We are quickened through Christ to live a life that is born from above. We are connected to God and each other which collectively brings forth the fullness of life on earth as it is in heaven. The divine fusion of God in each of us and through each of us gives us experience in the collective and connective power of God. You will never find spiritual enlargement as an isolated, separate individual, but in relationship with others we can... Read more
Love, the Gospels say, makes all the difference. Supernatural love. Agape love. That kind of love present only when there’s been a supernatural impartation of DNA from the Father to His children. Agape is the DNA that changes the heart and begins the process of making a person human as God intended. That’s because God is Agape, therefore in search of man desiring to begin this eternal relationship in the now. Agape is love, the mystery of what allows us... Read more
To train a new generation for ministry we must get rid of pride and pretension My friend Charles wanted a mentor. He was eager to learn the ropes of ministry, so he asked an older pastor for training. The pastor agreed—but Charles soon realized the man wanted a valet, not an apprentice. Charles became the man’s “armor bearer.” The man never took Charles on hospital visits, involved him in ministry assignments or prayed with him. Instead, Charles was expected... Read more
People are looking for a safe place in a world of dangerous relationships. Are you a place of safety for others? Will you love them regardless of what they believe? Will you stand with them always? Agenda-less love is what people are looking for. I choose to be a safe place for my friends and family, and I hope real friends will do the same for me and for others. This will not happen organizationally and can only happen through... Read more
A (possibly)significant development in Muslim-Christian-Jewish relations is being spear-headed by the Islamic Scholars of North America (ISNA). In July of 2012, ISNA Director of Community Outreach, Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi, convened a small multilateral forum of scholars in Mauritania to discuss challenges faced by religious minorities in Muslim-majority communities around the world. Mauritania is an interesting choice, since it has no indigenous Christian population, and the CIA World Fact book lists the country as “(official) 100% Muslim.” So, officially, Mauritania is 100%... Read more
There is a day in which we must die. Die to our self-focus, our opinions, preferences, tastes, and will. We must die to the world and its approval or critique, and die to the approval, blame or shame of even of our family and friends. We must look at our lives as one with God and one in God. When we can truly die so that we may live the freedom life that God has designed for us, we can... Read more
“What do you think of Muslims now, Braner?” Several of my friends watch the news and watch me—as if I might recant now and group all Muslims into one large violent jihad against every American. The question isn’t whether violence is wrong. The tragic death of Ambassador Chris Stevens has no justification, and the death of these four heroic Americans is a disgrace. But revenge is a seed that grows only more violence. Remember that World War I started with... Read more
an excerpt from Keys to Brilliant Focus by Graham Cooke (to be released Oct 1) When we receive the Lord Jesus at salvation we inherit everything that He is and we learn progressively how to walk in His fullness. The work of the Holy Spirit is to empower us to be firmly rooted and comprehensively built up in Him. All our circumstances are designed to enable us to be established in our faith and to be overflowing with gratitude. As... Read more
In today’s hot-headed presidential debate, it might be better for some of us to keep our mouths shut. People didn’t vote in ancient Israel, nor did they put “KICK THE ROMANS OUT!” bumper stickers on their chariots. But there was plenty of political anger seething in Palestine, even without Fox News, CNN and MSNBC around to stir the pot. Jews especially abhorred tax-collectors, since (1) tax-collectors were usually thieves, and (2) they worked for the hated Roman Empire. Yet... Read more
The Political Illusion By Rev. R.J. Rushdoony – bio It would be absurd to deny the importance of politics, but it is also very dangerous to over-rate it. one of the persistent problems of christendom has been the tendency to over-rate both church and state. In Numbers 18:21-26, we see that God orders the tithe to be paid, not to the priests but to the Levites, whose varied functions included education. Thus, worship per se received mainly a tithe of... Read more
Robert Ricciardelli
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