Friday, December 30, 2005

The Spirit Of Love The Opposite Of An Angry Or Wrathful Spirit


1 Corinthians 13:5 Love . . . is not easily provoked.
Pride is one chief cause of undue anger. It is because men are proud, and exalt themselves in their own hearts, that they are revengeful, and are apt to be excited, and to make great things out of little ones that may be against themselves. Yea, they even treat as vices things that are in themselves virtues, when they think their honor is touched, or when their will is crossed. And it is pride that makes men so unreasonable and rash in their anger, and raises it to such a high degree, and continues it so long, and often keeps it up in the form of habitual malice. But, love, or Christian charity, is utterly opposed to pride.
It is because men are selfish and seek their own, that they are malicious and revengeful against all that oppose or interfere with their own interests. If men sought not chiefly their own private and selfish interests, but the glory of God and the common good, then their spirit would be a great deal more stirred up in God’s cause than in their own; and they would not be prone to hasty, rash, inconsiderate, immoderate, and long-continued wrath, with any who might have injured or provoked them; but they would in a great measure forget themselves for God’s sake, and from their zeal for the honor of Christ. The end they would aim at, would be, not making themselves great, or getting their own will, but the glory of God and the good of their fellow-beings. Love is opposed to all selfishness.

Friday

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Sin

I was watching an interview on MSNBC the other night with Ted Haggard the pastor of New life Church in Colorado Spring Colorado. Tom Brokaw ask him this question?

Brokaw: Most of the churches that I know of, and certainly the ones I attended, at some point, you out loud acknowledge that you were a sinner or that you came face-to-face to guilt that you may feel.

Haggard: Right.

Brokaw: I didn’t see any of that here.

Haggard: Well, we do talk about sin. But, see, the issue is Jesus took care of our sin. And Jesus removes guilt from our life. So the emphasis in our church isn’t how to get your sins removed because that’s pretty easy to do. Jesus did that on the cross. He emphasis in our church is how to fulfill the destiny that God’s called you to.

Brokaw: You’re making it easier for them.

Haggard: Making it easier for them just like Jesus did, just like Moses did.

I don’t know about you but I find this very disturbing my mouth just dropped when I heard this. This does not make any since to me so then if you emphasis is not on sins removable then how do people get saved in this church, Yes Christ did remove sin on the cross for those who would believe, but how will they believe if they don’t know they are sinners, how will they know they are a sinner if you don’t deal with the people’s sins.
So not talking about sin or emphasizing it in fact does not make it easier on them it actually makes in harder on them.
We all have sin and have fallen short of the glory of God and we need a Savior to forgive our sins. One of the few times I heard John MacArthur preach in person he said The church should model after heaven first holiness second in worship, the church cannot be holy if sin is not dealt with or emphases or purged and that’s major problem with are churches today. Just a thought

A new blog

Fide-O has discovered a new blog to check out Running Well. I have read a few of the post and would highly recommend the site. Not that my opinion means anything:)

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Wednesday

I can breath I got my stints out of my nose yesterday and it fills great I can actually breathe Praise the Lord. Back to work on Friday for me after being off for almost two week because of the surgery last week, about to go crazy being lock up in this apartment for that long I think yesterday was the first day out of the house since the surgery and it was great, got to run my buddy Bill around his truck broke down on him so I was his driver for 3 to 4 hours yesterday it was fun because we do not usually spend allot of time together because he’s married which I understand, you know I’ve said this before all my friends growing up are married now and I am not which is difficult sometimes, it is all out frustrating sometimes but what can you do, I know trust the Lord it easy to say but it is harder to live sometime:)
But on a lighter note talk with the Hardware guy today and he said they still haven’t found anybody they want to hire over me which I thought encouraging, He also said that he was going to talk with his boss tomorrow about me so I hope that goes well. But anyways that where I’m at. And again Praise the Lord I can breathe it amazing

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Martin Luther

Cases Of Conscience, and Directions Against Backbiting, Slandering, and Evil Speaking

lol this is some good stuff! I was reading this and thought I would post part of it. The rest of it is at this web site
by Richard Baxter
3. The Evil of Backbiting and Evil-speaking.

1. It is forbidden of God among the heinous, damning sins, and made the character of a notorious wicked person, and the avoiding of it is made the mark of such as are accepted of God and shall be saved: Rom. 1:29,30, it is made the mark of a reprobate mind, and joined with murder, and hating God, viz. "full of envy, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters." Psalm. 15:2, 3, "Lord, who in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour." And when Paul describeth those whom he must sharply rebuke and censure, he just describeth the factious sort of Christians of our times. 2 Cor. 12:20, "For I fear lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults." Eph. 4:31, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil-speaking be put away from you, with all malice, and be in one to another, and tender hearted—."

2.It is a sin which gratifieth Satan, and serveth his malice against our neighbour. He is malicious against all, and speaking evil, and doing hurt, are the works which are suitable to his malignity! And should a Christian make his tongue the instrument of the accuser of the brethren, to do his work against each other?

3.It signifieth lack of Christian love. For love speaketh not evil, nor openeth men's faults without a cause, but covereth infirmities; much less will it lie and slander others, and carry about uncertain reports against them. It is not to do as you would be alone by: and how essential love is to true Christianity, Christ himself bath often told us.

