Podcasts about xaris

Romans 6:23Earned and Deserved to Unearned and UndeservedRev. Erik Veerman6/25/2023Just one verse this morning. Romans 6:23. This verse is probably one of the top 10 well-known verses in the Bible. We're not going to stay parked on verse 23 for the whole time. In fact, Romans 6:23 is a good summary chapter 6.The main purpose of Romans 6 is to answer the question in verses 1 and 15. Should we sin, that grace may abound? The apostle Paul clearly answers that and gives his reasons. We are dead to our sin, united to Christ, and therefore we should pursue righteousness. Our last two Romans 6 sermons have honed in on those themes. But there's something else going on. Romans 6 also reveals the beautiful work of salvation in our lives… starting with where we came from, a state of death, and ultimately where he's bringing us, eternal life. And included are the steps along the journey.Romans 6:23 basically summarizes that. After we focus on the verse, we'll be going back to different parts of the chapter to see the progression.Well, let's come now to this verse. You can find that on page 1121 in the pew Bible.As we come to God's word, please stand as you are able.Romans 6:23. In fact, because it's just one verse, let's read it together.PrayerPeople spent 76.5 Billion dollars on anti-aging medicine last year. Did you even know anti-aging medicine was a thing? That includes supplements, hormone treatments, and other medicine to try and extend life expectancy.It's an interesting commentary on our culture. It reveals a recognition of death and dying, but also in some way, a pursuit to overcome death. And we know, this is not new. In the late 1400s, the explorer, Ponce de Leon, sought to find the ubiquitous fountain of youth. And if you go back to the 3rd century BC, China's first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, also sought to overcome death. He believed that consuming mercury would lead to eternal life. Can you guess what happened to him?Life and death are not peripheral matters for anyone. They may not always be front and center in our hearts and minds, but when confronted with the frailty of life, we often pursue some kind of self-preservation.Well, Romans 6:23 deals with those very things, the reality of death and the hope of life. But it takes those central matters to new levels – not just physical, but spiritual and eternal.•            The death that Romans 6:23 speaks about is a physical, spiritual, and eternal death. We'll come back to that in a couple of minutes. •            And the life that it speaks about is a physical, spiritual, and eternal life.That's one reason this verse is so well known. It's a rubber-meets-the-road reality that makes an eternal promise.For that reason, Romans 6:23 has been used in countless evangelism methods, like Evangelism Explosion, or the Roman Road, or the 4 Spiritual Laws.Some use it in what they call “one verse evangelism.” And I would say, it really does capture the heart of the good news of Jesus. It clearly presents the reality of sin, death, and life. One of my goals today is that you would see that.Now, I'm not opposed to evangelism methods – they can be helpful ways to explain the need for Christ and the hope he gives. Some of them, I believe, are better than others. And I'm not opposed to Romans 6:23 being used to help present the Gospel hope of Christ. It is helpful and clear.However, I do want to point something out. The apostle Paul was writing to Christians. The book of Romans is written to the church in Rome. His primary goal is to teach and encourage the church. And chapter 6 is especially for believers in Christ to lay hold of our union with Christ and its impact in our lives. If you are a believer in Christ, this verse summarizes your condition before coming to faith in Christ, and it reminds you of where you are headed in Christ for eternity. If that's you, what I'm saying is not to turn off your minds this morning. See this verse as a deep reminder of where you came from, what God has done, and what he will do for you. If you're not a believer in Jesus, or you are unsure about this Christianity thing, well then, see this verse in a different light. First, as a warning about the reality of death, but second, as an amazing gift of life that God offers to you.What I'd like to do is basically two things, this morning. First, get into the weeds of this verse. Each word is full of meaning. Doing so will make it even more weighty and even more glorious at the same time. And then, second, connect this verse to the rest of chapter 6. That will help us not just see our origin and destination, but also the path of Salvation that God has and is working in us.That's where we are headed. So, let's begin by analyzing some of these words and phrases. WagesFirst, “wages.” The English word “wages” really does capture the underlying meaning of the Greek. It's the salary, or you could say, reward due someone for their service. Of course, this verse is using it in the negative sense. When we think of compensation for work, we think of receiving a fair payment. Here, the word wages is applied to our sin. It's pointing us to what we deserve because of our sin. It's the just or fair compensation for sin. It's what we are due because of our sin. SinNow, briefly, let's get into that word “sin.” Our sin includes all the ways in which we have violated God's commands including defaming his name, rejecting him in unbelief, putting ourselves or others or other things before God in our lives. But it's also more than that. We didn't consider chapter 5, but that chapter speaks about how our very nature is sinful. All humanity inherited a sinful estate from Adam. We were born in sin. What I'm saying is that the reference to sin here is not just our sinful actions or inactions. It also includes how we are inherently sinful.DeathThat brings us to the word “death.” Death is described as the just payment for our sin. The word death means more than just physical death. Yes, it includes physical death (and the process of dying which we experience), but the word death here also includes spiritual death. That sense is also wrapped up in the underlying word. It's the separation from God and salvation forever.The wages of sin is death.God in all of his glory and majesty and goodness and truth is utterly holy – that means he's set apart from any and all things that go against his perfectly righteous nature. Sin is that thing which goes against God's character. Sin cannot remain in God presence. Because of his very character, God will deal with sin. So, when it says the “wages of sin is death,” it's saying that death is the fair payment for our sin. Death is God's righteous anger against sin. It's God's eternal wrath against sin and the sinner. Eternal and spiritual and physical death.But you say, “wait, wait, wait, time out! That sounds overly harsh and cruel of God to inflict that upon us. That comes across as ‘fire and brimstone,' like that well-known sermon by Jonathan Edwards ‘sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.' Aren't you overstating it?”I know that's what you are thinking because it's also my natural thought. I don't want to consider the wages of sin because it is a hard truth. But you see, God's justice is infinite. He cannot just sweep sin under the rug and ignore that it's there. No, any and all of our sin is an affront to our holy God. We deserve hell and eternal damnation. We've earned that because of our sinfulness. Scripture is not silent about the hard reality of God's wrath.Speaking of famous verses. I think the most well-known verse is John 3:16. Right? “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” It's a verse that speaks of God's love. And you say, “see, I told you so. God so loved the world. That's what it says!” And I would say, “amen!” But two things are important to note about John 3:16. First, don't skip over the part about not perishing. Those who believe shall not perish. John 3:16 is not avoiding the reality of death. But second, if you go down to later in the very same chapter, John 3:36, the apostle John clearly speaks of God's anger. Listen to these words: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”You say, “but what about Jesus' teaching? After all, he loved people.” Well, over and over, Jesus spoke about hell. He said that it's a place of eternal torment, of unquenchable fire, it's where people will gnash their teeth in anguish, from which there is no return. He said it is outer darkness.I'm a people pleaser, just like you. I don't want to offend you because deep down I want you to like me. But if I am not faithful to preach about the full wages of our sin, then I am not pleasing God, nor am I communicating the full message of the Gospel.Let me put it this way: We can't fully understand the second half of this verse unless we fully understand the first half of this verse. We can't know the fullness of God's love unless we understand the fullness of God's wrath. The more and more we realize the depth of our sin and what we deserve, the more and more we are in awe of God's love and grace. So, let's not minimize, ignore, or reject the utter atrociousness of our sin and the hell that we all deserve. No, instead, let's go there. Let's believe it because it is out of that understanding, the cross becomes utterly amazing… truly beautiful. The wages of sin have been satisfied for you who believe.Well, with that raw reality of the wages of our sin, now let's come to the amazing gift of God. