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Putting Jesus In a Box? Jesus has a way of never staying where you put him. In a stereotype, in a boat, in a tomb, in a box? Jesus often appears in a place you never thought to look and often is missing in the place you expect him to be. When he was twelve, his parents lost track of him in Jerusalem. When it was time to make the long trip back, they expected him to be somewhere in the caravan. When they discovered he was missing, they returned and found him in the temple quizzing the experts and surprising them with his insight. The people of Israel (and his disciples) had him pegged as the warrior Messiah who would deliver them from the Roman occupation and set up a new kingdom with the disciples as the members of his cabinet. He said if my kingdom were of this world my servants would fight, He said his kingdom was not from this realm. The people who initially followed him expected him to take the throne, not the cross. Most of the religious leaders looked for him to hang around with them not the sinners and tax collectors he often taught and healed. When Lazarus, a friend of his was sick, the friend's family and the religious leaders expected him to hurry back from the trip he was on to heal him. Instead, he waited until Lazarus died and came back three days after he had been buried for the famous resurrection scene. He cared for Lazarus and in the shortest verse of the bible it records: "Jesus wept." He cared about his friend but he had a lesson to teach everyone who feared the grave. Speaking of the tomb, even though Jesus said over and over that he would be betrayed, crucified, would die, be buried and on the third day rise again, his disciples were flabbergasted that he was gone from the tomb where they had put him. I love the words of the angels who waited around to give them the wake up call: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words. Anytime we put Jesus in a box, we limit not only Heavens glory in our lives, but our access to miracles. I will freely admit that I'm a person in need of miracles on a regular basis. The good news is that they frequently happen. When I have my mind and emotions firmly fixed on the impossibilities, when I put Jesus in the box along with my doubts and insecurities that's when they disappear. But when I do the opposite the possibilities are endless. Several years ago I had this dream that one day I would meet the top "brass" of the National Football League? Well guess what, this past Sunday that opportunity took place at the Raiders, Chargers game I found myself sharing this ministry "Raiders for Christ" With the Commissioner Roger S. Goodell who sat just several seats away in the "Black Hole" His reaction "speechless." It's the last thing he expected to hear from the Raider Nation. Miracles do happen... Jeremiah 29:11 indicates “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This scripture validates His feelings for us in that He loves us... Pastor Mando Over the last several decades, changing patterns of fertility, mortality, education, religious views and migration have profoundly affected people’s lives. The family, the basic unit of all societies, is adapting itself to new challenges and opportunities and changing its structure and activities to cope with new realities and enhance the quality of life of its family members. Greater numbers of people are living to older ages and higher proportions of most countries’ populations have lived at least 60 years. At the same time, countries with historically high levels of fertility are dealing with unprecedented numbers of children moving into adolescence. Accelerating social and economic change is posing new challenges to societies and families in preparing youth for productive social roles. Around the world, family support networks are in decline and the proportion of single-parent-headed households is growing. This often leads to young people being separated from their grandparents, who previously play a special role in the traditional education and socialization of the young. Alameda like many populated areas is a very ethnically diverse community, with a relatively large number of single family households, whose median income is relatively low compared to other cities, in many cases youth football teams mirror this trend. They have a large number of players who come from different parts of a community seeking a safe environment in which to compete in athletics. In many cases they have a lager number of players who come from single parent families who lack the financial ability to afford the equipment and registration fees necessary to play football. In addressing these issues, USA Football the official youth football development partner of the Oakland Raiders, and the NFL, each of its other 30 teams and the NFL Players Association. The NFL Youth Football Fund, a joint partnership between the NFL and the NFL Players Association, provides for football programs to earn an equipment grant from USA Football and NFL teams this season. "Amy Trask, (team attorney) says they are pleased to team with USA Football to help our community and its youth organizations," Educating young people about the immediate and longer-term effects of their choices enables them to make responsible decisions. Their ability to make informed choices, to fulfill their individual potential and contribute to economic development, is what shapes the hearts of leaders today by the way of family guides, their health, and schooling becomes a blessing for these young people. As the National Football League respond to the needs of communities around the world, one can only be thankful... Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) Pastor Mando The trauma of abuse is never fully gone from a person's consciousness. Its filthy stain leaves its residue on the soul and heart... The message is impossible to ignore. In the lives of people that have been abused streams of cultivating hopelessness, despair, anger, and lust comes a message of hope and encouragement. Many have been touched by Christ in these area's in their moment of need. Pre-Christians, and struggling Christians who are fighting lonely and losing battles are being constantly reminded that God is waiting to embrace them, heal their wounds and answer their questions. Many ask how and why did this happen in the first place! Well, first we must understand that we live in a fallen world the evils of mankind have taken a demonic turn for the worst. Those wounds of abuse run so deep that most often wonder if they will ever heal. God's promise is real, Jesus said he was sent to heal the broken hearted. This He has done for many. Whether it be physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Then why do so many find it difficult to believe? The mental and emotional abuse from relationships are difficult to trust even the best of hearts one can keep friends at arm’s length to protect themselves from potential dangers, much less a message of God loving them? Some turn to prayer? They turn to psychiatrists? and medication as well. "So what's the answer here" Can our lives change by believing that we can utterly be transformed by a God that claims that He will heal us?. Jesus is as real as you and me. He can be found when you look. I promise you won’t have to look far... If you believe that God created the human race then your on the right track..."Let's see now? How can I share this by making sense of it all? If God created us and His word says: Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you will find it; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7) Okay, this is what happens when we ask He supernaturally removes the emotion? behind the painful experience, but guess what? We will never forget the experience and that's where God is glorified? Okay now, listen up Raider Nation when God created us He installed what we call a brain with a memory bank. The devil knows that we have this equipment? It's the only reason he reminds us of our past our fallen human nature always falls for it. When a pastor or psychiatrists says forget about what's happened or to just simply bury it. Well, that practice is only temporary it will never bring permanent healing the emotion will always resurface, I truly believe it's Satan's way to deceive the human race he's been having his way for ages by working through man that has no spiritual awareness or lack of it. As you embrace this as part of your healing path you'll recognize that the pain is no longer there but the memory of it all becomes a testimony of God's amazing healing power. The scriptures come to life, Paul said in (2Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation). I truly believe over the long term, many Christians or even non-believers will totally embrace God's truth in His creation. As we Trust that God has all beings in His hands, and that somehow He will continue drawing all of them toward His Light brings comfort to all who know of His amazing grace. Pastor Mando Most of us have been fascinated with natural wildlife native to our region. But on a recent trip to Oakland I found myself in awe of the California Landscape, I found myself staring at the breathtaking wonder of rolling hills the vast plains to the tops of the mountains. I watched birds soar in formation, and I saw the rain clouds form in the distance. Together they are just a sampling of the millions of sites that make up the intricate and delicate balance of nature. Many of you will travel this weekend to the home opener in Oakland against the St. Louis Rams, by air or ground glance for a moment at His breathtaking wonders. According to the Bible, the variety of the natural world is designed to do far more than inspire childlike wonder. The mysteries of nature can help us come to terms with a God who allows inexpressible, unexplainable pain and suffering. We see this in the epic story of Job in the Old Testament. While he was suffering, Job didn’t know that God had such a high regard for him that he allowed Satan to test his faith with a series of losses. What emerges is this eventual, unavoidable conclusion: A Creator who has the wisdom and power to design the wonders of nature is great enough to be trusted with pain and suffering that are beyond our ability to understand. In awe, Job