Culture
Fait
Ministry
Profile of a digital Christi an When Church leaves the building
Leadership Faith
E
D
E
Innovation
7
Overlooked things
Top Christian Blogs and Twitter pages Figuring out your divine assignment.
God wants from you. Q&A “I can’t seem to open up sexually to my husband?”
Contents
Would Jesus be on Facebook?
48
Devine
You ever wonder what did Christ diet consist of?
29 Sections Leaders
40
News
86
Men
58
Devotion
72
54
Lifestyle
Q&A
25
Front Cover Digital Christianity
72
7 overlooked things
Divine Assignment
Every Issue
God wants from you
15 58
When Church leaves the building
Devotion News Q&A
40
Faith FE
D
E
Chief Editor Linda Pintus Assistance Editor Rebecca Hines Editorial Staff Chase Robins Tim Robinson Jenny Cummins Contributors Bobbie Ann Cole Anna Darlene Edmundson Andy Castro Stephanie White Production Jamiel Cotman Will Doniker Lance Cummins Connect
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We’re super excited about this, our first edition of Faith FEED. In it, we tackle just where the body of Christ is, its most pressing needs and just how we can flow with the spirit to get them answered. The article, “Digital Christianity’ is sure to be a head turner as we help
Check out our News segment as we explore the Duck Dynasty Controversy and the passing away of faith legends like Paul Crouch and Nelson Mandela. Or, you can just scan through and watch tons of other great content such as devotionals, articles, scriptures and more, all designed to intersect the best that the Christian faith has to offer. The leadership section most intrigues me. I’ve really been reading the material regarding the future of our faith such as Mark Driscolls book, “Will Christianity Have A Future or a Funeral?” and the article, “The Death of Christianity” with its sobering thoughts. And, while we’re here, just between me and you, its rumored that Lifeway Stores founder J.M. frost will be releasing his book, ‘The Autopsy of A Dead
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Editor
you utilize today’s technology to witness for Christ.
Church’ which I’m sure will be a bucket of cold water on many of today’s apathetic pastors. One of our contributors, Bobbie Ann Cole also took the time to explore Tu b shevat a Jewish holiday taking place in January, which also goes over what Jesus’s diet may have consist of, while we added a few recipes so we can celebrate as well. Finally, you’ll see some of last years top Christian Twitter and Tumbler pages that I’m sure are each filled with interesting content. As the body of Christ grows, we aim to stay at the forefront of what is happening, and even introduce a few things here and there. So, on behalf of our entire editorial staff, contributing team, management and all, I salute you, for being a part of this monumental occasion. Really mean that. We hope you enjoy it. We really do. If you have any comments email us at faithfeedmag@gmail.com. Be blessed! Linda Pintus Editor and Chief
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Creators
Feed Wow! O wow, o wow! Then again I’m not the grammatically correct one am I?
All I can say is while working with the journalist, contributors and managers; I didn’t have much to manage. These guys are pros. I just sat back and read, and read, and read all of the content over and over again because it’s so good! [answered a few emails here and there]. But hey, that’s what happens when you intersect the best that Christian faith has to offer, into one amazing feed, and now, one amazing magazine. So scan through. Enjoy, and be sure to tell us what you want to hear more about later on. Jamiel Cotman Production manager
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Manager
Foot, I just work in management.
Faith
Walking away from sin is just the beginning.
This isn’t just another year. God has a new destination for you in 2014.
Walk
With
Him
F
orget what you’ve heard. This is another year where you
and God can become closer. Its another year where He and you embark on a journey that leads to fulfillment, victory, hope and
Faith
All it takes is your willingness to
and on and on. But here is one
stand by Him when things don’t
thing you have to understand.
look right. You’ve been asking,
This one thing, you must never
‘Where is God?’, ‘Why didn’t He
forget…
____ when I needed Him to?’
God doesn’t give us strength, he is our strength! In fact, you can fill in that blank with anything you’ve been looking for.
God doesn’t give us riches, he is our riches! God doesn’t give us victory, he is our victory! God doesn’t give us healing, he is our healing!
“Yea, that’s good sermon talk. But I really need a breakthrough.” You may be thinking. But you do you know what I think? God doesn’t give us breakthroughs, He is our breakthrough!
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Until you get your mind around the fact that He is your everything, you won’t get anything from Him. It’s what He told our father in the faith upon His first encounter. Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1 He says the same thing to Abraham was going through some things. He had a promise from God, something He wanted, that he didn’t see coming to pass. He and his wife were dispread. They were troubled. They like you and I, wanted their stuff. They wanted the promise. And here comes God saying to them, “I am your
P7
the Israelites years after. After Moses asks who He is, so the Israelites could know, God says, “I am that I am. Tell them I am sent you.”[Genesis 3:14]. All I’m saying is, prioritize your walk with God, and you’ll see the things you want begin to fall in place. So how do we walk with
promise”. I am whatever it is you
God, better than we’ve done
need.
before?
Faith
Embrace Your Calling Jesus said this, “If any
embark upon what he’s created
man would come after me. Let
you to do. Jesus’s cross was
him first deny himself, take up
dying for our sins. What’s your
his cross, and follow me” [Luke
cross? It could be to witness to
9:23]. His cross? Let’s be clear,
others in your community or
nobody can die on the cross for
online. It could be to adopt an
humanity except Jesus. So what
urban school by getting on the
is it that he’s referring to? You’re
parental advisory board there. I
calling. The specific thing God
don’t know where God is calling
wants you to do with your life. In
you, but I can say this, its going
essence, to walk closer with
to get you closer to him.
God, you’re going to have to Trust Him To keep up with Christ this
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the scriptures. You may not
year, you’re going to have to
hear three or four sermons on it
yield to Him, before you see any
beforehand. But to really move
reason to. If not, you’ll be left
with God, you must trust Him.
behind. You may not get all of
“Trust in the LORD with all of
Faith
Faith your heart. Lean not to your own
God, you’ll never be in a
understanding” [Proverbs 3:5-6].
position to do that. We don’t
Many believers confuse faith with trust. But trust is more important and different altogether. Faith believes what God says. It’s evident by our acting on what He says. However, when you don’t trust
accept the words of those we don’t trust. Trust is required, before you can have faith. You’ll be amazed at all of the promises attached to those who trust in the LORD.
We say, “God show me, and I’ll trust you. God
How do you develop trust in God? It’s simple.
says, “Trust me. And I’ll show you.
Meditate on His Goodness! It sounds foolish I know.
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but didn’t. What about the
But the more someone is good
tragedy you were going through
to you, rather, the more you
that nobody knew about, but
focus on how good anyone has
you were delivered.
been, it enables you to let go
Breakthrough with your children;
and trust them more. Think
Breakthrough in relationships;
about the time you almost died,
Isn’t it time you’ve given God
more credit that you’ve been
already?
Have Faith “He that comes to God
Many believers faith is under
must know that He is and that
attack. They don’t see God.
He is a rewarder of them that
They don’t see blessings. They
diligently seek Him” [Hebrews
don’t know where He is. They
11:6]. Walking with God
have millions of questions about
demands you knowing, not only
God’s existence, His Word, and
that He is, but that He honors
what He did or didn’t seem to do
your walk with Him. He richly
for them. But you’re going to
rewards those who follow and
have to rid yourself of this
seek after Him. The human side
before becoming closer.
of us wants to be rewarded. But
Understand this, nobody has all
the spirit side of us wants God.
of the answers. And even
You’ll need to believe that He is
though God does, He won’t
there, and, that He rewards your
even give you all of the answers
diligently seeking Him to walk
because He wants you to trust
closer.
