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Why does Easter come when it does?
Have you ever given any thought to the date of Easter? We all recognize that it moves from year to year, unlike Christmas. Folks will even say, "Easter is early this year" or "Easter is late this year." Ever wonder how the date of Easter is set? The current rules for setting the date of Easter date back to the reign of the Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.
The statement, "Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox" is only actually partially correct. The moon that is referred to in this sentence is not the astronomical moon, but the Ecclesiastical moon, which is determined based on tables. However, the two do not differ significantly.
The official rules on setting Easter are as follows:
1. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox;
2. This particular ecclesiastical full moon is the 14th day of a tabular lunation (new moon); and
3. The vernal equinox is fixed as March 21.
Easter can never occur before March 22nd and can never occur after April 25th.
Now, the western church uses a different calendar and table to calculate the ecclesiastical full moons. Our dates are based on the Gregorian calendar while the Eastern Orthodox church uses the older Julian calendar. Therefore, their celebration of Easter is on a different day than ours.
Here are the dates for Easter from 1980 through 2024 (just in case you ever wanted to know):
1980 April 6 1995 April 16 2010 April 4
1981 April 19 1996 April 7 2011 April 24
1982 April 11 1997 March 30 2012 April 8
1983 April 3 1998 April 12 2013 March 31
1984 April 22 1999 April 4 2014 April 20
1985 April 7 2000 April 23 2015 April 5
1986 March 30 2001 April 15 2016 March 27
1987 April 19 2002 March 31 2017 April 16
1988 April 3 2003 April 20 2018 April 1
1989 March 26 2004 April 11 2019 April 21
1990 April 15 2005 March 27 2020 April 12
1991 March 31 2006 April 16 2021 April 4
1992 April 19 2007 April 8 2022 April 17
1993 April 11 2008 March 23 2023 April 9
1994 April 3 2009 April 12 2024 March 31
Saturday, February 28, 2004
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More on Lent
Having just passed Ash Wednesday, we are now fully in the season of Lent. As a follow-up to my earlier post, I offer this information about the Lenten Season, borrowed from UMC and other internet sources.
Why do we celebrate Lent? This brings with it the big question of the why we bother with a liturgical calendar. The purpose of the liturgical calendar is to remind the church of the major dates and celebrations of the Christian church and events in Jesus' life, as celebrated down through history. These dates also serve to remind us of the events that are coming up, and help us to prepare ourselves spiritually to celebrate these dates.
Lent is one of the events on the liturgical calendar. It is always 40 days in length, and is measured by the western church by not counting Sundays (the day of Resurrection). Therefore, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, always occurs on the seventh Wednesday before Easter.
According to Ken Collins, many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was cusotmary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.
By observing the 40 days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus' withdrawal into the wilderness for 40 days. Lent has been observed by the church since the Apostolic days.
More on Lent
Having just passed Ash Wednesday, we are now fully in the season of Lent. As a follow-up to my earlier post, I offer this information about the Lenten Season, borrowed from UMC and other internet sources.
Why do we celebrate Lent? This brings with it the big question of the why we bother with a liturgical calendar. The purpose of the liturgical calendar is to remind the church of the major dates and celebrations of the Christian church and events in Jesus' life, as celebrated down through history. These dates also serve to remind us of the events that are coming up, and help us to prepare ourselves spiritually to celebrate these dates.
Lent is one of the events on the liturgical calendar. It is always 40 days in length, and is measured by the western church by not counting Sundays (the day of Resurrection). Therefore, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, always occurs on the seventh Wednesday before Easter.
According to Ken Collins, many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was cusotmary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.
