February 2012
62 posts
“The bible doesn’t paint this picture of — live your life, take a week, go to...”
– Matt Carter, The Austin Stone Community Church (via ginanle)
Hard Bible Story
Every once in a while, I like to tackle the really crazy Bible verses… just because I know that if they’re such a mess for me, I’m sure they are for a lot of other people. So, let’s turn our attention to Exodus 4:24-26
“And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the...
If you're only discipling yourself, there's...
Davy Jones Died
It’s a sad day for all of us Monkees fans… and Marcia Brady.
Jeremiah 2
“For my people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn for themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
We never just “leave God”. We replace Him—with things that can never fill the void. And then we wonder why we’re so dry and empty—it’s because we’ve left the living...
“When we study doctrine and theology it should ultimately stir within us a deep...”
– Mike Hernandez (via earthstranger)
So true. If it isn’t—it really isn’t worth learning, and is probably not true.
kilakeith asked: I saw your post about how we should be cautious about casting pearls before swine, but I also found it difficult to balance this out with the parable of the sower who seems to cast the seed generously on many types of soil. How do you think these two verses should determine our outreach efforts? Blessings to you!
El-Shadday
The Hebrew Word that references God means both “God of the mountain” and “The God who can destroy”.
Let us never become flippant as we discuss God. We should never casually speak about God. What a terrible thing to think we can proudly say anything about God, or flippantly say anything about the Holy One. He is All Powerful. He is Holy. Let us fear the LORD, and never let...
I wonder how many "deathbed confessions" there...
Casting Pearls before Swine
Sometimes, we have to use discernment when sharing the holy things of God. What I mean is, when we preach the Gospel to people who are malicious, blasphemous, and content at arguing every point, we are cheapening the content of the Gospel.
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”...
Spirit of God
It is very interesting that the first person the Bible mentions as being “filled with God’s Spirit” was not a prophet, leader, lawgiver, or warrior… It was an artisan: Bezalel.
God’s Spirit is first mentioned as filling a craftsman… An artist… Very cool.
“But some will ask, “Didn’t Jesus say that we are still under the...”
– Gordon Fee
Keep it classy, Ladies
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
Is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
-Proverbs 11:22
“A thoughtless or uninformed theology grips and guides our life with just as...”
– Dallas Willard (via seventimesthree)
The temptations of this Sunday's gospel...
simplyanglican:
Some Christian writers,
explaining what it meant for Satan to revolt against God and fall from heaven
have suggested that
Satan preferred the idea of an unreal world of which he was in charge
to a real world in which all glory was due to God.
This is not a bad definition of the essence of evil.
It means that there is no goodness that is not bodily, realistic and local.
...
Salt
Matthew 4:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
In the Roman Empire, salt was so valuable that it was virtually worth it’s weight in gold. As a matter of fact, that’s where the word “salary” comes from: The Roman Centurians were...
Anonymous asked: Who are the 5 most important people in your life?
theos-epitelesei replied to your post: theos-epitelesei replied to your post: What are 10…
…dang. That’s a lot of books. o_O How do you keep them all separate? haha. If I tried to read that many books I’d mix them all up.
I actually do get them mixed up… Sometimes I’ll be in class, and try to remember where I read whatever I’m about to paraphrase…. But I just...
theos-epitelesei replied to your post: What are 10 random facts about you?
What book(s) are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading:
Church Planter, by Darrin Patrick
For The City, by Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter Basic Christianity, by John Stott Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dawkins Thus Spoke Zarathustra, by Nietzsche and then...
theos-epitelesei asked: What are 10 random facts about you?
pressingheaven answered your question: Lent Thoughts?
In certain contexts, i saw mountains as a result of sin. “you will move mountains by faith” . The original creation had no mountains, i think
block
2 notes reply reblog
That is certainly an interesting option I had not thought of. Thanks for the input!
today-isawindingroad asked: I just got asked this-- thought I'd pass it on to you, cause I've never had any thoughts about this whatsoever... but I'd like to give it a look, if I can... ANYWAY. The question is this: What did Jesus do those three days He was dead?
Rest
My first night of having nothing to do in forever. I’ll get some much needed rest tonight. Meanwhile, stop by my ask box, I’ll be answering questions all night!
Peace and love!
Compromise
Matthew 4:8-10
“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall...
Stirring
My spirit is stirred with Kingdom thoughts this morning. God is doing big things. God is good. Pray for me.
Comfort
The biggest danger with being comfortable is that you begin to expect and crave the status quo. Over time, you might even fight to maintain it, rather than dreaming what “could be” or “should be”.
God calls us to be uncomfortable with the world, and completely satisfied in Him. It is significant that God is Holy—because He is completely other than what we see...
ohtodayisawindingroad replied to your video: You must watch… Wait for it… wait for it…
…I haven’t finished the video yet. But I want to get this down in writing. Is he talking about sneezes!!?
Oh… I wish he was talking about sneezes…..
WatchYou must watch… Wait for it… wait for it…
Morning Thoughts
The Bible is a “you need so much help only God can help you book.” Not a self-help book.
Christianity is a crutch offered to a world of lame people—but the foolish ones are too proud to accept it.
Jesus didn’t die to save you from Satan. He died to save you from yourself—without Him, you are at war with a God who loves you.
Sin is a matter of appetites. If...
Lent Thoughts?
For Lent, I’m thinking of working through the life of Jesus as it relates to his geography, and how it is analogous to our own lives—where we look to Him as a Divine Example of godly living.
Briefly, I’m thinking along these lines—
1. Water — Where Jesus encounters the God who loves Him.
2. Wilderness— Where Jesus encounters the adversary who tempts Him.
...
Kids Feel What Parents Expressively Feel →
This made me smile. I love this so much.
In our world's quest for answers, knowledge, joy,...
Anonymous asked: Hello =) As a youth minister, have you ever gone through a season with your youth group where it feels supremely difficult to get them to respond to anything God-wise? Also, what advice do you have for dealing with extremely apathetic teenagers?
Valentine's Day
Means you get to pinch everyone who isn’t wearing red, right?
Anonymous asked: Do you have a valentine this year?
“I wouldn’t want to join a club that would have someone like me as a...”
– Woody Allen
St. Ignatius of Loyola Has The Most Beautiful Way... →
kindnessalwaysmatters:
The Goal of our life is to live with God forever. God, who loves us, gave us life. Our own response of love allows God’s life to flow into us without limit. All the things in this world are gifts from God, Presented to us so that we can know God more easily and make a return of love more readily. As a result, we appreciate and use all these gifts of God Insofar as they...
Interesting
In studying the Pentateuch, something interesting I’ve come across (something that always seemed strange to me) are the people referred to as “sons of the gods” and “daughters of men.” The idea is that some supernatural beings had sex with human women, something that was seen as evil to God—and yet, what does that even mean?
In historical context, however,...
Changing
I’ve heard it said that you should change for no one…. that if you have to change because of another person, that you aren’t staying true to yourself.
But I don’t believe love is an ethereal thing—that it is some foreign thing from whence we draw emotion, something intangible that simply “occurs” when we find someone who simply fits into our molds, and...
3 tags
Jesus died because God loves you more than He...
If He hated sin more, he would have killed us all. But no—He wants you. He loves you. So he died.
Think about that for a moment.
Peace and love, friends.
“Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone...”
– Westminster Confession.
We are justified by faith alone, but faith never stays alone. It is always accompanied by works. Dead faith is no faith at all. Faith is kept alive and vibrant through works. When you become a new creation, you must live in a new way of life.
