Worship Wednesdays: "Who You Were" by Travis Greene

"Who you were is who you are,
Who you are is who you’ll always be,
Who you were is who you are,
Who you are is who you’ll always be."

This song is a reminder of God's unchanging character, continued faithfulness, and nature as I AM (Genesis 3:14.) It's an encouragement when we don't understand or concerned regarding the present or things to come. It is a reminder that God remains the Father "with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow" (James 1:17). Why? Because He is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Enjoy and let this song minister to you!

Travis Greene is a national recording artist with ministry experience as a as youth pastor and worship director. Travis is the artist of the popular single "Intentional" off of his album "The Hill." Travis with his wife Jackie have launched Forward City Church in Columbia, SC. To learn more about Travis Greene visit www.travisgreene.net.

The Resolve: Satisfaction as an Unmarried Adult

Set-Apart Singles

Many unmarried Christian adults are dissatisfied with their state of singleness, and attempt to find ways to solve this problem by dating and going from relationship to relationship in hopes of getting married. Marriage will, in their eyes, solve this most obnoxious problem in their lives and finally things will be all better. Not at all! Marriage is great and beautiful when it’s within God’s proper timing, and with two prepared (not perfect) individuals who desire to commit themselves selflessly for the well being of the other. Thus, unmarried Christian adults have to make The Resolve.

Resolve means to have a firm determination to do something. It is the act of settling or finding a solution to (a problem, dispute, or contentious matter). Additionally, resolve is the determination and decision regarding a matter. Synonyms include settle, sort out, solve, find a solution to, fix, straighten out, deal with, put right, put to rights, and rectify.

So what exactly needs to be resolved?
Unmarried/single adults need to resolve, settle, and firmly agree with their marital status. Why? Unfortunately, the focus is frequently how to become unsingle by dating, getting in a relationship, and/or getting married. As I indicated above, this is not bad. However motivation needs to be evaluated.

What are you motivated to address?
• Loneliness
• Low Self-Esteem
• Biological Clock
• Financial Woes

How do you resolve and become satisfied in you marital state?
• Improve the stewardship of your thoughts and emotions. (Philippians 4:8)
• Recognize where your true worth and value comes from. (Psalm 139:13,14)
• Trust in God’s timing! (Isaiah 49:23)
• Address your poor financial stewardship. Tithe! Save! Manage! (Proverbs 13:11 & Malachi 3:10,11)
• Stay focused on the goal, purpose, and task at hand! (Jeremiah 29:11 & Ephesians 2:10)

Sure there is nothing wrong with wanting to “spend your life with someone.” However, this is a great season of your life in which you can develop deepened friendships with like-minded individuals of both genders.

You want children? According to the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute there are “400,540 children are living without permanent families in the foster care system, 115,000 of these children are eligible for adoption, but nearly 40% of these children will wait over three years in foster care before being adopted." Sure these children may not be your own, and may have developed their personality, endured various forms of hardship, and may not be cute and cuddly babies.  However, their lives still require leadership and guidance for their future. If you want cute and cuddly, get a dog, SERIOUSLY.

Having a pet will teach you discipline and structure, and provide limited companionship. Travel! There’s a great big world out there God created, so go and explore it! This can be done as a missionary or for your own personal entertainment and enrichment.

But most importantly be content. Paul, a satisfied, successful, and set-apart single for Christ wrote:

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13 NCV

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV

Friday Funny: "His Eye is on the Sparrow"

That's Just the Way the Father Is

Wonderful Worship Wednesday

How could He love me?

How could He know me?

How could one so awesome, ever care so much for me?

How could He love man, enough to redeem man?

How could He sacrifice, His only son to set me free?

That's just the way the Father is.

He'll be a friend when you're not His.

That's just His way, that's just the way He is.

He's nothing like your other friends.

He'll be with you until the end.

That's just His way, that's just the way He is.

 

 

That's Just the Way the Father Is comes from Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers' album Awesome Wonder released in 2001. This song highlights the loving, kind, gracious, and merciful character of the Everlasting Father! This song is an oldie but a goodie, and an all time favorite of mine. Enjoy!

Teachable Moment: Krokodil

What is krokodil? Krokodil, the street name for Desomorphine, is a homemade injectable opiate drug. Krokodil is common in Russia and the Ukraine, with estimates of 100,000 and 20,000 people respectively reported using the drug in 2011 (Christensen, 2013). The drug krokodil is developed by combining the painkiller codeine with commonly available chemicals that include iodine, kitchen and bathroom cleaners, hydrochloric acid, red phosphorous from matchbooks and solvents such as paint thinner and gasoline (Christensen, 2013). These ingredients are high in toxicity, and when injected intravenously causes severe tissue damage.

Krokodil garners the name due to the reported green and/or black discolored scaly skin changes like a crocodile (Bekiempi, 2013 and Christensen, 2013). The DEA reported that the long-term effects can include damaged blood vessels, thrombosis and damaged soft tissues surrounding the injection sites. These conditions can lead to gangrene (Behm, 2013). According to reports, the average lifespan of a krokodil user after starting on the drug is around 2.5 years (Bekiempi, 2013).

