Change is possible, I believe! Do you?

Marcelo, a friend of mine, simply sent me an email, for no clear reason, with the news below:

"A popular Christian artist, 3 time Dove Award winner Ray Boltz announced to the world on Friday, September 12th, 2008 that he is living a Homosexual lifestyle. Mr. Boltz stated in an interview with Washington Blade "If you were to hold up the rule book and go, 'Here are all the rules Christians must live by,' did I follow every one of those rules all that time? Not at all, you know, because I kind of rejected a lot of things, but I've grown some even since then. I guess I felt that the church, that they had it wrong about how I felt with being gay all these years, so maybe they had it wrong about a lot of other things."

Coincidentally I've being reading and thinking a lot about the whole homosexuality debate. At the time I read this email I was puzzled, asking myself why he would just email me this out of the blue. He lives in Brazil and has little notion of what goes on in my life here in NY.

For the past year I've grown closer to a friend who came out of homosexuality through God's power and grace. And our friendship has stirred in my heart the desire to better understand and even help people who struggle with same sex attractions (SSA).

In October I read the news about Connecticut Supreme Court legalization of gay marriage, making them the third state behind Massachusetts and California to legalize such unions. It made me ponder: The world is acting on their believes are we, the Church, doing the same?

Then I met two guys who are gay. Not knowing what to do about all of these urges I had of helping them, I decided to buy a book called "God's grace and the homosexual next door" by Exodus International Ministry.

I read the book and many testimonials of people who are overcoming SSA through faith in Jesus. I listened to an audio by Ricky Chellete explaining the roots of homosexuality. I also read some pro-gay articles from The Advocate, and a book from the library about Kinsey,who is considered the father of the gay movement, and his biographical film.

Just last week the film Prayers for Bobby came out on Lifetime TV, I didn't see it yet, but the story is about a teen who committed suicide after trying unsuccessfully to change his SSA through his Moms (Mary Griffith) religious methods, then after his death she understands that God loves homosexuals as they are.

Ray Boltz states that he did not follow every rule in the Bible but rejected a lot of things. I don't blame him. I have not follow all of them myself. I've sinned and rejected what the Bible tells me to do many times throughout my life. No one is good enough, we're all utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us.

"...for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23

I agree with Mary Griffith that God loves the homosexuals just as they are. He also loves liars, adulterers, thieves, drunkards...He loves all of us sinners just as we are. But our sin separates us from God, and the punishment for it is death.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

Because God is just he can not leave our sins unpunished. But because He is love He made a way so we could make things right with Him.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

God loves you SO MUCH. If you only believe that Jesus is your savior, you will be washed clean and receive the gift of eternal life.

"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." I Corinthians 6:11

It's not by doing good deeds, it's not a matter of deserving anything, we don't.

"All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6

When you simply believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, for all your wrong-doings and that the punishment is paid in full, you will be a new creature. As you repent - changing your mind from rejecting Christ to accepting Him as savior - He will come and live inside of you, and will help you discern right and wrong and make better decisions.

As you start walking with God and letting Him be your Lord, He will day-by-day sanctify you. He will show you how to lead your life. By obeying God and following His ways you will not only bring glory to Him but you will also have the most pleasurable life ever.

"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philipians 1:6

Until Jesus comes back and takes us to heaven we will be a work "under construction". Everyday I need to let God mold me, show me what needs to be changed in me because it's not pleasing Him.

All of this is a personal choice. No one can force you to believe that change is possible through faith in Jesus. It's a matter of individual FAITH. That's where Mary Griffith made a mistake by thinking SHE could change her son's mind.

It's a choice and God won't force you to open your heart, He's only knocking and you can open the door or not.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me." Revelation 3:20

DO YOU BELIEVE?

Celebrando a Páscoa

Toda Sexta-feira temos culto de jovens na igreja.
JAMP - Jovens e Adolescentes Ministrando com Propósito é o ministério de jovens do qual faço parte. Somos jovens brasileiros vivendo em Nova York, buscando viver uma vida que glorifique à Deus em tudo, para que outros vendo e sabendo do que Deus tem feito em nossas vidas entreguem sua vida à Jesus e creiam Nele.

Nessa Sexta-jovem tivemos um culto especial celebrando a Páscoa. Renovamos nosso compromisso com Deus relembrando do Seu amor por nós ao mandar Jesus pra morrer em nosso lugar.

