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This is a guest post by Sam Riviera. He spends most of his time and energy caring for others in his community so that through his life and actions they might see Jesus. See his other fantastic Guest Posts here:

If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, check out the guidelines here.

Previously, I wrote about the 13 Reasons Why I Left the Institutional Church. Here are the 14 reasons I never returned.

The day I told the pastor I would no longer be attending, all information about me was deleted from church records within hours. The church never contacted me again.
When I bumped into people from the church in local stores they pretended they did not know me.
When I e-mailed several people from the church (including one person who had borrowed something from me which he had not returned and who I e-mailed three times) they never replied.
I discovered people in the streets on Sunday mornings who don’t like churches, but who want to talk about Jesus. I don’t remember anyone at church who wanted to talk about Jesus.
I love the freedom in Christ, of not being told how I must believe and how I must interpret the Bible. After I left, I discovered that most of what the church believed was taken straight from a book written by a “theologian” who they considered something like their guru. That book was their primary resource. The Bible was somewhere down the list, behind numerous other books.
Now my time and money are available to help others.
Now I have time to get to really know my neighbors and build community with them, and help them build community with each other.
I no longer dread Sundays.
I’ve discovered a huge community of people who have left church, many of whom are trying to figure out how to build new communities outside the institutional church, communities that include Jesus.
Most of my friends don’t expect me to pretend I’m something or someone I’m not, as I was expected to do with the church people.
Now I really grasp the idea that I am part of the church, all the time, with everyone with whom I come in contact. Church is not a place or a time. Church is the body of Christ, alive and active in the world.
I no longer resent serving others. Serving those who have real needs and who say thank you works so much better for me than does serving those who do not need what I have to offer and are demanding and critical.
I’ve discovered the meaning of “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”.
I’ve discovered where Jesus hangs out, and with whom Jesus hangs out. That is where I want to be.

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Loving and Denying Yourself

By Jeremy Myers

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This is a Guest Post by Patti Blount. She is a writer, speaker, artist, and evangelist. She wrote a column, “The Farmer’s Wife” for the Sower publication, the newsletter for Adopt A Farm Family. She has led workshops at Rural Restoration Conferences for the same ministry. Patti has also spoken for women’s groups, prison ministries, and in many churches in India with her husband, Tom. Patti can be contacted through her blog, Great and Unsearchable Things.

If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, check out the guidelines here.

“Love your neighbor as yourself” has always had an uncomfortable feel for me.

It feels selfish to love myself.

Besides, as followers of Jesus, are we not also called to deny ourselves? How can we both love ourselves and also deny ourselves?

The key that is helping me put these two idea together is a greater understanding of God’s love for me. As I learn about His love for me, I have begun to understand what it means to love myself, and accept the reality that I am not being selfish in doing so.

A practical example will show how I am learning this.

I previously committed to having three of my grandchildren spend the night, and I was looking forward to it, and I knew they were too. It had been a long time since any of them had spent the night.

But on the day they were supposed to arrive, I pulled my back out, making it difficult to walk or do much of anything. All such actions caused me great pain.

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Free Copies of Unforgivable Sin

By Jeremy Myers

1 Comment

Happy Fourth of July!

This is a day not only to celebrate our nation’s freedom, but also our freedom from sin and slavery!

And to celebrate freedom, I am giving away paper copies of my new book, Why You Have Not Committed the Unforgivable Sin.

I have seven copies to give away. Read on to find out how to win your free copy.

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13 Reasons Why I Left the Institutional Church

By Jeremy Myers

6 Comments

This is a guest post by Sam Riviera. He spends most of his time and energy caring for others in his community so that through his life and actions they might see Jesus. If you have neighbors (and you do), you must read his series of posts on Getting to Know Your Neighbors.

If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, check out the guidelines here.

Which Gospel?

When I was a child, I loved my church. I imagined Jesus sitting next to me when I was there. Jesus loved me this I knew, for I learned it in Sunday school.

As an adult, however, something changed. I could no longer imagine Jesus sitting beside me as I listened to a whole ‘nuther gospel, a gospel of money, power, authority, position, correct thinking, correct behaving and unquestioning acceptance of everything being taught.

Where Is Jesus?

I no longer knew what to call the institution. Church seemed inappropriate. So I called it religion and decided to look for Jesus elsewhere.

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Satan’s Greatest Lie

By Jeremy Myers

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This is a Guest Post by Mick Holt. He has been writing for more than twenty years. His blog “Pick a Direction and Go!” was started as an outlet to explore his ideas about God and faith. He is starting a new blog that will be dedicated to Christian hard rock and heavy metal called “The Stone and The Cross.” You can also connect with him on Google+.

