tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38247843331023262612024-03-18T23:47:19.205-04:00Mind in Renewal"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed through the renewing of you mind..." Romans 12:2Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-9908592922749067312011-01-30T01:39:00.000-05:002011-01-30T01:39:00.180-05:00God, Who is Like You?<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Holy God, with eyes like fire, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">What could I do to please You? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Is there anything in me You could desire? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Is there any good that I could do? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Entangled in sin up to my eyes, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Even my “good” deeds are as filth. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I'm worth nothing but the pyre. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">O God, who am I before You? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Mighty God, with eyes of flame,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Who am I before You?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I look at the many works that You have made</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There is nothing You can't do.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Your deeds are marvelous,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Your wonders are grand,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And I am but a rebellious slave.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">What is my worth before You?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Gracious God, who formed my being,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">What is my worth before You?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Surely I am dust and filthy as the lowest thing,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And unable to stand before You.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">But You formed my inward parts,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And knit me together in the womb.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Every part of me You have always seen.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">How do You not see my sin?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Glorious God, with radiant face,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">How do you not see my sin?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">From my egregious evil You turned Your eyes away.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As Jesus took my place, condemned.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">His righteousness now mine,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My penalty paid by Him.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Your holy wrath is now assuaged.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">O God, do You love me so?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Wondrous God, who sent Your Son,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Do You love me so?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Five wounds attest the answer yes, the vict'ry's won</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">You've washed me white as snow.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Nothing in me but what You've done</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In You only is my hope.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Bought by Your grace,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">You've made me Your son,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">God, who is like You?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">-Nathan C. Matthews</div>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-36563981659895832382011-01-29T00:13:00.000-05:002011-01-29T00:13:24.984-05:00Thoughts on Bible Reading Plans<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Last January, I made a New Year's resolution to read through the entire Bible in one year, as many people do. I must confess that, though I have stuck with my reading plan, I have not in fact completed the plan yet. Still, I intend on completing this goal, but partly due to some inconsistency in my reading and partly because I have chosen to slow my reading down, I still have two months left. That being said, I thought that I would share my thoughts with you on reading the Bible in a year.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">First of all, I think that wanting to read through the Bible is a noble and good desire. And reading the Bible quickly and in large sections has it benefits, if done correctly. Foremost of these benefits in my mind is the overview of the grand story, the meta-narrative. When we read books and chapters at a time, we can sometimes see better how things connect to one another and how the Bible truly is one story, with books written down at different times by different God-inspired authors. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Also, when reading quickly through, we can have a general idea of what each part of the Bible is about. This may allow us to know where to look when specific trials come our way, and have an idea of what areas we would like to study further.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On the other hand, I don't think that it's healthy to normally read Scripture in large portions without digging deeper. The Scriptures are breathed out by God and have riches farther down than we'll ever be able to delve. Therefore, we are called to meditate on God's Word and to write it on our hearts, and I believe that this is best done in smaller portions. I know there are times when I have spent more than an hour simply trying to understand a single verse. Because God's Word is deep and because our hearts are sinful, often we will have to grapple to truly comprehend and appreciate the beauty of this treasure, something that often can't be done with large portions of text.