Chosen To Be A Soldier
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Are you a soldier in The Salvation Army?
If so, think back to your enrollment classes. Did this small, red book ever make its way into your hands? Even though the front cover holds a general order to all Commanding Officers that every soldier be "acquainted with these regulations and that all intending soldiers are supplied with a copy before or at the time they are given Articles of War for signature", the answer for many of us may be "NO".
Commonly referred to as our O+R (Orders and Regulations for Soldiers of the Salvation Army), and originally prepared by the Founder, it contains the Army's doctrine on many things from New Birth to Holiness. If you don't already have a copy, ask your Corps Officer or Youth Leader. Not only will they gladly oblige, they'll probably be a little surprised.
Here are a few excerpts from chapter 4, "Maintaining Contact With The Life Giver" (pg. 13-14, 1994)
1. The Salvation solider must ever bear in mind that prayer is the chief means of keeping in that contact with God in which His life fills the human soul and the Holy Spirit makes the presence of Christ living and real. So wonderful are the possibilities of the life of prayer that those who have penetrated farthest into its secrets are most vividly conscious of the fact that there is much more to learn and far deeper depths to explore.
3. Routine is the great enemy of the life of prayer. It must be combated first of all by striving to realize the presence of God. A few moments in silence, the quite repetition of a suitable verse or chorus, whispering what is known to be true (e.g. 'God is near me. He wants to speak to me. He will help me listen to Him.'), an act of praise and adoration, these and other means will help to this end.
4. It is well, also, to have beforehand a mental or written plan for this season of prayer in which we are about to engage. Points to be remembered should include:
- Praise to God for what He is in Himself and to us (e.g. high, holy, beyond understanding; loving Father, mighty Saviour, patient Guide).
- Thanksgiving for gifts and mercies to be mentioned by name, both spiritual and temporal.
- Intercession for various people; requests for guidance, help, spiritual victory, revival and the salvation of souls (this could be both a general topic and intensely individual).
- Accepting God's promise and command for this day.
- New dedication
- The Lord's prayer
Posted By: Anonymous at 4:28 PM : Link : 0 Comments
East Chicago Prayer & Praise Night NEW LIFE!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The East Chicago Corps is hosting the third Prayer & Praise Night NEW LIFE! this Friday, March 28th at 7pm. It will be a night of fellowship, prayer, praise and teaching.
This meeting is going to include a bunch of cool elements such as testimonies, prayer, worship, a slice on justice in the world, and a powerful message about the inheritance God has for all people in Christ by Lt. Josh Polanco.
Here’s what you should bring:
-Your Friends. Download this flyer for the event to give to your friends.
-Your Bibles.
-A focused attitude of worship.
Here’s what you should know:
-Parking is limited, so PLEASE car pool!
For directions to the East Corps (513 W. Chicago Ave, East Chicago, IN 46312-3206) please click here.
So are you coming? RSVP to our Facebook event.
May God bless you in every way this week!
Grace and Peace!
Posted By: Anonymous at 10:23 AM : Link : 0 Comments
The General’s Easter Message 2008: By His Wounds We are Healed
Sunday, March 23, 2008
WHO among us does not need healing? Which of us is perfectly whole? Where is the one with no need of a Saviour? The first step toward healing is to recognise our need. Yet how often our pride gets in the way and we struggle on wounded, our vitality quietly seeping away and our effectiveness for the Kingdom compromised.
The Salvation Army consists of soldiers of Christ working tirelessly for God’s Kingdom of purity, love and light. The work takes its toll. The fighting can be hard. Inevitably there will be wounds along the way. Many of you reading this are aware of it. You serve well, but can grow weary. You work hard, but can grow tired. You give of yourself sacrificially for others, but the results can seem small.
God sees it all. More than that, our Saviour has experienced it for himself. In the person of Jesus Christ we find a Saviour who is the Wounded Healer. Those resounding, passionate, moving verses found in the book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 53, speak to us still today: ‘He had no beauty or majesty ... He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering ... and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows ... He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities ... and by his wounds we are healed' (vv 2-5).
