Thursday, May 30, 2019
Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 1:9
Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 1:9 by John W. Ritenbaugh
"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
This particular verse is written in such a way as to be translated either "with" or "in": Our fellowship is with Christ, or our fellowship is in Christ. It can go either way. The case is both subjective and objective in I Corinthians 1:9.
Fellowship means "sharing," "communion with," "companionship with," or "association with." We have been called into an association—a companionship, a fellowship, a communion—with Christ. All these words are synonyms. The only difference might be the degree of the intimacy that is expressed. In addition, fellowship indicates people having things in common—they do things together because they share common interests. What we have in common is our love for Christ.
We are drawn to the brethren because of the common tie—the common love for the same Person. Even when we meet people in the church for the very first time, we do not feel as though they are perfect strangers to us because of that commonality.
We recognize the spirit or attitude that emanates from them. It is almost something that we can feel or see because our senses seem to be attuned to it. This is why world travelers with the church say that they can go into another congregation and know that it is of the same Spirit as the one that they traveled from.
There is a bond or union between us because we love the same Person. To the Christian, then, Christ's friend is our friend. We are members of the same body. We are children in the same Family. We are soldiers in the same army. We are pilgrims on the same road. These same analogies are used many places in the Bible.
Can You Worship God Anywhere and Everywhere?
Can You Worship God Anywhere and Everywhere? by Rick Warren
“Sing out your thanks to him; sing praises to our God” Psalm 147:7.
You’ve probably noticed that music and love go together, because music comes from the heart. It’s not something you do just intellectually. It’s something that comes out of your soul, your emotions.
There are many love songs in the world. In fact, there are radio stations dedicated entirely to the love-song format. But did you know that more songs have been written about Jesus Christ than any other topic in the world? Christianity is a singing faith. Why? Because it’s not about religion. It’s about a love relationship—a relationship with God, who loves you so much that he sent his Son to die for you and who wants you to love him back.
Psalm 147:7 says, “Sing out your thanks to him; sing praises to our God”. Nothing will make you more aware of God’s love and presence in your life than singing and praise.
You may be thinking, “But you don’t understand. I can’t sing.”
The Bible says to make a joyful noise. I know you can do that because when you go to a sports game or when somebody’s getting married, you probably make a joyful noise. So just let it out! You don’t have to hit the right note. You just have to make a joyful noise.
Can you worship God outside the church walls?
Yes, because worship is simply expressing your love to God. That means you can worship in the shower. You can worship in your backyard mowing the lawn. You can worship washing dishes. You can worship when you’re driving to work or making a deal or walking on the golf course.
You can express your love to God anywhere and everywhere. And that means you can sing anywhere and everywhere.
Today in History
Today in History
1431
Joan of Arc Burned at the Stake for Heresy
1431
Joan of Arc Burned at the Stake for Heresy
At Rouen in English-controlled Normandy, Joan of Arc, the peasant girl who became the savior of France, was burned at the stake for heresy.
Joan was born in 1412, the daughter of a tenant farmer at Domremy, on the borders of the duchies of Bar and Lorraine. In 1415, the Hundred Years War between England and France entered a crucial phase when the young King Henry V of England invaded France and won a series of decisive victories against the forces of King Charles VI.
By the time of Henry’s death in August 1422, the English and their French-Burgundian allies controlled Aquitaine and most of northern France, including Paris. Charles VI, long incapacitated, died one month later, and his son, Charles, regent from 1418, prepared to take the throne. However, Reims, the traditional city of French coronation, was held by the Anglo-Burgundians, and the Dauphin (heir apparent to the French throne) remained uncrowned.
Meanwhile, King Henry VI of England, the infant son of Henry V and Catherine of Valois, the daughter of Charles VI, was proclaimed king of France by the English.
Joan’s village of Domremy lay on the frontier between the France of the Dauphin and that of the Anglo-Burgundians. In the midst of this unstable environment, Joan began hearing “voices” of three Christian saints—St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret.
