G-ASHelen Orientations

Sometimes ago, on one of my evangelical outings, a friend and I came across a group of young handsome looking guys in their workshop. From their looks one could tell that they didn't want us around, but one who seemed to be the owner of the workshop welcomed us as most people often welcome street evangelists. He made us feel comfortable within the little space of the shop. Being allowed by the head, some of the other guys stayed, while the rest just found a way to excuse themselves. We prayed together without any of the guys closed their eyes and their boss busy pressing the cell phone in his hand. After the prayer, my partner started preaching about the sin of humanity and the love of God through Jesus Christ. None of them really shown a sense of interest and their boss was just busy pressing his phone without lifting his head. Awhile later, my partner stopped and I asked me if I had something to say to which I answered yes. I opened my Bible and about to talk, when the bo...

"And the Lord God said, " The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil..." Gen. 3:22 Dictionary definitions of temperament are: “a person’s nature with regard to the effect it has on their behavior,” “a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character.” Let me say temperament is a person’s nature of doing things. Nature is defined as “an inborn or hereditary characteristics as an influence on or determination of personality.” One great mistake people often make in regard to temperament is to consider it as an attitude when both are distinctly different. While attitude deals with HOW WE THINK, temperament deals with THE DEGREE OF OUR THINKING or THE EXTENT OF OUR ACTIONS. Temperament is an influencer of attitude. It is like a wave that directs the torrent of a river. Temperament is the total wiring of your inner world that keeps feeding your feelings. Tim Lahaye, the expert on temperament, explained, “The most profound human influence on yo...

By David Mathis, Executive Editor in desiringGod.org The Christian gospel has a way of making us all writers in some way, shape, or form. From text messages, emails, and written notes, to church newsletters, missionary support letters, blogs, articles, and even books, everyday Christians do a lot of writing — and chances are you do too. Christianity is a word-centered faith. Our God created the world through words (Hebrews 11:3; ten times Genesis 1 tell us “God said”), and just as he said, “Let there be light,” so he speaks our faith into existence (2 Corinthians 4:6). God’s own Son is called his Word (John 1:1). And our very faith is sustained by “the word of Christ,” the message of the gospel (Romans 10:13) and ongoing word-ministry in the life of the church. Christianity is not a quiet faith, but a loud one, full of words. Write and Wrong Writing, then, however formal or informal, is not the privilege of a few gifted Christian dignitaries, but an invitation to every belie...

By Charlene Nelson on desiringGod.com Suffering has shown me that my strength is not in me. The raging seas have made me cling to the rock of my salvation. I can say in full conviction, “If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought ‘My foot slips’ your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up (Psalm 94:17–18).” God has shown me my own weakness through debilitating pain — fibromyalgia and severe pelvic separation during two pregnancies, as well as years of anemia causing brutal fatigue. I now not only know my weakness, but I feel it acutely. In the past year, though I had earnestly believed it was time for some relief, God brought me even lower when I was diagnosed with a stomach tumor, waded through follow up tests, and underwent surgery. The Secret to Suffering As a mom of two children under school age, walking through these trials has been unspeakably difficult. But during this recent cancer scare it was, perhaps, the f...

By John Piper of Desiring God This is such a good question. I wish every high school graduate who’s heading off to college or university would be thinking this way and asking this question. Let me say a word to Sharon and to all of them in the hope of being of some service to this generation of younger Christians who are heading off to school. I’ll limit myself to five words of counsel which, of course, will leave many specifics unanswered. I think these five have the effect of enabling students, if they accept them, to answer the other specifics as they arise. Prepare for War First, students, recognize that maintaining a Christian faith is war. First Timothy 6:12 reads, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life” Ephesians 6:11 reminds us, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” First Peter 5:8 declares, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, s...