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Tue, Oct 30th - 11:13PM

Find Peace in Prayer

GOD’S PEACE OBTAINED IN ANSWER TO PRAYER

“. . . Let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Phil. 4:6, 7.

When we make our requests known unto God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving we are assured of receiving His peace through Christ Jesus. When we enter into the sacred Presence of the Prince of Peace, we enter into the place of perfect peace. The house of prayer is the sanctuary of peace.

Paul would have us understand that Christ imparts a measure of His own peace to our worshipping hearts when we make everything pertaining to life a matter of prayer. We can readily comprehend the possibilities of prayer when we perceive that mortal man can obtain a measure of the peace which the God of Peace possesses in His divine nature. It is not necessary for the children of God to enter heaven in order to enjoy the priceless possession of peace. Christ wills to give the heavenly heritage of His Peace to all the sons of God. He revealed this truth when He said,

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” — John 14: 27.

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Mon, Oct 29th - 2:50PM

DRINK FROM THIS WATER

Draw from the wells of Yeshua!

Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

During the Feast of Sukkot, the Jewish people took part in a water drawing ceremony on the last day of the feast. They would go down to the Pool of Siloam, draw water and bring it to the Temple Mount. Then they would pour out the water and recite Isaiah 12, "and with joy you shall draw water out of the wells of salvation." In Hebrew, the word salvation and Yeshua (Jesus, in Hebrew), are the same.

Imagine the scene at the time of Messiah's appearance. It is likely that in the midst of this ceremony, He stood and proclaimed, "If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me as the Scripture said, "from His innermost being shall flow rivers of living water."

This promise is true for us today. Our Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever. He did not promise a sprinkling or a tiny stream. He promised rivers of living water. Claim this promise today -- claim the fullness of life in Him. Draw from Him the peace that passes all understanding. Draw from Him pure love -- agape love. Draw from Him the joy that makes the trees clap. Draw all that you need, but in order to draw from Him -- you must go to Him. One cannot draw water from a well unless one goes to the well. Go to the well that never runs dry -- go to your well of Yeshua!

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Sat, Oct 13th - 7:11AM

In All Things Give Thanks

The Indwelling Word
By Jim Davis

Did you know that God’s word has the power to heal? When we yield to God’s prescription for life it provides good mental, spiritual, and physical health. The Apostle Paul addressed some false teaching in the church at Colosse that threatened the spiritual growth of the church body. Paul, concerned for the good health of believers, provided some principles of growth. "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you." We are to exercise our mind and meditate within the heart upon God’s word.

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16)

