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What Mother’s Day Is About?

What Mother’s Day Is About?

Sunday, March 11, Mother’s Day — called Mothering Day in the U.K. — can be traced back to ancient pagan practices, but it has gone through a lot of changes to get to what we know today.

The Bible does not command us to dedicate a special day to honour our mothers, nor is there anything in the Bible to condemn it.

Today, people celebrate the day by giving gifts to their mothers, including flowers, chocolates, spa breaks, days out, afternoon teas and thoughtful cards.

Mothers Day Is Not Primarily about Being a Mother and Receiving the Honour, but Thanking God for the Mother He Gave You.

Mothers are a gift from God, and every last person has at least one. So Mother’s Day is really a holiday for everyone, a day for thanking God for his goodness in giving us mothers, and an occasion for letting that gratitude play itself out in tangible expressions of love.

As with all issues not specifically addressed in Scripture, we have the freedom to celebrate or not celebrate Mother’s Day, according to personal preference.

We hope you’ll take some time this weekend to pay respects to your mother—or if that isn’t possible, to somebody in your life who embodies the grace and wisdom we associate with godly mothers.

Here are 26 great Christian quotes about mothers.

  1. “Mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” – Marion C. Garretty
  2. “The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.” – Author Unknown
  3. “If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.” – Stevie Wonder
  4. “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother – Author Unknown
  5. “Do Not Forsake Your Mother’s Teaching.” – Proverbs 1:7-9
  6. “A mother – when you’re a child she walks before you to set an example. When you’re a teenager she walks behind you to be there should you need her. When you’re an adult she walks beside you so that as two friends you can enjoy life together.” – Author Unknown
  7. “Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” – Robert Browning
  8. “Everything I am you helped me to be.” – Author Unknown
  9. “Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved.” – Erich Fromm
  10. “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.” – Author Unknown
  11. “The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom.” – Henry Ward Beecher, US Congressional clergyman
  12. “I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.” – Author Unknown
  13. “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” – Oprah Winfrey
  14. “There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill
  15. “A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.” – Victor Hugo
  16. “A mother is clothed with strength and dignity, laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks her words are wise and she gives instructions with kindness.” – Proverbs
  17. “Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” – Lin Yutang, Chinese writer
  18. “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power.” – Maya Angelouother’s Day 2017
  19. “To the world, you are a mother, but to your family, you are the world.” – Author Unknown
  20. “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my mother.” – Abraham Lincoln
  21. “The sweetest sounds to mortals given are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.” – William Goldsmith Brown
  22. “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” – Proverbs 31:30
  23. “She’s on duty 364 days a year, so when that special Sunday in May rolls around, give Mom her due respect.” – Author Unknown
  24. “My mother taught me about the power of inspiration and courage, and she did it with a strength and a passion that I wish could be bottled.” – Carly Fiorina
  25. “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” – Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President
  26. “She was of the stuff of which great men’s mothers are made. She was indispensable to high generation, hated at tea parties, feared in shops, and loved at crises.” – Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
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God’s Heart-Fires Set His People Free

God's Heart-Fires Set His People Free

The body of Christ is like a campfire. We blaze with the flames of God’s glory when we come together in heart-to-heart ONEness around the risen Jesus. History calls those times of spiritual fire freely burning in God’s people, “revival.”

That kind of revival is not a religious meeting with a special preacher, held in a church building. True revival cannot be contained in one building or one location or even in one denomination. And it can’t be created by a program, an agenda, or a course of study.

Genuine revival (spiritual awakening) breaks out and spreads in and through human hearts. However, when people’s hearts are separated from one another, they begin to lose their fire for God and eventually get cold, just like campfire coals do when you spread them apart.

No amount of preaching, singing, plays, concerts, sermons, studies, techniques, rituals, gimmicks, special lighting, fog machines, etc. will ignite God’s fire in people until their hearts are open to God and to one another.

So what can open human hearts?

The answer is simple and it is spread throughout the New Testament. It is “a One Anothering environment” – an atmosphere where people are free to be real and honest with one another. The Bible calls this walking “in the light” and “speaking the truth in love.” More than 50 times, the New Testament instructs Christ-followers to minister to “one another” in various ways.

When people are allowed to be vulnerable and honest with one another, the Holy Spirit begins to work in their hearts and in their midst. The book ONE: Unfolding God’s Eternal Purpose From House To House puts it this way: “People’s hearts are opened when they speak freely.”

Allowing Christians to open up to one another opens their hearts. I’ve seen it hundreds of times. Someone begins to humbly share from the heart and the place is filled with a sense of awe, humility, and love; as Christ’s presence saturates the gathering. That is the spark of revival. However, like any spark, it won’t start an ongoing fire unless it is given the right environment of kindling and oxygen.

Revival’s kindling is open in humble hearts. We must not “harden” (shut down and protect) our hearts. Revival’s oxygen is the Holy Spirit. We must not turn off the flow of the Spirit. (“Quench not the Spirit.”) By keeping the kindling and oxygen going, open sharing and “One Anothering” creates an environment where revival can break out, grow, and eventually spread far and wide.

Genuine revival unites believers as sisters and brothers in Christ. It sets “the solitary in families” and overrides the walls that separate Christians.

Are you ready for revival? If so, find a few brothers and sisters, gather regularly with them, listen to Jesus together, and then let everyone present say and/or do what the living Jesus tells them to. One Anothering will break out, hearts will open, and the Spirit will move mightily. That’s revival!

