How Did Jesus Treat People?

Talking "theology" is so much more comfortable than talking about reality and our day-to-day character. Does our theology translate into our thoughts and actions and become relevant?

We started out discussing how Jesus treated sinners, and we had a lot of fun looking at Zachaeus and the Rich Young Ruler.  This week we will be exploring the lives of three famous women in the New Testament: the woman who washed his feet with her hair, the woman caught in adultery, and the Samaritan woman he met at the well.  Bring your favorite translation as we look for principles, clues and characteristics of how Christ handled the challenges of people and relationships.  Exploring the parallels in our own lives has helped these "stories" come to life.

Next week, June 9th we will begin examining how Jesus treated the "religious".  Hmm?   And then we'll discuss how Jesus related to believers, friends and his closest confidants. 

PS - IF you share the website address with anyone, remind them that they can:
1.) click on the section "Messages"/Blog and 
2.) enter their email address
3.) click "Submit" and they will receive the most recent posts and updates of what's happening at Grace and Righteousness Ministries. 

What Price? Freedom & Liberty

With the passing of Memorial Day, "Summer" is officially here and the increase of election "persuasion" is also evident.  Every election truly seems very important and November 2012 will be no different.  The stakes are high! I am posting this persuasive video done by the Catholic church so we can access it or share it with any of our friends who may be unaware of the religious liberties that are also at risk in America today.

.http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=D9vQt6IXXaM&hd

The Names of God

The Names of God

The Last Saturday of the Month

Upon finishing the book study Grace: The Power to Change by Dr. J. Richards, our Grace and Righteousness meetings are planning to use the last Saturday meeting of each month as a time of worship, study and prayer around the Names of God.  So often we get into a rut, praying "in the name of Jesus, Amen", forgetting the immense detail and depth of information God has revealed about himself through his names.

We will begin this Saturday with one of the most intimate names God has given us to call him: Father! What depth of emotion, intimacy and joy comes with beginning to understand what "Father" means to God. Praying "in my Father's name" and "in my Abba-Papa-Daddy's name " is such a privilege.

Knowing what that name means to God, and praying within the same context is one of the purest forms of true worship - worshiping in Spirit and in Truth. We can only scratch the surface of the depth of this Name, but we will delight ourselves in His Fathering of us, in the hopes of knowing and experiencing God better, more, deeper, and sweeter. Come taste and see that the FATHER is good!

Critical Factors for a Wonderful Life

Remember - to have a Wonderful Life, get the critical factors right and everything else falls into place. So here we go:

1. God is love.

2. The heart of the Gospel is love.

3. Love is a product of the spiritual health of our heart.

4. Loving one another is the evidence that we are experiencing God.

5. There is no greater way to gauge and evaluate the condition of our heart than by our ability to give and receive love.

6. Love is manifest through our willingness and capacity to develop ourselves for meaningful relationships.

7. All of life's boundaries are a product of the beliefs of our heart; therefore, the more I give myself to the love of God and the love of people, the more I harmonize myself with the nature of God.

8. The more I harmonize with the nature of God, the more I can function in my God-like nature, ...

9. which means the more I move past the boundaries to a wonderful life!   

excerpt from Dr Jim Richards May Newsletter, 2012