tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55267773898827444172024-03-13T15:00:38.735-05:00Pastor O's BlogPastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-70031495200244606732017-05-04T08:45:00.002-05:002017-05-04T08:45:57.028-05:00Helping the Helper - Make sure Caregivers are well Cared for<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8stu4b1m__Y/WQsviMCVoNI/AAAAAAAAAww/viNuYcS6JfwWY-Ebpsmpevg64MC4Dk7KACLcB/s1600/emlet-help_for_caregivers_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8stu4b1m__Y/WQsviMCVoNI/AAAAAAAAAww/viNuYcS6JfwWY-Ebpsmpevg64MC4Dk7KACLcB/s1600/emlet-help_for_caregivers_main.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A woman approached me on Sunday about visiting her rapidly ailing father. I asked about him, but she quickly shifted the conversation to her caregiving mother, who is constantly attending to his every need. She is exhausted. Emotionally spent. As she spoke, tears flowed, not only out of compassion but also from frustration. Is he doing all he can to get better? Why does she have to endure this? How can she support her caregiving mother from so far away?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Four years ago, my mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The diagnosis confirmed what her children had long suspected (including my doctor brother and doctor sister-in-law) but my father was the last to find out. It has been an uphill battle for him ever since. Just slightly behind to downward trajectory of my mother's condition. Trying to keep up with her ever-growing needs, we adult children would visit <i>her</i> whilst encouraging and consoling <i>him</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Early during this journey, I handed my father a little booklet that had caught my eye and resonated with what I felt for my Dad. Caregiver - that is the role that had now been thrust upon my father. And while many prayed and wept for my mother, his adult children knew, "This is going to be so hard on Dad. How can we make sure he seeks and gets help?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ccef.org/resources/blog/help-caregiver-facing-challenges-understanding-and-strength" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Linked here is the booklet </span></a>that CCEF has translated into blog form. You can access this for free and perhaps pass it on to someone you love who is giving care to another in need. Remember: They might feel guilty, embarrassed, or ashamed for looking after themselves, so make sure you help do it for them and affirm your support. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-12192548924815389872016-12-22T10:46:00.002-06:002016-12-22T10:47:40.704-06:00Where Jesus was born tells us even more about the Savior God sent<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Did baby Jesus arrive just in the nick of time? And was he born in a stable? </span><a href="http://stores.newgrowthpress.com/a-christmas-q-a-with-champ-thornton/?utm_source=New+Growth+Press+Insiders&utm_campaign=32aab19bb1-ngp_mc_20161221&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_78ffca5671-32aab19bb1-217223321&mc_cid=32aab19bb1&mc_eid=3ca206b259" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">In this excerpt </span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">from </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Radical Book for Kids</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, Champ Thornton briefly addresses these questions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">How do these JC birth tidbits help us more deeply appreciate the God-child? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mary, Joseph and Jesus were turned away from not from an ancient hotel room, but from a standard, normal custom of Jewish hospitality<i> and </i>even potentially asked to spend the night in an underground cutout where we would normally store our Christmas ornaments. These details demonstrate further what was predicted about our Savior: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;">"He was despised and rejected by men" (Isaiah 53:3). </span> Perhaps what Jesus experienced wasn't simply bad luck, but cold hostility. Many of us know the feeling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Yet</u> </b><span style="color: #e06666;">"The stone that builders rejected, has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes." (Matthew 21:42; cf. Ps 118:22). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thank you Jesus, for arriving in the most humble way possible to reach those lowly in heart and stature! </span></div>
Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-46428117722843112562016-09-29T15:45:00.003-05:002016-09-29T15:54:25.311-05:00A church for those who've wasted life - their own and maybe yours too<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Return of the Prodigal Son</i> by Rembrandt</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jesus tells a story in Luke 15 about a father and two sons. It's a story I had the pleasure of getting to recount and explain<a href="http://www.nowsprouting.com/sunrisecommunitychurch/media.php?pageID=9" target="_blank"> <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">this past Sunday</span></a>. The youngest son is often described as prodigal, which means recklessly wasteful. This young man tells his father to his face he wishes he (the father) could die so he (the son) could finally live. The son then promptly wastes what the father gives him in the name of freedom and self-indulgence. In the most happy and surprising turn in the story, this recklessly wasteful son is welcomed home and even celebrated by his father (whom the son earlier wished dead!). The older son, who stuck around serving the father, is furious at the celebration...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As are many of us toward people in churches just like yours and mine. Some of those who sit and stand next to you on a Sunday morning cut corners (even commit fraud!) in their workplaces, have slept the night prior with someone who is not their spouse, and have even hurt you or someone you know. Yet sometimes we think in protest, "Others <i>must</i> know who they are and what they are doing and yet they still welcome such as these, they are still greeted, they are made to feel included." Indeed, we expect the welcome, forgiveness, and call of Jesus to be what transforms a person's life (Titus 2:11-15), not a starting line of moral conformity followed by Jesus' stamp of approval. Otherwise, Jesus would be called the "Affirmer" not the "Savior." For some, truly grasping this grace ("activated love") of the Lord Jesus takes a while and in the meantime such people may even call themselves a "Christian." In fact, I may even be describing you. But if I'm not - I want to appeal to the patience shown to <i>you</i> through Jesus Christ and also to consider the alternative - a church full of older brothers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In a small section of his book, <i>The Prodigal God</i>, Tim Keller talks about how during the early years being a Christian was considered abnormal and then helps us consider why we should desire for prodigals to be attending (and sometimes "messing up"!) our churches. I'll quote him at length because what he says is so good for us long-time church goers to hear:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's hard for us to realize this today, but when Christianity first arose in the world it was not called a religion. It was the non-religion. Imagine the neighbors of the early Christians asking them about their faith. "Where's your temple?" they'd asked. The Christians would reply that they didn't have a temple. "But how can that be? Where do your priests labor?" The Christians would have replied that they do not have priests. "But...but," the neighbors would have sputtered, "where are the sacrifices made to please your gods?" The Christians would have responded that they did not make sacrifices anymore Jesus himself was the temple to end all temples, the priest to end all priests, any sacrifice to end all sacrifices.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No one had ever heard anything like this. So the Romans call them "atheists," because with the Christians were saying about spiritual reality was unique and could not be classified with the other religions of the world. This parable explains why they were absolutely right to call them atheists. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The irony of this should not be lost on us, standing as we do in the midst of the modern culture wars. To most people in our society, Christianity <i>is</i> religion and moralism. The only alternative to it (besides some other world religion) is pluralistic secularism. But from the beginning it was not so. Christianity was recognized as a <i>tertium quid, </i>something else entirely.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The crucial point here is that, in general, religiously observant people were offended by Jesus, while those estranged from religious moral observance were intrigued and attracted to him. We see this throughout the New Testament accounts of Jesus' life. In every case where Jesus meets a religious person and a sexual outcast (as in Luke 7) or a religious person an a racial outcast (as in John 3-4) or a religious person and a political outcast (as in Luke 19), the outcast is the one who connects with Jesus and the older-brother type does not. Jesus says to the respectable religious leaders "the tax collectors and prostitutes enter the kingdom before you" (Matthew 21:31).</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jesus' teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of his day. However, in the main, our churches do not have this effect. The kind of outsiders Jesus attracted are not attracted to contemporary churches, even our most avant-garde ones. We tend to draw conservative, button-down, moralistic people. The licentious and liberated or the broken and marginal avoid church</span>.<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> That can only mean one thing. If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did. If our churches aren't appealing to younger brothers, it must be more full of older brothers that would like to think.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-34588039915864016892016-08-16T11:49:00.000-05:002016-08-16T11:50:24.334-05:00The Oceans declare the Glory of God<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VJf5i7ownXE/V7NDbZblNOI/AAAAAAAAAv4/d543csWhHbgTUJr29baclkSpKZy7aEbGQCLcB/s1600/shutterstock_77986849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VJf5i7ownXE/V7NDbZblNOI/AAAAAAAAAv4/d543csWhHbgTUJr29baclkSpKZy7aEbGQCLcB/s320/shutterstock_77986849.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Psalm 19 is likely one of David's first psalms- conceived while still shepherding sheep under the starry host of a Palestinian night sky. In the psalm, he goes from wonder and awe (vv.1-2), to the realization that God can be known by anyone across time and borders (vv.3-4), to drawing a specific connection between the nature of created thing and the nature of its Creator (vv.4c-6). David's example is looking up to the sun, it always shows up (v.5) and through its heat helps all upon whom it shines (v.6). His love for God is increased by intentionally making the connection between the sun and the God he worships. Indeed, "the heavens declare the glory of God" (Ps 19:1). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What if we were to look down instead of up? We would discover more reasons to adore and worship the Creator. Here in Cayman we are surrounded by crystal clear seas which "proclaim his handiwork" in abundance and with skillful intricacy. You can look down into the depths also. Just off the southern side of Grand Cayman you can locate the Barlett Deep which plummets 18,000 feet and contains creatures yet undiscovered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I read an interview last week with Jesus-follower and NASA oceanographer, Jorge Vasquez. Since 1984 he's worked for a group that studies climate change and how it affects local regions like California's coast. The full interview <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">i</span><a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/thisisourcity/channel/utilities/print.html?type=article&id=105560" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">s here</span>.</a> What fascinated me is the following little nugget that connects creation <i>to </i>Creator in a way that further displays the character of our God - in particular, His patience toward sinners.</span><br />
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My colleague Josh [Willis] once said to me, "You know, Jorge, God designed his creation in more ways than one [to account] for our sins." The point that Josh was making was that God designed this planet in light of our sins, including the sin of not taking care of it the way we should. I won't go into all the scientific issues, but the fact that our planet is more ocean than land is a very positive thing in terms of stabilizing the climate. If it were the other way around—more land than ocean—then even right now the planet would be way too hot, and the impacts of global warming would be a lot worse than what we've seen. The fact that this planet is mostly oceans gives us a lot more time to solve this issue of global warming. The oceans are the key. There has to be a Creator behind this because he understood how much we would mess things up in the Fall. The way God designed this planet is a revelation of who he is, his character—it is another example of his grace. </div>
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Every time I look at the complexity and beauty of the universe, I think, <em>You can't create the kind of complexity we have without a creative force behind it. You just see a design behind everything. </em>And everything I'm doing now, in terms of addressing global warming, makes me hopeful, because I think God has designed this planet knowing all our sins from the very beginning, and he's giving us more time to get our act together.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some call slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (II Peter 3:9). His creation, the very oceans, mirror His patience toward us. What connection can you make today between something wonderful in creation and the Creator who fashioned it?</span><br />
