Tag: Jesus Christ

The word Christ was a title or office (“the Christ“), not a given name. It derives from the Greek Χριστός (Christos), a translation of the Hebrew mashiakh (משיח) meaning “anointed”, and is usually transliterated into English as “Messiah”. … In postbiblical usage, Christ became viewed as a name—one part of “Jesus Christ“.
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Is Organ Donation A Sin? Should Christians Donate Their Organs?

Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation.

General misconceptions connected to Christianity and organ donation  have made many people think that the act is prohibited by their religion  when in reality, there little or  no rules that actually prevent people from receiving  blood transfusions or organ  transplants.

Some religious denominations are against organ donation, but major religions by and large allow the act and even encourage it. Some profess that the teachings of  Christianity and organ donation go hand in hand.  However, within each religion there are different schools of thought, which means that views differ.

Heart and Lung Transplant Success After 2.5 Years.

It’s safe to say that most  Anglican, Protestant and Catholic scholars agree that the organ donation is a beautiful selfless act.

Protestant denominations have given their seal of approval to organ donations. The Lutheran Church refereed to  the act as manifestation of sacrificial love for people who are in need. The Presbyterian Church has encouraged its members to have Universal Donor Cards. The Seventh Day Adventist Church has a pediatric heart transplantation floor in its California hospital. Even the Amish, who have been seen to generally avoid  modern technology, allow organ donation in order to help others.

The Church of England has declared that it is the duty of a Christian to donate one’s organs. But the church stated that there are different views on whether an opt-in system was proper.

We believe  that Christianity and organ donation  are entwined  with each other as Christians we are taught to love our  neighbours.

The Merit of Self-Sacrifice    #Godinterest .

The Catholic Church has voiced out its support to donation. The late Pope John Paul II praised the work of transplant surgeons during an international conference in 2000, but he asked them to avoid transplants with stem cells. Former Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he is an organ donor.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Quakers do not object to the practice and leave it up to their members if they want to put up their organs for donation or have transplants.

Love one another is the most basic teaching of Christianity and we believe organ donation is one example of how you can apply it to your life.

Remember there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13) Being an organ donor is the Christian way of showing you care for your neighbors.

Visual Journalism for a Cause: The Waiting List | the Visual Student.

Most would agree that nothing’ could possibly be worse than when a chance to donate an organ is missed because of a  false belief that donation is prohibited.

 

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Jesus Christ the Original Blood Donor.

Ever Thought of Jesus as a Blood Donor? For  Ephesians 1.7  States “In Him We Have Redemption Through His Blood, the Forgiveness of Our Trespasses, According to the Riches of His Grace.    Christians should be encouraged to help others in need and look upon organ donation as an act of love, and a way of following Jesus’ example.

Sacrifice and Helping Others Are Key Themes Across All Forms of Christianity, and Therefore a Decision to Donate Organs Is Seen as a Positive Thing.

Is organ donation prohibited by your religion? Do you agree with organ donation?

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Kingdom of God

Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the #kingdom-of-God  was a saying given by Jesus in the New Testament. From Matthew 18:1-6 (KJV)

We Care for Children Because, Whether We Are Aware of It or Not, There Is in All of Us God-Given Knowledge That Little Ones Are So Precious.

They deserve  more  care because they are defenceless. They are a gift. They demand a great deal of attention, oh yes; children are  costly, but there are supposed to be. They teach us that life isn’t just  about us,  but  about others and that we  will be more  fulfilled  and  more happy when we sacrifice our own comforts in order to love our neighbour.

Below are some inspirational  photos about #kingdom-of-God  we found  on  Godinterest

This Life Isn’t Easy; Most of the Stages of Our Lives Are About Sacrifice and Suffering.

The world is surrounded by wars, hunger and poverty. And sometimes it gets hard to find goodness above it all, but we  don’t know if you see this, but this is the exact temptation that we face. Our sin naturally inclines us to see kids not as a blessing but as a distraction, not a joy but a  drain.  How wrong we are, and how rebuked by #Jesus’ example.

A Magic Moment from The #City-Of-God.  

