THE NEXT WAVE www.lifenetwork.us PUBLISHER
CORE VALUES
HEIRLOOM SEEDS Susan Niswonger
Trademark Design Davis Building 1629 K Street NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Contributing Editors David Tait, Derrick Day, Lea Bates, Bernie Wade, John Rogers,
The Joy of Giving Alan Pateman
The License of Grace
CHURCH @ COMMUNITY Ed Delph
Knowing Gods Will for your Life Ralph Day
Cindye Coates, Doc Burkhart,
Derrick Day
Barney Phillips & Bobby Sutton
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RELIGITICS
40031 Electronic submissions to: nextwave@lifenetwork.us
THE MYTHS OF ISLAM
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The Creative Word John Hairston
What are Core Values?
CORE VALUES Bernie L. Wade, Ph.D.
We have an entire universe of values, but some of them are so primary, so important to us that throughout changes in society, government, politics, and technology they are STILL the core values we will abide by. In an ever-changing world, core values are constant. Core values are not descriptions of the work we do or the strategies we employ to accomplish our mission. The values underlie our work, how interact with each other, and which strategies we employ to fulfill our mission.
When we look at the life of Jesus Christ we see a life driven by purpose. This purpose was not an aimless nothing based in some ideology. Rather, the purpose driven life of Jesus Christ reflected the core values that God intended man to life his life to reflect. Too often we lose sight of the purpose that God created mankind to worship God. In this purpose mankind is to reflect the core values of God. In other words, we must value the things that God values.
The core values are the basic elements of how we go about our work. They are the practices we use (or should be using) every day in everything we do. CORE VALUES: Govern personal relationships Guide business processes Clarify who we are Articulate what we stand for Help explain why we do business the way we do Guide us on how to teach Inform us on how to reward Guide us in making decisions Underpin the whole organization
In reflecting these Core Values we purpose to reflect this in the structure of Life Network™ http://www.lifenetwork.us
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When we speak about Core Values people often ask us to explain what we mean. What we are describing is a value system. Sometimes people think that we value the Bible because of what it says. But the better way to understand is that the Bible accurately reflects the proper values and holds the value system that we as followers of Jesus Christ want the world to embrace.
We are not speaking about mere morality. Morality could be explained as “Whatever a society condones through consent, compromise and constant use.” This makes morality a moving target – not a value system. We are not seeking to impact people to be moral. Rather we want people to have core values that reflect the very nature of God; in that He gave His life for us. Christ followers hold these values as we want the very best for our fellow man.
Without a value system there is no consistency. Unfortunately, our culture (which was originally based on the law of God) has turned itself toward embracing a value system that is generally undefined. Our nation which was founded upon the concepts most notable in the Protestant Reformation. These are the values that country was founded upon.
We offer the following 49 Core Value as a guide to what we mean. All of these are reflection of the values system we find in the Bible.
It is not that is it anti-Christ, but rather there is no basis for the value system. This is why we choose to hold to the Bible. It is a value system that all can understand. A value system is a set of consistent values and measures. 1 A principle value is a foundation upon which other values and measures of integrity are based.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_%28personal_and_cultu ral%29
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Alertness vs. Carelessness. Being aware of what is taking place around me so I can have the right responses
Decisiveness vs. Procrastination. The ability to recognize key factors and finalize difficult decisions.
Attentiveness vs. Distraction. Showing the worth of a person or task by giving my undivided concentration
Deference vs. Rudeness. Limiting my freedom so I do not offend the tastes of those around me.
Availability vs. Self-Centeredness. Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I serve
Dependability vs. Inconsistency. Fulfilling what I consented to do, even if it means unexpected sacrifice.
Benevolence vs. Selfishness. Giving to others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward.
Determination vs. Faintheartedness. Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition.
Boldness vs. Fearfulness. Confidence that what I have to say or do is true, right, and just
Diligence vs. Slothfulness. Investing my time and energy to complete each task assigned to me.
Cautiousness vs. Rashness. Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions.
Discernment vs. Shortsightedness. Understanding the deeper reasons why things happen.
Compassion vs. Indifference. Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others.
Discretion vs. Simplemindedness. Recognizing and avoiding words, actions, and attitudes that could bring undesirable consequences.
Contentment vs. Covetousness. Realizing that true happiness does not depend on material conditions.
Endurance vs. Discouragement. The inward strength to withstand stress and do my best.
Creativity vs. Underachievement. Approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective.
Enthusiasm vs. Apathy. Expressing joy in each task as I give it my best effort. 5
Faith vs. Presumption. Confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the best outcome, even when I cannot see how.
Joyfulness vs. Self-Pity. Maintaining a good attitude, even when faced with unpleasant conditions. Justice vs. Corruption. Taking personal responsibility to uphold what is pure, right, and true.
Flexibility vs. Resistance. Willingness to change plans or ideas without getting upset.
Loyalty vs. Unfaithfulness. Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to those I serve.
Forgiveness vs. Rejection. Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and not holding a grudge.
Meekness vs. Anger. Yielding my personal rights and expectations with a desire to serve.
Generosity vs. Stinginess. Carefully managing my resources so I can freely give to those in need.
Obedience vs. Willfulness. Quickly and cheerfully carrying out the direction of those who are responsible for me
Gentleness vs. Harshness. Showing consideration and personal concern for others.
Orderliness vs. Confusion. Arranging myself and my surroundings to achieve greater efficiency.
Gratefulness vs. Unthankfulness. Letting others know by my words and actions how they have benefited my life.
Patience vs. Restlessness. Accepting a difficult situation without giving a deadline to remove it.
Honor vs. Disrespect. Respecting others because of the higher authorities they represent.
Persuasiveness vs. Contentiousness. Guiding vital truths around another’s mental roadblocks.
Hospitality vs. Loneliness. Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, or conversation to benefit others.
Punctuality vs. Tardiness. Showing esteem for others by doing the right thing at the right time.
Humility vs. Arrogance. Acknowledging that achievement results from the investment of others in my life.
Resourcefulness vs. Wastefulness. Finding practical uses for that which others would overlook or discard.
Initiative vs. Idleness. Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it.
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Responsibility vs. Unreliability. Knowing and doing what is expected of me
consistently do what is right. Wisdom vs. Foolishness. Seeing and responding to life situations from A perspective that transcends my current circumstances.
Security vs. Anxiety. Structuring my life around that which cannot be destroyed or taken away. Self-Control vs. Self-Indulgence. Rejecting wrong desires and doing what is right. Sensitivity vs. Callousness. Perceiving the true attitudes and emotions of those around me.
Bernie L. Wade, Ph.D. is President of Life Network http://www.lifenetwork .us
Sincerity vs. Hypocrisy. Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives. Thoroughness vs. Incompleteness. Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected.
Life Network is comprised of people from education, business, church, community (government) and media (including the arts and sports) working together to us to a greater unity in Christ.
Thriftiness vs. Extravagance. Allowing myself and others to spend only what is necessary.
The vision of Life Network™ is to be instrumental in transforming our world through the energy of a network of like-minded people from all ages, genders, races, nationalities an d cultures whose mutual contribution extinguishes offense, hatred, bigotry, and violence; envisioning a world where war, pestilence, hunger, and poverty are distant memories.
Tolerance vs. Prejudice. Realizing that everyone is at varying levels of character development. Truthfulness vs. Deception. Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts. Virtue vs. Impurity. The moral excellence evident in my life as I
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again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he ploughed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"
THE JOY OF GIVING Alan Pateman
Joy then is likened to "adrenaline" in our souls and yet JOY is so often times missing from our Christian walk. "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17 - KJV). It is not the sole element of God's Kingdom but let's consider "joy" for today's article.
The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22 (KJV) I was handed a small mini book just recently called "The Joy of Giving" written by a Pastor in Holland. It focused on the joy of giving and not just the blessing of giving. A refreshing book, as many give because of instruction but not because of revelation. Both of which are significantly different. In a nutshell we must maintain a revelation of the joy-ofgiving and get serious about JOY!
Just the word "joy" (if dwelt on long enough) starts to have influence! Willing-yourself-into-aposition-of-joy is a good result. There is simply something contagious about joy that always demands a reaction and yet it's so easy to neglect. The cares-of-thislife and the weight of responsibilities can take over, to the point we don't even notice when joy is missing. (A good daily litmus test: "Where's the joy in my life today?")
Why does "God love a cheerful giver"? There is strength in joy. Jesus Himself endured the cross for the "joy that was set before Him." Arguably joy put Jesus on the cross, not the Roman soldiers or Jewish leaders - but JOY! What an awesome consideration! "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).
