Obama’s Only Hurting Himself

Gay marriage is arguably the most divisive social issue in the United States. Millions of Americans, especially those who adhere to the Christian faith, believe that marriage ought to be restricted to one man and one woman. Others, namely liberal Democrats, believe that marriage should be open to everyone, and that this issue is one of equality. Personally, I am against gay marriage, on the grounds that the act itself of sacramental nature. However, I don’t care to discuss my views on this topic. Instead, I want to focus on President Obama’s ignorant behavior over the past week. He seems convinced that this issue will single-handedly propel him to victory in November. He’s in for a rude awakening when millions of emboldened social conservatives show up at the polls to vote for Mitt Romney.

Obama’s decision to make gay marriage a wedge issue in the upcoming election betrays the incompetence of both himself and his campaign. Sure he may have used the announcement to net $15 million in donations at an exclusive Hollywood fundraiser, but at what cost? The President has nothing to gain from this announcement; he already has the “gay vote”, and few liberals are agonizing over whom to support. Essentially, Obama had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Now, he risks losing the vast number of Christians and Catholics who voted him into office in 2008.
Don’t believe me? A USA Today/Gallup poll released on Saturday shows that the announcement made 26% of Americans less likely to vote for  Obama in November. Only 13% said that his announcement made it more likely that they would vote for him. Also, a recent Pew Research Center poll showed that 25% of Americans now view Obama less favorably than before. 19% of voters they view Obama more favorably and 52% said his announcement made no difference.
These numbers speak volumes. Obama’s purely political decision to come out in support of gay marriage has done far more harm than good. Social conservatives are now emboldened to go to the polls and support traditional marriage. Republicans who may have been concerned about Mitt Romney now have a reason to vote for him: he’s the only one who will protect the sanctity of holy matrimony.
The President thinks that his announcement will make voters forget about the economy. If he truly believes that gay marriage is the best way to win this election, he’s delusional. Every time someone pay $4.00 for a gallon of gas, they will be reminded of Obama’s failures. No matter how much he tries to distract people from the real issues, the President will fail. In the end, people vote on the economy. Gay marriage won’t change the facts. Our economy is failing and the President has no answers.

Destruction of Church as rioters run amok in Zanzibar

Zanzibar residents view the badly damaged Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG) church at Kariakoo in Zanzibar, which rioters set on fire yesterday morning.

  Zanzibar. Scores of people were injured and properties of yet-to-be determined value destroyed in Zanzibar yesterday following widespread riots triggered by religious-cum-political zealots.
Police quickly stepped in to quell the riots using teargas canisters and water canons as thugs pelted them with stones. The law enforces have meanwhile launched a manhunt for the riot ringleaders, vowing to arrest and bring to book all the culpable - at any cost.
Small groups of protesters were all over the place in the whole afternoon yesterday while anti-riot police dispatched to all the main shopping centres including Stone Town went full force to block demonstrations by an Islamic group that is allegedly pushing for a dissolution of the Union between Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland.
The ugly situation came to a head after members of a group calling itself the Association of Islamic Awareness and Public Discourse,  known in its Kiswahili acronym, Jumiki, which stands for Jumuiya ya Uamsho na Mihadhara ya Kiislamu Zanzibar, torched two churches and destroyed other properties worth millions of shillings, including a motor vehicle.
The hundreds of Jumiki members blocked roads using stones and raided without success the Mjini Magharibi central police station pressing for the release of their leaders who had been arrested following the mayhem.
Sources said the rioters were agitating for the disbandment of the Union, which would result in cutting off Zanzibar islands from Tanzania Mainland.
The Zanzibar Police Commissioner, Mr Mussa Ali Mussa, told a press conference yesterday that seven leaders of the group have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations. He declined to mention their names.
 “We have arrested seven leaders of the group but I don’t have their names at hand. I have only the name of one Mr Mussa Abdallah Juma,” said police commissioner who added that demonstrators burnt down two churches and damaged other properties worth millions of shillings.
He said the police have launched a manhunt for the association’s ringleaders, adding that the leaders were instigating the youth to create chaos in the Isles.
“We will hunt them down and get then… at any cost,” vowed Mr Mussa, adding that the police have banned public rallies that are called without express written permission from the Force.
“We will continue ensuring that Zanzibar remains peaceful,” he said.
A spot-check by The Citizen found that most affected areas include Darajani and Michenzani, two of the most important business centres in the Isles.
Shoppers deserted the areas as anti-riot police, who sporadically used tear gas to disperse pockets of groups, were dispatched to every corner to ensure peace and security.
Most of the streets, mainly roads, were littered with stones, logs and burning tyres, making it difficult for motorists to drive through.
The leader of the Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG) Bishop Dickson Maganga, told The Citizen that a group of people raided his church at Kariakoo around 10.30am on Saturday.
“They broke into the church and burned plastic chairs before going for my car which they also reduced to a shell,” said Bishop Maganga.
He said he reported the incident to the police who promptly arrived at the scene, adding that the fire brigade also arrived at the church shortly thereafter.
“The fire brigade managed to put out the fire before it spread,” the Bishop said.
In its statement, the association denied involvement in torching the churches, blaming the police for failing to control the situation.
The secretary of the association, Mr Abdallah Said, blamed the police for what he termed as their arbitrary arrests of the their leaders.
Even as we went to press last evening, there were reports that there were still scattered running battles between the police and the protesters who were still bent on setting fire on bars and churches.
Minister of State in the Second Vice-President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Aboud, said last night that the government would do everything to return normalcy to Zanzibar and ensure the Islands remain peaceful.

Source: The Citizen.

God at the goal posts

Do religion and sport mix? Some sports people evidently think so. Players who believe in God often show it openly — some saying a prayer on the field after scoring or missing a goal, others showing off T-shirts underneath their kit bearing religious messages.
Some believe that God, or spiritual forces, take sides in sporting contests. Former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje used to hold prayer sessions for divine assistance with players before games. Evangelical Christian Jonty Rhodes once told Andrew Hudson, who was going through a lean spell with the bat: “Do your best and God will do the rest.”
Last year, AC Milan player Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite (26), commonly known as Kaka, fell on his knees in prayer while revealing the slogan “I belong to Jesus” on his shirting after helping his team beat Liverpool in the Champions League. It sparked some debate among football followers across the world. The question was whether football players should confront the public with their beliefs.
According to media reports, Kaka is a devout evangelical Christian who “got religion” at the age of 12. He suffered a career-threatening spine fracture, but remarkably made a full recovery. Attributing his healing to divine intervention, he has since paid a tithe of his income to his church. Kaka is a member of Atletas de Cristo (Athletes of Christ).
Moroka Swallows goalkeeper Greg Etafia, a Roman Catholic falls to his knees every time he takes to the field of play. He told the Mail & Guardian: “I was brought up in a Christian family and I believe in prayer. God has given me talent and I have to use my talent accordingly.”
Another Absa Premiership player, Mkhanyiseli Siwahla (20) of Ajax Cape Town, who made his Premier Soccer League (PSL) debut at the age of 16, attributes his success to prayer. He is also superstitious; if he scores a goal wearing a certain pair of boots, he wears the same boots in the next game.

