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U.S. and 26 Countries Join New International Religious Freedom Alliance (IRF)

By
Christianity Today
-
International Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The United States has been joined by 26 other countries in a new International Religious Freedom Alliance that seeks to reduce religious persecution across the globe.

“Together, we say that freedom of religion or belief is not a Western ideal, but truly the bedrock of societies,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday at a dinner at the US State Department launching the alliance that will involve senior representatives of each government.

The alliance’s first meeting fell on the eve of the National Prayer Breakfast, which gathers international religious and diplomatic figures once a year to an event chaired by members of Congress and organized by the International Foundation, a Christian organization also known as The Family or The Fellowship.

Poland, one country in the alliance, announced in a joint statement with the State Department that the next Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom will be held July 14–16 in Warsaw.

“Building on the successes of the 2018 and 2019 ministerials hosted by the United States, the 2020 ministerial will allow countries to share different approaches, debate varying perspectives in the spirit of coherence and complementarity, and address challenges threatening the freedom of religion or belief,” the statement reads.

The two countries said participants at the Warsaw meeting will address “promoting inclusive dialogue to mobilize action and increase awareness regarding the scale of persecution against religion or belief worldwide.”

Besides Poland and the United States, the other founding countries of the International Religious Freedom Alliance are: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, …

Continue reading…

10 Reasons to Move Exercise Higher On Your To-Do List

By
Jennifer Hunt, RDN, LD
-
exercise

Move Your Body!

It’s 5:30 a.m. and the sun has yet to make its glorious entrance.  My husband and daughter are still dreaming, enjoying the warmth of the cozy covers.  Yawning, I grab my keys and water bottle, and head to the car, off for a 6 a.m. cycling class.  

There are moments like these when it is still early, my thoughts are still foggy, and sleep has a seductive call.  These are the times when routine, discipline and the recollection of how good it feels after working hard must kick in.  These are the moments when I remind myself of all the ways this workout is going to change my life.

Sometimes we just need those reminders, those reasons that motivate us to get up, do it again, push a little harder, go an extra minute.

The reality is that we don’t need our doctor, a government advertising campaign, a nutritionist or personal trainer to tell us that exercise is good for us.  We already know that.  Most of the people I have worked with can recite the guidelines to exercise 150 minutes per week or 30 minutes, 5 days per week.  But, sometimes we have to dig a little deeper to really ask why we are deciding to commit to it.  

What’s in it for YOU?

What will make you get up each morning a little bit earlier or leave the office on time in order to make exercise happen consistently?  What will help you see beyond the discomfort in the moment and complete your workout?  What will motivate you when life gets busy, travel comes up, or in-laws come into town?  What will push you forward when you get disappointed that the scale hasn’t budged?

Will you give up?  OR, will you choose a different perspective?  

Exercise has a wealth of benefits, but sometimes we get caught up in looking for only one or two.  And, if our expectations aren’t met, it is easy to throw in the towel and allow our busy lifestyle to interrupt our plan.  It is easy to blame a hectic life on our inability to exercise.  

But you CAN choose differently if you want.

10 Benefits of Exercise

walkingThere are dozens of ways your body, mind, and spirit will benefit from exercise. If you are needing to rejuvenate your motivation, these are 10 reasons to move it higher up on your priority list.  But realize that a good reason won’t get you out of bed.  You must uncover your own personal “why” to keep you active and moving when it seems like the odds are against you.  

But, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” Here we go…

1. Enhances Sleep Quality

Do you ever feel like a walking zombie? Is it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep each night?  Research from 2005-2010 conducted by the CDC reports that 50-70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders and deprivation and about 4% use prescription sleep aids.  And, this number is likely to have increased by now.  

Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep AND get better quality sleep. Going out for a walk or jog, heading to the gym for a workout, or pulling up a favorite work out on the internet may be the perfect non-pharmaceutical sleep aid.  It won’t cost you a dime and the only side effects you will notice will be better mental clarity the next day!

2. Manages Your Weight

Simply stated, exercise burns calories.  The more you do, the more calories you burn. The more energy you exert doing the exercise, the more calories you burn.  The longer you go, the more calories you burn.  The less exercise you do, the harder it is to maintain your weight.  People who are proactive about maintaining their weight consistently exercise. According to the National Weight Control Registry, an ongoing weight loss study that includes thousands of participants who have lost at least 30lbs and maintained the weight loss for 1 or more years, reports that 90% of these successful individuals exercise for an average of 60 minutes per day.

3. Improves Your Mood

Do you ever have a “blah” day?  The ones where you can’t put your finger on what is the matter but something is hampering your joy and sense of fun? Exercise is the solution. Your body will not be able to hold back producing hormones that improve your mood, help you relax and make you feel great! Don’t believe it?  Test this research out.  