4.It is a sin which directly serveth to destroy the hearers' love, and consequently to destroy their souls. If the backbiter understood himself, he would confess that it is his very end to cause you to hate (or abate your love to) him whom he speaketh evil of. He that speaketh good of a man, representeth him amiable; for amiableness and goodness are all one. And he that speaketh evil of a man representeth him hateful or unlovely; for hatefulness, unloveliness, and evil are all one. And as it is not the natural way of winning love, to entreat and beg it, and say, I pray you love this person, or that thing; but to open the goodness of the thing or person, which will command love: so is it not the natural way to stir up hatred, by entreating men to hate this man or that; but to tell how bad they are, which will command hatred in them that do believe it. Therefore to speak evil of another, is more than to say to the hearers, I pray you hate this man, or abate your love to him. And that the killing of love is the killing or destroying of men's souls, the apostle John doth frequently declare.

5 And it tendeth also to destroy the love, and consequently the soul of him that you speak evil of. For when it cometh to his hearing, (as one way or other it may do) what evil you have reported of him behind his back, it tendeth to make him hate you, and so to make him worse.

6. It is a great contention-maker and peace-breaker wherever it is practiced. It tendeth to set people together by the ears. When it is told that such a one spake evil of you in such a place, there are then heart-burnings, and rehearsals, and sidings, and such ensuing malice as the devil intended by this design.

7. They who often speak evil of others behind their backs, it is ten to one will speak falsehoods of them when they do not know it. Fame is too ordinarily a liar, and they shall be liars who will be its messengers. How know you whether the thing that you report is true? Is it only because a credible person spake it? But how did that person know it to be true? Might he not take it upon trust as well as you? And might he not take a person to be credible that is not? And how commonly doth faction, or interest, or passion, or credulity, mike that person incredible in one tiling, who is credible in others, where he hath no such temptation. If you know it not to be true, or have not sufficient evidence to prove it, you are guilty of lying and slandering interpretatively, though it should prove true; because it might have been a lie for aught you knew.

8. It is gross injustice to talk of a man's faults, before you have heard him speak for himself. I know it is usual with such to say, O we have heard it from such as we are certain will not lie. But he is a foolish and unrighteous judge will be peremptory upon hearing one party only speak, and knoweth not how ordinary it is for a man when speaketh for himself; to blow away the most confident and plausible accusations, and make the case appear to be quite another thing. You know not what another man hath to say till you have heard him.

9. Backbiting teacheth others to backbite. Your example inviteth them to do the like: and sins which are common, are easily swallowed, and hardly repented of: men think that the commonness justifieth or extenuateth the fault.

10. It encourageth ungodly men to the odious sin of backbiting and slandering the most religious, righteous person. It is ordinary with the devil's family to make Christ's faithfullest servants their table talk, and the objects of their reproach and scorn, and the song of drunkards? What abundance of lies go current among such malignant persons, against the most innocent, which would all be ashamed, if they had first admitted them to speak for themselves. And such slanders and lies are the devil's common means to keep ungodly men from the love of godliness, and so from repentance and salvation. And backbiting professors of religion encourage men to this; for with what measure they mete, it shall be measured to them again. And they that are themselves evil spoken of, will think that they are warranted to requite the backbiters with the like.

11. It is a sin which commonly excludeth true, profitable reproof and exhortation. They that speak most behind men's backs, do usually say least to the sinner's face, in any way which tendeth to his salvation. They will not go lovingly to him in private, and set home his sin upon his conscience, and exhort him to repentance; but any thing shall serve as a sufficient excuse against this duty; that they may make the sin of backbiting serve instead of it: and all is out of carnal self-saving; they fear men will be offended if they speak to their faces, and therefore they will whisper against them behind their backs.

12. It is at the least, but idle talk and a misspending of your time: what the better are the healers for hearing of other men's misdoings? And you know that it no whit profiteth the person of whom you speak. A skillful, friendly admonition might do him good! But to neglect this, and talk of his faults unprofitably, behind his back, is but to aggravate the sin of your uncharitableness, as being not contented to refuse your help to a man in sin, but you must also injure him and do him hurt.

Monday, December 26, 2005

Puritan Quote of the Week

"Seek not to grow in knowledge chiefly for the sake of applause, and to enable you to dispute with others; but seek it for the benefit of your souls, and in order to practice....Practice according to what knowledge you have. This will be the way to know more...[According to Ps. 119:100] 'I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.'"
JONATHAN EDWARDS

Friday, December 23, 2005

The Best Christmas present this Christmas


Forgiveness is one of the best gifts you can give and receive this Christmas.















I borrowed this from Random Responses

Thursday, December 22, 2005

What is your model of the church?

You scored as Mystical Communion Model. Your model of the church is Mystical Communion, which includes both People of God and Body of Christ. The church is essentially people in union with Christ and the Father through the Holy Spirit. Both lay people and clergy are drawn together in a family of faith. This model can exalt the church beyond what is appropriate, but can be supplemented with other models.

