WEDNESDAY'S WORD-DISAPPOINTED - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"There's as much crookedness as you want to find. There was something Abraham Lincoln said - he'd rather trust and be disappointed, than distrust and be miserable all the time. Maybe I trusted too much."  - Coach John Wooten I am at a loss for words. My heart is breaking at what's occurring in America, not to mention the suffering and alarming political things happening around the world while we've been distracted. I know those who are slaves to sin can be self-serving, greedy, wicked and cruel. African-Americans who've lived for any time have experienced racial slurs, economic oppression, suspicion, injustice, and missed opportunities. We've known that individual and systemic racism is prevalent in the US, while others thought it was just in the underbelly of a few fringe groups. It's sad, but somewhat vindicating for the covers to come off for all to see what we've been saying all along... though some are still in denial. As a woman, I could say the same thing for sexism. Does the delay/denial of helping Puerto Rico, a US territory, have to do with it's brown citizens? When authorities call one of us Nigger or Sons of Bitches, (a dehumanizing term that says not only the person, but their mother is a DOG); we ALL feel it. Silent assent from the masses, speaks like loud approval. I'm not disappointed by politicians, white supremacists or sexists who've shown their stripes from the beginning. I'm disappointed by the "Christian" leaders and congregants - with whom Scripture says I'm connected as One Body of Christ  (1 Cor. 12) who are saying and doing incredibly hurtful things: "They should thank God that they don't have to worry about being shot in the head like they would in North Korea," or as one Cincinnati evangelist posted, "deport them all." If you recall, we were IMPORTED like cargo in slavery. The worst thing is that thousands of Christians openly support this craziness, or are eerily silent despite knowing that the language, the hatred and the bigotry are all sins. DISAPPOINTED means to be sad or displeased when someone has failed to fulfill your hopes or expectations. Many 'Christian' mouths (and fingers) are speaking what fills their hearts. (Luke 6:45) I'm starting to feel like Coach Wooten - "Maybe I trusted too much."  We are scheduled to do a Night of Worship at a predominantly Caucasian church. To be transparent, I'm having to do some deep prayer, soul searching and Kingdom focusing not only for this event, but for the cause of coming together that I've championed for so long. The accuser of the brethren is having a field day in this climate. If you've read my blog for any length of time you know I believe in the principles of Scripture on LOVE and UNITY in 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4, Ephesians 2, Galatians 3:28. John 17:20-23; and Rev. 5:9; 7:9, and on love of enemies Matt 5:43-45 and respecting and praying for authorities Romans 13, 1 Tim 2:1-3. Jesus has given us a new commandment  - to love one another as He has loved us. The world will know that we are Christians by that love. (John 13:34-35) Quite frankly, I'm not feeling the love; I'm feeling its opposites: hated and fear. That's why these things are called domestic terrorism and hate crimes. I know most 'Christian' leaders don't think that's what their words have done, but it is. I'm disappointed because I'd hoped and expected for better than this. It's unfortunate that we've lost sight of Jesus' call to make peace, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." I hope the Holy Spirit will convict and there will be more peacemakers surfacing...SOON!

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 - FOREKNOWLEDGE - 09/20/17 -Sadell Bradley

"Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge." Sun Tzu - The Art of War   Yesterday, after a long day of birthday celebrations, I laid down to watch one of my favorite TV shows. You know what happened next, Lol!! About an hour later, I awoke much to my chagrin to see only the last 10 minutes of the show!  Of course that is when the outcomes of the episode are all revealed. Fortunately, the show re-aired in the next hour and I was able to watch it in its entirety. What a difference FOREKNOWLEDGE- awareness of something before it happens or exists, makes! Foreknowledge took away ALL the suspense! I had NO ANXIETY about what was about to happen to the central characters...I already knew how the conflicts and cliffhangers would be resolved. So I now viewed the intermediary events with the end in mind. For my Theologian friends, I'm NOT going into a discussion on Arminian vs. Calvinistic beliefs on election, foreknowledge and predestination in terms of salvation today. It just struck me how even in something small and fictitious, knowing what was going to happen altered my mental perception and emotions, and brought me into a sense of calm. Though the transitional events in the MIDDLE of the drama were not all positive; I knew the END results! I also knew whether the motives of the characters were pure or if they were believing lies, succumbing to fears, or setting themselves up to fail! Think about the role of prophecy in our lives, whether the LORD is speaking to our spirits, or through one of His prophetic messengers. In Jeremiah 1 God gave the prophet future insight into his life, purpose and calling to the nations "to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." (vs . 10) The road Jeremiah was to travel would not be easy. He could not be afraid of the response of people to God's messages. He was given 'intel' on the outcomes, "They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the LORD." (vs. 19) When tasked with something difficult, it is comforting to know you're in God's will. The LORD did it for Mary in Luke 1 and for Paul in Acts 9.  All of their callings held many challenges and dangers. Knowing in advance what they would suffer and WHY brought strength and resolve. Even Jesus was "delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowlege of God..." (Acts 2:23a) By the grace and mercy of the LORD, we often have insight into future events. He told Isaiah He declares the end from the beginning, His counsel would stand, and He will accomplish what He pleases (Isa. 46:10) I think God does that to help us endure and have the proper outlook during the scary and sometimes tragic decisions and circumstances in the midpoints of our journey. Trusting His revealed will also helps us maintain patience while waiting for His promises to be fulfilled. What would you do? How would you feel? if you knew God was already going to rescue you in the last "10 minutes" of your cliffhanger?

