The Feast Day of Saint Andrew

The Feast Day of Saint Andrew

Who first brought you to Jesus? 

We all have gotten to where we are because someone has helped bring us to this place in our lives. In many cases, there may have been many people who have helped us arrive to where we are in our lives today. 

We are often introduced to key people who play important roles in our lives by someone else who knows us and who is close to us. In other words, we often meet people who forever change the course of our lives through others. Usually we come to know these influential people, because someone took the time to make an important introduction. Can you think of a time when an important and impactful introduction has occurred in your life? 

An important and impactful introduction was the case with Andrew and his brother Simon Peter. In John’s Gospel we see Andrew coming to know Jesus. John 1:40-42 tells this story of Andrew introducing his brother Simon to Jesus. 

John’s Gospel says, “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:40-42, ESV). 

We do not know much about Andrew, but when we first see him in scripture, he is bringing the people closest to him to Jesus. 

Had Andrew not taken the time to introduce his brother Simon to Jesus, the course of the early church would have looked very differently. The life and ministry of Peter would have looked very differently, if he would have had a ministry at all. If Peter is not introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew, the course of the early church and Pentecost would look completely different (see Acts 2). And where would Simon be then? And what would the church look like? 

In light of the importance of Andrew in the gospel, and as you reflect, who are you bringing to Jesus? Like Andrew, is there someone close to us who we need to bring to Jesus? 

A Prayer of Saint Andrew, November 30

“Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give us, who are called by your holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 237). 

Cry The Blood

Cry The Blood, by Jack Baumgartner, 

photo from The School of the Transfer of Energy

My friend Jack Baumgartner recently released his album “Cry The Blood”, from i am earth, Jack Baumgartner. This is a heartfelt and sacrificial work of pilgrimage. The blood sweat and tears in this music cries out in beautiful heart felt harmony. This work is organic in sound and is simply beautiful. I am moved. This is music for the soul. If you are going to buy an album this year, well, this one has breath and life in it. It cries the blood.

Visit Jack Baumgartner at The School of the Transfer of Energy here:

http://theschoolofthetransferofenergy.com

You may also purchase your copy of “Cry The Blood” from i-tunes here.

You may also purchase your copy of “Cry The Blood” from Amazon here.

Visit the webpage for “Cry The Blood” here:

http://theschoolofthetransferofenergy.com/i-am-erth/

Anatomy of Choice: A Book Review

Book Cover of Fred Grooms' Anatomy of Choice: 
Teaching Positive Life Choices from Amazon.com.

Making good choices is such a great topic! Fred Grooms does a fantastic job of unpacking the anatomy of choice and giving practical advice for teaching positive life choices to young people. Anatomy of Choice: Teaching Positive Life Choices is a great primer on the subject of positive life choices.

Fred Grooms is also a passionate, caring and competent youth motivational speaker who considers his audience and their needs. Fred seeks first to understand and then crafts and delivers the right message for optimal impact and influence. Fred cares deeply about people. This care is evident in working with him and it shows in his communication. Fred works in youth work, in the public schools, at camps, at conferences, and in international Christian School settings. In these settings, Fred's heart, and his passion and competence as a communicator, can be clearly seen. Fred Grooms comes highly recommended for youth motivational speaking, youth work, and consulting.

Visit Fred Grooms' website here: http://www.fredgrooms.com

Read this review on Examiner.com, click here.

To read this review of Anatomy of Choice: Teaching Positive Life Choices on Amazon.com, or to purchase this book, click here.

Pick up Anatomy of Choice: Teaching Positive Life Choices on Smashwords by clicking here.

Grooms, Fred (2015). Anatomy of Choice: Teaching Positive Life Choices. (Kindle) Barnabas Consulting. Kindle Edition. (http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Choice-Teaching-Positive-Choices-ebook/dp/B00SDGUISW/ref=cm_rdp_product)

To order your copy of Fred's other book, Who's In Charge of Bob?: The Key to Moving from Ordinary to Extraordinary, go to Amazon.com here.

To read a review of Fred's book, Who's In Charge of Bob?: The Key to Moving from Ordinary to Extraordinary, on Amazon.com, click here.

Grooms, Fred (2014-03-11). Who's In Charge of Bob?: The Key to Moving from Ordinary to Extraordinary (Kindle Locations 1195-1196) Barnabas Consulting. Kindle Edition. (http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Charge-Bob-Ordinary-Extraordinary/dp/0991462807)

Finishing Discipleship and Small Groups Well

Finish Line Ahead, photo from Donna Reidland.com 

As our school year comes to a close, how are we finishing our discipleship groups or small groups well?

As our discipleship group comes to a close, we are blessing and encouraging each of our students. We are also leaving them with a challenge and celebrating our year together with a meal.

What will you do to finish the year well with your discopleship group or small group?

