http://www.makesmewannaholler.com/2012/12/modern-day-dad-versus-old-school-dad.html
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Modern Day Dad Vs. Old School Dad
http://www.makesmewannaholler.com/2012/12/modern-day-dad-versus-old-school-dad.html
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
The Church of Nativity -Bethlehem
Merry Christmas 2012
When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happines..
Monday, December 24, 2012
Joseph—Father of Jesus”
Joseph—Father of Jesus” I looked in my Bible for a quote from another prominent father, Joseph, and to my surprise I couldn’t find one. I never thought about this before, but Joseph doesn’t say a single word in the Gospels. He listens and obeys. We might assume his words are recorded, because we can imagine the conversations he had with Mary, and the Angel Gabriel. He can “hear” him talking to the innkeeper. We can visualize him teaching Jesus about carpentry…but then he fades from the scene. It is widely thought that Joseph was much older than Mary, and when Jesus began His ministry, Mary appears alone, and although the Bible doesn’t say she’s a widow, we can figure that Joseph has since died.
Joseph probably thought his life was pretty well planned. His marriage and his vocation were all arranged neatly for him, but then his world came crashing down. He discovered that his bride-to-be was pregnant. We know that Joseph was a man of integrity—he wanted to do the right thing, in the right way. He considered divorcing Mary when he learned of her pregnancy, but wanted to do so without calling attention to the reason, whereas he could have had her publicly disgraced or even stoned to death for adultery. Instead, he risks being questioned about Mary’s pregnancy and marries her. In those days, a marriage contract was worked out between families, and the engaged couple continued to live with their parents till their wedding. The townspeople could well have thought Mary and Joseph didn’t wait till their wedding. Joseph protected their reputation by moving up the wedding date, and the Roman census took them far away from the town’s questioning eyes.
Although Joseph came from the royal lineage of King David (thanks to the Gospel genealogy), we can easily picture him as a humble man. The brief portrait of him in Scripture suggests he was a quiet, unobtrusive man, available when needed, willing to endure hardship and disappointment. Looking forward to fathering his own child, Joseph was faced with being a step-father to a child not his own. He accepted the humbling circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth. He trusted the providential care of God every step of the way. He didn’t have any parenting books, any training on how to be a father to the Son of God, but he possessed faith and compassion. Bible scholars portray Joseph as an effective provider and protector of the family.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Chivalry
After the women's liberation movement of the 1960s, which insisted on the equal treatment of women in all domains of life, feminists dismissed chivalry as sexist. They still do. A new study, published in the feminist journal Psychology of Women Quarterly, questions the entire enterprise of male chivalry, which, in an Orwellian flourish, it calls "benevolent sexism."
Chivalrous behavior is benevolent because it flatters women and leads to their preferential treatment. But it is sexist because it relies on the "gendered premise" that women are weak and in need of protection while men are strong. "Benevolent sexism," Kathleen Connelly and Martin Heesacker of the University of Florida write in the study, "is an ideology that perpetuates gender inequality." They advocate interventions to reduce its prevalence, even though, they found, chivalry is associated with greater life satisfaction and the sense that the world is fair, well-ordered, and a good place.
Charles Murray, the libertarian social scientist at the American Enterprise Institute, summed up the study with tongue-in-cheek, writing "the bad news is that gentlemanly behavior makes people happy." He goes on to ask, "When social scientists discover something that increases life satisfaction for both sexes, shouldn't they at least consider the possibility that they have come across something that is positive? Healthy? Something that might even conceivably be grounded in the nature of Homo sapiens?"
In an interview, Connelly tells me that despite Murray's points, the problem with chivalry is that it assumes "women are wonderful but weak." This assumption of female weakness puts women down, Connelly says.
Perhaps because of women's ambivalence about chivalry, men have grown confused about how to treat women. Will holding doors open for them or paying for the first date be interpreted as sexist? Does carrying their groceries imply they're weak? The breakdown in the old rules, which at one extreme has given rise to the hookup culture, has killed dating and is leaving a lot of well-meaning men and women at a loss.
"We should have a clear notion of what chivalry is," argues Pier Massimo Forni, an award-winning professor of Italian literature and the founder of the Civility Institute at Johns Hopkins. "It was a form of preferential treatment that men once accorded to women generations ago, inspired by the sense that there was something special about women, that they deserve added respect, and that not doing so was uncouth, cowardly and essentially despicable."
Chivalry arose as a response to the violence and barbarism of the Middle Ages. It cautioned men to temper their aggression, deploying it only in appropriate circumstances—like to protect the physically weak and defenseless members of society. As the author and self-described "equity feminist" Christina Hoff Sommers tells me in an interview, "Masculinity with morality and civility is a very powerful force for good. But masculinity without these virtues is dangerous—even lethal."
Chivalry is grounded in a fundamental reality that defines the relationship between the sexes, she explains. Given that most men are physically stronger than most women, men can overpower women at any time to get what they want. Gentlemen developed symbolic practices to communicate to women that they would not inflict harm upon them and would even protect them against harm. The tacit assumption that men would risk their lives to protect women only underscores how valued women are—how elevated their status is—under the system of chivalry.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Dry As Toast: And the Battles, They Are Never-Ending
Dry As Toast: And the Battles, They Are Never-Ending: My family seems to have the worse luck with this holiday month. Seventeen years ago, we lost our grandmother due to complications from her...
Thursday, December 20, 2012
" Fear Not "- Rev. M.D. Rogers
On the windswept hillsides outside of town, shepherds are huddling, too. All of a sudden the sky lights up and an angel proclaims:
"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."6
Fear not. The shepherds' fear is turned to joy as they hear news that a Savior is born. The Messiah! In Bethlehem, the city of David himself!
And so they run down the hillsides into the town and hurry from stable to stable until they find the Child in the manger, just as they have been told. Tucked in that manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes against the cold, is the Savior himself.
A Savior comes to rescue people in danger, preserve those who are threatened by harm, and protect his people from the troubles that surround them. That's what saviors do! That's what Jesus came to do for us.
Do not be afraid because God has sent a Savior to us -- Jesus Christ the Lord. He is the One who will:
Never leave us or forsake us.
Supply all our needs according to his riches in glory.
Add to us all the things we need as we seek him and his Kingdom.
Christmas Is About a Savior
Our world doesn't know. They think that Christmas is about gifts under a tree and a spirit of good cheer, with Christmas dinner and family around the table. But as good as all that may be, it isn't nearly as good as the Real Christmas.
The Real Christmas message is this: God has sent a Savior for you. To save you from your sins and to help you in this life -- to lift your burden and ease your fears. That's it! A Savior who is Christ the Lord -- God himself!
The world is gripped by fear. But fear's hold has been broken in those of us who believe the angel's words:
"Fear not ... for a Savior is born to you -- Christ the Lord!"
Monday, December 17, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
During times of adversity and hardship, when the grey, thick clouds of political strife and international crises loom over us, it is natural to want to draw the curtains closed and barricade ourselves from the ugliness outside our doors. When we wonder if we will have enough money to keep a roof over our heads and food on our tables, it might be difficult to imagine that we can offer anything of value to God. Yet, it is in these seasons of spiritual winter; in these times of vulnerability and uncertainty that we offer to God the gifts he desires most.Although our hands may be empty of resources, if our hearts are full of praise and thankfulness to Him and love expressed in generosity to His people, He is blessed beyond measure. As he found much pleasure in the poor widow's offering of a few pennies at the temple, so he finds much pleasure in our sacrificial giving of ourselves during times of hardship.
No matter what season you are experiencing in your life, as you present your heart to the Lord, may you feel the warmth of His light shine upon you and through you. May that light be a beacon to those in the darkness and may you truly be a messenger of God's greatest gift to the world, His son, Jesus Christ.
God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is love; the radiance of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas, which is Christ.
From all of us at Faith That Lives Ministry
Rev. M.D. Rogers-Executive Director
Christmas Prayer:
Father, We thank Thee for this day.
Bless all we do and all we say.
May we each enjoy Thy blessings great
As Jesus' Birth we celebrate.
And may the love that we share here
Remain throughout the coming year.
Amen!
Police: 20 children among 26 victims of Connecticut school shooting
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/sandy-hook-elementary-school-shooting_n_2300831.html
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Cosmic Alignments
..On Dec. 21, 2012, many doomsday believers fear the apocalypse — anything
from
a rogue planet smashing into us to our world spinning end over end. However, the
world should expect nothing more next year than the winter solstice, the longest
night of the year, NASA says.
Many people point to the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar on Dec. 21, 2012
as evidence of the coming apocalypse, but astronomers have been quick to stress
that there is nothing to be concerned about.
According to the ancient Mayan calendar, next year's winter solstice marks the
end of a 144,000-day cycle. This cycle, which begins at the mythical Maya
creation date, has already been repeated 12 times. The 13th will end in 2012,
capping a full 5,200-year Mayan cycle of creation.
This date has long been shrouded in mystery, with many claiming that it will
bring destruction to our planet. [End of the World? Top Doomsday Fears]
Rogue planet Nibiru?
One fear is that a rogue planet that has been dubbed "Nibiru" or "Planet X" is
supposedly aimed at Earth. Self-proclaimed Nibiru expert Nancy Lieder, who says
she is in contact with the aliens from Zeta Reticuli, first said Nibiru would
cause widespread disaster in May 2003, only to change it to Dec. 21, 2012.