Have you seen the film? Well we truly believe “a child is like a blank canvas On which we  may create a  painting so beautiful. But let me tell you – and make no mistake Whatever the colours are, that we  decide to choose Will make this child a winner or one that may just loose So as you take that paint brush, to leave your lasting mark Remember that your actions, determine this child’s spark Every stroke upon that canvas can never be undone.”  (Deborah Chaplin)…

The Tells Us That Children Are a Reward from (Psalm 127:3). According to the Promise of Proverbs, a Child Who Is Diligently Trained in The “Way He Should Go” Will  Remain True to That.

Unfortunately,  Children Are the Real Victims of World Hunger: At Least 70% of the Malnourished People in  the World Are Children and Around Forty Thousand Children a Day Die of Starvation. Many People Are Already Motivated to Help Children in Need , However, What Are You Doing to Help?

Jesus Said, “Suffer Little Children, and Forbid Them Not, to Come unto Me: For of Such Is the Kingdom of Heaven”. This Is So Like Jesus. In One Sentence, He Gives Us a Whole Theology of Children, One That Blows  Us Away and Dramatically Redefines  Our Thinking.

Chidren from Afghanistan Grown in Pakistan Refugees Camp by Muhammed Muheisen.

This is who we at Godinterest aspire to help. We  think of there  future all the time. We  write so that someday, she, and others like her, will have an equal chance to succeed and to live a happy and productive live.  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,  the fruit of the womb a reward Psalm 127:3.…

For of Such Is the #kingdom-of-God.

Children  just keep on giving. However, the world has  declared war on our children. They have wiggled and moved and jumped at their parents’ voices, and then they have suffered violence, and writhed in death. This is not sensationalist. It is cold, hard fact.  The gospels leave us with many important clues, none more important than this. How did the Lord Jesus treat children?

And Finally, as a Christian Parent, You Have the Wonderful Privilege, and Responsibility, to Claim the LORD’s Word, His Promises, for the Conversion of Your Children…  Behold, Children Are a Heritage from the LORD,  the Fruit of the Womb a Reward  Psalm 127:3…

What Do You Love Most About Children?

Bibliography Information
The heart of Jesus’ teachings centers around the theme of the kingdom of God. This expression is found in sixty-one separate sayings in the Synoptic Gospels. Counting parallels to these passages, the expression occurs over eighty-five times. It also occurs twice in John (3:3, 5). It is found in such key places as the preaching of John the Baptist, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (  Matt 3:2  ); Jesus’ earliest announcement, “The time has come”¦ The kingdom of God is near. Repentand believe the good news!” (  Mark 1:15  ; cf.  Matt 4:17  ;  Luke 4:42-43  ); the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, “your kingdom come” (  Matt 6:10  ); in the Beatitudes, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (  Matthew 5:3  Matthew 5:10  ); at the Last Supper, “I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it a new in the kingdom of God” (  Mark 14:25  ); and in many of Jesus’ parables (  Matthew 13:24  Matthew 13:44  Matthew 13:45  Matthew 13:47  ;  Mark 4:26  Mark 4:30  ;  Luke19:11  ).

 

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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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10 True Love Stories

The definition of love in the British and World English in Oxford dictionary states that LOVE is “A strong feeling of affection: babies fill parents with intense feelings of love their love for their country”.

However has love left you confused?

There are a few things most people say love isn’t. Some people say isn’t a feeling. Some people say that although real love is often accompanied by strong feelings, love does not equate with the sense of floating on clouds unlike the type of love that movies, television, and songs portray. Some people say that  friendships and relationships wouldn’t last long on emotions alone. In fact, most academics  say that knowledge is the basis of a healthy relationship.

However what does the bible say about love?

This verse certainly describes the characteristics of true #love.

“Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind. It Does Not Envy, It Does Not Boast, It Is Not Proud. It Is Not Rude, It Is Not Self-Seeking, It Is Not Easily Angered, It Keeps No Record of Wrongs. Love Does Not Delight in Evil but Rejoices with the Truth. It Always Protects, Always Trusts, Always Hopes, Always Perseveres. Love Never Fails.” —  I Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)

These qualities can most definitely  be found in #Jesus  #Christ, and should perhaps exist in all truly loving relationships.

