http://www.townhall.com/columnists/BobBurney/2007/10/30/a_shocking_%e2%80%9cconfession%e2%80%9d_from_willow_creek_community_church
And Here is a Great one (go to October 2 and watch the video...it's worth it).
http://simsdanny.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
DOES MATTER MATTER?
According to the law of the conservation of mass, usually attributed to Lavoisier, within some problem domain, the amount of mass remains constant--mass is neither created nor destroyed.
There are, theoretically, exceptions in such cases as black holes and or very exotic physics problems. But these have never been either tested or proven.
Even in the case of black holes, the matter entrapped therein is not destroyed, it is simply prevented from exhibiting itself in a currently observable way.
Enough physics?
OK.
What it means is this: every atom that has ever existed in the entire universe is still in the universe.
Even if one accepts the postulate of the so-called "Big Bang Theory."
All of the atoms were there and are still somewhere.
So, in pure science, there would never have been a beginning, for everything that is always has been and will be forever.
Joe...I thought you were finished with the physics, already!
Hey! Give me a break.
What am I...some kind of a scientific writer or something?
Point is, science makes no honest effort to describe, nor is it equipped to handle, the concept of a cosmic beginning, in spite of what it might like you to believe.
If, therefore, you place your trust and faith in science, you will find that there are no ultimate answers there...only descriptions and postulations.
So to understand "beginnings" we must look outside of science.
There are thousands of versions of "beginnings," by every society that ever has been.
There are many religious writings that purport to account for "beginnings," each contradicting, altering and/or sharing ideas with the others.
Except one.
There is one sixty-six volume set of writings that was written over thousands of years, by at least forty different authors of many different ages (not just a bunch of old men), most of whom had no contact with the others, and none of whom had access to the totality of said writings.
Yet their writings include "straight-line" logic about the nature of creation that, when understood in context, are consistant each with the other and weave a picture that could not have been conceived by, let alone enacted by human beings.
Those writings have been assembled into book form in a tome called The Bible.
The writings found therein were chosen precisely because of their continuity of thought and their ability to satisfy the mysterious inner longing of mankind's deepest need: the need to solve the issues of meaning and direction.
In The Bible we find the revelation of the character of the Creator.
Subsequent alleged "revelations" about or, supposedly, by Him reveal absolutely nothing new about His character, and are therefore absolutely frivolous at every level.
In The Bible we find the revelation of the Creator's absolute love for His creation.
Other writings present the Creator as some kind of capricious being whose character is both unknowable and untrustworthy.
In The Bible we find the revelation of the Creator's plan for the redemption of His fallen creation.
In every other writing, the "redemption" of man is arbitrary, and is subject to his ability to behave in a certain creator-pleasing way and to the ever-changing whim of the creator.
The important thing to understand, in order to grasp the meaning of The Bible, is that it is ultimately about, and only about, the Creator, whom we refer to as God.
Although The Bible contains the best philosophy that has ever been penned, it is not a philosophy book.
Although The Bible contains the best history that has ever been written, it is not a history book.
Although The Bible contains the best science that has ever been penned, it is not a science book.
Although The Bible contains the best dietetic information that has ever been written, it is not a dietetic book.
In fact, although it has often been viewed and treated as such, it is not even a book of religion.
Its main character, Jesus, spoke often and loudly against religion, as did the other New Testament writers.
The Bible is God's revelation of HIS character, HIS love of HIS creation and HIS plan for its redemption.
When The Bible speaks of origins, it assumes a point brought into being from timelessness by the Creator, stating, "In the beginning God..."
Note that in so stating, The Bible stands not at all in contradiction of science, rather it describes what is, in complete agreement with the law of the conservation of matter.
For if what is came from nowhere, then it is not.
But if what is was created, then it is.
Since we know empirically that what is, is, we can trust that the Creator of what is can be trusted to accurately communicate to us His "what is."
(This is true even if one comes from a political point of view that believes one can equivocate the meaning of the word "is.")
What we learn from the sufficiency of The Bible is that God's plan for HIS creation's redemption is found in, and only in, the person of Jesus.
