folks who tend to make you uncomfortable. God has revelation even in a person that was not kind to you the last time that you came there.

The last thing that many of us may have considered is what our neighbors -- whether desirable or undesirable -- are looking for in the gathering, and what they need when they join with the assembly. We can be so busy thinking about our own need for spiritual direction and comfort that we are unaware that God has placed our neighbors in our midst as a vital part of providing what we need.

A church congregation is a living organism, and not just a container of indifferent body parts. If one part of the body is sick, the whole body needs healing. Moreover, that well dressed and well-respected person who sits next to you or in front of you is no less in need of healing and recovery than you are. Never forget that. Never fall into a trap of thinking that your need for healing and recovery is different from those who you regularly see in the assembly.

Much of the revelation that God has for His people is found in the stories of our neighbors' needs. We need power: God wants you to work to empower your neighbor. We need forgiveness: God wants you not to give up on a neighbor that let you down. We need belonging: God wants you to restore a wayward neighbor into the fellowship.

So what if you have found yourself out of touch with the people in the fellowship? What if you've fallen into a pattern of even loathing certain people who regularly show up at church, only to mess things up every time you need a blessing?

God calls His Church into a fellowship for a reason. Christianity is not a "minister to my needs" faith. Instead, it is a "use me Lord for your purposes" faith. We need to seek God's face so that we can be a blessing in our neighbors' lives.

God's Grace is Sufficient

2007-06-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

With fond memories and confident expectation, we sing the song, "Amazing Grace," as often as any other that is sung in the Church. For those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ's ultimate sacrifice as the remedy for a life of sin, the whole idea of God's grace is nothing short of amazing.

But not everyone sees it this way. Other religious traditions question how merely proclaiming faith in Christ can act as an excuse for bad behavior. Even within the Church, divisions often arise about the role of good works in establishing righteousness before God.

These questions about grace vs. works are not new. When the Church was being formed, it grappled with its own historical connection with God's law as a standard of righteous behavior. In writing to the Church in Rome, the apostle Paul considered the whole controversy (at Chapter 6 and thereafter) as follows:

What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? … What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! … For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If we are to be honest, each of us needs God's grace, because one way or another, we all fall short of the mark of God's righteousness. By thought, word, deed or omission, all have sinned, and fall short of God's glory. As James has written (Chapter 2), "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."

Coming to grips with our inability to bridge the gap between our unrighteousness and God's righteousness, frees us to appreciate how the sacrifice of a sinless Jesus satisfies once and forever our need to be reconciled with God. At even our shining best, none of us can offer an unspotted sacrifice to God in atonement for the separation from God's holiness that sin creates.

What is so amazing is that God has provided a solution that is not so much our achievement as it is His gift of a holy partnering with Christ. The apostle Paul testifies to the Church in Corinth (II Corinthians 12) of Jesus' own words to him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

To the Church at Ephesus, Paul writes (Ephesians 2): "For it is by grace you have been saved, though faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast."

The dilemma with works is that what good deeds can establish, bad deeds can destroy. With grace, God in His sovereignty has entirely resolved this dilemma.

So What’s On Your List?

2007-06-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like the holiday season. This time of the year, we often draw our attention to things that we’ve put off for months at a time. The malls become full of last-minute shoppers, charities receive a surge of donations, families make eleventh-hour travel plans, and even our life plans receive an overhaul.

The change in a calendar year reminds us of our need to match reality with the promises we make and the dreams that we hold dear. But as our reality becomes increasingly dissimilar to our promises and dreams, many of us may be tempted toward discouragement or depression.

Although many of us have been taught the “true meaning of Christmas,” we may still have a difficult time in recognizing exactly what we need to do to bridge the gap between unfulfilled dreams and promises, and the cold, hard facts of our lives.

Christmas means that God has a plan to reconcile us unto Himself and is willing at all costs to intervene on all of our behalf. For that reason, it is worthwhile to seek the help that God has given us toward bridging that gap.

Specifically, to avoid wasting our resources and energy on inadequate items, we should remember that Christ always has a list of priorities prepared for us.