"Porque Deus amou o mundo de tal maneira que deu o seu filho único, para que todo aquele que nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna." (João 3:16)

"Porque Deus - o maior ser

amou - o maior sentimento

o mundo - o maior alcance

de tal maneira - a maior intensidade

que deu o seu filho único - o maior sacrifício

para que todo aquele que nele crê - a maior simplicidade

não pereça - o maior livramento

mas tenha a vida eterna." - a maior vitória


Meu coração está transbordando de alegria, inundado com as palavras desse versículo que mostra a grandiosidade de Deus. "O versículo das coisas GRANDES." - minha pastora disse.

O que seria de mim não fosse o amor de Deus? O amor de Deus é o que nos capacita pra vencer o pecado. Creio que são tantos os livramentos de Deus, que eu seria incapaz de imaginar a bagunça que seria minha vida não fosse o amor de Deus.

Não fosse o amor de Deus na vida dos meus pais, eles talvez teriam se separado.
Não fosse o amor de Deus na minha família, talvez tivéssemos perdido tudo que temos.
Não fosse o amor de Deus na vida da minha mãe, ela poderia ter falecido de câncer.
Não fosse o amor de Deus na vida do meu pai, ele talvez não teria conseguido recomeçar sua vida profissional.
Não fosse o amor de Deus na minha saúde, eu viveria carregando uma bombinha pra asma e seria incapaz de fazer muito esforço físico.
Não fosse o amor de Deus na vida do meu irmão, ele talvez não teria conseguido nem terminar o segundo grau.
Não fosse o amor de Deus na vida da minha irmã, ela talvez teria nascido morta.

Se estou onde estou, se cheguei aonde cheguei é porque até aqui o Senhor tem sido fiel. A Ele toda a honra, toda glória, só Ele é digno de ser louvado porque muito tem feito por mim e pela minha família. Obrigada PAI!

Christianity vs. Judaism - How to witness to a Jew?

Author: Giselle Dantas © - copyright 2008

I. Introduction

In this paper the differences between Christianity and Judaism are explained. A summary of Judaism history, main beliefs and customs are described. The main objections of Jews towards Christianity are addressed and discussed based on the Bible and secondary sources. The purpose is to present the gospel message using as start point the Ten commandments, to open the eyes of a Jew to understand that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, who came to earth from heaven to die on the cross paying the punishment for our sins.

II. History and Background of Judaism

i. The origin of Judaism

The historical origins of Judaism begin with the Hebrews and Abraham. The Hebrews were named after their ancestor Eber, son of Salá, who was the son Shelah, who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah. Abram was a descendent of Shem; God spoke to him and promised that he would be the father of a nation with descendents as numerous as the stars in the sky. And so it was, from the sons of Abram, Isaac and Jacob descended the nation of Israel. That nation was chosen by God to fulfill His purposes and give Him glory.

Because of a great famine the Hebrews migrated to Egypt where, for five generations, they were held as slaves and built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. Then God chooses Moses to speak to Pharaoh and ask him to let the Israelites go. But as Pharaoh refused to free them, God sent ten plagues to Egypt. After the last plague, which caused a great mourning in all Egypt with the death of their firstborn sons, Pharaoh permitted the Israelites’ exodus. Moses led them out of Egypt to God’s promised land of Canaan.

During the period the Israelites were walking in the desert towards Canaan, God gave them the Ten Commandments, laws of morality and righteous living, and also instructions to build a tabernacle in which God would inhabit among them and be their God, and them His set-apart people.

Once they conquered the land of Canaan, at a certain point, the elders found it necessary for them to have a king to lead them. The first king was Saul, then David, then Solomon. “After Solomon's reign the nation split into two kingdoms, Israel (in the north) and Judah (in the south). Israel was conquered by the Assyrian ruler Shalmaneser V in the 8th century BCE. The kingdom of Judah was conquered by a Babylonian army in the early 6th century BCE.” {1}.The two kingdoms stayed in exile until part of them were lead back to their homeland by Ezra and Nehemiah. From the people that returned to Jerusalem, most of them were from the kingdom of Judah; therefore, they were further referred to as the Jews from Judah, and to the present, every descendant is called a Jew. As per Judaism, it is the religion of the Jews and of those converted to it, which has taken some variations over the years, being divided into three major branches: Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. But for our analysis, only the main roots and common beliefs of Judaism will be described, particularly the ones that contrast with Christianity’s beliefs.

ii. Judaism vs. Christianity beliefs

Christianity emerged from Judaism, hence the reason for some similarities between their beliefs.

