WEDNESDAY'S WORD - FOMO - Sadell Bradley 02/22/17 New Life Covenant CIncinnati

"The fear of missing out on things makes you miss out on everything."
Etty Hillesum

I thought that FOMO was only a millennial expression until I saw it in the dictionary.  FOMO stands for Fear Of Missing Out. It is anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, aroused by posts seen on a social media website. Going a bit deeper, Wikipedia says it is a pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent. This social angst is characterized by a desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing. FOMO is fear of regret - a compulsive concern that one might miss an opportunity for social interaction, a novel experience, profitable investment or another satisfying event. FOMO perpetuates the fear of having made the wrong decision on how to spend time as you imagine how things could be different.   

FOMO is birthed out of comparison and breeds insecurity. We look at what others are doing and assume that their family, work, church, financial position or experiences are better than ours; which causes anxiety. Insecure comparisons are not new, they're just 'on steroids' because of social media. In 2 Corinthians 10 some of the leaders at Corinth were judging Paul by appearances (vs. 7), comparing other leaders with him then questioning his authority. They said, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and amounts to nothing." (vs. 10) He assured them, what I say in my letters I am well able to enforce when I'm present. In modern terms, my actual life and authority is the same as what you heard in the press or saw on facebook. We would do well to adopt Paul's mindset:

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else's territory. 17But, "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."18For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

If I'm content with my life, focused on the assignment God has given me, and not so concerned with how it compares to yours... the fear of missing out diminishes. I'm not missing out on anything by being faithful to what God has called me to do, which is completely different than what He's required of you. Does it even matter if all of our boasting is to be in the LORD? In this day and age when we seek to have everyone follow, like and love what we do... He is the only one who can ultimately approve and commend us! If I am fully present and joyfully engaged in what I've chosen to do socially, it fills me. I'm sure that your thing is great and has filled you too! Not doing anything for fear of missing out? that's where we lose.   

Today starts our Annual 30 for $30 Giving Campaign for Missions Projects for 2017.  If you'd like to give $30 or more CLICK HERE

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SACRIFICE - 02/15/17 -Sadell Bradley- New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness." Napoleon Hill  I met with a worship leader protege and we were discussing preparation in worship. I talked about setting aside particular and consistent daily times for consecration, prayer and the Word. They retorted with a few chunks of spread out time. I stated that I wasn't sure that would be enough preparation, to which they replied..."Well, if you want me to sacrifice...," I laughed. The thought still has me smiling. Sacrifice is not in our contemporary vernacular. SACRIFICE is defined as an act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession or an offering to God. Some words associated with sacrifice are: surrender, forfeiture, and relinquishment. Sacrifice is not just the act. The person, animal or item itself is also called a sacrifice. Sacrifice is the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. It comes from the Latin sacer or holy. The greatest sacrifice ever was Christ offering His own life in the crucifixion.  Anything we could ever do for Him pales in comparison to what He's already done for us.   Sacrifice and selfishness can't coexist. Jesus said,"If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24, NLT)  Sacrifice and self-denial are hallmarks of a disciple of Jesus Christ. These words from Mother Teresa are true and worthy to be repeated, "A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves."  Sacrifice is at the heart of worship.  Abraham's faith, trust and commitment to God was tested, when he was called on to offer his only son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice. He responded willingly. In Genesis 22 verse 5, "He said to his servants, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."  Worshiping the LORD requires a willingness to sacrifice not just 'our' time, treasure and talent, which is at times inconvenient: but also what is most precious to us. This includes de-prioritizing work and loving our family less by comparison to our love for Christ. (Luke 14:26) It means presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice and not being conformed to the world's systems and values. (Romans 12:1)  He died for us, so we live for Him. We are to obey His will, not the opposite. Amidst a culture that craves comfort, we have to move beyond, "It's ALL about ME...to it's NOT about me at all." Sacrifice is the way to do that.

