I bet you probably never thought VH1 would be on my blog...neither did I.
I was camped out in front of the television this weekend and for some odd reason, I ended up on VH1. I decided to watch the Salt n Pepa Show. Well, I was pleasantly surprised, at least for this episode. It turns out that the duo had some reconciling to do after Salt decided to call it quits on show business. Salt confessed to dealing with bulimia back in the day. She found her recovery in Christ and has walked away from her old lifestyle. Pepa thought that Salt had left her in a lurch. After many tears and prayer (well, that is at least what Salt did), they decided to reunite and cleanup the act a little.
I think this show is kinda cute because of the good girl (Salt) vs bad girl (Pepa) portrayal. Salt really loves Pepa and she wants the best (ie Christ) for her. At one point, they do a reunion concert at Salt’s church and for just one minute, Pepa seems to forget where she is and begins to shake a little too much. Salt is shocked, quickly corrects her, and the audience BURSTS into laughter.
The show ends with SnP sitting together proud of their first live performance together in quite some time. Salt apologizes for the way she left the group – and it seems that that those few words were just what Pepa needed in order to let go of the past and embrace the future.
I hate to be a party pooper, but do you reallyt think this party really about spreading the Gospel?
I am going to have to go out on a limb and say "Shame on the Obama camp!" They are trying to use OUR EVANGELISM tactics against us believers. How many times have you promised someone dinner if they would go to church with you? Or have you ever dragged an unsuspecting nonbeliever to a David Crowder Band concert, and once he(she) got there, they started the jammin' to his set, then all of a sudden, he heard the lines "Here is our King, Here is our Love, Here is our God who's come to bring us back to him, He is the one, He is Jesus" and they stopped jammin' dead in their tracks?
We Christians have all done this before - sometimes, that it what it takes to advance the kingdom of God. But how dare the Obama camp steal our best moves?
It is so funny how God works. My mom is visiting my kids this week. I was here this morning working on the Friday Faith Confession, and God had impressed upon my heart to write about healing. I don’t know many scriptures about healing, so I was looking up healing on Biblegateway and it was taking me forever.
My mom just walked in to chit-chat, so I took a break. She came to tell me that last night, as she tucked my daughter in bed, my daughter said to her, “Jesus is a healer.” Why is this significant – because first, it confirmed that God was compelling me to write about healing. The second reason why it is significant: my mom really isn’t that big on Jesus. She laughed about what my daughter said, but deep down inside, I know that God is doing what only He can do, and He is calling out to my mom. Like the Good Book says, “From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise.” (Psalm 8:2 NIV)
Today is a day of healing. Whatever ails you, today is the day to declare your healing in the name of Jesus. Be restored and made whole by the power of the Lord. He is more than enough to heal you. Hearken unto His voice today and declare the good works of the Lord. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered. Do you remember the wonderful things God has done for you? Or did you just praise when you got what you wanted, and you haven’t thought about it since!
Think about this: what if someone begged you for some money and you gave it to him (or her). You hadn’t heard from him since that time, so you decide to call to ask him how he is doing. He tells you that he doesn’t have time to talk. But, it didn’t hurt your feelings. And wouldn’t you know…they call YOU two weeks later asking for more money.
That is how we treat the Lord sometimes – we spend all our time begging, and spend no time on remembering His good works or fellowship – getting to know Him, interacting with Him through prayer, praise, and worship.
Well, when the Lord heals you today, don’t just say thank you when you get what you want and never think about it again. Be a witness – tell the world what He did. Magnify the Lord with your testimony.
Lord, You have seen my ways, and still You healed me. You have healed and I am healed. You sent Your word to heal me. I will believe in Your word about my healing. I will live in Your truth. And the day will come when all will plainly see the work of Your hand. And I will remember You and Your good work.
It was a good interview where Perry talked about how God has worked in his life. Again, it confirmed for me that He who promises is faithful to deliver! What the enemy meant for bad, God WILL use it for good. Then, when you get to where He has promised you, if you are lucky, you will look back and say, “Isn’t it great that Miss Popular didn’t invite me to her party. Because if I had gone, I wouldn’t have been depressed, and I wouldn’t have gone to the ice cream store and bumped into Sally Superstar’s personal assistant.” (Remember that God knows you. Don’t pretend like He doesn’t know that you like to comfort yourself with ice cream.)
