Tag: Prayer

Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship, typically a deity, through deliberate communication. In the narrow sense, the term refers to an act of supplication or intercession directed towards a deity, or a deified ancestor.

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Fighting to Be a Father

Fighting to Be a Father

I could have been like many fathers and not fought to stay close to my children after a terrible divorce, but I refused to let go of the relationship that I had with my three children. After my wife and I separated, over a year before our divorce, she moved 265 miles away, her desire was to kill the relationship that I had with our children and to be close to her family. It was the worst years of my life but it would give way to one of the greatest miracles that I have ever witnessed.

Going the Extra Miles

The relationship that I had with our three children was strained to say the least after the separation. Every phone call to the children was monitored by my ex-wife or her boyfriend and sometimes both. Every visitation was accompanied by a two to three-hour fight with my ex-wife just to be able to get my children for a weekend once every three weeks. I had no rights; no privileges and I was not allowed to have the children for holidays except New Years. I was not allowed spring breaks and I had one week in the summer with the children. I paid my child support as deemed by the court. My ex-wife even went so far as to tell the children, “I wish your father would just go away and leave us alone.” Traveling to another city and staying in a motel for a weekend visitation was miserable, to say the least. My financial situation was not good but still, I spent almost two weeks pay on a given visitation weekend to be with my children.

I took my wife to court to get my visitation rights upheld but to no avail. It was then my attorney told me to go for custody of the children. I could not prove my wife an unfit mother and I could not prove that I was a better parent to raise our children. The process proved to be time-consuming, monetarily costly and agitating but I believe God had a hand in that as well as the big picture of what was to happen.

Before the Mercy Seat

I prayed night and day and I spent most of my nights on my face before God, asking Him for mercy in the matter of this custody battle. Three things worked in my favor; one, that I believe in prayer, two that I kept impeccable records of phone calls, visitations and anything that I thought would be of interest to my attorney and the judge, and three, that I was relentless in staying in contact with the children by phone calls and visitations.

Do to Others, As You Would Have Them Do to You

In less than two years, God created a miracle that seemed impossible to my family, my church family and most of my friends, I was given custody of my children by my ex-wife, not the court system. Most honorably after this took place, I gave my ex-wife all the rights and privileges that I wanted when she had the children and I kept my part of the bargain until the children graduated from High School, even meeting her halfway to where she lived so the trips would be more bearable.

I only wish I could describe the miracle process in length, but that would belabor this article.

Don’t Lose Hope

I, like the writer of the original article; “Where Have All the Fathers Gone“, have heard my share of stories of fathers that just gave up. What a sad situation to allow another person to sever the bond between a child and its father.

Where Have All the Fathers Gone?

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32 Prayer Quotes – Be Encouraged and Inspired!

32 Prayer Quotes - Be Encouraged and Inspired!

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing as  prayer is the forerunner of mercy and  an essential element in our relationship with the Lord.

Like a good parent, God is waiting, ready, and willing to listen to our worries, concerns, and needs.

God shapes the world by prayer and the more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil.”

The following verses will encourage your daily walk with Christ and help you experience the power of prayer!

  1. “She  became a warrior far superior to any epic hero. She became a giant on her knees. With a sword in one hand she battled the enemies of death and disease, and with her other hand stretched toward heaven she kept beseeching God’s help and His mercy.” – Bishop T.D. Jakes“To pray rightly, you must make God your hope, stay, and all.” — John Bunyan
  2. “The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” — Soren Kierkegaard
  3. “True prayer is the trading of the heart with God.” — Unknown
  4. “She  became a warrior far superior to any epic hero. She became a giant on her knees. With a sword in one hand she battled the enemies of death and disease, and with her other hand stretched toward heaven she kept beseeching God’s help and His mercy.” — Bishop T.D. Jakes
  5. “No duty is more earnestly impressed upon us in Scripture than the duty of continual communion with Him.” — David McIntyre
  6. “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
  7. “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one” ’- Bruce Lee
  8. “To pray is to enter the treasure-house of God and to gather riches out of an inexhaustible “storehouse.” — Unknown
  9. “He who knows how to overcome with God in prayer has heaven and earth at his disposal.” — Unknown
  10. “The very act of prayer is a blessing.” — Unknown
  11. You are before the Lord; let your words be few, but let your heart be fervent.” — Unknown
  12. “The Master says that men of strong faith are men of much prayer.” — Andrew Murray
  13. “Prayer is the forerunner of mercy.” — Charles Spurgeon
  14. “Prayer is the best response to hatred.” — Unknown
  15. “It is well said that neglected prayer is the birth-place of all evil.” — Unknown
  16. “No man can progress in grace if he forsakes prayer.” — Unknown
  17. “A mighty piece of weaponry in the battle of prayer is God’s promise.” — Unknown
  18. “Sometimes when we do not receive comfort in our prayers, when we are broken and cast down, that is when we are really wrestling and prevailing in prayer..” — Unknown
  19. “We know not what prayer cannot do!.” — Unknown
  20. “All our problems are theological ones, William Temple said. All of them have to do with our relationship to God and his to us, and this is precisely why it makes sense to come to God with them.” — Elizabeth Elliot
  21. “God has not changed; and His ear is just as quick to hear the voice of real prayer, and His hand is just as long and strong to save; as it ever was.” — R.A. Torrey
  22. “Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” — Max Lucado
  23. “There are parts of our calling, works of the Holy Spirit, and defeats of the darkness that will come no other way than through furious, fervent, faith-filled, unceasing prayer.” — Beth Moore
  24. True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” — Charles Spurgeon
  25. “Let no one profess to trust in God, and yet lay up for future wants, otherwise the Lord will first send him to the hoard he has amassed, before He can answer the prayer for more.” — George Muller
  26. “I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right; but it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation may be on the Lord’s side.” — Abraham Lincoln
  27. “To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.” — Billy Graham
  28. “Rather than set aside daily time for prayer, I pray constantly and spontaneously about everything I encounter on a daily basis. When someone shares something with me, I’ll often simply say, ‘let’s pray about this right now.” — Thomas Kinkade
  29. “Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.” — Corrie Ten Boom
  30. “The prayer offered to God in the morning during your quiet time is the key that unlocks the door of the day. Any athlete knows and understands that it is the start that ensures a good finish.” — Adrian Rogers
  31. “God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.” — Mother Teresa
  32. “Prayer makes a godly man, and puts within him the mind of Christ, the mind of humility, of self-surrender, of service, of pity, and of prayer. If we really pray, we will become more like God, or else we will quit praying.” — E.M. Bounds

 

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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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Does Prayer Really Make a Difference?

