Faith FEED Sep 2014

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Fa it

God has put something in me

Gifts Decoding Spiritual Gifts Using ordinary things to advance Gods cause.

Picking Gods Brain.

that you need.

College Using a secular education for Gods glory.

How to identify and capitalize off of your God given talent

Faith FEED is using innovative journalism, design, and technology to assure the Christian faith has its place in the future. We’re keeping you posted on creative application, technological advancements and overall strategies that grow the church and advance Gods kingdom.

Faith + Innovation

18

What is God’s plan for my life?

44 Picking the

26 Decoding Spiritual Gifts

mind of God.

Rap Music, Rock, Skateboarding, Art,

11

video recording, dancing and other things you didn’t know you could use for God.

Faith FE

D

E

Chief Editor Assistance Editor Editorial Staff

Linda Pintus Rebecca Hines Stephen Crawley Tim Robinson Jenny Cummins

Contributors Production

Stephanie White Jamiel Cotman Will Doniker Lance Cummins

Connect

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FaithFEEDMag@gmail.com 804-833-7628

Why God just may want you to go to a secular college

56

What God sees when He looks at you

Editors

G

Feed

This edition is about taking of your limits, by seeking God, identifying your gifts and leaning

et the super on your

natural! If you’re a son or

not to your own

daughter of God, you’re

understanding. There is

not limited to what you’re

a special thing God

limited to. You’re limited to

created you for, but you

what God is limited to.

won’t be able to

And He has no limits!

accomplish it without the gifts He’s allowed you to have and develop.

-Linda

Y

Managers

Feed

ou’re a unique

expression of God on earth,

Gods put something in you that’s going to change the world!

and He has put something in you that He thought the

Will you let us help

world could not do without.

you? I sure hope you

Wow! That’s exciting. It’s

do! We need more and

fun to wake up each

more people,

morning knowing that I’m a

interested in

miracle going somewhere

developing their gifts

to happen. It’s that

and bringing value to

revelation that Gods people

the work of God today.

need today. You’re not a burden. You’re not a liability. You’re a kingdom asset waiting to be detonated!

-Jamiel

Will you recognize the ministry God’s placed in your skills, talents and even hobbies?

The journey to stop confining “ministry” to the pulpit.

I

f you haven’t been up on current

events, Bill Nye, the anti-creationists guy, has been doing his rounds. One of his most common themes is, “you can change the world”. In other words, if you’ll just make a scientific finding, whether that’s a fossil that disproves evolution or a virus that actually kills other viruses, as long as it’s real and proven to add value to others, you in effect, become a world changer!

His church group [Board4Christ] runs a workshop for teens at every youth conference focused on skateboarding, surfing and other recreational activities.

“We set up outside skateboard While this notion from Bill Nye is technically true, there are world changing discoveries you can make without a telescope, computer or geographical finding.

“When I take a ride on my board, I definitely feel closer to God” says James

and discover the faith!” he grins. You may have noticed a book by a Navy Seal called, ‘Seal of God’ or from former porn stars with various names.

Its apparent, that the size of believers recognizing that God doesn’t want to take away your fun, but use it for His glory is alive and well.

Barrow, member of First Life Community Church. “I never thought that God could use this [skateboarding] the way He has.”

You don’t have to preach to be a minister

True, we’re all called to Believers the world

be one, but what does

over are starting to

it mean? Can you

wake up to the reality

minister through your

that Gods wants light of

business,

various types.

Gods uses your talents to bless others.

sketches, web design, or “Simply pulling out your

app program? Establishing

smartphone and catching

Gods kingdom on Earth is

real moments connecting

no simple feat. We need

others to Christ is more

believers in art and design,

than enough!” According

business and finance,

to Christian YouTuber

politics and leadership, if

Jared Smith. Let’s look at

we’re to complete the task!

this word “minister”.

Gods not too picky about age, race or education level,

but He does want people who know their gift can change the world! These are the only people who do anything much with it.

It gives me a ministry platform.

-James Barrow

What if You Changed the World?

It’s a possibility you know.

Beyonce Knowles, Whitney Houston and Usher all started at church, however, Gods looking for saints who will continue to use their gifts for and at church too.

You’re Nuts

There is a warning label on most gifts, especially when using it for Gods kingdom.

