Partakers Christian Podcasts

Tickle Part 2 - Churches and Digital Media - How

The Art of Tickling -

How?

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G'day! Welcome to Partakers and we are on day 2 of the series "The Art of Tickling" addressing the question of "How can traditional churches and those with older congregations use new media without excluding people?"

Use the talents of people!

I think that everybody has some measure of talent that can be used, including those who would ordinarily be dismissed from having any input into Christian worship and thinking, such as the elderly and those we earlier identified as being from the excluded group! We have to use people's talents, knowledge and wisdom, whatever it maybe, and whoever they maybe, and put them online using New Media! We combine those talents, knowledge and wisdom with the methods of New Media: Websites, Blogs, Mobile Applications, Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Video and Audio. We have to also ensure these people are safe! Don't disclose too much personal information about them! Also ensure they get some measure of feedback, because that will encourage them to do more! Things that can be put on with New Media are photography, poetry, bible talks, testimonies, hobbies, interests and short stories. We could make an impact using New Media!

New Media Activity Days!

Another idea is New Media Days at your church, or churches together! You could hold a regular event, say quarterly, at your church where people can come and contribute something using New Media. For want of a better name call it a New Media Activity Day or something like that.  It would be a good way to get the younger members of the church to interact with the slightly less young members of the church! Using New Media to build and encourage the churches helps build stronger communities..

Prayer is the key!

Another idea of how to include people in this new media is to get them to pray for people you tickle and interact with online! Facebook and Twitter are rife with prayer requests from people! Take those prayer requests and sensitively get members of your church to pray! Get them interested! What a great way to include them! If possible, do ask however the person needing prayer if you can ask others though, as some people may not want you to! You don't need to give names or even initials - God knows their name!

Get Beside People!

Somebody could get beside them regularly and help them - building community! For example, they could record several podcasts or videos at one time and then distributed over a long period of time.  Or it could be once a month or whatever! Have regular monthly spots on your church blog so that on the 5^th of each month, people know who will be on!  Here is a good example! In your Church, I reckon the ladies there have amazing recipes! Why not garner the recipes, put online - with photographic evidence and taste tests!  Another way we can include those who wouldn't necessarily want to be involved in New Media! For example, on the 5^th of November Marjory shares a recipe she has used for years! This particular poem was recorded by George who can't get out much but has a fine strong voice still. Somebody has taken the time to be with these two people, has taken Marjory's recipe, had it recorded by George on a smart phone and put it online! How about that for a bit of tickling?

Use People's skills!

The elderly, in particular, have a lot of knowledge and wisdom which can be distributed.  The retired company chairman has invaluable advice she could give in regards to how the unemployed people in your church and community could do better to make them more employable.  Writing interview and application tips for example!

No Technology? No Problem!

Now here is a potential problem! For those without access to technology, there is the use of facilities in most libraries. Where I live, the libraries run courses for those wanting to know more about being online! Whatever the person's interest is, it can be put online! Or how about this! Passing on older technology for people to use! We all upgrade at some point, so why not give on the obsolete technology to those who maybe able to use it! And even help them to use it!

Go!

• Get people to pray for those you interact with using New Media!
• Get those people to pray for YOU as you use and develop New Media.
• Get beside people and get them using New Media!
• Have regular New Media Activity Days!

We can do it! Let's go tickle! Now, you may well be here representing a large church! Go for it - you have the numbers! What is stopping you? Or you may be here representing a small church. You can go tickling with New Media as well... Whatever church you represent, here is a bit of a radical idea. How about getting churches to work together in some way as a New Media expression within your local community? Use your blogs and other New Media to reach out into your local communities. Be willing to participate in New Media activities of your community. Large numbers of local communities are represented on Facebook. Instead of starting a new page for your church there, be willing contributors on the community page.

Go! Let's go Tickle with New Media!

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 109

Psalm 109

^1-5 My God, don't turn a deaf ear to my hallelujah prayer.
Liars are pouring out invective on me;
Their lying tongues are like a pack of dogs out to get me,
barking their hate, nipping my heels—and for no reason!
I loved them and now they slander me—yes, me!—
and treat my prayer like a crime;
They return my good with evil,
they return my love with hate.

