Some wonder why some Churches have incorporated a come as you are policy, including the church that I serve/Pastor! Well, for years we've been so focused on clothes rather than the hearts of people that we've lost them to other things, as fashion has become greater than coming into a forgiving relationship with Jesus Christ. Some who don't agree with this call coming as you are "Worldly" but I respectfully disagree, because "Church clothes" are Cultural, not biblical!
I don't have a problem with folks dressing up coming to church, we in fact encourage both dressing down and dressing up, but at the same we let all who come through the doors of our ministry know that they all matter to God and to us regardless of what clothes they have on. It's time we start focusing on SOULS and not Clothes! The "Best Dressed" doesn't get God's attention! A High-end dresser isn't necessarily Heaven-bound!
If we only give people preferential treatment based on the clothes on their backs then we are misrepresenting what Christ stood for and how He views people, especially the least, the lost and the left out! God looks at the heart of man not the outward Appearance!
1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
James 2:1-4 (CEV) "My friends, if you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you won’t treat some people better than others. 2 Suppose a rich person wearing fancy clothes and a gold ring comes to one of your meetings. And suppose a poor person dressed in worn-out clothes also comes. 3 You must not give the best seat to the one in fancy clothes and tell the one who is poor to stand at the side or sit on the floor. 4 That is the same as saying that some people are better than others, and you would be acting like a crooked judge"
During our Mid-week ReFuel Bible study, the Lord led me to lead Part one of a discussion on the very sensitive, but real topic of "Suicide". I believe the church should not be silent on the issue, we have a voice and should be one of the leading voices concerning this Issue! During our Mid-week ReFuel bible study we and gave 7 documented Accounts of Suicide in the bible and discussed the reasoning behind them. We also took a look through the lens of scripture to gain insight on God's heart concerning "Life"!
In addition to biblical teaching, we thought it would be helpful to provide practical, insightful and helpful resources.
Below are a few resources we hope that you (or someone you know) will find helpful. We want you to know that God values LIFE and values YOU! You are NOT Alone!
(1) National Suicide Prevention Hotline
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in their national network of more than 150 crisis centers. The Lifeline’s national network of local crisis centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals day and night.
(2) Kristin Brooks Hope Center
http://www.hopeline.com/
People in crisis generally don't have the energy or ability to take on a long search for help. Thanks to KBHC's pioneering efforts a decade ago, now when those looking for support dial 1.800.SUICIDE they are seamlessly connected to an available certified crisis center nearest to their calling location. While it’s seemingly a simple concept, behind the scenes there are significant computer and telephony infrastructures working in concert to provide help within 20 to 30 seconds of a call being placed.
(3) Hopeline
http://www.hopeline-nc.org/about-2/suicide/
Do not be afraid to seek professional help by calling Hope Line 919-231-4525 and talking to a trained crisis counselor. Hope Line operates a free and confidential crisis line and teen talk line to the local community. They specialize in providing suicide and crisis intervention, supportive and non-judgmental active listening, gentle and understanding discussion of crisis resolution, and referrals to appropriate community resources. Hope Line will work with you if you personally are considering suicide, or if you are worried about someone hurting themselves.
(4) Suicide Prevention
http://www.suicideprevention.commongroundhelps.org/
Recognize the warning signs and at-risk behavior, reduce the stigma, build coping skills….Suicide can be preventable!
(5) American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
https://www.afsp.org/preventing-suicide/treatment
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.
What's up everybody! There was a movie that came out a little while ago called "Baggage Claim" starring Paula Patton, Taye Diggs, Derrick Luke, Boris Kodjoe and a few other notable names. Fox Searchlight in an abbreviated summary of the Movie says...
Determined to get engaged before her youngest sister's wedding, flight attendant Montana Moore (Paula Patton) finds herself with only 30 days to find Mr. Right. Using her airline connections to "accidentally" meet up with eligible ex-boyfriends and scour for potential candidates, she racks up more than 30,000 miles and countless comedic encounters, all the while searching for the perfect guy.
Well, when I look this movie I see a lot of this going on in life, not just relationships. We all go through life looking for that special something, unfortunately our searching often comes to a screeching halt when life doesn't offer the specialty we're searching for. I believe the problem comes when we in our efforts become a victim to desperation. Desperation, when done out of impulse often leads to bad decision making and bad decision making lead to missed opportunities. Instead of searching for things, people and opportunities because we've become a victim of desperation, do it out of determination.
My Determination must always lead me to where Jesus is because that's where my blessings are. Just ask a blind man by the name of Bartimaeus over in Mark 10:46-52 where we find him as the text says shouting for Jesus to have mercy on him. Those around him urged him to stop the shouting, but he shouted all the more, because he knew Jesus had what he needed. In vs. 50 the bible says that what was on him he threw off, because when you're determined everything and everybody can't be a part of the next level that God is taking you to. You have to trow off some people, throw off some excess baggage, throw off some relationships, throw off some habits and addictions. Be determined that you're not going to settle and that things are going to be different this time around!
Determination will reach for the eternal Truth, while desperation looks for a temporary fix! Be strong y'all and be Determined!
- PV
@JamesVeney
