Amazing Grace - Six Primary Components of Christian Spirituality - Part Three

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, The Gospel of John 3 vs 16 a

In Part One of this series, it was established from biblical source material the existence of God not only predates God’s love for the inclusive community of the inhabited world, but the world itself. God’s action was presented to reveal itself through the demonstration of six primary components of Christian Spirituality. They include diligent love, amazing grace, community communion, intentional individual meditation, private and community prayer, and human service.

Part Two of the series spoke to diligent love or the living out of intentional and on purpose affection for the object of affection.  The object of God's affection is humanity. Being diligent is characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort to live equal to one's commitments. God's ability to be diligent and human ability to be diligent are radically different.

Part Three of the series shares the unconditional love of amazing grace as central to God loving the world so much that gave his the best expression of himself possible. Grace is determined to be the blessing of continuous good even when it is undeserved. Amazing grace is that liberating power that frees us not only from our inadequacies and ungodly behavior but sets us on a path to live out our appreciation for God's gift on our behalf throughout our lives.

The grace of God expressed through diligent love decides to become human to experience what it means to be human. God does this because humanity had not and has not been able to manage living equal to God's expectations. Humans have failed to live at the level of God's expectations from the very beginning down to the present moment. 

Humans just cannot manage to live right, righteous, and holy. We want things God would rather us not want. We do things God would rather us not do. 

In becoming human, God knows from experience what humans experience. God as a human being is the man named Jesus. Jesus, God as a human being is reported to have been the only human able to live a human life at the level of God's expectations. 

In doing so, God restores humanity to right standing and right relationship with God. The text alone makes this commentary clear, :For God so loved the world of humanity, he gave his only begotten son. says John 3 vs 16 a. Other biblical source material will say,in 2nd Corinthians Chapter 5 vs 21, "For God made him (Jesus) to be sin for us who had not sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

It is to this end that Richard Allen's great declaration came forth. As America was becoming a nation, particularly in Philadelphia, Richard Allen grew weary of slavery, prejudice and discrimination among the people of God. 

Allen had been a slave named Negro Richard. When he purchased his own freedom, he changed his name to Richard Allen.

Once while worshiping in St, George's Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, he and other free black people were accosted by white worshipers who demanded they rise up from the altar and cease their praying. From this moment, Allen remembered freedom from slavery but more so remembered his freedom from sin to be loved by God. Hence his dungeon shook and his chains fell off,

God's amazing grace is a liberating power that frees us not only from our inadequacies and ungodly behavior but sets us on a path to live out our appreciation for God's gift on our behalf throughout our lives. Appreciate that God has loved humanity so much that he became a human to literally share our experience and live equal to his own expectations.

Until next time when we shall take on community communion, receive God's amazing grace into your life and live free to be and become what God has provided you opportunity to be. For God so loved the world with his amazing grace that he gave his only begotten son to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in him. As God has blessed us with his grace, so we must go forth to bless others and share our experience.

Until then, May God bless you and keep you, care for you during your sleeping and your waking, in your going outs and your coming ins, in your labour and your leisure; May God make his face to always shine upon you and give you peace. Amen!

Special 2 ∞ 4 ∞ 1 the Next 24 Hours Only

Living Christian in an Unchristian World delivers a biblical based love action response to the general malaise affecting church, country, and planet. The war on terror, a disastrous national economy, citizen conflicts over partisan politics, and the church living under the rumble of scandal after scandal takes a toll on the soul of America and her people. Disillusionment runs rampant. Can government, other institutions, and their leadership be trusted anymore? Living Christian in an Unchristian World informs and demonstrates for readers how to live above the malaise and disillusionment to follow the model of Jesus in the 21st Century World and have fun doing it.

“What we sow together, we grow together. It is time to plant, replant, and transplant our seed and ourselves. Our personalities, our families, our communities, our institutions, our states, nations and indeed our world need the influence of our best seed and fruit.”

Christian Fundamentals Re – Emerging is a blue print back to the old landmark of Christian Living to influence good through right living. America; the nation, the people, and the diverse spiritual population, is what is left of the former one nation under God Republic. Polite and not so polite social wars over religion, race, politics, and class happens between Christians and other Christians, between Christians and others, Americans and other nations. The time for highest level and most positive Christian influence is now. 

Christians, people living after the model life of Jesus of Nazareth live all over Planet Earth throughout the 21st Century Global Community. We are part of every class, culture, color, bloodline, economic, and political system. From the many, we are one diverse people, an inclusive community of love, service and sacrifice. Our goal is nothing short of the fully realized Kingdom of God on Earth.

For the next 24 Hours, get Living Christian in and Unchristian World and Christian Fundamentals RE - EMERGING for $1.99. Bless Yourself and Bless Another.