 ^6-20 Send the Evil One to accuse my accusing judge;
dispatch Satan to prosecute him.
When he's judged, let the verdict be "Guilty,"
and when he prays, let his prayer turn to sin.

Give him a short life,
and give his job to somebody else.
Make orphans of his children,
dress his wife in widow's weeds;
Turn his children into begging street urchins,
evicted from their homes—homeless.

May the bank foreclose and wipe him out,
and strangers, like vultures, pick him clean.
May there be no one around to help him out,
no one willing to give his orphans a break.

Chop down his family tree
so that nobody even remembers his name.
But erect a memorial to the sin of his father,
and make sure his mother's name is there, too—
Their sins recorded forever before God,
but they themselves sunk in oblivion.

That's all he deserves since he was never once kind,
hounded the afflicted and heartbroken to their graves.

Since he loved cursing so much,
let curses rain down;
Since he had no taste for blessing,
let blessings flee far from him.

He dressed up in curses like a fine suit of clothes;
he drank curses, took his baths in curses.

So give him a gift—a costume of curses;
he can wear curses every day of the week!

That's what they'll get, those out to get me—
an avalanche of just deserts from God.

^21-25 Oh, God, my Lord, step in;
work a miracle for me—you can do it!

Get me out of here—your love is so great!—
I'm at the end of my rope, my life in ruins.

I'm fading away to nothing, passing away,
my youth gone, old before my time.

I'm weak from hunger and can hardly stand up,
my body a rack of skin and bones.

I'm a joke in poor taste to those who see me;
they take one look and shake their heads.

^26-29 Help me, oh help me,
God, my God,
save me through your wonderful love;
Then they'll know that your hand is in this,
that you, God, have been at work.
Let them curse all they want;
you do the blessing.

Let them be jeered by the crowd when they stand up,
followed by cheers for me, your servant.
Dress my accusers in clothes dirty with shame,
discarded and humiliating old ragbag clothes.

^30-31My mouth's full of great praise for God,
I'm singing his hallelujahs surrounded by crowds,
For he's always at hand to take the side of the needy,
to rescue a life from the unjust judge.

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Tickle Part 1 - Churches and Digital Media - What, why and who

The Art of Tickling -

What, why and who?

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G'day! Welcome! We are starting a new brief series based on a session I did at the 2011 Christians in New Media Awards and Conference. This session addressed the question of "How can traditional churches and those with older congregations use new media without excluding people?"

What is New Media?

Now you may well be asking what is this New Media or Social Media as it is also known. It is Websites, Blogs, Mobile Applications, Video, Audio and Social Networks such as Facebook and Twitter! At the conference, we were given the opportunities to investigate how to do those 8 things, to a greater degree of skill! This series, based on that session is about putting that knowledge into practise!

To use New Media is to Tickle!

Now instead of using our question each time I want to address, I have summed it up into one word - Tickle!  Here is what Tickle stands for!

Teach & Train

Interact & Inspire

Create and Communicate

Kind and Kindle

Love and Learn

Encourage and Explore

So by the time this short series is over, hopefully we will have learnt a bit more about the art of Tickling and how to get people using it!

Why Tickle?

However, before we know how to tickle, there are two questions to answer. Our first question is why. You may well be here and not know why you should be using new media and tickle! Why do we want to know how to use New Media and include everybody? The church of the New Testament had the 3 r's! There were seen as radical! There were seen to take risks as led by the Holy Spirit! There were seen to be relevant to their communities! How far from this has your church gone?

• It can shows church acting as a community!
• Gives the excluded and elderly an opportunity to know they are loved, valued and included.
• Gives those same people, the chance to use their talents and spiritual gifts!
• Further along those lines it gives them an opportunity to further enhance and be trained in the use of their talents and knowledge!

So that's why!

Who are the excluded?

But now a second question remains before we get to how. That question is: Who are we excluding - either deliberately or accidentally? Here are the kinds of people, in our churches, who I think are generally excluded from participating:

• Elderly
• Home confined & isolated
• Disabled
• Homeless
• Unemployed
• Poor - financially and technologically
• Disinterested and self-excluded

Part 2 will be tomorrow and that will be about ways in which I have tickled. Thank you.

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 132

Psalm 132

A Song of Ascents.