There is no one who does not need the Saviour. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory God intends for each human being (Romans 3:23). Isaiah 53 says: ‘We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all’ (v 6). This is Jesus, our only Saviour. This is the Son of God, born of Mary, raised in Nazareth, the young man who was perfectly filled with the Spirit of God, born to be our Wounded Healer.
Do you know him? Have you searched him out? Have you recognised your need of a Saviour and turned to Jesus? Countless millions have done so, included among them the world’s Salvationists. By his wounds we are healed. Without him we would be nothing. Only Jesus makes us whole, and we return to him again and again seeking fresh healing from the hurts and trials of the battle against sin and evil.
How gentle is this Wounded Healer, how understanding of our pain. How gracious he is, how patient with our pride, how tolerant of our foolishnesses. He has walked our way before us and understands. Therefore we can approach him with confidence, for he knows and sees it all. He is not shocked by our sin, not repelled by our lack of love, not anxious to make us feel small. Instead he longs for each of us to reach that full height of all we can become in the strength of his power and love as they flood our beings. He has a plan for each of us and it begins at Calvary’s Cross.
See the Wounded Healer there impaled. The nails through his hands and his feet hold him, but not as firmly as his love for you, not as determinedly as his longing for your healing from sin. How ardently he desires your salvation, how invincibly he loves you. Do you see it? Can you realise it? Your Wounded Healer did it all for you and for me. At Calvary’s Cross we find forgiveness for our sins, balm for life’s hurts, healing for our wounds, through the only Saviour. There is no other.
Posted By: Anonymous at 9:36 AM : Link : 0 Comments
Resurrection Sunday - GOOD NEWS!
[John 20-21]
1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may[a] believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the
4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered.
6He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[b] 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
20Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
22Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." 23Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"
24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
1. In John 20-21, why do you think Jesus appeared to his disciples 3 times? Do you think they needed to see that many times in order to believe that he really was alive (see 21:12)? In what ways do you doubt?
3. Romans 6 spells out the implications of the resurrection for those who believe that Christ was raised from the dead - we can live a new life (v. 4). We are united in Christ's death and resurrection which means that we don't live to please ourselves, but God. In areas do you need to offer you body to God instead of sin (v. 13)?
4. This message is GOOD NEWS! Who can you share it with? Pray for them and ask God to give you an opportunity to do so.
Posted By: Anonymous at 8:50 AM : Link : 0 Comments
Holy Saturday and Easter Egg Hunting
Saturday, March 22, 2008
57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63"Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
65"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
[Psalm 2]
1 Why do the nations conspire [a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One. [b]
3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 "I have installed my King [c]
on Zion, my holy hill."
7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD :
He said to me, "You are my Son [d] ;
today I have become your Father. [e]
8 Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will rule them with an iron scepter [f] ;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery."
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
1. Trying to keep the disciples from stealing Jesus’ out of his tomb, the soldiers and chief priests decide roll a huge rock in the entryway. But, as we know, this didn’t do a thing. God had set a plan in motion long before this that he was going to rescue fallen humanity through Jesus’ death and resurrection, and nothing was going to stop that. The enemy can try to defeat God’s perfect plan, but it will never happen. In what situations do you need to remember that God is victorious and that the enemy has been defeated? Thank God that he is undefeatable!
*******
Stopthetraffik.org has an awesome campaign to fight child slavery, specifically in the arena of cocoa farms that buy and sell children:
STOP THE TRAFFIK GREAT EASTER EGG HUNT
“Much of the chocolate that finds its way into our shops and homes is made with cocoa from Ivory Coast plantations that used trafficked children.
This is an Easter egg hunt with a difference.