Herald Model

100%

Mystical Communion Model

100%

Sacrament model

83%

Servant Model

67%

Institutional Model

50%

What is your model of the church? [Dulles]
I really don’t know what this means but ok. thanks David at nelmezzo

Friday

I’m back sort of still not feeling myself but everything did go well Tuesday with my sinuses surgery. Thanks for all your prayers and thinking of me:)

Monday, December 19, 2005

Monday

This will be my last post for a while I’m having a little minor surgery tomorrow and will not feel like posting for a while. So if you can remember me tomorrow in your prayers it would me much appreciated, it only minor sinuses surgery but you never know:)

lol



I love these:) I found these over in Colossians 3:16 Thanks Brent

Saturday, December 17, 2005

What Muppet are you?

kermit.jpeg
You are Kermit the Frog.
You are reliable, responsible and caring. And you
have a habit of waving your arms about
maniacally.

FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS:
"Hi ho!" "Yaaay!" and
"Sheesh!"
FAVORITE MOVIE:
"How Green Was My Mother"

LAST BOOK READ:
"Surfin' the Webfoot: A Frog's Guide to the
Internet"

HOBBIES:
Sitting in the swamp playing banjo.

QUOTE:
"Hmm, my banjo is wet."


What Muppet are you?


Here is another senseless Quiz for you:)

Friday, December 16, 2005

Weekend

Well it’s my weekend to work fun fun stuff you know I have to work all weekend even Sunday morning I hate that I have to work Sunday morning and have to miss Church but there is a special down time and I will have to be there, still have not heard anything about the job I interview for over a week ago, I talk to the guy who was over the interview Monday but could not get him to nail anything down yet he said not to worry about anything but give him a week or two to find something out from his boss

The Exercise Curse

I’m Bored

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Life is a Maze


Life FREQUENTLY called a maze, and rightly so. Its many twistings, windings, changes, and mysteries, entitle it to be classed among the most complicated of labyrinths. To find the center of true bliss is the object of every man, but few are happy enough to enter it. They journey for a little season in a way which seems to be right, and on a sudden they are brought to a dead halt, and are sorrowfully compelled to retrace their steps. Thousands waste all their lives in useless wanderings, and die disappointed men, to be for ever shut out from bliss, and shut in with misery and despair. There is a clue, a sure and simple clue, but the most of men despise it and run on, proudly relying on their own wit to lead them aright; while those who regard it, though their way is full of windings, yet obtain a sure entrance into the place of their desires. Reader, do you know the clue? God himself has spoken the great secret. It is one word, "FAITH,"—faith in Jesus for pardon, faith in the Father for providential provision, faith in the Holy Spirit for all grace. In ordinary pathways men walk by sight; but in the way of life, if we would prosper, we must walk by faith. God is unseen, but he is ever near to those who trust him. His promises are sure, and he is ever ready to fulfill them. He hears and answers the prayers of believing souls. There is reality in his presence, and true support in his comforts. In sorrow for sin, though no priest is heard and no cleansing blood is seen, yet Jesus is at the right hand of all who rest their souls upon him, and he gives complete remission and perfect peace. In times of great distress, no arm is visible to the eye of the body, but the mighty hand of God is certainly present working out deliverance for his own people. It is hard for flesh and blood to trust in an unseen God; so hard, that it is impossible, until God the Holy Spirit works true faith in us; but where the soul in simplicity believes in God, as he has revealed himself in the Word, joy, peace, safety, and eternal happiness, are the sure results. God's being unseen is no cause for doubt, for the greatest powers in nature, such as gravity and electricity, are equally unseen. Men believe in multitudes of mysteries, about which eye and ear give us no information. Faith in God is, however, most consistent with the soundest reason. In whom should we trust so readily as in the Judge of all the earth, who must do right? Where should a creature be so safe as under its Creator's care? Where so happy as resting in his love? Where so accepted as in God's own righteousness? Reader, as a little child, follow the clue of faith without leaning to thine own understanding, and thou shalt thread the maze of life, and reach the center of supreme delight.

King Kong

Bill and I a good friend of mind just got through watching the new King Kong movie even though it was a little long 3 hours long it was a pretty good movie. The acting and the special effect where very well done. What do you expect from the Man who did Lord of the Rings

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Puritan Quote of the Week

"A proud faith is as much a contradiction as a humble devil."
STEPHEN CHARNOCK

Chocolate Cake


Just got through eating at my work’s Christmas Potluck and had one of the best Chocolate and Carmel cake ever, this is the best picture I could find and it does not do it justices:)

Singles Encouragement

What's your eschatology?

You scored as Premillenialist. Premillenialism believes that there will be a rapture and tribulation before Jesus returns and overthrows the antichrist and establishes his Kingdom. Current events are spoken of in scripture.

Left Behind

100%

Premillenialist

100%

Dispensationalist

60%

Moltmannian Eschatology

25%

Postmillenialist

25%

Amillenialist

25%

Preterist

0%


What's your eschatology?

I think i already knew this:)

Saturday, December 10, 2005

The Great Personal Blog Photo Contest of 2005


Somebody has entered me into “The Great Personal Blog Photo Contest of 2005” isn’t that just cool check it out here and I have made the short list

Friday, December 09, 2005

Interview updated three

I had my interview today for the hardware team like I mention last week. The interview was just like I thought it would be, it was not like any interview I ever been in. They said well we’ve work with you for the past 7 months so we already know your work ethic and that you work well others and we know you can do the job and we just know you. There where only really couples of real questions and the rest were off the wall like do you drive a truck or hunt, and then there where question that I would be embarrass to tell you. But it went well and believes the next step is an interview with Business unit leader I think I will know for sure next week. But I wanted to thank those who thought of me today in the prayers:)

Cold Day

Which LOTR character are you?