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The one qualm I had with my particular Bible reading plan (<a href="http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=138">The Discipleship Journal Plan</a>) was that often while reading in the Old Testament, I had to read between 3 and 5 chapters at a time to stay on track. Now, this wasn't always that bad, particularly when I was reading through the narrative portions, but especially when I tried to read books like Isaiah or Lamentations, I simply wished I could have had more time to take it in.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">All in all, I think that trying to read the Bible in a year is a worthwhile endeavor and I think that I may attempt to do so every few years. But, I also believe that this should be accompanied with careful and specific study in the Word.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-1321649442757890222011-01-17T20:24:00.000-05:002011-01-17T20:24:13.633-05:00A Blog in Renewal<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So, it's been a while since I last blogged. I've been on an unplanned, but needed break to refocus myself and organize my life a little more. But, it's good to be back with a renewed vision for this blog and how to carry it out. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As always, my ultimate goal for this blog is that God would be glorified. To this end, my posts will continue to be for the purpose of edifying other believers and pointing them further to God's Word and His glory in the cross. However, I feel that a couple of changes are in order.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">First, I will be making a greater effort to post more original content. At times, I have felt that this blog has simply been a compilation of what other people are writing and creating. While I will continue to post content from other blogs, I simply will be writing more myself and posting here. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Secondly, I want the posts that I write to be more Bible-saturated. Because of this, I will be writing more about what I am wrestling with and thinking through in Scripture. And the things which I write about which are not directly Scriptural I want to be more obviously biblically informed and grounded.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">These are my two New Year's resolutions of sorts for this blog- 17 days after the fact, but I pray not too late. </div>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-91655809673457838542010-12-13T11:51:00.001-05:002010-12-13T16:51:50.703-05:00Did Jesus Get Sick?Russell Moore always does a great job of answering questions with insight and candor. His latest question deals with whether or not Jesus got sick, something that may seem inconsequential on its face, but I think Dr. Moore answers this question particularly well. <a href="http://www.russellmoore.com/2010/12/12/did-jesus-ever-get-a-stomach-virus/">Check it out</a>:<br />
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<blockquote>It just doesn’t seem right to us to imagine Jesus feverish or vomiting. But that’s precisely the scandal. It didn’t seem right to many to imagine Jesus as really flesh and bone, filled with blood and intestines and urine. Somehow that seemed to detract from his deity. It surely didn’t seem right to many to imagine the only begotten of the Father twisting in pain on a crucifixion stake, screaming as he drowned in his own blood. This was humiliating, undignified. That’s just the point. Jesus joined us in our humiliation, in our indignity.</blockquote>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-66363516841942767912010-12-06T11:45:00.001-05:002010-12-06T11:48:04.372-05:00Donate to The Gospel CoalitionI have decided to take part in a <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/12/03/a-year-end-challenge-for-the-gospel-coalition/">contest</a> to raise funds for the <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/">the Gospel Coalition</a>. The competition is being held through the website <a href="http://www.razoo.com/">razoo</a>, a website which allows nonprofit organizations to fundraise through creating web pages where donors can give money as they wish.<br />
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For those of you who don't know about the Gospel Coalition, it is basically an organization whose main purpose is to see Christians live Gospel-centered lives by equipping them with resources to do so. For more information, you can visit their <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/">website</a> or watch this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaQ98E6RoNs&feature=player_embedded">video</a>.<br />
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I would ask that you please support the Gospel Coalition by donating at <a href="http://www.razoo.com/story/Daniel-Edwards-Gospel-Coalition-Fundraising-Page">my page</a>. You can also donate using the widget on the side of the blog.<br />
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I would rarely ask anyone to give money to anything of mine, but all funds go directly to the Gospel Coalition and I think that this is more than a worthy cause to give to. I have listed my reasons for making raising funds here:<br />
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<blockquote>I am a college student at West Viriginia University who plans on going into full-time ministry. I have joined this fundraising campaign for several reasons. <br />
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1) The Gospel Coalition has provided with many resources to help keep my life Gospel-centered. Particularly, I subscribe to several blogs and will be attending their conference this coming year. These things consistently point me to the cross and help to equip me to lead a godly life. Therefore, making this fundraising page is really just a small way to say thanks. <br />
