tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64614738557500740952024-03-13T01:32:19.259-05:00The Thought BoxFinally Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Leaping Lizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00114569405661982210noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-81289772114123951942013-12-09T07:30:00.000-06:002013-12-10T14:53:21.658-06:00Hijacking Your Train of Thought<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…take
every thought captive to obey Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2
Corinthians 10:5<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whenever
I catch myself letting my thoughts travel without a conductor, I enjoy halting
my train of thought and following the tracks back to the original station. It’s
amazing to see the random station stops and where the root of our thoughts can lead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However,
we shouldn’t track down our train of thought only when we enjoy it. When our
thought-trains steam with anger, roaring down the rails, we need to follow the
tracks and find where this train came from. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
heard a lady describing this on the radio recently. She described when her
family was late for church and her husband was driving <i>under</i> the speed limit. When they were late! She began cultivating
infuriated thoughts toward her husband. But she stopped herself and asked why
she was irritated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because he’s driving
under the limit.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why does that bother
you? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because we’re going to
be late. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why is that so bad? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because I want to be
on time. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So we can look
professional and punctual to all the other church families. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ohhh, so</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<i>you just want to look good; this is a
pride issue. And that’s why you’re cross.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She
found the root problem and told herself, <i>We’re
going to be late, and that’s how it is, and that’s okay.</i> Her feelings of
anger dissolved; her runaway train of thought was back in control. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
time of year, taking control of runaway trains is especially relevant. When
someone exclaims, “Only sixteen more days until Christmas!” our first response
is, “Agh! Don’t say that!” It’s a seriously stressful season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because I need to find
all the perfect presents for my family and friends and decorate my house to
look like a Hallmark card and I haven’t baked cookies yet!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why is all this such a
big deal?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because I need to do
this to make Christmas all that it needs to be for my family. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So Christmas is focused
on family now, and on not letting people down? Is that what Christmas needs to
be?</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
intentions of desiring a giving spirit and wanting to make people happy may set
in motion a deadly engine of anxiety and disappointment. We must hijack these
perilous thought-trains, tracing back what’s really at the core. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And
once we find the root issue, we have to redirect our thoughts on a godly track.
Derailing the old self and fueling the new. Letting go of anxieties and
trusting His perfect sovereignty. Taking all thoughts captive to obey Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Romans
12:2<i> “Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern
what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">~</span><span style="font-family: "Matura MT Script Capitals"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Klipsie</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Klipsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536301871860163374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-6029791409756207772013-11-25T07:30:00.000-06:002013-11-25T07:30:01.571-06:00Jesus is My Boyfriend.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yeah. No.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The "Jesus is my boyfriend" mentality is springing up all over the place in 'Christian' pop culture. Teens are facebooking on their 'relationship' with Jesus. Not as a spiritual, Savior of my Soul and Lord of my life kind of relationship, but as a gushing of emotion over quite honestly inconsequential nothings.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As soon as we get over the initial weirdness of the idea that people are 'dating' a guy who ascended into heaven almost two thousand years ago, and the fact that thousands of teens all claim to be dating the same guy, we can get to the theological issues at heart.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The proliferation of songs like <i>Hold Me, </i>for instance, demonstrate<i> </i>this mentality. While it could be argued the song has a deeper meaning than what is immediately apparent, the fact that it sounds like a song <i>Rascal Flatts</i> would record is a problem. When I turn to a radio station claiming to be presenting music glorifying to Christ, I don't want to hear something that, with the changing of two or three words, could be applied to a romantic relationship. It's shallow.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This goes beyond the explicit Jesus is my boyfriend idea, but on a much more common level, devaluing our relationship with Jesus as something less than what He actually is.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jesus is Lord. I've been reading a book by John MacArthur called <i>The Gospel according to Jesus</i>. In it, he makes the point that the way we interpret Lord is not sufficient, as the literal translation of 'servant' in much of the New Testament is actually 'slave.' We are to be completely "sold out" to Christ. In every sense of the phrase. He has bought us with His blood, we are his servants. By elevating ourselves to "significant other" status, we lose a very important facet of salvation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jesus is our savior. Jesus laid down his life in one of the most terrible ways possible. We cheapen the value of such a sacrifice by elevating ourselves. If we are on such a level we can call Jesus "buddy," Then we are his equals. We wouldn't need a savior, and He most definitely would not be our Lord.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Regardless how you couch it, the "Jesus is my BF" mentality can take many forms. Even the way in which we pray can reflect an offhanded and irreverence for the saving and purchasing work He did on the cross.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Leaping Lizard</i></b></div>
Leaping Lizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00114569405661982210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-5237153044110867302013-11-18T07:30:00.000-06:002015-04-20T14:35:09.931-05:00The Four Gospels Breakdown<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which
also you received and in which you stand,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by which also you are saved…<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 Corinthians 15:1-2</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Note:</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As I was researching, I found I
really couldn’t say most of this better than how </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">gotquestions.org
<i>put it. Please be aware most of the
gospel contrasting is directly copied from </i>gotquestions.org <i>and is not my own work.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why
four gospels? <span style="background: white;">Each gospel was written for a
specific audience, each emphasizing different aspects of Christ’s life. Why not
just one big gospel? Early law stated the necessity of more than one witness to
verify a testimony, and all four accounts match up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well, they don’t match up <i>exactly</i>,” you might say (I thought
the same thing). Tell me, if all four gospels written by four different people
matched up word for word, would you find that more credible? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Which gospel is best? Yes. They <i>all</i> have distinct purposes and styles, and <i>all</i> are inspired by the Holy Spirit.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> For your
reading and studying pleasure, I have a small comparison and contrast of each
gospel with its respective author, audience, and characteristics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience:</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Matthew was writing to a Hebrew audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Objective:</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> One of his purposes was to show from Jesus' genealogy and
fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies that He was the long-expected Messiah,
and thus should be believed in. Matthew's emphasis is that Jesus is the
promised King, the “Son of David.” The phrase “This was to fulfill the
prophesy…” appears repeatedly in Matthew. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Characteristic</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Matthew was a tax collector, number-oriented, and often
records the number of people at events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mark<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Mark wrote for a Gentile audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Objective</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: His Gentile focus is brought out by his not including
things important to Jewish readers (genealogies, Christ's controversies with
Jewish leaders, frequent Old Testament references). Mark emphasizes Christ as
the suffering Servant, the One who came not to be served, but to serve and give
His life a ransom for many. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Additional note</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: This is a faster-paced, action-packed gospel, highlighting
Christ’s miracles and works here on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Because Luke specifically wrote for the benefit of
Theophilus, a Gentile, his gospel was composed with a Gentile audience in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Objective</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: His intent is to show that a Christian's faith is based
upon historically reliable and verifiable events. Luke often refers to Christ
as the “Son of Man,” emphasizing His humanity. <i>Characteristic</i>: He was a detail-oriented doctor and diligent
historian and shares many details that are not found in the other gospel
accounts.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Additional notes</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: Luke also wrote Acts.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">John<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Audience</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
Mixed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Objective</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
<span style="background: white;">John emphasizes the deity of Christ, as is seen
in his use of such phrases as “the Word was God,” “the Savior of the World,” “Son
of God” (used repeatedly) and several “I Am” statements by Jesus. John also
emphasizes the fact of Jesus' humanity, desiring to show the error of a
religious sect of his day who did not believe Christ’s humanity. John 20: 30-31
reveals his overall purpose: “<i>Jesus did
many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not
recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his
name.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Additional note</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
John writes in a differently layout than the first three “Synoptic Gospels.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although
all four gospels differ from each other in style and audience, each accurately
accounts Christ’s life for us to<span style="background: white;"> appreciate who
He is and what He has done for us so that we may have life through faith in
Him.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Matura MT Script Capitals"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Klipsie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gotquestions.org<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Journal33.org</span></i></div>
Klipsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536301871860163374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-88703138993463836452013-11-11T10:16:00.000-06:002013-11-11T10:18:22.333-06:00How TeenPact Changed My Life<br><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2649475000102417254" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; position: relative; width: 586px;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ever since I was little, I have been terrified of public speaking. No matter how hard my mom tried to get me involved in public speaking contests to help me get over my fear, it never quite worked. One year, however, we heard about a weeklong hands-on government class called TeenPact designed to talk about many things including leadership, current events, government, and public speaking. In the five years following, TeenPact has taught me that my fear of public speaking limits my potential, and has helped me towards overcoming that fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first time I heard about TeenPact, I could not see past the fact that I would have to stand up in front of everyone and read a mock bill that I had written to see what other benefits the class offered. Somehow I avoided the weeklong class, but I couldn’t get out of the public speaking class TeenPact offered at the end of the week. My sister had attended the class and loved it, but my reaction was quite the opposite. Over lunch, while everyone else was writing their speeches, I became so nervous that I burst into tears and refused to participate—I convinced myself that I would embarrass myself and the world would end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next year, no matter how much I protested, I was forced to go—the phrase “dragged kicking and screaming” doesn’t come anywhere close to describing my reaction. The thought of reading my bill in front of everyone still terrified me, but as I was waiting for my turn, one of the staffers took the time to reassure me that standing up in front everyone still scared them. With that knowledge, I was able to go onto the stage, knees shaking, voice trembling, to read the first few paragraphs and later call my mom to say that I was enjoying it after all. After that, I let myself take everything in and began realizing that I was only holding myself back by allowing the fear of public speaking to control me. Once I realized that I was the only thing holding myself back, TeenPact started not only teaching me leadership, government, and public speaking, but also the self-confidence I needed to help me get over my fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two years later, I found myself willingly standing on that stage to argue in favor of my mock bill and answer questions about it--essentially an impromptu speech. The next year, I did the same thing, but in addition to that, I begged to be allowed to stay for the public speaking class after the main class was over--the same one that had brought me to tears five years earlier. Now that I was taking these steps towards overcoming my fear, I decided to take it a step further and help others do the same. After the extreme reaction I had after my first encounter with TeenPact, if someone were to have told me that a few years later, I would be applying to staff that very same class, I would have laughed in their face. And yet, that’s exactly what I did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In a span of five years, TeenPact transformed a thirteen-year-old who was scared senseless at the thought of having to give a short speech into a seventeen-year-old who was biting at the bit to become more involved in public speaking opportunities. Not to say that public speaking no longer scares me, and not to say that it is my favorite past time, but I no longer burst into tears at the thought of giving a speech. I simply remember what my first TeenPact staffer told me and remember that it’s okay to still be scared, as long as I don’t let it control me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i>~Comma Queen</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>To find out more about TeenPact, you can visit their website: <a href="http://www.teenpact.com/" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">www.teenpact.</a>org</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 19px;">Photo Credit: </span><span style="line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.mafamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/teen-pact-rectangle.png" style="color: #7d181e; text-decoration: none;">http://www.mafamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/teen-pact-rectangle.png</a></span></i></span></div>
