The Earth is yours, O Lord, and everything that is in it.
You are the one who pushed back the oceans and allowed dry land to appear.
You have made it possible for us to climb even the mountain of the Lord and enter where you live through the shed blood of Jesus.
Your name is to be praised above all others.
This Is My Father's World
Words and Music by Maltbie D. Babcock
http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh144.sht
This is my Father's world, And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world, I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas, His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world The birds their carols raise.
The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world, O let me ne'er forget:
That thought the wrong seems oft' so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world, The battle is not done
Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And the earth and heaven be one.
©Public Domain
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Get That License Number!
The license number of that truck that hit me, that is.
Whew!
That was an intense three and one half days!
We had two specialists from ShareMedia, Tim Altman and Therese Romano come help us with our sharathon.
Therese is a bright, humerous and very dedicated woman with a great ability to relate to people.
To call Tim intense is an unfathonable understatement. He is energy personified, and virtually carried us through Sharathon 2006.
Together they made a great team and helped us reach $115.000.00 in faith promises to the station, an increase from $104,000.00 last year.
That is a fraction of the budget need, but, added to those who are steady givers but did not call during Sharathon 2006, it will go a long way toward making our budget.
Thank you for your prayers and for "giving" me the time off to participate in our sharathon.
Hopefully I will be back to some simblance of normalcy (as if there was ever any of that on this blog).
I have SO much catching up to do, having not read a blog in a week.
Getting up time each day has been 4:00 AM and getting home time has been 7:30 PM.
God has blessed and I have stayed "healthy," although I will not be able to eat for a week.
One of the perks of Sharathon is that local restauranteurs provide us with breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and plenty of them.
So, I'll see you tomorrow with Sunday Praise and will catch up on my reading and pithy comments as fast as I can.
Whew!
That was an intense three and one half days!
We had two specialists from ShareMedia, Tim Altman and Therese Romano come help us with our sharathon.
Therese is a bright, humerous and very dedicated woman with a great ability to relate to people.
To call Tim intense is an unfathonable understatement. He is energy personified, and virtually carried us through Sharathon 2006.
Together they made a great team and helped us reach $115.000.00 in faith promises to the station, an increase from $104,000.00 last year.
That is a fraction of the budget need, but, added to those who are steady givers but did not call during Sharathon 2006, it will go a long way toward making our budget.
Thank you for your prayers and for "giving" me the time off to participate in our sharathon.
Hopefully I will be back to some simblance of normalcy (as if there was ever any of that on this blog).
I have SO much catching up to do, having not read a blog in a week.
Getting up time each day has been 4:00 AM and getting home time has been 7:30 PM.
God has blessed and I have stayed "healthy," although I will not be able to eat for a week.
One of the perks of Sharathon is that local restauranteurs provide us with breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and plenty of them.
So, I'll see you tomorrow with Sunday Praise and will catch up on my reading and pithy comments as fast as I can.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Friday, March 10, 2006
A Friend Sent This to Me
RULES FROM GOD
1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up !!The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3
4. Stand Up!! ... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !! ...To the Lord. "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
6. Reach Up !! ...For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up !! ...Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6
God answers Knee-Mail
1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up !!The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3
4. Stand Up!! ... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !! ...To the Lord. "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
6. Reach Up !! ...For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up !! ...Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6
God answers Knee-Mail
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Cold Turkey
I'm certain to be experiencing withdrawal symptoms for the next several days, as my blogging, both writing and reading, will have to be somewhat curtailed.
Next week begins our annual SHARATHON at the radio station (www.kingdom.fm on the Internet).
This is our major fundraiser of the year and there is an incredible amount of work to prepare for it.
I'll be the board operator for much of the time, although I will be spelled more often than in the past. We now have three more people who are very competent to run it.
Xavier is a very smooth, laid back guy who is steady and dependable. He'll tackle anything and loves to learn the system.
Caleb is fairly new, but computer literate extrodinaire. He also does a good deal of voice-over work.
Parker is part-time, but has been there the longest and will be in and out during sharathon. He's a good friend and is graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University this year. He'll be leaving in May and I will miss him.
Steve Gimbert, our afternoon guy, could operate the board, only he's in Georgia. He does his show on our station from there. It's a process called WANcasting (Wide Area Network). He'd need very long arms to be of much help in the board operating department.
Steve's situation is really unique. He does what we call VoiceTracking. That means he pre-records his comments and ministry in little temporary tracks that insert themselves between songs and then self-distruct after they air. (Just like the Mission Impossible tapes, but with less smoke).
So Steve is not only not here when he sounds like he is here, he is not here when he is getting ready to sound like he is here.
He's the best on-air personality we have, and we don't even have him.
Why am I dizzy?
Vernonica Barber is our Saturday morning person, and I'm sure she will pop in from time to time.
By the way, if you did develop the habit of listening and wanted to contribute, you can send your check to Kingdom FM, P.O. Box 61721, Ft. Myers, Florida 33912. You can call in a Faith Promise to 1-800-635-2122. One of our friendly operators will be "standing by to take your call."
Giving to the station is not a requirement for reading this blog or commenting thereon. But it might be someday.
Be praying for us as we approach Sharathon 2006. We need to raise $175,000.00. If you can write a check for that amount, send it to Joe Scoggins, 1634......maybe not.
I'll do my best to post something or other as often as I can, and to read as much as I can, but I'll be working from 6 AM until 6 PM daily.
God bless.
I'll see you here very soon.
But if I don't see you here, I'll see you over there.
Next week begins our annual SHARATHON at the radio station (www.kingdom.fm on the Internet).
This is our major fundraiser of the year and there is an incredible amount of work to prepare for it.
I'll be the board operator for much of the time, although I will be spelled more often than in the past. We now have three more people who are very competent to run it.
Xavier is a very smooth, laid back guy who is steady and dependable. He'll tackle anything and loves to learn the system.
Caleb is fairly new, but computer literate extrodinaire. He also does a good deal of voice-over work.
Parker is part-time, but has been there the longest and will be in and out during sharathon. He's a good friend and is graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University this year. He'll be leaving in May and I will miss him.
Steve Gimbert, our afternoon guy, could operate the board, only he's in Georgia. He does his show on our station from there. It's a process called WANcasting (Wide Area Network). He'd need very long arms to be of much help in the board operating department.
Steve's situation is really unique. He does what we call VoiceTracking. That means he pre-records his comments and ministry in little temporary tracks that insert themselves between songs and then self-distruct after they air. (Just like the Mission Impossible tapes, but with less smoke).
So Steve is not only not here when he sounds like he is here, he is not here when he is getting ready to sound like he is here.
He's the best on-air personality we have, and we don't even have him.
Why am I dizzy?
Vernonica Barber is our Saturday morning person, and I'm sure she will pop in from time to time.
By the way, if you did develop the habit of listening and wanted to contribute, you can send your check to Kingdom FM, P.O. Box 61721, Ft. Myers, Florida 33912. You can call in a Faith Promise to 1-800-635-2122. One of our friendly operators will be "standing by to take your call."
Giving to the station is not a requirement for reading this blog or commenting thereon. But it might be someday.
Be praying for us as we approach Sharathon 2006. We need to raise $175,000.00. If you can write a check for that amount, send it to Joe Scoggins, 1634......maybe not.
I'll do my best to post something or other as often as I can, and to read as much as I can, but I'll be working from 6 AM until 6 PM daily.
God bless.
I'll see you here very soon.
But if I don't see you here, I'll see you over there.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Sweet Followship
John, over at The Earnest Contender is doing a wonderful series about pastors, what they are, Biblically, and the office as described in scripture.
This post is about how the congregation should relate to the leadership of the church.
Ephesians 4: 11-16
11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Notice that we are talking about the leadership, and I take it to include both staff and lay leaders (you don't have to if you don't want to, but I strongly advise it).
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Their work has a purpose: to "perfect," or to "prepare" God's people for ministry and to build them up as members of the body of Christ.
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
They are to keep at it until God's people are unified, know Christ, become mature and realize the perfection of Christ (not of us) in themselves.
14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Maturity occurs when we grow up. Children do not act maturely, grown-ups are supposed to. Children fall for all kinds of stupid stuff. Grown-ups are not supposed to.
If God's people are mature, false teachers will not be able to sway them from their right thinking in Christ.
15 . But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
"Truth in love" does not mean we should greet the grumpy old lady by saying, "Hi, there, you ugly old hag, " just because she is ugly, old and a hag (does the sentence, "Be ye kind one to another," mean any thing to you?).
The truth is the person of Christ, who is the truth. We know that He is because He said so. Besides, the whole emphasis of the verse is Jesus.
16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
There's that unity thing again; a body that fits together to accomplish God's purpose in love.
I submit that congregations have a responsibility to follow their leaders to these ends, as long as the leadership does not try to lead them to do something immoral, illegal or contrary to the principles of God's word.
In order for that to take place, and for the congregation to be united in followship, each individual (read: you) must submit to the leaders God has given, pastors, staff, deacons, Sunday School teachers, Church Training Directors or whoever.
"I don't want to do that," or "We've never done it that way before," or (especially here in the south), "Up north we...," have never been, are not now and never will be reasons to thwart the leadership of the church.
Make it easy for your leadership. Don't take *Kool-Aid for them, but willingly follow them as God's annointed for your congregation.
Be enthusiatically led to grow in christ, love each other (including the leaders), and meet regularly in the followship hall for the meat of the word and to drink in all of Christ you possibly can.
Then watch the body of Christ groW!
*A veiled reference to the followers of Jim Jones, who committed mass suicide by taking poison laced Kool-Aid because he said to.
This post is about how the congregation should relate to the leadership of the church.
Ephesians 4: 11-16
11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Notice that we are talking about the leadership, and I take it to include both staff and lay leaders (you don't have to if you don't want to, but I strongly advise it).
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Their work has a purpose: to "perfect," or to "prepare" God's people for ministry and to build them up as members of the body of Christ.
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
They are to keep at it until God's people are unified, know Christ, become mature and realize the perfection of Christ (not of us) in themselves.
14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Maturity occurs when we grow up. Children do not act maturely, grown-ups are supposed to. Children fall for all kinds of stupid stuff. Grown-ups are not supposed to.
If God's people are mature, false teachers will not be able to sway them from their right thinking in Christ.
15 . But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
"Truth in love" does not mean we should greet the grumpy old lady by saying, "Hi, there, you ugly old hag, " just because she is ugly, old and a hag (does the sentence, "Be ye kind one to another," mean any thing to you?).
The truth is the person of Christ, who is the truth. We know that He is because He said so. Besides, the whole emphasis of the verse is Jesus.
16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
There's that unity thing again; a body that fits together to accomplish God's purpose in love.
I submit that congregations have a responsibility to follow their leaders to these ends, as long as the leadership does not try to lead them to do something immoral, illegal or contrary to the principles of God's word.
In order for that to take place, and for the congregation to be united in followship, each individual (read: you) must submit to the leaders God has given, pastors, staff, deacons, Sunday School teachers, Church Training Directors or whoever.
"I don't want to do that," or "We've never done it that way before," or (especially here in the south), "Up north we...," have never been, are not now and never will be reasons to thwart the leadership of the church.
Make it easy for your leadership. Don't take *Kool-Aid for them, but willingly follow them as God's annointed for your congregation.
Be enthusiatically led to grow in christ, love each other (including the leaders), and meet regularly in the followship hall for the meat of the word and to drink in all of Christ you possibly can.
Then watch the body of Christ groW!
*A veiled reference to the followers of Jim Jones, who committed mass suicide by taking poison laced Kool-Aid because he said to.
Monday, March 06, 2006
In Order to Form A More Perfect Union
I Cor 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Paul wrote this to the First (put your denomination here) Church of Corinth.
It is a powerful, pleading admonition for these contentious people to get their cotton pickin' act together and stop offending the unity for which Christ had prayed as recorded in John 17.
Unity in Christ is a major theme of the new testament.
In I Corinthians 12, the body vs parts discourse is about unity. So is Romans 12. Try out Ephesians 4, and see if unity doesn't fit it well.
"Now I beseech you,..."
This is a plea. Its tone is one of desparation. Paul is saying, "I'm begging you! Please!"
"By the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,..."
When one calls on the name of the Lord, Jesus, Christ, one is calling on the one about whom john wrote, "All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made."
In the proper sense of the phrase he was crying out, "For Christ's sake, people...!"
"That you all speak the same thing,..."
Words are important. They have meaning. They are the vehicle by which we transfer ideas from one person to another.
Paul says to learn the language of Christ. Say what He said. Understand what He taught and follow Him.
Christians today, couldn't care less that Jesus wants us unified.
Read around the blogosphere. There you'll find "Jesus people" cutting each other down, contending with one another, straining every specie of gnat and swallowing even the largest camels.
"I have my own "private interpretation" and I'm dogged if I'm going to give an inch, on accounta I have to be right or I'm not going to be able to prove I'm better than the next guy or gal in God's eyes."
"...and that there be no divisions among you."
Are there divisions in Christianity today?
Both Jesus and Paul said there shouldn't be.
Do you think they said there should be no divisions among us because there should be no divisions among us, or do you think they said there should be no divisions among us for some other unrevealed reason?
Maybe they meant that there should be no divisions among us.
Ya think?
"...but that ye be perfectly joined together..."
The only perfection is in Christ. The only way we can be perfectly joined together is to get our focus on AND ONLY ON Him. Him, the person, not Him the doctrine. Him the person, not Him the verse interpretation. Him the person, not Him the etherial, obtuse idea.
To be joined together brings up the vision of Christ's yoke, which is easy.
So why do we make it so hard? IT'S NOT HARD, PEOPLE. IF IT IS HARD, IT IS NOT HIS YOKE!
"...in the same mind."
Woof! This one is deep. Paul says that you and I are to be of the same mind. That mind of which we are to be the same is the mind of Christ. We have His mind in us.
You have the mind of the creator in you! I have the mind of the creator in me!
If we will learn to revel in that, what else is of any importance at all?
