DesiringGod Author: The Key to Successful Conversations About Race

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DesiringGod Author: The Key to Successful Conversations About Race

race relations (Photo: Reuters/Carlo Allegri)

Christian Post Report – People of different races hold hands as they gather on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. bridge in Charleston, June 21, 2015, after the first service at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church since a mass shooting left nine people dead.

There is a key to achieving understanding and racial harmony where there is confusion and discord, says Phillip Holmes, a writer and the co-founder of the Reformed African American Network (RAAN), in a post last week on the website DesiringGod.org.

Having grown up in the majority black town of Pickens, Mississippi, Holmes eventually moved 45 minutes south to Jackson where he attended a majority white college, a majority white church, and a majority white seminary. So he’s learned a thing or two when it comes to race relations.

“Over the years I’ve learned that the conversation is complicated and how we view the world and ourselves can radically shape how we engage one another.”

Holmes believes that humility should underpin conversations about race. ” … Humility and love that produces tough skin and tender hearts are essential as we have these conversations,” he says. “Both require us to engage and examine diverse views, embracing what we believe is in harmony with biblical truth.”

Few people who express their opinions on race relations seem to do so with humility, says Holmes. But just as Christ was lowly in heart, Christians should pattern themselves accordingly. Holmes reminds believers that Apostle Paul warned against selfish ambition and conceit, and calls on Christians to consider others more important than themselves.

Nevertheless, when it comes to conversations on race and justice, humility is often a rarity. ” … As I observe conversations regarding racism and injustice, it’s rare to find a man or woman who speaks boldly with a posture of humility,” writes Holmes.

To effectively address tough questions on race, Christians need a worldview that’s based on Scripture. Most Americans, however, don’t have a Christian worldview, says the writer, who cites a 2009 Barna study which revealed that “only 9% of all American adults have a biblical worldview.”

Holmes says, ” … We should hold our views on racism and other issues all the more with openhandedness and make sure that we’re allowing Scripture to correct us as we seek to answer the challenges we face. As Scripture shapes our hearts and our views, we will notice our skin getting thicker and our hearts becoming tenderer.”

When it comes to ethnic harmony and Evangelicals, Holmes stresses that Evangelicals should welcome differing opinions. ” … The only people we [Evangelicals] invite to speak on the subject are the people that already agree with us. Most conferences on racism today are stacked with panelists that lack diversity in a completely different way. Sure, everyone on stage may possess a different skin tone, but their views are undistinguishable.”

The writer sums things up with an eloquent statement that a love for Christ takes priority over race. “If you are a child of the king, adopted into the household of faith, you are Christian first. I am one million times more Christian than I am black. My brown skin may be what you first notice about me, but by God’s grace, my Christian faith is what you will remember.”

Email me: [email protected]
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Source : Christian Post

Max Lucado on ‘Glory Days,’ Being a Grandparent and His Favorite Book of the Bible (Interview)

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Max Lucado on ‘Glory Days,’ Being a Grandparent and His Favorite Book of the Bible (Interview)

Christian Post Report – Max Lucado is one of the leading inspirational authors in the United States. His newest book, Glory Days, is based on the Old Testament book of Joshua. Glory Days explores the idea that, like the Israelites in the Old Testament, God has a promised land for all of us to conquer and inhabit.

In this discussion, Lucado shares ways that God’s promises can encourage Christians through the unique challenges of parenthood. 

You just became a grandfather for the first time. Congratulations! What kind of a grandparent do you hope to be?

Max LucadoChristian author Max Lucado.

Lucado: Oh, I’m going to spoil that little girl! My goal is that every time she sees me, she knows that she’s going to get something good to eat, go somewhere to play, or have a book to read. I love it! My wife and I have only been grandparents for about six weeks, but it’s everything everybody said it would be.

Over the years, so many parents and children have enjoyed your children’s book/video characters, such as Hermie and Flo. Do you have any plans to write more children’s materials anytime soon?

