Tag: John Piper

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3 Christian-Themed Films To Consider This 2018

While Hollywood has produced a good share of well-made movies that are clearly Christian through-and-through (A Man For All Seasons, The Passion of the Christ), it has also produced countless other gems that are deeply Christian at their core despite not looking so on the surface.

After a long week of school, corporate office, or church ministry duties, you may favor watching films to unload the stress or just relieve your body of tiredness. Here are some Christian-themed titles for you to consider:

The Riot And The Dance

It’s also popularly known as Planet Earth. This is a nature documentary shared with us by Biologist, Dr. Gordon Wilson. Enjoy a variety of awe-striking nature and wildlife footage. This cinematic exploration may cause you to stop and pause in adoration of our great Creator God. Part 1 came out on March 19 with Part 2 set for a 2019 release. Get more info and watch the official trailer here.

Here are some notable feedbacks on the film:

John Piper, the founder of DesiringGod.org, said, “My wife and I loved it.”

Timothy G. Standish, a Ph.D. Senior Scientist Geoscience Research Institute, commented, “If your world has faded to black and white, The Riot and the Dance is the cure for colorblindness.”

Ken Ham, Founder and President of Answers in Genesis, said, “The stunning cinematography and explanations of God’s design will leave you giving our awesome Creator the praise He deserves.”

Paul, Apostle of Christ

The film retells the story of Luke the physician and the Apostle Paul, whom he visits in Rome during the latter’s imprisonment. The time is set during the reign of Nero who was then determined towards getting rid of Christians everywhere. Basing content from Scriptures, you will see Paul and Luke’s struggle depicted including the persecution of the Christian Church. Expect some deviations of course, as embellishments and extra-biblical rendering is often the norm when Christian accounts are turned into a film.

 

The cast includes Jim Caviezel (The Passion of The Christ), James Faulkner (Downton Abbey), Olivier Martinez (S.W.A.T.), Joanne Whalley (A.D. The Bible Continues), and John Lynch (The Secret Garden).

The film came out on March 23 with digital viewing for release on June 12. A Blu-ray and DVD release is also scheduled for June 19. Get more info and watch the official trailer here.

I Can Only Imagine

“I Can Only Imagine” is a beloved worship song that has impacted church people all over the globe. Matt Ballard, lead singer of MercyMe crafted the song in a matter of minutes but it took a lifetime of God’s crafting on his heart for it to reach a place of wondering about God and pursuit of Him. The film retells the lesson-filled life of Bart from a young age, touching on his broken relationship with an abusive father. It tells how he was encouraged and guided towards a musical pathway.

Here are some notable feedbacks on the film:

Jim Ward of USA Today found it “both beautiful and emotionally powerful.”

MovieGuide believes “Directors Andrew and Jon Erwin ”¦ deliver their most resonant, effective movie yet.”

Amy Grant said, “In the amazing new movie I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, there is an overarching story of redemption. And the beauty of the story of God’s redemption is: everybody can be included!”

The film came out on March 16. The DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital release are on June 12. Get more info and watch the official trailer here.

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Are You Ready For Jesus To Come?

CA Bill Bans the Bible

No one is exempt. Every single one of us has a calling from the Lord. We have a purpose for our time here on earth. We have an assignment from God.  

In 2 Cor. 9:1-5, we see Paul’s continued dedication to the Corinthians. Paul had every excuse to walk away. He could have easily deserted them and moved on. A lot of times…that seems like the best option. But Paul doesn’t throw in the towel and call it quits. Oh, he so easily could have! The oxygen was waning thin. The deep, dark bags under his eyes were showing. However, he stayed in the game…not because he was receiving a pat on the back or high-fives in the air…but merely because God had called him.

The Nature of Readiness

Despite the false teachers, confused Corinthians, and unending hostile work environment–Paul presses on. He fights the good fight. He doesn’t let exhaustion win. Paul continues on because he is smack dab where God assigned him to be. He is living out the calling on his life. And whether you realize it or not, you have a calling too. God has called you to use the gifts He has apportioned to you.  

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10). John Piper defines our spiritual gifts as “varied grace incarnate in human personalities which we steward for the good of others.” Consider the extraordinary privilege of being useful to God. He has gifted you with spiritual gifts, appointed you as an ambassador, and invited you to be a part of the Great Commission.

