Douglas Doe

For many of us, the term ‘worship’ is automatically linked to the various activities that go on in the confines of a church building. The observance of certain rituals such as singing hymns and reciting prayers from a prayer book will be enough to appease our consciences that we’ve performed our religious duties.

For the Pentecostals or Charismatics, the exuberant expression of dancing to contemporary music and an emotional expression with lifted hands will constitute a “good worship time”.

While all the above may be true in the context of expressing our love for God, mere external demonstrations without a corresponding lifestyle is not the true bible definition of what worship is supposed to be.

When Jesus met the woman from Samaria at the well in the Gospel John Chapter 4, he told her there was no need to go to a specific place to perform some form of ritual to satisfy the requirements of worship. He said true worshipers must do so in spirit and in truth.

Worship is essentially a demonstration of our love for God and the only way we can do that effectively is to walk in daily and hourly obedience to his commandments. Jesus said if we love him, we will keep his commandments. In other words, the true test of love for God is simple obedience.

God’s word commands us to give, forgive, honour our parent, walk in humility, shun immorality and many more. So out of respect and honour for God, we choose to obey him. The implication is that, his word takes precedence over any other thing or whatever society may be saying. That for me is true worship. In other words, what God says is WORTH more than anything else.

When our lifestyles are guided by biblical principles and instructions, then and only then will external EXPERSSIONS be meaningful and worthwhile. What is the point in trying to show off something we don’t live or believe in? That is clear hypocrisy and God’s word warns us against living in that manner.

Remember, it is only those who obey his commandments who will experience his blessing and not those who are only interested in hearing them but do nothing with it. Truth is being authentic, trustworthy and genuine. God want’s our worship to be real and that is the only way the world will be won for Christ.

Let’s take up the challenge and let our worship of God be real by walking in daily obedience.

The concept of worship is very prevalent throughout religion in general. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — that is; to give, at its simplest, worth to something. This usually relates to a response from us humans to a deity.

It is very naive for us Christians to assume that just coming into a church service or a Christian gathering, raising up hands and singing Christian or “worship” songs constitutes worship. How wrong!!! Infact, when we lift up our hands during our corporate gatherings or devotional times in worship expression, it isn’t meant to be a religious exercise. Rather, it should symbolise the utter surrender of our hearts to God sacrificially.

Worship therefore, is our response to God for who he is and the least we can do is to yield our entire lives unreservedly to him for no other reason than the fact that he is God. In other words, while praise is based on the Acts of God, we worship him because of his Character.

The following statements define perfectly what I believe the heart of worship is from God’s perspective.

• True worship is an attitude of the heart or a lifestyle that is totally yielded to the Lord Jesus in absolute obedience to him and his word.
• It is a life of whole-hearted, sincere and pure devotion to the Lord Jesus.
• It is a heart attitude of awe and reverence, where the overwhelming desire is to do and submit to the will of God, in whatever form or shape by the help and Grace of God.
• This unconditional devotion to God is not based on anything that the Lord has done or will do, but simply based on who God Is.
• It is having the right motives behind what we do i.e., the heart behind our actions must be right.

Our times of worship in our church services must actually be a true expression of our on-going day-to-day life of obedience and devotion and not an end in itself. If this is the case, then our expression of worship becomes powerful and meaningful and it ascends unto the Lord as sweet incense and a memorial before him.

True worship; or rebuilding the broken altars of our hearts means allowing God to transform us and remoulding our character to enable the fruit of the Spirit to shine forth in our lives.

It is more than just singing songs to the Lord. In fact, the songs we sing must be a reflection of what we really are inside and how we truly live or desire to live on a daily basis. Only then will the fire of God come down and consume all the impurities in our sacrifice and bring out the life of God through us.

Good to announce that, my first book which I’ve been working on for a while now is OUT!!!

It’s been quite a journey but I’m grateful to God for the strength and grace to have put this together finally.

It’s a book that attempts to question the “unspoken” definition of worship in the church today and brings out the heart of God on this subject from the perspective of the bible. Whereas some may have confined worship to only what takes place in a church building, that is only the tip of the iceberg. It promises to be a fascinating read and I encourage you to to pick up a copy  and allow the contents to inspire to develop a closer walk with God

The book is available  in both Paperback and eBook format. All the details about how to purchase your copy are available on the book’s website; brokenaltars.net

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A FREE PDF copy of the First Chapter is available for download by following the simple instructions on the Link below;

Download Chapter One for FREE

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Let me know your thoughts by leaving your comments on the blog or on the feedback page of the book’s website.