Chuck Norris to give graduation address at Liberty University

Actor Chuck Norris has been selected to speak at Liberty University’s graduation on May 10.
Norris, the star of numerous feature films and the long-running CBS television show, “Walker, Texas Ranger,” was a mainstay this year in the campaign of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, whom Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. endorsed for president.
Falwell said he chose Chuck Norris after speaking with Huckabee recently. “He [Huckabee] and Chuck have become close friends and he told me how he had been impressed with Chuck as a very thoughtful and intelligent person and as a strong conservative Christian. I can’t imagine any profession where it is more difficult to remain true to your conservative Christian values than the entertainment field.”
In addition to his acting career, Norris won many state, national and international karate titles in the mid-to-late 1960s.
He fought in and won the World Professional Karate Championship and retired undefeated in 1974. He was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as a fighter and instructor.
“The more I read about Chuck Norris, the more I am convinced that he is an excellent choice,” Falwell said. “LU is committed to placing graduates in every profession to make a positive difference in the world. That includes the entertainment industry. In fact, we had two students obtain major roles in a Hollywood feature film this week. There are so few conservative Christians in Hollywood, I believe we need to recognize, honor and hear from those who have been successful in swimming against the tide.”

Source: Liberty Journal.

Luiz's 'healing hands' are no gimmick: Brazilian's faith runs deeper than helping Torres

Fernando Torres' two goals for Chelsea in the Champions League may have been attributed to a strange pre-match ritual from David Luiz, but the Brazilian defender takes his religious faith more seriously than cheap gimmicks to help team-mates score.
The Blues strolled to a  5-0 win over Belgian side Genk in midweek, aided by two goals from the misfiring Spaniard and it was revealed that Luiz may have asked for some divine intervention.
Luiz is proud of his his Christian beliefs and has links with the Atletas de Cristo (Athletes of Christ) – a non-profit organisation that is made up of sportsmen and which was started in Brazil in 1984, according to Sportsmail's Game in Spain columnist Pete Jenson, writing in the Independent.

Coincidence? Torres bagged two goals during the game against Genk

The movement and counts Real Madrid's Kaka and Inter Milan's Lucio among its many devotees.

Luiz speaks highly of Kaka, who he says inspires him 'both on and off the pitch', and when asked about his future while still at the Portuguese club, Luiz said: 'Everything in life belongs to God. Our purpose has already been mapped out.

                                  

                              Inspired: Kaka and Lucio follow the same evangelical movement

'My faith gives me the belief that I can go out and perform and improve as a player. It gives me strength and inspiration,' Luiz said last season.
And while at Benfica he drove a van to training with religious stickers adorning it – one saying 'Christ is life' and the other 'God is Faith'.

Brace yourself: Torres fired two inside half an hour against Genk

           

Jesus Also Had Unbelieving Family Members

Do you, like me, have family members who do not believe in Jesus? If so, we are in good company. So did Jesus. And I think this is meant to give us hope. 
According to the Apostle John, “not even his brothers believed in him” (John 7:5). That’s incredible. Those who had lived with Jesus for 30 years really did not know him. Not one of Jesus’ brothers is mentioned as a disciple during his pre-crucifixion ministry. But after his resurrection and ascension, there they are in the upper room worshiping him as God (Acts 1:14).
Why didn’t they believe? And what made them change?
The Bible doesn’t answer the first question. But I’ll bet it was difficult to have Jesus for a brother.
First, Jesus would have been without peer in intellect and wisdom. He was astounding temple rabbis by age 12 (Luke 2:42, 47). A sinful, fallen, gifted sibling can be a hard act to follow. Imagine a perfect, gifted sibling.
Second, Jesus’ consistent and extraordinary moral character must have made him odd and unnerving to be around. His siblings would have grown increasingly self-conscious around him, aware of their own sinful, self-obsessed motives and behavior, while noting that Jesus didn’t seem to exhibit any himself. For sinners, that could be hard to live with.
Third, Jesus was deeply and uniquely loved by Mary and Joseph. How could they not have treated him differently? They knew he was the Lord. Imagine their extraordinary trust in and deference to Jesus as he grew older. No doubt the siblings would have perceived a dimension to the relationship between the oldest child and their parents that was different from what they experienced.
And when swapping family stories it would have been hard to match a star appearing at your brother’s birth.
Jesus out-classed his siblings in every category. How could anyone with an active sin nature not resent being eclipsed by such a phenom-brother? Familiarity breeds contempt when pride rules the heart.
More pain than we know must have been behind Jesus’ words, “a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household” (Matthew 13:57).
So as we assess the role our weak, stumbling witness plays in our family members’ unbelief, let’s remember Jesus — not even a perfect witness guarantees that loved ones will see and embrace the gospel. We must humble ourselves and repent when we sin. But let’s remember that the god of this world and indwelling sin is what blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4).
The story of Jesus’ brothers can actually give us hope for our loved ones. At the time his brothers claimed that Jesus was “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21), it must have appeared very unlikely that they would ever become his disciples. But eventually they did! And not only followers, but leaders and martyrs in the early church.
The God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” shone in their hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of their brother, Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6).
So take heart! Don’t give up praying for unbelieving family members. Don’t take their resistance as the final word. They may yet believe, and be used significantly in the kingdom!
And while they resist, or if they have died apparently unbelieving, we can trust them to the Judge of all the earth who will be perfectly just (Genesis 18:25). Jesus does not promise that every parent, sibling, or child of a Christian will believe, but does painfully promise that some families will divide over him (Matthew 10:34-39). We can trust him when it happens.
It is moving to hear James refer to his brother as “our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1). Can you imagine what this phrase meant for James? The Lord of glory had once slept beside him, ate at his dinner table, played with his friends, spoke to him like a brother, endured his unbelief, paid the debt of his sin, and then brought him to faith.
It may have taken 20-30 years of faithful, prayerful witness by the Son of God, but the miracle occurred: his brothers believed. May the Lord of glory grant the same grace to our beloved unbelievers.

Fake Love, Fake War: Why So Many Men Are Addicted to Internet Porn and Video Games.

