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The Gift of Goodbye: When You Want Them to Go With You, But They Can’t

By
Alecia M. White
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gift of goodbye

I love movies and my latest Prime Video view (yes, Prime got me) is, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. It was pretty good and kinda hilarious – the perfect blend in a movie for me. Anyhoo, I want you to watch it, so I won’t spoil it for you. But, I want to reference just one part.

So, Walter was a photo developer for Life Magazine. As they prep for their final print issue, he goes on this “journey” in search of a lost photo (P.S. I didn’t reveal anything just now that you can’t go read on Google).

Mmmkay, along the way, Walter met a couple of guys that helped him on his travels. At one point, his journey leads him to the Himalayas. Once they arrive at the bottom of the mountains, there is a moment that lasts about two minutes where the men point Walter in the right direction.

He motions for them to go first, they give the “no” head shake and motion for him to go alone. They go back and forth a couple of times before Walter finally takes the hint and heads up into the mountains alone.

Receive the Gift of Goodbye with Gratitude

gift of goodbyeAs I watched this silent 2-minute scene, I could hear them telling him, “Look, Walter, we’ve come this far with you, but we can’t climb that mountain with you.”

Maybe you can guess where I’m going with this, yep, straight to the Himalayas lol! But really, you already know that everyone can’t go where you’re going. You hear it all the time. The difference between this season and the past is that you don’t have to guess who isn’t invited. Folks are taking all of the guesswork out of your transition with silent transactions that you’ve gotta take to heart.

Pay close attention. People are letting you know that they don’t belong on this journey with you. No, not literally, but figuratively for sure. Their actions toward you or even their own destinies are screaming that they can’t make the trip.

Do you want to know another tell-tale sign? Look at how they communicate with you or don’t communicate with you. “But we talk all the time.” Yeah, I hear you, but are these talks healthy?

What is your conversation about? You must know that you need healthy, encouraging communication. We need conversations that will hold us accountable. Some people just have an entirely different path laid before them and you have to separate at that fork in the road. Guess what, that’s okay.

So, What’s the Play Call?

It’s not always easy to accept when we can’t continue in our current position, surrounded by our “favorite” people. We must trust where God is taking us and who He trusts to be with us. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare to leave people at the foot of your mountain:

  1. God is always with you. One of the hardest things for me in situations like this is feeling that I am alone without certain people by my side. I have to constantly remember that God will never leave me alone and that He knows what and who is best for me. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:20
  2. Seek God’s will. Sure, you hear it all the time, but if you really seek God and His will for your life, all these things will become clearer. When He shows you your path, He will show you who belongs on it with you. “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:6 (NLT)
  3. Learn who you are. Yes, your identity is important. I have found that the more I realized my identity in Christ, the more I pay attention to who is around me and what they are adding to my life. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
  4. Know that God has what you need. Once we completely depend on God to supply our every need, we will look to people less and less to fill voids in our lives. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Teammates, please be encouraged and remember that God is not new to this. He has you in mind and He wouldn’t dare let you walk alone on this journey. There will be times when you’ve got to tackle the “Himalayas” without the “couple of guys” who helped you this far. Climb higher anyway.

“I’m Sorry, Lord, I Won’t Do It Again” – The #1 Reason Why We Do

By
Kim Brightness
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repentance

Repentance on Repeat?

Don’t judge me, but in college, I owned the trademark, copyright, and patent on this prayer of repentance:

“Lord, if you get me out of this one, I PROMISE I won’t do it again.”

Have you ever been part owner of that lie prayer? You were caught, exposed, bad things were happening due to your poor judgment and choices, and the only remedy that not only made sense – but the only one that could bail you out of the mess you made – was to crawl humbly back to God for mercy.

Sigh.

Funny – not funny – how we have all said that prayer at some point and time in our lives. But, as sure as the day is long – we did “it” again.

I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing worse than sincerely asking God for forgiveness – with the promise to change – and finding yourself back in the exact same situation again and again.

