I first heard Joseph Prince when a friend gave me a DVD from the ’07 Hillsong Conf. I love it when Jesus, His love, Goodness and mercy are magnified! His book “Destined to Reign” is pretty great. Check out his ministry. Here’s a link from the Hillsong ‘08 Conf.
I’ve been wanting to get this on the site for a while now. For all you music lovers that like music with HEART, you’ve got to check out John Mark Mcmillan. This guy is an amazing songwriter. To me, his songs are modern day psalms that have an honesty and passion I haven’t heard in “Christian” music in a while. I can’t remember the last time a record moved me like these two do so I just wanted to show John Mark some love and send some fans his way. Here are the iTunes links:
Website: http://www.thejohnmark.com
A friend of mine sent me this the other day. Now that the elections are over, let’s take the advice in 1st Timothy to heart. I love this picture of Obama. I don’t know who the other men are in this picture, but when I look at it, I see the church surrounding him in prayer. That is our job. Take a minute to read the scripture below. -MH
1 Timothy 2:1-8 (NLT)
1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 7 And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth. 8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.
Grace or Karma?
I had to share this article by Bono...
"It’s a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma. At the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that ... Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff ... I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace.
I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of Heaven.
...The secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook. Christ says, No. I’m not saying I’m a teacher, don’t call me teacher. I’m not saying I’m a prophet. I’m saying: ’I’m the Messiah.’ I’m saying: ’I am God incarnate.’ So what you’re left with is either Christ was who He said He was - the Messiah - or a complete nutcase. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that’s farfetched."
So says Bono…
full article at this link:
http://www.worldmag.com/articles/10892
Overwhelmed
Recently I have been overwhelmed by the realization of God's Grace. I've spent my life in the church house doing my best to be a "good Christian". The focus I placed on my performance, all though it was with good intent, made God's acceptance of me reliant on my performance. Basically, I've been more focused on "what I can do for Him" instead of "what He has done for me".
I believe that what we do is important, but as a friend of mine put it recently, the place from which we "do" is the key. Are you doing to get something "done" or are you doing out of what's already "been done"? One definition of Grace is "God's divine influence on our hearts and it's reflection in life". I love that. I guess I always saw grace as an overlooking of sin, but in this context I see it as an empowerment to make right choices in life because of what's been done for me. I don't have to do good works to be righteous because Christ has already made me righteous. I do good works because I have accepted His work of righteousness for me. Man, that really changes things for me. It keeps my focus on Him and off of me!
This passage in Romans 12:3 says it well:
"I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him." (MSG)
I'm really seeing a difference in my life through meditating on this. What I do isn't changing that much, but the motive for which I do it is. I'm constantly checking my heart to make sure I'm not trying to earn anything from my giving, loving and serving. I'm endeavoring to do all those things out of what's been done for me.
Grace and peace,
Michael.