There is, however, no evidence that Nibiru is real.
"Nibiru is ridiculous because it doesn't exist — it never existed as anything
other than a figment of the imagination by pseudo-scientists who don't seem
bothered by a complete lack of evidence," astronomer Don Yeomans, manager of
NASA's Near-Earth Object program office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
Pasadena, Calif., told SPACE.com.
There is no basis for the claim that it might be lurking behind the sun, as it
could not have hidden from observation until now, Yeomans said. If such a planet
was headed toward Earth by Dec. 21, 2012, it would already be visible to the
naked eye.
Cosmic alignments?
There are also concerns that planets or stars might line up in ways that will
transform Earth. For instance, some theorists claim that from our point of view,
the sun will cross in front of the plane of our galaxy on Dec. 21. However, the
sun already does this twice a year, Yeomans said.
In fact, the sun will eventually cross the plane of our galaxy. However, the sun
is about 67 light-years from the galactic plane, so it should take several
million years to do so, Yeomans said. Even then, when our solar system finally
does cross the plane, nothing special will occur, he added. [10 Failed Doomsday
Predictions]
Some also claim that gravitational effects from planets lining up with each
other will somehow affect Earth. However, there is no planetary alignment due on
Dec. 21, 2012, "and if there were, it wouldn't cause any problems," Yeomans
said.
The only bodies that have any significant gravitational impact on Earth are the
moon and the sun, effects we see as the tides. Tidal effects from other bodies
in our solar system are negligible at best, and in any case, we have experienced
them for millions of years without notice.
Solar storms?
Solar storms — deluges of energetic particles from the sun — do happen, usually
waxing and waning in cycles that last roughly 11 years. When these charged
particles collide with Earth, they can trigger auroras and damage satellites and
power lines, although not really inflicting any lasting harm, Yeomans said.
There are accounts of a solar "super-storm" slamming into Earth in 1859.
Although that caused relatively little damage back then, there are concerns that
such a storm might cause far more harm now that our world is more dependent on
electronics.
Yet, there is no evidence that such a super-storm will happen on Dec. 21 of next
year, Yeomans said.
Flip-flopping Earth?
There is some alarm that 2012 could see the flipping of Earth's poles — either
the planet's geographical poles, which mark the Earth's axis of rotation, or its
magnetic poles, which our compasses point toward.
But, there is no reason to fear such an occurrence, scientists said, because the
moon stabilizes our planet's spin. The planet's magnetic poles do flip, but over
periods of about 500,000 years, and not suddenly, "but over thousands of years,"
with no evidence of a flip on Dec. 21, 2012, Yeomans said.
Even if the planet's magnetic poles do flip, no real problems would occur, other
than the inconvenience of us having to change our compasses from north to south,
he added.
Cosmic impacts?
The Earth is always vulnerable to impacts by comets and asteroids, but giant
impacts are rare, with the last major collision taking place 65 million years
ago, ending the Age of Dinosaurs.
Still, astronomers do monitor the sky for near-Earth objects.
"There are no known near-Earth objects in 2012 that present a credible risk to
Earth," Yeomans said. "None, zero, zip, nada."
But despite evidence to the contrary, doomsdays theorists have garnered
attention, and similar prophecies will continue to proliferate unless scientists
become more involved in bringing truth to these outlandish claims, Yeomans said.
Mounting hysteria regarding these unfounded doomsday predictions "will improve
only if scientists get more engaged in debunking pseudoscience," he said.
Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter
@Spacedotcomand on Facebook.
a rogue planet smashing into us to our world spinning end over end. However, the
world should expect nothing more next year than the winter solstice, the longest
night of the year, NASA says.
Many people point to the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar on Dec. 21, 2012
as evidence of the coming apocalypse, but astronomers have been quick to stress
that there is nothing to be concerned about.
According to the ancient Mayan calendar, next year's winter solstice marks the
end of a 144,000-day cycle. This cycle, which begins at the mythical Maya
creation date, has already been repeated 12 times. The 13th will end in 2012,
capping a full 5,200-year Mayan cycle of creation.
This date has long been shrouded in mystery, with many claiming that it will
bring destruction to our planet. [End of the World? Top Doomsday Fears]
Rogue planet Nibiru?
One fear is that a rogue planet that has been dubbed "Nibiru" or "Planet X" is
supposedly aimed at Earth. Self-proclaimed Nibiru expert Nancy Lieder, who says
she is in contact with the aliens from Zeta Reticuli, first said Nibiru would
cause widespread disaster in May 2003, only to change it to Dec. 21, 2012.
There is, however, no evidence that Nibiru is real.
"Nibiru is ridiculous because it doesn't exist — it never existed as anything
other than a figment of the imagination by pseudo-scientists who don't seem
bothered by a complete lack of evidence," astronomer Don Yeomans, manager of
NASA's Near-Earth Object program office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
Pasadena, Calif., told SPACE.com.
There is no basis for the claim that it might be lurking behind the sun, as it
could not have hidden from observation until now, Yeomans said. If such a planet
was headed toward Earth by Dec. 21, 2012, it would already be visible to the
naked eye.
Cosmic alignments?
There are also concerns that planets or stars might line up in ways that will
transform Earth. For instance, some theorists claim that from our point of view,
the sun will cross in front of the plane of our galaxy on Dec. 21. However, the
sun already does this twice a year, Yeomans said.
In fact, the sun will eventually cross the plane of our galaxy. However, the sun
is about 67 light-years from the galactic plane, so it should take several
million years to do so, Yeomans said. Even then, when our solar system finally
does cross the plane, nothing special will occur, he added. [10 Failed Doomsday
Predictions]
Some also claim that gravitational effects from planets lining up with each
other will somehow affect Earth. However, there is no planetary alignment due on
Dec. 21, 2012, "and if there were, it wouldn't cause any problems," Yeomans
said.
The only bodies that have any significant gravitational impact on Earth are the
moon and the sun, effects we see as the tides. Tidal effects from other bodies
in our solar system are negligible at best, and in any case, we have experienced
them for millions of years without notice.
Solar storms?
Solar storms — deluges of energetic particles from the sun — do happen, usually
waxing and waning in cycles that last roughly 11 years. When these charged
particles collide with Earth, they can trigger auroras and damage satellites and
power lines, although not really inflicting any lasting harm, Yeomans said.
There are accounts of a solar "super-storm" slamming into Earth in 1859.
Although that caused relatively little damage back then, there are concerns that
such a storm might cause far more harm now that our world is more dependent on
electronics.
Yet, there is no evidence that such a super-storm will happen on Dec. 21 of next
year, Yeomans said.
Flip-flopping Earth?
There is some alarm that 2012 could see the flipping of Earth's poles — either
the planet's geographical poles, which mark the Earth's axis of rotation, or its
magnetic poles, which our compasses point toward.
But, there is no reason to fear such an occurrence, scientists said, because the
moon stabilizes our planet's spin. The planet's magnetic poles do flip, but over
periods of about 500,000 years, and not suddenly, "but over thousands of years,"
with no evidence of a flip on Dec. 21, 2012, Yeomans said.
Even if the planet's magnetic poles do flip, no real problems would occur, other
than the inconvenience of us having to change our compasses from north to south,
he added.
Cosmic impacts?
The Earth is always vulnerable to impacts by comets and asteroids, but giant
impacts are rare, with the last major collision taking place 65 million years
ago, ending the Age of Dinosaurs.
Still, astronomers do monitor the sky for near-Earth objects.
"There are no known near-Earth objects in 2012 that present a credible risk to
Earth," Yeomans said. "None, zero, zip, nada."
But despite evidence to the contrary, doomsdays theorists have garnered
attention, and similar prophecies will continue to proliferate unless scientists
become more involved in bringing truth to these outlandish claims, Yeomans said.
Mounting hysteria regarding these unfounded doomsday predictions "will improve
only if scientists get more engaged in debunking pseudoscience," he said.
Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter
@Spacedotcomand on Facebook.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Feed The Hungry
Last year, 49 million people in the United States, including more than
16
million children, were at risk of going hungry. As Christmas -- the time of
giving -- draws ever closer, remember those families, children, and individuals
around you who may worry about where the next meal will come from, or have to
skip a few meals. This holiday season especially, let's endeavor to make sure
that not one of our neighbors goes hungry. Join the United We Serve: Feed a
Neighbor initiative today.
Download the Anti-Hunger Volunteer Toolkit to get started.
million children, were at risk of going hungry. As Christmas -- the time of
giving -- draws ever closer, remember those families, children, and individuals
around you who may worry about where the next meal will come from, or have to
skip a few meals. This holiday season especially, let's endeavor to make sure
that not one of our neighbors goes hungry. Join the United We Serve: Feed a
Neighbor initiative today.
Download the Anti-Hunger Volunteer Toolkit to get started.
Concerning Hanukkah
Concerning Hanukkah Part 2
by David Perry on December 8, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Hannuka and the festival of lights…the other Christmas trap and abomination.