Does Prayer Really Make a Difference?

If you and I were having coffee together, and I asked you, “Hey, how’s your prayer life?”, how would you respond?

I know for most followers of Jesus, myself included, prayer is one of those things that we  know  we should do, but struggle making it a regular practice throughout our daily life.

Like any relationship, communication with Jesus is vital if we actually want to grow closer to Him. So we commit to pray. We sit down in the morning with our coffee and Bible, and start praying. It feels awkward, and we start to stumble through different things to pray for. We look at the clock after we’ve prayed for everything we can think of, and three minutes have passed. We get discouraged, pull out our phone, and give in to the noise of social media rather than the calming presence of our Creator.

I don’t know if you can relate to this scenario, but it strikes close to home for me. We want to pray. But it feels awkward, boring, and we quickly run out of things to say. And then we wonder,  does my praying even make a difference?

Theologian Dallas Willard wrote, “The idea that everything would happen exactly as it does regardless of whether we pray or not is a specter that haunts the minds of many who sincerely profess belief in God. It makes prayer psychologically impossible, replacing it with dead ritual at best.”  If God is good, all knowing, and all powerful, why do we need to pray anyway? Since God is ultimately  in control, everything is going to happen the way it’s going to happen…right?

While this is a common assumption for a lot of us, it is far from what Scripture says about prayer. One story in Exodus completely blows this assumption to smithereens. Let’s take a look at it.

The story is in Exodus 32, when God was talking with Moses. Verses 7-14 details their conversation. It says,  “The Lord told Moses, ‘Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’’’¨’¨Then the Lord said, ‘I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.’’¨’¨But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. ‘O Lord!’ he said. ‘Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’’  So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.”

Don’t miss what just happened…God was going to do one thing, Moses pleaded with Him to do something else, so God changed His mind.  Do you realize that your prayers have the same power today that Moses’ prayer had?

Mark 11:24 says,  “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

God wants an active relationship with you, which means back and fourth conversation. We are to be active participants in this relationship, rather than mere bystanders just waiting to see what God will do. That means that we must pray, expecting God to listen and respond to our prayer.

Let me clarify, I’m not advocating for a health-and-wealth Gospel. Some teachers declare that if you just have enough faith and name what you want, it will be yours. This is not what I’m saying. Health-and-wealth teaching is dangerous and far from biblical truth.

What I am saying is, let’s raise our view of prayer. God wants to engage in conversation with us, and will act on our prayers. He is a Good Father who listens to His children.

1 John 5:14-15 says,  “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

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So You Think You’ve Married the Wrong Person?

5 Truths about God’s Design for Sex in Marriage

When I saw Roger’s Facebook profile photo, my first reaction, if I’m honest, was that he wasn’t good-looking enough for me. Yet when he sent a message saying I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, I gave into his invitation for dinner, she says in regret.

“According to a new survey of more than 1,600 divorcees, 49 percent  admitted they were worried on their wedding day their relationship would break down, and two-thirds considered leaving their spouse-to-be at the altar.”

“A sixth said they hoped their partner would change after the wedding, while others said they got married in the hope that it would “all work out” in the end.”

Lord, I’m sorry! I married the wrong man. Please forgive me, she cries out in agonizing prayer.  

No couple should expect bliss every day and most couples know that perfection is not on the cards. Nevertheless, there are couples who display such deep-seated incompatibility, such heightened rage and disappointment, that most people will conclude that something else is at play beyond the normal scratchiness: they appear to have married the wrong person.

How do such errors happen, in our enlightened, knowledge-rich times? To avoid becoming a “statistic,” try to internalize these 7 insights.

#1. You picked the wrong person because you expect him/her to change after you’re married.

Many Christians may assume that non-believers are more likely to marry the wrong person because they lack God’s guidance in finding their one true love. But not so fast. Unfortunately, the number of Christians divorcing is no lower than that of non-believers.

“Singles today (and most married couples too) are searching for super-spouses that simply don’t exist.”

Movie star Mickey Rooney said, “Marriage is like batting in baseball; when the right one comes along, you don’t want to let it go by.” It sounds good, until you realize that Mickey was married eight times. He must have had a lot of “good pitches” to swing at!

Mickey Rooney has what might be called the “needle in a haystack” view of picking a mate.

But you won’t find a “wrong needle” clause in the Bible that gives you an “out” if you conclude that your spouse isn’t right for you. Instead you’ll find in Malachi 2:15, “Do not break faith with the wife of your youth.”

Surprising to many, the Bible never tells us to find the one God has chosen.   It tells us how to live with the person we have chosen. It’s easy to take our thoughts to the extreme when we’re so unhappy. But lets not forget that God says in the Bible says, “Come, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18).  You didn’t marry a mind reader.   Don’t fault him or her for that.

#2. You picked the wrong person because you focus more on chemistry than on character.

Many societies portray marriage as a temporary arrangement that can be adapted or forsaken at will.  When first looking out for a partner, the requirements we come up with are coloured by a beautiful non-specific sentimental vagueness.  All of us are crazy in very particular ways.  All too many people say their vows without a real commitment to their spouse or to God.

