Category Archives: Bible

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Seven Scriptures to Provide Insight to the Coronavirus Crisis (ODE to 20/20 Vision)

 

Hello World,

By now you must know that any vision board someone created for 2020 has been totally wrecked. I haven’t had 20/20 vision since before I was in the third grade when I started wearing glasses, but I was among those who decreed and declared that 2020 would be my Year of Perfect Vision. When this Coronavirus Crisis started a month ago or so, I thought my resolution to have 20/20 vision was misguided. But a month later, I see the Good Shepherd is faithful and guiding me (and all y’all)  into perfect vision after all — even if it wasn’t what I thought I saw at the dawn of this New Year. As my hubby shared with me, I do believe individually we will have personal insights, and that there are some collective insights that all of us will share. Below are seven insights tied to Bible scripture that I’ve had that are personal and collective. Let me know if you see what I’m seeing or if you have a different view in the comments.

1. At a visceral level, I now know no one can boast of his or her self-sufficiency.  I knew this intellectually, but babay, experience is the best teacher. In the Bible, Jeremiah 9:23, it says, “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches.” Yes, some of our richest are sheltering in place in yachts, but they still have to shelter in place while the country is shut down. Some of our strongest have gotten sick and or died during this Coronavirus Crisis. The wisest in our society have been confounded by COVID-19. I’ve read that it was initially thought that those with underlying conditions (cancer, diabetes, etc.) are more susceptible to COVID-19, but now, there is some debate as to what is considered an underlying condition! So whoop, there it is…

2. All people are needed for society to function. A Facebook friend shared that the number of selfies have decreased over the last month or so…And for good reason, I think…Have you seen some of these celebrities? Who knew that Diddy had so much gray hair?! His stylist did, undoubtedly. With all of us sheltering in place and social distancing, people aren’t getting their hair did and dyed. In Romans 12: 4-5, it says, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,  so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. ” Hairstylists matter! Their gifts are essential. In my opinion, they should be counted as essential workers, but I won’t belabor that point on today.

3. If you don’t spend your money, I can’t make my money. As a lover of words, I have helped financially support many many authors over the years. But truthfully, if some musicians waited on me to buy concert tickets to support themselves, they would go broke. I buy concert tickets like twice a year if that. And since people are sheltering in place and basically only buying groceries and paying for water, gas, etc., many have stopped making money. Again, I realized this intellectually but to see it play out is an eye opener for real. That’s that 20/20 vision. As the Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” In other words, in the plain spoken words of OutKast, “If you don’t move your feet then I don’t eat, so we like neck-to-neck.” And I have paid a pretty penny to see them in concert 🙂

4. Debt is the devil, and saving is sanctified. According to news reports, many people have been financially ruined in the course of a month. I can’t evaluate anyone’s financial portfolio individually but you have to wonder if debt and a lack of savings has contributed to such swift falls. In Romans 13:8, it says, “Let no debt remain outstanding.” And in 1 Corinthians 16:2, it says, “each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up.” Financial experts recommend saving 3-6 months of your living expenses. It’s not easy, but it can be done. Ask God to direct you to a financial planner or coach who can teach you how to do it. I did, and her teaching continues to bless me 10 years later!

5. When I help you, I help me. One thing that has really struck me about the mandate to flatten the curve is that we’re primarily doing so to not overwhelm the healthcare industry with COVID-19 patients. However, but when we help the healthcare industry in this way, we are also helping ourselves. The fewer people who are sick means the less likely it will spread. Further down in Romans 13, verses 9-10, it says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.  Love does no harm to a neighbor.” Y’all help me, help you. Stay at home until God through the scientists recommends otherwise…

6. Being around other people encourages like nothing else. Y’all, I’m an introvert, and after a few hours around a lot of people, I have to retreat by myself. I start to feel overwhelmed almost like I’m an overloaded system that is stuck and can longer work. But now that our society has been sheltering in place, I’ve been fantasizing about going to street festivals. I cannot wait until I’m close enough to a bunch of people that I smell their sweat. Yes, I miss folks’ funk! LOL. And that’s why so many of us are meeting together via Zoom and other software to connect. It says in Hebrews 1o:25 to not stop “meeting together.” As an introvert, I do value and need time away from people but I also need to connect with people as well. 20/20 vision is becoming clear for this introvert.