Hi Guys,  After a number of years in the works….. its now out…Watch this SPACE!!!

Months after voting has taken place, Cote d’viore has still not got a president. The 2 candidates who stood for the presidency have consequently sworn themselves in  and the country stands at the bring of a civil war.

It’s hard to believe that in the last four years, Arsenal haven’t won a title. This has brought a lot of criticism from sports journalists, sympathisers and the fans of the club. Some have questioned if Arsene is still the right man to take the club forward. But being the visionary that he is, Arsene kept assuring fans that this young team he is building will come good. I dare say he’s just the right man for the job and here is why.

Having moved into the Emirates Stadium 3 seasons ago, he knew there wouldn’t be funds to sign so called ‘marquee’ players. The investment that had gone into building the new stadium meant that there would be constrains on the club’s finances. Even when funds were available to spend, it had to be used wisely as there was a huge debt to be repaid. He kept a salary structure that the club adhered to very strictly.

After letting key players like Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera go, he began to sign young talented players around the globe to build a new team that will compete for honours in the coming years. Some were visibly talented, others had hidden potential that needed time to become the finished article. He new these players needed time and patience to win titles. While fans were often frustrated with the progress of the team, he had to keep believing and reiterating that this team will come good.Some players like Flamini and Hleb felt they couldn’t stick around any longer so they moved on. To give his vision every chance of succeeding, almost all the young players under 25 years of age have signed long term contracts. Also, the financial security guaranteed by the move to the Emirates Stadium in terms of match day proceeds will give the club the ability to compete with any team around the world. It’s already yeilding results as the financial statements in the last 2 years have been very excellent.

The season is not yet over, but this young Arsenal team are still in 3 competitions and there is every chance they can win a trophy this season. But the most exciting thing is that, the pool of young and talented players coming through at the club is cause for great optimism. The experience that these young players get, playing in competitions like the Carling Cup especially and the Champions league will prove invaluable in the coming years.

Looking around the premier league today, no other club is developing young players for the future like the way Arsene is doing it at Arsenal. I really fear for teams like Chelsea and Liverpool who don’t seem to be doing anything at all in terms of youth development. We’ll have to wait and see what happens when players like Drogba, Lampard, Terry cannot compete in the Premier league anymore. Can the signing of £40 million plus players be sustainable in the years ahead? I doubt it in the current financial climate! In that light, it is only the visionaries who have prepared for the future who will stand out.

I am strongly convinced that Arsene has set Arsenal on the right track and it won’t be long until the fans start smiling again. keep faith all you Gunners out there and your stars will shine again soon.

PS: For more updates and resources on exclusive soccer news, don’t forget to check out soccer online.

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Playing golf professionally sounds like one of those dream jobs that everyone wants. Those that are successful at playing golf professionally get to travel to beautiful locations all over the world, their idea of work is playing a sport that they love every day, and the money is pretty attractive as well. It does not take a lot of imagination for figure out why someone would want to be a professional golfer.

The Characteristics of a Professional Golfer

That is only one side of the story though. There are a number of ingredients that are required to produce a successful professional golfer.

• Desire – In order for a golfer to be successful there must be a burning desire. Without the passion and competitive spirit driving you, chances are that a golfer will never succeed. The player will quickly tire of the game and lay it to the side. A successful golfer will continually replay the day’s shots in their mind honing it and desiring to improve upon it. There will be an excitement about going out on the course the next time.
• Practice – Practice! Practice! Practice! Everyone has heard that practice makes perfect, but the hours that must be invested in golf to become a professional golfer are many and different for everyone. There is simply no substitute for swinging the club. That is where all of the theory and coaching come into action.
• Work Ethic – This is where the perfectionist attitude must show up. Listening to your coach, studying video of your shot, analyzing your own imperfections, watching other golfers, and then applying it. This can get tiresome, but those that strive to be professional golfers relentlessly study, observe and apply. Even practice can become mundane for common people, but for the professional golfer if is honing time. This is where all of the studying and critiquing can manifest.
• Natural Talent – Without some natural talent, the other three characteristics discussed here will still fall short. All of the want-to, practice, and work will only get you so far. You must have some level of natural ability to work with.

Becoming professional golfer quality is only half of the battle.

You must find your way into the professional tour. There are a number of ways to accomplish this.