Your body was made to move and it will practically shout with delight when you do. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, some research suggests that moderate exercise (ie. walking) has the potential to improve your mood for up to 12 hours! And the research is showing that it doesn’t matter what kind of mood – irritable, angry, sad, etc. – the effects remain consistent.  Physical activity, even if you only walk, has the power to change the tone of your entire day!

4. Boosts Your Energy

tiredWhile this may seem counter-intuitive, if you are feeling tired, physical activity can give you an energy boost.  Many Americans medicate their fatigue with caffeine and sugar to stimulate and give them the jumpstart they need to plow through the rest of the day’s events.  But, we can save ourselves some calories, crazy blood sugar highs, and caffeine headaches by grabbing our shoes and water bottle to get moving.

Exercise pumps oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and tissues to help them work efficiently giving you more energy for the things that matter most to you.  The research is showing that inactive people who begin a consistent exercise routine experience a boost in energy levels during the day.  Whether you are an infrequent exerciser, inconsistent exerciser, or just need a midday pick-me-up, physical activity will lift your spirits and give you a shot of full-throttle energy, without a warning label.  

5. Ramps Up Your Sex Life

For all you married folk… Maybe the spark isn’t gone.  You just need to know how to activate it!  Sex is active and physical. Cardiovascular exercise prepares your heart and other muscles for physical exertion. Physical activity helps you stay mobile, limber and flexible as you age, all things that can enhance your sexual experiences. Hitting the elliptical or grabbing your yoga mat for the class at your gym can contribute to more intimate fulfillment with your spouse.

6. Keeps You Mentally Alert

Cognitive decline is common with aging.  Memory, judgment, and mental alertness can become more difficult and less acute.  Research is showing that physical activity enhances memory and cognitive function at any age, 20 or 80.  Harvard Health writes an article about some published research showing that regular aerobic activity, “appears to boost the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning.” Dementia is real and can be crushing.  Exercise appears to stimulate new growth of brain cells that help the brain stay healthy and function well.

If you are ever feeling foggy and need a brainpower boost…exercise.

7. Controls Your Blood Sugar

Exercise improves insulin sensitivity (of your cells) making it easier for insulin to usher glucose from your bloodstream into your cells to be used for energy.  Essentially, you need energy to exercise and therefore, your body works efficiently to make that energy, and in return lowers your blood sugar. Everyone – diabetics, pre-diabetics, and non-diabetics – should work to maintain healthy serum glucose levels.  

Your body is grateful you got moving – it reduces your blood sugar and your risk for diabetes.  Plain and simple.

8. Reduces Blood Pressure

Hypertension is known as the “silent killer.”  Exercise strengthens your heart, making it easier for your heart to pump blood through your arteries with less effort.  This reduces the pressure exerted which is a huge win for anyone currently on hypertension medications or with a family history of high blood pressure.  In fact, research shows that those with hypertension can reduce systolic (upper number) by 7mm Hg and diastolic (lower number) by 5 mm Hg simply with consistent exercise.  It often takes 1-3 months to see results, but they usually last as long as you continue regular exercise.  Life without dependency on blood pressure medications is freeing!  

9. Keeps Bones Strong

The loss of bone strength is a gradual, ever so subtle result of the aging process.  It often doesn’t even cross our mind until we see our hunched-over grandmother or help an elderly man at the grocery store.  But, the time you spend exercising now can have a profound effect on your bone strength in decades to come!  

In order to keep bones strong and secure, the CDC recommends engaging in strength training/weight lifting activities at least twice a week and including a variety of weight-bearing exercises like jump rope, jogging, aerobics, walking, hiking and dancing the rest of the time.  Bone mass peaks during your 20s and 30s.  If you care about dancing at your granddaughter’s wedding, traveling during retirement, or throwing a football when you are 80, begin investing today.

10. Builds Muscle Mass

weight trainingStrong, tone muscles cannot be wished into existence – they are a result of hard work. When someone decides to change their body composition, it really has nothing to do with a number on the scale.  Instead, it is the dream of improving leanness, tone and muscular definition.   The common phrase, “if you don’t use it, you lose it” remains true. Atrophy, the loss of muscle mass, occurs when you are not using muscles regularly, and, the aging process contributes to this as well.  Exercise, specifically strength training, changes this.  The research shows that you can begin preserving and enhancing your muscle mass at any age and reap great benefits!  

Researchers at the University of Michigan published a study in The American Journal of Medicine, showing that “after an average of 18-20 weeks of progressive resistance training, an adult can add 2.42 pounds of lean muscle to their body mass and increases their overall strength by 25-30 percent.”

For a sample home strength training workout plan, check out this one created by the American College of Sports Medicine.

If life is stressful and overwhelm seems to be caving in, exercise is one of the kindest things you can do to treat your body and mind well.  Life will always be busy – it never seems to go away.  But, in those moments when the “want to” seems dim, it is important to have your personal reasons why you are deciding to move that day.  

