tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32472668576675506202024-03-13T04:16:23.871-07:00Once An EnemyFixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-72373025077971548212019-11-18T20:19:00.002-08:002019-11-18T20:22:53.956-08:00Lessons & Confessions Regarding Social Media<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lately life has been coming hard at my family. Our trials have been above average for quite some time, 13 years at least. Yet I'm not so sure we're all that different than a lot of people. My former boss and friend used to say, "The minute you complain about not having any shoes you see a guy with no feet." I've grown to answer people who tell me "my trials are nothing like yours" with "don't minimize them, your trials are your trials."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Wait, what's that got to do with social media? A lot actually. What follows is more of my heart (my story) and an attempt show you how I did it wrong and started straightening out than to teach anyone as one having authority. I'm more like the aging father or old grandfather just trying to say don't learn the hard way, listen to an idiot so you don't become one.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Social media can be huge anchor, cement shoes even. It's a breeding ground for contention and one-upmanship. Granted I've made some amazing friendships because of it and due to my local church have met dozens who became friends through social media. Yet not too many years ago I used social media as a way to get out all the teaching I thought I was supposed to do. Much of my time, not all but way too imbalanced, was spent engaged in theological debate, or worse, cutting down false teachers and/or brethren. Now mind you theology is a worthy endeavor. And exposing false teachers is important. Yet it's key how it's done. I'm not talking about tone. I'm talking about attitude. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">A brother made this powerful comment recently, "It's easy to look down at others when you've placed yourself above them."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I'm convinced I was that man. It was not intentional. Pride is subtle like that. It kills but it does so with great sleight of hand. If we're not mindful of it, or place ourselves under powerfully skilled </span>shepherds, yes, gifted men of God, it will destroy us.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But anyway,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I was dying for dialogue with believers. Dialog which for the most part was lacking in my local church brethren. The desire was for sharpening, for reasoning together, but often as I look backwards it was contentious and pugnacious. I recall a dear friend that I used to work with, a young man who I hired as one of my framers, message me one morning that I was always posting fiery topics and picking people apart. I distinctly recall asking some friends, is it true? I reviewed posts and said is it I? I received affirmation that it wasn't, that I was good. Looking back I firmly believe my friend was right. Funny thing is 3-4 years later when I apologized to him he said he was too harsh and I wasn't that bad. I think we both grew a little in those years in between. It was also around that time that my pastor used a boneheaded move I made online as a sermon illustration. I'm certain it was me. But you know what? He never got in my face. He just let the preaching of the word do the work and when I would approach him he'd gently yet firmly counsel me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Around 2011-2012 I started going down the road of contention. And the longer I stayed on that road, the darker it got, and the potholes and the dips got deeper and rougher. But like a stubborn horse resisting the reigns I kept going at breakneck speed. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had walked my own way. Like Uzzah I was trying to do the right thing but the wrong way. I just desired for brethren to believe right but God never commanded me to correct everybody. I'd sat under, for lack of better terms, docile men who had no fight in them for truth. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So when I arrived at my current church m</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y pastor would fire me up every Sunday and I tried to emulate his calling of correcting errors but it wasn’t my place. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My calling was, and is, to lead my family, to pay close attention to my doctrine, and this is key, and to my manner of life, to live peaceably among others. I've often been asked if I'm a seminary guy. My reply is always, "no, I'm just a wannabe." I'm not called to be a pastor or an elder. My job has always been to properly lead my own family (that's hard enough for me!) and to keep myself in the word and growing. I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">put myself in a position that I was never intended to fill. I’m the pastor of my family not a shepherd of other people's sheep.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You see, I'm a great sinner. In need of great grace. I'm nobody. God reached down to grab me and He pulled up a lot of muck with my smelly bones and rotting flesh. As Iain Murray said in 2015, I need to "stay low." Or as 1 Corinthians says, God saved the weak, the ignoble, the foolish, and the off-scouring of the world. What do I have that I have not been given?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By all means we should contend earnestly for the faith but contentiousness is not a fruit of the spirit. It's a work of the flesh. Such things my pastor has hammered through texts like Galatians 5. Then my direct pastor and shepherd has mercilessly pounded me for 8 years with the truths of Philippians and 2 Corinthians, and many others. Yet in it he has also gently and patiently endured my sins. Me a guy 20 years his senior. I'm so thankful for him. Yet those are not the only two guys that have impacted me. There are countless others.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If my activity on social media is to prove I am right, I’m doing it totally wrong. If when I talk to my brothers at church I’m just trying to straighten them out, I’m totally out of whack. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the unbeliever reads what I say I want them to say that’s what a real Christian looks like. That’s a guy who doesn’t think too highly of himself. That’s a guy who loves people. I don’t want them looking at me and saying, 'wow if that’s how he treats other Christians I want no part of it!'</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh, and I despise Twitter. My interaction there has been very minimal because it’s like a 13th-century battlefield where the clash of Claymore‘s and the hurling of battle axes is commonplace. My pastor has likened it to a food fight. He’s far too kind. It’s more like a bloody battlefield where people mercilessly bludgeon each other. My arena is Facebook. It’s not much better. It has its own version of bludgeoning.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hopefully that's not too disjointed. I hated English in high school. Tried my best to fail it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So where has this led me? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to love the brethren. I want to care for their issues. I want to pray them through their trials. I want to live a verse I memorized some 29 plus years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With humility of mind regard others as more important than myself, to look out for their interests and not just my own.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've greatly benefited from the encouragement of others. I'd rather be engaged in encouraging the brethren to run the race, to fight the good fight, to endure hardship, to fix their eyes on the Author and Finisher of their faith. Lord knows when I'm hurting it's what I want and need. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yet so often what I see is people spending most, if not all, of their time engaged in skirmishes on multiple fronts. I'm no military mind but that's not a good plan for winning a war. When I was engaged in that I was just taking shots that were chipping away at me and making a fool of me and my Savior. Shots that would eventually knock me down and out.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A few years ago I purposed to "stay in my lane" as a brother counseled</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> me 7 or 8 years ago. My lane is my immediate family, my church family, and my extended church family, not every hot topic and errant teaching. Note I said "not every."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will I be silent on issues? No. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will endeavor to address all things with dignity, humility, and compassion. Because that's what Christians are called to do and be.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or as I've said previously, Christians ought to look like Christ without thinking they are Him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~ He must increase.</span></span><br />
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Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-3168545347703525652019-03-27T18:09:00.000-07:002019-03-27T18:09:21.418-07:00Abolishing Abortion: Fighting for a Cause?<div class="msg-body P_wpofO iy_A" data-test-id="message-view-body-content">
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Pro-life, pro-choice, or other? There was a time when I thought the
first two were the only major camps. Sure, there were always variations
of people within each camp but, by and large, most people fell into one
of the two. However, I've recently learned of another camp. This
particular camp shares similarities with the religious zealots of biblical times.
For those who may be unaware, the zealots were those who were religious
fanatics to the point where they would murder the opposing government
officials. One could consider them religious assassins. While this third
category isn't necessarily out bombing abortion clinics (nor would they
advocate such tactics), their extremism is performed in a very
different, yet equally as dangerous, manner. So who is this mystery
category? It contains those deemed as abolitionists. The most prominent
group in this category is known as Abolish Human Abortion (AHA).</div>
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AHA
members come in a variety of shapes and sizes but they all have one
thing in common: abolishing abortion. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On this particular point, I have no disagreement. As
Christians, the complete eradication of evil should always be strived
for. However, we must also understand we live in a fallen world with
unregenerate sinners. Thus, it should also be understood that, this side
of heaven, we'll never achieve that end goal. AHA is an interesting
group as it neither falls under pro-life nor pro-choice. In fact, they
will openly proclaim that both movements entertain evil and are wicked.
Not so long ago, I would've been scratching my head asking myself what
else is left. Now, it's not quite as confusing. My end conclusion? AHA
is both misguided as well as dangerous.</div>
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When
I first heard of AHA, I decided to follow them on Facebook and even
shared some of their posts. Imagine my surprise when I heard they were
picketing churches and protesting bills that directly attacked abortion.
While it's easy to mischaracterize groups with whom you disagree, I
want to ensure I accurately portray their stance in this blog post.
Essentially, AHA members are abolitionists. Anything short of the
complete eradication of abortion is considered unsatisfactory. To this
end, I agree. Where we part ways is in the methods used to achieve such a
goal. While the pro-life camp is typically accepting of incremental
laws that whittle away at abortion little by little, AHA is
diametrically opposed to such bills. The main reason for this is because
they feel it's showing partiality toward some babies while showing
acceptance and compromise toward others. A perfect example would be the
recent "heartbeat bill" that multiple states are currently looking at.
The pro-life movement is generally in favor of bills such as these
because we're willing to accept baby steps. At no point are they deemed
satisfactory but they are accepted as first steps toward a more
comprehensive goal. However, as stated, AHA believes them to be wicked
bills that dehumanize and promote the murder of babies without
detectable heartbeats. While being a noble cause, it's misguided at best
and deadly at worst.</div>
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Before
we go any further, I find it important to remind us all that God is
sovereign in all He does. In His infinite wisdom, He has allowed
abortion is be legal in our country. Regardless what happens from here,
He's over all. That fact doesn't negate our responsibility to care for
the little ones and to be a voice for the voiceless (Proverbs 31:8-10). After all, that's
the entire position of the pro-life movement. Yet, AHA will openly
declare this to be a foolish approach. If one were to say the end goal
is to save lives, they'll openly deny such a charge. In fact, they
openly criticize pro-lifers as being willing to save lives at all costs.
By "all costs," they mean being willing to accept incremental bills.
While we declare incremental bills to be more palatable and more likely
to be passed (which, in turn, saves some lives in the process), they
believe, by promoting these bills, we're accepting evil and promoting
the deaths of other babies so long as we save some. With this outlook,
it's not hard to see why they believe us to be wrong. It sounds monstrous! Sadly, it's a
strawman. Allow me to explain.</div>
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Abortion
is currently legal in our country. We don't have to pass any laws to
legalize the murder of prenatal babies as it already exists. If a law is
passed that prohibits the murder of prenatal babies of whom a heartbeat
is detected, while allowing the murder of those of whom there is no
heartbeat detected, it isn't synonymous with newly creating a law that
legalizes their murder. Again, this is because that law is already on
the books. It simply means we've now saved countless babies in the first
pass and are coming back to save the rest in the next pass (or however
many passes it may take to achieve the end goal of abolition). It's
whittling away at existing law and removing its power little by little
when taking it head on would prove to be too much. A lumberjack doesn't
go into the woods and demand an oak tree be felled. No, he swings his
axe and, with each connection, removes a part of the tree. He continues
to do this until the tree is too weak to stand and, finally, falls under
its own weight. Just as an oak is brought down by incremental swings,
so the path to abolition will be through incrementally removing the
authority of existing abortion laws. By opposing such measures and
tactics, while AHA may be able to feel upright, just, self-righteous, and
treating everyone equally, all they really accomplish is equally leading
all babies to the slaughter. This isn't noble. It's illogical and
wicked. It has more to do with the Pharisee in Luke 18:10-11 who, in his
self-righteousness, was thankful that he wasn't "unjust" as the tax
collector next to him. While maintaining a feeling of righteousness and
pure justice, real human lives are being lost because they refuse to
allow any law to pass that doesn't include all babies from being rescued in a single pass. Again, in their stubbornness, it only results in no babies
being saved while they're afforded the opportunity to snub their nose
in the air and mock those who are making every attempt to at least save
one. Yes, if only even one is saved, it's all worth it as we continue
making progress toward abolition.</div>
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Sadly,
it appears the abolitionist movement is expanding into other groups and
is no longer limited to the likes of AHA. While many of these new
groups oppose the fanatical approach and tactics used by AHA, they've
begun to adopt the view that incremental bills are wretched. In many of
these groups, it's less of a sense of self-righteousness and more of a
belief that incremental bills won't work and that we'll lose precious time that
could've been spent working on abolition bills. While we disagree on the
likelihood of such "totality" bills passing, I can at least appreciate where
they're coming from. Unfortunately, it still tends to be illogical and
dangerous. For instance, one common objection to the heartbeat bill is
that, since it's the abortionist performing the heartbeat ultrasound,
he/she will be more likely to either skip the ultrasound altogether or
purposely miss the heartbeat by performing the ultrasound in the wrong
place. Essentially, the view is that the abortionist can't be trusted.
Therefore, the heartbeat bill is pointless and babies with a heartbeat
will be aborted anyway. Is there any credibility to this argument? I
dare so there's not. Let me explain why.</div>
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I
can understand the skepticism which would lead one to assume the
abortionist will purposely miss the heartbeat or perform the abortion
anyway. It's a healthy sort of skepticism. However, it's also pure
speculation rooted in presuppositional assumption. Think of it another
way. People are always trying to find mechanic shops who are willing to
fudge numbers to help a modified car pass a smog test. As much as
mechanics are generally automotive enthusiasts and don't particularly
like smog laws, finding a shop that will do it is extremely difficult.
