tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63126832011-04-21T22:37:39.690-05:00between the cushionsriches in a world of trashljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.comBlogger611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1131066059050556602005-11-03T20:00:00.000-05:002005-11-03T20:00:59.080-05:00Homeland Church SecurityThis is a previous post from last year but I thought I would re-post it. A recent conversation with a friend has brought it back to the front of my mind:Does anyone else out there in church think that the way most churches receive new members is strange? Don't get me wrong, we all want to grow as churches.But the majority of the churches I have been have the following procedure for the ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1129316475809736312005-10-14T14:01:00.000-05:002005-10-14T14:01:15.856-05:00Church SucksThere I said it. I know many of you were thinking it. And before you get excited let me explain. Week after week, people file into church looking for something. Looking for anything to heal their hurting, broken and disappointed lives. Our lives are full of regrets and disappointments. Mistakes and failures. And all we want to do is try and make some semblence of a life, try and make ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1102998208034875642004-12-13T23:23:00.000-05:002004-12-13T23:23:28.033-05:00November 26, 2004 - The Moment of TruthI don't know what I have been waiting on. God is kicking me in the pants again, trying to wake me up. I have been waiting for Him over a year to open a door for another ministry and all this time He has actually been waiting on me. I've known for some time now that I was leaving. I don't know the exact date but I've been floating, waiting for God to ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1102998103433581142004-12-13T23:21:00.000-05:002004-12-13T23:21:43.433-05:00November 24, 2004 - God's TimelineThis afternoon before church the preacher called me.He said some people are upset over our recent activity (Video Scavenger hunt) *He wouldn't tell me who was upset or why, just that he/they wanted to see the tape. *The more I thought about it the more I realized this might not be the best thing to do, just turning it over. Who is going to watch it with him? ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1102998050955116012004-12-13T23:20:00.000-05:002004-12-13T23:27:31.786-05:00August 9, 2004 - My Joy has left, should I go next?Things are getting harder to deal with at church. There seems to be a few people, particularly one family, that seems to have it out/in for me. It doesn't matter what I do or how I do it, they still oppose me. Nothing seems right or acceptable. What's worse, it seems that it's spreading. You know how it goes, one family gets upset, they talkljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1102997888501067752004-12-13T23:18:00.000-05:002004-12-13T23:18:08.500-05:00May 26, 2004 - Seeking GodToday for my devotions I read Proverbs 26. I'm ashamed to admit that it's been a while since I've spent time with God. I mean truly spend time with Him. Too long. Sure, I've read the Bible but my heart wasn't in it. Many times when I go to God, it's not really me, I send a substitute. That imaginary person that we send to do things that we don't want to do. Like ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1093973859301488462004-08-31T12:37:00.000-05:002004-08-31T12:37:39.300-05:00The Right NumberA woman was at home with her children when the telephone rang. In going to answer it, she tripped on a rug, grabbed for something to hold on to and seized the telephone table. It fell over with a crash, jarring the receiver off the hook. As it fell, it hit the family dog, which leaped up, howling and barking. The woman's three-year-old son, startled by this noise, broke ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1093967391986365332004-08-31T10:49:00.000-05:002004-08-31T10:49:51.986-05:00It's All About Who, Jesus?If worship is for God, why are so many songs about us?If a Martian visited earth and observed earthlings at public worship in contemporary or nontraditional settings, what would he/she/it report back to the home planet? (A similar exercise could be imagined for more traditional churches, with different results.)My friend John, a music professor rather than an ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1085716058657908392004-05-27T22:47:00.000-05:002004-05-27T22:47:38.663-05:00The Secret of Standing - Cultivating a secret life with God.by Bob SorgeOne of the best kept secrets of our faith is the blessedness and joy of cultivating a secret life with God. Imagine the sheer delight of it even now. You're tucked away in a quiet nook; the door is shut; you're curled up in a comfortable position; the living word of God is laid open before you; Jesus himself stands at your ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1085593984518567462004-05-26T12:53:00.000-05:002004-05-26T12:53:04.530-05:00Seeking God/Sending a SubstituteToday for my devotions I read Proverbs 26. I'm ashamed to admit that it's been a while since I've spent time with God. I mean truly spend time with Him. Too long. Sure, I've read the Bible but my heart wasn't in it. Many times when I go to God, it's not really me, I send a substitute. That imaginary person that we send to do things that we don't want to do. ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1084593005371665592004-05-14T22:50:00.000-05:002004-05-14T22:50:05.376-05:00What does it take to become the next American Idol?I was looking through my sermon notes and came across a sermon I did a few months ago on Idolatry. Here is the outline:Text: Exodus 32What does it take to become an Idol?I. Misguided Passion II. Melted PossessionsIII. Molded Pets (Golden Calves/Sacred Cows)IV. Measured Punishmentsljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1084592142339560932004-05-14T22:35:00.000-05:002004-05-14T22:35:42.346-05:00Many years ago, A. W. Tozer said, "If the Holy Spirit were taken away from the New Testament Church, 90% of what they did would have come to a halt. But if the Holy Spirit were taken away from today's Church, only 10% of what it does would cease."ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1084591957620527922004-05-14T22:32:00.000-05:002004-05-14T22:32:37.633-05:00WHAT DOES JESUS DO?Look again at verse 41(Mark 1:40-44): "He stretched out His hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."Jesus touches him! When was the last time someone touched him? When was the last time anyone put his hand on this gross distortion of a human body? So humble yourself. Fall before Him. Be healed and cleansed!ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1084591874351443822004-05-14T22:31:00.000-05:002004-05-14T22:33:06.840-05:00WHAT DO THE LEPER'S ACTIONS AND REQUEST TELL US ABOUT HIM?- Mark 1:40-44The leper falls on his knees before Jesus, and begs him, pleads with him, saying, "If you are willing . . ." These actions tell us that he knows four important facts:1. He knows he is unworthy. Indeed, he has had this truth drummed into him day after day, hour after hour, for many years. Even looking at himself in the ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1084591818087107862004-05-14T22:30:00.000-05:002004-05-14T22:30:18.093-05:00WHAT DOES THE LEPER ASK?Let's now return to the story in Mark. Note that the leper comes to Jesus. This was a violation of the rules and regulations concerning lepers. He was supposed to shout, "Unclean!" to keep Jesus away! But instead he runs to Jesus. And Jesus does not run away; like the mother welcoming her crying, mud-covered daughter, Jesus allows the leper to approach him. Then what does ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1084591374149876602004-05-14T22:22:00.000-05:002004-05-14T22:22:54.156-05:00Leprosy1. In Leviticus, leprosy is the most serious of all forms of uncleanness. Some forms of uncleanness -- such as that which comes from touching an unclean animal or insect -- were cleansed simply by waiting until evening (the beginning of a new day according to Israelite custom) and washing. 2. Other forms of uncleanness, such as that which results from childbirth, required a longer waiting ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1084468931016413442004-05-13T12:22:00.000-05:002004-05-13T12:25:14.700-05:00How can I make God's presence real in my life?Practice worship.2 Chronicles 29: 20-36Sometimes you may tramp through your days hoping God will announce that He's with you. While you aren't looking for bright lights or a thundering voice from heaven, you'd like at least some sense of His presence—an inner warmth that says, I am with you; a small symbol that whispers, I am a gift from God. ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1084073443214777032004-05-08T22:30:00.000-05:002004-05-08T22:35:13.170-05:00DO YOU NEED A WASHING?A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6-years-old, this beautiful red-haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1082859234378242672004-04-24T21:13:00.000-05:002004-04-24T21:18:05.280-05:00The PrizeA couple months ago, I entered a contest and ended up winninga few acres of swamp land below the flood plane in Mississippi.Before I knew it, right after that I won a $250,000 house, sonaturally I built it on my new land.Last week, I won enough money in the lottery to quit my joband move down there for good.And just last night, as sat on my new porch watching the rainand listening to theljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1082440913093248852004-04-20T01:01:00.000-05:002004-04-20T01:05:57.496-05:00Minister Drive ByTwo rural church deacons who were having a sociable beer in the local tavern when they saw their minister drive by and take a good long look at their pickup trucks parked outside.One deacon ducked down and said, "I hope the reverend didn't see us or recognize my pickup."The other replied indifferently, "What difference does it make. God knows we're in