James  Janzen
  • Home
  • Meet the Author
    • Special Projects
    • Contact Page
    • Purchase from Author
    • Testimonials
    • Five Good Reasons to Buy the Book
    • Content of Book
  • Schedule and Events
  • Seminars
  • Workshops
  • Media
    • Photo Gallery
    • Videos
  • Blog

SWIRLS OF NURTURE

Sometimes I feel like a creator, sometimes I feel like a teacher,  sometimes I feel like a worshipper, 
sometimes I just feel three worlds swirling, colliding, morphing into new worlds . . 
. . . yet with each swirl the need to nurture . . .
. . . nurture midst fragile creations, vulnerable artists, emotive questioning soundscapes, wondering and wandering thoughts, midst a church wondering how to create in the image of the One who created all.

The Unshakeable Word of God

4/27/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Matthew 24:35
​

Secondly, midst the confusion of secular, worldly and human philosophies stands the unshakeable reality of the Word of God. Throughout the history of the world, God’s word has been under attack. The Old Testament is full of condemnations for the many false prophets seeking to replace the true word of God with their own (Ezekiel 22:28). During the first 300 years after Christ, the Roman Empire did all it could to burn every copy of the New Testament. As time went on, the Catholic Church prohibited anyone except priests from reading and interpreting the Scriptures. The French philosopher Voltaire said, “A hundred years from my death the Bible will be a museum piece.” However, a hundred years after his death the French Bible Society set up its headquarters in Voltaire’s old home in Paris.

Despite all the opposition to the Scriptures, there are still more copies of the original manuscripts than any other book written in all of history. Within the last 50 years, the Bible has been printed nearly 4 billion times!
​
Repeatedly, the Bible has been the source of stability in time of crisis.  Is it your source at this time?
​
0 Comments

An Unshakeable Kingdom

4/19/2021

0 Comments

 
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.  Hebrews 12:26-29  

We are experiencing the shaking of the earth but it is nothing new.  History records the ongoing shaking of the earth. According to Hebrews 12 there will be a final shaking that will remove many things, yet some will remain. The letter to the Hebrews was written to encourage Christians in a time of trial.  It does so by focusing on four things that cannot be shaken and will remain for ever.
The first of these is the kingdom of God which also appeared in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever  Daniel 2:44
​

In a time of trial, this should fill us with gratefulness and motivate us to offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe.  

0 Comments

Sacrificial Love

4/14/2021

0 Comments

 
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Ephesians 5:1-2 

The past emphasis on love, patience, openness to reason, humility, mercy, and impartiality should also not be interpreted as an unwillingness to sacrifice. Without being foolish or ignoring good information, we should be willing to risk when others need us. We should be willing to deliver packages to those shut in, even if there is a risk of being exposed to the virus. If our job is essential, we should go to work. My son and daughter are both frontline workers and refuse to stay home. They go to work believing in God’s projection while applying all the wisdom and protection that science has to offer.  

Throughout history, Christians have been known for this willingness. In AD 249 to 262, Western civilization was devastated by one of the deadliest pandemics in its history. It is estimated that at the height of the outbreak 5,000 people a day died in the city of Rome! The non-Christian response was self-protection and avoiding the sick at all costs. The Christian response was the opposite. The unbelieving world was stunned by a communal love that they had never seen before.  This resulted in large numbers becoming Christians.

May God give all of us the courage to walk in sacrificial love during this time.
0 Comments

BEING LIKE JESUS AND MOSES

4/8/2021

0 Comments

 
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Spoken by Christ) Matthew 11:29-30 
Picture
I hope you are not interpreting the recent emphasis on love, patience, submission, civil obedience, openness to reason, humility, mercy, and impartiality as cowardly weakness.  The wisdom described in the past few insights includes being gentle (James 3:17-18). Some people think that gentle people are weak but the word gentle has the idea of a wild stallion that has been tamed. All of his power is present but it can now be controlled. 
As far as I can determine, only two personalities in the Bible are described as being gentle, Jesus and Moses (Numbers 12:3). They were not weaklings!  A gentle person does not hesitate to confront but does so under the control of the Holy Spirit for gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. Gentleness makes it possible to speak clearly, firmly and truthfully without condemning or scorning the other person. Gentle people have emotional control that allows them to stay calm and not stir up emotions!​
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
Like every time of crisis, our current coronavirus crisis needs gentle people. 
0 Comments

IMPARTIAL DECISION MAKING

3/16/2021

0 Comments

 
 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

Being impartial and sincere means checking to see if we have a ‘log in our eye’ when we tell someone to take the ‘speck out of their eye’.

For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Matthew 7:2-3

If Christians are going to emerge from this crisis with unity and fellowship intact, we must walk the radical path of humility, sacrifice, patience, gentleness, mercy, and sincerity. We are impartial when truth is more important than political identity, family loyalty, denominational or religious identity. I am sure that you can fill in the blanks on the following statements from similar statements that you have heard which assume that a political or religious identity automatically guarantees belief on an issue.

All evangelical Christians should 
                            ;  All conservatives (or liberals or . . .) believe that                     ;  If you obey that ridiculous restriction, then you are a         
                    ;   If you are a member of that denomination then you                 .

If we are impartial we will not be influenced by feelings of bias or prejudice or loyalty to a group identity or label but be able to support the good and truthful while at the same time challenging error.  We will be able to honour authorities with obedience (Rom. 13) while engaging in appropriate legal civil pushback when necessary.  We will say what is peaceable, gentle, full of reason and mercy, impartial and sincere, regardless of what our group determines what we should say, or what others predetermine that we should say because of the label that we carry. 


0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Author, Conductor, Teacher, Worship leader

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Widget is loading comments...
Home
About
Contact
  • Home
  • Meet the Author
    • Special Projects
    • Contact Page
    • Purchase from Author
    • Testimonials
    • Five Good Reasons to Buy the Book
    • Content of Book
  • Schedule and Events
  • Seminars
  • Workshops
  • Media
    • Photo Gallery
    • Videos
  • Blog