You don't have to think like me. I don't have to think like you. We both have to think like Christ.
"...and in the same judgement."
Aren't you glad that when a just God looks upon you in that day He will see you through the eyes of His Son? If we could soak ourselves in the truth of that, we would never experience brotherly discord again.
As Helen H. Lemmel wrote:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wondersul face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Paul wrote this to the First (put your denomination here) Church of Corinth.
It is a powerful, pleading admonition for these contentious people to get their cotton pickin' act together and stop offending the unity for which Christ had prayed as recorded in John 17.
Unity in Christ is a major theme of the new testament.
In I Corinthians 12, the body vs parts discourse is about unity. So is Romans 12. Try out Ephesians 4, and see if unity doesn't fit it well.
"Now I beseech you,..."
This is a plea. Its tone is one of desparation. Paul is saying, "I'm begging you! Please!"
"By the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,..."
When one calls on the name of the Lord, Jesus, Christ, one is calling on the one about whom john wrote, "All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made."
In the proper sense of the phrase he was crying out, "For Christ's sake, people...!"
"That you all speak the same thing,..."
Words are important. They have meaning. They are the vehicle by which we transfer ideas from one person to another.
Paul says to learn the language of Christ. Say what He said. Understand what He taught and follow Him.
Christians today, couldn't care less that Jesus wants us unified.
Read around the blogosphere. There you'll find "Jesus people" cutting each other down, contending with one another, straining every specie of gnat and swallowing even the largest camels.
"I have my own "private interpretation" and I'm dogged if I'm going to give an inch, on accounta I have to be right or I'm not going to be able to prove I'm better than the next guy or gal in God's eyes."
"...and that there be no divisions among you."
Are there divisions in Christianity today?
Both Jesus and Paul said there shouldn't be.
Do you think they said there should be no divisions among us because there should be no divisions among us, or do you think they said there should be no divisions among us for some other unrevealed reason?
Maybe they meant that there should be no divisions among us.
Ya think?
"...but that ye be perfectly joined together..."
The only perfection is in Christ. The only way we can be perfectly joined together is to get our focus on AND ONLY ON Him. Him, the person, not Him the doctrine. Him the person, not Him the verse interpretation. Him the person, not Him the etherial, obtuse idea.
To be joined together brings up the vision of Christ's yoke, which is easy.
So why do we make it so hard? IT'S NOT HARD, PEOPLE. IF IT IS HARD, IT IS NOT HIS YOKE!
"...in the same mind."
Woof! This one is deep. Paul says that you and I are to be of the same mind. That mind of which we are to be the same is the mind of Christ. We have His mind in us.
You have the mind of the creator in you! I have the mind of the creator in me!
If we will learn to revel in that, what else is of any importance at all?
You don't have to think like me. I don't have to think like you. We both have to think like Christ.
"...and in the same judgement."
Aren't you glad that when a just God looks upon you in that day He will see you through the eyes of His Son? If we could soak ourselves in the truth of that, we would never experience brotherly discord again.
As Helen H. Lemmel wrote:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wondersul face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Sunday Praise
Father in Heaven, we praise you for your mighty works.
We praise you for your goodness.
We praise you for your righteousness.
We praise you for your power and majesty.
We praise you for your justice.
We praise you for your mercy.
We praise you for your grace.
We praise you for your love manifested in our wonderful Savior.
We praise you for His birth, death, burial, resurrection, life, and soon return.
One Day
Words: J. Wilbur Chapman, D.D. 1908
http://www.cgmusic.com/cghymnal/others/oneday.htm
1. One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my Example is He!
Refrain:
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming - O glorious day!
2. One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!
Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming - O glorious day!
3. One day they left Him alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down over His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He!
Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming - O glorious day!
4. One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!
Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming - O glorious day!
5. One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glories will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!
Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming - O glorious day!
We praise you for your goodness.
We praise you for your righteousness.
We praise you for your power and majesty.
We praise you for your justice.
We praise you for your mercy.
We praise you for your grace.
We praise you for your love manifested in our wonderful Savior.
We praise you for His birth, death, burial, resurrection, life, and soon return.
One Day
Words: J. Wilbur Chapman, D.D. 1908
http://www.cgmusic.com/cghymnal/others/oneday.htm
1. One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my Example is He!
Refrain:
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming - O glorious day!
2. One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!
Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming - O glorious day!
3. One day they left Him alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down over His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He!
Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming - O glorious day!
4. One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!
Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming - O glorious day!
5. One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glories will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!
Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming - O glorious day!
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
AND THE WINNER IS....!
I will now outline for you what gave Parker the edge.
It was not his right-ness or wrong-ness.
First, he was clear and concise, as well as concilliatory.
Second, he groveled. Groveling is a highly respected tactic on this blog.
Third, he did something unusual for him...he commented twice. (Others of you did, too, but it is not unusual for you...it is for him).
Fourth, he works at the same place I do (Christian radio, heard on the web at www.kingdom.fm). I could not bear to look him in the eye today if he did not win after working so hard. Besides, he is young and could easily beat me up.
For your information, the runner up was Darlene, who was the only one willing to run at all. She ran over with the pail of water. Her theology was very fluid.
There is a serious element to all of this. Several of you either hit on it or danced around it.
Theology has a tendency to get WAY too thick and its practitioners too stuffy (one might use the term 'stiff-necked').
It is important to know what you believe, but it is more important to know who you believe in.
His name is Jesus. He prayed for us to be unified (check out John 17).
To be unified, we MUST, MUST, MUST turn from this attitude of "I know more about this than you do." "I'm right and you're wrong." "I'm more spiritual than you."
It's all a part of dying to self. If we do not die to self, we cannot be responsible followers of Him.
In short, we must decrease and He must increase (I read that somewhere).
Thank you for participating, whether as a participant or a spectator.
Now, if you call yourself a Christian, go out and love others more than self. Think of others more highly than you think of yourself. Be willing to lay down your life for a friend.
Jesus showed us how. All we have to do is follow Him.
Monday, February 27, 2006
A challenge
Today I want to do something quite different.
A few rules, first.
1) Don't attack each other (attack me, if you must).
2) Be concise.
3) Be coherent.
4) Don't just flood me with scritpure...I've already read them. Use scriptures to illustrate principles.
5) Write something pertinent and convincing.
If you are a Calvinist, define and defend your position.
If you are an Armenian, define and defend your position.
Finally: To which of the camps did the apostle, Paul, belong? Prove it.
The best entry will be declared the 2006 winner of the coveted Calvenia.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: By popular demand we are adding a third category it's the niether category category. Same rules.
A few rules, first.
1) Don't attack each other (attack me, if you must).
2) Be concise.
3) Be coherent.
4) Don't just flood me with scritpure...I've already read them. Use scriptures to illustrate principles.
5) Write something pertinent and convincing.
If you are a Calvinist, define and defend your position.
If you are an Armenian, define and defend your position.
Finally: To which of the camps did the apostle, Paul, belong? Prove it.
The best entry will be declared the 2006 winner of the coveted Calvenia.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: By popular demand we are adding a third category it's the niether category category. Same rules.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
SUNDAY PRAISE
Father, one our favorites went to be with you last week.
We thank you for his life, his talent, his ministry and his faith.
We thank you for his testimony.
Father, we are poorer for having lost him, richer for having had him among us and we look forward to seeing him again as he praises you throughout eternity.
As he sat at the piano play one of the century's greatest songs, we know he was doing what he loved. Would that each of us could come into your eternal presence doing that which we love the most.
Thank you, Father, for lending us Anthony Burger.
We anticipate the time when, with him, we shall behold Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel,and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We Shall Behold Him
by Dottie Rambo
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/beholdhim.html
The sky shall unfold, preparing His entrance;
The stars shall applaud Him with thunders of praise.
The sweet light in His eyes shall enhance those a waiting,
And we shall behold Him then face to face.
Chorus
And we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory;
And we shall behold Him, Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Saviour and Lord.
The angels shall sound the shout of His coming,
The sleeping shall rise from their slumbering place.
And those who remain shall be changed in a moment,
And we shall behold Him then face to face.
Chorus
And we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory;
And we shall behold Him, Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Saviour and Lord.
We shall behold Him, our Saviour and Lord.
We thank you for his life, his talent, his ministry and his faith.
We thank you for his testimony.
Father, we are poorer for having lost him, richer for having had him among us and we look forward to seeing him again as he praises you throughout eternity.
As he sat at the piano play one of the century's greatest songs, we know he was doing what he loved. Would that each of us could come into your eternal presence doing that which we love the most.
Thank you, Father, for lending us Anthony Burger.
We anticipate the time when, with him, we shall behold Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel,and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We Shall Behold Him
by Dottie Rambo
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/beholdhim.html
The sky shall unfold, preparing His entrance;
The stars shall applaud Him with thunders of praise.
The sweet light in His eyes shall enhance those a waiting,
And we shall behold Him then face to face.
Chorus
And we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory;
And we shall behold Him, Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Saviour and Lord.
The angels shall sound the shout of His coming,
The sleeping shall rise from their slumbering place.
And those who remain shall be changed in a moment,
And we shall behold Him then face to face.
Chorus
And we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory;
And we shall behold Him, Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Saviour and Lord.
We shall behold Him, our Saviour and Lord.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Director? Of What?
As a worship leader, one of my assignments is to direct the music ministry of our church.
What does that mean?
It means that, working with the Music Committee, I oversee the calendaring of music events. Selection of music is also one of my (our) jobs. I (we) also establish music policy, develop the music budget, determine the space for music groups to use, and plan, coordinate and evaluate the worship services of the church.
All of those events take place out of sight of the congregation.
It is not until I step onto the platform on Sunday morning, evening or whenever, that the congregation becomes aware of me.
At that time, I become the music director.
I give a down-beat and I expect the musicians to react.
I tell them when to start.
I tell them when to stop.
I tell them when to sing or play fast and when to sing or play slowly.
I tell them how loudly to perform and how softly.
I expect them to sing or play their respective parts: soprano; alto; tenor; bass; drum; guitar; trumpet; claranet; oboe; harp; piano; organ or whatever.
In order for it to work, each member MUST do as I say when I say. I certainly cannot do them all. They must.
When that happens, so does beautiful, God honoring music.
When it does NOT happen, chaos does.
In fact, when I step in front of the musicians, I become a dictator. A benevolent one, but a dictator, none the less.
It's a big responsibility...and a real trip!
If I did not accept the dictatorship, I would not be doing my job and the congregation would leave at the end of the service saying, "What was that the (choir, praise team, instrumentalists) was doing? That was terrible!"
For me to do my job, each musician must relinquish his/her will to "mine."
That's the way it should be with the church body.
Christ is the Director.
He tells us what to do, when to do it. how to do it, where to do it and even why (sometimes). He does so in His word.
Our job (corporately) is to do what He says.
If we do, we progress in harmony and unity.
If we do not, the result is chaos.
"My way!" "No, MY way!" "No, no, no! It has to be MY way!"
"I don't like the way 'they' are doing this or that, so I'm going to pick up my ball and go home."
"You need to pray and do what God wants you to do. Oh, but I don't have to, because I already know how this or that should be done."
"They picked the wrong carpet color, against my argument in business meeting, and I'm MAD!"
"That Youth Director tried to tell my kid how he/she should dress in church. How DARE he?"
"The preacher stepped on my toes and I'm not going to have it!"
"I was really hurt by this event or that happening, and I'm not going to put up with it any more!"
"Did you hear what HE/SHE said about me?" "What nerve!"
Wouldn't the church experience be much better if you (and I) took personal responsibility to follow the director (whether the others do or not), Christ, and be a unit of harmony in the body?
We must relinquish our wills to Him.
All to gether now, uh-one and uh-two and uh 1, 2, 3, 4.
What does that mean?
It means that, working with the Music Committee, I oversee the calendaring of music events. Selection of music is also one of my (our) jobs. I (we) also establish music policy, develop the music budget, determine the space for music groups to use, and plan, coordinate and evaluate the worship services of the church.
All of those events take place out of sight of the congregation.
It is not until I step onto the platform on Sunday morning, evening or whenever, that the congregation becomes aware of me.
At that time, I become the music director.
I give a down-beat and I expect the musicians to react.
I tell them when to start.
I tell them when to stop.
I tell them when to sing or play fast and when to sing or play slowly.
I tell them how loudly to perform and how softly.
I expect them to sing or play their respective parts: soprano; alto; tenor; bass; drum; guitar; trumpet; claranet; oboe; harp; piano; organ or whatever.
In order for it to work, each member MUST do as I say when I say. I certainly cannot do them all. They must.
When that happens, so does beautiful, God honoring music.
When it does NOT happen, chaos does.
In fact, when I step in front of the musicians, I become a dictator. A benevolent one, but a dictator, none the less.
It's a big responsibility...and a real trip!
If I did not accept the dictatorship, I would not be doing my job and the congregation would leave at the end of the service saying, "What was that the (choir, praise team, instrumentalists) was doing? That was terrible!"
For me to do my job, each musician must relinquish his/her will to "mine."
That's the way it should be with the church body.
Christ is the Director.
He tells us what to do, when to do it. how to do it, where to do it and even why (sometimes). He does so in His word.
Our job (corporately) is to do what He says.
If we do, we progress in harmony and unity.
If we do not, the result is chaos.
"My way!" "No, MY way!" "No, no, no! It has to be MY way!"
"I don't like the way 'they' are doing this or that, so I'm going to pick up my ball and go home."
"You need to pray and do what God wants you to do. Oh, but I don't have to, because I already know how this or that should be done."
"They picked the wrong carpet color, against my argument in business meeting, and I'm MAD!"
"That Youth Director tried to tell my kid how he/she should dress in church. How DARE he?"
"The preacher stepped on my toes and I'm not going to have it!"
"I was really hurt by this event or that happening, and I'm not going to put up with it any more!"
"Did you hear what HE/SHE said about me?" "What nerve!"
Wouldn't the church experience be much better if you (and I) took personal responsibility to follow the director (whether the others do or not), Christ, and be a unit of harmony in the body?
