Definition of Christian

I read once on another site that a member had a problem with the name Christian, he did not want to be called by that name, but preferred the term "a child of God."

In the beginning of the early Church they were called "the Way" see Acts 9:2; 18:25-26; and 22:4 and 24:14, 22.
In the first century Christian was considered a vulgar demeaning term, but by the second century it was considered a title of honour. King Agrippa asked Paul in Acts 26:28, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" Agrippa's use of the word Christian was used as an insult.
The Revell Bible dictionary states that a Christian is a person who has a personal faith relationship with Jesus Christ. Believer's were first called Christians in Antioch in Acts 11:26. The word appears only two more times in the New Testament, Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16.
The Greek word christianos, means belonging to Christ."
It is true that many people in the world use the term Christian to distinguish them from other religious beliefs. If the person is an American they are assumed to be a Christian.
This is not true, as stated before in the definition from the Revell dictionary, a Christian is a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.
Satan has had a field day, in those famous Christians that have fallen into sin, all before the public eye and the front page of our new papers. Too many of us believe that we could never fall into "that kind of sin" and then we do, because we let that guard down, we did not take the threats seriously. We must stay in the Word, we must remain vigilant in taking on the "whole armor of God." Read Ephesians chapter 5.
Remember Jesus compared us to sheep, sheep are not real smart, they get into all kinds of troubles. Jesus is our "good shepherd" follow Him, keep watch, stay in the Word.
Ray Pritchard a pastor and writer, has a website http://www.keepbelieving.com
In the newsletter I received today the subject was on "Who is the Real Enemy?" It is an excellent article.

Bible Reading Challenge

Yikes! I have failed to give an update in far too long!

I did finish the book of Acts, and have prepared a little introduction on it.
"Acts of the Apostles" written by Luke, the faithful friend and traveling companion of the apostle Paul. Luke was with Paul during both of Paul's inprisonments. Luke is the writer of the 3rd gospel, he was a physician, and historical writer of early Church history.
The book of Acts is the bridge between the gospels and Paul's letters. Acts gives the readers details of the Churches that Paul's letters do not give. It could have been written as early as 60-61 A.D. The major theme is "The Church witnessing for Christ" according to Charles Erdman. The book of Acts does not mention all of the apostles and because of this, the title "Acts of the Apostles" can be misleading. Many believe that a more accurate title for this book should be "The Acts of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit is mentioned 50 times in the book.
The main cast of characters that are mentioned are Peter, Paul, John, and then Stephen, Barnabas, and Philip. Acts is divided by people, in chapters 1-12 Peter's work is mentioned, then in chapters 13-28 Paul's missionary work and travels are written about. The established Church at Jerusalem is written about in chapters 1 and 2, the conflicts with the Jews in chapters 3 and 4. It was as a result of the conflicts with the Jews that the early Christian Church spread out and the gospel message was preached to the gentiles.
I read a great quote in "The Acts" by Charles Erdman,
"The Acts is not so much concerned with the development of Christian life or the application of Christian truth as with the work of preaching the gospel."

I am now reading chapter 8 of the book of Romans, this chapter is one of my favorite places in the Bible.

Review---"Fresh Grounded Faith"

"Fresh Grounded Faith" by Jennifer Rothschild
I loved this book and used it as a daily devotional this year.
In this book Jennifer gives the reader a peek inside her life. She shares with us moments of exhaustion, sadness, times of teaching, and precious times with her family.
Jennifer has a talent for drawing the reader in with her aroma of rich words. She shares similar stories that we all could share, stories of friends that have died, friends that have been ill, memories of our husbands, or children. Snippets of those times in our lives that leave imprinted snapshots in our minds forever of those people that made a difference, or of those times captured that we hold dear to our hearts.
This is the first book I'd read from Jennifer Rothschild. I have a book that has two of her books in it, "Lessons I Learned in the Dark," and "Lessons I Learned in the Light." I hope to read those books soon.
Jennifer has a great website:
http://www.jenniferrothschild.com
She has a newsletter that you must sign up for entitled "Java with Jennifer," see the above website for details.

