nice story from Mark Batterson. Enjoy.
Soren Kierkegaard once told a parable about two thieves who broke into a jewelry store, but instead of stealing the jewels they simply switched the price tags. They put high-priced tags on cheap jewelry and low-priced tags on valuable gems. For several weeks no one noticed. People bought cheap jewelry for exorbitant prices and rare jewels for spare change. Kierkegaard's point is pretty obvious: sometimes we have difficulty discerning between what is valuable and what is worthless.John 10:10 says, "The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy." But here's how he steals. Very rarely is it overt. He uses covert means. He switches the price tags. He wants us to place supreme value on worthless things and no value on things that are invaluable.A relationship with Jesus Christ is of infinite value. To settle for anything less is literally robbing from yourself.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Why go to Church?
A Churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I’ve gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Exhortation
Thoughts from James 5:7-20
Exhortation defined- Language intended to incite and encourage; advice; counsel; admonition
cheer: spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
The Bible clearly exhorts us to the following teachings
1.Be Patient
2.Be Prayerful
3.Sing Praise
4.Follow spiritual procedure (protocol)
5.Seek to restore (restoration)
4.3.
Exhortation defined- Language intended to incite and encourage; advice; counsel; admonition
cheer: spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
The Bible clearly exhorts us to the following teachings
1.Be Patient
2.Be Prayerful
3.Sing Praise
4.Follow spiritual procedure (protocol)
5.Seek to restore (restoration)
4.3.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Practical Christianity
The Book of James is like the Dear Abby column of the news paper. In other words it is practical advice for living your life. Much of handling our problems is common sense. The difference between using common sense in a worldly fashion as opposed to a spiritual fashion is spiritual formation. When we do things God’s way on purpose we are learning to live life according to Biblical principle.
First, what qualifies James as someone that has the answers?
He was someone who had been through the fire
He was someone who understood where people were
If a Christian were writing to James for advice on certain issues the question might read like this. We will be using the verses of James for the question and answer.
#1 I am going though a very difficult time right now what should I do?
Embrace your trial and learn from it. Believe that something good will come out of it. Ask God to give you wisdom (knowing what to do and doing it).
Don’t be a doubter learn how to stand in faith. Don’t be confused about God. Remember that instability breeds insecurity.
#2 Right now I am just getting by but one day I plan to have a lot of money how can I make sure that the money doesn’t change me?
If you are just getting by remember who you are in Christ. Spiritual richness far exceeds worldly wealth. Just ask Lazarus Luke 16:20-25)
If you are wealthy thank God that you have found the true meaning of life. Thank God you understand you are not measured by what you have.
#3 I want to quit living for God. I am really tired of all the struggles that come with the Christian life. What do you recommend?
Stay with it. Don’t quit. Keep in mind that there is more to life than what we go through in the here and now. Temptation will always be around us but don’t be deceived by the fleeting pleasures of sin. Keep in mind that God has a purpose for you. God has a destiny for you. Don’t abort it.
#4 I really want to give a coworker of mine a piece of my mind. What should I do?
Choose your words carefully. Listen to what other people say and why. Don’t let people anger you. Always ask yourself why is this person saying this? Who is this person saying this? Your vocabulary many times reveals the condition of your heart as well as your maturity level.
First, what qualifies James as someone that has the answers?
He was someone who had been through the fire
He was someone who understood where people were
If a Christian were writing to James for advice on certain issues the question might read like this. We will be using the verses of James for the question and answer.
#1 I am going though a very difficult time right now what should I do?
Embrace your trial and learn from it. Believe that something good will come out of it. Ask God to give you wisdom (knowing what to do and doing it).
Don’t be a doubter learn how to stand in faith. Don’t be confused about God. Remember that instability breeds insecurity.
#2 Right now I am just getting by but one day I plan to have a lot of money how can I make sure that the money doesn’t change me?