Him. We say, “God show me, and I’ll trust you.” God’s answer
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is always, “Trust me, and I’ll
reward, blessing and fulfillment
show you.” To have the faith.
just like and even beyond
that draws you nearer to God,
anything you’ve expected
you’re going to have to believe
before! In fact, you may find,
that He is and He will reward
much of what you thought you
your looking to Him. Walking
needed, you didn’t really need
with God this year is going to
after all.
simultaneously walk you into
Faith
God doesn’t give us strength. He is our strength.
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While our faith is strengthened by our intake of God’s Word, our flesh is strengthened by all that disagrees with it.
Faith
\
During Difficult
Times Mark 9:24 (NIV) Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
I
believe; help me overcome my
One thought agrees with the Word of
unbelief!� This exclamation signifies a God while the other opposes it. Each contradiction of thoughts.
thought has an origin.
the origin being either the Spirit or the
our flesh still loves to invade our lives.
flesh.
Our flesh produces thoughts of
Doubt creeps in when we least expect it.
doubt and our Spirit produces thoughts
It can overtake us if we are not careful.
of faith. We must realize that the Spirit
The boy’s father knew the answer to his
is strengthened by our intake of the
doubt; the answer was to call out for
Word
is
help. Do we call out for help or do we
strengthened by all that disagrees with
try to “man up” and handle the doubt
the Word.
ourselves? Do we feel as if we are not
of
God
and
our
flesh
We must appreciate the fact that
successful as a Christian because of the
we have two identities to live with: our
doubt and believe that we alone must
Spiritual identity and our identity in the
rectify
flesh – and each nature fights for power.
produce faith in our lives and we cannot
Our consistent use of the Word will bring
maintain it! The sooner we realize our
our Spiritual identity to the forefront and
need for help, the quicker we will go to
give it control in our lives. Even when
God for the help we need.
the
situation?
We cannot
our Spiritual identity is at the forefront,
Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. John 15:16 Jesus said that He ordained us to go and bring forth fruit – Spiritual fruit.
to our flesh.
The word ordained is defined as: to
I cannot produce faith; faith has a
place or put in a horizontal position, to
Spiritual source. I need to let the Word
make passive.
This means that our
fill me and flow out of me. If I desire
flesh has to be inactive in order for us to
Spiritual fruit that will remain for eternity,
operate in the Spirit.
then I must understand my need to fill
A horizontal
position signifies sleep or death.
We
have to put our flesh in a horizontal position by focusing on Christ and letting
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Him work through us instead of yielding
myself with the Word. My priority must be my intake of the Word.
Admitting our uncertainty and
about what his friends might think. He
crying out to God for the help that we
was not agonizing and fearing that his
need is not a negative action.
lack of faith would disqualify him for the
It is
opening our eyes to our desperate need
help he necessitated.
for Christ – our continual need! Never
began to sink, he cried out. We must do
underestimate your need for Christ.
the same! Do not attempt to handle it
Peter found himself in need as he
on your own.
As soon as he
We need Christ’s help
found himself sinking (Matthew 14:25-
and we need it now.
Instantly Jesus
33).
Peter was walking on the water
reached out to Peter and He will do the
until he looked at his circumstances.
same for us. He is not waiting for us to
Peter looked around and began to fear.
earn His help. If we could earn it, we
This fear led him to cry out to Jesus.
would not really need it!
Peter was not shy when it came to crying out for help. He was not worried
If I desire Spiritual fruit that will remain for eternity, then I must understand my need to fill myself with the Word.
Stephanie White is a wife, a mother, a Bible teacher, and an author. She has authored four books and co-authored four devotionals to-date. Her website is designed to help share the Good News of God’s Word: www.heavenonearthforme.com
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7
Tim Robinson
Overlooked
Things
God Wants
7
Relax and have fun Your faith won’t work unless you rest [Hebrews 4:3]. Yet, the only scripture people remember is, “Faith without works is dead.”[James 2:14]. They often forget that rest, or, letting go is often more critical. When we get into our own works, we end up like Abraham and Sarah who tried to make the promise come to pass, when all they had to do was rest in faith.
6
Faith Find Your Calling In Jeremiah God says, “"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”[1:5]. Your calling is the center of Gods will for your life. It’s why you were born. Yet, most people treat it as ho-hum.
5
That is to say, they think that that unless they are called to be preachers or evangelist, that their life has no purpose.
Start your business
God’s best isn’t for you to work for someone else. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and most of our fathers in the faith, owned businesses. They didn’t work for someone else’s business. It’s impossible to pass a job down to your kids. You
4
have to be there when they tell you. You have to leave when they say so. God wants you to serve him, while money serves you. Business is the only framework where that is possible [Proverbs 22:29].
Be honest Most Christians know how to be nice. But what if I told you that being nice, while not being honest is still a sin [Proverbs 16:6]? Its ok to open up before God first and those with whom honesty is needed. As long as you know how to be respectful when you do it, it’s very beneficial to say to someone, “I enjoyed our conversation, but I don’t think you should have said___” fill in the blank with something that was blatantly w rong.
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3
Faith
Go to church
Going to church is an old fashioned tradition that the bible warns us to
never forsake [Hebrews 10:25]. Barna surveys for years have showcased the difference between Christians who attend church regularly and those who do not. Yet, Christian culture today is bent on finding new ways to
2
seek God. We should never forget the proven way to do so.
Grow Up
.
While its awesome to get better at work, better in health, and better in wealth, one of the chief things God wants for you and I is to become better Christians [Gal 4:1-4]. Why? Because the more we mature in faith, the more of His
purposes and plans He can entrust to us. And that’s a partnership we shouldn’t miss out on.
1
Lead the way
While Christian after Christian goes to church after church, website after website and blog after blog, looking for a Word from the LORD, all too often they overlook the fact that they should be the church, website or blog that others are looking to. Lead. That is a Word of power for believers today. Don’t ask for it from others, work on being it to others. And you’ll never be without it again. [Matthew 5:16]
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Women
Hearing
from
God
Women
Why we as women must become more sensitive to the Spirits’ promptings and how.
Rebecca Hines Hines The funny thing is, as women, we’ve all been listening, just to the wrong person.
W
hile driving down Sunset Blvd, and no, I’m not
talking about the one in Los Angeles, the fake Sunset Blvd we have here in Henrico, Virginia. I’m literally shoved over on the road by another woman, my age, who was seemingly in a rush.
And where was she going,
to which I smiled, lightly laughed
you know; the same place I
and said, “its ok” and walked
was. In fact, I saw her in line
back to my car.
when I got there. It was the 50% off for one day sale at our local Lux Mart. [Its like a high quality Wal-Mart but smaller]. But when
Driving back, I couldn’t believe I didn’t know the details of the event. Oh don’t get me wrong, I knew they had the
we both arrived, we learned that the sales offer was only to premium members, and it
Gods got the goods. The only question is, am I tuned in?
wasn’t really for the whole day, just the first few hours between 6 and 8 A.M. It was 3:00 P.M. We looked at each other. Laughed, and she, with a cute apologetic face said, ‘I’m sorry for scooting you over”
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butterball turkeys, IPhones, and Samsung Galaxy’s [bigger screens] for half off, whether or
not you purchased a plan. That
would be great]. What if,
was the real reason I went. But
beforehand, I could know where
they also had, literally,
the best guys to date are, the
everything 50% off. But I didn’t
best clothes to shop are, the
know it was for a select time,
best people to meet are, way
and for a select group. Had I
before everyone else did? What
known, I would have gladly
if I was the person everyone
purchased the premium
read about who was discovered
membership, just to get that
by a famous producer, or I was
phone and those turkeys [plural
in on a tragedy that was about
because I planned on racking
to take place and could avoid it.
