{"id":24664,"date":"2020-01-02T08:21:10","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T15:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/?p=24664"},"modified":"2023-08-29T11:24:25","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T17:24:25","slug":"first-word-peace-and-pieces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/first-word-peace-and-pieces\/","title":{"rendered":"First Word – Peace and Pieces"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greetings, BA readers! It\u2019s an exciting new year, and we have an exciting new theme to go with it. Following our Great Commission focus last year, 2020 is dedicated to what the apostle Paul called the \u201cministry of reconciliation\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:14-21). We have all year to explore this profound and demanding text, but here\u2019s the heart of it:<\/span><\/p>\n

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation . . . God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation (vv. 18, 19).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This message makes us \u201cambassadors for Christ.\u201d On His behalf we implore a shattered and dying world \u201cbe reconciled to God\u201d (v. 20). What a responsibility. Do we understand it, and are we up for it?<\/span><\/p>\n

We see the need all around us. <\/span>Everywhere!<\/span><\/i> Sin breaks us into pieces, beginning with our relationship with our heavenly Father. But in Christ, God has made peace. This means that we can be put back together again. This isn\u2019t just a message we share with others; it\u2019s a life we model as new creations in Christ. If we are at peace with God in Him, we can be reconciled to one another and not fall to pieces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We introduce other exciting new features in this issue, starting with the beautiful photography gracing our covers this year. A big thank you to Wendy Gedack, wife of Pastor Troy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for sharing her talent and seasonal photos with us. Her art captures, frame by frame, the peace of God and His design for the full reconciliation of creation that we all anticipate.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re also excited about two other items introduced in this issue that we hope will cultivate a new generation of BA readers and writers. You big people, put a little one on your lap and enjoy the \u201cKids Time\u201d page together (pp. 16-17). And spread the word about the LeRoy Dais Young Writers Challenge<\/span> taking place in early 2020. We\u2019re accepting submissions now and will announce winners in four categories in the November-December issue. Encourage your young people to participate (see p. 10 for details).<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus is at work in His church, and there\u2019s so much to be excited about. Peace!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jason Overman<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Read the Jan-Feb BA here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greetings, BA readers! It\u2019s an exciting new year, and we have an exciting new theme to go with it. Following our Great Commission focus last year, 2020 is dedicated to what the apostle Paul called the \u201cministry of reconciliation\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:14-21). We have all year to explore this profound and demanding text, but here\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":24399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37,36,774],"tags":[971,384,528,972,970,800,140,974,973,733],"yoast_head":"\nFirst Word - Peace and Pieces - Bible Advocate<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Peace and pieces: Sin breaks us into pieces, beginning with our relationship with our heavenly Father. 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