Tag: Gospel

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Every Promise of Your Word: The Gospel According to Joshua

What if there was only one book from the Holy Bible, as our sole source of divine Scriptures? What would this one book teach us? What Gospel would we find there?

In this way, we not only find out that all the books in the Bible are useful for edifying and equipping, but we also see the consistent story that is found throughout all Scripture. We see that the Bible is a coherent story of God’s love for us, throughout the different eras, different authors, and different genres of writings.

When you pick up the Bible, as a whole, Joshua is the first book after the Books of Moses. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are all accredited to the man that led Israel out of Egypt, and now it is time for the book about the man who led Israel into the Promised Land.

But if this book was totally disconnected from the aforementioned five books, what would we learn? Not just about Israel’s history and their settling into the land of Canaan, but what would we learn about the God that talks to Joshua? What ideas and doctrines might we make based on what we find in these pages of war and conquest?

While there may be plenty to glean from a gospel according to Joshua, here are three things that we can all agree on.

1. A Life Serving God Isn’t Going To Be Easy

If we pretend that Joshua was a book all by itself, what information we gather is still quite extensive. We learn that Joshua is replacing a beloved leader named Moses. We learn that before him, Joshua has a monstrous task. We learn that Joshua is without his mentor, and without a point of reference for what he is about to do.

This is the place many people find themselves in. Life is happening and it is a wild ride. Loved ones pass away. Bills fill the mailbox

. People call and text, demanding your time and energy. There is no pause button, no mute, no way to make it all slow down or stop.

Life keeps happening, whether you like it or not.

This is still true for those who serve the LORD God. For Joshua, he has all the new responsibilities. He alone is supposed to lead an entire nation,  potentially

millions of people into enemy territory, and take the land as their new home. He has no one to ask for pointers, no reference books on war. He is the leader of a weak, small nation, barging into the enemies’ camp.

There was no stopping it. It was happening, whether Joshua liked it or not.

Life serving God, obeying his command to lead Israel, was not easy for Joshua. Nor is it easy for anyone. But that is what makes God’s reminder to Joshua so potent and powerful today.

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” – Joshua 1:6

Life serving God isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean that we are alone. Nor does it mean that we can’t do it.

God reminds Joshua over and over again to gather his strength, to stock the fire of his courage (Joshua 1:7,9,18; 23:6). He had a job to do, and with God’s help, Joshua could do it.

We may not be asked to march a nation into the enemies’ camp, but whatever life does through at us, we are able to conquer with the LORD by our side.

2. Sin Has Dire, If Not Immediate, Consequences

What if the nation of Israel didn’t do what God said? What would happen? I mean, how powerful can a God be that no one can see, taste, or feel? What can He do if you or I, or the nation of Israel completely ignored what He said? A lot. God can do a lot to those that are deliberately disobedient. The defiant end up being the dead.

In Joshua, there is a story of a man named Achan who stole from a plundered city, after God specifically said to destroy everything. Achan took some plunder and hid it under his tent. While no one else knew, God knew what Achan had done.

And Achan was punished for it. His nation’s army suffered a crushing defeat. They were humiliated. Families lost loved ones. And then God brought judgment. Achan’s sin was found out. He suffered for it, as did his family. They were stoned to death.

(You can read the whole story in Joshua 7.)

The cost of rejecting God’s word was tremendous. What Achan thought he was doing was akin to a little white lie. Surely it wasn’t going to hurt anyone, expect it devastated a nation.

Sin has a devastating effect on people, the individual, and the group. To disobey and disregard what God has said would be a grave (pun intended) error.

3. A Decision Needs To Be Made, And Made With Conviction

God repeats himself sometimes. Not because he is forgetful and wants to keep what he said fresh in his mind; God repeats himself for us. So that we remember so that we keep what he said fresh in our minds and hearts. So that we recognize the seriousness of what he is saying.

Numerous times, God tells the Israels to refrain from relationships with the Canaanites, the native population of the Promise Land. God warned them over and over that the idols and false gods that the Canaanites worshipped would distract and be destruction to the people of Israel.

It was a warning for their own good. No relationships with Canaanites, no destruction. But God had to keep reminding Israel because they continually are tempted to chase after these other gods. They keep flirting with disaster, and God makes it clear that flirting with disaster will bring disaster.

Not once, not twice, but all through the book of Joshua.

Joshua himself says the same thing in his final address to Israel,

“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:14-15

There is a clear choice to be made: God or other gods. The God that had saved, redeemed, provided for the nation of Israel for years, or the gods that Israel did not know.

While Joshua’s call that day was clearly for the present company, it is a decision that we must wrestle with now. We have a choice between the God that Joshua served or the other gods that brought destruction upon the nation of Israel.