Why not just ask Him for a shopping list? After all, whatever we have, He provided in the first place. He knows what we can afford, and where the best places are to find what we need.

Since the “reason for the season” is Christ, perhaps we might do well first to ask for something that He wants for Christmas. Realizing that He owns the cattle of a thousand hills, we still should find out what’s on His list that we can afford!

Perhaps our gift to Him will not require most of us to pack into a shopping mall, or to overextend our credit. Perhaps what He wants from us is a gift that keeps on giving: our very own lives.

Gift-giving typically works both ways. As we present our gift to Him, we should not be surprised to find Him placing into our hands something that we absolutely need that still exceeds our understanding: eternal life and His constant care.

We know that He has heard our prayers, and remembers everything that we have asked for, whether it be healing, financial support, secure relationships, or some other desire of our being.

Often, what He gives us is an opportunity to give to others. Each of us might also find Him placing into our hands a list of concerns that no one but the recipient has an ability to fulfill.

That list may include both time and enjoyable items for children, as well as patience and attention to the needs of elders, or it may include an opportunity to show an act of mercy toward someone from whom you have been estranged.

So what should you do? By all means, make sure that the Lord is at the center of your holiday plans. Never forget: you’re definitely on His list!

Shu-Li

2007-06-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

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What If?

2007-06-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

What if everything in our lives went on without a hitch -- would we remember to dedicate time for God to seek His direction?

What if the stock market never stopped booming this year -- would we remember that God's name is Jehovah Jireh ("God will provide")?

What if there were no mass layoffs this year -- would we remember that the Lord is an ever-present help in trouble?

What if none of our admired public figures experienced personal scandal this year -- would we remember that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us?

What if there were no floods or other natural disasters this year -- would we remember that even the wind and waves obey the Lord Jesus?

What if we never had to confront terror this year -- would we remember that Jesus is coming soon, giving to everyone according to what he has done?

What if there were no corporate bankruptcies this year -- would we remember that a man reaps what he sows because God cannot be mocked?

What if?

Welcome to the brave new post-modernist reality.

God is still God. Heaven and earth may pass away, but Jesus' words will never pass away. He is the same - yesterday, today and forever. He is the Alpha and the Omega -- the beginning and the end.

All the promises of God are affirmed and settled in Christ. He promises us: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." He promises us: "seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you." He promises us: "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." He promises us: "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

And that is just the beginning of what God has promised, and what will come to pass. On one hand, He has warned us that in this world, we will have tribulation. But on the other, He assures us that that He has overcome the world.

Especially when things look absolutely hopeless and miserable, we must remember that "God is good -- all the time." It is when our cupboards are bare and our wallets are empty that we must remember that Jesus came to give us life, and that we might have it more abundantly.

The times when our naked eyes and understanding fail us force us to look more deeply with our spiritual eyes, with a repentant heart and words of praise toward God. During those times, we are able to come earnestly, seeking not only God's provision, but also His priorities. Then, our faith is much more than just a slogan, because we have the purpose of God's glory to fuel us in His grace.

What if God's Church remembered this all the time? What if?

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2007-06-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

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What's Goin' On

2007-06-11T19:08:00.000-07:00

We all want to know. But it's not like we haven't been told.

The daily news has turned uglier than ever -- persecutions, deceivers, revolutions, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilence, plagues, fearful events, and great signs from heaven.

Does this sound familiar? Of course it does, because Jesus told us about this and more, concerning this world's last days. These are not pleasant times for God's Church, but they point to a level of realism that the Church must never forget: this planet is headed for judgment, and our testimony of Christ is crucial for its salvation.

Jesus warned that Jerusalem's desolation is near when we see it surrounded by armies. Based on recent events, that day doesn't seem very far away anymore.

Warnings from Jesus that may be less familiar are that the sea will cause nations to be in anguish and perplexity, and the sun, moon and stars will bear signs. Without a doubt, this is all very unsettling and gruesome to think about.

But the ultimate significance of this scenario really depends on what kind of eyes we use. From a natural perspective, this phenomenon is one of terror. But from the vantage point that God has provided His people, we have reason to be encouraged, and even joyful.

