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The center of the universe for Christians - Christ's exaltation, humiliation, and atoning work for us and as us.

In today's podcast, Rusanne Carole speaks honestly about when we "feel" God isn't there and we have difficulty hearing Him or seeing Him at work in our lives. We all have times of joy and laughter and times of discouragement and questioning. It is normal for doubt to enter our minds, but we mustn't be led by our these thoughts that cause doubt that God is always present desiring the best for us. As women of God, we are called to persevere! Run the race of faith knowing God is there even if we can't "feel" it. He promises this and it's a promise we must cling to for when we are weak, He is strong! ****** Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, a Women World Leader's podcast. I am your host, Rusanne Carole. Thank you for joining us today and we hope you can join us each week as every Monday in “Empowering Lives with Purpose” with, Kimberly Hobbs, our founder, she shares with us a beautiful time of chatting with women of God who give part of their testimony, their “God story” -  giving God the glory.  It is so encouraging when we hear others' stories of overcoming and celebrating God's goodness and faithfulness. The Word tells us there is power in the testimony. This 30-minute interview inspires and lets us know we are not alone in our challenges, but God is always with us and never leaves us! And each Wednesday, our very own Julie Jenkins in Walking in the Word shares a study where she is currently looking at and teaching from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 20 minutes where she teaches verse by verse and delves into the life of Jesus that fills and feeds the soul. And on Fridays, we have a team of podcasters I am honoured to be a part of where we celebrate God's goodness and all He has for us to live the abundant life He desires for each of us. I want to be very open and honest with you today.  I didn't “feel” like working on a podcast for this month's message and recording. I'm currently going through one of the most challenging seasons of my life. This is not about sharing every detail of what is happening, we are all going through things. And if we aren't currently life has a way of presenting things for us (or our loved ones) to deal with! And the enemy has reminded me often – “Is this really the best it's gonna get?” “Where is your God? I don't see him helping you and it's been months, where do you think He could be? Is He really for you? Is He really real?” I am reminded of a song that the lyrics say, The world will say, “Where is your God” and we will say, “He's right here with me!” But what about the times that you just can't see Him or you are not hearing from Him? I recently read and contemplated a statement a pastor wrote: When we are in the perfect will of God, we hear and feel nothing. What? What do you mean? I've always pictured I'm in His will when I “see” Him at work in my life, when I am hearing from Him  - loud and clear. Oh, what a joyous time those have been when I just knew it was God directing me, guiding me. It felt safe and secure – knowing He was there helping me down the path of life and it's many decisions. But as I have gotten older and having spent more time in relationship with my heavenly Father He is showing me more and more about faith! Believing, even when I don't “feel” Him at work. 2 Cor 5:7 says for we walk by faith, not by sight. Can we be an unbelieving believer? I think yes. We are called to believe in the Lord Jesus with our whole being. MIND, BODY and SOUL. Our minds can receive and even believe all that we learn in His Holy Word, yet our emotions can be unbelieving! Our mind can run to Him. And our emotions can run away from Him. A negative emotional perception of God will hinder the attempts to look at Christ as the WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. So back to getting in His will for us? Do we honestly believe He has a better plan for our lives than we could pursue for ourselves. When everything in us is screaming, “NO!!! I want my life to be different!” We must pray, “Lord, I want your will, not mine.” It involves dying to the self that drives us daily. God truly does have the best plan for our lives. We must believe! And when God is quiet it requires trust, perseverance in our walk (whether we are hearing and seeing Him at work – the Word promises us that He is). Same as my boys. When they were young and suppose I told them not to drive their bikes in the street. If I saw them riding in the street, I would yell at them to get out of the street – and if they didn't hear me I would run outside to get close where they could hear me or even retrieve them out of harm's way. However, if I looked out the window and found them doing what they were supposed to they would hear nothing from me. The same is true with the Lord. We must be careful not to compare, especially in this world where we “share” so much on the spinning reel of social media.  God will speak to us all differently and in His time – not ours. I know God has spoken to me in the most amazing times when I least expected it. I had not asked for it but He in his wisdom spoke when He decided to speak. He doesn't have to speak to know He is there. His promises tell me so! So sisters, my prayer for all of you and myself is we KNOW God is there working for us, loving us, directing us – even when we don't “feel” it. Regardless of our worldly circumstances, for there is a “heavenly home” that awaits. Regardless of our feelings, for they are like a yo-yo, up one moment and down the next! Regardless of what the world may say about where our God is, as Christians – Christ lives in us! And as I come to an end of writing this and speaking this out I already feel better for it is His Holy Spirit that comes to minister to our heart, mind and soul and ask him – COME, even if we have to ask over and over and over again. Our Lord understands.

