the shack

well, i am just seeing far to much of this book (in places i care about!) to not comment. i first must say that i have not and will not read it. i do not need to. fiction or not, if it conveys truths about who God is... they had better be biblical truths! and The shack is far from biblical. i am not going to take the time to lay out the story line and pick apart whats wrong with the theology and so on, a great Pastor i know has already done so and I'll link to it. before i do, let me just say that i love to read and i love to study theology and even other non christian views on God. so how can i read about Islam and then say the shack is no good? it's because a book on Islam is not trying to pass it's self off as Christian. the shack does and they are both just about equally heretical.

read the full review here.

video review here

live life and do well...

"all men die, not all men really live" (mel gibson - braveheart)

in my last post i asked the question, "are you ready?". and what i meant by that was are you ready to die. of course no one can even talk about death without thinking about life. they are two sides of the same coin, with life comes death. that which is not alive can not die. one always comes with the other (at least in this life, that is true). i have been asking my self, "self! what does it mean to really live?" as America's pastor would say "do i have a purpose driven life?" well, i know i do not want a purposeless driven life! but i think it's more then just finding your purpose. man kinds purpose is easy, it's to Glorify God and enjoy him forever! or as John Piper would say, Glorify God "by" enjoying him forever. and that kinda of answers the question, how do i glorify God? Dr. Piper would say "God is most Glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him". and that sounds good. but whats hard is putting it to practise. what is the pragmatic outworking of that first lesion in the Westminster catechism - "Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?
A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God,and fully to enjoy him forever".

well, i don't know. know the answer should sound something like this, "you pray and read your bible everyday and then serve in your local Church, preach and witness". the problem with this answer is that it is not always that simple. i happen to believe that everyone has different callings, and i think most would agree with that. so the working out of how to best Glorify God is personal(though i do think everyone should be ready to give an answer for the Hope that lyeth in them). this much i know for sure, you have to stay in the fight! if you give up and give in to your flesh, it's over. your finished. stay in the fight and God will work it out through you. it's the hardest life, but for those who know Jesus Christ, it's the only life!!!

quote of the day

"Evidently, you do not realize what a wretched person you truly are, and what an offence your depravity is in the holy sight of God, if you can feel nothing in response to the atoning death of God's son."
without a quickened awareness of our depravity, we are Pharisees at best, though most of us are far worse. the best we can approach is a religious performance that brings glory to us and leaves us looking down on everybody else.

quote from,
whats so great about the doctrines of Grace? (pg 31)
by: Richard D. Phillips

are you ready?

if Jesus Christ where to return in the next 12 hours, and you knew it with out a doubt. what would be the things you would want to set right, what would you stop doing or what would you start to do? if your thinking of something right now then the chance is that there is something you may need to work on(everyone should be thinking of something). now we know that no one gets into heaven by just having a cleaned up life, by no means is that what i am implying here. we are all redeemed one way and one way only, by the grace of God! by Grace through faith, not of works lest any man should boast (eph 3:8-9). so that's not what i mean when i ask "are you ready?" what i mean is, if He came and you stood face to face with the sovereign Lord of all that is, He who knows all your darkest thoughts, could you say i lived as best i knew how? i do not expect to be perfect when i die, Isaiah was a mighty prophet and he cursed himself when he saw God! his sin was manifest before his face instantly and he is totally destroyed by it. Praise God we have the righteousness of Christ to cover our filthy lives. but, if we can glorify God better, or give up a sin, or be more zealous for his Gospel... we ought to! lets not just do what we think is enough to get by and still call ourselves Christian. lets not fall into a cold emotionless orthodoxy where we simply do what we have always done because it's what we have always done. make every moment of your life a striving to be closer to Him, to follow Him, to worship Him, to praise Him, to love Him, and to Glorify Him! for he is worthy to receive honor and Glory and Praise forever and ever! lets not be taken by surprise when our Lord comes. let's be ready and waiting, with the prayer on our lips... even so come Lord JESUS!!!

now what?

Psa 33:8, Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9,For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast. 10,The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11,The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12,Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 13,The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14,From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15,He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. 16,There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17,An horse [is] a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver [any] by his great strength. 18,Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19,To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20,Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he [is] our help and our shield. 21, For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22, Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Hope in God, not man. no matter what happens in America in the up and coming term, God is still in Heaven, still in control, still Lord of His creation. he builds up and tears down the rulers of men, and if this is His will (and it must be because it happened) then it's good. we must pray for our leaders, pray for Obama's safety, pray for his wisdom, but most of all pray for his salvation!

Hope in God, and may God get the Glory, great things he hath done!

vote vote vote, kill kill kill

Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!
Mat 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
Mat 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

with the election a week away, it is all we hear over and over.... Vote Obama, he is the one, the saviour of America, republicans bad democrats good bla bla bla!

listen, i really could care less about his economic plans and taxes that reflect socialism. the man has supported the most radical abortion laws ever purposed. and on that one single point alone he is disqualified for my vote. i can not and will not ever vote for a pro choice candidate. the man has innocent blood on his hands and i will not take part in the slaughter of babies!

say what you will, and support what ever political party you want. but do not vote pro choice! listen to your conscience and follow what God tells you.

if Jesus Christ said it is better that you tie a huge rock to your neck and toss yourself into the lake, rather then offend....not kill... just offend one of these little ones. what do you think the happens to those who kill the little ones?

that the minisry be not blamed!