You feel horrible, right?  – or, maybe there are no words to describe how foolish, disappointed, or disgusted you are with yourself. You believed deep in your heart with all the best intentions that “This is it, I’ll never do that again.” And then…

When ‘Our’ Best Didn’t Work

He Cares For YouSo, what happened, Team? Can we blame the devil and the fact that we would’ve kept our promise, but “evil is always present” (Romans 7:21)? Can we ‘pull an Adam’ and blame a friend or loved one – “who God gave us” (Genesis 3:12) – for bringing us into a negative situation?

Wasn’t our spirits broken, our hearts contrite (Psalm 51:17)?  Weren’t our tears and fears real?

Yes, we were extremely sorrowful.  But, we simply used the wrong set of tears.

Sorrow That Leads to Real Change

jonahOur Playbook says,

“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10

How can we tell if we’re using the “sorrow of the world” vs. “godly sorrow“? Let’s start with the world’s tears.

Have you ever witnessed someone crying or hysterical because they got caught? Or, if you’re a parent, have you ever seen your child cry extra hard to appeal to your sympathies in order to forgo punishment?

Worldly sorrow, my sisters and brothers, is noisy, but hollow. It carries a big bark but lacks an effective bite or grip on the true pursuit of repentance. Worldly sorrow is this great build-up of emotion that fizzes away when external pressures subside. And, why wouldn’t it? The farther it gets from humiliation, loss, or other consequences, worldly grief lacks the staying power that could produce life and instead produces death (in our purpose, relationships, even eternal damnation if left unchecked).

Godly sorrow, on the other hand, is the catalyst for acts that lead to repentance. It understands that true repentance is not an overnight success – there is much work to do to harvest the salvation that only godly grief and repentance can bring.

Let’s take a look at what godly sorrow is made of…

Key Ingredients to Godly Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:11 explains how godly sorrow will “work out”, “make” (wrought) or “effect by toil” the following active responses in us:

  • Earnestness. Worldly sorrow lacks sincerity. With godly sorrow, our pursuit to please God becomes genuine, as does our decision to avoid future offense.
  • A concern to clear yourself. We will no longer attempt to justify or rationalize our wrongs, but will work to create distance between ourselves and “the cursed thing”.
  • Indignation. We’re no longer comfortable and lenient with sin, but we become angry and “sick of” the sin and everything that leads to it.
  • Fear. We develop a reverent respect for God – what breaks His heart and what makes Him happy. We develop a cautious fear of the eternal consequences of sin.
  • A deep desire for God. We recognize how sin can separate us from God, and we deeply long for a right, intimate relationship with Him.
  • Zeal. We passionately and with great diligence pursue righteousness and the subsequent obliteration of disobedience to God’s will from our lives.
  • Vindication. We no longer “partner” with sin, but we “punish” our sinful acts, how? – by working diligently to right wrongs, and restore and heal any damages caused by our offense.

With these ingredients, we show ourselves as overcomers – innocent of the past charges of offense and the punishment attached to it – and the proud recipients of God’s grace and mercy.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Pursue godly sorrow in order to find freedom and a changed life through true repentance.

If you find yourself in repeated offense or sin, ask God for godly sorrow. Tell Him you’re tired of worldly, surface grief and open your heart to the conviction (note, not condemnation) of the Holy Spirit. Remember that repentance is a personal choice; we have the sole responsibility to surrender our will and where we are to God.

God will never forsake us on the road to salvation. We have access to new mercies every day (Lamentations 3:22-23). We may get sick of ourselves, but never feel ashamed to go to God for mercy – again and again – because He loves you with a compassion our earthly minds can’t comprehend.

God’s grace and mercy are available to all of us – let’s treat His gracious invitations to heal, change, and be delivered with the honor they deserve.

Love y’all!

