Archive for the ‘Humor’ Category
Wingnuts Must Be Wingnuts!
Filed under: By Bill Winn, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Faith, Gospel, Humor, Love, Ministry, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Uncategorized | Tags: anarchy, Believe, blessings, Inclusion, life, one way, wingnut house
Comments (2) Wingnuts Must Be Wingnuts!
Last year a couple of close friends of ours told us about an anarchist’s house in Richmond called the Wingnut House. As one might imagine, I was curious. I had to see it. The more we learned about the house the more I wanted to see it.
The Wingnut house was a large home in the Barton Heights area of Richmond. It was an anarchist collective. The folks there believed in a variety of things… such as mutual aid, anti-authoritarianism, and direct action. The house was generally open to the public, it was a drug-free/ alcohol-free place where food, live music, community, and, I’m sure, spirited debate were in ample supply.
At the core of anarchism is the belief that the governments of mankind are illegitimate and bring mostly oppression, poverty, and violence. There are actually a few tenets of anarchism that, I think, have a ring of truth about them. But anyway on with the story… you’re gonna love this.
So our friends got in the church van with us and began showing us the way to the Wingnut House. I was excited! So as we pulled alongside the house what struck us was that large portions of the house were covered in expertly painted murals containing various themes and messages relating to the care of humanity and anti-authoritarianism. On the front of the house there was said to be a mural dedicated to people killed by the State and I wanted to see it but there was a one-way street in front of the house and I didn’t want to drive all the way around the block so… yep you guessed it.
I thought, “What the heck, it’s an anarchy house so we’ll “stick it to the man” and drive the wrong way down the one-way street. (Since there was nothing coming in this quiet neighborhood) So picture it, we’re in the Richmond Grace church van, going the wrong way down a one-way street just to see a mural painted on an Anarchist Collective house called- The Wingnut. It is one of my favorite memories.
What happened next shocked me. (No we didn’t get pulled over by the police, that would not have shocked me) There were about a dozen or so people sitting on the front porch and steps of the house and as we passed by some began to shout at us that we were going the wrong way!
Can you believe it? The anarchists were upset that we were going against the signs put up by man-made governments. I began to laugh and then it hit me and I thought, “Be what you are.”
I must confess as we passed by the house going against the designated flow of traffic I was eager to receive accolades from the anarchists. I awaited my fist pumps and upward turned thumbs but… it didn’t happen. I’m not sure why my “anarchy” wasn’t celebrated but it got me thinking.
Do we, as believers, sometimes find ourselves unwilling to celebrate the achievements and freedoms of those who might not think and believe as we do? I catch myself sometimes grumbling to the Father, Son, and Spirit about the blessings and successes of those around me who don’t give nearly as much time, energy, and resources to the life of the Church, who perhaps don’t give God a second thought, and maybe don’t even believe there is a God.
As a Gospel preacher I know that “Jesus gives life and breath and all things to all mortals” (Acts 17:25) Notice that Paul distinguishes life from breath. The Greek word for life is zoe, meaning spiritual life. Yes Trinity and Humanity reader… Jesus gives you life with His Father in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and he gives it to your Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic, or Muslim neighbor. The difference is, that when we begin to see and believe, our minds are transformed and we begin to recognize that Jesus is truly at the center of everything we do. It’s a Gospel fact, but much of the prevailing thought in our day would have us believe otherwise. Believing the Gospel in the world might just be a little like going the wrong way on a one-way street.
So our mission, as those who believe and especially at Trinity and Humanity, is to inform and educate every person in the world that they have been included in the Triune Life of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Whether that message is popular or widely accepted is only an indication of how much work there is for us to do as “Gospel educators.” Sometimes, to get the message out, it’s okay to go against the flow of traffic or be called a nut… I’ve been called worse.
~Bill Winn
Jesus is the Ultimate Atonement and Sacrifice, Part 1
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Gospel, Humor, Inclusion, Ministry, Relationships, Sermons, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Witness, Worship | Tags: Atonement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace Communion International, Hope, Jesus Christ, Leviticus 1, Love, Mercy, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Reconciliation, sacrifice, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship
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Theological Theme: The burnt offering was for the removal of the people’s guilt before God; the grain offering restored Israel to serve God and neighbor, and the fellowship offering was for the reconciliation between God the Father and His people.
Christ Connection: Because of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, we celebrate the removal of our guilt before God, the freedom to serve God on His mission, and the restoration of our relationship with God – Father, Son and Spirit.
Missional Application: Because we who share in Christ’s life have been freed from our guilt, God the Holy Spirit calls us to serve Him by serving others.
*photo courtesy of pinterest.com
The Loving Lawgiver
Filed under: By Ann Vinson, Christian Living, Gospel, Humor, Love, Relationships, Sermons, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Exodus 19-20, Faith, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God's Grace, good news, Hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lawgiver, Love, Mercy, The Triune God revealed in Jesus
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Theological Theme: God the Trinity’s law reflects His good character and His desire to be first in the lives of His people.
