NEW CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRIES

Comment

Comment by Richard A. Young on February 27, 2012 at 11:31am

Pastor Young says: “As pastors, preachers, and priests we have been granted a sacred trust. This trust was not given to us by man, but by God, for man. Therefore we need to live our lives in accordance with this trust to the best of our ability. We are not called to be perfect, but pure in heart.”

Pastor Young says: "As you begin this week, do not focus on what is already done, but press on toward the new and next dimension."

Pastor Young says: "I love you, and there's nothing you can do about it!" (In Jesus' name)

Comment by Richard A. Young on February 20, 2012 at 8:42am

Discussion Forum                                                                                                              Friday, February 17, 2012

Pastor Young says…

“Jesus Joy”

Nehemiah 8: 10

 

Because there is so much trouble around, and so many issues we must contend with on a daily basis we often forsake joy. We focus on daily dilemmas and constant concerns and conflicts, never giving our faith, the practice of belief, a second, or even an initial thought.

The enemy’s assignment is to distract and discourage us from our faith. Take a look at all that we are faced with in society today; violence and crime on the rise, the stresses of living paycheck to paycheck, home foreclosures, debt, auto repossessions, lack of credit, lack-luster education for children, social distractions and peer pressure, cyber bullying, and so on… One’s daily temperament is so crowded with all of these, in addition to the normal stresses like, getting to work, keeping a job, paying bills, managing a home, cultivating familial relationships, career advancement, etc.

Finally we have a president that is fighting for the less fortunate, and middle-class in our society, and “they” want to discredit him, and disillusion the citizenry into believing that he has been of ill-effect, or worse yet, that he is destroying the country. Watching the news has become distressing, with all of the malicious mud-slinging and political fallout.

People have basic needs: shelter, food, employment, healthcare, hope, help, healing, refuge, refreshment, and revival. In my opinion, President Barack Obama is a New Christian, because he embodies the vision and purpose of this ministry, and I believe he in an instrument of the Lord’s Word and work in our midst today. He is fighting for a brighter day for those forced to live in the darkness of life. He is wealthy and well-to-do, but I see him faithful to the Lord’s Word: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, cover those out of doors, and provide for the widow and orphan. I see him doing for the “least of these.” Why then are so many fighting against him?

Jesus did the same work and He was crucified. But that is not all that we should see. As we examine Jesus and His passion further, we see Him walking with an expectation of joy. Joy is: a strong feeling of happiness arising from an expectation of some good, or its realization; gladness; delight. It is a state of contentment or satisfaction. Joy is a bite of the fruit of the Spirit.

Though life seems dark, desolate and depressing, know that midnight lasts but an hour, there is joy coming in the morning. As Jesus lived and loved, He knew the day was coming when He would be offered up. No one would “take” His life, but He would lay it down, for His sheep. And for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and now is at the right hand of the Father. And so, there is a crown laid up for us also in Glory. Then His joy is our strength. Your life is a ship, and the forecast does change and shift as you sail. The waves will beat up against your boat, rain will fall, but the question is, do you have Jesus on board? Why do I ask this, because the joy of the Lord is our strength. We may have tried to find joy in a relationship, an illegal substance, a job, a child, a loved one, but giving these things false authority in our lives can be hazardous and cause the winds of the storm to blow us off course. We can end up losing it all! But, winds cease, when Jesus is in the ship! Needs are met, when Jesus is in the ship! Hearts are mended, when Jesus is in the ship! We grow in grace, when Jesus is in the ship! The blind can see, when Jesus is in the ship! Captives are set free, when Jesus is in the ship! Tragedy becomes triumph, when Jesus is in the ship! The joy of the Lord is our strength, when Jesus is in the ship!

Comment by Richard A. Young on February 20, 2012 at 8:40am

Happy St. Valentine’s Day?

Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is the name of several (14 in all ^[2]) martyred saints of ancient Rome. The name "Valentine", derived from valens (worthy, strong, powerful), was popular in Late Antiquity.^[3] Of the Saint Valentine whose feast is on February 14, nothing is known except his name and that he was buried on the Via Flaminia north of Rome on February 14, he was born on April 16. It is even uncertain whether the feast of that day celebrates only one saint or more saints of the same name. For this reason this liturgical commemoration was not kept in the Catholic calendar of saints for universal liturgical veneration as revised in 1969.^[4] But "Martyr Valentinus the Presbyter and those with him at Rome" remains in the list of saints proposed for veneration by all Catholics.^[5]

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Saint Valentine the Presbyter is celebrated on July 6,^[6] and Hieromartyr Saint Valentine (Bishop of Interamna, Terni in Italy) is celebrated on July 30.^[7] Notwithstanding that, conventionally, members of the Greek Orthodox Church named Valentinos (male) or Valentina (female) celebrate their name on February 14^{[citation needed]}.