By observing the 40 days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus' withdrawal into the wilderness for 40 days. Lent has been observed by the church since the Apostolic days.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
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Something New about the movie, "The Passion of Christ"
Unless you've been living under a rock, by now you are familiar with Mel Gibson's movie about the final 12 hours of Christ entitled, "The Passion of Christ." You are also probably aware that he had the entire movie shot using the original languages of the time -- Aramaic (spoken by Israelites) and "Street" Latin (Spoken by Romans and most other citizens of Rome, including most Israelites). But, did you know that these are not "dead" languages? Chaldean and Assyrians still communicate with a variant of Aramaic. The majority of these people live in modern-day Iraq and are part of the Christian community, however, World Magazine Blog reports that over 250,000 of them live in the U.S. These Aramaic-speaking Christians are flocking to the movies, delighted to hear a religious movie told in their own language.
Isn't it amazing how certain areas and regions of the world mentioned in the Bible continue to be important thousands of years later? Israel has always been a hotbed for action, and over the past couple of years, we see Babylon and Iraq once again getting attention on the world scene. Who knows -- maybe Mel's film will spark a revival in Iraq among Christians that will sweep throughout the region.
Something New about the movie, "The Passion of Christ"
Unless you've been living under a rock, by now you are familiar with Mel Gibson's movie about the final 12 hours of Christ entitled, "The Passion of Christ." You are also probably aware that he had the entire movie shot using the original languages of the time -- Aramaic (spoken by Israelites) and "Street" Latin (Spoken by Romans and most other citizens of Rome, including most Israelites). But, did you know that these are not "dead" languages? Chaldean and Assyrians still communicate with a variant of Aramaic. The majority of these people live in modern-day Iraq and are part of the Christian community, however, World Magazine Blog reports that over 250,000 of them live in the U.S. These Aramaic-speaking Christians are flocking to the movies, delighted to hear a religious movie told in their own language.
Isn't it amazing how certain areas and regions of the world mentioned in the Bible continue to be important thousands of years later? Israel has always been a hotbed for action, and over the past couple of years, we see Babylon and Iraq once again getting attention on the world scene. Who knows -- maybe Mel's film will spark a revival in Iraq among Christians that will sweep throughout the region.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
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What age should a child be before they watch the Passion of Christ? In an interview with Dr. Dobson, Mel Gibson and Dr. Dobson both agreed that no children under the age of 12 should be allowed to watch the movie. Given the graphic violence that has been talked about in the movie, I think this movie should be restricted to older teenagers. Based on the clips I have seen and the reviews I have read, I would recommend no one under the age of 15 seeing the film.
What age should a child be before they watch the Passion of Christ? In an interview with Dr. Dobson, Mel Gibson and Dr. Dobson both agreed that no children under the age of 12 should be allowed to watch the movie. Given the graphic violence that has been talked about in the movie, I think this movie should be restricted to older teenagers. Based on the clips I have seen and the reviews I have read, I would recommend no one under the age of 15 seeing the film.
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ASH WEDNESDAY
This Wednesday, 25 February, is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lenten holiday season, which prepares us for Easter. For years, the protestant church has not been very observant of this holiday, and has tended to overlook it and push forward until Holy Week, which starts with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter Sunday. I thought it might be a good idea to look at Ash Wednesday and Lent to see how they might fit into your personal spiritual journey. Over the next little while, I will provide you with articles on these special holidays.
According to the official doctrine of the Methodist Church, Lent is a season of conversion and preparation for renewal of our baptismal covenant. It is a time of inward and outward journey to encounter the risen Lord at Easter. The start of the Lenten Season begins with Ash Wednesday, when congregations sometimes have special services. In these services, ashes from the burning of the previous year's palm leaves used on Palm Sunday are placed on the head of members as symbols of purification and penitence. This practice dates back to biblical passages recorded in Numbers 19:9, 17; Hebrews 9:13; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21; and Luke 10:13.
In the early church, people who had been separated from the church because of serious sins might seek to be re-admitted to the fellowship by observing a formal period of penitence during Lent. These people were generally sprinkled with ashes or given rough garments sprinkled with ashes as a sign of their sorrow for their sins.