Oscar Crawford
M.Div., MS/AJS

May God bless you and keep you, care for you during your sleeping and your waking, in your going outs and your coming ins, in your labour and your leisure; May God make his face to always shine upon you and give you peace. Amen!

DILIGENT LOVE - Six Primary Components of Christian Spirituality - Part Two

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, The Gospel of John 3 vs 16 a

In the first in the series, Six Primary Components of Christian Spirituality, it was established in Genesis Chapter One that out of an overflowing abundance of love; God created the heavens and the Earth. The Earth was populated with plant, animal, and human life.

Plants are not believed to have consciousness, while animals live with very simple consciousness able to manage basic life instincts for survival. Humans appear to have higher level design and capacity for self awareness. 

God designates humans for premium relationship with God's self and each other. Humans are also given responsibility for serving as stewards and caretakers over all God created.

By Genesis Chapter Six, God arrives at a level of disappointment with humans expressing regret over their creation and commits to their destruction. God's heart proves to be greater than God's desire to destroy, deciding not to destroy all but saves one family to reboot humanity.

The reboot doesn't work and all God's best effort to orient humanity to God's way never fully works. It is here God's highest level love reveals itself in the text that will serve as foundation for this series. In spite of the human inability to live at the level of God's hopes and expectations, God decides to love humanity with all of God's best self.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son. The Gospel of John 3 vs 16 a

Love is not what it says, love is what it does according to father and son pastors in Columbus, Ohio, the Rev. Drs. Keith Troy and Leon Troy.

It is this level of love that models for the title of the second in the series. Diligent Love is the living out of intentional and on purpose affection for the object of affection.  The object of God's affection is humanity. Being diligent is characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort to live equal to one's commitments. God's ability to be diligent and human ability to be diligent are radically different. One is able. One is not.

Humans struggle to love at this level. Humans frustrate very easily in relationships when one or the other party falls short on their committed agreements or covenants. Human are known to cut their losses and move on, sometimes without ever examining ways to manage conflicts that arise. More often than not, the same humans reproduce the same relationship scenario over and over again hoping the next time will be different and better without ever examining and developing ways to manage conflicts that arise.

Diligent love requires a maturity of understanding human behavior. Humans are seldom equal to their ideals or even what they say. Humans are noted for doing the exact opposite of what they say they would never do.

Diligent love requires open disclosure to relationship so all involved may know the pluses and minuses to be dealt with from time to time like self destructive behaviors; substance abuse, inability to manage money, or able to maintain livelihood.

Diligent love seeks to discover new ways to inspire the object of their affection in ways that prompt them to become more and better. Diligent love is the action that speaks louder than words.

Diligent love can be trusted to act in the best interest of the relationship or community at all times. It can be depended on to do what it says it will do. 

Diligent love requires people mature enough to take on the shared task of diligent love willingly to work through conflict through communicating shared goals and reasons for initiating relationship in the first place. Contemporary language suggests diligent love has the back of the object of its affection just like God for humanity.

For God so loved the world, that God gave the best God can offer makes clear God's commitment to diligent love for humanity even though humanity is never going to be equal to God's hopes or expectations. Since God has demonstrated diligent love towards us, it is only appropriate the human response to God is diligent love for God and each other knowing we can never full appropriate it.

The human investment in diligent love when love is neither convenient nor generating euphoric bliss makes clear to the object of human affection that love can be trusted. Love can be depended on not to have to have its own way. Diligent love is constant like the rising and the setting of the sun.

Anyone who practices Christian Spirituality by imperative must be a person of diligent love. Diligent Love is the living out of intentional and on purpose affection for the object of affection whether it is ever fully reciprocated or not.

Next time, from the same text, we will examine component number two, amazing grace. Until then, May God bless you and keep you, care for you during your sleeping and your waking, in your going outs and your coming ins, in your labour and your leisure; May God make his face to always shine upon you and give you peace. Amen!

Help in the East Valley for September 21, 2015

As the seasons change, so do our appetites in Central and Southern Arizona. OK, may be not so much as other places across the U.S., but soups, warming meals, and grilled food will be enjoyed as we move into cooler temperatures in the 80's and 90's and not over 100.

The best way to eat responsibly most of the time is by planning meals. Here are a few ideas in the best interests of your good health and your budget.

You know the things your family enjoys. If you want to be really sure, talk to your family. Find out what everybody enjoys most for meal times and snacks. Work out when particular meals are preferred, what day of the week and which mealtime. Make sure your plans include:

1. Dairy
2. 1/2 your plate should be dedicated to fruits and vegetables (fresh or frozen preferred).
3. 1/2 your plate should be dedicated to grains (whole grains preferred) and from a variety of protein sources.

