december 2014 next wave
DESCRIPTION
Next Wave magazine. A publication representing the efforts of the LIFE NETWORK.TRANSCRIPT
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THE NEXT WAVE
www.icof.net
PUBLISHER
Trademark Design Davis Building
1629 K Street NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006
Contributing Editors
David Tait, Derrick Day, Lea Bates,
J. Samuel Willoughby, Bernie Wade,
John Rogers, Cindye Coates, Doc
Burkhart, Barney Phillips & Bobby
Sutton.
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THE NEXT WAVE MAGAZINE
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Shoes in Heaven
By Ralph Day
CHURCH @ COMMUNITY By Ed Delph
Leadership Principles
by Barney P. Phillips
Religitics
MILES MONROE
Whatever You Need
Jeremiah Johnson
Night of Hope Joel & Victoria Osteen
LIFE FEST 2014
The Purpose of
Adversity
J. Samuel Willoughby
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Shoes in Heaven
Rev. Dr. Ralph E. Day, Jr.
I heard a story once about a small church in the south. They met on Sunday nights (a lot of churches today have done away with this service, much to this author’s dismay). It was the practice of this small church to have a volunteer choir on Sunday nights. The Pastor asked everyone who wanted to go to Heaven to come to the choir. Each and every member walked up to the choir to sing except for one man sitting in the back of the church. The Pastor turned to him and asked, “Sir, don’t you want to go to Heaven?” The man politely answered, “yes, but I thought you were getting a bus load up now!” Everyone I talk to wants to go to Heaven. Not all of them know exactly how to get there. The Bible shares a lot with us concerning Heaven. It answers questions like: There are three (3) heavens: 1. The first heaven is the clouds (See Genesis
1:8-9; Job 26:8; Job 38:9, 25-34). 2. The second heaven is the starry space
(See Genesis 1:14-19; 15:5). 3. Finally the third heaven is the planet
Heaven (yes, I did say planet) (See 2 Corinthians 12:3).
There are several fallacies about Heaven. 1. Heaven is only a state of being
Science tells us some things about Our Solar System
Our solar system is about 6,000,000,000(billion) miles across.
Our galaxy, called the Milky Way, contains roughly 400,000,000,000 (billion) stars, which are suns, each with its family of planets.
The nearest star is 26,000,000,000,000(trillion) miles away.
It is estimated that there are 100,000,000,000(billion) galaxies like the Milky Way.
This would make up 40,000 million million million (40 sextillion) stars or suns in space (the number of planets would be mind boggling!)
This certainly does not prove nor disprove that
Heaven is only a state of being. But with numbers like this, I would think God has in mind a little more than those that go to Heaven simply float around on a cloud playing a harp for eternity. 2. Sin cannot enter heaven. The Bible well documents that on many occasions, sin has entered into Heaven (See
1 King 22:19-27; Job 1:6; 2:1; Isaiah 14:12-14; Luke 10:18; Revelations 12:7-12).
3. Saved men send material up to heaven to build their mansions. We send no material items to Heaven. Our works are as filthy rags to God (See John 14:1-3; Hebrews 11:16; Revelations 21:3, 5,6, 10, 27).
4. Nothing to do in heaven but rest (We will cover this in a little bit).
5. There are seven (7) heavens (See 2 Corinthians 12:1-4).
Now let’s look at Twenty Facts about the Planet Heaven
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The Scripture declares: 1. Heaven is a created planet like earth (See
Genesis 1:1,2; Psalms 8:3) 2. A better country (See Hebrews 11:10-16) 3. A paradise (See 2 Corinthians 12:1-4;
Revelations 2:7) 4. Highest planet (See Ephesians 1:21, 4:10;
Hebrews 7:26) 5. Gods’ dwelling place (See Deuteronomy
26:15; I Kings 8:30, 39, 43, 49) 6. A heavenly country (See Hebrews 11:14-
18) 7. Location: In the north part of the universe,
in relationship to the earth (See Isaiah 14:12-14; Psalms 75:6-7)
Above - I Kings 8:23
And in the highest part of creation (See Job 22:12; Luke 2:14; Ephesians 1:21; Ephesians 4:10)
8. Shape: round (See Job 22:14; Psalms 19:6)
Like the earth (See Isaiah 40:22 Ecclesiastes 1:6)
Size: unknown, but perhaps larger than earth, judging from the size of its cities (See Revelation 21:6-27)
From the size of other planets compared to the earth and from the number of its inhabitants (See Jeremiah 33:22; Hebrews 12:22-23)
Has real cities (See Hebrews 11:10-15; Hebrews 13:14; Revelations 21:2, 9-27
9. Mansions (John 14:1-3) 10. Temples (Psalms 11:4; Revelations 3:12;
Revelations 7:15; Revelations 11:19; Revelations 14:17; Revelations 15:5; Revelations 16:1-17; Isaiah 6:1)
11. Foundations (Job 38:4-7; 2 Samuel 22:8) 12. Tabernacle (Psalm 15:1; Revelations 21:3) 13. Sanctuary (See Hebrews 8:2) 14. Ark of the testament (See Revelations
11:19) 15. Golden altar, censer, etc. (See Revelations
8:3-5) 16. Fire, tongs, etc. (See Isaiah 6:1-7) 17. Thrones (See Isaiah 6:1; Daniel 7:9-10;
Revelations 3:21; Revelations 4:2; Revelations 22:3)
18. Books (See Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23; Revelations 5:1; Revelations 13:8; Revelations 20:11-15, 19)
19. Swords, sickles (I Chronicles 21:16-17, 27, 30; Revelations 14:14; 4:17-18, 21)
20. Keys, chains (Revelations 9:1; 20:1)
REQUIREMENTS FOR GOING TO HEAVEN
A Psalm of David asks, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in they holy hill? Psalms 15:1 God’s answer: the perfect man; 12 characteristics of a righteous and perfect man. 1. Walk uprightly – without blame 2. Work righteousness 3. Speak truth inwardly
Psalms 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
4. Be free from backbiting 5. Do no evil to neighbors 6. Receive no reproach about neighbors
Psalms 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his
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neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
7. Hold vile people condemned 8. Honor them that seek the Lord 9. Keep word even to own hurt
Psalms 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
10. Take no advantage of one in need to increase riches
11. Refuse bribes 12. Protect the innocent
Psalms 15:5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
23 CONDITIONS OF ETERNAL
LIFE (NEW TESTAMENT)
1. Come to Christ
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:44-45 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
2. Eat His flesh – drink His blood
John 6:50-51 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my
flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
3. Labor
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
4. Reap – win souls
John 4:35-38 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and
gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
5. Hate (love less) the life in this world
John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
6. Know God and Christ
John 17:2-3 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
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7. Enter right gate
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
8. Cause no offense
Matthew 18:8-9 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
9. Keep commandments
Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
10. Forsake all
Matthew 19:27-29 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's
sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mark 10:28-30 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Luke 18:28-30 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There
is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. 11. Live free from sin
Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death,
even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 8:1-13 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh…
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Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
12. Continue in well doing and seek eternal life
Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
13. Sow to the Spirit
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
14. Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold on it
I Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
I Timothy 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
15. Be sober and hope to the end for it
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
I Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time.
I Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 16. Endure temptations
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
17. Let the promise of it remain in you and
continue in God and Christ
I John 2:24-25 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
I John 5:11-20 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
18. Love everybody
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I John 3:14-15 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
19. Keep yourself in the love of God, looking for eternal life
Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
20. Overcome sin
Revelations 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Revelations 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelations 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Revelations 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Revelations 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even
as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
21. Be faithful unto death
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Hebrews 12:14-15 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 22. Believe and obey the gospel
John 5:15-19 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
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23. Be born again, hear Christ, and follow Him.
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 3:3-8 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
We get eternal life now and keep it forever if we meet the above conditions, but it does not become an non-forfeitable eternal possession until We “enter into” it
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 18:8-9 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Receive it
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried,
he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
I Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Revelations 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life
Reap it
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And inherit it in the world to come
Matthew 19:27-29 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
And at the “end” of this life
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
E. Day, Jr. has been in the ministry for over 40 years now. He has pastored, taught, mentored and ministered to many in several states. Retired now from pasto
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ICOF members have united over 50,000 ministers
representing more than 25 Million constituents, several
hundred colleges, universities and other Christian schools,
orphanages & feeding programs, humanitarian aid
organizations, chaplains and other charities.
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JOEL & VICTORIA OSTEEN
LOUISVILLE NIGHT OF HOPE
Louisville, KY – A crowd of more than
10,000 gathered in the KFC YUM
Center in downtown Louisville
Kentucky for an amazing night
centered on the theme of Hope.
Hope for America. Hope that comes
through faith in Jesus Christ.
Among the faithful that came to hear
the message of Joel & Victoria
Osteen were Drs. Stan & Cindye
Coates who traveled all the way from
Atlanta to represent their church
Solomon’s Porch.
Also in attendance were Bishop
Derrick and Pastor Angela Day,
Bishop Sanford & Evangelist Jackie
Wade, Robert Upton, Terry Tripp, Drs.
Ben & Jewel Tankard and an
enterage from Life Church (Iglesia
Vida) which included Drs. Bernie &
Daisy Wade, Pastors Bernie II &
Blanca Wade, Pastor Maricela & Juan
Fuentes, and a plethora of
volunteers.
Before the historic Night of Hope
service the ministers were guests of
honor back stage with Pastors Joel &
Victoria Osteen as well as Pastor Phil
Munsey. It was an epic night. The
group was priviledged to be joined by
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Pastor Dodie Osteen, Pastor Joel
Osteen’s mother. Drs. Bernie &
Daisy Wade made a special
presentation to Dodie Osteen which
included a Lifetime Achievement
Award from International Circle of
Faith (ICOF) in recognition of her
more than 50 years of service to
Lakewood Church in Houston Texas
in the next couple of pages we
captured some of the flavor of the
backstage events.
Dodie Osteen with Daisy and Bernie Wade at the Louisville Night of Hope
Cindye Coates and Victoria Osteen
Joel Osteen, Stan Coates, Cindye Coates
The Mendenhalls with Joel Osteen
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Blanca Wade, Joel Osteen and Bernie Wade II
VICTORIA OSTEEN, DODIE OSTEEN, DERRICK DAY, ANGELA DAY, AND BEN TANKARD
Ben Tankard and Robert Upton
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SABARN STEGER WITH PHIL MUNSEY BEN TANKARD WITH SABARAN STEGER
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A highlight for the team was the
presentation by Life College
President, Angela Day, of the Doctor
of Letters to Pastor Joel Osteen (or
Dr. Joel Osteen if you prefer)!
After the backstage festivities, the
Night of Hope began in earnest. The
ministry team from Lakewood Church
did an amazing job leading worship.
Cindye Coates with Dodie Osteen
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At each Night of Hope Pastor Joel
Osteen invites local ministers to do
proclamations. Pastor Phil Munsey
who is the President of the
Champions Network Our own Dr.
Bernie Wade joined Pastor Bob
Rogers, Pastor Craig Johnson,
Pastor Steve Turpin, and others.
Thousands responded to the
invitation given by Pastor Joel
Osteen. The night ended with all
encouraged, excited and uplifted. For
many of us, Friday Night was only the
beginning of an epic weekend. The
next morning we would begin Life
Fest 2014 at Life Church in La Grange
Kentucky.
