Science has taught us the importance of using proper viewing equipment to achieve accurate results. If we want to study a tiny organism, we'd use a microscope. In the same way, proper perspective is a key to effective prayer. Today on The Bible Study Hour, Dr. Boice explains that looking through the lens of Scripture gives us a bigger view of what God is doing in the world!
The world's ultimate history lesson starts before the beginning of time, introduces us to a Divine Planner, describes an epic battle between good and evil, projects the restoration of a broken world and answers the age-old question, "what is the meaning of life?" This may not sound like your average history lesson, but it's the Biblical version as described by Dr. Boice in this broadcast of The Bible Study Hour.
Whether it's a Sherlock Holmes story or movie about a private investigation, everyone loves a good mystery! Did you know that the Bible even tells the stories of great, spiritual mysteries? Paul refers to them throughout his letter to the Ephesians and on today's broadcast of The Bible Study Hour, Dr. James Boice will explain the significance and revelation of one of these amazing Biblical mysteries.
What comes to mind when you think about church? Do you picture a large building with stained glass windows? Maybe you recall memories of childhood Sunday school classes. Today on The Bible Study Hour, Dr. Boice explains what the book of Ephesians has to say about what – or more accurately, who – the church should be.
Can you recall the times in your life that you have felt most accepted by your family, peers or coworkers? They were most likely times of joy and fulfillment. We long for a sense of belonging because God built us to live in community. Today on The Bible Study Hour, Dr. James Boice will explain how Christ’s work on the cross gave us access to the greatest community that exists – His family!
Today, Christians are used to the idea of the body of Christ being made up of people from all different backgrounds and ethnicities. But we can't forget that in the days of the early church, there was still an important distinction between Jews and Gentiles. Dr. Boice explains why that distinction is a reminder of the great hope that we have in Christ.
Scripture is clear that we are certainly not saved by our own good works, but then the question always arises: where do good works come into play in the Christian's life and are they necessary at all? Dr. James Boice introduces a simple math equation, faith= justification + works, and explains how it can help us better understand this difficult concept.
For centuries, theologians have tried to formulate a concise, yet comprehensive definition for the word “grace.” While many helpful ones have been offered, our deepest understanding of this term often comes from stories that vividly depict acts of redemption.
If you had to sum up the entire concept of salvation in just one word, which word would you choose? In another message from his series through Ephesians, Dr. James Boice explains the deep truth of this theological doctrine by focusing on the word “unity.”
Scripture presents a bleak diagnosis for mankind - it tells us we are separated from God and spiritually dead. But with two small words, the entire story changes. Find out what these two words are how they hold the power to bring dead men to life!
Recently, we've witnessed an odd trend in entertainment: the rise of zombie books, movies, and TV shows. You may have found yourself wondering what all the fuss is over zombies, but have you ever contemplated what these morbid characters can teach us about our relationship with God?
Easter may just feel like an average Sunday - except of course for the better than average meal we get to enjoy on Easter afternoon! But Scripture tells us that it is a celebration of the most important day in human history and that our lives should be forever impacted by it.
If you grew up attending Sunday School, then chances are you know the dramatic story of Abraham nearly sacrificing Isaac on Mount Moriah. Today on The Bible Study Hour, Dr. James Boice will teach from this familiar story. And although the story’s still the same, we’ll gain a new perspective on the importance of obedience and the foreshadowing of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
We may feel good about ourselves when we get a raise at work, get a good grade on a test at school or win a championship game out on the sports field. But how often do we remember that as believers, our true accomplishments and victories come through the very power of God in us? Let’s learn together to walk in resurrection power!
Consider your closest relationships. The people who we know and love most are the ones who we wish to please, hate to see suffer and love spending time with. Did you know that God desires to have a relationship with us that is just as personal? In this message from Dr. Boice, we’ll learn what it means to truly know God.
When you think about the Holy Spirit, what comes to mind? Do you think of a voice in your head that convicts you of sin? Maybe you picture the Biblical scene of the Day of Pentecost. In this message entitled, Salvation’s Seal, Dr. Boice provides sound Biblical teaching on this often misunderstood member of the Trinity.
Salvation is offered freely to us, but it cost God a great deal. That’s because all sin - yours and mine - must be paid for. And to those who’ve been saved, the price has been paid in full. Our redemption was secured through the death of Jesus Christ.
It’s a subject often avoided in church. It’s one of the most debated topics of Christian theology: it’s the doctrine of Election. When it comes to salvation, has God really chosen some and not others? Is God’s process arbitrary and should it discourage us from evangelism? In this message, Dr. Boice tackles the tough questions concerning election.
When we make a large purchase, we’re often asked to provide an initial deposit or downpayment. Did you know that when God bought and redeemed us out of our slavery to sin, he also made a sort of “downpayment” to guarantee our salvation? In this message from Dr. Boice, entitled, “All Good In Christ,” we’ll find out what Scripture says about that deposit and the hope that it gives us.
The culture around us seems to be increasingly materialistic, lustful and greedy. But we’re not far removed from the nature of the audience of many of Paul’s epistles. In every age, the church has been a beacon of light in a dark world. In this message on The Bible Study Hour, Dr. Boice discusses the purpose and uniqueness of the church as we begin a series on the book of Ephesians.
When someone first becomes a Christian, we often advise them to go to church, read the Bible, and, of course, to pray. Prayer is an important part of the Christian life, but when we consider that believers of other major religions also practice prayer, we must ask, “What is it that makes true prayer true?”
Christians have experienced suffering since the very first days of the early church. And for as long as believers have faced trials, we have also been asking: “How should we respond?” The world seems to praise those who pick themselves up by their own bootstraps and forge ahead. But does God? In this Bible Study Hour message, Dr. Boice offers us a biblical perspective on suffering.
Did you know that God cares about things like the protection of private property and the right to fair wages? If you thought that economic topics like these were reserved only for business people and politicians, then you might be surprised by how much the Bible has to say about money and possessions.
We plan for the future, work hard to earn money, seek greater success and save for retirement. God certainly created us with a drive to survive and succeed, but did you know that He also calls us to pursue something greater?
Pointing fingers is one of the oldest tricks in the book. In fact, ever since Adam and Eve first sinned in the garden, human beings have been looking for ways to pass the blame. In this message entitled “It’s His Fault,” Dr. James Boice explains that while we can’t escape the reality of temptation, we can control the way we respond.
Christians are often concerned that the commercialism of the holiday season diminishes the real reason we celebrate. I bet you’ve overheard parents explaining to their kids that Christmas isn’t all about the presents. But in this message, Dr. James Boice concludes the current series explaining how Christmas truly is all about the gifts- the four wonderful gifts of God to the world.
When you think of the life of Christ, which of his miracles stands out to you as the most significant? Perhaps you imagine him turning water into wine or healing the blind man. In this message, Dr. Boice builds a case for the very incarnation itself being the most significant event in human history. Each of the names ascribed to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 point to that ultimate miracle -that God would become man and choose to dwell among us.
“For unto us a child is born...” During the Christmas season, we often hear this verse in song lyrics or see it written on the front of greeting cards. But what does this famous prophecy really teach us about who Christ is and why he is worthy of our worship? Dr. Boice begins a new series, God’s Wonderful Gift, with a message that answers that question.
Did you know that the Bible recommends practicing mind control? Of course, we are not talking about manipulative, brainwashing tactics. Instead, Scripture tells us that our minds should be controlled by the Holy Spirit. In this message, Dr. Boice will help us understand how to better honor God in our thoughts and ultimately, in our speech.
Many have wondered if the book of James’ emphasis on good works is in contradiction to Paul’s teaching on faith through grace alone. In this message compellingly titled, “Sure I Believe, So What!?” Dr. Boice explains how James actually contributes to a fuller understanding of faith - one that includes the fruit of good works as evidence of a faith that is alive and active!
God’s redemptive plan included a humble stable, a little baby, a few common men and the death of the Savior himself. Indeed, God chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong. But did you know that God expects us to also operate according to this same, seemingly contradictory method? This message from Dr. Boice will challenge us to change the way we view one another.
Have you ever thought of yourself as a fanatic? Perhaps you’re fanatical about cleanliness and your home is always in perfect condition. Or maybe you are a die-hard sports fan and wear all your team’s gear. Dr. Boice reminds us that God’s Word requires us to be fanatical when it comes to living a Godly life.
In this new series, Sure I Believe - So What?!, Dr. Boice begins by addressing one of the most practical aspects of the Christian life - the question of suffering. Thanks for tuning in to learn what the book of James has to say about the purpose of trials and the answer to that age-old question, “Why Did God Let This Happen?”
If we’re honest, we’d have to admit that we tend to give very little thought to the most important event that will ever occur in human history- the 2nd coming of Jesus. When Christ returns, it won’t matter where you live, how the economy is doing or where you’re going for lunch.
The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse: pick up the newspaper or turn on the TV and you’ll find evidence of their work in this world. Wars, bloodshed, famines and death. When our world feels like a chaotic mess of sin and injustice, we wonder “Has God been kicked off His throne?” In this message, Dr. Boice explains how these horsemen and the realities they symbolize relate to God’s ultimate plan.
What if you could get a glimpse into the future and know what the culmination of human history would look like? Would that insight help you better understand the purpose of your life today? If so, open to Revelation 5 and listen closely as Dr. James Boice walks us through a riveting passage from John’s prophetic vision concerning the end times and the mysterious “Lion Who Is The Lamb.”
Look at the sky on a clear night and you’ll see thousands of points of beautiful light- stars, planets, and far off galaxies give witness to God’s creative power. Have you ever caught yourself just standing in awe of God’s creation? In this message, Dr. Boice looks at Revelation 4, where the elders at God’s throne praise Him endlessly for the very same Creation that we enjoy each day.
Did you know that not everything that passes for worship is actually pleasing to God? But if God wants to be worshipped in a particular way, shouldn’t His people know about it?
7 lampstands... 7 stars... a majestic being with white hair, blazing eyes and a voice like rushing water. Is this a dramatic preview for an upcoming sci-fi thriller? No! These are all elements of John’s vision of Jesus, vividly described in the book of Revelation.
Do you ever feel burdened by the trials of this life? Have you wondered if there is a purpose for the suffering you’ve experienced or how it all fits into God’s bigger plan?
John’s letter set the stage for a powerful message to the Church concerning persecution, the end times and the central focus of it all - Jesus Christ
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Jesus. Jesus who? ... That may sound like a joke, but it’s not. Not for the church in Laodicea, or any church, that has to ask, “Jesus who?” The last letter in Revelation is to a church that had closed the door on Jesus and no longer recognized his voice.
How do you define success as a Christian? What measuring stick do you use? Do you listen to what a person says, watch what a person does, probe what a person thinks and feels? Listen next time as Dr. Boice examines the sixth letter in Revelation, to the church in Philadelphia. There he finds not one but two ways that Jesus defines the successful Christian life.
Looking at this church from the outside, you’d have to say it looked alive and well. It was active and busy, with a full calendar of events and projects. It had a good reputation in the community. But it had a problem. A big one. Jesus put it this way: “You are dead.”
Jesus has a way with words. He calls a spade a spade. And in the letter to Thyatira, he calls a Jezebel a Jezebel. This Jezebel is a false prophet in the church who’s telling everyone they can have their every material and sensual desire, and keep their Christian faith as well.
It was a good church in a bad place, and it was in danger. The third letter in Revelation is to the church in Pergamum - the hottest city for emperor worship in all of Asia. The believers had been true to their faith even under persecution, but they were in danger of blending into secular culture.
It’s short, sweet, and all about life and death. It’s the second letter in Revelation, to the church in Smyrna. It’s sympathetic and supportive, without a hint of criticism. But it faces the fact that some of the believers who read this letter will die for their faith. Dr. Boice talks about their suffering and about the crown of life they can look forward to.
Who wouldn’t like the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God? That’s what Jesus promises to the believers in Ephesus after they’ve overcome the challenges of this life. In fact, that promise is for all believers everywhere. Dr. James Boice looks at the first of the seven letters to the churches in the challenging and exciting book of Revelation.
Angels, trumpets, thrones, thunder, scrolls, seals, stars, crowns, plagues, dragons, lions, and a lamb. These are just some of the actors and props in the book of Revelation -- a book you’re either a bit crazy about, or think is a bit crazy. Listen next time to The Bible Study Hour, as Dr. James Boice introduces this important and sometimes mystifying book that completes the New Testament.
A poor, sick man lies on the ground in front of a rich man’s house, day after day, begging for food. The rich man comes and goes, ignoring him. The contrast between the two could hardly be greater. Eventually both men die. But death is not the great leveler. The contrast between them is even greater in death than it was in life.


