Haiti mission trip support request for a good friend.(Update)

Anthony on a previous trip to Haiti
playing with some children.

Hello all, here is an update from my friend Anthony: 

A few updates/highlights as the team of 14 including myself are 4
weeks away from departing for Haiti

-As of this e-mail we have raised approximately 57% of our financial support goal and this 57% is all outside of our church. We will be inviting members of our church next week in the form of a free will offering to partner with us with financial support. We are trusting that the Lord will provide all that we need and all that He wants us to take with us to give to the people of Haiti.

-We listened to a CD of hymns/worship songs in Creole, the native
language of Haiti. We sang together some of the hymns today and it
went really well.

-We have made a connection with an organization that facilitates the building of clean water supplies in Haiti. They have visited the town of Ennery and are familiar where our sister church is located.
This is exciting because we are being led to giving a message of
living water and encouraging the people in the church to invite others in the community to "come to the Well" What an awesome thing this would be to (1) come to the church to obtain clean drinking water and (2) Receive a message of "Living" Water as given in John 7:38

-This coming Friday, March 4, our team has the opportunity to pack
food for an organization called "Feed My Starving Children" in Eagan, Minnesota (near Minneapolis). Feed My Starving Children prepares boxes of food mixture with rice and vegetables and lots of protein that are easy and safe to transport, simple to make with only boiling water, and culturally acceptable worldwide. They will be sending a shipment to Haiti which will eventually find its way to
Limbe, Haiti and be distributed by the people we partner with from
Grace Missions.

From previous correspondence

- Presidential elections are still set for March 20. We arrive in the
country, the morning of March 28. Things tend to get crazy in a
country like Haiti near/before/after Presidential elections.

-We have thoughts of doing a foot washing while we are in the town of Ennery for the people who come to the church. What an awesome way to reach out as humble servants this would be!

-We are in search of creative yet simple ways to engage kids/children while we are there.

Blessings to you in the name of Jesus!

Anthony


Prayer is the biggest need for our team, but if the Spirit leads to give finances toward this trip, people can send donations to:

Berean Community Church
3157 Kenosha Drive
Rochester, MN 55902

Checks should be made out to Berean Community Church with "Haiti Missions Trip" in the memo line.

No, Mr. President. Killing Is Killing No Matter What We Call It.

It's a magnificent thing: The only newly-originating life in the universe that comes in the image of God is Man. The only newly-originating life in the universe that lasts forever is Man.
This is an awesome thing.
And, as everyone knows, that reverence is not shared by our new President, over whom we have rejoiced.
He is trapped and blind in a culture of deceit. On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, he released this statement,

We are reminded that this decision not only protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters.

To which I say:

• No, Mr. President, you are not protecting women; you are authorizing the destruction of 500,000 little women every year.
• No, Mr. President, you are not protecting reproductive freedom; you are authorizing the destruction of freedom for one million little human beings every year.
• No, Mr. President, killing our children is killing our children no matter how many times you call it a private family matter. You may say it is a private family matter over and over and over, and still they are dead. And we killed them. And you, would have it remain legal.

Mr. President, some of us wept for joy at your inauguration. And we pledge that we will pray for you.
We have hope in our sovereign God.
(From the sermon: "The Baby in My Womb Leaped for Joy.") - John Piper

The Four Spiritual Laws

As Christians, we are to witness with truth, honesty, and integrity. The Lord give us opportunities to:

• witness to others
• defend our faith  
• or just give answers for anyone who wants to know about the Hope that is in us.
  
  Read - (1 Peter 3:15); (Isaiah 55:11); (John 12:32)
  

To accomplish these tasks we must Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for help, study Gods Word daily, be humble and point people to Jesus. Let them know that it is HE and HE alone who saves. You are delivering the Good News, Jesus is that Good news and Jesus is the one who saves.


There is only ONE way to Heaven and that way is through Jesus. All paths are NOT to the same place. The door is narrow and the path is single file.


“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-18” - God gave us a tool to use and that tool is His Word!


*Here are the 4 spiritual Laws:

1. God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life," (John 3:16). “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. “ (John 10:10)
   
   
2. Man is sinful and separated from God: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Rom. 3:23); "For the wages of sin is death," (Rom. 6:23); "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God," (Isaiah 59:2). Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
   
   
3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life : "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6); "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," (Rom. 5:8). “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,..” (I Corinthians 15:3-6)
   
   
4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives:  "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name," (John 1:12); "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved," (Rom. 10:9); "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God," (Eph. 2:8).
   
