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| Pastor Mathias | | Ms. Brunell - Executive Director | | Mr. Gaffney - Managing Director | | Ms. Helmers - Managing Director | | | |
| Mr. Flynn - Senior Director | | Mr. Bolton - Director | | Ms. Irwin - Director | | Mr. James - Director | | Mr. Levine - Director | | Ms. Radewicz - Director | | Mr. Rodgers - Director | | Mr. Shea - Director | | Mr. Widmyer - Director | | | |
| Ms. Avery | | Ms. Baird | | Ms. Baker | | Ms. Bray | | Ms. Burns | | Ms. Coffey | | Ms. Crane | | Mr. David | | Ms. Drew | | | |
| Mr. Dunlap | | Mr. Ewing | | Mr. Farley | | Ms. Finley | | Mr. Friedman | | Ms. Gay | | Ms. Hahn | | Ms. Hobbs | | Ms. Holder | | | |
| Mr. Horton | | Ms. Lee | | Mr. Maddox | | Ms. Perez | | Ms. Rollins | | Ms. Smith | | Ms. Smith | | Ms. Weslin | | Mr. Wilkerson | | | | | | M.R. Mathias - Ambassador |
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| |  | | | THE MESSIAH—How do we know that Jesus was the Messiah? • ChristianAnswers.Net | The word “Messiah” means "Anointed One," the name given to the promised Deliverer who would some day come to the people of Israel as their great Savior and Redeemer, “anointed” as Prophet, Priest, and King by God Himself.
Some, of course, are still looking for the fulfillment of these Old Testament promises in the future, when the “Messiah” will come to establish a world kingdom of peace and justice centered around the chosen nation, Israel.
On the other hand, the group of Jewish believers who became the first founders of Christianity were convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was their promised Messiah. The name “Christ” is the Greek equivalent of “Messiah,” so that the name Jesus Christ really means "Jesus the Messiah," or "Jesus the anointed." They preached this truth with such conviction and power that not only many Jews but, later, a still greater host of Gentiles, believed on Jesus, both as the Christ and also as the Lord and Savior of all men.
And indeed they had good reason for such faith. The Old Testament Messianic prophecies were found to be uniquely fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. There are hundreds of these prophecies, so that the possibility of their accidental convergence on any ordinary man is completely ruled out by the laws of probability.
Some of the prophecies are so framed, in fact, as to preclude their fulfillment by anyone living after the first century A.D. For example, the patriarch Jacob said, in Genesis 49:10, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come." The name “Shiloh” is a title of the Messiah, and the prophecy states that Judah's tribe would remain the chief tribe in Israel, in particular providing their kings, until Messiah would come. The prophecy must have been fulfilled prior to the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem in A.D. 70, by which time certainly all semblance of a scepter had departed from Judah.
Similarly the promise was given to King David that the Messiah should be one of his descendants, as the King eternal, the one of whom God said, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (II Samuel 7:13). Isaiah said, "There shall come forth a rod out of the stem (literally 'stump') of Jesse (that is David's father), and a Branch shall grow out of his roots" (Isaiah 11:1). This is another name of the Messiah, and indicates that, even after it would appear that the family tree of Jesse has been cut down, yet one Branch will grow out of the stump. Evidently the very last one who could be known to have come of this lineage would finally prove to be the promised Messiah!
This was fulfilled uniquely in Jesus. His foster father, Joseph, was in the royal line from David and thus held the legal right to the throne (Matthew 1:1-16). His mother, Mary, was also a descendant of David, as shown by her genealogy in Luke 3:23-31. But ever since the time of Jesus, it would be quite impossible to establish the legal or biological lineage of any pretender to David's throne, as all the ancient genealogical records were destroyed soon after that.
An even more striking prophecy is given in Daniel 9:24-27. There Daniel was told explicitly that Messiah would come 69 “sabbaths” (that is, 69 sabbatical years - a total of 483 years) after the decree was given to rebuild Jerusalem, which at that time lay in ruins after Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had destroyed it.