Christ Connection: As the sinless Savior, Jesus is the only One who has loved God – Father, Son and Spirit – completely and honored His name in all things. Through His perfect work on the cross, He has become our Sabbath rest.
Missional Application: The Triune God calls us to live in a way that pleases Him and puts on display His purpose for humanity.
*photo courtesy of coonapc.com
Only The Childlike Will Enter God’s Kingdom
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Gospel, Humor, Love, Relationships, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Witness, Worship | Tags: Childlike, Children, Christian Living, Faith, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God's good news, Grace, Hope, inspiration, Jesus Christ, jesus ministry, Love, Matthew 18, New Life Fellowship Baltimore MD, Pastor T, sermon, The Good News, The Gospel, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship
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George MacDonald wrote, Do you think you love your children better than He who made them? Is not your love what it is because He put it into your heart first? Have you not often been cross with them? Sometimes unjust to them? Whence came the returning love that rose from unknown depths in your being, and swept away the anger and the injustice? You did not create that love. Probably you were not good enough to send for it by prayer. But it came. God sent it. He makes you love your children.”
This message of God’s Good News proclaims how God – Father, Son and Spirit – puts his love into us, growing us up into being childlike, so that we may share in it with him, and with others, in his Kingdom!
Check it out!
*Photo courtesy of perfectvisionofgodsway.blogspot.com
Breaking News: Jesus Is Renewing T/His Church! pt.5
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Gospel, Humor, Love, Ministry, Prayer, Relationships, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Witness, Worship | Tags: Bible, Christian Living, Church Renewal, Faith, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, God's Grace, God's Mercy, Hope, Jesus Christ, Jonah, Love, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Participation, Participation with Christ, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Psalm 139, repentance, Salvation, The Relational God Revealed, Trinitarian Theology, Union with Christ
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As Hank Coates has written: “Jonah, the Prophet who ran away, is the Lord’s. And the Lord won’t let Jonah go. And the Lord gets what the Lord wants. And what the Lord wants is that all people come to know his saving love that stands on the side of the oppressed, makes the crooked straight, and releases the captives from their chains.”
That’s what this message is all about as a local Church heads “outside the walls”, witnessing in Word and Deed to God, Father, Son and Spirit – The Lord! Check it out!
*photo courtesy of shainadomatilia.wordpress.com
Breaking News: Jesus Is Renewing T/His Church! pt.4
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Humor, Love, Ministry, Relationships, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Witness, Worship | Tags: Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Excuse-making, Exodus 3, Exodus 4, Faith, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, Grace, Great Commission, Hope, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Love, Mercy, Moses, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Participation, Participation with Christ, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Relationships, The Relational God Revealed, Trinitarian Theology
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This message of Good News is proclaimed to a congregation on mission with Jesus “Outside the Walls “of their Church bldg., literally.
The Gospel proclaims God, Father, Son and Spirit as the God who calls human beings to participate with Him in a special and gracious way that He provides in the power of the Holy Spirit. It reminds every member of Jesus’ Body that, even like God’s great leaders such as Moses, we can often keep giving God excuses as to why we don’t follow through on what He says. In the Light of His provision and grace Revealed in Jesus and in the power of the Spirit, our Father’s command comes to us through the Apostle Paul all the same, “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
Check it out!
*picture courtesy of buildingabrandonline.com
Yes – Barack, Hillary and “the Donald” are Better Than You!
Filed under: By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Gospel, Humor, Love, Ministry, Prayer, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Witness, Worship | Tags: Barack Obama, Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Donald Trump, Faith, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, good news, Gospel, Grace, Hillary Clinton, Hope, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Love, Participation, Political Leaders, Politics, Relationships, Timothy Brassell, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity
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Or, at least grace is given, from Jesus, to consider them better than you! Right? Right? Right?
I know. It almost doesn’t seem like that kind of grace is true for us after seeing or participating in all of those political rants on Facebook this year (and received even in my mailbox today!). But thank Abba Father for helping us to receive this grace, through Jesus, in the Spirit, and written by the Apostle Paul in scripture:
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.” Phil 2:3 (AMP)
I’m not saying, and the Apostle Paul isn’t saying, that people aren’t sometimes bad and don’t make bad decisions that suck. They do! We do! You do! Paul did! All do! Paul considers himself to be “the worst of sinners”, 1 Tim 1:16, (as you should be regarding yourself, right?!) Paul is just admitting that, after an encounter with Jesus and receiving Who Jesus says he is, we see that we all suck badly enough with our sin nature that we rebel against God (and you really can’t get worse than that – I don’t care who you are! Can you?)
If for some reason you can’t receive that, then can you at least receive that however far you perceive yourself to be away from Barack, Donald and Hillary in your supposed sin and ethical behavior, you are wayyyyyy to the infinite power closer to them than you are to Jesus, WHO NEVER SINNED! Hmpf! It’s ONLY in Jesus’ humanity that your humanity is perfected, AND, you’re not Him and he’s not you! He sends the Spirit so that we, you, sinners, might be conformed to him, not just in his humanity, but in ours! As Dr. Gary Deddo says “What Jesus does for and to us, the Holy Spirit works out in and through us!”
