Tag Archives: Jesus

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Pastor Dr. Tony Evans and Pray.com Partner on ‘Heroes in the Bible’ Podcast

Debuting before Easter, Hit Podcast Series Focuses on the Miraculous Life of Jesus, Inviting Listeners into Scripture...

Hello World,

PRAY.COM, the No. 1 app for prayer and faith-based audio and video streaming content, announces – just in time for Easter –  the exciting second season of its innovative and action-packed “Heroes in the Bible” series with Pastor Dr. Tony Evans, with this new season focusing on the miraculous life of Jesus.

Beginning with the foretelling of the Messiah’s arrival and the birth of John the Baptist, the second season of this series casts a light on the life of Christ—from His humble birth to His sacrificial act of redemption. This series uncovers the extraordinary within the miraculous, narrating His life’s events with cinematic flair, inspiring listeners through the transformative power of the Bible by exploring the Jesus of the Gospels, whose teachings and actions have shaped the course of history.

“We are humbled and honored once again to have Dr. Evans lend his remarkable voice and presence for this epic series, which ranked No. 1 on Apple podcast charts with 3.7 million downloads,” said PRAY.COM founder and CEO Steve Gatena. “We couldn’t be more excited about releasing these new episodes, and we know that millions will be blessed by this podcast about the most important Bible hero of all time.”

Dr. Evans powerfully shares these incredible experiences in his characteristic teaching style, captivating listeners with the transformative power of the Bible. Each episode reinvigorates these biblical narratives, masterfully enacted by a diverse cast of voiceover talent. The soundscapes, richly detailed and meticulously crafted, are complemented by custom musical scores, offering an enveloping auditory experience.

“When we reflect upon the goodness of Christ, we are granted a deepened reverence, gratitude and hope,” said series host Dr. Evans. “In that blessing, we receive peace and excitement to share that same message with others. This is the most valuable gift we could ever give—the hope that can only be found in Jesus.”

PRAY.COM co-founder Matthew Potter adds “The story of Jesus is what the Bible is all about, and we greatly appreciate how Dr. Evans helps us all understand how Jesus is the hero in every one of our stories.”

Recognized as one of the country’s most respected leaders in evangelical circles, Dr. Evans is a pastor, teacher, author and speaker, serving the body of Christ through his unique ability to communicate complex theological truths using simple, yet profound, illustrations. New and veteran pastors alike regard him as a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith. Learn more about Dr. Tony Evans at https://tonyevans.org/.

“We are so excited to bring the story of Jesus to life for our members, in our signature cinematic story-telling style,” said PRAY.COM VP of Content Max Bard. “Of all the biblical figures, Christ is the most important, and only someone with the voice and the depth of Dr. Tony Evans could do it justice.”

In addition to “Heroes in the Bible,” PRAY.COM hosts podcasts from leading Christian pastors and speakers, meditative and reflective prayers and Bible-based resources to aid listeners wherever they may be in their spiritual growth journeys. Find “Heroes in the Bible” and other prayer and faith-based audio content at www.pray.com/podcasts, iHeart Radio or Apple.

About PRAY.COM  

Founded in 2016 with a mission to grow faith and cultivate community, PRAY.COM is the world’s No. 1 app for daily prayer and Bible-based audio content.Reaching more than 16 million people worldwide through its mobile app and website, PRAY.COM is the easiest way to incorporate prayer into your daily life. PRAY.COM provides encouragement and inspiration through daily devotionals, Pastor podcasts, and Bedtime Bible Stories. PRAY,COM founders are Steve Gatena, Michael Lynn, Ryan Beck and Matthew Potter.  See more at www.alarryross.com/pray-com.

About Tony Evans

Dr. Tony Evans has served as the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for over 40 years, witnessing its growth from ten people in 1976 to now over 10,000 congregants with over 100 ministries. Dr. Evans also serves as president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry that seeks to restore hope and transform lives through the proclamation and the application of the Word of God. His daily radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can also be heard as a podcast and on the Tony Evans App. 

Any thoughts?