Tracy Rhoades is an outspoken Christian woman who encourages unity among all Christian sects. We talk about the importance of loving and ministering to each other as we abide in Jesus Christ. Episode Discussion PointsAs a Christian neighbor sometimes you have no idea how to help others (like when their cows get out) but you go and help anyway. How Traci grew up in a small town attending church and participating with friends in other churches & kept meeting different people from many religions which broadened her perspective of the body of Christ. The importance of having a spiritual toolbox of habits and practices for following Jesus at all times—but especially when life gets a little shaky A personal story of looking for a home for six years with a lot of “why God” moments and finally standing on what would soon be her property in rural Michigan and hearing a quiet voice in her soul whisper, “You'll heal here.” How prayer, scripture and silence played a part in her healing Healing has layers No one likes to have the bottom drop out of life, but we always seem to appreciate the lessons learned through and after hard times happen Having "rhythms of spiritual practices" helps not only us but helps us know how to minister to other in their moments of need. Sometimes the best ministry for those who are struggling is simply the ministry of your presence—just be there Good prayers/phrases to say in shaky ground moments, “Oh Lord have mercy,” or “Oh Lord draw near.” What it means to “abide” with Jesus and how we do it on a daily basis What makes hard situations easier? "As we abide with Christ, He abides with us. And then you don't ever go through shaky times alone.” Levels of relationships we can have with Jesus—and how Tracy wants ALL of Jesus she can receive in abundance. You can share all your emotions with God—and there is usually a Psalm that corresponds to the emotions you are feeling It is okay to write about the hard things you are experiencing and the emotions you feel The importance of unity among Christians “Christ is big enough for all of us." Favorite Bible VerseProverbs 3:5-6—There are so many life truths packed in these two verses. Trust in the Lord—most of the anxiety and fear in the world come from a lack of trust in God (and in His timing) Ministering Ideasif someone loses a loved one—mark the date in your calendar a year out and be sure to pray for, call, text or visit on that day Turn people to Jesus (not to you or the latest self-help book). We need His presence in those times more than anything else Be sensitive to how a grieving person is feeling “today” because grief ebbs and flows Be there to hug them—sometimes no other words are needed Connect with TracyBuy her new book, https://amzn.to/3OS6yNy (Shaky Ground), at any of the major bookstores or online or at https://bookshop.org/books/shaky-ground-what-to-do-after-the-bottom-drops-out/9781640655591 (bookshop.org )(they give a proceed of the book to a local bookstore) Website: https://www.tracesoffaith.com (tracesoffaith.com) check out her section on “All the Churches” She is also on Facebook, Instagram and her favorite—Twitter #tamarakanderson #storiesofhopeinhardtimes #podcast #hope #God #hardtimes #shakyground #christian #jesuschrist #abideinChrist #unity #ministering TranscriptionYou can find the transcription of today's episode here: https://www.tamarakanderson.com/podcasts/traci-rhoades-abiding-in-christ-even-on-shaky-ground

Pastor Bill: [0:00] Hello and welcome to the live recording of season 3 episode 66 of the Berean Manifesto; Faith, Hope, and Love for the Modern Christian. I'm Pastor Bill, and as always, I'm here with Pastor Newms. How's your day Pastor Newms? How's your week been? Pastor Newms: [0:23] My week's been pretty good, work is busy I know that is my standard answer. “Works been pretty busy.” And then we've, since Friday playing a new game and a new ark in Star Trek dropped, so I've been busy with that. And we're playing Borderlands with Gaming With The Pastors and yeah that's pretty much it. Pastor Bill: [1:05] Well I don't know, that new ark dropped and we resurrected the Ferengi Commerce Authority - sort of, with alternate characters in Star Trek, that new game Lost Ark came out so I'm playing that some today. Trying to get my feet wet there because like you said we've been streaming Borderlands 2 but we want to start streaming Lost Ark. Right? And so… Or not. Do we want to start? We're going to stream that or not? Pastor Newms: [1:42] That is the plan we are going to stream it I don't know if I haven't decided and I know you probably haven't fully decided yet either, if we go straight into it or we do like one of our streams a week is it and then, one as Borderlands 2 because Jack still needs to pay. Pastor Bill: [2:07] Still needs to pay for what he did. Pastor Newms: [2:10] And what he's done since then. Pastor Bill: [2:13] You know killing and capturing and torturing human beings who chose to be in a fight doesn't really affect me as emotionally as, killing an animal that was co-opted into a fight that didn't actually choose it for themselves so. Pastor Newms: [2:35] I mainly meant the now we're talking about a video game let's be clear this is not actual human beings I was talking about the whole you found out that he had enslaved and tortured his own daughter for that long. Pastor Bill: [2:48] That's true he did that and then also he. Pastor Newms: [2:50] I assumed that would affect you more than a bird. Pastor Bill: [2:53] He co-hosts assume that would affect you more than a bird but. Pastor Newms: [3:01] Going off of you know. Pastor Bill: [3:03] I had forgotten that even happened. Pastor Newms: [3:05] You are so traumatized by the bird still. Pastor Bill: [3:08] I remembered that he's he he sent those Bandits to go kill his grandma. Pastor Newms: [3:15] He did he also killed his own Grandma the game does a really good job of just really making you hate him more and more. Pastor Bill: [3:23] And every time he calls himself the hero of the story it's just it's like oh. Pastor Newms: [3:30] And using the same voice actor for the propaganda media which just you know proves too handsome Jack's narcissism that he is the media, that is interesting. Pastor Bill: [3:50] So Jack needs to pay or rather John as his real name is we found out this week needs to pay calls himself handsome Jackie's real name is John, but yeah he needs to pay so that's that's where our focus is in gaming at the moment but, and then we've got Borderlands 3 to go through as well and all the DLC stuff for Borderlands 2 and. Pastor Newms: [4:11] That I'm less worried about and we probably will Lost Ark before that mainly because it's mainstream right now and, I want to but we're not going to do the same thing we're doing with, Borderlands 2 which is stream every moment of us playing I am definitely playing some without streaming and then streaming some solo, Lost Ark as well no matter what the title said that I didn't update on Twitch when I went left, yeah. Pastor Bill: [4:50] All right well it is your week to pull a card so if you want to go ahead and pull that card will do. Pastor Newms: [4:55] Already I've already pulled the car everything's ready. Pastor Bill: [4:58] Will do Getting To Know The Pastors. Pastor Newms: [5:02] As he pulls out the card if you could walk into I'm getting. I'm getting you're not wearing your headset. Pastor Bill: [5:15] I'm not wear my headphones I pulled him in earlier to let him charge and then totally forgot to put them back on. Pastor Newms: [5:23] Hmm I'm like wait why do I why do I, why do I hear myself to you okay he fixed it okay here we go if you could walk into any painting, and actually