07/27/12

Ist Corinthians 3 The Church and Its Leaders

1 Corinthians 3

 

New International Version (NIV)

 

The Church and Its Leaders

 

The Church of Christ is worldwide. Just as the world is now connected by the Internet, this same tool enables us as believers to join in faith to receive the promises of GOD,and to be aware of  each other’s strengths and weaknesses. No one who has received Jesus Christ as their Savior is an isolated individual, but is part of the body of believers. Therefore, we should strive to devote ourselves to the work of the Great Commission–and allow GOD’s Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us as we traverse this phase of our human existence with the hope of eternal existence in Him.

 

 1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly —mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,”are you not mere human beings?

 

 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

 

 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it, but each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

 

 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

 

 18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b] 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future —all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ,and Christ is of God.

 

 Footnotes:

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13

  2. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11

  3. 1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter

Cross references:

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:1 : 1Co 2:15
  2. 1 Corinthians 3:1 : Ro 7:14; 1Co 2:14
  3. 1 Corinthians 3:1 : 1Co 14:20
  4. 1 Corinthians 3:2 : Heb 5:12-14; 1Pe 2:2
  5. 1 Corinthians 3:2 : Jn 16:12
  6. 1 Corinthians 3:3 : Ro 13:13; 1Co 1:11; Gal 5:20
  7. 1 Corinthians 3:4 : 1Co 1:12
  8. 1 Corinthians 3:5 : S Ac 18:24
  9. 1 Corinthians 3:5 : 1Co 4:1; 2Co 6:4; Eph 3:7; Col 1:23, 25
  10. 1 Corinthians 3:6 : Ac 18:4-11; 1Co 4:15; 9:1; 15:1
  11. 1 Corinthians 3:8 : ver 14; Ps 18:20; 62:12; Mt 25:21; 1Co 9:17
  12. 1 Corinthians 3:9 : Mk 16:20; 2Co 6:1; 1Th 3:2
  13. 1 Corinthians 3:9 : Isa 61:3
  14. 1 Corinthians 3:9 : Eph 2:20-22; 1Pe 2:5
  15. 1 Corinthians 3:10 : S Ro 12:3
  16. 1 Corinthians 3:10 : Ro 15:20; S Eph 2:20
  17. 1 Corinthians 3:11 : Isa 28:16; Eph 2:20
  18. 1 Corinthians 3:13 : 1Co 4:5
  19. 1 Corinthians 3:13 : S 1Co 1:8; 2Th 1:7-10; 2Ti 1:12, 18; 4:8
  20. 1 Corinthians 3:13 : Nu 31:22, 23; Jer 23:28, 29; Mal 3:3; S 2Th 1:7
  21. 1 Corinthians 3:14 : S ver 8
  22. 1 Corinthians 3:15 : Jude 23
  23. 1 Corinthians 3:16 : 1Co 6:19; 2Co 6:16; Eph 2:21, 22; Heb 3:6
  24. 1 Corinthians 3:16 : S Ro 8:9
  25. 1 Corinthians 3:18 : Isa 5:21; 1Co 8:2; Gal 6:3
  26. 1 Corinthians 3:18 : S 1Co 1:20
  27. 1 Corinthians 3:19 : ver 18; Ro 1:22; 1Co 1:20, 27
  28. 1 Corinthians 3:19 : Job 5:13
  29. 1 Corinthians 3:20 : Ps 94:11
  30. 1 Corinthians 3:21 : 1Co 4:6
  31. 1 Corinthians 3:21 : Ro 8:32
  32. 1 Corinthians 3:22 : ver 5, 6
  33. 1 Corinthians 3:22 : S 1Co 1:12
  34. 1 Corinthians 3:22 : Ro 8:38
  35. 1 Corinthians 3:23 : 1Co 15:23; 2Co 10:7; Gal 3:29

 

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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07/25/12

120722 Editors Note on The Aurora, Colorado Shootings

120722 Editors Note on The Aurora, Colorado Shootings

 

 Please pray for the victims and their families that were affected by the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. No one deserves to die this way. TT

There are things that occur in this world that truly sadden you, especially when they involve the shedding of innocent blood. The shooting at the midnight premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises” is just an example of the many horrendous acts of terror happening everyday in this country and around the world.