The best way to know that your Easter egg is traffik free is by buying fair trade chocolate eggs. Hunt out fair-trade Easter eggs in your town. In a traditional egg hunt the eggs are hard to find. Sadly it may be the same with fair-trade eggs. This may be frustrating but we must tell this story so people realize what is going on.
Go to every shop & supermarket where you live to hunt out a fair-trade egg. Take a photo of yourself outside the shops where you find a fairly traded Easter Egg. Print off and give the shop manager one of the STOP THE TRAFFIK coupons.
And then make your find the talk of the town …
1. Upload a photo, put your first name, where you are from & one line saying what it was like onto the www.stopthetraffik.org/easterHunt.
2. Fill in this letter and give it to the manager of every shop you visited that didn’t sell a fairly traded Easter Egg.
3. To make this story the talk of the town send your story and photos of your Easter Egg Hunt to your local newspaper/local radio/school newsletter or other community newsletters.
You can tell everyone what you found even when Easter has passed.”
Posted By: Anonymous at 11:32 AM : Link : 0 Comments
Good Friday
Friday, March 21, 2008
47While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
49When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.
52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns."
54Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
57But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
58A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
59About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
60Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62And he went outside and wept bitterly.
63The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" 65And they said many other insulting things to him.
66At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67"If you are the Christ,[d]" they said, "tell us."
Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."
70They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am."
71Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."
1Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ,[a] a king."
3So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
4Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."
5But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea[b]by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."
6On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."[c]
18With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" 19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
22For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."
23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
26As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' 30Then
" 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!"
and to the hills, "Cover us!" '[d]
31For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[e] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
38There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[f]"
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
1. Even though Peter had resolved to never turn his back on Christ, he still did (22:54-62). The end result of this was weeping. In what ways has this happened in your life? Acknowledging this is a huge first step. In what ways can you improve in following Christ better?
2. In 23:32-34, Jesus, who is dying for no sin of his own, forgives someone while he is on the cross. What does this teach about the nature of forgiveness and when or how many times we are required to forgive? (see Matthew 18:21-35)
3. One of the two criminals being crucified along with Jesus somehow knew that Jesus wasn’t being crucified for his own sin, and was thus promised paradise (as Isaiah 53:4-6 alludes to). Also, a centurion, who was there out of duty to kill Jesus, ends up Praising God! This is intermixed with his closest followers standing at a distance trying to understand everything that had happened. The promise of paradise, praising God, and sadness are all a part of this story. Remember that there is death, but the resurrection is coming (and is already here for us!). In what situations do you see death in your life? Turn them over to God and look to him for his resurrection power! (See Ephesians 1:18-23)
Posted By: Anonymous at 11:54 AM : Link : 0 Comments
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Definition: Maundy (noun)
| "the ceremony of washing the feet of the poor, esp. commemorating Jesus' washing of His disciples' feet on Maundy Thursday" (dictionary.com). |
Etymology: Maundy
"Middle English maunde ceremony of washing the feet of the poor on Maundy Thursday, from Anglo-French mandet, from Latin mandatum command; from Jesus' words in John 13:34" (Miriam-Webster.com)
[John 13]
1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" 10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 18"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'[b]
19"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
26Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him."What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, 28but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. 31When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him,[c] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
36Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
37Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
38Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
1. Why do you think Peter, in verse 6, asks the question, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" What do you think it says of Peter's understanding of what kind of Lord/leader Jesus is? Might it reflect that Peter doesn't get the fact that Jesus came to serve (see Mark 10:35-45)? Why does Peter miss this?
2. In verse 9, why does Peter beg Jesus to practically give him a bath after Jesus corrects him, taking in to consideration that Peter told Jesus just one verse earlier that Jesus couldn't even wash his feet?
3. According to verses 10-11, Jesus already knew who was going to betray him. Does this conflict with free will or affirm it? Verse 21 says that Jesus was "troubled in spirit" when he mentioned the betrayal. What does this reflect about Jesus' heart towards the situation?
4. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" - In verses 12-13, Jesus affirms that he is indeed a Teacher, or Rabbi, and the Lord and at the same time he gives them the proper perspective about who the Messiah really is: he is love and he serves. The reason why Jesus asks his disciples if they understand he did is because he expects them to do the same thing to each other (verse 14-15). How does this passage help you understand Jesus better? How does it help you understand what you should be doing as a follower of Jesus? Do you understand what he has done?
5. What connections do you see between John 13:34-35 and 1 John 4:7-12?
Posted By: Anonymous at 10:01 AM : Link : 0 Comments
Spy Wednesday
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
[Matthew 26:1-16]
1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2"As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."
3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. 5"But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people."
6While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9"This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
10Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
14Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
[John 12:1-8]
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.[b]" 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
1. This woman, Mary in John's story, poured an extremely expensive (One year's wages - Today that would be an expensive bottle of perfume) perfume on Jesus' feet as an act of worship. The value of the perfume was so obvious that everyone noticed it and even spoke up about it. Why do you think Jesus reprimanded his disciples/Judas?
2. In John's story, John specifically names Judas as the one who speaks up about this "waste". The Bible then says that he objected to Mary's act because he was a thief, not because he was concerned for the poor. The moral is that God can see what no one else can. It's possible that no one sitting around that table knew Judas' heart. But that doesn't matter, God did. It's important that we check our motives. If we do things for the wrong reasons, God will not honor us for it. When you serve, do you do it for your reputation, or do you do it out of love and obedience? When you pray, do you do it so others think you're super spiritual, or because you desire to meet with the Lover of your soul (see Matthew 6:5-18)?
3. Many have probably compared and contrasted Mary and Judas (Seriously, just Google what I wrote and you'll get a pretty good number of responses. I can't remember where I ran across this idea first though, so I'm not taking credit!). We have Mary who is free to give a years worth of wages up for one act of worship, and Judas who deceitfully tries to rebuke her. Who are you more like? Although Judas was a disciple, one of the twelve, he was still able to fall so hard. It is important that we stay close to Jesus, in all we do (word, thought or deed!). How can you stay close to him? Ask yourself
- When was the last time you read God's Word and studied it?
- When was the last time you prayed for the sake of just talking with God?
- When was the last time you saw someone saved because of God's work through you?
Posted By: Anonymous at 3:06 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Salvation Army Human Trafficking Community Forum
On Saturday, April 8, 2008 STOP-IT, the Salvation Army's human trafficking program for Chicago, will be having community meeting in order to educate people about human trafficking as well as tell people how to fight it here in Chicago.
Along with the STOP-IT team, special guest Dr. Michael Smith will be presenting as well. He is the author the The Salvation Army’s National Anti-Trafficking Training Program Manual. He's been fighting human trafficking in the States and internationally - you will not want to miss this!
The training is open to anyone and everyone - college, high school, retirement home, whatever. Just make sure that you R.S.V.P. by April 3rd. This is a must because they WILL NOT let anyone in at the door. You can R.S.V.P. by emailing Erin_Knowles@usc.salvationarmy.org or calling for Erin Knowles at 773.275.6233 ext.329.
The event will be hosted at the Midway Corps (5036-52 W. 47th St, Chicago, IL 60638-2000). It will go from 6pm-8:30pm, and a light supper will be provided. And it's completely FREE!
Resource:
Salvation Army's STOP-IT Website
Posted By: Anonymous at 2:23 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Holy Tuesday
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
[Matthew 25:1-13]
1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.
9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
[Commentary/Background]
Wise disciples remain vigilant for Jesus' return. In this parable the bridesmaids, rather than the bride herself, constitute the primary characters. Wedding processions from the bride's to the groom's home, accompanied by singing and dancing, normally happened at night and hence required light. The lamps in ancient weddings were not the small, hand-held lamps used under normal circumstances, but torches (as in Plut. Roman Questions 2, Mor. 263F; Ach. Tat. 2.11.1), perhaps sticks wrapped with oiled rags, as in traditional Palestinian Arab weddings (Jeremias 1972:174-75). Women torchbearers probably led the bride to the bridegroom's home, joined by the groom and his male friends (Jeremias 1972:173). Presumably the bridesmaids are thus waiting outside the bride's home for his coming, to escort her to his home (Argyle 1963:189).
