Serving God's Purposes in Our Generation (Acts 13:36b)

Five Reasons Why Churches Need Effective Marriage Ministries

At the time of the writing of this article I have been married almost thirty years and have functioned as a senior pastor for almost 26 years. Through all this I have come to the conclusion that an effective marriage ministry is absolutely essential for every church to succeed in its vision and purpose. The following are reasons why. I. Since churches are families of families strong marriages are the foundation of the local church a. Every local church is really a network of numerous families. Hence, the church is a macro expression of the micro nuclear family. b. Consequently, the macro health…

I, Me And My Digital Cave

Who am I?, I log-in as a user-name. Key-in protected life-passwords, to prove I am ‘me’. Elsewhere, it is a 4 digit PIN. I enjoy online status. Faceless existence. Multiple Identities. I juggle ‘this-is-how-I-look-now’ profile images . . . . Am I my image? Am I my profile? Am I myself, after my 15 minutes of fame? Is this my alter-ego? Or am I just trying to be me? Can anyone know the real ‘me’?

Majesty – Here I Am – Empty Handed, But Alive In Your Hands

Here I Am Humbled By Your Majesty, Covered By Your Grace So Free, Here I Am, Knowing I'm A Sinful Man, Covered By The Blood Of The Lamb, And Now I've Found The Greatest Love Of All Is Mine, Since You Laid Down Your Life, The Greatest Sacrifice, Majesty, Majesty, Your Grace Has Found Me Just As I Am, Empty Handed, But Alive In Your Hands

Bible, Science And Interpretation

Saint Augustine (A.D. 354-430) in The Literal Meaning of Genesis (De Genesi ad litteram libri duodecim) provides excellent advice for all Christians who are faced with the task of interpreting Scripture in the light of scientific knowledge. Usually, even a non-Christian knows something about the earth, the heavens, and the other elements of this world, about the motion and orbit of the stars and even their size and relative positions, about the predictable eclipses of the sun and moon, the cycles of the years and the seasons, about the kinds of animals, shrubs, stones, and so forth, and this knowledge…

How To Reclaim A LOST Loved One?!

Having examined Jesus’ short story called ‘the Prodigal Son’, I want to show how in reality Luke 15:11-32 is about ‘A Compassionate Father’. A good teacher is someone who takes listeners from: (1) the known to the unknown (2) the text into their context and (3) where they are to where they ought to be, by the grace of God. First, allow me to attempt to do just this with this familiar story and encourage us, the Church, to do “whatever it takes” to see those, especially in our immediate family, without the hope of salvation and eternal home, return and be…

Bringing Our Sons & Daughters To Jesus

Yesterday, our community dedicated two of our children to Jesus. It was a beautiful moment to celebrate the grace of God to two of our families and to our community as a whole. At Seven Mile Road, we don’t see dedications as a Sacrament. We recognize baptism (entrance into the Covenant) and the Lord’s Supper (continuing in the Covenant) as sacraments/ordinances given by Jesus to the Church. So nothing magical or mystical happens when we dedicate our children. The heart behind it is simply to submit our children and ourselves to the Lord and his grace. When God gives us…

God Tells You 'Don't Give Up!'

I want to encourage you today! I don't know exactly what you are facing in your life this moment, I don't know what your problems are, what trials and tribulations you are experiencing in your life right now. But I do know this, everyone reading these words today is going though something. No matter what it is, I want to give you a message right from the throne room of God...DON'T GIVE UP!!! I am not going to tell you that all of your problems will be solved by the time you go to bed tonight, chances are they won't.…

Diwali Or Deepavali – A 'Festival Of Lights' – Triumphant Victory Of Good Over Evil

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a 'festival of lights' celebrated especially by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. This festival is spread over three to four days and is one of the most anticipated times of celebration. Homes are lit with hundreds of deeya (clay oil lamps) during the season, to signify victory of good over evil. The day of Diwali is the highlight of this celebratory mood. Families get together to start the day with oil baths, then exchange gifts and sweets, followed by the most exciting event of the year - family fire works. Fireworks begin before the crack of dawn and go well into the day. No amount of description is sufficient to capture all the excitement and celebrations associated with the Diwali festival. You have to be there to experience it.

Hear Our Prayer Oh Lord God Almighty

Blessed Are Those Who Dwell In Your House, They Are Ever Praising You, Blessed Are Those Whose Strength Is In You, Whose Hearts Are Set On Our God, We Will Go From Strength To Strength, Until We See You Face To Face, Hear Our Prayer, Oh Lord, God Almighty, Come Bless Our Land, As We Seek You, Worship You, For You Are Holy, For You Are Holy, For You Are Holy, Lord

Getting To New Places

No leader is immune to the shifting circumstances and events that can challenge or stymie their professional or organizational progress. Advance warning of these oncoming storms, together with adequate preparation, can mean the difference between disaster and success. . .  . . . But the first step in getting there was disengaging. You cannot remain static if you want to be moving. You have to become part of something that is moving and associate with people who are moving. If your church, company or organization is going somewhere, you'll find that people will want to be connected with you so that they can go somewhere too.