If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, check out the guidelines here.

There are many things that God promises His children.

What God never promises, however, is tomorrow.

He never guarantees, any of us, that we’ll wake for another day. He does not hint that we’ll ever see another sunrise. “Annie” sang about her love for “Tomorrow” but God’s word does not say that we will get one.

And yet, don’t we all treat our lives as though we have, at the very least, one more coming?

Ah, the power of the “Father of Lies.”

No Promise of Tomorrow

There is an inherent danger in buying into this particularly effective lie; you may not have a tomorrow.

It is possible you will not have the rest of today!

Now, I say all this to scare you.

No, you read that correctly. I mean to scare you. I want you to start thinking of your life as an hour glass that was turned over 45 minutes ago, as a baseball game going into the home half of the ninth inning (better, the tenth). Your time on earth is running out and God wants you to make the most of it.

Paul said it best in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 – “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” He is telling us that we will not know when the end is coming. It will be a surprise. It will happen when we least expect.

So what does that mean for me and you?

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The Best WordPress Theme for Your Blog

By Jeremy Myers

7 Features which make Genesis the BEST WordPress Theme

Here are seven reasons why the Genesis framework is the best WordPress theme on the market.

1. Mobile Responsive

More and more people are reading blog and accessing websites using tablet computers and smartphones. For this reason, Google recommends a mobile responsive website. Being mobile responsive means that your website adjusts to these various screen sizes of smartphones and tablet computers. Sound difficult? The Genesis Framework has this ability built right in.

To see how this works if you are reading this post on a computer, just resize the window. Drag the right hand side of your web browser window in toward the left hand side, and watch the website adjust accordingly. Pretty cool, right?

Most people don’t resize their window this way as they are using a blog, but what it shows is that this blog can be easily read on a variety of screen sizes. If you have an iPad or a smartphone, load up this site on one of those, and see how it looks different than what is loaded on your screen. This is because my site is Mobile responsive, thanks to the Genesis Framework

2. Numerous High Quality Themes to Choose From

Another reason that the Genesis Framework is the best wordpress theme is that it has quite a few high quality Child Themes which all run on the Genesis Framework. To see what I mean, just head over to the StudioPress website and click on the “Themes” button.

You might wonder which theme I am using here…. well… I really liked the design from my previous website, so I pretty much created my own Theme so that it matched what I had before. I might switch it up in the future, but for now, I am going to stick with this.

3. FAST Loading Times

Whether you know it or not, how fast a website downloads is critical these days. A lot of my traffic to this site comes from Google searches, and one of the ranking factors Google uses to determine which search results to show on their pages is how fast the site loads. My site loads decently fast, but simply by switching over to the Genesis Framework, I shaved almost a full second off my load time! That’s amazing!

With my previous framework and theme, I was loading in about 3 seconds. Here is the report from Pingdom.com which shows the load time:

Here is a load time with the new Genesis Theme framework:

Can you believe that? I cut my download time in half simply by switching to the Genesis Framework! Notice as well that my Page Size is less and my Performance Grade is higher!

For these two tests, I didn’t change anything except the framework. I used all the same plugins, settings, and images. The Genesis Framework just simply loads faster.

There are several things I am going to tweak over the coming months that will probably get the site to load even faster, but I am thrilled to shave 1.5 seconds off my time simply by switching to the Genesis Framework. This alone proves that it is one of the best wordpress themes on the market.

4. HTML5 Ready

I told you earlier that the release of Genesis 2.0 is what convinced me to switch Frameworks. One of the things that I like about Genesis 2.0 is that it is HTML5 ready. Most websites are built upon HTML4, which is pretty good, but HTML5 has a lot of really cool features built in. It has new elements, full CSS3 support, increased ability for vidoe and audio embedding, 2D/3D graphics, and lots more!

If all this is coding gobblygook to you, don’t worry about it. But here’s the thing: Eventually, HTML5 will be the standard for all websites. It only makes sense to begin preparing for it now by using a Framework like Genesis 2.0 that is HTML5 ready.

5. Microdata markup

Having microdata markup on your website is something that may not mean anything to you, but is critical for how websites function “behind the scenes” and what allows potential readers to find your website and blog on search engines like Google and Bing. I won’t bore you with the details of what this is, but suffice it to say that microdata markup from Schema.org is one way of labeling the various parts of your website and blog so that search engines know what is what. Keeping search engines happy is one of the primary keys to getting traffic from Google and Bing, and they LOVE having the various parts of your blog marked up with Schema.org markup. In fact, many believe that Schema.org markup will become one of the primary ranking factors in the future of search engine results.

