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‘Not a Cluster of Cells’: Mom Shares Raw Photos of Stillborn Delivered at 14 Weeks

By
Bri Lamm
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After losing her son, Japeth Peace, Felicia Cash shared a heart-wrenching post on Facebook, with the hopes of bringing to light just how complete, real, formed and alive a baby is at only 14 weeks gestation.

Felicia was three-and-a-half months pregnant with her precious baby boy when she miscarried. Through the heartbreak and devastation, the mother of five was amazed by how developed her son was at just 14 weeks and six days old. He was just as much of a human being then as anyone else.

“He is perfectly and wonderfully formed, right down to his amazing tiny toes and fingers. Even his fingernails are formed and visible. Tiny veins that carried his own blood to his precious body can be seen through his delicate skin, even his wonderfully formed muscles are visible. At less than half gestation he is very obviously human, not a cluster of cells, not a lump of tissue, not a blob of unformed flesh. He is a beautiful child, formed by God, and now gone to be with Him.”

As if opening up about the loss of her son gone too soon wasn’t painful enough, Felicia posted photos of her stillborn son to show his complete and perfect humanness.

“His tiny heart was beating within 16 days of conception, pumping his own blood. That is usually before anyone knows that they are pregnant. There seems to be a misconception that unless you can hear or see it, it isn’t happening, but that tiny heart is beating, even if it is too small to hear or see.”

Felicia and her husband desperately tried to get pregnant for 13 years, before making the courageous decision to foster children.

They took in three sisters, and adopted the girls just two years later.

Within hours of finalizing their adoption and officially welcoming their daughters into their forever home, the Cash family learned they would soon grow by one more.

“[T]he morning after we signed their adoption papers in court, we found out that we were expecting. Eight months later, our oldest son was born. A few years after that, we were blessed with another.”

Felicia never imagined years before that she’d have a family like this, much less biological children whom she was able to carry, grow and birth herself.

In the spring of 2017, Felicia became pregnant a third time. This time, with TWINS!

But “complications” that began at six weeks were just the beginning of heartache for these parents. When Felicia started bleeding, she and her husband went to the hospital in fear of miscarriage.

Doctors confirmed one of the twins had in fact died. But the remaining twin was healthy and strong.

However, their fears returned when the bleeding continued later on. They were told it was simply remnants of the first loss, and a “hematoma beneath the placenta.”

Pakistani Christian Man Gets Death Penalty for Blasphemy

By
Jessica Lea
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On Tuesday, a Christian man in Pakistan was sentenced to death on charges of committing blasphemy. Asif Pervaiz, 37, is a father of four and has been imprisoned since Oct. 10, 2013, after his supervisor accused him of sending him texts demeaning the Quran and the Muslim prophet Muhammad. 

“The evidence on record was clearly not enough to sentence Asif Pervaiz to death,” Saif-ul Malook told Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). Malook is Pervaiz’s lawyer and also represented Asia Bibi in her highly publicized blasphemy case. 

Asif Pervaiz has been sentenced under 295-A, 295-B, and 295-C of the Pakistan Penal code, which makes blasphemy a crime punishable by death. The court ordered him to be fined 50,000 rupees (about $300) and to serve three years in prison for “misusing” his phone. After that term is complete, says the order, “he shall be hanged by his neck till his death.” Malook said the Christian father is planning to appeal his sentence. 

“From my experience in the Asia Bibi case, judges in appeal courts hesitate to hear and decide blasphemy cases,” said Malook. “Cases involving murder are usually decided within three years, but blasphemy charges can take up to over seven years, just like the couple, Shagufta and Shafqat, who have been charged with blasphemy and whose case file has been roaming from one bench to another for hearing.”

Asif Pervaiz Gets Death Sentence Because of Text Messages

Before his imprisonment, Pervaiz worked at a garment manufacturing company owned by a Muslim man named Saeed Ahmed Khokhar. AsiaNews reports that Pervaiz claims he quit his job because Khokhar was pressuring him to convert to Islam. According to Al Jazeera, Pervaiz said that Khokhar tried again to get him to convert even after he had left his job. When he still refused, the employer told authorities that Pervaiz had sent him blasphemous texts. Pervaiz denies ever sending such texts and said that his SIM card was stolen before they were sent. He believes Khokhar was retaliating against him for refusing to become a Muslim.

Khokhar’s lawyer, Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry, maintains his client never tried to convert Pervaiz and argues that there are plenty of other Christians at the factory who have not complained about the owner targeting them.

Pervaiz reportedly hid from authorities when he heard there was a blasphemy charge against him. Police responded by arresting his brothers-in-law and his mother and by beating his friend, Waseem Anwar, to find out Pervaiz’s location.

President and Executive Director of Human Friends Organization, Sajid Christopher Paul, spoke to Aid to the Church in Need and described the toll that Pervaiz’s long imprisonment has taken on his family. Said Paul, “He’s been in prison for seven years and they haven’t been able to spend time with him. His youngest twins were born when he was arrested and he hasn’t held them in his lap or his arms.”

Paul also explained that the lower courts in Pakistan are more likely to bow to pressure from extremists because they do not have the same ability to protect themselves that the higher courts do. He said, “The Supreme Court can make daring decisions like the acquittal of Asia Bibi because they have high-level security.”

The acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who spent eight years in prison because of a blasphemy accusation, was indeed a daring decision. When Bibi was first acquitted in 2018, over 1,000 Islamic extremists protested, blocking roads and burning tires in the capital city of Islamabad and forcing several schools to close. Although Bibi was finally able to make it out of Pakistan with her life intact, her ordeal was lengthy and extensive. Even now, other Pakistani Christians are suffering in similar ways.

The couple Malook mentioned, Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel, were also accused of sending texts blaspheming the prophet Muhammad. The result was they were imprisoned for six years before the Lahore High Court recently sentenced them to death. The couple has appealed this decision, but their appeal has been delayed.

Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s founder and president, commented on Pervaiz’s sentencing, saying:

We are very concerned by the trial court’s decision to sentence Mr. Pervaiz to death. Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws have proven to be a source of suffering for many, and are regularly abused. Mr. Pervaiz now has to endure further, indefinite imprisonment, given the nature of blasphemy charges and the social interests surrounding it. We urge the authorities to allow Mr. Pervaiz to appeal his case for reconsideration and ensure that all evidence is carefully considered.

Stuart King, WWII Veteran and MAF Co-Founder, Dies at 98

By
Stephanie Martin
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Stuart King, a British World War II veteran who co-founded Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), is being remembered as a determined visionary who changed countless lives. King, who died August 29 at age 98, combined his passions of airplanes and Christian outreach to assist people in some of the world’s poorest, hardest-to-reach locations.

When MAF began in 1945, Africa was the focus of its flights. Now it is the world’s largest humanitarian airline, flying 138 planes to 1,400 remote locations in 26 developing countries. MAF partners with more than 2,000 aid organizations, including the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the Red Cross, and Samaritan’s Purse. 

A Lifelong Passion for Missions 

King, an engineer in Britain’s Royal Air Force, survived the D-Day landing at Normandy. After the war, he teamed with fellow veteran Jack Hemmings for a six-month survey flight across Africa to assess needs. The pair made connections with missionary groups and discovered that planes were the only way to reach many isolated communities.

King served as CEO of MAF from 1970 to 1985, and two years later became president emeritus. He was known for his strong Christian faith, adventurous spirit, and sense of humor. In his book Hope Has Wings, King describes incidents such as crash-landing in a banana tree. “Sometimes we didn’t quite know where we were!” he admits about the group’s early days.