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<br />Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-7550756799667077032016-07-28T15:15:00.001-05:002016-07-28T15:15:11.263-05:00(FREE Audiobook) The Mingling of Souls by Matt Chandler<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E0cwKlLEjcw/V5pm-TyY62I/AAAAAAAAAvo/dJkap2HUtm4f1aXi-2aCgGdKnvEEfX1fACLcB/s1600/TheMinglingofSouls_3DCover-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E0cwKlLEjcw/V5pm-TyY62I/AAAAAAAAAvo/dJkap2HUtm4f1aXi-2aCgGdKnvEEfX1fACLcB/s320/TheMinglingofSouls_3DCover-3.png" width="236" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are four more free downloadin' days to get your ears on this gem. As I was away on holiday, I neglected to check the freebee bin and so I was delighted this week to find this <b><a href="http://christianaudio.com/free/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">here</span></a></b> for free and share it with you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">About the author: Matt Chandler serves as the Lead Pastor of the Village Church in the Dallas/Ft Worth area of Texas. He helped organize and cast vision for a replanting effort of the church with the result that it has grown from about 140 to over 10,000 members currently. He is a young pastor with a prophetic voice but unlike some younger, charismatic pastors who've flamed out over the past decade, Matt has been softened and humbled by significant adversity that God has brought his way. When people, especially my American friends, ask me about the flavor of our fellowship, the Village Church is the fellowship that I most often mention as a model and ethos to which we aspire. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">About the book: God's design for love and intimacy in the Song of Solomon, featuring attraction, courtship, commitment and conflict. If you are familiar at all with Tommy Nelson's materials on DVD, this is very similar with a more modern feel and a broader handling of the issues for those not-yet-married. In fact, I have a single friend who is currently reading it and he has been immensely blessed. One of the more appreciated aspects of the book is the way Chandler addresses the issue of finding "the One.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">"I just see no reason to agree with the worldly romantic notion that every person has just one 'soul mate' out there waiting for him or her. In fact, I find that idea to be anticovenantal, contrary to grace... It turns the search for a godly spouse into an audition to be the one who 'completes' you... No spouse can complete you. Don't look for a spouse to do what only Jesus can." (pg 106-107)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Such good counsel drawn from God's Word abounds. Happy listening!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-56063321126247869742016-06-01T12:42:00.000-05:002016-06-01T12:47:35.749-05:00New Lancet Study on Abortion and what it means for Cayman<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Psalm 139:13-16</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A couple weeks ago the well-respected U.K. medical journal, Lancet, published massive, worldwide, multi-year findings with regard to the practice of abortions. The results had a a surprise or two and some specific implications for Grand Cayman. <span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30452-4/abstract" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">The journal article</span></a> </span>itself will cost you $31.50. I was unwilling to shell out that kind of coin and so settled for <a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/reject-apathy/surprising-new-findings-could-re-shape-pro-life-movement?utm_source=This%20Week%3A%20Is%20the%20Pro-Life%20Movement%20Wrong%20About%20Abortion%3F&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=1%20Thumbnail&utm_campaign=RELEVANT%20Newsletter" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">this very helpful summary</span></a> by Aaron Hanbury from the Christian magazine <i>Relevant</i>. It is worth reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here are 5 conclusions I've come to through reflecting on the article itself, and over time:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><b>1. Life in the womb begins very, very early.</b></span> I do not pretend to be expertly equipped to determine definitively when life begins, though my brilliant and accomplished sister-in-law (Senior OBGYN at the University of Washington) tries to keep me well-informed. <span style="color: #9fc5e8;">T</span><a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/10/science-cant-say-babys-life-begins/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">he gamut</span></a> among well-respected scientists runs from fertilization to implantation (when the fertilized egg travels down the fallopian tube and attaches to the mother's uterus) to gastrulation...and the list goes on. The first three options occur within the first few weeks of the act itself, yet it is after this period that the vast majority of abortions are sought out. So while I know I'm willing to conceded that the details are a bit murky, it does seem clear that life begins somewhere within those first couple weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">2. Sex is a gift not a right.</span></b> Believing and treating sex as a right tends to absolve us, at least in our own eyes, of the potential consequences. Our eldest child was recently introduced to the reproductive system and general sexual orientation at his school. Yay! The above perspective was not mentioned at the orientation (while I'm guilty of neglecting almost exactly 50% of the email correspondences sent by his school, I checked this one along with the attached educational outline). Thankfully, he and I had that discussion over a weekend guys retreat last year. One of the aspects of sex I tried to bring up during the weekend but need to emphasize further as he gets older is that <b>sex is a gift, not a right</b>. The God of the Bible gives a husband and wife sex as a delight, not simply for reproduction. It is written in God's very Law: <span style="color: #ea9999;">"If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and <i>bring happiness </i>to the wife he has married" (Deuteronomy 24:5 NIV).</span> It's important to note that "bring happiness" means what you think it means! Sex is a happy gift to be exclusively enjoyed in the context of marriage (Hebrews 13:4). One of the reasons God designed the gift for this purpose was so that when a child is conceived, he or she has two parents ready to raise them (though of course their are exceptions in which the above two-parent-plan proves impossible). When I was twelve my grandmother promised me the gift of a new car when I graduated from college. Happy Gift Accepted! Imagine had she actually given me that gift when she first offered it. I would've wrecked the car and likely ruined my life. The gift of sex is available for any man or woman but the results of seizing it too early can be ruinous. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">3. Cayman isn't an exception.</span></b> If you read the article above you'll notice who owns the highest abortion rates in the world - the Caribbean (65 per 1000 women at reproductive age). I know some reading this article will point toward other Caribbean neighbors you feel are the likely culprits; however, those who have lived in Cayman for many years or are from here are aware of the secret underbelly of "quick trips to Miami" that, regrettably, are not shopping-related. One local and trustworthy friend of ours estimated she knows of close to a dozen persons who have received abortions, though she surmises their are far more who keep it quiet. Admittedly, this is all restricted to anecdotal evidence as there isn't any empirical research <i>exclusive</i> to Cayman as far as I am aware.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">4. Law doesn't change behavior.</span></b> The Lancet findings also reveal that countries with laws making abortion illegal do not have lower abortion rates. These results <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/435356/abortion-media-bias-lancet-study-abortion-rates-legal-status-poverty" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">can be misleading</span></a>, but they at least suggest that illegality plays a relatively minor factor in the performing an abortion. In other words, law doesn't mitigate a person's desire or behavior. This is not a shocker for those who know Jesus and read their Bible. Scripture attests to the law's impotency and that it is only grace that trains us to say "no" (Titus 2:11-12). This is not to suggest that Christians shouldn't strive to make their voices heard with regard to their respective national laws. We are called to "do justice" (Micah 6:8), especially on behalf of the most vulnerable (Jeremiah 22:3). Rather, we are naive to think that the legal solution will change the hearts and minds of those who are thinking, desiring, planning toward terminating a pregnancy as their best option. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">5. Adopted people Adopt.</span></b> Adoption as a specifically religious truth is unique to Christianity. The Bible outlines adoption as God's choice of me as his son irrespective of my behavior or merits. The choice occurs before we were born: <span style="color: #ea9999;">"He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" (Ephesians 1:5).</span> The choice is experienced when we trust and receive Jesus: <span style="color: #ea9999;">"Yet to all who received [Jesus], to those who believe in his name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).</span> You who were otherwise abandoned <i>now</i> trust Christ neither because you willed it nor because you were well-behaved, but because the Father picked you. So when I hear about or consider a child being willfully abandoned to death, my heart wants to repeat what has been done for me. I am not saying that everyone is called to adopt, but local families of God who are actively reminding one another of what's been done for them through Jesus, should be readily inclined to plead: "Please ask us for help before you terminate your pregnancy!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you or someone you know is contemplating such a decision, please talk with myself or Katie. We would be interested in gently respecting your privacy and gladly working with you in a nonjudgmental manner to either adopt the child ourselves or find someone like-minded who will. </span></div>
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Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-24021781116654525012016-04-13T15:54:00.000-05:002016-04-13T16:10:09.603-05:00Out of the overflow of the heart a man posts: Social Media Etiquette<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">During <a href="http://sunrise.ky/media/sermon-archive" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Sunday's worship Service</span></a> we applied some Proverbs to the use of etiquette toward strangers and acquaintances. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm going to share something that you might not think a big deal but I remember it and am still slightly embarrassed by it. It was a Facebook comment I made about four years ago. A couple was posting love-grams back and forth on their Facebook walls. I didn't quite say, "Get a room" (after all it was later in the evening, they were sitting next to each other and so <i>did, </i>in fact, "have a room"), but instead typed out: "Isn't he sitting right next to you? Post-it-Note instead?" I was trying to be witty and cute, or was I? The next morning I looked into my heart and thought: I'm probably a little jealous, my marriage isn't right now full of "sweet-nothings" like notes and posts and that's <i>my </i>issue not <i>theirs</i>. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is a couple </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">whom I love dearly, serve the church faithfully, and are just people we really enjoy being around. A few days later I would apologize face-to-face. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat posts are still care-free, all other posts require care</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Social media like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter are now firmly entrenched among the go-to venues of modern communication, long since supplanting even the phone call. Just last year I bought a phone second hand and was told by others they have a hard time hearing me if I'm not using the speaker or an earpiece - but it didn't cause me to run back for a refund. I always keep an earpiece nearby because some communications require hearing a person's voice but the reality is I'm going to be using WhatsApp, text or email far more often. The entrenchment of social media and text in our lives and the degree to which it occupies a high percentage of our communications requires, then, that we cease treating <i>what </i>we communicate as if its "secondary" communication. What you post is not just another "throwaway" online comment, it must be taken seriously because now many of us use these modes of communication <i>primarily</i>. Cat photos still don't require much, but all the comments following require at least some level of care. It matters - not only to show respect and concern for others but for yourself as a reflection of what's in your heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Here are some tips for displaying Social Media Etiquette</u>: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;">1. Don't go online to feel better, only go online to feel <i>even</i> better. </span></b>This tip is a combination of words of wisdom I once heard about consuming alcohol and what Jesus said in Matthew 12:34-37 - a strange combination to be sure. I once heard some secular advice about the consumption of alcohol: Don't drink to feel better, only drink to feel <i>even </i>better. The point being that using alcohol as a "refuge" or "comfort" to give you the lift you need is dangerous indeed! So is social media. You may be feeling down or just in need of a lift, so it's tempting to tap that Facebook or Instagram App and get your fix but your heart and fingers remain unstable, craving something that another's "best-of" life or their response to your comments cannot give you. So how then might we feel better? Jesus says the trouble really starts in the heart (Matthew 12:34-37). When we cheer our hearts with the good news - Jesus' unshakeable love for us and who we are as a result - the overflow will be a celebration of God and neighbor online with stable fingers that type nothing short of celebratory and encouraging words. Don't go online to feel better, first apply the good news to your heart and then<i> </i>communication will prove <i>even </i>better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">2. Resist engaging in social media counseling.</span></b> Jesus clear pattern was to go to a brother and talk with him alone (Matthew 18:15-17). If they are far away, choose a private message or email. Even then it might be wiser to either let it go or ask if you can have a video/audio chat over Facebook or WhatsApp. When people can hear and/or see you, they can also hear your empathy and see on your face an expression of genuine concern.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">3. Use Emojis.</span> </b>Speaking of facial expressions, communication through online media along with email can be because you can't see a persons facial expressions and intonations. I can't believe I'm saying this publicly for all three of you to read, but I would heartily recommend the use of emojis. For example, someone asks you to do something with them and you just type back "Later" that can be construed as abrupt, putting me off, no intention to actually get back with me but if you say "Later" and include a smiley face and party popper it communicates - I need to hold off but I want to talk about this, do </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jt4HADWZRvc/Vw6wyH1MXMI/AAAAAAAAAvA/7oxS9YgT-NQIfw_RaPEzGiRBa0y9rJfHgCLcB/s1600/facts_8.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jt4HADWZRvc/Vw6wyH1MXMI/AAAAAAAAAvA/7oxS9YgT-NQIfw_RaPEzGiRBa0y9rJfHgCLcB/s320/facts_8.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">something with you, and "it's going to be awesome." People overdo it for certain. I'm not sure why I get emoji'd a Looney Tunes Bomb and a Spanish Dancing Girl, but at least I know the person's mood as they write it and it's not: Annoyed, Disinterested, or Put off. So some men (and women too) are going to find my counsel vile because they feel emojis are beneath them. Let me exhort you: Be released to use an emoji! They may help prevent one person a week from misunderstanding your communication. If you don't like the ones out there, you can submit one to the <a href="http://unicode.org/pending/proposals.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Official Unicode Consortium</span></a> (yes, the official keepers of the emoji).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">4. Take a moment to Evaluate your posts & heart.</span></b> Pastor Jarrid (that's not misspelled) Wilson <a href="http://jarridwilson.com/social-media-etiquette-for-christians/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">suggests </span></a>that 1 Timothy 3 paints an picture of godly leadership as it pertains to the life of the Christian. He says, "If any of us aspire to lead others (which we all should), we must take the contents of 1 Timothy to heart and evaluate our lives from the inside our. I think we should do the same for our social media posts." What do your posts say about your heart?</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are your posts above reproach? (1 Timothy 3:2)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are your posts nonviolent and non-confrontational? (1 Timothy 3:3)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are your posts managed well and full of respect? (1 Timothy 3:4)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are your posts put above time with God, or family? (1 Timothy 3:5)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are your posts humble? (1 Timothy 3:6)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are your posts respected, and do they portray a good name for Christians? (1 Timothy 3:7)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are your posts sincere? (1 Timothy 3:8)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are your posts reflecting your trust in God's truth? (1 Timothy 3:9).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Out of the overflow of the heart a man posts (Luke 6:45). </span><br />
