The Holiday Challenge

It’s that time again. It’s the holiday season. Even in the midst of a pandemic, Americans are still trying to make time for family, fellowship, food and festivities. 

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us we're going to start talking about December 25th. That's because, the day after Thanksgiving is the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. Therefore, we're going to take advantage of this annual launch to start talking about December 25th and what it truly means in America today.

Did you know that many people feel that Christmas should not be celebrated?

When you learn about some of its history you can understand why. Here are just a few reasons why it is not celebrated in many sectors of American society. You might have family or friends who feel this way:

1.) December 25th is just a capitalistic marketing ploy to manipulate the masses to spend money.

2.) There is no Christian church validation that Jesus was really born on December 25th.

3.) December 25th is a day on which Jews have been shamed, tortured and murdered.

4.) Many of the most popular December 25th customs – including trees, mistletoe, stockings and Santa Claus – are modern reincarnations of pagan rituals.

5.) Most December 25th customs evolved from pagan rituals and practices and, therefore, should never be observed.

We agree that these are all very strong arguments for not participating in the festivities of the holiday. Many preachers across America will accurately and systematically destroy any reason a Christian Believer could possibly be connected to this season of the year.

However, as you know, we have built a reputation on diving into controversial topics and we’re about to add more fuel to that fire.

Many Christians and religious people have taken the position that it is wrong to embrace things that were perverted and sinful in their origins. They feel we should never attempt to use these things for God. 

However, that's exactly what God did with us. Even though we were born in sin and shaped in iniquity, Christ died for us while we were still sinners. For anyone who receives Him, He gives them the power to become children of God. He changes us and sets us apart for His purpose. He didn't allow our sinful origins to keep us away from His divine purpose.

Now, as His children, we have the opportunity to take advantage of a season that has very negative origins and highly commercialized, money-making schemes. This is one of the special times in which our families can be exposed to the reality of Jesus Christ and the true reason why He came to earth.

We believe that we must do much more than just debate about all the reasons why we should not celebrate December 25th. Most people simply REACT to the negative aspects of this date. We believe that we need to provide Believers Godly ways to RESPOND to this season.

Beginning this week, and up until Christmas Day, we want to give you Five Godly Responses to the Pagan Origins of December 25th.

This week we’re presenting response #1: 

Become All Things to All Men.

In 1 Corinthians 9:18-23, Paul writes, "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you."

We see the Christmas season as the perfect opportunity to connect with many different kinds of people. This scripture does not mean that we become hypocrites and pretenders in order to indulge in secular practices. This is talking about connecting with people ON THEIR LEVEL of understanding. This is about identifying with them, the same way Christ identified with all of mankind.

Don't shun people because of what they believe or practice during this season. Don't isolate yourself from the office party or the family gathering because they may have traditions or rituals that are against your beliefs. Become all things to all men, so that you might by all means save some.

We'll give you a week to ponder over these thoughts! Please watch for next week's posting as we provide another way to avoid merely REACTING to, but instead, wisely RESPONDING to the pagan origins of December 25th.

Changing the Cancel Culture with CARE

How do you have a conversation with people who have a political, social or religious view that is different from your own?

How do you connect with someone who has no faith tradition or they have a non-traditional faith practice?

How do you handle life's awkward encounters?

How do you build a culture within your community and within your own heart that does not cancel people?

These challenges are answered in Chris and Carol Green's 19th publication titled Responding With Care: Listening, Lifting and Launching. 

In this powerfully relevant message for our time, embedded in a searcherdemic-based presentation, the Greens build a strong case for adopting the principles of CARE (Civility and Compassion, Awareness and Accountability with Respect and Empathy) in our personal and professional lives.

As the creators of the CARE-Ready Life Coaching® model and its initiatives, Chris and Carol Green, reveal their highly recommended, tested, proven and successful people-connecting strategy. Their innovative "Listen, Lift, Launch" approach to mentoring and life coaching (aka Discipleship) was built from years of successfully empowering those who live and work in underserved communities.