Better Than 90’s R&B: How My Love Letter from Jesus Would Roll

By
Lisa Yvette Pearson
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love letter

This inspired love letter is courtesy of Psalm 23, The O’Jays, Raheem DeVaughn, Mario, Janet Jackson, Tony, Toni, Tone, Keith Sweat, and Jagged Edge.

 

Baby, Baby, Baby,

My darling, darling Baby.
I wanna restore your hope. Forget about the past, this here’s gon’ last.

Yes, My love lasts. Through your joys and tears, jubilance and moodiness, your growth spurts and stagnant spells, your aqua blue hair and your Groucho Marx eyebrow phase – My love endures.

When you’re doubtful or your enemies attack, or you’ve waded back into the pool of sin – I stick by you, walking through it with you. I’m the original ride or die! And, when you’re dead wrong, I’m there, too, lovingly correcting you.

Whatever you want, Girl, you know I will provide.
Whatever you need – Psalm 23 verses one to five (and six).

I don’t leave and I don’t forsake. I dwell. I stay put. I am steadfast. Even when your ways aren’t.

That’s the way (My) love goes.

The way I love you is incomparable. I loved you enough to leave the peace and comfort of my west elm sofa in heaven, endure ridicule, pain, and death, so that you would have eternal life and be able to sit on my sofa with Me.

There I go being all Holy Spirit-ish, but it’s true. I also came so that you would have an abundant life while here. And before all that, I created you in My image.

Have you ever seen a parent of a newborn marvel at how much the baby has mommy’s eyes, or daddy’s hands or mommy’s sweet temperament? That’s the same way I look at you. With that same love.

And when you don’t know this, the Truth, you allow anything that looks like TV or R&B love to enter the inner courts – even when you know better. Those Great Value versions of My love should remain on the outside of the most outsidiest of the outer courts.

While you’re in your feelings about your singleness and thinking that I’ve forgotten about you, please believe that I am working on your behalf – on your whole man for the whole you that I am developing – if you choose Me. Also believe that even though I’m changing you to be more like me (on the inside), My love doesn’t seek to change you for selfish gain. I will make you the full version of who I created you to be, in My image, before you become the rib to the man from whose rib cage I molded you.

That dude you’re thinking (obsessing) about – let it go.  This Valentine’s season farce only reminds you of what you don’t have – right now.

He can’t love you like I love you.  Because… Who can love you like Me? Nobody.

(Did you sing that? Because I sang it, too.) And if he wanted to be there – he would be.

Remember this on this Valentine’s Day and every day going forward:

Your man will behave in a way that reminds you of Me – not just smooth like Denzel and cool as the other side of the pillow – but leading, providing, calming, restoring, encouraging righteousness, walking through the highs and lows of life with you, correcting you in love, anointing your head with oil, and dwelling in (not just visiting) the house of the Lord. You will know I sent him.

Yes, the guy you want, he’s out there. But remember this: You have to choose Me first, Sweetness.

You’ve got to let Me love you first. You have to make Me your selection.

I am the Lord your God and you shall have no other gods before Me – not even your future husband.

And, in order for Me to truly exhibit My love through the man from whom I molded you, you must first seek Me, the Kingdom of God and all its righteousness…

You know the rest, Baby Girl.

Yesterday, Today, and Forever,

Your Boo,
JC

The Truth About Fruit: Should You Avoid High Glycemic Fruit?

By
Jennifer Hunt, RDN, LD
-
high glycemic fruit

A recent epidemiological study of half a million individuals found that increased fresh fruit consumption “was associated with a lower incidence of diabetes, as well as reduced occurrence of complications in people with diabetes, in a Chinese population.”  Fruit has been widely researched and the list of benefits are astounding:

  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Reduces risk of heart disease and stroke
  • Prevents some types of cancer
  • Lowers risk of eye and digestive problems
  • Manages hunger
  • Satisfies your sweet tooth
  • May reduce the risk of obesity
  • Low in calories

While we know that fruit is part of a healthy diet, when we talk about specific types of fruit, it creates some gray areas.  Many diet programs, weight loss books and health professionals warn against eating high glycemic fruit – those that can raise blood sugar quickly.  