Question Of The Week #17

Question Of The Week #17, http://operationreadbible.blogspot.com

"What's your worship style? Do you prefer hymns or praise songs and choruses? Or perhaps a blend of the two? Do you have a favorite hymn or two that uplifts you? How about praise songs? Do you have any favorites?"
I grew up in a small Baptist Church on the outskirts of Houston, Texas. We sang hymn music along with a choir, organ, and piano. Many of the well known hymns sang during that time I still love to sing while I am in my own home, or even while driving, all sang acappella. These songs are familiar friends, they are comforting, assuring, and uplifting. "What a Friend we Have in Jesus" is one of my favorites, as well as "Blessed Assurance," and "At Calvary." When I sing those songs often I think of the Church family that I had then, many that have now gone on to heaven to live with Jesus. I can hear their voices singing, see their smiling faces, and remember the sweet fellowship that we had.
I also love many of the praise songs that are contemporary, "Mighty to Save" by Hillsong, and "God of this City" by Chris Tomlin. They remind me of my home Church in Irving Texas, a Church I cannot attend now because I am living with and caring for my dad in another town. These songs are sang often during our worship time at that Church.
Music transcends time, it brings people during corporate worship together in unison, by lifting up our voices to the praise and the glory of Jesus Christ. It does not matter if we are alone, driving, cleaning our house, taking a shower, at work, in a bad mood, or sad; singing releases our soul from our troubles and from this life on earth, and raises them heavenward to proclaim Jesus as LORD in our life.

Fragrance Of Life

Have you ever thought about the person you used to be? Does that question bring back a nostalgic feeling? Does it bring back a feeling of pain, remorse, or dread?
This is the question that I was given for my creative writing assignment, for a writing class I am taking. I have pondered this question for a week now, I have looked at this question from up above, both sides, and then from underneath. I have surely thought about this question too much, it is in my character to meditate on "things." Meditate sounds better than obsessing, it sounds as if I am doing something important.
I have known people that have spent too much time reflecting on past sins, a sin that they committed, or maybe a sin that someone else did that affected them. They allow this thought pattern to take control of their attitude and actions, it even changes them in their personality.
I have known people that spend most of their day dreaming and thinking about their childhood, or early married years, or college years, or the early years of when their children were young. Their thoughts are always on their past, a yearning for a past that is gone.
I have always wanted to focus on the present, with a forethought of the future. Since my mother died a little over a year ago, I think more of the past, my memories of her. I am blessed with a "extra large file cabinet" of memories of my mother, and they are all good. I love to think about
her laughter, watching her sew, or bake a pie, or the way she would pat my hand, she had a talent for giving advice with very few words-maybe only 2 or 3. Of course when I think on these memories I cry, because I am still grieving for her. My first answer in the person I used to be, is I was the daughter of a great mother.
My life now is in fully taking care of my elderly frail father. My father cannot live alone. I live in his home, I pay the bills and manage the home, I do all of the driving, and make decisions on his health care. I often fuss at him, which I truly do not like, sometimes I feel like his mother, which is perplexing and surreal to say the least. My husband works in another city and is only here on the weekends, which is hard, but we both are committed to this task of love. My second answer in the person I used to be, is my life is no longer my own, meaning I cannot go and do what I want, I do not have the pleasure of being independent.
The person I used to be, is not yet the person I will become, because God is not finished sculpting me, into the person He desires for me to be.

Question Of The Week #16

http://operationreadbible.blogspot.com/

"Do you participate in reading challenges? Why or why not? Would you be interested in participating in more reading challenges? Perhaps Christian related reading challenges. Perhaps Bible related reading challenges. I've been contemplating having mini-challenges-nothing certain, nothing planned out yet. And I was curious if they'd be any interest. If there's not that's fine. Do you have any ideas of what you'd want to see in a mini reading challenge?"

In 2009 I signed up for several reading challenges, but after reality settled in I've had to scale back to only a few.

The reading challenges that I am currently signed up for are:

1. War Through The Generations Challenge World War II---I have completed this challenge by reading 8 books.

2. Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge---I am currently still reading for this challenge, I've read 11 so far, with 5 more to be finished soon, my goal is 50.

3. Operation Read Bible Challenge---I am working my way through the New Testament, I've also read the book of Esther in the Old Testament. When I finish the New Testament, I will start reading some of the Old Testament books-undecided yet what they'll be.

4. 100+ Reading Challenge

5. Victorian Challenge---I've not started this one yet, but have not given up.

6. John Steinbeck Mini Challenge---I am currently reading "Grapes of Wrath."

7. My own reading challenge I just created recently---The Great Depression Reading Challenge---I have 5 books I am reading for this challenge, and maybe more later.

