Word of Wisdom

Today’s society has people who want the entire world to accept their sinful behavior.  For example same-sex marriage has been an issue for a while. People want to amend the Constitution to accept same sex marriages.  Yet, the Bible speaks against it in Leviticus 18:22, “you shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.”

            Living a life of sin can be seen while society is slowly falling apart at the seam. The media is filled with murder, rape, robbery, and theft of every kind. Also terrorism and rumors of wars are in the news daily.  We are familiar with how Satan deceived Adam and Eve and told the first lie to the both of them. This allowed sin to take a foothold on their lives and on the lives of every person ever since.

            The result of sin causes one to be separated from God, whereas, in Adam and Eve’s case they were evicted from the Garden of Eden. Plainly spoken they were separated from the Tree of Life, their home, and their relationship with God. They became spiritually dead because they had no vital contact with God. We should not forget that sin does negative things to everyone. Being spiritual dead is a bad state to be in for anyone. Also, we should not forget that sin is totally against God and it hinders our relationship with God.

            Our lifestyle should be an example to our family and friends who have never receive the Gospel of the Good News. Sin is subtle; a worldly person may not identify it as being a sin, so we must continue to pray for our loved one.

Understanding of the Cross

As people of God, we recently celebrated Jesus resurrection from the dead.  Beyond traditions and doctrinal of men, we must know that Jesus died for the entire world (the Christians and the non-Christians). We must know that our victory has already been paid  in full.  It does not matter what you are experiencing you still have 100% victory in your life.  It all depends on us.  Do we follow after holiness or not?

          God created all things but it is your choice as to whom you will serve. God created us to walk in victory. We have been designed to be winners. But, with this post modernism, modern teachings and varies philosophies, many have gotten off the straight and narrow path. Apostle Paul said in 1^st Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified” (NKJV).

          We should be preaching the message of the Cross.  Only Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross will guarantee us completed victory in our life. There is no other source that can save, heal or deliver us from our self and those ungodly ways.  We can join all types of organizations, but it is all about Jesus Christ crucified death and burial.  Now, if those organizations that you belong too point you to Jesus, then remain in them.  But, I know that Jesus is the only way if you want to be victorious. 

          If you need victory in your life, then you need to study the Message of The Cross.  We are moving pass religion, theology and doctrine of men.  We need to anchor ourselves in Jesus Christ and what Jesus did on the Cross. It is not about you or me, it’s all about Jesus Christ and what He has already done for us on that Cross. Annie Dennis Eskridge, author of Sin Abides..email:areskridge@sbcglobal.net

Word of Wisdom

Love and caring can be penetrating.
     "One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answere, he asked him,"of all the commandments, which is the most important?" " The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength," The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself." There is no commandment greater than these"(Mark 12:28-31).


When we have a grasp of the magnitude of the love we received from our Lord that is totally underserving, it should drop us to our knees. It also should cause us to see how we are with those around us. If we see ourselves as underserving and God is willing to love us. So when we are loving the Lord our God with all of our heart, and with all our soul and with all of our mind and with all of our strength; then, we will love our neighbor with care! Yes, we are to love ourselves.  This may not be popular in theology, but Christ does say love others as we love outselves. Keeping in mind if we hate ourself then we will not be able to love others.

The Leadership Wisdom of Solomon

Pat Williams...reaches back several thousand years to remind us that the wisdom of Solomon works for us today, if we let it. King Solomon transformed the tiny tribal nation of Israel into an economic and military superpower.  His brilliance as an international financier made Israel the wealthiest nation of the ancient world.  And he did it with integrity.

Solomon left us twenty-eigth profound leadership strategies as valid today as when the proverbs were written. The same extraordinary wisdom that transformed Solomon's world can revolutionize every aspect of leadership from assembling a cohesive team to managing a crisis.

Pat Williams, senior vice president of the Orlando Magic, uses time-honored principles, real life stories, and compelling takeaways to apply Solomon's ancient insights to the high- speed world in which we live.  Protect your integrity throughout your leadership career lead like Solomon now. Great book that can be purchased online or your local Christian bookstore. Annie Dennis Eskridge, author of Sin Abides, Email: areskridge@sbcglobal.net.