You scored as Gandalf. You are Gandalf! This wise, old mage is loyal and brave. He is known for his counsel and advice to his friends and allies during tough times.
"All you have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to you."

Gandalf

100%

Samwise

69%

Arwen

50%

Eowyn

50%

Frodo

38%

Aragorn

25%

Faramir

25%

Pippin

25%

Gollum

0%

Which LOTR character are you?

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Who is my Neighbor

Mathew 5:43-48
"43. "You have heard that it was said, `YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'
44. "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45. so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46. "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47. "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48. "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. "


I know we have all have heard this before but I was thinking about this tonight. So who is Jesus talking about when He says “Love your neighbor” So who is my neighbor according the text of scriptures above? Are neighbor is anyone who is in need that we may come across in our daily life. Proverbs 25:21 if your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he thirsty, give him water to drink. Jesus also teaches this concept in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10 29-37
29. But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30. Jesus replied and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away
leaving him half dead.
31. "And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32. "Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33. "But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw
him, he felt compassion,
34. and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
35. "On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.'
36. "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?"
37. And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to
him, "Go and do the same."

Such is Life


Such is LIFE. A bubble, brilliant with rainbow hues, delighting the eye of youth for a moment and then gone for ever, leaving not a trace behind. Man wilt thou risk thine all upon that bubble? Be wise and seek substantial good, and since this can ne'er be found beneath the skies, cry to the God of Heaven for his gracious aid.

Such is LIFE. A gourd, like that of Jonah, which cometh up in a night and dieth in a night. Wilt thou make its leaves thine only shelter? Then what wilt thou do when the gourd is withered and the hot sun of divine wrath scorches thee? O that thou wouldst fly to Jesus who is the shadow of a great rock in a weary land!

Such is LIFE. A meteor blazing its moment and then lost in darkness! If thou be sane thou wilt desire another and more lasting light than this can give thee! The Sun of Righteousness Shines on for ever.

Such is LIFE. Like the swift ship which skims the deep and soon disappears beneath the horizon's line! Shall thy happiness be as fleeting as this? Dost thou not long for a more enduring joy?

Such is LIFE. As the eagle which hasteth to its prey, so passeth away thine earthly existence! Whither art thou flying? Immortal Spirit, to what country art thou bound? Thou canst not pause, but thou mayest think, and it may be the Lord may turn thee heavenwards!

Such is LIFE. An arrow speeding from a bow, a hart bounding over the plain. Speed is found in its highest degree in our life; none can outrun it. O friend, art thou ready for the grave and the judgment? for in a few days thou must know more of them than now.

Such is LIFE. A flower which bloometh for a little season and then withereth away. Ye young, ye gay, ye proud, are ye so silly as to dream that your earthly life will last for ever? Think of your latter end, and seek that friend, who will be with you in life and in death, even Jesus, the sinner's Saviour.

WOW


Not that anybody cares; I’ve been playing a little game called World of Warcraft which is a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) for a little while now and Saturday night I finally got the top level on my character. Level 60 is the highest level you can obtain, so after months of playing I finely got it, not that I beat the game you never really beat the game. I know I’ve already been called a geek for playing but I forgive her:)

lol

lol

There is a little snow out there

Sermon Glasses

I found this over in Colossians 3:13. I dont think I need these on Sunday:) then again:)


Wednesday, December 07, 2005

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe


Here is an interesting review of C.S Lewis theology it a bit long but informative I've read part it and will read the rest later:.

Interview update

Back to work today after a couple days off it sure was nice to be off I sure did not what to go in today I sure was pretty tired this morning when I got up but anyways.

Not that I can say what we talk about because I have coworkers that read this Blog But I talk with the guy who will be doing my interview on Friday yesterday if that make since and I left his office yesterday pretty happy I still have the interview on Friday but I can't say what he told me yet on the blog. The Lord continues to bless to me. And I’m Thankful:) and like I said before the Lord is Good:) ALWAYS!!

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Virgin birth


I Love these Cartoons, I don’t know if I can see that happened back then but today I can:)

Puritan Quote of the Week

"Knowledge without repentance will be but a torch to light men to hell."
THOMAS WATSON

The Chronicles of Narnia

Guess what is coming out this Friday. Can't hardly wait!!!

Monday, December 05, 2005

What kind of Pie are you?

You Are Apple Pie

You're the perfect combo of comforting and traditional
Those who like you crave security
Here is another fun Quiz to take what kind of Pie are you? I love apple pie especially with ice cream on top it’s one of my favorite second only to pecan pie. .

Day off

I was off from work today because I work all weekend and thought I would do a little Christmas shopping today, you know I don’t think anybody in the Central part of the State works wow it sure was busy for a weekday.
But on a lighter note got to talk to my best friend from college Jeff P We’ve been best friend almost since our first day college, He is now pastoring a church in Colorado we talk about a half hour on the phone about what was going on in our life’s, it was really good talking to him:)

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Just a thought

I was thinking yesterday and especially today during the worship serves how mush the Lord has blessed me this past week and how undeserving I feel to receive that blessing. The Lord is good!

