Wednesday, November 30, 2011

What do you smell like?

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By Dawn Ford

I used to hate walking in a department store.  I have so many allergies; I’d have to dodge the perfume ladies, wanting to sprits me with some new fragrance.  While I admire perfume on others, I’m limited to simple clean scents that don’t make me sneeze or make my nose run. As Christians it’s really no different, we have to be careful what kind of scent we give off to others, making sure we’re always pleasing and never overpowering.  

In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul states, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”  [2 Cor 2:14] As Christ followers, we're supposed give off a pleasant fragrance.  Let's look at the whole scripture to get an idea how.  

Scripture

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (NIV)

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.”1

Back Story

The small Corinthian church was weak, but in their defense, Corinth was a tough town. As part of post Hellenistic Greece, Corinth was an important port city on the Aegean Sea.  It was a very busy prosperous town, with lots of visitors from all over and many pagan temples that worship the Greek gods. 

The Christians in Corinth struggled in their surroundings.  With all kinds of corruption and every conceivable sin going on around them, they felt a great pressure to adapt.  In First Corinthians, Paul tried to instruct them in their faith, resolve conflicts and solve problems.   Most received the letter well, but among them there were false teachers who denied Paul’s authority and attempted to slander him.  Second Corinthians is written to defend his position and to denounce those who were twisting the truth.  2

The Use of Imagery

To make his point, Paul used imagery the Corinthians and others of that time period would have understood.  When the Romans conquered an area, there would be a Roman triumphal procession through the towns.  The Roman general would display his treasures and captives amidst a cloud of incense burned to the gods.  To the victors, the aroma was sweet; to the captives in the parade, it was the smell of slavery and death. 3

In the same way, Christ the triumphant ruler of our lives has a sweet smelling aroma to those of us who believe in Him.  Consequently to those who don’t know Him (or have been hurt by someone claiming to follow in His name), the Good News message of the Gospel may have a horrible stench smelling like death.    

Our Take Away

Just like expensive perfume, a little goes a long way?  Yes there will be times when someone asks you specific questions about Christ and they’ll want you to go into detail and explain.  For the most part, your actions will have an opportunity to speak louder than your words.  Do you just "dab" yourself in Christ enough so those around you get your clean fresh scent or are you so overpowering you make others sick to their stomach?

Smells leave an imprint.  The olfactory or sense of smell is the most primitive and most sensitive, so from an early age, different smells are imprinted in our brains.  Just as easy as smelling your mom’s homemade apple pie today can bring back wonderful memories of your childhood, smelling bleach or antiseptic can bring back a terrible hospital experience.  What’s going to be your lasting smell; pleasant or painful?

Sometimes no matter how good you smell you’re still going to make someone sneeze.  Even if we do and say all the right things, people can still be turned off and reject the Good News of Christ.  Jesus addressed this very specifically in Gospel of John, “...No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him...,” (John 6:44).   Our only requirement is to be good ambassadors of Christ and to represent Him well.  Remember, you may be only be one link of a chain of saints who brings a soul to Christ.

Are you up to the task?  Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ is not for the weak, but go back to Paul’s words above, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us...” (verse 14) and “...we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God,” (verse17).   There are hints of how to be fragrant:
  • Let God lead you. 
  • 'Sincerity' is translated from the Greek word eilikrineia, which means “pure” or “transparent.”  Paul’s message and ministry, had no hidden motives or agendas. Neither should ours.
  • We speak in the sight of God in Christ. Paul was always aware that his first audience in ministry was God Himself. Every word he spoke, he spoke in the sight of God. Its the same for us.  

Questions

1.  We're all human and we all make mistakes.  Think about a time you may have come on too strong.  How would you do things different if you had the opportunity?


 2.   Jesus said, "...No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him...," (John 6:44).  How does that change the way you look at your role as a Christ follower and ambassador for him?



1 Life Application Study Bible, New International Version, 1991, p. 2095.
2 Life Application Study Bible, New International Version, 1991, p. 2059.
3 www.blueletterbible.org, commentary by David Gurzik on 2 Corinthians. 


Dawn Ford is the VP of Infinite Love Ministries, INC.,  a not for profit corporation dedicated to transforming lives through the power of God's Word.  Please visit www.infiniteloveministries.com  to contact Dawn as a speaker for you next women's event. 