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Juan Fuentes, Joel Osteen & Maricela Fuentes
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Some Liberating, Activating Thoughts for You, Your Future
and for Others
WITH ED DELPHs
Years ago I made the mistake of buying a Christmas present from a catalog I saw at my father and mother's house. The result? Now our mailbox is the recipient of Holiday catalogs from everywhere and on everything. I feel obligated to scan the catalogs. Someone did heaps of work to find all the weird stuff in them. Christmas catalogs were created for more than my Peoria, Arizona recycle bin. This week I found some 'word treasures' on plaques in one of those catalogs. I posted the sayings on my Facebook page. You should have seen all the 'likes' and comments. I was a 'Facebook Rockstar.'
Here's one of the quotes on the plaques: “Four things you can't recover: The stone after the throw. The word after it's said. The occasion after it's missed. The time after it's gone.” That quote is by Deanna Wadsworth.
Everyone of the ideas you could find in the Bible. Here's another quote on a plaque from an unknown author. "Three simple rules for life: 1. If you don't not go after what you want, you'll never have it. 2. If you do not ask, the answer will always be no. 3. If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place." That's Biblical. But here is the quote on the plaque that got the most 'likes' and comments. It's by an unknown author. "The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest." I like this one. Let's contemplate that first idea. The first to apologize is the bravest. It takes courage to admit that we are sometimes wrong or did wrong. Isn't it interesting? We know in our minds that we were wrong but we just can't admit it. Like Adam and Eve, the second we fail in some way, we go right to the department store and buy a fig leaf. We hide. We hurl. We deny. That thick wall of self-protection we build keeps others out but it also keeps ourselves in. We then underachieve. Hubris is a
powerful blocker of destiny. It takes courage to say, "I was wrong. I did my best. I did my worst. It didn't work out. Will you forgive me?" Now the second idea. The first to forgive is the strongest. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong." Where did he get that concept. From the Bible, of course. God showed us His strength by sending the Ambassador of Reconciliation, Jesus, to offer forgiveness from sin to all humankind. Why? Forgiveness makes the future possible...seventy times seven. Now the last thought. The first of forget is the happiest. Here's a story for you on this: Early is their marriage, my Dad did something really stupid. My Mom chewed him out for it. He apologized and they made up. However, from time to time, my Mom mentioned what he had done. "Honey," my Dad finally said one day, "why do you keep bringing that up? I thought your policy was to forgive and forget." "It is," she said. "I just don't want you to forget what I've forgiven and forgotten." Enough said! As C.S. Lewis says, "There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind."
Ed Delph has been responding to
God's call to the community and
to the nations since 1979. He has
ministered or been in over 100
countries as well as serving as a
pastor in the United States.
NATIONSTRATEGY
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LIFE CHURCH OF KENTUCKY Committed to leading people to become devoted followers of Christ.
502.265.3795
http://www.lifecommunity.us
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COULD YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN
AMBASSADOR?
Life Network and the International Circle of
Faith Global Network has a mandate to help usher
in a new wave of the Spirit of God in this
century.
From a handful in our beginning to networking
more than 50,000 ministers impacting every nation
under the heavens we have become what some call
the largest Apostolic movement in history.
Today, Life Network and ICOF represents some 25
million people. It is our expectation that what God
has done in the past, He will do again. Jesus told us,
“Greater things than these you WILL do!” It is
evident that we are destined to see the glory of the
latter house be greater than the glory of the former
house.
We are in need of Ambassadors to every country! I
am extending my hand to you and offer you the
chance to make application for Ambassador to you
country, state or region. If you think you might be
interested, please take a look at a couple of links
here that will give you more information.
COULD YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE
AN AMBASSADOR?
Life Network and the International Circle of
Faith Global Network has a mandate to help usher
in a new wave of the Spirit of God in this
century.
From a handful in our beginning to networking
more than 50,000 ministers impacting every nation
under the heavens we have become what some call
the largest Apostolic movement in history.
Today, Life Network and ICOF represents some 25
million people. It is our expectation that what God
has done in the past, He will do again. Jesus told us,
“Greater things than these you WILL do!” It is
evident that we are destined to see the glory of the
latter house be greater than the glory of the former
house.
We are in need of Ambassadors to every country! I
am extending my hand to you and offer you the
chance to make application for Ambassador to you
country, state or region. If you think you might be
interested, please take a look at a couple of links
here that will give you more information.
The Current World Population is
7,274,086,066
154,651 Births today 120,517,281 Births this year
63,811 Deaths today 49,726,877 Deaths this year
90,840 Population growth today 70,790,405 Population growth this year
Top 20 Largest Countries by Population (live)
1 China 1,396,838,072
11 Mexico 124,346,654
2 India 1,273,098,730
12 Philippines 100,734,335
3 U.S.A. 323,525,487
13 Ethiopia 97,411,931
4 Indonesia 253,911,820
14 Vietnam 92,871,442
5 Brazil 202,656,052
15 Egypt 83,884,667
6 Pakistan 186,252,301
16 Germany 82,624,743
7 Nigeria 180,366,264
17 Iran 78,852,357
8 Bangladesh 159,228,375
18 Turkey 76,174,567
9 Russia 142,332,389
19 Congo 70,056,372
10 Japan 126,946,628
20 Thailand 67,301,796
ICOF Announces Formation Of Life Network
COULD YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN AMBASSADOR?
Life Network and the International Circle of Faith Global Network has a mandate to help usher in a
new wave of the Spirit of God in this century.
From a handful in our beginning to networking more than 50,000 ministers impacting every nation under
the heavens we have become what some call the largest Apostolic movement in history.
Today, Life Network and ICOF represents some 25 million people. It is our expectation that what God
has done in the past, He will do again. Jesus told us, “Greater things than these you WILL do!” It is
evident that we are destined to see the glory of the latter house be greater than the glory of the former
house.
We are in need of Ambassadors to every country! I am extending my hand to you and offer you the
chance to make application for Ambassador to you country, state or region.
For more information: [email protected]
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WHATEVER YOU NEED
By Jeremiah Johnson
Ephesians 5:27 27that He might present her
to Himself a glorious church, not having
spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that
she should be holy and without blemish.
