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Nelson Mandela

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Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people… Nelson Mandela

Today the world lay to rest a great man, my hero – Nelson Mandela. There are many reasons why I greatly admire Mandela, but I would like to share just one with you today as I remember this fearless and selfless fighter for justice, human rights and democracy.

On June 11, 1964, Nelson Mandela was found guilty of four charges of sabotage and was sentenced to life imprisonment. In a statement given in his own defense at the start of the trial in Pretoria on April 20, 1964, Mr. Mandela said these words:

During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realized. But, my lord, if needs be it is an ideal for which I’m ready to die.

I have a great deal of respect for men who hope to live for and see what they truly believe in become a reality. But I have a greater respect for those, who for those same beliefs and ideals, are ready to die. This is the thing that sets the men apart from the boys, the selfless from the selfish, the tenacious from the cowardly, the leader from a dreamer, the visionary from the want-to-be.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

Madiba – thank you for your willingness to lay your life down for your people. You did so in so many ways and the world took notice. Most African countries would be better if their leaders would simply emulate your life and your leadership.

May your soul rest in perfect peace!

Christmas Wars: Then and Now

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It is that time of year again, December, when Christians in America face an annual existential crisis: Do you wish people a “Merry Christmas”… or not? This and more, in this informative and well written post, my good friend at Veracity expounds. It will be worth your while…

 

Clarke Morledge's avatarVeracity

It is that time of year again, December, when Christians in America face an annual existential crisis: Do you wish people a “Merry Christmas”… or not?

I must confess that I am not crazy about fighting amongst the shopping hordes at the mall, and the year after year pressure of finding the right gift can be really stressful. Sure, shopping online helps a teeny bit, but what I am talking about here is a more fundamental cultural anxiety. Increasingly over the past few years, I have heard Christians grumble throughout the month of December over how “they have taken Christ out of Christmas!” I have read angry letters in the local newspaper complaining how store operators are greeting customers more and more with the shallow and inadequate “Happy Holidays”. Where have the traditional nativity scenes at the community fire station gone? Have a “Joyous Winter Solstice”? What is that all…

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10 Best Loved Christmas Books | FaithGateway

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Christmas is wonderful time to sit in your favorite reading chair, with perhaps a fire and a mug of hot chocolate nearby, and enjoy a great book! Here are 10 touching and inspirational Christmas books that will prepare your heart for Christmas and get you in the spirit of the season! Celebrate Christmas this year by sharing these best-loved Christmas books with your family and friends.

On This Holy Night
Rekindle the true meaning of Christmas with the help of six gifted Christian authors, including:

Max Lucado — a look into Joseph’s story, a man caught between what God says and what makes sense
Rick Warren — the real gift of Christmas is that God sent His own Son to connect with the human race
David Jeremiah — why the name of Jesus is so important and perfect
And many more! Read more…

The Hope of Christmas
Go on a journey… from the promise of the Messiah given to us in the Old Testament… to the promise of Jesus’ birth in the New Testament… to the promise of Jesus’ life and our salvation… to the promise of His resurrection and our eternal life. This unique Christmas book contains Scripture followed by brief writings that will take readers on a voyage as they explore God’s prophecies and promises for Christmas. Read more and watch the video…

The Nativity Collection
Step into the wonder-filled world of Christmas with this endearing collection of original stories. You’ll meet a shy, bookish boy who finds himself center stage in the Christmas pageant, a Pennsylvania family whose car disappears on December 24th, and a mountain man trapped in a blizzard with his grandson on Christmas Eve. Read more…

One Incredible Savior
This bestselling Lucado Christmas classic is now updated with a new title and a beautiful new design. But the heart of the message— the miracle and wonder of the birth of our Lord—remains the same. Max combines warm, personal stories with the ultimate story— one that has reformed the world since Christ was born more than 2,000 years ago. Read more and watch the video…

The Glory of Christmas
Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll, Anne Graham Lotz, and Henry & Richard Blackaby have combined their own touch of inspiration with the true Spirit of Christmas— the birth of Jesus Christ— and created this classic collection of stories and excerpts to be treasured for years to come. Read more…

Mary Did You Know?
Author and music artist Mark Lowry offers an expanded view of his highly successful Christmas song, Mary, Did You Know? in this classic gift book. Includes a CD with the song sung by Lowry and the Gaither Vocal Band plus reflections from Lowry about his sentiments as he wrote about Mary’s view, heartbreak, and unwavering faith as the mother of the Savior. Read more…

The Twelve Blessings of Christmas
This book is a delightful celebration of the season, bringing out the best of blessings that make Christmastime so joyous. Memories, friends, music, faith, kindness, beauty, warmth, love, giving, peace, and faith—each blessing is highlighted with kid-friendly crafts, recipes, poems, and music. Throughout are tidbits of history behind each blessing adding an appreciation for how popular traditions began. Read more…

Socks for Christmas
In the late sixties, New York Times bestselling author Andy Andrews thought he was having a very good Christmas. He got the Incredible Edible Machine and the G.I. Joe he asked for. He even got a white belt. He also got socks from his Aunt Jane – unarguably a very lousy Christmas gift. How could he know that those lousy socks would change Christmas and him forever? Read more…

Read the rest:
10 Best Loved Christmas Books | FaithGateway.