Here, by the way, is the plan that The Bible presents:
Every person is a sinner. When a person accepts that, he/she can recognize his/her need to be accepted by the loving, but righteous and just, Creator, which cannot happen in the presence of sin.
The Bible tells us that if we believe that Jesus is God incarnate (in the flesh), that He was executed to pay our sin debt, and that God raised Him from the dead, illustrating that He has power over life and death, we can be gifted with life forever in His presence.
Finally, The Bible encourages us to commit ourselves to the person of Jesus and to unfaltering service to Him.
You can know Him, if you will.
There are, theoretically, exceptions in such cases as black holes and or very exotic physics problems. But these have never been either tested or proven.
Even in the case of black holes, the matter entrapped therein is not destroyed, it is simply prevented from exhibiting itself in a currently observable way.
Enough physics?
OK.
What it means is this: every atom that has ever existed in the entire universe is still in the universe.
Even if one accepts the postulate of the so-called "Big Bang Theory."
All of the atoms were there and are still somewhere.
So, in pure science, there would never have been a beginning, for everything that is always has been and will be forever.
Joe...I thought you were finished with the physics, already!
Hey! Give me a break.
What am I...some kind of a scientific writer or something?
Point is, science makes no honest effort to describe, nor is it equipped to handle, the concept of a cosmic beginning, in spite of what it might like you to believe.
If, therefore, you place your trust and faith in science, you will find that there are no ultimate answers there...only descriptions and postulations.
So to understand "beginnings" we must look outside of science.
There are thousands of versions of "beginnings," by every society that ever has been.
There are many religious writings that purport to account for "beginnings," each contradicting, altering and/or sharing ideas with the others.
Except one.
There is one sixty-six volume set of writings that was written over thousands of years, by at least forty different authors of many different ages (not just a bunch of old men), most of whom had no contact with the others, and none of whom had access to the totality of said writings.
Yet their writings include "straight-line" logic about the nature of creation that, when understood in context, are consistant each with the other and weave a picture that could not have been conceived by, let alone enacted by human beings.
Those writings have been assembled into book form in a tome called The Bible.
The writings found therein were chosen precisely because of their continuity of thought and their ability to satisfy the mysterious inner longing of mankind's deepest need: the need to solve the issues of meaning and direction.
In The Bible we find the revelation of the character of the Creator.
Subsequent alleged "revelations" about or, supposedly, by Him reveal absolutely nothing new about His character, and are therefore absolutely frivolous at every level.
In The Bible we find the revelation of the Creator's absolute love for His creation.
Other writings present the Creator as some kind of capricious being whose character is both unknowable and untrustworthy.
In The Bible we find the revelation of the Creator's plan for the redemption of His fallen creation.
In every other writing, the "redemption" of man is arbitrary, and is subject to his ability to behave in a certain creator-pleasing way and to the ever-changing whim of the creator.
The important thing to understand, in order to grasp the meaning of The Bible, is that it is ultimately about, and only about, the Creator, whom we refer to as God.
Although The Bible contains the best philosophy that has ever been penned, it is not a philosophy book.
Although The Bible contains the best history that has ever been written, it is not a history book.
Although The Bible contains the best science that has ever been penned, it is not a science book.
Although The Bible contains the best dietetic information that has ever been written, it is not a dietetic book.
In fact, although it has often been viewed and treated as such, it is not even a book of religion.
Its main character, Jesus, spoke often and loudly against religion, as did the other New Testament writers.
The Bible is God's revelation of HIS character, HIS love of HIS creation and HIS plan for its redemption.
When The Bible speaks of origins, it assumes a point brought into being from timelessness by the Creator, stating, "In the beginning God..."
Note that in so stating, The Bible stands not at all in contradiction of science, rather it describes what is, in complete agreement with the law of the conservation of matter.
For if what is came from nowhere, then it is not.
But if what is was created, then it is.
Since we know empirically that what is, is, we can trust that the Creator of what is can be trusted to accurately communicate to us His "what is."