As MAF grew, it became a trusted source of assistance when natural disasters occurred throughout the globe. During the coronavirus pandemic, MAF has been delivering rapid-test kits and supplies to villages. MAF pilot Joyce Lin died in May after crashing in Indonesia.

Tributes Pour in for Stuart King

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who has traveled on MAF flights to Africa, said, “Stuart’s tremendous contribution to the founding of MAF has had a profound impact on the ministry of many people across the world and the Anglican Communion.”

For his military service, King was honored by France in 2016 with the rank of Chevalier in the Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur. Three years later he received an award from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, recognizing his lasting contributions to aviation. The Company credited King with maintaining high standards, hiring local employees, and managing MAF’s finances soundly. “MAF never uses bribery or illicit payments—though sorely tempted in many regions,” it stated. “Consequently, they are trusted, and are sometimes the only aircraft allowed to operate in contested zones.”

“If ever there was a man who was inspired to turn a visionary idea into a reality, it was Stuart King,” says former British Army chief Lord Dannatt. “Stuart started with one aircraft but has changed the lives of so many by his passion, leadership, and conviction. Stuart King’s legacy is immense, and his family should be justifiably proud of all that he achieved in the service of Christ.”

King met his wife Phyllis in 1950 in Sudan, where she was a missionary. Their daughter Rebecca says, “Dad’s life motto was always to be the best man he could be in God in every season of his life. … He was always so determined and committed to MAF. He is an inspiration to us all.”

Evangelical Teens More Likely to Retain Faith, Pray Compared to Mainline Peers

By
Megan Briggs
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Parents and teens in the U.S. generally share the same faith (or lack thereof), a new study published by Pew Research finds. While the study results may not be surprising, at least one point is interesting: Teens raised in evangelical households are more likely to identify with the faith of their parents than their mainline Protestants peers.

Eight out of ten teens raised in Catholic and evangelical Christian homes identify with the faith of their parents, Pew’s study found. However, fewer mainline Protestant teens (55 percent compared to 80 percent) identify the same way as the parents who raised them. Additionally, teens raised by mainline parents were more likely than other Christian faiths to identify as religiously unaffiliated (24 percent).

Most parents and teens share a religious identity

One encouraging note from the study found that on average, teens attend services about as often as their parents do. The study reports “44 percent of U.S. teens say they go to religious services at least once a month, almost exactly the same as the share of their parents who say they attend monthly (43 percent).” Among those who attend church more frequently than once a month, those percentages go up: “Among parents who say they attend religious services on a regular basis (at least once or twice a month), 88 percent have a teen who also reports attending that often.”

The study authors identified mainline Protestants as those belonging to denominations such as the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Pew interviewed some 1,800 teenagers (aged 13 to 17) and their parents regarding their religious views. The interviews were conducted March 29 to April 14, 2019. It’s important to note that as these interviews were conducted before the pandemic hit the U.S. in 2020, the service attendance information reflects the attendance habits of parents and teens before worship services were disrupted. 

Conflicting Views Among Parents and Teens

While the majority of Christian teens say they identify with the same religious group as their parents, that doesn’t mean they see eye-to-eye on everything. The study asked teens and their parents whether to what degree they hold the “same religious beliefs as their parents.” 

Almost half (48 percent) of teens say they hold “all the same” beliefs as their parents, while 43 percent said “some of the same” beliefs and 8 percent said they held “quite different” beliefs. 

Half of teens say they hold all the same religious beliefs as their parent …

Interestingly, those teens that answered their beliefs differed some way from their parents—either “somewhat” or “quite different”—a third of those respondents said their parents don’t know that their beliefs differ. Also among this group, 17 percent say the difference in opinion is a point of conflict between the teen and his or her parents.

Parents and teens were also asked to evaluate how important religion is to the opposite party. For instance, parents were asked how important religion is to their teen, and teens were asked how important religion is to their parents. Overall, most parents and teens were on the same page with these evaluations. Pew reports, “73 percent of teens give the same answer as their parent about how important religion is to the parent, and 68 percent of parents give the same answer about how important religion is to their teen.” 

However, something interesting shows up when you look at the responses of teens and parents who do not evaluate each other similarly. Pew writes:

But among those who do not agree, parents are far more likely to overestimate the importance of religion to their teen than to underestimate it. For example, among all parents who give a different answer than their teen does regarding the importance of religion to the teen, 69 percent think religion is more important in the life of their teen than their teen does, and 29 percent believe it is less important to their teen than their teens says. Meanwhile, among all teens who give a different answer than their parent on the importance of religion in their parents’ lives, 43 percent overestimate how important religion is to their parent, while 55 percent underestimate it.

California Judge Orders NO Indoor Worship Services for John MacArthur and Grace Community Church

By
Jesse T. Jackson
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A California judge from the Los Angeles Superior Court issued a preliminary injunction (which can be read here) against John MacArthur and Grace Community Church on Thursday, September 10, 2020. The preliminary issue sides with Los Angeles county’s desire to shut down Grace Community Church’s indoor worship gathering because it violates the county’s COVID-19 mandatory regulations.

According to Thomas More Society’s press release, the judge’s order prohibits Grace Community Church from “conducting, participating in, or attending any indoor worship service.” They state that the order also “bans outdoor worship unless onerous restrictions are followed,” saying that the judge’s order is a “heavy-handed move against the internationally known preacher and his congregation.”

After the order was issued, special counsel Jenna Ellis said,

“Although this is a temporary setback, we will continue to fight for Pastor MacArthur and Grace Community Church’s constitutionally protected right to hold church. While the judge did go out of his way to repeatedly state that he is not ruling on the merits, only a ruling at this very preliminary stage, Pastor MacArthur is still harmed because he has every right to hold church. Church is essential, and no government agent has the runaway, unlimited power to force churches to close indefinitely. The County’s argument was basically ‘because we can,’ which is the very definition of tyranny. Without limiting government’s power in favor of freedom and protected rights, we have no liberty. We will fight for religious freedom, as our founders did when they wrote the First Amendment.”

John MacArthur and Jenna Ellis joined Shannon Beam from Fox News @ Night on Thursday after the ruling. Beam asked MacArthur what his plan for Sunday was going to be after the judge’s order was passed. Pastor MacArthur responded without hesitation, “We’re gonna have church on Sunday. There is absolutely no reason not to have church as far as safety goes. A statistic 1/100 of 1 percent of Californians have COVID, that’s the number, and yet no one in the entire state of California is allowed to go inside a church. That doesn’t make sense. Of course we are under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and He says have church, and we are going to have it.” Pastor MacArthur told his congregation earlier this month that ‘There is no pandemic.’

The Judge said in his order that “County Health Order does not discriminate on its face…limited religious worship only because it applies to all ‘events and gatherings’ – regardless of their purpose…The County Health Order allows worship to occur outdoors, virtually through the internet and any manner that is not indoors with a large gathering of people.”

Beam asked special counsel Ellis, “Essentially there the judge is saying it’s not targeted (the County Health Order) at religion. We’re not allowing bars and other places for people to gather in large groups…it’s not just about targeting churches. How do you respond?”

Ellis response was, “It certainly is targeting churches because we don’t see these types of restrictions and enforcement against a large protest and other political statements that the county has actually lauded on their own Twitter and encouraged participation. And it certainly is also discriminatory enforcement here…the ruling didn’t really even consider a lot of the constitutional arguments that we claimed. But the bottom line here…is that when the government is allowed types of broad and arbitrary unlimited definite power then our rights become mere privileges. For the judge to characterize this as simply the county allowing these types of worship services, that’s not for the county to decide. That’s why our founders put free exercise of religion as a fundamentally constitutional and protected right. So we are going to stand up for Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church because he’s absolutely right. He gets to hold church.”