Isn’t it amazing that God has given us a way to heal our bodies, manage stress, improve our strength, manage our weight and live a long life…all from one activity that costs us 30-60 minutes a day.  It does have a cost, but YOU are totally worth it!

So, what’s the play call?

Your calling is GREAT!  Steward your body in such a way that allows you to walk it out every single day with vitality, mental clarity, and a spring in your step!

“I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.”
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 MSG


References
American College of Sports Medicine- Boost Your Mood at Least Half the Day with Physical Activity
American College of Sports Medicine, Exercise is Good Medicine for Preventing and Reducing an Angry Mood
Centers for Disease Control- How Much Physical Activity Do Adults Need?
Centers for Disease Control- Physical Activity and Health
Fernando Dimeo, Nikolaos Pagonas, Felix Seibert, Robert Arndt, Walter Zidek and Timm H. Westhoff. Hypertension. 2012;60:653-658, originally published August 15, 2012. Aerobic Exercise Reduces Blood Pressure in Resistant Hypertension.  Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.112.197780
National Osteoporosis Foundation- What is Osteoporosis and What Causes It?
National Institute of Health- Exercise for Your Bone Health
University of Michigan- Older and Stronger

 

I Can’t Make You Love Me

By
Lisa Yvette Pearson
-
love

Bonnie Raitt has a song called, I Can’t Make You Love Me (if you don’t.)

It’s something we, as women, find hard to grasp, especially when we seem to have control over every aspect of our lives. “What do you mean he doesn’t love me? I’m a good woman! I’m an entrepreneur, I have great credit, drive a 2018 Benz, own my own home, and am Saks Fifth Avenue down to the socks. Surely I can convince the guy I want that he loves me and wants to be with me.”

Except, love is not ours to control.

The Making of Love

loveFirst off, love, the 1 Corinthians 13 version, is the blueprint of great friendships, relationships, and marriages. It is orchestrated by God. Everything else, therefore, is play-play. Which is why we can be sweet, sassy, and more saved than that lady who falls out on cue at every service, but if a man does not love you (even by the other definitions of love), there is nothing you can do about it.

And, if we’re being honest, we know when we aren’t being loved properly, don’t we? If we’re even more honest, sometimes our marriage plans don’t fall in line with our time schedule, so we end up settling for less than what God had in mind. And then, we sometimes compromise our values by sleeping with him because we think he’ll leave. Deep down inside we know: “If he was living for Christ and truly loved me, he would want to honor and preserve intimacy until marriage.”

When it doesn’t work out, we say we should have known better and we’ll never do that again. We promise God we will be faithful in our walk. If we haven’t repented, though, let Lauryn Hill tell it: “If you did it then, then you’ll probably do it again. Talkin’ out your neck saying you’re a Christian…” (Doo Wop, 1995)

So are you, Christian woman? Talking out your neck, thinking you have to make a way and then ask God to bless it? Or do you really believe, like Travis Greene, that God Himself will make a way?

Love by God’s Spirit

The Word says in Mark 10:9, “Therefore WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, let no one separate.” No one. Not him, you, or his mama can tear it apart. Why? Because what God has done BY HIS SPIRIT will last. It’s what we try to build (by our might and power) on a pile of sand that crumbles when the waves hit.

The Message Bible says, “You can’t force these things. They only come about by my Spirit.” Love abounds by God’s Spirit because God is love (1 John 4:16)! So the sooner we stop trying to orchestrate our “love lives” and getting in God’s way, the easier it will be for God to lead us to this Promised Land – where there’s not a wave strong enough to wash away what the Sure Foundation has built.

So, What’s the Play Call?

WAIT ON THE LORD.
“I waited patiently for the Lord and He heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1, NIV)

Often when a new iPhone or iPhone update comes out, there are kinks. It’s only over a matter of time that those kinks can be worked out and then the 2.0 version is released to the public.

Time reveals the kinks. To put it in relationship terms, let’s use the ungodly theory of the 90-day rule. Waiting 90-days to fornicate is said to be designed to help women see a man through clear eyes, not through I-done-did-it-and-now-I’m-sprung eyes. But even better, if a potential Boaz appears, waiting on the Lord will help you identify if he is truly your man.  Kinks happen, and dating God’s way will facilitate working any issues out. You’ll have confidence enough to freely love who He’s sent because surely God won’t send you junk.

EXAMINE YOUR HEART.
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5, NIV)

Questions to ponder:

    • How’s your relationship with Jesus? Y’all tight or merely acquaintances? Is it based on what He does for you? And, if He doesn’t do what you want, do you climb out of His fishing boat?
    • Will your relationship be encouraged or discouraged by the mate of your dreams?
    • Do you want a mate or a roommate to split bills with?
    • Have you overlooked who God has chosen for you?

GUARD YOUR HEART.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV)

Be careful of the images you’re taking in. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” (Matthew 6:22 NIV) What your eyes take in is what your soul takes on. If all you’re taking in are love stories, all you’re doing is reminding yourself of what you don’t have. Take a breather. Watch Law and Order. Watch the cooking channel – unless of course you’re like me and fantasize about cooking the best meal ever for your boo one day. Nevermind. Girl, just focus on Jesus.