   To receive Christ you must turn to God and away from self and repent. You must trust Christ to come into your life to forgive your sins and to make you what He wants you to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough; even Satan knows know who Jesus is. It also is not enough to just have an emotional experience. You must receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.

Gods Word will accomplish what God desires; that the Gospel has the power to save and  it is Jesus who draws men to himself. Jesus does the work, not us.

"Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be." Amen

Thanks for checking in and God Bless >>John


* William R. "Bill" Bright developed the evangelistic Christian tract of the “The Four Spiritual Laws” in 1952

8 Ways God Blesses Us

By : 8 Ways God Blesses Us

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 lists eight ways God blesses us through Christ.
About 1 Corinthians

Corinth was the major commercial center in the Roman Empire. The city was famous for its wealth and also for being filled with every kind of evil. It was home to twelve pagan temples, including the Temple of Aphrodite, which housed over one thousand prostitutes. The city was so wicked that the term “Corinthianize” was coined to describe someone who practiced sexual immorality.

It was a city many would describe as God-forsaken, but God loves the unlovable and saves the unsaveable. So He sent Paul to preach the gospel and establish a church there.

Now living in this environment you can imagine that these new Christians would have trouble – and they did. There were divisions, legal problems, impurity and scandals throughout the Corinthian church. Instead of the Christians influencing the culture, the culture was influencing the Christians. So God lead Paul to write the book of 1 Corinthians to address these problems.

The book begins with nine verses laying out the believers standing before God and Paul uses this standing as the reason why they should change their ways. He basically says, “This is who you were, but this is who you are now in Christ, so live accordingly.”
1) God blesses us by adding us to His Church

Paul addresses the Corinthians in verse 2 as “the church of God which is at Corinth”. The word church means, “The called out ones”. It refers to people of every generation, every race, every nation, every walk of life, who were called out of the world and into the family of God.

1 Peter 2:9 describes the church as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people,” who are to “proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

It’s a group made up of people so flawed and so deep in sin, yet they’re called “the Church of God.” The reason this is possible is because of the second way God blesses us.
2) God blesses us by sanctifying us

In verse 2 Paul first calls the Corinthians “the church of God”, now he calls them “those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus.”

To be sanctified means to be set apart for God’s purpose. We’re sanctified in three ways: positionally, progressively and ultimately.

We’re sanctified “positionally” when we come to Christ. Hebrews 10:10-12 explains: “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”

In the Old Testament the priests would continually make sacrifices because they never permanently paid for sin. But Christ offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and has paid for our sins once and for all. So we’ve sanctified, or set apart, to obtain salvation through Christ.

Then we’re sanctified “progressively” throughout our Christian lives. Progressive sanctification is the process of dying to sin and living for Christ by becoming more like Him. Galatians 5:22 explains that whereas before we did the works of the flesh we’re now to produce the fruit of the Spirit which “is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Progressive sanctification isn’t about our salvation it’s about how we live after we’ve been saved.

Then finally we’re sanctified “ultimately” when we go to heaven. Throughout our lives we wrestle with sin but when we go to be with the Lord our sinful nature is left behind. 1 John 3:2-3 explains that “now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

That brings us to the third way God blesses us.
3) God blesses us by making us saints

Paul continues his address in verse 2 by referring to the Corinthians as “called to be saints or literally “called saints”. The word “saint” means the same as sanctify – to be made separate or to be made holy. Those who are the recipients of sanctification are called saints. So we could refer to saints as “the sanctified ones”.

Notice that they’re called saints now. Saints aren’t canonized by the church. Verse 2 goes on to explain that saints are those “who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.” If that describes you then you are a saint right now.

Now we move on to verse 4 and find the fourth way God blesses us.
4) God blesses us by making us recipients of His grace

In Verse 4 Paul says, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus. The reason we’re the church of God, the reason we’re sanctified, the reason we’re called saints is because of God’s grace.

To receive grace means to receive undeserved favor. Just as there are different aspects of sanctification there are also different aspects of grace that the Christian enjoys.

There’s saving grace which is described for us in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Then there’s sustaining grace which we find in 2 Corinthians 12:9 where Paul is asking God to remove some hindrance. God responds by saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” And that caused Paul to say, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

So God’s grace doesn’t just save us, it also strengthens us, encourages us, and enables us to have joy in all circumstances.
5) God blesses us by enriching everything by Christ

Verse 5 says “You were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge.” Or, as the NIV puts it, “you have been enriched in every way-in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.”