I have enjoyed participating in the challenges, they have disciplined me to stay on course and to read what others are reading in the same challenge. I have met other blogging reader's eager to share what they've read.

I may be more interested later this year in participating in more reading challenges, but I must finish the goals set for the ones I am in now.

I hope I am not getting on your "last nerve," but I have not been satisfied with my blog, and so I have made more changes. I am hoping that a decision on theme selection has finally been made.

I have continued to walk most weekdays, 70 minutes each time. The temperature yesterday was 90 and the temperature now is 93. I have lathered myself with sunscreen, stretched, drank several gulps of water, and now at 5 o'clock in the afternoon--I'm headed out the door!

Review---The Shack

"The Shack" by William P. Young
248 pages

"The Shack" has been on the bestseller list for months, it has achieved great success in getting the attention of not only the Christian community, but the secular as well. This book has been discussed on cable talk shows, radio, magazines, sermons, book clubs, and the blogging community. I have heard people express varied opinions about it, some of the opinions are made with raised eyebrows and a hesitant expression. People seem to either love the book, or they are in disagreement about the authors choice of storyline and explanations of the trinity.
When I first began reading the book, I was several pages into it before I began to feel more comfortable in it. The nightmare that unfolded in the Phillip's family was almost too much for me to bear. It is after all a parent and grandparent's worst nightmare.
I was and am still amazed at the story telling ability of the author. He tells a horrific story in the voice of a anguished father, and then weaves in God in a shocking way that I've never even aspired to dream of.
This is not a book deep in Biblical scripture, nor was it written by a famous author (although now he is well known.) It is a book that has affected those in the reading world that would not have normally bought a book about God, because it is approachable to them. Sometimes all of our Bible studies, sermons, how to and must do, fall on deaf ears, they are just glancing blows to another person that has no Biblical knowledge, or may have been deeply hurt by the Church.
I loved this book, for the main reason that it made me think in ways that I'd not thought, and it showed me some areas in my life that needed working on.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"You must give up your right to decide what is good and evil on your own terms."
"The person that lives by their fears will not find freedom in my love."
In worrying about the future, "It is your desperate attempt to get some control over something, you can't."
"You try and play God."
Sometimes I felt like these questions were directly aimed at me, slam dunk!
It is good to think outside of the box. Do not take that statement out of context, I am not saying that we should read and study something completely outside of Biblical scripture. It is a shame that I had to add that, but some people would take me out to the wood shed for a "paddlin."
I recommend this book at least for the lessons in it that will lead us to a reality check about how we perceive things (our own life judgments.) I also recommend this book so that we will understand the perfect in sync workings of the trinity.

http://www.theshackbook.com/

"Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries."
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Bible Reading Challenge

I have not kept up with my daily Bible readings over the past week. I continue to have a daily devotional time every morning, but I have not picked back up in reading my way through Acts.

I am well from the virus I'd had last week, I was still sick over the weekend, the virus seemed to stick with me a few days. I bought a Ford Edge last Saturday, I am so thrilled to have a new car. My other car I'd had a long time and it had many miles on it. I feel so blessed! I still continue to peer in to the garage window at this beautiful new car in my garage, and I just cannot believe that it's really mine!

I had shared earlier in the year about my fitness goals for this year, I have failed to keep you posted. I have had setbacks in finding out I have degenerated discs with bone spurs in my neck and back, so I am not lifting weights anymore. I have plantar fasciitis in my right heel and arch, a nerve problem at the ball of my right foot. My left ankle has been sprained so many times in my life that it has never been able to heal. I wear an ankle brace on the left ankle/foot. I wear insoles in both of my shoes, including a pad for the right arch area. Even though I've had these obstacles, I am still walking, I walk 70 minutes 4 to 5 times every week, sometimes longer. I have lost several pounds and some of my clothes I can no longer wear because they are to big. I am looking at my health goals as being lifetime goals, nothing quick fix, but steady lifetime health achievements.

Question Of The Week #15

Question Of The Week #15 http://operationreadbible.blogspot.com

"Do you listen to the Bible on audio? Why not? Do you have a favorite audio edition? Do you prefer dramatized editions or voice only editions? Do you have any you'd recommend?"

I do not listen to the Bible on audio, I do not believe that I ever have. I do enjoy reading the Bible aloud. I love God's Word, and to fill the room with His Word, to hear it read and not just read it and process it in my mind, makes a more dynamic impact. Reading God's Word aloud also makes it easier to memorize scripture. Memorizing scripture so that it is always in our mind ready to be retrieved for those moments when we need to hear from Him.