The Exercise of the Mind
Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. This is a group activity that is to take place within the local church. Good spiritual health requires teaching and instruction. It is like medicine for the sick. Spiritually, sin is much like physical sickness. There is a need for diagnosis and treatment since "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). The word of Christ is the only antidote.
God’s word teaches us how to live. Life within the church is contingent upon clear teaching and persistent admonishment in the truth. Teaching has to do with the proclamation of the truth while admonishment is hands on instruction. The proclamation of God’s word diagnoses our sinfulness. The Word of God discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. At the very core of our being the light is turned on and sometimes we may find the most frightening things. Admonishment is the treatment of the illness. It is the application of the principles of God’s word to the practical experience of the person.
If we were to think of it in terms of teaching our son to throw a ball, the teaching part would be what we tell him in the house and the admonishing would be instruction we demonstrate in the back yard. The pastor teaches that husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25). He explains what it means to love sacrificially even to death. Within the church body there are men who are learning how to take that truth and apply it to everyday life and they are demonstrating the principle. Older men instruct younger men and give them the benefit of their experiences which in turn creates good health. Notice the verse says to teach and admonish with "all wisdom." Wisdom comes with the exercise of the truth into our experience. It is skill in living. As the word of Christ dwells within the church body in abundance there is spiritual growth and good health.
Listen to the words of the psalmist in Psalm 107:17-20.
"Fools, because of their rebellious way, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all kinds of food; and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them…"
If the rebellious way and the crooked path describe your life and if you are suffering affliction due to the consequences, you will need God’s word to heal you.
There is one requirement that should be addressed. It is God’s only requirement. We must believe. It transcends trusting some words in a book, as though it were some incantation. Trust in the character of the person who has given the instruction. If God said it, then it is the Truth and we can rely upon it.
Exercising our mind upon the principles of God’s word has a transforming effect in a person’s life. As we begin to view life through God’s word, our perspective on things changes. Healing is available for those of us who meditate upon the Scripture and apply them to our lives.
The Meditation of the Heart
The word of Christ is to indwell us richly. It not only involves the exercise of the mind upon the principles of God’s word but also the mediation of the heart upon the truth and beauty of God’s word. Remember that His word is inseparable from His character and His reputation. What He has promised He will do; Christ is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him.
Basically, Paul’s instruction in the second part of this verse is to sing to God with thankfulness in our heart. The heart represents the central control room of the person. Our actions or deeds spring forth from the seat of our thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, and affections; that is from our heart. Our singing to God is prompted by the thankfulness that is there. When God’s word is richly indwelling our heart we are thankful. There is peace when we consider His promises. There is great joy and satisfaction when we meditate upon the spiritual wealth that we have in Christ Jesus.
What better way to be controlled by a spirit of thankfulness than with singing? We are instructed to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Although we may have to speculate somewhat about the definition of these different categories, one thing is certain, God’s truth set to a melody is beneficial. Psalms may well have been the Old Testament poetic writings put to music. Hymns may represent particular passages from the New Testament set to music. Spiritual songs may represent songs of testimony about God’s faithfulness.
There is nothing like meditation on God’s word when it is set to a beautiful melody. A song we hear on Sunday can take up residence in our heart and prompt us to meditate upon the words all week long. Our hearts will freely generate thankfulness as we meditate upon God’s promises, His faithfulness, His character, and His instruction for our lives.
If we are having trouble with our thought life, good music is a gift from God. As we learn what the Bible teaches and we receive instruction in our local church, we should supplement our week with music that causes us to meditate upon Scripture and the principles of the Bible. Many filthy minds have been cleaned up with the memorization of Scripture and many hearts have been transformed when the word of Christ takes up abode within.
Multitudes have gone to the Psalms in the Old Testament in times of great sorrow. The words of the psalmist are like ointment bringing comfort and healing to the wounds of the afflicted. The Bible records that Paul and his traveling missionary companion, Silas, were imprisoned in the city of Philippi during Paul’s second missionary journey (see Acts 16). After they were beaten with rods they were thrown into a dungeon and their feet were fastened in stocks. The Bible says that about midnight they were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. Paul was not speaking outside of his personal experience when he commanded the Christians at Colosse to sing to God with thanksgiving in their hearts.
Conclusion
The exercise of our minds upon the principles of God’s word transforms our perspective on life. To see life through the grid of Scripture is to see life from God’s view. When we apply the instruction with wisdom to our everyday lives, it brings good health. The meditation of a thankful heart is a powerful weapon against despair and anguish and other human afflictions. Singing to God with thankfulness in our hearts sires victory.
May the word of Christ richly dwell within us. It provides comfort and strength for our life. It brings healing for the wounds of affliction. It cleanses our minds when our thoughts are bad. It comforts us when we are overwhelmed with trouble. Joy springs forth over sadness. Thanksgiving replaces bitterness. Hope conquerors despair. God’s word provides good health to our spiritual lives.

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Sun, Oct 7th - 12:46AM

Your Spiritual Gifts

This is a long message but I believe it will help you discover sprirtual gifts you never thought you had, it helped me.

Finding Your Spiritual Gifts

God has given each Christian two vitally important gifts. The first is the gift of faith in Jesus Christ, his work of redemption, and thus forgiveness of sin. The second is the gift of one or more special abilities, which are to be used for the purpose of unifying the body of Christ and for the growth of God's Kingdom. These abilities are called spiritual gifts and they are received through our baptism.

Like other presents, it is impossible to fully appreciate and make use of our spiritual gifts until they have been opened. This tool will help you begin to open your spiritual gifts by guiding you through the following three activities:

Scripture Review:

Highlighting scripture references that both support the existence of spiritual gifts and identify those which are commonly found in service today.

Self Assessment: a list of 60 questions which will help you identify which gifts you have received in greatest measure.

Exploration of Use: suggestions for the various types of ministry you might be most effective in because of your spiritual gifts. These three activities will begin to help you discover and employ your spiritual gifts. May the special abilities God has given you be deployed in areas of ministry where they will be most effective for the good of the entire church body. These gifts should also be affirmed by the body and utilized by the one who is gifted.

Scripture References:

The Apostle Paul addresses the presence of spiritual gifts in three main sections of scripture: Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. Peter also verifies their existence in I Peter 4:10. Through these sections of scripture, we learn that all Christians have been given at least one spiritual gift. The purpose of spiritual gifts is twofold: (1) to unify Christians in their faith and (2) to produce growth within the church, both numerical and spiritual. These gifts are to be used out of love for one another, and in service to one another.

We do not choose which gifts we will receive. God bestows them upon us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Not all of the gifts identified in scripture are used in this inventory. The spectacular gifts (speaking in tongues, healing and miracles, prophecy, bold proclamation of God) and some of the non-spectacular gifts (martyrdom, celibacy) have not been included. Although these gifts exist, they are not commonly utilized in the mainstream of parish life. Since the objectives of spiritual gift deployment are to unify and produce growth through service, in today's church climate, only the service related gifts have been included.

Administration: the gift that enables a believer to formulate, direct, and carry out plans necessary to fulfill a purpose. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:28, Acts 14:23.

Artistry: the gift that gives the believer the skill of creating artistic expressions that produce a spiritual response of strength and inspiration. Biblical References: Exodus 31:1-11, Psalm 149:3a.