The TNK (“Tanakh”), called the Jewish Bible, is composed of the Torah (the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), the Nevi’im (the Prophets’ books: Joshua, Judges, Samuel I and II, Kings I and II, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets which is one book), and the Ketuvim (the Writings books: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah, and Chronicles I and II). All these books are also part of the Christian Bible, but Bibles similarities end there. Whereas the Christian Bible has 37 additional books, the Jews have the Talmud and the Halachach. The turning point between Judaism and Christianity is whether or not Jesus is the Messiah. “The Jewish people believe that when the Messiah comes there will be an end to world suffering.” On the other hand, “Christians recognize Jesus as Christ, the Son of God, their savior, and the Messiah.” {2} In consequence of this contradiction others flow, making clear distinction between the two religions’ beliefs in the following aspects:

God: Judaism and Christianity are monotheists, they worship only one God. The difference is that Christians believe the Trinidad: that God is made up of God the Father, God the son: Jesus and God the Holy Spirit, the three together forming one God. Judaism sees Christianity's Trinidad as a failing of the idea of God's oneness.

Salvation: “Judaism does not require that a person convert to Judaism in order to achieve salvation. The only requirement for that, as understood by Jews, is to be ethical.” {3} For Jews being ethical is to obey the commandments of God. As for Christians, salvation is achieved through faith in Jesus as son of God and Savior, whose sacrificial death on the cross absorbs the sins of whoever believes in Him.

Sin: In the Jewish view people are not born essentially bad, but have both good and bad nature and free will to choose which to follow. For them sins are removed by seeking forgiveness. “Jews seek forgiveness from God for sins against God and from other people (not just God) for sins against those people. Seeking forgiveness requires a sincere sense of repenting but also seeking directly to redress the wrong done to someone. Sins are partially removed through prayer which replaced animal sacrifice as a way of relieving sins. They are also removed by correcting errors against others.” {3} Christians believe that men are born with a sinful nature and can not remove sins for themselves, but by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross they are free from sin.

Afterlife: In Judaism there are not many firm believes about Heaven and Hell, but the concern is focused in living a ethical life while in earth. Christians believe that Heaven is a place God prepared for those who believe in Jesus as their savior and accept the gift of eternal life, and Hell is a place for those who don’t.

III. Evangelizing a Jew

i. Building a relationship

The evangelization of Jews is a one by one process. Make a friend out of a Jewish coworker, classmate or neighbor is the first step. Demonstrate your care for them and appreciation for the Jewishness. Be careful in not telling Jewish people you love them; instead show them your love with actions. It will certainly have a bigger impact on them and it will set the foundation for your witness to them.

Engage in a conversation about Israel, or ask questions about a Jewish holiday, or a passage from the Old Testament to find out his opinion. Declare that you are a follower of Jesus; be honest about it from the beginning. Tell him/her your testimony. Most Jews thing that Christians were born Christians just as they were born Jews. As you tell them how you came to know Christ, how you pray and relate to God, you will stir up curiosity in them.

Share scripture and encourage your Jewish friend to read the New Testament. Many Jews came to believe Jesus as the Messiah by reading the New Testament. Be ready to answer questions and if you don’t know the answer just say you will research the information.

If you receive a rejection or negative answer don’t give up. Persist in prayer for your Jewish friend and watch out for any given opportunities. “Most Jews also think that the opposite of Jewish is Christian, and so for them to consider Jesus is problematic because it means considering losing their Jewish identity. Therefore, when witnessing to Jewish people about Jesus it is important to stress that they do not need to give up their identity as Jews in order to embrace Jesus as Messiah.” {4} Introduce him/her to a Jewish believer or give them books, literature or a website address for them to learn on their own. Be patient with your Jewish friend, helping them in every step of the way towards his/her understand and acceptance of the Gospel.

ii. Presenting the Gospel message

Ten Commandments: You may be a good person and do good works, no questions about that. But have you ever told a lie? Did you ever steal something, even something small like a paper clip? Have you ever used God's name as a curse word? Honestly. If you've done the three, you've already broken three of God's Ten Commandments, which are His standard of righteousness. If you lie what does that makes you? It makes you a liar. What are you called if you steal? You are called a thief. And if you use God’s name as a curse word you are called a blasphemer. Liar, thief and blasphemer by your own admission, and we only went over three commandments! We may try our best, but we are constantly breaking the law and making ourselves guilty before God.