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<i style="text-align: justify;">Please note: </i><i style="text-align: justify;">TeenPact does not condemn or condone this article.</i></div>
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Comma Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087464661638759674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-17262589107063984312013-11-04T07:30:00.000-06:002013-11-04T13:27:27.217-06:00Sheep Among Wolves<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."</i></div>
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Matthew 10:16</div>
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I have always been intrigued by this verse. Partly because of the way it contrasts with much of the rest of scripture (John 10 for instance). Party because of the imagery used, partly because of the greater context of the passage. This verse, along with the rest of Matthew 10, is a precursor to the Great Commission, and understanding it is definitely a major part of understanding how Christians are to share our faith.</div>
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The contrast presented here is interesting, to say the least. When we look at the rest of the passage we see that as Christ sends out His disciples to the Israelites in order to proclaim the gospel, which is not an uncommon thing for Christ to command. The language here, however, is very different from other 'commission' passages and creates some apparently antithetical ideas. Looking at verse one, we see that the disciples were given "authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness." But compare that with verse 16 above. Sheep are powerless creatures, but Christ clearly gives the disciples some very powerful gifts. Another point is that the Israelites are not simply called Israelites, but rather "The Lost Sheep of Israel (v. 6)." </div>
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Now I'm confused, the disciples are being sent out as sheep among wolves that are actually lost sheep?</div>
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Kind of. See, not all the Israelites are lost sheep. There are wolves preying among the sheep of Israel, the Pharisees. The disciples are being sent to lead the lost sheep away from the Pharisaical wolves, and to The Good Shepherd.</div>
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The imagery used here is also very powerful. Sheep and wolves, snakes and doves. Sheep are helpless creatures, depending wholly on their shepherd for protection. When Christ gives the disciples power, and reassures them in verses 26 through 31, He is demonstrating that He <i>will</i> protect His sheep from the wolves, even if He isn't present. What are the wolves? Wolves are smart, dangerous hunters, capable of hunting individually and as a pack. Christ is warning us that our opponents are not clueless animals lashing out at anything they can reach, but calculating and dangerous. We need to be on our guard and to be as "shrewd as snakes."</div>
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Why do we need to be as innocent as doves though? Because in order to effectively share the good news, we need to be living out the lifestyle of one who has given over everything to Christ.<br />
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As sheep, we are under the protection of our Shepherd. But, we are sent out into the world to confront evil and share the good news. Which is much easier said than done. Good thing our Shepherd is stronger than the wolves.<br />
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<b><i>Leaping Lizard</i></b></div>
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Leaping Lizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00114569405661982210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-80566104496707854882013-10-25T07:30:00.000-05:002013-11-01T09:00:18.591-05:00New and Improved Article!When I first joined Thought Box, I wrote an article on why Jesus used parables, followed by a parable of my own. Well, thanks to a recent sermon on the same, my article has had a major makeover. I learned a ton from the sermon, and I wish to pass on this enlightening knowledge.<br />
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If you already read the old version, you can now read the improved and more in-depth article!</div>
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If you haven't read my article, why on earth not? =) Check it out!<br />
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<u style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://tchthoughtbox.blogspot.com/2012/11/parablesearthly-stories-with-heavenly.html">Parables—Earthly Stories with a Heavenly Meaning</a></span></u></div>
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~<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Matura MT Script Capitals'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Klipsie</span></div>
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<i><b>Update:</b></i><br />
<i>The link has now been added, so you can click to go straight to the previous article.</i></div>
Klipsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536301871860163374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-25236136579562437792013-10-14T07:30:00.000-05:002013-10-15T13:55:34.338-05:00The Word of God Is...<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged
sword.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It penetrates even to dividing
soul, spirit, joints, and marrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--Hebrews 4:12</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Whenever I see or hear this verse, I
get the urge to start singing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See, I
memorized this verse at Church Camp one year by making up a song for it, so
it’s now forever ingrained in my memory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But even though I’d memorized it, I never took much time to really think
about it until my pastor gave a sermon on the verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now, I’m sure you all know where that
statement leads…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time for “Look
Into the Nitty-Gritty of a Bible Verse With the Comma Queen!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lets take it one piece at a
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“For the Word of God is living and active…”</i> If you look at that in
the Greek, the word for “active” is “energae” from which we get the word
“energy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the Word of God isn’t just
active, it also renews our energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also,
the word order is actually a little different in the original Greek than it is
in our translations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would actually be
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“For </i>living<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is the Word of God, and energizing.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not just “living and energizing,” but it
is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">alive!</i>, not just something
passive. (Isaiah 55:11)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The next phrase is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“For the Word of God is…sharper than any
two-edged sword.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my article on
<u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://tchthoughtbox.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-armor-of-god.html">the Armor of God</a></span></u>, I talked about a specific Roman sword called the “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">makaira</i>” – a sharp, two-edged
sword.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the absolute sharpest of
weapons at that time, but this verse says that the Word of God is even sharper.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“It
penetrates even to dividing soul, spirit, joints, and marrow.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This sentence is going on to describe just
how sharp the Word of God is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It cuts
straight through our body and clear to the thoughts of our heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“It
judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once there, it judges our thoughts and
attitudes – none of us can judge each other or know what’s really going on, but
God can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My pastor compared the Word of
God to a surgeon’s scalpel; it can be painful and cut us, but it ultimately
brings about healing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If I were to go through and
re-phrase our translation of this verse, it would look something like this:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“For living is the Word of God, and energizing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharper even than the makaira, it cuts to the
deepest parts of our being to bring us healing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--Hebrews 4:12 personalized</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Comma Queen<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
Comma Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087464661638759674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-36140340631623172712013-09-23T07:30:00.000-05:002013-10-11T14:50:19.740-05:00The Real Issue at Heart<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
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<span class="text"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There is a way that seems right to a man,</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text"><span style="background: white;">but</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">its end is the way to death.<b><sup> </sup></b></span></span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Proverbs 14:12<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After
a crazed man shot and killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in
Connecticut, the issue of gun control shot through the minds of many. The
Aurora shooting in Colorado still rings in our ears. And now the death of 12
citizens from a slaughter in the Washington DC Navy yard puts a bullet in our
hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m
not writing a heated argument on why the government should or should not
control our guns (although I might in a later musing). I am going to simply
take this issue from a different angle. What better way to start than with a
Bible verse: <i>“<span class="text"><span style="background: white;">The heart is deceitful above all things,</span></span>
<span class="text"><span style="background: white;">and desperately sick;</span></span>
<span class="text"><span style="background: white;">who can understand it?”</span></span></i><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"> (Jeremiah 17:9). </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Guns kill people to the same extent as pencils make
mistakes and cars break the speed limit: the instrument does not play beautiful
or ear-splitting music, but the player who performs determines the outcome
based on instruction, practice, and a steady hand. <i>“</i></span><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For from within, out of
the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,
adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Mark 7:21-23).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
depravity of man is not a new thing. God flooded the world because “<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">every<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>intention
of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). We’re
shocked at the baseness of the shooters, yet it is what we would do in our natural, sinful state without
Christ. It’s the reason why we need a Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
problem lies in mankind’s sinful hearts, not the means of destruction used by
corrupt men. Take away our guns, give us more guns... that will never <i>completely </i>resolve the real issue. Only Christ can fix the true heart of the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Instances
like the shooting in DC should not merely cause us to consider gun control. As
Christians, we should not hear these tragedies and <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">ruminate</span> <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">on</span></span> how dreadful a hole the world is sliding into,
but how much the world needs Christ, how much we should share the good news, how
much more we need to live like lights in the midst of this darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“…<span class="versetext"><span style="background: white;">children of God</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6461473855750074095" name="6"></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="versetext"><span style="background: white;">without fault in a crooked and
depraved generation,</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6461473855750074095" name="7"></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="versetext"><span style="background: white;">in which you shine like stars in
the universe</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="versetext"><span style="background: white;">as you hold out</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6461473855750074095" name="a"></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="versetext"><span style="background: white;">the word of life…”</span></span></span></i><span class="versetext"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (Philippians 2:15-16, NIV).</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Matura MT Script Capitals"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">~Klipsie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also check out Haiku’s article “</span></i><a href="http://tchthoughtbox.blogspot.com/2012/10/why-bad-things-happen.html"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why Bad Things Happen</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All Scripture references are ESV
unless otherwise indicated.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Klipsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536301871860163374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-31718825732652872352013-09-16T07:30:00.000-05:002013-09-16T07:30:04.678-05:00The Parable of the Loving Father<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was
filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him,
and kissed him.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">–Luke 15:20b NIV<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We all know the story of the “Prodigal Son” from Luke
15:11-32, don’t we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This summer,
however, I had the opportunity to hear the story told from another point of