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”GiftThat phrase “free gift” is one word in the Greek. The root of the word is Xaris, grace, but with the emphasis on free. God's gift is free. It's unmerited and underserved. Do you see the contrast to the first part of the verse? Our sin deserves death, but the answer is not doing good to deserve life. It does not say, “the wages of sin is death, but the wages of our righteousness is eternal life.” No. We cannot earn eternal life. A dead person cannot, in his own strength, come back to life. Rather, the only way to receive eternal life is as a gift from God. Eternal LifeThat phrase “eternal life” has so many dimensions to it. As I mentioned, physical, spiritual, and eternal – eternal in the sense of unending. But also, eternal in the sense of secure or protected forever. It is new life beyond this life in all those ways. Now, I'm not saying that each of us will not physically die. We will unless the Lord returns. Rather I'm saying that we will have new physical bodies in eternity. So, eternal life in the sense of overcoming physical, spiritual, and eternal death. This is the free gift of eternal life. What a contrast to the wages of sin!And notice the sentence does not end after the phrase “eternal life.” The sentence can't end there. There's still the problem of dealing with the wages of our sin. Something needed ot be done to replace the wages of our sin, death, with life. And so verse 23 continues… “in Christ Jesus our Lord.”In Christ Jesus, Our Lord Now, I want to talk to the teenagers for a moment. Let's say that you just received your drivers' license. You are so excited, but then something tragic happens. You are driving and your best friend texts you. You get distracted and try to reply. Well, you lose focus, you swerve into oncoming traffic, then overreact, and you swerve the other way, and go off the road… a young boy was riding his bike and you hit and kill him. The punishment handed down is life in prison, no chance for parole. But for the sake of the illustration, let's say there's a little-known law that allows one specific individual to serve the sentence for you. The father of the boy who was killed. And in an amazing display of undeserved love, he does that for you. You are free and for the rest of his life, he is in prison for you.You see, the wages for our sin still needed to be dealt with. And that's what God has done through Christ. Through the cross of Christ, the wages of sin were satisfied. And it's way beyond that example. The holy, righteous wrath of the one, true, living, and eternal God was satisfied. As God, Jesus was able to eternally satisfy the wages of our sin. And as a perfectly righteous man, Jesus was able to satisfy the wages of sin in our place.And don't miss that little word “in.” (back in verse 23) “In” as in “In Christ Jesus.” It takes us back to the beginning of chapter 6. We have been buried with him in our spiritual baptism (that was the idea in verse 4). Likewise, we have been raised with him to new life because we are united to him (that's what verse 5 says). That is where the free gift of eternal life comes from. Just as Jesus was resurrected, so those in him will be resurrected to new life withhim forever. Death has been defeated in Christ, and those in him, united to him, have died to death in him and will be alive in him forever. It's hard to even understand the eternal part of eternal life. But we know that we will be with Christ, forevermore.And that gift should profoundly impact your life, today. Back to the example, imagine how your life would change after that father willingly was imprisoned in your place. I want you to note another phrase that's easy to miss! It's those last 2 words. “Our Lord.” Really, they connect to the entire chapter. We've been considering what it means to be united to Christ. It means that grace is not cheap grace (remember that). It means that because we've died to sin, we should put our sin to death. In other words, Jesus cannot only be your Savior. He also needs to be your Lord. Lord of your life. Or to put it in Romans 6 terms. You are no longer a slave to sin, but a slave to God. He is your Lord. Do you see how the phrase “our Lord” ties verse 23 to the entire chapter?And really, chapter 6 gives you the full picture of your salvation in Christ. It begins with your state before God's gift. You were dead in your sin. And chapter 6 ends with the eternal life you will experience in Christ, forever. Verse 23 is like the book ends in your life. From your deadness to your aliveness. From the wages of your sin to the eternal gift of life.Let's briefly walk through those steps outlined in chapter 6. There are four of them.1. Condemned Slaves of SinFirst, the place of being dead in your sin because of the wages of sin. We were condemned to death – physical and spiritual death as we've discussed. Verse 17 says that we were slaves of sin. We were unable to break free from that slavery to sin. We could do nothing to free ourselves.2. Freed from slaveryBut thanks be to God. He did not leave us in that state of condemnation. Verse 6 captures step #2. “our old self was crucified with [Christ]” Why? It says, “so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Verse 18 is similar. They both highlight that we've been set free from sin. And as we considered last week, it is God's work, not our work.3. Alive to GodSo, #1 we were condemned because of our sin. #2 God freed us through Jesus' death and resurrection. And now #3. We are alive to God. We are freed to now live for and in Christ. And this is the big emphasis of Chapter 6. As I mentioned last week, this chapter is considered the sanctification chapter in the Bible. Sanctification is God working in you conforming you more and more to Christ each day. And as we saw last week, we have a responsibility in that. We're to present ourselves to God, to pursue Christ and his righteousness. So that's step 3.4. Eternal lifeAnd the last part of God saving us is the gift of eternal life. Actually, look at the end of verse 21 into verse 22. It summarizes these four steps. It says, “For the end of those things is death.” It's speaking about being slave to sin. That's step #1, where we began. Next, verse 22 says, “but now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God.” That's the second step - God freed us in Christ. It continues, “the fruit you get leads to sanctification.” That's step #3. We've been freed in order that we may serve and honor God. And then, last, verse 22 concludes: “and its end, eternal life.” God is sanctifying us until that day that we will be with our Savior and Lord in heaven, forever.“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Conclusion.Let me end where we began. Death is coming. Every single one of us, to one extent or another feels or fears death. Let that be a warning to each of us. The full condemnation of God's wrath is coming. But God has defeated death and defeated hell for you through Christ. And in him you will have life eternal. If you are a believer by faith in Christ, this is a deep and rich encouragement. Let this whole chapter draw you closer to Christ, especially this wonderful conclusion. The free gift of eternal life. It's yours in Christ Jesus, your Lord. Let it be that gift that you treasure and hope for and long for and which sustains you in this life.And if you don't know Jesus, now is the time. Death is coming, but God has overcome death and offers you eternal life in him. Will you believe?

