Friday, 22 February 2013

America's Godly Heritage

We are pleased to announce the installation is complete of our new transmitter in the Dixons Mills WMBV station area! Moody Bible Institute has made this $107,000.00 investment in the Dixons Mills area so that God's Word can continue being proclaimed across South Alabama. This was made possible by listener gifts during our 2011 Operation Next Campaign. Thank you for your support which is helping keep us on the air! All glory to God for the ministry of Moody Radio South!
Next Step Devotion

 This week our New Day Cafe focus has been "America's Godly Heritage." The role of Christianity in the founding of our nation is a topic widely debated and doubted in recent years. This was made ever more present throughout the fiery political election season of which we are still freshly mindful. But as we celebrate President's Day, Lincoln's Birthday, and Black History Month, it grants opportunity to take a step back and re-examine the personal values and faith of those that allow us to live in freedom today. 

 One question posed often is "Why is knowing the faith of our founding fathers so important? How does it change anything for me today?" We explored this in detail during our interview with Stephen McDowell of The Providence Foundation. One perspective that Stephen shared was that what a nation founds its law upon sets the directive for every other decision it will make. Therefore, if our nation was founded upon the principles and values found in God's Word, then it is from this same paradigm that every other decision, legislative action, and executive vision should be developed. 

 There certainly is not time for us to break down the evidence supporting the role of Christianity in the founding of our nation. However, one truth that we do know is that all but one or two of the original signers of The Declaration of Independence professed Christianity. Even those who were most "un-Christian" in their lifestyle ascribed to the benefits of setting the moral and  governmental structure of our nation upon the foundations of the Bible. Below are a few quotes from many of our founding fathers that reveal more thoroughly the role of Christianity woven within both their personal and political lives:

 Quotations from our Founding Fathers:
  • "The great, vital, and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." - United States Congress 1854
  • "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor." - George Washington: Commander-in-Chief in the American Revolution; Signer of the Constitution; First President of the United States
  • "Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. . . . What a Eutopia – what a Paradise would this region be!" - John Adams: Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Judge, Diplomat, One of Two Signers of the Bill of Rights, Second President of the United States
  • "In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity." - John Quincy Adams; Sixth President of the United States, Secretary of State, U.S. Senator
  • "The name of the Lord (says the Scripture) is a strong tower; thither the righteous flee and are safe [Proverbs 18:10]. Let us secure His favor and He will lead us through the journey of this life and at length receive us to a better." - Samuel Adams: Signer of the Declaration of Independence, "Father of the American Revolution", Ratifier of U.S. Constitution, Governor of Massachusetts. 
  • "Being a Christian… is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast." - Patrick Henry; Revolutionary General, "The Voice of Liberty," Governor of Virginia, Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution
  • "I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ." - Thomas Jefferson; Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State, Third President of the United States. 

 For more quotes visit http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755

 It is undeniable that our nation has evolved when it comes to its understanding and commitment to God's Word and principles. As shared in our interview with Stephen Mansfield about his book Lincoln's Battle with God, many of our past Presidents reflected this evolving solidarity to Christ. In fact, Lincoln reflected a common sentiment among our current generation - a distrust of organized religion coupled with longing know and serve the God of the Universe. Our current President, President Barack Obama, has personally expressed his own evolving positions when it comes to many moral or social issues that many of us would say are clearly outlined in God's Word. 

 So does this mean for our future? We cannot seek to live in the past, clinging to the faith of those who have already passed into eternity. Neither can we forget what has led to the blessing and prosperity we have so richly enjoyed throughout America's history. It is up to us to educate our nation and personally embody God's values as we exercise our freedoms. Vote and vote for those that align themselves most closely with the Word of God! More than anything, we must pray that the light of God would illuminate the hearts and minds of our governmental leaders. Pray that God would regenerate their hearts as well as give them the boldness needed to take a solid stand on the Word of God when it comes to their decisions and influence in their area of government. 

 America DOES have a Godly heritage, but it can also have a Godly future. It's up to us!
Interview Recaps

Key Scriptures

Psalm 33:12 - Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance. 

Romans 13:1 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 

Jeremiah 29:7 - But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you to exile, and pray to the  Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 

Proverbs 11:14 - For where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in the abundance of counsel there is safety. 

Deuteronomy 28:1 - If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all the command I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on the earth. 