Lucado: There’s a great place for good Christian children’s books. After the upcoming projects I’m working on, I’d like to turn my attention back to children’s books. Maybe with a granddaughter I’ll have more inspiration and new ideas. 

You are greatly admired and inspiring to so many. What authors have inspired you?

Lucado: Through the years, I have always enjoyed anything Chuck Swindoll has written. When I first got into writing 30 years ago, Chuck’s books really modeled a style of writing that I thought was accessible to people and yet still biblical. I wanted to do that. I didn’t want to just write stories that were entertaining. Nor did I want to be so scholarly that people couldn’t digest it. I can’t say that I’ve read everything that he’s ever written, but almost everything!

Glory Days is based on the book of Joshua. You say that Joshua is your favorite book in the Bible. Why?

Glory Days Max Lucado(Photo: Harper Collins Christian Publishing)The cover for Glory Days: Living Your Promised Land Life Now, by Max Lucado. Released in September of 2015.

Lucado: It’s such a unique story. It wasn’t always my favorite book, by the way. Only about four or five years ago did I realize that this book covers a seven-year period in the history of ancient Israel in which they literally went undefeated. They did have one setback, but outside of that, they defeated over 30 kings. They recaptured the Promised Land. They did what their ancestors said they could not.

Remember, their ancestors went into the Promised Land to spy it out and said, “It’s too big; we can’t do it!” So these people did what their parents and grandparents could not do.

For seven years they could not be stopped. I have found this 
to be a great imagery and analogy for the Christian life. As Christians, we have the same images. We’ve come out of Egypt (been saved) we’ve crossed over, and Jesus Christ is our Moses and our Joshua.

The Promised Land, for many people, though, is something that’s far off in the future. People are saved, but they don’t feel victory. They feel like they’re in a wilderness and they’re wandering. And so this book of Joshua gives us a picture of how we can come out of the wilderness in our own spiritual lives and enter into a season of victory.

Parents of young children are often riddled with the stress of balancing family, career, and life in general. They think of their “glory days” as being far behind them. How can this book give them a new perspective?

Lucado: Yes, people see it as far behind them, or they see it as something way ahead of them. I believe all of us can fall victim to that mentality. But the great promise of Scripture is that every day is a day that’s worth rejoicing in.

The Scripture says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Glory days are days that can happen right now. The key is understanding some basic principles that don’t just apply to any one season of life but transcend all seasons of life — not allowing our circumstances to define our outlook on life, but allowing what God’s Word says about life to define that outlook.

To some, this concept may seem overly optimistic. How can parents deal with the unique, sometimes heartbreaking, struggles they face?

Lucado: When troubles come our way, we can be stressed and upset, or we can trust God. Caleb could have cursed God. He didn’t deserve the wilderness. He had to put his dreams on hold for four decades. Still he didn’t complain or grow sour.

You’ll always face problems. When you experience hard times, immerse your mind in God thoughts. Turn a deaf ear to doubters. Set your mind on a holy cause. Once you find your mountain, no giant will stop you, no age will disqualify you, and no problem will defeat you.

If I’m a young mom or young dad, I can find a great source of strength. God has promised that He will help me to be the mom or dad that He wants me 
to be. He has promised to be with me every step of the way. He has promised that He will never leave me or forsake me. These are wonderful promises that I can learn to trust and build a life on.

In our lives, we all experience enlightenment and inspiration from the Bible and from Christian books and materials such as Glory Days. But it’s sometimes a struggle to actually apply the principles to our lives, to put them into practice. Any advice on how to take the contents of this book (and the Bible it’s based on) and let them truly change us for the better?

Lucado: Engage with the Bible. Meditate on it day and night. Think and rethink about God’s Word. Let it be your guide. Make it your go-to book for questions. Let it be the ultimate authority in your life.

Glory Days requires an ongoing trust in God’s Word. Wilderness people trust Scripture just enough to escape Egypt. Canaan-dwellers, on the other hand, make the Bible their go-to book for life.