So what are the facts?  Should you avoid some types of fruit?  Is eating a banana as bad as grabbing a piece of cake?

What Are Glycemic Fruits?

High glycemic fruits are treated like the ugly step-sister – avoided and shunned by some. So what are they?

Bananas
Mangos
Papaya
Pineapple
Black grapes

For a full listing of foods on the glycemic index check out The University of Sydney Glycemic Index.

Many types of tropical fruit are also considered ‘high glycemic’.  Realize that the sugary sweetness of these fruits increases as they ripen, so they may be considered ‘moderate’ when less ripe and ‘high’ when very ripe.  Therefore, eating a banana when it still has the tint of green at the stem means it will have a lower blood glucose response than when it is beginning to brown.

The Truth About Fruit

high glycemic fruitToday, I want to shed some light on the topic of high glycemic fruits.  I believe that we should make decisions based on sound information, not fear.  If we choose not to eat a certain type of fruit, let’s do it because of solid research instead of the warning of our ‘good-intentioned’ friend!

Let’s begin by breaking down the lingo…

The glycemic index is a number given to a food that gives you an idea of how fast your blood sugar will rise after eating the food.  While this sounds good, it doesn’t give an accurate picture.  There are a few problems with making food choices solely based on the glycemic index:

  1. It does not account for how much you eat!  1 cup, 2 cups, 3 cups?
  2. It does not account for what you are eating during the meal.  Fruit with yogurt?  Fruit as a part of dinner?

This is what you NEED to know

Fruit eaten alone will raise your blood sugar, some more than others.

The fiber in fruit (which varies among types) slows the rise in your blood glucose. The higher the fiber, the better!

Eating fruit with healthy fats (like nuts or nut butters) and/or protein (plain yogurt, cottage cheese) slows the release of glucose into your bloodstream.

Essentially, what you eat with fruit makes a difference, and how much you eat in one sitting matters!

Fruit: “Don’t label me!”

high glycemic fruitTo call fruit good or bad, high glycemic or low glycemic is too simplistic and inaccurate. What we need to do is think about how to incorporate fruit as a part of our diet.  

Yes, if you eat a plate of fruit for a “light lunch”, your blood sugar will rise pretty high, regardless of what type of fruit.  But, if you re-evaluate your meal and eat fruit on a green salad with grilled chicken and a vinaigrette, your blood glucose will rise much slower and not very high.  

It’s important to note just because we grab 1 piece of fruit doesn’t mean it is 1 serving. Take a glance around your grocery store produce department and you can find apples the size of tennis balls and some that are the size of soft balls.  If you grab an 8” long banana, it is actually 2 servings, not one.

No one wants to get out measuring cups all the time.  The best visual aid is to use your fist or think of the size of a tennis ball (for those, like my husband, who have larger hands) to assess an appropriate portion of fruit.  

So, What Do We Do With High Glycemic Fruits?

High glycemic fruits don’t need to be eliminated completely from your diet. When God looked at all the plants, trees and vegetation He created and called it “Good”, that includes the banana and mango trees.  He told Adam that all of this was here for him to eat.

If we decide to eliminate anything from our diet, we first should begin with processed foods and sugary beverages.  If it grows in the ground or is fruit from a tree, it is good. (Genesis 1:29,31)

We are also instructed, even called, to ask for and exert wisdom.  

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5, NIV)

Becoming mindful of how much fruit we are eating at one time is a great place to start. Just because some fruit is good, it doesn’t mean that more is better.  

It would also be wise to eat meals that are balanced.  That means that your plate should be portioned out in a way that will provide satiety, energy and nutrients:

  • ¼ plate- complex carbs with fiber (including fruit, whole grains, or starchy vegetables)  
  • ¼ plate- lean protein (fish, poultry, occasional red meat, dairy, eggs, vegetarian protein)
  • ½ plate- non-starchy vegetables

Even when eating a snack, you will feel much more satisfied when including protein or healthy fat along with a small piece of fruit.  The carbohydrate in the fruit is digested quickly, but the fat and protein take much longer, leaving you full for an extended period of time.