Poor people can make you rich

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Psalm 41
Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him; the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;

Blessed is the one who consider the poor!
The word consider means to think carefully about (something or somebody), typically before making a decision. It is to think about and be drawn toward (a course of action). This course of action is not motivated by the rewards that will follow, but by the compassion that flows from the heart of the Father through the heart of him who considers the poor. However, there is always a reward for him who finds himself in trouble – like the scripture says,

“In his day of trouble”

1. the LORD delivers him;

2. the LORD protects him

3. The LORD keeps him alive;

4. The LORD blesses him in the land

5. The LORD will NOT give him up to the will of his enemies.

6. The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;

7. In illness The LORD restores him to full health.

I know during this time of the year we are all apt to consider the poor, and we should. But what if it was a lifestyle, something we do regularly, not just when it’s cool to do? Our world would be a better place. Thanksgiving day is gone, but should it? Christmas is coming and will soon be gone, but should the spirit of giving go with it? No! Let’s keep it alive, every day, considering the poor with acts of generosity and love.

Happy Giving!

10 Promises that godliness holds for this Life and the life to come

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1 Timothy 4:8
Godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.

What is godliness? Godliness is active obedience to God. It springs not from works, legalism or a religious spirit, but from a reverent awe or fear of God.

There are a few things in this world that bring value and enrichment to our lives. Godliness is at the top of that list. Godliness holds promises for all areas of life. It releases incredible blessings when possessed in increasing measures in areas of the family, business, relationships, finances and leisure. By it (godliness), God raises nations to greatness (Prov. 14:34). In this post I want to share with you the value, the power and the promise that godliness holds for this life and the life to come. A godly person:

1. Will Attract Strong Help from God

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

2. Will experience a life of stability

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, though he falls, he shall not be cast headlong, upholds his hand. Psalm 37:24

3. Will receive second, third, forth – Many Chances

Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. Pro. 24:16

4. Will Enjoy Provisions from The Lord

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Psalm 37:25

5. Will be Productive in every good work

For if you have these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:16

6. Will dwell in safety and a good Defense

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. Psalm 91:9, 10

7. Will enjoy an effective Prayer life

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

8. Will thrive on spiritual stamina from the Lord

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:10-11

9. Will be set apart for noble purposes

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20, 21

10. Will bask in Eternal Bliss

Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. Matthew 25:21

The Bible is clear about the promise if godliness. God can take the good , the bad and sometimes even the ugly and use them or make them work together for Good to them that love The Lord (Rom. 8;28). Great indeed is the power, the promise and the mystery of it. There is something of great earthly and eternal value to it. Like D. L. Moody once said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man or woman, who is totally dedicated to Him.” I challenge you today to let God, his word and his Spirit guide you in every area of life. It will guide you and take you places you never dream you could go.

The Cross: Billy Graham’s Message to America

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1 Corinthians 1:17, 18
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

It rains fish in desert places when God gets ready to bless you!

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I am about to tell you a true story that will blow your mind. The country is Australia. The town is Lajamanu and it is about 400 miles south of Darwin and Alice Springs, almost on the edge of  the Tanami Desert in Australia’s northern territory. It was sometime in April or March of 2010 that hundreds of fish began to fall from the sky as rain fell over the town. Residents of this desert community were left speechless as fish – some frozen, others still alive fell from the sky. For seven days they ran all around town collecting buckets of fish  that had fallen from the sky.

A brief look at history will tell us that this incident was not unique to this Australian town:

  • In the 1st century there were storms of frogs and fishes.
  • In 1794 French soldiers reported toads falling from the sky.
  • In 1857: Sugar crystals as big as quarter  of an inch in diameter fell over the course of two days in Lake County,  California.
  • In 1940: A tornado in Russia brought a  shower of coins from the 16th Century.
  • In 1969: Golf balls fell from the sky on  Punta Gorda in Florida.