 Blessings,
Melissa Rogers
Moody Radio South 
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Friday, 15 February 2013

The Power of LOVE

Congratulations to our "Words of Love" winners! We had dozens of husbands and wives submit "love notes" expressing their love and appreciation to their spouse, such as....

 "My Dearest Honey Bunny, After 23 plus years the thing that has floated to the top of our life and love for on another is that we are nothing without God, our Lord Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit. As I have grown in my faith I have grown closer to you. Thank you for not giving up on me and loving me when I am un-loveable. I am looking so forward to what the Lord has for us in the year to come. I love you and I'm grateful God picked you for me. Your wife, Cindy"

 "Terry I love you for the man you are and for the man you will be for all our tomorrows to come. Not only did you love me enough to take me as your wife but you have loved my two children just as if they were your very own."

 "My wife has a natural beauty about her that is hard to come by. She is just as beautiful in the morning when she wakes up as the day I saw her walking down the aisle to me. She is such a sweet and loving wife and mother. I love you April!!"

 Our Grand Prize Winners were Dustin Raney (1st), Terri Shields (2nd), and Preasha Smith (3rd). Big thanks to our promotion sponsors Tera Lane Salon, The Empowerment Center for Leadership and Mentoring (Ministry of Martin Houston), and The Locker Room. 
Next Step Devotion

 Love holds an incomparable power. Every human being is born with an innate desire to feel loved, even before they can fully express through words what love is or means. Babies and children crave the physical touch and attention of parents or caregivers. As children grow into teens, and that first love strolls through their life, a potentially unhealthy obsession with this desire for love can develop. Adults certainly yearn to feel loved, although this may take the form of a desire for appreciation, admiration, or acceptance. We even desire to express love to others, although we may not understand fully how to use our words or actions to do so.

 Our relationship with love characterizes our memories and can form the framework for how we view the world. You may find that those who did not experience the love of their parents, especially fathers, as a child have a difficult time trusting or expressing love to others. Those who have experienced abuse or felt neglected as a child may have a hard time understanding how a God in heaven could ever care for them. Abused or neglected children may even resist physical touch or kind speech for long lengths of time. For those who have not experienced love in God's pure design, it can be difficult to understand a God who is identified fully as love. If love has been measured according to performance, rather than given unconditionally, a person may feel that God loves only when they are "good," and choose to reject God entirely.

 I wanted to take a slightly difference approach to our devotion this week. Each of our interviews this week offered some incredible encouragement and wisdom when it comes to the power of God's love in our lives. But as we discussed in our interview with Pat Schatzline Jr. about his book Why is God So Mad at Me?, there is such a widespread misunderstanding of what love is across our culture. As a result, there is a widespread misunderstanding of who God is. This can lead to a misunderstanding of who we are called and equipped to be as we live through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. (2 Peter 1:3)

 1 Corinthians 13 is commonly known as the "Love Chapter." We journeyed through this chapter in our interview this week with Pastor Jay Clark. There is a little exercise that I'd like to take each of us through. 1 John 4:8 reveals to us that "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." So, when you read this chapter you can literally replace the word "love" each time with the word "God" and gain a pure glimpse into the nature and character of the living God. Let's try it together:

 1 Corinthians 4-8a - "God (love) is patient, God (love) is kind. God (love) does not envy, God does not boast, God is not proud. God (it) is not rude, God (it) is not self-seeking, God is not easily angered, God (it) keeps no record of wrongs. God (Love) does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God (It) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God (Love) never fails."

 Now I know what you're thinking, "Are you sure about all of this? I mean, hasn't God lost His patience with us before and wiped out the earth?" or  "It seems a little self-seeking to me to create an entire world just to worship Himself!" You may be thinking, "If God doesn't delight in evil, then why does He allow evil to occur? It certainly feels like God failed me when He allowed ____ to happen to me..."

 God says nothing in His infallible word that contradicts itself. Let's look at some scriptures that support this comprehensive passage on God's character, hopefully bringing peace and affirmation to your heart about the God you can trust to love you purely and fully. 

 GOD IS PATIENT 
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

 GOD IS KIND
Ephesians 1:7 - He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

 GOD DOES NOT BOAST /  IS NOT PROUD
Philippians 2:7 - Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. 