Kelly Wilson Mize is a wife, mother, educator, and freelance writer living in Huntsville, Ala. Her credits include hundreds of published devotions, articles, and stories for both children and adults

Source : Christian Post

Peyton Manning on Post-Super Bowl Plans: Drink Lots of Bud, Praise God

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Peyton Manning on Post-Super Bowl Plans: Drink Lots of Bud, Praise God

Peyton Manning (Photo: USA Today Sports/Mark J. Rebilas)

Christian Post Report – Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California, February 7, 2016.

After winning his second Super Bowl title on Sunday evening, star quarterback Peyton Manning said he planned to drink “a lot of Budweiser,” adding that he was grateful and planned to thank “the man upstairs” following the big game against the Carolina Panthers.

“I want to go kiss my wife and my kids. I want to go hug my family,” Manning told CBS’ Tracy Wolfson while explaining his plans in his first post-game interview.

“I’m going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight, Tracy, I promise you that,” the Denver Broncos quarterback continued, adding, “I’m going to take care of those things first and definitely going to say a little prayer and thank the man upstairs for this great opportunity.”

Viewers were quick to criticize Manning’s comments, accusing the professional football player of shamelessly advertising the beer company in exchange for profit.

Alex Rosenberg, a producer with CNBC, jokingly tweeted that “[Manning] appears to have sponsorship deals with Budweiser, his family, and God.”

Lisa Weser, spokeswoman for the Anheuser-Busch brewery that owns Budweiser, confirmed in a statement that Manning was not paid reference the beer.

The 39-year-old quarterback was not paid “to mention Budweiser tonight,” Weser announced on Twitter, adding that the brewery was “surprised and delighted that he did.”

Manning’s multiple Budweiser references amounted to $3.2 million in free advertising for the corporation.

Although he was not officially asked to mention the alcohol purveyor, Manning did hold stake in the company in 2013, with Beer Business Daily reporting that the professional athlete had a financial connection to two Budweiser distributorships, although it could not be confirmed if the business relationships were still in effect.

Manning’s link to advertisers was also seen through his post-game hug with John Schnatter, owner of Papa John’s Pizza.

After the Broncos victory, the quarterback immediately went over and embraced Schnatter. Manning owns multiple Papa John’s franchises in Colorado and appears in several of the pizza chain’s commercials.

While Manning’s love for beer was on full display at Sunday night’s game, the star quarterback has also discussed his loving relationship with God in the past, describing his conversion story in his 2000 autobiography Manning.

“My faith has been number one since I was 13 years old and heard from the pulpit on a Sunday morning in New Orleans a simple question: ‘If you died today, are you one hundred percent sure you’d go to heaven,'” Manning wrote in the book.

“The minister invited those who would like that assurance through Jesus Christ to raise their hands, and I did. Then he invited us to come forward, to take a stand, and my heart really started pounding. And from where we sat, it looked like a mile to the front. And I committed my life to Christ, and that faith has been most important to me ever since,” the quarterback added.

The Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers with a score of 24 to 10 in Super Bowl 50, held Sunday in Santa Clara, California.

Source : Christian Post

Jesus’ Hometown of Nazareth to Host World Day of the Sick

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Jesus’ Hometown of Nazareth to Host World Day of the Sick

Pope Francis (Photo: Reuters/Max Rossi)

Christian Post Report – Pope Francis touches a sick person at the end of his weekly audience in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Rome, Italy, September 24, 2014.

The town of Nazareth in Israel, where Jesus Christ is said to have grown up, is preparing to host the Roman Catholic World Day of the Sick event Thursday, to honor the infirm and their caretakers.

Fides News Agency reported that the event will include a series of liturgical celebrations in different cities across Israel, in which sick people will be administered the sacrament of anointing of the sick.

There will also be a discussion concerning the care of the terminally ill and the ethical issues of the end of life, which will take place on Tuesday at the Notre Dame de Jerusalem Centre, and will be attended by international experts.