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I Will Watch for You, God

I will watch for you, God

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.  Because of  his strength, I will watch for You, For God is my stronghold.  My God in His lovingkindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes. (v. 1, 9-10 NASB)

I love that the Bible includes descriptions before a lot of the Psalms, letting us know the context in which the Psalm was penned. David was surrounded by enemies, pinned down.  It was a real threat, not an imagined malice.  He was in actual bodily danger.  Most of us won’t experience that kind of danger in our lives.  But, I was stalked several times while walking, and know that God delivered me from true bodily danger. Like Jesus slipped through the crowd and escaped the clutches of his enemies, so I was provided with a way of escape on these occasions by God.  I no longer walk alone, but do my workouts at home, and walk only with someone else.What I find so fascinating about the above Scripture is the wording of one particular phrase. “Because of his strength, I will watch for You.”

Have you ever been singled out by someone who wishes to do you harm?

Sometimes it happens because of a jealous co-worker. Perhaps an ex-boyfriend, husband, or friend is seeking to hurt you. Or like myself, you just find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, out walking alone, or the potential victim of a greedy thief.  Perhaps it’s a horrible disease, like cancer.

In any case, we have enemies that are stronger than us at times, and we feel out-matched.  But no one can out-match God.  When someone chooses to mess with a Chosen of God, Beloved Child of the King; they will find themselves messing with God.  Whatever you are facing at this moment, remember David’s words:

Because of His Strength, I Will Watch for You, God.

God is greater than anything we may face in life.  He is more powerful than all our enemies. We can watch for Him, wait on Him, trust Him. He is our sail, to guide us away from an enemy.  He is our anchor, to keep us firmly set in the midst of a battering storm.  He is our refuge into which we run, and hide in Him until the danger has passed. He is our Abba, Father, our Daddy, onto whose lap we can climb, as we bury ourselves in His loving arms, in the midst of all our difficulties.  He is our shield and protector against all of life’s enemies.  He is our Loving God, Our Precious Savior. Let us watch always for Him.

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Can God Be Trusted?

Can God Be Trusted?

Today, trust has become a precious commodity. With all the news reports and bad experiences of people we know, it is no longer easy or prudent to immediately trust. Trust needs to be earned. People can be deceitful. We must be cautious in our dealings and relationships lest we fall prey to people who victimize unsuspecting, untrusting individuals. Man’s wisdom can be flawed. We must be selective about the advice and opinion we heed lest we are encouraged into making wrong decisions and assumptions.

It is right to be guarded. The attitude has become a necessity in order to spare our selves from loss and heartbreak. At times though, the Christian can bring this attitude into his relationship with God. When things go wrong or get harder, we can begin to doubt God’s character and capacity. When life gets busy and so many pressing matters hound us, we may begin to rely more on our wisdom and doubt the effectiveness of consulting with God by prayer and reading of the Word. God can become unreal to us. When this happens we must stop and remind ourselves that God can be trusted. God is trustworthy. God is reliable.

God is so certain of His own goodness that He isn’t  threatened at all by our questions.

He has seen the beginning and end.

God bears the wisdom of eternity. From eternity past and eternity future, God was, God is, and God will be. God is not a novice; nothing will surprise Him. He will never panic nor will He be stressed. He won’t be pressured into doing anything drastic or impulsive. When He acts, I know He acts in wisdom. It may be hard to understand but whatever He allows or withholds, I know there is His perfect reason behind it. In the end, all things will work out for my good (Romans 8:28).

That He sees the beginning and the end is an assuring thought. Think about it. The past, present, and future are equally laid out before him. God is never blindsided. He is never shortsighted. There can be peace and calm amidst the chaos and confusion because God clearly sees my life and knows how to direct and keep me on the right path.

He knows me wholly.

No one can know you more than He does. Even we fail to understand our hearts at times. Jeremiah 17:9 says that our heart is deceitful, no one can really understand it. We get overwhelmed and our emotions get the better of us. We second-guess ourselves and we overestimate ourselves. But, not God; He understands us with a perfect understanding. He knows what you and I are made of. He is fully acquainted with our uniqueness. He knows why we are the way we are. He knows how and why we think the way we think.

Psalm 139 beautifully lays just how much God knows us. Verse 4 says before we even utter the words, God knows it completely. He knows the reason behind the words and the feelings that go with them. From the passage, we know that He created our inmost being. He saw our unformed body and has set how many years we will have to enjoy life on this earth.

That He knows us completely and accurately is a refreshing thought. Think about it. There is never a need to pretend or build walls. We can come just as we are. He will not pre-judge. There is never a need to explain our selves. He gets us completely. We can trust Him to respond to us rightly and helpfully.

Can God be trusted? For these two reasons and many more, the answer is a definite “Yes!” Yes, He can.

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3 Ways God Speaks to You

3 Ways God Speaks to You

Does God talk to you? Does God communicate with people? On its February 13, 2018, broadcast, viewers heard Joy Behar, ABC daytime talk show co-host of “The View” say, “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you, that’s called mental illness if I’m not correct. Hearing voices.” During the episode, talks revolved around criticisms on U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s Christian faith. Co-host Sunny Hostin said, “I don’t know that I want my vice president, um — speaking in tongues and having Jesus speak to him.”

It’s sad that communicating with God, which is a primary Christian truth, can be viewed as a mental illness. It’s sadder to think that like these well-known personalities, many think that way. They view God as inaccessible and silent. They believe that it’s not possible to hear Him speak. In refusing to accept this fact, the world loses out. They are missing a lot.

Hearing God speak is one great blessing every child of God enjoys. God’s Words bring life and joy. His messages bring direction and enlightenment; they bring healing.

God speaks through nature.

Engaging with nature is always a fruitful time. We feel serenity setting in and we find ourselves at rest. Marvellous scenes and amazing creatures amaze and baffle us. We feel humbled, we feel thankful. We see an awesome Creator who is all-powerful. We see a faithful God sustaining all He has created. Every time we come out of a nature experience we are recharged, we are repurposed.