Now, it is our responsibility to heed the call. Finish the task. And follow through. In one moment (like the Corinthians) we may be ready. We may be amped up. But then we hop in our car, turn on the radio, and start singing a different tune. Forgetting all about our calling.

The Big Question

Do you have any unfinished business? Have you lacked the resolve to carry it through? Is there anything God has called you to do that has been left undone? Paul gave the Corinthians overseers (a call out to all my accounting friends. whoop!) to help them stay on course and execute the plan. Maybe some of us need an accountability partner. Maybe some of us need to get back in the game. Maybe some of us need reminding that Jesus is coming back soon…and we need to be up and ready with the kettle pot on.

What is your biggest distraction? When Jesus comes back, will you be ready?

 

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Should I Do Yoga if I am a Christian?

Recently I’ve been on a spiritual journey that includes deep prayer, meditation, and mindfulness to help me to connect with God. At the same time, I’ve also been on the hunt for some low-impact stretching that could potentially help with chronic pain in a natural way.

Meditation and stretching. Put those two together and what do you get?

Yoga.

So, I’ve said I need to stretch. And I find that meditation brings me closer to God. These all naturally come together in the form of yoga. But, as a Christian, should I do yoga? Am I allowed? Will Jesus love me less?

Well, first, let’s see”¦what does the Bible say about the word “yoga”? Nothing. Zero. There’s no record of that word being used.

So now what do I do? Since the Bible doesn’t talk about yoga specifically, I have to use the brains God gave me to dig a bit deeper. Then I can determine how best to deal with this current cultural trend.

Let’s start with a few of the basics:

Yoga began as a spiritual disciple in Hindu which includes breath control, meditation, and static postures of the body. Some people who practice yoga are active Hindus or Buddhists. Many are not.
In the western world, yoga is a broad term that is often descriptive of people engaging in the physical body postures that encourage strength and stamina. Sometimes this is combined with meditation for mental strength, but not exclusively. Some yoga classes used sacred words such as “Om”, “Namaste”, and certain chants that hint to Buddhism and Hinduism. Other classes make no reference to the spiritual world at all and are simply a form of physical exercise. Yoga potures have Sanskrit names that have spiritual meanings. Many times these are replaced with English names that simply describe the form the body is taking. (For instance, “lotus” has become “criss-cross applesauce”.)

The word “yoga” in Sanskrit means “yoke” or “union with God”. God tells me to not worship another god, and I must obey.

So I know that yoga started as an ancient spiritual practice of another religion which should lead me to move forward with caution. But I also know that Jesus came to redeem all things.

Is it possible to engage in a moderated form of yoga that feeds our Christian souls, or should we avoid it altogether? Can we be aware of the potential pitfalls and dangers of the spiritual side of yoga and then practice it in a meaningful way with a Christian bent and attitude?

The famous American minister John Piper seems to think that we can’t. He says we should avoid yoga completely, citing it as antithetical to Christianity.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Piper has some good things to offer. But in this situation I tend to think that maybe he’s throwing the proverbial “baby out with the bathwater”.

Christians have often taken “secular” symbols or practices and re-stored them into something that is healthy and even God-glorifying. Take Christmas, for example. December 25, the day on which we now celebrate Jesus’ birth, was reclaimed from the pagans. That date was redeemed from a pagan holiday to a Christian celebration.

Jesus has come to redeem all things. Even pagan holidays. Possibly even stretching and meditation and breathing?

Over the ages, Christians have used wisdom and the discernment to choose what is right for them as individuals and as a Body of believers. To apply Jesus’ redemption to various non-Christian things.

“Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.” 1 Corinthians 10:23

So I need to decide if yoga could be beneficial (or detrimental) to me. In my case, I truly believe God has given me the wisdom and discernment to be able to stretch and strengthen my body without accidentally worshipping a false god. I even believe that I can meditate and breathe while I simultaneously reflect and contemplate how incredible God is. All without slipping into the devil’s snare.

But I am aware that this may not be the case for all people.

Personally, think that I can apply the idea of a “yoke” or “union with God” in yoga to my relationship with Christ. But that doesn’t mean I’ll just sign up for any yoga class that is offered. I need to be wise and first ask questions about how spiritual a class is before taking it. For my own purposes, I tend to learn at home with videos, so there’s not much of a risk of me getting caught in an awkward situation. If something gets a little weird, I can just turn it off.

Holy Yoga is a practice that is gaining traction, offering the grounding of the Gospel while reframing the positive aspects of yoga in a Christian way.