How to Get the Most from Reading your Bible

This was written by my favorite Puritan Thomas Watson

1. Remove hindrances. (a) remove the love of every sin (b) remove the distracting concerns of this world, especially covetousness [Matt. 13:22] (c) Don't make jokes with and out of Scripture.

2. Prepare your heart. [1 Sam. 7:3] Do this by: (a) collecting your thoughts (b) purging unclean affections and desires (c) not coming to it rashly or carelessly.

3. Read it with reverence, considering that each line is God speaking directly to you.

4. Read the books of the Bible in order.

5. Get a true understanding of Scripture. [Ps. 119:73] This is best achieved by comparing relevant parts of Scripture with each other.

6. Read with seriousness. [Deut. 32:47] The Christian life is to be taken seriously since it requires striving [Luke 13:24] and not falling short [Heb. 4:1].

7. Persevere in remembering what you read. [Ps. 119:52] Don't let it be stolen from you [Matt. 13:4,19]. If it doesn't stay in your memory it is unlikely to be much benefit to you.

8. Meditate on what you read. [Ps. 119:15] The Hebrew word for meditate' means to be intense in the mind'. Meditation without reading is wrong and bound to err; reading without meditation is barren and fruitless. It means to stir the affections, to be warmed by the fire of meditation [Ps. 39:3].

9. Read with a humble heart. Acknowledge that you are unworthy that God should reveal himself to you [James 4:6]

10. Believe it all to be God's Holy Word. [2 Tim 3:16] We know that no sinner could have written it because of the way it describes sin. No saint could blaspheme God by pretending his own Word was God's. No angel could have written it for the same reason. [Heb 4:2]

11. Prize the Bible highly. [Ps. 119:72] It is your lifeline; you were born by it [James 1:18] you need to grow by it [1 Pet 2:2] [cf. Job 23:12].

12. Love the Bible ardently [Ps. 119:159].

13. Come to read it with an honest heart. [Luke 8:15] (a) Willing to know the entire and complete will of God (b) reading in order to be changed and made better by it [John 17:17].

14. Apply to yourself everything that you read, take every word as spoken to yourself. Its condemnation of sins as the condemnation of your own sin; the duty that it requires as the duty God would require from you [2 Kings 22:11].

15. Pay close attention to the commands of the Word as much as the promises. Think of how you need direction just as much as you need comfort.

16. Don't get carried away with the minor details, rather make sure to pay closest attention to the great things [Hosea 8:12].

17. Compare yourself with the Word. How do you compare? Is your heart something of a transcript of it, or not?

18. Pay special attention to those passages that speak to your individual, particular and present situation. e.g. (a) Affliction -- [Heb. 12:7, Isaiah 27:9, John 16:20, 2 Cor 4:17. (b) Sense of Christ's presence and smile withdrawn -- [Isaiah 54:8, Isaiah 57:16, Ps. 97:11] (c) Sin -- [Gal 5:24, James 1:15, 1 Peter 2:11, Prov 7:10&22-23, Prov 22:14] (d) Unbelief -- [Isaiah 26:3, 2 Sam 22:31, John 3:15, 1 John 5:10, John 3:36]

19. Pay special attention to the examples and lives of people in the Bible as living sermons. (a) Punishments [Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, Num 25:3-4&9, 1 Kings 14:9-10, Acts 5:5,10, 1 Cor 10:11, Jude 7] (b) mercies and deliverances [Daniel, Jeremiah, the 3 youths in the fiery furnace]

20. Don't stop reading the Bible until you find your heart warmed. [Ps 119:93] Let it not only inform you but also inflame you [Jer 23:29, Luke 24:32].

21. Put into practice what you read [Ps 119:66, Ps 119:105, Deut 17:19].

22. Christ is for us Prophet, Priest and King. Make use of His office as a Prophet [Rev 5:5, John 8:12, Ps 119:102-103]. Get Christ not only to open the Scriptures up to you, but to open up your mind and understanding [Luke 24:45]

23. Make sure to put yourself under a true ministry of the Word, faithfully and thoroughly expounding the Word [Prov 8:34] be earnest and eager in waiting on it.

24. Pray that you will profit from reading [Isaiah 48:17, Ps 119:18, Nehemiah 9:20].

Natural obstacles You may still be able to profit from reading even though:

1. You don't seem to profit as much as others do. Remember the different yields [Matt 13:8] though the yield isn't as much as others it is still a true and fruitful yield.

2. You may feel slow of understanding [Luke 9:45, Heb 5:11].

3. Your memory is bad (a) remember you are still able to have a good heart despite this (b) you may still remember the most important things even if you cannot remember everything, be encouraged by John 14:26.