 GOD IS NOT SELF-SEEKING
Matthew 20:28 - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

 GOD IS NOT EASILY ANGERED
Psalm 103:8 - The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 

 GOD KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS
Hebrews 8:12 - And I will forgive their wickedness and I will never again remember their sins.

 GOD DOES NOT REJOICE IN EVIL
Psalm 5:5 - Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil.

 GOD ALWAYS PROTECTS
Psalm 121:7-8 - The Lord keeps you from all harm, and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forevermore. 

 GOD NEVER FAILS
Psalm 136:1-2 - Praise the Lord! He is good. God's love never fails. Praise the God of all gods! God's love never fails. 
So you see, God is the PERFECT and POWERFUL expression of LOVE. No one can compare to the love that God freely offers to each of us as His children. How powerful is it to know that God is always patient and kind with you, came to serve and save you, forgives you completely, is slow to get angry with you, always protects you, and never fails you? This is the kind of love that we all long for and often only dream that we could experience through another. While we can (and should) experience this kind of love in our marriages, friendships, and churches, the reality is that we are human and none of us can fully measure to the extent of God's love, because HE IS LOVE.

 When we understand these characteristics of God's love, we understand that we can fully trust Him with our hearts and lives. Perhaps today you are struggling to know or trust God's love because of the way you have been hurt by someone that you love or loved. I invite you today to read through 1 Corinthians 13, reading it as if it is a personal love letter to you written by God Himself. He desires for you to know and accept the transforming love of His grace and mercy. This love is more powerful than any love you could ever hope to experience in this life. "Take the next a step" of faith. God's loving arms are there to catch you and keep you from now forevermore!
Interview Recap


Key Scriptures

Matthew 5:43-44 - You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

Romans 12:9-10 - Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

1 Corinthians 13:13 -  Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Romans 5:8 -  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 - Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave.Love flashes like fire,the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.


Blessings,
Melissa Rogers
Moody Radio South

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Friday, 8 February 2013

The REAL Jesus

Next Step Devotion

 Who do you think Jesus is? Is He a good teacher, a prophet, a healer? How about a revolutionary or a condemner of hypocritical religious ideals? Was He God, as He claimed to be, or just a man? It seems that everyone has their own opinion of who the REAL Jesus was and is. This opinion can be influenced by national heritage or government, education or community.

I would endeavor to say that deep within every human stands a yearning to know the truth about Jesus Christ. Main-stream cultural media reveals this desire as movies such as The DaVinci Code, theatrical productions like Jesus Christ Superstar, and headlines revealing the latest "discovery" about Jesus grace the front pages of our newspapers and websites. Even Christian-produced media rises to popular demand, with The Jesus Film enduring as the most globally circulated film of all time.

Our world is obsessed with discovering the truth about Jesus, but many are forgetting one key component to their search; the Bible! The Bible reveals to us all we could ever need to know about the God and person of Jesus Christ. From page one of Genesis to the "Amen" of Revelation, Jesus' character, authority, and love is interwoven within the fabrics of every page.

So what are some of the things we can discover through the Bible about the REAL Jesus? This week on New Day Cafe our interviews focused in on the person and characteristics of Jesus Christ and how the knowledge of Jesus can help us as we seek to live in Christ and as Christ. Let's review four of these "discoveries" together:

Jesus is Controversial 

 OK, so perhaps this is not "new" news! There is no doubt that Jesus stands as perhaps the most controversial of all human beings through the entirety of history. Jesus walked the earth claiming the title and authority of God Himself, He condemned the leading religious rulers of the day, and He foretold His own death and resurrection. He was controversial then, and He divides households, workplaces, and even communities today as some choose to accept His salvation and others reject Him. Jesus knew He would incite conflict. In Matthew 10 Jesus shared that He came "not to bring peace, but a sword....to turn man against his father, and daughter against her mother (Matthew 10:34-35)." Another way Jesus described Himself was as "the stone the builders rejected (Matthew 21:42)." However, this rejected stone is now the cornerstone! While Jesus may divide, He also holds all things together (Colossians 1:17). Those that are do not reject Him are now a part of His temple, bound together with His blood as living stones (1 Peter 2:5).