Discernment: the gift that motivates a believer to seek God's will and purpose and apply that understanding to individual and congregational situations. Biblical References: John 16:6-15, Romans 9:1, I Corinthians 2:9-16.

Evangelism: the gift that moves believers to reach nonbelievers in such a way that they are baptized and become active members of the Christian community. Biblical References: Matthew 28:16-20, Ephesians 4:11- 16, Acts 2:36-40.

Exhortation: the gift that moves the believer to reach out with Christian love and presence to people in personal conflict of facing a spiritual void. Biblical References: John 14:1, II Timothy 1:16-18, III John 5-8.

Faith: the gift that gives a believer the eyes to see the Spirit at work and the ability to trust the Spirit's leading without indication of where it all might lead. Biblical References: Genesis 12:1-4a, Mark 5:25-34, I Thessalonians 1:8-10.

Giving: the gift that enables a believer to recognize God's blessings and to respond to those blessings by generously and sacrificially giving of one's resources (time, talent, and treasure). Biblical References: II Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 21:1-4.

Hospitality: the gift that causes a believer to joyfully welcome and receive guests and those in need of food and lodging. Biblical References: Romans 12:13, Romans 16:23a, Luke 10:38.

Intercession: the gift that enables a believer to pray with the certainty that prayer is heard and when requests are made, answers will come. Biblical References: Matthew 6:6-15, Luke 11:1-10, Ephesians 6:18.

Knowledge: the gift that drives a person to learn, analyze and uncover new insights with regard to the Bible and faith. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:8; I Corinthians 14:6, Romans 12:2.

Leadership: the gift that gives a believer the confidence to step forward, give direction and provide motivation to fulfill a dream or complete a task. Biblical References: Romans 12:8, John 21:15-17, II Timothy 4:1-5.

Mercy: the gift that motivates a believer to feel deeply for those in physical, spiritual, or emotional need and then act to meet that need. Biblical References: Luke 7:12-15, Luke 10:30-37, Matthew 25:34-36.

Music--Vocal: the gift that gives a believer the capability and opportunity to present personal witness and inspiration to others through singing. Biblical References: Psalm 96:1-9, Psalm 100:1-2, Psalm 149:1-2.

Music--Instrumental: the gift that inspires a believer to express personal faith and provide inspiration and comfort through the playing of a musical instrument. Biblical References: Psalm 33:1-5, Psalm 150, I Samuel 16:14-23.

Pastoring (Shepherding): the gift that gives a believer the confidence, capability and compassion to provide spiritual leadership and direction for individuals or groups of believers. Biblical References: I Timothy 4:12-16, I Timothy 3:1-13, II Timothy 4:1-2.

Service (Helps): the gift that enables a believer to work gladly behind the scenes in order that God's work is fulfilled. Biblical References: Luke 23:50-54, Romans 16:1-16, Philippians 2:19-23.

Skilled Craft: the gift that enables a believer to create, build, maintain or repair items used within the church. Biblical References: Exodus 30:1-6, Exodus 31:3-5, Ezekiel 27:4-11.

Teaching: the gift that enables a believer to communicate a personal understanding of the Bible and faith in such a way that it becomes clear and understood by others. Biblical References: I Corinthians 12:28, Matthew 5:1-12, Acts 18:24-48.

Wisdom: the gift that allows the believer to sort through opinions, facts and thoughts in order to determine what solution would be best for the individual believer or the community of believers. Biblical References: I Corinthians 2:6-13, James 3:13-18, II Chronicles 1:7-11.

Writing: the gift that gives a believer the ability to express truth in a written form; a form that can edify, instruct and strengthen the community of believers. Biblical References: I John 2:1-6, 12-14, I Timothy 3:14-15,
Jude 3.

Self-Assessment Inventory

Instructions:

For each of the 60 questions which follow, circle the number that corresponds with the response that most closely matches how you perceive yourself. Categories are presented diagonally, across the top of the inventory.

4, consistently true
3, frequently true
2, occasionally true
1, infrequently true
0, rarely true

You might also ask a person who is close to you to score the inventory with, and for, you. Their perception of your strengths may be useful in identifying the gifts with which you have been truly blessed. After responding to each question, turn to the scoring grid on page six to analyze your results.