Let us hold fast to the gospel by intentionally recalling all God has done for us to redeem us for himself.   Let us soak in God’s long list of “I did ”¦. for you” and respond to him with trust, fear, love, and obedience.

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In God We Trust

Often the biggest issue with a person moving forward in their Christian lives is his or her ability to trust God.

We’re no strangers to the phrase, “In God We Trust” was adopted as the official motto of the United States in 1956 as an alternative or replacement to the unofficial motto of E pluribus unum, which was adopted when the Great Seal of the United States was created and adopted in 1782.

We find the phrase  on bumper stickers and t-shirts, in songs and poems on Godinterest, and even on currency. It’s not without controversy either. Debates continually rage over whether such a motto is even constitutional, with Christians often  at the forefront seeking to preserve it. But in the midst of all the noise, have we forgotten what it really means to trust in God?

Below are some inspirational  photos about #In-God-We-Trust  we found  on  Godinterest

…take a look at this man,  he looks tougher than steel, and he probably is. Meet Navy Captain Conrad Targonski, the assistant chief of staff for religious ministries…

…To men in combat, the Lord seems always nearby.  A Marine at Con Thien, Vietnam wears his faith, alongside earthly goods, on his helmet…

…water is life. Photo taken in Hoi An (Vietnam).  First and foremost, trusting God means placing our faith in Jesus alone for salvation. Nothing we do can earn our salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9)…

…being unwanted  and  unloved and forgotten by everybody, can be  a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than a  person who has nothing to eat.  Philippians 2:4  says, let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Sure, people who trust in God and  follow Jesus do these things all the time, but do  you? …

…this also means we don’t have to worry about anything. In fact, we’re commanded, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).  Are you ready to become a “Ballerina” for Christ?…

…Soldier Praying…  So much can be written about prayer, but the key point is that it is not optional. Prayer is essential to the Christian life; as Christians, we are even commanded to pray. As a Christian, you can no longer stop praying than you can stop breathing…

…communities need God’s guidance.  Rochester, New York police sergeant Clifton Manns, Sr., left raises his hand in prayer with other police officers at the New Life Fellowship on June 21, 2008. More than 200 police officers, church pastors and community members gathered to ask God’s help in ending community violence…

…the Pentagon has released a statement confirming that soldiers could be prosecuted for promoting their faith.  Discipleship demands sacrifice, and Jesus never hid thatcost… Would you still follow Jesus if it meant losing your job?…

…trust your gut”¦ That’s God speaking through you.  God speaks to us through dreams and visions. How often have you felt an impulse of the Spirit touch your heart and direct you towards Himself? God is constantly speaking to us, revealing His heart. So do you truly trust God?…

 

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Jesus! We Can Help You Share Him Online.

Share Jesus Without Fear  

Do you want to share Jesus without fear? Perhaps the thought of sharing your faith in Jesus Christ causes feelings of fear and guilt in your heart.

Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This command illustrates God’s desire to include us in His wonderful plan to redeem mankind.

“We believe that the Gospel and social media should go together like peanut butter and jelly. The purpose of this site is to help YOU.”

With so many people in the world connected online, the Godinterest website aim is to help Christians share their faith in Jesus. People can then engage with the  content you post  and have  an opportunity to become a follower of Jesus.

This means that whenever you post meaningful content about Jesus on Godinterest you provide an  opportunity for others to be part of the greatest story on earth.

 

Rethink Sharing Your Faith

Everyone who interacts with  the  content you post will be presented with an opportunity to engage with the gospel.

This Is Just The Beginning

Interact with those who response to the media you post.

Start the conversation about what it means to be a follower of Jesus and if it’s appropriate, try to  help  connect them with either your church or a local church group in their area.

Also encourage them to use Godinterest  to share the really great news about Jesus with their friends.

Note: If this seems overwhelming, don’t stress! You don’t have to do everything at once, and you don’t have to be perfect. Try sharing existing content with Friends and Family.  

Question: What avenues have you discovered to share Jesus with the online world? What have you found challenging in doing so?

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Facebook Has More People than Any Major Religion Except Christianity

Written by  Michael J. Coren

The number of Facebook monthly users has surpassed the followers of Islam, and is closing in on the most numerous religion, Christianity. The Pew Research Center reports that Christianity counts 2.3 billion people among its adherents, followed by Islam with about 1.8 billion. By comparison, Facebook reports it now has 1.32 billion daily active users and 2.01 billion monthly active users as of June 2017—all supported by a staff of just 20,658 people.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes his platform could fill the void left behind by the decline of religious and civil communities in the US. Americans are becoming less religious, join fewer community groups, and report record low levels of trust in their fellow citizens. “That’s a lot of people who now need to find a sense of purpose and support somewhere else,” he said this June at a Chicago rally for creators of Facebook groups.

