Hello everyone.
It has been way too long since my last post. I deeply apologize. The end of the semester has me scrambling to tie all the loose ends together. Unfortunately, this means that the number of posts in this blog have decreased. This was certainly not my intention.
Yesterday on 88.7 FM WNHU, the conversation between Shirley Phelps-Roper and me was aired. What a precious opportunity it was to have a time on secular air to share about the love and passion of Jesus. Not only were the misguided and hateful doctrines of the Westboro Baptist Church refuted, but the true gospel message was spoken! There were many callers, which brought joy to my heart. There has been a lot of talk on the University of New Haven campus surrounding the conversation between Shirley and me, which means that Jesus' name is being spoken throughout the campus. I pray that my peers would come to understanding of the grace, peace, and mercy that flows from the justifying blood of Jesus.
An opportunity has come for me to have my own radio show on WNHU. The show would not be explicitly Christian, but would be a call in counseling show . Listeners call in for advice and guidance and I, by the grace of God, will be there to help and guide. Please keep this in your prayers, that the hearts of the WNHU staff would be touched to let the show on the air and that the time of the show would be work best for all involved.
I encourage you to post comments and email me at alivethroughgrace@gmail.com.
In Him,
Stephen
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Alert and Oriented x 4
Hello everyone.
I want to encourage you all to continue to email Alive Through Grace at alivethroughgrace@gmail.com, comment on the blogs, or instant message GrcAlive. Send your questions, comments, and concerns. Either Tom or I will address them on the blog. We want this to be as interactive as possible.
God bless you.
-Stephen
I want to encourage you all to continue to email Alive Through Grace at alivethroughgrace@gmail.com, comment on the blogs, or instant message GrcAlive. Send your questions, comments, and concerns. Either Tom or I will address them on the blog. We want this to be as interactive as possible.
God bless you.
-Stephen
Rejoicing in the Streets
Grace, peace, and mercy from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
My friends, I want to share a story with you from my journey in Atlanta, Georgia. When the team walked the city at any time of day, people walking the streets routinely asked us for money. And I'll be honest - we were not that responsive. We were students serving on others money and a majority of the people asking for money were probably just going to buy alcohol and drugs.
As we walked to dinner at the Varsity, the nation's largest drive-in, a man stopped me on the corner. He was obviously homeless; his clothes were dirty and he appeared as if he had not showered in days. He stopped me and asked me for cash. I lied to him and told him I only had my credit card. He looked at me in my eyes and said, "Can you at least buy me a meal?" Something in my heart moved me to say yes. "If you are at this corner when I come out, I will give you a meal." He thanked me and I went inside.
I bought him a hamburger and fries. I walked outside and did not see him at the corner or in the area. Just as I began to think that I had bought myself an additional meal, I saw the man jumping in the middle of the street, rejoicing and thanking God for the food. I handed him the meal and told him, "This is given to you because I love Jesus and Jesus loves you." And he looked at me and told me that he is a Christian. He further told me that he had prayed for food and that God had guided him to this corner to wait for a meal. He told me that I was an answer to his prayers. He hugged me, shook my hand, and I returned to the Varsity.
I do not share this with you to give myself a pat on the back for a job well done. There is a deeper lesson in all of this. I lied to this man. I could have given him cash and been a blessing to him, but I decided to lie to him. Despite my sinfulness, God was determined to bless this man through me and He did so. Yet, when I handed him the food, I did not feel good about myself or think I was doing a good work. I remembered when Christ said, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). I felt that in lying to this man, in some way, I lied to Jesus.
I shared with John Mitchell, a man on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ, about this experience and my hesitance to give to beggars. He shared his heart on giving to the poor with me. John told me that it is not our job to determine where the money is going to be spent and on what it will be spent on, but to be examples of God's grace and love. I first I resisted this teaching in my mind. What about discernment? There are times I see someone and I know they are lying to me and trying to take advantage of me. What about wisdom? Is it wise to enable others in their habits?
After some thought, I realized that these questions were excuses and self justifications. I am involved in the ministry of grace. Grace is what leads us to repentance. It is not God's judgment that brings us to our knees to worship Him, but His grace and mercy. In the same way, giving to those in need graciously will bless them. If a beggar is attempting to deceive me, then it is my hope that the grace that I have administered in the name of Jesus Christ would convict that person, lead him or her to repentance, and ultimately, belief that Jesus Christ is Savior.
Brothers and sisters, if you have been making excuses as why not to serve or give of yourself, stop now. Christ came to gave his life. If you decide to give, I encourage you to share that you are giving because of Jesus' love. Please share your adventures with me. Comment on the blog, email alivethroughgrace@gmail.com, or instant message GrcAlive. God bless you on your journey. He will protect and guide you.
By the Grips of Glorious Grace,
Stephen James
My friends, I want to share a story with you from my journey in Atlanta, Georgia. When the team walked the city at any time of day, people walking the streets routinely asked us for money. And I'll be honest - we were not that responsive. We were students serving on others money and a majority of the people asking for money were probably just going to buy alcohol and drugs.