up]. I mean, the girls told me
Yea, it was Saturday, and since
two weeks before hand. I had it
I missed the blow out sale, I had
marked on my calendar. I began
nothing else to do. I sat on the
to wonder, what if I could get in
couch, picked up the remote,
on all of life’s deals, not just
and before I could push ‘power’
shopping ones [though yea, that
the Holy Spirit arrested me.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
P21
hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13
This is the ministry of the Holy
lead into His best, which, as
Spirit! That’s exactly what He
Ephesians says, is beyond
will do. I started to remember
anything I can ask for or think
how the scripture says, “Thanks
[so screw you sales day at Lux
be to God, who always leads us
Mart!]. I literally spent the whole
to triumph…” [2 Corinthians
day researching online exactly
2:14]. If I can get a hold of Gods
how to tune in to Holy Spirit, the
voice, not necessarily His
way you tune in to a radio
written word, but his day to day
frequency. And step by step, the
promptings, I can constantly be
LORD began to guide me
The Written Word What most people don’t understand is, the written word is just as much a manifestation of Gods voice as hearing a literal sound. Its an extension of His will just the same. Think of it this way, if you left a note to your kids about what they were to do while you were gone [because you didn’t want to wake them up], wouldn’t
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Women
you expect it to be followed just as though you said it verbatim? Then why is it we like to hear a voice when God has already written instructions to us via the scriptures? The Spoken Word God can speak to you audibly, to where you actually hear a voice. And, He can speak to you audibly through those He’s committed to watch over your soul. The scriptures say, “I will give you pastors after my own heart, who will feed you knowledge and understanding.” [Jeremiah 3:15]. If the LORD has yet to reveal to you at which church you belong, and under which pastor, you must seek Him about it now. Dreams Yep. When you’re too busy and God really wants to get something to you, He’ll speak through a dream. Why? Because, like I said, you’re too busy. There are days when you’re constantly bombarded with all that is going on, and the only channel God has is your dreams. I mean, check it out in the amplified:
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Women
Women 14
For God [does reveal His will; He] speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it [including you, Job]. 15
[One may hear God’s voice] in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed, 16
Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction [terrifying them with warnings], Job 33
What if you could know beforehand who was going to get fired, hired, promoted or turned down? What if, you could know of things to come, even while you sleep? The bible says you can. In fact, throughout scripture we see God communicating regularly to his beloved while they sleep, sealing their instruction and terrifying them with warnings. What a blessing! I don’t know if God is going to let me in on the next %50 off sale at Lux Mart [though I doubt they’ll ever have another one again]. But I do know this, that if I stay open to Gods voice the way its described for me to do so in scripture, I’ll definitely be on the inside of His best for me!
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Q: I’m recently married and am not able to let go sexually with my new husband?
P25
The bible says that the marriage
that often times, we women
bed is honorable and undefiled,
can’t let go there, the way we
yet it never ceases to amaze me
may have done before. Though
Q&A
the world will tell you to begin
People don’t think this is a God
watching erotica or putting on
ordained thing because so
something sexy to get in the
many children are born out of
mood, I’m going to look to the
wedlock, but make no mistake,
person who manufactured your
God doesn’t make anyone in
body, and see what He has to say! There are five reasons that God created sex, and as you look in scripture and meditate its purposes, you will experience a more and more gradual enabling you to let go with your husband. First, God created sex for
The voice of God says, “I want you to enjoy sex, because I ordained it. vain. He wants godly people to marry, and multiply, so there will be more and more godly people on earth. Malachi says it this way:
procreation [Genesis 1:27]. God wants his people to multiply. 15
And did not God make [you and your wife] one [flesh]? Did not One make you and preserve your spirit alive? And why [did God make you two] one? Because He sought a godly offspring [from
P26
Q&A
your union]. Therefore take heed to yourselves, and let no one deal treacherously and be faithless to the wife of his youth.
The heart of God says to you, “I want you to enjoy sex,
that you can enjoy the unity of a
because it brings forth godly
well bonded marriage”
seed” Secondly, God created
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you, “I want you to enjoy sex, so
Thirdly, God created sex for intimate knowledge. The Old
sex to tighten the bond between
English word, “know” was often
you and your husband. Genesis
used to mean, ‘sex’ because it
says, “Therefore shall a man
was then understood that
leave his father and mother and
through sex, you’re accessing a
cleave unto his wife. And the
part of your husband that isn’t
two shall become one flesh”
accessible to other women [or
[2:24]. Nothing creates unity
shouldn’t be]. Knowing him
between two persons the way
intimately will heighten the
sex can. God knew this and
connectivity between you and
designed it to keep marriages
him and make for a stronger
strong and able to fulfill His will.
more intimate bond. “And Adam
Here, the voice of God is telling
knew his wife again, and she
Q&A
bore him another child.”
things right. So create the
[Genesis 4:1]
environment. Talk to your
Fourth, God created sex for enjoyment. Proverbs says, “15 [a]Drink waters out of your own cistern [of a pure marriage relationship], and fresh running
P28
husband about what you’ll need from him. Get the lingerie and high heels. Know that you’re finally doing it right, and, should be enjoying it more, not less.
waters out of your own well. Let
Finally, the voice of God is
your fountain [of human life] be
saying, “I want you to enjoy sex,
blessed [with the rewards of
because it keeps you engaged”.
fidelity], and rejoice in the wife
In 1 Corinthians 7 it talks about
of your youth”. Here, the voice
how sex in marriage, keeps you
of God is saying to you and
from having to look elsewhere. “
women the world over, “I want
2 But
you to enjoy sex, because I
to impurity and to avoid
ordained it”. Isn’t it wicked that
immorality, let each [man] have
the world promotes sex as more
his own wife and let each
enjoyable outside of marriage
[woman] have her own
than within it. Yet God wants
husband.” In essence, you’re
women like you to purposefully
encouraged to work on making
enjoy it within marriage and set
your sex life fulfilling and
because of the temptation
enriching because it will be part
you will begin to gradual let go
of the glue that keeps your
as you did before. Let them be a
marriage strong.
starting point as you embark on
As you meditate on and allow God to guide you upon
sexual fulfillment, because you’ll know that its Gods will.
these thoughts from His word,
And did not God make [you and your wife] one [flesh]? Did not One make you and preserve your spirit alive?
If you have a question that you would like to see answered here in our monthly Q&A email us at info@faithfeedmag.com.
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Q&A
What was
Je B Daily us
A wide variety of
produce grows in the
Land of Milk and Honey.
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With the Jewish festival of first fruits coming up, Tu b’Shevat, now is a
good time to investigate Jesus’ diet.
esus’
Bread?
U
nlike his self-denying cousin,
15th of the month of Shevat, he
John the Baptist, our Lord, by
would have seen offerings of the
his own admission, came to
first harvests from newly-
us, ‘eating and drinking’.
maturing, young trees being
But what exactly did he eat and
brought to the Temple.
drink? With the Jewish festival of
grows in the Land of Milk and
first fruits, Tu b’Shevat, just
Honey, (which would probably
around the corner, (January 15-
have been date rather than
16, 2014), now would seem the
bees’ honey). The seven
ideal moment to investigate
foundational species mentioned
what is known, or can be
in Deuteronomy are wheat,
deduced, about Jesus’ diet.
barley, grapes, figs,
If he was in Jerusalem at Tu
b’Shevat, named for its date of
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A wide variety of produce
pomegranates, olives and dates.
Lifestyle
Wheat and barley were used primarily to make bread.
certainly have been unleavened.
We know, from the miracle of
At other times, the bread he ate
the loaves and fishes, as well as
would often have depended
from accounts of the Last
upon who he was dining with.
Supper, that Jesus ate bread.
The poor ate bread made from
He used the word generically to
barley, the wealthy from wheat.
indicate ‘food’ in the Lord’s
Jesus dined with both rich and
Prayer.
poor, so would have been
As a practicing Jew, he
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the Last Supper would most
familiar with both. The type of
would have kept the Passover
bread may have been similar to
traditions. Since Jews do not eat
the pitta or Arab flatbread,
anything leavened during the
cooked in seconds on a domed
eight days of Passover, the
hotplate, still eaten today in the
bread he broke and shared at
Holy Land.