You know the guy I'm talking about. He spends hours into the night playing video games and surfing for pornography. He fears he's a loser. And he has no idea just how much of a loser he is. For some time now, studies have shown us that porn and gaming can become compulsive and addicting. What we too often don't recognize, though, is why.
In a new book, The Demise of Guys: Why Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It, psychologists Philip Zimbardo and Nikita Duncan say we may lose an entire generation of men to pornography and video gaming addictions. Their concern isn't about morality, but instead about the nature of these addictions in reshaping the patten of desires necessary for community.
If you're addicted to sugar or tequila or heroin you want more and more of that substance. But porn and video games both are built on novelty, on the quest for newer and different experiences. That's why you rarely find a man addicted to a single pornographic image. He's entrapped in an ever-expanding kaleidoscope.
There's a key difference between porn and gaming. Pornography can't be consumed in moderation because it is, by definition, immoral. A video game can be a harmless diversion along the lines of a low-stakes athletic competition. But the compulsive form of gaming shares a key element with porn: both are meant to simulate something, something for which men long.
Pornography promises orgasm without intimacy. Video warfare promises adrenaline without danger. The arousal that makes these so attractive is ultimately spiritual to the core.
Satan isn't a creator but a plagiarist. His power is parasitic, latching on to good impulses and directing them toward his own purpose. God intends a man to feel the wildness of sexuality in the self-giving union with his wife. And a man is meant to, when necessary, fight for his family, his people, for the weak and vulnerable who are being oppressed.
The drive to the ecstasy of just love and to the valor of just war are gospel matters. The sexual union pictures the cosmic mystery of the union of Christ and his church. The call to fight is grounded in a God who protects his people, a Shepherd Christ who grabs his sheep from the jaws of the wolves.
When these drives are directed toward the illusion of ever-expanding novelty, they kill joy. The search for a mate is good, but blessedness isn't in the parade of novelty before Adam. It is in finding the one who is fitted for him, and living with her in the mission of cultivating the next generation. When necessary, it is right to fight. But God's warfare isn't forever novel. It ends in a supper, and in a perpetual peace.
Moreover, these addictions foster the seemingly opposite vices of passivity and hyper-aggression. The porn addict becomes a lecherous loser, with one-flesh union supplanted by masturbatory isolation. The video game addict becomes a pugilistic coward, with other-protecting courage supplanted by aggression with no chance of losing one's life. In both cases, one seeks the sensation of being a real lover or a real fighter, but venting one's reproductive or adrenal glands over pixilated images, not flesh and blood for which one is responsible.
Zimbardo and Duncan are right, this is a generation mired in fake love and fake war, and that is dangerous. A man who learns to be a lover through porn will simultaneously love everyone and no one. A man obsessed with violent gaming can learn to fight everyone and no one.
The answer to both addictions is to fight arousal with arousal. Set forth the gospel vision of a Christ who loves his bride and who fights to save her. And then let's train our young men to follow Christ by learning to love a real woman, sometimes by fighting his own desires and the spirit beings who would eat him up. Let's teach our men to make love, and to make war . . . for real.

I’ve built United on a diet of toast, honey and lemon sole

SUCCESS ON A PLATE ... Alex Ferguson has turned Manchester United into one of the best teams in the world.

ALEX FERGUSON turned Manchester United into world beaters — on a diet of lemon sole, toast and honey.

The legendary boss revealed that his success of the past 25 years started with a canteen revolution. Ferguson masterminded United’s charge to become the most successful team in English football — lifting an incredible 37 trophies during his time in charge. The 70-year-old outlined how he had to build United from the bottom up to achieve his dream of them being one of the world’s greatest clubs. But Fergie admits changing the diet of his United squad after taking charge in 1986 left several players bemused. He said: “When I started as a coach — and before they started talking about diets — I used to take my team at East Stirling for lunch. “All I would give them was two slices of lemon sole, toast and honey. They used to go crazy. When I was a player, they used to give you fillet steaks and steak pie and things like that. “So when I became a manager I said to myself ‘What they eat before a game is as important as what happens during the game’. “I did that at Aberdeen and I did exactly the same at United.” Ferguson laid bare the dramatic way the game has changed since starting his managerial career in 1974. After his spell in Stirlingshire he moved on to St Mirren, Aberdeen and the Scotland national team. Ferguson added: “Thanks to the advances in sports science and the expert nutritionists we have here at Carrington, I don’t need to worry about that side of things now.” His incredible trophy haul at Manchester United since ’86 includes 12 Premier League titles, two Champions League wins and five FA Cups. But United face the biggest challenge to their domestic supremacy in the form of neighbours City, who have splashed more thjan £1billion since Sheikh Mansour bought the club in 2008. City wrested the Premier League crown from United’s grasp thanks to Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp goal against QPR on the final day of the season. But Ferguson is relishing the challenge of trying to take the trophy back from the big spenders down the road. And his methods are not about to change now. Ferguson said: “If you look at the staff I’ve had here over 20-odd years, most of them have been with me throughout. “People like Dave Bushell, Tony Whelan, Paul McGuinness, Jimmy Ryan, Les Kershaw, they’re all still here and part of the fabric of the club. “So what you’ve got is experience of how to handle young people. Experience of what United really means, how to handle players coming to the club because in some cases it’s not always easy.” 

 Alex Ferguson was talking to the League Manager's Association and Barclays to celebrate 20 Season of the Premier League.

Powell: 'No Problem' with Gay Marriage

Four Reasons Why Marriage Is God's Doing

First, marriage was God's design.
While Genesis 1:27–28 makes clear that marriage is meant for male and female, the logic of Genesis 2 also confirms it.

In [Genesis 2:18], it is God himself who decrees that man's solitude is not good, and it is God himself who sets out to complete one of the central designs of creation, namely, man and woman in marriage. "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." Don't miss that central and all-important statement: God himself will make a being perfectly suited for him — a wife. (21)

Second, God gave away the first bride.
God took the role as the first Father to give away the bride. "Genesis 2:22: 'And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.' He didn't hide her and make Adam seek. He made her; then he brought her." (22)
Third, God spoke the design of marriage into existence.

We can see this if we look carefully at Matthew 19:4–5: "[Jesus] answered, 'Have you not read that he [God] who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said [Note: God said!], "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"'?" Jesus said that the words of Genesis 2:24 are God's words, even though they were written by Moses. (22)

Fourth, God performs the one-flesh union.
The one-flesh union between a man and woman is the heart of what marriage is.

Genesis 2:24 is God's word of institution for marriage. But just as it was God who took the woman from the flesh of man (Genesis 2:21), it is God who in each marriage ordains and performs a uniting called one flesh. Man does not create this. God does. And it is not in man's power to destroy. This is implicit here in Genesis 2:24, but Jesus makes it explicit in Mark 10:8–9. He quotes Genesis 2:24, then adds a comment that explodes like thunder with the glory of marriage. "'The two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."
When a couple speaks their vows, it is not a man or a woman or a pastor or parent who is the main actor — the main doer. God is. God joins a husband and a wife into a one-flesh union. God does that. The world does not know this. Which is one of the reasons why marriage is treated so casually. And Christians often act like they don't know it, which is one of the reasons marriage in the church is not seen as the wonder it is. Marriage is God's doing because it is a one-flesh union that God himself performs.

 

Hit Film ‘COURAGEOUS,’ Now a Million-Selling Blu-ray™ and DVD, Spurs Father's Day Activities Across the Nations

The hit film COURAGEOUS opened at No. 4 in theaters last fall; its Blu-ray™ and DVD debuted in January at No. 1, selling more than a million copies so far; and its call to godly fathering has touched millions of people. Now, in honor of Father’s Day, churches across the country are planning activities to extend the film’s vital message.