Have you been to a worship service where
you stood with your hands raised, ready to
worship God, only to hear the worship
leader say, “Before we worship God, let’s all
search our hearts”? Then, as you search
your heart, before long, you dig
up something that you don’t like.
The next thing you know, your
hands are no longer raised and
soon, you find yourself sitting
down — you don’t feel good
worshiping God any more.
My friend, I have good news for
you. Come and worship Him as you are.
Come into God’s presence Jesus-conscious,
forgiveness-conscious and grace-conscious!
Come into God’s presence bringing only
Jesus the spotless Lamb of God as your
offering.
Your worshiping God is like the times God’s
people in the Old Testament brought their
offerings to the priest. The priest examined
the animal sacrifice to ensure that it was
without blemish. The priest did not examine
the sinner. If the animal was without
blemish, God accepted the animal sacrifice
as well as the offerer who brought the
animal. So when you come into God’s
presence, don’t do any self-examination
and be discouraged when you find faults in
your life. God does not examine you. He
sees you through the full value, and all the
loveliness and acceptance of His Son.
(Ephesians 1:6) He sees you holy and
without blemish!
Remember the woman who was referred to
as a sinner, possibly a prostitute?
She went to the house of the
Pharisee who was hosting Jesus and
wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair.
(Luke 7:36–50) That was her act of
worship. She came to Him as she
was. Yes, she knew that she had
sinned, but she worshiped Jesus
first because of who He is. She was
Jesus-conscious. Then, she heard Jesus say,
“Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48) She
received the forgiveness she needed from
Him.
Whatever you need from the Savior, come
to Him as you are. Worship Him for who He
is and then you will hear Him say, “Go your
way. Your restoration has come. Your
prosperity is here. You are healed. You have
been made whole!”
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Following the festivities of the Night of
Hope was LIFE FEST 2014! Life Fest is the
annual celebration of the Life Network.
The focus of Life Fest is to bring together
representation from the body of Christ in
education, business, media, community
(government), arts, sports, church and
more!
We were excited to start Life Fest with a
meeting of the Life College Board of
Regents chaired by Life College President,
Angela Day.
The 2014 LIFE NETWORK EXECUTIVE
BOARD SESSION WAS CHAIRED BY ICOF
PRESIDENT DERRICK DAY.
Pastor Melvin Erwin, Dr. Roderick Williams, Dr. Benrie Wade, Dr. Daisy Wade and Dr. James Blackmon
Dr. Ralph Day
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Following the morning sessions was the
Life Fest Luncheon. A quartet of leaders
brought presentations during the Life Fest
Luncheon. These included Deana Karem
from the Oldham Country Chamber of
Commerce, George Saliba Owner of
McDonalds in Henry and Oldham Counties,
John Zeydel (with Christy Smallwood)
owner of ARKHAM and Michael Pate
family court attorney.
John Zeydel of ARKHAM addressing the Life Fest Luncheon LIFE NETWORK EXECUTIVE BOARD
Pastor Jeremiah Johnson
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Music ministry is a tremendous part of LIFE
FEST pictured are Pastor Stan Coates, Pastor
Ben Tankard and the Life Church Praise
Team.
Attorney Michael Pate, Pastor Phil Munsey and George Saliba at Life Fest
30
Christy Smallwood with LIFE FEST Executive Director Birgit Zepf
Phil Munsey addresses Life Fest after receiving the Life College Doctor of Letters degree. Pictured with him are
Alumni of Life College.
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During the Life Fest Luncheon Life College
President, Angela Day, joined Life College
Chancellor, Bernie L. Wade, in making
special presentations to Phil Munsey,
Jewel Tankard and Ben Tankard. All three
received the prestigious Doctor of Letter
degree from Life College.
Life College President Angela Day, Dr. Phil Munsey, Dr. Bernie Wade and Bishop Derrick Day
Life College President Angela Day, Pastor Jewel Tankard, Bishop Derrick Day and Life College Chancellor Bernie L.
Wade, Ph.D.
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Pastor Jeremiah Johnson, Bernie L. Wade with Bishop
Sabaran Steger
Angela Day and Jewel Tankard
Life College Provost Dr. Cindye Coastes and Life College President Angela Day
Phil Munsey with Stan & Cindye Coates
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Pastor Blanca Wade, Pastor Victoria Osteen and Pastor Maricela Fuentes
Dr. Cindye Coates with Dodie Osteen
Rebecca Thurman, Pastor Sarah Phillips, and Dorrie Cutlip, these and many others helped make Life Fest and the Life
Fest Luncheon possible.
Dr. Barney Phillips and Bishop Derrick Day
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IF YOUR COMPANY, MINITRY OR
ORGANIZATION HAS AN JOB OPENING,
MINISTRY OPENING OR VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN HAVE IT LISTED
HERE. EMAIL: [email protected]
LIFE NETWORK is
preparing for their
January 5th 2015 launch
and is looking for a
variety of talented individuals. Some are
listed below. http://www.lifenetwork.us
For more information email: [email protected]
Executive Vice President
of Business. LIFE
NETWORK seeks an
experienced entrepreneur
/ business person to serve as the key person
for our business division.
http://www.lifenetwork.us
For more information email [email protected]
Secretary General.
International Circle of Faith
(ICOF) seeks a person to serve
as Secretary General for North America.
http://www.icof.net
For more information contact Bishop
Derrick Days office.
Secretary General. Life Network seeks a
person with experience in government, or
with a political action
committee (PAC), or
similar to serve as
Secretary General of
the Life Network.
http://www.lifenetwork.us
For more information email: [email protected]
Editor – Next Wave
magazine is looking
for an editor. The
Next Wave magazine
is the monthly voice
of Life Network and is
published 12 times annually. For more
information email [email protected]
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MINISTER OF MUSIC. Life
Church is seeking a
minister of music for the La
Grange Campus. For more
information visit
http://www.lifecommunity.us Email:
LIFE AMBASSADOR - As a
Life Ambassador you will
serve your city, area,
state, or nation in
bringing the vision of Life
Network. For more information please
email: [email protected]
MUSICIANS. Life Church is
seeking musicians for the
Life Church Praise Band for the La Grange
Kentucky campus. For more information
visit http://www.lifecommunity.us
Email: [email protected]
January 4th, 2015. Life Network Fellowship
Meeting. Life Church. 1901 Prestwick
Drive. La Grange, KY 40031.