Saturday, November 26, 2011

Advent Week One - The Candle of Hope

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By Dawn Ford
2 out of 5

In my first teaching on Advent we explored the beginning origins and why we prepare and celebrate these four weeks prior to Christ’s birth (http://bit.ly/uD0ZUW).  In teachings 2 through 5 we’ll look at a theme for each week of Advent; hope peace, joy and love and a scripture to correspond.  This week we’ll be discussing the hope of Advent. 

Our scripture,

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...” 1Timothy 1:15.

The back story
Paul wrote 1Timothy in approximately 64 AD to Timothy, a trusted protégé.  Timothy is the first second generation Christian mentioned in the bible; his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois were believers.  Paul has entrusted Timothy to lead the church in Ephesus, a tough assignment due to the city being full of pagans and the church being infiltrated with false teachers.  Paul is writing to encourage the young leader. 1

Scripture in Context
Let’s look at the scripture as it appears in context through the NIV version verses 12-16:
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.2

As Saul, Paul was a hater of Christians.  He took great pride in hunting believers, and ordered Stephen’s death; (Acts 7:57-8:3).  Before he was saved he was the worst of the worst, yet God used him to bring the Good News to the Gentiles.

What is your hope?
Your sin does not disqualify you.

Paul’s past did not disqualify him from serving God. God’s mercy and grace were enough to cover his past and enable him to serve God. You should never feel that your past makes you unable to be used by God.

To qualify you have to be a sinner.

Since Jesus came into the world to save sinners, this is the first necessary qualification
for being a child of God - being a sinner. Sinners are not disqualified from coming to God, because Jesus came to save them.  So he came to save you and me.

God wants to pure abundant grace on you. 

Paul killed Christ followers, yet God loved him all the same.  He forgave him and lavished him with acceptance and love.
“After Paul was saved, he became a foremost saint. The Lord did not allot him a second-class place in the church. He had been the leading sinner, but his Lord did not, therefore, say, ‘I save you, but I shall always remember your wickedness to your disadvantage.’ Not so: he counted him faithful, putting him into the ministry and into the apostleship, so that he was not a whit behind the very chief of the apostles. Brother, there is no reason why, if you have gone very far in sin, you should not go equally far in usefulness.” (Spurgeon) 3

What does God have planned for you?

Paul was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things for the kingdom of God.  What does God have in store for you?  Do you think you’re the worst of the worst?  That your sins are far too great and God could never love you.  Oh my friend here is your hope, our hope.  God sent his only son to save you and me.  Only the sick need a physician. The sicker you are the greater the healing.  

Questions
1.  Reread the scripture above, 1 Timothy 1:12-16.  Reading how God treated Paul despite his offenses, what hope does that give you?

2.  Do you believe you are worthy of God's abundant grace? Why or Why not?


1  Commentary by David Guzik, www.blueletterbible.org, 1Timothy 1.
2  Life Application Study Bible, New International Version, 1991, pp 2187-88.
3  Commentary by David Guzik, www.blueletterbible.org, 1Timothy 1.

Dawn Ford is the founder and VP of Infinite Love Ministries, INC.  a not for profit corporation Dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ.  If you would like Dawn to speak at your next women's event please contact her at www.infiniteloveministries.com .



 

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Advent - Celebrating the Coming of our Lord

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By Dawn Ford.   
Part 1 in a 5 part series.

Looking Both Ways

When I was a little girl, my best friend Holly lived around the corner and down the block. Before I was able to walk by myself, I had to prove to my mother that I could get there safely.  Part of the proof was that I looked both ways before I crossed the street.

It seems to me many Christians today have forgotten the necessity of “looking both ways.” I don’t mean looking to the left and right on a specific street, but rather to events in the past and events in the future.  Like the rest of our culture, all too often we get so caught up in the urgency of our daily lives that we fail to notice the larger picture of which we are only a small part.
The Meaning of Advent
The word “advent” comes from the Latin word adventus and means “arrival” or “coming.” The season of Advent, which originated in the 6th century A.D., is a four-week period preceding December 25th.   During this time, Christians dedicate themselves both to remembrance and to anticipation. Advent is all about looking both ways, because during these four weeks, we take time to slow down and look behind us to Christ’s first coming (the adventus) and ahead of us to the Second Coming (the parousia).
 A Time of Anticipation
The important thing Advent helps us remember is that we are located between these two arrivals, seemingly stuck somewhere after the “already” but still within the “not yet” of God’s kingdom. Jesus Christ, the Lord of Life, has already come in the flesh. He has already been crucified. He has already been resurrected. He has already defeated death. The victory has already been won.

