Preparation
I have been reading in the Old Testament of Exodus and Leviticus. One word that keeps popping out of the text is the word “prepare“. It is amazing not only how detailed the preparation was to get everything right, but the consequences of not taking this type of worship seriously. I’m absolutely convinced that during those first days and years of temple-worship experiences were entirely inspirational as people were actually following IN DETAIL what God had asked them to carry out. Unfortunately humanity began to ignore — take for granted — became bored — and actually lost the passion of preparation.
John the Baptist also did this: He prepared the way for Jesus — a way to live in God’s favor. THAT kind of favor is a a not a preparation of works, but of mercy! Now each day we can PREPARE for and follow through in worship to this King of Kings and Lord of Lords! So what are you waiting for?
Book Review: You Were Born for This by Bruce Wilkinson
I love the way Bruce writes. It always challenges me, makes me think, and points me toward the awesome work of God in my life. This book will be part of a group Bible study in the near future for our church, that’s for sure! Check it out by clicking here.
His New York Times phenomenon The Prayer of Jabez changed how millions pray. Now Bruce Wilkinson wants to change what they do next.
Anyone can do a good deed, but some good works can only happen by a direct intervention from God. Around the world these acts are called miracles—not that even religious people expect to see one any time soon. But what would happen if millions of ordinary people walked out each morning expecting God to deliver a miracle through them to a person in need? You Were Born for This starts with the dramatic premise that everyone at all times is in need of a miracle, and that God is ready to meet those needs supernaturally through ordinary people who are willing to learn how Heaven works.
In the straightforward, story-driven, highly motivating style for which he is known, Wilkinson describes how anyone can help others experience miracles in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose, and spiritual growth.
You Were Born for This will change how readers see their world, and what they expect God can do through them to meet real needs. They will master seven simple tools of service, and come to say with confidence, “I want to deliver a supernatural gift from God to someone in need today—and now I know how!”
Michael Jackson Meets His Maker
The news unfolded this afternoon. Michael Jackson is dead.
Michael Jackson is dead. The reports brought Twitter to it’s knees. The news channels are now on the 24/7 with it all.
Here are some quotes I heard.
- An American Icon.
- Another Elvis.
- Innovative.
- One of the biggest stars of all time.
- A Legend.
- Passionate.
- A Wonder.
- A great loss for America.
On Fox, Sheppard Smith said, “I sense that the next few days will become a true ‘American Event’”.
It is true, Michael Jackson was talented, creative, and eccentric. He was my age, so I grew up and listened to all the reports. From the publicity stunts to the tragedies of choices he made, I know he didn’t want to face death. In the 80′s he even spent time in a hyperbolic chamber in order to ensure amazing longevity.
What if you were to be surprised by your death? What if your family discovered that you were gone from this life?
Legacy, sure we all think about this. Regrets, they are ongoing in life. Do-overs? Yes, we want those, too. But the most important thing to answer is this? ARE YOU READY TO MEET YOUR MAKER? Do you know and love the God who made you to know and to love. He loves you so much. In fact the Bible tells of the peace you find when you do discover this truth. Peace in storms, decisions, relationships, difficulties, sickness, etc., etc.
Hebrews 9:27-28 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
michael jackson, jackson, thriller, death, dying, funeral, hope, inspiration, help, counseling, salvation, christian, god, jesus, hope, revtim, revtim.com, tim hohm, hohm
uStream – uStream.tv Media Streaming
I have a couple of uStream.tv accounts that offer free live video streaming. Since they began their services I have been interested in gathering together people and interacting with a live Internet audience.
What would you be most interested in tuning in? Interviews, concerts, Bible studies, New Media training? Something else? Would you tune in on a regular basis to something like this?
Would you like to learn how to do this yourself?Perhaps you would stream your church service or a Bible study. There are lots of possibilities. You just need a web cam, computer, and high-speed internet. Start there, then improve over time. It could be fun and rewarding, right?
What is YOUr Response?
1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.
3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.
7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.
9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Matthew 28:1-9 (NLT)
CD Release Party Video of Ginger Hohm and “This Train”
Recorded January 10, 2009. Enjoy!
Ginger Hohm, “This Train”. http://GingerHohm.com
2008 Thanksgiving Year of the “Social”
I have to agree with a lot of the favorite tech things that Greg Atkinson wrote about on his blog post. In 2008 there are three services in particular that bounced to the top for me.
The reason is this — making the connection — with a LOT of other people I haven’t talked to or communicated with in a long time. And you know what? I still like them!! 
God created us to love Him and to love others. One small way to BEGIN to love someone is to connect, interact, communicate, pray, and have conversations. In MY conversations, I want to bring hope and inspiration and to be transparent.
But when it’s all said and done
Praying for New Words to Express Common Bible Verses?
You gotta love this. When I was a teenager someone showed up with a Bible that used a lot of the phrases being said by the Jesus Movement. I always wanted one like that as a novelty, I guess, but I just liked the unique way words met culture.
Today I discovered the Pidgin Bible. Well, it’s not complete, but has phrases loosely translated this way. Check out a common passage, Philippians 4:6-9.