James 2:5 tells us that “God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him.” In 1 Corinthians 2:16 we’re told we have “the mind of Christ” which enables us to think on spiritual things. God showers us with gifts of salvation, fellowship, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness and faithfulness. We’re given everything we need to serve God and be fulfilled spiritually.
6) God blesses us by confirming us

Verse 6 says that “the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you”

When someone comes to Christ the Holy Spirit applies salvation to the believer. Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us that “In Christ you trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

We can rest secure in the knowledge that the promises of God are guaranteed to those who are in Christ.
7) God blesses us by causing us to be blameless in the day of our Lord

Verse 8 says that “you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The day will come when God will judge men according to their works. But Psalm 32:1-2 reminds us that “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity.” Through Christ we stand blameless before God because all our sins were covered on the Cross.
8) God blesses us by calling us into fellowship

Finally in verse 9 we’re told we’re “called into the fellowship.” We’re called into a relationship with God and with fellow believers. 1 John 1:3 says “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. God grants us the gift of a relationship with Him and the opportunity to join others in praising Him.

By : 8 Ways God Blesses Us

Don’t let stress and worry bring you down.

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you  Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

Ah stress, something we all probably know too well. Stress definitely can be a motivator for action or an emotion that can tear people and families apart. Stress is a very personal reaction; by this I mean, different things from the minor to the major affect all of us in completely different ways.

Many of the things we stress about are completely our fault because of sin or lack of planning. Many times, stress is because of other people’s lack of planning and sin.  True character is exposed when we are under stress; as Christians how are we to handle stress? Can we make good come from it? Some of the most stressful times in my life have had joyous times after them because I endured and overcame. James and Matthew has some words for us below on this topic:

James 1:2-4 tells us:
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Matthew 6:25-34 tells us:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Being joyous in times of extreme trials is not always easy or even possible; but have faith and trust in God, let Him hold your heart and carry you through. In Matthew 25-34 above, Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. The effects of worry and stress can damage your health, disrupt your productivity, negatively affect the way you treat others, and reduce your ability to trust in God.  Anything that drives a wedge between you and God, release it.

The difference between worry and having genuine concern; worry and stress immobilizes and damages you; concern moves you to take action. Release what is binding you today, release what is tugging at you and breaking you. What do you have control over? What do you not have control over? Take action if you need to, then put your faith and trust in God.

Worrying or stressing about something will not add one day to your life. Work on releasing, taking a breath, praying and lifting it up to God. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and May HIS will be done.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 33:16

Thanks for checking in and God Bless >>John

Make today about real Love, Not Hallmark.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! I could not let this day go by without writing something about Love. I published Episode 9 of the 1 Peter Bible study Podcast which has the same theme. Check it out here.

God expects Christians to love others. By our fruit we can tell the level of love we have for our fellow man. Do you actively seek out ways in which to serve and love others? Or, is your thing just to cut checks and allow others to do the work, feeling like you've made a difference? When is the last time you actively sought out to make someone else have a good day?

We all know what it is like when people really make us angry; from rude comments, to inconsiderate behavior, taking too long with our dinner while eating out and so on. We all know how bad this makes us feel. I know I have been there more times than I would like to admit. I have my selfish moments, thinking it is all about me. We all have a tendency to view the world from the standpoint of us being the center and everything else needing to conform to our wants and needs. This is such a unhealthy way to live.

John 13:25 tell us, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” It is a very damaging to have Christians treating each other badly. It not only goes against what God expects from us, it is a bad witness to non-believers. If you quarrel in front of a non believer you may drive them further from Jesus because of your failings. To me, there can be nothing more sad than that. Is it worth sinning to make yourself feel better by snapping at someone to make them feel small because they have somehow wronged you? Would you be comfortable having lots of people see you at moments like that? I know I would not! How we act is proof that we belong to God. How many people right now would accuse you of belonging to God?

Proverbs 10:12 tell us that, “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.” Pick your battles, and let things go. Nothing makes you feel better than saying I’m sorry and letting conflict go; doing right feels much, much better than being right most of the time. That last one is for me, this is a major flaw I have and I am sure many others have also.

Start with making someone’s day today. I know this is a day is a day to spend with your significant others. Think about how many people may be lonely today. Think of those who have had the love of their lives pass away; and about those who have their love ones fighting overseas so that others may live with simple freedoms that we all take for granted. Think of that little girl or boy missing their daddy or mommy right now when kids are giving their parents handmade cards and about the hugs and kisses they wish they could give them right now.