This is because most mechanics aren't willing to risk losing their
livelihood and being unable to put food on their table over a random
customer. Another example is gun shows. We've all heard the "gun show
loophole" but it's also a myth. I've bought a gun from a gun show and, even
as active duty military, I had to provide certain paperwork in order to get one. They were adamant that they couldn't
sell me one without the paperwork being provided first to prove my
residency in the city. Most licensed gun vendors aren't willing to risk
losing their license and affect putting food on their table all for a
stranger. Will there be those who will do it anyway? Of course! However,
they'll be criminals and, if they get caught (be it by audit or by
investigation after probable cause comes to light), they'll face the
consequences. I'm very convinced most abortionists will play by the
rules out of fear of losing their livelihood should they get caught. To
add to this thought, if we're going to enter the realm of speculation,
imagine how many pro-life pregnant women will receive a positive
heartbeat ultrasound by a credible healthcare provider only to go to a
mill and feign wanting an abortion in order to "catch" an abortionist
telling her there's no heartbeat. They'd be too easy to catch and
prosecute. Again, most aren't willing to lose their careers and
negatively impact their family's way of life over a stranger. As it
stands, most of the remaining abolitionist objections are rooted in the
same flawed sense of logic.</div>
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As
I draw to a close, I want to reaffirm the fact that total abolition
should absolutely be the end goal. If an abolition bill were to go up
today, I'd be in full support of it. However, I wouldn't stop there, rest on my laurels, and consider my job complete. What if it fails? What if it fails repeatedly? Do we continue to play the same song on repeat or do we strategize and make a more effective plan? To
be honest, I wish the pro-choice camp had the same mentality as AHA and
other abolitionists back in 1973. If that were the case, they would've demanded
legalizing medical professionals to leave babies to die on a table
simply because they're unwanted. Unfortunately, the pro-choice movement
was rooted in incrementalism. What began as a divide within the church
over feminism then shifted into a right to privacy and doctor/patient
confidentiality in cases of abortion. This then paved the way for late term
and partial birth abortions. Today, babies are left to die if they
survive a botched abortion. Don't be fooled. It was incrementalism that
led us to the horrific place we're at today. They knew it would work and
they stood united in the cause. I say it's about time we steal their
playbook and use incrementalism against them until they no longer have
any power to stand. Instead of fighting the pro-life crowd at the expense of human lives, instead, stand united and take down the oak tree known as abortion, one swing
at a time!</div>
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Travis W. Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946195774293363334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-86267068505610686732019-03-09T11:31:00.000-08:002019-03-09T11:31:18.907-08:00Reflections on Shepherd's Conference 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; </b></i></div>
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<i><b>For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. ~ Isaiah 25:1</b></i></div>
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Well, another conference has come and gone. Conference week is so full. So rich. When I'm in mode it's like riding on a cloud. It gets busy and hectic at times yet there are those sweet down moments when you can breathe a little and engage with the guys or a brother/sister of Grace Church. It's one of those spaces of time when you completely forget you're in the middle of a great metropolis of dirt and filth. We're in "a bubble." The bubble of Christ's bride actively functioning as one. Everyone is bending over backwards to help one another, to encourage one another, to build up one another. It truly is a taste of heaven. But then on Friday 3:30-4:00 rolls around and you're rapidly downshifting, preparing to stop. Next thing you know you drive away, tired, dead tired, yet full in ways that are difficult to describe. This year was no exception. The routine of life begins again the next day. If we're alert and awake, the conference buzz doesn't disappear it just shifts into a lower, steady gear.<br />
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For me the conference was too short as life challenges limited the time I could be a part of the splendor. However, the Lord filled my cup yet again. So for those who care to read this, that's what this is about. Faithfulness was the theme so let me tell you a bit about faithful men and women in the body of Christ.<br />
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First, many of our faithful ladies that lead the food side of things, and food is a huge part of Shep Con, have had eyes on my daughter for years. Since day one 8 years ago they have been training her up to not only serve well but to be a leader for the next generation of Grace Church. Last year they decided it was time so the ever popular Hot Dog station had a new kid in town. A bit intimidating becoming a point leader of a team that comprised over a dozen people, including saints that have been serving in this capacity for decades. They graciously accepted this new kid and did what ought to be done, they took their experience and love for the Lord and poured it into this young girl. What grace! This year the kid became a young woman. Her love for the people she served and the people she served with was noticeably more mature, at least to dad. She took that ball and ran with it. But, not without a wealth of coaching and preparation by her mentors, before, during, and after. These faithful men and women willingly served under the lead of a woman barely out of her teens, and they served joyfully. Whether they're 90 years old, 80, or in their 60's they know they aren't the future of Christ's church so they poured their hearts into one who is. These people have faithfully delivered dogs to the men for 20, 30, almost 40 years. Why? Simply because they desire to bless the men who handle the word of God and instruct the bride of Christ week in and week out. <br />
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This faithfulness is duplicated all over campus by scores of servants who faithfully love the body of Christ and employ their gifts to it. Whether it's parking lot control, kitchen, parking lot/table management, linens services, or the drinks supply team, the examples are everywhere and when you're among it you cannot help but be motivated by love to do the same. Imitate them as they imitate Christ.<br />
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<i><b>For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. ~ John 13:15 </b></i></div>
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<i><b>As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ~ 1 Peter 4:10</b></i><br />
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But let me tell you once again about the brothers that bless me again and again. When I hit my area I was greeted with hugs from a few guys I've known over the years. Pastors of small churches and medium churches. Brothers who naturally go into pastor mode and check on how I am doing, how my family is. Brothers who can communicate in 5 seconds that they've been aware of our trials and have been praying. Encouraging me to fight the fight and not grow weary as we do for them each year they arrive. Friendships born out of the conference and cultivated throughout the years and years of contact that technology brings. It goes way beyond a 3-4 day event but extends throughout the year in such a way that the church gets so big and the blessings fall like an avalanche.<br />
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One great blessing was discussing some heavy church matters with my brother from Iowa. The wisdom and care was very apparent. The time spent will certainly strengthen our friendship. It was another reminder that I need godly men in my life that will build me up and help carry me along in the right direction. One that is on the watch for error yet so focused on sanctifying grace that he'll be a rudder instead of an anchor. I'm looking forward to what the future holds with this friendship. I'm also certain should I ever desire to move to Iowa there is a solid church to be a part of.<br />
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Another was meeting a man from Louisiana that I've known through social media. He always encourages me in the simplest of ways. It was about 30 or 40 minutes after my Pastor Mike had just rocketed a sermon across campus. I noticed the buzz as my Twitter feed was going nuts with respected brothers saying things like "theology on fire" and much more. This man was still visibly moved by the power of the message. No baby in the faith, saying he had not heard it in such a way before, not that it was new but that is was powerful. It stirred him. For me it gives me great pleasure that men are seeing the immense treasure and value in the man I love as my pastor. My pastor would quickly and consistently defer to God, that he is merely an instrument of His and that God would get all that He is worthy of. My pastor is another example of faithfulness. I'm pretty happy to know that as my Louisiana brother cuts the grass he'll have these kind of sermons in his ears.<br />
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There are always the quick shots in passing from brothers as they/we scurry about. It's a joy to say hello to pastors who introduce me to yet another member of their church and give me a brief update on their church. It helps me throughout the year as I think about them and the Lord lays it on me to pray for them. Not a 3-4 day event but a way of life throughout the year. These brothers faithfully proclaim the truth. They faithfully feed the sheep. And they faithfully encourage the sheep of Grace Church when they return year after year. <br />
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It's always a joy to see a brother who hasn't been to the conference in 4-5 years. We reconnect face to face and cement the friendship we maintain through the technology of modern communication. That may happen in a minute, maybe 5. It's always too brief, Yet we know that we have each others back throughout the year. There are also moments in session when former GCC men, TMS alum, sit down with you for 15 minutes and discuss what's happening in their world and yours, always accompanied with the open invitation to visit and offer that if you ever move from here there's a place for you.<br />
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Prayers for one another can be offered no matter where we are. We can communicate anytime and in many ways. These are faithful friends, unseen but always present. <br />
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One thing commonly heard is that while the speakers are wonderful and good for the growth of everyone in attendance it's the relationships that make this conference. Truly the love of Christ is manifest in His bride and it's more glorious than we can imagine. Because God always works according to His riches instead of out of them. He lavishes us all with the blessings of fellowship.<br />
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One day we'll do this grand thing called fellowship permanently and without sin, without distractions, without the hindrances of location. The nations will come together for good. So whether it's a moment on earth with brothers from Croatia, Madagascar, Canada, New York, New England, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Texas, Europe or anywhere else, we'll join with one voice and one purpose. We'll glorify the Lamb together in ways we've anticipated for years. Our oneness in Christ as He gathers us from every tribe, tongue, and nation will be manifest in heavenly glory. What a day that shall be! Until then we run the race of faith, encouraging one another as we see the Day approaching.<br />
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He must increase,<br />
KevinKevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-47662238141485283622019-03-09T07:40:00.000-08:002019-03-09T07:40:34.225-08:00Some Thoughts on Shepherd's Conference<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I woke up the day after Shepherd's Conference 2018 my heart was full. Trials and the groanings of living in this sin-stained world were still very much a reality but if I focus there I'll lose perspective that God has granted many <i>precious and magnificent promises</i> (2 Pet 1:4) to His children and that not only will we one day live in His presence but we can enjoy <i>life abundantly</i> now (John 10:10). Circumstances cannot drive our joy like the tide of the ocean. Our God is steadfast. He is steady. He is sure and He is certain. As a brother shared with me at Shep Con, the sun is always in the sky, it's only our perspective that has changed. One day we're on the mountaintop, another we're in the valley. The sun has not moved. We have. So yes, upon rising that morning my cup overflowed because <i>the Lord is gracious and full of compassion</i> (Ps 111:4). His mercies are new every morning. And when Shep Con comes around the Lord fills my cup, the cup of the members of Grace Community Church, with a firehose. It's like standing under Niagara Falls, except we never get swept away by its shear power, only awestruck by it's pure glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You might be thinking what is this conference? It is a gathering of around 3,500 thousand men from around the world. Mostly from North America but a total of 57 countries. These men are pastors of churches all over the world. Mixed in with them are lay leaders and men who are being trained and nurtured in leading Christ's church. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some people believe they come just for the 8 or so speakers that will challenge them and encourage them in the task of shepherding. After all the charge is to <i>shepherd the flock of God among you...not for sordid gain, but with eagerness...proving to be examples to the flock</i> so that those under their care can <i>imitate (them) as they imitate</i> Christ and be<i> lights in the world</i> (1 Pet 5:2,3; 1 Cor 11:1; Phi 2:16). Yet the naysayers and disgruntled can always be found accusing these precious brothers of being mere fanboys traveling from conference to conference, receiving their injection of enthusiasm only to return to the dreary every week task of worship at their own local church. Such accusations may accurately fall upon the few but the reality is that the overwhelming majority are there for far, far more than well known Christian leaders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These guys come year after year to renew friendships face to face. Friendships that often begin here but with the technology of social media, for one, relate to one another throughout the year. These brothers hit the campus and see beloved co-laborers in the gospel and the hugs abound. Followed by times of prayer, laughter, sharing the heart wrenching realities of the daily struggles of personal trials and ministry challenges or the joys of ministry in their home church. And they come for the volunteers of Grace Church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You see, we don't just do speakers. We don't just sit in a cold cavernous building and serve them carnival food that breaks their wallet. And no, I'm not sure what the standard conference venue is like these days but I do recall the days of attending events at convention centers and sports arenas. But I do know I've heard this from more than one, "you guys are the gold standard", "you make us feel like we're at home", "I tell my church we want to model what they're doing at Grace Church", "there's nothing like Shepherd's Conference and it's because of the volunteers and the camaraderie of the men." Our leaders recognize the value these beloved pastors and leaders are to the church. So we dote on them. We feed them more than they could be fed on a cruise line. To the point they say, "you're trying to feed us to death" and "this is unbelievable."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">No, we're just honoring you as we ought. Pouring our love out to you who faithfully labor over the flock of God day in and day out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These guys have an ice cream shop, a shave shop, can get their shoes shined or buy a gift for their wife and children. They can enjoy the sessions in the worship center or in cabanas set up outside or the open courtyards. They can grab a Sweet Tea or Cappuccino. Stroll by the hot dog stand or grab an acai bowl. And every time they will have a willing and joyful member of Grace Church to hand it to them. They're in our house. They are our honored guests. Sit back, and enjoy being treated like kings because you know what, ministry can get messy. These dear brothers need encouragement. They should receive a little blessing from us because often our sinfulness makes their ministry difficult. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We do not serve to be noticed. We serve because Christ commanded it. As Timothy served Paul, <i>for the furtherance of the gospel</i> so the church should and does serve these men for 3 days. With meekness and humility the volunteers are merely third level under rowers, seeking no accolades, though these dear pastors never cease to give them. It is Christ. It is His church, His bride, His doing, His strength, His empowering, and His glory, <u>alone!</u> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And these guys get books. Do they get books! Solid biblical books the size of 4 Lifeway's with the content of Westminster Seminary. Ok, maybe Master's and Westminster. Not only do they get a bag of books with their attendance but this year they received the sweetest goatskin bible you'll touch, the Preachers Bible. Given to them so that they can have a clear easy to read bible to preach from and write their own notes in instead of the distractions or the eye strain other bibles will give them from the pulpit. And if they want more books, and they do, they get them at screaming low prices because, well, just because. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what are these thoughts on Shep Con 2018? Well that's some of them. But I'll close with a few others. I've only enjoyed about 7 of these but in that time I know men who pastor churches in Texas, Virginia, New England, Canada, South Africa, England, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon and the list could go on. These guys look for volunteers now and you know what, they encourage them and pray for them, as we do them. They have a flock at home yet they know much about us as we do them, so the one another's of the body of Christ extend beyond the walls of the local church. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First timers? Ha, love those guys. They have no idea. I met a brother named Luther from Baltimore on day one before registration. He looked kind of deer in the headlights near the registration line. Alone. I approached him and learned he came out of a Pentecostal background some time ago and heard about John MacArthur and the conference so gave it a shot. I gave him some pointers. Told him to engage the attendees and volunteers and see what this was really about. After snapping a picture and exchanging phone numbers I went on my way and he on his. Then on the last day, day three, he spotted me from behind in preparation for sprint mode. Stopped dead in my tracks I extended my hand and looked him the eye, holding tight, and said, "So?" He went from a huge smile to dropping his head to his left in disbelief, saying a thousand words in one motion, before saying, "man, it's unbelievable. I'm so blessed!" Then he asked me if I knew of a meaty theological book to help him in his growth, he was after all headed for that gigantic book tent. "I know just the guy you need to see. Go to the Banner of Truth table and ask for ______. He'll take care of you." An hour later I received a text from this dear brother at Banner. He had a great conversation with Luther and helped him get the right book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then there's the multiple guys that stopped me or caught me at a down time and asked me about my family (and I theirs) and then prayed for me. Oh and the books, yes, the books. Two guys brought me books, just because they minister. It's what they do! And these guys thank us for serving?! No and no again. Thank you, because without you there is no us! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There's Jerry. Ahh, Jerry. He has been coming down for 11 years straight. I met him 7 years ago. Every year the Lord in His kindness makes our paths cross and we both light up. Jerry, like the grande finale of a fireworks show. That guy has more joy than a dog after his parents pick him up from the kennel following a two week vacation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I could tell countless stories but I'll end with this. My daughter and I are leaving for the last time. The final session is starting. A man I recognize but have not met (Oh I will next year!) stops my daughter and thanks her, says she's a great blessing, that he's been watching how she serves for 7 years. Talk about melting a dad's heart!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, Shepherd's Conference. It is the body of Christ coming together under the unity of the gospel of Jesus Christ to serve one another and be served. To love each other as Christ loved His disciples. And when Grace Church does it and these men come and do it, it is nothing short of glory this side of heaven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He must increase,</span></div>
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Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-23546304694769144512019-03-02T20:24:00.000-08:002019-03-02T20:24:11.491-08:00Discerning the Discerners<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are certain things if life most people enjoy.
Within the church, those things tend to revolve around gospel preaching,
friendly fellowship, and spiritual growth. On the flip side of the coin, there
are things most people tend to dislike such as needless contention, unnecessary
quarreling, and prideful know-it-all antagonists. On the internet, a person
possessing these attributes is commonly referred to as a keyboard warrior and I
think it's safe to say most of us wish they'd just sit on their hands instead
of typing.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As of recent, I've been paying more and more
attention to an online polemical website called Pulpit & Pen. Perhaps you’ve
heard of it. Truth be told, to a certain degree, this site has been on my radar
for years. I used to view it as a valuable resource when it came to researching
false teachers. Their no-holds-barred mentality was refreshing to see in the
fight against doctrinal error and the stand for truth. After all, when war is
constantly being waged on the truth, can we really sit by idly and watch it get
pummeled with no recourse or consequence? However, I was also very different at
that time. I was in the latter days of my Calvinistic "cage stage"
and was beginning to see the ramifications of my over-the-top, no nonsense
attitude. I began to see how I had caused many to become irritated with my
rants and had begun to see me as divisive, however sincere I was in my efforts
to show the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Simply put: a dangerous chapter in
my life was coming to a close. No, it wasn't a danger of spreading false
teaching. It was a danger of causing harmful division by being so ready to
label everybody a false teacher.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Looking back on this time in my life, while being
ashamed, I also have a certain sense of appreciation for it. Having experienced
such a mentality in my own life has given me a strong desire to stand for truth
while also possessing a more mature mindset and method of execution. As I look
upon solid teachers such as John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, and James White (to
name only but a few), I see what standing for biblical truth should look like.
It's not about calling out error at all costs. It's about standing for truth
while being gracious to brothers and sisters in the Lord. Sometimes, a harsh
rebuke is needed against blatant false teachers or heretics. There’s absolutely
no denying that. After all, if one comes preaching another gospel, he is to be
accursed (Galatians 1:8). However, there are many times where the situation isn’t
quite as dire and gentle correction or even respectful discussion is more
fruitful. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sadly, this is a lesson certain writers of Pulpit
& Pen have yet to learn. While still having many important things to say,
it's almost as if they're in a perpetual "cage stage". Instead of
standing for truth, it appears as if they stand more for polemics and entering
combat like a well-trained soldier. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whereas it used to be about</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PH8ieIjPhQ/XHtUGUVpc2I/AAAAAAAAK6g/mRi5TpOPpWgiNRSnQwWbKkEzWH-tW5YiwCEwYBhgL/s1600/rambo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="576" height="152" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PH8ieIjPhQ/XHtUGUVpc2I/AAAAAAAAK6g/mRi5TpOPpWgiNRSnQwWbKkEzWH-tW5YiwCEwYBhgL/s320/rambo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="goog_750973640"></span><span id="goog_750973641"></span> warning others
of real wolves in sheep's clothing, it's slowly morphed into an opportunity to
find even the slightest bit of error (even if only perceived) and drop a nuke
on it no matter the cost to unity in the body (Ephesians 4:2-3). Instead of
waiting things out, giving brothers in the faith the benefit of the doubt, and
seeing how things play out, we see harsh attacks that even go so far as saying
such a brother has forsaken the gospel. In reality, it's not much different
than the tactics of mainstream media who are, oftentimes, too quick to release
a story without having all (or any) of the facts and, in the end, they produce
a retraction and apology for the misreporting. However, in the case of P&P,
such retractions and apologies tend to be non-existent because their writers
feel they have done no wrong. I recently had a personal interaction with one of
the writers and I ended up having to walk away from it because it just wasn't
going to produce any fruit. Instead, I felt as if I were being trolled ad
antagonized while the other person clearly felt vindicated, justified, and
"winning" the war on terror. It's this sense of pride that
underscores the writings of P&P. Instead of being gracious truth-seekers,
they're instead laced with pride, assaults, accusations, and defamation.