In the past facilities such as Home for Life -- once known as “homes for unwed mothers” -- were a common part of society’s fabric, providing a sanctuary for unmarried, pregnant young women who were abandoned, thrown out, and/or ostracized by their homes and communities. But as social mores and thinking changed, combined with advances in birth control and legalized abortion, these kinds of homes became almost non-existent. Today, teenage girls are offered few options for safe havens in which to make decisions and choices for their future, or for their unborn child’s.
Whatever happened to these types of places? Did it just become more socially acceptable to have children out of wedlock? BELIEVE ME I am not passing judgment -- just asking a question.
Even on Desperate Housewives, Bree's daughter as at such a home - where anyone else would find one - ONLY GOD KNOWS!
I was reading an article by Michael Horton called “Doesn’t God Want Us to be Happy?” – for what it’s worth. I think it is another misguided attempt to use natural logic to discern spiritual things.
When people write articles like this, the lawyer inside of me gets riled up and wants to yell – YOU HAVE MISSED THE POINT! You need to go back to the first article of the contract and READ THE DEFINITIONS!! Duh! That is what is wrong with all of these people who like to slam ministers like Joel Osteen or Joyce Meyer – THEY FORGOT TO READ THE DEFINITIONS!
One of the first things you learn in law school is not to run to Webster’s Dictionary to define words in contracts, statutes, and certainly not “terms of art.” You will look like a fool. Any good contract or legal statute will have at its outset a section where the terms used throughout the document are defined. If anyone is unclear as to what a particular word means, THEN you look outside the contract to define it.
People like Horton are trying to use THEIR definitions of happiness to judge ANOTHER’s definition of happiness – and quite frankly, it makes a learned man like himself look like he does not know what he is talking about. I think Horton needs to ask Osteen what Osteen considers happiness – and I am sure it will include some reference to joy – and Biblical joy comes from rest in Christ. Happiness doesn’t mean that your life is all roses, mansions, Bentleys, and self- fulfillment (as it seems Horton would have you to think). Rather, I believe that joy that comes from the knowledge that you are doing God’s will – WHATEVER that may be. You can have joy in the mansion if that is what God has provided, and you can have joy on the mountainside if that is what God has provided.
MY definition of SELF-FULFILLMENT: I have emptied myself and have allowed the Holy Spirit to fill me. Now I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST! To live a defeated life, still under condemnation, does not manifest God’s glory or the gift of salvation.
People are so broken nowadays that they cannot even BEGIN to think of the marvelous gift that Jesus gave us. And there is nothing wrong with a Christian knowing that IT IS FOR THEM. Believe me, if there was something inherent about people that wasn’t worthy of this gift, do you think God would have given it to us? We were created in HIS image. (I just wanna say “duh!”) That in and of itself should get us to understand that we are inherently valuable to God.
Christians need to be empowered to RECEIVE from God – not material things – but the most precious gift that He has given us – HIS SPIRIT. I wish Christians would wake up – THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST. No matter how unworthy we WERE, we have now been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus. WALK IN IT. RECEIVE IT. If you are still condemning yourself over how sinful as people we are because of original sin, you have left the bulk of your salvation on the cross.
So I say – YES! LIVE “YOUR” BEST LIFE – because the life that “you” live is not your own. “You” have been bought with a price. Daily “you” die so that CHRIST IN YOU may be glorified.
At least, that is MY interpretation of what these preachers are trying to tell us.
Hardee's new breakfast burrito features a two egg omelette filled with bacon, sausage, diced ham, cheddar cheese, hash browns and sausage gravy, all wrapped inside a flour tortilla. The burrito contains 920 calories and 60 grams of fat.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a devout Christian, visited Jesus' traditional birthplace. Her day began in biblical Bethlehem in the West Bank, with a tour of the Church of the Nativity, built over Jesus' traditional birth grotto. In the grotto, she lit a candle and paused for prayer. "Being here at the birthplace of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has been a very special and moving experience," said Rice, the daughter and granddaughter of Presbyterian ministers, said after the tour. "It is also, I think, a personal reminder that the prince of peace is still with us."