Lifestyle
Jesus would probably have
waters, so named after Peter
dipped his bread in vinegar, just
found a coin in the mouth of
as Ruth did when she sat down
one. This allowed him to settle
to eat with Boaz during the
his tax bill.
barley harvest in Bethlehem.
This fish is in fact tilapia. It
That vinegar may have come
is delicious fried and eaten in
from the flourishing balsam
the open air by the water. It is
plantations of Ein Gedi, a green
usually served with French fries,
oasis beside the Dead Sea.
today. Jesus would not have
We know that Jesus ate fish. He
known these. The world would
prepared a fish breakfast for his
not discover potatoes for some
disciples by the Shores of the
1500 years.
Sea of Galilee, after his
Meat could not often be
resurrection. The fish he cooked
afforded, in Jesus’ time, which
would likely have been the St.
was why the lamb or goat
Peter’s fish native to those
cooked to celebrate the Continued on page 37
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Chicken Pomegranate Salad
Celebrate with these special dishes.
Dressing
½ c sugar ½ c honey ½ c red wine vinegar 2 tsp mustard ¾ tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper
Take about
2 ½ tbsp of dressing.
Mix in
2 tbsp canola oil.
Toss with
1/2 red onion, diced ½ of a large pomegranate Bag of romaine lettuce
Boil 2 cups of pomegranate juice and 3 tbsp of wheat flour until mixture becomes thick. Spoon over boneless chicken breast and bake for one hour. Add arills of ½ of a large pomegranate. Uncover and bake for 10 more minutes.
Mushroom Barley Soup
6 sliced carrots 2 stalks of celery Dash of garlic powder 2 tsp season salt or to taste Cup of raw whole barley
Fill an 8 qt pot halfway with water Add 2 pieces of flanken or 4 marrow bones. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low flame for 2 hours
6 sliced carrots 2 stalks of celery Dash of garlic powder 2 tsp season salt or to taste Cup of raw whole barley
Sautee above vegetables. Let simmer for 30 mins on medium flame.
Continued from page 34 Passover was considered such a treat. When meat was eaten, the rules of kosher, laid
rival faiths. For meat to be considered
out in Leviticus and
kosher, it has to be slaughtered
Deuteronomy, applied. Jesus
in rabinically-approved fashion,
came to fulfil the Law, not
the blood must be drained and it
abolish it, and would have
must not be consumed with
followed these rules.
dairy foods. This last rule stems
Some of the prohibitions, such
from the prohibition against
as snake and birds of prey,
eating a kid boiled in its
come as no surprise. The ban
mother’s milk, which is found in
on meats commonly eaten
Exodus.
elsewhere, such as pork and
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Judaism from the traditions of
There were no
rabbit, is less easy to explain
refrigerators in Jesus’ day. Even
and may originate in long-
with salt from the Dead Sea
forgotten bids to differentiate
rubbed into it, meat would have
been hard to keep fresh in the
perfumes, anointing and fuel for
hot, Israeli climate. Pulses, such
lamps, as well as for cooking
as lentils and chick peas,
and dipping bread.
cooked with vegetables, like the bean stew Esau sold his
species extensively used was
birthright for, would have been
grapes. Grapes were used to
far more usual than meat
make wine and ancient wine
dishes.
presses have been found all
Such stews would have
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Another of the seven
over Israel. Jesus’ first miracle
been cooked in olive oil. Olives
was to change water to wine at
are one of the seven species.
a wedding. At the Last Supper
The oil was readily available.
in Jerusalem, at the end of his
Many ancient presses have
ministry, he asked us to
been discovered, which is
remember his blood, spilled for
hardly surprising, since it was
us, with wine. It was common
used for Temple sacrifices,
practice to take wine with meals.
With its slightly antiseptic
take easy, non-spoiling foods
properties, wine would have
along to sustain him. Raisins,
been a whole lot safer to drink
which are dried grapes, dates
than water was. There were
from the palm orchards of
many mosquito-infested
Jericho and dried figs, along
swamps in Israel at that time.
with locally-grown nuts, such as
A little water might be
walnuts, pistachios and
added to cut the wine. The
almonds, would have been both
Romans, who were occupying
tasty and nourishing.
the Holy Land at that time, liked
It is customary, in Israel
to add honey to sweeten theirs.
today, to gift baskets of dried
As he travelled about the
fruits and nuts at Tu b’Shevat.
country, preaching the good
Nothing very much has changed
news and healing the sick,
in two thousand years, it would
Jesus would have needed to
seen.
Known as 'The Testimony Lady', Bobbie Ann Cole helps others hone their testimonies and dare to share. Her workbook, 'Start Writing Your Christian Testimony', is FREE at http://testimonytrain.com.
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When
Church Leaves The Building
Will Doniker
Leaders
How do we take the church’s influence
I
outside of its four walls?
love driving through neighborhoods to see how
people live. Typically, these aren’t suburban and rich ones. Though those are fine, I love going through the low income neighborhoods the most. I let the Holy Spirit speak to me about what can be done. How to help and overall feel His heart of compassion. I get out. I talk to the guys on the corner. I go into drug facilities and pray. I enter stores and buy. And typically, on my way home, away from the poverty, away from the drama, away from the stress, streets and misery, what do I see? What is that over there in a neat little corner, seemingly bothering nobody, making no difference, having no impact. It’s a church. And then my questions begin.
Leaders
What’s missing? Why isn’t the local church the proverbial light on a hill that it should be?
“If you want to maximize your growth, invest in a
1
Web 3.0 strategy?” Minimum: Web 2.0 Maximum: Web 3.0 At a minimum, churches need a Web 2.0 growth plan. What is that? Web 2.0 simply means that your have a strong presence online. Your website can’t be just something that you’ll get around to. Your website has to be an integral part of leading the congregation. Why? Because it takes the walls off of your church. There should be signs up on the building that encourages them to log on. You should have trivia’s that demand that they do in order to win. The more you incentivize web traffic, the more you can expose them to the glorious gospel of Christ. But if you want to maximize your growth, invest in a Web 3.0 strategy. That means that you allow members to congregate and
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connect online, around the values you present at your church. This is where most churches miss it. Encouraging conversation, discussion and even debate, is the heart of evangelistic outreach. Your website and blog can be the center of that. However, online, in Web 3.0 the church is winning 0 to 100. More Christians, particularly young ones, log onto atheist discussion boards as it seems to be more relevant to their lives. Churches, well, we’re not there.
2
“Your brand is the sum Minimum: Business acumen Maximum: Brand building
total of perceptions others have about your ministry”
Developing a business approach to ministry is oh so intelligent. Wasn’t it Jesus that referred to ministry as business in the first place [Luke 2:49]? So long as you don’t put business before ministry, its brilliant when business minded people assist in managing ministry efforts. Sounds scary? You may be thinking, “Why let him in here and run anything?”, that’s fine, if you don’t want to bring business people from the outside, train them from the inside, but the church needs business acumen, to assist with things like organizations, systems, innovations, logistics and profitability. Church is an excellent internship program even for those who want to learn to run their own business.
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But if you’re past knowing the importance of business acumen, you can use that as a foundation for brand building. What is a brand? It’s the sum total of perceptions people have about you. What is your brand? How can you build it? It should be to where, whenever someone mentions the name of your church or ministry, they think a particular thing. They feel and expect a particular thing. That’s brand development. And it creates monumental growth!