Jesus uses the example of a fig tree sprouting leaves -- pointing to summer's nearness. We know that each development is a sign of something important about to happen. Jesus tells us that as we see these developments, we should stand up and lift our heads, because our redemption is drawing near.

At the same time, Jesus warns us to keep aware of the meaning of these times, because a failure to do so is a trap for the unwary. He says that we must remain in a prayerful watch, with a mind toward being spared of what inevitably will occur on this earth.

Jesus is coming soon. He promises to return both "in the clouds," and "with power and glory." He promises also to give to everyone according to what they have done. He says: "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."

This is no time to mince words. This world is choking to death on its sin. When Jesus first came into the world, it was not to condemn it, but that it through Him should be saved. God is inviting all of us, despite any vile thing we have done in the past, to come to Him now before He returns.

How Not To Be Cornered

2007-06-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

One of the remarkable stories about Jesus is how during His earthly ministry He was able to evade capture by those who hated Him. At various times, we read that the Pharisees and others had planned ways not only to discredit Jesus, but also to have Him put to death.

But at each time, forces that Jesus' enemies could not control brought their plans to naught, whether due to a risk of alienating the masses, or simply an inability to isolate Jesus into a locale where they could apprehend Him. Until Jesus considered it time to lay down His life, His enemies had no viable opportunity to carry out their vicious schemes.

Even in hindsight, we could exhaust all our analytical resources and still fall short of any rational explanation for how someone with as public a ministry as Jesus - thrusting Himself into the midst of the masses - might be so difficult to rein in. Even an otherworldly assertion that Jesus was too powerful and too transcendent to be caught might still be inadequate in revealing why Jesus’ enemies were unable to lay hold of Him.

In our everyday society, we see a steady stream of newsworthy people – both noble and shameless – being brought down to size, often at a dizzying speed. Usually, an unexpected chink in the armor causes someone who has been exalted to be abased. With public scrutiny’s intense light often comes a different view of that person that reveals a means to control and neutralize them.

But intense scrutiny of Jesus reveals instead that the public’s light is missing. Jesus’ life left His critics with no credible means either to impugn His character or to construct any corner, ideological or otherwise, into which they could back Him.

This should be no surprise, because Satan also was unable to find a corner to back Jesus into when Jesus was in the wilderness to be tempted. By deferring entirely to the Father, Jesus left no fleshly ego, pride or lust from which Satan could corner Jesus. Likewise, by subordinating His ministry to His Father’s will, Jesus left no useful means for His other enemies to scandalize or capture Him.

Clearly, had Jesus ever surrendered to fleshly purposes, His earthly ministry could be placed on a level with every other religious mystic who develops a following, but later succumbs to natural limitations. What makes Jesus elusive is that He is too righteous to be seized in public, or traceable in private.

Jesus offers that same righteousness to each of us, whether we are newsworthy or obscure. He wants us to have His righteousness in order to transform our lives for Kingdom purposes, unrestricted by this world’s limiting corners.

Through Jesus' faithfulness, we can overcome our own fleshly vulnerabilities, and proceed past our adversaries to fulfill His purposes. We just need to trust Him.

Spring Forward, Fall Back

2007-06-04T05:13:00.000-07:00

They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. They that do not wait on the LORD may have an entirely different experience.

We can get ahead of God’s plan when we decide that waiting on the LORD is not working. That happened in the bible’s story of Abraham and Sarah, who looked at their body clocks and decided that they were a day late and a baby short. Their desperate response produced multigenerational fruit of “baby mama drama” that has kept the entire world unstable even unto this day. So reads a familiar hymn:

Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pains we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

But we need not stand in judgment on Abraham and Sarah, because they responded to decades of frustration, whereas most of us may have taken even more drastic steps under less stressful circumstances. With the passing of time, they clearly faced a climate of second-guessing that eventually undermined their convictions in what God had already said. Knowing what we know about human nature, we can guess that their family and colleagues had become generous with friendly advice for them to take some action on their own, irrespective of what they initially perceived to be God’s promise.