 

God loves us. He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. BUT He wants our hearts. The Word doesn’t say dabble in the Lord a lil bit, it says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will grant you the desires of your heart.” Delight – have joy and take pleasure in seeking Him – only then will He do His part.

And by His Spirit, that man you so desire will be yours to love. For-evaaaaaaaah!

U.S. Senate Chaplain: ‘Let Your Will Be Done’

By
Christianity Today
-
you will be done

What do you pray at an impeachment hearing? For Barry Black, a Seventh-day Adventist minister and the longtime chaplain of the US Senate, it’s a simple question. You pray that God’s will be done.

And what do you pray after the US Senate votes to acquit President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment, as it did on Wednesday afternoon? That same faithful prayer.

“I think the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane provides us with the model,” Black told CT. “The preamble to saying, ‘Let your will be done’ can be ‘Father, all things are possible for you. If it is possible, let the impeachment trial come out this way, nevertheless, not as I will but let your will be done. That’s the basic setup, but the dominant thematic focus should always be ‘Let your will be done.’”

The minister with the signature bow tie and deep preacher’s cadence says that in the middle of the polarization and partisan sniping, he has urged senators and staff on both sides to seek God’s will.

People have been listening closely to Black’s prayers as the Senate has battled over the historic impeachment vote. He often draws powerful phrases from his daily devotions and hours of scriptural studies, as he seeks to offer spiritual guidance on Capitol Hill.

His petitions at the opening of the trial went viral. Before a full chamber of lawmakers in December, Black prayed the senators might be “bold as lions,” full of “moral discernment to be used for your glory.” He concluded with a line that caught a lot of attention: “They can’t ignore you and get away with it,” he said, “for we always reap what we sow.”

Not Guilty Verdict

The Senate voted to acquit Trump on the two articles of impeachment Wednesday. They voted mostly along party lines, rejecting the abuse of power charge 52 to 48, and the obstruction of Congress charge 53 to 47. Only Senator Mitt Romney, the Republican from Utah, broke ranks, voting to convict Trump on abuse of power …

Continue reading…

God: “I’ll Fight, You Keep Your Mouth Shut.”

By
Kim Brightness
-
used by God

Mic Check 1, 2…

Have you ever been looking for a “rich, on-time word” to check someone else and the Word of God smacks you in the face?

“God, you see what they’re doing to me… get ‘em, Jesus!”

Don’t laugh, you’ve been there, too? We feel that feeling of entitlement for God’s rescue and recompense for others, but our hearts aren’t exactly in the right place, either – and neither are our mouths.

I was at a point where I desperately needed God to fight this battle for me. I was innocent and couldn’t prove it. The charges against me were bogus and lacked credible evidence. But, I wasn’t “all the way” ready to surrender to rescue and allow God to fight my battle.

I had something to say, a piece of my mind to give. A few jabs to throw. Yep, out of order.

So, to my surprise, while searching for that scripture that says, “God will fight for you,” why did Eugene Peterson have to add this tone in the Message Bible:

“And you? You keep your mouth shut!” (Exodus 14:14)

Hmmmph! Thanks a lot, Eugene.

Where’s Your Mouth Running Off To?

be quiet

There are 2 (maybe more) destinations that our mouths love to run to when we should be quiet and still. Either we’re mouthing off by 1) complaining about the situation, or 2) we’re busy fighting spiritual warfare with our natural words.  Both actions are fruitless. Has your mouth run off to either of these places?

Complain Island

Look at the children of Israel in Exodus, standing at the Red Sea. In their eyes, with Pharoah and his army behind them, and the Red Sea in front of them, this impending doom made no sense, why? Here’s the earful they gave Moses:

“We told you to leave us in Egypt… bring us all the way out here in the wilderness to die!”
“We were better off as slaves, at least we were alive!”
“Didn’t we tell you this was a bad idea, Moses?!”

Was danger real and imminent? Yes. Did they need God to deliver, like quick, fast, and in a hurry? Yes.

Was their gloom, “woe is me” complaints going to magically save them? Nope.

How many of us can admit that our complaints sound sweeter when part of a choir versus a solo act? How much louder does our complaining get when we have backup singers?

Two Cents Township

You’re not going to let them get away with that comment or action, are you? Think again.

How many times have we been only 2 cents away from peace and victory – and we gave it all away by opening our mouths?! We refused to be quiet and bankrupted the whole situation even more by talking too much.

Save your change, Team. Don’t hurt “change” by using your tongue to satisfy your flesh.

We Have a Job to Do – Be Quiet!

God needs our cooperation. He expects us to follow His lead and do what we’re told.

Be quiet – that’s our job.