Nevertheless, we do not yet see the full effects of Christ’s victory played out in our world. Death is not yet merely a distant nightmare. Our lives are not yet free from all sin. Peace and justice are not yet ubiquitous. Hunger has not yet become a thing of the past. HIV and AIDS have not yet been defeated.
Admittedly, this can seem quite confusing. We may find ourselves despairing—wondering why, if Christ were really victorious, so many awful things continue in our world. Why does my friend have cancer? Why can’t I find a job? Why do thousands die every day from lack of clean water or millions in the developing world suffer from treatable diseases?

A Time of Self Examination
No, things most certainly are not as they should be. Yet the great hope of the good news we profess is that all things will one day be put right. We look both ways at Advent to remind ourselves of this. But we mustn’t do this lightly or halfheartedly. After all, the whole point of looking both ways before crossing the road is so you’ll know what you ought to do: If there is a car approaching, you shouldn’t step into the street. By helping us remember exactly where, or rather when, we are, Advent reminds us of the kind of people we ought to be during the brief years we are given in this life.  

And in the meantime, we wait. Too often, though, we think waiting is a passive thing. We just go about our business, and sooner or later, God will do His thing. But this thinking is deeply flawed. Again and again in the New Testament, Jesus gives us parables that suggest that waiting must be active. This waiting is less like watching a sunset and more like preparing for winter: The wood must be chopped and stacked, the harvest brought into the barn, the leaky roof mended. After all, it is the slothful and lazy servant—the one who merely buries the talent he’s been entrusted with by the master—who receives a harsh punishment upon the master’s return (Matthew 25:14-30).
A Time of Celebration
By looking into the past, we’re reminded of all that Christ has done. By looking into the future, we’re expectant of all Christ will do. Advent helps us remember that we’ve got work to do while we wait. Not so that God will love us, but rather because He already does. We love, after all, because “he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The intentional practices of Advent frame our responsibilities and help us take a good, sober look at our lives during the in-between times.

Christ has come. Christ is risen. Christ is coming again. He’s given us work to do in the meantime. How are we living: selfishly or selflessly? Are we caring for our world? Are we loving our God? Are we loving our neighbors?

Hope, Peace, Joy and Love

The above picture shows the traditional Advent wreath.  A candle is lite each week to represent a biblical theme.  Over the coming weeks I'll be discussing the themes of hope, peace, joy and love.  In the center of the wreath is the fifth candle, the Christ candle, which is lite on Christmas Eve to make the Messiah's arrival.  I'm looking forward to taking this journey with you.  

Questions:

1. How does your family get ready to celebrate the birth of our Lord?

2. What things could you and your family do differently this year to slow down, and actually enjoy this time of year?


Dawn Ford is the founder and VP of Infinite Love Ministries, INC.  A not for profit corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ.  For more information, check out our website at www.infiniteloveministries.com.

Excerpts taken from —Mike Yankoski foreword from the World Vision Advent Study Guide
Author of
Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America and executive editor of Zealous Love: A Practical Guide to Social Justice 

Friday, October 7, 2011

Don't Quit

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By: Dawn Ford

When things go wrong as sometimes the will.
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill.
When the funds are low and the debts are high.
When you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you don’t a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns.
AND MANY A FAILURE TURNS ABOUT.
WHEN HE MIGHT HAVE WON HAD HE STUCK IT OUT.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.
Success if failure turned inside out.
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you can never tell how close you are. 
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the fight when you hardest hit.
It’s when things seem worst that you must NEVER QUIT!  

-          Author Unknown

I remember the first time I heard this poem.  I was a freshman in high school at the FFA National Convention in an arena with 20,000 other students.  I quickly memorized these 18 lines and they were my mantra for many years. 

As life sped along though, these words were lost to me.  I completely forgot them.  Until this morning.  Out the blue, they popped in my head and I quickly typed them without hesitation. 

