Pass-The_ Ball...: July 2013

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Followers of Christ

Rev. M.D. Rogers

As followers of Christ, we strive to live in a way that visibly attests to the work of God in our lives. Yet it’s easy to feel timid or reluctant about displaying our faith—especially if we’ve failed before. Abram knew what it was like to fail in trusting God fully. In Genesis 12, he acted out of fear and self-preservation in the face of danger instead of trusting in God’s promise (Gen 12:10–20). Yet God remained faithful to him. In Genesis 14, when Abram learned that his nephew was in danger, he didn’t hesitate to act. Emboldened by God’s promise, Abram confidently set his eyes on the armies of the Mesopotamian kings, and with his band of trained men, he took down an army of giants.
Our past failures or lapses of faith do not prevent God from using us to accomplish great things, whether in witnessing to His work in our lives or defeating armies of giants (see Psa 118:6; Rom 8:31). Abram’s life shows us that God can and will use us despite our weaknesses and failures (see 1 Cor 1:26–31). This encourages us, like the Apostle Paul, to recognize that God’s grace is sufficient and that His power is made evident through our weakness (2 Cor 12:9).
In Colossians 3:17, Paul wrote, “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus” (ESV). Paul recognized that when we live out our faith, others notice—and they benefit from our efforts. This was true in Abram’s life: The Canaanite priest-king Melchizedek recognized Abram’s courage and, more importantly, God’s hand in Abram’s victory. Our faith should not only affect us, it should affect those around us as we respond to God’s call to live as disciples of Christ (see Col 3:12–15).
Join our study group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FTLM/

Monday, July 29, 2013

The Signs of New Millennium Youth and How We Can Help - Higher Education

Friday, July 26, 2013

Professor Creates ‘Fearless Dialogues’ Program To Support Black Men | Black America Web

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Stench of Moralism

The Stench of Moralism
Rev. M. D. Rogers

Another mark of the moral-performance narrative is a constant need to find
fault, win arguments, and prove that all opponents are not just mistaken but
dishonest sellouts. However, when the gospel is deeply grasped, our need to win
arguments is removed, and our language becomes gracious. We don't have to
ridicule our opponents, but instead we can engage them respectfully.
People who live in the moral-performance narrative use sarcastic, self-righteous
putdown humor, or have no sense of humor at all. Lewis speaks of "the unsmiling
concentration upon Self, which is the mark of hell." The gospel, however,
creates a gentle sense of irony. We find a lot to laugh at, starting with our
own weaknesses. They don't threaten us anymore because our ultimate worth is not
based on our record or performance.

Martin Luther had the basic insight that moralism is the default mode of the
human heart. Even Christians who believe the gospel of grace on one level can
continue to operate as if they have been saved by their works. In "The Great
Sin" in Mere Christianity, Lewis writes, "If we find that our religious life is
making us feel that we are good—above all, that we are better than someone
else—I think we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the
Devil."

Gracious, self-forgetful humility should be one of the primary things that
distinguishes Christian believers from the many other types of moral, decent
people in the world. But I think it is fair to say that humility, which is a key
differentiating mark of the Christian, is largely missing in the church.
Nonbelievers, detecting the stench of sanctimony, turn away.
Some will say, "Phariseeism and moralism are not our culture's big problems
right now.

Our problems are license and antinomianism. There is no need to talk
about grace all the time to postmodern people." But postmodern people have been
rejecting Christianity for years, thinking that it was indistinguishable from
moralism. Only if you show them there's a difference—that what they rejected
wasn't real Christianity—will they even begin to listen again.

The problem is too big for practical solutions. The wing of the
evangelical church that is most concerned about the loss of truth and about
compromise is actually infamous in our culture for its self-righteousness and
pride.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Think Outside of Self - by Rev.M.D. Rogers

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
—Isaiah 58:7

We can sometimes become so enmeshed in the affairs of our own lives that we actually forget that we share this earthly life with others. Then, at the most inopportune moment, one of those “others” wants to share their hunger with us, or lament the poverty of their spirit, or be supported because they are drooping with weakness, and we just want them to go away.

It happens when we are rushing our children to daycare, or trying to make an early morning meeting, or answering an important call on our cell phone, or sitting on a bench in silence because we have lost someone we love. We have enough going on in our own lives we tell ourselves; we can't possibly stretch in one more direction.

Surprisingly, that interruption from the hungry, the poor, and the vulnerable can be a great gift to us. It jolts us out of our own self-absorption, and we are forced to recognize that we are not the center of the universe. In fact, our pain is the pain of others, our weakness is the weakness of others, our hunger and poverty are the hunger and poverty of others. We are together in this enterprise of life.