(This is true even if one comes from a political point of view that believes one can equivocate the meaning of the word "is.")
What we learn from the sufficiency of The Bible is that God's plan for HIS creation's redemption is found in, and only in, the person of Jesus.
Here, by the way, is the plan that The Bible presents:
Every person is a sinner. When a person accepts that, he/she can recognize his/her need to be accepted by the loving, but righteous and just, Creator, which cannot happen in the presence of sin.
The Bible tells us that if we believe that Jesus is God incarnate (in the flesh), that He was executed to pay our sin debt, and that God raised Him from the dead, illustrating that He has power over life and death, we can be gifted with life forever in His presence.
Finally, The Bible encourages us to commit ourselves to the person of Jesus and to unfaltering service to Him.
You can know Him, if you will.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Water is essential to life.
Too much water is dangerous.
Witness New Orleans.
Fire is almost essential to life.
To much fire is dangerous.
Witness California.
In New Orleans people besieged by Katrina fled to a football stadium for shelter.
While there, they exhibited the baseness of humanity by killing each other, raping each other, fighting with each other, defecating wherever they felt like it, whining to the federal government, crying about how Mommy Washington didn't come running, blaming the president for the disaster itself and otherwise acting like entitled, spoiled brats who wanted others to do for them what they were unwilling to do for themselves.
Then hundreds of them looted their own city, shot up their own infrastructure, rioted in the streets and otherwise acted like barbarians.
Come to think of it...that's just what they are.
In California, the largest evacuation of people in history, people besieged by 400,000 acres of fire, fled to a football stadium for shelter.
While there, and even on their way there, they helped each other, encouraged each other, pulled together, stayed organized, helped feed themselves, established law and order and behaved like civilized people.
As of this writing, there have been only two lootings. The looters were arrested and the prosecutor intends to (think of it) prosecute them.
People whose homes were not ravaged by the fires opened their homes to family, friends, neighbors and even perfect strangers.
My wife's sister, who lives in the affected area, is one who has opened her home to anyone who needs it, and if I know her, she will feed people who need feeding and will give of herself far beyond expectations.
Part of the difference between New Orleans and California is accounted for by the nature of the disasters involved.
But much of it is a difference in the way the respective residents look at life.
In the one case, entitlement, dependence and self-insufficiency are actively taught and encouraged by their political leaders and schools.
In the other, hard work, self-help, neighborliness and helping one's fellow man is the order of the day.
To be fair, some of the politicians in California tried to emulate the politicians in New Orleans.
That's because they were woven from the same cloth.
But the people of California would have none of it.
Personally, I am very sorry for the losses sustained by people in New Orleans and in California.
But I am awed by the differences in how each group responded.
Is there a lesson we might learn from this?
Too much water is dangerous.
Witness New Orleans.
Fire is almost essential to life.
To much fire is dangerous.
Witness California.
In New Orleans people besieged by Katrina fled to a football stadium for shelter.
While there, they exhibited the baseness of humanity by killing each other, raping each other, fighting with each other, defecating wherever they felt like it, whining to the federal government, crying about how Mommy Washington didn't come running, blaming the president for the disaster itself and otherwise acting like entitled, spoiled brats who wanted others to do for them what they were unwilling to do for themselves.
Then hundreds of them looted their own city, shot up their own infrastructure, rioted in the streets and otherwise acted like barbarians.
Come to think of it...that's just what they are.
In California, the largest evacuation of people in history, people besieged by 400,000 acres of fire, fled to a football stadium for shelter.
While there, and even on their way there, they helped each other, encouraged each other, pulled together, stayed organized, helped feed themselves, established law and order and behaved like civilized people.
As of this writing, there have been only two lootings. The looters were arrested and the prosecutor intends to (think of it) prosecute them.
People whose homes were not ravaged by the fires opened their homes to family, friends, neighbors and even perfect strangers.
My wife's sister, who lives in the affected area, is one who has opened her home to anyone who needs it, and if I know her, she will feed people who need feeding and will give of herself far beyond expectations.