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2) The Gospel should always be first and foremost in our lives. This is the main premise of the Gospel Coalition and to that end they work. In my opinion, any organization that aims for such godly things should be supported and promoted. <br />
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3) Not only does the Gospel Coalition want to see those who are Christians living lives that are Gospel-saturated, but in addition they want to see the Gospel proclaimed to the ends of the earth for the purpose of many people coming to know, understand and accept the Gospel. This is a high aim and one that I support wholeheartedly. <br />
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My prayer for this page is that many would donate and that all would be done for the glory of God. <br />
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P.S.- for full disclosure, yes I would like to win this competition and I am grateful for the DVD that The Gospel Coalition is giving out. However, I think that my chances at winning this competition are very slim and hope that this campaign competition will truly be used by God to continue to equip Christians everywhere for living Gospel-centered lives.</blockquote><br />
Thank you!Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-17092606264883080532010-12-02T00:03:00.000-05:002010-12-02T00:03:27.363-05:00The Gospel is NOT... A Datum<i>(This is the third post in the series "The Gospel is NOT...")</i><i></i><br />
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</i></div><div><a href="http://mindinrenewal.blogspot.com/2010/10/gospel-is-not-set-of-rules.html">The Gospel is NOT... A Set of Rules</a></div><div><a href="http://mindinrenewal.blogspot.com/2010/11/gospel-is-not-political-party-ideal-or.html">The Gospel is NOT... A Political Party, Ideal or System</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><b>3. A Datum</b>: Sorry to use such an unconventional word here, but my main point in this post is that while the Gospel is factual, it is not merely a set of facts.</div><div><br />
</div><div>When talking about the Gospel, we must recognize that we are presented with radical truth claims about who God is, who Jesus Christ is, who we are, what our greatest need is and how that need can be met. On one hand, this means that we cannot simply say we believe in the Gospel and not understand what that actually means. This is why we must be so careful to present and understand the Gospel correctly. Yes, it can be presented in a variety of ways and in different contexts but the core truths cannot be changed. Otherwise, we will not have the Gospel, but a false one.</div><div><br />
</div><div>On the other hand, simply agreeing with these truth claims does not equate a reception of the Gospel. These truths must be understood and accepted, but they call for radical change. The truth of Jesus Christ calls us to confess and repent (turn away) of our sin and to trust and rely on Jesus alone to save us. One can agree with the truthfulness of Scripture and still not have saving faith. One may even be able to know how to defend Christianity historically and logically and still not have saving faith. We cannot simply say that we accept these things; we must trust in them. </div><div><br />
</div><div>It may help to have an example. I believe that the Earth is 93 million miles away from the sun and that it orbits it every 365.25 days. I can validate this scientifically and mathematically and I can show you well documented proof of these facts. However, they have nearly no effect on my daily life. I don't get up every morning and think about how the light had to travel 93 million miles to get to where I am. I don't adjust my daily routine because the Earth's orbit is 365.25 days. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Those who have saving faith are entirely different. They take the facts of the Gospel and stake their entire life on them. They will not be able to go on living as they once did before their encounter with these glorious truths. True saving faith will produce a radical change in their hearts and in their lives, a radical change that is not the basis of our faith, but the result of it. </div>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-1998816444088062252010-12-01T16:25:00.001-05:002010-12-01T16:26:26.183-05:00Christians and World AIDS Day<a href="http://www.russellmoore.com/">Russell Moore</a> has some helpful and convicting thoughts on World AIDS Day. He closes his <a href="http://www.russellmoore.com/2010/12/01/thoughts-on-world-aids-day/">article</a> with this:<br />
<blockquote>I wonder how many of us will hear the words from our Galilean emperor, “I had AIDS and you weren’t afraid to come near me.” <br />
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And so, if we love Jesus, our churches should be more aware of the cries of the curse, including the curse of AIDS, than the culture around us. Our congregations should welcome the AIDS-infected, and we shouldn’t be afraid to hug them as we would hug our Christ. Our congregations should be on the forefront of missions to AIDS-ravaged regions of the world. Our families should be willing to welcome those orphaned by this global scourge. <br />
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Through it all, we should be insistent in gospel proclamation. To those whose blood has become their own enemy, we should announce blood they know not of, the blood of One who can cleanse them of all unrighteousness, just as it cleansed us (1 Jn. 1:7); the blood of One who is forever immune to sin and death and hell (Jn. 6:53-56). <br />
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Jesus loves the world, and the world has AIDS. Jesus identifies himself with the least of these, and many of them have AIDS. Jesus calls us to recognize him in the depths of suffering, and there’s AIDS there too. <br />