7. Elders should be elevated. As the daughter of older parents, I already believed this, but this Coronavirus Crisis has forced us to take a hard look at how society sees our elders. Our elders are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and so we must make sure that we care for their well-being. And this is biblical. In Psalm 71:9, it says, “Do not cast me away when I am old; Do not forsake me when my strength is gone.” One day, if we’re lucky and blessed, we will be an elder and as I said earlier, when I help an elder, I’m actually helping myself. If we do this thing right, elders will be elevated as they should be.

So that’s all I got for now, but here’s a song to encourage me and you…

And this song is Scriptural too…

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17

Any thoughts?

 

 

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Bible Gateway Online Bible Study ‘The Path to the Cross’ Offers Virtual Travel to Israel for Easter!

Hello World,

Happy Easter! He Is Risen! We Are Saved! As a Bible Gateway blogger grid member, I was offered the opportunity to review The Path to the Cross Online Bible Study with Ray Vander Laan, a web-based video course filmed on location in Qumran, Machaerus, En Gedi, Jerusalem, and Gethsemane!

By witnessing each historical site, the five-video study helps shape a picture of Jesus and His world in the context of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. It examines Jesus’ temptation in the desert where He, like Israel, was tested and prepared for His mission to the world. It considers the events of the Last Supper against the backdrop of the exodus experience. And along with Israel’s history of sacrifice, it explores the atoning act of Jesus on the cross.

I must say as an American, I’m a comfortable Christian. I live in a temperature-controlled home in a reasonably safe suburb off of a street that has at least four churches. However, I choose to drive to my home church which is about a thirty-minute trip. I’m pointing out these parameters to demonstrate that living as a Christian in America doesn’t require that much sacrifice or discomfort. However, when you watch these videos filmed in the locations where Jesus and the disciples and the people of that time period lived, you see that those who followed Jesus Christ at that time had to sacrifice and were uncomfortable.

I need that reminder because although the Bible is very descriptive, the additional aid of seeing the Holy Land provides another perspective. (I so hope to travel there some day!) To be a Christian is and should be costly. It should require sacrifice. And serving God is not always comfortable.

Below is information about each video as well as a way to buy this study which works well individually, for small groups and for churches of varied sizes.

Sessions

Path to the Cross, Session 1, The Way of the Essenes

Duration: 28:11

In Session 1, The Way of the Essenes, you will learn what was most important to the Essenes and how they chose to live, as well as what you can take from their way of life to help you center yourself on God.

Path to the Cross, Session 2, The Way of John the Baptist

Duration: 29:09

In Session 2, The Way of John the Baptist, you will learn how God set apart John the Baptist to strengthen him in spirit to deliver His message and announce Jesus.

Path to the Cross, Session 3, Into the Desert to be Tested

Duration: 30:17

In Session 3, Into the Desert to be Tested, you will learn that just as God tested Jesus in the desert, Jesus tested His disciples, and He will test you.

Path to the Cross, Session 4, The Last Passover

Duration: 31:55

In Session 4, The Last Passover, you will discover the significance of the last supper, the details of the dinner, and what Jesus was revealing to His followers through it.

Path to the Cross, Session 5, The Fifth Cup: Our Way of Hope

Duration: 28:38

In Session 5, The Fifth Cup: Our Way of Hope, you will discover the bitter cup of God’s wrath that Jesus took on your behalf and the true sacrifice it was.

Using research of top scholars in the fields of archaeology, history, and biblical study, historian and bestselling author Ray Vander Laan has guided more than 10,000 people on in-depth study tours of the Holy Land. His teaching ministry is focused on understanding the Bible keeping in mind the historical and cultural context in which God placed it.