God’s timing can be an odd thing to grasp even for the most dedicated saint. Each of us needs to carry everything to God in prayer, because His presence always brings us a step closer to a level of surrender that allows Him to work through our lives. It is written that for everything there is a season, and a time in every purpose under the heaven. God is always on time. God does not serve time; instead, He uses the times and seasons to accomplish His purposes. God causes all things to work together through His people to accomplish His purposes.

Living a surrendered life also means that we need to stay on alert to move according to God’s timing. Being ready means to be aware of what Christ has said and is saying to us through the flow of events. Jesus has compared the Church to a bridesmaid who needs to keep her lamps trimmed for the wedding feast, explaining that those who are not prepared will be left out of that feast. This all points to a need for each of us to keep our eyes on Jesus. We must avoid misinterpreting our situation when He seems to be moving too slowly, or when this world’s circumstances seem to have overcome God’s authority.

The laws of relative motion teach us that our perception of time and distance are greatly influenced by that on which our perspective is fixed. Each of us experiences these phenomena on high-density roadways. If we are keeping pace with a moving target, we can seem momentarily to be motionless, when in fact, we are traveling at lightning speed.

Each of us needs to keep our eyes fixed on Christ. With His prophetic word serving as a kind of global positioning device, we can enjoy real-time joy and a peace that passes all understanding. On Jesus Standard Time, we are always ready to spring forward. And if we have gotten ahead of schedule, we need to run back into His loving arms.

Acai Supreme

2007-06-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

Acai (pronounced AH-sci-EE) Supreme combines the acai berry's whole food benefits with the gogi berry's broad body performance nutrients. This combination gives you the best nutritional value of any fruit.

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5. Click [Checkout]
6. Click Finish Order
7. Click Process Order (insert payment information)

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Help Is On The Way

2007-06-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

Imagine yourself needing a miracle.

Our lives can take some unexpected turns. Normally, everything can seem to be in order as we victoriously proceed from challenge to challenge, applying wisdom and a healthy dose of faith to our everyday circumstances. Although no one reasonably expects a trouble-free life, many problems seem quickly to disappear after we make one correction or another.

But in an instant, things in our lives can change to a degree that nothing seems to work. At certain times, neither the king’s horses nor the king’s men can seem to be able to get our fragile lives back to normal. The shock of life’s unexpected disruptions can later give way to anxiety and despair when trouble is unwilling to loose its hold on our lives.

What about prayer? God’s people are taught that prayer changes things. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

Even when we are at fault in our disruptions, we are taught to confess our sin, to ask for what we need, to believe God’s promises and to receive His blessings. We are taught that God is faithful, and that He will not withhold any good thing from His people.

We are taught to walk by faith, not by sight. We are taught to trust in Him, and lean not on our own understanding. We are taught to wait on Him, and to pray without ceasing.

Nevertheless, imagine yourself having prayed, believed, walked by faith, and waited – but still needing a miracle. These are the times that try men’s and women’s souls.

At these times, we learn things about God that are unknowable when we speedily proceed victoriously from challenge to challenge. It’s easy to sing: “Oh, How I Love Jesus” when problems quickly disappear from our radar screen. It’s entirely a different kind of love affair with the Lord when a problem continues to disrupt our lives.

Love waits. God has miracles that can take awhile to develop before our natural eyes can see them.

Love trusts. Some of God’s miracles require us to stand fast in faith even when our troubles seem only to worsen, rather than to disappear.

Love edifies. Some of God’s miracles require us to change our entrenched ways and thoughts.

Love forgives. God’s miracles may require us to forget what is behind, strain to what is ahead, and press on solely toward God’s high calling in Christ Jesus.

Imagine God converting your seemingly-hopeless detour into a voyage through the infinite dimensions of His sovereignty and love. Imagine God using dreaded circumstances and people as agents of your deliverance. Imagine God preparing a table for you in the presence of your enemies.

Never forget that God has miracles for people whose troubles haven’t gone away in only a few days. Read your bible: you’ll find more of those people than the ones whose trials and temptations lasted only momentarily. God’s goodness and mercy are worth the wait.