Included below are some  of the sweetest and most heart touching #loving photos posted on #Godinterest  so far  during this  festive season.

A Soldier Meets His #Baby for the First Time.  the Bond Between Parent and Child Is One of the Strongest Connections in Nature.

We  Love Seeing Old Couples. It Gives Us  Hope That Can  Stand the Tests of Time. “Young Love Is a Flame; Very Pretty, Often Very Hot and Fierce, but Still Only Light and Flickering. The Love of the Older and Disciplined Heart Is as Coals, Deep-Burning, Unquenchable”. – Henry Ward Beecher

Forever Love in Cuba by RHahn

Gereational Thinking Means Thinking Beyond Yourself. Knowing That Every Action, Belief, Conviction You Settle for Now, Will Have a Definite Impact on the next Generation. This Is Such a Great Theme…

Jesus Replied, This Is the Work (Service) That Asks of You: That You Believe in the One Whom He Has Sent [That You Cleave to, Trust, Rely on, and Have Faith in His Messenger]. (’­John’¬ ’­6’¬:’­29’¬).

So Jesus Can Relate to Suffering and Pain. In Fact, His Essential Purpose in Leaving His Kingship in Heaven and Condescending to Take Mortal Form Was to Suffer. And It Started with His Birth.

 

Homeless and Impoverished Children Living in New Delhi, #India, Receive a Free Education from Two Volunteer Teachers.

 

Greg Cook Hugs His Dog Coco After Finding Her Inside His Destroyed Home in Alabama Following the Tornado in March, 2012.

You’re Never Too Young to Start Praying! Are  We Right? The Truth Is, We All Need a Moment with God, Whether It’s to Thank Him, Praise Him or Ask Him for a Little.

The scripture is God’s love letter to mankind, the most amazing Valentine card ever written and in its pages is the description of the ultimate act of love and sacrifice and also, Gods blueprints for true love and true romance.

And Now These Three Remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the Greatest of These Is .And now these three remain: faith, hope and  #love.

So what is your love made of, surface romance or real romance rooted in unselfish sacrifice? Is it about all you want to get from someone else, or all you want to give?

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Mom This Is How Godinterest, The Christian Social Network Works

Godinterest  is an online photo-driven Christian social networking tool in which users re-post  images  of whats happening on the web and in their lives along with links to things they think are simply #Godinteresting, funny, or useful to their followers (“following” being essentially what “friending” is on other sites). People use #Godinterest  in many ways, some as a newsfeed by following prominent people or networks, some as a pseudo-chatroom by limiting their followers and whom they follow to close friends and family, and some as a microblog for updating people about the work they are doing and their personal lives using photos.

“GODINTEREST USERS”

Godinterest  users choose who they do and do not follow. They have total control of what news they receive on their ‘following’ page. When I refer to your “homepage”, I’m referring to the feed that you see when signed into Godinterest  containing your and your followers posts. This is different from your personal Godinterest  page (Godinterest.com/yourusername) which contains all of your posts  including your replies to other users. You can have an unlimited amount of followers, but only follow a select few people if you want, making it easy to stay in touch with the people you care to stay in touch with.

WHO SEES WHAT

Anyone that follows @you will see your posts  on their homepage.    By putting another person’s @username at the start of a statement, it will  show up in  their notifications.

DIRECT MESSAGING

Direct Messages are private messengers  (to other Godinterest  users / the general public) that are exchanged between two users that follow each other. You cannot direct message someone that does not follow you and vice versa. Direct messages are the only private way to converse on Godinterest. “DM’s” are basically like emails. They are unsearchable on Godinterest.

HASHTAGS

Hashtags # are a way to label posts  so that other users can see posts  on the same topic. Hashtags contain no spaces or punctuation and begin with a “#” symbol.

