Circumcision of the Heart Ministry
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit,
and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Philippians 3:3
and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Philippians 3:3
DIVERSE IN OUR FAITH: UNITED IN OUR SUFFERING
(The Truth Of Life)
By: Bishop J. N. Hall Jr.
(The Truth Of Life)
By: Bishop J. N. Hall Jr.
This is a critical time in our lives; in fact, we are facing some extremely difficult challenges as a people, in our communities, cities, states, and country. ; The problems of poverty and racism; the uninsured and the unemployed; people losing their homes and the war Iraq and Afghanistan.
As a clergyman, those in prison and/or free, called to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, we find ourselves faced with extraordinary challenges. Having been called to minister to the suffering, not just the Christians who are suffering, but individuals, communities, our nation, and most importantly, a lost and dying world, we are faced with extraordinary situations and circumstances.
We discover, as clergymen, first and foremost, that those who are suffering are not all Christians suffers or lost individuals with no faith in God but many who have faith even if it’s not the same faith as others. Nevertheless, they’re faced with the same problems, situations and circumstances that have no respect of persons, religious belief, race or gender.
For approximately sixteen (16) years in prison, I’ve encountered many people, bond and free, claiming to have strong genuine religious beliefs and practices. For the first time in my life I’ve been exposed to many different religious ideologies from Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, and the Moors Science Temple of America, just to name a few.
The order, of which, I’ve listed the different religions is not indicative of any form of disrespect. Many of the religious leaders here, even though we differ in our beliefs, has joined me in advocating many of the problems or challenges faced by those of us incarcerated. And there are those who profess no religious beliefs, yet they display honesty, empathy, discipline, delayed gratification, and hard work as well as those professing religious sentiments and religious activism.
While I praise so many for their contributions in support of our causes and continued commitment, to those of us incarcerated, in our struggles to change the mind-set of society in regards to the very much needed reentry programs that would help to bring many of us who have had the misfortune of spending long periods of time in prison, back into the mainstream of society, it is important that we know that our release from prison is not, understandably, at they think is the most important and pressing problem we have in America today, I doubt very seriously "the release of prisoners" would be the first answer uttered.
The truth of the matter is, and truth is independent of your opinion and mine, there is no shortage of religious people in America, Christians or Muslims or Jews ..., and in spite of all of the kind and religious people who proclaims that there is more than one way to get to the top of a mountain, if it's a mountain you want to get to the top of or salvation. If we are to solve our problems in our communities, cities, states and nation, there is only one way. It's not about religion or how kind people are. It's about what God says about the matter that counts.
Jesus says in John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus' words, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, are the sixth of Jesus' seven "I am" statements in the Gospel of John 6:48 I am that bread of life. John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me; John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener) Jesus is the “way” because He is the “Truth” and the "Life." As the Father is "Truth" and Life, Jesus is the embodiment of God so people can come to the Father, John 1:4, In him was life; and the life was the light of men John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. , John 1:18, No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,[a][b]who is at the Father's side, has made him known. John 1:11
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. , John 1:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;. By His words, "No one comes to the Father except through Me", Jesus stressed that salvation, contrary to what many people think, is not obtainable through many ways.
Only one Way exists Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.", 1 Tim. 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ). Jesus is the only access to the Father because He is the only One from the Father John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning. John 1:51 He then added, "I tell you[b] the truth, you[c] shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man ; John 3:13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
"Religion", may be, as some suggest, an expression of human culture where by Jesus does not say, I am the right religion, but says, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No Man! No Man! Can get to the Father except he comes through me."
We can intellectually argue this point as much and as long as we like and it will not change the fact that God is God. He and He alone gave His Son achieved. Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be SAVED." The name of Jesus Christ is the center of contention
Acts 4:7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" Acts 4:10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. and Acts 4: 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. and ever will be. Salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike is exclusively through the name of Jesus Christ. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It is imperative that we understand that God created us and we did not create him. Our purpose in Life is not about us. It’s not about how successful you might become or how poor you are. It’ not about whether you believe in god, it is God that makes him God and Jesus his son. It’s about God and how we please him that defines the Truth of Life.
See Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
As a clergyman, those in prison and/or free, called to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, we find ourselves faced with extraordinary challenges. Having been called to minister to the suffering, not just the Christians who are suffering, but individuals, communities, our nation, and most importantly, a lost and dying world, we are faced with extraordinary situations and circumstances.
We discover, as clergymen, first and foremost, that those who are suffering are not all Christians suffers or lost individuals with no faith in God but many who have faith even if it’s not the same faith as others. Nevertheless, they’re faced with the same problems, situations and circumstances that have no respect of persons, religious belief, race or gender.
For approximately sixteen (16) years in prison, I’ve encountered many people, bond and free, claiming to have strong genuine religious beliefs and practices. For the first time in my life I’ve been exposed to many different religious ideologies from Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, and the Moors Science Temple of America, just to name a few.
The order, of which, I’ve listed the different religions is not indicative of any form of disrespect. Many of the religious leaders here, even though we differ in our beliefs, has joined me in advocating many of the problems or challenges faced by those of us incarcerated. And there are those who profess no religious beliefs, yet they display honesty, empathy, discipline, delayed gratification, and hard work as well as those professing religious sentiments and religious activism.
While I praise so many for their contributions in support of our causes and continued commitment, to those of us incarcerated, in our struggles to change the mind-set of society in regards to the very much needed reentry programs that would help to bring many of us who have had the misfortune of spending long periods of time in prison, back into the mainstream of society, it is important that we know that our release from prison is not, understandably, at they think is the most important and pressing problem we have in America today, I doubt very seriously "the release of prisoners" would be the first answer uttered.
The truth of the matter is, and truth is independent of your opinion and mine, there is no shortage of religious people in America, Christians or Muslims or Jews ..., and in spite of all of the kind and religious people who proclaims that there is more than one way to get to the top of a mountain, if it's a mountain you want to get to the top of or salvation. If we are to solve our problems in our communities, cities, states and nation, there is only one way. It's not about religion or how kind people are. It's about what God says about the matter that counts.
Jesus says in John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus' words, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, are the sixth of Jesus' seven "I am" statements in the Gospel of John 6:48 I am that bread of life. John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me; John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener) Jesus is the “way” because He is the “Truth” and the "Life." As the Father is "Truth" and Life, Jesus is the embodiment of God so people can come to the Father, John 1:4, In him was life; and the life was the light of men John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. , John 1:18, No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,[a][b]who is at the Father's side, has made him known. John 1:11
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. , John 1:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;. By His words, "No one comes to the Father except through Me", Jesus stressed that salvation, contrary to what many people think, is not obtainable through many ways.
Only one Way exists Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.", 1 Tim. 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ). Jesus is the only access to the Father because He is the only One from the Father John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning. John 1:51 He then added, "I tell you[b] the truth, you[c] shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man ; John 3:13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
"Religion", may be, as some suggest, an expression of human culture where by Jesus does not say, I am the right religion, but says, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No Man! No Man! Can get to the Father except he comes through me."
We can intellectually argue this point as much and as long as we like and it will not change the fact that God is God. He and He alone gave His Son achieved. Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be SAVED." The name of Jesus Christ is the center of contention
Acts 4:7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" Acts 4:10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. and Acts 4: 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. and ever will be. Salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike is exclusively through the name of Jesus Christ. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It is imperative that we understand that God created us and we did not create him. Our purpose in Life is not about us. It’s not about how successful you might become or how poor you are. It’ not about whether you believe in god, it is God that makes him God and Jesus his son. It’s about God and how we please him that defines the Truth of Life.
See Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Bishop J. N. Hall Jr.