If you need some fresh ideas on how to include some of these high glycemic fruits into a balanced meal, check out these recipes:

Banana Crunch Overnight Oats
Grilled Chicken with Black Bean Mango Salsa
2 Ingredient Banana Pancakes
Thai Chicken and Pineapple Stir Fry
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins (with Banana)
Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie

God doesn’t create “bad.”  He is good and He produces after Himself – only what falls in line with His character.  He does give us the choice to moderate, plan, and recognize body signals so that we can nourish our bodies in a way that honors Him.  For those who have difficulty regulating blood glucose, their body wisdom and food choices may need to look differently than someone else.  

But, there is no single fruit that is the ‘bad guy’ to your health.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Ask questions. Give attention to your body signals. Talk to your Registered Dietitian.  Seek the Lord and His infinite wisdom!

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! (Proverbs 16:16 NIV)


References

Du H, Li L, Bennett D, Guo Y, Turnbull I, et al. (2017) Fresh fruit consumption in relation to incident diabetes and diabetic vascular complications: A 7-y prospective study of 0.5 million Chinese adults. PLOS Medicine 14(4): e1002279. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002279

Harvard School of Public Health, The Nutrition Source, Vegetables and Fruit

USDA Choose MyPlate, Fruit

The God Heimlich: 4 Ways You’re Choking on Life and How to Get Unstuck

By
Kim Brightness
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heimlich

It’s stuck.

“I can’t breathe.”

Now there’s an imminent threat to your purpose, your success, your total reason for being.

At first, you thought “it” was good to you and for you; it was fun, it felt good, was harmless, or rightfully justified. For some of us, we knew good and well from the start it wasn’t any of those things, but we stubbornly did it, said it, or lived it anyway.

Now look at us. We’re choking on that very thing, wishing we had let it go a long time ago.  It has now lodged itself deeper into our spirit, our personality than we ever imagined, and now this foreign thought, behavior, or habit obstructs the airflow that sustains our purpose.

Oh, but God! Wise enough to know that a soft-spoken word or a gentle caress won’t trigger the change we need. He’s loving enough to know it’s time for a God Heimlich to jar, dislodge, expel the dangerous “it” that’s blocking our destiny.

What Caused You to Choke On Life?

Before the jarring begins, let’s take a look at how we got here:

1.  Living too fast.

We often think life in the fast lane is a fun ride. Isn’t this what social media sells us? But while the pedal is to the metal, we can easily pick up bad habits, mindsets, and beliefs that are unhealthy and contrary to God’s plan for our lives. Left unchecked, these stowaways can distract or totally obstruct our purpose and goals, and bring us a ton of unnecessary grief.

2.  Biting off more than we can chew.

Like #1, we want life to come too fast. One thorn in our flesh is that we don’t value process, learning, or earning our way. We want it ALL, right now! So, we “bite off” more than we’re mature enough to handle. Instead of living as Team Jesus, we defect to Team Doing Too Much, and resort to negative behaviors to force and control our version of progress — and choke!

3.  Eating off another’s plate.

Did your Shepherd promise to prepare a table before you? Then, why are you eating off the plate He prepared for someone else? God is a loving Father, who knows the diet, allergies, and capacity of all His children. We have no idea the training, tolerance, losses, or lessons of another teammate that qualified him/her to eat what’s happening in their life. What God has prepared for you will be just as delicious and beautiful, in due season, and it won’t make you sick.

4.  Unaware of Self and Others.

What’s got our attention? Are we doing too much at one time (#2)?  Are we running around half-naked, missing vital pieces of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)?

