The Cor Project (This post contains a link to audio messages)

The Cor Project is an online project (www.corproject.com) that is being headed by author and teacher Christopher West, for the purpose of popularizing the riches that are to be found in Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body, which was a series of addresses given by the Pope from 1979-1984.  

Here's a short mission statement from the Cor Project website explaining the essence that it contains:

"Founded by Christopher West and inspired by John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, The Cor Project aims to reframe questions of human existence in such a way that the divine plan for man and woman can be perceived and embraced in all its beauty and splendor. This is a project of the heart (“cor” is Latin for heart), attracting men and women who are yearning for more than what our culture’s approach to happiness and fulfillment has to offer."

This powerful statement found on the Cor Project summarizes the Theology of the Body teaching:

"the Theology of the Body offers an in-depth biblical exploration of the meaning of our creation as male and female in the divine image that not only paves the way for lasting renewal of marriage and family life, but, as one of the most captivating articulations of Christian anthropology ever developed, enables everyone to rediscover “the meaning of the whole of existence, the meaning of life” (TOB 46:6)."

With that introduction, you can listen to a series of messages (4 in the series) given by West in 2012, at Truro Church in Fairfax, VA.  The title of the series is "Our Bodies proclaim the Gospel."  It is very good material and West is addressing a Christian audience of difference traditional backgrounds, Catholics and non-Catholics. Enjoy

Link to Audio Messages

 

Irreplaceable the Movie

There is a new movie coming out soon that seeks to show the value of family and ultimately seeks to point us to God's design for the family.

Here's the link to the film website:  http://www.irreplaceablethemovie.com/index.html

And here is what a few people have had to say about it:

“Focus on the Family’s new documentary, Irreplaceable, is an important film. It explains why God’s design for the family works, and why society suffers when we deviate from that design. I believe that as we embrace God’s beautiful plan for the family, His blessings will flow.”

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President, NHCLC, Hispanic Evangelical Association

“"Very powerful! Should be mandatory viewing for America ... the world!"”

author & former Compassion President & CEO Wess Stafford

Check this out!! Theology of the Body Video

Here is an extremely healthy video concerning the human body and sexuality in the light of being an image-bearer of God.

Click this Link to see Christopher West explain the Theology of the Body

Must See Video! The Family Bearing God's Image!

This video offers a look into God's idea of the family, as being that which most fully bears His image!

Click here to see the Video on Youtube

Hot off the press, 2014

"ReSeries: In His Image" in 5 parts.

Here is the link, click here: http://www.breakpoint.org/reseries/articles

Chuck Colson speaks about the Imago Dei

"I want to start the new year by looking at the most radical proposition, that lies at the heart of the Christian worldview...a proposition so radical, so profound that it literally changed the world.  It is simply this: the REVEALED TRUTH that man is created in the image of God, that man bears the Imago Dei..."
-short quote from video

This is a great three and a half minute video from Chuck Colson. The key topics in the video are: human rights and human dignity (in the context of U.S. history, referencing the Declaration of Independence), and last but certainly not least, mankind bearing the image of God.

If the video isn't working for you try this youtube link

Video presenting the Whole Gospel by Tim Keel

It is probable that you have seen a church in some city or town that contains in its name "Full Gospel."  The idea behind that would be that the popular way of presenting of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, is missing something.  "Their gospel is missing something in its presentation...."

One of the most common ways of presenting the gospel would be that people are sinners and need a Savior.  Romans 6:23 is a popular verse for that method.  

So Tim Keel, in this video deals with understanding Jesus Christ in the light of all the narratives in the bible, the Whole Story.  He points out that the priestly narrative, the one we are most familiar with where we need a sacrifice for our sins, is the one Jesus talked about the least.

Keel spends a good amount of time in his presentation talking about Jesus in the light of the creation narrative, the beginning, where man was created in the image of God; Keel shows the importance of understanding Jesus in His relationship with creation, or the beginning.  

The Whole Gospel Group Bible Study with Tim Keel - Q Group Studies

Here's the Youtube link if the video doesn't work

Who Is This Man: The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus

The impact of Jesus Christ on human history is immeasurable, it is astounding.  This video is an interview with Pastor John Ortberg, who pastors a church in California, concerning a book that he published in 2012 with the same title as the title of this post.  I don't want to say too much regarding this video without interaction from other people, but wow.