Beginning in the tenth century, the observance of Ash Wednesday became a general rite for the church. The ashes, which were a symbol of purification in the Old Testament, remind us that we are mortal. In many churches the ashes are made by burning the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. Ashes are placed on the forehead, usually in the sign of a cross, in a ritual known as the Imposition of Ashes. As the ashes are placed on the forehead, words such as these are spoken: "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return," recalling God's words to Adam in Genesis 3:19.
Typically, persons observing Ash Wednesday and Lent use this 40-day period as a time to put into practice a spiritual discipline or to give up something in their lives that is keeping them from God. For instance, many people set aside special devotion times or fast or set aside special prayer times during Lent. Others may give up something, such as 30 minutes of TV watching or chocolate or something else, and then use that time as an opportunity to commune with God.
ASH WEDNESDAY
This Wednesday, 25 February, is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lenten holiday season, which prepares us for Easter. For years, the protestant church has not been very observant of this holiday, and has tended to overlook it and push forward until Holy Week, which starts with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter Sunday. I thought it might be a good idea to look at Ash Wednesday and Lent to see how they might fit into your personal spiritual journey. Over the next little while, I will provide you with articles on these special holidays.
According to the official doctrine of the Methodist Church, Lent is a season of conversion and preparation for renewal of our baptismal covenant. It is a time of inward and outward journey to encounter the risen Lord at Easter. The start of the Lenten Season begins with Ash Wednesday, when congregations sometimes have special services. In these services, ashes from the burning of the previous year's palm leaves used on Palm Sunday are placed on the head of members as symbols of purification and penitence. This practice dates back to biblical passages recorded in Numbers 19:9, 17; Hebrews 9:13; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21; and Luke 10:13.
In the early church, people who had been separated from the church because of serious sins might seek to be re-admitted to the fellowship by observing a formal period of penitence during Lent. These people were generally sprinkled with ashes or given rough garments sprinkled with ashes as a sign of their sorrow for their sins.
Beginning in the tenth century, the observance of Ash Wednesday became a general rite for the church. The ashes, which were a symbol of purification in the Old Testament, remind us that we are mortal. In many churches the ashes are made by burning the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. Ashes are placed on the forehead, usually in the sign of a cross, in a ritual known as the Imposition of Ashes. As the ashes are placed on the forehead, words such as these are spoken: "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return," recalling God's words to Adam in Genesis 3:19.
Typically, persons observing Ash Wednesday and Lent use this 40-day period as a time to put into practice a spiritual discipline or to give up something in their lives that is keeping them from God. For instance, many people set aside special devotion times or fast or set aside special prayer times during Lent. Others may give up something, such as 30 minutes of TV watching or chocolate or something else, and then use that time as an opportunity to commune with God.
Friday, February 20, 2004
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The Passion of Christ
World Magazine Blog (http://www.worldmagblog.com/) on 20 February had the following post on the Passion of Christ. When Mel Gibson orginally proposed releasing his film, he couldn't find any agencies willing to promote it. He ended up going with an independent distributor who promised a release to 2,000 screens. Now, with all the furor and publicity about the film, an additional 800 theaters want the film, and on multiple screens. The production crew is releasing 4,000 copies of the film this week to theaters world-wide.
On a similar note, Pastor Adrian Rogers was quoted on the news as saying that the film deepened his faith. He said that the greatest impact of the film may not be through evangelism, but through the impact on professing Christians. He said this film may finally lead Christians in America from concentrating on themselves and start focusing more on Christ in their daily lives.
The Passion of Christ
World Magazine Blog (http://www.worldmagblog.com/) on 20 February had the following post on the Passion of Christ. When Mel Gibson orginally proposed releasing his film, he couldn't find any agencies willing to promote it. He ended up going with an independent distributor who promised a release to 2,000 screens. Now, with all the furor and publicity about the film, an additional 800 theaters want the film, and on multiple screens. The production crew is releasing 4,000 copies of the film this week to theaters world-wide.
On a similar note, Pastor Adrian Rogers was quoted on the news as saying that the film deepened his faith. He said that the greatest impact of the film may not be through evangelism, but through the impact on professing Christians. He said this film may finally lead Christians in America from concentrating on themselves and start focusing more on Christ in their daily lives.