Ellis told Beam after being asked if they were going to appeal the judge’s order, “Absolutely!” she said. The appeal will be filed as soon as Friday.

Special counsel Charles LiMandri said, “The court also did not properly consider the medical and scientific evidence that the current number of people with serious COVID-19 symptoms no longer justifies a shuttering of the churches. Nor do we believe that the court gave adequate consideration to the fact that churches have been treated as second-class citizens compared to the tens of thousands of protesters. More than ever, California’s churches are essential.”

John MacArthur posted on Twitter that #CHURCHISESSENTIAL and that fellowship can’t happen online or across dozens of outdoor, distanced services.

When Someone in Your Small Group Loses a Loved One

By
Steve Curran
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The longer you are involved in small groups the more likely you are to deal with death. Isn’t that an uplifting statement (haha). In this current season it may even be more likely. Death is not a fun topic, it is always unwelcome, even if it is expected, even if the person is better off, no one wants to experience the death of a loved one.

A few months ago, my wife’s grandmother, Grammie, died from COVID-19. It was really hard for us to process our grief during social distancing. No one from the family was able to visit Grammie in the hospital, we were not able to have a funeral. However, there are some things our small group did to help.

Here are some ways you can help someone in your group deal with the loss of a loved one.

Pray and Praise

First praise Jesus that they are in your small group and thank him for giving you the opportunity to share his love with others.

Second, pray for them. You can pray for them to experience God’s comfort. Pray for people to be available in their life to help them talk through their grief. Pray that they will be encouraged to keep faith in God and what He can do. Pray that God will help them with strength and courage to make it through this time.

Don’t give them space, unless they specifically ask for it

Being around someone going through loss can be uncomfortable. And sometimes we can assume that they want space to process. The truth is, most of the time, giving people space is really just our excuse for not wanting to enter into their pain.

So, be present. Call them, text them, if you can visit them. Just be there, to listen, to mourn with them, to comfort. Your presence means so much more than anything you can say or do.

Do something

When you lose a loved one, lots of people will say, “how can I help” or “I’m here if you need anything.” But when you are grieving you do not know what you need. And you may not have the energy to ask. So, just do something. Don’t ask permission, tell them what you are going to do to help. Not sure what to do…Here are 12 ideas.

  • Shop for groceries or run errands
  • Bring them a meal
  • Take care of housework, like cleaning and laundry
  • Watch their kids or pick them up from school
  • Drive them wherever they need to go
  • Look after their pets
  • Help with funeral arrangements
  • Stay with them at their home to answer phone calls and receive guests
  • Go with them to a support group meeting
  • Accompany them on a walk
  • Take them to lunch
  • Help with insurance forms or bills

Talk about death

It is okay to talk about death and loss. Just because someone dies does not mean their name is now off limits. If you do not talk about their loved one they are not going to forget they died. You can ask them to share memories or stories with you. Ask to see pictures. Let them talk about their loved one.

However avoid saying these things

  • Romans 8:28. This verse is true but it is really not helpful to someone who is grieving.
  • They are in a better place.
  • God wanted them in heaven
  • There is a reason for everything
  • I know how you feel
  • When my ______ died this is how I dealt with it

All of these statements come from a place of wanting to help and comfort. However, they do not do either of these things. If you are unsure what to say, do not say anything, just being there is enough.

I hope no one in your group loses someone close to them. But I know that they will. And when that happens, your group gets to be the church.

For more info,

Saddleback Community Church has a great resource for more info on how to do this well.
https://saddleback.com/connect/ministry/saddleback-works/lake-forest?#tab-3

This article originally appeared on smallgroupnetwork.com.

The Benefits of Opening Your [Physical] Bible

By
David Tank
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When my wife and I moved to the Chicagoland area, we were committed to finding a church that clearly treasured Scripture. One Sunday, we visited a church farther away from where we lived and larger than what we felt would be comfortable. But when we were asked to stand for the reading of God’s Word, we were surrounded by a chorus of rustling Bible pages. Immediately, my wife and I knew we were home.

In a digital age where more information is created every year than all the rest of history combined, what is the value reading a physical book? While there are many good and helpful reasons to use a Bible on your phone or tablet, why should you read a printed and bound copy of Scripture? Here are three compelling reasons to open your personal Bible.

1. Sign of Authority

Some people live as if the Bible is beneath them, believing that God’s Word has no authority over their lives. Others believe tradition and science stand beside Scripture with equal authority. But Christians live under the authority of God’s Word. When Ezra read the book of the Law before Israel, the people stood reverently beneath the Word and received it as it was preached from the platform (Ezra 8:1-8). We live under the authority of the Bible, for it is from God, and in it God reveals himself to us.

After God spoke to Israel at Mount Sinai, the Ten Commandments were put in the Ark of the Covenant, and God’s presence hovered above the lid. The Ark became a symbol of God’s authority and presence in the midst of his people, for “from it God met with his people and spoke to them” (Exod. 25:16, 21). Just as the Ark carried God’s Word and presence with Israel wherever they went, carrying around a physical Bible communicates allegiance and obedience to Christ more than a phone or tablet ever could.

Whenever I do pastoral visits, I carry my Bible with me because it demonstrates that I am there to bring God’s Word to others. In various jobs, I have taken my Bible with me to work. Back in high school, I occasionally brought my Bible to read during lunch. There is something special about a child seeing his parent reading the Bible every morning. While we should not seek to parade our piety before others, bowing in reflection and prayer before God’s Word will make an impact those who are watching.

2. Personal Book

An old adage says: “A Bible that is falling apart often signifies a soul that is not.” God commanded kings in Israel to make their very own copy of Scripture to keep with them and “read in it all the days” of their lives (Deut. 17:18-19). A frequently opened Bible becomes a familiar and personal book.

Some people say you should never write in a Bible because God’s Word needs to be treated with respect. However, I write in my Bibles because doing so helps me process what I am learning, and it gives a record of my spiritual growth. If you were to open my Bible, you would find many underlined words, bracketed verses, comments in margins, coffee stains, and bookmarks. My Bible is the translation I use to memorize Scripture, and I know where to turn to find certain books.

There are many ways you can intentionally write in your Bible. If your Bible has blank pages in the front or back, use that space to record significant moments or seasons in your spiritual life, or to write down impactful truths that have become dear to you. Also, Christian publishers often sell Bibles with different kinds of readers in mind. You can use a journaling Bible or a Bible with large margins to take notes at church or during your devotions. When it comes to note-taking, using a pencil allows you to correct or clean up your notes, and certain pens or markers will bleed less through pages. Having a system of markings can enhance your Bible study. For example, color-code your pens and highlighters. Mark with straight, jagged, or wavy lines. Use symbols on the sides of your pages to identify paragraphs. Writing in your Bible is a special way to treasure God’s Word.

3. Freedom from Distraction

Amidst the digital revolution, the Bible remains the most popular book in the world. Yet, a barrage of unrelated digital notifications competes for your attention when you are reading the Bible on your phone. Having a digital Bible can be a great tool, but with it comes the temptation to look at other things. The end of Psalm 19 speaks to modern Bible readers well:

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer (Ps. 19:13-14).

My phone has killed more hours set aside for devotions in my life than I would like to admit, but physical books don’t send notifications, alerts, or texts. Opening a physical copy of the Bible gives you the freedom to set aside social media and emails, and focus on what God has said.

Before your devotional time, put away your phone. Then pick up your Bible and coffee, and pray. Ask God to help you engage with His Word as you read it, that he may “open [your] eyes to behold wondrous things out of [his] law’ (Ps. 119:18). Keeping your Bible open in church, at small group, and during your devotional time will help you focus on the text rather than on tomorrow’s emails. Interacting with an open Bible best prepares the soul to encounter God.