One of the reasons that I do not listen to the Bible on audio is because I am a visual learner. When I hear a sermon, or listen to a lecture, I must take notes in order to process the information better. I enjoy going back at a later date to re-read what I have written and I gain a fresh aspect on it.

Good Friday

I am struggling to get well from a stomach virus and we are in the process of buying a newer car!

I will be taking off from blogging the next few days. I pray that all of you will have a wonderful Easter weekend!

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. 'Why are you looking for the living among the dead?' asked the men. 'He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day?' And they remembered His words." Luke 24: 1-8 CSB

"Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-even to death on a cross. For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow-of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth-and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2: 5-11 CSB

Review---A Vote of Confidence

A Vote of Confidence

by Robin Lee Hatcher

272 pages

Guinevere Arlington, or better known as Gwen to her family and friends, lives in the town of Bethlehem Springs, Idaho. Gwen's sister Cleo and father live nearby on a ranch. Gwen and Cleo's mother lives in New Jersey. Gwen is an independent and self sufficient woman. She teaches piano and writes for the town newspaper. She is determined to remain single despite many willing admirers, she is unwilling to adhere to the control of a man. The year is 1915 and the women in Idaho had only been allowed to vote since 1896. Gwen makes the decision to run for mayor. She is undaunted by her opponents and she is focused on her win.

I love this book because it focuses on Gwen's prayer life. Gwen often prays to God for His guidance and direction. She is not so head strong that she dismisses God's will for her life.

I love this book because Gwen is a strong character; she is teachable, moral, conscientious, intelligent, wise, and evaluates decisions to be made.

I love this book in that it teaches us that God's plans are not always our plans, and that we should be open and teachable for what His plans are for our lives.

This book, is book 1 in "The Sisters of Bethlehem" series. The second book due this fall is entitled "Fit To Be Tied."

Question Of The Week #14

Question Of The Week #14 http://operationreadbible.blogspot.com/

Do you have a favorite Biblical film? If you don't have a favorite film, do you have a least favorite?

I have several Biblical films that I like: "The Nativity," "One Night With The King," "The Ten Commandments," and "Jesus of Nazareth."
My favorite Biblical movie is "The Passion of the Christ." I love this movie not because it makes me "feel good," nor because it is a quick escape into the entertainment world provided by Hollywood.
I love this movie because it crushes my heart to see my Savior being tortured and in pain. Maybe that last sentence makes absolutely no since to many of my readers. I have read the story of Jesus' crucifixion many times, I have heard many sermons preached on it, I have read several books and Bible studies on it. There is a deep impact on me when I watch this movie depict what Jesus went through, for me, for us. Every year at this time, during the Passion Week leading up to Easter, I watch this movie, and I reflect. I remember a time when reading the story of the crucifixion did not cause any ripple of emotion in me, I was stoic. Now, I can no longer remain unmoved when I read from the scriptures the story of Jesus' death on the cross, because I know it was my ugly, stinking, putrid sins that He bore in pain and in death for me. I love this movie, because it reminds me of His great and perfect, sacrificial love for me.

Palm Sunday

"The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out, 'Hosanna! blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!' And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey's colt."
John 12:12-15 ESV

I remember many years ago my Church had an Easter pageant, during the pageant the cast of many characters paraded throughout the sanctuary saying, "Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming!" Their bright and smiling faces, their vivaciousness and joy, the crescendo of their voices saying those three words again and again, "Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming!" This is a memory that I have filed away under "important to remember" in my mind, it is a memory that I should not forget, I cannot forget, because "Jesus is coming!"
We must remember Jesus' death on the cross and that it is His shed blood that sets us free from the bondage of sin, we must remember that He went to the cross because of His love for us, we must remember that He became flesh and dwelt among us for the purpose of His death on the cross for our remission of sins, we must remember the pain and agony He suffered and all for us, we must remember His body was buried in a dark and cold tomb, and we must remember-- that Jesus arose from the dead, and that He is alive, and that He is coming back for us! Oh yes, Jesus is coming, and what a day of rejoicing that will be!

There is a great article over at "Today's Christian Woman" written by Liz Curtis Higgs, the article is about being a confessed bookoholic or bibliophile, I loved it!

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2004/sepoct/14.112.html

The article is entitled "The Book Keeper."