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Not been posting much lately. It's been a busy week and just haven't been able to sit down and come up with any life-changing thoughts :)
Just wanted to remind anyone reading this of the concert at Naylor UMC this Saturday night at 7:00 pm. The local group "Unity" will be in concert. This is an up and coming group that I expect to hear on the radio in the near future. Right now they are mostly covering other groups' songs, especially Avalon and the Martins. But they just cut their first CD, so look for them in your record stores soon!
Also, don't forget the Small Church Seminar in Sparks Saturday from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. The focus is on using the available resources in the smaller membership churches to be effective witnesses for Christ. You don't have to be large to be effective. Remember, Christ only had 12 disciples!
Till next time....
Not been posting much lately. It's been a busy week and just haven't been able to sit down and come up with any life-changing thoughts :)
Just wanted to remind anyone reading this of the concert at Naylor UMC this Saturday night at 7:00 pm. The local group "Unity" will be in concert. This is an up and coming group that I expect to hear on the radio in the near future. Right now they are mostly covering other groups' songs, especially Avalon and the Martins. But they just cut their first CD, so look for them in your record stores soon!
Also, don't forget the Small Church Seminar in Sparks Saturday from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. The focus is on using the available resources in the smaller membership churches to be effective witnesses for Christ. You don't have to be large to be effective. Remember, Christ only had 12 disciples!
Till next time....
Friday, February 13, 2004
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Part of the Body?
Have you ever given any thought to your place in the body of Christ? God tells us in His word that there is only one body, and that we have each been placed in the body based on our talents and spiritual gifts. We all have a specific part to play in the body. No one else has your particular gifts or graces, and you are an essential part of the body.
But have you ever considered the flip side of that? If some people are graced and gifted in a particular area, then that means that there are others who are not graced or gifted in that area. This can lead to confusion and hurt feelings if we don't keep this in mind.
The apostle Paul urged us in his epistles to consider our weaker brothers and sisters in all that we do. In Paul's case he was talking about eating meat sacrificed to idols. In our case, we might be referring to speaking in tongues, leading worship, praying out loud, or speaking in front of others.
For example, just because we can speak in front of others doesn't mean that everyone is capable of doing that. We should respect our brothers and sisters who are not gifted in that area and not try to force them to do something they are not comfortable doing. Instead, we need to encourage them to step out in the areas in which they are gifted.
The key to Christian unity is the recognition that we are all one body with different gifts, talents, and graces.
1 Corinthians 12:1-21 (NIV)
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"
Part of the Body?
Have you ever given any thought to your place in the body of Christ? God tells us in His word that there is only one body, and that we have each been placed in the body based on our talents and spiritual gifts. We all have a specific part to play in the body. No one else has your particular gifts or graces, and you are an essential part of the body.
But have you ever considered the flip side of that? If some people are graced and gifted in a particular area, then that means that there are others who are not graced or gifted in that area. This can lead to confusion and hurt feelings if we don't keep this in mind.
The apostle Paul urged us in his epistles to consider our weaker brothers and sisters in all that we do. In Paul's case he was talking about eating meat sacrificed to idols. In our case, we might be referring to speaking in tongues, leading worship, praying out loud, or speaking in front of others.
For example, just because we can speak in front of others doesn't mean that everyone is capable of doing that. We should respect our brothers and sisters who are not gifted in that area and not try to force them to do something they are not comfortable doing. Instead, we need to encourage them to step out in the areas in which they are gifted.
The key to Christian unity is the recognition that we are all one body with different gifts, talents, and graces.
1 Corinthians 12:1-21 (NIV)
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"
Thursday, February 12, 2004
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Praise the Lord?