<br />Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-14225361933649398912016-02-04T12:26:00.002-06:002016-02-04T12:49:36.195-06:00Rest with Integrity : Work with Integrity <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm...I do remember this happening to me once.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is a correlation between resting well and working well. It's a topic I've covered a few times during my time as the primary preaching pastor of SCC. However, over the past couple weeks preaching about work from Proverbs, I didn't bring it up (except to say: "I'm skipping over this topic."). Rest got the proverbial (pun!) axe primarily because the importance of rest doesn't really show up in Proverbs - other than the foolishness of indulging in too much of it (ie. the Sluggard - Prov. 6:9-11). So I'm reviving it here over the interwebs because last Sunday our case study in Proverbs was about <i>Working with Integrity</i>. Furthermore, rest has a direct correlation upon our ability to work with integrity. Let's look at this correlation and consider its effect on us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">Created to Rest.</span></b> God designed us to rest - 1 full day per 7. He Himself "blazed the trail" for this practice prior even to the sin and frustration of work that drives us to need rest. He had just spent 6 full days creating and it wasn't mindless data-entry at a Dell laptop: Day #1: Light & Darkness; Day #2: Sky; Day #3: Land, vegetation, bodies of water; Day #4: Planets & Stars; Day #5: Animals; Day #6: Mankind - all of which, when done, He called "very good" (Gen. 1:31). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let's read what happens next in Genesis 2: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I want to point out two things. First the pattern: Finished-work-done; Rested-work-done; (SABBATH); Rested-work-done. Notice: There is satisfaction at the end of work ("done": "very good") and there is rest preceding the next round of work ("rest"). Both suggest that the time set aside after/before work has a two-fold function:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Rest allows us to both celebrate backward and recharge forward.</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This leads to the second thing I wish to point out: There is a full day set apart ("God blessed the seventh day and made it holy" - lit. set it apart) to hammer home the importance of celebrating work done and recharging for work ahead. The author even uses the ordinary word for human work (as opposed for the Hebrew word typically used for divine activity) - suggesting this full day isn't only for God but for all mankind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Such a day also helps us celebrate/recharge with respect to the greatest work ever done. The greatest work we can celebrate is the work Jesus Christ did on our behalf - living the perfect life we couldn't and dying the death we deserve. And Christ's work helps us recharge - we can keep going and work freely because His work on the cross has already freed us from trying to justify ourselves through our work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><b>When integrity is lacking in our Rest</b>.</span> Integrity isn't about perfection but consistency. We lack integrity then when some part of our life is inconsistent (or consistently different) than the rest of it (eg., how one treats a boss vs. a helper; giving charitably yet finding loopholes to avoid paying government; valuing some people's time but not others who will either 'understand' or are 'aren't quite as important'.). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our rest can also lack integrity in two ways: Either not resting at all or overindulging in certain kinds of rest. We easily relate to the former so let me talk more about the latter. Here are some "rests" or "escapes" in which we tend to overindulge during a much needed day off. Staying up too late to Sleep in, Overeating, Over-surfing the internet, Over-watching tv, Overdrinking of alcohol. God hasn't designed us to get the rest we need by overindulgence. And it's more than just a little interesting that scientific research confirms just this - namely, that sleeping in on weekends <a href="http://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/how-to-sleep-better.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">leads to persistent "jet-lag" like symptoms during the week</span></a>. <a href="https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-tools-tips/healthy-sleep-tips" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">The National Sleep Foundation</span></a> points to overeating at night and the indigestion that results as a major inhibitor to good rest - as does <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/really-using-a-computer-before-bed-can-disrupt-sleep/?_r=0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">watching tv or scrolling through a mobile device</span></a>. Arguably the greatest disrupter of getting good rest is overindulgence in alcohol (check out <span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20130118/alcohol-sleep" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">here</span></a>, <a href="http://time.com/3671777/drinking-sleep/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">here</span></a>, or <a href="http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-2/101-109.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">here</span></a></span>). Alcohol at night consistently prevents a person from getting the REM or deep sleep their body needs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A former professor at my seminary, Dr. Walter Kaiser, Jr., once called REST one of <a href="http://www.thepromise.typepad.com/197304.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">God's most ignored goals for His people</span></a>, (see also, for example, Hebrews 4). Because we are designed to get rest, <b>we will find ways to get it </b>if we don't get it in the evening or during our day of rest. That's when a failure to rest well begins to effect integrity in our work place. We begin to use work to locate rest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some responses to a failure to rest well: I'll go in late to work. I'll let my work suffer. I'll cut out lunch and all efforts to be social (cutting out opportunities to love neighbor). I'll just copy and paste someone else's work (plagiarism). Since I don't have the time to make all necessary connections and do all the work, I'll find loopholes that will help me maximize my profit for minimal time (steal). I'll overwork with longer hours (others in your life suffer). I'll seek ultimate rest/satisfaction in my work (idolatry - disappointment - frustration). There are probably dozens more examples you can imagine or have even experienced. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When we don't rest with integrity, we cannot work with integrity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That means we must rest <i>consistently </i>well. We can't just skip the rest for which we were designed and expect to function as God designed. God anticipates this temptation to skip rest during even our "busy season": </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; <i>even during the plowing season and harvest</i> you must rest (Exodus 34:21 - emphasis mine).</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><b>Restoring Integrity to our Rest</b>.</span> Here are some suggestions that can help you restore integrity to your rest:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1. Structure your rest. Rev. Tim Keller calls this "avocational rest." An avocation is "something that brings you joy but requires some intentionality and structure to your rest." He suggests planning a day off with these three types of rest.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Contemplative Rest. Grab your Bible and journal, write and reflect. Look back on past entries. What is God doing? What is a theme or pattern He is working through your life?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Recreational Rest. This means refreshing recreational activities not necessary tough mudder training. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aesthetic Rest - exposing yourself to works of God's creation you find beautiful. This will likely include outdoor fresh air and beauty (especially in Cayman), but also might include artistic expressions like music, drama, or a visit to our National Gallery.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2. Prepare for your Day of Rest with Mini-Sabbaths.</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Walk to lunch as much as possible to grab a moment for thanksgiving.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Refuse the "working lunch" unless absolutely necessary.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know a friend who incorporates into their workday 2-3 rooftop trips to review something inspirational they read that morning.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Turn on a 22 minute episode of Aquanauts (or whatever) not only to finish your checklist but so you can grab a glass of water and sit outside with your Bible. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have dinner with your family and use it to reflect on back on your day with satisfaction (our family has kept an answered prayer jar at our dinner table).</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3. Treat vacations, holidays, and trips as longer Sabbaths - <i>not </i>vacations from Jesus.</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take extra time to celebrate victories and reflect on promises He's kept.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Start some devotional material <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017JWL3C/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">like this beauty</span></a> or the <i>Come and See</i> material on our Sunday Am book table. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Read a biography about a great Christian(s). <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Feminine-Threads-Tapestry-Christian-History-ebook/dp/B005H86RTI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1454608743&sr=1-1&keywords=feminine+threads" target="_blank">Feminine Threads: Women in the Tapestry of Christian History</a> </i>by Diane Severance is available also on our book table. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/People-Every-Christian-Should-Know-ebook/dp/B00B856A4G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1454608825&sr=1-1&keywords=50+people+every+christian+should+know" target="_blank">50 People Every Christian Should Know</a> by Warren Wiersbe. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bonhoeffer-Pastor-Martyr-Prophet-Spy-ebook/dp/B003GY0K48/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1454608914&sr=1-1&keywords=bonhoeffer+pastor.+martyr.+prophet.+spy" target="_blank">Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy</a> by Eric Metaxas. These are all excellent and enjoyable reads on a holiday.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4. Take time to do nothing productive but be with Jesus.</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jesus did the greatest work to give us maximum rest. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When confronted about what rest should look like, Jesus famously calls himself "the Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:28). Do you remember how that story began, what gave rise to the controversy? The disciples of Jesus walking with their Savior through the grain fields <i>to </i>nowhere in particular and casually picking grains and fruits along the way. </span></li>
</ul>
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Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-9436191186832188742016-01-20T13:40:00.002-06:002016-01-20T13:40:55.858-06:00"It's okay, God will forgive me tomorrow"<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a rare moment of vulnerability under less than ideal circumstances. My friend's behavior and ongoing consumption were troubling and not a little awkward to observe. I had not intended to run into him that night. Now I felt I couldn't leave, could I? Not at least until he gets home safely. He then said something that was refreshingly raw and honest if not surprising because, hey, I'm his pastor and I'd be preaching again in a couple days: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">"It's okay, God will forgive me tomorrow."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He's right by the way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those who trust in Jesus are relentlessly and continually forgiven by the Father who has accepted them. You may remember when Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive and offending brother: "Seven times?," he asks. To which Jesus replies, "I do not say to you seven times but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:21-22). Peter is asking: Is there a limit to forgiveness? Jesus' uses a concrete number in response (I believe to indicate the concrete substance of divine forgiveness) but his overall point is that forgiveness in the Kingdom of God is limitless. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9DpipWVvfg0/Vp_iZfyKl9I/AAAAAAAAAuU/VShRG52nkCU/s1600/2-paths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9DpipWVvfg0/Vp_iZfyKl9I/AAAAAAAAAuU/VShRG52nkCU/s200/2-paths.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Paths</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are other deterrents to self-destructive choices - what it does to the individual, the fuller life that the individual misses out on, the effect those choices have upon those we love. Much can and should be written on all of these - my purpose for writing is God's forgiveness. Even one destructive choice sets us down a path in which we are prone miss out on God's forgiveness. The objection: "But I thought forgiveness was relentless and continual (see above!)." True, but even just a few self-destructive choices may block the way for forgiveness. It may appear like I'm contradicting myself, but let me explain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The book of Proverbs envisions life as the choice between two paths - the path of wisdom and the path of folly (often under different names). Once you set foot on one of those paths, especially the path of folly, you tend to choose what you previously chose - only to a greater degree. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-UJVH0VCes/Vp_YEdXsQZI/AAAAAAAAAuE/IkRrmE5O19Q/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-01-20%2Bat%2B1.37.43%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-UJVH0VCes/Vp_YEdXsQZI/AAAAAAAAAuE/IkRrmE5O19Q/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-01-20%2Bat%2B1.37.43%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So Proverbs 4:14-19. You'll notice how quickly any foolish choice escalates. One moment Wisdom is pleading with us: "Don't even think about setting a casual foot or an adventurous, one-night indescretion down the path of wickedness" (vv.14-15). Just like that (cue snap of fingers): A person's very food and drink are the destructive choices they make (v.17). Their rest is no longer sleep but they can only rest by bringing company down to their misery (v.16).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In other words, Proverbs says: Don't even mess with the idea that "it's just one night" or "it's okay to get crazy every once in a while." More quickly than you know: Such behavior becomes your lifeline.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then the next step quickly follows: "A hardened heart" (Hebrews 3:13) or a "seared conscience" (1 Timothy 4:2). Proverbs 4:19 calls it "deep darkness." This compound Hebrew word is a rare one that Solomon seems to use rather intentionally - it is the same compound word used in Exodus 10:22 of the 9th plague ("pitch darkness in all the land"). That 9th plague - the last one preceding death itself. Solomon is describing a conscience that is no longer able to <b>see</b> through the darkness to tell right from wrong. According to the Wisdom of God, what starts as a casual flirtation, a rare but wild weekend, indulging in something that stokes your curiosity, turning to comfort food to numb some other pain turns more quickly than you would dare believe into a nearly deadened will. One choice, two choices, three choices, and suddenly you find yourself enslaved to keep on choosing what you previously chose. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">"It's okay, God will forgive me tomorrow." </span></b>Is grace available for the person who has made and continues to make choices to walk down that self-destructive path? Yes. However, by going down that path, I leave myself utterly in the hands of a merciful God. <b>Why risk it?! </b>The deepest and most practical problem with hardened heart, the seared conscience, the blinded spirit is that <i>it can no longer tell it is in need of forgiveness</i>. Justifying, rationalizing, procrastinating - such posturing can rarely again recognize the need for grace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because of the Holy Spirit's quickening what was dead, God has made me alive together with Christ! (Ephesians 2:5). I pray that this gracious resucitation of my dead conscience applies only to my past. Avoid that path, Ryan! Avoid that path, dear reader!</span><br />
