The Passion of a Believer

A fire won’t continue to burn strongly unless it’s worked on. Similarly, a believer’s passion , if left untended, can diminish. Some new Christians often share their faith passionately. They sense God’s joy and peace. Yet, this zeal can fade unintentionally. From today’s passage, we gather that Timothy had let his flame of faith cool slightly in verses six and seven. Some believers can experience “cooling” for several reasons. When tragedy strikes, a person may feel his prayers went unanswered. This person may think God doesn’t care. If he then prays less, it’s easy to drift away from the Lord. At other times, some Christians can be sidetracked by the world’s priorities. Timothy’s enthusiasm wavered because of false teaching and fear. Whatever the apparent trigger may be, Satan is the underlying cause. He lures believers away from single-minded devotion to Jesus.

The S.A.V.E. CD project to be released

Hope, Volume One, a compilation CD with proceeds benefiting Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), was released on June 24, 2008. The release features selections from Kevin Max, Joanne Cash featuring Johnny Cash, Lisa Loeb, Charlotte Martin, Katy Rose and others, plus an exclusive mix of Curtis Peoples’ “Wake Up.” Five online auctions are planned to coincide with the release of the CD. 100% of the auction proceeds will be donated to SAVE. Items include an autographed guitar from Trisha Yearwood, a gift pack from Tegan and Sara, and an autographed CD from Matt White.

The mission of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) is to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma, and serve as a resource to those touched by suicide. Daniel Reidenberg, Executive Director of SAVE, is humbled by the number of musicians and labels willing to partner on this project. “To have names like we do on Hope, Volume One is incredible to me,” Reidenberg said. “These artists are willing to stand up and fight the stigma associated with mental illnesses and suicide, and to tell the world through music ‘we are going to do something positive about this’ – and that is the goal of this CD.”

The Trials Might be a Storm part 2

We know that Jesus will always see us through any storm. We know, as the British preacher, Graham Scroggie, has put it, “A storm with Christ is better than a calm without Him.” Knowing that, we still seem to respond to the storms of life with anger. Finally, as I read this story, I also realized How often I have stood amazed at the work of God’s hand when the storms are passed! I confess there have been times in my life when, in times of calm, my relationship to my Savior has not been as strong as it should be. And there have been times that my first reaction to the storms of life has been anger and fear, not faith. But I must tell you that time and time again, I have looked back — after the storms have passed — in amazement and awe. I have to admit that things have not always turned out as I might have wished. There have been times when, instead of stilling the storm around me, God has stilled the storm within me.

The Trials Might be a Storm part 1

An old Quaker once stood up in a Friends meeting and told the congregation about a young man whom he knew. This young man lived a very undisciplined life and did not believe in the truths of the faith. One day this young man asked a pious Quaker friend to go sailing. A sudden storm came up and the undisciplined and unbelieving youth was drowned. Having said this, the old Quaker sat down. He had obviously made his point about where undisciplined and irreligious living will lead. But after a few minutes, he stood up again and said to the meeting: “Friends, for the honor of the truth, I think I ought to add that the Quaker also drowned.” No one is exempt from trouble. All of us, at some point in our lives, find ourselves caught in the storms of life. That is certainly what the disciples learned that day on the Sea of Galilee. The day had begun with Jesus preaching and teaching for the crowds on the shore of the sea. But the press of the crowd became so great that Jesus climbed into a boat and pushed out a little way from the shore. From that vantage point He continued to speak to them. As the day drew to a close, Jesus turned to the disciples and said, “Let’s go over to the other side.” After a day of pouring Himself out for the multitudes, Jesus was drained. Shortly after they had cast off from shore, Jesus was asleep in the stern.