Put Some Clothes on and Pull Your Pants Up

Men have been disrespecting women since we were literally covering everything up...wearing corsets, petticoats, AND bloomers under full dresses that had to be sewn on. Black people have been being "mistreated" since we were wearing suspenders and saying yes sir master. It's not the clothes, the sagging pants, the attitude, or anything else. People are choosing not to love others and when we blame it on something as superficial and subjective as an outfit or a word then we diminish the value of human beings.

--

#ByJRochelle

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude, don't complain.
Maya Angelou

Vision without action is a daydream.
Action without vision is a nightmare.
(which one is worse?)

Do you tweet? Me too, find me here. Also, find me on Facebook.

TheJRochelle about.me/jeanicia.elder

I Rest My Case

John Gray @ Lakewood Church

1. 1 John 2:1-2 KJV
1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 
1. Propitiation:(from Latin propitiāre, "to appease;" from propitius, "gracious")[1] is the act of appeasing or making well-disposed a deity, thus incurring divine favor or avoiding divine retribution.
2. Advocate: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. (To one's aid)
2. The Law Reminds You of Your Broken Places.
1. There's an enemy who's trying to stop you when you're on the way to your final destination.
1. Stopped by police when you know you’re in the wrong
1. Get caught in  vulnerable moment.
2. Sometimes You Get a Warning
3. Other times you get a ticket.
1. The enemy wants to cause you to pay repeatedly.
2. Man wants to hold you hostage to the worse version of yourself
4. When  you get a ticket, you have to go to court.
1. Judges appreciate truth and humility.
2. The opposing counsel will have ample evidence.
1. Revelation 12:10 NIV 
1. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 
3. The Blood Covers Your Mistakes
1. Blood is an external change agent and an internal work.
2. When you’re on trial be thankful.
1. Psalm 100:4-5 NIV
1. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. 
3. As you’re going through the trial rejoice
1. Psalm 100:4-5 NIV
1. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 
4. 1 Peter 1:6 NIV
5. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith even when we are going through bad situations.
1. John 19:30 KJV
1. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 

So I'm watching "The Wolf of Wall Street".

So I'm watching "The Wolf of Wall Street". It's about Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) who in 1987 takes an entry-level job at a Wall Street brokerage firm. By the early 1990s, while still in his 20s, Belfort founds his own firm, Stratton Oakmont. Together with his trusted lieutenant (Jonah Hill) and a merry band of brokers, Belfort makes a huge fortune by defrauding wealthy investors out of millions.  It's pretty horrible. I can't believe that this really happened. So I decided to see what the scripture of the day was on YouVersion.^{Courtesy IMDB}

I actually stopped watching the movie to do a little Bible study; I’ll definitely finish it later. I’ve never done the exact things that Belfort does in this movie but I do fall short so I wanted to examine my heart after reading YouVersion’s scripture of the day and I deemed it quite ironic how it seems to speak against the theme of this movie.

1. Acts 20:33-35 is the scripture of the day and it says this:
1. "I've never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I've done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, 'You're far happier giving than getting.'" 
2. You’re More Blessed to Give than to Receive
1. Taste for wealth or fashion
1. Matthew 6:19-21
1. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
1. I love fashion. It's one of many things that I spend my money on.
2. DiCaprio's character brags about his $2000 suit.
3. Paul doesn't say wealth or fashion are bad, just that he doesn't have a taste for it.
2. Care of personal basic needs
1. Taking care of yourself is important and spiritual.
1. 1 Cor 3:16
1. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
2. Romans 12:1
3. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2. Taking care of yourself just as important as taking care of others. 
1. Philippians 2:4
1. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
3. Care of personal needs of coworkers
1. 1 John 3:17-18
1. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
2. Galatians 6:9-10
1. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
4. Work on behalf of the weak without exploiting them
1. Ephesians 4:28
1. The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.

Though Belfort’s actions so far are quite reprehensible, his character does raise a good point in that how can you give if you are poor; if you have nothing to give, then are you stuck on the lesser side of the blessing? In DiCaprio's opening monologue, he says:

See money doesn't just buy you a better life, better food, better cars, better [expletive deleted], it also makes you a better person. You can give generously to the church or the political party of your choice. You can save the [expletive deleted] spotted owl with money.

The only problem is that Belfort wasn’t being a better person. He was doing the opposite of what Paul advises in the aforementioned scripture. He was exploiting everyone: his friends, women, investors, etc. His illegally hedonistic lifestyle was very damaging to his health and wellbeing. He encouraged others to partake in the same damaging lifestyle. I can’t believe that this is based on a true story…I wonder how it will end.