The abrupt and unwelcome interruption helps us realize that we cannot hide ourselves from those who share life with us. We begin to see how important it is for us to step aside from the struggles that consume us and enter into the struggle of all humanity.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Leah Gunning Francis: Guns are not Toys; Changing the Way our Children Play | Black Blue Dog

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Delta Sigma Theta 100th Anniversary Opening Day Events | WOLB Talk 1010

The Will of Man- Rev. M. D. Rogers

2 TIMOTHY 2:11

There is something peculiarly deserving of notice in this expression. It throws light on a mysterious subject, and one which is often darkened by human explanations. It shows that Christ has feelings of pity and mercy for many who are not saved, and that the grand secret of man's ruin is his want of will. Impotent as man is by nature,--unable to think a good thought of himself,--without power to turn himself to faith and calling upon God,--he still appears to have a mighty ability to ruin his own soul. Powerless as he is to good, he is still powerful to evil. We say rightly that a man can do nothing of himself, but we must always remember that the seat of impotence is his will. A will to repent and believe no man can give himself, but a will to reject Christ and have his own way, every man possesses by nature, and if not saved at last, that will shall prove to have been his destruction.

How to Find Your Fathering Comfort Zone

Educating Black Boys: It Takes Everything We Are Not Doing

Saturday, July 13, 2013

100 years of Crimson and Cream.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Charlie Nelms, Ed.D.: Advancing the Cause of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Love one Another..

Are you struggling in your relationships with others? If so, it is not ultimately an interpersonal problem but a spiritual problem. In order for us to love our neighbor as ourselves, we must first love God with all that we are. My inclination to be jealous, angry, bitter, or unforgiving to my brother is an indication that God does not have first place in my life. Ask God to help you keep Him in first place, enabling you to love others as yourself.

A God who Speaks by Rev.M.D.Rogers

Has someone told you something, only to come back later and change his story? In thinking about this question, some people's minds may immediately go to politicians. You have heard the joke, "How do you know when a politician is lying? His lips are moving." Obviously, this does not characterize all, or perhaps even most, politicians. The statement alleges, however, that politicians will change their message when speaking to particular groups to accomplish certain goals.

By contrast, when God speaks He has only one message, which is applicable to all people at all times. As One whose very character and nature is holiness and truth, God cannot lie. As the sovereign creator and God over all things, there is no one to whom His message does not apply. Whether speaking through the world He has made, through His written Word, or through the incarnate Word – the Lord Jesus Christ – God's message is clear. He has made mankind for relationship with Himself, that we might know, love, serve and glorify Him. Though our sin separates us from God, His plan from the beginning was to reconcile to Himself those who would place their faith in God's provision for redemption – Jesus Christ

Since the beginning of the world, God has spoken to man. Though God speaks through creation itself, He did not simply create the world and then hide, leaving man to figure out the world and his place in it. Rather, from the beginning, God took the initiative to reveal Himself, His ways, and His purposes to man. He spoke to Adam as he walked and lived in the garden. He spoke to Moses from the burning bush and later, according to Exodus 33:11, face-to-face. God spoke to the prophets, by His Spirit, commanding them to write down His words so that they might pass to future generations (2 Pe. 1:20-21). God spoke to them in various ways at various times (Heb. 1:1). The thing we must remember in all of this, however, is that God is the One who took the initiative. His words are what He communicates to man (2 Tim. 3:16).

God is a God who speaks, a God who reveals Himself, His character, His purpose, and His plan. From the beginning, that which He has spoken has been clear and consistent – He will provide for lost man a sinless redeemer that will reconcile God and man. He has done this in Christ. In the weeks to come, we will see not only that God speaks, but how He has spoken and how all that He has spoken points us to Christ.

Stop to consider the wonder of having a God who speaks—not just a distant deity who thunders orders and admonishments from heaven, but one who actually wants to have a conversation with you! Why would the Lord of all creation go to such lengths to communicate personally with each of us? Consider the following reasons:

• God loves you and desires a relationship with you.

• He wants you to know Him personally through intimate communication.

• He longs to encourage you to trust Him. As you experience the fulfillment of His words, your faith grows strong.

• He wants to guide you. The Lord has a good purpose for your life and is willing to direct your decisions and ways so you can experience all that He has planned.

In our busy world, it’s easy to take for granted this invaluable privilege of communication with God. If we are too busy or distracted to hear, His voice will not stop—but we’ll miss out on the riches of an intimate relationship available only to those with receptive hearts and ears.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

PASS THE BALL is a mentoring program for young boys (6-12). It is our believe that if we start early in the lives of young boys we can make a change in the way they see themselves and their community.