1. When presented a goal, I immediately think of steps that need to be taken in order to achieve the desired results. 4 3 2 1 0

2. I express myself through artistic means. 4 3 2 1 0

3. My faith requires me to seek out God's will and purpose in all circumstances that arise in my life. 4 3 2 1 0

4. I am able to convey the Gospel message to non-believers in ways that they are able to easily understand. 4 3 2 1 0

5. I am moved by those who through conflict or sorrow are wavering in faith. 4 3 2 1 0

6. I am certain of the spirit's presence in my life and the lives of others. 4 3 2 1 0

7. I am blessed by God each day and gladly respond to these blessings by giving liberally of my time and money. 4 3 2 1 0

8. I enjoy meeting new people and becoming acquainted with them. 4 3 2 1 0

9. I know that God hears and responds to my daily prayers. 4 3 2 1 0

10. I feel compelled to learn as much as I can about the Bible and faith. 4 3 2 1 0

11. I am a take charge person. When others follow my direction, the goal or task will be completed. 4 3 2 1 0

12. When I see a person in need, I am moved to assist them. 4 3 2 1 0

13. I love to sing and enjoy inspiring others through song. 4 3 2 1 0

14. I find joy and express myself by playing a musical instrument. 4 3 2 1 0

15. I am motivated to provide spiritual leadership to those who are on a faith journey. 4 3 2 1 0

16. I like working behind the scenes to ensure projects are successful. 4 3 2 1 0

17. I enjoy working with my hands in a trade or skill that required considerable experience to perfect. 4 3 2 1 0

18. My great joy is to communicate biblical truth in such a way that it becomes real and understood by others. 4 3 2 1 0

19. When a challenge is presented, I am usually able to identify an appropriate solution. 4 3 2 1 0

20. I am able to take a thought or idea and put it into a clear and inspiring written form. 4 3 2 1 0

21. I enjoy organizing thoughts, ideas, hopes and dreams into a specific plan of action. 4 3 2 1 0

22. I can translate into artistic form what I first see in my imagination. 4 3 2 1 0

23. I have assisted others as they sought to discern whether or not their personal decisions were helpful and in accord with God's will for their lives. 4 3 2 1 0

24. I enjoy being with non-believers and like having the opportunity to encourage them to faith and commitment. 4 3 2 1 0

25. When I know someone is facing a crisis, I feel compelled to provide support and care. 4 3 2 1 0

26. My trust in the Spirit's presence, when I encounter times of personal crisis, is a source of strength for others. 4 3 2 1 0

27. I manage my time and money so that I am able to give much of it to the work of the church or other organizations. 4 3 2 1 0

28. I am often asked to open my home for small group gatherings or social occasions. 4 3 2 1 0

29. I often become so absorbed in my prayer life that the door bell or phone can ring and I will not hear it. 4 3 2 1 0

30. Not one day would be complete without biblical study and thought. 4 3 2 1 0

31. When I am in a group, others will often look to me for direction. 4 3 2 1 0

32. I feel an urgency to provide housing for the homeless, food for the starving, comfort for those in distress. 4 3 2 1 0

33. I have sung before groups and felt a real sense of God's presence. 4 3 2 1 0

34. By my playing a musical instrument, inspiration has been provided for both myself and others. 4 3 2 1 0

35. I have responsibility for providing spiritual guidance to an individual believer or group of believers. 4 3 2 1 0

36. People tell me that without my willingness to do the unnoticed jobs, their work would be more difficult. 4 3 2 1 0

37. I am good at building, repairing, or restoring things and find satisfaction in doing so. 4 3 2 1 0

38. I want to express my faith by assisting others to discover the truths contained in the Bible. 4 3 2 1 0

39. People come to me for help in applying Christian faith and values to personal situations. 4 3 2 1 0

40. I often feel moved to write about my thoughts and feelings so others may benefit from them. 4 3 2 1 0

41. I have been successful in organizing, directing and motivating people to achieve a goal. 4 3 2 1 0

42. My artistic work has given spiritual strength to both believer and non-believer. 4 3 2 1 0

43. In the congregation, I am often asked if a direction being discussed is in accord with God's will and purpose. 4 3 2 1 0

44. I do not find it difficult to share what Jesus means to me with non-believers. 4 3 2 1 0

45. Those who are struggling with life questions have come to me for guidance and help. 4 3 2 1 0

46. I can see great things happening in my congregation and am not derailed by the pessimism of others. 4 3 2 1 0

47. When I receive money unexpectedly, one of my first thoughts is to share this gift through the church. 4 3 2 1 0

48. I enjoy welcoming guests and helping them to feel at ease. 4 3 2 1 0

49. Believers have asked me to pray for healing in their lives, and have evidenced God's healing power. 4 3 2 1 0

50. My study of the Bible has proven helpful to others in their faith journey. 4 3 2 1 0

51. People have said they like to work with me because the task will be successfully completed. 4 3 2 1 0

52. People have been surprised by how at ease I am while working with those who are suffering in mind, body or spirit. 4 3 2 1 0

53. I am grateful and humbled that my singing has provided inspiration and hope for others on their faith journey. 4 3 2 1 0

54. Others have told me they were moved by my playing a musical instrument. 4 3 2 1 0

55. People have come to me for spiritual help and it has developed into a long-term relationship. 4 3 2 1 0

56. When I turn out the lights, take tables down, work in the kitchen or put chairs away, I feel that I have served the Lord. 4 3 2 1 0

57. My knowledge of building, maintenance or repair has been a special value to the church and others. 4 3 2 1 0

58. Students have told me that I can take the most difficult idea or concept and make it understandable. 4 3 2 1 0

59. When direction is needed at work or in the congregation, I am generally asked for my opinion. 4 3 2 1 0

60. My written work has been helpful to others in understanding life's truths. 4 3 2 1 0

SCORING GRID:

For each set of three questions, fill in the number 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 of rectangular blocks equal to your total score. For example, in the category of Administration, the numbers 2+4+3 total 9. Once completed, note that the longer the bar the stronger the corresponding gift.