Ultimately, it lacks Christ-like love and seeks to destroy anything in its
sights. Heaven forbid I end up in their crosshairs for speaking against what
feels like God's anointed ambassador of discernment and eradicator of error. I
may never see the end of it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All this to say, I highly encourage everyone to go
and read their articles. Don’t just take what I’m saying at face value. I would
be remiss if I failed to acknowledge that they have called out many heretics
over the years. This isn’t the problem. The problem resides in where they fail
to draw the line between heretics and brothers who may err on a particular
topic. Sadly, this has become more and more commonplace. While there are some
diamonds in the rough, much of it is just the rough without the diamond. In my
recent discussion, I was asked for specific examples of where I felt P&P
had erred. To be honest, there's just too much to list. On top of this fact,
there are multitudes who have already dedicated too much time in providing
requested examples. Hence, this article isn't meant to change the mind of
P&P as much as it is meant to encourage you, the reader, to discern the
discerners. Everybody needs to be held in check, including those who deem
themselves to be at the tip of the spear in calling out error. The spear just
isn't always necessary. We don't always need to be waiting in the shadows, ready to strike at the first moment that someone says the wrong thing, uses the wrong verbiage, or takes a contrary position on a secondary issue just so you can know you reported on it before anybody else. This isn't a spirit of discernment. It's a spirit of strife laced with the poison of pride and arrogance. As for the specifics I mentioned earlier, it's like being asked for
specific examples of why a landfill stinks. Sometimes, it's just the overall
smell of garbage.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">~Travis W. Rogers </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>Travis W. Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946195774293363334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-59851102049589349012019-02-23T08:06:00.001-08:002019-02-23T08:06:31.195-08:00A Picture of Faith<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I looked out and saw my dog contentedly sleeping at my feet I thought of how happy he is to be around us and how he depends on us to provide for him.</span><br />
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">90 minutes earlier he arose in excitement, gleefully pouncing up and down. He wanted two things; breakfast and a potty break. And in that order. He was insistent. So much so that on this Saturday morning he woke me from a dead sleep. Deader than normal because the previous night was especially exhausting, emotionally. But he was persistent. A picture of persistence. He wasn’t letting up with his request until I met it. So guess what? He won out. I arose and led him to the back door, gleefully hopping all the way. He did his business then just as eagerly as he went out he came back, “breakfast dad?!” Bouncing. Wagging. Happy. Anticipatory.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, I fed him. I gave him fresh water. I gave him a quick pat and said ‘good boy.’</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I like to provide for him. It’s my job. It’s my responsibility. And once I rub the sand out of my eyes it’s also my joy. But back to him sleeping.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X_R1--f6guc/XHFtT1qe8cI/AAAAAAAAAio/Ve259droicEVMgm7qaTAHQXlPaOUPVFRgCLcBGAs/s1600/Baby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X_R1--f6guc/XHFtT1qe8cI/AAAAAAAAAio/Ve259droicEVMgm7qaTAHQXlPaOUPVFRgCLcBGAs/s200/Baby.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I write he’s crashed like a little baby. (Funny because even providence brought about his name, Baby. I thought it odd at first but it could not be more appropriate). Between mom and dad where he feels safe. Feels loved. And most content. He likes nothing more than being by our side. Often he loves to snuggle close enough to just touch us, even lay his head to rest on a leg or a foot.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You’re probably saying, ‘Ok, I get it. He’s a dog. You sound like you like him. Get to the point.’ Ok, I will.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I couldn’t help but think about how I’m like him. Totally and utterly dependent on another. Most content, most satisfied in the presence of another.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Lord Jesus Christ.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like my puppy I’m most at peace when I’m near Christ. What I desire most is to be in His presence. It’s where I feel safe. In fact, where I am safe. Where I’m protected.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like my pooch I, in a sense, wake Him up (though He never slumbers nor sleeps) and beg Him to meet me, to answer my need. But get this! He never groggily arises and meanders to the door. No, no. He’s like, ‘I’m here! I’ve been waiting for you to ask. Let’s go!’</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He is an ever present help in time of trouble just as much as He answers my needs exceedingly abundantly above all I can ever ask or think. He gives peace like a river that attends my way. Stayed upon Him I find perfect peace and rest.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He said come to me and I will give you rest. He said I will feed you. I will be your portion. He said draw near to Me and I will draw near to you. He said I will never leave you nor forsake you.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And He hasn’t.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So the little lesson the Lord showed me on my Saturday morning was a simple yet profound one. He used the image of my contented little boy asleep at my feet to remind me of Him. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That as my canine is completely dependent upon me so I am completely dependent upon Him. That as my little doggy is happiest and most content when he’s closest to me I am happiest and most content when I am closest to Christ. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God pointed me to the scriptures that flood my mind and reveal who I am and who He is. And He said fix your eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whodathunk? You can learn a lot from a dog.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He must increase,</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kevin</span></div>
Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-60824377772078732372019-02-16T09:13:00.005-08:002019-02-16T09:27:20.828-08:00Death<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>~ Heb 9:27</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Death. For the most part we don't like to talk about it. We don't like to think about it. We prefer to keep it off in the distance. Out of reach. Out of sight. Yet it is always out there, looming as it were. Waiting.<br />
<br />
For most it is something we wish to brush under the rug. When it approaches we try to slam the door and bolt the lock. But death. It knows no boundaries. It is stopped by nothing. It is a relentless foe. A fearless enemy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7lxqXiA7fF0/XGhCwXkjnlI/AAAAAAAAAiU/nxlcUGJGV4sM-VUAPRAL89B-aUEalD84QCLcBGAs/s1600/Grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="655" height="173" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7lxqXiA7fF0/XGhCwXkjnlI/AAAAAAAAAiU/nxlcUGJGV4sM-VUAPRAL89B-aUEalD84QCLcBGAs/s320/Grave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You see, death entered this world when our first parents, Adam and Eve, bought the lie and chose self over obedience. That fateful day in the garden they heard the lies of our great adversary, the devil, Satan, the enemy of our souls. Though they had paradise they thought to grasp the Divine. Instead of being satisfied to have been made in God's image they desired to be like God. And though God reveals His glory in His creation of man He will not and does not <i>share His glory with another.</i> So death came. Spiritual death. Physical death. And not only physical death but decay.<br />
<br />
The moment we were born we started to decay, to run towards our end. Oh, we may live to 70, even 100. Perhaps we'll only make it to 50 or just 15. I've lived long enough to see a lot of death. It started when I was about 19. We were one of those group of kids that experienced the death of a friend at the hands of alcohol, who wrapped himself and two others in a twist of metal and an early grave. Then death came closer to home and beat on my door. At a mere 25 I watched my father wither and die in just 4 months time. He made it to a young 57, and I'm not far from that number myself now. Next was my stepfather about 6 years later. Another early grave and a quick withering away. More effects of the Fall.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sin brought death. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Just as through one man sin entered the world, </b></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>and death through sin, </i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;">and so death</i></b></div>
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<i style="font-family: inherit;"><b> spread to all men, because all men sinned. ~ Romans 5:12</b></i></div>
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Now looking back just 20 years my life is littered with the death of family and friends. Death cares not about age. A 92 year old grandmother, 94 year old grandfather, 2 year old son of a boss, 15 year old son of a neighbor, 15 year old daughter of a friend. At least 3 deaths last year and already a couple this year with another imminent. I could go on. I think you get the picture. At least I hope you do.<br />
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So why do most avoid the topic of death? Well, <i>it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.</i> For the sinner. The unregenerate. For he who has heard the truth about Christ, sin, the gospel, and rejected it. And rightly so. You see God has graciously put before us life and death. He has planted within us a knowledge of Him. He has revealed Himself in the work of creation. Yet we, for the most part, have rejected it. Why? Simple. We love ourselves more than Him. We desire to be sovereign. We bow to none. So it is only right that we fear death. Sin brings death and then judgment.<br />
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We desire to live 60, 70, 80 years apart from giving Christ His due. We may live a moral life, moral on a horizontal scale not a vertical one. We think that gains us favor and in the end we will 'be ok.' Yet why when death is at the door do we fear? Because we know it's not enough. We know we have offended a Holy God and He demands payment. That payment is satisfied in Christ.<br />
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So this brings us the contrast. The Christian, the one who has repented of his sin, confessed his offenses, and believed upon Christ's work on Calvary has no fear. Death is but an entrance into glory. Glory <i>with</i> the eternal One. Why? This person understands that he is a sinner. He is nothing but a vile wretch, full of hatred and self will. He has nothing to offer because he is altogether corrupt. Or should I say was? By trusting in Christ's righteousness and not leaning on an iota of his own supposed righteousness he has received the imputed righteousness of Christ and been made new. Entirely new. He is <i>a new creation</i> who can now <i>walk in the fullness of life</i>. <i>Perfect love casts out fear.</i> So death for the godly one is <i>precious in His sight</i>. And not only in God's sight but for the forgiven sinner. He has <i>a sure hope</i>. A <i>confident assurance</i>. <i>A place prepared for him</i>. And it shall happen!<br />
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Where do you find yourself? Fearful of death? Ignoring the elephant in the room? Do you keep death out of reach? When it comes do you grieve as one who has no hope? Or do you look at death and say,<br />
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<i><b>O, death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? </b></i><br />
<i><b>~ 1 Cor 15:55</b></i><br />
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He must increase,<br />
Kevin<br />
<br />Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-64719645925197688942019-02-06T20:31:00.000-08:002019-02-06T20:31:16.616-08:00Once An Enemy<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over a year ago I renamed this blog to Once An Enemy. I think it is a better description. When I started this I had lots of thoughts running through my head, and still do, so my wife said, "why don't you start a blog?" So I did. But as I look back I realized I needed re-calibrating So first I stopped writing and then took a new course. One with less of a fighting and abrasive spirit. Oh, my convictions have not lessened. I believe the Lord has just beat me left and right with who I am, who I was, and Who is responsible for the good. And, who is responsible for the bad. Yep, me. So I thought I'd go back and show you why the name resonates with me and why it is always in my head. So let's start with where the phrase originates.</span><br />
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<i><span jsname="YS01Ge"><b>The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend</b></span></i></div>
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<b><i></i></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i><span jsname="YS01Ge"><b>The agonies of Calvary</b></span></i></i></div>
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<i><b>
<span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">You the perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son</span></i></div>
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</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me</span></i></div>
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<i><span jsname="YS01Ge"><b>Your blood has washed away my sin</b></span></i></div>
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<b><i></i></b><br />
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<i><i><span jsname="YS01Ge"><b>Jesus, thank You</b></span></i></i></div>
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<i><b>
<span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">The Father's wrath completely satisfied</span></i></div>
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</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">Jesus, thank You</span></i></div>
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</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table</span></i></div>
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</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">Jesus, thank You</span></i></div>
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<i style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span jsname="YS01Ge"><b>By Your perfect sacrifice I've been brought near</b></span></i></i></div>
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<i style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>
<span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">Your enemy You've made Your friend</span></i></div>
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</span><span jsname="YS01Ge"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><span jsname="YS01Ge">Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace</span></i></div>
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<i><b>Your mercy and Your kindness know no end</b></i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #363636; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Words and music by Pat Sczebel © 2003 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music </span><span style="color: #363636; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)</span></div>
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No one knows the depth of my sin like me. This simple yet profound worship song epitomizes me. You see, I was a mocker, a blasphemer, a proud, stubborn, self-centered rebel. For 24 years. But God.<br />
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I never heard the name of Christ as a child except as a swear word coming from a loved one. I was raised properly yet at best a form of godliness in our family that was nothing more than moralism soaked in sin. My parents divorced when I was about 13. At that time I fed a deep loathe for my father that lived for a solid 5 years and I turned. I turned to my own ways. I was the "man" of the house and no one was going to tell me what to do. So I ran into dissipation. Oh I could have gone much further as some of my posse went. Yet I went plenty far enough. Life really was all about me. It's the Sovereign grace of God I wasn't splattered on the road like another friend was at the mere age of 18. We boys woke up that day, a little. I can still see the scene. A green hill. Blue skies. A casket. But we only partly woke up. <br />
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Years earlier I had started filling my life with music. Bad music. Aggressive, dark music. One of my favorites loved to play on the macabre. I won't go into details. I never let myself go there. It's gone, by grace. God works in wonderful ways. He used that wicked band to drive this young rebel into a Christian bookstore to purchase of all things, a bible! This guy? Really?! I had to read the book of Revelation out of curiosity. So I slinked in, hoping no one I knew would catch me. <br />
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I took that bible home and searched it, mind you out of curiosity, nothing more. That night I woke up and knew without a doubt I was damned and headed for hell. I had the strangest dream. Basically I was at a large table with lots of people. The verdict came. And I was doomed. I was evicted from that table and told everlasting destruction awaited me. <br />
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My mother found me, this 16 year old kid, on my window sill with a broken window, trying to escape the horrors I just saw. (I do not remember my dreams. This is the only one in 53 years that is still clear as day to me.) But sin had a firm grip on me. I said, later. I'll become a Christian later. So I ran another 8 years. To the point that I openly laughed and mocked Christians.<br />
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The lyric by Stuart Townend (copyright 1995, Thankyou Music)<br />
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<b><i><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;">Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice</span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;">Call out among the scoffers</span></i></b><br />
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fits me perfectly! <br />
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It's why if you're ever near me in church when we sing it, you'll likely catch me choking on these words. <br />
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Because one night, I remember it well, I submitted to the truth I'd known for years. And at 6:30 on a Tuesday night I prayed my first ever prayer. A meager, measly prayer. Not entirely sure what I was doing. Oh, knowing I was asking for forgiveness. Repenting of my wickedness. Asking for Jesus to receive me and turn my life from ruin to anything better. Praying that I would follow Him and forsake all my sin. But I felt like a ditch digger in an operating room. What was I doing? What did I know of prayer? Of God? But He didn't want nor expect me to know anything more than, Father forgive me! I believe you died upon a cross for my sin. Jesus change me! And in an instant I was transferred from the kingdom of darkness and brought into His marvelous light! <br />
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You see, Jesus did drink the bitter cup reserved for me. I cannot comprehend the agonies He suffered on Calvary. The perfect Holy One crushed His Son. For me. Oh the weight of that! I could almost faint. For me?! You have got to be kidding? Crushed? For me? <br />
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He's washed away my sins? His wrath completely satisfied? The riches of His glorious grace poured out on me? The wretch?! His perfect sacrifice has brought me near?<br />
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<b><i>Surely His mercy and His kindness knows no end.</i></b></div>
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So I remind myself often to stay low, because,<br />
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"you were once an enemy but now you are seated at the table!"<br />
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Do you know this truth? This Jesus? If not, embrace Him, now.<br />
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He must increase,<br />
Kevin</div>
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Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-66285123181266892552018-08-29T22:03:00.001-07:002018-08-29T22:57:00.971-07:00Redeeming The Time<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't fire up the blog much anymore but since I have bachelor time while my beloved is away I thought I'd throw out what's bouncing around in my wee little head. There are two reasons I have only written three times in the last three years; </span><br />
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<ol>
<li>Being a bit of a perfectionist it takes me 2-3 hours to compose my thoughts in what I hope is clear and accurate <u>and</u> I was convicted I was simply spending too much time on this and not enough with my wife.</li>