Man’s sin: Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the prohibited fruit, all man is born with the “seed” of sin. Sin is everything we do, everything we say and everything we thing that does not please God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” {5}

If God were to judge you today by the Ten Commandments, would you be found innocent or guilty? Be honest. The Bible says: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."{6} On judgment day as you stand before God, would you be sent to heaven or hell? Does that concern you? It truly concerns me because I don't want to spend eternity in hell and I think neither do you.
Salvation through Jesus: Let's suppose you've broken the law and were sent to court. There, you stand before the judge, and all facts proof that you are guilty of breaking the law. The judge finds you guilty and gives you a penalty of $500,000.00, but you don't have the money. Therefore, you will be sent to jail. The guards were ready to take you, when someone you never saw before walks into the room and say: I'm paying your penalty, you're free to go. How would you feel about that person? That's Jesus.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." {7} He paid the penalty for all your sins by dieing on the cross in your place. “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” {8} If you repent from your sins, turn your back to them, and accept Jesus' sacrifice and believe in Him as your savior, you won't have to pay for all the times you've broken God's law. Instead of death and hell, He gives you eternal life and heaven.
When you pray, confessing to God that you've sinned against Him, repenting from all your wrong-doing and disposing yourself to be better from now on, declaring that you believe in Jesus sacrifice on the cross, that He died in your place. Than God will come and clean your heart, He will forget all your sins and He will live inside you and give you the gift of eternal life.

Growth and Sanctification: After you accept Jesus as your savior you are like a seed that needs to grow into a big tree and give fruits. For that to happen, read your Bible and talk to God in prayer everyday. Become a member of a church that preaches the Word of God. Share the Gospel message with people around you. Live a life that gives glory to God in everything. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God.” {9}

But if you sin you must repent and ask God and your neighbor for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” {10}

IV. Conclusion

The Jews are God's chosen nation, still they are not God's children until they accept Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for their sins, confessing Him as the Messiah. Only then they will partake of the promised new heaven and a new earth that God revealed to John. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." (Revelation 21:1-3) "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." (Romans 8:17)

1. “History of Judaism” – www.religionfacts.com/judaism/history.htm
2. “What I whish my Christians friends knew about Judaism” – Robert Schoen (page 11)
3. “The differences between Judaism and Christianity” – www.convert.org/differ.htm
4. “Pointers on witnessing to Jews” – www.jewsforjesus.org
5. “Bible” – NIV – (Romans 3:23)
6. “Bible” – NIV - (2 Corinthians 5:10)
7. “Bible” – NIV - (Romans 6:23)
8. “Bible” – NIV – (Hebrews 9:22)
9. “Bible” – NIV – (I Corinthians 10:31-32)
10. “Bible” - NIV – (I John 1:9)

Peapod - Compras de supermercado pela net

Hoje eu fiz compras de supermercado.

Sim, eu faço compras de supermercado pela internet e amo!

Desde que vendi meu carro tenho feito minhas compras de supermercado no Peapod.com.

A primeira razão de fazer isso é simplesmente o fato de não ter que carregar as sacolas de supermercado até em casa, uma caminhada de 30 min. Sim, eu poderia pegar um taxi, mas o custo da entrega das compras em casa é quase o mesmo de uma corrida de taxi.

A segunda razão é que eu gasto mais sabiamente pela internet. A página do Peapod.com me dá acesso fácil às promoções da semana e a comparação de preços se faz com um clique. Mais que bom!

A terceira razão é poder seguir meu orçamento mensal mais facilmente. Peapod mostra o total das minhas compras cada vez que adiciono algum item no carrinho, então quando vejo que estou ultrapassando meu orçamento, tiro as coisas supérfulas e mantenho o que é necessário.

Tecnologia é uma benção! O caminhão da Peapod entrega minhas compras no dia e na hora que escolho. O que mais eu posso querer?