view – from the view of the prodigal son’s father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a time where there are countless “prodigal
sons” and where the idea of a “father” is often viewed negatively due to the
large number and the normality of dysfunctional families, most people tend to
read this parable and relate to the prodigal son instead of looking
deeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what if the focus of the
story wasn’t as much about the failure and redemption of the son, but of the
great and unfathomable love of his father?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The story starts with the younger of two sons going to his
father and asking for his inheritance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those of you who know much about inheritances and the like know that
this kid was essentially saying, “Dad, I wish that you were dead or would at
least act like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care about
you in the slightest and I really don’t want to be here, so just give me my
stuff.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if his father was a jerk
(if you’d never read this story before, you wouldn’t know anything about the
character of his father at this point of the story), it’s pretty obvious that
this young man was not being very respectful at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, the father, being the type of man
that he is, gave both his sons their allotted inheritance and the oldest stayed
with him while the youngest took everything he owned, went to a far away
country, and pretty much partied all of his possessions away. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He learned the hard way that all too often,
friends are only around for as long as you have something to offer them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All his “friends” deserted him when he could
no longer give them anything they wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had used up all his money and had nothing left to use to pay for
things other than to hire himself out for work in the countryside where he ended up feeding pigs, wishing that
he could eat even the slop they were given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only did he not have enough to eat due to a famine, but his job of
feeding pigs was just about the lowliest position that a Jew could take. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>During all of this, chances are that
his father heard stories from others (merchants, traders, people who had
visited these distant lands and heard the stories through the grapevine) about
his son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he found out about what all
his son was doing, he could’ve forced him to come home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, he allowed him the dignity of
choosing for himself when he would return, even after he had lost all other
dignity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t track his son down
when he came to the end of himself and rub his situation in his face by saying,
“Told you so!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing his son and what
was best for him, he let him finish his rebellion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When the father saw his son finally coming
home, he was filled with compassion for him – compassion, not pity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pity is a bit condescending, giving an attitude
of, “I’m right, you’re wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m big,
you’re small.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Compassion, on the other
hand, is loving, showing genuine sympathy even relating to the pain or sorrow
felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The difference is all in how the
action is played out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The father was
loving in his sympathy, not condescending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The very next thing he did was to run to meet his son, throw his arms
around him, and kiss him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, it may
seem like a semi-normal greeting for that time, but in that community and in
that situation, the things he did had a meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all of the things he’d done, the son
could’ve been cast out of the community, and they would even have been within
their rights to stone him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The father,
however, didn’t want that to happen to his son, so he raced to be the first to
get to his son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his hurry, he was
even willing to suffer public embarrassment and loss of dignity by lifting his
robe to his knees so that he could get there faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When weighing his own dignity next to his
sons, he chose to take the “walk of shame” in his son’s place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the father threw his arms around his son
and kissed him, he was as much greeting his son as he was protecting him from
the townspeople and claiming him as his son, despite the things he’d done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now if you’ve read the story, you
know that the son wasn’t intending to return to take his place again as this
man’s son, but instead to become one of his servants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had finally recognized that the things he
had done were wrong, and he came back with an attitude of humility and
repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the father, without a
doubt in his mind and without even letting his son finish the speech he’d
prepared, sent his servants back to the house to get the best robe to put on
him, a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were also supposed to kill the fattened
calf for a party in honor of the son’s return home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and he told them to do all of this,
“Quickly!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted to publicly reclaim
the son as his own before the townspeople could do anything to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, the things he sent for had
meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The robe symbolized reinstated
sonship, the ring symbolized reinstated authority, the sandals distinguished
him as a master and not a servant, and the fattened calf was saved for use at
the best party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Does any of this sound familiar to
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus took the “walk of shame” in
our place, sacrificing his dignity for our salvation (Isaiah 53:5). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God puts a robe of righteousness around us
(Isaiah 61:10) and calls us his children (1 John 3:1). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The angels throw a party when even just one
sinner repents and turns back to The Father (Luke 15:10).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm . . . so maybe this isn’t just a story
about a prodigal son (us) who makes the journey home again, but about a loving
father (God) who allows his rebellious son to make a mess of his life because
he knows that in the end, his son will return to him all the better for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But wait!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re forgetting one crucial character in
this story – the older brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
out in the field while his dad and younger brother had their joyful reunion,
but when he found out about his brother’s return and the feast thrown in his
honor, he wasn’t glad that he was back; instead he got quite angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the reaction you would think of for
someone who thought his brother was dead and just found out he was alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been obedient and stayed with his
father, doing everything he was asked, but he felt like he was never rewarded,
and then his rebellious brother returns home and is thrown the ultimate party;
how was that even fair?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I can
relate to that feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you think
about it, there are two types of prodigals: rebellious prodigals, and
performance prodigals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There wasn’t just
one prodigal in the story; there were two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the father’s response is beautiful: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we had to celebrate and be glad, for this
son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke
15:32)</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of us who relate
more to the perfectionist prodigals, God reminds us that we share in His wealth
and have already received everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For those of us who are the rebellious prodigals, or new Christians, how
amazing is it to know that God says this over us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This child of mine was dead but is now
alive, and they were lost but now they are found!”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Comma
Queen</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The
majority of this article is based off of notes I took at a lecture at TeenPact
National Convention 2013 by Bob Chambers entitled “The Parable of the Loving
Father.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Comma Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087464661638759674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-88903058870086720542013-09-09T07:30:00.000-05:002013-09-09T14:07:03.168-05:00Misquoting Scripture<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Every Word of God is flawless, He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Proverbs 30:5-6</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>The Bible is pretty clear on the shall's and shall not's regarding scripture; you say it as it is, add nothing and don't take anything away (aka add an omission). "Interpretation" stirs up huge debates, a strictly literal reading, a deeper historical reading and so on all can result in radically varying viewpoints and opinions on what a text says and means. But I'm going to keep with the easy stuff; don't mess with what the Bible says.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Why? It's quite simple. <i>"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness"</i> (2 Timothy 3:16). God, using human writers, gave us His words (and sometimes, such as in the case of the Mosaic law, He wrote it down Himself). The scriptures are what we needed to know about Creation, Fall, Flood, Israel, Christ, and the Early Church. From this He also gives us codes of conduct and gives us clear differentiation (in most cases) from right and wrong. Frequently, however, we don't <i>like</i> what's in the Bible. So we... modify it to better suit our desires. Misinterpret a verse here, ignore a passage there, add the book of Opinions and suddenly being a Christian got a whole lot easier (there is no book of Opinions, and if your Bible has one I'd suggest getting a new Bible). But it doesn't work that way. The Bible God gave us is the one we are to live by. Not with an addendum (i.e. The Book of Mormon, the Quran and so on).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
But how do we know we even have the Bible God originally wrote down? Number one: if God is as powerful as He claims to be in the Scriptures, He would have very little trouble maintaining the fidelity of a series of words in a few documents. Second, the Christian Bible has more archaeological and historical evidence than any other major work in or before its time period, COMBINED. Don't believe me? Here's a nice little chart that outlines it all: <span style="color: blue;"><u><a href="http://carm.org/manuscript-evidence">http://carm.org/manuscript-evidence</a></u></span> .</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
This article is really short, mostly because there isn't much I can add to the issue. Christianity is incredibly unique in the completeness and accuracy of its text. The Bible doesn't need to be changed to suit history, the Bible shouldn't be changed to fit our moral wants, and Scripture is clear that the Bible is what it is, and God intended it to be that way.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Leaping Lizard</b></i></div>
Leaping Lizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00114569405661982210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-75551982269507305182013-09-02T07:30:00.000-05:002013-09-05T14:35:52.988-05:00To Do, or Not To Do<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>"Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have <b>only </b>done what was our duty.'"<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke 17:9-10 (emphasis added)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We all know that sin is bad. Stealing is bad. Hating your brother is bad.
Coveting is bad. We were taught, “Don’t
do this or that, because that’s a sin.” And I’m not trying to downplay sin.
Doing something that God forbids is horrendously detestable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However,
were we ever taught, “<i>Do</i> do this and
that, because if you don’t, that’s a sin”? That’s when it gets a little more
complicated. Or actually, it’s not that complicated; we just like to complicate
it so then we can excuse it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“But
if I spend an hour doing devotions and Scripture memorization, I won’t get
math done in the morning when I can think best, and then math will take
longer, and then I’ll get behind in all my other school subjects, and then I
can’t go to volleyball tonight, and my whole day will be behind. Yeah, so I’ll
just skip devotions today. It’s better this way.” (That’s all very hypothetical,
by the way.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Or
maybe we downplay the matter. “Should I wipe down the counters? They’re really
not all <i>that</i> dirty… They’ve been
worse, so this isn’t too bad, really. They’ll be fine.” “I really don’t need to
go make things right with that person. It wasn’t too mean, and they didn’t look
that hurt.” “It’s just a three-minute cat video. My chores can wait three
minutes.” (Still very hypothetical.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes
we like to over-complicate issues, and sometimes we neglect “little” factors,
but either method, it’s sin. “So whoever knows the right thing to do <i>and fails to do it</i>, for him it is sin”
(James 4:17, emphasis added). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We
can commit, and we can omit. And both are vile in God’s sight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because
the sin of omission is deceiving, we often wave it away. But look at the
parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37. Were the priest and Levite condemned
because of something they did? No, it was because they <i>didn’t</i> do anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What’s
the best way to wreck a relationship? Abuse? Angry words? Or is it… neglect?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
often (and I think this applies to most of us) think I’m doing fairly well
because I’m not stealing anything, I’m not lying, I’m not watching X-rated
movies. I have my little checklist of “Not’s” and I like to think of myself as
“pretty good” because most of them are checked. But how worn is the checklist
of “Not not’s”? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now
some may think, “Well the verse says, ‘Whoever <i>knows</i> the right thing and doesn’t do it, it’s sin,’ but what if I <i>don’t</i> know I should be doing this or
that?” I would say that’s where sanctification comes in. As you study
Scripture and understand God more deeply, you learn to realize what is good and what
is bad, what you should do and what you shouldn’t. God gave us the Bible for a
reason!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now
some may think even more, “Well, if I don’t read the Bible or listen to
sermons, I can claim ignorance, because I didn’t know the right thing to do, so
therefore I never failed to do it!” To that, I would question your salvation.