Events planned for the weeks leading up to and on Father’s Day include:

• Licensed Screenings—Thousands of churches have obtained site licenses from Provident Films authorizing them to show COURAGEOUS in their facilities, and many churches plan to screen the film on June weekends leading up to Father’s Day, supported by special sermons and Sunday School classes drawing from ministry resources available with the film. (An annual license to show COURAGEOUS is available at ProvidentFilms.org/Courageous and prices start at $99, with a bonus offer of a 2-foot by 7-foot COURAGEOUS banner free with new license orders submitted by June 12.)
• Men of Honor Simulcast—A live simulcast from Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., will feature COURAGEOUS creators, actors and special guests. Sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources, the event will touch men and their families nationwide on Friday, June 15, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Church groups and individuals participate for just $5 per venue—home or an auditorium. Registration is at LifeWay.com/MenofHonor. The two hours of teaching, worship and powerful stories will challenge men to strengthen themselves in Christ. The Men of Honor Simulcastfeatures Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Church and executive producer of the film; Stephen Kendrick, co-writer and producer of COURAGEOUS; and Alex Kendrick, COURAGEOUS co-writer and director. Additionally the live praise, worship and teaching event features Ed Litton, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala., and a round table with COURAGEOUS actors Robert Amaya (Javier), Ken Bevel (Nathan), Kevin Downes (Shane) and Daniel Simmons (William Barrett).
• Resolution Ceremonies—The film’s stirring Resolution scene, in which a group of fathers touched by tragedy publicly resolve to be the godly leaders their families need, will serve as a model for similar ceremonies in many churches on Father’s Day. Men will stand up, affirm their commitment to the Resolution’s principles and sign a copy. A video now online at the COURAGEOUS YouTube page shows viewers how to conduct their own Resolution ceremony.

COURAGEOUS, produced by Sherwood Pictures, in partnership with Provident Films and AFFIRM Films, tells the story of four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they are confident and focused, standing up to the worst the streets have to offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. When tragedy strikes home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, fears, faith and fathering. Can a new found urgency help these dads draw closer to God . . . and to their children? Protecting the streets is second nature. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That’s courageous.

Jesus' Death and Resurrection

Simplicity In Christ

Isaiah 53:3-5
 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

John 20:1-18
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

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Self Empowerment

Self Empowerment is a buzz-word that has been used for teaching people to increase their self-image and be more assertive in daily life. The premise is the process of finding the resourcefulness inside an individual which translates into a stronger, worthier, more confident person. The Bible refers to Self Empowerment in these scriptures:

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
1st Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

SELF Empowerment is not in the Bible, other than as works of the flesh. Then why are “Christian” organizations and individuals promoting it as though it was a fruit of the Spirit of God, and not solely the wisdom of man?
One reason is Love of Money (1st Timothy 6:10). There is much money to be made in enabling people (mostly women) to excel above others, to be ambitious in their spirituality (emulation-a work of the flesh-Galatians 5:19-21). It’s much cheaper (and doctrinally sound) to go with what Jesus said “…let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Another reason is Power.

The term Human Empowerment covers a vast landscape of meanings, interpretations, definitions and disciplines ranging from psychology and philosophy to the highly commercialized Self-Help industry and Motivational sciences.
[...]
The process which enables one to gain power, authority and influence over others, institutions or society. Empowerment is probably the totality of the following or similar capabilities:-

• Having decision-making power of one’s own
• Having access to information and resources for taking proper decision
• Having a range of options from which you can make choices (not just yes/no, either/or.)
• Ability to exercise assertiveness in collective decision making
• Having positive thinking on the ability to make change
• Ability to learn skills for improving one’s personal or group power.
• Ability to change others’ perceptions by democratic means.
• Involving in the growth process and changes that is never-ending and self-initiated
• Increasing one’s positive self-image and overcoming stigma
• Increasing one’s ability in discreet thinking to sort out right and wrong

The power of God is not what the Self-Help industry is selling.

If there isn’t any money to be made, then what would be the point? Notice that all the proponents of metaphysics will take a concept, create a process of implementation, and SELL it. Jesus Christ can not be sold! Therefore, you won’t find anyone who is selling the real salvation of man. Metaphysics proponents are working very hard to present a facsimile, a substitute, that unsuspecting, undiscerning people will buy, or buy into.

Here are some buzz-words/phrases that go along with Self Empowerment:

self-image
self-esteem
find your destiny/identity
discover your God-given gifts
be a champion
we are little gods
recognize your potential
live your dream
live the dream God has for you
poverty is of the devil
realize the power inside you
discover how to dig down deep and “grab” your determination
transformation is the key to a better life in God

This instruction erroneously teaches that we choose what our destiny will be based on the world’s perception of greatness, positive image, comfort, and power — based on metaphysics, an occult/New Age concept of controlling ourSELVES and the world WITHOUT Jesus Christ. Self Empowerment depends on humans’ efforts, not God’s power. The proponents are training undiscerning Christians a “new” unbiblical spirituality — one that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2nd Corinthians 10:5).
Don’t be deceived by Self-Empowerment and its euphemisms. Just because one feels better about one’s SELF is no reason to abandon the clear mandates in scripture.

Use the Bible as your only source of information. Do not believe any doctrine or teaching that is not substantiated by the Word of God.

Don’t Give Up!!

 

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints” (Revelation 14:12).

We all long for rest and refreshment. That’s a God-given longing that he promises to fulfill: “I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish” (Jeremiah 31:25).
And in a very real way Jesus gives rest to “all who labor and are heavy laden” and come to him (Matthew 11:28). But in this age, it is not the complete rest.
In this age, Jesus grants us the gospel rest of ceasing the impossible labor of self-atonement for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). But in embracing the gospel we find ourselves also drafted into a war — a war to keep believing the gospel and a war to spread it to others. In this age we “strive to enter that [complete] rest” of the age to come (Hebrews 4:11).
And wars are exhausting — especially long ones. That’s why you are often tired. Most soldiers who experience the fierceness of combat want to get out of it. That’s why you feel urges to escape or surrender. That’s why there are times you’re tempted to give up.
But don’t give up. No, rather “take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7).
Don’t give up when that familiar sin, still crouching at your door after all these years, pounces again with temptation.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Don’t give up when you feel that deep soul weariness from long battles with persistent weaknesses.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:8–9).

Don’t give up when your long prayed-for prayers have not yet been answered.

And he told them [the parable of the persistent widow] to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).

Don’t give up when the devil’s fiery darts of doubt land and make you reel.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day…in all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one (Ephesians 6:13,16).

Do not give up when the fragmenting effect of multiple pressures seems relentless.

But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger . . . (2 Corinthians 6:4–5).

Do not give up when the field the Lord has assigned you to is hard and the harvest does not look promising:

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Do not give up when you labor in obscurity and you wonder how much it even matters.

