No Condemnation

April 4, 2013 in Done with Religion with 1 Comment

The verses of Romans 8:1-9 are talking about how in Christ, we are no longer under condemnation and guilt due to sin. Christ came and took our sin and nailed it to His cross. The Old Testament Law, which was a tutor and guide to show us our need of a Savior, was fulfilled, it was crucified and buried with Christ.

When it talks about the flesh, it is talking about those who are not saved and still under the tutor of the Law. They are still under condemnation and guilt because they, in the flesh, cannot please God, whether they try by their good works or don’t try at all. There is nothing they can do to make things right. They are still in the flesh, or another way of saying it, in the spirit of Adam.

Being in the Spirit is to be saved through Christ. You are in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. And we know that if we have accepted Christ’s gift of salvation, the Spirit comes and lives in us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are now living in the Spirit. We are hidden in Christ, seated with Him at the right hand of the Father. Our spirit man is perfect and holy because of Christ. The old sinful nature has been crucified with Christ and we have been raised as new creatures in Him.

Although we still have a body that is imperfect, and a mind that needs to be renewed…our spirit man has been raised up in Christ as a new creature.

Praise God that we are no longer under condemnation, guilt and shame that the Law brought upon us. We are now the righteousness of God. We can now live in the freedom that Christ provided for us.

Proper Mindset

February 21, 2013 in Done with Religion with 0 Comments

Several times I’ve talked about modern day church and the way it is way off base from what it should be.

It is not that I am against church, but it is a matter of being clear on the proper meaning of the word. Not that we have to be politically correct in description, but I feel we need to be clear on the matter in regard to mindset.

Normally when the word church is mentioned, we all think of a building we go to on Sunday to learn about God. We also think in terms of how much we go to church as being a guide to how spiritual we are, or how close we are to God. We think of the doctrines, rules and regulations placed on us by the church as ways to make us better Christians.

We need to reset our thinking. The Church is not a building, it is the bride of Christ, all of us who are saved by grace. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The building is just a place where we can meet for meetings and fellowship.

Just as the mindset we have when we talk about the word of God. We first think of the Bible. The Bible actually are the words of God, but the true living Word of God is Jesus. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Jesus is the Word of God.

There is certainly nothing wrong with reading the words of God, but we need to focus on the fact that the Word of God is alive and living within each of us as born again people.

Although sometimes it may seem unimportant of how we think of church or the Bible, it is very important that we understand what is really meant. The old mindset of a building and a book need to be replaced with the fact that the Church are those of us who are redeemed through the blood of Christ and the Word of God is Christ Himself, alive and living within us.

6 tips for planning a successful mission trip

February 18, 2013 in Keystone Commons with 0 Comments

On mission trips, participants give freely to others in need and return changed for the better. With a little preparation and foresight, you can have a successful mission trip that will leave those whom you helped – and yourself – feeling rewarded.

1. Choose the right location for your skills

To make the most out of your mission trip, you should choose a location best suited to your group’s abilities. For a group of able adults, you could take on projects that include physical labor and construction.  If you are a small group including young teens, it might make more sense to find a location with more interpersonal interaction with young children. If you have a mix of various ages and capabilities, find somewhere that has a lot of different needs which could use attention, then divide and conquer.

2. Plan around members’ availability

Choose a time of year that, like location, suits the needs and capabilities of your group. With a group of school-age children, a summer or spring break trip would be ideal. During these vacation times, participation may be better than it would be during the school year. If you are taking a group of adults, plan a meeting time so that you can collaborate and decide what time of year would be best to get maximum participation. Also consider what the weather will be like where you’re going; you may want to avoid working in Haiti during hurricane season.

3. Make lodging plans

You may be able to save money on lodging by working with a church in the country you’ll be traveling to. When you make arrangements for lodging, never assume you’ll have access to running water or private washroom facilities. Always ask about amenities of your accommodations, and prepare members of your group for lodging that may be less than what they’re accustomed to.

4. Prepare for emergencies

When you’re hard at work in remote parts of the world, there’s always a possibility that you or a member of your group could be injured or become ill. Prepare for the unexpected by getting missionary insurance. And check the U.S. State Department’s website for any health or safety warnings for your destination country. For example, land mines are an ever-present danger in some former war zones.

5. Understand how to help

Aside from providing humanitarian aid, missionaries often help people by simply listening to their stories. Talk to people, listen to them and learn from them. Mission trips are not only about the literal work you do, but the personal growth you experience while there.

6. Try new things

During your trip, it’s important to get out of your comfort zone. In an unfamiliar area, take advantage of the environment and try some new foods or learn a few words in another language. It’s possible that you won’t like everything that you try, but it’s also possible that you’ll find something you love. Don’t just be a tourist. Immerse yourself in the culture and live like the locals.

Going on a mission trip can be one of the most memorable moments of your lifetime. You’ll have a greater understanding of other cultures and a better appreciation for what you have.

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