experience the moment or seen that it depicts which painting would you choose to enter. Do do do do do do do why. Pastor Bill: [6:02] Why would I want to be in a painting. Pastor Newms: [6:05] No no it's about experiencing the moment that's going on in the painting. I think something surrealistic. Pastor Bill: [6:24] Like I said horrifying. Pastor Newms: [6:26] Yeah like like what Phoenix just said of Starry Night something that is like a Van Gogh how would it actually feel to exist in that plane of existence. Pastor Bill: [6:37] Horrifying. Pastor Newms: [6:39] We don't know that for sure it could be releasing it could be. Pastor Bill: [6:47] Well let me try to find out I'm swirly now I'm swirly. Pastor Newms: [6:55] I have to say Biggs I would have to disagree with the Last Supper just because, since you're going into the paintings realization you wouldn't be sitting at the actual life supper you'd be sitting at the artist's representation of The Last Supper. Pastor Bill: [7:13] With an Italian Prince and prisoners from the prison down the road. Pastor Newms: [7:18] Yeah yeah I would that I would, that's the only reason I would I see where you're going and I could agree that it would be a fascinating place in history to be at but the painting itself, I couldn't I could dogs playing poker that'd be another good one Biggs has a point the food in that painting does look good, figs I love you. He's not wrong he's not wrong in in that statement of, it has he's not wrong the food in that painting does look pretty good better than the food they had there that night I guarantee it. Pastor Bill: [8:18] The answer is none for me I can't think of a single painting that I would want to be in. Pastor Newms: [8:27] I think I think I'd like to experience. A surrealistic painting or. Dogs playing poker. Because I would love to walk into that room and be like sup dogs and they'd be like and then have to have to act like dogs again. Pastor Bill: [8:46] But that's dogs that can play poker I just Mmm. Pastor Newms: [8:52] They have to then act like they were regular dogs because you know that's how dogs are in reality they're that smart but they've done a really good job of pretending just to be dog. Pastor Bill: [9:00] No they're not. Pastor Newms: [9:01] And that would be that would be them calling calling out that there. Pastor Bill: [9:06] That's so ridiculous it's beyond ridiculous. Pastor Newms: [9:19] Just to feel how it would feel to not be in existence as a three-dimensional creature that we are stuck experiencing currently. I think surrealism tends to grasp those Concepts that we don't experience this three-dimensional creatures. Pastor Bill: [9:42] Okay then. Pastor Newms: [9:44] Anyway. Pastor Bill: [9:49] All right. Pastor Newms: [9:50] Wait wait secondary question I just thought of a secondary question let me read the let me read it again, okay now it does specify painting. So it's not it does not specify work of art okay, my mind was going to like well a comic book is a work of art and if we could experience what's going on in it that'd be kind of cool but then I was like no way it specifically said painting so not work of art. Pastor Bill: [10:24] Yeah specifically say painting. Pastor Newms: [10:28] I'm going to find some painting and send it to you and you're going to be like oh go to think about that that one I'd like to experience. Middle middle of middle of our real discussion I'ma be like this and your me like oh maybe. Pastor Bill: [10:55] To my fan on here and it started making weird noises my desk fan, it's good now so okay so tonight the title of tonight is hate the what, and so there's this common phrase you know the phrase, oh that's what happened accidentally turned on my printer that's was making noise, so many people, well now Zeta charms in on what she would want the painting to write as she says the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo or Van Gogh's sunflowers. Pastor Newms: [11:43] Hmm it would prove whether or not the doctor was actually there if you could experience the events of sunflowers. That's her Shady that's that's a tease Shady way of trying to meet the doctor you see you see what she did there a guarantee that was her mindset. Pastor Bill: [12:06] That that episode forever because of that episode whenever I see a sunflower or think about that painting I always think about, and so I can never stop that thought. Pastor Newms: [12:30] So Zaidiee to correct her to correct myself I mean she says her that's not her motivation she's always loved that. Pastor Bill: [12:38] Mmm. Pastor Newms: [12:39] So I will give her that. Pastor Bill: [12:42] And when you bring up Michelangelo all I can think about is his dog skin boots that he got peeled off of his feet and remade every 6 months. Pastor Newms: [12:55] That's not something I know. Pastor Bill: [12:56] Yeah he he had custom dogs can boots made for his feet and he would put them on and then just leave them on and every six months he would go and have them surgically removed, and a new pair applied. Pastor Newms: [13:26] They weren't even good looking like I was thinking like moccasin Style no. When he was more robust so once he was fat. And sometimes it has been so long and taking them off the subsequently along with the boots he slapped off his skin like a snake Okay that is nasty. Pastor Bill: [14:02] Okay so, we're going to be spending time in Colossians chapter 3 tonight so if you want to pull that up or if you want to type that into the restroom client for me so it shows up, Arrow everywhere. Pastor Newms: [14:16] Colossians 3:1. Pastor Bill: [14:17] Yeah well we're going to spend time in the pretty much the whole chapter so if you just want to put in Colossians 3 so people can turn to Colossians 3 if you want to see what we're saying and follow along there that's what we're going to be so, there's this phrase that always. Pastor Newms: [14:35] I've lost Colossians found. Pastor Bill: [14:37] Bugs me that we use in in circles Christian circles it is what is it, hate the sin Love The Sinner. Pastor Newms: [14:48] I don't know yes that is a commonly used phrase. Pastor Bill: [14:56] This is an awful phrase that you should stop using if you're using this phrase you need to stop and we're going to find out why tonight just like last week we found out why we can no longer call Thomas doubting, this week we're going to find out why you can no longer say hate the sin Love The Sinner so we get this idea of hate the sin Love The Sinner from Colossians, um and the actual verse that inspired this this thought process is Colossians 3 verse 5, and we have to go to the King James version to get to the hate the sin, love the center part of this it is mortify Therefore your members which are upon the Earth. If we go to the CSB it says therefore put to death what belongs to your Earthly nature, which is more accurate in the Modern English to what, Colossians 3:5 is trying to express in the Middle English when you go to read that and somehow this idea of mortify became. But that's not what it means and it isn't intended as a statement for you too, look at someone else, and hate their sin it wasn't intended for you to use as this idea of well I don't approve of what you're doing but I love you that's not what this verse is talking about at all, this whole this chapter is an is an internal statement mortify put to death, the sin in your own life in your own body identify the things that separate you from God the things that the holy spirit is dealt with with you, that need change and address those that's that's where this is, and then the author of the author Colossians is Paul, probably Timothy actually, this is probably