Amazing Grace (A Capella w/ Beatbox & Rap)
Ganns Deen is one of the prominent Filipino Christiann Blogger over the net. And I really find his posts very helpful and inspiring.
This morning, as I am browsing his site, the Filipino Christian Blogger, I have found this great video as he sings in rap the Amazing Grace. May I also encourage the young people of this generation who loves music raps, that you rap for the Lord and not for the world.
May you find this song beautiful to hear and inspiring. What a very creative man. Congrats Ganns!!!
The Danger of Consumerism
The post below is extremely eloquent and it hits right at the middle of the issue of “Consumerism” inside the Church. As I have said in one of the ebooks I have written, when our focus is on Church beautification or attracting people to come to church, then we are out of focus. The Bible is very clear that we need to go out. We need to become “go and make” disciples rather than “sit and wait”. I guess most Christians who were born in 1950’s are more like “sit and wait” people of the Church.
The big “ME” is always a problem in discipleship. It is very hard to disciple people especially when people whom you are discipling has a big love on “ME”. As long as we will focus on ourselves, it will always hard for us to serve the Lord. The cost of being a disciple is focuses on the Lord and the Lord alone. If we start seeing ourselves before seeing what God is telling us, then we are out of focus. Concerning Church hoppers.
It’s kind of funny because this is very true here in my city, Ormoc City. Many Christians love it so much to transfer from one church to another from time to time. The pattern is after staying for 1-4 years, they will start again to look for another Church. The result, stagnant growth and futile minds. Many of them have been very good in criticizing churches and pastors where they have been. Instead of loving their leaders, their mindset is; “that depends if they are lovable”. But when it comes to practical life, and ministerial involvement, most of them always have alibis and does not participate at all. Well, I guess we need to extend our love all the more. Just a personal opinion based on the article below.
Ancient Words by Micheal W. Smith
Today’s special music is all about the Bible, the “Ancient Words”. The first time I heard this music, I fell in love with it. I took my Bible and said, “Lord, thank you for giving us your words.”
May you be blessed with the song.
Lyrics came from and chords came from: www.christiansheetmusiclyrics.com
D G D G Em7 C D
Holy words long preserved, For our walk in this world
D/F# Em D G Em7 C D D7 G
They resound with God’s own heart, O let the ancient words im–part
G D G Em7 C D
Words of life, Words of hope, Give us strength, Help us cope
D/F# Em D G Em7 C D D7 G
In this world where’re we roam, Ancient words will guide us home
His Perfect Peace
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You—because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3
It’s all about focus, Pilgrim; all about focus.
What’s on your mind right now? Things you’ve got to accomplish today? Places you’ve got to go? Things you’ve got to buy? People you’ve got to try and please?
No wonder you’re already burdened and your mind’s racing.
And, think: It’s only 5:30 a.m.
Maybe you ought to stop what you’re doing right now, grab another cup of coffee, find a good, comfortable chair somewhere that’s a bit secluded and catch your breath. Let your breathing remind you how to pray: Breathe in the promises of God and then exhale your petitions to Him.
Try it again.
And, then one more time.
Now, close your eyes and allow the sweet Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to love on you for a few minutes. Don’t worry about all those things you’ve got to do today. They’ll wait. They’ll still be there when you’re finished.
Has Consumerism Has Overtaken The Church?
Below is a very nice article about the reality of many churches now in our days. This is what I already have mentioned before about attracting people to come in the Church. Just like the previous post about “What If The Church Is Marketed Like the Starbucks?”, we can see that we offer many things to people who comes in our Churches, even free gifts.
The funny thing is that, we have been more focused on the FREE things that we can give to people who come to our church, but not on the eternal gift, the most precious gift that Jesus gave.
Furthermore, we do not involve new comers and new believers in the ministries that we have in the Church because they still need to be trained. In contrast to this, we can see that the disciples when they were called by Jesus, they were immediately involve in Jesus’ ministry. And the same thing that I want to point out that it is important to have a relationship, to be a part of the family of the Church so that we can function well as a body of Christ. For new comers especially for new believers, it is more helpful (though not all) that they will see what it really means to be in the Church, to become disciplers themselves.
As Churches, our goal should be to produce “go and make” disciples and not “sit and wait” disciples.
The Story of The Fall Of Man
Stories are really great source of godly virtues. They are not only for kids but also for adults. See below and see how deep are the things that we can learn from the passage. And I hopewe will also love to hear and learn Bible stories.
This is the story when Eve was tempted and share the fruit to her husband. I do hope that you will see more truths than that what I have enumerated below. May I also encourage you to meditate the stories found in the Bible. God bless you all!!!
The Most Important Thing
“But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her, therefore, that she help me.’ And Jesus answered and said unto her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful—and Mary has c hosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her’.”
Luke 10:40-42
Forgetting this will always lead to frustration, fuming, feeling fed-up, etc.
We need never wonder what it is.
How goes it today, Pilgrim? Feeling pretty good? Ready to face a new day? Or, are you dreading what lies ahead. . .feeling weary and drained. . .tired of others making demands on you . . .feeling like a miserable excuse of a Christian?
If so, this Manna’s for you.
Martha was a Type A, compulsive, driven workaholic. She believed in “a place for everything and everything in its place.” If she’d been a golfer, she’d never let you improve your lie—and she’d certainly never let you take a mulligan.
Yep, she was a “play-by-the-rules” kind of gal.
Crossing all the “t’s” and dotting all the “i’s.”
And, woe to those who thought otherwise or dared to tell her so.
What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable
I have seen this video in one of the websites of Organic Church people. Very funny, but there are really truths in it. Our Churches are like this and are now out of focus. Our Churches tend to attract people to come in. In contrast to what the Bible say, our churches is suppose to be emphasizing the going out and spreading the gospel.
There is nothing wrong in attracting people to come to Church. In fact, in our contemporary time, I believe that is also important that we will have a presentable Church. But to be imbalance with the emphasis of our programs and giving more weight in attracting people is getting out of focus.
The purpose of Organic Church movement is to go back to the original NT way of worship and being in the Church which I believe is good. However, still we need to be extra careful to not to fall in legalism especially if we are already doing Organic Church since the Bible did not gave us a protocol nor a step by step way of having a Church, and how to worship God. It only presented general things. Furthermore, most practices in NT Church are very applicable for them which might be totally or partially different to what we have now concerning the culture and traditions that we have.
The Essence of Eternal Life
“And this is life eternal—that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.”
John 17:3
It’s more than walking an aisle, being baptized, memorizing Bible verses or doing good deeds.
Eternal life.
What is this? Is it simply an “inward assurance” that we’re saved, forgiven of our sins and assured of a Home in Heaven when we die? Or, is there more to it? And, has our focus too often been on the wrong place?
According to today’s Manna, it has.
How moving were Jesus’ words to His disciples that night in the upper room after Judas had gone out as He shared of what was to come (13:31-17:26). Why did He wait until after the Son of Perdition left (13:30) to impart such intimate words of consolation?
Simply because only those who truly love Him can understand and appreciate them.
Although some of them were painfully pointed (13:36-38; cf. Lk. 22:31-34), the general tone of them was loving and reassuring. He talked of “going to prepare a Place for them” (14:1-4)… of a Comforter the Father would send (14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14). . .of His indescribable, one-of-a-kind Peace (14:27). . .of the importance of “abiding in Him” (15:1-7), which would sustain them when the world rejected them (15:18-25; 16:31-33). . .and how they need not fear because of what would be shortly transpiring (16:16-28).