132:1 Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction,

132:2 how he swore to Yahweh, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:

132:3 “Surely I will not come into the structure of my house, nor go up into my bed;

132:4 I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids;

132:5 until I find out a place for Yahweh, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

132:6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar:

132:7 “We will go into his dwelling place. We will worship at his footstool.

132:8 Arise, Yahweh, into your resting place; you, and the ark of your strength.

132:9 Let your priest be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy!”

132:10 For your servant David’s sake, don’t turn away the face of your anointed one.

132:11 Yahweh has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.

132:12 If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forevermore.”

132:13 For Yahweh has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation.

132:14 “This is my resting place forever. Here I will live, for I have desired it.

132:15 I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread.

132:16 Her priests I will also clothe with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy.

132:17 There I will make the horn of David to bud. I have ordained a lamp for my anointed. 132:18 I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on himself, his crown will be resplendent.”

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Baptism - Bible Thought - WISE

Baptism

Jesus came and told His Disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make Disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new Disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Baptism is commanded for all who believe in Jesus (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38) and it naturally followed after conversion (Acts 2:37; Acts 10:47; Acts 16:33). But what does it mean?

What is baptism?

Christian Disciples are baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3), and into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is to show a total identification with Jesus Christ, whereby Christian Disciples are baptized into His body (1 Corinthians 12:13) and His death (Romans 6:1-6). Our old inherent sinful natures are seen as buried with Christ and we are raised to live a new life with a new nature! Baptism is also a public testimony that Christian Disciples have entered into God’s blessings.

Who should be baptized?

There are two main schools of thought over who should be baptized.

Firstly there is “Believers baptism”, which is for all who confess faith in Christ and is mentioned frequently in the New Testament (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41). This was by full immersion, usually in a river or other public place.

Secondly, there is what is called “Infant baptism”. This practice and teaching was passed down by the Apostles and was current by the time of the early church Fathers, Origen and Tertullian. The basis for Infant Baptism lies in the Old Testament, where the sign of the covenant between God and His people was circumcision of the male babies. Baptism can be thought of as the equivalent in the New Testament and therefore applicable to infants (Colossians 2:6-12).

I am not going to tell you my opinion on which I think is the correct form. Suffice to say, that God has used proponents of both opinions! If you have not been baptized and would call yourself a Christian, then go and ask your church leader about how you can undergo this vital part of Christian life.

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Wednesday Wisdom 8 - Proverbs 8

Wednesday Wisdom

Proverbs 8

G’day! Welcome to Partakers and to Wednesday Wisdom, where we are listening to what the Bible has to say through the Wisdom literature of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Come on in!

Today it is Proverbs 8. Download this episode using this link

1 Does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4 to you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O you simple, understand wisdom: and, you fools, be you of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing deceitful or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understands, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the peverse mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yes, durable riches and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore listen to me, O you children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoso finds me finds life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
36 But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Psalm On Demand - Psalm 103

Psalm 103

 

(read by Pammy)

 
Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!
Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don't forget all his benefits;
who forgives all your sins; who heals all your diseases;
who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies;  who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.
Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.
But Yahweh's loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children's children;
to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts.
Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.
Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.

Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his, you servants of his, who do his pleasure.
Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion.
Praise Yahweh, my soul!

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Shepherd - Bible Thought - WISE

Partake WISE - Shepherd

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What is a Shepherd

A shepherd is somebody who leads, teaches and cares for people. Are not all Christians commanded to lead people back to God and also help others along the way? That is the role of a shepherd. Of course the prime example of a Shepherd is that of Jesus Christ - the Great Shepherd.

How God and Jesus are Shepherds

In Psalm 23, we see that God is our shepherd. The quality, characteristics and activities of God Himself, are those of a shepherd. Jesus Christ said in John 10v10, that He gives His life that all those who follow Him, will have it more abundantly. Jesus as the Great Shepherd came to earth in order to bring sheep back into the fold; that is to bring people back into a full relationship with God. Jesus here in John 10, is looking ahead to His death on the cross as a means of facilitating the way for people to come back into a living relationship with God. The focus in Hebrews 13v20-21 is on the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, working in you, to produce that which is well pleasing in His sight. All Christians are like shepherds, being moulded by the Holy Spirit.

How are you to be a shepherd?