Timothy writing down notes base off of what Paul has been teaching him and Paul gets first credit because well he's Pole. Pastor Newms: [17:35] Well and they're they're his teachings written down by someone. Pastor Bill: [17:39] Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's Will and Timothy our brother, is who gets credit for writing this so most likely this is Timothy's hand based off of Paul's teachings, so let's just dive in we're going to start in verse 1 and will will kind of be stopping from time to time 22 commentary how's that sound. Pastor Newms: [18:05] That that is what we standardly do. Pastor Bill: [18:07] So newms if you want to comment are you just let me know and then you can comment as. Pastor Newms: [18:11] I'll just talk over you I don't mind. Pastor Bill: [18:15] So Colossians chapter 3 once again we're just going to start in verse 1, so if you have been raised with Christ seek the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God set your minds on things above not on Earthly things, for you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God, when Christ who is your life appears then you also will appear with him in glory. If you followed along with breed Manifesto for a while or you've gone back and you've studied all of what Paul wrote in Romans and Corinthians, this is a loaded paragraph pointing back at a lot of Paul's teachings and when he says, Earthly things Paul spends a lot of time talking about how, the traditions of religion the traditions of man the the things that the church has set up the restrictions the church is set up these are Earthly things as well, he's not just talking about drinking and and and doing drugs and sex and around he's not talking about those, exclusively as Earthly things Paul does a really good job of what comes to mind is the passage where he says, um Don't touch don't taste don't indulge these are all human restrictions have nothing to do with your spiritual life and your spiritual issues with God, um So that was through verse for picking back up in verse 5 where we know the verse that spawned this statement, therefore put to death what belongs to your Earthly nature and he gives us a list of things that they've identified in their culture, in their lifestyle and their times that were things, that in themselves they need to put to death does this little still stand today, that's between you and God are the things on this list that don't exist today as standing in between you and God that's between you and God but the list they have here a sexual immorality, impurity lust evil desire and greed which is idolatry. Because of these God's Wrath is coming upon the disobedient and you once walked in these things when you were living in them, but now put away all the following anger wrath malice slander and filthy language from your mouth, do not lie to one another since you've put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self you are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your creator, in Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave and free, but Christ is all and in. Okay we're all the same we all have struggles we all have things that, pull us down we all have things that we were slaves to when we were a slave to sin the very thing that Christ died to fix to Deliver Us from being slaves to sin, in Christ we've dealt with that because there there's no dividing line there, it doesn't matter if you were born a Jew or if you were born a Greek it doesn't matter if you were circumcised or you weren't circumcised doesn't matter if you're a barbarian Scythian a slave or Freeman, Christ is all and in all. Pastor Newms: [22:08] You're listening you're listening people groups from that time period and when you said Barbarian I thought to myself what is gaming have to do with, and then I was like oh no no no no the the group of Barbarians that existed during the time of this writing now. Pastor Bill: [22:31] Another We're actual Barbarians than. So now we're addressing specifically Christians Christ is all and in all all of us a body of believers, Christ is in us right, therefore as God's chosen ones holy and dearly loved put on compassion kindness humility gentleness and patience, bearing within one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another just as the Lord has forgiven you so you are also to forgive, all right. When you love someone when you walk in love these are the fruits of love compassion, kindness humility gentleness and, right so if you say I'm going to love the sinner now first off. I hate this idea of Sinner, because the whole new testament over and over and over paints a picture of a slave to sin, no one was not a slave and then CH of sin and then chose to become a slave of sin and therefore is a in the modern term sinner, we were born slaves to sin and therefore given no choice, but to sin that became our only choice because we were a slave to it but saying you are a sinner is placing that fault on the person, when the fault of this whole thing isn't on that person, because there were born a slave in Christ came to set us free from the slavery of sin. Newms stop looking for paintings to send me into. Pastor Newms: [24:55] I'm not looking for paintings I'm reading things no I do agree with you I stopped looking for paintings I looked through about 50 of them and none of them jumped out at me that you would want to be in there so I stopped no I, I agree with you in, the it's that whole connotation versus diction and the whole we've made, 31 minutes today and the whole fallacies of the English language. Pastor Bill: [25:27] Sorry my English language. Pastor Newms: [25:29] What sinner means and what Center is the term Center, means someone who is in sin and not, saved from sin and freed from sin in biblical, thought processes the problem is is we have as a culture taken that thought process of, well a sinner is someone who is actively sinning in a way that normally, my personal beliefs don't agree with and so we've made that word a loaded word, in not what it actually means which is someone who like you mentioned needs to be freed from their sin through Christ and, I think that's something that that loaded aspect, is where the big Crux of the conversation ends up with situations like this because I believe in its originality the phrase. Hate the sin Love The Sinner, or it's supposed to be love the sinner hate the sin love the sinner hate the sin is how it is supposed to be said to put the emphasis on love first, the love of the person first and the hatred for sin not, sin that's being committed by someone but sin in its entirety of the consequences of it, and the fact that we are slaves to it was, in my mind and how I've always taken it that original belief I hate the aspect of what sin can do to a person the consequences of it the things that. That happened because of it I hate the fact that we're all stuck in it I hate the fact that those aspects the problem is, is a lot of people use it very hypocritical lie, in the fact that they are actually judging the person and using that as the excuse, for not fully embracing the person but loving the person. Or this Southern aspect of oh God bless their soul they're just going through this right now. Pastor Bill: [28:30] I think though. Pastor Newms: [28:31] And you're like I don't think you're supposed to. Pastor Bill: [28:33] I really really don't like the phrase at all even the way you're seeing it I don't like the phrase at all because what it does is it says I know what a sin for that person, and I know better than they do and I can hear the Lord better than they can and so I'm going to pass judgment on what is sin in that