For a long time, I thought if we were going to sing a “praise” song, it was going to have a speedy tempo and some catchy words to it. Recently I’ve expanded my understanding to include special moments like spectacular sunrises, lunar eclipses, and personal victories. But alas, this Hebrew word (‘hallel”) teaches me a different story. I’m no grammarian and I’m not offering a class in Hebrew vocabulary, I’m seeking transformative truth, and worship that transcends the run of the mill worship experience.
God intends for us to have assurance of His Grace if we are following and trusting Him according to the Scriptures. For Christians, there should be no uncertainty; there should be joy in the journey of the Christian life. We should be able to have confidence in our salvation because it is knowable.
In Matthew 9:9 Jesus told Matthew, “Follow me.” Paul instructs in 1 Cor. 11: 1, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”[1] These seem simple enough, but oftentimes doubt begins to settle in our minds, “Have I done enough?” and “How can I be certain?” Essentially, we’re asking the same question as those in Acts 2:37: “What must I do?” Sadly, many continue asking it long after becoming a Christian.
“Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:10-11, NIV[1]).
Some of the comments you hear on TV, social media, radio, etc., centers around this thought, “God saved President Trump’s life.” If that is true, why didn’t God save the life of Corey Comperatore — the fireman who was assassinated by the rogue gunman? When I hear the statement, “God saved Trump’s life/turned his head” my mind immediately goes to the wife and children of Comperatore and the other injured victims. What must they think? Was President Trump’s life more important than their injured or lost lives? No, of course not.
Let us look at the subject of interpreting providence, and what do we mean by providence? Providence is that which is directly influenced and affected by the hand of God. There are three reasons why events happen. 1) God causes them. 2) Nature affects them. 3) The freewill choices of people. All events can be categorized under these three causes.
So, after January 20, 2025, we are in anticipation of many things we have been promised by the incoming president. Reducing prices and inflation. Closing our borders. Rolling back DEI, LGBTQ. On transgender rights he would end “boys in girls’ sports,” a practice he insists, is widespread. But his policies go well beyond standard applause lines from his rally speeches. Among other ideas, Trump would roll back the Biden administration’s policy of extending Title IX civil rights protections to transgender students, and he would ask Congress to require that only two genders can be recognized at birth. Reductions in burdensome regulations. Targeting the elimination of the federal involvement in our nation’s education. Eliminating the green new deal. Improving the defense of our country.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Well, as much as these things sound good and make us feel better about the direction of our country they are not enough. While the new administration may be able to improve our physical life, our society still has a spiritual problem. As described in Romans 1:21-32 “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible mankind, of birds, four-footed animals, and crawling creatures.
Christian apologists have long said that the three greatest miracles of the Christian faith are the creation of the universe, the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and His bodily resurrection from the dead. To these a fourth awesome miracle could be added—fulfilled Bible prophecy.
In January 2015, a carrier ship called the Hoegh Osaka departed from a British port transporting cars and trucks to a Middle Eastern port. Suffering from a drastic imbalance, the vessel eventually tilted starboard, lost its propelling and steering capabilities, and ran aground, breaching the hull and flooding the ship.
In 1 Peter 2:4-5, the inspired apostle writes, “Coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Just as Jesus is, we are to be. Jesus is a living stone, Peter says “you also."
Ministry Development
Jim Book is our Associate Director of Church Ministry Development. In this capacity, Jim is able to work directly with local congregations to assist their efforts to expand externally, and accomplish new ministry opportunities.
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Recycled Riches
The C.R.A. has funds that have been left in our keeping with which to help the churches. Recycled Riches is a no-interest lending fund where Christians are helping Christians
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Christian Bible Institute
The Christian Bible Institute is an online study program designed for elders, deacons, teachers and other Christians to help provide training for more proficient leadership for the churches.
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Evangelists
The C.R.A. has always been interested in reaching the world for Christ. We have also always had experienced men working with us in the field of evangelism. If your congregation is in need of an evangelist, please contact us.
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Bible Conferences & Seminars
The C.R.A. sponsors a Bible Conference every two years and co-sponsors yearly conferences. We work with local churches to provide speakers and programs to bring the best in Bible education to an area.
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