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Jesus has AIDS.</blockquote>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-79879698351874672912010-11-29T16:08:00.002-05:002010-11-29T16:08:49.671-05:00The Achilles' Heel of the Next GenerationThis video has been around for a little while, but I thought it would be helpful to share it here as well:<br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NY6bn-MrjdQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NY6bn-MrjdQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-77911146375597490932010-11-13T00:29:00.000-05:002010-11-13T00:29:00.481-05:00The Trellis and the Vine: A Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZh0DSwMP453pfNyr2kVujqkrdYWPZhyK3epfMrkXUEL6n6FCIyITpvbEQbIstqd6MdJ9ssroM1Tk67y_KH-cgn8BElx78U3SzOghmL9G86NinJrbeZN4Sv2EWqTXx51aelQV7mHV-Mk/s1600/Trellis+and+the+Vine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZh0DSwMP453pfNyr2kVujqkrdYWPZhyK3epfMrkXUEL6n6FCIyITpvbEQbIstqd6MdJ9ssroM1Tk67y_KH-cgn8BElx78U3SzOghmL9G86NinJrbeZN4Sv2EWqTXx51aelQV7mHV-Mk/s200/Trellis+and+the+Vine.jpg" width="124" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kvdj0jup7ky/tnrwy9vzqbi/aaaaaaaaago/p_7rdba1vke/s1600/photo+on+2010-11-10+at+12.24+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a>Earlier this week I finished reading <a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/7041/nm/The+Trellis+and+the+Vine%3A+The+Ministry+Mind-Shift+that+Changes+Everything+(Paperback)?utm_source=dedwards&utm_medium=blogpartners">The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift that Changes Everything</a> by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne. While I many reviews have already been written on the book (for one such review, see <a href="http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/the-trellis-and-the-vine">here</a>), I didn't think it would hurt to add one more endorsement.<br />
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In <u>The Trellis and the Vine</u>, the authors seek to look at some of what has been accepted as the "norm" within the Church in recent years and challenge their readers to compare these to Scripture, and particularly the mandate to "make disciples" (Matt. 28:19). Beginning from an explanation of what God Himself is doing in our world, they continue on, describing our part in this work, which is to be disciple-making disciples. From there, they continue to explain how this is worked out in a local body, addressing concerns and appealing to Scripture all along the way.<br />
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All in all, the book is an invaluable resource in regards to church ministry. The book is easy to understand, applicable, and, I believe, pertinent to the church at this time. I would recommend this book to all in the body of Christ.<br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yfg9z7jsbKw?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yfg9z7jsbKw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-54654090223850195022010-11-12T12:29:00.000-05:002010-11-12T12:29:08.065-05:00Matt Chandler's Latest UpdateA while ago, I <a href="http://mindinrenewal.blogspot.com/2010/01/update-from-matt-chandler.html">posted</a> about Matt Chandler, pastor at <a href="http://www.thevillagechurch.net/">The Village Church</a> in Texas and his battle with brain cancer. Though I have failed to post all of his updates here, I thought that it was important that I share this one with you (you can see all of Matt's updates throughout the year here):<br />
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<object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KAWyCHa5OlY&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KAWyCHa5OlY&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br />
(you can see all of Matt's updates throughout the year <a href="http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/?tag=matt-chandler-health-updates">here</a>)<br />
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(HT: Vitamin Z)Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-55341641069804995532010-11-05T00:25:00.002-04:002010-11-10T12:08:04.060-05:00The Gospel is NOT... A Political Party, Ideal or System<i>(This is the second post in the series, "The Gospel is NOT...")</i><br />
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<a href="http://mindinrenewal.blogspot.com/2010/10/gospel-is-not-set-of-rules.html">The Gospel is NOT... A Set of Rules</a><br />
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<b>2. A Political Party, Ideal or System: </b>Considering that this is the week of the midterm elections, this post seems particularly relevant.<br />
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Because of America's founding on certain Biblical principles and the feeling among some that we are somehow a "Christian nation", I think that there is a peculiar presence of those who hold to certain political stances as being distinctly Christian. For instance, some may think that those who do not believe in a democratic republic form of government as the best form of government are in some way unchristian. They couldn't fathom being a Christian and also in support of a monarchy or other forms of government. However, there have been Christians throughout the ages who have lived and died as good citizens of governments that were anything but democratic.<br />
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Likewise, in the political sphere, there a many Christians who on both sides of the fence politically. I have friends who genuinely disagree about the role government has in meeting the needs of people and wear the label "liberal", "libertarian" and "conservative" accordingly. But these friends also realize that the Gospel is what is central and ultimate, not their political views. Certainly, there are issues that have grave moral significance and are much easier to think through from a Biblical perspective. For instance, the Bible is clear about the moral nature of abortion. However, the fact that two people agree that abortion is wrong does not mean that the they will also agree on economic policy, or that being a Christian means that one must be for or against limited government, welfare or any other number of issues. God has blessed us with wisdom and logic to think through these things- indeed it is our responsibility to do so- but we should not expect that we will always be in agreement or that taking one stance is necessarily more in line with the Gospel than another.<br />