creation: the understanding the we live in something created to be holy. that our entire existence plays out over real time and in real places. that relationship to people and to land are the only mediums through which our spirituality can be understood.
history: our ability to see that there is a bigger narrative at work. in a biblical sense. in a personal sense. we are a part of the history of biblical narrative. we are a part of the history of our ethnos (nation, ethnicity, people group).
imagination: we need to be able to see ourselves as part of the story. to be open to the possibilities of salvation. to wrestle with the mystery of our God. imagination allows us to participate and make space for the new creation.
now, to let these ideas gestate for 40 years.


The Mayor’s Carol Service held in St Michael’s Church on Sunday 8 December was a full house, and quite rightly so. It was a wonderful quality occasion, a celebration of Christmas music performed by choirs, soloists and the congregation, held in the Christmas spirit of support to the charities HeartSmart, Real Change not Loose Change, and Besom in Basingstoke, all of which are very dear to the Mayor.
The Service began with a child soloist singing without musical accompaniment. There followed all the seasonal favourite carols, the congregation accompanied by the choir, and interludes of readings and performances by the choir, a soloist, and the Hatch Warren Infant School Choir, all very charming. The Bishop of Basingstoke also gave a rousing blessing, before the finale of The Hallelujah Chorus, splendidly performed by the choir, with the congregation invited to join in if they felt able.
Afterwards, all participants mingled together to enjoy some mulled wine, mince pies and other sweet treats prepared and served by catering students of BCOT.
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Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. Our first Easter without you. The kids tell me, “We can’t have Easter without dad. It’s not the same anymore. There’s no point.”
Looking back to when we were in Dubai, the kids and I were always alone on Easter Sunday. See in Dubai, the week started on a Saturday or a Sunday depending on your employer. For us, me and the kids, the school week started on Saturday and ended on Wednesday. Our weekend was on Thursday and Friday. While my husband started his week on Sunday and finished on Thursday. Friday was his first day of the weekend. So as a family we had only Friday together.
I remember when I first started teaching, we never had Easter Sunday off. It was only during the later years that we didn’t have school on Easter Sunday. So for the twenty two years that we lived and worked in Dubai we never had Easter Sunday together. What I would do was take the kids out for lunch somewhere and on the way home buy some chocolate eggs for them. Saturday evenings we would celebrate Easter with a family dinner and with our Easter customs and traditions.
I remember our last Easter in Dubai in 2006. We had hardly sat down to dinner when his cell phone rang. They had an emergency at the office. There had been some kind of an accident offshore and, being a member of the emergency team, he was called back on duty. The kids were upset and angry of course and so was I, to be honest. I felt sorry for him for he didn’t get to spend time with the kids, he didn’t get to enjoy them much when they were younger. He was so busy working. And that night we celebrated Easter without him, since by the time he came back it was way past midnight.
Dr. Seuss wrote:
“Sometimes you will never know the value of something, until it becomes a memory.”
Memories are all we have now from our days together. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth all the trouble, all his hard work to secure a better future for the kids. Sometimes I wonder, in what way is a future without him in their life better? And in the words of Dr. Seuss:
“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.”
He meant the world to them, to us. I know now that miracles are things that do not happen, not to ordinary people like us anyway. One thing I believe in strongly is that he is in heaven watching over us. For he cannot be anywhere else, he was our superhero. I know Easter is about resurrection as well as I know that he is looking down at us at this moment saying:
“Remember me and smile, for it’s better to forget than to remember me and cry.” Dr. Seuss
Happy Easter to all who celebrate!


Wed, Jun 24, 2020
Well hey Anthem…
It’s been a bit since our last devotional… To be honest, Kristen and I needed to take a bit of downtime with our family after they got out of school. I’ll be back to preaching this coming Sunday, but it’s been a great few days away. The last devo we posted was the third out of four related to our response to the conversation around the sin of racism. The four stages that we talked about were lament, repentance, listening and godly living. Each of these postures is critical for us as a church to be able to engage fellow believers as we move towards unity in the body of Christ and unbelievers as we continue to invite people to experience life abundant and eternal in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Today we’re going to be talking about godly living. I realize that this is a huge topic and kind of like the entire New Testament… so, rather than covering everything as it relates to godly living, we want to talk about godly living through the lens of race, unity and living in a contentious world.
Read Colossians 3:12-17
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The initial instruction is to “put on then…” these character qualities. Take some time to journal through putting on the various qualities of Colossians 3… as you journal, answer the question of whether a particular quality conflicts with your instincts.
One of the challenges to growing in godly living can be the sense of perpetual growth… Do we ever “arrive” or is it a long range, lifelong project. AND can we be content in the perpetual pursuit of Christlikeness… For some, the idea of always repenting, always growing, always needing that daily bread can be a bit challenging. One of the most powerful aspects of the gospel is it’s ability to keep growing us, keep shaping us, keep refining us until Kingdom come.
Read 2 Peter 1:3-11
His divine power has granted to us all things to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Peter says “if these qualities are yours and they are increasing”. His understanding is that the process of growing to be like Jesus is an ever increasing project of development. That’s a good thing. So what is supposed to be ours and increasing? Take some time to look up a definition for each of the following. What other passages of scripture come to mind to round out your understanding? Take some time with Jesus knowing that he both fully approves of you now as you are, and also continues to take you on a journey of growth as you follow him. Ask him to lead you to how you can “increase” each of these in your life.
We love you, Anthem. We are praying for you now as we write this! We are praying that we walk as people who abide in the love of Jesus and are quick to reflect that love to those around us. Wherever you are at today, our encouragement would be to take pause, be with Jesus. Be reminded of how much you are loved.


