Weekly Word
Religion May 9, 2021** Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
Mahatma Gandhi was a political activist who lead a nonviolent movement for India’s independence from British rule. His leadership inspired civil rights campaigns. A Hindu, Gandhi researched other religions. After reading about Gandhi’s admiration for the teachings of Jesus, a newspaper reporter asked him, “You admire Christ, so why don’t you become a Christian?” Gandhi replied, “I would if I could find one.” An indictment to all who claim Christ, but live like the devil. 1 Peter 4:6 “. . . live according to God in the Spirit.”
Weekly Word
Religion March 7, 2021** Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
The U.S. Postal Service receives letters addressed to GOD. They are placed in a Dead Letter Bend; but not dead to God. Each letter is a request for help: a job, a spouse, for healing, and other needs. Philippians 4:6, “Be not anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer . . . let your requests be known to God.” Let’s write God today.
The Weekly Word
Religion February 28, 2021Witten And Submitted By Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
2 Timothy 3:12, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” So much for the feel good preachers. Here’s reality: David Jeremiah wrote, “God is at work in our lives, even when we’re being pressured or persecuted for our faith. Don’t be intimidated by the world; be motivated by the Word.”
The Weekly Word
Religion February 14, 2021Written And Submitted by Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
In the T.V. episodes of THE GOOD PLACE, people die and arrive in a good place where they believe if they become a better person, they earn the privilege of staying. Nice try Hollywood, but no re-takes. Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
The Weekly Word
Religion February 7, 2021Written And Submitted By: Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
Ephesians 1:14, “The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised.” I served as executor of my parents estate. They worked hard to provide for their children, even providing left-overs. As children of God, we stand to inherit the riches of His Kingdom. Romans 8:16, “The Spirit Himself bears witness that we are children of God. v.17 and if children, then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ . . .” Glory to God!
The Weekly Word
Community, Religion January 31, 2021Written And Submitted By: Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
The 19th century American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” The language lyrics change, but not their meaning. Christian music is focused on the One who never changes (Hebrews13:8). Songwriter Charles Wesley wrote, “My tongue is ready to sing the glories of my heavenly King.”
Weekly Word
Religion January 17, 2021** Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
The song Battle Hymn of the Republic was written by Julia Ward Howe during the Civil War as a pro-Union, anti-slavery anthem. Its lyrics, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord . . . His truth is marching on” provided troops with a marching cadance. In Mark 13:26 Jesus declared upon His return, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” The Hymn continues with, “As He died to make men holy; let us live to make men free,” a reference to freeing the slaves. Since so many are slaves to sin, I’ll close with John 8:32, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
The Weekly Word
Religion January 10, 2021Written And Submitted By Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Inspiration speaker Dale Carnegie wrote that happiness is getting what you want. Dale was wrong. In the mid 1990’s ABC TV aired a one-hour special on Happiness. A young lady who won a 26 million dollar lottery was ask if it made her happy; she replied “Not really.” Troy Aikman, MVP of SuperBowl XXV11 was ask if he was happy; his response was “Is this all there is?” Members of the Royal Family were interviewed to see if their position made them happy; all said “No.” A new job, home, or car may produce temporary happiness; but there’s always something better to wish for. So, how can we have a Happy New Year? The Bible answers that in Psalm 144:15, “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.”
The Weekly Word
Religion December 14, 2020Written and Submitted By: Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 (paraphrase) Let those of us who live in the light wear faith and love, and a helmet of hope. I read about a couple who discovered in an attic trunk, the torn, dirt and blood stained jersey of pro football running back Gayle Sayers of the Chicago Bears. The wife remembered that her dad has season tickets during that time, but didn’t know how he got the jersey. It was valued at $30,000; the appraiser explained the battering this jersey took made it more valuable. Battered believers are valued by God for we have been hit multiple times, but get up to run another play.
The Weekly Word
Religion November 12, 2020Written and Submitted By: Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
PRAY FOR CARDELL FAMILY – RECENT PASSING OF SMOKEY’S WIFE CAROLYN DAVIS CARDELL, CLARKSTON HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF ’65
PRAY FOR MERRITT FAMILY – RECENT PASSING OF CARL LEWIS “BUCK” MERRITT; MY WIFE’S UNCLE. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF CONDUCTING HIS FUNERAL SERVICE, INCLUDING AIR FORCE HONOR GUARD AT HILL-N-DALE CEMETERY, LITHONIA, GA.
PRAY FOR PEACHFUL TRANSITION OF NATIONAL POWER
PRAY FOR CAREGIVERS – SPECIFICALLY ALZHEIMER’S PATIENTS
PRAY FOR PERSONAL VICTORY OVER SIN
USE SCRIPTURE TO TALK BACK TO TEMPTATION
Send your prayer requests to [email protected]
Mark requests private or public. I’ll keep a log so keep me updated.
Prayers are answered in three ways: Yes, No, or Wait
Blessings, Steve “Downtown” Brown ,
Weekly Word
Religion October 26, 2020Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc
Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” D.L.Moody wrote, “Whatever you love more than God is your idol.” I was invited to be the guest speaker at a Christian men’s dinner. After reciting Exodus 20:3, I advised the men we carry an idol in our pockets; pulling out a $1.00 bill and waiving it in the air. Show-and-tell time. After sharing stories of fortune seekers suffering from depression, I shared this scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil . . .” Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.”
Weekly Word
Religion October 12, 2020Written and submitted by: Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc
J. Greham Machen wrote, “Nothing surprises God; all things that happen are absolutely certain from all eternity because they are all embraced in God’s eternal plan.” I don’t understand why things happen the way they do; but I’m glad to know the One who does. Regardless of what’s happening with government, the stock market, or terrorism, we know He has a personal plan for each of us. Claim God’s promise as written in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Weekly Word – Psalm 119:130
Religion December 16, 2019By: Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
Psalm 119:130, “The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.” (NLT) Mark Twain wrote, “It’s not the things in the Bible I don’t understand that bother me, it’s the things I do.” The Word will often convict the reader by identifying sin. Anyone who claims the Bible contradicts itself should research the scriptures, for there is no evidence to support this claim. The Word of God does contradict a sinful lifestyle.
Weekly Word Devotion
Religion August 26, 20192 Corinthians 5:7, For we walk by faith, not by sight. On July 20, 1969 (50 years ago) Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first humans to land on the moon. Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon. Astronaut James Irwin wrote, “The entire space achievement is put in proper perspective when one realizes that God walking on earth is more important than man walking on the moon.”
Weekly Word
Religion October 7, 2019By: Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.
A recent poll showed that worry is the number one negative emotion facing Americans. Second place is fear. I believe the two are connected. Western bandit Black Bart robbed Wells Fargo stagecoaches. From 1875-83, he committed 29 robberies, never once firing his gun. Bart used fear to keep his victims paralyzed. Satan wants to robe us of our joy by planting fearful thoughts in our mind.
1 John 4:18 (paraphrase) love removes fear. Remember, God is love. 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” Don’t be a victim, be a victor.
Weekly Word Devotion
Religion August 19, 2019Second Peter 1:21, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Historical records prove Bible prophecy is 100% accurate. Human attempts at predicting the future have failed. Case in point is inventor Thomas Edison who once declared that talking movies would never replace silent films. And in 1928, Henry Ford stated, “People are becoming too intelligent to have another war.” Let’s not listen to ungodly predictions, rather read the scriptures that set the stage for the second coming of Christ! Don’t be deceived, be relieved.