Bom, me sinto realmente privilegiada por ter serviços como esse ao meu dispor. Tantas pessoas não têm nem um supermercardo por perto, outros têm mas com pouca variedade de produtos e preços. Outros nem sequer sabem que podem comprar comida, ainda caçam para comer. E quanto àqueles que morrem de fome? Pessoas que moram em lugares onde não há comida para todos. Aproximadamente 70 milhões de pessoas morreram de fome ao redor do mundo durante o século 20. Isso equivale a 700 mil pessoas por ano, ou quase 1918 pessoas por dia.

Algumas semanas atrás, ouvi o testemunho de um missionário brasileiro que está ajudando pessoas em algumas vilas do Afeganistão. Ele disse: “Pessoas aqui tem vivido em pobreza por tanto tempo que eles acham que é normal. Mudar essa realidade não depende apenas de dar comida e coisas materiais, mas ajudá-los a ver que existe uma qualidade de vida melhor atingível. A mudança tem que ocorrer de dentro pra fora.” Pra que isso aconteça, só existe um nome que eu consigo pensar: Jesus.

Jesus disse: “O ladrão não vem senão para roubar, matar e destruir; eu vim para que tenham vida e a tenham em abundância.” (João 10:10)

Estamos todos “cegos”, como essas pessoas no Afeganistão, para a vida abundante que Jesus quer nos dar. Eu sei que você tem mais espectativas sobre a vida do que eles têm. Mas, se fôssemos medir a vida abundante que Jesus oferece e pôr numa linha, seria mais ou menos assim:

Suponhamos que a vida abundante que Jesus oferece está em Roraima, você está em Santa Catarina, e as pessoas do Afeganistão estão no Rio Grande do Sul. Você está quase tão distante quanto elas. Porque a vida abundante de Deus é uma vida de satisfação, rica, santa, sem culpa, longe, muito longe do alcance humano.

Deus disse: “Eu sou o Deus Todo-Poderoso; anda em minha presença, e sê perfeito;” (Gênesis 17:1b)

Você pode ser uma pessoa boa e fazer coisas boas, não questiono isso. Mas você já mentiu alguma vez? Você já roubou alguma coisa, mesmo algo pequeno como um clip de papel? Você já usou o nome de Deus em vão? Responda sinceramente pra você mesmo. Se você fez essas três, você já quebrou três dos dez mandamentos de Deus, que são o padrão Dele de uma pessoa justa, quando você mentiu, roubou e blasfemou. Se Deus fosse te julgar baseado no padrão Dele de pessoa correta e justa: os dez mandamentos, você seria inocente ou culpado? Seja honesto com você mesmo. No dia do juízo em que você estiver perante Deus, você será mandado para o céu ou para o inferno?

“Porque é necessário que todos nós sejamos manifestos diante do tribunal de Cristo, para que cada um receba o que fez por meio do corpo, segundo o que praticou, o bem ou o mal.” (2 Coríntios 5:10)

Sim, Deus é amor, mas é justo, Ele vai nos julgar de acordo com nossos atos. Isso preocupa você? Verdadeiramente me preocupa, por isso estou escrevendo sobre isso, porque mesmo sem te conhecer eu amo você e não quero que você passe a eternidade no inferno. Se você está lendo isso agora, e lá no fundo do coração sabe que, se Deus fosse te julgar de acordo com o padrão Dele de pessoa justa você certamente iria para o inferno, quero que saiba sobre o escape que Deus proveu pra você.

Então tá. Façamos de conta que você desobedeceu a lei e foi mandado pro tribunal. Lá você está perante o juiz, todos os fatos provam que você é culpado de quebrar a lei. O juiz então, te julga culpado e te dá uma penalidade de R$ 500.000,00, mas você não tem o dinheiro. Portanto, você será mandado para a cadeia. Os guardas estavam se preparando pra te levar, quando alguém que você nunca viu antes entra na corte e diz: “Pago sua penalidade, você está livre.” Como você se sentiria em relação a essa pessoa? Agradecido? Esse é Jesus. Ele pagou a penalidade de todos os seus pecados quando morreu na cruz em seu lugar. Se você se arrepender dos seus pecados, se afastar deles, e aceitar o sacrifício de Jesus acreditando Nele como seu Salvador, você não terá que pagar por todas as vezes que você quebrou a lei de Deus. Invés de morte e inferno, Ele te dá vida eterna e céu. Dai graças, porque Ele ama você!

