And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord… Nehemiah 3:5
7 Questions for those who do not like their leaders
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Jesus Paid it all! In case you forgot
Jesus Paid it all! In case you forgot!
Thy Strength indeed is small
Find in Him thine all in all
Rest from all thine striving
Cease from all thine trying
Nothing can thy do to save thine soul
Salvation is free – paid in full
Praise the One who paid your debt
Jesus paid it all don’t ye ever forget
Written by Walter Bright
Theologian Trading Cards
I was spending some time a few minutes ago on one of my favorite blogs of all time and came across this post. I thought this was the coolest thing ever. It is officially on my list of father’s day gifts – yes – you got that right – gifts!
Zondervan’s Theologian Trading Cards offer an incredibly novel way to learn theology and church history. Creator Norman Jeune III came up with the idea to imitate baseball cards at seminary while listening to students discuss theologians as if they were baseball players.
The result is 288 trading cards featuring important figures in church history including heretics and philosophers.
Each card features the theologian’s name, lifespan, short biography, and quick list of significant contributions that influenced Christianity. If you want a quick yet thorough lesson on church history, these cards will be one of the better options if not the best.
There are 15 teams used to categorize the theologians. It’s a mix of fun novelty and useful classification, which helps users understand the big picture of each theologian’s role (good and bad) in the Body of Christ. Team names include:
- Athens Metaphysicians (philosophers)
- Avignon Crusaders (medieval)
- Berlin Aggiornamentos (contemporary)
- Cantebury Monarchs (english reformers, anglicans, puritans)
- Constantinople Hesychasts (orthodox church)
- Geneva Sovereigns (later reformed church, early reformers)
- Jerusalem Resourcers (contemporary)
- Los Angeles Knights (fundamentalists, evangelicals)
- Munich Monks (hermits, monks, mystics)
- Munster Radicals (radical reformation, anabaptists)
- Orthodoxy Dodgers (heretics)
- Serampore Preachers (missionaries)
- St. James Padres (church fathers of the patristic era)
- St. Pius Cardinals (roman catholic primarily from post-reformation)
- Wittenberg Whistle-Blowers (early reformers, later lutheran church)
And if that’s not enough, there are even a few blank cards for you to create your own trading cards.
Source:
The Power of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Meditation is an act of focusing one’s thoughts upon something to get a deeper insight or understand of that thing. It is allowing one’s thoughts to ponder or muse or in some instances turn a thought over and over in the mind as if chewing on a piece of meat to soften it before we can swallow it. It can either mean to think upon God, His word, or his works. In our context today it means thinking and reflecting upon God’s word with the goal of internalizing and personalizing eternal truths in order for them to affect our lives to the glory of the Father.
This goal is usually attained through our keen observation of the text we are reading, our careful interpretation of what the text means and our humble application of that text to our lives.
Scripture References
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6, 7, 8
This Book of the Law shall not leave from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you are careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2
The Power of Meditation
In Deuteronomy, God commanded the Israelites not only to meditate and let the word of God richly dwell in their hearts; they were also commanded to diligently teach this word to their children. The words sit, walk, lie down, rise suggest that this should happen anywhere, every time and in every activity. A command that many Jews have fulfilled literally with phylacteries (v. 8) and mezuzot (v. 9), i.e., boxes bound on the arm and forehead or attached to doorposts containing scripture verses .
This is just an example of how important it is to meditate upon God’s word and keep it in our hearts. Those who lack diligence in their lifestyle of meditation often miss the rich benefits that come from spending time in his word. For many Christians, the only time they spend in the word during the week is probably during the pastor’s sermon. In fact, some believers think they are just too cool to attend sunday school. It is sad to say, but some christian are becoming increasingly lazy in the business of meditation.
We cannot stress this more. There is a lot of spiritual benefits in meditating on scripture
From Deuteronomy
Lest you forget the character and nature of God.
Meditation upon his word helps you grow in your knowledge and understanding of Him. Deut. 6:12
Lest you lose reverence.
Meditation upon his word helps you live with the fear of God. Deut. 6:13
Lest the anger of God kindles against you for lack of reverence and devotion.