Part of the difference between New Orleans and California is accounted for by the nature of the disasters involved.
But much of it is a difference in the way the respective residents look at life.
In the one case, entitlement, dependence and self-insufficiency are actively taught and encouraged by their political leaders and schools.
In the other, hard work, self-help, neighborliness and helping one's fellow man is the order of the day.
To be fair, some of the politicians in California tried to emulate the politicians in New Orleans.
That's because they were woven from the same cloth.
But the people of California would have none of it.
Personally, I am very sorry for the losses sustained by people in New Orleans and in California.
But I am awed by the differences in how each group responded.
Is there a lesson we might learn from this?
Monday, October 22, 2007
DISCIPLE, DISCIPLE, DISCIPLE
"My" denomination has a ministry that seeks to disciple its members.
This ministry has morphed over the years.
It started out as "BYPU," Baptist Young People's Union.
Then it became "Baptist Training Union"
Not satisfied with that, the name was changed to just "Training Union."
Next it became "Church Training."
Then "Discipleship Training."
And so it goes.
Today, churches kind of call it what they wish. Names like: "Christian Life Institute;" "Institute of Christian Growth;" and others have become common.
Whatever the name, though, the purpose of the ministry is to help Christians grow in their Christian walk by enabling them to assume various roles in ministry, realizing their spiritual gifts.
Lately there has been a move to include discipleship training in Bible study (Sunday School) groups.
This seems enigmatic to me, since doing Bible study is a quasi-intellectual pursuit, while training is a hands-on experience.
In other words Bible study is learning what God has said, is saying and will say, while training is putting what you have learned into practice.
Jesus did both.
He taught his disciples.
He also trained his disciples.
He showed them healings.
Then he let them "do the healing."
(OK, OK, I know...God does the healing...but I have a feeling that you know what I mean.)
I believe this is a good model to follow.
In my own case, I was very blessed to have been a part of a forward thinking discipleship ministry (then called "Training Union.")
I was taught how to present a lesson in front of people by using material provided in our Training Union Quarterly.
Sometimes it was a little stiff and contrived, but it taught me that being in front of people was not as painful as I thought, and that almost anyone could learn to do it (even if not everyone is called TO do it).
I was also taught the basics of leading music in Training Union.
My church Music Director, Jesse Cheek, took time during Training Union to teach whoever wanted to learn about time signatures, tempi, note values, dynamic markings and the like.
After my training, I became the Assistant Church Music Director, and had the joyful, if somewhat terrifying, experience of helping the congregation and choir sing hymns and anthems to God.
The rest, as someone has said, is history...not all of it good, but not all of it bad, either.
God has given me the privilege and responsibility of serving Him ever since.
I yearn to see churches take the business of Discipleship Training seriously...training Bible teachers, Music Leaders, Deacons, hospitality workers, nursery workers, community outreach leaders, etc.
Not just having members sit through "programs," like "Experiencing God," (and they are great), but enabling them to practice doing FOR God with their spiritual gifts.
Just as Jesus discipled His followers, we need to disciple our members.
This ministry has morphed over the years.
It started out as "BYPU," Baptist Young People's Union.
Then it became "Baptist Training Union"
Not satisfied with that, the name was changed to just "Training Union."
Next it became "Church Training."
Then "Discipleship Training."
And so it goes.
Today, churches kind of call it what they wish. Names like: "Christian Life Institute;" "Institute of Christian Growth;" and others have become common.
Whatever the name, though, the purpose of the ministry is to help Christians grow in their Christian walk by enabling them to assume various roles in ministry, realizing their spiritual gifts.
Lately there has been a move to include discipleship training in Bible study (Sunday School) groups.
This seems enigmatic to me, since doing Bible study is a quasi-intellectual pursuit, while training is a hands-on experience.
In other words Bible study is learning what God has said, is saying and will say, while training is putting what you have learned into practice.
Jesus did both.
He taught his disciples.
He also trained his disciples.
He showed them healings.
Then he let them "do the healing."
(OK, OK, I know...God does the healing...but I have a feeling that you know what I mean.)