Eh, no worry bout notting! Mo betta, everyting dat happen, pray bout um, an aks God fo do wateva you guys like him fo do. An same time, no foget tell him, “Mahalo plenny!” Den, God goin make you guys hearts rest inside. Dat goin be mo betta den anybody can figga. God goin take care yoa hearts an yoa heads, cuz you guys stay tight wit his Spesho Guy Jesus Christ. So den, tink bout all dese kine stuffs — wateva stay true, wateva get respeck, wateva stay right, wateva no stay pilau, whoeva you get aloha fo, wateva you talk good bout, wateva da bestes kine, weneva peopo can say, “Dass good!” — tink everytime bout all dat kine stuff. Everyting you guys wen learn from me, everyting I wen give you guys, everyting you wen see an hear wen I was wit you guys — go do um! Den, da God dat can make you guys hearts rest inside, he goin stay wit you guys. (Fo da Philippi Peopo 4:6-9)
Vote Christian — What Does THAT Mean??
This is well said by a commentator at Gotquestions.com
Christians often ask us whether they should be a Republican or a Democrat or something else, we have to listen to what the Bible says about political issues and encourage each other to make a decision from there. In all actuality, few political issues are truly spiritual issues. As an example, we may prefer lower taxes, but the Bible does not endorse low taxes; all it says is that we are to pay our taxes honestly (Romans 13:6-7; Matthew 22:15-21). Taxes and many other issues (social security, universal healthcare, education funding, prescription drugs, etc.) are not spiritual issues the Bible specifically addresses. As a result, Christians can in good conscience have disagreements on these issues.
An issue the Bible most definitely “takes sides” on is abortion. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that God knows us before He knits us in the womb. Psalm 139:13-16 speaks of God’s active role in our creation and formation in the womb. Exodus 21:22-25 prescribes the same penalty of someone who causes the death of a baby in the womb as the penalty for someone who commits murder. This clearly indicates that God considers a baby in the womb as just as much of a human being as a full-grown adult. For the Christian, abortion is not a matter of a woman’s right to choose. It is a matter of the life or death of a human being made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6). Therefore, Bible-believing Christians should strongly support candidates who are pro-life.
Another issue which is most definitely biblical is that of gay marriage. The Bible condemns homosexuality in the strongest terms possible (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Gay marriage is an attack on the institution of marriage that God created to be between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:22-24). Endorsing gay marriage or even civil unions is basically giving approval to a lifestyle choice the Bible condemns as immoral and unnatural. Gay marriage, then, is an issue Christians must consider when they evaluate a candidate.
The Bible teaches that a leader in the church should be a godly, moral, ethical person (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9). This should apply to political leaders as well. If politicians are going to make wise, God-honoring decisions, they must have a basic morality on which to base the decisions they are going to have to make. So if there is a clear moral distinction between candidates, as Christians, we should choose the more moral, honest, and ethical of the candidates.
No matter who is in office, whether we voted for them or not, whether they are of the political party we prefer or not, the Bible commands us to respect and honor them (1 Peter 2:13-17; Romans 13:1-7). We should also be praying for those placed in authority over us (Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). We do not have to agree with them, or even like them, but we do have to honor and respect them. Politics is always going to be a difficult issue for Christians. We are in this world, but are not to be of this world (1 John 2:15). We can be involved in politics, but we should not be obsessed with politics. Ultimately, we are to be heavenly-minded, more concerned with the things of God than the things of this world (Colossians 3:1-2). As believers in Jesus Christ, we are all members of the same political party—monarchists who are waiting for their King to return (Revelation 19:11-16).
Gotquestions.com
Facebook, MySpace, Blogs … Unifyer
I love Facebook. I have been able to connect with dozens and dozens of my current and past friends and family. It seems that not a day goes by when the name of someone I once spent a lot of time with pops up.
For me, that is AWESOME, I really love it.
What if the local church — MY church, CENTRAL ASSEMBLY — was able to connect the like-minded people groups together. Communication would increase. I think there could be a quicker adoption by ministries to connect. Hope Groups could even go to the next steps.
I have been exploring this. There are a lot of social networks out there. And recently I have discovered Unifyer. I am doing research on it right now. Ning, Unifyer, Facebook, and blogs are all ways to make connection.
Maybe you could check the link below, then come back with a few comments as you see it. I would love your input!
Unifyer Review at ChurchCrunch.
How Would Jesus Vote?
I am reading this very relevant book. No matter what, Followers of Christ should be praying for our nation. May God direct our paths and may we make decisions that glorify His cause!
2 Chronicles 7:14
The 2008 election is shaping up to be one of the most important political contests in American history. In fact, Dr. D. James Kennedy believes it will be a watershed moment that could impact our very survival as a nation under God.
Values voters—people whose political views and votes are based on their faith in God—are being targeted as never before. As the campaign season moves forward, the significant players will debate terrorism, radical Islam, nuclear threats, global warming, social issues, gay marriage, immigration, education, health care, and many other essential issues that can create sharp ideological divisions.