When we don’t take the time to build an awareness of Self – who we are created to be, what we believe, what our boundaries are, what benefits us versus what doesn’t – we’ll find ourselves off track of God’s designed purpose for our lives. Now, our wheels are stuck in things and people who are just as far from our purpose as we are – uh oh.

What we really need fast and in a hurry is – Help!

What Does a God Heimlich Look Like?

heimlichCan we be honest, Team? The Heimlich maneuver looks awkward, painful, almost violent. And, it’s definitely not a cute look… I mean, who wants to spit food across the room?

Umm… that would be the person who cares more about living than appearances or the opinions of others!

And, if we all keep living, there will come a time when we don’t care about our pride or what it takes — we just want to get it right, be free, save our lives from the point of no return.

That Time When…

dobermanOne of my earliest, scariest (and now funniest) God Heimlichs happened when I ran away from home at age 8.  Oh was I feeling myself!  I didn’t want to listen to nor appreciate my Mama, I was fed up, and I wasn’t going to put up with “her” anymore (smh).  So, instead of self-correcting that ungrateful, disobedient mindset and getting my act together:

I got all the way to the neighborhood park, and was chased all the way back home by two dobermans, that is, after running into a sticker bush first!

Yep, it hurt lol – body and pride – but not forever. I survived and went right back home with a new appreciation for my life and my Mom. Sometimes Goodness and Mercy does more than FOLLOW you – they will chase you home LOL!

And that, Teammates, is a God Heimlich! A life event that jars you back to reality, smacks you or throws water in your face to wake you up to change – since many times we’re unable or refuse to change on our own.

Yes, God Heimlichs can be embarrassing, painful, hard to live through, take a long time – BUT, once that “it” is expelled from your life, you’ll breathe and breeze through life much easier and happier!  You’ll be healed, free, restored, matured, and realigned with God’s plan for you.

So, what’s the play call?

Be patient through the process. Take it like a good teammate. Trust me, your God Heimlich didn’t come to kill you, it came to save you.

What’s one of your most memorable God Heimlichs?

 

Doers of the Word: Walk It, Like You Talk It

By
Keiston France
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doers of the word

“Walk it, like you talk it” is a phrase that admonishes us to live up to what we say, keep our word, or my favorite… practice what we preach.

My fellow brothers and sisters, it is time, whether you are young or old, to live out the Word of God so that society will know what it really means to be a Christian.

It’s important because everyone doesn’t know who God is. Everybody living on this earth may not know what being a disciple of Jesus Christ really means. So, it is up to us to show them what a relationship with God looks like. If we don’t, people in this world will think that living for God and the world is okay.

James 1:22 makes it clear that those who follow God don’t merely become experts at listening to God’s Word alone – with no corresponding action. To believe is to act upon what we hear.

Younger folks, when you are going to school and your friends know that you attend church – whether you mention it or not – you must show them what being a Christian is really all about. You cannot say you love God and live by the world’s standards, too, right?

Are You Hot or Cold?

The Bible talks about being a lukewarm Christian, which means you are stuck between hot and cold. God gives us a choice – be either hot or cold (Revelation 3:15). Choose one. It’s deceiving to ourselves and the people around us when we try to do both. We must accept the Word of God in our minds and agree to it in our hearts.

So, doing what we hear is very important – but are we truly listening? Those who believe stop talking long enough to listen because it is good to take the time to hear with understanding (Mark 4:12). Yet, the faithful don’t stop there. Faith in Christ is not just the map – it’s the actual journey. We need to figure out which way God wants us to go, and then actually go that way when and how He instructs us to do so.

Doers of the Word Know What They Look Like

doers of the wordIn James 1:23, a person who listens to the Word, the message of Jesus, and does not actually do what it says is like a person who looks at his own face in a mirror, and immediately forgets what he looks like.

It’s an absurd idea to think that we would be unable to recognize ourselves after seeing our own faces in a mirror. It’s also ridiculous to bother looking in a mirror in the first place if we’re only going to ignore what we see.