I believe this is a good model to follow.
In my own case, I was very blessed to have been a part of a forward thinking discipleship ministry (then called "Training Union.")
I was taught how to present a lesson in front of people by using material provided in our Training Union Quarterly.
Sometimes it was a little stiff and contrived, but it taught me that being in front of people was not as painful as I thought, and that almost anyone could learn to do it (even if not everyone is called TO do it).
I was also taught the basics of leading music in Training Union.
My church Music Director, Jesse Cheek, took time during Training Union to teach whoever wanted to learn about time signatures, tempi, note values, dynamic markings and the like.
After my training, I became the Assistant Church Music Director, and had the joyful, if somewhat terrifying, experience of helping the congregation and choir sing hymns and anthems to God.
The rest, as someone has said, is history...not all of it good, but not all of it bad, either.
God has given me the privilege and responsibility of serving Him ever since.
I yearn to see churches take the business of Discipleship Training seriously...training Bible teachers, Music Leaders, Deacons, hospitality workers, nursery workers, community outreach leaders, etc.
Not just having members sit through "programs," like "Experiencing God," (and they are great), but enabling them to practice doing FOR God with their spiritual gifts.
Just as Jesus discipled His followers, we need to disciple our members.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
MINISTERIALY SPEAKING
I am a minister, called into the Gospel Ministry when I was 17 years old.
For those of you wondering, I am 65 years old.
I was officially welcomed into ministry by Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Florida in 1962.
I have never been a pastor, but I have been a Minister of Education, Minister of Youth, a Minister of Music and a Minister of Christian Radio.
Let me assure you that a non-pastoral minister is not a "second class" minister.
Your church Worship Leader is a minister. So is your Education Director.
In fact, every one of us Christians is a minister in exactly the same sense that the pastor of the church is a minister.
The venue might be different, but the task is the same: point people toward Jesus, encourage each other in the Body of Christ and build each other up in the Body of Christ.
No doubt there are many so-called "para-church" ministries where you live.
You may have a Right to Life organization in your town.
Be certain of it...it is headed up by a minister (not necessarily a pastor...though it could be...but someone who ministers to the community through the organization).
Maybe there is a "soup kitchen" in your area established and run by a Christian who feels God's call to provide for the needs of the homeless.
I work for a Christian radio station (WJYO, 91.5 Kingdom FM, online at http://www.kingdom.fm/).
Our leader is a Minister of the Gospel.
He is not a pastor.
But think of it this way: between Sunday church services he provides music, Bible study, preaching and community information about local Christian events. That is not even possible for most churches to provide.
The "business" of being a Christian radio minister (or any other kind of minister, for that matter) carries with it awesome responsibilities for harmony in the body, stability, integrity, being above reproach, conducting oneself with kindness, gentleness, patience, love and the other fruits of the Spirit in leadership.
The leader of a Christian ministry must be called into ministry, first and foremost, or else he or she has no business leading a Christian ministry.
If a minister expects his/her ministry to be supported by its constituency, he/she must see to it that the needs of that constituency are being met...not by some ethereal subjective imaginations, but by actual investigation and analysis.
Far too often, what is blamed on the leadership of the Holy Spirit, is nothing more than "I thought of it...I want to do it...it excites me...I am a Christian, therefore it must be God's will."
The result is that the "ministry" struggles to stay afloat and its leader(s) can't figure out why.
Truth be told, money in ministry does not follow good business practices, enthusiasm, or wishful thinking.
Money follows ministry.
If people perceive that they are being ministered to in a significant way, they open their pocketbooks.
If not, the ministry is probably not touching the hearts of enough people to make a difference in their lives.
This might mean that prayerful consideration might be given to seeking out the kind of spiritual and leadership help that those who have gone before, and who are going forth now, can provide.
In other words, killing off self-pride and learning (at conferences, from other leaders of ministries like yours, etc.) from those whose knowledge and experience can help.
Worth thinking about.
For those of you wondering, I am 65 years old.
I was officially welcomed into ministry by Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, Florida in 1962.
