This is a very cool video from our Media team! Check it out and get ready for Victory Praise! We are expecting an even greater response than last concert!
Building A Strong Family of Faith
These are some great insights a picked up while listening to a message from Brian Zahnd. Very good insights!
Faith Family Steps
1) Be in church, believe in the church, love the church. You children project your attitude toward church on God. Teach them to tithe. JF Powers- This is a big old ship, she creeks she rocks, she gets you where you are going.
2) I believe in free will, excepts when it comes to my kids. My kids are going to be saved and they are going to serve God. Luke 18 (first 18 verses are the secret).
3) Recognize the risks of us versus them separatism. Beware of a fear-based strategy. World is bad, church is good. NO! You must teach your children how to live in our culture. Ie. Music- some Christian music is lame. The line separating good and evil runs through the heart of every man. Teach your children how to discern things.
4) Make your marriage work. This is one thing that will bless your family. Take your time choosing your mate. A good marriage is something you build. You have to find A right one. Not THE right one. Divorce will have a detrimental impact on your children.
5) Never become estranged from anyone in your family. People not going to a wedding because they don’t like the spouse they have chosen. Keep your family as your family. Always keep the door open to reconciliation.
6) Use your faith for family vacations. Always reasons why we should not vacation. Family best memories are from Christmas and vacations.
Dealing With Fame
20 Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied,
so human desire is never satisfied.
21 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,
but a person is tested by being praised. NLT
When the media reported on the death of two famous personalities yesterday, I knew we were in for a flurry of stories on both Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. Now we are starting to see a deluge of analysis of their lives.
Why are we talking about the dead, when we should be talking about the living?
What are you doing while you are here?
Unfortunately, we all die physically. It is definitely not something to look forward to…. Unless you know the Author of Life.
Undoubtedly, we are going to see these lives analyzed to the micron. Rather than analyzing the dead, let’s analyze the living. You and I!
Again, I say, what am I doing while I am here? Do I know God and am I leaving a legacy for God? Even as I become well known, how am I handling it?
Two Empty Boats
Today I preached about two empty boats. Sounds somewhat strange from to some I would guess. But really the message is about empty lives. Without Jesus, you are running on empty.
Check out the podcast here
Thoughts On Religion
Today I preached on real humility. It seems that there is such confusion in the world as to what is humility, meekness, weakness, and strength. Hebrews 10:19 talks about “having boldness” to enter into God’s presence.
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus
As I preached today on Luke 18:9-14, some thoughts on religion and religious people really became clarion clear. Religion and religious people like to-
1) Dress themselves up
2) Show off
3) Give people directions that they don’t follow themselves.
4) Lacking in spiritual power
5) Pretend to know, but are actually lost themselves.
6) Go with the gaudy- buildings, events, dress.
As a Christians, we need to take the Lord Yashua’s direction and love the Lord God Yahweh with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We also have to remember to love our neighbors as ourselves.
I Am A Christian
As the US was founded as a Christian nation, we have an awesome heritage. Being a Christian is a choice, not a heriditary gift passed down just because dad, mom, or Grandma was a Christian.
It is still popular for politicians to say they are Christian, but in most cases not really demonstrate what being a Christian is all about; being “like Christ”. I saw this video of the current US president and it got me thinking;
So what does is Yashua say a Christian is? He answers the lawyer (maybe not too far off from a politician) in Luke 10. Check it out-
25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”
27 And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD [YAHWEH] YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.”
God will judge everyone for their actions. However, as a believer, we’ve got to be wise about discerning the true believers from the false. Yashua said you will know a tree by its fruit. A good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit.
If someone says they are a Christian, their lives should prove it by a living daily relationship with the Almighty God. You still have to carefully consider their actions and not blindly follow any man or woman.
God is SO good!
Victory Praise Invitation For You!
Your personal invitation to visit our Victory Praise concert!
Bring three friends! Ah, just bring an even 5! We are going to have a great time.
Rocking After Worship Practice
Okay, Okay! So we were having a little fun with the three of us that were left after worship practice.
Japan Facts
Here are some interesting facts about Japan
LAND AREA:
377,899 sq km
POPULATION:
127.8m (February 2008)
MAIN TOWNS:
Population in millions (October 2006)
Tokyo (capital; 23 central wards): 8.5
Yokohama: 3.6
Osaka: 2.6
Nagoya: 2.2
Sapporo: 1.9
Kobe: 1.5
Kyoto: 1.5
Fukuoka: 1.4
CLIMATE:
Generally temperate with seasonal winds and typhoons in September-October and, on the Japan Sea side, heavy snow in December- February
WEATHER:
IN TOKYO (ALTITUDE 5.3 METRES): Hottest month, July, 28.5 C; coldest month, January, 4.9 C (2001 data); driest month, February, 23 mm rainfall; wettest month, October, 343 mm rainfall (2001 data)
LANGUAGES:
Japanese
MEASURES:
Mainly metric system. Some local measures are: 1 tsubo=3.3 sq metres; 1 sun=3 cm; 1 ri=4 km; 1 kairi=1.8 km (used for sea distances)
TIME:
9 hours ahead of GMT
CURRENCY:
Yen (¥)=100 sen; average exchange rates in 2007: ¥117.8:US$1, ¥161.2:€1, ¥235.7:£1; exchange rates on March 31st 2008: ¥99.7:US$1, ¥157.7:€1, ¥197.8.1:£1
FISCAL YEAR:
April 1st-March 31st
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
January 1st, 14th; February 11th; March 20th; April 29th; May 3rd-5th; July 21st; September 15th, 23rd; October 13th; November 3rd, 23rd; December 23rd
Guidelines for Young Readers
For young guys and gals who love to read, that is wonderful. You will really excel the more you read. We all need to remember that the Bible says to protect our hearts diligently (Proverbs 4:20-22). Therefore I drafted a little list of a few guidelines you can be thinking about when you are selecting a book or even beginning to read a book.
If you find any of the below elements in the book, then you probably don’t want to read it. These elements are-
1) Foul Language
2) Sexual overtones
3) A Storyline with darkness such as witchcraft, magic and other evil themes
4) Abusive, tense or suffering situations
If you see any of this put the book down, return it to the library, do whatever you can to distance yourself from that book as it will hurt you more than help you.