Our silence has a secret power that many of us have yet to tap into and unleash. As we hold our peace, we remove every distraction and impediment to the victory we want so desperately.

When we hold our tongue, we keep our words out of God’s way. And, anything in God’s way, God will deal with it. Does God have to get you right before He deals with your enemy? Plus, how smart is it to give the enemy ammunition for his weapons? When we speak out of turn, the devil will use our own words as darts against us.

In silence, in our being still, we give God permission and make room for Him to do what only He can do. Our job is to let God be God.

Oh But, I’ve Got to Say Something!

In times of real trouble, if you want to – or have to – use your tongue, take a page from King David. Here’s how we can put our mouths to good use:

1. Praise and thanksgiving

Begin to worship and praise God, in the spirit of thanksgiving, while you’re waiting for your rescue, miracle, or answered prayer. Magnify the Lord over your trouble; make His name bigger than the circumstance or problem you face.

2. Speak the Word of God

You don’t have to use your own words; it’s often better that we don’t! Rather, begin to speak the scriptures out loud. Instead of speaking about the trouble, say aloud “God is a very present help in trouble! (Psalm 46:1)” Trade in, “I don’t know what to do!”, and say aloud “We are perplexed, but not in despair (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)!” Use God’s Word as a weapon and a balm in times of trouble.

3. Sing a Song

Instead of looking for a justification to tell someone off, look for a song to sing to the Lord. Ephesians 5:19 admonishes us to “speak to ourselves” – yes, that means talk/sing to yourself – with spiritual songs as unto the Lord.

You don’t have to be a profound worship leader or a Billboard-charting artist. Use your voice to sing soothing melodies to God while you’re in difficult situations. Take a page from Paul and Silas in prison (Act 16:25-26) – songs of praise to God will break every chain and lead you to freedom.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Be quiet. The victory in your situation will be because of Jesus, not because you helped the situation with your words.

Hush, Team. God is undefeated! The battle and the glory belong to God alone because He causes us to triumph – His way, His time – without interference by our untamed tongues. Shhhh…

Why It’s Important to Tell the Truth About When You’re Tired

By
Alecia M. White
-
tired

Alright, so I started working out again. No, not a resolution, but a necessity. I do a workout called Turbo Fire that is pretty fast-paced. Now, I have no idea why I thought that anything called “turbo” and “fire” should be my entry back into the fitness world. Boy, it wore me out!

Okay, so the creator of the workout, Chalene Johnson, is all hype the entire time while I’m on the other side of the screen, ready to pass out. As the exercise progresses, it feels as if she can see me, ready to sit criss-cross-applesauce and just watch the remainder of the video. Why do I think this? Because she yells, “You’re not tired!”

This reverse psychology stuff apparently works. I grit my teeth and move past my body’s obvious exhaustion to complete my workout. She made me feel like I had more to give when I thought I didn’t LOL.

A Time to Fake It, Faith It, and Rest It.

tiredNope, this article is not about me restarting my workout regimen or about your need to start yours (but if you needed a sign, yes, please workout). Rather, this is about actually being tired. Yep, being tired and convincing yourself that you’re not.

I’m not talking about those Wednesdays at work when you need an extra cup of coffee and a candy bar to stay awake. Uh uh, I’m talking about being mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually drained and never acknowledging it. This is dangerous.

How? Well, if you never acknowledge that you’ve exhausted yourself, you’ll never accept help or the replenishment of your strength. If we go around pretending that we don’t need the strength that only God provides, then we will never see the reality of our need for Him. Can we say “Burnout” with a capital B?

And no, I’m not telling you to quit what you’re doing, but I am suggesting that you tell God the truth about how you really feel. He sees and knows all anyway – everything about us.

So, What’s the Play Call?

The society we live in says to do all the things – get the bag, hustle, boss up, ride or die – but we weren’t created to go non-stop. God created a sabbath day for a reason; He obviously knew we’d need to rest. I mean, listen here, if God took a rest day, who are we to deny one?

Here are a few things to keep in mind when your mind tells you that “you’re not tired” and you want to dismiss the fact that you truly are:

  1. Remember that God is the ultimate strength giver. Yep, He’s so good that He doesn’t just give strength, He is strength. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness…” 2 Corinthians 12:9 
  2. Let them help you. Whoever your reliable, God-sent, in-tune “them” is… let them be there to help you carry what you can’t carry alone. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1
  3. It’s okay to rest. In fact, God commands it. Sometimes we run our bodies back into the dust they were created from, only because we are afraid that we’ll get behind if we take that breather. But allow me to let you in on a little secret: You’ll be so much better after the rest. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
  4. Make sure you’re spending time with God. I know that when I don’t have that alone time with God, every day, it is easier for me to overwork myself because I am going off my own instincts and feelings instead of God’s leading and instruction. Do what you have to do to get that time in – wake up earlier, listen to worship music, sermons, or even the Bible as you move around and prepare for your day. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

Remember that you are allowed to go into that phone booth and “un-Superman” yourself. It’s okay to acknowledge that you’re tired so that God can be your strength and very present help.

