Throughout the summer months, families are preoccupied with various activities that are often unique to this season of the year. Family vacations, church camp, and other activities provide materials from which family and personal memories are made. For those of us who are privileged to regularly share in a good, summer family church camp, meeting with the Lord and cherished friends for a few days of spiritual retreat is eagerly anticipated. Lamentably, too many times the ministry of the local church slows during the summer because the church deliberately plans not to minister. If the people of God are willing to invest the effort, every season of the year may be filled with significance, providing succeeding generations with the memories of Christ-centered and Spirit-filled Christian living.Christian Living in JulyTable of ContentsOriginally, the fifth month of the Roman calendar was known as Quintilus. Following the assassination of Julius Caesar, it was changed to July in honor of the fallen Roman statesman. In the Julian and Gregorian Calendars, July is the seventh month of the year and one of the seven months with 31 days. Since it is the second month of summer in the Northern hemisphere it is, on average, the warmest month of the year. However, in the Southern hemisphere, it is the second month of winter and, consequently is the coldest month of the year. Christian Living in JulyThe birthstone of July is the ruby which symbolizes contentment, and the birth flowers of the month are White Water Lily and Larkspur.In addition to the highlights of this month that are discussed below, additional subjects of interest regarding our Christian heritage are presented online, where they are arranged according to dates of occurrence—with particular attention being given to the influence Christianity has exercised upon the origin of America. The online calendar where these articles are arranged is under continual development with new articles appearing as they become available. By clicking the message box below, readers will navigate to the present month under consideration. Observance: Determined by the family and/or churchThe most important institution in any society is the family. Real love in the family begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Children most generally replicate the examples they observed in their parents when they become adults and have families of their own, and one of the most important decisions parents may make is to establish patterns in family life of both work and leisure. In all situations of life, children need to observe positive examples of how to respond appropriately to life's demands, and observing their parents at both work and play helps establish a positive view of the world in the minds of children and youth. Family vacation, and at least one evening a week set aside for family leisure, is important to obtaining a well-balanced and holistic understanding of Christian living.Family Night may also be an experience many churches need to encourage within the family. Often small churches do not have sufficient volunteers to staff vibrant children and youth programs, and frequently, children and youth Sunday school teachers also act as coordinators of social events for these age groups in the absence of church staff. Smaller churches will soon see the value of combining all age groups and pooling resources across the spectrum of church life into a single, once-a-month family night. This combined effort reduces the number of volunteers necessary to produce quality experiences for all age groups.In contemporary America, family life is frequently fragmented. Children often are tossed to one parent or the other knowing little stability in relationships and generally left with few positive role models. Family Night provides adults in the local church with the opportunity to reach out to the children and youth within the church, as well as the community, in order to make a difference in their lives. But children and youth are not the only ones who need this type of interaction. Too often churches focus only on the younger generation and fail to provide holistic interest in every generation. Adults also must continue to grow in their walk with the Lord and fellowship with other believers. With regard to the efforts with younger generations, Christian adults should be deliberate to reach out and touch younger lives—even though numerous situations may be new and therefore make them uncomfortable. Over an extended period of time, adults may have a significant impact upon the lives of youth. If America is to be saved from social decay, Christian adults must take an active role in the lives of the children and youth, first in their own families, then in their churches and communities.Observance: July 3He is often referred to as "Doubting Thomas," but Church history suggests that the Apostle Thomas was responsible for taking the gospel to some of the darkest spiritual corners of the world. Persia and India are believed to be the places Thomas ministered most extensively. In India, he is believed to have built a church with his own hands.Church history suggests that Thomas was attacked by his assassins, shot with arrows, stoned, and left to die. Following the attack, a pagan priest is thought to have run a spear through him. The apostolic symbol of Thomas combines a square (symbolizing the fact he was a builder) and a spear, reminding the Church of his martyrdom.In the ninth century, the Roman Church assigned the feast of Saint Thomas to December 21, though early Church leader, Jerome, assigned the day of his martyrdom to July 3. In 1969, the Roman observance of the life and ministry of Thomas was transferred—to follow Jerome's dating—to July 3 so that it would no longer interfere with the days of Advent. Following the 1662 edition of the Book of Common Prayer, some Anglicans and members of the Episcopal Church continue to remember the Apostle Thomas' ministry on December 21.Observance: July 4In September 1774, the first Congress of the American colonies was convened to address the refusal of King George III and the British Parliament to grant to the American colonists their rights as British citizens. At this Congress, and the one that followed, no talk of separation from Britain was entertained. The question was one of how to secure the rights that were theirs under English law.A Second Continental Congress assembled in May 1775. This Congress made provision for a temporary general government, an army, and appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief of the army. Still, they did not seek separation from England, but only to secure their rights as British