1. Finish within the top 30 at the annual Qualifying Tournament.
2. Win an approved PGA TOUR, or co-sponsored, event.
3. Finish among the top 125 players on the official money list in a year.
4. During the course of a PGA TOUR season, win an amount of official money equal to the amount won in the preceding year by the 125th finisher on the official money list. Upon completion of this step you are considered a registered PGA apprentice.
5. Finish in the top 20 of the official Nationwide Tour money list.

If you are a professional or have a USGA handicap of 2 or less, you can participate in an open qualifying round conducted by the PGA Section where a PGA Tour event is being played. Those with the four lowest scores will normally advance to that event. The open qualifying round is generally held the Monday of tournament week.

The PGA Section qualifying round is also held in association with most PGA TOUR open events. This is for all PGA members who belong to the Section in which the event is being played. The two lowest scorers advance to the event. The Monday before the tournament week is again usually used for this competition. Exempted from this event and allowed into the PGA tour is the current Section champion or player of the year.

Becoming A Member Of The PGA Of America Is Also No Cake Walk.

You must become a registered apprentice and proceed through the PGA Professional Golf Management (PGA/PGM)TM Program in order to become a PGA member. This is the criteria to register into the PGA/PGMTM Program:

• Meet the Eligible Employment requirements, which means that you must be eligibly employed at the time of registration for six months of the preceding 12 months. Participating in an amateur event will forfeit all work experience credits earned before the event.
• Satisfy the Playing Abilities Test, PAT, requirement.
• Submit a signed apprentice registration form verifying employment and documenting your review of the Professional Readiness Orientation (PRO).
• You must pay all apprentice fees for National and your Section and purchase the Level 1 Kit to become an apprentice.
• Acceptable Progress is defined by successful completion of each Level’s Checkpoint. The Level 1 Checkpoint has to be successfully completed within two years of the Level 1 start date to remain in good standing. The Level 2 Checkpoint must be completed within four years of the Level 1 start date. Finally, the Level 3 Checkpoint must be successfully completed within six years of the Level 1 start date. Apprentices have only eight years from their Level 1 start date to graduate from the PGA PGM Program and get elected to membership.
• Have a high school diploma or be at least 18 years of age and high school equivalency completed. You are eligible for educational credits toward PGA membership with a college degree.
• U.S. Citizen or resident alien status is required.
• You must have earned a total of 36 work experience credits plus have fulfilled the PGA/PGMTM Program.
• A four year college degree will receive 12 credits and six credits for a two year college degree.
  Again, work experience earned prior to participating in an amateur event will be forfeited.

While playing golf professionally is an extremely desirable career, anyone that is considering this undertaking must understand the difficulties they will face. The work that is necessary to accomplish such a lofty goal can be daunting, but enjoying the fruits of such a labor can also be breathtaking.

You can access more resources and information about pursuing a career in golf or just relaxing with golf at this link, playing golf professionally . For resources on many other relevant materials, check out our online resource bank.

England’s qualification to next year’s world cup was heralded, not surprisingly, by a football mad nation.

They deservedly beat an under strength  and lame looking Croatian team who never showed up right from the first whistle. England were good yesterday but I think Croatia were very poor.

Over all though, England has been very good during qualification and deservedly won all their matches.

However, I think the nation should put all that in perspective. Yes Coach and manager Capello seems to have done a great job on the psyche of the players since that has been their biggest problem over the years.

They must realise that, the countries they played against in their qualifying group are not or should not be the benchmark. They are yet to win a game against the top nations they’ve played against. Loosing to Spain and Germany and forcing a last minute draw against Holland after they withdrew all their top players must be a cause for reflection and not jubilation yet.

The real battle is only just beginning. They need to focus on testing their strengths against teams like Spain, Brazil, Germany, Italy. Its only when they can compete with the likes of these teams and beating them that they can begin to dream of winning the world cup.

The press must stop heaping pressure of the team and allow them to deliver before they call them world beaters because they are not yet there.

We’ll wait and see what happens in the days and months ahead…….

One of the most powerful virtues in our Christian walk is forgiveness and yet it is also one of the least practiced.  I must admit; it’s not easy as our natural tendency is to get back at people when they offend or hurt us deeply. People will go as far as quoting the Old Testament passage that says … “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth… “(Exod 21:2, Lev 24:20, Deut 19:21). However, it is inevitable that once we live here on earth , we’ll get offended one way or another in our dealings with people. It is therefore imperative that , we overcome unforgiveness with the help of the Holy Spirit  and enjoy all the benefits of God’s Kingdom.

