Israel Houghton and New Breed are back with their first live recording in five years. The 20-track double CD includes an eclectic group of guest artists such as Aaron W. Lindsey, Michael Gungor and T-Bone.
It is mine to avenge; I will repay. —Deuteronomy 32:35
Judging people is elbowing in on God’s exclusive territory. This verse is quoted twice in the New Testament—in Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30. That means that it is not your job! “That’s my privilege,” says God. Judging is God’s prerogative, nobody else’s. If we move in on His territory, God looks at us and says, “Really? You’ve got to be kidding.” To move in on the territory of the eternal Judge will get His attention—but not the kind of attention we want!
The word godliness means “being like God,” and there are certain aspects of God’s character that He commands us to imitate. God wants us to walk in integrity. He wants us to walk in truth and sincerity. But there is an aspect of the character of God where there is no trespassing allowed, and the moment we begin to point our fingers at other people, we are on it—we are sinning. That aspect is being a judge.
If you and I are foolish enough to administer uncalled-for criticism, we should remember three things:
1. God is listening.
2. He knows the truth about us.
3. He is ruthlessly fair.
God has a way of exposing us just when we begin to think, There is no way that could happen to me. The Lord promises that equitable judgment will be administered. The word equitable means “fair” or “just.” All of God’s judgments are ruthlessly fair. At the judgment seat of Christ, before which we will all stand one day, for once in human history judgment will be fair.
Nearly every day we hear of the courts letting someone off, and we say to ourselves, “Where is the justice?” But God’s justice is always fair. The question is, will it occur here in this present life or in the life to come?
Excerpted from Total Forgiveness (Charisma House, 2002).
“Charisma continues to be a relevant, crucial tool for the Christian community.”
Compelling From the Start
What a great publication! I walked into my office, and the May 2012 issue grabbed my attention before I could walk around my desk; I had to know what Reinhard Bonnke said about the anointing. I have a daughter myself, so the article “How to Raise a Superstar” (by Kate Battistelli) was intriguing. Charisma continues to be a relevant, crucial tool for the Christian community in the United States.
Christ-Like Compassion
Thanks to J. Lee Grady for having the courage to speak out with the article “Mi Casa Es Tu Casa” (May). When I think of the words in Matthew 25:35, “I was a stranger and you took me in,” Jesus gives a compelling message on how we treat the foreigner and alien. Thanks, Brother Grady, for stating it so well.
Parenting Pressure
Regarding the article “How to Raise a Superstar,” I was shocked at the brazenness of the title and had to ask the question: “Has Charisma given it this title to purposely pull in more people to buy the magazine?” We live in an age where the peer pressure is immense on children to become mini-adults before their time. What happened to children being allowed to be children and enjoy their early years without the pressure of having to perform and live up to an agenda that is set for them? I think Charisma has piled further pressure on already exhausted parents.
How Would Paul Vote?
In “How to Restore America” (May), James Robison and Jay W. Richards write, “We need to follow the example of the apostle Paul.” Yes, Paul preached the gospel. But he did not get involved in politics, despite there being the most corrupt government imaginable in his time. He didn’t call for boycotts, rallies, “days of prayer” or anything else; he simply preached and lived the gospel. The constant letter-writing campaigns, boycotts, “repentance” rallies, etc., that Christians are encouraged to support are such a distraction and Paul would be dismayed.
The Power of a Servant’s Heart
Watch Dino Rizzo teach on how to become a more Christlike servant at .
This Laugh’s on Us
Check out a short parody about how Christians can be obsessed with labeling one another by going to . Come on, it’s OK to laugh a little.
3-Minute Evangelism Training
Watch Rice Broocks’ 3-minute training on sharing the gospel by visiting .
Christian Olympic Athletes in action
Christian athletes are not only representing their home countries at this year’s London Olympics, they’re proudly proclaiming their faith. Watch interviews and other video footage from some of these talented competitors at .
R.T. Kendall
(Charisma House)
R.T. Kendall, who spent 25 years as pastor of London’s famous Westminster Chapel, completes his trilogy on forgiveness with his most recent offering, Totally Forgiving God: When It Seems He Has Betrayed You.
As Christians journey through life, they must learn how to forgive others, themselves—and even God.
His book concludes that the problem and inevitability of evil and suffering—coupled with God’s seeming hiddenness or absence—is a truly vexing phenomenon for the believer. Yet Kendall explains that we can arrive at one of two choices: 1) to conclude that God is nonexistent or 2) to ask God why He allows suffering.
No amount of academic theology can bring comfort to the hurting. Given this, Kendall takes a different route, sensitively drawing upon his own personal losses and using examples of life’s enigmas as well as biblical illustrations, which include the sufferings of Jesus and Paul.
What’s more, Kendall draws deep from Job’s and Habakkuk’s experiences of pain, doubt, questioning and faith. He explains that unforgiveness leads to a host of physical and spiritual maladies, and notes that we must forgive God for the sake of our own character development.
Written with refreshing honesty, Totally Forgiving God will truly comfort those who feel as if the ways of God don’t make sense.
Mike Nappa and Jill Wuellner
(Baker Books)
Take the guesswork out of your family devotional time. With this practical devotional, parents and children can grow closer to Christ and each other.
With more than 1 million records sold, pastor Clint Brown returned this summer with another eclectic studio album, Release. The praise and worship leader collaborates with gospel greats such as Marvin Winans, Fred Hammond and Nicole Binon.
Mary K. Baxter
(Whitaker House)
Learn key principles of spiritual warfare and find out how to effectively fight in the spirit with Mary K. Baxter’s newest release, Spiritual Ware Self-Study Bible Course.
Kevin Dedmon, a Bethel Church leader, equips readers on how to integrate supernatural evangelism into everyday life with his new book .: Treasure-Hunters ‘n Training.
Max Lucado
(Thomas Nelson)
Designed for intimate Bible study, the Fearless DVD series draws from Jesus’ encounters with people who were frightened by their situations, proving that we can trust God through the most uncertain times.