Friday, December 30, 2011

Way of Peace

"Lest he who hears it expose your shame, and your reputation be ruined"(Proverbs 25:10 NKJV).

Settling matters peaceable and privately can prevent escalation in public, where many times things can be misconstrued, a person's reputation can be slandered, or even violence can result.  The example given in this verse is about a person who reveals someone else's secret.  When the person learns of the indiscretion, the shame suffered by the guilty party leads to a bad reputation that is difficult to overcome.  In this case the reputation and friendship were ruined. 

 Wisdom dictates that we should always seek to maintain peace and not to violate one's trust. Exercising wisdom in building relationships is very important. Just a word of wisdom and have a Blessed and Prosperous New Year.  Annie Dennis Eskridge, author of Sin Abides. website:http:// www.ruthplace.com

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Fourth Wave

     Ron Boehme has written an awesome book, The Fourth Wave: Taking Your Place in the New Era of Missions, it open your eyes to a new era of missions. This book shares a modern-day Acts experience.  It documents analysis of church history with his prophetic insightfulness that lays out a Spirit led roadmap for all who desire to be fruitful Christians that understands what God has given to His church.  God has been at work in the world from history’s beginning and is advancing the good news of Jesus Christ globally that leads to a thrilling climax. 
          Boehme combines four decades of fieldwork with cutting-edge research, he charts the waves of missions in history and reveals how the fourth wave will be unlike anything the world has ever seen.  No matter who you are or what you do, it time to take your place in the fresh missional task of the church.
    The author addresses, history of mission, the modern era of missions from 1730 to the present, going global, amazing change, the fourth wave and final a spiritual tsunami. If you have a heart from missions, then this is a must read for anyone who wants to know why Christianity was able to expand globally in the past, how it is likely to continue its exciting journey in the years ahead.  A visionary look at the acts of the Holy Spirit in this era missions history.  I was blessed and you will be blessed also.  You can get a copy of this book by going to www.ywampublishing.com. The author is a thirty-seven year career missionary in Youth With A Mission (YWAM).  He has traveled to over sixty countries during his journey as a missionary.

Monday, December 19, 2011

We as Christians should always remember to love God, love others, and love self. Let’s look at self-love.  In Romans, Paul argues for an honest self appraisal: “for I say, through grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to thin, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”(Romans 12:3NKJV).  The purpose of self-love is to free us from preoccupation with self so that we can concentrate on others. 

The attitude of Christians should be loving themselves and loving others.  If we begin to hate ourselves, we will start to hate others too. We cannot resign from the human race, but we can purpose in our hearts to be like Christ.

During this Christmas season let us think about our brothers and sisters who are facing challenges in their life.  You do not have to be guilty of a thing, but all of a sudden you find yourself facing difficult times. I thank God that I visited a nursing home and shared love with many of my brothers and sisters. It is my prayer all during the Christmas season that many of us will share with other brothers and sisters.  We do not have to always give a gift to someone that we know. Why not take the attitude of Christ and remember that all souls are important to God.
From my family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. From the author of Sin Abides, Annie Dennis Eskridge, website:http://www.ruthplace.com. Enjoy the blessings of the Lord.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Contemporary Church

Many in today’s society want to have a contemporary church instead of the Holy Ghost Spirit filled and led by the Holy Spirit.  Now, you are wondering what I mean by making such statement. Well, my friend we see a drastic change in the way many respect the House of the Lord. They have no respect for the True and Living God.  Just recently President Obama had a concert at the White House of Country and Western entertainers.  Guess what? They all were dressed as if they were going before someone with authority.  Everyone that performed did not have on jeans and baggy pants, but the men had on suits and the ladies on dresses. Yet, Christians are ashamed to dress when they go before the True and Living God. We have gone in the wrong directions.  God has more power than any person on this planet. I have a lot of respect for our President, but He does not have more authority than the True and living God.

Yet many today say we can dress any kind of way.  The way you dress carries a spirit and you need to understand that. You need the mind of Jesus Christ so you can bring glory to His Name and not the name of the world. You can see older women with a dress on shorter than their daughters. They give excuses for the way they dress by saying, ‘this is a new generation and this is how they do things. Yes, and you keep on going that way you be disappointed.

To serve God and they are so insecure with their faith. It is the differences in us that will make the world want to know why we are so different. But lately the church have been trying to act and look like the world.

So, we cannot dress any kind of way and look like the world if we are saved and want to draw the world to use. The Contemporary churches have lost the significant of the altar of God. The sanctuary is the House of God, but the Contemporary Church has lost its power of the altar. The altar signifies a relationship with God.  The altar would inspire worship.  Right now many are like the children of Israel instead of God’s children. When we understand the altar we will look up to God and when we understand it, then we are moving in the right direction.

Just think about this song, my faith looks up to thee O Lamb of Calvary. This song should remind you that I am not here for your opinion.  When you are around God’s altar there should be a shift in your spirit.  The song itself will cause you to leave all of those attitudes somewhere other than in the church. People, we should be able to know who you serve because of your actions.

All of God’s children are in covenant with God; we need to be on the altar of God and not man.  There is a Bible coming out referring to God as the He/she God.  We need to be faithful to the True and Living God and do not waste your money in buying such Bible. God is not a he/she God that goes against the Word of God itself. “The Bible clearly tells us, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”(Gal 3:28NKJV).  This context of this verse is justification by faith in Christ Jesus.

We should not allow anyone to pull us away from Biblical truth.  Apostle Paul has written letters to the church with all the things we need to know and how we should live. According to Hebrews 12:14,"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord"(nkjv). Without holiness no man shall see the Lord, so then what is the problem? Do we want to see the Lord or not?
Just want to give you something to think about.  Enjoy the blessings from the Lord. I am half way through the Doctoral Program and thanks for your prayers.  Annie Dennis Eskridge, author of Sin Abides...Email: areskridge@sbcglobal.net