Don’t set yourself up for failure! It’s the same concept as a believer with God’s instruction manual in their hands. When God gives us the keys to make it into the Kingdom, and we don’t follow it, we cannot be angry when God rejects us on judgment day.

James’ point is that it must be equally absurd to think that a Christian could hear the Word of God and fail to do what it says. That just doesn’t make any sense. Those who believe the Word of God demonstrate their trust in God by obeying Him. Faith is the substance…those who don’t obey prove that they don’t really trust Him.

Look and Never Forget

In James 1:25, he explains how believers ought to handle their study of the Word of God. We as Christians must look intently into the perfect law – the law that gives us freedom. Understand that when we routinely read and obey God’s Word, we will be blessed in whatever we do.

When James uses the word “law,” he is not likely talking about the Law of Moses. James was one of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem and was likely writing to a very Jewish audience who knew all about that Law. More importantly, though, he was writing to new Christians about what it means to live out our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8).

James is not calling believers to see legalistic rule-following as the path to being blessed. He is writing to people who believe that Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses by obeying it perfectly Himself.

That’s the Word we hear and obey because we trust our Father. That law is the perfect law, the law of the love of Christ, which brings freedom.

So, What’s The Play Call?

Remember, as Christians, we are being watched very closely by a society that is very judgmental. We are being watched by people who are waiting for us to fall short of God’s glory.

However, there are also those who are watching us and learning from our lives as followers of Christ. If we are not living by example what we are preaching, then we are all hypocrites. Let’s be true ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Think about it.

Google, Tyson, Target Rank as Top Fortune 100 Companies for Religious Inclusion

By
Christianity Today
-
religious Inclusion

Karen Diefendorf starts her days at Tyson Foods by checking in with the human resources and nursing staff at the Springdale, Arkansas, facility. After getting any personnel updates and taking care of emails, she puts on personal protective equipment and hardhat affixed with her title: CHAPLAIN.

Diefendorf, who comes out of the independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ movement, wore the chaplain badge during her 24-year career in the Army before she began her work at Tyson, where she now does daily rounds to meet with employees. It’s so noisy on the production floor that she relies on a thumbs up, thumbs down system to see who might need counsel, prayer, or guidance.

“If I get a thumb sideways, thumbs down, for sure I’m going to meet them in the break room and see what that’s about,” said Diefendorf, a graduate of Lincoln Christian College and Lincoln Christian Seminary. “If I need more than the 15-minute break or have multiple people I need to see, any chaplain is free to go to that person’s supervisor and work a time to get them off the line.”

Diefendorf leads a team of 100 chaplains—mostly Christian—who provide spiritual support to 122,000 Tyson employees at nearly 400 locations. Tyson’s chaplain program is unique among big companies, and it earned the food processing giant the No. 2 spot on the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation (RFBF)’s religious inclusion rankings, released last month.

HR experts consider chaplaincy a way for companies to see and support their employees as “whole people,” to signal that they don’t have to pretend to leave their hurt at home when they come to work. Done right, these programs—and …

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8 Reasons Why Your Church May Be a Country Club

By
Christianity Today
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I have been involved at a country club three times in my life. The first time was under my parents’ membership while I was growing up. The second was as an employee serving as the assistant to the golf pro. The third was at an affordable club I found in Louisville a few years back. Let me just say, I have an affinity for golf!

I’ve also grown up in the church and have been a pastor of several churches over the last 12 years. Let me say, with all her blemishes and imperfections (of which I am a part), I love the church!

Is Your Church a Country Club?

presence of GodHaving been a part of both as well as studying the North American landscape, I think for many Christians it’s easy to confuse country club membership to church membership. In this two-part blog, I want to highlight eight identifiers that your church might be a country club.

Keep in mind that Jesus didn’t die for the church to be a country club. Jesus died and rose again for the church to be a commissioned conduit to take the good news to the ends of the earth!