Marriage is not primarily about finding the right spouse. It’s about being the right person.  In his classic work, The Art of Loving, Erich Fromm declares, “To love somebody is not just a strong feeling—it is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise.

#3. You choose the wrong person because you do not share common life goals and priorities.

Biblically, a Christian should be looking to marry another believer who shares a similar commitment to following the Lord Jesus. Marriage to an unbeliever should be avoided (2 Corinthians 6:14). So, if a Christian marries a non-Christian, he or she may have indeed married the wrong person.

#4. You choose the wrong person because you got intimately involved too quickly.

“Do you know unmarried couples who attend church, have consensual sex, and may even live together? According to a recent study by the Barna Group,”

The Bible is filled with lots of info about sex, and believe it or not, God thinks it’s a great idea! And why shouldn’t He, He invented it  and declared it to be “good.”

Many Christian couples also justify cohabitation with the rationalization that they are going to get married eventually. However, the Bible promotes complete abstinence before marriage. Sex between a husband and his wife is the only form of sexual relations of which God approves (Hebrews 13:4). Sex within marriage is pleasurable, and God designed it that way. God wants men and women to enjoy sexual activity within the confines of marriage.

If you believe Christ died on a cross for your sins and you are trusting in Christ alone for your salvation, Christ commands you to pick up your cross and follow him (Matt. 16:24). Sex outside of marriage is a sin, no matter how a person tries to interpret Scripture otherwise, and every Christian is called to obey God in this aspect of life. Jesus said.

Also consider this, if the Bible’s message on sex before marriage was obeyed, there would be far fewer sexually transmitted diseases, far fewer abortions, far fewer unwed mothers and unwanted pregnancies, and far fewer children growing up without both parents in their lives.

#5. You picked the wrong person because you didn’t put everything on the table.

Let’s start off with the big one.   TRUST!  When a spouse is persistently and relentlessly lying about dim-witted things, it causes worry and doubts to set up camp. The journey begins like this. A young man or woman identifies the person he or she wants to marry and begins the business of serious courtship. Time and money are no object.  They have a worthy goal and are motivated, even if that means telling lies in the process.

“You look as beautiful today as the day I met you.” “Of course you don’t look fat in that.” “I’m not angry.” “I wasn’t looking at her, I was just noticing her boots.”

Legally, all you need for a wedding is a visit to the county clerk’s office, and whatever else your local government requires.  Most weddings these days skip the garter toss; many skip the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and some even skip the flowers. But what matters most is that you tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

“If you tell the truth, it becomes part of your past, however, if you tell a lie, it becomes part of your future”. ~ Author Unknown”

Wow does that quote nails it, or what??!!

#6. You picked the wrong person because you use the relationship to escape from personal problems and unhappiness.

In many places in the world, a fantasy is promoted that marriage should meet all our needs—the emphasis being on meeting one’s own needs, not the needs of one’s spouse. However, people that are unhappy when single and expect marriage to fulfil their lives are greatly disappointed as their level of contentment will drop even lower when married.  Unrealistic expectations are those demands you make of your spouse of which he or she is incapable of providing.

“When you’re single, you experience a range of contentment from low to high. However, when your married, that range becomes even wider in both directions. Greater contentment—or discontentment.”

God wants to destroy you, not the physical you, but the  selfish you. Jesus taught us that if we don’t die to our selfish nature, we will never be able to experience all the blessings that God wants to bestow on us. Well, if there was ever an institution designed to kill the selfish you, it’s marriage. In fact, it is virtually impossible to succeed at marriage if you don’t learn how to let the selfish part of you die.

#7. You picked the wrong person because you did not consult with God

“I don’t think I can do any better. He or she said, It may sound clich, but if you don’t respect and love yourself, it will be difficult to respect and love another person.”

Surely we aren’t destined to fail.  So maybe we have misunderstood the will of God. I know that sounds simplistic.  Many people claim that is the problem with their marriage.  If they could go back and press rewind, if they knew back then what they know now, they would have made different decisions. But remember that God promises us that if we ask, He will give. And while asking, request that the Holy Spirit guide you as your Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6).

How can a person prevent getting married to the wrong person?

The truth is, a successful marriage is not the result of marrying the “right” person, feeling the “right”emotions, thinking the “right” thoughts, or even praying the “right” prayers,

Instead, keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards,” is good advice (Poor Richard’s Almanac, June 1738), but even more helpful is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

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Is Russell Brand A Christian?

Russell Brand is talking about Jesus.

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

Wow, that sounds really great!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Actually no, he didn’t.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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How Much Credit Does Jesus Deserve for the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII Victory?

How Much Credit Does Jesus Deserve for the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII Victory?
On Sunday, February 5, 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles pulled off an unforgettable Super Bowl victory against the perennial contenders the New England Patriots.
Nick Foles said he gave ‘all the glory to God’ during the Super Bowl awards ceremony. However, many critics were surprised by the moment, with one Twitter user writing: ‘It’s just so rare for people to thank Jesus after they win. Amazing!!’

NBC spokesperson Tony Dungy was attacked for alleging that Philadelphia Eagles American quarterback football player Nick Foles would ‘play well because his Christian faith would allow him to play with confidence’.

“Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is outspoken about his faith and wants to become a minister after NFL.”
Last week Dungy said that Foles told him that he felt the Lord had him in Philadelphia for a special moment‘, and he played like it tonight.’
Nick Foles said he gave ‘all the glory to God’ during the Super Bowl awards ceremony. However, many critics were surprised by the moment, with one Twitter user writing: ‘It’s just so rare for people to thank Jesus after they win. Amazing!!’
Tony Dungy has always been a class act, but some people just don’t like the fact that he’s a strong Christian and  ripped into him on Twitter, accusing him of ‘preaching on air’.
‘Really think the LORD is into football? Get a grip,’ wrote one critic.
“You did a fine job expressing your opinion Coach Dungy so keep up the good work!, Wow, never saw someone take someone heat for what they believe in. Thank Coach for having faith in my eagles as well even when others did not!”  wrote another.
Dungy spent much of Monday replying to the abuse heaped upon him by social media critics.
Dungy, a strong Christian himself, responded in a tweet Tuesday saying, “NBC pays me to express my opinion. And it was my opinion that Nick Foles would play well because his Christian faith would allow him to play with confidence.  And that he’s a good QB. I think I was right on both counts.”