Personality Tests vs. God’s Word: How Do You Get To Know You?

By
Editorial Staff
-
personality tests

Personality Tests & Followers of Christ

know your whyIn today’s society, there’s overwhelming popularity in personality tests as a way to gain self-knowledge. From Facebook “fun” quizzes to Myer-Briggs and The Enneagram, many in the body of Christ use these tools to learn more about themselves and the people around them. But, are these tests adversely informing our perspective on who we are called to be? Do we use these tools to excuse our behavior – and even our sin? 

Teammate Christa Threlfall takes a deeper look at personality tests, their use among Christians, and their relation to God’s Word. Read on and assess your use of these tools.

_____

I never thought much about the terms “extrovert” and “introvert” until I got married and wondered why my spouse and I were so different. Take Sunday, for example, the most social day of our week. My husband is the pastor, and we are often meeting visitors after services. He seems to thrive on this type of interaction—plus, he’s really good at it. The idea of walking up to a group of new people and joining in on their conversation energizes him.

I, on the other hand, have often found refuge by extended stays in the restroom. This way I can avoid the awkwardness of meeting new people and running out of conversation topics, while also not appearing selfish.

It would be easy for me to excuse this choice to avoid meeting people with the explanation that I tend toward introversion. But is it okay for me to shy away from people because it makes me uncomfortable?

Enneagrams

You may have noticed a major emphasis over the last few years on discovering your personality type or Enneagram number. Much of this research has been incredibly helpful. Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your personality (and the personalities of those around you) can enable you to better relate to those unlike you.

Christian proponents of tests like the Enneagram affirm their value to diagnose our weaknesses and encourage us in Christlikeness. “The strength of the Enneagram is that it exposes where we might need healing and what vices might be causing division with others and even within ourselves,” John Starke writes. “As Christians, we use the Enneagram as a tool to find healing not by becoming our true selves but by finding ourselves more truly in Christ.”

But I’ve noticed another side to this well-intentioned journey of self-knowledge. Sometimes, instead of using our personality-test results as a tool, we can almost view them as an infallible declaration of who we are and how we will act. Even worse, we can use them as an excuse for sin.

Myers-Briggs Made Me Do It

It’s tempting to think the reason I didn’t want to meet new people was because it’s simply not in my makeup. But that wouldn’t be entirely true. Often, I don’t want to because of sin. I don’t like feeling awkward, so I can try to pass my selfishness off as “just part of my personality.” Yes, it’s uncomfortable for me to open up, reach out, and welcome people into my life. But that doesn’t mean I can ignore God’s command to love my neighbor as myself (Mark 12:31).

…Continue reading at The Gospel Coalition

 

Christa Threlfall is a pastor’s wife and mother of four. She enjoys reading, writing, and being active outdoors with her family. You can read her blog at Brown Sugar Toast and follow her on Instagram.

21st Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration Premieres Feb 1st at 8PM on BET

By
Editorial Staff
-

Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is BACK!

The 21st Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, hosted by national radio and TV personality Rickey Smiley, will return to BET Networks for a seventh consecutive year on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 8PM ET/PT. The annual NFL-sanctioned event was filmed in front of a live audience at the James L. Knight Center during Super Bowl LIV week in Miami.

The one-hour Super Bowl Gospel Celebration special features performances by Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Commissioned Reunion, Travis Greene, Anthony Brown & Group Therapy, BET Sunday Best winners Le’Andria Johnson (Season 3) and Melvin Crispell III (Season 9) and the NFL Players Choir.

This year’s presenters include NFL players DeAndre Hopkins (Houston Texans), Devin Funchess (Indianapolis Colts), Wesley Woodyard (Tennessee Titans) and Mike Daniels (Detroit Lions).

The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration will also honor NFL siblings and American Cancer Society ambassadors Quinnen Williams (New York Jets) and Quincy Williams (Jacksonville Jaguars) with the 2020 Faith In Action Award. The Williams brothers lost their mother to breast cancer in 2010 – turning tragedy into triumph the brothers now donate their time and resources to ensure that African Americans receive proper testing for cancer in urban communities.

Super Bowl Gospel Celebration Highlights Cancer Prevention

super bowl gospel
MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 30: Freddie Figgers and Sherí Barros attend the BET Super Bowl Gospel Celebration at the James L. Knight Center on January 30, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for BET)

In collaboration with the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration and BET Networks, the American Cancer Society will be featured during the broadcast to share the critical importance of cancer prevention and awareness. Viewers will have a chance to donate $10 or more to the American Cancer Society by texting HOPE to 20222, or by clicking here to donate online anytime.

Originating at Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999, the annual event joins together key NFL Players, top Gospel/Contemporary Christian and mainstream GRAMMY® Award-winning artists and special guests all on one stage to bring audiences an evening of uplifting music and inspirational messages.