With that in mind, here are four identifiers that your church might be a country club, in part 1.

First, your church might be a country club if the goal is to keep members happy.

A country club is a service provider. For many, they provide golfing, swimming, tennis, dining, and entertainment services. Thus, if their services don’t appeal and appease the members, they will soon experience a decrease in membership.

As a result, if members complain about the conditions of the locker rooms, the quality of the greens, the attire of the staff, or the taste of the food, country clubs will work to rectify the problem. A club’s future and sustainability is fueled by the satisfaction of the members.

A church, on the other hand, is a mission vehicle …

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Or, jump to Part 2…

Judah Band’s New EP ‘Hush’ Available Everywhere Feb. 14th

By
Editorial Staff
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Hush and Watch God Do It Again for Judah Band!

judah band
JudahBand.com

Judah Band is gearing up to release an all-new EP titled, “Hush – The EP”. The EP is now available for pre-order and will deliver to all digital platforms on Friday, February 14.

The new body of music will be distributed by eOne Nashville. Judah Band possesses an energy and presence that can’t be ignored. Their sound is a melting pot of musical genres that includes: Gospel, Rock, Pop, and Classical. “Hush – The EP” is the perfect blend of these four musical genres.

Check out the new single and video above for “I Believe”.

The Rainbow Belongs to God: Teen Takes a Stand for God in Nike Kyrie 5 Shoes

By
Editorial Staff
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rainbow flag

Knock-offs and trademark infringements are no anomalies in today’s society. There are many counterfeiters in the world who attempt to pass off the creation or trademark of another as their own. While no brand is exempt from being the target of intellectual property infringement – neither is God, our Creator.

When God created the rainbow as a sign of His covenant between Him and every living thing on earth, He specifically called it “My” rainbow. But, that hasn’t stopped the influence of a devil scorned to pervert the rainbow into a celebration and sign of the LGBTQ community and gay pride, as seen in the rainbow flag originally designed by Gilbert Baker.

God said in Genesis 9:13-16 NKJV:

13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 

14 It shall be when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;

15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 

16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.

Yet, with worldwide acceptance of the rainbow and the rainbow flag as a symbol of pride for the LGBTQ community, many in the Kingdom of God shy away from wearing, promoting, or being a champion of the rainbow mainly due to the effectiveness and acceptance of the infringement on the rainbow’s purpose and meaning.

But, one young teammate in La Habra, California has decided to be true to God and stand for God’s ownership of the rainbow.

Teen Takes a Stand for God’s Rainbow

rainbow flag
Marcus Works adds Genesis 9:13-16 to his Nike Kyrie 5 shoes.

Marcus Works, a fifteen-year-old freshman on the junior varsity basketball team at La Habra High School, took a stand for God and His rainbow in a recent basketball game.

Playing basketball since the age of 4, Marcus loves the Nike Kyrie 5 shoes – but decided to add his own touch to the 6-swoosh, rainbow shoes. To the sole of the shoe, Marcus added the scripture “Genesis 9:13-16” in blue to declare God’s sovereign ownership of the rainbow.

“The rainbow is God’s promise to us, not solely for a particular culture to use as their symbol. My son wanted to get that message out“, says mom, Tracee, who supports her son 100%.

nike kyrie 5 rainbow

Between schoolwork and basketball practice, we briefly caught up with teammate Marcus, who told us that he came up with the idea to add the scripture to his shoes to show how “…God truly made the rainbow. I chose these shoes because I’m a basketball player, and I’m known for my ‘shoe game’. I knew that my shoes would draw people’s attention.”

When asked how he would encourage more youth to take a stand for God and share or express their faith today, Marcus encourages fellow young believers to:

“Be creative in your own way. If you want to take a stand for Jesus Christ, show it through what you like.”

Team, let’s continue to pray for Marcus and his family, that they would continue to be unafraid and unapologetic in their stand for the Kingdom of God. What can we all learn from Marcus’ simple act of faith?

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