Isn't it amazing how God can speak to my heart and know exactly what I need to hear?  To top it off, He’s so personal. He spoke to me in my love language; Words of Affirmation. He knows how important words are to me and how they convey love directly to me. 


What is your love language?  http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/love/


How does God convey His love for you?


Dawn Ford is the VP of Infinite Love Ministries, INC.  She is dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ - directly through teaching and speaking about God and indirectly through assisting with programs that promote literacy and proper healthcare. For more information please visit the ministries website, www.infiniteloveministries.com

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Is Your Perception Cloudy?

 Picture 1: Does your perception cloud everything you do?
Picture 2:  Or do you let the sun shine through?


By: Dawn B. Ford

“My perception is my reality.”

However, if your perception is wrong it could cloud everything you believe to be true about yourself and world around you.

Perception of yourself


What are the “tapes” that play over and over in your head? Are they positive or negative?  For years I let negative words spoken by others dictate who I was.  It wasn’t until I dove into God’s word that I realized how destructive those “tapes” and subsequently my “self-talk” was. 

You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” for a purpose (Psalms 139:14).  In Hebrew fearfully is translated from the word “yare” which means “to cause astonishment and awe, to be held in awe.” Palah is the Hebrew word for wonderfully, meaning “to be distinct, to be separated, to be distinguished.”  When God looks at you, he is in awe and sees you as a unique distinctive work of art. 

You can love yourself as much as God does.  Not in a cocky or egotistical way, but in a confident way because you know your place and worth in His kingdom.   

Perception of others


Ever looked at someone and made a snap decision on who they were and what they were going to be like?

When I was in college I worked part-time in a jewelry store.  One Saturday a gentleman came into the store filthy from head to toe.  My colleagues took one look at him, perceived he had no money, and busied themselves to avoid waiting on him.   I was new; it was slow, so I decided to walk over.  I treated him like every other customer, with respect. To everyone’s surprise he paid cash for a 5 carat tennis bracelet.  I got the commission and he never forgot how I treated him.  From then on, he would only work with me.  

Image the perception the ruling class had about Jesus’ disciples.  Can you blame them?  Take Peter for example.  Would you have picked him for your team or a major assignment in your corporation? He was hot headed, loud, always said the wrong thing and had a major issue with peer pressure.

But Jesus saw something else.  In Matthew 16 he makes a bold statement.

“...And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18) (Underlining and bold added by me).

Peter means “a rock, a stone.” In Greek - petros.   The word “rock” in the above sentence is translated from petra “a cliff or a ridge...a much bigger rock.”  Jesus saw Peter’s reality and was saying to him, “Peter you are strong like a rock (pointing to him) and on this “rock” (pointing to himself) I will build my church.” * 

Jesus is basically telling Peter no matter what people think or how you mess up; you’re a chip off the old block.  Jesus looks at each one of the same way.  We’re all his favorites.

Perception of God  

How do you view God?  A distant father?  A supreme being who really doesn’t care?  Judge, jury, executioner?   

God is pure love.  If you been told or you feel any different, you’ve been lied to or you’re being duped.  If anyone claiming to be a Christ follower has treated you with anything less than love, they misrepresented themselves and God. 

“...let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God because God is love,” 1 John 4:7-8.

Again the Greek language is sometimes hard to translate to English.  The Greeks had four different words for love, we only have one.  Eros meant passionate love.  Philia meant brotherly love and Storge meant affection for.  The love mentioned in the above verses is Agape; an unconditional full blown no-matter-what kind of love.  God loves us that way and we are called to agape love in the same way.

How do you change your perception to sunny?


·         Read and study the bible.  How we view God is the foundation of how we see ourselves and others.  If we don’t know the truth about God, then we can’t possibly know how he sees us and how we're supposed to treat others.

·        Give others a break.  We’re all human.  We all mess up.   Think of the times you’ve been extended grace and give grace in return.

·         It’s not all about you.  Sometimes people have a bad day.  Sometimes the look on their face that has nothing to do with you.  Don’t let problems fester in your head that aren't really there.

Questions to think about


1.      Does your self worth come from what others say about you or what God says about you?

2.      Ever believe your perception of someone or something was dead on and then you found out you were dead wrong?  What did you do?

3.     What can you do today to change your perception of yourself?  Others?  God?


* www.blueletterbible.com commentary by David Guzik.