Godinterest  users create trending topics by using hash tags. For instance, a user might create a hashtag as a fun way to start a conversation like #God #Bless #Christian #ChristianSocialNetwork
Lastly, hashtags are used to punctuate statements or jokes on Godinterest. Some Godinterest  users make sentence-long hashtags for comic effect.

Check out some of the most touching images posted to Godinterest today.

….#Christmas Angels By David Brandt Berg For the Christian, every day can be Christmas! #Jesus showers His love down on us every day of the year. But sad to say, it’s not that way for so many poor folk…

 

…“I’ve Got Some Scars, But I’m Still Alive.” | The Prude Girl’s Blog

…The Destiny of the Unevangelized: Universal Opportunity | #Liberty Community Online

 

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What Would Jesus Pin?

The phrase “What would Jesus do?” (often abbreviated to WWJD) became popular in the United States in the 1990s and as a personal motto for adherents of Evangelical Christianity who used the phrase as a reminder of their belief in a moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through the actions of the adherents.  This saying has become a guiding principle for many Christians.

As simple as it seems, the question—What would Jesus Do?—still leaves us  wondering.

However, we’re flipping that around and asking you the question, WWJP—Would #Jesus Pin? or Post?  Do You Really Want to Know?

First Peter 2:21 says that Jesus left us “an example, that we should follow in his steps.” So, it’s admirable and biblical to ask “WWJP  —What would Jesus Pin?”  

Everyone who knows anything about the gospels—and even those who don’t—knows at a basic level that Jesus was a friend of #sinners.  Yet we  find ourselves constantly challenged by Jesus’s example to make sure we do not turn away outsiders in a way that Jesus never would.

If the truth be told Jesus was a friend of sinners not because he winked at sin, ignored sin, or enjoyed light-hearted revelry with those engaged in immorality. Jesus was a friend of sinners in that he came to save sinners.

We  looked at the four gospels with the  above  question in mind and discovered seven priorities that guided Jesus.  He would seek the Father for the strength and wisdom to embrace, restore, confront, teach, serve, and equip the people around him.

These seven priorities should drive us back to the gospels to take a fresh look at how Jesus lived. As users of the social networking websites  we need to keep asking ourselves—#What Would Jesus Pin?  or Post. It’s a great question. But remember: If you’re not sure what Jesus actually did in his life, then you’re just guessing at what he might do in yours.

We’ve included some of the most compelling photos posted to Godinterest this week.

I love doing these portraits, and our friend suits them perfectly!

Lucky enough to go into the enclosure with Mia, this gorgeous female #cheetah at the WHF Centre in Smarden, Kent

A  Chinese paramilitary police recruit being shipped to start his service in the Zhejiang province began to tear up in this photo, taken on Dec. 12, 2010.

Kevin Berthia was talked out of jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge by this police officer in 2005. He has since become an advocate for suicide prevention and has started a family.

Starving boy and #missionary

True  #love

We  want to hear  from you, when you write a message, share a photo, or a video online, do you stop and think about what it says about you as a  believer?  

 

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Christian Man Sentenced to Death for Blasphemous WhatsApp Message

A Pakistani Christian man has been sentenced to death for blasphemy after he sent a Muslim friend a poem on WhatsApp that insulted Islam, a lawyer said on Friday.

Nadeem James  was charged in July last year  after his Muslim friend, Yasir Bashir, complained to local police that he received a poem on the messaging app that was derogatory towards the Prophet Mohammed.

“Mr James was handed a death sentence by the court on Thursday on blasphemy charges,” Anjum Wakeel, the lawyer of James  told AFP.

“My client will appeal the sentence in the high court as he has been framed by his friend, who was annoyed over Mr James’ affair with a Muslim girl.” Wakeel added.

He said the trial was held inside a prison due to security reasons after local Muslim clerics had threatened James and his family.

Court officials confirmed the sentence.

A sensitive topic in Pakistan

Source: Wikimedia
Source: Wikimedia

Within the deeply conservative Muslim-majority country, blasphemy is seen as a sensitive issue and legally punishable by death, where often unproven accusations can stir violence.

