As the Rich Get Richer, the Poor Get Richer https://www.prageru.com/videos/rich-get-richer-poor-get-richer Jesus Is Our Rescue
by Billy Graham The primary message about Jesus in the New Testament is that God loves you. Some of you feel unloved. Some of you feel depressed, or you feel you don’t have purpose and meaning in your life. God is there to rescue you from that situation. If you repent, He will forgive your sins, because when Jesus died on the cross God laid on Him the sins of all of us. Repentance means that you say to God, “I am a sinner, I’m sorry for my sins, I’m willing to turn from my sins. But Lord, You have to help me. I’ve tried so many times to give up things I know that are wrong, and I just can’t do it.” Then, by faith, receive Jesus, who died on the cross for you. Open your heart and say, “Yes, Lord Jesus, come in. I’m ready to follow You.” Read more -->>
Courtesy: JohnAnderson.net
“Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address.” -Billy Graham What an amazing life and ministry. So many lives have been changed due to this man preaching God's powerful word. Here is just one of them: Chuck Colson "Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again." Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan
January 29, 2016 by Chuck Chapman
What are some of the best qualities we find in men? Chuck Chapman has a list.___ Marcus Aurelius wrote, “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” Character is reflected in our behaviors, and often our behaviors are influenced by our beliefs. By defining our virtues, we solidify our beliefs about our values. Once defined, we have a blueprint to guide our actions as we strive to live a virtuous life. Here are 25 foundational virtues that I use as my map for living. HONOR is respecting those over you and acting in a way that is deserving of respect from those under you. Honor is the reputation and alliance that you earn from those you serve and those who serve you. COURAGE isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the strength to move forward in the face of fear. Courage is perhaps the most vital virtue to develop. When we feel the fear and do it anyway we develop courage. COMPASSION The ability to step outside of yourself and perform an act of selflessness: this is the foundation of compassion. To be compassionate is to value others above yourself for the sole purpose of contributing to the greater good. RESPECT The respect you show to others is a reflection of your self respect. For this reason, respect is something you do for yourself. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with others, but you simply value yourself enough to give others respect. LOYALTY Staying true to yourself and standing by someone else’s side when they face adversity is mastery of loyalty. Never giving up on someone, no matter how hard it gets, for as long as it takes: that is the true measure of any great relationship. HONESTY You are only as good as your word. If your word isn’t worth anything, then you have lost a piece of your soul. Being honest is difficult, but it is the bedrock of character. A house is only as strong as its foundation. PRUDENCE Prudence is the capacity to face reality squarely in the eye, without allowing emotion or ego to get in the way, and do what is best for the team. GRACE Grace is giving something to someone who hasn’t earned it, doesn’t deserve it and yet we give it anyway. Simply put, grace is giving someone dessert even though they didn’t eat their vegetables. FORGIVENESS When we forgive we are giving up our right to collect on a debt. “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind,” said Gandhi. When I no longer have the need for revenge, then I have forgiven. HUMILITY Humility is the leadership quality of taking the brunt of the blame when things go south and giving away the majority of the credit when things go well. The leader who practices humility will never ask anyone to do what they themselves cannot do. Humility is leading from a position of service. AUTHENTICY Being true to yourself isn’t easy. Pulling off the mask that hides your flaws and living in the fullness of who your are creates a contagion that gives others the courage to do the same. EXCELLENCE Excellence is striving is to be better than the day before, never giving in to the voice that says, “That’s good enough.” Excellence has a price tag, and the price is practice, practice, practice. KINDNESS There is strength in kindness. A simple smile, a kind word or even an arm on a shoulder can change someone’s life for the better and thereby change the world … Kindness is your super-power. GRATITUDE Did you know you can’t be resentful and grateful at the same time? Try it. To be truly grateful is to consider all the gifts you have been given and to understand that no matter what, there is always something for which to be grateful. PATIENCE There is no truer act of love than patience … just ask anyone who has raised a two-year-old. COMMITMENT Do what you say you’re going to do without excuse. Suit up, show up everyday, and give your best effort. TENACITY Tenacity is the ability to stick it out and never give up, to keep going when things are tough and there is no end in sight. This is the only way to live a life of contentedness because regret only happens when we give up. TACT Be honest, but be tactful. Remember there is another human being on the other end of your words. Strive to live by