The strongest gift(s) will generally have a total score of "7" or more. If you have more than one gift with a total of seven or more, then all of these gifts can be referred to as your "gift cluster." Notice how each gift within the cluster has the potential to compliment and support another. The gifts within the cluster will need to be further explored to determine which ones you have truly been blessed with.

This inventory is designed to begin your journey toward spiritual gifts discovery. Keep in mind that it is not a scientific instrument. Your perceptions will be validated by others and confirmed through prayer and by their use over time. Identify your spiritual gift cluster, then list the gifts in the gifts cluster.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Administration
Questions 1, 21, 41

Artistry
Questions 2, 22, 42

Discernment
Questions 3, 23, 43

Evangelism
Questions 4, 24, 44

Exhortation
Questions 5, 25, 45

Faith
Questions 6, 26, 46

Giving
Questions 7, 27, 47

Hospitality
Questions 8, 28, 48

Intercession
Questions 9, 29, 49

Knowledge
Questions 10, 30, 50

Leadership
Questions 11, 31, 51

Mercy
Questions 12, 32, 52

Music-vocal
Questions 13, 33, 53

Music-instrumental
Questions 14, 34, 54

Pastoring
Questions 15, 35, 55

Service
Questions 16, 36, 56

Skilled Craft
Questions 17, 37, 57

Teaching
Questions 18, 38, 58

Wisdom
Questions 19, 39, 59

Writing
Questions 20, 40, 60

Spiritual Gift Cluster: Draw three circles. In each of the circles, write one of the spiritual gifts that had a total score of seven or more. Begin with the center circle, identifying the gift that had the highest score. In the event of a tie, select the gift you feel you have used effectively in the past, or the one you think you might be most effective in. Then fill in the other circles with a five of the remaining gifts. This group of gifts is your gift cluster.

Which gifts have you truly been blessed with? Discovering the answer to that question requires the following:

Prayer:
     Seek the Holy Spirit's guidance while evaluating your gifts.
Study:
     Become familiar with the scripture references, definitions, and how each gift functions within the Body of Christ. This will provide you with a solid foundation from which to further evaluate your gifts.
Self-Examination:
     Explore your feelings about each of the spiritual gifts in your cluster. Examples of how each gift may be utilized in the church are provided below. As you read these examples, ask yourself how you feel about the types of ministry activity identified for the gifts in your cluster. You may expect to feel fulfilled through the use of your gifts.
Track Your Results:
     As you use your spiritual gifts, pay close attention to the results produced through your efforts. You can expect to experience positive results from the use of your gifts.
Listen For Affirmation:
     As you use your spiritual gifts, listen for affirmation from other Christians. They will recognize and confirm your spiritual gifts, through genuine expressions of approval and thankfulness for a job well done!
Putting Your Gifts To Use:
     All Christians are to work together, supporting one another. However, our gifts make us better prepared and equipped to perform in some areas of ministry over others. A person who is working within a ministry area they are gifted for, will be more effective in that ministry than one they not gifted for.

What types of ministry will you be most effective in? A brief list of ministry examples follows. These examples have been provided merely as thought starters and should not be considered an exhaustive list. Use them as a starting point in exploring the possibilities for putting your gifts to use within your congregation and in your community.