Job articulates it beautifully in Job chapter 12, reminding us that the very creatures that exist around us testify of our creator God and in His hand is the breath and life of all creation. Psalm 19 talks of the skies and heavens proclaiming the greatness and praise of our God.

The child of God must make a habit of pausing and taking in the beauty of nature. There is a great benefit in sitting back in solitude around greenery or around tranquil waters. It is there we can still our hearts, see God afresh, and hear Him say, “Be still and know I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

God speaks through the Written Word.

The Bible is God’s special blessing upon us. He selected believers of different background and experiences to put into writing His very words. Scriptures are ever alive. Its truths relate to people of any generation. The desiring heart will read it and experience its truths alive and active, insightful, cutting through the very core of one’s being. (Hebrews 4:12)

The child of God who seeks to know God and His plans will find direction for living within its pages. Through His Word God empowers us. Through His Word, God draws close to us, and makes Himself known to us.

The child of God must make a habit of opening God’s Word for one cannot begin to understand if one does not know. We can’t prove the truthfulness of God’s Word and promises if there is no knowledge to hold onto and prove. We must open the living Word and allow God’s voice to be heard. Open it and we will hear Him speak.

God speaks through music.

There is something in music that is very powerful. Research proves that it can influence behaviour and it can better one’s physical conditions. Music can change one’s mood and emotions. For instance, classical music can draw one’s mind out of chaos into calm and resoluteness.

There is something even more powerful in worship music. They can uplift your spirit and carry your mind towards greater heights and depths of learning and joy. God places in musicians the inspiration to pen biblical truths so beautifully. Through their meditations and personal journeys, we tap into the very heart of God. We get an overwhelming sense of His desire for our lives, what we need to change, what we need to surrender, and what we need to remember and be assured of.

The child of God must make a habit of listening to and singing Christian songs. It is a wonderful ingredient to private and corporate worship. From a multitude of worship songs, believers find spiritual growth. How many verses from the book of Psalms have taught you great things about God and man? How many verses from Psalms have caused you to understand yourself and others more? Those are Christian songs God uses to teach and encourage us.

Hearing God speak is a normal yet a special thing. God talks and He loves talking to you. He will speak lovingly and meaningfully if you only pose yourself to listen.

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36 Reasons Why God is So Wonderful

God

The glorious work of God is everywhere. The universe is a testimony of the wisdom, the greatness, and the power of our God and his greatness.  God always has been, and He ever shall be.

The darker the night, the brighter the stars, The deeper the grief, the closer is God!

According to most philosophers, God in making the world enslaved it. According to Christianity, in making it, He set it free. God had written, not so much a poem, but rather a play; a play he had planned as perfect, but which had been left to human actors and stage-managers, who had since made a great mess of it.

Read, study, ransack, think, speak, listen – and let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him.

Here’s a look at 36 major attributes and qualities of God that the Bible teaches.

  1. “God is a Family.” (Ephesians 3:14-15).
  2. “God Is Eternal.”
  3. “God is Holy.”
  4. “God is Wise.”
  5. “God is Wonderful.”
  6. “God Is Righteous and Just.”
  7. “God is CEO of the Universe.”
  8. “God is Supreme Lawgiver.”
  9. “God Is Omnipresent (Present Everywhere).”
  10. “God was not voted in and he cannot be voted out.”
  11. “God Bestows His Blessings without Discrimination.”
  12. “God Is Self-Sufficient and Self-Existent.”
  13. “God Is Omnipotent (All Powerful).”
  14. “God Is Omniscient (All-Knowing).”
  15. “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us..”
  16. “God in His love always wills what is best for us.”
  17. “God proved His love on the Cross.”
  18. “God Is Unchanging or Immutable.”
  19. “God loves us too much to indulge our every whim.”
  20. ‘God Is Infinite.”
  21. “God is Sufficient.”
  22. “God Is Faithful.”
  23. “God Reveals Himself in His Word.”
  24. “God Is True and Truth.”
  25. “God Is Good.”
  26. “God Is Merciful and  Gracious.”
  27. “God Is Love.”
  28. “God is Devouring Fire.”
  29. “God Is Spirit.”
  30. “God Is Light.”
  31. “God Is Triune or Trinity.”
  32. “God Created the Complete Hierarchy of Angels.”
  33. “God is Alpha and Omega.”
  34. “God is God.”
  35. “God is the Great Healer  (Matthew 9:12).”
  36. “God is Wonderful.”

At God’s command, amazing things happen. And because He is wonderful everything He does is wonderful.  Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. The Word of God is an absolute necessity. (For further reflection, see Luke 24:45; Acts 16:14; 2 Kings 6:17; Matthew 16:17; 11:2-6; 11:27.)

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Not an Act of God: Phil Robertson Say’s that America is “Focusing on the Wrong Weapon”

A football coach. An athletic director. And young, eager and forward-looking students were killed in the deadly school massacre in Parkland, Florida.

Chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) arrived in Parkland, Florida, within hours of Wednesday’s school shooting that killed at least 17 teens and faculty members.

In recent weeks, this act of terror has served as a catalyst for an army of activists across America to advocate for social change. This includes cries for more government intervention and increased gun laws, however, that surely can not be the answer?

‘It is the gun, it’s the person behind the gun and it’s about helping people before they ever reach that point,’ said a mother whose son died at Sandy Hook elementary

While the rest of the country seems to be focusing on earthly weapons and assault rifles, Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson is redirecting attention to the only weapon he truly believes in capable of stopping murder: the Word of the living God.

Phil Alexander Robertson is an American professional hunter, businessman, and reality television star on the popular television series Duck Dynasty. He is also featured on the television show Buck Commander, a hunting program on the Outdoor Channel.