If video doesn't work, here's the orignial Youtube link

Just to give a small overview of some of the content of this video, I will share a little.   Ortberg deals with a number of current worldviews or perspectives regarding humanity: women, children, social relationships and attitudes that we now find embedded in our personalities, and we might think that it is natural, but in the context of all of human history, it isn't, and he traces these perspectives back to the origin of their impact: the  mind Jesus, and His thoughts regarding man, social relationship, etc.  A lot of the existing view mankind, as far as ALL of mankind possessing a very special worth and being worthy of being treated with dignity, comes from the impact that Jesus made on this earth (in terms of his human life,which we have recorded in the bible). That's all I am going to say.  Jesus Christ is the Son of Man!

A (Power)ful video from Andy Crouch

There is some great content in this video.  Andy Crouch (chief editor of Christianity Today) opens by speaking of the missing chapters that most Christians don't have in their bibles (Genesis 1 and 2, and Revelation 21 and 22).  Not literally missing of course, but in the sense that the first and last two chapters don't have a meaningful impact in their lives, relationship with God, or their worldview. It seems that for many, the bible starts in Genesis 3 (The Fall), and ends in Revelation 20 (The Lake of Fire).  

Here's the link to the original webpage where the video was posted, it can be downloaded

Crouch proceeds to touch on the verbal mood (Jussive mood) that can be seen in the language of God as He created the world, and surprisingly it wasn't the imperative mood (aka commands).  It is translated in English as "Let there be..." It offers a very rich meditation.

The event and effects of the Fall of man are dealt with also, mainly from the perspective of the perversion and corruption of power and creativity in humanity as Image bearers of God, which leads to idolatry and injustice (idolatry being the denial of the image of God in ourselves, and injustice relates to denying God's image in others).  That is powerful.  I don't want to give too much information, but "Let there be" the fulfillment of all the intention of our Creator for us. 

True Power

 Power. What is it?  Many people throughout history have tried to answer that question, and according to each one's concept it has been the Force that puts things into motion in peoples lives.  For certain people throughout history, power was an end in itself, and to obtain as much as possible was their life goal.  If you search Wikipedia for power (it'll have in brackets 'social and political' for distinction), it in short defines power as "the ability to influence the behavior of people."  Abraham Lincoln would not stray too far from that definition but has said,

  "Nearly all men and women can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." 

Gandhi, A man who certainly dealt with the abuse of power in his society also followed that definition by setting "power to love" being versus "love of power."

 "The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace." 

And if you search for other power quotes, countless other people will more or less stick to the above definition of power.  

A recent discovery of an in-built capacity and need for power within man has change my concept of it.  With this new and I would say true and proper understanding of power, most of the quotes would have to undergo revision.  

This discovery comes from an interview with the executive editor of Christianity Today, and author of several books, Andy Crouch.  The main theme the interviewer was discussing with Crouch was the concept of power, which permeates a recent book of his titled Playing God. 

When asked, "If power is a gift, how are Christians meant to steward that gift?" 

Crouch responded

"The purpose of power is flourishing.  Flourishing is fullness of being - being everything that we are created to be.  And the biblical witness seems to be that human beings are given a special kind of power - "image-bearing" power - that is meant for the flourishing of the world.

What an understanding!  That makes me love power.  I want all the power I can get so that I can express and glorify my Creator, Who is said to be Love, by the way (1 John 4:8).   

Check out the rest of that interview, it's got some gold in it:

Interview with Andy Crouch

Community Relationships in the light of Genesis 1:26-27

The Reformed Church of America (RCA) has a wonderful article on their website dealing with what should be the central point for a ministry, to make a real impact in communities.  This article deals with building meaningful reltationships with those in our community, and really touches a key matter as it points out what should be the basis of building relationships in our community.  Of course, the basis is that our neighbors, and all those around us are created in the image of God.  That is such a great need, to relate to those around us in that understanding.  May our Father help us to see those around us with His eyes...
There is actually a number of different articles with that theme on the RCA.org website that appear to good, so that might be some more posts from RCA in the near future...

CLICK HERE FOR THE RCA ARTICLE!