So, if you’re going to give us a Christian political rant, have at it! But have mercy (the kind you want the political leader to have on others! Ha!). We should be able to sense some of Christ’s humility in your rant, not simply political hate, if you’re a Christian! Can you at least get a word or two in about Christ? It is a “Christ”ian rant, if it’s coming from you, right? Politics are tainted with darkness, so why not leave people with a witness of the hope of Christ in politics, the Light the darkness cannot overcome?
And in case you’ve forgotten Who Jesus is (and we DO forget), he is the Son of Abba Father, who sends the Holy Spirit, through Jesus, bringing Jesus to our remembrance! Yes! Ask Father for the Holy Spirit before your next political rant, because there’s nothing more God would rather give you than the Holy Spirit! Luke 11:9-13.
As the Holy Spirit grants you growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, be political because you’re Christ-centered, not just mentioning Christ because your political-centered! Ha! Proclaim Jesus as the Sovereign of the world and don’t just be concerned with the sovereignty of this or that nation!
Perhaps you think I’m overly spiritualizing things, but I’m actually not! Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” – John 8:12.Whatever spiritual means, it means God in flesh and the ordinary things of life! To say Jesus is to say “flesh” and “Spirit”. Therefore, Jesus IS the spiritual Light on politics, in flesh, and politics really matters, and we ought to wrestle with and talk about it, and all subjects, in the Spirit.
As Christians we’ve not become so poisoned with hate, so sin and policy-centered, that we can’t (or won’t?) write a political rant that leaves us more with the Christian hope than hate for a human brother or sister (political leader), have we?! If we’ve become like that, we need more grace to become more Christ-centered in our spiritual journey. Can’t you use at least 4 of your 150 characters to characterize Jesus and (dare I suggest) request P-R-A-Y-er FOR the political leader as Christ holds them, rather than praying for them to “go to hell” as we hold them. Haha
By the way, if you aren’t claiming to speak or write in Christ’s name, or as one in whom His Spirit dwells, then of course this post wasn’t written for you except as a witness to you of Christ – Who loves and has mercy on you too! (wink wink) And who knows (God knows!) maybe Barack, Hillary and Donald REALLY ARE BETTER THAN YOU, considering Who they know versus Who you know! Hmmmm…
– tjbrassell
Breaking News: Jesus Is Renewing T/His Church! pt.3
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Humor, Love, Ministry, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Witness, Worship | Tags: Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, Followers of Jesus, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, good news, Gospel, Grace, Holy Spirit, Hope, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, jesus ministry, Love, Ministry, Participation, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Relational God Revealed, Relationships, Scriptures, Spiritual Gifts, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Worship
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This message of Good News leads to an attempt of a congregation to participate with Jesus as he inspired the Apostle Paul to write in Ephesians 4 :7-13 (The Message):
“Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.”
*picture courtesy of made2bcreative.com
Breaking News: Jesus Is Renewing T/His Church! pt.1
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Humor, Love, Ministry, Prayer, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Witness, Worship | Tags: Adoption, Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, God Likes You, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God's good news, good news, Gospel, Grace, Grace Communion International, Holy Spirit, Hope, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, jesus ministry, Love, new life fellowship, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Outside The Walls, Participation, Participation with Christ, Pastor Tim, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Prayer, Relational God Revealed, Relationships, Theology, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Worship
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In part one of this new series on God’s Good News at New Life Baltimore, walk with a congregation preparing to participate and go with Jesus more “Outside The Walls” of the Church by asking the three most important questions of Christianity:
Who is Jesus Christ?
Where is Jesus Christ today?
What am I to do as a Christian?
Check it out!
*picture courtesy of pinterest.com
The Triune God Whose Plan Involves Suffering
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Humor, Love, Ministry, Prayer, Relationships, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Adoption, Bible, Christ in us, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, compassion, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, Forgiveness, God, God Likes You, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, God's good news, God's Mission, good news, Gospel, Grace, Grace Communion International, Holy Spirit, Hope, identity in Christ, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, Missions, new life fellowship, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Participation, Participation with Christ, Pastor Tim, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Preaching, Relational God Revealed, Relationships, Salvation, Scriptures, Suffering, Theology, Timothy Brassell, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Worship
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Theological Theme: God is sovereign over our lives, and He uses suffering and injustice to accomplish His plans in and through us.
Christ Connection: Joseph suffered unjustly and was later exalted to a place of prominence. In a similar manner, Jesus suffered unjustly and was later raised from the dead and exalted as Lord of the world.
Missional Application: God calls us to trust Him to fulfill His promises because when obstacles appear to thwart His mission, God is faithful to use even the obstacles as part of His plan to bring glory to His Son.