Love could be as simple as forgoing coffee and treating someone else to a free coffee, lunch or dinner…or just a smile and a hug for that person who looks like they need it. Call that person you know is alone; stop this time to acknowledge and help that person you ignore every day on the street. Lets us make this day not about Hallmark, expectations and “what did you get?” Lets us today, be what we should be everyday as Christians. Lets love in the Biblical since, let us fill others with love and compassion and overflow their cups; let that person or persons know they are a child of God and that they are loved.

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” - Hebrews 6:10


Peace be with all of you today. God Bless. >>John

What is humility?

Zephaniah tells us in 3:12, the “But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of the LORD.”

We are not to think too highly of ourselves. The Lord showed the Jews during those forty years wandering in the desert, that He was in control and He would take care of them by letting them go hungry and then feeding them manna. We become humble when we acknowledge God is in control and release our selfish pride. We become humble when we recognize God knows what we need and that He will be the one to meets those needs.

1 Peter 3:8 says “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” As we turn from being selfish and self centered, we can start to develop compassion and sympathy toward our fellow man.

Jesus was the perfect example of being humble. Born of a virgin in a stable; he was the King of Kings riding in his royal procession on a donkey. He, who knew no sin, became sin so we could become His righteousness; though Jesus is God, He became nothing to die on a cross for us. We should model ourselves after Jesus, serving others and not just being served. Serving others will help us develop a humble heart.

1 Peter 5:6 tells us that the Lord will honor the Humble, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

Psalms 69:32 also tells us that “The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive.” So being humble will open our eyes to see what the Lord does in our lives. We may have a tendency to think that everything is of our own doing. Don’t let pride blind you to what God is doing around you.

Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

I rise and fall everyday with prayers thanking God for all that I have, from my family, to my health, to my family’s health, to my job, to pretty much everything He has lead me through in my life. It should be a great comfort to us, that humble and thankful praises from us are more pleasing to God than the most costly, pompous sacrifices.

Without God I am nothing; may all the Praise and Glory be to God. Amen


Thanks for checking in and God Bless >>John

The Pride Test - Something we all need.

If we were to all take an honest look at ourselves, I think most the issues we have would go away. Yes, start with ourselves, not others. God bless guys!

Prayer request from you; Let me have 'em!

Hello everyone! I am running behind on recording Episode 9 of the study of 1 Peter.(Get Episode 8 Here) I'm in Prayer while writing the script right now and thought I would drop a line to all of you on anything you might want to Prayed about?

What is going on in your life that you are struggling with? Is there someone you know who is is need of prayer? If the payer requests make it in before I record the Podcast I will add them in if you want.

Prayer is a powerful thing and as Christians prayer should always be out "go to" when we need God.

Respond to this post or send me a message! God Bless all of you....

"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. " (1 John 5:14-15).

Haiti mission trip support request for a good friend.(Date Correction)

Hello everyone! I have a request for prayers, and if you can, monetary support for a good friend who will be making a short-term mission trip to Haiti. Anthony is a great guy, I have known him since we where kids and he has a big heart for serving the Lord! I am getting this out a bit late so a quick response would be great!

Their team of 11 is based out of Berean Community Church in Rochester, MN. They will be leaving March 27, 2011 and returning April 6, 2011. They will be spending time in Ennery and Limbe (home base) for Grace Missions. God willing they will try to serve others in nearby towns. This team is very motivated to serve God and the people of Haiti in the midst of the recent Hurricane fallout and cholera outbreak. Below is from Anthony about their goals:

Anthony on a previous trip to Haiti
playing with some children.

“Our primary purpose in going continues to be the same – to share the good news of Jesus and be a light to others. Whereas some people going on the trip are first timers and don’t know what to expect, I am hoping to accomplish some things that I have not been able to during my last two visits. For example, there is a little person (an “LP”) who lives in the town of Cap Hatien who I would like to visit. Cap Hatien is the town we fly in and out of and I have seen this individual sitting on the sidewalk on both my trips leaving. There is also a park in the town of Limbe where I would like to speak and share the good news of Jesus with others. I have built relationships with people in Haiti during my past two trips and I want to continue to be an encouragement to them.

Clean water supplies are very scarce in Haiti and as such, our team has been hoping and praying about building a well at the church in Limbe or even at our sister church in Ennery. Finally, the bible says in James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Grace missions is already making an impact taking care of orphans. We are hoping somehow make an impact on the lives of the elderly in Haiti.”