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In other words, believing the Gospel will not lead anyone to take a particular governmental or political stance. The converse is true as well. Being a Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative or anything else will not save you. Jesus will not come back and ask what political party you were affiliated with. This may seem silly, but sometimes it seems that people think this way. They appear to find it unfathomable that those who call themselves "Christian" would not share their views.<br />
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But the root problem with all of this is that we are putting an extra requirement on people that the Bible gives no credence for. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. It's not that we have to have faith and be registered as a Republican. It's not that we believe in Christ and support the Democratic party. It's that we believe in Christ, who told us to submit to the government (no matter the structure) [Rom. 13:1] and who said, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). We trust in Him who will one day put all governments beneath His feet and rule as our perfect, praiseworthy King (1 Cor, 15:26-27; Rev. 19:16). It is from Him that we receive salvation, and no earthly power.Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-69449899608958115682010-11-04T16:08:00.001-04:002010-11-04T17:25:15.151-04:00Solace of Silence<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Solace of Silence</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Silence.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Quiet. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Calm.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To where have they gone?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though we long, we yearn... we </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">scream</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> for them,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Instead we’re encased</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in this cacophony of </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">DRIP! DRIP! DROP!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">CLICK! CLICK! CLACK!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">CLING! KINK! CLANG!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bustling, hustling and jostling around us.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A swarm, a tempest, a tsunamic wave</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Crashes upon our ears,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Splinters our thoughts,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Corrodes our concentration,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And attacks our minds.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where is the peace</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of a cool summer breeze?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where is the serenity </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of a mountain lake?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where is the mute</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Solace of silence</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That brings lucidity, clarity, and health to our souls?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is not to be found, my friend, </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the lofty peaks of the Rockies,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the deep valleys of Appalachia;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Neither in the trees of the Amazon,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nor in the waters of Lake Victoria,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No, no, it cannot be found there</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For even there the tranquility will end</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Even there Noise will intrude,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For our lack is within us,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though our desire without,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And that need of calmness only One can fill:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The One who still cries out</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Be still!”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And bids these waves of clamor subside</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Nathan C. Matthews</span></div>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-62418862560823551702010-10-29T16:43:00.000-04:002010-10-29T16:43:02.934-04:00The Gospel Is NOT... A Set of RulesSometimes, I think it is helpful to understand what something is through negative understanding, or by understanding what something is <i>not. </i>Particularly, the more complex and important an issue is, the more beneficial it is that we hear something taught in a variety of ways. Therefore, I will be posting several posts on what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is NOT:<br />
<br />
1. <b>A set of rules: </b>Commonly, it is said that Christianity is not a religion. By this most people mean that true Christianity is not simply a list of things that one must or must not do, which is entirely correct. While God's law certainly is still valid, those who try to abi<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">de by the</span> His law will certainly die (1 Cor. 15:56). You see, the law was and is meant to show us our sin, because we could never keep it no matter how hard we try. This should lead us to depend on Jesus because He is the only one that was able to obey the law perfectly. It is by faith in Him that we are saved, not by anything we do or don't do (Eph. 2:8-9).<br />
<br />