 

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Why is the ‘Real Face’ of Jesus Controversial? The Real Christmas Story…

real face

Hello World,

Today marks the fourth Sunday of Advent as we celebrate the birth of Jesus THIS FRIDAY! Every year I always struggle to get into the true Christmas spirit amid the commercialism of this holiday that would have us skip over Thanksgiving and plunge headfirst into racking up debt to buy our family and friends happiness…During this season, I have to retreat and reflect on Scriptures such as Seven Scriptures to Remind Us that Jesus is the Real Reason for the Season…so that I am reminded that the original Christmas was about how God enabled his son Jesus to come to this earth in the form of a baby born to a Jewish couple in the Middle East…

That is why I am a bit perplexed that medical artist Richard Neave’s rendering of the real face of Jesus has gone viral! Although my earliest recollections of portraits of Jesus featured a man with blonde hair and blue eyes which I probably learned about in Sunday School and or the private Christian school I attended as a child, I stopped believing those depictions were accurate once I understood the Christmas story even as a child. That was probably around the time that I read “The Diary of Anne Frank” and began to study world history. My deductive reasoning led me to believe that Jesus, while in human form, must have been of a darker hue and looked similar to those who live in the Middle East…That would only make sense…

mmmhmm

Still, I love that that forensic science is now backing up what was clear to me…Below is an excerpt from the article “The Real Face Of Jesus” on popularmechanics.com.

For those accustomed to traditional Sunday school portraits of Jesus, the sculpture of the dark and swarthy Middle Eastern man that emerges from Neave’s laboratory is a reminder of the roots of their faith. “The fact that he probably looked a great deal more like a darker-skinned Semite than westerners are used to seeing him pictured is a reminder of his universality,” says Charles D. Hackett, director of Episcopal studies at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. “And [it is] a reminder of our tendency to sinfully appropriate him in the service of our cultural values.”

Neave emphasizes that his re-creation is simply that of an adult man who lived in the same place and at the same time as Jesus. As might well be expected, not everyone agrees.

Forensic depictions are not an exact science, cautions Alison Galloway, professor of anthropology at the University of California in Santa Cruz. The details in a face follow the soft tissue above the muscle, and it is here where forensic artists differ widely in technique. Galloway points out that some artists pay more attention to the subtle differences in such details as the distance between the bottom of the nose and the mouth. And the most recognizable features of the face—the folds of the eyes, structure of the nose and shape of the mouth—are left to the artist. “In some cases the resemblance between the reconstruction and the actual individual can be uncanny,” says Galloway. “But in others there may be more resemblance with the other work of the same artist.” Despite this reservation, she reaches one conclusion that is inescapable to almost everyone who has ever seen Neave’s Jesus. “This is probably a lot closer to the truth than the work of many great masters.”

And furthermore, I hope this rendering of the real face of Jesus encourages many of us to get off of our cultural high horses regarding refugees coming into this country particularly at this time of the year...This meme says it better than I can…

kermit

I’m not saying that we don’t need to be cautious because we absolutely have to be in this time of terrorism. But for that those of us who profess to be Christians, our actions have to be rooted in love and not fear…

Can I get an Amen?

 preach
Any thoughts?

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Seven Scriptures to Dispel F.E.A.R. About Ebola…

Hello World,  hazmat

It’s time to get back in the Word again…I live in metro Atlanta…yes, that’s right…Ground Zero for Ebola treatment in the entire United States of America…

I have started carrying hand sanitizer and every time someone sneezes or sniffles near by me, my mind starts spinning all kinds of dramatic scenarios…What if she has Ebola? What if he has been in contact with someone who has Ebola? What if she is a family member of the nurse who has been transported to Atlanta for care?

I have even considered walking around like this…

So when my F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real) of anything starts getting bigger than my faith in Jesus…It’s time to get back in the Word and dispel it…Below are a few verses to help me and you when we are tempted to make our own hazmat suits, avoid the area of town where the CDC and Emory are located or stay home altogether…

  1. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4…
  2. The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
  3. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3
  4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
  5. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
  6. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
  7. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “”Abba,” Father.” Romans 8:15

These verses help me to realize that my life and times are in God’s hands alone…God had an appointed time to bring me here and even though I don’t like to think about it, God has an appointed time for me to leave here…In the mean time, I will trust God and carry hand sanitizer…In other words, I trust God and I use the common sense that He gave me, but outside of that, that is all any of us can do…at least individually…

But here is something we can do collectively…let’s pray for those in West Africa who are suffering from Ebola, pray for those in the healthcare industry all over the world (my husband is in the healthcare industry), pray for those nurses here in the U.S. who are sick with Ebola and pray for the family of Thomas Eric Duncan (Read a touching article about his funeral in The New York Times )and all families who have lost members of their family due to the deadly virus…and sending some money to worthy and reputable organizations who are combating Ebola wouldn’t hurt either…

Any thoughts?