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Ex-Mob Boss Michael Franzese Will get Born Once more, Preaches About Jesus: 'There Is a Heaven, and There Is a Hell' – CBN.com

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Michael Franzese, a former mob boss, preached the sermon on Sunday at Pastor Greg Laurie’s Harvest Christian Fellowship, insisting Christians must have an apprehension of hell and everlasting damnation, however must additionally percentage the excellent news of Jesus to nonbelievers in a gradual approach.  
Franzese, 71, a one-time member of the Colombo Italian-American Mafia crime circle of relatives in New York, is now a Christian creator and speaker.
The son of former mob underboss Sonny Franzese, he was once arrested 18 other instances for quite a lot of felony actions. 
On the age of 29, he was once named to the rank of “caporegime,” overseeing a team of 300 mob infantrymen. His affect within the circle of relatives persevered to develop, and in 1986, Fortune Mag indexed Franzese as quantity 18 on its record of the “Fifty Maximum Rich and Tough Mafia Bosses.”

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Franzese was once launched from jail in 1994. It was once whilst he was once in jail that he came upon the gospel of Jesus Christ when a guard gave him a replica of the Bible whilst he was once in solitary confinement. 
He advised Laurie’s Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, he evolved a “wholesome concern of hell” throughout the time he spent in the back of bars. 
“When I used to be in jail, I spent 29 months and 7 days in solitary confinement in a six-by-eight cellular, 24/7. Me and God. … That isn’t simple. We were not supposed to be solo creatures. We had been supposed to be social. When the ones lighting went out at night time, a large number of guys didn’t do neatly; a large number of moaning and groaning,” Franzese recalled.
“I dove into my Bible. I prayed on a daily basis. It was once my closest time with the Lord as a result of I had no selection. That was once it. … And thank God, I grew to become to Him and nowhere else. … However you understand what took place in that hollow? I evolved a wholesome concern of Hell,” he admitted. 
Franzese reassured the Harvest target market that hell was once an actual position that will ultimate via eternity. 
“I would like you to forestall for a minute and call to mind the worst factor that you’ve got ever encountered for your lifestyles and notice that that worst factor won’t ever move away. … That is your consistent thorn for your aspect without end. And now put your self in Hell, which is 1,000,000 instances worse and can by no means finish. That is Hell,” he mentioned. 
“(The) Bible could be very descriptive. I am not bringing you unhealthy information. I am simply telling you the reality. The excellent news is we do not have to move there. There’s a Heaven, and there’s a Hell,” Franzese famous. 
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Proceeding his message titled “Find out how to be a Guy’s Guy in 2022,” the previous Mafia boss emphasised that believers must glance to Jesus for instance when coping with folks. 
“Jesus was once direct when He needed to be, however He had a knack for speaking with gentleness,” Franzese famous. “As of late, our tradition turns out to have a good time males who discuss their thoughts and pull no punches as though being a bully is an admirable trait. To the contrary, Jesus himself mentioned, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be known as sons of God.'”
He additionally defined Christians must use gentleness when coming near non-believers about their salvation. 
“Gentleness,” Franzese mentioned. “Each time I {percentage} my testimony, I at all times move into the again room and I pray and I say: ‘Lord … give me the suitable phrases. Let me be efficient. Let me be passionate sufficient in handing over this message in order that You’ll be able to succeed in out and contact the hearts that You need to the touch on this room.'”
“Gentleness,” he persevered, “as a result of we are not right here to impose our religion on any one. We are not right here to show you right into a Christian. We will be able to’t do this. None people can do this. That is God’s deal. We need to be efficient in handing over the message. We need to be delicate in handing over the message, as a result of it is our legal responsibility as Christians to percentage, no longer impose. And no longer direct. Percentage what the Lord has finished in our lifestyles.”
Franzese additionally reminded the congregation in regards to the significance of prayer.
“Certainly one of my favourite characteristics of Jesus is his dedication to prayer,” he mentioned. “Prior to the rest primary was once about to happen, Jesus hung out by myself in prayerful dialog with the daddy. He would withdraw to desolate puts and pray, Luke 5:16.”
“We want to pray. Jesus advised us that he prayed at all times,” Franzese added. “And that was once God the Son praying to God the Father. How a lot more do we want prayer in our lifestyles? It is our method to keep up a correspondence with the Lord. That is it.”
The previous Mafia prince additionally mirrored at the approach his lifestyles grew to become out. 
“As I stand right here nowadays, I am one of the blessed, maximum lucky individual that is ever going to stroll up in this degree and communicate to you about the rest. The rationale I say this is that, had I been left as much as my very own to do what I sought after to do with my lifestyles, I would both be lifeless or in jail for the remainder of my lifestyles. And slightly in truth, that is what I deserved. That is what I earned for myself having spent over two decades in the street, on a daily basis in violation of each God’s rules and the rules of guy,” Franzese mentioned. 
“And I noticed, God made it crystal transparent for me, that if he did not have a distinct plan and function for my lifestyles, I would not be right here nowadays,” he persevered. ” what, he is were given a plan and a function for each and every one among your lives.”
Watch Michael Franzese’s message under: 