In this particular parable (in contrast to 24:42-44) the issue is not that the virgins went to sleep--both the wise and foolish did so; this detail is merely part of the narrative's setting. The issue is that some were not watchful enough to have sufficient oil (Beare 1981:482; Schweizer 1975:467)...
...Those unprepared for Christ's banquet insult him and warrant judgment. The wise virgins' unwillingness to share their oil reflects their concern for their friend's wedding; since they had only enough for their own torches, sharing would cause all the torches to be extinguished, ruining the whole procession (Meier 1980:295; Gundry 1982:500). Bridal processions were so important that later rabbis even suspended their lectures so they could hail a passing bride (ARN 4A; 8, Section 22B); for the groom and (some held) for the attendants, weddings even took precedence over some ritual obligations (as in t. Berakot 2:10), so a breach of etiquette was serious.
Thus the foolish virgins were not excluded simply because the door was locked (25:10-11), nor because the host actually did not recognize them (v. 12), but because they had insulted the bride and groom as well as all their relatives! They would never be allowed to forget such an offense. To participate in their friend's wedding was a great honor; as virgins, these young women were in a sense practicing for their own impending weddings around the age of twelve to sixteen. To have spoiled the wedding for their friend by failing to do their part was a great insult to everyone else at the wedding. That they would be shut out of the feast in punishment suits their case, but the language used to depict this nightmare points beyond itself to severer, eternal judgment, probably echoing the sayings in 7:21-23. Wedding feasts epitomized joy (as in Jn 3:29); the transgressors have been shut out. (Commentary from IVP New Testament Commentaries as provided by BibleGateway.com)
1. The commentary points out that the main issue with the foolish virgins was that they didn’t bring any oil for their lamps, and because they didn’t bring any they offended the bridegroom by ruining the bridal processional. Is there anything that you lack or that you aren’t doing that may be offending Jesus (think of this in the context of a love relationship in which you do anything you can to not offend the one you love
2. Knowing the context, does the story make mores sense to you?
3. We don’t know the day or hour of Christ’s glorious and awesome return. Remember that wedding banquets spoke of joy! This is something that we should want to look forward to! So, how can you keep watch, in the here and now, for Christ’s return? How can you get ready?
Posted By: Anonymous at 9:39 AM : Link : 0 Comments
Holy Monday
Monday, March 17, 2008
Traditionally Holy Monday is observed by some by reading the story of Mary anointing Jesus with perfume. Instead of that, we're going to go chronologically, looking at the story of Jesus talking about his death:
[John 12:20-36]
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ[a] will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
35Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
1. In verses 24-28, Jesus not only describes his character to us, but he models one for us to live, saying that in order for us to truly follow him, we need to be willing to hate our life in this world, and to die. In so doing, more is produced. How can you see this truth at work in your life? What is the circumstance in your life? Do you love this life, or hate it? How can you tell? What is the fruit of your choices?
2. Verse 27 reflects Jesus' feelings toward his death. Even though he was troubled, he still knew that he had to go through with it, saying that it was for his death and resurrection that he came. We would commonly refer to this sort of thing as a calling. Is God calling you to do something that you don't want to do? If so, it does not mean that you aren't supposed to go through with it.
3. At the end of this section, in verses 35-36, Jesus says that we are to put our trust in the light because this how we "know where we are going" and how we become sons of light. In what ways do you need to trust Jesus? Through what do you need him to guide you? Ask for his help. If you call, he will answer.
Posted By: Anonymous at 3:39 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Change In, Change Out!
Give your money! For the Change In, Change Out Celebration is near!