here... and he's the only ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1081130794374655152004-04-04T21:06:00.000-05:002004-04-04T21:10:17.903-05:00Sin Is Like Shopping with a $1 Million BillWhen I heard about Alice Pike's arrest, two questions came to mind. Alice is the woman who tried to pay for her Wal-Mart purchases with a $1 million bill. My two questions: "There isn't really a $1 million bill, is there?" and, "What was she thinking?"The answer to the first question is no, silly. The U.S. Treasury doesn't make a bank note with that manyljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1080191550078951222004-03-25T00:12:00.000-05:002004-03-25T00:15:58.543-05:00"Appropriate" AttireOnce an old cowboy, feeling himself in need of religion, determined to visit a congregation in a town where he was stopping. When the appointed time arrived, the fellow entered the church and took his seat. Although his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and equally ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1080191272883581792004-03-25T00:07:00.000-05:002004-03-25T00:11:21.436-05:00The LibrarianThe new Librarian decided that instead of checking out children's books by writing the names of borrowers on the book cards herself, she would have the youngsters signtheir own names. She would then tell them they were signing a 'Contract' forreturning the books on time.Her first customer was a 2nd grader, who looked surprised to see a new Librarian. He brought four books to the ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1079826918134416002004-03-20T18:55:00.000-05:002004-03-20T18:58:40.216-05:00Fake Food For ThoughtBy LaTonya TaylorI was sitting at a restaurant with some friends when our waiter came by with a tray of desserts. As the waiter rested the heavy tray of sugary treats against our table, I leaned over to ask a favor of my friend Todd."Todd," I whispered, trying to be subtle, "Ask the waiter if that food is real or wax." Todd gave me his you've-got-to-be-kidding look. "C'mon," ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1079730077843235322004-03-19T16:01:00.000-05:002004-03-19T16:05:08.170-05:00"Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death"by Patrick HenryMarch 23, 1775.No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a characterljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1079729996344040462004-03-19T15:59:00.000-05:002004-03-19T16:03:16.793-05:00North Carolina's Secession Ordinance AN ORDINANCE to dissolve the union between the State of North Carolina and the other States united with her, under the compact of government entitled "The Constitution of the United States."We, the people of the State of North Carolina in convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, That the ordinance adopted by the ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1079729540667074842004-03-19T15:52:00.000-05:002004-03-19T15:55:41.246-05:00NOTHING GOLD CAN STAYNature's first green is gold,Her hardest hue to hold.Her early leaf's a flower;But only so an hour.Then leaf subsides to leaf.So Eden sank to grief,So dawn goes down to day.Nothing gold can stay. ~Robert Frostljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1079729175653664302004-03-19T15:46:00.000-05:002004-03-19T15:49:36.483-05:00This Day in History - March 191831 The first reported bank heist in U.S. history takes place when $245,000 is stolen from the City Bank in New York City.1931 Gambling is legalized in the state of Nevada.1987 Televangelist Jim Bakker resigns from the PTL following a sex scandal that involved himself and his secretary, Jessica Hahn.ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1079728809831233672004-03-19T15:40:00.000-05:002004-03-19T15:44:05.966-05:00Christian History Corner: Patrick's Italian BrotherLost amid the celebration of Patrick is the important story of Benedict, the father of western monasticism.What is the deal with Saint Patrick? For a guy who began his life story saying "I am the sinner Patrick, the most unsophisticated of people, the least of Christians, and for many people I am the most contemptible," he sure gets a lot of ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1079415591557923822004-03-16T00:39:00.000-05:002004-03-16T00:43:07.326-05:00FROM DUSTA little boy came home from Sunday School and went into his room to change clothes.When he emerged, he asked his mother, "Is it true that we came from dust?" His mother replied, "Yes, dear. God made us from dust."The kid ran back into his room and came out all excited. "Mom, I just looked under my bed, and there's somebody either coming or going!"~Sermon Fodderljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1078974939802238322004-03-10T22:15:00.000-05:002004-03-10T22:18:49.030-05:00 If you feel stuck, bring your whole self to Christ, not just the problem, but you. -- Shelia Walshljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1078855045690147572004-03-09T12:57:00.000-05:002004-03-09T13:00:33.170-05:00 Where Are the Men? Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 As he grows up, a boy needs at least one man who will pay attention to him. A man who spends time with him, teaches him, admonishes him, encourages him. If he can't find that in a father, a boy needs another man he can look up to-a mentor. What's become of the fathers, the mentors? Well, I canljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1078459429043760092004-03-04T23:03:00.000-05:002004-03-04T23:06:50.153-05:00This Week in Christian HistoryMarch 1, 1854: Pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor lands in Shanghai, China. "My feelings on stepping ashore I cannot attempt to describe," he wrote. "My heart felt as though it had not room and must burst its bonds, while tears of gratitude and thankfulness fell from my eyes." Taylor would found the China Inland Mission in 1865, and he popularized the idea that ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1078450825737536042004-03-04T20:40:00.000-05:002004-03-04T20:45:12.450-05:00The Beggar's RagsA beggar lived near the king's palace. One day he saw a proclamation posted outside the palace gate. The king was giving a great dinner. Anyone dressed in royal garments was invited to the party. The beggar went on his way. He looked at the rags he was wearing and sighed. Surely only kings and their families wore royal robes, he thought. Slowly an idea crept into his mind. The ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1078449806313363962004-03-04T20:23:00.000-05:002004-03-04T20:26:26.996-05:00Church CommitteeA group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decides that nothing can be done.ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1078249155278676132004-03-02T12:39:00.000-05:002004-03-02T12:42:12.530-05:00WHY DOESN'T SOMEONE DO SOMETHING?Someone has to tell an unsaved friend how to accept Christ as Savior before he does it. Someone has to "be a friend" to an indifferent non-attender before he will get the church-going habit. Someone has to "pick up" and bring people who prefer not to "break the church barrier" alone. Someone has to forgive an enemy before God's Spirit can work properly in a ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1078249023744280822004-03-02T12:37:00.000-05:002004-03-02T12:40:01.030-05:00Church StoriesThe Season of Advent was beginning, and I wanted to inform the children that, according the Bible, Jesus is coming twice, once as the baby in the manger, and then as King. So I asked the children, "How did Jesus come the first time?" Ryan answered, "Down the chimney."*****Years ago the safe in our church chapel was used to keep the Sunday offering. One night, thieves broke into ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1078248856462682792004-03-02T12:34:00.000-05:002004-03-02T12:37:13.796-05:00Quilt SermonSunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the morning sermon was about. The daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt." Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the week, the pastor stopped by for a visit and the Mom asked him what that morning's sermon was about. He said the sermon title was "Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming."ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1077873238746625252004-02-27T04:13:00.000-05:002004-02-27T04:16:50.390-05:00Can Anything Good Come Out of America? (First of all, I will say right up front that this post won't be comprehensive or exhaustive. I may post again on it but I wanted to at least start it because it's been on my mind lately.) As was asked in the Bible, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" so I wonder "Can anything good come out of America?" I constantly hear other Christians ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1077868762801219252004-02-27T02:59:00.000-05:002004-02-27T03:02:13.763-05:00This Week in Christian HistoryFebruary 25, 1536: Anabaptist Jakob Hutter is tortured, whipped, and immersed in freezing water (to mock baptismal practices), then doused with brandy and burned. King Ferdinand had ordered the persecution of all Anabaptists because of a few violent, millennialist revolutionaries in Munster, Germany—even though most Anabaptists were pacifists and renounced the ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1077587045045613922004-02-23T20:44:00.000-05:002004-02-23T20:46:51.700-05:00Thanks to Challies.com for making between the cushions his blog of the week. Click here for full post.I've added him to the blogroll. He has a good site and some interesting posts. Particularly on the Passion of the Christ.Want to be added to my blogroll? Then sing never-ending praises about me! Just kidding....or am I?ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1077524956018952992004-02-23T03:29:00.000-05:002004-02-23T03:32:13.860-05:00Bottled Water When I was first learning to swim as a child I constantly heard this phrase: "Water is your friend, not your enemy." I wonder how Moses would feel about that phrase. Facing the Red Sea, Moses must have thought, "God, what is it with the water?" Later, water would get Moses in trouble because of the Rock that He was supposed to speak to but instead he struck it. This wasljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1077304584578875332004-02-20T14:16:00.000-05:002004-02-20T14:19:07.140-05:00A Word on Devotions Christians are the world's worst, particularly the average church member, on getting caught up in vain repetitions. Jesus was very strong in His criticism of the Pharisess. In fact, He was rougher on them than on any other group or people. Why? Because they were so consumed with outward appearance and traditions that they completely missed the lesson God was ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1076828392454202742004-02-15T01:59:00.000-05:002004-02-15T02:02:26.860-05:00The Secret to Spiritual Success"And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you." - I Cor. 5:2 (NKJV) The secret to success can't be found in this verse, but this verse will lead to it. In the church at Corinth there was sexual immorality. Not only that, it was not dealt with. Paul was indignant when he wrote ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1076559682820815642004-02-11T23:21:00.000-05:002004-02-11T23:23:53.530-05:00The Lord shall guide thee - Isaiah 58:11 Not an angel, but Jehovah shall guide thee. He said he would not go through the wilderness before his people, an angel should go before them to lead them in the way; but Moses said, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” Christian, God has not left you in your earthly pilgrimage to an angel’s guidance: he himself leads the van. You may ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1076387188881108472004-02-09T23:26:00.000-05:002004-02-09T23:28:56.763-05:00The Unfinished Prayer"Now I lay me -- say it, darling," "Lay me," lisped the tiny lipsOf my daughter, kneeling, bending, O'er her folded finger tips."Down to sleep." "To s'eep," she murmured; And the curly head bent low."I pray the Lord," I gently added -- "You can say it all, I know.""P'ay de Lord," the words came faintly -- Fainter still, "my soul to teep."Then the tired head fairly ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1076272852498139592004-02-08T15:40:00.000-05:002004-02-08T15:58:32.293-05:00Emotionalism in religion - Part II Another caveat in the emotional aspect of worship is pride in service. In I Corinthians 13, Paul speaks to the Corinthians about their pride in the tongues they spoke. He said basically it doesn't matter what you do spiritually or how well you do it, if you don't have love, it's worthless. Why should someone who says, "Amen," "Praise the Lord," or raises ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1076132135070712332004-02-07T00:35:00.000-05:002004-02-07T00:37:58.653-05:00Emotionalism in Religion - Part I There is a definite fire that comes with preaching. No one can doubt that. Growing up in the south, I have become accustomed to the fiery sermons and passionate pleas of pastors on Sunday, revivals, etc. There is a definite need for this type of preaching, there is no doubt. However, there is also a danger in getting caught up in the "emotionalism" aspectljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1075873173261491462004-02-04T00:39:00.000-05:002004-02-04T00:41:52.810-05:00 "I often dream that I am tagging along behind Jesus, longing for Him to choose me as one of His disciples. Without warning, He turns around, looks straight into my eyes, and says, 'Follow me!' My heart races, and I begin to run toward Him when he interrupts with, 'Oh, not you; the guy behind you. Sorry.' I have been trying to follow Christ most of my life, and the best I can do is a ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1075855290045868772004-02-03T19:41:00.000-05:002004-02-03T19:43:49.310-05:00MY ADVOCATEI sinned. And straightway, post haste, Satan flewBefore the presence of the Most High God,And made a railing accusation there.He said, "This soul, this thing of clay and sodHas sinned. 'Tis true that he has named Thy name,But I demand his death, for Thou hast said,'The soul that sinneth, it shall die.' Shall notThy sentence be fulfilled? Is justice dead?Send now this wretched sinner toljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1075583189318542302004-01-31T16:06:00.000-05:002004-01-31T16:08:44.560-05:00Do you really believe God is doing a LOT of miracles today?A Miracle by definition, theologically, is: A Direct intervention of God's power into history.First let me say that I think God is doing miracles today. Obviously not through any one man, but I don't think every little trial in my life God takes care of is a miracle. We have overused the word miracle and fit it to our daily lives so ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1075422745919198712004-01-29T19:32:00.000-05:002004-01-29T19:34:38.263-05:00Grace and TruthJohn 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. I feel a little sad for those that lived during the time