Does this mean that if we place our faith in Jesus, then we can do whatever we want? Paul asks it this way:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"Shall we sin that grace may abound more?", </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a question he then answers with an emphatic "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">By no means!" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Romans 6:1-2). You see, if we truly have an understanding of God's grace within our lives and the gravity of our sin, our failure to keep the law, then our faith will be real, and as James tells us, our faith will produce works as a result (James 2:26). In other words, it is out of our love for Christ that we will obey His law, not because we are seeking to prove ourselves to God or make ourselves good enough, because we never could. Jesus did what we never could, took our punishment for breaking the law and offers His free gift of salvation to all who believe.</span>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-43320466970817118362010-10-25T16:03:00.000-04:002010-10-25T16:03:35.044-04:00Sam Harris Believes in God?Newsweek has just come out with an <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/18/atheist-sam-harris-steps-into-the-light.html">article</a> on the well-known militant "new atheist", <a href="http://www.samharris.org/">Sam Harris</a> and his belief in "God". The article explores how Sam Harris is not so willing to go by the label atheist because he "concedes he believes in something certain people call 'God'." While the article goes on to explain Sam Harris' belief in "spirituality" and that this belief is not in "God, but consciousness", the most troubling aspect I found was the statistic that "a quarter of Americans believe that God is 'an impersonal force'", and as Newsweek goes on to explain:<br />
<blockquote>When polled about God, “people substitute in their own ideas,” says John Green, senior research adviser at Pew. “People have a vague, fuzzy notion of transcendence, and they substitute God for it...When you try to make the definition more specific, fewer people answer in the affirmative.” Or put another way, “If you let the concept of God float a little bit, almost everybody is a theist,” says Stephen Prothero, author of God Is Not One. What Sam Harris believes in—rationality, morality, transcendence, humility, awe, community, selflessness, and love—meets a fairly common definition of God.</blockquote>My friends, this is the reality of living in a postmodern world. As time goes on, I believe that the real challenge to the Church will not be convincing people that there is a god, but showing people that the God of the Bible is the only true and living God.Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-76570967767994017522010-10-11T20:57:00.001-04:002010-10-11T20:58:26.703-04:00Loving and ThinkingHere's a good quote from John Piper's new book, <a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/7194/nm/Think_The_Life_of_the_Mind_and_the_Love_of_God_Hardcover_?utm_source=dedwards&utm_medium=blogpartners">Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God</a><br />
<blockquote> The main reason that thinking and loving are connected is that we cannot love God without knowing God; and the way we know God is by the Spirit-enabled use of our minds. So to “love God with all your mind” means engaging all your powers of thought to know God as fully as possible in order to treasure him for all he is worth.<br />
<br />
God is not honored by groundless love. In fact, there is no such thing. If we do not know anything about God, there is nothing in our mind to awaken love. If love does not come from knowing God, there is no point calling it love for God. There may be some vague attraction in our heart or some unfocused gratitude in our soul, but if they do not arise from knowing God, they are not love for God.</blockquote>HT: <a href="http://www.takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/">Zach Nielsen</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_312261751"></span><span id="goog_312261752"></span>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-6387914893755748082010-10-07T13:55:00.000-04:002010-10-07T13:55:00.378-04:00Treasuring Him- Sermon Jam<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oBJzUnxiKwA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oBJzUnxiKwA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-45205347250880618222010-09-25T19:40:00.000-04:002010-09-25T19:40:54.978-04:00The Unspeakable Gift of JesusO God of grace,<br />
teach me to know that grace<br />
<blockquote>precedes,<br />
accompanies, and<br />
follows</blockquote>my salvation;<br />
that it sustains the redeemed soul,<br />
that not one link of its chain can ever break.<br />
From Calvary’s cross, wave upon wave of grace<br />
<blockquote>reaches me,<br />
deals with my sin,<br />
washes me clean,<br />
renews my heart,<br />
strengthens my will,<br />
draws out my affection,<br />
kindles a flame in my soul,<br />
rules throughout my inner man,<br />
consecrates my every thought, word, work,<br />
teaches me Your immeasurable love.</blockquote>How great are my privileges in Christ Jesus.<br />
<blockquote>Without him I stand far off, a stranger, an outcast.<br />
in him I draw near and touch His kingly scepter.<br />
Without him I dare not lift up my guilty eyes;<br />
in him I gaze upon my Father-God and friend.<br />
Without him I hide my lips in trembling shame;<br />
in him I open my mouth in petition and praise.<br />
Without him all is wrath and consuming fire.<br />
in him is all love, and the repose of my soul.<br />
Without him is gaping hell below me, and eternal anguish.<br />
in him its gates are barred to me by His precious blood!<br />
Without him darkness spreads its horrors before me.<br />
in him an eternity of glory is my boundless horizon.<br />
Without him all within me is terror and dismay,<br />
in him every accusation is charmed into joy and peace.<br />
Without him all things external call for my condemnation;<br />
In him they minister to my comfort, and are to be enjoyed with thanksgiving.</blockquote>Praise be to You for grace,<br />