They have been asked to raise $1300 and you can participate by praying, donating or both! Part of the money will be given to the people of Haiti who serve them meals during their trip. Please prayerfully consider supporting Anthony and his team. Give as your heart leads you not out of compulsion or necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver! (2 CORINTHIANS 9:7)

Below is a list from Anthony of things to be in prayer about for their team:

• That God's plans would be the mission team's plans.
• The current unrest in Haiti to settle down.
• That God would break us of ourselves and we would seek His leading in sharing the gospel in Haiti.
• Funds and resources for the trip. We have raised 20% of the funds needed for the trip.
• Lord willing, a well could be drilled while we are there in Ennery where our sister church is located - providing clean water to the people of Ennery.
• My strength and stamina. It will be a tough trip for me, but Jesus didn't go to the easy places - He went to the hard places.

Updates here

Prayer is the biggest need for our team, but if the Spirit leads to give finances toward this trip, people can send donations to:

Berean Community Church
3157 Kenosha Drive
Rochester, MN 55902

Checks should be made out to Berean Community Church with "Haiti Missions Trip" in the memo line.

Correction to Post: You don’t have to do this alone.

I great friend pointed out a bad, but kind of funny typo in my post "You don’t have to do this alone".

I put:  “They live blinded by false idiots, hardened hearts, and are content in relying on their own strength in everything.”

Should have been: “They live blinded by false idols, hardened hearts, and are content in relying on their own strength in everything.”

Word auto complete is always "helping" me out. I make plenty of typos and grammatical errors on my blog, but that mistake need to be corrected and addressed because I don't want anyone thinking I would be name calling. I apologize to anyone who might have got offended by that.

Feel free to correct!!..lol

Thanks for checking in and God Bless >>John

John Christian Doe CSN Stores $20 promo code giveaway!(Over)

This $20 gift code can be used at any of their over 200 stores!!!(Over)

Hello everyone, hope you are all having a blessed day!  I have received an offer from CSN stores to have a $20 gift code give away to you, John Christian Doe readers and listeners in the US and Canadian only(sorry everyone else, not my rules!).

CSN Stores have over 200 unique sites for you to use your $20 gift code. Being a neat freak and liking things looking clean and organized with modern furniture and no clutter, I think this will come in handy. So check it out and let me know what you guys think.

How to be eligible to win:

Look for WHAT YOU THINK are my top 3 Blog posts on my site, and reply to this message with the Titles of those posts in order of your favorite. I will count up the replies have a random number generator pick between one and whatever the total is. I will then take that number and countdown that many replies….that person wins. I will then email or message you the $20 promo code. It’s that easy.

The contest will end this Friday (2/04/2011) at midnight.

Winner, #2 post, Anonymous! I 'm glad you posted your email..lol. Thanks everyone for playing!

You don’t have to do this alone.

 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” - Colossians 2:8 

There is a way of life or philosophy that greatly engages our mind and soul. It improves mankind and solidifies our faith in our Lord; it is the study of the Word and the Works of God. There is also a way of life or a counter philosophy that is conceited, vain, deceitful, void of Faith and completely self serving. This is the philosophy of the Worldly. What we believe, is our base or center of operations for our lives and how we conduct ourselves as humans. Everything depends on this center. 

The first way, is in total acceptance of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ for our sins. These people are in Christ, saved from the punishment due under the shadow of their sin; they are living in a holy, sanctifying, dead to sin and in a mutual loving relationship with our Lord God.

The second way of life is a sad, disappointing existence and worthy of much pity. They live blinded by false idols, hardened hearts, and are content in relying on their own strength in everything. Their backs are turned against Christ, brushing His helping arms away. They are failing to truly see and accept their sin, failures, hurt and disappointments as a load only Christ can forgive, carry and guild them through.

If you are hurting, tired and broken, Christ is waiting for you. Tell Him you accept Him as your Lord and Savior. Ask for God’s forgiveness for your sins. Ask Him to come into your life and make you new again. Ask Him to guild your thoughts, mind and heart, all the days of your life. Many of us have been broken by trying to carry the hurt and pains of life on our own. This is a futile fight that you don’t have to endure alone. Jesus loves you so much; He laid down His life for you. And because of His perfect sacrifice He rose again, securing your salvation. May God Bless you.

Thanks for checking in and God Bless >>John