Your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:4).

Do not give up when your reputation is damaged because you are trying to be faithful to Jesus.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account (Matthew 5:11).

Do not give up when waiting on God seems endless.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:30–31)

Don’t give up when you have failed in sin. Don’t wallow. Repent (again), get your eyes off yourself and back on Jesus, get up and get back in the fight.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9); if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13).

Jesus knows your works (Revelation 2:2) and he understands the war (Hebrews 12:3). “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). Finish the race (2 Timothy 4:7). “By your endurance you will gain your lives” (Luke 21:19).
Don’t give up.

Steps to Overcome Temptation

Man who fathered 30 kids says he needs a break—on child support

 

 And you thought Octomom had her hands full—a Tennessee man who has fathered 30 children is asking the courts for a break on child support.

Desmond Hatchett, 33, of Knoxville has children with 11 different women.

The state already takes half his paycheck and divides it up, which doesn't amount to much when Hatchett is making only minimum wage. Some of the moms receive as little as $1.49 a month. The oldest child is 14 years old.

Hatchett explains how he reached such a critical mass: He had four kids in the same year. Twice.

Back in 2009 when Hatchett was in court to answer charges that many of the mothers were not receiving child support, he had 21 children. At the time, he said he was not going to father any more kids, but he ended up having nine more in the past three years.

The state cannot order Hatchett to stop making babies. He hasn't broken any laws, according to the report.

Dreams and the Church in Turkey

The website of the European Baptist Federation www.ebf.org carried the following story  on 15 November last year. 

 In Turkey, more and more Muslims are becoming Christians because they have dreamed about Jesus Christ. Recently, the pastor of the evangelical Agape Church in Samsun, on the Black Sea, Orhan Picaklar, reported such a case.
A young woman became a Christian after Jesus Christ appeared to her in a dream. But that’s not all: after she had been attending worship services, she brought her mother and her younger sister along with her in the mid-October. This is quite extraordinary, since in general, the families of converts are extremely critical of them. In a prayer letter, Picaklar wrote that after the worship service, the mother even promised to tell her husband that his daughter was now a Christian “at the right time”, so that he would not have a negative reaction.
Again and again, there are unexpected meetings with interested people. For example, at the market, Picaklar offers free Bibles and invites those interested to come and see his church. Recently, a woman came by. She told him that she had taken eight Bibles from the market and had given them to women in her neighborhood. She was delighted to have a Christian church in her neighborhood, although she herself was not a Christian. She urged Picaklar to make sure that the church remained in its current place, although there are no plans to move.
The church was planted in 2003. A short while ago, there was a baptism ceremony where four people were baptized. About 50 attend worship services each Sunday. The Agape Church is the only  evangelical church in the Samsun Region, which has a population of 1.2 million. It is in close contact with the European Baptist Federation (EBF). Picaklar is a former Muslim who became a Christian through reading the Gospel of John.

How to buy a single share of Facebook Stock

   Yesterday one of the biggest phenomenons in the internet world offered themselves for sale in what was one of the largest IPO offerings to date. Facebook sold selling 180 million shares for about $38 per single share. Are you interested in buying a piece of the pie?
  
   Before you poo-poo the idea – consider that one share of Apple purchased some 15 years ago for $5 would now be worth in the neighborhood of $560. How do you like them apples?

Donna Summer, Disco Queen, dead at 63

Donna Summer performs during the David Foster and Friends concert at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Oct. 1, 2011, in Las Vegas.

 

Disco queen Donna Summer has died, a family spokesperson told the Associated Press. She was 63.

Her family released a statement Thursday saying Summer had died and that they "are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy."'

Summer died of cancer Thursday morning in Naples, Fla., said her publicist Brian Edwards.

TMZ first reported the news, noting that Summer was recently working on music for a new album.

Known as the "Queen of Disco," Summer was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in Boston, Mass., in 1948, as one of seven children. She was raised on gospel music and became the soloist in her church choir by age 10.
The five-time Grammy winner rose to fame in the 1970s, scoring hits with "Last Dance," "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls." She co-wrote the single "Love to Love You Baby" in 1975, and went on to co-write several other hits, including "She Works Hard For Her Money."

"Love to Love You Baby" was her U.S. chart debut and the first of 19 No. 1 dance hits between 1975 and 2008 - second only to Madonna.
During the disco era, she burned up the charts: She was the only artist to have three consecutive double-LPs hit No. 1, "Live and More," "Bad Girls" and "On the Radio." She was also the first female artist with four No. 1 singles in a 13-month period, according to the Rock Hall of Fame, where she was a nominee this year.
Summer released a number of albums that have reached gold or platinum status, including the multiplatinum "Bad Girls" and "On the Radio, Volume I & II." Her No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits include "Hot Stuff" and "MacArthur Park."
Summer also appeared in the 1978 film, "Thank God It's Friday," which took home the best original song Oscar for "Last Dance."

The singer came to prominence just as disco was burgeoning, and came to define the era with a string of No. 1 hits and her beauty queen looks.
But unlike some other stars of disco who faded as the music became less popular, she was able to grow beyond it and later segued to a pop-rock sound. She had one of her biggest hits in the 1980s with "She Works Hard For The Money," which became another anthem, this time for women's rights.

Soon after, Summer became a born-again Christian and faced controversy when she was accused of making anti-gay comments in relation to the AIDS epidemic. Summer denied making the comments, but was the target of a boycott.

Still, even as disco went out of fashion, she remained a fixture in dance clubs, endlessly sampled and remixed into contemporary dance hits.

Summer's last album, "Crayons," came out in 2008. She also performed on "American Idol" that year with its top female contestants. In 2010, Summer appeared on "America's Got Talent."

Her sound was a mix of genres and helped her earn Grammy Awards in the dance, rock, R&B and inspirational categories.
Publicist Michael Levine, president of Levine Communications Office, represented Summer in 2002. He told CBSNews.com, "She had more energy in her early '50s than most artists have in their '20s."

Levine also said Summer was very passionate about religion, noting how she used to hold a weekly bible study class at her home during that time.
He remembers Summer as "grateful" and "gracious." She always brought a gift when she visited the office, Levine said.

Singer Dionne Warwick said in a statement that she was sad to lose a great performer and "dear friend."
 "My heart goes out to her husband and her children," Warwick said. "Prayers will be said to keep them strong."
Elton John said in a statement that Summer was more than the Queen of Disco.
"Her records sound as good today as they ever did. That she has never been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a total disgrace especially when I see the second-rate talent that has been inducted," he said. "She is a great friend to me and to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and I will miss her greatly."

Summer married Brooklyn Dreams vocalist Bruce Sudano in 1980. She is survived by her husband, three daughters (Brooklyn, Mimi and Amanda) and four grandchildren.

                

 

How to Train Others: Five Lessons From Jesus.

