Tag: being Bold

Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

When Faith affects Finances

But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!” At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater. Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. “Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.
Acts of the Apostles 19:26‭-‬37 NLT

Does idolatry still exist today?

Yes

Idolatry is taking good things and making them ultimate things

Tim Keller

Three Observations about Idolatry

1. Idols are everywhere.

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city.
Acts of the Apostles 17:16 NLT

2. Idols are empty

“Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.
Acts of the Apostles 14:15 NLT

3. Idols are expensive

and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.
Acts of the Apostles 17:25 NLT

What are you known for?

The first Christians were:

1. Missional

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts of the Apostles 1:8 NLT

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19‭-‬20 NLT

2. Pro Jesus not anti everything else

3. Known for who they followed not for what they opposed

Memory Verse

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
1 Peter 3:15 NIV

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Just sayin’: The truth in Love

Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
Proverbs 18:21 MSG

What is confrontation?

A confrontation is a meeting between two friends for the purpose of restoring Godliness.

How does God call us to have a confrontation?

  1. We need to follow God’s leading carefully; if you’re excited to confront someone, it’s not from God.

2. Meet privately

“If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love. “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
Matthew 18:15‭-‬20 MSG

3. Prepare tactfully and compassionately to confront.

The way to prepare:

  • Check your own heart first
  • Written prep
  • Approach with a story

Once you share the truth, be quiet and let God take over and do the convicting.

4. Offer grace and support

Questions to ask yourself and God:

  1. Is the sin dishonoring to God?
  2. Are others being hurt?
  3. Is the person being hurt

Challenge: I will compassionately confront if needed.

I will receive confrontation if needed.

Be open to what God wants to say to you.

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advocacy, Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

The CP Tag

1.  What type of CP do you have?

I have spastic diplegia CP

2. How did you get CP?

I was born 11 weeks early and I was diagnosed with hydrocephulus.  I got my CP diagnosis when I was one year old. 

3. How did you Feel about CP growing up?

When I was little, I did not feel different from my friends.  I participated in all the activities at my church; choir, Sunday School youth group, and camp.  I also went to concerts with my friends when I was a teenager, and I. Also played baseball.   My dad was my coach.

4. Do you ever think about what life would be like without CP? 

Yes, I do.  Sometimes I think about it more often than others.  When I think about it, I think about how easy it would be to do different tasks like get out of the house.

5. How has CP impacted my life?

Having CP has definitely impacted my life mentally and emotionally as well as physically. It’s a pain in the butt to do specific tasks, and when I was younger, it was hard to be taken out of school because of surgery recovery. Weekly physical therapy was also something I did not like. 

6. How was schooling with CP?

It wasn’t a nightmare, but it was a headache.  I often had to advocate for what I wanted, and it was often assumed that I would do less than I knew I was capable of doing.

7. How has CP Changed throughout your life?

When I was little, I accepted my CP, and I didn’t think I was different; it was until seventh grade that things got difficult for me because someone who was getting teased in school started teasing me. The relationship I have with myself and myself and my CP is great.  I have learned that it’s important to have a sense of community and being connected to the Rollettes and the Boundless Babe Society. 

8.  How will things change for people with disabilities?

I hope that there will be tons of changes for people with disabilities. The first thing I would like to see happen is that crip casting is no longer allowed in movies and TV shows, and theatre productions.  I would love to see the Broadway community truly become accessible to performers who have disabilities by making the bathrooms backstage fully accessible by the standards of ADA ( Americans with Disabilities Act). I would also love to see the standards for people to be financially independent and responsible because, as the situation is now, we have to settle for a life in which we cannot be in marriage because of fear that too much financ l gain would cause us to lose our insurance.

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Dance, Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

#BoundlessBabe

Hey, I hope you’re having a beautiful day. What are you doing today? Right now, I’m finishing breakfast. As a #boundlessbabe, we are asked to take on a chosen goal. My goal. Is to keep up my independence by using my wallet basket.

I’ve had this goal before, and I have fallen away from it. What will make it’s time different is that I have good friends to check in with.

fanfiction

Nikki Meets Nessa at Shiz University

Nikki Meets Nessa

One day a young woman named Nikki visited her new school Shiz University. She was a lover of performing arts and was a member of her church choir, and she loved cheering on her professional performer friends at small venues in her town. Nikki also loved gushing about her friends on her podcast Encouragement Notes.

One day, before class Nikki noticed a young woman sitting by herself. Being the extrovert she is, Nikki strolled up to the woman and introduced herself.

Hey, I’m Nikki! I’m new here; what’s your Name?

The shy woman smiled and said,

Hi,

I’m Nessa Rose

Nice to meet you, Nessa. How long have you been coming here?

My sister Elphaba and I have been students here for a year; I’m waiting for her to get out of her sorcery seminar.

After a few minutes of silence, Nessa got the courage to ask,

Nikki, why do you use a chair with wheels? I don’t like being in one; it makes me feel weird.

First of all, Nessa, I get it; I’ve been through times when I thought I was weird too.

At the last school, I was at, someone came up to me and asked if I would get any better. I went into shock and didn’t say anything.

I’ve also heard the question, how do we describe you? People who don’t know me often think I’m strange, and I used to agree with them and believe that I needed to be fixed somehow, but this past year has been life-changing for me! All of the ideas I had about myself have been challenged in a good way because I met a group of women who look like me. They are members of a group called the Rollettes members of their dance classes. You ought to look into the classes.

As Nikki finishes gushing about the team, Elphaba comes up to Nikki and Nessa; she’s pretty but Nikki could tell that people had considered her strange as well because she was green.

Hi Elphaba! This is my new friend Nikki; she’s been telling me all about her life and the people she has met. I think I want to try one of the dance classes she goes to. They meet on Tuesday. I want to go check it out. It sounds like fun!

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Faith For The Future: Enduring Faith

An Enduring Faith is a Faith That…

1. Comes to Jesus with it’s doubts

But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.” But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.” Thomas said, “My Master! My God!” Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
John 20:24‭-‬29 MSG

He asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been going on?” “Ever since he was a little boy. Many times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!” Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”
Mark 9:21‭-‬24 MSG

2. Looks at Trials with an Eternal Perspective.

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16‭-‬18 MSG

Memory Verse

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV

3. Relies on others during difficult times

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Mark 2:1‭-‬12 NIV

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