“WE CANNOT PRAISE GOD FOR DIVINE ACTS OF JUSTICE AND MERCY WITHOUT HEARING THE CALL TO IMITATE GOD THROUGH OUR OWN ACTIONS.” —RABBI JILL JACOBS

Robertson says that without Jesus, these horrific acts will continue to occur on the earth.  “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

At times of tragedy, Christian churches and ministries rally to remind survivors of a God who the Psalms tell us “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

“There are two characteristics of mass murderers: no Jesus, and the work of Satan.”  “Satan is the problem.”  “The wrath of the evil one is falling upon us,” Robertson adds.

Phil Robertson’s  one-minute message may be brief, but like the sword of the spirit, it’s sharp and powerful. Since it was posted on Wednesday, Phil’s video has been watched over 16 million times.

 

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Will Your Grace Run out, If I Let You Down?

Will Your Grace Run out, If I Let You Down?

“Brokenness Aside” is a Christian song penned and set to music by American worship band, All Sons & Daughters. This worship song begins with a wondering – “Will Your grace run out, if I let you down? It further goes on with a realization – “Cause I am a sinner, if it’s not one thing it’s another.”

It’s a question that can bother those who’ve had colourful pasts, who’ve had a lot of unpleasant things going on in their lives before they came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It’s a thought that can worry believers who are caught in persistent sins, addictions, and struggles they find hard to overcome.

Will God’s grace run out? Can our continued sinning and failures exhaust the mercies of the Father? Will God reach the “end of His rope” and turn his back on a stubborn, wayward child?

His grace is sufficient.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 God Himself utters the promise, “My grace is sufficient for you because My strength is made perfect in weakness.” In our struggles, God comes and graces us with Himself so we can find the strength to overcome. Philippians 4:13 promises that those who remain in Christ will find the strength they need to go through all things in life: the good and the bad.

His Mercy is in fresh supply.

Lamentations 3:22-23 say that “It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” God never keeps count. There is no daily listing of our shortcomings. Each new day opens with a clean slate. Unless we allow so, there is no past that can ever keep us down.

Psalm 103:10,14 also say, “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.” God desires the best of us but He will never over-expect. He knows our limits and He will never allow struggles beyond our capacities.

His Love is everlasting.

Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. The root meaning of the word “everlasting” carries both “antiquity” and “futurity”. It encompasses the past and stretches out into the future. It means we can never be unloved. It means we are loved before we ever came to be and we are loved indefinitely, unendingly. Romans chapter 8 ends with an assuring declaration, that nothing in this life, not even death, no, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Going back to the song, “Brokenness Aside”; it is a song to be loved and appreciated for one overwhelming truth that answers its own question, and that brings release to any sin-laden, failure-laden soul: “You are a Savior, and You take brokenness aside and make it beautiful.” God does. He makes it beautiful. We only need to come. He will take brokenness aside. He will make it beautiful.

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Will I Live the Radical Life Jesus Called Me to Live?

I commit to living a super-ordinary life in Jesus. I will live the radical life Jesus called me to live.

It was Henry David Thoreau who wrote, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”

I don’t admire Thoreau as a theologian, but I think he largely got it right in this quote describing the normal human condition and maybe the condition of lots of Christians.

I believe that most of us, including myself, get bogged down in the routines of life. I have nothing against routines, except when they become my master. Much can be said about the righteousness of living a careful, responsible life before God. But, this is not an issue for me in this commitment.

My fear is that the life Jesus lived and died to give us “I came that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10 can get lost in the devotion to safety, health and routine. I’m not advocating going out today to partake in some “extreme” thrill sport. I’m simply encouraging myself to do something outside of my normal routine, to experience life outside the lines I’ve  drawn, to provide myself with the opportunity to “sing my song” and be bold in Jesus. Jesus challenges me to leave ordinary behind and live a super-ordinary life in Him. Today is the day. Now is the time.

God is ready to do amazing things. His Holy Spirit is in me and that is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. I can live an extraordinary life in Him.

How? Maybe it’s as simple as, at the prompting of God,  taking the long way home from the store or work to gain a new perspective on the world right around me that otherwise goes unnoticed. Maybe Jesus wants to perform a miracle in someone’s life I don’t normally see. Maybe He wants me to be the Good Samaritan.

God’s goal for me will be revealed by Him to me TODAY. And that is some very Good News!

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Is Russell Brand A Christian?

Russell Brand is talking about Jesus.

On the heels of a denouncement by Pope Francis that journalists are peddling fake news, I was recently reading a feature article by a popular Christian magazine, intimating that Russell Brand had become a Christian. The language was subtle but the message seemed clear. Brand believes that Christ’s teaching is “more relevant now than they’ve ever been”.

Wow, that sounds really great!

Well, the vast majority of readers who responded thought so. Comments on that article were mostly other Christians offering an “Atta boy, Russell!” or “Welcome to the family, brother in Christ!” Hundreds of people left messages just like this, likely feeling warm fuzzies at the thought that Russell Brand is now eternally safe in the arms of Jesus.

But maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s take a closer look.

If you know anything about him, you know that Russell Brand was a hard-drinking, drug-doing, prostitute-purchasing party guy who was in the spotlight and the tabloids for years. Shock comedy and foul language were his own personal brand. The dirtier, the better.

Giving credit where it’s due, Brand has made significant changes in his life over the past decade or so. Crashing hard from his wild lifestyle, Brand accepted help through an intervention after he was found shooting heroin at a Christmas party. He credits a version of the 12-step program with assisting him on the road to recovery.

The fact that Brand has cleaned up his act and become a family man is a huge step forward. Really, he deserves kudos. There’s no question that his earthly life is now better and less destructive than it was before.

But being a person recovered from addiction doesn’t exactly equate him with being a Christian.

