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Christian Union: The Magazine
March 14, 2019
Fasting: Personal Torture or Connection with God?; Joy in Repentance; The Equality Act Accelerates Anti-Christian Bias; Words of Wisdom; Workism Is Making Americans Miserable; James K.A. Smith, Vince Vitale to Headline CU Cities Conference and more, in this issue of Christian Union's bi-monthly email brief.
 
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“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
— Joel 2:12-13

 

Fasting: Personal Torture or Connection with God?

By Dr. Amy Davis Abdallah
From Christian Union New York
dramy 01On February 27, Christian Union New York hosted a salon on the important, though not overly popular, spiritual discipline of fasting. With Lent underway, this discussion, led by Professor Amy Davis Abdallah of Nyack College, explored the biblical underpinnings of fasting, best practices, and its connection to Lent.

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Joy in Repentance

By Zachary Albanese
From ChristianUnion.org
J. I. Packer rightly asserts that we can have joy because Jesus has made abundant provision for our joy. Christians are called to have joy in the midst of trials, rough days, bad times—you name it. In fact, we are to rejoice always (“Again I say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:6). If we consider our lot and the provision that God supplies, no matter our circumstances, there is hope. And where there is hope, there can be joy.

I certainly don’t feel joy when going through a hardship. At the end of a bad day all I want...

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The Equality Act Accelerates Anti-Christian Bias

By Andrew T. Walker
From The Gospel Coalition
equality 03The Equality Act "represents the most invasive threat to religious liberty ever proposed in America. Given that it touches areas of education, public accommodation, employment, and federal funding, were it to pass, its sweeping effects on religious liberty, free speech, and freedom of conscience would be both historic and also chilling..."

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Words of Wisdom

By Tom Campisi
From Christian Union
Being a leader with Christian Union at Brown helped Ayisha Jackson make a smooth transition when she graduated in May. Jackson, an engineering major, points to the ministry’s emphasis on a seeking-God lifestyle and rigorous Bible study. Christian Union’s Life After Graduation panel discussion at Brown included Jackson and two other members of the class of 2018. Panel members talked about the benefits and challenges of life after college, the importance of being part of a church community, and the role faith plays in their lives.

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Workism Is Making Americans Miserable

By Derek Thompson
From The Atlantic

workism 05The decline of traditional faith in America has coincided with an explosion of new atheisms. Some people worship beauty, some worship political identities, and others worship their children. But everybody worships something. And workism is among the most potent of the new religions competing for congregants, argues Derek Thompson, in a recent article for The Atlantic.

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James K.A. Smith, Vince Vitale to Headline CU Cities Conference

From Christian Union Cities
Please join us June 21-22, 2019, for the CU Cities Conference in New York City, a life-changing weekend grounded in compelling ideas about faith and its relevance to every facet of life. You will be joined by professionals from a variety of industries (graduate students are also warmly welcome) for dynamic worship, fervent prayer, and engaging discussions on how to engage our workplaces and communities redemptively.

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Prayer Requests


UNIVERSITY MINISTRIES
Spring break is in full swing for most of the universities where Christian Union operates. Meanwhile, new student executives are stepping into their roles within the ministry at each campus. Please pray for these student leaders as they work to wisely select new students to head up the teams that organize and execute the ministry's events and outreach. Pray that God will give students favor with their fellow students and the university administrators. Pray that God will fill them with wisdom and insight as they carry out the work of the organization and show the love and power of God to their peers. May this transition of student leadership honor God and build His kingdom for His glory.

CITY MINISTRIES
During this season of Lent please pray for God's church in our cities to remember that God is the one from whom all things come, and to humble ourselves to this truth. And as we put on humility, the joy of our salvation will strengthen our witness to the world, our obedience will be more full, and our love more profound.

DAY & NIGHT

Praise God for the more than 5,000 people who took part in The Great Experiment. The Gospel was proclaimed, lives were impacted, and God was exalted! Please pray especially for the non-Christians who heard the Gospel through participants in The Great Experiment. Pray that they would come to faith in Jesus. The USA needs national revival and reformation! Pray that God would use Day and Night to help Christians draw closer to God so that He will come closer to us.

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