Meditation upon his word helps you stand in awe inspire devotion to him. Deut. 6:15
Lest you lose diligence and focus.
Meditation upon his word helps keep you focused on him. Deut. 6:17
Lest you lose His favor.
Meditation upon his word helps you in your obedience to Him thereby attracting the favor of God. Deut. 6:18
Lest you lose your relevance to impact the next generation.
Meditation upon his word helps you grow deeper in order to impact others. Deut. 6:20-21 Only out of the treasure stored up can we impact others
Lest you become dull spiritually.
Meditation upon his word keeps you fresh, nourished and spiritually sharp. Deut. 6:25
From Joshua:
Lest you forget what to do.
Meditation upon his word helps you know right from wrong. Joshua 1:8
Lest you miss his blessings for guidance.
Meditation upon his word helps you discover what it takes to navigate ones way through life. Joshua 1:8
Lest you fail in all you doing.
Meditation upon his word helps you to find success in the affairs of life. Joshua 1:8
From Psalm:
Lest you are left dry.
Meditation upon his word brings spiritual nourishment and fresh presence. Psalm 1:3
Lest you become barren.
Meditation upon his word makes you productive, bearing spiritual fruits. Psalm 1:3
Lest you wither.
Meditation upon his word helps you avoid becoming burnout. Psalm 1:3
Lest you become a loser.
Meditation upon his word helps you to prosper not only spiritually but in all aspects of life. Psalm 1:3
3 Things to remember in times of crisis
Sometimes it is very easy to forget how near God is to us in times of crisis. When we get blindsided by a crisis, we sometimes think that we will be completely crushed by our enemies and God is just going to sit back and watch. That fear alone can completely paralyze trust, hope and faith. In those times it becomes especially important to remind ourselves that our God is faithful and has promised to be there for us in our times of need.
I would like to use Isaiah 33 as an example to show us what God does in times of crisis. Assyria, Israel’s enemy had come against them with apparent impunity. But God will visit his people with his saving presence. I believe He will do the same for you in your time of crisis.
Here are a few things to remember:
The Lord defends his people
You spoke in thunder and everyone ran.
You showed up and nations scattered.
Your people, for a change, got in on the loot,
Picking the field clean of the enemy spoils. God keeps your days stable and secure—
Salvation, wisdom, and knowledge in surplus
Isa. 33:1–6
God is never a no-show in times of crisis. He always shows up. I know he will be there for you today. It may seem as if he is far away and your prayers are hitting the ceiling and falling to the floor. But I want to remind you that He is near – a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
The Lord intervenes for his people.
Now I’m stepping in,” God says.
“From now on, I’m taking over.
The gloves come off. Now see how mighty I am.
Isa. 33:7–12
What you need to do is to let go and let God. Sometimes it is hard for Him to intervene in our lives because we are holding on the steering wheel. You must remember that God will never forcibly take the steering wheel from you; you must let go and let God. Trust him, he knows best.
The Lord alone will secure his people forever.
For God makes all the decisions here. God is our king.
God runs this place and he’ll keep us safe.
Examples from the New Testament
| The Believer’s Apparent (Temporal) Defeat | The Believer’s Actual (Spiritual) Victory |
|---|---|
| For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death (1:8–9). | He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again (1:10). |
| When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ … my spirit was not at rest … (2:12–13). | But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession … (2:14). |
| We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies (4:8–10). | Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen (4:16–18). |
| A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited (12:7). | But [the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (12:9). |
King Quotes
If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation were they will not be judge by the color of their skin but by the content of their character .
Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.
Why I Still believe in the Resurrection
Is Christ really risen?
How do you know that Jesus is alive?
Can you prove it?
Are you sure you were not lied to?
Depending on who you ask those questions, you are going to get some really different answers. I, for one, would answer the questions very subjectively, I tend to be that simple. But others might give you a more logical explanation. In fact some people demand a more rational approach. I would like to offer both, objective and subjective answers to those questions in this post. Well, please don’t expect a really deep philosophical explanation, I’m not really cut out that way. So, in my own weak way, here is what I came up with:
Let’s start with answers for all the Columbo/ Peter Falk types of the world
It is funny to me that after trying for more than 2,000 years to refute Christ’s resurrection, the enemy of our faith is still trying to come up with new lies, new ways to discredit our claims about the resurrection. The gospel accounts have increasingly come under attack and intense scrutiny. However, the evidence is overwhelmingly strong. And objectively, they present proofs beyond the shadow of doubt that Jesus Christ is no longer in the grave.