Historian Jack Oruch has made the case that the traditions associated with "Valentine's Day", documented in Geoffrey Chaucer's Parliament of Foules and set in the fictional context of an old tradition, had no such tradition before Chaucer.^[20] He argues that the speculative explanation of sentimental customs, posing as historical fact, had their origins among 18th-century antiquaries, notably Alban Butler, the author of Butler's Lives of Saints, and have been perpetuated even by respectable modern scholars. In the French 14th-century manuscript illumination from a Vies des Saints (illustration above), Saint Valentine, bishop of Terni, oversees the construction of his basilica at Terni; there is no suggestion here yet that the bishop was a patron of lovers.

The man commonly referred to as Saint Valentine is acknowledged by the Church to be the former Bishop of Terni, a city in southern Umbria, in what is now central Italy. While under house arrest of judge Asterius, and discussing his faith with him, Valentinus (the Roman pronunciation of his name) was discussing the validity of Jesus. The judge put Valentinus to the test and brought to him the judge's adopted blind daughter. If Valentinus succeeded in restoring the girl's sight, Asterius would do anything he asked. Valentinus laid his hands on her eyes and the child's vision was restored. Immediately humbled, The judge asked Valentinus what he should do. Valentinus replied that all of the idols around the judge's house should be broken, the judge should fast for three days, and then undergo baptism. The judge obeyed and as a result, freed all the Christian inmates under his authority. The judge, his family and forty others were baptized. ^[12] Unfortunately, later Valentinus was arrested again for continuing to serve Jesus and was sent to the prefect of Rome, to the emperor Claudius himself. Claudius took a liking to him until Valentinus tried to lead Claudius to Jesus, whereupon Claudius refused and condemned Valentinus to death. Commanding that Valentinus either renounce his faith or he would be beaten with clubs, and beheaded. Valentinus refused and Caludius' command was executed outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269.^[13]

Comment by Richard A. Young on February 4, 2012 at 3:14pm

Worship & Communion Service                                                                                      Friday, February 03, 2012

Pastor Young says…

“The Prominence of Peace”

Isaiah 26: 3

Peace: n. A state of mental quiet or tranquility; calm; repose. The absence or cessation of war. Public order and tranquility; freedom from riot or violence. A state of reconciliation after strife or enmity. Freedom from mental agitation or anxiety.

Take a look around; there is so much busy activity, noise, demands, things to do, people to see and places to go. Especially in the City, there is so much hurry and busy activity. I see the new slavery as “busy-ness”. We must always be in motion, even if that motion does not make sense and is not getting us anywhere. Our lives have to be filled and occupied with so much clutter and chaos, that there is no time to appreciate the value of tranquil moments. Growing up in school we had S.S.R. which stood for sustained silent reading. That was a time where our minds were quiet and focused. Today, as I was working in the Education system, we would have quiet time, and it would literally irritate the students. There would be some child who would have to make an outburst. As we critique society today and evaluate the state of entertainment, which we consume in gargantuan amounts, we see busy-ness, chaos, trouble, and hear rapid and loud noise. Music and movies are not entertaining if there is no rapid movement, violence, loud noise, etc. So it is understandable that children cannot sit still or endure the quiet. We now depend on technology to occupy our minds and tutor and entertain us. We have become “junkies” of a sort, as we desire and are more comfortable with trouble than we are with tranquility.

Not only is society overloaded with chaos and clutter, individuals are consumed by trouble. Trouble is not only around us in our circumstances, but is in the minds of so many. This is true, so much so that people now perpetuate their own unrest and controversy. Contentment is chaos; trouble is tranquility. People have become so “bass-ackwards” that they are stressing themselves to death. Mental illness is on the rise across the board, but especially in the black community. Traditionally this was only something you heard of predominantly in white communities, now it is epidemic. Violence, vandalism, chaos, murder and suicide plague our communities now, more than ever before. The mind of our society is now troubled, and its affect is killing mankind. Now, more than ever before, the people of God need to raise a standard of peace.

Peace is not man-made. No one can give you peace. Peace comes from God Himself. Peace is a gift that He gives to us. His peace passes all human understanding, because man cannot understand how you can be still and at ease with so much turmoil, trouble around. How could Jesus stand still and say nothing when Pontus Pilate prepared to execute Him? Jesus modeled peace for us, yet, this is a blessing from God we do not request. We want power, prophecy, tongues, wealth, riches, prosperity, enlarged territory, position, prominence, and favor. We want vindication, validation, respect and fame. None of these things are “keepers”. These things cannot keep you grounded and faithful when life’s turbulence stirs, but peace can.