In 2011, a personal  bodyguard assassinated the provincial governor  of Punjab, Salman Taseer, after he called for the existing blasphemy laws to be reformed.

In 2014, a  Christian couple was lynched  in a kiln in the province of Punjab after being falsely accused of desecrating the Quran.

Several rights groups have said the laws are routinely abused to seek vengeance against ethnic and religious minorities.

Link to Original Post

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When Images Speak Louder than Words

The pen is mightier than the sword, or so they say. We don’t know how true that is, but   we will say this: Pens are certainly a lot less intimidating. How about this next one?

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words.

Photographs are  one of the most powerful tools of engagement online, and is rising in importance as the digital realm takes hold and more people look to online channels for browsing, shopping and socializing.  There’s something about a photograph on Godinterest, one that makes a statement or just takes your breath away with its sheer beauty. Why?

In this fast-moving world, when you have a message to convey, people hardly have time to sit down and read. But if you’re able to capture the essence of what you want to say in  a  photo, you’ll  stand a better chance of capturing your target audience.  It’s true that our attention is easily distracted  by pictures. Visuals are more effective than words literally and figuratively  as  people tend to stop and look at compelling visuals.

Studies have found  that pictures facilitate the learning process, especially when it comes to children and others who are mentally impaired. They have shown that  photo’s  are easier to remember and associate with facts and that they can both evoke and  are able to capture emotions that words cannot, no matter how cleverly they’re used.

In a #Warzone, a Crying Child in the Midst of All the Rubble Drives Home the Pointlessness of It All Much More Than the Harshest of Write-Ups. The Picture of a Little Baby  Praying Is Enough to Melt Even the Hardest of Hearts.

However, Most Often Though, It’s Not Just the Pictures Alone That Make a Point. When Combined with the Best Write-Ups, Visuals Help to Push Home the Message in the Most Powerful Way  and  That’s How They Ought  to Be Used on #godinterest

Today Is Veterans Day, the Official Holiday in the Unitd States That Honors People Who Have Served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Here Are Nine Things You Should Know About an Oft-Overlooked Group Of#veterans.  #worship #god #jesus #christianity  #wordpress #blog  #godinteresting

Depression Is a Doosey.  a Conversation I Had with a Friend the Other Day Inspired This Post. Depression Runs Rampant and It’s Peculiar That So Many People Afflicted with This Ailment Are . Why Is That?

Fierce, Determined Hands.  I Could Write for a Long Time About Grief. I Have Buried Too Many People. The Scar of Grief Was First Carved by My Parents’ Divorce. I Was Too Young to Remember, but I Know That My Father Was There…

Mercy Defined  “I Asked for Love. I Asked for Mercy. I Asked for Patience; But You’re Already All of These Things.”

 

Life of a #Wannabe . This Is How We Know Is Good; Because Even Though We Stumble and Fall and Our Sin Causes Us to Cry, God Will Take Those Tears and Build a Lake for Us to Dance On.

WAIT – Shining a Light “Don’t Team up with Those Who Are Unbelievers. How Can Righteousness Be a Partner with Wickedness? How Can Light Live with Darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NLT)

Big Girls Do Cry: Your Tears Are Not a Sign of Weakness.

We  want to know from you, when you write a message, share a photo, or a video online, which do your friends and colleagues respond to more? Share your response in the comments field below, and let us  know what the most memorable picture you’ve seen online is.

 

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From Personal Evangelism to Community Engagement

Godinterest  is a essential tool for evangelism and is focused on sharing the gospel message around the world through pictures. Jesus told his followers to take the Gospel to all the world.

Now, It’s Even Easier for People Around the World to Share Posts That Make Us Laugh, Teach Us Something New About God or Help Us Find out What’s Happening in the Christian World.

In Christ we are many parts, but make up one body. This is not just my story or your story. What is truly amazing is that it is our collective story. Our churches are full of small groups made up of Christ-followers who need to be shown the power of their collective story and released to be an active and engaged presence within the community.

Wherever you are in the world, be it Japan, Brazil or somewhere in between,  we hope Godinterest makes it easier for you to discover and post content  that bring us all closer to God and thereby closer to each other.