To explain this strange incident, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said that the incident was probably caused by a tornado. According to them, it is not uncommon for tornado to suck up water and fish from rivers and drop them miles away. But the point I am trying to make is this:

As isolated as they were, as far as they were from the coast line and as dry as their environment was, nature found a way to rain an unexpected blessing upon them. Now, if nature can be this generous and strategic, how much more our loving Father, who sees and knows our need?

When you have a work to do and the task is daunting – God can reach you and bless you.

When you know that His command cannot be done by human might and power – God can reach you and bless you.

When all you have is a bit of oil in your jar, and you know it is not enough – God can reach you and bless you.

When all you have is like a little boy’s lunch of fish and bread – God can reach you and bless you.

You may find yourself in a desert place, but that cannot stop God from reaching and blessing you. You may be laboring without fruit in your ministry, church or business, but that cannot stop God from turning things around and blessing you.  If God so determines that it is your season and it is your time, he knows how to rain down fish in the middle of the desert. When God gets ready to sent you a harvest, it doesn’t matter where you’re located.

  • If you are Elijah – He will sustain with two meals a day in the middle of a famine.
  • If you are Abraham or Sarah – He will bless you with a child in your old age
  • If you are Israel – He will rain Manna in the desert place and cause water to come gushing out of a rock.
  • If you are a poor widow – He will cause oil to continue flowing until you have no more bottles to fill.
  • If you are a boy with just a lunch of fish and bread – He can take what you have, bless it and multiply it.
  • You may be in a desert place – He can cause waters to spring up in desert places…

It doesn’t matter where you are, when God gets ready to bless you, he will move heaven and earth if he has to. So get ready for your harvest today – it’s about to rain in your desert places, your hard places, your barren places. He is about to blow a wind of blessing your way. He is about ready to open up the sky with showers of blessings upon you.

That will shoot a good dose of Spiritual Adrenalin into your soul

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Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12:1-3 (The Message)

Let’s go over the story again – item by item

1. He never lost sight of where he was headed…

Too many times we let distractions and attractions woo us away from a single-minded devotion to Christ and away from our goals and dreams. Sometimes a temporary distraction can permanently derail us from our most holy vocation. When you find yourself flagging in your faith, study Jesus – go over His story again, item by item – it will shoot a good dose of spiritual adrenalin into your soul.

2. He could put up with anything along the way…

We need to develop a thick skin, skin as thick as rhinoceros when it come to dealing the pressures of life. Too often we allow the troubles of life to weigh us down. We buckle under the pressures that come from ministry and oppositions from the enemy. So, when you find yourself flagging in your faith, study Jesus – go over His story again, item by item – it will shoot a good dose of spiritual adrenalin into your soul.

3. He didn’t feel sorry for himself…

In this all out war against sin, the scripture says that others have suffered far worse than you, and what Jesus went through. So don’t feel sorry for yourself. don’t shrug off God’s discipline and don’t be crushed by it either. This trouble you are in is not punishment – it is training. So why not embrace God’s training when you find yourself flagging in your faith, study Jesus – go over His story again, item by item – it will shoot a good dose of spiritual adrenalin into your soul.

4. He resisted every temptation that could potentially stop him from liberating us from sin…

We ought to lay aside every weight and every sin which clings so closely. These are the things that could potentially hinder us from reaching out destiny. Extra spiritual fat and parasitic sins are enough to stop us from running and finishing the race. We ought to lay them aside, study Jesus – go over His story again, item by item – it will shoot a good dose of spiritual adrenalin into your soul.

5. He plowed through

The word plow means to move or progress with driving force. David said, “with the Lord’s help, I can scale a wall, with him I can advance against a troop.” Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength.” When you find yourself flagging in you faith, study Jesus – go over His story again, item by item – it will shoot a good dose of spiritual adrenalin into your soul.

Remind yourself of:

how focused he was on his mission. Remember how he developed a thick skin in the face of adversity. Remember how bravely he walked through his challenges without throwing pity parties. Remember his blameless life and how he endured the cross, despising its shame and is now seated at the right hand of the father.

The result…

“That alone will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”

The life, death and resurrection of Jesus is the single most powerful story in history from which countless number of people have drawn inspiration and strength. It doesn’t matter where you are in life, a quick study of his life, his story. item by item, will revolutionize your life. It will infuse within you a spiritual adrenalin that will never lose its fizz.

Not because the bus stops, you should get on it

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My destination was Hayward, but my transit stop was Oakland. I decided to take Greyhound to Oakland, than the train to Hayward because I didn’t want to drive. After waiting for at least two hours, I stepped toward the side door of the bus and handed my ticket to the driver. He ushered me on the bus barely glancing at my ticket. I got in my seat, put my earphones over my ears, closed my eyes, and three hours later I was in Reno.