Get ready for the American Music Awards. They will air on Sunday, November 18 at 8 pm ET on ABC. This year, AMA has 20 categories where the public can vote for their favorite artists. Nominees for the Contemporary Inspirational Artist category are: Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, and TobyMac. Log on to ABC to vote. Voting for the AMA opened on Tuesday, Oct. 9, and closes Nov. 2 at 3 a.m. ET. Only one vote is allowed per registered account from the U.S.
Who is your favorite? All are great - but Jeremy Camp has had a good year with strong songs like Take You Back, but TobyMac is the man to beat!
Last year, the winner of the Contemporary Inspirational Artist category went to Kirk Franklin.
Here is a clip from the interview with Paula White on a Tampa Bay talk show Flashpoint. I think this was a good interview - Brendan was direct, confronted issues that interest the viewers, while still being fair to Paula.
It is really puts to shame the radio interview conducted by Detroit's Paul Edwards - Edwards professes to be a man of God, but quite frankly, I think that he was brutal - and that is not cute, it is not funny, and it is not Christian. The Edwards interview stinks of his Pharaseic theology. New Testament Christianity is not about one man making up rules for another, but about LIFE IN CHRIST - CHRIST IN ME. The Bible tells us that unless no one can see the kingdom of heaven unless they are born again. And I really do believe that the enemy has infiltrated the church (the places people congregate on Sunday mornings) and is blinding God's people - but only the born again can identify the wolves from the sheep. Who are the wolves? They are those that are condemning and judging their brothers and sisters instead of believing that it is God that raises one up and sits one down. They are those that follow man's ritualistic traditions instead of the promptings of the Lord. They are those that try to use natural logic to discern spiritual things. They are those that follow rules for the sake of working their way into the good graces of God. Often, their hearts are in the right place, but they have the wrong motive. They have been deceived by the god of this world.
Your adversary (the devil) does not even like you enough to hate you. He is not going to go out of his way just to "trip you up" if you are not living for the Lord. In his eyes, you are not worth his time. The enemy is attacking those who know the Lord and have decided that it is Him that they will follow. He is attacking those that work to advance the kingdom of God. But the devil forgot,
GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME THAN HE THAT IS WITHIN THE WORLD.
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.
I WILL PRESS ON TOWARD THE PRIZE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CALLED ME.
THOUGH THEY ATTACK, WHEN I AM AFRAID, I WILL TRUST IN THE LORD.
The adversary that has infiltrated the church is trying to win this battle by creating a lot of lukewarm Christians. But in Revelation 3:15-17, the Lord is clear:
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm—
neither hot nor cold—
I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'
But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
(what can I say after THAT! I am having "chu'ch here by myself now...PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!)
Paul Edwards conducted a radio interview with Paula White. Clearly, Paula was there to discuss her new book, "You're All That." However, Edwards took the opportunity to lambast Paula on her beliefs and her decision to continue in ministry even while going through her divorce. All I can say is "Do not judge, lest ye be judged." It reminds me of a little faith scenario that I went through a couple of years ago.
I attended a church where the pastor was always asking for money. When I first attended, I could see the vision that God had given the pastor for the church, and I believed that God wanted me to sow into the ministry. But as time progressed, every sermon was asking for more and more money. I began to worry about whether it had been good for me to give this pastor all my hard earned money. But the day came when God put it in my spirit that I was to do as He (GOD) instructed. Now, if the pastor did not do what God instructed with the money that I had sown, it would be the pastor that would stand in judgment for his disobedience. If I did not sow when God instructed me to sow, then I would stand in judgment for my disobedience. Even if it did not make natural sense to me, I was to obey God's instruction, not my own, and certainly not a beggin' pastor.
So in the same way, I will not judge Paula's decision to stay in the ministry, even while going through this difficult personal time. It will be Paula that will be judged by a just, soverign, and almighty God for her obedience to His instruction and for her stewardship over the seeds that He has entrusted to her care.