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Submitted through escamp on August 31, 2015 – 3:04pm
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The Friend Who Sticks Closer than a Brother

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The Friend Who Sticks Closer than a Brother

Embracing True Friendship: The Friend Who Sticks Closer Than a Brother

Friendship is a valuable asset that enriches our lives by providing companionship, support, and a shoulder to cry on. But have you ever had a buddy who goes above and beyond—someone who remains closer than a brother? In a world where relationships can be fickle, a friend who sticks by us through thick and thin is a rare and priceless gift.

More Than Just Blood Ties

Consider the tie between siblings, which is based on blood and shared history. Consider a buddy who is more than just a family member. “One who has untrustworthy friends soon comes to ruin,” says Proverbs 18:24 (NIV), “but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

This verse describes a friendship that goes beyond basic conditions. It’s a bond founded on trust, loyalty, and real concern for one another.

Continuous Support

Consider a buddy who is present not only during happy times but also during difficult times. This type of friend is unconcerned about changing circumstances or personal gain. They provide their presence, encouragement, and steadfast support.

Jesus expresses the core of such friendship in John 15:13 (NIV): “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This selfless affection serves as the foundation for a lasting connection.

Journeys Together

Consider a friend you’ve shared many stages of life with—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. This shared experience forges a link that extends beyond surface-level exchanges. The value of companionship is brilliantly captured in Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (NIV): “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

A friend who sticks closer than a brother is someone who goes beside us through life’s ups and downs, lending a solid hand and an ear to listen.

A Mirror of God’s Love

As a symbol of God’s love for us, consider the buddy who sticks closer than a brother. God Himself offers an unbroken, unchanging, and everlasting companionship. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” says the Bible in Romans 8:38–39.

God’s love is the ultimate paradigm of true friendship—a love that is not conditional but remains faithful regardless of what happens.

Conclusion: Value true friendship.

A friend who sticks closer to you than a sibling is a treasure to be treasured. This type of friendship is founded on love, trust, and mutual care rather than convenience or shared interests. May we seek to be that sort of friend to others in our lives, just as God offers us His unfailing love.

In a world where relationships can be fleeting, let us create friendships that will endure. Let us be the sort of friends who are present in both joy and sadness, who offer unconditional support, and who mirror God’s unfailing love. We are reminded of the beauty of true friendship, which clings closer than a brother, as we welcome and cherish these unique and valuable ties.

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The Just God

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The Just God

The Just God: The Divine Balance of Justice and Mercy

The concept of justice is intertwined with the fabric of human society. We seek justice, responsibility, and reparation for wrongs done. But have you ever pondered a God who is not only just but also perfectly just? The Just God is a lighthouse of truth and righteousness, providing a profound awareness of justice and kindness that transcends human comprehension.

Justice in Pursuit

Consider a world where wrongdoers go unpunished and the disadvantaged have no recourse. The pursuit of justice is a natural human goal that reflects a feeling of rightness and order. And if we as humans value justice, how much more should the Creator of the universe, who is completely just?

According to Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV), “He is the rock; his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. He is a loyal God who does no wrong, who is straight and just. This verse reveals God’s character, which is characterized by unwavering justice.

Justice and Mercy in Balance

Consider yourself in front of a judge who holds you accountable for every action and decision you make. Imagine that same judge showing mercy and giving you a second opportunity despite the evidence against you. The just God is kind as well as just.

This delicate balance is captured in Psalm 103:10–11 (NIV): “He does not treat us as our sins deserve, nor does He repay us according to our iniquities. For his love for people who fear him is as high as the skies are above the earth. God’s justice is balanced by his unending love and kindness.