Nazareth was chosen as the host site of the World Day of the Sick by Pope Francis, who back in September said: “Illness, above all grave illness, always places human existence in crisis and brings with it questions that dig deep. Our first response may at times be one of rebellion: Why has this happened to me? We can feel desperate, thinking that all is lost, that things no longer have meaning.”

Nazareth (Photo: Reuters/Baz Ratner)

Tourists walk on a street in the Israeli-Arab town of Nazareth, northern Israel, October 12, 2015. Israel’s leading Arab politician was in the middle of a television interview on a street in its biggest Arab city when the mayor, also an Arab, pulled up in his car and started shouting at him to leave. With Palestinian knife attacks on the rise, the live TV encounter illustrated a conflict within Israel’s Arab minority between sympathy for Palestinian brethren in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, and concern over a Jewish backlash.

The pontiff added that in such situations, people’s faith in God is tested, but also creates the opportunity to reveal all of its positive resources.

“Not because faith makes illness, pain, or the questions which they raise, disappear, but because it offers a key by which we can discover the deepest meaning of what we are experiencing; a key that helps us to see how illness can be the way to draw nearer to Jesus who walks at our side, weighed down by the Cross,” Francis added.

The Vatican leader also spoke out about the need to promote the culture of encounter and peace at every hospital and nursing home, where “the experience of illness and suffering, along with professional and fraternal assistance, helps to overcome every limitation and division.”

The feast day for the sick was instituted by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1992, in response to the growing numbers of sick and suffering people. Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, announced his official resignation as pope during the 2013 feast day, citing poor health for his decision.

Nazareth itself holds special significant for Christians as the town Jesus grew up in.

A group of nuns in 1880s discovered a courtyard house containing limestone pottery that archaeologists said dated back to the first century, with some experts, such as Ken Dark, a professor at the University of Reading in the U.K., suggested that it could be possible that it is the house that Jesus and his family grew up in.

Source : Christian Post

Over 2,000 Charlotte Students Join Jeremy Lin’s Anti-Bullying Campaign

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Over 2,000 Charlotte Students Join Jeremy Lin’s Anti-Bullying Campaign

jeremy lin (Photo: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

Christian Post Report – Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin (7) drives to the basket as Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) looks on during the first half at American Airlines Arena.

Jeremy Lin is doing more than entertaining North Carolina basketball fans, the Charlotte Hornets point guard has inspired over 2,600 students to stop bullying.

“Can’t wait to visit one of the @CharMeckSchools,” Lin tweeted last week. “Thanks to the 2600+ students taking a stand against bullying.”

The 28-year-old NBA player started a reading challenge in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District through his nonprofit organization The Jeremy Lin Foundation. Instead of just reading books, students will have an opportunity to earn points by taking quizzes and reading articles written by Lin and other celebrities and writers about bullying.

The more students read, the more they have an opportunity to earn points for their schools, and the winning school will win a visit from Lin.

“The Jeremy Lin Foundation Reading Challenge … encourages students to read from a collection of JLin Foundation aligned articles around ‘Bringing an End to Bullying, featuring an article at five different levels from Jeremy Lin,” a description of the challenge states on the Newsela website.

Newsela is an online community that helps students develop their reading and comprehension skills by reading non fiction articles. In an article Lin wrote for Newsela, the Hornets point guard reveals his own experiences with bullying.

“People who ask me about bullying are often surprised when I tell them that I have been singled out for my race on the basketball court,” Lin wrote in the Newsela article titled, “Opinion: Ignore the bullies and dare to be different,”

The anti-bullying campaign officially launched on Jan. 19 and lasts for one month.

This is not the first time Lin has attached his name to a bullying campaign. When the White House launched an anti-bullying campaign called “Act To Change,” Lin stepped forward.

“For me, growing up Asian-American and trying to play basketball was a bit tough at times,” said Lin. “Sometimes people would make fun of me and just say, ‘Oh, you’re Yao Ming.'”