Original article by Alan Geisdorf on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 4:37am with comments by David Perry
History
"The [Hanukkieah] , or candelabrum, is used during the Jewish holiday of Hanukah. The eight days of Hanukah are celebrated every year on the 25th of the Hebrew month Kislev. The holiday commemorates the military victory of the Jews of Palestine over the Syrian – Greeks in the 2nd century BCE. The Maccabees, the Jewish revolutionaries, restored order to Jerusalem and found the Temple contaminated. To restore the Temple, ritual oil was needed, but only enough pure oil to last one day was found. The miracle of Hanukah occurred when the modest amount of oil in the Temple lamps burned for eight days, allowing it to be rededicated. FACT : Nowhere in the book of Maccabees is it recorded that the OIL lasted for days. This is a made up story by the Rabbinical pharisees.
Following the destruction of the Temple, the menorah became a very important symbol in Jewish history. It became a reminder, of the sovereignty of the Temple. In order to preserve the holiness of the original menorah, the Rabbis forbade the use of an exact replica of the seven branched menorah. Why ? because we have a commandment not to make an image of anything found in the earth or in heaven.
Today, candles are lit in an nine branched menorah called a "Hanukiyah" in Israel to differentiate it from the seven-branched Menorah of the Temple. On the first night of Hanukah one candle is lit. On the second night, two candles are lit and so on. The candles are added from right to left and are lit left to right with the newest candle lit first. There is a separate place for the shamash, the candle used light the other candles. The candles are kindled after dark. The Rabbis teach that the menorah should be placed in the window, in order to "publicize the miracle."
The blessings for the candles:
by David Perry on December 8, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Hannuka and the festival of lights…the other Christmas trap and abomination.
Original article by Alan Geisdorf on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 4:37am with comments by David Perry
History
"The [Hanukkieah] , or candelabrum, is used during the Jewish holiday of Hanukah. The eight days of Hanukah are celebrated every year on the 25th of the Hebrew month Kislev. The holiday commemorates the military victory of the Jews of Palestine over the Syrian – Greeks in the 2nd century BCE. The Maccabees, the Jewish revolutionaries, restored order to Jerusalem and found the Temple contaminated. To restore the Temple, ritual oil was needed, but only enough pure oil to last one day was found. The miracle of Hanukah occurred when the modest amount of oil in the Temple lamps burned for eight days, allowing it to be rededicated. FACT : Nowhere in the book of Maccabees is it recorded that the OIL lasted for days. This is a made up story by the Rabbinical pharisees.
Following the destruction of the Temple, the menorah became a very important symbol in Jewish history. It became a reminder, of the sovereignty of the Temple. In order to preserve the holiness of the original menorah, the Rabbis forbade the use of an exact replica of the seven branched menorah. Why ? because we have a commandment not to make an image of anything found in the earth or in heaven.
Today, candles are lit in an nine branched menorah called a "Hanukiyah" in Israel to differentiate it from the seven-branched Menorah of the Temple. On the first night of Hanukah one candle is lit. On the second night, two candles are lit and so on. The candles are added from right to left and are lit left to right with the newest candle lit first. There is a separate place for the shamash, the candle used light the other candles. The candles are kindled after dark. The Rabbis teach that the menorah should be placed in the window, in order to "publicize the miracle."
The blessings for the candles:
Sunday, December 9, 2012
We Are Blessed
So how can we avoid this virus of selfish immaturity? Thankfulness is the antidote. It melts our pride and crushes our sense of entitlement. It reminds us that everything we have comes from God, and that His mercy is the only reason we are blessed.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Christmas is Coming
Brace yourselves, Christmas is coming.
Jokes aside, I’m sure you noticed back in October that your local retailer had lights, trees, ornaments, and the other sure signs that another Christmas season is upon us. While Santa Claus and presents are great, let’s not forget why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.
We here at Pass the Ball would like to take the time this month to celebrate the season of Advent, an Anglicization of the Latin word adventus which means coming. This is the season where churches that observe the liturgical calendar (and others that only incorporate liturgy occasionally) celebrate the four Sundays prior to Christmas with special readings and lighting candles. Each Candle has a special meaning and a reading commonly associated with it.
Jokes aside, I’m sure you noticed back in October that your local retailer had lights, trees, ornaments, and the other sure signs that another Christmas season is upon us. While Santa Claus and presents are great, let’s not forget why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.
We here at Pass the Ball would like to take the time this month to celebrate the season of Advent, an Anglicization of the Latin word adventus which means coming. This is the season where churches that observe the liturgical calendar (and others that only incorporate liturgy occasionally) celebrate the four Sundays prior to Christmas with special readings and lighting candles. Each Candle has a special meaning and a reading commonly associated with it.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Innovating With Social Media in College Admissions: Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Bridge
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) leads the college admissions industry with its innovative social media platform. The university has just launched Bridge, a “dynamic social media community through a partnership with 7Summits. The new online community brings together admissions counselors, prospective students and parents, allowing them to interact and learn.
Lots of colleges have incorporated interactive components into their websites and have steadily increased their social media presence. But this Bridge platform is unique in that students can create accounts and friend each other and admissions counselors, allowing interaction and access to admissions personnel in a much broader ways.
Is this the future of college admissions? We already know that colleges are interested in meeting students where they are, and this is overwhelmingly on social media. MSOE’s Bridge drew 1500 new prospective students in the first month. They’ve stepped up the college admissions game and it’s likely more colleges will follow. Check-out the Bridge platform HERE.
Lots of colleges have incorporated interactive components into their websites and have steadily increased their social media presence. But this Bridge platform is unique in that students can create accounts and friend each other and admissions counselors, allowing interaction and access to admissions personnel in a much broader ways.
Is this the future of college admissions? We already know that colleges are interested in meeting students where they are, and this is overwhelmingly on social media. MSOE’s Bridge drew 1500 new prospective students in the first month. They’ve stepped up the college admissions game and it’s likely more colleges will follow. Check-out the Bridge platform HERE.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
Samson
The Birth of Samson
Judges 13
Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. 5 You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
6 Then the woman went to her husband and told him, “A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name. 7 But he said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.’”
17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?”
18 He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.[a]” 19 Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the Lord. And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20 As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. 21 When the angel of the Lord did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord.
22 “We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!”
ch.14 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”
3 His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”
But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” 4 (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)
5 Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. 6 The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. 7 Then he went down and talked with the woman, and he liked her.
8 Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey. 9 He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.
10 Now his father went down to see the woman. And there Samson held a feast, as was customary for young men. 11 When the people saw him, they chose thirty men to be his companions.
12 “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. 13 If you can’t tell me the answer, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.”
He replied,
“Out of the eater, something to eat;
out of the strong, something sweet.”
For three days they could not give the answer.
Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines
ch.15 Later on, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said, “I’m going to my wife’s room.” But her father would not let him go in.
2 “I was so sure you hated her,” he said, “that I gave her to your companion. Isn’t her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.”
3 Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.” 4 So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails, 5 lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the standing grain of the Philistines. He burned up the shocks and standing grain, together with the vineyards and olive groves.
6 When the Philistines asked, “Who did this?” they were told, “Samson, the Timnite’s son-in-law, because his wife was given to his companion.”
So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death. 7 Samson said to them, “Since you’ve acted like this, I swear that I won’t stop until I get my revenge on you.” 8 He attacked them viciously and slaughtered many of them. Then he went down and stayed in a cave in the rock of Etam.
He did not love God’s people
Samson insists that he will marry a woman from the enemy nation. This clearly shows his failure to love God’s own people. Their friendship was not important to him. He did not really care about them. If he did, he would not want to hurt them by his marriage. His father appealed to him. He wanted Samson to marry one of his own people. But Samson would not listen (14:3).
There is an important lesson for *believers here. Perhaps you feel comfortable with the people of this world. Perhaps you are more comfortable with them than with other *believers. Then you are in danger of being worldly.
3.3 He did not give honour to God
God had a purpose for Samson. He wanted Samson to rescue his people (13:5). But Samson became a complete failure. He should have brought honour to a holy God. Instead, his evil life brought dishonour for his nation’s God. (Note: Dishonour is the opposite of honour.) The enemy declared: ‘Our god helped us to defeat Samson our enemy’ (16:23).
Hundreds of years later, Paul wrote about this same subject. Paul was very sad about the dishonour to God. This was because of the behaviour of first century *Jews. Their morals were bad. Their religion was just words. It had no meaning in their lives. Paul was writing to *Jews in Romans 2:24. He wrote: ‘The Gentiles say bad things about God because of you.’ (Note: A Gentile is anyone who is not a *Jew.)
The word *Jew’ had become a bad word. People thought of words like ‘wicked’, ‘selfish’, ‘greedy’ to describe a *Jew.
We should have one great ambition in life. It should be to please God. He loves us. He saved us. So, we should want our lives to show everybody how great he is. Then they will want to know him too.
There is one more thing here:
ch.16
Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels[a] of silver.”
6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”
7 Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”
8 Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9 With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19 After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.[c] And his strength left him.
20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”
He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. 22 But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
23 Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”
24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying,
“Our god has delivered our enemy
into our hands,
the one who laid waste our land
and multiplied our slain.”
25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.
4 Samson realised his awful mistake in the end
This only happened when he was a prisoner. He now had no eyes, so all was dark. All day, and every day, he had to work for his enemies. He made flour from grain (16:21). Samson spoiled his life. He brought dishonour (the opposite of honour) to God. He did this by being worldly in thought and in life. Something was true about Samson. The same thing is true about everyone like Samson. It is this. God’s desire is that each one should begin again.