2Cr 6:3 Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

when i first read this, the thought that came rushin in was of the great scandals that our faith has endured through the years. prostitutes, homosexual relationships, drugs and fornication, as well as major financial scandals within the Christian leadership. when the world looks in at such things they do not blame man kind, or the depraved nature of man. they point to the Christian ministry and say it's all this way. and so the offense is made and the ministry gets the blame. a solid Christian testimony is more to be protected then any other point of your walk (other then your relati0nship with God, which always comes first!)it can take a life time to earn the trust of people and one mistake to lose it forever. people tend toward remembering the bad that people do and not the Good. they assume the worst.

the very next thing i thought:

what was the one thing that takes place in churches that brings offense, and blame to the ministry? hypocrisy! i know that most of the so called hypocrisy that the world slaps on the Church is misunderstandings gone bad. but my friends... not all. i am guilty of reading this text and thinking about major sin and the cataclysmic falls of high profile preachers. and as i do so there is strife and divisions among us. they see it, and sometimes get caught up in it. nothing stumbles a new Christian (or a potential convert) more then to find out that the people they are going to for help, are no better then they are. and when they see us as Christians who are no better then lost men the ministry takes the blame!

let us not spend to much time worrying about the pastors who are on a direct path toward disaster. they have been and always will be there. but we can make a major difference in the way the world see's the Church by being Christ to them. by Loving sacrificially. And when they come into the Church by being what the bible says we are and what they come looking for, Christians. that the Lamb who was slain may receive the reward of his suffering, and God may be glorified!

quick thought

as i study the institutes of the christian religion, i have come across a wealth of knowledge. i could write about the first ten chapters for the next year i suppose and not run out of things to say. instead of doing that, i have decided to just give a quick thought that is sparked in my reading.

right now i am in the 13th chapter of the first book, knowledge of God. the Trinity.

Calvin brings up a good point about using extra biblical words to explain God and scripture. it's totally fine! well, he does not use those words...but, in so many words that's what he says. there is nothing wrong with using words that do not appear in the bible just so long as the truth they convey is there. we can no deny that there is a Father, Son, and Spirit. but we need words that can qualify these truths for us. so, feel free to explain things in your own words.
just but be sure your clearing up a truth that really is there.

let us not forget today - tomorrow!

today is 9/11, we as Americans all know what that means. we all remember the very spot we where when we heard the words, " America is under attack!" let us not forget to pray today, pray for the families of those lost that day and in the war that followed. let us pray for the safety of our nation. you know nations rise and fall, no nation lasts forever. that was a hard thing for me to come to terms with, but i settled when i remembered that God is in control. He is the one who lets nations rise and fall and in the end His Will will be done! all of the nations of this world will come to an end in that day. and though that sounds scary it's not. Because God will be our temple and the light of that kingdom. with that said i do want to remind everyone that this does not mean we stop praying. God had ordained that through Christian prayers and actions His Will is done. let us not forget today - tomorrow! let us pray! and let us take hope in Him, rest in Him, and continue to trust in Him!

God is so in control

so i bought a poster in Venice beach like ten years ago. i was lost at the time and the poster was not godly in anyway. in fact it may have been a bit on the dark side. it was not totally evil but it was abstract art that had some darker images in it. because i got it on my first trip to L.A. i did want to keep it. it was getting beat up and i wanted to make sure it would not get totally destroyed so i took it to a framing place. i decided to have it plagued, and to do that i had to send it out. long story short, it was lost or stolen in shipping after the work was done. because the place that did the work was the shipper that lost it they had to do another one for free, and the lady that i went to offered to pay for a new print. so, i lost the questionable art and had it replaced with the pic that i put on here. it depicts the last judgment of mankind, and i think Glorifies God where as the other might have been a stumbling block to a weaker brother. this was totally out of my control, i believe that God is in Control of every molecule in his creation. therefor, God took my print that belonged to a lost person and gave me a religious based print for a saved person and did it at no cost to me what so ever!!!! amen!!

last word on - in his steps

i finished the book yesterday and i enjoyed it very much, i suggest it. the only objection i have to it is that there is a heavy focus on a social Gospel theology, the people in the book do seek and save the lost but spend more energy on social issues. also, the main point of the book is to ask the question of ourselves, what would Jesus do? this question is flawed. we can never know the answer to it, and it's not the right question anyway. the question is what would Jesus want me to do. other then these two issues the book was enjoyable.

WWJD?

Most Christians have heard this little question, and it has become in our time almost just a meaningless jingle. What would Jesus do? we see it on t shirts, bumper stickers and web sites. it had become so common to me that i never really thought about it. till now, this months free audio book from Christian Audio is walking in his steps. it is a fictional novel about a minister who asks his parish to take an oath to live for one year without doing anything until they ask the question, What would Jesus do? i have spent two days at work listening to this book and its an amazing story. to think that by asking such a simple question (that by Christian standards should be already part of our daily walk) could turn lives totally upside down and redeem so many people who where in their own minds Christian. i Got to thinking what would Jesus do if he where me? what would he do? i realize we can never really fully answer this question, but to ask it of ourselves will force us to think of him before ever making a decision, or taking a step in one direction or another. What does it Mean to fully follow Jesus Christ? and in your life, What Would Jesus do?

salvation by chance of a fancy coat

I have heard it said: "that God will in no way interfere with the will of man." As if our will were the all-sovereign force of the universe. I happen to know that God's will is the only all-sovereign force there is.

Let's look at a simple story that is not normally used to show the sovereign will of God--the story of the coat of many colors.

We all know the story, Jacob makes his son, Joseph, a beautiful coat of many colors. His brothers are overcome with jealousy and they plot to kill him. Instead they decide not to kill him but to toss him into a pit, but just then slave traders happen by and Joseph is taken off to Egypt. While in Egypt, he faces one challenge after another but ends up as the Pharaoh's right hand man. From here he is able to come into a position of authority over his brothers when they come to Egypt for food, as the whole land is in famine. Joseph shows unconditional love and forgiveness to his brothers. Eventually the Hebrew people come to Egypt and from there they become slaves. Later on, God saves a Hebrew male baby, named Moses, whom He uses to free His people and lead them out of bondage into the promised land (after a fast little trip through the wilderness that is). From there Israel becomes a nation. There are a few trips over the Jordan and back a battle or two, and a carrying away or two, a rebuilding, the roman occupation and the stage is set for the Messiah to come and redeem his people and all of man kind.

Now, I ask you - "Did God leave it up to chance that Jacob would Give Joseph that coat?" No coat - no slavery. No Egypt - no exodus. No promised land - NO Messiah from that line of events!