Paula White discusses divorce and effects on ministry. Here is an excerpt:
A study from the Barna Research Group of Ventura, shows that millions of twentysomething Americans - many of whom were active in churches during their teens - pass through their most formative adult decade while putting Christianity on the backburner. This group is significantly less likely than any other age group to attend church services, to donate to churches, to be absolutely committed to Christianity, to read the Bible, or to serve as a volunteer or lay leader in churches. The Barna Research Group also reports that many twentysomethings struggle to find their place in churches and feel overlooked as potential leaders. The age group with the greatest number of church leaders are those in their 50s.
Experience does help to shape good leaders, but when will people train up the next generation of leaders? I know from my own experience that fresh ideas are critical to the life of a church. My childhood church virtually went under due to stagnant leadership and "same 'ol" thinking. How has your church integrated twentysomethings in church leadership? Do you all have a formal program to train up the next generation of leaders?
According to Christianpost.com, tomorrow churches across the country are shutting their doors and taking their worship outside to demonstrate one of the most principal mandates in Scripture – faith in action.
Faith in Action Sunday is the culmination of a four-week churchwide campaign that aims to get Christians out of the pews and onto the streets to raise the value of social justice and compassion, serving as Jesus served the church, says one spokesman.
I hadn't heard of this until today. I plan to be in church tomorrow morning, but I think it will be a wake up call for many Christians. Everyday should be Faith in Action day.
I just came across this article about a new program at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.They are now offering a degree with a concentration in homemaking. There are also classes open only to women that teach homemaking. It is sad to admit, but I think classes on homemaking have become somewhat needed due to the degradation of the family unit. Just think about how many people grow up with a disfunctional view of what it means to be a husband or a wife. How many people have justified that divorce is one of many solutions to marital problems? I am not saying this to be judgmental - not in the least. I think that there is a perversion in society that people think that marriage is all about being in LUUUUVV! That is deception from the enemy, and he is using it to defeat Christians.
In ALL things, God wants to draw us closer to HIM. He has put His Spirit in both male and female. We are to come to each other looking for the Lord. And His Word tells us that when two or more are gathered in His name, He is in the midst of them. He has designed us to come together as catalysts for His work on the Earth -- we should accelerate His work, and yet in doing so, we keep the identity of who He has made us to be.
Whe we marry, we are to connect Spirit to Spirit. I would tell anyone contemplating marriage to ask themself just one question: "Can you promise GOD that you will never leave this person?" --NOT "can you promise THAT PERSON that you will never leave them. " Everyone knows my favorite saying about marriage: "God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent. Translation: PEOPLE LIE AND PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MINDS." People are running off getting married just because the LUV somebody...and then, when they don't feel that LUV anymore - when some thangs start happening in life - they want to run.
Ask God if that person is the mate that He has chosen for you and encouage that person to do the same thing. Then, when you say those vows, make your vows TO THE LORD, not to each other. Then you will know who is serious.
But back to the article. (boy, did I digress!) I think there is a lack of Titus 2 leadership in the church. There was a time when a mother would teach her daughter how to cook, how to clean, how to live life as a mighty woman of GOD! What is wrong with traditional gender roles when you have a choice? I think one of the most important roles for a mother is to instruct their children - they should be able to trust you to instruct them on how to navigate an ungodly world. The world gives them choices, and so does God. It is our service that will win our children to the Lord, not our indoctrination. (but back to the article)
With the devaluing of traditional gender roles, and the lack of adequate role modeling and instruction, we have now moved to a place where it is now necessary for women to 1. recognize and embrace that God has ordained traditonal gender roles; 2. recognize that there has been a lack of instruction or modeling of traditional gender roles in their lives; 3. understand they are not alone; and 4. know God is restoring His church and is raising up instructors for a time such as this.