citizens. With rising tensions, King George sent German mercenary troops to the colonies to silence the voices of dissent.In June of 1776, at another Congress of the colonies, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia offered a resolution that all allegiance of the colonies to British government be terminated. The proposition was entertained by the Congress, and a committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston was established. The draft of the Declaration of Independence was composed by Jefferson and after a few verbal alterations by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, was submitted to Congress on the twenty-eighth day of June. On July first Congress took up the draft and after several amendments were made, nine colonies voted for independence. Maryland and Pennsylvania refused to accept the draft, but after conventions of the people were called, majorities were received in favor of the Declaration and the thirteen colonies were declared free and independent of the government of Britain. On July 4 only the president of the Congress, John Hancock, signed the Declaration of Independence; and with his name and the name of the secretary of Congress, Charles Thomson, the Declaration was initially sent forth to the world. Nearly one month later on August 2, it was signed by the remaining fifty-six signers, with the exception of one representative. The final signer was Matthew Thornton who took his seat in the Congress in November and asked for the privilege of signing it.Special attention should be given to the influence of Christians upon the rise of America as an independent nation. It is not possible to fully develop this influence in the space allotted for this article. However, it may briefly be mentioned that the president of the Congress, John Hancock, was the grandson and son of Christian ministers. All except two or three of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were part of Christian churches. Perhaps the following quotations will demonstrate the Christian influence behind the American Revolution.Benjamin Franklin: History will also afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion ... and the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient and modern.
Throughout the summer months, families are preoccupied with various activities that are often unique to this season of the year. Family vacations, church camp, and other activities provide materials f
Dr. Stephen Flick | June 28, 2024 | Christian Calendar (Holidays)
Each month offers new and exciting opportunity for Christians to celebrate their faith. If observed without regard to the rest of the year, any given month--by itself--may appear stark and lean. But, within the context of the Christian life, each month enjoys greater vividness and importance. If one piece of a stained glass window is missing, the design or story of the window appears incomplete. The months of the year should help to compose a beautiful mosaic of Christian life.Christian Living in JuneMany of the events of June are already known, while other dates of significance are less known. Almost forgotten in the life of American Christianity is the camp meeting, yet this institution has tremendously influenced the life of America. Once again, Christian education must be carefully considered and observed in June. Flag Day, Father's Day, and other significant events and memorials make the month of June a month of opportunity for the Christian community.Christian Living in JuneTable of ContentsIn Julian and Gregorian calendars, June is the sixth month of the year. The summer solstice begins in June in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the most daylight hours. In the Southern Hemisphere, June begins the winter solstice with the shortest daylight hours of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, June is the seasonal equivalent to December of the Southern Hemisphere and is the beginning of the traditional astronomical summer of June 21.In his poem concerning the Roman calendar, the Roman poet, Ovid, suggested multiple explanations for the etymology of June. Among the suggested origins of the term is that it was derived from the Roman goddess Juno, wife of the supreme deity Jupiter and goddess of marriage. Ovid further suggests May received its name from the Latin term maiores, meaning "elders," and June from the term iuvenes, or "young people," but given the fact that the other months of the Roman calendar are named after pagan gods and goddesses, it is unlikely that this latter suggestion is valid.
Each month offers new and exciting opportunity for Christians to celebrate their faith. If observed without regard to the rest of the year, any given month--by itself--may appear stark and lean. But,
Dr. Stephen Flick | May 27, 2024 | Christian Living Articles
May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. May is named after the Greek goddess Maia, whom the Romans called Bona Dea, goddess of fertility—something quite common within paganism.Christian Living in May The month of May in many ways stands as the gateway to the summer. In early America and in the best and brightest periods of the history of Christianity, believers have been proactive in integrating their faith into every-day practices, and the month of May offers Christians the opportunity to integrate their faith into private and public observances. Patriotic spirituality should be reflected throughout the month as patriots observe National Day of Prayer, honor the role of motherhood and womanhood via Mother’s Day, celebrate the spiritual and intellectual ministry of the Sunday school and other academic concerns, and remember other ecclesiastical, national, and seasonal events that compose the fabric of this important month.Christian Living in May Table of Contents How May Received Its NameMay is the fifth month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. In the Northern Hemisphere, May is a month of spring, and in the Southern Hemisphere, May is numbered among the months of autumn where it is equivalent to the month of November in the Northern Hemisphere. In the United States, the end of May (Memorial Day) marks the unofficial beginning of summer.May received its name from the Greek goddess Maia. In the Roman Empire, Maia's equivalent was Bona Dea, the goddess of fertility whose pagan festival was held on May 1. Given the fact that the other months of the year are named after pagan gods and goddesses, it is unlikely that the Roman poet Ovid is incorrect when he suggests that May received its name from the Latin term maiores, meaning "elders," and June from the term iuvenes, or "young people".