3 Minimum: Visual aid Maximum: Active learning
Now, if you want a minimal upgrade to your ministry, develop more visual communications, in your sermons, website, staff meetings and beyond. The human brain retains more when we use pictures than words. Ever heard the saying, “A picture is worth 1,000 words”? The only picture most ministers give their congregants is them reading a book. Good, but not effective if you’re church is to leave the building, impacted by your message. Go visual. Bring in touch stones. Involve
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more than one of their senses, and the findings show, you’ll be more effective at reaching them. If you’re already doing visual, reinvest. Make it better. Keep investing in visual because its how Jesus taught: Look at the birds...[Matthew 6:26] See these stones...[Matthew 24:2] Not only what was done to this fig tree...[Matthew 21:21]
However, if you want to really impact your community, engage issue active lessons, centered around Gods Word. Active learning [simulations, discussions, activities] are the meat and potatoes of effective ministry, not passive learning [I talk-they listen, sermons, lectures]. Jesus always used action to get his points across. Questions: Who do men say that I am...[Luke 9:18] The baptism of John, was it from God or men...[Mark 11:30] Do you believe I can do this...[Matthew 9:28] Interaction:
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Leaders
Teaching and being taught by them... [Luke 2:46] Answering questions... [Matthew 22:36-40] Engaging in conversation... [Luke 24:15-31]
Leaders, let’s get our churches and ministries out of the building, and impacting the global community for Christ this year!
Would Jesus be on Facebook? So you ask yourself, “would Jesus be on Facebook?” The answer is a resounding yes! In fact, Jesus would probably be on every social network via his staff. Why? Because Jesus always went where the hurting were, that’s why!
He always went where people, especially those with faith in His name dwelled. Make up your mind today to stop and reach others while you’re online as well!
Christianity as we know it has come to an end.
The Death Of Christianity
M
any pastors are releasing books
this year that intrigue the masses and those who critique the Christian faith. Take for instance Mark Driscolls ‘Will the Church Have A Future or A Funeral?’ which challenges ministry leaders to peer into the future of our faith. But not only that, Lifeway CEO is said to be working on a book titled, ‘Autopsy of a Dead Church’. So what gives? Why our powerful men and women who guide the
body of Christ seemingly predicting its doom? I’m convinced it’s because we’re doomed! We’ve failed to appropriate our faith in a way that intrigues generations x and y. In fact, on Redditt a website loved by millennials, the ‘Atheism’ category has
2,000,000 subscribers while the
generation or so. Because
Christian segment only carries
nobody in the next few
about a 10th of that [67,000].
bloodlines will believe it. In fact, CNN recently did a brief
If you’re leading a ministry,
discussion reviewing just why
business, family or group for
young Christians leave the
Christ, this should concern you.
church:
In essence, all of the work you’re doing will die out in a
Promote what we stand for, not just against When the average young person thinks of Christianity, they more closely associate it with negatives. They can’t have sex outside of marriage … They can’t experiment with homosexuality… They can’t go out to the club … They can’t … They can’t … They can’t …
When the average young person thinks of Christianity, they more closely associate it with things they can’t do.
What is most common in that
bunch of things. On the
setup? “Can’t”. Whether said or
contrary, it was a training camp,
implied, that word is very
where you learned to be above
disempowering. Jesus didn’t
the circumstances of this fallen
promote Christianity as a prison
world through the power of God!
camp where you can’t do a
Stop trying to be cool, start being honest “I know how to get
how hip they attempt to
generation x and y in my
be. Why? It’s like your
church” you say. “I’ve just
mom going to one of your
put a coffee shop in the
teenage parties. Who’s
foyer, equipped with wi-fi.
going to be the parent?
We also have a new youth
Surprisingly enough, the
band that’s ripping the
surveys show us that
charts. That’ll bring them
young people want
in.” But does it really? As
boundaries and discipline,
we mentioned in the
they just want to be
opening of this article,
inspired into it, not scared
youth are still leaving
into it. So instead of trying
these churches, in spite of
to be more like them,
encourage them to be
where they are. They will
more like Christ, in spite of
listen.
Offer Combined Solutions, not one size fits all Today, we see many a politician come up with a new law, rule or program that will assist a certain group of people, be it the retired elderly, or, new business owners. We also see today’s pastors come up with antidotes like new books, messages or corporate prayer sessions where we tackle spiritual needs. However the biggest most icky problems are never in just one category. Rather, the biggest, messiest of messes tends to be an overlap between many problems. The average person doesn’t just have a financial problem, or, a spiritual problem. They tend to have multiple problems that are interconnected. That is why the church must begin to offer combined solutions that tackle more than just one. Jesus said it this way, “That which is spirit is spirit. That which is flesh is flesh” [John 3:6]. Our LORD and savior noticed that there are different categories of issues that must be addressed with different things.
Churches must begin to
Christianity as we know it,
have classes that help young
may have to die, in order for
women with godly dating, and,
biblical Christianity to live. As
businessmen with running their
you employ the above, you’ll
companies Gods way. It seem
see your ministry live on and
foreign but, these sorts of
thrive for the kingdom for
combined solutions will offer
generations to come!
rapid growth to the local church and worldwide ministries.
-Jenny Cummins
Jesus didn’t promote Christianity as a prison camp where you can’t do a bunch of things.
Leaders
Review
Is the body of Christ really growing? New York Times bestselling author Mark Driscoll doesn’t think so
I P52
t’s tempting to believe that
an illusion. Believe it or not, only
the Christian faith is alive
8 percent of Americans profess
and well in our country
and practice true evangelical
today. Our politicians talk about
Christian faith. There are more
God. Our mega-churches are
left-handed people than
filled. Christian schools dot our
evangelical Christians in
landscape. Brace yourself. It’s
America.
into insular tribes, lobbing eIn this book, Mark Driscoll
bombs at each other in
delivers a wake-up call for every
cyberspace.
believer: We are living in a postChristian culture—a culture
Mark’s book is a clarion call for
fundamentally at odds with faith
Christians. It’s time to get to
in Jesus. This is good and bad
work. We can only do this if we
news. The good news is that
unite around Jesus and the
God is still working, redeeming
essentials found in his Word,
people from this spiritual
while at the same time,
wasteland and inspiring a
appreciating the distinctiveness
resurgence of faithful believers.
within each Christian tribe. Mark
The bad news is that many
shows us how to do just that.
believers just don’t get it. They
This isn’t the time to wait or
continue to gather exclusively
debate. Join the resurgence!
There are more left-handed people than evangelical Christians in America.
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Devotion
B
Deuteronomy 11:11-12 ut the land which you enter to possess is a land of hills and valleys which drinks water of the rain of the heavens. A land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it from the beginning of the year to
the end of the year
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
January
7 Day Devotion on page 50
Embracing a New Year brings excitement but also carries memories of past failures, guilt of things done and heartache of things left undone. Who doesn’t love a fresh start each day? Embedded in the heart of Christianity stands a living truth---almighty God makes all things new [Revelation 21:1-5] God loves new things:
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Embedded in the heart of
“For if a man is in Christ he
Christianity stands a living truth-
becomes a new person
--almighty God makes all things
altogether; the past is gone,
new (Revelation 21:1-5). God
everything is fresh and new. All
loves new things: new songs,
this is God’s doing, for He has
new hearts, new heaven and
reconciled us to Himself through
earth, new names. Jesus is the
[the blood] of Jesus Christ” [2
new wine of a better covenant
Corinthians 5:17].