Let us think about how Samson defeated his enemies in the end.
(This is goodness and kindness to one who does not deserve it.) Hear again those wonderful words of hope. Nobody has to feel despair. ‘But Samson’s hair began to grow again’ (16:22). God gives yet another opportunity. God’s grace is so great. He will not refuse to accept us either. Our part is to repent. (This means to turn away from evil and towards God. This choice will mean a complete change of life.)
4.2 He overcame by prayer (16:28
‘Most powerful *Lord, remember me. God please give me strength one more time.’ When we realise our mistake, we should pray immediately. God has promised that he will help us.
4.3 He overcame by his death
Samson’s prayer ended with ‘Let me die’ (16:30). By his own death, he overcame his enemies. There is something similar for the Christian. It is probably the only way to escape from being worldly. Jesus spoke to anyone who wanted to go with him. He said: ‘That person must accept his cross, and he must follow me. Whoever gives his life for me and for the Gospel will save it.’ (Gospel means Good News. Read Mark 8:34-37.)
God heard Samson’s prayer. Samson gave his life. He helped to achieve God’s purposes. He brought honour to God.
Judges 13
Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. 5 You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
6 Then the woman went to her husband and told him, “A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name. 7 But he said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.’”
17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?”
18 He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.[a]” 19 Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the Lord. And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20 As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. 21 When the angel of the Lord did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord.
22 “We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!”
ch.14 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”
3 His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”
But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” 4 (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)
5 Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. 6 The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. 7 Then he went down and talked with the woman, and he liked her.
8 Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey. 9 He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.
10 Now his father went down to see the woman. And there Samson held a feast, as was customary for young men. 11 When the people saw him, they chose thirty men to be his companions.
12 “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. 13 If you can’t tell me the answer, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.”
He replied,
“Out of the eater, something to eat;
out of the strong, something sweet.”
For three days they could not give the answer.
Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines
ch.15 Later on, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said, “I’m going to my wife’s room.” But her father would not let him go in.
2 “I was so sure you hated her,” he said, “that I gave her to your companion. Isn’t her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.”
3 Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.” 4 So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails, 5 lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the standing grain of the Philistines. He burned up the shocks and standing grain, together with the vineyards and olive groves.
6 When the Philistines asked, “Who did this?” they were told, “Samson, the Timnite’s son-in-law, because his wife was given to his companion.”
So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death. 7 Samson said to them, “Since you’ve acted like this, I swear that I won’t stop until I get my revenge on you.” 8 He attacked them viciously and slaughtered many of them. Then he went down and stayed in a cave in the rock of Etam.
He did not love God’s people
Samson insists that he will marry a woman from the enemy nation. This clearly shows his failure to love God’s own people. Their friendship was not important to him. He did not really care about them. If he did, he would not want to hurt them by his marriage. His father appealed to him. He wanted Samson to marry one of his own people. But Samson would not listen (14:3).
There is an important lesson for *believers here. Perhaps you feel comfortable with the people of this world. Perhaps you are more comfortable with them than with other *believers. Then you are in danger of being worldly.
3.3 He did not give honour to God
God had a purpose for Samson. He wanted Samson to rescue his people (13:5). But Samson became a complete failure. He should have brought honour to a holy God. Instead, his evil life brought dishonour for his nation’s God. (Note: Dishonour is the opposite of honour.) The enemy declared: ‘Our god helped us to defeat Samson our enemy’ (16:23).
Hundreds of years later, Paul wrote about this same subject. Paul was very sad about the dishonour to God. This was because of the behaviour of first century *Jews. Their morals were bad. Their religion was just words. It had no meaning in their lives. Paul was writing to *Jews in Romans 2:24. He wrote: ‘The Gentiles say bad things about God because of you.’ (Note: A Gentile is anyone who is not a *Jew.)
The word *Jew’ had become a bad word. People thought of words like ‘wicked’, ‘selfish’, ‘greedy’ to describe a *Jew.
We should have one great ambition in life. It should be to please God. He loves us. He saved us. So, we should want our lives to show everybody how great he is. Then they will want to know him too.
There is one more thing here:
ch.16
Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels[a] of silver.”
6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”
7 Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”
8 Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9 With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19 After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.[c] And his strength left him.
20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”
He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. 22 But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
23 Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”
24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying,
“Our god has delivered our enemy
into our hands,
the one who laid waste our land
and multiplied our slain.”
25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.
4 Samson realised his awful mistake in the end
This only happened when he was a prisoner. He now had no eyes, so all was dark. All day, and every day, he had to work for his enemies. He made flour from grain (16:21). Samson spoiled his life. He brought dishonour (the opposite of honour) to God. He did this by being worldly in thought and in life. Something was true about Samson. The same thing is true about everyone like Samson. It is this. God’s desire is that each one should begin again.
Let us think about how Samson defeated his enemies in the end.
(This is goodness and kindness to one who does not deserve it.) Hear again those wonderful words of hope. Nobody has to feel despair. ‘But Samson’s hair began to grow again’ (16:22). God gives yet another opportunity. God’s grace is so great. He will not refuse to accept us either. Our part is to repent. (This means to turn away from evil and towards God. This choice will mean a complete change of life.)
4.2 He overcame by prayer (16:28
‘Most powerful *Lord, remember me. God please give me strength one more time.’ When we realise our mistake, we should pray immediately. God has promised that he will help us.
Samson’s prayer ended with ‘Let me die’ (16:30). By his own death, he overcame his enemies. There is something similar for the Christian. It is probably the only way to escape from being worldly. Jesus spoke to anyone who wanted to go with him. He said: ‘That person must accept his cross, and he must follow me. Whoever gives his life for me and for the Gospel will save it.’ (Gospel means Good News. Read Mark 8:34-37.)
God heard Samson’s prayer. Samson gave his life. He helped to achieve God’s purposes. He brought honour to God.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
PRAY- Rev. M.D. Rgers
Jesus’ life was filled with prayer. Another word for communication with His Heavenly Father!
He prayed often, sometimes all night. Other times He seemed to be in a constant state of communication with the Father. Interrupting his conversations with others to address God directly in the moment!
II Thessalonians 3:1-5
Prayer can and should be like that. Not only specific times when we stop what we are doing and take time to pray, but also a more general sense of God’s presence with us all the time!
A kind of running dialogue in our minds with the ever-present Teacher, Father and Holy Spirit!
Students of Jesus learn to be like their Teacher. They constantly talk to God for He is with them always.
It is natural to converse with those we love. One true measure of the strength of any relationship is the desire to communicate.
As with any relationship, specific circumstances are the subject of conversation. It is the same in our relationship to God. We can talk about anything all the time, but when situations arise we naturally pray specifically about them.
Here Paul reminds the believers to pray for certain things. For Paul and his fellow-workers! For the message of Jesus to be received by others! For personal safety from those who might persecute them!
Sometimes we share our problems with our friends. We do so knowing they do not have the ability to change the situation. We simply find comfort in someone who is willing to listen because they are interested in our welfare
Our Heavenly Father not only cares for us and hears our prayers; He has the power to help us, to change things!
May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
http://pass-theball.blogspot.com/
He prayed often, sometimes all night. Other times He seemed to be in a constant state of communication with the Father. Interrupting his conversations with others to address God directly in the moment!
II Thessalonians 3:1-5
Prayer can and should be like that. Not only specific times when we stop what we are doing and take time to pray, but also a more general sense of God’s presence with us all the time!
A kind of running dialogue in our minds with the ever-present Teacher, Father and Holy Spirit!
Students of Jesus learn to be like their Teacher. They constantly talk to God for He is with them always.
It is natural to converse with those we love. One true measure of the strength of any relationship is the desire to communicate.
As with any relationship, specific circumstances are the subject of conversation. It is the same in our relationship to God. We can talk about anything all the time, but when situations arise we naturally pray specifically about them.
Here Paul reminds the believers to pray for certain things. For Paul and his fellow-workers! For the message of Jesus to be received by others! For personal safety from those who might persecute them!
Sometimes we share our problems with our friends. We do so knowing they do not have the ability to change the situation. We simply find comfort in someone who is willing to listen because they are interested in our welfare
Our Heavenly Father not only cares for us and hears our prayers; He has the power to help us, to change things!
May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
http://pass-theball.blogspot.com/
Sunday, October 14, 2012
HOW FAR WILL YOU GO WITH JESUS?
by Rev. M.D. Rogers
MATHEW 14:13
SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS OUR " SPIRITUAL SAFETY ZONE." THAT IS WE WILL
FOLLOW JESUS ON A LIMITED BASIS. AND THIS IS THE FOCUS OF MY
MESSAGE: HOW OUR OWN "SPIRITUAL SAFETY ZONE" HINDERS US FROM
FOLLOWING JESUS ALL THE WAY. AS BELIEVERS, JESUS WANTS US TO GO
ALL THE WAY WITH HIM LEAVING OUR "SPIRITUAL SAFETY ZONE" BEHIND.