By Joe Plemon,

Whether you hire workers for your own business, train co-workers within the context of your current position, or equip others for ministry in your church, you should consider the following lessons from the Master trainer:

1. Be real during the interview process.

If you are salivating over a prospective employee, don’t succumb to the temptation of sugar coating the job.  When a teacher of religious law asked Jesus if he could follow him, Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to even lay his head.”  (Matthew 8:20)  If you don’t share realistic job expectations BEFORE hiring, you can expect a disillusioned employee.  However, if this prospect still wants to come on board after knowing the downsides of the job, he will stay committed to your company during the good times and the not-so-good times.

2. Be a leader, not a boss.

Employees will repeat what they see you doing – not what they hear you advising.  If you expect your subordinates to be punctual, don’t show up late yourself.  If you want them to be innovative, you need to be constantly tweaking protocol.  Once Jesus called his disciples to follow him, he demonstrated his expectations of them by placing his calling ahead of his personal comforts, loving the unlovely, standing up to hypocritical big shots and eventually give his life for his cause.  The difference between being a leader and being a boss is living out the values you expect from your subordinates.  Jesus was a leader.  You should be too.

3. Select an inner circle.

When employees shows great promise, you should develop their potential by investing yourself in their lives.  Don’t worry about “playing favorites”; do what Jesus did … he devoted special time with Peter, James and John because of the demanding leadership responsibilities which would one day be required of them.   Jesus included this “inner circle” in:

• The Mount of Transfiguration experience.  (Mark 9:2-8) Jesus was showing them that their leader was greater than Moses (the law giver) and Elijah (the greatest prophet); he was God’s dearly loved son.  You can give your potential leaders something to aspire to by allowing them to see you handle difficult sales calls, respond to dicey challenges from upper management, or comfort a subordinate who just learned her husband has cancer.
• The Garden of Gethsemane experience. (Mark 14: 33-41)  When Jesus’ greatest trial was imminent, he wanted these three with him while he prayed.  Yes, he was demonstrating to them that prayer–during life’s most difficult moments–is the best course of action.  But this time of travail was more than an object lesson; Jesus wanted his inner circle with him as he struggled.  Great leaders, during the worst of times, do not avoid the situation or put on a false front; they face reality with full commitment to deal with it.  When things go wrong with your business, you are doing your inner circle a great service by inviting them to share the struggle as you handle it with integrity.

4. Share the big picture vision.

Jesus continually reinforced the big picture.  He began his ministry by telling his followers why he was here on planet Earth (Luke 4:18,19) and he concluded his ministry by passing that baton to his disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).  He was constantly reminding his disciples that they were involved in a work which had far reaching and eternal ramifications.
The story is told of two laborers working side by side in the construction of a great cathedral.  When asked what they were doing, one replied, “I am laying blocks” while the other proclaimed, “I am helping construct a magnificent edifice which will be used for the glory of God.”
If your employees are going to be passionate about what they do, they need to believe that it is worthwhile, important, and making the world a better place.  You need to impart the big picture to them.

5. Pray for them.

Jesus’ not only practiced a life of prayer, he also prayed specifically for his followers (John 17:21).   You can do everything right in training your employees, but, unless you pray for them, you are omitting the most critical element in molding them: God’s hand on their lives.  Do you pray for your workers?  By name?  If you don’t, now is a good time to start.


Do you train others?  Which of these lessons from Jesus do you use?  What other lessons would you recommend?


 

The Gospel Is Big Enough to Fight for Itself.

Sometimes believers will throw up their hands in frustration with non-Christian people they know. “I have said everything I know to say to her about the gospel,” one might say. “She already knows it all and doesn’t believe.”
Often what we seek is another argument, a hidden angle that our interlocutor hasn’t thought through before. But that’s rarely how the gospel is heard and received. Think about it in your own case. Did you believe the gospel the first time you ever heard it? Perhaps you did, but if so, you’re quite unusual. Most of us heard the gospel over and over and over again until one day it hit us in a very different way.
And what was different about it? Was it a new argument? Did you say to yourself, “Wait, you mean there’s archaeological evidence proving the historical existence of the Hittites?” or “Hold on, there were five hundred witnesses to the resurrection? Well, what must I do to be saved?”
No, in most cases what we heard was the same old gospel — Christ crucified for us, buried, raised from the dead — and suddenly there was light (2 Corinthians 4:6). Suddenly what had seemed boring or irrelevant to us now seemed quite personal. We heard a man’s voice in that gospel, and we wanted to follow that voice (John 10:3, 16). We saw a light of glory that overwhelmed us (2 Corinthians 4:6). The same is true with the as-of-yet unbelieving world around us or the as-of-yet unbelieving relatives we have waiting for us at the Thanksgiving dinner table.
You need not be intimidated by unbelievers, as though what you need is a more nuanced “worldview” to protect the kingdom of God from their threats. Yes, we engage in apologetic arguments, but those aren’t at the hub of our mission. By talking with unbelievers about arguments against the existence of God or scientific evidence for blind natural selection or whatever, all we’re doing is listening to the defense mechanisms of those who are, as we were, scared of the sound of God’s presence in the garden. We should talk about those things lovingly, but not so we can defend the faith. We engage others only so we can get to the only announcement that assaults the blinding power of the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The gospel is big enough to fight for itself.

Josh Hamilton, Relapse, and the Means of Grace

 

In case you missed it, Texas Ranger Josh Hamilton hit four home runs in one game last week.
In case you don't know baseball, that's a big deal. Only 15 other players in Major League history have accomplished the feat.
But what's impressive about Hamilton is that it's not just one good game. It's now several outstanding seasons, and an unusual career. An unashamed evangelical, Hamilton is one of the more amazing sports stories of our time as he has recovered from drug addiction and alcoholism, with God's help, to become one of the game's elite players. Not only is he a four-time All-Star, and the 2010 Most Valuable Player, but he currently leads the American League in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in.
ESPN's Pardon the Interruption interviewed Hamilton the day after his four-home-run performance, and in the course of the interview, he was asked about his recent "relapse" (he admitted in February to consuming 2 or 3 drinks at a bar in Dallas). Hamilton responded with depth and authenticity about his faith and that he's been learning to evaluate the weeks and months that lead up to temptations to relapse. In particular, he says he's learned to ask, "Did I stop praying? Did I stop getting into the Word? Did I stop fellowshipping and allowing people who care for me into my circle?"
What he's talking about are the so-called "means of grace." In fact, John Frame (who explains the means of grace as "certain channels by which God gives spiritual power to his church") categorizes the various Christian means of grace under the three precise headings Hamilton mentions: Word, prayer, and fellowship.
So how do we Christians, recovering sinners as we are, avoid relapse, grow in our faith, and continue to avail ourselves of the grace of God for everyday life? Here's Frame:

Without God’s grace, we are lost. And we need God’s grace not only at the beginning of the Christian life but throughout. So, naturally we ask, where can we go to find God’s continuing grace to us? Where do we go to get the resources for sanctification, for continuing spiritual growth? The short answer is that there are three places: the Word, fellowship, and prayer.
Except for the second, we can find those resources either privately or publicly. The second, fellowship, is by definition public. But we can receive the Word either by individual Bible study or through the public preaching and teaching of the church. And we can pray, of course, either privately or publicly. In our private use of the means of grace, we come to God as members of the church, the body of Christ. Apart from Christ, our Bible study and prayer will not help us. Indeed, we need other members of the church to help us understand the Bible and to teach us how to pray. So, in an important sense, even the private means of grace are within the church. . . .
It is not typical in Reformed theology to regard fellowship as a means of grace. But I think it clearly is. Remember all the passages . . . on one-anothering? Those make it plain that our spiritual health depends on one another — both what other believers do for us and what we do for them. The larger concept that includes all those one-anotherings is the concept of fellowship.*

This is the stuff of healthy Christianity — for superstars and unknowns alike. The ground is level at the cross, not just at conversion, but for everyday spiritual wherewithal. We're all invited to avail ourselves daily of God's means of grace in the Word, prayer, and fellowship.