When she was about 16, these voices exhorted her to aid the Dauphin in capturing Reims and therefore the French throne. In May 1428, she traveled to Vaucouleurs, a stronghold of the Dauphin, and told the captain of the garrison of her visions.
Disbelieving the young peasant girl, he sent her home. In January 1429, she returned, and the captain, impressed by her piety and determination, agreed to allow her passage to the Dauphin at Chinon.
Dressed in men’s clothes and accompanied by six soldiers, she reached the Dauphin’s castle at Chinon in February 1429 and was granted an audience. Charles hid himself among his courtiers, but Joan immediately picked him out and informed him of her divine mission. For several weeks, Charles had Joan questioned by theologians at Poitiers, who concluded that, given his desperate straits, the Dauphin would be well-advised to make use of this strange and charismatic girl.
Charles furnished her with a small army, and on April 27, 1429, she set out for Orleans, besieged by the English since October 1428. On April 29, as a French sortie distracted the English troops on the west side of Orleans, Joan entered unopposed by its eastern gate. She brought greatly needed supplies and reinforcements and inspired the French to a passionate resistance.
She personally led the charge in several battles and on May 7 was struck by an arrow. After quickly dressing her wound, she returned to the fight, and the French won the day. On May 8, the English retreated from Orleans.
During the next five weeks, Joan and the French commanders led the French into a string of stunning victories over the English. On July 16, the royal army reached Reims, which opened its gates to Joan and the Dauphin. The next day, Charles VII was crowned king of France, with Joan standing nearby holding up her standard: an image of Christ in judgment. After the ceremony, she knelt before Charles, joyously calling him king for the first time.
On September 8, the king and Joan attacked Paris. During the battle, Joan carried her standard up to the earthworks and called on the Parisians to surrender the city to the king of France. She was wounded but continued to rally the king’s troops until Charles ordered an end to the unsuccessful siege.
That year, she led several more small campaigns, capturing the town of Saint-Pierre-le-Moitier. In December, Charles ennobled Joan, her parents, and her brothers.
In May 1430, the Burgundians laid siege to Compiegne, and Joan stole into the town under the cover of darkness to aid in its defense. On May 23, while leading a sortie against the Burgundians, she was captured. The Burgundians sold her to the English, and in March 1431 she went on trial before ecclesiastical authorities in Rouen on charges of heresy.
Her most serious crime, according to the tribunal, was her rejection of church authority in favor of direct inspiration from God. After refusing to submit to the church, her sentence was read on May 24: She was to be turned over to secular authorities and executed. Reacting with horror to the pronouncement, Joan agreed to recant and was condemned instead to perpetual imprisonment.
Ordered to put on women’s clothes, she obeyed, but a few days later the judges went to her cell and found her dressed again in male attire. Questioned, she told them that St. Catherine and St. Margaret had reproached her for giving in to the church against their will. She was found to be a relapsed heretic and on May 29 ordered handed over to secular officials.
On May 30, Joan, 19 years old, was burned at the stake at the Place du Vieux-Marche in Rouen. Before the pyre was lit, she instructed a priest to hold high a crucifix for her to see and to shout out prayers loud enough to be heard above the roar of the flames.
As a source of military inspiration, Joan of Arc helped turn the Hundred Years War firmly in France’s favor. By 1453, Charles VII had reconquered all of France except for Calais, which the English relinquished in 1558.
In 1920, Joan of Arc, one of the great heroes of French history, was recognized as a Christian saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Her feast day is May 30.
Be Vigilent
This was reported from Sewickley, PA, a small town located a few miles from where I grew up. It is a low crime area.
Human trafficking is a real threat and a growing concern. Please be careful and please guard your children and warn them to be careful.
NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!
NEVER let your guard down.
ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings.
ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings.
TODAY, I saved MY OWN LIFE by WATCHING, by QUESTIONING and by ASKING for HELP.
3 pm Normal Day, Mom of Five, Small Business Owner, Close down Shop for the Day, speak with Quaker Village Pharmacist about more Insurance issues related to son’s diabetic supplies, head to pharmacy to pick up prescriptions.