person's life. Pastor Newms: [28:56] We'll see that's the difference it shouldn't be in that person's life The Love The Sinner means we love all, no matter what unconditionally it has nothing to do with the sin the problem is people took that phrase and attributed it to the same person I love this person I hate what they're doing that's. Pastor Bill: [29:20] The only way I've ever. Pastor Newms: [29:21] That phrase is. Pastor Bill: [29:22] Ever heard it used ever. Pastor Newms: [29:24] I agree but that's not what it was intended originally when I was looking at it, throughout today originally it was we need to love everyone and not judge them we hate sin and its consequences as God hates sin and its consequences, so we should it was originally we should not, I attribute that to that we should be separating it it's one of those phrases that is overtime, changed in morphed to what we do today which is use it as a judgmental phrase even let's be honest when we don't really mean it there are people who have used it. And not realized how judgmental it sounds and not meant it as an attack, when it really is and so it's a phrase that like so many others has become. Pastor Bill: [30:27] Ninety-nine percent of the time it doesn't matter what you intended to say as much as it matters how it was. Pastor Newms: [30:37] How it was taken yep and that's one of the issues with human human humanality. Pastor Bill: [30:43] Humanality. Pastor Newms: [30:46] Humanality is not a. Pastor Bill: [30:47] I like it though I'm gonna start using it human that I'm going to go put that on Urban Dictionary right now. Pastor Newms: [30:52] No I would not go to Urban Dictionary and type anything don't go searching that on don't do it. Pastor Bill: [30:58] Urban dictionary. Pastor Newms: [31:00] I have no idea but I don't advise it, so the way we the human psyche works you know it doesn't matter, what is said to you it matters how you feel and even when you take a step back and you're like okay that person didn't mean to attack me it's still very hard. Pastor Bill: [31:24] Oh Pastor Newms: [31:26] Yeah I told you not. Pastor Bill: [31:27] Don't go search humanality. Pastor Newms: [31:30] What did I say what did. Pastor Bill: [31:30] And don't use that word anymore. Pastor Newms: [31:33] Pastor Bill what did I say. Pastor Bill: [31:35] You said don't go look it up I went and looked it up. Pastor Newms: [31:41] Because all I did was think about all the letters that are in there and where it would end. Pastor Bill: [31:44] Yeah it was bad. Pastor Newms: [31:47] I told you not to you should trust me I've been in the worst parts of the internet. Pastor Bill: [31:51] That was bad don't do it. Pastor Newms: [31:54] Don't do it so I think that's something that, we often forget and I was having a conversation recently with someone about this whole situation of you know we are saying one thing, the people were saying it to feel completely different to what we're saying. Pastor Bill: [32:23] They're hearing. Pastor Newms: [32:24] And often times yeah they hear something completely different and that's why we have to be so so, careful with language and there's so much in certain circles, um especially Evangelical groups of well that person's just being said, and we look at it from a standpoint of I don't mean anything wrong by this word so I should be able to say this word but if the word or the phrase truly offends people, not people that are looking for a fence and just looking to dismantle you but they are truly hurt by something, which you can't judge you have to take it on their word that hey please don't use that phrase okay cool I won't use. Yeah and and we have to, try to do that we look at Paul's teachings of you know when I'm here I do this when I'm there I do that you know. Pastor Bill: [33:34] Being all things to all people. Pastor Newms: [33:35] Where we get the phrase where we get the phrase When in Rome, comes from his teaching of we have to be like the people around us to a certain degree in order to reach them and part of that is having that type of empathy and not using loaded phrases that have been used to attack people. Pastor Bill: [33:56] And Paul of all people knew this because he grew up. Pastor Newms: [34:02] Attacking people. Pastor Bill: [34:02] In well he grew up in the upper echelon of society you know in. Okay my brain went blank so continue I don't know. Pastor Newms: [34:13] The Pharisees. Pastor Bill: [34:18] I have no idea I don't even know what we were talking about. Pastor Newms: [34:20] The sect that Paul was growing up that Saul was being raised into in the in the in the teachings. Pastor Bill: [34:28] Okay I don't know. Pastor Newms: [34:31] Man your mind went. Pastor Bill: [34:32] I don't know how that's germane to what we're talking about I can't remember what you said.   Pastor Newms: [34:40] I'm Paul Paul understood using the correct language, amongst people because he was raised in the higher Echelon is the word you used I think of society okay cool, but yeah I mean it's something that we have to be very cognizant of and I think oftentimes, we as Christians art and so often as humans humans over all we seek to. Prove ourselves so when someone says well that's offensive well I didn't mean it that way it doesn't matter your, well I shouldn't have to change for that person but you kind of should you know if we want to reach people we have to at least be. Fundamentally respectful and show love and part of that is coming down, them coming and when I say down to them I don't mean that Christians are above anyone I mean getting into the same mindset into their minds down into them not down as a nun better. Pastor Bill: [36:13] Drilling down into. Pastor Newms: [36:15] Of their psyche yeah yes feet let's be clear. Pastor Bill: [36:18] Not coming down to drilling down into. Pastor Newms: [36:22] Let's yeah let's be clear on what I mean by that the, it's such an important aspect because in order to truly Reach people we have to, understand them we have to be sympathetic Jesus did not, hang out with Pharisees all day and hang out just with church people and act like church people, he hung out with fishermen and sat on fishing boats I'm sorry I love Jesus I do, we know that's the whole point of me being. Pastor Bill: [37:05] Probably mad man probably smoked like a fishmonger to hug though. Pastor Newms: [37:10] That man probably stay, and and I have problems I would have problems today if you were like I need you to go on a fishing boat, I'm be like I am the pastor of twitch I don't have to smell these people um I would have trouble personally I have trouble going to events, especially events that I thoroughly enjoyed as a nerd wearing a Venom shirt with my best friend wearing a DS9 shirt, I have problems going to nerd conventions because some of y'all don't shower, and that is not a personal attack that is just you get that many people in one room, sweaty this happens and if you are or aren't wearing deodorant hardcore comes out and if you're wearing bad deodorant it shows and some people are wearing way too cheap of deodorant for wearing a cosplay. Pastor Bill: [38:08] So I was I was at my mom's last night we were at dinner and we were talking about, um foods that Jesus ate in his lifetime and we started with foods that he probably ate and then I was thinking about it and I was like you know what, the only food that ever Point Blank says Jesus ate was fish and bread. Never talks about it meaning anything else, I mean obviously had a lamb because it was part of the Passover meal but it never actually says and he took the lamb and but it twice says that he ate Fish Point Blank says that he ate fish and once