The Great GhostFor the moments I feel...
from joedoreIt is kind of ridiculous how much we put God in a box. And I’m not necessarily thinking about God the Father or Son…I’m thinking about the Holy Spirit (Yes, I believe they are one in the same, but for what I’m thinking and working through it’s the Holy Spirit that is boxed up). Something I am severely guilty of is leaving almost everything to chance and circumstance. I tend to think logically about everything, so when something cool happens or I accomplish something fairly significant, I typically look back and can tell you, logically, how and why it happened. And 9 times out of 10, the reasons I give don’t involve the workings of the Holy Spirit…even if at some point in the process of accomplishing task X or experiencing something cool, I prayed for God to step in! What is wrong with that picture?
John 14:16-17 says, “I [Jesus] will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of Through , whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. The truth is the Holy Spirit IS God, and has the power of God. I am a Christian, and have the Holy Spirit living in me. Therefore, I have the power of God living in me. The Holy Spirit gives us the power and does things for us and through us that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Yet, I too often can ignore that power and credit everything that happens to what I can see and have experienced.
Brian Tome in his book Free Book* says something which speaks directly to this situation. He says, “You can’t allow a fear of the strange to keep you from obtaining the superhero-like powers God wants to give you.” I think this nails my problem right on the head. I believe the fear of the strange is what keeps me from fully accepting the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. The work of the Holy Spirit is super-natural and can’t be explained away with logic. That is hard for me to get over.
Honestly I hope you don’t have the same problem that I do…but I am willing to bet a lot of people do (especially guys…no offense, but we typically reason with logic which, as I’ve made clear, is a hindrance in this situation). If you do struggle, please join me in fighting against our unbelief. Make an extra effort to accept the strange. Don’t flinch when someone says “the Holy Spirit helped me _______.” Believe in the power that lives in you.
Love all and serve all.
*I must thank my wife here because she has been one who has challenged me the most in regards to the power and workings of the Holy Spirit. Without her push and encouragement, I definitely wouldn’t be in the place where I am today. I love you, babe!
The Great CloudFor the moments I feel...
from joedoreThis morning I will be teaching the High School students about how important it is to choose your friends wisely. One of the passages I will be using is Hebrews 12:1-3. After reading through it several times this week, I began to see this verse ties in with the rest of scripture in a big way.
Here’s what I got from it this week:
First and foremost, Christ gave his own life for the sake of EVERYONE. He ran the race with endurance, facing and conquering everything that got in his way. This passage reminded me that Jesus’
“race” was not an easy one at all…and was in fact much harder than the race we are probably running right now.
That truth is confirmed in verse 3 which simply tells us to remember what Christ had to endure so that we don’t lose heart in our race.
This race is easily hindered due to our sin and “every encumbrance.” Whatever the sin is in your life, it is getting the way of your race and bogging you down. In order to run this race better, repent of that sin and give it to God.
And finally, the race also becomes easier when you are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses.” There are two ways I looked at this verse, and I think both ways have some sort of biblical backing. This cloud of witnesses is the body of Christ… the capital Church. As a Christian, we can run the race with more confidence and endurance because we know that we are not alone. There are people all over the world that are running this race too. Secondly, this cloud of witnesses is the specific community of believers you surround yourself with. Being at a lower-case church, being in a small group, purposefully being around other christians, will also help you run the race.
The race we have chosen to run is a hard one but because of who we are chasing after, it is all worth it in the end…so run hard.
Love All and Serve All
The Perfect GiftNotes along the Way
from Peter and FelicityIf you're looking for the perfect Graduation or Father's Day present, then may I heartily recommend John C. Maxwell's "The Right to Lead." Mr. Maxwell is a renowned speaker, preacher, and writer. His books have provided inspiration and guidance for some of our nations top religious, business, and political leaders. In "The Right to Lead," Mr. Maxwell provides in digest form some of his finest writing on the subject along with inspirational quotes and art. This small, hardcover book will make a great gift for the graduate or special-someone in your life for Father's Day. Small, easy to read, inspirational, and written with a purpose. Not simply a book of platitudes, this book is written to challenge the would-be leader to take responsibility and earn the right to lead.
Dave Ramsey's The Money Answer BookNotes along the Way
from Peter and FelicityI'll admit it. I'm a Ramsey-phile. I drank the kool-aid last year, and I haven't looked back. The best thing my wife and I did was sign up for the Financial Peace University class. It was truly an investment in our future, and we have been blessed with small and large successes since June of 2008. If you've never taken his class, read his books, or listened to his radio program, stop reading this review and check out www.daveramsey.com for more information. If, by chance, you're actually interested in this review, then please keep reading.
For people like me, this book contains very little new information. If you've already read The Total Money Makeover or Financial Peace (Revisited), then you know how the program works. Seven Baby Steps, followed in succession, to help you manage your finances and bless others by your ability to build wealth and give it away. This book is not really about the Baby Steps, though he does take time to mention them and go through them in detail throughout the book. This book is really a Question and Answer book. If you've listened to the radio program, then you know his style of taking questions and answering them as if he were "in your shoes." This book is just that. Taking highlights from the show/FAQ's about basic financial management and the Baby Steps, The Money Answer Book seeks to give direct, pointed, and concise information regarding a number of topics from debt to retirement.