Have you ever seen those clever marquees on churches that make you think – I never thought about that – the first one I remember seeing was “7 days without God makes one Weak” (you get it??) Well anyway, I found a list of “one sentence sermons that I thought you might enjoy. If you like these, you might want to check out these books at
My husband bought me one of these yesterday, and it is the best (fake) fruit juice I have ever tasted - and I don't even like peach or papaya. Turns out, there is no peach or papaya in it - it is made out of a little pear juice. Anyway it goes, it is great!
Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously! Don't be too afraid to laugh - God knows our heart anyway. I wish I knew her name. She is bringing JOY -- I am not making fun of her, but I am laughing because it is funny! She has given God praise, and now God is blessing her and us by bringing joy to our lives through her. Think of how popular this lady is…Views: 70,646; and tagged as a Favorite: 531 times -- in a little over a year!
What do you do when you feel like giving up? Mark 4:15 tells us that when we hear the Word of the Lord, the adversary comes immediately to take the Word from our hearts. Are you going to just let him have it, or are you going to protect what is yours? Matthew 11:12 (NIV) states that “the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it.” Here is a clip from an article from SpiritLed Woman (Oct/Nov 2007) that I know will encourage you to press on toward the call of the Lord.
I've Resigned From Resigning By Barbara Wentroble
I had a million good reasons for wanting to leave the work of the Lord. But there is nowhere you can go to escape your calling.
Why am I doing this to myself?" I asked. Excuses to resign from the call of God flooded my mind.
I can be normal like other women and stay home.
I am sacrificing my time, energy and finances to help people who do not appreciate what I am doing.
My husband and children do not treat me the way some of these people treat me.
My family will appreciate my spending more time with them.
I really need to have more quality time with the Lord. I can do that if I stop what I am doing.
Since I am experiencing difficulties, maybe I am out of the will of God.
All the excuses made sense to me. After all, I had three young children and a husband who was able to support me financially. Tradition had taught me that a woman should stay home and care for her children and husband. My church emphasized to me that the highest call of God for a woman was to be a mother and a wife.
View the rest of the article and find out how Barbara overcame at SpiritLed Woman.
I just had the opportunity to log in to the inaugural life coaching session offered by Pastor Paula White. This was a perk offered to those who preordered her new book You're All That.
The session lasted about 20 minutes. It included here speaking a message covering the first few chapters as well as questions for self reflection. There was also an interactive comment section where participants could ask questions and comment.
Here is a screenshot:
I enjoyed it, to say the least. Although I have not received my book yet, it was an exciting preview. She begins by telling the story of how her son snuck out of the house when he was a toddler on a busy 4th of July. You can hear the story here in the audio excerpt.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,
but according to their own desires,
because they have itching ears,
they will heap up for themselves teachers;
and they will turn their ears away from the truth,
and be turned aside to fables.
But you be watchful in all things,
Indure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Why do you attend the church you attend? Why do you listen to the teachings that you listen to? Is it because the pastor or the teacher is friendly, outgoing, or you like what they say? What are you listening to? Are you listening to the words they are speaking, or are you seeking God through the speaker?
I think that we can confused and think "Oh, Pastor Bob sure gave us some good advice today!" But what advice was God giving you? People leave their deliverance, their victory, the answers to their prayers at the altar because they confuse the message with the messenger. We have to train ourselves to be able to distinguish natural problems from spiritual ones.
Why? Because you cannot use natural wisdom to fight a spiritual battle. Sometimes those in authority will tell us things that sound like good advice, we try it, but it doesn't work for us. Why -- because it is like trying to cut a 2x4 (a thick piece of wood) with a steak knife -- you might make a few scratches, but it is going to take a lot of work, and a lot of effort to get all the way through. God gives us the best tools for the jobs He has called us to do. As in the example, he will give you the "band saw" you need to get the job done and be through with it!
When seeking wise counsel for anything, be deliberate in prayer -- ask the Spirit that is within you to "translate" the message that God is sending you. He will reveal real wisdom. Don't just act on what people tell you - act on the word that God has revealed to you through the words that they speak. We are not created to follow one another, but the Lord. Jesus tells us in Luke 10:27-28: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."
The Lord has made this clear to us. In Matthew 23:10, we know that we only have One Teacher -- and that is Christ.