Perhaps responsibilities are not joyful
The Message Bible offers its own take on this particular verse by saying: "When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story 9
- but Kingdom joy is not emotional, because although it influences our emotions, it is "beyond" emotion. For example, you could not convince me for a second that Jesus "enjoyed" the cross! Rather it was the joy that was set before Him that motivated Him. Look at it this way: God the Father gave His one and only son to the world. Jesus gave Himself to the Father (in loving obedience). Both had a separate motivation for giving. Scripture is clear: the Father's motivation was love and the son's was joy, (the joy of being obedient to the Father!) Maturity looks at giving much the same way.
supermarket, or other people's meals at the restaurant, creating a wonderful culture of both giving and receiving. And certainly there can't be one without the other. Receiving without giving is impossible and vice versa.
Christ likeness involves giving that is joyful because it's happy about being obedient to the Father! (In fact I would dare say, that people reveal their true level of maturity through their giving - or lack of it!)
hint of "self-preservation" into our minds and we are hooked! On the contrary compulsive giving – is not synonymous with genuine generosity. Compulsive givers usually live in regret! However Holy Spirit inspired giving, can be extravagant and lavish but never compulsive or emotion-driven.
Just think about it! Generosity is part of God's perfect design. So why then do so many believers remain sterile despite their giving? Sadly it takes very little for the devil to spoil the revelation of Godly generosity. All he has to do is project a
The divine nature of God consists of more than just love and if joy is a major part of God's Kingdom and Nature, then it must also be a major part of ours. In our last article we spoke of the spirit of generosity, which helps kindle the fires of revival. Where people begin paying for each other's grocery bills at the
My wife and I are determined to promote this cheerful spirit of generosity wherever we go. We have seen it flow THROUGH and TO this ministry for decades. Always giving over-and-above, we see miracles regularly because we 10
give-out much more than what comes in (including scholarships and other incentives), with increasing opportunities daily to sow all around the world.
There is a special joy in serving God with our money, love, talents, ministry and prayers." Maturity in giving has the sole purpose of glorifying God and Pastor Dirk adds that we must look to, "Give our lives first because no gift given to God can equate our souls." He goes onto say, "We need a REVELATION and not just an INSTRUCTION to give. We are more than just living principles."
However the reality of spiritual warfare means that we can all get hit sometimes - because the devil knows just how to attack the funds of Christian ministries (when MTV prospers excessively, in its trendy politicalcorrectness!) But when partners stand together and give by the Spirit's leading - this equals God's provision - for Christian ministries such as ours.
"God so loved that He GAVE..." (John 3:16) is all the proof that we need, to develop a giving lifestyle that mirrors God's. "Let each one give as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver whose heart is in his giving" (2 Corinthians 9:7 AMP).
In his book Pastor Dirk Ophalfens of Holland discusses the fact that many believers give only because they are expecting a "payback-package." But that God desires Kingdom ambassadors who will grow beyond basic giving-and- receiving and grow into a place of maturity. "To a mature standard of knowing that it is our responsibility to give all we have towards the kingdom of Our Father God who is always ready to reward faithfulness. The motive is not just because we are trying to influence God to bless us but that we are serving a faithful Father who always rewards faithful servants.
Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and your generosity as it is administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11 AMP) 11
This is why God loves a cheerful giver - when everyone is giving everyone is receiving and the result of that is "thanksgiving" unto God. When we give generous scholarships to students who aren't able to pay the full price at our LICU University, they run with an opportunity that has been given to them! They gush with thanks to God.
sterile or selfish. So in the same measure that we look to minister to others, we thank you for standing with us as we go from strength to strength running this ministry on the currency of faith!
A lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and armtwisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything... this most generous God... who is more than extravagant with you... He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
You are personally invited today to become a Giver of Life partner with this ministry. Your monthly financial partnership makes it possible for us to share God’s unconditional love and unending hope around the world through our, live worship events, online resources, medical and mission’s outreaches and more. Without YOU, this would not be possible.
(2 Corinthians 9:6,8 MSG) Verse 12 goes onto say,
Our desire is to continue sharing hope with millions in new ways and in new places. We are so excited about all the wonderful things that God has placed in our hearts to accomplish in His name.
It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God... moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need.
http://www.lifecommunity.us/contributions/
Generous giving creates a domino effect because obedience is never 12
ICOF members have united over 50,000 ministers representing more than 25 Million constituents, several hundred colleges, universities and other Christian schools, orphanages & feeding programs, humanitarian aid organizations, chaplains and other charities.
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WOW! WHAT A RIDE
Secondly, make every second in your life from here on out count for something. Get involved in the community. Volunteer and make the community a better place to live. Long ago one of the members our church came to me wanting to do something significant. He had just retired and was bored. I suggested he serve as a volunteer in Boswell hospital in Sun City, Arizona. Just last Sunday, he approached me to tell me how much he was enjoying volunteering at Boswell. That volunteer 'job' has given more to him than he has given to it. If you are not very mobile, you can pray for the welfare of your community.
WITH ED DELPHs\
There were two old guys, Abe and Ken, sitting on a bench in a park feeding pigeons and talking about baseball, just like they did every day. Abe turns to Ken and says, "Do you think there is baseball in heaven?" Ken thinks about it for a minute and replies, "I dunno, Abe. But let's make a deal: If I die first, I will come back and tell you. If you die first, you come back and tell me if there is baseball in heaven." They shake on it and, sadly, a few months later poor Abe passes on. One day soon afterward, Ken is sitting there feeding the pigeons by himself when he hears a voice whisper, "Ken....Ken...." Ken responds, "Abe, is that you?" "Yes it is Ken," whispers the spirit of old Abe. Ken, still amazed, asks, "So is there baseball in heaven?"
Just think, Anybody who is somebody is somebody to anybody. That's community involvement. Don't give God instructions....just report for duty! Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, dents of our side and grease on the engine, and loudly proclaiming, "Wow....what a ride!" After all, you never know, you might be pitching on Friday!
"Well," says Abe, "I've got good news and I have bad news." "Give the good news first," says Ken. Abe says, "Well...there is baseball in heaven." Ken says, "That's great! What news could be bad enough to ruin that?" Abe sighs and whispers, "You're pitching on Friday!"
Ed Delph has been responding to God's call to the community and to the nations since 1979. He has ministered or been in over 100 countries as well as serving as a pastor in the United States.
Now, this story is not intended to be theologically correct but it does illustrate a point. You never know when your life may end. Ken probably said to Abe afterwards, "That's too much information!" My advice is be sure you are in a right relationship with God. That's the first and most important thing. Read the Book of Romans in the Bible. Start with Chapter 10, verses 9 and 10. In other words, don't wait for six strong men to take you to church. What you learn in the Bible and church will save your life....for eternity!
NATIONSTRATEGY
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LIFE CHURCH OF KENTUCKY Committed to leading people to become devoted followers of Christ.
502.265.3795
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In truth, the Quran not only calls Muslims to submit to Allah, it also commands them to subdue people of other religions until they are in a full state of submission to Islamic rule. This has inspired the aggressive history of Islam and its success in conquering other cultures.
THE MYTHS OF ISLAM (REPRINTED BY PERMISSION) The Myth: Lesser educated Muslims sometimes claim that the root word of Islam is “al-Salaam,” which is “peace” in Arabic. The Truth: An Arabic word only has one root. The root word for Islam is “al-Silm,” which means “submission” or “surrender.” There is no disagreement about this among Islamic scholars. al-Silm (submission) does not mean the same thing as al-Salaam (peace), otherwise they would be the same word.
The Myth: The Quran places men and women on equal foundation before Allah. Each person is judged according to his or her own deeds. Women have equal rights under Islamic law.
Submission and peace can be very different concepts, even if a form of peace is often brought about through forcing others into submission. As the modern-day Islamic scholar, Ibrahim Sulaiman, puts it, "Jihad is not inhumane, despite its necessary violence and bloodshed, its ultimate desire is peace which is protected and enhanced by the rule of law."
The Truth: Merely stating that individuals will be judged as such by Allah does not mean that they have equal rights and roles, or that they are judged by the same standards. There is no ambiguity in the Quran, the life of Muhammad, or Islamic law as to the 21
inferiority of women to men despite the efforts of modern-day apologists to salvage Western-style feminism from scraps and fragments of verses that have historically held no such progressive interpretation.
husband may also bring other wives (and slaves) into the marriage bed. And she must be sexually available to him at any time (as a field ready to be “tilled,” according to the holy book of Islam).