HE SAID, "IF ANY MAN WOULD COME AFTER ME LET HIM TAKE UP HIS CROSS
AND FOLLOW ME." DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE AT AN ADVANTAGE WHEN
YOU FOLLOW JESUS ALL THE WAY? JESUS TAUGHT US, " IF YOU ABIDE IN ME
AND I IN YOU WHAT EVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME IT SHALL BE DONE." TO
FOLLOW JESUS WHEREEVER AND WHENEVER MEANS WE MUST STEP OUTSIDE OF
OUR OWN SPIRITUAL SAFTETY ZONE AND WALK WITH JESUS HAND IN HAND.
WHAT ARE SOME SYMPTOMS OF NOT FOLLOWING JESUS WHERE EVER HE LEADS
US? WELL, WE'LL GO TO CHURCH BUT FAIL TO ATTEND PRAYER MEETING OR
SUNDAY SCHOOL; WE'LL TELL YOU HOW GOOD GOD IS BUT FAIL TO INTRODUCE
SOMEBODY ELSE TO HIM; WE TALK TO ONE ANOTHER OR OTHERS ON THE
SURFACE ABOUT THE LORD IS GOOD; BUT FAIL TO SHARE OUR PERSONAL
TESTIMONY TO SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS THE SAME KIND OF RELATIONSHIP YOU
HAVE; WE'LL SING WITH THE GROUP BUT FAIL TO USE THE GIFT OF
PRAISE GOD GAVE US TO MINISTER TO SOMEBODY'S HEART AND SPIRIT ON A
SOLO-BASIS; I WILL GO WITH YOU TO CHURCH BUT DON'T ASK ME TO GET
IN VOLVED. OFTEN YOU HEAR US SAY, "I WILL DO THIS BUT WON'T DO
THAT." "THAT'S FOR SOMEBODY ELSE—NOT ME." "I WILL GO WITH YOU TO
CHURCH BUT DON'T ASK ME TO JOIN."
THERE ARE BLESSING AND REWARDS IN FOLLOWING JESUS ALL THE WAY. THE
BIBLE SAYS IN HEBREWS 11:6 "HE THAT COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT
HE "IS" AND THAT HE "IS" A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO HUMBLY SEEK HIM."
THIS MEANS, BELIEVE SOMETHING REWARDING, BENEVOLENT, AND GOOD IS
COMING YOUR WAY IN RETURN FOR FOLLOWING JESUS ALL THE WAY.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS OUR " SPIRITUAL SAFETY ZONE." THAT IS WE WILL
FOLLOW JESUS ON A LIMITED BASIS. AND THIS IS THE FOCUS OF MY
MESSAGE: HOW OUR OWN "SPIRITUAL SAFETY ZONE" HINDERS US FROM
FOLLOWING JESUS ALL THE WAY. AS BELIEVERS, JESUS WANTS US TO GO
ALL THE WAY WITH HIM LEAVING OUR "SPIRITUAL SAFETY ZONE" BEHIND.
HE SAID, "IF ANY MAN WOULD COME AFTER ME LET HIM TAKE UP HIS CROSS
AND FOLLOW ME." DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE AT AN ADVANTAGE WHEN
YOU FOLLOW JESUS ALL THE WAY? JESUS TAUGHT US, " IF YOU ABIDE IN ME
AND I IN YOU WHAT EVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME IT SHALL BE DONE." TO
FOLLOW JESUS WHEREEVER AND WHENEVER MEANS WE MUST STEP OUTSIDE OF
OUR OWN SPIRITUAL SAFTETY ZONE AND WALK WITH JESUS HAND IN HAND.
WHAT ARE SOME SYMPTOMS OF NOT FOLLOWING JESUS WHERE EVER HE LEADS
US? WELL, WE'LL GO TO CHURCH BUT FAIL TO ATTEND PRAYER MEETING OR
SUNDAY SCHOOL; WE'LL TELL YOU HOW GOOD GOD IS BUT FAIL TO INTRODUCE
SOMEBODY ELSE TO HIM; WE TALK TO ONE ANOTHER OR OTHERS ON THE
SURFACE ABOUT THE LORD IS GOOD; BUT FAIL TO SHARE OUR PERSONAL
TESTIMONY TO SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS THE SAME KIND OF RELATIONSHIP YOU
HAVE; WE'LL SING WITH THE GROUP BUT FAIL TO USE THE GIFT OF
PRAISE GOD GAVE US TO MINISTER TO SOMEBODY'S HEART AND SPIRIT ON A
SOLO-BASIS; I WILL GO WITH YOU TO CHURCH BUT DON'T ASK ME TO GET
IN VOLVED. OFTEN YOU HEAR US SAY, "I WILL DO THIS BUT WON'T DO
THAT." "THAT'S FOR SOMEBODY ELSE—NOT ME." "I WILL GO WITH YOU TO
CHURCH BUT DON'T ASK ME TO JOIN."
THERE ARE BLESSING AND REWARDS IN FOLLOWING JESUS ALL THE WAY. THE
BIBLE SAYS IN HEBREWS 11:6 "HE THAT COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT
HE "IS" AND THAT HE "IS" A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO HUMBLY SEEK HIM."
THIS MEANS, BELIEVE SOMETHING REWARDING, BENEVOLENT, AND GOOD IS
COMING YOUR WAY IN RETURN FOR FOLLOWING JESUS ALL THE WAY.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Hayti-Durham,N.C.
 |
| White Rock Baptist Church |
African-Americans began settling on the southwest edge of Durham, North Carolina, shortly after the Civil War. The community came to be known as "Hayti," a name whites commonly used for black settlements (Anderson 155). Originally simply a labor pool for Durham's tobacco warehouses, Hayti soon began to prosper. In 1911, when Booker T. Washington visited Hayti, he found "a city of Negro enterprises" whose citizens were "shining examples of what a colored man may become". Hayti was home to North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company, Lincoln Hospital, and after 1910, North Carolina College for Negroes, later North Carolina Central University. For African-Americans travelling through the Jim Crow South, Hayti was a valued stopping place. Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway performed there. Hayti also had a home-grown music scene in the Piedmont Blues, nurtured by native sons like Blind Boy Fuller and Bull City Red. But Hayti's value to African-Americans lay as much in its very existence as in its entrepreneurs and musicians. In the days of segregation, Hayti was a place where African-Americans could eat in restaurants, practice their trades, and call each other "Mr." and "Mrs."-where they could stop being "colored," and simply be people.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Men Must Take a Stand Against Domestic Violence: My Personal Pledge
http://www.mochadad.com/2012/10/men-must-take-a-stand-against-domestic-violence-my-personal-pledge/
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
THE FEAR ENGENDERED BY THE ENEMY’S THREATS
by Rev. M.D. Rogers
A. There Was A Verbal Threat.
1. Hezekiah was told not to count on the strength of his allies.
Isa.36: 4 “And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
5 I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
6 Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.”
NOTE: [1] The word “Rabshakeh” is actually a title, not the messenger’s name. It is the “…title of a high court official (originally a royal cupbearer, since the name means ‘chief wine-pourer’)” (Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; pg. 634).
[2] It is interesting to note that twenty-three years earlier, Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, had to make a decision at this same aqueduct mentioned in verse two. Unfortunately, King Ahaz decided to trust the armies of Assyria to fight his battles, rather than God. Now, the ally of Ahaz had become the attacker of Hezekiah. Be careful what you rely on in times of trial. Trusting anything other than God will likely be your undoing. As the old song says, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand/All other ground is sinking sand” (“The Solid Rock,” by Edward Mote).
[3] The obvious intent of this Assyrian military official was to knock all the props out from under Hezekiah and his people. In reality, Judah could not trust Egypt for deliverance because Assyria had already captured and controlled the road to Egypt.
2. Hezekiah was told that his army lacked sufficient military ability.
Isa.36: 8 “Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
9 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?”
NOTE: [1] In verse eight, the Assyrian messenger basically makes fun of the obvious military weakness of Judah. In essence, he said, “Look, I’ll make you a deal (“give pledges”). If you can find riders for them, my master will give you two thousand horses to help your war effort.”
[2] Our enemy, Satan, loves to get us focused on our weaknesses. For one thing, when he speaks about our weaknesses, he speaks the truth. However, when he speaks about God and His strength, and our position in Christ, he always lies. The Bible says, “…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4: 4b). It also says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil.4: 13). Don’t argue with the devil about your weaknesses; agree with him. After all, he’s right. But the fact is, if you face trials and temptations relying on the Lord and His strength, your weaknesses have nothing to do with the outcome.
[3] Satan’s purpose in your trials is to get you to focus on you. God’s purpose in your trials is to get you to focus on Him.
3. Hezekiah was told that Judah’s destruction was by God’s authority.
Isa.36: 10 “And am I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it? the Lord said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.”
NOTE: [1] The statement made here was essentially true. God was in fact using Sennacherib to judge Judah as a whole for their idolatry. But the situation at Jerusalem was a little different. Hezekiah, a godly king, had made reforms, ridding the city of idolatry. Because God had determined judgment upon Judah as a whole, did not mean that He had determined to destroy Hezekiah and Jerusalem as well.
[2] When God’s children are going through trials and troubles, Satan loves to lie to them and tell them that God is against them. “After all,” he will say, “look at how many times you’ve messed up in the past. God is angry with you. That’s why you’re having all these problems.” Unless you are rebellious against God, and have known sin in your life, don’t fall for that lie. Sure you’ve sinned and messed up in the past. All of us have. But the Word of God says, “…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1: 7b).