If you are not connecting Spirit to Spirit with someone you are asking for advice, wrote the book you are reading for wisdom, or sang the song you are listening to in the hopes of ushering in the presence of the Lord, I think the Lord will look at you and ask you, "Daughter, what are you doing? I know you have a good heart, and you mean well, but you need to focus. REALLY"
Some Christians like to get upset when those they look up to do not meet their expectations. But the truth of the matter is that some folks are shouting when the Lord is not speaking. What are you shouting at? What did God tell you? "The Pastor sure is preaching today!" But what is the Lord preaching?
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Here are some great inspirational resources available at Christianbook.com.
I have heard about the Truth Project before, but I have never really taken a good look at it. While cruisin' the web, I came across the site Place it at the Cross and a promotional trailer for the Truth Project. I have to tell you that it is absolutely fascinating. Believers, we must defend a Christian world view. This is imperative as society becomes more profoundly bombarded with a "do what you wanna do, say what you wanna say" mentality. It becomes more critical because now, virtually everyone has INSTANT ACCESS to the WORLD -- via Youtube, Myspace, Google, Yahoo...YOU NAME IT!
Please view the trailer -- it is pretty lengthy, but even just this glimpse of what is going on in the world will really get you to thinking...and hopefully studying so that you can discover the Truth.
THE SCRIPTURES DESCRIBE THE DIFFICULTY OF SELF-CONTROL The wisdom of Solomon declared it is easier to capture a city than to be in control of our spirit Pr 16:32
HOWEVER, IN CHRIST THERE IS STRENGTH TO CONTROL SELF Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Ga 5:17 This does not mean we are no longer tempted to sin,
but we are free from the dominion of sin! Ro 6:14 For those in Christ, there is added strength as they "walk according to the Spirit"! The Holy Spirit helps us overcome the "deeds of the body" - Ro 8:11-14; Ep 3:16,20 Prayer (based on Titus 2:5 and Colossians 3:16-17):
Dear Lord, Help us to be self-controlled and pure so that no one will speak evil of the Word of God because of us. And help us to be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. And whatever we do, whether in word or deed, may we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Amen.
Today, I was wondefully blessed to catch the Believer's Voice of Victory on TBN. I usually do not watch the program, but I was looking for something different for my prayer time this morning. Well, I did not know that it would be a God appointment. Today's broadcast featured Lisa Bevere. She is the author of the book Fight Like a Girl.
How can I begin to express how great this woman of God is! She discussed her own experiences and finding her place as a woman in the church. She had a heart to serve the Lord, but people spoke some very disheartening things to her. But she perservered! She found out who she was in the Lord. And now her work reaches out to women around the world.
Lisa makes it clear: God is raising up FEARLESS DAUGHTERS! We are not here to take the place of men, but to work alongside them. God is pouring out his spirit on his sons AND daughters!
This is my VERY first time listening to Lisa, but definitely it will not be the last time. I am going to order the book from Christianbook.com and I will be back soon with a review.
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This is a new day for contemporary evangelism. With new tools like myspace (http://www.myspace.com/), and search engines like Google and Yahoo, it is easy for anyone to just "make up" their own personal spirituality.
However, the truth of the matter is, we spend years studying reading, writing, and 'rithmetic, but why don't we encouage people to spend an equal amount of time on REAL spiritual development. Now, I am not just talking about going to Sunday School, Wednesday (or Thursday) night Bible study, and a slick sermon -- I am talking about learning about the faith that it takes to be a real believer and follower of the Gospel.
Everyone is quick to judge people like pastors and evangelists (ie. Juanita Bynum and Paula White), and are real quick to preface their statements by saying "Now, I don't know much about the Bible, but ....(fill in the blank)" Well, confessing ignorance will get you on a fast train to destruction. I hope Christians will wake up and realize that just going to church is not going to transform your life -- you have to get in the Word (the Bible) everyday -- whether it be reading, listening, watching on TV, on the computer (youtube) -- WHATEVER!