May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. May is named a
Dr. Stephen Flick | April 27, 2024 | Christian Calendar (Holidays)
The single most important event in early Christianity was the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Long before the Church celebrated the birth of Jesus in the Christmas season, Christians celebrated the resurrection of Christ from the grave. In contemporary Christianity and secular society, Christmas now receives more interest than Easter, but early believers understood that the Church was established upon the suffering and resurrection of Christ. It was the resurrection of Christ that convinced the remaining Disciples of the truthfulness of what Jesus has preached. So convinced were they that Jesus was the true Messiah that they were willing to lay down their lives, confident that they too would enjoy resurrection power as a result of a vital relationship with the Savior of the world.Christian Living in AprilAt this season of the year, the contemporary church should be deliberate in its desire to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The ideas suggested below are provided for the sake of edifying local churches during what has historically been the most celebrated annual season. Though church leaders are not encouraged to employ all of the suggestions, a judicious leader will select that which is most appropriate for the local body of believers. It is with this hope and desire the following is offered for consideration.Christian Living in AprilArticle ContentsIn the Northern Hemisphere, April is associated with spring. However, in the Southern Hemisphere, April is equivalent to October in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa.April receives it name from the Roman Latin name Aprilis and is believed to be derived from a verb meaning, "to open," which likely is descriptive of budding and flowering of flowers and trees. Roman months being named in honor of pagan divinities, April was sacred to the Roman goddess Venus, likely derived from the Greek goddess Aphrodite (Aphros). In the earliest Roman calendar, April was the second month of the calendar year which provided for 29 days in the month. Under Julius Caesar, the Roman calendar was reformed, April was given 30 days, and the present order of months in the West established.The birthstone of April is diamond, and the birth flowers are common daisy (Bellis perennis) or the sweet pea.In addition to the highlights of this month that are discussed below, additional subjects of interest regarding our Christian heritage are presented online, where they are arranged according to dates of occurrence—with particular attention being given to the influence Christianity has exercised upon the origin of America. The online calendar where these articles are arranged is under continual development with new articles appearing as they become available. By clicking the message box below, readers will navigate to the present month under consideration. Observance: Late March to first part of AprilHoly Week in the Christian faith begins on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. In most non-liturgical or low churches, the various days of Jesus’ last week are not observed, with exception, perhaps, to the observance of Thursday and Friday of this week. In liturgical churches or high churches, the various days of this week are remembered in more distinct ways. In a world that increasingly seeks to conceal Christian symbols and observances, Christians should seek to celebrate the events of the Christian life as publicly as possible without violating the principles of the faith to do so.Observance: Holy WeekTwo special services are offered for use during Holy Week–Service of the Cross and Tenebrae: A Service of Darkness. Though it is unlikely that both services would be used in any single year, they are presented below for the consideration of pastors and their congregations.The Service of the Cross may become a powerful Maundy Thursday or Good Friday tradition within your church. As members of the congregation enter the place of worship, they are given a worship folder with a square nail tethered to a piece of paper. The plan of salvation is artfully related through a series of reading. Then, worshippers are instructed to write on the paper any sin or sorrow which should be given to the Lord, and at the appointed time in the service, they are invited to drive their nails in a place of their choosing on the cross placed at the front of the sanctuary. This simple act is intended to express contrition and repentance for sin and a confidence that the cross of Christ was sufficient to bear the sins and sorrows of the entire world. The impression of hammers striking the nails is a very sobering one. Served with the elements of the Lord's Supper, this service will live long in the hearts of worshippers. The service, including communion, is about an hour in length.Observance: Holy WeekIn far too many churches, the frenetic personal schedules of many believers does not make allowance for participation in meaningful and symbolic dramatic presentations. This fact often robs the individual and congregation of some of the most important moments in personal and collective worship. One of the ways to reverse this trend and achieve a balance between personal schedules and meaningful drama in the church is through scripted dramatic presentations, and the Easter season provides opportunity that is seldom equaled and never excelled in the Church year.A Tenebrae Service is an attempt to dramatize the closing days of Christ's ministry on earth leading up to and including the events of Good Friday. This service begins in light, commemorating the significant events of Christ's movement toward the cross, and culminates in darkness expressive of the extinguishing of the physical life of the Messiah of