“That’s not that bad, but sometimes it would get worse and people would say, ‘You’re a Chinese import’ or ‘go back to China’ or ‘can you see the scoreboard with your eyes?’ And then sometimes it got really ridiculous.”

Lin said people have addressed him using racial slurs, and the normally mild mannered basketball player became understandably upset. He even lashed out once.

“I remember one time I got really upset, kind of lost control and just responded really negatively. My coach told me after the game, ‘Jeremy, when people say that to you they’re trying to get in your head,'” Lin said. “Honestly, the best thing to do is take that negative energy and turn it into positive energy. Fuel yourself, motivate yourself with that. Don’t react in anger.”

“My lesson that I learned, and if there is anything I can pass on to you guys, is a lot of times bullies bully other people because of insecurities they have in themselves. Don’t let anyone else tell you who you are or what you can or can’t do,” he advised. “Definitely look inside yourself, have confidence in yourself, believe in yourself and understand what makes you such a unique and special person. Everybody has different and really cool characteristics and talents.”

Source : Christian Post

Rev. Jimmy Evans to Join Board of Mark Driscoll’s New Church

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Rev. Jimmy Evans to Join Board of Mark Driscoll’s New Church

Jimmy Evans, Mark Driscoll (Photos: Trinity Fellowship Church; Facebook)

Christian Post Report – Rev. Jimmy Evans (L) and Mark Driscoll (R)

Jimmy Evans, founder and CEO of MarriageToday and senior elder at Trinity Fellowship Church in Amarillo, Texas, has joined the board of the new church being planted by former Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll in Phoenix, Arizona.

Driscoll and his wife, Grace, recently announced that they have begun work on The Trinity Church which is expected to open in the first half of 2016.

Evans revealed to the Amarillo Globe-News that he feels God wants him to help Driscoll’s effort.

“Early on in my relationship with Mark I felt the Lord was putting us together,” Evans told the publication in a report published Friday. “When Mark asked me to be on his board, I prayed about it and felt the Lord was telling me to do it.”

Also on the board of Driscoll’s new church plant are Gateway Church Senior Pastor Robert Morris, and Randal Taylor, vice president of television at Dunham+Company.

Lead Pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church Jimmy Witcher said Driscoll and Evans met at a Gateway Church conference shortly after Driscoll’s controversial resignation from Mars Hill. Driscoll resigned from the Seattle-based Mars Hill megachurch in October 2014 amid allegations of plagiarism, emotional abusiveness and misogyny which made national headlines.

The Trinity Church, Wise Counsel (Photo: Screen Grab via The Trinity Church)

The Trinity Church’s “Wise Counsel” brought together by Mark Driscoll for The Trinity Church in Phoenix, Arizona.

“When I first met Mark, he was very broken and honest about his shortcomings in his previous church,” Evans told the Amarillo Globe-News. “I ministered to him a lot about those issues, as did some of my friends. We all see a great heart and tremendous potential in him.”

Larry Osborne, a senior pastor at North Coast Church in California and a former board of advisers member to Mars Hill, is listed in the role of “wise counsel” to The Trinity Church along with Taylor, Evans and Morris.

“As far as offering wise counsel, it is just a role of being there to help Mark process issues as they come up,” Evans said.

“Related to being on the governing board, we help Mark make the larger decisions related to the direction, finances, governance and legal issues of the church.”

In his recent announcement about his new church, Driscoll and his wife agreed that their move to Phoenix has been good.

“We have moved to Phoenix, love it here, healing up, making new friends and excited about this city and the future that God would have us to play in serving the people here along with some other great churches in the valley. And so Lord willing, we are hoping, trusting, praying, planning, and also a little bit worrying about planting a church here in early 2016,” Driscoll said.

Grace said she was excited about the new church plant and explained that they had “healthy fear” taking on a new project with her husband who is not as “young as he used to be.”

“I’m excited. I’m excited to see people get saved, whoever God saves in this process. I’m excited to be in community with the people of Phoenix,” she continued. “I’m just excited to hear you preach. I think the kids are too.”