The Bible tells us that we are to pray WITHOUT CEASING. For me, each moment that I meditate on His word is a moment of devotion to Him. What are you devoting your time to? There are some close to me that wonder how I can sit on the computer and watch all these teachers like Joyce Meyers, Cindy Trimm, Darlene Bishop, and Medina Pullings -- what am I learning from them? Well, it is not so much that I am learning from them, but I am excercising my faith by listening to what they are speaking and allowing the Holy Spirit to activate those words in my life.
You cannot play games with this people! The Bible also tells us that when two or more are gathered in His name, He is in the midst! God has created us as a part of a system of Holy Ghost transmitters and receivers. It is like we are His free radio stations!
So ask yourself: What are you transmitting? What are you receiving?
I think that every Christian should devote as much time to growing faith, belief, and study in God's Word as they do to learning about anything else. That is why I have decided that each month, I will now offer a Christian resource that I will send to you for a small donation. Now, I do not want people ordering these just to say they own a collection of Christian books - the Word cannot transform your life by sitting on your bookshelf collecting dust. I want you to read, watch, and listen to the resource. Please share with us how it has transformed your life. If you know someone who could benefit from the teaching, please share with them.
TO ALL MY INTERCESSORS AND PRAYER WARRIORS: PLEASE STAND IN THE GAP FOR THE BIBLICALLY ILLITERATE!
Knowing God's word is critical to belief and necessary for growth in the faith. I grew up in a denomination where I don't EVER remember seeing anyone with a Bible. And not to be outdone, when I became a new Christian, somehow I got mixed up in a Church where it happened again -- and this time this was in a denomination KNOWN for Bible thumpin'!
God's people perish from a LACK OF KNOWLEDGE -- so how long are people going to "crank that" (or "crank dat" -- HOWEVER you wanna put it)
The mission of Sarah & Isaac Mother and Child Ministries (SIM) is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with women and children without regard to ethnic, denominational and socioeconomic barriers with effectiveness and excellence. The primary focus of this ministry is reaching out to single mothers and their children.
SIM is raising money to cover expenses associated with applying for an IRS tax exemption. Any additional funding will be used to begin the work of the ministry.
A big-screen adaptation of Perry's hit stage play of the same title, Why Did I Get Married? is an intimate story about the difficulty of maintaining a solid love relationship in modern times. During a trip to the picturesque snowcapped mountains of Colorado, eight married college friends have gathered for their annual seven-day reunion. But the cozy mood is shattered when the group comes face-to-face with one pair’s infidelity. As secrets are revealed, each couple begins questioning the validity of their own marriage. Over the course of the weekend, husbands and wives take a hard look at their lives, wrestling with issues of commitment, betrayal and forgiveness as they seek a way forward.
Starring: Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba, Jill Scott, Sharon Leal, Tasha Smith, Michael Jai White, Denise Boutte, Lamann Rucker, and of course the infamous TP (Tyler Perry).
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
10.05 (2007) remedy club tour ***SOLD OUT*** dallas.tx
10.06 (2007) remedy club tour houston.tx 10.07 (2007) remedy club tour san antonio.tx 10.09 (2007) remedy club tour albuquerque.nm 10.11 (2007) remedy club tour ***SOLD OUT*** phoenix.az
10.12 (2007) remedy club tour ***SOLD OUT*** san diego.ca 10.13 (2007) remedy club tour ***VENUE CHANGE*** hollywood.ca
10.14 (2007) remedy club tour ***SOLD OUT*** anaheim.ca 10.16 (2007) remedy club tour ***SOLD OUT*** san francisco.ca
10.18 (2007) remedy club tour portland.or
10.20 (2007) remedy club tour seattle.wa
10.21 (2007) remedy club tour ***SOLD OUT*** spokane.wa
10.22 (2007) remedy club tour boise.id 10.24 (2007) remedy club tour denver.co
10.25 (2007) remedy club tour manhattan.ks
10.26 (2007) remedy club tour tulsa.ok
11.01 (2007) remedy club tour chicago.il 11.07 (2007) remedy club tour cincinnati.oh
11.08 (2007) remedy club tour philadelphia.pa
11.09 (2007) remedy club tour boston.ma
11.10 (2007) remedy club tour new york.ny
11.11 (2007) remedy club tour washington.dc
11.13 (2007) remedy club tour raleigh.nc 11.14 (2007) remedy club tour columbia.sc
11.15 (2007) remedy club tour ***JUST ADDED*** orlando.fl
I just returned from a trip to the grocery store, and while I was there, I noticed that everything was pink -- pink soup cans, pink cereal boxes -- everything! Well, I found out that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Show your support!