Bible Reading Challenge

I finished reading chapter 7 of Acts today, in chapter 7 Stephen gave his speech before the Sanhedrin.
"When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 'Look,' he said, 'I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.' At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Lord do not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Chapter 8 verse 1, "And Saul was there, giving approval to his death." NIV
These men that Stephen had given his speech to were acrid in their temper and hostility towards him; but Stephen did not see their angered faces, he looked beyond them and saw "Jesus standing at the right hand of God."
How often I focus on the problem, the crisis at hand, my fear and anguish, or the tempest that torments me; but instead I should be looking beyond the problem and focus on Jesus.
Sometimes when I am in the whirlwind of a crisis moment I depend on myself, after all I'm told "I'm a tough cookie." But this ole girl has her limits. There is a lesson in this, there is always a lesson you know, and it is that Jesus wants us to come to Him, He wants us to depend on Him, we are not a lone ranger. We go to Him first, not in the middle of the storm of crisis, not as an after thought, but in the beginning when we see the skies begin to darken and the wind whips up. There will never be a time in our lives when everyday will be smooth sailing, nor a time when "we ourselves" will have it all together. We see in the pin point of time, He sees in the panoramic of everything, He sees every horizon before it has even begun.

Question Of The Week #13

Question Of The Week #13, from Operation Read Bible http://operationreadbible.blogspot.com/
I have enjoyed Becky's questions from her blog. If you have never visited her blogs please do so, they are wonderful, she spends an incredible amount of time and love over there!!!

Do you listen to Christian music? Why or why not? Do you listen only to Christian music? Do you have any favorite artists? A favorite album? A favorite song? Which artist(s) would you recommend to others? Why?
I love music; I love classical and opera, I love jazz and blues, I love bluegrass and country, I love old gospel music, I love classic rock, I love Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, The Beach Boy's, I love big band or swing music, and I especially love Christian music. When I am at home I prefer a quite house; occasionally I will listen to music on my CD player. When I am driving in my car I listen to the radio, preferring either Christian music, or country, or classic rock. Music often reminds me of memories, my own or those shared by my mother, or sisters. When I listen to big band music I think about my mother, she loved to dance and she told me many stories of during the World War II years she would go to the U.S.O. club and dance with the men in the military. When I listen to music from the 60's I think of my sisters because this was the music they listened to and have shared memories of them to me as well. My sister Frances went to a Beatles concert in 1965, she was a young girl then, and she has fond memories of screaming until she lost her voice.
My favorite Christian artists are Amy Grant, Barlow Girl, Michael W. Smith, and Hillsong.
Listening to Christian music is uplifting and edifying to me, and I would much rather listen to Christian music because of this.

The Kettle Club

I am a member of The Kettle Club from over at Exemplify Magazine http://exemplifymagazine.blogspot.com

The focus of this group is to share on our own individual blogs what God has been teaching us over the past month; devotional questions are posted on the site at Exemplify Magazine at the end of every month, and then the members link up to share on their own blogs.

There are several questions that were posted at the end of March, we are asked to answer all of them or just one of the questions. The questions I chose are, what are some practical ways you maintain a consistent in the word time? Do you have a certain morning system that accompanies your quiet time?

My quiet time or devotional time has evolved over a period of nearly 16 years. In the beginning it was during a crisis of faith that I fell before the face of God in my anguish, and He lifted me up in His Word. So often Christians cling to the Lord during a crisis, and then during times of "sunny skies" they fall away into their own daily activities, and the devotional time is drowned out by another more captive audience. I persevered and marched forward in my devotional time, and this has readied me when another storm of crisis developed. A daily devotional time should not be looked at as another thing to cross off your to do list, it is not a ho-hum activity. A daily devotional time should be looked at as personal time for reading God's Word, soaking it in to our mind and spirit, letting His Word permeate us, in order to change, develop, and equip us for His will for our life. It is a life time commitment, it must become an affixed apart of our quintessence. My practical ways of maintaining a quiet time or devotional time is that of consistency, commitment, and my attitude and mindset in continuing to cultivate it.

My morning system is to read from the magazines "Our Daily Bread", and Charles Stanley's devotional magazine "In Touch." I also read the devotional books: "Daily Light" by Samuel Bagster and Anne Graham Lotz, "A Journey into Prayer" by Evelyn Christenson, and "Fresh Grounded Faith" by Jennifer Rothschild. I then read at least 1 chapter per day from the New Testament, then I have my prayer time (I have a 3 ring binder.)