The above tweet has been retweeted more than 7,000 times and has received more than 45,000 likes on Twitter.

Dungy wrote,  “This was much bigger than the score of a football game,”   “How many young boys are going to look up to Nick Foles because of what he did in this moment? When they do they’ll see something about LIFE!”
 
Foles’ belief in God has almost certainly gained him a spotlight since he took over the Eagles, especially because he was considering retiring after the Rams cut him following the 2013 season, but he said prayer turned him back to football. However, Foles was not the only player to acknowledge  faith’s role in football, as Eagles head coach Doug Pederson and  Wide Receiver Zach Ertz both openly thanked God on the field for their Super Bowl victory directly after the game.

“I can only give the praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity,” Pederson said,  according to Townhall.

Who do you serve?  

It’s a simple question. Yet, if you are candid with yourself, the answer may be upsetting.
When you think of service and loyalty in life, everyone ascribes ultimate worth to something or someone – to some person, ideal or ideology. If it is not God, it may be sex, money or power. Or anything else. Fill in the blank. However, there is a little doubt from the events that unfolded in the story above that a segment of the sports press and the public would prefer that athletes with conservative and Christian beliefs keep their views to themselves (but secular and leftist views are fine).
Lets, however, stop shaming people for being transparent about their Christianity, for articulating publicly what they believe privately. And let’s start admiring them for putting their cards on the table, letting the rest of us see what it is that motivates them, and what makes all of us who we are.
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Feeling Anxious? Beat Anxiety with 3 Biblical Steps

Life is filled with all kinds of reasons to be afraid and anxious. War. Disease. Politics. Poverty. Death. Failure. Rejection. Clowns.

Some fears are specific and reasonable. Others are generic and unfounded.

We don’t have to read the bible very long to notice fear cropping up. Repeatedly the characters in the Old and New Testaments are commanded not to fear. When the phrase “Do not fear” so often appears, we get the idea that God doesn’t want us to be afraid.

But in the context of our world filled with so much anxiety and fear, does the bible give anything more than simply a command not to fear?

Yes, it very much does!

Although scripture doesn’t often provide step-by-step instructions in the form of a “How-To” guide, this is one case where it does. And it’s one of my favorites.

It’s right there in the letter Paul wrote to the Philippians — a veritable recipe for beating anxiety!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Let’s break it down into three easy steps: the Command, the Action, and the Promise.

The Command: Do Not Be Anxious

If this command was a stand-alone, then I would be out of the game before even getting started. Because I can’t just manufacture peace and calm on my own! Thankfully, Paul gave the command but he didn’t just leave it there. He gave a “what” (do not be anxious) and then he gave the “how” that follows.

The Action: Present Your Requests to God

If you’re thinking that presenting requests to God is like presenting a wish list to Santa at Christmas, then you’re a bit off track. We first need a relationship with God in order to earn the right to start a conversation with him. And that comes through Jesus.

By prayer”¦.

Once we believe in Jesus as the one who saves us, God becomes our Father. And our relationship with him happens through prayer. Prayer is simply a conversation with God.

Often our prayers are one-way—we ask him for stuff. But prayer ideally goes both ways. One synonym for prayer is “devotion”. Take time during prayer to declare your devotion to God and praise him just because he is.

And petition”¦.

Here’s where the asking part comes in. Petitioning is asking God for something. In this case, ask God to meet a specific need that is causing anxiety. Ask him to help you trust him to provide. Ask him to remind you that he loves us and will not leave you alone. Ask him to take your anxiety away.

It’s absolutely okay to ask God for help. He knows that we need him and he is happy to hear us connect with that.

With thanksgiving”¦.

When someone asks you for something and you give it to them, how does it make you feel if they don’t thank you? Remember, God also likes to be thanked for the good things that he give, generally and specifically. If you’re not feeling like there’s much to be thankful for, look around and find something. Life. Breath. Sunshine. Rain. Grass. Your job. A carrot. Whatever. Be thankful.

When we take a posture of gratefulness, we avoid repeatedly coming to God as spoiled children. He doesn’t mind that we are needy. But he does mind if we are ungrateful.

The Promise: Peace

Once you’ve walked through praying, asking and thinking, it’s time for peace.

Even if the world around you doesn’t make sense and your friends tell you that you should be panicking, you have this promise:

The Peace of God

which Transcends All Understanding

will Guard your Heart and your Mind

in Christ Jesus.

 

This means that your family might not get it or your financial advisor might be telling you the ends just won’t meet. But if you’ve walked with God in prayer, petition and thanksgiving then you’ll receive his peace.

At first, you might experience peace for just a moment until you need to take a deep breath and start the whole process over again. Sort of like the “Lather. Rinse Repeat” instructions listed on your shampoo. But it will get easier and become more natural. The action of taking everything to Jesus is critical in order to receive peace.

Anxious thoughts popping up? Pray with petition and thanksgiving. Peace doesn’t last very long? Pray again.

Pray. Receive Peace. Repeat.

It’s really rather simple. Because with as many times as the Bible is confusing, Paul gave clear instructions on where to find peace.

Pray. Receive Peace. Repeat.

Not sure if you believe it? Try it out. Maintain a continual dialogue with God that includes prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. See what happens.