<li>I'm just an average guy at best who barely made it out of English in high school. I was the guy that skipped oral reports out of fear of public speaking and hated creative writing. Plus, there are plenty of able men and women that can write far better than I and who possess far greater knowledge than I. I'll likely butcher a noun or a transitive verb. So don't laugh. I'm just an English ogre.</li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That said, here's what's on my heart and mind. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is the bottom line right from the start:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>You are one day closer to your death right now than yesterday, </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>and so am I.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I want to talk about redeeming our time. Here are just a few definitions Websters provides, "to buy back, to get or win back, to change for the better." We all spend our time doing a multitude of activities. Some good. Some bad. Some profitable. Some wasteful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My question is; are you spending your time wisely? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My purpose here is to focus on how we spend our time in the marriage relationship. So, are you spending your time with your bride wisely? (Ladies, bear with me and just apply these words I'll say to you and your husband.) I speak as a guy that has blown it more than nailed it and fooled himself into thinking that doing what I ought was pretty exemplary. Like Jacob wrestled God one night, God wrestled me one night a few years ago and He body slammed me in order to break me. Praise the Lord for faithful wounds that shape the adopted child of God into vessels that resemble Him more.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">~ Phi 3:13-14</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Presently I can think of three ladies that have lost their husbands to heavenly glory in the last four months. Perhaps you find yourself with a spouse that is battling a terminal illness or a chronic illness. I could name a few of those too. Friend, I'm not going to tell you anything new but perhaps something here can wake you from slumber as I needed waking from my slumber.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>You are just a vapor </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>that appears for a little while </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>and then vanishes away. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>~ James 4:14</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We don't know what tomorrow holds. In fact, we don't know if we'll live through the night or make it out of work or the grocery store today. Life is too short and the older I get the more clearly I see that reality. Selfish desires are too present. Petty disputes threaten to steal our joy and our time. Bitter feelings are always at the door waiting to devour the marital relationship. God's word says, "<i>don't let the sun go down on your anger</i>" and "<i>don't give the devil the opportunity.</i>" Yet how often do we allow trivialities to sow discord in our marriage? I'm closer to death right now than I was an hour ago. So guess what? That means I have less time in the presence of my wife than the day I married her. And quite frankly that doesn't excite me, that depresses me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can we be real here? Why did you marry that girl? That guy? You who have been married 6, 10, 20 years, what changed? There was a day you couldn't do anything but think of her. Even if you tried she wouldn't get out of your head. Then one day you planned how to ask her "The Question." Where would you ask? Would you kneel? Would you trip over your tongue and make an idiot out of yourself? Would you fumble the ring? And since she said yes, those things didn't matter anyway because she couldn't stop thinking about you either. She hoped you'd ask. She too wanted to be around you so much she was willing to make the ultimate commitment... "til death do us part." So what changed, if anything? Oh dear reader, it is my hope that nothing changed. It is my hope that she still makes your heart skip a beat, that her voice breaking through the silence makes your heart leap, that her smile melts you like wax. Does it? It should!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So husbands ought also to love their own </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">wives as their own bodies. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He who loves his own wife loves himself; </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">for no one ever hated his own flesh, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">nourishes and cherishes it. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">~ Eph 5:28–29</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Husbands, we are to love our wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. Marriage is a picture of Christ and His bride, the church. Men, do we cherish our wife? Is she the best thing ever? Do we show her by our actions? Are we selfless in our care for her? Are we doing everything for her with joy or is it mere duty if at all? Do we desire to be with her? Or are we like some buddies I have known? Out playing with the boys. A golf weekend here. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Going to watch Monday Night Football. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A weekend out of town to catch Spring Training. 'Hey babe, love ya, see ya Sunday night but don't worry I'll catch up with ya on Monday.' Not working for me. Stop loving yourself!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And you know what? I've been guilty to some extent. My wife has no desire for sports. Often I'd find myself in the front room watching football, golf, basketball, soccer, you name it, while she was in the back of the house doing her thing and wishing I'd pay attention to her. "The game is almost over! Be right there." "Oh, man, it's late, gotta get to bed soon and get to work." Fool! Instead of giving her my best time she got scraps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There was a time in our first year of marriage that </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I decided to join my neighbor's soccer team in the "Viejo League." My poor young wife had no idea I was a sports junkie when we met because when we met the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">world </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">stopped </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and I </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">wanted nothing else but to be around her. I would often be sitting at the pool at her apartment waiting for her to get home when we were engaged. Yet a year later when the invite came to play I accepted, hoping my beautiful new wife would love to see her stud boy <cough cough> shine in the net. What an idjut! I eventually gave it up as she reminded me 3-4 years later that I had a family to care for and missing a week's work from a concussion wasn't the best thing for us. (The last 4-5 years I've taken to watching the Tour de France with her. She loves bicycling. And these days she takes out her spinning wheel and makes yarn. I would never in my life watch something as boring as TDF but now, I love it. It's our time every July.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I matured, um got older, and she became chronically ill I would do my duty and run the errands on Saturday's or hit some during the week and make sure obligations were met. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Missing many I'm sure. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We never left the house together except for medical</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> appointments. I was always there to help her get everything out with the doctor and make mental notes of what he said. I have been in the office with her through hundreds of appointments/procedures since 2006. It was my passion to make sure she was cared for during those 8 years of home-bound misery. (Still battling chronic illness 4 years later but it's far better.) Yet I was still a degree or two off. But God. He power slammed me and said wake up boy! Things started to be put away. Old desires and interests began fading. Sports in 2018? Ha, meaningless. Oh I can still talk a little but the desire is gone. Should I say idol? Yeah, idol. Dishes started getting cleaned, without murmuring. Vacuum? I got it! You want to just sit and talk? Tea time, as in drinking, not tee time, became important. Yeah, the girl I was infatuated with and I'd do anything for became my cherished gift again that I would put everything on hold for. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>coming down from the Father of lights.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>~James 1:17</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I called her my "Angel" when we met and in my youthful faith assigned this verse to her. Now we know that context matters and verse 18 follows. Yes God the Father brings forth His own and wills that they be regenerated. Yet also note that every perfect gift is from His hand, from above, so she's still my "Angel."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And you know what? I don't want to miss a moment with her. I am losing how many moments I have left. So are you. As I mentioned earlier, three sisters in Christ have finished their last moment with their husband. Some suddenly. Others through long struggle. It hurts my heart. I guarantee you they'd give just about anything for another moment with them. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another has a husband with terminal cancer. He may live a few months, maybe a year and a half, unless something drastically changes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And that makes me weep. I weep with them because we're supposed to. God commands us to. One day I may be in their shoes and that grieves me. Oh I'll always have my Jesus. <i>He'll never leave me nor forsake me</i> and one day I'll sit at His feet with <i>joy inexpressible</i>. Yet in the meantime He has given us husbands an </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">immeasurable gift we call a wife, flesh of my flesh. And we're to enjoy that while we have breath.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I've told many in recent months, cherish the time. Don't bicker. Don't let any strife come in. Forgive quickly. Be selfless. Give honor to your wife. Cherish her. You said "I do" didn't you? You said, "in sickness and in health." You said, "richer and poorer." You said, "til death do us part." You loved enough then so shouldn't your love be greater now? Time is quickly slipping through the hourglass. For the christian <i>your salvation is nearer now then when you began.</i> <i>The night is coming.</i> Will we live in such a way that it is pure joy to cherish the one whom the Father has given us? If we do, marriage will be sweet, oh so sweet. Just as He designed it to be. If only we would get out of the way of ourselves and live in the marital relationship as He has described it in His infallible word. <i>Be careful how you walk</i> and <i>make the most of it.</i> Redeem the time you have while you have it because this life will soon pass and when it's over you don't want to wish you'd spent your time more wisely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He must increase,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kevin</span>Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-64661020823912575902018-03-31T10:19:00.001-07:002018-03-31T10:19:30.373-07:00Three Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I woke today my heart burned with thoughts of worshiping my Savior on yet another Good Friday. It's nothing short of amazing that the day means anything at all to me. You see for 24 years it was, Friday. Just Friday. It was the last day of the school week. It was the day I got to "rest" my post teenage bones by running rampant starting at 3:30 in the afternoon until 2:00 a.m.. It meant I would sleep as long as I wanted the following morning and in the fall/winter months would arise a couple days later to immerse myself in an object that bounced oddly and reportedly came from a pig. But in April it was just Sunday that was coming. Nothing more. Perhaps some brunch that caused me to roll out before 9:00 a.m. But it was just, Sunday. </span><span style="font-size: large;">For the first 24 years of my life it was Easter weekend. That meant one thing up until about 18. Christmas 2.0</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It meant chocolate and in large quantities. Jesus? Who's that? Resurrection? What is that? I wish I had those questions but I really had no clue that Person or that event ever existed up until about 15 years old. Yep, I grew up in one of those godless American Evangelical homes. Later, much later, learning that we in fact were Christians because mom and grandma sang in a choir when they were around 8 and because we were moral folks. So one Sunday per year was all about gifts from a fat man and another was about a rabbit that brought us huge, and I mean huge, baskets of chocolate. Pagan? I don't know. Secular? For sure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But now. Only through amazing grace and an opening of my heart and eyes to the truth of the gospel, the gospel that Jesus, the Eternal Son of God, God, very God, came down and dwelt among men. That Jesus, God's Beloved Son, took on human flesh and tabernacled with us. That Jesus, the Lamb of God, walked among us, lived the perfect life obedient to the law of God, the law that I failed at in immense proportions. The gospel that this Jesus suffered shame and scorn, ridicule and mocking, abuse and hatred. This Jesus willingly went to the cross of Calvary and was crucified by wicked men, by the decree of God the Father, that He might bear the righteous wrath against sin, my sin! Your sin! Your sin? This gospel that flamed the tomb 2000 years ago with light that first Resurrection morning. This gospel that conquered sin and death for all those who would believe upon His name, who would repent of their sin, who would follow Him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I once was lost</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> but now I'm found</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I was blind</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> but now I see</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh what a difference this day has been for nearly three decades now! Can it be that I have gained an interest in the Savior's blood? That He died for me? That I woke in the dungeon of sin? That my chains fell off? That I rose? That I went forth and followed Him?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It can! And it is all of grace. Grace that brought me forth. Grace that leads me on. Grace that will lead me home. But God! He was rich in mercy. He made me alive. He caused me to be born again to a living hope. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">'Tis mercy all, immense and free!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wretched, vile and helpless was I. A cross? Church, on Friday? Absolutely giddy about church on a Friday? Totally excited about the coming Resurrection Sunday? No, not me! Not that kid that slunk into a Christian bookstore at 14 looking for a bible, hoping no one he knew saw him. Not that kid who ran wild. Not that kid who flashed the sign of the devil at Christians. Not that reprobate young man who said, later! Later!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But God! This gospel knocked me off my horse. This gospel, the one I was NOT looking for. This gospel has transformed my life. This gospel has turned a wretch into a worshiper. This gospel has proven trustworthy a million times over. Can it be that I should gain?! Jesus died for me?! Jesus looked down at this pitiful human and stretched out His hand and pulled me out of my grave?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What is Good Friday and Resurrection Day to you? Is it just a day to avoid meat? A day to get out of school? Work? Is Resurrection Day just Easter? A secular "holiday"? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever considered the magnitude of grace? God, very God, came down from His lofty abode and dwelt among us, lived the perfect life we have failed to live, suffered and died upon the cross to bear the sins of the world, rose the third day for the justification of His people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What do these three days mean to you? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope they mean everything, absolutely everything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He must increase,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Kevin</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-58234067973406407162017-10-29T15:57:00.001-07:002017-10-29T15:57:49.705-07:00Things Taken For Granted<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A father walking his two small children into church at 8:00 a.m., hand in hand. A mother gathering snacks, bottles, and the kitchen sink to load up the diaper bags. Two parents, one getting strollers and bibles in the car. The other getting jackets on the littlest ones while the 7 and 9 year olds finish that last bite of breakfast and join the mad dash to get in the car. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A family scurrying around church campus getting to their classes. Some together. Some scattering. A husband and wife, joining hands to hold a hymnal, then corporate prayer. A child a little too fidgety as the pastor brings the Word. A loving father gently putting a hand on his knee, without a word teaching reverence. A mother handing a crayon to her 5 year old daughter who takes her own kind of notes about the truth being proclaimed. A crying baby, again, that causes mom to exit worship and attend to his needs. A stubborn child that requires dad to step away from the preaching to administer correction. The shear joy of looking down the pew and seeing your wife and children fastened on the pastor, scribbling notes and flipping through their bibles.</span></pre>
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Have you experienced any of these? Are you experiencing any of these?
I’d like to turn our thoughts towards thankfulness in all of them. I’d like to turn any reading this away from frustration in the challenging ones. My goal is to cause you to look at the manifold blessings you’ve been given in this life and rejoice in them. To exult in the Sovereign King for allowing you to experience all of them. Because in an instant they can all be gone. Either by the speed of time....
You know, where you blink and exclaim, “where did the time go?!”, as you see your 21 year old child drive away from home. Or the speed in which health can take a drastic turn for the worst... Like when you hold your spouse’s hand in a hospital bed for the 15th time, wishing you had just one more day, one more year of youth and vitality.
Hindsight is a good teacher. Scripture is a better teacher. God tells us to make the most of our time, not being foolish, to be careful about it, being wise (Eph 5:15-16). Now I know the context is Christians not walking in darkness, in the lusts of the flesh. Yet there is a principle in there we shouldn’t miss. To put it in my simpleminded vernacular, don’t be an idiot wasting your time on unfruitful pursuits. Don't miss the blessing of normal. But rather, be purposeful in doing good, walking in righteousness, being thankful in ALL things. Because again, any or all of the routines of life could be gone. In. An. Instant.
Some of the wisest words I ever heard were simple. They weren’t deep theology, although we desperately need deep theology. The friend that spoke them to me had no idea of the impact they would have on me. But they were spoken to a 30 year old kid so try as I might, I failed too often to remember and heed them. Oh, they’ve often been my intention and even practice but still, failure. These were spoken by a brother in Christ in the hall of a hospital as my second preemie child was born.
<i>“Don’t be in a hurry for anything. Before you know it they’ll be walking and then a teenager. Enjoy each moment. This is only a season.”</i>
That’s it! Pretty simple. Yet spoken by a friend 10 years my senior. He’d been there. He’d done that. Hmm, as I write this I just got a picture of holding my children’s hands, wife alongside, both of us a bit frazzled, arms full of bibles and notebooks, after four full hours as we walked down the wide concrete ramp from our church campus to the parking lot. Yep, 19 years. Snap! Gone! Here we are going on 2018.
Be thankful. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t complain. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Praise God, with all your heart! </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recognize His grace. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fulfill your calling as a parent, a spouse. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walk in wisdom. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walk in the joy of the Lord. </span></pre>
<pre wrap=""><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when tempted to miss the forest for the trees, smell the roses while you have health, the ability of your youth and the freedom to experience such things because one day you may be alone and wishing you could have it all over again to do better.
So nothing really rich theologically here. No attempt to dig down into a text. Just some words from an old guy with less gas in his tank and miles on his road than days gone by.
