All posts tagged: Christian

What is the Gospel?

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Part 2 of Quotes from Greg Gilbert’s book – What is the Gospel I apologize for the delay in bringing part two of these wonderful and well crafted nuggets of truths that Greg shares in his book. The purpose of this post is to provoke you to some critical thinking about what you have come to understand the gospel to be. So without further a due, I would like to give you five more quotes from the book – What is the Gospel? Take another 5 To talk about salvation being from meaninglessness or purposelessness without tracing those things down to their root in sin may make the medicine go down easier, but it is the wrong medicine. The Bible teaches that a big part of our problem is that we think too highly of ourselves, not too lowly. You are a sinner destined to be condemned. But God has acted to save sinners just like you! Children believe in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny. Mystics believe in the power of stones and crystals. Crazy …

What is the Gospel?

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One of ten from the past There is a list of ten books I wanted to read last year but failed to. Besides the ones I have my eyes on this year, I decided to knock those ten books from last year out-of-the-way before tackling the ones I’ve set aside for this year. Beginning at number ten, I present to you, Greg Gilbert’ “What is the Gospel? Well, I finished reading the book two weeks ago and have started the second. The name I will reveal in another post. But for now I would like to share with you some very powerful quotes from the book “What is the Gospel?” Take Five quotes from the book 1. The gospel is the proclamation of Jesus, in two senses. It is the proclamation announced by Jesus. But also the proclamation about Jesus – that in dying and rising Jesus has made the kingdom he proclaimed available to us. 2. An emaciated gospel leads to emaciated worship. It lowers our eyes from God to self and cheapens what God has accomplished …

ALL IN

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I would like to introduce a four-part blog series that I will deliver over the next four days. I am taking my title from Mark 12:30 and I am going to unpack the verse talking about what it means to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. I am praying that it will be a blessing to you. Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength Part 1: How to love the Lord with all you Heart According to the Bible, the heart is the center not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. Proverbs 4:23 calls it the “wellspring of life.” The heart is also the seat of the conscience (Romans 2:15). It is naturally wicked (Genesis 8:21), and has the potential to contaminate life and character (Matthew 12:34; 15:18. Therefore, if the heart must love God fully and completely, a few things must …

I Still Believe In Happily Ever After

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I would like to share with you a video I captured on my iphone of my friends Diana and Tom. I had the privilege of officiating their wedding sometime in september 2011. I also am including a poem I wrote for them – the first poem I have ever written, so I hope you like it. I still believe in happily ever after Even though the divorce rate is still on the rise And every minute, hour and day someone is left with  a broken heart But I still believe I still believe in happily ever after Because of it my two daughters still dream And  each day, every moment I think about them I will be praying for them to win I still believe I still believe in happily ever after Even though in my marriage, in my very own home there is sometimes strain And I confess, sometimes do want to leave because of my pain But I still believe I still believe in happily ever after Even though you may believe otherwise And because of your experience …

The Power Series

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Part 3: The Power of Promise Definition of PROMISE  – a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified b: a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act  – reason to expect something <little promise of relief>; especially: ground for expectation of success, improvement, or excellence considerable promise> – something that is promised A good example of the power of promise is the lure of my two girls in making me promise to do somethings for them. Usually when they want something for christmas or a birthday or just anything they really want – they come up with a brilliant idea. I think it is a sign of how intelligent and smart they are. After asking for what ever they want – they than follow-up with a very important question – do you promise? Trust me – they never let go unless the question is followed by an absolute ‘yes’. What are they looking for? They are looking for something to bind me to …

Pray without ceasing

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I am  sure that you have heard this catchy phrase used before – but what does it truly mean to Pray without ceasing? Does it mean that we have to be on our knees 24/7? Does it mean to constantly, throughout your day, bow our heads, close our eyes or be in verbal conversation with God? What did the apostle Paul have in mind when he penned these words – “Pray without ceasing?” Pray without ceasing means that Christians are to pray continually. We can’t bow our heads, close our eyes, and fold our hands without ceasing, but those are customs of prayer, not prayer itself. Prayer is communication with God, and we can live each minute of the day in a constant, flowing, conversation with God. There is significant, important value in a time where we shut out all other distractions and focus on God in a time of “closet” prayer (Matthew 6:6). But there is also room – and great value – in every-moment-of-the-day fellowship with God Further Reading Psalm 141:2; Exodus 30:1; Exodus 30:6-8; Hebrews 7:25; …