the world, Jesus Christ. Few experiences bring the audience to the awareness of the spiritual realities of the Easter season.Remembrance: Sinking of the Titanic—April 14-15, 1912Robert Bateman is reported to have been the most widely known individual on the maiden voyage of the ill-fated RMS Titanic. He had distinguished himself as a minister of the Gospel and his interest in the wellbeing of the communities in which he served that so highly commended him to his fellow passengers. Though residing in Jacksonville, Florida at the time of Titanic’s fateful collision in the North Atlantic, Rev. Bateman left behind him a trail of influence for the sake of the Gospel in both the British Isles and America—among which was the People’s Tabernacle in Knoxville, Tennessee.Bateman was concerned not only for the spiritual wellbeing of individuals but was also deeply interested in their physical needs as well. Ameliorating the effects of the sex-trafficking of his day, he ministered extensively to the ladies of the street in Jacksonville and demonstrated a social conscience for other communities where he served.Hours before the accident, he led fellow passengers in a Sunday evening service and closed with his favorite hymn, Nearer My God to Thee. Upon the collision of the Titanic, he escorted his sister-in-law with whom he was traveling to a lifeboat and remained on deck to minister to many others, who like him, would soon be swept into eternity. Among his final acts was his request to the orchestra of the Titanic to play Nearer My God to Thee—an effort that pointed the minds and hearts of the victims toward the realities of eternity.Rev. Bateman was among a cluster of evangelical ministers in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries that greatly affected America and the British Isles for good. This thumbnail sketch of a great Christian statesman is sure to inspire the most candid reader.Observance: April 19, 1775Jonas Clark was the pastor of the town where the first armed conflict occurred in the bid for American independence. On April 19, 1775, American blood was first shed at the town square of Lexington Green in Massachusetts. The biblical principles of freedom which he and other pastors throughout the American colonies advocated were motivating causes of liberty. For this reason, Jonas Clark may rightly be known as the pastor who fired the shot heard around the world.His wife’s cousin, John Hancock, became a frequent visitor to the home of the country parson. And, on the night of April 18, 1775, John Hancock was accompanied by the “Father of the American Revolution,” Samuel Adams. At the home of the Pastor of Christ Church in Lexington, Massachusetts, Hancock and Adams found refuge on so fateful a night.Dr. Joseph Warren sent word that evening that the British were up to mischief. Then word came that eight or nine British officers had been seen just before nightfall along the road leading to Lexington. To ensure the safety of Adams and Hancock, ten or twelve patriots took up watch over Pastor Clark’s home.Then, at two o’clock in the morning, peal after peal from the church bell called excited members of the local militia to the church green. There they found their pastor waiting for them. The roll was called, and one hundred fifty members answered.Swift horsemen were sent down the road to Boston as sentinels to detect the approach of the British. After traveling several miles along the road, the sentinels returned and reported that all was quiet. A sentry was then set at the edge of Lexington, and the men of the gathered militia were dismissed to their homes with orders to return at the beat of the drum.The question posed by Hancock and Adams to Pastor Clark was whether the local militia would stand against seasoned troops of King George. Pastor Clark assured them that they would fight, for he had trained them in scriptural principles of liberty. To read the whole story...Observance: Saturday evenings as family; each fifth-Sunday evening as churchOne of the antidotes to the decline of the church in America is the clear demonstration of the relationship that previous generations of believers have sustained to the contemporary church, and one of the best ways to do this is through a study of the songs that have inspired the life of the church for centuries. In the family, one evening a week may be selected to read accounts of the history of songs. Saturday evening—for family devotions—may serve as an appropriate time to prepare the hearts of family members for worship on the Lord's Day. In the church, perhaps dramatic presentations on fifth-Sunday evenings or other more appropriate occasions may be selected.In recent years, many church leaders have dismissed all manifestations of the Christian Church that is not of the most recent origin. Tragically, some believe songs should not be sung if they are of recent origin. Conversely, many believe that if songs have not been written in the last few years, they are archaic and have no contemporary value, but the same arguments could be used for removing grandma's and grandpa's pictures from the living room or refusing to engage in genealogical studies. It is right to expect that music from every generation, and sung by every generation, should evidence the fruit of the Spirit! If it does not evidence the best of love, the best of joy, the best of peace, it should not be sung. If it does not evidence the best of gentleness, if it does not evidence the best of self-control—not erotic lust—it should not be sung.In America, many schools have destroyed academic excellence. Many schools have dumbed down America, and for this reason, Americans and Christians are not intellectually prepared to respond to the Muslim, economic, or other local, national, or global threats. But the Church in America, particularly fluid evangelical Protestants, bear great