Living in His Image

"Christianity has an image problem." - David Kinnaman, The UnChristian

Human beings are made in the image of God.  God directs His people to live holy because He is holy.  God offers His Word, so that His people can follow His Word in their daily lives.  God sent His only begotten Son to earth to redeem mankind into a relationship with Him and for Christians to follow the example of Christ.

However, the biggest issue that most people who do not accept the faith of Christianity due to Christians.  Actually, the issue has more to do with the hypocrisy of Christians than it does with Christians as people in general.

Why?

The Christian is to live as an example as much as he or she is to live by example.  When we follow that example, others tend to gravitate towards us and follow us in our walk with Christ.  When we fail to follow that example and others witness us, we send mixed messages and cause others to become confused.  If we want to win souls for the Lord, we need to provide a witness that gives a positive example to others.

 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

A New Vision for a New Year

Where there is no vision, the people perish: 

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

- Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

2013 is upon us.  We have some some serious choices ahead of us in the coming days.  For now, let us enter into 2013 with prayer.  Let us thank God for what He showed us in 2012, even tragedy and triumph.  Thank God for allowing us to see 2013.  Pray to God that He will bless us with all that we need in 2013, especially clarity of the vision that He has for our lives.

Amen.

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The Miracle of Christmas

Feliz Navidad!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

Previously, I wrote about the miracles of Jesus and shared some of the inspirational accounts from the Gospels.  The Gospels depict Jesus as a worker of miracles as well as a messenger of God's redemption while remaining the Messiah who would serve as the Lamb of God.

But when the time had fully come, 
God sent his Son, 
born of a woman, 
born under law, 
to redeem those under law, 
that we might receive the full rights of sons.
- Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

However, the miracle of Christmas is more about God orchestrating everything beyond coincidence.  He set things in order long before they began to unfold in order to redeem mankind.  Christmas marks a celebration of things coming in order to fulfill God's plan for redemption.

New Mercies Day by Day

Morning by morning new mercies I see. . .- "Great is Thy Faithfulness"

Every single day is a blessing.  Yes, I know that it can be considered a given, but today I have good reason to say so.  After tossing and turning all night with a head cold, I could hardly sleep.  I awoke in a stuper this morning and in no condition to even try to go to church, possibly infecting everyone near me.  I awoke and celebrated the goodness of God.

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

I celebrate the fact that God is in charge.  He can slow us down when we will run ourselves down to the bone and keep on until there's nothing to wear out left.  God has stopping power.  He can stop the planets in the middle of their orbit.  He can command the birds of the air to feed a runaway prophet and the fish of the sea to leap into the nets of a small boat for Simon Peter.  God has power.

He gives us new mercies daily.  He doesn't try to pass off yesterday's mercies as just as good or in working condition.  He gives us the best that He has to offer.

Lord,
I just say thank you for not leaving me in yesterday's condition and
allowing me to awake today in a new condition.
Yes, Lord, You are powerful!
Amen.

Read my article. . . Fantasy Sports are More and More Popular These Days

Focus on Freelancing

I write all sorts of content as a freelance writer.

I have no real niche.  I write poetry and fiction.  I write about religion as much as I write about sports and community activities and events.  I blog, journal, present, teach, and edit online as a freelancer.

 I write e-zine articles and post to multiple blogs.  I write for a wide variety of audiences.

You can join me on my freelance journey at iWriter, too.

I have published articles on Squidoo and HubPages, too.  My articles include content related to writing grants and freelance writing opportunities.  I also publish my own books of inspirational poetry on Lulu.


Get a copy of one of the Bible studies offered by Life Path Ministries & Services.  Subscribe to get inspiration from one of my other blogs either Rev Bruce or Life Path.

Winning at All Costs

"Winning isn't everything,
but wanting to win is!"
- Vince Lombardi
Head Coach
Green Bay Packers


Look back at Lombardi.  He bred and led champions.  the NFL has named its coveted championship trophy after him and in his honor.  He was a pioneer in the sport's history-making era.  He stood out as a man who could lead men, a man's man and a player's coach.  If there ever was an example of gridiron guts and gallantry to behold, Lombardi was the prime example for all to lay there eyes upon.

Today's NFL is nothing like Lombardi's heyday.  Hard work and determination have been replaced with performance enhancing drugs and off-field antics that border between publicity stunts and public disgraces.  Bountygate has taken prisoners among both players and coaches, revealing true character as it has unraveled before our own eyes.  The NFL currently suffers more black eyes than Pacquiao after his last bout.

The sad truth is that Lombardi's words speak to our character once we get set on winning.  We become consumed with winning at all costs.  We will cut corners to get an edge on our competition.  We will kick an opponent while he's down and out, leaving him with no recourse except to wave the white flag of defeat.  That's what becomes of us when we let a "winning" spirit take over and consume us.

That doesn't have to be the case, though.

He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; 
nor he that loves abundance with increase: 
this is also vanity.
 - Ecclesiastes 5:10

Putting our focus on the prize can detour us from the right pathway.  There are no shortcuts to righteousness.  Purity and holiness do not have a cheat code available to a select few.  No, the Lord shows us that a wise choice is to take the moral high road rather than to stoop to the level of cheater just to get ahead.

Our desire to win should remain in check as win people over on our way towards achieving the prize.

Order a copy of my urban poetry collection Words from the Underground

Succeeding at Necessities

"You must succeed at doing what is necessary." - Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill stands out as a prominent figure due to what history has made out of his accomplishments as part of Great Britain's wartime stance against the air raids of the German Lufthansa during World War II.  However, Churchill's many quotes should also provide today's business leaders with some stirring words to ponder.

How many of us view success as "doing what is necessary?" That is not a common perspective for most people, especially those trying to run a business on their own in the hopes of growing and increasing revenue or the pastor of a storefront church who has aspirations of growth and expansion.  Necessary things seem to fall right into the mix with all of the other unexpected fires that have to be put out as one makes it day by day and step by step. Yet, Churchill offers such words to cause us to ponder if what we are tinkering with here and there is really leading towards true success.

Ask yourself if you have done "what is necessary" in order to keep the doors open and the lights on.  Develop a list of fundamentals that have to be in place before you move to bigger things.  Utilize this list as a check-in point for yourself before you get started on your daily grind.  I guarantee that such a checklist is exactly what will come in handy as you work on getting to that crucial point that we all seek so desperately and tirelessly that we tend to call success.