WHAT IS THE MINISTRY'S MISSION?
"To share God's law and the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ with all individuals who are or have been institutionalized, and their families."
The WLIM objectives are:
- To preach the Word of God to all people, especially to those without church affiliation in public and private institutions;
- To seek out and serve WELS and unchurched individuals, both adults and juveniles who are incarcerated:
- those who are released from prison and jails to help them make a productive reentry into society
- families of adults and juveniles who have become involved with the criminal justice system
- those who are critically ill and dying
- those who have damaged their lives physically and spiritually with substance abuse
- families of substance abusers who are using or recovering
- those who are in nursing, rehabilitation and assisted living centers
- those who are developmentally disabled;
- To call one or more pastors and/or workers for these purposes.


In the following article from this series, we talk about the spiritual practice of forsaking all, which is naturally paired with the lifestyle we call living by faith. One simple way to explain this link between forsaking all and living by faith is–to borrow from the churchy cliche “let god & let God“–forsaking all is “letting go” and living by faith is “letting God“.
If you’ve browsed around our website at all, you’ve probably noticed that we use a few key phrases a lot. Besides “the teachings of Jesus”, one of these is the phrase “living by faith”. Pretty vague, sounds very churchy… What does it mean?
Living by faith is a lifestyle. It’s what happens when we stop worrying about how we’re going to get by in the world and just get busy sharing God’s love with others. In actual practice, it means that we stop working for money (yes, literally quitting our jobs if we have one), and then we use our new-found freedom to start working for God (Love) instead!
It may sound pretty wacky, but this concept of living by faith is not something we made up; it actually comes from Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Please remember that Jesus’ teachings are for anyone who has ears to hear, not just a special group of people or type of Christian. Do you have the ears to hear? It’s your choice.
Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.Matthew 6:19-34, NLT
We could go into a verse-by-verse explanation of this passage, but another ministry has already done this–better than we could. (Scroll to the bottom for a link to their video…) So, we’ll just leave you with the plain and simple truth that Jesus spoke. And, if you want to wrestle with what he actually meant (hint: it’s just like what he said!), we strongly encourage you to take the time to watch our friends’ video (see below).
Before you dismiss this idea of living by faith, please give us a chance to share, in a general way, how it has worked in our lives. Truly, the simple fact that it actually works (i.e. that we do not work for money, yet all our needs are met by God’s loving acts of providence) is a huge reason why you should not simply ignore what Jesus taught, as crazy as it sounds.
When we were of the world, we played by all the world’s rules, and that includes working for money (one of the most powerful inventions of mankind, dating back to the early days of Babylon). We had jobs just like everyone else, and most of the time, we hated those jobs just like everyone else. Our bosses were rude and overbearing; our coworkers were annoying and irresponsible; customers were expectant and impatient; the hours were long, the pay was low, and time off was hard to come by; we didn’t feel like we were doing anything truly significant with our lives. Yet, day after day, we’d be there, clocking in to our next shift so that we could pay the bills and somehow get by.
But in our souls, we knew that life should be more than just getting by. Some of us became aware of how other people are suffering in third-world countries as a direct result of the unjust economic system that we ourselves were a part of. And many of us had a deep desire to use our skills and talents to help others, but we felt that we just simply didn’t have enough time (or energy!) after working for money all day.
Then, we heard that this crazy guy named Jesus said we don’t need to work for money anymore. He said that we can quit our jobs right now, and get started with sharing our skills, talents, and passions with others to better their lives. In other words, we can stop doing what we hate and start doing what we love! And then we heard that Jesus said our needs will be taken care of. No need to save and budget and worry about how we’re going to put food on the table or clothes on our backs. God will take care of it.
Now, some of us were atheists when we heard this. So, the whole “God thing” was weird, but we decided to try living by faith anyway because it seemed a whole lot better than what we were doing at the time. And that is how we learned to have faith–great faith–in God through Jesus Christ.
Others of us were Christians, and we quickly realized that we had to humble ourselves. We thought that we had it all figured out, that Jesus was close to our hearts, etc. (We had said the sinner’s prayer, after all!) But we learned that we didn’t know Jesus at all. And we learned that we were actually quite afraid of Jesus as he really is, afraid of what he asks of us as Christians. So we decided to meet the challenge to our faith by putting it into practice, actually living by faith. God has never let us down.
No matter where we came from, what kind of faith we had, or how much or little wealth we possessed, all of us now appreciate complete and total freedom, which we never would have been able to experience while still enslaved to the money system. We design our lives as we like, choosing to make use of all our skills and interests for the benefit of ourselves and others. Our lives are now creative, practical, and fulfilling.
Matthew 11:28-30, NLT
Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.
The danger here is that both Christians and non-Christians, people of strong faith and people of weak faith start to lose sight of the fact that Jesus’ message really is good news. (Gospel actually means good news!) People hear that Jesus wants us to stop working for money so that we can start working for God, and it scares them. The common concern that people have is that they will surely starve (or any number of other terrible things will happen) if they actually do what Jesus taught. If they have families, they are also concerned about the needs of their spouse and children.
No matter what perspective you come from or how much faith or non-faith you currently possess, if you are starting to feel fear creeping up on you, please take a moment for prayer. Pray that God–no matter how you currently understand Him–gives you the courage to face your fears. Ask God to help you accept the simple truth of His will as it is expressed through Jesus’ teachings. Because if you can face your fears and truly accept what it is that Jesus is saying here, your life will be miraculously transformed by faith into a gift of freedom not only for yourself, but for everyone you meet as well.
Jesus knows your fears. He knows that you love your family and that you want what is best for them. He knows that what he is asking of you seems hard; that’s why he calls his Way narrow (Matthew 7:13-14)! But he also knows–more than you or I could ever know–what is ETERNALLY better for you and your loved ones. All he asks of us is that we put our trust in him completely, like little children (Matthew 18:3), and do what he tells us to do for our own good.
Jesus’ Way is good news. It is freedom. It is life. We pray that you will face your fears and accept the good news that Jesus is offering you right now!
Stay tuned for testimonials from the members of our community.
Video by A Voice in the Desert


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Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology
Face to Face
Chinchilla Christian College
Staines Memorial College
220 Hours Additional Learning
This course contributes to QCE Credits. Please see your Careers advisor for more information.
Learners are required to take a Language, Literacy & Numeracy assessment pre-enrolment. This will help us support you if necessary in achieving a successful course outcome.
Written reference from current Pastor/Minister
Possible Pathway Options & Career Pathways
Learners pursuing a career or further study in Ministry or Theology will find the Certificate III course offers a good spiritual and academic grounding. It helps to equip learners to fill informal roles within the Ministry and Theology sector.
To complete 10741NAT Certificate III in Christian Ministry and Theology, learners must complete six (6) core units and two (2) elective units.
|CMTTHE301||Research Christian Scripture and Theology|
|CMTTHE302||Identify theological data|
|CMTTHE303||Present information on a theological theme or issue|
|CMTTHE304||Apply new theological insight|
|CMTMIN301||Apply theological knowledge to contemporary ethical issues|
|CMTMIN302||Communicate theology in everyday language|
|BSBTEC202||Use digital technologies to communicate in a work environment|
|CHCGRP001||Support group activities|
Training and Assessment
Learners are expected to engage in regular classes as well as meeting course requirements. Learners will complete online exercises and participate in discussions in a mentor group. They will also work their way through reading the four Gospels, journal their discoveries and questions, and attend seminars related to the course content. Learners will participate in practical leadership placement in the College, church or in a community service project, reflecting on their experiences.
Assessments include observations and role plays.
Learners will need access to a digital video recording device and/or a digital camera and associated software to save and upload video, image and audio files to Learner.Link. Software such as Adobe Reader, Windows Media Player, Windows Photo Viewer etc. are available as a free download from the internet.
Download the Course Description here
*Correct at time of publication, subject to change
29 September 2023
|Name||Course Start Date||Course End Date||Cost|