responsibility for the dumbing down of America. Presently, Christians know less and less about their Christian heritage. Both laity and clergy have thrown out two thousand years of Christian heritage and have left the Church in America anemic, unable to declare and celebrate the glory of the American Church and the global Church—unable because it is ignorant of its glory and is determined to remain so. Laity, pastors, district superintendents, general superintendents, bishops, and every office of the Christian Church share the responsibility to reverse this trend!Creative means of relating the glory of the Gospel and the glory of the Christian Church must be sought and secured. One such attempt to tell a small part of the greatness of Christ and His Church is presented below in the songs of Christendom. It is hoped that these efforts might help to recapture Christianity’s family history!April 1, 1789: The newly convened United States House of Representatives, meeting in its first session under the Constitution, chose Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg—a Lutheran minister—as its chairman.April 12, 1861: Hostilities began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces fired upon Fort Sumter, a key fort held by Union troops in South Carolina.April 14, 1759: George Frederic Handel (23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-born British Baroque composer famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos.April 14, 1865: While watching a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theater in Washington, President Abraham Lincoln was shot and mortally wounded. He was taken to a nearby house where he died the following morning at 7:22 a.m. Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 - April 15, 1865) was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865.April 15, 1912 – Just after midnight, the luxury liner Titanic struck and iceberg in the icy waters off Newfoundland with 2,224 persons on board. By 2:27 a.m., Titanic had sunk. Over 1,500 persons drowned while 700 were rescued by the liner Carpathia which arrived about two hours after Titanic went down.April 15, 1870: Emma Hart Willard (February 23, 1787 – April 15, 1870) was an American women's rights activist who dedicated her life to education. She worked in several schools and founded the first school for women’s higher education, the Troy Female Seminary in Troy, New York. With the success of her school, Willard was able to travel across the country and abroad, to promote education for women. The Troy Female Seminary was renamed the Emma Willard School in 1895 in her honor. For more information concerning his influence upon American education, see David Barton, Four Centuries of American Education, 39-40.April 15, 1983: Cornelia "Corrie" ten Boom (Amsterdam, The Netherlands April 15, 1892 – Placentia, California, April 15, 1983) was a Dutch Christian. Along with her father and other family members, Corrie helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II and was imprisoned for it. She wrote her most famous book, The Hiding Place, about the ordeal.April 18, 1683: The exact date of the death of Roger Williams (c. 1603 – -1683) is placed by some historians on April 18, 1683. While secularists regard him as a champion of "separation of church and state," the fact of the matter is that Williams was extremely divisive.1775, April 19: War began at the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy (present-day Arlington), and Cambridge, near Boston. The battles marked the outbreak of open armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in the mainland of British North America.April 19, 1826: Reverend Samuel Andrew Peters (1735–1826) was a Connecticut Anglican clergyman and historian who is remembered for his misrepresentation of Sunday observance in Connecticut. In 1781, he published, under a pseudonym, "General History of Connecticut, from its first settlement under George Fenwick, to its latest period of amity with Great Britain prior to the Revolution; including a description of the country, and many curious and interesting anecdotes. With an appendix, pointing out the causes of the rebellion in America; together with the particular part taken by the people of Connecticut in its promotion. By a Gentleman of the Province". This work is noted for its unflattering descriptions of the colonists and for its misrepresentation of the Connecticut Blue Laws. He died in New York City in great poverty.April 20, 1777: Following the recommendation of the Continental Congress, the state of New York ratified its first Constitution on April 20, 1777.April 25, 1800: William Cowper (26 November 1731 – 25 April 1800) was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry. His religious sentiment and association with John Newton (who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace") led to much of the poetry for which he is best remembered. His poem "Light Shining out of Darkness" gave the English language the idiom "God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform."April 26, 1607: After months at sea, Captain John Smith arrived in the New World to establish the first English colony.April 30, 1789: George Washington inaugurated as first President of the United StatesThe Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States with an Appendix Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents and All the Laws of a Public Nature. Washington : Gales and Seaton, 1855.Galloway, Charles B. Christianity and the American Commonwealth: The Influence of Christianity in Making This Nation. Reprint ed. Powder Springs, Georgia: American Vision, 2005.Woodbridge, John D. More Than Conquerors: Portraits of Believers from All Walks of Life. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1992. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States with an Appendix Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents and All the Laws of a Public Nature (Washington : Gales and Seaton, 1855), 1:99-100; http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llacandfileName=001/llac001.dbandrecNum=51. See John D. Woodbridge, More Than Conquerors: Portraits of Believers from All Walks of Life (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1992), 14-21. See John Woodbridge, More Than Conquerors: Portraits of Believers from All Walks of Life. Charles B. Galloway, Christianity and the American Commonwealth: The Influence of Christianity in Making This Nation, Reprint ed. (Powder Springs, Georgia: American Vision, 2005). 2005. 93.Christian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Living in AprilChristian Heritage Fellowship FacebookChristian Heritage Fellowship FacebookChristian Heritage Fellowship FacebookInternalLinkInternalLinkInternalLinkInternalLinkInternalLinkInternalLink
The single most important event in early Christianity was the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Long before the Church celebrated the birth of Jesus in the Christmas season, Christians celebrate
Dr. Stephen Flick | March 28, 2024 | April
In contemporary America and throughout the world, orthodox or biblical Christian principles and practices are under attack. Though this struggle is not new to the life of Christianity, it is new to many Christians who may be tempted to compromise or completely capitulate in matters of Christian belief and behavior. The Bible is replete with examples of those who compromised or capitulated in this way, but Jesus Christ has warned that only "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Revelation 2:26). In an age when many professing "Christians" are compromising with a secular world, true believers remain faithful to both the principles and practices that arise out of the Word of God. "Christian Living in March" seeks to inform and inspire believers to practice their faith. Click to read the entire article…Christian Living in MarchMany of the suggestions presented in our monthly "Christian Living" articles may be used by individuals, families, or within the context of local churches. These articles are designed to inform and inspire Christians to celebrate their Christian heritage and provide means of spiritual growth. Parents and grandparents may employ some or all of these suggestions in developing a family altar and cultivating a Christian home. Local church leaders will readily recognize suggestions that may be incorporated into the life of their respective congregations.Christian Living in MarchWhat is true of gardening is also true of every level of spiritual life: "What we will not labor to cultivate will soon be taken over by weeds." It is work to maintain the family altar; it is work to have a Christian home. It is also work to cultivate a godly church, and if we are unwilling to diligently labor to maintain a godly life, family, and church, weeds will soon strangle the spiritual life of each!Article ContentsMarch is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The equivalent of March in the Southern Hemisphere is September, and in the Northern Hemisphere, March 1st is the beginning of the meteorological spring.March receives its name from ancient Rome when it was the first month of the year and was called Martius, being derived from Mars or Ares, the Greek god of war. In Mediterranean Rome, March was the first month of spring and was regarded as the logical period to begin military campaigns.The name of this month, "March," and its pagan origin should cause ardent Christians to re-examine the application of their faith to every-day life. The Greeks and Romans did not hesitate to unite their pagan faith to every aspect of life–including the months of the year. As the Greeks and Romans sought to paganize all of life, let true believers seek to Christianize all aspects of personal, ecclesiastical, and social life. Such an effort is a true civilizing influence.The birthstones of March are bloodstone and aquamarine, both of which symbolize courage. The birth flower of the month is the daffodil.In addition to the highlights of this month that are discussed below, additional subjects of interest regarding our Christian heritage are presented online, where they are arranged according to dates of occurrence. The online calendar where these articles are arranged is under continual development with new articles appearing as they become available. By clicking the message box below, readers will navigate to the present month under consideration.Observance: Late winter or early spring; FebruaryThe Lord has promised that his Word would not return unto Him void or without influence. Though Scripture memorization should be a regular part of personal and family spiritual life, the local church should regularly encourage this effort. Families should be encouraged to continue the practice of biblical memorization in their devotional exercises. However, denominational and local churches should systematically identify times when the special emphasis is placed upon biblical memorization. Though children are frequently the objects of such efforts, adults should not be left out of the effort to make this a regular discipline. Too frequently adults fail to commit the Word of God to memory and are ill-equipped to address moral, spiritual, political, and other issues as they arise in day-to-day life.Resource for children and adult memorization: Scripture Memory FellowshipObservance: Begins first Sunday in SeptemberRobert Raikes is often credited with having started the Sunday School movement, but it was British Methodist Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England, who was the first to initiate a Sunday school in 1769.Christian homes are provided with an example of the necessity of Christian education in