As we walked to dinner at the Varsity, the nation's largest drive-in, a man stopped me on the corner. He was obviously homeless; his clothes were dirty and he appeared as if he had not showered in days. He stopped me and asked me for cash. I lied to him and told him I only had my credit card. He looked at me in my eyes and said, "Can you at least buy me a meal?" Something in my heart moved me to say yes. "If you are at this corner when I come out, I will give you a meal." He thanked me and I went inside.
I bought him a hamburger and fries. I walked outside and did not see him at the corner or in the area. Just as I began to think that I had bought myself an additional meal, I saw the man jumping in the middle of the street, rejoicing and thanking God for the food. I handed him the meal and told him, "This is given to you because I love Jesus and Jesus loves you." And he looked at me and told me that he is a Christian. He further told me that he had prayed for food and that God had guided him to this corner to wait for a meal. He told me that I was an answer to his prayers. He hugged me, shook my hand, and I returned to the Varsity.
I do not share this with you to give myself a pat on the back for a job well done. There is a deeper lesson in all of this. I lied to this man. I could have given him cash and been a blessing to him, but I decided to lie to him. Despite my sinfulness, God was determined to bless this man through me and He did so. Yet, when I handed him the food, I did not feel good about myself or think I was doing a good work. I remembered when Christ said, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). I felt that in lying to this man, in some way, I lied to Jesus.
I shared with John Mitchell, a man on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ, about this experience and my hesitance to give to beggars. He shared his heart on giving to the poor with me. John told me that it is not our job to determine where the money is going to be spent and on what it will be spent on, but to be examples of God's grace and love. I first I resisted this teaching in my mind. What about discernment? There are times I see someone and I know they are lying to me and trying to take advantage of me. What about wisdom? Is it wise to enable others in their habits?
After some thought, I realized that these questions were excuses and self justifications. I am involved in the ministry of grace. Grace is what leads us to repentance. It is not God's judgment that brings us to our knees to worship Him, but His grace and mercy. In the same way, giving to those in need graciously will bless them. If a beggar is attempting to deceive me, then it is my hope that the grace that I have administered in the name of Jesus Christ would convict that person, lead him or her to repentance, and ultimately, belief that Jesus Christ is Savior.
Brothers and sisters, if you have been making excuses as why not to serve or give of yourself, stop now. Christ came to gave his life. If you decide to give, I encourage you to share that you are giving because of Jesus' love. Please share your adventures with me. Comment on the blog, email alivethroughgrace@gmail.com, or instant message GrcAlive. God bless you on your journey. He will protect and guide you.
By the Grips of Glorious Grace,
Stephen James
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Post Secret
Frank Warren of Post Secret visited the University of New Haven today. Frank began the Post Secret project by soliciting strangers in Washington, D.C. He handed strangers a card which invited them to write a secret that has never been shared before and to mail it to his home. Years later, he receives about 1,000 secrets a week, 20 of which he posts on his blog http://www.postsecret.com/.
Frank commented that many people find relief in sharing their secrets; they lose their power once they are made known. How true this is! And how Biblical as well. Jessica, a student leader on the servant team for Ambassadors for Christ, pointed out an important Biblical parallel. James 5:16 reads, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Notice that James does not say to confess your sins to each other for forgiveness, but for healing. Those things that we feel are shameful and are to be hidden, God wants to bring them to the surface and expose them. In doing so, we are provided an opportunity to confront these struggles and secrets that bind us. And when the Holy Spirit reveals these things and we confront them, God works in them so that we may be healed.
Healing is the product of the exposure of our issues to our brothers and sisters in Christ, an understanding that we as Christians are not condemned nor are we to feel ashamed, and the love and grace of God. (James 5:16, Romans 8:1).
Friends, what secrets are you keeping? Remember, God knows these secrets and He wants to release you from them. He loves you so very much. Experience the freedom, the life, that He came to give.
My love,
Stephen
Frank commented that many people find relief in sharing their secrets; they lose their power once they are made known. How true this is! And how Biblical as well. Jessica, a student leader on the servant team for Ambassadors for Christ, pointed out an important Biblical parallel. James 5:16 reads, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Notice that James does not say to confess your sins to each other for forgiveness, but for healing. Those things that we feel are shameful and are to be hidden, God wants to bring them to the surface and expose them. In doing so, we are provided an opportunity to confront these struggles and secrets that bind us. And when the Holy Spirit reveals these things and we confront them, God works in them so that we may be healed.
Healing is the product of the exposure of our issues to our brothers and sisters in Christ, an understanding that we as Christians are not condemned nor are we to feel ashamed, and the love and grace of God. (James 5:16, Romans 8:1).
Friends, what secrets are you keeping? Remember, God knows these secrets and He wants to release you from them. He loves you so very much. Experience the freedom, the life, that He came to give.
My love,
Stephen
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