After military conquests, Muhammad would dole out captured women as war prizes to his men. In at least one case, he advocated that they be raped in front of their husbands. Captured women were made into sex slaves by the very men who killed their husbands and brothers.
Muslim women do not inherit property in equal portion to males. This is somewhat ironic given that Islam owes its existence to the wealth of Muhammad's first wife, which would not otherwise have been inherited by her given that she had two brothers and her first husband had three sons.
There are four Quranic verses in which "Allah" makes clear that a Muslim master has full sexual access to his female slaves, yet there is not one that prohibits rape.
A woman's testimony in court is considered to be worth only half that of a man’s, according to the Quran. Unlike a man, she must also cover her head - and often her face.
The Quran gives Muslim men permission to beat their wives for disobedience, but nowhere does it command love in marriage. It plainly says that husbands are “a degree above” wives. The Hadith says that women are intellectually inferior, and that they comprise the majority of Hell’s occupants.
If a woman wants to prove that she was raped, then there must be four male witnesses to corroborate her account. Otherwise she can be jailed or stoned to death for confessing to “adultery.” Given all of this, it is quite a stretch to say that men and women have “equality under Islam” based on obscure theological analogies or comparisons. This is an entirely new ploy that is designed for modern tastes and disagrees sharply with the reality of Islamic law and history.
Under Islamic law, a man may divorce his wife at his choosing. If he does this twice, then wishes to remarry her, she must first have sex with another man. Men are exempt from such degradations. Muslim women are not free to marry whom they please, as are Muslim men. Their 22
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His singing career debuted in 1960, Crouch helped pioneer the burgeoning "Jesus Music" movement from the late 1960s and '70s that started the spread of contemporary Christian music.
IN MEMORY OF ANDREA CROUCH
According to the Recording Academy, which awarded seven Grammys to Crouch during a career that spanned more than a halfcentury, said in a statement that he was "a remarkable musician and legendary figure" who was "fiercely devoted to evolving the sound of contemporary, urban gospel music."
Another Grammy winning gospel singer, Jason Crabb, had said "We've lost a true pioneer and he will be missed," His influence also crossed over into in pop music. Elvis Presley performed his song "I've Got Confidence" for a 1972 gospel album, and Paul Simon" recorded "Jesus Is the Answer" for a 1974 live album. Crouch has also worked with other acts including Ringo Starr, Diana Ross and the aforementioned 80s icons Michael Jackson and Madonna. His 18th solo album also featured talents such as Chaka Khan, Shelia E., Take 6, Marvin Winans and Kim Burrell.
Crouch is survived by his twin sister Sandra, who is also a singer at Los Angeles' Pacolma area. Both siblings were also pastors at the New Christ Memorial Church in the Los Angeles suburb of San Fernando. Pastor Crouch said "Today my twin brother, womb-mate and best friend went home to be with the Lord." She adds "I tried to keep him here but God loved him best."
LOS ANGELES — Andrae Crouch was remembered at his funeral in Los Angeles for his dedication to spreading gospel music around the world. The Grammy-winning gospel performer, songwriter and choir director was honored Wednesday during a service at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ. There were performances and appearances by
Crouch has written several songs including gospel favorites such as "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power," "My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)" and "Soon and Very Soon," which was sung at a public memorial to Jackson. 24
hymn songs,” Franklin said of Crouch’s deep discography. “I had no idea of the impact of this guy that was packing out Carnegie Hall, big arenas in London, tours and all of this big stuff.”
the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, Ledisi and many gospel luminaries. “Andrae is the father of modern gospel,” said Jackson. “We cannot forget how hard he fought, not just to change people, but to change our society. Andrae is not just a local or national gospel singer. He is an international transformer, a historic figure that eclipsed his time and changed the course.”
Crouch and his twin sister, Sandra Crouch, were pastors at the New Christ Memorial Church in the Los Angeles suburb of San Fernando. An emotional Sandra recalled her brother’s final days to the crowd gathered for the four-and-a-half-hourlong service. “I tried to keep my twin here, but God said, ‘He’s suffered enough, and I want him home with me.’” Sandra later lifted the mood by jokingly reminding everyone that her twin was born 30 minutes before her and was therefore her “opening act.” Crouch was awarded seven Grammys throughout a career that spanned more than a half-century. His work graced songs by Michael Jackson and Madonna and movies such as “The Color Purple” and “The Lion King.”
Several attendees performed renditions of Crouch’s songs, backed by a band and 80-person choir. Wonder remembered first working with Crouch when he was asked to join in on the tune “I’ll Be Thinking of You,” which Wonder performed during Wednesday’s service. “I was in the studio and someone said, ‘Andrae Crouch wants you to play harmonica on this song,’” Wonder recalled before playing. “I said I’ve always wanted to play harmonica for him on a song, so it’s truly an honor to be able to do this song again and celebrate his life. He blessed me as a friend.”
Crouch died on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015 at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he had been admitted after suffering a heart attack, according to his spokesman. He was 72. — (AP)
Other guests included Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar and BeBe, CeCe and Marvin Winans, who performed the eulogy. “I thought these were just 25
tomatoes. What I did not know until later, is that this is the first and only crop that these plants will produce because they were grown from HYBRID seeds. If I save the seeds and plant this spring, I may or may not get delicious, beautiful tomatoes. If they do grow, they will have a different taste and appearance because I do not have access to the original “parent” plants. A master gardener has this advice, “You shouldn’t save seeds from HYBRID VEGETABLES because they won’t produce “true” in the next generation.”
HEIRLOOM SEEDS
Have you ever wondered why there are so many religions? Why are there several varieties even within denominations? How do beliefs change from one generation to the next? Every denomination believes their doctrine is “the truth” and all can “prove it” by tracing their history to the “Original.”So what happened?
Then there are HEIRLOOM SEEDS. Heirloom seeds are carefully tended and protected. According to one source, “a true heirloom is a cultivar that has been nurtured, selected and handed down from one family member to another from one generation to another.” Another important fact regarding Heirloom seeds; they adapt to the soil, climate and conditions they are grown in, making them MORE resistant to pests, diseases and weather extremes. Heirloom seeds contain pure genetic material from the original parent plants and produce the same uncorrupted fruit generation after generation.
Last Spring, I decided to plant a garden. I prepared the soil and picked out the strongest, healthiest looking plants from the garden supply nursery. After planting, I tended them with loving care; pulling weeds, daily watering and periodic fertilizing. In August, my diligence began to pay dividends; I harvested a bumper crop of delicious, beautiful 26
If we examine the Christian church history, we find the teachings of the Apostles contained in the Bible, then we come to the Apostolic Fathers who were taught by the Apostles and attempted to carry on the original traditions and teaching. In the next generation we find the ante-Nicene Fathers and the post-Nicene Fathers. By this time there were so many teachings, opinions and writings that these men grew more “interested in methods of defending the gospel and less interested in transmitting the gospel in a true and pure form.” (author of quote unknown) And here we find the BIRTH OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. The teachings of Jesus and the Apostles became a HYBRID SEED! RELIGION is always birthed from HYBRID SEED. Remember, replanting a hybrid seed will produce different fruit every season. They may still be called tomatoes, they may look, smell and taste like tomatoes but they will never have the purity of the original plant.
SEEDS or have you become a HYBRID, producing beautiful fruit for this season and then passing on an uncertain harvest to the next. The only true test is to measure your seed against that of the parent, which is the WORD OF GOD. It is only the HEIRLOOM SEEDS that will be resistant to the pests, diseases and storms of life. Extreme measures must be taken to rid yourself of all the HYBRID seed. First, all the thriving Hybrid plants must be pulled up by the roots. Then we must allow the “Fire of the Holy Spirit” to consume the plants, roots, little cuttings and buried seeds. Then we must cultivate the soil, allow the Heirloom seeds to take root through study of the Word and water the seedlings with prayer. Soon the HEIRLOOM SEEDS will grow to beautiful healthy plants, producing fruit and seeds to pass on to the next generation and the next and the next…
1 Peter 1:23 Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever.
Susan Niswonger Married for 38 years. Mother of two sons and two daughters-in-law. Grandmother to Mackenzie, Madison, Caleb, Nathan, Anabel, Maicie and Payton.
http://susansdaily.blogspot.com/
Take a look at your life, your theology; are you of HEIRLOOM 27
By Derrick Day _______
Because being set free is merely conditional (there are “strings attached” and it is subject to change based on your actions); being made free is relational and positional (permanent and lasting based on Jesus’ Finished Work)!