In all seriousness, there is only one month left to collect change for the Change In, Change Out Campaign. If you haven't collected a lot, don't feel bad. Just do the best you can between now and Friday, Arpil 18th to collect the most change you can. Drop it in your jug, and then come to the April Prayer & Praise Night Change In, Change Out Celebration at the Oak Brook Terrace Corps to turn it in. If you're planning on coming to this, RSVP on our Facebook event!
If you haven't signed up yet, there's only going to be one more chance: the East Chicago Prayer & Praise Night NEW LIFE! on Friday, March 28th. If you won't be able to make it to East Chicago, you could always find your own jug, write your name and corps on it and put all your change in that. If you are planning on coming, RSVP on our Facebook event
Why do Change In, Change Out? Simple: Every single red cent that you put in that jug will go directly to the Army's World Services which helps build schools, hospitals, orphanages, and HIV/AIDS clinics. Every single penny.
Like one before me has said: "Think inside the jug."
Posted By: Anonymous at 1:31 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Hosanna!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
For the week of Holy Week, there will be postings of Scripture with some questions to guide us through this week. Today, as you know, is Palm Sunday:
[Matthew 21:1-17; NIV]
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "[a]
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"[c]
"Hosanna[d] in the highest!"
10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" 11The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
12Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13"It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,'[e] but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'[f]" 14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. 16"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
" 'From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'[g]?"
17And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
[Psalm 118; NIV]
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."
5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you. [a]
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up [b] to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
1. Zechariah 9, the quoted passage in Matthew 21, is proof of God's plan and faithfulness. God, through Zechariah, said that the King would come, not forcefully, but meekly on a donkey. This only demonstrates God's faithfulness in carrying out his redemptive plan. What God said hundreds of years ago actually came to pass. It was God's will and purpose to send Christ for us. Take a moment to reflect on what God's plan is for you. How can you see God leading you? How has God been faithful to you?
2. Hosanna is one of the titles proclaimed about Jesus here. The small word has a huge meaning: "SAVE!" People were going before and behind Jesus shouting this. At one point the children were even saying shouting this, praising him for who he was. Palm Sunday is an awesome opportunity for us to praise Jesus for who he is. That he is the Savior and King. Lord and Deliverer. Praise him for who he is, and ask him to save you from any situation you feel you need to be saved from.
3. Psalm 118 caries this theme too. God's love endures and pursues us. Take time and pray this Psalm. Declare it and go deeper into the character of God.
Posted By: Anonymous at 4:36 PM : Link : 0 Comments
Friday, March 14, 2008
Below is an article by Shane Claiborne entitled The Passion of the Iraqi Christ which I found posted on ArmyBarmy earlier this week (It seems to have been originally posted on belieft.net. Keep this in mind as you go through Holy Week. His Resurrection follows death.
The Passion of the Iraqi Christ (by Shane Claiborne)
Five years ago, I was in
Sometimes it is hard to sleep -- so many thoughts. A bomber flew over. I looked up and could see, "U.S. Air Force" on it. I tried to think only of Jesus – the beautiful Lover of Nazareth. The other night I dreamed of Jesus. At first I could only see his back, somehow I knew it was him. His large, strong back was shirtless (and not as fair-skinned as I had once thought!).
He was stooped over on all fours as if he were cradling something on the ground. I wondered what it was, so I tried to get a better glance.
A little head popped out from beneath his arm, giggling hysterically. Then another squirmed out from the other side. And another. How many were there?! Still kneeling on all fours with his arms spread wide, Jesus frantically tried to keep them gathered beneath him, as if he knew danger was looming.
There were hundreds of little faces [Author's note: Jesus was gigantic, not to scale. I know it's weird; it's a dream.] So there was this huge Jesus, sprawled out above all the children. He looked like a kid frantically trying to keep a litter of young puppies from scattering.