[3] Jesse Pen-Lewis, a great saint of the past, once said, “The devil and his wicked spirits will speak, or use, ninety-nine parts of truth to float one lie…” (Jesse Pen-Lewis, War On The Saints: published by Thomas E. Lowe, Ltd., New York, New York; pg. 236).
4. The people of Jerusalem were told that Hezekiah was deceiving them with false assurance.
Isa.36: 14 “Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.
15 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
……………………………………………………
20 Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?”
NOTE: [1] The king of Assyria had sent word by his messenger saying, “Don’t listen to Hezekiah’s nonsense about God delivering Jerusalem. He’s just avoiding the inevitable—he’s not living in reality.” That sounds just like what the devil tells a lot of folks every Sunday: “Don’t listen to that preacher. After all, he’s just preaching. He’s supposed to tell you to trust God. But you know the only one you can really trust in a tight is yourself.”
[2] In verse 20, the messenger basically said that none of the other gods of the land had delivered their people. Why should Jehovah be any different? He was trying to put Jehovah and idols on the same level. However, he would soon find out differently.
B. There Was A Visible Threat.
Isa.37: 9b “…And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
10 Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trusteth, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
11 Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?
12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?
13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.”
NOTE: [1] All the visible evidence indicated that Hezekiah and Jerusalem were done for. He had an official letter of intent from the king of Assyria; and the cities that the Assyrians had already destroyed were visible evidence that they were capable of doing what they threatened to do.
[2] Folks, the child of God is not supposed to live their life merely by what they see. Paul said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor.5: 7). Rather than throw his hands up and surrender to the enemy, Hezekiah took the letter “…and spread it before the Lord” (v. 14). When it comes to your trials and troubles, the enemy doesn’t have the last word, God does. Paul, through the Holy Spirit, gave us these reassuring words: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom.8: 37).
II. THE FAITH EXERCISED BY THE KING’S TACTICS
A. Hezekiah Humbles Himself Before God After The Verbal Threat.
1. He asked Isaiah to intercede before God.
Isa.37: 1 “And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord.
2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
4 It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the Lord thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.”
NOTE: Hezekiah’s first response to the threat of the enemy was to humble himself before God. That’s quite unlike many people of our day, who permit themselves to become hardened by their trials rather than humbled by them.
2. Hezekiah’s humbleness before God receives an immediate response from God.
Isa.37: 6 “And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”
A. There Was A Verbal Threat.
1. Hezekiah was told not to count on the strength of his allies.
Isa.36: 4 “And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
5 I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
6 Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.”
NOTE: [1] The word “Rabshakeh” is actually a title, not the messenger’s name. It is the “…title of a high court official (originally a royal cupbearer, since the name means ‘chief wine-pourer’)” (Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; pg. 634).
[2] It is interesting to note that twenty-three years earlier, Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, had to make a decision at this same aqueduct mentioned in verse two. Unfortunately, King Ahaz decided to trust the armies of Assyria to fight his battles, rather than God. Now, the ally of Ahaz had become the attacker of Hezekiah. Be careful what you rely on in times of trial. Trusting anything other than God will likely be your undoing. As the old song says, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand/All other ground is sinking sand” (“The Solid Rock,” by Edward Mote).
[3] The obvious intent of this Assyrian military official was to knock all the props out from under Hezekiah and his people. In reality, Judah could not trust Egypt for deliverance because Assyria had already captured and controlled the road to Egypt.
2. Hezekiah was told that his army lacked sufficient military ability.
Isa.36: 8 “Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
9 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?”
NOTE: [1] In verse eight, the Assyrian messenger basically makes fun of the obvious military weakness of Judah. In essence, he said, “Look, I’ll make you a deal (“give pledges”). If you can find riders for them, my master will give you two thousand horses to help your war effort.”
[2] Our enemy, Satan, loves to get us focused on our weaknesses. For one thing, when he speaks about our weaknesses, he speaks the truth. However, when he speaks about God and His strength, and our position in Christ, he always lies. The Bible says, “…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4: 4b). It also says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil.4: 13). Don’t argue with the devil about your weaknesses; agree with him. After all, he’s right. But the fact is, if you face trials and temptations relying on the Lord and His strength, your weaknesses have nothing to do with the outcome.
[3] Satan’s purpose in your trials is to get you to focus on you. God’s purpose in your trials is to get you to focus on Him.
3. Hezekiah was told that Judah’s destruction was by God’s authority.
Isa.36: 10 “And am I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it? the Lord said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.”
NOTE: [1] The statement made here was essentially true. God was in fact using Sennacherib to judge Judah as a whole for their idolatry. But the situation at Jerusalem was a little different. Hezekiah, a godly king, had made reforms, ridding the city of idolatry. Because God had determined judgment upon Judah as a whole, did not mean that He had determined to destroy Hezekiah and Jerusalem as well.
[2] When God’s children are going through trials and troubles, Satan loves to lie to them and tell them that God is against them. “After all,” he will say, “look at how many times you’ve messed up in the past. God is angry with you. That’s why you’re having all these problems.” Unless you are rebellious against God, and have known sin in your life, don’t fall for that lie. Sure you’ve sinned and messed up in the past. All of us have. But the Word of God says, “…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1: 7b).
[3] Jesse Pen-Lewis, a great saint of the past, once said, “The devil and his wicked spirits will speak, or use, ninety-nine parts of truth to float one lie…” (Jesse Pen-Lewis, War On The Saints: published by Thomas E. Lowe, Ltd., New York, New York; pg. 236).
4. The people of Jerusalem were told that Hezekiah was deceiving them with false assurance.
Isa.36: 14 “Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.
15 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
……………………………………………………
20 Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?”
NOTE: [1] The king of Assyria had sent word by his messenger saying, “Don’t listen to Hezekiah’s nonsense about God delivering Jerusalem. He’s just avoiding the inevitable—he’s not living in reality.” That sounds just like what the devil tells a lot of folks every Sunday: “Don’t listen to that preacher. After all, he’s just preaching. He’s supposed to tell you to trust God. But you know the only one you can really trust in a tight is yourself.”
[2] In verse 20, the messenger basically said that none of the other gods of the land had delivered their people. Why should Jehovah be any different? He was trying to put Jehovah and idols on the same level. However, he would soon find out differently.
B. There Was A Visible Threat.
Isa.37: 9b “…And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
10 Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trusteth, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
11 Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?
12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?
13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.”
NOTE: [1] All the visible evidence indicated that Hezekiah and Jerusalem were done for. He had an official letter of intent from the king of Assyria; and the cities that the Assyrians had already destroyed were visible evidence that they were capable of doing what they threatened to do.
[2] Folks, the child of God is not supposed to live their life merely by what they see. Paul said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor.5: 7). Rather than throw his hands up and surrender to the enemy, Hezekiah took the letter “…and spread it before the Lord” (v. 14). When it comes to your trials and troubles, the enemy doesn’t have the last word, God does. Paul, through the Holy Spirit, gave us these reassuring words: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom.8: 37).
II. THE FAITH EXERCISED BY THE KING’S TACTICS
A. Hezekiah Humbles Himself Before God After The Verbal Threat.
1. He asked Isaiah to intercede before God.
Isa.37: 1 “And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord.
2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
4 It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the Lord thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.”
NOTE: Hezekiah’s first response to the threat of the enemy was to humble himself before God. That’s quite unlike many people of our day, who permit themselves to become hardened by their trials rather than humbled by them.
2. Hezekiah’s humbleness before God receives an immediate response from God.
Isa.37: 6 “And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”
5 Ways To Inspire Your Children’s Dreams
by Deanna Shoyoye
As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most influential and respected leaders in history, I often think about his parents. How strong, wise and loving they must have been to raise such a dynamic individual. People like MLK didn’t just turn out great by happenstance. Clearly there must have been family members, mentors, teachers and peers that saw his potential and nurtured it. I humbly offer my thoughts on how to encourage the special boys and girls in our lives to create a vision for themselves, achieve their dreams and make an impact on the world at large.
5. Look & Listen
“It (destiny) is what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives.” ~Paulo Coelho, “The Alchemist
Practice close observation and active listening skills when interacting with your children. Talk to them. What are they into? What can’t they stop jabbering about? You can help them identify and explore their healthy interests. Dig a little and educate them about the possibilities. A kid obsessed with transforming robots today, could be tomorrow’s science and technology innovator.
4. Homemade History Lessons
“The history of the world is but the biography of great men.” ~Thomas Carlyl
All things tangible and real in our world were once someones dream. Teach your children to appreciate the men and women throughout history who turned nothing into something, and they will realize that they too can bring their visions into fruition. Retrace the steps taken one by one to turn dreams into reality
3. Encourage Literacy
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ~Dr. Seuss, “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
Little readers are little dreamers. Books transport us to worlds unknown and plant ideas in a way that no other media can. Your budding bookworm will develop a better vocabulary, ability to focus and critical thinking skills by shelf surfing at the local library.