No one completely understands the ways of God. Many of us can come up with our own opinions, and justify his ways in our own minds, just as Milton did in Paradise Lost. Just as Adam and Eve, we all are gifted with free will and the responsibility of making important decisions and choices in our life, which will determine our future. But we may well ask ourselves today, of what use would this free will be to us if we did not know good from evil? When Eve ate the apple in the Garden of Eden she had two different voices telling her what to do. God had said that Adam and Eve may eat any fruit from any of the trees in the Garden of Eden except for the tree that contains the knowledge of good and evil. Satan (disguised as a serpent) told Eve that she would not die from eating that fruit, that her eyes would be opened, knowing both good and evil. But at the time Eve made her decision, she did not have the knowledge of good and evil.
Eve did not know the serpent could be Satan incarnate, nor did she know that her desire to become a goddess would be a sin. The main reason Eve eats the apple is because she wants to become a Goddess. The serpent said that he was a beast and after eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil he became more human
While contemplating whether or not to eat the fruit, Eve wonders, why the beast did not die after eating the fruit? Why should such intellectual food be reserved for beasts? But her main reason for eating their fruit is to acquire greater power, to become a “goddess”. She tells Adam that “it was a divine effect which will open our eyes and makes us Gods.” She tells Adam that the snake ate the fruit and nothing bad happened to it. Adam in return eats the fruit because he doesn’t believe that he could take living without her. (He also didn’t know if he could spare another rib for a second Eve.) God knew before warning Adam and Eve of the forbidden fruit that they would eat it anyway. By warning them of it, he only increased their desires. However, this may have been a necessary development in the creation of mankind.
After consuming the apple, Adam and Eve were banished from the sacred garden, and sent to the outside world. They had committed a sin against God, by not only disobeying his commandment, but by wanting to be gods themselves. They were banished from the garden not only as punishment, but also because God did not want them to eat of the tree of life, of immortality. They were not killed as God had originally threatened, but told to be fruitful and multiply. According to Milton, in the outside world Adam and Eve repented their sins to Jesus Christ who in turn asked God for forgiveness. God once again accepted them but stated that they would never again set foot in Paradise.
But by this grace, his creation was complete. God’s warning was definitely effective because he accomplished exactly his purpose: The creation of this magnificent world that we live in today, which was all started by God, Adam, and Eve. God didn’t give Adam and Eve a complete warning about the tree because he did not tell them that it was only by his judgment whether or not they would die or eat the fruit. So when the serpent ate the fruit and didn’t die, but began to speak like a man, they were more susceptible to his guile.


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CALVARY LA SEMILLA CHURCH
WHO WE ARE
Calvary La Semilla is a Christian community whose identity is based on Christ and the centrality of the scriptures. We are a church that comes from Rocky Mountain Calvary, Colorado, USA, but at the same time independent in its function. Calvary La Semilla belongs to the Calvary Chapel family of churches, we are not a denomination but a Christian movement, and what unites our churches is the way we conduct our congregations based on the “Calvary Chapel Distinctives” and the “Philosophy of Ministry”.
“Our supreme desire is GET TO KNOW and GIVE to know Christ
and be transformed into his image by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
IN OUR MEETINGS
In Calvary La Semilla, we meet with the purpose of worshiping our God, and through the exposition of His Word (The Bible) we want to make known the gospel of the grace of God. Our teaching is centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ exposing the Word in a clear and simple but profound way. We believe that all of God’s Word is useful and relevant, so each teaching is applied to our daily lives in order to equip our members for spiritual transformation and growth. We dedicate the first 30 minutes of each meeting in worship to the father, through contemporary music. After the worship time, we dedicate 45 minutes to study the Word of God, then we end with a time of fellowship.
We want you to feel welcome, come as you are!
OUR DIRECTION IS THE WORD
At Calvary the Seed we teach expositionally verse by verse from Genesis to Revelation teaching the whole counsel of God, because we believe that the Spirit of God works through His word in the hearts of our people. Dios ha utilizado la luz de las Escrituras para dirigir su iglesia, entonces predicarla con precisión es nuestra prioridad. Toda la Escritura es inspirada por Dios, y útil para enseñar, para redargüir, para corregir, para instruir en justicia, a fin de que el hombre de Dios sea perfecto, enteramente preparado para toda buena obra.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
“And they read in the book of the law of God plainly, and they put
the sense, that they might understand the reading” Nehemiah 8:8
OUR DUTY “THE GREAT COMMISSION
The Great Commission is given to the Church by Jesus himself (Mark 16:15) and is a mandate that must be taken seriously. It is both the responsibility and privilege of the church testifying, sharing and witnessing the Gospel. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore, go, And make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Our mission is primarily to“GO”. Bringing the good news of salvation. “THE GOSPEL IS ABOUT A MESSAGE, A MESSENGER, A PROCLAMATION” Therefore, we are a church passionate in our responsibility to proclaim the gospel, simply and boldly. This can be done one-on-one, or by speaking to a large number of people (Acts 8:26-38; 2:14-42).


Heftet | Nivå: Voksen | Engelsk | EAN: 9780241320655
When Bea Hanlon follows her preacher husband Max to a remote island in the Pacific, she soon sees that their mission will bring anything but salvation...
Advent Island is a place beyond the reaches of Bea's most fitful imaginings. It's not just the rats and the hordes of mosquitos and the weevils in the powdered milk. Past the confines of their stuffy little house, amidst the damp and the dust and the sweltering heat, rumours are spreading of devil chasers who roam the island on the hunt for evil spirits. And then there are the noises from the church at night.
Yet, to the amusement of the locals and the bafflement of her husband, Bea gradually adapts to life on the island. But with the dreadful events heralded by the arrival of an unexpected, wildly irritating and always-humming house guest, Advent Island becomes a hostile place once again. And before long, trapped in the jungle and in the growing fever of her husband's insanity, Bea finds herself fighting for her freedom, and for her life.


“Let your words become the gift,
that is shared with others!”
It seems like yesterday that I received a text from Father John informing me of his plans to retire at the beginning of this month. As Senior Warden (an intimidating title), or what others would call the Vestry Chair, I suddenly became the “Ecclesiastical Leader” of the church. Simply put, it becomes my responsibility to assure that the day to day functions of the church continue while we search for a new rector. Fortunately I am surrounded by a committed congregation, staff, vestry, and substitute clergy who have all shared a simple phrase, “Let me know how I can help!”. Their words were a gift, shared with me.
Father John’s office, which often resembled that of a college professor, sits empty now and awaits a new occupant. I spent some time there late Tuesday afternoon just taking everything in, and then spent some additional time in the sanctuary. While sitting there, it was the positive encouraging words of Father John and our Deacon Midge that kept bouncing around in my mind. Both had shared their belief in my ability to take on this new responsibility, but always in a manner that made me smile or laugh. Their words were a gift, shared with me.
On Wednesday morning our Parish Secretary sent me an email providing requested information and related updates. I felt good about everything until I got to the last line, “Rick, I will need the small message from you to include in the e-blast being sent out tomorrow.” This was something that had traditionally been written by Father John, and now it fell to me. The message normally reflects one of the lessons or the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday. Within the readings I found the following, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” As I sat down to write the words came easily, and my Thursday message, shared with my Church family, is now shared with you.
As we emerge from this nightmare of a year and move forward, let’s be bolstered by the knowledge that our words and actions can enhance the lives of others. Let’s use this information to create a more positive workplace and home environment, to facilitate collaboration and improve our interpersonal relationships. Let our commentary sow the seeds of possibility, opportunity and hope. Let our remarks be the source of cheerful enthusiasm, serene warmth, and gratitude. Let our words be the gift, we share with others.