When I read The Total Money Makeover and Financial Peace (Revisited), I was always asking questions. What do we do if...? What happens if...? Is it important for us to...? What if we can't...? What does he mean by...? This book handles those questions in a way that's easy to follow and implement right off! I am really excited to read this book alongside of the other books, so that as questions pop up, I can reference what he has to say in The Money Answer Book! Definitely get this book! Even if you don't think you have questions, believe me, you have questions. Get this book, read it, read it alongside of the others, read it while listening to the radio program. You may just find the answer that you've been looking for!
Word of Promise, NTNotes along the Way
from Peter and FelicityThis is an excellent Audio Bible. If you've purchased previous dramatized versions of the Bible, you understand the great depth of character and personality that comes from having multiple readers, sound effects, appropriate music, and good production quality. This series has them all. Stellar cast, breathtaking music, and very well produced. The words are written by someone who's infallible, so it's hard to really overlook the writer, but it's also kind of silly to put too much about that here. This is a great resource.
As a youth pastor, I'm always looking for ways to make the Bible come to life for my students. Using audio Bibles in the past has been something I've wanted to do, and I'm so thankful for this resource! What a great addition to our library! So glad that I picked this one up!
Life in the ZoneNotes along the Way
from Peter and FelicityThis is a great Bible study for men--specifically if they're sports minded in any way. There are testimonies of coaches, players, managers, and other figures in the sports industry who love Jesus and want to share what they've learned by placing their full trust in Him and following His lead in areas of character, marriage, parenting, work ethic, etc.
The 40 Day Plan idea is nice. It's easy to follow and builds on itself. It's not unique to this book, and (as a guy) I like knowing that I'm coming to the end of something. There were days when I felt like I could have skipped the lesson, but I'm glad I didn't. If you're looking for something to give to a high schooler, I would hold off. If you're looking at college to young adult, that's probably the youngest. I would definitely recommend this to a married man, working full time, and trying to keep his family, his faith, and his work in order. Definitely recommend.
None Are FreeZach Hunter's Blog
from zachhunter
Gerardo works all day with his family in a brick kiln. Children around the world are missing out on a childhood free from oppression.
Hello Friends!
It is nearly common knowledge that President Obama has declared January to be “Human Trafficking Month”; a month dedicated to awareness-raising and consciously fighting against modern-day slavery. There are legions of abolitionists now employed in the fight, and slavery is known to exist by most in the world. This is why it seems especially incredible to me that there are still some who ask, ignorantly, “Why Care?!”
Six years ago when I was 12 and launched Loose Change to Loosen Chains, people were shocked to learn slavery still existed. But now, after countless documentaries, TV specials, newspaper articles, t-shirts with clever slogans, fund raising efforts and a Presidential declaration, how can it be that people are still surprised? And, even more importantly, how can those who know ask “what does it matter to me?”
I have seen and heard these kinds of comments everywhere from Facebook to everyday conversation, some even making it seem a race issue, wondering why I would want to help someone who looks differently from me, when there are “white people in my own city who are homeless and starving.” This blows my mind. If we cannot acknowledge that the most basic human right, the right to freedom, is of utmost importance—then all the other issues become permissible. If it is okay to look the other way when there are people forced, against their will, to become prostitutes, then anything else goes. If we can ignore the fact that children are bought and sold and used as livestock how can we claim to love others?
Does this seem right? How can we be so ignorant and prejudiced to say that the only people who deserve to be helped are those who live close to us and look like us? This is important as well—any violation of human rights must be remedied. But, to limit our compassion to someone who has a struggle that is familiar – or someone who looks or sounds familiar – is an affront to our Creator.
Let’s take a stand against modern day slavery, in our own backyards and in around the world – for, “…if one of us are chained, none of us are free.” http://s0.ilike.com/play#Solomon+Burke:None+Of+Us+Are+Free:147886:m13086901
This month I’ll be posting practical actions you can take to follow in the footsteps of abolitionists of the past.
“No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.”
Frederick Douglass
Photo courtesy of Compassion International
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: Abolitionists, Frederick Douglass, Free, Loose Change to Loosen Chains, Obama slavery, Trafficking Month, Zach Hunter
Kabul 24Notes along the Way
from Peter and FelicityKabul 24 Tells the story of American and Afghan aid workers who were betrayed, arrested, and imprisoned by the Taliban; and the amazing way in which they experienced God's provision and work in their lives as they struggled to see the light at the end of their tunnel. If you're interested in the war in Afghanistan and the Christian response in a time of pain and struggle, this is an incredible book to read! In the list of current books about Afghanistan and the war on terror, this book stands out as both a first hand account of people on the ground and also as more than just a political, personal, or fictionalized autobiography. There are in this story real people, raw emotion, and the beauty experienced by God's intervention in their lives.