Zuckerberg has even approvingly cited religions role in society, perhaps implying a similar goal for Facebook. “People who go to church are more likely to volunteer and give to charity—not just because they’re religious, but because they’re part of a community,” he said in June. “A church doesn’t just come together. It has a pastor who cares for the well-being of their congregation, makes sure they have food and shelter. A little league team has a coach who motivates the kids and helps them hit better. Leaders set the culture, inspire us, give us a safety net, and look out for us.”

Facebook is growing at an order of magnitude faster than any established denomination. No major religion is expected to grow faster than 1.4% per year (Islam) over the next two decades, predicts Pew. Yet Facebook, despite rivaling them in size, has steadily grown its global user base by about 22% each year. Of course, Facebook’s expansion will slow as it increases in size (see the “law of large numbers“), but even a drastic drop in this pace means Facebook users will exceed the number of Christians before the decade is out.

As it grows, Facebook has gone so far as to change its mission statement from its focus on making “the world more open and connected” to “bring[ing] the world closer together,” Zuckerberg said in an interview with CNN Tech this June. The company’s CEO has ramped up his campaign to portray Facebook as a force for harmony, rather than division, in public life after an election season which saw the social network accelerate the spread of inaccurate news and conspiracy theories. The CEO not known for public outreach announced a 50-state US tour in January to “get out and talk to more people about how they’re living, working and thinking about the future.”

Facebook already owns three of the five largest online communities in the world: its own network, WhatsApp, and Instagram. The other two, Chinese services WeChat and TenCent, have about 2 billion users between them. To fuel this growth, Facebook has gone on a relentless acquisition spree of any platform where it sees its future audience heading next. For now, that means Facebook can sustain meteoric growth while counting about a quarter of the world’s population as its users. It shows no signs of stopping.

Godinterest is a work in progress. We do hope we get it right, and we firmly believe that getting it right means using our voice online, even on controversial topics. The Christian voice is important, and silence does no one any good. It’s worth the trouble to figure out how to do this, even if it means stumbling along the way.

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16)

 

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Teaching Christianity in Christian Schools Is ‘Extremist’?

Updated October 28th 2007 –   A Christian organisation has been banned from a church-run primary school following complaints by non Christian parents who claim their children were being “exposed to potentially damaging ideology”   and “extremist” views about sin.

Some parents apparently complained that their children were told that if they don’t believe in God, “they would not go to a good place when they died.”

Wayne Harris, national director of the Christian charity Crossteach, denies these allegations and said;

 “Wherever possible we work in partnership with local churches and we reflect their teaching, always aiming to be sensitive to the local context, and recognizing that churches vary. We teach mainstream Christianity,” Wayne Harris, national director of the Christian charity Crossteach.”

“In 16 years of Christian schools work no teacher has ever raised a concern that something has been said that could be interpreted as in any way ‘hateful’ or ‘extremist’ and we strongly refute this current parental allegation. On the contrary, schools have consistently expressed appreciation for the contribution that Crossteach has made and for the quality of the work,” Harris added.

As  The London Telegraph  reported that another parent who wasn’t named said,

“I do know some of the children have been upset by what they have heard. No one minds Nativity plays and Bible stories but considering most of the parents at the school aren’t practicing Christians, I think the feeling is that it’s all too much.”

Furthermore the  The Guardian  reported:

“We recognize and respect the school’s Christian values but think there is a brand of Christianity that is abusing that respect. The basis of [our] complaint relates purely to concerns over the welfare and safeguarding of children who we believe are being exposed to potentially damaging ideology.”

The headmaster of the school said that he is “deeply saddened” to be cutting ties with the Crossteach Christian group, but that however.

“I do not believe Crossteach has done anything wrong,” Turvey added. “They do not deserve the tarnishing of their good name and allegations of extremism that have taken place over the last few months.”

Although the faith school St. Johns has a mandate to promote the Church of England and Christianity, it’s still has an obligation to follow Department for Education DfE guidelines when it comes to non-discrimination and respect and tolerance for other faiths, The Guardian noted, which in this case presumably superseded the Christian groups biblical bible teachings.

Conservative Christian parents have also clashed with Church of England schools. Nigel and Sally Rowe said last month that they’re considering taking legal actions against a school in Portsmouth after officials  dismissed their concerns  regarding allowing transgender children.

The Rowes have said that their son was left confused after a boy in his class began wearing a dress to school.

“Our children first said ‘they’re a boy and they’re my friend, and now I’ve got [to] say she instead of he,'” the couple explained.