We must relinquish our wills to Him.
All to gether now, uh-one and uh-two and uh 1, 2, 3, 4.
Not What I Had Planned
If you have followed the music of Bill and Gloria Gaither, been to one of their concerts or watched them on television, you have heard the piano playing of Anthony Burger.
Anthony Burger was one of the premier Christian pianists and had a most inspiring of testimony of the healing power of God. You can read about it here
http://www.gaither.com/news/news.php?uid=1100
The evening of February 22, Anthony Burger was playing, 'We Shall Be Hold Him' on The Gaither Cruise, when he collapsed and died. A couple of people took him backstage and tried to revive him, but couldn't. Anthony, it is believed, had a heart attack. (From Mark Lowry's web site).
Christian music has lost one of its most innovative and talented instrumentalists. Fingers that should not have worked at all flew unbelievably over the keyboard.
We can now look forward to seeing him over there.
Pray for the family and loved ones of Anthony Burger.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Staying In Trouble
In order to keep myself in trouble, insult as many as I can at one time and help men understand everything that I understand about women, I offer the following explanations of a woman's vocabulary:
FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
FIVE MINUTES
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
NOTHING
This is the calm before the storm. This means "something," and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with 'No! thing' usually end in "Fine"
GO AHEAD
This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it.
LOUD SIGH
This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing"
THAT'S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
THANKS
A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say, "You're welcome. "
WHATEVER
It's a woman's way of saying, "Nuts to you!"
Send this to the men you know to warn them about future arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminology!
(Is it at all possible that I should stick to spiritual and political subjects? It occurs to me that I might be treading very deep water, going where few have dared.)
FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
FIVE MINUTES
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
NOTHING
This is the calm before the storm. This means "something," and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with 'No! thing' usually end in "Fine"
GO AHEAD
This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it.
LOUD SIGH
This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing"
THAT'S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
THANKS
A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say, "You're welcome. "
WHATEVER
It's a woman's way of saying, "Nuts to you!"
Send this to the men you know to warn them about future arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminology!
(Is it at all possible that I should stick to spiritual and political subjects? It occurs to me that I might be treading very deep water, going where few have dared.)
Monday, February 20, 2006
Putting All Seriousness Aside
You've probably seen this before. I have. I just can't remember where or when. (Why do I feel a song coming on?)
Any way, my sweet wife, Bonnie, shared it with me so I thought I would share it with you.
A Wal-Mart store that sells husbands has just opened in Dallas, TX, where a woman may go to choose a husband from among many men.
Among the instructions at the entrance, is a description of how the store operates.
There are only 6 floors. It states that the attributes of the men increase as the shopper ascends the flights. There is, however, a catch....
As you open the door to any floor you may choose any man from that floor, but if you go up a floor, you cannot go back down except to exit the building.
So, a woman goes to the Wal-Mart Husband Store to find a husband..... On the first floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1 - These men have jobs.She continues on.
The second floor sign reads:
Floor 2 - These men have jobs and love kids.
She continues on. The third floor sign reads:
Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love kids, and are extremely good looking.
"Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.
She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:
Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love kids, are drop-dead good looking and help with the housework.
"Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!"
Still, she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads:
Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love kids, are drop-dead gorgeous, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak.
She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the Sign reads:
Floor 6 - You are visitor 3,456,012 to this floor.
There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please.
Thank you for shopping Wal-Mart.
I'm truely sorry, ladies. I meant no offense. Please forgive me. I'll try never to do it again. I'm usually not like this. I just couldn't help myself. O, wretched man that I am! Who has believed my report? I can't believe I stooped so low. I feel so depraved. I am a man of unclean lips. When in the course of human events. Have mercy on me! Way down yonder and not far off. Oh, de agony of de feet. A thousand pardons. Mia culpa! Mama Mia! Antidisestablishmentarianism!
Puff, puff, puff! I'm all out of breath!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Sunday Praise
As you have told us in your word, Oh Lord, you have lifted us from the mud and mire and set our feet on the rock of Jesus.
From the unfathomable depth of our sin, you, in your loving kindness, have sent your Son to redeem us.
From before the stirring of our hearts by your Holy Spirit caused us to turn in faith to you, believing, you pierced the brow of Jesus, you tore his hands and feet with nails and placed on Him our iniquity.
And for your love, mercy and grace, we give ourselves to you.
Though we cannot understand why your would have saved the likes of us, we offer you our praise for having done so.
He Lifted Me
by Charles H. Gabriel
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/helifted.html
In loving-kindness Jesus came
My soul in mercy to reclaim,
And from the depths of sin and shame
Through grace He lifted me.
From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me,
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise His name, He lifted me!
He called me long before I heard,
Before my sinful heart was stirred,
But when I took Him at His word,
Forgiv'n, He lifted me.
From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me,
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise His name, He lifted me!
From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me,
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise His name, He lifted me!
His brow was pierced with many a thorn,
His hands by cruel nails were torn,
When from my guilt and grief, forlorn,
In love He lifted me.
From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me,
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise His name, He lifted me!
Now on a higher plane I dwell,
And with my soul I know 'tis well;
Yet how or why, I cannot tell,
He should have lifted me.
From the unfathomable depth of our sin, you, in your loving kindness, have sent your Son to redeem us.
From before the stirring of our hearts by your Holy Spirit caused us to turn in faith to you, believing, you pierced the brow of Jesus, you tore his hands and feet with nails and placed on Him our iniquity.
And for your love, mercy and grace, we give ourselves to you.
Though we cannot understand why your would have saved the likes of us, we offer you our praise for having done so.
He Lifted Me
by Charles H. Gabriel
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/helifted.html
In loving-kindness Jesus came
My soul in mercy to reclaim,
And from the depths of sin and shame
Through grace He lifted me.
From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me,
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise His name, He lifted me!
He called me long before I heard,
Before my sinful heart was stirred,
But when I took Him at His word,
Forgiv'n, He lifted me.
From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me,
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise His name, He lifted me!
From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me,
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise His name, He lifted me!
His brow was pierced with many a thorn,
His hands by cruel nails were torn,
When from my guilt and grief, forlorn,
In love He lifted me.
From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me,
From shades of night to plains of light,
Oh, praise His name, He lifted me!
Now on a higher plane I dwell,
And with my soul I know 'tis well;
Yet how or why, I cannot tell,
He should have lifted me.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Introductions
I want to introduce you to some very good blogs. These are, for the most part, new to my blogroll.
The newest blog I have "discovered" is Job's Tale by "Curious Servant." Here is a middle school teacher who writes with style and substance. Check him out.
She's been in my blogroll for some time, but I have never highlighted her. If you like humor, mixed with poignant points, read Bonnie Writes .
I guess the entire universe knows Free Grace Theology , and I have mentioned him before, but Antonio is always a good read. If you blogsurf much, you have seen his pointed comments. But take my word for it (or not), he's a good guy and loves the Lord.
Gordon Cloud's Heavenly Heartburn offers a balanced view of theology, politics and current events (according to his headder). He writes some pithy stuff...very nice.
Things That Make You go Hmm is self explanitory. This is not a new blog, but is newly back, for which I am grateful.
Erlenmeyer Flask describes himself as a strange blogger with alien righteousness, who came to blogging with logic and persuasion abilities far beyond those of mortal chipmunks. He's over at Metaschema .
If you want to make him nervous, call him Mr. Challies. If not, just read his work at Putting the Fun in Fundamentalism .
Well, there you have it. Some introductions to some of my newer blogophiles.
How do you make it into my blogroll, anyway (as if you cared)?
1) Write in English. "The King's English." Pay attention to grammar except when making fun of someone or something.
2) Be interesting, write from a Christian perspective (with exceptions here and there), be mildly controversial, write from personal experience or perspective and/or get my attention by commenting on my blog or being seen on a bunch of other blogs that I read.
Hey! Have a Christ-filled day!
The newest blog I have "discovered" is Job's Tale by "Curious Servant." Here is a middle school teacher who writes with style and substance. Check him out.
She's been in my blogroll for some time, but I have never highlighted her. If you like humor, mixed with poignant points, read Bonnie Writes .
I guess the entire universe knows Free Grace Theology , and I have mentioned him before, but Antonio is always a good read. If you blogsurf much, you have seen his pointed comments. But take my word for it (or not), he's a good guy and loves the Lord.
Gordon Cloud's Heavenly Heartburn offers a balanced view of theology, politics and current events (according to his headder). He writes some pithy stuff...very nice.
Things That Make You go Hmm is self explanitory. This is not a new blog, but is newly back, for which I am grateful.
Erlenmeyer Flask describes himself as a strange blogger with alien righteousness, who came to blogging with logic and persuasion abilities far beyond those of mortal chipmunks. He's over at Metaschema .
If you want to make him nervous, call him Mr. Challies. If not, just read his work at Putting the Fun in Fundamentalism .
Well, there you have it. Some introductions to some of my newer blogophiles.
How do you make it into my blogroll, anyway (as if you cared)?
1) Write in English. "The King's English." Pay attention to grammar except when making fun of someone or something.
2) Be interesting, write from a Christian perspective (with exceptions here and there), be mildly controversial, write from personal experience or perspective and/or get my attention by commenting on my blog or being seen on a bunch of other blogs that I read.
Hey! Have a Christ-filled day!
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Three for One
One:
If you do not read Free Grace Theology from Antonio, you are missing a treat.
Whether you are a Calvanist, an Armenian, a Calmenian, an Arvanist, he has a very interesting and arresting style of writing and is, shall we say, firm in his theology.
Another interesting, thought provoking blog is Jeff H's Think Sink. Give these a shot and see whether you are challenged.
Two:
A further thought on my previous blog about commitment.
From the comments, there is some confusion as to what "commitment" means.
Let's put it this way: If "commitment" does not mean "determining to see something through to the end no matter what, never, never, never giving up, " then we are going to have to come up with a new word that does mean that.
But that won't be necessary, since we already have a word to mean that. The word is "Commitment."
Can you be committed and then quit being committed?
Not really.
You can be fervent about something and lose your fervency.
You can be emotionally involved with something and then lose your emotionalism about it (happens in lots of marriages).
You can be intellectually attached to something and then change your mind.
(You can be prohibited from fulfilling a commitment by outside forces over which you have no control, such as illness, injury, moving or the like, but these will not affect your commitment to the person of Christ.)
But, by definition, you cannot be committed to something and then come uncommitted.
That is not about salvation, it is about behavior and attitude.
I have iterated it once, and I now reiterate: Be committed to the Lord. You will thereby find His greatest joy for you.
Three:
Neither is yours.
A perfect church, that is.
There are no local congregations of believers (churches) that are perfect.
Now, if you could just get the people out of the churches you wouldn't have as many problems. But that might not work so well.
Let's face it. We are all human. We do stupid things. We do illogical things. We do unspiritual things. We say things we should not say. We think things we should not think. We make decisions we should not make. We go places we should not go.
And so on.
Christians are, by nature of their humanity, wierd. Christians are so wierd that if it were not for Jesus, I would not be one.
We are all members of the Body of Christ(the Church). But sometimes I think we have a few too many spleens and bile ducts and not enough hearts, feet and hands.
Which one are you, by the way?
If you do not read Free Grace Theology from Antonio, you are missing a treat.
Whether you are a Calvanist, an Armenian, a Calmenian, an Arvanist, he has a very interesting and arresting style of writing and is, shall we say, firm in his theology.
Another interesting, thought provoking blog is Jeff H's Think Sink. Give these a shot and see whether you are challenged.
Two:
A further thought on my previous blog about commitment.
From the comments, there is some confusion as to what "commitment" means.
Let's put it this way: If "commitment" does not mean "determining to see something through to the end no matter what, never, never, never giving up, " then we are going to have to come up with a new word that does mean that.
But that won't be necessary, since we already have a word to mean that. The word is "Commitment."
Can you be committed and then quit being committed?
Not really.
You can be fervent about something and lose your fervency.
You can be emotionally involved with something and then lose your emotionalism about it (happens in lots of marriages).
You can be intellectually attached to something and then change your mind.
(You can be prohibited from fulfilling a commitment by outside forces over which you have no control, such as illness, injury, moving or the like, but these will not affect your commitment to the person of Christ.)
But, by definition, you cannot be committed to something and then come uncommitted.
That is not about salvation, it is about behavior and attitude.
I have iterated it once, and I now reiterate: Be committed to the Lord. You will thereby find His greatest joy for you.
Three:
Neither is yours.
A perfect church, that is.
There are no local congregations of believers (churches) that are perfect.
Now, if you could just get the people out of the churches you wouldn't have as many problems. But that might not work so well.
Let's face it. We are all human. We do stupid things. We do illogical things. We do unspiritual things. We say things we should not say. We think things we should not think. We make decisions we should not make. We go places we should not go.
And so on.
Christians are, by nature of their humanity, wierd. Christians are so wierd that if it were not for Jesus, I would not be one.
We are all members of the Body of Christ(the Church). But sometimes I think we have a few too many spleens and bile ducts and not enough hearts, feet and hands.
Which one are you, by the way?
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Committed
An aquaintance of mine told me, "I used to be a committed Christian, but I don't believe in Jesus any longer."
NEWSFLASH!
That person was NEVER a committed Christian.
I used to have a set of posters in my office.
The first poster had two frames. In the first, a man was climbing the ladder of a diving board and saying, "I am going to dive into the water."
The second showed him having gone back down the ladder and walking away.
He was not committed to the dive.
The second poster had two frames. In the first, a man was standing at the end of the diving board and saying, "I am going to dive into the water."
The second showed him having gone back to the ladder, having climbed down the ladder and walking away.
He was not committed to the dive.
The third poster had two frames. In the first, a man was standing at the end of the diving board and saying, "I am going to dive into the water."
The second showed him having leaned forward past the center of gravity and falling through the air.
He was committed to the dive. There would be no turning back.
That is the picture of the committed Christian.
For the committed Christian, there is no possibility of turning back.
If there was held back the possibility of turning back, there was no commitment.