I am a Gospel preacher. By definition, that means I preach — exclusively — the Good News of God’s unconditional Love and Grace and Liberty in Christ. As such, I have a two-point litmus test that I apply to every single sermon, message, book, or teaching:
Moving right along, the Apostle Paul wrote that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17). So, if we “reverseengineer” that statement, we find that if Liberty is not present, then neither is the Spirit of the Lord”
THE LICENSE OF GRACE
There are a ton of messages that are Biblically sound, exegetically thorough, and have a solid hermeneutic but they’re binding, restricting, restraining, and even constraining. In other words, they aren’t Gospel messages.
The first point, does it reveal God’s Love? John 13:35 tells us that love is the hallmark of discipleship. Therefore, if love is not apparent and abundant, the message may be Biblical…it may be exegetically sound…it may have a solid hermeneutic… But it ain’t the Gospel. The second point, does it reveal Liberty in Christ. Jesus said the Son makes free (John 8:32, 36). Let me stop and hang my hat there for a minute. In the King James version, the text is rendered “make you free.” That is good news! 28
Yep, that’s exactly what I’m saying (while I duck and dodge the thrown projectiles)!
Let’s examine our core text: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Now here’s the caveat: You can do what you want but some things are smart and others are just plain stupid.
(Romans 6:1-2) Sin is stupid. I’m accused, on a regular basis of teaching “cheap grace;” in other words, that I teach a Grace that gives people a license to sin.
Here’s what Paul had to say about this: “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. (1 Corinthians 10:23)
Excuse me while I laugh at this… You need a license to drive a car, to do hair, to fly a plane, and to practice medicine. And there are people who do all these things — some of them quite well — without a license.
In other words, sin is neither helpful nor edifying! You can do anything, but everything has consequences. For any sin or sinful behavior you can think of, there are consequences. The question is, will you do what is smart — following the instruction of the Holy Spirit — or will you wallow in stupidity?
What I’m saying is that a sinner doesn’t need a license to sin. People are sinning just fine without a license. You don’t have to be either a super saint or a rocket scientist to see that sin is rampant.
It’s really just that simple. Here’s another one I hear on an almost daily basis: “You’re telling people that they can do whatever they want and still be saved…”
Think about it this way, Adam could do anything he wanted. God gave him a simple instruction, “Don’t eat from the tree in the midst of the garden” (Genesis 2:16-17). God could 29
So, if Grace doesn’t give you a license to sin, what does it give you a license to do?
have just dug a moat around the tree or sent some angels with flaming swords to guard it but He didn’t. So what did Adam and Eve do? They ate from the tree.
Grace gives you a license to share the Gospel with others. When you’re born again, you become a franchisee of the greatest enterprise in the universe, God, Incorporated! You have access to training by the Holy Spirit, Himself!
Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. They forfeited their lives and home for a snack. God gives us free will. It is a key component of His Grace. Even when we’re born-again, we don’t loose our free will. It is God’s hope that because we see His love clearly in the person of Jesus that we choose not to sin.
Grace gives you a license to operate in supernatural intelligence; awakening you to righteousness by giving you the Mind of Christ. Grace gives you license to access the throne of Grace — so you can speak to God directly and not through a middleman.
This is the scandal of the Gospel! There are two ways of keeping your dog in your yard. You can either chain him to the house or a stake in the ground, which will physically keep him from leaving. Or you can lavish him with love, feed him good, and let him chase squirrels! The former dog is under law; the latter is under Grace. The unchained dog won’t leave the yard because he knows how good he has it; the chained dog will run at his first opportunity because he doesn’t know what freedom tastes like.
Grace gives you the license to give — of yourself, your time, your talent, your treasure, and God’s truth — cheerfully and without coercion or compulsion. Grace gives you the license to access all that God is and all that God has for you — salvation, deliverance, healing, protection, wisdom, and prosperity.
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Grace gives you the license to lack nothing — to be complete and fully equipped in Christ.
Derrick Day is Vice President of the Life Network
Grace is a license to shed your sin-consciousness and to embrace your righteousness consciousness.
http://www.lifenetwork.us
Finally, Grace is a license to reign with Christ, instead of being ruled by the world:
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:18-21)
He also serves as President of the International Circle of Faith – ICOF, Kingdom Covenant International, & Apostle to Agape Dominion Fellowship
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good. That is not true. When we are in despair and think our lives are shattered, it is at that very point where God can finally enter in and roll up His sleeves to do something wonderful! When we ask God to take control of the situation, He will walk us through that situation into the next one, and we’ll begin to realize that He is always able to do more than we can imagine! David was God’s choice for Israel’s king and one whom God declared to be “a man after His own heart.” But David slept with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his most loyal army officers. David had her husband killed in battle and married her. God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David and David repented (see Psalm 51). God forgave David’s sin. Even though the child born to David and Bathsheba died, God restored the couple and made them parents of the great King Solomon, whose descendant was Jesus Christ. (See 2 Samuel 11, 12.)
Knowing Gods Will for your Life Ralph Day
Each of us have thought how much easier it would be if God would send us a telegram, a letter or an email telling us what to do next. But God doesn’t work that way. I recently had to be admitted into the hospital for emergency surgery for a major vessel bleeding that had to be corrected. It was at this time that I realized that looking back over my life (I like to call it looking in the rear view mirror) at how God has brought me this far is not what He actually had in mind for me. While it’s good to see where He has brought me from to where I am today is all the more reason why I love Him so. Rather He wants to look forward and accept life’s obstacles head on. That is having the faith that He is working things out for us before we even reach those points in our lives.
1. No matter what you have done, God loves you and is eager to forgive you. All you have to do is ask. Nothing is too big for God to forgive. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
With that said, God has given us principles for living our lives! God is the God of second chances. People may tell us that we have ruined our life and destroyed hope for anything 32
on us—even when we foolishly insist on doing things our own way and choose to disobey him. He may allow us to deal with the fallout of our disobedience, but He stays nearby, waiting to hear us call! When we finally stop fighting, acknowledge our sin and call out to Him, He comes with open arms to give us what we need most—Himself. He’s a good Father!
2. God will restore a humble heart. Accept the consequences of doing wrong. You might need to pay back some money, apologize to someone, pay a fine or penalty, regain another person’s trust, or correct a problem that you helped to create. Even if it means admitting you were wrong and feeling embarrassed, these important steps must be taken to fully obey God and learn to live in peaceful obedience.
Don’t just tear your clothes to show how sad you are. Let your hearts be broken. Return to the Lord your God. He is gracious. He is tender and kind. He is slow to get angry. He is full of love. He takes pity on you. He won’t destroy you. Joel 2:13
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 25:9 The Lord hates two things. He hates it when the guilty are set free. He also hates it when those who aren’t guilty are punished. Proverbs 17:15
4. God may change a painful situation quickly; however, His goal for you is to sanctify you—to make you like Jesus—developing you into a loving, giving, mature person. These lifelong changes take time. The Christian life is much more like running a marathon than it is like sprinting a short distance. This life is the process that prepares us for
3. Even if you have given up on yourself, God does not give up on you. Throughout Scripture, the Lord begs his people to turn away from wrong and come back to him. If we choose not to obey God and go our own way, he pursues us. He never gives up 33
the next one! So settle in for the long haul—when you fall down, don’t give up! Get back up and keep running—even if you limp for a while!
to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. Matthew 18:12-14
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith . . . . Hebrews 12:1, 2
Hudson Taylor, a pioneer missionary, said “Man’s extremity (being at the end of our rope) is Go 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
5. God invests time and effort to find lost people. If you have lost your way in life and have gone in the wrong direction, there is good news—God is looking for you! He considers you too valuable to lose. Don’t push him away when he calls to you.
George Mueller was a pastor in England during the nineteenth century who knew what it meant to live a life that was focused on knowing and doing the will of God. God led him in a walk of faith that has become an incredible testimony to all who hear his story. Whenever he lacked for something, he prayed for the resources. During his ministry in Bristol, England, George built four orphan houses that cared for 2,000 children at the time. When he died at the age of 93, over 10,000 children had been provided for through his orphanages, and he had distributed over eight million dollars that had been given to him in answer to prayer.
If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go
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How did he know and do the will of God?
Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. 4) Next, I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's will in connection with His Word and Spirit. 5) I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me alright. Thus, (1) through prayer to God, (2) the study of the Word, and (3) reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly."*
"I never remember a period that I ever sincerely and patiently sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, through the instrumentality of the Word of God, but I have been always directed rightly." Here is how George summed up the way he entered into a "heart" relationship with God and learned to discern God's voice:
Consider these five steps when discerning God's voice in your life. Seeing Us for What We Will Become ..."The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." Judges 6:12
1) "I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter.