When you read your personal Bible, you are submitting to Christ’s authority and treasuring his grace. This is why an open Bible is the strongest sign of a person’s love for the Lord. Opening your Bible nourishes your soul in more ways than your phone ever can, and it shows how the Word carries weight in our lives for all who are watching.

This article originally appeared here.

A Dozen Reasons God Hates a Liar

By
Paul Tautges
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Deception, in one form or another, is a regular part of many people’s lives in our world today. However, much to the church’s shame, many Christians continue to give in to the temptation to lie their way through life as well. What does God think of this? Proverbs 6:19 includes on the list of things that God hates, “a false witness who utters lies.” Why does God hate lying? And why does he not only hate lying, but liars as well? The Bible provides many reasons. Here are twelve of them.

A Dozen Reasons God Hates a Liar

1. God loves truthful speech and truth-tellers.

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man (Prov. 3:3-4).

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight (Prov. 12:22).

2. Lying reveals a lack of godliness.

He who speaks truth tells what is right, but a false witness, deceit (Prov. 12:17).

A righteous man hates falsehood, but a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully (Prov. 13:5).

3. Lying is a mark of an unfaithful person.

A trustworthy witness will not lie, but a false witness utters lies (Prov. 14:5).

4. Deceiving people in order to get financial help is worse than being poor.

The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death (Prov. 21:6).

What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar (Prov. 19:22).

5. Lying is often motivated by fear, which is contrary to love.

Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered, that you have done this thing?” Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife” (Gen. 20:9-11).

Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).

6. Hypocrites are addicted to lying.

Ephraim surrounds Me with lies and the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against God, even against the Holy One who is faithful (Hosea 11:12).

7. Liars love impure conversation.

An evildoer listens to wicked lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue (Prov. 17:4).

How to Avoid Growing Weary While Serving the Vulnerable During a Pandemic

By
Ted Ancelet
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Many of us would like to just cancel 2020.

The first half of this year alone has brought a deadly pandemic, wide-spread economic struggles, and nationwide social unrest in light of centuries of social and racial injustice. Americans report feeling anxious, scared, and depressed and are exhausted with the ever-changing landscape of daily life. Vulnerable populations across America are suffering even more.

In response, the Church is taking her place in our local communities and around the world to care for, support, and stand with the hurting and oppressed all around us. Many are sacrificially moving toward the pain they see in our world to bring healing and hope. Churches have engaged creatively to address needs in their communities, from providing childcare for working parents, to offer mental health counseling, to hosting drive-thru food banks, and collecting clothes and hygiene products for children in the foster care system. This is where the church should be – the hands and feet of Jesus in the midst of pain and chaos.

But for many American Christians, it’s important for us to keep our personal spiritual disciplines strong, especially as we serve others and face so much despair. According to American Bible Society’s annual State of the Bible ebook released last month, scripture engagement has decreased among Christians during the pandemic. The report demonstrates how personal Bible reading is directly tied to participation in church-led activities like mentorship and small group Bible studies. According to Barna Group, church attendance – mostly online – has also declined during the pandemic.

As we Christians move out to meet the needs around us, how can we positively impact our world without being negatively impacted by what we see and experience? How can we give and pour out when we ourselves are nearing empty? For those in the fray, the key to stability and health is not found in what we do but why we do it.

As the National Director of Spiritual Empowerment at Bethany Christian Services, this is the message I’ve been sharing with our staff as they serve the hurting and oppressed: Let’s be more intentional than ever about placing Christ in the center of our service to ensure we stay grounded, encouraged, and fruitful.

Keeping Our Identity In Christ, Not A Cause

When we commit merely to a cause, it can be easy for us to find our identity in that cause. This leaves us open to manipulation or to unintentionally hurting others. Our methods and motives for helping are as important as the actual help that we offer.

Don’t get me wrong. Serving refugees, or being a foster parent, or helping the homeless are incredible causes of justice that God calls us to. But doing those actions on their own without Christ is not the Biblical justice we’ve been called to.

In Colossians 2:8 Paul writes, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Finding our identity in a cause isn’t Biblical.

Do you serve vulnerable children, parents who are overcoming addiction, or the elderly because it makes you feel good, or gives you a sense of purpose? …or because you’ve been called by God to serve people in His name?

When we draw close to Christ, his concerns become ours. In particular, we recognize that no cause supersedes The Gospel and God’s command to love. When our fuel is the cause itself, we can lose sight of this. Our focus on Christ, and specifically the love and compassion he lived with, keeps us from unintentionally hurting the very people we are trying to help and protects us from making our cause an idol.

On the other hand, when we focus on Jesus, he becomes the means, model, and message of our service. He provides the fuel and clarity we need to make a positive impact and grow personally through the process.

The Apostle John gives us seven points of connection to Jesus as our guide. In the Gospel of John, he lists seven ‘I am’ statements made by Jesus. They are:

“I am the…”

  • “Bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) – Jesus sustains us not only physically but mentally, emotionally and spiritually
  • “Light of the world.” (John 8:12) – Jesus guides our steps and lights our path
  • “Door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9) – Jesus protects us from those who would use our intentions for personal gain
  • “Resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) – Jesus fuels eternal hope in the midst of struggle and even failure
  • “Good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14) – Jesus cares for us beyond our service and impact
  • “Way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) – Not only does Jesus give us vision and direction, he modeled perfectly how to live those out. Jesus ensures that our earthly work bears eternal fruit.
  • “True vine.” (John 15:1, 5) – Jesus continually refreshes and renews us personally as well as aligns and unifies us corporately

These seven truths give us reliable points of focus for prayer, reflection, and trust. They form a constellation to guide and comfort us as we serve others and navigate the often-chaotic waters of our world.

As disciples of Jesus, we must think like disciples. In the Bible we watch Peter, James, John, Matthew and the rest in their – literal – walk with Jesus. They go where he goes. They follow Jesus to weddings, to meet their adversaries, to stormy waters, and to mountaintops.

Living out our faith and serving others in His name requires trusting in God’s plan and walking daily with Him…  while we serve. When we think of all that is wrong in the world today, we will undoubtedly become overwhelmed at our smallness. This is not unintentional. We are called to rely on someone much bigger than ourselves and to believe in something beyond our understanding. I hope today every rebel with a cause will make their peace with God and center their service on Him. Keep fighting for justice, keep using your hands and feet to help the oppressed, keep protecting the vulnerable among us, but do it on God’s terms, not your own.

During this historically chaotic time, let’s serve the vulnerable like never before. But let’s ensure that our walk with Jesus remains consistent, and let’s place Christ in the center of our service and our identity.

Free Printable: "All About Me" Chart

By
Daniel So
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Free Printable

Celebrate the start of a new school year with your children’s ministry by having your kids create their own “All About Me” chart.

From Guildcraft, “An All About Me chart, will make it easier for kids to tell others about themselves and will help teachers learn about their new students. Another cute idea would be for kids to write on the back about their favorite summer time adventure and then share their story with others.”

Get Download Now

Resource provided by Guildcraft

Download Instructions: To download this resource, right-click on the links that say, “Precolored All About Me Chart!” and “Ready-to-Color All About Me Chart!” and choose “Save As.”

Should I Tell My Spouse About Struggles With Sexual Purity?

By
Garrett Kell
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“Should I tell my wife?”

Daniel leaned back with no interest in the meal before him. He’d looked at racy pictures again and the weight of conviction was inescapable. He had confessed his sin to God and to me, but should he confess it to her?

What would you tell Daniel?