How can one really think that had Jacob woke up that day and not felt like giving that coat to Joseph, that God would have altered all of His plans for redemption. lets not forget, Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

God had Ordained Christ to the Cross before He even laid the foundation of the earth. Whats more is, He ordained everything that has and will ever come to pass.

God is all sovereign. His will is the only will that has never and can never be moved by any force other than Himself. You do not enjoy the same privilege, my friend.

God's witness in nature, enough to condemn but not save.

This statement hit my ears funny the first time i heard it. John Calvin talks about this in his institutes. I thought," How could God leave us a witness that was not perfect? If in fact the Bible is infallible, is not His Witness in nature as well? If so, how can it be infallible and not save? Isn't God's form of communication perfect?

Answer:

God's Witness in nature is not only perfect, it's totally infallible. General Revelation and special Revelation are not equa, but they are both inspired by God. Romans 1 tells us that what is to be known of God is clearly seen by the things made (us), and so we are without excuse; hence, it's enough to condemn--yet, it's not able to save. How can that be you ask? Well, it's our fault! Had mankind not fell, had Adam not sinned, we would know God through the creation perfectly; but we are fallen, and it's due to our dullness that we cannot see the God of scripture through nature.

God gives his revelation to man. We turn from it and claim it came from nothing instead. I think condemnation, due to the witness of nature along with our sin, is perfectly reasonable.

fight the good fight

Paul did not have it easy. from the day he was saved until the day he was martyred, he was utterly given over to the work of the Gospel. and no matter what kind of suffering he went through he never let it stop him.

2Co 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? I (speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
2Co 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
2Co 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
2Co 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
2Co 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
2Co 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
2Co 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
2Co 11:30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
2Co 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed forevermore, knoweth that I lie not.
2Co 11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
2Co 11:33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

the thing i find most amazing about all this is that he just kept going and as far as i can tell he did not get down on himself, he did not need to read how to make friends and influence people to figure out how to speak to the lost, he did not need a self help book to make himself feel better about himself. and seeing as though so many people disliked him you would think he would have had a complex from it. as the mind set is today, you would think he would have gotten lonely and needed a family with a nice house with 2.5 kids and a white picket fence in order to have purpose. but even without those things and as far as i can see he was just fine with who he was and where God had him in life and in fact he considered it a great privilege to carry the Lord's message, and to suffer for the Name that is above all others. i can not imagine a person today going through half of this without having major questions as to whither God be for him or not. (i know and am very keen to the fact that people suffer and die today. so i can not just make that a blanket statement, i can only judge from an American view point concerning American Christians)with that said, i think the most an American Christian will ever face is, his family outcasting him, or his friends, lover, coworkers, and so on. and yet so many do not finish well. how can that be the worst thing we have to face and have so many seeking a softer more acceptable gospel? what would timothy have thought of this American Gospel? can you imagine the Guy who received the last words ever written by Paul saying how he finished well and was ready to be offered, and then have him take a look at what stops, or slows, or kills Christianity in America today. i think he would be shocked, and saddened by it.

2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

fight the good fight, this is not just a race. it's a battle so we must be battle minded. that means stop letting personal loss or hardship prevent us from keeping the faith and finishing the course. consider it it a privilege when you suffer, consider it a privilege that God counts you worthy to suffer for his Name.

Act 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

institutes of the christian religion

so, i had mentioned that i was going to write about the study i am doing on the institutes of the Christian religion by John Calvin. I think that i will pick a small portion of the institutes and then comment on it. that should suffice to give a small peek into what a massive wealth of knowledge of Scripture Calvin possessed.

book one, chapter one, section two

Without Knowledge Of God There Is No Knowledge Of Self;

"On the other hand, it is evident that man never attains to a
true self-knowledge until he have previously contemplated the face
of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself.
For (such is our innate pride) we always seem to ourselves just, and
upright, and wise, and holy, until we are convinced, by clear
evidence, of our injustice, vileness, folly, and impurity.
Convinced, however, we are not, if we look to ourselves only, and
not to the Lord also - He being the only standard by the application
of which this conviction can be produced. For, since we are all
naturally prone to hypocrisy, any empty semblance of righteousness
is quite enough to satisfy us instead of righteousness itself. And
since nothing appears within us or around us that is not tainted
with very great impurity, so long as we keep our mind within the
confines of human pollution, anything which is in some small degree
less defiled delights us as if it were most pure just as an eye, to
which nothing but black had been previously presented, deems an
object of a whitish, or even of a brownish hue, to be perfectly
white. Nay, the bodily sense may furnish a still stronger
illustration of the extent to which we are deluded in estimating the
powers of the mind. If, at mid-day, we either look down to the
ground, or on the surrounding objects which lie open to our view, we
think ourselves endued with a very strong and piercing eyesight; but
when we look up to the sun, and gaze at it unveiled, the sight which
did excellently well for the earth is instantly so dazzled and
confounded by the refulgence, as to oblige us to confess that our
acuteness in discerning terrestrial objects is mere dimness when
applied to the sun. Thus too, it happens in estimating our spiritual
qualities. So long as we do not look beyond the earth, we are quite
pleased with our own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we address
ourselves in the most flattering terms, and seem only less than
demigods. But should we once begin to raise our thoughts to God, and
reflect what kind of Being he is, and how absolute the perfection of
that righteousness, and wisdom, and virtue, to which, as a standard,
we are bound to be conformed, what formerly delighted us by its
false show of righteousness will become polluted with the greatest
iniquity; what strangely imposed upon us under the name of wisdom
will disgust by its extreme folly; and what presented the appearance
of virtuous energy will be condemned as the most miserable
impotence. So far are those qualities in us, which seem most
perfect, from corresponding to the divine purity."


so in other words, we are self deceiving, self righteous sinners who do not know what is good until we look to God. i love how he talks about the eye that looks on black, when it sees a brown or dirty white it thinks it to be pure white even though it's far from it. so when we look at man our entire lives, a person who has some moral standards tends to look like that pure white. in reality they are nothing more then brown. we need to look to God to see the real white. is this not what we hear over and over again on the streets, "oh yes i'm a good person" "i'm not really any worse then anyone else" or "compared to some people i am really good". well there it is, compared to people a lot of others are good, but compared to God there are none righteous no not one!