Now I believe anyone can be saved who turns to Christ in faith, believing, and trusting in and only His finished work at the cross of Calvary.
Whether the "whosoever will" only applies to those God has chosen from the beginning of time or not I have not the mind to opine.
But this I know: "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:52
So, at some point there must be commitment to ploughing the row...keeping the faith...staying the course.
Don't tell me you USED to be committed. You cannot "used to be committed," you were either committed or you were not.
If you ever stopped being committed, you never were committed.
Your commitment to Him will never go unrewarded.
If you have never done so, receive Him today, trust Him today, serve Him today and commit to Him today.
NEWSFLASH!
That person was NEVER a committed Christian.
I used to have a set of posters in my office.
The first poster had two frames. In the first, a man was climbing the ladder of a diving board and saying, "I am going to dive into the water."
The second showed him having gone back down the ladder and walking away.
He was not committed to the dive.
The second poster had two frames. In the first, a man was standing at the end of the diving board and saying, "I am going to dive into the water."
The second showed him having gone back to the ladder, having climbed down the ladder and walking away.
He was not committed to the dive.
The third poster had two frames. In the first, a man was standing at the end of the diving board and saying, "I am going to dive into the water."
The second showed him having leaned forward past the center of gravity and falling through the air.
He was committed to the dive. There would be no turning back.
That is the picture of the committed Christian.
For the committed Christian, there is no possibility of turning back.
If there was held back the possibility of turning back, there was no commitment.
Now I believe anyone can be saved who turns to Christ in faith, believing, and trusting in and only His finished work at the cross of Calvary.
Whether the "whosoever will" only applies to those God has chosen from the beginning of time or not I have not the mind to opine.
But this I know: "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:52
So, at some point there must be commitment to ploughing the row...keeping the faith...staying the course.
Don't tell me you USED to be committed. You cannot "used to be committed," you were either committed or you were not.
If you ever stopped being committed, you never were committed.
Your commitment to Him will never go unrewarded.
If you have never done so, receive Him today, trust Him today, serve Him today and commit to Him today.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Sunday Praise
Father in Heaven, we come to You in the name of your wonderful Son, Jesus, to sing your praise for your goodness, mercy and salvation.
We praise you for leaving your home in glory to become a man, dwell among us and to give yourself at the cross of Calvary.
We were without hope as sheep without a shepherd, overcome with darkness, filled with sorrow and woe.
Yet you loved us with the cross and placed your arms around us, to keep us now and forever.
We look to that day when we shall dwell with you in all eternity, reunited with those we love and praising you with them.
I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
by Francis H. Rowley and Peter P. Bilhorn
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/w/iwilsing.htm
I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me.
How He left His home in glory
For the cross of Calvary.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
I was bruised, but Jesus healed me,
Faint was I from many a fall,
Sight was gone, and fears possessed me,
But He freed me from them all.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
Days of darkness still come o’er me,
Sorrow’s path I often tread,
But His presence still is with me;
By His guiding hand I’m led.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
He will keep me till the river
Rolls its waters at my feet;
Then He’ll bear me safely over,
Where the loved ones I shall meet.
We praise you for leaving your home in glory to become a man, dwell among us and to give yourself at the cross of Calvary.
We were without hope as sheep without a shepherd, overcome with darkness, filled with sorrow and woe.
Yet you loved us with the cross and placed your arms around us, to keep us now and forever.
We look to that day when we shall dwell with you in all eternity, reunited with those we love and praising you with them.
I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
by Francis H. Rowley and Peter P. Bilhorn
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/w/iwilsing.htm
I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me.
How He left His home in glory
For the cross of Calvary.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
I was bruised, but Jesus healed me,
Faint was I from many a fall,
Sight was gone, and fears possessed me,
But He freed me from them all.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
Days of darkness still come o’er me,
Sorrow’s path I often tread,
But His presence still is with me;
By His guiding hand I’m led.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
He will keep me till the river
Rolls its waters at my feet;
Then He’ll bear me safely over,
Where the loved ones I shall meet.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
The Scam Scam
Here is an audio post you will enjoy, especially if you are a woman. (Maybe I should run and duck for cover now).
Whymechanicsliketodealwithmostwomen.asf
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Whymechanicsliketodealwithmostwomen.asf
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Wednesday, February 08, 2006
A Sad Day Made More Sad
It was the summer of 1964.
I was a wide-eyed "liberal" who identified with the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I never met him, but I heard him a lot.
When he announced plans to stage peaceful protests in St. Augustine, I decided to be a part of it.
I marched the streets of St. Augustine with the throngs.
I sat at the lunch counter at the local Rexall drugstore with the other sit-down protesters.
After lunch, two large caucasians greeted me on the sidewalk and threatened to take me out back and paint me black with shoe polish.
Had a sheriff's deputy not pulled up to the curb at that time, who knows what would have transpired.
I admired Dr. King and was heartsick and enraged when he was cut down by a savage coward.
Tuesday I watched the funeral of Coretta Scott King.
It was totally outrageous.
CNN ran the following notice:
The service Tuesday featured tributes from political leaders, longtime friends and celebrities, including Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Edward Kennedy; poet Maya Angelou; singer Stevie Wonder; and Joseph Lowery, Andrew Young and Jesse Jackson, onetime lieutenants of the slain civil rights leader.
The whole article was a ruse. Those were not tributes to her, they were blatant, unadulterated political assaults on The United States of America and her elected leaders. They were attacks on the very country that has struggled to overcome past wrongs and set them right.
Andrew Young and Jesse Jackson's remarks were in the poorest of taste, as were the remarks of most of those who spoke, the likes of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
If you are a black American, you should be hanging your head in shame over the disgusting comments of those who are supposed to be your leaders and your inspiration.
If you were inspired by Maya Angelou's poetry, or Andrew Young's rhetoric or the rest of those who chose to turn a solemn memorial into a political dung-fest, you are descecrating the work Coretta Scott King and her husband spent their lives accomplishing.
If this is the legacy the Kings meant to leave for us, I appologize to all Americans for having marched with Dr. King, because I want no part of it.
It is sad, but I do not believe a single one of those who chose to politicize this occasion have the intelligence to know why their remarks were inappropriate and out of place. And I know they do not have the character to apologize for them.
To those leaders I say:
You made a fool of Coretta Scott King. You made a fool of yourselves. You made a mockery of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
You seemed to think this was all about you, or some real or imagined wrongs you have suffered. It was not. It was about a woman who stood by her husband's side as he led his people into what should have been a new era of equality and opportunity.
You have impugned his integrity and demonstrated your lack of it.
You are no better, intellectually, than the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. You are worse in many ways.
You hide behind pseudo-philosophy, seeking, not opportunity or equality, but special treatment. You do not want a level playing field, you want priviledge without accountability.
I respect pond scum more than I respect you.
Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife, Coretta, I dream of a nation where people are not "...judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
May the Lord grant us this dream should He tarry.
I was a wide-eyed "liberal" who identified with the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I never met him, but I heard him a lot.
When he announced plans to stage peaceful protests in St. Augustine, I decided to be a part of it.
I marched the streets of St. Augustine with the throngs.
I sat at the lunch counter at the local Rexall drugstore with the other sit-down protesters.
After lunch, two large caucasians greeted me on the sidewalk and threatened to take me out back and paint me black with shoe polish.
Had a sheriff's deputy not pulled up to the curb at that time, who knows what would have transpired.
I admired Dr. King and was heartsick and enraged when he was cut down by a savage coward.
Tuesday I watched the funeral of Coretta Scott King.
It was totally outrageous.
CNN ran the following notice:
The service Tuesday featured tributes from political leaders, longtime friends and celebrities, including Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Edward Kennedy; poet Maya Angelou; singer Stevie Wonder; and Joseph Lowery, Andrew Young and Jesse Jackson, onetime lieutenants of the slain civil rights leader.
The whole article was a ruse. Those were not tributes to her, they were blatant, unadulterated political assaults on The United States of America and her elected leaders. They were attacks on the very country that has struggled to overcome past wrongs and set them right.
Andrew Young and Jesse Jackson's remarks were in the poorest of taste, as were the remarks of most of those who spoke, the likes of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
If you are a black American, you should be hanging your head in shame over the disgusting comments of those who are supposed to be your leaders and your inspiration.
If you were inspired by Maya Angelou's poetry, or Andrew Young's rhetoric or the rest of those who chose to turn a solemn memorial into a political dung-fest, you are descecrating the work Coretta Scott King and her husband spent their lives accomplishing.
If this is the legacy the Kings meant to leave for us, I appologize to all Americans for having marched with Dr. King, because I want no part of it.
It is sad, but I do not believe a single one of those who chose to politicize this occasion have the intelligence to know why their remarks were inappropriate and out of place. And I know they do not have the character to apologize for them.
To those leaders I say:
You made a fool of Coretta Scott King. You made a fool of yourselves. You made a mockery of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
You seemed to think this was all about you, or some real or imagined wrongs you have suffered. It was not. It was about a woman who stood by her husband's side as he led his people into what should have been a new era of equality and opportunity.
You have impugned his integrity and demonstrated your lack of it.
You are no better, intellectually, than the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. You are worse in many ways.
You hide behind pseudo-philosophy, seeking, not opportunity or equality, but special treatment. You do not want a level playing field, you want priviledge without accountability.
I respect pond scum more than I respect you.
Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife, Coretta, I dream of a nation where people are not "...judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
May the Lord grant us this dream should He tarry.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Computer Stuff It
The first real PC I ever worked on was an old 386 with Windows 3.1 on it.
Actually, I had tried my hand at programming using Basic, but was a total flop at it.
Now, after years of computer use, I know everything there is to know about computers, only they haven't found out about it yet.
For instance, in my last post I dutifully copied and pasted a link to my post as I have done many times before.
Try as I might, though, the link would not work.
So I tried adding the actual URL.
That didn't work either.
So my last post, in which I tried to direct you to "Things that make you go Hmmm" just would not direct you there.
Here's what I have learned from the experience: Every time I think I know all there is to know, or at least as much as I need to know, I discover that there is much more yet to learn than I have already learned.
The same is true of God.
Just when I think (in my unbelievable self-aggrandizement) that I have Him figured out, He reveals to me what should have been obvious: There is more to know about Him than I will ever have learned.
That is a good thing, because if I could figure Him out completely, I would be Him, and none of us would want that.
See, because I would not even have saved ME. And I sure wouldn't have saved you. So aren't we all glad that I am not Him.
I sure am.
By the way, if He hasn't saved you already (from the presence, power and penalty of sin - for which we owe a debt that we cannot pay), He stands ready to do so as soon as you trust in, and only in, His finished work in Christ at the Cross of Calvary.
Trust Him today. Find out how much more there is to know about Him.
Oh, and if you haven't gone to "Things That Make You Go Hmmm" yet, and thousands of you have not, just click on the link in my blogroll. It will take you there, and it's worth the trip.
Actually, I had tried my hand at programming using Basic, but was a total flop at it.
Now, after years of computer use, I know everything there is to know about computers, only they haven't found out about it yet.
For instance, in my last post I dutifully copied and pasted a link to my post as I have done many times before.
Try as I might, though, the link would not work.
So I tried adding the actual URL.
That didn't work either.
So my last post, in which I tried to direct you to "Things that make you go Hmmm" just would not direct you there.
Here's what I have learned from the experience: Every time I think I know all there is to know, or at least as much as I need to know, I discover that there is much more yet to learn than I have already learned.
The same is true of God.
Just when I think (in my unbelievable self-aggrandizement) that I have Him figured out, He reveals to me what should have been obvious: There is more to know about Him than I will ever have learned.
That is a good thing, because if I could figure Him out completely, I would be Him, and none of us would want that.
See, because I would not even have saved ME. And I sure wouldn't have saved you. So aren't we all glad that I am not Him.
I sure am.
By the way, if He hasn't saved you already (from the presence, power and penalty of sin - for which we owe a debt that we cannot pay), He stands ready to do so as soon as you trust in, and only in, His finished work in Christ at the Cross of Calvary.
Trust Him today. Find out how much more there is to know about Him.
Oh, and if you haven't gone to "Things That Make You Go Hmmm" yet, and thousands of you have not, just click on the link in my blogroll. It will take you there, and it's worth the trip.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Neat Trick
I am happy to note the return of Things That Make You go Hmm ( http://ttmyghmmm.blogspot.com/ )to the blogosphere. I have always enjoyed the quirky things he comes up with.
The latest took me to the fullest. It is the February 1st entry.
It is a card trick that should be so very obvious, but because of masterful misdirection is not.
Wait until you see the explanation.
But don't peek until you have tried it several times and tried to figure it out.
It is a major league hoot!
Go there now!
The latest took me to the fullest. It is the February 1st entry.
It is a card trick that should be so very obvious, but because of masterful misdirection is not.
Wait until you see the explanation.
But don't peek until you have tried it several times and tried to figure it out.
It is a major league hoot!
Go there now!
In Jesus' Name
To the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon"
God the magic genie
Does what I ask
If I ask "In Jesus' Name"
He must perform the task.
Oh, God the magic genie
Hears when we pray
And if there are enough of us
He'll do just what we say.
That is the attitude of many Christians toward God when they pray. They take a couple of sentences from the Bible, turn them into catch-phrases and try to make God conform to their wishes.
Two of us get together "in His Name" and ask for a DeLorian. God, therefore, is obligated to provide us with a DeLorian.
Five people on one side of the road run a farm with a crop that needs lots of water. They get together "in Jesus' name" and pray for rain.
Five people on the other side of the road run a farm with a crop that needs little water. They get together "in Jesus' name" and pray that it will not rain.
Poor God. What is He to do? Whose prayer must He answer?
(OK...He could make it rain on one side of the road and not the other. Did you think I did not know that? Of course that misses the entire point. You don't want to do that, do you?)
Well, the key is the phrase, "in Jesus' name."
"In Jesus' name" is not just an ending to a prayer to be tacked on at the last minute.
Nor is it an incantation by which we can make God do what we want Him to do.