As I was driving in this morning listening to Chris Rice's, "The Cartoon Song," for what seems like the millionth time, it struck me that we really don't praise God on a daily basis as His word commands. In this song, Chris Rice sings how cartoons would praise God if they could be saved, but at the end of the song he says, "Cartoons weren't made for that. It's our job to praise the Lord." He then goes on to encourage the audience to sing "Hallelujah" with him for several choruses. [By the way, if you didn't know, "Hallelujah" is a Hebrew word meaning "Praise the Lord." Interestingly, it is the only word that is pronounced exactly the same in every language in the world!]
I was thinking of that phrase "praise the Lord" and realized the truth of what Phillip Yancey once said. He said that this phrase had been stolen from Christians by the culture. Honestly, now, when you hear someone in public say, "praise the Lord," what is your first thought? Is it "how wonderful that person is for praising God in public?" Unlikely. What I generally think of is "that person is putting forth a fake religiousity to impress me and others." So, I never think of using the phrase "praise the Lord" in a public, secular setting for that reason. The meaning has been stolen by the culture.
What a shame it is to live in a time when we can't praise God in public for fear of being ridiculed or thought fake. Maybe if we truly lived a life of praise and breathed worship in and out of our lives we wouldn't be so hesitant to raise up God, even in public secular settings. I think it's time we reclaimed this right and started proclaiming "Praise the God" from the rooftops. God IS working and moving in our world and our lives, and He rightly should be praised for that. Just a thought to consider. Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord?
As I was driving in this morning listening to Chris Rice's, "The Cartoon Song," for what seems like the millionth time, it struck me that we really don't praise God on a daily basis as His word commands. In this song, Chris Rice sings how cartoons would praise God if they could be saved, but at the end of the song he says, "Cartoons weren't made for that. It's our job to praise the Lord." He then goes on to encourage the audience to sing "Hallelujah" with him for several choruses. [By the way, if you didn't know, "Hallelujah" is a Hebrew word meaning "Praise the Lord." Interestingly, it is the only word that is pronounced exactly the same in every language in the world!]
I was thinking of that phrase "praise the Lord" and realized the truth of what Phillip Yancey once said. He said that this phrase had been stolen from Christians by the culture. Honestly, now, when you hear someone in public say, "praise the Lord," what is your first thought? Is it "how wonderful that person is for praising God in public?" Unlikely. What I generally think of is "that person is putting forth a fake religiousity to impress me and others." So, I never think of using the phrase "praise the Lord" in a public, secular setting for that reason. The meaning has been stolen by the culture.
What a shame it is to live in a time when we can't praise God in public for fear of being ridiculed or thought fake. Maybe if we truly lived a life of praise and breathed worship in and out of our lives we wouldn't be so hesitant to raise up God, even in public secular settings. I think it's time we reclaimed this right and started proclaiming "Praise the God" from the rooftops. God IS working and moving in our world and our lives, and He rightly should be praised for that. Just a thought to consider. Hallelujah!
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
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Have you ever given any thought to what your obituary will read? I think one of the saddest obituaries I have ever read is found in 2 Chronicles 21:20. It is the obituary of Jehoram, who was King of Israel. It reads, "Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one's regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."
"He passed away, to no one's regret." What a sad summary of a wasted life. When Jehoram was called by God to lead the people of Israel as their king, he could have accepted his calling and stepped forth to lead the people with wisdom, honor, and courage. He could have led them back to God by setting an example for them. But instead he chose to live for the world, and his life was cut short and was missed by no one.
Charles Stanley once preached on how some folks get saved but then never do anything with their life or their calling. He summed it up as "Saved Soul -- Wasted Life." Wouldn't that be a sad summary of a life lived here on earth? Saved soul -- wasted life.
What have you done since being saved? Have you stepped forward in faith, moving forward down the path God has set for you, fulfilling the purposes for which He called you? Or have you just wasted the time and the gifts that He has given you? Thankfully, God has promised to restore all the years the locusts have eaten. It is never too late to respond to God's calling on your life and life the abundant life that He called you to live. Make a decision to step forward today -- live out His purposes in your life -- and write a new obituary for yourself -- "Saved Soul -- Abundant Life."
