The PURPOSE of all of your PAIN. Joy beyond Suffering ~ Video by Fortis Media

Have you ever asked, "Lord, what is the purpose of all the things I'm going through?" I'm pretty sure you have, especially if you're a Christian. All of us do. JJ McNown has a message for us, that it is like the wine makers of the past, pouring the wine from vessel to vessel to remove the dregs. No, I know, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, so I'll let JJ explain it to you here. It will make sense.

Give me MORE, Lord! I’m READY ~ Video by Fortis Media

How many of you wish that the Lord would give you more than you presently have?

If you desire to make more money, have a healthier marriage, possess more responsibility, achieve greater feats, or acquire more personal power…

You need to watch this video.

JJ (McNown)

In this video, JJ states that, "Sometimes God allows something that He hates, to accomplish something He loves." Bad things. I mean, REALLY bad things, can happen to people. Why? Please know that when bad things happen, it could be because God is preparing you for what lays ahead for you in your life, which could be really good. Simply said, this is a video, a bit less than 20 minutes, that could change your whole outlook on life. I highly recommend watching it from beginning to end.

No, I didn't put this blog post up, or share the video, just to see more "clicks." Yes, I see this message from JJ to be something that I really could grab on to, even in my more senior years of my life. I mean, really, that was what clicked in my mind when I was watching this presentation. I really did want to stand up and shout, "Give me MORE, Lord! I'm ready!!"

Let me throw in a little story, to make my point. About 10 years ago, I was out at work, and there was a young cat that wondered onto the property that I was providing security for, that seemed friendly, at least to me. I didn't want that poor cat to starve to death, so I put it into my car, and took him home with me when I got off work. I promptly took him to the veterinarian, so he could be checked out, and given necessary shots. Also, as the vet found some problems with flees or mites, gave the little cat a dose of flea treatment on his back.

Well, the cat scratched himself up after that, and it got infected, and he died. And I know it was my fault, for not getting him back to the vet. It all happened so fast, and when the infection got started, he would hide from me. (For all of you that may think I should have done more, it was my first cat, ever.) Anyway, about a week after that tragedy, my neighbor comes by, and asks if I wanted a replacement cat. A nice little cat comes following him, and it looks just like the one that died. I wasn't sure and told my neighbor I'd have to think about it. At work that night, I thought about it, and it was affirmative, I'd adopt the stray. 10 years later, that cat, who I named RC (Replacement Cat), is now laying on my lap as I type this out.

What God did was to prepare me, with allowing something that He hates, to accomplish something He loves. Did I just repeat myself? Yes, I did. It is an example of what JJ is talking about here, in this video. While thinking about my story, watch what JJ has to say now. I think you'll feel the same joy I had in my heart when I heard this message.

Jesus Can Save You ~ Fortis Media ~ Video

Now, being that this is the first of the blogs that I am posting here, from Foundation Church Portland, let me introduce you to JJ McNown. JJ is a young man that I followed on Twitter one day, and then found his Fortis Media channel on youtube.com. In this post, you will see one of JJ McNown's preaching messages in the video below, during his time pastoring the church he founded, at just 22 years old.

The message is referring to Genesis 41, the story of the Pharoah's dreams, and how Joseph rose to power and saved Egypt, and the world, during the seven years of famine. Brothers and Sisters, in this message, JJ explains the meanings of this chapter, and how they relate to Jesus Christ. Not only that, but in this message, JJ also shows us how we can only be Saved through the Grace of God, through our Faith - a Gift of God - and not by our works, as said in Ephesians 2:6-10 (NIV):

"6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Also referenced in this message is Zechariah 12:10 (NIV):

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son..."

There is a good reason that I chose this video, to be the first of the ministry videos that I will provide here on The Cross Tribe Network. Unfortunately, there are many of us who are Christian that may not have realized how important the Old Testament is in understanding His Grace, and His gift of offering His Son Jesus Christ for our Redemption, just as Zechariah prophesized.

America: Graduating from God? Part 1 ~ By Chuck Norris

Rep. Randy Forbes put a video on youtube.com, which now has 3,196,272 views, and is described as follows:

Our Judeo-Christian Nation

Congressman Forbes asks the questions "Did America ever consider itself a Judeo-Christian nation?" and "If America was once a Judeo-Christian nation, when did it cease to be?" on the floor of the US House.

Video provided by RepRandyForbes

When I went to Chuck's column on WND tonight, I noticed it was Part 2 of a two-part series, so I went back to this Part 1 to start from the beginning. (I missed last week's column because of that morning when technology failed, and didn't get a chance to get caught up.)  Amazingly, this column was directly related to the two previous stories that I post on this blog this morning, which you can see under RELATED STORIES toward the bottom of this page. Pat Boone wrote about the problems facing America and the world that there seems to be no solutions for, except for turning to God.  The column by Greg Laurie discusses the need for Christians to quit evading and start invading. In short, both columns said that Christians must be SILENT NO MORE. And in this column, Chuck Norris explains how Christianity is being eliminated from American culture. So, it is very fitting for me to conclude this introduction to Chuck's column by saying that we must pray, and begin taking back America. We need to be the shining city on the hill for all to see. Just sayin'...