Administration:
     Congregation Council, Finance Staff, Sunday School Superintendent, Vacation Bible School Coordinator, Business Manager
Artistry:
     Banner Making, Drama Club/Clown Ministry/Puppetry, Film/Photography Work, Crafts/Handicrafts, Decorating Team, Set/Props Design Team
Discernment:
     Congregation Council, Long Range Planning Team, Social Ministry Team, Peer Counseling, Support Group Facilitator
Evangelism:
     Prospective Member Visitation, Evangelism Team, Advertising and Marketing, New Member Sponsor, Community Visitation
Exhortation:
     Mutual Ministry Team, Hospital/Home/Institution Visitation, Telecare Ministry, Peer Counseling, Small Group Leader
Faith:
     Congregational President, Stewardship Team, Long Range Planning Team, Teacher/Bible study leader
Giving:
     Capital Campaign Steering Team, Stewardship Team, Volunteer Coordination, Giving Personal Testimony
Hospitality:
     Greeter/Usher, New Member Sponsor, In-Home Bible Study Host, Visitor Welcome/Information Center, Banquet Server, Fellowship Hour Host/Server
Intercession:
     Prayer Chain, Prayer Partner, Prayer Families/Prayer Circles
Knowledge:
     Parish Resource-Library Coordinator, Nominating Team, Long Range Planning Team, Congregation Council
Leadership:
     Sunday School Superintendent, Committee Chairperson (all types), Fellowship Activity Coordinator, Vacation Bible School Coordinator, Congregational President, Speaker-Special Events
Mercy:
     Home/Hospital/Institution Visitation, Transportation to Worship/Bible Study, Social Ministry Team, Support Group Leader, Telecare Minister
Music-Instrumental:
     Band Leader/Member, Choir Pianist, Special Event Music, Substitute Organist, Vacation Bible School-Music Program
Music-Vocal:
     Church Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Sunday School Song Leader, Vacation Bible School Song Leader
Pastoring (Shepherding):
     Adult In-Home Bible Study Leader, New Member Sponsor, Young-Adult Counselor, Small Group Leader, Telecare Minister
Service (Helps):
     Computer Programmer/Data Entry, Newsletter Collation, P.A./Sound System Technician, Tape Recording Worship Services, Child Care, Building/Grounds Upkeep, Kitchen Cleaning Team, Providing Transportation
Skilled Crafts:
     Building Maintenance/Upkeep, Electrical/Masonry/Plumbing/Roofing, Mechanical Repair/Maintenance, Audio/Visual Operator and Repair, Computer Maintenance, Web-Page Developer
Teaching:
     Adult Bible Class Teacher, Sunday School Teacher, Teen Bible Class Teacher, Vacation Bible School Teacher, Conference/Seminar Leader
Wisdom:
     Long Range Planning Team, Congregation Council, Peer Counselor, Support Group Leader, Mutual Ministry Team
Writing:
     Newsletter Article Writer, Newsletter Editor, Public Relations/Publicity Committee, Letter Writing

For Further Thought: Your Spiritual Gifts do not appear and disappear as you pass through the doors of your church! The special gifts God has given you are with you always. They are meant to also be used in your daily life to bring glory to God and serve the needs of others. In the spaces below, identify some of the ways your gifts may be used for these purposes. Specific contexts have been provided as thought starters.

Context Gift Ideas For Use Gift Ideas For Use

At home, with family.

(1)______________________________________________

(2)______________________________________________

(3)______________________________________________

(4)______________________________________________

(5)______________________________________________

(6)______________________________________________

At work, with colleagues.

(1)______________________________________________

(2)______________________________________________

(3)______________________________________________

(4)______________________________________________

(5)______________________________________________

(6)______________________________________________

Within your community.
(1)______________________________________________

(2)______________________________________________

(3)______________________________________________

(4)______________________________________________

(5)______________________________________________

(6)______________________________________________

Written by: Neal Boese and Patricia Haller, Produced by the Division for Congregational Ministries, ELCA.

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Sat, Oct 6th - 3:18PM

Women in the Bible, Truths revealed for Todays Christian women

Women in the Bible

The status of women in history and modern times has been formed and influenced in whole, or in great part, from the religious beliefs of the times. It is not surprising, considering the almost total gender domination of church leadership by men, that this status is somewhere between property and personal slave, to those men. Also the gender domination of power in all levels of society has virtually assured that this status has remained firmly entrenched even in our "enlightened" modern society. With women possessing no power, this religious prejudice is carried into almost every aspect of most women's lives.
It may be by neither law, nor truth, that women are inferior by their nature but the evidence that they are denied equality in almost every level of society, and in every culture worldwide, is undeniable. Even a cursory study of the attitude Jesus had for the women in his life will reveal, not condescension or apathy, but respect, love, in equal measure to their male counterparts. Women are not inferior in the sight of God, but in the primitive, ignorant, and oppressive view of a male-dominated world.