the institution of the Sunday school in local churches. Most churches begin a new Sunday School year on the first Sunday in September which continues throughout the year on a quarterly basis (September, December, March, and June). Christian homes should recognize the need to establish the discipline of Christian education, allowing the Sunday school in the local church to remind Christian homes of this important discipline. Allow the beginning of September to remind you of the need to develop Christian education in your heart and home throughout the year, and develop a plan for Christian education for your home!Remembrance: Congressional Spiritual Proclamations in MarchAmong the thousands of documents and events that demonstrate America's Christian origin are the sixteen spiritual proclamations issues by Congress during the American Revolution. Following the pattern of fasting, praying, and offering of thanksgiving to God that was use in the New England Colonies, Congress asked the American states to fast and pray in the spring and offer prayer and thanksgiving in the fall of the year. States were asked to invite their citizens to cease their labors and observe the day as proscribed by Congress.The first of the sixteen spiritual proclamations was issued in late spring on June 7, 1775 and was a fasting and prayer proclamation. The sixteenth and last spiritual proclamation to be issued by Congress on August 3, 1784 was a thanksgiving proclamation.By far, the most spiritual proclamations to be issued by Congress in any single month was March. In all, six were issued by Congress in the month of March from 1776 to 1782 and are listed below:Proclamation #2 – March 16, 1776: Prayer and FastingProclamation #5 – March 7, 1778: Prayer and FastingProclamation #7 – March 20, 1779: Prayer and FastingProclamation #9 – March 11, 1780: Prayer and FastingProclamation #11 – March 20, 1781: Prayer and FastingProclamation #13 – March 19, 1782: Prayer and FastingObservance: On or before March 17St. Patrick was one of the greatest missionaries of the Christian Church. Captured as a young man, Patrick was taken to Ireland where he served his master by tending his swine. After several years, Patrick escaped his bonds of slavery and managed to find his way back home, which is present-day England. Before long, Patrick received a call to return to the land of his captors as a missionary of Christ. Obedient to the leading of God's Spirit, he returned to Ireland to conduct an exemplary ministry. As a result, the British Isles and mainland Europe were greatly influenced by the spiritual descendants of Patrick.As is true for many of the Apostles, Church history has failed to provide extensive details about many of the early Church's greatest heroes. St. Patrick is among those we wish we were provided with more details concerning his life and ministry, but what is known concerning him evokes deep admiration and respect. Because of the inclination in the human heart to make idols out of individuals and objects, there can be little doubt that God intentionally removed unnecessary obstacles to right worship, and, therefore, obscured detailed information concerning the Churches earliest and most notable leaders. What remains concerning Patrick, however, is sufficient to elicit admiration and encouragement for the contemporary believer.Observance: Bishop Thomas Ken passed away on March 19, 1711Though most Christians may not immediately recognize the name Thomas Ken, his Doxology is widely known and sung throughout Christendom. As a Christian and Anglican Bishop, Ken should also be remembered for his courageous moral stand against the immoral King Charles II. Where Christian leaders fail to take a stand for what is right, church and society greatly suffer under the withering onslaught of mediocrity and spiritual death. Bishop Ken died on March 19, 1711 in the midst of very humble circumstances because of his stand for Christ.Events Surrounding Christ's Triumphal EntryRemembrance: March 28 and followingThe year was 33 A.D., and Jerusalem was preparing to receive thousands of visitors that would throng the streets of the city to observe the Feast of Passover. According to the Western calendar, the events that led up to this observance began at the end of March and are summarized in the list below:March 28: Six days before the Feast of Passover, Jesus arrived in the village of Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom he had a short time previously raised from the death. That evening, a dinner was prepared in honor of Jesus at the home of Simon the leper (Mark 14:3). Martha, sister of Lazarus, helped to serve the food, and Lazarus was among the dinner guests (John 12:2). Mary, the other sister of Lazarus, brought a jar of very expensive perfume from the essence of nard, imported from India, and anointed the feet of Jesus. You may read the entire account in the Gospel of John 12:1-8.March 29: Five days before the Feast of Passover, a large crowd of Jews discovered Jesus was at Bethany and came to see him and Lazarus, who Jesus had earlier raised from the dead. Because many began to place faith in Jesus, the Jewish religious leaders began to plot the death of both Jesus and Lazarus (John 12:9-11). March 30, The Triumphal Entry: Four days prior to the Feast of Passover, Jesus set out for Jerusalem, sending two of his disciples on ahead to locate a donkey for him to ride into the city. The disciples located the donkey and its colt, brought them to Jesus, and threw their garments over the colt for Jesus to ride (Matthew 21:2-7). Along rode down from the Mount of Olives, crowds spread their garments upon the ground and strewed the road with palm branches, shouting and praising the Lord, saying "Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" Just as David had ridden into the city a little more than a millennium earlier (1 