Proper markup is one of the things that helps your website pages appear properly in search results. For example, when you search for “Matthew 12:31-32,” my page on the unforgivable sin often comes up.

Though there are many reasons for this, one of them is the Schema.org markup I am using on all my blog pages and posts. If you want to to test some of your own websites, use this markup validator tool.

This element is so important, I spent hours building it into the Framework I used to use, but Genesis 2.0 has it built right in! A HUGE time saver! This again is something that shows that Genesis is one of the best wordpress themes you can get for you blog.

6. Great Affiliate Program

One other reason I made the switch is because the good people at StudioPress have an affiliate program.

Yes, the Genesis Framework costs some money. The Framework all by itself is about $60. If you add a Theme to this, you are looking at around $80 or so. But here’s the thing… if you use a Framework that has an affiliate program, you can make the money you spent on the Framework back! If just three people make a purchase based off your recommendation, you have made all your money back, and then if anyone else buys it after that, you get money to pay your web hosting fees for the year, or dinner with your spouse, or a couple of books from Amazon, or… well, you get the picture.

If you are a blogger like me, you are probably not in it for the money. You simply want to write about some ideas that are bouncing around in your head. A nice benefit is if people read what you write. But for the best chance of people reading what you write, you need a decent web host (which costs money), and a decent web design (which often costs money). So it’s always nice when one or both of those have “affiliate programs” which you can use to regain some of those expenses.

I was happy with the the affiliate program from the previous Framework I was using. I spent $99 on the Framework, and referred three affiliate sales (which earned my cost back), and then they shut down the affiliate program…

So I am glad to now be running one of the leading frameworks in the industry on this blog, and better still, to be part of their affiliate program. If you are looking for a Premium web theme, I highly recommend the Genesis Framework for the reasons stated above.

If you are thinking of buying it, please consider using one of the Genesis links above (or this one right here: Get Genesis 2.0) as I will then get credit for the referral. Thanks!

7. FREE Support and FREE Updates FOR LIFE

There are lots of themes out there that charge for support, or charge you to update your blog to the newest version, or charge you an annual “membership fee.”

You won’t get any of these games with the Genesis Framework. Once you buy it, you are good for life. Well, maybe not FOR LIFE, but at least for as long as they are in business. I had a previous theme designer which promised the same thing, but then they went out of business after three years. I don’t think this will happen to the makers of Genesis though. Why not? Because they are industry leaders.

So not only do you get one of the best WordPress themes available, you also get unlimited support FOREVER. If you have questions, just get onto their support forum or submit a ticket, and they will help you out! Hey, I will even help you out if I can.

You also get FREE updates FOREVER. When they come out with Genesis 3.0, 4.0, 5,0, or 100.0, you get to upgrade, FOR FREE.

Oh, and if you have more than one website (like I do), you can use the Genesis Framework on ALL of your sites without paying any extra!

So if you are looking for a quality theme to run your blog, I am not exaggerating when I say that the Genesis Framework is the best WordPress theme.

What I Look for in a Church

By Jeremy Myers

5 Comments

This is a guest post by Mark McIntyre. He is a follower of Jesus Christ who has grown up in the Church. He often says that he is a believer in spite of the church, not because of it. Mark is a husband, father of 3 girls, a chemical salesman, and part-time home handy man living in Bucks County, PA.

Mark blogs at Attempts at Honesty. You can also contact him on Facebook and Twitter.

If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, check out the guidelines here.

I find myself at a time in life where I am looking for a new church fellowship.

During the time when I was considering leaving my previous church, I began considering what is important in a church fellowship. It was consideration of these questions that prompted me to look for a new church.

No church does all of these perfectly. But if there is not the acknowledged desire to do them well, it is likely that the fellowship will suffer.

Here are the six questions that I will consider when I visit prospective churches:

Does the leadership and the membership demonstrate by their words and their actions that they are committed to obeying the First Great Command to love God with their entire being? It seems to me that if Jesus identified this as the first great command, it would be difficult to overstate its importance. Is this great command reinforced from the pulpit and demonstrated by the people who attend the church? Do I sense a love for God in their worship during the service and their dialog before and after the service?
Does the leadership and the membership demonstrate by their words and their actions that they are committed to obeying the Second Great Command to love their neighbors? Like the first command, it would be difficult to over emphasize the command to love our neighbors. Do I observe love for others as I watch the people in the church interact with the community and with visitors? Do I feel loved as a visitor?
Is the church committed to the command to make disciples? How are they demonstrating this commitment? Can people in the church articulate the church’s process for making disciples? Does the church have a track record for making disciples who make disciples?
Is the youth program more than an activity program? Is the youth pastor committed to making disciples of the youth? Does he have a passion for the kids or is he viewing youth ministry as a stepping stone to a senior pastor position? I want a youth pastor that loves kids enough to interact with them with honesty and integrity. I want a youth pastor that will help me shepherd my children into the arms of Christ.
Are people in the church valued for who they are? (an extension of question #2) Are their gifts nurtured and appreciated? Are people turned loose to minister as God leads them? Is there a balance between freedom and structure so that people can minister without chaos? Do people understand their value to the church? Or, is there tight control over who can and cannot lead Bible studies or prayer groups? Is God free to lead the people of the church?
Does the leadership of the church understand and nurture a proper relational hierarchy? Does the church put family above ministry? Does the church value and nurture marriages? Or, does the church emphasize ministry so that marriages and families are strained? No child should feel neglected because his parents are busy at church. No spouse should feel jealous of the church. When this hierarchy is neglected, heartache and/or scandal are likely to result.

[Read more…]

12 Reasons Why I Never Argue Scripture

By Jeremy Myers

1 Comment

This is a guest post by Sam Riviera. He spends most of his time and energy caring for others in his community so that through his life and actions they might see Jesus. In fact, have you ever wanted to dance with Jesus? Last Easter, Sam showed us how: Dancing with Jesus.

If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, check out the guidelines here.

“If you think this passage means that, you’re in real trouble, serious trouble!” a man in our Bible study group screamed at me.

Everyone present understood that he meant: I was headed for hell if I did not agree with his interpretation of the passage.

“I have read about the passage we’ll be studying in several commentaries, and some of them see this as I do,” I replied.

“Well then, you’re all in trouble!” he yelled.

The man in question was an executive at a major company. Hundreds of people reported to him. He expected his employees to do what he told them. Most of all, he expected them to agree with everything he said.

He seemed to carry this attitude over into our Bible study. His almost weekly outbursts in our Bible study group appeared to be designed to make everyone afraid to disagree with him.

Does Arguing Scripture Convince Anyone?

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Preaching the Gospel in the Power of Signs and Wonders

By Jeremy Myers

8 Comments

This is a guest post by Micael Grenholm. He is a Charismatic activist who lives in Uppsala, Sweden. He studies development studies and belongs to an organic church plant called Mosaik. He blogs at Holy Spirit Activism about combining signs and wonders with peace and justice, and he is also a contributing author at Grace Ground.

If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, check out the guidelines here.

Editor’s Note: As with all of the Guest Posts written on this blog, the view expressed below on signs and wonders is not the view of the blog owner, but is published here to encourage dialogue and discussion on this topic. So leave a comment below!

We are to preach the Gospel not just with words, but also with power. Paul wrote: “Our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction” (1 Thess 1:5). God’s message is not dependent on the rhetoric skills of men, He empowers it with His Spirit.

And what does that power mean? It means signs and wonders:

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So fromJerusalemall the way around toIllyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ (Rom 15:18-19).

The evangelistic strategy of Paul thus is to lead people to Christ through 1) What he says; 2) What he does; 3) The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.

All three aspects of evangelism are needed. We need to preach the Gospel clearly with our tongues, we need to express the love of God in good deeds, and we need to let God confirm His Word through signs and wonders.

[Read more…]

Developing Effective Parenting Skills

By Jeremy Myers

Questionable Parenting Skills

When my husband and I first discovered we were expectant parents, common sense told me that if I followed good parenting skills our children would turn out useful, happy, and healthy. The problem was that information on good parenting skills was hard to obtain, and what did exist seemed contradictory. One family expert counselled one thing while a child psychologist said the exact opposite.

[Read more…]

14 Reasons Why I Never Returned to the Institutional Church

Loving and Denying Yourself

Free Copies of Unforgivable Sin

13 Reasons Why I Left the Institutional Church

Which Gospel?

Where Is Jesus?

Satan’s Greatest Lie

No Promise of Tomorrow

The Best WordPress Theme for Your Blog

7 Features which make Genesis the BEST WordPress Theme

1. Mobile Responsive

2. Numerous High Quality Themes to Choose From

3. FAST Loading Times

4. HTML5 Ready

5. Microdata markup

6. Great Affiliate Program

7. FREE Support and FREE Updates FOR LIFE

What I Look for in a Church

12 Reasons Why I Never Argue Scripture

Does Arguing Scripture Convince Anyone?

Preaching the Gospel in the Power of Signs and Wonders

Developing Effective Parenting Skills

Questionable Parenting Skills

Theological Study Archives

Bible Study Archives

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