<br />Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-58110057771471532922015-12-31T12:34:00.001-06:002015-12-31T12:42:56.822-06:002016 Resolution: Grow into a Wiser Person<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sAv7rIS7QCU/T5xZewowLPI/AAAAAAAAAD4/QCdF0QHCIwo/s1600/way+of+wisdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sAv7rIS7QCU/T5xZewowLPI/AAAAAAAAAD4/QCdF0QHCIwo/s1600/way+of+wisdom.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I want to be someone who not only makes good decisions but consistently <i>great </i>decisions, which will bless my wife, my kids, my neighbor, my church and will bring maximum glory to God. So I thought I'd pass on this resolution for 2016 and then point you to a couple of sources to help if you'd like to resolve to join me. I just spent the last three days on a prayer and planning retreat - primarily meditating on the Book of Proverbs. Talk about humbling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My main takeaway was this: I barely know anything about life. I checked this conclusion against some old journals and notes I'd jotted down. My twenties were full of more self-assurance than I'm happy to admit. When I turned 30, I started to doubt how much I really know. Now, as I get closer to 40, I'm much more confident in my ignorance (By 50 I hope to be fully convinced!). No matter your age, perhaps you feel similarly. What God showed me is that a heavy dose of humility accompanied by a full admission of ignorance is indeed good preparation (Proverbs 28:26), but I need to keep going. What's the next step? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">According to, Solomon, the wisest person who ever lived outside of Jesus himself: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom (Proverbs 4:5).</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No one is going to spoon feed us wisdom nor does it typically just fall into our laps (nor our inboxes or Facebook feeds). We have to go out and get it. Seek after it, pay attention, ask good questions - and do this everyday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Proverbs recommends two consistent and reliable sources of wisdom - a wise God and wise people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #ffe599;">1. So make a Bible reading plan today before the clock strikes midnight.</span></b> We average 35,000 conscious decisions per day - relying primarily on our own common sense (at best!) to make them (though Proverbs suggests this isn't a reliable source of wisdom - Prov. 3:5, Prov 28:26). Rather, with the feeding and renewing of our mind with the Word of God comes a better ability to test and approve God's will with everyday decisions (Romans 12:2). </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Get wisdom by getting in His Word every day.</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mybibleplans.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Custom Make your reading plan</span></a> with the option of delivery to your inbox. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Select among <a href="http://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/justintaylor/2015/12/28/reading-the-whole-bible-in-2016-an-faq/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">these pre-made plans.</span></a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.milktomeat.com.au/images/stories/kylie_m2m_reading_plan.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Join me in this 2-year Plan</span></a> (I find trying to read in one year that I often rush through something God is trying to tell me)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://pastorosblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/9-quick-questions-to-ask-when-reading.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Here's a list of questions</span></a> to ask when reading it to help you again to apply what you are reading to life. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Proverbs 28:9 - "If one turns his ear away from hearing the Law, even his prayer is an abomination."</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span>Consider both the wisdom and warning of this statement. Such a person considers his/her own words <i>to </i>God as more valuable than His Words <i>to </i>us. Imagine telling God: "I don't really want to hear what You say but will you please listen to me." Yet those of us who regularly move our lips upward but never crack the Book open are effectively saying just that. </span></div>
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<div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p2kMZjskR1M/VoV2U99T1mI/AAAAAAAAAt0/PtwIBKKcF1s/s1600/the-thinker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p2kMZjskR1M/VoV2U99T1mI/AAAAAAAAAt0/PtwIBKKcF1s/s200/the-thinker.jpg" width="168" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The very real God assigns perhaps His harshest warning for that person's next prayer: <i>abomination. </i>Perhaps it's not healthy to ponder <i>too</i> long on the harshness of that assessment but rather recognize God is lovingly trying to warn you about something He feels very strongly about - your growth, your flourishing, your becoming the person you've always wanted to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="color: #ffe599;">2. Consistently get around people who possess and are seeking godly wisdom like you </b><span style="color: #ffe599;">(a.k.a. Join a Community Group).</span><b style="color: #ffe599;"> </b><a href="http://www.sunrise.ky/#/ministries/community-groups" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Here's the link.</span></a> Sign up before you talk yourself out it (and for those of you with children but short on funds, the church has set aside funds specifically to help with childcare for CG participation - simply let myself or Pastor Brett know).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Proverbs 14:7 - "Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Proverbs 27:9 - "Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whom are you around most consistently? A fool or a friend. From which kind of persons are consistently trying to get wisdom? A fool or a friend. The weight of Proverbs suggests it is sometimes appropriate to stick it out and love someone making foolish decisions - but our relational priority ought to be getting around brothers and sisters seeking wisdom (Hebrews 10:24-25, Galatians 6:10). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wishing you a happy 2016! Auld Lang Syne.</span></div>
<br />Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-73914593125553071632015-12-15T10:43:00.000-06:002015-12-15T10:43:33.328-06:00Cradle.Cross.Comfort.<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-TvbPzlDQE/VnBCOUe204I/AAAAAAAAAtc/xGg-JVyQmik/s1600/manger-cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-TvbPzlDQE/VnBCOUe204I/AAAAAAAAAtc/xGg-JVyQmik/s200/manger-cross.jpg" width="193" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">You might remember John Donne from English Lit. Class. A passionate
dude and we’re </span></span><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">talking 17</span><sup style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> century England, here. If you don’t believe me, check out his poem </span><a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173355" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><i>The Ecstasy</i>.</span></a><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Many forget this 17th c.
man, having trusted his life to Jesus, spent his later years as a London Pastor
at St. Paul's Cathedral. I ran across something he wrote about the birth of
Christ in one of his Christmas day sermons.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The whole of
Christ's life was a continual passion; others die martyrs, but Christ was born
a martyr. He found a Golgotha, where he was crucified, even in Bethlehem, where
he was born; for to his tenderness then the straws were almost as sharp as the
thorns after, and the manger as uneasy at first as the cross at last. His birth
and death were but one continual act, and his Christmas Day and his Good Friday
are but the evening and the morning of one and the same day. From the cradle to
the cross is an inseparable line.</i></span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I recall Christ being misunderstood in his
adult ministry, insulted and mocked by his enemies, betrayed by his friends
during Holy week, persecuted by religious leaders, beaten by strangers, and
finally murdered by the powers-that-be in a most public & humiliating
fashion. In other words, I’m continually struck by the fact that, from ages
27-30, Christ was never at home - except during these little
moments like a retreat to be with his Father or a few minutes of fellowship
with Moses & Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (how sweet those
moments must have been for Jesus). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TmqdZa7gUN4/VnBCQp-lkzI/AAAAAAAAAtk/eP89sihH8BM/s1600/JohnDonne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TmqdZa7gUN4/VnBCQp-lkzI/AAAAAAAAAtk/eP89sihH8BM/s200/JohnDonne.jpg" width="164" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Donne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><b>Discomfort at the Cradle.</b>
</span><span style="color: white;">However as Donne correctly points out, the incarnation itself -- God taking on
flesh & blood through this miraculous birth -- must've been remarkably
discomforting and alienating for Jesus. </span></span><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If wasn't for taking on God's just punishment
for our sin, the birth would’ve been as discomforting as cross. </span><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The physical aspect alone must've been sent a
shock down the Trinitarian backbone – the God all of eternity not only becoming
a man, but a tiny, 7 lbs., 4 oz baby (</span><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">unless you think he was an XXL baby because he was
God</span><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Discomfort at Childhood.</span> </b><span style="color: white;">That discomfort, that alienation must've then continued through his
childhood.</span><b style="color: white;"> </b><span style="color: white;">Consider</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;"> Jesus' childhood as well as </span><a href="http://wp.production.patheos.com/blogs/exploringourmatrix/files/2015/04/Jesus-as-a-Teen.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">the teenage years.</span></a> </span><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Imagine watching your friends, schoolmates, and fellow temple parishoners
grow up to dream of marrying a woman, pursuing a career, having kids, seeing
their g-kids. </span><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He could never relate. He knew his road would lead to an
early death -- the road to Calvary. So the very persons he loved, indeed those he
came to save, would grow increasingly distant as both they & he grew older.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Christmas can be a lonely time,
even for people who will be with family but especially for those who will be
without. We tend to seek comfort during the Holiday season more than any other
time. Gifts,
carols, well-wishes, Christmas Cookies, traditions with family like making Christmas cookies,
then eating more Christmas Cookies. And praise God for these because
they each have the potential to remind us of our true home in Christ. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Discomfort
at the Cross.</span> </b><span style="color: white;">This is the Christ whose discomfort in Bethlehem culminated on a hill
outside the walls of Jerusalem, where he was alienated not only from the world
but from God the Father. The Father alienated His Son while the latter took the
sins of the world upon Himself (Mark 15:34; cf. II Corinthians 5:21).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you
trust in Jesus and find yourself in a place of discomfort and alienation this
holiday season, don't lose heart -- that's where Jesus is (Hebrews 13:12-13). You
will find <i>him</i> there. You see, he lived his whole life there beginning at
birth -- so that through seeking him by faith, you will find comfort and a home
