Archive for the ‘ Uncategorized ’ Category
To really drive the point home, I am not saying who I support in the current presidential election. This is a solid piece, though.
Daniel
Men (even if currently single), pray this.
Women, change wife to husband, then ditto.
Daniel
Read my thoughts from FIVE YEARS AGO!
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
For the record, I love being married.
Also, sorry for not posting last week. I was trudging through the battle of Chest Cold 2011 … and am really still in combat.
Because of today, I think it is time to do a short marathon on love and couples … and singles. I mean, this day is not all about chocolates and candies and heart-shaped balloons and pizzas!
We should start in the right place: HISTORY!
According to Catholic.org, here is a brief history of the namesake of this holiday:
Valentine was a priest in Rome during the third century, specifically during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. This was during the time Christianity was illegal, and helping Christians was also illegal. In about 269, Valentine was arrested, ordered beaten with clubs and beheaded. His crime? Helping Christians.
Specifically, Valentine helped Christian couples get married. There is a legend…
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I was going merely to write a comment, but then I decided to reblog Anthony’s post with further comment.
I have been reading Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. (Finally. I have had the book for quite a while, only getting through the first couple of chapters. This past month I started over!) In chapter 19 (pp. 292-293) is this incredibly apropos quote from a letter Bonhoeffer wrote in the spring of 1937:
“Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” (Matt. 7:6). The promise of grace is not to be squandered; it needs to be protected from the godless. There are those who are not worthy of the sanctuary. The proclamation of grace has its limits. Grace may not be proclaimed to anyone who does not recognize or distinguish or desire it. Not only does that pollute the sanctuary itself, not only must those who sin still be guilty against the Most Holy, but in addition, the misuse of the Holy must turn against the community itself. The world upon whom grace is thrust as a bargain will grow tired of it, and it will not only trample upon the Holy, but also will tear apart those who force it on them. For its own sake, for the sake of the sinner, and for the sake of the community, the Holy is to be protected from cheap surrender. The Gospel is protected by the preaching of repentance which calls sin sin and declares the sinner guilty. The key to loose is protected by the key to bind. The preaching of grace can only be protected by the preaching of repentance.
In other words, we must preach repentance for grace to be received. We should do it holding to peace, but the message will offend. We must not be rude, but we must not shove it down their throats either, lest they hate the Gospel because of the messengers. And if there is no repentance with grace, grace becomes meaningless to those who need it. (Everyone)
It is not only street preachers who can be guilty of committing both of these sins. It is also pastors with their congregations, Christians with each other, and Christians who wish to compromise with the world to keep a friend. (And I have been all of these.)
May we keep a watchful eye on our world, on each other as Christians, and – especially – on ourselves, through washing by the Word and the changing of our minds (Eph. 5:26, Rom. 12:1-2), which is true repentance.
Daniel
There are some people in the Christian world who think making people angry is doing God’s work. Some Christians are convinced that they are fulfilling the Great Commission by crashing public events and barking out, “Repent! Repent!” In reality, many just come off as being inconsiderate, impolite, and obnoxious.
In defense of their actions, many street preachers and their followers (but not all) have suggested the following points:
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I was just at an apologetics conference, and this was the only topic (Creation) not discussed while I was there. It was good to see this, then!
I also agree with what was said here. Go read more of the folks posts at The Isaiah 53:5 Project!
Daniel
I went through basically the same process a few years ago, but I like the way this is put. It kinda hits in the gut, too.
Daniel
This is why I like Chick-fil-A. (Amongst a few reasons.)
Daniel
Yep.
Think of the following quote as you prepare for Sunday – if you prepare for Sunday…
“Worship on Sunday that does not lead to worship on Monday is not real worship; it’s religious activity.” – Chuck Lawless
Please, oh please, make it a point to attend corporate worship with other believers this Sunday! And when you do, determine not to be distracted by people, things, or anything else – worship God, not man. Don’t make going to church an “activity” you do, make it a relationship you renew.
Remember, it’s not about you; it’s about HIM.
The only thing I would add to Anthony’s thoughts is that sometimes the brakes only work on one side, so, instead of stopping, we are redirected. It might look like all of our dreams are crashing, when in reality God is sending us to something greater.
Ultimately, that something greater is eternity with Him. If that is not our focus, almost every change we encounter will seem like punishment or His lack of control.
Think on that.Daniel
I am not supposed to be using a cell phone on a school bus. However, what you see in the picture below is the result of using my cell phone…on the school bus. But note, the brakes were on.
Yes, I used my old iPhone 4S to capture (there’s no click) an image of the instrument panel on my bus. Actually, I took a picture of only one part of my instrument panel: the part that showed my “service brake” was engaged.
As I was waiting for my bus to warm up, I sat there looking at the gauges, making sure everything was in working order. That’s when something crossed my mind that had never occurred to me before – the brake is actually performing a “service.”
There is no “P” for “Park” anywhere on a school bus. In order to put a…
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Today is my wonderful mother-in-law’s birthday.
Also, it is what I call my Re-birthday.
16 years ago today, in a small Nazarene church in Bloomington, IL, I realized that I believed the Gospel message. Jesus got a firm hold of me, and that is when everything began to change for me. It took about six more months for it to really mean something to me, but the change was evident even then. (Ask my parents, who, at the time, were annoyed with my sudden music choices and leaving radios on around the house.)
The point of all of this, then, is that Jesus is Lord. And the picture above shows that I celebrate this day. I make a cake (Glazed Lemon, this year), and serve it to others.
Why?
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:7, 10, 24
Just like the song says, this wretch was lost and dead, but now I am found and alive. This calls for celebration!
Therefore, I finish with the full reason for this post by quoting Jude (3):
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Let us celebrate our common salvation and share this faith with our fallen world!
a simple man of God 