Check these out:
- Historical eye-witness testimonies… not just one, but many…
- The life and ministry of the apostle Paul… a Jew who really hated Jesus and his crew… did everything to stop them…
- The empty tomb…
- The disciples were very much aware about he danger of bearing false witness about God. They were devout Jews
- The testimony of women. If they really wanted to make up the resurrection, men were going to be in the forefront
- Jewish propaganda. Jewish authorities paid the guards to spread lies about the resurrection.
- They could not produce the body to silence the believers…
- There is no veneration of the tomb… that’s because there was not need to do so… he wasn’t there…
- The testimony of a non christian historian bares witness to the resurrection
- Biblical records show a unified account about the resurrection appearances
- That they would die for believing in His resurrection is amazing
- Why will they go with a message that was hard to sell. Hard for the Jews believe and foolishness to Greeks
- Yet the church was booming among Jews and Gentiles
- All other explanation out there lack credibility
It is very hard to argue with these different points. In fact many modern scholars agree that there is overwhelming proof that support the resurrection.
Let’s end with Answers for the Average Joe/ I was blind but now I see
After all these years as a christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, I still believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. I’m glad that we can make the case objectively and intellectually about Jesus’ resurrection, but our subjective experiences also make for a great testimony that Jesus is alive.
Check these out:
- Miracle, Signs, Wonders
- Spirit’s Regeneration, Spirit’s Outpouring
- The Local Church: spiritual guidance and development, fellowship, family – church growth and expansion…
- Christian Mission: Church growth, social justice, serving the poor, caring for the least of these
- Faith, Hope, Love
- Joy of my salvation
- Once a sinner now a saint
- Selfish now Selfless
- Takers now Givers
- Prideful now Humble
- Love God, love truth, love others, love the world, hate sin
- hope of eternal life
- “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
- I was lost but know I am found
- I was bound but now I am free
- Sin is no longer my master
You asked me how I know he lives – He Lives Within my Heart. Talk about “Breaking Bad”- no self-help book or pop psych could help me. No one could fix me until I met Jesus the risen Lord. Before getting to know Him, there was a law at work in me – the law of sin and death. But now, there is another law in me – the law of spirit and life. Before getting to know him, I contemplated ways of ending my life. I felt hopeless, I felt a void deep inside. But I have found peace in him. I know Him. I feel Him. I talk to Him, I did this morning. He talks to me. He guides me. We’re connected in a deep spiritual and mystical way. My God is not dead he’s surely alive, living on the inside roaring like a lion.
Will you be an April Fool for Christ?
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Mark 11:1-11
My Story
It was a very hot African day, I was 10, handsome, a great runner, soccer star but very naïve. I didn’t see it coming, but my evil sisters had it all mapped out. They wrote a letter to ten of their friends and in the letter asked each one to send me to the other on the list until the last. I really looked like a fool that day. After walking for hours in the neighborhood, I finally returned to my father’s house to find my evil sister rolling on the floor in ecstatic laughter. It was April fool’s day, and the joke was on me.
It wasn’t funny to me!
I know Jesus has a great sense of humor, but I don’t see him doing that to anyone. I often ask myself the question, was there anyone with a good heart on that fateful fool’s day? Could I not even find one? One, who could say, “dude today is AFD, come on I’ll give you a ride home.”
I am not trying to take some fun out your life, but fun at the expense of other is not worth it. So, as you go about your day pulling pranks on friends and family, make sure you are not doing anything that Jesus wouldn’t day. Be and ambassador for Christ today. Remember, he was raised to life so that we might have a newness of life.
How about a list of Dos and Don’ts?
You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires
Romans 13:9-14
But I will advocate that we do need these lists of dos and don’ts for the purpose of self examination and for lovingly teaching and discipling for life change. I reject the extreme of putting unnessary legalistic burdens on people and the other extreme of the watering down the word of God.