I have never been a pastor, but I have been a Minister of Education, Minister of Youth, a Minister of Music and a Minister of Christian Radio.
Let me assure you that a non-pastoral minister is not a "second class" minister.
Your church Worship Leader is a minister. So is your Education Director.
In fact, every one of us Christians is a minister in exactly the same sense that the pastor of the church is a minister.
The venue might be different, but the task is the same: point people toward Jesus, encourage each other in the Body of Christ and build each other up in the Body of Christ.
No doubt there are many so-called "para-church" ministries where you live.
You may have a Right to Life organization in your town.
Be certain of it...it is headed up by a minister (not necessarily a pastor...though it could be...but someone who ministers to the community through the organization).
Maybe there is a "soup kitchen" in your area established and run by a Christian who feels God's call to provide for the needs of the homeless.
I work for a Christian radio station (WJYO, 91.5 Kingdom FM, online at http://www.kingdom.fm/).
Our leader is a Minister of the Gospel.
He is not a pastor.
But think of it this way: between Sunday church services he provides music, Bible study, preaching and community information about local Christian events. That is not even possible for most churches to provide.
The "business" of being a Christian radio minister (or any other kind of minister, for that matter) carries with it awesome responsibilities for harmony in the body, stability, integrity, being above reproach, conducting oneself with kindness, gentleness, patience, love and the other fruits of the Spirit in leadership.
The leader of a Christian ministry must be called into ministry, first and foremost, or else he or she has no business leading a Christian ministry.
If a minister expects his/her ministry to be supported by its constituency, he/she must see to it that the needs of that constituency are being met...not by some ethereal subjective imaginations, but by actual investigation and analysis.
Far too often, what is blamed on the leadership of the Holy Spirit, is nothing more than "I thought of it...I want to do it...it excites me...I am a Christian, therefore it must be God's will."
The result is that the "ministry" struggles to stay afloat and its leader(s) can't figure out why.
Truth be told, money in ministry does not follow good business practices, enthusiasm, or wishful thinking.
Money follows ministry.
If people perceive that they are being ministered to in a significant way, they open their pocketbooks.
If not, the ministry is probably not touching the hearts of enough people to make a difference in their lives.
This might mean that prayerful consideration might be given to seeking out the kind of spiritual and leadership help that those who have gone before, and who are going forth now, can provide.
In other words, killing off self-pride and learning (at conferences, from other leaders of ministries like yours, etc.) from those whose knowledge and experience can help.
Worth thinking about.
Monday, October 08, 2007
MY FAVORITE MESSAGE OF ALL TIME
BY S.M. LOCKRIDGE
My King
My King was born King.
The Bible says my King is a seven-way king.
He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial king....He's the King of Israel; that's a national King....He's the King of Righteousness....He's the King of the Ages.....He's the King of Heaven....He's the King of Glory....He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords.
He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial king....He's the King of Israel; that's a national King....He's the King of Righteousness....He's the King of the Ages.....He's the King of Heaven....He's the King of Glory....He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords.
That's my King.
Well....I wonder, if you know Him?
David said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork."
My King is a sovereign King.
No means of measure can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supplies. No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings.
He's enduringly strong....He's entirely sincere....He's eternally steadfast....He's immortally graceful....He's imperially powerful....He's impartially merciful!
Do you know Him?
He's the greatest phenomenon that ever crossed the horizon of this world.
He's God's Son....He's a sinner's Saviour....He's the centerpiece of civilization....He stands alone in Himself....He's august....He's unique....He's unparalleled....He's unprecedented.... He’s Supreme…He’s preeminent…He's the loftiest idea in literature....He's the highest personality in philosophy....He's the supreme problem in higher criticism....He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology....He's the cardinal necessity for spiritual religion....He's the miracle of the age.... He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him....He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour...... I wonder if you know Him today?
He's the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously…He supplies strength for the weak....He's available for the tempted and the tried....He sympathizes and He saves....He strengthens and sustains....He guards and He guides....He heals the sick....He cleanses lepers....He forgives sinners....He discharges debtors....He delivers captives....He defends the feeble....He blesses the young....He serves the unfortunate....He regards the aged....He rewards the diligent....and He beautifies the meek.