of Moses. Surely the Old Testament sacrificial system must have left them feeling a little inadequate. Not that their sins weren't forgiven, they most certainly were. But each time an animal died, the blood reminded them of their sin. Itljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1075258986734194592004-01-27T22:03:00.000-05:002004-01-27T22:05:16.903-05:00Discipleship 1. Matthew 28:18-20What does Jesus want every person of every nation to become? A Disciple.Which is the more popular term -- disciple or Christian?"Christian"The word "Christian" only appears three times in the New Testament.Acts 11:19-26 - It was the name those outside the church gave the disciples seven years after the church began.The word "disciple" occurs over 270 times in the ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1074753862677616512004-01-22T01:44:00.000-05:002004-01-22T01:46:24.216-05:00DisciplineTHROW away Thy rod,Throw away Thy wrath; O my God,Take the gentle path!For my heart's desireUnto Thine is bent: I aspireTo a full consent.Not a word or lookI affect to own, But by book,And Thy Book alone.Though I fail, I weep;Though I halt in pace, Yet I creepTo the throne of grace.Then let wrath remove;Love will do the deed; For ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1074316453757897672004-01-17T00:14:00.000-05:002004-01-17T00:16:08.826-05:00Sola Scriptura? - Christian History
There's no question that the Bible is at the very center of conservative Christianity in America. When tough legislation limited access to the Bible in our public schools, Christians sought creative ways around the wall, legal prosecution notwithstanding. When translators set out to "modernize" the Bible's gender language, conservatives kicked up a storm. Whenljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1074313031874666852004-01-16T23:17:00.000-05:002004-01-16T23:19:06.840-05:00THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD HAS BEEN NATURALLY IMPLANTED IN THE HUMAN MIND - Calvin's Institutes
1.The character of this natural endowment
That there exists in the human minds and indeed by natural instinct, some sense of Deity, we hold to be beyond dispute, since God himself, to prevent any man from pretending ignorance, has endued all men with some idea of his Godhead, the memory of which he ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1074142823335391122004-01-15T00:00:00.000-05:002004-01-15T00:02:58.826-05:00IN A DISUSED GRAVEYARDThe living come with grassy treadTo read the gravestones on the hill;The graveyard draws the living still,But never anymore the dead.The verses in it say and say:"The ones who living come todayTo read the stones and go awayTomorrow dead will come to stay."So sure of death the marbles rhyme,Yet can't help marking all the timeHow no one dead will seem to come.What is it men ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1074059697522836302004-01-14T00:54:00.000-05:002004-01-14T00:57:37.060-05:00Forgiveness vs. FearDon't confuse the forgiveness of God with the fear of God. When making mistakes, we sometimes toil over whether God will forgive us.The good news for you is that forgiveness is already settled. What we are pleading for from God is not as much forgiveness as it is mercy and peace from chastisement.Like a chlild that says, "I'm sorry, I won't do it again," knowing that their ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1073962470362243342004-01-12T21:54:00.000-05:002004-01-12T21:57:50.253-05:00Forgiveness When we sin or mess up, it takes us a while to come to God, but not necessarily for forgiveness. We probably ask for that not long after the act has occurred and the Holy Spirit has convicted us. Just like when we wrong another person, we feel the need to apologize over and over again and eventually, once a certain amount of time has passed or a certain number of apologies have beenljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1073802286377944302004-01-11T01:24:00.000-05:002004-01-11T01:31:50.210-05:00 Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice?How many people ask that same question: Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice? - More people ask it than would admit. In fact, many Christians or even so-called Christians are deluded by believing that they live a Godly life. Yet all during the week when the Holy Spirit draws them to God, they say, "Who is the Lord that I should obey Hisljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6312683.post-1073787008508118782004-01-10T21:10:00.000-05:002004-01-11T01:26:01.400-05:00Jesus said, "It is good that I go away." We dream of what it would have been like to walk with Jesus. To follow Him as He fulfilled God's plan for the world. The disciples got to experience this first hand and through an emotional ride that was about to culminate in His death. Jesus tells them that, "It is good." "It is Good?" "Are you kidding? How can it be good for you to ljhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18376598591315011408noreply@blogger.com0