Today starts our Annual 30 for $30 Giving Campaign for Missions Projects for 2017.  If you'd like to give $30 or more CLICK HERE

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SUDDENLY - 02/08/17 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Every day is an unknown land, and I can change things suddenly." That's the thought that the Lord awakened me with this morning. SUDDENLY means occurring quickly and unexpectedly, or without warning. It expresses that the thing you've been anticipating, hoping or praying about for years is imminent. It is important for us to increase our awareness of the presence and power of God to move on our behalf at any time. He has the authority and the ability to change things in a moment: to restore what has been lost, to open doors of opportunity, to heal what is broken or divided, to change policy, to vindicate, to bring elevation, or revelation, to answer questions and prayers that have been on your list...or callings on His list for decades - SUDDENLY. In Acts 9, Saul the Pharisee, who had for years been persecuting and killing Christ Followers with zeal in God's name, was on the Damascus Road when: "...suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him."  This momentary encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ changed the entire trajectory of His life and ministry. "He fell to the  ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." This unexpected event collided with all of his previously held beliefs, changed his entire circle of companions and armed him with the grace to suffer for the cause of Christ. It made his enemies his family, and his former foes his mission field.   In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron had spoken against their brother Moses because he'd married an Ethiopian woman. They intimated that they were as prophetic as he was and just as qualified to lead. The LORD heard it. Verse 4 says 'the LORD spake suddenly' to them and brought them into the Tabernacle and said, "If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face clearly not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" (Vs. 6-8) When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam and Aaron were suddenly struck with leprosy. Moses' leadership was instantly vindicated. He didn't have to say a word. In Acts 3, Peter and John encountered a man who was lame from his mother's womb begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. "When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God." The LORD, through Peter and John, instantaneously reversed a condition that had never been whole! The man had never known the freedom and liberty to walk and God restored him - not to just to a limping state, or even to a walking one...but to the level of leaping and praising as if he'd been mobile and healthy all along! God is saying to you and to me, "Every day is an unknown land, and I can change things SUDDENLY!"

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - POLITICS - 02/01/17 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"I never considered a difference in opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy as cause for withdrawing from a friend."  - President Thomas Jefferson   "Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage." -   Ambrose Bierce - American Journalist & Satirist "I hate politics. I try to avoid politics as much as possible." I've heard people say these things recently. Given the nature of what's been going on, that's understandable. POLITICS are the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power; the activities of governments concerning the political relations between countries: activities within an organization that are aimed at improving someone's status or position and are typically considered to be devious or divisive (e.g. corporate, family, church, politics);  a particular set of political beliefs or principles: the assumptions or principles relating to or inherent in a sphere, theory, or thing, especially when concerned with power and status in a society. The word derives from the Greek politikos, from polites 'citizen,' from polis 'city.' Whether we like it or not, politics are everywhere if you live as a citizen of a city, town, state or country. POLITICS are also pretty much unavoidable in personal, work, and familial relationships. The phrase 'to play politics' - means to act for political or personal gain rather than from principle. How many of us have leveraged information or a situation to our advantage for status or position? We link up with important people for future power moves. We try to elevate our status by taking selfies with an influential or famous person. Many of us have voiced or posted a dissenting opinion or belief, with the knowledge that our views would be divisive and with the desire to be deemed more knowledgeable or intelligent than others. Almost all of us have manipulated a situation with a spouse or family member to gain an advantage, or loaned money/done favors knowing that now you're one up on them. If that's you, or even if it's been done to you...you've been involved in politics. Politics is more than voting, posting and protesting. It's ultimately about power, status, position and beliefs. Politics is about one side or view winning and the other losing. It gets to be about deeper issues like wealth, identity, security, and self-image. We definitely don't like it when we feel we're on the 'losing side,' but Christ followers could be uneasy about the subject for other reasons: We believe all Authority & Power belongs to God and His Son, Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20). Then Jesus commissioned His disciples to go to all the world, preach His Gospel to every creature and make disciples of every nation. We don't struggle with Who's in charge. God has allowed delegated authority in the earth, but He is regulating them all. Whether they are heads of households or bosses (1 Corinthians 11:3, Eph. 2:1-6), churches (1 Tim.3:1-3), or governments and their citizens (Romans 13), they must all answer to God. Christ's way of leading is not about being the greatest, seeking the highest status or lording over people, but humbling yourself, serving them and giving your life for them. (Mark 10:35-44) Jesus demonstrated this not by politicking to gain power but by humbling himself, laying down His life and being obedient to the death on the Cross (Phil 2). Then he was exalted by God with the Highest name ever known. He instructed us to have this same mind. It is important to understand Scriptural perspectives when we engage worldly systems.  Christ's Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) and our primary citizenship is in Heaven (Phil 3:20). Though we are in the world, we are not like the world, but are re-presenting Heaven to the world (John 15:19; 2Cor 5:11-21). If we get distracted, or caught up in any other identity, gospel or mission, we will lose credibility and our witness in the earth and the spiritual power that God intends for us to wield.  Just a reminder...

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131