Is that the King you know today?
Well, my King is the key to knowledge....He's the wellspring to wisdom....He's the doorway of deliverance....He's the pathway of peace....He's the roadway of righteousness ....He's the highway of holiness....He's the gateway of glory....... He’s the master of the mighty…He’s the captain of the conquerors…He’s the head of the heros…He’s the leader of the legislators…He’s the overseer of the overcomers…He’s the governor of governors…He’s the Prince of princes…He’s the King of kings…and He’s the Lord of lords.
Do you know Him?
His office is manifold....His promise is sure....His light is matchless....His goodness is limitless....His mercy is everlasting....His love never changes....His word is enough....His grace is sufficient....His reign is righteous....and His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.
I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable....He's incomprehensible....He's invincible....He's irresistible.
The heavens of Heaven cannot contain Him…let alone a man explain Him.
You can't get Him out of your mind....You can't get Him off of your hands....You can't out live Him, and you can't live without Him.
You can't get Him out of your mind....You can't get Him off of your hands....You can't out live Him, and you can't live without Him.
The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him....Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him....The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree....Herod couldn't kill Him....Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him.
That's my King.
He always has been…and He always will be…He had no predecessor…He’ll have no successor…There was nobody before Him…and there’ll be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him…and He’s not going to resign.
He always has been…and He always will be…He had no predecessor…He’ll have no successor…There was nobody before Him…and there’ll be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him…and He’s not going to resign.
"Thine is the Kingdom....and the Power....and the Glory...."
All the power belongs to my King.
You may talk about black power, white power, green power…but it’s God’s power.
Thine is the power…and the glory!
Thine is the power…and the glory!
We’re trying to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His.
Yes, Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever, and ever, and ever, and ever and ever, and ever…How long is that? And ever...and ever... and ever, and ever… and when you get through with all the forevers, then.... AMEN!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
What Did I Do When I Accepted Him?
I was sixteen years old when I accepted Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.
Not everything I believed about Him at that time was correct.
Over the years a lot has been revealed to me that I did not know when I was first saved.
But I did know that this person, Jesus, came from God, lived a perfect life, taught many things, and loved me enough to die for me.
Let me tell you about the process of my salvation, because it is the same for anyone who comes to Him.
Along the way I will quote Scripture verses, which is not my normal pattern, but which, in this instance, confirms what went on in my life when taken in the context of Scripture as a whole.
1. I recognized sin in my personal life.
Romans 3:23 tells me that I am not unique in this. Everybody who ever has lived, is living now and who ever will live has sinned (which means missing the perfect mark God has set, and failing to be in the center of His will every moment of one's life).
2. I developed a "Godly sorrow" for my sin.
John the Baptist had been put in prison. Jesus, we are told in Mark 1:15, went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, saying, "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."
Repentance is not just being sorry that we are guilty of sinning, it is recognizing that sin grieves God and therefore we are sorry enough about our sin that we turn from it to Him through Christ.
3. I faced Christ’s claims on my life.
His Word tells us that God's will is that everybody be saved, that none should perish (II Peter 3:9).
Furthermore, He said that He loved me so much that He gave Jesus, God incarnate, so that if I would believe in Him and His finished work, I would be saved.
4. I believed God raised Jesus, who had been crucified, from the dead.
Romans 10:9 tells us that if we confess with our mouths "Jesus is Lord," and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.
5. I placed my faith in Him and His finished work at the cross.
At the "end" He cried out from the cross, "It is finished," and thereby proclaimed that everything necessary to fulfill the work of salvation had been done once for all time.
We are saved by the grace of God, through our faith in Christ's work, not our own, according to Ephesians 2:8 & 9.
6. Finally, I committed to live my life in His service, whatever that entailed.
I have not done that as well as I ought, but with every passing day He enables me to be better at it than I was the day before...at least on those days when I manage to give up my selfish desires and yield myself to Him.