George Washington Carver found 100 uses, other than peanut butter, for the peanut

Board 4 Christ sees their skateboards and surf boards as instrumental to the kingdom.

through fashion, digital art, poetry or skateboarding.

Others won’t quite get why you use it as a platform to minister to others for Christ. peanut butter, for the

They’ll think it’s a part of

peanut plant! You can

the experience that they

imagine the response he

should skip altogether. But

received when saying,

just as secular and none

“Look, peanuts can be

Christian celebrities

made into an ointment for

influence the world for the

your back, an oil for your

worse, through their gifts,

food, or a medicine for your

you too can have an impact

health”.

with yours. Only for good!

Well, it won’t be much

People, ultimately, will just

different when you minister

enjoy the entertainment,

through fashion, digital art,

but, if you continue to take

poetry or skateboarding.

it seriously, they will too!

This is especially true for other believers. Typically, Christians equate ministry to preaching, singing, or giving money. So when you show up with a visual arts, theater or cooking idea at church, its likely to be taken for granted.

But keep at it, you just might change the world.

God is waiting to use the gift He gave you as a platform to save souls, advance His kingdom and bless your life as well.

God doesn’t want to take away your fun, rather, He wants to use it for His glory.

What is God Up to

L ?

ove. every first not about

Think about it. It’s the one thing that one’s so excited about. Just think of your love or when you met your spouse. Its so much about that person, its really what that person’s love means to you

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

What is it that God is working on that is going to change your life?

2

Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

3

Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

Jeremiah 18:1-2

You’re important.

You’re special.

It means God is busy, showing His love, working on something, you don’t

You’re necessary.

know what it is, or who, all

That’s what Jeremiah saw in

you know is that it’s for you.

a vision. It’s not what God

All you know is that it’s big!

was doing, it’s what it meant

It’s good! And it’s going to

to him!

change your life forever.

Whatever God, the potter is up to means you have a future bigger and brighter than what you’ve seen thus far!

Isn’t that exciting? It’s something brighter than what you’ve seen thus far!

Think about it someone you love, is doing what’s best for you and He’s busy at it every waking

what’s best for you and He’s

Anything, whether its

busy at it every waking

business, sales, marriage or

moment.

ministry, is changed by changing the person responsible for it! That’s

God Has You on His Mind

what the potter is up to!

He’s molding the clay, to carry greater mass! A

Psalm 139

pottery item, be it a vase,

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

bowl, or plate set, only receives what it’s been molded to carry.

Likewise, God has to

So what is it? What is this

mold you for the success

thing God is working on

you so desperately seek.

that’s not only going to change you, but the world along with you?

The Will to Do

You God won’t change your life apart from changing you. He can’t change your spouse apart from changing you.

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13

Understanding the value God places on changing you, changes you!

The Will to Do

Too often, we forget that God has to plant that desire to succeed in us.

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13 Ever met someone who doesn’t want to do better?

Strange huh? I’ve met guys who didn’t want to get out of jail, marry, or love. Desire has to be molded.

Without that, you’ll try to do better, but deep down you won’t want to, and will eventually stop.

God the Father, is really God the potter. And just like a good dad, God works to mold His children’s future with an inheritance, love and advice,

Gods molding your success

a work in me, is critical to Him

each day. The only question is:

being able to do so. He won’t

are you going to work with Him

work against your will. You

or against Him?

have to understand God the potter is working His plan for you, by working on you.

Bended Clay Make Me Over Again Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.

about taking orders, it’s about

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

knowing a process is taking

John 15:1-2

Proverbs 4:7

With the potter obedience isn’t

place. That merely involves taking orders. But it extends to

Unlike earthly potters,

having the right view and

God the potter is never quite

attitude as well. That

done. He continually molds

understanding, that Gods doing

those He loves in the furnace

a work in me, is critical to Him being able to so. He won’t work

of

What is it that God is working on that is going to change your life?

lovingly expects more from you, expectation, challenge and the

molding takes place. We

values of His Word.

typically rise to the expectations of those who show us they

Expectation

care.

When God wants to promote you, He’ll put a person in your life. When Satan wants

Challenge However, there is a

to destroy you, He’ll put a

furnace component. The

person in your life. One way

furnace of challenge places a

God molds is through others.

demand on your potential. It’s

When someone sees your

never

potential, and

comfortable. It’s sort of like that softball coach screaming in your face, telling you to run another lap and correcting your mistakes. It’s not easy. But it’s necessary.