Unlike most of us who were, what I call, “radically saved,” we didn’t have to be taught certain things, we just knew as disciples and followers of Jesus, we were never going to do those things anymore. For example. I used to drink alcohol when I was an unbeliever. When I got saved, I stopped drinking and never had a drink since. Nobody had to tell me that I had to kick the habit. No one had to tell me that I couldn’t go clubbing anymore. No one had to tell me that I had to unfollow my favorite rock star. It just happened.
However, some believers have to be told, taught and discipled into developing a new lifestyle. So, when the council in Acts 15:28 instructed the new believing gentiles, saying, “for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, this was a list of do’s and don’t’s.
When Paul brought out a list or two in Galatians 5 describing the deeds of the sinful nature and life in the Spirit, that was a list of do’s and don’t’s. In fact he cuationed his readers, saying – “for you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh.”
You see when the bible urges us to “put to death the misdeeds of the flesh,” it is not giving us a list of do’s and don’t’s in a legalistic sense. It is not saying relationship deosn’t matter. It is teaching us the fact that if we claim to have a relationship with Jesus, our lifestyle and choices must match up with what we profess. And the way we do that is by abiding in Christ.
You cannot claim to have a relationship with Christ and yet ignore the misdeeds of the flesh.
John says, If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.”
The job of the church is not merely to promote relationship with Jesus, it is to disciple for life change. The job of the Church is to feed that relationship with Christ, to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. This comes about through the scripture – for it is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
Many churches and many believers have hung their hats on this “relationship thing.” Relationship is important, but without right behavior it is little more than hypocrisy. I would argue that claiming to have a relationship with God does not count most to Him, rather, how we allow that relationship to shape our behavior is what matters the most to God. Therefore, it is imparative to find out what it really means, and what a real relationship with Jesus really looks like.
In 1 John the word “know” is mentioned more that 40 times. When you read John’s epistle, he repeats the phrase, “by this we know” over and over. For example, 1 John 2:5, 6 says, “by this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
I have come to find out that most of the people who are really in a growing relationship with Jesus have no problem with hard to swallow teaching about sin and sinful behaviors. Sadly, it is those who are hiding something and struggling with sinful behaviors who always try to play the “relationship card.”
So, how about a list of dos and don’ts?
Cast off the works of darkness… col. 3:8; Eph. 5:11; John 3:20
Put on the armor of light…2 cor. 6:7; Eph. 6:11, 13; 1 Thess. 5:8
Walk properly as in the daytime… Lk 21:34; Gal. 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3; james 3:14, 16; 1 Thess. 4:12
Put on Jesus – Gal. 3:27; Job 29:14; Psalm132:9; Luke 24:49; Eph. 4:24; col. 3:10
Provide no oppotunities for the flesh to gratify its desire… Romans 13:14
Conclusion:
Rom. 13:14 – …put on the Lord Jesus Christ…
Paul’s exhortations can be summed up in the call to put on … Christ. The metaphor of putting on clothing implies not just imitating Christ’s character but also living in close personal fellowship with him.
Even though we have new life, we still must constantly renounce the flesh and refuse to gratify its desires. This is accomplished by abiding in Christ, studying his word and living in community with other Christ followers.
Victor’s Crown
Every high thing must come down
Every stronghold shall be broken
You wear the Victor’s crown
(Jesus) You overcome, you overcome.
You are always fighting for us
Heaven’s angels all around
My delight is found in knowing
That You wear the Victor’s crown
You’re my help and my defender
You’re my Saviour and my friend
By Your grace I live and breathe
To worship You.
At the mention of Your greatness
In Your Name I will bow down
In Your presence fear is silent
For You wear the Victor’s crown
Let Your glory fill this temple
Let Your power overflow
By Your grace I live and breathe
To worship You.
Hallelujah
You have overcome, you have overcome
Hallelujah
Jesus You have overcome the world.
You are ever interceding
As the lost become the found
You can never be defeated
For You wear the Victor’s crown
You are Jesus the Messiah
You’re the Hope of all the world
By Your grace I live and breathe
To worship You.
Walter Bright 
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