Nothing is perfect and some days no one may seem to be happy. To be your best, do your best. Love yourself and your family enough to get them to participate in meal planning and preparation. Let the process become an activity that is both healthy and fun. Let us know how it works out for you.

Three Farmer's Markets in the East Valley include:

1. IN MESA Mesa Community Market (SNAP and FMNP) 263 N. Center St., Fridays 9 AM - 1 PM email for more information.
2. IN TEMPE Ray's Market - McClintock Fountains 1840 E. Warner Road, Saturdays 9 AM - 1 PM Year Round 602 - 214 - 1653 email for more information.
3. IN GILBERT Agritopia Farm Stand 3000 E. Ray Road, Wednesdays 4 PM - 8 PM and Saturdays 8 AM - 3 PM email for more information. 480 - 988 - 1238

Southwestern Spiced Popcorn 

Enjoy Southwestern Spiced Popcorn during your family's movie nights or snack times. It is easy to prepare. Follow these steps:

1. Wash hands with warm water and soap.
2. Place popcorn in a large bowl and spray with non stick cooking spray. Toss well to coast.
3. In a small bowl, stir together chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and garlic powder.
4. Sprinkle over the popcorn tossing until well coated.
5. Serve immediately or store in an air tight container.

Ingredients include:

• 8 cups air popped popcorn (aboit 1, 2.8 ounce bag plain microwave popcorn
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

If you have more creative recipes for popcorn share them by email.

Kids Health Link connects your family to Health care and Nutrition Assistance.  Is your family insured?  Kids Health Link helps uninsured families apply for and renew Arizona Health Care Cost Containment system (AHCCCS), Arizona's Medicaid coverage. We also help families apply for other health and nutrition services, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Arizona (SNAP AZ), previously called Food Stamps.

Call the Health Hotline at 1 - 800 - 235 - 9678 or visit Kids Health Link or Follow on Facebook

Get one time help once a month at the "Citadel". Salvation Army - Mesa Citadel Family Services.  Food Box Phone 480 - 833 - 8322 Cross Streets Mesa Dr. and 6th St. Hours of Operation Monday - Thursday 8 AM - 11 AM and 1 PM - 3 PM and Fridays 8 AM - 1130 AM. Located at 241 E. 6th St. Bldg 3, Mesa, AZ 85201

For referrals to services in the East Valley call 480 - 464 - 1300 ext 248. 

May God Bless you and keep you, make his face to shine upon you and always give you peace. Amen

Oscar and Bonnie Crawford

Help in the East Valley is a production of Oscar Crawford Christian Media.

Six Primary Components of Christian Spirituality

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, The Gospel of John 3 vs 16 a

Introduction

Love, grace, communion, meditation, prayer, and service form the six primary components of Christian Spirituality. The context, the situation in which something happens, of the text, information able to be read; shares God’s action on behalf of seemingly lost world living in the darkness of perpetual evil.

Information reveals the existence of God not only predates God’s love for the inclusive community of the inhabited world, but the world itself. God’s action will be shown to demonstrate the modeling of the six primary components of Christian Spirituality.

Origins 

The opening chapters of Genesis, the Book of Beginnings reveal God’s relational context with the world. In Chapter 1, God creates the cosmos, and particularly Planet Earth providing all the elements and conditions necessary to facilitate plant, animal, and human life. 

God’s macro design is the cosmos. God’s micro  design is  life forms on the Earth. Humans become the pinnacle conclusion of God’s actions.

Disappointment 

In Genesis 6, God is living with disappointment. Humans have not lived up to expectations. God expresses regret for his actions of creating humans and sets out to destroy them; until he notes a man named Noah.

For centuries, God restrains his disappointment. God does not destroy humanity but elects to maintain a presence with not just one man but a group of people God will influence through the leadership of chosen men. None are ever able to live up to expectations God has established for the people with whom God lives in covenant relationship.

An Uncommon Union

It is for this reason that God’s action of John 3 vs. 16 a comes into existence. After millennium of love for Creation and particularly, the Earth, God arrives at a new level conclusion after hopes and expectations unfulfilled. God will love humanity in spite of their behavior.

An uncommon union  evolves born of the six primary components of Christian Spirituality.  God’s desire for intimate relationship with humans has required diligent love, amazing grace, constant communion, intense meditation, humble prayer, and faithful service to give evidence of what lives inside through outward symbols of ritual and behavior.

Next time, from the same text, we will examine component number one, LOVE. Until then, May God bless you and keep you, care for you during your sleeping and your waking, in your going outs and your coming ins, in your labour and your leisure; May God make his face to always shine upon you and give you peace. Amen!