Coaches, mentors, counselors, pastors, community leaders and neighborhood helpers have been elevated higher than “assess and treat”.  Instead of trying to fix or reconstruct people, CARE is about listening for understanding, lifting  through skilled spiritual guidance, and launching people into new possibilities. 

With its Foreword written by La-Verna Fountain, a highly sought after communications and conflict resolution specialist who works with large scale organizations, we encourage you to get the CARE-Ready Handbook that's been 25 years in the making.

Order from Amazon Books HERE

STEP Forward Life Institute Highlighted in Global Magazine

Chris and Carol Green, along with ten other leaders and organizations from all over the world, were featured in a global magazine.

"We continue to make connections with leaders around the world through a powerful initiative that seeks to change the way we approach education in the 21st century," the Green's stated.

Their STEP Forward Life Institute, which administers their exclusive CARE-Ready Life Coach Certification program, was included in an internationally released online publication.

Productive Business Magazine highlights and shares productive business stories worldwide. This issue focused on "Searcherdemics" highlighting the journey of a "New Global Education System.”

Click the link below to read. (We're on page 6)

Productive Business Magazine Link

Fruitful Living in Every Season

We think about the different seasons that we went through in our life, and how we had seasons of prosperity and seasons of leanness; and now we describe them like the natural four seasons. 

We have been through seasons of autumn, when the leaves were falling and then there were seasons of winter, when everything just seemed to be dead. There were seasons of spring when life was returning. And then the seasons of summer when it was hot and things were happening. 

After we go through a summer season, then fall (autumn) returns, and many of us start to think that we failed. We feel like we've done something wrong, and we're out of God's will, because the same trees (ideas) that were bearing fruit, and flourishing, now we're watching the leaves turn brown and yellow, and they're falling off. And we’re like, “God, what happened?" 

Many people struggle when it comes to understanding seasons, but the reality is that it is not always spring and summer time.  It may be difficult to precisely define the season that you’re in, but that’s okay.  As you are reading through this book, you will gain discernment for where you are, and the determination to keep moving forward in God's purpose for your life.

Chris and Carol Green offer wisdom from their 30-year personal and pastoral journey, providing hope, faith and insight on how to be fruitful in every season.

Get in the flow at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1514327066

 

The Honor Role: Heartfelt Words from One Concerned Father

"In our world today, we honor and display what should be covered in modesty, and we ignore, shame and cover what should be Honored," author Chris Green comments in his latest publication. "The Role of Men should be honored and encouraged, not covered or shamed."

However, it is covered and even despised due the influence of evil in the heart of mankind that has distorted and perverted what God ordained to be an honorable role in the family, community, and all of society.

For Chris, it all began when he wrote a letter to the mayor of the City of St. Louis, Missouri, USA, back in the 1990's, in protest of several special interest groups who were presenting political views and social movements that, he felt, were detrimental to his efforts as a husband of a loving woman, and a father of three African American boys. It was his small effort to cry out against the special interest groups that were, in his humble opinion, contributors to the destruction of the Black family and community.

In his third solo authorship project, The Honor Role, Green challenges men to restore honor to the role of husband and father. 

"My newest book may surprise you because it does not take you through an outline of topical chapters and studies," Green explains. "As we moved into the empty nest time of life and then became grandparents, we also transitioned to a responsibility to pass on our knowledge and experience to our sons. So this compilation is not only for men in general, but to three men, specifically. 

My wife and I have released this book because we believe God gave us strategies for both building and guarding our families. We are witnesses that those who have embraced these strategies, have experienced the fulfillment of God's promise to rebuild, restore and renew their hearts and homes."

This book is a very special collection of Green's most significant messages to men; published with the intent to fortify those who are genuinely striving for excellence during an era in which negative stereotypes, current abuse, and horrible history are constantly aired and rehearsed, and male bashing is popular, applauded and rewarded.

Order a copy for you or your son(s) at   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GTNL8ZP