SEVEN PRINCIPLES

Because every couple is different, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Some couples are totally transparent with each other, while others find it best to allow accountability to be handled by trusted friends. Regardless of where you land on the spectrum, it is important for husbands and wives to develop a plan to help each other fight sexual temptation.

What follows are seven principles to help you and your spouse wade through this sensitive area together.

1. Help each other make it to heaven.

“Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

My chief calling as a husband is to help my wife love Jesus more. My wife has the same responsibility toward me. In fact, I would suggest that the most weighty and wonderful responsibilities in marriage is to help our spouse make it to heaven. One of the ways to make this happen is by doing whatever we can to help them fight off temptation, including sexual temptation (Heb. 12:1-2). We are to be each other’s greatest allies in the journey toward the heavenly city (Rev. 21-22).

Satan will oppose your efforts with all he’s got, but you must not lose sight of this fact: Your greatest responsibility as a couple is to help each other home by leaning upon the strength of your Savior. Let the mantra of our marriages be the same as the psalmist, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:3). This will be painful at times, but it is eternally worth it.

2. Cultivate an atmosphere of intimate trust.

“The heart of her husband trusts in her.” Proverbs 31:11

After God brought Adam and Eve together in the first marriage, we are told “the man and his wife were both naked and unashamed” (Gen. 2:25). They had nothing to cover up in those days. There were no deleted search histories in Eden. There were no shameful compromises or weeping wounds from unfaithfulness.

Intimacy and trust are still possible outside of Eden, but they don’t happen by accident. They must be cultivated. As 1 John 1:7 promises, “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.” There is no better way to deepen trust in marriage than walking honestly and openly together.

Do you hide things from your spouse?

I believe there should be no secrets in marriage. Surprises? Yes. Secrets? No.

Wisdom and discernment are certainly needed on this point. For instance, it is unwise to share every thought that comes in your head or every conflict you have at work or the details of other people’s lives that have been shared with you. We aren’t talking about those kinds of issues. This is a challenge to not intentionally hide sins from your spouse. Death and deceit breed in the darkness. A husband and wife should always be honest with each other about the condition of their souls.

If our goal is to build trust, it probably seems counterproductive to reveal trust-breaking sins. But the fact is, nothing builds trust like seeing your spouse trying to delight in God more than anything else. Honesty and humble transparency, over time, produce intimate trust in your marriage. Walk in the light together.

Maine Pastor Linked to COVID Outbreak Says He’s Receiving Death Threats

By
Megan Briggs
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The pastor of a church in Sanford, Maine, and his congregation have become the subject of much ire in that state. After officiating a wedding that’s been linked to 158 cases of COVID-19 and 3 deaths, and after eschewing social distancing protocols at his church, Pastor Todd Bell says he and his family have received death threats.

“The pastor and his family have received several death threats. One credible threat against the entire church was sent directly to the local police department,” attorney David Gibbs III, president of the National Center for Life and Liberty, told reporters. 

However, Maine Public Radio reports that Sanford’s Chief of Police Thomas Connolly wouldn’t go straight to calling it a threat.  “I guess you could say, you know, you could construe it to be a threat,” Connolly said. “But it really was not by definition threatening.”

What Is Todd Bell’s Connection to the Outbreak?

Maine health officials have traced an outbreak of COVID-19 cases (the largest outbreak to date in the state) back to a wedding event. On August 7th, Pastor Bell traveled to Millinocket, Maine, to officiate a wedding for a couple who attends his church. Several members of the Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford also attended. 

In a statement released by the church, they say a staff member of the Big Moose Inn, where the wedding reception took place, was infected with the coronavirus. Officials believe wedding guests (55 of whom have confirmed cases) went on to spread the virus to the York County Jail (18 staff and 48 inmates are infected), Maplecrest Rehabilitation and Living Center in Madison (21 cases), the Big Moose Inn (3 cases), the East Millinocket School Department (2 students, 6 staff), and at the Calvary Baptist Church itself (10 cases). 

While it’s hard to determine who the original spreader was (or if there were multiple people infected at the time of the wedding), Bell is critical of the fact that Maine health officials are investigating the link between the wedding and the now 10 positive cases among church members.

“What’s not being reported is that those that were COVID positive are finished quarantining and in church tonight,” Bell said in a sermon preached last weekend, which has since been removed from the church’s website and YouTube page, along with all other content. Additionally, the church’s Facebook page has been suspended. Gibbs indicated to reporters this was to protect the church from further harassment. 

Todd Bell Addresses the Controversy From the Pulpit

Bell has been criticized for holding in-person services where it appears social distancing protocols are not being followed. A Maine Public Radio report from Monday, September 7th, noted that unmasked choir members stood shoulder to shoulder as they sang the opening hymns at Sunday’s service.

Additionally, the church opened its private Christian school, Sanford Christian Academy, this week for classes, including sports activities. 

Bell also told his congregation that a coronavirus vaccine would contain aborted fetal cells and that it would be better to put one’s faith in God for protection.

“I’ll tell you what the world wants all the churches to do,” Bell said. “They want us to shut down, go home and let people get used to that just long enough until we can finally stop the advancing of the Gospel.”

The church commissioned Gibbs and the National Center for Life and Liberty (NCLL), a nonprofit legal ministry, to represent them, although nothing has been released about what legal action the church may be planning to take at this time. However, Gibbs did say the church was taking precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Strained relations between the church and the community are becoming increasingly obvious. York County Shelter formerly used Calvary’s building to distribute food and other resources to low-income families and individuals in the community. After the outbreak, though, the shelter moved its operations outdoors and effectively barred church members from helping distribute meals, according to local news outlet WGME.

WATCH Dolly Parton Perform Her First No. 1 on a Christian Chart

By
Jessica Lea
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Country music legend Dolly Parton has achieved her first top single on one of Billboard’s Christian charts for “There Was Jesus,” a collaboration she did with Christian artist Zach Williams. In addition to topping several other charts, the song is currently No. 1 this week on Billboard’s Christian AirPlay chart and on Billboard’s Christian Adult Contemporary Songs chart.

“Well praise the Lord and thank you Jesus I guess is what I say first,” said Parton on Twitter. “So proud to be a part of it, so proud of @zachwilliams, & we hope that you continue to be blessed by this wonderful song.”

Zach Williams tweeted, “It is a dream come true to work with the incredible & iconic @DollyParton on ‘There Was Jesus’! Every time I hear her sing, it feels like Heaven is in the room with me.” 

Parton: ‘There Was Jesus’ Was a ‘godsend’

Zach Williams, a CCM artist currently based in Tennessee, won a Grammy in 2016 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for “Chain Breaker” and has received several other Grammy nominations. “There Was Jesus” is from Williams’ album, “Rescue Story,” which he released in October 2019. He and Parton performed the duet together at the Country Music Awards in November of that year. 

“There Was Jesus” is a song about how Jesus is always with us through the trials we experience in our lives, even if we do not sense his presence or his help. Some of the lyrics are as follows:

Every time I try to make it on my own
Every time I try to stand, I start to fall
And all those lonely roads that I have traveled on
There was Jesus

When the life I built came crashing to the ground
When the friends I had were nowhere to be found
I couldn’t see it then but I can see it now
There was Jesus

In the waiting, in the searching
In the healing, in the hurting
Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces
Every minute, every moment
Where I’ve been or where I’m going
Even when I didn’t know it
Or couldn’t see it
There was Jesus

For this man who needs amazing kind of grace
For forgiveness and a price I couldn’t pay
I’m not perfect so I thank God every day
There was Jesus
There was Jesus

Williams says, “‘There Was Jesus’ is a song that’s really just about the reflection. I’m looking back 20 years ago where I had no idea that God was in the moment, that He was even with me through some of the things I had going on in my life. Looking back now I can see that He had His hand in everything I was doing. He was creating a way and honestly allowing me to live through some of these experiences.” 