The reason we do good is because we love Christ. Paul addresses this issue in
Romans 6:15-18: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<span class="text"><span style="background: white;">What then?</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">Are we to sin</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">because we are not under law but
under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">to anyone as obedient slaves, you are
slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of
obedience, which leads to righteousness? But</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">thanks be to God, that you who were
once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">standard of teaching to which you
were committed,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">and,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">having been set free from sin,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">have become slaves of righteousness.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And slaves of righteousness, redeemed by Christ’s blood,
would endeavor to be obedient to God in all things.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A sermon on James 4:17 put it this way: “<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Most people have the idea if they don’t do certain things
they are good Christians. If that were true then my dog is the best Christian I
know. He doesn’t steal, he doesn’t drink liquor or any of the things we would
consider bad.”*</span> We should not look like dogs. We should look like
Christians because of not only the sinful things we don’t do, but also the
righteous things we <i>do</i> do out of a
motivation of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">~</span><span style="font-family: 'Matura MT Script Capitals'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Klipsie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Matura MT Script Capitals'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All Scripture references are ESV
unless otherwise indicated<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sources</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*“The
Sin of Omission” sermon by Melvin Shelton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-sin-of-omission-melvin-shelton-sermon-on-growth-in-christ-60372.asp">http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-sin-of-omission-melvin-shelton-sermon-on-growth-in-christ-60372.asp</a></span>Klipsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536301871860163374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-70741922573158221712013-08-26T07:30:00.000-05:002013-08-26T07:30:03.410-05:00The Trinity<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”<br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+3%3A16-17&version=ESV">Matthew 3:16-17</a> ESV</i><br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
From the First Century to our present age many people have found the biblical doctrine of the Trinity hard to understand. The doctrine of the Trinity recognizes that God is one God, but is also three distinct Person: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In our material existence the concept that God is One, yet He exists as three distinct persons is foreign to us. However, the doctrine of the Trinity is without questions revealed in God's word.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The biblical term is for trinity is "Godhead" (Greek <i>theiotes</i>) and it is used three times in Scripture: Act 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9. The word "Trinity" is not found in Scripture, which is a theological word Christians use to refer to the Godhead.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill." (Acts 17:29)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Godhead lives in bodily form," (Colossians 2:9)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The doctrine states that the Godhead, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit consist of three distinct Persons, yet these three are one God. There are many arguments espoused by those that deny the Trinity, but the most prevalent is how God can be One God and at the same time be three Persons?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission stating they were to teach and baptize in the names of the Godhead: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Further, 1 John 5:7 states, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." Just because God did not inspire the writers of Scripture to use the modern word "Trinity" does not mean it is not a biblical truth. Some who object to the doctrine of the Trinity respond noting the Bible does not use the word “Trinity.” However, there are many words and phrases that Christians use to express a biblical doctrine that are not found in the Bible. One is the word "Rapture." The word is not found in Scripture, by the phrase “shall be caught up” the Greek “harpagēsometha<i>"</i> is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 and means to “catch away” or Latin “rapiēmur”meaning to be snatched away. In fact the word "Bible" is also not found in the Scriptures. Would we dismiss the existence of the Bible because the word is not found in Scripture?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Those that deny the Trinity are denying the Godhead. They rationalize that it is physically impossible for three distinct persons to be only one. They are both right and wrong. They are right in the sense that it is impossible for us to explain, for this cannot be a reality in our physical/material world. But they are wrong in denying that God is a Triune God. Those that believe this doctrine do so because the Bible clearly teaches monotheism, meaning that God is One God. Yet, the Scriptures unmistakably refer to the plurality of God as existing in Three Persons.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most of mankind has no real idea of who God really is. The gods of unbelieving men are small and do not take into account the immensity of Almighty God as He is presented in the Bible. J.B. Phillips wrote a book in 1952 called, “Your God Is Too Small.” He exposed the misconceptions that many have about God in that their understanding of God superimposed upon Him human characteristics. In His greatness and power the Bible says He spoke the universe into existence. God states this truth saying, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Hebrews 11:3)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Believing that God is a man or any material being shows one does not comprehend the true omnipotence (all powerful), omnipresence (present everywhere), omniscient (knows all things) nature of our sovereign God and Creator, nor does he bow in humility to his Creator. Like Satan, the lost man seeks to elevate himself to God's level and above. Therefore many men miss the truth and reality of God's essence because they ignorantly try to perceive Him as being as a physical being as are they. God has revealed Himself to all men in His word the Bible and it would behoove all men to believe what their Creator has said about Himself. Paul stated God's mandate when addressing the unbelieving Athenians as recorded in Acts 17:30: "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
John said, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world" (1 John 4:1-3).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
His statement makes it absolutely vital that a person fully believe in the Trinity, which means to accept who and what God really truly is. Because all men are lost in sin, only our supernatural Creator can save this lost and dying world, and only by fully believing God's promise of salvation can one be saved and receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The truth of the Trinity is unconditionally tied to accepting Him as who He is.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Malachi</b></i></div>
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Malachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245776811996541964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-10910420267437331492013-08-20T16:30:00.001-05:002013-08-20T16:30:42.846-05:00Jesus As A Rebel<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i>“If the world hates you, <b>keep in
mind that it hated me first</b>. If you
belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but
I have chosen you out of the world. That
is why the world hates you.” --John
15:18-19<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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To
start with, you should all know that this article is probably not very well
organized, due to the fact that I received very short notice on actually being
asked to write it, and then being gone the week after being asked,
coincidentally also the week before this was due to be published. So
please don’t judge me too harshly. :) In fact, a friend, on being
asked (frantically) for ideas, suggested I keep it short and sweet: “Jesus is
Awesome. The end.” I figured neither the editor nor you
all would appreciate that, and I’d probably get unceremoniously kicked off
staff after just having been welcomed back. (I'm kidding, if you didn't
notice. About being kicked off, that is. The rest of it? All
very, very true.) So here is my slightly more-thought-out idea on
the topic of Jesus As A Rebel. …And I
may also go slightly off-topic on some of my points, due to my current lack of
brain cells… Please forgive me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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---<o:p></o:p></div>
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As
Christians today, we often think of Jesus as the one person in the world who
has never sinned. As I explained to my
VBS kiddo’s, that means He didn’t ever do <i>anything</i>
wrong. So why is this article titled
“Jesus As A <b><i>Rebel</i></b>”? Well, society’s
view of Jesus now is very different than it was when He was actually physically
here on earth. As they say, hindsight is
20/20; we have the advantage of having the Bible to read, where we can get more
of an inside look at things and see that Jesus really was following the Law
(for definition purposes, “the Law” – which shall be capitalized as such to
differentiate between it and other laws – are the laws that God instituted back
in the Old Testament to Moses and the Israelites) and never sinning, whereas
the Pharisees (the religious authority during Jesus’ time) and the majority of
the Jewish population saw Jesus as quite radical – according to their religious
ideology, societal norms, and also when placed next to their expectations for a
savior.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Over
time, the Pharisees had added quite a few “little” laws to the Law instituted
by God and held them as equally important, not to mention they held to the very
<b><i>letter</i></b>
of the Law – as can be seen in the passage about The Lord of the Sabbath (or at
least, that’s the heading in my Bible) in Matthew 12:1-14, Mark 2:23-3:6, and
Luke 6:1-11 where the Pharisee’s “complained” to Jesus about his disciples
picking heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath because they were hungry. “This goes against the Law!” was pretty much
their argument. Jesus’s response? “Here, take a look at how King David – you know,
that guy that you all really look up to? – acted in a similar situation. He did something probably even more
unlawful! He went into the House of God
and he and his men ate bread that was set aside only for the Priests! And you think what these guys are doing is
bad…” (Okay, so not exactly what He
said, but pretty close.) In that very
same passage, just a few verses later, we see Jesus being asked by the Pharisee’s
if it was lawful to heal a man on the Sabbath.
I’m sure you can guess His response; “If one of your sheep managed to
get itself into a pit, wouldn’t you pull it out, even though it was the
Sabbath? And just so you know, if you
say yes, you’re implying that you care more about your sheep than you do about
another human being. And we all know
you’re not going to say no, because you really care about your property. Thinking that through, are you sure you even
want to be asking me that?” The last
example (there are <i>tons</i> more!) I’m
going to share is the time Jesus “literally ‘turned the tables’” as one of my
friends put it. (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark
11:15-17, and Luke 19:45-46) See, it had
become perfectly acceptable (encouraged, even) for different booths to be set
up just inside the temple where men sold doves and other sacrifices, as well as
moneychangers. None of these were
originally intended to be in the Temple and doing business in God’s house was
very disrespectful to its actual purpose, so Jesus literally flipped their tables
over and kicked them out. This is, I
think, probably the only time in history where there has been a real display of
righteous anger by a human being.<sup>1</sup> Anyway, as you’ve seen, the whole
“doing ‘work’ on the Sabbath” thing didn’t go over very well with the religious
community. Nor did the fact that Jesus
was using their own laws and the historical figures they respected to show the
flaws in their nitpicky<sup>2</sup> laws. Oh, and did I mention that He claimed to be
God? You can be sure <i>that </i>went over well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Obviously,
Jesus upset many in the religious sect by His apparent disregard for the rules,
but He also upset even those who weren’t very interested in religion. As they saw it, He rebelled even against what
was seen as socially acceptable. He
could often be found around those in society that were seen as the
“untouchables”<sup>3</sup>, such as tax collectors (became rich off of charging
you more than you actually owed), Samaritans (imposters from during the
Babylonian captivity), prostitutes (the horror!), etc. Oh, and His disciples! Some of them were fisherman (not the
brightest, you know) and at least one was a tax collector! Can you imagine how they saw it? Not only did this man who claimed to be God
spend much of his time with these horrid people, but many of his closest
friends were listed among them! And some
of those “rules” of his… Not retaliating when someone hit you across the
face? Actually turning to let them hit
you on the other side of your face? That
was basically asking the other person to attack you! What kind of crazy guy was this?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Even
more than all that, though, Jesus rebelled against the “popular belief” about
who the Savior was supposed to be, what he was supposed to be like, and what
his purpose was. See, though Jesus
claimed to be God, and subsequently the Savior, He didn’t really act how the
Jew’s thought their Savior would. They
expected a military leader who would free them from the Roman’s rule, but
instead of ridding in on a warhorse, He came on a donkey – a sign of peace
instead of war. (Matthew 21:1-6, Mark 11:1-7, Luke 19:28-35, and Mark
12:12-16) Not to mention that He was
constantly preaching to “love your enemy” and other things that went directly
against that idea. They expected a King,
the Son of David, who would lead them after they were free from Rome, but
instead, Jesus talked about a kingdom that was not of this earth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In
the end, Jesus was really just a rebel against mankind’s wrong ideas of what a
person should act like. He wasn’t a
rebel in the areas where “behavior” really mattered. He upheld all of God’s
laws perfectly, set the standard for how Christian’s should treat each other
and those around them, and was the perfect Savior – even if He wasn’t quite
what everyone expected.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><i>The
Comma Queen<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<sup>1</sup>I
know that many people would disagree with me, but please notice that I’m simply
saying that it’s my opinion, not something I know for sure.<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<sup>2</sup>For
those of you who didn’t grow up with a dad who uses crazy phrases like
“nitpicky”, it means (according to Dictionary.com) “Adj. Overly critical,
especially on trivial matters; focused on only trivial aspects.”