If you are just getting by remember who you are in Christ. Spiritual richness far exceeds worldly wealth. Just ask Lazarus Luke 16:20-25)
If you are wealthy thank God that you have found the true meaning of life. Thank God you understand you are not measured by what you have.
#3 I want to quit living for God. I am really tired of all the struggles that come with the Christian life. What do you recommend?
Stay with it. Don’t quit. Keep in mind that there is more to life than what we go through in the here and now. Temptation will always be around us but don’t be deceived by the fleeting pleasures of sin. Keep in mind that God has a purpose for you. God has a destiny for you. Don’t abort it.
#4 I really want to give a coworker of mine a piece of my mind. What should I do?
Choose your words carefully. Listen to what other people say and why. Don’t let people anger you. Always ask yourself why is this person saying this? Who is this person saying this? Your vocabulary many times reveals the condition of your heart as well as your maturity level.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
a little thing
A pastor in Haiti tells about a fellow he knew who wanted to sell his house for $2,000. In time, he found a buyer, but the man could scrape together only half the asking price. The owner agreed to sell for that amount but with one reservation: he would continue to own one nail above the front door.
A couple of years later, the first fellow decided he wanted to repurchase the house. The new owner declined, saying, "I like this house; I don't want to sell."
The previous owner found the carcass of a dead dog on the street and hung it from the nail he still owned above the front door. Soon the stench became so strong no one could go in or out of the house, and the family had to leave. They sold the house to the former owner.
The Haitian pastor said, "If we leave the devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making our lives unfit for Christ's habitation."
A couple of years later, the first fellow decided he wanted to repurchase the house. The new owner declined, saying, "I like this house; I don't want to sell."
The previous owner found the carcass of a dead dog on the street and hung it from the nail he still owned above the front door. Soon the stench became so strong no one could go in or out of the house, and the family had to leave. They sold the house to the former owner.
The Haitian pastor said, "If we leave the devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making our lives unfit for Christ's habitation."
Are People Open to the Gospel?
Ed Stetzer writes:
We asked a total of 1,000 twenty-something unchurched people; 900 American, 100 Canadian. And we compared them to a sample of 500 older unchurched (30 or above). ... And what we found is that yes, there are negative views of the church, two-thirds saying the church is full of hypocrites, people who do one thing and say another. But there was also great openness that's there. One of the questions that we asked them to agree or disagree with was: "I would be willing to study the Bible if a friend asked me to?"
Among twenty-somethings, 61-percent said, "Yes." Among their older counterparts of 30 and above, 42-percent said, "Yes." That was a statistically significant difference saying there is something going on, there is an openness that's there. So we're seeing that as an opportunity that in the midst of some negative views of the church there is also some openness to the things of God.
We asked a total of 1,000 twenty-something unchurched people; 900 American, 100 Canadian. And we compared them to a sample of 500 older unchurched (30 or above). ... And what we found is that yes, there are negative views of the church, two-thirds saying the church is full of hypocrites, people who do one thing and say another. But there was also great openness that's there. One of the questions that we asked them to agree or disagree with was: "I would be willing to study the Bible if a friend asked me to?"
Among twenty-somethings, 61-percent said, "Yes." Among their older counterparts of 30 and above, 42-percent said, "Yes." That was a statistically significant difference saying there is something going on, there is an openness that's there. So we're seeing that as an opportunity that in the midst of some negative views of the church there is also some openness to the things of God.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Table, Altar, Lampstand
The table of showbread was a small table made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. It measured 3 feet by 1.5 feet and was 2 feet, 3 inches high. It stood on the right side of the Holy Place across from the lampstand and held 12 loaves of bread, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The priests baked the bread with fine flour and it remained on the table before the Lord for a week; every Sabbath day the priests would remove it and eat it in the Holy Place, then put fresh bread on the table. Only priests could eat the bread, and it could only be eaten in the Holy Place, because it was holy.