Dawn Ford is the VP and Creative Director of Infinite Love Ministries, INC.  A 501 (c)(3) non-profit dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ.  For more informaiton or to contact Dawn to speak at your next women's event check out our website www.infiniteloveministries.com







Thursday, September 1, 2011

Have You Irritated Anyone Lately?

By:  Dawn Ford

Have you ever read a book where you enjoyed every character, agreed with everything they did or there were only “good guys” in the story?  I don’t know about you, but that would put me to sleep.  Every good story needs some kind of conflict.  Or the opposite.  Have you ever read a book where you didn’t like any of the characters, didn’t agree with anything they did, and there were only “bad guys” in the story?  I wouldn’t be able to finish it.  What’s the point of reading a story if there’s no one to root for?

So why as Christ Followers do we tell our story between two extremes?  Either we’re the forever “good guys” bending to the world almost apologizing for our beliefs or we’re the forever “bad guys” hitting people over the head with our bible bullying them into belief.  While we are called to the “great commission” (Matthew 28:19), we are not called to bring anyone to Christ kicking or screaming. 

A great model for balance was Jesus Christ.  From the moment of his birth to his death 33 years later, he pretty much irked someone.  Whether it was King Herod (Matthew 2:1-19), the ruling class (pick a gospel and read it), or a self-righteous Jew (Luke 10:30-37), he wasn’t afraid to make waves, to make people think or call people out if they weren’t living appropriately.   But how he did it was just as important as why he did it.

1.      Jesus knew his audience.  Jesus was a Jew living in first century Palestine.  The majority of his audiences were Jews.  He knew who he was speaking to, what they struggle with and what the constraints of society were.  While he taught using imagery his audience would understand, he wasn’t afraid to challenge them.  Especially about their religious beliefs, their class structure and their gender basis.   

2.      Jesus knew the facts.  During Jesus time every male Jew was taught in the synagogue until they were 14 years of age.  Then from there if they showed promise the boys were trained further.  Jesus’ earthly father was a carpenter, so Jesus was destine to learn the trade and be a carpenter as well.  The possibility of him being trained beyond 14 was slim.  While he was divine, during his three year ministry many did not realize that, so his knowledge of scripture for the amount of formal training was astounding.  Even the soldier’s first attempt to arrest him was confounded by his knowledge of scripture and his ability to teach. (John 7:45-46)

3.      Jesus only had one agenda.  While Jesus made many scratch their heads and had them walking away unable to argue with him, his motives for pure and his agenda very specific.  He wanted to bring people back to his father. (John 5:19, John 6:32) It wasn’t about winning the argument.  It wasn’t about being right.  It was about opening people’s eyes and making them see the truth they already knew in a radical way.   

4.      Jesus always made his argument in love.  Whether he was eating with a tax collector, correcting Peter or given the Pharisees a hard time, he never watered down his message. He never tried to make his words easier to swallow and he never shoved his message down anyone’s throat.  He spoke truth, but left it up to his audience if they were going to follow. 


Discussion Questions:

1.      Where do you fall between the two extremes?  How can you make an effort to be more balanced in your approach?

2.      Do you have a strong knowledge of scripture and the word of God or do you rely on others to give you the data dump?

3.      What do you do if someone gets mad at you about your Christian beliefs?


Leave a comment below.  Let me know what you think. 

Dawn Ford is the Vice President and Creative Director for Infinite Love Ministries.  A non-profit corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ.  This is done two ways; directly through sound bible teaching and indirectly through supporting programs that promote literacy and better health care.  For more info. check out www.infiniteloveministries.com.



Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Jesus Christ was a Liberal

by Dawn Ford

Now wait a minute, before you get all riled up and angry, hear me out. In our day and age, the term “liberal” has been hijacked to describe a political ideology, taking on a very negative connotation in conservative circles. But if you look up the true definition of the word, it means a lot more than its current usage.

Liberal: adjective

• Free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant,
• Open-minded,
• Characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts,
• Given freely or abundantly; generous.

Not the picture we normally conjure up is it...and how does Jesus fit in? In the 400 years of silence between the Bible’s Old and New Testaments, a ruling political and social class rose in the nation of Israel. These men were known as the Scribes, the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They each had specific jobs, and rarely got along with one another, but together they twisted Mosaic Law into an impossible set of rules and regulations. Couple this with Roman occupation and the Jewish people where under constant oppression. In first century Palestine, they were primed for a Messiah to rescue them.