“Porque o salário do pecado é a morte, mas o dom gratuito de Deus é a vida eterna em Cristo Jesus nosso Senhor.”(Romanos 6:23)

Quando você ora, confessando à Deus que você pecou contra Ele, se arrependendo de todas as coisas erradas que você fez, e se dispondo a ser melhor a partir de agora, Deus virá e limpará seu coração, Ele esquecerá de todos os seus pecados e virá morar dentro de você. Faça isso hoje, porque Jesus já pagou o preço na cruz e quando Ele voltar e julgar cada um será tarde demais pra se arrepender.

“Já estou crucificado com Cristo; e vivo, não mais eu, mas Cristo vive em mim; e a vida que agora vivo na carne, vivo-a na fé no filho de Deus, o qual me amou, e se entregou a si mesmo por mim.” (Gálatas 2:20)

“Pelo que, se alguém está em Cristo, nova criatura é; as coisas velhas já passaram; eis que tudo se fez novo.” (2 Coríntios 5:17)

Agora, de volta à vida abundante de Deus. Quando você recebe Jesus como seu Salvador, Ele te dá o Espírito Dele:

“Mas aquele que nos confirma convosco em Cristo, e nos ungiu, é Deus, o qual também nos selou e nos deu como penhor o Espírito em nossos corações.” (2 Coríntios 1:21-22)

“no qual (Jesus) também vós, tendo ouvido a palavra da verdade, o evangelho da vossa salvação, e tendo nele também crido, fostes selados com o Espírito Santo da promessa,” (Efésios 1:13)

Por ter o Espírito de Jesus você é reconciliado com Deus, e não vive pelos desejos da carne, mas pelo Espírito. Somente assim você poderá experimentar a vida abundante de Deus. Você estava cego, mas agora vê. Eu estou à caminho de Roraima, e você?

Peapod - Online Groceries

Today I went grocery shopping.
Yes, I do my groceries online and love it!
Since I sold my car I've being doing my groceries at Peapod.com.
The first reason I chose to do groceries online is: not having to carry all those groceries bags back home, which is a 30 min. walk. Yeah, I could get a cab, but the delivery fee from Peapod is almost the same cost of a cab ride.
The second reason, is that I spend wiser online. The website gives me easy access to the weekly specials and makes price comparison a button click away. Awesome!
The third reason, is that I can stick to my budget much easier. Peapod gives me the totals as I add things to my cart, so if I see that my budget won't allow me to buy certain things, I take out the superfluous and keep the necessities.
Technology is a blessing! The Peapod truck delivers my groceries at the day and time I choose. Can I ask for anything else?

Well, I feel really privileged for having services like this available to me. So many people don't even have a real supermarket to buy groceries, others have, but it doesn't give them much variety of products and prices. Others don't even know that you can buy food, they still hunt to eat. How about those who die from famine? People who live in places where there is not enough food for everybody. About 70 million people around the world died from famine in the 20th century. That is, about 700 thousand people died per year, or about 1918 died per day.
A couple of weeks ago, I heard a testimony from a Brazilian missionary who's helping people in some villages in Afghanistan. He said "People have lived in poverty for so long that they think it's normal. Changing their reality is not only about giving them food and supplies, but helping them see that better quality of life exists and is reachable. The change has to come from the inside out". For that to happen, there is only one name I can think of: Jesus.

Jesus said: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. " (John 10:10)

We are all "blind", like these people in Afghanistan, to the abundant life Jesus wants to give us. I know you have much more expectations about life than they do. But, if we would measure Jesus' abundant life and put it in a line, it would look like this:


Suppose Jesus' abundant life is in California, you are in New York, and people from Afghanistan are in Maine. You are almost as far as they are. Because God's abundant life is a satisfying, rich, holy, blameless life, far far away from human reach.

God said: "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless." (Genesis 17:1b)

You may be a good person and do good works, no questions about that. But have you ever told a lie? Did you ever steal something, even something small like a paper clip? Have you ever used God's name as a curse word? Honestly answer to yourself. If you've done the three, you've already broken three of God's ten commandments, which are His standard of righteousness, by lying, stealing and speaking blasphemy. If God were to judge you by His standard, the ten commandments, would you be found innocent or guilty? Be honest to yourself. On judgment day as you stand before God, would you be sent to heaven or hell?