You have to wonder where the line snaps in someone’s mind–allowing them to kill others in such a heartless manner. You see more and more headlines such as these, although this is the worse incident of shooting in American history. We may get some clues as he is questioned and put on trial, but I truly doubt that he understands the injustice that he has dealt out to others including a 3 month old child.

Even considering present law that says that a person is not guilty until proven so, this does not look good for James Holmes.  If he is truly the killer you cannot argue the point that this was a person who had no means and no education. This was a graduate student with more opportunities for achieving his goals than many people get.  So you have to ask, “what turned the tide”.? Was it too many hours of lost sleep or anger at a teacher, boss or co-worker? Whatever the reason, we find ourselves having to clean up the mess; physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I pray for strength for the families of the victims–how horrible to hear that your loved one has perished this way. Perhaps if we could step away periodically from our computer/app dominated existences to be able to relate to the loners and burdened people all around us, there could less loss of life and property. Yes, some people may not respond to kindnesses, but we can always try. It is better than seeing, hearing, and reading about atrocities such as this with the frustration of knowing that somewhere something went wrong.

This was a planned out, premeditated act of violence, and it seems as if he was going to return to his apartment and trip the bombs and devices to take out himself and the others living there.

As I said earlier, it is saddening and disheartening as you watch not only these acts of violence but also the way in which people can distance themselves from humanity until taking someone’s life seems both logical and necessary.

I believe that there is always hope, as is evidenced in the reaction of the filmakers, and their condolences to the families of the victims. There may not be a move as of yet to connect the movie to the crime committed, but since the human imagination can surpass anything that we see on the screen, I believe that the reference to “The Joker’ does form a connection between the content of the movie and the act of shooting. This is not meant to say, however, that this is specifically the responsibility of Warner Brothers. The entertainment industry creates; we interpret as individuals what we perceive from the material.

Addendum: There has been 2 million or more dollars contributed to a fund to help the victims of this disastrous shooting. Warner Brothers, who produced “The Dark Knight Rises” is among the contributors. Whatever we do in this life demands much from others. There is no such thing as being an island to yourself.

credit: Momma Cha @ jyjfantalk.com

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07/10/12

Susan Boyle – Hallelujah

Susan Boyle was blessed with a glorious voice. May GOD be praised. This song speaks of the plight of man and the many broken Hallelujahs…

Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I’ve walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

 

Credit: TheMsCath

Charlene’s Source: youtube

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07/7/12

Wandering Thoughts and Perceptions on Life

        I often think back to my childhood and young adulthood—to those times when all of my attention was totally on my own wants, needs, and desires. This was an interesting time of life, full of mistakes because I wasn’t listening to anyone around me. No advice was considered valid; no punishment was considered justifiable. This was a time of pursuit of everything that I had imagined I wanted from life. Love, money, influence–all of these were goals because I had not allowed anything to filter through my heart, just through my brain. My brain said, “You deserve all of the good things in life. Period.”  This was the time of new technologies like instant-on TV and color TV. I could not have imagined the technologies of 2012, they have long out-stripped these 1960’s innovations. The media presented life on our new-found entertainment boxes and in the movie houses as pursuit of those things mentioned above–love, influence, and money or fame. The things of the heart were lesser things, only pursued by the unrealistic people living in their self-made shells. Religion was and is still considered one of these shells. yet religion reflects the deepest places that the heart can reach.

Now understand that when I mention the term religion I am referring to the act of fervently worshipping and serving a deity.  Religion can cover any act of worship or service, but don’t assume that religion is always the same as Christianity. Christianity is religious beliefs based on the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. According to James 1: 26-27 NIV, “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”. We will explore this distinction later on in an article of its own. For now, it is back to things of the heart.

 Heart things involve emotions; deep emotions. Since society tends to shy away from deep emotions because it theoretically can  mean lack of control, emotions tend to get a bad rap.  Crying? Out of the question. Only babies do that!  Grieving? Aw, get over it!  Balking at being controlled by others? Learn to submit!  Anyone who protests this fine-tuned system learns quickly that every effort to break free is countered with more attempts to control. The question is, “Is it right to exert this much control over others around us? Where does this need to control originate and for what purpose?  Let’s explore a little.

