WEDNESDAY'S WORD - FRAGILE - Sadell Bradley- 03/30/2022

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD FRAGILE 3/30/2022 "These things bring you to reality as to how fragile you are; at the same moment that you are doing something nobody else is able to do. The same moment as you are seen as the best, the fastest, and somebody that cannot be touched, you are enormously fragile." - Ayrton Senna - Brazilian Racer JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7PM!! WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY GENERATIONS @warehouseOTR FaceBook & YouTube What eventful week! Brian Houston, the founding pastor of Hillsong Church in Australia, stepped down due to moral failures and being criminally charged with the cover-up of child sexual abuse by his father. Some pastors connected to Hillsong resigned, and an expose documentary is being released on the Discovery Channel, revealing cultist practices and greed. Hillsong Church has touched the lives of billions through its teaching and worship ministry. How will the life of this leader and the contributions of this church be remembered? I can't judge that and you can't either. What friends/leaders did Houston have to offer him accountability? TD Jakes said, "When YOUR sin goes public, people act like THEY have none." Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." This Church celebrity culture can be dangerous. On Sunday night, millions watched as usually clean rapper, TV actor, movie star, and mogul Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock in the face after Rock made an inappropriate joke about Smith's wife's bald head. Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, so the joke was deemed in bad taste by many—but not so bad as the angry, curse-laden response by her husband. Will Smith subsequently won an academy award 30 minutes later for his portrayal of Venus and Serena's father, Richard Williams. He gave a tear-filled speech and offered an apology for his behavior. We have been watching Smith on screens big and small for 35 years. He, his wife, and family have been under scrutiny over everything from their marital lifestyle, to their spiritualism, to the rearing of their children. He's used to the pressures of fame and success, yet he lost it in that moment. The repercussions of his decision may reverberate for a long time. Academy award winning actor Denzel Washington told Smith, "At your highest moment, be careful, that's when the devil comes for you." We are all FRAGILE - easily broken or damaged; not strong or sturdy; vulnerable—and so are the moments of our lives. This is true for Christians and non-Christians alike. One minute you are on top of the world, the next, you're experiencing worldwide judgment. Imagine your life's work being narrowed down to your worst moment. Jesus experienced a cultural context of fickle, imperfect people. One day the crowds who followed Him shouted Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Within a week these same folks were yelling Crucify Him!! These are sobering times and life is fragile...that's why we all need grace.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - BEWILDERED - Sadell Bradley - 3/23/2022

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD BEWILDERED 3/23/2022 "For every veteran that goes through a divorce, a wife goes through one too. For every veteran alone in a basement, there is a wife upstairs, bewildered, isolated, and in despair from the dark clouds of war that hang over family life." - Karl Marlantes- Author JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7PM!! WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY GOOD CHURCH: SERVICE @warehouseOTR FaceBook & YouTube It's too easy to forget that there's a war going on. I was not aware that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict had been in effect for over eight years (since February, 2014). Now, since Russian troops sieged the Ukraine on February 20, 2022, devastation, chaos, upheaval, and insurgency (active revolts and uprisings) have occurred in both nations. There have also been negative down-line effects across the world with more to come, government leaders say. When war occurs, not just the soldiers and governmental leaders are affected; the lives of their spouses, children, friends, family, and civilians are impacted. Everyone needs our prayers and support. I can't imagine the heartbreak, fear and anxiety, or the long-term economic and mental health effects to come. With so much going on even in the US since the 2008 Housing Crisis, it's easy to see why we are BEWILDERED - perplexed and confused. The root word "wilder" means to cause to lose one's way; to lead, or drive astray. The Biblical wilderness—is an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region; a neglected or abandoned area; a position of disfavor. It seems clear, somewhere along the way some have lost their way and have been led astray by internal greed, a lust for power, prestige, and status. The sad images we've viewed that value power over people have left most of us perplexed—we feel completely baffled. Vladimir Putin is not the only one whose values have been corrupted; to some degree, many of our priorities out of order. It seems like we are going around in circles, just like the Children of Israel did for 40 years. To God, the time of wilderness walking is like everything else—a question of worship. He reminded His people in Deuteronomy 8:2, "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Bewilderment is a heart issue, whether we're talking about world leaders or ourselves. Are you going around in circles yet getting nowhere? Check the motives of your heart. The Good News is if we're bewildered, we can repent and return to God.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - CONFORM - Sadell Bradley - 3/16/2-22

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD CONFORM 3/16/2022   "Men cannot make Scripture conform to their lifestyle; they must make their lifestyle conform to Scripture." - Edwin Louis Cole

JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7PM!! WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY GOOD CHURCH: CHRIST-LIKENESS @warehouseOTR  FaceBook & YouTube