"God, heal my illness, in Jesus' name."
"God, find me a job, in Jesus' name."
"God, make my spouse love me, in Jesus' name."
Don't go out of here saying Joe said that we should not pray in Jesus' name. That is NOT what I said.
But the phrase "in Jesus' name" has a specific meaning in scripture.
"In Jesus' name" is an identification of ourselves with the person and will of Jesus.
It is an act of submission.
The phrase, "In Jesus' name" expresses the idea that we have conformed ourselves to Jesus in voluntary slavery to Him.
By using the phrase, we are declaring our harmony with Him; our oneness with Him.
When we pray, "in Jesus' name," we are saying, "Lord, Jesus, I am yours. Do with me as you will. Heal me or not. Find me a job or not. Make my spouse love me or not. Give me a DeLorian or not. Make it rain or not. Whatever you do, Lord, Jesus, I will delight in it because you have done it."
See, the real question is, "If Jesus never did anything else for us, is what He did at Calvary enough to satisfy our deepest longings?"
If it is not, we need to recommit ourselves to Him (or, if we have never done so, accept His finised work on our behalf and receive His salvation),
If it IS, then what we want is what He wants for us and we will get what we want because what we want is what He wants.
James tells us that we have not because we ask amiss.
I suspect that many prayers "in Jesus' name" are not "in Jesus' name" at all, but are simply wishes that "the magic genie called, 'God'" will do what we want.
When you pray, be certain you are really praying "in Jesus' name."
God the magic genie
Does what I ask
If I ask "In Jesus' Name"
He must perform the task.
Oh, God the magic genie
Hears when we pray
And if there are enough of us
He'll do just what we say.
That is the attitude of many Christians toward God when they pray. They take a couple of sentences from the Bible, turn them into catch-phrases and try to make God conform to their wishes.
Two of us get together "in His Name" and ask for a DeLorian. God, therefore, is obligated to provide us with a DeLorian.
Five people on one side of the road run a farm with a crop that needs lots of water. They get together "in Jesus' name" and pray for rain.
Five people on the other side of the road run a farm with a crop that needs little water. They get together "in Jesus' name" and pray that it will not rain.
Poor God. What is He to do? Whose prayer must He answer?
(OK...He could make it rain on one side of the road and not the other. Did you think I did not know that? Of course that misses the entire point. You don't want to do that, do you?)
Well, the key is the phrase, "in Jesus' name."
"In Jesus' name" is not just an ending to a prayer to be tacked on at the last minute.
Nor is it an incantation by which we can make God do what we want Him to do.
"God, heal my illness, in Jesus' name."
"God, find me a job, in Jesus' name."
"God, make my spouse love me, in Jesus' name."
Don't go out of here saying Joe said that we should not pray in Jesus' name. That is NOT what I said.
But the phrase "in Jesus' name" has a specific meaning in scripture.
"In Jesus' name" is an identification of ourselves with the person and will of Jesus.
It is an act of submission.
The phrase, "In Jesus' name" expresses the idea that we have conformed ourselves to Jesus in voluntary slavery to Him.
By using the phrase, we are declaring our harmony with Him; our oneness with Him.
When we pray, "in Jesus' name," we are saying, "Lord, Jesus, I am yours. Do with me as you will. Heal me or not. Find me a job or not. Make my spouse love me or not. Give me a DeLorian or not. Make it rain or not. Whatever you do, Lord, Jesus, I will delight in it because you have done it."
See, the real question is, "If Jesus never did anything else for us, is what He did at Calvary enough to satisfy our deepest longings?"
If it is not, we need to recommit ourselves to Him (or, if we have never done so, accept His finised work on our behalf and receive His salvation),
If it IS, then what we want is what He wants for us and we will get what we want because what we want is what He wants.
James tells us that we have not because we ask amiss.
I suspect that many prayers "in Jesus' name" are not "in Jesus' name" at all, but are simply wishes that "the magic genie called, 'God'" will do what we want.
When you pray, be certain you are really praying "in Jesus' name."
Friday, February 03, 2006
Update
I have not ceased blogging in spite of what you may have thought).
We had another issue at the Christian radio station where I work (heard world-wide at kingdom.fm.)
I had to go into the registry to correct an issue. When I did, a lurking virus snapped to attention and invaded the registry, causing the computer to reboot continuously.
We had to re-format the hard drive and re-load all of the programs, applications, etc.
I saw Charlie in the hospital yesterday. He is himself, only his left side is without feeling or movement.
He jokes, "I'm holding my left arm over my head. Can you tell?" (It is lying motionless in his lap).
Thank you for your prayers for him. He appreciates it, too.
Pray for me, too. These are horrendously stressful times.
We'll be visiting my mother in Inverness, Florida for a few days. I'll be back on Monday.
We had another issue at the Christian radio station where I work (heard world-wide at kingdom.fm.)
I had to go into the registry to correct an issue. When I did, a lurking virus snapped to attention and invaded the registry, causing the computer to reboot continuously.
We had to re-format the hard drive and re-load all of the programs, applications, etc.
I saw Charlie in the hospital yesterday. He is himself, only his left side is without feeling or movement.
He jokes, "I'm holding my left arm over my head. Can you tell?" (It is lying motionless in his lap).
Thank you for your prayers for him. He appreciates it, too.
Pray for me, too. These are horrendously stressful times.
We'll be visiting my mother in Inverness, Florida for a few days. I'll be back on Monday.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Charlie
My friend, Charlie, is in a hospital room tonight following a stroke.
He was eating supper Friday night, alone (he lives alone). Sometime between 7:00 and 7:30 he started to get up for something.
As he began to stand, he lost his balance and fell to one side. He could not get up.
A neighbor, out walking his dog, looked in the window and saw Charlie lying on the floor, called out to him and when he did not respond, went inside to try to help.
He tried to sit Charlie up. When he did so, charlie slumped back over on his side.
Another neighbor came in and called 911.
Charlie was able to speak in a slurred fashion and let it be known that he did not want to go to the hospital.
The paramedic told him that if he would not go voluntarily, he (the paramedic) would call the police, have Charlie arrested and then they would take him to the hospital.
Charlie went to the hospital.
I saw him today.
He was in his normal curmudgeon-like spirits (I really love his sense of humor and his grumpy act...he is not really grumpy at all and has a heart of solid gold).
Charlie is a good friend and a fine Christian.
On limited income, he gives more than the richest man I know, quite literally.
Charlie has never insulted me, accused me of things I have not done or said, never yelled at me or lost his temper with me; never made life harder for me while pretending to be making it easier.
Charlie has always given me the benefit of the doubt. He has been more Christ-like toward me than most of the other people around me who masquerade as Christians.
He has laughed with me over both of our foibles, eaten with me about once per week, visited in my home for the sheer pleasure of it.
Charlie is not a respecter of persons.
He does not treat people with money differently than he treats people with no money.
He does not do things with an eye to what he can get out of it, but with an eye for how he might make things better.
He regularly witnesses his faith to even members of his own family...one of the hardest things to do.
Charlie lives a real faith, not that kind of "I'll play God's game so He'll give me what I want" kind of faith.
I have seen him trampled on by Christians while doing his job as a maintenance person at the church he worked at and then fired by a temporary staff for no good reason.
I have seen him kicked when he was down, pick himself up and good naturedly start all over again.
He has been told he was in the way, when, in fact, he was making things easier, but the person in charge was, and still is, too stupid to understand that, and cannot even recognize his own stupidity.
There is no one with whom I come in contact, daily or otherwise, who is half the man Charlie is.
Charlie is my brother in Christ and my friend.
I pray that Charlie will have a full recovery and will soon be able to go to lunch with me...I'll buy. Please pray with me to that end.
Get well quickly, Charlie. Get well quickly.
He was eating supper Friday night, alone (he lives alone). Sometime between 7:00 and 7:30 he started to get up for something.
As he began to stand, he lost his balance and fell to one side. He could not get up.
A neighbor, out walking his dog, looked in the window and saw Charlie lying on the floor, called out to him and when he did not respond, went inside to try to help.
He tried to sit Charlie up. When he did so, charlie slumped back over on his side.
Another neighbor came in and called 911.
Charlie was able to speak in a slurred fashion and let it be known that he did not want to go to the hospital.
The paramedic told him that if he would not go voluntarily, he (the paramedic) would call the police, have Charlie arrested and then they would take him to the hospital.
Charlie went to the hospital.
I saw him today.
He was in his normal curmudgeon-like spirits (I really love his sense of humor and his grumpy act...he is not really grumpy at all and has a heart of solid gold).
Charlie is a good friend and a fine Christian.
On limited income, he gives more than the richest man I know, quite literally.
Charlie has never insulted me, accused me of things I have not done or said, never yelled at me or lost his temper with me; never made life harder for me while pretending to be making it easier.
Charlie has always given me the benefit of the doubt. He has been more Christ-like toward me than most of the other people around me who masquerade as Christians.
He has laughed with me over both of our foibles, eaten with me about once per week, visited in my home for the sheer pleasure of it.
Charlie is not a respecter of persons.
He does not treat people with money differently than he treats people with no money.
He does not do things with an eye to what he can get out of it, but with an eye for how he might make things better.
He regularly witnesses his faith to even members of his own family...one of the hardest things to do.
Charlie lives a real faith, not that kind of "I'll play God's game so He'll give me what I want" kind of faith.
I have seen him trampled on by Christians while doing his job as a maintenance person at the church he worked at and then fired by a temporary staff for no good reason.
I have seen him kicked when he was down, pick himself up and good naturedly start all over again.
He has been told he was in the way, when, in fact, he was making things easier, but the person in charge was, and still is, too stupid to understand that, and cannot even recognize his own stupidity.
There is no one with whom I come in contact, daily or otherwise, who is half the man Charlie is.
Charlie is my brother in Christ and my friend.
I pray that Charlie will have a full recovery and will soon be able to go to lunch with me...I'll buy. Please pray with me to that end.
Get well quickly, Charlie. Get well quickly.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Sunday Praise
Son of David, Mighty Master, Prince of Peace, we praise you today.
We praise you for being our loving and protecting Shepherd, our Fortress and the Rock upon whom we can stand.
Blessed King of kings, with the angels we exalt you. Our anthems we sing to you.
To you be all the glory, laud and honor.
All Glory, Laud and Honor
by Theodulph of Orleans
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/g/aglahonr.htm
All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.
The company of angels
Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present.
To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.
Post Script: A very dear friend of mine, with whom I have lunch at least once per week, is in the hospital having suffered a stroke. His name is Charlie Warber. Please pray for him. Thank you.
We praise you for being our loving and protecting Shepherd, our Fortress and the Rock upon whom we can stand.
Blessed King of kings, with the angels we exalt you. Our anthems we sing to you.
To you be all the glory, laud and honor.
All Glory, Laud and Honor
by Theodulph of Orleans
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/g/aglahonr.htm
All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.
The company of angels
Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present.
To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.
Post Script: A very dear friend of mine, with whom I have lunch at least once per week, is in the hospital having suffered a stroke. His name is Charlie Warber. Please pray for him. Thank you.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Just Hanging On
Things have been so hectic lately that I have not had time to offend anybody.
I feel just like this guy.
Just hanging on.
I feel just like this guy.
Just hanging on.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
How to Read - Part 2
Well...I offended a few with my last post. Let's see whether I can offend some more with this one.
OK. It really is NOT my intention to offend. It just comes naturally.
What bothers me is how much stuff masquerades as Biblical Christianity that is little more than the expression of our imaginations or the way we wish things were.
The Romans were in charge.
Rome was not a particularly civilized civilization.
Roman soldiers' orders were to be obeyed. Penalties were severe. They ranged from heavy flogging for minor offenses to death for major offenses.
Where prisoners were concerned, they did not escape from Roman custody. If they did, those guarding them paid with their lives. No excuses.
Not only were they put to death, but their families as well. Bad news!
Now let's go to everybody's favorite book, the Acts of the Apostles.
Let's go to chapter 16 versees 16 and following.
Paul and Silas were prisoners of Rome. They were being guarded by a jailer. The jailer had been commanded by Rome to guard them carefully.
They were in an inner cell, a cell within a cell. There were no windows. No way of excape.
And they were in stocks.
These guys were in jail big time. They could hardly move, certainly no farther than their arms and legs lengths.
I might have been screaming and crying.
They were singing and praying.
Then they experienced the first Jailhouse Rock.
An earthquake shook the prison and loosed their chains and broke open the prison door.
They were free! They could leave! And the jailer was in deep, deep trouble.
Remember, the penalty for allowing a prisoner to excape was death.
The jailer picked up his sword and was about to kill himself, because that would have been a more merciful death than he was about to suffer at the hands of the Romans.
Paul saw what was about to happen and shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
Now here's where I believe EVERY sermon I have ever heard has taken a wrong turn, based on the context of the narrative.
The text requires that the jailer feard for his own physical life and that of his whole family. One way or the other, they were all going to die. At least if he killed himself, his family might have a chance.
Pick up the scripture in verse 29: "The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas (his prisoners, remember?). He then brought them out and asked, 'Men, what must I do to be saved?'"
Not for one nanosecond was he concerned about his soul. There has been no reference to his soul. There is no indication that he even knew what a soul was.
I have never heard it preached that the jailer was interested in anything BUT hs soul. The narrative dictates that he had NO interest in his soul, only his life and that of his family.
But Paul, ever diligent to sieze upon an opportunity for Christ, answered an unasked question.
Verse 31: "They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your whole household.'"
Then (this is SO important) they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his household."
They all found an answer to a question they had not asked. They found salvation both physically and spiritually.
How bold of them was it for them to wash Paul and Silas' wounds? And be baptized? And feed them?
Right there in front of the world. And the Romans, too!
Surely they had been saved to the uttermost!
The scripture says, (vs 34) "...and the whole family was filled with joy, because they had come to believe in God."
This puts to rest the inane question I have heard a thousand times, "When the husband gets saved, does that mean the whole family is saved by the husband's salvation?"