Have you ever given any thought to what your obituary will read? I think one of the saddest obituaries I have ever read is found in 2 Chronicles 21:20. It is the obituary of Jehoram, who was King of Israel. It reads, "Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one's regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."
"He passed away, to no one's regret." What a sad summary of a wasted life. When Jehoram was called by God to lead the people of Israel as their king, he could have accepted his calling and stepped forth to lead the people with wisdom, honor, and courage. He could have led them back to God by setting an example for them. But instead he chose to live for the world, and his life was cut short and was missed by no one.
Charles Stanley once preached on how some folks get saved but then never do anything with their life or their calling. He summed it up as "Saved Soul -- Wasted Life." Wouldn't that be a sad summary of a life lived here on earth? Saved soul -- wasted life.
What have you done since being saved? Have you stepped forward in faith, moving forward down the path God has set for you, fulfilling the purposes for which He called you? Or have you just wasted the time and the gifts that He has given you? Thankfully, God has promised to restore all the years the locusts have eaten. It is never too late to respond to God's calling on your life and life the abundant life that He called you to live. Make a decision to step forward today -- live out His purposes in your life -- and write a new obituary for yourself -- "Saved Soul -- Abundant Life."
Monday, February 09, 2004
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Plug for new radio stations
Just wanted to put in a plug for the Christian radio stations that we have available to us now in the Valdosta-area. For years we have enjoyed listening to WAFT (101.1), our local Valdosta station. We are all familiar with their programming, which consists of a mixed blend of preaching and music in the morning and associated shows in the afternoon.
Recently, we welcomed Free 89.3, a station out of Americus, that is affiliated with American Family Radio. 89.3 gives a good blend of contemporary Christian music with limited Christian programs, including Focus on the Family, Adrian Rogers, and the American Family Association Report. Being based in Americus, we sometimes could not pick up this station due to atmospheric conditions.
A brand-new station, 95.3 -- the Hook, just started in the last several weeks. It is based out of Tifton and can be picked up as far south as Jacksonville and Madison, FL. This station solely plays contemporary and alternative Christian music with no preaching or other Christian programming. The target audience is teenagers and young adults.
I know there are several other stations in our area that play Christian music, at least on a temporary basis. I am not familiar with the AM stations, but 92.9 has the Benny Daniels show on Sunday mornings, and 105.3 has "Contemporary Crossroads" on Sunday Mornings from about 8:00 am to 9:00 am. Also, we are looking forward to a new Contemporary Christian station starting in Valdosta this summer. It will be located at 88.1 on the dial.
Regardless of your choice in music or your desire to listen to non-music Christian programming, you now have a great choice of stations here in Valdosta. Enjoy, and let's worship the Lord together!
Plug for new radio stations
Just wanted to put in a plug for the Christian radio stations that we have available to us now in the Valdosta-area. For years we have enjoyed listening to WAFT (101.1), our local Valdosta station. We are all familiar with their programming, which consists of a mixed blend of preaching and music in the morning and associated shows in the afternoon.
Recently, we welcomed Free 89.3, a station out of Americus, that is affiliated with American Family Radio. 89.3 gives a good blend of contemporary Christian music with limited Christian programs, including Focus on the Family, Adrian Rogers, and the American Family Association Report. Being based in Americus, we sometimes could not pick up this station due to atmospheric conditions.
A brand-new station, 95.3 -- the Hook, just started in the last several weeks. It is based out of Tifton and can be picked up as far south as Jacksonville and Madison, FL. This station solely plays contemporary and alternative Christian music with no preaching or other Christian programming. The target audience is teenagers and young adults.
I know there are several other stations in our area that play Christian music, at least on a temporary basis. I am not familiar with the AM stations, but 92.9 has the Benny Daniels show on Sunday mornings, and 105.3 has "Contemporary Crossroads" on Sunday Mornings from about 8:00 am to 9:00 am. Also, we are looking forward to a new Contemporary Christian station starting in Valdosta this summer. It will be located at 88.1 on the dial.