The biggest prevailing factor that runs this world ship is control, thus power. On the basic human level it has always been control of resources needed to live–food, clothing, shelter, and water. In this present age, control of food crops, gas, oil, and minerals are what makes one society predominant over another because all of these resources can be converted to energy and sold to obtain money. This results in the ability to control others because the affluent society can demand favors of the less fortunate in exchange for resources, and the less fortunate may give in to these demands as a means of survival.  On the corporate level, control and justification for control can reach momentous heights. Money and what money can provide are the strength of corporate power. The more assets a corporation can claim and the larger the share of the world market it possesses can lead to credibility in the corporate sphere of influence.  This results in more opportunities to create a larger system and to absorb smaller competing companies.

Control. It is hard for those who possess wealth, thus control, to release it. As an example, the Scripture narrative of the rich young man is found in Mark 10: 17-29:

 

The Rich and the Kingdom of God 

 

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,and you will have treasure in heaven.Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

 2The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”  NIV

 

Resources have always been used to exert  leverage and control. That is their draw. Before there were actual coins and bills to use for purchases, barter and trade were not equal across the board. Someone was taking advantage of someone else. Marketplace transactions throughout history have consisted of bargaining in some form or another.  It is an expected action in some cultures to approach a marketplace purchase as an opportunity to negotiate for a lower price.  The black or gray market, which also exists under several labels such as undisclosed income, etc. according to Columbia Encyclopedia [1], is defined as:
 
 
the selling or buying of commodities at prices above the legal ceiling or beyond the amount allotted to a customer in countries that have placed restrictions on sales and prices. Such trading was common during World War II wherever the demand and the means of payment exceeded the available supply. Most of the warring countries attempted to equalize distribution of scarce commodities by rationing and price fixing. In the United States black-market transactions were carried on extensively in meat, sugar, tires, and gasoline. In Great Britain, where clothing and liquor were rationed, these were popular black-market commodities. In the United States, rationing terminated at the end of the war, but a black market in automobiles and building materials continued while the scarcity lasted. In the decades following World War II, as the countries of Eastern Europe were trying to industrialize their economies, extensive black-market operations developed because of a scarcity of consumer goods. Black marketing is also common in exchange of foreign for domestic currency, typically in those countries that have set the official exchange value of domestic currency too high in terms of the purchasing power of foreign money. Black-market money activities also grow when holders of domestic currency are anxious to convert it into foreign currency through a fear that the former is losing its purchasing power as a result of inflation.
 See W. Rundell, Black Market Money (1964).

 

 This market is considered underground and illegal but accounts for a large percentage of revenues and jobs in the world economy. This is a thorn in the area of resource control, because it staggers the actual job and sales statistics. Not only do transactions exist, but they are underneath the radar and therefore beyond conventional scrutiny. Why is it important to know this? Many black market sales and jobs are in the areas of  drug trafficking, human trafficking, child trafficking, and other illegal pursuits. This violates human rights and is of importance to governing bodies who seek to eliminate these forms of slavery.

Never thought about drugs [as one example of] enslavement? Any time a substance alters your perceptions and your body to the extent of making you dependent upon it–this is enslavement whether vountary or involuntarily. Especially it is enslavement if you will commit illegal acts to possess and use it.  Street drugs; over-the-counter drugs; prescription drugs–they can all be addictive.  I have learned that I personally do not respond well to prescription strengths recommended by the pharmacy. The dosage is too strong.  I only need a small amount for it to be effective. But we digress…

Money and power are a strong combination, but is it necessary to possess this much power to do an effective work?  This is what brings us to the answer to the question I asked earlier in this article–“Is it right to exert this much control over others? The answer is no. Human history has proved that excess control can lead to destruction. Let’s look at Rome as an example. The Empire of Rome was, in its prime, the strongest political and military force. Romes legions conquered region after region and exerted control over vast territories. No one would have imagined that the Roman Empire would fall. There are many theories as to why Rome fell, including lead poisoning, yet out of all of these theories comes one over-riding powerful reason. Too much; too soon; too fast.  Rome became so vast that it could no longer patrol and control its conguered territories. I am providing a link here to a website that I feel addresses the Fall of Rome thoroughly. This website has various sources and references. It is http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/fallofrome/a/Dorrington.htm

Sadly, as we have pointed out, this world loves money and power. Human beings feel the need to control their circumstances and their environments–some to a greater, and some to a lesser degree. What sweetens the power pot are the benefits–access to money and influence. Money and influence are not necessarily wrong in theory; they  are wrong when these benefits are applied to controlling individuals and institutions.

to be continued

[1] Retrieved from the worlld-wide web.  ” Columbia Encyclopedia”.  Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 12 Jul. 2012

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