Statements About Women by Religious Leaders and Commentators

♦  "Rather should the words of the Torah be burned than entrusted to a woman...Whoever teaches his daughter the Torah is like one who teaches her obscenity."
Rabbi Eliezer
♦  "Do you not know that you are each an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age: the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the Devil's gateway: You are the unsealer of the forbidden tree: You are the first deserter of the divine law: You are she who persuaded him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God's image, man. On account of your desert even the Son of God had to die." St. Tertullian
♦  "What is the difference whether it is in a wife or a mother, it is still Eve the temptress that we must beware of in any woman......I fail to see what use woman can be to man, if one excludes the function of bearing children." St. Augustine of Hippo
♦  "As regards the individual nature, woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active force in the male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the masculine sex; while the production of woman comes from a defect in the active force or from some material indisposition, or even from some external influence." St. Thomas Aquinas
♦  "If they [women] become tired or even die, that does not matter. Let them die in childbirth, that's why they are there." Martin Luther
♦  "Woman's identity cannot consist in being a copy of man, since she is endowed with her own qualities and prerogatives, which give her a particular uniqueness that is always to be fostered and encouraged... To all in our age who offer selfish models for affirming the feminine personality, the luminous and holy figure of the Lord's Mother shows how only by self-giving and self-forgetfulness towards others is it possible to attain authentic fulfillment of the divine plan for one's own life." Pope John Paul II, 1995
♦  "Most of these feminists are radical, frustrated lesbians, many of them, and man-haters, and failures in their relationships with men, and who have declared war on the male gender. The Biblical condemnation of feminism has to do with its radical philosophy and goals. That's the bottom line. Jerry Falwell
♦  "...God, by creating Adam first (Gen. 2:18; 1 Cor. 11:8) and also by creating woman for man (Gen. 2:18,20,22; 1 Cor. 11:9), has set the gender-based role and responsibility of males in the most basic unit of society (the family) to be that of leader, provider and self-sacrificial protector (also cf. Eph. 5:25; 1 Peter 3:7), and likewise has set the gender-based role and responsibility of females to be that of help and nurture (Gen. 2:18) and life-giving (Gen. 3:20) under male leadership and protection (cf. 1 Peter 3:7)..." The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood
♦  "...make dads the godly leaders [of the family] with the women in submission, raising kids for the glory of God."
Randall Terry, Operation Rescue
♦   In the beginning God made man male and female. He made Adam first, and then made Eve from Adam's rib. This order of creation subordinates wives to their husbands in marriage, and women to men in the church. As an act of submission to their Creator women are commanded to submit to their husbands and to male leadership in the church. Women are not allowed to teach or have authority over men in any formal capacity in the church."
Reformation Fellowship of the East Valley, Mesa, AZ
♦  "Women are vessels of excrement"
St. Augustine
(Please note: Though widely quoted we cannot verify that this is an actual quote by Augustine)

The Women Of Ancient Israel

          Women in ancient Israel had their position in society defined in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the interpretation of those scriptures. Their status and freedoms were severely limited by Jewish law and custom in ancient Israel:

♦  Women were restricted to roles of little or no authority.
♦ Women were confined to the homes of their fathers or husbands.
♦ Women were to be inferior to men, under the direct authority of men, their fathers before marriage, or
      their husband after.
♦ Women were not allowed to testify in court trials.
♦ Women could not appear in public venues.
♦ Women could not talk to strangers.
♦ Women were required to be doubly veiled when they ventured outside of their homes.

The Glaring Truth

Women in ancient Israel had a status, not unlike that of women in Afghanistan, during the grossly oppressive rule of the Taliban.

An even sadder reality is that in many mainstream "Christian" denominations, if you remove the "double veils in public" aspect, there is very little difference in the treatment of women.

The Explanation Of Old And New

          One of the most obvious and most ignored truths of biblical reality is that the word "testament", as used in Old and New Testament, is interchangeable with the word "covenant". The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines covenant as: a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement. In our modern world this is known as a "contract". Logic defines "old" as what was, and "new" as what is. In the context of the Bible, the Old Testament is the former contract God made with man, specifically the nation of Israel. The New Testament is the current contract God has made with all mankind.
          In the normal course of the affairs of honest contractual dealings in society, the institution of a "new" contract either nullifies or redefines an existing one, with the full force of the former, and the former contract is deemed no more than an historical reference. The doctrinal practice of mainstream Bible-based religion is a strange blending of the old and new contracts that dictates those doctrines. By enforcing some of the old contract's provisions, and some of the new contract's stipulations, while ignoring many of the old and most of the new contract's aspects, they have in fact created a completely separate and totally illegitimate third contract. The treatment of women by the mainstream church is based almost solely on the provisions of the old contract which, of course, insures total domination by men resulting in the extreme deprivation of women in every aspect of their lives.
          The God who was party to the Old Testament / Contract, became the man Jesus who was party to the New Testament / Contract. It is, therefore, absolute truth that doctrines / provisions of Jesus redefine the old contract with the nation of Israel and those past doctrines are of no effect, being replaced or fulfilled by the new. To deny this is to deny the power and authority of the Holy Spirit which guided Jesus in the formation of this new contract and must be strongly considered in the light of this doctrinal certainty:
Matthew 21:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

The New Covenant and Women

The manner Jesus dealt with the women of his day gives undeniable evidence that the oppressive treatment of women, by the edicts of the old contract, was ended. Jesus nullified many centuries of oppressive Jewish law and custom. He clearly treated women and men as equals. He ignored numerous Old Testament edicts which specified inequality. He consistently violated the rules, concerning women, of the three major Jewish religious groups of the day: the Essenes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. The treatment of women by Jesus was nothing short of radical for his day. Here are just a few examples of that revolutionary change:

He taught female students.
Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

He called a woman a daughter of Abraham as equal to men.
Luke 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

He accepted women in his inner circle.
Luke 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

He appeared first to a woman after his resurrection.
Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

Women were present at Jesus' death.
Matthew 27:55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

Jesus repeatedly expressed concern for widows.
Luke 20:46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; 47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

He ignored ritual impurity laws.
Mark 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

He talked to foreign women.
John 4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Jesus changes the male-favored doctrine of divorce:
Mark 10:11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

After Jesus' resurrection,a women receives the first apostolic commission of any human.
Matthew 28:5. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

An Undeniable Conclusion

With just the evidence above, not considering the love and fairness Jesus expressed to all humanity, or his promise of salvation for all humans, the current treatment of women by the mainstream church is not the doctrine or the practice of the Son of God. Women are equal to men, they should be treated with equality and respect in all matters in this world, and no doubt, will be so in the true Kingdom of God.