God always looks at His children for what they will be, not what they are now. The Lord already had seen Gideon as a leader of others, not just a laborer who threshed wheat.
2) Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
Gideon was an Israelite who lived during a time of oppression from the Midianites. God had allowed Israel to be oppressed because of its rebellion.
3) I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the 35
However, the Israelites cried out to God, and He heard their cry for help. He decided to free them from the oppression of their enemies. God chose a man with little experience in such matters to lead an army against Midian.
showing Himself strong through those who will trust Him.
When God came to Gideon through a visit by an angel, the angel's first words to him were, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." God always looks at His children for what they will be, not what they are now. The Lord had already seen this man as a leader of others, not just a laborer who threshed wheat.
FREE WILL
The apostle Paul said, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Phil. 4:13). God has reserved an inheritance for you and me. He has foreordained that we should accomplish great things in His name-not so that we will be accepted or become more valued, but to experience the reality of a living relationship with a God who wants to demonstrate His power through each of us.
There is a question in the minds and hearts of many Christians...
What does God want to accomplish through you today? He used Gideon, with only 300 men, to deliver Israel from an army of more than 100,000. He demonstrated His power through one man who was willing to let God use what little faith he had to free a nation from oppression and bring glory to the God of Israel. The Lord delights in
This ideology that there is a predetermined plan for our lives and we are just sojourning down this predetermined path is what is titled by many as Determinism.
Do we, as Christians have Free Will OR Are all of our Choices predetermined? In other words ... Do we have the freedom to choose or are our choices made for us by cause, circumstance and external factors leading to a destiny already planned out for us?
You see ... We Christians believe that God is omniscience or all knowing and therefore knows what is going to happen 36
before it does. So He has determined what is to be.
box and limit Him to their understanding?
We believe this because He has prophesied future events throughout the Bible.
WHAT IF...
Isaiah 46:9-10 - Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: It is obvious that God DOES know what will be in the END.
FATE is the result of our day to day choices that we make by applying our free will, which our Lord allows us to use...
So, the question becomes... Can Free Will exist on a predetermined path?
BUT
Many Religious researchers like to ask...
DESTINY is where we will be in the END and God knows that outcome.
IF God has already determined what is to be, how it is that humans have Free Will ... Which is the ability to FREELY CHOOSE to do our own will.
Let's be honest... God DID give man Free Will to make their own Choices from the start...
WELL I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU...
Adam and Eve were given Free Will. Genesis 2:16-17 - And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
WHY MUST IT BE ONE OR THE OTHER? Is it because mankind's limited carnal mind has such limited Spiritual insight? Why do some tend to put God in a little 37
This reveals that God commanded that they NOT do something and yet said IF they CHOSE to do so, they would suffer consequences of said CHOICE.
1 Corinthians 15:22 - For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. So Adam and Eve DID have FREE WILL and their CHOICE did have consequences that changed the DESTINY of all humans...
Well ... We ALL know that they DID exercise their FREE WILL and CHOSE to eat from the TREE.
BUT ... GOD has given us another way to return to the original predestined path before Adam and Eve's CHOICE altered the destiny...
Genesis 3:6 - And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
BUT ... We must use our Free Will yet again and CHOOSE to believe in Jesus.
Their CHOICE ... Has affected every human born from that day on.
Another Example ... God promised Abraham a son would be conceived by Sarah.
Due to this Choice made by the first man and woman ... The Sin is now in the flesh of all mankind and when we are born, we are destined to death...
BUT ... Sarah and Abraham utilized their Free Will and CHOSE to take matters in their own hands. Genesis 16:2 - And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
Romans 5:12 - Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. UNLESS we make the CHOICE to believe in Jesus. When we become Christians, we are REBORN and receive Salvation and Eternal Life. This New Covenant of Grace ... Has the destiny of death made void by the Blood of Jesus.
The chain of events resulting from their exercising Free Will and their CHOICE had another bloodline created through that child (Ishmael) which is still warring with the Jewish people to this day.
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Of Course God DID keep His promise to Abraham and Sarah bore a child named Isaac.
freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD. Either a bullock or a lamb that hath anything superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
Even Angels have Free Will... Genesis 6:2 - That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Deuteronomy 23:23 - That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.
There were also Freewill offerings
Ezra 3:4-5 - They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required; And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.
Leviticus 22:18-23 - Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering; Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats. But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you. And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a
And what of the Free Will offerings "of the mouth�...
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Psalms 119:108 - Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Free Will to CHOOSE righteousness or wickedness Ezekiel 33:18-19 - When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. The New Testament is also filled with parables of Jesus which reveal this Free Will where man is given the ability to CHOOSE. Here is but one example... Matthew 22:2-14 - The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his
Many are called but few are chosen... Because few will CHOOSE. Man must be able to CHOOSE and to do so WILLINGLY. Philemon 1:14 - But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. Every aspect of Christianity, we are asked to WILLINGLY CHOOSE to act.
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Then why does the Lord say that those who overcome will not have their names BLOTTED OUT of the book of life?
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Revelation 3:5 - He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His Angels.
People will have Free Will to CHOOSE ... Right up to the End of Times. Revelation 9:20-21 - And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Think about it ... If we did not have Free Will, there would be no reason for judgment because if our path was predestined AND we did not have Free Will... Why would we be punished? Unless the CHOICE was ours?
Then there are those who exercise their Free Will to serve the Lord and even CHOOSE to die for Him.
Revelation 20:12 - And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:4 - And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
So the judgment is based on CHOICES made. We DO have Free Will ... And we are to CHOOSE the right path. And whosoever WILL
Still believe we do not have Free Will to choose?
Revelation 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is 41
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
GOD'S WILL BE DONE
Jesus spoke of seeking the KINGDOM OF GOD to attain these treasures.
WHAT DOES GOD'S WILL BE DONE MEAN?
Jesus shared a parable with us:
Most people are very selfish and seek only their own will. It is something that seems to have been bred into us.
Unfortunately, this applies to Christians as well.
Matthew 13:44 - Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
But, the Bible teaches us another way.
Jesus made it clear ‌.
Colossians 3:2-3 - Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
We MUST choose to surrender our worldly ideologies and desires to attain these treasures:
They seek worldly gain...
Mark 10:21 - Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have TREASURE IN HEAVEN: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Jesus speaks of establishing TREASURES IN HEAVEN ‌ Luke 12:29-34 - And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the KINGDOM OF GOD; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a TREASURE IN THE HEAVENS that
How do we attain and maintain the desire to seek the Kingdom of God and establish these treasures in Heaven... First we must seek to remove the sins within us that cause us to see things wrong. This can be done by repenting and prayer. 42
But within us, we also harbor secret and presumptuous sins which we are unaware of and we should pray them away as well.
A good example would be when we defend our friends. We presume that our friend must be right and the other wrong. This is partiality and is wrong:
Psalm 19:12-13 - Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
1 Timothy 5:21 - I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. We KNOW what we are supposed to do when confronted:
“Secret faults” are the things that we do that are wrong or sins, but we do NOT know they are wrong.
Colossians 3:13 - Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
But once we DO know … It is no longer a SECRET sin: James 4:17 - Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Presumptuous sin usually springs forth when we seek our own will, as compared to God’s will...
Psalm 19:12-13 also spoke of presumptuous sins …
GOD’S WILL … What does that mean, anyway...
“Presumptuous sins” are the result from when presume ourselves to be right in a matter when we are not or when we think we know something and do not. We presume to know because of limited facts accumulated or bias of some sort. This is commonplace especially when we allow pride to infiltrate our soul when we feel hurt by someone or are defending a cause we feel is righteous, usually for personal gain.
Jesus told the Apostles what was to become of Him and the Apostles were none too happy with His Words. I want to share a little bit with you about God’s Will versus man’s will. Mark 8:31-33 - And He began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and 43
scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He spake that saying openly. And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned about and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Now, you KNOW this freaked Peter out, big time … Peter PRESUMED that he was merely showing his passion about Jesus not being killed and suddenly he is called “SATAN’ by His Lord ... Peter and the Apostles looked on what was transpiring from a point of view of their own selfish desire. They believed that Jesus was going to become an earthly King and they would rule with Him AT THAT TIME. The Apostles were blinded by their OWN WILL and understood not GOD’S WILL. They saw not the WHOLE picture though what Jesus shared with them had been foretold in prophecy.