Evans said he’s looking forward to seeing how God will work in Driscoll’s life in his new chapter.

He said: “It is exciting to see God’s redemptive power working in this situation, and I’m humbled to be a part of it.”

Contact: [email protected]; follow me on Twitter @leoblair

Source : Christian Post

Kanye West Says God Wrote His Gospel Album That Has a ‘Whole Lot of Cursing’

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Kanye West Says God Wrote His Gospel Album That Has a ‘Whole Lot of Cursing’

Kanye West REUTERS / Mario Anzuoni

Christian Post Report – Kanye West accepts the Video Vanguard Award at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, August 30, 2015.

After gospel music star Kirk Franklin was pictured in a studio with rap mogul Kanye West, the rapper is revealing what the entertainment industry veterans spoke about.

The 38-year-old “Yeezus” rapper said he and Franklin, 46, were discussing West’s upcoming yet-to-be officially titled eighth studio album. West explained why he was referring to it as a gospel record.

“When I was sitting in the studio with Kirk, Kirk Franklin, and we’re just going through it. I said this is a gospel album, with a whole lot of cursing on it, but it’s still a gospel album,” West said in an interview on Big Boy Radio.  “The gospel according to Ye. It’s not exactly what happened in the Bible, but it’s this story idea of Mary Magdalene becoming Mary.”

The rapper went on to reveal that he believed God, his late mother, Donda West, and his wife Kim Kardashian’s late father, Robert Kardashian Sr., were helping him finish his album.

“I’m only doing 1 percent, 2 percent of the work and God is doing the rest of the work. My mom … had Teddy Riley change his flight and come back to the studio,” West asserted. “Robert Kardashian is making sure that all the deals is getting done. He’s still doing deals for controversial black people from up in Heaven.”

Last Monday, Kardashian, 34, posted a poll on Twitter to ask fans what they thought of the album title So Help Me God compared to Swish, and his most recent announcement of changing the upcoming Feb. 11 release name to Waves.

“WAIT new poll. Which album title do you like best? @kanyewest,” she questioned.

Out of 439,102 votes, the final poll results revealed that 46 percent of West’s fans would like to call the album So Help Me God, with 30 percent preferring Swish and the remaining 24 percent preferring Waves.

West went on to explain that he does not have an album title yet and explained why Kardashian posted the poll.

“We don’t have a name, yet .. I wanted to get peoples’ opinions of how they felt,” he said.

The 38-year-old rap mogul told fans that his latest record would be a gospel project when he tweeted about it on Jan 27.

“This album is actually a Gospel album,” West tweeted.

West has previously publicly identified himself as a Christian. In an interview with Paper magazine last year, he recalled an enlightening moment when he went to the dentist and began to think deeply about his life after being given nitrous gas for his procedure.

West said the moment allowed him to see that there was no reason for him to expect to be compensated every time he gave to someone or made a contribution to society.

“I’m a Christian so I’ll speak in Christian terms: God will give you tenfold. Then I said in my mind — I’m still under the gas and getting my teeth cleaned — But I just want to be remembered,” West told to Paper magazine. “And I immediately corrected myself. I said, It doesn’t even matter if I’m remembered.”

Source : Christian Post

Facing Up to Addiction

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Facing Up to Addiction

Christian Post Report – Self-improvement always sounds like a great thing until we actually dig in and get our hands dirty. We talk about the need for accountability, but the second we turn that scalpel inward, we flinch and fight and justify our way out.

It can be messy, awful work to hear the truth about yourself.
It’s never easy to hear criticism, most especially when it could be true.

The hard part is that getting better means we have to confront the ugliness inside.
This is harder than you think.

Recovery and improvement demands getting honest about all the crazy, neurotic, self-justified hang-ups that we’ve buried — and it’s extremely painful to expose how messed-up we really are. But that’s the truth about yourself.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/addiction-3-quick-tips-to-handle-the-truth-about-yourself-154743/#MMcwWAapB3OYI4zi.99

Source : Christian Post