 Dr. Wendell Scanterbury is an Assistant Professor in the Doctoral Programs in Marriage and Family Therapy at Eastern University, PA,

Romans 12:6-8 Rev. Erik Veerman10/2/2022Gifts of GraceThis morning we will be focusing on Romans 12:6-8. That can be found on page 1126 in the pew Bible. These verses expand on verses 3-5. Last week was about unity in the body of Christ. We are many members. We don't all have the same function or responsibilities, but we are one body in Christ.And these verses, 6-8, go into different gifts and responsibilities that we're given to serve one another in the church.Let's now turn our attention to God's Word. Stand.Reading of Romans 12:6-8PrayerAccording to a 2020 study, 51% of Americans have unused gift cards sitting around their home. The total value is about 15 Billion dollars. That's an average of $116 per person. Maybe we should go door to door in Tucker asking for gift card donations to help fund a new church building!$15 billion dollars of gift card. And these are gifts given by friends and family for birthdays and holidays. The intention, of course, was for them to be used. But they just sit. We forget about them, or they get lost, or accidentally thrown away.When we come here to Romans 12:6-8, we're told about gifts that God has given to us. These gifts are to be used and not to sit idle. These gifts are to be a blessing to us and others. But often, these gifts, like unredeemed gift cards are not cashed in. They are not used or exercised.In this passage, we're given a description of these gifts. We're given some examples. We're commanded to use these gifts, and we're given some explanations about how are to be used.In fact, each of you, sitting here, has been given gifts like some of these. Your individual gifts serve a purpose, and collectively, all of our gifts work together for the welfare of the body. We'll spend a majority of our time identifying these gifts and talking about how to exercise them. But I think it would be helpful to first give a better definition of what these gifts are (and are not!), and then work through the particulars.You can see a sermon outline on the back of the bulletin. Three points.• The first is “gifts of grace given” – Why am I calling them “gifts of grace?”.• Second, “gifts of grace identified.” In other words, what are these gifts? We'll be looking at other scripture texts to get a better overall sense of them.• And third, “gifts of grace exercised.” How are we called to use our gifts? In fact, how do you know what gifts God has given you?1. Gifts of Grace GivenSo, first, gifts of grace given. You may have noticed the redundancy in the phrase I'm using - Gifts of Grace. Grace itself means gift. I'm pulling that phrase right from verse 6. “having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.”Sometimes you'll hear people describe these gifts as spiritual gifts. And I think that's a fine title if we mean that they are given by the Holy Spirit. Really, these gifts are from God. Different texts in the Bible describe them as given from God the Father or God the Son or the Spirit. But it is the Holy Spirit who applies these gifts to each of us. And these gifts are like the abilities and skills and passions that God has given you to serve him in different ways. We're going to get specific but overall they are gifts from God.And the word “gifts” right there, the second word of verse 6, is the plural form of the word for “grace.” It's the Greek word Charisma. It's where we get the word “charismatic.” That term describes the branch of Christianity that focuses on the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit - like speaking in tongues and supernatural healing. Some Pentecostal churches are charismatic.And that word Xaris is used twice in verse 6. First the plural translated “gifts,” and second the word “grace” which is singular. So, gifts of grace. And if you didn't catch it the first two times, these gifts are described as “given to us.” So, gifts, plural. Grace, same word which means a gift from God. And the word “given.”From the redundancy, the overwhelming sense is that God has blessed you with them. They are his for you to use for his purposes. And that is really important to understand. Because if you don't understand that it's God's gift, it would be easy to become prideful. You could think, “Oh, I'm important, I have the ability to do this or that, like maybe teach or lead.” That's why the verses leading up emphasize humility. Verse 6 here continues that theme, by emphasizing that they are given as gifts.The other part that is important to understand is that they are focused on the body of Christ, the church. That also goes back to the previous verses, specifically verses 4 and 5. We have different “functions,” but we are in total, “one body in Christ.”So, these gifts of grace are not talents that you have that can be used wherever. No, they are specifically for the church and kingdom. They are gifts given you that are to be used to serve and bless the church, the body of Christ.And by the way, there's not a one-to-one correspondence between someone skills and talents (which are used in the marketplace) and their service in the church. For example, someone may be a great teacher as a job, but may not have the gift of teaching – meaning teaching what the Scriptures teach. Someone else may be a leader in his or her company, but not called to leadership in the church, but may be instead called to serve. Maybe given a passion for mercy and able to lovingly serve in that way, caring for different mercy needs in the church.I'm not saying that someone who has skills and experience to teach or lead does not have the corresponding gifts. Rather, I'm saying they don't always correspond. Do you see that difference? The bottom line is that the gifts of the Spirit are for the church. They are a grace that God gives each of us to support the body of Christ.Gifts of grace given.2. Gifts of Grace IdentifiedThat brings us to point number 2. Gifts of grace identified.Just what are these gifts, you ask? Or another question that comes to mind: how many gifts are there? I know I've mentioned some examples, already, but we're given a list here. Seven gifts are listed. And let me say this is not a comprehensive list. We're given other examples in other parts of Scripture.But notice what it says at the beginning of verse 6. “having gifts that differ according to the grace given us.” Like we talked about last week, just as a body has different parts, so the body of Christ is made up of people with different gifts and responsibilities. And the point is that we all work together with our different gifts to serve the church.The question for you is, what gifts of grace has God given you? As I work through this list, I want you to be thinking about that question. What has God given you or how has he equipped you to contribute to the body of Christ? By the way, when we get to point 3, we'll talk about how to know which gifts you've been given.OK, f you look at the list of gifts mentioned here, I'm guessing you have the most questions about the gift of prophecy. Right? I think of all the gifts listed here, that one brings with it the most questions. When we think of prophecy, we think of an Old Testament prophet. Prophets directly spoke a new revelation from God. Our responsive reading earlier in the service was from Ephesians 2. We read together that we are “members of the household of God.” And it says, which is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” It's speaking of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles. Both had a unique role in redemptive history to directly speak God's Word. They were part of the foundation.In the New Testament, that word prophet and prophecy is used, but with a different sense about them.For example, 1 Corinthians 14 speaks about the gift of prophecy. But it's very interesting because it's different from what an Old Testament prophet did. I Corinthians 14 verse 3 says: “the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.” And a little bit later in the chapter, it says that when the church comes together, “let two or three prophets speak, but let the others weigh what is said.” In other words, the gift of prophecy in the New Testament should be evaluated based on God's Word. That's different than an Old Testament prophet who spoke new revelation. Do you see that difference? Prophecy in the Old Testament was the very Word of God. Prophecy in the New Testament is a Spirit led application of God's Word.The word prophecy in the Greek has a narrow and a broader definition. The use here in Romans 12 seems to be broader. It's the gift where God's Word is not just explained, but it is applied to a specific situation for a specific people. It sounds a little bit like preaching, doesn't it?Let me add one more thing. At the end of Romans 12 verse 6, it says that the one who has the gift of prophecy should use it “in proportion to our faith.” That word “proportion” is also the word for analogy or ratio or comparison. I think the clearest understanding is that someone with the gift of prophecy should make sure that his prophecy is aligned with our faith - an objective understanding of faith. In other words, it should line up with what the Scriptures teach about the faith, meaning Christianity. To use the words of 1 Corinthians 14, is the “upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” of the prophecy consistent with what the Bible teaches about faith?I hope that give you a better understanding of prophecy.The other gifts listed are much more straight forward. If you look back at the sermon outline, you'll see a list of Scriptures under point #2. Those are the other places in Scripture which present different lists gifts. In fact, 1 Peter 4:11 says that there are two general kinds of gifts, speaking gifts and serving gifts. That's helpful to think about.SO let's consider some of the other gifts listed in Romans 12. I'll also pull in some of the other gifts from other Scripture. We only have time to briefly consider each… but in our adult class on the Holy Spirit, later this fall, we'll be spending more time on these gifts.