He has never failed me.
I have failed Him often...much more often than I should.
But when I fail Him, He is both faithful and just to forgive me, to pick me up and to reassure me of my right standing with Him for all of eternity.
Since He has set the highest possible standard, and since He has seen fit to fulfill it by the power of His Holy Spirit, and not by my might or power, how could I neglect so great a salvation?
He has protected me from the superstitious, non-sensical mumbo-jumbo that permeates so much of what passes for Christianity today.
He has never "micro-managed" my life, but has lain out eternal principles that, as I learned and followed them, have stood in good stead unfailingly.
(On the other hand, when I have strayed from those principles, I have suffered their inevitable consequences.)
He has taught me that His Word can be trusted to reveal to me His character, to reiterate His love for me and to remind me of the great plan of salvation He has provided.
Sometimes He has calmed the storms in my life.
Sometimes He has calmed me.
Either way, I have learned that the apostle Paul was right when he told us that, for him, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
I claim that for myself, too.
My prayer is that you have, or will, come to know the Creator of all that is, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Not everything I believed about Him at that time was correct.
Over the years a lot has been revealed to me that I did not know when I was first saved.
But I did know that this person, Jesus, came from God, lived a perfect life, taught many things, and loved me enough to die for me.
Let me tell you about the process of my salvation, because it is the same for anyone who comes to Him.
Along the way I will quote Scripture verses, which is not my normal pattern, but which, in this instance, confirms what went on in my life when taken in the context of Scripture as a whole.
1. I recognized sin in my personal life.
Romans 3:23 tells me that I am not unique in this. Everybody who ever has lived, is living now and who ever will live has sinned (which means missing the perfect mark God has set, and failing to be in the center of His will every moment of one's life).
2. I developed a "Godly sorrow" for my sin.
John the Baptist had been put in prison. Jesus, we are told in Mark 1:15, went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, saying, "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."
Repentance is not just being sorry that we are guilty of sinning, it is recognizing that sin grieves God and therefore we are sorry enough about our sin that we turn from it to Him through Christ.
3. I faced Christ’s claims on my life.
His Word tells us that God's will is that everybody be saved, that none should perish (II Peter 3:9).
Furthermore, He said that He loved me so much that He gave Jesus, God incarnate, so that if I would believe in Him and His finished work, I would be saved.
4. I believed God raised Jesus, who had been crucified, from the dead.
Romans 10:9 tells us that if we confess with our mouths "Jesus is Lord," and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.
5. I placed my faith in Him and His finished work at the cross.
At the "end" He cried out from the cross, "It is finished," and thereby proclaimed that everything necessary to fulfill the work of salvation had been done once for all time.
We are saved by the grace of God, through our faith in Christ's work, not our own, according to Ephesians 2:8 & 9.
6. Finally, I committed to live my life in His service, whatever that entailed.
I have not done that as well as I ought, but with every passing day He enables me to be better at it than I was the day before...at least on those days when I manage to give up my selfish desires and yield myself to Him.
He has never failed me.
I have failed Him often...much more often than I should.
But when I fail Him, He is both faithful and just to forgive me, to pick me up and to reassure me of my right standing with Him for all of eternity.
Since He has set the highest possible standard, and since He has seen fit to fulfill it by the power of His Holy Spirit, and not by my might or power, how could I neglect so great a salvation?
He has protected me from the superstitious, non-sensical mumbo-jumbo that permeates so much of what passes for Christianity today.
He has never "micro-managed" my life, but has lain out eternal principles that, as I learned and followed them, have stood in good stead unfailingly.
(On the other hand, when I have strayed from those principles, I have suffered their inevitable consequences.)
He has taught me that His Word can be trusted to reveal to me His character, to reiterate His love for me and to remind me of the great plan of salvation He has provided.
Sometimes He has calmed the storms in my life.
Sometimes He has calmed me.
Either way, I have learned that the apostle Paul was right when he told us that, for him, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
I claim that for myself, too.
My prayer is that you have, or will, come to know the Creator of all that is, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
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