Point Blank says that he ate bread, now obviously drink wine he drank a lot of wine because everyone drank wine he probably started drinking wine and he was 13, um because you know clean water is hard to find clean wine is easy to find so everyone was drinking wine, it just struck me as odd, um and the fish thing it only ever says it after he resurrected twice after he resurrected he had a fish meal, and the bread was at the Last Supper. That's funny. Pastor Newms: [39:34] Down it but this says short answer a lot of bread, short answer a lot of bread that that's that's funny and they probably dipped it in olive oil. Pastor Bill: [39:54] Or wine but it was come to a bit in wine common to dip it in olive oil. Pastor Newms: [40:01] It's fish because they were there and his disciples were fishermen so that's what they knew how to get. Pastor Bill: [40:08] Yeah the new how to get fish. Pastor Newms: [40:09] Um I mean it's and he would be kosher of course so. Pastor Bill: [40:17] I was thinking about that too what do you be kosher since he was Spirit-filled couldn't eat anything you wanted. Pastor Newms: [40:24] He could have but I can almost guarantee. Pastor Bill: [40:26] Like when he was in private when no one was around he could have eaten anything he wanted to and he wouldn't if I was anyone. Pastor Newms: [40:32] But let's he wouldn't have but let's be honest the the ability to even get that kind of food. Pastor Bill: [40:43] They were occupied by Roman soldiers it was easy to get that kind of food. Pastor Newms: [40:46] No I'm saying I'm saying financially wise money you know it would been easier for him to have just been he could have we don't know but it would have been easier because we all know Jesus love to do the easy thing. Pastor Bill: [41:01] And we know he ate on a regular basis because when he's at the well and he meets the won't the Samaritan at the well, he had sent the disciples off to go get dinner go get some dinner bring it back we'll eat it here next to the well will you next to Jacob's Well they come back with the food they're like hey we got food for you and he's like I'm not hungry anymore I'm good, what did you did you secretly have food and sent us off to get food and he's like no no I had food you didn't know of but it wasn't food, what what did you say. Pastor Newms: [41:35] Yeah that was that was Jesus. Pastor Bill: [41:41] I got all tied up in Ministry and it satisfied me so. Pastor Newms: [41:45] Yeah. But yeah so I think it's something that we really have to search our own hearts and ensure that we are not doing things like using that phrase. Pastor Bill: [42:07] Well we just shouldn't use the phrase because we talked about the way things are being received phrases like that aren't being received well at all so we should stop using them. Pastor Newms: [42:15] They're not being received well but what I mean is phrases like that I don't disagree but what I'm saying is this phrases like that should, we need to search ourselves to make sure we're not feeling, those types of emotions of I hate what that person's doing but I love them because that in and of itself is being. Pastor Bill: [42:42] And that phrase I've heard you use a lot in reference to homosexuality. Pastor Newms: [42:49] That phrase is used a lot in that it's used a lot for people who how I grew up it's used a lot for people who drink it's used a lot for people who, living morally the whole he lives with his girlfriend you know things like that well I can't judge them. Pastor Bill: [43:10] You just judged them you're judging them right now. Pastor Newms: [43:11] You already did like I'm not judging them but they really need to think about their life choices. Pastor Bill: [43:17] No you're judging them right now that's what that is. Pastor Newms: [43:20] Yeah it's not on me what they do. Pastor Bill: [43:26] And there is an appropriate time to judge its win, you've shown love and they've welcomed you in as a trusted member of their Circle that's the time to go hey I don't think this is good for you but as a stranger that's not your place. Pastor Newms: [43:47] Yeah and the biggest thing is the aspects of hating sin, not because you hate that someone is doing something you see as Sin it's supposed to be hating the consequences, that you see them going through, you know the person who has the occasional drink no big deal the person who's the Raging alcoholic and they're stumbling into work and their family life is failing and everything around them is crumbling because they drink too much. Pastor Bill: [44:23] That's a problem. Pastor Newms: [44:23] It's not it's the hey I'm your friend can we talk about this because it's affecting your life there's negative consequences and it's those negative consequences that we have to focus on and try to help people with out of love of helping save them from negative consequences you know something that I've had a conversation with, in the past and I typically don't like to touch on specific things, during here because you know it can cause issues but someone asked me you know is it wrong to live with someone before you marry them, and I'm like well it depends on your intention and what do you mean by Mary I mean so it's that aspect like well in God's eyes will and God's eyes marriage is not the piece of paper that the government gives you. Pastor Bill: [45:14] Or the ceremony or any of that. Pastor Newms: [45:16] It's the commitment that you give to someone to spend the rest of your so you can do that outside of, anything else that commitment of this is the person spend the rest of my life with this is the person I Bond myself to this is the person. Pastor Bill: [45:32] If you're just fooling around and wasting each other's time for six months because it's more convenient, then that probably isn't good for either one of you and would be categorized as therefore sin because it's going to leave both of you broken and hurting and you know what I mean. Pastor Newms: [45:50] It has lasting effects. Pastor Bill: [45:53] And that's why we would call that sin because of the lasting negative effects. Pastor Newms: [46:00] There's that is what partially attributes to partially not fully partially attributes to the mindset we have As Americans of well in our, overall time period we live in of throwaway relationships, you know we view relationships as throw away because we train ourselves from when we were little, that oh I have a boyfriend no honey you're 6 you ain't got you ain't got a boyfriend you have a friend that's a boy that you like to hang out with more than the other boy. Pastor Bill: [46:32] And that's cool that's fine. Pastor Newms: [46:33] Good job you know. Pastor Bill: [46:35] Intimacy Intimacy in a relationship does not equal relationship romantic that's not how that works. Pastor Newms: [46:45] So because of that I think that that that that throwaway nature that we treat our lives with then affects us as we get older and we continue to, I believe we can easily throw away relationships, and so that continues to affect us forever and we see it all around us so it's not just a certain necessarily a it's a condition thing at this point that's why I say it's from children it's not just a, we see it all the time and so because of that we view it as okay now there are times when a relationship needs to be thrown away let's be clear not saying divorces, Eddie biblical cuz it's not there are times there are let's be clear. Pastor Bill: [47:32] If you're being abused leave don't work on your marriage from inside abuse if you want to save your marriage get to safety then save your marriage, period no get to safety I'm not I'm not. Pastor Newms: [47:52] No no get to safety