And then there was a loud crack. Out of nowhere a whip struck Jesus on his back. He yelled in pain. Then again – the skin ripped open. And again. The children began to cry. A few young stragglers ducked safely under Jesus' chest with the others. As the whip continued to strike him, rocks began to fall from the sky like hailstones – pounding on his back and bouncing off.
The children huddled beneath him, sobbing. His body convulsed in agony, but he never loosened his grip on the little ones below. As the rocks kept falling, something else started to drop from the sky. These objects looked similar to the rocks, but when they hit his back they did not bounce off like the rocks had. They sunk into his skin ... and then they exploded, tearing huge holes into his back, one after another. His bones became exposed, and soon his body stopped moving. Blood poured off his sides and rained down on the children.
STOP! STOP! In the name of God, stop. I could not wake up. The holes continued to tear into his flesh until the body barely resembled anything human. Then, at last, there was silence. Stillness. Slowly, the children began to stir. They crept timidly from beneath the rubble, covered with blood ... but alive. And I awoke ... sweating, panting, but alive.
After I had that dream, I remember going to a worship service, one of the most powerful services I've ever attended. There were thousands of Christians from all over the
May we remember this Easter season -- that it may be Friday, but Sunday is coming. Death may be all around us, but in the end resurrection triumphs. Another little one clinging to Jesus.
*******
This is an interesting article for sure. What do you think about it? In what situations do you want to see resurrection triumph? Post them as a comment if you'd like, and other people can pray over them.
Posted By: Anonymous at 12:52 PM : Link : 0 Comments
A Worship Resource
Thursday, March 13, 2008
In stores everywhere is the new worship album from Passion, God of this City. Why is this getting so much attention? Only the fact that many songs the different Passion artists have contributed (i.e. David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, etc) have been widely adopted for worship use in the North American church over the years, the Army included. Don't believe me? I'm sure you'll remember singing any number of these songs at least 200 times: Blessed Be Your Name (Matt Redman), All Creatures Of Our God And King (DCB cover, drum intro please), Not To Us (Chris Tomlin), You Never Let Go (Matt Redman, CBLI anyone? Re:gen?).
With this release, the artists are imparting some more original material for worship bands to add to their repitoure. Not only can these songs help us in worship, but they can also inspire worshippers to create their own songs. For a limited time, you can go to the album's promo website and download chord charts for Let God Arise (Chris Tomlin), Walk The World (Charlie Hall), and God Of Our Yesterdays (Matt Redman), as well as listen to some of the tracks. You can also find info about their upcoming World Tour, scheduled to start on May 16 in Kyiv, or visit the Passion Conference Website to learn more about who, what and why Passion is.
Posted By: Anonymous at 11:46 AM : Link : 2 Comments
Shout Unto God
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Acts 2:22-41 (New International Version)
22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:
" 'I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.'[b]
29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,[c] that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet." '[d]
36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
As you prepare yourself for Holy Week in the coming days, read this passage. Digest this passage. This is the Gospel. Here are some points to think about:
- Verses 22-24 give it straight to us: Jesus of Nazareth, through whom God did miracles in order to make him credible, was handed over to wicked men, killed, and then was resurrected because it was impossible for death to hold him! And all of this was God's purpose.
- And then we read in verse 32 something very interesting and easy to miss if you're just giving it a quick read. It says: "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact." The resurrection, and it's power, is a fact! Are you living out the resurrection as reality? See Ephesians 1:18-23 too.
- Verse 34 holds some very weighty and important Truth that can be distorted sometimes, namely that God made Jesus Lord and Christ. He is not, nor can he be, only one or the other. He needs to be the Deliverer and Master of your life. No more, no less.
- The response, as shown by verse 38, should always be repentance for the forgiveness of sins (And it's also interesting to note that this response came after being "cut to the heart"). And also, the promise is for all people who are far off, whoever God should call. Amen!
We want people to know Jesus, to accept this message, and to become followers of the Way. Pray for that this week. Work towards that end.
Posted By: Anonymous at 4:12 PM : Link : 0 Comments