For more about about The Path to the Cross Online Bible Study with Ray Vander Laan, go to studygateway.com. 

Any thoughts?

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Former Follower of Pinky Promise Founder Heather Lindsey Implies She’s a ‘False Prophet’ & Says She Owes Her Money!

Hello World,

As a Christian blogger, I’ve heard of Heather Lindsey, “founder of The Pinky Promise, an organization that promotes honoring God with your life &  body whether single or married,” every now and then but not enough to have closely examined her ministry. But the last time I recall hearing about her was when I mentioned her in a blog post entitled “The Top 10 Blog Posts and or Articles for Black Christian Women in September 2016.” I included an excerpt from this blog post “The Cult of Heather Lindsey: Examining the Rise of the Purity Movement & One of Its Most Magnanimous Leaders” by D. Danyelle from theunfitchristian.com. D. Danyelle did not hold back in her critique. This is what she wrote:

Make no mistake about it: the majority of Lindsey’s audience is comprised of single, Black, Christian women. Lindsey has created a ministry that teaches that women are single because God is pruning & preparing for the entrance of her mate can come in at best. At worst, her ministry teaches that singleness is as a result of being especially chosen by God for a life of solitude in preparation for His return.

The tenets of Heather Lindsey’s ministry suggests that single women must do and become enough in order to become a wife. In every instance, Lindsey has created a profitable business model by planting the idea that women aren’t “good” enough on their own. Ministry should not be in business to profit from misery. And there is nothing more miserable than creating a space that causes women to base their entire identity, worth, and esteem on their sexuality.

And many impressionable young women are buying in wholesale hook, line, and sinker.

And since D. Danyelle ended her blog post with mentioning money, let’s start with that in 2020. A whole four years later after what D. Danyelle wrote, Jaleceya Tate via YouTube claimed she is owed a refund for buying Heather Lindsey’s products in addition to criticizing her in much of the same way that D. Danyelle did. Jaleceya said she became a follower of Heather Lindsey in approximately 2013 because of her “cute kids, cute husband and cute testimony.” She subsequently attended a Pinky Promise conference, bought two of Heather Lindsey’s books and even attended Heather Lindsey’s cooking class.  She revealed that perusing Heather Lindsey’s perfect Instagram page over time caused her to feel her life, in comparison, was inferior. As a result, she began to not go her page as much.

Still, she became a part of a Pink Leaders group that you have to pay to join. But she regretted joining because she discovered that the content offered in the group was content that was also offered for free, allegedly. When she looked at her financial statements, she also realized that she had been double charged for her membership, according to her! Apparently, the membership fee was $20 a month, but she was being charged $40 a month. Additionally, she said she paid a $100 fee (that was supposed to refundable) to apply to join a Heather Lindsey mentorship program that costs $2,000.  Jaleceya has tried to get her money back, but so far, she is still owed the money, according to her.

She describes the lavish lifestyle of Heather Lindsey and her husband. It appears that she found a listing for the house the couple recently bought and it’s worth over $1 million. She points out that Heather Lindsey is holding a purse that costs approximately $2,000 in one picture, and her husband Cornelius is wearing Gucci shades that cost at least $400 in another picture. She said the couple charges for all of their ministry offerings and that they are handsomely profiting from it.  Similarly to D. Danyelle wrote, Jalecya said certain kind of women are lured into following Heather Lindsey. “I cannot tell you how many Pinky Promise sisters I’ve met that are single, lonely, depressed and sad, and they look up to Heather and it’s borderline worshiping Heather. “

Check out the video for yourself here:

Again, I don’t know much about Heather Lindsey to meaningfully comment or to know if Jaleceya’s allegations are true, but I will say this: In this age of everyone-who-has-an-Internet-connection-and-Instagram-page-can-be-a-leader, discernment is essential…

And I will end with this verse: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  1 John 4:1.

Any thoughts?