Comment (2)

Fri, Oct 5th - 10:54PM

Prayer for the Week You

My Prayer for You

Father in heaven, I pray that we would cultivate those holy habits energized by Your Holy Spirit that make us useful. Make us those who want to give our lives back to You. May even our habits revolve around You so that we are disciplined, trustworthy, responsible, and obedient. We want to be energized by Your Spirit to honestly say, "Lord, I'm Your servant." We are a testimony, an advertisement. What are we advertising? Anything that is out of control-be it our tongue, our finances, or our calendar-is just a testimony that You are not in control of that part of our lives. Help us to not think so highly of ourselves that we do not put every-thing under Your Lordship. May every part of our lives honor You, and testify that we are Your servants. For that is what we want to be. Jesus, Lord, be our Master; hear our hearts as we whisper back to You. For we give ourselves to You in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Comment (1)

Fri, Oct 5th - 10:45AM

Women Walk With Christ

Women, Walk With Christ

In the last twenty years, the history of women in ancient Christianity has been almost completely revised. As women historians entered the field in record numbers, they brought with them new questions, developed new methods, and sought for evidence of women's presence in neglected texts and exciting new findings. For example, only a few names of women were widely known: Mary, the mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene, his disciple and the first witness to the resurrection; Mary and Martha, the sisters who offered him hospitality in Bethany. Now we are learning more of the many women who contributed to the formation of Christianity in its earliest years.

Perhaps most surprising, however, is that the stories of women we thought we knew well are changing in dramatic ways. Chief among these is Mary Magdalene, a woman infamous in Western Christianity as an adulteress and repentant whore. Discoveries of new texts from the dry sands of Egypt, along with sharpened critical insight, have now proven that this portrait of Mary is entirely inaccurate. She was indeed an influential figure, but as a prominent disciple and leader of one wing of the early Christian movement that promoted women's leadership.

According to one story, an unnamed Gentile woman taught Jesus that the ministry of God is not limited to particular groups and persons, but belongs to all who have faith (Mark 7:24-30; Matthew 15:21-28). A Jewish woman honored him with the extraordinary hospitality of washing his feet with perfume. Jesus was a frequent visitor at the home of Mary and Martha, and was in the habit of teaching and eating meals with women as well as men. When Jesus was arrested, women remained firm, even when his male disciples are said to have fled, and they accompanied him to the foot of the cross. It was women who were reported as the first witnesses to the resurrection, chief among them again Mary Magdalene. Although the details of these gospel stories may be questioned, in general they reflect the prominent historical roles women played in Jesus' ministry as disciples.

A Prayer for My Sisters in the Faith

Prayer for Guidance

Lord, show me clearly what you want me to do
with the gifts you have given me.

Grant me the strength that I need
to answer your call with courage and love.

Make me a generous person
so that others may experience your love through me.

Help me always to look to You
as the One who will show me the way to live my life.

Comment (5)

Thu, Oct 4th - 12:05PM

Now, I want you to do this- I want you to insert your name in the following scriptures and read them over and over again. By doing this you will realize
how very special you are,
that you are not abandoned,
that you have God as your Comforter,
that God loves you very much,
and that you will realize that God is in the process of helping you.
He will help you when you are hurting and He will help you when you are grieving.
As a child of God you have a right to call out to God to help you when you need help- don't be too ashamed or to proud to do that.
God wants you to call out to Him when you need to. That is the Father-heart of God. He loves to help His children.

"But now,
(insert your name here),
the LORD who created you says:
Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

(-----),
when you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you.

(-----),
when you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!

(-----),
when you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up- the flames will not consume you.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."
(Isaiah 43: 1 - 3) New Living Translation (NLT)

(Your name is in red because you are under the blood of Jesus)

Comment (5)

Thu, Oct 4th - 11:55AM

Welcome to your Blog!

Dear Yvonne Hambrick,

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About Me

Name: Yvonne Hambrick
ChristiansUnite ID: 4jehovahjireh
Member Since: 2007-10-04
Location: Bedford Heights, Ohio, United States
Denomination: NonDenominational
About Me: This my code just from the living word of God: Ephesians CHAPTER 3:12-21 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. ... more

Oct. 2007