The school said it must follow guidelines and “acknowledge a transgendered person’s [so-called] true gender”.

The Rowe’s stated that officials “should have provided support for the transgender child in a more discrete way with people who are trained professionals.

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Inspired by the Need for Wholesome Content Sharing, Godinterest Offers a Pinterest Alternative

Yahoo-Finance-LogoLONDON, April 23, 2014 For those Christians, entrepreneurs and ministries that use Pinterest but want to share within a Christian environment, Godinterest could be the answer to your dreams.

Speculation is growing about the content the owners of Godinterest will and will not permit, but how does it actually differ from Pinterest?

 

Godinterest was founded by Dean Jones, a Christian, to allow people to post within an environment that prohibits ill-mannered language and distasteful images.

Jones, a 35-year-old Project Manager from London, said,  “Pinterest is one of the leading social media sites; however, posts on Pinterest are not always guaranteed to be suitable for the whole family.  We are mindful of the values that we as Christians are bound by and therefore  Godinterest will help to provide an additional cushion of safety. I see this as a ministry and to that degree, non-Christians are most welcome; however, Christianity is not up for debate.”

Godinterest strives to have Christian content and like Pinterest, people can use Godinterest to  collect and share photos of their ffavoriteevents, interests and hobbies.

Jones said,

“Godinterest acts as a bespoke Christian media platform, whereby users’ content and the content of others can be browsed on the main page.  Its mission is to connect Christians through the interests they share. Users can upload images and embed videos to boards, which can be used to organise images they love from around the web or from their very own work.”

 

“Boards can also be used by educators to plan lessons and for later referral. Students can post and organise sources.   Each user’s boards are potential inspiration for the rest of the community and ‘re-posting’ is highly encouraged.”

Godinterest  also allows businesses to create pages aimed at promoting their businesses online.

Jones said, “A friend of mine who happens to be an atheist recently asked me where he could purchase a Bible. I stated that Amazon or eBay might be a good starting place. However, wouldn’t it be great if everybody could go to one location for everything Christian and find and create lists of what they wanted? There are millions of small businesses around the world; however, not all have a voice. Godinterest hopes to fill that gap by providing virtual store fronts.”

Accounts can be created and accessed by linking Godinterest to  Facebook,  Twitter  or LinkedIn profiles.

Read more here!

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The Perils of Living in a Technologically Advanced Age

The Perils of Living in a Technologically Advanced Age

Technological advancements have provided Christianity a greater platform to propagate the Gospel of Christ and to further the cause of God’s Kingdom on earth. There is a downside to this, however. Perils may surround the unwary Christian and sweep him away from right living.

Idleness

In a 2016 survey, adult Americans spent an average of 5 hours on the television. A survey on Australian kids revealed an average of 12 hours of online watching and 10.5 hours of television watching. The figures give insight to a likely trend ongoing worldwide. Those with access to television and Internet programming are pouring a big chunk of their time into this form of entertainment.

1 Corinthians 6:12 teaches us an important principle through Paul: “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.” Christians, young and old, must find a right balance between relaxation and productiveness.

Materialism

There are lots to see and discover online and thru print media. New innovations, new products, new services, new places to visit, new experiences to try; information to all these are within reach. The curious and the adventurous will want to try them all. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Caution must be exercised so that one doesn’t become addicted to buying things and accumulating stuff. Addicted hoarders and spendthrifts started out with a few finds.

Caution must also be exercised so that one doesn’t fall prey to the practice of “Keeping up with the Joneses.” Social Media does a great job in updating us of the latest trends and news. We see what new thing our friend or celebrity idol has recently acquired and we start to desire the same thing for ourselves. What others acquire and achieve may become our standard for success and happiness if we are not careful. Jesus warns us in Luke 12:15 to “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Pride

It’s fun to share one’s experiences online.   That bargain you were able to get, that fun trip you had, that awesome view that you were able to see; these are good things you can share with others. In most instances, what people share on social media inspires others or gives information which other people may need one day.

Caution must be exercised that this doesn’t become a habit with an underlying motive to brag or be prideful about something. In Galatians 6:4 we are reminded in this way: “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” So, when you post something online, ask yourself what you really hope to achieve and be careful not to share anything under false pretense or to gain unnecessary attention to yourself. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says that whatever we do, the honor should be towards God. Self-exaltation is never right.

Let technological advancements be fruitful for you. Access and enjoy these innovations with moderation and whatever you do, maintain the right motives and mindset.

References:

(https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/business/media/nielsen-survey-media-viewing.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-15/children-now-spend-more-time-online-than-watching-tv/8272708)

 

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