Christmas Around the World from U.S. Military Personnel Celebrating in Afghanistan to India, the Vatican, the United States and Elsewhere, People Celebrated Christmas 2013.

Soweto Gospel Chior  at  Symphony Hall  | DigBoston.  for I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel, for It Is the Power of God for Salvation to Everyone Who Believes, to the Jew First and Also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16  English Standard Version)

We  Are So Thankful for Missionaries Who Persevere to Make a Difference in the Lives of People Who Would Not Get a Chance Any Other Way.

News and Views from the Continent of Africa from a Christian Perspective.

Mandela B&W

The Arb Lowers Its Flag to Half-Mast, to Honour the Passing of the World’s Greatest Campaigner for Freedom, Democracy and Human Values. May His Life and Achievements Continue to Inspire and Fortify Us All. Nkosi Sikelel’ IAfrika!

While there is a huge range of thoughts and images both positive and negative that comes to mind when we think of the word  evangelism, there always seems to be a common theme”¦evangelism is singular, personal.

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Knowing God and Making Him Known

What do you think of when you hear the word “evangelism”?

Maybe it brings up the image of someone walking door to door and asking if they can come in and talk to you about Jesus. It could be the image of the man on the street passing out tracts or the person shouting into a megaphone about sin and fornication on your college campus.

Godinterest Exists to Make God Known as  Making God Known Is Part of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).

God wants you to discover Him, perceive Him, see Him, and experience Him through a relationship with Him.  He wants you to know that you can trust Him  as  God’s  character is love, kindness, mercy  and faithfulness.

As we ask God to lead us, we find that He gives us all kinds of creative ways to live out His loving purpose for the world.

We invite you to ask God to show you how you can play a part in Making God Known on Godinterest.

Let’s do it in being and living, in speaking and writing, in proclamation and dialogue, in preaching and teaching, in argumentation and invitation.   We hope you will enjoy the touching  stories  of people Making God Known on Godinterest.

Scottsdale Master’s Commission is a discipleship program that is committed to the spiritual and personal development of its students. Our purpose is two fold: “TO KNOW GOD AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”

…therefore go and make disciples of all nations (Matt.28,19)

….a  magic moment for the city of God

 

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Godinterest – Behind Every Picture, There’s A Story

There’s a  story,  behind every picture, isn’t it obvious, considering that when we take pictures we want to seize that particular moment,  whether  that be a family photo or just a situation that you find interesting and intriguing.

All over the world and every day and every minute there is a photo somewhere being taken and each and every one of those photos, like the moment it captures, has a story.

The story maybe brief, or it may be long, or maybe not even known. The picture might even show its story, or hints of what it could be, but then maybe what is shown is not really true. None the less, for some reason we have taken these pictures, we show them, or hide them away, post them for others to see on Godinterest, and sometimes we wait to see what other people may say.

People often say that a picture is worth a  thousand words, it implies something, it means something, you take it as you want.

The exact phrase “A picture is worth a thousand words” for the first time appeared as an advertisement in San Antonio Light newspaper in 1918.

Never underestimate that feeling you get when you look at a photograph or a painting, hear the lyrics of a song and think “Yes. That, exactly. That is how I feel right now.”

The beauty of the  pictures is that it captures universal emotions and makes us feel a bit less alone.

There is a story behind every picture on Godinterest. Sad story, fun story. We hope you will enjoy the incredible story telling pictures we  gathered only for you.

If there’s a story behind every picture or image, the above story is PERFECT ♥ John 3:16  says for [God]  so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. King James Bible.  God’s love is very personal toward us. It doesn’t matter where we’ve been, it doesn’t matter what we’ve done, it doesn’t matter what we’ve experienced – God loves  us unconditionally.

Our  feet may never  come close to what these kids do. we’re  sure it’s a long tiring day for them collecting scrap woo.

Missions at Freedom Fellowship has the goal of seeing lives transformed by the power of Christ. Their  efforts are focused in India, Indonesia, China and Thailand.

