#churchunity

[christianornot]

When Man Speaks Louder Than God

“God does not discriminate against people, regardless of color, religion, social class, or gender and sexual preferences.”— Rodrigo Duterte There are moments in life when mankind speaks so loudly that it becomes difficult to hear God at all. We live in a world where people claim to follow God while actively building walls between one another. Race, politics, social status, denominational…

When Man Speaks Louder Than God

[biblepreacher]

Who is "the Church"?

A respected friend of mine has undergone the painful (and courageous) journey of challenging the traditions he was raised in to examine them in pursuit of the truth. And this journey has led him into the Orthodox Church. So he recently shared something from Dr Siiuwade that he wanted his friends to read: “The Identity of the Church: A Comprehensive Argument for the Truth of Eastern Orthodoxy –…

Who is "the Church"?

[jubaunetwork]

12 musical themes for a Christian artist

Here are 12 musical themes for a Christian artist

A Christian artist can explore a wide range of themes in their music while remaining faithful to biblical principles and preserving their faith. Here are some of the themes that not only enrich the musical repertoire, but also bless and edify listeners. 1- Worship and praise One of the pillars of Christian music is worship and praise. Artists sing hymns and songs that glorify God, expressing gratitude and adoration for His greatness, mercy and works. These songs serve to direct hearts towards heaven and to magnify the name of God. 2- Hope and trust in God Music can offer a powerful message of hope and trust in God, especially in times of difficulty. Songs that speak of Christian hope and God's promises remind believers that God is always on their side. 3- Christian love Addressing love in all its forms is a rich theme. Whether it is divine love, brotherly love, or love in family and marital relationships based on biblical principles, artists can touch hearts in many ways. For example, the songs “Foyer chrétien” by Dose Divine and “Pataje” by Amen Band illustrate love in a Christian context. 4- Grace and redemption The grace of God and redemption through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ are at the heart of the Christian message. Songs highlighting grace, forgiveness of sins, and redemption provide a constant reminder of God's infinite love. 5- Christian life and sanctification Singing about the daily walk with Christ, sanctification and personal transformation inspires believers to continue their quest for holiness and to live a life consistent with biblical teachings. 6- Justice and compassion Themes of social justice, compassion for the poor and oppressed, and charitable actions are central. These songs remind us of the importance of acting on the teachings of Jesus and helping those in need. 7- Joy and peace Music can be a powerful source of joy and inner peace, even in the midst of trials. Singing about the joy and peace that comes from living in Christ encourages believers to find their happiness in Him. 8- Personal relationship with God Songs that express a personal, intimate relationship with God, through prayer, meditation, and inner dialogue, allow listeners to connect more deeply with their Creator. 9- Community and church Music focused on the unity of the Church, the brotherhood of believers and the importance of communion and service in the Christian community strengthens bonds and strengthens collective faith. 10- Evangelization and mission Songs that encourage sharing the gospel and being witnesses for Christ play a crucial role inevangelization and missions, inspiring believers to move forward and spread the good news. 11- Creation and nature Praising God for the beauty and majesty of creation is acknowledgement of His hand in nature and our responsibility as stewards of the earth. 12- Prayer and meditation Modern psalms or sung prayers help listeners enter into a time of communion and spiritual meditation, nourishing their souls and strengthening their faith. It is essential for a Christian artist to remain authentic and faithful to his faith while seeking to bless, edify and encourage his listeners. The choice of themes must be made with discernment and with the intention of glorifying God and inspiring a life in accordance with biblical teachings. By exploring these different themes, each Christian artist can offer a unique and valuable contribution to the edification of the body of Christ.   5 Roles Associated with Church Leadership in the New Testament Source link 5 Crucial Truths – Evangelist, Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Bishop Read the full article

[stormtalk365]

Spiritual Abuse In The Church w/ Pastor Angie - The Church... God's Design

[dczap1984]

We are all haters, and we all gotta hate. Or do we?

There is something about humans that makes us quirky compared to any other being in God’s creation. I know you were going to say sentience, original sin, and being image bearers of God. But I was actually going to say that we are all about being homogeneous. I suspect that the scattering of the nation’s following the fall of the Tower of Babel has something to do with it. Can you imagine that day,

Tower of Babel construction Foreman:  Hey, our computer is suddenly using Linux. What’s linux? Tower of babel construction IT: No sé que Dios nos dio Macintosh originalmente. Tower of Babel construction Foreman: Could you repeat that I totally didn't understand what you said. Why is the screen blue? This project is doomed I will find other people that I can understand.

Athens and Sparta spent the first two thousand years of their existence killing each other. Probably over AB work out videos, historians debate this even today. Those wars lasted until the unification of Greece in 2014 after 300 rise of an empire came out.