On to this backdrop, Jesus enters the scene. Not preaching a military overthrow, but still radical in his ideas for the time. Imagine how crazy his first public sermon recorded in the Gospel of Matthew must have sounded? Jesus was bold and he spoke to his Jewish audience, challenging everything they thought was truth. With statements like:

• “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you,” Matt 5:11-12.

Bless are those who persecute me? What? I’m suppose to take that? You’re tell me I must bless the Romans?

• “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment,” Matt 5:21-22.

Anytime Jesus says, “You heard that...” He is quoting Jewish Mosaic Law (from Moses) back to them, scripture they already knew, and radically changing it. Being angry is sin? That’s not what the 10 commandments say, and not what they were taught. And come on, for hundreds of years and what’s happened to us, we have a right to be angry.

• "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also,” Matt 5-38-39.

We deserve to be able to take revenge on our enemies.

• "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matt 5:43-44.

Can you imagine, all those people listening to this sermon...ruling class, worker bees and slaves...Love your enemies, pray for them....His guy is a nut! And there is even more; the sermon goes on for two more chapters, but you get the idea. Jesus came at the right time not to mock what the law, but to make them realize how far they had twisted it. No one including the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who were the religious leaders of the time, could possibly live up to the rules and regulations that they had created and no one should. They were missing the point and Jesus was calling them on it.

For the next three years he didn’t just preach about what they need to change, he demonstrated what he meant. He didn’t just preach about being loving, or serving others, he generously, “liberally” if you will, gave of himself to the crowds, to his disciples, to people he met on the street. He was open-minded (liberal) in his love for others. He hung out with, broke bread with sinners, tax-collectors, lepers, prostitutes and the marginalized. He was patient and tolerate (liberal) with those who disagreed with him. Though he always spoke truth, and never was so tolerate that he watered down his message, he never did in a way that would disgrace His Father in Heaven. And though he was is Father’s son, he abundantly, generously, liberally, gave of himself for us and died on a cross.

How about us? As His followers, as people who claim to know Him, love Him and speak in His name...How “liberal” are we, with our love, our generosity our tolerance. I used to really enjoy the song, “They Will Know We Our Christians by our Love.” Sadly I fear, many of us are known more for the fish on our car, the cross on our neck or the T-shirt we don, instead of how we radically love others in His name. We play on “the team,” of Christian, but how many of us actually get off the sidelines and get our jersey dirty. How many of us really know the Word of God for ourselves and not just have it fed to us by someone else. How many of us can present the truth and love of the gospel message not, by how we “preach” it to others, but by how we live our lives?

If we want Jesus to radically change others, we need to let Him radically change us. We need to dive into His Word and read about His liberal love first hand, so we can in turn generously love others. Now is the time my friends, not to be “conservative” with your knowledge of Christ, but serve and love others with a liberal compassion that mirrors who we serve. Jesus my loves is calling you out...how are you going to answer?



Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director of Infinite Love Ministries, INC. a 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ. For more information visit www.infiniteloveministries.com

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Ultimate Butterfly Effect, Part 2

By: Dawn B. Ford
Part 2 of 3
In part one of this series (right below this post), we explored the scientific principle of the Butterfly Effect, which states everything in weather is interconnected and the slightest change in a given pattern could have profound affects. Using this law of physics as our starting point, we explored the idea that we could become a Butterfly Effect ourselves and have a positive effect on others. This section will look at some tangible ways to put our idea into practice.
So how can “little old you” affect many?

Your Sphere of Influence
Before you get overwhelmed with the concept of affecting thousands, millions or billions of people, stop, breathe and open your eyes. You won’t have to look long...there are literally hurting people everywhere. You don’t have to start grand, just a simple act of service can mean a lot.

Sometimes all a person needs is a smile, a hug, a helping hand or a listening ear. What if we all slowed down long enough to meet another’s need? How could you change a life today by just increasing your awareness and shifting your focus from your “to do list” to your “meet a need list.” Stop right now and think...is there someone you need to call? Is there a co-worker that is struggling? Is there a neighbor who needs a helping hand? Is there a spouse or a child who needs a little encouragement?

