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