“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

–Napoleon Hill

This is something that is rising up within my soul. The idea of purity is something that I see has been lost by many in America, even by me in many areas, and we need to start picking up our swords and our shields and begin fighting for this once more. And I guarantee to all readers of this post that if you begin seeking purity and holiness, the world will insult you, make fun of you, and even churches will call you a legalist. But this isn’t legalism, this is holiness. This is the set apart life that we, as Christians, are called to live.

We must be pure in all areas, physically and spiritually. This world is full of tempting things and it tries to pull us in to take part in its ways. I’m going to be bold in this post and I have already been called legalistic for simply questioning if things are right to do. But this subject must be tackled head on and I’m willing to stand for truth.

I want to first deal with the question of what purity is before I go into what I’m saying. Purity is the untainted lifestyle of a man or woman of God. It’s pure white paint without a single drop of any other color in it. It’s gold without impurities. It is a new born baby’s skin that has no scars or blemishes. It is holiness. Purity is being in the world, but not of the world (John 17:14-15).

Are we watching movies with sex scenes? “Oh, it’s just one sex scene, but the rest of the movie has a good message.”

Are we listening to music that says worldly things such as sex and drugs? I’m not talking about the style of music, I’m talking about what they’re saying.

Are we playing abominable video games?

Are we laughing at perverted jokes or racists jokes?

Are we entertaining ourselves with the things God hates?

Are we cursing and speaking unwholesomely with friends? “I’m hanging out with sinners just like Jesus did.” Jesus hung out with them, but He didn’t act like them. In fact, He preached repentance everywhere He went.

And what about in our relationships? Are we pure in what we’re doing? Sex isn’t the only thing that makes a man and a woman become one flesh. I have decided that I am not going to even kiss or cuddle with my future wife until we are married. I have a past of lustful sin and I am not going to tempt myself. I’m not going to name specifics and say that stuff like kissing is a sin, but I will say that if there is any hint of sexual immorality, that is a sin (Ephesians 5:3) and in our modern American culture, kissing isn’t usually something that’s friendly. Maybe occasionally, but I’m usually seeing kissing as something romantic. You make the choice and pray about it, but realize those things.

Now I’m not saying this to make you feel more comfortable, I’m saying it so that I am not accused of hypocrisy. I am not fully pure in all areas of my life. Until recently, I have not seen “a little bit of sinfulness” in the movies I watch or in anything I do as wrong. But let me ask you this: If your glass of water had just one drop of a dangerous poison in it, would you still drink it? It is just a little bit. What could be the harm? It will kill you. In the same way, our little impurities taint everything we do. We must stop doing these things.

We are Christians. We are called out from the rest of the world. As Peter says in 1 Peter 2:11, we are to be “strangers in the world” and “abstain from sinful desires, which war against” our souls. We have a different nature than we used to. We have been reborn and given a new heart. What God loves, we must love, and what God hates, we must hate. The Apostle John says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16)

Romans 12:1-2 -
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We take these words lightly, but why? We must begin taking these words to heart. We must be witnesses to the world. We must be lights in darkness (Ephesians 5:8). We’ve been given new knowledge and wisdom that we did not have before. Now we must let this transform our very lives. The word of God needs to take root in us. It is our bread. It is what we take in. It’s what sustains us. And if our food is God’s word, it’s going to be evident in our lives (John 6:48-50).

Christ is our King and we are His loyal people. Let us put on our armor, pick up our weapons and our shields and let us fight for His glory. We’re living in a world that is against our kingdom. This world is a threat to us and I’d rather die a martyr’s death for my King than give up my loyalty to save my own life. Let us bow down before our LORD’s throne, kiss His feet and declare that we will serve Him in every area of our lives because He is the sole reason we even live.

We want to have peace and happiness, but we’re not willing to fight for the One Who gives it to us. We always want to be encouraged and pitied in our sinful struggles instead of wrestling in prayer, fasting, and fighting with spiritual weapons so that we can have victory over them through the power of God, but that will be another post.

Let us show the whole world that we are servants of the God of all creation. Let us let them know that we are children of the Father. We are knights of a holy kingdom. We are men and women willing to die for the glory of our King. We are different, so let us express this ultimate difference in our purity.

May God be with those that read this. I hope these words convict people and they settle on the hearts and minds of my fellow family in Christ. Know that I love you and I say these things in love, to build others up with the wisdom God has given me. Sometimes it is better to be tough with one another so that we can grow.

The 8 Principles Of Goals And S.U.C.C.E.S.S | The Power of Words

There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 AMP

Wisdom Tip:

1: What not to say, and to say… 2: How to say it …

How we communicate, and what we speak to ourselves and to others can have a profound impact negatively or positively. Do you know that there are thousands of ways to criticize or speak negatively to someone or to yourself, but according to King Solomon only one correct way…? The wrong way can inflict deep wounds to one’s inner-most being (mind), the correct way will not leave a wound but will uplift and encourage a person or yourself …

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Institutionalization of God

Our culture has developed a system of dealing with our aged parents and grandparents. We “put them away” in institutions for the elderly. It is all neat and clean. They are out of our daily lives and we can go about our daily business and lives, going to visit them on weekends, schedules permitting.

The sad thing is that we have done this in our minds with God for a long time. God is neatly tucked away from our daily lives. His worship and service are even tucked away, because we do that on Sunday at the “worship service”!

• Where does God dwell?
• Where do you worship God?
• Where do you serve God?
• Where does ministry take place in your life?

Have you limited these activities to some man-made institution? Most of the Body of Christ has. This is sad beyond description! Shame on us! Will we continue to be party to such a conspiracy against God? A conspiracy it is: It is a conspiracy against the truth of His Word, the truth of our identity, the truth of His very Own character and attributes. Resist this “institutionalization of God”! Refuse to allow our God to be “put away”!