And what if you are the one who is hurting? Research shows that when we step out of ourselves and help others, we in turn are helped. Psychologists, Mark Snyder, PhD, from the University of Minnesota and Allen Omoto, PhD, from the Claremont Graduate University have studied individuals who volunteer for over 20 years. They have surveyed thousands of volunteers from all different age groups, all different backgrounds and have identified five primary motivations as to why people volunteer:

Values. Volunteering to satisfy personal values or humanitarian concerns. For some people this can have a religious component.
Community concern. Volunteering to help a particular community, such as a neighborhood or ethnic group, to which you feel attached.
Esteem enhancement. Volunteering to feel better about yourself or escape other pressures.
Understanding. Volunteering to gain a better understanding of other people, cultures or places.
• Personal development. Volunteering to challenge yourself, meet new people and make new friends, or further your career.

As you can see 3 of the 5 motivations start as a self-driven focus that moves outward, so both individuals benefit from the act of service. Another study conducted at the University of Kansas, showed the more someone volunteered, the more their compassion and concern grew. When you move in serve to another, you not only give, but also receive a positive Butterfly Effect. (“Helping Others, Helping Ourselves”, By Lea Winerman, Monitor On Psychology, December 2006, Vol. 37, No. 11, Print version: page 38).

Your Gifts and Talents

Everyone is good at something. Are you a whiz with computers or a gifted teacher? Are you good with a hammer or are you great at organizing? Maybe you can cook like nobody’s business?
Why not use your gifts and talents to help others? There are literally hundreds of organizations with all different focuses in need of your expertise. We’ve all been given special gifts and talents we cannot horde or keep to ourselves. Figure out what you’re passionate about, what would get you out of bed on a Saturday morning and start there. The more you enjoy something, the less work it is and the more someone would benefit from your abilities.
This also sustains the Butterfly Effect, as an article published in 1998 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 74, No. 6, pages 1516-1530), revealed. Psychologist E. Gil Clary, PhD, and Snyder found that the more closely a volunteer’s motivations and talents where match with the act of serve, the longer they volunteered.
On the flip side of things, being a positive Butterfly Effect can also allow you to step out of your comfort zone and try something you would not normally do. When I felt the pull to go on my first mission trip, I was planning to go with a group called Operation Smile. They help children all over the world who were born with cleft lip and/or palate. As a speech language pathologist, this is something I do as part of my career, so it would have been second nature. For reasons, out of my control the trip didn’t work out.
Instead I went with a friend to Mississippi to rebuild houses for family’s devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Me, Dawn B. Ford, afraid of power tools, afraid of heights and ladders and had never really picked up a hammer in her life, I was going to go help rebuild houses??? Well let me tell you, it was the most amazing trips of my life. I loved every minute of it. It was something I had never done and would have thought I could never do.

To Serve is a Verb

To serve: (verb)
• To render assistance; be of use; help.
• To be in the service of; work for.
• To be useful or of service to; help.
The act of serving or being a positive Butterfly Effect requires action. So you must get involved, you must invest your time, your talents and you must engage in relationships.
If you are involved in a church there are many opportunities to serve. If that is not your thing, get involved with a service project at work or check out your local newspaper /radio. I also found a great website called Volunteer Match.Org. All you need to enter is your zip code and all the local service opportunities in your area will pop up.
http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/
An organization near and dear to my heart is Led2Serve. Cofounders, Nancy Cummings and Vanessa Puleo equip, inspire and mobilize people to serve. If you, your family or your group want to find a serve project they have opportunities, locally in Orlando, nationally and internationally. And if you have a need for volunteers they can help you get the hands and feet you need.
http://www.led2serve.com/
Today there is so much darkness in the world and its time we all got together and shed some light. We can all be a positive Butterfly Effect, start small. Just start. Who knows the lives you can impact forever, if you start today.
Part three will highlight individuals both past and present who used the Butterfly Effect impact millions and changed the world.
Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director for Infinite Love Ministries. A Florida Non-profit corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ. Check out their website at http://www.infiniteloveministries.com/

Saturday, January 29, 2011

The Ultimate Butterfly Effect


Part 1 of 3
By Dawn Ford


I have a dear friend who is very into Physics. In an attempt to have some frame of reference and to increase our possible conversation topics, I did what everyone does now-a-days...I did a Google search. Before I was buried too deep in the endless cycle of information I came upon some fascinating research – it’s called the Butterfly Effect.

