Proverbs 29:19 (ESV) By mere words a servant is not disciplined, for though he understands, he will not respond.
Are you merely a servant of God, or are you also a child of God? The issue is an important one. How you think of yourself in these categories will impact how you respond to Him.
Proverbs 28:13 (ESV) Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
The secrecy of sin is its power to bind. What is forced underground, hides and cannot be easily rooted out.
Be back around Sept. 9th.
I “may” post once or twice while away.
Don’t count on it.
Hopefully I’ll get back rested up and ready to jump back in.
“Doing Church” is a big buzz-word topic these days. But to tell you the truth, it all seems like a buch of hub-bub to me. The nature of the Church as Christ’s Kingdom, founded, being built and approaching fulfillment – it seems to me captures the essence of “doing Church”. And if you’ll jump to the rest of this very short entry – I think you might agree that we need not complicate things so much. Instead, we need to be about the business Christ has given us to do. That way – we won’t have to “do” Church, Church will get done.
My friend Tony Byrne over at the THEOLOGICAL MEDITATIONS blog posted a wonderful and useful quote today. It’s worth your time. CLICK HERE! or on the image, or the link in the blog name.
No doubt, someone will find my having links to something by Tony and James White side-by-side ironic. But, I’ve got brothers I love everywhere in Christ’s family.
Sadly, a once forceful voice for Christianity – Harold Camping, 
Founder of Family Life Radio – has continued his downward spiral into deeper and deeper heresy. My prayer is, we can chalk it up to age and infirmity. Nevertheless, his specious claims on the dates of Christ’s return, errors on the Trinity, and abandonment of the Church makes responding to him necessary. In this 2 part debate with Dr. James White at Alpha & Omega Ministries, you’ll hear all you need to see Mr. Camping’s teachings for what they are. CLICK HERE, or on either of the images displayed.
THANK YOU Dr. White.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17, ESV)
It is true in general, that there can be little true progress in putting away sin without sound doctrine. So it is also true that we can never substitute the finding out of sound doctrine for the putting away of sin. And thirdly, the true putting away of sin is never located merely in the amendment of actions – but must be accompanied with a true change of the heart.
All of this is essential in our counseling. And it applies as much to the counselor, as to the counselee.
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 – The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, – When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
IN PUBLIC. July 5, 2009 – The considered Declaration of one man saved by Grace –
When in the course of human history, by God’s grace humankind is shown the dire state of their fallen condition outside of Christ Jesus our Lord, it becomes necessary for all men to dissolve the sinful bands which have connected them to self as supreme, the influence of the Prince of the Power of the air, and the Fallen World System, and to obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, restoring their right relationship as joyful and willing children and subjects of the Living God to which the Gospel entitles all who believe – a decent respect for the Truth and the the Glory of God requires that they should declare the realities which impel them to be reconciled to Him.
We hold these truths to be revealed by God, that all men are created by God and for God, and that He possesses absolute and unalienable rights over all things. That among these are the right to require perfect obedience; to judge all creatures according to His own holiness; to grant life both temporal and eternal; to grant forgiveness and liberty from the penalty, power and presence of sin; and to grant infinite and eternal happiness only to be found in Himself freely as He sees fit. — That to secure these grants and gifts, God’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ acting without the consent of the governed, came to earth in the form of sinful flesh, endured God’s wrath against us, died in our place on the Cross of Calvary propitiating the Father and rose again from the dead 3 days later. —That whenever any Form of supposed Government either Institutional or Individual becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of God’s people to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made them free, and their Duty to challenge every yoke of sin and self-government in the Name of Jesus Christ, standing steadfast on the foundation of absolute dependence upon the mercy, love grace and goodness of their eternal Creator King – as this alone can guarantee their Safety and Happiness.
2 Samuel 11:1 “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at home.”
Most of you will recognize this verse as the preface to one of the darkest periods in the life of David. These few sentences set the stage for David’s adulterous sexual sin with Bathsheba, and the subsequent arranged murder of her husband Uriah. How does one so great, fall so greatly? This simple verse provides at least one of the keys to it all.
Prov. 7:21 “With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. 22 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast 23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.”
One more observation on this passage needs to be made before we move on. It is to recognize Temptation’s “tipping point.” “All at once” verse 22 begins, and this is the key thought. Up until this moment, recovery is still available. But there is an indefinable point at which Temptation’s appeals have been listened to and entertained for so long – and the Believing heart’s objections denied for so long that it becomes a case of: “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing” (Pr 29:1).
ResponsiveReiding 