there's not always a time to actually repair this. Pastor Bill: [47:55] No I'm saying if you want to save the marriage if you want to say get to Safety First. Pastor Newms: [47:58] I know yes get to safety first and then logically think about what the next step should be because some dudes and some chicks let's be clear, dude don't get. Pastor Bill: [48:15] The occlusion house the breed Manifesto we will never endorse oh just suffer through it no, no there's no there's nothing biblical about just suffer through it that that's not reality that's that's disgusting all right. Pastor Newms: [48:36] Again human beings making a judgment on someone else's lifestyle and how they should live their lives as opposed to any. Right that's the thing is is the importance is, the faith hope and love greatest of these is love you know I'm saying it sarcastically because we say it so much it sometimes becomes so it's a joke, but the thing is is it is what is most important in these things when we look at a phrase like this that I've used for years, I come from an independent fundamentalist you know, Baptist background then Southern Baptist then whatever I was and now whatever I am and, I used to use six words to Define my Christianity which is just insanity and doesn't make any sense but, I thought I had to put it in a box and so I did and you know we coming from that background it's a comment. Pastor Bill: [49:47] Humans humans and our boxes in our labels. Pastor Newms: [49:50] We love boxes and this is one of those times that we do this is how this is one way that we put other people in a box that person is a sinner I love them, but I hate how they are that's not love. Pastor Bill: [50:10] That's not love. Pastor Newms: [50:13] Love is I love that person I. Pastor Bill: [50:15] Regardless of how they are hmm. Pastor Newms: [50:17] I love everything about them and then at a certain point, hopefully they allow me into their lives two if they allow me into their lives, I can help them through issues that are affecting them negatively not because I believe it is but because at a point of friendship they will tell you until they start complaining about something that's affecting their life, you don't get to step in because that still you being judgmental. Pastor Bill: [50:53] You wait to be invited in. Pastor Newms: [50:57] Otherwise we have to show love we have to come alongside them we have to support them in all the ways that we can. Pastor Bill: [51:04] You don't get to decide for someone else what is sin in their life. Pastor Newms: [51:10] Yeah. Pastor Bill: [51:14] All right well that's all we have for tonight for you guys I hope it enrich your, Christianity your walk with the Lord or if you're not a Christian I hope that helped you to understand, um some of the things you're seeing in the Christian world and dealing with people that call themselves Christians and may not be living out these examples, and I hope you can find a place of peace with that and find you know what you're looking for why are you, here why are you you know watching our our stuff listen to our stuff. Oh we've got a guy on Twitch the plainest I appreciate you coming I appreciate you chiming in letting us know that this did help you tonight so thank you for that, affirmation there that actually helps me a lot Xander what thank you on Twitch I'm glad that you enjoyed it, God we have so many people here tonight with us we do film this live every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Central Standard Time and you can join and watch on Twitch Facebook YouTube, and then the audio version and the transcription come out on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. in those same places so if anybody wants to join us live on Sundays you can if you want to just, listen to the podcast you can get that anywhere you get podcasts that would be awesome Pastor Newms you look like you're intense with anticipation to say something. Pastor Newms: [52:53] Well I wanted you to I need you guys to be we need you to wrap up and then after the wrap up I'll bring it up because it's not it's not it's not pertinent to podcast things it's just. Trying to see that I have the voice on in the twitch stream and that's why I'm getting feedback is not from you and I was trying to get on to you again and it's not you it was me yes. Pastor Bill: [53:22] We also have what we do called Gaming With The Pastors that we mentioned earlier where pastor Newms and I go as Pastor feet when I'm gaming we play games we were doing Borderlands 2 and we're going to start doing some Lost Ark so if you want to follow Pastor Newms on Twitch that you can get an update on when we go live with that we'd love for, people to come hang out with us when we're doing that and yeah so that's what we got going and we hope that you guys can all be a part of what we got going on. Pastor Bill: [53:52] I love you guys and I hope you have a great week. Pastor Newms: [53:56] And be safe out there. Pastor Bill: [53:57] Until next time.

“That I May Know Him”By Tammy Lacock “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” (Philippians 3:10) Warren Litzman digs deeper into Apostle Paul's words, “the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (in Philippians 3:8). Paul makes it clear Christ is very literally his life now. His old life doesn't matter anymore. In fact, he counted his old life but “dung,” worthless, compared to knowing Christ. All he wants now is to be found in Him, not having his own life anymore, but living by the life of the One who is Life. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 KJV) Paul says many times in his 14 letters that he no longer lives by his own righteousness or even by his own faith (Romans 3:22; Galatians 2:16, 20; Galatians 3:21, to name a few). It's the righteousness and faith of Christ that lives in and through him. There's nothing we can do or not do to make us more pleasing to God. Christ did the work on the cross and Christ is our redemption. He is our new life and knowing Him in this way was all that Paul wanted. Paul goes on even deeper to say in Philippians 3:10 that he wants to know Christ in all ways, in His sufferings, His death, and His resurrection. For he knew that when Christ died, we died too, our old lives buried with Him. In His resurrection, we arose with Him to our new life in Him. He wanted to know all about this, and Paul knew the only way was by getting to know Christ, the very life that now lives in him. He knew that this knowledge of Christ in Him would require a radical mind change. Indeed, Christ revealed this to Paul first and Paul turned around and revealed it to us. He was the first human to know the inward life of Christ. No doubt, Paul's in-Christ teaching in Antioch lead to the first time believers were called Christians (Christ-persons). In his epistles, Paul emphasizes knowing and living Christ. This most excellent knowledge is given by the power of the Holy Spirit; our minds can be renewed as we continue to understand and know Christ, the Christ that now occupies our very spirits. “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Corinthians 5:16 KJV) Warren reminds us, through Paul's epistles, that we will never really know who we are until we know Christ. If we don't know the One who now lives in us, then we will never know ourselves. Christ came to complete us. We were chosen in him before the foundation of the world. “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” (Ephesians 1:4 KJV) In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul urges Christians, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” So that we, too, may know Christ as Paul did, here and now.