Those of you who already knew and are
nodding your head in a bored manner, brownie points to you!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<sup>3</sup>“Untouchables”
is actually a level in India’s caste system – these people are the lowest of
the low, given the worst jobs, and everyone else literally refuses to touch
them because of how “filthy” they are seen to be. Technically, they aren’t even a level – they
are below even that.<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Comma Queenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14087464661638759674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-72016442332996928452013-08-14T07:30:00.000-05:002013-08-14T22:33:41.524-05:00100th PostThis is just a post, pointing out that we have reached the nice, round number of one hundred posts.<br />
<br />
That is all.<br />
<br />
Actually, a few more things.<br />
<br />
As summer winds down and fall (and school) begin to kick into gear, we have a few minor changes in our writing department (our only department at the moment).<br />
First off, good news! The Comma Queen has finished her writing intensive course and will be rejoining our monthly rotation of writers! Her first article as a part of that re-introduction will be sometime later this month. Chipper will also be rejoining, but on bi-monthly basis! We're really excited to have them both back!<br />
Next, some melancholy news; Malachi will be the first writer to graduate from The Thought Box (rather than simply stopping writing) and will be heading off to seminary this fall! We are extremely excited to see what God does with his life, and there is still the possibility that he will be able to share some of the things he's learned at seminary with us in the future, so stay tuned.<br />
<br />
Just to let you know; the Thursday following the last Monday of the month is still open for volunteer articles, just shoot them to <span style="color: blue;"><u><a href="mailto:tchthoughtbox@gmail.com">tchthoughtbox@gmail.com</a></u></span>.<br />
Or just shoot us an email to let us know how we're doing. Tips for redesigning, topic ideas, what have you. We love getting mail!<br />
<br />
Have a great school year!<br />
<br />
<b><i>Leaping Lizard</i></b>Leaping Lizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00114569405661982210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-6507136536480055672013-08-12T07:30:00.000-05:002013-08-18T14:36:32.692-05:00The Paradox of God<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"[The Lord said,] 'Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?'"</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Job 38:2</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
God (the Father in particular, even more than the other parts of the Trinity) is an incredibly complex person, being and power. One that is incredibly hard to understand. Even impossible to some degree. The reason for this? God's nature and plans can be wrapped up in the idea of a paradox. A Paradox is a statement that can't logical be explained as true or false, or two things that are in apparent contradiction to each other, but coexist. For example, a common paradox is the statement; "This statement is false." By saying that the statement, we can say that the statement is true. But, if the statement is true, then it must be false. Pretty mind-boggling. Science fiction, especially when dealing with time travel, is rank with outrageous paradoxes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But God and His nature are not the stuff of science fiction. They are very real and important questions that need to be resolved. I am going to start off by saying, that the very nature of these questions makes them impossible to answer. These are not "either/or" questions, they are "how is this 'and'?" questions. I'm going to touch on the two biggest paradoxes. God created us in His image with free will, but ultimately has "destined us," and finally, God is repeatedly lauded for His Love, but we are warned of his continual Wrath. This might get a little messy, so hang in there.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'll start with the paradox of God's Love and Wrath. In Romans 17:19, we are commanded to "not avenge [ourselves], but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." God's Wrath is so strong, that He reserves the right of vengeance for Himself. On the other hand, in Romans 5:8, we see that God's love is so great that He sent His Son to die for us, before we were redeemed from the sin that brought His wrath upon us.<br />
God is shown to be full of Wrath, but also of Love. How do these two seemingly contradictory traits coexist in the same being? First, the very two traits are incredibly complex, so much so that there are entire chapters devoted to explaining Love. Our understanding of Wrath is equally limited. God's Wrath has the power to destroy entire cities (Sodom and Gomorrah) and even all life on the face of the earth (the Flood). God's Love has the power to save the worst of sinners (myself for one) and sacrifice His son (who is also a part of Himself on a level I don't have time or skill to adequately explain) for creatures that actively fight against Him. These two traits seem completely contradictory, but they are both extremely important parts of God's character. How can we reconcile these 'opposing' attributes? First, God's Wrath and Love are both extensions of and influncers on His character trait of Justice. Justice is behaving in a way that is morally right. Both Wrath and Love are morally right behaviors, we deserve unrelenting punishment for our sins, but God's Love is equally right. His Love is what enables His wrath. Good parents will punish their children because they love them, in order to make them able to live good and fulfilling lives. God, the Father, is the epitome of a perfect parent. He bestows His Wrath <i>because</i> He Loves us, even in our sinful state.<br />
Now a question with bigger contention. How can we be created in God's image, and have Free Will (allowing salvation as outlined in Romans 10:9-10), but still be under the control of God's Will (Ephesians 1:5 for example)? How does God orchestrate our Freedom and His Sovereignty? I am not going to offer an answer, and I would ask that the comments not erupt into a Calvinism-Arminianism debate (for why, see an excellent post that a really good friend of mine made on the subject of that debate <a href="http://theramblingstone.com/2013/07/19/why-i-reject-calvinism/">HERE</a>), but I am going to offer an idea. That both are right and both are wrong. Scripture doesn't explicitly say that God wrote the history of the world before the foundations of the earth, but rather He <i>knew</i> it. That isn't to say that He couldn't, but rather He didn't. Indeed, we see throughout the Proverbs in particular that in order to live our lives in the best way possible, and in spite of our best intentions at times, we need or will follow God's plans. But on the other side of the token, Scripture also tells us that salvation "stands at the door and knocks." God doesn't force the door, or lock it so we can't open it to the gift of salvation. This is truly a paradox. We cannot have the freedom that we see in Scripture, while God still maintains complete omnipotence. But we do.<br />
How do we rectify this paradox? There is no easy answer. Philosophers and Theologians have been tearing this issue to pieces for millennia. Scripture, I believe, is as clear as our minds can comprehend it to be. My Dad did have some words of advice for me after I read John Piper's <i>The Pleasures of God</i> (which had two chapters on this topic, that were much less than helpful in my pursuit of understanding in this topic). He said that there are two aspects to salvation: our 'work' and acceptance and God's work and gift. While the exact balance between these are incredibly hard to figure out, he pointed out that without the gift, regardless of how influential we are in accepting it, whatever free will we have would be pointless. God's infinite grace needs to be at the forefront of any discussions on any topic, especially one so hard to understand as our role in salvation.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Leaping Lizard</i></b></div>
Leaping Lizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00114569405661982210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-91299854269213814152013-08-05T07:30:00.000-05:002013-08-17T23:40:27.910-05:00The Holy Spirit: It or He?<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><i>"…</i></span><i><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Matthew 28:19</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Holy Spirit is often thought of as just the force or power of God at work in
the world, merely His voice, or an influence. But the Holy Spirit is a person,
one of the three Persons in the Trinity. And many verses affirm His person. (Note:
when I say “person,” I am not referring to a human being, but to a living being
rather than a force or energy.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Firstly, the Holy Spirit is a person
because He is referred to as just that: “He.” John 14:26, “<span style="background: white;">But the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Helper,
the Holy Spirit,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>whom</i> the Father will send in my name,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>he</i>
will teach you all things…” (emphases added). John 15:26, “…the Spirit of
truth, <i>who</i> proceeds from the Father,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>he</i>
will bear witness about me” (emphases added). John 16:13-14, “<span class="woj">When</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">the Spirit of truth
comes,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj"><i>he</i> will guide you into all the truth,
for <i>he</i> will not speak on his own
authority, but</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">whatever <i>he</i> hears <i>he</i> will speak, and he will declare to
you the things that are to come.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj"><i>He</i> will</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="woj">glorify me, for <i>he</i> will take what is mine and declare it
to you” (emphases added). These verses use the masculine pronoun “he” (Greek <i>ekeinos</i>) instead of the neuter pronoun <i>ekeino</i>, which would grammatically fit
the neuter “spirit” in the Greek language. The Holy Spirit was specifically
called a person, not a thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="woj"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Secondly,
the Holy Spirit is a person because He has personality. He thinks (</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 Corinthians 2:10), He loves (Romans
15:30), He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">), He wills things (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 Corinthians 12:11</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">),
He teaches (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1
Corinthians 2:13</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">), </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He forbids (Acts 16:6-7), He intercedes (Romans 8:26-27), He
guides (Romans 8:14</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">), and He speaks (Acts 8:29; 13:2), to
name a few qualities of His person.<span class="woj"><span style="background: white;"> Also, the word “comforter” or “counselor” (Greek <i>Parakletos</i>) used in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; and 16:7 is a term which
speaks of a person who helps or gives counsel to another person. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="woj"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Thirdly, the
Holy Spirit is a person because if He was merely the power of God (if you allow
me to refer to the almighty power of God as “mere”), a number of passages would
not make sense. Take Luke 4:14: “Jesus <i>returned
in the power of the Spirit </i>into Galilee.” If the Spirit is simply God’s
power, the passage would read, “Jesus <i>returned
in the power of the power of God</i> into Galilee,” and that just doesn't make sense.
Neither would Romans 15:13. “</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">May
the God of hope fill you with all<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>joy and peace in believing, so that <i>by the power of the Holy Spirit</i> you may
abound in hope,” would translate, “May the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace in believing, so that <i>by
the power of the power of God</i> you may abound in hope.” The same principle applies
to Acts 10:38 and 1 Corinthians 2:4. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So the Holy Spirit is a person and not just the power of God.
His person can take different shapes and appear to man in different ways, like
the tongues of flame in Acts 2:2-4, or a dove in Luke 3:22. And like Jesus is
the Son of God and yet fully God, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and
fully God. And although He is not always the first Person to come to mind when
one thinks of God, He is nevertheless equal in the Trinity (</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Acts 5:3,4</span>)<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. All three relate
to each other differently and have different roles regarding the world, but all
are equal in power and glory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I can sincerely
affirm the words of Rev. Charles Spurgeon when he said, “But when I come to deal with the Holy Ghost, his operations
are so mysterious, his doings are so secret, his acts are so removed from
everything that is of sense, and of the body, that I cannot so easily get the
idea of his being a person; but a person he is.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A. W. Tozer put it this way, “</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spell this out
in capital letters: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON. He is not enthusiasm. He is
not courage. He is not energy. He is not the personification of all good
qualities, like Jack Frost is the personification of cold weather. Actually,
the Holy Spirit is not the personification of anything... He has individuality.
He is one being and not another. He has will and intelligence. He has hearing.
He has knowledge and sympathy and ability to love and see and think. He can
hear, speak, desire, grieve and rejoice. He is a Person.”<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Matura MT Script Capitals"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Klipsie<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Sources:</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bible Doctrine</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
by Wayne Grudem</span></div>
Klipsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536301871860163374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-5099242666873084482013-08-02T07:30:00.001-05:002013-08-03T23:31:25.461-05:00Why I'm Not Sold Out On "Radical"<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I’m not Sold Out on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Radical</i>.
What I mean is I am not an adherent to the philosophy that Christians are not
fulfilling the Great Commission if they never have their lives threatened and
have never gone to a foreign country to spread the gospel. I am not an adherent
the idea that modern American Christians must live ascetic lifestyles in order
to be fully in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> What does this pertain the word "Radical?" The book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the
American Dream</i> by David Platt has sold over 750,000 copies since 2010. The
advertised synopsis emphasizes the idea that American Christians have become
too comfortable as they pursue the American Dream. This idea, which I
whole-heartedly agree with, does not result in the applications I have found to
be scriptural. The majority of the book is a case study of Platt’s life
experiences as a globe-trotting missionary/pastor of a mega-church with a
weekly attendance of over 4,300 (as of 2006). The applications he gleans from
his experiences are often extremely insightful and should definitely be taken
to heart, but problems arise from the universal nature of his charges and
challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> All Christians are not called into full time ministry (being
defined as your occupation: be it pastor, elder, foreign residential
missionary, minister… what have you). All Christians aren’t even called to
leave the country. The part of the Great Commission directing people to go to
all the nations was a church directive, not an individual’s directive. Every
Christian will bear Christ’s image (the Great Commission is not only a command,
but a prophecy), but the where and how is determined best by the calling God
has given every individual. The idea that if one doesn’t go to China or the
Middle East and have their lives threatened is not scriptural. But neither is
the idea that we can sit at home, watch TV and eat Doritos all day and have a
healthy spiritual life. Each Christian has a different calling. David Platt
obviously has been blessed with a tremendous passion and the skills necessary
to be an incredible proselytizer, but on the other side of the token a man like
David Nobel is not called to be a proselytizer, he is called to be a teacher
and to minister to the spiritual development of those already saved, and he
also has an incredible influence in that area. There is no "ideal" Christian.