Such a decree was given later by the Persian emperor. Although the exact date of the decree is somewhat uncertain, the termination date of the prophecy must have been some time in the first century A.D. In fact, it must have been before the destruction of the city and the temple by the Romans in A.D. 70, because the prophecy said quite explicitly: “After (the 483 years) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” (Daniel 9:26). Not only must Messiah come before this destruction, but He was also to be“cut off,” rejected and killed, before it came.
Mosaic, Christ's betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane.It is obvious that no one but Jesus could have fulfilled these prophecies. The prophecies absolutely preclude any still future Messiah, except that even that hope also will find its fulfillment in the second coming of Christ.
And then, of course, there are still hundreds of other prophecies, all of which were fulfilled by Jesus Christ: His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14); His birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); His sacrificial death (Isaiah 53:5); His crucifixion (Psalm 22:14-18); His bodily resurrection (Psalm 16:10); and many others. All of these unite in their witness that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31).
The probability that hundreds of such specific predictions, each quite independent of the others, could all be fulfilled concurrently in one individual, is unlikely in [More] | |  |
| |  | | | Joyce Nichols - The Messianic Times | We have come to know the beauty and the peace that comes with the belief that the entire Bible is true and is profitable for instruction (2 Timothy 3:16). Several things changed for us as we began to pray and search the Scriptures. We became convicted about how the world (and we) celebrated the holidays of Easter and Christmas, among others. I believe that if anyone is honest, he/she will know the way we have come to celebrate “religious holidays” has become worldly and secular. I would challenge those who would disagree to research the origins of these celebrations - it is as easy as a Google search. We began to understand the historic and prophetic importance of His appointed times, the feasts and festivals of the Lord. We became convicted about the importance of honoring the Sabbath (Shabbat).
We have much room to grow, but we do our best to honor the Shabbat. It is our favorite day of the week. We look forward to our Sabbath rest. We begin to prepare on Thursday or Friday morning so we can enter into the day prepared and with peace. We sometimes meet with friends for a simple meal and fellowship, or we might spend a peaceful evening at home. It is a blessing to meet with like-minded people on Friday night and Saturday. The concept is not something that sounds all that radical, but our families think we have lost our minds. Many of our “friends” have barely managed to tolerate us in our journey. Former Sunday School classmates think we have joined a cult.
Despite those bumps in the road, and after much study and prayer, we hold fast to our belief that observance of the Sabbath is an important act of obedience to His Word. Many people will argue that the fourth commandment (mitzvah) is no longer applicable in this day and age. I can no longer agree with that way of thinking. I am convinced that picking and choosing which commandments (mitzvot) to follow is a flawed method of obedience. So…I will choose to avoid committing murder and adultery, but I will not observe the Sabbath? It just does not make sense. There are, of course, commandments which are impossible for me to follow because I cannot follow those that apply only to men or only to priests or those which apply only “in the land” or if the temple is standing. I am convinced it is right to honor those mitzvot which apply to me. I cannot make an argument for ignoring the Sabbath, other than at first it seems to be an inconvenience. Those who argue the Sabbath is an Old Testament concept and therefore not applicable to us, make a mistake in ignoring New Testament references to the Sabbath. After all, aren’t we supposed to “walk as He walked”? Yeshua (Jesus) observed the Sabbath. In Luke, there is simplistic and straightforward scripture which clearly supports Yeshua’s observance of the day. [More] | | |
| |  | | | Hope for a Good Year - The Messianic Times | Hope for a Good Year
06 January 2017 Written by Joyce Nichols
One of the things that drew me to the Messianic faith was discovering the richness of viewing scripture from a Hebraic perspective. Time and again my faith is renewed as scripture I’ve read (and thought I understood) for years unfolds with more depth than ever before. When viewed through the lens of Hebraic mindset, interpretation of The Word can take on an entirely different meaning. Even when the basic meaning of the interpretation doesn’t change, knowledge of Hebraic mindset, idioms and thought shed light that illuminates the Word (and the world) in new and exciting ways.
The story of Isaac’s willingness to sacrifice his son becomes more than a story of obedience; it becomes a prophetic look at our Messiah. Joseph’s story is also an unlikely story of rags to riches, but when studied in more depth, it becomes clear that Joseph’s life is a beautiful parallel to Yeshua’s life in many ways. These Old Testament stories occurred thousands of years before Yeshua was born and the accuracy with which they prophesy Messiah is astounding. The tabernacle in the wilderness becomes more than a structure; it becomes a prophetic parallel for insight into Messiah.