for Christmas.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-71395598793180890912015-11-30T19:23:00.000-06:002015-11-30T19:28:20.803-06:00Advent Help for Families and Adults<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H19bdTqCL4I/Vlz18pRqcaI/AAAAAAAAAtM/kgCHaSIWNXI/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-30%2Bat%2B8.22.26%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H19bdTqCL4I/Vlz18pRqcaI/AAAAAAAAAtM/kgCHaSIWNXI/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-11-30%2Bat%2B8.22.26%2BPM.png" width="177" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Advent comes from the Latin <i>adventus </i>and simply means, "coming." This liturgical season has served the church through the centuries as an intentional time for Christians to try to sense what it was like to anticipate the coming of the world's Savior - as predicted as far back as the Book of Genesis - and to anticipate the time when He will come again to restore all things. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Advent began yesterday and culminates on Christmas Day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here are a couple ways to intentionally celebrate the Savior with your kids during the Advent season and one way to go solo:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.vergenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/AdventBook2013.pdf" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;">http://www.vergenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/AdventBook2013.pdf</span></a>. <i>Advent 2013: The coming of the Rescuer</i> is a FREE resource from the Austin Stone Community Church. It can be done alongside your regular Bible but also with <i>The Jesus Storybook Bible</i>, which we have available from the church. It also includes a coloring for each day which can be cut out and transformed into a Christmas Ornament to hang on the tree. It does say "2013" but don't let that worry you. It pretty much works the same and Christmas wasn't in </span><span style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>beta</i> all the way back<i> </i>in 2013. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.stewardship.org.uk/downloads/Studies%20and%20Sermons/advent-wonder/advent-wonder-family-15.pdf"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">http://www.stewardship.org.uk/downloads/Studies%20and%20Sermons/advent-wonder/advent-wonder-family-15.pdf</span></a>. <i>The Gift: Family Bible time and activities for families. </i><u>Two advantages to this one</u>: 1) It's highly interactive - like break out the pencils and crayons, get your hands moving interactive. 2) There is a generosity focus - ie. Jesus is God's ultra-generous gift to us so the most natural response during Christmas is: How might we be generous to others? <u>Only disadvantage</u>: One week at a time (but that might be an advantage as it makes it more "do-able" for many busy families).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Advent for adults: </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/advent-devotions/id737013885?mt=8" style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/advent-devotions/id737013885?mt=8</span></a></span><br />
<br />Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-13046863234211624292015-11-19T18:42:00.000-06:002015-11-19T18:42:08.607-06:00This gives my life meaning (Sun Follow-up)<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f4cccc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver or gold are not able to deliver them in the day of wrath of the the LORD. They cannot satisfy hunger or fill their stomachs with it. For it was their stumbling block. - Ezekiel 7:19</span></blockquote>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JGs_ZqDgJCc/Vk5p4WUbrXI/AAAAAAAAAsw/dIkh5s5F18A/s1600/3e96cdce52049e9faf2d69e34ecbce1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JGs_ZqDgJCc/Vk5p4WUbrXI/AAAAAAAAAsw/dIkh5s5F18A/s320/3e96cdce52049e9faf2d69e34ecbce1b.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Idols cannot save you, they can neither satisfy nor fulfill you - they take the place of the living God and so cause you to stumble instead of walk with him, which we were designed to do (Ephesians 4:1; Galatians 5:25). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">When you hear the word idol, what do you think of?</span> Some think of some small or large statue to which a worshipper bows down and expects protection in return. I used to live in the suburbs of Chicago and once a 40-foot statue of the Virgin Mary was delivered to a parking lot adjacent to the local Catholic church (it was on a North American tour...no kidding). Hundreds of Catholics lined up to burn incense, give flowers, and sing songs of worship in the direction of the statue. If you think of an idol more abstractly (ie. the #1 thing, person, value, activity in your life that occupies the place of the living God), your mind may make an immediate bee-line to the big 3: Money, Power, Sex. The thinking then goes: As long as I'm not addicted to any of these, I'm good." Maybe, maybe not...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In his book <i>The Gospel in Life: Grace changes everything</i>, Rev. Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York identifies <b>twenty categories of idolatry. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Keller identifies many good things we make into ultimate things and, thus, "unclean" things" in God's eyes. You are likely worshipping an idol if you honestly say "yes" to any of the following: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">LIFE ONLY HAS MEANING/I ONLY HAVE WORTH IF...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1. "I have power and influence over others." (Power Idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2. "I am loved and respected by _____" (Approval idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3. I have this kind of pleasure experience or a particular quality of life" (Comfort idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4. "I am able to get master over my life in the area of _____" (Control idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">5. "</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">People need me." (Helping idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">6. "Someone is there to protect me and keep me safe" (Dependence idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">7. "I am completely free from obligations or responsibilities to take care of someone" (Independence idolatry).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">8. "I am highly productive and get a lot done." (Work idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">9. " I am being recognized for my accomplishments, and I am excelling in my work." (Achievement idolatry).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">10. "I have a certain level of wealth, financial freedom, and very nice possessions." (Materialism idolatry).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">11. I am adhering to my religion's moral codes and accomplished in its activities." (Religion idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">12. "</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This one person is in my life and happy to be there, and/or happy with me." (Person Idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">13. I feel I am totally independent of organized religion and am living by a self-made morality" (Irreligion idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">14. "My race, nation or culture is the best." (Racial/Cultural/National idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">15. "A particular social or professional group lets me in" (Inner Ring idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">16. "My children and/or my parents are happy with me (Family idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">17. "Mr. or Ms. 'Right' is in love with me" (Relationship idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">18. I am hurting; in a problem; on the do I feel worth of love or able to deal with guilt" (Suffering idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">19. "My political or social cause is ascending in notoriety and influence" (Ideology idolatry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">20. "I have a particular kind of look or body image" (Image idolatry).</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--T3HAWheD3Q/Vk5rVe3SwfI/AAAAAAAAAs8/QCdF3KOFS4E/s1600/mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--T3HAWheD3Q/Vk5rVe3SwfI/AAAAAAAAAs8/QCdF3KOFS4E/s200/mary.jpg" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portable Virgin Mary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">There are two instances in which humans will typically admit to </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">any<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"> of these things: 1. Honesty or 2. Extremity. I'd recommend the former, owning up to idolatry, as opposed to waiting for God to work such difficult circumstances in your life such that you <i>are compelled </i>to discover (through pain and heartache!) the idol that you rely on to give your life meaning or yourself worth. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you do own up to it, here are some strategies to expel its influence over you: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(1) Confess it to the Lord and trust that He will forgive you (1 John 1:9). Your idolatry certainly has affected you and caused hurt toward others, but your sin is primarily toward the living God (cf. Psalm 51:4).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(2) Ask God to replace your idol with Himself (as puritan Thomas Chalmers once said, there is </span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">"an expulsive power of a new affection" that helps keep the idol from returning); </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(3) Take a temporary break from any contact with it - just as the above passage from Ezekiel suggests it might be to you "an unclean thing" for a few days (cf. Ezekiel 7:19); </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(4) Seek accountability from a brother and sister in Christ whom you've given permission to ask you about it. </span><br />
<br />Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-32260629945424026352015-10-19T09:37:00.001-05:002015-10-19T09:37:47.121-05:00Pray for our Honduras Missions Team <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fufqXM-_Y3g/ViT-rBD7xjI/AAAAAAAAAsg/Y_IEpl1GoxQ/s1600/Honduras1-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fufqXM-_Y3g/ViT-rBD7xjI/AAAAAAAAAsg/Y_IEpl1GoxQ/s320/Honduras1-copy.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was reading this morning: "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Would you earnestly seek him on behalf of the Sunrise five, four of whom are setting out today for Honduras? We can trust God will reward both the seeker (you) and those on whose behalf you seek Him (the Sunrise 5). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are Jo, Marna, Omar, Christopher, Ryan. Below is our itinerary with Tree of Life Missions if you'd like to "pray along" as we move along. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Friday, October 16</span> - Ryan arrives</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Saturday, October 17</span> - La Villa de San Francisco Ministry Site - all day. Work & play.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Sunday, October 18</span> - Church, Ryan to deliver message. Rest of day spent in fellowship, prayer, encouragement with Joe & Belkis Denton. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Monday, October 19</span> - Visit new ministry site Buena Vista, prayer walk, pick us grass for laying, SCC Team arrives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Tuesday, October 20</span> - Public School Ministry, Labor at La Villa de San Francisco location, Class with Children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Wednesday, October 21</span> - Ministry at Monte Leon, Labor there, Class with children</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Thursday, October 22</span> - Labor at Buena Vista Mountain Property all day, picnic at site.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Friday, October 23</span> - Ryan departs for wedding in CA, Stacey & Francois arrive, Fun day in Valley de Angeles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Saturday, October 24</span> - Children's Program at La Villa de San Francisco. All Day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Sunday, October 25</span> - Worship Service, Time with Children, Labor at La Villa Ministry Site.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Monday, October 26</span> - Departure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-27416928411442166792015-10-07T10:20:00.000-05:002015-10-07T10:20:08.155-05:00God made our brains to change: Repentance & Neuroscience (Sun Follow-Up)<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sunrise.ky/media.php?pageID=9" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">This past Sunday I preached</span></a> about a non-Christian, a Christian, and a group of Christians </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">all of whom radically changed their minds when God spoke to them (Acts, ch 9). Such a change of mind, we learned, is called repentance. The New Testament word translated as "repentance" is <i>metanoeo</i> (meta - "to change condition" and noeo "exercise the mind or think"). The more habitually one changes their mind toward God's truth, the more increasingly the mind itself begins to change such that actions/habits begin to naturally follow (cf. Acts 26:20). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A recent surge of research has emerged regarding the neuroplasticity of our brains - that is, our brains are adaptable, not static, and therefore have the ability to re-wire themselves in a way that shapes our behavior. In other words, God <i>so</i> wants us to be people of continual repentance He has built within our minds flexibility for change. The physical make-up of our brains testify: <b>You <i>can </i>change! </b><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nathan Hrouda of Summitview Church (Fort Collins, Colorado) aptly explains this phenomena, but how also its opposite is also true - <a href="http://summitview.com/blog/entryid/260/addicted-to-staying-the-same-thoughts-on-repentance-and-neuroscience" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">"Addicted to staying the Same: Thoughts on Repentance and Neuroscience."</span></a> The further we slip into addiction/idolatry - our brains become increasingly wired toward misplaced pleasure and destructive habits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I pray we (myself included!) might <i>first</i> change our minds and believe that our highest pleasure will be found in Christ and the things of Him - in serving or praying for another person, spending time praying or even singing a psalm, enjoying the stillness of God out by the sea or your back porch, doing that next hard thing God's way even though it doesn't make perfect sense - and watch our minds might become increasingly wired toward true and lasting pleasure (Psalm 16:11). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-19242560090672945422015-10-01T11:15:00.000-05:002015-10-01T12:23:51.921-05:00When you don't do well, well<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">**Disclaimer: What I'm about to describe is unusual. 80-90% of my life is lived on the more familiar highway that connects my frequent guilt to God's amazing grace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This one starts like a success story, but don't worry, it doesn't last long. Welcoming into our home for the weekend a child whose mother has a terminal disease, praying with and for church members who are struggling, opening up our home to bless and pray for missionaries, encouraging others with God's truth. "Yes, <i>this </i>is the Christian life I want to live. It's been a pretty good weekend." Can you see it coming? I don't always do well, well. Subtly (in fact, only looking back can I see the thought process) I think to myself: "Yeah, God's pretty satisfied with me." And He is, but not with my so-called good performance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I encounter on Tuesday morning this prayer from the Psalmist of Psalm 119 (v.149):</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">O LORD, according to your justice give me life.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever had that experience when, looking at your life compared with someone whose skill, work ethic, or morality exceeds yours and <i>yet </i>that person finds themselves in a dire straits? My friend Brian was a year ahead of me in Seminary. Brian was smarter than me, godlier than me, more gifted than me. Yet he struggled to get a job upon graduating. I remember secretly fretting for weeks: "Wait, if <i>he </i>can't land a job, what will I do?" The psalmist loves and almost certainly does the commands of God like perhaps none other East of Eden and West of Nazareth. He never feels embarrassed talking about God's law (Ps. 119:46); God's commands are like best friends (Ps. 119:24); His most extreme emotions well up inside of Him when others forsake His commands (Ps. 119:53; Ps. 119:136); He organizes his daily schedule around God's commands (Ps. 119:164). