An Old Clay Pot

Bible in a Year:

We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

Today’s Scripture & Insight:

2 Corinthians 4:7–12

I’ve acquired a number of old clay pots over the years. My favorite was excavated from a site dated during Abraham’s time. It’s at least one item in our home that is older than I! It’s not much to look at: stained, cracked, chipped, and in need of a good scrubbing. I keep it to remind me that I’m just a man made out of mud. Though fragile and weak, I carry an immeasurably precious treasure—Jesus. “We have this treasure [Jesus] in jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Paul continues: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (vv. 8–9). Hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. These are the pressures the pot must bear. Not crushed, in despair, abandoned, destroyed. These are the effects of the counteracting strength of Jesus in us.

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus” (v. 10). This is the attitude that characterized Jesus who died to Himself every day. And this is the attitude that can characterize us—a willingness to die to self-effort, trusting solely in the sufficiency of the One who lives in us.

“So that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body” (v. 10). This is the outcome: the beauty of Jesus made visible in an old clay pot.

By:David H. Roper

Article published on 1/28/2020 Our Daily Bread

Word Study: Agape – “Love”

The word “love” is one of the sloppiest words in our language, as it primarily refers to a feeling that happens to a person. In the New Testament, “love” refers to a way of treating people that was defined by Jesus himself: seeking the well-being of others regardless of their response.

The Bible Project

Word Study: Shalom – “Peace”

“Peace” is a very common word in English, that means different things to different people. It’s also a very important word in the Bible that refers not only to the absence of conflict but also to the presence of something else. In this video, we’ll explore the core meaning of biblical peace and how it all leads to Jesus.
The Bible Project

Why I’m Here

Greetings, my friend. I am excited to launch JPOP, an evangelical and educational ministry designed to share the gospel online with a global “community of faith” comprised of Christians and anyone who may be seeking God or a greater purpose for their lives.

Our Great Co-mission is to help young people grow their faith by learning the Bible and sharing the “good news” of Jesus who transforms lives.

I am grateful for my family, friends, colleagues, and business partners who are supporting me and JPOP’s development. Thanks for visiting us!

G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice | Inform, Impact, Inspire

War. Hunger. Disease. Disparity. Corruption. Crime. Persecution. Oppression. Immorality.

The injustices of our world seem insurmountable – so widespread and reaching new heights of challenge. Yet amidst these mountains of political, economic, and social challenges, we can positively impact our world by stepping forward in faith and courage for the cause of justice. Current and new generations representing a range of fields and interests can become today’s and tomorrow’s leaders of justice. G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice informs, impacts, and inspires these generations to learn, lead, and do justice for the pursuit of biblical justice worldwide.
Read about the mission here > Visit G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice Online

 

Social Media Use in 2018

A majority of Americans use Facebook and YouTube, but young adults are especially heavy users of Snapchat and Instagram

PEW RESEARCH CENTER: INTERNET, SCIENCE & TECH

A new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults finds that the social media landscape in early 2018 is defined by a mix of long-standing trends and newly emerging narratives.

Facebook and YouTube dominate this landscape, as notable majorities of U.S. adults use each of these sites. At the same time, younger Americans (especially those ages 18 to 24) stand out for embracing a variety of platforms and using them frequently. Some 78% of 18- to 24-year-olds use Snapchat, and a sizeable majority of these users (71%) visit the platform multiple times per day. Similarly, 71% of Americans in this age group now use Instagram and close to half (45%) are Twitter users.

As has been the case since the Center began surveying about the use of different social media in 2012, Facebook remains the primary platform for most Americans. Roughly two-thirds of U.S. adults (68%) now report that they are Facebook users, and roughly three-quarters of those users access Facebook on a daily basis. With the exception of those 65 and older, a majority of Americans across a wide range of demographic groups now use Facebook.

But the social media story extends well beyond Facebook. The video-sharing site YouTube – which contains many social elements, even if it is not a traditional social media platform – is now used by nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults and 94% of 18- to 24-year-olds. And the typical (median) American reports that they use three of the eight major platforms that the Center measured in this survey.

These findings also highlight the public’s sometimes conflicting attitudes toward social media. For example, the share of social media users who say these platforms would be hard to give up has increased by 12 percentage points compared with a survey conducted in early 2014. But by the same token, a majority of users (59%) say it would not be hard to stop using these sites, including 29% who say it would not be hard at all to give up social media.

Different social media platforms show varied growth

Facebook remains the most widely used social media platform by a relatively healthy margin: some 68% of U.S. adults are now Facebook users. Other than the video-sharing platform YouTube, none of the other sites or apps measured in this survey are used by more than 40% of Americans.

The Center has asked about the use of five of these platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest) in several previous surveys of technology use. And for the most part, the share of Americans who use each of these services is similar to what the Center found in its previous survey of social media use conducted in April 2016. The most notable exception is Instagram: 35% of U.S. adults now say they use this platform, an increase of seven percentage points from the 28% who said they did in 2016.

The youngest adults stand out in their social media consumption

Read the FULL ARTICLE @ PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Our Mission

The mission of Jesus Prince of Peace is to share the gospel and transform lives by leading people to hear God’s truth, experience His grace, and receive eternal life.

“Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” Romans 15-21 (NIV)