We Are All ONE in Christ Jesus

"For It is by grace that you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves. It is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast." Eph 2:8-9

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew or Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are of Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal.3:26-29

If Paul was writing to believers today do he'd might possibly write, "There is neither Church of Christ or Baptist, Pentecostal nor Methodist, Lutheran nor countless other names or labels, for you are ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS." What do you think?

What makes us one in Christ is it faith, grace or something else? Are all believers one in Christ through faith? Why don't all denominations see other believers that aren't apart of their denomination as one? Is it possible for all denominations to have a oneness or commonality with each other? Is unity with other denominations and believers possible within your denomination? What things need to change in order for oneness to occur? What can you do to help other believers understand the oneness that all believers share through faith in Christ Jesus? What could get done or be accomplished in the advancement of Christianity if all denominations came together as one, understanding who they truly are in Christ Jesus?

What do you think?
Share your thoughts.

What Is A Cult?

In this post I would like for us to do is examine our churches to make sure that they are not cults.

What is a cult? When people hear the word cult, they automatically think of a group a particular group that is outside the realm of true Christianity. Maybe Charles Manson, Jonestown or David Karesh come to mind of those who hear the word cult. Is a cult really what we think it is? What is a cult?
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult defines what a cult is and has some other useful information

http://www.howcultswork.com/ shows how cults work

http://www.cultwatch.com/ also gives cult information.

www.watchman.org/profile/patrnpro.htm tells of what to look out for when it comes to cults.

www.religioustolerance.org/cults.htm also gives a view into what cults are like in nature.

www.ehow.com/how_2308793_how-someone-leave-religous-cult.html# tips on how to leave


Why do some religious groups have cult like qualities? What does that say about that particular group? Should believers be concerned about cults today? Why? Are you concerned about your particular group or questioned some of your religious groups doctrines and practices as cult like in nature? Are their any red flags that you see within the church you attend? If you felt like you were apart of a cult would you leave it? Why or why not? Please share your story with us if you have been apart of a cult and left. Can any denomination end up being a cult?

What do you think?
Share your thoughts.

In Ashes They Shall Reap

I believe that you reap what you sow in life. Karma. Jesus mentions it in his gospels. Other disciples of Christ mention it in letters to fellow believers. I believe that it is important what you send out into the world. Do you send negative emotions and action out into the world? What happens when we sow anger, hate, revenge, slander? We can expect the negative consequences of what we sow. If we sow love, mercy, grace, forgiveness. We can expect the positive out comes of our sowing. You reap what you sow in life! One thing I have learned over the recent years is that I am in charge of my own emotions. My wife for examples doesn't make me angry, I choose to give control over to how my emotions and actions play out. Do I give in or do I choose how I respond? I am the one in charge of my emotions, actions. Same is said for all of us. You control how you respond to the circumstances in your life. You have a choice on how you live and the things that you sow and reap in life. You are given choice by God. You are given the power of making decisions and the consequences of decisions are based on how you respond in life. If we sow destructively we of course can expect to reap destruction on our lives. If we sow seeds of positiveness in our lives we can expect the wonderful effects of our sowing.

Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed has done it again with a with a wonderful song on the subject. I love how he challenge us. I think these words can be encouraging and uplifting for those facing difficulties in the world. It is a reminder and question of what are we reaping in life. God has given us what we need to succeed in life. What will you reap? Will you reap blessings or destruction on your life?

IN ASHES THEY SHALL REAP

I was born to bleed
Fighting to succeed
Built to endure
What this world throws at me
x4

Let me to tell you of a force
Coursing through my veins again
Like a page torn from a chapter
Of a book of better days
In the moments that we seize together
Some will never know
It is these words that never give true justice
Screaming all alone

I was born to bleed
Fighting to succeed
Built to endure
What this world throws at me
x2

You may trust the unanswered
You put hope in the unseen
All our memories come to haunt us
If we still fail to believe
Now the fear we once held
Is the breath we mustn't take
Because those who sow in flames
In ashes they shall reap

Ashes are all that you are left with when you sow in flames
x4

All life sorrows are my own creation
the same is said for our love
x3

Born to bleed
Fighting to succeed
Built to endure
What this world throws at me
x5

Born to bleed
Fighting to succeed
But those who sow in flames in ashes they shall reap
Those who sow in flames in ashes they shall reap



What are you sowing and reaping in life? Are you sowing anger, hatred, revenge, slander, greed, pride? Or are you sowing love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and healing? What happens when we sow destructive things in life? What happens when you sow positive things in life? What do you think about you being in control of your own emotions and actions in life? How does it make you feel that you have a God given choices on how you respond to situations in life? What do you want to sow and reap?

What do you think?
Share your thoughts.

Confusing Strong Faith

Faith. Why do believers loose it? Maybe we as believers confuse what strong faith really is. A teaching has gone on among believers that strong faith is unwavering. Remains constant. I love the sermon yesterday morning by Dr. Greg Cummings on Noah. He mentioned and stressed that strong faith is faith that is hanging on by a finger nail. It is faith that is at the foot of the cross. It is faith shakes us and moves us to the edge. I know that I personally have been hanging on by a finger nail. I know what it is like to doubt. I am here this morning to tell you what encouragement I received yesterday morning that if you are hanging on by a finger nail that you are still faithful. You are still strong. God isn't mad at you for hanging on by a thread. His grace in you is overflowing and sustaining. His love for you remains. God is pleased. One thing I over the past years have noticed like Noah is that God joins us in the boat. As Greg mentioned yesterday our boat is floating. God is with us. His grace sufficient. His hope for the future promising and solid. Praise God!!!!! I personally would like to thank Dr. Cummings for challenging us and giving us a message of hope.
I have also noticed that like Job I have been on the "ash heap" and have found God joining me there not absent. If you are experiencing trials in life right now and are hanging on by a thread or on the edge understand that God joins you in your trials. His grace, mercy, love and hope remains with you. Real faith. Strong faith isn't constant. Life isn't constant. It changes from day to day yet God's love and grace for you and the hope you have in Christ never changes no matter what we face.

Praise God today for His faithfulness to us! Thank God today for helping your boat float. Thank God today for joining us in our suffering and giving us just enough to hold on!

"Be watchful, stand firm on your faith; be courageous, be strong." 1 Cor. 16:13

What do you think: Why do you think that believers thing that a strong faith is constant? Why do we think that in order to be strong in our faith we must never doubt, question? What happens to our faith when we never doubt or question? What happens to our faith when we are never pushed to the edge? How has God helped your boat stay afloat and have you seen him join you on the "ash heap" of life? What did it do for you? Does it make you mad that some theology has pushed the idea that we can't doubt or question to have a strong faith? Why or why not?


What do you think?
Share your thoughts.

Goings On in The Mabrys World

I am sorry that I haven't posted in a while. I have been extremely busy with buying our first home. We are excited that we just moved in today! :-) The boys are having so much fun and Ethan is feeling better and getting over the flu (not swine, thank God!). I would like to request prayers for my mom. She has Bells Palsay and has been in alot pain. Please pray that she heals quickly and gets over it fast.

I want you all to know that I will be blogging more frequently now that I have internet!!! YEAH!!!! I am so excited to be able to blog and read your blogs now. I know that you bloggers have been a true blessing to my life.

Well, back to work.. We are fixing to put together the beds in the boys room.