2. Expose Them To The Unfamiliar
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.” ~Rachel Carson
Make sure children know that the world is a huge, varied place. There is more to life than their block, city, state, country and continent. While their minds are sponges help them understand that no dream is too big. Their imaginations may lead them to ponder the implausible, but teach them that nothing is impossible. Visit museums, parks, art galleries. Travel by train, plane and automobile. Answer their questions. When you don’t how to respond fess up and research the topic together. Encourage exploration that titillates their senses. See the sights; smell the scents – stinky and sweet; touch the soft and prickly; hear the noise and quiet; develop their taste for life!
1. Keep Living Your Own Dreams
“When our memories outweigh our dreams, we have grown old.” ~Bill Clinton
When we become parents, guardians or teachers we agree to put our needs second to what is best for our kids. Sometimes through great sacrifice we put what we want on hold to provide what they need, as it should be. But remember, the way we live provides a road map for how our children approach their lives. Talk to your children about your personal story, your failures and successes. Are you thriving or surviving? Even if you are excelling professionally, personally and spiritually think back to when you were a child. Rediscover some of that joy and curiosity. Set new goals, embark on new adventures, make new memories and you will inspire your children to do the same.
As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most influential and respected leaders in history, I often think about his parents. How strong, wise and loving they must have been to raise such a dynamic individual. People like MLK didn’t just turn out great by happenstance. Clearly there must have been family members, mentors, teachers and peers that saw his potential and nurtured it. I humbly offer my thoughts on how to encourage the special boys and girls in our lives to create a vision for themselves, achieve their dreams and make an impact on the world at large.
5. Look & Listen
“It (destiny) is what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives.” ~Paulo Coelho, “The Alchemist
Practice close observation and active listening skills when interacting with your children. Talk to them. What are they into? What can’t they stop jabbering about? You can help them identify and explore their healthy interests. Dig a little and educate them about the possibilities. A kid obsessed with transforming robots today, could be tomorrow’s science and technology innovator.
4. Homemade History Lessons
“The history of the world is but the biography of great men.” ~Thomas Carlyl
All things tangible and real in our world were once someones dream. Teach your children to appreciate the men and women throughout history who turned nothing into something, and they will realize that they too can bring their visions into fruition. Retrace the steps taken one by one to turn dreams into reality
3. Encourage Literacy
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ~Dr. Seuss, “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
Little readers are little dreamers. Books transport us to worlds unknown and plant ideas in a way that no other media can. Your budding bookworm will develop a better vocabulary, ability to focus and critical thinking skills by shelf surfing at the local library.
2. Expose Them To The Unfamiliar
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.” ~Rachel Carson
Make sure children know that the world is a huge, varied place. There is more to life than their block, city, state, country and continent. While their minds are sponges help them understand that no dream is too big. Their imaginations may lead them to ponder the implausible, but teach them that nothing is impossible. Visit museums, parks, art galleries. Travel by train, plane and automobile. Answer their questions. When you don’t how to respond fess up and research the topic together. Encourage exploration that titillates their senses. See the sights; smell the scents – stinky and sweet; touch the soft and prickly; hear the noise and quiet; develop their taste for life!
1. Keep Living Your Own Dreams
“When our memories outweigh our dreams, we have grown old.” ~Bill Clinton
When we become parents, guardians or teachers we agree to put our needs second to what is best for our kids. Sometimes through great sacrifice we put what we want on hold to provide what they need, as it should be. But remember, the way we live provides a road map for how our children approach their lives. Talk to your children about your personal story, your failures and successes. Are you thriving or surviving? Even if you are excelling professionally, personally and spiritually think back to when you were a child. Rediscover some of that joy and curiosity. Set new goals, embark on new adventures, make new memories and you will inspire your children to do the same.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Who Says Raising Boys Is Easier?
L.Z. Granderson disputes the precept that boys are easier to raise than girls, citing disquieting statistics that show males' greater likelihood of dropping out of high school and being incarcerated.
Did you know boys are more likely to drop out of high school than girls? Or that there are more female college students than male? And did you know the imprisonment rate for men is roughly 15 times higher than the rate for women?
If this is what boys being easier to raise than girls looks like, could you imagine how many men would be in jail if raising girls got any harder? We worry so much about girls getting hurt -- and justifiably so -- but interestingly enough, the stats show it's our boys who are more likely to get robbed, attacked or even murdered. We see girls as fragile orchids and boys as plastic plants. But let's face it: At the core of this line of thinking isn't safety -- it's sex.
When someone offers this piece of advice, it's with the thinking that girls have to be protected from boys who will say and do just about anything to get in their pants. What's typically missing from this discussion is the challenge to parents -- particularly fathers -- not to raise a liar and a cheat.
True, parents of boys do not have to worry about them coming home pregnant, but does that mean an unplanned pregnancy can be considered "the girl's problem"? After all, a boy's girlfriend did not get pregnant asexually. That's why I'm Tebowing day and night, hoping my 15-year-old has the will to stay away from sex -- even though the world all around him tells him there's something wrong with him if he does.
Easier? Ha. Try different.
Did you know boys are more likely to drop out of high school than girls? Or that there are more female college students than male? And did you know the imprisonment rate for men is roughly 15 times higher than the rate for women?
If this is what boys being easier to raise than girls looks like, could you imagine how many men would be in jail if raising girls got any harder? We worry so much about girls getting hurt -- and justifiably so -- but interestingly enough, the stats show it's our boys who are more likely to get robbed, attacked or even murdered. We see girls as fragile orchids and boys as plastic plants. But let's face it: At the core of this line of thinking isn't safety -- it's sex.
When someone offers this piece of advice, it's with the thinking that girls have to be protected from boys who will say and do just about anything to get in their pants. What's typically missing from this discussion is the challenge to parents -- particularly fathers -- not to raise a liar and a cheat.
True, parents of boys do not have to worry about them coming home pregnant, but does that mean an unplanned pregnancy can be considered "the girl's problem"? After all, a boy's girlfriend did not get pregnant asexually. That's why I'm Tebowing day and night, hoping my 15-year-old has the will to stay away from sex -- even though the world all around him tells him there's something wrong with him if he does.
Easier? Ha. Try different.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
What makes Genesis special?
Why was Genesis written? The earliest ancestors of the Israelites did not write down their family history, but they told stories. These stories were passed on for generations. Eventually, they were written down so that the people of Israel would have a record of how God created the world and how they became God's people. The book also describes how the first human beings broke the perfect relationship they had with God in the Garden of Eden. But God did not give up on human beings, and eventually chose Abram and Sarai (later called Abraham and Sarah) to leave their home in Northern Mesopotamia and go to Canaan, a land God promised to give to Abram and his descendants. God also promised Abram that his descendants would be a great people who would bring God's blessings to all the other nations of the world (12:1-3).
Genesis includes a number of family lists (genealogies) to explain how the Israelite people are related to each other and to other peoples and nations in the ancient Near East, Middle East, and northeastern Africa.
According to tradition, Moses was considered the author and collector of the first five books of the Bible, including Genesis. It is difficult to say for certain when Moses lived, but the Bible (1 Kings 6:1) and other ancient documents seem to point to some time between 1400 and 1250 B.C. That would make Genesis over 3300 years old! However, in the past two centuries, some Bible scholars have suggested that Genesis actually reached its final form much later than the time of Moses, perhaps as late as the time of Israel's exile in Babylon (587-538 B.C.). They noted that the two descriptions of God's creation of the earth (Genesis 1:1-2:4 and 2:4-25) differ slightly, and each uses a different name for God. They began to wonder if the book may be a collection of the writings of different authors, each having important stories and history to contribute to this "family album" of Israel's earliest ancestors. But no matter who wrote the book, its main message is clear: The God of Abraham, Sarah, and their descendants (the people of Israel) is the creator of the world and acts in history to save all people.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Jesus Makes The Difference!
Rev. M.D.Rogers
Romans 7:18-20
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to
will is present
with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I
would I do
not:
but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is
no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
INTRODUCTION:
There are many believers walking around in the world who have at one time or
another
experienced great disappointment with themselves.
Although we are living an obviously blessed life, there is a disappointment, not
in a friend
or a co-worker that let your down, or in a situation that failed but in
disappointment in
ourselves.
We experience self disappointment whenever we fail to do that which we think we
should
do in the way we should do it.
Dealing with self disappointment is a private war, an internal struggle that is
not seen by
others but is felt by every believer, from time to time, as we measure where God
what
wants us to be and where were really are.
Unless we tell someone else, other than God himself, the only other person who
knows
about our self disappointment is the man or woman in the mirror.
The man or woman in the mirror reminds us of what we promised ourselves that we
will be
and what are actually doing about that promise.
The face that keeps changing in the mirror, keeps pointing out the size of the
gap
between our ideas and reality, and that disappoints us.
As Christians, we struggle daily with our self disappointment.
We lied when we promised ourselves, we wouldn't lie…
We cheated when we said we would be faithful…
We lost our temper when we said we would remain under control…
We lit up a cigarette after telling ourselves over and over we were going to
quit…
Promises, Promises, Promise…
Our only redeeming grace is the knowledge that, while the God we serve is not
happy with
our personal failures, he is forgiving and merciful.
Despite our flaws and short comings, he blesses us continually. That is why we
praise him
continually.
This is why I believe that King David proclaimed that "I will bless the Lord at
all times, His
praise shall continually be in my mouth".
EXPOSITION:
The first part of the text focuses on Paul as he explains the nature of the
believer's life in
Christ as opposed to the law.
