Deposit of Inheritance

Yesterday I was smacked with a piece of scripture that I couldn't get out of my head. Ephesians 1:13-14: "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory". You may be wandering: Marv, what was it that hit you out of that seemingly tame piece of Scripture? Here's what did me in: "...the...

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Trinitarian Thought

I think I had one of the most interesting thoughts just now and I had to share it before I forgot it. I've been working on my ordination and in the C&MA I need to write 6 papers: the Fourfold Gospel (Christ Our: Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King) are four of them as well as 2 other papers: 1 on the church and its role and the other on the Completing Christ's Mission.So I've been thinking A TON about God, his aspects, attributes and so on. Mostly, I've been thinking about Christ's death and the trinity. I've been thinking about the...

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Wednesday (April 23) Youth Group

Tonight, we finished our NOISE Theme. We talked about how the noise of the crowd can make us do some really stupid things in our lives. How the crowd can be so loud, that we don't even hear God over it all. I shared the Biblical story of Aaron and the Golden Calf. I showed them that Aaron, even after the Red Sea, the Egyptian Exodus, the manna and the quail and the 10 Commandments he still fell to the NOISE of the crowd. The People BEGGED Aaron to give in and build gods they could worship, and Aaron caved immediately! Not even a blink,...

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Like Carlos Whittiker...

I Made a Mac Book Pro video :)Check Out Carlos' Blog here: http://www.ragamuffinsoul.c...

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Aspects of Christ- Savior

A lot of times in life, I think in "movie terms". By that I mean when I hear something, or see something, I always liken it to a movie I've seen. Christ as Savior is really no different, because I have seen tons of "savior" movies in today's society. Just pick up a movie and you'll find 8 out of 10 times a character that ends up being a "savior" of sorts. We as humans have a deep, desperate need to be saved. Most claim to NOT feel that need in our world, but read a book, or watch a movie (as stated above) and you'll see a different picture!...

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Cherishing your Eve

I Just finished reading Chapter 5 in Don Miller's Searching for God Knows What and I was struck as well as convicted. I've been reading A LOT more than I used to and I usually am not SMACKED like I was tonight.Don continues a vein of thought he started in the previous chapter and the thought is that Moses wrote A TON of poetry into the Old Testament and that this poetry was used to define that which could only be expressed through free verse. It is here, that Don picks up the vein of thought on the creation and Fall of man.The poetry thing didn't...

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Wednesday Night Youth

This whole month's theme has been surrounded in the idea of NOISE. We let the NOISE of the world, our cell phones, our TV's, our computers, our books etc. get in the way of getting to know eachother, listen to each other and more importantly getting to know and listen to God.Last night, I challenged the Jr. High Youth to turn down the volume of their lives and embrace something that they may have ever tried before...solitude! I explained to them the verses in Matt. 6:6-8 describe us getting alone with God, and that by getting alone, God will reward...

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Walking in the Light

In September, I did a series called: Walking in the Light, which was a Sr. High series on 1 John 1:5-2:14. I don 't know if I am the only Youth Pastor on the planet that this has happened to, but for me this was the first and only time so far...I became so wrapped in the series that I wrote a 33 page devotional based on the study! It hasn't happened since (yet) and never before had it happened to me. I found out a love for writing that I NEVER knew I had. I mention this, because the editing of the devotional is almost done and tonight, I am...

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Aspects of Christ---Healer

To sort out my blogs, I am going to focus the next few on certain Aspects of Christ. All will be relevant to our vision as well as to our lives. The first aspect of Christ I am going to highlight is that of Healer. This past weekend I saw God heal Jr. Highers. The speaker: Jason Ostrander was focusing on the Fourfold Gospel of Christ Our: Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King. Saturday night is when he approached Healer and he had the students come up and receive healing. It wasn’t one of those manipulation, emotional high type healing services...

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Tryin to be Profound, hitting Mediocrity

When I set up this blog, I was hoping to be constantly profound, like so many authors I've been reading, but what I ended up finding out was that a lot of what I want to say is mediocre in comparison to the profundity of high class authors like Max Lucado, Rob Bell, Don Miller, Brennan Manning and the like. When you read those guys, you get a sense of awe at the gift that God has given to those men. However, I slowly realized that mediocrity ends up defining most peoples lives and we all need to remember that not all life will be (or should be)...

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Urban Lake Champion PLUS

I was truly blessed to be a part of the team for the Urban Lake Champion retreat this past weekend! Several things happened in which I know God was moving. Erica and Macho Lara were used in tremendous ways this weekend. Erica was the speaker for the Urban youth who came from: Brooklyn, Queens, Trenton, Paterson and Manhattan. She spoke on being a Joshua Generation, seeking out a life like that of Joshua and seeking that which Joshua sought. She spoke of Joshua's faith and dependence on God. She mentioned the Jericho scene and challenged the...

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New update coming...

Soon, very soon an update will be flying your way! All things Urban Lake Champion to all things my sickness that has lasted 2 whole weeks...all coming tomorrow...

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Canker Sore/ Ulcer

I have an ulcer (canker sore) on the roof of my mouth and it hurts like crazy! At first I thought it was a sore throat that started last Saturday. Some of you may know the Saturday before easter, I came down with a 101^ fever and was sick. However, as the fever went away withing hours (thank God), the sore throat persisted until now! Yesterday I went to the Doctors office, hopin to get some respite from the pain, but he looked at my throat, did a strep test, gave me some pills and said goodbye. It wasn't until LAST night that I discovered the...

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Interesting Reads...

Right now I am in the middle of no less than 5 books! I couldn't resist picking up two more last night! The first book: The Shack was promoted by Erik with a 'K' during our Lake Champion weekend. I am in the middle of the second chapter already and the story is really good, very descriptive and entertaining, yet spiritually engaging! Eugene Peterson said that this book has the potential to do for our generation what Pilgrims Progress did or it's generation!! And you know what...I think he's right.The other book I picked up last night is an...

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