Protest by refusing to participate in such a practice any longer! Let us be free to be who we are! We are the church, we are the house of God, we are the habitation of God, we are His building. The worship, service and ministry of God are daily features of His life in us and are not regulated by time or place. Let’s stand there!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

Feeding the Positive

When negativity knocks at your door, do you recognize it and send it away? Or do you invite it in for dinner, or worse, to stay with you as long as it likes–possibly for your lifetime?

First, be clear that being the manager of negativity in your life isn’t about the fact that you have negative thoughts or feelings–you will. It isn’t about eliminating negative thoughts and feelings so you never experience them again–that’s not realistic. It is about training your conscious mind to notice such thoughts and feelings when they appear, and to recognize the different “costumes” negativity wears. You can’t manage negativity until you recognize and own how you engage it.

Whatever costume negativity puts on, what’s really embodied is fear. You might call it anger or another emotion, but underlying any negative emotion is fear–the fear you’ll lose something. This has everything to do with living in your personal power.

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross said, “Natural anger lasts for only about seventeen seconds.” This means the actual emotion you feel (any negative emotion) has its full-charge expression for that period of time. Past that, your conscious (and subconscious) mind takes over, usually engaging in reactions related to whatever fear was triggered.

When fear is triggered, you may project a negative future vision. You may pull up old memories to support why you feel the way you do. You’d call this justification for the reaction. What it really is, is feeding negativity–because you aren’t focused on what you can do that’s productive; you’re focused on self-preservation at any cost. Depending on your habitual reaction mode, you may close up like a telescope or let your sharp claws and teeth out.

Here are several common forms of negativity you may feed (or feed on):

• Prejudice of ANY kind (race, religion, financial status, etc.)
• Demonstrating lack of self-respect or respect for others (if you do one, you do the other)
• Unproductive criticism (everyone needs to vent; but there’s a productive way to do this)
• Replaying past events as though they’re still happening (which only triggers more negative emotions in the present)
• Allowing more “news” into your life than you really need to know (this includes any form of “entertainment” or “information” that creates extraneous negative feelings for you about anything that doesn’t have a direct impact on your life or how you choose to engage it)
• Intentionally negative “humor” or comments (sadly, the ability to slam someone with hurtful words, directly or indirectly, is considered a prized trait)
• Paying more attention to what others are doing than what you’re doing
• Telling jokes or using comments to bash others (gender-bashing is top of this list)
• Stating speculations then acting as though they’re facts (ignoring that maybe you don’t have enough information)
• Using the words “always” and “never” (or labels), especially when you assign them to others’ behaviors (which closes your mind to allowing they “could” one day be different)

You can add more to this list as they occur to you. A good question to ask yourself whenever you do one of these is, “What fear is underneath this for me, and how can I address it appropriately?”

Feeding negativity is a learned habit. You can:

1. Acknowledge you engage in it.
2. Remind yourself to get your own attention about this. Author Guy Finley said, “No intention can be any stronger than our ability to remember it in the moment that it is needed.”
3. Start now to begin to do things differently. Choose to ask if your attitude, words, and actions are aligned with opening the path for a desired productive experience and outcome. There’s a difference in telling someone you feel angry and why and asking them to participate in a mutually beneficial resolution, and verbally attacking them. There’s a difference in telling yourself what you feel, why you feel it, and considering what you can do rather than entering the negative vortex.
4. Consider how you really see your authentic self. It isn’t that you have to suppress your personality or nature. It isn’t that you have to deny and keep quiet about what you really feel. It’s about what you do from there and how you do it. What do you really want to feed–as your experience and what you believe about yourself? If you don’t believe in your personal power, and right to live from it, how can you expect to act from there?

Train yourself to respond more often than you react; and acknowledge that will take conscious energy management. Reactions happen when you feel events or others have more power than you do. They don’t; that’s an illusion. They can only have as much power over you as you give them.

Any person or event that tests your personal power is an opportunity for you to pause and consider how you really see yourself: are you a volunteer victim or someone who looks out for your best interests–with integrity? If you feed (or feed on) negativity on a consistent basis, it can seem nearly impossible to feel you embody personal power.

Personal power is not a way of acting–it’s a way of BEing, even if you have to BEcome it one more-consciously-aware moment at a time.

Compare how much time you give to negative thoughts, feelings, words, and actions to the time you apply these to what makes you feel authentic, joyful, intentional, fulfilled–living on purpose.

No matter what’s going on around you, you always choose how to experience and process it. When you embrace this as a fact, you stand in your personal power. The more you do this, the more your innate power expands.

Feed negativity or feed intentional living. The choice is yours.

** To comment on this article or to read comments about this article, go here.

About the Author:

Joyce Shafer (jls1422@yahoo.com) is a Life Empowerment Coach and Author of “Reinvent Yourself: Refuse to Settle for Less in Life and Business.”

Inspiration is as important to runners as a good pair of running shoes. It’s what helps you get out of the door on those miserable days when all you want to do is stay inside and keep warm. I wanted to share a couple of my personal inspirations in the hope that they may inspire others too.

Eddie Izzard (Eddie Iz Running)

In 2009 British Stand Up Comedian and Actor Eddie Izzard decided he would like to run 1100 miles over 7 weeks to raise money for Africa. After 5 weeks of training he set off, knowing he had to do 1 marathon a day for 6 days a week. He did it, and completed the challenge, running around the UK from London, to Cardiff, to Belfast, To Edinburgh and then back down to London.

I can’t begin to imagine what amount of mental strength Eddie needed not just to complete this task but to do so in the way he did, never moaning, never complaining, just running. May he be an inspiration to everyone that if you believe in something enough, you can do it.

Here is the first of his video diaries:

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8.

ADoRunRun

I discovered “ADoRunRun” while randomly searching youtube for marathon videos. I love to watch other people training because it does several things:

1. It lets you know that everyone struggles against the same issues, be it rubbish weather, long distance, annoying injury or just motivation.
2. It shows you that what starts off as something small can become something very big at the end when you cross the finish line.
3. Watching other people run can be a huge motivation to get out there and run yourself.