Phone:502.265.3795
Email: [email protected]
April 19, 2015
Life Church Anniversary Service. 1 PM.
1901 Prestwick Drive. La Grange, KY 40031.
Phone:502.265.3795
Email: [email protected]
September 4, 5, 6. LIFE FEST. La Grange,
KY. Life Church. 1901 Prestwick Drive. La
Grange, KY 40031. Phone:502.265.3795
Email: [email protected]
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LIFE NETWORK
Social Media
Coordinator
Volunteer
Position Overview
Social Media Coordinators help
engage the target audience via
various social media channels
Expectations
Education/Certifications/Experience
Degree in marketing, journalism,
new media, advertising,
entertainment or social media
experience. Will train in lieu of
experience.
Digital or communications
experience
Computer Skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Demonstrated, participatory
expertise in various social media
channels, including LinkedIn,
YouTube, Foursquare, Twitter,
Bookmarking sites, Flickr, Forums,
Wikis, blogs, etc
Ability to identify threats and
opportunities in user-generated
content
Basic SEO knowledge
Ability to produce quality editorial
and technical output
Functions, Duties, & Responsibilities
Utilizes posts, tweets, podcasts,
articles, videos, or screencasts to
interact
Moderate and promote
communications that encourage
the exchange of user-generated
content
Create strategies and tactics to
increase participation and ensure
the clarity of the message across
social media channels
Coordinates campaign calendars
with online activity
Contact:
Dr. Ralph Day
LIFE NETWORK VP of Social Media
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O.C. Isom II O. C. Isom II is the founder, Bishop, and Senior Pastor of Word up Apostolic Ministries founded in 2003. He also serves as a Bishop of the State of Michigan of the International Circle of Faith. He has a Bachelors Degree in Theology and a Masters Degree in Counseling from Cypress Bible College. He is the author of Wounds Caused By Gossip and has several years of experience dealing with negative attitudes, conflicts, and emotional wounds. For many years, he has sought to find a beautiful groundbreaking solution that will restore glory and bring about restoration resulting in the alignment of the body of Christ. He has written this book which covers the complete spectrum on attitudes among Christians. His focus is on educating leaders and Christians on how to improve communication skills and how to deal with conflicts that exist in church today. He writes practical implications, shines the light to expose gossip, and conflict within the Body of Christ by having a kingdom mindset. He has a lovely wife Marilyn, two daughters, Tiffany and Karissa, and a son Andre.
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Hi Bishop Wade,
It was wonderful this week end in Ghana. it was
during the 22nd anniversary celebrations of
Kingdom Grace chapel.
God moved in unprecedented ways and souls were
saved, healed and delivered. Amongst the many
things the Lord did was the election of Rev Dr Seth
Nana Opoku as Bishop pending consecration, which
we pray will take place next year first week of July
God willing. I will keep you posted as things
unfold. My regards to the family of God under
your care.
Bishop Tembi Alfred Tembi
Director Revival Gospel Radio,
President Revival Gospel Ministries
CEO Christian Communication Network
PO Box 598 Buea SW Region Cameroon. Africa.
cell:23777640241. House 237 33322359
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LIFE COLLEGE
EDUCATING TOMORROWS LEADERS
http://www.lifecollege.education
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WANTED INTERCESSORS
IF YOU ARE AN INTERCESSOR WE
NEED YOUR HELP! We are putting a
team of intercessors together to pray
for our new church plant. We know
that we can never accomplish the
vision that God has given us without
intercessors.
LIFE CHURCH of Kentucky is a new
church. As part of our team we need
a plethora of God called intercessors.
We would love for you to be part of
what God is doing in our area.
If you will commit to praying for LIFE
CHURCH of Kentucky we will commit
to give you timely updates on the
needs.
Together we are making a real and
lasting difference for the Kingdom of
Jesus Christ.
Or Call
502.265.3795
44
The Purpose of Adversity By J. Samuel Willoughby
Psalms 34:17-22 The righteous cry; and the
LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all
their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them
that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as
be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but
the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20
He
keepeth all his bones: not one of them is
broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they
that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22
The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants:
and none of them that trust in him shall be
desolate.
The simple Truth about the Christian walk, is
that adversity is no respecter of persons…it
comes to every man, regardless of status or
experience levels. When Jesus told the story in
Matthew 7 of the contrast between the house-
building sites of the wise versus the foolish
man. The ONE constant in the story is, the
flood comes to all!
When adversity comes, many foil God’s plan
and purpose by trying to remove the adversity.
But don’t do that. Let it reveal to you the
weakness that God is trying to show you. God
doesn’t send adversity to be against you, but to
benefit you. (out of weakness, we are made
strong)
The cares of this world are the stiffest
competition for your attention God has.
ADVERSITY IS TEMPORARY!!
One of my favorite lines of scripture in the
Book is, Genesis 40:1 “…and it came to
pass…”
Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you,
and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
You need some rest and peace? Take up His
yoke. Murrel and Joan Ewing wrote a song
that says… “The storms don’t decide how long
they will stay…when the Master says,
‘Enough!’ they just go away…”
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to his
purpose.
Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God
dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is
he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:10-13 For they verily for a few
days chastened us after their own pleasure;
but he for our profit, that we might be partakers
of his holiness.
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11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth
to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which
hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And
make straight paths for your feet, lest that
which is lame be turned out of the way; but let
it rather be healed.
