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   New Living Translation << Hebrews 12 >> New Living Translation 
   
   God’s Discipline Proves His Love 
   
   1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. 
   
   5And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, 
   
   “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, 
   
   and don’t give up when he corrects you. 
   
   6For the Lord disciplines those he loves, 
   
   and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” 
   
   7As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 
   
   10For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. 
   
   12So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. 
   
   A Call to Listen to God 
   
   14Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears. 
   
   18You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.” 
   
   22No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. 
   
   25Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” 27This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. 
   
   28Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29For our God is a devouring fire. ||||| Church's 'Strip For Me' billboard draws attention Posted: Monday, March 25, 2013 10:50 PM EDT Updated: Monday, April 1, 2013 10:50 PM EDT 
   
   The Rock Church says its unusual billboard is serving its purpose, grabbing people's attention and making patrons of a local strip club think twice about how they spend their money. 
   
   Their sign quotes Jesus from Hebrews, saying simply, "Strip for me." The message: Instead of spending money in a strip club, spend it in a way that will better your family and yourself. 
   
   Even more powerful is the location of the sign, which can be seen just behind The Palace Gentlemen's Club sign on 3rd Avenue West in downtown Birmingham. 
   
   Pastor Mike McClure, Jr. expected some negativity in response to the billboard but he doesn't mind. He says his church is out to change lives of Magic City men. 
   
   "We stratigically picked the strip club because we want the brothers who are walking in...to know God has a greater cause for your life," he said. 
   
   McClure says the religious message is clear in the scripture on the billboard. 
   
   "The scripture says...slows down, maybe your life is slow because of stuff you need to strip off. When you begin to strip watch how fast your life goes," he said. 
   
   McClure wants to hold men accountable and encourage them to stay out of strip clubs and spend more time being good fathers and family members. He says the big picture is making Birmingham better. 
   
   "It all starts with a good man in the house. I'm trying to get brothers to put that money back into your home. Go home, raise your kids. I promise you, crime will go down," McClure said. 
   
   One resident thought the billboard was inappropriate and others thought it was acutally an ad for the club. But one woman thinks it's a creative way to get people to think. 
   
   "Anything to make them stop and think, "Hey, my decisions aren't that great,' I think that's a good think," Caitlin Bensel said. 
   
   
   
   Copyright 2013 WBRC. All rights reserved. 
   
  
target: – A billboard near a "gentlemen's club" in Birmingham screams out "strip for me" to passersby, which is notable mainly because it was put up not by the club but by a local church, reports WBRC. The pastor of Rock Church is paraphrasing a line from the Bible's book of Hebrews I, in which people are asked to strip away their sins and encumbrances to serve Jesus. The pastor says his attention-grabbing stunt has a simple purpose: He wants guys to think twice about going into the club and spend that time with their families instead.