ADoRunRun are a group of amazing friends who all run and enter various events during their yearly “seasons”. This last season two went on to complete the Chicago Marathon and the rest completed the Chicago Half Maraton.

I can’t describe how motivating watching these videos has been for my own running and I wish I lived closer to these people so I could run with them too. They’re an amazing group of people and I can’t wait for their 4th Season to begin next year. Thank you guys.

     I live for Christmas. I love all of it - the music, the decorations, the weather (I miss snow with every fiber of my being), and seeing family. I think I’m like the Whos down in Who-Ville who would enjoy celebrating Christmas even if there wasn’t a single gift to open. This year, after an admittedly tough spring and summer, I look forward to spending Christmas with those I love even more than usual.

     C is definitely infected with the same Christmas bug. He gleefully sings Christmas carols and plans out gifts he wants to give people (I came home the other night to the treat of three treasures from his room wrapped up for me). C absolutely understands that giving is as every bit as good as receiving, and he cheerfully donates toys he no longer uses and wonders who will get them.

     It was only a couple of years ago that C began to understand presents, stockings, and Santa Claus. He fully believes in Santa, which I suspect will come to an untimely and painful end when some other kid fills C in far before he’s ready to hear it. Yet I’m ready for that, armed with my talk about the spirit of Santa Claus and having faith in things you just can’t see. After all, at 40 years old, I’m still a believer myself.

    This year, there’s going to be something very special under the Christmas tree just for C, and most definitely from Santa. Imagine my surprise yesterday when Husband discovered an envelope on the front walkway with a simple handwritten note inside. “Dear Darcy and Husband,” it said, “it looks like I’m going to be pretty busy this year, so please use this card and make sure to get ‘you know who’ something special. With love, Santa Claus.” Enclosed? A Target gift card for $150. No joke, and absolutely NO idea who left it.     

     So Merry Christmas C, and much love and thanks to C’s unknown secret Santa. You’ve kept the spirit of Christmas alive, and someday, when C begins to question Santa’s very existence, I can’t wait to share with him this story.

If fear had a face, i think it would look something like mine. If she’d be out looking for a home, she’d probably chose me. I’m so vulnerable…

I’m constantly scared. I’m tired of being scared. I’m scared of the dark, scared of the sounds in the house after dark, scared of being alone, scared of losing you, scared of fucking things up, scared of letting you and the rest down, scared of what i don’t know.

I’m scared there’s someone or something in the house. The funny part is that i don’t even believe in this supernatural bullshit. Or do i…?

Let me tell ya,… it’s been an interesting past few weeks.

From time-to-time, we get complacent with where we are in our Christian walk,… and I was forced to realize that I’d done that very thing.

It’s when you start feeling comfortable, and believing that you’re really doing a bang-up job for God (as if we can even come close to reaching His standards…) that you allow yourself to become vulnerable to temptation and sin. You begin believing your own hype and relying less on the grace and providence of God. You allow PRIDE to effect your decisions…

That is easily one of the most dangerous things one can ever do…

So, for some time now, I’ve been pondering what it is that I’ve done wrong. What did I do to let me defenses down? More importantly,… what can I do to protect myself from erring as a result of my own PRIDE and self-assurance again?!!

The obvious answers to anyone who is SAVED are the following… PRAYER and REPENTANCE!

But,… it cannot end there. We have a weapon against the enemy,… and the enemy sometimes within ourselves. The HOLY BIBLE!

It’s been called the “Handbook For Living”, the “Sword of the Spirit”, and of course, the “Word of God”. It’s also the greatest defense we have against evil… Provided, of course, that you BELIEVE it.

The Bible is either absolute, or it’s obsolete. -Leonard Ravenhill

It amazes me that there are many, many professing Christians the world over that consider the Bible more fiction than fact…

If this is the case,… why profess Christ at all? Why should so many die for the words on the pages of this book..?

Many have. Many would. I am one of those…

“I pledge allegiance to the Bible,

God’s Holy Word.

I will make it a light unto my path

and a lamp unto my feet

and will hide its Word’s in my heart

that I might not sin against God.

Amen.”

There realistically may come a day wherein the Bible is verboten. As in many cultures, simply owning one could become an executable offense.

The Bible is dangerous… It gives hope when there is no other. It gives assurance when none can be found. It gives direction, strength, and so much more…

God, the almighty creator of the universe has, in His infinite wisdom, seen fit to entrust us with the greatest and most powerful weapon ever forged… and often times, we forget it’s even there.

The next time you pick-up your copy of the WORD of GOD,… take a moment and consider what it is that you have in your hands. Not just what,… but from whom.

Read it. Memorize it. Saturate yourself in it… Do this and Satan’s foothold in your life crumbles.

To sum up my first month’s work on helium will be exciting because I will get to look through the first things I’ve written on helium.com and see my growth and progress through a critical lens and then share it with you!

Please enjoy!!

Always and forever

Based on three separate poems, I’ve created this poem which is basically what I consider to be an engagement, newlywed or recommitment poem about marriage, being together and loving each other always and forever and the prospects of this new way of life. Helium has rated it 2/37.

How motherhood changes a woman

A friend of mine laughed at the fact that when I started on helium, most of the articles I had written were in their Parenting & Pregnancy channel, even though I am not a mother. I just wrote to titles that stuck out to me when I joined helium and this was one of them. I found that this was a title that was part of a writing contest helium was writing and it placed me at #14 in the list of publishers who wrote for the selected titles of the contest in the topic of Parenting & Pregnancy. I don’t quite recall how I first even found the title but I want to say that through rating, I came across many titles that stuck out to me, which I then would look up in order to write for.

This article has been 1/51 but the ratings went down and I could not understand why but when I was honest with myself, I knew that the couple of typos I’d corrected weren’t the only thing wrong. I realized my article was missing key information when it comes to physical and when it comes to professional, occupational and career changes that motherhood has on a woman. So, I “leapfrogged” the article (revising, adding to and editing an article and submitting it to be rated by the helium community as compared to your original article for the approval to, ultimately, leap over and literally replace the former article), which actually resulted in it going from two pages in length to four but all I knew was that I was making sure I put what I needed to say there in order to reflect my real take on the title. Needless to say, it reclaimed its rightful place in rating!