3:05 pm Pull Into Giant Eagle parking lot, pharmacy side. Pull in space with black truck on right, passenger’s side, notice has a police, silver and blue star sticker on rear window of vehicle, and no vehicle on left, driver’s side. Go to exit vehicle. Notice right away, Hispanic men sitting in chairs in front of store, making eye contact with me. Briefly pause, hesitate exiting car but plan to run in for prescriptions.
Upon entering pharmacy side doors, Hispanic man in Red shirt with black around collar follows me into the store. Man picks up basket and continues to follow me through the aisles.
Something doesn’t feel right.
Man throws a can of tomatoes in his basket.
I see this because man is EXTREMELY close to me in every aisle.
At first I’m concerned that he is going to try to reach into my purse so I put it tightly underneath of my arm. I head to the self check out.
Man in the red shirt follows. In his basket, pack of gum and a can of tomatoes.
As I’m checking out, the man abandons basket, leaves the self check out and exits Giant Eagle from the main exit.
I initially let my guard down. Assuming he had intended to take my purse, etc.
3:14 pm I finish checking out. Leave through the pharmacy exit.
I don’t see my car because a very large, White utility van is blocking the view of my very large, Black suburban.
I don’t see my car because a very large, White utility van is blocking the view of my very large, Black suburban.
And I see in the white van, a red shirt!
I immediately had a gut feeling, something wasn’t right. I looked for someone to walk me to my car.
A gentlemen, my SAVING ANGEL for the day, grabbed my arm and walked me to my vehicle. I think I would have been wiser to call the police at this point, for the man I trusted could have been in collusion with the traffickers.
THANK GOD, HE WAS NOT!
We walked around the back of my car and to the front, just making eye contact with the red shirted man and those in the van with him.
As the doors were opened, I only spoke two words, “Not today,” and they sped off...I immediately called the police.
I’m still shook up and I’m so very saddened that this is happening right here in our “Safe Zone” where we’re raising our children to feel protected, where we’ve always felt safe sending our kiddos walking around the corner to a friend’s house or off to school in the mornings or home from school in the afternoons.
Or how about us ladies? A simple trip to the local grocery store turns into an absolutely terrifying experience.
We have to protect ourselves and make sure we are completely aware of our surroundings AT ALL TIMES.
NEVER let your guard down.
ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings.
If something doesn’t feel right, GET HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mueller Investigation
Mueller Investigation
This morning, Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced the completion of his investigation with a short, prepared address from the Department of Justice headquarters.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders issued the following statement:
"The Special Counsel has completed the investigation, closed his office, and has closed the case. Mr. Mueller explicitly said that he has nothing to add beyond the report, and therefore, does not plan to testify before Congress. The report was clear-there was no collusion, no conspiracy-and the Department of Justice confirmed there was no obstruction. Special Counsel Mueller also stated that Attorney General Barr acted in good faith in his handling of the report. After two years, the Special Counsel is moving on with his life, and everyone else should do the same."
After a two-year, $35 million investigation that involved 500 witnesses, 500 search warrants, and 2,800 subpoenas, the Special Counsel's office found no evidence that President Donald J. Trump, any member of his campaign team, or indeed any American citizen conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election.
It's time to move forward. Mueller announced that he will step down from his role at the Department of Justice now that his investigation is complete, and he concluded today's remarks by calling on Americans to unite against a real threat: "multiple, systematic efforts" by a foreign government to interfere with our country.
"That allegation deserves the attention of every American," he said.
From day one, President Trump has taken action to defend America from Russian meddling. The Trump Administration has maintained the closure of 2 Russian compounds-and the expulsion of 35 diplomats-in response to Russian interference in the 2016 election. Last April, the Administration also imposed sanctions against 7 Russian oligarchs, 12 companies they own or control, and 17 senior Russian officials to ensure the oligarchs who profit from Russia's destabilizing activities face consequences.
"We have been far tougher on Russia than anybody-anybody," the President says.
President Trump knows that a strong, united, and energy-independent America is the last thing Russia wants to see. An internally divided, dysfunctional Washington, on the other hand, would give Moscow the victory it craves. Which path will Congress choose?
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