Nuts to Crack


by C. H. Spurgeon
THE CHRISTIAN is one who is to be plainly seen, and yet his life is hidden; he is a man in the world, but not a man of the world; he converses with other men, and yet his conversation is in heaven.
He is one who lives to die, and dies to live; yet he is dead while he lives, and lives when he dies.
He is one who lives in another, and for another; he seeks not himself when he aims most at his own good; God is his all, and his all is God; he aims at no end but the glory of God, of which there is no end.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

If Star War was a Band


If Star Wars was a band I think this is what it would look like. I found this picture and thought it was so funny. I was thinking the stormtrooper as the backup singer and Yoda as the drummer:)

A new Study

I was reading from the BBC News web site about and study of benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. In the Lancet study it states that “While moderate to heavy drinking is probably coronary-protective, any benefit will be overwhelmed by the known harms” and “If so, the public health message is clear. Do not assume there is a window in which the health benefits of alcohol are greater than the harms - there is probably no free lunch." Well I will let you read the article for yourself. I guess I will have to eat more sweets:)

Which Peanuts Character are You?

Charlie Brown
You are Charlie Brown!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
I really wanted to be Snoopy!

Friday, December 02, 2005

Another Fall Day


I got kind of scared when a friend at work sent me this to me in an email. This tree is in front of the duplex I use to live in. I think it an older picture before I live there or is it. Other then that it a pretty good picture.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Interview

Well after cross training on the hardware team for the past seven months I finally have my shot at getting hired on the team and actually getting paid. I just found out that I have an interview with the Hardware team next Friday at 1:00. So if you would hold me up in your prayers that if it be the Lord’s will that I get the job and if I don’t get the job that He would give me the grace to handle it.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

New Picture

I added a picture to my title of my blog do you think i should keep it.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE

Walter Chalmers Smith
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.

All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart.

I love the classic hymns like this one. You can find more here at THE CYBER HYMNAL

Thanksgiving pictures

It me and my baby sister Rachel after a awful day at work dealing with angry customer . We just got though eating thanksgiving dinner so we where stuff

It me and my mother


Puritan Quote of the Week

"Without the heart it is no worship. It is a stage play. It is an acting of a part without being that person, really. It is playing the hypocrite."
STEPEHEN CHARNOCK

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

E-mail Curse



I love these cartoons. Here is a new one

Puritan Quote of the Week

"If we would talk less and pray more about them, things would be be better than they are in the world; at least, we should be better enabled to bear them."
JOHN OWEN

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Will of God

How Will You Die??

You scored as Natural Causes. Your death will be by natural causes, though not by any diseaese, because that is another option on this test. You will probably just silently pass away in the night from old age, and people you love won't realize until the next morning, when you are all purple and cold and icky. So be happy, you won't be murdered.

Posion

80%

Natural Causes

80%

Suicide

60%

Gunshot

47%

Bomb

40%

Drowning

33%

Disappear

27%

Suffocated

20%

Disease

13%

Accident

13%

Eaten

0%

Stabbed

0%

Cut Throat

0%


How Will You Die??

I didn’t know I was 60% Suicidal. Maybe I should get some help. But you know have to take these quizzes with a grain of salt. I hope so :)

Thursday, November 17, 2005

God's Great Golden Chain

In light of our pastor preaching on Romans 8:29-30 I thought I would share this from Audience one web site

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified" -Romans 8:29-30.

"This is one of the most profound and assuring promises in all of Scripture. It is commonly referred to as, "The Golden Chain of Salvation." It is a chain of five eternal links: God foreknew; God predestined; God called; God justified; and God glorified. Every aspect of our salvation is all and only of Him. No room for man's self-glory here; no room for a hint of human praise; no room for boasting in ourselves. This is the great work of the Lord alone in our salvation. Past, present and future hope secured for us in Christ Jesus. So therefore, we joyfully say with the apostle Paul, "if God be for us, who can be against us? For it is God who justifies..." (Rom. 8:31f). "

1.) God foreknew: foreknowledge does not mean here to know about future events in advance. God is omniscient - knowing all things in all times concerning all His creatures and creation. Nothing is hidden from His sight and He, contrary to the heresy of The Open Theists, is not "presently learning" nor stunted in His knowing (Psalm 139). Foreknowledge is never used in terms of knowing about future events, times or actions (omniscience). "Foreknowledge is a predetermined relationship in the knowledge of God. God brought the salvation relationship into existence by decreeing it into existence ahead of time" (MacArthur Study Bible, 1 Peter 1:2). God foreknew us by setting His electing love in pre-establishing an intimate relationship with those that He has sovereignly chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world (Eph. 1:4-6; 1 Peter 1:1-2). It is, I believe, only used in regards to God's electing love of His people and not, as some suggest, a "knowing ahead of time of events and actions." God knew us, had established relationship with us in times past eternal. He foreknew us. The antithesis of this is what the Lord said in Matthew 7:23, "depart from, I've never known you." Those are the most frightening words in Scritpure, aren't they? Foreknowledge was also used in this manner with Christ. Peter says, "He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake" (1 Peter 1:20). Christ was foreknown in the eternal Trinitarian relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There was intimacy of relationship within the Trinity before anything that was made was made. The promise for us is that He foreknew us before the world was made... What God established in eternity, He brought about in time in our salvation through Christ our Lord. "
Read the rest of "God's Great Golden Chain"

Outback Pictures

It was Dad's Birthday last week so we took him out to eat at the Outback



Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Southern Baptist leader Adrian Rogers dies



"MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Rev. Adrian Rogers, a three-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention and leader of a conservative takeover of the denomination, the nation's second largest, died early Tuesday in Memphis. He was 74
His death was announced by Baptist Press News and by Rogers' Love Worth Finding ministry.
Officials of the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee planned to issue a statement later Tuesday, a spokesman said.
Rogers was hospitalized earlier this month with pneumonia and cancer, his ministry's Web site said.
Rogers was elected president in 1979 as part of the conservative takeover of the 16.3 million-member convention, second in size to the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.
His election turned out to a be a watershed moment for the denomination, and the group shifted dramatically to the right politically and theologically.
The conservative movement had focused on taking over the denomination's key positions. As president, Rogers was able to appoint other conservatives to committees that set policy and priorities for the faith."