By far, the largest multicultural event to take place during Super Bowl weekend in its 21-year run as an NFL-sanctioned event, SBGC has featured artists including Patti LaBelle, Yolanda Adams, Gladys Knight, Natalie Grant, MaryMary, Fantasia, Donnie McClurkin, Anthony Hamilton, among many others.

Check out a few shots from Super Bowl Gospel Celebration. For information visit superbowlgospel.com.

 

ABOUT THE SUPER BOWL GOSPEL CELEBRATION

The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration was launched in Miami in 1999 during Super Bowl XXXIII weekend. The event became the first and remains the only Gospel concert sanctioned by the National Football League (NFL). The show has drawn crowds in the thousands and has demonstrated growth year-after-year, selling out venues in major Super Bowl host cities including Dallas, Tampa, Detroit, Jacksonville, Houston, and Phoenix.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and, public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and, France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET Networks around the globe.

The Heavy Heart Weight Loss Diet: How to Cast Your Cares & Lose Worry Weight Fast

By
Kim Brightness
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weight loss

Are You Consumed with Weight Loss?

According to Statistic Brain Research Institute, losing weight is the number one new year’s resolution.

But, if you’ve got this weight, healthy eating, and gym thing down pat, you’re probably tickled at how crowded a gym is in January. Perhaps you’ve even had to wait longer for your favorite exercise machine – with the newbies and all.

So, why are we so consumed with weight loss? Is our real problem stubborn belly fat or flabby arms?

weight lossAs we, the body of Christ, take a deeper look at this thing, I think there’s a very specific reason why losing weight dominates the “new year”, “new beginnings”, “new me” departments.  Let’s dissect this mindset…

Did you know that the weights on your heart can put extra weight around your gut?

Does your heavy heart easily seek comfort in fried, fatty foods, decadent desserts, and/or salty treats?

Have you ever been so weighted down in your mind that you sought “retail therapy”, and then capped the night off at your favorite restaurant to splurge – because you deserved it?

See the cause-and-effect pattern here?

While we, especially Americans, begin with our belly fat, the Word of God tells us as followers of Christ to start with our hearts and minds.

Obesity of the Heart

Is your heart fat, Team? Unfortunately, yes. For some, obese even.

Ask yourself, like King David: Why is my heart and soul cast down?  What’s bugging me?  What’s eating at me making me eat everything? Why does my heart ache? Why am I so angry? Why can’t I find joy? (Psalm 42:5) Make it personal.

And, dare I ask gently – why is depression running rampant in the church?

Many of us are fighting for our literal lives through the mines of mental warfare. Some of you may be feeling as if you can’t catch a break, that you’ve been down too long, and you haven’t seen or felt Hope in years.

While I’ve had my own tour of duty in the War on Depression, everyone’s journey will be different.

However, though we all fight our own personal battles, we have access to common weapons that are tailored to win any spiritual battle.

The word of God – it is our weapon (Ephesians 6:17)! And, while you may not feel strong enough to wield this sword like a pro, if you can just whisper a scripture to yourself when you’re feeling your lowest – you are planting seeds of victory that will produce a harvest to feed your soul for the journey.

So, let’s take a look at what the Word of God says, and how we can lose this weight.

The Revelation of “Cast”

The beauty of our playbook, the Bible, is – we can trust that if we follow the instructions, we can expect a predictable, favorable outcome.

In order to activate the Word, we have to “do” something – that’s what a play call is, right? A command, an instruction, a directive.

The common play call throughout the Word of God for dealing with the weights on our heart and mind is “cast” or “throw”:

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

Cast [throw] all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7

All is not lost just because we’re feeling down at the moment. Depression, sadness, and frustration is not the final word for the Believer.  Get your good throwing arm and keep reading…ready?

The 3 Elements of a Successfully “Cast” Care

throw

The Greek word for “cast” in 1 Peter 5:7 is translated epiriptó – to throw upon, or place upon. What does it take for us to actually cast our cares upon Jesus? Refer to the picture above on how to throw, and remember G.A.P:

  1. Grip

Get a good grip on what’s been gripping you. Remember the questions I asked earlier? Identify what’s on your heart, scrape all the pieces together – be honest. Touch it as it touches you. Don’t leave one fragment of it behind. See, if we’re going to be thorough and cast “all”, gather your family concerns, your job frustrations, your health worries, your financial cares – all of it! Got it all gripped together? Good. Now…

  1. Aim

1 Peter 5:7 gives us specific guidance on direction. We’re not instructed to cast our cares upon people – no matter how much we believe they care about us. Some cares are only meant for Jesus!

Has that been our problem? Has your aim been off? Have you been trying to pile your cares on your Mama, best friend, your homeboy? Or, likewise, have you been carrying the burdens of others that were supposed to be cast upon Jesus?

Look to the hills where your help comes from! Take aim at Jesus; He’s your divine target.