Deuteronomy 11:11-12Embedded in the heart of Christianity stands a living truth---almighty God makes all things new! and His arrival in the world dawned a joyful new era
Everyone needs new birth (John
between God and mankind. 3:3). Re-creating us in Christ Changing our nature of dust, He
Jesus, He does not ‘patch’ up;
made us the light of the world
but rather makes us a newly
(Matthew 5:14).
regenerated creation “What you
learned was to fling off the dirty Dying on Calvary’s cross, the
clothes of the old way of living,
only begotten Son took all of
to be spiritually re-made, to put
humanity’s old self into death
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on the clean fresh clothes of the
new life which was made by
God’s design” [Ephesians 4:22-24]. God alone understands what
forward to a new day “I do not
and who we are. Forgetting,
consider, brethren, that I have
forgiving ourselves for what is
captured and made it my own
behind enables us to look
[yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal to win [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward” Philippians 3:13-14 What lurks behind and what lies ahead are insignificant compared to Who lives within us! Darlene Anna Edmondson enjoys a quiet life in rural southern Georgia USA. Her articles are available on Faithwriters.com
7 Days of Newness
Day 1
Proverbs 20:18
Day 4
Philippians 4:13
Day 2
Proverbs 21:5
Day 5
Hebrews 10:35
Day 3
Mark 9:23
Day 6
Proverbs 10:4
Day 7 James 4:17
Men
D e Assi t
Divine
ignment Finding your place on Gods team.
You’re 16 again, and as usual, you head out to football practice after the bell rings to end the school day. Swooosh!!! Off you go. You put on your knee pads, helmet, cleats, and mouthpiece, and sure that
You know what I’m talking about. One of the new players, a freshman, not only didn’t remember the play, he forget his position on the field. And like always, it ruined everything! In football we know,
you’ve got all you need you
whoever doesn’t know their
head out to the grid iron
position, is ineffective and likely
because the coach has been on
to get in the way of those who
everyone about being late.
do. But what if I told you life was
Everyone’s in formation.
no different, that you and I were created to play a specific role in
You’re playing center, prepared to block for the quarter back [who just so happens to be
Gods kingdom, and fulfill his purpose from within those confines?
your best friend Tom], and then it happens.
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Wouldn’t believe me?
Well check this out:
which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those
Psalm 139:16 16
Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.
things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Not only that, Revelations says that you and I will be judged by that book that was written for us. This playbook, is an outlay of what God wants us to
Sound like God has a plan for
accomplish, within His overall
you and I brother. One that
plan here on earth. You can call
should be guiding our day to
it, - divine assignment!
day aspirations.
The LORD, our Father and coach, has given each of us a
Revelations 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and
calling from eternity that’s bigger than ourselves.
great, stand before God; and
It’s going to take us out of our
the books were opened: and
comfort zone.
another book was opened,
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Men
The LORD our commander and coach has given each of us a calling from eternity.
It’s going to unlock our potential. It’s going to bring us uncommon reward.
gun, you may think upon looking at me that I’m a ….Nurse? No, you’d think I was a cop because of what was on me. In the same
So how do we embark upon our assignment and walk in the fullness it brings?
manner, the natural gifts and talents you’re endowed with, often points to what God has
1 What frustrates you?
called you to do.
In Nehemiah 2, Nehemiah, a
What did God Say?
servant of the King was suddenly grieved about the walls of Jerusalem being torn down. Yet, there were other Israelites who weren’t. Typically, an uncommon frustration you have is an indicator of what God has called you to do. 2 What are your gifts? If I had a cops hat on, a cops
In Philippians 3:12, Paul says something very interesting, he says, “I run after Christ, to find out why Christ ran after me”. Seeking God is perhaps the simplest way to find out what you’re created to do. Its logic, if a player doesn’t know his spot on the field, he should ask the coach.
badge, a cops belt with a cops
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Men
Here’s the thing guys, when we
fulfillment, significance and
don’t know our place on Gods
greatness elsewhere.
team, we’ll levitate towards the
But that doesn’t have to be you.
enemy. Why? Because as men, we all want some place to be significant. And if we don’t find it in the things of God, oh well, we’ll slowly, but surely find
You can secure your spot in the kingdom by embarking on your calling today. And unlike the new guy at practice, you’ll never mess up a play again!
As men, we all want a place to be significant.
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Mud Man
The creation of man and you is not to be looked at moderately, with restraint or with minor importance.
Because He created me, I am supremely significant to Him.
H
e must have seen the glory beaming out of the one named Adam. He had to see the sunrise and sunset, creativity and passion, strength and love in the muddy
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Men
mixture. He must have seen the majesty of untold greatness and the beauty
apprehension: “What is God up
of wholeness in this unfamiliar
to now?” The scene, I’m sure,
work of creation. Lucifer, in all
was like an audience in a
his anger, resentment and
theater entrenched in a movie
bitterness must have seen
leading up to the climax of the
Adam as a reflection of Almighty
film. Nothing is more important
God. He must have shook in
than knowing what is next.
fear as he watched the Creator from a distance form, mold and shape the mud into man. Questions and worry must have invaded his mind as God etched away all imperfections to create His self-portrait. The fallen angels must have been uneasy as they observed the great Artist do His finest work. They must have anxiously paced and murmured amongst themselves. They had to wonder with great
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Then it happens. God, the Father, draws near to the hand crafted form of dirt. He looks deep into the eyes of the lifeless creation. As the fallen one’s silence them-selves in utter anticipation, God breathes deep, as do the fallen also. He releases His breath into His art form. Life giving breath. Not just any life, everlasting Life from the Father of all that is.
The climax has reached its
abruptly open. The body
summit. The fallen have
violently gasps its first breath
reached a point of clamor and
and moments later, softly says,
riotousness within its camp.
“Abba”.
Who knows what’s next with God’s making? They sense the atmosphere altering. And in God’s perfect timing, as if He was waiting for the cells, blood, nerve endings and all the infinite details that keep man physically alive, the eyes of His image
With a hostile piercing roar, the fallen cry out, “God has released His most glorious composition! More glorious than all that He has created. The music, songs and worship from this mud man will be superior to our Lucifer.”
Psalm 139:13-16(AMP) 13
For You did form my inward parts; You did
knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14
I
will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.
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15
My frame was not hidden from You
when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. If we could grasp, take
you is not to be looked at
hold and capture our depth of
moderately, with restraint or with
significance in our God,
minor importance. You and I
dramatic shifts in our thoughts,
were created with the upmost
words and actions would take
thought and care. We were
place. The creation of man and
created with hands of a loving
The body violently gasps its first breath and moments later, softly says, “Abba.�
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Father, the passion of Jesus
“For I know the plans that I have
and the strength of the Spirit.
for you,” declares the LORD,
In 2013 I had to learn to take the creation of me seriously. Because He created me I am supremely significant to Him.
“plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” I’m sure you’ve read or heard this before but let’s really study this to get a better
You are also supremely significant to God. Let that soak
understanding of why we were created.
in a minute and try to grasp a glimpse of your magnificence.
Due to the difficulties in translating the bible from
So now what? Why did He make us in His image? He could have made us like any other animal or another sort of angelic being but He didn’t. He made us above the angels and the question is why? There are a few related
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Hebrew to English, some of the words have lost a greater meaning in out text. Let’s start with the word “plans” as the Strong’s concordance defines it. Def: a contrivance or to plan
with cleverness or ingenuity; cunning and curious work;
answers but I will focus on one.
purpose or for which something
Jeremiah 29:11 (NAS) says:
exists.
a better understanding of the
rule the earth but the enemy
word plans, this is what I am
attacked and took the power
hearing. The plan for our life will
from them. We were created to
include cleverness and
do the good work of taking back
ingenuity. It is a cunning and
all that was lost. The call is to be
curious work and this is the
clever, cunning and inventive in
purpose for which we exist. This
our work to reconcile God and
matches up with Ephesians 2:10
man.