proclaimed, “I know that You can do everything” (Job 42:2). We can trust that kind of God—no matter what. If God’s creation helps us see What wonders He can do, Then we can trust His promises For they are always true. It’s good to worship God in nature if it leads us to worship the God of nature. Pastor Mando How many of you have had a sparrow fly inside your house through a window or an open door followed by you chasing this bird all around. Eventually only to see that little intruder flying away in a desperate search for an exit. Before it could escape to safety, the bird toured the house so frantically that you could see its chest throbbing from its rapid heartbeat. Sometimes we are like that little bird—anxious, frazzled, and afraid of what might happen next. It should comfort us to think that “not one (sparrow) falls to the ground” without God knowing about it (Matt. 10:29). He sees and knows everything in our world. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place” (Prov. 15:3), and nothing escapes His attention, including you and me. God understands and values the finest points of our being. Jesus said, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matt. 10:30. It’s amazing that God keeps a tally of our personal trivia and is even aware of a bird’s misfortune. Prayer is mysterious. We are told an earnest prayer is powerful. We are told God will hear the prayers of the righteous. We are told our prayers will move God’s hand. Back in 2003 I felt it the raw power, a surge of pure energy. There was tingling. I was sweating and yet … The feeling of being behind the Voice of God was overwhelming. I was actually experiencing the feeling of danger? In the middle of the night I asked God who is it?. And a thought flashed: "A Raiders player" had made a bad decision, I knew in my soul that I was feeling the same thing God understood. The fear that came upon me, He was propping me up to pray! Looking back, I now realize that I was wrestling for God’s Will, and in the process, I was confronting my own fears. I was stepping into darkness in that there was a mystery, That God would not reveal until the next day. I was wrestling with God’s intimacy for someone in danger...Oakland Raiders center Barret Robbins failed to appear for the 2003 Super bowl in San Diego. When hearing of this, my spirit literally was in owe of Gods amazing love for a man that had slipped into darkness, It was like God stopped time for a moment to give Robbins an escape to live one more day. There is power in prayer we do not understand, yet we are to be obedient and persevere in it, even if our puny minds cannot conceive why. Since He knows about these small details, we can trust that He sees and cares about the big issues that ruffle our feathers. When we ask Him for help, God’s response is always informed by His perfect knowledge of us and our circumstances. Let’s trust Him with our anxious concerns. Prayer is mysterious so when we put it all together, we see that the all-knowing, all-powerful God who possesses heaven and Earth, who has entered into a special covenant with us, wants to provide for our needs. If God sees the sparrow’s fall, Paints the lilies short and tall, Gives the skies their azure hue, Will He not then care for you? Pastor Mando Glance at any newspaper and the headlines tell you what’s wrong with the world. Watch television, listen to the radio, talk to friends, and you will find no shortage of opinions as to what is wrong on planet Earth. That’s because pointing out what’s wrong is easy. When terrorists hijacked passenger planes and slammed them into the Pentagon, two New York skyscrapers, and a Pennsylvania field, the world quickly called it evil. The destructive power of this epic evil event made people feel paralyzed and helpless. And that’s what evil does best; it makes us feel powerless. A Florida pastor's plan to burn Qurans at his church on Sept. 11, ignited protests for a second day by hundreds of Afghans, who burned U.S. flags and shouted "Death to America," prompting the top U.S. top commander to say that the pastor could be increasing the threat to his troops. Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Fla., who runs something called the "Dove World Outreach Center" with all of 50 members. This very unchristian-like behavior has brought this pastor to come up with the genius idea of commemorating the terror attacks of Sept. 11 by burning the Quran. He has managed to outrage a billion people globally, put the lives of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan at greater risk, and gift-wrap a public relations and recruiting bonanza to the Taliban and al-Qaeda. You don't think the "body of Christ" is saying Knock It Off! Well, Thursday he finally scrapped the mass burning of the Muslim holy book, "stay tune" Most of us experience evil on a smaller, more personal scale. And for us, the apostle Paul outlined the proper response. He said we are to abhor evil (Rom. 12:9), not to repay it with more evil (v.17), and not to be overcome by it (v.21). The true victim of evil is goodness—the goodness that God designed as part of creation for everyone to enjoy (Gen. 1:4-31). It is