Take even the most mundane things we do today like wishing friends and family a “Happy New Year.” Traditionally, Americans everywhere usher in the New Year by gathering together on New Year’s Eve. Almost every party ends on the same note - everyone counts down the final 10 seconds of the outgoing year and at the stroke of midnight, everybody shouts out, “Happy New Year!” I don’t see anything wrong with this tradition. It is fun to gather with friends and family, reflect on the past year and wish everyone happiness for the upcoming year.
I would offer that happiness is fleeting and superficial. Happiness comes in moments of time and is more external. Biblically the word “happy” or “happiness” is most often associated with when something good happens to a person, and the person feels an emotion, such as when Leah was “happy” because of the birth of Asher. Or, conversely, when the writer of Lamentations has been deprived of peace and has “forgotten what happiness is.” I have come to appreciate the traditional Jewish New Year’s greeting of “shanah tovah” shared by Jews during Yom Teruah. This greeting conveys a much deeper and meaningful hope for the new year than happiness. The hope is for a good year.
I must be honest. Getting acquainted with and accustomed to the many, many Jewish traditions has sometimes been overwhelming. But, I know there are many powerful messages to be learned if I will take the time to dig deeper. One of those simple things is the essence of the meaning of “shanah tovah,” which translates into the hope for a good year rather than a happy one. The Hebrew word for “good” (tov) occurs in the Bible 559 times and starts in Genesis during creation when the Lord sees that his creation is good or
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This one word conveys a profound depth of meaning and encompasses so much more than happiness. It embodies pleasantness, goodness, excellence, prosperity, happiness, bounty, moral goodness, welfare, being comparatively better, having good understanding. I for one, do not want to depend on external sources for happiness. I find my strength in Him who is good. The Good Shephard who gives good gifts.
It is always true that He provides so much more than we could ever imagine for ourselves. Think about it…we are satisfied with settling for a “Happy New Year.” The Word says that He is good and when we depend on Him, even when we are not happy in the moment, we can have peace and joy in His promises.
As we begin 2017, please indulge me as I say to you “shanah tovah,” a very traditional greeting for the New Year, from a non-Jew at a non-traditional time. My greeting is sincere. Shanah Tovah!
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| | | | | Christian Business & Marketplace Connection | CBMC International | effective as they present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their colleagues in the global marketplace and to help others be transformed to Christ-likeness.
CBMC International is an interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization comprised of national associations around the world. We share a common statement of beliefs, ministry practices and a passion to see lives transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. | | |
| | | | | Faith Based Christian Businesses | Trumpet Call To The Nations | Faith Based Christian Businesses
Below is a list of faith based Christian businesses many of whom are involved in helping to break poverty cycles or contribute directly to missions based organizations. This is not meant to be a complete list, but helpful for those interested. If you have or know of other faith based business groups that are helping to advance God's Kingdom, please contact us and we would be happy to add to the list. | | |
| | | | | | Hillsong - Let Hope Rise - Worldwide - Mission Finder | Hillsong – Let Hope Rise - Worldwide - Mission Finder
Name: Hillsong – Let Hope Rise
Region: Worldwide
Mission Type: Evangelism , Film , Media
Hillsong – Let Hope Rise
Capturing the on-stage energy and off-stage hearts of the Australia-based band Hillsong United, Hillsong – Let Hope Rise is a new motion-picture genre—the theatrical worship experience. The film explores Hillsong’s humble beginnings and astonishing rise to prominence as an international church whose songs are sung every Sunday by more than 50 million people worldwide. In theaters September 16, 2016. Watch the trailer below.
Pure Flix is a Christian movie studio that produces, distributes, and acquires Christ centered movies for the sole purpose of changing our culture for Christ, one heart at a time. Our mission since day one has remained the same and we continue to strive to make a difference for His name. [More] | | |
| |  | | | Grace International Inc. - Florida, USA - Mission Finder | Grace International Inc. - Florida USA - Mission Finder
Name: Grace International Inc.