Should teachers have a right to deny a students need to use the bathroom?

Now, I came across this title and saw that it was a debate title, meaning you can come on the page and vote yes or no and can write an article relaying your argument for your side and your stance. A writer who wrote for the “No” side had a post on her blog/helium zone with a link to vote to “protect” children in public schools. Even though I actually loved her article [even added her to my favorite helium writers list on my profile] as well as her heart, I wrote for the “Yes” side. After writing, I learned that the channel category was for Secondary Education so I leapfrogged this article as well in order to ensure it reflected high school students and high school life at a more in depth capacity than it had previously. The article is rated 1/2 for the No side. In case you’d like to know and would find it to be valuable information, there are currently 4 articles on the yes side as compared to the 2 on the no side.

The impact of father-mother relationship on children’s well-being

This is something I’ve felt extremely strongly about and am glad to have gotten off of my chest exactly what and how I feel about it. Now, others can see and learn from it and they obviously appreciate since it is rated 3/14.

Is there too much sex on television?

I definitely had no choice but to write to this title. Everyone who I know who has read the article I wrote has thoroughy enjoyed it and thought it to be accurate and insightful as well as humorous and very debate-worthy. It is fact-driven and shares personal accounts as well as it challenges and raises questions. Enough of that, though, because what I want to say to you is that it shouldn’t be a question and I think that whoever wrote for or even just believes in the No side should “go spank themselves,” as someone I know says from time to time. Needless to say, I wrote for the Yes side and all I can say now is to just, please, read it yourself. Formulate an opinion if you have not yet done so. Lastly, fight for what you believe in because change does start with one man…every one man makes things how they are and every individual man is needed for things to change, so why not just go ahead and start with you?!

This article was numer 1/54 and was leapfrogged after a while because new information arose. It still sits at the top!

So, there we have it — a poem, two debates and two parenting articles and that sums up the best of  eDITORcHRIS/Christina Bernice’s helium.com writings from October 2009.

Would Paul Have Qualified for “501c3” Status?

The following is taken directly from the IRS code:

IRC 501(c)(3) – Religious Purposes

Churches are a subset of IRC 501(c)(3) organizations organized and operated for religious purposes. See, e.g., De La Salle Institute v. United States, 195 F. Supp. 891 (N.D. Cal. 1961); Chapman v. Commissioner, 43 T.C. 358, 363 (1967).

501(c)(3) Requirements

An organization must be described in IRC 501(c)(3) to qualify as a church under IRC 170(b)(1)(A)(i), although it need not be recognized as such by the Service (given that churches are exempt from the filing requirements of IRC 508(a) and (b)).

In determining if a religious organization is a church within the meaning of IRC 170(b)(1)(a)(i), 508(c)(1)(A), or 6033(a)(2)(A), consider if the organization has the following characteristics:

A distinct legal existence;
A recognized creed and form of worship;
A definite and distinct ecclesiastical government;
A formal code of doctrine and discipline;
A distinct religious history;
A membership not associated with any other church or denomination;
A complete organization of ordained ministers ministering to their congregations;
Ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed courses of study;
A literature of its own;
Established place of worship;
Regular congregations;
Regular religious services;
Sunday schools for the religious instruction of the young;
Schools for the preparation of its ministers; and
Any other facts and circumstances that may bear upon the organization’s claim for church status.

Now we have one simple question: Would Paul have qualified?

If not, then how is it that we can follow him, and yet we can qualify for this religious, governmentally sanctioned distinction?

Pressing the Issue

In Paul’s day, Israel’s religion had long been a part of the Roman religious system. It was a legitimately recognized religion by the government. It was religio licita (had official religious license) from Rome.

Did it ever occur to you why Paul, a Roman born citizen, had legal battles and ended up executed by Rome?

When Paul started his ministry he was undoubtedly recognized under the religio licita of Judaism; but he received progressive “revelations” (II Corinthians 12:1) from the Lord concerning “the mystery” (Ephesians 3:3). The more truth he received and taught, the more he distanced himself and the ecclesia from Israel. The more clearly and strongly he taught, “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (II Timothy 3:15), the more he was saying in essence, “This is not that,” “the church the Body of Christ is not Israel.” From town to town, and speech by speech, he was pounding nails in his own coffin. He was identifying the church, the Body of Christ as being outside of the religious system. He operated religio illicita (as an illegal, unlicensed religion); but this was his intent, for which he would lay down his life!

He builds too low who builds beneath the skies. (Anon.)

Paul gives us a solemn warning:

… Let every man take heed how he builds … (I Corinthians 3:10).

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

I am exited to explore in depth the doctrine of Charity, which is the pure love of Christ or the way Christ loves us.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Verses 1-3 tell me how important Charity (Love) is. If we spoke with the tongue of angels or had the gift of prophecy or understood all mysteries, if we don’t have charity then we are as nothing. We need to have charity more than all knowledge or all faith. We can give away everything we have to feed the poor or sacrifice our bodies to be burned but if we don’t live with charity then it is for nothing. If we have all kinds of great gifts bestowed upon us or do any number of great things we are “nothing without charity”. We can’t base our salvation on just one or two things we have to include Charity or it is all in vain.

What is charity? Charity in verse four is broken down in specific attributes so that we may fully understand what charity is.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Verses 8-13 further illustrate how important Charity is in our lives by comparing it to other important aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Moroni 10:46-47

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail — 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.This additional Christian Scripture passage adds to the importance of charity and teaches us more about Charity. All things must fail but Charity will never fail. This would indicate to me that we should invest much effort and prayer into obtaining the gift of charity so that it fills our sould and heart to overflowing. Verse 47 tells us that we must pray with all the energy of hear to be filled with this love.