Parton described “There Was Jesus” as a “godsend,” saying, “Well, when I heard the song, I thought it was one of the best songs I’d ever heard. I loved [Zach’s] voice. And I was at that time wanting to do something more uplifting.” Last year, the singer made a similar decision when she collaborated with forKINGANDCOUNTRY to release a new version of their song “God Only Knows.”

Kay Warren: What Not to Say to Someone Who is Grieving

By
Esther Laurie
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Kay Warren took a moment to share what to say and what not to say when someone is grieving. Unfortunately, Kay is no stranger to grief. Kay and Rick’s son committed suicide two years ago. Their son, Matthew, was 27 years old and suffered from borderline personality disorder.

Kay told Christianity Today, “I can tell you the experience of losing my 27-year-old, mentally ill son a year ago was not at all the same as losing my dad. He died young. He took his life, and he did it in a violent way. We are scarred. We have two decades of living with a severely mentally ill person that traumatized us. It’s not clean grief. There’s guilt. There’s regret. There’s horror.”

Kay and Rick have made great efforts to raise awareness of mental illness in the church. Take a few minutes to listen to Kay’s heart and learn from her:

Today Is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay2020

By
Jesse T. Jackson
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Today is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay2020, a day organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization and the World Federation for Mental Health. This day brings awareness to everyone around the world that suicide can be prevented and how to help loved ones who are fighting suicidal thoughts.

This year, more than ever due to the pandemic and the social distancing/quarantined measures that have been put in place to fight the coronavirus, people’s mental health and wellness have taken a toll. According to a recent report from ForEveryMom.com, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that 25.5 percent or one in four adults, ages 18-24, say they have contemplated suicide in the past month as a result of the pandemic. The CDC study surveyed over 5,000 people between June 24, 2020 and June 30, 2020. The numbers of those who reported suicidal ideation was up three times from 2019’s second quarter.

Teen suicide is also ripe for a spike because of the present coronavirus circumstances, according to Dr. Kara Powell of Fuller Youth Institute in a recent ChurchLeaders podcast. “Yesterday I heard more about the suicide of young people and had more questions about it than literally any other day of my life,” Powell said. She explained that there is significant stress above what normally people deal with on a daily basis. Powell attributed the source of this added stress to health fears, loved ones getting the virus, the loss of jobs, bills piling up, and the lack of community from social distancing. Because of those added stressors, Powell says some will “experience an increase in depression and suicidal ideation.”

Christians Aren’t Immune to Depression and Suicide

Christians aren’t immune to depression or thoughts about suicide. Just within this past year, two well-known pastors and Christian authors took their own lives after suffering with depression. Pastor Darrin Patrick of Seacoast Church in South Carolina died May 7, 2020 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. On September 9, 2019, Associate Pastor Jarrid Wilson of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California, took his own life one day before last year’s World Suicide Prevention Day.

Wilson fought to de-stigmatize mental illness in the church and challenged the church to develop a deeper theology. “Stop telling people that suicide leads to hell,” Wilson wrote. “It’s bad theology and proof one doesn’t understand the basic psychology surrounding mental health issues. In closing, we must understand God hates suicide just as much as the next person. Why? Because it defies God’s yearning for the sanctity of life. But while suicide is not something God approves of, no mess is too messy for the grace of Jesus. This includes suicide.”

How NOT to Help

C.Michael Patton provides this list of things NEVER to say to a depressed Christian. Patton has struggled with depression, and shared that just recently he has come out a depression he had for almost five years. Here are the seven things he mentioned not to ever say:

Never say this to a depressed Christian:

  • “Just Snap Out of It”
  • “Think Positively”
  • “Confess Your Sins”
  • “Get on Some Meds Immediately!”
  • “I’ve Been Through Worse”
  • “God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle”
  • “Depression Is a Sin—You Should Have Joy in Your Life”

Please Reach Out for Help

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, help is available. In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text an emotional support counselor with the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

Candace Cameron-Bure Asks for Prayer Against “Mean, Hateful” Bullying

By
Esther Laurie
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Candace Cameron-Bure, the former Full House star, beautiful wife and mom to three, is now The View’s newest co-host. We celebrated the news here.

However, we’ve heard some not-so-great news from Candace. She has experienced online bullying and has received threats for sharing her faith and viewpoints.

The View has a liberal fanbase who vocalize their disapproval with strong negativity and unkindness. Candace continues to move forward and stand strong, but she asked her friends and followers on Facebook to please pray for her, encourage her and share words of kindness.

2015-09-10_8-36-27

We are so proud of Candace for standing for her faith regardless of opinions and bullying.

It’s tough to be in the spotlight and to be known for your faith. What are we willing to do, to give or suffer for our faith? What if our beliefs cost us our job?

Candace looks forward to various viewpoints on the show.  She handles her premiere jitters with some advice from her daughter.

“I was talking to my daughter and I said, ‘I’m not nervous, I’ve done this before, but I have nerves,’ and she said, ‘Mommy, just be yourself. There’s only one you.’ So I think I’m taking advice from an 8-year-old,” she said.

candace-cameron-bure-talks-family-facebook

So friends, let’s learn from Candace to stand firm in your faith, ask for help, prayer and encouragement when you need it and just be you.

Perhaps Candace is a co-host on this show, for such a time as this. We’re praying for you!

Too Many Christian Workaholics

By
Paul David Tripp
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Why are there so many workaholics in the church? Why are so many Christians successful in their career at the expense of their spouse and children? Why do we struggle to find time for ministry, prayer, and Scripture reading but spend way too much time in the office or our work inbox?

You could argue that this a priority problem, where we list career above God and family; I wouldn’t disagree. You could propose that we have a scheduling problem, and revising our daily routine and setting up time restrictions would provide a solution; that certainly could be helpful!

But I don’t think it goes far enough. We have to admit that we have an identity problem that results in wrong priorities and unbalanced schedules.

We have an identity problem because we forget who God is, who we are, and what we have been given in Christ by grace. “For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” (2 Peter 1:9, ESV, emphasis mine)

When we suffer from an identity problem, we look horizontally for what we have already been given vertically. Here’s the application to today’s topic: because work is such a significant dimension of our lives, it becomes very tempting to look for our identity in that space.

When you look to work for your identity, you will find it very hard to resist its challenges, demands, and promises of reward.

There are three enticing identities that we can discover in our work:

1. Identity in Achievement and Success

“I am what I have accomplished.”

A trail of achievement seems to make a statement about who you are and what you can do. But the buzz of today’s success will fade, and you’ll need the next success to keep you going and another success to follow it. Without realizing it, success will have morphed from something you enjoyed to something you cannot live without.

2. Identity in Power and Control

“I am in control; therefore, I am.”

In a world where most of us have a variety of people who tell us what to do every day, it is intoxicating to be the person in power. But people who have attached their identity to success and using others to get it always leave a trail of personal and spiritual carnage behind them.

3. Identity in Affluence and Possessions

“I am the size of the pile of stuff I have accumulated.”

Because we are physical people living in a physical world, and because God has given us the capacity to recognize and enjoy beauty, it is tempting to define the “good life” as one filled with beautiful things. It must be stated that the desire for beautiful things is not evil in itself, but if you attach your identity to gaining them, maintaining them, and enjoying them, other areas of your life will suffer.

But what happens when you are committed to finding a deeper identity vertically in Jesus each day?

The biggest achievement in your life will not be anything that you have done, but what Jesus has done for you on the Cross.

You will learn to rest in your lack of control, knowing that by grace, you have been adopted by the Father who has authority over everything, for his glory and your good.