Now, I’m not saying that God isn’t powerful enough to save guys like Russell Brand. Of course, He is! And lest you start thinking I believe myself to be something I am not, I am fully aware that I’m not the eternal judge and only God knows a person’s heart. But I do believe (and the Bible teaches) that people show outward signs of their inward relationship with Jesus.

It’s true that in various interviews and speaking engagements, Russell Brand is a grand proponent of meditation, spirituality, and even the teachings of Jesus.

For instance, early in 2018 Brand published a YouTube video where he speaks (very graphically with much profane language) against addiction and the pleasures of this world. He promotes the idea that humans shouldn’t feel bad in life and happiness is resourced from within.

In the previous article I mentioned by the Christian magazine, Brand talks about the world being broken. He speaks of humanity desperately in need of the “message of Jesus”.

I deeply want to believe that Russell Brand has been saved by Jesus! Don’t you?

Sadly, after reading and listening to Brand speak about his “spirituality”, I think that he is probably a person who desperately needs, but has not yet found, a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

But wait a minute—didn’t Brand just say he was a Christian?

Actually no, he didn’t.

What Brand did say is that the 12-step program encouraged him and his fellow recovering addicts to turn their will and their lives over to the care of God “as we understood Him.”

Although he really doesn’t like all of the religious talks, Brand now confesses to using some Christian language and practices. He attributes this to his upbringing in the Christian culture of the UK so that the “language of prayer” he uses is Christian. Specifically, he mentions the Lord’s Prayer.

Going a bit further, Brand notes that the Christian service and “values” make him feel at peace. The teachings of Jesus have helped him understand modern cultural addictions. He even seeks to find a level of “Christ-consciousness.”

So, to summarize, Brand considers spirituality to be important, sometimes uses Christian language and practices, embraces Christian values, agrees with some of the teachings of Jesus, and aims to find “Christ-consciousness.”

That should be good, right? Yes, except that he also dabbles in many other spiritual and religious realms.

Over the past couple of decades, in what seems to be an earnest search for relevance, Brand has been an avid seeker and supporter of various religious and spiritual things. He used to be a Buddhist and has previously talked of the Dalai Lama as the “living incarnation of Buddha”. His wedding ceremony to Katy Perry was of the Hindu persuasion and many of the spiritual tenants about which he still speaks follow along those lines. For years he regularly attended Hare Krishna services.

Brand now seems to consider the 12-steps as the answer to his religious needs. He recently wrote a book, Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions, explaining the steps in his own unique way.

Even so, the spiritual buzz words Brand flings about might lead us to believe that he identifies with Christ. And I think maybe he does in the sense that he sees Jesus as a good teacher and a prophet. But we need to listen more carefully.

When I put all of his spiritual verbiage together, it paints a picture of a person who is certainly a seeker of spiritual and religious things but hasn’t directly identified Jesus as the Only Way to the Father. Brand talks of the teachings and the message of Jesus, without ever identifying with Jesus as the Son of God or Savior. Brand goes on about the “kingdom of heaven on earth” but sadly he does not currently claim a faith in the only King Jesus who can usher him into the kingdom.

We don’t get to pick and choose our beliefs from a smorgasbord of options. With Jesus, it’s all or nothing. And Brand’s words do not indicate that Jesus is all, through his words or through his actions.

Sure, he seems to be committed to his wife now and they have a lovely child. He wants to be a good father. He is trying to do good things and help people. And those are all great things! But he continues to be critical, loud-mouthed, and somewhat narcissistic, speaking with profanity that could make the angels of hell blush. His current standup comedy routine does not even show a hint of a person who loves Jesus. From his actions and his words, it seems he’s still missing the mark.

But maybe he’s closer than he used to be. Russell Brand is on a journey where he seems to be aware of some sort of spiritual need. Hopefully, that journey will lead him into a right relationship with Christ as his Savior. I desperately want that to be true and I believe God does too!

However, from what I can surmise from his media presence (and, shockingly, I do not know him personally) Brand is not quite there yet.

But from what I can see, Brand is on a journey and I can respect that. I deeply appreciate how far he’s come and I wouldn’t judge him for not having “arrived”. His story still inspires me. Overcoming addiction is no small thing.

What really gets me in this scenario is the fact that a corner of the Christian publishing world is touting Brand on the cover of their magazine and making it seem like he is a converted Christian. This is confusing in a couple of ways.

It could be misleading personally for Brand as the magazine’s blatant approval of him might make him think his theology is correct and he has found the right answers. I mean, they titled the article “The Second Coming of Russell Brand” for goodness sake”¦. If a Christian magazine approves of you, it must mean you’re eternally secure, right?

Even more disappointing and destructive, this type of sensationalism is misleading to the Christian readership and general public. Was it intentional? I don’t know. But we journalists (especially Christian journalists!) have the responsibility to make sure that we are reporting the truth and not twisting it into something even marginally deceptive — no matter how popular it is and how many clicks it gets.  

And that’s what Pope Francis was talking about recently when he asked journalists to stop engaging in disinformation and other “sins of the media”. I don’t always agree with the pope but, in this case, I think he has a point.

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Unless You Become Like Little Children

What is it in childlikeness that God finds pleasure and satisfaction in? Why is childlikeness necessary to finding one’s path to entering into an abundant relationship with God?

Childlikeness leads to genuine faith.

It is in a child to be softhearted and God desires that we be such. In being softhearted, one is positively responsive and not a sceptic. When one is softhearted, he can bend when reasoned with and follow affectionately. There is no stubbornness, there is no rebellion when one is softhearted.

The Bible says, without faith, it is impossible to please God, for if one will come in faith, he must come believing that God is indeed God and that He will reward the genuineness of your faith.   (Hebrews 11:6) Genuine faith confidently sees that God is real. Genuine faith is the very evidence of things hoped for even though they yet remain unseen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Childlikeness leads to genuine trust.