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Worldly Peace Vs. God’s Peace

Worldly Peace Vs. God’s Peace

Foreknowing His coming crucifixion, aware of how troubled His disciples would become, Jesus, utters the following words: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” In meditating on His assuring words, we learn that the world’s peace is different from God’s peace. We also learn that God’s peace is far more sustaining. It exceeds all that worldly peace can offer. Why would there be a need for Jesus to present it to His disciples if it wasn’t so?

Worldly peace falters; God’s peace remains constant

Worldly peace rises and falls to the occasion. There can only be peace of mind when things are going well when one is secure and life is smooth sailing. A man who relies on this world for peace will crumble in times of struggle and uncertainty.

God’s peace is steady. It is undisturbed in times of hardships. The man who relies on God for peace will rise above struggles and uncertainties. It is because the heart and mind know not to trust in circumstances but in the very nature of God Himself. He will work things out for my good. (Romans 8:28)

Philippians 4:6 and 7 tell us not to be “anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving; we are to present our requests to God.” When we entrust all our difficulties to Him, God’s peace will come and steady our hearts.   It may seem strange to others or even hard to understand. But regardless of the turmoil around us, God’s peace keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our enabler and strengthener.

Worldly peace disintegrates; God’s peace remains whole

Worldly peace breaks down in times of need. There can only be peace of mind when needs are met and when one’s desires are fulfilled. A man who relies on this world for peace may reach desperation in times of lack and shortage.

God’s peace is sustainable.   It satisfies in times of want. The man who relies on God for peace will always feel sufficiency. It is because it trusts the God who will come to our aid in our greatest time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 tells us to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

When we entrust all our needs and insufficiencies to Him, God’s peace will come. We will feel his mercy and grace deepening us, maturing us. We may not find immediate solutions. We may not find quick provisions. But we will find ourselves less panicky and more trusting. We will be less despondent and more patient as we await answers. It is because the heart and mind know not to trust in one’s capacity to solve problems but in the very nature of God Himself.   He will supply what I need. (Philippians 4:19)

God’s peace is yours for the taking

God’s peace is ours to enjoy. It’s not like a magic potion that causes all problems to disappear. It’s not like a magic genie that grants all our wishes and desires. If anything, God’s peace is like a blanket. It comforts. It warms us up when we feel down and out. It shields. It covers and protects us amidst varying situations and conditions. In Isaiah 26:3, God promises to keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast and trusting in Him. In John 16:33, Christ promises that while in this world, we will face trouble; in Him, we may always have peace. Let’s claim God’s peace. Let’s not trade it for what this world offers.

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Being Brave: A 40-Day Journey to the Life God Dreams for You

Part 1 of an interview with Kelly Johnson,Author of Being Brave: A 40-Day Journey to the Life God Dreams for You

The world can be a scary place, and the fear it produces can spiral us into a sort of paralysis that keeps us from speaking truth, living boldly, and encouraging others. To spur us back into action, life coach Kelly Johnson has written a devotional, Being Brave: A 40-Day Journey to the Life God Dreams for You  (Abingdon Press), to help fan the flame of bravery that lies in wait within everyone.  

Q: How did your daughter first start you on the journey to study about being brave, and what role did she play in encouraging you to write this book?

When my youngest daughter was nine years old, she was having a particularly tough day. She had worn me out with her growing list of worries, complaints, aches, pains, and fears, and I told her I didn’t know what else I could do for her. I had depleted my reservoir of mommy tricks in my efforts to help her get to the other side of her increasing angst and finally said to her, “Brooke, I don’t know how to help you.” She looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said, “Mommy, I just need you to tell me that I’m a brave soldier.” Her response to me that day began our family’s journey with the power of naming one another brave.

When Brooke left for college a few years ago, she wrote me a letter inviting me to step out and be brave in this new season of my life. Through my curiosity around the word brave, I started writing, reading, and wondering about what being brave meant for women like me who wanted to live lives of meaning and purpose but were sometimes scared to step out of their comfort zones. In October 2015, I offered my first Being Brave retreat where we explored God’s vision for our life, the barriers to fully embracing that braver life, and the part our connection to one another played in hearing God’s voice more clearly. This book was originally created as a resource and follow-up for my retreat attendees to go more deeply into the concepts we covered at the retreat.

Q: How is being brave tied into our faith and identity as Christians? Why is it powerful to be called brave?  

The most often repeated command in scripture is “do not fear.” God knew we would need encouragement to help us deal with our tendency to be sidetracked by our fears, so we find hundreds of scriptures about fear and courage in the Bible. Every exhortation to set aside our fear includes a reminder of God’s presence. Because of God’s presence, we can defeat the power of fear in our life and live in the fullness of who God made us to be. Because of God, we are brave. The theme verse for our journey is found in 2 Timothy 1:7:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity,but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.

Remembering we are brave reminds us of our identity as children of God and sets us free to do the next right thing with confidence. Naming one another BRAVE, calling out the brave soldier in each other, is a powerful way of speaking out loud the following message of solidarity and inspiration: “I see your struggle. I see your brave, hard work. I believe in you, and I’m here if you need help.” When we are reminded of our inherent, God-given courage, we can turn down the volume on the voice of our inner critic and turn up the volume on God’s voice. Remembering we are brave helps us tap into the part of ourselves that is creative and resourceful.

Q: You describe part of being brave as being bold, confident, and resilient. What encouragement do you have for the woman who doesn’t feel like she is any of those things?  

My experience both personally and in my interactions with friends and clients tells me many of us would have trouble describing ourselves with those words most of the time. While we might be willing to acknowledge confidence, boldness, or resilience in ourselves in some areas, many of us are much quicker to see those qualities in others. We tend to compare our insides with other people’s outsides and reach the conclusion that others possess something we just don’t have. I would encourage the woman who struggles to identify those qualities in herself to ask a trusted friend or family member for help in the discovery process. We are always more connected to our courage in the context of community. Find the people who encourage you to step out and exercise your confidence muscles and offer them the gift of encouragement in return.