And you will be liberated from continually working to accumulate more of what you hope will give you pleasure, because you are increasingly satisfied in Christ!

God bless,

Paul Tripp

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Is your life of work balanced appropriately? What might your schedule reveal about your priorities?

2. Now, pose that question to someone else who knows you: “Are my spiritual and relational commitments suffering because of my job?” (Fire your inner defense lawyer before asking. Remember, there is nothing that can be exposed about you that hasn’t already been paid for by the blood of Jesus!)

3. Beneath the priorities and schedule, could there be an identity idol? How does your job make you feel about you?

4. When was the last time you felt a “buzz” for an achievement, exercising authority, or buying something? How long did that high last before you pursued another one?

5. What practical solutions can you make this week to balance your work, social, and spiritual life?

This content was originally posted by Paul Tripp on www.paultripp.com

A 3-Part Framework for Personal Development

By
Dan Reiland
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Coaching others in personal development and growth is a passion of mine.

Few things in life are as rewarding as seeing someone become the best version of themself.

My granddaughter Anza is just seven months old and I’m watching her develop before my eyes — and so quickly. Anza is sitting up now and leans over to pick up toys, actually, anything she can get her hands on! She has amazing focus. When she can’t quite reach something, I’m quick to hand it to her, but her parents are smarter about that.

My daughter Mackenzie and Son-In-Law Jacob are great parents—they help Anza figure out how to grasp something that’s a little bit of a stretch for her.

That helps Anza develop.

The effort to reach, stretch and strive is core to all development.

It has always been curious to me how we all see the development of a child as something natural, important, and something to be championed and pursued.

It is well known that growth can continue at any age.

Yet, as we reach adulthood, development slows at a surprising rate. The slow down starts at 30, becomes noticeable at 40, and consistent continued growth above 50 is uncommon. (This is my observation of over 30 years, not based on research.)

The value of continued development and growth is so incredibly multifaceted.

You become a more:

  • Productive person
  • Interesting person
  • Creative person
  • Understanding person
  • Energetic person
  • Successful person
  • Content person
  • Mature person
  • Giving person

You get the idea… and I’m sure you could add one more to make it ten!

Yet there is only one thing that can prevent you from growth: Lack of intentional effort.

Desire, effort and a simple plan is all you need to begin (or continue) your personal development.

Desire is essential.
You have to want to grow as a person and a leader. That comes from inside you, generally from two motivations. First, to fully become the leader God intended you to be and second, to lead others more effectively.

Effort is required.
There is no free lunch, even to grow, you have to put in the time and effort. The good news is that you don’t need to make it a huge chunk of your time, just be consistent.

A simple plan is the secret!
One of the greatest difference makers between leaders who grow and leaders who grow stagnant is a simple written plan.

Don’t make the plan complicated, it can literally be a few bullets on a half-page. The important thing is to include two parts, the plan for growth, and the outcomes desired as a result of your growth.

I don’t know the specifics of the plan you need, but I can provide you three macro-level building blocks.

This also applies to those you develop.

3-Part Framework for Personal Development:

1) Your leadership development begins with self-awareness.

Understanding who you are, how you are seen by others, and what you were designed to do is foundational for leadership confidence, and ultimately for leadership effectiveness.

This begins with an accurate biblical understanding of how God sees you. The following is not a comprehensive list, but it contains foundational truth about who you are as a Christ-follower:

  1. You are loved and valued. God loves you unconditionally and His love is unending.
  2. You are forgiven and a new creation. Sin separates us from God, but by grace, through faith in Christ, your sins are forgiven.
  3. You are capable and gifted. God has called you and set you apart for a special purpose. You have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit and have received spiritual gifts that are unique in operation by you.

When you first see yourself as God sees you, then you can begin to gain an accurate grasp of your self-awareness.

Author Michael E. Frisina offered the following definition: “Self-awareness is an honest understanding of your own values, desires, thought patterns, motivations, goals and ambitions, emotional responses, strengths and weaknesses, and effect on others.”

Self-awareness enables you to understand how others perceive you, interact with you, and therefore how you can become better at leading.

2) Your character development begins with humility.

A lack of competence can slow you down, but a lack of character can take you out. (From Confident Leader!)

As a gifted and experienced leader, it’s not difficult for you to allow your talent to rise above your character, and that can hurt you.

Pressure to perform can set that risk in motion.

Growing as a leader, becoming better at what you do and gaining more significant results is a double-edged sword. It’s easy to be recognized and rewarded for what you accomplish.

That’s a good thing, as long as you also grow in your character.

Your character as a leader provides boundaries, standards, values and principles that keep your integrity intact.

And the first building block to your character is humility.

Jesus set the example:

“who, being in very natureGod, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself …”

Philippians 2

Everyday examples of humble leadership look like:

  • Not using authority for personal gain
  • Saying you’re sorry
  • Treating others with a gracious spirit and respect
  • Looking for opportunities to serve those who cannot help you
  • Not taking the credit

It builds character that looks like:

  • Doing what you say you will do
  • Demonstrating generosity and courage
  • Commitment to truth and honesty

3) Your spiritual life development begins with community.

A deep, rich and growing spiritual life does not flourish in isolation.

Spiritual life was designed to function best in relationship.

From the earliest moment in the garden with God and Adam, to God declaring that it’s not good for man to be alone, (Genesis 2:18) to the covenant established with Abraham and being fulfilled with Jesus, the promises of God are based nearly entirely within relationships.

Take a look a categories and examples of community.

Examples of life together:

  • Serving others
  • Unity with others
  • Wisdom from others

Examples of fruit of the Spirit:

  • Loving others
  • Patience with others
  • Kindness toward others

Examples of Spiritual connection:

  • Praying for others
  • Worshipping with others
  • Sacrificing for others

From a developing spiritual foundation, a leader quickly moves to the art and skill of getting along with and leading others, and learning skills like connecting, encouraging, and inspiring. (see Amplified Leadership for more on this subject)

Over time, the spiritual realm of development matures to a place of spiritual authority, anointing, favor and wisdom.

This overall framework gives you a way to think about and approach the practicalities of development and growth as a spiritual leader.

And, as always, keep it simple.

Remember, this is a macro perspective, you can select very small bite-sized pieces in each area, and you don’t have to do all three at the same time.

Last, keep in mind there is an overlap, a “blend and blur” between the three categories.

Keep growing!

This article originally appeared here.

6 Non-Generic Prayer Requests From Your Pastor

By
Shane Pruitt
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

There are certain prayer requests that any pastor would be grateful for you to pray for. What is a pastor? According to Webster’s Dictionary, a pastor is “a spiritual overseer.” That means a pastor’s job description is to oversee people’s spiritual wellbeing; a concept that God cares most about in people, but often the people care the least about in themselves. What’s even more nerve-wracking than how extremely difficult the job can be right here and now on earth … is that in eternity, the pastor has to give an account for those very souls. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account” (Hebrews 13:17). 

Jesus’ favorite metaphor for spiritual leadership, one He often used to describe Himself, was that of a shepherd. A spiritual shepherd is a person who tends to the flock of God. A shepherd leads, feeds, nurtures, comforts, corrects and protects.

Unfortunately, this pressure, stress and lack of care for our own souls catches up to us pastors on a daily basis. When you look out across the vast landscape of evangelicalism, there are thousands upon thousands of beaten, wounded and near-lifeless shells of what were once healthy, bold and vigorous ministers of the Gospel. According to Barna Research Group, 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches. Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living. Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.

So, what is the answer? Is there a way for God’s people to help and encourage our pastors and leaders? Yes, with these prayer requests you can support your pastor.