Faith God’s word, or His faith, is the master tool in molding your success! No, you don’t have to do everything in the scriptures, but, you must do all within your power to yield to it. It’s the bend Gods looking for, not perfect compliance. True change, takes a maintained bend towards the standards, vales and views of God’s Word. Much like the clay bends to the potters hands while being spun on the wheel.

When someone sees your potential, and lovingly expects more from you, molding takes place.

Just what are these ‘spiritual gifts’ the bible speaks so richly about?

Decoded

Spiritual

Gifts

Y O

ou’re a unique

that He thought the world couldn’t do without! Imagine waking up to that statement each morning. I didn’t have

expression of God

to. My father, who

on Earth , and He’s

loved Joseph Ripley

put something in you would say it to me time and time again.

You’re not limited to what you can do in your own ability.

It was exciting! I felt like I was a blessing going somewhere to happen!

The tom boy that I am, I collect the comic books, cards [didn’t know those

Taking Your Place Its no coincidence both he and I are X Men fans

existed did you] and movies. So it follows that he would wake me up with such a message.

“The world can’t do without” think of that. It

Super [natural] Man

means there is someone out there, waiting for me to step into my calling, use my gift and change their life!

According as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; 1 Peter 4:10

Believers who don’t accept Gods super, will remain limited to the natural.

The most limiting belief about spiritual gifts, is that they are for church. No! Those gifts, are for the world! Those atheists online, those unbelievers at the park, the addicts at the center, are all in need of it.

Believers just have to use it there instead.

God’s goal is to put His super on your natural efforts. But you have to yield to Him. Again, we’re supposed to utilize sensitivity, mercy, exhortation and discernment at The second part of

work to help clients, at home to

that is that we limit what the

parent children and at

gifts are supposed to do.

restaurants to encourage the

They’re not just supposed

waitress. That’s the

to function at church.

supernatural. Not just the guy behind the pulpit laying hands on people.

Its everyday believers like you and I utilizing Gods power in our day to day lives.

“LORD lead and guide us. Assist and equip us in locking up some bad guys. In Jesus name. Amen!” – D.A. agent prayer, before making a drug bust It doesn’t take much to employ the supernatural.

God, more than anyone of us is hungry to see people get help.

There is something outstanding that you can do through Christ. us is hungry to see people get help. So trust me, He wouldn’t make it difficult. But if there’s one thing that unlocks the supernatural, I’m going to listen to Pual and say love.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:2

Those who love the most, have the most access to the supernatural. That’s who it’s for!

If you’re a cop, God will anoint you to get more bad guys, stop more crime and restore communities, not because of you, but because He loves the

stop more crime and

kids, simply love them

restore more communities,

with His love and yield to

not because of you, but

it! Finding the person

because He loves the

you’re serving, and

people you’re serving.

keeping your mind and

Tapping that love, opens up

heart on them, is key to

the faucet of His power! A

walking in the

parent need not pray for

supernatural, Gods not

Gods power to lead their

giving you the power to simply

put on a show.

Look at operating in the supernatural this way.

Have you ever hated someone? I mean literally wanted to rip their head off!

Suddenly, you become a stronger person, for the worse, because you’re filled with hate. You become energized with the power to punch them in the face and put a ring around their eye, even though you’re tired from working all day.

Now put that in reverse. Filled with love for a hurting person or group of people, you can do the amazing!

God’s hungry for his sons and daughters to apply the supernatural gifting that each of them has to this dark, boring and mundane world. However, that can’t happen in full until they realize its practicality and yield to His brand of love for others.

Anointed Entrepreneur What are you doing to develop products that also advance Gods system of values?

Identifying the creative professionals who run businesses with Christian themes.

A

God wants us to use our gifts as entrepreneurs to develop products and services that shley Madison, PornHub,

RedTube, need I go into cheater apps? These things are simple

advance His kingdom in much the same way.

Here I list three reasons

downloads that make it easy for

God is looking for marketplace

you to be unfaithful. Need more

ministers to develop Christian

proof. Ok. Online pornography as

themed businesses.

a whole makes about $14,000,000,000 a year in annual sales, creating bondage, torn

Creative Capability

families and making men empty and destitute.

to realize satan and his team are

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

in business? What does he sell?