I would also encourage her to determine what she thinks being bold, confident, and resilient looks like and act that way until she begins to feel that way. One of my favorite quotes about being brave is from Aristotle. He says, “We become brave by doing brave acts.” I believe scripture tells us that God created us to be brave, bold, confident, and resilient. Until we remember what that feels like, we need to encourage one another and practice doing brave things. Do one thing that scares you every day, no matter how small, and catch your friends being brave.  

Q: Who was Being Brave written for?

The Being Brave journey is for women who feel stuck and want to get un-stuck. This book is for the woman who dreams of a life of deeper purpose and passion, even though she isn’t sure she has anything significant to contribute. This book is for the woman who feels lonely, even though she has 750 friends on Facebook, and for the woman who loves Jesus, even though she doesn’t always feel like she fits in at church. This book is for the woman longing for deeper connection to God and to other women like her. This book is for the woman who needs someone to tell her she is brave, her story matters, and the party won’t be complete without her.

Q: Tell us a little bit about the format of Being Brave. How did you intend for the book to be used?

The book is formatted as a forty-day devotional journey. Using our theme scripture from 2 Timothy and an acronym of the word BRAVE, we explore six facets of being brave. On this journey, being brave includes being Bold, Resilient, Authentic, Vulnerable, Engaged, and Empowered by the Spirit. Each day explores one of the six facets of bravery with two scripture verses, an illustration, three thought-provoking questions, and a prayer. Along the way, we take inspiration from Jesus and His brave followers during the final weeks of His ministry, in addition to examples of courage from my own community.

My prayer is that readers will find an accessible guide to thinking about being brave in a new way and be willing to consider the idea that our Creator is willing and able to accompany us on the journey. I hope Being Brave is a book that both seasoned devotional enthusiasts and those who have never used a daily devotional before will find meaningful. In less than thirty minutes, most readers will be able to explore the daily offering and consider ways to incorporate the various facets of bravery into their day.

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Is a Thorough Knowledge of the Bible Really worth More than a College Education?

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. - Theodore Roosevelt

“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
– George Washington

No other study will so ennoble every thought, feeling, and aspiration as the study of the Scriptures. No other book can satisfy the questionings of the mind and the craving of the heart. By obtaining a knowledge of God’s Word men may rise from the lowest depths of ignorance and degradation to become the sons of God, the associates of sinless angels.

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.”
– Charles Haddon Spurgeon

As an educating power, the Bible is without a rival. Nothing will so impart vigour to all the faculties as an effort to grasp the stupendous truths of revelation. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. If occupied with commonplace matters only, it will become dwarfed and enfeebled.

“Reading through the entire Bible provides an opportunity to better understand Scripture’s “big picture.”

In its wide range of style and subjects, the Bible has something to interest every mind and appeal to every heart. In it the most simply stated truths are involved – principles that are as high as heaven and that encompass eternity.

There is no position in life, no phase of human experience, for which the Bible does not contain valuable instruction. Ruler and subject, master and servant, buyer and seller, borrower and lender, parent and child, teacher and student – all may here find lessons of priceless worth.

“The first and almost the only Book deserving of universal attention is the Bible.”
– John Quincy Adams

But above all else, the Word of God sets forth the plan of salvation: shows how sinful man may be reconciled to God, lays down the great principles of truth and duty which should govern our lives, and promises us divine aid in their observance. It reaches beyond this fleeting life, beyond the brief and troubled history of our race. It opens to our view the long vista of eternal ages – ages undarkened by sin, undimmed by sorrow.

“The American nation from its first settlement at Jamestown to this hour is based upon and permeated by the principles of the Bible.”
– Justice David Joseph Brewer, Supreme Court Justice

Don’t forget to spend time in prayer. Thank God for giving you eternal life and His Word. Ask Him to teach and guide you so that you will become even more faithful in following Him.

If you have questions about the Bible, we would love to talk to you about this book, and what it can mean as a part of your life.

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7 Ways Meditative Prayer Can Benefit Your Health

7 Ways Meditative Prayer Can Benefit Your Health

A friend and I recently started a women’s circle in our town, inviting friends and fellow church-goers. We told everyone it would be a time of guided meditation, solitude, and spiritual connection with God. A time to be mindful and present. We knew this might be a new concept to some women so we explained it through written communication and face-to-face.

Very quickly we realized that a lot of confusion exists around meditation. Or at least in our little evangelical Christian corner of the western world. And I’m guessing we are not alone.

Some women thought we were planning to do yoga. Others were uncertain whether meditation is even appropriate for Christians.

Thankfully, we weren’t calling our sisters to do anything unbiblical. In fact, David, the “man after God’s own heart” wrote about his heart’s meditation in the Psalms.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”   Psalm 19:14

So what is meditation?

More than those quick prayers we say while driving or just before a big meeting. Different than the times we spend in corporate prayer. Not quite the same as worship—although the two are related.

Meditation is about taking a dedicated time to stop, contemplate, and consider. It doesn’t happen on the fly.

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, meditation is “the act of giving your attention to only one thing”.

Focus. Fixate. Concentrate.

Consider. Reflect. Contemplate.

Ponder. Ruminate. Deliberate. Speculate.

In an age where people are constantly busy and value is placed on activity or productivity, the idea of sitting still, thinking or pondering scripture seems foreign. But could this be the very reason that anxiety, stress, and chronic illness are so pervasive? Could it be that putting our lives on pause to meditate has the power to change things?

We are instructed by the author of Hebrews to “fix our eyes on Jesus“. (Heb 12:2)

As we fix our eyes and hearts on Jesus through meditation, we gain innumerable benefits. Of course, the spiritual benefits are obvious. Deepening our relationship with the Father. Keeping us in step with the Spirit.

Certainly, emotional benefits come from spending time communing with God. And these can extend into our personal relationships with family and friends.