When we carefully study the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, he said he was COMMANDING us to LOVE one another just as he had loved us. Forgiveness is part of walking in love and if it is a commandment, then we have no option but to gladly obey our Lord as true disciples. Besides, he is not expecting us to do  all he tells us to do in our own strength. We can do ALL THINGS through him who strengthens us (Phil 4:13).

So, why should we forgive? Firstly, it is a commandment and we can only experience the power of this new life and the benefits of the Kingdom when we walk in obedience. Jesus said if we really love him, we’ll keep his commandments (John 14:15). Secondly, if we expect to be forgiven by the Lord or by our fellow brothers and sisters, then we must do the same for others (Luke 11:4). Thirdly, it is a proven scientific fact that walking in bitterness and unforgiveness can result in diseases such as Hypertension, Heart attacks and emotional imbalances such as high stress levels. I’m sure we don’t want to attract all that junk into our bodies (remember our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit) when the people who supposedly have wronged us may be enjoying life oblivious to what we may be enduring simply because we’re not “LETTING GO” !

How do we forgive? Well, we just have to DECIDE to forgive if we say we love the Lord enough to want to please him in everything we do. For me, forgiveness is a decision and has nothing to do with how we FEEL. In fact, you may not even feel you’ve forgiven anytime you think about what was done against you or you see the one who caused you the pain. That is normal, but as you continue to remind yourself of the decision you’ve made to forgive and with the help of the Holy Spirit with time, the feelings will align with your decision with TIME.

To help us put all these in perspective, let’s examine one of the most powerful parables  Jesus narrated to his disciples about the importance of forgiveness. In Matthew 18:21:35, The apostle Peter asked Jesus how many times we should forgive our brother when he sins against us. Jesus replied by saying it should be 70 x 7 (i.e. 490 times for one person) after Peter had suggested 7 times. Jesus then compared the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN to this scenario about this servant who owed a King 10,000 talents (equivalent to 10 Million US Dollars) and begged for  more time to settle the debt when it was due. The King had mercy on him and forgave him ALL this huge debt. However, someone owed this servant  100 denarii (about 20 US Dollars) but this servant had his debtor thrown into prison even though the debtor asked for more time to settle the debt as well. On hearing the story, the King turned this servant over to the torturers (or tormenters) until he could pay up his debt which was considerably more.

The lesson here is this; The servant owing this King (10M US) is equivalent to our debt of sin which would take us all to HELL. There is no way we could have paid for our redemption .  Whatever sin or wrong that may have been committed against us is equivalent to us being owed ONLY $20. Trading off $20 with $10 Million, in my opinion, is the bargain of a lifetime. I think I would gladly do that anytime, any day. Do you remember the torturers? They are equivalent to demon spirits who will get free access to our lives because of our refusal to walk in forgiveness. I don’t know about you, but I would rather have the peace of God, free from any demonic oppression and enjoy all the benefits of being a citizen of the Kingdom of God than demons harassing my life.

I trust that anytime we’re faced with an issue of unforgiveness and we go back and meditate on this story, it will ease our pain and give us the strength to forgive as promptly as we can.

At last, Britain has a genuine talent in Jessica Ennis who has just been crowned world champion at this year’s championships in Berlin.

A country starved of natural talent in sports and over obsessed and guilty of making stars out of young “up and coming” sportsmen and women can now be proud of, what I believe, is a true talent who can go on and dominate this event in the near future.

I must admit that, I have never been a great fun of British sports because the press tend to over hype their sports personalities when they are yet to achieve any major honours. However, I sat watching the heptathlon on Saturday morning and the way I saw this young Brit scaling over the hurdles and high jump, I said to myself; “this girl is different”.

She seemed very comfortable in all 7 events and I think there is a very great capacity for improvement as well. She was very focused on every event as well as humble in her attitude when accessing her performances and chances at winning the event.

It is my belief that if Jessica is protected from the inevitable media hype that is bound to follow after her exploits in Berlin and focuses on improving upon this achievement, she will be a certainty for another gold medal in 2012.

In my opinion, to succeed in the Arts and Sports, the number one criteria has got to be the clear evidence of talent and gifting combined with dedication, discipline and hard work. To me, Jessica has got it all and can become a true sporting great.