George Washington gave a very wise and timely word in his "Farewell Address" to all prospective Americans (including all government officials) who even entertain the thought that they can graduate from God. It also serves as a great "commencement address" to all graduates this spring:

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation deserts the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

Our founders' America is on life support and breathing its last. And the only ones who can save it are the God who assisted our founders in its creation and the patriots who today bear His and our founders' baton. Our focus is no longer the total war, but one battle at a time – one rally at a time, one election at a time and one piece of legislation at a time.

By Chuck Norris

Posted: June 07, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

(Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part series on spiritual regression in America.)

Last week I read a blog post that noted how prayer was banned at a high-school graduation in Indiana but not in Alabama. Then I read another news report about how another California high school changed its graduation "opening prayer" to "a moment of silence." No big shocker there.

Tragically, these types of devaluing religious news stories are a dime a dozen today. Spiritual regression is not only a trend but an epidemic.

The Fuller Youth Institute just reported that less than half (40 percent) of even church-going high-school seniors "significantly struggle with their faith and with finding a church after graduation." And other statistics show that, by the time they end their college education, 90 percent will have dropped out of church.

The Barna Group reports that only 29 percent of teenagers say they "will definitely" be attending church after graduation. That's about one in three if you're an optimist – about one in four if you're a pessimist. And about one in five if you believe these polled teenagers are either overly optimistic or over-exaggerators. Any way you look at it, the "Leave It to Beaver" family seems so passé and archaic in our times.

Long ago the Creator was replaced by natural causes in public classrooms. Prayer was ousted by human potential. Humans have become the kings of their castles and captains of their souls. Preaching has been overturned by political correctness. Church has been replaced by the NFL and Sunday commerce. And the government is now God, granting to all who has need. And we're shocked that more and more of our children and grandchildren want nothing to do with church?

Attrition in church attendance and faith in God is definitely on the rise. And so is animosity toward America's Judeo-Christian heritage.

Two Connecticut public schools were denied their graduation ceremonies from being held in a local church by U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall. Hall ruled in favor of the ACLU on behalf of two local high-school seniors and their parents, who said the students were agnostic and would find it "difficult if not impossible" to attend the graduation if it were held in a church. Hall concluded that using a church for graduation would be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. Leave it up to the ACLU and a federal judge to tell a local community where they could and could not hold their graduations, even though the majority favored it in the large church which was perfect for the big graduation crowds.

READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com

RELATED STORIES:
Can things get any worse? You betcha ~ By Pat Boone (READ THIS 1ST)
Christians: Infiltrate, don't isolate ~ By Greg Laurie (READ THIS 2ND)

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johnny2k's Tea Party Gear!

God helps those who ... ~ By Greg Laurie

Commentary from WorldNetDaily

By Greg Laurie

Posted: January 30, 2010 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2010


Some people think the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves. But you won't find this quoted in the Bible. In fact, it is not a biblical concept. The fact is that God helps those who can't help themselves. God helps those who see how radical their condition is, who recognize there is no way they can save their own souls.

The Bible tells the story of a man like this, a man who was in a very difficult state – a seemingly hopeless situation. I think it may even have been his utter helplessness that drew Jesus to him. He had been abandoned. He was a desperately lonely man, a man who, for all practical purposes, was an outcast.

Paralyzed for 38 years, he spent his days by a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda, hoping for a miracle. All alone and in need, he was surrounded by people who were blind, lame and paralyzed. Each were waiting for the stirring of the water – believed to be the work of an angel – because the first one to step into the pool would be healed.

Perhaps the night before, this man had offered up a prayer to God. Maybe he prayed, "Lord, if you would just help me be the first one into the water when the angel stirs it up, I would be so grateful." Little did he realize that God himself would come in human form and give him far more than what he asked for. Instead of sending an angel to stir up the waters, God was about to stir up his life – not just physically, but – more importantly – spiritually. The Bible tells us that God is able to do above and beyond that which we could ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20). And that is what happened in this man's life.

The Bible says that "Jesus saw him lying there" (John 5:6 NIV). What I find interesting is that he wasn't the only person there at the pool. There were a lot of people. But we don't read that Jesus saw them. The Bible says that Jesus saw him. And that is important to realize, because when God looks into a crowd of people, he sees you. He sees you as an individual, just like he saw this man. In the midst of all this activity Jesus had time for an individual whom he knew by name.

Then Jesus asked him – and in a broad sense, all of us – a poignant question: "Do you want to get well?" (verse 6 NIV). Or to expand the question, "Do you want to change your life?" Jesus was essentially asking, "Are you willing to put yourself, just as you are, in my hands? Are you ready for me to do for you what you are unable to do for yourself?"

Now this may seem like a strange question. We might think, What kind of thing is that to ask a guy who is paralyzed and unable to move? Of course he wants to be made well. But not everyone wants to change. Not every drug addict wants to be free from the power of drugs. Not every immoral person wants to be a moral person. Not every person who has chosen a certain lifestyle wants to break free from it. So it is a valid question: Do you want to change your life?

READ FULL STORY >

The ONE Reason to Celebrate Today and Everyday!

By John Kubicek

Thanks to my very good friend on digg.com, 4Christ, who alerted me to this wonderful, awesome video that is on youtube.com, and that you can see below:

Revelation Song - Kari Jobe - Music Video

digg story ~ Submitted by 4Christ