He must increase,
Kevin</span></pre>
Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-32187983704848855702015-08-01T17:50:00.004-07:002015-08-01T17:53:27.567-07:00What Word is Going Forth?<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ 1 Thessalonians 1:8–10</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I read this passage my mind was directed to the sins of our society and what my witness before it looks like, what the witness of my church, your church, looks like. Is the word of the Lord sounding forth or is it a watered down, twisted version of our own human wisdom? Have we capitulated in our duty as men and women of faith in living the gospel? If indeed we have been saved by the gospel, are we really living it or have we poisoned it with our sin? Have we departed from the word of the Lord and infused our own word, the word of man?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess we need to start there, with the gospel. So let's go for a short walk. Just what is the gospel?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. ~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Corinthians 15:3–4</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It starts with the fact that man is born in sin (Psalm 51:5), separated from communion with their Creator and His Son Jesus Christ (Isaiah 59:2). Every one of us is devoid of the Holy Spirit of God. You see our first parents sold the entire human race into sin (Romans 5:12) when they chose to disobey God's command to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” ~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Genesis 2:16–17</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And die we did! Humanity plunged in an instant into enmity with God. It didn't take long for that hostility to work itself out in brother murdering brother. Cain lusted after approval and slew his brother. Yes, his brother, of the same race, the same lineage, the same mother and father. And today? The issue still remains sin in the heart of man and nothing less (Jer 17:9). So God the Father in His Divine Sovereignty and Omnipotent wisdom sent His Son to live the perfect life. Yes, the life man was no longer able to live apart from redeeming grace. This Jesus not only lived for our righteousness but died for our transgressions, of which there are too many to number. He was indeed raised to new life on the third day and taken up into glory. My friends, without His shed blood applied to our sin no matter how much we desire heaven as our end it is not happening apart from repentance of our sin and placing our faith in Christ's work on Calvary and His work alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the word of faith we are preaching,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Romans 10:9–10</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and when that occurs we are brought near and the enmity is over while peace is ushered in.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ephesians 2:13–16</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is that you my friend? If so, how glorious! If not, how terribly sad!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, back to the passage that got my brain thinking. Is the word of the Lord sounding forth from our lips? Is the work of Christ evidenced in our speech? Does the power of the Holy Spirit come out in our actions? You see, we are not here to play church and just gather on Sunday's eating donuts and drinking coffee, smiling at each other through lives of hypocrisy. This glorious gospel is powerful! (Romans 1:16) Powerful enough to change our sin torn, wicked hearts into hearts of flesh that are moved by the gracious gift of our Redeemer. We now weep for those things that He died for and those who are still enslaved to sin. We understand because we were that man! Therefore we speak boldly but with grace. We now hate those things we used to do, and the world still does, because our disposition has been entirely changed. We are made new! (2 Cor 5:17) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have we turned from idols? Or have we deceived ourselves by a false gospel? Have we bitten the hook that the gospel is all about us, our best life now? Have we drunk the poison that we just need to be a bit more moral, a bit more philanthropic, a good neighbor, attend church when we can, think nice things about others, allow for all people to do as seems best to them and not judge them, profess we believe in Christ but never really admit our own sinfulness? </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have we indeed made ourselves THE idol? Have we placed our intellect above that found in the inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh church of the Living and True God, are we waiting for God's Son, Jesus Christ, from heaven? Are we filled with joy that we will not experience the wrath to be unleashed? Are we warning others of the wrath to come? Or have we closed our mouths so as not to rock the boat? My brothers and sisters, who opened their mouth to point you to salvation? Who risked ridicule to tell you that you were lost in sin and damned for hell? Will we stand idly by and say, 'Not my job, preacher man can do that!' It is only by grace that God sent His mouthpiece to us who are the called, the elect of God. Will we obey the command to tell others? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pecHaCIuLQg/Vb1gWkszN6I/AAAAAAAAAWk/lvOhU9JGWRY/s1600/LionLamb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pecHaCIuLQg/Vb1gWkszN6I/AAAAAAAAAWk/lvOhU9JGWRY/s320/LionLamb1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are all called to be watchmen. Wrath is coming. Personally and quite possibly widespread upon this world. Will He be a Lion or a Lamb to those we come in contact with? Is the word of the Lord going forth from us or have we chosen to hide our lamp under a bushel?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>How beautiful are the feet of those </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>who bring good news of good things! </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>~ Romans 10:15 </b></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He must increase,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin</span>Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-79864205343048055542015-07-30T20:47:00.000-07:002015-07-30T20:47:29.591-07:00A Mormon Refutation<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday was a good day. It's true that I didn't get much sleep the night before. It's also true that, in my sleep deprived state, I still had to function at work somehow. Now, add into the mix college, family, and an ever-growing "To Do" list, it's easy to understand why you might be wondering how I can say my day was good. Truth is, I fibbed a bit. It wasn't just good. It was amazing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was blessed with the wonderful opportunity to meet with some Mormons. They had come to my house last week and talked for an hour. Some of that time was spent breaking the ice and getting to know one another while also trying to touch on the inevitable topic at hand. By the end of that meeting, we parted ways with an understanding that we simply didn't see eye to eye. I was a bit surprised when they said they wanted to meet again but I gladly obliged. As I already stated, that day was yesterday. However, this time, I had a homework assignment that I needed to present. At their last visit, they left a pamphlet with me titled "The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ" and my task was the read it and pray about it. The result of that was an 8 page document typed up in 12-point Times New Roman font. That document is the very basis and inspiration for this blog post. While it's true that I felt it was necessary to discuss with my guests the points within, I feel there are many more people who simply don't understand what Mormonism teaches. I'm also convinced there are a great many who are aware of certain error but don't know how to adequately verbalize it. You, the reader, may be one of these. Sadly, this only leads to missed opportunities to share the good news of Christ when they land on your very own doorstep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Below are a few of the points that I drafted up in the aforementioned document. I encourage you to download the full .pdf from the link below and read it in its entirety when you have the time. If it gives even one person the confidence to speak when the time comes, it'll be well worth the time I spent writing it. One thing I do know is that I look forward to hearing what they have to say when I meet with them again. Yes, they took a copy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The format is fairly simple. The page numbers listed correspond to the pages within their booklet (you can find the link for this below as well). The bold lettering is where I quote the text from that page. I then pose a question which I intended on asking them in order to hear their explanation. Lastly, I close it out with my own thoughts and points of refutation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b>PAGE 3</b></u><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Prophets…interpret
the word of God.</span></b></span><br />
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">What do you mean by “interpret the word of God”?</span><br />
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>2
Peter 1:20-21 - <span class="text">But know this first of all, that no prophecy
of Scripture is <i>a matter</i> of one’s own interpretation,</span> <span class="text">for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved
by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.</span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While
the prophets of old did speak forth new revelation from God, they weren’t
authorized to interpret it. This is why it was a “Thus saith the Lord” type of
thing. It was never interpreted by them. It was only declared and spoken forth.
For a prophet to enter into the realm of interpretation would be grievous error.
However, we see history showing that Mormon prophets, while never revoking a
prophecy, do sometimes reinterpret them. Again, this is dangerous territory.</span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <u><b>PAGE 4</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Prophets
receive the priesthood.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How
do you reconcile this with the biblical account that the prophets weren’t
priests and that priest/prophet were two very separate duties?</span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Priests
were from the tribe of Levi only. One doesn’t have to look far to see this. In
fact, Elisha was from the tribe of <span class="st">Issachar. Isaiah, Amos,
Habakkuk, Joel, Obadiah, Zechariah, and Zephaniah were all from the tribe of
Judah. Clearly, in accordance with Numbers 3:10-12, these men wouldn’t qualify
to be a part of the priesthood.</span></span></span></li>
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truths are lost as people reject the prophets.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Deuteronomy
13:1-5 - <span class="text">“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you
and gives you a sign or a wonder,</span> <span class="text">and the sign or the
wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Let us go after other gods (whom you have
not known)</span> and let us serve them,’</span> <span class="text">you shall not listen
to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> your God is testing you to find out if you love the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> your God with all your heart and with all your soul.</span> <span class="text">You shall follow the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> your God
and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve
Him, and cling to Him.</span> <span class="text">But that prophet or that dreamer
of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the
</span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you
from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from
among you.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deuteronomy 18:20-22 - But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously
in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the
name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text">You may say in your heart, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘How will we know the word which the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="text"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> has not spoken?’</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <span class="text">When a prophet speaks in the name of the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text">, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing
which the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall
not be afraid of him.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="text"> </span>Joseph Smith made multiple false prophecies (such as always occupying
the house in Nauvoo (Illinois) that is now destroyed, the Civil War being a war
of all nations, etc). Instead of admitting these were false prophecies from a
false prophet that isn’t to be feared (and thus crumbling the entire religion),
these prophecies are merely reinterpreted by the new prophets. We spoke on the
danger of this practice earlier. If the prophecy is truly of God, the wording
will never change and the interpretation will remain.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <u><b>PAGE 8</b></u></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Apostles were killed, and priesthood authority – including the keys to direct
and receive revelation for the Church – was taken from the earth.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Why
do you say the priesthood was taken from the earth upon the death of the
apostles?</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1
Corinthians 6:19 - <span class="text">Or do you not know that your body is a <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you</span>,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1
Peter 2:9-10 - <span class="text">But you are </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">a chosen race, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a</span></span></span><span class="text"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> royal </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">priesthood</span></span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">, a</span></span><span class="text"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">holy nation</span></span><span class="text">, </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">a
people for</span></span><span class="text"> <i>God’s</i> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">own possession</span></span><span class="text">, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called
you out of darkness into His marvelous light;</span> <span class="text">for you
once were </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">not
a people</span></span><span class="text">, but now you are </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">the people of God</span></span><span class="text">; you had </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">not received mercy,</span></span><span class="text"> but now you have
</span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">received
mercy</span></span><span class="text">.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hebrews 8:1-3 - Now the main point in what has been said <i>is this</i>:
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">have such a high priest, who has
taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens</span>,</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text">a minister in the sanctuary
and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.</span> <span class="text">For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and
sacrifices; so it is necessary that this <i>high priest</i> also have something
to offer.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Scripture declares that we, as believers are now the priesthood. This
isn’t because we have the qualifications of priest but because we are now in
the body of Christ, our great High Priest. Our own bodies are the temple of God
and God Himself dwells within us. The priesthood, as it stood, was abolished at
this point. The veil was torn from top to bottom and the separation between God
and man with an intermediary of priest no longer existed. We, as the priesthood
of believers, now have direct access to God and have the illumination (not
revelation) of the Spirit to guide us in all truth and righteousness (Ephesians
6:14) which is to be found in the Bible. Acts 17:11 praises the Bereans for
searching the Scriptures to see if what was being proclaimed was true. The
Bible simply doesn’t support the claims of Mormonism. Therefore, it is to be
rejected as being contrary to the Word of God.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">PAGE 12</span></span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">conferred
on him the Aaronic Priesthood……later appeared to Joseph Smith and conferred on
him the Melchizedek Priesthood.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Can
you please go into more detail on this?</span></span><br />
<ul>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If
Smith was anointed as a prophet in 1820 (at the age of 15) by both the Father
and Son, was he idle for the next 3 years until Moroni appeared to him by his
bedside in 1823 (at the age of 18)? Furthermore, why did it take until 1827
before being shown the golden plates? Lastly, why did it take until 1829 to be
given the priesthoods?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Why
did John the Baptist (who was indeed of the Aaronic line) give Smith the
Aaronic priesthood at all if it was just going to be superseded by the greater
Melchizedek priesthood shortly thereafter? More so, this would mean that Smith
was of the bloodlines of both lines and would mean he was more in line for the
priesthood than even Christ was as Christ wasn’t of the tribe of Levi which is
why Hebrews 8:4 says even He didn’t qualify to be a priest. It’s only because
He’s of the line of Melchizedek that He alone is our High Priest. If Joseph
Smith were qualified to hold both priesthoods, he outweighs even the
qualifications of Christ. Conversely, if he wasn’t of either line (which is in
fact the case), it means he held neither priesthood because he was precluded
from doing so. As we covered earlier, merely being a prophet doesn’t mean one
is a priest and even the title of prophet doesn’t apply because Scripture says
so.</span></span></li>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If
Christ appointed Smith as a prophet in 1820 and all prophets carry the
priesthood, why did he not receive the priesthood until 1829, 9 years later?
This means he either wasn’t a genuine prophet until 1829, he was a faulty
prophet until 1829, or he was never a prophet at all and didn’t truly
understand what it meant to be either one. Hence, the oversight and
inconsistency between his dates and the biblical teaching of the offices of
prophets and priests.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b><u>PAGE 15</u></b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Who
is Jesus?</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Mormon Jesus is:</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
created being</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Son
of God but not God</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Not
to be worshiped as God but merely revered as the Son</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Spiritual
brother of Satan (though at opposite ends of the spectrum)</span></span></li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Christian Jesus is:</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> An
eternal being never created</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Son
of God yet also God Himself</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> To
be worshiped as God Himself</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
creator of all things including Satan the angel</span></span></li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Thus,
the teachings of Mormonism don’t align with the Bible when it comes to the very
foundation of who Jesus is. This means the Book of Mormon isn’t another
testament of Jesus Christ but is rather (along with the other works of Smith) a
testament of another Jesus Christ.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Galatians
1:8 - But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel
contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…a
record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas…”</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Who
were these ancient inhabitants?</span></span></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mormon
doctrine calls them the Nephites. If they were of Nephi, this means they would
be Jewish in bloodline as well as Jewish in characteristics. Even if, for the
sake of argument, we want to say Native Americans (Lamanites) were cursed by
God and given dark skin (thereby changing the physical characteristics), Native
Americans don’t have matching DNA with the Jewish bloodline. Since the
Lamanites and the Nephites were both of the same bloodline, this would mean
Lamanite blood would be of Jewish ancestry as well. Beyond this, the curse was
supposedly only that of dark skin. Native Americans have more differences than
just this. They have Mongloid characteristics instead of that of Mediterranean
Caucasoids. This is more reason to believe Joseph Smith didn’t understand
biology well enough and that his claims are false. The Lamanites simply never
existed and the existence of the Nephites would be equally as doubtful since
the idea was hatched from the same thought bubble.</span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By now, I pray, if there were any confusion before, you'll now clearly see how dangerous Mormon teaching really is. While they claim to uphold the Bible, their own teaching is highly inconsistent with such a claim. Again, I encourage you to download the link below for the full paper I wrote and then gave to them for reading. Hey, if they can give me homework, it's only fair I be able to do the same.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.fairladyz32.com/downloads/christian/books/Travis%20W.%20Rogers/Mormon%20refutation.pdf </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you'd like to follow along with their booklet as well, it can be found at the below link:</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/content/english/manual/missionary/pdf/36920_the-restoration-eng.pdf </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">~ Travis W. Rogers </span></span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->Travis W. Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946195774293363334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-87193702557053211602015-06-01T04:00:00.000-07:002015-06-01T05:34:25.770-07:00Church Should Be More Entertaining?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. ~ 1 John 1:3</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Church is boooooooring and it's on Sunday when sports (are) on TV." Those were the words I heard last week from a self proclaimed Christian. (Read <a href="https://hipandthigh.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/the-real-reasons-why-youth-are-leaving-church/" target="_blank">here</a> to see what birthed the discussion and <a href="http://www.tms.edu/preachersandpreaching/holy-humor/" target="_blank">here</a> for some sound words on the subject.) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seriously?! Boring? Watching sports is more attractive than joining in worship with the bride of Jesus Christ. The Church needs to "step up it's game" and make things more interesting, more fun, more attractive? For who? The world? The false believer? Yes, these are things I was hearing from one who challenged the need for church at all and what going to church should be. Watching a charismatic self help expert "preach" to tens of thousands on your TV does not constitute going to church. Preferring to sleep in rather than dress up in a suit and tie is not characteristic of a person possessing saving faith. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, there was plenty more mockery about what church is and what happens there but suffice it to say, some people just don't like it because truth be told, they just are not truly born again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Such an attitude is a far cry from David, the man after God's own heart.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Let us go to the house of the LORD.” ~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 122:1</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the Christian, the most blessed day of the week is to be with the saints of God in the house of God. I'm not talking about simply showing up and watching everything happen. If we don't view church attendance as something to cherish, to look forward to, how can we participate in what the Apostle Peter, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, instructs us to do here</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. </b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Peter 4:10–11</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How in the world are we going to know who the people of God are that we might actually serve one another when we don't even step into the church building? The false believer, the unconverted sinner, has it all wrong. They think church exists to serve them and make their life better. They think it's about them feeling good they showed up and having been entertained by hirelings that they can now face the coming work week by being fed a pep talk, being patted on the back, and laughing at a man who claims to be speaking for the Lord God Almighty.<br /><br />This is where we've come. Man centered worship. It's not about us. It's not about you. It's about bowing our hearts and knees in the gathered assembly of saints to give Him all praise, honor, and glory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. </b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heb 3:13</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can that happen outside of church? Absolutely and it must! Although if you're one who doesn't attend church then I highly doubt you have a single trusted friend encouraging you in the faith. The greatest encouragement often comes at the end of our week, when we're battle weary and war torn over the effects of sin, our own and others. Consider what the writer of Hebrews said;</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;">not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><b>~ Heb 10:24-25</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is your habit? Sleeping in on the Lord's Day, sitting in front of a TV, stupefied, watching grown men sweat over a piece of leather OR eagerly arising with great anticipation, that started Saturday night, about being with God's people in God's house?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">True joy is in fellowship with the saints, serving side by side. True joy is being deeply involved with the brethren. True joy is exhorting one another in the faith and encouraging one another in the fight. This kind of participation in the gospel produces far greater joy and satisfaction than anything life can throw our way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Could soldiers fight a war without ever gathering at headquarters? Could soldiers fight a war without ever receiving training? Do you have a shepherd who could say like the Apostle Paul</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. ~ Phil 1:3-5</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are no Lone Ranger Christians. True Christians love Christ with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength and serve one another in the gathered assembly as they worship and glorify their Father in heaven. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you hate church, if you think it's boring, if your ideas are to infuse entertainment into it to make it more interesting, more appealing, you are holding to ideas and practices that are incompatible with being a new creation, one born from above.<br /><br />Church should be more entertaining? No, church should be more biblical, existing to worship the Lord Jesus Christ. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He must increase</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Kevin</span><br />