• First, the gift of serving – someone who helps in ways that support the work of the church. That could be setting up the communion trays each week or helping manage the finances or safety of the church. That word serving is the same root as the word for deacon. Do you have the gift of serving?• Teaching is the gift of clearly explaining what the Scriptures teach. Do you have the gift of teaching?• The gift of exhortation is like focused encouragement or admonition in a specific personal situation. Someone with the gift of exhortation may not have the gift of prophecy or teaching - it's not about being in front of a group of people, it's more one-on-one. Do you have the gift of exhortation?• Giving or contributing is a gift. Financial giving. It's someone who recognizes that he or she is a steward of the financial resources that God has entrusted to them. And they love to contribute to meet the needs of the church. Do you have the gift of contributing?• The gift of mercy is helping a member in the church with a need. The Scriptures often speak about widows and orphans. Those are two examples. Mercy could be coming alongside someone in an acute situation in matters of health or shelter. Do you have the gift of mercy?• Leadership is about overseeing. That could be overseeing the spiritual needs of the church, like what elders do. That could be overseeing the different gifts that relate to serving, like what deacons do. It could be overseeing a ministry area. Do you have the gift of leadership?• That's different from the gift of administration. Administration is being able to navigate how to best fulfill the calling of the church in the specific situation or context. He or she is not the captain of the ship but is the chief navigator, coordinating and communicating behind the scenes. It's not clerical administration but coordinating administration. Do you have the gift of administration?• Next, the gifts of wisdom and knowledge. They are different. Knowledge is the gift of having a mind that can consume a lot of information and being able to recall that. In regard to the church, that could be church history or Bible knowledge. Wisdom, on the other hand, is applying that knowledge in the church. Do you have the gift of knowledge or wisdom?• Evangelism is the gift of calling someone to faith in Christ. It's speaking into someone's specific situation with the Gospel of Jesus, having Spirit-filled discernment on how to call someone to faith and repentance. Do you have the gift of evangelism? And I should say, not having the gift of evangelism doesn't mean you are not called to share your faith. No, that is a calling for all of us. It's just that a person with the gift of evangelism plays a unique role in bringing many people to faith. And we could say something similar about serving and mercy and contributing. It's in part a call for all of us.• Hospitality is the gift of welcoming others in the name of Christ. Someone with this gift has the ability to get to know someone and make them sense the love of Christ for them through the church. It's different from southern hospitality or “entertaining” in that Biblical hospitality involves more than an external hosting. It involves getting below the surface and caring for someone. Do you have the gift of hospitality?Those are many of the gifts mentioned in Scripture. It's not comprehensive list. You may have noticed I didn't mention what we call the extraordinary gifts, like healing, tongues, and miracles. I'm not trying to avoid discussing them. It would take a lot more time to unpack whether or not those gifts are still given today. But, for the adults, we will discuss them in the Sunday morning class later this fall.Broadly speaking, the gifts I did mention are the gifts of grace that God gives his people for the discipleship, the organizing, the serving, and the caring of the flock of God – his church.Full disclosure – the reason I picked Romans 12 for a short series is because we're a new church, just like the church in Rome. And we need that encouragement (1) to be renewed and transformed, verses 1-2; (2) to be humble and unified, verses 3-5, and (3) to work together with the different gifts that God has given each of us, verses 6-8.3. Gifts of Grace ExercisedMoving on to point #3. Point #1 was gifts of grace given. Point #2 was gifts of grace identified, and now #3, gifts of grace exercised, meaning used. To say it again, every single one of you in the church has been given gifts, different gifts, and God calls you to use them. Do you see that phrase there in the middle of 6? “let us use them.” They are not to sit in a drawer like unredeemed gift cards. Rather, they are to be deployed for use in the church and kingdom. That's really the main emphasis of this short passage, isn't it. The apostle Paul doesn't just list these gifts of grace. No, after each gift, he exhorts the church to use them.That begs the question, how do I know which gifts God has given me? That's an important question. Or, how can I confirm the gifts that I think the Lord has given me?Let me give you two ways that will help identify your specific gifts.1.) First, ask yourself, which gifts excite me? Which gifts, when you think about them, stir your passion. Notice verse 8. The final three gifts mentioned included heart responses to the gifts. “the one who contributes, in generosity!” Next, “the one who leads, with zeal!” It ends with “the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness!” The gifts you've been given should not be a burden to you. You should have joy in exercising them. I'm not saying that every single moment using your gift will be exciting. No, there will be times when it feels like hard work, but overall you should have that internal desire to serve with the gift you've been given. Think about the gifts I mentioned. Which ones did you perk up and take notice of?2.) Ok, the second way to help identify your gifts, is to try them… to exercise them. That's what the call here is about. In order to use your gifts, you need to use your gifts. For example, if you sense a heart for mercy, sit in on one of the mercy team meetings. If there's a practical mercy need that has come up, volunteer to help. Or, if you are part of a small group and the leader is going to be out of town for the next meeting, if you think you may have the gift of teaching, try it out one time. That's what happened with me. 25 years ago, I had the opportunity to lead a home group. I had never done anything like that before, but I had the internal sense. Low and behold I enjoyed not just the teaching but the preparation. Many people affirmed that gift. Which, by the way, is another confirmation: external affirmation by others.Don't be shy to test whether you have a gift. Try it out. Sometimes we have paralysis by analysis. We think, “what if it doesn't go well? I'll be embarrassed.” Yeah, you may be, but that is part of the process. And even if it doesn't go well the first time, if you still have that burden, try again. At the age of 18, Billy Graham, the well-known evangelist, was asked to preach for the first time. He was so nervous but he agreed. His first sermon lasted 8 minutes. He wrote in his autobiography how poorly it went! It was so bad, that afterward, a man came up to him and said, “boy, you better go back to school…. you're not going to make it.” The point is it often takes time to grow and mature in the gifts. So, exercise your gifts, be patient, evaluate your desires and interests, listen to others, while continuing to learn and grow in them. Evaluate all of that as you seek to be a blessing to build up the body of Christ. And that necessarily means you need to be a part of the body of Christ. At a minimum that means being here for worship, but it also implies participating in the ministry life of the church to exercise those gifts.It's a beautiful thing when the believers in the church exercise their gifts… when they work together to serve and disciple and minister to the community in the name of Christ. I think one of the blessings of our church family has been how so many of you are serving and utilizing your gifts to that end.ConclusionIn summary… 1. Gifts of grace given – the Lord has given each of us gifts of the Spirt. They are truly gifts of grace from God, and they are for the explicit purpose of serving and supporting the work of the church.2. Gifts of grace identified – there are many different gifts: teaching, exhorting, serving, mercy, giving, hospitality, knowledge, wisdom, prophecy or preaching, leading, evangelism, administrating, and more. They each have a purpose and they work together.and 3. gifts of grace exercised. Our gifts are not to sit idle, but we're to use them since God has given them to build up his church.As we wrap things up, it's important to remind ourselves of the grace behind the grace. The gifts are a grace. They are described that way, but the grace behind the gifts of grace is the grace of salvation in Jesus. It is the ministry of Christ, who calls each of us into fellowship with him and with each other which makes the gifts of grace possible. To say it in another way, your gifts are a grace because of the grace of the Gospel. It would not be possible to have these gifts of grace without the love of God in Christ, which he gives us. And even more than that, our gifts are a mechanism through which grace is given. Think about this: • …when we exercise our gifts together in the body of Christ, we are a ministry of grace. • …when God's Word is taught, his grace is given. • …when we exhort or encourage each other, God's grace is made known. • …when we serve each other in the name of Christ, that grace is demonstrated. • …when we evangelize, the grace of God is offered. • …when we show hospitality and mercy, the grace of God in Christ is displayed.So, it is the grace of God in Christ, which is the foundation. It is through that grace of Christ, that the gifts of grace are given by the Holy Spirit to believers… and the very grace that is received in Christ and in the gifts, is grace that is taught, demonstrated, and offered. It's all grace, from beginning to end.May each of us see the gifts of grace that we're given, may we use them individually and together, so that the bride of Christ, the church, may be built up, and may the grace of God in Jesus be furthered for God's glory and our good. Amen