Peace is not as attractive as God’s other gifts, yet it is very beneficial and necessary. When God prepared to bring His Son Jesus to us, He sent an angel to notify the shepherds in the field. His announcement to them first was, “Peace on earth…” When Jesus and His disciples were in the ship crossing to the other side, and a great storm arose, Jesus stood and commanded, “Peace…” When Jesus appeared to His disciples walking on water He said, “Fear not, I come in peace.” And before Jesus left to go and prepare a place for His disciples, He encouraged them to not let their hearts be troubled, and He gave them a gift, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you...”  

Comment by Richard A. Young on January 24, 2012 at 7:23am

Pastor Young says… “A self-centered, negatively motivated decision is usually a wrong one.”

Comment by Richard A. Young on January 4, 2012 at 10:10am

Ministry Minute                                                                                                                                   January 4, 2012

Pastor Young says…

“This is the time of year when people get excited about the potential and promise that a new year can bring. There is hope for new opportunities in business, relationships, and so on. But a happy new year begins with a happy new you! People often try to find fulfillment in a new car or new clothes. Those are only temporary satisfiers if you are not new from within. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new, 2 Corinthians 5: 17. The real potential and promise in the new year are for your attitude to be adjusted and your mind renewed. There is an opportunity for you to change your perspective and make better decisions for your life.”

Comment by Richard A. Young on December 28, 2011 at 1:11pm

Ministry Minute                                                                                                                            December 28, 2011

Pastor Young says…

“Many people don’t realize just how valuable they are. The critical mass of the citizenry live their lives in a go-along-to-get-along, follow-the-crowd manner. The people of God should set and even raise the standard of self-worth in society. Far too often we see the church and church-people following the status quo rather than trend-setting. In 1 Peter 2: 9, the Apostle Peter reminds us of Old Testament truth: we are a chosen generation, chosen by God Himself to belong to Him through Christ Jesus, to be a Heavenly people with divine parentage and spiritual resemblances; a royal priesthood, or Kingdom of priests, anointed by God to be His ambassadors, ministering light to a dark and desolate world; a holy nation, sanctified or set apart for an example of God’s glory; a peculiar people, deliberately different in a land foreign to the knowledge and rule of God. We are in the world, but not of the world. It is our peculiarity that illustrates our ownership and defines our purpose. Stop trying to be like everybody else, you’re different. Don’t live beneath the standard and authority God entrusted to you. Live your life to show forth the praises of Him who called you out of the sin and shame of darkness, and into His marvelous light of salvation and redemption. You are valuable because God says so!”

Comment by Richard A. Young on December 13, 2011 at 10:34am

Ministry Minute                                                                                                                            December 13, 2011

Pastor Young says…

“In his paradigm, noted theologian, Dr. Hycel Taylor depicts the exodus of the Children of Israel from the captivity of Egypt, while in the wilderness before reaching the Land of Promise, as being in a spiritual no-place, somewhere between the no-longer and the not yet. The Children of Israel were free from the bondage of the physical slavery they experienced in Egypt, but they were also free to self destruct in the vastness of the wilderness, without a spiritual anchor or rudder. In Joshua the 24^th Chapter, Moses’ successor finds himself admonishing the people of God as they similarly find themselves in a foreign land and in a spiritual no-place. In verse 15 of that chapter, Joshua commands them to make a choice; choose either the traditional worship of your fathers, or follow the charismatic crowd worship of your contemporary society. The same question is put to you today as you sojourn through the wilderness of your reality. The choice is yours; fall into the tragic trap of tradition, or you can get wrapped up in contemporary crowd charisma, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”  

Comment by Richard A. Young on December 7, 2011 at 9:55am

Pastor Young is in the building visiting the WordStudy Workshop! Find him via our facebook page, NEW CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRIES, or our website: www.newchristianlifeministries.org 

Comment by Richard A. Young on December 5, 2011 at 10:31am

Monday Morning Ministry Minute                                                                                             December 5, 2011

Pastor Young says…

“The eagle-eyed prophet, Isaiah, attends the temple in Isaiah 6, as it was his custom. This particular visit was unlike any he had before. He had a divine vision, and in this vision he saw the Lord seated upon a throne, high and lifted up. He experienced God’s awesomeness. He was so awed that he witnessed in his vision that God’s train filled the temple. God is too awesome to be housed in our little brick and mortar temples, or even our flesh and blood ones. Experiencing the awesomeness of God caused Isaiah to see himself for who he was. He saw his finiteness and flaws, and the shortcomings of those around him. Only after this reckoning could Isaiah’s sins be purged. This prepared Isaiah totally to be available unto God when He asks, ‘Who shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Really getting into God’s presence will cause you to confess your sins and have them forgiven that you may declare, ‘Here am I, send me!”    

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