I was furiously boiling inside, to fine myself in Reno and not Oakland, but kept my cool. The bus driver apologized for not looking intently at my ticket and offered a six hours drive on another bus heading to San Francisco. It was a drive that would take me from Reno, back through Sacramento en route to San Francisco. I promptly declined and asked for a bus back to Roseville, Sacramento, where I left my car.

My money was reimbursed, and I got a free ticket with priority boarding back home. But it took me another three and a half hours back to where I came from.

The lessons I think I learned from this, besides discovering that I am not as smart as I thought I was – are these:

Lesson 1
Not because the bus stops – you should get on it. Not because an opportunity presents itself – you should take it. Not because she’s got a nice pair of legs, you should date her. Not because he’s hot and drives Lamborghini you should fall for him. Some opportunities were never meant for you to take. They usually turn out to be another long ride from Roseville to Reno and back – not being able to achieve your goals. So, next time, when the bus stops, when she walks by, when he drives by, or when opportunity comes knocking – make sure it’s the right bus, the right girl, the right guy, the right opportunity. You don’t have to get on the bus because it stopped.

Lesson 2
It’s not the end of the world if you took the wrong bus. Even though you got on the wrong bus, even though you made a mistake, even though you got in the wrong relationship, even though you took the wrong opportunity, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. You can learn from your negative experience and turn them into positive life lessons. I have never been to Reno, so I took the two and a half hour window, before my next bus home, to do some site seeing, take pictures, enjoy a nice meal and complete the lyrics to a new song. So the next time you make a bad decision, don’t let it ruin everything, don’t sit around throwing a pity party, turn it around by doing something worthwhile. Don’t stop living – make new friends. Never forget – your times and seasons are in his hands.

Lesson 3
It is never too late to start over. As long as you have what Andy Andrew calls “the proof of hope”, it’s never too late to get back in the the game. I got back on the bus and went home. But the next morning, I was right back at the station. I made sure, this time that I was boarding the right bus, the right train. I made sure I had the right address to where I was going in Hayward. By the end of the day I had accomplished my purpose for going on that trip. But I wouldn’t have, if I had said to myself – “I am too tired, too discouraged I didn’t do this yesterday, I wasted my time, it’s too late.” It is never too late to reach your goals – as long as you have breath – God is not finished with you yet!

Few pictures from Reno

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Call & response: A Spiritual Dialogue

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A call to Hear

Hear this, you elders;

give ear, all inhabitants of the land!

This a call for the elderly and for the young – every man, woman, boy, and girl. He doesn’t want any to be left out. He is calling Hindus, Buddhist, and Muslims. He is calling the entire world to hear what He has to say through His Son Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1 says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”

If you hear His voice don’t harden your heart!

A call to Awake

Awake, you drunkards,

A spiritual slumber has swept over the nations. The eyes of many Christians are heavy. Jesus is calling the church to come alive. He wants to bring revival. He wants to raise up those dry bones and breathe life into them so that they can live again.  Ephesians 5:14 says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?

A call to Lament

Lament like a virgin wearing sackcloth for the bridegroom of her youth.

We are called to a grieve as deep as a betrothed virgin whose promised husband dies before the marriage is consummated. This is a time of mourning over one’s spiritual condition. But I also see what some call the deepest level of prayer here. For when we do not know what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

A call to Be Ashamed

 

Be ashamed, O tillers of the soil; wail, O vinedressers, for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field has perished. See verse 11

Be ashamed of three things: The harvest is dried up – vine is dried up – fruits are dried up. These represent the harvest of souls, the outpouring of His Spirit and the fruits of the spirit. Be ashamed that our churches are dying, our young people are leaving the church, converts are few, young men and women are not answering to call to missions, women are still second-class citizens in the Church., sin is rampant, there is no revival, people are still bound by Satan even though we have the promises, the power, the presence and the platform.

A call to Consecrate a fast

Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. See verse 14

Jesus practiced prayer and fasting a lot. His disciples did it a lot as well. The early church fasted and prayed together very often. We usually hear with clarity when the Spirit speaks and we often have the power to do great things when he moves as a result of fasting and praying. “While they fasted and prayed – He spoke.” Jesus said, “this kind does not leave without fast and prayer are two power verses about the power of prayer and fasting.”

A call to Repent

This a call to forsake. It is a call to abandon, turn away from, change your mind. It is a call to renounce sin and sinful behavior. It is a call to embrace Jesus, grace. The question is are we going to turn?

A call to cry out

Psalm 107:6 says, “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” The time has come to break free from normal, laid back, lazy Christianity. A place where nothing significant ever happens. This call is for those who are not satisfied with the status quo – those who want more of God, more of his grace and power.

Can I get a response from someone today?

December 31st, 2011