hagee the heretic?

i am not sure what kind of theology this is. i have some idea about what he believes, and just by hearing the few things in this video i think its safe to say the man is a heretic. i mean he flat out denies that Jesus Christ is the messiah. he claims that Jesus never said he was messiah and that the Jew's never denied him. i do not go around randomly calling people heretics, still and all Paul says to mark them and so i did. thoughts?

obamanation!

ok last political statement for a while! thought it was worth it for a little laugh.

green house gases good for the earth?

very interesting indeed. see here. we all know by now that kyoto and every other agreement like it are nothing more then a ploy to keep a liberal agenda in motion. one that threatens the very existence of this nation. not to mention if this info is correct, it's a danger to the very earth it's claiming to protect.

the crown only comes after the cross

Matthew Henry comments,"there is a proneness in good men to expect the crown without the cross". He said that about this text, "Mat 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias". R.C. Sproul says "Peter is ready to celebrate the fullness of the messianic age". he had missed the whole picture. in fact most everyone thought Christ would be setting up the kingdom right away. they where looking for a king, not a lamb, and certainly not a sacrifice. we as a fallin people often see what we want, we expect certain things in certain ways according to our own desires. the problem with this is that when God steps in and reveals to us His way, the right way, we have a hard time excepting it, and an even harder time understanding it. somethings we never understand. but none the less God still comes in his grace and mercy to correct his lost sheep. to pull us back and right us on the straight and narrow way. when we trust in our own understanding and refuse to be open to the leading of spiritual men, and the Spirit of God, we do ourselves a huge disservice. not to mention we miss our chance to be used by God. let's not forget, God ordains that men be his mouth piece here on earth. but if we don't understand the message what good are we.

John Calvin

thus it comes about that we see men who in his absence normally remained firm and constant, but who, when he manifests his glory, are so shaken and struck dumb as to be laid low by the dread of death - are in fact overwhelmed by it and almost annihilated: John Calvin 1538 .

Shai Linne - theology rapper?

how do you feel about this? i tend to think it's fine, and not only fine but kinda of amazing. this guy puts more theology into one rap then most preachers put into a year of sermons! and that is the sad fact. the man is preaching flows that are biblically sound in doctrine, exalting Christ, Glorifying God, faithful to scripture, and not only that...... he is good. but i would like to know, what do you think about it?

by this time he stinketh:

john 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Joh 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Joh 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
Joh 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Joh 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.


we all know this story front and back, but tonight when talking about this with a friend i saw something i have never seen or heard anyone else say about this text before.

let me just say ahead of time that this maybe a stretch, and maybe totally wrong. but i thought it was cool.

ok, so lets set the stage. Lazarus is dead, he has been in that state for 4 days. and like Martha said "by now he stinks". he had layed there wrapped up in his graveclothes rotting and stinking, thus he is in a cloud of stink. this no doubt had started to permeate the graveclothes, and they themselve now stank and where putrid. it is in this condition that Jesus comes to him. as the Spirit of God comes over this lifeless body, it sits up and he takes his first breath as a "born again" man. this breath is a lung full of rotting stench, you see. though he was born a new the clothes he was wrapped in where still full of the stink of death. are we not the same? inside, we are a fresh new man. born again by the grace of God, but outside! we are still wrapped in stinking rotting death clothes. but the story does not end there. the sweet words of our Lord cut through the stink, "Loose him, and let him go". praise God for the Day cometh when we to will be loosed of our graveclothes, loosed by the Lord of Glory!!

off to the woods...

so i spent my memorial day in a cabin with friends and family. it was really nice to get away, and even better to do it in a place that was so beautiful. for the first time in my life i saw a haron rookery. and now your saying what in the world is that? that's where harons give birth to their little babies. or lay and hatch eggs i guess, being birds and all. anyway, we where walking through this lush nature park when all of a sudden we come to this wide open wet lands. at first all i saw was dead trees and stinky swamp. but then i look up and these huge nests full of harons, i love these birds. not only are they big, but they look so cool in flight. then i got to thinking how God used this dead place to bring forth abundant life. what a contrast, rotting trees as dead as dead gets. but up in the old branches that once where so full of life, life springs forth once again. God is great!!

(these are not my pics)

Calvinist's are so negitive...

on ask Pastor John today a guy wrote in and asked why Calvinists are so negative. are they? here is what i think is going on, the arminian tends to think about God as all Loving. it seems to come out in every debate i have ever heard. that unless there is a free will choice then God is not loving. i have heard them say things like this, "imagine you come home to your wife and bring a beautiful bunch of flowers, now if she has to force you to buy those flowers she will not feel loved. its only when she knows you bought them of your own free will that she knows you love her." and i have heard this, "imagine you and your wife are on an island your entire life, now until you get off the island and have other choices of women, your wife will never know if you truly love her." now, i could go on for hours about whats wrong with those two analogy's, but this is not what i am getting at though so ill try and stick to it. the problem is this, Arminian theology paints a loving God who would not break this so call "love code" thing that they use to debate with. if thats how they see God then how do you think they see a group of people who say God is not that way, not good i'm sure. so i think we need to try and keep that in mind when we talk and debate with Arminian's. that way we can be loving to!

Institutes of the Christian Religon

i have wanted to read Calvin's Institutes for some time now. well, i finally bought a two volume set tonight. i have read only two pages so far so i do not have much to write about but i wanted to do a small introduction.