A song writer says of God; You have done so much for me and I cannot tell it all. If I had a thousand tongues, it still won’t be enough’. Trust me, those are the exact words reverberating in my heart right now.
Today, I turn 50. Oh how time flies! Cynthia of yesterday has officially joined the golden jubilee league table. Do I feel older and wiser today than I felt yesterday? Maybe. Have I been looking forward to 50? Yeah! Am I excited about turning 50? Trust me, nothing beats that feeling! Am I wondering about the body aches and wrinkles that comes with ageing? Well, I don’t but those are a part of life processes and I’d better be thankful for life than worry about such. Many would have loved to live to see 50 but their journeys were shorter. There’s so much to be thankful to God for the gift of 50.
What am I grateful to God for? A lot! He spared my life not just once but twice. Being alive today is enough reason to be thankful. Once upon a time, I was diagnosed with cancer, (need to do another post on this soon). I didn’t believe I would live to be 40 but I am 50 today. When I was once attacked by armed robbers, I lost my money and possessions including a car to them but not my life. God has protected and preserved me against all odds. I’m grateful that He has been gracious to me.
When I think of fifty, my heart gleefully praises God. Who I am and what I am is all for the glory of God. When I reflect on my life’s journey up until this point, I can only say, it’s been by grace all along. I’ve come this far by God’s grace. I’m grateful to God for my parents, family and friends. God purposefully placed these people in my path at every stage of the journey. Some were for a reason and others for a season but they all served their purpose. Of course there are still some playing their roles in my life and I in theirs. To me, these are angels wrapped in human bodies. I see people God put in our lives as angels. Angels to me are not just some humongous spirit-beings with wings flying about as messengers. Angels are all the people God puts in our path through this journey called life.
A saying has it that, it takes a village to raise a child and I must admit I am a living testimony of that adage. I have experienced it growing up. Besides my core role models; my grand-mum and mum, I have had other women and men being there for me in times that I needed them the most. My cousins who cared for me as brothers and sisters would for their sister. My uncles and aunties who were ever ready to offer help when I needed it. Talk of the drivers that sent me to school and back daily; the house-helps who made sure I always had food to eat; the teachers who taught me to read, reason and imagine amazing things. All these people through their little contributions have made me who I am today. I am an example of what it is to have a village raise a child of their own. I’m grateful to God for all of them.
And YES, I am eternally grateful and thankful to God for the gift of the six children He has given me. They are the reason I find the strength to go out each day and shine so bright in my space. I always look at them and feel proud that posterity will be kind to me because I left a part of me in them.
Not forgetting my wonderful work family. I’m thankful and grateful for each one of them. They make the daily hustle less hectic and ensure that every effort is definitely worth every bit of our sweat. They care enough to show up rain or shine so we can grow together whilst working at making the dream come true. I’m grateful.
I’m thankful and grateful for the many mistakes I made and how each of those have taught me about life and shaped me on how life should be better lived.
Over the course of my fifty years on this earth, there are a lot of lessons life has taught me either consciously or unconsciously. I could list 50 life lessons; each one representing a year that I have lived but time and space would not permit me to do that today. I will do that in my memoir someday soon. Nonetheless, for the purpose of this post, I would like to sum up those into five distinctive lessons I have learnt in the five decades of my life. Here we go:
- The Value Of Relationships
Relationships make life worth living. Everyone needs someone to get by each day. Everyone that ever walked on this earth, regardless of their status in life has had to deal with other people. Almost on a daily basis, we all get involved with people in one way or the other. People matter to our life’s purposes and that makes relationships valuable. This is one major lesson life has taught me in my five decades of existence on earth. I cannot overemphasize the value of relationships and connections in my life.
I am a lawyer today because a former lecturer of mine suggested I apply for law school. At the time, I had graduated with a degree in Economics as my major and law being the minor. I landed a job at the Bank of England working as an Analyst and later a job with PwC doing advisory work. After a few years at the Bank of England, I felt it was time to challenge myself and take on a new professional path. I did enjoy my job and it afforded me the opportunity to earn some money to support my grwoing family. But then, the time was right for me to move on and explore new passions.I discussed this concern with one of my former lecturers over lunch and she suggested that I apply for law school. She actually said she thought I was good at law when I studied it as a minor during my undergraduate studies. Initially, I was reluctant to respond to her suggestion because I was raising three kids at the time and starting law school was the last on my list of options. But then she seemed very sure that I would make a good lawyer and even went on to suggest that I apply for an academic scholarship from the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. I did as she advised, got awarded two scholarships and today, I am a lawyer.
In 2004, I brought my children to Ghana from the UK. My plan then was to work and save some money for a while before eventually joining them here in Ghana. Whilst back in London, I put a call through to check-up on one of my former bosses at PwC and we agreed to meet up and chat over lunch. In the middle of our conversation, he asked of my family and I told him they had relocated to Ghana and that I’ll be joining them. This opened up a new conversation and he hinted me on an opportunity I could use. At the time, Price Water Coopers (PwC) were the official liquidators of Ghana Airways. Cut a long story short, on my next trip back to Ghana, I initiated the process which lead to me working on one of most complicated insolvencies in Africa.
Our next level is always a person away. There is always someone who can connect us to our next opportunity but that can only happen when we have a good relationship with them. On countless occasions, I’ve advised young people who approach me for advice that they should learn to stay connected with people. Knowing how to connect and staying connected to the right people is a game changer any-day.
Relationships are valuable for advancement in every regard and we must respect the people God brings our way. How you relate to a superior should not be any different from how you relate to a subordinate. People are the same everywhere. Treat all people with some respect and dignity. Treat your driver or house-help the same way you would your boss. Sometimes people we consider to be of lower status than us can be the lifeline we have when in dire situations. There is value in relationships. Use them well. Don’t burn bridges.
- The Value of Being God-centred.
God is my all-in-all and it is not a cliché. I have experienced God myself and I speak of Him as I have come to know Him. Knowing God as my source and living my life in that consciousness has made a lot of difference for me over the past five decades of my life. If I were a product, I consider God to be my manufacturer and His word (the Bible) as the manual for my life. This consciousness has always helped me to consult God before I take any major decision in my life. It’s been God at the centre at all times. Of course, I admit there have been times that I have been angry at God because I thought He looked on and permitted some circumstances to happen in my life. But with hindsight, I have come to realise that God used both the good and bad moments and experiences to teach me and refine me into a better person.
Being God-centred is not really about being religious but being conscious of the existence of God and connecting to Him as your source. I have lived the Words in the Bible and per my personal experience, no book is full of spirit and life as the Bible. I have witnessed the fulfilment of some promises and no one can convince me into believing there is no God. There is God! All we see around us points to a supreme being who conceptualized and created them. There should be a divine architect behind all the beautiful things we see in nature. And that I believe is no other but God, our source.
I may not be able to memorise and recite scripture but I have lived it and know it is real. The Word of God is spirit and life. I have lived the scripture that says; ‘God is a healer’. I lived the scripture that says; ‘God is a provider’. And that which says; ‘God is a protector’. I have experienced God myself and I can relate to Him as my source.
For me, God is Love and He certainly is Love personified. Jesus Christ also demonstrated the love of God when He walked on earth. He spent His time with people society considered as outcasts, redefining and showing them what love truly is. Some Christians of today show self-righteousness in character and conduct, trying to sideline other people who don’t believe what they believe. Christ welcomed all. That is Love and it is being God-centred. Being God-centred is loving God and showing His love to others. Having God at the centre of your life is giving Him first place in your heart and being a living testimony of His love through your expressions; words and deeds. Be God-centred by letting others see God in action through you. This is one of the greatest lessons I have learnt on this journey of life.
- The Value Of Unconditional Love
When you love people unconditionally, it inspires hope in them and helps them cope with life. I’ve seen people who have been tagged as some of the meanest human beings on earth turn sober and sweet because someone showed them love. Some of such people are so tagged because of the things they have been through in life. They act the way they do because they are angry at the world for not being there for them. But then, when they are shown love, they reach into the core of their humanity and respond to situations and people with love.
In my younger years in the UK, I worked in Harrods, the famous departmental store. There was a supervisor of mine who hated me for no reason. I did my very best on the job but it became obvious amongst all the team members that she didn’t like me. For some period of time, I thought to myself that she could be hating me because I was black but I later got to know that her father was apparently black. Her black heritage didn’t show on her because she was a bit ‘whiter’ than your everyday mixed race girl.
There was a particular day that she came into the staff canteen during lunch time and couldn’t find a place to sit. One of the very few seats available was a seat closer to mine. Naturally, one would expect that as people in the same department, she would have just joined me but she went and sat somewhere else.
That singular act of hers broke my heart that day. I wondered why someone like her would make it her business to hate a ‘poor black girl’ like me for no apparent reason. I wasn’t in a position to even take her place on the job, I was a young girl trying to earn a living and figure out what I wanted to do in life. Having reasoned and reflected on it for a while, I resorted to speak to her and find out why she seemed to hate me so much.
I lifted my eyes towards her direction and noticed she had left for the wash-room. I followed her into the wash-room. She didn’t expect me to enter because of her but I did. As soon as I got in, she turned her face towards another direction so I wouldn’t see her face-to-face. But then, I noticed she had gone into the bathroom to cry and I felt I should try consoling her for whatever she must have been going through. My kind gesture was met with an outburst from her. She tried being rude to me to the extent of using swear words on me but I didn’t budge.
When she seemed to have calmed down, I asked her; ‘Are you okay?’ She retorted in a hash tone; ‘What does it matter to you? I said leave me alone!’ Naturally, this should have been the point where I would take leave of her but something compelled me to move closer and ask for a hug. I did. I moved forward with my arms wide open and said to her; ‘Do you mind if I hug you?’ She sort of clamoured a bit but I hugged her regardless. She broke out uncontrollably in tears. I was touched by her tears and wanted to be there for her. I then said to her;’ Whatever it is,… will be okay’. I requested to pray for her and she reluctantly agreed. I did and we parted ways.
Because she was my supervisor I had to report to her office for something later that day. I went in and she was acting funny towards me. She actually told me that; ‘whatever you did, didn’t matter to me’. Well, what was I to say? I kept my cool and went out after she spoke. She didn’t show up for work the following day. She returned on the third day and I noticed she had changed my lunch period so she and I could go for lunch at the same time.
When we met at the canteen she was unusually nice to me. She came closer to me and asked; ‘Are you alright?’ It was such a pleasant surprise to me. I couldn’t believe my eyes nor did I my ears. She sat with me on the same table and whilst we ate she said to me; ‘Thank you for the other day’. It was then that she confided in me. I realised she was harbouring a lot of bitterness in her heart and that made her act the way she did sometimes.
It was during our discourse that I discovered that she was born to a Scottish mum and an African father but was actually adopted and raised by white parents. She revealed to me that she only got to know about her parents when she turned 18. She found her mum and she helped her look for her dad. However, it turned out that her biological father didn’t want to have anything to do with her. For that reason, she developed some resentment towards black people and I unfortunately became her victim. But love found us. We became very close friends ever since. What made the difference? Your guess is as good as mine. Love! Showing her unconditional love despite her resentment towards me made a huge impact on her. It brought her some emotional healing of a sort. We became very close friends and the rest is history as they say.
Truth is, if I had allowed what she did to get to me, I wouldn’t have helped her heal. But my show of unconditional love to her did her a lot of good. In many situations, we have to be conscious of the fact that, people are going through the changing scenes of life at any given time. Circumstances are constantly swinging towards both the good and bad sides of life, changing people and making them act weirdly. The sad reality is, we don’t have control over most of these circumstances. We only try to get by. A lot of times, people tend to react as they do based on the current circumstance in their lives. It only takes a little sensitivity to help them cope with life. If only we can love people unconditionally, without being judgmental, then we can help them take back their lives and make a difference when it matters most.
I believe a lot of Christians are unable to win more souls to Christ because they are too judgmental sometimes. Some Christians would often say that they are not supposed to be unequally yoked with unbelievers but I think that scripture has either been misinterpreted or misapplied to some extent. Jesus made friends with sinners. He moved with Mary Magdalene the prostitute. He moved and dinned with a thief, Judas. He had dinner with Zacchaeus the tax collector and many others people considered the worst sinners of His time. And He showed all these people unconditional love so He could win them over to His side. Shouldn’t we be doing same as Christians?
Our Christ-likeness should be expressed in our love towards others. We ought to exude the love of God at all times. We must accept people just the way they are and through love have them come to Christ. I’ve experienced Christ’s unconditional love and I am sharing it the best way I can every day. It is a lesson worth sharing with the world and I hope I just shared it with you.
- The Value of Being Authentic
Knowing who you are forms the foundation for doing exploits in any area of pursuit in life. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is crucial when it comes to designing and creating the future you desire. Being conscious of who you are inside-out and being your authentic self has a way of making you stand-out in every space you occupy.
Truth is, both your highs and lows in life are for a purpose. Knowing your truth, sticking to it and speaking it is liberating. Don’t deceive yourself by portraying success when you are actually struggling. Speak your truth at all times. We all make mistakes. What matters is to make-up by fixing the mess and moving on. You must express your authenticity but don’t do it because you want to impress others. Life is too short and you had better live it for yourself than living it to please others.
I grew up in a society where parents make their children believe that they were first-class students whilst growing up J Every parent says they were perfect children. They hardly speak their truth. And sadly, they have passed that on to many children who are now grown-ups. It is as if most parents don’t want to be ever seen or perceived as frail and fallible. They don’t want to be seen as vulnerable let alone identify with failure for even once in the eyes of their kids. But it is okay to be. Being a parent doesn’t mean you are no more a human. Your weaknesses would show up every once in a while but it is okay to admit it and stay true to yourself.
When we open up and let our children get to know our difficulties , challenges and understand our journeys, we gain much more by being honest. There is no need being pretentious or keeping up appearances to create a good impression before others. People do identify more with us when they realise they have a shared experience with us. And it is the same with children. They can relate well to you when they know you have been through what they are currently going through in their lives. When it becomes clear to them that you got through it, they become hopeful they can get through it too. Being real about the situations of life brings some relief to others. People can relate well to you when they know you are human too and that you have made some mistakes in the past.
In my twenties, I wanted to please everyone that I came across. Probably a consequence of me being an only child for a long time. I yearned people’s approval and validation although even at that age, I was never one to succumb to peer pressure. I always tried to do me. I lived with that conflict for many years. But I grew up and realised I can’t live life pleasing people all the time. In my forties, I learnt to be more authentic and let anyone that comes my way take me for who I am or move on without me. Essentially, being and staying authentic has helped me appreciate life more and live it on my own terms. Everyone is already taken and you cannot be anyone else nor please anyone. Life has taught me that people would have qualms about both the good and the bad you do and you must come to terms with that reality and live life being the real you. Be authentic!
- The Value of Being A Good Confidant
One inestimable value of life is trust. When trust is broken a lot is lost. When people trust you they can put their lives on the line for you. In fact, life becomes bearable when you know that there are people you can trust at any point in time and not think twice about it.
I was raised as an only child until I turned 15. Whilst young, I learned the skill of listening because I was not expected to speak as much as I was expected to listen when adults were chatting. That training stuck with me and has become very helpful in my practice as a lawyer.
Today, for some reason people are drawn towards me. They open up to me and say things they wouldn’t want to share with some others. Most of my friends would come to me to share their problems with me. There are times some of them have jokingly said, we all come to you to confidently share our challenges with you but you hardly come to any of us. Of course I do laugh it off but it tells me I am worth trusting.
I learnt very early in life that when people trust you enough to share their secrets with you, it is not in your place to pass it on. There have been a few instances where I couldn’t keep up but the repercussions taught me to keep things to myself when it matters the most.
In my line of work as a lawyer, I’ve learnt the value of being a good confidant. Being someone another person can repose their confidence in and share their fears with is a great quality. A good confidant is one who others speak to and feel they have been listened to and heard. Being such a person makes you a saviour of some sort. There are instances where people have healed because they were heard and not that they were given solutions to their problems.
As a mother and a lawyer, I’ve learnt that it is a privilege to be someone that other people can trust with their secrets. Being a person whom other people can confidently walk up to and share their weaknesses and vulnerabilities with shouldn’t make you a judge over their lives. Your role in that regard is bearing the responsibility of keeping their secret safe. They spoke to your ears and not your mouth.
Not many are able to do that. Some keep things to themselves and die with guilt. Be someone another person can share stuff with. It makes you a sensitive and trustworthy person. Keeping the confidence of someone is a responsibility you shouldn’t take lightly. They chose YOU… respect that.
There are instances where some people have blackmailed others with sensitive information they shared in confidence with them. Don’t use what people shared with you (often whilst vulnerable) against them. Be your brother’s/sister’s keeper. Sometimes, all people need is someone whom they can confide in and speak away their cares and fears. When you become a sounding board for others, you help them heal.
Placing value on confidence and certainly being a good confidant is a lesson life has taught me and I wish many would learn it too. Be a trustworthy person. Be a confidant and help heal the world one person at a time.