By D Mathis.

How To Begin Your Christian Life, by William MacDonald

How to Begin Your Christian Life' is an introduction to the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Designed to help you find out for yourself what kind of relationship you have with God, the simple steps outlined here challenge you to make the most important decision of your life. Biblical, specific, and practical, this book answers the difficult questions many people ask by simply outlining the steps that lead to a life of faith-all from the Scriptures themselves. By reading this book and referring to the Bible, you can learn for yourself about: the miracle of new birth, the problem of separation from worldliness, the finished redemption from sin, the way of salvation, faith and repentance, the Christian's state and standing before God, the great choice, the need for a new life, Christ's substitutionary atonement from sin, God's amazing grace, facts versus feeling, the assurance of faith. The topics include virtually everything involved in making a well-informed decision about entering into a personal relationship with God. Already a bestseller for many years, 'How to Begin Your Christian Life' was originally written by William MacDonald of the Moody Bible Institute.;It has been updated by the staff of Moody Bible Institute, who also provide a follow-up book on 'How To Grow In Your Christian Life'..

Mothers for Whom Jesus Died; Happy Mothers Day.

My sister Veronica,Mama and Don(myself).

As Mother's Day comes to an end, the tides of shame recede for millions of women. Being a mother (or father) doesn't depend on whether your children are living. An estimated 42 million abortions are performed each year in the world. The second Sunday of May can be a painful reminder. Yes, Jesus hates abortion. But there's something about him we must understand: he didn't come to this world mainly to stop abortion. He came to die. God is not only a God of terrible holiness and wrath; he is also a God rich in mercy. And so he sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him from God’s own wrath (John 3:17). He came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). To lay down his life for the sheep (John 10:15). To bear our sins in his body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24). To provide us with a righteousness that comes, not from our law-keeping, but through faith (Philippians 3:9). And to reconcile us to God (2 Corinthians 5:18; 1 Peter 3:18).

All the children of wrath may become children of the Father through Jesus Christ. An aging abortionist, after 3,000 abortions, can become a child of God. She could hear Jesus say, on her death bed, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” The same is true for the mother of five aborted children. And for the selfish, responsibility-shirking boyfriend. And for the secretive, shame-fearing, overbearing parent. And for the desperate 14-year-old girl.

Jesus did not mainly come to stop abortions in this world. He came mainly to die for abortion-committing sinners. “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).

There is one way to know God as your Father. And it’s the same for the people at Planned Parenthood, and the people at Pro-life Action, and the people at Life Church — Come to Jesus.

Your day of shameful pain could become the day of mercy's triumph. Come to Jesus.

I would like to share these photos of my beautiful Mother to the world and to simply let her know that we love her so much and we thank her for everything.This is from all of us Mama: (tina,gloria+selemani,ruth,vero,sanday,neilson+resti,tupo+amedee,donald and dad. We salute you Mama.

Mama, Grace and peace be yours in abundance!!

Loving Your Spouse with a Whole Heart

The following is a report on the practical applications of Dr. Greg Smalley and Dr. Shawn Stoever's book, The Wholehearted Marriage: Fully Engaging Your Most Important Relationship, (Howard Books, 2009). 
The passion and intimacy you wish you and your spouse could enjoy together isn’t just a pie-in-the-sky dream. That kind of marriage is within your reach. But it’s possible only if you both devote yourselves wholeheartedly to your relationship – fully engaging and giving 100 percent, without reservation.
Here’s how you can put your whole heart into your marriage:
Recognize where love comes from. Do you find yourself thinking that you’re not in love with your spouse anymore? Perhaps you feel like you just don’t connect with your spouse. Maybe you feel alone, even though the two of you are still living under the same roof. Have you chosen to settle, compromise, or go into survival mode in your marriage? Worse, have you given up and started looking for love somewhere else?
It doesn’t have to be that way. No matter how discouraged you may feel, it’s possible to experience love for your spouse again. That’s because love comes from God – who is always willing to give you a fresh supply of it – rather than from you. You don’t have the pressure of trying to generate love for your spouse when you don’t feel it. All you need to do is go to God in prayer each day and ask Him to fill your heart with His love.
When you open your heart to God daily, you’ll receive from Him all the love you need for both yourself and your spouse. The love in your heart will naturally overflow into your relationship with your spouse. So remember that God is the source of all love, and love is always available to you because it flows through you whenever you open your heart to God.
Open your heart. In your marriage, the issue isn’t love; it’s the state of your heart. Ask yourself daily: “Is my heart open or closed?” If your heart is closed, your marriage will start to shut down because you’re blocking the flow of God’s love into it. But if you open your heart to God and keep it open every day, you’ll be inviting God to pour out His love through you into your marriage.
Give your heart a voice. Become aware of the emotions you’re experiencing, and learn how to manage them in healthy ways. Keep in mind that God has designed your emotions to work together with your thoughts so you can make the best possible decisions. Your emotions give you valuable information that you can then process through your thoughts.

• Ask God to help you accurately identify what you’re feeling each day in various situations.

Rather than judging your emotions, consider what they are trying to tell you. When you feel frustration, joy, sadness, hurt, fear, or any other type of emotion, what does that mean?

• Once you’ve figured out what you’re feeling and why you’re feeling it, start guiding your emotions toward what you want to feel in your marriage.

Identify your specific desires for your marriage. Then, instead of expecting your spouse to give you what you want (because he or she is bound to fall short), turn to God with your desires. Regularly pray about what you want your marriage to be like, and trust God to bring about the transformation for which you’re hoping, as long as you and your spouse cooperate with Him.

• Bring your negative emotions to God and ask Him to replace them with positive emotions in your life.

Whenever your emotions get stirred up, rather than blaming your spouse, consider what you may be doing yourself to intensify your own feelings. Look at your thoughts and thought patterns, interpretations, judgments, perceptions, expectations, fears, past hurts, beliefs, family-of-origin issues, and anything else that may be affecting your emotions. Then consider how you can best respond to your emotions.