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yet, such a lover and doer of God's Word feels he must cry out and appeal to God's promised covenant love, for God to hear him. This law-keeper pleads with God to give him life. He is something <i>less than </i>secure with God's saving love - "I <i>hope </i>for your salvation, O LORD" (Ps. 119:166). If the ultimate do-gooder is insecure, what about me? Sure, I've done pretty well recently so I feel a little self-satisfied and a largely self-secure - but it's a mirage. Here's a man who spent His life (not to mention the longest psalm of 176 verses) dedicated to the loving, singing, cherishing and doing God's commandments - he's pleading, crying out, and hoping God will come through with love, life, & salvation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;">So what now?</span></b> People usually don't read blogs or articles when they've done </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">well</i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. So in addition to preaching to myself, I might only be speaking to a few of you. If you feel pretty good about your performance and self-satisfied in your deeds, I hope the above has you a bit worried. The Bible suggests three ways to regain genuine peace & move forward with a proper perspective. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><u>1. Take another look at your deeds (what motivates you)</u>.</span></b> During the time of the prophet Isaiah, religion was flourishing in Israel. Sacrifices, fasting, temple-attendance. Everyone assumed God would never impose on them the curses of covenant such as deportation or death. "We are God's people and we are pretty good (or at least better than our neighbors)." The problem was God knew their hearts. They did good deeds not in response to God's love for them but to either achieve a sense of relief (ie. tick that box, God is off-my-back, I'll now do what I want) or a sense of self-satisfaction (ie. I'm one of the do-gooders and I'll impose my do-gooding on others). The LORD God gives a "word" to Isaiah for these actually quite insecure, soon-to-be-deported people: "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like polluted garments" (Isaiah 64:6).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Did I just read that correctly - "righteous deeds" are like "polluted garments"? Yes. And those "polluted garments" refers to some very real thing for women that I can't even say on this blog. You also read correctly - Isaiah (the prophet) doesn't exclude himself from God's divine message: "<i>We</i> have all become like one who is unclean..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus challenges our conception of good with his own measuring stick (see the rich young ruler - "No one is good but God alone" (Mark 10:20). There is a germ of corruption behind every good thing and deed in this fallen world. As the wise J.C. Ryle once said in his 19th century context: "Our <i>best</i> things are stained and tainted with imperfection! They are more or less incomplete, wrong in the motive, or defective in the performance."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When you find yourself self-satisfied and largely self-secure (you can tell when you are looking for a little pat-on-the-back or are looking down on others), it might be a sign that your righteous deeds are polluted, stained, tainted. Perhaps you've done well to satisfy God sufficiently to get Him off your back or to build yourself up when God's free but invisible love doesn't seem to be doing the trick. Run to the cross and confess this to God. He gets out stains! "He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><u>2. Take another look at your salvation (who changes you)</u>.</span></b> In verse 149, the psalmist cries out for two things - life and a relationship with God. "Life according to justice"; "hear me (relationship!) according to your steadfast love." At the cross of Jesus Christ, love and justice meet to give us life forever and a relationship with God. Jesus lived the perfect life to satisfy on the cross God's just punishment toward sin (Hebrews 7:26; Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 4:10). Jesus got up on that cross because He loves us and would get to be with those of us who trust Him forever (Romans 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:10). The psalmist didn't yet know this Jesus who offered the most airtight and secure salvation by living the very perfect life he knew he couldn't. The psalmist looked forward to the day of the Good Shepherd who chases down lost sheep: "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant" (Psalm 119:176; cf. Luke 15:4). For you who do good to justify yourself, Jesus already has!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This Good Shepherd continues to save us also. He changes us. There is a word for the transformation of our minds - <i>metanoia</i>, which is translated in the New Testament as "repentance." Listen to <i>who</i> is behind this change of mind and how you view the world: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4).</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So now that you're justified before God, it's easy to "presume" your pretty good behavior deserves God's kindness and it's your innate goodness that produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control. But it's God's active kindness at work in your life (GRACE!) that produces good, profitable, and lasting fruit translated as good deeds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We can do well, well by even now offering honor, praise, and glory to God for even the impulse to want to do good - it comes not from me but from Thee! </span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #fff2cc;">3. Read and listen to challenging words (what moves you)</span></u></b>. I once heard Sinclair Ferguson, a pastor and theologian I respect, say that in the many of years of his pastoral ministry he counseled two kinds of people: Those overly comforted and those overly discomforted. His job, thus, was simple: <u>Comfort the discomforted and discomfort the comfortable</u>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Isn't this what Jesus did depending on the person before him?! Most often I need words of comfort because the Holy Spirit is quick to show me my obvious sin and resulting guilt (cf. John 16:8). But for that other 10-20% of the time, when we are rolling well - I need to hear and read hard truths that grabs and shakes me toward a deeper reliance upon Jesus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For instance, get yourself in front of the Luke chapter 14, where you will be confronted about storing up riches, counting the cost of following Jesus, and your willingness to forsake anything to follow him. Click on links with thoughtful biblical content like <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">this one</span></a> (for all Christians) or <a href="http://familylifetoday.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">this one</span></a> (for those married and/or with kids). Follow the lifestyle of some of the missionaries we support like our friends <a href="http://schrockandawe.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Terrill and Amber Schrock</span></a>. Sing not only modern praise music meant to console and comfort, but also hymns meant to instruct and reorient us to truth we may need to hear. Listen to sermons by gentleman like <a href="http://www.thevillagechurch.net/resources/sermons/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Matt Chandler</span></a>, who confronts my comfort with a reorientation toward the sufficiency of God's grace, or to devotionals like Charles Spurgeon's <a href="http://www.spurgeon.org/daily.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><i>Morning and Evening</i></span></a>, which provides for me a healthy mix of comfort and discomfort (I use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Morning-Classic-Devotional-English-Standard-ebook/dp/B0017JWL3C/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1443713621&sr=8-2-fkmr0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">this version</span></a>, which employs the ESV as opposed to the KJV translation - available for just $10 on kindle). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We need not fear divine discomfort! One of the most important verses in my life is Hosea 6:1.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Come, let us return to the Lord! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He has torn us, that He may heal us. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He has struck us down, and He will bind us up.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This verse aptly summarizes God's activity in a Christian's life as both Lion of Judah and Lamb of God. Lamb to comfort us when we are full of guilt and shame, when our sin and weakness lies exposed, visibly naked before us. Lion when we our self-satisfaction and self-assuredness needs to be torn down - so we might be bound up to once again do well, well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-81413306025093527162015-09-23T12:25:00.001-05:002015-09-23T12:25:25.861-05:00Learning to Speak Cayman (The Letter C)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31u472c3bpc/VgLf2nYLUcI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/CblOCm_-b1I/s1600/Cayman%2BDictionary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31u472c3bpc/VgLf2nYLUcI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/CblOCm_-b1I/s200/Cayman%2BDictionary.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Flashing back to 2013 I wrote: "My hope once a week or so is to share with you a little Caymanian vocabulary. Many of my readers are no doubt ex-pats who reside here in the Beloved Isle Cayman - and while each of us are required to speak English when you arrive on island, there is no such requirement to learn words & phrases unique to Cayman...now that the pressure's off, there is no better time like the present."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />Well, it's 2015. And I only accomplished the <a href="http://pastorosblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/learning-to-speak-cayman.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Letter A</span></a> and the <a href="http://pastorosblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/learning-to-speak-cayman-letter-b.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Letter B</span></a>.</span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Time to carry on. Straight outta the <i>Cayman Islands Dictionary</i> - some favorite Caymanian terms from the Letter C.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Cake-up</span></b> (kayke up) <i>Noun. </i>1. Excessive Make-up. 2. Make-up which appears to have been applied using a spray gun and trowel. e.g. " Errytime I see dah girl, her face always be cake up even when she in da gym."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> >> This isn't even regionally accurate, it's a <i>universally</i> accurate term to describe the phenomenon of beauty product overuse. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">>> Frankly, I don't care when people where too much make-up. The only reason I have a beard is to hide my face so <i>I don't have </i>to "cake-up" myself! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><b>Checkin'</b> </span>(chek in) <i>Verb. </i>1. The second stage in a four-part structure of a relationship, which involves: (1) talkin'; (2) checkin'; (3) dealin' ; (4) goin'. 2. The season of an uncommitted relationship. 3. The preliminary stage of a young relationship. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">>> The obvious question, then, is what's <i>dealin'. </i>Thankfully, it's not drugs (that would be awkward!). It's a mutual agreement to be monogamously involved with the other person. Once that's negotiated, then you get goin.' </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">>> I applaud any kind of dating system that gets us to the DTR. Defining the relationship is spelled out very clearly and everyone knows where they stand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><b>Cuzzy</b> </span>(cuz-eh). <i>Noun. </i>1. Friend. 2. Brethren. 3. Cousin. 4. Can be used for an old friend, new acquaintance, or just for someone whose name you've forgotten. eg., " Yeah, cuzzy, I gah check yah back bout goin' boatin' diss weekend. "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">>> Once our church extended past the 100 person threshold, retaining every person's name has proved exceedingly difficult and the worst solution is the "Hey <i>you</i>," which was certainly invented at a sales conference based out of a Holiday Inn by a guy with a bluetooth earpiece. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">>> "Cuzzy" is kind of affectionate. I wouldn't even care if you forgot my name and called me this because it would mean I'm somewhere in the range of a beloved stuff animal. I'd take that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Cyar</span></b> (kyarr). <i>Verb. </i>1. to carry. 2. to transport. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">>> This word has two bonuses: (1) Taking two syllables and reducing it to one. I'm always in favor of word efficiency. ; 2. Sound pirate-y. "Cyar it me car!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Try dropping one of these into a conversation this week. I look forward to calling you Cuzzy. </span><br />
<br />Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-41062571660284589492015-09-08T15:58:00.002-05:002015-09-08T15:58:32.371-05:00Summer Reading & Slideshow<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday was U.S. Labor Day, which marks the unofficial end to summer - at least in my country of origin. With Summer unofficially over (officially: it's 90 degrees out!), I thought I'd share a few books and pictures of our summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I felt in order to make this worth your while I had to find an different way to talk about reading (as it is "let's talk about what I read" can come off a bit egotistical). Thus, I'm going to organize the five books I used to ignore other people during the month of July like a basketball team. I'll link the book if you are interested.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Point Guard. </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Experiencing-Trinity-Grace-God-People-ebook/dp/B00QSNFY6I/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1441740234&sr=1-1&keywords=experiencing+the+trinity" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><i>Experiencing the Trinity: The Grace of God for the People of God</i> by Joe Thorn.</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Point Guards start the offense and get the team going in the right direction. This daily </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">devotional focuses 15 readings on the Father, 20 on the Son, 15 on the Holy Spirit. They are entirely God-centered with titles like "He is listening"; "He is love"; "His Reign"; "He indwells." These daily devotionals got my day going and distributed strength when I needed it the most (in a home with 38 other persons, for instance). Point guards are also small; this book can fit in your back pocket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Unique because</u>: Thorn encourages the practice of preaching to oneself. Not so much self-improvement but self-talk, which turns out isn't crazy but biblical (see Psalm 116:7; Psalm 42:5). This book forced me to remind myself who God is and who I am in relation to Him. I usually just scorn myself, so this was a more helpful use of my self-directed inner rants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Best line</u>: Under the chapter "His Hold" describing the Son - "John 10:28 is not a promise of live without wavering or wandering. You can backslide. You have before. But the good work that Jesus began in you will continue. You faith will continue. And these things will go on not because of your commitment but because of Jesus' faithfulness."