Romans 12:3-5 Rev. Erik Veerman9/25/2022A Humility that Promotes UnityThis morning, we'll be considering Romans 12:3-5. You can find that on page 1126 in the pew Bibles.This is a continuation of our short series in Romans 12. We're getting into the heart of the chapter. It relates to us together, our relationships with one another and service in the church.Please stand for the reading of God's Word.Reading of Romans 12:3-5PrayerIntroductionThe big news over the past few weeks has been the passing and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II – the queen of England. She was the longest serving monarch in their history. And as you've heard over and over, she was faithful, kind, and gentle – a true example to follow.One of her former bodyguards shared a story that happened a few years ago. He was on a long walk with the Queen near her estate in Scotland. They happened to come upon 2 American hikers. These guys didn't recognize the queen and she didn't tell them who she was. She was dressed in casual attire and a scarf for the hike. They had a nice conversation. The Americans asked them where they were each from. The queen replied that she had a holiday home in the area but mainly lived in London. They asked how long she had been coming up to the area, to which she replied, “for about 80 years since I was a little girl.”“Oh, you must have met the queen, then,” one of them responded.Her majesty came back, “I have not met the queen, but he has multiple times,” pointing to her bodyguard.They then asked him what she was like. He responded, “oh she can be a little cantankerous at times, but she has a lovely sense of humor.”The Americans then handed the queen one of their cameras, asking if she would take a picture with this guy who has met the queen. After all he had me the queen. So she did, and then her body guard insisted that he take a picture of them with her.They all went on their merry way. I wonder if they ever realized who she really was.She never said, “don't you recognize me, I'm the queen.” She wasn't stand-off-ish or prideful because of her position. No she had a sweet and humble sense about her. Here are some quotes from recent articles written about her:• Queen Elizabeth II – A figurehead of such dignity, grace, humility, and faith• One author wrote: “Elizabeth's humility was her ‘real strength'”• Here's another: “Queen Elizabeth has shown selfless humility, grace, and loyalty”• “Her majesty was an incredible humble woman at heart”• And finally: “She had a humble, down to earth demeanor”Perhaps her humility came from her belief in Christ and His Word, I don't know. But we certainly could say she modelled Romans 12:3, not thinking of herself more highly than she ought, but rather with sober judgment.That phrase in 12:3 is a good definition of humility. Biblical humility is… having a perspective of ourselves that we are helpless without God and his grace. It means in our relationships with others, we give deference, and are gentle and respectful, lifting each other up, not arrogant or prideful, but kind and caring. And the humility that Romans 12:3 speaks of, should be the foundation of our relationships and our work together. It all begins with humility. Let me say it in a different way. Unity in relating to one another and unity in serving alongside one another begins with humility. Humility is an essential ingredient in the unity of the church – the body of Christ.That's what these verses are about. And let's look at them in three parts.1. A Humble Example – the Apostle Paul begins with himself.2. A Humble Appeal – There's a clear admonition here.3. A Unifying Reason – We're not just given a charge, we're given a reason. And it's a beautiful one.So, an example, an appeal, and a reason.1. A Humble ExampleSo first, Paul references himself as a receiver of what he is about to exhort them. He says, “for by the grace given to me, I say to you.” In other words, I have received a humility beyond human reason or logic. It has been and continues to be a grace in my life. It's a blessing. And I want you to have that same humility.Listen, Paul had everything to boast about. He was a Roman citizen. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, from the tribe of Benjamin. He was well educated - trained at the feet of Gamaliel, the top Jewish scholar of the day; Fluent in several languages. He had been a pharisee of pharisees. Yet, as he says in his letter to the church in Philippi, he counted it all as rubbish compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.It's not that the apostle didn't have convictions. He certainly did. But his disposition towards others was kind and his view of himself was modest.For him it all started at his conversion. You may know the story well. He was on the road to Damascus seeking to persecute believers of Jesus. And a bright light blinded him. God humbled him. He fell to the ground, as God called out to him. And he believed.Just like Paul, our coming to faith in Christ is at its foundation an act of humility before God. We submit ourselves to God. When we do so, we recognize him as our creator, as our Lord, and as our Savior. We are nothing apart from him. That's what happened to the apostle Paul in a radical way. And he calls the humility he received “grace.” The Greek is Xaris. The gift of faith from God to him. And God gave him wisdom, and knowledge and passion. But he attributed all of it to God. And Paul was intensely relational. The love he displayed to all believers and churches was so apparent. That is very clear in the opening and closing greetings in his letters. There was no one that he considered himself superior to, whether a prisoner, slave, woman, child, or whatever background.Culturally, his humility was radical. In the broader Greco-Roman world, humility was not a virtue. In fact, it was considered shameful to be humble. If you displayed humility towards someone who had a similar or lower class status, you were unethical. There was no category for humility in the lists of virtuous characteristics.Today, humility is more appreciated. There's even a trend among business executives to be humble and approachable.But not so back then. Paul's humility was radical, and so he began his exhortation with the example of his life. A humble example.2. A Humble AppealAnd that brings us to his appeal. This is point #2. Paul's appeal to the church in Rome. You could say, his humble appeal to be humble.And the church in Rome especially needed to hear this. The church was very diverse. In chapter 16, Paul greets many in the church. Their names indicate their different backgrounds and cultural status. Some had Greek names, some Jewish names, others Roman names. The list references believers from Asia minor as well. And some names indicated aristocracy, like “Herodian.”Even though they were all from the Mediterranean region, each came with cultural expectations and different ways they expressed themselves. Plus, they were from different segments of the population. Even thought they were all Christians, it would be easy to misunderstand or presume or get frustrated at each other. They would also be tempted to think their cultural background or status was superior to other people in the church. The apostle Paul knew this, and he wanted to be really clear. In regard to the church, it didn't matter who you were or where you came from, you were called to be humble. The church in Rome needed that exhortation.Look at that phrase, “I say to everyone among you.” The emphasis in the Greek is on each and every. Leaders, servants, young, old, new believers in Christ, mature believers. There's not a single person in this room that this doesn't apply to.“Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought.” Rather, “think of yourselves with sober judgment.” Remove any sense of pretense about who you are because of your family, your occupation, your education, your hometown, your role in the church, your age, whether you are married or not, your ethnic background, your neighborhood, how much money is in your bank account. Don't elevate your worth and value above anyone else. No, rather with thoughtful, level-headed sobriety, consider each-and-every other person as made in the image of Christ and as either a fellow Christian OR someone who needs the saving grace of Christ.One of the greatest theologians in the history of the church was Augustine. He served as a leading bishop in the church back in the 4th century in northern Africa. He described the importance of humility this way “For those who would learn God's ways, humility is the first thing, humility is the second thing, and humility is the third thing.” Augustine saw humility as a vital characteristic of the Christian faith, from which flowed all others.Have you every prayed that God would humble you? It's a dangerous prayer, isn't it! Because if God answers that, how will he humble you?A few years ago, I remember praying that God would humble me. And I remember being surprised that God actually answered it. I mean, no one wants to learn life lessons the hard way, but when it comes to humility, it often requires God humbling you in painful ways, showing you that you are not worthy of higher honor or status than anyone else. Without sharing the details, I'll just tell you that the process of being humbled was painful and difficult, but it was a sanctifying work in my life.If you are humbled in some way, the question