Right now, in Cincinnati, a movie is being made about Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American United States Congresswoman, and the first African-American and female candidate to run for President of the United States from a major party. Actress Regina King is starring in and producing the film. Shirley Chisholm, formerly an educator, was elected to Congress in 1968 out of New York and served in office through 1983. She called herself "the people's politician" and was a crusader for the rights of the disenfranchised: the poor, children, people of color, and women. Chisholm once said, "It's obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the same opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system, who try to break with accepted patterns, are stigmatized as odd and unfeminine." Shirley Chisholm was a trailblazer for the likes of Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, and First Lady Michelle O'Bama. She paid a high price for choosing not to conform to the societal norms in her day. CONFORM means to comply with rules, standards, or laws; to behave according to socially accepted conventions or standards; to be similar in form or type; to agree. Clearly, Shirley Chisholm made a decision to be a non-conformist— different than the world around her. Christ calls His people to do the same. In Romans 12:1-2 Paul writes, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." The world believes and behaves in ways that are antithetical to Christ followers and citizens of the Kingdom of God. 1 John 2:15-17 instructs us, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." If we're not to conform to the pattern of this world, where should our conformity lie? Paul answers this in Romans 8:29, "For those whom He (God the Father) foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters..." The life of a Christ-follower should look like Jesus'— not like certain aspects of the world around us. We, like Shirley Chisholm should be standing out in a good way because we are different. Are you conforming to this world? or are you being transformed by Christ?

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - FEMININE- Sadell Bradley - 03/09/2022

WEDNESDAY'S WORD FEMININE 3/9/2022 "I recognized that femininity and strength are not mutually exclusive, and I think that femininity has often been equated with weakness, but we know it's not." - Niki Caro -Director, New Zealand The Gathering is TONIGHT! March 9, 2022,   6-8:30 PM We will share a FREE amazing meal, our stories,  and God’s Word. Afterward, comedians from Hold Your Side Entertainment, will perform. Please RSVP by March 6, 2022. RSVP HERE It's International Women's Day as I write— a global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. Around the world, women took photos with their arms in the shape of an X proclaiming the hashtag #BreakTheBias. What biases are we supposed to break? According to Pew Research Center, in 2019 57% of US women believed that men have it better in our society, up 18 points from 2010. Women were less optimistic than men in all of the countries surveyed, that gender equality will ever be reached. In 1960, women earned 60 cents to every dollar that men earned. In 2020, that number had increased to 83 cents for women for every man's dollar. There was a 10k-12k difference in the median pay between men and women in Ohio. The National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) instituted Equal Pay Day to expose this difference. In 2022 it will be on March 15th. FEMININE means having qualities or an appearance traditionally associated with women. The Latin femina actually means "woman." In women's ministry we discuss what it means to be feminine, contrasted with being a feminist —an equal rights advocate for women. As you can see to the left there are stereotypical answers that some use to define femininity. It's so easy to just think of things feminine as girly hair, nails, makeup and clothing. The passage on the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31:10-31 defines femininity much differently. The "Proverbs 31 Woman" is: a trusted confidante to her husband, physically fit, a businesswoman, property owner, and philanthropist. This woman is a wife and mother who is also an enterprising worker, homemaker, and entrepreneur. She is benevolent, speaks kindly, and is respected and praised by her husband and children. Most importantly, she worships and fears the LORD. It's no wonder that kind of woman is hard to find! Jesus broke cultural norms in His engagement with women. He befriended and taught women. (Luke 10) His ministry was funded by women. (Luke 8) He spoke to women of ill repute and invited them to represent Him in ministry (John 4). The first witnesses to Jesus' resurrection were women. (Matt. 28:8) He did all this at a time when women could not own property or testify in court. A woman’s opinion or her presence at an event was not even worth mentioning. Jesus gave women worth and significance. We may disagree on what it means to be feminine, but we cannot deny that Jesus was a true advocate of women. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7PM!! WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY GOOD CHURCH: JOY @warehouseOTR  FaceBook & YouTube

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - CONSISTENT - Sadell Bradley - 3/2/2022

WEDNESDAY'S WORD CONSISTENT 3/2/2022 "In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently." - Tony Robbins The Gathering is back in OTR! March 9, 2022, at 6- 8:30 PM We will share a FREE amazing meal, our stories, and God’s Word. Afterward, comedians from Hold Your Side Entertainment, will perform. Please RSVP by March 6, 2022. RSVP HERE You've probably heard the saying, "Consistency is Key." I started writing Wednesday's Word in 2013. It was a way for me to create and be a blessing. After over 500 weekly entries and posts via email and social media; these words have been read by thousands of people in countries all over the world. My main reflection from this experience is the level of consistency it requires. I write when I feel like it; I write when I don't. On great days and through hard times...I write. It's 4:34 am on Tuesday as I compose this on my computer. CONSISTENT means acting or done in the same way over time; unchanging in nature, standard, or effect; not containing any contradictions; standing firm or still. The phrase over time is crucial because whether we're talking about diet and exercise, academic or Biblical study, or the pursuit of our goals and dreams—it takes time to be consistent, and consistency takes time. Great results are seldom immediate. People these days value folks being spectacular. There is much less value placed on being consistent...but the truth is that most spectacular folks have mastered consistency. Tennis champion Venus Williams encourages us to,"Set realistic goals, keep re-evaluating, and be consistent." A Biblical word for consistency is STEADFAST—resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. We sing Edith McNeil's hymn, "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness, O God. Great is Thy faithfulness." The consistency with which the LORD deals with us brings us comfort and stability. The closer we are to Him, the more He reveals His unfailing nature. Hebrew 13:8 says that, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." He is immutable, unchanging over time and unable to be changed. The LORD calls us to develop consistency in our lives, The Apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Cor. 15:58, CSV ) The greatness you desire may require consistency. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7PM!! WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY GOOD CHURCH: JUSTICE @warehouseOTR FaceBook & YouTube