Paul (the epitome of spiritual leadership, both in the spreading of the gospel
and the support of Christians), under the influence of the Holy Spirit, says
that “[Christ] gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and
some pastors and teachers.” Christians don’t have a picture of what a "perfect
Christian" looks like (in terms of vocation) because we are all blessed with
different callings and skills that are harmful when used improperly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> So, my biggest beef with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Radical</i>
is not his call to stop settling for the mediocre Americanized version of
Christianity, which I completely agree is something that needs to change, but
rather his universal applications of his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">personal</i>
calling. A woman in Christ who is called to be a mother and “train up a child
in the way he should go” loses all capability to follow her calling (or feels
extremely guilty doing so) if Platt is right in his assumption that all
Christians are to live "Radically."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> I am going to stick this passage (1 Corinthians 12:12-30) on the end, because I believe that frequently we desire to be the hand, instead of the arm, or the foot instead of the eye, or the mouth instead of the ear. We all have specific purposes in the Body of Christ. We are not all of one type, but a myriad of types and giftings specifically orchestrated to serve the Body in the best way possible.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-12-12"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-12-12"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> <i>12 </i></span><i>For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. </i></span><i><span class="text 1Cor-12-13" id="en-NKJV-28648"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-14" id="en-NKJV-28649"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>For in fact the body is not one member but many.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text 1Cor-12-15" id="en-NKJV-28650"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> 15 </span>If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-16" id="en-NKJV-28651"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-17" id="en-NKJV-28652"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-18" id="en-NKJV-28653"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">18 </span>But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-19" id="en-NKJV-28654"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">19 </span>And if they were all one member, where would the body be?</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text 1Cor-12-20" id="en-NKJV-28655"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> 20 </span>But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-21" id="en-NKJV-28656"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">21 </span>And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-22" id="en-NKJV-28657"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">22 </span>No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-23" id="en-NKJV-28658"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">23 </span>And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-24" id="en-NKJV-28659"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">24 </span>but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,</span><span class="text 1Cor-12-25" id="en-NKJV-28660"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">25 </span>that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-26" id="en-NKJV-28661"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">26 </span>And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.</span></i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text 1Cor-12-27" id="en-NKJV-28662"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;"> 27 </sup>Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-28" id="en-NKJV-28663"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">28 </sup>And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-29" id="en-NKJV-28664"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">29 </sup>Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-30" id="en-NKJV-28665"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">30 </sup>Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text 1Cor-12-30"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text 1Cor-12-30"><b>Leaping Lizard</b></span></i></span></div>
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Leaping Lizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00114569405661982210noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-70038534344119824032013-07-31T07:30:00.000-05:002013-08-03T20:10:26.794-05:00Swifter Than Leopards, Clothed in Thunder, Prepared for Battle<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Psalm 150:6</i></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">What
animal “[is] swifter than leopards, fiercer than the wolves at dusk” and
“[flies] like an eagle ready to devour” (Habakkuk 1:8, NIV)? Which creature’s “majestic snorting strikes
terror” and “he devours the distance with fierceness and rage” (Job 39:20, 24,
NKJV)? According to Scripture, the horse
is the answer to these descriptions. The majestic animal gallops into combat
like no other—fearing no weapon and mocking at fear itself—and displays God’s
magnificence as well. When picturing an animal from Scripture that teaches a
lesson, </span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">we</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> usually
consider the ant or the lion. Although not especially recognized in the Bible,
the horse is </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">nonetheless</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> a tool used by God, providing valuable and applicable
examples to Christians.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In
Scripture, the horse portrays glorious images of beauty and battle. When
someone mentions “warriors,” <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">we</span>
generally visualize men charging into combat. But in the book of Job, the horse
fights as the bold hero. “He gallops into the clash of arms. He mocks at fear,
and is not frightened; nor does he turn back from the sword” (Job 39:21-22,
NKJV)<i>. </i>Jesus Himself sits upon a
white horse as He makes war in the book of Revelation. With determination and
confidence, the horse presents a courageous disposition like no other creature
when stampeding into battle. Of course, this amazing animal’s attributes all
come from God, who “give[s] the horse strength” and “clothe[s] his neck with
thunder” (Job 39:19, NKJV). God illustrates His beauty, strength, and glory in
the majestic design of the horse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Outwardly,
whenever we gaze at a horse, we generally admire the grace, beauty, and power, marveling at God’s
incredible creation. Inwardly, however, we can also gain much. <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">We</span> often find <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">ourselves</span> reluctant and afraid to fight the battle
of faith. Like the horse described in Job, we must mock at fear and gallop into
the crusade of Christ, shying not at the spear of uncertainty or arrow of
anxiety. In contrast, sometimes <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">we</span> rejoice too much in <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">our</span> own strength and beauty rather than using <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">our</span> God-given gifts for
His glory. Instead of boasting in <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">our</span> stallions of self-importance or <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">our</span> chariots of charm as mentioned in Psalm
20:7, <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">we</span> must boast
only in the Lord <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">our</span>
God, for “the horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to
the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31, NASB). Praise belongs to God. He—the ultimate
Victor—creates the magnificent, fearless, inspiring horse.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Matura MT Script Capitals"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Klipsie</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Klipsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536301871860163374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-46575589388764224402013-07-15T07:30:00.000-05:002013-07-15T13:44:39.873-05:00Angels, What are they?<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>[He] makes His angels spirits, </i><i></i><br />
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<i><i>His ministers a flame of fire.</i></i></div>
<i>
</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="display: inline !important;">
Psalm 104:4</div>
</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> A few months ago I had
an interesting discussion. An acquaintance of mine had posted a question on an
online forum I am a member of (actually it was a series of questions). The
basic gist of his post was to inquire what angels did, and how the fall of angels
affects our salvation, and how the fact that we have salvation while the angels
don’t is just. What follows is a cleaned-up and edited version of my side of
the conversation. I am posting this here because angels are a confusing topic
for many, myself included, and straightforward answers that admit their
failures are rare and helpful.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
first few questions dealt mainly with what angels actually are, and how their
nature plays into the fall of the angels and their lack of ability to be
redeemed.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Angels have free will, but all angels are not descended from
Satan, so all angels did not fall. Angels also have no hope of redemption, as
they already (figuratively) had eaten from both trees in the garden - the tree
of knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life (they didn't actually eat
the fruit, but they were created as if they did).<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When Christ explains salvation, he says that one must be born
of “water and of the Spirit.” Since Angels are created immortal, they can’t be
born of water, and since they are spirit, they can’t be reborn in the Spirit.
Angels also are shown to have special knowledge as we see them as messengers
throughout the old and new testaments, so their knowledge also condemns them as
they have complete knowledge of what they are rejecting and where they are
choosing to go. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is also worth noting here that
angels are not created in the image of God, as humans are. Why angels are
metaphysical (mostly spirit) people are physical, spiritual and have souls.
Their multi-faceted nature comes into play when considering redemption.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If God knew Angels would fall, why did He
create them with free will?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
God (God here refers to the godhead, not just God the Father)
created angels with free will for the same reason that he created humans with
free will; if you build a robot and program it to worship you, it doesn't mean
very much. God is completely self-sufficient, and he needs neither humans nor
angels to keep him "happy." However, He created angels, heaven, earth, humans,
animals and even Hell to bring glory to Himself. Even though He did not need
any of those things to survive, thrive or give Him a purpose, He still allows
us the opportunity to live in communion with Him forever.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What do angels do and why do they do it?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Angels have several primary purposes: to worship God (as seen
throughout all of scripture, specifically in the Pentateuch and Revelation); to
act as messengers (the word angel comes from the Greek "angelos"
which means messenger, think the announcement of Christ’s birth). I have also
heard quite a few times that angels serve as Spiritual Guardians. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there is some merit to this, as Angels
are shown to be immensely powerful beings and do perform tasks set before them
by God, I do not see in Scripture a solid basis for a personal guardian angel.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Angels do have a stated hierarchy, with different physical
manifestations associated with each. (Cherubim, Seraphim and Archangels are
among the upper echelons).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has more
to do with their roles than their power.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Why? Think how little we know about God, and how awesome He
is to us. Now imagine spending an eternity with Him, learning about all the
facets of His nature, and barely scratching the surface. I probably would sing
in awe the entire time, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We don't know much. There are few passages in Scripture that
deal with the characteristics of angels. But yes, they sing, yes they have
names, yes they interact with people and yes, they do this with joy because
they genuinely love God and His nature.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When did Satan rebel against God?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Isaiah 14:12-21 is the only passage in scripture dealing with
the fall of Satan, and there isn’t even consensus in the theological community
if that is dealing with Satan, or merely a pagan king. It isn't much to go on;
we know why he fell, and where he fell, too, but there is nothing ANYWHERE in Scripture that says when he fell, except where logic dictates that he must have
fallen after the sixth day when God saw His creation and saw that it was “very
good” and before Eve was tempted in the garden.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If Satan wasn't created or didn't rebel
against God, would Adam/Eve still sin?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here are hypothetical questions, but, the answer is Satan
did rebel, time is a straight line (from a human perspective) there are no
alternate realities. Satan was created, he did rebel, and he did tempt Eve, and
Eve succumbed to the temptation, and subsequently Adam fell as well. Any "what-ifs" are pure hypotheticals, the real question is why would you want to know the
answer to the "what-if?" Curiosity never hurt anyone (except for the cat it
killed), but answering a question that there is no factual basis to go on is
certainly quite dangerous.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Since Satan's act of rebelling against God