is, will you cooperate with what God is doing? In those difficult times, whatever it is, will you grow in humility? You see, our natural sinful tendency is the opposite. When hurt or humiliated or shamed, we can become bitter, envious, insecure, or defensive. But instead, we should humble ourselves before God and before others. Would you heed the call of Romans 12:3 to think of yourself with sober judgment? Would you pray that God would humble you? Would you pray that God would deepen your understanding of his undeserved grace your life? … just like the grace that he gave the apostle Paul.Before we look at verses 4 and 5, there a phrase at end of verse 3 that is difficult to interpret. It says, “according to the measure of faith given to you.”You may have wondered what that means. So have I! So, let's take a brief couple of minutes to analyze it.The reason it's difficult to interpret is because that word “faith” can mean different things in the Scriptures. It can mean saving faith – you know, the saving faith you have in Christ, when you came to faith. But it can also mean the level of trust you have in God. Like the call to grow in your faith… grow in your hope… grow in your reliance upon God… seeking to mature in your trust of God. That kind of faith is about the maturity of your walk with the Lord.But look at the phrase, again. It says, “according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” The word “measure” in English seems to indicate that we are each given different levels of faith. Well, that reading seems to indicate that the faith mentioned is a sanctifying faith, not saving faith. However, some have pointed out that word “measure” in Scripture does not usually mean a different amount, rather it means “fulness.” So the “fulness of faith that God has assigned.” With that reading, it would be saving faith that Paul is talking about.Those are the main two interpretations. The difference is this: The first interpretation means that as you grow in your faith, you should become more humble. The second is that you should be humble because of the saving faith that God has given you. Which is it? I'm not exactly sure, but I lean toward seeing it as saving faith. In other words, be humble because of the fulness of the saving faith that God has assigned… or that God has given you. That interpretation also ties nicely back to the beginning of verse 3. The grace given Paul is similar to the grace given you. And a couple verses later in verse 6. That same phrase “according to” is used, but with the word “grace.”Regardless of which interpretation is correct, it doesn't change the appeal. Either way, God calls each and every one of us to humility.3. A Unifying ReasonSo, the first point was A Humble Example – the apostle's own humility because of the grace given him. The second point was A Humble Appeal. The call to humility.That brings us to point 3: A Unifying Reason.Verses 3 and 4 answers the question, “why?” Really, I would say, this is a mix between the reason and the result. You see that word “for” (f-o-r) right at the beginning of verse number 4. That's similar to the word “because.”Here's the whole thing: “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”This is so rich. Really, over the next 2 weeks, we're going to see this applied in 2 ways. First, in the different spiritual gifts we are each given. And second, in the love and care of one another to which we are called. Stay tuned for those.But these two verses, 4 and 5, are the foundation. The analogy is of a body. You've probably heard that phrase a lot, “the body of Christ.” It means the true church. We are members together in Christ's body. That word “body” is referencing someone's physical body. And it's a metaphor. It's saying, just like your body is made up of different parts, and each has a different function, so it is with the body of Christ.Kids! I want you to think of the different parts of your body. What are these? (waving my hands) Hands! You have eyes. A brain. (although sometimes I wonder if teenage boys have a brain! I wonder if I did back then) Feet to move around. What else? Ears to hear. A mouth to talk. A nose to smell. Yeah, all of those. The adults here have a little more knowledge of what's inside of you that makes those things work. Like your nervous system, which coordinates your movements and allows you to feel pain. You have your heart which pumps blood throughout. It brings energy and nutrients to your muscles and organs. You have your digestive system which processes the food you eat and turns it into either energy (or waste).And think about how the different parts of your body work together. Your eyes and your hands. Your ears and your mouth. Think about how your brain and heart and nerves work together to keep you alive and animate all your parts.It's quite amazing how God made us, isn't it?!And what these verses are saying is that the church is like a body. Each person has a different function or role in the church. Each part of the body of Christ works together. Each serves in a different way. We each, in the body of Christ, support each other in different ways. Each role serves a purpose. Next week we're going to talk about the different gifts that God gives his people, you, to serve the church. But the broader point is that the parts of the body, of the church, work together. Each is an indispensable part.You say, “but how does this all relate to humility?”Well, God is saying through the apostle Paul that humility is the essential ingredient. We all need to have humility to see that we each play an important role. The gifts and responsibilities we are given in the church are different, but we are each brothers and sisters in Christ, each serving alongside one another, and each building up his body and giving God the glory. Humility promotes unity in the church. When God's people are humble, we serve well alongside one another.To be sure, this applies beyond just the workings of the church to fulfill the mission of the church. This applies to marriages. A husband and wife may have different roles, but a unified marriage requires the man and woman to humbly serve and listen to one another. This applies to other family relationships - brothers and sisters, children and parents. When we have a humble disposition toward each other in a family, God unites us closer together.Let's focus in on verse 5 for a moment. It says, “so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Many but one. Individual parts but one body. Diversity but unity.Really these three verses are full of this theme. The many and the one. The many: “everyone among you,” “members,” the word “individually,” and the word itself “many.” But also the idea of togetherness. The phrase “one body” is used twice, and verse 5 ends with “members, one of another.” We are all individuals, you and me, but we are one body together. But where does that unity come from? What is the glue that unites us? What is the tie that binds?Well, it's right there in the middle of verse 5. We are “one body in Christ.”Through saving faith in Christ, God's Spirit unites each of us to Jesus. And in that uniting to Christ individually, we are united together in him. Sometimes we use the phrase “union with Christ.” Or the Westminster confession uses the word “ingrafting.” We have been grafted into Christ. And through that union with him… we reap all the benefits of Christ in his life, ministry, death, and resurrection. In our suffering, we suffer in Christ and have his strength. Our death is now hidden in Christ's death. And through his resurrection, we will be resurrected. That's what Romans 6:5 tells us. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” The benefits of our union with Christ are literally immeasurable. And one of the great benefits is our union together.We are united together, one to another, in Christ. We are one body in Christ. One body, many members, one to another in him.ConclusionAs we come to a close, here's where I want to tie this unity all back to humility. The unity that we have together in Christ, is a unity that is founded on humility. It's Christ's humility that has made our unity in him possible!We read the beginning of Philippians 2 early in our service. It has a very similar emphasis to Romans 12. It says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” It goes on to describe that humility more, but then it lays down the foundation of our humility. It is Jesus. Christ's humility is the foundation and model of our humility.It says, “though [Christ] was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” What that means is that when Christ became man, he set aside the external display of God's glory in him, by becoming a man. He didn't set aside his nature as God, rather, his glory was veiled in the incarnation.Philippians 2 goes on, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”The ultimate display of humility is the cross of Christ. The ultimate model for our humility is the cross of Christ. The ultimate source of our humility is found in the cross of Christ. And the ultimate reason for our unity is the humility of the cross of Christ.The humility that promotes unity is the humility of Christ.If the God of the universe humbled himself for you, how much more so should you humble yourself before one another? May we be humble people united in heart and soul, lifting each other up as one body in Christ, for his glory, not ours. Amen