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Does that concern you? It truly concerns me, that's why I'm writing about it, because I may not know you, but I love you and don't want you to spend eternity in hell. If you are reading this right now, and deep in your heart know that, if God were to judge you according to his standard of righteousness you would go to hell, I want you to know the way out God himself provided for you.

Ok. Let's suppose you've broken the law and were sent to court. There, you stand before the judge, and all facts proof that you are guilty of braking the law. The judge finds you guilty and gives you a penalty of $500,000.00, but you don't have the money. Therefore, you will be sent to jail. The guards were ready to take you, when someone you never saw before, walks into the room and says: "I'm paying your penalty, you're free to go." How would you feel about that person? Grateful? That's Jesus. He paid the penalty for all your sins by dieing on the cross in your place. If you repent from your sins, turn your back to them, and accept Jesus' sacrifice and believe in Him as your savior, you won't have to pay for all the times you've broken God's law. And instead of death and hell, He gives you eternal life and heaven. Be grateful because He loves you!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

When you pray, confessing to God that you've sinned against Him, repenting from all your wrong-doing and disposing yourself to be better from now on, God will come and clean your heart, He will forget all your sins and He will live inside you. Do this today, because Jesus already paid your penalty at the cross, and when He comes back to judge us it will be too late to repent.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Now, back to God's abundant life. As you receive Jesus as your savior, He gives you His spirit:

"It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us." (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit," (Ephesians 1:13)

By having His Spirit you're reconciled with God, and no longer live by the flesh desires, but by the spirit. Only then you may experience His abundant life. You were "blind" but now you can see. I'm headed to California, are you?

Meu coração é o templo

Ontem o Senhor falou muito comigo através da pregação do Pr. Martinho Lutero (nome sugestivo naum?! rs). Ele é Pr. da Assembléia no Rio de Janeiro, e tem igrejas nos morros mais perigosos, como o do Bureu. Ele pregou no livro de Ageu. Um livro tão pequeno, apenas dois capítulos, mas que tem uma lição linda! "Vejam aonde os seus caminhos os levaram." (Ageu 1:5) O Senhor disse ao povo de Israel para reconstruirem o templo, onde eles poderiam fazer os sacrifícios, ofertarem, adorarem a Deus, mas qdo eles começavam a reconstruir vinham perseguições e ataques dos inimigos, até que eles desistiram. Resolveram então construir suas próprias casas, e por incrível que pareça as perseguições cessaram. Do mesmo jeito nossa maior prioridade deveria ser fazer do nosso coração o templo de adoração ao Senhor. "Buscai primeiro o Reino de Deus e a sua justiça, e as demais coisas vos serão acrescentadas."(Mateus 6:33) Mas quanto mais buscamos ao Senhor em oraçào, na meditaçào da Bíblia, na comunhão com os irmãos e no evangelismo, mais sofrimentos vêem, e acabamos desistindo. Faz um tempinho que li o livro Authentic Beauty da Leslie Ludy, no qual ela enfatiza a importância de entregar nosso coraçào ao nosso verdadeiro Príncipe: Jesus, fazendo do nosso coração um santuário de adoração a Ele.

Valentine's Day - Verdadeiro AMIGO

Dia 14/02 é Valentine's Day. E hoje na igreja (agora estou frequentando a Primeira Igreja Brasileira Batista em NYC) o culto de jovens teve uma programação especial focalizada nessa data comemorativa. O interessante foi que a preletora, nossa Pastora Deiva, enfatizou não o amor entre namorados, mas sim o amor entre amigos.

Pra começar ela nos questionou: O que caracteriza um verdadeiro amigo? É mais dificil ser amigo or ter amigos? O que destrói uma amizade?

Baseando-se em I Samuel 18 em diante, que nos relata a amizade verdadeira entre Davi e Jônatas, ela nos ensinou as seis características de um verdadeiro amigo.

Logo após ter matado o gigante Golias, Davi conversou com o rei Saul e conheceu seu filho Jônatas. Foi amizade à primeira vista! Daquele dia em diante Davi foi morar com o rei Saul e Jônatas fez um acordo de amizade com Davi, pois eles se tornaram melhores amigos.

Saul colocou Davi num posto elevado no exército. E Davi fez por merecer, era um guerreiro com muita garra. Quando ele voltava da guerra a multidão cantava: "Saul matou milhares, e Davi, dezenas de milhares." Isso despertou a inveja de Saul.