(Amp) which states: “For we are
God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”
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Adam and Eve were to
What you just read was completely contrary to how I was raised and what religion taught me. Therefore most of my Christian life was spent walking in circles looking for a career and not my call. I was completely unfulfilled and did not produce much fruit. Once I perceived myself as supremely significant and magnificent in God’s eyes and understood why
Men
After reading this text with
I was created, I found my call
and others find the call but I can
and started making a new path
only coach you. You must be at
for my life.
the point of wanting, needing
Now I must ask are you doing what God created you to do or do you still looking to find
and craving change. You must be willing to be in it for the long haul and to dig deep inside yourself to make changes for
the call. If you still need to find the call, are you ready to make a complete turn around and commit to changing thought patterns and start moving toward the good work you were
God made us in His image so we could outstanding victors in this life. So let’s do this together. I will write more on the subject and you can leave comments if you would like.
created to do? As a writer and life coach I will do what I can to help you
Andy always said he was a miserable wretch of a man. He was angry, bitter, and spiteful. He was critical, self-righteous, and full of pride. Other than that...he was fine. But now because of Christ, he writes and speaks to encourage people to “find the call” for their life and fulfill their God given purpose. He can be reached at info@findthecall.com.
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Men
the better.
Lifestyle
Digital
Christ ty
Mark 16:15-16 15 And
he said unto them, Go ye
into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
tianity
Let me ask you something.
return, buts it’s one of the
Have you ever wondered, just
biggest green lights. It’s one that
when, is Jesus going to come
we have control over even. So
back? I have. I look at Mark
again, I ask myself, “Haven’t we
13:10 that says, ‘The gospel
just about reached every nation
must first be preached to all the
with the message Christ?”
nations’, and I ask myself, “Haven’t we done that already?”. Jesus made it clear, that before his return, that mandate must be finished. No, it’s not the only thing that indicates his We have evangelist all over Africa, India and other indigenous countries. We have television, internet, books and cds’ filled with God’s Word. We have Christian ministries that have reached far and wide. Isn’t, wouldn’t you say, about time we saw Jesus’s second coming?
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forefront, to check their emails, surf the web, and
Are you utilizing technology to witness for Christ?
build a website for their church, a book they’re writing and so forth. But I’m convinced Christians have yet to accept the
I know, I know, a lofty demand it is, yet, I’m convinced there is one last thing we’ve yet to do. I’m convinced, the great
power that digital tools allow evangelism, and as a result, are sleeping on the greatest opportunity to win others.
commission hasn’t been fully accomplished in one place. One nation that Christians have yet to take seriously. One area that we’ve overlooked and even admitted it was a little over our head. That one place, is the digital forefront!
Now, when I say, ‘Digital Forefront’, I’m referring to more than just the internet. I’m talking all that technology provides. Files, apps, connectivity, websites, creativity, social media and on and on. This area, in theory, is uncharted waters!
Yea sure, there are plenty of Christians who use the digital
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It’s much like a nation of people we’ve yet to reach. A country of
kinsman we’ve failed to engage.
upon millions of lost souls who
So year after year, we head to
need your testimony.
Afghanistan, Africa, China and South America, all along not realizing that your smartphone may be hiding access to millions
It’s a church.
Is your church reaching
And then my questions begin.
souls on the digital forefront?
A Look at the Landscape So let’s get an idea of this nation. If you put all of the smartphone users, social media accounts, and pc users together, how many citizens would it have?
6,499,697,060 Computer users 1.08 Billion Smartphone users 3.8 Billion on Social Networks
But since Smartphones and social networks can be counted as computers or are used on the same, we can say that this country is 6.5 billion strong. That’s just a billion less than the world’s total
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population. And to think, some Christian don’t even have a twitter account.
Will you embark? The Digital Divide So how are believers beginning to embark on the digital forefront to win and the disciple the lost? Well first, let me start by saying, there aren’t many who are doing this, but, there are a few. Below, are ways that they’ve engaged the world for Christ, using digital technology, and how you can too!
1) Heightened awareness of its power
The power of technology is leverage. It’s being able to do more with less. Less of your time, money and effort. When you leverage your efforts to reach others for Christ with technology, the impact you can have is limitless! No, it doesn’t mean you stop real life interaction, it simply means you enhance it. You stay in touch with other believers and those we’re called to reach out to and disciple. You can use it to train. You can use it to testify. You can use it to share recipes and other forms of
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Mark 16:15-16 . 15 And
he said unto them, Go ye
into all the world, and preach the Name
Jason Malwalkee
Profession
gospel to every creature.
P.E. teacher
Online Twitter Facebook Linked In YouTube
“If you think you need to travel to Africa to reach the world for Christ, you haven’t fully grasped digital evangelism.”
Question Why don’t you reach the world for Christ in the traditional fashion? Answer The traditional fashion has its place. God has given us technology so that we all can fulfill the great commission, not just preachers.
So, don’t think this guy is equipped to reach the world?
Lifestyle
Think again.
fellowship. Whatever the case, technology strengthen your ability to strengthen others. Yet, very few Christians think to apply the power of technology to matters of faith.
2) Presentations
People remember %70 more of what they see and partake of. Yet, the only visual aid most pastors use is the bible in your lap. A very few churches are beginning to use presentations instead of sermons to reach others. Using digital imagery to supplement stage setup and displays creates a learning experience for church attendees, in lieu of just giving them a lecture. But whats more, you can use digital imagery, video and the like at home with your personal bible study group or devotion with loved ones or even alone. Only a minority have considered this.
3) EBooks, blogs and websites
Have an amazing testimony? Share it! Got a few corny, but, Christian themed names for your cooking recipes [I’m thinking faith fries and glory wraps here, but your guess] blog it! Why
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.
Top 20 Christian Bloggers Joyce Meyer
JoyceMeyer
2
Darlene Zschech DarleneZschech
3
Beth Moore
BethMooreLPM
4
Michael Hyatt
MichaelHyatt
5
Donald Miller
donaldmiller
6
Natalie Grant
NatalieGrant
7
aheartforgod
aheartforgod
8
Jon Acuff
JonAcuff
9
Christine Caine ChristineCaine
10
Michael Minot MichaelMinot
11
Thom Rainer
ThomRainer
12
Paul Washer
paulwasher
13
Ed Stetzer
edstetzer
14
Priscilla Shirer
PriscillaShirer
15
Thangluai FamilyTheGodTweeter
16
albertmohler
albertmohler
17
Billy Graham
BillyGraham
18
Ann Voskamp
AnnVoskamp
19
Marie Wikle
spreadingJOY
20
Anthony Evans AnthonyEvansJr
Lifestyle
1
. Celebrities aren't the only ones who can claim royal status on Twitter. Though he might not be Kim Kardashian, Pope Benedict XVI has already collected hundreds of thousands of followers for his Twitter account, @pontifex. It's not surprising that holy high rollers are drawn to the medium: religious leaders on average pull more weight per tweet, with one retweet for every 500 followers. In comparison, musicians typically get a retweet for every 30,000. “We see a very high level of engagement with religious and spiritual content," Twitter spokeswoman Rachael Horwitz told CNN. "Followers respond to these topics with replies, retweets, and clicks on links much more often than they do other subjects." With that in mind, here are 8 Christian rock stars of Twitter:
Pope Benedict XVI @Pontifex The Catholic Church leader has just claimed his holy handle, @pontifex. Regardless of the fact that he has zero tweets--he'll host his first Q&A on December 12--the Pope has already garnered almost 400,000 followers. No word on what his first choice for a Twitter handle was, but the
. obvious choices were long taken before today: @Pope is a web developer; @BenedictXVI is a fan who doesn't tweet.
Joel Osteen @JoelOsteen Classic tweet: "Just because you don’t see anything happening doesn’t mean God is not working." The Houston megapastor Osteen, who has more than 1 million followers, tweets daily, inspirational aphorisms that regularly see between 5,000 and 10,000 retweets and favorites. Joyce Meyer @JoyceMeyer Classic tweet: "You don't need to know what tomorrow holds; all you need to know is the One who holds tomorrow. "The Christian author and speaker, one of several Twitter "powerhouses" featured by the New York Times, has an average of 170 reactions per 50,000 followers--almost 3 times Justin Bieber's average. Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. @RevJJackson Classic tweet: "When guns are in close proximity: used a fit of anger they are more likely to kill a loved one than a robber..." The Baptist minister and civil rights activist's Twitter feed is
. typically peppered with news stories and his own commentary on issues in both Chicago and the White House. Reverend Run @RevRunWisdom Classic tweet: "Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to God for a FAITH lift.." Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons--who often links to photos and tweets from different members of his famous family--has nearly 4 million Twitter followers.