“I did all of those things, but none of it was satisfying my heart” Today's episode features Xaris Normandia (aka The Hopemade woman) - a wife, mom, homemaker, creative soul, and blogger. Xaris's story is about dropping out of college, finding herself pregnant, slowly starting to desire marriage, and embracing her faith and femininity. This conversation is so full of wisdom for your journey in dating, in relationships, and life as a feminine essence being! Topics: “Miss Independent” - syndrome Becoming marriage material and feminine dating Surrendering your desires and creating space for them Making (scary) changes in your life Becoming a Homemaker Creativity, beauty, and staying inspired Cultivating sensory pleasure Xaris's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehopemadewoman/ Xaris's blog https://thehopemadewoman.com/blog/

Today we chat with a young virtual dater, she loves and prefers dating apps. We talk a little about loving yourself and embrace our self-body image, it's empowering. Listen in to her perspective and experiences when it comes to dating!

This episode Brando & Owen talk about all things Dungeons & Dragons! With a very special guest Kenley Shea Holmes, who plays Xaris in the Siren's Show!How do you create great characters? What are some tips for new players as well as seasoned DM's? What makes the game so much fun? Follow Kenley on Instagram @KenleyShea. Also check out our sister podcast, Hammered In Helios: A Spirited Dungeons & Dragons Campaign, anywhere you find podcasts.Next episode we're talking about The Suicide Squad! Until then - May your week be filled with BS. PATREON: Patreon.com/BanterAndSuchINSTAGRAM: @BanterAndSuchPodcast THE HELIOS NETWORK: theheliosnetwork.comThank you to Battle Bards for their amazing sound effects! 

Xaris Barragán Romero miembro activo de la cooperativa CICLOS, y una digna representante de Guerrero. Escucha su experiencia en nuestra gran cooperativa y despeja tus dudas ¿Qué esperas para ser parte?

Toda la vida, toda! Habrá obstáculos que superar, se nos presentarán situaciones que nos podrán a prueba, unas más fuertes y dolorosas que otras pero siempre habrá un Obstáculo que vencer para llegar a donde queremos estar. Escucha esta historia y reflexiona, porque es claro que eres más fuerte de lo que imaginas.