“Showbread” also was called “bread of the presence” because it was to be always in the Lord’s presence. The table and the bread were a picture of God’s willingness to fellowship and communion (literally speaking, sharing something in common) with man. It was like an invitation to share a meal, an extension of friendship. Eating together often is an act of fellowship. God was willing for man to enter into His presence to fellowship with Him, and this invitation was always open.
God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offerings were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It was made of an equal part of four precious spices (stacte, onycha, galbanum and frankincense) and was considered holy. God commanded the Israelites not to use the same formula outside the tabernacle to make perfume for their own consumption; otherwise, they were to be cut off from their people (Exodus 30:34-38).
The incense was a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people going up to God as a sweet fragrance. God wanted His dwelling to be a place where people could approach Him and pray to Him.
The lampstand had a central branch from which three branches extended from each side, forming a total of seven branches. Seven lamps holding olive oil and wicks stood on top of the branches. Each branch looked like that of an almond tree, containing buds, blossoms and flowers. The priests were instructed to keep the lamps burning continuously. The lampstand was the only source of light in the Holy Place, so without it, the priests would have been moping around in the dark. The light shone upon the table of showbread and the altar of incense, enabling the priests to fellowship with God and intercede on behalf of God’s people. Just as the lampstand was placed in God’s dwelling place so that the priests could approach God, Jesus, the “true light that gives light to every man” (John 1:9) came into the world so that man could see God and not live in spiritual darkness anymore.
Jesus is represented by the main branch of the lampstand, and we as believers are represented by the six branches that extend from original branch. Having believed, we are now living as “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8) who draw our source of light from Jesus, the true light. Jesus calls us “light of the world” and commands us to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5: 14, 16). Not only so, but the branches serve as a picture of Jesus’ description of our relationship with him: “I am the vine, you are the branches … apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Two other significant symbols that can be seen from include the fact that it was made of pure gold (not gold plated) and had seven branches. Pure gold is a representation of the deity and perfection of Jesus Christ, and seven is the number of completeness in the Bible. The believer is made complete by the perfection of Christ.
“Showbread” also was called “bread of the presence” because it was to be always in the Lord’s presence. The table and the bread were a picture of God’s willingness to fellowship and communion (literally speaking, sharing something in common) with man. It was like an invitation to share a meal, an extension of friendship. Eating together often is an act of fellowship. God was willing for man to enter into His presence to fellowship with Him, and this invitation was always open.
God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offerings were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It was made of an equal part of four precious spices (stacte, onycha, galbanum and frankincense) and was considered holy. God commanded the Israelites not to use the same formula outside the tabernacle to make perfume for their own consumption; otherwise, they were to be cut off from their people (Exodus 30:34-38).
The incense was a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people going up to God as a sweet fragrance. God wanted His dwelling to be a place where people could approach Him and pray to Him.
The lampstand had a central branch from which three branches extended from each side, forming a total of seven branches. Seven lamps holding olive oil and wicks stood on top of the branches. Each branch looked like that of an almond tree, containing buds, blossoms and flowers. The priests were instructed to keep the lamps burning continuously. The lampstand was the only source of light in the Holy Place, so without it, the priests would have been moping around in the dark. The light shone upon the table of showbread and the altar of incense, enabling the priests to fellowship with God and intercede on behalf of God’s people. Just as the lampstand was placed in God’s dwelling place so that the priests could approach God, Jesus, the “true light that gives light to every man” (John 1:9) came into the world so that man could see God and not live in spiritual darkness anymore.
Jesus is represented by the main branch of the lampstand, and we as believers are represented by the six branches that extend from original branch. Having believed, we are now living as “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8) who draw our source of light from Jesus, the true light. Jesus calls us “light of the world” and commands us to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5: 14, 16). Not only so, but the branches serve as a picture of Jesus’ description of our relationship with him: “I am the vine, you are the branches … apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Two other significant symbols that can be seen from include the fact that it was made of pure gold (not gold plated) and had seven branches. Pure gold is a representation of the deity and perfection of Jesus Christ, and seven is the number of completeness in the Bible. The believer is made complete by the perfection of Christ.
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