Pretty obvious that this was Prophecy about the Death of Jesus for our sins huh?
Isaiah 53:3-11 - He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our grief’s, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for
Peter definitely learned of the prophecy AFTER he was rebuked by Jesus because in his later writings, he confirms this:
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We are being told that when we say we are going to do this or that …
1 Peter 2:24 - Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
That we should add the words “IF it is God’s will” or "God's will be done”... My friend … We are taught that anything that we ask, (Even in Prayer) that we are to ask according to God’s will.
Let’s look at what Jesus said after He corrected Peter: Mark 8:34-38 - And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
1 John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, IF we ask any thing ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, He heareth us: So ... We are to ALWAYS ask for GOD'S will to be done when praying. Even Jesus did so: Matthew 26:42 - He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, THY WILL BE DONE.
We are to surrender our own worldly passions and serve the Lord.
Why is it important to seek God’s will when we are merely praying for another?
We are to surrender our own will and seek to do the will of GOD. But, how do we surrender our will and adhere to God’s in our day to day lives?
Here is a great example of WHY we are to be sure it is GOD’S will. We are told NOT to wish God Speed to those who seek not God’s will:
We can do so by verbally saying aloud that we seek GOD’S Will over our own...
2 John 1:11 - Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any
James 4:15 - For that ye ought to say, If THE LORD WILL, we shall live, and do this, or that.
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PARTICULAR IF YOU PRAYED OPENLY.
unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
This can be harmful to their Faith, and yours. Not only this, but if the prayer does come to pass, if it was NOT God’s will, this can be devastating in unimaginable ways.
So, obviously we know not the HEART of man and we are to PROVE ALL THINGS before we pray for something.
For example ... What if a woman asked you to pray that her husband was brought back to her and you did pray for that to be...
1 Thessalonians 5:21 - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
But, you did not know he was physically abusive. When he did return, he beat her again and she died. When you pray for someone else, always be certain, that you’re praying for God’s will to be done.
This is especially important when you’re praying for others. Consider this if you will ... What if someone asks you to pray for a specific reason for them, or what if you, in the goodness of your heart, take it upon yourself to pray for something that someone didn’t ask for, but you believe it would be a blessing for them.
This goes for what we pray for ourselves as well. Praying for God’s will to be done in our lives may be a little hard to grasp at first, because the human creature is naturally a selfish being. We want what WE want.
Innocently, you pray for them, but unbeknownst to you, the prayer is NOT God’s will for them. The prayer is not answered in the way hoped for, and questions arise about believing to receive, and asking in Jesus’ name, and innumerable other doubts. IN
But, what about what God wants? He is our Creator, after all. He owns the remote control of our lives. He created a plan for us, but sometimes we think we are the ones in control. We 46
think we know what is best for us and create many ideas on how to get what we want, but in the end … God’s will … WILL be done.
HOW TO KNOW THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOUR LIFE!
Proverbs 19:21 - There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Scripture Text: I Thessalonians 5:1618 I. If we are honest with ourselves … Our worldly desires fade. In particular once we obtain them and experience the pain and suffering from attaining OUR WILL:
PRAY. The answer is found only within the searching heart of the individual.
A. God has spoken aloud to some people, but I have never known such persons. (Your call or answer to some question involving God’s will, most likely, will come in a way normal to daily life.)
1 John 2:17 - And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
B. God sometimes makes us want to do something so much that we are happy only at that work.
So, let us seek to fulfill GOD’S Will and not our own …
C. God may use a friend to tell His will. The friend thinks he is only advising us.
Hebrews 10:36 - For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the WILL OF GOD, ye might receive the promise.
D. Sometimes when we hear a sermon or pray, we feel that we 47
must do a certain thing. We can’t seem to get away from the idea. This may be God’s call.
helping you than you’ve ever imagined. IV.
E. We may see a need which only we can meet.
A. However, do not be too afraid of it.
F. It may happen that God will have you do something that you don’t want to do. Generally, you forget about things you do not want to do. When you can’t forget, God is speaking to you. II.
BEWARE OF THE BIAS OF YOUR OWN WILL.
B. God never unnecessarily opposes a man’s nature and likings and it is a mistake to think His will is in the line of the disagreeable. V.
THINK.
A. The will of God isn’t some simple haphazard coincidence but a logical, well-balanced program and God expects us to use the faculty He gave us.
GOD NEVER CALLS A MAN UNTIL THAT MAN HAS PROVEN HIMSELF IN SMALLER MATTERS.
A. Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trusted, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? B. Must be trained with footman before he could run with horses. C. Difficulties of the past are intended to prepare us for more sever occasions.
III.
TALK TO WISE PEOPLE.
D. Victories won in the past are assurance that they can be won in the present and in the future.
A. It’s best to talk with the pastor concerning the will of God for your life. You’ll find that the pastor is more interested and concerned in
1. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due 48
season we shall reap, if we faint not.
commanded in the Bible. a. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
2. I shall be weary again, but I shall win the victory.
VI.
CONCLUSION
A. Continue to pray, study the Bible (which is the revealed Will of God), and try to be like Christ.
b. The result would be prosperity and good success.
1. God told Joshua to meditate in the Scriptures day and night that Joshua might do the things
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knows and has faith in Christ Jesus, and recognize the divinity of Scripture. But the concepts and principles of this book are universal in the fact that it pertains to Humanity and not just the Christian. Regardless of the religious beliefs that separate us, the ideological and philosophical concepts we hold as truth, the outlook and perspectives of creation, our race, ethnicity or language, there is a universal reality that spans the entirety of the human spectrum.
The Creative Word
By Dr. John L. Hairston
We were all created by God, with an innate and incorporeal substance that has placed us at the head of creation and above all life on earth. It does not matter the name you use to call on God; it does not matter how many times you pray a day or not at all; whether you are white, black, red, yellow or brown; whether you are an addict right in the midst of an addiction or the Pastor of a mega church; whether you are sitting in a broken marriage, a chaotic home, detrimental relationships, in prison doing life or two months; whether you are saved or unsaved, looking for God or believe that there is no God at all; there is an especial portion of our humanity that provides us the potential to initiate TRANSFORMATION.
That’s right! The Word that you long for, that yoke-breaking word, the word that will shatter the chains and penetrate the darkness of your circumstances, is right IN YOU! It does not matter who you are or what you have or are going through, the word that will make you free is either ENTHRONED or ENTOMBED in you. The thin line that separates the ENTHRONEMENT or the ENTOMBMENT of that word is ACTIVATION. Jesus declared to the masses at Capernaum, “the WORDS that I speak to you are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE…” (John 6:63). Right here I want to pause and present my disclaimer. It is not my intent to present this chapter from a theological or exclusively Christian perspective. I am an unashamed Christian, who
So many people sitting in the offices of counselors and psychologists; so many on the line with astrologers and psychics; so many sitting under abuses 50
You’re in a place where you’re feeling alone, misunderstood, passed over, daily receding into the shadows, unheard or seen. It’s not that you don’t believe in God or have a desire to serve him; it’s not that you don’t want to give up habits that are unpleasing or stagnating your growth; shutting you out of the connection that can change your circumstances. It’s not that, it’s that you’re not connected. There are so many things that caused a deep separation. It has been a while since you prayed or spoke to your Source. Your prayer life is not the same, the relationship has become estranged.
of false leadership in ministries all over the country; so many sleeping under bridges and neighborhood parks; so many living in broken homes, marriages and relationships; so many sitting right next to you crying out in silence for some connection, some source of relief from feeling dead and void. They are being tormented by feelings of desperation, hunger, thirst, depressed, alone, empty, unfulfilled, lost, disconnected, disengaged and anxious; because they are searching for that thing, that part of them to become ACTIVE; to fulfill them, they want to be connected, they are chasing that word, that reconnecting component that will provide for them answers to the confusion that has them in bondage and unable to BECOME FREE.
You try to pray but the words seem insufficient and distant. You go to church and feel out of place. You’re getting nothing from the Bible. You have tried other means; you have tried to fill *that void with other people’s expectations, false relationships, false happiness in things and places, but you continue to feel trapped in your life. You’re untouched and untapped into. There is a depression and heaviness that hovers over you. You don’t know what to say or how to say it, because you don’t want people to judge you. You
There is a place that you are in right now. You’re in a place where you are trying to figure out where you fit; you’re trying to get a hold of what your purpose is; you’re tired of just breathing, just existing, you need LIFE; You know what people call you, you know and have an idea of what you could be, but you know in your heart that you are not THAT. 51
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him?”
want them to believe that you are alright, that you have it together. In your mind you can’t fathom how a child of God can sit in the pews, on the worship team, in the pulpit and be disconnected and unfulfilled; feel trapped and unable to move beyond the threshold of your present season. You have become a slave to your past, missing from your present and lost to your future. You’re just another face in the crowd, another name on a piece of paper.