(That's a synopsis of all of the questions surrounding that issue).
Of course not. They ALL heard the word of the Lord and then were saved, each responding to the gospel!
It is my humble, but correct, opinion that when understood in this way, this is the most remarkable of the post resurrection stories in the New Testament.
Its lessons are many: 1) When in dire straits, praise the Lord; 2) When in fear turn to the Lord. 3) When saved, rejoice in the Lord.
As Psalm 150 puts it, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
Are YOU breathing today?
OK. It really is NOT my intention to offend. It just comes naturally.
What bothers me is how much stuff masquerades as Biblical Christianity that is little more than the expression of our imaginations or the way we wish things were.
The Romans were in charge.
Rome was not a particularly civilized civilization.
Roman soldiers' orders were to be obeyed. Penalties were severe. They ranged from heavy flogging for minor offenses to death for major offenses.
Where prisoners were concerned, they did not escape from Roman custody. If they did, those guarding them paid with their lives. No excuses.
Not only were they put to death, but their families as well. Bad news!
Now let's go to everybody's favorite book, the Acts of the Apostles.
Let's go to chapter 16 versees 16 and following.
Paul and Silas were prisoners of Rome. They were being guarded by a jailer. The jailer had been commanded by Rome to guard them carefully.
They were in an inner cell, a cell within a cell. There were no windows. No way of excape.
And they were in stocks.
These guys were in jail big time. They could hardly move, certainly no farther than their arms and legs lengths.
I might have been screaming and crying.
They were singing and praying.
Then they experienced the first Jailhouse Rock.
An earthquake shook the prison and loosed their chains and broke open the prison door.
They were free! They could leave! And the jailer was in deep, deep trouble.
Remember, the penalty for allowing a prisoner to excape was death.
The jailer picked up his sword and was about to kill himself, because that would have been a more merciful death than he was about to suffer at the hands of the Romans.
Paul saw what was about to happen and shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
Now here's where I believe EVERY sermon I have ever heard has taken a wrong turn, based on the context of the narrative.
The text requires that the jailer feard for his own physical life and that of his whole family. One way or the other, they were all going to die. At least if he killed himself, his family might have a chance.
Pick up the scripture in verse 29: "The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas (his prisoners, remember?). He then brought them out and asked, 'Men, what must I do to be saved?'"
Not for one nanosecond was he concerned about his soul. There has been no reference to his soul. There is no indication that he even knew what a soul was.
I have never heard it preached that the jailer was interested in anything BUT hs soul. The narrative dictates that he had NO interest in his soul, only his life and that of his family.
But Paul, ever diligent to sieze upon an opportunity for Christ, answered an unasked question.
Verse 31: "They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your whole household.'"
Then (this is SO important) they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his household."
They all found an answer to a question they had not asked. They found salvation both physically and spiritually.
How bold of them was it for them to wash Paul and Silas' wounds? And be baptized? And feed them?
Right there in front of the world. And the Romans, too!
Surely they had been saved to the uttermost!
The scripture says, (vs 34) "...and the whole family was filled with joy, because they had come to believe in God."
This puts to rest the inane question I have heard a thousand times, "When the husband gets saved, does that mean the whole family is saved by the husband's salvation?"
(That's a synopsis of all of the questions surrounding that issue).
Of course not. They ALL heard the word of the Lord and then were saved, each responding to the gospel!
It is my humble, but correct, opinion that when understood in this way, this is the most remarkable of the post resurrection stories in the New Testament.
Its lessons are many: 1) When in dire straits, praise the Lord; 2) When in fear turn to the Lord. 3) When saved, rejoice in the Lord.
As Psalm 150 puts it, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
Are YOU breathing today?
Monday, January 23, 2006
How To Read - Part 1
Editor's Note for Prophecy Theologs: I already know about the coming wedding feast of the Lamb and all that stuff, so let's not get off on that and miss the point of what's being written bout here, OK?
I read three books yesterday.
I read pages 36 and 38 of one, pages 106 and 237 of another and the first two paragraphs of the third.
That's pretty stupid, isn't it?
The other day I submitted a post of my random thoughts.
Today, I want to pick up on one of them and develop it a little bit, on-a-counta-because, I don't think too many people, especially pastors, know how to read well enough properly interpret scripture.
Now I don't mean that as an insult to pastors, even though I realize many will be insulted by it, I just hear so many sermons that miss the point of the scripture upon which they are supposed to be expounding, that it is troubling.
They are either advancing some agenda of their own, or they just don't know how to read. (They could be just liars...but let's not go there. Let's give them at least the benefit of the doubt).
(BTW: If the shoe don't fit, quit trying to put it on.)
OK...here we go.
How many sermons have you heard from Ephesians 5:22 that try to explain how God has established the order of the home and the order is: the husband is the head of the home, sort of like the President is the head of the armed services. Or There has to be some hirarchy in the family and so God has helped us out by showing us what that hirarchy is?
That would all be well and good, except that the writer, Paul, tells us that he is not talking about the family.
"Wait a minute!" I hear you screaming, "A husband, a wife, the children...that's a family, isn't it?"
Yes, it is.
"Then what on earth are you talking about 'Paul tells us that he is not talking about the family'?"
Hey. Don't shout at me, shout at Paul. He said it, not me.
In verse 32, while having introduced the Genesis concept of the oneness of husband and wife, Paul says, "This mystery great is, I but say as to Christ and as to the church."
Oops! That's a word-for-word translation from the Greek text.
Let's see if we can get it right in English.
"This (a pronoun referencing his subject: the leaving of father and mother and the joining of two people in marriage) is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
Most pastors, including one I heard on the radio this very morning, gloss over this, or ignore it completely and spend their entire time pontificating about the structure of marriage, or, if they are enlightened, telling how Ephesians 5: 22 ff is really a balanced description of what a family should be like.
"I am talking about Christ and the church."
Look! He just told us what he is talking about!
Revelation! Excitement! We don't have to guess or imagine or extrapolate! He just told us!
Now let's put it all together.
Genesis tells us that God designed marriage such that a man should leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.
This is reiterated in Ephesians 5:31 and is used by Paul as a picture of what the church should be.
It's like this: We (the church) are the bride of Christ. Just as a man leaves his father, Christ left His Father to take on a bride...us.
Just as Jesus said divorce should never be an option for a man and wife, so it is unthinkable that the Son would ever divorce Himself from His bride, the church.
If we take the whole section of scripture, connect it to the others dealing with husband-wife relationships, apply it to Christ and the church, the whole thing suddenly takes on a whole, new, exciting, unifying meaning.
"Wives (church), submit to your husbands (Christ) as He does (a proper inference from the Greek text) to the Lord (God)."
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
Can't you see it?
Christ's bride is to be holy, clean, washed in the word, stainless, smooth, unblemished, holy and blameless!
Argue over money? That will NEVER happen in Christ's church.
Mad over some decision "they" made? Not if you're a part of Christ's church.
Someone got the spotlight when you thought you should have been recognized? Not a problem to a member of the bride of Christ.
Hung up on some "should or shouldn't" of doctrine? Christ's body would not go there because the body would be too focused on Him.
If part of the bride was hurting, the rest would come to the rescue with money, living space, healing ointment, emotional support, a job or whatever it took to bring unity, healing and to restore brideship.
Christ died for us (His bride) at Calvary. He did his husbandly duty for His bride.
How dare we take the gift of His groomship and not respond as a sweet, pure, innocent bride?
Like a bride seeks to please her new husband, so His bride must seek to please Him.
What kind of bride for Him are you in your church?
I read three books yesterday.
I read pages 36 and 38 of one, pages 106 and 237 of another and the first two paragraphs of the third.
That's pretty stupid, isn't it?
The other day I submitted a post of my random thoughts.
Today, I want to pick up on one of them and develop it a little bit, on-a-counta-because, I don't think too many people, especially pastors, know how to read well enough properly interpret scripture.
Now I don't mean that as an insult to pastors, even though I realize many will be insulted by it, I just hear so many sermons that miss the point of the scripture upon which they are supposed to be expounding, that it is troubling.
They are either advancing some agenda of their own, or they just don't know how to read. (They could be just liars...but let's not go there. Let's give them at least the benefit of the doubt).
(BTW: If the shoe don't fit, quit trying to put it on.)
OK...here we go.
How many sermons have you heard from Ephesians 5:22 that try to explain how God has established the order of the home and the order is: the husband is the head of the home, sort of like the President is the head of the armed services. Or There has to be some hirarchy in the family and so God has helped us out by showing us what that hirarchy is?
That would all be well and good, except that the writer, Paul, tells us that he is not talking about the family.
"Wait a minute!" I hear you screaming, "A husband, a wife, the children...that's a family, isn't it?"
Yes, it is.
"Then what on earth are you talking about 'Paul tells us that he is not talking about the family'?"
Hey. Don't shout at me, shout at Paul. He said it, not me.
In verse 32, while having introduced the Genesis concept of the oneness of husband and wife, Paul says, "This mystery great is, I but say as to Christ and as to the church."
Oops! That's a word-for-word translation from the Greek text.
Let's see if we can get it right in English.
"This (a pronoun referencing his subject: the leaving of father and mother and the joining of two people in marriage) is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
Most pastors, including one I heard on the radio this very morning, gloss over this, or ignore it completely and spend their entire time pontificating about the structure of marriage, or, if they are enlightened, telling how Ephesians 5: 22 ff is really a balanced description of what a family should be like.
"I am talking about Christ and the church."
Look! He just told us what he is talking about!
Revelation! Excitement! We don't have to guess or imagine or extrapolate! He just told us!
Now let's put it all together.
Genesis tells us that God designed marriage such that a man should leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.
This is reiterated in Ephesians 5:31 and is used by Paul as a picture of what the church should be.
It's like this: We (the church) are the bride of Christ. Just as a man leaves his father, Christ left His Father to take on a bride...us.
Just as Jesus said divorce should never be an option for a man and wife, so it is unthinkable that the Son would ever divorce Himself from His bride, the church.
If we take the whole section of scripture, connect it to the others dealing with husband-wife relationships, apply it to Christ and the church, the whole thing suddenly takes on a whole, new, exciting, unifying meaning.
"Wives (church), submit to your husbands (Christ) as He does (a proper inference from the Greek text) to the Lord (God)."
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
Can't you see it?
Christ's bride is to be holy, clean, washed in the word, stainless, smooth, unblemished, holy and blameless!
Argue over money? That will NEVER happen in Christ's church.
Mad over some decision "they" made? Not if you're a part of Christ's church.
Someone got the spotlight when you thought you should have been recognized? Not a problem to a member of the bride of Christ.
Hung up on some "should or shouldn't" of doctrine? Christ's body would not go there because the body would be too focused on Him.
If part of the bride was hurting, the rest would come to the rescue with money, living space, healing ointment, emotional support, a job or whatever it took to bring unity, healing and to restore brideship.
Christ died for us (His bride) at Calvary. He did his husbandly duty for His bride.
How dare we take the gift of His groomship and not respond as a sweet, pure, innocent bride?
Like a bride seeks to please her new husband, so His bride must seek to please Him.
What kind of bride for Him are you in your church?
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Sunday Praise
Father in Heaven, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Christ, we join our voices in a joyous song of praise to you.
We praise you from the depths of our hearts, 'till the very air around us is saturated with your praise.
To you whose leadership and guidance is our mainstay, whose love will continue forever, we give our worship and adoration.
When this life draws its last breath, our praise will continue throughout eternity. And when we find ourselves at home in your home, we will continue to sing praises for you alone are worthy.
Come, Christians, Join to Sing
by Christian H. Bateman
Come, Christians, join to sing,
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud Praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice:
Alleluia! Amen!
Come, lift your hearts on high;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend;
To us He'll condescend;
His love shall never end;
Alleluia! Amen!
Praise yet our Christ again,
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the stain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven's blissful shore
His goodness we'll adore,
Singing forever more,
Alleluia! Amen!
We praise you from the depths of our hearts, 'till the very air around us is saturated with your praise.
To you whose leadership and guidance is our mainstay, whose love will continue forever, we give our worship and adoration.
When this life draws its last breath, our praise will continue throughout eternity. And when we find ourselves at home in your home, we will continue to sing praises for you alone are worthy.
Come, Christians, Join to Sing
by Christian H. Bateman
Come, Christians, join to sing,
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud Praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice:
Alleluia! Amen!
Come, lift your hearts on high;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend;
To us He'll condescend;
His love shall never end;
Alleluia! Amen!
Praise yet our Christ again,
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the stain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven's blissful shore
His goodness we'll adore,
Singing forever more,
Alleluia! Amen!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Randomly Thought Thoughts.
1. All, I said ALL, unrighteous anger is born of not getting one's own way.
2. Whining about our circumstances is an anathama to faith and is the result of self-centerdness.
3. Husbands and wives need to learn to give 100% of themselves to God and each other, expecting absolutely nothing in return.
4. People who read Ephesians 5 and think it says men are the boss in the family, did not pay attention in English class when writing was taught.
5. Driving over the speed limit is contrary to the law, and thus is sin.
6. Overeating is both dangerous and sinful behavior. In fact it is sinful behavior because it is dangerous. I am exceedingly guilty of this one. Are you?
7. The Old Testament is not the rule book by which we must live, it is the forshadowing of the incarnation of God and the expectation of His coming in the person of Christ.
8. I did not say the Old Testament was not a good rule book by which to live.
9. Jesus should be the in all, of all, by all and through all of everything we are and do.
10. If Jesus does not rule in your life, you are missing most of what Christianity is about and almost all of the joy of knowing Him.
2. Whining about our circumstances is an anathama to faith and is the result of self-centerdness.
3. Husbands and wives need to learn to give 100% of themselves to God and each other, expecting absolutely nothing in return.
4. People who read Ephesians 5 and think it says men are the boss in the family, did not pay attention in English class when writing was taught.
5. Driving over the speed limit is contrary to the law, and thus is sin.
6. Overeating is both dangerous and sinful behavior. In fact it is sinful behavior because it is dangerous. I am exceedingly guilty of this one. Are you?