This passage also teaches us that Charity is the pure love of Christ and when He comes again the second time if we are filled with Charity we shall be like Him. Charity is a purifying force as well.

So what exactly is Charity that it is so important? Charity is the “Pure Love Of Christ”. So when you read the word “Charity” substitute the phrase “pure love of Christ”.

Suffereth Long
The “pure love of Christ” suffereth long.

What does “Suffereth long” mean? In short “suffereth long” means patience. Consider the verse 1 Peter 3:20 In part that verse says “when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah…” We also know that mankind was extraordinarily wicked in the days of Noah. God was very patient having Noah call them to repentance before the destruction of the flood. One of the online dictionaries defines “long-suffering” as: “patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship”. There again is the word “patience”. Part of the pure love of Christ (Charity) is patience.

This means that we need to have patience. Patience toward who? We are told to have Charity like Christ does and Christ is patient towards all mankind so that implies that we should also have patience towards all mankind and especially those close to us in our own life like our spouse and children and those people we interact with on a daily basis but not to exclude all others.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) The Lord exerts all the patience He can toward us so that we may have as much time possible to repent and turn to Him.

Is Kind

“The pure love of Christ” is kind.

The one of the online dictionaries suggest that “Kind” means: Affectionate, loving. Of a sympathetic or helpful nature. Of a forbearing nature. Gentle. Arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance (a kind act). To give pleasure or relief.

A good or benevolent nature or disposition. A loving person. Having, showing or proceeding from benevolence. Considerate, helpful, humane, mild, gentle, loving or affectionate.

Forbearance means “To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation.” An abstaining from the enforcement of a right. “A creditor’s giving of indulgence after the day originally fixed for payment.” This descriptions of the word “Kind” certainly sound Christ-like. This kind of kindess is what we should be striving for, even praying for.

Envieth Not

“The pure love of Christ” envieth not.

Envy means a painful or resentful awareness of something enjoyed by someone else as well as a desire to possess the same thing the other person has. So if Charity Envieth not then we should not be resentful toward others but rather we should be happy for the things others possess and share their joy. We cannot envy someone if we have the pure love of Christ in our hearts. We need to have joy in others successes and achievements. If everyone “envieth not” think of the drop in the crime rates.

Vaunteth Not Itself

“The pure love of Christ” vaunteth not itself.

“Vaunt” means to brag or to make a vain display of one self? We should not draw undue attention to ourselves. When we brag about ourselves we are setting ourselves up to appear to be better than others. God loves us all the same. He doesn’t love whatever sin or misdeed we may be involved in but He loves us all the same. We should not seek to make ourselves appear to be better than each other.

Is Not Puffed Up

“The pure love of Christ” is not puffed up.

Puffed up means to speak or act in a scornful, conceited, or exaggerated manner. We should just be ourselves or we should be the person we are trying to be as we seek for Charity in our lives. We need to be humble (teachable) and sincere. If we are locked into Charity as a way of life then we would have no insecurities and have no need to be conceited.

Doth Not Behave Itself Unseemly

“The pure love of Christ” doth not behave itself unseemly.

Unseemly means not according with established standards of good form or taste. In other words we should be vulgar or crude.

Seeketh Not Her Own

“The pure love of Christ” seeketh not her own.
To “seek not her own” means being selfish. Anyone who has Charity or seeking Charity is not selfish. We should repent for any selfish behavior and strive to not be selfish.

Is Not Easily Provoked

“The pure love of Christ” is not easily provoked.

Is not easily made mad or one who is slow to anger. Not resentful. If we considered the life of Christ he was very slow to wrath. The only time he showed wrath was when the money changers we disrespecting the Temple. Even when Christ was be unjustly tried for made up crimes he was not provoked. When He hung from the cross, rather than be mad he ask Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers who were torturing Him.

Thinketh No Evil

“The pure love of Christ” thinketh no evil.

Evil is the opposite of righteousness. Charity does not think of things contrary to righteousness. Ask yourself what is evil and think the opposite. Think of virtuous thoughts. Ask yourself what would Jesus think about and think likewise.

Rejoiceth Not In Iniquity But Rejoiceth In The Truth

“The pure love of Christ” rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth.

Iniquity is both sin and behavior directly in opposition to righteousness. Charity finds happiness in the truth or rejoices in the truth. Thinketh no evil and Rejoiceth Not in iniquity go hand in hand or are companion virtues. Don’t think evil thoughts and do not rejoice in inquity. Do we watch movies or read books where we find ourselves rooting for the bad guy? Is that Charity?

Beareth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” beareth all things.

What does it mean to “Bear”? Looking up the word “bear” on several online dictionaries came to the following conclusions:

To make one’s way steadily especially against resistance. Continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

To put up with something trying or painful.

The terms Suffereth (Suffer) and Beareth (Bear) are synonyms in parts of their meanings but they also have some differences in their definitions. From what I can ascertain The phrase “Suffereth Long” is more to do with patience. The phrase “Beareth All Things” deals mainly with faithfully overcoming trials and adversity.

Believeth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” believeth all things

This phrase “believeth all things” has to do with faith. Charity, the pure love of Christ wouldn’t teach to believe all things regardless. For instance. Do we believe the God created the earth or do we believe in junk science that the earth was created from a big bang?

Do we believe God created Man in His own image or than man evolved from apes? We don’t believe all things spiritual and worldly but rather “believeth all things” is to have firm religious faith. To accept the gospel as true, genuine or real. Furthermore it means to have assurance or faith in righteousness. Trust in God. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something. If that thing doesn’t have goodness of efficacy then it is evil and not to be trifled with.

Other definitions of “Believeth all things”: To have confidence in the truth,

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

Hopeth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” hopeth all things.

To look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. For instance, to look to Christ for ones salvation. To place trust in or rely in. We need to trust in Christ that He will do what He says he will do. To look to the Gospel of Jesus Christ with confidence.