I need you to direct your focus on that word, MINDFUL, because God had a thought in the midst of Eternity. Mindful means, ‘to BEAR in MIND’. God’s thought in the midst of eternity originated out of who He is, and the scripture says that HE (God) is LOVE. Not an emotional feeling, but an all consuming, inexhaustible fire of intimate outpouring on whatever He gives attention to. He had a thought. This thought, He wrapped and clothed in His attention, produced and action; He ‘created the heaven and the earth…’
I am telling you today, that if you are reading those words and they ring true for you, then you are right where you need to be in this moment. There is a freedom and deliverance that is beginning to press upon you because you have connected to those words in a way that you are prepared to engage a mighty TRUTH. And that truth is this.
The entirety of creation was made for the benefit of this thought that was now in the Heart of God. It fueled his every intent and work. That thought was YOU: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
God, your Father, in the midst of eternity; self subsisting, omnipotent, omniscient, and in need of absolutely nothing; the all powerful God who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask or think; took a moment in the space of His being to have a thought. David asked God: 52
according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
The different voices that are vying for your ear, that have or may be trying to turn your heart from your original purpose, that has you living under false pretenses, they are assigned to keep you in bondage from realizing this TRUTH THAT WILL SET YOU FREE.
The original and primary purpose of God was not for man to worship him, that is an arrogant God. His original intent was to have an ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP with you, for you to forever be the object of His Love. It is out of this relationship, all Worship is produced.
You don’t have to live in confusion; you don’t have to chase a word from anyone, for the WORD that can deliver you right now IS ALREADY IN YOU just waiting to be released.
You are an intimate thought in God’s heart. Even when we find ourselves in the depths of despair and desperation, He is holding us in His mindfulness.
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Dr. Barney Phillips and Bishop Derrick Day
Angela Day and Jewel Tankard
MINISTER OF MUSIC. Life Church is seeking a minister of music for the La Grange Campus. For more information visit IF YOUR COMPANY, MINISTRY OR ORGANIZATION HAS AN JOB OPENING, MINISTRY OPENING OR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN HAVE IT LISTED HERE. EMAIL: BW@ICOF.NET
http://www.lifecommunity.us Seeking Spirit Filled Music leader that is knowledgeable in contemporary worship. Duties include leading music for all services and seasonal celebrations. Looking for an individual that leads from Keyboard or Guitar. Able to work with existing Praise Teams and develop vocals, musicians, etc. Experience with media and PowerPoint a plus. Must have strong leadership skills and be a team player. Send your resume to lifechurchky@live.com
Executive Vice President of Business. LIFE NETWORK seeks an experienced entrepreneur / business person to serve as the key person for our business division. http://www.lifenetwork.us For more information email info@lifenetwork.us
LIFE AMBASSADOR for Life Network. As a Life Ambassador you will serve your city, area, state, or nation in bringing the vision of Life Network. For more information please email: ambassador@lifenetwork.us
Secretary General. International Circle of Faith (ICOF) seeks a person to serve as Secretary General for North America. http://www.icof.net For more information contact Bishop Derrick Day’s office. Derrick@derrickday.com 54
MUSICIANS. Life Church is seeking musicians for the Life Church Praise Band for the La Grange Kentucky campus. For more information visit http://www.lifecommunity.us Email: lifechurchky@live.com
Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Life Network is seeking a CFO to Position Reporting to the Life Network President, the CFO will define the process and implement the infrastructure/ systems needed to support substantial growth over the next five to 10 years. S/he will continue to build and manage effective and streamlined administrative/financial systems, including financial, accounting, legal, information technology (IT), human resources (HR), and physical infrastructure.
Specific responsibilities include: Financial Management Review and approve preparation and finalization of monthly and annual financial reporting materials and metrics Life Network’s board. Oversee budgeting, financial forecasting, and cash flow for administration, existing programs, and proposed new sites. Coordinate all audit activities. Administrative Leadership and Management
As a member of the senior management team, the director will be involved in strategic planning, evaluation, and professional development initiatives, as well as planning for LIFE NETWORK’S Nonprofit’s expansion to multiple new sites both locally and in other cities. In keeping with LIFE NETWORK’S core values.
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Serve as a business partner to the President of Life Network on the organization’s financial, budgeting, and administrative processes— including HR, payroll, and benefits functions—with an eye to continuously developing and improving systems.
Lead Life Network’s technical staff to design an IT plan for the future, and implement it successfully to meet IT needs (hardware and software) as the organization grows. Program Recipient Mentoring
Qualifications The director of finance and administration will have at least five to eight years of professional experience, including managing the finance and administration of a high-growth $10 million to $20 million organization (preference given to nonprofit experience). S/he will have experience creating and driving the analytic framework for planning and managing organizational change in a highly entrepreneurial organization. The CFO will have the following experience and attributes:
Bachelor’s degree (MA/MBA preferred) in Business, Management, or Finance.
Excellent people skills, with experience collaborating in a multidisciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team. Demonstrated experience in financial management and accounting, ideally in the nonprofit sector. Experience should include legal, audit, compliance, budget, and resource development. Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, proposing new ways of creating efficiencies, and guiding investment in people and systems. Proven effectiveness leading professionals in finance and accounting. Technologically savvy, with an ability to point to examples of having worked with IT staff to develop and implement new processes and systems that increased efficiency in a fast-moving environment. Flexible and a self-starter; able to multi-task while also being highly detail-oriented. Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to Life Network’s mission. For more information contact LIFE NETWORK info@lifenetwork.us
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EDITOR: NEXT WAVE MAGAZINE Secretary General of Life Network.
Next Wave magazine is looking for an editor. The Next Wave magazine is the monthly voice of Life Network and is published 12 times annually. This person will be responsible for all aspects of the magazine.
Life Network seeks a person with experience in government, or with a political action committee (PAC), or similar to serve as Secretary General of the Life Network. http://www.lifenetwork.us This is an Executive Vice President level position. This person will serve as a key part of the Life Network Executive Board and will lead the ‘pillar’ Government (Community) under Life Network. For more information email: bw@icof.net
For more information email bw@icof.net
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Administrator Job Description for Life Network™
Administrator Job Skills • Excellent oral and written communication skills • Detail oriented and works with a high degree of accuracy • Highly organized and flexible • Ability to multitask and meet changing deadlines • Must be self directed and able to complete projects with limited supervision • Maintains confidentiality • Working knowledge of email, scheduling, spreadsheets and presentation software
http://www.lifenetwork.us Administrator Job Duties • Maintaining files and databases • Prepares reports, presentations, memorandums, proposals and correspondence • Monitors office operations • Schedules appointments and meetings for executives • Serves as the go-to for office inquiries • Manages staff schedules • Assists in the preparation of department budgets and expenses • Supervises all administrative personnel
Administrator Job Requirements • 2 years or more related experience • Preferred: Associates Degree or Higher Please send Resume to bw@icof.net
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April 1-3 Operation 10,000 souls – ICOF Cameroon
nd
February 2 , 2015 FIVEFOLD ROUNDTABLE
April 19, 2015 Life Church Anniversary Service. 1 PM. 1901 Prestwick Drive. La Grange, KY 40031. Phone: 502.265.3795 Email: lifechurchky@live.com
MARCH 1ST, 2015 OFFICER APPRECIATION SUNDAY! 1 PM LIFE CHURCH
September 4, 5, 6. LIFE FEST. La Grange, KY. Life Church. 1901 Prestwick Drive. La Grange, KY 40031. Life Fest Executive Director: Birgit Zeph. Phone: 502.265.3795 lifechurchky@live.com
LAGRANGE, KY For more information email: http://www.lifecommunity.us
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LIFE NETWORK Social Media Coordinator Volunteer
Ability to identify threats and opportunities in user-generated content Basic SEO knowledge Ability to produce quality editorial and technical output
Position Overview Functions, Duties, & Responsibilities
Social Media Coordinators help engage the target audience via various social media channels
Expectations
Education/Certifications/Experience
Degree in marketing, journalism, new media, advertising, entertainment or social media experience. Will train in lieu of experience. Digital or communications experience
Computer Skills Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
Utilizes posts, tweets, podcasts, articles, videos, or screen casts to interact Moderate and promote communications that encourage the exchange of user-generated content Create strategies and tactics to increase participation and ensure the clarity of the message across social media channels Coordinates campaign calendars with online activity Contact: Dr. Ralph Day LIFE NETWORK VP of Social Media
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Demonstrated, participatory expertise in various social media channels, including LinkedIn, YouTube, Foursquare, Twitter, Bookmarking sites, Flickr, Forums, Wikis, blogs, etc
biewebmaster@gmail.com
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Hi Bishop Wade,
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ICOF BRAZIL
Greetings in The name of LORD . Thank you very much for your prayers for our precious event on 14th December. We were able to give Bibles, Feed people and share The Word of God. Praise God.