Isaiah 43:19

Devil Inc. When are Christians going

Anything that kills, steals and destroys! As you can see with Ashley Madison, His goal is to put death and destruction in the world and finance the people who do it.

Kingdom business’s give life in a world of huge kingdom demand. Maybe you’ve read of Breathelyzer.

The world is hungry to see companies that do good while also doing What are you doing to develop products that also advance Gods system of values?

well.

This app lets people who’ve been drinking alcohol realize when they aren’t safe to get on the road. Think of the people who aren’t drinking

you’ll be able to support the things of God differently when you have both money and time. Only a business provides that.

and driving because of that.

Wealth Creation Kingdom Support There is no wealth Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

without business. Have you

1 Thessalonians 2:9

work, exchanging your time

ever thought of that? You can’t pass a job down to your kids. You can’t sell your job.

You can’t expand your job. All you can do is continue to and talent building someone

Pual used his business as a tent maker to support his ministry! Likewise,

else’s empire, for a paycheck.

Who is responsible for developing the products that save marriages, build churches and change lives?

Consider the famous site Ashley Madison. It equips those who desire to cheat on their spouses.

You can do it! You can be the next Christian millionaire because not only did you make money, but you created

However there are companies like Bible App that see the need for innovative Christian developments in the market.

A product or service that advanced Gods kingdom as well.

If you could tap the mind of God, what obstacles would you surmount?

Picking

Gods Brain

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:11

W

hat if I told you that the

bible predicted tons of scientific findings before the scientific community?

 The Universe had a beginning [Gen 1:1]  The Universe is expanding [Isa 40:22]  Air has weight [Job 28:25]

This age old book, was

 Stars sing or emit radio

1,000’s of years ahead! Now,

waves [Job 38:7]  Visible things are made of

what if I told you that you could be as well?

invisible things [Heb 11:3]  The Earth is a sphere [Isa 40:22]  The Earth Rotates [Job 38:12]  Dinosaurs [Job 40:15-24]

“All my life, I have risen regularly at four in the morning to go into the woods and talk with God.

Without Gods wisdom, the world will continue to walk about in darkness.

That’s where He reveals His secrets to me. When everybody else is asleep, I hear God best and learn my plan. This morning I asked Him why He made the peanut.”

God has so, so much more information than we do. And the cool thing is if you’ve accepted His son as the Christ, He’s placed that data

- George Washington Carver, Inventor of over 100 uses for the peanut

within you [1 Cor 1:30]! It just needs to be tapped.

Knowing More Than You Know

Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?�

1 Kings 3:9

It’s no surprise that some of the greatest discoveries, findings and inventions were made by Christians. Inside each of us, the very person who made Solomon wise, so richly dwells. The only question is how to utilize it on a day to day basis.

Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:20

God will reveal knowledge as we fellowship with other believers in His name.

God will reveal knowledge as we fellowship with other believers in His name.

You can walk in even greater light than you are now.

Famous author of ‘Think and Grow Rich’ Napolean Hill believed that when great minds came together, a third, even greater mind is created.

He called it the “sum total of minds,- A master mind!” How much more if believers come together? We could plot solutions to the problems in

have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Matthew 11:24-25

the community, home, family and world!

Asking and receiving are both our responsibility, God wants

Ask and Receive

each of us to take what we ask for when we pray. That means each day you ask, and

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if

then walk expecting it to manifest!

You’re not limited to what you know, but what God knows!

It’s sort of like a being on a cruise ship and finding a huge Don’t Miss

hole at the bottom. Instead of helping out by alerting

“Asking amiss” is a phrase mentioned in James 4:3.

I like that description. It accurately defines what we often do. We “miss” the purpose God wants to give us wisdom for. Solomon didn’t just ask for wisdom. He asked for, “wisdom

everyone, you jump ship and start to swim, not realizing that they could have given you a life boat or called a helicopter.

In much the same way, when we learn to use Gods wisdom to help others, we’ll be blessed as well!

Gods best is for us to

to judge [lead] your people” [Kings 3:9]. When we use

use His wisdom to make the

wisdom for God, it helps us too!

world better, and since we live

However, when we use it simply

there, we’re a beneficiary as

for ourselves, we’re destroyed.

well!