I had a good friend that just passed away from a courageous fight with breast cancer. As a part of her coping, she decided to take up learning anything and everything about golf -- and she was great! I was fortunate to meet her one afternoon on a business golf outing. I didn't know ANYTHING about golf - I am just a girl from the hood that done good. Well, I decided that I would go just to show my face, but I ended up on a team with some very seasoned players (and this was SUPPOSED to be just for fun). Well, my friend took me under her wing, and coached me along. In that short afternoon, she planted that seed in my life, and to this day I still enjoy golfing -- I enjoy it -- I didn't say I was good at it -- YET.
Well, Susan G. Komen For the Cure has a new initiative called the Circle of Promise. It turns out that African American women are dying from breast cancer at a significantly higher rate than other ethnic groups. Komen is hoping that you will encourage your African American sisters, all our sisters for that matter, to take control of their health. As of right now, WE ARE THE CURE!
Here is Patti Labelle (who has lost a sister to breast cancer) is singing "Walk Around Heaven," on Good Morning America (co-host Robin Roberts is also a survivor).
Think most Americans know the Ten Commandments?
Think again.
Despite living in a country with a rich and still prevalent Christian heritage – as evident from the Pledge of Allegiance to the nation’s motto, “In God We Trust” – Americans were found to be more familiar with the ingredients of the McDonald’s Big Mac hamburger than some of the Ten Commandments.
I AM blessed in the city! I AM blessed in the field! I AM blessed coming! I AM blessed going! I AM the head and not the tail! I AM LIVING A BLESSED LIFE! You have to KNOW it.
Join Paula White and special guest Yolanda Adams at the Life By Design Empowerment Center in New York City on October 21. Door open at 3 pm (preferred partner seating begins at 2:45 pm)
For more resources by Paula White, please visit Christianbook.com: Paula White
I just watched the two new shows on BET - Sunday Best and Exalted.
SUNDAY BEST
Sunday Best was pretty good. There were some good singers on there. My favorite was the girl who came in after a night of partying and blew away the judges, BeBe, and the duo Mary Mary. (isn't that a little too much redundancy?) Well anyway, Kirk Franklin was doing his thang trying to be the "hype man" - almost to the point where he kinda reminded me of a gospel version of everybody's beloved "Flavor Flav". He was keeping the party going, for sure. The guy who sung "Whose Your Daddy" had his heart in the right place, but I don't think it is scripturally accurate to say that Jesus is "your daddy." Isn't he more like a brother?? What do you think?
EXALTED
I was really excited to see Exalted. I have been looking forward to this show since I first heard about it -- but not for the reasons many people tuned in. It looks like it will be a very promising show giving viewers an inside snapshot of what it means to be a minister in the 21st century. (that is the century we are in, right?) Well anyway, tonight's episode showcased Juanita Bynum's journey into ministry -- including that infamous night in the hotel parking lot. It was interesting to see an excerpt from an interview where Bynum shared that she has had plastic surgery -- it seems like everyone is getting something done... I can't wait 'til it is my turn. That got me to thinkin' -- what does the Bible say about plastic surgery? Is there anything for or against it? And wouldn't you know -- there is a website that purports to have an answer:
BET has two great premiere's tonight - Sunday Best, an "American Idol" for the next gospel superstar and Exalted, which features biographies of African American ministers.
Sunday Best kicks off the night at 8pm Eastern time and is immediately followed by Exalted. Don't miss it!
Thanks to all of you who made a donation last month.
This month, ASK Magazine is pleased to send you this month's resource "Wonderful Names of Our Wonderful Lord" for your donation of $10.00. To order, please use the link to Paypal.com.
