All4Given

May22

God the Parent

by ChristiansUnite Christian Joke of the Day on May 22, 2013 at 11:58 pm

Posted In: Uncategorized

Today's category: God
God the Parent
      Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to God's kids. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing He said to them was: "Don't."

      "Don't what?" Adam asked.

      "Don't eat the Forbidden Fruit." God replied.

      "Forbidden fruit? We got Forbidden Fruit?

      Hey, Eve..we got Forbidden Fruit!"

      "No way!"

      "Where?"

      "Don't eat that fruit!" said God.

      "Why?"

      "Because I am your Creator and I said so!" said God, wondering why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants.

      A few minutes later God saw the kids having an apple break and was angry.

      "Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?" the 'First Parent' asked.

      "Uh huh," Adam replied.

      "Then why did you?"

      "I dunno," Eve answered.

      "She started it!" Adam said.

      "Did not!"

      "DID so!"

      "DID NOT!"

      Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own...thus the pattern was set, and it has never changed.

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May22

Will we ever stop labeling bands Christian?

by John J. Thompson on May 22, 2013 at 6:12 am

Posted In: Uncategorized

Posted on 05/22/13

Did you know that the members of U2 are Christians and that they frequently explore issues of faith in their songs? Shocking, right? I know!

A recent BuzzFeed piece got way too many views with the irritating title “11 Bands You Might Not Realize Are Christian.” Author Matthew Perpetua seems to be trying to “out” people of faith in the music world by making over-reaching assumptions about the members’ beliefs based on lyric snippets and his own editorializations. For Perpetua, it seems the inclusion of any kind of Biblical imagery is reason enough to identify a band as “Christian.” In addition to listing U2 in the No. 1 spot, he includes Black Sabbath, Mumford and Sons, The Avett Brothers, Evanescence, Belle and Sebastian, Lenny Kravitz, Kings of Leon, Sufjan Stevens, The Civil Wars and the incredible Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, who just released an excellent new album, Spectre at the Feast, and successfully rocked Nashville this month.

Back in 2009, I wrote a piece for Christianity Today that suggested that all music was spiritual. Sure, some of it gets used for ignominious purposes, but the thing that makes music so powerful is the spiritual essence of it. It may be good or bad, true or false, but it’s all spiritual. Bono once said that the best music is either written about people running toward or away from God. T-Bone Burnett, who inspired me as a kid, once said that he could either write songs about the light or about what he sees as a result of the light. Glenn Kaiser rocked my world when he used blistering hard rock to simultaneously share the Gospel with the lost and to challenge the found to engage their pilgrimage with intensity and integrity. Reducing this wide spectrum of expressions down to a bucket labeled “Christian” is a way of dismissing it from the general culture on one hand, or uncritically endorsing it to a sub-culture on the other.

There are several specifically “Christian” uses of music, and I am a fan of them all when done properly. Music can be used sacramentally, as in worship. It can be used prophetically, as a challenge to the church or the world to change its ways. It can be used educationally, to help train people to memorize Scriptures or stories that will enhance their understanding of their faith and its implications. Sometimes music is used well in these purposes. Often it is not. It seems to me the lame/great ratio is about the same in the Christian world as it is in the Top 40.

But when songwriters who happen to be Christians participate in the larger cultural discussion with songs that address love, lust, fear, war, politics or the beach, must it be called “Christian music” and be sold in separate stores and played on separate radio stations? The prevailing desire to label and categorize that kind of music seems to be the result of two things: Christians who would rather be spoon-fed “safe” music than engage in critical thought or discernment of their own; and snarky pop-culture critics who were exposed to too many Carman videos as children and want to make sure their cool friends know what some artists secretly believe

I get that there is too much useless music in the world and that some adventurous and open-minded Christians may wish to discover new artists who are particularly thoughtful when it comes to wrangling with the implications of a life lived under the gaze of God. I supposed they might turn to certain articles, like BuzzFeed’s, in that pursuit. But if the discussion is designed to create an alternative to personal discernment and critical thought, or to endorse bad art because it is about Jesus, we have a problem.