This sadden me:(
Al Mohler talks well of this modern-day "Prince of Preachers" in web blog

Thursday, November 10, 2005

After Eden

Its the Linux Penguins

Office Space


Have you seen my stapler?

Forgiving: The Difficult, Delicate Decision

I found this article at http://www.mentoring-disciples.org/Forgive2.html and thought I would share it. I know this something I need to work at.

Why Forgive Others?
Throughout Scripture God commands us to forgive others. Why forgive?

1. Forgiving thrusts us into the very heart-life of Jesus who prayed: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” What amazing words spoken by a dying Man, hanging from the most accomplished torture tool invented. Didn't the Roman soldiers who nailed him to the cross know what they were doing? The crowds who ridiculed and laughed at the dying Man didn't know? The chicken-hearted, faithless disciples that did a disappearing act when the soldiers took Jesus — they didn't know what they did? We need to forgive others because they may not know what they are doing. Their words and wounding deeds may actually be beyond their threshold of spiritual sensitivity. We feel it; they don't.

2. Without forgiving others we can never get prayer answered. “Prayer without forgiveness is like a car without an engine; or a body without a soul. It simply doesn't work,” says Hank Hanegraaff ( www.equip.org ). “So likewise will your heavenly Father do unto you; if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses” (Matthew 18:35).

3. Forgiveness will erase bitterness in our hearts. Unforgiveness gives birth to a tiger in our heart: bitterness. This killer mutilates and claws all those close to us. “See to it that no one misses the grace of God, that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Hebrews 12:15, NIV). We can imagine the hurt, “play” with it in our minds, make up whole dialogues about it, even dream about what we say and they say. Bitterness begins to cripple our whole life.
Consider this concept: John Piper feels that “ultimately all bitterness is a refusal to forgive God for something we think he did to us.” "lol that hurts"
4. We give forgiveness because we have received it. The Holy Spirit writes in Ephesians 4:32: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Jesus tells the story of a man who can't pay a debt (in our day it might equal $20 million dollars). The man who is the creditor graciously has compassion and cancels the unpayable debt. Then the forgiven man goes to a guy who owes him a $20 dollar bill and puts him in jail. What hardness! But what about us? We've had an unpayable debt of sins and damnation cancelled through the loving sacrifice of Christ. Yet, we stubbornly dare to refuse to forgive a terrible wrong. Our debt to a holy God is unpayable. Hell is sure; although we deserve fire forever, we've been forgiven. Can we not forgive a $20-dollar debt?

What does it mean to totally forgive?
R.T. Kendall shares indicators of how we know that we've truly and fully forgiven. Read these slowly and carefully.
1. Being aware of what they did, and still forgiving them.
2. Choosing to keep no records of what they did.
3. Refusing to punish them back.
4. Not telling others what they did.
5. Being merciful.
6. Gracious.
7. It is an inner condition and surrender of our wills to forgive.
8. It is an absence of bitterness.
9. It is forgiving God.
10. It is forgiving ourselves. 2

The Lord's Prayer says: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Three hundred years ago Thomas Watson, asked regarding this verse: “When have we really forgiven others?” We've forgiven when we: 3
1. Resist all thoughts of revenge: Romans 12:19, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
2. Don't seek to do them mischief: 1 Thessalonians 5:15, “See that no one repays another with evil for evil.”
3. Wish well to them: Luke 6:28, “Bless those who curse you.”
4. Grieve at their calamities: Proverbs 24:17, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.”
5. Pray for them: Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”
6. Seek reconciliation with them: Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”
7. Be always willing to come to their relief: Exodus 23:4, “If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him.”
8. Forgiveness must keep well our hearts: “Keep thy heart with all diligence. . . .” Jesus warned about our sure judgment, “unless you forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:32-35).
What Forgiveness Doesn't Mean
Forgiveness isn't forgetting what happened to us or others. That's not normal. We forgive, and release the offender to God. He is the ultimate reconciler to bring all things to rightness. “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay” (Romans 12:19). He does not bless “evil.”
If I confess, and God forgives, is everything back to square one? No! When we truly repent God will forgive the sin, but he will rarely stop the chain-reaction of the consequences. Thomas Watson says: “Though a child of God, after pardon, may incur his fatherly displeasure, yet his judicial wrath is removed. Though he may lay on the rod, yet he has taken away the curse. Correction may befall the saints, but not destruction.” 4 King David got forgiveness when he repented. However, the consequences of his sins continued. His testimony was scarred forever and many of his family were destroyed (2 Samuel 12:10-13). The sins of the fathers can be visited upon our children (Exodus 34:7).
Furthermore, forgiving does not mean that we hold back on loving discipline towards a child, or church leader or criminal. Both goodness and sin have consequences. “. . .Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:6).
How To Forgive Others
1. Make a commitment. Forgiving others is an act of the heart and the will. Genuine love toward another involves a decision. Emotions will follow actions.
2. When ever emotions grab our mind again, we undergird the decision to forgive by repeating to God: “I forgive him, Lord.” It may take time for the negative emotions to subside and our attitudes to be victorious. The hurt may remain, but the dagger in our hand will dissolve.
3. Victory can be maintained. “Glue a verse” to the person such as “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving. . . .” I've followed step-by-step this verse with difficult people. Jesus commands us to activate four responses to an enemy: 1) love them, 2) do good to them, 3) bless them and 4) pray for them (Luke 6:27-28). Now, go fill in the Bible study worksheet on Forgiveness here. You will fly free!