From Janitor, Cook and Dishwasher To A Trainer of Leaders

Who would have thought, when in 1973, student Samuel Chand was serving Beulah Heights Bible College (BHBC) as janitor, cook and dishwasher, that he would return in 1989 as President of the same college! Under his leadership BHBC became the country's largest predominantly African-American Bible college. Dr. Chand is a former Pastor, college President, Chancellor and now serves as President Emeritus of Beulah Heights University. In this season of his life, Dr. Chand does one thing - Leadership. His singular vision for his life is to Help Others Succeed.

Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed Be Your Name, In The Land That Is Plentiful, Where Your Streams Of Abundance Flow, Blessed Be Your Name, Blessed Be Your Name, When I'm Found In The Desert Place, Though I Walk Through The Wilderness, Blessed Be Your Name, Every Blessing You Pour Out I'll Turn Back To Praise, When The Darkness Closes In Lord, Still I Will Say, Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord, Blessed Be Your Name, Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord, Blessed Be Your Glorious Name

Teen Porn Addiction – Only A Mouse Click Away!

With the Internet, pornography is only a click-away and more kids are falling prey to sexual addiction than ever before. Parents are finding it increasingly difficult to shield their children from pornography. The problems of teenage pornography and sexual addictions are real, devastating, and increasing. According to some studies, nine in ten teens have been exposed to pornography. Some of those casual exposures result in deviant sexual behaviors or sexual violence for some, while others are susceptible to sexual addiction or perverted behaviors in the future.

Caleb the Conqueror!

Life is not a playground, it’s a battlefield! Many Christians are victims of life’s trials and temptations instead of being victorious over them. From the well-know story of Caleb (Jos.14: 6-15) there are at least three characteristics in him that can challenge believers today to be more than conquerors through Christ. God continues to search for Christians who like Caleb don’t settle for molehills but claim their mountains for God. May God enable us to find a cause, make a claim and be more than conquerors through our Lord Jesus who loving calls us to fulfill His purposes (Rom.8:31-39).

Missing God's Plan A For Your Life

We just cannot live the victorious life or be of maximum use to the Lord, or be a blessing to others in any place we choose. Some may feel that they can choose their own career and their place of residence and then seek to be a witness for the Lord wherever they are. The Lord may in His mercy use such believers in a limited way. But their usefulness in God's vineyard will be only a fraction of what it could have been had they earnestly sought His plan and remained in the center of His perfect will. Stunted spiritual growth and limited fruitfulness are but the consequences of a careless disregard of God's laws.

His Eyes In On The Sparrow

I listened to this song about a month ago. It seems I now wake up with this song on my lips. why should I feel discouragedand why should the shadows comewhy should my heart feel lonelyand long for heaven and homewhen Jesus is my portiona constant friend is HeHis eye is on the sparrowand I know He watches over meHis eye is on the sparrowand I know He watches over meI sing because I'm happyI sing because I'm freeHis eye is on the sparrowand I know He watches meIt's such a simple song but it never fails to reassure me.…

Success Factors For An Organization.

FACTORS ACTIONS1. Handling complexityFiguring out what needs to be done and charting a course of action2. Drive and results orientationFocusing on an outcome and driving for completion3. Lead and manage peopleDirecting the work of motivating others4. Executional excellencePutting ideas into action5. Organizational understandingKnowing how the organization works and how to maximize it6. Composure under pressureStaying focused in the internal pressure cooker and still getting things done7. Executive maturityAlways acting with maturity and good judgment8. Technical knowledgeUnderstanding and applying technical knowledge9. Recruit and develop good peopleMaking the organization and individuals betterPositive people skillsKnowing how to get along with people who are…

God Knows What He’s About!

When God wants to drill a man,And thrill a man,And skill a manWhen God wants to mold a manTo play the noblest part; When He yearns with all His heartTo create so great and bold a manThat all the world shall be amazed,Watch His methods, watch His ways! How He ruthlessly perfectsWhom He royally elects!How He hammers him and hurts him,And with mighty blows converts himInto trial shapes of clay whichOnly God understands;While his tortured heart is cryingAnd he lifts beseeching hands! How He bends but never breaksWhen his good He undertakes;How He uses whom He chooses,And which every purpose…

Honor & Shame

Some good friends who had done ministry in the East recently recommended this book to Shainu and me. In fact, they did more than recommend it; they bought us a copy. We walked into our apartment building one day and saw this package waiting for us. What a great gift. I’d highly recommend this book. It was a great reminder of what Jesus has accomplished for us through His Gospel. The author’s thesis is that in the West, we’ve inherited Roman culture and a Roman way of looking at the world. So we see the world in terms of right…