the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” GENEROSITY Maya Angelou said, “People won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” Be generous with how you treat everyone … they will feel amazing and so will you. EMPATHY Empathy is the ability to put aside your ego, step into someone else’s shoes and experience their emotions. When we do this, we create connection. The number one emotional need we all have is for connection. CONTENTMENT Dissatisfaction is the misconception that you need more than what you already have. Contentment is a mind-set: it’s choosing not to look at lack but see the abundance that already exists. ASSERTIVENESS Unapologetically go after what you want in life. Be assertive and let the world feel the full weight of who you are. Live with passion … without being a jackass. COOPERATION The most important virtue for success is the ability to cooperate. If you can’t play well with others you’re going to get kicked out of the sandbox. Learn to cooperate and you’ll be successful. ADAPTABILITY “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome” is the mantra of the United States Marine Corps. Adaptability is the ability to be flexible to change and gain the advantage in any situation. Things that aren’t adaptable break … things that aren’t adaptable don’t survive. INTEGRITY Integrity is the solidarity of our virtues; it is the quality by which we live out our values and prioritize our principles. It is the culmination of character in action. To act with integrity is to be a good man. Originally published on and available as a free ebook download www.tobetheman.com In his book The Stride Toward Freedom, Dr. King lays out the six principles for resisting evil nonviolently.
1. Nonviolence is resistance not passivity: It is the courageous, active confrontation of evil by the power of love. 2. Nonviolence seeks an end to hostilities by winning a friend: The end result should be redemption and reconciliation. 3. Nonviolence attacks injustice not people: It recognizes that evil doers are also victims and not evil themselves. 4. Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate: It avoids both physical and internal violence. 5. Nonviolence believes suffering is redemptive and transformative: Like Christ on the cross, it takes on suffering without retaliation. It is the willingness to take on suffering in order to right wrongs. 6. Nonviolence believes the universe is on the side of justice: God is the God of justice and the sacrificial cross of Christ has already defeated evil. Active peacemaking is not the absence of conflict, but rather the practice of confronting evil by forcing it out into the open in the hope that one’s adversary will repent. From this perspective, peacemaking is no longer passive, but active. Ask your son or daughter if they have any enemies, and why? Have they mustered the courage needed to face them, and if so, how? What would it look like to apply Dr. King’s principals to that relationship? Because if we’re honest, retribution is easier than reconciliation. Christ’s command to love our enemies isn’t simple, but it is a liberating action for both the oppressed and oppressor. https://axis.org/ "Before the Methodist Revival, life in London, as you can see in books written at the time and since, was almost unthinkable with its drink and vice and immorality. Is there not a danger that we are going back to that? Is not our whole generation going down visibly?" Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, pg 158)
God Above Human Philosophy
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (1 Corinthians 1:19) This verse is a threatening so far as the worldly wise are concerned, but to the simple believer it is a promise. The professedly learned are forever trying to bring to nothing the faith of the humble believer, but they fail in their attempts. Their arguments break down, their theories fall under their own weight, their deep-laid plots discover themselves before their purpose is accomplished. The old gospel is not extinct yet, nor will it be while the Lord liveth. If it could have been exterminated, it would have perished from off the earth long ago. We cannot destroy the wisdom of the wise, nor need we attempt it, for the work is in far better hands. The Lord Himself says, "I will," and He never resolves in vain. Twice does He in this verse declare His purpose, and we may rest assured that He will not turn aside from it. What clean work the Lord makes of philosophy and "modern thought" when He puts His hand to it! He brings the fine appearance down to nothing; He utterly destroys the wood, hay, and stubble. It is written that so it shall be, and so shall it be. Lord, make short work of it. Amen, and amen. C.H. Spurgeon Faith's Checkbook “I’m so blind without you, O God. Open my eyes to behold wondrous things in your word!”
Do you ever pray like this when you pick up the Bible? In tonight’s lead article, John Piper would like to convince you, and inspire you, to pray your way to wonder when reading God’s word. To help prepare our hearts for corporate worship this weekend, Rachel Coulter writes about the sweetness of childlike worship. And we’d like to invite you to find half an hour this weekend for a classic Piper message from 1983 called “The War Within.” And in case you missed it, below you’ll find some of our top resources so far in the month of August. David Mathis Executive Editor DesiringGod.org Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?