and for the unspeakable gift of Jesus.<br />
<br />
—”Privileges,” from <em>The Valley of Vision</em><br />
<br />
HT: Justin Taylor<br />
<em><br />
</em>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-13267919444856146402010-09-21T00:52:00.000-04:002010-09-21T00:52:00.604-04:00Doug Wilson on Glenn BeckA good word from Doug Wilson:<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14756220" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/14756220">Ask Doug: Glenn Beck</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/canonwired">Canon Wired</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
HT: <a href="http://mereorthodoxy.com/">Mere Orthodoxy</a>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-12962119420869201932010-09-20T00:08:00.005-04:002010-09-20T00:08:00.286-04:00Jesus and the ElephantThere is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant">old Indian story</a> that is often used to express relativity of or the impossibility of knowing truth. <br />
<br />
<blockquote>Basically, the story goes that there were several blind men all touching the same elephant, wondering as to what it was. <br />
<br />
The first man, touching the ear of the elephant said "Surely this thing is thin and papery." <br />
<br />
The second man, feeling the elephant's trunk said, "I agree that the thing is thin, but it is certainly not papery, but rough and round."<br />
<br />
A third man, with his hand on the leg of the elephant, responded, "My brother, I agree that this thing is round and rough, but I must say that it is thicker than my thigh."<br />
<br />
Still another, feeling the tail of the animal, said "I don't understand how any of you could think this thing is thick or rough, it is clearly thin as my little finger, and besides that, it has hair on the end." <br />
<br />
So the four of them debated the nature of the elephant, unwilling to back down from their convictions or to consider the possibility that any of the other men could be right.</blockquote>At the end of this story the question is then asked, "Which man was correct?" The expected answer is that all of them were equally correct, they just didn't have the complete picture. Or if the answer is that none were correct, then the response is that this is because no one can fully comprehend the truth and, in that we are all equally wrong, we are all equally right in the part that we do know.<br />
<br />
Then, to end the story, the point is revealed, "So is truth".<br />
<br />
What as Christians, should we do with this old tale? We could just ignore it and say that it is not in fact representative of reality. Or we could use this story as a Gospel opportunity.<br />
<br />
We, as Christians, clearly believe that the truth is knowable through Jesus Christ and that this truth excludes all other views claiming to be truth. So, how does Jesus fit into this story? I would alter the story as follows:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>While the four men debated the nature of the elephant, a fifth man, who was not blind, came upon them. Hearing their arguments, he said "Brothers, I tell you that that which you debate about is an elephant, and the attributes that you argue about are all present in different functions within this animal; but none of you have seen the complete picture."<br />
<br />
For a minute, the men considered what the new man had said. But, one of them replied, "Why should we believe you? How can you claim that you are any more correct than we?<br />
<br />
The man responded, "I too was once like you, blind and stubborn in my way. But as I was hobbling about one day, a man named Jesus came and touched me, removing my blindness. Now I can see this and much more. And you too, can see, if only you'll believe in Jesus and his healing power."<br />
<br />
"Why should we believe you? What proof do you have that you can see any better than we can? And even if you can "see", why should we believe that you're not just trying to take advantage of us?" <br />
<br />
And so the man tried to reason with them, but could not change their stubborn hearts. He went away sad.</blockquote><br />
Without Jesus Christ, we are all blind to the truth. We may know some things that are true, but we will never know <em>the</em> <em>truth</em> unless He opens our spiritual eyes. And the truth is not an elephant, it is a person, Jesus Christ.Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-55245854540845674602010-09-18T10:54:00.000-04:002010-09-18T10:54:20.374-04:00The GospelIt's been way too long, but I've finally finished "The Gospel". You can access it under the pages heading to the right. I encourage you to check it out.Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-35634720768849293882010-09-12T11:09:00.000-04:002010-09-12T11:09:00.164-04:00Fatherlessness by Odd Thomas"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Gal. 4:4-5)<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/A0HL5fWhuzk?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/A0HL5fWhuzk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-88821362326484926522010-09-10T11:09:00.000-04:002010-09-10T11:09:00.063-04:00Love, Righteousness and DoctrineIn his commentary on <a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/4746/nm/The+Epistles+of+John+%28Boice+Expositional+Commentary%29+%28Paperback%29?utm_source=dedwards&utm_medium=blogpartners"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Epistles of John</span></a>, James Montgomery Boice, lays out the intricate relation between love, righteousness and doctrine in the Christian life:<br />
<br />
Love without righteousness is immorality.<br />
Righteousness without doctrine is legalism.<br />
Doctrine without love is bitter orthodoxy (Pharisaism).<br />
<br />
As Christians, we need all three.Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-17863327923335955842010-09-09T11:50:00.005-04:002010-09-09T11:59:12.139-04:00You Need a Mother Very BadlyBrett Harris, who lost his mother earlier this year has posted this poem:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 12px;"><i>You need a mother very badly!<br />