Tricky huh?

Its no surprise that some of the greatest discoveries, findings and inventions were made by Christians.

News

N

o more adverts

incorporating "sexually

Earlier this year, Google sent

explicit content" will be

a message to advertisers to

promoted by Google's

notify them that it will no

advertising network. Google

longer accept ads "that

is prohibiting porn. The online

promote graphic depictions of

search engine company’s

sexual acts". It went on to say

AdWords platform is used to

that this included content

place adverts on Google-

such as hardcore

owned sites and other sites

pornography and the

can also choose to host

depiction of masturbation and

AdWord ads on their own

genital, anal, and oral sexual

sites. The platform is thought

acts.

to be responsible for the majority of Google's revenue, but although Google has placed restrictions on adult content for a while, the latest changes could potentially have chased some advertisers elsewhere.

Forget the money! Google figures not helping porn sites is better for the long term prospects of its brand, forfeiting hundreds of millions of dollars!

C

It seems technology has finally caught up with the Mexican drug and other cartels.

hemical engineers in

Silicon Valley funded by the Department of Homeland Security say that they’re well on their way to developing a device that could sniff out big wads of illicit cash. “[The

And what technologies are available to make sniffers?’”

smell] comes from all of the

“The problem with dogs is

materials it’s made of--all the

that they’re expensive and

linens and the inks and the

you have to feed them, even

chemicals--and the residue

though they can be really

emanates from the surface of

cute,” Stetter says. “So if you

the dollar for some years,”

had an instrument that could

explains KWJ Engineering

mimic the dog’s nose, this

president Joseph Stetter.

could work.”

“We started this project not

Our only question is,

knowing very much at the

shouldn’t they be working to

beginning and said, ‘Okay,

detect drugs, instead of the

what is the smell of money?

money paying for it?

Today’s colleges have a storehouse of information that God wants you to get your hands on, the right way.

When God Makes Spy You A Wh

S

ome of the greatest

colleges like Yale, Stanford and Harvard began as Christian schools. They each believed the concept of the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge [Prov 1:7]. But if you haven’t noticed by now, most of these schools are breeding grounds for secularism.

Over 50% of Christians attending none faith Universities lose their beliefs before graduating.

beliefs before graduating.

Many Christian parents send their kids to a Christian school to counteract. But even that is often a none remedy. “The devil goes to Oral Roberts University” says evangelists Jesse Duplantis, speaking of none Christian activities taking place at Christian schools. “The devil knows what’s being done there and does his best to combat it.”

He continues. “Its like whoever is bad, at a Christian school, stands out

He continues. “Its like whoever is bad, at a Christian school, stands out and is popular!” says one parent. “The kids who are there doing what they are supposed to do, aren’t honored accordingly” panting about her kids at Reagent University.

Spoils of War ‘Art of War’ author and

the leaders most precious faculty.” Spies warned generals in both World War 1 and 2. So why do we think they’re no good in spiritual warfare? The enemy has taken so much from the body of Christ via information, it’s time we get it back and use it for Gods glory!

First, realize secular

ancient military general

knowledge, isn’t really

Sun Tzu said, “Spies are

secular

the leaders most precious faculty.”

Yea, it’s a secular college, but God can use it to open your gifts for Him.

1 + 1 = 2 whether you’re saved or not. Getting information from a secular

Second, utilize that information for Christ.

source isn’t bad until its

Ask Him to show you ways,

wrong. Thus, recognize that

common or uncommon to

while you’re in a secular

bring glory to Him with it.

school, much of what you’re

One way is to take the

learning will be factual and

wrong information they tell

good to get a hold of.

you, and use it against them

However you need to also

in debates, or exposing

know when they are telling

erroneous data that

you things that can’t be

contradicts the bible before

known, such as “we all

people deciding what to

evolved from goo” or “We’re

believe.

related to every living thing”

God can use your education at a secular school to point out discrepancies and free others from bondage.

Church’s Digital Deficit

Is the church utilizing the tech gifts in its innovative members?

Secularism appears to rule the tech space, especially the web, as none faith organizations utilize innovation more often.

Believers must learn to turn innovation into fruit for Christ!