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Oct. 28th, 2006

  • 10:48 AM

FCF is Up now and so is my Blog, Its up now... I added bandwidth hopefully its enough... oh Praise the Lord...
FCF is 2 years in November! Sis Laura! Don't forget the new layout! Make it beautttiiifffuuulll!!!!

God's favorite words:
Re
-deem
-store
-pent
-ward
-turn
-vive
-concile
-ceive
-joice

RE- a Prefix which means "AGAIN"; "ANOTHER CHANCE".
Isn't GOD JUST GREAT????

^_^

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The Warning Signs of Toxic Religion
by J. Lee Grady

Legalistic religion is poisonous. Here are eight characteristics of a religious spirit.

After Elisha watched Elijah ascend into heaven, the prophet went to the city of Jericho and performed his first miracle. The men of that city faced an environmental crisis: Their water was toxic, most likely because of the sulphur and other chemicals that had rained down upon nearby Sodom and Gomorrah years earlier. This poison had made the land barren (see 2 Kings 2:19-22) and it was probably affecting people and animals as well as plant life.

So Elisha performed a bold, prophetic act. He threw salt in the water and proclaimed: “Thus says the Lord, “I have purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer” (NASB). His proclamation brought immediate cleansing.

This obscure story in the Old Testament offers us a picture of the gospel’s power. The message of Jesus Christ heals us. The Holy Spirit brings life where death has reigned. He neutralizes the poisons that cause spiritual barrenness. He balances the pH level so that spiritual growth and vitality is possible.

All of us would like to enjoy a healthy spiritual life. But the sad truth is that many of us, and many churches today, are barren because of hazardous additives. We have believed a different gospel, one laced with legalism, performance-based religion and salvation by works” when Christ alone is our only source of life.

Jesus Himself referred to these toxins as “he leaven of the Pharisees” (Luke 12:1). He told us that the Pharisees’ brand of religion, which looked good on the outside, was deadly and contagious.

Have you been infected? You can take your own pH test by examining these eight characteristics of a religious spirit.

A religious spirit views God as a cold, harsh, distant taskmaster rather than an approachable, loving Father. When we base our relationship with God on our ability to perform spiritual duties, we deny the power of grace. God does not love us because we pray, read our Bibles, attend church or witness, yet millions of Christians think God is mad if they don’t perform these and other duties perfectly. As a result they struggle to find true intimacy with Jesus.

A religious spirit places emphasis on doing outward things to show others that God accepts him. We deceive ourselves into believing that we can win God’s approval through a religious dress code, certain spiritual disciplines, particular music styles or even doctrinal positions.

A religious spirit develops traditions and formulas to accomplish spiritual goals. We trust in our liturgies, denominational policies or man-made programs to obtain results that only God alone can give.

A religious spirit becomes joyless, cynical and hypercritical. This can turn a home or a church completely sour. Then, whenever genuine joy and love are expressed, this becomes a threat to those who have lost the simplicity of true faith.

A religious spirit becomes prideful and isolated, thinking that his righteousness is special and that he cannot associate with other believers who have different standards. Churches that allow these attitudes become elitist and dangerously vulnerable to deception or cult-like practices.

A religious spirit develops a harsh, judgmental attitude toward sinners, yet those who ingest this poison typically struggle with sinful habits that they cannot admit to anyone else. Religious people rarely interact with non-believers because they don’t want their own superior morals to be tainted by them.

A religious spirit rejects progressive revelation and refuses to embrace change. This is why many churches become irrelevant to society. They become so focused on what God did 50 years ago that they become stuck in a time warp and cannot move forward when the Holy Spirit begins to speak in new ways. When religious groups refuse to shift with God’s new directives, they become “old wineskins” and God must find more flexible vessels that are willing to implement His changes.

A religious spirit persecutes those who disagree with his self-righteous views and becomes angry whenever the message of grace threatens to undermine his religiosity. An angry religious person will use gossip and slander to assassinate other peoples’ character and may even use violence to prove his point. Jesus, in fact, warned His disciples: “There will even come a time when anyone who kills you will think he’s doing God a favour” (John 16:2, The Message).  If the poison of religion has seeped into your life, ask Him today to pour a fresh understanding of His grace into your barren spirit.

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Emily (hakkiri) Tagged meh :D

The player of this game starts with the "6 weird things or habits about yourself." People who get tagged will have to post a blog telling their 6 weird things or habits as well. Make sure to post this rule clearly! At the end of your 6 weird/things/habits, you need to choose 7 people that you would like to be tagged and write their names down.

Six Weird Things/Habits About Myself

1) I don't eat veggies
2) I talk to myself (that's what other people sees anyway.. and its weird for them) but I do talk to God in spirit that time hehe (but yeah its weird for other people :P)
3) I can't stop talking about God (that's weird for others)
4) I talk loudly in public
5) I get hyper in coke
6) I don't like chocolate (only kisses)

People to tagged (6 right?) hmm...
 

robert39 nvr_existed misfortunedfoolirishdancerchik, kaseykay and rixxii

Same pattern?

  • Sep. 14th, 2006 at 8:31 PM

Hey you guys! How are you? Well I am still alive and kickin. I'm not really that active in Livejournal. I usually Blog in my Personal blog so yeah :P But sometimes when I am not doing anything, I do update this LJ too. (Especially the one with a Video). So what's been happening in my life you ask? (if you are  frequent Reader in potterhands, you would know :P) but okay for those people who don't read that blog. 

Been Busy in Ministry, School (Yeah I am back) and Work. Been Busy in Ministry because God has called me to start a Bible Study and I have become a Cell Group leader. I attend School of Leaders every Wednesday at 4pm. School... I got 12 Units of subjects at school, and still trying to get more. My Boss already promised me that I won't work overnight anymore (so that it won't affect my school). But she doesn't want to let go of me so yeah... I do get allowance though. 

Dad will leave around October 2006, so My Sisters and I will start to take care of the House. Dad however is planning to enroll me into a driving lessons and will have my own credit card before he leaves us. 

OnlineKKB Angeles Launched the Website last August, and I lead the Cybernetic Ministry of the JIL Angeles. FCF forum moved and it improved for the Glory of God :) 

Recently finished 4 requests Videos in youtube... You - Urusei Yatsura, Forlorn - Urusei Yatsura, That's the way Love is - Urusei Yatsura , and At the Beginning -Smoon. I have updated my Fanfics: Brother, Akane is mine (Ranma 1/2), I love you and I mean it (daa3), Love the 2nd time around (Sailorstars) and Hurt to Heart Sequel  (CCS). Will Update Who will give in? (Ranma 1/2), I love you and I mean it (daa3), Love the 2nd time around (Sailorstars) and Mission of the Heart (CCS) When I have time. 

Now some of you may ask why I update just now? 
Well earlier, I was watching Urusei Yatsura... and I was at the episode where Ryunuske told Ataru (before bashing him into the orbit) "Its the same pattern everyday! Everyday!!!" It is really nothing if you look at it, but something strike into my heart when I heard that.

What is it Chette?  
Well it is about... how we sin then we ask forgiveness then we sin and then ask forgiveness again. Not only that, we promise and then break it again, then promise and break again. How about... We pray and fret (worry) and God solve our problems, then thank God once again, then another problem happens and then we pray and fret once again. 

Silly huh?

You know that God will solve your problems yet you worry. Then God will show His power and you'll be thankful. Then another problem arise and you start to worry again. It's the 'Same Pattern' as Ryunuske said. Why not trust God? He had solve your problems before and surely He'll solve your problems again right? All you have to do is keep the faith, believe that He will and do not fret.

Its just a simple thing to do!

So why is it hard?