 Jesus Understands our Sorrow 

It is often argued that if Jesus was fully God, then there is no possible way that He faced the same intensity of pain or sorrow that we seem to experience throughout our own lives. However, Scripture assures us that Jesus faced the same temptations (Hebrews 4:15), the same betrayal, the same sorrow, and thus, He can sympathize with us on every level. It is because He understands our pain that He can perfectly intercede on our behalf before the throne of grace (Romans 8:34). In our interview with Jill Savage, author of Real Moms, Real Jesus, we discussed the parallels between the often over-whelming issues moms face daily with those that Jesus Himself faced. Just as moms may feel like "everyone wants a piece of me!", Jesus also encountered crowds at every turn desiring a touch of His healing power or a word of His divine wisdom. Jesus rarely had a moment to Himself, and Scripture tells us that He was often tired (you'd have to be to sleep on the floor of a boat through a storm!). We also looked at the agony and grief that Christ suffered during our interview with Carolyn and Robert McNutt of the GriefShare Ministry. At the death of His close companion Lazarus, Jesus joined in mourning. Jesus felt the heart-ache of betrayal by a man who had walked by His side throughout His entire ministry. Jesus also cried out to God in agonizing anguish before facing His gruesome death on a cross. Jesus knows our pain!

 Jesus Loved Children

 When you think about Jesus, what visual image comes to your mind? Is He breaking the bread and fish to feed the hungry, kneeling in prayer in the garden, or maybe turning the tables over in the temple? How many of us first picture Jesus sitting on a stone with a little child in His lap, laughing, playing games? Probably not too many of us! However, Jesus continually modeled a love and acceptance of children unlike that which was known to the culture. Children were often viewed as a nuisance, unsuited to mingle with adults. However, Jesus rebuked even His own disciples for this attitude asserting, "Let the little children come to me." (Matthew 19:14). Jesus took special care to include children as He taught the Kingdom, modeling for us that we too should accept and intentionally disciple children from a young age, not just once they reach teen years. Jesus took it a step further, revealing that anyone who welcomes a child actually welcomes Him. Moreover, He proclaimed a virtual death sentence for those that would turn a child away from His love (Matthew 18:5-7). The real Jesus took loving and welcoming children seriously. He promised His Kingdom to them. How are we living as Christ when it comes to our own understanding of loving and leading children?

Jesus is Coming Again 
Our interview with Allen Atkins of The Amen Ministry focused on one of the greatest truths about Jesus of all: Jesus is coming again! While there are varying beliefs about the timing and circumstances surrounding Jesus' second coming, there is no argument against Jesus' own proclamation that He will return and establish His Kingdom (Matt 16:27, Matt 24:27, John 14:1-4). As Christians, we believe the prophecies about Jesus' first coming, for if we didn't we would deny our own faith. So why do we often struggle with believing prophecies about Christ's second coming? Perhaps it is fear or mistrust of the unknown of that which we cannot yet prove? Some discount prophecy as having no practical application for today, as simply a foretelling of future promises. But this is not the case! Paul often couples a practical instruction when speaking of Christ's coming. 1 Corinthians 1:7 exhorts us to exercise our spiritual gifts as we wait on Christ's return (1 Corinthians 1:7), and 1 Timothy 6 charges us to keep God's commands and fight the good fight as we wait on Christ (1 Timothy 6:11-15). So let's live as Christ so that we may be found holy and blameless at His promised return! (1 Thess 5:23)
In a world that now not only doubts the reality and authority of Jesus Christ, but actively attacks it, it is more important than ever to know the REAL Jesus. We must stand on the solid rock of Scripture and the truths it reveals about Christ's lordship, Christ's sovereignty  His authority, His blessings for us as believers, and His future return to establish an eternal Kingdom. If you have questions about Jesus Christ, look first to God's infallible Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more to you day by day about the person and character of Jesus Christ so that we can more fully live as Christ. Our world is hungry for truth. Jesus is the truth!! In John 14:6 Jesus declared Himself "the way, the truth, and the life." If those searching for the real Jesus in our world come to know the truth of Jesus, that truth will set them eternally free (John 8:32).

 Interview Recap


Key Scriptures

 John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 14:6 - "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Matthew 18:5-6 - And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Romans 8:34 - Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than than, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Philippians 2:5-8 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of  a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!

Revelation 1:18 - I am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades!

Blessings,
Melissa Rogers
Moody Radio South
www.moodyradiosouth.fm 
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