It is in a child to be trustful and God desires that we be such. In being trustful, one affords full belief in a person’s reliability, ability, and truthfulness. When one is trustful, he entertains no thoughts of doubt or suspicion. When one is trustful, he remains confident of the person even when he is not privy to the plan or purpose.

In genuine trust, we confidently know that God is working out all things for our good. (Romans 8:29) We confidently feel that God loves us beyond all measure no matter the circumstances we experience. (Romans 8: 31-39) We know that God loves us and we will never be unloved. We know that in all hardships we will overcome; we will persist, we will come out with renewed trust and confidence in our Father’s faithfulness and love.

Childlikeness leads to bliss and contentment

It is in a child to be blissful and content. There is pleasure in the simplest of things. Unless parents wrongfully spoil the toddler, a baby’s early years are full of sheer wonder and joy. Your baby will show animated gratefulness for the treats you give and for the care you provide. It is rare to see a baby feeling entitled to things rather than privileged. It is rare to see a child complaining of being treated less than what he deserves.

In bliss and contentment, we remember that all is of grace. Nothing is earned, nothing is deserved. The content heart never feels self-entitled but wonders like Job did in Job 7:17, “What is man that You magnify him, And that You are concerned about him?” The blissful heart muses on the generosity of God like David in Psalm 8, “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”

In bliss and contentment, we value the essential things of life. We don’t miss a thing, we don’t waste a thing. We may feel the lack but we focus on God’s faithfulness in meeting our needs. We may feel the “wants” of life but we focus on God’s desires over our own. Where there is bliss and contentment, there will always be positivity. There will be more good days than bad. In that state of mind and heart, there will be heartfelt worship. God will be pleased and His child will be at peace.

Childlikeness. These very qualities of childlike faith are what God desires of us.

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7 Secular Movies with Important Biblical Themes

7 Secular Movies with Important Biblical Themes

Hidden themes that ring true with Christianity can be found everywhere in life. Since the bible is the greatest story ever, it’s no surprise that the world imitates certain themes that began with God.

Although they certainly don’t portray the gospel in its entirety, these films may offer opportunities for conversation with family or friends about the way that we live our lives. As these films portray so many things that have gone wrong with the world, we can find redemptive analogies to help us learn and change the story for the future.

Note: May contain spoilers! Read on at your own risk.

Les Miserable (2012)

Set in the midst of the French Revolution, Jean Valjean is a former prisoner who has broken parole and turned his life around. He vows to a dying woman (who was forced into prostitution) that he’ll take care of her daughter, committing to raise her as his own. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, this musical film follows Valjean as his past haunts him. While he receives grace and forgiveness to transform him from being a hardened criminal into a loving father, he is ultimately faced with the opportunity to sacrifice himself for the love of another.  

Themes: Grace, forgiveness, social responsibility, personal sacrifice, redemption, freedom

Warnings: Some profane language, violence, sexual themes related to prostitution, war, alcohol abuse, suicide

Wall-E (2008)

In the animated film, Wall-E, future humans have made such a mess on earth that they just leave it behind for a robot to clean up. The robot, Wall-E, has developed a personality over hundreds of years and seems to be a bit lonely. As he becomes engaged in an adventure, Wall-E ends up on the spaceship where humans have become the epitome of laziness. As evil has begun to take over the spaceship filled with humans, Wall-E is faced with a choice of whether to help out.

Themes: Laziness, sloth, loneliness, stewardship of the earth, running away from problems, self-sacrifice

Warnings: None

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BqgHYLvHIE

This WWII film tells the true story of Desmond Doss, a pacifist soldier who refused to carry a gun. While he believed that the war was justified, he also believed that killing was wrong. The story tells of Doss’s plight on the front lines of the Battle of Okinawa as he aided in saving 75 men, for which he received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Themes: Faith, sacrifice, standing up for personal beliefs  

Warnings: Intense violence, moderate use of profane language, alcohol use and smoking, nudity

The Book of Eli (2010)

Based on the theme of post-apocalyptic life, this film follows the journey of Eli, who travels west through America’s destroyed landscape. The story of this futuristic thriller begins to reveal that a critical part of human civilization is being carried by Eli in the form of a book. As books are being burned at a rapid rate by evil-doers, the preservation of this particular sacred book is critical.

Themes: Sacrifice, protection of scripture, good vs. evil, journey with a purpose

Warnings: Violence, profane language

Wonder Woman (2017)

One in a line of DC Comics films, Wonder Woman offers a new sense of accomplishment for the Justice League. Tackling difficult themes about human nature, the message of this film is highly compatible with the gospel message. Diana, who was raised by Amazons, learns at an early age about people who are created good but are then corrupted by evil. In the throes of war, Diana heads out to conquer the source of evil. She decides that, even though humans are corrupt and deserve to die, they are still worth saving—and she is ultimately inspired to believe in love.

Themes: Fall of humans, pursuing peace, value of human life, self-sacrifice

Warnings: Violence, sexual references and implication, mild profane language, alcohol and drug use

The Good Lie (2014)

Following the destruction of their village in Sudan, orphan siblings make the harrowing journey to a refugee camp and eventually settle in Kansas City in the U.S. As they make peace with their past and come to terms with re-settling in a new land, Carrie, an employment counselor, helps them to find jobs and search for their sister from whom they were separated. In the process, Carrie learns a lot about her own journey. One of the refugees has a strong faith and deeply desires to become a pastor. Many of the actors in this film are former Sudanese refugees—two were even child soldiers—allowing this film to accurately portray the true heart of the pain of war and difficult elements of starting over.