This portion of Romans is especially difficult to exegete. Chapter 5 is probably the most complicated writing in the New Testament. (For instance, in the Greek sentence found in verse 5:18, there are no verbs. I don’t even know what to make of that. For what purpose would Paul write a sentence like that?) Throughout the book Paul is using a literary style that often looks like a plate of logical spaghetti noodles. It is beautiful how ‘connected’ everything is, but it is brutal to follow and even worse to try to simplify. None of this is a criticism, after days of working on these exegesis, I am thoroughly persuaded that there probably is no better way to write such a treatise, then how Paul wrote it. So, it might seem that it jumps back and forth and all over the place, but what is actually happening is that Paul fleshes out each point as the text introduces it, then returns to the previous point. It is important to understand this or we will quickly get lost in the pile of noodles. One key to following these many strands is researching the Greek wording, as the English translations generally don’t maintain a very strict rendering of them, for various legitimate reasons.
(2.17 – 5.21)
Continued from Exegesis of Romans, part 1
But no, not you! You are called a Jew, and are ensconced in the law, and boast in God, and know his will, and have a discriminating moral palate, because you are steeped in the law. You are a self-assured guide of the blind, a light to them who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes; you have the form of knowledge and truth in the law. So… You teach others, but not yourself? You preach that a man shouldn’t steal, but do you steal? You say that a man should not commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You hate idols, but do you commit sacrilege? You boast in the law, but do you dishonor God by breaking the law? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision really is an advantage, if you keep the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision is voided and in effect undone. What all this implies is that if the uncircumcision keeps the spirit of the law, won’t his uncircumcision also be voided and in effect undone. And more to the point, doesn’t the principle of uncircumcision keeping the spirit of the law indict you, who break the law despite having the letter of the law and the advantage of circumcision? So, just as circumcision is not referring to an external operation, in the same way the Jew is not defined by external characteristics. The real Jew is he who is a Jew through-and-through, and real circumcision is an operation on the heart, in accordance with the spirit not the letter; and his motivation is to be praised by God, not boasting.
But if this is the case, then what advantage does the natural Jew have, or what is gained from circumcision proper? A tremendous amount in every way imaginable. First and foremost: The conduit of God’s communication was committed unto them. But then what conclusion is warranted of those Jews that were faithless? Does that altogether negate faith in God? Absolutely not! Rather, absolutely: “God is true; every man is a liar.” And not rather, the damnable heresy: “Let us do evil, that good may come.” (As we are slanderously reported to have said, with some going so far as to even perjure themselves.) Speaking of negating faith in God, it is written by David in Psalm 51, when he confessed to God his terrible crime as primarily a sin of faithlessness: “That you would be upheld in your rulings, and vindicated whenever you are indicted.” But then, if our unrighteousness so serves to highlight the righteousness of God, can we then claim exoneration? In other words, if my lie has created an opportunity for the truth of God to triumph and magnify God’s glory, then why would I be condemned as a sinner? Wouldn’t that make God unrighteous when he then avenges righteousness? (I am playing the Devil’s advocate here.) Absolutely not. Otherwise, how could he ever then judge the world?
If the Jews have such advantages does that mean they are better than Gentiles? No. Not in any way imaginable: we have already made the case that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin; just as it is also written “There is no one righteous, not even one: there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one. Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood, ruin and misery are in their paths, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.“
Returning to the revelation of God’s righteousness: We all know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law. Its purpose is to shut every mouth and indict the whole world before God. This means that by the works of the law no flesh can be justified in God’s sight, because by the law there is only the awareness of sin. But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed; being attested to by the law and the prophets — specifically, the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all those that believe; for there is no difference; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God — and being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God has presented as a means of atonement through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness both for the remission of sins in the past — remitted through God’s merciful patience — as well as in this time. And this he did that he might be both just and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.
So what room is there for the boasting we spoke of earlier? It is banished. Which law excludes it? The law of works? No, it is in the law of works that such boasting takes place. It is the ‘law’ of faith that excludes all such boasting.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Otherwise we would be relegated to an incoherence, namely: Is the one true God the God of the Jews only? Mustn’t he also be the God of the Gentiles? Of course he must be the God of the Gentiles also, since there is only one true God… who will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through faith. Do we then abolish the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we prop the law up.
What happens if we apply these principles to the real case scenario to our ancestor Abraham? Simply put, if Abraham were justified by works, he has a legitimate reason to boast, but not before God. But what does the scripture say regarding that? “Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” It is self-evident that the wage a person receives for working is properly conceptualized as ‘debt’, not ‘grace’. Contrast that with the person who doesn’t work, but just believes on him that justifies the ungodly: His faith is counted for righteousness. David declares the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness without works when he says, “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
To apply this scenario to a previous point: Is this blessedness only available to the circumcision, or to the uncircumcision also? Well, we observed that faith was counted to Abraham for righteousness. But how, or when, was it counted? When he was circumcised or when he was uncircumcised? To state the obvious: When he was uncircumcised. It was only after that he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness that he received by faith while he was yet uncircumcised. And that was so he could be the father of all those who believe, even if they aren’t circumcised; to make it clear that righteousness can be imputed to them also. He is also the father of circumcision, but only to those who are not only circumcised but also walk in the steps of faith which father Abraham walked when he was yet uncircumcised.
And to apply it to yet another previous point: the promise of being heir of the world was not to Abraham nor to his descendents by way of the law, but by way of the righteousness of faith. To put it succinctly, if they who are of the law are the heirs then faith is a facade and the promise is empty, because the intent and effect of the law is wrath — just consider this truism: If there is no law then there is no law-breaking to be angry over. The only viable conclusion is that the promise is by way of faith that it might actually be by grace because that is the only possible way that the promise could be sure to all the descendents, not just those who are of the law, but to those also who are in a similar condition as that of Abraham when he believed; after all, from the vantage point of God, he is the father of us all; as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” It was in this context that Abraham believed in God, who makes alive the dead, and who calls things which are not yet as though they were already. Abraham, contrary to any rational expectation, believed with confidence what was spoken to him, “So shall thy seed be“; and as a result became the father of many nations. To unpack that — Because Abraham was not weak in faith: He didn’t give any thought to his own body now practically dead, seeing he was almost 100 years old, nor to the deadness of Sara’s womb; He didn’t shrink through unbelief in the promise of God, but was filled with strength through faith, giving glory to God; he was fully confident that what God had promised, he was also able to do. That is what was imputed unto him for righteousness.
The scripture that says faith was counted unto Abraham for righteousness, was not written for his sake only, but for our sake also, because our faith will also be counted unto us for righteousness if we believe on God that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification.
The benefit of being thus justified by faith is that we now have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (By whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand; and by whom we can boast in the hope of the glory of God, of which we had before fallen short. And not only do we boast in the glory of God, but we boast in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation produces patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope does not allow us to shrink back.) because God has poured out his love in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is also poured out unto us.
To comprehend this love consider that Christ, at the perfect time (and while we were completely powerless), died for the ungodly. Think of this contrast: It is very unlikely that you would be willing to die to save a not-guilty person — although admittedly, for a good person you might actually be willing to sacrifice yourself — but, God commends his own love toward us in that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. If we are justified by his blood in such a manner, then even more so will we be saved from wrath through him, and have peace with God! I repeat, if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, then even more now, being reconciled, we will be saved by the life of his Son! And hence, not only do we boast in the glory of God, and boast in tribulations, but now we boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Returning to Jesus being delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification: Given that by one man sin entered into the world, and death entered by sin, and thereby death spread to all men since the whole sinned… Allow me to argue for this natural theology: Even though sin cannot be imputed when there is now law, sin was still in the world before the law was introduced. This is self-evident in that death, which is a result of sin, reigned in the world from Adam to Moses, even over anyone who had not themselves sinned in the same form as Adam’s transgression. And speaking of Adam, he is a type of the One who was to come. But despite the analogies between them, there are important differences between the offense of the former — through whose offense many are dead — and the free gift of the latter, by whom the grace of God and the gift of grace has abounded unto many, and abounded even more than the offense necessitated. One critical difference is that the judgment to condemnation was the result of a single offense, but the free gift encompases many offenses unto their justification. I say abounded even more than the offense necessitated because under Adam we can say: By the offense of one man death reigned; but under Jesus Christ we say: All those who receive the abundant grace and the gift of righteousness reign unto life… Given all that, let us reduce this to the most basic formulation: So then just as by one offense to all men unto condemnation; so also by one righteousness to all men unto justification of life. That is to say, by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, in like manner by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. As for the incidental introduction of the law: That was so the offense would abound. But even when sin abounded, grace super-abounded. To such a degree that even though sin did reign unto death, grace reigns through righteousness unto ETERNAL life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
To be continued…