This I Believe

Ed Newton @ Community Bible Church

1. Mark 10:46-52
1. Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means "son of Timaeus"), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."  So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.   "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."   "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
1. He Began to Shout
1. He got undignified.
2. He didn’t listen when people tried to stop him.
2. The Spirit of Desperation
1. Gas story.
1. Ed decided that he could make it to the next city with his gas tank on E. So he finally stopped at a gas station and realized that he had forgotten his wallet. So he searched his phone for someone with that city's area code to see if the guy would meet him. He wasn’t even sure who the person was but he was desperate and had no shame.
2. Intersection of Helplessness and Hopelessness
1. Helplessness
2. Hopelessness
3. The singleminded desire.
1. Jesus Son of David
1. 2 Samuel 7
1. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ 
2. He asked for mercy
1. Mercy is not getting.
1. He asked to not receive something that he felt like he deserved.
1. Unfortunately there is a sentiment that if someone is suffering, it’s because of something he/she did. But rain comes from everyone.
2. Sometime we ask out of sense of guilt and not need.
3. He asked even though Jesus was busy.
1. Mark 10:32-34
2. Jesus was on the way to His crucifixion.
4. Surrendered His Dependencies
1. v. 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
1. Blind people are very calculated.
2. Every step matters.
3. A blind person wouldn't be able to find something if he just threw it aside.
1. Bartimaeus had faith that he either wouldn't need it anymore or he wouldn't need help finding it because he'd be able to see!
2. v. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
1. Jesus is all knowing.
2. Bartimaeus was clearly blind.
3. Jesus COULD HAVE healed him without any discussion
1. Sometimes we just need to say things out outloud!
5. What would I say if I had that moment?

The Power of the Blood

Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

I Without the shedding of blood there was no remission of sin.

A Day of Atonement

1 The High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies on this day and offer sacrifices for everyone’s sins every year.

a Holy of Holies

1 The inner chamber of the sanctuary in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, separated by a veil from the outer chamber. It was reserved for the presence of God.

2 Happened every year until Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice.

II Jesus' blood did away with the temporary system.

A John 1:29 NIV 

1 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

B Hebrews 9:12 NIV

1 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

C 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

1 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

III The sacrifice won’t do any good if you don’t accept it.

A Isaiah 44:22 NIV

1 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." 

2 Don't live life looking through the rear view mirror.

B Quit remembering what God has already forgotten.

1 God is for me,  the enemy is against me and I get to cast the deciding vote.

IV When you accept the blood it can be a number of things in your life.

A The blood can cause death (literal and figurative) to pass over you

1 Exodus 12:10-13

a Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord 's Passover.  "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord . The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. 

2 The blood can become your attorney and speak out for you in injustice.

a Genesis 4:10 NIV

1 The Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 

3 The blood can stop negative seeds from taking root in your life. 

a Genesis 4:11-12 NIV

1 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." 

2 Things that should be able to grow in me can't because the blood is there.

The Day of Atonement

(Leviticus 23:27-28), also known as Yom Kippur, was the most solemn holy day of all the Israelite feasts and festivals, occurring once a year on the tenth day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. On that day, the high priest was to perform elaborate rituals to atone for the sins of the people. Described inLeviticus 16:1-34, the atonement ritual began with Aaron, or subsequent high priests of Israel, coming into the holy of holies. The solemnity of the day was underscored by God telling Moses to warn Aaron not to come into the Most Holy Place whenever he felt like it, only on this special day once a year, lest he die (v. 2).Before entering the tabernacle, Aaron was to bathe and put on special garments (v. 4), then sacrifice a bull for a sin offering for himself and his family (v. 6, 11). The blood of the bull was to be sprinkled on the ark of the covenant. Then Aaron was to bring two goats, one to be sacrificed "because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been" (v. 16), and its blood was sprinkled on the ark of the covenant. The other goat was used as a scapegoat. Aaron placed his hands on its head, confessed over it the rebellion and wickedness of the Israelites, and sent the goat out with an appointed man who released it into the wilderness (v. 21). The goat carried on itself all the sins of the people, which were forgiven for another year (v. 30).

Victoria Osteen at Lakewood Church

I God speaks of us as what we already are; as a finished product.

A Romans 8 (More than a Conqueror)

1 Anything that comes my way had already been defeated.

2 We're already called a champion.

B Boxer worked with a world renowned trainer who believed in one of his boxers so much that he’d predict WHEN the boxer would win as  opposed to if the boxer would win

1 It wasn't a question of whether he would win but when.

2 Champions aren't born, they are made.

C When God looks at me,  he knows who I am.