“Holy Yoga embraces the essential elements of yoga: breath work, meditation and physical postures. In all of these elements, Christ is the focus of our intention and worship.”

So as I‘m making a decision about yoga (or anything in my life!), I need to ask if it creates a risk of becoming a detriment to my walk with Jesus. If so, then I absolutely shouldn’t do it! But if yoga can be practiced in a way that is healthy to my body and mind, while drawing me closer to Christ with mindfulness and meditation, then is it possible that even John Piper can’t argue with that?

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What Does Spiritual Power Look Like for Christians Besides Reading Scripture?

I watched a local football match in a school playing ground. As I sat down, I asked one of the boys what the score was.  With a smile, he replied; “They are leading us 3-0”. and I said, REALLY!

I have to say you don’t look discouraged. Discouraged, the boy asked with a puzzled look.  Why on earth should I be discouraged when the referee has not blown the final whistle?  I have confidence in the team and the managers; we shall overcome.

The match ended 5-4 in favor of the boy’s team.  The boy waved at me gently, with a beautiful smile as he left. I was amazed, mouth wide open. Such confidence, such beautiful faith.

As I got back home that night, his question kept coming back to me,

“Why should I be discouraged when the referee has not blown the final whistle?”

Life is like a game.  Why should you be discouraged when the almighty God is your manager? Why should you be discouraged, whilst there’s still life? Why should you be discouraged when your final whistle has not sounded?

The truth is that many people blow the final whistle themselves, but as long as there is life, nothing is impossible and it is never too late for you.  Halftime is not full-time and God’s calendar for your life is not man’s calendar. However, everyone needs a bit of encouragement from time to time. Thankfully we have the Bible as our ultimate source of encouragement!

Let your heart be captivated as you go through these encouraging quotes that inspired us:

  1. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  – (2 Corinthians 4:18)
  2. “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength.”  – Corrie Ten Boom
  3. “Forgiveness is the fragrance the flower leaves on the heel of the one who crushed it.”  – David Jeremiah
  4. “Love covers a multitude of sins. So loving the unlovely and moving in love gives us strength, power, and victory.”  – Unknown
  5. “Waiting on God builds spiritual muscles. This transforms us, develops our character, and deepens our relationship with God.”  – Unknown
  6. “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”  – Augustine
  7. “Rejection is an opportunity for your selection.”  – Bernard Branson
  8. “Do all the good you can,  By all the means you can,  In all the ways you can,  In all the places you can,  At all the times you can,  To all the people you can,  As long as ever you can.”  – John Wesley
  9. “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.”  – Billy Graham
  10. “We may speak about a place where there are no tears, no death, no fear, no night; but those are just the benefits of heaven. The beauty of heaven is seeing God.”  – Max Lucado
  11. “Your potential is the sum of all the possibilities God has for your life.”  – Charles Stanley
  12. “The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.”  – Helen Keller
  13. “Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.”  – John Piper
  14. “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”  – Francis Chan
  15. “Let God’s promises shine on your problems.”  – Corrie ten Boom
  16. “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”  – Mother Teresa
  17. “Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.”  – Elisabeth Elliot
  18. “The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.”  – Abraham Lincoln
  19. “This is our time on the history line of God. This is it. What will we do with the one deep exhale of God on this earth? For we are but a vapor and we have to make it count. We’re on. Direct us, Lord, and get us on our feet.” –Beth Moore
  20. “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” –Chuck Swindoll
  21. “The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.”  – Billy Graham
  22. “You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read.”  – John MacArthur
  23. “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”  – Deuteronomy 7:9
  24. “He who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity; he’s moving daily toward his treasures. To him, death is gain.”  – Randy Alcorn
  25. “God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.”  – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
  26. “There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God.”  – Alistair Begg
  27. “Relying on God has to start all over every day as if nothing has yet been done.”  – C. S. Lewis
  28. “Always, everywhere God is present, and always He seeks to discover Himself to each one.”  – A.W.Tozer
  29. “His grace is cheapened when you think that He has only forgiven you of your sins up to the time you got saved, and after that point, you have to depend on your confession of sins to be forgiven. God’s forgiveness is not given in installments.”  – Joseph Prince,
  30. “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”  – Augustine
  31. “God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.”  – Max Lucado
  32.  “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”  – The Holy, Mark 9:23 (KJV)
  33. “God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go.”  – Tony Evans
  34. “Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.”  – Winston Churchill
  35. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” – John Piper
  36. “Christ literally walked in our shoes.” – Tim Keller
  37. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”  – Jim Elliot
  38. “Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us — a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.”  – John Piper,
  39. “If you can’t fly, then run, If you can’t run, then walk, If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”  – Martin Luther King Jr.
  40. “If you believe in a God who controls the big things, you have to believe in a God who controls the little things.   It is we, of course, to whom things look ‘little’ or ‘big’.”  – Elisabeth Elliot
  41. “As long as you do things for God, you are a Hall of Famer on heaven’s list.”  – Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

Pastor Rick Warren wrote that when he feasts on the Word of God, he feels even hungrier for the presence of the Lord.