Nurture (Psalm 78v72 & John 21v15-17). Jesus is always concerned for the welfare of the weak, the small and the young. If you love and follow Jesus, you also should be concerned to care for the weak, oppressed and poor.

Feeding & nourishing (John 21v16-17). This means to tend, manage, and govern people, feeding and nourishing them. As a shepherd, you are to be interested in the care and welfare of others, both physically and spiritually.

Protects (Acts 20v28-29). The job of a shepherd is also to be watchful (Proverb 27v23). This means to be alert, quick to respond and care for people who may well be going through physical or spiritual dangers unaware.

Cares for Needy (Ezekiel 34v4). Prominent in biblical shepherding is caring for the weak and healing the wounded. The Great Shepherd retrieves rather than abandons. He restores rather than rejects.

You, and I, are to do likewise. As you are to be Jesus to people, you are to be their shepherd. The shepherd highlights a care for God's people. The shepherd persistently obeys God, wisely using available resources to accomplish God's purposes and to carefully nurture the people God has provided. This nurturing could be by leading them into faith by evangelism. If they are already a Christian, it is leading them through a life of faith by discipling. When you give care to the poor, needy and oppressed, you are sheperding, just as God does. His concerns are to be your concerns. May it be so, for by doing this, Christianity can make a difference, in a world which is seeking to kill the Great Shepherd by making Him an irrelevance. This Christmas, be a shepherd, just as Jesus was and is a Shepherd.

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 146

Psalm 146

 

¹ Praise the Lord!
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
² I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.
³ Don't put your confidence in powerful people;
there is no help for you there.
⁴ When they breathe their last,
they return to the earth,
and all their plans die with them.
⁵ But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
⁶ He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.
He keeps every promise forever.
⁷ He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners.
⁸ The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the godly.
⁹ The Lord protects the foreigners among us.
He cares for the orphans and widows,
but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
¹⁰ The Lord will reign forever.
He will be your God, O Jerusalem,
throughout the generations.

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Judgment - Bible Thought - WISE

Words In Scripture Explored - Judgment

There is certainty of judgment - He will judge the whole world with justice (Acts 17v31).

Who is the Judge? Almighty God is the judge of all the earth (Hebrews 12v23). God the Father has given all judgment to the Son, Jesus Christ (John 5v22-27)! All of humanity is destined to die once and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9v27). But what kind of judgment, and for which kind of people?

Judgment of unbelievers For all those who do not profess Jesus Christ as Lord and God in this earthly life, judgment will come to them. They will appear before the great white throne of Judgment (Revelation 20v11-15) to give an account for their sin and wickedness. Because they have no righteousness of their own to pay for their life of sin and wickedness, they will be cast into the lake of fire with satan and his angels (Revelation 20v15; Matthew 25v41). This punishment is eternal (Matthew 25v46).

Judgment of Christians There will also be a judgment for all those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour! Did you know that? Not a judgment for sins and wickedness, because their sins are forgiven! Not judged for sin, because this has already been judged (Isaiah 53v4-6; 1 Peter 2v24).They will be accepted by the Lord Jesus Christ! Accepted because during their life on earth, they responded to the offer of forgiveness from God, which is an act of grace. This group of people are forgiven through the Lord Jesus Christ, and his blood that was shed as he died on the cross.

However, we will be judged for the things we have done, with the gifts and talents we have been given!. We will all, if we profess to be Christian, give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14v10), and will be judged according to what we have done with what we have been given (2 Corinthians 5v10). The quality of our work will be tested (1 Corinthians 3v11-15), and our motives will be exposed. Exposed as to whether things were done for God's glory (1 Corinthians 4v4-5) or for our own glory.

As we give account of the opportunities and abilities entrusted to us (Matthew 25v14-30), rewards may be gained or lost (1 Corinthians 3v14-15). Rewards such as the Incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9v25); the Crown of glory (1 Peter 5v4); Crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4v8); Crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2v19) and the Crown of life (James 1v12).

So as you go, do all you can for the glory of God, as you submit to the Son Jesus Christ in the power of God the Holy Spirit! Go and tell somebody the good news of Jesus Christ, so that there may well be one person with you in heaven, because you told them about the free gift of grace who is the Lord Jesus Christ!

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