Adversity is God’s wake-up call for
self-examination—
Time for us to thoroughly examine our actions,
our attitudes, our motives, the things that drive
us…If not we’re liable to miss the little
OBLIQUE turn in life’s road…
1 Corinthians 11:28-32 But let a man examine
himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and
drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not
discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause
many are weak and sickly among you, and
many sleep. 31 For if we would judge
ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But
when we are judged, we are chastened of the
Lord, that we should not be condemned with
the world.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke
and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall
not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Ephesians 6:2-3 Honor thy father and mother;
which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou
mayest live long on the earth;
In our self-examination we need to ask
ourselves, “Have we dishonored our teaching
in any way?” Adversity is often God’s way of
conquering our pride. Think of
Moses…Joseph…David…Apostle Paul.
Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh
contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then
cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him
low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Some things are just not honorable! According
to James 4:6-7 God “resists” the proud! That
word means “to set the battle in array against”.
God goes to war with us when we allow pride
to govern us!
James 4:6-7 But he giveth more grace.
Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist
the devil, and he will flee from you.
Revelation 4:10-11 The four and twenty elders
fall down before him that sat on the throne, and
worship him that liveth forever and ever, and
cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and
honor and power: for thou hast created all
things, and for thy pleasure they are and were
created.
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2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be
exalted above measure through the abundance
of the revelations, there was given to me a
thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to
buffet me, lest I should be exalted above
measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord
thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he
said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest
upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in
persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for
when I am weak, then am I strong.
Bishop J. Samuel
Willoughby brings a
lifetime of ministry
experience to his role as a
Teacher in the Body of
Christ. He is a member of
the International Circle of
Faith Fivefold Roundtable
for North America.
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International Circle of
Faith (ICOF)
Announcement
You Can't Ignore This There's a massive shift happening in the online world. Currently, 1 in every 5 people in the world own a smartphone (according to Business Insider at http://www.businessinsider.com/smartphone-and-tablet-penetration-2013-10). Information is available to us at the press of a button. As our lives have become more mobile, so has our need for information to be more mobile. And no, the 2014 church website trend I'm talking about is not responsive websites -that was 2012-ish. This trend is actually more of a paradigm shift than a new feature. In fact, it's actually much, much bigger than just a trend.
It's a fundamental change in the way we learn about Jesus, church, and faith. And we can't ignore it. Before we dive into anything, let's start with the statistical evidence for this fundamental change: As recently as 2009, 99% of people got their faith information from church; in 2013, 40% said they were acquiring it through other media - devices that could be used on-the-go, at their desks at work, or in the comfort of their own homes. Instead of immediately discussing what this means for us and our church, it's helpful to set straight what this statistic does not suggest. This statistic does not suggest the following:
This does not suggest that people are leaving churches in droves. It just shows we're consuming information in different ways.
This is not a reflection on the competency of our church services and church communities. Again, this is simply a shift in culture.
This does not suggest that we need to be filming our services and putting them online (quoted from prochurchtools.com at http://prochurchtools.com/dont-record-your-church-services/). In fact, it suggests the opposite.
Alright, now that we have those out of the way, we can finally tackle the important question: What does this mean for your church? This statistic and shift in culture means one
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very important thing for your church: Your church's online presence is more important than ever before. What does this mean for Monica? Consider this case study of a girl named Monica. (This is merely an illustrative case study based on the statistics, and does not represent a particular person.) As recently as five years ago, Monica learned everything she desired to know about faith at her local church. Today, however, this is not the case. Instead of getting her faith information from church, she now gets the majority of it from the internet. One day Monica is waiting for the bus on her way to work. While she waits, she recalls a conversation she had with friends the night before about alcohol and Christianity. She really wants some clarity on the issue, so she opens up her phone and googles a couple of questions looking for answers. She reads some blogs, checks out a couple of different views, and because Monica grew up in a world where the internet is viewed as an authoritative source of information, her viewpoint has now been heavily shaped by the online information she just consumed. Instead of texting her pastor or church leader, instead of hearing a sermon in church, Monica has most of her faith views shaped online. Why this is good news for your church We generally like to chalk-up change as a bad thing. But in this case, I think we can view this change in culture as a positive. Instead of just waiting inside our four walls for people to come to us and learn about faith, it's our job to go to them.
Your church's online presence is more important now than ever before. Churches need to start becoming content creators and curators. There's a world out there looking for information on faith! They want it! Unfortunately, here's how the conversation generally goes: "What does the Bible say about sex in the 21st century?" - Monica "Well, we're starting a new series on sex in a couple of weeks! 9AM and 11AM. Come check it out!!!!!!!" - The Church "...Righhhhht." - Monica (disregards message from church and looks it up online) Here's the model I suggest that you follow Let's get to some practical solutions. Considering the information here and the statistical evidence, this is the model I suggest your church follow to get in step with this 2014 church website trend: 1. Start with your sermon series Most churches conduct sermon series. In a series there's an overarching theme that gets covered for 4-6 consecutive weeks. This is the best place to start. This is where pastors will work through Scripture, get answers to tough questions, and provide a faith roadmap for real life. But don't stop there. As we've seen, if you limit this information to only Sunday mornings, you'll be severely limiting the size of your audience. And that leads to step two. 2. Repackage the series content into many different types of media Imagine that you sit down with your team. You have the sermon series planned for the next 4-6 weeks. You have the message outlines and everything ready to go. Now ask yourself and your team, "How can we get this important information into the
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hands of as many people as possible?" Assuming your sermon series is all about sex in the 21st century, here's a list of content that you could create:
Podcasts: Host a roundtable each week with your team and discuss a hot topic. Use a discussion format and just talk about it as if you were at a coffee shop as friends (Example: Is living together before marriage a bad idea?).
Blog Posts: Write a couple of short, punchy blog posts (Example: 5 Things You Didn't Know the Bible Says About Sex).