• Avoid unhealthy actions like ignoring, suppressing, judging, or minimizing your feelings; viewing your feelings as facts; impulsively acting on them; or spewing them on others.

Figure out some healthy responses from which you could choose to manage any emotion that comes your way: taking deep breaths, praying, going for a walk, journaling, talking to a friend, cleaning your house, reading a book, etc.
Deal with a wounded heart. Life in this fallen world wounds you and your spouse’s hearts by attacking them with false messages (such as: “You’re not valuable”). The messages on your hearts affect how you see yourselves and how you interact with the world.

• Ask God to help you identify the false messages that have attacked your hearts and wounded them.

Does your heart make you feel: rejected, abandoned, disconnected, a failure, helpless, powerless, inadequate, inferior, invalidated, unloved, undesirable, worthless, judged, ignored, unimportant, misunderstood, disrespected, defective, or some other harmful message?
Then replace those lies with biblical truth.

• Search the Bible for specific verses that line up against the lies with which you’ve been struggling, and memorize those verses.
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to renew your mind so you can see yourself from God’s perspective and think right thoughts about yourself.
• Talk to some people you trust (such as friends, mentors, or a trained psychologist) for counsel and encouragement.
• Care for your heart by nurturing yourself (such as by maintaining a close prayer connection to God, nurturing healthy friendships, setting healthy boundaries in your life, journaling your feelings, eating whenever you’re hungry, and sleeping whenever you’re tired).

Deal with a fearful heart. Create an emotionally safe environment for you and your spouse to relate to each other, so both of you feel safe to truly open up and be known at a deep, intimate level. Each of you should be able to open and reveal who you really are and know that your spouse will still love, understand, accept, and value you no matter what.

• Avoid behaviors that erode trust, like:

criticism, angry reactions, threats, withdrawal, sarcasm, broken promises, nagging, judgment, harsh words, defensiveness, manipulation, teasing, deception, negative assumptions and jumping to conclusions, bringing up the past over and over, and refusing to forgive.

• Recognize your spouse’s value.

Ask God to help you honor your spouse -- no matter what – because he or she is God’s priceless gift to you and has a position in your life that’s worthy of great respect. Treat your spouse in valuable ways, such as by: praying for and with your spouse, listening to your spouse with your full attention, validating your spouse’s feelings, considering your spouse’s point of view, notice your spouse’s good qualities, thank your spouse for what he or she does for you, serve your spouse in ways that are meaningful for him or her, honor your spouse’s boundaries, spend lots of time with your spouse, be honest and trustworthy with your spouse, forgive your spouse, and reassure your spouse of your unconditional love for him or her.
Deal with an exhausted heart. If you don’t intentionally plan regular time with your spouse and time to recharge yourself, the busyness of life will take over and your marriage will suffer.

• Slow down the pace of your lifestyle and simplify your schedule.

Build in plenty of time for rest, reflection, and prayer. Learn when and how to say “no” to pursuits that don’t relate directly to your core values, so you’ll be free to focus on what’s most important and let the rest go.

• Get rid of stuff that clutters your house and demands your time and energy to deal with it. Refuse to allow our culture’s standards to define your value by what you look like, what you do, or what you own.
• Find your true value in the fact that God has made you and redeemed you, and He loves you.

Ask God to help you become whole and full emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically so you’ll have the energy and resources necessary to love your spouse fully and unconditionally.

Fight for your spouse’s heart. Conflict is inevitable in marriage. But it doesn’t have to harm your relationship; it can actually strengthen it. If you and your spouse respond to conflict in a healthy way, conflict will become the doorway to intimacy between you because it will deepen your understanding of each other.

• Consider how both you and your spouse tend to react to conflict now.

Responding with “fight” behavior – defensiveness, anger, going into fix-it mode, escalation, criticism, sarcasm, blame, or belittling comments – won’t promote the intimate connections you want to make. Neither will responding with “flight” behavior: withdrawal, negative beliefs, shut-down mode, isolation, numbing out, over-functioning, stonewalling, or passive-aggressive behavior.

• Instead of becoming your spouse’s adversary in conflict and causing your hearts to close to each other, open your hearts to God.

Pray for the ability to embrace, appreciate, and deal with you and your spouse’s differences in healthy ways. Ask God to show you what emotional buttons your spouse is pushing through the conflict and how that makes you feel. Also ask God to reveal how you’re pushing your spouse’s emotional buttons through the conflict. Then pray for the power you need to gain control over the conflict and use it to accomplish something constructive in your relationship.

Care for your spouse’s heart. Your spouse has an amazingly valuable and incredibly vulnerable heart, just as you do.

• Keep the promise you made in your wedding vows to care for each other.
• Communicate to understand by agreeing on when it’s a good time to talk, agreeing on the goal of each conversation (connecting emotionally, or trying to fix something), and checking during the conversation to make sure you’re still both staying on track and understanding each other.
• Avoid communication pitfalls, such as trying to figure out: who is right or wrong, who is to blame or at fault, and what was said or what really happened.
• Avoid destructive behaviors like: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. During difficult interactions, say to your spouse: “Help me understand” so he or she knows you truly care.
• Ask God to open the eyes of your heart toward your spouse and give you compassion for him or her.
• Respect how valuable and vulnerable your spouse’s heart is by treating it gently.
• Set aside your temptation to blame your spouse and focus on simply caring for him or her instead.
• Express empathy (“I feel what you’re feeling, and I want to share in your joy or pain.”) and validation (“What you’re feeling matters to me and you matter to me.”) toward your spouse.

Speak to your spouse’s heart. Give your spouse words of encouragement every day.

• Honor, motivate, and call out your spouse’s spiritual gifts and natural talents.
• Find out what wounds and fear your spouse is struggling with, and what you can say to encourage your spouse to pursue healing.
• Consider people’s most common intimacy needs – acceptance, affection, appreciation, approval, attention, comfort, encouragement, respect, security, and support – and do what you can to help meet your spouse’s intimacy needs through your marriage.
• Understand people’s love languages – words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch – and express your love for your spouse in ways that best speak his or her specific love language.

Celebrate with your spouse’s heart. Bring fun and laughter into your marriage often. Humor increases intimacy, reduces stress, and increases positive emotions. Intentionally turn toward your spouse each day to help prevent drifting apart. Spend as much time as you can together.

• As much as possible, do your everyday chores and errands together rather than separately.
• Pray with your spouse often. Share your dreams with each other regularly.
• Schedule dates whenever you can.
• Talk frequently about what God is doing in each of your lives.
• Learn something new together, such as through trying a new activity or taking a class.
• Serve others together by doing volunteer work side-by-side.
• Surprise your spouse by doing something unexpected every now and then (such as by playing a loving practical joke on him or her or planning a romantic getaway trip).

Reminisce about the positive events that have happened over the course of your marriage, and recall what qualities about each other first attracted you to each other. Protect your fun activities from being ruined by conflict by agreeing to talk about issues at other times instead of while you’re trying to have fun together.