July 4th was over 89 years before the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, however, human trafficking is still a problem in the United States and throughout the world.

Despair by Marcske Doubts

Street Healing By  Gil Burgos Ministries

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11 Ways to Share Your Faith Online with Godinterest

While Godinterest  is often referred to as a “photo sharing website,” in reality it is much more than that. In addition to posting photos, people  also  post funny images, quotes and text. And some people don’t post anything at all, they just “like” and comment on what others post.

Because of that we  think it’s more accurate and beneficial to think of Godinterest  as a social network where images are the primary medium.

Let’s talk about ways we can use Godinterest  to share our faith online. Here are 11 we  came up with:

1) Post pics of creation.  Give God all the praise.

2) Post pics of Christian community. Share the fun and love you experience at social events at church and within your small group.

3) Post pics of serving in your community. When you serve the poor, paint a house or join in a community service project or cause, take, upload and share photos.

4) Post pics from missions trips. Missions trips are especially good opportunities for great photos because they often provide the opportunity to mix in beautiful pictures of God’s  creation, culture and people from other  country’s.

5) Post quotes from scripture and Christian authors.

6) Post pics of Christian art.  Godinterest is a visual medium. Sometimes art – whether it’s paintings, stained glass, sculpture or other – speaks louder than words.

7) Post pics of the people you love & things you like.  In other words, be a real, authentic person.

8) Listen and engage with others. Remember Godinterest  is a SOCIAL network. Don’t just broadcast. Follow your friends, family and people in your community who use Godinterest. View their pics, comment  and  encourage them.

9) Mention your faith in your Godinterest  bio.

10) Post your testimony and/or a gospel presentation on the site your profile links toIn your Godinterest  profile, you have the ability to include a link to a website. You can use this to link to your blog or personal website where you can tell the story of how God has transformed your life and can transform others  as well.

11) Create a Godinterest  profile for your church.  If your a pastor or church communications person, you can create an Godinterest  account for your church and do all of the above on behalf of your church.

What do you think of the suggestions above? Any really resonate with you? Got any other ideas for using Godinterest  to share your faith online?  Your comment will post immediately. Comments that are not in keeping with our  comment policies  may be removed by editors.

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David Cameron: I am evangelical about Christian faith

Prime Minister David Cameron speaks up on the significance of the Christian faith.

Cameron  has declared himself an “evangelical” about his Christian faith as he criticised some non-believers for failing to grasp the role that religion can have in “helping people to have a moral code”.

David Cameron famously described his Christian faith as being a “bit like the reception for Magic FM in the Chilterns: it sort of comes and goes”. Yet recently, the signal appears to have been amplified. Mr Cameron has already praised the contribution that Christians make to society, referred to Jesus as “our saviour” and spoken of the “moments of greatest peace” that he has experienced attending the Eucharist. But in a new article in the Guardian he appears to go further than ever before, urging Christians to be “more evangelical” about their beliefs – to “get out there and make a difference to people’s lives”.

In his third effort this week to highlight his own strong faith, the prime minister said he wanted to see a bigger role for religion in Britain as a Christian country and urged fellow believers to be more confident in spreading their views.

It comes after several big clashes between the coalition and the church, including a  letter this week from 40 Anglican bishops and 600 church leaders calling on all political parties to tackle the causes of food poverty. Previous tensions have been caused by Cameron’s decision to introduce gay marriage, and deep cuts in welfare benefits

Here in Britain “we don’t do God”.

Those who know him say that the Prime Minister has always had a quiet but profound faith, one that helped him come to terms with the death of his eldest son. But this candour is not only new, but something of a departure for those in his position. Tony Blair was certainly a committed Christian, but was urged by Alastair Campbell to keep quiet about it on the grounds that here in Britain “we don’t do God”.

Actually, the British sometimes do “do God”.

How refreshing, then, to have a Prime Minister who is willing to talk openly about the values that motivate him. How refreshing, also, to be reminded that, actually, the British sometimes do “do God”.