The book was written as an introductory textbook on the Protestant faith for those with some knowledge of the Christian Faith, he ended up addressing it to the King of france as a kind of Christain apoligetic. First published in 1536 Calvin was just 27 years old, and save for a few revisions it remains pretty much the way he first penned it to this day. after reading just a taste of he work in the institutes i can see why it has rfemained one of the staples of the Christian faith. Calvin's writing is very deep and thoughtful, but not to hard to grasp. so far i have found it more reader friendly then Jonathan Edwards Religious Affections, but time will tell. i will post more about the theology of the Institutes as i get into them. so till then...ttfn

midnight thoughts

so, it's no longer mothers day, but i thought i would post a fast HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!! to all mothers out there. I lost my mother very suddenly about three years ago, hence this is not the easyest of all days for me. but, I talked to a buddy of mine a few hours back and he said something that reminded me and helped me get through. See, his mother passed about a year ago and he was having a hard time today as well, but he was struggling with something that never even crossed my mind today. "where is my mom now?" he asked. She never had a chance to get saved before she died, leaving her son to wonder this very ominous question. This was a question (like i said that i had not thought of) see my mother was saved before she died. That made me think back to the day i found out. I remember sitting in Bible class and my ex girlfriend showing up. All i could think was what in the world is she dong in my church. I was waiting for her to burst into flames or something i had never seen her in a church. But no, my phone was off yet they knew where to find me and they sent her to get me. I ran down to my phone and called my sister (in Hawaii) she told me right away our mother was gone. She had drown in a shallow swimming cove at a resort in Oahu Hawaii. Even though there was i rock wall to break the waves and current, a freak wave had crashed over the wall just as she was swimming on the other side and just like that..... she was gone .The very first thing i did was thank God he saved my mother. I just kept saying over and over in my head, Oh Thank you God! Thank you Jesus! for saving my mother. Having that knowledge and faith that my mother was happy and safe with our God and our Saviour got me through one of the hardest times of my life. It got me through today as well.

a new look,

so, as i said it's not always going to be about God! today it's about the blog. as you can see we have a new look here at thoughtsongodbydave.blogspot.com , i did not really think there was anything wrong with it before but.. it gets old looking at the same old lay out over and over ya know. i had been playin around with this template for some time and i never put it up cuz it's one you see alot. but i liked this lay out to much to not keep it. so hope everyone likes it. enjoy!

the decent?

As it's believed in many circles, Jesus Christ after going to the cross then decended to hell. i have done a few studies on this typic and have not come to any kind of a final conclution. i did hear an interesting point of view on this the other day though, it went kinda like this.

That Christ never decended to hell, though he did suffer it. But that was on the cross and that after that the work was totally finished. That may sound just fine to some, it will no doubt get up the nose of others. Either way we still have to reckon with scripture.  Here is just one example for now.

1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Here in first Peter we see one of the text used to form the doctrine of Jesus' decent to hell. 

In verse 18 Peter explains the atonement, the very heart of the Gospel. Christ (the just) suffered once, (for who) for the unjust, and what happened? He was put to death in the flesh BUT quickened by the Spirit. v19 by which (or by the same Spirit that quickened him) He went and Preached unto the spirits in prison. 

ok thats great you say but what does that mean? Well, I am not really 100% sure to be honest. It's possible that this is talking about Christ's preaching in his earthly ministry but doubtful, More likely is, that Spirit (the 3rd member of the trinity) was the same one in which he preached through Noah to those disobedient sinners in that day. This would explain verse 20 in that these people where not free but in bondage to sin having already been judged by God, the sentence of the dammed is delayed only by the long suffering of God as Noah preached. No matter what is being said here i think we can understand it in different ways, still surely he means only one thing by it and further study may yet uncover this mystery text.

lets not forget this creed of the faith that affirms of the decent to hell.

The Apostles creed,

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

psalm 51, kind of

in my own words...

i was challenged to read this psalm and put it in my own words. i gave it a shot. it might not be all right on with the meaning of what was being said, nevertheless, it was a blessing to me so i decided to share. 

1. Lord, give grace to me that i do not diserve, in accord with the way you feel toward me, and erase my sin because you forgive those who are unforgivable.
2. clean me completely from the depraved nature that clings to me, wash away my willing transgressions.
3. i admit to breaking your holy laws and my offenses are always on my mind.
4. my offenses are toward thee and only thee, i have done wickedness in your eyes; therefore thou may judge and pass judgements out of your justice.
5. look now, how i have been raised up a felon, yea from my mothers womb a willful law breaker.
6. look now, for you want truth through out the entire body, and wisdom known in the unknown
7. totally wash me with that witch shall make me clean, then i shall be as fresh and new.
8. Lord, give me happiness so that the ways you have broken me will turn to my joy.
9. do not let your face behold my lawlessness, oh Lord erase it all from my past.
10. my heart is stained and you must make it anew, my spirit is wrong, and you must make it right with you.
11. do not push me away, but fill me with your spirit.
12. return the rejoicing of salvation, let me be held high by you, 
13. that i may teach law breakers your laws, and the wicked shall become saints.
14. i am guilty of thy blood, for my deliverance was it spilled, and through it i am saved, thus i sing of thy righteousness .
15. give me the words that i may praise.
16. what is it you require? for what i can carry forth you need not.
17. but a repentant soul, broken for thee, thou takest joy therein.
18. make my house strong oh Lord, 
19. that it may serve you always sacrificing for your glory until the end of time.

That Day...

2Pe 3:1  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 

2Pe 3:2  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: 

2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 

2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 

2Pe 3:5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 

2Pe 3:6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 

Here we have the second epistle from the apostle peter, (1st & 2nd Peter being my very favorite books of the bible) He starts out here saying that what he is about to say is to stir up your mind by way of remembrance. somethings where spoken he says about a time that will come, remember what was said about this time. it will be a time like no other, all of man kind will go after their own lusts, saying all things continue as they where from the beginning (sound familiar?). these things are signs of this day that is coming, verse 10 - the day of the Lord. it will come all of a sudden out of nowhere, like a thief in the night even. and the earth as we know it will come to an end. the elements will melt with fervent heat, this is hard to imagine. have you ever been close to a very hot flame? even at a distance you have to turn your face away or risk damage to your eyes and face. think of that very hot flame where ever it was when you saw it, now imagine it covering the entire earth and heavens. for us who are in Christ this may not seem very scary or maybe you believe in the rapture (i do) and so we know we will not be here for it, and the lost will be off to the judgement by this time. but i think if we can imagine all the things we love, like that river you fish in and the long road you drive down to think about things, and the home you where raised in all burning with a fervent heat, now we can start to get some type of image of what the lost will be going through in hell. there must be some sobering fact here because of what Peter has to say in verse 11. seeing that we know this is coming what kind of people should we be? what kind of life should we be living? why would he use the destruction of this heaven and earth as a kind of slap in the face to say WAKE UP people. this thing is coming and so you should be living like so. i think that the coming of the Lord, the melting of the elements, and the heavens being dissolved with fire all mark the end of the spread of the gospel. and this is why he uses this day as a wake up call to live each and everyday a certain way. i used to read this passage with excitement that a new day was coming in which all things would be new. i think thats ok, but we should also remember (because he said to remember) that this day is coming and that it will mark the end for all those with out christ, or should i say it will mark the start of an eternity of hellish flames.and lets not forget verse 14 - be diligent that you may be found IN HIM, without spot, and blameless. Be diligent brothers, be found in Him! and remember!