Endureth All Things

“The pure love of Christ” endureth all things. Here is what some online dictionaries defined Endure as.

To undergo a hardship without giving in. To suffer or endure a great pain. To remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding. To bear without resistance or with patience.

To support adverse force or influence of any kind; suffer without yielding; suffer patiently. The life of Christ is a perfect example of enduring all things.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

I was once asked if Religion and Empirical studies of our planet could or would coexist?

Answer: Yes! And is the Garden of Eden off -Planet?

Where there is Faith there is Knowledge. Where there is Knowledge there is Hope. Where there is Hope there are: Respect and Understanding and Peace and Love…RUPL.

Nothing is Impossible!–-Amen

Reverend Philip M. Edwards (Please read the below article)!

“A Potential Reservoir”-2009 September 7 by meenas17 (http://meenas17.wordpress.com/)

I used to drink a little when i was younger, but now i became straight edge without any special reason, just the fact that there are a lot of things better in what spend money and besides i am pretty sure started to hate the taste. i never have smoke and i don’t wanna even try. about drugs? zero. and it will be that way as long as i have my head on my shoulders.

SO whisky or tea?

when i go to the parties with friends almost all of them know that i dont drink,

but i always tell to them after i get my drink something like this:

• this is the best whisky that i have ever tasted .
• really? are you drinking tonight? is it whisky?
• yeah it is. you wanna smell it?
• sure. it smell like tea, is it tea?
• yeah it is tea hahaha.
• why don’t you ever drink?
• i’m sorry its religious thing.

and that is how they stop pressing around. the funny thing is that i don’t believe in any kind of god, i believe in love through human being, that is what still make me feel alive, but i have no problem with religion or anything is just the way that i see things, i guess you have your own way of see things though, so i think we should respect others people ways of think, besides in things like this, no one can tell you what is right or what is wrong, all is what you wanna believe about.

anyway

would you rather whisky or tea?

Dengan angkuhnya saya berdoa minta ini minta itu dengan segera
Tolong aku ya Tuhan, selayak manusia yang sangat butuh bantuanNya
Dan saya lupa bahwa Tuhan punya kuasa atas waktu yang tepat!
Doa yang tepat akan terkabul dalam waktu yang tepat dan waktu yang tepat itu tidak ada dalam tanggalan saya, tidak ada dalam agenda saya, semua diluar kendali saya… hanya Tuhan yang tahu kapan waktu yang tepat sesungguhnya!

Dengan hinanya saya merasa, Tuhan telah mengecewakan saya
Hanya karena dia tidak menyegerakan untuk mengabulkan doa saya
Duh! Kemudian saya merasa sebagai makhluk paling sial di muka bumi
Dan saya lalai melihat sekeliling, melihat pada anugerah Tuhan yang lainnya, anugerah Tuhan yang diberikan untuk mengganti doa-doa yang Dia tangguhkan… Astaghfirullah…

Saya sering merasa sangat jauh dengan Tuhan
Ketika saya berdoa, saya merasa di sini dan Dia jauh di sana
Padahal jelas disebutkan sungguh dekat Tuhan dengan makhlukNya
Bahkan lebih dekat dari ummat dengan nadinya…
Lalu selama ini siapa yang menjadikan mimpi-mimpi kenyataan
Jika bukan Dia? Dzat yang Maha Mulia dan Maha Sempurna itu?

Aku malu, aku malu mencariMu, padahal Kau sungguh dekat…

I Loved the movie Kungfu Panda. My hubby and I can watch this movie time and again and always enjoy every subtelty in it. Its full of such powerful life lessons. One such very powerful life lesson is in this video.The whole explaination on just how important and powerful it is to believe in what youre doing is simply amazing.

3mins of your time…and you will not regret you spent it watching this. I promise

I hope you enjoy it and learn from it as much as my hubby and I did.

Share your thoughts.What did you think of this particular life lesson?

Did You Like this post? Get the latest posts emailed to your inbox or subscribe via RSS. Dont forget to Connect with me on Twitter and Join the “Positive Provocations” Facebook Fan Club for a lot more Positively Positive Provocations

Sharing Is Caring and a whole lot of FUN!

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This past Tuesday, I just got a new book titled The Bravehearted Gospel by Eric Ludy. I must say, it’s revolutionary, it’s bold, it’s uncomfortable, and I love it. It has awakened my soul. It seems almost native to me and is almost as if it’s the cry of my inner most being that has been waiting to burst out of me since I was born.

It teaches the “manly stuff” of the Gospel, as Eric puts it. It reveals the loss of boldness in the Church in the past few decades. It’s a call to go back to the historic Christianity where men and women were willing to die for the glory of God. It reveals the fluffy stuff and extreme femininity that exists in today’s western Church.

An emergent movement has risen up in the Church that desires to move away from the old, religious, traditional stuff that was in the Church. However, it is going in the other extreme and losing it’s power against sin and fighting spirit for justice. Instead we’re basing beliefs off of the philosophies of men such as Rob Bell’s teaching on “springy” truth. We need a healthy balance of femininity and masculinity. We’re going in the wrong direction and I am willing to stand against it even if everyone is against me and falsely calls me a legalist.

I’m a man and the desire to fight for truth and justice is ingrained  into my very being. This attribute is often discouraged in modern times and it’s time for a revival of this feature to take hold in the heart of men (and women) in the Church to fight for what’s His. There is going to be no revival with fancy music, pretty light shows, and comfortable sermons. True revival will convict people and lead them to repentance. It will cause us to start seeking righteousness, holiness, and purity. Whenever we stop falsely calling truth – legalism, conviction – condemnation, and correction – judgment to selfishly defend our sins and turn away from the loving act of our family in Christ seeking to build us up (no matter how tough that is), then hearts will begin to soften and men will humble themselves before God and real revival will spread. True revival will have people on their faces crying out to God because they see the seriousness of their sin.

I believe that these two points have been widely redefined and wrongly taught in modern times: truth and love.