I'm so excited to share with you today's Q&A about a wide range of topics. I'll answer your questions about prebiotics for toddlers, how to make the best tea, benefits of omega 3, and how to balance your blood sugar levels naturally.  I hope you'll stick around because this Q&A episode is fully-loaded with information about health, wellness, and so much more! Today's Q&A Questions: 1. I have a question regarding omega. How does heat affect it and how bad? The reason why I ask is mainly because I cook sardines and salmon, but I also like to know because I like to soak and dehydrate walnuts and I'm thinking about sprouting/dehydrating flax and chia seeds. 2. My husband & I try to drink regularly a probiotic drink, and started our 21-month old daughter Xaris to drink too.. Is it ok for her to drink this early? 3. How can you get rid of stored sugar in the body and to improve insulin in the body without tablets? 4. You may have talked about different teas before, if you have I would love the link, but if you haven't, I would love to know about different healing benefits you could get from tea. Lately I have been having camomile tea (it also has spearmint in it), and have noticed that I am sleeping better at night. Thank you for tuning in this podcast episode. To learn more about how to achieve transformation both physically and spiritually, please visit our website https://thebiblicalnutritionist.com/ and get your FREE biblical health plan https://thebiblicalnutritionist.com/free-biblical-health-roadmap/  today!   God is doing amazing things through The Biblical Nutritionist.  If you LOVE the YouTube content If you LOVE knowing there is a dependable resource. If you LOVE sharing God's love through food. Please consider helping us continue this ministry with a $3 month donation! https://give.cornerstone.cc/give3   We serve together as we share the love of God through His amazing creation. Please help us do this!

If you enjoyed this episode show Xaris some appreciation at https://venmo.com/Xaris-Waltman (@Xaris-Waltman)   Direct download or stream - http://bit.ly/xarismp3   iTunes/Apple - http://bit.ly/xarisapple Spotify -  http://bit.ly/xarisspotify Stitcher - http://bit.ly/xarisstitcher   http://www.xarisofficial.comhttps://www.instagram.com/xarismusic/ www.facebook.com/xariswaltmanmusic/   Subscribe to the podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wnc-original-music/id1378776313 https://www.iheart.com/podcast/wnc-original-music-31067964/ This link has all the other places to subscribe https://gopod.me/wncom Follow on Social Media https://www.facebook.com/wncoriginalmusic https://www.wncoriginalmusic.com https://www.instagram.com/wnc_original_music/   All music used by permission Xaris Waltman was born in Pensacola, Florida. At a young age she picked up the guitar. Along with that, Xaris also discovered a deep love and connection for Folk and Old Time music. She loved how the old songs had life of their own and had been telling the same stories for generations. Xaris still feels the same way. Relaying these old songs to audiences during her shows makes her feel like she’s doing something bigger than herself. On June eighth, two-thousand-ninteen, at nineteen years old, she released an album of Old Time songs titled “Under The Willow”. Under The Willow was recored in Bristol, Virginia with Bigtone Records. Right out of highschool she started traveling the country solo; just a girl and her guitar. Playing listening rooms, living rooms, and festivals, Xaris has captured the people of small town America’s ears with her melodious, high toned voice. She has been compared to Dolly Parton, Allison Krauss, and Joan Baez but has a whole other side of sound all her own. Xaris also writes her own songs. She’s played many songwriters festivals, since the age of twelve and has been featured at the 50th Anniversary Eddie’s Attic Songwriters Shootout in Decatur, Georgia. Now living in Pittsburg, Kansas, Xaris is working on releasing her first full length album of original music in 2020.

On this week's podcast we interview the amazing self-taught musician Xaris Waltman. She talks about how she just went out as a young kid and did the work - massive action over time brought results. Even though she only played to small groups to start with she kept at it and now at nineteen she is able to support herself and her dreams. She gives some great advice on what to do when people repeatedly tell you "no". Stay tuned to the very end of the podcast because we are doing a giveaway for one of her cds.

Check out the Live and Amplified Project at https://www.facebook.com/liveNamplified/ Check out Xaris Waltman's Schedule and New Music Video at https://www.facebook.com/xariswaltmanmusic/ We are a Music based Multi-Media Project, We feature independent musicians giving them the opportunity to showcase and talk about original content. Make sure you check out our Webseries and Music Videos at: https://www.youtube.com/user/bleacherbumstv if you have any questions or comments please send them to westoakstreetproductions@yahoo.com Visit www.Libertyinc.com for upcoming show information in Roswell, NM.  Please Support MXL Microphones at www.mxlmics.com  If your going to be in Tampa, FL. Make sure you go check out the Gasparilla Music Festival March 7-8 - https://gasparillamusic.com

Where the MUSIC lives and the COFFEE rocks

Where the MUSIC lives and the COFFEE rocks

 https://wncom.podbean.com/mf/play/nn53hp/Tommy_Yon_1.mp3  ^click that link for easier download or listening on the go. https://www.facebook.com/Heirlummusic/ https://www.heirlummusic.com   Tommy Yon and Heirlum is playing Twin Leaf Brewery Saturday Sep 22, at South Slope. You'll probably be walking right by there anyway   Check out Michele Guild's cool podcast right now or you will be seen later as a bandwagon jumper https://facebook.com/welcometomyshowpodcast Google: bit.ly/GoogleWTMS iTunes: bit.ly/itunesWTMS Thanks to Xaris for returning to do the show break song    

 https://wncom.podbean.com/mf/play/5dm7vx/Ep_16_Xaris.mp3 Full Episodes easy listen or download http://www.xarisofficial.comhttps://www.instagram.com/xarismusic/ http://www.wncoriginalmusic.com/p/artist-profile-xaris-1527810638/ Audio engineering thanks to Tom Whelan www.facebook.com/wncoriginalmusic www.wncoriginalmusic.com  

Where the MUSIC lives and the COFFEE rocks!

Where the MUSIC lives and the COFFEE rocks!

Alan burnt the phone lines to talk with Xaris Waltman, folk singer/songwriter from Pensacola, FL. Xaris shares about growing up and early influences that landed her in the folk genre. Early impressions were singing/ playing in the church setting, acting in plays and musicals, and a record collection that pays homage to the early folk singers of the 50's and 60's. Xaris auditioned for 'The Voice' and flown out to Hollywood after passing several rounds on the show. After returning from the show, Xaris strung together a tour and eventually moved to Kansas, a music scene that lends itself to her genre and is based in the center of the U.S. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/porch-talk/exclusive-content

Alan burnt the phone lines to talk with Xaris Waltman, folk singer/songwriter from Pensacola, FL. Xaris shares about growing up and early influences that landed her in the folk genre. Early impressions were singing/ playing in the church setting, acting in plays and musicals, and a record collection that pays homage to the early folk singers of the 50's and 60's. Xaris auditioned for 'The Voice' and flown out to Hollywood after passing several rounds on the show. After returning from the show, Xaris strung together a tour and eventually moved to Kansas, a music scene that lends itself to her genre and is based in the center of the U.S.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/porch-talk/exclusive-content