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Are you tired of those who claim to be tolerant but tolerate everything EXCEPT Christianity? It’s amazing how the saving message of Jesus Christ causes such a strong reaction among the politically correct crowd. Almost every vestige of Christianity has been stripped from the culture.

But one place they can’t strip it is off your back.

That’s why the wearing of Christian clothing and Christian jewelry has caught on so powerfully among believers who want to share their faith and counter the anti-God culture. Christian T-Shirts are hugely popular, with messages taken straight from the Bible emblazed across the front and back in brght and bold shirts with very creative designs.

T-shirts became a cultural phenomenon back in the Sixties. Today, they are a part of the social fabric of our world. They’re used for advertising, for marketing, to make a statement, to tell the world your politics, your position on social issues or just to make people smile. So it’s no wonder that Christians saw the opportunity, too.

The average T-Shirt is seen by 3,000 people during its life of wear. That’s a huge audience and the number of Christian T-Shirts in use today now reaches the millions. Christian clothing and Christian apparel is found in shopping center kiosks, at Christian bookstores and through several dozen online stores that usually offer huge selections… some with literally hundreds of designs.

Talk about an effective evangelism tool! Christian T-Shirts come in all sizes and styles, from toddlers to triple extra large adult sizes. There are designs for teens, women and kids and many are creative parodies of cultural icons. There are even Christian biker T-Shirts.

This year, long-sleeved Christian shirts and Christian sweatshirts and Christian hoodies have taken off. Same with Christian caps and hats.

The other big trend is in Christian jewelry. It started in the 1980’s with an explosion in Christian crosses worn around the neck. Now they’ve been joined by Christian bracelets, Christian headbands, Christian sliders, Christian rings, Christian watches and Christian earrings.

We live in a casual society where T-Shirts are worn almost everywhere. But some offices, schools and workplaces prohibit T-Shirts during working hours. That’s where Christian jewelry comes in.

Christian jewelry can be worn everywhere. Especially popular are Christian rings, which typically come in Sterling Silver and have attractive designs like the Crown of Thorns or a cut-out cross.

So while it may seem like the culture has conspired to keep the Christian message out of everyday life, there are ways to counter that intolerance by sharing your faith in a way that speaks just as loudly as a billboard.

Although we noted that some places prohibit T-shirts, we should also point out that is changing rapidly. Just look around your school or workplace, for example.

Casual dress is the latest rage these days in the workplace. While ratty-looking clothes are never appropriate, a clean T-Shirt, worn under a jacket, is downright fashionable. Most Christian T-Shirts have distinctive and attractive designs, come in dark colors that look well in most situations.

During non-working hours, Christian T-Shirts can be worn by themselves or with a another shirt, unbuttoned, as the top layer. There are also Christian sweatshirts, long-sleeved shirts and even hoodies. The bottom line here is that Christian clothing and apparel fits in almost everywhere.

Wear your witness on your back. Get the message out with a Christian T-Shirt or some Christian jewelry. They speak powerfully to a culture that needs to hear like never before.

Lots of time, you don’t have to say anything. Someone will comment on your short, often in agreement or, more often, by asking, “what does that mean?”

That’s your opportunity to be able to share the gospel. You can explain a Bible verse. Tell the quesytioner the context of the message as explained in scripture or just let them know how you came to Christ, what a difference He has made in your life and how anyone can find forgiveness and true purpose.

It all starts with the shirt. What a great opportunity!

The author is publisher of the Online Christian Shopper (http://www.onlinechristianshopper.com) Christian clothing and jewelry Web portal.

It’s a bird. . It’s a plane. . No! It’s Jesus Christ, Superman, Savior of the world!

A bright light in the form of a snow white dove descended the pinnacle of Heaven landing on the curly dark brown head of Jesus Christ. A sparkle of recognition immediately formed on His face as a flash of remembrance ignited warming His soul.

From this moment on, things would be different for He had a mission from His Heavenly father that He must fulfill. A call that demanded that He needed to listen to the voice of the Spirit of God that would inspire Him to help the lost.

Determined, He walked out of the Baptismal water wrapping His cloak around Him, and was led into the desert to pray and fast. For forty days God opened up the scriptures of prophecy predicted about Him.

At the end of the forty days when Jesus was hungry and His strength was fading Satan saw His opportunity to tempt Him. Jesus, knowing all the pain and suffering He would endure during His ministry, refused to allow Satan to turn Him away from God.

Satan tried to tempt Jesus into allowing food to be His god. He was tempted to harm Himself just to see if God would really rescue Him from death. Last of all, Satan tempted Jesus by promising to give Him all the power and riches of the whole world if He would just bow down and worship him.

In His most weakened human state, Jesus faced temptation down, and passed every test a man would face in this world. Satan snarled and was forced to flee as God’s Angels hurriedly became visible and immediately strengthened Jesus.

Matthew 4:11, “Then the Devil left Jesus; and angels came and helped him.”

Jesus had to convince God’s chosen children to believe that He was the Messiah. They needed to place their faith in Him by seeing the power of God working in His life through the extraordinary miracles He would perform.