Kings 1:33-46), Jesus conducted this symbolic act to demonstrate that he was the greater son of David who would assume David's throne. Unlike Islam, Christianity is the fulfillment of prophecies recorded in the Older Testament, specifically the coming of the Messiah: More than five hundred years earlier God had revealed to the prophet Daniel that 483 years after the command to rebuild Jerusalem the Messiah would come (Daniel 9:25). King Artaxerxes of Persia gave the command to rebuild Jerusalem in the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of his reign (Nehemiah 2:1). The Jews did not use a solar calendar as we do today, and in biblical prophecies the years are composed of 360 days (Revelation 11:2, 3; 12:6; 13:5). The exact day of the month is not given, but if the command to rebuild Jerusalem was given on the first of Nisan, March 5, 444 B.C., it was 483 years of 360 days later to the day, March 30, A.D. 33, that Jesus formally entered the city as the Messiah. The prophecy likely was fulfilled to the day!Observance: Holy WeekTwo special services are offered for use during Holy Week–Service of the Cross and Tenebrae: A Service of Darkness. Though it is unlikely that both services would be used in any single year, they are presented below for the consideration of pastors and their congregations.The Service of the Cross may become a powerful Maundy Thursday or Good Friday tradition within your church. As members of the congregation enter the place of worship, they are given a worship folder with a square nail tethered to a piece of paper. The plan of salvation is artfully related through a series of reading. Then, worshippers are instructed to write on the paper any sin or sorrow which should be given to the Lord, and at the appointed time in the service, they are invited to drive their nails in a place of their choosing on the cross placed at the front of the sanctuary. This simple act is intended to express contrition and repentance for sin and a confidence that the cross of Christ was sufficient to bear the sins and sorrows of the entire world. The impression of hammers striking the nails is a very sobering one. Served with the elements of the Lord's Supper, this service will live long in the hearts of worshippers. The service, including communion, is about an hour in length.Observance: Holy WeekIn far too many churches, the frenetic personal schedules of many believers does not make allowance for participation in meaningful and symbolic dramatic presentations. This fact often robs the individual and congregation of some of the most important moments in personal and collective worship. One of the ways to reverse this trend and achieve a balance between personal schedules and meaningful drama in the church is through scripted dramatic presentations, and the Easter season provides opportunity that is seldom equaled and never excelled in the Church year.A Tenebrae Service is an attempt to dramatize the closing days of Christ's ministry on earth leading up to and including the events of Good Friday. This service begins in light, commemorating the significant events of Christ's movement toward the cross, and culminates in darkness expressive of the extinguishing of the physical life of the Messiah of the world, Jesus Christ. Few experiences bring the audience to the awareness of the spiritual realities of the Easter season.First week of March: No cussing/swearing week. See our article, 1789, March 2: Last session of the Continental Congress at Fraunces Tavern is adjourned sine die. Philip Pell of New York was the sole member in attendance1775, March 23: To avoid interference from Lieutenant-Governor Dunmore and his Royal Marines, the Second Virginia Convention met March 20, 1775 inland at Richmond--in what is now called St. John's Church--instead of the Capitol in Williamsburg. Delegate Patrick Henry presented resolutions to raise a militia, and to put Virginia in a posture of defense. Henry's opponents urged caution and patience until the crown replied to Congress' latest petition for reconciliation.1857, March: In March 1857, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dred Scott versus Sandford. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney opined that blacks were not citizens, and derived no rights from the Constitution. Lincoln denounced the decision, alleging it was the product of a conspiracy of Democrats to support the Slave Power. Lincoln argued, "The authors of the Declaration of Independence never intended 'to say all were equal in color, size, intellect, moral developments, or social capacity', but they 'did consider all men created equal–equal in certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness'."1861, March 4: Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as president. E. Michael Rusten and Sharon O. Rusten, The One Year Book of Christian History (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003), 181. Stanley Key, pastor of Loudonville Community Church, Loudonville, New York first shared this idea with the author. See their website: .Christian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Heritage Fellowship FacebookChristian Heritage Fellowship FacebookChristian Heritage Fellowship FacebookPodcast: 'Christian Living in March,' by Dr. Stephen Flick. Christian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Living in MarchChristian Heritage Fellowship FacebookChristian Heritage Fellowship FacebookChristian Heritage Fellowship FacebookInternalLinkInternalLinkInternalLinkInternalLinkInternalLinkInternalLink
In contemporary America and throughout the world, orthodox or biblical Christian principles and practices are under attack. Though this struggle is not new to the life of Christianity, it is new to m
Dr. Stephen Flick | February 26, 2024 | Christian Calendar (Holidays)
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