Regardless of your choice in music or your desire to listen to non-music Christian programming, you now have a great choice of stations here in Valdosta. Enjoy, and let's worship the Lord together!
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Yesterday marked the official start of a program in our churches to step forward with purpose along the direction God is leading us as we achieve our goal of living out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. We will be implementing the principles from Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose Driven Life", built on the commands of Jesus, to direct our churches in preparing long-range plans for the future. Our focus will be on developing programs and plans that support the five purposes of new testament churches: Worship, Ministry, Evangelism, Fellowship, and Discipleship. Next week's focus -- Worship!
Yesterday marked the official start of a program in our churches to step forward with purpose along the direction God is leading us as we achieve our goal of living out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. We will be implementing the principles from Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose Driven Life", built on the commands of Jesus, to direct our churches in preparing long-range plans for the future. Our focus will be on developing programs and plans that support the five purposes of new testament churches: Worship, Ministry, Evangelism, Fellowship, and Discipleship. Next week's focus -- Worship!
Thursday, February 05, 2004
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Massachusett Ruling an Attack on Traditional Marriage
The Massachusett Supreme Court, rendering a clarification on their ruling this summer to the Massachusett legislature, has declared that the state must enact laws to allow same-sex marriages by this summer. According to the justices, same-sex unions or civil unions are not constitutional because it has been demonstrated that "separate, but equal" does not work in real life. This ruling is a blow to traditional marriage and to thousands of years of religious understanding that marriage was a covenant relationship established by God between one man and one woman. All of the major religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, all adhere to this understanding of marriage. The only recourse available to Massachusett's legislators and citizens opposed to same-sex marriage is to enact a constitutional admendment. Such an amendment may take years to pass.
The big question that has to be answered here, though, is "When Massachusett's same-sex marriage act becomes law this summer, will other states, such as Georgia and Florida, have to recognize these unions?"
Massachusett Ruling an Attack on Traditional Marriage
The Massachusett Supreme Court, rendering a clarification on their ruling this summer to the Massachusett legislature, has declared that the state must enact laws to allow same-sex marriages by this summer. According to the justices, same-sex unions or civil unions are not constitutional because it has been demonstrated that "separate, but equal" does not work in real life. This ruling is a blow to traditional marriage and to thousands of years of religious understanding that marriage was a covenant relationship established by God between one man and one woman. All of the major religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, all adhere to this understanding of marriage. The only recourse available to Massachusett's legislators and citizens opposed to same-sex marriage is to enact a constitutional admendment. Such an amendment may take years to pass.
The big question that has to be answered here, though, is "When Massachusett's same-sex marriage act becomes law this summer, will other states, such as Georgia and Florida, have to recognize these unions?"
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In the book of Hosea, God used Hosea's life as an example of Israel's relationship with Him. Hosea's wife Gomer was a prostitute, and even though Hosea married her and gave her a new life, she left her loving home, her husband and her children, to live a life of prostitution and adultery again. God said that Gomer entered into adultery just like the nation of Israel entered adultery when Israel forsook their relationship with God to chase after foreign gods. Even though He had loved them and given them a fresh start, the nation turned away from Him and His love to enter into prostitution with foreign gods again.
But God told Hosea to go to his wife and continue to love her and allow her to come home, even though she had committed adultery and Hosea had legal grounds to divorce her or put her away. My love for Israel is the same, God said. I will take her back and love her even though I have no reason to.
I just finished a book by Ted Dekker called, "When Heaven Weeps." It is a modern-day retelling of the story of Hosea. In this book, the hero of the story continues to reach out for his wayward wife and to love her in spite of what she has done, which confounds the wisdom of the world. As the story progresses, we learn that God has blessed the hero of the story with a gift -- God has given him His heart, so that he could truly love his wife with agape unconditional love, the same love that God loves us with.