Davi tinha costume de tocar harpa para Saul. Que contraste entre guerreiro e músico!! Porém, certo dia um espírito maligno apoderou-se de Saul e ele atirou sua lança em direção à Davi, com a intenção de matá-lo. Mas Davi desviou-se.

A cada dia o desejo de Saul de matar Davi crescia. Todos os conselheiros do rei e inclusive seu filho Jônatas sabiam das suas más intenções. Jônatas sempre avisava Davi dos planos de seu pai para matá-lo. E além disso, ele falou bem de Davi à Saul tentando convencê-lo a não fazer nenhum mal à seu inocente amigo.

Depois de Saul ter tentado atirar a lança em Davi pela segunda vez, Davi decidiu fugir do castelo, pois sua vida corria perigo. Mais tarde, Davi se encontra com Jônatas e pede que ele lhe diga a verdade: "O que eu fiz? Qual é o meu crime? Qual foi o pecado que cometi contra seu pai para que ele queira tirar a minha vida?" Davi confiava em Jônatas e sabia que se houvesse algo de errado que ele tivesse feito mesmo sem perceber, Jônatas lhe diria. Porém, Davi nada tinha feito.

Jônatas seria o sucessor de seu pai, o rei Saul. Ele poderia simplesmente não ter ajudado Davi, afinal Davi estava tomando o lugar dele no trono. No entanto, ele sabia que Deus tinha um propósito na vida de Davi. E Davi seria morto injustamente, pois nenhum crime havia cometido. Por isso Jônatas estava determinado a proteger Davi: "Se eu tiver a menor suspeita de que meu pai está decidido a matá-lo, certamente o avisarei!"

Naquele dia Davi e Jônatas fizeram um plano para evitar que Saul matasse Davi. E também fizeram um pacto de lealdade, não só de um para com o outro, mas também de família pra família: no caso de um morrer o outro cuidaria de sua família. O plano funciona e Davi foge salvo das garras de Saul. Porém os dois amigos sabiam que não se veriam mais. A despedida é dolorasa pra ambos.

Alguns anos se passam. Davi torna-se rei. Ele ouve que em uma guerra Jônatas e toda a sua família tinha sido morta. Davi tenta procurar por algum familiar sobrevivente de Jônatas, e encontra um de seus filhos, alejado, e o leva para o palácio e cuida dele como havia prometido a Jônatas.

Portanto as seis características de um verdadeiro amigo são:

*Acordo de amizade: A reciprocidade é essencial para uma amizade verdadeira. Onde ambos sao doadores e receptores. É dificil cultivar uma amizade quando só um se esforça. (ISamuel 18:3)

*Fala bem por trás: A maior prova de que alguém é seu amigo é quando você descobre que ele falou bem de você quando você não estava presente. (ISamuel 19:4)

*Fala a verdade: Amigo de verdade não acaricia sua cabeça quando você faz algo de errado, pelo contrário, ele explica: "Gosto muito de você, mas o que você disse me feriu." ou "Essa sua mania não é legal, você sempre acaba magoando as pessoas, vou te ajudar a consertá-la, o que você acha?" (ISamuel 20:1)

*Defende o amigo: Um verdadeiro amigo vai estar sempre te dando cobertura, te protegendo, te ajudando. Se alguém fala mal de você o verdadeiro amigo diria: "Ele pode até ser assim algumas vezes, mas ele tem muitas qualidades que eu aprecio, naum aceito que falem mal dele." (ISamuel 20:9)

*Se alegra com o sucesso do amigo: Um verdadeiro amigo sabe elogiar com sinceridade. A amizade baseada em disputa e competição não é verdadeira. Amigo verdadeiro aplaude seu sucesso. (ISamuel 18:4)

*Cumpre sua parte no acordo: A fidelidade e lealdade à amizade mesmo depois de muitos anos, depois de morto ou de muita distância, permanece. (2Samuel 9:1)

E Aí? VOCÊ É UM AMIGO VERDADEIRO? VOCÊ TEM UM AMIGO VERDADEIRO?
Aprendi que se você quer amigos verdadeiros comece sendo um.
E lembre-se que Jesus é o melhor amigo que podemos ter, que nunca vai nos decepcionar e sempre, sempre fará a parte dele no acordo. A questao é: E você tem sido o melhor amigo de Jesus?