Jean-Paul C. Grunda, Alisher Latypovc, and Magdalena Harris (2013) found in their research study:
Localized damage
• Thrombosis of the major vessels and erosive bleeding
• Large open ulcers, phlebitis and gangrene at and around injection sites
• Skin and soft tissue infections to the bone
• Limb amputations
• Large scabs on the limbs and elsewhere on the body, pieces of dead skin that come off in one piece
• Veins that ulcer and rot away from the inside, requiring surgical removal of the main veins

Systemic damage
• Pneumonia
• Blood poisoning
• Coronary artery burst
• Meningitis
• Rotting gums resulting in tooth loss
• Bone infection, decayed structure of the jaw and other facial bones
• Sores and ulcers on the forehead and skull
• Gangrenous wounds on various part of the body
• Rotting ears, noses and lips
• Liver and kidney problems
• Death

Neurological damage
• Speech impediments
• Motor skills impairments
• Affected memory and concentration
• Personality changes

Jen Christensen with CNN reported in October 2013 five people were hospitalized in the Chicago suburb of Joliet, Illinois, with symptoms associated with krokodil. Additionally, similar cases have been reported by health care providers in Arizona and Oklahoma (Christensen, 2013) and Columbus, OH (Behm, 2013). The Drug Enforcement Administration has not confirmed these cases are directly associated with krokodil, but has directed law enforcement agencies and medical institutions to report any discovered forms of the drug (Bekiempi, 2013).

To learn more about krokodil, please review the Drug Enforcement Administration's drug fact sheet http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/desomorphine.pdf.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:14-18 NKJV

Sources:
1. Behm, J. (2013, November 10). Krokodil drug concerns in Lorain County. The Morning Journal, Retrieved from http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20131110/krokodil-drug-concerns-in-lorain-county
2. Bekiempism, V. (2013, October 21). Why You Don't Need to Worry About 'Flesh-Eating' Drug Krokodil. Newsweek. Retrieved from http://www.newsweek.com/why-you-do-not-need-worry-about-flesh-eating-drug-krokodil-613
3. Christensen, J. (2013, October 18). Flesh-eating 'zombie' drug 'kills you from the inside out'. CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/16/health/krokodil-zombie-drug/
4. Grunda, J.C., Latypovc, A., and Harris, M. (2013). Breaking worse: The emergence of krokodil and excessive injuries among people who inject drugs in Eurasia. International Journal of Drug Policy. Retrieved from http://www.idhdp.com/media/41793/inj_damage_from_krokodil_in_eurasia.pdf

In the Marketplace: Workplace Bullying

Have you ever left work tearful, depressed, and feeling overwhelmed? However, these feelings of stress are not related to expected work assignments and productivity expectation, but the maltreatment of another colleague, supervisor, and/or manager? You may be the victim of workplace bullying.

The Workplace Bullying Institute defines Workplace Bullying as the repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons by one or more perpetrators that take one or more of the following forms:
• Verbal abuse
• Offensive Conduct (i.e. threatening, humiliating, or intimidating)
• Work Interference

BullyingStatistics.org includes the following examples of Workplace Bullying:
• Shouting or swearing at an employee.
• An employee being singled out for unjustified criticism or blame.
• An employee being excluded from activities or having their work contributions ignored.
• Language or actions that embarrass or humiliate an employee.
• Practical jokes, especially if they occur repeatedly to the same person.

Workplace Bullying Statistics:
• 1 in 3 workers may be the victims of workplace bullying.
• Twenty percent of workplace bullying becomes harassment.
• Sixty percent of workplace bullies are men, and bully male and female employees equally.
• Female bullies are more likely to bully other females.

The impact of workplace bullying on employees can lead to high levels of stress, absenteeism and low productivity, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and insomnia.
Many individuals do not speak up regarding the matter due to the role of the perpetrator as a supervisor, and fear losing their job. Additionally, workplace bullying can be masked by the high demand of the job.

So how do we address this issue?
1. Address personal timidity and fear. II Timothy 1:7 NLT
2. Do your best work. Colossians 3:23,24 MSG
3. Address the perpetrator, especially if it is another believer in Christ. Matthew 18:15 NCV
4. Seek a mediator, employee/human resources, and/or compliance officer. Matthew 18:16,17 NCV
5. Forgive the offender. Philippians 4:2-7 NKJV
6. Ultimately, do not seek revenge. Trust in the Lord to avenge. Romans 12:17-21 NKJV

"Called to the Mundane"

My heart often breaks when I see any individual going about life aimlessly. Their body moves at a pace that shows no speed, no direction, and no urgency. Their facial expression lacks joy, lacks peace, and lacks hope. They’re often frustrated, dissatisfied, and defeated with their current state of affairs. More often than not this is frequently a symptom indicating that someone is unaware and disjointed from their purpose and destiny. Thus, they have either settled and/or accepted life to be mundane and void of purpose.

For the purpose of understanding, mundane is defined as lacking interest or excitement, dull, ordinary, commonplace, banal (BLAH, BLAND, HUMDRUM) and unimaginative. Certainly, certain aspects related to the fulfillment of purpose and on the pathway to destiny are routine in nature and have that “day-to-day” feel. Yet, we are called to greatness to live exciting and extraordinary lives. We can often feel our internal workings within our soul alerting us that there is something more, something greater, and something more impactful.

Biblical scripture provides solid evidence that we have purpose and we have destiny. This purpose and destiny has been prewritten and preplanned by the True and Living God. Let’s take a look:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old. God, your thoughts are precious to me. They are so many!

Psalm 139:16-17 NCV

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Ephesians 2:10 AMP

Truly no one is called to a life of mundane existence. Mundane can further be defined as pertaining to this world or earth and temporal rather than heavenly, spiritual, and/or supernatural. Thus, I further understand and identify this to mean lacking the heavenly and spiritual influence that comes from God.  As I woke up this morning, I thought “no one is called to the mundane” and to settle for life void of joy, mission, and intention. In all, my hope is to stir, awaken, and encourage everyone to pursue God and the purpose and destiny He has predesigned for their lives.