May 2009 Blog Posts (69)

Jubilee thinking...

Back a few months ago, I mentioned the concept in the Bible of the Jubilee as it relates to economic cycles and our present economical state as a geopolitical nation.

Well, after musing and mulling, in other words, meditating (Hebrew-chewing the cud), I have come to the conclusion that one thing that helped pull the trigger on our economic downturn was the whole marketing emphasis of the American business scene.

Remember, I spent ten years in the industry of marketing over… Continue

Added by Stephen (steve) Cornell on May 16, 2009 at 9:12am — No Comments

When can we be a church?

When Mónica called saying she and her husband needed an urgent meeting, my heart sank. Usually when someone calls for a private meeting, there is some problem that has arisen and we are the ones they come to for help. Both are new believers who have grown tremendously in the Lord. I dreaded hearing whatever it was that had happened.

Geovanny (our team leader) and I met with Mónica and Medardo. Both of us were expecting the worse. After the initial small talk, they got down to why… Continue

Added by Guy Muse on May 15, 2009 at 8:01pm — No Comments

Have You Read THIS Book?

Neil Carter won another endorsement for his best seller, "Christ In Y"All". I have to say that I'm not surprised at all nor the source of the endorsement; it really is filled with a lot of Biblical wisdom. See my first post on the book, "The Only other Book You Will Ever Need".

I was talking only this week to a new friend in Christ in Brazil about… Continue

Added by John Paul Todd on May 14, 2009 at 8:30pm — No Comments

WHAT IS TO COME

INTRODUCTION

This is a short picture of what I believe the Lord has revealed of what we can expect in the coming years, much is what others have seen and what the Lord has confirmed by His Spirit. There is a measure of being able to see or prophesy something, and then the wisdom to be able to recognize how it is applied. I am just as concerned with the application of prophecy as the release of it. I do not claim to see beyond this specific time period, or understand eschatology.… Continue

Added by Kriston Couchey on May 14, 2009 at 5:53pm — No Comments

SPIRITUALITY - COMMUNITY LIFE

The “American way” is to be independent and self-sufficient. I know. I lived it for most of my life. As a result of many experiences, I concluded early in life that I couldn’t depend upon nor trust others. So ... I set out to prove to myself and the world that I could handle life on my own.

I climbed the career ladder, ran my household and raised my son independently. I was a perpetual student and obsessive workaholic. I never asked for help and was too busy for relationships. I… Continue

Added by Bonnie Jaeckle on May 14, 2009 at 8:45am — 4 Comments

An alternate church growth strategy...

A friend of mine sent me this article on church planting yesterday. It's by far one of the most exciting and challenging articles I've read in recent months. It challenges a lot of my perceptions and assumptions about church planting, church leadership, and my definition of "church".

God has really been stretching and growing me personally in so many ways and with so many of my assumptions where "church" and spiritual life and… Continue

Added by Will Ratliff on May 13, 2009 at 11:30am — 3 Comments

Performance-Based Acceptance Stories - Links

Wow... these stories have had an impact on me! On the one had they've left me hurting, feeling, aching, crying and growing in compassion - knowing that our stories represent so many people around the world who deal with legalism and the bondage of performing for God and/or others to earn or maintain acceptance. But of course I've also found my heart being filled with joy as I've read how God has set hearts free and continues to help people live in the freedom for which He set them… Continue

Added by Joel Brueseke on May 13, 2009 at 10:51am — No Comments

Performance Based Acceptance - my story

Although I’d been a believer for a number of years, I knew my life didn’t measure up to what I believed it should as a christian and, to be honest, I didn’t see that anyone else around me was doing any better. Toward the end of 1997, my desire to know God more intimately increased and I began praying what I’ve since come to realize is a dangerous prayer. I told him daily, several times a day, that I wanted to know him. Well, he took me at my word but, if I had known what was ahead, I don’t know… Continue

Added by Aida on May 12, 2009 at 3:48pm — No Comments

My Performance-Based Acceptance Story (Share yours today too)!

"Each and every one of us has our own story to tell about the problem of Performance-based Acceptance." - Paul Anderson-Walsh

This post is part of a synchroblog today (see original details here), in which I've invited whoever wants to to write about their own issues with Performance-Based… Continue

Added by Joel Brueseke on May 12, 2009 at 5:53am — 1 Comment

God Wants to Preserve the Main Line Churches!

Major shifts are underway for The Church in the USA. Tens of millions of people are today active outside the conventional Church in United States according to a Barna Group update (Feb.18 2008). Their latest study shows that a majority of adults now believe that there are various biblically legitimate ways to participate in church. These include faith activities with one’s family at home (89%), or being active in a house church (75%), or participating in a marketplace ministry… Continue

Added by Rune Brannstrom on May 11, 2009 at 1:32pm — 1 Comment

Is Your Church Old Covenant?