Country: United States
Region: Florida USA
Organization Type: Education , Medical , Orphanages , Short Term
Grace International Inc.
Grace International, Inc. is a Nationally ECFA accredited non-profit 501(c)(3) Christian, humanitarian and empowering organization registered in the State of Florida, with its main operations in the Country of Haiti for more than 43 years and also serving the needy people through several outreach ministries in Dade and Broward and Treasure Cost Counties of South Florida. Our mission is to follow the command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in working with the poorest of the poor and oppressed, promoting human transformation by breaking the cycle of spiritual darkness, poverty, sickness, chronicle-dependency and ignorance, as we RESCUE, RELIEVE, RESTORE and EMPOWER. [More] | | |
| |  | | | TGIF - Marketplace Leaders Marketplace Leaders | David was a well-trained warrior, a strategist. Yet, we find that David’s dependence on God to direct his efforts was very great. In fact, after he won the first battle, he went right back to inquire again. This is the most important lesson we can learn from this story. God told David to attack, but only after he heard the marching in the balsam trees.
How many times have you or I operated in the workplace based only on our skill and ability, without seeking to know the details of God’s will in the matter? David could have simply assumed that since he had won the last battle, surely God would give him victory the same way. No. David had learned that communicating with the living God is the only sure way of victory. His skill was not enough. He had to have God’s blessing.
How many times have we worked in our work life the same way each time only because it was the way we did it last time? What if God has a better way? What if God has a different plan than ours? “So David inquired of God…” These are the important words that we are to learn from. We must be in such relationship with God that we are constantly inquiring of His mind on every matter. When we do this, we can expect the same results that David achieved-success in our endeavor and recognition by God.
“So David’s fame spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear him” (1 Chron. 14:17). This is the reward of obedience to God. We don’t have to build a name for ourselves. God will see to it that we are honored for our obedience. He wants to make known those servants who are willing to obey Him at all costs. [More] | | |
| |  | | | God Owns His Business | God Owns His Business
Stanley Tam ? Finance
"So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" Luke 16:11
Although he was an innovator in the reclamation of silver in the photographic process, Stanley Tam of Lima, Ohio, is best known for his commitment to Jesus Christ. A large sign adorning the home of United States Plastic Corporation proclaims "Christ Is the Answer," and Tam's widely read book, God Owns My Business, describes how he arrived at the conviction that he should legally make God the literal owner of his business. Tam, who has traveled throughout the country and world to testify about his Christian faith, is one who is willing to "put his money where his mouth is." Although his business success could have made him a millionaire many times over, he and his wife, Juanita, draw only modest salaries from U.S. Plastics. All profits are channeled through the Stanita Foundation, with those funds designated for a variety of Christian ministries, primarily overseas missions. In the following interview the seventy-five-year-old Tam talks about his determination to make Jesus Christ the central focus of his life and business.
Many Christians wrestle with the question of whether they should tithe, which is generally regarded as paying 10 percent of personal income to the Lord's work. Yet years ago, you reached the conviction that God wanted you to give far more than that. How did that come about? First of all, I must emphasize that I don't believe anyone should use me as an example. I must live Stanley Tam's life, being obedient to the directives I feel God gives me, and everyone else must live their own lives, being equally obedient to the priorities God asks of them. For me, all I can say is that the Lord led me over a period of time to give increasing amounts of my income. I have always tithed, from the time I became a Christian at the age of eighteen. A few years later, I felt led to increase the amount of my giving to 15 percent, and then in 1940 I felt clearly directed by God to literally make Him my Senior Partner. That meant giving 51 percent of my earnings to His work. That still did not amount to a lot, since my company's gross sales only totaled twelve thousand dollars a year, and I was only drawing a salary of fourteen dollars a week.
How did you go about making God your senior partner in a literal sense? From 1940 to 1952, I maintained a self-declared trust, recognizing it as a contract between me and God. Then in 1952, my wife and I established the Stanita. Foundation (the name resulting from the combination of Stanley and Juanita) through which company profits would be channeled and directed to help fund missions around the world and in the United States.