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 - MOSAIC - Sadell Bradley- 09/13/17 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"We become not a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams."   -President Jimmy Carter       Yesterday, I had the privilege of leading worship for Mosaix Cincinnati's regional 1 New Humanity Conference. A MOSAIC is a picture produced by arranging together small colored pieces of material into a colorful and variegated pattern. A few hundred regional leaders and speakers from across the nation gathered to learn about and affirm God's heart for ALL people, and coming together for His purposes. Specifically on our radar is the issue of 'Segregated Sunday,' The Mosaix Global Network was formed to create multi-ethnic churches and transition homogeneous churches to become diverse. Currently, 86.3% of US churches are mono-ethnic - they have less than 20% of another ethnicity. In the US, people worship with people who look, sound, act and have similar demographics, even when neighborhoods are diverse. Mosaix believes we are better together. It can be a hard sell. In John's heavenly vision (Rev. 5:9), he cites that before the throne worshiping Jesus, the Lamb of God, the 24 elders sang: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God, persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth." Scholars believe that the scroll contained the purposes of God to be revealed, or the title deed to redeemed man's inheritance. In the New Testament Church's beginnings, the big announcement outside of the fact that Jesus was LORD and Christ, was that God intended not just the Jews but the Gentiles to become heirs of His salvation. He wanted to put away the dividing wall of hostility and create 1 New Humanity (Eph 2:15). We should be GLAD because if not, almost all of us would be on the outs. New Jewish Christians, including Peter struggled with engrafting in these Gentile 'others.'  Everyone wants to be the 'in crowd.' We love being on top: the most popular, richest, most beautiful and in spiritual terms, the most favored. The sons of Zebedee had their mother ask if they could sit on Jesus' right and left hand in His throne of glory. (Matthew 20) The disciples wanted to know who would be the greatest in the Kingdom. They were stunned with the answer that it would a child-like person, one willing to be the least. (Luke 9) The US has taken meritocracy, greed and a desire for sameness to new levels. The way we evaluate the 'success' of Christian leaders is based on Western and capitalist standards. Instead of the strong bearing the infirmities of the weak and not pleasing themselves (Rom. 15:1); the strong just make themselves stronger and ignore the weak. Sometimes they just give them handouts, but don't welcome them in the fold.  Because of rejection, racism, language, and economics, we have: 'The Black Church,' 'The Latino Church,' 'The Chinese Church,' and predominantly Caucasian churches. Parts of the Body of Christ are saying to other parts, "I have no need of you." This totally contradicts Scripture in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, which emphatically states that WE ARE ONE BODY IN CHRIST. We need more practice preparing for God's throne...there's gonna be a heavenly MOSAIC there.

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 - DISPARITY - Sadell Bradley- 09/06/17- New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"I agree that income disparity is the great issue of our time. It is even broader and more difficult than the civil rights issues of the 1960's. The '99 percent' is not just a slogan. The disparity in income has left the middle class with lowered, not rising income, and the poor unable to reach the middle class."   -Eleanor Holmes Norton (U.S. Representative, Washington, DC)     Here's an issue that's rarely discussed in church (or in other circles for that matter). DISPARITY means a great difference.  It is the opposite of PARITY - the state or condition of being equal, especially regarding status or pay. I was asked today why I've been engaged for so long in helping people out of poverty. I discussed my sadness and frustration at the economic disparities of race and gender in America. The graphic to the right depicts the vast gap that exists as it pertains to African-Americans. It is estimated that it will take 228 years for the average black family to build the wealth of an average White family. Video and Article Here Latino wealth was also at just $14,000. Another good article on this here:  PEW RESEARCH ON RACE AND GENDER DISPARITIES Now our Country is becoming increasingly alarmed by disparities between a small number of extremely wealthy people and the masses regardless of race. 10% of the population now holds 76% of it's wealth. If you look globally, even the poorest American is wealthy compared to the rest of the world. Don't believe me? SEE WHERE YOUR INCOME FITS HERE It's no wonder the Bible transcends time speaking so much to the issue of greed, the rich and poor, and what we are to do about the kinds of disparities we see in disasters like Hurricane Harvey, but also in every day life. Colossians 3:5 says greed is idolatry.  Matthew 13:22 cautions us that the deceitfulness of riches can choke the Word of God making it unfruitful. 1 Timothy 6:3-9 warns us the teaching that godliness is a means to financial gain comes from corrupted minds. Godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out of it, and greed is a vice that causes a great deal of harm. "For the love of money is the root of all evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many griefs." (Vs. 10) Paul gives advice about what the wealthy should do with God's blessings: 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.   This is very challenging, particularly since the world advises us to take care of us four and no more, not divesting and sharing wealth as Scripture does especially within the household  of faith (Acts 2:44-46.4:32-35)  So what does the LORD want YOU to do what you have and the disparities you see?

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