Blessings:

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." -Numbers 6:24-26 | NIV

"For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess." -Deuteronomy 30:16 | NIV

Prayer: For Young Persons:

God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 829)

Prayer: A Prayer of Self-Dedication:

Almighty and eternal God, draw our hearts to You, guide our minds, fill our imaginations, control our wills, that we may be wholly Yours, completely dedicated to You; and then use us, we pray, as You will, and always to Your glory and to the welfare of Your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 832)

National Poetry Month 2015

National Poetry Month 2015 Poster, from Poets.org

National Poetry Month 2015

April is National Poetry Month and I will be participating/celebrating by reading and recording a poem a day all month long.

Recorded poems will be posted on Sondcloud.com here: https://soundcloud.com/robbiepruitt

I will also be posting the recordings with the text of the poem and photos each day on my poetry website here: http://www.robbiepruitt.com

Shorter poems with illustrative photos will be posted each week on Tumblr here: http://robbiepruitt.tumblr.com

There are many wonderful poetry resources out there for poetry lovers and educators alike.

Here are a few of my favorite poetry websites and resources:

National Poetry Month, Poets.org:

http://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home

Poets.org: http://www.poets.org

Poetry Foundation: http://www.poetryfoundation.org

Poetry Magazine: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/

The Poetry Archive: http://www.poetryarchive.org

Tweetspeak Poetry: http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com

Poetry Resources and Tools from Tweetspeak:

http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2015/03/05/top-ten-national-poetry-month-books-tools/

Tweetspeak Poetry Teaching Tools:

http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/english-teaching-resources/

PoetryTeachers.com: http://www.poetryteachers.com

Poetry Out Loud: http://www.poetryoutloud.org

Poetry.net: http://www.poetry.net

Famous Poets and Poems: http://famouspoetsandpoems.com

Poetry Flash: http://poetryflash.org

21 Martyrs

Since the first century, Christians have endured persecution. Yet in the midst of death, the Church remained alive and hopeful remembering Jesus’ promise, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

“Persecution of Christians wakes a slumbering church. This call to remembrance and prayer reminds us that the blood of the martyrs has always been the seed for a revived church. May we remain sober-minded and fall to our knees in prayer for God to stir our hearts to obedience.” 

(Gabe Lyons, World Magazine, Christian leaders unite in call to prayer for persecuted church: http://www.worldmag.com/2015/02/christian_leaders_unite_in_call_to_prayer_for_persecuted_church, 21 Martyrs: http://21martyrs.com)


21 Martyrs

Twenty-one lives

Kneeling on sand

Twenty-one fell 

At his command

Twenty-one prayers

On Rock, they land

Twenty-one souls 

They kneel; they stand

Twenty-one call, “Jesus!”

His blood cries from the sand

Twenty-one take His hand

© February 21, 2015, Robbie Pruitt

“We give thanks to you, O Lord our God, for all your servants
 and witnesses of time past: for Abraham, the father of believers, and Sarah his wife; for Moses, the lawgiver, and Aaron, the
 priest; for Miriam and Joshua, Deborah and Gideon, and
 Samuel with Hannah his mother; for Isaiah and all the prophets; for Mary, the mother of our Lord; for Peter and Paul and all
 the apostles; for Mary and Martha, and Mary Magdalene; for
 Stephen, the first martyr, and all the martyrs and saints in
 every age and in every land. In your mercy, O Lord our God, give us, as you gave to them, the hope of salvation and the 
promise of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the 
first-born of many from the dead. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 838)

The Faithfulness of the Love of God

As the High School Bible Teacher at Quisqueya Christian School, I often have the opportunity to speak at QCS's Secondary School Chapel Services. On Wednesday, February 11, 2015, I spoke on The Faithfulness of the Love of God. Click the play button above to listen to the complete talk on our school's Soundcloud.

Visit Quisqueya Christian School's Soundcloud page for other chapel messages here: 

https://soundcloud.com/quisqueyachristianschool

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” –Jeremiah 31:3, NASB

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” –1 John 3:1, NIV

For the Power Point for this talk, please click the following link:

drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8…view?usp=sharing

For a handout with reflection questions related to this talk, please click the following link:

drive.google.com/file/d/0B2730FU8…view?usp=sharing

New Year Goals and Resolutions

Happy New Year!

"Ask yourself: What would your life look like if you directed it, instead of drifted through it?" —Michael Hyatt

We should be looking forward to embracing good and healthy growth and change in the New Year. As Donald Miller puts it, "Things that stay the same aren’t healthy."

We should begin our New Year reflecting on God's grace and goodness in governing the outcomes in our lives. As it says in Proverbs 16:9, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps." (Proverbs 16:9, NIV) Established steps, change, growth and movement in our lives are good.

We should also acknowledge that it is God who begins and finishes His work in us. As Paul stated in Philippians 1:6, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)

What's your plan for the New Year? What will God do in your life in 2015? Do you have any goals or resolutions? What are they?

Consider these three questions that Bill Hybles suggests:

1. What should you stop doing this year?

2. What should you start doing this year?  

3. What should you continue doing this year?