was a sin, who then committed the first sin? Did sin originate from Adam/Eve or
Satan? Whose "fault" was it?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is an interesting question. It is also a question that
assumes that Angels and humans have the same laws and consequences. But they
don’t. Since angels are not of the same nature as humans, the rules and even
physical laws of the world in which we live don’t apply to them in the same
way. Satan made the first sin among angels, while Adam and Eve made the first
sin among the earthly creation.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The major difference between the two (and the main reason I
believe that angels have no hope of redemption) is that angels sinned with full
knowledge of their sin, and they didn't have a genetic (for lack of a better
word) predisposition to sin. While men are completely responsible for their own
sin, we also don't have a choice in whether or not we sin. We have redemption ex
post facto, while angels have the opportunity to remain sinless.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
--------<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scripture is not clear on the nature of angels. They show up
at important points and then vanish. Most of what we know about angels comes
from passages not directly to angels, when they are doing something, or when
they are referred to in passing. Much of the information that is in Scripture
(which isn't a lot) has become mixed with fantasy, tradition, and just plain
fiction in order to clear some of the "gaps" in the nature of angels.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I think that we need to be extremely careful in conjecture in
areas that are intentionally left vague in scripture. Quickly we can drift into
areas that have no root in scripture at all. Ideas like turning into angels
after death, child angels, cupids etc. are not necessarily bad, until we start
postulating them as fact. I would keep that in mind as we delve into the vague
glances at angels.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You may have noticed that there is very little Scripture
referenced in this article. That is because any verses that I would quote would
likely be shorter than a sentence. Angels are not talked about a lot in the Scriptures and not in large passages like we would find on virtues or the
nature of God. I did my best to avoid conjecture in this article, however, and I can pull precedent out of scripture if needed. I would be gratified if you would leave a comment or shoot an
email to <a href="mailto:tchthoughtbox@gmail.com">tchthoughtbox@gmail.com</a>
if you have any concerns with any specifics of any of my points. I am not
claiming to be an expert in this matter; anyone who does is either a liar or
grossly misinformed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<i><b>Leaping Lizard</b></i></div>
Leaping Lizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00114569405661982210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-68785353210724699582013-06-21T07:30:00.000-05:002013-06-21T07:30:02.639-05:00A Friend<div style="text-align: center;">
A quick muse on what a true friend is. In picture form, the full text of the quote is beneath the picture.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDL-zxu_dyZQyhhlJXMlaNK7aa7a1pQo8FK_sR_NjA_y2IzxwEoYS-yEzkvQNfevtHWqKPp_tJX0tKLD713s8Ia4XPhvxZt5oJQeA1nKB2AyqqiM2yzvdqlG26rbgThyb0ZEVr23sxca6/s1600/img_2740-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDL-zxu_dyZQyhhlJXMlaNK7aa7a1pQo8FK_sR_NjA_y2IzxwEoYS-yEzkvQNfevtHWqKPp_tJX0tKLD713s8Ia4XPhvxZt5oJQeA1nKB2AyqqiM2yzvdqlG26rbgThyb0ZEVr23sxca6/s640/img_2740-copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A Friend is not an Acquaintance.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
A friend is not someone that you simply hang out with.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A friend is someone who <i>grows </i>and <b>builds, prays</b> and <i>serves, loves </i>and <b>works, </b> <i>laughs, </i><b>cries, </b> and <i>cheers</i> with you, for you and about you.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A friend is very rarely someone you meet online.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>And I'll be honest, true friends?</i> I have less than a dozen.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But I'm lucky. <b>I know people who have none.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
True friends can't be defined by some quippy meme.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
True friends are defined by their complete and total dependence and fellowship with each other.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Friends are those people who you can honestly say that would not only be boring, or lame, but they are the people that you would miss.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Not only in the good times.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<b>But when you need their prayer.</b></div>
Leaping Lizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00114569405661982210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-44627148158334949082013-06-17T10:18:00.002-05:002013-07-08T18:27:54.757-05:00Defining a Godly Man<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Last week Klipsie
shared scripture’s definition of a godly woman. This week, I am going to run
down what a godly man is. First though, a quick definition of terms. For the
purpose of this article, when I say "man" I am referring to the ideal man, a godly
man. When I say "boy" I am referring to a male, regardless of age, who does not
demonstrate the qualities of a man. A "guy" is a male, regardless of their
maturity or how closely they align to the biblical picture of a man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> There are quite a few Scriptures that
demonstrate what a man is. 1 Timothy 3, the latter half of </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Ephesians</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> 5, Proverbs 31:1-9 and much of Proverbs in general. All of these will
contain lists of requirements, goals to be achieved and attitudes to be
displayed. I am going to look at the overarching themes in scripture, not only
what a godly man is, but also what a godly person in general looks like. So,
even if you are not a guy, please read. As one of my parent’s old pastors used
to say, “This is not a pitchfork [post],” meaning that this isn’t something you
can shove off on someone else because you don’t need it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A pertinent question in today’s society
regards the dress of a man. What should a man wear? The things that are
honoring to Christ, and those thing that will not harm others or cause others
to stumble. We are also to dress in manner that displays care and
appropriateness for our environment. That’s a lot of abstract principles; “give
me a list” is a frequent request. There is no list. God did not say, “Don’t
wear your pants so that your underwear shows”; rather, He told us to act in a
manner worthy of the calling we have received. So, the most I can give you
legalistically is this: don’t show what is meant to be covered, and don’t cause
your sisters in Christ to stumble because of your pride in you chiseled
physique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Guys have a problem with pride. We are
programmed to protect and lead, but the fallen nature of man corrupts that. Men
are to be firm in their beliefs, but meek and humble, seeking to make others
higher than themselves. Men, unlike the world sees them, are not to be stoic or
brutal. Men are not to be stones without feeling either. Men are to be
compassionate and loving. Christ was the perfect picture of a godly man,
through the gospels we see Him cry, pray, serve, and love. Men are not
emotionless, but rather capable of providing a firm foundation for others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Men are not to be overly concerned with
their physical strength. We never see Christ work out in Scripture, but on the
flip side we see Him traverse hundreds of miles and spend forty days in the
desert with no food. A balance has to be struck between health and obsession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A man also keeps his thoughts pure, avoids the things he shouldn't pay attention to, and seeks the things he should. He uses discretion in his company and the things he sees, hears and reads in order to maintain a pure heart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A man is a leader. I am taking a college
course right now on biblical leadership. The working definition of leadership
in the course is being a good steward of your gifts and talents and influencing
others to create change. A man is not bossy, domineering or pushy. A true man
knows how to serve others, but still point them in the direction they need to
go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In conjunction with that, guys also are <i>required</i> to be the leaders of their homes,
when they have them. A guy is responsible for the physical and spiritual
well-being of his wife and children. A <i>man</i>
takes that responsibility and applies true, biblical, servant leadership to it.
He serves his wife and children as well as teaching them. A man allows and
encourages the endeavors of his wife, they are a team, and he is the head of
the team. The complementing roles of husband and wife fill perfectly the needs
of children when the roles are executed by godly men and women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Finally, as you have probably seen from
the trends so far, a true godly man is a man after God’s heart. He doesn’t
always do things perfectly, but he always repairs any wrongs he commits and
focuses on serving others. He loves the Lord with all of his heart, soul, mind
and strength. And he focuses on building and creating good and godly
relationships on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Leaping
Lizard<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
Leaping Lizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00114569405661982210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-45205105282837795322013-06-10T07:30:00.000-05:002013-08-04T15:37:18.749-05:00Godly Woman<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Who
can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Proverbs
31:10, KJV<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> I
honestly don’t feel worthy to write this article on what a godly woman looks
like. Because let me tell you, this isn’t a picture of me. But I pray that God
humbles and uses me, a hypocrite, to paint an accurate portrait of a godly
woman, glorifying to Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> A godly woman holds a distinct posture and dress, very set apart from the world. She is
clothed not merely with outward apparel, but “</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">with
the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is
very precious” (1 Peter 3:4). This </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> mean God only loves shy people who
rarely smile and talk barely above a whisper, but that a godly woman should not
be rambunctious and pushy. She is “reverent in behavior” (Titus 2:3-5).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> People should see her and think, “Wow. Where does she get
that self-control? How do I teach my daughters to stay so quiet and calm?” not,
“Wow. That girl is rowdy. How do I keep my daughters away from picking up on
her boisterousness?” Both are influencing. But a godly woman inspires others to
act like Christ, not like the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> CAUTION: The reason we should act like godly women should NOT
be for the purpose of being seen by others! Our purpose is to reflect Christ.
We will be seen, yes. But when we are, people should think, “Wow. What a
difference. How can I be like that?” NOT “Wow. Look at <i>her</i>. <i>She</i> is so good.” We
should direct people to Christ, not to ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> Proverbs 31:30 points out, “<span class="text">Charm is
deceitful, and beauty is vain,</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text"><span style="background: white;">but a woman who fears the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">is to be praised.” <i>That</i> is what people see when they look her:
the fear of the LORD, not of man. This does not mean she’s dressed frumpily,
but she’s dressed in a way that is feminine and humble: glorifying to God and
does not cause her brother to stumble, but allows them to look upon her as a sister
in Christ. “Respectable apparel,” as 1 Timothy 2:9-10 puts it, “with modesty
and self-control…with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good
works.” <i>Good works</i>. That is what she
clothes herself with if she truly is a Christian woman. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> Now here is an
important aspect: a godly woman is submissive. (I could write a whole article
on submission, but I can only touch on it now.) “Wives, submit to your own
husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). Notice how this is not an option.
It is a command. Men lead, women follow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> Submission includes
respecting (not slandering) one’s husband and all his decisions and yielding to
them (as long as they are not causing you to sin) joyfully without grumbling. In
fact, godly women’s submission should be so humble and so great that if their
husbands are not believers, they would see the wives’ example and “be won
without a word by the conduct of their wives” (1 Peter 3:1). It would lead them
to Christ! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> “Well, I’m not married
yet,” you might say. Then you are still under your father’s authority, and you
must submit to him (yes, even after you turn eighteen!), and the principles
still apply. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> Jesus submitted to His
Father’s will, even though He was equal with God. If a godly woman truly desires
to reflect Christ, she must also submit. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> The godly
woman’s home is, well, the home. She is a keeper at home. Contrary to popular
belief, this is not a bad thing. It is God’s design. And she can perform a
plethora of pursuits from the home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> “She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong”
(Proverbs 31:17). The verse is saying she does not simply lie inside in
expensive dresses and worry about her nails. The Proverbs 31 woman is a staunch
businesswoman working attentively along with looking well to the ways of her household.
She works with her hands. She considers buying a field and makes a profit from planting.