What it is: Research by a psychology professor at San Diego State on iGen (kids born between 1995 and 2012) show they are “on the brink of the worst mental health crisis in decades.” Why it's important: Today’s teens are less likely to be in a car accident, less likely to abuse alcohol, and less likely to have sex. Good, right? Not totally. They are safer, yet more depressed than ever. Why? Screen time. Dr. Twenge’s research found that “teens who spend more time than average on screen activities are more likely to be unhappy.” And there is no exception! Screen time always leads to less happiness while all non-screen activity is linked to more happiness. Please read the article with your teen and create practical activities that can replace their screentime. Courtesy: AXIS Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Enemies of Christianity declaring new war on religion
Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun July 30, 2017 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/andrew-bolt/enemies-of-christianity-declaring-new-war-on-religion/news-story/043ebd5d04cf40934e983d391d5658bd CHRISTIANS, prepare for persecution. Open your eyes and choose stronger leaders for the dark days. I am not a Christian, but I am amazed that your bishops and ministers are not warning you of what is already breaking over your heads. How mad that Queensland’s Education Department can now warn schools against letting students praise Jesus in the playground. The department has put out reports telling state schools “to take appropriate action if aware that students participating in (religious instruction) are evangelising to students who do not participate”. It gives examples of what students must not say in the playground — such as “knowing about Jesus is a very important thing”, or “God, please help us to use our knowledge to help others”. Nor may students hand out Christmas cards or decorations. What do these bureaucrats fear from children inspired by Christ? Is it that stuff about loving your neighbour? Or that instruction to respect the dignity of every human life that makes Christians the enemy of totalitarians? But this ban on playground talk of Jesus is only the most shocking salvo of the new war on Christians. Last week, two Christian preachers were summoned to Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Tribunal for preaching their faith’s stand on traditional marriage and homosexuality. Hobart pastor Campbell Markham and street preacher David Gee, from Hobart’s Cornerstone Church, were denounced by an atheist offended by, among other things, Markham quoting a verse from the Bible. We’ve seen this before. Hobart’s Catholic Archbishop, Julian Porteous, was two years ago ordered by this tribunal to tell by what right he spoke against same-sex marriage. How cowed the churches have been before this looming persecution, now picking off vocal Christians, one by one. Just this year, Sydney University’s Student Union threatened to deregister the university’s Evangelical Union unless it stopped insisting members declare their faith in Christ. Meanwhile, same-sex marriage extremists bullied Coopers Brewery into taking down a video of a Christian MP Andrew Hastie debating same-sex marriage, and lobbied IBM, PwC and Sydney University to punish staff belonging to a Christian group opposed to gay marriage. Last week, 70 pro-Safe Schools activists picketed a church to abuse people at an Australian Christian Lobby meeting as “bigots”. Last year, an ACL meeting was cancelled after the hotel venue was bombarded with threats. The state-funded SBS joined in by banning an ad by Christians defending traditional marriage, yet ran one for an Ashley Madison dating service for adulterers. The Greens are the political wing of this attack on Christianity, and are demanding churches lose their legal freedom to hire only people who live by their faith. The media, too, often cheer this war, using as their excuse the sexual abuse of children by some priests and ministers decades ago. Rarely do they admit the average gap between the alleged offences by Catholic priests and the lodging of complaints is 33 years. That suggests the churches did crack down on paedophiles decades ago. But this vilification has had its effect. The Census shows the proportion of Australians calling themselves Christian has dropped from 74 per cent in 1991 to 52 per cent now. No wonder, when the weaker churches cower before the persecution. Last week, some even licked the boots of the anti-Christian ABC when it launched yet another attack, smearing churches as the haven of wife-beaters. This ABC series led off with a ludicrously false claim: “The men most likely to abuse their wives are evangelical Christians who attend church sporadically.” A week after I proved this untrue, the ABC edited its reports to replace that false claim with another: “Overall, the international studies indicate that intimate partner violence is just as serious a problem in Christian communities, as it is in the general community.” Wrong again. Professor Bradford Wilcox, author of the American study the ABC cited as proof, complained “the (ABC’s) story … does not square with the evidence that churchgoing couples, in America at least, appear to be less likely to suffer domestic violence”. In fact, Christianity produce better citizens in many ways. Surveys show Christians are more inclined to volunteer, donate and keep families together. So what do the enemies of Christianity wish to achieve by smearing, silencing and destroying this civilising faith? What would they replace it with? With the atheism that preaches every man for himself? With Islam? Or with the green faith that has not inspired a single hospital, hospice, school, or even soup kitchen? Yet the persecution is starting. Are the churches ready? "When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.." 1 Kings 2:1-3
Daniel Andrews continues his Marxist march through Victoria with his biggest and boldest move to date, now announcing a $1.9 billion program designed to continue his push to undermine families. While Victoria reels under a rampant crime wave, traffic congestion continues to grow, and children continue to be bombarded with confusing messages about life, the Victorian government simply double their efforts at social engineering!