But what about physical benefits? Is it possible that God created our bodies in a way that we are physically healthier when we spend time communing with him?

The answer is yes. Emphatically, yes.

Our brilliant Creator made our bodies to respond to meditation, contemplation, stillness and focus in a way that offers a myriad of benefits. And while scientists can’t quite understand why research shows that times of meditation are healthy for the human body.

While the details vary depending on the specific study, the basic concept remains the same. Research shows that, on the whole, people who meditate have better health in specific areas as well as overall.

Here are some of the ways studies have shown meditation benefits the health:

  1. Lowers Blood Pressure. Young people were found to have significantly lower blood pressure rates after mediation when compared to a control group.
  2. Reduced Heart Rate. When compared with people who were simply resting during the same amount of time, people who meditated had significant decreases in their heart rate and blood pressure levels. And the longer the meditation lasts, the lower the heart rate.
  3. Serotonin Levels. Critical in relationship to mood, bone health, digestion, and wound healing, people who meditate have higher levels of this critical neurotransmitter.  
  4. Melatonin Levels. Vital for proper sleeping rhythms, people who meditate have higher levels of melatonin.
  5. Immune System. After eight weeks of meditation training, study participants were found to have much higher functioning immune system response than a control group.
  6. Reduced Chronic Illness Symptoms. In various studies, people who meditate have shown significant improvement in symptoms of chronic illness such as fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, psoriasis, and even cancer.
  7. Overall Sense of Health and Well-Being. As extra dopamine is released during meditation, our overall feelings of pleasure and joy are triggered. Dopamine is useful in balancing blood pressure as well as fighting against depression and anxiety.

It is important to note that meditation can be physically beneficial whether practiced with or without religious beliefs. But, as Christians, we understand that the only true self-reflection and enlightenment we can find comes from the God of the Universe. As we commit to meditate and commune with God, we are rewarded with a deepening eternal relationship as well as health for our temporal bodies.

It seems that God has thought of everything.

If you aren’t sure how you feel about meditation, why not try it? Tell us about your experience.

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The Pain of a Prodigal: Why Children of Christian Parents Abandon the Faith?

Statistics show a rise in the number of people who hold no religion.   For Australia, an official tally shows a steady rise every 10 years.

Nat Geo reports that “the religiously unaffiliated, called “nones,” are now”¦ the second largest group in North America and most of Europe.” They make up about 25% of the US population. As of 2016, the “nones” have overtaken Catholics, Protestants, and non-Christian faiths.

Where did these “nones” come from? Didn’t they come from family lines that had religion before, a Christian one possibly? History shows us that from ancient times people practiced their own kind of worship. Inside every heart has always been a realization of a being that is above and beyond us, whose very nature summons our recognition and adoration. Fast forward to the present though and we find in many people the spirit of atheism if not indifference towards God.

LifeWay research warns that Christianity may be losing its “Millennials”. “A survey conducted on adults born from 1980 indicate that “religion and its practices are decreasing and becoming increasingly privatized among the Millennial generation.”

This means fewer people now observe the faith and fewer join communal worship, fellowship, and prayer. Children are abandoning the faith.

How are Christian families dealing with this? Every member is responsible for keeping the Faith and passing it on to “their” next generation. These sad reports should move us to understand the reasons why children abandon the faith so that we can act accordingly.

Lack of In-house Teaching

Children are to grow up learning about God and experiencing Him primarily in the home. Parents should not expect the church to do all the teaching and rearing for them. Deuteronomy chapter 6:7 commands parents to “teach  and  impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Children must grow up in a home where God and His Words are naturally part of the conversations that take place.

Lack of Modeling

Modeling is essential. Learning impact is high when someone demonstrates the lessons for us. Children need to see evidence of truth and effectiveness. They must witness that God’s Word is indeed reliable and relevant. They must witness that God is real, that He is at work. They must sense that God is not just in the Book, but that He translates into everyday life. Parents can never be perfect. But, they can be perfect examples of how God and His grace can sustain and bless a child that is passionate about Him. There is no expectation to be right all the time. But there is every expectation to be authentic. The goal is to pave and demonstrate the path to genuine godly living so our children will have a definite route to follow.

Lack of Love

The home should always be a place of acceptance and support. It is where 1 Corinthians 13 must be practiced at all times. Family members must learn to be loving and patient with one another. The home should always be a place of honesty and training for righteousness. Judging wrong deeds and correcting errors are a must.   Sin must never be tolerated nor encouraged.   Forgiveness must come easy and resentment should never have a place in the home. Families must learn to deal with wrongdoing and be done with it. Parents should never over-expect from their children and children should never over-expect from their parents. We all make mistakes. We are all in need of God’s grace. We are all dependent on Christ to transform us on a daily basis.

Let God and His Words be in our daily conversations. Let our home be the place where Biblical principles are learned and practiced. And let “right” love be shared unconditionally. When God is relevant and when children realize that He matters, they will understand the reason and need for faith. And, we may yet see God-seekers in generations to come.

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What Is The The Holy Spirit?

What Is The The Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the most highlighted and the most overlooked (and misunderstood) Person of the Trinity in our churches today. Often, how Christians perceive the Holy Spirit influences the way they do life and ministry. You may have had the experience of visiting one church for Sunday worship and it felt like the atmosphere was so serious that you had no clue if the people were sad, in mourning, tired or just plain bored. Likewise, you may have had another experience of visiting one church where it felt as if everything was out of control; the preacher was short of shouting in your ears and the people around you couldn’t stay still and silent for a minute. In the first, you see powerlessness; in the second, chaos.

I heard one pastor say that “The Holy Spirit is not a showman or an out of mess force that brings craze into meetings”. That is so true. Scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit is in us, working alongside us, guiding us into all truth and into all that God has for us. He is God, bringing order and direction into our lives. He is also:

1. Our Most Competent Prayer Partner.

It’s a great blessing to have a buddy you can count on to pray for you and with you, to have someone you can text or call for a quick prayer item. But at times there are things happening in our lives that are difficult to share.