The Apostle Paul identifies to the reader that there is a war raging on the
inside between
the natural man/flesh and the Spiritual man/Converted believer.
This war is evident in the fact that Paul declares within himself that there is
a struggle
between an opposing forces to do what is right.
In essence Paul is telling us this morning that the spiritual man wants to
please God, but
the flesh wants to please it self.
Therefore causing a continual war on the inside to see who will gain the upper
hand.
Today there are many believers who are frustrated over their inability to stay
on the right
path.
The fact that it bothers us means that we are no longer at war with God. We
have
accepted his moral standard.
1. WHAT IS THE LAW?
• God's moral standard reflected in the 10 commandments (Exodus 20)
• The attributes of God Himself.
• When each of us stands before the law, we fall short.
• Romans 3:23
• The Law is rigid and unchanging
• There is no room for compromise or compassion
• You either live by or be condemned by it.
THE HOLY SPIRIT PUSHES ME TO KEEP THE LAW
• The law is spiritual. (Vs. 14) The law was given to man by the Spirit of God
• The Greek word used is the very name of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is
the source
of the law.
The reason why the Holy Spirit motivates me to keep the law is because the flesh
is "sold
under sin".
What Paul means by this is that as a creature of flesh, that is, as a man, he
is...
• a slave to sin.
• under sin's influence.
• subject to sin.
• capable of sinning.
• guilty of sinning.
• cannot free himself from being short of God's glory.
• cannot keep from sinning—not perfectly.
• cannot erase sin's presence—not completely.
• cannot cast sin out of his life—not totally.
• cannot get rid of sin—not permanently.
The one promise from this struggle is that I am experiencing the indwelling of
the Holy
Spirit.
CONCLUSION:
Paul's conclusion is that man has a sinful, depraved, and corrupt nature. What
causes him
to conclude this?
As a man who was a genuine believer, he did not want to sin; he actually willed
not to sin.
However, he found that he could not keep from sinning.
He continually came short of the glory of God and failed to be consistently
conformed to
the image of Christ.
He came short and failed because of sin that dwells in him, because of sin
within his flesh.
The carnal man finds a principle, a law of sin within his flesh that tugs and
pulls him to
sin. He finds that no matter what he does, he sins...
• by living for himself before he lives for God and for others.
• by putting himself before the laws concerning God and the laws concerning man.
(This refers to the Ten Commandments where the first laws govern our
relationship to God
and the last laws govern our relationship to man.)
No matter what resources and faculties man uses and no matter how diligently he
tries, he
is unable to control sin and to keep from sinning.
Sin is within his flesh; it dwells in him. In fact, man is corrupt and dies for
this very reason.
He was never made to be corruptible nor to die; he was not created with the seed
of
corruption that causes him to age and deteriorate and decay (Romans 5:12).
The seed of corruption was planted in his flesh, in his body and life when he
sinned.
The carnal life proves that man cannot keep from sinning, that man is diseased
with the
seed of corruption, the seed of a sinful and a depraved nature.
BUT CHRIST MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE…
Jesus declared in Mark 17 "I did not come to destroy the law, but I came to
fulfill it…"
Jesus fulfilled the law by keeping the law. He fulfilled the law by not
breaking the law.
What Adam failed to do, Jesus was successful and victorious.
Illustration: Standard grade scale
Standard Grading Scale
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F Below 59
God's grading scale is different.
The Law of God requires 100 percent participation and anything less is a failing
grade.
Therefore this standard puts man in a no win situation.
Jesus made up the difference in the life of all believers.
When I was at 80% according to God's standards, Jesus made up the difference by
supplying me the much needed 20% so that I would equal up to 100%.
When sin caused me to fail the test, Jesus Christ was the extra credit needed to
pass the
course.
One day at Calvary the semester was about to come to an end for mankind and he
was
failing with no possibility of passing…
Romans 7:18-20
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to
will is present
with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I
would I do
not:
but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is
no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
INTRODUCTION:
There are many believers walking around in the world who have at one time or
another
experienced great disappointment with themselves.
Although we are living an obviously blessed life, there is a disappointment, not
in a friend
or a co-worker that let your down, or in a situation that failed but in
disappointment in
ourselves.
We experience self disappointment whenever we fail to do that which we think we
should
do in the way we should do it.
Dealing with self disappointment is a private war, an internal struggle that is
not seen by
others but is felt by every believer, from time to time, as we measure where God
what
wants us to be and where were really are.
Unless we tell someone else, other than God himself, the only other person who
knows
about our self disappointment is the man or woman in the mirror.
The man or woman in the mirror reminds us of what we promised ourselves that we
will be
and what are actually doing about that promise.
The face that keeps changing in the mirror, keeps pointing out the size of the
gap
between our ideas and reality, and that disappoints us.
As Christians, we struggle daily with our self disappointment.
We lied when we promised ourselves, we wouldn't lie…
We cheated when we said we would be faithful…
We lost our temper when we said we would remain under control…
We lit up a cigarette after telling ourselves over and over we were going to
quit…
Promises, Promises, Promise…
Our only redeeming grace is the knowledge that, while the God we serve is not
happy with
our personal failures, he is forgiving and merciful.
Despite our flaws and short comings, he blesses us continually. That is why we
praise him
continually.
This is why I believe that King David proclaimed that "I will bless the Lord at
all times, His
praise shall continually be in my mouth".
EXPOSITION:
The first part of the text focuses on Paul as he explains the nature of the
believer's life in
Christ as opposed to the law.
The Apostle Paul identifies to the reader that there is a war raging on the
inside between
the natural man/flesh and the Spiritual man/Converted believer.
This war is evident in the fact that Paul declares within himself that there is
a struggle
between an opposing forces to do what is right.
In essence Paul is telling us this morning that the spiritual man wants to
please God, but
the flesh wants to please it self.
Therefore causing a continual war on the inside to see who will gain the upper
hand.
Today there are many believers who are frustrated over their inability to stay
on the right
path.
The fact that it bothers us means that we are no longer at war with God. We
have
accepted his moral standard.
1. WHAT IS THE LAW?
• God's moral standard reflected in the 10 commandments (Exodus 20)
• The attributes of God Himself.
• When each of us stands before the law, we fall short.
• Romans 3:23
• The Law is rigid and unchanging
• There is no room for compromise or compassion
• You either live by or be condemned by it.
THE HOLY SPIRIT PUSHES ME TO KEEP THE LAW
• The law is spiritual. (Vs. 14) The law was given to man by the Spirit of God
• The Greek word used is the very name of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is
the source
of the law.
The reason why the Holy Spirit motivates me to keep the law is because the flesh
is "sold
under sin".
What Paul means by this is that as a creature of flesh, that is, as a man, he
is...
• a slave to sin.
• under sin's influence.
• subject to sin.
• capable of sinning.
• guilty of sinning.
• cannot free himself from being short of God's glory.
• cannot keep from sinning—not perfectly.
• cannot erase sin's presence—not completely.
• cannot cast sin out of his life—not totally.
• cannot get rid of sin—not permanently.
The one promise from this struggle is that I am experiencing the indwelling of
the Holy
Spirit.
CONCLUSION:
Paul's conclusion is that man has a sinful, depraved, and corrupt nature. What
causes him
to conclude this?
As a man who was a genuine believer, he did not want to sin; he actually willed
not to sin.
However, he found that he could not keep from sinning.
He continually came short of the glory of God and failed to be consistently
conformed to
the image of Christ.
He came short and failed because of sin that dwells in him, because of sin
within his flesh.
The carnal man finds a principle, a law of sin within his flesh that tugs and
pulls him to
sin. He finds that no matter what he does, he sins...
• by living for himself before he lives for God and for others.
• by putting himself before the laws concerning God and the laws concerning man.
(This refers to the Ten Commandments where the first laws govern our
relationship to God
and the last laws govern our relationship to man.)
No matter what resources and faculties man uses and no matter how diligently he
tries, he
is unable to control sin and to keep from sinning.
Sin is within his flesh; it dwells in him. In fact, man is corrupt and dies for
this very reason.
He was never made to be corruptible nor to die; he was not created with the seed
of
corruption that causes him to age and deteriorate and decay (Romans 5:12).
The seed of corruption was planted in his flesh, in his body and life when he
sinned.
The carnal life proves that man cannot keep from sinning, that man is diseased
with the
seed of corruption, the seed of a sinful and a depraved nature.
BUT CHRIST MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE…
Jesus declared in Mark 17 "I did not come to destroy the law, but I came to
fulfill it…"
Jesus fulfilled the law by keeping the law. He fulfilled the law by not
breaking the law.
What Adam failed to do, Jesus was successful and victorious.
Illustration: Standard grade scale
Standard Grading Scale
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F Below 59
God's grading scale is different.
The Law of God requires 100 percent participation and anything less is a failing
grade.
Therefore this standard puts man in a no win situation.
Jesus made up the difference in the life of all believers.
When I was at 80% according to God's standards, Jesus made up the difference by
supplying me the much needed 20% so that I would equal up to 100%.
When sin caused me to fail the test, Jesus Christ was the extra credit needed to
pass the
course.
One day at Calvary the semester was about to come to an end for mankind and he
was
failing with no possibility of passing…
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