They needed to believe in the impossible so they would be willing to be baptized and later receive the wonder working power of the Holy Spirit. They would have to believe that Jesus was more than a man, He was Superman!

A new teaching was dawning and a new concept of how to play the complicated game of life was about to be revealed. No longer would the Law be the only means by which people would be saved. Now an easier path would be laid giving people the ability to be instantly forgiven for their sins.

The Law explained the concept of sin, but believing in Jesus opens up the easy path of grace. Now we only had to believe in Jesus’ name and be baptized. Placing our faith in Jesus would usher in a new day where God’s Holy Spirit would be within each person.

John 3:5-8, “‘I am telling you the truth,’replied Jesus, ‘that no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. A person is born physically of human parents, but he is born spiritually of the Spirit. Do not be surprised because I tell you that you must all be born again. The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’”

Nicodemus was a highly respected Pharisee. He knew all the Laws of Moses and He applied them and taught them rigorously. He came to Jesus in secret because he understood prophecy and believed that He was the promised Messiah.

He expected Jesus to talk about revolutionary ideas. Like taking back the Jewish people’s country from the Romans, instead Jesus was talking about the wind and comparing it to how the Spirit influences the lives of men.

Nicodemus was mystified and questioned Jesus over and over again about who this Spirit was. Jesus was surprised at his lack of knowledge of spiritual things.

John 3: 11-13, “I am telling you the truth: we speak of what we know and report what we have seen, yet none of you is willing to accept our message. You do not believe me when I tell you about the things of this world; how will you ever believe me, then, when I tell you about the things of heaven? And no one has ever gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from heaven.”

Jesus had to get Nicodemus and all people to think beyond their present situation. They needed to see how this world interacted with a unseen spiritual world. Then they would understand why they needed the supernatural working power of the Holy Spirit.

They needed to understand how the Spirit would give them the ability to fight beyond a normal human’s limited capabilities. This is why Jesus preformed miracles. This is why Jesus Christ was to be more than a man to all people. He was Superman.

We all have enjoyed shows about Superman. How he was impenetrable by bullets and stronger than any man alive. How he rescued people who were about to fall off of high buildings or be crushed by a freight train or car. We sat on the edge of our seats anticipating how he would once again defeat the evil villains who were determined to rule the world.

Superman, although he was powerful and strong, could only be at one place at a time. Jesus Christ Superman can be every where all over the world, all of the time. When we place our faith in Him we have the wonder working power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus did not come as a commander of a legion of men, rather he came as a commander of a greater more powerful army. He came to help people to stand up and fight against Satan and his spiritual army of demons.

1 Peter 5: 8-10, “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that your fellow believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings. But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation.”

Jesus’ saving power of grace level’s the playing field. The Spirit gives Him a greater influence with every human being. The Spirit becomes a teacher within each of us and helps us to win our daily life battles.

The Holy Spirit given to us by Jesus Christ gives us the power to fight against the unseen world of demons. He helps us to resist Satan who is the real villain of the world. Jesus Christ, Superman is the Savior of the world!

Linda C Dipman author of THE GAME OF LIFE IT’S ALMOST OVER http://outskirtspress.com/gameoflife presents: AND HIS LOVE SHONE DOWN my true life story! It describes all the persecutions I endured. Lovinghandsministry.com

There’s a new disease out there affecting almost everyone in today’s world: It’s called busy-itus.

Almost everyone is over committed and over scheduled. And that means when it comes to the church and helping others, finding the time to do so becomes a major burden for many.

How much do you care about the church?

About God’s people? How much of your time is spent helping, giving and praying for your church? A lot of people give money to the church but much less give themselves.

There are a lot of reasons that move people to give to the church. I know that some people give as a write-off so that they will get a break on the taxes they pay to the government. If that is your only motive for giving, it is not a proper one.

A tax write-off is just not enough. That is not going to help you any with God.

Some people give to the church to gain a reputation for giving.

The Bible talks about giving a lot. We are to tithe, or give off the top of what we received. We are supposed to be involved in ministry, or service to the church. And we are to pray, for our fellow believers, our spiritual leaders and our church itself.

The Bible has lots of examples about those who had the wrong attitudes about giving.

It is striking that the very first death recorded in the church occurred when a couple, Ananias and Sapphira, decided they would gain a reputation for giving that they did not really deserve. In the fifth chapter of Acts we read that other people were giving property.

This couple thought they would get in on the honor and prestige that was being heaped on those who generously gave, so they gave some of the proceeds from tome land they sold. But they pretended that they gave all of it when they really did not.

When the Holy Spirit dealt with that hypocritical kind of giving he dealt very severely with it.

Some people give because they were afraid of dying and they want to make Brownie points with God.

There have been people who give hundreds of thousands of dollars because they felt it would help them in their standing before God at the judgment seat. But they were not giving to help the cause of God or the church. They gave because they thought they could buy God’s favor.

All these are wrong motives.

When it comes to giving, motive is more important than the amount.

God is not so interested in how much you give the church, but why you give. Do you love the church? That is the example we have from Christ.