We don’t need temporary pleasures that bring only momentary satisfaction. Keep your eyes on that ultimate prize of heaven, eternity, paradise! Don’t lose heart – Jesus is making you new!BE ENCOURAGED! DON’T GIVE UP.

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43 Great Quotes To Inspire You To Be a Better Christian Leader

Anyone who has responsibility for the work of others understands the unique challenges that come with managing people.

Over the years, various thought leaders have come up with pearls of wisdom in the form of quotations that when given some thought, have a lot to teach us.  Sometimes a simple quote is just the thing to lift our spirits, to make us smile or to give us the energy to keep going when we’re feeling low.

Here are 43 such quotes to make us better Christian leaders.

  1. “The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self.” –  Unknown
  2. “In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way.” –  Unknown
  3. “The good news is, God has provided us with a LifeBook to help us – the Bible.” –  Unknown
  4. “Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul.” –  John Maxwell
  5. “There’s only two things you can start without a plan: a riot and a family, for everything else you need a plan.” –  Unknown
  6. “Rejection is an opportunity for your selection.” –  Unknown
  7. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” –  John Maxwell
  8. “Leadership is getting people to work for you when they are not obligated.” –  Fred Price
  9. “Running a project without a work breakdown structure is like going to a strange land without a roadmap” – J Phillips
  10. “You don’t have to hold a position in order to be a leader.” –  Henry Ford”
  11. “Have a good plan, Execute it violently, Do it today” – General Douglas McArthur
  12. “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that is has taken place.” –  Unknown
  13. “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”  –  Winston Churchill
  14. “A project without a critical path is like a ship without a rudder.” – D. Meyer
  15. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
  16. “What’s measured improves.” –  Unknown
  17. “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” –  Antoine de Saint Exupry 1900-1944, French writer and aviator
  18. “If it is not documented, it doesn’t exist. As long as information is retained in someone’s head, it is vulnerable to loss.” –  Unknown
  19. “It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out nor more doubtful of success nor more dangerous to handle than to initiate a new order of things.”  –  Machiavelli 1446-1507, Italian statesman and philosopher
  20.  “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra.” –  Unknown
  21. “Luck is for the ill-prepared.” –  Unknown
  22. “Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand.”  –  Chinese Proverb
  23. “Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is  coordinating the talents  of those who work for us and pointing them towards a certain goal.” –Unknown
  24. “PMs are the most creative pros in the world; we have to figure out everything that could go wrong before it does.” – Fredrik Haren
  25. “Why do so many professionals say they are project managing when what they are actually doing is firefighting?” –Unknown
  26. “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.”  –Unknown
  27. “Ensure your documentation is short and sharp and make much more use of people-to-people communication.” –Unknown
  28. “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” –  Henry Ford
  29. “Leadership offers an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, no matter what the project.” –  Bill Owens
  30. “Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.” –  John C. Maxwell
  31. “Leaders have two characteristics: first they are going somewhere, and second they are able to persuade other people to go with them.” –  John Maxwell
  32. “The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.” – Kenneth Blanchard
  33. “The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.” – Warren Bennis
  34. “The best example of leadership is leadership by example.” –  Jerry McClain
  35. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” –  John Quincy Adams
  36. “The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve.” –  John Stott
  37. “We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power and strength.” –  Charles F. Stanley
  38. “Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” –  Mark 10:45
  39. “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” –Unknown
  40. “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” –  Mother Teresa
  41. “The greater your knowledge of the goodness and grace of God on your life, the more likely you are to praise Him in the storm.” –  Matt Chandler
  42. “Continuous effort  – not strength or intelligence — is the key to unlocking our potential” –  Winston Churchill
  43. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” –  John Piper

If you know a great quote or scripture that will inspire others to lead their churches better, please feel free to share it in the comments below.

 

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