Transitioning Well

It’s the beginning of spring and the beginning of a new era as Pastor Robert Emmit of Community Bible Church has handed the ranks to Pastor Ed Newton, officially naming him Lead Pastor. Pastor Robert will still serve with Community Bible Church as Pastor Emeritus. Robert and Ed spoke to the congregation about what all this means!

Transition Weekend

tran·si·tion

tranˈziSH(ə)n,tranˈsiSH(ə)n/

noun

noun: transition; plural noun: transitions

1 1.
the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another."students in transition from one program to another"

2 synonyms:

3 change, passage, move, transformation, conversion, metamorphosis

1. A transition requires one to pass the baton successfully.
1. 4 × 400m Relay
1. The 4 × 400 metres relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams consist of four runners who each complete 400 metres or one lap.
2. Relay race runners typically carry a relay baton which they must transfer between teammates. Runners have a 20 m box (usually marked with blue lines) in which to transfer the baton…
1. This prevents confusion and collisions during transfer.
2. The 1st runner doesn't leave after his lap, he stays in the stadium and cheers his teammates on.
3. The first guy has to let go.
4. The next guy has to take hold.
2. Successful Transitions in the Bible
1. John to Jesus
1. Matthew 3:13-17 MSG
1. Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you !" But Jesus insisted. "Do it. God's work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism." So John did it. The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life." 
3. Jesus to the Disciples
1. Matthew 28:18-20 MSG
1. Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." 
4. Elijah to Elisha
1. Summary
1. This is one of the best examples of intentional mentoring.
2. It tells us much about both the role of the protégé and the mentor.
3. In his first encounter with Elijah, Elisha is willing to let go of his occupation, his family, and the life he had built thus far in order to follow after a man offering his mentorship.
4. Elisha went everywhere with Elijah even when Elijah told him that he didn’t have to.
5. Elisha was patient during the transition
2. 2 Kings 2:15
1. The guild of prophets from Jericho saw the whole thing from where they were standing. They said, "The spirit of Elijah lives in Elisha!" They welcomed and honored him. 
3. Key Points
1. These two men were not alike.
1. Organizational Profit vs. People Profit
2. Don't compare people.
5. Legacy
1. Robert is trusting Ed with his Legacy
6. Pastor Emeritus
1. Depending upon the particular church, the title may have some duties such as serving in an advisory role to the leadership group or to the current pastor.
1. There are no biblically set guidelines other than those of the by-laws of the organization or church conferring the honor. 
2. 1 Timothy 5:17
1. “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching”
7. Ed’s Tribute to Pastor Robert
1. Righteous
2. Obedient
3. Bold
4. Endurance
5. Reputation
6. Teacher
8. Paul's Transition
1. Pastor Ed mentioned this scripture and I though it was interesting since he was a “Traveling Evangelist” and now he has a home base
1. Romans 15:20-22
1. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written:“Those who were not told about him will see,    and those who have not heard will understand.” This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,  I plan to do so…

Trump Supporters Want To Be Angry

This is one of the few times that I've participated in Trump discussion because I really feel like people who don't like him shouldn't share so much information about him...if any.

 

I don't think anyone knows why Trump supporters are angry but I think they just want to be angry. I know that sounds crazy. There are people who live in underfunded communities who don't really do anything to help the situation. I think a lot of them honestly don't know what can be done. These people who live in underfunded areas will say that the government doesn't do anything for them. However, many times these are the same people on government assistance. The same people who aren't using available resources.

 

Then there are people who are fine financially who say the same thing, that "government doesn't do anything for them" when they have everything that the aforementioned people are angry about not having. These people are also upset that the underfunded people are receiving their hard-earned tax dollars (in the form of government assistance).

 

Then you have people saying that "they are taking our jobs", jobs that they did not apply for. Immigrants make up around 13% of the population. I realize that that's over 30 million people but they can't possibly be taking all the jobs.

 

We humans are selfish and a lot of these angry people feel like no one is fighting for them. They think that people are in Washington DC collecting paychecks. A while back I shared a chart of what government spends money on and the majority of it goes to the Military. The things that people complain about represented a SMALL slither of the pie, but that's somehow too much and people still feel unsafe even though so much money is going to the Military.

 

Most government agencies publish the crime, financial, and other data. I've shown people actual numbers with references and they don't care. They just want to be upset.