By Julie Berry
A young woman in 12th century provincial France preaches to her people, and performs miracles that could only come from the divine. The Catholic Church, fresh from the crusades, seeks to “purify” the soul of christendom, and secure their hold on Europe. This young woman, Dolssa, refuses to be silent, and is branded a heretic. The Church hunts her across the land until Botille, a matchmaker in a small seaside town finds Dolssa on death door, nurses her back to health and hides her. However, with the Church bearing down on them, they only have so long, and the more time Dolssa spends in this town the more the Church will likely damn it.
Julie Berry weaves a tale of feminism, religion, and the thin line between being a saint or a heretic in medieval Europe. The prose of the novel is gorgeous, littered with Provincial French, and the characters are captivating. Botille and her sisters are outspoken and feminist in a time when women had few if any rights. Dolssa is an innocent whose words come from truth. She is also courageous and in the face of overwhelming power refuses to be cowed. The whole novel is told from many perspectives including those who pursue Dolssa. We are given a whole narrative and see both side of a complex history. The end in many ways feels inevitable, but the book is an epic ride the whole way through.
This book is a provincial meal. Full bodied and complex the book brings many different events, symbols, and themes together in harmony. It creates an image of a world long gone, but just as visceral as glancing out a window. The deep faith of Dolssa, and Botille’s belief in her grasps the reader, and after every twist you only become more attached. This book is one of the best pieces of historical fiction I have read in a long time and fully deserves 5 stars.-Claire


The 39.2 km long Itinerary of the Most Fascinating Views trail offers the most magnificent views at the very beginning. The first viewpoint after only 360 metres offers a breath-taking view over the Lim Bay, just as well as the second viewpoint arising after 1.9 km.
The trail leads further on to the Church of St. Margaret Jural built at the end of 12th century. Approximately ten kilometres away, you will reach the Church of St. Peter in Barat, built at the end of the 17th century.
After the sacred buildings from the first part are left behind, at the 23rd km of the ride through the Kontija forest you will reach the Puč source. The trail ends by the monastery of St. Michael.
With an altitude of 553 meters, this trail is moderately demanding. It is recommended for trekking bicycles as it is mostly paved (21.7 km) while the rest of the trail is macadam (17.4 km). Of course, it can also be ridden on mountain and electric bikes. The surface is made up of small to medium sized stones without sharp edges and the sliding level is relatively low. Despite the fact that the altitude difference is not negligible, there are no significant uphill or fast downhill slopes.