“Church, Inc.” Religion

Now, let’s get down to brass tacks. The Body of Christ, as a whole, is deeply submerged in the snare of the Babylonian religious system! Oh, that God would open our eyes to see such a sad state of affairs!

This is not a situation that has just developed. This spoilage of the church began in Paul’s day.[1] He warned of it often. It was later brought to great and evil heights by Constantine. Sorrowfully, there was little or no real change produced as a result of the “Reformation.” In fact, the Body of Christ may be more religious, more entangled in the Babylonian religious system now than at any point in its history. The worst part is that many members of Christ are, by and large, ignorant of this captive corruption.

501c3 Religion

The government and our precious misled brethren who have come before us have led us down the primrose path that has ended in this bondage. We have our own Americanized version of the Babylonian system. We have “Inc.” religion, of the “501c3” variety.

501c3 is the federal bureaucratic code given to churches and other religious non-profit organizations that meet governmental approval. Many dear brothers who are held by the religious system would deny that they are a part of it; but here is an honest and objective test: Are you a part of a religious “Inc.?” Are you a part of a “501c3?” Are you using the exact same system that every other religious group in the United States uses? Are you actually a part of the same system against which you profess to stand? Are you members with them in this Gentile religious system?

Listen to our apostle, Paul:

Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he who believes with an infidel? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, ‘I will dwell in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord, ‘and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (II Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

Are you a part of a “Church, Inc.” – a governmentally formed and controlled religious entity? Are you a part of a 501c3 organization, officially approved, recognized and sanctioned by the federal government?

If so, then you are fellow religious members with every “unclean thing” (II Corinthians 6:17), and I encourage you, as we are entreated by Paul, to “come out from among them,” that we “touch not the unclean thing,” and that we “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit …” (II Corinthians 7:1).

According to the context, all of this “unclean” stuff is the Gentile religious system.

Do you think that “your church” or “your ministry” is not a part of this system, that you are not a member together with them? If you don’t think that you are, then call the bank where your “church” or “ministry” does business. They will tell you what you are! They can also tell you under what Federal “class” you are categorized. They could also tell you who else is in that “class” with you.

Or ask the Federal Government – the IRS in particular. They know what you are. They know what group and class you belong to. You may try to deny what you are, but you are in with all the rest of the religions – Muslim, Buddhist, Wiccan, Satanist, Christian; as far as this nation is concerned, you’re all the same!

It is all really simple. The world knows what we are, even if we try to pretend that we are really different. We are self-deceived. I say we, because I have been where you are. I was a part of something that has a religious legal identity, one that I pretended didn’t really exist, and one that, on occasion, I will even speak against – but I was a part of it just the same! I encourage you to be honest with yourself and with the world around you. Come clean.

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God (II Corinthians 4:1-2).

Stop trying to pawn off your “church” as the “church of God.” Stop joining forces with the religious systems of this world! I encourage you to leave the system. Come on outside the camp!

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009

[1]For a detailed study of this early departure from the truth and pattern of Paul, read the author’s book – The Church in Ruins: Brief Thoughts on II Timothy; available from www.ClydePilkington.com, PO Box 265 Windber, PA 15963, 1-800-784-6010.

Welcome to The Chronicles of Zippy The Elf!  My guide to surviving the holiday season while unemployed!

With the unemployment rate in double digits, it’s a safe bet that you found my blog because you:

a.)    Are unemployed

b.)    Were once unemployed

c.)     Have a close family member or friend currently facing the same predicament

As an unemployed twenty-something, I foresaw the holiday season, (more specifically: December in NYC) as a completely wretched time to be a part of the 10.2%. A few weeks ago I craved for the 12^th month to pass over quickly, as if it never happened, rather than be smacked in the face with holiday cheer each direction I attempted to move.

A very long story short, I ultimately realized that the only possible way to survive the holidays while undergoing something so personally debilitating, is tackle it full on.  Dive head first into eggnog, dance with nutcrackers, and pass through the seven layers of the Candy Cane Forest.  In other words…become a Macy’s Elf in Santaland.

My mission is to offer seasonal support by means of my seasonal adventure!  In addition to bringing you random musings as I chronicle life as an Elf, I hope to offer advice on how to keep your spirits bright this holiday season:

• Share great articles offering advice and insight to keep you inspired during your job search
• Interview people falling in the 10.2% and find their tips for how to survive December
• Offer seasonal Things To Do! Attractions to visit, cookies to bake, and movies to watch!  Holiday survival – on  the   cheap!
• Present options to keep you positive, keep your spirits lifted, and keep your mind in the present
• Offer your family and friends advice on how to be of support during this time

Tomorrow marks my first official day as an Elf!  So excited to begin this adventure!  I hope you follow along for the ride.

Let your attitude be gratitude, have a little faith, and just believe*

-Zippy



N-am mai ascultat de mult “R.Kelly” asa ca iar… noroc cu youtube ca ma ajuta sa mai dau peste melodii unice.

Cred ca si in Romania se pot schimba multe. Depinde de tine, depinde de noi

Took me a while to notice this, but it turns out Blastoff’s ‘direct contact’ with Henry & June, retailer for the sexually adventurous,  got them in a bit of trouble with certain members while it was still in ‘beta’ mode. Bill Rodgers jumps in to save Blastoff’s image by calling it an oversight and the retailer has been removed. An oversight?… I guess he’ll say anything to stay in the good graces of the church and public schools. Keep those fundraisers going kiddies!

Meanwhile Blastoff continues to disintegrate behind the scenes as they are now currently using Jango Mail to keep pushing that urge to shop to all their members via email blasts. Apparently they are still unable to get new invitees signed up and are hoping to make up for lost revenue. I guess they still haven’t resolved the black-listing problems. Some million dollar investment!

(If the ‘bit of trouble’ link goes dead I’ve attached a screen shot for your viewing pleasure)

What is trust?  Well according to Dictionary.com

verb

13.	to rely upon or place confidence in someone or something (usually fol. by in or to): to trust in another’s honesty; trusting to luck.