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

The Gospel According to "St. Campi"

This is article I found at http://a1m.org/ and thought I would share it with you.

"A Mighty Fortress" is one of the great hymns of the church. The melody is powerful, passionate and moving; the lyric, thorougly biblical; the message, timeless; and unashamedly theocentric. Why isn't the CCMI (Contemporary Christian Music Industry) today taking a lesson from the great masters like Luther, Watts, Wesley, etc. and writing songs that are God-conceived (doctrine), Christ-centered (worship) and Spirit-controlled (holiness)? What is the latest trend being churned out today "ad nausea" in CCMI? Read on to find out. "

"Past secular hits are currently being sung to represent our Lord Jesus Christ; and they are nothing more than “God as my girlfriend songs.” Some examples are: “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”; “Free Ride”; “Love is the Answer”; “You Raise Me Up”; “Love Lifted Us Up Where We Belong”; “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You”; “Maybe I’m Amazed”; “Because You Loved Me”; “Everlasting Love”; “In The Air Tonight”; “I Want to Know What Love Is”; “I Believe I Can Fly”; etc. Parroting what one Christian radio network likes to say, "Boring, for the whole family." Taking past secular hits and changing the original meaning of the song to now make it seem as if they're about Jesus because a Christian happens to be singing it is ludicrous. It not only violates the "original intent" of the meaning of the song by its author; but it is just as foolish as if some CCM artist recorded a remake of the great Beatles classic, "Hey Jude", and then tried to spiritually justify it by saying it is about the little epistle before the book of Revelation. Could you imagine if some secular artist took "Amazing Grace" and said it was about a female seductress? The Christian community would be up in arms... and rightly so. But why is Christian radio and the CBA (Christian Booksellers Assoc.) so accepting of these poorly done "covers" of classic pop hits passed off as legitimate representations of Christianity? I am convinced that this is CCM's failed attempt at "Sister Act Three" - artists superimposing a religious meaning to a secular lyric that was never intended in the first place to appeal to people in making the faith more acceptable. "
Read the rest of a sad fad: "God is my Girlfriend" songs

I'm Sorry

Please Forgive Me.

After Eden

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Bill Gothard and Total Health

I found this over in http://www.sharperiron.org/ and thought I would share it with you. Have not been a big fan of Bill Gothard ever since I went to college and found out the truth.

"RESOLUTION ON BILL GOTHARD'S TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
Bill Gothard founded the Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts in 1973 and has served continuously as its director. He has a great influence for ecumenism. Gothard's teachings are composed of his misinterpretations of Scripture mingled with psychology and his own subjective thoughts. At times, he seems to regard his teachings on the same level of authority as God's Word. Bill Gothard now promotes a mystical Total Health program. According to his website (http://iblp.org/) “Total Health is the proper functioning of the physical body as well as the mind, will, emotions and spirit.” He teaches that sickness and disease are the results of bitterness, fears, guilt, etc. in the spirit. The “diseases of the spirit” cause “diseases of the soul,” such as anger, worry, tension, and depression. In turn this affects a person's immunity and hormonal systems, causing sickness and disease of the body. Gothard conducts Total Health conferences in which he claims, “People who had exhausted medical and nutritional remedies found Total Health when they identified the spiritual component that was missing from their lives” (http://billgothard.com/, 10-3-2005). Gothard's charismatic-style approach to Total Health includes what he terms “the power of crying out to God” and “the power of spoken blessing.” He claims that at a Training Conference in Knoxville, TN, Dr. Albert Rath, who had been diagnosed with lymphoma cancer in its fourth stage, was totally cured when 10,000 people cried out in unison: “O God, Abba, Father deliver Dr. Rath from cancer, in the name of Jesus and for Your glory. Amen!” (http://billgothard.com/, 10-4-2005). While his Total Health program has some practical advice, his mystical approach and mishandling of the Word of God is dangerous.
The American Council of... [Read More] "

After Eden

Puritan Quote of the Week

"Kill sin before it kills you".


JOHN OWEN

Monday, November 07, 2005

The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test








The Knight
You scored 34% Cardinal, 35% Monk, 41% Lady, and 67% Knight!
You are the hero. Brave and bold. You are strong and utterly selfless. You are also a pawn to your superiors and will be lucky if you live very long. If you survive the Holy wars you are thrust into you will be praised for your valor and opportunities both romantic and financial will become available to you.







My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:



















free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 43% on Cardinal





free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 33% on Monk





free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 41% on Lady





free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 87% on Knight
Link: The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test