7. The Old Testament is not the rule book by which we must live, it is the forshadowing of the incarnation of God and the expectation of His coming in the person of Christ.
8. I did not say the Old Testament was not a good rule book by which to live.
9. Jesus should be the in all, of all, by all and through all of everything we are and do.
10. If Jesus does not rule in your life, you are missing most of what Christianity is about and almost all of the joy of knowing Him.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
What to Do
On the way to work this morning I listened to two Bible study programs, each a half hour long. (It does not take me an hour to get to work, but I sat in the car to finish hearing the last one.)
Each was teaching about the tribulation.
The first insisted that the church would not go through the tribulation and that the actual tribulation, the Great Tribulation, would only be three and a half years, with the first 3 1/2 years of the 7 weeks of Daniel being rough, but not as bad as the last half.
The other seemed reluctant to say that the church would not go through the tribulation and that the tribulation would be 7 years in length.
Each quoted six or seven scriptures to back their point of view. They quoted from Daniel, Thessalonians and The Revelation.
So, is this an important issue? Does it matter to us day-by-day? Should we adjust our behavior because we believe one way or the other?
When I speak to someone about their eternal destiny, do I include this information in my explanation of their need for Christ?
What are we to do with our belief about the tribulation?
Note: Do not attempt to decern my position on the tribulation from this post. I have deliberately tried to keep my position out of it for the purpose of picking your mind.
Oh, and by they way, don't be TOO long winded about it. Please. Pretty please. Pretty please with sugar on it. Pedanticity is so boring.
Each was teaching about the tribulation.
The first insisted that the church would not go through the tribulation and that the actual tribulation, the Great Tribulation, would only be three and a half years, with the first 3 1/2 years of the 7 weeks of Daniel being rough, but not as bad as the last half.
The other seemed reluctant to say that the church would not go through the tribulation and that the tribulation would be 7 years in length.
Each quoted six or seven scriptures to back their point of view. They quoted from Daniel, Thessalonians and The Revelation.
So, is this an important issue? Does it matter to us day-by-day? Should we adjust our behavior because we believe one way or the other?
When I speak to someone about their eternal destiny, do I include this information in my explanation of their need for Christ?
What are we to do with our belief about the tribulation?
Note: Do not attempt to decern my position on the tribulation from this post. I have deliberately tried to keep my position out of it for the purpose of picking your mind.
Oh, and by they way, don't be TOO long winded about it. Please. Pretty please. Pretty please with sugar on it. Pedanticity is so boring.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
CHECK IT OUT
If you've never seen this, check it out. Either click on the link or copy and paste it in your browser.
Get ready to shiver.
http://www.aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf
Scary?
Get ready to shiver.
http://www.aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf
Scary?
Sunday Praise
Heavenly Father, in the blessed, wonderful name of Jesus, we come to you in praise.
As darkness turns to day, and as the powers of darkness run in fear from the praise of our Lord, let our hearts be filled with confidence that the Light of the World has overcome the darkness.
May the very voices of the world find unity in the praise of the who gives life.
Let it be my song as long as I have breath and when my last breath is drawn, as well as throughout eternity, that the precious name of Jesus will forever be praised.
When Morning Guilds the Skies
by Katholisches Gesanbuch and Joseph Barnby
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/gilds.html
When morning guilds the skies my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When you begin the day, O never fail to say,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Whene’er the sweet church bell peals over hill and dell,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
O hark to what it sings, as joyously it rings,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
My tongue shall never tire of chanting with the choir,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
This song of sacred joy, it never seems to cloy,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
To God, the Word, on high, the host of angels cry,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too, upraise their voice in hymns of praise,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this at meals your grace, in every time and place;
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, when day is past, of all your thoughts the last
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When sleep her balm denies, my silent spirit sighs,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest, with this I shield my breast,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The night becomes as day when from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
No lovelier antiphon in all high heav’n is known
Than, Jesus Christ be praised!
There to the eternal Word the eternal psalm is heard:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around ring joyous with the sound:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
In heaven’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, ye that see His face,
Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er, for aye and evermore
Shall Jesus Christ be praised!
In heaven’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea and sky from depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
As darkness turns to day, and as the powers of darkness run in fear from the praise of our Lord, let our hearts be filled with confidence that the Light of the World has overcome the darkness.
May the very voices of the world find unity in the praise of the who gives life.
Let it be my song as long as I have breath and when my last breath is drawn, as well as throughout eternity, that the precious name of Jesus will forever be praised.
When Morning Guilds the Skies
by Katholisches Gesanbuch and Joseph Barnby
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/gilds.html
When morning guilds the skies my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When you begin the day, O never fail to say,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Whene’er the sweet church bell peals over hill and dell,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
O hark to what it sings, as joyously it rings,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
My tongue shall never tire of chanting with the choir,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
This song of sacred joy, it never seems to cloy,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
To God, the Word, on high, the host of angels cry,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too, upraise their voice in hymns of praise,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this at meals your grace, in every time and place;
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, when day is past, of all your thoughts the last
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When sleep her balm denies, my silent spirit sighs,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest, with this I shield my breast,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The night becomes as day when from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
No lovelier antiphon in all high heav’n is known
Than, Jesus Christ be praised!
There to the eternal Word the eternal psalm is heard:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around ring joyous with the sound:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
In heaven’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, ye that see His face,
Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er, for aye and evermore
Shall Jesus Christ be praised!
In heaven’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea and sky from depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Saturday, January 14, 2006
MORE TO COME
I've told you before about a friend of mine who has begun enabling individual churches to have their own radio station with which to broadcast their own preference in music and ministry over the Internet. The church can also promote its upcoming events, put its pastor on, add whatever other programs they want and broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The potential listener is every person on earth with a computer and high speed Internet. As an example, http://www.capechristian.com/ had over 50,000 hits from November to January! And it has not even been promoted.
You can check out the Light Adult Contemporary sound at http://www.capechristian.com/ and follow the links to listen (you need to choose a player, such as Windows Media Player, too).
Well, here's the updated news.
I have joined forces with him to help get a varety of styles up and running.
Soon there will be: Southern Gospel; Traditional; Inspirational; Contemporary and other formats available, the church's choice.
The whole thing will be very affordable.
To put a regular radio station on the air costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions, if you have to buy the station, equipment and pay staff. Then your station is limited to the local area and a fairly low quality of streaming the signal.
This new type of station will cost a tiny fraction of that, requires little effort and only occasional involvement by the church staff. The sound quality rivals the best broadcast stations, with even surround-sound capabilities.
Listeners can log on, minimize the screen and go on about their computer business, at work or at home with the positive, uplifting sounds of Christian music and ministry playing in the background. In a short time, it will be available in cars, as wireless technology expands and improves.
If your church, or any church you know of, is interested in investigating this opportunity, let me know and I'll put you in touch with the main developer, Ron Maxwell.
God is leading in a very exciting direction, here. I'm very blessed to be a part of this gigantic effort!
The potential listener is every person on earth with a computer and high speed Internet. As an example, http://www.capechristian.com/ had over 50,000 hits from November to January! And it has not even been promoted.
You can check out the Light Adult Contemporary sound at http://www.capechristian.com/ and follow the links to listen (you need to choose a player, such as Windows Media Player, too).
Well, here's the updated news.
I have joined forces with him to help get a varety of styles up and running.
Soon there will be: Southern Gospel; Traditional; Inspirational; Contemporary and other formats available, the church's choice.
The whole thing will be very affordable.
To put a regular radio station on the air costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions, if you have to buy the station, equipment and pay staff. Then your station is limited to the local area and a fairly low quality of streaming the signal.
This new type of station will cost a tiny fraction of that, requires little effort and only occasional involvement by the church staff. The sound quality rivals the best broadcast stations, with even surround-sound capabilities.
Listeners can log on, minimize the screen and go on about their computer business, at work or at home with the positive, uplifting sounds of Christian music and ministry playing in the background. In a short time, it will be available in cars, as wireless technology expands and improves.
If your church, or any church you know of, is interested in investigating this opportunity, let me know and I'll put you in touch with the main developer, Ron Maxwell.
God is leading in a very exciting direction, here. I'm very blessed to be a part of this gigantic effort!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
With Apologies to Jeff H.
"Well, let me ask you this: Is it your testimony that you once frequented a restroom in a Wal Mart Superstore that had once been used by ........"!"
"Finish the sentence, Senator, you have to finish the sentence!"
The sentence. Finish the sentence.....ehhh what was the sentence?
The sentence about the restroom...finish it!
"Ahem....Oh...um...yes. In the restroo...ehh...your testi...ehhmony is that you used the restroom at Wal Mart that was used by....erhhh...who was the restroom used by?
"Bundy. Ted Bundy you blathering dolt!"
erhh...Bundy...yes Bundy. Should a man seeking a position on the highest court in the land be keeping company with a TV comedian from Married with Children? Shouldn't you be more careful with whom you hang out...with...whom? Doesn't that prove you are inclined to vote against Roe v. Wade?
"It is my opinion, your royal hind-end-ness, that passing judgement on someone based solely on coincidences in their lives constitutes assigning guilt by association, an area you cannot afford to explore."
Editor's Note: Hey! Gimme a break. Jeff has more experience at this than I do. But it was pretty shameful (Ted Kennedy's performance, not this post...although one might say the same about this post. But one should not...please.)
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
AT A SNAIL'S PACE
It was early in the morning, about 5:30. I was on my way to work at the radio station (wjyo, online at kingdom . fm).
The little rectangular signs on the side of the road said, "45 MPH," which I took to mean, "45 MPH."
The red lights of the back of the car in front of me seemed to be getting larger. I thought, "Hmmm. I'm gaining on him." When I got close to him, I had to slow down. 40. 35. 30. 25.
Twenty five Miles Per Hour! And I'm trying to get to work!
And of course, we were in a no passing zone. No other cars in sight, but a no passing zone none-the-less.
Finally we got to a place where it is legal to pass and I did. As I rounded the next curve, I noticed another car whose tail lights were getting bigger.
Once again, as we approached the top part of the "S" curve, it was a no passing zone. Two guesses how fast the car in front of me was going. Yep. 25 MPH.
The guy I had just passed was gaining on me from behind. He must have accelerated to 26 or 27 MPH.
At long last I got around the second guy and tooled on up to 45 MPH again, just in time to come to a traffic signal, which, of course, was red.
And stuck.
No oncoming traffic, but two cars stopped behind me.
After an insufferable period of time, with still no cross traffic, I did something I have never intentionally done before. I proceeded through the intersection on a red light.
As I rounded the next curve, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the light still red and the two cars still stopped.
They disappeared from view as I turned to the right.
In front of me was a car traveling at about 25 MPH. On a curve. No passing.
Now, I have always had an issue with patience. It is a struggle with me. I have to frequently tell myself to breathe deeply and relax. I pray that God will help me take my time.
He was giving me a lesson.
Fortunately, the road finally became 4 lanes and I was able to resume my merry jaunt to the station, where I arrived with 30 or 35 seconds to spare.
"Love is patient. Love is kind."
I confess. I was not patient, and my thoughts were not kind toward those other drivers.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
So, I have confessed. I feel much better.
But I'm having a cow-catcher installed on the front of my little Saturn.
The little rectangular signs on the side of the road said, "45 MPH," which I took to mean, "45 MPH."
The red lights of the back of the car in front of me seemed to be getting larger. I thought, "Hmmm. I'm gaining on him." When I got close to him, I had to slow down. 40. 35. 30. 25.
Twenty five Miles Per Hour! And I'm trying to get to work!
And of course, we were in a no passing zone. No other cars in sight, but a no passing zone none-the-less.
Finally we got to a place where it is legal to pass and I did. As I rounded the next curve, I noticed another car whose tail lights were getting bigger.
Once again, as we approached the top part of the "S" curve, it was a no passing zone. Two guesses how fast the car in front of me was going. Yep. 25 MPH.
The guy I had just passed was gaining on me from behind. He must have accelerated to 26 or 27 MPH.
At long last I got around the second guy and tooled on up to 45 MPH again, just in time to come to a traffic signal, which, of course, was red.
And stuck.
No oncoming traffic, but two cars stopped behind me.
After an insufferable period of time, with still no cross traffic, I did something I have never intentionally done before. I proceeded through the intersection on a red light.
As I rounded the next curve, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the light still red and the two cars still stopped.
They disappeared from view as I turned to the right.
In front of me was a car traveling at about 25 MPH. On a curve. No passing.
Now, I have always had an issue with patience. It is a struggle with me. I have to frequently tell myself to breathe deeply and relax. I pray that God will help me take my time.
He was giving me a lesson.
Fortunately, the road finally became 4 lanes and I was able to resume my merry jaunt to the station, where I arrived with 30 or 35 seconds to spare.
"Love is patient. Love is kind."
I confess. I was not patient, and my thoughts were not kind toward those other drivers.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
So, I have confessed. I feel much better.
But I'm having a cow-catcher installed on the front of my little Saturn.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Sunday Praise
Praise to the Lord! Praise the King, the mighty King of Kings.
My soul, praise Him, who gives every good and perfect gift.
Join me as we praise Him together.
You, who reigns over all things, shelters us and sustains us, we praise.
To you, O Lord, belongs our adoration for granting us that which you have from the beginning of time and beyond, given for us.
As we think of you, O Most High, we are evermore aware of your power and your might, your goodness and your mercy, your wonder and your grace.
Friend of siners, help us to praise you with every breath we have. May all of creation join us.
May our love for you find no end.
Amen and amen.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
by Joachim Neander
http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh139.sht
1.Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near;
join me in glad adoration!
2. Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelter thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not see How thy desiresall hve been
Granted in what He ordaineth.
3. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend thee.
4. Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the "amen" sound from His peoplle again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him!
My soul, praise Him, who gives every good and perfect gift.
Join me as we praise Him together.
You, who reigns over all things, shelters us and sustains us, we praise.