Into this overwhelmingly complex political situation, Dr. Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe bring a clear, compelling, and nonpartisan exploration of what God’s Word has to say on these critical matters. How Would Jesus Vote? isn’t intended to tell readers which candidates to support; rather it offers a Christ-centered understanding of the world to help readers draw their own political conclusions.
Hostage! Lies
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does .The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
WHAT LIES HOLD US HOSTAGE?
LIE: GOD CAN’T CHANGE ME
TRUTH: …we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation ; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
THE STRATEGY of THOUGHTS AND OVERCOMING LIES
1. CAPTURE WRONG THOUGHTS.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
…whatever is true…noble…right…pure…lovely…admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Philippians 4:8
2. SPEAK TRUTH.
The tongue has the power of life and death… Proverbs 18:21
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 NLT
3. DON’T GIVE UP.
To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Colossians 1:29-2:1
…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.
Philippians 3:13-14
Inspired by Lifechurch.tv
Free E-Book Offer — Good until October 6
I got this offer and downloaded it to check out for myself. It looks like a very good read, especially for those praying for our next generation who is just entering into leadership roles.
Check it out, just click on this link.
“Why do so many young adults (18 to 22) leave the church, and what will it take to bring them back? This important question is examined and duly answered in Essential Church?, a follow-up to Thom S. Rainer’s best-selling Simple Church cowritten this time with his son, research expert Sam Rainer.
The book is based on a study of one-thousand so-called “church dropouts” who were interviewed about why they left. Their answers are quite surprising, having less to do with “losing their religion” and more about the desire for a community that isn’t made stale by simply maintaining the status quo.”
Hostage! Addiction Notes
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you… Genesis 4:7
“…but you must master it.” Genesis 4:7
HOW TO MASTER YOUR ADDICTIONS
1) TURN TO GOD.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires…but rather offer yourselves to God…For sin shall not be your master… Romans 6:12-14
WHO OR WHAT IS YOUR LORD?
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19
2) SHARE THE FINAL 10 Percent — in order to become fully accountable. Don’t just give 90 percent.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed… James 5:16
• FIND ACCOUNTABILITY.
• CREATE A CLIMATE OF ACCEPTANCE.
• KEEP IT IN THE ROOM.
3) FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
WEAPONS FOR FREEDOM:
• IRRATIONAL OBEDIENCE
• CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S WORD
• MILITANT PRAYER
“No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Need Wisdom?
It makes sense that you can gain wisdom through research. That research becomes overwhelming and seeming infinite when it comes to the World Wide Web. We have Wikipedia, Google, Yahoo! search, and many ways to find information.
This is what millions of people do on an hourly basis throughout the world.
Economy in trouble? I’m sure you can find a lot of opinions and answers. What about grilling a steak? Yes, you can find that too. Philosophy? Psychology? Scientific research? Sociology? It’s all out there.
What about how to discipline or raise a child? You can find that, too. How to survive a divorce? 5,890,000 results on Google today.
But what about the wisdom that comes from God?
First, no matter what, if you want your faith to increase and to get solid foundational answers about God, you should read the Bible. Wisdom and information pours out of it. Although it is historical, the Bible is not a “History” book, per se. (I think that’s the first time I ever wrote out the phrase per se )
The intent of the Bible was to point to Jesus, the one way to be made right with God. See Romans 10 and Hebrews for more clarity about that. Anyhow, we can gain wisdom by spending time in God’s Word, the Bible.
Second, we can ask God for wisdom.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. – James 1:5 (NIV)
Don’t be afraid to pray and ask God to help you … and us as a nation. We could all use a little more wisdom. So take a little time and invest your life in learning — and — asking!
HOSTAGE! ADDICTION
On September 28, 2008 learn how to BREAK FREE! Or help someone else BREAK FREE from addictions. More information at RestoringHope.com, the Central Assembly in El Sobrante, California website.
Notes about Worry
Here’s a very brief excerpt of the message notes from the September 21, 2008 message on WORRY:
Perhaps they will be a help to you or a friend you have. Remember, ALL THINGS are POSSIBLE with God!
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
…Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Matthew 6:25
STOP THE STRANGLE-HOLD OF WORRY
1) I WILL DO WHAT GOD ASKS ME TO DO.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
• Think on the right things.
• Do what is wise.
2) I WILL GIVE GOD WHAT I CANNOT DO.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
3) NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I WILL TRUST GOD.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself… Matthew 6:33-34
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
I’m Reading An AMAZING Book!
I am in the middle of reviewing the newest book by Mark Batterson, who also authored “In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day.” I love his writing style and challenge to do something great for God. To live a life of wild expectations, yet in the realm of the unpredictable that leads to the spectacular, yet supernatural Holy Spirit move on our circumstances.
I’ll say more later, but read the stuff below. By all means you should order a copy right away before this printing is gone. I have a feeling that may happen very soon.
Thanks, Mark!!
Summary:
Most of us have no idea where we’re going most of the time. Perfect.
“Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….
Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.” –from the introduction.
Author Bio:
Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC’s National Community Church, widely recognized as one of America’s most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. More than seventy percent of NCC’ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and a widely read blogger (www.markbatterson.com). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children.
Cover art:
Flickr Photos
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