Do you know that the Holy Spirit is there for us instantly and at all times?   And even when we couldn’t find the exact words to explain how we feel, when we’ve lost all sense of praying and seeking God as we should, He knows exactly what’s going on and what we truly need? The Bible assures us that the Holy Spirit “comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness. And when we do not know what to pray for, He makes right prayers for us.

“He pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.”

We can count on the Holy Spirit to offer intelligent prayers to God the Father for us.

2. Our Life Aide.

Successful politicians or public servants will always have the best political aides behind them. A political aide works full time. He helps his boss navigate his political duties.   He makes the speeches and issues press releases. He conducts informational research vital to strategy and decision-making.   He prepares his boss for debates and other issues and defends him in times of criticism. He is essential to the politician’s career and overall job performance. The political aide is always at the politician’s side.

Do you know that the Holy Spirit is exactly like that and more? He is our Life Aide. He helps us navigate our life and duties.   Scriptures call Him “parakltos“ meaning, “called to one’s aid”. From John 14:26 we know that He teaches and reminds us of all things God has revealed to us from His Word. In Luke 12:11-12 we learn that in times of conflict, the Holy Spirit will teach us what we ought to say. He is ever at our side.

3. Our Champion Who Never Disappoints.

While we have special people we can lean on for forever, like us, they have limits. They aren’t always able to carry our burden with us or for us. But the Holy Spirit is our constant and consistent champion. Like the character of Achilles in the film, Troy, we can count on Him to do and win battles with us and for us.

Acts 1:8 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is our power, our enabler. He is our efficiency and might. He sustains us for everything God has called us to do and accomplish. From 2 Timothy 1:7 we understand that “God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but of power and of love and of sound mind”. He gave us His very self in the person of the Holy Spirit and He will never disappoint.

In the American medical drama TV series titled, “Grey’s Anatomy”, a character named Dr Cristina Yang introduces us to the term, “My Person”. One of her explanations about the meaning of this term (and I quote) is, “She’s my person. If I murdered someone, she’s the person I’d call to help me drag the corpse across the living room floor. She’s my person.”

“My person” is the one you straightway go to for anything and everything; the person that enables and sustains you for everything you do. “My Person” is always there for you, with you, for life.

The Holy Spirit is “Your Person”. He brings certainty, He brings steadiness. He is Power who is reliably at work. He is The One who’s forever got your back and much more!  

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How to Win Your Friends and Family to Christ

How To Handle The Uncertainties of Life

We all have family members and friends who are not saved. While it is our calling to minister to them by giving them the Good News and living by the Word of GOD so that we may not appear as hypocrites, our most powerful weapon is to pray. Every Christian should have prayer as a daily part of their lives, but I have found that many of us lack the Scriptures to back up those prayers. When it comes to fighting for our loved ones, it is vital that we speak the Words of GOD.

There is power in the Word of GOD. Two Scriptures immediately come to mind when I think of this power: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD.”(John 1:1). John tells us here that the Word is Jesus. “For the word of GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb 4:12).

The Word of GOD is a weapon, Family, and a weapon that we must use against the forces of darkness. If you want your prayer to be powerful and meaningful, you must use the Word of GOD. You need to understand that even the devil knows the Word of GOD very well, and he knows that as long as a Christian cannot understand the power in speaking GOD’S Word over their lives and the lives of their loved ones, then they will not be able to walk in the full power of the Holy Spirit. How do we expect Him to communicate with us when we do not learn His Word? Hosea 4:6 tells us that GOD’S people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge!

When I pray for my loved ones, there are specific Scriptures that I use. I basically am giving GOD His Words back to Him, telling Him that because He said it, then it must come to pass. This is my guarantee that He has heard my prayers and will answer my petitions! I can rest in the knowledge that GOD’S Word will not let me down because its Creator is Never-Changing, Faithful and Loving.

These following Scriptures are perfect to use when coming before the Father with your petitions concerning your loved ones:

“The LORD is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

GOD wants people to turn to Him, that is why He has not returned yet. He is giving the lost souls a chance to be saved. He wants your loved ones to be saved.

“…Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4

Father wants ALL men to be saved- there is no favoritism. However, He has given us free will, so He will not force Himself on us, rather He wants us to accept Him and learn the truth.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we ask for.” 1 John 5:14-15

How wonderful is this? If we ask according to His will, He will hear us and He will grant us our petitions! And His will is that all men would be saved!

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6

We mock GOD when we doubt. We are essentially saying that we do not believe that He is powerful enough to do what His Word tells us He will do. Carefully examine your heart and remove all doubt.

GOD’S Word is not just another storybook, it is powerful and living. It renders the powers of darkness useless, it gives us the power to walk in faith because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD (Romans 10:17). When we begin to walk in the truth of GOD’S Word, we will see changes in our lives. Now do not expect everything to be just peachy, because that would be setting yourself up for disaster. The devil will attack you in any way that he can. He will try to make you doubt GOD, doubt your faith, doubt your calling, turn loved ones against you, cause people to hate you, attack your self-esteem- he can do all this and more, but you need to keep standing on the Rock, Christ Jesus. Put on the armor of GOD given to us in Ephesians 6- ask for it in Jesus name,

“Therefore take up the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13). After you have done all that you can do, you must stand.

Do not expect the devil to take your prayers and petitions lightly. He wants you to fail, but Jesus said that we have the victory! We need only stand. When persecution comes, you stand. When people ridicule you and call you all sorts of names, making accusations against you, you stand. When people reject you and seek to end your life, you stand. Nothing can separate us from the love of GOD- He will always be with us. And just as there are bad times, there are also good times, but we praise Him during both times. Always keep your eyes on Jesus, He will see you through.

 

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