More than 24 million seniors collectively volunteer 6 billion hours each year in the United States. Researchers at the University of Michigan recently discovered that the survival rate of seniors who volunteered 40 or more hours a year for a single cause was 40 percent greater than that of non-volunteers.

“Seniors who volunteer say it improves their health, life satisfaction, and social well-being,” says Donna Thurmond, director of Senior Services for Volunteers of America.

That’s just one example of why serving and giving and ministry is not only pleasing to God but good for us.

We are supposed to serve because it’s somehow wired into our spiritual DNA.
Not to give and serve and pray is to turn our backs on God.

And that is never a good idea.

The author is publisher of the Online Christian Shopper (http://www.onlinechristianshopper.com) Christian clothing and jewelry Web portal.

It’s a bird. . It’s a plane. . No! It’s Jesus Christ, Superman, Savior of the world! At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours. At about three o’clock Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

Matthew 27:51-54, “The curtain hanging in the Temple was tore in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart, the graves broke open, and many of God’s people who had died were raised to life. They left the graves, and after Jesus rose from death, they went into the Holy City, where many people saw them.
When the army officer and the soldiers with him who were watching Jesus saw the earthquake and everything else that happened, they were terrified and said, ‘He really was the Son of God!’”

Joseph a rich man and Nicodemus, who at first had gone to see Jesus at night, came and took the body of Jesus. They prepared the body according to Jewish customs and laid it in a newly dug out tomb. They rolled a large stone over the entrance and Pilate posted two guards.

Three days later on Sunday morning suddenly there was a large earthquake and an angel of the Lord came down and rolled the stone away from the Tomb. Women went to the tomb and when they saw it was empty they ran and told the disciples the news.

Peter and John ran to the tomb and left after seeing that Jesus was not there, but Mary stayed crying. Suddenly two angels appeared in clothes as bright as lightning and stated that Jesus was alive! Then Mary turned around and saw Jesus!

John 20:15-17, “‘Woman, why are you crying?’ Jesus asked her. ‘Who is it that you are looking for?’
She thought he was the gardener, so she said to him, ‘If you took him away, sir, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him,’
Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’
She turned toward him and said teacher.
‘Do not hold on to me,’ Jesus told her, ‘because I have not yet gone back up to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am returning to him who is my Father, and their Father, my God and their God.’

Later that evening Jesus appeared before the disciples.

John 20: 19b-22, “‘Peace be with you,’ he said. After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.’ Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”

Jesus’ resurrection changed the game of life. Suddenly the disciples were given the same power as Jesus. As they went through their own game of life they had the ability to also forgive the sins of those who trespassed against them.

Jesus was condemned over and over again by the Pharisees when He openly forgave a person’s sin and then healed them. Now giving them this power enabled the disciples to be on the same level game field with God’s Son.

Jesus’ death and resurrection brought in the supernatural powers of the Holy Spirit. Early in Jesus’ ministry He sent out 72 men to go ahead of Him to the villages He was about to go.

Luke 10: 17-20, “The seventy-two men came back in great joy. ‘Lord,’ they said, ‘even the demons obeyed us when we gave them a command in your name!’
Jesus answered them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you. But don’t be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven.’”

Every word that came from Jesus’ mouth revealed the game of life. Every teaching He illustrated in parables showed the struggle we would face against the unseen wicked spiritual forces. But through the power of the name of Jesus all men have the ability to accomplish the same as Him.

Hebrews 2:14&15, “Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of fear of death.”

When we surrender to do the will of God we are changed into different people who have the ability to stand up to the sufferings and temptation of the world. Our faith in Jesus as our Savior gives us supernatural strength to become fearless even if it means death.

This is the reason why as Christians we are different when we face sicknesses of all kinds. Because we fight the disease with faith that even if we die from it, we will have a reward for Praising God during the entire time of our testing.

We have read stories of prisoners of war who stood before their torturers and overcame the pain, while Praising God that they were worthy to suffer for His sake. Many stories have been proclaimed concerning men and women who stood firm in their faith in China and Arab countries. Each refused to denounce their belief in Jesus and as a result were put to death.

Christians are different because we know within our spirits that we are fighting battles against the evil workings of Satan. So our knowledge of Jesus Christ and the power of His name gives us the ability to be strong no matter what happens to us.

Jesus Christ Superman, the Savior of the World, conquered every evil thing that can reach into a person’s life and corrupt them. His resurrection empowered all Christians with the ability to face war, famine, disease, acts of nature, lose of loved ones, and injustices of all kinds with fearless faith in Jesus’ name.

Believing in Jesus Christ allows us the freedom to face anything because we know that our lives here are temporary. We are convinced that we will share Jesus’ Glory in heaven and have an eternity free from pain.

We must have a Savior in order to win in this great battle! To not have God is to lose the game of life. To not place our faith in Jesus is to lose our purpose. To live in the world for what it has to give us is to be completely and forever lost.

Jesus Christ, Superman is my Savior and He can be yours too, if you will only believe! You will be saved!

Linda C Dipman author of THE GAME OF LIFE IT’S ALMOST OVER http://outskirtspress.com/gameoflife presents: AND HIS LOVE SHONE DOWN my true life story! It describes all the persecutions I endured. Lovinghandsministry.com