In 1963, Edward Lorenz, a mathematician, gave a presentation to the New York Academy of Sciences. His theory, called the Butterfly Effect, stated that a butterfly could flap its wings and set air molecules in motion that in turn would move other air molecules — which would then move additional air molecules — eventually becoming able to influence weather patterns on the other side of the planet. For years this theory remained an interesting myth. In the mid 1990s, however, physics professors from several universities, working in tandem, proved the butterfly effect was accurate, viable, and worked every time. It has since been given the status of a law and is now known in scientific circles as the sensitive dependence on initial conditions.

That’s pretty much a fancy way of saying that everything in weather is interconnected and the slightest change in a pattern could have profound affects. Which got me thinking, does the Butterfly Effect only apply to weather or could it translate to other areas? Could we apply the concept to our lives? What would happen if we looked at every interaction or action we take, as having the potential to be extremely significant? We would have to realize that everything we do matters...whether positive or negative, whether good or evil, EVERYTHING WE DO MATTERS.

We can’t change the past, but isn’t it safe to assume we could make small changes now that will have a huge impact later? What if we made a conscious effort that when we come in contact with others, we would be a positive Butterfly Effect in their lives? How would their lives be changed? How would ours be changed?

Just think if all of us decided to flutter our wings with a little more kindness, a little more patience, a little more forgiveness, a little more love. We could permanently affect those around us. And then what if we took it a step further? What if we fed someone, clothed them, provide shelter, taught them to read, or gave them proper medical care?

Each of us have been given gifts and talents and we can’t waste or horde them. Each one of us is significant, special and here for a purpose. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s dramatic, but each one of us, by our own hand has the potential to alter thousands, millions, billions of lives. A positive Butterfly Effect...think about it, lives being changed, caught in a chain of events begun by you this day. So where would you begin?


Part 2 of this article will explore the tangible ways you can become a positive Butterfly Effect.

Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director for Infinite Love Ministries, a FL non-profit corporation dedicated to showing all the Infinite Love of Christ. www.infiniteloveminsitries.com

Monday, January 10, 2011

Making a Plan and Working the Plan

Hello,

Below you'll find our goals and objectives for 2011. We'll keep you posted as the year goes along. We wanted to share these with you for several reasons...

1. So you can keep us in prayer.
2. So you can give us feedback.
3. So you can help us stay accountable.

Thank you for you continued support.

Dawn Ford, VP Infinite Love Ministries
Dawn@infiniteloveministries.com


Goals and Objectives for Infinite Love Ministries 2011

Objectives for 2011
:

1. Infinite Love Ministries will become a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Corporation.
2. Infinite Love Ministries will begin to earn money to build a reserve.
3. Infinite Love Ministries will establish screen process to begin to distribute funds to support literacy and medical needs locally.

First Quarter

• VP Dawn Ford to work for ministry full time, no salary
• Receive 501 (c) (3) Tax Exemption Status, allowing for grants and donations
• Marketing - Multi media- Blog, FB, Emails, Newsletters
• Create Data Base of Magazine requirements for Publishing
• Publish Articles for Christian/Relevant Magazines
• Continue Speaking Engagements
• Create and Establish CD’s for purchases of Bible Teachings
• Annual Board Meeting

Second Quarter

• March 1st – VP Dawn Ford – Entered a fiction writing contest, made it to the top 30, will know if the manuscript won...grand prize- story to be published
• March 3-6 Florida Christian Writing Conference – Manuscript for a non-fiction bible study entered in competition...meetings with multiple publishing companies and literary agents.
• Continue Speaking
• Continue Marketing
• Continue Publishing Articles
• Board Meeting

Third Quarter

• Transition Base of Operation of Ministry to Santa Barbara California
• Establish Non-Profit Status in California
• Create Data Base of Local Churches
• Become Familiar with Local needs – literacy, medical and spiritual
• Create Data Base of Local Publications
• Continue Speaking Engagements
• Board meeting

Fourth Quarter

• Establish Screen process to be fiscally responsible for distribution of funds
• Continue Speaking Engagements
• Continue Publishing
• Board meeting