surprising then when Paul concludes that the casualty of evil is also its conqueror (Rom. 12:21). Evil gets all the headlines, but God’s goodness is stronger, and He wants us to use it on His behalf to overcome evil. If the world could only take note of the power that exist in goodness. Our own beloved Fred Biletnikoff and wife Angela experienced that same feeling of being paralyzed and helpless when their daughter, Tracey, was brutally murdered by someone she dated. To ensure that Tracey's spirit and dreams live on and are not forgotten, they established the Tracey Biletnikoff Foundation. It's an awesome illustration of healing a broken heart the goodness on their part to destroy the evil that took place in their lives, In return they are helping others by being strong and supportive to many (now the Biletnikoff Foundation), a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of young women recovering from substance abuse, and education for the prevention of domestic violence. Is to supporting youth, primarily from low to moderate income neighborhoods or backgrounds, who are “at risk” particularly to the realities of drug and alcohol addiction as well as domestic and gender violence. To Support the Tracey Biletnikoff Foundation log on to- http://www.biletnikoff.net/ Pastor Mando Every year, thousands of individuals are diagnosed with cancer. Even those who aren’t stricken with the heart of the illness are touched in some way by the deadly disease. Many of us know someone that is fighting or has died of this horrible disease. God calls His Word powerful, inspired by the Holy Spirit and living ... as applicable today as when it was first given to mankind. As patients battle the disease of cancer, emotional and spiritual giants, such as fear, guilt, anger, hopelessness and despair, often assail them. These enemies of our souls seek to rob, kill and destroy the life within us, the hope and strength comes from faith in our god given passion to live on. Research shows that a spiritual relationship with the Lord play a vital role in helping people cope with cancer, both mentally and physically. The psychological benefits of prayer include: reduction of stress and anxiety, promotion of a more positive outlook, and a strengthening of your will to live. Spiritual support to cancer patients and their family members is very important. Faith and medicine works best when they work hand-in-hand. As a person is battling cancer, faith in Christ. Is recognized faith emanates from the core of one's beliefs, contributes to your identity and impacts every aspect of your life. Whatever form your spirituality takes, your faith and your beliefs can be healing forces in your life. The warmth, love and belonging that you gain from your faith can help you find peace, comfort and meaning. October 4, the Raiders are hosting their 11th annual Football 101 with Alta Bates Summit Medical Center to benefit breast cancer services for low income women. The team will be selling pink Raider caps to benefit the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center, in conjunction with 7-Eleven, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, and the Raider Image. A portion of all women’s Reebok apparel sold at the Raider Image in the month of October will be donated to the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center. Starting this Sunday throughout the NFL cancer awareness kicks-off. The Oakland Raiders recognize the need in the community. In the lives of many, often it's hard to confront illness and death in the context of spiritual development. Yet these experiences of being supportive can stimulate or promote spiritual growth in ourselves and in those we love. As we work together a spiritual understanding of cancer often leads us to take a step forward in the Lord with courage, an open mind, and open heart. God is no respecter of persons, so whether your need is simple, or an urgent matter of life or death, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain! Jesus took our infirmities and bore your sickness. Therefore refuse to allow sickness to dominate your body. The Life of God flows within you bringing healing to every fiber of your being. (Matt. 8:17; John 6:63.) Pastor Mando Raiders fans have endured a lot of ups and downs, but they still have a reputation for being among the most enthusiastic and loyal in the NFL. True fans understand that they have to stick with their team no matter what. They also relish all their memories of cheering for the Raiders, even memories that hurt a little or a lot to recall. After all, the disappointing games, seasons, and plays that come to mind make the good times feel even better. For centuries, masks have played a role in the cultures of varied peoples. Masks have entertained, inspired respect and fear, and facilitated religious rituals. At its most basic level, a mask is a form of disguise, of taking on the identity of someone or something else. It is more evocative perhaps than any other disguise because it conceals the face, where emotions and personality are most prominently displayed or hidden. Pastor Mando
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