This kind of city state rivalry persists today. Originally there may have been Athens and Sparta, but today we have Green Bay and Minnesota. The rivalries are so bad I suspect that we would sooner see people of radically other denominations in heaven rather than fans of other teams. On a side note, I pray everyday that God will help me find the strength to forgive Brett Farve. I would like to see the line in his contract that included the thirty pieces of silver.

If you think you are above it, think about what team you most naturally root for in the Olympics. Chances are it isn't Turkey, unless of course you are from Turkey. But in all likelihood you cheer for your own nation’s team, and definitely not Turkey. If you can’t find your familiarity in sports think of it in terms of national defense, education, dating, denominations, or who the good guys were in Star Wars.

Church history isn't immune to this either, whether you are willing to identify with your Catholic brethren or not, there was a time when people bearing the traditional execution Cross logo were traveling by the legion toward the Holy Land with swords and shields. I was originally told that their real target was to destroy Euro-Disney but they got lost in three separate unsuccessful crusades instead.

There was also that awkward time in Church history when thousands upon thousands of Christians were killing each other over doctrinal issues known as the 30 years war.  This was one of the great times in history when a bumper sticker slogan helped bring peace; “In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity.”

What would today’s church look like today if it really held to these?  If the idea of awesome nachos and pirogi at pot lucks entered your brain, you aren't thinking big enough. Or it could be lunchtime.

Civility, understanding, and genuine love tend to go by the wayside. We focus on the differences and fail to see our common ground. We can’t look at someone who is wrong and let them be wrong, we feel the need to argue and hate, even when our issues have nothing to do with spreading the gospel or loving our neighbor. Correction and lecture about why people are wrong trump loving people, and working together to spread the gospel. Now I can almost hear that one guy who is really irritated by ­­­­   Fill in the blank denomination(s) here      .

Maybe they believe that the Pope could be the anti-christ, maybe they believe that Jesus had a special relationship with Cherokee Native Americans, perhaps they commit the most heinous sin of green thatched carpet as opposed to plain green carpet. Whatever the grievance, I challenge you to let the Holy Spirit act on their hearts and worry about your own game, and maybe reach out a little and do something awesome for Jesus together. It’s a great way to have time with the Holy Spirit, perhaps that will settle the differences.

[wewowd]

Dear Friend, just wanna say you are So Loved!

Jonathan in the bible was fully aware that David was going to be king, that David was going to inherit the position that he, Jonathan was meant to have. Yet despite Saul's rage at David's inevitable rise into authority, Jonathan loved David as a True Brother. The strength of God's love was in Him to overlook any offence or threat. David never knew all this would happen, but the calling of God revealed to him who were his true friends and who were his enemies. Sometimes we need to have a look around and celebrate the 'Jonathans' in our life because you didn't choose them, but God chose them for you.

Image: PlanetUNI Varsity Games Teams at PlanetUNI Camp 2012

Even when No One asks it of us, we still cheer out loud in unison; we scream our lungs out and we wave our hands around like idiots even if it's just to encourage One fellow teammate. No questioning it, there is a deep passion hidden deep within us for Unity; for True Friendship.

Image: Funny Faces, we love!

When given the chance we love to congregate in pictures; we also love it when someone else is willing to risk their sanity and dignity with us, because perhaps that is how friendship begins. C.S. Lewis describes it as:

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "what! You too? I thought I was the only one..." -C.S. Lewis

Image: The only YOU ever

Image: Me And My Girlie Bestie :)

In case you never realized, YOU are the only YOU I'll ever know. There will never ever be another YOU. No one else will talk the way you talk, laugh the way you laugh or be creative the way you're creative. YOU make me go WOWWWWWWWW!!! :D

You look at God and you say

There is truly none like you

But God looks at you and also says

There is truly none like YOU

There is no doubt that our love for friendship is an inheritance of God's heart. He may have had to show you in the fire; in the valley; on the mountains of your life - but come high or low He will wrestle with your understanding of true Godly love. Don't be deceived, you can't go through life loving only God and forsaking love for people. Scriptures reveals to us (see 1 John 1 & 2) that You and I must let God empower us to Love one another for it is only then that God's love is made complete in us, it is only then that we will truly Understand.

Image: Random ULU 35 dinner

For a while before I entered ULU 35, Evelyn Tan was hosting random UL dinners cooked singlehandedly by her (champion, I know). But it wasn't until I, MYSELF attempted this 'act of faith' (hosting a dinner singlehandedly) that I discovered how much I Truly Appreciated every aspect of her effort and love poured into this one single night of giving (heaps of hard work!). Not only did I discover how much I love it, but how much I was Loved by her. 

In Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge, we find out that:

A woman becomes truly beautiful when she knows that she is loved

If we all have a problem, our problem is not that we can't have perfect and ideal friendships. Our 'problem' is that God is just so madly in Love with us that He's willing to wrestle with our understanding of True Complete Godly Love. 

Receive the Grace to love those around you like how He loves you.

Dream of Perfect Godly Love with Eyes Wide Open.