Politics and religion are two things I used to post about quite often, back when I was a blogger building a "platform" so I could sell books and establish myself as...something. I wrote a lot about religion, so I would opine on that. And I care about politics, so I would opine on that, too.
I don't do either of those much anymore. Most of my writing career is for other companies, organizations, or people these days—often not even under my own name—so I like to hold my opinions close to the vest. But the sudden vitriol this week coming from the Republican party against refugees fleeing Syria was just too much. Too much hypocrisy for the party associated with conservative religious beliefs, the authority of the Bible, and the Evangelical Christians who comprise so much of its base. I don't often feel compelled to take a stand, but I did this time.
I wrote a short piece about it, pitched the idea to editors at The Guardian, and they published it yesterday. The formal op-ed style isn't my favorite genre of writing—it can be pretty stilted, under a very limiting word count—but I always think it's good to write in a format that stretches you. Here's an excerpt from "Republicans like to invoke the Bible yet ignore what it teaches about refugees":
While it is understandable to be concerned about safety, taking an anti-refugee position is contrary to the beliefs of the faithful voters these Republican leaders rely upon every election day. They are also taking a position contrary to the Bible these leaders supposedly care so much about.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus taught his followers to love their enemies (Matthew 5:43-44), welcome strangers (Matthew 25:40), and show mercy to those in need (Luke 10:25-37). No doubt these teachings apply to families on the run from ISIS.
These passages represent only a sliver of biblical teaching on the topic, and the Christians I know don’t just believe these verses, but act on them.
Read the rest of the piece, in which I discuss some of the work my conservative, religious family members have done on behalf of refugees in Amarillo—and why the Republican party seems to be abandoning this work of the faithful out of concerns about security. I continue to be so saddened by this direction taken by the GOP presidential nominees and governors.


Join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am (CT) as we journey through the Book of Hebrews.
We are going through
the Book of Hebrews
verse by verse!
Men's Bible Study
Men's study is held at Fresh Faith Church every Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm. We are starting a new study on James. It is called "Faith/Works" by Matt Chandler.
Women's Bible Study
Women's study is held at Fresh Faith Church every Tuesday evening at 6:00 pm. The new study is called "Cultivating Holy Beauty" by Jessie North.
OUR UPCOMING EVENTS


Alumni of (Albert H. Anderson, Simon G. Atkins, Carver High and John W. Paisley) organized by the Anderson Class of 1967 to reunite all classmates to keep the spirit of the Four Historically Black High Schools alive. On October 28, 1995 this vision came to fruition with a celebratory reunion that is held annually with a rotation of the host school in alphabetical order and governed by an Alumni Executive Committee consisting of six representatives from each school.
The Big 4 Choir was organized in 1998 by Two Paisley Alumni Carolyn Hampton and Georgia Smith , the first Church Service was organized for Paisley’s Celebration of the Big 4. There were only ten members, all whom were women. Our first director was Belinda Daniels and minister of music, Walteria Spaulding. The late Twana-Southerland-Gilliam was the director of the choir for a short time, followed by David Allen for a brief period. Later Mr. Eddie Bines became our director. The Big 4 Choir grew to over 100 plus members.
The Big 4 Choir is comprised of voices from the four high schools along with family and friends that would get together once a year to sing for each reunion weekend. Embraced throughout the city and surrounding areas, many did not want to wait for the next year’s reunion celebration, so in 2006 some members decided to stay together meeting each month for rehearsals at various churches and began to minister throughout the entire year at several churches, schools and other community events. Held annually in October at various churches for the past 18 years the choir has rendered the musical element for the Big 4 Worship Service as the kickoff night to lift up the name of Jesus which sets the tone for a fantastic three day event while enjoying the camaraderie of classmates, family and friends.
With God as the ultimate leader, it is he that keeps this anointed outreach ministry in great demand by giving a gift of song to share creating a cohesive coalition for the sole purpose of “Winning Souls for Christ” also to encourage and help those that are burden down. With 100 plus voices utilizing their unique gifts and talents, this choir is currently under the extraordinary musical direction of Mr. Eddie M. Bines, Jr., along with his dynamic musical staff the G.A.P. Band (God’s Anointed Players) sharing individual messages of inspiration with one another and other community friends the matchless name of Jesus Christ and all of his goodness.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1


Not on the Same PageAug 28, 2022
Do you ever feel like you and your spouse are just missing each other? You just aren’t on the same page…financially; emotionally; as a parent; spiritually. We have been there…recently! There are times that Trisha and I are just not on the same page. As much as we work on our marriage; as much as we know what destroyed our marriage five years ago; as much as we counsel others on how to build their marriage; we just don’t get it right all the time.
Last week we were on our way to shoot a video for our Family Ministry department at Cross Point. Our 7-minute video assignment was to coach and encourage new parents to grow in their marriage. We argued all the way to the video shoot. Trisha thought she was right. I thought I was right. We were both passionate about letting the other know that they were wrong. We pulled up to the video shoot…put on our smiling faces, and spoke words to new parents we needed to apply to our own marriage in that moment.
We don’t have it all together. We aren’t always on the same page. We end up on opposite sides at times. That is reality.
How do you get back? How do you become a team again? How do you start going in the same direction as a couple?
Here are few things that we have learned…not months or years ago…but last week.
1. Call it out.
There will be times that you will not feel on the same page as your spouse. You keep missing each other. You think one thing, they think another. You expect one behavior, they react in the opposite way. Don’t bury it…call it out. Trisha just said to me, “We are not on the same page, and I don’t want to be here.” That was the first step.
2. Pray about it.
There are so many things that fight against your marriage every single day: schedule, stress, career expectations, kids, financial pressure. The list could go on and on. Prayer brings God back to the center of your relationship. It is hard to stay mad at someone you’re praying with and for. It is hard to keep your distance from your husband that is praying for you; or your wife that is praying for you. Prayer realigns our heart with God and in the process our spouse.
3. Serve your spouse.
When I feel like Trisha and I aren’t on the same page, my first inclination is to act entitled. Serving defeats my sense of entitlement. When I serve I assume a posture of humility in my marriage that paves the way to intimacy.
There is no way you and your spouse will always be on the same page. But you don’t have to stay there.


My name is John, and I am entering my first year as a seminarian at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, New York. Jordanville is the flagship monastery/seminary for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Before I came here, I tried to find out what seminary life was like, which led me to several articles written by ROCOR clergy. They were helpful, but a little out of date. So, for the sake of my family, friends, and anyone curious about life at an Orthodox seminary, I am going to write about my experiences here. My hope is that anyone curious about going to seminary would find this blog useful.
The seminary life at Jordanville is known for its close integration with the monastic life. Seminarians eat with the monks in the refectory as well as attend services with them. Outsiders might think that this kind of life would be dull. So far, I think that living here is much more interesting than living in the city. For example, all the time spent commuting is basically eliminated. When I was living in San Francisco, it took a half-hour each going there to work/church and back again. Now it takes approximately one minute. And there's always something to do, which will be written about in detail in the posts to come!


Lament into Hope–A conversation with Rev. Kristian Smith, Pastor, The Faith Community, Atlanta
Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson speaks with Rev. Kristian Smith, Pastor, The Faith Community (TFC), Atlanta, Georgia. Their discussion centers around Rev. Smith’s thoughts about how justice is a joint effort and that if people came together and formed communities of allyship they would be unstoppable.
TFC is grounded in a radically inclusive Greatest Commandment Theology, which is derived from Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37–40. There, he upholds loving God, loving your neighbor, and loving yourself as the commandments on which “hang all the law and the prophets.” TFC seeks to reorient our basic question from “What does the Bible have to say about this,” to, “How does the Greatest Commandment apply here?” With this as our basis, we operate by five keys — Greatest Commandment Theology, Anti-Racism, Women’s Equity, LGBTQ+ Affirmation, and Bible Criticism. And all of this serves to help us deliver on our promise to be Disruptive, Authentic, and Inclusive.