We feel there is an answer to these questions, but we can promise that it’s going to sound like a “Sunday School” answer to the dilemma. The answer is prayer! Not just saying that you’re going to pray, but truly and honestly praying for your pastors and leaders is the answer!

Here are six very real and specific prayer requests given by very real pastors who are in the daily war of battling for your souls, leading their families and faith families, all the while trying to protect their own souls.

1. Pray for your pastor to minister and lead from the overflow of his own worship of Jesus. One pastor wrote, “I would ask the congregation to pray that my ministry would come from an overflow of personal passion for the person and work of Christ RATHER THAN a professional expectation of a local institution/employer.” Another pastor says, “I spend much of my time giving of myself to the church—physically, mentally and emotionally. It is easy to dry up and for my routines to become ineffective. Pray for me to draw from the fullness of Christ daily. Ask the Lord to convict me when I do not set aside time to feast on the Word myself.” Yet, another states, “Pray that your pastor would stay refreshed and close in his walk with the Lord. This is the most important thing in anyone’s life, and it’s no different for the pastor. At the end of the day a pastor is just a person that needs Christ like everyone else. Everything personally and ministerially rises and falls on the pastor’s personal walk with the Lord. “

2. Pray for your pastor’s spouse. A pastor writes, “One of the most overlooked individuals in the church and oftentimes the most “underappreciated” individual is the pastors wife. Unfortunately, pastors’ wives go through things that even their husbands may not understand—from attitudes she may receive from other women in the church, leaders in the church and even her own friends.”

3. Pray for your pastor’s children. A pastor shares that “there are times when the pastor’s kids (PK) are given a great big load on their shoulders due to them being the children of the shepherd. Regrettably that was my life. I left the Lord on purpose at the age of 13 years old due to the fact that I hated the way the church treated my dad and mom as the pastors. God had to bring a major healing in my life to get me to love and trust God’s family again. I believe that when the wife and the children are covered, the husband (pastor) will be able to see and enjoy a longevity in his ministry at his church.” Another pastor said, “Many times minister’s families are robbed of time with dad simply because of others’ needs.” One pastor spoke of his concern of how his children would grow up viewing the church and ministry by saying, “That my kids would see that I do what I do because I LOVE JESUS and not because it’s my job. That they wouldn’t grow up bitter and burdened by ministry, but better and blessed because of it.”

4. Pray for your pastor’s vision for the Faith Family. A pastor insightfully writes, “ Pray for clarity as I grow in the Lord and realize His vision for me as a man, husband, father and pastor. Pray against the temptation to make growth another mark on a checklist. This is the depth and breadth of Christ that must be plumbed in my daily life. I fall short in this area so frequently. For my awareness of the Lord’s movement in our church body, to be keen on His leading and obedient to seek and follow Him.” One leader said, “Pray that I would seek and focus on the depth of the ministry more that I would the width of the ministry.” Another leader said, “There are so many things that are vying for my attention and time … that I need to be intentional, strong and resolved. Pray for my resolve, to do and be the pastor that God is growing me to be.”

5. Pray for your pastor to have a drive to make much of Jesus, and not themselves. One pastor eloquently comments, “Pray that at the end of the day Jesus will say to me, ‘well done my good and faithful servant.’ Not worship pastor, teaching pastor, groups director, student pastor etc. … just servant. Pray that God would give me everything I need to give it all back to others.” A leader also chimes, “Many ministers struggle with the temptation of ‘being known.’ They start out young and ‘unknown’ early in their ministry. Something happens that catapults them into the public arena of ministry and this can become detrimental to their walk with the Lord.” Another pastor says, “Pray that my pride would constantly be put to death, and that my main objective would be for people to recognize Jesus, and not me!”

6. Pray for your pastor to walk in integrity, while constantly fighting sin in his own life. A pastor accurately states, “Ministers today have more temptations to rob them of their integrity than ever before. Whether it’s physical, emotional or financial … a minister will find himself in places of great temptations.” Another pastor says, “We’re in the middle of a war. Pray that I won’t fall to the schemes of the enemy, but would stand firm in the grace of God. That I would be the same in private that I am in public.” Yet another leader closes, “Pray that when I do make mistakes … that I’d be quick to repent and admit my failures.”

Thank you for taking the time to pray for us. We desperately need it, because at the end of the day, we’re a bunch of nobody’s trying to tell everybody about the Great Somebody—named Jesus!

In Consultation With Sinners Saved by Grace, and called to pastor the people of God: Nathan Lorick (Evangelism Director—Southern Baptist of Texas Convention), Shannon Thomas (Pastor and Church Planter—Rockwall Friendship Baptist Church), David Griffin (Pastor and Church Planter—Community Life Church), Sammy Lopez (Pastor at Mighty Fortress Christian Fellowship, Evangelist, I Am Second), Stan Britton (Pastor and Church Planter—Church at Buffalo Creek), Ryan Fontenot (Pastor—The Mount, Evangelist), Philip Cole (Worship Pastor—River Valley Christian Fellowship, Lead Singer—Burgundy Road), Robert Welch (Pastor—Rock Hill Baptist Church)

15 Ways to Fight Lust With the Sword of the Spirit

By
Kevin DeYoung
-
thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

It is almost impossible in the Western world to escape sensuality. Sex is on the television, in the movies and in our music, on the side of buses, during halftime shows, in our books and in glossy close-ups at supermarket check-out. Sex is all around us in the mall, dripping off every beer commercial, and two stories high on our billboards. Sexual sin is walking around our high schools, flaunted across our universities, and hiding in our churches.

And of course, sex is on the Internet. Pornography and sex-related sites make up 60 percent of daily web traffic. Of Internet users in the U.S., 40 percent visit porn sites at least once a month, and that number increases to 70 percent when the audience is 18- to 34-year-old males. Half of hotel room patrons purchase pornography from their rooms. Ninety percent of 8- to 16-year-olds with Internet access have viewed pornography online, and the average age of exposure is 11.

The seventh commandment is not just broken in this country; it’s being smashed to pieces.

And sexual sin is not just an “out there” problem. Any pastor will tell you stories about how sexual sin has destroyed people in his congregation. None of us are immune from the dangers of sexual immorality. In a Christianity Today study from several years ago, 40 percent of clergy acknowledged visiting pornographic websites. Another survey found that 21 percent visit regularly. Yet another survey at Pastors.com found that 50 percent of pastors reported to viewing pornography in the previous year. And then there’s the underlying issue of the heart. The seventh commandment doesn’t just forbid adultery and pornography. It forbids every action, look, conversation, thought or desire that incites lust and uncleanness.

So how in the world, in this world we live in, and with our sex-saturated hearts, can we obey the seventh commandment?

Let me suggest 15 passages of Scripture that can help us fight lust and the temptation to sexual immorality.

1) Proverbs 5:18-19 “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.” This may seem a strange text for fighting sexual temptation, but married couples need to know they have delight at their lawful disposal. We need to know that sex is good, intimacy is good, bodies together in marriage are good. Good, glorious sex is spiritual warfare for the married couple.

2) Lamentations 3:25-27 “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” This a verse is for singles. Granted, this passage isn’t talking about waiting for a spouse. It’s about waiting on the Lord. But that’s the point: The Lord is good to those who wait for him. He knows what you need. The preceding verses tell us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.” Don’t think, “How can I live without sex for another year or decade or two decades.” Think about today. The Lord has given you grace for this day and he will give you grace for every subsequent day in which you follow God in the midst of unmet desires.

3) 1 Peter 3:15 “In your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” Before you take a second look or dress yourself so that others will, think: “Will this make me more ready to talk to someone about Jesus?” Sensuality deadens the spiritual senses and makes us less courageous and effective witnesses for Christ.

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