The seventh organizational tool that can be used in a mechanical or organic order way is partnerships.

Prior posts in this series:

Is Your Church an Object?

Is Your Church a Clone?

Is Your Church a… Continue

Added by Michael Fleming on May 10, 2009 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Tribute to my Mom

I would just like to say thanks to my Mom for her faithfulness and patience. Mama had us three boys to raise and she worked and sacrificed for many years so we could have many of the things that she could not have as a child.

Mom has a good sense of humor and we always enjoy our time together. My Mom lives alone now as my dad passed away in 2008. She misses her husband but she is not sitting around in grief. She is active in her church and does what she can to help others come to know and… Continue

Added by Ken Randolph on May 10, 2009 at 12:51pm — No Comments

The Call of the Hour

There is a rebuilding of the Body of Christ going on even in this horrible time we are about to enter into. The Father is purposing something awesome in the midst of all this junk we are witnessing. I believe that just as in Ezra and Nehemiah's day the wall of the temple which represents the Lord Jesus Christ's Body is being rebuilt. This is a difficult process. The Stones of this wall represent us and they are hand hue. Not a fun thing if you are the stone and you and I are stones in this… Continue

Added by Greg & Jennifer on May 10, 2009 at 6:15am — No Comments

Tell Your Performance-Based Acceptance Story this Tuesday!

A stand alone sentence in Paul Anderson-Walsh's book Until Christ is Formed reads:

Each and every one of us has our own story to tell about the problem of Performance-based Acceptance.

I reckon that's true - and so I ask: What about you? What's your story? In what ways has Performance-Based Acceptance been a problem in your life? In what ways have you gained freedom?

In order to join together in sharing our stories… Continue

Added by Joel Brueseke on May 9, 2009 at 8:31pm — 3 Comments

Almighty and Kids! by Robert Ricciardelli

Almighty and Kids!

By Robert Ricciardelli www.vision2advance.com

God’s intended purpose for each of His creation was to birth an extension of Himself. A family, with a family business in mind, called “Almighty and Kids”. Can you imagine? From eternity past until now, God’s desire was to have a family called to Himself. So let’s break it down a bit and look at some of Fathers design for all of us who were created in His… Continue

Added by Robert Ricciardelli on May 9, 2009 at 11:41am — No Comments

Entering the Second Phase.......

Just to remind myself why I am doing this in the first place.....I originally started this to help facilitate a discussion forum for a small group of IC pastors. Turns out many others have joined in and I am grateful.

My discussion with a friend who leads a missions ministry was describing to me once again at our recent district conference about how in the last two years in three African countries we work in over 400 churches (house churches) have been started - one group called back… Continue

Added by Michael Cadrette on May 9, 2009 at 8:39am — 2 Comments

Linda's Journal - May 7, 2009

Thursday, May 7, 2009

I have waited too long to write again. A lot has happened so I hope I can capture it all!! As an update on my “choices”, I am doing well with maintaining my previous listed “choices”. I have gotten up anywhere between 6:30 and 7:30 every morning (without an alarm clock) and I have been amazed at how much I can get done and the peace I feel throughout the day. I have done well with abstaining from desserts… although I have had some battles with myself.… Continue

Added by Linda Daniels on May 8, 2009 at 6:07pm — No Comments

HEALTH - SWINE FLU PANDEMIC

The Swine Flu Pandemic seems to be “the talk of the town”. Information about its symptoms and dangers is readily available, so let’s not go there. Instead, let’s see if we can shed some helpful light on this feverish panic. Our previous conversations (see www.whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com) about the CDC and Big Pharma should help us fit some of the inflated pieces more easily into place.

The Numbers:

According to the WHO (World Health Organization); as of… Continue

Added by Bonnie Jaeckle on May 8, 2009 at 12:47pm — No Comments

True Authority

Government was invented by Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He, from the time of Adam, intended to be the King of the earth, with humans co-operating with Him in His government. He is a King: from everlasting, unto everlasting.

In reading the record Matthew left of the earthly ministry of Jesus, it is very easy to notice that almost all of the teaching Jesus did related to the Kingdom of Heaven. Sometimes He spoke of the Kingdom of God, and used the phrases… Continue

Added by Douglas Thomas on May 7, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

praise jesus

Please pray for us because by the will of god we started projects to construct Blessed Home Centre for physically handicapped people and for orphans.for this we need 1000 people who can join with us in our ministry to sponsor 100 $ (dollors) towards completing Blessed Home Centre here in INDIA.for more details visit www.christuniversalmissions.webs.com so please pray for us.amy god bless you
Dear friends pray for America.

Added by ANAND ERUGU on May 7, 2009 at 1:30am — No Comments