14.	to have confidence; hope: Things work out if one only trusts.

16.	to have trust or confidence in; rely or depend on.

17.	to believe.

18.	to expect confidently; hope (usually fol. by a clause or infinitive as object): trusting the job would soon be finished; trusting to find oil on the land.

19.	to commit or consign with trust or confidence.

20.	to permit to remain or go somewhere or to do something without fear of consequences: He does not trust his children out of his sight.

21.	to invest with a trust; entrust with something.

Ok, well that’s a dictionary definition, but what does it mean to you?  How important is trust to you?

How do decide if someone is worthy of your trust?  Are you the kind of person who just gives it out like candy, or do people need to earn your trust?  If someone has broken your trust, can they earn it back?  Why, why not, how?

Musical interlude!!!  I love this song! 

I hear a lot of people talking about how you need to earn their trust.  That it’s a privilege.  So what does that mean, that you trust no one until they have passed a certain number of ‘tests’?   Seems a little depressing to me…

I am more of the I trust you.  Done, until you do something to break that trust.  Perhaps it’s naive of me, but I like it.  I suppose one could argue that I get hurt more often for my innocent trusting ways.  But to be frank I couldn’t really imagine it any other way… I’m not big on tests.  I will admit I’m a lot slower at letting people on in, but not so much out of a lack of trust just that I don’t feel like making everyone my best friend and then having them crap on me.  So I wait a little while before making them my bosom buddy.

So what happens if someone breaks my trust?  Well, it’s pretty much done.  If you break my trust, it’s not that I won’t forgive you I will.   But try as I might, I just can’t trust you anymore.  I can often let it go and ignore that area.. say if it’s about money then we’ll just avoid that topic to the end of time.  But what if it’s something bigger that can’t be avoided?

So once someone has betrayed or broken a trust can it be earned back?  I mean for me… it seems like the answer is no.  I just don’t have any protocol in place for establishing trust.. it’s either there or not.  So what about people who make you jump through 25 hoops to win their trust.  Can you earn trust back from them?  I mean they have already established a pattern of proving yourself, so in theory while possibly challenging couldn’t you just jump through 100 hoops and prove yourself once again?

Or is it just over?  Once trust has been broken can it be fixed?  Does it need to be earned?  Or can you just have faith in the goodness of others?

What do you think?

Division Enters

Let’s continue our thoughts about Paul’s church work, using the believers at Corinth as an example.

Paul preached the gospel to the lost; they trusted and were made members of the church, the Body of Christ. Every believer was a member of this church, no exceptions, for one Spirit had baptized them all into one Body. Now this is the ground of truth that Paul taught the believers to live and practice – their oneness.

Yet suppose for a moment that someone came up with the idea to start another church in Corinth – a church other than the one that God already had in place. Suppose he thought that it would be very beneficial to organize people for various reasons. So, he selected a nice name for his “church” (denominationalism). He devised certain “articles of faith” that he thought ought to be stressed and emphasized in his “church” (credalism). He developed a nifty governmental system from which his “church” could operate (clericalism). He laid out a program for his “church” meetings (formalism).

Also since all the other religions had one, he carefully made arrangements to secure a “sanctuary” for his “church” in which to meet (heathenism). He registered his “church” with the office of incorporation, and with the office of governmental recognition. He set up a bank account in the name of his “church.” He printed stationery, business cards, offering envelopes, visitor’s cards and, of course, a nice sign – all proudly bearing the wonderful name of his new “church” (and it all bore his own name as well – “Rev. Sam S. Smith,” or maybe it was just “Pastor Sam S. Smith”). Then he purchased ads in the Corinthian Chronicle Daily inviting all to “attend” and join his “church,” especially his “unchurched” brethren.

When one stops and considers all of this in the light of divine revelation, it seems really strange and odd, does it not? Yet it is much more than that. A serious problem has just been introduced onto the scene of the life of “the church of God at Corinth” – division!

Pastor Smith, wittingly or not, has just planted division in the church which is Christ’s Body. Pastor Smith and his “church” now stand in contradiction and competition with God’s church. Are all the members of God’s church in Corinth, members of his? Does he have members in his “church” that are not members of God’s? Now, not only do we have the problem of division, we also have the same problem that Israel had in its past – the “mixed multitude.”

One thing should be obvious, there are now two churches in Corinth. One is God’s church – a divine, organic organism. The other is man’s church – a human, fabricated organization. One is true, the other is false. The root of such a divisive religious system was already at work in Corinth when Paul wrote to them.

Now this I say, that every one of you says, “I am of Paul;” and “I of Apollos;” and “I of Cephas [Peter];” and “I of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? … (I Corinthians 1:12-13).

Do a couple of names in that passage stand out to you?

How about the first name – Paul. Is he not our apostle – “the apostle of the Gentiles”? Yes, he is; but it is wrong to use his name as a rallying point to create another division within the body of Christ! Isn’t Paul the apostle of every member of Christ’s Body? Do you say “I am of Paul” with implication of separation and division from the rest of the members of Christ’s Body?

Or, how about that last name – Christ. Is He not our Savior? Of course He is; but it also is wrong to use His name as a rallying point to create another division within the His Own body! Saying, “I am of Christ” sounds very noble, doesn’t it? Yet isn’t every member of God’s ecclesia “of Christ” – aren’t we all of Him? When we make this proclamation, we implicate a separation and false division from the rest of the members of His Body!

We must never forget that we are “members one of another”! Anything short of “the church, which is His body” is not God’s church – regardless of how large, fancy, modern or decorated it is!

Why not simply be content with who and what God has made us in Christ?

And you are complete in Him … (Colossians 2:10).

What more could we want or need? Let us heed Paul’s warning which he gave to us in light of this completeness in Christ. This serious plea can be found only two verses before:

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (Colossians 2:8).

Why not stand on the ground of who God has made us? Nothing more, nothing less.

Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr.
Bible Student’s Notebook
© 2000, 2009