For more info, please visit http://www.kohath.org
Hey, folks!
I'm "Connie" Cohen, father of Jack and Jill, and a retired pastor. I've been invited to contribute to the Blog effort of Kohath Ministries and am pleased to do so. I hope you will enjoy my ramblings, and from time-to-time let me know your response.
Have you noticed how many people have TATTOOS? It seems they're everywhere! Where it used to be the sign of some one's background (for example, military service), now tattoos are seen on all kinds of people--young and old, black and white, male and female. A recent Harris poll shows that about 16% of all Americans have tattoos. The percentage, as you might guess, is higher--36%--among those 25 to 29 years of age.
While the poll didn't break down attitudes by age, it did record some remarkable perceptions about people with tattoos. It seems that persons who don't have tattoos think persons who do are "less attractive" (42%), "less sexy" (36%), "less intelligent" (31%) and "more rebellious" (57%)! The same poll discovered that there is, apparently, no political side to having a tattoo. About 14% of those with tattoos are Republicans, while 18% are Democrats.
The poll indicates that most folks who have tattoos do not regret getting them. (The #1 reason for regretting a tattoo? You can guess it! It's having some one's name in your tattoo!) While not regretting a tattoo, some people discover that their tattoos are an embarrassment either in the work place or when they "go out on the town." So, learning to cover up one's tattoos has become an art in itself. Still others are learning that you can have a tattoo removed. In recent years, the procedure has become easier, although it is still painful and expensive.
Did you know that our GOD has tattoos? Well, He does! He says so Himself in Isaiah 49:16. God says to His people: "See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands." Some think that this only refers to the Jews--God's Chosen People. But I remain convinced that God has engraved on His hands the names of all His children! I hope you remember that the Apostle John records for us in Chapter 1, verse 12 of his Gospel that "to all who received Him (that is JESUS--God's Son), to all who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
Friend, if YOU have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and as the Lord of your life, YOUR NAME is tattooed on the very palms of God's hands! In other words, you are precious and important to Him, and He can never forget you!
Read more!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The "Heart" of the Matter
For more information, please visit http://www.kohath.org.
Over the last few weeks, God has really been challenging me about what I will call "matters of the heart". When I say, "challenging me", I mean that every day I'm being faced with situations that are forcing me to evaluate where my heart is as well as to test where the hearts of others are. As I've been doing so, I've become keenly aware of how fragile, how easily influenced and how naive the heart is. In fact, the Bible is full of warnings to us on how to handle and control our hearts and prevent them from going astray.
In "The Love Dare", the companion book to the Christian movie "Fireproof", the authors, Stephen & Alex Kendrick, spend a whole appendix explaining why. Essentially their bottom line is this: Our hearts are "so subject to change and so utterly untrustworthy" that instead of "following our heart" as the world would advice us, the Bible tells us we must "lead our heart". In fact, they go as far as saying, "...the only time you can feel good about following your heart is when you know your heart is intent on serving and pleasing God." Wow! How's that for a real test? I mean, think about how often we're led off-track by our heart or impacted by the heart of another.
Of course, when thinking about "the heart" everyone immediately thinks of marriage and traditional love relationships, but the heart I want to discuss -- and frankly, the one the Bible passages are targeted at -- is our heart for serving God. It seems today like this dimension of the heart is often the last we talk about, but frankly, there is nothing more important. The truth is, our churches, homes and communities are filled with professing Christians, Lay Leaders and even Pastors who are doing "the work of the Lord", but whose hearts are everywhere but God-focused. Although we may feel like we're getting "A's" for effort, and praise from others, the end result is a poor reflection of the heart of God.
I think it's high time that the body of Christ start making "the heart" a priority, and being accountable to each other in the process of serving God. We need to work together to strengthen our hearts for service and guard against temptations that could lead us wrong directions. We need to make "heart" a key criteria for selecting ministry leaders ahead of technical capabilities or willingness to serve. We need to be willing to challenge people and situations and programs that don't demonstrate the heart of God in their service. We need to be willing to share our own heart struggles with each other and step out of the way if our hearts are not in the right place.
But how can we make sure our hearts are aligned with God's will? Colossians 3:1 states it clearly "...set your hearts on the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God". To "set your heart" means to CHOOSE. Right here and now. Choose how you will serve God. With your heart focused on Him, there can be only one outcome -- a servant of God who:
1. Seeks nothing for yourself, but everything for God
2. Avoids emotions that tempt your heart in other directions
3. Focuses and dedicates your time in the areas that God directs first
4. Shares your heart with other Christians honestly and openly
So, when you think about it... where are you today in your service to God? Knowing the answer to that question is truly the "HEART" of the matter.
God Bless,
Jill Cohen
Vice President, Kohath Ministries, Inc.
Read more!
Over the last few weeks, God has really been challenging me about what I will call "matters of the heart". When I say, "challenging me", I mean that every day I'm being faced with situations that are forcing me to evaluate where my heart is as well as to test where the hearts of others are. As I've been doing so, I've become keenly aware of how fragile, how easily influenced and how naive the heart is. In fact, the Bible is full of warnings to us on how to handle and control our hearts and prevent them from going astray.
- Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life"
- Proverbs 23:19 - "Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path"
- Proverbs 28:26 - "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered"
- John 14:27 - "Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid."
- James 4:8 - "Purify your hearts..."
In "The Love Dare", the companion book to the Christian movie "Fireproof", the authors, Stephen & Alex Kendrick, spend a whole appendix explaining why. Essentially their bottom line is this: Our hearts are "so subject to change and so utterly untrustworthy" that instead of "following our heart" as the world would advice us, the Bible tells us we must "lead our heart". In fact, they go as far as saying, "...the only time you can feel good about following your heart is when you know your heart is intent on serving and pleasing God." Wow! How's that for a real test? I mean, think about how often we're led off-track by our heart or impacted by the heart of another.
Of course, when thinking about "the heart" everyone immediately thinks of marriage and traditional love relationships, but the heart I want to discuss -- and frankly, the one the Bible passages are targeted at -- is our heart for serving God. It seems today like this dimension of the heart is often the last we talk about, but frankly, there is nothing more important. The truth is, our churches, homes and communities are filled with professing Christians, Lay Leaders and even Pastors who are doing "the work of the Lord", but whose hearts are everywhere but God-focused. Although we may feel like we're getting "A's" for effort, and praise from others, the end result is a poor reflection of the heart of God.
I think it's high time that the body of Christ start making "the heart" a priority, and being accountable to each other in the process of serving God. We need to work together to strengthen our hearts for service and guard against temptations that could lead us wrong directions. We need to make "heart" a key criteria for selecting ministry leaders ahead of technical capabilities or willingness to serve. We need to be willing to challenge people and situations and programs that don't demonstrate the heart of God in their service. We need to be willing to share our own heart struggles with each other and step out of the way if our hearts are not in the right place.
But how can we make sure our hearts are aligned with God's will? Colossians 3:1 states it clearly "...set your hearts on the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God". To "set your heart" means to CHOOSE. Right here and now. Choose how you will serve God. With your heart focused on Him, there can be only one outcome -- a servant of God who:
1. Seeks nothing for yourself, but everything for God
2. Avoids emotions that tempt your heart in other directions
3. Focuses and dedicates your time in the areas that God directs first
4. Shares your heart with other Christians honestly and openly
So, when you think about it... where are you today in your service to God? Knowing the answer to that question is truly the "HEART" of the matter.
God Bless,
Jill Cohen
Vice President, Kohath Ministries, Inc.
Read more!
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