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Shooting Guard.<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> </span></b><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peace-Like-River-Leif-Enger-ebook/dp/B0062A4882/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1441740969&sr=1-1&keywords=peace+like+a+river" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Peace Like a River</span></a> </span></i>by Leif Enger. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shooting Guards are require the ball a lot and shoot the ball way too much, but because they are so graceful to watch (like eye candy!) you don't mind that they waste your time. My most enjoyable reading - the kind you do in a hammock or steal away when you should probably be paying attention to your child playing near water- was spent on this N.Y. Times Bestseller. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Unique because</u>: It's the kind of book that you regret is coming to a close with each page turn and wish you could experience again for the first time - like a first rollercoaster, first kiss, or first taste of cotton candy. Written by a Christian man, Enger writes beautifully about life, sin, redemption in a way that is thrilling not preachy, relatable not religious - using riveting characters from 1960s rural America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Best Line</u>: "I can feel it still, that sizzling jump inside my organs. It didn't feel good, not as I would've suspected the touch of the Lord might feel, but I wouldn't say it felt bad either. It only felt powerful, like truth unhusked."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Small Forward. </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/1776-David-McCullough-ebook/dp/B000FCK5YE/ref=sr_1_1_ha?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1441741720&sr=1-1&keywords=1776" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">1776 by David McCollough.</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Small forwards in basketball play important roles in determining a game with their grit and hustle but they are often enigmatic (see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metta_World_Peace" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Ron Artest</span></a>, who legally changed his name to "Metta World Peace."). Such is my home country, the United States of America. Some major changes have taken place in my nation of citizenship that have caused friends and family to question how "we got here." Inspired by a father-son trip to Washington, D.C. with my youngest son, I decided to read a book focused on the events of and leading up to our revolutionary war.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Unique because</u>: It's 'Merica! Author of modern democracy and inventor of fried oreos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Best line</u>: "And if his youth was obvious, the Glorious Cause was to a large degree a young man's cause. The commander in chief of the army, George Washington, was himself only forty-three. John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress, was thirty-nine, John Adams, forty, Thomas Jefferson, thirty-two. In such times many were being cast in roles seemingly beyond their experience or capacities."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Power Forward. </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Worldly-Saints-Serve-Jesus-ebook/dp/B00L0SPQCS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1441744369&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><i>Becoming Worldly Saints: Can you serve Jesus and still enjoy your life? </i>by Michael Wittmer.</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Power forwards are big and strong - getting a lot done with seemingly little effort. Rebounding, scoring, blocking shots while having fun doing it. Such is this book. I live in the Cayman Islands. Just look at the front cover of the book - I'm pretty sure it was an artist rendering of the beach from which I live just 100 yards. I have those sunglasses! Thus, I live with people who ask (or should be asking!) this very question: Can I serve </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Unique because</u>: A potent combination of (1) Funny; (2) Weighty with good biblical content (correcting the Christian's common "spiritual = better" worldview); (3) Doesn't require you to give up your job in finance or marketing to follow Jesus (or feel like a 1st class Christian).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Best Line</u>: "Heaven and earth may seem to compete, but when we look deeper we actually find they are complementary. A flourishing human life is the best advertisement for the gospel, and the gospel in turn empowers us to become better people."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Center. </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fools-Talk-Recovering-Christian-Persuasion/dp/0830836993/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441744112&sr=8-1&keywords=fool%27s+talk" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><i>Fool's Talk: Recovering the Art of Christian Persuasion </i>by Os Guinness. </span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Centers are a team's anchor. They force the other teams to take bad shots and have "their teammates" backs if something goes wrong. And in the NBA they often speak with accents that are very difficult for me to understand. No book was as important for me to read as this one - which gave practical advice from a lifelong persuader like Os Guinness. Guinness has spent his life trying to persuade smart people towards the good news about Jesus and with the good news about Jesus. This is his magnum opus - sharing from decades of experience of how you can help people question their assumptions and see the ultimate futility of how they view the world. Like a Lithuanian Center, Guinness is at times difficult to understand - what I mean is he is brilliant, writing with significant depth - making this a time-consuming, 1 minute per page kind of read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Unique because</u>: Guinness writes not just why Christianity is most reasonable but suggests strategies as to how you and I can demonstrate just that to a not-yet-Christian in a 1-on-1 relationship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Best Line</u>: "As Reinhold Niebuhr insisted, there is a limit to what even the power of God can do as power alone, for 'such power does not reach the heart of a rebel.' Power can fence us in, but only sacrificial love can find us out. Power can win when we are ranged against it, but it cannot win us. Such is the hard, tenacious, willful, festering core of sin at the heart of each one of us that only the equally deliberate, tenacious love disguised in the absurd powerlessness, shame, pain, loneliness and desolation of the cross -- all for us-- could reach us and subvert us."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I write this because I hope you will find time to read - and perhaps one of these books might be helpful to you. Now a couple pictures from our summer.</span><br />
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Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-70509517636885378112015-08-20T16:25:00.002-05:002015-08-20T16:33:38.759-05:00Your work & what God says about the contribution you are making<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are all panting through the dog-days of August and so it seems appropriate to throw some encouragement your way re: your job (a.k.a- what you do from 8am - 6 pm). I'll start with Psalm 104...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f4cccc;">Psalm 104</span> is often called "The Creation Psalm" because it highlights each of the seven days of Creation in a way that says - "Hey earthlings, I'm still creating!!" God is still working the earth to make it inhabitable and enjoyable for such as us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And so should we! In fact, what struck me about the psalm is its insistence that God's creation is to lower-case "work" just as he upper-case "Works" to make everything on this earth <i>work </i>how it should. Three examples: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. Birds. God creates the trees so that birds can create the nests and so make their home work as it should (Psalm 104:16-17). </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. Lions. God provides their food but Lions must roar for it, shaking their prey out of their hiding spots (Psalm 104:21). </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. All of creation. God gives, we gather. "These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. When you give it to them, they gather it up." (Psalm 104:27-28).</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What a great reminder that grace isn't opposed to hard work, rather: Grace is opposed to merit (ie. that hard work <i>earns </i>God's approval and increased blessing). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I'm about to stray off-topic. My purpose is to encourage you who work hard that you are not only mimicking God as His image-bearers but fulfilling God's first two commands <i>and</i>, thus, contributing to the culture in which you live. I've been reading an intriguing and, at times, humorous book called <i>Becoming Worldly Saints: Can you still serve Jesus and Enjoy your life? </i>by Michael Witmer. I'll quote him at length here because I think you'll benefit from a longer draught of his writing:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If Jesus is the Creator, then he is the one who first commanded the human race to "be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground" (Gen. 1:28).</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This verse has five commands. The first three - "be fruitful," "increase in number," and "fill the earth" are shared with birds and fish (Gen. 1:22), but the final two - "subdue" and "rule" - are reserved for humans</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> alone. These verbs are crucial, and perhaps the most important, part of what it means to be made in the image of God. Genesis was written in the Ancient Near East, where kinds were said to bear the image of God because they governed their realms on behalf of a distant deity. Genesis democratizes the image by declaring that every human bears the image of God, not just kings. God made us as the climax of creation to rule the world on his behalf, and we each are responsible to mediate the blessing of God to that slice of creation that lies within our influence. We represent God to each other, the animals, and the earth, and we will give an account for the God they see in us.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">God elaborated on this priestly responsibility when he "took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and to take care of it" (Genesis 2:15). There is a tension with this double command. On the one hand, we must "take care of" or guard (<i>shamar</i>) the garden, preserving its resources for future generations. But we must not turn the earth into a museum, for God also commands us to "work" the garden. The Hebrew term is <i>abad</i>, which shares the same root as the word for slave. We are to serve creation, cultivating its raw materials into an escalating advance of culture. If I were God, I would have been content to command Adam and Eve, "Here is a beautiful, pristine world. Please don't break anything!" God expects more from his image-bearers, and he invited Adam and Eve to improve on his creation by taking it to a higher place.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We cal the commands of Genesis 1:28 and 2:15 the "creation mandate" or "cultural mandate." These commands occur in Scripture's opening scene, before the fall, and they direct us to develop human culture. Culture is what you get whenever humans intersect with nature. This is obviously true for metals that we twist into trumpets and cotton that we weave into shirts, but it's also true about more advanced technology. Your gleaming smartphone might seem several steps removed from nature, but the CPU that runs it is made of sand. Even language, the highest achievement of human culture, uses nature's instruments, such as vocal chords, pencil lead, and trees for paper, to describe a culture's place in the world...</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Your job is the one place where you are paid for your cultural contribution. Someone things your efforts enhance the human endeavor, and they reward you with whatever they deem your work is worth (or perhaps can get away with). This is why the Paul told slaves they were serving the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 6:5-8). Their cultural contributions enabled them and others to develop creation, and so they were obeying the first command that Jesus, who is the Creator of all, gave to the human race. They were not merely serving their masters, but the Lord himself.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In conclusion, your job not only exists to make money for your family/so you can do other things you enjoy much more nor does it merely exist so you can share about new birth with your co-workers, pray for your boss, and tithe to your church. You can do your job knowing that you are fulfilling God's command of contributing to the culture in which you live and will one day leave behind. In other words, the work <i>itself</i> is intrinsically valuable not just as a vehicle to a mission field or to put food on the table. Your little corner plot to subdue, work, and take care of might be modest but God says you are doing exactly what you were put on earth to do.</span><br />
<br />Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-80877456568739732572015-07-01T16:53:00.000-05:002015-07-01T17:01:55.535-05:00Pray for our Mission Team in Honduras (July 3-10)<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHgpMJ0FjGo/VZRhCIA1b8I/AAAAAAAAAqg/QQAfW7IjQEQ/s1600/Honduras-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHgpMJ0FjGo/VZRhCIA1b8I/AAAAAAAAAqg/QQAfW7IjQEQ/s320/Honduras-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pray also for me, that words may be given me to fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should (Ephesians 6:19-20).</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Twelve "sent ones" are heading out this Friday to serve our missionary friends of Tree of Life ministries as well as the people of Tegucilgapa, Honduras. Let's send them with more than well-wishes but, rather, partner <i>with </i>them in prayer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Below is their itinerary so you can best know how to pray for them:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Friday, July 3</i>: Travel days, orientation, prayer and sharing time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Saturday, July 4: </i>Ministry to children a the Tree of Life site.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sunday, July 5: </i>Church service, tour of the new ministry site, prayer for the ministry.<i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Monday, July 6</i>: Tour of Valle de Angeles and La Tigra, visit to new site for orphanage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Tuesday, July 7: </i>Ministry to children and door-to-door evangelism in Monte Leon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Wed, July 8: </i>Construction at the Tree of Life site.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Thurs, July 9: </i>Door-to-door evangelism and distribution of anti-parasite medication.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Friday</i>, July 10: Travel Day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those sent:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Andrew Cummer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alex Cummer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesse Chong</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Grace Chong</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stacey Mathis</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sean Olson</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thaddeus Daniel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brett Wendle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jeff Cummer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Susan Cummer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Francois Bezuidenhout</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dan Bryer</span></li>