Themes: Helping others, sacrifice, redemption, starting over

Warnings: Sex implied but not shown, war violence, minimal profane language, alcohol and marijuana use

Schindler’s List (1993)

This film set during World War II tells the true story of a German, Oskar Schindler, who is seeking to take advantage of the war by becoming rich. Schindler’s character is hardened as shown in relationship to a concentration camp, but he becomes more sympathetic as he arranges to protect the Jewish employees who work in his factory. His motivation is originally greed, but eventually, he conjures up a way to save the lives of thousands of Krakow prisoners.

Themes: Discrimination, greed, power, helping the helpless, the value of human life, sacrifice

Warnings: Profane language, nudity, sexual themes, violence, war, drunkenness

It is important to note that most of these films contain very adult themes and problems, whether “fictional” or not. This is not meant to advocate for a glorification of violence, gratuitous sex, or other cultural troubles. But these are honest themes that the bible addresses on a regular basis—because they are part of this broken world. As these films portray the depravity of this world, I believe that we can find ways to share our hope in the One who came to set all things right.

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Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister says “Christianity is Europe’s last hope”

Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister says "Christianity is Europe's last hope"

BUDAPEST, Hungary, February 18, 2018  – We are living in a day in which most people have a general feeling of hopelessness regarding the future. Under the pall of terrorism and talk of biological, chemical, and nuclear warfare, fear has engulfed our planet.

However, against this pessimistic and fearful backdrop and brushing aside any semblance of political correctness, Hungary’s Prime Minister boldly  proclaimed in a national speech that, “Christianity is Europe’s last hope”.

Voters have responded favourably and Orban is a clear leader of all polls.

In a passionate speech, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressed his country and the world and warned that European nations which have encouraged migration have now, opened the way to the decline of Christian culture and the advancement of Islam.

Viktor Orban aged 54, stated that his government will reject efforts by the European Union and United Nations to ‘increase migration’ around the world.

Mr Orban claimed Islam would soon “knock on Central Europe’s door” from the west as well as the south.

Orbán started public life as a crusader against communism and attended Oxford University on a Soros scholarship. Soros, who expatriated from Hungary, also funded Orbán’s political organization, the Alliance for Young Democrats.

Although Viktor Orban is popular in Hungary, he is increasingly at battle with mainstream European Union politicians mostly centred on migration, since people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa flooded into Europe in 2015.

Domestically, Orban has successfully reversed an economic slump in Hungary and has controlled its public finances. However, to achieve he has used methods that opposers have labelled authoritarian. However, Eastern leaders, most notably in Poland, have followed his lead.

Today, migration is the dominant theme of the prime minister’s agenda. ‘Absurd as it may sound the danger we face comes from the West, from politicians in Brussels, Berlin and Paris,’ Orban said to loud applause.

At the peak of the migrant crisis, he ordered a double razor wire fence to be built to keep people out of Hungary.

Orban has conflated the issue of immigration with the image of Soros, 87, whose name was used in a tough anti-migrant bill sent to Parliament on Wednesday 14th of February  2018. Soros, for his part, compared Orban unfavourably to both the Nazis and the Communists, saying his rule evoked dark memories from the 1930’s when Hungary was a partner with Nazi Germany.

However, Victor Orban remains firmly committed to his agenda, claiming that Soros and his supports of migration will lose the fight.

‘We don’t think the fight is hopeless, on the contrary, we are winning,’ Orban said. ‘The V4 is firm, Croatia has come around, Austria has turned in the patriotic direction, and in Bavaria, the CSU has created a resistance.’

Mr Orban will seek a third consecutive term in an April election.

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What We Can Learn From The Life Of Billy Graham

Billy Graham grew one of the largest ministries in history and avoided the scandals of other famous televangelists.

Well-known, well-received, and highly regarded, the evangelist Rev. Billy Graham passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2018. He was 99 years old. The world clearly has taken note of this man’s life and has observed how he lived both his ordinary life and not-so-ordinary life as a faith practising Christian.

Besides all his admirable accomplishments, there are more things worth noting and learning from this man of God.

1. He was a non-exclusivist.

As Jesus was known to be a friend and minister to sinners so was Billy Graham known to be an “inclusive” minister. By checking print and online write-ups about Billy Graham, you will notice a large diversity of people commenting on their experience and personal regard for him. He wasn’t selective as to the types of people he interacted with. He opened himself up to people from different walks of life. He worked alongside people of both religious and non-religious sectors. When it came to faith-based projects, he was willing and did collaborate with Christians of different faith groups and associations. He was also willing to collaborate with non-believers if it presented opportunities to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. He had a positive thought on death.

Death and dying is a matter normally accompanied by bleakness, uncertainty, and dread. It’s not a topic everyone happily talks about. It’s not an experience welcomed by all. It brings sadness and suffering to all those who’ve been touched by death- both on the person who died and on the people he (or she) has left behind to experience the after-effects.

Billy Graham maintained a positive thought about death. He was at peace. For him, dying meant gaining access to the actual place and presence of God. Franklin Graham shared Billy Graham’s reply when asked about heaven and dying. Billy Graham answered, “Heaven is where Jesus is and I am going to Him soon!” At one time he also said, “Someday, you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.

3. He had an undistracted view about performance and achievements.

One time Billy Graham was asked what he would want to hear people say about him when he died. He answered, “I want to hear one person say something nice about me and that’s the Lord, when I face him. I want him to say to me, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'” This desire of his showed in the way he conducted his life and ministry. He was never afraid to cross “man-made” boundaries and standards for faith and practice. Throughout Billy Graham’s life, differing views and criticisms on his conduct of life and work were reported and opposing viewpoints are still expressed today. But He maintained boldness in breaking new grounds for doing God’s work and propagating the Gospel.

