Month: June 2013

Yes, I know Jesus Blood can make the vilest sinner clean


Come, ye sinners, lost and hopeless, Jesus’ blood can make you free; For He  saved the worst among you, When He saved a wretch like me. Refrain And I know, yes, I know, Jesus’ blood can make the vilest sinner clean, And I know, yes, I know, Jesus’ blood can make the vilest sinner clean. To  the faint He giveth power, Through  the mountains makes a way; Findeth water in the desert, Turns the night to  golden day. In temptation He is near thee, Holds the pow’rs of hell at  bay; Guides you to the path of safety, Gives you grace for ev’ry  day. He will keep thee while the ages Roll throughout eternity; Though earth hinders and hell rages, All must work for good to  thee.

7 Things It’s impossible for God to do


We so often hear and talk about the power and sovereignty of God, and about the things He is able or capable to do, but do you know that there are some things God cannot do? Before you think I am about to write something heretical, these things as you imagined are things that are inconsistent with his character and incompatible with his nature. For example: It is impossible for God to lie I am sure you have met, either in your family or among your friends, people who are not trustworthy when it comes to what they say. They promise you that they will do something, but never deliver on their promises. God is not like that – He means what he says and says what he means. The scripture says it is impossible for him to lie. What that means is that you can depend on his every word and trust in his promises. It is impossible for God to be unfaithful It is his nature to be faithful. 2 Timothy 2:13 says, …

What is the gopspel? N. T. Wright explains


Thirteen Minutes is precious time, but it will be well invested listening to what N. T. Wright has to say about the gospel. I encourage you to take a listen, you will not regret it. Who is N. T. Wright? N. T. Wright is an Anglican bishop and a leading New Testament scholar. Wright was the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England from 2003 until his retirement in 2010. He is currently Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at St Mary’s College, University of St Andrews in Scotland. Among modern New Testament scholars, Wright is an important proponent of traditional views on theological matters including Christ’s bodily resurrection and second coming. Further he has expressed strenuous opposition both to the ordination of openly gay Christians and the blessing of same sex partnerships and marriages as occurs in the Episcopal Church (United States). I really like him. Video Via Pangea Blog

Shh! – Victory is in progress


Too often we talk ourselves out of the miracles and blessings God wants to release in our lives. Our constant complaining, nagging and grumbling sometimes delay or even hinder us from experiencing the breakthroughs we so desperately want. Moses tried to talk his way out of becoming a mighty deliverer. Gideon tried to explain his way out of reaching his full potential. Before the parting of the red sea – the Israelites were on the verge of turning around and going back to Egypt because of their incessant negative speech and grumbling. Before the taking of the promised land – they literally delayed the taking of this good land by a negative report that completely stalled – if not put off the mission. Before the miracles of bread falling from the sky and water gushing out of the rock, Israel’s continued grumbling, nagging and quarrelling and murmuring became too much for God to handle, let alone his prophet. At this juncture in the history of Israel (Joshua 6), they are about to take a fortified city and …

Holy Spirit: Hover over me – Rest upon me


Genesis 1:2 The Spirit of the God was hovering over the waters Have you ever wondered what your church or your life would look like if there was a genuine and authentic move of the Spirit of God. I long again for the day when we would embrace His fullness in everything we do. I don’t mind all the new and creative things we are doing in our churches and the efforts individual believers are exerting to please God. But I am longing again for a move of God through His Spirit, because I’m convinced that where he is there is freedom, power and the ability to do greater things for God. He makes everything easy when He shows up. It is like the working of His mighty power within. When He is there, we do not only preach and teach than let  people go home without experiencing what we talked about in our sermons – we do it like Jesus did it: teaching, preaching, healing, and delivering those oppressed by the devil by the power of …

Rembrandt, an artist to grow old with


The Guardian, Jonathan Jones on Art blog writes the following and ends with a question. This post is an attempt to respond to that question: According to the British art critic Jonathan Jones, many Renaissance artists were “coldly curious” or even cruel in their depictions of old age. For instance, Leonardo da Vinci scorned elderly faces as “monstrous wrecks.” Fortunately, there was one notable exception to this habit of mocking the elderly—Rembrandt. Jones writes, “Rembrandt painted old age with a nobility and power that no artist has ever approached.” He recognized “the dignity and character of aged faces” and embraced “the marks of time as beautiful, mysterious, and rich.” Rembrandt was much more interested in what Jones calls “the mystery behind someone’s eyes.” But Rembrandt’s deepest study of aging was based on his own life. Rembrandt painted more self portraits than any other artist of the 17th century, and all together they tell the story of his journey into old age. For instance, in 1640, at the height of his career, Rembrandt painted his “Self …

I shall not be moved: 10 Prayerful Declarations


Unlike kanye, I am not a God. The rapper released a song this week in which he claims to be a god. I am a human being. I am prone to wander, susceptible to sicknesses, frail. I have moments when I shine, than those other times when I suck. Welcome to the human race. But that does not make me weak, because I know who is God and He has promised me a victorious life. I am more than a conqueror. I’m afflicted in every way – but I am not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not destroyed. I may carry in my body the death of Christ, but because of His death I live. I’m sick, yet I’m healed. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:1 Therefore, I declare that I shall not be moved by: the snare of the fowler… from all the devices of Satan… lies, slander, evil plots and conspiracies the deadly pestilence… …

Hold On


I know you’re praying for a change To see a sunny day Nothing good has come your way for so long You need someone to understand this place your heart is in You just want to dream again and believe Your skies may look dim and grey But know your breakthrough’s not far away So hold on You are too close to give up now You have so much to live for Remember what you prayed for Hold on, please don’t let go in this season Know that flowers bloom when rain falls You just hold on Writers: James Fortune, Cheryl Fortune, Terence Vaughn Lead Vocals: Monica Brown, Fred Hammond

5 Things that get a great leader snubbed


I often ask myself why some of the smartest people in the world are not the ones calling the shots or running the show? Why is it that some people with great ideas and awesome resume don’t get their projects and ideas approved or get that promotion based on their smarts. Why do they get smack down or shuffled off into other departments in a company or just get completely ignored? Being smart and full of good ideas are not the only things that get you noticed and keeps you productive and ahead of your peers. Character is the most important trait you could ever possess. It is rather unfortunate that most smart people get smacked down or get ignored, but it is a reality. From my observation, there are five crucial reasons: Arrogance, Ego, Insincerity, and Over-selling of self and Insubordination. Let’s unpack these: Arrogance Unfortunately most arrogant driven people don’t even realize it. They don”t even have to say a word, because their attitude speaks louder. They are snobbish, and love making others …