</ul>
Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-43991024573649353552015-07-01T10:18:00.000-05:002015-07-01T10:23:57.405-05:00(FREE Audiobook for July) Eight Twenty Eight: When Love Didn't Give up<a href="http://christianaudio.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/9/7/9781610459495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://christianaudio.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/9/7/9781610459495.jpg" height="200" width="166" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I picked up looked over this book at a conference earlier this year, I had four different persons come up to me saying with fervor: "I can't believe Larissa and Ian put out a book!!"* Two ladies even grabbed each others' hands and with great glee half jumped up and down (more of a jumping motion, not sure they made lift off). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I bought one copy for Katie and one for myself and we read it together. We both look for ways to grow in our love for each other without regard to performance or what the other person "brings to the table." Ian and Larissa's is a compelling story about the unconditional love of Jesus applied to real life relationships. At first glance it appears to be a story exclusively about romance and marriage - but even after the first ten pages you realize: There is applicability in laying down one's life for any and every human relationship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://christianaudio.com/free" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Click here</span></a> for some free Summer listening for your road trip or your commute. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">*Or some near equivalent. "For Real-sie!" was also used. </span><br />
<br />Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-60883096269635161972015-06-03T11:40:00.000-05:002015-06-03T11:42:28.995-05:00Can you do this job to the glory of God?<a href="http://blog.gthankyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/istock_000004504118xsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.gthankyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/istock_000004504118xsmall.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last week, a helpful website The High Calling published a thoughtful article that I think might be of service to many who are in-between jobs or who have settled-in and gathered their breath sufficiently to re-evaluate what they are doing - and more importantly: <i>For what purpose? </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thehighcalling.org/articles/essay/can-you-do-job-glory-god" target="_blank">CLICK HERE to read: Can you do this job for the glory of God?</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God's larger perspective on work is that i</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">t is good (Genesis 2:1-3). Because He is good and He did work filling full the heavens and the earth, it is good. In fact, Genesis goes against Ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman labor principles which stated that working with one's hands in the dirt is among the most demeaning kinds of work. God Himself did just this in creating man! The Ancient Babylonian creation account asserts that the gods created man so that they didn't have to do any work. Our God finds great satisfaction in working on our behalf and to His glory!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May we find satisfaction in our work done on other's behalf and to His glory!</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-79938113584583122242015-05-26T10:50:00.000-05:002015-05-26T10:50:36.031-05:00Jesus speaks a better word - getting from the OT to Jesus (Sunday follow-up)<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wherever you open your Bible, you'll turn to some aspect of the life-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ. It won't necessarily be 4 points followed a closing prayer to trust your life to Jesus as Lord and Savior - but it might Moses' willingness to accept blame for sin he didn't commit (which in turn foreshadows us of Jesus' willingness to bear the blame for sin he didn't commit - Exodus 32:32; Isaiah 53:4, II Corinthians 5:21) or it might be an example of sin/idolatry for which Christ died (see also Exodus 32 - the golden calf).</span><div>
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<div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cC20KF14Qv8/VWSTw015_jI/AAAAAAAAApY/JBDQAi74t20/s1600/2015013032greenwell_heart_1_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cC20KF14Qv8/VWSTw015_jI/AAAAAAAAApY/JBDQAi74t20/s1600/2015013032greenwell_heart_1_300.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God's prophets were called to speak his word rightly. But each, including Moses, was sinful and none spoke His word fully. Jesus is God's perfect prophet - speaking the words of eternal life (John 6:68-69). Whenever we read the Old Testament prophets, <span style="color: #fff2cc;">we ought to ask: Where does Jesus speak a similar but </span></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">better </span></i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">word?</span> This might require a good study Bible or at least a Bible with marginal references (ie. little numbers or letters with Scripture references attached - usually pointing you to the New Testament). I want to introduce you to an excellent resource. Both <a href="https://www.crossway.org/web-apps/esv-study-bible-online-1671-regkey/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">the online</span></a> and <a href="http://esvstudybible.org/formats/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">the print versions</span></a> of the ESV Study Bible has an amazing section in the back entitled - <i>The History of Salvation in the Old Testament: Preparing the Way for Christ.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have posted below from this section a selection screenshots of the OT prophets (including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Zechariah). By looking through some of these and their corresponding references, you are training yourself for how to hear God's prophetic voice in the OT and connect it to an <i>even better word</i> spoken or fulfilled by Jesus. </span></div>
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Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-24174490610943761842015-05-25T16:19:00.003-05:002015-05-25T16:26:44.569-05:00Moses Points to Jesus (Sunday follow-up)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcdEm8Hy6Cs/VWORjxTJa6I/AAAAAAAAApI/18YPneJkhPo/s1600/jesus-moses-action-figures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcdEm8Hy6Cs/VWORjxTJa6I/AAAAAAAAApI/18YPneJkhPo/s1600/jesus-moses-action-figures.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesus & Moses - <br />
Prophets who get between God and Man</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sunrise.ky/media.php?pageID=9" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Yesterday I had opportunity to present</span></a> the ultimate life-purpose of one of the great men in Jewish and Christian history - the prophet Moses. This man's ultimate life-purpose was to point people up-the-road to a better prophet who would speak to us a better word - the prophet Jesus. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I couldn't yesterday share all or even most of the Christ-pointing references to Moses - and only shared a couple of Jesus' own references to Moses. My aim here is to simply present the Scriptures that display Moses clearly pointing people to Jesus as a prophetic mediator - one who gets in-between to speak the people's words to God, and God's words to people. Jesus does this even better and forever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Moses as a prophetic type of Christ</span></b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moses: An evil King tried to kill him as a baby (Exodus 1:22)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus: An evil king tried to kill him as a baby (Matthew 2:16)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Moses: Sent into Egypt to preserve his life (Exodus 2:3-4)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus: Sent into Egypt to preserve his life (Matthew 2:13-15)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Moses: Went from being a prince to a pauper (Exodus 2:18-19).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus: Went from being heaven's prince to earth's servant (John 1:1-3).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Moses: Shepherd (Exodus 3:1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus: Shepherd (John 10:11).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Moses: Bears the blame that the people deserved (Exodus 14:15; Exodus 32:32)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus: Bears the blame that the people deserved (Isaiah 53:4)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Moses: "So the people feared YHWH, and they believed in YHWH and his servant Moses (Exodus 14:31).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me" (John 14:1).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moses: Provided water for thirsty people (Exodus 15:22-25)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jesus: Provided water for thirsty people (John 7:37-38)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Moses: Fed hungry people (Exodus 16)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus: Fed hungry people in the wilderness (spiritual - John 6:31-35; physical Mark 8:1-9).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Moses: Fought a war with two outstretched arms and two men beside him (physical - Amalek - Exodus 17:8-16).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus: </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fought a war with two outstretched arms and two men</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> beside him (spiritual - Satan - Colossians 2:14-15).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moses: Finished the work God assigned him which led to God's presence (Exodus 40:33-34)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jesus: Finished the work God assigned him which led to God's presence (John 19:30).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Moses on Jesus:</span></b></u> </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Exodus 19:15-19</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>Jesus on Moses</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At a count of 19x, Jesus refers to the person of Moses more than any other Old Testament character. Here are some significant ones:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In reference to people who preach Moses' law but don't practice what they preach (Matthew 23:2-3).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In reference to the resurrection of the dead being first spoken to and by Moses himself (Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In reference to hearing Moses and the other prophets being enough to know how to gain eternal life and avoid hell (Luke 16:29-31).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up" (John 3:14 - referring to the cross, looking to Christ crucified brings healing; cf. Numbers 21:9)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Do not think I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you set your home" (John 5:45 - everyone at some points places their hope on their performance with respect to some form of the Law which is based on the Law of Moses - since we are unable to live up to it, it "accuses" all who hope in it for the day of judgment).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"For if you believed Moses; you would believe me; for he wrote of me" (John 5:46 - cf. Deuteronomy 19:15-19).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With reference to food that will truly sustain you forever (John 6:32).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be encouraged that you have a sure anchor that forever assures you who trust Jesus. God has had this plan all along to reconcile human beings to Himself. <span style="color: #f4cccc;">John 1:17 - "The Law came through Moses...</span><span style="color: #fff2cc;"> </span>(a mediator subject to death who gave people an temporary way to please the God who had delivered them from bondage) <span style="color: #f4cccc;">...grace and truth came through Jesus Christ"</span><span style="color: #fff2cc;"> </span>(a mediator living forever who gave people a permanent way to please the God who delivers them from bondage). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526777389882744417.post-27849726210063655662015-05-13T10:32:00.002-05:002015-05-13T10:32:44.948-05:00I deserve anything...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I ponder the grace of God, I often do so in terms of: "<u>I deserve nothing</u>...yet I've </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">been given every good gift" (cf. Romans 8:32). This is the <i>passive</i> reception of grace. There is another side of grace, which Tim Keller calls, the threat of grace. It says: "<u>I deserve anything</u> that is asked of me." This is the <i>active </i>response of grace. While re-reading Keller's <i>The Reason for God </i>I was reminded of this side of grace:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some years ago I met with a woman who began coming to church at Redeemer. She said that she had gone to church growing up and had never before heard a distinction between the gospel and religion. She had always heard that God accepts us only if we are good enough. She said that the new message was scary. I asked her why it was scary, and she replied: "If I was saved by my good works then there would be a limit to what God could ask of me or put me through. I would be a like a taxpayer with 'rights' -- I would have done my duty and now I would deserve a certain quality of life. But if I am a sinner saved by sheer grace - then there is nothing he cannot ask of me."</span></blockquote>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-98OT2yAbeBQ/VVNthIMvzHI/AAAAAAAAAoo/fo3odI9j5a4/s1600/I-deserve.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-98OT2yAbeBQ/VVNthIMvzHI/AAAAAAAAAoo/fo3odI9j5a4/s320/I-deserve.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's a woman whose first response to the gospel of grace isn't sheer awe or wonder (as is/was the case for many of us) but: "I'll take any assignment!" I immediately think of Mary accepting her assignment of carrying then raising the Messiah under scandalous glances and rumors (Luke 1:38) or God's arduous assignment to Paul (then Saul) after rescuing him from his bondage to hate (Acts 9:16). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yet it is really no threat at all as we are increasingly gripped by what grace has done - <b>you've been chosen! </b>Not because of how good you are on the inside or out, but simply because you are undeservedly loved. A Bridegroom has chosen to wed you (Rev. 19:7) whilst a Father has chosen to adopt you (Ephesians 1:5). A friend of mine, who was adopted around the age of 10, can recall after putting a few of his things into his new home happily declaring: "I'm ready for my first assignment."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Are you ready to receive any assignment He might give you?</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Your answer will almost certainly depend on whether your heart has yet been gripped by the grace of God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Pastor Ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07828651630546126289noreply@blogger.com0