4. He was honest about his failings.

Some common observations people had on Billy Graham were his honesty and unpretentiousness. People saw his readiness to admit error. Despite the great influence and the prestige he had achieved in life, he listened to what people had to say. He agreed when there was common ground. Where there was disagreement, he went on his way and focused on his ministry endeavours. He took correction and admitted faults. At one time he even said,   “Looking back I know I sometimes crossed the line, and I wouldn’t do that now.”

When confronted, we see a lot of renowned personalities and politicians evading issues that expose their wrongdoings. A lot deny to the very end. Many try to cover up. Many others just avoid dealing with the matter and simply wait for people to forget.   Billy Graham faced issues head-on. The most damaging issue that confronted him must have been the taped conversation he had in 1972 with then President Nixon. The recording released to the public showed Graham making anti-Jew remarks. Upon its release, Graham promptly owned up to his error and earnestly sought forgiveness from U.S. Jewish leaders. In a book, Grant Wacker retold the story. He mentioned how Billy Graham rightly dealt with the issue. Wacker said,   “He did not spin it. He did not try to justify it. He said repeatedly he had done wrong, and he was sorry.”

There are many more things we can learn from the life of Billy Graham. His life serves as a useful resource for ministers and laypeople alike. His life was an open book that shows leaders and workers how to do ministry, how not to do it, and how to just live life as a child of God.

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What Does ‘Put God’s Word First’ Really Mean?

Prioritizing God’s Word

Preoccupations are constant. Whether we keep schedules or not, time will always be spent. At the end of the day, it would have either been time well spent or time utterly wasted. It’s extremely helpful to keep a planner but for those who like it lose or not too rigid, keeping small paper (or digital) notes of the daily “Must-Dos” will suffice. If you’re gifted, you may only need mental notes and do just fine.

The priorities of life will take the top spots and most often, they will be done most frequently. For the Christian, the list of priorities may be long and may vary from person to person. But in everyone’s top list must be God’s Word. In talking about his regrets in life, the late Rev. Billy Graham mentioned regretting that he did not study more and preach less.

God’s Word deepens our understanding and wisdom.

God’s word promises to give understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:30) The Bible offers a wealth of information and advice on approaching the issues and happenings of life. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that since “all Scripture is inspired by God, it is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” As we go deep in God’s Word, we get a depth of character. Our viewpoint and understanding expand. We begin to see ourselves, others, and circumstances on a more enlightened and enlarged viewpoint. We move from narrow-mindedness to open-mindedness. We rely less on our own opinions and we begin to value the opinions of others and more importantly, of God’s Word.

God’s Word deepens our faith.

From 2 Timothy 3:15 we learn that knowledge of the Bible makes us understand everything about the salvation we enjoy through faith in Christ Jesus. The need for personal study is crucial. Preachers come and go and media would from time to time report on deceptions made by beguiling preachers to audiences who are uninformed. On another note, it’s indeed a blessing that God has given us messengers of impeccable skill and integrity. However, personal diligence in studying God’s truths is essential to maturity. Let us imitate the Berean believers who received God’s message with great eagerness yet examined the Scriptures every day to see for themselves if what the Apostle Paul preached was true. (Acts 17:11)

God’s Word causes persistence.

Romans 15 shares that “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” From God’s Word, we learn important principles we need to do life rightly and effectively. In times of hardships and failure, God’s Word comes to encourage us to persist and forbear the negatives of life because we know that our hope of overcoming and betterment will come at the end of whatever long and dreadful tunnel we go through.

God’s Word causes us to prosper and succeed.

Joshua was called to fulfill a seemingly heavy task. At the beginning of the Book of Joshua, we see God giving him an essential prerequisite to prosperity and success. God says in Joshua 1:8, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Many personalities claim this verse for financial prosperity and business success. Indeed, financial and business success may well come upon a Christian who is devoted to the study of and obedience to God’s Word. But the verse means more. The verse teaches us that God’s Word is our book of instruction. As we ponder on the truths it contains and as we live out the principles we’ve learnt, we will experience prosperity and success. Prosperity denotes the meaning of “to flourish” and “to grow strong and healthy.” Success denotes the meaning of “to accomplish an aim or purpose.” The gain and accomplishment may be financial or not. In any case, we do know that God will prosper the works of our hands.

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When Willpower Fails: How to Build Your Resistance to Temptation

When Willpower Fails: How to Build Your Resistance to Temptation

Wise believers determine ahead of time to resist temptation—before it enters their consciousness. If we want to avoid being misled by Satan, our hearts must be preoccupied with the truth of the word of God.

The Word of God will provide our minds with weapons of divine power, to raise up a standard against the enemy. Happy is the person, who, when tempted, finds their soul rich in knowledge of the Scriptures, and who finds shelter from the promises of God.

“Thy word,” said the psalmist, “have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
The Word of God is ever-present in our hearts and minds. “It is written” is to be our foundation.
Those who make God’s Word their counselor already realize the weakness of the human heart and the power of the grace of God to subdue every unsanctified, unholy impulse, thought and temptation. Their hearts are ever prayerful, and they have the constant guardianship of holy angels who excel in strength. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God lifts up for them a standard against him.

There is harmony in the heart, for the precious, powerful influences of truth bear sway. The scripture is a channel of communication with the living God. He who feeds upon the Word will become fruitful in all good works. He will discover rich mines of truth and hidden treasure. When he or she is surrounded with temptations, the Holy Spirit will bring to their minds the very words with which to meet the temptation at that very moment when they are most needed, and they will be able to use them effectually.

We must be better acquainted with our Bibles and commit to memory passages of Scripture in order to close the door to many temptations. Let us hedge up the way to Satan’s temptations with “It is written.”  We shall meet with conflicts to test our faith and courage, but they will make us strong if we conquer through the power and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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