Tweets and Facebook posts: See an article from another pastor or blogger that falls in line with what you're teaching? Share it on your church's Twitter account or Facebook page (Example: What Should Christian Women Look for in a Man via Jarrid Wilson).
E-books & devotionals: Create an e-book of devotionals to go along with your series: a new devotional everyday that lines up with the trajectory of the series.
3. Publish the content and get it to as many people as possible Now that you have your series and your various forms of content, it's time to publish it and send it out. For this step, I suggest you follow the model. Everything here is centered on email. A major goal on the site is to use your email address to communicate with you in the most intimate way online - through email. For instance, if your church had a series containing all the content mentioned above, I would suggest that you send out podcasts
on Tuesday through email, send out blog posts on Thursday through email, and continue to update the social media feed throughout the week. The key idea here is to be always publishing new material in different media. Someone like Monica isn't likely to wait for a 30-minute sermon in hopes of getting the answer she's looking for, but if you've sent her out a podcast and a blog post that week, she's much more likely to check your church website and quickly read through that instead of blindly searching the internet. Conclusion As the landscape of online media continues to change the way our world communicates, our churches need to change the way we communicate as well. Standing at our pulpits once a week won't cut it anymore. We need to become content creators and curators in every type of media. Maybe Monica won't hear the sermon on Sunday, and maybe she won't read any blog posts, but maybe one of the roundtable discussion podcasts will pique her interest and she'll decide to give it a listen. The more content your church creates, the greater the audience it will reach. And in this way we can continue to influence and teach our churches about faith, and stop letting the internet do it for us. Don't ignore this 2014 church website trend - it's a big one.
By Dr. Ralph Day
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Humanistic Theism? By Lea Bates
Today I observed someone
accusing another of being
humanistic – in other words
they proclaimed that the other
person practiced humanism.
The words said were an all-out
verbal attack that really saddened me. I can’t
say I know the person being attacked very well
so therefore I couldn’t defend them against this
accusation. Besides, as aggressive of a
personality as the accuser had it would have
been pointless anyway. Kind of like casting
pearls in the direction of swine. I did however
look up this term – humanism, because the
case the accuser made seemed to attack many
out there who are (or claim to be) Christians.
Here is what I found:
noun: humanism
an outlook or system of thought attaching
prime importance to human rather than divine or
supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress
the potential value and goodness of human
beings, emphasize common human needs,
and seek solely rational ways of solving human
problems.
a Renaissance cultural movement
that turned away from medieval
scholasticism and revived interest in
ancient Greek and Roman thought.
noun: Humanism
(among some contemporary writers)
a system of thought criticized as
being centered on the notion of the
rational, autonomous self and
ignoring the unintegrated and
conditioned nature of the individual.
I suddenly realized as I read this terminology
how dangerously close the body of Christ has
leaned towards this direction. No one wants to
hear a negative commentary; but we must be
real here. We attend church services where “the
praise team is wonderful” or we go to this
church because “they still sing the old hymns.”
Either music is fine with me, but if we are
determining our attendance of a fellowship
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(ekklesia G1577 Strongs) gathering based on
the music, or the dress, or even the people, or
the pastor, then have we not become
humanistic in our own right? Have we forsaken
our First Love? Who is at the Head?
Christ is centered as the Head of the Church.
We didn’t choose God, He chose us (See 1
Thessalonians 2:13-14; Romans 9:16). God
chose the people he called Israel and called
them out to bring them unto himself (Exodus
19:4). Not to satisfy their wants, but because He
cared for them and to bring them into a
covenant and communion with Him. Jesus
came as a propitiation for our sins (Romans
3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10).
His sacrifice didn’t give us carte-blanch to our
own desires. No! We were bought at a price (1
Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). Oh, death where is
your sting? Have we fallen short of facing the
sting of the death to self? Therefore our sin calls
us unto the strength of the law (1 Corinthians
15:56), because we follow our fleshly desires
instead of dying to self so He can reign within
us.
God takes no pleasure in our desire to bask in
selfish desires. “Now the just shall live by faith;
but if anyone draws back, my soul has no
pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38). He
predestined those he called – to be conformed
into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30),
according to the good pleasure of His WILL
(Ephesians 1:5, 11). Our God is faithful to those
He has called into the fellowship of His
Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). He
longs to scoop us up on eagle’s wings.
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Leadership Principles
Dr. Barney Phillips
Leadership is the privilege to have the responsibility to direct the actions of others in carrying out the purposes of the organization. Leaders must take responsibility and be accountable for both success and failure. No model or system of leadership behaviors can anticipate the circumstances, conditions and situations in which a leader must influence the actions of others. An evaluation of leadership principles is an effective base upon which to build other skills that may be important to success in various fields. I can find no better base of principles then the Bible. It is essential to every organization, church, company and nation, that we have in position leaders at every level who possesses the skills, abilities and attitudes that will enable them to successfully carry out the responsibilities they are faced with. There is no quick way to develop leaders. Leaders must learn throughout their lives—never ceasing as students, never being above gaining new insights or studying innovative procedures or methods—whatever the source. Our Leaders must learn early in their service certain basic qualities and have opportunities to mature in them. We must teach these qualities to our young men and
women if they are to develop into able and effective Leaders. In order to skillfully lead in our world today, we must have Leaders who possess, among others, the following essential qualities, which through experience become mastered skills: LOYALTY—above all things, a Leader must be loyal. Disagreement is not necessarily disloyalty. A Leader, who, in the best interest of the organization, disagrees, should be listened to. On the other hand, a Leader who actively participates in or
encourages actions that are counter to the good of the organization is disloyal. This person must be expeditiously removed. Their ability to influence and discourage loyal people and other leaders is a contagious disease. In cases where disloyal actions and attitudes cannot be changed, harsh action must be taken to rid ourselves of those among us who see no value in
and subvert our vision and purpose. DEPENDABILITY—If a Leader cannot be depended upon in all situations to carry out his roles and responsibilities, relieve him of them. COURAGE—Leaders who lead must have courage. They must be fearless and have the fortitude to carry out assignments given them—the gallantry to accept the risks of leadership. They must not balk at the sight of obstacles, nor must they become bewildered when in the presence of
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adversity. DESIRE—few people will sustain themselves as leaders without strong personal desire—an inherent Commitment to influencing people, processes and
outcomes. Weak is the leader who does not want to be one. We must be careful to avoid placing people into positions of leadership that they have no desire to fulfill. EMPATHY—leaders must develop empathy—an appreciation for and an understanding of the values of others, a sensitivity for other cultures, beliefs and traditions. However, empathy must not be confused with sympathy, which may result in unwise consolation. DECISIVENESS— leaders must learn to be decisive, knowing when to act and when not to act, taking into account all facts bearing on the situation and then responsibly carrying out their leadership role. ANTICIPATION—learning by observation and through instincts sharpened by tested experience, leaders must anticipate thoughts, actions and consequences. Anticipation bears a level of risk to act, when others retreat and turn to the comfort of personal security.