This seems to be an ideological war on families. If as a society, we are willing to undermine the very foundations which underpin civilized society and which are designed to restrain bad behavior, we can only expect more, not less, crime in Victoria. Violence in any form should never be condoned. But why so much focus on so-called "family" violence? Is all the other types of violence OK? Are families really so evil they need to be singled out as the worst source of violence? What about tackling the violence caused by alcohol and drug abuse inside families and outside? The main underlying cause of violence in our society come from such abuse, yet we are literally saturated by advertising glamourizing drinking, and drug use is more and more being normalized. If alcohol abuse is the major cause of any violence why not limit such advertising? Then there is the violence which stems from boys growing up without a father? Statistics show that a large number of men in prisons grew up either without a father or in a situation where the father was not very engaged, undermined ridiculed, or discouraged in his vital role. Why not spend money encouraging fatherhood? Vladimir Lenin, in seeking to undermine the foundations of Russia and take control of the State once said "Destroy the family, destroy the nation". To oppose this Marxist strategy in Victoria will require strengthening families not undermining them. The following article is from News.com.au: Christopher Talbot Australian Associated Press May 2nd 2017 "Victoria will slash consultancies and other spending to fund what it says is the largest family violence prevention budget in Australian history. The 2017/18 state budget delivers $1.9 billion to tackle what Premier Daniel Andrews calls the biggest "crisis" facing Australia. New child protection staff will be recruited, new courts established, and safety hubs will be built for at-risk women and children to get help faster. "This will not just change lives. This will save lives," Treasurer Tim Pallas told reporters on Tuesday. "It is more money directed in this budget to family violence than all of the budgets of all the states and territories and the Commonwealth combined." Mr Pallas said $1.3 billion will be rerouted from the public sector to pay for the family violence initiatives. "It's effectively redirecting the effort of government," Mr Pallas said. "We could have taken the easy route of adding to our revenue base by putting a family violence charge on the community, but we've chosen not to do that." The government will reduce "consultancies and other forms of outgoings" to pay for it. While it won't affect frontline services, there will be "some pain associated with this", Mr Pallas said. Domestic Violence Victoria chief executive Fiona McCormack said the money would help victims and put the focus on perpetrators. "The government is sending a message to men who use violence that there will be much more accountability," Ms McCormack told reporters. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting chief executive Bryce Prosser said the focus on social issues, such as family violence, would boost the confidence of businesses to invest and grow. The biggest investment is $448.1 million for 17 support and safety hubs for women and children to escape to, and to get them in faster contact with social services and crisis housing. Victoria will establish five new specialist family violence courts at a cost of $269.4 million over the next four years. That will include an upgrade of the archaic 1980s computer system still being used by the Magistrates' Court and Family Court. Some 450 new child protection workers will also be recruited under the plan." http://linkis.com/www.news.com.au/nati/TZWDz |
Craig MannersWhile much of what is written in this Blog may currently appear to be counter-cultural, given our post-truth culture, it is in no way counter-human beings. I am always for people no matter what they think, do, or may have done in their past. Where I put forward ideas or debate against certain ideology, behaviour, ideas, movements, politics, I remain very much on the side of the human beings even though I may be opposed to their worldview, behaviour and politics. Such opposition is generally out of concern for the ultimate consequences of such behaviour or ideas, especially for children. |