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Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-10791088649348577922015-05-28T08:34:00.000-07:002015-05-28T08:46:49.563-07:00A Word Concerning Forgiveness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, I've been reading these two incidents at the forefront, it seems, of American Evangelism: Josh Duggar, and the other issue with the Root family at Village Church, where Matt Chandler is pastor. I've read different articles from different angles, meditated and pondered much on these issues. But, my mind keeps going back to one thing: the Gospel. No matter where I go in my thoughts, and how I try to consider what has been done and what consequences should be laid out, I cannot escape the fact that many who have spoken on these issues are not speaking from a Gospel-centered, Christ-centered view.<br />
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What really got my wheels turning in this direction was a blog post from my brother, Kevin Jandt, over at Uncommon Faith. You can read his take on the Duggar situation <a href="http://uncommonfaith.org/2015/05/21/what-can-we-learn-from-josh-duggar/" target="_blank">here</a>. Then I read one this morning on the Village Church situation from Jordan Hall over at Pulpit and Pen. You can read this one <a href="http://pulpitandpen.org/2015/05/28/a-rational-response-to-the-criticism-of-village-church/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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After reading both of these articles, I finally came to my own conclusion. <br />
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Here's a few questions:<br />
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Is your forgiveness as radical as the death of Christ on the cross, or do you only dispense it to the "deserving", or those who aren't as "morally bad" as these two men?<br />
Or is your response to write these two men off as if somehow they are undeserving of that finished work of Christ on that cross?<br />
Are you one of those who mutter under your breath, "Well, I would NEVER do THAT!"?<br />
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How can any of us, who are experiencing the grace of God and the benefits of the cross, be so arrogant or condescending as to act in such a way as above, or respond in such a way as above?<br />
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Believe me, I understand fully the anger and disgust that I have seen concerning the actions of these two men, and I do not condone their actions. However, what I also see is responses fueled by emotions, and not guided by Scripture. While we mourn for the victims, has anyone mourned for the souls of these two men?<br />
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You're disgusted? I hope you are just as disgusted at your own sin, if not more.<br />
You're upset? I hope you are just as upset at your own sin, if not more.<br />
You're decrying their actions? I hope you are decrying yours even more.<br />
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You see, it's so easy for us to stand flat-footed against others' sin, all the while secretly minimizing our own. Let me ask you this: What makes your sin, BIBLICALLY, any less of a stench to God's nostrils than anyone else's? When we consider ourselves, and the depths of our own sin, it develops a proper response to the offenses of others. Emotions, anger, disgust, and whatever other feelings you may be having NEVER trump your obedience to Scripture, IF you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, nor do they carry greater or even equal weight. Now, does a biblical, Gospel-centered, Christ-centered response negate how you may be feeling? No, but it grounds your feelings. It gives your feelings a proper foundation to work from. <br />
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Remember this in your dealings with others' offenses: You were (or are) just as guilty as these two men, and yet, the Son of God - an innocent man with no spot, blemish, or wrinkle - died in your stead because there was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that you could do to remedy or change your standing before God. Because of this, we should all be standing in a posture of readiness to forgive all men of all offenses provided that they show true repentance, and when and if they do, we are commanded to forgive them...regardless of how egregious the offense may be. If you do not want to forgive upon clear signs of repentance, then the problem really lies with you and not with the offender.<br />
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The Scriptures are clear:<br />
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<span class="text Luke-17-3" id="en-ESV-25646"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,</span></span> <span class="text Luke-17-4" id="en-ESV-25647"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” - Luke 17:3-4, ESV</span></span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-18-21"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”</span> <span class="text Matt-18-22" id="en-ESV-23747"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>Jesus said to him, <span class="woj">“I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-18-23" id="en-ESV-23748"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.<sup> </sup></span></span><span class="text Matt-18-24" id="en-ESV-23749"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-25" id="en-ESV-23750"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-26" id="en-ESV-23751"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-27" id="en-ESV-23752"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-28" id="en-ESV-23753"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-29" id="en-ESV-23754"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-30" id="en-ESV-23755"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-31" id="en-ESV-23756"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>When
his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly
distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had
taken place.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-32" id="en-ESV-23757"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-33" id="en-ESV-23758"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-34" id="en-ESV-23759"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-18-35" id="en-ESV-23760"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” - Matthew 18:21-35, ESV</span></span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-18-35" id="en-ESV-23760"><span class="woj">In your dealings with these two men, whatever manner that may be, keep watch over yourself to make sure that you are not the unforgiving servant in the parable above.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-88815695116746019662015-03-09T22:11:00.000-07:002015-03-09T22:11:32.162-07:00Losing Man's Best Friend<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was 6:22 pm on Sunday March 8, 2015 that I held my little guy (well my wife's little guy but he stole my heart and I stake </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2nd rights to him) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">tight to my chest, clutching him like a baby as I often did, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">whispering I love you,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as he breathed his last and left us forever. That night my family said goodbye to our dear wee little companion. Yes, we're dog people, unashamedly, dog people!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't remember the exact day our little guy arrived in our home but I do recall the scene as we first met him. It was a sunny afternoon in Pasadena when my dearest wife held him for the first time. It was love at first sight, first hold...for my wife. Me? I was a big dog guy. I thought he was the ugliest little rat I had ever seen. But! My dear bride needed a lap dog in her increasing immobility so a lap dog she got.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little did we know how old he really was but one thing became very clear over time, he was being rescued from a private puppy mill where he was nothing more than a piece of meat used for financial gain. That was about to drastically change as he was to be doted upon by my wife for the next 7 1/2 years. Here he is sporting his Joseph coat, one of many custom hand-knit sweaters his mother would make to keep his little body warm through cold winters on the mountain. He must have had 6-10 sweaters made for him over the years. Each one with great care, a perfect fit....a mommy snuggle everywhere he went.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the early days he would eat like a madman. A grown man, being herded by a 7 pound terror, hopping back legs, front legs, over and over with his cute little rrruuff rrruuff! Those days are long gone now. No more 1 oz feedings 2 times per day. No more adorable requests for breakfast. Now it's just quiet loneliness and empty space. As our wee little guy grew older he struggled more with doing his business out of doors. He must have had a bladder the size of a marble, maybe a pea. But by this time our love for him grew so great that we just dealt with his accidents in the house. He often tried to make it to the back door, sometimes his little pea brain kept him close, close enough for me to get upset....if I lost my head for a minute. l learned to appreciate he was still alive and with us and I learned patience because of him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps by now you're thinking, "these people are crazy!" I mean why put up with that? Well, here's why. His mother has spent the last 6 1/2 years housebound, imprisoned by degenerative discs that kept her confined to even a small portion of our home. So while we all left every Sunday to go the the house of the Lord for what amounts to about 2000 hours, our wee little Yorkie was not only right at her side but often on her lap, comforting her, giving her a living being to be around and enjoy, allowing her to care for the one little guy she could when she wanted to care for her husband and children as she often said she should.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This little ray of light came into our life, my wife's life, as a gift from God. Seven pounds of love who snorted happily at every ear scratch, who attacked the cover monster at night, spoke when asked, and nuzzled in when her pain got a little stronger and hope seemed a little further. He was there. Never questioning. Never attempting to fix. Never correcting. Never running off because he didn't know what to do or couldn't take the pain and sorrow his poor mother was under. Nope, not the wee little guy. He just loved and loved and loved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <i><b>Because God gives perfect gifts He gave my wife, us, our little Yorkie.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the midst of the steadfast love of our little guy, he encountered his own bouts with ill health. We nearly lost him two years ago, on numerous occasions</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...BUT God, being rich in mercy, knowing his child, my wife, still needed his comfort, He spared our little guy, but he too was going to require medication to keep his little heart beating. So mom took up the task and dutifully, lovingly, provided this care 3 times per day, right to the very end. And when wee little guy lost his appetite, lost his way intermittently due to apparent dementia, we loved him to the end, doing all we could to give him comfort and make sure he knew he was sorely loved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But in it all we knew we'd outlive him and we know we won't see him again. Unlike man, he was not created in God's image nor does he have a soul. Though his heart was as big as the Grand Canyon it just was not fashioned for eternity. This is a difficult truth but truth it is. How gracious is the Creator of all things to give us such beautiful gifts to enjoy here on earth! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for man, his days are like grass, they will fade. His strength too will weaken, dimmer and then go out. Then he will depart just as our precious wee little guy yet man will go to God, to give an account, to receive reward or to be cast out. And should we submit to our Creator as the rightful King and Sovereign of all by trusting in the blood of Christ to atone for our sins, we will gain far greater joy, far greater pleasure in the heavenly abode than anything ever given to us by His grace on earth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember how I thought he was the ugliest little rat dog ever? He became to me the most precious dog I've ever owned. I saw past his bad breath, his rotting teeth, his bodily control problems and God gave me eyes to see a big hearted little guy who offered more love than a dog 10 times his size and for me to see a wee little creature who desperately need my love, my care, my acceptance, my nurture, my direction. And at the end all 4-5 pounds of the wee little guy needed my complete love and care. Yeah mom did the really hard work but dad got in there a bit too. And what did I see? I saw a great big Holy God who condescended to a vile wretched man like me. He took me from the dung heap, from the scrap pile, from the trash bin. He cleaned me up. He bathed me and washed the dirt off my soul. He showered me with love, immeasurable and free. He brought me from death to life. He gave me a hope. I deserved none of it. I was ugly. Yet He did all this. So when I think of our little wee guy I think of the immense love poured so richly upon me all because of love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now barely 24 hours after looking my little guy in the eyes and telling him I'm sorry and love him very much for what he has meant to my wife, to me, to my family, and seeing his light go out as I clutched him ever so close, I must look to heaven from whence comes my help. For it is in beholding my Savior that I can see the manifold blessings He gives to His children. I too will one day close my eyes in sleep, as you will too. Will you have lived to the full in serving Him? Will you have lived with fullness of joy in believing upon Christ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We could learn a lot from a dog, if we'd just open our eyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Kevin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-7550899008457255622015-02-28T20:13:00.001-08:002015-02-28T20:13:47.009-08:00Has God Changed?<p dir="ltr"><i>A</i><i> friend asked a simple question as part of a research paper. He asked if God of the New Testament was the same as God of the Old Testament. Below was my attempt to answer his question.</i><br></p>
<p dir="ltr">Many have made the claim that the God of the Old Testament is angry and judicial whereas the God of the New Testament is kind, loving, and tolerant. This can be heard in everything from biblical debates to comedy bits. There's zero doubt that the claim is made. So far as this is concerned, it's a non-issue. What we have to determine is whether there is any validity to the claim. It's my position that there is not.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Malachi 3:6<br>
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.</p>
<p dir="ltr">James 1:17<br>
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Revelation 1:8<br>
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Bible is clear that God is not one who changes. Even if one wanted to argue that the God of the Old Testament was a different God, the argument would fail since Revelation tells us that the God of the New Testament is the very one who existed at the beginning. Yet, when we compare the Old Testament to the New Testament, there appears to be a clear distinction. Of course, due to the law of noncontradiction, they can't be different gods and the same God at the same time. It must be one or the other. When faced with a crossroads such as this, it's always a safe bet to assume our finite human understanding is flawed whereas the Word of God is not. The plain teaching of Scripture should always force us to change our views on something we can't seem to reconcile.</p>
<p dir="ltr">To begin, I believe many hold to an erroneous view of God when it comes to the Old Testament. Is He really an angry and mean God or are we simply failing to see His love, mercy, and grace? In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). After each day, He saw that it was good. He was satisfied. On the sixth day, after creating man, we see something special. Not only was it good, it was very good (Genesis 1:31). Man was the pinnacle of God's creation. He made man perfectly upright to rule over creation. Sadly, this was not to last. By Genesis 3, we see mankind being tempted and falling into the first instance of sin. We see a curse being placed upon humanity. We see the fulfillment of what God promised would occur in Genesis 2:17. God promised that Adam would die if he ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam knew this and he failed to shield his wife, the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7), from the enemy. What Adam didn't know is that he would represent all of humanity thenceforth (1 Corinthians 15:22). However, this wasn't referring to just a physical death but to a spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13). All of humanity is dead in sin and only Christ can make us alive again. We all fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23) and deserve nothing but death, both physical and spiritual, as a result (Romans 6:23). Therefore, God would have been perfectly just to destroy the earth and all it contained upon the moment of sin entering into His perfect world. Man tarnished God's creation and, as of that very moment, deserved nothing more than eternal torment as punishment for his actions.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Yet, over and over again, we see of God's mercy. Many view the Old Testament Law as being harsh but, truth be told, even that was an act of mercy. God could have left humanity alone to perish but He chose to reveal to them His righteous standard. He chose to raise godly men to lead them. He chose to bless those who rejected Him and to bless them abundantly. He gave His people land and a promise of a Savior to come. Yes, He held them accountable for their actions but this was because the Law had not yet been fulfilled (Matthew 5:17) though it had been broken in full.</p>
<p dir="ltr">What we see in the New Testamant isn't a new God but a God who had decreed that the fullness of time had come (Galatians 4:4). Those who were born under the Law would now be redeemed from that very same Law. Whereas before they fell under the law of sin and death, now they fell under the law of the Spirit of life. The former Law was weak and could never save. It could only instruct man of a standard they were incapable of keeping in their current fallen form. It required God, the same loving God of the Old Testament, to fulfill His Law by sending His own Son to die (Romans 8:2-3) as an atoning and substitutionary sacrifice (Isaiah 53:5).</p>
<p dir="ltr">Only when we have a proper understanding of fallen man's condition can we truly understand the love and restraint God displayed throughout all of the Old Testament. In many ways, the compassion of God in the Old Testament greatly exceeds that which we see in the New Testament. Of course, we know this is only our human understanding because, as stated in the beginning, "there is no variation or shadow due to change" when it comes to God.<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">~ Travis W. Rogers</p>
Travis W. Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946195774293363334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-53914806240708066242015-02-20T20:44:00.000-08:002015-02-20T20:44:40.536-08:00A Morning Among Mormons <i>The following is an essay I recently wrote as a part of a college class. The idea behind the assignment was to visit a service of a faith group other than my own. After some consideration, I decided to attend the morning service of a local Mormon church. As you read on, my hope is that you will feel as if you were right there with me.</i><br />
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It was a brisk Sunday morning. As I pulled into the parking lot, I dreaded stepping out into the cold. Yet, at the same time, I looked forward to the experience that was at hand. With the strong winds beating against my face, I gazed up toward the tall steeple and began walking toward the church building. Apart from the unusual cold, this particular Sunday morning was different than most. Instead of attending my own Baptist church, I found myself visiting a local Mormon church. I knew I was in for a surprise but I was prepared for whatever the morning had in store.<br />
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As I crossed the threshold through the front door, I immediately felt the warmth surround me. At first, it was in the form of heat on a cold body. Next, it was in the form of tender love and friendliness. Looking like a fish out of water, I was welcomed by some of the congregants. They introduced themselves, retrieved a church bulletin for me, and told me to feel free to sit wherever I liked. Before sitting down, I engaged in some casual discussions with various unfamiliar faces. Though I didn’t know anybody in the sanctuary, I felt as though the awkwardness quickly subsided. Before I knew it, it was time to take a seat and begin the service.<br />
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In an effort to blend in, I took a seat in the back corner of the room. I opened my bulletin and glanced at the order of worship they had scheduled for the morning. The first thing that took me by surprise was the fact that they had two speakers listed. I wasn’t exactly sure what this meant but I was intrigued. As an elderly man was making announcements, I flipped my bulletin over to the other side where I found a concise list of what they thought we should know. Of course, none of the references listed were from the Bible. Every last one was from another Mormon document. The teaching that stood out to me most was also the one that bothered me the most. Without any shame, they proudly declared that they do not believe special revelation has ended. They claimed their interpretation of the Bible is unique in that they believe it should be interpreted through continuing revelation. While I knew this to be the case with the Mormon religion, seeing it printed right before my eyes was appalling! My mind instantly went to where the Bible says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 New American Standard Bible). If Scripture is enough to equip man for every good work, where is the need for ongoing special revelation?<br />
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As the announcements came to a close, the congregation began singing. I realized I had missed something. That was when I noticed they were all singing out of the hymnal. As oblivious as I felt in that moment, I grabbed a hymnal and flipped to the song number as quickly as I could. Expecting to find heresy upon heresy, I was surprised to find the song they were singing actually contained no error that I could find. Though I felt they were singing the song to a counterfeit God, I could, in my heart, sing the song to the authentic Jesus Christ and mean the lyrics. We sang of Christ being a firm foundation as well as of his atoning sacrifice.<br />
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Quite fittingly, the service then transitioned into communion or, as they called it, Administration of the Sacrament. Whereas the concept of communion is a very familiar one, their administration of it was quite different from anything I had witnessed before. Instead of it being served by adults who were in good standing within the church, it was being served by teenagers. Never before had I seen children serving communion. Something else that grieved my soul was seeing children of every age partaking in the meal. Scripture states, “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). So long as a child has no relationship or unity with Christ, he should not be participating in communion. Yet, if these children had teeth, they were chewing on the bread. As communion came to a close, an older gentleman asked if the young men of the priesthood could be seated with their parents. I could go on about Christ abolishing the priesthood when he became our High Priest but, for the purpose of not dwelling on the subject, I’ll move on.<br />
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As the first speaker stepped up to the lectern, he informed us he would be speaking on the subject of faith. I was expecting to hear a passage to turn to but it never came. Instead, he began comparing faith to flying an airplane and trusting in the instruments. He compared it to driving a car and trusting in your skills as a driver. In this sense, it was nothing more than belief. He was also very adamant that one must act on his faith for it to be effective. While this may have sounded normal to the untrained ear, I heard heresy. The Mormon religion teaches that one can lose his salvation if there are no accompanying works. Therefore, for him to teach what he did made perfect sense. However, that doesn’t make it accurate. In reality, faith will make for effective works, not the other way around. Our faith makes our works effective yet our works have no bearing on whether or not our faith is effective. It only has a bearing on whether said faith is real or counterfeit.<br />