TIMING—essential to all acts of leadership is the timing of recommendations and actions. There is no magic formula for developing a sense of timing. One often gains this leadership skill by applying the lessons learned through failure. Knowing whom you are dealing with, their motives, characters, priorities and ambitions are critical elements even when seeking approval of the simplest recommendation. ACCOUNTABILITY—learning to account for personal actions and those of subordinates is fundamental to leadership. Leaders must never heap praise or lay blame on others for what they themselves achieve or fail to accomplish, no matter how glorious or grave the consequences. RESPONSIBILITY—leaders are only necessary when someone is to be responsible to see that actions are carried
out and directions followed. No leader should ever be allowed to continue to serve as a leader who will not accept full responsibility for his actions. CREDIBILITY— leaders must be credible. Their words and actions must be believable to both friends and foe. They must be trusted to have the intelligence and integrity to provide correct information. Leaders lacking in credibility will not gain proper influence and should be removed from positions of responsibility, for they
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cannot be trusted. TENACITY—the quality of unyielding drive to accomplish assignments is a desirable and essential quality of leadership. The weak persist only when things go their way. The strong persist and pursue through discouragement, deception and even personal abandonment. Tenacity is often the key to achieving difficult assignments or meeting challenging goals. STEWARDSHIP— leaders must have the essential quality of stewardship, a caretaker quality. They must serve in a manner that encourages confidence, trust and loyalty. People are not to be abused; they are to be guided, developed and rewarded for their performance. Disciplinary actions should to reserved as a consequence of last resort and applied only when all other attempts have failed to encourage compliance. Without a flock there can be no shepherd. Without an army there can be no battle captains. Without subordinates there can be no leaders. Leaders are, therefore, caretakers of the interests and well-being of those and the purposes they serve. SELF-CONFIDENCE—proper training and experience develops in leaders a personal feeling of assurance with which to meet the inherent challenges of leadership. Those who portray a lack of self-confidence in their abilities to carry out leadership assignments give signs to those they are leading, peers and superiors that these duties are COMPETITIVENESS—an essential quality of leadership is an intrinsic desire to win. It is not necessary to win all the time; however, it is necessary to
win the important contests. Leaders must understand that the competition inside and outside our nation is strong and not to be taken lightly. A sense of competitive anger drives those who win on the battlefield, in negotiations and in situations of internal strife. A leader without a sense of competitiveness is weak and easily overcome by the slightest challenge.
"YOU'VE GOT TO
WANT TO BE IN CHARGE" There is little more unsettling to an organization group church…than being under the leadership of a Leader who
shows a lack of commitment in his or her responsibility as a leader. Too often, the leadership of many falls to leaders who lack the ambition, courage and capabilities to be in charge as leaders. Such disinterest and incompetence is manifested in various actions that discourage and bewilders subordinates, thus strengthening the discord, disunity and dysfunction. It
is the responsibility of all to choose and follow only those leaders who demonstrate a desire to lead. Such leaders will be of no composite character. They will be as different from one another as one individual is different from another. They will not be laden with all perfection, nor will they possess a flawless character. Committed leaders, those with a zeal for leadership, a willingness to serve, will, however, be distinguishable by their wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, authority and courage. They will have a human quality and a strong commitment to their cause and to that of those they serve.
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Above all other traits, one who desires to lead must possess a willingness to serve and to accept substantial personal recognition. It’s been said that a person who cannot receive compliments; rarely ever gives compliments. You must have resilience to overcome personal misfortunes, discouragement, rejection and disappointment. You must have the courage, creativity and stamina to focus on accomplishing your responsibilities through the directed, delegated efforts of those you lead. You must be committed to persevere even in the face of opposition and challenge You must not be threatened by capable contemporaries or those under your leadership. Rather, you must be wise in selecting capable captains to achieve those things a leader can attain only through strong subordinates. A leader must not let your desire to lead take the form of over eagerness. This would cause failure for many. You must be willing to temper your zeal to lead with preparation, experience and opportunity. Leaders must remember that success in most areas depend largely upon your
sustained willingness to work hard. Sweat rules over inspiration! Leaders must be willing to make unrecognized and thankless personal sacrifice for those you serve and those you lead. Spending extraordinary energies and patience to develop others and tending to the needs of those they are leading at times when your own needs go unfulfilled. You must be willing to bypass a festival in your own camp if a situation in another camp requires your presence and attention. Leaders must be willing to remain humble and not take on an aura of false pride in your countenance. You must be willing to accept the simple fact that you have flaws and will need to work every day to become a better leader than you were yesterday. I leave you with the admonition to never accept an office of leadership for which you are not willing to pay the tribute necessary to successfully fulfill its obligations. Dr. Barney P. Phillips serves as Chief Development Officer for Life College, as well as the ICOF Ambassador to Nigeria and Teacher on the Dream Team of Life Church. He brings a lifetime of leadership development to his service.
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