Dear Bishop Wade. Greetings in the Mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor Dilshad Bhatti & Pastor Karamat Masih Bhatti are pastors running Jesus Calls Church Ministries Pakistan. But fundamentalists , Extremist and Militant at attacking us and my family. Because we are spreading the Word of God Muslims were healing and accepting the word of God. But extremists and their priests do not like that they are anti Christ. We have stopped church .If we do not stop they will kill us they are threatening again and again.
Our next event is on 21st December and we want to give Free Bibles & Christmas gift to Children and Families and celebrate Christmas with them. To these believers it would mean the world to have their own Bible and to be able to read the Word of God. There is great hunger for Bible in Pakistan.
On 8th December, 2013 10:00 AM during church service they attack on us with dangerous weapons they were calling they want Pastor Dilshad and Pastor Karamat. We were hiding inside the church the next day in night they broke the lock of the church and steal all the things .
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in News Papers but we find now help many times they attacked on our family. If we had not stopped evangelism they will kill us finally. After this situation Church is stopped last three months .They are searching for us .We are away from City our family is hiding on other City.
They misbehave forcibly two church ladies Nagina and Uzma we want to stop them but due to that they became our enemies. We are running Pakistan Community Peace Foundation to help persecuted and needy. But these extremist and Militants do not want to see us by doing help the people. Pastor Salamat Bhatti Chairman PCPF looking after this case. He was also with us in all situations. His life is also in danger. He is not in Pakistan now. Pastor Salamat Bhatti and Church members help us for visas and tickets so we came to Brazil. We and our family need help and protection here. We cannot go back in Pakistan if we go back they will kill us. Our life is highly under threat.
On 1 5 December 2013 we were in Prayer at 7:00 PM at Pastor Karamat house in Chashma Town new Sohan Islambad. The extremist came at house and attacked on us immediately .our family and children were crying they beat us and firing on us. IhsanUl-haq was leading this group. We were all injured. Pastors Karamat hand was broken and Pastor Dilshad got a head injury. We informed 15 police and Police station and having the FIR on 16 December 2013 against Ehsan-ul-haq and this Militant group FIR No.631/2013 But the Government and Police is not taking it seriously. Because we are minorities and Christian. We also giving
Dear Bishop I need financial help to bring my family here in Brazil and family of my Brother Pastor Karamat Too, You please request to ICOF all leaders to collect the donations at head office USA and send me , I am here in Brazil , came here to save us.
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EDUCATING TOMORROWS LEADERS http://www.lifecollege.education
LIFE COLLEGE
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Together we are making a real and lasting difference for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
WANTED INTERCESSORS
IF YOU ARE AN INTERCESSOR WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are putting a team of intercessors together to pray for our Life Network. We know that we can never accomplish the vision that God has given us without intercessors. As part of our team we need a plethora of God called intercessors. We would love for you to be part of what God is doing in our area. If you will commit to praying for LIFE NETWORK we will commit to give you timely updates on the needs.
Or Call
202-351-6820 68
Harvard celebrates academic achievement
reasons why graduating the traditional way just doesn’t work for
By Mitch Sneed
everyone. “We are so honored to be celebrating this day,” Williams said. “This is not a GED, This is a
Saturday was a day of celebration
diploma from an accredited high
for the students on Harvard High
school. So no matter what age,
School International in Alexander
when you walk in looking for that
City as those
job, you will now
who have and
have something
will earn their
that shows you
high school
are an achiever.
diplomas were “There is no way
recognized.
to say how much Nine students, dressed in royal
that means, not only in the
blue caps and gowns, gathered
workplace, but what it will mean in
with family, friends and dignitaries
terms of confidence that you can do
at Jehovah-Jireh Ministries on
anything with the help of Jesus
Hillabee Street to celebrate a life-
Christ.”
changing accomplishment. Rev. Students from age 17 up to 44
Roderick Williams said that in
were in Saturday’s group of
today’s world, there are many
honorees. Each had a story, but 69
Saturday they all had a smile. Two
otherwise,” Woody said. “This is a
in the group were 44-year-old
great start.”
Aretha Smith and her 24-year-old Dr. Bernie Wade of the Life Church
daughter, Saprena Woody.
in LaGrange, Kentucky is one of “I wanted to get this diploma to
the founders of Harvard
show that it is never too late,” Smith
International. As president of the
said. “I have four kids and six
outreach, he said that to see
grandkids now. But
students of all ages
now I can tell them
reach a life goal is
that I did this to
“more rewarding that
show how important
words can describe.”
education is. Now
“In this world we live
they will know that
in – we put a man on
what I say comes the moon in the 1970s
from experience.”
– but we still do not
Woody said she will use her
graduate all of our children from
diploma as she will attend Virginia
high school,” Wade said. “It doesn’t
College and start with a CNA
have to be that way. That’s why we
certificate and work her way up.
started Harvard International. We
She hopes to be a nurse one day.
are making a difference. Graduates from Harvard High School now own
“This will open some doors that I
their own businesses, work as
may not have had open for me
leaders in major companies, serve 70
in the military and even pastor
the medical field. That wouldn’t
churches all over the world.
have been possible without this.”
“It all starts with getting that
The Harvard mission says “Harvard
diploma and we are delighted and
High School was founded by
honored that we can now say that
concerned people who realized that
there is no reason in the world not
our education system doesn’t work
to have your high school diploma.
for everyone. Many people are held
You have all proven that. Now you
at an economic and social
can go out into the world and tell
disadvantage because they do not
people that God had has blessed
have a high school diploma.
you with a gift that will change your
Harvard High School is committed
life.”
to helping all have a quality education.”
For 18-year-old Breasia Smith, she said this program gives her a chance that she may not have had otherwise. “I am so thankful to have this program,” Smith said. “I just didn’t fit in at my high school and I couldn’t take it any longer. Now I can go on and start working towards my goals and a career in
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Humanistic Theism?
Here is what I found:
By Lea F. Bates noun: humanism an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.
Today I observed someone accusing another of being humanistic – in other words they proclaimed that the other person practiced humanism. The words said were an all-out verbal attack that really saddened me. I can’t say I know the person being attacked very well so therefore I couldn’t defend them against this accusation. Besides, as aggressive of a personality as the accuser had it would have been pointless anyway. Kind of like casting pearls in the direction of swine. I did however look up this term – humanism, because the case the accuser made seemed to attack many out there who are (or claim to be) Christians.
A Renaissance cultural movement that turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought. noun: Humanism (among some contemporary writers) a system of thought criticized as being centered on the notion of the rational, autonomous self and ignoring the unintegrated and conditioned nature of the individual. I suddenly realized as I read this terminology how dangerously close the body of Christ has leaned towards this direction. No one wants to hear a negative commentary; but we must be real here. We attend church services where “the praise team is wonderful” or we go to this church because “they still sing the old hymns.” Either music is fine with me, but if we are determining our attendance of a fellowship 72
(ekklesia G1577 Strong’s) gathering based on the music, or the dress, or even the people, or the pastor, then have we not become humanistic in our own right? Have we forsaken our First Love? Who is at the Head?
sting of the death to self? Therefore our sin calls us unto the strength of the law (1 Corinthians 15:56), because we follow our fleshly desires instead of dying to self so He can reign within us.
Christ is centered as the Head of the Church. We didn’t choose God, He chose us (See 1 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Romans 9:16). God chose the people he called Israel and called them out to bring them unto himself (Exodus 19:4). Not to satisfy their wants, but because He cared for them and to bring them into a covenant and communion with Him. Jesus came as a propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10).
God takes no pleasure in our desire to bask in selfish desires. “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38). He predestined those he called – to be conformed into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30), according to the good pleasure of His WILL (Ephesians 1:5, 11). Our God is faithful to those He has called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). He longs to scoop us up on eagle’s wings.
His sacrifice didn’t give us carte-blanch to our own desires. No! We were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). Oh, death where is your sting? Have we fallen short of facing the 73
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