The Source of our Bliss…
Jesus is our final authority Believing and confessing that Jesus is Lord, he is thus also our final authority for faith and practice. Three interdependent witnesses affirm, confirm and communicate the will of Christ and together, exalt and establish his word and work in the world, in the church and in our lives. These are: 1. The written word of God—the Holy Scriptures—inspired by the Spirit and interpreted Christo-centrically through the lens of the Gospel testimony; 2. The body of Christ—the Church local and universal—empowered by God as witnesses to receive and proclaim on the faith once for all delivered through and to the saints; 3. The Spirit of Truth—the Holy Spirit—whose ministry extends all that Jesus began to do and to say in the earth, through his grace-empowered disciples (Acts 1:1). The Finished Work of Christ As the Incarnate Word made Flesh, Jesus words and works, recorded in the four Gospels, reveal the nature of the triune God. The ‘finished work of Christ’ actually extends throughout Jesus’ whole life and ministry, climaxing in Jesus Passion— including his death on the Cross and his Resurrection on the third day—and his subsequent ascension and heavenly enthronement. Reflecting on these events, the apostles saw and proclaimed why Christ had come and what he has accomplished. They proclaim: 1. Christ’s definitive self-revelation of the cruciform God who is, by nature, the cosuffering, radically forgiving Lord of unfailing love and mercy. This God was in Christ, the living Sacrifice who emptied himself and laid down his life to reconcile us to himself (Rom. 5:6–10; Phil. 2:5–11; 1 John 4:9–10; 2 Cor. 5:19). 2. Christ’s decisive victory over the power of sin, the condemnation of the law, the bondage of the devil and the sentence of death (John 12:31; 16:11; Col 2:13– 15; Heb. 2:15). He is the risen King who holds the keys to death and hades (Rev. 1), which were swallowed up in his victory (1 Cor. 15:54). 3. Christ’s complete identification with humankind. Assuming and participating fully in human nature (Heb. 4:14–15), Christ stood in as substitute—doing for us what we could not do for ourselves—loving God and fulfilling the law of love perfectly, while overcoming Satan, sin and death on our behalf. He identified with us so that we might identify with him—we die with him that we might rise with him. And so we experience his grace and participate in his divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). As we behold him, we are transfigured into the image and likeness of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18) by the power of the Holy Spirit. (transcribed from : Brad Jersak’s Statement of Faith)
Open Heart for Orphans and Widows (OHOW) is located in small village in Bugiri Uganda, East Africa. The orphanage is under the care of Katabalwa (David) Noe, founder and director of this Ministry. OHOW are a non-profit, independent organization and rely totally on donations and sponsors for all its operations. Open Heart for Orphans and Widows does not receive any assistance from the African government at any level.
Donations help buy food and clothing for the children. Presently, there are 20 children ages 4 to 15 years of age and 5 widows.
Your help and support are needed so that David can continue to provide these poor and needy children with a loving, Christ centered home, where they can sleep, eat, and live a peaceful life.
DONATE here-
https://paypal.me/pools/c/8i0GCeuNcn
John Crowder and I – Nicene Creed Conference with Baxter & John (Lowell, Mass Oct. 2019)
John and my friend, Jeremiah enjoying God’s Bliss!!
John and Lily Crowder host supernatural Gospel events, schools and conferences at select locations throughout the year. These tend to be dynamic, celebratory and life-changing experiences charged with encounter, impartation and the miraculous presence of God: all centered in the mind-blowing grace of the Person and finished work of Christ. We welcome you to join us at any of these regional events, or apply to join us on one of our mission trips where you can be part of the team.
HIGH on God Tour…
http://www.thefirehouseprojects.com/high-on-god-book/
COMMUNITIES | BELIEFS | CONTACT
The Firehouse Projects is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in February 2008 with a vision of ‘Cultivating community with inward fire for Jesus Christ’. Directed by Matt and Katie Spinks, we are a kingdom of heaven on earth ministry, preaching the Gospel and encouraging people to be who they truly are within community, on earth as it is in heaven.
The ministers of The Firehouse Projects are impacting lives through prayer, discipleship training, marketplace evangelism, community planting, media and music. We minister at various gatherings and in the streets! We’ve loved on orphans and widows across the globe, and often impacted hearts through worship ministry. At the heart of it all is the desire to see the entire cosmos receive revelation of their inclusion in the community of the Godhead, each geographic region uniquely, in partnership with all God’s children.
Baxter Kruger: Perichoresis
“Who do you say I am?” Jesus asks Peter in Matt 16::16, “You are the son of the living God, the messiah.”
Is this what you believe? As proclaimed “Christains”, we say we believe, but what does that mean? How much faith do we need in order to “muster up” the holy spirit’s anointing? LOL- If you have been around these Charismatic circles I think you know what I am getting at. This is “man’s doctrine” but not “true authentic gospel.” The undiluted gospel is all about God’s FREE gift of GRACE to humanity. “The father judges no one. All judgement is given to the son.” (John 5:22). And Jesus says in John 12:47, “I did not come to condemn the world, but to save it.” For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:17)
“For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
There is only one human nature, one humanity, of which we all partake. The Incarnation, God becoming man and dwelling among us (John 1:14), was not about creating a new and different humanity — that would have been a species alien to us — but it was Christ partaking of the one and only humanity there is. It means that Christ participates with us in our humanity, even as broken as it is, so to make us whole.
So, the cross saves us in a very ontological way. That is, Christ did not die as one whose humanity was similar to but quite other than our humanity, dying instead of us in a different humanity, and somehow creating a legal fiction to satisfy a legal debt. There is no real connection in that between Christ and humanity.
No, Christ died as one with whom we participate together in the same humanity, dying as us, so that his death was our death, too, because his being shares in our being, in our nature as human beings. His death was our death, so that his risen life is ours, as well. This cannot be reduced to some sentimental way of thinking; is the objective reality of our own being participating together in the resurrected human being of Christ.
In the same way, we are righteous before God, not because of some legal accounting (imputed righteousness), or by receiving it from a source outside of us (imparted righteousness), but through Christ’s very real participation in human being, our mutual participation with Christ in the only humanity there ever was or shall be. This one and only humanity, which was once headed up in Adam is now headed up in Christ, which is why the apostle Paul can make the Adam/Christ comparison so extensively, in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15.
So in the long and short of it all- Mark 12:31- “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these. And Matt 25:40 “….’Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Homemade quilt sent last week!
Melody, excited about dropping off gift box!
Thank you to all donors !
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Lord’s Prayer
“In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”
Shadow Boxing with Thought Bubbles... 