Mind uncluttered

Ways to keep your mind uncluttered, clear of confusion, free of wandering and unprofitable thoughts:

Learn to:

1. Meditate on God and God’s Word: Joshua 1:8.

2. Renew your mind: Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:5.

3. Set your mind on things above: Colossians 3:2.

4. Keep your mind on Jesus: Isaiah 26:3.

Next would be to control your thoughts:

5. Pray for and have a sound mind: 2^nd Timothy 1:7.

6. Pursue the mind of Christ: 1^st Corinthians 2:16.

7. Develop a grateful/thankful attitude: Psalm 100.

8. Be not doubtful: Luke 12:29.

9. Bring in (reign in) your thinking: 1^st  Peter 1:13; 4:7 (Taken from the Christian Women Council Curriculum for 2011).

Practice bringing your mind in and readjust your thought patterns.  Regardless to what happens or what may be taking place in your life; regardless of what you have thought in the past, focus on Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things”(NKJV). Paul commands the Philippians to compute over and over what is good and what is pure.  In this way, Christians can renew their minds so that they will not conform to the evil habits of the world.

Then inorder to think on good and pure things, ask yourself these questions:

·         What am I thinking about now?

·         What is in my heart?

·         What is your mindset?

·         What kind of attitude do I have?

·         Allow Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be your guide in your thoughts. Do not allow your mind to be cluttered but focus on the Word of God daily, so that you can renew your mind with God's Word. Annie Dennis Eskridge, author of Sin Abides.

Leading with Integrity

One of the greatest challenge for leaders today is integrity. Many will say things like  walk the talk and lead by example.  This is sad because you can not just lead by cliche.  You really have to lead by the way you live and not by some words that does not mean a thing.

The word integrity can be misunderstood. It is not a positive attribute as many think it is however integrity comes from the same Latin root as integer. We get the word integers from math, they are whole numbers. Integrity simple means whole, or complete.

As leaders we should value integrity, reverence and sanctification. Apostle Paul have written thirteen epistle of the New Testament , no epistle give us a better look at man's heart than the one found in  found in 2 Corinthians. Integrity is the concept of wholeness. Synonyms are honesty, virtue, honor, morality, uprightness, soundness, and sincerity. Proverbs 10:9 tell us,"he who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts hisways will become known(NKJV). This means conforming to God's law as a course of life.  Choosing crooked paths its willfully to disdain the guidance God so graciously provided.

Core Values

Core Values seems to be playing a great significant part in today's society.  We can not develop a Strategic Plan without first determining what it is that we value as individuals and as an organization.  Many fail to ask the question.  The question answer the ultimate question of why do we do what we do? Core Value determines the DNA of an organization.  It also helps us to get to where we want to go.  Once we discover or know our Core Values, we will understand who we are as a person.  If we are a Christian, we should know who we are in Christ Jesus.

It is so important to understand logic to the Core Values.  People must see logic in the Core Values that we offer today.  People outside seems to be more concerned with Core Values.  If you cannot think it, then know that you cannot do it.  You must be a clear thinker also the Core Values will determine how you treat people and it is biblical as well as relevant. In Core Values everyone is important, not just the pastor and his family.

However,  Core Values addresses, what should be considered most important to an individual life as well as the life of the church.  There are five elements that sum up Core Values and they are: values are constant, passionate, biblical, core beliefs and drive the ministry.

To be effective in any organization, Core Values must exist. It is time for all ministers to live what they minister to others.  Core Valves influences our goals, our decisions, our mission  and supports all that we do.  The truth is you cannot get away from Core Values.  It lives in us. Even when we hire people, we look for those with the same character, charisma and chemistry identical to ours. Without those values my friend, it is wise for you to forget about hiring the individual.

We must keep in mind that right Core Values will motivate people.  Values are core belief based on faith but not  always facts. Then what do I believe and will it cause people to connect?  We cannot correct what we have not projected and without Core Vaules we would decline to exist. It is a part of all that we do and we can take it even further and say, in Core Values, we architect our belief from what we value. In closing Habakkuk 2:2 tells us to ,write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it( NKJV).Annie Dennis Eskridge,author Sin Abides email: areskridge@sbcglobal.net