To you, O Lord, belongs our adoration for granting us that which you have from the beginning of time and beyond, given for us.
As we think of you, O Most High, we are evermore aware of your power and your might, your goodness and your mercy, your wonder and your grace.
Friend of siners, help us to praise you with every breath we have. May all of creation join us.
May our love for you find no end.
Amen and amen.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
by Joachim Neander
http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh139.sht
1.Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near;
join me in glad adoration!
2. Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelter thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not see How thy desiresall hve been
Granted in what He ordaineth.
3. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend thee.
4. Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the "amen" sound from His peoplle again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him!
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Being Real
One of my favorite singing groups over the years has been The Martins.
The Martins are a brother and sister group, Joyce, Judy and Jonathan, whose harmonies are tight and whose energy level is high, without being overpowering.
They have sung with the Gaithers and can be seen on many of the Homecoming videos.
Each of them also has his/her own solo career.
Last night I went to a concert with Jonathan Martin.
What a talent! He also ministered the gospel in a very real, down-to-earth way, using his life experience and scripture in a very sincere, uncontrived way.
But you know what impressed me most? He stood in the entrance hallway and greeted everybody who came in. He wandered among the crowd before the concert and talked with people, thanking them for coming and conversing with them momentarily.
The concert started exactly on time and he started with a worship time of prayer and praise songs, getting the largely older audience involved in willingly singing some newer choruses they were obviously not used to singing.
He behaved professionally on stage, without being flashy. He used his real personality, his real southern accent and his real life stories to present his real Savior to a full house.
At intermission, he did not position himself behind the sales table or disappear into some hidden room, but mingled with the crowd, again talking with anybody who wanted to talk.
He gave stage time to his sound man, who sang with a deep, rich voice, and who did about a 7 minute vintriloquist bit.
I believe in a real God, who has done, is doing and will do great things. He is very real and deals with us in a very real way, not according to our imaginations, as so many of us seem to get caught up in.
Would that we could all learn the sufficiency of being real with God.
Thank you, Jonathan Martin, for witnessing to us some of that realness last night.
The Martins are a brother and sister group, Joyce, Judy and Jonathan, whose harmonies are tight and whose energy level is high, without being overpowering.
They have sung with the Gaithers and can be seen on many of the Homecoming videos.
Each of them also has his/her own solo career.
Last night I went to a concert with Jonathan Martin.
What a talent! He also ministered the gospel in a very real, down-to-earth way, using his life experience and scripture in a very sincere, uncontrived way.
But you know what impressed me most? He stood in the entrance hallway and greeted everybody who came in. He wandered among the crowd before the concert and talked with people, thanking them for coming and conversing with them momentarily.
The concert started exactly on time and he started with a worship time of prayer and praise songs, getting the largely older audience involved in willingly singing some newer choruses they were obviously not used to singing.
He behaved professionally on stage, without being flashy. He used his real personality, his real southern accent and his real life stories to present his real Savior to a full house.
At intermission, he did not position himself behind the sales table or disappear into some hidden room, but mingled with the crowd, again talking with anybody who wanted to talk.
He gave stage time to his sound man, who sang with a deep, rich voice, and who did about a 7 minute vintriloquist bit.
I believe in a real God, who has done, is doing and will do great things. He is very real and deals with us in a very real way, not according to our imaginations, as so many of us seem to get caught up in.
Would that we could all learn the sufficiency of being real with God.
Thank you, Jonathan Martin, for witnessing to us some of that realness last night.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Quack! Quack!
I've been a little heavy lately, so, besides going on a diet, I thought I would lighten up.
If you pass this guy on the road, be sure to duck.
It's actually a painting ont he side of a truck.
Monday, January 02, 2006
How It Came to Be
I grew up the son of an Air Force officer and the first of three children.
I was not a bad kid, according to my mother.
If I was at a friends house and we went somewhere else, I called home, not because I was required to, but because I wanted my mother to know where I was.
Bumper cars and airplanes were my passions. (I said I wasn't bad. I did not say I wasn't wierd.)
There was a dark restlessness in me that I could not explain.
My parents were from Georgia, but I was born in Miami, Florida in 1942...a war baby.
We lived in: Brazil; Puerto Rico; Midwest City, Oklahoma; San Antonio, Texas; Tacoma, Washington; Marlotte, France; Warner Robins Georgia; Westover AFB, Massachusetts; and in between moves in Miami, Florida.
We went to the Air Force chapel every Sunday, and I "served" as an usher.
I started highschool at Paris American High School in Paris, France and finished in Warner Robins, Georgia.
While in Warner Robins, I attended First Baptist Church of Warner Robins, where Herold Moore was pastor.
There I heard something I had never heard before.
I heard that the dark restlessness inside of me was my sin nature, that it eternally separated me from a Holy God, who could not abide with or even look upon sin, and that the sin nature carried with it an eternal penalty of physical and spiritual death.
I heard that the penalty had to be paid, either by me or by God.
Thankfully, I heard that God had paid the debt for me by offering Himself in the person of His only begotten Son, Jesus, at a cross called calvary and that He proved that I could live eternally with Him by the resurrection of His Son from the grave.
That was good news...it was (and is) called the Gospel (which means "good news").
I believed what Harold said, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and at His prodding, turned to God in faith, trusting in, and only in, His finished work at the cross and resurrection and received the best gift I have ever gotten: everlasting life with God.
Let me tell you what did NOT happen that day:
1. I did not believe in the virgin birth. I didn't even know what a virgin was. (I told you, I was a "good boy.")
2. I did not read John Calvin, John Bunyon, John Wesley, John Courson, John McArthur, Billy Graham, Benny Hinn, David Jeremiah, Phil Johnson, Dwight Moody, J.Vernon McGee, Antonio da Rosa, Spurgeon, Henry Blackaby, or any other theologian.
3. I did not decide whether to be: pre-millennial, post-millennial or a-millennial; a pre-tribulationist or a post-tribulationist; Calvinist or Armenian. I did not decide whether to be Presbyterian; Roman Catholic; Methodist; or General Association of Regular Baptists. I was in a Southern Baptist church and so I became a Southern Baptist...didn't know any better, and never have learned any better.
4. I did not choose between "Free Grace Theology" and "Reformationism."
5. I did not know whether God chose me from before the beginning of time to be saved on that particular day, as opposed to my hearing and responding to His prodding in some random way.
I just knew that Jesus died for my sin, paid my debt, set me free from that dark restlessness that was inside of me and became my Savior and friend.
Since then, I have learned a lot about God through His Word. Not as much as I'd like, but a lot.
I have read all of those listed above and more, and have found points of agreement and points of disagreement with every one of them.
I have read the Bible five times through, twice in the KJV, once in the LB, and twice in the NIV. I have not learned it all, but there is no verse you can quote to me that I have not read.
I studied Old Testament and New Testament theology at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, along with psychology, sociology, and education. But I try not to let it interfere with my Christianity.
I have done Bibllical studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (long before Katrina).
I have been a minister of the Gospel since I was 17 and "have seen it all," but have discovered that there is more to see.
I am more disillusioned by Christians than any other group. They are, by-and-large, wierd. They are so wierd that if it were not for Jesus, I wouldn't be one.
I am more heartened by Christians than any other group. They are like me: struggling, imperfect beings seeking to know and serve God, whom they cannot fathom, even when they think they have all the answers.
First and foremost, I love Jesus, because He first loved me, continues to love me and said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he would lay down his life for a friend," and then He did that for me.
If I discovered today that all I believe is popycock, I would still believe it because the Christian life is the best life there is. But that won't happen.
I am very narrow minded, believing that Jesus is the only way to know and get to be with God, because He said so and is either right or a liar. He's right.
Because I know it all, even though there are millions of things left for me to know, I do not choose to get into theological arguments with people. I have never changed another's mind by stating the things I know to be correct, and they have never changed mine by stating the things they know to be correct. (Gimmie a break...I'm old and set in my ways...an elder, if you will.)
I DO love to hear what other people think. I just don't argue with them about it.
I love blogging.
I was introduced to it by Jeff Graham, my long time friend and Best Man at my wedding, and taught how by Parker Smith, my friend and co-worker at WJYO/WBIY (heard online at kingdom.fm).
My blog is a place where I tell you what I think, read what you have to say about what I think (whether or not you agree), and refuse to entertain the idea of Christians using my blog to "get at each others' throats," theologically or otherwise.
I read a diversity of blogs, including yours, if I know about you, and love to do so because I like the way you think, or what you have to say, or the way you make me think or your humor or your insights or whatever it is that attracks me to your site.
If you are in my blogroll, I read you every single day, even if you have not posted something new. One never knows when one will see something in a post one did not notice before.
Well...this has gone on long enough.
If there is anything else you want to know about me (and if you'll excuse the arrogance of thinking there is ANYTHING you ever wanted to know about me in the first place), just ask.
If there is nothing you want to know about me...why not?
At least get to know God through Christ.
That's the main thing.
I was not a bad kid, according to my mother.
If I was at a friends house and we went somewhere else, I called home, not because I was required to, but because I wanted my mother to know where I was.
Bumper cars and airplanes were my passions. (I said I wasn't bad. I did not say I wasn't wierd.)
There was a dark restlessness in me that I could not explain.
My parents were from Georgia, but I was born in Miami, Florida in 1942...a war baby.
We lived in: Brazil; Puerto Rico; Midwest City, Oklahoma; San Antonio, Texas; Tacoma, Washington; Marlotte, France; Warner Robins Georgia; Westover AFB, Massachusetts; and in between moves in Miami, Florida.
We went to the Air Force chapel every Sunday, and I "served" as an usher.
I started highschool at Paris American High School in Paris, France and finished in Warner Robins, Georgia.
While in Warner Robins, I attended First Baptist Church of Warner Robins, where Herold Moore was pastor.
There I heard something I had never heard before.
I heard that the dark restlessness inside of me was my sin nature, that it eternally separated me from a Holy God, who could not abide with or even look upon sin, and that the sin nature carried with it an eternal penalty of physical and spiritual death.
I heard that the penalty had to be paid, either by me or by God.
Thankfully, I heard that God had paid the debt for me by offering Himself in the person of His only begotten Son, Jesus, at a cross called calvary and that He proved that I could live eternally with Him by the resurrection of His Son from the grave.
That was good news...it was (and is) called the Gospel (which means "good news").
I believed what Harold said, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and at His prodding, turned to God in faith, trusting in, and only in, His finished work at the cross and resurrection and received the best gift I have ever gotten: everlasting life with God.
Let me tell you what did NOT happen that day:
1. I did not believe in the virgin birth. I didn't even know what a virgin was. (I told you, I was a "good boy.")
2. I did not read John Calvin, John Bunyon, John Wesley, John Courson, John McArthur, Billy Graham, Benny Hinn, David Jeremiah, Phil Johnson, Dwight Moody, J.Vernon McGee, Antonio da Rosa, Spurgeon, Henry Blackaby, or any other theologian.
3. I did not decide whether to be: pre-millennial, post-millennial or a-millennial; a pre-tribulationist or a post-tribulationist; Calvinist or Armenian. I did not decide whether to be Presbyterian; Roman Catholic; Methodist; or General Association of Regular Baptists. I was in a Southern Baptist church and so I became a Southern Baptist...didn't know any better, and never have learned any better.
4. I did not choose between "Free Grace Theology" and "Reformationism."
5. I did not know whether God chose me from before the beginning of time to be saved on that particular day, as opposed to my hearing and responding to His prodding in some random way.
I just knew that Jesus died for my sin, paid my debt, set me free from that dark restlessness that was inside of me and became my Savior and friend.
Since then, I have learned a lot about God through His Word. Not as much as I'd like, but a lot.
I have read all of those listed above and more, and have found points of agreement and points of disagreement with every one of them.
I have read the Bible five times through, twice in the KJV, once in the LB, and twice in the NIV. I have not learned it all, but there is no verse you can quote to me that I have not read.
I studied Old Testament and New Testament theology at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, along with psychology, sociology, and education. But I try not to let it interfere with my Christianity.
I have done Bibllical studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (long before Katrina).
I have been a minister of the Gospel since I was 17 and "have seen it all," but have discovered that there is more to see.
I am more disillusioned by Christians than any other group. They are, by-and-large, wierd. They are so wierd that if it were not for Jesus, I wouldn't be one.
I am more heartened by Christians than any other group. They are like me: struggling, imperfect beings seeking to know and serve God, whom they cannot fathom, even when they think they have all the answers.
First and foremost, I love Jesus, because He first loved me, continues to love me and said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he would lay down his life for a friend," and then He did that for me.
If I discovered today that all I believe is popycock, I would still believe it because the Christian life is the best life there is. But that won't happen.
I am very narrow minded, believing that Jesus is the only way to know and get to be with God, because He said so and is either right or a liar. He's right.
Because I know it all, even though there are millions of things left for me to know, I do not choose to get into theological arguments with people. I have never changed another's mind by stating the things I know to be correct, and they have never changed mine by stating the things they know to be correct. (Gimmie a break...I'm old and set in my ways...an elder, if you will.)
I DO love to hear what other people think. I just don't argue with them about it.
I love blogging.
I was introduced to it by Jeff Graham, my long time friend and Best Man at my wedding, and taught how by Parker Smith, my friend and co-worker at WJYO/WBIY (heard online at kingdom.fm).
My blog is a place where I tell you what I think, read what you have to say about what I think (whether or not you agree), and refuse to entertain the idea of Christians using my blog to "get at each others' throats," theologically or otherwise.
I read a diversity of blogs, including yours, if I know about you, and love to do so because I like the way you think, or what you have to say, or the way you make me think or your humor or your insights or whatever it is that attracks me to your site.
If you are in my blogroll, I read you every single day, even if you have not posted something new. One never knows when one will see something in a post one did not notice before.
Well...this has gone on long enough.
If there is anything else you want to know about me (and if you'll excuse the arrogance of thinking there is ANYTHING you ever wanted to know about me in the first place), just ask.
If there is nothing you want to know about me...why not?
At least get to know God through Christ.
That's the main thing.
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