a very good reason why NOT to blog everyday

bloggers are dropping dead - blogged them selves to death! think i am lying? click here and see

the man who was thursday

this months free audio book from Christian audio is the man who was thursday by C.K.Chesterton. what a magnificently confusing story! it was easy enough to follow but what it all means is not so easy. there are strong Christian illustrations imbedded into what has been called a metaphysical thriller, it keeps you at the edge of your seat as the twists and turns of this journey unfold one chapter after the next. i downloaded the book late last night and just finished it now. i must say it has been one of my very favorite books thus far, even if by the time it's all said and done your not quite sure what just happened, you only know you really liked it.

1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

In the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ we saw him preforming each and everyone of these Gifts, except 2.

• the word of wisdom
  
• the word of knowledge 
  
• faith
  
• healing
  
• the working of miracles
  
• prophecy
  
• discerning of spirits
  
• divers kinds of tongues
• the interpretation of tongues
  

The only two gifts in this list Jesus never used, divers kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues, why? 

something to think about i think...

wha wha what!!!

so i was cruzin around looking for an R.C. Sproul video on u tube and stumbled onto something i can not help but share. brian mclaren, ever heard of him? i had, but never heard him speak. now i know why - he is way out there in left field, i have never heard this view of Christ and the atonement. i have my opinions about these kind of beliefs but we will not go there for the sake of keeping things on somewhat of a positive note. i will leave it up to you to decide what to make of him and his doctrines. i will say this though, he is wrong. very very wrong and it's really hard to listen to but give it a shot it's short, then at least we will understand a little more about what it is we are up against here in the so called American seeker sensitive evangelical church.

Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

let me know finish my point -
this guy can not possibly be reading the same bible i am. verse after verse tells us why Jesus Christ was sent, why we died, and why he rose. we know what his blood was shed for, there is no need to guess at it or to have to try and come up with a theory on it. we know!!

LOOK at this -
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

what is there about those verses is he not getting? the blood of christ cleansed our sin, it was not some example we are to follow, and if so when sir will you be getting on the cross to shed your blood? hmmm, maybe i should not ask that? people are already doing it in South America - are we next? why was Christ's finished work on the cross not good enough? i just don't understand how you miss this. it's the corner stone of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ and him Crucified!!!

quote

"It is a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy that is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians - and I am one of them." Saint Cyprian (200-258)

first John

so, i have been reading in first John tonight and i must say i just love it. i do not think there is any other book we can go to and see God lay out what it means to be "in the faith". not only do we get a rich definition of Christendom, we also get a lot of "if this" "then this", meaning if you do this one thing the out come will be this other thing. leaving nothing to question and clearing up one issue after another. we see John talking about Love, and the new birth, as well as sin and perseverance. if any one out there is worried about whither or not you are in the faith, i suggest this book of the bible to you as a measuring rod of true spirituality.

get low

as i was reading tonight in the bruised reed (Richard Sibbes), he was talking about how we as people have a hard time humbling ourselves. we often seek the very opposite in fact. yet the God who created us and all that is, did it. he came a very far distance from his high and lofty throne, to earth, then even lower, to the cross. it would not be so far for us to go. we are already pretty low, but we don't think so. and should we see ourselves as being such we automatically turn a blind eye or even worse we seek to become the high and lofty one. oh what a mistake. to be humble among a pride filled people is to the glory of the Lord and mercy to the lost. so why do we struggle? death is why, we refuse to die. it seems to me to be a very easy concept. just forsake your own wants and desires and trade them in for God's. right? hhmmm? no...i think maybe it's more, maybe... and i do not know for sure, but maybe, it's coming to the place where you end and God takes over. for those of us who are filled with pride he will have to do some serious bruising to get us to that place where we are willing to get out of the drivers seat and let him take over. a place where we finally give in and say i can not do it Lord - and stop depending on self - and start depending on Him.

Phil Johnson at the 2007 Think On These Things Conference:

The 9th Annual Rochester Theology Conference, featuring speakers Jerry Bridges and Phil Johnson, will be held April 18 and 19, 2008, at Perinton Community Church, 636 High Street Extension in Fairport, N.Y., and is hosted by: Evangelical Church of Fairport, Pastor Reid Ferguson; and Clarkson Community Church, Pastor Tony Bartolucci.

Admission to the entire conference is $15 Individual / $20 Couple and $25 Family (no matter how large!) DVDs of all six conference sessions are available for $15, including postage.

click here to register

holy, holy, holy!

Exd 34:29-35
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And [till] Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face. But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel [that] which he was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Moses' face was shining from a reflection of the glory of the Lord. a reflection of the Lord's glory that came from seeing his back parts as the Lord passed by him. from this did his face shine with the glory of the Lord. so much so that he had to cover his face for the fear of the people. fear of seeing the reflection of the hind parts of God. oh the fear that will come in that day when they must appear before him to answer for their rejection of Him. even the seraphims cover their face with wings given them. the mighty angelic seraphim can not look into the face of God for the Glory that is to much to behold.
ISA 6:1-3 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory.
But to the child of God a higher promise is given,
1Jo 3:2, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
We shall see him as he is, what an amazing promise, what a thought, what an honor!

please pray

will anyone who is reading my blog today please pray for my daughter, Madison. she has to get a small surgery this morning and she is very worried...me to a bit. but i will read to her Isa 41:10, and trust in God.

Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

thank you, And God bless!

Luke 15

1. Overview
   

2. Jesus was being questioned about the sinners and publicans who were drawing near to him. Instead of defending Himself He tells three stories. In each of the stories something has been lost and must be found. In the first two we see the owner going on the offensive and looking diligently until the lost is found. Having found what was lost the owner rejoices with friends and neighbors, thus showing the joy that is in heaven over one sinner that repents. Christ is herein answering the Pharisees’ questioning by showing that he has lost His sheep and has come for them. “This is the entire reason I am here, don’t you see I came for these sinners.” That’s how I would have answered. But Christ’s answer was Luke 15, an answer that has blessed mankind for two thousand years.
   

2. 2.The Son, the Spirit, and the Father
   

3. Each parable tells a story, yet each is unique. One wonders what the significance of there being three stories as opposed to some other number. The universe is three: space, time, and matter. Man is three: body, soul, and spirit, and God is triune: Father, Son, and Spirit. We can make a connection in the stories themselves.
   

1. a. The lost sheep: This parable can be likened unto Jesus himself as the Shepherd who has a lost sheep. He comes for it and when He finds it lays the scared, hungry, and lost sheep across His shoulders and carries him back home.
   

2. b. The lost coin: The Holy Spirit is like unto the woman who has lost her coin. She comes into the house and finding the coin missing cleans diligently until it be found. Even so the Holy Spirit comes into us. He finds his home to be a filthy mess and starts to clean it up. He does so until the time he can finally see the lost coin that was your spirit.
   

3. c. The prodigal son: This is one of the most famous of all biblical stories. The Father gives his son his share of the inheritance and the boy leaves home to go wild and crazy with riotous living. This can be seen as the fall of mankind. and then one day, he came to himself. Salvation! he was converted, repented, and changed direction. he arrives home to find the father waiting for him with open arms and gifts to boot.
   

4. d. Now I would just like to add a disclaimer here: The comparisons I just made to the Trinity and the three parables may not hold up theologically. That was not my goal really. Only to show that there are often things we do not see at first glance. They may or may not hold up; either way, it's fun to think about.
   

5. 
   

3. 3.The Prodigal Son: I would like to explore this Parable by looking at it in three steps or phases.
   

1. a. Sin - Sinners look at the Gifts of God as debts due them, and remain concerned with the things of this world. They foolishly follow in the steps of Adam and Eve by ignoring God’s commandments and having desires of independence. The end results of these actions are separation from God, misuse of time, money, and talent. They will always be left wanting. In the quest for independence they become slaves to consumerism and bondage of the sin.
   

2. b. Repentance – He came to himself, or the Lord opened his eyes to the utter hopelessness of his sinful state. Seeing at last that the lowest of Heavens servants are better off then him, he quits his bondage to this world and heads home. Note here his attitude of repentance. I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight. I am not worthy to be thy son make me as one of thy hired servants. This is the right way to see yourself. Psa 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
   

3. c. The love of God – Notice there is not a single word of rebuke. For his repentant heart, the love and grace of God was sufficient to cover all his wicked deeds. Eze 18:21-22 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Notice also that he shows up in rags, but is given the best robe. Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. He is given a ring for his finger, or a seal (such as rings were used in those times.) Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, and shoes for his feet. Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Again this may not all hold up theologically, but it looks to me like he is given a robe like unto the salvation of Christ, and the ring which is the seal of the spirit, and the shoes the protection of being prepared with the Gospel of Peace. Let’s not forget that he feeds him as well, and though it was a calf, I like to think of the significance of it being like unto the bread of life. He was starving and now he is fat with the bread that gives life. A picture of the true Christian conversion.
   

4. 
   

4. 4.The brother
   

5. A clear representation of the Pharisees that were questioning him, the brother is jealous of everything the prodigal son is being blessed with. He will not take part in the rejoicing that is going on over the return of his own brother. In fact the father has to come out to him to plead with him and he still will not come in. He boasted over his loyalty and perfect record of never transgressing the commandments at anytime. His pride has completely blinded him just as the Pharisees listening to this story who more than likely did not even see the connection. As a last note of interest, though Jesus was answering the Pharisees with the actions of the brother, he speaks to you and me as well. Imagine this — You stay faithful at church, and give, and serve, and so on. Then some prodigal off the street walks in and everyone rejoices over him. They talk about him and invite him to all the things you never get invited to. And in your heart you cannot help but think, “I know who this guy is; he is a sinner and a publican! He is a charlatan; these people are receiving a sinner and rejoicing over him.” Of course we don’t say that, but be careful what thoughts you let into your heart. Mark 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

this post was edited by Pastor Don Curran.
Thank you for the help in making this more readable!

big cliams to my shame

this is what happens everytime! no sooner do i claim that i will be keeping up my blog at least weekly, that i get busy and totally slack off on it. the funny thing is, in one of my morning readings last week there was a warning about making oaths in our own strength that we can not keep. now this has a larger impact on me then just a blog. but it also made me think of my blog. i think things like this happen so God can remind us that if we try and do any thing in our own power, we are done for. as i am listening to this months free audio book from Christian audio (R.A. Torrey's, how to pray) i am starting to realize how important it is to involve God in everything we do. even the little things we think we can handle on our own (like writing a little blog post) should be done with God through prayer. i know that if i where to take the time to stop and seek God before making decisions, they would be better made. and not just to my benefit but to the benefit of Gods glory as well. if we are to do all things to Gods glory what better way then to seek him in everything we do and then Give him the glory for it. in the purpose driven life there is a sentence that cuts pretty deep, it goes something like this. all of Gods creation shows forth his glory, and there are only two things in all of it that fail to fulfill their purpose in doing so. fallen angels and people. we fail at this everyday. i think that through prayer we can start to repair our broken ways of doing life.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"i am still discovering right up to this moment that is it only by living completely in this world that one learns to have faith. by this worldliness i mean living unreservedly in life's duty's, problems, successs, and failures. in so doing we throw our selves completely into the arms of God, taking seriously not our own sufferings but those of God in the world. that i think is faith."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer 6/21/1944 written the day after his plot to assassinate Hitler failed.