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May22

Walk in the Power of the Resurrection!

by George Whitten on May 22, 2013 at 5:34 am

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by George Whitten, Editor of Worthy Devotions.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

Phillipians 3:9-11 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Numerous modern critics of the Bible say the resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus) is simply a myth based on pagan stories of "resurrected gods" from around the world, and that the authors of the New Testament borrowed from these myths and incorporated them into the Bible. But the similarity of two stories proves nothing about their origin or truth content. The Jews of Yeshua's time were steeped in Old Testament monotheism which had a well developed tradition of resurrection believed and taught by the Pharisees. Polytheistic pagan ideas would have been abhorrent to men who understood and practiced the Judaism of the apostles and New Testament writers.

But the strongest evidence for the historical truth of Yeshua's bodily resurrection comes from the testimony and lives of its eyewitnesses. Eleven of the twelve apostles suffered violent deaths for simply refusing to renounce their conviction and stop preaching the message that Yeshua was alive, that he was the Son of God and savior of the world. People don't generally give their lives for something which they know to be untrue. But they had seen him, and touched him, and eaten with him after his crucifixion; and they were filled with wonder. And because the apostles lived in the power of the resurrection their message went out to the whole world, not as a pagan myth, but as a deep revelation of life-changing truth and hope, for which they were willing to suffer and even give their lives.

King Solomon wrote: "He (God) has placed eternity in the hearts of men…"; [Ecclesiastes 3:11] The resurrection stories of ancient pagan civilizations point to this deep desire in the hearts of men…to be resurrected and to live forever. Is it such a strange thing to hope that there is a life after death?

We know that the resurrection of Yeshua is true because it has been revealed to us by God Himself, and because of what it has accomplished in our own lives. Our faith is a conviction centered in this one, historical fact, and evidenced by the undeniable effect it has upon us. Resurrection of the dead is not a myth or a fable; and resurrection power from God's Holy Spirit is the very source of our new life. Live in the real power of the resurrection. It will transform everything you are and everything you do…especially knowing that you too, will soon obtain the resurrection from the dead, a glorified body just like the Lord's!

Read more Christian Devotions on: Boldness, Breakthrough, Faith, Holy Spirit, Intimacy, Resurrection, Sacrifice, Spirit Filled

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May22

Overeating the Bread of Life – Jewell Utt

by Assistant Editor on May 22, 2013 at 4:03 am

Posted In: Uncategorized

Enjoy each spoonful God gives, but plant seeds as well

Serve one another

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

It’s a privilege to sit in church and hear the Word of God preached each week. In many countries around the world, Christianity is illegal, forcing the Church to operate underground. By its nature, such covert ministries inspire and challenge us. At great expense, people carefully share this precious treasure with those they love.

When I compare this attitude to the free church, the same eagerness is not generally evident. Visiting missionaries report the fervency of their people to spread the good news when they’ve had a morsel of truth. We take in truth by spoonfuls each week through Bible study, media ministries, and church, yet the same urgency doesn’t exist. There is a great need in free countries which appears to go unnoticed. Hearing their stories is an education in foreign differences.

While it’s true the greater the need, the greater the call, the law of physics teaches that a body at rest stays at rest, while a body in motion will stay in motion. The same principle applies to our spiritual lives and thus our spiritual muscles. Sharing the Word of God will strengthen our frame, while simply taking it in will make us “fat.”

How eager are you to share the gospel truths with those you love? Active faith disciples others and works as a productive member of the Body of Christ, serving alongside one another. James says we must be doers of the Word, and not just hearers. Asaph explained in Psalms, the importance of sharing our faith that others will put their confidence in God.

Be mindful to exercise the freedoms you have, while you still have them. Don’t grow lazy in your flesh because it’s easy to do, but burst forth the love of Christ to all those around you.

Grant me Lord that my faith would encourage others to put their confidence in You. Help me to do as your Word instructs, and to serve you within the body of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net and adamr.

Jewell Utt has served in church leadership for over twenty years, focusing on women’s ministry and community outreach. The common thread of teamwork shows through in her music, teaching, and administrative roles. She presently serves as director for a local food pantry and is the women’s ministry leader at her church. She teaches a Bible study, runs community events, and loves to write. Jewell has been a resource speaker for schools, churches, and women’s groups. She has been married for thirty-four years and has three grown sons. Contact her at: jewellutt@yahoo.com.