At times I wonder if we are not sometimes used by God just like Hosea. Perhaps the situation that you are living in is reflective of our nation's relationship with God. For example, our daughter has Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Because of this disorder, she is unable and unwilling to return or show love to us, even though we adopted her as our own and brought her into our lives and our home. She continues to reject us and our love and lives in open defiance of our will. Isn't this similar to our rejection of God's love? We live in the richest, most blessed nation on earth, but still we turn away from God's love and live in defiance of His commands. What other nation on earth is as corrupt as ours, filled with legalized abortion, pornography, crime, moral decline? But yet God's love and grace continues to reach out to us just like He did to Israel in the days of Hosea.
What are we going to do about it? Are we going to return to God with all our heart, or are we going to continue to turn away from Him and enter into adultery with the world and the gods of secularism?
In the book of Hosea, God used Hosea's life as an example of Israel's relationship with Him. Hosea's wife Gomer was a prostitute, and even though Hosea married her and gave her a new life, she left her loving home, her husband and her children, to live a life of prostitution and adultery again. God said that Gomer entered into adultery just like the nation of Israel entered adultery when Israel forsook their relationship with God to chase after foreign gods. Even though He had loved them and given them a fresh start, the nation turned away from Him and His love to enter into prostitution with foreign gods again.
But God told Hosea to go to his wife and continue to love her and allow her to come home, even though she had committed adultery and Hosea had legal grounds to divorce her or put her away. My love for Israel is the same, God said. I will take her back and love her even though I have no reason to.
I just finished a book by Ted Dekker called, "When Heaven Weeps." It is a modern-day retelling of the story of Hosea. In this book, the hero of the story continues to reach out for his wayward wife and to love her in spite of what she has done, which confounds the wisdom of the world. As the story progresses, we learn that God has blessed the hero of the story with a gift -- God has given him His heart, so that he could truly love his wife with agape unconditional love, the same love that God loves us with.
At times I wonder if we are not sometimes used by God just like Hosea. Perhaps the situation that you are living in is reflective of our nation's relationship with God. For example, our daughter has Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Because of this disorder, she is unable and unwilling to return or show love to us, even though we adopted her as our own and brought her into our lives and our home. She continues to reject us and our love and lives in open defiance of our will. Isn't this similar to our rejection of God's love? We live in the richest, most blessed nation on earth, but still we turn away from God's love and live in defiance of His commands. What other nation on earth is as corrupt as ours, filled with legalized abortion, pornography, crime, moral decline? But yet God's love and grace continues to reach out to us just like He did to Israel in the days of Hosea.
What are we going to do about it? Are we going to return to God with all our heart, or are we going to continue to turn away from Him and enter into adultery with the world and the gods of secularism?
Monday, February 02, 2004
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Wow! There's simply no other word to describe it. I have served as spiritual director on four other Chrysalis events, but this weekend was definitely the best that I have ever spent on such an event. The team make-up was outstanding -- all Spirit-filled Men of God who desired only to let God work through them. And the end result was astonishing. Simply put, God showed up!
On previous Chrysalis', it was obvious that the young men involved in the weekend were being called by God to a deeper committment -- to unburden relationship-blockers in their life. But this weekend, the focus was simply on worship. These young men worshiped God with all their heart and all their soul and all their strength from the very first day, and God showed up and bathed the whole weekend with His presence!
It was a moving experience that we seldom see in our churches or gatherings. I pray that God's Spirit will move among our churches and will give us a heart for worship as He gave these young men.
Wow! There's simply no other word to describe it. I have served as spiritual director on four other Chrysalis events, but this weekend was definitely the best that I have ever spent on such an event. The team make-up was outstanding -- all Spirit-filled Men of God who desired only to let God work through them. And the end result was astonishing. Simply put, God showed up!
On previous Chrysalis', it was obvious that the young men involved in the weekend were being called by God to a deeper committment -- to unburden relationship-blockers in their life. But this weekend, the focus was simply on worship. These young men worshiped God with all their heart and all their soul and all their strength from the very first day, and God showed up and bathed the whole weekend with His presence!
It was a moving experience that we seldom see in our churches or gatherings. I pray that God's Spirit will move among our churches and will give us a heart for worship as He gave these young men.
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