We are a Christian country, whose laws, ethics, language and culture are the product of a particular religious foundation. True, church attendance may be falling (although not everywhere, as the Archbishop of Canterbury has reminded us). But polls show that there is a lingering popular desire for the transcendent and the meaning that it brings to believers’ lives. And Christians – along with Jews, Muslims and other faith groups – continue to play a large role in education and charity.

 

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Christmas 2014: Jesus Was Not Born in a Stable, Says Theologian?

It’s the story that everyone knows: Jesus was born in a barn, surrounded by farm animals and shepherds, because there was no room at the inn.

But now, a British biblical scholar is challenging the nativity tale, and insists that a closer reading of the Gospel of Luke demonstrates that Mary is more likely to have given birth from the comfort of a family’s upper room.

“I am sorry to spoil your preparations for Christmas,” wrote Reverend Ian Paul on his blog, an evangelical scholar at the University of Nottingham, “but Jesus wasn’t born in a stable, and, curiously, the New Testament hardly even hints that this might have been the case.”

This misconception hinges, he claims, on the mistranslation of the Greek word “kataluma”, which has historically been taken to mean inn.

The word is used elsewhere in the bible as a word to mean “private upper room” where Jesus and his disciples ate the Last Supper in the Gospel of Mark. Meanwhile, Luke uses another word – “pandocheion”, meaning a gathering place for travellers – to refer to an inn.

There’s a social context Rev Paul believes modern readers are missing, too.

He writes: “In the first place, it would be unthinkable that Joseph, returning to his place of ancestral origins, would not have been received by family members, even if they were not close relatives.”

Taking into account the fact that most people’s homes at the time would have had one room for family, and either a second room for guests and animals, or a space on the roof, it seems, he says, much more likely that there would have been no space in the guestroom.

“The family guest room is already full, probably with other relatives who arrived earlier,” he argues. “So Joseph and Mary must stay with the family itself, in the main room of the house, and there Mary gives birth.”

The manger aspect of the story is easily explained too. “The most natural place to lay the baby” would have been “in the straw-filled depressions at the lower end of the house where the animals are fed”, says Rev Paul.

So what does this mean for our religious understanding of the story? Some scholars, including Rev Paul, believe that the story as we have it today promotes the idea that Christ is somehow ostracised from society, rejected by his people and forced into a lowly cattleshed. Instead, he says, we should be seeing the newborn Jesus as arriving in a busy, loving and welcoming family home – and not distanced from humanity.

Original Article:  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/history/jesus-was-not-born-in-a-stable-says-theologian-9944254.html

With almost 3 billion people online now, we have never been so connected. So as followers of Christ, now is our chance to reach out to the online mission field that is at our finger tips. At Godinterest our desire is that this generation would be bold enough to stand up and make the most of what God has placed in our hands, literally, to make sure that no person journeys through their life without hearing what Jesus has done for them.

 

 

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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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Hashtags: Why, Where, When?

The other day, when I was browsing my Godinterest, we noticed a post from a person that contained a frankly ridiculous number of hashtags. The post looked silly, unprofessional and the company in question seemed to be using hashtags because, you know, it’s social media and you use ! Now we’re not saying that they don’t have their uses, but it seems they have become so synonymous with social media that people have started to use them but don’t appear to know why?  

Why?

At their core, hashtags are essentially a way of indexing or grouping together posts on the same topic. They’re a way of reaching people outside of your own following, but within a particular subset of people you’re trying to target. And clearly, if you manage to get your content in front of the right people then your engagement rates should rise, which then leads to more followers and eventually  more traffic to your site. But clearly, this approach only works on certain platforms.

  • People use the hashtag symbol  #  before a relevant keyword or phrase (no spaces) in their posts  to categorize those posts and help them show more easily in Godinterest Search.
  • Clicking on a hashtagged word in any message shows you all other posts marked with that keyword.
  • Hashtags can occur anywhere in the post body – at the beginning, middle, or end.
  • Hashtagged words that become very popular are often Trending Topics.

Example:  In the section below,

Ready to see what’s happening on Godinterest?

Sign up today at Godinterest.com

 

 

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