The Redemption of Justice

Consider a debt that you will never be able to repay—a debt of mistakes and wrongs that weigh heavy on your soul. In His perfect justice, the just God provides a solution. God provides a mechanism for justice to be served and redemption to be offered through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” says Romans 3:23–24 (NIV), “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. This is an example of justice being met via the redemptive act of Christ’s sacrifice.

A Call to Justice

Consider a society in which justice is not simply a notion but a way of life. In our interactions with others, the just God calls us to exemplify justice. Micah 6:8 (NIV) states unequivocally, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. What does the Lord expect of you? Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

Living justly entails treating people with fairness, compassion, and respect, as the character of the just God requires.

Finishing: Adoring the Just God

The Just God asks us to comprehend the breadth of His justice—a justice that supports truth, requires accountability, and strikes a balance between mercy and justice. God’s justice and mercy merge in the person of Jesus Christ, offering us redemption and restoration.

May we turn to the just God as our ultimate standard as we traverse a world that frequently grapples with issues of fairness. May we seek His wisdom and counsel in order to live justly and treat others with love and justice. We find not only a paradigm of perfect justice but also an invitation to experience the transformative power of His kindness when we embrace the Just God.

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The Pleasure of Serving Others: A Pathway to Achievement

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The Joy of Serving Others: A Pathway to Fulfillment

The Pleasure of Serving Others: A Highway to Contentment

Have you ever ever felt the nice and cozy glow that effects from lending a serving to hand to a stranger, the enjoyment that lasts for days after the act of kindness? That emotion offers a way of the pride of serving to others. The straightforward act of serving to can give us a sense of function and pleasure in contrast to the rest in a society that incessantly pushes us to place our consideration on ourselves.

The Want to Serve

Believe a society the place everybody labored to fortify the lives of people of their instant neighborhood. The need to lend a serving to hand, proportion a load, and supply comfort is on the core of carrier. The instance used to be established through Jesus Himself when he stated, “For even the Son of Guy didn’t come to be served, however to serve, and to provide his lifestyles as a ransom for plenty of.” (NIV, Mark 10:45)

Serving others is extra than just a nice deed; it is a way to emulate the compassion and love that Christ proven for us.

Discovering Pleasure in Selfless Giving

Believe spending time with the aged or going to a neighborhood refuge to hear their stories and cause them to really feel essential. Those tiny acts of kindness won’t appear to be a lot, however they be capable to make any person’s day higher, create relationships, and toughen a sense of group.

A better feeling of pleasure emerges after we set aside our personal issues and be aware of the wishes of others. The Bible admonishes us, “Every of you can use no matter present you’ve gotten won to serve others, as trustworthy stewards of God’s grace in its more than a few paperwork.” (NIV) 1 Peter 4:10 We specific the particular talents God has given us through serving others, and it’s in those deeds of carrier that we discover authentic pleasure.

Have an effect on Unmeasurable

Take into consideration the impact if all of us realized to experience serving to others. If we take a bit spoil from our tense schedules to lend a hand a neighbor, supply a sympathetic ear, or donate cash to a reason we reinforce. Small acts of kindness have the facility to unfold, sparking a sequence response of generosity and optimistic exchange.

In step with the NIV translation of Matthew 25:40, Jesus stated, “Actually I inform you, no matter you probably did for this sort of least of those brothers and sisters of mine, you probably did for me.” No longer simplest can we fortify the lives of other folks we serve, however we additionally perform Jesus’ command to like and deal with the ones round us.

Development Relationships and Connections

Believe the sensation of camaraderie that comes from cooperating with others to reach a shared purpose. Folks come in combination via carrier, growing ties and friendships that differently won’t have took place. It serves as a reminder that we’re all part of a broader group, and that group would possibly take pleasure in the acts we do.

Serving others permits us to peer the arena from many angles and to realize the demanding situations and victories of other folks round us. Our lives are enriched and {our relationships} are deepened through this sensitivity.

Conclusion: Discovering Contentment Via Carrier

Every people has a skill that is able to be opened: the pleasure of serving to others. It serves as a reminder that our lives are meant to be about extra than just our personal pursuits; they’re an opportunity to fortify the lives of others.

Let’s thus embody the pride of serving to others, if it is by means of deeds of kindness, volunteering, or simply being conscious about their wishes. The easy act of serving would possibly supply mild and hope in a global that every so often turns out overwhelming. As we emulate Christ and prolong ourselves in love, we no longer simplest exchange the lives of others but additionally revel in a deep feeling of success and enjoyment that overflows into our personal hearts.

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