Friday, June 26, 2015

Focus 15 - Be Ready - Entry #8 - Pray for God's Sufficiency


Dear Friends,

As our nation celebrates a birthday and we give thanks for the freedom we enjoy - I ask you to join me in a prayer covenant with churches across America - believing God desires to heal our land.

Sadly - the recent egregious murders in a South Carolina Church and that of Cincinnati Policeman Sonny Kim who was killed in very close proximity to our church building - remind us that relational crisis has become more of a rule than an exception in our country.

Psalm 34:18 NKJV says  - The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit - would that America again have such a heart and spirit that only comes through repentance from sin and unity in faith and prayer.

The Bible says we reap what we sow - and culturally we have sown moral relativism into the hearts of our finest treasures - by teaching America's children that it is acceptable to abort life and redefine marriage without regard for the moral authority of Scripture.

As America listens to voices in the public square - may the voice of the church be the clarion bell that restores responsibility for unity of the spirit in the bond of peace that is available only through the Son of God - Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

In Christ the Bible says there is neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female - there is oneness in relationship with Jesus Christ - oneness that cannot be obtained through laws of the land that define the lowest acceptable standard.

In Christ there is the law of unconditional love for God and one another that defines the highest acceptable standard - the standard by which God created all men to live - the standard by which He sacrificed His own Son to bring us back to that life in Him.

My prayer is that all Americans and especially those Americans elected to lead our nation as one nation under one God - would fall to their knees and repent of sin - and then rise up with a renewed commitment to sow the seed of Christ in our nation afresh.

When the seed of Christ is sown - the Bible promises a peace that passes all human understanding will guard our hearts and minds - would that all communities in our nation be integrated again by His seed of unconditional love for life and authority.

I leave you with a quote about God's Sufficiency - the quote was rendered in days past by Dr. Billy Graham - "Happy are they who mourn the inadequacy of self, for they shall be comforted with the sufficiency of God."

Please join me and others in churches throughout America as we celebrate our nation's birthday - may we continue to give thanks for the freedom we enjoy - may we also mourn the inadequacy of self and seek the sufficiency of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

God's Peace,
Jeff

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Focus 15 - Be Ready - Entry # 7

Hi Friends!

Many years ago I joined with some of my teenage friends and shared in a ministry called Vital Connections - we sang gospel music anywhere the opportunity presented itself - on one occasion we sang at The Ohio State Fair which is a testimony that nothing is impossible with God!

Connections have always been vital to my life and that is especially true in the church I minister with that bears that name - the Bible teaches that only by being connected with Christ through faith can anyone have eternal life with our Father in heaven - and only through a consistent connection with Christ can anyone have authentic power for living.

Summer 2015 we will be studying the New Testament book of Colossians at Connections Christian Church - the Apostle Paul wrote this book to combat errors that had come into the church through the influence of a pagan culture - and also to show the church they have everything they need in Christ to have a right relationship with God and one another.

Collosians 2: 8-10 says, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

Cultural Relativism or Christian Truth?

False Idols or the Supremacy of Christ?

Many or One Vital Connection to God?

Join us this summer as we study a book written to the church by an Apostle years ago where we will answer those questions and many more with respect to today - properly understand all the questions raised in this book answer the errors from the hollow and deceptive philosophies of the world in which we presently live - they answer the question "Jesus is Lord because?"

I pray you will enjoy this lesson series and your summer!

God's Peace,
Jeff