Rick Warren @RickWarren Classic tweet: "Academic exegesis can be like studying the Mona Lisa in a microscope - so detailed you miss the beauty of the big picture."The pastor, who has more than 800,000 followers, is also an avid Instagram user.
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach @RabbiShmuley Classic tweet: "we had to be in Europe for wedding. i am working day/night on my new relationship book 'kosher lust'.
aren’t more, not less, Christians doing ebooks, blogs and sites? The few that do, are doing it half way. Last Call Oh, and did I mention
about winning the lost. Just in
there is a bit of a warning here?
case, you’ve already decided to
Well there is. Every good thing
ignore the great commission,
comes with a warning sign
win and disciple the lost. Keep
these days, and while I could
in mind that Satan is already on
get into the dangers of
it! He’s using social media to
technology, I’d much rather
introduce our young people to
focus on the small writing on the
alternative lifestyles. He’s using
bottom of the package. What
video, social media, and digital
does it say? It says,
tools to build accomplish his
Warning: What we don’t take advantage of, Satan will! Technology is no exception.
agenda against your marriage, finances and spiritual life. You do know there are billions viewing pornography each day?
Just in case you’re too lazy to concern yourself with all of this techie stuff. Just in case, you’re not passionate enough
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You do know that generations x and y are the biggest group of atheists and agnostics this world has ever seen, and their not
pulling their information from the
Linked, and Twitter; They’re
bible or strong men and women
simply seeing who has the since
of God like you. They’re just
enough to reach them on their
logging on you know. Facebook, platform and speak their language. And can you blame them, Jesus was known for reaching people at their level of understanding. Why should we be any different? Don’t let the enemy use what God meant for good, for something evil. Tough but, either choose to use technology to leverage what you do for Christ, or be powerless against Hell’s onslaught in using it against you. It’s really come down to that. Would you accept the call to digital Christianity? Would you awaken to the fact that we’re in a new era? The lost needs you. The saints need you. In 2014 we can embark on the great commission, win the lost and be all God called us to be like never before. All we have to do is become Christians off and online as well!
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News
Duck Dynasty controversy
News
S
with A&E
ooooo, heard the one
gay comments to GQ
about Phill Robertson of
magazine? What do we at Faith
Duck Dynasty, making anti
FEED have to say to that?
What did they expect?
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Not only was he not on the A&E
show at the time,
to a group of male
but he was talking
readers.
“It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”
This is what real men talk about,-women.
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far as they can with
just me. I’m just
women, especially
thinking: There’s
when around other
more there! She’s
guy friends.
got more to offer.”
Whether it’s their
But what
women, such as
most intrigues us,
girlfriends or wives.
is that Phil
Or, other women,
Robertson didn’t
such as models or
make any anti gay
actresses, guys
comments, rather,
love to talk about,
he stated his
look at, and go as
preference. “That’s
Were his words when referring to gals. Today, were a gay person to say, “I’m a man and I prefer men. I don’t see why everyone wants a woman.”
Nobody would
to attack someone
being a sin, well, it
notice. Media has
for enjoying
is! He just
so widely excepted
heterosexuality. He
referenced the
the homosexual
did nothing wrong.
bible like most
agenda, its purely
Oh, and the
Christians should.
demonic for them
comments about it
He didn’t reference a person. He didn’t reference a group of people. He simply referenced their actions in light of the bible.
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This was a 7 day
threatening to
Phil. After several
war in the spirit,
boycott A&E
days, the
where believers
[Which we
suspension threat
from around the
supported wholly] if
was gone. A&E
globe submitted a
they followed
comments were:
250,000 petition
through to suspend
News
“While Phil's comments made in the interview reflect his personal views based on his own beliefs, and his own personal journey, he and his family have publicly stated they regret the 'coarse language' he used and the misinterpretation of his core beliefs based only on the article. He also made it clear he would 'never incite or encourage hate.' We at A+E Networks expressed our disappointment with his statements in the article, and reiterate that they are not views we hold."
Duck is the No. 2
top seller at Wal
thought so! A
series on cable TV,
Mart. And a holiday
mostly completed
behind The
album, Duck the
10-episode season
Walking Dead, and
Halls: Christmas
will begin airing
ranks among the
with the
Jan. 15, with all of
top 30 of all TV
Robertsons, has
the Robertsons
shows with an
sold 700,000
featured. The new
average of 13.4
copies since its
episodes,
million viewers. It's
release in late
scheduled to be
a also a
October, says
shot this spring, will
merchandising
Nielsen SoundScan
air later next year.
phenomenon, as a
Yea, we
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What did Nelson Mandela do for the kingdom of God?
The final days of
the truth. It was
2013 witnessed
his faith in the
several exits to
God of the bible
imprisoned for life
glory. The most
that made him the
for encouraging
popular of which,
hardcore activist he
was that of Nelson
became. Mandela
Mandela.
stood strongly
Christians often
against apartheid
ask, “What did
or racial
Nelson Mandela do
segregation and
for the kingdom of
oppression of
God?� thinking he
minorities in South
was a none
Africa. Though the
believing civil rights
claims were
leader. But nothing
unfounded, he was
can be further from
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riots and stand stills of support of oppressive bodies in the nation. However, while in prison, his fame and values spread. He would negotiate on behalf of minority citizens several times, with political leaders,
What did Nelson Mandela do for the kingdom of God?
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and governing
region refused to
foundation and
bodies while behind
end apartheid
other none profit
bars. In fact, he
practices. He was
initiatives to end
even turned down
released at the age
the mistreatment of
the opportunity to
of 71, being
the poor, after
be free, if
imprisoned for 27
being elected as
politicians in the
years. Mandela
president of South
would go on to start
Africa. He passed
his self-named
away at 95.
We reminisce on the life and calling of TBN founder Paul Crouch.
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2013 ended with a
Missouri, the son of
would use such
major upset as we
Assemblies of God
technology to send
saluted the life and
missionaries.
the Gospel around
legacy of Paul
Crouch, whose
the world. He
Crouch, founder of
father died when he
graduated from the
the Trinity
was seven years
Central Bible
Broadcasting
old, was mainly
Institute and
Network,
raised by his
Seminary in
responsible for
mother with the
Springfield,
most of the world’s
help of his
Missouri in 1955
most powerful
grandparents. He
with a degree in
Christian television
soon became
theology.
media on cable.
interested in
Crouch was born in
amateur radio and
St. Joseph,
announced he
Crouch left KHOF in 1973 and
News P92
with his wife, Jan,
TBN has grown to
with CBS, FOX,
founded the Trinity
become the United
and NBC holding
Broadcasting
States' largest
fourth, fifth and
Network (TBN). In
Christian television
sixth place,
1974, TBN
network,[1][2] and
according to TV
purchased its first
the third largest
News Check's
TV station, KLXA-
group owner of
annual listing of the
TV (now KTBN-
broadcast TV
Top 30 Station
TV). Since then,
stations in the U.S.,
Groups
TBN has grown to become the U.S’s largest Christian television network.
Last Page
Your eyes saw my unformed body. And in your book, all the days of my life were written. [Psalm 139:16]
You weren’t born and then given an assignment. You were born because
Faith Facts
you have an assignment.
There is enough information in your DNA to fill the Grand Canyon 40 times. The information your DNA provides, predetermines what you are likely to enjoy, dislike and have a bent towards.