She sews and spins. She makes useful items around the house. She realizes she can
sell her sewing, and she does. She is not afraid. She is prepared! She laughs
at the future because she knows her hard work will pay off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> Along with all this, she serves others and gives generously. She
is diligent. She does not eat the bread of idleness. She does not spend hours
on YouTube rabbit trails (no, that part actually isn’t in the ESV verbatim). She
rises early while it is still night (ouch). You can be sure she looks
respectable, yet doesn’t spend an hour stressing about her hair. She is trusted
and loved by her family. And yet through all this, she submits to her husband
and is his helpmeet. <i>He</i> is the breadwinner,
but she can still make bread and sell it, too. Unmarried women, the same
principles apply to you again; it is possible to stay at home, contribute to
the family economy, and still have a respectable life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> To touch
quickly on a few more points, a godly woman “opens her mouth with wisdom, and
the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26). Not a word of
gossip, slander, silliness, or grumbling is heard from her lips. Women are also
commanded to teach the younger women, and “teens” are not excluded. Are there
girls younger than you? Yes. Teach them. Set a godly example for them.<span class="text"><span style="background: fuchsia; mso-highlight: fuchsia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> The godly
woman described in Proverbs 31 does her husband good all the days of her life. All the days of her entire life. This
means pre-marriage, too. How? By keeping her heart pure and reserved for him,
not flirting with someone else’s future husband, and by learning how to serve
and work diligently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> But above all
the devotion to her husband, father, and family, a godly woman is fully dedicated
to God. She serves and toils for Him, to glorify Him, to be His light in the
darkness. Amidst all the work, she worships the Lord with gladness, devoting
her time to prayer and praise, trusting in Him the whole way. <i>He</i> is her reason why. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> Now we are
not perfect. We will fail. But we shall repent and strive to be this godly
woman for His glory so “the word of God may not be reviled” (Titus 2:5). Let us
walk in God’s model of a godly woman, and we will be far more precious than
jewels in man’s and God’s sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Matura MT Script Capitals"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>Klipsie</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">All Scripture references are ESV
unless otherwise indicated.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Sources
and books for further reading:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">The Excellent Wife</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">
by Martha Peace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">It’s (not that) Complicated</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">
by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Woman after God’s Own Heart</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">
by Elizabeth George<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">The Fruit of Her Hands</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">
by Nancy Wilson</span></div>
</div>
Klipsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536301871860163374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-6204339613562433902013-06-03T07:30:00.000-05:002013-06-10T19:43:44.801-05:00God's Wimps Part 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“</span></span></span>But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2 Corinthians 4:7</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is a continuation of my earlier article "The Mighty Men of God." That topic was a bit challenging considering God’s favorite people to use are wimps. He loves to use men and women most people would overlook. These next two articles I write will focus on the wimps, the outcast, the unlikeliest of heroes, and the sinner, God uses to advances His plans. I chose 2 Cor. 4:7 because I like how Paul says that we have a treasure in jar of clay. Clay jars were easy to make, a denarii a dozen. In Bible time they were the most common jar and if someone was putting a treasure in something they would use a jar made an alabaster or another sturdier vessel, but God chose to use lesser beings to accomplish His will. Not angels or famous people but ordinary humans with extraordinary potential.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Moses is one of the most unlikely heroes. Not only is he a murder, but he also stuttered. When God called him, he made a whole list of excuses. If I was a shepherd and my daily work consisted of leading a bunch of sheep around, I'd probably be shocked if God not only talked directly to me and revealed Himself to me but also told me that I was going to lead His people to the promised land.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most of us want to know God’s plan for our life, but we’re not sure how to find it. One common misunderstanding is the idea that God’s guidance will come to us out of the blue, and it will have nothing to do with our plans or what we are already doing. Gideon is one of those people; he has a limited vision for what God can do and what he can do himself. His story starts with the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invading Israel, stealing everything and destroying what they can’t carry. The Bible calls them "like swarms of locusts…they invaded the land to ravage it" (Judges 6:5). The Angel of the Lord came to Gideon, who was threshing wheat in a wine-press to keep it from the Midianites. Threshing is not done in a wine press; it usually done on a hill where the wind will blow away the chaff and the wheat grains will drop to the ground. Also when the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Just saying, Gideon does not look like a mighty warrior to me, but God is able to use Him to free the Israelites from the hands of the Midianites. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Peter, like many of the disciples, was just a common fisherman, one of the lowest jobs on the Jewish totem pole. The job was hard, smelly, and paid little. The fishermen in Bible times were usually foul in smell and temperament, and on top of that, Peter had a terrible time keeping his temper under control. Yet he would go on to do extraordinary things in God's kingdom. Peter is the best example as he would be an apostle, a leader of the early church and he would write two letters in the Bible.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here are three excuses we give God for why we are wimps or why He can’t use us. Excuse one: We aren’t good speakers. The Lord's answer: “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (Exodus 4:11-12). Excuse two: We have no authority to get this done. God's answer: Our authority come from Him. "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God" (2 Timothy 1:7-8).* Excuse three: We fear rejection. God’s answer: He was rejected, too. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also" (John 15:18-20).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>Malachi</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
*Information and thoughts borrowed from a talk by Dr. Tommy Carrington at TeenPact National Convention 2013</div>
</div>
</div>
Malachihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245776811996541964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-15675149000616582222013-05-31T07:30:00.000-05:002013-05-31T08:13:16.297-05:00All Dogs (Don't) Go to Heaven<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life...</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>John 6:27</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> We
just got a puppy. Never before has my family raised a dog or even owned a dog; thus,
much preparation was poured into this new adventure. Through loads of research,
we learned dogs can sense people’s emotions in their actions and tones. Excited
talking winds canines up, and stomping irritably generates nervous skittishness,
so we carefully check ourselves and our voices around the puppy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Yet how often
do we watch ourselves when we talk to each other? Do we examine our tone of
voice when speaking to our siblings? Do we consider our emotional reactions as
our children observe us? Over and over we teach a dog a command, spending hours
calmly disciplining the pup when it disobeys, and then we neglect the
disciplining of our children and wonder why they do not listen. We try hard to
raise our pets correctly, but often fail to put the same effort into raising
our children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> What is more valuable: animals or relationships? Which will make
an impact that will last in eternity? Where do our values truly lie, in the
creatures God has given us dominion over, or in the people God has created in
His own image whom He instructs us to train up in the way they should go?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<i style="font-family: 'Matura MT Script Capitals'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">Klipsie</i><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Matura MT Script Capitals'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></i>
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Congratulations! You just read the first musing!</i></span></span></div>
Klipsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06536301871860163374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6461473855750074095.post-85203273122754883662013-05-27T07:30:00.000-05:002013-06-05T14:37:59.008-05:00Are You Ready for Sex, Marriage, and Children? - Mr. Kenneth Bratton<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>However,
each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must
respect her husband</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i>Ephesians 5:33 </i><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Men hear this verse and say, “Yes,
that’s right: my future wife is commanded to respect and obey me.” Men have no problem with the first part
either. We say, “Loving a wife may be a
little hard, but I can do it.” Other men
say, “What’s the big deal? Why do girls
make such a big fuss about love?” On the
other hand women will hear their own verbiage.
Ladies seek the love of their husband, so the first phrase is very
important to them. Ladies yearn for love
with a longing that we as men often do not fully grasp. Yet, ladies do not know what to do with the
second part of the verse. It can yield anticipation,
joy, fear, confusion, anger, or simply more questions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> In both cases, men and women interpret
the passage through their own lens. Each
reader’s desires motivate the benefits that they see from the text. Your lens will determine which benefits of
the prized trifecta of sex, marriage, and children you see in this text. Yet such thoughts fail to prepare you for
your favorite part of the prized trifecta.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> We will think about sex and
marriage for a moment. Just like any
football player practices before the game is needed to be great on the field: practice
is essential for a thriving marriage. So,
are you practicing being married, right now?
You should be. You may say “That
is ridiculous. I have made a commitment not to have sex until I am married.” Great… so what? Many non-Christians are
committed to that. That is not what I am
talking about. I am talking about preparation.
Look at Ephesians 5:21(NIV), the verse right before this passage, to see what is
meant by preparation. It states, <i>“Submit to one another out of reverence for
Christ.” </i>Submitting to one another
is how to be prepared for marriage. This is a command to serve others. I want to
make it clear that this is a command from God.
Though you are not married, this command still applies to you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> A command must be obeyed
regardless of how much we like it. I may
not want to serve my brother who is annoying me, but the command still stands. But why must we serve others? The motivation for our service is absolutely
crucial. If we get this part wrong, we
will get the whole command wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b> Serving for the Wrong Reason:</b> We begin by looking at ways in
which Christians serve selfishly. Do not
skip these. Be watchful and prayerful as
you read. Ask yourself, “Do I do
that?” Use caution. The tendency is to point the finger at others,
rather than evaluate our own hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Serving others will:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·
cause others to like me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·
cause others to stop treating me poorly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·
show others how great I am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·
get people to agree with me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·
get me what I want. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·
provide a sense of security in my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·
make me feel appreciated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·
get me that guy/girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·
cause the church to see my spirituality and finally like me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·
hide my hypocrisy in other areas of my life.<span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are any of these your motivations
for service?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b> Proper Motivation:</b> Instead of using these motivations, we
should serve as Christ served. Christ served:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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to please His Father. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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from a lowly position. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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for thirty years. He lived in Nazareth where He was unknown and
unappreciated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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twelve people for about three years. He came to serve his apostles even knowing
how they would treat Him: being falsely accused by one He trusted and betrayed
by the rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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those that would viciously kill Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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His murderers. <span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Servanthood is humiliating, hard
work that rarely gets recognized.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Practical Outworking:</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Practically speaking, service
must be our attitude in life. First,
look for opportunities to know people.
When we get into other people’s lives it means we might get hurt. We might also hurt others. Yet, this should not scare us away. It should remind us how Christ suffered for
us, so that we could become His children.</span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Second, listen. To become a better servant, we must listen
effectively. Therefore, we must talk to
people so that we can listen to them. Those
conversations must go deeper than sports or the newest gossip.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Third, pray. Seek God’s guidance. Often we want to serve someone, but we try to
do it on our own strength. Often God
calls us out of our comfort zone, so that we cannot do it without His strength.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Fourth, determine if you have the
ability to meet a need. We cannot “help”
everyone. When thinking about this step,
sometimes you should answer “yes” and sometimes “no.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Fifth, serve. Serving someone can be something small that
no one will ever know about to something quite large and public. Here the action is simple, go serve.</span></div>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span>Lastly and most importantly, throughout the whole process, seek to know and love God more. Develop a passion for God by trusting him with the results. Trust Him in a little act of service and watch how He gives you strength. After a while, service will become
an automatic part of your life. That is how it should be.<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span>The objective in serving is to
show our love and obedience to Christ and to bring all respect to God’s Name. One excuse may be “I don’t like steps.” Do not use that as the reason for not moving
out of your comfort zone. Instead call
them the five <i>parts</i> of service. It does not matter to me, just obey and serve. <br /> You will make mistakes. You will fail. You will be embarrassed. During those times run to Christ and keep
obeying. Yes, hurt and disappointment
are hard to overcome. Keep serving. Keep putting others first. Do not grow weary in doing good.<br /><b> Back to the Prized Trifecta:</b> So back to what I started talking
about--preparing for sex in marriage that may produce children. Okay, so maybe
you were just thinking sex. Maybe you are thinking children.
Whatever it is, you must be a servant of Christ NOW if you want even a
possibility of a joyous marriage. The reality is, no matter how great a
servant you think you are, once you get married you will see how far you fall
short. I speak as a man who has been married for 11 months. Although I have not specifically addressed
the topic of children in this article, I hope to report my findings after our
baby is born in October.<br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Knowing how
to serve well beforehand is the needed foundation for a good start to the
marriage. So be prepared and practice serving, now. Are you scared?
Trust God. Do you serve? </span>The answer should be “yes” and “often.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><i>Mr. Kenneth Bratton</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b>Possible future topics of discussion:</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. What is the purpose of sex: children OR enjoyment, Prov 5, 1 Cor 7, and Gen 2, 24.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Practical
ways to prepare for marriage.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">More
on serving under adverse conditions.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Should
marriage be sought after?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">5. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marriage
questions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">6. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
to find a perfect mate.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">7. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Godly
silence verse silence of avoidance.</span></div>
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