  1. Propel

Take another look at the graphic above. Cast is a forward motion with force. And, anything that is propelled forward, with force, shifts from its position of origin.  Once cast, that care is no longer in your firm grip or under your control.

Note, we are not encouraged to simply place, drop, or release our cares to Jesus. Anything of the sort would leave said care in too close proximity for us to pick it up again!

When you cast your cares and worries upon Jesus, they cannot live, breath, and thrive in your heart and upon Jesus at the same time. So, pick a place, Team! When you’re ready to truly cast, you’re ready to evict and relocate the pain and worry for Jesus to handle as He pleases.

What Happens After You Cast?

It’s worth noting that the word epiriptó for cast is mentioned in only one other place in the Bible:

“And they brought the colt to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus on it.” Luke 19:35

This is a glimpse of the preparation for the triumphant entry of Jesus in Jerusalem, when the crowds cried, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.”

When we cast our cares upon Jesus, likewise, He will take them away in triumphant exit! The cares will no longer leave us distressed, but they will leave us as the King of Kings takes His rightful place in victory over our cares, worries, and frustrations.

The Heavy Heart Diet Plan

While King Jesus handles our cares, here’s how we can maintain a healthy heart and mind weight – with the sweet words of our playbook, the Bible (Psalms 119: 103).

You and I can lose that stubborn care weight and keep it off our hearts with the following diet plan meditations:

Breakfast

Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Mid-Morning Snack

Matthew 6:25: Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Lunch

Psalm 37:5: Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

Afternoon Snack

Psalm 84:11: For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Dinner

Psalm 55:22: Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Evening Snack

Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

BONUS SNACK (eat any time of the day)

2 Corinthians 4:8-9: We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Cast those cares and lose that heart weight! You don’t need a new year, the spring, or any season to find your G.A.P. Throw your cares upon Jesus today – do it NOW!

 

What scriptures do YOU use as a part of YOUR heavy heart diet plan?

Are There Overlooked People and Places That the Gospel Needs to Reach?

By
Christianity Today
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gospel

Take the Gospel of Jesus Christ Everywhere

We live in an age where there are countless ways to reach people through technology, financial support, and missions work. It is common to hear about certain places and people groups that are in these resources and efforts, such as third-world nations or areas under restrictive governmental regimes.

However, certain ethnolinguistic people groups continue to be unreached, and at the same time, overlooked.

For example, we can point to Quebecois in Canada and the thousands of South Asian Indians in the western suburbs of Chicago. There are also geographical areas that are unacknowledged. Perhaps the most notable are rural areas in the United States and around the world.

Paul strategically prioritized urban centers during his missionary journeys. Think of Philippi, Ephesus, Colossae, and Thessalonica: they were all places where large numbers of people lived, worked, and worshipped.

Paul could reach the most people with the gospel by preaching and planting the gospel in these cities. Acts actually tells us “all Asia” was reached from Paul’s three years in Ephesus (Acts 19:10). While today’s cities are still vitally strategic and important, our world is different than Paul’s.

We now have numerous unprioritized areas that God calls us towards.

When thinking about these forgotten areas, as pastors in particular and Christians in general, we begin to ask questions about what we should do to improve the church’s reach: Do we travel to these places and evangelize? Do we plant churches there? Do we send money? How do we accomplish all of these things?

I believe that there are two main answers to the questions concerning outreach to overlooked peoples.

First, one of the best ways to improve the church’s reach is …

Continue reading…

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Two businessmen’s unusual conversion in 1700s South Carolina led them to liberate the people they put in bondage. At first glance, William Turpin and his business partner, Thomas Wadsworth, appeared to be like most other prestigious and powerful white men in late 18th-century South Carolina. They were successful Charleston merchants, had business interests across the state, got involved in state politics, and enslaved numerous human beings. Nothing about them seemed out of the ordinary. But, quietly, these two men changed their minds about slavery. They became committed abolitionists and worked to free dozens of enslaved people across South Carolina. When most wealthy, white Carolinians were increasingly committed to slavery and defending it as a Christian institution, Turpin and Wadsworth were compelled by their convictions to break the shackles they had placed on dozens of men and women. In an era when the Bible was edited so that enslaved people wouldn’t get the idea that God cared about their freedom, Turpin left a secret record of emancipation in a copy of the Scriptures, which is now in the South Carolina State Museum. Perhaps it’s not surprising that this story of faith and freedom is mostly unknown. The two men were, after all, working not to attract attention. Neither had deep roots in Charleston or close familial ties to its storied white “planter” dynasties. Turpin’s family was originally from Rhode Island, and Wadsworth was a native of Massachusetts who moved to South Carolina only shortly after the American Revolution. Both had public careers and served in the South Carolina Legislature, but their political profiles were not particularly high. Neither of them appeared to give any of their legislative colleagues the sense that they were developing strong, countercultural opinions on one of the most ...Continue reading...

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