How a person can change his direction

A man must first come to the place in his life where he needs a change. Albeit, we can hardly imagine a life that would not need a change at some point. Life is often seen as a series of changes. As we move through life we often open our eyes look around and ask, where on earth am I and how did I end up here? Often it’s these times that a change is needed in our direction.

The next thing that a man must do is to come to some decision about where he is and where he would like to be. Just as a man can not change without seeing the need, he will not end up in a desirable place with out some proper brain storming. Some things to consider would be what is wrong with the current direction? What is it that you need to change in your life and why do you wish to change it? A clear concise look at your spiritual beliefs will help to point you in the right direction.

A mans beliefs can play a very large role in where he is headed in life. The only problem with this is that we as people have such a wide range of beliefs. It is my conviction that with out God, a change in direction will never be realized. Yes it is true that even non believers change their directions from time to time. I would argue that this is the

Common grace of God assisting them with out their knowledge. The best thing that we can do to insure that we are successful in this change is to make it a change toward God and his will. Because man is free in the sense that we can make decisions and choices. We are free to make the wrong ones (and often do). The only way we can set a new direction in life with the assurance that this is the right way, is through God.

He will need to pray. Prayer is the one way man can speak to God and set forth his desire for change. If this is a pure desire with pure motives you can start by thanking God. For this desire surly was not born of your own heart. The bible tells us that “the heart of man is deceitfully wicked; who can know it”. This man should then follow his thanksgiving in supplications for Grace and mercy in his life, that he may at length change his direction.

The final ingredient to a proper change in direction is the word of God. Just as with out God we can not change at all, with out his word any change in life will be fruitless. God sets forth in the bible everything we need in order to live out the rest of our days on a path that leads directly to him.

a day in the life of a trader and thief

Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

Luke 6:14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

Luke 6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

Luke 6:16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Luke 6:17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

Luke 6:18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

Luke 6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

Here we see Jesus ordaining his twelve, Judas in the mix. I wonder as he stood there watching this man to whom the whole world was flocking to, as he heals entire crowds of the sick and lame. Did he know at this time that he had it in him to do what he would come to do? Or was he just like John as he stood amazed by Christ? Standing there thinking I will follow this man where ever he will go! To jail, to the grave, no matter, I will go with him. It’s fair to assume that (and I am), because I would have been saying that if I where there. But! Knowing my self I do not think my self to be any better then he(at this point). My heart is just as wicked and deceitful as his and yours! It would be very easy for me to pass judgment on this man at this point and say he was evil from the start and hopeless to boot. But I will not say that, I think he was not hopeless. He left himself open and invited Satan in. he played a dangerous game with sin and lost. We all do from time to time. No I do not think he was hopeless. Think on this with me for a moment. This man was bad and open to evil there is no doubt about that. But he also knew that what he did was wrong. It took Satan entering into him to make him do what he did and he hung himself after, And why? All of the leaders of the day where dead set against Jesus, this might have been a very good opportunity for him to get in good with them and set himself up for a life of ease. But he does it for 30 pieces of silver that he gives back right before hanging himself. If he where just purely evil and all bad I can not see this being the course of action he would have pursued. Greed had the upper hand in his life time and time again. We all have sins that we seem to be powerless against. I must say that is because we are. The more we fight them the more we lose to them. It is not until we stop fighting and making empty promises of life with out sin that we start to win. It is when we give up totally and let Jesus take over that we finally do win. Until that day we are all like Judas. Slaves to the things that will one day kill us, when what we really need is to be slaves to the one who will heal us. Well enough speculation lets look at the man.

He saw Jesus heal in Luke 6:13-19 the whole multitude. This was just the start of what would be a very active three and a half year ministry of preaching, teaching, and miracles. Judas would have also seen these events in Matthew 12:15 and 15:20 that are very much like the one in Luke.

Mat 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

Mat 15:30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

He would have been there when Jesus raised the widow’s son from the dead, when he raised Jairus’ daughter who had just died or when he brought back Lazarus from the dead after four days. All of these things Judas would have been an eye witness to. This gave him a profound advantage to all of us. He saw and did not believe – how blessed are they who believe yet have not seen. It’s not as if there where no signs to his lack of self control. In John 12 we get a peek into what was going on inside this mans head. We see greed, we see self serving, we see a man open to the opportunity to score some extra scratch, but not open to the worship of the God.

John 12:4 then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

John 12:6 this he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

John 12:7 then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

John 12:8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

This maybe the one passage that can help us understand this man. “He was a thief” is the testimony given by the Holy Ghost. His heart was not on God but himself and his bank account. OH how we must take heed here. Do we really think that if we do not feel any different then he does? When given the chance to glorify God or make a buck he picks the money. Surly he thought “I can always fit in that worship later after I get this money”. Do we think we are really so much better then he in this point! Do not get me wrong im not saying you or I would ever do what this man did.... but it is not out of our reach!!! It is not beyond us, we are capable of it.

From here on out it’s all down hill for Judas. John 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him. And then, Luke 22:3 then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. After which Mat 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, he goes to the priests and sells them the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver. He then takes the guard to Jesus in the place he goes to pray. Notice that he knew where to find him, (in prayer) he betrays the lamb of God with a kiss to show friendship. This was the all time most despicable act. He turned his back on the one who loved and gave to all of the downcast of man kind. It’s hard to imagine. Shortly after this he returns the money but they will not take back what he has done. When he sees that Jesus is condemned, he walks out of the city and hangs himself.

I started this entry by trying to see the humanity of Judas. By trying to show that though it is known as being the worst of all evils ever committed, this was a man. And like all other men who leave them selves open to sin he is over come by it and it takes him to places he more then likely never wanted to go. It will always have that effect on us. Jesus offers to take that burden for you. To lift it off and set you free to be his and he takes you places you can not imagine.