Ephesians 6:17; Philippians‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭ We are instructed in Ephesians 6:17 to put on the whole armour of God and to “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” A helmet is important for the protection of the brain, which is like a powerhouse of the whole body. The brain controls our thoughts, our memory and speech. It also controls the movement in f our arms and legs. So if the head is affected, it will affect the whole body. Without the head strapped properly with the helmet, when there is an attack, the head will be severely damaged. An headless man is a lifeless being. In essence, as Christians- Christ-believers- we must work out our salvation with reverence, cultivating it, bringing it to full effect and actively pursuing spiritual maturity so that God's name can be glorified through our living standing up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abimbola-arawande/message

Rev. Benjamin Dose of Zion Lutheran Church, Arcadia, IA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Hebrews 10:19-39. We all desire our loved ones to be confident.  The author shows the Hebrews what it means to be confident as Christians: Christ has washed you clean by His blood and invites You near.  This hope leads us to be with other Christians around His gifts in worship and to hold fast to Him through trial.  Go to church, saints of our LORD, for the Day is drawing near.  “Lord God, by the curtain of Christ's flesh, we can confidently come to You without fear.  Help us to walk with You, even through trial, and to extend compassion to others.  In Him, Amen” 

Who Are Our Brethren?By Tammy Lacock In today's podcast, Warren Litzman explains a bit further what Paul means by “brethren” in Romans 7:1 (KJV). Brethren are those in the Body of Christ, Christians (Christ-persons) whose life is now Christ's Life. Warren reminds us of Jesus of Nazareth's golden rule about loving one another, loving our brethren. But, he says, it is not our love that comes through; it is the love of the living Christ coming through us. Indeed, we are not capable of loving our brethren unless we love Christ, the one who is our new Life. As believers, the Holy Spirit overwhelms our hearts with God's love and His love shines through each of us. At this point in time, with evil and corruption plaguing the world more and more, we must remember Paul's gospel, the Final Gospel of Christ living in every believer. It is only through and in Him that we can overcome. In the midst of life's tribulations, may we let Christ's unconditional love come through us and touch the hearts of all our brethren.

In this podcast, we analyse a text from one of C.S Lewis works. It illustrates how devil's tactics, but as Christians Christ is our armour.

In this podcast, Fr. Javier del Castillo shares a reflection on the Holy Archangels–St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael–in preparation for the feast of the Holy Archangels on September 29. As we reflect on the tasks of the angels in the history of salvation, we are encouraged to strengthen our own devotion to the angels, especially through the example of St. Josemaria Escriva. St. Josemaria explains: “We must spend our life completely in the service of the Lord. If our desire for holiness is sincere, if we are docile enough to place ourselves in God’s hands, everything will go well. For he is always ready to give us his grace – grace for a new conversion, a step forward in our lives as Christians” (Christ is Passing By, no. 59). _____________________________________ THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please leave a rating or review here on SoundCloud and on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/st.-j…id966458405?mt=2 Don’t miss new podcasts from the St. Josemaria Institute!
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QueerVotion Episode 36: "And the Category Is....Dot Dot Dot" On episode 36, "And the Category Is....Dot Dot Dot", I caught up with LaRae and Schmian, the hosts of the incredible and highly needed, "Black, Queer, &..." Podcast! This conversation is lit! I hope y'all dig it! You can find LaRae and Schmian on the interwebs @ : http://blackqueerpodcast.com/ Twitter: @blackqueerpod IG: blackqueerpod Don't forget to follow, like, and rate us on social media:) Make sure you use our hashtags: #queervotionpod #QVpod #QV IG: queervotion Facebook page: @QueerVotion Twitter: @queervotion You can email us at: queervotion@gmail.com Check out the website: www.queervotion.com #queervotionpod #QVPod #QV #queervotion #issapodcast #Christians #Christ #christianswhoarequeer #queerchristians #queerstrians #lgbtchristians #queerandchristian #wearehere #andweaintgoingnowhere #livingfaithfully #outloudandproud #peopleofcolor #blackwomen #woc #blackgirlmagic #blacklivesmatter #translivesmatter #lgbtpocs #qwoc #poc #relationshipoverreligion #Godlovesyou #Godmadeyou #Goddoesnotmakemistakes #youarethewhosoever #johnchapter3verse16

QueerVotion Episode 35: "Hand Clappin' and Finger Snappin ft. Kashif A. Graham" On episode 35, I am chattin' up with the absolute, phenomenal Kashif A. Graham. This conversation is soooooooooooooo good and some good chuckles too:) I hope y'all dig it! You can find Kashif at: www.kashifandrewgrham.com Twitter @kashifandrewgraham KashifAndrewGraham@gmail.com Books: Colored People: A Memoir by Henry Louis Gates Jr. Nobody Knows My Name by James Baldwin Reading the Bible Again For the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally by Marcus J. Borg The Misunderstood Jew by Amy Jill Levine Song: Psalm 126 by Bifrost Arts Don't forget to follow, like, and rate us on social media:) Make sure you use our hashtags: #queervotionpod #QVpod #QV IG: queervotion Facebook page: @QueerVotion Twitter: @queervotion You can email us at: queervotion@gmail.com Check out the website: www.queervotion.com #queervotionpod #QVPod #QV #queervotion #issapodcast #Christians #Christ #christianswhoarequeer #queerchristians #queerstrians #lgbtchristians #queerandchristian #wearehere #andweaintgoingnowhere #livingfaithfully #outloudandproud #peopleofcolor #blackwomen #woc #blackgirlmagic #blacklivesmatter #translivesmatter #lgbtpocs #qwoc #poc #relationshipoverreligion #Godlovesyou #Godmadeyou #Goddoesnotmakemistakes #youarethewhosoever #johnchapter3verse16

Think about this: As we follow Jesus, we are heading to the same place where he has gone. That is the meaning of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus suffered and was then glorified. Because Jesus has gone ahead of us into glory.... because even now the Spirit of Christ is changing those who belong to him into his likeness from one degree of glory to another(2Cor 3:18).... because of the hope we have as Christians––Christ in you, the hope of glory(Col 1:27), we can wait with patience and we can even suffer in hope.Download Transcript

In this chapter we are introduced to one of the most important cities in Christian history. Antioch will become home to one of the strongest Gentile churches and will be the base from which the first missionaries are sent out to the Roman world.Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire. Its main street was paved with marble and was four miles long. It was also considered the second most wicked city in the Empire, second only to Corinth. Like Corinth, its main pagan god was a female, Daphne, who was worshipped through the use of Temple prostitutes.The contrast between the lives of the new Christians and the residents of Antioch gave rise to a brand-new name for followers of Christ: “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (11:26).“Christian” was actually a derisive name. It means “little Christs.” But what was intended as an insult is actually quite a compliment. I would be honored if someone said I reminded him of Jesus!There is a new move today to avoid the word “Christian.” Pastors like Bill Hybels have created a new term to describe Christians: “Christ followers.” They do this for two reasons.