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After a brief interlude, the second speaker stepped up to the lectern. He didn’t exactly specify what he was going to be speaking on but, just as before, he also didn’t base it on any particular passage or verse. It soon became clear he was speaking on thankfulness and a grateful heart. While this is a wonderful topic to speak on, I felt as though he was taking a completely unbiblical approach to it. For instance, he declared that the Heavenly Father gave His children the gift of happiness. He even went so far as to claim that God will never demand from His children anything that will diminish the happiness He desires from them. I felt as though I were listening to a prosperity teaching televangelist. Yet, this man seemed very sincere in what he was saying. Ultimately, he linked it all to various passages within the Mormon writings. Since I reject Mormon writings as being the unbiblical teaching of another gospel, I naturally couldn’t stand behind his teaching. As he came to a close, he stated that all scriptures are the words of the apostles and prophets, both ancient and modern. Immediately, I was reminded of the blurb on the front of the bulletin that I had read upon first taking a seat in the pew. I found it ironic that the last thing I heard from the pulpit was also the very first thing I read upon arriving to the church. Sadly, neither of the speakers ever went to their Bible nor did they go to any of their other sacred writings. Instead of hearing preaching from the pulpit, it was more of a testimony sharing time.<br />
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The service closed in prayer and we all stood up to leave. I was approached by a man who saw me in the beginning. He was curious as to what I thought of the service. Out of kindness and respect, I chose to keep most of my thoughts to myself. After all, I was a guest in his church and they had treated me with nothing but kindness. He then began sharing with me why he felt the Mormon religion was true and how he had converted nine years prior. After he was finished, he appeared to be inquiring as to what my thoughts were. In the most loving way possible, I told him my main concern was that I believed the Jesus of the Book of Mormon to be a completely different person from the Jesus of the Bible. I explained that the Mormon Jesus was a created being who didn’t always exist whereas the Bible’s Jesus is eternal and is actually God Himself as the second person of the Holy Trinity. This, in and of itself, is enough to show how the two religions aren’t merely describing one person in different ways but are actually describing two different people in similar ways while still maintaining their individuality. With this foundational principle being in place, the only thing left to say was, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8). I explained that our differences will be offensive in nature but that my intention was not to offend maliciously. By this time, there were several people standing around and they were all in agreement that, while we disagreed, we could maintain kindness and love toward one another. One of the missionaries asked for my phone number in hopes that we can continue our discussion at a later point. I gladly gave my information and truly do hope to receive the call someday in the near future. I always look forward to the opportunity to evangelize to the lost. May God’s glory be lifted above all else. Soli Deo Gloria!<br />
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~ Travis W. Rogers</div>
Travis W. Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946195774293363334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-16361925706328124252015-01-14T05:25:00.000-08:002015-01-14T05:25:45.407-08:00The Man of God Prays<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. ~ Col 4:2</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With this simple statement Paul instructs the church to pray. But, pray for what? And how? We're going to take a look at how Paul prayed and discover the model he provides for our own need to pray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most people pray. It is not unusual to hear those who do not know Christ say they'll pray for us. It's quite common that when a sad situation or troubling circumstance arises that many friends, co-workers, and family will offer "thoughts and prayers" on our behalf. Is it just me or do you find it odd that people who otherwise never show any type of living faith in your daily interactions with them suddenly have the need to tell us they will pray?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what are they praying for and to whom are they praying..........and does that object of prayer actually hear a word uttered?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christians also pray or at least say they will pray for you. Again, how do they pray? How do you pray? Are we to pray for our physical needs? Is our perfect health of primary importance to God? Are we to pray that we win the lottery? Of course, so that we can give buckets of cash to a charity or help Uncle Charlie pay for his hip replacement or send Johnny to college! What is the focus of your prayers? What is the objective your prayers?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is certain, we are to pray <i>earnestly, continually, vigilantly</i> and <i>with thanksgiving</i>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But let's back up for a second. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, we are to pray to God and God alone! Nowhere in scripture are prayers offered to saints nor angels. Prayer is offered to our Father in heaven through Jesus Christ our Advocate. (Matt 6:9, 1 John 2:1) This is clear. Anything else is shear tradition and an affront to the God we claim is our end goal in praying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Secondly, we cannot come before the throne of grace with hidden sin nor unconfessed sin. (Psalm 66:18) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) We must come with clean hands and a pure heart. Therefore, I personally deal with my own wickedness first when I approach the throne. I'd suggest it is highly to your advantage that when you sin you confess immediately and seek His face. Then when a situation arises from nowhere in your day, you are unhindered and can go right to your Master for help because the first things have been dealt with long ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Returning to the verse from Colossians....</span><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.</b></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This means we aren't machine gun petitioners erratically firing in the air, shooting our demands, er, requests at whim whenever serious need arises. Our prayer needs to be a consistent daily, hourly, minute by minute routine. We ought to bow our heart at a moments notice in humility seeking God's will. He will bend His ear to listen when we rightly acknowledge our dependence upon Him understanding that all things come through His hand. Our prayers must also be earnest, crying out to our God from whence cometh our help! We must be vigilant. We must not let up nor shrink back. We are to keep asking, keep knocking, keep seeking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, what did Paul pray for and since we're to imitate him as he imitated Christ, What do we pray for? What follows are examples of Paul's prayer life. Quickly we'll see Epaphras learned a thing or two about prayer from Paul. Then we'll see Paul himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. ~ Col 4:12</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guess what we see right out of the chute? Epaphras labored fervently on behalf of the saints. He did not carelessly toss up a prayer here and there. This dear beloved saint was earnest in his prayers. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Greek word here for labored is </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">agonizomai. Do you see it? We get the word agonize from it. It means to contend, to struggle, to strive. This kind of prayer takes effort! This is how he prayed but for what did he pray? He prayed that they would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. This was the Colossians, and our, greatest need, not physical comforts. But lest I get bogged down and bore you let's move on to the Apostle Paul!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Earlier Paul had told this same church</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. ~ Col 1:9–11</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here we see a continual beseeching to the Lord on behalf of those dear saints Paul so loved. What was the request? To be filled with knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding! Why? Because such was their greatest need if they were to walk worthy and be fruitful in the trials of life. These were essential in order to be fully pleasing to our Holy God. Without which we cannot be increasing in the knowledge of God nor strengthened with all might nor possess patient joy in longsuffering. Are you seeing what is so vital to our survival on this sin torn rock? Our personal comforts are nowhere to be found! That does not mean that God is not concerned about our comfort but He is certainly more concerned about our eternal comfort and progress of faith. God our Father cares more that we learn to trust Him and gain heaven than we experience ease and go to our grave incomplete.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, that's one church but what about others? What about different times in Paul's life? What did he tell the Philippians or the Thessalonians?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. ~ Phil 1:9–11</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Th 1:11–12</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hmm, still no prayers for a new chariot, a bigger and better tent, a new couch, a better boyfriend, to reap that material blessing, to claim victory over that demon of indigestion! No, no and no. No a thousand times. Always the vertical in order that the horizontal can be properly lived out.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knowledge, discernment, sincerity, blameless, being filled with the fruits of righteousness. For God's glory and praise. That God would work faith powerfully in us. Oh the greatness of such prayers! God wants to use you, He wants to use me, to show a sin sick lost world what faith looks like in the midst of turmoil, in suffering, in sickness, in times when every average person would be despairing. God, our merciful Father, wants to reveal His glory in His people! Are you kidding me? No my friend! He desires to show the surpassing greatness of His power in the saints. Yeah, that's you and me. Oh what a Savior, what a God!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, here it is in the very inspired word of the living God through the hand of his servant Paul;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. ~ Eph 1:18–19</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh dear reader who has bore with me so long. This is how we pray! This is why we pray! This is to whom we pray to! A gracious, merciful Savior desires to perfect us, to use old worn down, broken, raggedy clay pots and reveal His manifold glory that we might KNOW the hope of His calling, to KNOW the riches of the glory of His inheritance and to KNOW this surpassing great power toward US who believe!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you know this God? Have you bowed to this Lord? Will you receive this Savior? Is this your prayer life? Or is yours a cold dead ritual to a lifeless deity? Perhaps a prayer of repentance is necessary for you. Perhaps you must acknowledge that you know not this God. Perhaps you must recognize that your sin has built a barrier that cannot be breached by anything but Divine grace. Easy for you, not so easy for Christ, as He, the Holy and spotless Lamb, took sin upon His shoulders and bore the awesome weight of it that He might break down that barrier and carry you to glory. Perhaps you must pray thusly right now before the curtain closes on your life.<br /><br />And for all of us we must understand that it's all about Him and when we humbly submit to His Lordship and His Sovereign rule He rewards us with more than we can ever ask, imagine or think. It's the deal of a thousand lifetimes!<br /><br />He must increase but I must decrease</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Kevin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-26595987625362626272015-01-10T10:27:00.000-08:002015-01-10T10:27:05.285-08:00Revenge of the Religious Zealots<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. ~ Acts 6:15</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Such was the countenance of Stephen as he faced the hatred of those who would seek to avenge the honor of their false system. What brought such vehemence out? Had Stephen blasphemed God Himself? What had he done?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sure record, the infallible account, the inerrant disclosure of who Stephen was and what he did declares</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. ~ Acts 6:8</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the grace of God Stephen proclaimed the truth of Christ with power and full of grace which was authenticated by great signs and wonders. So much so that no one could deny it. With so many sound words and mighty actions the response came.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. ~ Acts 6:9</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stephen's words were challenged. A debate ensued and Stephen prevailed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <i>But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. ~ Acts 6:10</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stephen shattered their arguments. Demolished their false system. Tore in two their wrenching of God's glorious revealed truth. So they progress and now attack his character, a classic approach called ad hominem in which the facts are ignored and the tables are turned to divert, distort, and lie. You see, pride does not enjoy losing at all. Pride seeks to win at all costs. So the attack comes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. ~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Acts 6:11–12</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aha! And there it is, the accusation that Stephen has spoken against Moses, their beloved prophet and oh yeah, by the way, God, Him too! The deceitful plotters induce the people and stir up their anger. So much so that they succeed and drag away this gracious disciple of the glorious Christ and put him before the Council to be tried and executed. So much for Gamaliel's advise in chapter 5 to "let them alone" because if it be of God it cannot be stopped. (More on that as this story progresses.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They now continue their deception and </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <i>put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” ~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Acts 6:13–14</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We now return to the description at the heading of this blog. With all the fierce anger and loathe from the countless masses of hell itself fixed upon this gracious man full of the spirit, they look upon the "face of an angel." Such a man full of the spirit now gives them an account for the ages (Acts 7:2-53) and closes off with the accurate charge of their stiff-necked defiance in rejecting the very One whom they claim to be following and looking for, this Christ, the Son of Man, the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They had heard and seen the truth of Christ. They refused to let go of their pride and their system and their avenging of their prophet Moses was sealed as their anger rose to a crescendo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <i>Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ~ Acts 7:54-58</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So gnashing at the beloved Stephen like ravenous wolves hungry to devour its prey they cried out loudly, stopped their ears, and rushed at him with the full force of the demons of hell and snuffed out his very life........to avenge the honor of their god. Has anything changed in 2000 years? This is the response of unregenerate, self loving, hateful men who refuse to submit to the Lordship of Christ and bow their knees to the King. The Sovereign whom the Father declares, "this is my Beloved Son, hear Him!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The contrast between unconverted godless men and God-fearing, God honoring men is vast. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep. ~</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Acts 7:59–60</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now tell me, which is the only religion of peace?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He must increase, I must decrease</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Kevin</span>Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-48260050163716292262014-11-15T07:43:00.001-08:002014-11-15T07:43:43.462-08:00The Significance of Birth<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b>Teach us to number our days,</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Psalm 90:12</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is my birthday. No, I'm not going to get a red sports car or dye my hair blonde. None of that foolishness. I am going to reflect on the last 25 years though. 25? Yeah, 25. Because, you see, that is the birth that really matters to me. It was on this day in 1989 that a proud, rebellious young man laid down his arms and bowed his head to his Conqueror. Yep, on my physical birthday I gave up my life of sin and God in heaven brought forth my spiritual birth. A birth of far more significance than my puny little physical birth. A reflection of my own father who I can still hear saying, "just bury me in a pine box, no big deal." Similarly, this physical life is insignificant to me and the spiritual is far, far greater. Therefore, it is attempted to be lived fully pleasing to God that He might have significance in it. As this truth guides me. <i><b>He must increase but I must decrease. ~ John 3:30</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wasn't a "bad" kid. I was well loved by many gracious friends, some of whom have stuck around me, despite my sometimes porcupine personality and my Christian faith. The problem with not being "bad" enough is that I just was never good enough, never could be, never would be. <i><b>There's is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:10</b></i> A good many things in my first couple decades are quite shameful. <i><b>But God!</b> He was rich in mercy</i> and loved me before I was born, loved me from eternity past. He knew a day would come, in fact, He planned it! A day where I would fumble through a prayer while standing in the hallway of my house as I departed to go see one of my favorite bands, The Alarm. I felt kinda good that night, going off to see some guys who had at least some kind of Christian faith, in my pea brain mind of what faith was at the time, as opposed to the darkness I submerged myself in so many other nights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really had little clue what I was doing I just knew that I knew that I knew that change was necessary and change had to come. I did not darken doors of churches. I grew up in a "moral family." That simply is code for a great bunch of sinners who believe in God, even Jesus, but are whitewashed tombs full of dead men's bones, headed for a terrible destruction that will shock them when they arrive. Two days prior I grudgingly got out of my bed and gave up my football to attend a quaint little church in Sunland, CA. Life was about to be forever changed! I wrestled with God those two days as the message rang in my head (David at Ziglag) but even more so the 3 baptismal testimonies that roared from the waters. Never before, nor since, did I feel like I was the only one of 270 people in a building. <i><b>But God!</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So after wrestling those two days, I crumbled and God won and oh what a victory! Graciously in every way I was placed among a people zealous for the Lord and earnest in His truth. Seminary guys from a somewhat young school called TMS were in my path. I distinctly recall three of them who were God's chisel on this wreck of a young man. One is gone now. Dear Samuel who took me under his wing in every way. Made me prepare a lesson in 1 Peter, </span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Peter 1:3–7</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and preach it to my roommates in our living room, drove me to kingdom come and back for 4 months while my father lived his last days on earth, and simply set an example for me to follow. Then there was Wayne and Carlos in my Berean's Sunday school class. What grace I was given!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, ok, so what's the point of writing this you may ask? Well, way back then in 1989 I thought about 25 years ahead. Since I'm the weird numbers guy these are things I think of. The amazing senior citizens that were my Wednesday night (and Sunday morning) for so many days were my end goal. I wanted to be a Christian for 25 years and be more like them. I wanted to possess that level of maturity and love for Christ. (Still working!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <i><b>Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b> Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,</b></i></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~ </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philippians 3:12–14</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I'm here. Not what I was and nowhere near what I desire to be. <b><i>But God!</i></b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. ~ </i></b></span><i style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Philippians 1:6 </b></span></i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQEW4QiFSRI/VGdvOYFQoII/AAAAAAAAAQY/7LJd0v335jE/s1600/AnchoredInTheCross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQEW4QiFSRI/VGdvOYFQoII/AAAAAAAAAQY/7LJd0v335jE/s1600/AnchoredInTheCross.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To God alone belongs glory and majesty and honor and dominion for He is able to keep His own from stumbling and falling and to present His people blameless before His throne, with great joy. (Jude 24-25)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I guess today begins the last 25 years, should God ordain as many. What is life? Is it about personal happiness? Personal achievements? Personal fulfillment? Simply raising "good" kids and living a decent life that others say nice things about you when you're dead?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The point of it all, I suppose, is why are you here? Why am I here? The Westminster Catechism says it perfectly in question one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which takes me to my guiding verse, thanks again to Samuel, that came at the end of King Solomon's life;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b> Fear God and keep His commandments,</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b> For this is man’s all.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>~ Ecclesiastes 12:13</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friends who have stuck with me this far, are you truly fearing God and keeping His commandments? Are you more focused upon His glory than your own? Are you seeking His wisdom and forsaking your own? Are you willing to submit to His authority and lay down your own? Are you confessing Christ as Lord and you as His servant? Are you living for eternity and not for the present? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you been born again, born from above?! Or are you still in your sins and prepared to be held responsible for them? <i><b>Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life and that He came to give life abundantly.</b></i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whom are you living for and what will be your legacy?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ He must increase,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-83533856099602071732014-11-11T04:12:00.002-08:002014-11-11T04:16:51.358-08:00More Than Animals<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week was a difficult time. Our beloved cat of 6 years
passed. We had just taken Charlie to the veterinarian to determine what was
wrong with him. After draining 5 pounds of fluid from his abdomen, a large
tumor was discovered on his liver. We were told we may have weeks or possibly a
few months. Sadly, this wasn’t the case. I came home from work that night to
find my wife crouched by the litter box, crying uncontrollably. I removed the
lid to find Charlie face down in litter with little time remaining. His breaths
were shallow yet rapid and his eyes showed fear. I placed him on the bed and we
held him while softly speaking his name. It was incredibly sad to see death
creeping in. There was nothing beautiful about it. I choose to believe Charlie
had already clocked out while his body went through the violent motions. After
a few minutes, he stopped moving and his eyes were blank. The sweet boy who had
slept by my wife’s pillow every night was gone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, the following days would be difficult. We had to
figure out how to break it to the kids the next morning. Needless to say, there
were a lot of tears involved. </span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--NdmuFsK8M8/VGH8VGIcuoI/AAAAAAAAAHc/8-kTbkzwqbY/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--NdmuFsK8M8/VGH8VGIcuoI/AAAAAAAAAHc/8-kTbkzwqbY/s1600/001.jpg" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We held a small ceremony in the backyard where
everybody said their last goodbyes. My wife kept saying how she’d never see him
again and how the spot next to her pillow would feel so empty. One of my
children asked if Charlie would be in heaven. That left me with the unpleasant
task of explaining how animals, upon dying, simply cease to exist. There is no
heaven or an afterlife. When my wife said Charlie was gone, that was a very
accurate statement. It was at that moment that I saw the beauty behind the
sorrow. Yes, Charlie was gone but there was so much more going on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To many of us, pets are an extension of the family. They’re
like our four-legged children. They have different personalities, express love,
show loyalty, and clearly perceive the world around them. However, despite all
this, they are vastly different from mankind. The beauty that I could now see
was in just how special humanity was. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genesis
1</b> presents us with the narrative of Creation. We see, in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">verses 24-25</b>, God simply makes the
beasts of the earth. They’re made each after their own kind and God saw that it
was good. This had been the pattern in each of the previous days as well.