A point came, though, when you recognized the Lord as more than your partner. Yes, in the fall of 1954, 1 was speaking at a revival meeting in Medellin, Colombia when God confronted me in a supernatural way. At the close of my talk, people began responding in a magnificently spontaneous way, but the Lord began directly speaking to me through my thoughts. At that point, He let me know He wanted me to turn the business over to Him completely and become His employee. So, on January 15, 1955, I ceased being a stockholder in either of my companies, States Smelting and Refining Corporation or United States Plastic Corporation.
As you pointed out, God works differently in each of our lives, so we cannot presume that His plan for you is the same for each of us. But why do you think the Lord made such an unusual request? I have always enjoyed making money, and God knew that. Had He left me undisturbed in this area, I could have become a proud, materialistic, self-centered spiritual misfit. In asking of me the submission of the greatest drive of my life, He removed a blighting influence and replaced it with an inner peace and satisfaction such as I could never have known otherwise.
Inner peace and satisfaction by giving away most of your company's profits- that certainly doesn't seem to fit in today's society. It does if you recognize that a person's soul is the thing of greatest value in all the world. And if it is true that only spiritual things are eternal, it makes sense to use the profits of a business to win others to Christ. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:20 to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven," (NAS) so really the only difference is where we are depositing our money. It is said that "you can't take it with you," and it's true - unless you send it on ahead. In 1952, 1 was in Korea to speak to a number of churches. During that time, the Lord impressed on me Psalm 2:8, "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession." My prayer was to ask God that I would be used in His harvest fiel [More] | | |
| |  | | | Apartment Life Org | North Texas | We launched our first region, North Texas, in March 2000, and once we got started, we never looked back. Fueled by a clear business value, we've gained the endorsement of apartment owners and management companies and are already partnering with seven of the top 10 companies in 10 different states.
What's even more exciting is that the potential for future impact is enormous. With our "driver" personality and the desire to transform lives, it should be no surprise that we have a radical vision to exponentially grow the number of apartment communities we serve from 350 to over 2000 by the year 2021. It sounds a little crazy, but we're all in. We want to change the world, one apartment community at a time.
You can read more about our expansion critiera here. [More] | | |
| | | | | Minister Registration - Become an Ordained Christian Minister | As an online Christian church, we serve to help spread the gospel of the Lord by ordaining Christian ministers so that they may go forth and share the good news. Minister registration is provided directly through our church, and all of our online ordinations carry the full influence of an ordination performed in a chapel. Ordination gives you the full religious authority to perform all Christian ceremonies, officiate weddings, and even start your own church.
The CNC is a non-denominational Christian church, giving you the most flexibility to choose how best to help deliver the word of God. When choosing an ordaining institution, it is important to select an organization that not only supports a true Christian ethic but also has strong nationwide recognition. With members spanning from coast to coast, ministers who become ordained through our service are assured that the full strength of our establishment stands behind their success.
These are benefits very few other ordaining institutions can offer. Local ministries are limited by their reach. Most local churches lack the influence and resources to properly support the registration of new clergy nationwide. To compensate for this, they will often impose substantial restrictions on who may become ordained or charge exhorbitant fees to limit the demand for their services. Also beware of fly-by-night online ministries that are not backed by true Christian doctrine. Many other online ordination services are simply run by small local churches without the proper expertise in serving a global membership, or they lack the necessary religious basis to be considered true Christian organizations.
We want you to succeed. In fact, we need you to! The Christian church is in constant need of new ministers. God's work is never ending, and in a world increasingly captivated by celebrity gossip, corporate greed, and divisive politics, new ministers are in demand more now than ever. For those who are new to the clergy, their ordaining institution is often their first resource for getting started. That is why we want to make sure that your experience with our organization is a positive one and that you get everything you need to begin the good work of the Lord.
By registering to become an ordained minister, you are joining a group of men and women who are devoted to the highest level of spiritual conviction. With the ability to organize fellowship, officiate weddings, and start your own congregation, becoming ordained as a Christian minister is a step that should be taken with the utmost level of seriousness and dedication.
By taking this significant step in your spiritual development, you will be elevated to a new height of respect by your peers, but along with that also comes the obligation to uphold a new level of integrity and responsibility. Only those who are truly devoted to God should proceed. We wish you the best on your new journey and congratulate you on your decision. [More] | | |
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M.R. Mathias 