</i></span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 12px;"> she always used to say<br />
<br />
And I agreed when loads of laundry needed washing<br />
<br />
or when my stomach stole my lunch and<br />
<br />
held it ransom for a midday snack, and I<br />
<br />
always told her she was right<br />
<br />
because it made her<br />
<br />
Smile, knowing she was loved.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Then I left for college and suddenly what I needed was<br />
<br />
George Washington's face times five<br />
<br />
Once for washing,<br />
<br />
again for drying<br />
<br />
And my face on a keycard<br />
<br />
fed me three times a day<br />
<br />
Sometimes more if I<br />
<br />
could stash a snack in Styrofoam for later.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But I still called her on the phone and she<br />
<br />
still told me I'd be lost without her, and I<br />
<br />
always told her she was right<br />
<br />
because it made her<br />
<br />
Laugh, knowing she was loved.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Summer came and went, and she<br />
<br />
never said, <i>You need a mother very badly,<br />
</i><br />
and we never told her we'd be lost without her<br />
<br />
because it made her<br />
<br />
Cry, knowing she was fading.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But life goes on, and we're still living<br />
<br />
lungs keep breathing, hearts keep beating<br />
<br />
heavier perhaps, but steady as the world turns, and I<br />
<br />
don't always think about the reasons why<br />
<br />
she needed to be needed so<br />
<br />
because it always makes me<br />
<br />
Weep...<br />
<br />
knowing I was loved.</span></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></blockquote><br />
<br />
<br />
(HT:<a href="http://www.joshharris.com/"> Josh Harris</a>)Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-77761897070299452552010-09-09T11:30:00.000-04:002010-09-09T11:30:00.136-04:00What is the Bible Basically about?A great video from Tim Keller:<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LkNa6tLWrqk?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LkNa6tLWrqk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object>Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3824784333102326261.post-91701866664409831032010-09-04T13:55:00.000-04:002010-09-08T11:02:16.693-04:00People in Need of Change<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthev1jRmNsZOca7Ol920iM3T2s1CrM76isB1vxhiwZdOJW3WYuTWYGjoOvQAy7iP67Wo4_nAaVd7QLew4mXMdORc5ajEGFuWQwAkZS2er_UsL5_GJb6tuS-ued8qrEysFr2B_rxiw5j4/s1600/9780875526072m.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthev1jRmNsZOca7Ol920iM3T2s1CrM76isB1vxhiwZdOJW3WYuTWYGjoOvQAy7iP67Wo4_nAaVd7QLew4mXMdORc5ajEGFuWQwAkZS2er_UsL5_GJb6tuS-ued8qrEysFr2B_rxiw5j4/s320/9780875526072m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514558061848341618" border="0" /></a>Let me just get straight to the point with this review:<a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/71/nm/Instruments+in+the+Redeemer%27s+Hands%3A+People+in+Need+of+Change+Helping+People+in+Need+of+Change+%28Paperback%29?utm_source=dedwards&utm_medium=blogpartners"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands</span></a> by Paul David Tripp is a book I believe every Christian needs to read; I cannot recommend it highly enough. In his book, Tripp takes Scripture and the Gospel and applies it to life in such a way that everything we thought we knew about counseling and ministry is turned upside down.<br /><br />In the first part of the book, Tripp dispels the notion that ministry and are primarily done by ministers. The truth is instead, that most of this is done by the "normal" Christians as they come into contact with friends, family, and others who are going through difficult situations. The counseling and ministry comes as those people seek help and an ear from us. Secondly, he rejects the idea that changing behavior is our goal. Every issue is a heart issue and, therefore, our goal in every situation should be to see the heart changed through the Holy Spirit's work in us. Thirdly, he counters the view of many that the Bible is simply an encyclopedia of counsel or, in other words, a book which we come to looking for advice on a specific topic. To the contrary, we need to see what the Bible says as a whole, taking into account its view of God, man, sin and the world, and from there we begin to apply its message to our specific situation. The last thing I'll mention that Tripp talks about in this section is the idea of incarnational living. We are to be Christ and represent the Gospel in what we say and do in various situations.<br /><br />In the second part of the book, Tripp lays out his plan for biblically counseling others, which he summarizes in four steps: <span style="font-style: italic;">love, know, speak </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span>. Before anything, we are to love the other person or people we are counseling, as Christ loves them. We are to get to know them well and have an understanding of their situation lest we simply throw verses or advice at them that may not actually be helpful. Then, once we have gathered information about the situation, we are to lovingly confront the people involved (confrontation here is not meant to be seen in light of its present negative connotation, but instead in it positive biblical meaning). Lastly, once the person has responded to the correction, it is necessary to have a plan of action to deal with the problem. This process is lengthy and hard, but it is biblical and right. And as we help people we too will be helped because everyone of us are, as the subtitle says, <span style="font-style: italic;">people in need of change</span>.<br /><br />Once again, I just encourage you to read this book and see how God uses broken vessels like us to be His instruments in accomplishing His glorious will.Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12460737253680556443noreply@blogger.com1