However, verse 27 brings a whole new twist. When God created man, he didn’t
simply bring us into existence. We see a very personal act taking place. We
were made in the image of God. He breathed into us the breath of life <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(Genesis 2:7)</b>. The Hebrew word for
“breath” is <span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em>nĕshamah</em></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> which means either breath or
spirit. If we look deeper, we see God is breathing HIS breath into man. We see
a similar act in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 20:22</b> when
Jesus breathes on the disciples and tells them to, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Indeed, mankind is vastly different from the animal kingdom. Though we
may share a great many traits, the very breath of God is what sets us apart. We
have a spirit that lives on eternally. We have a spirit that will spend
eternity with the Father in heaven through the reconciliation of the Son <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(2 Corinthians 5:18)</b>. Our pets are
loved by their owners but we are loved by God Almighty! It’s precisely because
we have an eternal destination that we also have a responsibility to proclaim
Christ at every turn. It’s only through faith in Christ that one will ever see
heaven. The alternative is dark and dismal, filled with terror <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(Matthew 13:42)</b>. The alternative is not
only death but eternal death and torment. For as much as we care about our
beloved pets, should we not also care deeply for those made in the image of
God? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As I stated earlier, though there was nothing beautiful about what took
place on our bed that night, I was still able to eventually see the beauty of
the gospel in the midst of it. My hope is that, whenever you may be presented
with a challenge, you will be able to see it as well. My further prayer is that
it will encourage you to act upon it and be a faithful witness for the cause of
Christ.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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~Travis W. Rogers</div>
Travis W. Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946195774293363334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-64338117242632706542014-11-03T21:24:00.000-08:002014-11-03T21:24:55.377-08:00Knowledge of God and Of Ourselves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I received this classic gem in the mail Sunday and I could not wait to sink my teeth into it. John Calvin was one of the greatest theologians ever to walk the face of the earth, and it is such a privilege to be able to open up the <i>Institutes of the Christian Religion</i> and see his thoughts available to be engaged. So here I would like to share my thoughts and some of his quotes as I work through this magnum opus of doctrine gleaned from the Holy Scriptures through years of study.</div>
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The first chapter has to do with the knowledge of God and of ourselves, which he says consists of two parts, which I mentioned in the first sentence of this paragraph. He then poses his thought as to which one comes before the other. As I pondered it, my thoughts were taken to Proverbs 1:7 which tells us that the beginning of all knowledge, both spiritual and natural, is the fear of the Lord. Calvin stated it this way: "No man can truly survey himself without forthwith turning his thoughts toward the God in whom he lives and moves," which reminded me of Acts 17:28. It is in God alone that we live, move, and have our being -- Him alone. And according to Colossians 1:17, He holds all things together. Now imagine if God allowed one of your molecules to slip away, or if He allowed the earth to spin a little slower, or tilt a little sharper, where would we be? Think about the composition of our atmosphere, and if he changed one of the elements one-tenth of a percent...where would we be? Where would anything be? As Shai Linne so eloquently stated, "Without Christ, reality would collapse on itself." As Calvin says, "Our very being is nothing else than subsistence in God alone."</div>
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Calvin moves on to speak of God's infinite goodness, and the fact that we cannot truly see it, nor enjoy it, unless we confess our poverty (Matt. 5:3). But it can be difficult to see because we live in a fallen world, and it is necessary for us to realize that His goodness is not just there to provide for us our daily needs; it is there also to teach us humility. None of us is as well off as we may think. Calvin says that, "Our feeling of ignorance, vanity, want, weakness, in short, depravity and corruption, remind us that in the Lord, and none but He, well the true light of wisdom, solid virtue, and exuberant goodness." The Bible is deafeningly clear that there is nothing good in us (Rom. 3), therefore any goodness that we may produce is derivative from God's infinite storehouse.</div>
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The problem is that we don't think we're impoverished. We act like the Laodiceans and declare our self-sufficiency. But Jesus declared in John 4:10 that if the woman at the well KNEW the gift of God, then she would have given Him a proper response, that is, to ask for the living water. But as Calvin stated in his commentary on that verse: </div>
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"Knowledge of Christ begins with a conviction of our poverty; for, before anyone desires a remedy, he must be previously affected with the view of his distresses...Why would Christ be sent with the fullness of the Spirit, if we were not empty?</div>
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When Christ appears, we no longer wander in vain, seeking a remedy where none can be obtained, but we go straight to Him. The only true and profitable knowledge of the grace of God is, when we know that it is exhibited to us in Christ, and that it is held out to us by His hand."</div>
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We can't begin to "aspire to Him" until we have developed an utter displeasure with ourselves, and that is the major problem that lies within each of us. Have we truly contemplated God in all of His self-disclosure? We may say that we have, we may even know how to regurgitate what we have learned of Him...and yet, we still parade around our peacock feathers of self-righteousness. Why is that? Calvin declares that it is because we have not been truly convinced "by clear evidence" of how foolish we are to think in such a manner. He says that "The Lord is the only standard by which conviction can be produced." But when we see any inkling of self-righteousness, of self-empowered living, we place God on the back burner and become satisfied as if somehow we have accomplished something. This is folly at its finest. Calvin says that we know how to speak concerning ourselves by using the "most flattering terms," puffing ourselves up to a little "less than demigods." </div>
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But if we ever keep a constant eye upon God, if we ever keep our thoughts constantly on Him, and contemplate His attributes, His character, and His glory, "what formerly delighted us will become polluted with the greatest iniquity." Those respectable sins, as Jerry Bridges calls them, will become the utmost of disrespect to the holy God. Those sins that you sweep under the rug will become an eyesore that must be removed from the house. Those "little" sins that you think are of no consequence will become the ultimate treason before God, and you will fight tooth and nail to eradicate them so that you can see the God who is rich in all things more clearly, and in turn understand yourself more clearly. All knowledge, whether of God or of man, begins by fearing God and then grows by continued devotion of every fiber of your being to build upon that foundation of truth that God has entrusted to your care.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-71145022573352429732014-09-27T15:38:00.001-07:002014-09-27T15:38:40.454-07:00What If Today Was Your Last Day On Earth?<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Monday was a sad day around my workplace. A man I've known for 23 years lost his mother. She lived a good, long life. Nevertheless it was and is sad. I will have fond memories of her. Add to that a couple workplace killings in Alabama and Oklahoma. Then the realization of a friend of my wife being declared terminally ill with just 2 months to live. The old saying is two things are certain, 'death and taxes.' Well, the one thing more certain than taxes is that after death we will all stand before our Maker and give an account of our life. It will all boil down to one question.....but I'll save that for last.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Friends, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="color: red;">Jesus was not simply a good man who wants us to be nice and treat people kindly.</span></i><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6), that He Himself bore iniquities and will justify many (Isaiah 53:11), that none of us is righteous (Romans 3:10), that all our works are filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), that unless we believe that He is God we will die in our sins (John 8:24), that the wages of sin is death, physical and spiritual, but that the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no second chance, for it is appointed for a man once to die and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27) where Christ will appear a 2nd time without reference to sin for those who eagerly await Him (Hebrews 9:28), those whose sins have been washed away by the blood of the Lamb. Not so for the one who rejected His word. They can expect..... a fearful expectation of judgment for those that go on sinning willfully after receiving the truth (Hebrews 10:26-27), of which you are if you have read this blog or known me for any length of time at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The death rate remains 1 out of every 1. The reality of sin is that 1 out of every 1 is held captive by the power of sin. The offer of forgiveness of sin and freedom from its power is found in Christ alone (Acts 4:12). Sin requires a wage (Romans 6:23) and all have sinned (Romans 3:23). Yet if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Then how do we know we have passed from death to life? By keeping His word and walking as He walked (1 John 2:5-6).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">There is a 2nd death (Revelation 20:6,14) where this happens; "the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) All that can be avoided. Only then will any living person be fit for heaven and not only gain it at physical death but live life abundantly until that final breath is drawn. (John 10:10)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Did you catch that list? Unbelieving is right there with murderers. Immorality and liars are side by side with abominable. Belief is trusting something can bear your weight, hold up a load. Saying that plane will get you across the Atlantic is quite different than stepping onto it and buckling a seat-belt for takeoff. Saying you believe in Jesus is quite different than actually letting Him take your load of sin and bear that awful weight. Saying you believe in Jesus is much different than placing every ounce of energy into understanding Him and following His commands. Saying Jesus is too narrow and you'll make it another way is looking God in the face and saying "you're a liar!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">So the question begs, the same question Jesus posed to His followers 2000 years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">"Who do you say that I am?"</span></b><span style="color: #141823;"> (Matthew 16:15) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823;">...and will you reply as Peter? "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because the death rate is one out of every one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He must increase ~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin</span></div>
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Kevin McDonnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08490109786806820725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247266857667550620.post-47148795350909049632014-09-17T20:01:00.001-07:002014-11-11T04:13:59.012-08:00A Disease Called Silence<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
There exists a world where disease <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6M33XvxUXZE/VBpHw2ukOzI/AAAAAAAAAG4/dqz0RMbEMug/s1600/wartorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6M33XvxUXZE/VBpHw2ukOzI/AAAAAAAAAG4/dqz0RMbEMug/s1600/wartorn.jpg" height="111" width="200" /></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 26.0pt;">is spreading
rampantly. Daily, it claims its victims and ravages them from the inside out. Neighbors
and friends fall prey to the devastating effects of this war while the vast
majority does nothing to stop it. It’s slowly taking over loved ones and won’t
stop until it overtakes the children. There is a form of resistance but, when
compared to the general population, they are in the minority. Will the battle
ever end or will the denizens of this world ultimately be destroyed? Sadly,
this world being described isn’t hypothetical or imaginary. Nor is it a distant
land yet to be discovered. No, it’s the very world we live in and, as it
stands, we are slowly destroying ourselves. Thankfully, there’s hope in the
form of a cure. All we have to do is stand up.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 26.0pt;">You may be scratching your heads right about now,
wondering what I’m talking about. Please read on and allow me to clarify. The
world I’m referring to is called the church. It’s filled with people who call
themselves Christians. The purpose of this post isn’t to differentiate between
false converts and genuine Christians. Instead, I’d like us to focus on what I
feel to be an even more pressing issue. After all, it’s to be expected that
local church attendance will spike around Christmas and Easter. It’s even
expected that some of the people in the pews may not really know the Lord
regardless how long they’ve been going to church. What isn’t expected is that
those who truly know Christ would sit down and forget to stand up. We’re called
to teach all nations of Christ <b>(Matthew 28:19)</b>. In a world that hates us <b>(John
15:18)</b> and is at war with God <b>(Romans 8:7)</b>, we’re called to be the resistance
<b>(1 Corinthians 1:23)</b>. As for the final outcome, we know that not all will
believe and that there will be an ultimate eternal darkness with weeping and
gnashing of teeth for all who don’t know Christ.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 26.0pt;">Ask yourself when the last time was you were
presented with an opportunity to preach Christ crucified. Did you take
advantage of the opportunity or did you remain quiet? Did you stand up for
Christ or did you sit down? What about the time before that? In fact, when was
the last time you stood up at all? There are a number of reasons why we may
remain quiet when opportunity presents itself. Some may get nervous. Others may
have a fear of public speaking. While both of these are valid concerns, where
do they stack up in the grand scheme of things? </span></div>
<br />
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Life isn’t lived inside
a bubble in complete isolation from the outside world. For every action taken,
not only does one need to accept the consequence on his life, but he also needs
to accept responsibility for the impact it has on the lives of those around
him. What will it take for you to see the importance of this subject matter? How
many people will miss hearing the gospel unnecessarily? How many will die of
the disease called silence? How widespread will the pandemic have to be before
you become aware? If you are already aware, who will have to die before you
care?</div>
<br />
Sadly, evangelism has
steadily been reduced to the other guy's job. It's taken a back seat to the<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c_XgZvG5w3c/VBpH64BHLMI/AAAAAAAAAHA/UWPUc8K_jXk/s1600/silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c_XgZvG5w3c/VBpH64BHLMI/AAAAAAAAAHA/UWPUc8K_jXk/s1600/silence.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
struggles of daily life and the already tight time constraints. As the bride of
Christ, my fear is that we've simply lost our evangelistic fervor. How can this
be when Scripture tells us the very souls of men are at stake? I love the way
Charles Spurgeon had a zeal for evangelism. He understood God's sovereignty yet
he also understood God's natural method for bringing new saints to Himself.
Spurgeon said, "We believe in predestination; we believe in election and
non-election: but, notwithstanding that, we believe that we must preach to men,
'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved,' but believe not on
him and ye be damned."<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
There will come a day
when the unsaved will hear of their inability to save themselves. Would you
rather they hear it from you first or from God Himself on the day of judgment? Evangelism
is a joyful privilege that encompasses our entire lives. It's an opportunity to
preach Christ crucified and extend the offer of eternal life to all who will
believe. Is there no sweeter encouragement?<br />
<br />
~ Travis W. Rogers</div>
Travis W. Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946195774293363334noreply@blogger.com0